Family Fun: Environmental Center Open House, Fall Festivals, Public Safety Day, Soul Bowl
October 18, 2014
Here are some family fun activities taking place in Escambia County today:
Roy Hyatt Environmental Center Open House
The annual Roy Hyatt Environmental Center Open House and Silent Auction will take place from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Face painting, bird watching on the bird bus, walk a trail, check out a silent auction, enjoy lunch and much more. Optional: Bring wish list items for the animals such as hand sanitizer, fresh fruit and greens, suet, wild bird seed, or sunflower bird seed. 1300 Tobias Road, Cantonment.
Little Escambia Baptist Fall Festival
Little Escambia Baptist Church in Flomaton will hold their fall festival from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. Lots of games, rides, food, prized and bouncy house. Special guest musician and magician J. Carl Kelly will perform at 5 p.m. 445 Highway 113 in Flomaton. Everyone is welcome.
Soul Bowl and Public Safety Day at Community Maritime Park
The 24th Annual Soul Bowl, Pensacola’s cross-town youth football rivalry event will return to the Community Maritime Park stadium this Saturday, October 18 along with a Public Safety Day event just outside the stadium. Games will feature matchups in categories ranging from ages 5-14 years. Rounding out the day-long celebration will be delicious soul food and family-friendly entertainment. Community Public Safety Day with live demonstrations as well as fun educational and interactive activities will be provided by our local and regional law enforcement, fire and rescue agencies, and emergency responder personnel. Public Safety Day activities are free and will be at the Exhibition Field from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Ballgame admission is $8 at the door; parking is $5.
Three County Unemployment Rate Falls
October 18, 2014
The latest job numbers released Friday show the unemployment level decreasing in the North Escambia area.
Escambia County’s unemployment fell from 6.6 percent in August to 6.0 percent in September. There were 8,517 people reported unemployed during the period. One year ago, unemployment in Escambia County was 7.0 percent.
Santa Rosa County unemployment also decreased, from 6.2 to 5.5 percent from August to September. Santa Rosa County had a total of 4,175 persons still unemployed. The year-ago unemployment rate in Santa Rosa County was 6.2 percent.
In Escambia County, Alabama, unemployment decreased from 8.7 percent in August to 7.6 percent in September. That represented 1,066 people unemployed in the county during the month. One year ago, the unemployment rate in Escambia County, Alabama, was 8.2 percent
Florida’s for September was at 6.1 percent, down from 6.3 percent in August; that’s the lowest since June 2008. The state’s jobless mark has fluctuated between 6.2 percent and 6.3 percent for most of the year. Florida’s two-point drop from August to September mirrors the federal dip in unemployment, with the national jobless mark currently at 5.9 percent.
Alabama’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, at 6.6 percent in September, was down from August’s rate of 6.9 percent and was above the year-ago rate of 6.4 percent
The jobless numbers released by Florida and Alabama do not include persons that have given up on finding a job and are no longer reported as unemployed.
The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.
Tate Gets District Win Over Crestview (With Photo Gallery)
October 18, 2014
The Tate Aggies beat the Crestview Bulldogs Friday night, 42-28
With 6:31 to go in the first quarter, the Bulldogs took an early lead that they held until the second. With 10:11 in the half, the Aggies tied it up 7-7 with a 34-yard touchdown on fourth and 11 from junior quarterback Sawyer Smith to Reginald Payne.
Alondo Thompkins propelled Tate into a 14-7 lead with a 55-yard touchdown run with 8:14 on the clock in the second. Then, with 4:12 in the half, Payne was in for his second touchdown of the night on a sneak play from 1-yard out, and Tate was up 21-7 with 4:12 in the second quarter.
Smith found Darren Lee for a 45-yarder with 50.3 second on the clock for a 28-7 Tate lead at the half.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Less than three minutes into the third quarter, Tate moved up to 35-7 with a 12-yard keeper from Smith. Crestview scored twice before Alonte Thompson made it 42-21 with a 1-yard touchdown dash. Crestview capitalized on an Aggie fumble with 8:09 in the fourth, 42-21.
Crestview recovered an onside kick for one more touchdown with 6:23 on the clock for the night’s 42-28 final.
The Tate Aggies improved to 6-2 overall, and an important 1-1 in the district.
“The district win is huge in a three team district,” Coach Ronnie Douglas said. “Our backs were against the wall because if we don’t win, we’re done.”
