Vera Morgan Singleton

June 29, 2010

Vera Morgan Singleton, 99, of Walnut Hill, Fla. died Monday, June 28, 2010 in Bay Minette.

She was a homemaker, born in Alabama on November 11, 1910, to the late James Pollard and Catherine Daniels Morgan.

Her husband, Groce Singleton; one brother, Emmuel Morgan and three sisters, Earlee Lynn, Nellie Ruth Walker and Emma Gray Nunn, preceded her in death.

Survivors include two sons, James Singleton of Walnut Hill, Fla., and Gene A. Singleton of Atmore; one brother, James Morgan of Walnut Hill, Fla.; one sister, Maureen Gulsby of Cantonment, Fla.; 11 grandchildren, Gwen, Denise, Theodore, Glenda, Barbara, Becky, Autry, Mark, Janet, Darryl and Janine; a number of great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

Services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, July 2, 2010 from Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Benny Stokes and the Rev. Tim McCraney officiating. Private interment will follow at Walnut Hill Baptist Church Cemetery. Family will receive friends from 1 p.m. until service time Friday, July 2, 2010.

The family would like to express their appreciation to the Oakwood Nursing Care Center, Dr. Armstrong and the staff at North Baldwin Infirmary, for all the loving care given to our mother.

Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home, Inc. is in charge of all arrangements.

FCAT Results Released For Escambia, Santa Rosa

June 29, 2010

FCAT scores for 2010 were released today by the Florida Department of Education, and they were mostly good news for Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.

Over all, Escambia County’s scores had  slight decreases in reading for grades 4, 5, 6 and 9; math for grades 5 and 9. Compared to last year, there was improvement in every other subject and grade level test. The most significant gain was in writing, with the percent of fourth graders scoring at grade level or more increasing from 81 to 89. Eighth grade writing scores increased a full 10 percentage points from 85 to 95 at grade level or above.

Santa Rosa’s scores decreased overall for reading in grades 4, 5, 6 and 8; in math for grades 6 and 7 and 11th grade science.  Compared to last year, there was improvement in every other subject and grade level test Santa Rosa’s writing scores increased from 85 percent of fourth graders at grade level las tyear to 94 percent this year. Writing scores improved from 94 to 97 percent for eight grade and 80 to 97 percent for tenth grade.

It should be noticed on the dramatic increase in students at grade level in writing that the standard was decreased this year from a 3.5 being grade level last year to a 3.0 being grade level this year.

Individual student results will not be available for another week or so, according to Escambia County School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas.

In an automated telephone call to the parents of Escambia students Monday night, Thomas urged those parents not to contact their child’s school with the release of today’s school report. An additional automated call in the coming days, he said, will notify parents when they can pick up their child’s paper report.

“It is the school district’s desire to release your child’s FCAT scores just as quickly as possible,” he said.

NorthEscambia.com will have complete school by school results for each area school on Wednesday morning.

Harold Everett Godwin

June 29, 2010

Mr. Harold Everett Godwin, 75, passed away on Sunday, June 27, 2010 in Pensacola, FL.

Mr. Godwin was a native of Oak Grove, FL and resident of Pensacola, FL for the past 50 years. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division, a retired employee from the Pensacola Monsanto manufacturing plant, followed by nuclear electronics work at locations around the nation. After this, he was a licensed realtor in the Pensacola area, most recently with Better Homes Realty before retiring full time. He was an avid golfer and devoted fan of NASCAR and the Florida Gators. A number of children and other family members are members of the armed forces, a fact of which he was extremely proud.

Preceded in death were his wife, Susie Godwin, and his parents, Jack and Arlene Godwin and a brother, Jimmy Godwin.

Survivors include: his son, Lieutenant Commander Harold Kevin and Cherie Godwin of Chesapeake, VA; two daughters, Audrey Suzette England of Knoxville, TN, and Laurie Suzanne and Greg Nita of Cibola, TX; five grandchildren, Jason England, Logan England, Peyton Nita, Delaney Nita and Kaitlyn Godwin; a brother, Cary Von and Connie Godwin of Altha, FL; and a sister, Diane and Raymond Jerkins of Atmore, Ala.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, June 30, 2010 at 10:00 A.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 Tuesday, June 29, 2010 between 6:00 and 8:00 P.M. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.

