Wednesday Is Final Day To Request Mailed Absentee Ballot
October 30, 2012
Wednesday is the final day for voters to requested an absentee ballot be mailed to them, according to Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David Stafford.
Voters can make their request by contacting the Supervisor of Elections by mail, phone at (850) 595-3900, fax at (850) 595-3914, email to absentee@escambiavotes.com, or by using an online form at EscambiaVotes.com. Requests must include the voter’s date of birth and address. Absentee voters may track the status of their ballot by clicking Track My Ballot at EscambiaVotes.com.
After Wednesday, a voter may still pick up an absentee ballot in person from the Elections Office. Voted absentee ballots must be received in the Elections Office (not at a polling
location) no later than 7:00 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, November 6.
In addition to absentee voting, early voting is being offered from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. daily through Saturday at five area locations:
- Supervisor of Elections Annex, 292 Muscogee Road, Cantonment
- Tryon Branch Library, 1200 Langley Avenue
- Supervisor of Elections Main Office, 213 Palafox Place, Second Floor
- West Florida Public Library, 200 West Gregory Street
- Southwest Branch Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Highway
Voters can also vote in person at the precinct on Election Day, November 6 from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.
Mother, Son Charged With Molino Indoor Marijuana Grow Operation
October 30, 2012
A mother and son have been arrested in connection with a hydroponic marijuana growing operation raided earlier this month in Molino.
Michael James Hamilton, 45, and his mother, 63-year old Ora Jean Hart, were both charged with marijuana production and possession of drug paraphernalia.
On October 17, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit served a search warrant at 7781 Wesley Circle in Molino. Investigators reported finding 11 marijuana plants with a street value of $22,000 growing inside a garage and a separate shed behind the residence. Deputies also reported finding numerous lights and other equipment used to grow the plants indoors, along with numerous marijuana leaves, seeds and buds.
“There is no reason to lie; I grow the marijuana plants because I have glaucoma,” Hart told investigators, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report. Hamilton told deputies he has been smoking marijuana for about 20 years, and he learned to grow the plants from the internet, the report states.
Both Hamilton and Hart told deputies that the plants they found were the second batch they had grown. She said she orders the marijuana seeds through the mail.
Pictured inset and below: An indoor marijuana growing operation discovered October 17 in Molino. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Local Teachers Earn Cash Grants For Their Classrooms
October 30, 2012
Several North Escambia teachers are among 97 educators will that will have a little extra money for their classroom projects this year thanks to the Escambia County Public Schools Foundation.
Grant recipients from 45 Escambia County schools and departments were awarded grants of up to $500.
North Escambia area grant recipients were:
- Angela Avery, Ransom Middle School
- Robin Blalock, Tate High School
- Heather Gilman, Bratt Elementary School
- John Hannon, Tate High School
- Chet Truett, Ernest Ward Middle
- Kim D. Whitfield, Ransom Middle
- Sue Ann Young, Ransom Middle
Teachers will be presented with their checks at the Foundation’s Grants for Excellence reception on November 1.
Grant funds, which include $38,704.87 from the Foundation and $3,970.06 from Autism Pensacola, will be used to purchase curriculum and classroom materials for projects ranging from STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) labs to literacy programs that will actively engage students and enhance classroom learning experiences.
