Voting Ends Today In Auburn University Wedding Contest
January 18, 2012
Today is the last day to vote to help a Flomaton bride-to-be win her dream wedding on the campus of Auburn University. Voting ends at 4 p.m.
Details are in an earlier NorthEscambia.com story posted below.
A young North Escambia area woman has big dreams — a free wedding this spring on Samford Lawn on the campus of Auburn University.
Jennifer Coleman, a Flomaton High School graduate, and her groom-to-be, Wes Sinor, are one of three couples vying to win the May 26 wedding of their dreams including the dress, tuxedos, flowers, photos, cakes, limousine, entertainment, reception — the whole wedding package worth thousands.
“We met playing intramural football in October of 2008 here at Auburn out on the intramural field. We just started hanging out after that,” Wes said.
“We were best friends for about two, two and a half years, so we already knew each other through and through,” Jennifer said. But they did not decide to date until after that two plus years of friendship.
“So from the first moment we decided to date, we knew this was it,” she said.
A month after the first date, Wes popped the question — kind of a spur of the moment caught in love kind of thing — without a ring. She said yes.
About a year after that first impromptu proposal, Wes repeated the proposal. This time he was prepared. He had saved some cash for a ring and made his wedding proposal one night on the intramural field where the couple had met, surrounded by candles. Once again, Jennifer said yes.
The winning War Eagle Wedding couple will be chosen by votes from the public. To vote for Jennifer and Wes, visit www.wareaglewedding.com and vote. Additional votes can be cast on four Facebook pages listed on the War Eagle Wedding website. Voting ends at 4 p.m. on January 18.
Pictured top: Wes Sinor proposes to Jennifer Coleman of Flomaton on an intramural football field at Auburn University. Pictured inset: Pictured inset: The couple, pictured here at the 2011 Auburn-Mississippi State game, are huge Auburn football fans. Pictured below: War Eagle Wedding finalists Wes and Jennifer (photo courtesy Flip Flop Foto). Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Honors Winning Football Team, Cheerleaders
January 18, 2012
Northview High School honored members of the school’s football teams and cheerleading squads Tuesday night during their annual banquet.
Chiefs head coach Sid Wheatley told his players that they should be proud of their season with the school’s second ever regional title.
“You’ve paved the way for great things to come next year,” Wheatley told his seniors.
For a photo gallery from the event, click here.
Members of the 2011 Northview Chiefs recognized Tuesday night were:
- Most Valuable Offensive Player – Brandon Sheets
- Outstanding Offensive Back – Lamikal Kyles
- Outstanding Offensive Back – Roderick Woods
- Outstanding Offensive Lineman – Laderious Franklin
- Outstanding Receiver – Austin Albritton
- Outstanding Special Teams – Kevin Vaughn
- Most Valuable Defensive Player – Sean Knight
- Outstanding Defensive Lineman – Brian Ross
- Outstanding Linebacker – Roderick Woods
- Outstanding Defensive Back – LaMichael Banks
- Outstanding Defensive Back – Tanner Brooks
- Chief Award – Alex Payne
- Chief Award – Caleb Leonard
- Academic Award – Justin Halteman
- Team Leader Award – Nathan Therrell
- Team Leader Award – Cole Eicher
- Fire Award – Logan Weber
- Fire Award – Chad Smith
- All-Purpose Award – Montaio Mitchell
- Utility Award – Blake McCall
- Most Improved – Stetson Nash
Wheatley also recognized the team’s seniors — Andrew Farrow, Sean Knight, Montaio Mitchell, Brandon Sheets, Tanner Brooks, Austin Albritton, Jamie Gafford, Wes Chancery, Sam Spence, Caleb Leonard, Alex Payne, Cole Eicher, Nathan Therrell, Brian Ross
Coaches Ty Wise, Derek Marshman, Mandell Smith and John Madison were also recognized.