Pallbearers will be members of the VFW. Honorary pallbearers will be Joe Overstreet, Jerry Overstreet, Jim Overstreet, Steve Morris, Matthew McGill, Raymond Jerkins and Art Wilson.

Tuesday Escambia Oil Update

June 29, 2010

Here is the latest BP oil spill information specific to Escambia County for Tuesday, June 29:

  • Report tar or oiled debris on the beach 1-877-389-8932 or #DEP from a cell phone.
  • DO NOT TOUCH oiled or injured wildlife. Report your finding to 1-866-557-1401.
  • Everyone is advised to avoid contact with tar balls or oiled debris on the beaches. (More Information)
  • The Escambia County Health Department has issued a health advisory from the Pensacola Beach Fishing Pier west to the Pensacola Pass, including Fort Pickens. This advisory was issued du to the extensive oil sheen, oil mousse and tar balls reported in the area. (More Information)
  • The Escambia County Health Department has release information on avoiding oil and tar on the beaches. (More Information).
  • NOAA expands fishing closed area in the Gulf of Mexico. (More Information)
  • Winds are from the south southeast. Thunderstorms are impacting cleanup efforts both on the beaches and in the water. For safety reasons, if lightning is in the area, crews will be unable to continue working.
  • The projected path of Tropical Storm Alex is not expected to directly impact Escambia County. Higher tides and heavier surf conditions may be experienced as a result of the storm. Booms remain deployed and may need to be repositioned if conditions warrant.
  • Aerial recon flight information from Monday afternoon observed the following:
    • Pensacola Bay – Convergence line of silver sheen/seaweed/tar patties observed on the water surface, approximately 200 feet north of the old Coast Guard Station. Product was approximately 500 feet long by 15 feet wide. There were three vessels in the area.
    • Pensacola Bay – off Pensacola NAS beginning approximately 200 feet north of shore, area of silver sheen approximately 1 mile by 20 feet.
    • Gulf of Mexico – Pensacola Pass (east to Park West) – silver, rainbow, and metallic sheen located in Gulf impacting shore. Sheen also included streamers with localized tar balls/mats. Shoreline impacts had approximate coverage of 10 percent. Product extended approximately 600 feet into Gulf.
    • Gulf of Mexico – Pensacola Pass (Park West to fishing pier) – silver, rainbow, and metallic sheen located in Gulf impacting shore. Sheen also included streamers with tar balls/mats. Shoreline impacts had approximate coverage of 30 percent. Product extended approximately 600 feet into Gulf.
    • Perdido Pass was clear.
  • Incident Command is reporting 18 skimmers in the inland waterways in Escambia County.
  • Incident Command reported 88,410 pounds of tar ball and oil material was collected by 484 people on Sunday. o  Perdido Key – 11,050 pounds collected by 45 people o  East Pensacola Pier – 3,270 pounds collected by 243 people o  West Pensacola Pier – 55,050 pounds collected by 151 people

    o Perdido Beach – 19,040 pounds collected by 45 people

  • Perdido and Pensacola Passes – In Perdido Pass, no oil was observed this morning. In Pensacola Pass, a concentration of heavy mousse was seen in the bay. This was reported to unified command.
  • On Sunday, there were numerous reports of a brown material in part of Pensacola Bay from Bayou Texar to NAS Pensacola. Samples were collected and analyzed. This material was not oil. It was brown filamentous algae.
  • Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key Beach Protection and Shoreline Cleanup Plan
  • The beaches are open for business.
  • Please be sensitive to the clean up efforts on the beaches. We understand curiosity, but officials are asking the public to avoid work areas and allow room for the workers and equipment needed to clean the beaches.
  • Please do not handle or walk through the tar balls and oil. This only spreads the product and makes cleanup more difficult.
  • Unified Command has released a fact sheet on “If Oil is Spotted on the Shore” that provides details on what happens after the oil reaches the shore. Details.

