Eleanor Daisy Stanford McCracking
April 22, 2012
Eleanor Daisy Stanford McCracking went to be with the Lord and her loving husband on April 15, 2012.
She was born in Crestview on July 3, 1933. She was an active member of Dogwood Park Baptist Church.
She is preceded in death by her husband of 64 years Gene McCracking.
She is survived by her four sons, Eleridge “Gene Jr.” (Mary), Stan (Suzie), Clark (Tammy), Richard (Gayle); her sister, Pauline Piggot; 12 grandchildren; several great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held at 3 p.m., Thursday, April 19, 2012, at Bayview Fisher-Pou Chapel .
Interment will be 12:30 p.m., Monday, April 23, 2012 at Barrancas National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers the family ask that donations be made to the Dogwood Park Baptist Church, 3301 Hwy 97, Molino, FL 32577.
Dr. George E. Mitchel
April 22, 2012
Dr. George E. Mitchell, age 84, native of Atmore and resident of Lillian, passed away Wednesday, April 18, 2012, in Daphne, AL.
Dr. Mitchell was a member of Episcopal Church of the Advent, Lillian, AL. He was a graduate of the University of Alabama Birmingham School of Dentistry and the former dental director of Mobile County and former director of the National Medical Audio Visual Center, Atlanta, GA.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Julian Huston Mitchell and Mildred Inez Crook Mitchell and his brother, Dr. William Lloyd Mitchell.
Dr. Mitchell is survived by his wife, Billie Hartsfield Mitchell of Lillian, AL; three daughters, Melanie Clem of Hiawassee, GA, Melissa Mitchell of New Orleans, LA, Erin Mitchell Speed of Lillian, AL; five grandchildren, Jennifer Clem and Kevin Clem, both of Hiawassee, GA, Emily Speed of Orlando, FL, Sarah Speed and Ethan Speed, both of Lillian, AL.
A Graveside service will be held Tuesday, April 24, 2012, at 10:15 a.m. at Barrancas National Cemetery, Pensacola, FL.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society in honor of his mother, Mildred Inez Crook Mitchell.
Jay Holds Relay For Life (With Photo Gallery)
April 21, 2012
The 2012 Jay Relay for Life began Friday night at Jay High School. A few hundred participants took part in the annual Relay to raise money for cancer research.
There were 16 teams registered to take part in the all-night event. A Luminaria ceremony was held Friday night as participants remembered friends and loved ones that have lost the battle against cancer and honored those currently fighting cancer.
Hundreds of people enjoyed a variety of entertainment, food fun and fellowship throughout the night.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the 2012 Jay Relay for Life, click here.
Pictured top: The Survivor’s Lap at the 2012 Jay Relay for Life. Pictured inset: Benny Barnes, honorary Century chairperson at the Jay Relay For Life. Pictured below: Survivor’s Lap Friday evening at Jay Relay.
Century CI Inmates Graduate With GED, Ready To Work Certificates
April 21, 2012
Century Correctional Institution held a graduation ceremony Friday morning for inmates receiving their GED diplomas while behind bars.
“I began to challenge my thoughts, feelings and beliefs,” said Century CI Class of 2012 Salutatorian Shawn Ashe, earning his GED at age 30. “I am able to receive my diploma today because I made a choice.”
Ashe is about six months away from finishing a two-year prison sentence for cocaine possession, passing forged bills, trafficking in stolen property and grand theft in St. Johns County. He readily admits that he made very bad choices that landed him in prison, but he said his newly earned GED will open a whole new world of opportunity once he is released.
“I can and will make a difference in my community when I leave out of here,” Ashe said. He thanked God for the opportunity to earn his GED behind bars, and he acknowledged Florida’s tax payers for funding what he called a worthy program.
Henry Jordan, class valedictorian, is serving a 3.5 year sentence for a weapons and felony driving without a license charges from Duval County. His said his days at Century CI were once filled with working out “to look good at the beach” upon his release. But then, he said, he got his priorities straight.
“I decided to join the GED program instead of working out,” Jordan said. “I decided to focus on my GED…a GED increases my odds of making something of myself.”
Four other inmates received their GED diplomas during a graduation Friday morning inside Century Correctional Institution. They were: Joshua Moynihan, Alex Lichtenberger, Karey Murphy and Dachua Oliver. Earning the GED meant passing a five-part test consisting of reading/language and writing (including an essay), math, social studies and science.
“I watched another guy get up and walk out of the GED test because he thought the essay was too hard,” Jordan told fellow inmates at the graduation ceremony. “Don’t y’all give up. Everything is worth it.”
For a photo gallery from the prison’s graduation ceremony, click here.
Also Friday morning, 11 Century Correctional inmates received their Florida Ready to Work certificates. Florida Ready to Work is an innovative state-funded workforce education and economic development program that provides student job-seekers with a standard credential that certifies their workplace readiness and ability to succeed on the job.
Inmates receiving Ready to Work certificates were: Shawn Ashe, Steven Kelly, Robert Brantley, Jraron Lasseter, Vonsha Marshal, Joshua Monynihan, Erving Rogers, Brandley White, Timothy Curd, Alex Lichtenberger and Dachua Oliver.
