A Rainy Forecast
May 12, 2012
The entire area should see about two inches of rain this weekend, according to the National Weather Service, while some areas could see as much as five inches.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms. Low around 65. South wind between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
- Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 83. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. West wind around 5 mph becoming north.
- Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 84. North wind around 5 mph.
- Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 60. North wind around 5 mph.
- Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 84. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 57. North wind around 5 mph.
- Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 85. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 57.
- Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 86.
- Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 60.
- Friday: Sunny, with a high near 90.
- Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 62.
- Saturday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 88.
Escambia Man Arrested On Federal Health Care Fraud Charges
May 12, 2012
An Escambia County man was one of two people arrested Friday on federal indictments charging them with health care fraud and conspiracy to commit health care fraud.
Lamar Sintel Pringle, 32, and Raymond Alexander, age 31 of Lake Butler, were both charged in connection with the submission of false claims under the Federal Employees Compensation Act.
The first two counts of the indictment allege that between June 2008 and June 2009, the defendants submitted false claims for medical treatments, services, and other items, to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs. According to the indictment, the defendants submitted the claims in the names of fictitious health care and medical service providers.
The third count of the indictment alleges that, between December 2010 and June 2011, Pringle submitted false claims for reimbursement to the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs using the identification of a medical provider in Mount Vernon, Illinois.
Pringle was arraigned today in United States District Court in Pensacola. Alexander was arraigned in federal court in Gainesville. Trial is scheduled for July 9, 2012, in Gainesville.
If convicted, defendants face a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment on each count of the indictment.
Northview, EWMS Hold FFA Banquet, Remember Late Tommy Weaver
May 12, 2012
It was an emotional night Friday at the 17th Annual Northview High School FFA Banquet as attendees stopped to honor and remember beloved FFA co-advisor Tommy Weaver who passed away March 7.
Senior Lydia Weaver was named the first Tommy Weaver Scholarship recipient.
For a photo gallery from the event, click here.
The annual banquet includes a somber ceremony for graduating seniors…they slowly remove their signature blue FFA jackets and hang them up for the last time on a coat rack.
One at a time, the two graduating FFA senior officers participated in the ceremony. Lydia Weaver, Brandon Chambliss and Brittany Thompson removed jackets one by one, placing them on the coat rack.
The night also included many awards for Northview and Ernest Ward Middle school FFA members and supporters.
Among those honored for their support of the FFA program were Doug and Vickie Godwin, Kerry Hardin, Anna Bell, Alan and Michelle Purvis and Brett Ward; they were named honorary members of the Northview FFA.
The new NHS FFA officers named for the 2012-2013 school year were: Jessica Baldwin, president; Courtney Solari, 1st vice president; Karissa Strickland, 2nd vice president; Logan Wainwright, secretary; Jeremy Stacey, treasurer; Haylee Weaver, reporter; Tiffani Cruce, Dillon Crutchfield, sentential; parliamentarian; Courtney Weekley, historian; Bethany Reynolds, chaplain; and Kaitlyn Kleinatland, photographer.
For a photo gallery from the event, click here.
Pictured top: Northview senior Lydia Weaver receives the first Tommy Weaver Memorial Scholarship Friday night from his son, Toby Weaver. Pictured inset: Senior Brandon Chambliss reacts after hanging up his FFA jacket. Pictured below: Logan Wainwright (left) presents gifts to senior Brittany Thompson (center) and Lydia Weaver. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview Dance Team Honored
May 12, 2012
Members of the Northview High School Dance Team were honored Friday afternoon at the school for their hard work and participation during the school year. The group performs at Northview football games and other school events under the direction of Heather Leonard.
Pictured above: (L-R, front) Courtney Lambert, Chloe Leonard, Ashley Cunningham, Danielle Scott, Morgan Digmon, (L-R, back) Anna Fischer, Shelby Nielsen, Lily Townson, Jessica Lowery, Rachel Presley and Samantha Barrow. Not pictured: Kinani Okahashi. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Grad King Graduates From Basic Combat Training
May 12, 2012
Army Pvt. Brittany A. King has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C.
During the nine weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army mission, history, tradition and core values, physical fitness, and received instruction and practice in basic combat skills, military weapons, chemical warfare and bayonet training, drill and ceremony, marching, rifle marksmanship, armed and unarmed combat, map reading, field tactics, military courtesy, military justice system, basic first aid, foot marches, and field training exercises.
King is the daughter of Annette King of Ronda Street, Pensacola, and Glenn King of North Chipper Road, Molino.
She is a 2009 graduate of J.M. Tate Senior High School, Cantonment.
