Nine Tons Of Free Food Distributed To North Escambia Residents
March 1, 2013
About 18,000 pounds of free food were distributed to hundreds of North Escambia residents Thursday afternoon.
The Florida Department of Children and Families, AmeriCorps and Farm Share hosted the free food distribution for residents of the town of Century and North Escambia area residents at at the old Carver Middle School.
The nine tons of food and dairy products included potatoes, tomatoes, broccoli, pepper, squash, milk, yogurt, cereal and water. An estimated 300 families were served, with over 200 families signed up during the first hour of the event.
The food was distributed with the help of Americorp and volunteers from the Carver Community Center in Century.
Farm Share is a Florida non-profit organization working to alleviate hunger and malnutrition by recovering fresh and nutritious food and distributing it to those who need it most. The group specializes in obtaining donated fresh fruits and vegetables from Florida’s farmers and putting the food into the hands of the of low-income families in need of nutritious food. Every year, Farm Share provides more than 15 million pounds of nutritious food to more than 600,000 low-income households across Florida.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Rigby Named Escambia Teacher Of The Year
March 1, 2013
Susan Rigby, a ninth grade alegbra instructor at Pine Forest High School, was named Escambia County’s Teacher of the Year Thursday night during the 28th Annual Golden Apple Awards Banquet at New World Landing.
Other finalists for the honor were Randall Van Sickle, Blue Angels Elementary; Tina Grady, Hellen Caro Elementary; Debby Dorough, Pine Meadow Elementary; and Stephanie Hurst, West Florida High School.
The finalists were chosen from about 60 Teachers of the Year at individual schools in the county.
Escambia 4-Year Old VPK Registration Begins Monday
March 1, 2013
Registration for the Voluntary Prekindergarten Program for 4-year olds begins Monday at area elementary schools, including Bratt, Molino Park and Jim Allen.
Registration will continue through March 15 selected Title I schools: Bratt, Ensley, Lincoln Park, Molino Park, Monclair, McMillan (Wies), Oakcrest, Semmes, and West Pensacola. Children who live in these Title I attendance zones will given priority for enrollment.
Registration will also take place at the Global Learning Academy, Jim Allen and Warrington; however, only children in the attendance zones of these schools may apply.
For complete information, including required documentation, click here (pdf). For more information, call (850) 595-6915, ext. 224 or 227.
Molino Man Shot After Driving Into Cantonment House Pleads No Contest
March 1, 2013
A Molino man that was shot multiple times after driving his vehicle into a house in Cantonment last summer has pleaded no contest to the charges against him.
John Alex Godwin, age 35 of Molino Road, will be sentenced in late March on charges of burglary, and two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
During the predawn hours of July 13, 2012, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said Godwin crashed his car into the home of 25-year old Heather McKamey of Cantonment. The car literally pushed in the front door, door frame and surrounding bricks.
Godwin was then shot by 25-year old Andrew Lundy of Cantonment. Lundy was not charged.
Godwin reportedly suffered multiple gunshot woulds and was airlifted to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola. Warrants were prepared for his arrest pending his release from the hospital.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, Godwin was McKamey’s ex-boyfriend. She has unsuccessfully tried to get a restraining order against him in Escambia County back in June after a domestic violence incident between the pair in Mississippi.
According to a Gulfport Police Department incident report, Godwin was dating McKamey when he allegedly assaulted her on I-10 in Mississippi at the 33 mile marker by grabbing her hair and throwing her to the ground. She suffered minor lacerations to her hand during the incident, according to the report.
Pictured: John Alex Godwin was shot early the morning of July 13, 2012, after driving his car into this house in the 900 block of Jacks Branch Road in Cantonment. Deputies say the incident was a domestic violence incident. File photos courtesy WEAR for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Varsity Beats Freeport; JV Falls
March 1, 2013
The Northview Chiefs hosted Freeport Thursday.
Freeport 3, Northview 1 (JV)
In junior varsity action, the Northview Chiefs fell to Freeport Thursday, 3-1. Brett Weeks pitched a complete game for NHS.The JV Chiefs will be in action Tuesday, March 5 at 4:00 at Escambia Academy in Canoe, Ala.
Northview 9, Freeport 1
The Northview Chiefs beat Freeport 9-1 in varsity action Thursday night in Bratt. Daulton Tullis pitched a complete game, giving up three hits and two walks while striking out eight Freeport batters. Winston Riley went 2 for 3 with a walk and 4 RBI’s. The Chiefs will make the short road trip to Canoe, Ala., to take on Escambia Academy next Tuesday. The first pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
File photo, click to enlarge.
Flood Warning Continues: Escambia River Begins To Fall
March 1, 2013
The flood warning continues for the Escambia River, but the waters have started to slowly recede. The river will continue to fall below flood stage by Tuesday.
Pictured: The Escambia River out of its banks in Molino on Thursday. Reader submitted photos by Robert Harris, click to enlarge.
