Northview NJROTC Holding Car Wash Today In Century

October 24, 2009

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The Northview High School NJROTC unit will hold a car wash fundraiser this Saturday in Century.

The car wash will take place from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Whataburger on North Century Boulevard, just south of East Highway 4. All proceeds will benefit the Northview NJROTC unit and support their activities for the remainder of the year.

Pictured: Northview ROTC students are ready for their car wash Saturday at the Whataburger in Century. Submitted photo for NorthEsambia.com.

Volunteers Lend A Hand In Day Of Caring

October 24, 2009

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Hundreds of volunteers took part in the 17th annual United Way of Escambia County Day of Caring Friday.

Volunteers rolled up their sleeves to complete more than 100 projects related to the priorities of the United Way — education, financial stability and health.

jim-allen-day-of-caring-12.jpg“It gives people the opportunity not only to see the were the need is in the community but also the opportunity to have an impact,” said Kris Thoma, marketing and communications director for United Way of Escambia County.

In the North Escambia area,  about 10 volunteers from the Escambia County Development Services Bureau worked at Jim Allen Elementary. They trimmed trees, weeded and replanted flower beds and cleared the school’s nature trail.

Day of Caring volunteers that were scheduled to take on projects at Ernest Ward Middle School, Northview High School and in the Century area for the Council on Aging were not able to work Friday morning. But those volunteers will schedule a future date to complete their projects, Thoma said.

For more photos from Jim Allen Elementary, click here.

Pictured above: United Way of Escambia County Day of Caring Volunteers worked Friday morning at Jim Allen Elementary in Cantonment. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Big Weekend: Lots Of Events Planned In The Area

October 23, 2009

From a fall festival to a car wash to church events to Williams Station Day and the fair, there is a lot to do in and around North Escambia this weekend.

  • Williams Station Day – Atmore
    The annual family-oriented Williams Station Day arts,  crafts, music and heritage festival will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free. More information at atmorechamber.com and in a Saturday morning NorthEscambia.com article.
  • Pensacola Interstate Fair
    The Pensacola Interstate Fair continues through November 1. Admission $10 ages 12 and over, $5 children 4-11. Parking $5.
  • Car Wash – Century
    The Northview High School NJROTC unit will hold a car wash fundraiser this Saturday, October 24 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Whataburger in Century. All proceeds will benefit the NJROTC unit and support their activities for the remainder of the year.
  • Fall Fest — Century
    The Abundant Life Assembly of God in Century will hold their annual Fall Fest on Saturday, October 24 from 5 until 8 p.m. Everyone is welcome to enjoy food, games and hay rides. For more information, call (850) 256-5227.
  • Singing, The Hendersons
    Singing with The Hendersons, Saturday, October 24 at 6 p.m. Ebenezer Assembly of God, 4200 Ebenezer Church Road in Jay. Everyone is invited. (850) 561-2953.
  • Walnut Hill Assembly Homecoming
    Walnut Hill New Life Fellowship Assembly of God will have Homecoming on Sunday, October 25 beginning at 10:45. Fellowship meal to follow. Rev. Bobby Carnley will bring the message. Everyone is invited.
  • Century First Baptist Homecoming
    Century First Baptist Church will celebrate Homecoming 2009 with guest pastor Henry Willett on Sunday, October 25 at 11 a.m. Sunday School will be at 10 a.m., and dinner on the grounds will follow. Special music from CrossRoads. Everyone is welcome.
  • Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church Homecoming
    Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church will celebrate Homecoming on Sunday ,October 25, with Rev. Fil Enfinger bringing the message. Sunday school begins at 9:45 a.m. and the morning service begins at 10:30. Lunch will follow in the Christian Activities Building. Everyone is invited to attend for a special time of worship and fellowship.

Click here for our events page to see more upcoming events in the North Escambia area.

If your church or non-profit community group has an event you would like listed on NorthEscambia.com, email event information to news@northescambia.com.

Robbery Turns Deadly

October 23, 2009

The robbery of a Pensacola bar turned deadly early Friday morning, and now deputies are asking for help in locating the suspects.

At about 1:30 Friday morning, two black males entered the Oakcrest Bar on Fairfield Drive in Pensacola. “Once inside, both subjects displayed weapons, during the course of the Robbery one of the customers was fatally shot,” Sgt. Ted Roy, public information officer for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, said.

One black male suspect was described as wearing a long black t-shirt, tan Capri shorts with white tennis shoes and a towel on his head. That suspect walked to the register and removed an undisclosed amount of money from the register, Roy said. The other suspect was describe as wearing a white t-shirt.

The suspects exited the business and entered what was described as a gold or tan mini van, possibly a Plymouth or Dodge early 2000 model with tinted windows.

Anyone who may have information in this case is asked to call the sheriff’s office at 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at 433-STOP.

North Escambia Area’s Significant Earthquake; Could It Happen Again?

