Cantonment Teen Arrested In Shooting Death Of West Florida High Student
June 11, 2011
A Cantonment teen has been arrested for the February shooting death of a West Florida High School student also from Cantonment.
Friday, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office investigators arrested 16-year-old Nicolas Anthoni Diaz and charged him with manslaughter in the shooting death of Ryan Edward Flaherty, 17.
Flaherty had been at a Pensacola home with several friends on February 27 when Diaz shot him in the head with a handgun, the Sheriff’s Office said Friday. He later died at a Pensacola hospital.
“After a lengthy and very thorough investigation by both our investigators and the State Attorney’s Office, it was determined that this was an appropriate charge in this case,” said sheriff’s spokesman Deputy Chris Welborn.
Investigators believe Diaz was under the influence of alcohol when he began to handle a handgun found in the house. The gun discharged as Diaz pointed it at Flaherty; the bullet struck Flaherty in the head.
Diaz is being held by the Florida Department of Youth Services. He has not yet been charged as an adult.
Flaherty was a student at West Florida Tech High School Multi-Media Academy and a member of the varsity soccer team.
Friday Night Mobile Home Fire Was Arson
June 11, 2011
The search is on for an arsonist after a Friday night mobile home fire in Century.
Area fire departments responded to the blaze at an abandoned mobile home on Hilltop Road, just west of North Century Boulevard. When they arrived, they found a small fire in a bedroom of the double-wide mobile home. The fire was quickly put out using just a fire extinguisher; damage to the home was minimal.
Authorities said the fire was intentionally set near a broken bedroom window. They also discovered that items and copper wiring had been removed from the home, but it was not clear when the items were removed.
The blaze is under investigation by the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Alabama Wildfire Burning Again; Dumping Smoke, Ash Into North Escambia
June 11, 2011
A large brush fire near Seminole in Baldwin County was out of control again Friday night, sending smoke and ash into North Escambia.
Fire crews from Alabama and Florida were battling the blaze Friday afternoon. Many of the firefighters were forced to pull back late in the afternoon as winds changed and pushed the fire across a road and fire breaks.
About 1,400 acres have burned so far.
There were reports Friday afternoon of heavy smoke in portions of Escambia County, and some residents reported ash raining down from the sky in areas of Cantonment, Barrineau Park Beulah and Molino,
Tri-County Beats Myrtle Grove
June 11, 2011
The Tri-County All Stars 7-year olds picked up a big tournament win over Myrtle Grove White Friday night in Pensacola. Tri-County beat Myrtle Grove 25-10. Tri-County will take on Myrtle Grove Green Saturday. Submitted cellular phone photos by Alisa Hart for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Photos: Byrneville Elementary School Field Day Activities
June 11, 2011
Just before the end of the year, Byrneville Elementary School held their annual Field Day.
For more photos from the event, click here.
Students took part in the long jump, football throw, Frisbee relay, sponge relay, obstacle course and tug-o-war. Top scorers were named for a boy and a girl in each class:
- 5th grade: all tied at 7.25 feet — Savana Nielsen, Logan Walters and Logan Hanks
- Levins 4th grade: Patti Lynn Brock 6.5 feet and Colby Graham 6 feet.
- Gilmore 4th grade: Olivia Porter 5.75 feet and Seth Killiam 7 feet
- 3rd grade: Payton Jackson 6 feet and Ian Gifford 6.5 feet
- 2nd grade: all tied at5.75 feet — Heather Knowles and Peyton Sheets
- 1st grade: Taylor Levins 5.75 feet and Cody Adams 6.25 feet
- Dawson Kindergarten: Briana Dunsford 5.5 feet and Jamarkus Jefferson 5.75 feet
- Barbarree Kindergarten: Aleigh Thorn 4.25 feet and Ryder Nolen 4.75 feet.
Pictured top: Top Byrneville Elementary Field Day long jump winners Savana Nielsen, Logan Walters, & Logan Hank. Pictured below: Tug-o-war was one of many events at the BES Field Day. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
BBB Warns Of Deceptive Football Poster Ads
June 11, 2011
The BBB Northwest Florida has issued a warning about a company soliciting local businesses for high school football posters.
Ossian Enterprises, doing business as Communities Unlimited, LLC, began targeting the area claiming to sell advertising space on “local city guides” that are purportedly to be distributed throughout the community, according to the BBB. Two chambers of commerce whose members were targeted with the solicitations assured BBB Northwest Florida that they had no ties to Communities Unlimited.
Now, Ossian Enterprises is again targeting the community, this time as Ads Sports Inc., selling ads on high school football posters, the BBB said.The emails are vague, stating that there will be “up to 5,000 posters” sent out in September 2011 and that they “are doing all area High Schools.” The emails include the “mockup ad” pictured.
A request from BBB Northwest Florida for additional information about which area high schools Ads Sports Inc. is supporting has not been answered.
The BBB is urging small business owners to use caution when being solicited by individuals selling advertising space. Check past publications and contact local businesses who have already worked with the business in question, the BBB said, and find out exactly what kind of exposure your ad will receive and make sure it’s worth the price. The BBB said that businesses will often shell out big bucks for a small advertisement on a no name online directory or a poorly circulated flyer.
Weekend Gardening: Blueberries
June 11, 2011
Blueberries are ripe for picking. So take the kids on an adventure and enjoy the freshness of local produce by visiting a u-pick farm. U-picks allow visitors to harvest their own fresh fruits and vegetables.
