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North Escambia Area Students Graduate From UWF

Saturday was spring semester graduation day at the University of West Florida.

The following North Escambia area residents received degrees:

CANTONMENT

ASSOCIATE OF ARTS DEGREES: April Davidson, Laura Ghiorso, Adam Knight, Anthony Manzi, Emily Olivie

BACHELOR’S DEGREES: Heather Berry, Janet Branch, Gregory Breaux, Tina Carr, Dorothy Carr, Jessica Cascone, Laurie Corley, Michelle Digirolamo, Russell Dominick, Samantha Ervin, Thomas Ford, Kimberly Fox, Angela Garcia, Brittany Green, Tadessa Ham, Tiffany Harvey, Matt Hawkins, K. Hawthorne-Jennings, Christopher Henderson, Angela Hensel, Christopher Henseler, Robert Herman, Shannell Hill, Torin Howland, Thomas Huber, Patricia Jones, Jodi Laird, Kevin Lapointe, Jacqueline Lee, Brian Lyle, Falethea Marquis, Joel McDonald, Kelley McDowell, Rebecca McLellan, Heather Miller, David Norton, Renee Paulson, Autumn Price, Katherine Pursell, Bonnie Rieland, Timothy Sanders, Kaleb Showalter, Jessica Smith, Chris Snow, Jeffery Stanfill, Carol Stevens, Joshua Temple, Allen Thompson, Ryan Whited, Jonathan Wiggins, Heather Wiscombe

MASTER’S DEGREES: Gail Atkins, Matthew Blackburn, Ashley Brewster, Charles Cather, Jennifer Chambers, Marc Churchwell, David Faircloth, Steven Gallagher, Melissa Grace, Michael Johnston, Christina Kavanagh, Thomas Myers, Amber Sherouse, Kimberly Sinkkanen, Cole Yuknis

SPECIALIST’S DEGREES: Jenni Brian, Ron Steiner

CENTURY

BACHELOR’S DEGREES: Heather Cooper, Brittany Holley, Jessica Killam, Shannon Little, Amanda Montgomery, Amy Moye, Forrest Scott, Derek Stone

MASTER’S DEGREES: Deanna Hendrix, Julie Majors

SPECIALIST’S DEGREE: Philip Gilman

MCDAVID

BACHELOR’S DEGREE: John Chavers

MOLINO

BACHELOR’S DEGREES: Shana Brown, Audrey Coleman, Michael Laursen, Crystal Yu

MASTER’S DEGREE: Christen Glover

JAY

BACHELOR’S DEGREES: Ashleigh Campbell, Cassandra Emmett, Kristopher Head, Melody Helms, Erin Jones, Lukas Sasser, Dawna Walther, Kristen Wilkinson

MASTER’S DEGREE: Sarah Lee Cassady

For a complete UWF graduate list from Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, click here.

UWF Graduate List: Escambia And Santa Rosa

Saturday was spring semester graduation day at the University of West Florida.

The following Escambia and Santa Rosa county residents received degrees:

CANTONMENT

ASSOCIATE OF ARTS DEGREES: April Davidson, Laura Ghiorso, Adam Knight, Anthony Manzi, Emily Olivier

BACHELOR’S DEGREES: Heather Berry, Janet Branch, Gregory Breaux, Tina Carr, Dorothy Carr, Jessica Cascone, Laurie Corley, Michelle Digirolamo, Russell Dominick, Samantha Ervin, Thomas Ford, Kimberly Fox, Angela Garcia, Brittany Green, Tadessa Ham, Tiffany Harvey, Matt Hawkins, K. Hawthorne-Jennings, Christopher Henderson, Angela Hensel, Christopher Henseler, Robert Herman, Shannell Hill, Torin Howland, Thomas Huber, Patricia Jones, Jodi Laird, Kevin Lapointe, Jacqueline Lee, Brian Lyle, Falethea Marquis, Joel McDonald, Kelley McDowell, Rebecca McLellan, Heather Miller, David Norton, Renee Paulson, Autumn Price, Katherine Pursell, Bonnie Rieland, Timothy Sanders, Kaleb Showalter, Jessica Smith, Chris Snow, Jeffery Stanfill, Carol Stevens, Joshua Temple, Allen Thompson, Ryan Whited, Jonathan Wiggins, Heather Wiscombe

MASTER’S DEGREES: Gail Atkins, Matthew Blackburn, Ashley Brewster, Charles Cather, Jennifer Chambers, Marc Churchwell, David Faircloth, Steven Gallagher, Melissa Grace, Michael Johnston, Christina Kavanagh, Thomas Myers, Amber Sherouse, Kimberly Sinkkanen, Cole Yuknis

SPECIALIST’S DEGREES: Jenni Brian, Ron Steiner

CENTURY

BACHELOR’S DEGREES: Heather Cooper, Brittany Holley, Jessica Killam, Shannon Little, Amanda Montgomery, Amy Moye, Forrest Scott, Derek Stone