Countywide, the foundation awarded grants to the following:
- Alicia Abbuhl, Warrington Elementary School
- Mark Alberda, West Florida High School
- Theresa Anderson, Oakcrest Elementary School
- Daniel Arndt, ESE/Hall Center
- Angela Avery, Ransom Middle School
- Dr. Alana Battaglia, Escambia High School
- Saundra P. Bell, Hellen Caro Elementary School
- Russell Bertles, Workman Middle School
- Robin Blalock, Tate High School
- Beverly Bledsoe, West Florida High School
- Lisa Branscomb, Montclair Elementary School
- Megan H. Brees, Global Learning Academy
- Rose M. Briggs, George Stone Center
- Mimi Brown, Warrington Elementary School
- Debra L. Brown, West Pensacola Elementary School
- Donna B. Burch, West Florida High School
- Colleen Carbone, Bailey Middle School
- Katherine Carter, Workman Middle School
- Angelina Carter, Blue Angels Elementary School
- Wanda Cobb, Warrington Middle School
- James Coley, Weis Elementary School
- Rosie N. Cooper, Washington High School
- Laurie Cothran, Scenic Heights Elementary School
- Karen Creamer, Washington High School
- Karen Crisco, Scenic Heights Elementary School
- Rena Croker, Longleaf Elementary School
- Leslie R. Cuyuch, Workman Middle School
- Virginia Davis, Oakcrest Elementary School
- Philip Ebert, Ferry Pass Elementary School
- Christie Fine, Lipscomb Elementary School
- Stephanie Gaffney, Navy Point Elementary School
- Marietta Gibb, Cook Elementary School
- Renee Giles, West Florida High School
- Kathy Gilliland, Pine Forest High School
- Heather Gilman, Bratt Elementary School
- ReNae Grant, Semmes Elementary School
- Darlene Z. Hammons, McMillan Center
- John Hannon, Tate High School
- Anna K. Harageones, Ferry Pass Elementary School
- Bobbie T. Harrison, District Extended – Hall Center
- Michelle Helton, Jim Allen Elementary School
- Sarah Henkel, Bailey Middle School
- Laura Hershberger, Bailey Middle School
- R. Lynn Hoffman, Semmes Elementary School
- Shelia Holley, Oakcrest Elementary School
- Thomas Anthony Horne, Workman Middle School
- Barbara Jacobs, Bellview Middle School
- Keitha Jenkins Brown, Escambia High School
- Angela Karalekas, Blue Angels Elementary School
- Joshua Kaye, Hellen Caro Elementary School
- Kyle A. Kaye, West Pensacola Elementary School
- Debra Faye King, McMillan Title 1
- Maurine Kramerich, PATS Center
- Michelle Leitner, Lincoln Park Elementary School
- Matthew MacGregor, Escambia High School
- Jason Majors, Escambia High School
- Emily Marsh, Dixon School of the Arts
- Sarah Mason, Blue Angels Elementary School
- Kevin McAuliffe, Pine Forest High School
- Ruth McAuliffe, Escambia High School
- Lisa McCandless, Warrington Elementary School
- Angela McFarland, West Florida High School
- Nancy Melton-Buffington, Workman Middle School
- Shaina Mitchell, Scenic Heights Elementary School
- Theresa Mosley, Ferry Pass Elementary School
- Angela Mott, Beulah Elementary School
- Kim Nichols, Blue Angels Elementary School
- Margaret Nowak, McMillan PreK Center
- Tracey O’Connor, Ferry Pass Middle School
- Jean Odom, Cook Elementary School
- Rebecca A. Palmquist-Herzog, McMillan PreK Center
- Sharon Powers, Longleaf Elementary School
- Jeff Pribble, Escambia High School
- Lori Puentes, Sherwood Elementary School
- Marcia Rabbysmith, Hellen Caro Elementary School
- Jackie Rabin, Pleasant Grove Elementary
- Linda P. Reinhardt, Workman Middle
- Kasi Rhyne, Bellview Middle
- Dottie Ritchie-Riddle, Global Learning Academy
- Jennifer Shiver, Holm Elementary
- Susan Shockley, West Florida High School
- Leigh Ann South, Oakcrest Elementary
- Cindy Speed, Weis Elementary
- Pam Strubhar, Beulah Elementary
- Tina Taylor, Brown-Barge Middle
- Chet Truett, Ernest Ward Middle
- Jessica Truett, Lakeview Day School
- Alyssa Tucker, Oakcrest Elementary
- Kevin Turner, Washington High
- Genita Turner, Dixon School of the Arts
- Shawn Walker, West Florida High School
- Dr. Roberta Wetzel, Bailey Middle
- Carol Wheeler, Washington High
- Michelle White, Ferry Pass Elementary
- Kim D. Whitfield, Ransom Middle
- Diane Wright, Beulah Elementary
- Sue Ann Young, Ransom Middle
Tate Showband Of the South Earns Best In Class, Superior Ratings
October 30, 2012
The Tate High School “Showband of the South” competed in the Deep South Marching Festival last weekend in Theodore, Ala. The band competed against nine other bands and received superior ratings in all areas, including auxiliary, drum major, presentation, percussion and band. The Showband was also awarded Best in Class for Class 4A.
The Showband of the South will close out their 2012 season Friday night during Tate’s home football game against Washington High at 7:30. Seniors will be honored as the band presents their last performance of their 2012 show “Styx and Stones”.
