Going Up: Construction Continues On New Ernest Ward Middle
March 10, 2014
Construction is making visible progress for a new $17 million Ernest Ward Middle School in Walnut Hill. The new building, expected to open to students as early as January 2015, following Christmas Break 2014, will be an ultra modern, energy efficient building.
Escambia County voters played a big part in making the $17 million facility a reality, thanks to the voter-approved half cent sales tax. Escambia is one of 16 of Florida’s 67 counties where voters have approved the half cent sales tax, which can be used for construction projects.
“If it were not for the half cent sales tax, we could not do things like build the new Ernest Ward,” Escambia County Schools Superintendent Malcolm Thomas said.
For more photos showing the construction progress as of about two weeks ago, click here. NorthEscambia.com will continue to provide construction updates and photos periodically over the next year.
The oldest buildings on the current Ernest Ward campus, including the main classroom wing, were constructed in 1945 to replace a campus ravaged by fire in 1943. That old school had been constructed to replace an Ernest Ward School that first opened in a log cabin in 1896.
Pictured top and inset: Recent aerial photos of construction at Ernest Ward Middle School show the footprint of the new building, directly behind the current school. (courtesy FastAerial.com). Pictured below: Class construction. Pictured bottom: The foundation. Pictured bottom: Lunchroom foundation. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Barry Town Hall Today In Barrineau Park
March 10, 2014
District 5 Escambia County Commissioner Steven Barry will hold a town hall meeting beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, March 10, at the Barrineau Park Community Center at 6055 Barrineau Park School Road.
For more information, contact Barry’s office at (850) 595-4950.
Pictured top: Escambia County Public Works Director Wes Moreno listens to District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry speak during a town hall meeting last year in Century. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Fannie Road Closes This Week For Bridge Replacemet
March 10, 2014
Crews will begin construction activities on Fannie Road just outside Century next week.
The $1.8 million project will replace the bridge on Fannie Road over Dead Lake with a new concrete structure consisting of two 12-foot wide travel lanes and eight foot shoulders. Fannie Road will be closed during construction and traffic detoured on to Highway 4 and Highway 29 in Florida and Highway 29 and Old Fannie Road in Alabama. Restrictions will remain in effect through fall 2015.
All activities are weather dependent and may be rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Robot Of The Future: IMHC’S Atlas Featured On CNN
March 10, 2014
The work of the IHMC Robotics team from Escambia County with the Atlas humanoid robot is featured in an episode of a new monthly CNN program, “The Art of Movement.”
To see the video, click here, or look at the bottom of this story.
The segment features interviews with IHMC scientists and extensive video shot both in the IHMC Robotics Lab in Pensacola and at the DARPA Robotics Challenge (DRC) trials at Homestead Miami Speedway in December 2013. IHMC’s own video team shot some of the footage used by CNN, especially from the DARPA trials. The episode focuses on IHMC’s work with the two-legged Atlas robot, built by Boston Dynamics and used in the DRC competition.
The teams participating in the DRC represent some of the most advanced robotics research and development organizations in the world. They are collaborating and innovating on a very short timeline to develop the hardware, software, sensors and human-machine control interfaces that will enable their robots to complete a series of challenge tasks selected by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency for their relevance to disaster response.
IHMC finished first in the initial stage of the DRC in June 2013, a computer simulation competition dubbed the Virtual Robotics Challenge. The robotics team followed that up with an overall second-place finish among 16 robotics development teams at the trials at Homestead Miami Speedway, featuring the actual robots. IHMC finished first among the seven teams using Atlas.
The concluding phase of the DRC is tentatively scheduled for spring 2015.
According to CNN’s website, “The Art of Movement is a new monthly show that highlights the most significant innovations in art, culture, science and technology that are helping shape our modern world. From the visually beautiful to the technically awe inspiring, from ocean tides to animal migration, from bionic limbs to ballet, The Art of Movement will showcase the latest cultural currents and scientific new waves redefining how we engage with the world.”
The Institute for Human & Machine Cognition (IHMC) is one of the nation’s premier research organizations with world-class scientists and engineers investigating a broad range of topics related to building technological systems aimed at amplifying and extending human cognitive, perceptual, and physical capacities. IHMC headquarters are in Pensacola with a branch research facility in Ocala.
Escambia County To Try Again This Week To Name Adminstrator
March 10, 2014
Escambia County will try again this week to hold interviews and name a county administrator.
The Escambia County Commission was set to hold one-on-one job interviews with each of the five finalists for the county administrator position the last week of January, but a freak winter storm literally iced those plans.
On Thursday, March 13 each finalist will meet separately with individual commissioners in their offices prior to public interviews with the full board at 1:00 in the afternoon. A second special board meeting will be held on March 14 at 9 a.m. to pick a new top boss for the county if one is not named on March 13.
The five finalists for Escambia County administrator, as recommended by a citizens advisory committee, are:
- Jack Brown — Perry, FL. County Administrator, Taylor County BOCC.
- Ted Lakey — Graceville, FL. County Administrator, Jackson County BOCC.
- Albert Penska — Gettysburg, PA. County Manager, Adams County.
- William Reynolds — Pensacola. Former City Administrator, City of Pensacola.
- John Weaver — Murrells Inlet, SC. Attorney, Thomas & Brittain
Due to the administrator interviews, a Committee of the Whole Workshop scheduled for Thursday, March 13, has been canceled.
Robert Edward Shaffer
March 10, 2014
Robert was an avid fisherman, hunter, outdoorsman, and loved to spend time on the water or in the woods. His greatest joys were on the gulf or riding his motorcycle. He was known to many as Cap’t Rob or Superrob. Robert was also former President of American Legion Riders, Post 44. Wherever he went, he was sure to make a new friend.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Herman and Martha Shaffer and sister, Cindy.
Survivors include his children, Maria (Shawn), Krystle (Colter), Clayton (Erin), and Arron; his grandchildren, Mickey, Mya, Logan, Will, Camden, Nate, and Brantley; his siblings, Debbie, Evelyn, Lori, and Jason; as well as a very special friend, Judy; and numerous fishing, hunting, and motorcycle buddies.
Trahan Family Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Visitation will be held from 3:00 p.m. until funeral service begins at 4:00 p.m. all on Tuesday, March 11, 2014 at First Baptist Church of Cottage Hill, 230 Williams Ditch Rd, Cantonment.
Rep. Miller, Comm. Robinson Talk RESTORE Act In Washington
March 10, 2014
Escambia County Commissioner Grover Robinson was in Washington last week to attend the National Association of Counties (NACO) Legislative Conference and visited with Congressman Jeff Miller to discuss implementation of the RESTORE Act.
“It is vital to ensure that RESTORE is implemented successfully and that the individuals and businesses impacted by the Deep Water Horizon spill are made whole. I appreciate Commissioner Robinson’s continued leadership on this crucial issue,” Miller said in his weekly newsletter.
Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Daniel Wendell Kelly, Sr.
March 10, 2014
Mr. Daniel Wendell Kelly, Sr., 86, passed away on Monday, March 10, 2014, in Century.
Mr. Kelly was a native of Bratt, former resident of Pensacola, and a resident of Bratt for most of his life. He is preceded in death by son Daniel Wendell Kelly, Jr, daughter Melody Joan Kelly, mother Edna Kelly, sister Leonora Blackmon, brother Leonard Jackson Kelly, Jr. and granddaughter Susan.
He is survived by his niece Florine Wiggins of Bratt, and other nieces and nephews, four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be Tuesday, March 11, 2014, at 3 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Ricky Peebles and Rev. Theron Collingsworth officiating.