BP
  • BP claims in Florida total 21,522 with $18,239,920.61 paid.
  • There are 396 vessels are deployed in Florida for the Vessels of Opportunity program.
  • Do not sign any documents in return from money from BP or anyone else until you know the extent of your loss. BP officials carry proper identification badges or business cards.
  • There are reports of a scam involving individuals falsely representing themselves as BP employees and offering applicants training and job placement for a fee. BP does not charge to train applicants.  If you or someone you know has been charged for training, please contact law enforcement.
  • BP’s Florida Gulf Response web site: www.floridagulfresponse.com.
  • File claims with BP online: http://www.bp.com/claims.
  • BP’s claims office is located at 3960 W. Navy Boulevard, Suite 16 & 17. The office is currently open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week, until further notice. BP claims categories. Call 1-800-440-0858 to help expedite the process. If you are not satisfied with BP’s resolution, call 1-800-280-7118.
  • The BP community outreach office is located at 435 East Government Street for questions on volunteering, vessels of opportunity program, or any other questions. Phone: 850-912-8640.
  • To register as a consultant, contractor, vendor or submit information on alternative response technology, services products or suggestions, call BP at 281-366-5511.
  • BP Vessels of Opportunity – see the master vessel charter agreement and vessel requirements checklist online www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com. To pick up or deliver completed Vessels of Opportunity packets, visit 435 East Government Street. For information, call 281-366-5511.
  • The Fish and Wildlife Service is working with Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research, contracted by BP to provide assistance to oiled wildlife. Specific safety and other requirements must be met before anyone will be allowed on-site for any participation. If you have wildlife training, call 1-866-557-1401.
  • Boaters are requested to report sightings of broken, disconnected or adrift boom and are asked to keep their distance from boom especially at night or in conditions of restricted visibility. Please report damaged, vandalized, adrift or stolen boom to: 1-866-448-5816. See details.

Federal
  • Latest information from NOAA Fisheries Service, including federal fisheries closure, regulation changes and quota increases: http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov.

State of Florida
  • The Governor’s office released today that a meeting of the Gulf Oil Spill Economic Recovery Task Force will meet on Wednesday, June 30 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the University of West Florida Conference Center, 11000 University Parkway, Building 22. The meeting will also be web cast. Web cast and further information can be found at www.flgov.com/gulfrecoverytaskforce.
  • Governor Charlie Crist sent a letter to Doug Suttles, Chief Operating Officer of Exploration and Production for BP America, Inc. requesting the data needed to evaluate the claims process and measure the economic impact of the losses to all level of governments throughout Florida. Letter
  • Five skimmers were contracted by the state of Florida for this area with one skimmer designated for Escambia County.
  • See Florida Department of Health information and alerts about the health effects from oil.
  • See DEP’s Homeowner Tips for Protecting Florida’s Shorelines (PDF).
  • The Small Business Administration issued an economic injury Disaster Loan Declaration for the state of Florida. Pensacola office: 401 E. Chase Street, Suite 100. For more information on Economic Injury Disaster Loans visit the SBA website.
  • For information on the Florida Small Business Development Center’s Mobile Area Command units, visit www.floridasbdc.org/Special Programs/bcrm.asp.
  • Additional guidance to help small businesses survive a disaster can be found at www.MyFloridaCFO.com or by calling 850-413-3089 or toll-free 1-877-MY-FL-CFO (1-877-693-5236).
  • Submit innovative technology ideas, suggestions or products by completing this form. Send the form and supporting documentation to Innovative.Technology@dep.state.fl.us.
  • Video and audio public service announcements are available for download to educate the public on response, safety, coast watch and beach cleanup. See details.
  • Report boom vandalism to the 1-800-320-0519 or #DEP from your cell phone.

