Kenneth D. Moore
May 19, 2012
Kenneth D. Moore, 41 of Bay Minette, passed away Wednesday May 16, 2012, in Atmore. He was an corrections officer with Alabama Department of Corrections. He was born on January 30, 1971, in Erie County, NY, to Sylvester and Dorothy Oates Moore.
He is preceded in death by his father, Sylvester Moore.
Survivors are his wife Deborah Gail Howard Moore, son D.J. Howard;,daughter Dejia Moore, all of Bay Minette; mother Dorothy Oates Moore of Brewton; three brothers, John Lovelace, Robert Moore and Michael Moore all of Buffalo, NY; sister Jacqueline Stevens of Brewton; aunt Patricia Moore of Buffalo, NY; three uncles, John Fanning and wife, Marilyn of Buffalo, Jerry Fanning and wife, Evelyn of Andalusia, AL, Johnny McCreary of Pensacola; nieces and nephews Michelle Moore, Tashawna Perkins, Robert Moore II, Desiree Moore, Nnenaha Moore, Jessica Moore, Quincey Strothers, Myranda Hyde; great niece and nephew, Alyiah Smith and Eugene Anderson III; and may friends.
Services will be Monday May 21, 2012, at 4 p.m. from the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel in Atmore with the prison chaplin officiating.
Family will receive friends, Sunday evening May 20, 2012, at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home from 4:30-8 p.m., And again on Monday May 21, 2012, at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home from 8 a.m. until noon.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.
Camp Fire’s Townson Is Apple Seed Award Winner
May 19, 2012
Pam Townson, director and VPK teacher for the Camp Fire USA Century Youth Leaning Center was recently presented the 2012 Apple Seed Award by the Early Learning Coalition of Escambia County.
The annual Apple Seed Banquet recognizes early learning education teachers. Camp Fire USA in Century received a 100 percent grade from the Florida Department of Education for 2010-2011 under Townson’s leadership.
“Pam not only encourages parents to be fully engaged as genuine partners in their children’s development, she advocates that early childhood structure can provide school stability and greater consistency in learning, which leads to better school achievements,” said La-vonne Haven, executive director of Camp Fire USA’s Gulf Wind Council.
Townson credits the curriculum of the Florida VPK Standards and Math Standards along with Creative Curriculum, National Camp Fire USA and the Galileo assessment tools with providing researched approaches to learning about the outdoors, nature, science, and creative arts as well as providing fine and gross motor development, early math skills, language and literacy.
Pictured: Pam Townson, director and VPK teacher for the Camp Fire USA Century Youth Leaning Center. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Mr. Charles Edward Hall
May 19, 2012
Mr. Charles Edward Hall, age 62, passed away on Wednesday, May 16, 2012. in Biloxi.
Mr. Hall was a native of Walnut Hill and a resident of Cantonment for the past 12 Years. Mr. Hall was a member of the VFW, DAV, a veteran of Vietnam, and a retired United States Marine where he served 22 years as Master Sergeant.
He is preceded in death by his daughter Angel Hall, parents Edison and Christin Hall and a sister Mary Hall Freeman.
Survivors include his wife, Dorothy Hall of Cantonment; son, Jesse Hall of Canoe; one stepson, John Bray of Cantonment; two brothers, Joe Hall of Walnut Hill and John Hall of Bay Springs, MS; and five grandchildren.
Funeral services will be Monday, May 21, 2012, at 10 a.m. at the Petty Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Joe Gipson officiating.
Burial will follow at Barrancas National Cemetery.
Visitation will be Sunday, May 20, 2012, from 6-9 p.m.. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be John Bray, Al Parks, Ray Thompson, Willie Chestang, Alan Hopkins and Mike Skalski.
James Michael Caspar
May 19, 2012
James Michael Caspar, 52, of Cantonment, passed away on May 16, 2012.
James loved to fish, hunt, and read. He was multi-talented and good with his hands. James could draw and create anything out of wood. He also loved to work and was a welder, pipefitter and crane operator.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Glenn and Myrtle Caspar.
Survivors include: wife, Michelle; daughter, Ashley (John) Chance; sons, Justin and Charlie Caspar; grandchild, Hunter Chance; siblings, Fred (Connie) Caspar and Glenda (Marvin) Thorne; numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.
Visitation will be held from 2 p.m. until memorial service begins at 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 20, 2012, at the funeral home with Elder Glenn Daniel of The Church of God of Cantonment.
Trahan Family Funeral Home, 419 Yoakum Court, is in charge of arrangements.
James was a kind-hearted and well-liked man who will be missed by all who knew him.
Sunny Weekend
May 18, 2012
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 63. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. East wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 60. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. East wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 60. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph.
- Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 61. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Calm wind becoming west between 5 and 10 mph.
- Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 63. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.
- Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 65.
- Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 91.
- Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 67.
- Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.
