Reimagine Century Meeting Tonight
May 5, 2015
The final organizational meeting for Reimagine Century will be held at 7:00 tonight at the Ag Building on West Highway 4. Anyone that wishes to volunteer or take part in the event is encouraged to attend.
Reimagine Century 2015 will be held Saturday, May 16 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the old Century High School at 440 Hecker Road. The event will include a wide variety of activities, including a 15,000 pound food giveaway, health screenings, AIDS testing, diabetes information, live music, fishing lessons from Mission Fishin’, free manicures, information from community agencies, a clothing giveaway, free lunch, free haircuts, youth and teen activities and sports, a diaper giveaway and more.
Clothing donations for the event are still be accepted at a trailer located outside the Century Town Hall building.
Chiefs Host Baseball Regional Semifinal Tonight
May 5, 2015
The District 3-1A champion Northview Chiefs will continue their quest for their first ever state championship tonight in Bratt.
The Chiefs (19-2) will host Liberty County (14-13)) at at 6 p.m. in the 2-1A Regional Semifinal. Liberty County was the District 4-1A runner up.
According to information released by the school, entrance to the game with be either from the gravel gate into the baseball/football parking area, or from the student parking area through the football ticket entrance gate. Parking for the handicapped will be along the southern fence of the football practice field and adjacent to the new weight room.
Admission is $7. Only FHSAA State Series passes will be accepted.
Photos by Ramona Preston for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Letter Carriers Plan Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive
May 5, 2015
On Saturday, letter carriers will join forces to help Stamp Out Hunger in our community. In its 23rd year, the annual food drive has grown to be the largest national single-day effort that benefits millions of Americans who struggle to put food on the table.
Residents are encouraged to leave a sturdy bag of non-perishable foods, such as canned soup, canned vegetables, pasta, rice or cereal next to their mailbox prior to their regular mail delivery on Saturday, May 9. Escambia and Santa Rosa letter carriers will collect food donations for local food banks including the Bay Area Food Bank and Manna Food Pantries. Last year, organizations received a total of 159,625 pounds of food from the community during the food drive.
“This is a critical food drive because it comes at a time when donations are typically low and the need has increased,” said DeDe Flounlacker, Manna Food Pantries’ executive director. “During the school year, many children get a healthy meal through the free or reduced breakfast and lunch programs. During the summer, those programs aren’t available. The generous donations from the community allow us to provide nutritious food to hungry families and children throughout the summer months.”
Tate’s Simmons Signs With Alabama State
May 5, 2015
Tate High School senior Regine Simmons has signed a volleyball scholarship with Alabama State University. Simmons is pictured being congratulated by Tate High Principal Rick Shackle. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Fallen Florida Law Officers Honored
May 5, 2015
Bagpipes played “Amazing Grace” at the state Capitol on Monday as hundreds of law-enforcement officers from across the state attended an annual memorial ceremony for fallen officers. The names of six officers were read aloud, and surviving family members each put a red rose on a map of Florida in memory of their loved ones.
Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings, who had one of his deputies killed in the line of duty in 2014, said police have taken undue criticism in recent months from isolated incidents between law enforcement and citizens across the country.
“We have to be careful not to create an environment in this nation in which officers fail to act out of fear of criticism, when they should act,” Demings said. “That hesitation might cost them their life.”
Also Monday, the Florida Sheriffs Association held a ceremony that included adding three names of fallen officers to a memorial wall. Those three, who died in 2014, were Orange County Deputy Jonathan Scott Pine, Jacksonville Sheriff’s Officer Mark H. Larson and Leon County Deputy Christopher Smith.
by The News Service of Florida
Pictured top: A capitol ceremony Monday in Tallahasee to honor fallen law officers. Photo by Tom Urban, NSF, for NorthEscambia.com. Pictured below: Bagpipers play “Amazing Grace” in honor of fallen Florida law enforcement officers. Pictured inset: Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tickets Still Available For ‘Hairspray’ Musical
May 5, 2015
Tickets are still available for the Northview High School Theatre Department presentation of the Broadway musical “Hairspray” this weekend.
