Project Provides Free Dictionaries For All Jim Allen Third Graders
April 13, 2016
Third grade students at Jim Allen Elementary School recently received their own personal dictionary for free. The dictionaries were sponsored by The Dictionary Project and the Women’s Group at St. Jude Catholic Church. The national program’s goal is to assist all students in becoming good writers, active readers, creative thinkers, and resourceful learners. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Way We Worked: Learn About The History Of Molino Mills
April 13, 2016
West Florida Public Libraries and the Molino Mid-County Historical Society will host a talk on the history and archaeology of Molino Mills by UWF graduate student, Melissa Maynard, Thursday, April 14 at 6 p.m. This event will be held at the Molino Community Complex, 6450 Highway 95A. Maynard will provide insight into a lumber mill which operated along the Escambia River from 1865-1884 and was significant because it helped develop a community and an industry.
Also at the Molino Community Complex, visit the complementary exhibit “The Way We Worked.” This Smithsonian Traveling Exhibition celebrates the history of our nation’s diverse workers and industries on display until April 30. Viewing hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekly, closed Sundays, and open during Maynard’s talk from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
“The Way We Worked” has been made possible in Molino by the Florida Humanities Council. “The Way We Worked”, an exhibition created by the National Archives, is part of Museum on Main Street, a collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution and State Humanities Councils nationwide. Support for Museum on Main Street has been provided by the United States Congress.
Samantha Nowling
April 13, 2016
Samantha Nowling, age 40 of Molino, passed away Sunday, April 10, 2016. Samantha was a loving mother, daughter, wife and sister to all of her family. She had such a loving heart that she was always the ray of sunshine to everyone’s day. She had a heart of gold and always put everyone ahead of herself. She always made sure everyone was well taken care of. Samantha had a passion for animals. She always wanted to save and rescue all the animals that she could possibly save. She was very passionate about fashion and was always dressing the best. She loved children and was so wonderful with them especially Nathan who she was a nanny to. Samantha had such a huge heart; she will leave a space that can never be filled. Her family and friends will forever miss her.
She is preceded in death by her father, Jack Cushing.
She is survived by her loving husband, Paul Nowling; daughter, Clarissa Ross; mother, Deborah Cushing; father, Bernard Cleve “BC” Cushing; sisters, Amanda Cushing Dempsey, Casey Cushing Simmons and Reginna Johnson; step-son, Zachary Nowling; step-daughter, Brittany Bailey; step-grandchildren, Kadenyce Fuqua, Peyton Fuqua, Jayla Stillwell, and Cataleia Stillwell.
Visitation will be held Saturday, April 16, 2016, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North beginning at 12 p.m. with funeral services to begin at 2 p.m. Reverend Jeff McKee will be officiating.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home Cantonment is in charge of arrangements.
Rowell Pitches Perfect Game For Tate; Jay Advances To Title Game
April 13, 2016
SOFTBALL
Tate 8, Pine Forest 0
Savannah Rowell had a perfect game with 18 strikeouts as Tate beat Pine Forest 8-0 in the District 1-7A semifinals Tuesday night
Savannah Ullrich had two homeruns for Tate. The Aggies advance to the District 1-7A title game Thursday night against Pace. The game begins at 7 p.m. Thursday at Escambia High School.
Pace advance to the title game with a 7-6 win over Escambia on Tuesday.
Jay 5, Freeport 4
The Jay Lady Royals are headed to the District 3-1A title game for the sixth year in a row after beating Freeport Tuesday night 5-4.
Destiny Herring pitched the win for Jay in seven innings with six strikeouts while allowing four runs.
Jay hitters – Destiny Herring 1-3, 2B, 2RBI, R; Avery Jackson 1-3, 2R; Samantha Steadham RBI single.
Also Tuesday, South Walton beat Chipley 4-0. That sets up a Jay versus South Walton title game at Northview Thursday night at 7:00.
BASEBALL
Milton 2, Tate 1
The Tate Aggies fell to the Milton Panthers 2-1 Tuesday night at Milton HIgh School.
Cole Halfacre homered for the Aggies in the fourth inning.
Tate hitters – Mason Land 1-4, Penton 1-3, Cole Halfacre 1-3, HR; Reid Halfacre 1-1, 2 BB.
Wahoos Open At Home With 4-3 Win Over Jacksonsville
April 13, 2016
Pensacola Blue Wahoos first baseman Donald Lutz made up for his slow start to the 2016 season.
He was the hero in the Blue Wahoos sold out season opener at home Tuesday when he slapped a screaming groundball to right field in the fifth inning to score two runners and give Pensacola a 4-3 victory over the visiting Jacksonville Suns 
at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Lutz said it was comforting playing in front of the Blue Wahoos fifth straight season opening sellout crowd. He went 0-15 with nine strikeouts, including striking out five times in five at bats Monday against the Mississippi Braves the day before. But against the Suns, Lutz got some extra work in the batting cage before the game.
“It’s baseball,” Lutz said. “I’m a big believer that it doesn’t matter if you get angry and throw stuff. You can’t get too high or too low.”
He enjoyed breaking out of his slump with two singles in three at bats and the game-winning hit. “When you take the lead it gives you a little phhhh (relief). It loosens you up a little bit.”
The Wahoos came back and scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth off of Esch and chased him from the game.
Lutz had the big hit when his two-out single scored both Amaral and Vincej to put the Blue Wahoos ahead, 4-2. