Perdido River Flooding Subsides, Logs Left Behind
January 3, 2016
Flooding along the Perdido River at Barrineau Park has subsided, but a large log jam against the bridge was left behind. These photos were taken Saturday afternoon from the Barrineau Park Road Bridge on the Florida/Alabama state line. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Pvt. Joslin M. Frye Graduates From Basic Training
January 3, 2016
Army National Guard Pvt. Joslin M. Frye has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C.
During the nine weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army mission, history, tradition and core values, physical fitness, and received instruction and practice in basic combat skills, military weapons, chemical warfare and bayonet training, drill and ceremony, marching, rifle marksmanship, armed and unarmed combat, map reading, field tactics, military courtesy, military justice system, basic first aid, foot marches, and field training exercises.
Frye is the daughter of Carl J. Staples and Jacqueline J. Frye, and granddaughter of Dorothy L. Dale, all of Atmore.
She is a 2010 graduate of Escambia County High School in Atmore. She earned an associate degree in 2014 from Fortis Institute in Pensacola.
2015 In Photos: August And September
January 3, 2016
Today, we continue our look back at the year 2015 in photos with a look at August and September.
Put on a ring on it: Tate’s state champion softball team received their rings during an August Friday night football game.
The Tate Aggies opened their first season under new coach Jay Lindsey with a big 38-7 win over Biloxi.
The 6A Crestview Bulldogs defeated the 1A Northview Chiefs in Crestview.
Between 12,000 and 15,000 pounds of food were distributed in cooperation with Pensacola Caring Hearts and the Bay Area Food Bank at the Abundant Life Assembly of God Church in Century.
Ernest Ward Middle School beat Jay.
There were no injuries when a driver crashed into a house on Highway 29 near Cox Road in McDavid.
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A rainbow over International Paper in Cantonment during August.
The Escambia County School voted to name the gymnasium at Ransom Middle School as the “Joseph E. Murphy Gymnasium” in honor of Joseph E. Murphy.
The Cantonment Improvement Committee provided free school supplies at Carver Park.
A prayer walk was held before the start of school at Byrneville Elementary.
The annual back to school Prayer Walk was held at Molino Park Elementary School. Students and adults from Highland Baptist Church prayed for the Lord’s blessings on the upcoming school year.
Volunteers from the Ensley Lowes and the local community came together in August to spruce up the Atmore Area YMCA.
A double rainbow in Barrineau Park.
Free school supplies were available in August in Century for hundreds of children in need, thanks to a family honoring the memory of one of their own, in a program called “Deidra’s Gift”.
A driver slammed his pickup truck into a home on Tara Dawn Circle off East 10 Mile Road in September. There were no injuries.
Retired Veterans Affairs Service Officer Mike Hanks was honored with a retirement reception by VFW Post 7016 and the American Legion Post 90 at the American Legion Hall in Atmore.
A bat house moved to the 4-H property in Molino has enough space for 50,000 bats.
Molino Park Elementary School held a Fifth Grade Grandparents breakfast.
The Northview High School Tribal Beat Band during a Friday night performance.
Escambia Fire Rescue Walnut Hill District Chief Chris Brown was credited for saving a man’s life during a mobile home fire near Century.
The Northview Chiefs defeated Van Cleave, MS, in Bratt.
Teams meat for the coin toss at Northview High School as the sun sets in the west.
Ernest Ward Middle School defeated Jay.
September was time for high school volleyball.
The Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office was called to investigate this vehicle fire near Bratt.
A Barrineau Park Community Gathering was held at the community center on Barrineau Park School Road. Residents of Barrineau Park were joined by friends, family and neighbors for a day of family fun.
Hundreds of students gathered to pray at their schools in across the area during the annual See You at the Pole event.
The Century Town Council approve a property tax increase during September.
Award winning country music group The Band Perry made a surprise visit to Escambia County High School in Atmore.
Alli Bell was named the 2015 Homecoming Queen at Tate High School.
A Cantonment man was arrested peacefully after shooting at a deputy and an armed standoff .
District 5 Escambia County Commissioner Steven Barry held a town hall meeting in Walnut Hill.
The University of West Florida held their first-ever football scrimmage in September.
With feats like crushing concrete and bending steel, the Strength Team brought their strong inspirational messages to Highland Baptist Church, Molino Park Elementary and Jim Allen Elementary.