The Chiefs’ cheerleaders were also honored at the steak dinner. Individual awards were presented to:
- Varsity Most Improved – Brittany Thompson
- Varsity Squad Strength – Anna Fischer
- Varsity Best All Around – Ashley Cunningham
- Varsity Spirit Award – Ariel Holland
- JV Most Improved – Courtney Weaver
- JV Spirit Award – Kamryn Brock
For a photo gallery from the event, click here.
Pictured top: Northview Chiefs MVP Brandon Sheets receives his award from Coach Ty Wise. Pictured below: Varsity cheerleaders (L-R) Brittany Thompson, Ashley Cunningham, Ariel Holland and Anna Fischer. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
White House To Honor Man For Leading Century, Escambia County Disaster Prep
January 18, 2012
The executive director of the Be Ready Alliance Coordinating for Emergencies (BRACE) will be recognized at the White House on Thursday for his efforts in Escambia County and Century.
Greg Strader, founder of BRACE, will be one of the 17 local leaders who will be honored at the White House as Champions of Change who help prepare their communities for disaster and build a more resilient nation.
“These men and women have demonstrated significant innovation and creativity in working to get their communities ready for the unexpected and embraced the approach of involving all members of their communities in emergency preparedness and response, reaching out to faith-based, tribal, non-profit, private sector and community-based organizations, as well as individual citizens,” according to the White House.
The Champions of Change program was created as a part of President Obama’s Winning the Future initiative. Each week, a different issue is highlighted and groups of Champions, ranging from educators to entrepreneurs to community leaders, are recognized for the work they are doing to better their communities.
BRACE works to prepare educate and train local communities in disaster preparedness, response and recovery.
According to Kermit Housh, chairman of the board for BRACE, Strader will meet with administration officials to discus how the public private partnership model used by BRACE to prepare local for disaster can be a model for other communities.
“This past year we’ve been reminded that disasters can strike at any time and that preparedness is critical,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano. “We commend the innovative practices and achievements that these individuals bring to the field of emergency management in order to make our communities safer, stronger, and better prepared.”
Through Strader and BRACE, Century recently held CERT — the Community Emergency Response Team — training, including mock disaster drill, for over two dozen local citizens.
Pictured top: Century town council member Sandra McMurray Jackson (left) and another CERT volunteer held a disaster “victim” during a CERT disaster drill. Pictured inset and below: CERT volunteers search for tornado victims during a drill. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Douglas Gwin Weaver
January 18, 2012
Douglas Gwin Weaver, a loving husband, father and grandfather, died unexpectedly on January 15, 2012. Douglas was born June 1, 1942, in Evergreen, AL.
He was preceded in death by his parents W.R. and Lena Weaver and brothers, W.A., Newton, DeWitt and Ronnie.
He is survived by Judy, his wife of 44 years; his daughter, Shelly (Jerry) Helton; son, Mark (Becky) Weaver; his granddaughters, Taylor, Morgan and Julia, who were the apples of his eye; his grandson, Douglas Cade, his newest pride and joy; his brother, Shannon (Malva) Weaver; his sisters, Helen (Jim) Butler, Yvonne (Ken) Chambers, Glenda (Don) Smith; and many nieces and nephews.
Douglas was a long time resident of the Clear Springs, AL, and Cantonment. He was a 1960 graduate of Tate High School. He served in the United States Army in Anchorage, AK. He enjoyed a long career in the logging industry and was the owner of M&S Logging. He spent many happy hours farming and raising cattle.
Douglas had the strong hands and firm handshake of a working man with a kind and generous heart always willing to help those who needed him.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, January 18, 2012, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North-Cantonment. Interment will follow at Clear Springs Cemetery in Clear Springs, AL. Serving, as pallbearers will be Doyle Weaver, Archie Weaver, Michael Patrick, Jimmy Elliott, Tommy Chastang and Bob Baggett, Jr.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home Tuesday, January 17, 2012, from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North, 1000 Highway 29 South, Cantonment is in charge of arrangements.
Train Blocking Fairground Road
January 17, 2012
The Florida Highway Patrol is reporting that a disabled train is blocking Fairground Road in Molino.
