Atmore VA Office To Remain Open
May 26, 2010
The Veterans Administration office in Atmore will remain open, while the office in Brewton will close.
Currently, there are two VA offices in Escambia County (Ala.) — one in the Highway 31 satellite courthouse in Atmore and the second in the courthouse annex in Brewton. The Atmore office is currently open on Mondays and Friday; the Brewton office is open on Thursdays. Both are served by Veterans Affairs Service Officer Mike Hanks who also divides his time with two days each week in Monroe County.
The Veterans Administration announced last month that one office would close.
Now, in a letter to the Escambia County Commission, Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs Commissioner Clyde Marsh said the Brewton office will close June 24.
Gaetz Blasts Crist And BP Tourism Ads
May 26, 2010
Florida’s marketing response to the BP oil spill has been both tepid and late, a host of critics including Cabinet members and a Panhandle lawmaker charged Tuesday hours before the governor announced that the $25 million was in the bank from the petroleum giant to offset the bad press just prior to the critical summer vacation season.
Gov. Charlie Crist and the state’s top tourism official defended the state’s efforts to lure slick-wary travelers to Florida’s Panhandle, the beaches of which remain sugar white with no oil in sight.
Calling the state’s $2.5 million initial effort at reassuring tourists amateurish and vague, Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, blasted Crist and Visit Florida officials for not reacting quickly enough to help northwest Florida businesses survive the economic storm brought on by the explosion and spill from the BP rig Deepwater Horizon.
Gaetz’s district is taking the brunt of negative news surrounding the spill. Unlike South Florida where winter travel is king, the region’s peak season begins in three days and lasts through early September.
“It’s now Day 35 and I regret to say the state of Florida has not done enough,” Gaetz said.
Gaetz’s comments came as the governor and Cabinet were briefed on efforts to cap the well that since April 20 has been spewing oil from a leak more than a mile below the surface. Damage to state waters, though, has so far been negligible.
Gov. Charlie Crist said Tuesday afternoon that the $25 million was in the bank as promised by BP CEO Tony Hayward last week. That money can be added to the effort to reassure tourists that Florida remains a viable destination and isn’t seeing any immediate effects of the spill.
“We’re doing everything humanly possible to make sure that people throughout the country understand our beaches are clean, that the water is clean, that the charter boats are open for business,” Crist said.
Gaetz (pictured) wasn’t the only one critical of state efforts. Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, the leading Democratic candidate for governor, said Florida officials have the ability to activate emergency loans with no or low interest rates to business that in some cases are scrambling to make payroll. So far, the state has not done so.
She also echoed Gaetz’s critique of a pair of Visit Florida ad spots, saying the TV commercials are “too generic” to adequately express that Florida beaches have been unaffected by the spill.
“This does nothing to help Northwest Florida,” Sink said.
The 20 and 30 second spots highlight the state’s beaches and use photographs taken from Northwest Florida beaches, although they don’t mention that fact. The commercials, which will run through June 23, point viewers to the Visit Florida website, where more up-to-the-minute images are available, said Chris Thompson, CEO of Visit Florida.
After reviewing the spots that began airing Saturday, Gaetz said the effort is not measuring up.
“We have two poorly crafted ads that were thrown together, it seemed to me, at the last minute in somebody’s basement,” Gaetz said.
Panhandle lawmakers initially urged Crist to act in a May 5 letter. On Thursday, Senate President Jeff Atwater sent the governor another letter reiterating the need for speedy response to help Northwest Florida’s economy. Neither letter, Gaetz said, has received a response.
Despite meeting with him on the issues, Crist should be doing more, he said.
“He’s a very gracious person,” Gaetz said. “He needs to be an effective governor.”
Gaetz, who has been increasingly critical of the governor since Crist bolted from the Republican Party April 30, said politics has nothing to do with his ramped up criticism of state efforts.
“As far as I’m concerned the governor can join the Whig party today if he wants to,” Gaetz said. “This is not about what political affiliation the governor has. This is about the policy effectiveness of the governor’s office. ”
Pictured: Gov. Charlie Crist briefs reporters Tuesday afternoon after receiving $25 million from BP as promised last week to be used for locally targeted tourism ads. Photo by Mike Peltier for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
By Michael Peltier
The News Service Florida
Molino Memorial Festival Saturday; Vendors Needed
May 26, 2010
The Molino Annual Memorial Festival will be held Saturday, May 29 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at CrossFaith Church.
