Robert Earl White
September 22, 2011
Mr. Robert Earl White, age 68 of Jernigan Road in Brewton, passed away Tuesday evening September 20, 2011, in a Century health care facility after an extended illness.
Mr. White was a native and life long resident of Brewton and was of the Holiness faith.
He is survived by a brother, James White of Century; uncle, Bill Crowley of Century; and an aunt, Hazel Crowley of Century.
Graveside funeral services will be held on Friday, September 23, 2011, at Catawba Cemetery with Rev. Greg Stone officiating.
Visitation will be held on Thursday at Craver’s Funeral Home from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.
Caught On Camera: Weak Funnel Cloud In Molino
September 21, 2011
A NorthEscambia.com reader took these photos Wednesday afternoon in Molino showing what the National Weather Service said appeared to be a very weak funnel cloud. The photos were taken near Fairground Road and the Escambia River.
“It may be a funnel cloud,” said Don Faulkner, meteorologist with the National Weather Service Office in Mobile said. “We think that it may have spun up on the shear zone along the sea breeze possibly as a waterspout over the bay and maintained its mid level structure as it moved inland. Atmospheric conditions were not conducive for tornado development but it is unstable enough for waterspouts and brief funnel clouds.”
If you have weather photos, email them to news@northescambia.com
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
More Rain Possible, Minor Flooding Reported
September 21, 2011
Portions of the North Escambia area received heavy rainfall Wednesday afternoon. More rain is possible through Friday, but a weak cold front brings much nicer weather for the first weekend of fall.
Pictured above: Flooding at Highway 95A and Quintette Road this afternoon. (Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com by Diane Lowery, click to enlarge.)
- Tonight: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.
- Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 86. Southeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
- Thursday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Friday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 65. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph.
- Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 86. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 60. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 86. Calm wind becoming west between 5 and 10 mph.
- Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 66.
- Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 85.
- Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 60.
Facebook Changes: Many Local Residents Are Not Happy
September 21, 2011
Facebook, the world’s most popular social media site with thousands of local users, has made changes for most users, and many North Escambia area users are not happy about it.
The big change is in the news feed — it no longer appears in just chronological order but is displayed based upon what Facebook sees as the most important based upon each person’s viewing habits.
Facebook explained it like this on their blog:
“When you pick up a newspaper after not reading it for a week, the front page quickly clues you into the most interesting stories. In the past, News Feed hasn’t worked like that. Updates slide down in chronological order so it’s tough to zero in on what matters most.
Now, News Feed will act more like your own personal newspaper. You won’t have to worry about missing important stuff. All your news will be in a single stream with the most interesting stories featured at the top. If you haven’t visited Facebook for a while, the first things you’ll see are top photos and statuses posted while you’ve been away. They’re marked with an easy-to-spot blue corner.”
There’s also a new real-time news ticker that is designed to make it easier to join conversations.
Facebook said: “Ticker shows you the same stuff you were already seeing on Facebook, but it brings your conversations to life by displaying updates instantaneously. Now when a friend comments, asks a question or shares something like a check in, you’ll be able to join the conversation right away. Click on anything in ticker to see the full story and chime in – without losing your place.”
But the new changes are not sitting well with many local Facebook users. On our NorthEscambia.com publisher’s Facebook page, users have expressed their displeasure. Here’s a sampling of the comments:
- “Don’t like it. What was wrong w/ the original????” – Teresa Andress, Molino
- “I am confused; not good” — Diane Lowery, Cantonment
- “Do not, do not like this new Facebook…Why not leave FB alone” – Sue Smith, Uriah, Ala.
- “I DO NOT!! Like the new facebook!!!” — Caitlin Roley-Lovely, Bratt
- “I don’t like it…it confused me” – Kimberly McCullough, Walnut Hill
- “Uncalled for” – Rhonda Pridgen, Flomaton
- “Huge dislike” – Dorreen Allen, Cantonment
- “I do NOT like…’If it ain’t broke, then it don’t need to be fixed’” – Alan Bell, Atmore
- “Seeing double here… looking at homepage and news then over to right is same thing…. annoying for sure” – Tricia Chastain
- “The mobile version is very annoying!!!! Don’t like at all” – Mandy Odom, Century
A few people have also expressed cautious optimism about the Facebook changes:
- “Give it a week and you’ll forget it was ever different” – Clint Davis, Walnut Hill
- “I’m not really crazy about it, but I’m addicted to FB so I will just relearn how to use this new format. By the time I get used to this format, they will change it to something else.” – Tamara Smith, Century
- “I’m not loving it yet… maybe when I figure it out!” – Beth Norwood, Flomaton
To join in our Facebook conversation about Facebook, head over to Publisher William Reynolds’ Facebook page at:
https://www.facebook.com/northescambiaWilliam
You can also “Like” the NorthEscambia.com Facebook page at:
https://www.facebook.com/NorthEscambia
ECAT Strike Over
September 21, 2011
Union leaders said Wednesday night that the strike against ECAT is over and a tentative deal has been made with management. That means the public transportation buses will roll Thursday morning.
In a letter to ECAT General Manager Ken Gordon, the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1395 president offered to return to work immediately. Union President Mike Lowery requested an unconditional return to work for all striking workers.
Veolia has accepted the offer and will allow the ATU members who participated in the strike to return for their regular assignment effective 12:01 am, September 22, 2011.
An earlier version of this story is below.
Thousands of Escambia County residents are without a ride today after the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1395 voted Tuesday night to implement a public transportation strike.
The Escambia County Area Transit buses are idle today as the Amalgamated Transit Union and ECAT, managed and operated by private company Veolia Transporation, work to come to terms on a new contract.
Gary Rauen, ATU International vice president, said bus drivers have worked for more than a year without a contract, and well over that time without a raise. He said the union’s issues with the county include salaries, insurance, sick days and working conditions. Rauen said ATU has tried unsuccessfully to come to terms on a contract for over year with no results.
Mike Ake, regional vice president for Veolia, said the transportation company and the union have an existing labor contract in effect through September 30.
“Thus, this is an illegal course of action by the Union; they are engaging in an illegal strike, and we will welcome any employee that wishes to come to work,” Ake said in a written statement. “We are surprised and extremely disappointed that the Union has taken this course of action against the citizens of Escambia County.”
“We apologize to our ridership and the citizens of Escambia County for this inconvenience, but please know that this situation has been fully caused by the Union,” Ake’s statement continued. “Our goal is to restore as much service as we can, as quickly as we can. We have already begun running limited service. We remain willing to meet with the Union to continue our negotiations, and we thank our ridership for their patience as we continue working on restoring bus service.”
The last ECAT strike began in November 2005 and lasted for 77 days into early 2006.
ECAT’s routes encompass the entire length of Escambia County from Century to Pensacola Beach, with North Escambia buses from Century, Molino and Cantonment connected to routes across Pensacola. In late 2010, older, larger buses on the North Escambia “Route 60″ were replaced with smaller, more fuel efficient buses (pictured below).
Pictured top: One of 10 green ECAT buses rolled last September. Pictured inset: One of the small, more fuel efficient business used on ECAT’s North Escambia routes. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Charges Dropped Against Century Man Accused Of Assaulting Pregnant Wife In Street
September 21, 2011
Charges have been dropped against a Century man that was arrested in July for allegedly assaulting his pregnant wife in the middle of a local street because she was seeing another man.
Terrance Terrell Grice, 26, had been charged with charged with domestic violence related aggravated battery.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report, Grice had been released from jail, returning home to find out his pregnant wife was involved with another man.
The wife told deputies said Grice had followed and harassed her all day before attacking her and pushing her to the ground in the intersection of Pond and George streets in Century. She told deputies she grabbed a glass gin bottle and fought back, leaving Grice with lacerations on his back and shoulder.
The wife suffered minor scratches during the incident. She refused treatment by Escambia County EMS.
Ernest Ward Eagles Beat The Blacksher Bulldogs (With Photo Gallery)
September 21, 2011
The Ernest Ward Middle School Eagles defeated the J.U. Blacksher Bulldogs 30-16 in middle school football action Tuesday evening in Walnut Hill.
For a photo gallery, including the band and cheerleaders, click here.
The Eagles (1-2) jumped out to an 8-0 lead late in the first quarter with a 25-yard touchdown run from eight grader Jacob Dunsford. With a toss from quarterback Gavin Grant to Dunsford to Warren Suggs, the Eagles picked up two on the extra point attempt with 1:47 to go in the first.
