Tate’s Trawick Signs Golf Scholarship
May 3, 2012
Tate High School’s Billy Trawick has signed a scholarship to play golf at the University of Arkansas at Monticello.
Pictured: (front) Dottie Hodge, Billie Trawick, Mary Ann Trawick, (back) Ronnie Hodge, David Venettozzi, Rick Shackle . Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Sheriff’s Office To Present Free Teen Drive Challenge
May 3, 2012
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office will present a free two day Teen Driver Challenge May 11-12.
The challenge is a part classroom, part driving experience, designed to provide education and training to protect teen drivers.
” The Teen Driver Challenge is an effective way to give young drivers the information and skills they need to make wise decisions behind the wheel,” Sheriff David Morgan said.
The Florida Sheriffs Association Teen Driver Challenge (TDC) program was developed at the request of the Florida Sheriffs to combat the high crash and fatality rate of teen drivers on Florida highways. The ECSO Teen Driver program is a free, 12-hour course, including 4 hours of classroom (including a pre- and post-test) and eight hours of hands-on instruction on a driving course.
The program is presented to 16-19 year old students over a two-day period.
All students must be licensed, have a vehicle that they normally drive available for the range portion. Proof of Insurance is required, along with signed release of liability forms.
The classroom portion of the TDC, which will take place at the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Administration Building, covers crash-related issues, such as vehicle dynamics, braking, steering and traffic laws. Specific chapters of the assigned workbook deal with aggressive driving, distracted driving (texting, cell phone use, etc.), and DUI and seatbelt issues.
The driving portion of the class, which will take place at Bronson Field, will be held on May 12. The class will be limited to 10 applicants.
Applications are available at front desk at the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Administration Building, 1700 West Leonard Street, Pensacola through May 7, 2011. For more information, contact Deputy Ronnie Gill at (850) 436-9630.
“Buddy” Hubbard Taylor
May 3, 2012
“Buddy” Hubbard Taylor, 68, of Molino went to eternal rest Wednesday, May 2, 2012.
Buddy was born in Pensacola on March 18, 1944, to William and Catherine Taylor. He was retired from Escambia County School District after 22 years of dedicated service in the transportation bus garage.
Survivors include his loving wife of 47 years, Beverly Ann Taylor; son Marvin Taylor (wife Michelle); grandson, Zachary Lee Taylor; granddaughter, Ashley Noel Taylor; brother, Johnny Taylor (wife Brenda); sisters, Mae Carroll, Christine Freeman (husband Bob) and Mildred Freeman; and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be Friday, May 4, 2012 from 6-8 p.m. at Pensacola Memorial Gardens Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.
William George “Bill” Robinson
May 3, 2012
William George “Bill” Robinson, Jr, 83, of Cantonment went to be with the Lord Wednesday, May 2, 2012.
Bill, was raised in Brownsville and was retired after 36 years at St. Regis Paper Company. He was a member of Dogwood Park Baptist Church and West Pensacola Masonic Lodge # 296. Bill was a member of the Hadji Shrine Temple where he was in the Clown Unit, and volunteered to transport patients to and from the Shriners’ Hospitals.
Survivors include his loving wife of 63 years, Ann Marie Falk Robinson; son William G. Robinson III (wife Debbie); three daughters, Sharon Milstead (husband Glenn), Inga Robinson and Vivi Skipper (husband Marvin); 13 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. Paw Paw loved each one of them dearly.
Visitation will be on Saturday, May 5, 2012, from 10 a.m. with the service beginning at 11 a.m. at Pensacola Memorial Gardens Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend Glenn Milstead officiating.
In lieu of flowers, the family request memorials be made to the American Diabetes Association , P.O. Box 11454 Alexandria, VA 22312.
Barbara Ann Wood
May 3, 2012
Barbara Ann Wood, 63 of Jay, passed away April 19, 2012, at home. Originally from Atmore, she lived in Jay 41 years.
She is preceded in death by her husband Oscar Jr. Wood, grandson Albert Jr. Lambeth, parents Leon Franklin and Mercy Jane Sanders, sisters Luverne Sanders, Velma Hendricks, and a brother Clarence Sanders.
Survivors include daughter Joyce wood, son Kenny Wood; daughter Patricia Freeman; son Earl Wood; daughter Bertha Lambeth ( Clayton); sister Elbia Wood (Audrey); brothers Lonnie Sanders, and Roy Sanders (Vivian); and nine grandchildren.
Graveside services will be Wednesday April 25, 2012, at 2 p.m. at Cora Cemetery, with Bro. Clarence Carnley officiating. Visitation will be at Jay Funeral Home from noon till 2 p.m.
Pallbearers will be Chris Wood, Dustin Wood, Eric Wood, Daniel Wood, Bryan Wood, Clayton Lambeth, Allen Inman and Khyrstopher Wood.
Jay Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
3 Injured In Hwy 4 Crash
May 2, 2012
Three people were injured in a two vehicle crash Wednesday night in Davisville.
A car and a Toyota T100 pickup collided on West Highway 4 near Highway 97 about 6:45 p.m. Three people were transported by ambulance to Atmore Community Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
West Highway 4 was closed about an hour due to the crash.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Atmore Ambulance and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the crash.
Pictured above and below: Three people were injured in this crash early Wednesday night on West Highway 4 near Highway 97 in Davisville. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Rain Continues Tonight
May 2, 2012
A weak low pressure system will move across the central Gulf today, bringing along a lot of moisture and increasing chances of rain. Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. Southeast wind between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 85. South wind between 5 and 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
- Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. South wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming southwest between 5 and 10 mph.
- Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. West wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. West wind around 5 mph.
- Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 67.
- Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.
- Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 65.
- Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.
