National Day Of Prayer Events Planned For Century, Atmore
April 29, 2012
Century and Atmore will hold special events on Thursday in recognition of the National Day of Prayer — including one in which the entire Bible will be read aloud in about 30 minutes.
Century National Day of Prayer
In Century, the National Day of Prayer will be observed Thursday, May 3 at 10 a.m. at the Ag Building at the corner of West Highway 4 and Industrial Boulevard in Century. Government, business and civic leaders will join the community in prayer for Century, the surrounding communities and the country.
Atmore National Day of Prayer
In Atmore, the National Day of Prayer will be celebrated with multiple events at Tom Byrne Park on Lindberg Avenue on Thursday, May 3. The day’s events will include:
- Walk and Pray – available all day. A walking path will be marked with the names of public officials and prayer topics written in chalk as a reminder for prayers as the path is walked.
- Early Morning Prayer – 6:30 – 8:30 a.m. There will be local pastors and lay people available to pray with participants for national and personal concerns.
- Prayer Service – 5:30 – 6 p.m. A prayer service for the community and nation.
- Childrens Prayer Event – 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. New this year is an event for children K-6 to participate in an age appropriate prayer time and balloon release.
- Bible Reading – 6 – 6:30 p.m. The entire Bible will be read as a prayer and blessing over the community.
For more information on National Day of Prayer events in Atmore, contact Sharon Keesler at (850) 982-0804 or sharonkeesler@hotmail.com; Nancy Helton at (850) 655-6358 or nan.helton@gmail.com; or Pastor Ted Bridges at (*50) 380-3814.
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Molino Coaches Named Cat Country Coaches Of Week; Kids To Be On Air
April 29, 2012
Two Molino Ballpark coaches have been named Cat Country’s Coach of the Week.
The first is Coach Rowdy Pope with the Texas Rangers Coach Pitch 7-year olds, and the second is Coach Christa Wilson with the 8U UnDents Softball team. The UnDents girls can be heard saying the pledge of allegiance on-air Monday at 7 a.m. and Rangers boys will lead the pledge Tuesday at 7 a.m.
Pictured top: Coach Christa Wilson with the 8U UnDents Softball team and Coach Rowdy Pope with some of the Texas Rangers Coach Pitch 7-year olds, both named Cat Country Coaches of the Week. Submitted photos by Sarah Tipton for Northescambia.com, click to enlarge.
Work Continues On New Family Dollar In Century
April 29, 2012
A construction project is continuing on a new Family Dollar store in Century.
The 8,000 square foot discount retail store will be located at 9441 North Century Boulevard — that’s at the corner of North Century Boulevard and Green Street. The site was last occupied by Royal Pizza and Subs, which was destroyed by fire in July 2008. Prior to that, the property housed a barbecue restaurant. The 1.22 acre lot is located just south of the Food Giant grocery store.
There’s no word yet on the number of jobs the business will provide, or when the discount store will open.
Family Dollar currently operates 6,800 stores in 44 states. Other Family Dollar Stores in the North Escambia area are located in Davisville, Cantonment, Pensacola and Atmore.
Pictured: Construction continued this week on a new Family Dollar store in Century. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Library Friends Books Sale: Bag Of Books Just $5 Today
April 29, 2012
The Friends of the Library Spring Book Sale ends today with a bag full of books for just $5.
The book sale will take place at the First United Methodist Church Wright Place, 80 E. Wright St., and will offer thousands of gently used hardcover and paperback books, CDs and DVDs.
Sunday hours are noon to 3 p.m. Admission is free.
All proceeds from the sale go to support the West Florida Public Library system.
Suns Even Series With Win Over The Pensacola Wahoos
April 29, 2012
The Jacksonville Suns claimed a 5-2 win over the Blue Wahoos on Saturday night at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. The Suns plated three runs in the first, which would prove to be all they would need on their way to evening the series at two game apiece.
Tim Crabbe (L, 1-1) settled down after the first inning and lasted 5.1 innings in the losing effort for Pensacola. Of the three runs he allowed, two were earned. Crabbe only walked one batter in the game, a new season low, and he struck out six, one shy of his season high.
Pensacola pulled within a run on a two-run homer by Cody Puckett in the sixth, but that was all the Wahoos would get. Jacksonville added a pair of insurance runs in the seventh. Wilkin De La Rosa inherited a bases loaded situation and hit the first batter he faced to force in one run, then walked the next, forcing in another. Both runs were charged to Drew Hayes. De La Rosa went on to strike out the next two batters to get out of the inning.
Ryan LaMarre singled in the fifth inning to extend his hit streak to a team-high 11 games. Puckett’s home run was one of his team-leading two hits for the game.
Suns starter Graham Taylor (W, 2-1) earned the win by working six innings and allowing both Blue Wahoos runs on six hits. He walked one and struck out five. Evan Reed (S, 6) closed the came with a pair of perfect innings for the save.
The series concludes on Sunday when the Blue Wahoos send right-hander J.C. Sulbaran (1-2, 4.98) to mound. Jacksonville’s starter has not been announced at this time. First pitch is set for 2:05 CT from the Baseball Ground of Jacksonville.