It’s 1962, and pleasantly plump Baltimore teen Tracy Turnblad has only one desire – to dance on the popular “Corny Collins Show.” When her dream comes true, Tracy is transformed from social outcast to sudden star. It is a show that’s great for the entire family.
Performances will be at 7 p.m. in the Northview Theatre on Friday, May 8 and Saturday, May 9. Advance tickets are available in the Northview front office.
Joseph Rodney “Rod” Eddins, II
May 5, 2015
Rod is survived by his daughter, Rebecca Lynn; parents, Rodney “Rocky” and Marilyn Eddins; brothers, Greg Eddins (Tammy), Doug Eddins and Mike Eddins (Libbie); nephew, Blane; nieces, Erin, Rachel and Avery; and the love of Rod’s life, Brittany; as well as man’s best friend, Tanner.
Honorary pallbearers will be Scott Lane, Dan Abshire, Alan Little, Steve Tomlin, Lee Weston, Bain Custer, Jim Tatum and Phillip Nix.
Visitation will be held 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 5, 2015, at Cokesbury United Methodist Church, 9th Ave Campus. Funeral Service will be held 2 p.m.Wednesday, May 6, 2015, at Cokesbury United Methodist Church, 9th Ave Campus with Rev. Ken Griffin officiating. Entombment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Florida Sheriff’s Association, Law Enforcement Memorial, P.O. Box 12519, Tallahassee, FL 32317-2519.
Tate To State: Lady Aggies Hit The Road
May 5, 2015
The Tate Lady Aggies hit the road Monday for Vero Beach and the state semifinals. The Lady Aggies will face the Bartow High School Yellow Jackets in the Class 7A state semifinals Wednesday afternoon. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Jackson Tops The Pcola Blue Wahoos 15-4
May 5, 2015
For the third time in the five-game series, the Jackson Generals hung six runs in an inning Monday on the Pensacola Blue Wahoos.
After five innings, Jackson led the game, 14-1, on two three-run home runs by designated hitter Jabari Blash and third baseman Jody Lara on the way to winning the rubber match in the five-game series, 15-4, from Pensacola at The Ballpark in Jackson.
It was the most runs in a game the Generals have scored this season, going down in order in just two of eight innings. That included the eighth when Pensacola infielder Ray Chang made his third career relief appearance and first since July 7, 2009, and preserved his 0.00 ERA.
Despite the loss, a few Blue Wahoos did perform well. Right fielder Kyle Waldrop went 1-3, hitting a 320-foot, three-run blast to right field in the sixth inning. He scored a run and had four RBIs total. In his last nine games, Waldrop is batting .364 (12-33) with four doubles, a homer, eight RBIs, and three runs. For the season, he has three homers, batted-in 14 runners, and hit .259.
In addition, Pensacola first baseman Marquez Smith, who had two singles Monday, had a good series against Jackson. Smith hit .429 (9-21) in five games, including four multi-hit games to raise his batting average from .182 to .246 on the season.
Pensacola second baseman Ryan Wright, who went 2-4 with two runs, has hits in nine of his last 10 games. He’s batting .333 (11-33) since April 26.
Meanwhile, Blue Wahoos shortstop Juan Perez’s leadoff double in the sixth inning against the Generals Monday pushed his hitting streak to six games. He’s hitting .346 (9-26) during the streak and now leads Pensacola with a .308 average and is second in on-base percentage at .366.
But Monday was really all about the Generals, who had four hits, including a two-out, three-run blast by Blash, two walks and an error to go up, 6-0, after two innings. In all, Jackson sent nine batters to the plate.
Jackson tacked on three more runs to go up, 9-0, in the next inning, thanks to catcher Steve Baron. He smashed a double to left that scored two runs in the third. Baron then stole third and scored on Blue Wahoos catcher Chris Berset’s throwing error to second.
Finally, Jackson took a, 14-1, lead when Lara crushed a three-run blast in a five-run fifth inning.
Semi Trailer Cut In Half In Train Collision
May 5, 2015
The trailer of a semi-truck hauling auto parts was literally cut in half in a collision with a train Monday afternoon in Brewton. There were no injuries in the 4 p.m. crash at the Highway 31 and Highway 41 intersection. Photo by Alisa Hart for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.