Operation Overboard: VBS At Aldersgate Molino (With Gallery)
August 2, 2012
Vacation Bible School is underway this week at Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Molino.
The “Operation Overboard” VBS will continue with activities Thursday and Friday evenings from 5:30-8:30 for ages 3 to rising fifth graders. VBS will conclude with an ice cream social and closing ceremonies on Saturday, August 4 from 5-7 p.m.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
AG Bondi ‘Troubled’ By BP Oil Spill Settlement
August 2, 2012
In a letter to the general counsel of BP America, Attorney General Pam Bondi said she’s “troubled” about the terms of a settlement reached in litigation in New Orleans over the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010.
Bondi said the settlement in the case only covers 30 of Florida’s 67 counties, even though a BP fund initially set up to pay some claims ended up approving payments in 66 counties.
While I sincerely hope that BP properly compensates Florida individual and business claimants for the losses they have suffered, either through or outside of the proposed settlement terms, I will, if necessary, use the full power of my office to ensure that BP lives up to its responsibilities under the law,” Bondi wrote.
By The News Service of Florida
ACLU: 13,000 Ex Florida Felons Could Register To Vote
August 2, 2012
.More than 13,000 ex-felons may be eligible to vote but don’t know it, the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida said Wednesday, citing data it obtained from the Florida Parole Commission.
The ACLU said the commission is sitting on more than 17,000 Restoration of Civil Rights certificates that would notify former felons that they can now register to vote, but which have not reached their intended recipients. The civil rights group cross checked the names on those certificates with voter registration lists and found that 13,571 of them are not registered voters, presumably because many of them don’t know they’ve been cleared to register.
Florida is one of a minority of U.S. states that does not automatically restore civil rights once a felon has completed a sentence.
The certificates were sent between 2007 and March 2011, during which time a change in policy spearheaded by former Gov Charlie Crist allowed nonviolent ex-felons to have their rights automatically restored.
The policy was repealed in March 2011 after Florida Gov. Rick Scott and newly elected members of the Florida Cabinet voted to eliminate automatic restoration and again make it more difficult for ex-felons to get their civil rights, including the right to vote, restored.
Scott has been aggressively pursuing efforts to clean up the state’s voter rolls because, he says, there are some non-citizens who are ineligible to vote who are registered.
Following a legal battle, the state last month gained access to a federal Department of Homeland Security database to continue the effort to remove ineligible voters. An initial effort stalled when local supervisors of elections balked because of possible inaccuracies on an earlier list of potentially ineligible voters that was sent to the counties by the state.
“The contrast between the baseless claims that Governor Scott has made about voter fraud and the lengths to which he has gone to make voting more difficult, and the inattention to the thousands of voting rights restoration certifications gathering dust … could not be sharper,” Howard Simon, ACLU of Florida executive director, said in a statement.
Tammy Salmon, a parole commissioner administrative assistant, said the figures were correct and reflect certificates mailed to recipients who could not be found and left no forwarding address.
In some cases, the agency made “multiple attempts” to make contact, but to no avail, she said.
The parole commission’s website – https://fpcweb.fpc.state.fl.us/ – allows viewers to search to see if an ex-offender’s rights have been restored.
“We are going above and beyond to try to reach these folks,” Salmon said.
Eligible residents must register by Oct. 9 to vote in the general election in November.
By The News Service of Florida
Dates Announced For Next Year’s Beulahfest
August 2, 2012
Mark your calendars now…the dates have been announced for the 27th Annual Beulahfest.
The event will take place March 15-16, 2013, at the Escambia County Equestrian Center. Entertainment will, as always, feature local and regional bands plus top country stars. The headline acts will be named at a later date.
Over 75 vendors are expected at the 2013 Beulahfest, selling arts and crafts and other merchandise.
Organizers also announced that “surprise changes” are coming to Beulahfest that will be announced soon.
Pictured: Performances at last year’s Beulahfest from Rodney Atkins (above and inset) and Travis Tritt (below). NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Molino Lady Astros Take Second In Southern Nationals
August 2, 2012
The Molino Lady Astros finished second in the Southern Nationals recently. The Lady Astros won all pool and bracket games to head into the championship game at 8-0.
The 16U Astros finished as runner-ups after a 3-2 loss to Mississippi Blast in a grueling game with heat indices well over 100 degrees.
“Our pitching was great from Jessica Briggs, Meagan Green, Heather Thomason and Korina Rosario, who led in strikeouts,” Coach Donnie Nicholson said. “I was very proud of everyone giving it all they had.
