House District 2 Absentee Ballots On The Way

April 29, 2013

The Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Office has mailed more than 8,000 absentee ballots for the Florida House District 2 Republican Primary, according to Supervisor of Elections David Stafford. Of those, more than 2,000 were sent to military personnel and civilians oversees.

Registered voters in District 2 may still request a ballot by mail in the following ways:

  • By email: absentee@EscambiaVotes.com
  • On the website at EscambiaVotes.com
  • By phone: (850) 595‐3900 or fax (850) 595‐3914
  • In person: 213 Palafox Place, Second Floor, Pensacola, FL 32502
  • By mail: PO Box 12601, Pensacola, FL 32591‐2601

Voters should receive their ballot within the next week, and can visit EscambiaVotes.com and  click on “track my ballot” to monitor the status of their request. The deadline for voters to request a ballot to be delivered by mail is Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at 5:00 p.m. After that date, voters may pick up a mail ballot at the Supervisor of Elections office.

Ballots must be received in the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections office by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, May 14, 2013. Ballots can be dropped off at the Elections Office during regular business hours or mailed back in the official ballot envelope provided. Be sure to include first class postage ($0.46) on your return envelope. Mail ballots cannot be dropped off at polling locations on Election Day.

The May 14 primary election is only open to registered Republican voters in Florida House District 2. All registered voters in House District 2 are eligible to participate in the
June 11 general election, regardless of party affiliation. For more information, visit EscambiaVotes.com or call (850) 595‐3900.

Blood Drive Thursday In Walnut Hill

April 29, 2013

A blood drive will be held  Thursday from 8 a.m. until noon at the Walnut Hill Fire Station on Highway 97.

“Please donate if you are in general good health and encourage others for the need is always real,” said Sarah Noel, blood center community relations coordinator. “Help save lives by donating it could be the life of your loved one, neighbor or your own.”

Noel pointed out that diabetes and many medications will not prevent someone from donating blood.

Dortch Road Bridge To Re-Open; Highway 164 Bridge Remains Closed

April 29, 2013

Work is wrapping up on one North Escambia bridge, while a second bridge is set to be closed for about another month.

Highway 164 from Velor Road to Pine Barren Road was closed to traffic March 1 after an inspection revealed structural deficiencies with a 55-year old bridge between Walnut Hill and McDavid.  Work is continuing on the bridge, and it is expected to take about another 30 days to complete, depending on weather, according to Escambia County spokesman Bill Pearson.

The Dortch Road Bridge, located off Highway 4 west of Bratt, was closed in late February for repairs.  Work is coming to a close on the bridge, and it is expected to re-open to traffic this  week. The bridge was first constructed over Beaver Dam Creek in 1965.

Pictured top:  This bridge on Highway 164 is expected to remain closed about another month. Pictured below: This bridge on Dortch Road is expected to open this week. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

Wahoos, Smokies Washed Out – Again

April 29, 2013

As a result of two straight rainy days in Kodak, Tenn., Sunday’s doubleheader between the Pensacola Blue Wahoos and the Tennessee Smokies has been postponed. One of the games will be lost on the two teams’ schedules because they do not play each other the rest of the season, but they will play a doubleheader on Monday beginning at 11:00 a.m. CT.

Both games will be seven inning contests. The pitching matchups for Monday’s games have not been announced at the time of the postponement.

After an off day on Tuesday, the Blue Wahoos return home to open a five-game series with Montgomery. Wednesday will be a Blue-Out in honor of the Blue Angels. All fans are encouraged to wear blue as a show of support for the Pensacola-based flight demonstration team.

Student SkillsUSA Competition To Have $3 Million Local Impact

April 29, 2013

Starting Monday, more than 3,000 seventh- and eighth-grade students and 2,500 high-school and college students from throughout the state will be displaying their technical talents and leadership abilities through competitions during the 2013 Florida SkillsUSA State Competition at the Pensacola Bay Center.

SkillsUSA is a national job readiness organization that assists high-school and college students who are preparing for careers in the trade, technical and health industry sectors. With more than 300,000 members nationwide, SkillsUSA serves as a partnership between students, teachers and industry leaders working together to ensure the United States has a skilled workforce.

The event is expect to have more than a $3 million impact on the local economy.

“The Florida SkillsUSA State Competition showcases some of our finest students from around the state,” said Pensacola Chamber President and CEO Jim Hizer, CCE, CEcD. “These talented students are the future of Florida’s workforce, and events like these help to prepare them to be successful in the key industries that will most impact our economy.”

Argos Win Pace Tournament

April 29, 2013

The 11-year old travel ball team the Argos took home first place in the recent Spring Slam in Pace. Pictured are the undefeated Argos (bottom, L-R) Cole Mullins, John Pinette, Nathan Brewton, Christian Munoz, Jacob Bryant, (top, L-R) Trevor Norton, Chase Barcus, TJ McCants, Cameron Bailey and Sam Shackle. Coaches are Mike Norton, Levy Bryant and Matt Faust, all of Cantonment. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

United Way Recognizes Campaign Contributors, Including Northview, Ransom

April 29, 2013

United Way of Escambia County is celebrating the results of this year’s annual workplace campaign, which raised $2,397,518 to impact those in need in the area.

“I never cease to be amazed at our community’s generosity,” says Andrea Krieger, United Way’s President/CEO. “Escambia residents who chose to live united will change the world for many of our community’s most vulnerable citizens.”

