Minor Injuries In Cantonment Crash
July 26, 2013
Only minor injuries were reported in a two vehicle accident about 8:50 p.m. Thursday on Muscogee Road near Highway 97. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Highway 97A Traffic To Shift To Temp Bridge Delayed
July 26, 2013
Due to inclement weather conditions, the traffic shift on County Road 97A over Boggy Creek scheduled for Friday was postponed. Traffic will be transitioned to a temporary roadway and bridge next Tuesday, July 30, around 10 a.m.
This will allow for demolition of the existing bridge and construction of the new structure and approaches. The $1.5 million project is scheduled for completion winter 2014. Motorists may encounter minor delays as crews move traffic to the temporary bridge.
The speed limit will be reduced to 30 mph through the work zone and drivers are advised to use caution while traveling through the area and to be aware that speeding violations will be doubled when workers are present. Construction work could be delayed or rescheduled due to inclement weather.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge
Democrats Target Scott With Web Ads, Social Media
July 26, 2013
In some of its first paid ads of the 2014 campaign cycle, the Florida Democratic Party announced Thursday that it would take to social media and online news sites to whack away at Gov. Rick Scott.
The ads, which will be on Facebook and Twitter along with newspaper sites, will direct readers to a website about “The Real Rick Scott.” Democrats say they are responding, in part, to Scott’s efforts to recalibrate his message as he prepares to make a bid for re-election.
“It hasn’t worked all year, and we are going to make sure that it doesn’t,” Democratic Chairwoman Allison Tant told reporters on a conference call.
The latest survey from the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, taken last month, still showed Scott losing by double digits to former Gov. Charlie Crist — a Republican-turned-independent-turned Democrat — or U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, two of the potential candidates most frequently cited as front-runners.
But that poll also showed Scott with a 43 percent job approval rating compared to a 44 percent disapproval rating, some of the best marks of his tenure, and some observers predict that the Scott campaign and related groups will spend as much as $100 million on the re-election effort.
by The News Service of Florida
Northview NJROTC Members Take Part In Teen CERT Training
July 26, 2013
Eight members of the Northview High School NJROTC unit participated in Teen Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training this week, sponsored by the federal Emergency Management Agency. Teen CERT is a national program of volunteers trained in disaster preparedness and emergency response. Teen CERT training teaches teens about the potential disasters that could affect their area and how to safely and responsibly respond to them.
Pictured top: Northview Teen CERT members Elijah Harbison, Sean Allister, Donald Baity, Lane Carnley, Zacarra Davis, Dylan Cartwright, Kira Cartwright, and Shauna Walker. Pictured below: Teen CERT members learned basic firefighting techniques Thursday afternoon from the crew of Escambia County Fire Rescue Engine 519 from Century. Pictured inset: The teens practice moving an “injured” person using a chair. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Braves Beat Pensacola 1-0
July 26, 2013
Christian Marrero smoked a single just out of the reach of first baseman Mike Costanzo, scoring Mycal Jones to give the Mississippi Braves a 1-0, 10-inning win over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos on Thursday night at Trustmark Park.
Jones set up the inning with a leadoff single before stealing second and advancing to third on a wild pitch by Jamie Walczak. Edward Salcedo and Braeden Schlehuber were then walked intentionally to load the bases with nobody out. Walczak struck out Barrett Kleinknecht for the first out but Marrero snuck the liner past Costanzo to win it for Mississippi. Walczak took his first loss of the season by allowing a run on two hits in just 0.1 innings.
The walk-off dampened one of the best starts in franchise history turned in by Tim Crabbe. The right-hander shutout Mississippi over nine frames, limiting the Braves to just five hits with three strikeouts and a walk. Crabbe needed just 98 pitches to get through nine innings, not allowing a single Brave past second base. It was the first time in franchise history that a Wahoos hurler had completed nine innings.
Mitch Atkins was equally as dominant for Mississippi, firing seven shutout innings for the Braves. Atkins struck out nine Wahoos against just one walk while allowing five hits. Pensacola’s biggest threat against him came in the fifth with Yorman Rodriguez on third base and one out. Tucker Barnhart chopped a ball to first where Barrett Kleinknecht fielded and fired home to nab Rodriguez, keeping the game scoreless.
Pensacola faced a similar fate in the eighth inning against reliever Pat Egan. Devin Lohman led off the frame with a double, moved to third on a groundout, but was stranded after Egan induced a pop out and groundout, the latter of which was a bang-bang play in which Donald Lutz was called out at first base.
Egan improved to 6-1 on the season with three scoreless innings out of the bullpen, striking out one and allowing two hits.