The day’s activities will include food, arts and crafts vendors, auction, live music and plenty of activities for the kids. Guest speakers will include John Krause, Congressional District 1 candidate and Captain Charlie Code from the NJROTC program at Northview High School.
Live entertainment will include Ashton Gibbs, Keith Rowell, Denise Palmer, Wayward Bypass, FACE and Ember.
Food and craft vendors are needed, contact Debra Smith at (850) 587-6060 or CrossFaith Church at (850) 587-3187.
Free Sacred Heart Health Screenings Today
May 26, 2010
Sacred Heart Health System will provide free health screenings Wednesday in Davisville for the poor, elderly and uninsured.
Sacred Heart staff will provide heart-health screenings to measure blood pressure, blood sugar and total cholesterol and to screen for anemia as part of their Mission in Motion program. The screenings are helpful in diagnosing conditions that put people at high risk for heart attack, stroke, diabetes and other health problems.
Sacred Heart’s Mission in Motion staff will provide screenings for adults at the Davisville Community Center on Highway 97 from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday.
Mission in Motion is a community service provided by Sacred Heart Health System in Pensacola. For more information, call (850) 416-7826.
Parents, Students Learn About New Ernest Ward Electrical Academy
May 26, 2010
A new program at Ernest Ward Middle School will provide students the opportunity to learn all about electricity and green power.
Tuesday, parents and students had the opportunity to learn more about the IBEW Electrical Academy at Ernest Ward Middle School. The academy, which begins in August, is the first such program in the nation at the middle school level.
The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers will work with the school district to create the Electrical Academy. Middle school career academies are small, personalized learning communities within a school in which select students and teachers participate during a two or three-year span. A career academy involves teachers from different subjects working together as an interdisciplinary team.
“We are really going to emphasize going green,” Reagan McDaniel, business manager for the IBEW Local Union 676, said while standing in front of trailer-mounted solar panels capable of generating about 2,000 watts of power. “It’s important that students learn about green power options.”
In the EWMS Electrical Academy, the students will be introduced to electrical systems, learn the theories of electricity and gain valuable hands-on experience with various projects. Part of that hands-on experience will include learning how to wire a home. While students will work with AC (household type) electrical systems, most projects will use DC (battery type) voltage for safety reasons.
During a recent registration period, 167 incoming seventh and eight grade students signed up for the Electrical Academy, according to Principal Nancy Gindl-Perry. The academy, she said, will only be able to accept about 40 students from each grade level. School grades, FCAT scores and behavior records will play a factor in which students are selected for the program.
For seventh and eight grade students, the academy will be two semesters. Sixth grade students will have the opportunity to take Electrical Academy classes as part of the “wheel” — a nine week course.
“My son is an electrical engineer,” said Gayle Hanks, Ernest Ward guidance counselor. “He said that students that gain the hands on training before college will hold an advantage.”
McDaniel said that current plans call for expanding the IBEW electrical academy to Northview High School.
During the school day, current sixth and seventh grade students were given the chance to see the trailer mounted solar panels in action — powering a fan, leaf blower and vacuum cleaner.
Pictured top: Local IBEW Business Manager Reagan McDaniel explains solar panels capable of generating 2,000 watts of electricity Tuesday afternoon at Ernest Ward Middle School. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Pace Wins 5A Championship
May 26, 2010
The Pace Patriots won the Florida High School Athletic Association 5A state championship Tuesday night with a 6-5 win over Armwood in eight innings.
Pace was behind 5-4 in the bottom of the fifth but rallied to tie it 5-5. The teams continued without scoring until the eighth. That’s when the Patriots loaded the bases. At 2-2, David Casey drove the winning run over the third baseman.
It was the 25th win in a row and the fourth state title for the Patriots.
