Strong Storms Escambia, Santa Rosa

April 23, 2010

A strong thunderstorm will affect Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.

At 806 PM CDT…National Weather Service Doppler radar indicated a
strong thunderstorm 2 miles northeast of Cottage Hill…moving east
at 45 mph.

This thunderstorm will affect areas in and around…
Chumuckla…pace…Milton…Bagdad…Milton near Whiting Field…
Allentown…Harold and Berrydale through 900 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.

Northview Baseball Canceled

April 23, 2010

Tonight’s Northview High School varsity baseball game against Pensacola High School has been canceled due to rain.

Next week, the Chiefs will be on the road in Baker for the District 1-2A tournament.

Arlene Davis Godwin

April 23, 2010

Mrs. Arlene Davis Godwin, 96, passed away on Thursday, April 22, 2010 in Oak Grove, FL.

Mrs. Godwin was a native of Davisville, FL and a resident of Oak Grove, FL for most of her life. She was a member of the First Class of Ernest Ward High School to finish the 12th grade, loved to garden and raise flowers and was a member of the Oak Grove Baptist Church. Preceded in death by her Husband, L.J. “Jack” Godwin and a Son, Jimmy Godwin.

Survivors include: two Sons, Harold E. Godwin of Pensacola, FL, and Cary Von and Connie Godwin of Altha, FL; her Daughter, Diane and Raymond Jerkins of Atmore, AL; 10 Grandchildren; 18 Great-Grandchildren; a Brother, Alvin Davis of Claremont, FL; and a Sister, Marie Davis of Davisville, FL

Funeral services will be held Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 2:00 P.M. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with the Rev. Roy Chewning officiating.

Burial will follow at Oak Grove Cemetery.

Visitation will be held Saturday, April 24, 2010 between 6:00 and 8:00 P.M. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.

Pallbearers will be her Grandsons, Kyle Godwin, Jonathan Godwin, Jeffrey Moon, James Jerkins, Jeremy Jerkins, Greg Nita and Kevin Godwin.

Northview Lady Chiefs Take District 1-2A Championship

April 23, 2010

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The Northview Lady Chiefs (24-3) took the District 1-2A championship Thursday night with a 5-4 win over Baker.

Freshman pitcher Misty Doran picked up the win for the Lady Chiefs with 11 strikeouts, and allowing eight walks. She improved her career high school record to 18-3.

“I’m just so proud of them, I knew they could do it,” Head Coach Sammy Day said. “All year, these girls have played hard. We lost our focus a time or two, but they came back.”

Northview hitters were Kolbi Cobb 2-2, Shawna Montgomery 1-2, Misty Doran 1-3, Candace Greenwell 1-3 and Haley Simpson 1-3.

The Chiefs were up 5-1 as the seventh inning began, but Baker had an error, two walks an a two-RBI single to make it 5-4. Baker’s tying run was on base and Doran struck out the last two Gators for the Chief’s win.

This was the third win of the season for the Lady Chiefs over Baker.

The Lady Chiefs celebrated with lots of hugs and a few tears. They posed for lots of photos, including one with Day holding the championship trophy as he was surrounded by his players. Then the reality of a big win hit Day — in the form of  a cooler full of ice water was poured over the Chief’s head coach.

The Lady Chiefs will move on to the Regionals next Tuesday, 7 p.m. at home against the winner of Friday’s South Walton versus Liberty County game.

For a complete NorthEscambia.com gallery, click here. (Game winning celebration photos are at the end of the gallery.)

Pictured above: Freshman pitcher Misty Doran (top center) and the Northview Lady Chiefs celebrate after winning the District 1-2A Championship Thursday night in Bratt. Pictured below: Head Coach Sammy Day is showered with ice water in this photo captured by Luke Killam. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

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Jay Pro Rodeo Continues; Get Free Childrens Tickets From NE

April 23, 2010

jayrodeo.jpgThe 8th Annual Jay Pro Rodeo is scheduled to continue Saturday night, and NorthEscambia.com has free tickets for children 12 and under.

Gates open at 6 p..m. and the rodeo begins at 8 p.m. There will be musical entertainment, plus free moon bounces and activities for the children.  Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children 2-12 and children under 2 are free.

The  Jay Pro Rodeo is sponsored by the Jay Quarterback Club, Jay High SGA, FRIENDS (a community service organization) and the Ted May Arena. All proceeds will benefit local youth and Relay for Life.

Click here and print the flier and receive one free admission for a child 12 and under with each paying adult, compliments of NorthEscambia.com.

Pictured: The artwork for this year’s Jay Pro Rodeo poster was designed by Jay High School senior Leely Trevino, click to enlarge.

Using A Santa Rosa Library Could Cost You $50

April 23, 2010

If you not a Santa Rosa County resident and want to use the county’s libraries, be prepared to pay.

The Santa Rosa County Commission unanimously approved a $50 per year fee for nonresidents using the Jay Library or any of the other four libraries in the county. There will be an exception to the fee made for military personnel or nonresidents that own property in the county.

There are 2,378 nonresidents with library cards in Santa Rosa County.

Escambia County libraries already charge nonresidents $50 per year for a library card.

Escambia Changes Animal Tethering Laws

April 23, 2010

The Escambia County Commission Thursday night approved an ordinance amendment that would restrict how and when dogs can be tethered in the county.

The ordinance will require dogs to have a shelter large enough to stand up, turn around, lie down and stretch comfortably.