Commission Approves Rezoning For Walnut Hill Crude Oil Transfer Station, Up To 30 New Jobs
May 18, 2012
The Escambia County Commission voted unanimously Thursday night to rezone property in Walnut Hill where an energy company proposes to build a crude oil transfer station that could mean about 30 new high paying jobs.
With a motion from Kevin White and a second from Gene Valentino, the commission voted 5-0 in favor of rezoning acreage that fronts Corley Road, but has a Highway 97A address, from village agricultural” to “general industrial” as recommended by the Escambia County Planning Board.
Genesis Rail Systems, LLC wants to build the facility on 20 near Arthur Brown Road. The property was chosen because it is at the intersection of an existing crude oil pipeline and the Alabama & Gulf Coast Railway.
Crude oil will be shipped in rail tanker cars from the north — including oil fields in Monroe and Escambia counties in Alabama — and be offloaded at the Walnut Hill facility into a 100,000 barrel storage tank before being injected into the existing Genesis pipeline for transport to refineries along the Gulf Coast.
According to project plans, the facility will create 25-30 or more well paying full time jobs in the community, plus positive economic impacts from constructions and ongoing expenditures.
Plan drawings for the facility show that the large crude oil storage tank will be surrounded by a lined containment area designed to catch storm water runoff and, in a worse case scenario, any leak, preventing any contamination to the surrounding area. The facility will also include the pumping equipment, a 1,500 square foot administration building and a 45-space gravel parking lot.
To support the planned oil transfer station, the Alabama & Gulf Coast Railway is currently constructing an additional rail spur parallel to tracks that run along Corley Road from Arthur Brown Road.
Pictured above: Property off Corley Road in Walnut Hill were a company wants to build a crude oil transfer station. Pictured inset: Alabama & Gulf Coast Railway is already working to install new track. Pictured below: Plans for the facility. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
County Will Front Legal Fees For Commissioners Being Sued
May 18, 2012
The Escambia County Commission voted Thursday night to front attorney’s fee for three commissioners that are being sued by Forrest Gibbs, who was hired and then fired as marketing director for Escambia County Equestrian Center.
County Attorney Alison Rogers removed her office from the lawsuit after an motion to dismiss was denied by Circuit Judge Linda Nobles. Rogers advised Commissioners Kevin White, Grover Robinson and Marie Young to obtain their own defense attorneys. She said County Attorney’s Office employees might be called as witnesses in the case, creating a conflict of interest.
“I’m not trying to make any judgement; I’m just saying I don’t think it is fair for the taxpayers to pay for the legal defense of three commissioners that were charged personally and not as in the duty of a county commissioner,” Commissioner Wilson Robertson, who is not being sued by Gibbs, said.
“We weren’t charged with anything; we were sued,” White said. “We have not been charged with anything.”
The commission voted 3-2 to provide legal defense funds for the three commissioners, with Robinson saying that he would pay for his own attorney. The three commissioners being sued — White, Robinson and Young — voted for fronting the defense money, while Wilson Robertson and Gene Valentino — who are not being sued — voted against.
“We haven’t done anything that I consider wrong,” Commissioner Marie Young said. “Why can’t we support each other?”
If the three defendant commissioners prevail in court, the county will pay their legal fees. If they lose, the commissioners will be required to repay the county.
Gibbs held the Equestrian Center job for about two weeks in October 2011 until being fired by County Administrator Randy Oliver following a complaint that Robertson influenced his hiring and landed Gibbs a $63,000 salary, which was higher than was advertised. The commission, including Robertson, called for a state investigation into the process. The State Attorney found no wrongdoing.
Gibbs filed suit in Escambia County Circuit Court against Commissioners White, Young and Robinson claiming that he was qualified and they improperly removed him from his new job. The suit did not name Escambia County as a defendant. Commissioner Valentino was also not sued by Gibbs; he was not at a meeting in which the other commissioners considered the matter.
Gibbs is seeking unnamed damages in excess of $15,000 plus legal and court costs from White, Young and Robinson.
Wright, Prescott Named EREC Scholarship Winners
May 18, 2012
Escambia River Electric Cooperative has announced two local seniors as winners of the 2012 Herman D. Johnson Scholarship Awards.
The Escambia County winner was Elizabeth Wright, and the Santa Rosa County winner was Travis Prescott.
Elizabeth Wright is the daughter of Joe and Tammy Wright and is a senior at Northview High School. She is active in many clubs and organizations such as the American Legion Auxiliary, Art Club, Beta Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Future Business Leaders of America, Rho Kappa, Spanish Club, Student Advisory Council, Student Government Association and holds officer positions. She is also active in the Tribal Beat Marching Band. Elizabeth has won various awards through the Future Business Leaders of America for Public Speaking and Business Presentation.
