Top Of The Class Looks Toward The Future
June 7, 2013
Jazzlyn Franklin of Walnut Hill started last Saturday morning a little nervous, knowing her graduation and valedictorian speech at Northview High School were just a few hours away. And, when she was done, she had delivered a rousing speech and prayer that sent hundreds to their feet in a standing ovation.
“Goal-oriented” would almost be an understatement in describing Jazzlyn. Like track and cross country during her years at Northview, she always had her eyes on the finish line. And as valedictorian, she was quick to give credit to her faith for her success.
“Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior, and I could not stand here today without giving him some time and attention,” Franklin told the hundreds in attendance before leading them in prayer that ended with a standing ovation.
“I’d really like to encourage you to put God first, and if He’s first, He will lead you in the right direction,” she told her classmates.
Jazzlyn plans to attend Florida State with eyes on a biological science degree with a minor in nutrition. And after grad school, she wants to become a pharmacist. She had considered physical therapy as a career. “But I decided I’m not that hands-on,” she said. “I would rather be behind the counter helping people and using my brain.”
Looking toward the future, she’s afraid life will be much different in little old Walnut Hill and surrounding communities.
“We have considerably strong Southern values now,” she said. “But as the world becomes more accepting of things, we need to stand strong to our traditional values.”
Once at college, Jazzlyn said she knows she will miss not having her large family close at hand. As for starting her own family, she said she always thought she would marry at a young age, but so far she has not met that Mr. Right.
Eventually, she wants to see the world, perhaps with a start in South Africa.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Man Charged With Stealing 567 Redbox Movies And Games
June 7, 2013
An Alabama man has been charged with stealing 567 movies and games from a Redbox machine in Atmore.
On May13, Atmore Police received a complaint that a Redbox machine outside the Atmore Winn Dixie had been burglarized. Video obtained from security cameras at Winn-Dixie revealed the violator to be a white male driving an older model white Chevrolet pickup with blue doors.
On June 3 Atmore Police Investigator Robby Williams was in the Brewton area when he observed that vehicle being driven by the violator. Investigator Williams contacted East Brewton Police Chief Kenny Brazile who had recently obtained information that an East Brewton resident had a large quantity of Redbox movies. Chief Brazile was provided still photos from the security video and was able to positively identify the violator as Shawn Daniel Mealer, 24, of East Brewton.
On June 5 Williams, Brazile, and East Brewton Investigator Andy Miles drove to Mealer’s residence where they recovered some of the stolen DVDs. It is believed that many of the DVDs have been sold or disseminated to others. Warrants were issued Thursday charging Mealer with theft of property in the first degree and criminal mischief in the first degree. He was arrested Thursday by East Brewton Police.
Anyone who has knowledge of the whereabouts or possession of any of these Redbox DVDs is asked to call Atmore Investigator Robby Williams at (251) 368-9141 or East Brewton Chief Kenny Brazile at (251) 867-4864.
Bratt Elementary Presents 5th Grade Academic Awards
June 7, 2013
Bratt Elementary School has presented the following academic awards to students in fifth grade:
Honor Roll A’s & B’s
- Cassidy Boutwell
- Lexi Broadhead
- Juliana Bryan
- Karlee Criswell
- Sheyenne Dillon
- Colton Dockens
- Cody Edwards
- Jackson Edwards
- Jason Fayard
- Neionni Findley
- Jakob Gibson
- Gabe Henderson
- Joseph Parker
- Adam Peterson
- Kinzie Rackard
- Teriana Redmond
- Savannah Roley
- Savannah Spence
- Cassidy White
- Ben Wilson
- Wyatt Windham
Academic Achievement Award
- Keaton Brown
- Ashlan Harigel
- Anna King
- Colby Morris
- Bailey Van Pelt
Progress Award
- Addison Albritton
- Payton Jackson
- Tyler Kite
- Carmen Reid
- Ciara Smith
- Melissa Sunday
- Ben Wilson
Outstanding Attendance
- Zy’Kia Davis
- Karlee Criswell
- Jackson Edwards
- Anna King
- Ansleigh Maholovich
- Colby Morris
- Cassie Mullins
- Chris Nordman
- Bailey Van Pelt
- Kinzie Rachard
- Bailey Van Pelt
- Wyatt Windham
Outstanding Citizenship Award
- Karlee Criswell
- Jackson Edwards
- Ashlan Harigel
- Colby Morris
- Savannah Spence
Sons of America Revolution Award
- Cassidy Boutwell
- Keaton Brown
- Cody Edwards
- Jackson Edwards
- Ashlan Harigel
- Colby Morris
- Kinzie Rackard
- Bailey Van Pelt
PE Award
- Karlee Criswell
- Devon Cohen
- Neionni Findley
- Wyatt Windham
Music Award
- Jackson Edwards
- Gabe Henderson
- Cassie Mullins
- Adam Peterson
All County Chorus
- Ashlan Harigel
- Lauren Sapp
- Cassidy White
Panhandle Honors Chorus
- Juliana Bryan
- Ashlan Harigel
- Cassidy White
Art Award
- Jaquarius Dixon
- Teriana Redmond
- Lauren Sapp
- Cassidy White
Art Show
- Sheyenne Dillon
- Ashlan Harigel
- Neionni Findley
- Devon Rhinehart
Want To Operate A Successful Cottage Food Business?
