Early Voting Underway

October 19, 2010

Voters around Escambia and Santa Rosa counties began casting their ballots Monday as early voting got underway leading up the November 2 general election.

There are four early voting locations in Escambia County:.

  • Supervisor of Elections Main Office, 213 Palafox Place 2nd Floor
  • Supervisor of Elections Annex, 292 Muscogee Road, Cantonment
  • Southwest Branch Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Highway
  • West Florida Genealogy Library (former Tryon Branch Library), 5740 North 9th Avenue

Early voting will be offered Monday, October 18th through Friday, October 22nd from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.; Saturday, October 23rd from 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.; Sunday, October 24th from 11:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.; and Monday, October 25th through Saturday, October 30th from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Early voters will cast paper ballots through digital scanners, and may choose any one of the four sites.

And there are two early voting locations for Santa Rosa County residents:

  • Elections Office (behind McDonalds on U.S. 90, Milton), 6495 Caroline St., Suite F
  • South Service Center (one block east of the zoo on U.S. 98), 5841 Gulf Breeze Parkway, Gulf Breeze.

Early voting in Santa Rosa County will held from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. through August 21, with no early voting on Sunday.

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Another option for voters is to cast an absentee ballot, which can be obtained by contacting the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections by mail, phone (850-595-3900), e-mail (absentee@escambiavotes.com), fax (850-595-3914), or by using the online form at EscambiaVotes.com. Requests must include the voter’s date of birth and the address where the ballot should be mailed, and must be received no later than Wednesday, October 27. Voted ballots must be received in the Elections Office no later than 7:00 p.m. on Election Day. Absentee voters may now follow the status of their ballot by clicking “Track My Ballot” on EscambiaVotes.com.

To obtain an absentee ballot in Santa Rosa County, contact the supervisor of electons by mail, phone (850-983-1900), e-mail (bodenstein@santarosa.fl.gov), fax (850-983-1829), or by using the online form at www.santa rosa.fl.gov/elections.

Tate Band Ranked Superior, Set To Perform On Extreme Home Makeover

October 19, 2010

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The Tate High School Showband of the South earned straight superiors at a weekend competition, and they will be performing in a weekend Christmas parade for Extreme Home Makeover.

The band was ranked superior in marching and maneuvering, general effect, music, axillary and received a final overall superior rating at the District 1 Florida Bandmasters Association’s  Music Performance Assessment in Fort  Walton Beach. Over 1,000 band students from across Escambia and Santa Rosa counties took part in the event.

Escambia, Milton, Pace and Pine Forest high schools also earned straight superior ratings.

The Tate High School Showband of the South is scheduled to perform a “Christmas Parade” Sunday afternoon for ABC’s Extreme Home Makeover as the the program’s house is revealed to the shouts of “Move That Bus!” in Pensacola. It will be the band’s second performance nationally on ABC in a year; the Tate Showband of the South was the only band selected to perform at the 2009 Disney Christmas Parade that aired Christmas morning on ABC television.

Pictured top: The Tate High School Showband of the South performs in the 2009 Disney Christmas Parade. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.

Walnut Hill, Molino First Responders Train With LifeFlight

October 19, 2010

First responders from the Walnut Hill and Molino Stations of Escambia Fire Rescue underwent training with the crew of Baptist Hospital’s LifeFlight helicopter Monday night. The fire personnel reviewed the proper procedures for loading patients, safety protocols and more after the helicopter landed at the Walnut Hill fire station. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.

NWE Teams Defeat Jay

October 19, 2010

All three Northwest Escambia teams were winners Saturday on the road against Jay.

Scores were:

  • Mini-Mites — NWE 28 Jay 12
  • Mites NWE — 12 Jay 0
  • Midgets — NWE 26 Jay 13

The teams from Northwest Escambia in Walnut Hill will be on the road next Saturday in Navarre. The Mini-Mites play at 11:30, the Mites at 12:30 and the Midgets take the field at 2:00.

NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.

Mariah Carey Announces Extreme Home Makeover Family In Baker, Home Location In Escambia

October 18, 2010

Imagine Finis Gastonʼs surprise when the music legend Mariah Carey came to the small community of Baker where he takes care of his niece and nephews. Finis was coaching one of his cheerleading sessions on Monday, Oct. 18, when Carey announced to the Gaston family that they are the latest recipients of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.

In just one week, Gaston and his family will be able to move into their new home in a new town to start their new lives. “We are ready to give Finis Gaston and his family a fresh start here in Pensacola,” said Frank Lott, III, president of Heritage Homes. “His positive attitude and big heart will be the inspiration that carries our team of builders and volunteers as we take on this weekʼs build.”

Finis was raised by a single mother in a poor neighborhood. His mom also took care of his young niece and two nephews. When Finis was 16 years old, the straight A-student and sports enthusiast tried out for the Baker School cheerleading team. After the coach saw his sky-high jump and perfect toe-touch, she volunteered to pay for everything he needed to be on the team. He made school history as the first male cheerleader and his confidence and sense of humor made him a school favorite. His dream to go to college and earn a degree in social work came true when he was discovered by a football scout, who offered Finis a full scholarship to Alabama A&M University.

With just one year left to graduation, Finisʼ beloved mother unexpectedly died. Although he was living his dream, he didnʼt hesitate to leave college to return home and care for his niece and nephews. Family comes first for Finis; and splitting up the children to be sent to foster care was not an option for him.

In addition to his job as a lunch server at Baker School, Finis is a volunteer coach for a local area girlsʼ cheerleading team at the Baker Area Youth Association. Under his guidance, he has led their team to win local competitions and more importantly, has given the girls a much-needed boost of confidence. He opened a gymnastics business called Finest Tumblers, but he had to shut down when the building was recently sold.

The community lost a fun, healthy place for kids to train; and Finis lost the income that he planned to use to make his familyʼs home safe and livable.

Finis and his niece, 18-year-old Jasqulon Gaston, her baby boy, LaRon and Finisʼs nephews: Tyshun Morris, 15 and Tyvun Morris, 8, will go on vacation to Disneyworld. Meanwhile, EM: HE design team leader Ty Pennington and designers Michael Moloney, Tracy Hutson and Johnny Littlefield, local builder Heritage Homes and community volunteers will build the structure.

The home will be located at 1301 Rainbow Avenue in Pensacola.

For volunteer and material needs, visit www.extremeheritagehomes.com

Miracle Girl, Miracle League

October 18, 2010

Miracles do happen.

We first introduced you to Olivia Bush, 7, in December 2009 in a story titled “A Christmas Wish: A Cure For Olivia”. She is blind, able to see just a little light with her left eye.  And she suffered frequent seizures — until a portion of her brain was removed in February of this year at Miami Children’s Hospital. During the surgery, doctors removed a seven centimeter portion of her brain — basically taking out the bad, non-functioning portion and leaving behind the good, healthy tissue.

She has been seizure-free since, and has become much more independent — even playing ball this year in Pensacola’s Miracle League.

“We really had come to accept that Olivia was going to have seizures forever.  It was just going to be one of those things we had to deal with. And when God led us to Miami we knew He had other things in store for Olivia. Since the surgery, Olivia has been a whole different child,” mom Amber Bush said. “It is so great to finally after four years of difficult seizures to see Olivia doing the things she always tried to do, but just couldn’t because of the medicines and side effects of the seizures.”

“This has been yet another miracle that God had brought into Olivia’s life,” Amber said. Olivia’s first miracle was life itself — she was the second youngest baby to ever survive at Sacred Heart Hospital. Born at 22 weeks, she weighed just one pound and six ounces.

And now Olivia is a team player at the Miracle League, where every game ends in a tie. Every player hits; every player scores. There are no strikeouts, no errors. Everybody wins.