MASTER’S DEGREES: Deanna Hendrix, Julie Majors

SPECIALIST’S DEGREE: Philip Gilman

MCDAVID

BACHELOR’S DEGREE: John Chavers

MOLINO

BACHELOR’S DEGREES: Shana Brown, Audrey Coleman, Michael Laursen, Crystal Yu

MASTER’S DEGREE: Christen Glover

PENSACOLA

ASSOCIATE OF ARTS DEGREES: Anton Alexandrov, Kerstin Bryant, Nicole Cabrera, Meagan Core, Tim Mark Dahn, Stacey Epling, Shelby Esser, Joseph Flynn, Keaton Fox, Richette Gaines, Christina Hayes, Brittany Kaylor, Shelby Leitch, Heidi Medina, Sarah Nguyen, Kesha Royster, Chelsea Simpson, Nicholas Stockton, Amanda Taft, John Vuong, Corey Weaver, Laura Wilson

BACHELOR’S DEGREES: William Abbott, Dario Ackerman, Theresa Agosto, Daniel Akerman, Jason Albano, Jennifer Albesa, Ayed Aldossari, Patterson Aldueza, Matthew Alford, Lisa Althaus, Craig Anderson, Eunice Angeles, Luis Arboleda, Joshua Ard, Daniel Baggett, Allison Bahr, Dana Balderrama, Kimberly Baldwin, Donald Barksdale, James Barnes, Brittney Barnett, Jessica Barnett, Ashlee Barnhill, Amanda Beam, Heather Beck, Helen Billy, Matthew Black, Tangee Blankenship, John Boatner, Taryn Boccia, Alison Borganelli, Megan Boudreaux, Ashley Boyd, Colin Boyles, Breanna Boyster, Megan Brantley, James Bricker, Allen Brothers, Cary Brown, Courtney Brown, Leecy Brown, Lucretia Brown, Kenzie Broxson, Tyler Brummet, Amanda Burgess, Amber Burns, Scott Burton, Carlton Burton, Katherine Butch, Domonic Butler, Allison Byrd, Kristin Campbell, Anita Carnley, Rebecca Caroline, Michael Carty, Agatha Castellano, Alexis Castro, Kristine Celestino, Kristofer Chamblee, Juleah Chandler, Earlene Chandler, Liem Chau, Jamie Cherry, Holly Clements, Amanda Clonts, Christy Cofer, Willis Condon, Cheri Conkle, Robert Cook, Peyton Cook, Cordaryl Cook, Clayton Cooper, Benjamin Coppenger, Jason Corbin-Deutsch, Karen Cravero, Paul Crewdson, Seth Crochet, Nyshenia Cromartie, Andrew Cruse, Christopher Cumber, Heather Daffin, Taylor Dalton, Christopher Dalton, Susanne Daniels, Ezzat Danyal, Darryl Davis, Serjevah Davis, Kwajalain Davis, Brandy Davis, Yasmailin De La Cruz, Mark Matthew De Luna, Christian Dearco, Daniel Dees, Melville Dela Paz, Diana Denisenko, James Denunzio, Katherine Devereux, Michael Dinapoli, Kirstie Dombrosky, Robert Donnelly, Rosella Dozier, Chelsea Duell, Mark Duggar, Marina Dukhovskaya, Elizabeth Dunn, James Dunn, Brandon Eckard, Tonya Edgar, Neil Edmonston, Calvin Edwards, David Egstad, Tavia Ellis, Susan Ensley, Linsey Erar, Katherine Erickson, Lindsey Falzone, Branden Farmer, La Vesta Feagin, Melissa Featherstone, Joanna Fielding, Taylor Finn, Charles Fischer, Danielle Fisher, David Fleming, Joshua Fleming, Brett Fleming, Ashley Flowers, Laura Foote, Steven Fox, Marcela Franco, Elanders Frazier, Heather Freeman, Sheila Freeman, Cara Fulton, Mark Furches, Tanya Gallagher, Patricia Gandolfo, Tabatha Garcia, Kelly Garner, Michele Geier, Jenna Geiger, Sarah Gellner, Vivian Gibson, Ronald Giese, Alicia Gifford, Shirley Gilley, Christina Glover, Kathleen Godwin, Elizabeth Godwin, George Goehring, Brett Golightly, John Gomez, Bianca Gomez, Nicole Gonzalez, Andi Gonzalez, Christopher Gormley, Tracy Grant, Ryan Gray, Melissa Gray, Jeremy Gray, Mary Greer, Melea Griffin, Floyd Grimes, Nicole Grottano, Nicole Grottano, Jennifer Gulley, John Haarala, Lindsay Hall, Karen Hamblin, Jennifer Hardman, Joseph Harnage, John Harold, Kasi Harrell, Richard Harrison, Nicole Hatt, Ingrid Hawkins, Ashley Hensel, Carolyn High, Megan Hill, Joseph Hobbs, Savannah Hodge, Nicole Holland, Erica Holland, Ashley Holloway, Hannah Homeier, Matthew Hope, Crystal Howard, Erica Howe, Martin Hozian, Andrew Hubbard, Christina Hutley, Jonathan Jackson, Nancy Jacobi, Stephanie Jacobson, Timothy Jansky, Jacquita Jenkins, Haley Jensen, Daniel Jonas, Courtney Jones, Michelle Jones, Ronald Joyner, Jacquelyn