Travis Prescott is the son of Philip Prescott and is a senior at Jay High School. He is a member of many clubs and organizations such as Tri-M Music Honor Society, Beta Club, National Honor Society, Rho Kappa, Spanish Club and holds officer positions. He is a member of the Marching Band, Symphonic Band, Indoor Percussion, and the Drum and Bugle Corps at Jay High School. Travis is also an avid volunteer in his community, participating in activities such as delivering Thanksgiving baskets to retired teachers. Travis plans to major in Animation and Digital Arts in college.
Wright and Prescott will receive $1,000.00 for each of four years providing they continue to meet the scholarship criteria. The scholarships will be presented at the respective schools’ awards programs.
To be eligible for the scholarships, students must be high school seniors and their parent or guardian must be a member of EREC.
Spring Football: Northview Vs. West Florida (With Photo Galleries)
May 18, 2012
The 1A Northview Chiefs lost to the defending 5A district champion West Florida Jaguars in a two-quarter varsity game Thursday evening in Bratt, while the junior varsity teams from the two schools walked away in a tie.
West Florida 14 – Northview 6 (Varsity)
In the first half of the Spring Game, West Florida defeated Northview 14-6 in game where NHS Head Coach Sid Wheatly said the Chiefs were plagued by a few mistakes.
For a varsity photo gallery, click here.
“Mentally, we had a couple of mistakes where we just didn’t take care of our assignment. We had a couple of guys go the wrong way, and it cost us down there when we had a chance to score,” Wheatley said. “We’ve got to get more physical along both fronts — offensively and defensively.”
But Wheatley said the 1A Chiefs will recover form the lost to the 5A Jags.
“We are going to learn from the film; we are going to learn from our mistakes, and we are going to come back and be better for it, he said.”
Once school is out, Wheatley said the summer’s focus will be on building a better team with an eye on the state championship by December.
“We are going to work hard,” he said. “We are going to stay in that weight room. We are going to condition; we are going to work on our speed — all aspects of the game,” he said. “Each individual is going to be a better football player for it, and it’s going to make our team better.”
The Chiefs took an early lead with 6:56 to go in the first quarter of the varsity matchup on a short 1-yard touchdown dash from junior La’Mikal Kyles. After a missed extra point kick from junior Kevin Vaughan, Northview was up 6-0. A Chiefs field goal attempt was not good with 31.2 seconds to go in the first.
West Florida answered quickly with 17.1 seconds on the clock in the first with a touchdown run from Lawrence Lee and good kick the Jaguars took a 7-6 lead headed into the second quarter of varsity play.
The Jags struck again in the second for a 14-6 lead with 2:13 to go before the end of varsity play at the half.
For a varsity photo gallery, click here.
Northview 14 – West Florida 14 (JV)
A two-quarter junior varsity scrimmage ended with the Northview Chiefs and the West Florda Jaguars in a 14-14 tie.
For a junior varsity photo gallery, click here.
“I thought the kids played real hard. We had some guys kind of step up and break some runs for us. We turned the ball over a time or two and probably should have came up with a win. I thought they competed hard,” Wheatley said.
In the first quarter of junior varsity play, LaMikeal Banks scored a touchdown for the Chiefs with 7:35 on the clock. Sophomore Brannon Freeman added a two point conversion for an 8-0 Northview Chiefs lead.
The JV Chiefs expanded their lead with a touchdown run from Austin Dorriety. A missed extra point kick, and the Chiefs were up 14-0.
West Florida narrowed the gap with a touchdown run from Vonché and a kick through the uprights, 14-7 Northview. Then the Jags tied it up with 9:00 on the clock in the second quarter of JV play with a Jacquez Rodgers touchdown, 14-14.
For a junior varsity photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Gas Wars Subsiding, Molino And Cantonment Still County’s Cheapest Gas
May 18, 2012
The gas price wars of recent weeks appear to be subsiding, but drivers in Cantonment and Molino are continuing to enjoy the lowest gas prices in Escambia County.
When the Raceway at Highway 29 and Muscogee Road opened in early April, the gas station undercut the prices of other convenience stores in the area. But from Molino south to Gonzalez, several gas stations joined the gas price war and cut prices by as much as 20-30 cents below the rest of the county.
Now, over a month later, the gas prices in Molino and Cantonment are among the lowest in the county, but the dramatic savings have declined.
Thursday afternoon, the lowest price in Escambia County for regular unleaded was $3.37 per gallon at the Bindu in Cantonment, followed by $3.38 at the CMP Food Mart at Highway 29 and Muscogee Road, and $3.39 per gallon at the Raceway on Highway 29 at Muscogee Road, the Tom Thumb in Molino and Cantonment, Dodge’s Store on Nine Mile Road, and the Speed Mart on Highway 29 near Tate School Road.
Multiple stations in the Pensacola metro were selling a gallon of regular unleaded for $3.41-$3.42 Thursday afternoon. The average price in Florida was $3.59, and the average price in the Pensacola area was $3.49.
Pictured: The Tom Thumb in Molino was among the cheapest gas stations in Escambia County Thursday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.