Miracle League is for disabled and special needs persons. With players from ages 3 to 63, there are over a dozen teams that play on the two fields at the Mitchell Homes Miracle League Park on Nine Mile Road.

“There isn’t one star on the team….all of the kids are stars. All of the buddies cheer for every batter and even high five the kids as they come around the bases,” Amber said.

“Abigail rounds second! She looks good this year, all decked out and playing some ball,” announcer Crystal Martinez says during a recent afternoon game at the Miracle League. “Loooook at her go! She’s headed home! She scores! Yeah Abi!”

That’s just the way a Miracle League game goes — always. Every game for the past 10 seasons had ended in a tie. The stats for each of the over 150 players will be the same at the end of the season — perfect.

“Olivia has enjoyed herself so much. She loves hearing her name called over the speakers when she comes up to bat and when she scores a run. She just stops and claps her hands,” Amber said.

Each of the two Pensacola Miracle League fields is made up of 180,000 pounds of recycled tires formed into tiles painted to match a regular field. It provides a softer landing spot for a hard fall, while still providing a good bounce for the hollow core ball that is also designed to lesson injury potential. There are two seasons at the park, spring and fall. The rubber surface gets too hot to play in the summer.

The Miracle League needs more volunteers to serve as buddies, work the concession booth, pickup trash and many more tasks around their area of the Nine Mile Road ballpark.

The public is always welcome and encouraged to cheer on the players.

For more information on Miracle League, or to volunteer, visit www.miracleleaguepensacola.org.

For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from a  Twin versus Orioles tie at the Miracle League, click here.

Pictured: Olivia Bush at Saturday’s Miracle League games in Pensacola. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge. Pictured middle inset: A “high five” at a recent Miracle League game, NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.

Florida’s Election 2010 Underway

October 18, 2010

After months of campaigning and free-swinging television advertising, Election 2010 began in earnest Monday as early voting startedin Florida’s 67 counties.

In some counties, polls open as early as 7 a.m. And in a year when the term “enthusiasm gap,” has elbowed its way into the political lexicon, both parties are pushing hard to drive opening-day turnout to claim symbolic points and show their candidates can emerge victorious when polls close Nov. 2.

Florida Democrats had planned more than 100 weekend events, including neighborhood walks, phone banks and grassroots gatherings, while the state GOP also had 1,500 volunteers last week making calls to urge voters to get out early.

While voters go to the polls, House and Senate Republican leaders also are scheduled to gather Monday at the state party headquarters in Tallahassee for a fundraiser to help legislative candidates.

“We’re seeing incredible enthusiasm,” Florida Republican spokesman Dan Conston said of party activists across the state. “We plan to keep that big push going Monday.”

Early voting has changed campaign strategy for candidates and the parties. Along with traditional get-out-the-vote efforts, this week also will likely see the switch flipped on some of the campaign’s hardest-hitting TV spots as Florida’s governor’s race, a three-way U.S. Senate contest and all three Cabinet contests join local races heading into the homestretch.

Already, there has been some angling. Senate Republicans have canceled $4 million in TV ads planned earlier for the front-running Marco Rubio, with party leaders seeming to sense victory and redirecting cash toward capturing Democratic-held seats in Illinois, Pennsylvania and California.

“We had no control over it to begin with,” Rubio spokesman Alex Burgos said. “All we can do is keep focused on our race, and this week, as voters begin to go to the polls, this is what we’ve been building for.”

Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Chris Van Hollen, meanwhile, defended his party’s decision to cancel the $650,000 TV ad buy it planned to air for U.S. Rep. Suzanne Kosmas, D-New Smyrna Beach, in the campaign’s final week – a move widely seen as the party surrendering the first-term lawmaker’s contest to challenger, state Rep. Sandy Adams, R-Orlando.

