Tickets Still Available For Saturday Night’s Blue Jacket Jamboree
February 17, 2012
Tickets are still available for the Blue Jacket Jamboree presented by the Northview FFA Alumni Saturday night featuring the CGMA Country Group of the Year “The Springs”.
The Springs have shared the stage with country greats like Alan Jackson, Craig Moran, Toby Keith and Reba McIntire with their high energy brand of Country/Southern Rock.
Nominated along with Steel Magnolia, Sugarland, and Lady Antebellum for the New Music Awards “Country Group of the Year”, The Springs are seen by some as the “next big thing” in country music. The all-male group has also had two Christian country number one songs. To learn more about The Springs and hear their music, click here.
Tickets are $20 per person which includes a pulled pork sandwich meal. The event takes place beginning at 5 p.m. rain or shine on Saturday, February 18 in the Northview High School Auditorium. The event will also include an auction.
Tickets are available now at Smith Tractor Company in Jay and Atmore, Century Pharmacy and Scott’s Pharmacy in Molino. For more information, visit BlueJacketJamboree.com.
The Blue Jacket Jamboree is sponsored in part by NorthEscambia.com, Cat Country, 98.7 and Your Country 102.7 WXBM.
The Northview FFA Alumini uses proceeds from the event for scholarships for eligible seniors and transportation for FFA members to state and national conventions.
Miller, Bonner Call For BP Fines To Be Reserved For Gulf States
February 17, 2012
Congressmen Jeff Miller of Florida and Jo Bonner of Alabama were among several Gulf Coast lawmakers to introduce a bill amendment Thursday that would require a portion of the fines paid by BP for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill be set aside for use along the affected shores of the Gulf Coast.
The U.S. House of Representatives voted Thursday afternoon to add language to a transportation and energy bill requiring that 80 percent of civil fines from the 2010 oil spill be reserved to help Gulf states rebound from the disaster.
“Nearly two years after the accident, the Gulf Coast continues to feel the economic impacts of the Gulf oil spill, and BP must be held accountable,” Miller said. “Florida businesses are struggling, the real estate market has yet to recover, and individuals are still looking for work. This amendment will ensure the fines paid by BP for their mistake would be returned to our area and promote the economies of the local communities still reeling from last year’s disaster.”
The amendment is the first step in the process to restore the Gulf Coast from the damages we suffered as a result of the worst oil spill in U.S. history. Under the Clean Water Act, BP is expected to pay between $5 billion and $21 billion in fines, based on estimates of the flow of oil from the Macondo well.
Rosters Set For Subway All-Star Soccer Game
February 17, 2012
The Pensacola Sports Association announced today the rosters for the 2012 Subway High School All-Star Soccer Game Presented by the Andrews Institute, with several North Escambia players making the cut.
This year’s game features some of the best seniors from Okaloosa and Santa Rosa Counties (East) playing against the seniors from Escambia County (West). Head coaches for this year’s event include Rob Simon from Navarre High School for the East Girls and Greg DeVito from Ft. Walton High School for the East Boys. Jim Bobbitt from Pensacola High School and Charlie Cox from Escambia High School are the West Girls and Boys Coaches.
The 6th annual all-star game is scheduled for Thursday, February 23 at Ashton Brosnaham Soccer Complex in Escambia County. Beginning at 6 p.m. the women will take the field with the men playing shortly after the women’s game. Tickets to the game are only $7. Fans are encouraged to bring canned good items to donate to the Manna Food Pantry to get a discount on game admission.
Rosters are as follows:
East Girls: Meghan Slaybaugh, Megan Erwin, and Katy Morrow from Navarre, Brittany Humphreys from Crestview, Lauren Nelson and Emily Kaelin from Milton, Samantha Welsh, Laura Harpole, and Hannah Rodgers from Gulf Breeze, Kelsie McGrail, Paula Swiercz, Caitlin Duffey, and Katherine Stone from Ft. Walton Beach, Katie Wills, Jordan McCall, and Nichole Koopman from Niceville, Ariel Lindner, Lexi Landers, Skyler Rynearson, and Megan Thomas from Choctaw, Christianna Serban from Rocky Bayou, and Erika Sosinsky from Baker.