Kashur, Jaramie Kellam, Curtis Kellam, Mallory Kennedy, Kristen Kessler, , Justin King, Mark King, Gwendolyn Knight, Chelsea Koontz, Michael Kortness, Jalila Krichi, Elena Krivosheyeva, Joel Kuhn, Syctrilas Kyle, Nicoria Lambert, Samuel Lamotte, Tiffany Langham, Shane Langseth, Jade Lantz, Saheed Lateef, Michael Laterza, Stacy Lawhorn, Sarah Lee, Naomi Leitch, Richard Leohner, Kara Leon, Sarah Lerman, Ian Lett, Brianna Lewis, Paige Livermore, Michelle Livingston, Pragga Liza, Anastacio Loanzon, Daniel Lowery, Megan Mackay, Gary Macmullen, Kevin Madderra, Melissa Mancao, Lisa Manderson, Andrew Martel, Elizabeth Martin, Shaye Martin, Robert Martin, Vincent Marzano, Samantha Matthews, Renata Mattos, Elisa McAlpine, Stephanie McBride, Garrett McCabe, Sarah McCartan, Stanley McDaniels, Danielle McDonald, Ronald McGhee, Lisa McKenna, Laurisa McKissack, Christopher McMahon, Cassia McShannon, Nathan Melton, Mark Milliken, Christine Mills, Kecia Mitchell, Mark Mitchell, Tamara Mobley, Michael Moehle, Marcy Moon, Kevin Mooney, Ryan Moore, Carmela Moorman, Alden Morgan, Jonathan Morris, Shawn Morrison, Elizabeth Morrison, Melissa Mortland, James Mueller, Martina Mueller, Mary Mullen, Scott Muller, Wesley Murphy, Jessica Nall, Nicole Nash, Armand Navarro, Deanna Neal, La’Krystal Neal, Neal Neisler, Marvetta Nesbitt, Linh Nguyen, Phuong Nguyen, Tri Nguyen, Michael Niewoehner, Christopher Nosal, Katrina O’Neil, Danielle Otos, Joseph Overby, Crystal Padilla, Christina Padron, Jeremy Paguiligan, Anish Palepu, Joseph Palestini, Jennalyn Palmares, Ashlee Palmer, Chantel Parker, Meagan Parker, Jacques Perry, Aaron Petersen, Lameika Peterson, Mai Pham, Elizabeth Pires, Cathryn Plummer, Timothy Pope, Benjamin Posey, Sarah Prouty, Akemi Raish, Kaitlin Ramsey, Marcia Ranaldson-Simpson, Brittany Rappise, Tara Raulston, Aliza Ray, Christopher Ray, Jamie Rayford, Stephanie Reed, Lauren Rhodes, Jennifer Rice, Kristen Richards, Claresa Richardson, Tiffany Richardson, Kenneth Richardson, Jessica Robinson, Joshua Rodgers, Tatiana Rodrigues, Samantha Rodzwicz, Stephanie Rogers, Christina Rojas, Sheena Ross, John Rougas, Mary Routt, Mindy Rownd, Meagan Russell, Ashley Rutherford, Andrea Sablan, Tayler Sanders-Kyser, Jessica Schisler, Hans Schmid, Samantha Schmid, Ellen Schwier, Judy Seales, Casey Serfoss, Yelena Sestnov, Suzanne Shores, Diana Simpler, Katina Simpson, Meagan Skeen, Sarah Skipper, Justin Slaughter, Charles Slowikowski, Briana Small, Kavontae Smalls, Anthony Smith, Crystal Smith, Diane Smith, Michael Smith, Heather Smith, Jennifer Smith, Kevin Smith, Tina Smith, Ivy Snodgrass, Cesar Solorzano, Amanda Sorrells, Angela Spadaro, Lindsey Spires, Brittney Spurgeon, Regina St. Pierre, Alex Stahura, Lauren Stanley, Todd Stannard, Dawnyele Stapleton, Joseph Stephen, John Strickland, Latosha Sullivan, Harrison Szuch, Selena Talbert, Brandy Tart, Mathew Taylor, Kristie Thomas, Jacqueline Thomas, Joshua Thomson, Matthew Tierney, Sedonia Tillman, James Tobin, Kimberly Torres, Adriana Torres, Han Tran, Joanna Trease, Michael Turner, Jamie Turner, Jennifer Turner, Jacob Urda, Michael Valentine, Jennifer Vickers, Alex Vinson, Ashley Virgilio, Amanda Vowell, Kevin Vu, Anh Vu, Christina Walden, Breanna Waldron, Adrienne Wallace, Shannon Wallace, Riannon Wallen, Clasine Washington, Michael Watkins, David Watson, Branden Weekley, Brittany Weiss, Helen Welch, Jason Wells, Jeffrey Wells, Kelly Wells, Heather Wendel, Marlene Wensink, Jessica White, Chenika White, Joanne Whitlock, Dolly Willems, Madeline Willett, Alaina Williams, Catherine Williams, Haley Williams, Jarra Williams, Kervonda Williams, Phylicia Williams, Samantha Williams, Stephanie Wilson, Kimberly Wilson, Matthew Winkles, Mariah Wood, Matrice Woods, Ari Woods, Cherrell Worsham, Cayce Yates, Frank Yost, Carla Young, Sara Zandi Karimi