Tethering of animals over six months old will be allowed, if the ordinance is approved, if the animal is within eyesight of the owner and the tethering system is at least six feet long, below 1/16 the weight of the animal and fitted with a proper collar. The animal can not be tethered during extreme weather or while it is sick.

There are additional requirements set forth in the ordinance. To read the ordinance, click here.

Teen That Grabbed Deputy’s Gun Moved To Adult Court

April 23, 2010

The case of an Escambia teen that fought with deputies and grabbed a service revolver has been transferred from juvenile to adult court.

Tracey E. Squaire, 14, was moved from the Juvenile Detention Center to the Escambia County Jail. He was jailed after reportedly taking a deputy’s gun, threatening to shoot him and trying to take a weapon from another deputy. A deputy fired shots at the teen during the incident, but missed.

According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a suspicious vehicle in a ditch in the area of 80th Avenue and West Jackson Street early Tuesday morning. When Deputy Brandon Minor arrived on the scene, the vehicle was not occupied, so he proceeded to contact the owner of the vehicle who lived nearby.

squairetraceye.jpgThe owner of the vehicle discovered that keys to another vehicle he owned — a blue Chevrolet truck — were missing, and he told the deputy that he believed Squaire, his 14-year old stepson, had taken both vehicles.

When Deputy Minor and the owner returned to the scene of the abandoned truck in the ditch, they found Squaire removing items from the vehicle and placing them in the second vehicle reported stolen.

“Deputy Minor exited his patrol car and ordered Squaire to place his hands behind his back and which time Squaire refused and tried to distance himself from Deputy Minor. Deputy Minor then attempted to handcuff Squaire, but Squaire was able to forcibly resist the officer’s attempts, causing the officer to pull his taser. Squaire then grabbed Deputy Minor’s taser and began to fight with the officer trying to gain control of the taser. At this time Deputy Minor drew his gun on the suspect and ordered him to get on the ground. Square once again refused the officers commands and lunged for Deputy Minor’s gun. During the struggle over the gun, Squaire pulled the weapon from Deputy Minor’s hands and pointed the gun at the officer threatening to shoot him if he moved or tried to call for help,” according to Melissa Aiken, spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Office.

Squaire then fled the scene with the deputy’s weapon in the stolen Chevrolet truck. Additional deputies responded and began searching the area for Squaire. Deputy Kelly Hall located the truck in the area of 65th Avenue. When he pulled in behind the truck, the suspect accelerated and fled before wrecking with a traffic island on 65th Avenue.

“Deputy Hall then approached the suspect’s vehicle with his weapon drawn at which time the suspect raised the firearm stolen from Deputy Minor and pointed it at Deputy Hall ordering Hall to put his hands up. Deputy Hall took cover at the rear of the vehicle and fired one round into the suspect’s vehicle. Squaire then put both hands in the air in an attempt to give up. Deputy Hall ordered Squaire out of the vehicle and Squaire complied by exiting the vehicle and walking toward the deputy,” Aiken said.

“Deputy Hall then ordered the suspect to get on the ground at which time the suspect refused and lunged toward Deputy Hall grabbing his gun with both hands. The suspect fought with the deputy attempting to turn the gun’s muzzle toward the deputy. In fear for his life, Deputy Hall fired one round from his weapon in self defense, but missed the suspect. As the fight continued, Deputy Hall was eventually able to force the suspect to the ground at which time the suspect preceded to bite Deputy Hall on the wrist. Deputy Hall persevered and was able to free his weapon from Squaire’s grasp and handcuff the suspect,” Aiken continued.

Squaire was booked into the Escambia County Jail on a list of felony charges:

  • Committing a first degree felony with stolen law enforcement firearm
  • Aggravated assault with intent to commit a felony
  • Aggravated battery with a deadly weapon
  • Battery on law enforcement officer
  • Grand theft of vehicle
  • Obstruction of police

He is also facing misdemeanor charges of larceny and resisting a law enforcement officer.

Friends Of The Library Book Sale Begins Tonight

April 23, 2010

booksale10.jpgIt’s time to stock up on summer reading material, and the Friends of the Pensacola Public Library Spring Book Sale is the place to do it at a reasonable price this weekend.

The Book Sale will be Friday through Sunday at First United Methodist Church Wright Place, 80 E. Wright Street in Pensacola, and will offer thousands of gently used hardcover and paperback books, CDs and DVDs. Most range in price from 25 cents to $3. It also will feature a “Collectors’ Corner” and silent auction to showcase the more valuable books, Chairwoman Meredith McCarthy said.

The preview sale will be from 4:00 until 8:00 tonight for members. Non-members can attend for a $5 admission fee. Non-members can join with their admission fee going toward their membership fee.

On Saturday, hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday, hours are noon to 3 p.m. No admission is charged those days. On Sunday, a bag of books can be purchased for $5.

All proceeds from the sale go to support the West Florida Public Library system.

For more details, call McCarthy at (850) 341-1434.

Pictured: Volunteers work Friday morning to prepare for the Friends of the Pensacola Public Library Spring Book Sale at Wright Place in downtown Pensacola. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Comm. Gene Valentino Indicted By Grand Jury

April 23, 2010

valen.jpgAn Escambia County Grand Jury returned an indictment Thursday afternoon against Escambia County Commissioner Gene Valentino for the solicitation of a political contribution in a building owned by a governmental agency, according to State Attorney Bill Eddins.

Valentino is accused of accepting a campaign donation at his county office from Pensacola developer Dan Gilmore on November 5, 2009.

The charge is a first degree misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in the county jail and a $1,000 fine.

Valentino will be released on his own recognizance.

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