By Tommy Thrall
Jones, Wetzel To Wed
April 29, 2012
Duane and Melanie Hines of Brewton and Doug Jones of Gulf Shores are proud to announce the engagement and forthcoming marriage of their daughter, Ashleigh Elizabeth Jones, to Travis Michael Wetzel, son of Mike and Karen Wetzel of Pensacola.
The bride elect is the granddaughter of Evelyn Riley and the late Gordon Riley of Brewton and Nick and Melba Jones of Gulf Shores.
Ashleigh is a 2008 graduate of T. R. Miller High School where she served as valedictorian. She is graduating Summa Cum Laude from the University of Montevallo in May with a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics and a minor in chemistry. Ashleigh will be attending the University of West Florida in Pensacola to pursue a Master’s degree in mathematics with a concentration in statistics.
The prospective groom is the grandson of Paul and Shirley Wetzel of Pensacola and the late Geraldine Morris of Jay.
Travis is a 2006 graduate of Jay High School, graduated from Pensacola State College in Pensacola with an Associate of Science degree and is currently attending Global University, majoring in ministerial studies. He is currently employed with David Bowen Sporting Goods in Pace and as associate pastor and worship pastor at Courts of Praise Fellowship in Pensacola.
The wedding is planned for May 26, 2012, at Courts of Praise Fellowship in Pensacola.
Wreck, Gas Leak Shut Down Molino Road
April 28, 2012
A portion of Molino Road was closed for about 45 minutes late Saturday afternoon after a single vehicle wreck caused a natural gas leak.
The driver of a Pontiac G6 lost control on Molino Road about 5:15 p.m., ran off the roadway, struck a culvert, a sign and a fence before hitting an above ground one-inch natural gas service line. The gas line was broken, creating a leak.
The driver of the vehicle was not injured in the crash. Two nearby residents self-evacuated as a precaution due to the gas leak.
The leak was secured and repaired by the Okaloosa Gas District by about 6 p.m., and Molino Road was reopened to traffic.
For a more photos from the scene, click here.
The Molino Stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Highway Patrol responded to the crash. Further details have not been released by FHP.
Pictured above and below: This single vehicle crash late Saturday afternoon in Molino created a gas leak, shutting down Molino Road for about 45 minutes. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Jury Trial Recessed For Molino Pharmacy ‘Underwear Robber’
April 28, 2012
The trial of a Molino man accused of robbing a local pharmacy in 2010 while wearing underwear on his head was delayed Friday over the availability of a witness.
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,
On the first day of the trial, Judge Gary Bergosh denied a defense motion to disallow video of the robbery and denied a defense request for acquittal. The court was recessed until 8:30 Friday morning.
Over objections by the State Attorney’s Office, a defense motion to delay the trial was granted by Bergosh due to the availability of a key defense witness. Bergosh recessed the trial until Monday morning.
Also on Friday, the defense filed motions to exclude surveillance video. The defense is also asking that evidence and testimony from the trial of Krystal Lynn Collins, the getaway car driver in the armed robbery. Collins was previously found guilty of armed robbery with a firearm and a half dozen felony drug charges. She was sentenced was 25 years in prison.
Flowers allegedly robbed the 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. Flowers is being held in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
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.
Supreme Court Upholds New Senate District Maps
April 28, 2012
The Florida Supreme Court upheld a second draft of new maps for state Senate districts in a splintered decision Friday, clearing one of the remaining barriers for the plan to go into effect for this fall’s elections.
The court’s ruling, which came after the justices voided the first Senate plan approved by the Legislature, was a victory for the Senate’s Republican leadership and removed the prospect that justices would draw the map themselves as part of the state’s once-a-decade redistricting process. The court upheld the House map in the earlier decision.
“Pursuant to this Court’s directive, the Legislature adopted a revised Senate apportionment plan that sought to remedy the constitutional infirmities apparent on the face of the invalidated Senate plan,” the court wrote. “In this proceeding, we conclude that the opponents have failed to demonstrate that the revised Senate plan as a whole or with respect to any individual district violates Florida’s constitutional requirements.”
Three justices who had helped form the 5-2 majority scrapping the first Senate plan — Justices Barbara Pariente, Fred Lewis and Jorge Labarga — fully supported the decision. Chief Justice Charles Canady and Justice Ricky Polston, who dissented in the first case, supported the court’s result.
Lawmakers involved in drawing the lines hailed the ruling.
“We were pleased that the court approved our amended plan, and that elections can go forward,” said Senate Reapportionment Chairman Don Gaetz, R-Niceville.
Democratic Party spokeswoman Brannon Jordan said the party held the GOP’s legislative majority “accountable” by challenging both maps and having the first thrown out by the justices.
“While today’s ruling raises serious concerns, we will continue our efforts to hold this Republican-led legislature accountable to the will of the people — something they have consistently ignored throughout this process,” she said.
By The News Service of Florida
A Little Overnight Fog, Lots Of Sunshine Sunday
April 28, 2012
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Patchy fog after 1am. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 59. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 88. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph.
- Sunday Night: Patchy fog after 1am. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 61. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Monday: Sunny, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming south between 5 and 10 mph.
- Monday Night: Patchy fog after 1am. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 64. South wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. Southeast wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. Southeast wind around 10 mph.
- Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. Southeast wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
- Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 65. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east.
- Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87.
- Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 64.
- Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.
- Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 65.
- Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.