MASTER’S DEGREES: Rajeh Al-Johani, Majid Alharbi, Tara Baker, Hilary Barber, David Beddick, Catherine Bogese, Natalie Boxell, Kimberly Bradley, Cassi Breaux, Paul Brown, Gregory Bush, Lynn Calloway, Richard Carr, Anna Carroll, Leslie Chaffee, Amanda Chamberland, Benjamin Chromik, Christopher Clarke, Maria Colbert, Crystal Collinsworth, Jason Crawford, David Croft, John Crowe, David Davis, Laura Davis, Ryan Davis, Maria Dewise, Jenna Dodge, Mitchell Engley, Deborah Fletcher, Carrie Fox, Juan Garaicoechea, Timothy Giertz, Richard Gillis, Jennifer Grainger, Shelley Gray, Victoria Guy, Heather Halbert, Jessica Hall, Viorica Harrison, Jacob Hesse, Cynthia Holt, Logan Hundley, Jamie Hutson, Lindsey Jeremiah, Warren Johnson, Michael Kaloydis, Kendra Kennedy, Robert Kidston, Eric Kollar, Stacey Kostevicki, Deborah Layton, Douglas Leal, Anlecta Lindsey, Vickie Lindsey, Tomas Lopez, Andrea Lowery Mae Macdonald, Katherine Marsh, Sean McCan, Jessica Morris, Catherine Newbill, Roy Oberto, Leigh Pelham, Frederique Perret, Jonathan Posey, Alex Posta, Matteo Rebeschini, Allison Reynolds, Timothy Ringo, Ashley Roache’, Ashley Roberts, Felicia Roberts, Seth Rosin, Shawn Ross, Natasha Sanders, Steve Schickel, Edina Simmons, Arup Sinha, Donna Sirois, Erika Smith, Gregory Stanley, Vivian Stark, Noah Stevens, Jeffrey Strawn, Elisabeth Swain, Karen Sylvester, Sarah Tavares, Hope Vanamburg,Tiffany Vollmer, Christina Wade, Chelsea Watson, Tracie Watson, Amy Wheeler, Stephanie Wideman, Casey Williams, Eric Williams, Nina Winkler, Mary Yates, Stephen Zielinski

SPECIALIST’S DEGREES: Eric Collins, Sheldon Payne, Vicki Yelder

PENSACOLA BEACH

BACHELOR’S DEGREES: Adam Horton, Ryan Purves, Shandy Rich
SANTA ROSA COUNTY

GULF BREEZE

ASSOCIATE OF ARTS DEGREES: Kyle Barron, Renee Davis

BACHELOR’S DEGREES: Raynold Augustin, Chrystelle Banfell, Nadia Batson, Alex Borgella, Gail Bowling, Kyle Brown, Beverly Burks, Dahlonega Calhoun, Thomas Cantin, Andria Cauley, Carol Chanley, Morgan Cole, Russ Dickerson, Daniel Dolfie, Chad Dunn, Mark Duval, Sandra Echeverri, Michelle Gorman, Erin Graydon, Nikolas Halatsis, Michelle Harmon, Caitlyn Holston, Sarah Kane, Sarah Kane, Kyle Kildow, Tyler Kirk, Candace Knowles, Jim Lacey, Kimberly Lauterbach, Laure Lewis, Shannon Marsh, Macy Miller, Joseph Pace, Hilary Rivkind, Dustin Saxon, Nikolas Sharp, Kristopher Shea, Matthew Shull, Margaret Stephenson, Corey Stone, Rachael Tarter, Patricia Vogler, Elliott Williams, Malery Williams, Tamra Zanca

MASTER’S DEGREES: Michelle Buchholtz, Janusz Chudzynski, Dorothy Kilpatrick, Katie Lowe, Elizabeth Mann, Vesta Mosley, Selena O’Donnell, Carrie Phelps, Catherine Purdon, Jessica Van Slyke, Terrace Waggoner

JAY

BACHELOR’S DEGREES: Ashleigh Campbell, Cassandra Emmett, Kristopher Head, Melody Helms, Erin Jones, Lukas Sasser, Dawna Walther, Kristen Wilkinson

MASTER’S DEGREE: Sarah Lee Cassady

MILTON

ASSOCIATE OF ARTS DEGREES: Maggie Lochas, Rachael Porras

BACHELOR’S DEGREES: Alethea Rebecca Flores, Jonathan Potts, William Powell, Laura Rader, Byanka Ramirez, John Scholl, Chantalle Scott, Jason Sisko, Casey Smith, Kelley Smith, Tiffany Sowell, Jennifer Tilden, Lind Volonino, Forrest Ward, Lori Weekley, Laura Williams, Nicholas Zepp

MASTER’S DEGREES: Julie Bakke, Charles Baxley, Kathleen Cooper, Andrea Ducker, Harmony Jones, Sophia King, Jeremy Laughery, Tabatha Lowry, Ashley Murray, Sheramy Scott, Leauna Stone, Michael Walker

NAVARRE

BACHELOR’S DEGREES: Rachel Azar, Frances Bell, Jessica Bellin, Jeannine Bonnen, Matthew Bonno, Paula Brainard, Elizabeth Brunet, Robert Bryan, Leon Butcher, John Byrne, Kimberly Carlow, Caroline Clark, Leonard Crabtree, Kevin Davis, Ann Day, James Duval, Carla Fernandez, Meredith Fingarson, Michael Flowers, Tyler Garbo, Tammy Hammack, Samuel Handy, Nicole Heslin, John Hill, Michael Hitchcock, Rochele Hullinger, Henry Isaacs, Meredith Jansen, Michelle Jennrich, Robert Johnson, Elizabeth King, Brandon Lawson, Brittany Lazo, Eric Lentner, Rose Lloyd, Emily Martin, Stefan Meyer, Shreese Moore, Jennifer Murphy, Haley Murray, Katelyn Murray, Jennifer Oeding, Gilbert Petris, Thomas Richardson, Danielle Ross, Francesca Segura, Tori Shires, Emery Shoemaker, Cynthia Sports, Christin Stephens, Savannah Stewart, Kindra Svendsen, Alicia Swinford, Douglas Wise, Eric Womack, Justean Wright

