Longtime Century Council Member Marie McMurray Passes Away
June 2, 2010
Former Century Town Council member Marie McMurray passed away Sunday. She was 84.
Visitation will be from 6 until 8 p.m. Friday at the First Mount Zion Baptist Church at 9030 North Century Boulevard. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the church.
McMurray served 30 years on the Century Town Council, last running for seat two on the council in 2007.
Jackson-McMurray Funeral Services in Century is in charge of arrangements.
Escambia Ala. Election Results
June 2, 2010
Here are unofficial election results from Tuesday’s primary in Escambia County (Ala.). Results are complete except for provisional ballots.
Escambia County Sheriff
**Heath Jackson [R] 2,309 70%
Lloyd Albritton [R] 1,013 30%
Escambia County Commission District 5
David A. Quaker, Sr. [D] 311 60%
Wiley B. Tait [D] 206 40%
Escambia County Board of Education District 4 — Democratic
**Stephanie Agerton [D] 200 46%
**A.G. Brantley [D] 175 40%
Joseph Hutchcraft [D] 62 14%
**Agerton and Brantley will meet in a runoff.
Escambia County Board of Education District 4 — Republican
**Cindy Jackson [R] 575 84%
Monica W. Shockley [R] 110 16%
Alabama State Senate District 22
Danny Joyner 3,538 51%
Jeff Peacock 3,350 49%
86% reporting
Liberty Counsel Files For Injunction Against Santa Rosa Schools Over Religious Expression
June 2, 2010
The conservative Christian advocacy organization The Liberty Council has filed a request in federal court for a preliminary injunction against the Santa Rosa County School District and its superintendent Timothy S. Wyrosdick.
Liberty Counsel filed a federal complaint against the district last month on behalf of 22 individuals representing students, faculty and staff, and members of the community, whose constitutional rights to free speech are being violated, according to the group, by a consent decree drafted by the ACLU, agreed to by the district, and entered by a federal court.
The latest motion for preliminary injunction requests the federal court to block the enforcement of the consent decree and set it aside. Under the consent decree, a student was told he could not say “God Bless” and had to change it to “Good Luck.”
The Liberty Counsel said teachers are not allowed to reply to emails sent by parents seeking advice if the parents’ email contains words like “God Bless”, and district employees are prohibited from participating in privately sponsored off-campus religious events or baccalaureate. Faculty and staff are required to stop prayers at privately sponsored after-school clubs, the advocacy group said.
“Not only does the Consent Decree violate the free speech rights of faculty, staff, students, and members of the community seeking equal access to school facilities, it should also be set aside as moot, because the ACLU student plaintiffs graduated prior to the Consent Decree becoming a final order. Once they graduated, the court lost jurisdiction and should have dismissed the case,” according to statement released by The Liberty Counsel.
“Freedom fled from Santa Rosa County when the ACLU filed suit. Liberty Counsel intends to restore freedom and end the intimidation. The constitutional violations wrought by the ACLU’s court order are the most outrageous I have seen. The court order directly conflicts with opinions from the United States Supreme Court. It is only a matter of time before the ACLU court order is set aside. Schools are not religious-free zones,” said Mathew Staver, founder of Liberty Counsel and dean of Liberty University School of Law.
Oil Less Than 10 Miles From Escambia, Closing In
June 2, 2010
An oil sheen was spotted Tuesday less than 10 miles from Escambia County; a reddish brown oil began washing up on Dauphin Alabama; the federal government announced a criminal probe of BP; and the latest oil spill trajectory map from NOAA shows oil on the shores of Alabama and Northwest Florida by Friday.
Escambia County officials reported Tuesday that sections of the oil sheen had been spotted 9.5 miles from the county’s coastline. Regular reconnaissance flights are being conducted daily to monitor Florida’s shoreline for impact. For the latest information specific to Escambia County, click here.
Authorities on Dauphin Island, Alabama, reported reddish brown, weather oiled washing up on the island. The Alabama Department of Public Health posting warnings telling beachgoers to stay out of the water, and all Alabama Gulf Waters were closed to fishing.
The latest 72-hour forecast shows the oil slick headed toward the mouth of Mobile Bay and the oil approaching the coast of Escambia County, Florida, at the state line.
For live video of the oil spill from NorthEscambia.com, click here.
Meanwhile, U.S. Attorney General Erick Holder announced a civil and criminal probe into the Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill.
“We will closely examine the actions of those involved in this spill. If we find evidence of illegal behavior, we will be forceful in our response. We have already instructed all relevant parties to preserve any documents that may shed light on the facts surrounding this disaster,” Holder said Tuesday. “As our review expands in the days ahead, we will be meticulous, we will be comprehensive, and we will be aggressive. We will not rest until justice is done.”
Holder said that while the federal government continues to focus on stopping the leak and responding to the environmental disaster, the Department of Justice will work to make sure that the American people do not foot the bill for the disaster.
“We will ensure that every cent of taxpayer money will be repaid and damages to the environment and wildlife will be reimbursed. We will make certain that those responsible clean up the mess they have made and restore or replace the natural resources lost or injured in this tragedy. And we will prosecute to the full extent any violations of the law,” Holder said.
Grimes Arrested On Drug Charges
June 2, 2010
A Century man is facing drug paraphernalia charges after a traffic stop.
Deputy Jason Land spotted a Chevrolet pickup with an expired tag Sunday afternoon on North Century Boulevard near East Highway 4. According to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report, Javis Cain Grimes, 25, of Gilmore Road, Century, was charged with three counts of possessing drug paraphernalia after Land discovered two 100 ml syringes in the driver’s door of the truck and an additional syringe in Grimes’ pocket.