U-pick produce is grown in your own community and is crisp, sweet and loaded with flavor. With fewer than one million Americans now claiming farming as their primary occupation, farmers are a vanishing breed. Local farmers who sell direct to consumers cut out the middleman and get full retail price for their food – which means farm families can afford to stay on the farm, doing the work they love.
U-pick blueberry farms are scattered throughout the North Escambia area. Contact your local Extension Office for u-picks in your area.
Every farm is a bit different. Some have more relaxed rules, others more strict. But at all the farms, remind the kids that plants are living things to be cared for and respected, not abused. The farmer feeds his family and pays his bills from the well-being of these plants! So here are some general farm guidelines:
- Follow all rules posted by owners at their picking locations.
- Look for the check-in and check-out areas. Note whether you will be charged according to weight or volume.
- Health codes usually require no pets in the fields.
- Always call in advance to find out if the fruit/vegetables you want are available, to get directions, to check their opening and closing hours and to ask if children are allowed.
- Walk in the rows, don’t step on plants! Some farmers frown on stepping across rows, even if you do it carefully.
When you arrive at the farm, take some time to explain to your kids how to identify and pick ripe fruit. Select plump, full blueberries with a gray-blue color. A berry with any hint of red isn’t fully ripened. White and green colored blueberries will not ripen after they are picked. Unripe berries should be left on the bush because then they will turn into ripe berries for you to pick when you bring your friends back in a couple of weeks time.
The general rule when it comes to blueberries is “the bigger, the sweeter”. A fully ripe blueberry should easily come loose from the plant. If it takes any appreciable pressure to pick them, the berries aren’t fully ripe. It is best to pick blueberries by gently rolling each one from the cluster with the thumb into the palm of the hand. When picking is done this way, the berries that aren’t ripe will not come loose.
Once picked, don’t place the berries, still warm from the sun, in a closed bag or container. Leave the container open so moisture doesn’t form. Don’t wash the berries until just before using to prevent berries from becoming mushy. Chill berries soon after picking to increase shelf life. If refrigerated, fresh-picked blueberries will keep 10 to 14 days.
For more information, contact Theresa Friday at 850-623-3868 or email tlfriday@ufl.edu. Friday is the Residential Horticulture Extension Agent for Santa Rosa County.
Col. Tyron Earl Tisdale
June 11, 2011
Col. Tyron Earl Tisdale (U.S. Army retired), age 90, died at his home in Greenville, Alabama, on Thursday, June 9, 2011.
Saturday, the family received friends from at Dunklin-Daniel Funeral Home in Greenville. Graveside services with full military honors will be held at Memorial Park Cemetery in Auburn, Alabama, at 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 12, 2011, with Dunklin-Daniels Funeral Home of Greenville and Jeffcoat Trant Funeral Home of Auburn directing. Immediately following the service, family and friends are invited to the home of Mrs. Anne May for a reception.
Col. Tisdale was born on December 8, 1920, in McDavid, Florida. He attended Georgia Tech where his participation in ROTC led him to join the Georgia National Guard. He later graduated from the University of Virginia. After completing the Officers Candidate School, Col. Tisdale began an esteemed and decorated career with the U.S. Army that spanned 30 years. A proud patriot and serviceman, he served his country in World War II, Korean Conflict, and the Vietnam War and continued to promote patriotism and allegiance to his country at every opportunity.
After his retirement from the military in 1970, Col. Tisdale relocated to Auburn where he began a second career with the City of Auburn retiring as city manager. After moving to Greenville, Col. Tisdale continued to be very involved in his community and service to others as a Greenville Rotarian that honored him with the distinguished Paul Harris Fellow Award.
He is survived by his wife, Linda Tisdale, of Greenville; daughter-in-law, Jane Tisdale Fox, of Auburn; one grandson, Andrew Tisdale, of Auburn; sister Kate (Norman) Byrd, of Pensacola; brothers, Olin (Clydell) Tisdale, of Lillian; and Wayne (Genny) Tisdale, of Sycamore, AL, and many nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that contributions be made in Col. Tisdale’s honor to The Alger-Sullivan Historical Society, Inc., P.O. Box 1002, Century, FL 32535 or the Greenville Rotary Club, P.O. Box 43, Greenville, AL 36037, both personal passions for Col. Tisdale to which he devoted much interest and time.
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
June 10, 2011
The National Weather Service in Mobile has issued a
* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for…
northwestern Escambia County in northwest Florida…
northern Baldwin County in southwest Alabama…
this includes the city of Bay Minette…
* until 530 PM CDT
* at 435 PM CDT…National Weather Service Doppler radar indicated a
severe thunderstorm capable of producing quarter size hail…and
damaging winds in excess of 60 mph. This storm was located 9 miles
southwest of Atmore…or 8 miles east of Carney…and moving west
at 10 mph.
This includes Interstate 65 between mile markers 31 and 42.
Man Hit By Train, Survives
June 10, 2011
A 46-year-old man was struck by a train and severely injured late Thursday night.
The incident involving a CSX train was reported at around 11:29 p.m. near East 9 Mile and 10 Mile roads.
“The victim, a local transient, was said to have been lying on the tracks at the time he was struck,” said Sheriff’s spokesman Deputy Chris Welborn. “He received some significant injuries and was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital where he is expected to recover.”
Deputies say the victim, whose identity was not released, was lying on the tracks when he was noticed by the conductor of the train. The train was immediately put into an emergency stop and the warning horn was activated.
“The conductor did everything he could to avoid this,” said Welborn.
The sheriff’s office offered the reminder that walking, lying or sitting on railroad tracks is not only dangerous, but it is illegal. Those caught doing so could be charged with trespassing.