Two North Escambia schools  — Northview High and Ransom Middle — were among those recognized for their successful United Way campaigns. Northview’s giving was up 52-percent over last year, while Ransom’s giving increased by 60-percent.

Last year’s campaign enabled United Way to partner with 35 agencies and nearly 2,000 volunteers to help serve more than 200,000 people. With increased donations, United Way hopes to serve even more this year.

For their contributions to the 2013 United Way workplace campaign, the following individuals and organizations were recognized:

CAMPAIGN COORDINATORS OF THE YEAR

Agency Division
Margaret Jerauld, Council on Aging
Small Business Division
Leslie Saam, McMahon Hadder Insurance
Education Division
Jennifer McSherdon, Virginia College
Financial Division
Cindy Fell, Hancock Bank
Government Division
Janine Clackley, City of Pensacola
Professional Division
Eric Krause, IMS ExpertServices
Retail Division
Nathan Pooley, Buffalo Rock
Health Care Division
Janet Speranzi-Cannon, Florida Blue
Corporation Division
Krista Ebbert, ExxonMobil

SCHOOL SPIRIT OF GIVING AWARDS

Elementary
Oakcrest Elementary
Middle
Ransom Middle School
High
Northview High School
Department
Professional Learning Department
Center
George Stone Technical Center

BUSINESS RECOGNITION BY COMPANY SIZE

1-39 Employees
Pensacola Shipyard Marine Complex
40-99 Employees
Hatch Mott MacDonald
100-399 Employees
United Parcel Service
400+ Employees
Gulf Power Company

Pictured top: (L-R) United Way Board Chair David Jones, Northview Assistant Principal Gerry Pippins, United Way President/CEO Andrea Krieger, and 2012-2013 Campaign Chair David Peaden. Pictured below: United Way Board Chair David Jones, Ransom Campaign Coordinator John Lowe , United Way President/CEO Andrea Krieger, and 2012-2013 Campaign Chair David Peaden. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.


George Dewey Long

April 29, 2013

Mr. George Dewey Long, 83, passed away on Monday, April 29, 2013, in Christian Home.  Mr. Long was a native of Perdido and has resided in Christian Home for most of his life. Mr. Long was retired from CSX Railroad after 44 years of service. He attended the Christian Home Freewill Baptist Church.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Doris Long; daughter, Wanda Long; parents, Dewey & Mattie Lou Long; three sisters, Rosie Roberson, Modelle Bryars and Sarah Victor; and four brothers, Rev. J. T. Long, Tommy Long, Lewis Long and Wesley Long.

He is survived by one son, Michael Long of Christian Home; four grandchildren, Brandy Hoover of Creola, Jarrod Long of Byrneville, Brandon Long of Christian Home and Justin Long of Christian Home; and eight great-grandchildren, McKenzie, Tyler, Robbie, Gracie, Riley, Nicholas, Sarah and Emily.

Funeral services will be Wednesday, May 1, 2013, at 2 p.m. at the Christian Home Freewill Baptist Church with Rev. R.C. Wiggins, Rev. Alfred Long and Bro. Brandon Long officiating.

Burial will follow at the Christian Home Cemetery.

Visitation will be Tuesday, April 30, 2013, from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.

Pallbearers will be Jarrod Long, Brandon Long, Justin Long, Josh Long, Russell Hollingsworth and Tanner Headley.

Honorary pallbearers will be the great-grandchildren, McKenzie, Tyler, Robbie, Gracie, Riley, Nicholas, Sarah and Emily.

Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes, LLC is in charge of all arrangements.

Learn About Living With Snakes With Program In Century, Molino

April 29, 2013

Snakes are common animals in the North Escambia area, consuming pests that can be expensive for humans to manage while providing a service to home environments.

The Escambia Extension Service will hold a  free program at three locations to discuss the natural history of snakes, to reduce the chance of a snake encounter and how to properly handle a potential snake encounter.

The programs will be held at:

  • Agriculture Building on Highway 4, Century, on Tuesday at 6 p.m.
  • Molino Community Center, 6450 Highway 95A, Molino on Thursday at 6 p.m.

For more information, contact Rick O’Conner at (850) 475-5230.

Woman Charged With DUI Manslaughter After Deadly Crash On I-10

April 28, 2013

A Milton woman is behind bars, accused of DUI manslaughter in the death of a Pace man early Sunday morning.

The Florida Highway Patrol said 25-year old Brianna Lynn Strum of Milton was charged with DUI manslaughter, DUI serious injury, DUI property damage, leaving the scene of a crash with death and leaving the scene of a crash with serious injury following the 3 a.m. wreck on I-10 near Scenic Highway.

Strum was traveling east on I-10 in a 2007 Honda Odyssey when she failed to see a 2013 Dodge Charger in front of her. She did not slow down or change lanes, but instead rear-ended the Dodge, causing it to enter the grass median and overturn several times, the FHP said.

A passenger in the Dodge Charger, 33-year old Robert Michael Hall Roy of Pace, was ejected and died from the injuries he received in the crash. The driver of the Charger, 30-year old Miguel Antonio Bonet of Whiting Field and front seat passenger Michael J. Edwards of Whiting Field, both received minor injuries. Another passenger, 24-year old Bernard Ulgalde of Milton, was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in serious condition.

Strum was later arrested by the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office and transferred to the Escambia County Jail were she was being held on a $605,000 bond.

Pictured: One person died and three others were injured when this Dodge Charger was rear-ended by a woman now charged with DUI. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

« Previous PageNext Page »