Today Is Voter Registration Deadline For May Special Primary Election
April 15, 2013
Today is the last day to register to vote or change party affiliation for the May 14 Special Primary Election for Florida House District 2. The Supervisor of Elections office will be open Monday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
New registrations or party affiliation changes must be completed on or before the end of the business day on April 15, 2013 in order for them to be effective for the May 14 election. Florida law mandates that registration books close 29 days before an election.
Supervisor of Elections David Stafford strongly suggests updating voter information record before heading to the polls. If you are unsure of your registration status, visit EscambiaVotes.com and click “Am I Registered?”. To find out if you live in Florida House District 2, visit the Special Election page on EscambiaVotes.com.
Escambia County citizens have several ways to register or update their record:
Online/By Mail: Visit EscambiaVotes.com and complete, print, and sign the online application. Be sure to include a valid Florida Driver’s License number, a valid Florida ID number, or the last 4 digits of your Social Security Number in the appropriate space. Completed applications must be received or postmarked no later than April 15. Applications should be
mailed to: Escambia County Supervisor of Elections, PO Box 12601, Pensacola, FL 32591‐2601. Those who wish may bring the completed application to the Elections Office at 213 Palafox Place, 2nd Floor, in downtown Pensacola. .
In Person: You can register at the Elections Office at 213 Palafox Place, 2nd Floor, in downtown Pensacola, at any Florida Driver’s License Office, and several other governmental offices and public assistance centers. Registration forms are available to pick up at locations countywide. For a complete list of locations, visit EscambiaVotes.com or call or e‐mail the Elections Office.
Voters can request an absentee ballot by visiting EscambiaVotes.com and completing the online request form, or calling or e‐mailing the elections office. Early voting will also be offered and begins Saturday, May 4 at several locations in Escambia County.
Pensacola Ice Flyers Win President’s Cup
April 15, 2013
The Pensacola Ice Flyers won their first ever President’s Cup Sunday night, defeating the Huntsville Havoc 2-0 for the Southern Professional Hockey League championship. Pat Knowlton scored for the Ice Flyers and made it 1-0 early the game. And Bradley Cooper sealed the win, making it 2-0 Ice Flyers with just over seven minutes left in the second in front of 4,600 fans. Pictured: The Pensacola Ice Flyers won the President’s Cup Sunday night for the Southern Professional Hockey League championship. Photos courtesy Pensacola Bay Center for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Junior Ice Flyers Bring Home Tourney Wins Too
April 15, 2013
The Pensacola Ice Flyers may have brought home the President’s Cup and the Southern Professional Hockey League championship Sunday night, but they were not the only Ice Flyers to bring hockey championships back to their home ice at The Hangar and the Pensacola Bay Center.
The Pensacola Junior Ice Flyers Mite team also brought home several big tournament wins on the ice around the Southeast.
The Junior Ice Flyers win the Bob Gorman Freedom Memorial Tournament in Huntsville back in January, and they came in second in the Country and Western Showdown in Nashville back in March.
And at the recent Gulf Coast Meltdown Developmental Invitational in Biloxi, the younger Ice Flyers went 4-0 for the tournament on the strength of multiple players, including Liam Bryan of Cantonment (pictured inset) who scored 13 goals.
“There are multiple players who have scored or played great defense,” said Byran’s mom Jessica Bryan. “This is a great group of kids.”
Pictured: The Pensacola Junior Flyers Mite team in action. Photos courtesy Shaun Beal for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Learn About The Treasures Of The Panhandle From Professor, Author
April 15, 2013
The Barrineau Park Historical Society will present a talk and slide show by Pensacola State College professor Dr. Brian Rucker entitled “Treasures of the Panhandle: A Journey through West Florida”.
In his book by the same name, Rucker takes readers on a unique tour of his home region, highlighting the historic treasures and natural wonders.
The event will take place at 6 p.m Thursday at the Barrineau Park Historical Society in Barrineau Park Community Center on Barrineau Park School Road.
Cantonment Teams Take Top Prizes In Log-A-Load Bass Tournament
April 15, 2013
A couple of Cantonment teams took the top prizes in the 17th Log-A-Load for Kids benefit bass tournament held Saturday at Life Oak Landing near Stockton, Ala.
Eddie Milstead and Toney Clements, both of Cantonment, took the $3,000 first place prize with a five-fish weight of 15.70 pounds and a 5.01 lunker prize. The cousins won the tourney back i n 2011 when it was held on the Escambia River.
Brothers Sammy and Shane Garrett of Cantonment took second with a 14.3 pound total weight and a 4.71 lunker.
Log-A-Load Top Ten (5 fish total weight, lunker weight):
- Eddie Milstead and Toney Clements (15.70, 5.01)
- Sammy Garrett and Shane Garrett (14.3, 4.71)
- Adam Ross and Matt Thornton (13.87, 4.68)
- Johney Weaver and David Fisher (13.12, 3.96)
- Keith Marston and Logan Marston (12.83, 3.65).
- Shane Manley and Kevin Zellers (12.72, 4.29)
- Mark Dortch and Bradley Dortch (12.33, 3.42)
- Greg Sessions and Ken Sessions (12.27, 3.66)
- Mark Rose and Terry Davis (11.75, 4.16)
- Sterling Johnson and Tim Taylor (11.38, 2.98)
All proceeds from the event benefit Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital in Pensacola. Log-A-Load is sponsored by the Florida Forestry Association and the Florida Loggers Council.
Clifton Franklin Jerkins
April 15, 2013
Mr. Clifton Franklin Jerkins, 73, passed away on Saturday, April 13, 2013, in Pensacola.