The train would cut off access to the Molino Boat Ramp/Fairgrounds Park, Yuhasz Road, Lofton Lane and River Bend Road.
There was no estimated time for the train to be moved.
Rain Tonight, Clearing And Cooler For Wednesday
January 17, 2012
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 46. North wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
- Wednesday: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 60. North wind between 5 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
- Wednesday Night: Clear, with a low around 32. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 65. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south.
- Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 46. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Friday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 71. Calm wind becoming south between 5 and 10 mph.
- Friday Night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55. South wind between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
- Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 73. South wind between 5 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
- Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. South wind around 5 mph.
- Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 73.
- Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54.
- Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72.
- Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51.
- Tuesday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 70. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Water Outage Planned For Clear Creek Subdivision
January 17, 2012
There will be a water outage for residents of the Clear Creek south of East Kingsfield Road Wednesday.
Beginning at 9 a.m. Wednesday, ECUA crews will make water leak repairs on a 6-inch main in the subdivision. This will cause a four to eight hour outage in the entire Clear Creek subdivision, including Clear Creek Drive, Tecumseh Trail, Tecumseh Place, and Tecumseh Court.
For more information contact ECUA Customer Service at (850) 476-0480.
Miss NHS Tickets Going On Sale
January 17, 2012
Tickets go on sale this week for the annual Miss Northview High School pageant.
Tickets will be sold to Miss NHS contestants only on Wednesday, January 18. All others can purchase tickets on Thursday, January 19th. Tickets are available through the front office at Northview for $6 each. Tickets will not be sold at the door.
The annual Miss NHS pageant will be Saturday, January 28 at 7 p.m.
Trial Begins For Man Accused Of Shooting Escambia Deputies
January 17, 2012
Jury selection began Tuesday in the case of a man accused of shooting three Escambia County deputies in October 2010.
Phillip Monier is charged with shooting Deputy Jeremy Cassady and deputies Sam Parker and Chad Brown during a home invasion hostage incident October 29 at his girlfriend’s home near Scenic Highway in Pensacola.
Monier has about a dozen different charges, including four counts of attempted murder, aggravated assault, aggravate kidnapping, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of methamphetamine.
Cassady was severely wounded in the incident and spent 20 days in Sacred Heart Hospital. He later received a pancreas and kidney transplant in August 2011.
Remembering The Dream: Residents Honor Martin Luther King, Jr.
January 17, 2012
Residents across the area gathered Monday to honor the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with parades, motorcades and uplifting programs.
In Century, residents gathered at a program sponsored by the Century-Flomaton Improvement Association where guest speaker Tony R. McCray, Jr. told the attendees to follow in the footsteps of King’s dream.
For a photo gallery, click here.
“Dr. King had a dream. We need to keep that dream alive that one day we will all be able to stand together and work together. We must have faith,” McCray said. “Remember, faith can move mountains. All we want to do is move some dollars and create jobs and business opportunities for our community, for our cities and for our county.”
McCray, executive director of the IBIS Community Development Corporation, said communities in Escambia County could come together for mutual benefit under a program called Higher Heights Escambia.
“When we work together, when we plan together, when we pray together when we invest together, when we raise our voices together, we can accomplish much more,” he said. ” A new effort of black leadership, and of white leadership, is coming together to move to a higher height of unity…We are going to be calling on you in Century to sit down to the table and let’s work through our problems.”
Also during Monday’s event in Century, a $250 William R. McMurray Scholarship, presented by the Jackson McMurray Funeral Service, was awarded to Kiara Williams.
Similar events, parades and motorcades were held across the area Monday, including Flomaton, Atmore and Pensacola.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured top: Attendees join in a chorus of “We Shall Overcome” during a Martin Luther King, Jr. program in Century Monday morning. Pictured top inset: Leola Robinson listens to a speaker during the program. Pictured bottom inset: A musical performance. Pictured below: Dozens of Century area residents attended the program. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