Poarch Creek Indians Donate $2 Million To Area Schools
March 1, 2013
The Poarch Band of Creek Indians donated more than $2 million to four school in Escambia County, Florida, along with schools from Escambia, Monroe and Baldwin counties in Alabama.
The donations made this afternoon are part of the tribe’s 2013 Planned Giving Campaign.
Over a quarter million dollars was donated to North Escambia schools as follows:
- Bratt Elementary School: $82,213.90
- Byrneville Elementary School: $54,64721
- Ernest Ward Middle School: $58,000
- Northview High School: $56,594.66
“We are very thankful,” Bratt Elementary School Principal Karen Hall said. “This will allow us to do a cultural heritage project with out students.” Bratt will use their grant to purchase computers and cameras, with students researching their cultural background and presenting the results during a parent’s night in May.
Byrneville Elementary school will use their grant for technology items, while Ernest Ward Middle School will purchase a copier and netbooks to be used for computer-based testing. Northview High School will purchase two digital copiers with finishers, laptops and projector mounts.
“Our Tribal members, our employees and our neighbors send their children to these schools,” said PCI Tribal Chairman Buford L. Rolin. “”I can think of no better investment in the future than to make sure budget cuts don’t limit our children’s opportunities or their dreams or in any way.”
For a photo gallery, click here.
Donations were made to Alabama schools as follows:
Baldwin County
- Baldwin County High School – $66,743.68
- Bay Minette Intermediate School – $15,000
- Perdido Elementary School – $90,000
Escambia County
- A.C. Moore Elementary School – $62,550
- Atmore Christian School – $20,000
- Escambia Academy – $138,621.50
- Escambia County High School – $128,465.02
- Escambia County Middle School – $135,000
- Flomaton Elementary School – $75,063.30
- Flomaton High School – $117,396.86
- Huxford Elementary School – $250,406.20
- Jefferson Davis Community College – $500,000
- Rachel Patterson Elementary School – $117,134.75
Monroe County
- J.U. Blacksher School – $114,173
During 2011 and 2012, the tribe donated more than $3 million to Alabama schools. Tribe officials said the grants were planned well before the recent lawsuit filed by Attorney General Luther Strange’s lawsuit that seeks to shut down the Wind Creek Casino. Strange claims the machines used by the casino are illegal, but PCI says the machines are legal under federal law.
Pictured top: The Poarch Band of Creek Indians donated over a quarter million of a million dollars to North Escambia schools Thursday. Pictured are (L-R) Byrneville Elementary Principal Dee Wolfe-Sullivan, Escambia School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas, Bratt Elementary Principal Karen Hall, Ernest Ward Middle Principal Nancy Perry and Northview High Principal Gayle Weaver. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Jay’s Gillman Signs Softball Scholarship With Jefferson Davis
March 1, 2013
Jay High School’s Brittany Gillman recently signed a softball scholarship with the Jefferson Davis Community College Warhawks of Brewton. She is the daughter of Bobbie Palmer and Tim Gillman, and granddaughter of Dobbie Williamson. She was joined by family members, friends and fellow Lady Royal’s softball players for the signing ceremony. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Softball: Tate Defeats Pine Forest
March 1, 2013
One night after racking up nine hits and 17 runs, the Pine Forest Lady Eagles were “run-ruled” by Tate pitcher Heather Thomason.
Thomason struck out five in a three-inning no-hitter Thursday night as the Aggies beat the Lady Eagles, 15-0, in a District 1-6A game at Tate.
Rachel Dunsford went 2-for-2 with a three-run homer in the second inning, and Jordan Barnett was2-for-2 with four RBI for Tate, which improved to 6-0 in district play. Casey McCrackin had two hits and scored three runs.
Only two Eagles reached base — both on errors. Pine Forest (4-5, 1-2) committed five errors behind Janessa Landas, who fell to 3-2 one night after the Eagles beat Catholic 17-2.
Pine Forest returns to action at 6:30 p.m. Monday when Navarre visits for a district game. Tate plays the Lady Eagles Tuesday night at Pine Forest.
Escambia High School Locked Down
February 28, 2013
Escambia High School in Pensacola was on lockdown for several hours today as deputies search for a grand theft auto suspect that ran onto the school campus.
Deputies attempted to make contact with the subject in the 6800 block of Stonehenge Circle, which is near the school, as he was standing by a vehicle that had been reported stolen earlier in the day. The suspect fled on foot and deputies gave chase. The suspect ran onto school campus and blended in with the students who were performing a fire drill exercise.
He was later found by school employees walking in a hallway of the school. The suspect was arrested and charged with disruption of a school function and resisting arrest without violence, both misdemeanors.
The name of the suspect has not been released due to his age. Felony charges may also be filed against the suspect for the stolen car as the investigation continues, deputies said.
Deputies did not believe the suspect was armed.