June 7, 2013
Escambia County Extension will host a “Starting a Successful Cottage Food Business” program for those that wish to sell food made in their homes.
This program will cover pricing, taxes and marketing for cottage food operations, and will included time for a question and answer session with staff. Farms or individuals interested or currently marketing processed foods are encouraged to attend.
Cottage foods by definition are foods made in the home for resale that do not require refrigeration. These include but are not limited to jams, jellies, preserves, honey, cakes and pies.
The program will be held at the Escambia County Extension on Wednesday, June 12 at 6 p.m. The program cost is $10. To register, contact Fran Lainhart at (850) 475-5230 or email lainhaf@ufl.edu to register.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Poarch Creeks Donate $200K To Alabama Schools
June 7, 2013
The Poarch Band of Creek Indians donated more than $200,000 dollars to schools in Escambia and Monroe counties in Alabama on Thursday. The Tribe made the donation as part of its 2013 Planned Giving Campaign.
“At a time when budget cuts are infiltrating our schools, I am proud that we are able make this investment in the future of our children,” noted Tribal Chairman Buford L. Rolin. “I believe knowledge that is gained through education is essential for children to reach their goals in life, and it will enable them to have limitless opportunities.”
Receiving donations were:
Escambia County (AL)
Brewton Elementary School – $28,431.00
Brewton Middle School – $29,930.00
Pollard-McCall Jr. High School – $30,000.00
T.R. Miller High School – $29,607.74
W.S. Neal Elementary School – $29,970.17
W.S. Neal Middle School – $30,042.57
W.S. Neal High School – $30,001.06
Monroe County
Excel School – $25,842.00
Earlier this year the Tribe donated more than $2 million dollars to support area schools in Baldwin, Escambia, and Monroe counties in Alabama and Escambia County in Florida.
State Won’t Appeal Ruling Against Creek Entertainment’s Gretna Barrel Racing
June 7, 2013
The state won’t appeal an administrative law judge’s ruling against a license that had been issued in 2011 to allow wagering on rodeo-style barrel racing in Gadsden County, Florida.
A spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation said Thursday the agency has decided not to appeal the May 6 ruling by Administrative Law Judge John Van Laningham.
The judge said the department’s Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering violated state law when approving the license in October 2011 for Gretna Racing to run its unique horse racing contests. The state had 30 days to appeal.
The pari-mutuel facility, which includes a card room, is west of Tallahassee. The ruling has no impact on the card room license, according to the state department.
A spokeswoman for Creek Entertainment Gretna, the parent company of Gretna Racing, replied via email Thursday that while Tropical Storm Andrea will push the scheduled June 8 races to June 22, “it’s business as usual” at the facility.
The Florida Quarter Horse Track Association, an industry group tied with Gretna Racing, filed an appeal of the administrative ruling Tuesday. The track association, which intervened in the case and defended the license, argued that state law doesn’t define how quarter-horse races must be run. The track association is not affiliated with the Florida Quarter Horse Racing Association or the Florida Quarter Horse Breeders and Owners Association. The Florida Quarter Horse Racing Association and the Florida Quarter Horse Breeders and Owners Association contested the license.
An attorney for the horse racing and breeders associations questioned the standing of the Florida Quarter Horse Track Association to appeal the ruling. Samantha Stratton, a spokeswoman for the state department, said “that is for the court to decide.”
by The News Service of Florida
Lila Irene Steadham Gibson
June 7, 2013
Mrs. Lila Irene Steadham Gibson, 92 of Atmore, passed away June 6, 2013, in Atmore. She was born in Baldwin County on July 27, 1920, to the late Will and Lemma Tolin Jenks. She was a retired seamstress from Vanity Fair Mills.
She is preceded in death by the father of her children, Aubrey Lee Steadham and her late husband, Elbert Gibson; and one son, Aubrey Lee Steadham, Jr.
She is survived by son, Charles Eugene Steadham of McCullough; two daughters, Thelma Irene Digman of Robinsonville and Betty Joyce Gibson of Atmore; and a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be Sunday, June 9, 2013, at 2:30 p.m. from the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Elder Robert Loyd and Elder Gene Freeland officiating.
Interment will follow in Steadham Cemetery.
Family will receive friends Saturday, June 8, 2013, at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home, Inc is in charge of all arrangements.
Northview Girls Basketball Beginning Summer Workouts
June 7, 2013
Northview High School’s girls basketball team will get off to an early start with summer workouts and conditioning.
The workouts will be held on Mondays, Tuesday and Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. at Northview, beginning on Monday, June 10. For more information, email coach Derek Marshman at dmarshman@escambia.k12.fl.us.