MASTER’S DEGREES: Kristin Botsford, Janet Desalle, Penelope Duffey, Larry Love, Ann St. Sauver

PACE

ASSOCIATE OF ARTS DEGREES: Laura Groat, Stephanie Hinton, Richard Hohn, Erica Manning, Jack McDonald, Jessica Reeder, Mary Summerlin, Flavia Vale

BACHELOR’S DEGREES: Dellanie Almond, Danielle Annis, Timothy Babin, Mary Bainbridge, Richard Ball, Jeri-Lyn Barninger, Emily Burge, Elizabeth Cockrum, Olivia Cole, Thomas Cornelison, Gretchen Cotton, Catrina Dallman, Linda Davis, Tyrone Del Valle, Tanya Drossner, Erica Gates, Patricia Gillespie, Gregory Griffis, Sierra Grillot, David Hand, Christopher Herrera, John Howard, Lindsey Howell, Caleb Howton, Thomas Huffstutler, Annmarie Jackson, Gary Lee, Erica Leeds, Robert Lloyd, Savannah Locklin, Lindsay Lowe, Alie Marie Mallet, Christopher Martin, Suzannah Miller, Josh Milletary, Brittani Morgan, Brittany Mraz, Joshua Newby, Ashley Oram, Jenny Paige, Liandethza Ramirez-Crespo, Jannie Randolph, Tyler Roberts, Heath Rosenstiel, Heather Sanders, Carl Shouppe, Amanda Spiegel, Karen Thomley, Jennifer Tindell, Erin Toole, Patrick Walsh, Lauren Welch, Carole Wells, Derek Williams

MASTER’S DEGREES: Albert Abbey, Alexandra Colley, Kathia Rogillio, Vaun Shebeck, Joshua Strickland, Gerald Swann, Lauren Wesley, William Wyatt

Tonight’s Stormy Forecast: Flash Flood Watch

Storms Sunday night and Monday could be severe, with heavy rain, damaging winds and hail.

There is a Flash Flood Watch in effect from this evening through Monday afternoon. According to the National Weather Service, rainfall amounts will general range from three to five inches with some areas receiving up to seven inches.

After the front, we could have some of the warmest temperatures so far this year by Wednesday and Thursday, with highs reading around 90.

Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:

• Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms. Some of the storms could be severe and produce heavy rainfall. Low around 70. Breezy, with a south wind between 10 and 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
• Monday: Periods of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1pm. Some of the storms could be severe. High near 82. South wind between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
• Monday Night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 65. South southeast wind between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
• Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 84. East wind between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
• Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. East southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
• Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south.
• Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 66. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
• Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 89. South southwest wind between 5 and 15 mph.
• Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 66.
• Friday: Sunny, with a high near 87.
• Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66.
• Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a high near 85.
• Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59.
• Sunday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81.

Not About The Catch: Pen Wheels Fishing Rodeo Held In North Escambia

“I caught one! I caught one!”

The sounds of excitement were all around Saturday for the 36th annual Pen Wheels Fishing Rodeo in Walnut Hill.

Over the 35 year history of the fishing rodeo, it has been held at locations ranging from Ft. Pickens to the Three Mile Bridge in Pensacola. Since 2001, it has been held at Jantz’s Catfish Pond on South Highway 99, just off Highway 97.

Dozens of volunteers stood ready Saturday to help the disabled fish. They baited hooks, tossed a line and offered words of friendly encouragement. Many of the volunteers were from the Walnut Hill Mennonite Church.

About 60 disabled people were registered in Saturday’s fishing rodeo. They were from around the area, including Pensacola and Century. Several residents from the Century Care Center participated. Everything, including lunch, in Pen Wheels Fishing Rodeo is provided to the disabled for free as a project of the Pensacola Fiesta of Five Flags organization.

For the Century Center residents, a morning snack of sardines on Ritz crackers and Vienna sausage brought memories of fishing trips gone by.

“They love sardines and Vienna sausage when they fish,” said Century Care Center Activities Director Mae Hildreth. “This is what they remember having on their fishing trips; they just love it.”

For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the event, click here.

Pictured: Scenes from the 36th annual Pen Wheels Fishing Rodeo in Walnut Hill Saturday morning. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

Oil Spill Response Limited On Saturday

The surface area of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has tripled; President Barack Obama is expected to visit the Gulf Coast today, and local emergency operations centers in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties are in operation.

The response to the Deepwater Horizon incident continued on Saturday with only limited operations due to rough weather in the Gulf.

The National Response Team (NRT), an organization of 16 federal departments and agencies responsible for coordinating emergency preparedness and response to oil and hazardous substance pollution incidents was quickly activated and a coordinated group of federal partners-including the United States Coast Guard, Departments of Homeland Security, Commerce, Interior and the Environmental Protection Agency-immediately began directing and overseeing BP’s response.

Coastal protection and booming operations under the direction of the Unified Command Mobile are ongoing, actively deploying as rapidly as possible as part of the strategic plan across Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida panhandle, Unified Command Mobile said today. The protective measures are targeting the barrier islands and prioritized environmentally sensitive areas.