Pictured top: The Molino 16U Lady Astros (front, L-R) Caitlyn Hagan, Gracie Kilcrease, Jessica Briggs, Abby Spivey, Meagan Green, (back row) Coach Donnie Nicholson, Kat Griffin, Heather Thomason, Kathleen Smile and Terri Andrews. Not pictured are Coach Nick Rosario and Shawn Green. Pictured below: The Lady Astros in action. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
James O’Neal Black
August 2, 2012
Mr. James O’Neal Black, 75, passed away on Tuesday, July 31, 2012, in Bratt.
Mr. Black was a native of Brewton and a resident of Bratt for the past 21 years. He was a Veteran of the US Navy, Vietnam and was retired from Fountain Correctional Facility. He attended Atmore Baptist Temple.
He is preceded in death by five brothers, Otto Black, H.H. Black, Carl Black, Wilmer Black and Donnie Black.
He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Faye Black of Bratt; one son, Jamie (Michele) Black of Atmore; two daughters, Vicki Hunt of Atmore and Kristi Crawford of Navarre; two sisters, Doris Wilson of Spanish Fort and Deloris Vance of Wickliffe, KY; four granchildren, Blake McCall, Ashlynn McCall, Chelsea Black and Chirstian Black and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held Friday, August 3, 2012, at 11 a.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with the Rev. Doug Odom officiating.
Visitation will be Friday, August 3, 2012, from 9:30 a.m. until funeral time at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes, LLC in charge of all arrangements.
Smokies Take Two From The Pensacola Blue Wahoos
August 2, 2012
The Tennessee Smokies picked up a pair of wins over the Blue Wahoos on Wednesday night at Smokies Park in Kodak, Tenn. Tennessee won the continuation of Tuesday night’s suspended game 4-2 before walking off with a 1-0 win in the second game.
After waiting out a rain delay to start the continuation, the Blue Wahoos quickly tied the score in the top of the fifth. After David Vidal doubled to begin the inning, Billy Hamilton singled him home from second with two outs to even the score at 2-2. Shortly after his single, Hamilton broke for second and dove into the bag safely with his 117th stolen base of the season. He is now just 28 steals shy of Vince Coleman’s 1983 record of 145.
The Smokies were quick to respond in the bottom of the fifth. With two outs and a man on, Nate Samson hit a two-run homer to left field off Brian Pearl to give the Smokies a 4-2 lead. Tennessee kept the Wahoos off the scoreboard the rest of the way as the Smokies won 4-2. Pearl (1-2) suffered the loss for Pensacola after working 2.1 innings and allowing just the two runs. Trey McNutt (6-8) worked the first three innings of the resumption and allowed one run on two hits on his way to the win. Kevin Rhoderick (8) worked a scoreless eighth and ninth to earn the save.
In the second game, Fish starter Daniel Corcino traded zeros with Smokies starter Dallas Beeler through the first five innings before each team went to their bullpen in the sixth.
Corcino allowed just three hits over five innings. He walked one and fanned four. Dallas Beeler allowed just three base runners over his five shutout innings for the Smokies. Neither starter recorded a decision.
The Smokies broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the seventh when Justin Bour hit the first pitch he saw over the right field fence for a walk-off home run giving Tennessee the 1-0 win. After working a 1-2-3 sixth inning, Curtis Partch (4-4) allowed the homer to Bour to suffer the loss. Brian Schlitter (2-2) worked two scoreless innings out of the bullpen for the Smokies to earn the win.
The Blue Wahoos have now dropped four straight. It matches the team’s longest losing streak of the season. It is the first time since June 1-3 that the Blue Wahoos have lost four in a row.
Pensacola will try to salvage the final game of the four-game set with the Smokies on Thursday. Right-hander Wirfin Obispo (2-0, 2.63) will get the nod for Pensacola. The Smokies haven’t announced their starter. First pitch is set for 6:15 p.m. CT at Smokies Park in Kodak, Tenn.
By Tommy Thrall
Pictured: Daniel Corcino worked five shutout innings in the Blue Wahoos’ 1-0 loss in game 2 against the Smokies Wednesday night. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Crediton Eugene Rigby
August 2, 2012
Crediton Eugene Rigby, 65, passed away on July 29, 2012.He was born in Pensacola on November 28, 1946, to Joe Rigby and Mary Louise Rigby Ward. He graduated from Century High School in Century. He was employed with Monsanto Corporation for 35 years. He was retired from the Alabama Army National Guard. He was a member of the Cantonment Church of Christ in Cantonment.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Joe Rigby and Mary Louise (Jack) Rigby Ward; two sisters, Thelma Diane Rigby Brake and Eleanor Marie Ward and one brother, Troy E. Ward.