Escambia County
  • Cleaning stations have been placed on both Perdido Key and Pensacola Beach at the crossovers (between the crossovers and the roadways) to aid in the removal of tar and oil. Clean-up crews continue to work both beaches at night when temperatures are cooler.
  • “Hot shot” teams are responding to specific requests during the day as needed.
  • Staff continue to monitor clean-up efforts and skimming operations.
  • Skimmer vessels continue to respond as reports are received. Skimmers are working nightly.
  • A federal website is live providing real time information about the Deepwater Horizon BP Oil spill into one customizable, interactive map.
  • A  Recreational Vessel Decontamination Facility for local boaters is being established.
  • Reports vary widely throughout the day as heat from the sun brings subsurface oil to the top, and cooler temperatures at night tend to cause it to sink below the surface.
  • Anyone caught destroying, disturbing or stealing boom will be prosecuted. If you spot any illegal activity related to the booms, please call 1-800-320-0519.
  • See Escambia Inland Waterways Deployed Boom List.
  • Perdido Pass, Pensacola Pass and Bayou Texar are navigationally restricted during flood (incoming) tide and reopen during ebb (outgoing) tide as water flows out to the gulf. They are manned to allow access to necessary vessel traffic. (See NOAA tide predictions.)
  • Boaters are asked to be mindful of the boom and skimming operations, to use slow speeds so as not to produce a wake that may disrupt the boom, and to be aware of restricted areas.
  • A flashing light has been attached to all boom to increase visibility to boaters.
  • The Intracoastal Waterway remains open.
  • The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), in coordination with Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Department of Health, issued an executive order to temporarily close a portion of coastal state waters offshore of Escambia County to the harvest of saltwater fish, crabs and shrimp. Details.
  • The closure includes state waters from the beaches out nine nautical miles into the Gulf from the Alabama line east to the Pensacola Beach water tower. Interior bays and estuaries remain open to fishing. This area covers approximately 23 miles of Florida’s coastline in Escambia County. Map.
  • Recreational catch-and-release fishing is still allowed.
  • The Pensacola Beach Fishing Pier and the Pensacola Bay Fishing Bridge are open for sightseers and fishing, however fishing off the Pensacola Beach Fishing Pier is catch and release only.
  • Reconnaissance flights and ATV beach patrols are being conducted daily, weather permitting, to monitor Florida’s shoreline for impact.
  • Unified command continues to check, verify the condition and make repairs as needed to currently placed booms.
  • If citizens see anything unusual on the beaches, Escambia County has opened field offices on Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key to assist in answering questions from the public and to also act as staging areas for the county monitoring teams.
    • The Pensacola Beach field office is located at 5 Via Deluna, Suite 8; phone: 934-6500.
    • The Perdido Key field office is located at 13578 Perdido Key Drive; phone: 791-6905
  • Staff continue to monitor and maintain boom. See Booming Locations and Booming Maps.
  • Hurricane season began June 1. See the Hurricanes and Oil Spill Fact Sheet (PDF)
  • On inland waters (bays, bayous, estuaries, rivers), private property owners may install oil absorbent material, booms or fences on private property above the mean high waterline (MHWL) only. No material may be installed or sprayed below the MHWL.
  • On gulf-front property, the use of silt fences, obstructions, hay bales, peat, surfactants or other material is not approved. DEP is the permitting agency for beaches and coastal systems. No obstructions to sea turtle nesting behavior is allowed.

City of Pensacola
  • Boom has been added by city at the Escambia Bay entrance to Gaborone Swamp off Scenic Highway.
  • As requested by the city, additional boom has been placed at the mouth of Bayou Texar by the county to provide additional protection.
  • Boom has been added by city to protect aquatic vegetation just south of 17th Avenue boat ramp at Bayou Texar on west side.
  • DEP has boomed Project Greenshores Phase II from Muscogee Wharf to Hawkshaw Lagoon.
  • Boom has been added by the city across entrance to Pitt Slip Marina in the very near future, as warranted.
  • Boom has been added by the city to entrance of new Maritime Park bulkhead mitigation site immediately west of Crab Trap restaurant.
  • City is currently requesting/seeking approximately 1100′ of boom to secure and protect the rip-rap surrounding the Bruce Beach wetland mitigation site maintained by the Port of Pensacola.
  • Boom has been added by city to protect shoreline of Sanders Beach-Corrine Jones community center and waterfront park facility immediately east of Bayou Chico.