Pictured: The Tate High School Showband of the South. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FFA Fair Booth Winners Named
October 30, 2012
FFA booth winners from this year’s Pensacola Interstate Fair have been named. Winners were:
- West Florida High
- Northview High
- Tate High
- Ernest Ward Middle
- W.S. Neal
- Beulah Elementary
- Woodlawn
Pictured: The Northview High School FFA booth at the Pensacola Interstate Fair. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Reinhold Herman Bodtke
October 30, 2012
Reinhold Herman Bodtke 87, of Atmore, passed away Monday, October 29, 2012, in Century.
He was born December 25, 1924, in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He joined the United States Navy on July 23, 1942. He was an Electrician’s Mate and received the Victory Medal, Asiatic Pacific Area Campaign Medal (2 Stars) and American Area Campaign Medal. He was honorably discharged from the United States Navy on April 28, 1946. He then worked at Acme Steel in Chicago through 1957. He retired from Chemstrand/Monsanto/Solutia in 1989. He is preceded in death by his parents Robert and Grace Ann Bodtke and his wife of 63 years, Linda Joyce Cobb Bodtke, whom he married on March 29, 1949.
He is survived by his sons; Jeff (Wanda) Bodtke of Hoover, AL. and Jim (Brenda) Bodtke of Bratt; grandsons, James Howard (Harmony) Bodtke, Jr., Benjamin Richard (Dawn) Bodtke and Kevin Vance (Ginger) Phillips; granddaughters, Jennifer Leigh (Michael) Robinson, Katrina Ward and Christy LeAnn (Richard) Peek, great-grandchildren, Jamison, Grace Ann, Kadence, Harleigh, Cameron, Emma, Jaylee, Ashayla, Nora, Vance, Rosson, Alexandra, Grey and Genevieve.
Funeral services will be Thursday, November 1, 2012, at 11 a.m. from the First United Methodist Church of Atmore with Dr. John Brannon officiating. Burial will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery with Military Honors.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, October 31, 2012, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Molino Lady Astros Win Fall Tourney HS Division
October 30, 2012
Molino’s Lady Astros won the high school division in the recent USFA Gulf South Fall State tournament in Daphne, Ala. The Astros won four consecutive games, scoring 24 runs, while playing with one loss in the double elimination tournament.
Pictured: The Molino Lady Astros: (front, L-R) Gracie Kilgrease, Atmore Christian, utility; Caitlyn Hagan, Pace, catcher, Briana Rogers, West Florida, center field; Samantha Burks, Tate, shortstop; Leah Nipper, Uriah, Ala., utility; (back row) Jessica Briggs, West Florida High, pitcher, infielder; Megan Green, Pace, pitcher, infielder; Ashley Barnett, Tate, first base; Amber Peebles, West Florida High, infielder, outfielder; Lacy Boyd, Pace, right fielder. Not pictured: Ronnie Renfroe, – Tate, first base, pitcher; Taylor Campbell, Choctaw High, catcher. Head Coach Donnie Nicholson, coaches Shawn Green, and Mark Burks. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com.
NWS: Temps Could Fall Near Freezing Tonight, Maybe Some Frost
October 29, 2012
Temperatures could fall to near freezing tonight across the North Escambia area, according to a special weather statement issued by the National Weather Service.
A cold, dry airmass will continue to settle into the area through tonight. When combined with mainly clear skies and light overnight winds, many residents will experience the coldest night of the fall season so far. Temperatures are expected to fall to the 32 to 35 degree range, according to the weather service. A brief light freeze or some frost is possible in many locations.
Your official forecast for North Escambia is below. Keep in mind that temperatures may be slightly colder to the north (in or near south Alabama) and slightly warmer to the south (Cantonment and south).
- Tonight: Clear, with a low around 35. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 66. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 42. West wind around 5 mph.
- Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 74. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 48. West wind around 5 mph.
- Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 75. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
- Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 50. West wind around 5 mph.
- Friday: Sunny, with a high near 74. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
- Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 48.
- Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 73.
- Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 42.
- Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 73.
Trick Or Treat Hours Set, Festivals Planned
October 29, 2012
Several area towns have set official Halloween trick or treating hours, and many churches have scheduled fall festivals for this week in the North Escambia area.
OFFICIAL TRICK OR TREAT HOURS
- Century — Trick or treat, 6 until 8 p.m. Tuesday.
- Escambia County (except Century) — No official trick or treat times.
- Atmore — Trick or treat, 5:30 until 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.