October 23, 2009

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Saturday is the 12th anniversary of a local earthquake that was one of the largest ever reported in Alabama or Northwest Florida, and experts say there is a chance another earthquake could happen again with little or no warning.

At 3:35 a.m. on October 24, 1997, a significant earthquake awoke a large number of people in Escambia County, Ala., and Escambia and Santa Rosa counties in Florida.  The quake, which measured 4.9 on the Richter scale, was centered near the Little Rock community in Escambia County, Ala., and was felt as far away as Eglin AFB, and Gulfport, Miss. It was the strongest earthquake in the southeast in 30 years. No significant damage was reported.

The  U.S. Geological Survey classifies earthquake intensities. Here is how the October 24, 1997, earthquake measured up across the area, using intensity level descriptions from the Federal Emergency Management agency:

  • (VII)  Epicenter / Little Rock, Ala.
  • People have difficulty standing. Drivers feel their cars shaking. Some furniture breaks. Loose bricks fall from buildings. Damage is slight to moderate in well-built buildings; considerable in poorly built buildings
  • (VI) Brewton, Canoe and Lambeth
  • Everyone feels movement. People have trouble walking. Objects fall from shelves. Pictures fall off walls. Furniture moves. Plaster in walls might crack. Trees and bushes shake. Damage is slight in poorly built buildings. No structural damage.
  • (V) Atmore, Flomaton, Frisco City and Century
  • Almost everyone feels movement. Sleeping people are awakened. Doors swing open or close. Dishes are broken. Pictures on the wall move. Small objects move or are turned over. Trees might shake. Liquids might spill out of open containers
  • (IV) McDavid, Molino and Walnut Hill
  • Most people indoors feel movement. Hanging objects swing. Dishes, windows, and doors rattle. The earthquake feels like a heavy truck hitting the walls. A few people outdoors may feel movement. Parked cars rock.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the North Escambia area sits on the Bahamas Seismic Zone (the BSZ). Several earthquakes have occurred along this zone in recent years, but most are too weak to be felt by residents. While not a likelihood, the USGS says another significant earthquake could happen in the area at any time.

Two professors in the Department of Geology at Auburn University, Joan Gomberg and Lorraine Wolf, published a journal article a few years after the earthquake that theorized that the event was actually caused by the oil and gas industry and extraction wells located from Escambia County, Ala, to Jay.

Pictured top: The U.S. Geological Survey installed a seismic monitoring station just north of Brewton following the 1997 earthquake. Pictured below. Yesterday’s data from the Brewton seismic station. Submitted photos and graphics for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

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H1N1 Vaccinations Begin In Escambia Public Schools

October 23, 2009

Thursday, students at two Pensacola schools were the first in the county to receive the swine flu vaccine in Escambia County.

The H1N1 vaccination clinics will eventually be offered at K-12 public schools in the county. Eric Gilmore, Escambia County’s director of public health preparedness, said that he could not provide a timetable for vaccinations at North Escambia schools due to a short supply of the vaccine. He said that students would be given vaccination permission forms about a week prior to the vaccination date at their individual school.

The school vaccinations are expected to be completed by the end of November.

In addition, voluntary  H1N1 mass vaccination clinics are expected to take place in North Escambia by December. Likely locations include Century, Walnut Hill, Bratt and Molino.

“We hope to make it feasible for anyone to receive the vaccine,” Gilmore said.

Because the majority of vaccine is being shipped to physicians, residents that do no wish to wait for  mass vaccination click should first call their pediatrician, obstetrician and/or family practice physician to find out if the vaccine has arrived at their office yet.

The vaccine is available to pregnant women, caregivers and those who live with infants under six months, and children ages 6 months-18 years old at the Escambia County Health Department at 1295 West Fairfield Drive. It is available on a walk-in basis from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday-Friday. There is no charge for H1N1 vaccine administered at the health department .

Molino Family Leaves U.S. On Two-Year Mission Trip

October 23, 2009

The Kent family of Molino departed the United States Thursday to begin what they have termed the “God-sized” adventure of becoming missionaries in Guatemala.

kentfamily11.jpgWe first introduced you to Max and Julie Kent along with children Megan and Justin back in June. They were holding a weekend yard sale, selling all of their belongings as they prepared to head to the mission field. From their furniture, to their house, to their car, to their household furnishings — it was all for sale.

In July, they arrived at the International Learning Center (ILC) in Rockville, Virginia, to train for their upcoming mission service. They were commissioned as Southern Baptist missionaries on September 23. And Thursday, they boarded a plane headed for language school in Costa Rica before continuing to Guatemala in the coming weeks.

The Kents were able to spent the last couple of weeks at home, visiting with friends and family before departing the United States. Sunday night, they had the opportunity to share their thoughts and feelings with their church family at Cottage Hill Baptist Church.