“We still have a real good chance. Crestview and Niceville still have to play, so we are still waiting on that.” Last season, Crestview beat Niceville, leading to a three-way tie and a district shootout.
Tate will host Fort Walton Beach next Friday night, 7:30 in Cantonment.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Keith Garrison, click to enlarge.
Town Of Century To Be Honored With Florida Chamber Foundation Award
October 18, 2014
The Florida Chamber Foundation will recognize the Town of Century next week for their commitment to regional economic development.
The town will receive the “Six Pillars Award” for the completion of the Century strategic plan to help the community create jobs and opportunities for business and families.
“We are strategically positioning the Town of Century to become a model community for how to recognize the benefits and opportunities available within a rural community,” said Brice Harris, director of Strategic Initiatives with the Office of Economic Development and co-director of the Haas Center for Business Research & Economic Development at the University of West Florida. “The Six Pillars Community designation establishes the Town of Century as a leader in this region and I believe our efforts will result in a stronger economy and better quality of life for our residents.”
The Haas Center authored Century’s recently finished strategic plan, funded by a $25,000 a Community Planning Technical Assistance Grant from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity.
The Florida Chamber Foundation Six Pillars framework serves as an organizing force for strategic planning at local, regional and state levels.
The Town of Century Six Pillars plan includes a number of strategic goals, including:
- Leading the region in rural economic competitiveness and rural community revitalization, and
- Proactively leading the region in the development and delivery of innovative and relevant workforce training programs.
“I am pleased to welcome the Town of Century as the newest Six Pillars Community,” said Bentina Terry, vice president, Customer Service & Sales Gulf Power and chair of the Florida Chamber Foundation. “Their commitment to improving their economic competitiveness in all areas of the six pillars framework will not only benefit this region but will add their vision to the work of other communities throughout Florida.”
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Suffering From Allergies? Don’t Blame The Goldenrods
October 18, 2014
The bright yellow flowers of the goldenrod are everywhere in the North Escambia area, taking the blame from allergy sufferers. But one of fall’s most colorful plants actually gets a bad rap, according to the University of Florida Extension Service.
The true culprit for all those sneezes and sniffles is ragweed, according to Environmental Horticulture Agent Alicia Lamborn.
Goldenrod plants are bright and showy, producing large, heavy pollen grains that are carried off by bees, butterflies and other pollinators rather than by the wind. Ragweed bares greenish yellow flowers in small heads which produce copious amounts of pollen, carried by the wind rather than insects.
Ragweed flowers are not showy which means these plants are often easier to recognize by their stems and leaves. Ragweed has branching purplish stems that are rough and hairy, and leaves which are smooth, but deeply divided into lobed portions.
Pictured: Goldenrods bloom alongside a dirt road in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
High School Football Finals
October 18, 2014
Here is a look at Friday night’s high school football finals score from around the area.
FLORIDA
- Northview 43, Freeport 9 [Read more...]
- Tate 42, Crestview 28 [Read more...]
- Baker 42, Jay 14
- West Florida 27, Gulf Breeze 7
- Washington 23, Pine Forest 14
- Escambia 44, Milton 34
- Pensacola 35, Pace 10
- Arnold 38, Catholic 36
ALABAMA
- Flomaton 38, St. Lukes 26
- W.S. Neal 47, Satsuma 21
- St. Pauls 49, Escambia County (Atmore) 12
- Escambia Academy 48, Pike Liberal Arts 14
- Open: T.R. Miller
Northview Pounds Freeport
October 18, 2014
The Northview Chiefs were ranked No. 5 in the state in Class 1A as they headed into a 43-9 pounding of the Freeport Bulldogs Friday night in Freeport.
Northview jumped out to a 7-0 lead on a touchdown from Lett.
Freeport worked their way to the red zone, but their endzone pass was picked off by Cameron Newsome for a return that set up a Chiefs 30-yard field goal, 10-0 Northview.
Tydraee Bradley added another touchdown for the Chiefs with 1:45 to go in the first quarter, 16-0. The Chiefs rolled on to a 31-0 halftime advantage before allowing a touchdown and field goal from Freeport in the second half.
Lett rushed for just 220 yards Friday night along with three touchdowns two weeks after setting a school single game record of a 313 total rushing yards. The senior is now well over 1,000 yards for the season — 523 of those yards in his last two games for those doing the math.
Newsome is at about 500 yards for the season after earning 137 yards along with a touchdown Friday night.