Additional areas will be designated for booming as trajectories are updated each day.

Overall, the combined response has deployed 275,580 feet of boom, staged 316,470 feet, and has on order an additional 250,000 feet. About 55,000 feet of the boom has been deployed in the waters of Escambia County.

“The Unified Command is working diligently to ensure that all possible resources are being employed in the response to the oil spill,” said Coast Guard Capt. Steven Poulin, commander of Coast Guard Sector Mobile.

Pictured above: U.S. Environmental Services’ workers move oil containment boom onto a supply boat in the Gulf of Mexico. Staging areas have been set up along the Gulf Coast, including Pensacola Naval Air Station, to actively identify, target and protect environmentally and economically sensitive areas. U.S. Coast Guard photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Oil Spill: Latest Escambia County Information

Here is the latest emergency operations center information for Escambia County:

Proactive efforts continue as contractors work to place deflective booms or– large floating barriers that help contain floating oil –around sensitive shorelines in Escambia County.

Actions by Escambia County Board of County Commissioners and Staff

• County Commissioners and staff participated in a DEP briefing with the Governor.
• Emergency Management officials continue to communicate with the State of Florida liaison at unified command.
• A meeting of all essential local emergency support agencies was held on Saturday, May 1 and another will be held on Sunday, May 2.
• County staff is coordinating with the Santa Rosa Island Authority on equipment necessary for the response effort.
• County staff is coordinating with the Escambia County Health Department on health and safety information.
• The Perdido Landfill has coordinated with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and is prepared to accept oil contaminated sand and materials from commercial haulers.
• Emergency management has been in contact with the Visitor’s Information Center to encourage businesses to track losses.
• Pre-qualified debris contractors and consultants have been contacted and are ready to respond.
• Environmental staff finished the initial assessments of pre-oil spill conditions and will perform aerial assessment on Sunday, May 2.
• Environmental staff are reviewing waterways and conducting a comprehensive inventory of waterways that have been boomed, waterways that have not been boomed, and prioritizing the remaining areas.
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS) staff are taking information for the priority areas and mapping the locations to determine the amount of boom that is still needed.
• County officials are working through state and federal channels to request equipment, manpower, training and other resources that may be needed for long-term recovery.
• A local state of emergency was declared by the Board of County Commissioners at an emergency meeting at 2 p.m. Friday, April 30.
• The emergency operation center activated to a level 2 on Saturday, May 1. This is a minimal activation with only specifically involved agencies activating at this time.

Operation “Clean Sweep”

• An “Operation Clean Sweep” will be held on the beaches to clean them of any debris before the oil spill reaches the shores to prevent additional contamination. This is a preventative measure that everyone can participate in. The focus will be on local beaches.
• Items to be picked up include: paper, plastic, glass, any other man-made debris.
• Anyone may participate in this pre-cleanup event. Your safety is the number one priority.
• Wear rubber soled, closed toed shoes, hats, and preferably, long pants. Bug spray, sunscreen and water is also highly recommended.
• This information is provided to help minimize safety risks, such as slips, trips and falls, use of improper lifting techniques, use of improper shoes, dehydration, heat stroke, sun burns and others.
• Volunteers will be briefed at the cleanup locations for deployment.
• Please bring your own garbage bags and gloves; goggles will be provided, if desired.
• Driftwood and seaweed can be moved above the high tide water line; shells can be left.
• Once your bag is full, leave it on the beach for pick up. Escambia County Public Works staff will be picking up bagged litter from the beaches from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
• On Pensacola Beach, the cleanup will be held Sunday at noon, please meet at the Gulfside Pavilion at Casino Beach.
• On Perdido Key Beach, the cleanup will also be held Sunday at noon, please meet at the Perdido Key Chamber, 15500 Perdido Key Drive.
• Volunteer response activity will be from noon to 3 p.m. We thank you for volunteering.

Safety Messages

• Boats
  • Boats should keep a safe distance from any of the booms – large floating barriers that help contain floating oil – seen in the water.
  • Boaters should not drive boats over any booms.
  • Boat owners are urged to dry-dock boats.
• Wildlife
  • The public is advised not to attempt to rescue oiled or injured birds or wildlife. Doing so can cause additional injuries.
  • If oiled wildlife are found, call the Oiled Wildlife hotline at 866-557-1401, please provide location of where the oiled wildlife was sighted.
  • An additional concern, May is the hatching season for many birds, reptiles, and shellfish. Please use the toll free number above.
• Beaches and Waterways
  • Citizens should take precautions to avoid contact with oil substances.
  • Citizens are urged to take caution around the waterways.
  • Officials are closely monitoring potential public health and environmental concerns.
• Personal Safety (If areas are affected by oil)
  • Avoid entering areas where oil can be seen or smelled. If you see or smell oil, leave the area right away.
  • Avoid direct skin contact with oil, oil-contaminated water and sediments.
  • Do not swim or ski in areas affected by the oil spill, and if you travel through the area by boat, take precautions when hoisting the boat anchor. If you get oil on your skin, wash it off immediately with soap and water.
  • Do not fish in the oil spill-affected waters.
  • Do not harvest and eat dead fish, fish with oily residue or fish that have a petroleum odor.
  • Do not drive your boat through slicks or sheens.
  • Young children, pregnant women, people with compromised immune systems, and individuals with underlying respiratory conditions should avoid the area.
  • Restrict pets from entering oil-contaminated areas.
  • Additional information and frequently asked questions from the Escambia County Health Department can be found at www.escambiadisasterresponse.com.
  • Report oiled shorelines to 866-448-5816. Report oiled wildlife to 866-557-1401.