Here is a complete, play-by-play look at the action:
ARMWOOD 1st – J Fameree singled to shortstop. J Spano grounded into double
play 3b to 2b to 1b; J Fameree out on the play. T Alexander flied out to rf. 0
runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
PACE PATRIOTS 1st – CT Bradford walked. D Casey hit by pitch; CT Bradford
advanced to second. Higgenbothem walked; D Casey advanced to second; CT Bradford
advanced to third. A Russell singled to center field, advanced to second on a
fielding error by cf, 2 RBI; Higgenbothem advanced to third; D Casey scored; CT
Bradford scored. J Reeves flied out to cf, SF, RBI; Higgenbothem scored. K Desposito
flied out to rf; A Russell advanced to third. J Barlow doubled to right field, RBI;
A Russell scored. R Way struck out swinging. 4 runs, 2 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.
ARMWOOD 2nd – Z Powers grounded out to 2b. M Mahoney singled to left field. T
Emmons hit by pitch; M Mahoney advanced to second. S Cramer grounded into double
play ss to 2b to 1b; T Emmons out on the play. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1
LOB.
PACE PATRIOTS 2nd – P Ervin grounded out to 2b. CT Bradford popped up to ss.
D Casey flied out to rf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
ARMWOOD 3rd – T Pierson hit by pitch. PJ Roundtree singled to third base,
bunt; T Pierson advanced to third. PJ Roundtree stole second. J Fameree singled to
center field, advanced to second on the throw, RBI; PJ Roundtree advanced to third;
T Pierson scored. CT Bradford to p. D Casey to cf. P Ervin to lf. J Salter to rf for
C Hemphill. J Spano grounded out to ss, RBI; J Fameree advanced to third; PJ
Roundtree scored. T Alexander singled up the middle, RBI; J Fameree scored. T
Alexander stole second. Z Powers walked. M Mahoney grounded out to p; Z Powers
advanced to second; T Alexander advanced to third. T Emmons reached on a fielding
error by 2b, advanced to second on a throwing error by cf, advanced to third; Z
Powers scored, unearned; T Alexander scored, unearned. S Cramer struck out swinging.
5 runs, 3 hits, 2 errors, 1 LOB.
PACE PATRIOTS 3rd – Higgenbothem grounded out to 3b. A Russell walked. J
Reeves singled to left field; A Russell advanced to second. K Desposito reached on a
fielding error by ss; J Reeves advanced to second; A Russell advanced to third. J
Barlow popped up to 2b. R Way popped up to ss. 0 runs, 1 hit, 1 error, 3 LOB.
ARMWOOD 4th – T Pierson singled to right field. PJ Roundtree popped into
double play p to 1b, bunt; T Pierson out on the play. J Fameree reached on an error
by 1b, advanced to second, assist by p. J Spano flied out to cf. 0 runs, 1 hit, 1
error, 1 LOB.
PACE PATRIOTS 4th – P Ervin grounded out to 2b. CT Bradford flied out to lf.
D Casey grounded out to 3b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
ARMWOOD 5th – T Alexander struck out swinging. Z Powers flied out to cf. M
Mahoney grounded out to 3b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
PACE PATRIOTS 5th – Higgenbothem walked. A Russell walked; Higgenbothem
advanced to second. J Reeves hit by pitch; A Russell advanced to second;
Higgenbothem advanced to third. J Fameree to cf. J Spano to c. T Alexander to p. T
Emmons to 2b. K Desposito reached on a fielder’s choice to third base, RBI; J Reeves
advanced to second; A Russell advanced to third; Higgenbothem scored. J Barlow
fouled out to 1b. R Way struck out swinging. P Ervin struck out swinging. 1 run,
0 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB.
ARMWOOD 6th – T Emmons grounded out to 3b. S Cramer flied out to cf. T
Pierson struck out swinging. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
PACE PATRIOTS 6th – CT Bradford struck out looking. D Casey flied out to cf.
Higgenbothem flied out to cf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
ARMWOOD 7th – PJ Roundtree out at first p to ss to 1b. J Fameree singled to
center field. J Spano grounded into double play ss to 2b to 1b; J Fameree out on the
play. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
PACE PATRIOTS 7th – A Russell grounded out to 3b. J Reeves singled to center
field. K Desposito grounded into double play 2b to ss to 1b; J Reeves out on the
play. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
ARMWOOD 8th – T Alexander grounded out to 2b. Z Powers grounded out to 1b
unassisted. M Mahoney walked. T Emmons struck out swinging. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0
errors, 1 LOB.