Century CI Warden Richard Comerford said 16 more Century Correctional inmates will take their GED tests in next few days.
Guest speaker for event was Mark Whitacre, the highest corporate-level executive to ever become a FBI whistleblower, uncovering a massive price fixing scheme at Archer Daniels Midland (AMD) in the 1990’s. He served nearly a decade in federal prison. Whitacre was the subject of the 2009 movie “The Informant!” in which he was portrayed by Matt Damon. Monday morning on NorthEscambia.com, we will bring you Whitacre’s story.
Pictured top: Century Correctional Class 2012 Salutatorian Shawn Ashe addresses fellow inmates Friday morning. Pictured top inset: Ashe and Valedictorian Henry Jordan. Pictured below: GED graduates in their “class photo” with Century Correctional staff members. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Slight Rain Chance Tonight, Turning Cooler
April 21, 2012
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Scattered showers and thunderstorms before 7pm, then a slight chance of showers between 7pm and 1am. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 54. North wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
- Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 76. Breezy, with a north wind between 10 and 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
- Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 48. North wind between 5 and 15 mph.
- Monday: Sunny, with a high near 71. Breezy, with a north wind between 10 and 20 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
- Monday Night: Clear, with a low around 41. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 75. North wind 5 to 15 mph becoming west.
- Tuesday Night: Clear, with a low around 46. Southwest wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 81. Southwest wind between 5 and 15 mph.
- Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 59. South wind between 5 and 15 mph.
- Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 83.
- Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61.
- Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 84.
- Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58.
- Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 84.
Spring Fling Today In Molino
April 21, 2012
CrossFaith Church in Molino will hold a Spring Fling on Saturday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.
The event will feature live music, crafts, vendors, horse rides, petting zoo, inflatables, a face petting zoo and more. For complete details, click here.
Bond Set For Zimmerman
April 21, 2012
A Seminole County circuit judge on Friday set bail at $150,000 for George Zimmerman during a hearing in which the accused shooter of Trayvon Martin told the boy’s family he was sorry for their loss.
Jail officials haven’t said when Zimmerman could be released from custody under the arrangement which includes electronic monitoring.
“I wanted to say I am sorry for the loss of your son,” Zimmerman, 28, said from the stand during the hearing as the family sat in the courtroom. “I did not know how old he was. I thought he was a little bit younger than I am. And I did not know if he was armed or not.”
Zimmerman could face a life sentence on the second degree murder charge.
Martin, who was 17, lived in Miami but had been suspended from school and was spending the time with his father in Sanford. He was unarmed when Zimmerman shot him, telling police he looked suspicious.
Zimmerman has claimed self defense.
By The News Service of Florida
Northview’s Farrow Places In State Weightlifting Finals
April 21, 2012
Northview High School senior Andrew Farrow finished 10th in the state Friday during the Florida High School Athletic Association’s state 1A weightlifting championships in Kissimmee. Farrow’s total lift in the 210 pound weight class was at 575 pounds with a best bench of 305 and a best clean & jerk of 270.
Pictured: Northview High School’s Andrew Farrow lifts during the state 1A weightlifting finals Friday afternoon in Kissimmee, Florida. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Local Numbers Improve, Florida Unemployment Biggest Drop In 20 Years
April 21, 2012
The latest job numbers released Friday showed good news in the three-county North Escambia area — as Florida’s unemployment rate made its biggest monthly decline in nearly two decades as the state’s jobless rate fell to 9 percent in March.
Escambia County’s unemployment dropped from 9.1 percent in February to 8.2 percent in March. There were 1,051 fewer reported unemployed during the period, for a total Escambia County unemployment of 11,251 people. One year ago, unemployment in Escambia County was 10.4 percent.
Santa Rosa County unemployment slipped from 8.6 percent in February to 8.4 percent in March. Santa Rosa County had a total of 6,073 persons still unemployed. The year-ago unemployment rate in Santa Rosa County was 8.8 percent.
In Escambia County, Alabama, unemployment dropped from 9.4 percent in February to 8.4 percent in March. That represented 1,234 people unemployed in the county during the month.
Florida’s 9 percent unemployment rate was 0.4 percentage points lower than February and 1.7 points lower than the 10.7 percent recorded in March 2012. It was the largest monthly drop since October 1992.
Alabama’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate at 7.3 percent in March, was down from February’s rate of 7.5 percent and was below the year-ago rate of 9.3 percent.
Tate Wins Softball District; Aggies Baseball Falls In Last Regular Season Game
April 21, 2012
The Tate Lady Aggies won the girls District 1-6A district championship Friday night with a 2-1 win over the Escambia Gators. The Lady Aggies will next face Mosley (Lynn Haven) next Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Pitching the win for Tate was Heather Schaff (11-7; 7 IP, 1 R, 9 H, 1 ER, 1 K, 0 BB).
Tate hitters included: Rachel Dunsford 1-2, RBI; Marina Cobbs 1-3, run; Heather Schaff 1-3, RBI; Kimberly Baker 1-3; Bailey Burk 1-2, run.
BASEBALL
Rutherford 8 — Tate 1
Rutherford defeated the Tate Aggies 8-1 Friday night at Tate. With the loss, the Aggies finished the regular season at 20-4.
Next up for the Aggies is the district tournament next week.