Special Feature: Along The North Escambia Trail With A Wagon Train
May 2, 2012
The scene Tuesday very well could have been a postcard snapshot of the dawning of Walnut Hill in the 1800’s. Freshly plowed fields stretch across the flat land, blue skies with a few puffy white clouds floating along in a gentle breeze, piney woods in the distance. Nearby, railroad tracks sat empty, awaiting the next freighter’s horn to break the melody of birds singing.
In the distance, the outline of a wagon train could be seen approaching, a baker’s dozen strong with outriders for protection. Moving nearer, the sound grew louder of horseshoes — clump, clump, clump — and of chains rattling used to connect horses, mules and tack to handcrafted wagons.
For a photo gallery, click here.
But this was May 1, 2012. And in our modern zip-zip fast paced world, wagon trains tend to draw a bit of attention. And that was the point on the annual wagon train ride to the Tate High School FFA Rodeo. The ride started Saturday morning in Barnett Crossroads, just north of I-65 in Escambia County, Ala. It ends Friday night at the Escambia County Equestrian Center in Pensacola for Tate FFA Rodeo’s grand parade.
It’s a 20 year old tradition started by the late Selmer Thompson with a ride from Barrineau Park to Pensacola. This year is the first annual week long event.
At one to four horsepower, or mule-power each, it’s slow ride with a top speed of about 3.5 mph that provides the opportunity to take in the surroundings. And to be neighborly, speaking and waving to the bystanders that gather along the highways or in their yards to watch the unique picture of Americana pass by.
“It’s just an amazing thing,” participant Tina Martin said. “There’s nothing like it.”
“When you ride in a car, you can see what man has made,” wagon owner James Smith said. “But when you ride in a wagon or on a horse, you stop and have time to see what God made.”
Catching up with the ride Tuesday afternoon on Corley Road for the photos on the page, our photographer discovered that the only way back to his car from a ride along with the wagon would be a horse. There were no escort vehicles, no trucks full of supplies. This was a real deal, old-timey wagon train through the countryside.
But it’s not a total step back into time — some of the wagons have battery powered lights, fans and radios — country music, of course. And a few wagons were equipped with BBQ grills mounted at the rear. No need for a drive-thru when the ride is a self-contained, on the move BBQ house.
The actual ride Tuesday was our second encounter with the die hard wagoneers. Modern life, roughing it style, was more evident at the group’s camp Monday night on Highway 164 at Velor Road.
They had just finished a 13 mile trek from Canoe, Alabama. The horses and mules were grazing and resting.
“They eat before we do,” Smith said, gesturing toward the animals.
The wind rustled through the campsite beneath tall pecan trees. A welcomed cool breeze following a hot last day of April with a high in the 90’s — made worse by the open air ride over asphalt.
In the old days of the Tate FFA ride, trail riders would sleep on the ground, or air mattress popped up in the back of a pickup. But this is 2012, after all. The generators hummed outside dual purpose trailers — part horse trailer part in the front and part comfy RV in the back. It’s chance to rest in the A/C or watch a little TV while getting ready to hit the highways again in the morning.
“I just love it,” Martin said. “It’s an experience you’ll never forget.”
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Mistrial Declared In Case Of Molino ‘Underwear Robber’
May 2, 2012
A mistrial was declared due to a deadlocked jury in the trial of a Molino man accused of robbing a local pharmacy in 2010 while wearing underwear on his head.
The jury trial of Joseph Daniel Flowers, now 58, got underway Thursday on multiple charges including robbery with a firearm and several drug possession charges for the September 20, 2010, holdup of Scott’s Pharmacy on Highway 29.
The jury deliberations in the case began at 12:25 p.m. The jury was polled and found to be deadlocked at 5:15 p.m., and Judge Gary Bergosh declared a mistrial with the jury still deadlocked at 5:45 p.m.
The state will try to prove their case again in a new trail. Flowers is scheduled to be back in court May 24 for a docket hearing to set a trial date. in the meantime, Flowers remains in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
Flowers allegedly robbed Scott’s Pharmacy while wearing a bathrobe, slippers, yellow kitchen gloves and underwear on his head. His trial was delayed for months before he was declared competent to stand trial.
Pictured top: Joseph Daniel Flowers is detained by an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office shortly after the robbery of Scott’s Pharmacy in Molino. Pictured below: Scott’s Pharmacy in Molino was robbed September 20, 2010. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Jay Lady Royals Win Regionals, Setting Up Historic Trip To State
May 2, 2012
The Jay Lady Royals won the Class 1A Softball Regional Championship at home Tuesday night 7-6 over the Holmes County Lady Blue Devils.
The game was tied 6-6 in the sixth when senior Tessa Hendricks powered a double to right field. With a double from Camille Driver, the Royals claimed a historic victory; it’s the first trip ever to the state finals in fast pitch softball for the Lady Royals.
The win means a final four road trip for Jay (20-3) for the state finals May 7-8 at the National Training Center Softball Complex in Clermont, Fla.
The Jay Lady Royals will face Port St. Joe Jr-Sr High at 11 a.m. (CDT) on Monday, May 7. Port St. Joe is coming off a 5-4 regional win over Liberty County.
The 1A final game will then be played Tuesday, May 8 at 4 p.m. (CDT). Admission will be $9 per game, with no passes.
WP—Sydney Lowery (17-3; 7 IP, 6 R, 7 H, 6 ER, 4 K, HB, BB)
Jay— Tessa Hendricks 3-4, 3 R, 2 2B, RBI; Olivia Wright 1-2, 2 R, 2 BB; Camille Driver 2-4, 2 RBI, 2B; Ashlyn Geck 1-4, R; Becca Calloway 2-3, 3B, 4 RBI, BB