Lawton “Bud” Chiles Begins Statewide Walk For Children In Century
September 21, 2009
Lawton “Bud” Chiles is retracing the steps of his father, former Florida Governor Lawton Mainor Chiles, Jr., with a One Million Step tour across Florida to raise awareness of children’s health, education and safety issues in the state.
The journey of One Million Steps will officially started Monday morning in Century, honoring the historic 1970 walk of Gov. Chiles as he ran for the U.S. Senate. Bud Chiles, who often traveled with his father on his journey, will walk one million steps — 566 miles — across Florida in an effort to inspire one million Floridians to become involved in volunteering and making Florida a better place for children.
“I saw first hand the unique bond he forged as he listened to people,” Bud Chiles said of his father’s walk and his desire to help children and families. “In the past 10 years, sadly, we have suffered from a lack of that leadership from our state’s politicians.”
“I want to help tell your stories about what is working and what is broken,” Chiles said of his desire to listen to Floridians as he walks across the state. “Florida’s politicians are out of touch, and we can’t count on Washington to fix what is broken. With your help, we will make Florida a place for children again.”
Chiles started his walk at Alabama-Florida state line Sunday afternoon, and he will end in Miami next year, according to event organizers
He had three stops planned for Monday:
- Campfire USA Childcare Program
A nurse will be on hand to do vision and hearing screenings and conduct handwashing classes. Chiles will be on hand, reading to the children while they are waiting their turn with the screenings. 10 a.m. until noon, 6031 Industrial Boulevard - New Life Baptist Church
New Life participates in several community projects for children, including the Imagination Library that provides any child between birth and age five a free, age-appropriate book delivered to their home monthly. 1:00 to 1:30 p.m., 700 East Hecker Road - Century Pharmacy
Century Pharmacy is a sponsor of the Imagination Library and other children’s programs. Chiles will hand out Imagination Library applications and read books to children. 3:00 to 4:00, 7351 Mayo Street
The walk will continue Tuesday and Wednesday in Pensacola. Event organizers have not yet released an itinerary.
The Lawton Chiles Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) non-partisan organization, is “driven by this same philosophy and working to make Florida a state in which children thrive. The Worst To First statewide initiative was formed by the Foundation to identify key indicators used to measure Florida’s poor performance and to educate Floridians about our national standing as regards education, health care and community safety,” according to the group’s www.WorstToFirst.org website.
County Commission Honors McDavid Man On His Retirement
September 21, 2009
The Escambia County Commission honored Ronald Rigby of McDavid on his retirement after 25 years of service in the county’s Public Works Bureau.
Rigby retired from the Escambia County Road Department after 25 years –all but just a few months of those years operating a Gradall excavator, moving tons and tons of dirt across North Escambia.
The county commission approved a proclamation meeting honoring Rigby. Click here to read the proclamation (pdf).
NorthEscambia.com published a story about Rigby on August 28. Click here to read that story.
Pictured above: Ronald Rigby. NorthEscambia.com photo/graphic, click to enlarge.
Football Weekend Recap
September 21, 2009
It was a big football weekend in and around North Escambia, and NorthEscambia.com had plenty of coverage.
Click a link below to visit the story or photo gallery.
- Top-Ranked Leroy Beats Flomaton 27-21 In OT
- Freeport Defeats Jay 33-20
- Tate Aggies Easily Beat Satsuma 43-14
- Escambia Academy beats Pickens Academy 28-22
- Spanish Fort Slams Escambia County High 45-6
- NWE Mini-Mites Photo Gallery
- NWE Mites Photo Gallery
- NWE Midgets Photo Gallery
- Flomaton Football Photo Gallery
Editors note: Northview High School was off last Friday night and will return to action this Friday.
Pictured above: Northwest Escambia Mini-Mite football action Saturday morning. Northescambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Wet Weather To Continue
September 21, 2009
Our wet weather pattern will continue the next several days in the North Escambia area.
Some of the showers could be heavy, so there could be localized flooding. Here’s your official forecast:
- Monday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 88. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Monday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.
- Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 89. North wind around 5 mph.
- Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 90. Calm wind.
- Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. North wind around 5 mph.
- Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 90. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. Calm wind.
- Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 89.
Northview To Hold First-Ever Homecoming Parade
September 21, 2009
Northview High School will hold its first annual homecoming parade this year on October 2. The school, founded in 1996, has never had a homecoming parade outside the school campus.
The homecoming parade will leave Bratt Elementary School at 12:30 on Friday, October 2 and proceed east on Highway 4 to Northview High. The school is currently seeking entries for the parade. There is no charge to enter, but all entries must be approved by the sponsoring Northview DCT class.
Units already entered in the parade include the Tribal Beat band, Northview cheerleaders, NHS ROTC, Ernest Ward Middle School cheerleaders, Poarch Fire Department and Princess Danielle Martin, NHS Mascot Raylin Spence and floats from the senior, junior, sophomore and freshmen classes.
Everyone is encouraged to support the Chiefs and line the route for this first annual Northview High School homecoming parade.
To enter the parade, call the school at (850) 327-6681 ext. 254.
Pictured above: Last year’s homecoming floats at Northview High were driven around the track at halftime. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Sentenced To 18 Months In Prison For Child Molestation
September 21, 2009
A Cantonment man has been sentenced to 18 months in prison and a lengthy probation in a case were he was accused of molesting a child under 12.