Ernest Ward expanded their advantage with 3:09 to go in in the half with a 6o-yard touchdown run from seventh grader Desmone Knight. A missed point after, and the Eagles were up 14-0.
Suggs was in the end zone again with 1.22 to go in the half, but the touchdown was called back on a holding penalty against the Eagles. Suggs got redemption with 23.5 seconds to go in the half with a 21-yard TD run. A good two-point conversion run from Zach Holland gave the Eagles a 22-0 lead headed into the half.
The Bulldogs managed a couple of touchdowns in the second half, as Ernest Ward added one for a 30-16 win for the Eagles
The Ernest Ward Middle School Eagles will host the Cougars of Escambia Academy next Tuesday, September 27, at 6 p.m. in Walnut Hill.
For a photo gallery, including the band and cheerleaders, click here.
Pictured top: Jacob Dunsford gains yardage for the Ernest Ward Middle School Tuesday evening in Walnut Hill. Pictured inset: Isaiah Dunn doesn’t go down without a fight. Pictured below: Desmone Knight (#1) on the move for the Eagles. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Perdido Gators Win Mobile Fall Classic
September 21, 2011
The Perdido Gators softball team won first place in the recent Mobile Fall Classic 14U division.
In the final game, the Gators faced off with tournament host Mobile Slapshot ‘98. After a six inning of championship play, the score was tied 0-0. After two innings of extra play, the Gators captured the the title with a 0-1 victory.
The Perdido Gators includes local softball players from Northview, Tate, West Florida High, Escambia, Milton, and Gulf Breeze.
Team members for the 14U Perdido Gators are Mallory Ryan, Sydney Ezelle, Sara Spears, Ali Cutaio, Tori Perkins, Lauren Brennan, Angel Lathan, Morgan Peppers, Kota Berry, Kristin Gunter and Rachel Wright Coaches for the Gators are Tracy Ezelle, Jeff Cutaio, Eddie Ryan and Greg Spears.
Register Now For Chief Challenge 5K Run/Walk
September 21, 2011
The Second Annual Chief Challenge 5K Run/Walk is coming to Northview High School.
The event will be held Saturday, October 8 at 8:30 a.m. at the school campus in Bratt. “The course is not your typical 5K race. It includes a variety of terrains and challenging hills around the campus,” according to event organizers.
This year the overall Male and Female winners will win their own Adirondack chairs painted by Northview student, Kiani Okahashi. In addition, awards will be broken down to each grade level for males and females, as well as awards for adult, master and grand master.
For a registration form and more details, click here. The registration fee and a t-shirt are only $10 though September 25.
“The event is to promote wellness through running and walking in the area. Now with Bratt Park more and more people are taking advantage of the walking track and getting into shape,” said Natalie Nall, cross country coach at Northview.
Over 140 runners and walkers took part in last year’s Chief Challenge.
The Chief Challenge 5K Run/Walk is sponsored in part by NorthEscambia.com.
Pictured: Over 140 runners and walkers took part in last year’s Chief Challenge at Northview High School. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Volleyball: Northview Splits With Central
September 21, 2011
The Northview Lady Chiefs fell to Central High in varsity volleyball action Tuesday, while the junior varsity defeated central in two games.
Varsity
Central defeated Northview in three straight games — 21-25, 14-25, 22-25.
Junior Misty Doran led the Lady Chiefs with two aces, two kills and four digs. Junior Taylor Roberson had one ace, a kill and three digs for NHS, while Josie Doucette added one ace, an assist and a dig. Shelley Mothershed, a junior, finished the game with three assists and four digs, and Morgan Payne had four kills and two digs.
Northview (0-9, 0-3) will host the Jay Lady Royals Thursday at 6 p.m.
Junior Varsity
In junior varsity action, the Lady Chiefs defeated Century in two games — 25-27, 25-22.
Junior Hannah Fiellin posted three aces, a kill and six assists for the JV Lady Chiefs. Sophomore Danielle Steadham had four aces and three kills. Makayla Flowers added four aces, while freshman Kyndall Hall had five kills for Northview’s junior varsity.
The JV Lady Chiefs (6-5, 2-1) will host Jay at 5 p.m. Thursday.