Wahoos Pick Up Doubleheader Sweep Over Biscuits
June 7, 2013
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos picked up their first doubleheader sweep of the season, knocking off the Montgomery Biscuits 2-1 in the first game before winning a wild one, 6-5, in the nightcap. The two wins earned Pensacola its first road series win since taking a series in Jackson from April 20-24.
Pensacola picked up the win in game one thanks to Travis Mattair. Entering the sixth inning down 1-0, Mattair laced a two-run single through the left side with two outs to put Pensacola up 2-1. The hit made a winner of Josh Smith (W, 5-5) who went five innings and allowed just an unearned run.
Lee Hyde and Loek Van Mil pitched the final two frames out of the bullpen to hold down the win. Van Mil picked up his fourth save of the season.
Game two was a much different story as both offenses erupted and battled back and forth throughout the contest.
Pensacola jumped on top in the first inning thanks to an RBI double from Ryan LaMarre, who then came around to score on an error by third baseman Steven Tinoco. The lead didn’t last long though, as the Biscuits battled back with three runs to take a 3-2 lead after one.
In the second, Theo Bowe tied the game with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly, but Pensacola was unable to take the lead, stranding the other two runners.
An inning later, Montgomery retook the lead against Wahoos starter Shaun Ellis with an RBI single from Keith Castillo. Ellis battled through 2.1 innings in his second spot start of the year, yielding four runs on six hits.
Not to be denied, Pensacola jumped back in front in the fifth inning. With runners at first and second with nobody out, Mattair popped into a peculiar 1-5-4 double play on a bunt attempt, but Tucker Barnhart doubled to keep the inning alive. Ray Chang followed with a two-run single in the fifth to push Pensacola back in front 5-4.
The lead was short-lived again, though, as Kyeong Kang launched a solo homer with an out in the fifth off Wahoos reliever Chris Manno to knot the game at five.
The game didn’t remain tied for long as in the top of the sixth, Bowe turned on inside fastball from Erik Hamren (L, 0-1) and sent it over the wall in right for his second blast of the season. Bowe went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI in game two and set the stage for Hyde. Making his second appearance of the day, Hyde worked around a pair of singles in two innings to pick up his second save of the year.
Manno (W, 2-1) picked up the win with an inning of relief, allowing a run on two hits while striking out the side.
The Blue Wahoos, having won consecutive games for the first time since May13-15, now continue their 10-game road trip with the first of five against the Mississippi Braves on Friday at 7:00 p.m. Tim Crabbe (2-5, 3.64) gets the start for Pensacola against Mississippi’s Cody Martin (2-3, 3.07).
story by Kevin Burke
Top Secret Spying On Verizon Customers Authorized By Pensacola Federal Judge
June 6, 2013
The chairwoman of the US Senate Intelligence committee has said that the government has been collecting the telephone records of millions of US Verizon customers since 2006, and the order is a three-month renewal of a continuing practice.
The order was signed by federal Judge Roger Vinson who is based in Pensacola. He signed the order as part of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, a U.S. Federal Court authorized in 1978. Vinson’s term on the court expired on May 18, 2013.
The collection of records was “on an ongoing daily basis,” beginning on April 25, 2013 and ending July 19, 2013, Dianne Feinstein, a Democratic Senator from California confirmed to reporters on Capitol Hill on Thursday. However, the practice may have been habitual for seven years prior to its exposure.
“As far as I know, this is the exact three-month renewal of what has been the case for the past seven years. This renewal is carried out by the [foreign intelligence surveillance] court under the business records section of the Patriot Act. Therefore, it is lawful. It has been briefed to Congress,” she told reporters.
Congress members were fully briefed and aware of the US’s intelligence gathering program, which included the collection of telephone records from Verizon, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder confirmed on Thursday.
The top secret order required Verizon, one of the largest telecom agencies in the US, to provide both the FBI and the NSA information on all telephone calls made through its systems, both domestically and to foreign countries. A copy was obtained by the Guardian and published on Wednesday.
According to a copy of the order, Verizon is required to disclose the numbers of both parties during a call, as well as location, call duration, and other unique data on an “ongoing, daily basis.” Meaning that, regardless of whether an individual is suspected of or linked to any crime, the data of all Verizon customers is currently being delivered in bulk to the intelligence agency.
Verizon did not confirm the existence of the top secret order. In a memo sent to employees on Thursday, they stated that they were forbidden “from revealing the order’s existence.”
The court order expressively forbid Verizon from disclosing the existence of any US government request for the company’s customer records, according to the original Guardian exclusive.
As to the authority claimed by the government via this order, that is specifically cited to fall under the “business records” provision of the PATRIOT Act of 2001, which was granted a four-year extension by President Obama in May of 2011.
Republican Senator Mark Kirk of Illinois, who questioned Holder about the program, aired concern on Thursday that that spy agencies might have retrieved the phone records of Congress and the U.S. Supreme Court.
Pictured: The Verizon Wireless store in Atmore, Ala. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
[rt.com]