Mr. Jerkins was a native of Little Rock, Ala., former resident of Pensacola, and a resident of Elsanor, Ala., since 1990.
Survivors include his wife, Grace Hanks Jerkins of Elsanor; five sons, Dean Jerkins of Atmore, John Key of Palatka, FL, Jack Key of Pensacola, Joe Key of Robertsdale, and James Key of Robertsdale; two daughters, Denise Tillman of Elsanor and Janice Mathis of Robertsdale; and sixteen grandchildren.
Funeral services will be Tuesday, April 16, 2013, at 2 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel with Rev. Gary Fox officiating.
Burial will follow at the Christian Home Cemetery.
Visitation will be Tuesday, April 16, 2013, from 1 p.m. until service time at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Dean Jerkins, John Key, Jack Key, Joe Key, James Key and Matt Tillman.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Mobile Battles Back To Win 5-2 Over Blue Wahoos
April 15, 2013
For the second straight day, the Mobile BayBears offense woke up late and rallied for a 5-2 win over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos. With the victory, Mobile took four of five in the first series of the 2013 Bay to Bay Series.
Pensacola got on the board first for the fourth straight contest, as Donald Lutz singled home Bryson Smith as part of a two-out first-inning rally to put the Wahoos up 1-0. David Vidal extended Pensacola’s lead to 2-0 in the top half of the fifth with a two-out solo homer, his first of the season.
But the lead didn’t last long as Mobile finally got to Pensacola starter Ryan Dennick in the last of the fifth. After one-hitting the BayBears through four, Dennick loaded the bases on two singles and an error before yielding a two-run single to the opposing pitcher Bradin Hagens that knotted the game at two. Dennick was able to rebound and earned a no-decision, giving up two runs (one earned) on five hits over six innings.
Mobile took the lead for good in the seventh against reliever Kyle Lotzkar. Garrett Weber was plunked by Lotzkar (0-1) with the bases loaded and one out to force home a run and give the BayBears their first lead at 3-2. Lotzkar went just one-third of an inning, yielding a run on three hits and hitting two batters. Lee Hyde came on to induce a 1-2-3 double play to get out of the jam.
The BayBears added extra insurance in the eighth when Rossmel Perez brought home two with a two-out single to increase the lead to 5-2.
Pensacola got the tying run to the dish in the ninth inning but Bo Schultz forced a groundout and a flyout to end the ballgame.
Hagens (2-0) picked up the victory for Mobile, tossing seven innings, allowing just the two runs on six hits while striking out five. Schultz picked up his first save of the season by pitching the ninth.
Pensacola now returns home for the first of five with the Jacksonville Suns on Monday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. Daniel Renken is set to start for the Wahoos with first pitch scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
Story by Kevin Burke
Farmers Needed To Nominate Local Schools For $25K Grant
April 14, 2013
Three North Escambia schools need the help of area farmers by Monday to earn a grant to purchase student iPads.
Molino Park Elementary, Jim Allen Elementary and Ransom Middle School were chose to represent Escambia County in applying for a $25,000 from the America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education grant program. If awarded, the grant will purchase the iPads to advance technology in implementing core standards in reading, science and math.
Grants will be awarded based on merit, need and community support. The number of farmers to nominate Escambia County will demonstrate the community support for the grant criteria.
Farmers can nominate the Escambia County School District by going to growruraleducation.com and completing the nomination form. The deadline for nominations is April 15.
“We will be competing against 22 other counties. The more farmer community support we have, the better chance we will have to receive this grant,” said Alice Woodward, Molino Park principal.
Molino Shooting Suspect Pleads, Set For Sentencing
April 14, 2013
A man accused of shooting at an occupied mobile home in Molino in August 2012 has pleaded no contest to the charges against him and will be sentenced next month.
Sharrieff Amin Shabazz, age 20 of Molino, was charged with three counts of aggravated assault by threat with firearm, shooting into an occupied dwelling, drug possession, and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription. He has remained in the Escambia County Jail since the August 22 incident with bond set at $71,000.
He is set to be sentenced in early May before Judge J. Scott Duncan.
The victim, 21-year old Kristi Gulsby, told deputies she was arguing with Shabazz over $6 he had loaned her for cigarettes about three months prior to the August 22 incident. Gulsby said she had paid him back twice.
Gulsby told deputies that Shabazz began cussing her out and screaming that he wanted his money. She said he then reached into his pants pocket and pulled a gun. As he began walking toward the road, Shabazz opened fire on the mobile home with Gulsby and her two juvenile children, one and four years old, nearby, an arrest report states.
No one was struck by the gunfire.
Shabazz was taken into custody a few hours after the shooting during a traffic stop at the intersection of Fairground Road and Jahaza Street in Molino. As the vehicle pulled over for Escambia County deputies, an ATF special agent working the case witnessed a silver handgun and two pill bottles being thrown out of the backseat, which was occupied by Shabazz. Deputies recovered a .380 caliber handgun outside the vehicle along with pill bottles containing 18 Lortab and cocaine. Inside the vehicle’s trunk, authorities reported finding marijuana in a Mason jar and plastic bags.
Pictured above and below: Gunfire rang out at this mobile home on Ayers Street in Molino on August 22, 2012. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Middle School FCAT Begins This Week (With Schedule, Rules)
April 14, 2013
FCAT daily testing begins Monday in Escambia County. For a daily schedule and FCAT rules, click here (pdf).
(The schedule applies to all middle schools in the county. The make up days are specific to Ernest Ward Middle School and may vary at other schools. For more information, call your child’s middle school.)