He is survived by his wife, Connie Charlene Rigby and three children, Cynthia Jean (Nathan) Daniel; Anthony Eugene (Tracy) Rigby and Gena Renee Rigby; one grandson, Dalton Ray Daniel; three brothers, Joe (Debra) Rigby; Bill (Frances) Ward and Ronnie Ward; and two sisters, Gwendolyn (Leonard) Cook and Voncille (Joe) Silcox.
Funeral services will be Friday, August 3, 2012, at Faith Chapel North with Jeffery Orr Minister and Jimmy Blackmon, Minister of the Church of Christ officiating. Interment will follow at Bayview Memorial Park in Pensacola.
The family would like to thank the staff of Homestead Village for their loving care of our husband, father, and brother for the past four and a half years and would also like to thank Covenant Hospice for their kindness, care and love of our loved one.
Thousands Of Supporters Turn Out For Chick-fil-A ‘Appreciation Day’
August 1, 2012
Thousands have turned out Wednesday to support Chick-fil-A at restaurants across the area.
NorthEscambia.com reader submitted photos show lines out the door, packed restaurant lobbies and drive-thru lines filling parking lots and spilling into nearby streets.
For a reader submitted photo gallery, click here.
Wednesday was proclaimed “Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day” by former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. A social media campaign on Facebook followed, urging those that support the chicken restaurant to eat at a location near them on Wednesday.
“Let’s affirm a business that operates on Christian principles and whose executives are willing to take a stand for the Godly values we espouse by simply showing up and eating at Chick Fil-A on Wednesday,” Huckabee said in a Facebook posting.
Dan Cathy, president of Chick-fil-A told the Baptist Press last month that the company is “guilty as charged” for supporting the “the biblical definition of a family” as marriage being the union of one man and one woman. Those statement drew fire from gay rights groups who have called for boycotts and to block the chain from opening more restaurants.
Pictured: The rush at Chick-fil-A restaurants in the North Escambia area Wednesday. Reader submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Flomaton Police Seize Drugs, Over $46,000 In Cash In Traffic Stop
August 1, 2012
Police in Flomaton seized a small quantity of drugs and over $46,000 in cash following a traffic stop Tuesday evening — believed to be the largest cash seizure ever by the department.
Flomaton Police Department Officer Chris Neal conducted a traffic stop on a 2010 Dodge Challenger on Highway 113 for a moving violation. When asked if there was anything in the vehicle that police should know about, Neal said the driver — 21 year old Jarvis Dionte Corry of Atlanta — admitted that there was $35,000 in cash under the driver’s seat.
Neal said after detecting the possible odor of marijuana from the vehicle, he asked for and obtained consent to search the car. The front seat passenger, Neal said, had small baggie of a substance in his possession that tested positive for cocaine and a small quantity of marijuana.
Police reported finding a total of $46,010 in the vehicle. The money was discovered in several locations, including under the driver’s seat, in a shaving bag and in luggage, sorted into $1,000 bundles.
For a photo gallery, click here.
The men claimed the money was from student loans and that they had driven to Pensacola to buy a truck with the cash, but decided against the purchase and instead were returning to the Atlanta area.
Corry, the driver, was cited for impeding the flow of traffic. The front seat passenger, 35-year old Antwan Deonte Jackson of Atlanta, was charged with felony possession of a controlled substance in connection with the cocaine allegedly found on his person and possessions of marijuana. He was transported to the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton.
Two other people in the vehicle, a 31-year old male and a 20-year old male, both from the Atlanta area, were not immediately charged with any crime. They were released along with Correy.
The investigation into the traffic stop and the cash continued into Wednesday morning at the Flomaton Police Department. The department will file paperwork to seize the cash due to possible narcotics activity, officers said. The vehicle remained impounded for further investigation.
Pictured top: Flomaton Police officer Chris Neal with over $46,000 in cash seized during a traffic stop Tuesday evening. Pictured inset: Part of the cash was discovered during this search of luggage belonging to the suspects. Pictured bottom inset: The 2010 Dodge Challengers stopped by the Flomaton Police Department. Pictured below: A portion of the cash, cocaine and marijuana (in foreground) seized. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