Chiefs are now 5-1 overall, 2-0 in the district. They will host 4A Walton Friday night before taking on the undefeated Baker Gators for the district championship October 31 in Baker.
Pictured top: The Northview Chiefs in action against Freeport Friday night in Freeport. Pictured inset: The Chiefs’ Cameron Newsome goes down after a long interception return, setting up a 30-yard Northview field goal. Images courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Misty Wright Herring
October 18, 2014
Misty Wright Herring, age 41 of Jay, went home to be with her Lord, on Thursday, October 17, 2014. Misty was born in Tuscaloosa on December 4, 1972. She graduated from Tuscaloosa County High School and Samford University School of Pharmacy. She was Supervising Pharmacist for Dura-Med Pharmacy in Jay at the time of her death.
Misty is survived by her two sons, Tyler Scott Blackmon, 16, and Zachary Dale Blackmon, 13, of Jay; her parents James H. and Leah C. Wright of Jay; brother, Wyeth Wright (Jona) of Monroe, LA; father and mother-in-law, Billy and Janice Blackmon of Jay; sister-in-laws Wendy (Wally) Booker and Amy (Brian) Hawthorne of Jay; father of Tyler and Zachary, Scott Blackmon of Jay; and loving aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by grandparents Walton H. and Mary Lou Wright of Northport, AL, and Wade W. and Pauline G. Crouse of Columbus, MS.
Misty grew-up in Northport, AL. She committed her life to her Lord as young teenager and lived a life dedicated to serving Him and others. She chose in the 10th grade to become a pharmacist and worked hard and sacrificed to become one. The love and joy of her life were her boys, Tyler and Zac; everything centered around them. She was dedicated to her profession. She chose retail pharmacy because she loved interacting with people and especially her older customers.
Misty had a great smile and a kind and tender heart. Like someone said “I could hear her smile over the telephone.” She had a servant’s heart and would go out her way to serve others. As her brother expressed it “She’s the most brave, selfless, loving person I’ve ever known. She is my hero!” She wasn’t a saint, but a woman who put God, family, and others ahead of herself. Misty touched the lives others she came in contact with in a kind and gentle way and allowed God to use her for His glory and honor.
A “Celebration of Her Life” service will be held in her honor and memory on Tuesday, October 21, 2014, at 3:00 p.m. at Cornerstone Christian Church, 14047 Alabama St, Jay. A visitation will be held on Monday evening, October 20, 2014, from 6:00 until 9:00 p.m. at Cornerstone Christian Church. There will be a short graveside service at Concord Cemetery in Jay.
NWS: Monday Night Storm Damage In Cottage Hill Was Not A Tornado
October 17, 2014
Damage to several homes and outbuilding in the Cottage Hill area Monday was not caused by a tornado — that’s the word from the National Weather Service in Mobile.
NWS forecasters said Thursday afternoon that there was no need for them assess the damage directly. Escambia County Emergency Management surveyed the damage and determined it was caused by straight line winds.
Four homes were damaged but were still liveable following the storms, plus the roofs of several barns and outbuildings were damaged. Several trees and power lines were also downed.
There were no injuries reported. There was a tornado watch, but no warnings, in effect as the storm hit.
For more daytime photos of the storm damage, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
Century Correctional K-9 Unit Places 2nd, Escambia Road Prison 6th, In Southern States Manhunt Competition
October 17, 2014
The Century Correctional Institution K-9 Unit placed second in the multi-leash division in the recent Southern States Manhunt Competition, while the Escambia County Road Prison placed sixth overall. Less than five minutes separated the first six places.
The multi leash division consists of more than one K-9 being utilized to track a suspect with the teams ranked by the amount of time that it took to capture the suspect. A total of 29 K-9 teams from Florida, Alabama, Louisiana and Arkansas participated in the event hosted by the Escambia County Road Prison.
The Florida Department of Corrections has 38 K-9 programs statewide which are used to support law enforcement agencies with felon apprehension, locating missing persons and locating and providing aid to persons in distress. In Fiscal Year 2013-2014, the Department’s K-9 tracking teams were deployed 710 times.
Pictured: From Century Correctional Institution – Major K. Carter, Officer J. Sanders, Officer K. Reaves, Officer D. Smith, Officer J. deGraaf, Sgt. B. Townson, Asst. Warden L. Marinin, Warden D. Sloan and Major D. Dunlap. Pictured below: Escambia County Road Prison officers during the competition. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