Businesses Information

• Businesses, including hotels, sport fishing charters, watersports rental companies, etc., that may be negatively impacted are asked to keep detailed profit and loss records and track any cancellations, should a claim need to be presented.
• BP has established a claim system and toll free number for people to call. This system will allow people to being to process to recover lost income or recoup damage related expenses.
• Claim line toll free number – 800-440-0858.
• BP is asking fishermen for their assistance in cleaning up the oil spill.
• The Vessels of Opportunities Program is looking to contract shrimp boats, oyster boats and other vessels for hire to deploy boom in the Gulf of Mexico.
• Fishermen should call 425-745-8017 about this program.

Volunteer Opportunities

BRACE, United Way and First Call for Help are organizing volunteers for cleanup after the oil reaches the shores. Please call 595-5905 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday, and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday to register to volunteer.

Volunteer Training

• Sign-up to be trained for post-beach clean-up, 595-5905. Phones open at 8 a.m.
• Registration is required for a four-hour health and safety training classes for handling petroleum-contaminated materials.
• Registration is required for the class. Classes will be held beginning Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Pensacola Civic Center. Once the class is full, additional classes will be scheduled.

State of Florida

• A state of emergency was declared by Governor Crist today, Friday, April 30.
• The state emergency operations center activated to a level 2 today.

Citizen Information

Citizen information phone lines will open at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 1 for questions from residents may have. The number will be (850) 471-6600.

Important information

• Although oil has not yet touched Escambia County shorelines, citizens are asked to stay away from oiled areas and keep a safe distance away from oil containment booms.
• Report oiled shorelines to 866-448-5816. Report oiled wildlife to 866-557-1401.
• For more information, see the official Escambia County disaster response site, www.EscambiaDisasterResponse.com.

Florida Approves Final Budget

Lawmakers approved a $70.4 billion state budget Friday, ending a two-month, election-year legislative session shaped by a massive budget shortfall and the stunning defection of Gov. Charlie Crist from the Republican Party in his race to U.S. Senate.

In the House, the measure was approved 77-43, with most Democrats opposed. The Senate voted 33-4, setting the 2010-11 plan for the year beginning July 1.

But it was an uneven ending to the often combative session. The House adjourned at 6:59 p.m., with the Senate not calling sine die to the session until 8:47 p.m. Gov. Charlie Crist, who separated himself from the GOP on Thursday, didn’t make a public appearance on the Legislature’s final night.

For the fourth straight year, the budget was mostly about cuts. The spending plan includes just slightly more than an extra buck for a kid in a Florida classroom, while there are higher tuition rates for college and university students, and rate reductions for hospitals, nursing homes and hospices.

But such big-ticket programs as KidCare, Medically Needy, and Medicaid Aged and Disabled programs were sustained, while lawmakers also salted away at least $1.4 billion in reserves – bracing for what is certain to prove an even tougher financial picture next year when federal stimulus dollars are slated to end.

“The budget – it’s lean, but it’s not mean,” said Rep. John Legg, R-Port Richey.

The spending plan buttoned-up Friday includes $2.3 billion in stimulus – the last installment of more than $15 billion in federal cash helping prop-up Florida the past three years.

Also helping lawmakers offset a $3.2 billion shortfall was $433 million from the Seminole gambling compact, a $507 million draw from agency trust funds, and $270 million from an anticipated extension of federal Medicaid spending.

“These are difficult times,” said Senate budget chairman J.D. Alexander, R-Lake Wales. “The economy is likely to have a slow recovery. We can’t budget with blinders. We must consider the future, and this budget does that.”

Republicans in both the House and Senate united in praising the spending plan, saying that unlike last year, lawmakers cobbled it together without any tax or fee increases. Rep. Esteban Bovo, R-Hialeah, said lawmakers did what voters wanted this election year.

“We don’t have the ability to run to the ATM and take out cash without their permission,” Bovo said.

But Democrats didn’t like it, generally.

Sen. Nan Rich, D-Weston, said the budget misdirects federal aid and lawmakers were wrong to not consider means to expand the state’s tax base to pull in more revenue.

“We had a responsibility to prepare for next year, by looking at new resources,” Rich said.

Sen. Dan Gelber, D-Miami Beach, also criticized the spending blueprint for not looking ahead.

“We keep seeming to bale out water without plugging the holes,” Gelber said.

The budget vote and the conforming bills that go with it were the last act of the 2010 session. While the recession-damaged spending plan dominated much of the two-month session, it also will be remembered for some major mileposts.

Anticipation of Crist’s Thursday move to bolt the Republican Party to qualify for Senate as a no-party-affiliated candidate seemed to slack the wind in the Legislature for much of the session’s final week.

With Crist cutting himself free of party ties, the governor is unpredictable on both the budget and bills. He could choose to heavily apply his veto pen to the spending plan – in an attempt to both bolster state budget reserves and underscore his independence from a Legislature he could soon begin campaigning against as part of an establishment he now scorns.