Donald Wayne Baxley, 50, was arrested June 26, 2008, and charged with sexual assault on a victim under 12, molestation of a child under 12, and lewd and lascivious conduct.
The assault and molestation charges were dropped. Baxley received the 18 month sentence from Circuit Court Judge Frank Bell on the lewd and lascivious conduct charge.
Baxley will be on probation for 10 years after his release. He will also be required to register as a sex offender. Baxley was also ordered to pay $619 in court costs.
Baxley was originally arrested for molesting the child under 12 on June 26, 2008.
All That Glitters: Another Gold Party At EWMS Today
September 21, 2009
Due to popular demand, there will be another Gold Party this afternoon at Ernest Ward Middle School from 4:30 until the last customer is served.
Ernest Ward Middle School teacher Cynthia Wilson turned scrap gold into money in her pocket last week, helping the school’s cheerleaders raise money at the same time.
Wilson and dozens of people like her sold their old and sometimes damaged jewelry during a “Gold Party” at the school. The concept was simple — show up with unwanted, broken or used gold pieces and leave with a check.
“Wow, I’m really quite surprised,” Wilson said when she received her check for almost $200. About $30 was going to her daughter for items that belonged to her, “and the reset is mine,” she said.
“It was just junk,” she said about the small pile of jewelry she sold, which even included earrings that had long since lost their match.
For every dollar paid out to those selling their gold, the EWMS cheerleaders received 10 percent.
According to information from the cheerleader sponsor, here is how it works:
- Find all of your, used, broken, and unwanted gold pieces. Ex. A broken earring or out of style bracelet. Anything from 10K to 24K and white gold, too. And if you discover something that you are not sure about, just bring it anyway.
- Bring your gold to a GOLDEN GIRLS’ GOLD PARTY. This is no pressure to buy anything because there is nothing to buy.
- Sell your gold to the GOLDEN GIRLS licensed gold buyer. The buyer will assess, test, and weigh your gold right in front of you. Then, they will pay you on the spot. You will actually leave this fundraiser with money in your pocket.
- Enjoy your money. Donate some of it… save it… or spend it. It’s your money so it’s up to you.
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Pictured above: Ernest Ward teacher Cynthia Wilson sells her unwanted gold to Andrea Tompkins at a Gold Party sponsored by the EWMS cheerleaders. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Flood Advisory
September 20, 2009
The National Weather Service in Mobile has issued a
* Flood Advisory for…
central Escambia County in northwest Florida…
east central Baldwin County in southwest Alabama…
* until 415 PM CDT
* at 222 PM CDT… National Weather Service meteorologists found an
area of heavy rain northern Baldwin County Alabama and Escambia
County Florida. Rainfall rates of 3 to 4 inches of rain per hour has
fallen in the last 30 minutes betweeen Spanish Fort Alabama and Bay
Springs Florida.
Precautionary/preparedness actions…
Most flood deaths occur in automobiles. In hilly terrain there are
many low water crossings which are dangerous in heavy rain. Do not
attempt to travel across flooded roads. Never drive your vehicle
into areas where the water covers the roadway. Find alternate
routes. Flood waters are usually deeper than they appear. Just a few
inches of flowing water is powerful enough to sweep vehicles off the
Road. When encountering flooded roads make the smart choice… turn
around… dont drown.
Special Weather Statement: North Escambia, Santa Rosa Strong Storm
September 20, 2009
A strong thunderstorm will affect Escambia and Santa
Rosa counties…
At 152 PM CDT… National Weather Service meteorologists found a
strong thunderstorm 3 miles west of Bay Springs… moving northeast
at 15 mph.
This thunderstorm will affect areas in and around…
Walnut Hill… Oak Grove and Bratt through 245 PM CDT.
The primary threats from this storm are small hail… frequent
lightning… and wind gusts of 35 to 45 mph. Winds this strong could
down small tree limbs or branches and blow around unsecured small
objects. Seek shelter in a safe home or building until the storm has
passed.
This storm could produce rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches in a
short period of time… resulting in brief ponding of water around
low lying and poor drainage areas. Remember… do not drive your
vehicle into water covered roadways. The depth may be too great to
allow a safe crossing.
See You At The Pole Rallies Planned At Northview, Ernest Ward, Flomaton
September 20, 2009
The annual See You at the Pole rally will be held Wednesday morning at Northview High and Ernest Ward Middle schools, and a special rally will be held Wednesday night in Flomaton.
Students will gather as school begins to pray in the non-denominational event. See You at the Pole will be held at 8:15 a.m. at Northview High School, and about 8:40 at Ernest Ward Middle School.
A community-wide See You At the Pole Rally will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Flomaton High School Auditorium. All students are invited. The free event will feature music from FACE (formerly Soul Society) and speaker Bo Bell.
See You at the Pole is a student-initiated, student organized, and student-led event. Students typically pray for their school, friends teachers, government and the nation.
““Engage: Go and pray . . .” from 2 Kings 22:13a will be the theme verse for See You at the Pole event at thousands of schools across the nation Wednesday morning.
“It’s tough being a Christian student today, isn’t it? You have to make a lot of choices about who you are—and who you’re not. You have to try and follow God in a world that misunderstands Christianity and tolerates its principles less and less all the time,” according to the See You at the Pole website.
See You at the Pole is scheduled annually on the fourth Wednesday in September. This is the 20th year for the event that started in a Ft. Worth, Texas, suburb.
Pictured: Students gathered last year at Northview High School for See You at the Pole. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.