Volunteer Opportunities
  • The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) has determined volunteers cannot be used in any situation where they may come in contact with oiled shorelines or oiled wildlife.
  • To volunteer, visit www.volunteerfloridadisaster.org.

Safety Information

Wildlife

  • Do not attempt to rescue oiled or injured birds or wildlife as this may cause additional injuries.
  • If oiled, injured or dead wildlife are found, call 1-866-557-1401. Provide location where the wildlife was sighted.

Boats

  • Boats should keep a safe distance from the booms. Do not drive boats over booms.
  • Do not drive boats through slicks or sheens.

Personal Safety

  • Gulf coast residents may detect an odor because of the oil spill. Some are more sensitive to these odors and may experience nasal irritation and feelings of nausea. In combination with seasonal allergies or pre-existing respiratory conditions, some may experience more severe symptoms. For Air Quality Reports, see http://www.epa.gov/bpspill/air.html.
  • Individuals who have pre-existing medical conditions, such as asthma or other respiratory illness should contact their health care provider if feeling symptomatic.
  • If you see or smell oil, leave immediately. Avoid skin contact with oil or oil-contaminated water. Do not swim or ski in areas affected by oil, and if you travel through the area by boat, take care when hoisting the anchor. Restrict pets from entering oil-contaminated areas. If you get oil on your skin, wash it off with soap and water. Young children, pregnant women, people with compromised immune systems, and individuals with underlying respiratory conditions should avoid the area.
  • 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.

Business Information
  • More information about what types of damages are eligible for compensation under the Oil Pollution Act as well as guidance to seek compensation can be found at www.uscg.mil/npfc.
  • Florida emergency management and economic development staff are gathering information from businesses impacted by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Please complete their survey and help shape Florida’s response to this event. The survey will be updated periodically.
  • Take detailed records of cancelled reservations. When cancellations occur, ask the party if the cancellation is related the oil spill. Keep the person’s name and contact information, and the revenues lost as a result of the cancellation.
  • Businesses negatively impacted due to the oil spill, are asked to keep detailed profit and loss records should a claim need to be presented. Calculate estimated losses for a six-week period and have records, receipts and documentation to support your claim. Compare business to a five-year average of revenues between May and June, which can offer insight as to the damages incurred.
  • Make a detailed list of assets, including non-structural, and include supportive records. If your hotel or restaurant is within walking distance to the beach, the business’s assets could be damaged even though there is no physical damage to the structure. Please record this depreciation.

Important Phone Numbers For Citizens

    • Report oil on the beach or shoreline: 1-877-389-8932 or #DEP from a cell phone
    • To report oiled wildlife: 1-866-557-1401
    • BP Claims: 1-800-440-0858
    • To report damaged, vandalized, adrift or stolen boom: 1-866-448-5816 or 1-800-320-0519
    • Escambia County Citizen’s Information Line: 471-6600
    • Florida Oil Spill Information Line: 1-888-337-3569

Junkyard Business Or Not? Council Works To Decide; Residents Fight Against

June 29, 2010

The Town of Century held a public workshop Monday morning as they work to decide if a local man is operating a junkyard on his residential property and if what he claims to do for a living is or is not a business — all part of the process to determine if the council will vote to change the rezoning on his property to commercial.

George William Philyaw has been cited by Escambia County Code Enforcement for his property at 120 Front Street because it is zoned residential which does not allow his type of business to operate. He has told the town council that he simply collects metal for recycling until he has a “load” and then it is sold.

While Philyaw says he is operating a recycling business, the Century Town Council has questioned if it is not actually a junkyard behind his privacy fence. And the council has also questioned if his money-making operation is a business.

According to Council President Ann Brookes, Philyaw attempted to purchase a business license three years ago, but he was denied that option because his property was residential.