Legislation approved Friday by lawmakers that would require women seeking abortions to be asked if they want to view a required ultrasound image was expected by many to be vetoed by a governor eager to burnish his credentials as a political moderate.

Crist’s split with the party may have proved a fitting metaphor for a session marked by surprising results.

For all the legislative anxiety over Medicaid – which will absorb about one-quarter of all state spending – lawmakers never got close to consensus on two widely divergent plans emerging from the House and Senate.

While both approaches relied heavily on steering low-income Floridians into managed care health plans, HMOs ended the session with no significant expansion – despite contributing heavily to the Florida Republican Party and Republican leaders political committees in the weeks leading up to the session.

Another storyline that took an unexpected twist – offshore oil-drilling.

House Speaker-designate Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, led a House council through hours of testimony mostly from industry experts on the prospect of lifting the state’s 20-year ban on drilling within state waters in the Gulf of Mexico.

The panel concluded its work with a report and a proposed bill for the 2011 Legislature, unveiled one week before an oil-rig off Louisiana exploded, triggering a massive spill that continued to threaten Florida’s coastline as the session ended.

On Friday, Republican Attorney General Bill McCollum, the frontrunner to succeed Crist as governor, suggested oil-drilling would not be part of the state’s future.

“Until technology advances, we must continue to be extraordinarily cautious with our consideration of any proposal that would further jeopardize our beaches and our environment for future generations,” McCollum said.

Another Republican-leaning interest, the insurance industry, saw the session end without any significant gains. The industry’s sought-after authority to raise premiums by as much as 20 percent without state approval faded early in the face of a Crist veto threat.

Despite Republican dominance in the Legislature, unions may have been among the session’s biggest winners. In what is likely the session’s most seismic moment, the Florida Education Association, the state’s largest teachers’ union, gained a Crist veto of a bill abolishing teacher tenure. The veto became a prelude to his declaration of political independence.

The Democratic-allied American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) also dodged House-proposed pay cuts for state workers and the prospect of major layoffs. A proposal requiring public employees to contribute to their pension fund to stave off a looming deficit also was denied.

While state workers are forced to absorb a fifth straight year with no pay raises, one of the few organizations standing by Crist’s non-party candidacy, the Florida Police Benevolent Association, successfully got a roughly 10 percent pay raise included in the budget for Florida Game & Fish Commission officers.

The provision brings these law enforcement officers to the level of Florida Highway Patrol officers, with an annual starting salary of about $34,000, said David Murrell, a PBA lobbyist. It also looks veto-proof.

“We’re standing by Charlie,” Murrell said. “It’s going to be an interesting year.”

By John Kennedy, The News Service Florida

Photo Gallery: Celebrating Mayfest

From beautiful babies, arts and crafts, entertainment and plenty of fun, Mayfest 2010 had a little bit of something for everyone Saturday at Tom Byrne Park in Atmore.

Hundred attended the annual event, including many North Escambia residents.

For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from Mayfest in Atmore, click here.

Pictured above: A Mayfest crowd enjoys twirlers Saturday morning in Atmore. Pictured: inset: One of the contestants in a beautiful baby contest. Pictured below: Mayfest in Atmore. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

Atmore’s 5K For A Cause; Jay’s Dobson Wins Fiesta 5K

About 40 people took part in the second annual Atmore Community Hospital Relay for Life 5K Run/Walk Saturday morning in Atmore. The male overall winner was Keith Bell of Atmore with a time of 20:13. The female overall winner was Georgia Geotter of Bratt with a time of 25:27.

In Pensacola, Matt Dobson of Jay was the overall male winner in the  36th Annual Fiesta of Five Flags 5K. His time was 16:26.

Pictured top and bottom: About 40 runners took part in the second annual Atmore Community Hospital Relay for Life 5K Run/Walk Saturday morning in Atmore. Pictured left: Overall winners Keith Bell of Atmore and Georgia Geotter of Bratt. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Molino Homemakers: Needlework Project

The ladies of the Molino Homemakers club will spend the next several months working on a needlework project in hopes of capturing a top prize at this fall’s Pensacola Interstate Fair.

[Submitted by Terri Brown, Molino Homemakers Club]

This month’s main topic was our Fair Booth project. Each year the Molino Homemakers vote on a project to enter at the Pensacola Interstate Fairgrounds 4-H building. This would be a hand needlework project. Hand needlework includes, sewing quilts, knitting, crocheting and cross stitching. Several members take on a project and work on it during the next few months.

In October when the items are completed, they are strategically placed in the fair booth as to draw attention especially to the judges for a good score. A good score means a ribbon and money for the club when it places in the top three. The Molino Homemakers have been entering the fair as long as they can remember and enjoy showing off their beautiful handiwork.

Several members bring items they have been working on throughout the month and share during show and tell. Becky Dortch showed a beautiful throw she had been working on. The stitching was done by machine. She hopes to have it finished in the near future.

Dot Halstead’s cross stitched “Brave Night” took about 4 weeks to complete. She tries to complete one every month and has completed four this year.
Nancy Holland showed a Monkey quilt she had been working on and plans to have it completed soon.

The Molino Homemakers meet at 10 a.m. on the first Wednesday of each month in the fellowship hall of Molino First Assembly of God Church. Visitors are welcome.

Pictured top: Nancy Holland with one of her needlework pieces. Pictured below: Dot Hallstead (left) and Becky Dortch with their work. Submitted photos by Terri Brown for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

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