PACE PATRIOTS 8th – J Barlow reached on a throwing error by ss, advanced to
second. M Bass pinch ran for J Barlow. J Salter pinch hit for R Way. / for J
Salter. M Bass stole third. J Salter struck out swinging. P Ervin walked. CT
Bradford intentionally walked; P Ervin advanced to second. D Casey singled to left
field, RBI; CT Bradford advanced to second; P Ervin advanced to third; M Bass
scored, unearned. 1 run, 1 hit, 1 error, 3 LOB.
Clarence W. Phillips
May 25, 2010
Mr. Clarence W. Phillips, 75, passed away on Monday, May 24, 2010 at a Pensacola, FL hospital.
Mr. Phillips was a native and resident of Walnut Hill, FL for most of his life. He was retired from the U.S. Marines after 21 years, a Veteran of the Korean War and Vietnam War and attended the Bratt Assembly of God Church. Preceded in death by a Brother, Willard Phillips and a Sister, Merlene Sowell.
Survivors include: his Wife Louise Phillips of Walnut Hill, FL; his Son, Jerry D. and Kathryn Phillips of Tallahassee, FL; 2 Grandchildren, Matthew J. Phillips and Trevor L. Phillips; two Brothers, Lindy Phillips of Davisville, FL, and D.L. Phillips of Lillington, NC; and three Sisters, Jean Solomon of Davisville, FL, Ethel Wilcox of Loxley, AL, and Emily Reynolds of Oneonta, AL.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, May 27, 2010 at 2:00 P.M. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with the Rev. Theron Collinsworth officiating.
Burial will follow at Dry Springs Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Thursday, May 27, 2010 from 1:00 P.M. until funeral time at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Linda Cmehil
May 25, 2010
Linda Cmehil, age 50 of Molino, passed away Sunday, May 23, 2010.
Linda was a proud Navy wife and Navy ombudsman. She was a proud mother who was very involved in her children’s lives, volunteering whenever she could. She was quite the craftsperson, making jewelry, paintings, sewing, knitting, needlepoint, ceramics, stained glass and calligraphy.
She was a member of the Molino Homemakers.
She was preceded in death by her biological father, David White.
Survivors include her loving husband of 33 years, Andrew Lee Cmehil; son, Trevor Cmehil; daughter, Kathryn Cmehil; parents, William and Gertraud Ernst; two brothers, Timothy Ernst (Tammy) and Steven Ernst (Carolyn).
Faith Chapel Funeral Home, 100 Beverly Pkwy is in charge of arrangements.
Man Accused Of Shooting Seven People Taken Into Custody In Perdido
May 25, 2010
A man accused of shooting seven people at a weekend party was taken into custody today by deputies and U.S. Marshals near Perdido, Ala., just northwest of Nokomis, Fla.
Marcus Darnell Butler, 22, is facing multiple second degree assault charges for allegedly opening fire at a May Day party Saturday night near Tensaw in northern Baldwin County, Ala. A total of seven people were reported to be hit in their arms, legs and feet — none of the injuries were life threatening.
Investigators have said the shooting may have been related to an ongoing feud over a woman between Butler and one of the victims.
Butler surrendered without incident to members of the U.S. Marshal’s Gulf Coast Regional Task Force and the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office. He is being held in the Baldwin County Corrections Center in Bay Minette.
Fire Destroys Excavator
May 25, 2010
Fire destroyed a John Deere trackhoe Tuesday afternoon near Walnut Hill. The excavator was being used to clear a wooded area on Arthur Brown Road just west of Highway 97A. It was a total loss.
There were no injuries reported in the 1 p.m. fire.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the call.
Pictured above: Firefighters check for any remaining hot spots after putting out a trackhoe fire Tuesday afternoon near Walnut Hill. Pictured left: The first firefighters on scene make their way toward the burning equipment. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.