Escambia Man Gets 15 Years For Attempted Robbery
May 12, 2012
An Escambia County man is headed to prison for a 2011 attempted armed robbery.
State Attorney Bill Eddins said Thursday that Christopher Light was sentenced by Judge Scott Duncan to 15 years in state prison for attempted robbery with a firearm, aggravated assault with a firearm and battery. Light was found guilty as charged by an Escambia County Jury on March 8, 2012.
On August 15, 2011, Light was hiding outside the Park Place Apartments off Scenic Highway when he attacked the victim and held her at gunpoint demanding money and other items.
Place Food By Your Mailbox Saturday To Help Stamp Out Hunger
May 12, 2012
Saturday is the day to place food out by your mailbox to help local families in need.
Americans in more than 10,000 communities will partner today with letter carriers to help “Stamp Out Hunger.” The Letter Carriers Food Drive is the largest, single-day effort to combat hunger in America.
To participate, residents are asked to place a bag of non-perishable food items, like canned soup, canned vegetables, pasta, rice or cereal, by their mailbox before their mail is delivered on Saturday, May 12. Letter carriers will collect the food items and deliver them to hunger relief agencies with the help of volunteers.
Local hunger relief organizations including Manna Food Pantries, Bay Area Food Bank, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Warrington Emergency Aid, ACTS Ministries, and We Care Ministry will receive the food donated locally and distribute it to needy families throughout the summer.
For more information about the annual Stamp Out Hunger effort, ask your letter carrier, contact your local post office or visit www.helpstampouthunger.com.
Joe “Jody” Gene Boatwright
May 12, 2012
Joe “Jody” Gene Boatwright, 73, was born on December 2, 1938, in Bratt and passed away on May 11, 2012, in Brewton.
He is preceded in death by his mother Irene Gandy Boatwright, his father, Richard Boatwright, his brother, Harold Boatwright, his son, Larry Ward, and his grandson, Justin Ward.
He is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Helen Joyce Boatwright; his sons, Danny Ward and Charles Ward; his daughters, Connie Ryals, JoAnne Boatwright, and Sarah Cagle; his brothers Billy Boatwright of Seminole and Bobby Boatwright of Pensacola; and his sister, Betty Wilson of Macon, GA. He is also survived by 14 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren.
Joe was a heavy equipment operator for 60 years. He was loved by everyone he met, and people knew him as a great story teller, a jokester and an all around hard working southern man. He loved to hunt, fish, spend time with his grandkids, talk with his buddies every morning at Hammer’s Bait and Tackle in Molinol, and in his younger years he shared in the sport of racing horses with his children.
There will be a gathering of friends and family on Monday, May 14, 2012 from 6-8p.m. at Faith Chapel North in Cantonment.
The family would also like to invite all friends to come eat and celebrate Joe’s life with them at the Boatwright Residence in Molino on Monday, May 14, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. Their residence is located at 1999 Morgan Cemetery Road.
Molino Man Killed In Alabama Bulldozer Accident
May 11, 2012
A Molino man was killed when he was run over the by bulldozer he was operating Friday morning about 12 miles northeast of Flomaton.
Joe Gene Boatwright, 73, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident off Wildfork Road near Emmons Road.
Boatwright apparently struck a 4-foot tall debris pile with the dozer at a work site and was ejected. He was then run over by the dozer’s tracks, according to Mike Lambert, chief deputy of the Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Office. The dozer then continued for about 150 yards or more, through a pond, and coming to rest across Wildfork Road.
Family members aid Boatwright has operated heavy equipment for over 60 years, and they believe a medical condition may have caused him to hit the debris pile.
The accident remains under investigation by the Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Office.
Pictured: A dozer that ran over a Molino man came to rest alongside Wildfork Road northeast of Flomaton. Pictured inset: The dozer traveled through this pond without a driver. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Vehicle Hits Propane Tank, Carport
May 11, 2012
A vehicle struck a carport and a 150 gallon propane tank in Pensacola this morning, creating a bit of tense situation for hours.
The Florida Highway Patrol said Amy T. Le, 19, was northbound on Gregg Road near Olive Road (near the side entrance of Academy Sports) when an animal ran into her path of her 2005 BMW about 4:35 a.m.. She veered off the roadway into a propane tank and the brick support of carport at 8036 Gregg Road. The vehicle came to rest under the carport.
An Escambia Fire Rescue special operations team was called to the scene to deal with the propane leak and was still on scene at 8 a.m. There was no explosion or fire.
Le was not injured in the accident.