East Boys: Alex Parker from Crestview, Ryan Sheekely, Anthony Provost, Austin Savage, Kyle Pfeiffer, Codey Friesen, and Eddie Bird from Niceville, Mike Lightborne, Andrew Morrell, Tyler Theirault, and Josh Piovesan from Choctaw, Ronnie Couch, Hayden Stiles, and Pace MacDonald from Ft. Walton Beach, Jared Porrata from Rocky Bayou, Brendan Robas, David Docarmo, and Drew Conley from Navarre, Tim Dempsey and Kai Greene from Milton, and Jacob Breland and Connor Moon from Pace.
West Girls: Danielle Robinson-Pierre and Courtney Bodie from Washington, Laura Jennings, Deborah Cardwell, and Destiny Gaudet from Tate, Jorianna Manlow from West Florida, Liz McCrary, Missy Williams, and Kayla Witt from Escambia, Dana Pistey, Danielle Telihard, Kelly Mamelson, Anne Smiley, and Kaitlin Cramer from Pensacola, Sarah Grace Lowery and Emily Hopper from Catholic, Mary Kathryn Taylor, Lana chechak, Jessica Amore, Regan Hickman, and Allyson McClain from Pace, and Kalena Hammond from Pine Forest, and Trish Taylor (Washington) and Rylee Hart (Pace) as the Honorary members.
West Boys: Gerald Praylow and Keenan Parsons from Escambia, Seth Ammons from Tate, Ahmad Kader and Dorayon Turner from Pine Forest, Chris Wood from East Hill, Jessi Ihns, Xavier Peppers, James Mozur, and William Coffey from Pensacola, Rhett Williams, Hayden Bell, Scott Robertson, and Skylar Freed from Washington, Chase Kiefer, Devon Nelson, and Christian Gayo from Catholic, Russel Long, Kaleb Nelson, Grant Bechtel, and Eric “Peso” Nava from West Florida, Max McDaniel, and Max Colbert from Gulf Breeze, and Ahmad Kader (Pine Forest) as the Honorary Member.
Walnut Hill Twin Sisters Held As Fugitives From Justice
February 17, 2012
Twin sisters from Walnut Hill are being held in the Escambia County (Fla.) Jail as fugitives from justice.
Misty Renea Faircloth and Christie Shea Faircloth are both awaiting extradition to Alabama on drug charges. The women, both 31-year old residents of Godwin Road in Walnut Hill, are being held without bond.
Both have outstanding warrants in Escambia County, Ala., for two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia and one count of unlawful manufacturing of a controlled substance.
Florida Could Allow Oil And Gas Drilling In State Parks
February 17, 2012
Florida could soon allow oil and gas drilling in state parks.
Sen. Greg Evers of Baker is sponsoring a Senate bill that passed through a committee this week, and Rep. Clay Ford has a similar measure in the House that is in committee. Ford, however, has amended his bill to specify the oil and gas drilling would take place only in Northwest Florida after concerns were raised over the Everglades.
The bills would allow the state to enter into partnerships with private companies to develop oil and natural gas resources on onshore state parks.
Under the plans, drilling would be allowed in the Blackwater State Forest in Santa Rosa County, and that has upset the National Audubon Society. Opponents to the plan say it would pose a danger to natural habitats and risk tourism dollars.
Three Injured In Highway 97, Highway 29 Accident
February 16, 2012
Three people were injured in a two vehicle crash Thursday evening at Highway 29 and Highway 97 in Molino.
The 5:45 p.m. accident involved a pickup truck and a Toyota Camry. Witnesses said the driver of the pickup attempted to turn from northbound Highway 29 to northbound Highway 97 and pulled into the path of the car that was southbound on Highway 29.