Grimes (pictured) was released from the Escambia County Jail on $1,500 bond. He is due back in court on June 23.
He was also issued a traffic citation for the expired tag.
Heath Jackson Wins Escambia (Ala.) Sheriff Republican Primary
June 2, 2010
Heath Jackson, an Escambia County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Division investigator, won the Republican nod for sheriff in Escambia County, Ala., Tuesday by a two to one margin.
Jackson took 70 percent of the vote in Tuesday’s Republican primary, compared to 30 percent for challenger Lloyd Albritton. For Jackson, a political newcomer, the wide margin was huge boost as he looks forward to facing Democratic incumbent Grover Smith in November. Smith was unopposed in the primaries.
“We are going to continue to move forward; we have the momentum going,” Jackson said Tuesday night after his win. “We are going to put up a good fight in November and win.”
Jackson said he is not going to waste any time getting out on the streets of Escambia County, knocking on doors and talking to every citizen.
“We are going to take back what has been taken from us in Escambia County — the right to be safe in our homes and not worry about drug dealers,” Jackson said.
Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Blood Drive Saturday In McDavid, Monday In Walnut Hill
June 2, 2010
There will be two opportunities in the next week give the gift of life in North Escambia.
The Northwest Florida Bloodmobile will be at the McDavid Mini Mart Saturday from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. The Bloodmobile will also be at the Walnut Hill Farm Supply on Monday, June 7 from 7:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.
When you donate to Northwest Florida Blood Services, you can save the life of a hospital patient in northwest Florida. Northwest Florida Blood Services is the exclusive provider of blood products to more than 24 area hospitals who need 175 blood donations a day. Each donation can save up to three lives.
Requirements for giving blood are below.
- Donors must be in generally good health
- At least 17 years of age, without permission. 16-year olds are now allowed to donate with permission granted by parents or legal guardians.
- Must bring picture ID
- Weigh at least 110 lbs
- Free of infection, fever or flu symptoms, for 3 days
- No cancer within the last 5 years
- No antibiotics within the last 48 hours
- No tattoos within the past 12 months
- No chest pain, heart disease, heart surgery (Requires written physician release with diagnosis)
- No history of viral hepatitis
- Cannot have lived in France for 5 years or more between 1980 and the present
- Cannot have lived or visited in the UK for a total of 3 months or more from 1980 to 1996
- Cannot have received a blood transfusion in the UK between 1980 and the present
- Military personnel (current and former), and their dependents, who spent time in military bases in northern Europe during 1980-1990, or southern Europe during 1980-1996, for 6 months or more
- All military personnel (active & reserve) that are returning from Iraq, are deferred for a period of 1 year after the last date on location in that country.
Pictured: The Northwest Florida Blood Services Bloodmobile at Fran’s Diner in Molino on Saturday.
Under The Sea: Danceworks Holds Recital
June 2, 2010
Heather Leonard’s Danceworks presented their annual recital “Under The Sea” recently at Ernest Ward Middle School.
For a photo gallery from the event, click here.
Preschool :
Emma Gilmore, Madalyn Grimes, Ava Gurganus, Berklee Hall, Leah Hetrick, Meredith Johnston, Gracie Long, Mariana Minchew, Jordan Sanders, Aubrey Stuckey, Aleigh Thornton
5-6 year olds:
Bama Coburn, Sarah Margaret Hetrick, Jamison Janes, Makayla Minchew
7-8 year olds:
Shelby Bashore, Anna Grace Janes, Ansleigh Maholovich, Olivia Porter, Bailey Van Pelt
9-10 year olds:
Anna Belle Barberree, Karrie Gibson, Allison Johnson, Cassidy Murphy
11-12 year olds:
Jalyn Bodiford, Katie Born, Leah Fischer, RayAnn Free, Courtney Grim, Jenna Thornton, Brittney Ward
Teen:
Morgan Digman, Anna Fischer, Chloe Leonard, Jessica Lowery, Madi Minchew, Shelby Nielsen
Leonard started Danceworks in 1994. She has over 30 years of dance training, 25 years of teaching experience and serves as Danceworks’ director. The Danceworks students are instructed by Chelsea Sims, with 15 years of dance experience and five years as an assistant teacher. She is a former Northview High School cheerleader and Miss Northview.
Photos courtesy Ramona Fischer for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Latest Escambia Oil Info
June 2, 2010
Here is the latest Deepwater Horizon oil spill information specific to Escambia County. The latest updates are highlighted in yellow.
|
|
British Petroleum (BP) |
|
|
|
Federal (NOAA) |
|
|
State of Florida (DEP, FWC) |
|
|
Escambia County Board of County Commissioners and Staff |
|
|
|
Local Beaches |
|
|
City of Pensacola |
|
|
Volunteer Opportunities |
|
|
Safety Information |
|
Wildlife
Boats
Beaches and Waterways
Personal Safety
|
|
Business Information |
|
|
Citizen Information
|
First Day On The Job For New Atmore Principal
June 2, 2010
Today is the first day on the job for Joseph Dean, the new principal of Escambia County High School in Atmore.
Dean,38, is a native of Monroe County and most recently served as interim superintendent in Butler County, Ala. During a 15 year career in Butler County, he served as an assistant principal at Greenville High School, principal at Georgiana High School and principal at Butler County Magnet School. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Alabama State University and a master’s degree in education leadership from ASU.
Dean was hired unanimously by the Escambia County Board of Education to replace Harvey Means after the board failed to extend Means’ contract.