The Tate High School Drama Department presented “110 Stories”, a powerful look back at the September 11 attacks through the eyes of those that were there.
World renowned organist Tom Helms performed at Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Molino, his boyhood home.
The Tate Aggies beat West Florida High School 17-3 at Woodham Middle School.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Lawmakers Seek ‘Pay For Success’ Program
January 3, 2016
Two Republican lawmakers have filed bills that would create a program — dubbed “pay for success” — that would involve private investment money being used to pay for government services.
Rep. Chris Sprowls, R-Palm Harbor, filed a House version (HB 1049) this week, and Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, has filed a similar Senate bill (SB 1200).
The measures will be considered during the legislative session that starts Jan. 12. Under the proposals, the state could enter into contracts with non-profit organizations to provide targeted services. The non-profits would get private funding to pay for the services. Under the contracts, the state would ultimately make payments to the non-profits based on whether they meet “performance outcome measures,” according to the bills.
A news release from Sprowls’ office said private investors would receive a return on their investments only if there are “proven results” and that other states also are developing similar programs.
“This legislation uses private funding to solve social issues and allows for service providers to test alternatives to the status quo,” Sprowls said in the release. “On top of that, it exposes taxpayers to zero risk while holding those private entities accountable for outcomes.”
by The News Service of Florida
60 Arrested, Including Two Murder Suspects, In ECSO Warrants Sweep
January 3, 2016
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office recently announced the results of a three-day warrant sweep that was held December 15-17.
A total of 75 warrants were served, and 60 people were arrested Many of the charges included drug possession, grand theft and sexual assault.
Two of those arrested, Vanessa and Troy Meeker, were wanted on outstanding Tennessee warrants for murder. After being arrested in Escambia County, they were extradited back to Sevier County, TN, to face those charges.
Pictured: Those arrested during an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office warrants sweep, click to enlarge.
One Airlifted Following Two Vehicle Highway 29 Crash
January 2, 2016
One person was seriously injured in a two vehicle crash Saturday afternoon at the intersection of Highway 29 and Barrineau Park Road in Molino.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 60-year old Lawrence H. Shenk of Cantonment was stopped at a stop sign facing west on Barrineau Park Road when he pulled his pickup into the path of a 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer headed north on Highway 29 about 2:15 p.m.
After striking the SUV, Shenk’s 2001 Dodge Ram pickup overturned and struck a stop sign and street sign before hitting a power pole and coming to rest on its left side. Shenk was airlifted with serious injuries by LifeGuard helicopter to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola.
The SUV also overturned. Driver Victor J. Rushing, Jr. received minor injuries and was not transported to the hospital. His passengers, 27-year old Carrena Rushing and two children were transported to Sacred Heart Hospital with minor injuries.
Charges against Shenk are pending the results of blood tests, according to the FHP.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Sunny And Cool Weekend
January 2, 2016
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 53. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 34. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
Sunday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 55. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 32. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 54. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: Clear, with a low around 32. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 52. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 31. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 54.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 60.
Thursday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48.
Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 67.
Escambia River Floodwaters Begin To Drop
January 2, 2016
The Escambia River is continuing to drop following heavy rains earlier this week.
Early Saturday morning, the Escambia River was at about 20 feet and expected to fall below flood stage of 17 feet by Tuesday.
The Molino Fairgrounds Park remains flooded by the Escambia River (pictured top). A house on Fairground Road in Molino was completely surrounded by water Friday, with the residents forced to come and go on a tractor (pictured below).
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
Escambia Commissioners To Hold RESTORE Act Workshop
January 2, 2016
A special Escambia County Board of County Commissioners’ workshop will be held on Monday, January 11 to discuss the RESTORE Act. The workshop will be held at 1 p.m. at the Kugelman Center for Telecommunications, in the Jean & Paul Amos Performance Studio, at Pensacola State College, located at 1000 College Boulevard., Building 23.
Update: FHP Returns Lost Items To Owner
January 2, 2016
Here’s an update to a story NorthEscambia.com reported a few days before Christmas. The Florida Highway Patrol found a box on Highway 29 near Becks Lake Road in Cantonment that contained several new items that may have been intended to be Christmas presents.
Now, we are told that the box was returned to its rightful owner.