Molino Park Celebrates The Arts (With Photo Gallery)
March 21, 2015
Molino Park Elementary School held its annual Arts Day on Friday, with the students spending the day immersed in a variety of arts.
The students enjoyed a wide variety of artistic experiences including pottery, theater from the Pensacola Little Theatre, quilting, painting, woodworking, handbells, a barbershop quartet performance and more. And, courtesy of Pensacola Symphony volunteers, they were able to play a variety of instruments.
Pictured top and inset:During Arts Day at Molino Park Elementary, students had the opportunity to try playing instruments with members of the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra. Pictured belows: A barbershop quartet performed. Pictured bottom: Leaning about pottery. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
ECUA Warns Of Scam
March 21, 2015
The ECUA is warning customers about a potential fraudster.
ECUA officials said they learned late Friday that a person claiming to be an employee of the utility has been contacting ECUA commercial water customers, specifically hotels, seeking immediate payment on alleged overdue accounts using an online money transfter.
ECUA is advising all customers, commercial or residential, that their customer service representatives never seek to collect payments on accounts by telephone or call to verify a customer’s banking information. ECUA is urging customers to never divulge personal information over the telephone or by email. Instead, get the caller’s name and contact information if possible, and call ECUA customer service at (850) 476-0480 to report of verify the caller’s claims.
Friday’s incidents have been reported to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Trio Wins Ernest Ward Talent Show
March 21, 2015
The trio of (pictured L-R) Madison Sherouse, Jaylon North and Seth Killiam one first place in the annual Ernest Ward Middle School Talent Show Friday night. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Judge Sets Hearing In Medical Marijuana Debate
March 21, 2015
Administrative Law Judge Elizabeth McArthur has scheduled an April 14 hearing in a legal challenge to a proposed regulatory framework for the state’s new medical-marijuana industry, according to a document posted on the state Division of Administrative Hearings website.
The case challenges a proposed Department of Health rule for carrying out a 2014 law that would make available a limited type of medical marijuana. A Jacksonville attorney filed the challenge on behalf of 4-year-old Dahlia Barnhart, who has an inoperable brain tumor.
The challenge alleges that the department did not follow the law in drawing up the rule, in part taking issue with the way the department proposes selecting five “dispensing organizations,” which would grow, process and dispense the cannabis.
In November, another administrative law judge rejected the department’s first attempt at a rule to carry out the law, which allows a type of marijuana that is low in euphoria-inducing tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, and high in cannabadiol, or CBD.
Longtime Century Employee Eddie Hammond Retires
March 21, 2015
A longtime Town of Century employee has retired. Most recently gas department supervisor, Eddie Hammond had 33 years of service. Hammond says he plans to “fish a little” now that he has retired. Town of Century employees held a luncheon in Hammond’s honor Friday to say goodbye. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Two Busted For Meth, Over $10K In Meth, Firearms, Cash Seized
March 21, 2015
A confidential tip led Pensacola Police to the arrests of two people and the seizure of more than $10,000 worth of methamphetamine plus firearms and cash.
William Richard Lucas, 46, was charged trafficking in methamphetamine, possession of drug equipment, possession of a chemical used in manufacturing methamphetamine, and driving with a suspended/revoked license. April Sherri Vasquez, 35, was also charged with trafficking in methamphetamine, possession of drug equipment, possession of a chemical used in manufacturing methamphetamine, and not having a vehicle registration.
The suspects were arrested after Vice and Narcotics officers served a search warrant at their residence. As officers were conducting surveillance on the residence prior to the arrests, they saw Vasquez carry a bin outside and place it in a pickup truck. Inside the container, officers found three plastic bags of crystal methamphetamine with a total weight of approximately 80.5 grams; an unopened box of Sudafed, which is a listed chemical in production of meth; multiple pipes used for smoking meth; syringes; and a plastic bottle containing one ounce of a liquid that contained meth.
Pensacola Police Sgt. Marvin Miller said a five-year-old child was in the truck when Vasquez tried to leave the scene with the bin that contained drugs and drug paraphernalia. Among items found inside the residence were cash in a safe, a digital scale, additional pipes used to smoke meth, small empty plastic bags associated with the sale of meth, six firearms, and ammunition.
Lucas was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $60,750 bond, while remained jailed with bond set at $79,000.
The suspects had been under surveillance for approximately a month, Miller said.
Tate Grad, Miss University Of Mobile In Concert Tonight
March 21, 2015
Tate High graduate Emily Danforth, who was recently named as Miss University of Mobile, will hold a benefit concert at Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Molino tonight.
Danforth will represent the University of Mobile for the upcoming year at various events and compete for the title of Miss Alabama in June. Danforth will work as an ambassador for her personal platform, Make Thy Paths Straight: National Scoliosis Foundation, throughout her year of service.
“This journey to the crown has been an incredible one of learning true trust and faith in God and His will. I am so honored to represent the university in a way that brings glory to God,” said Danforth. “I am excited to continue to work with my platform and help bring awareness of scoliosis and reach a larger audience.”
Danforth will be in concert at 7 p.m. at Aldersgate. The concert will feature The Sounds of Mobile and will highlight pieces of Showtunes, Worship songs and Opera. The concert is free, and donations will be accepted. Donations from the event will go towards The Childrens’ Miracle Network and The National Scoliosis Foundation.
Strike Out Cancer Game Raises Over $11.5K, Tate Tops WFHS; NHS Splits With Chipley
March 21, 2015
STRIKE OUT CANCER
Cancer research was the real winner Friday night as the Tate Aggies hosted the West Florida Jaguars. It was the 6th annual Strike Out Cancer Charity Softball Game, with both sides wearing pink jerseys.
Together, the teams raised over $11,500 for the American Cancer Society. The Lady Jags came prepared with their own $5,000 donation that they raised, mostly on a GoFundMe website.
On the scoreboard, the Lady Aggies were the winners, 4-1 over West Florida.
BASEBALL
Northview 9, Chipley 5
Chipley 14, Northview 4 (JV)
Pictured: Northview at Chipley. NorthEscambia.com photos by Ramona Preston, click to enlarge.
EA’s Brooks Signs With Huntingdon College
March 21, 2015
Escambia Academy senior running back Gordon Brooks, Jr. signed Friday morning with Huntingdon College in Montgomery. Brooks was a member of the 2014 Escambia Academy AISA state champion team, the first in the school’s history. Photos by Ditto Gorme for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Extension Service Hosts Food Plot Meeting
March 21, 2015
The Escambia County Extension Service held a wildlife food plot meeting Friday afternoon at the West Florida Research and Education Center in Jay. The free event showcased 18 different test plots that ranged in material from clover to wheat. Dr. Ann Blount, UF/IFAS Forage breeder, shared her experiences with various forages and the keys to getting the maximum production out of a plot.
Pictured: Dr. Ann Blount suggests using excluder cages when planting wildlife food plots to determine use of forage. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.