The three injured persons were transported by Escambia County EMS to Pensacola hospitals. Their conditions were not available.
Further details have not yet been released; the accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
The Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded to the accident.
Pictured above and below: Three people were injured in this two vehicle accident Thursday evening at Highway 29 and Highway 97 in Molino.
Northwest Escambia League Tryouts Postponed Due To Weather
February 16, 2012
Northwest Escambia League tryouts for baseball and softball that were scheduled for this Saturday have been postponed one week due to threat of bad weather.
NWE Bradberry Park tryouts for baseball and softball for all ages will now be Saturday, February 25th beginning at 10 a.m. until. Full concessions will available.
Last minute registration will be accepted from 9:00 – 9:45 a.m.
Today’s Northview JV, Varsity Softball Games Canceled
February 16, 2012
The junior varsity and varsity softball games scheduled at Northview High School for today have been canceled due to rain.
Two Die In Santa Rosa Wreck
February 16, 2012
Two people died in a single vehicle crash early Thursday morning in Santa Rosa County.
Jacob Adam Lee, 24 of Pace, and Patrick Ryan Dicks, 28 of Milton, were both killed in the crash about 1:19 a.m. on Bell Lane near Hartley Drive in Pace. The Florida Highway Patrol says Lee lost control of his 2001 Ford Mustang due to the wet road surface and struck a tree before overturning.
Man Pleads Guilty To Selling Feathers, Faces Federal Prison Time
February 16, 2012
An Atmore man pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday to violating federal laws dealing with the possession and sale of protected bird feathers.
Alexander D. Alvarez pleaded guilty before a federal judge to violating the Lacey Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) for illegally selling and possessing the feathers of anhingas and other migratory birds protected under the MBTA.
Alvarez was charged in February with one felony Lacey Act violation, one felony MBTA violation and one misdemeanor MBTA violation. He faces up to five years in prison and over a half million dollars in fines when he is sentenced on May 22.
Under the MBTA, the Secretary of the Interior maintains a list of migratory birds which are protected from being killed, sold, bartered, transported or possessed, except as otherwise permitted by federal regulation. Enrolled members of federally-recognized American Indian tribes may possess eagle and other migratory bird feathers and parts for religious and ceremonial purposes, but federal law strictly prohibits the sale of migratory birds, feathers or their parts by any person.
Alvarez is not an enrolled member of a federally-recognized American Indian tribe, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
“Mr. Alvarez sought to profit from selling protected bird feathers he had no legal right to possess,” said Ignacia S. Moreno, Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources Division of the Department of Justice. “Federal law prohibits the sale of migratory birds, feathers or their parts for commercial gain. In enforcing these wildlife laws in partnership with tribal law enforcement, we share a duty to protect the nation’s scarce and precious wildlife resources. In protecting these resources for future generations, we also ensure the ability of federally recognized tribal members to possess eagle and migratory bird feathers for religious and ceremonial practices.”
“Protecting our natural resources, particularly wildlife, from being exploited against the law for personal gain continues to be a significant function of the Department of Justice,” said Kenyen R. Brown, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama. “Successful prosecutions of this nature help ensure that the next generation of Americans enjoy the same level of wildlife that we do today.”
According to court documents, Alvarez communicated via email with an individual in Louisiana and eventually exchanged two anhinga tails that Alvarez possessed for a crested caracara tail, a Harris’s hawk tail and $400, which the individual possessed. Alvarez later sent 14 sets of anhinga tail feathers to this individual and asked the individual to photograph and offer the tails for sale via email. Alvarez received payment from the Louisiana individual for the anhinga tail feathers that were sold. A federal search warrant was executed at Alvarez’s home on March 11, 2009, and feathers from several migratory bird species were seized.
This case resulted from an investigation by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Office of Law Enforcement into the illegal commercialization of eagles and other migratory birds protected by federal law. The investigation was jointly conducted with the Navajo Nation Department of Fish and Wildlife. The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Alabama and the Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division, Environmental Crimes Section.