“From that time till to today, he has followed on with the same functions that he was at that time, and I think nothing has been said about it in all these years,” Brookes said Monday. She noted that Philyaw claims to not sell directly to the public from the property; rather, he sells his metal and other items on a wholesale basis.

She said it is an issue “whether or not there’s really a business that is going on there”, and she said that she was told that Escambia County would not require him to have a business license.

But residents surrounding the property are not happy with what they perceive as a junkyard in their neighborhood.

“It brings down the property value of all of our homes that are around there, and I think that ought to be taken into consideration,” Century resident Rose Wilson said as she presented the council with a petition containing about three dozen signatures of Century residents against rezoning Philyaw’s property.

The town’s land use consultant, Debbie Nickles said that Century’s ordinances do allow for “home occupations” in residential areas, but she described them more as being home offices. She said “home occupations” do not allow a visible change to the outside of a residence except for a small sign.

“This is not a home occupation,” she said, “Based on my site visit, I consider this a junkyard…junkyards refer to storage of materials.”

“He has a fence up. And if he closes those gates and we can’t see what he’s doing in there,” Council man Henry Hawkins argued. “We know what’s he doing, but if he erects a fence we don’t know if it’s still in there or not.”

“He himself applied for a business license, so therefore it’s a business,” Flomaton resident J.R. Jones told the council. Jones mother owned property near Philyaw until her passing a few months ago.

Longtime Century resident Lina Showalter spoke out against rezoning the property or allowing a junkyard to be located on Front Street, which she described as being the entrance to Century’s Historical District.

She also cited public outcry against the junkyard in the comment section of a recent NorthEscambia.com story. She read a comment from someone  identified in their comment  as “Parent of NHS Student (with Century address)”:

“Century’s past mayor had started a campaign to work on “cleaning up” and beautifying the town, while enforcing certain codes. I have seen an improvement and am encouraged by it. (Love the changes to the road side park on Hway 29). Don’t stop now. The businessman should abide by the laws in place. You owe it to the people who elected you to office. Have a heart to the people living in the residential area and have to drive by the place. Maybe the businessman could lease or rent a small area in a properly zoned area and use it as a business expense on his tax return,” the comment read by Showalter states.

According to Escambia County records, there is an active Escambia County business license for the property at 120 Front Street for a “retail peddler” business owned by Every Philyaw.

Every Philyaw (pictured left) told the council that she purchased the business license in order to sell lamps and other household items at a Pensacola flea market. She said the license, which was first active in 2008, was not purchased for William Philyaw’s business.

The council heard just two opinions in favor of allowing Philyaw to continuing operating from his Front Street property.

Samantha Rigby, who told the council she does not live in Century, said, “I think it’s a good thing he’s handling the recycling”, and a petition from the Century Lodge was presented to the council in favor of allowing Philyaw to operate a junkyard if it’s approved by the council.

Mayor Freddie McCall said that many of the Century Lodge members do not reside in the town. Jones pointed out that they occupy their building, which is located by Philyaw’s property, just a few hours per month while the residents in the area are there 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The council took no action on Philyaw’s rezoning request during their Monday workshop. Any decision will come at a future town council meeting. The next regular council meeting will be at 7 p.m. on Monday, July 5 at the Century Town Hall.

Philyaw has deposited $600 with the town to be used for actual costs toward rezoning. If his rezoning request is denied, he will still forfeit the town’s actual costs.

For additional photos of the property as seen from Front Street on Monday, and aerial photos provided by Nickles, click here.

NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

Sheriff’s Deputy Pleads Guilty To Assault, Battery On Wife; Resigns Job

June 29, 2010

An Escambia County deputy first arrested in January after getting into a fight with his wife pleaded guilty to battery and assault charges Monday in Escambia Circuit Court.

henley.jpgEdward Henley was sentenced to one year probation, during which he will not be allowed to carry a weapon. He will also pay a $625 fine.