- Flomaton – Fall Festival, downtown, 5 until 7 p.m., Tuesday. Games, activities, costume contest, trick or treat downtown.
- Brewton – Trick or treat, 5 until 8 p.m. Tuesday.
- Jay – Halloween in the Park, 5 until 8 p.m. Wednesday at Bray-Hendricks Park on Highway 4. Candy, costume contest and more.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
Barrineau Park Book Reading, Party
The Barrineau Park Historical Society will hold a Halloween book reading and kids party on Tuesday, October 30 at 6 p.m. There will be stories, food and games at the Barrineau Park Community Center on Barrineau Park School Road.
Atmore Nursing Center Trick or Treat
Safe place trick or trick at the Atmore Nursing Center, Tuesday, October 30 from 5:30 until 6:30 p.m.
Flomaton Festival
Flomaton Harvest Fest will held Tuesday, October 30 from 5-7 p.m. in downtown Flomaton. Family oriented event; free admission.
Molino Community Fall Festival
Fall Festival sponsored by numerous churches, Wednesday, October 31 from 6-8 p.m. at Victory Assembly of God on Highway 29. Fun, games, prizes and food for the entire family. Free; everyone welcome.
Cottage Hill Fall Festival
The First Baptist Church of Cottage Hill, 230 Williams Ditch Road, will have a Family Fun Fall Festival, Wednesday, October 31, 6 p.m until 8 p.m. There will be an inflatable bounce house, lots of carnival booths and candy, face painting, hayrides, cake walk, chili cook off, desserts and drinks, all at no charge. Everyone is welcome.
St Monica’s Trunk or Treat
St. Monica’s Episcopal Church will be hosting Trunk or Treat on Halloween night, Wednesday, October 31, from 6 until 8 p.m. Hay ride, bounce house, treats, all free. Join us for this safe alternative to door-to-door trunk or treating. $1 Hot Dogs, 50 cents sodas. For more information, email communications@st-monicas.org or call (850) 937-0001.
Bratt AOG Harvest Fest
Bratt Harvest Fest, Wednesday, October 31 at 6 p.m. at Bratt Assembly of God, 5150 West Highway 4. Wiener and marshmallow roast, hayride, treats and fun activities. Free.
Pine Forest Assembly Fall Festival
The Pine Forest Assembly of God, 3125 Pine Forest Road, Cantonment, will hold their annual Fall Festival on Wednesday, October 31, from 6 to 8 p.m. Fee event for the entire community. Games, food and tons of fun for everyone. Special attractions include a 32 foot obstacle course, laser tag, black light putt-putt, paint ball, and a toddler zone.
Jay Halloween In The Park
Halloween in the Park, sponsored by the Jay Area Chamber of Commerce Wednesday, October 31, 5 – 8 p.m. at Bray-Hendricks City Park. Food, candy, costume contest and more.
First Baptist Bratt Fall Festival
The First Baptist Church of Bratt will hold a fall festival on Saturday, November 3, from 10 a.m. until noon. Fun, food, games and fellowship for children in the Family Life Center.
Pollard McCall Harvest Festival
Pollard McCall Junior High will hold their Annual Harvest Festival on Saturday, November 3 from 2-6 p.m. Cake auction, costume contest, bingo, live entertainment, games food and more. 3975 Old Highway 31.
Woman Gets Three Years For Bratt Home Invasion Robbery
October 29, 2012
A 31-year old woman was sentenced to three years in prison for a home invasion robbery at her mother’s home in Bratt.
Jacqueline Bernice Morris, who told authorities that she was homeless, was found guilty of felony home invasion robbery and sentenced by Judge Jan Shackelford to 36.3 months in prison, with credit for 87 days served.
Morris was accused of entering her mother’s mobile home on C.W. Caraway Road, just north of Highway 4 near Northview High School on April 28 and snatching a bottle of about 90 Xanax out of her mother’s shirt.
Investigators said the victim was sitting in her living room watching television when Morris, her daughter, entered through a storm door. Morris grabbed her mother by the arms to restrain her, reached into the pocket of her shirt, grabbed the bottle of Xanax and ran away.
A nearby witness attempted to catch Morris, even giving chase for a brief distance along Highway 4 after Morris jumped into her Saturn and sped away.
The day prior to the incident, Morris had been trespass warned by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office to stay away from the residence as she retrieved her personal belongings from her mother’s trailer.
The mother was not seriously injured in the incident.