The Braves have now taken two of the first three games in the series and look for the series victory on Friday night at 7 p.m. Josh Smith (7-8, 3.87) takes the ball for Pensacola against Mississippi’s Michael Lee (5-6, 3.96).
by
Marie Phillips
July 26, 2013
Marie Phillips, age 69, went home to be with her Heavenly Father on Wednesday, July 24, 2013. She went peacefully surrounded by her family. She was born in McClellan, Florida on January 8, 1944. She was long time resident of the Berrydale-Jay community. She was a homemaker, a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, wife, aunt and friend to all of those who knew her. She enjoyed spending time with her family and friends. She loved going to church and attending church functions. She attended Ebenezer Church and was Pentecostal by faith.
She was preceded in death by her father, Grady Dixon; mother, Annie Cantline Dixon; brothers, David Dixon and Johnny Dixon; and her sister, Esther Hawkins.
She is survived by her daughter, Donna (David) Coffey of Dixonville, Florida; grandson, Matthew Cooley and a great-granddaughter, Jaeci Cooley both of Jay; step-granddaughter, Cara Coffey of Milton; two sisters, Eloise Butts of Brewton and Vera Barnhill of Pensacola; and many nieces and nephews.
A visitation will be held Saturday, July 27, 2013, from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. at Jay Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be held Sunday, July 28, 2013, at 1 pm at Jay Funeral Home with Pastor Bill Thompson officiating services. Burial will follow at Pine Grove Church Cemetery in Berrydale.
The family wishes to thank all the staff of Emerald Coast Hospice and Jay Hospital for the excellent care you gave Marie and her family during this most difficult time.
Jay Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Pit Bull And Wolf-Dog Attack, Kill Lambs; Owner Fights Back With Shotgun
July 25, 2013
A pit bull and a hybrid wolf-dog are being blamed for the deaths of eight lambs Thursday in Cantonment.
The two dogs attacked and mauled about nine Katahdin Lambs located in a fenced pasture behind a residence on Cooley Road, just off Highway 29, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
The homeowner was able to retrieve a shotgun to defend the lambs, Sena Maddison, spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Office, said. He shot and killed the pit bull terrier. The hybrid wolf-dog fled from the scene. It was located and captured a short time later by Escambia County Animal Control.
Eight of the lambs died as a result of the dog attack.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Church Bus Vandalism Under Investigation
July 25, 2013
Members of a Gonzalez church are asking “why?” after someone broke into the church bus and unloaded an entire fire extinguisher.
The Gonzalez United Methodist Church members discovered the vandalism Tuesday morning. They say it was so bad that kids at church summer camp could not go on a planned field trip. They found a lot of broken beer bottles around the bus, but they say Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies found few other clues.
Anyone with information on the crime is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Pictured: Someone unloaded an entire fire extinguisher inside a bus belonging to the Gonzalez United Methodist Church. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Brain Cancer Claims West Florida’s Tristan Laurent
July 25, 2013
West Florida High School Jaguar Tristan Laurent passed away Wednesday at home. He was just 15.
Laurent battled a malignant brain tumor for just over a year. As a freshman last year, he played a portion of the 2013 season on the West Florida High School Jaguar freshman team. He was unable to complete the season due to his health.
He was honored by the Pensacola Blue Wahoos back in April, spending the day practicing with the Wahoos players. During a “Home Run for Life” during the night’s Blue Wahoos game, every player from both teams greeted Laurent during his lap on the field and he also received a bat signed by the entire Blue Wahoos team.
Funeral services for Tristan Laurent are not yet complete.
All Belle Foods Stores Up For Sale
July 25, 2013
As part of its ongoing bankruptcy, Belle Foods announced Wednesday that all 44 of its grocery stores — including those in Atmore and Brewton — are up for sale. The company previous announced the closing of 13 other stores, including four Food World stores in Pensacola.
Belle has agreed to sell the 44 stores because it believes the sale of the stores presents the best opportunity to maximize value for the benefit of its creditors. Bill and Jeff White, the owners of Belle, have retained the right to submit bids for the purchase of the stores.
Belle Foods and C&S Wholesale Grocers have reading an agreement for debtor-in-possession financing under which C&S has agreed to continue supplying the stores, ensuring that the stores will remain open to serve Belle’s customers. The agreement extends through at least October 4.
Belle has agreed to sell the 44 stores because it believes the sale of the stores presents the best opportunity to maximize value for the benefit of its creditors. Bill and Jeff White, the owners of Belle, have retained the right to submit bids for the purchase of the stores.
“At this point, this is the best way to serve our customers, preserve jobs for our employees and support our communities,” said Bill White, owner and president of Belle. “We expect these stores to be sold as on-going operations and will work with any new owners to see that our people remain employed. We have some of the best and most experienced grocery professionals in the south working in our stores.”
White concluded his statement by saying, “It would be great if Belle Foods were to exist in some form or fashion at the end of this process, but at this point, our focus is on our customers and teammates.”
The four Food World stores in Pensacola owed by Belle Foods are expected to closed before August 3.
Pictured: The Belle Foods store in Atmore. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.