Celebrate Freedom 5K, One Mile Fun Run Planned For July 4 In Jay
July 1, 2014
The 15th Annual Celebrate Freedom 5K will be held Friday, July 4 in Jay.
The race starts and finishes at the Jay City Park. It is a scenic course through the neighboring countryside and looping around the Jay Elementary and Jay High school campuses. The last half of the course is run on a paved road that splits cotton and peanut fields on both sides. The course is basically flat and makes for fast times.
Trophies will be awarded to the top three finishers in each of 32 age groups. Overall awards will be given to the top male/female open runners, master runners, grand master runners, and senior grand master runners. There will be awards for the top three male/female walkers and wheelchair participants in the 5K and mile runs. T-shirts are guaranteed to the first 70 runners who register.
After the race, watermelon and refreshments will be served to all participants.
Race day is Friday, July 4 at 8 a.m. at the Jay City Park, 5259 Booker Lane. Entry fee is $20 in advance, $25 day of race. The One Mile Fun Run entry fee is $10. Late registration and pick-up will begin at 6:30 a.m. on race day at Jay City Park.
To register online click here. Or for a printable registration form, click here. Proceeds go towards next year’s race.
For directions or more information, contact Matt Dobson at (850) 217-2603 or (850) 675-6474 or email rmdobson@liberty.edu.
Bizarre Play Helps Jacksonville Down Pensacola’s Blue Wahoos
July 1, 2014
Pensacola Blue Wahoos catcher and clean up hitter Ross Perez hit .356 in June. Lead off hitter Yorman Rodriguez is batting .356 in the past 12 games.
And the five position players called up from High-A Bakersfield after the June 17 Southern League All-Star break (Kyle Waldrop, Seth Mejias-Brean, Marquez Smith, Jesse Winker and Ryan Wright) were a combined 10 for 22, a .454 clip Monday night.
“Our offense this year in my mind has played good,” Wahoos manager DeShields said. “We’ve scored runs and at one point we were hitting the highest in the league. Those things don’t go together. We’ve played a lot better than our record.”
Still, despite collecting 16 hits and six runs the Wahoos dropped their second straight game to the Jacksonville Suns Monday night, losing 8-6.
One could only wonder what would have happened, if not for a bizzare ruling by the umpire crew in the sixth inning.
Wahoos pinch hitter Juan Duran hit a rocket in the air that appeared to glance off pitcher Jay Rogers’ ankle and ricochet into Jacksonville third baseman Terrence Dayleg’s glove – never touching the ground. Dayleg threw Duran out at first to complete the play and Pensacola’s Jesse Winker scored from third, cutting the Jacksonville lead, 8-4. Third base umpire J.J. January ruled Penacola’s Ryan Wright safe at third and the play was dead.
But then the umpires reconvened and homeplate umpire Matt Pridemore, who was filling in for Jeremy Riggs who suffered a concussion Sunday from a foul ball off his mask, decided instead that Dayleg caught the ball in the air. So, he called Winker out after the Suns threw the ball to third base during the umpires’ discussion. The over turning of the call from a run scored and two out to a double play that took a Wahoos run off the scoreboard, ended the inning and stopping Pensacola from adding one run or more. Jacksonville remained ahead, 8-3.
DeShields was thrown out of the game for arguing the reversed call and threw his helmet on the ground in anger. He was still seething after the game and said he had never seen a call like it before.
“I don’t get real aggravated most of the time but I had had enough,” he explained. “It was a messed up play.”
DeShields argued the play was dead and the Pensacola runners should have been allowed to return to second and third base with two out.
Perez called the umpire’s over ruling “really weird.”
“That was a big situation for us,” said Perez, who scored two runs, doubled and knocked in a run. “If the ball goes through there two runs could have scored. I think we’ll be good at the end of the season.”
Perez said he is more confident than ever at bat and credits his coaches after his hot-hitting June.
“I’ve never felt like I’m feeling right now,” he said. “I’m very comfortable at home plate. When you work hard good things come out.”
The third game of the five-game series with Miami Marlins Double-A affiliate the Jacksonville Suns gets underway at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. RHP Michael Lorenzen (4-4, 2.63) takes the mound for the Wahoos and is scheduled to be opposed by the Suns LHP Justin Nicolino (7-2, 3.07).
by Tommy Thrall
Marion Lee Skipper
July 1, 2014
Mr. Marion Lee Skipper, 72, passed away on Saturday, June 28, 2014, in Atmore.
Mr. Skipper was a native of Excel and a resident of Huxford for most of his life. Mr. Skipper was an avid fisherman, hunter and a die hard Alabama Crimson Tide football fan. He attended the Atmore Church of Christ. He is preceded in death by his parents, Elmer and Sarah Skipper; and sister, Edna Browning.
He is survived by his wife, Liz Skipper of Huxford; two sons, Michael (Sandra) Skipper of Gainstown, AL and Jack (Sandy) Hadley of Uriah; adopted son, Paul (Lynn) Brown of Franklin, AL; one daughter, Kathy (Gary) Buckhault of Perdido; two brothers, Harold Skipper of Excel and Lauris (Charlottle) Skipper of Cantonment; nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers donations are to be made to Pilots for Christ at P.O. Box 707, Monroeville, Alabama 36460.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
James Terry Gafford
July 1, 2014
Mr. James Terry Gafford, age 52 of Flomaton, passed away suddenly on Monday, June 30, 2014.