“The DCCC constantly makes adjustments based on the level of Republican activity in a district,” Hollen said. “We are fully invested in the critical voter contact efforts in Suzanne Kosmas’s campaign. We will continue to keep our options open.”

A DCCC spokesman also dismissed claims by U.S. House Minority Leader John Boehner last week, during a brief stop in Tallahassee, that Republicans were poised to reclaim four congressional seats now held by Florida Democrats, including Kosmas, and U.S. Reps. Alan Grayson, Ron Klein and Allen Boyd.

“John Boehner’s dreaming if he thinks Floridians are going to embrace their agenda that helped create the worst recession our country has seen in decades,” said Shripal Shah of the DCCC. “Democrats are running strong campaigns across the state.”

By John Kennedy, The News Service Florida

Century Man Found Guilty Of Highway 97 DUI

October 18, 2010

A driver arrested for DUI after a late May wreck in Walnut Hill has been found guilty.

Dusty D. Mason, 24, of Still Road, Century, was sentenced to 12 months probation, 50 hours of community service and ordered to pay $1,350 in fees and court costs. He will also be required to attend DUI school, may be responsible for damage restitution and his driver’s license was revoked for 12 months.

Mason, 24, of Still Road, Century, was taken into custody by the Florida Highway Patrol following a May 30 wreck on Highway 97 just north of Tungoil Road.

Mason was northbound on Highway 97 when he ran off the roadway, struck a power pole, continued north in the ditch and went over a driveway, with his Chevrolet coming to rest back on the edge of Highway 97. He refused medical treatment following the crash.

The power pole that Mason struck was broken about 12 feet off the ground. Residents in the area did not lose power immediately after the crash. But an unknown number of Escambia River Electric Cooperative customers south of Howell Road lost power about 9:40 p.m. as the power company worked to replace the broken pole.

The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the call.

Pictured top: Dusty D. Mason was arrested for DUI following this May crash on Highway 97. Pictured top inset:  Mason, 24, is taken into custody by the Florida Highway Patrol after the accident. Pictured below: A power pole was broken in the crash. Pictured below: A portion of the power pole was lodged between a tire and rim in the accident. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.

Traffic Watch: Highway 97 Resurfacing Resumes

October 18, 2010

Possible lengthy traffic delays will resumed Monday on Highway 97 as work continues on a resurfacing project.

Crews from Panhandle Grading & Paving have resumed laying the top asphalt layer (called a “friction course”) on Highway 97.  Motorists can expect intermittent lane restrictions from the intersection of Highway 29 and Highway 97 north to the Alabama state line.

During construction, traffic will be restricted to one-lane through the work zone.  Variable Message Boards (VMB) are in place to notify the public of lane closures. Motorists are reminded to use extreme caution, and pay close attention to construction equipment and workers entering and exiting the roadway.  Access to businesses and residents will be maintained.

In about a week, crews will pave the southern end of Highway 97 at Highway 29, causing traffic problems in the intersection. Law enforcement will be on site during the operations in the intersection to help things move as smoothly as possible, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.

FFA Students Compete In Forestry Career Development Event

October 18, 2010

Five Northview High School FFA members recently took part in the District Forestry Career Development event at Ponce de Leon Springs State Park in Marianna.

Northview FFA Team members participating were Courtney Solari, Stephanie Solari, Lydia Weaver, Devin Bell and Allyson Bullard. Placing in compass measurement were Lydia Weaver, first; Devin Bell, second; and Stephani Solari third.

The purpose of the Forestry Career Development Event is to stimulate student interest in forestry, to promote forestry instruction in the agricultural education curriculum, and to provide recognition for those who have demonstrated skill and competency as a result of forestry instruction, according to event organizers.

For more photos from the event, click here.

Pictured top: Northview FFA Forestry Team members Courtney Solari, Stephanie Solari, Lydia Weaver, Devin Bell and Allyson Bullard. Pictured inset: Weaver and Bell gaze upwards as they work to identify a tree species. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

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