Visitation will be Tuesday, March 11, 2014, from 2 p.m. until service time at 3 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Leslie Barnes, Jarrod Long, B.J. Long, Justin Long, Johnny Lacy, Jarrett Nelson, Heath Dews and Kyle Sheppard.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements,
Virgil Ray Blackmon Griffith
March 10, 2014
He was a member of the Krewe of Mayoki Indians and loved parading. As a Mayoki he found that he had a talent for face painting. He loved painting faces and would continue to paint until the float was pulling away. This was just one of his many hidden talents. He always walked the parades so he could hand beads to the children along the way.
Above all else Ray’s love and passion was riding motorcycles, he was co-founder of the Blue Knight’s Motorcycle Club, FL Chapter XXVI and past president. He turned his passion of riding into helping others by starting with the help of his friend Bambi Provost, the Sacred Heart Miracle Camp Charity Ride in 2003. His passion of riding also transferred over to his wife and son and became a family affair making memories together never to be forgotten. Helping others learn to ride or work on their motorcycles was another passion.
Ray’s love for people and helping others was his way of life. He would stand up for what he believed to help someone even if it got him in trouble.
He was preceded in death by his father, Virgil Lee Blackmon; mother, Dorothy Ganey Blackmon Griffith and his brother, Mark Griffith.
He is survived by his devoted wife and best friend of 41 years, Priscilla; his son and daughter-in-law, Scott and Katie; his dad, Mac (Sherri); sister and brother-in-law, Wanda and Rob McAllister; sister, Margaret Dean; brother’s, Andy (Carol) and Mack Griffith. A special neice, Nicole McClelland (Josh); special nephew, Robert McAllister; his two “Special Babies”, Josiah and Adalyn, many sisters and brother-in-laws, aunts, uncles, cousins and countless friends.
Pallbearers are Nell Forrester, Robert Powers, Rick Frye, Steve Smith, Joe Webber, Darrel Webb, Al Fryer, Ski Gowitzke. Honorary pallbearers are Larry Stewart, Chris Miller, Ronnie Bryant, Tim Willis, Tom Vaughn, Billy Winters, John Beachman and members of the Blue Knights Florida Chapter XXVI.
The family would like to send a “special thanks” to the Sacred Heart 2nd floor nurses and staff, as well as the Sacred Heart Oncology entire team for their support and care. They went above and beyond their call of duty to help Ray and his family through this journey.
While flowers are appreciated, the family requests that donations be made in memory of V. Ray to Miracle Camp c/o Sacred Heart Foundation Suite 260 Pensacola, FL 32504.
Ray is now riding the streets of Heaven free of pain, making “u” turns, leaving fond memories behind.
The family will receive friends at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North, Thursday, March 13, 2014, from 5-7 p.m. Funeral Service will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, March 14, 2014, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North with Reverend Alan Blackmon officiating. Graveside service will follow at Barrancas National Cemetery.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North, 1000 Hwy 29S, Cantonment, FL 32533 in entrusted with arrangements.
Beryl Elizabeth Dunn Robinson
March 10, 2014
Beryl Elizabeth Dunn Robinson, 84 of Atmore, went to be with the Lord and her other loved ones Saturday, March 08, 2014, at Extendicare Health and Rehabilitation Center in Dothan, AL. Beryl was born June 28, 1929, in Baldwin County, to the late Clyde and Lizzie Dunn. She is also preceded in death by husband, Marshall Robinson; sister Clydine Waltman; and brothers Mack, Jack, and Malvin Dunn.
Survivors include son, Ron (Rose) Cooper of Dothan; daughter, Faye (Doug) Owens of Hilliard, OH; granddaughters Debbie Bennett, Sharilyn Owens, and Robin Braswell; and seven great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be Friday, March 14, 2014, at 10 a.m. at Brooks Memorial Baptist Church in Atmore.
Interment will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery in Atmore.
The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Thursday, March 13, 2014, at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Brooks Memorial Baptist Church Building Fund or to a charity of your choice.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.