“I had spent much of the service…looking over the crowd to see if there was any person that had not had impact on our lives. The truth was that in the eleven years we have attended, everyone there has had a meaningful impact on our family. I guess that’s why we call them our church ‘family’,” Max  said about Cottage Hill Baptist.

“So many have asked how they can help us and the greatest way that we know of is in prayer! Pray for us as we work towards learning and polishing our language and cultural skills. In order for us to be effective, we must learn the heart language of those we are going to. First we will acquire the trade language (Spanish) in Costa Rica and then must acquire the local language (Pokomchi) on the field. Pray for the hearts of those the Lord is preparing ahead of our arrival,” he said.

While Max assists another missionary in a small village near Cogan, Guatemala, Julie, who was a fourth grade teacher at Molino Park Elementary, will assist another missionary in Guatemala with teaching math.

This will be the first missionary trip for Justin, 6. For Megan, 12, it will be her third, having been on two international mission trips to Honduras and Ecuador.

“I am looking forward to the unknown and to see what He’s got in store for us,” Max said.

Volleyball: Chiefs Vs. Aggies

October 23, 2009

The District 1-1A Northview Chiefs lost to the District 1-4A Tate Aggies in volleyball action Thursday night.

Northview Vs Tate – Varsity
14-25 24-26 26-28

Shawna Montgomery 11 M Kills-7, Digs-2, Aces – 3, Blocks-2
Caitlin Hall 12 Setter Assists-12, Digs-1, Aces-1, Kills-2
Ashley Digmon 11 DS Digs – 1, Aces-5
Danielle Martin 12 LS Kills-1, Digs – 1, Blocks-2
Shaniqua Jones 11 M Kills-3, Digs-1

** Tate Winning**

Record – Overall – 8 -17; District 4 -4

Northview Vs Tate- JV
23-25 18-25

Trestine Dean 11 Setter Aces-2, Kills-1, Assists-1
Morgan Payne 09 Middle Kills-4, Aces-5
Josie Doucette 10 Middle Digs-1, Kills-3
Rebecca Masaitis 09 LS Killss-1

Billing’s Murder Suspect Gonzalez, Jr. Charged With Stabbing Inmate

October 23, 2009

Patrick Gonzalez, Jr. the alleged mastermind of the Billings murders, has been charged with stabbing another jail inmate.

Gonzalez, Jr., was charged with aggravated  battery for stabbing inmate Kevin Dale Wilkins,29, with a pencil. Gonzalez. Jr. left his cell with permission to use the telephone and asked Wilkins to hold some paperwork. Wilkins refused, and Gonzalez. Jr. stabbed him with the pencil in the shoulder, according to the arrest report. When Gonzalez. Jr. returned from using the phone, he stabbed Wilkins once again in the shoulder with the pencil. The second stabbing was witnessed by a detention deputy.

Wilkins is jailed awaiting trial on a charge of  sexual battery on a minor victim over 12 years old. He was arrested August 28.

Williams Station Day: Walnut Hill Man Responsible For Founding Atmore

October 23, 2009

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A Walnut Hill man’s founding of the railroad supply stop that would later become Atmore will be celebrated this weekend with the annual Williams Station Day.

This weekend’s Williams Station Day  remembers Atmore’s past, a past that started with William “Uncle Bud” Larkin Williams of Walnut Hill.

In 1816, John Gaylor settled in the Walnut Hill area on land from a Spanish Land Grant. A great deal of that land was later sold to Williams who began a logging and cattle operation in the Walnut Hill area sometime prior to the Civil War.

Just after the Civil War, in 1866, Williams opened a supply stop along the Mobile and Great Northern Railroad in the area that would later become Atmore. The area around the supply stop thrived, later becoming known as Williams Station. The name of the settlement was changed to Atmore in 1897.

As for Walnut Hill’s Williams, he served as a spy for the Confederacy during the Civil War. He was captured by the Union Army but was later released after he convinced the Union soldiers that he was just an innocent man traveling to Pensacola.

Williams allowed the Florida 13th Cavalry to camp at his Walnut Hill home, which was near the current Ernest Ward Middle School. A number of those soldiers died during their stay and were buried in a small cemetery. That cemetery was located between the current Walnut Hill Community Center and Bradberry Park. It is no longer recognizable.

Walnut Hill’s first log school and a Methodist Church were built on land owned by Williams near the present-day intersection of Highway 97 and Arthur Brown Road. The log church was later rebuilt and named the Annie Jones Methodist Church.

Sources: “Walnut Hill, A Historical Overview” compiled by Billy R. Ward from Escambia County Land Records researched by Robert Glenn Thrower, Sr. and “History of Ernest Ward School” by William Arthur Brown; and from northwestfloridacomm.com, compiled by students at Northview High School.

Pictured: William “Uncle Bud” Williams, the Walnut Hill man that founded Alabama settlement that would later become Williams Station and then Atmore. This photo is believed to have been taken at his 88th birthday celebration in McDavid on February 18, 1895. Click to enlarge.

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