Mr. Gafford was a native of Flomaton and a lifetime resident of the community. He worked as a pumper operator in the oilfield industry and was of the Baptist faith.
He is survived by his parents, W.T. and Carolyn Gafford of Flomaton; brother, Thomas Scott ‘Scottie’ Gafford of Flomaton; special friend, Kristin Sawyer of Flomaton; and grandmother, Mrs. Nettie Darnell of Flomaton.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 2, 2014, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Flomaton Funeral Home Chapel.
Funeral services will be on Thursday, July 3, 2014, at 11 a.m. at Flomaton Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Jerry Keese and Rev. Dustin Stockstill officiating.
Interment will be in Green Acres Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Brewton.
Pallbearers will be Tom Sheffield, Doug Sheffield, Brett Gafford, Kevin Knowles, Darrell Fore, Donnie Gafford and Rusty Carden.
Flomaton Funeral Home directing.
Hurricane Hunters Fly Over North Escambia Checking Out Potential Tropical System
June 30, 2014
The Hurricane Hunter aircraft flew over the North Escambia area this morning as part of their investigation into a system near the east coast of Florida that may become the season’s first tropical depression.
The flight was to measure upper level winds in our area to determine any impact on the system. The tropical depression, if it forms, is set to move the up East Coast of the U.S. and have no real impact on our local Northwest Florida forecast.
Some computer models are forecasting the system will strengthen toward the Carolinas on Friday and become Tropical Storm Arthur before moving off into the Atlantic.
Pictured: This graphic shows the Hurricane Hunter aircraft flight over the Florida Panhandle, including the North Escambia area, and the forecast path of the weather system up the East Coast.
Two Of Three Convenience Store Murder Suspects Arrested
June 30, 2014
Two of three suspects have been arrested in connection with the June 22 murder of 31-year old Tabius Cardell Huff.
Trent Baker was arrested June 24 and charged with third degree felony murder.
And then on Sunday moring, Jarrod Blackmon, 23, was arrested by the Linden (Ala.) Police Department. Blackmon. He was wanted in Escambia County for the first degree premeditated murder .
Deputies are still looking for Jimmy Bonner for third degree felony murder.
Wreck Near Walnut Hill Claims Life Of Recent Northview Graduate
June 30, 2014
A recent Northview High School graduate was killed in a single vehicle accident Sunday afternoon near Walnut Hill.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 18-year old Audra Elizabeth Martin of Century was traveling northbound on a dirt portion of Greenland Road when she veered to the left in her 2001 Chevrolet Impala, over-corrected to the right, struck a ditch and overturned into a field.
Her passenger, 17-year old Tori Amber Jordan of Century,was ejected from the vehicle. Jordan, who was not wearing a seat belt, was pronounced deceased on the scene. She was a 2014 Northview High School graduate and would have celebrated her 18th birthday this week, according to family friends.
Martin was transported by Atmore Ambulance to Atmore Community Hospital with minor injuries. Charges against Martin, who also was not wearing a seat belt, will be pending further investigation, according to the FHP.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Hot Muggy Weather
June 30, 2014
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Monday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 73. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Tuesday Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 98. Heat index values as high as 106. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
- Tuesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Wednesday A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 97. North wind around 5 mph.
- Wednesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
- Thursday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 95. North wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west in the afternoon.
- Thursday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming northwest after midnight.
- Independence Day A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94.
- Friday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71.
- Saturday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 93.
- Saturday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71.
- Sunday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93.
Fire Heavily Damages Jacks Branch Road Home
June 30, 2014
A Cantonment home received heavy fire and smoke damage Sunday night.
The fire was reported just after 9 p.m. in single story residence in the 400 block of Jacks Branch Road, near Green Tree Circle. The first firefighters on scene reported heavy smoke coming from the house.
There were no injuries reported, and there was no immediate word in the cause of the blaze.
Pictured: Fire heavily damaged a home on Jacks Branch Road Sunday. NorthEscambia.com reader submitted photos by iHeather Murphy, click to enlarge.
Schedule Change For ECUA July Household Hazardous Waste Collection
June 30, 2014
Taking advantage of the ECUA’s Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Program is a great way to dispose of unwanted household hazardous materials in an environmentally responsible way.
HHW in landfills can leak or, if disposed of on the ground, can contaminate our drinking water supply or other water resources. And HHW disposed of in garbage containers can leak or react with other substances, possibly starting fires that may injure drivers and others nearby.
ECUA’s HHW Program is a monthly service that is free to all ECUA residential sanitation customers.
Normally, ECUA’s HHW collection is on the first Saturday of the month. For this July, the HHW pick-up will instead be scheduled on the second Saturday, July 12, because of the Independence Day holiday the previous week.
Some of the items accepted in the HHW Program pick-up list include swimming pool and household chemicals, paints, used cooking grease, lawn and garden chemicals, and used motor oils. These materials are collected by ECUA crews at the customer’s doorstep, making it as easy and convenient as possible.
For more information, or to request a pick-up, ECUA sanitation customers may call the ECUA Customer Service line at 476-0480, or email customer.service@ecua.fl.gov.