Deputies responded to a 911 call on Kingsfield Road in Cantonment about 12:45 a.m. on January 16 where they found a marked ECSO patrol car in the driveway. Inside, they found Henley’s wife who claimed that she and Henley had been at a party earlier in the evening. She told deputies that they got into an argument that later escalated into a physical confrontation, according  the Sheriff’s Office. Henley’s wife told deputies that he struck her several times at the residence.

The former sergeant has since resigned from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. He had been a deputy for 22 years.

Softball: Northwest Escambia Beats Defuniak Springs 12-2

June 29, 2010

The Northwest Escambia 11-12 year old All-Stars beat DeFuniak Springs 12-2 in four innings Monday night at Walnut Hill’s Bradberry Park. With the win, NWE advances to play Niceville at 7:30 Tuesday.

For a photo gallery from the game, click here.

Kristen Byrd hit triple to left field for NWE. Mallory Ryan pitched two innings with two strikeouts, and Courtney Peebles pitched two with two strikeouts.

Scoring for NWE were: Mallory Ryan 2, Kyndall Hall 2, Penny Banda 1, Courtney Peebles 1, Kendal Cobb 2, Addy Lee 2, Kristen Byrd 1, and Savanna Roux 1.

Pictured top. Kendal Cobb slides into second base Monday night as Northwest Escambia beat DeFuniak Springs 12-2. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge. Pictured below: The Northwest Escambia 11-12 year old All Stars after their win. Submitted photo by Kim Ryan for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.


Durell Peaden Endorses Greg Evers To Take His Place In Senate

June 29, 2010

Greg Evers won a major endorsement Monday from Durell Peaden, the man that currently holds the Florida Senate District 2 seat.

“Greg is a true conservative who will serve the people of Northwest Florida well, and I am happy to give him my full support and endorsement,” said Peaden, who is leaving office after 10 years due to term limits.

“With Greg’s leadership, Senate District 2 will have a staunch and powerful advocate in the Florida Legislature. He will work hard to fight the current culture of big government that’s taking place in Washington and get Florida back on track and out of the hands of out-of-control government and spending.”

http://www.northescambia.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/gregevers.jpg“I am grateful to Senator Peaden for endorsing me in my race for Senate District 2,” said Evers (pictured). “He has served the people of Northwest Florida proudly, and I look forward to continuing his good work in the legislature and stand ready to carry on his pro-life, pro-Second Amendment and pro-business banner. Senator Peaden brought real conservative values and principles to the Florida Senate for 10 years as true public servant and, if elected, I intend to carry on that legacy.”

Evers faces Mike Hill, a graduate of the Air Force Academy and a small businessman, in the Republican primary.

School FCAT Results Due Today; Parents Must Wait

June 29, 2010

FCAT results by school are due today, but parents will continue to wait to find out how their child performed on the annual assessment.

FCAT results for reading, mathematics, writing and science are typically reported between mid-April and mid-June. Due to technical issues with a contractor’s database technology, extra time was needed this year to ensure each individual student’s results match up perfectly with their demographic information, according to the Florida Department of Education.

Previously, only results for third grade students and students who were retaking the 10th grade exam for graduation purposes have been released. The remaining results for reading and mathematics  for grades 4-10, writing for grades 4, 8 and 10 and science  for grades 5, 8, and 11 will  be released today on a school report basis.

Individual student results will not be available for another week or so, according to Escambia County School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas.

In an automated telephone call to the parents of Escambia students Monday night, Thomas urged those parents not to contact their child’s school with the release of today’s school report. An additional automated call in the coming days, he said, will notify parents when they can pick up their child’s paper report.

“It is the school district’s desire to release your child’s FCAT scores just as quickly as possible,” he said.

If the FCAT results are released today as planned, NorthEscambia.com will post summary results today and complete North Escambia school by school results Wednesday morning.

Softball: Tri-County Falls To Destin

June 29, 2010

Tri-County was eliminated from the Florida District 1 All Star Tournament for 11-12 year old girls Monday night with a 27-16 loss to Destin. It was the second loss of the tournament for Tri-County, which fell 26-8 on Saturday to DeFuniak Springs.

For more photos from the game, click here.

NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.

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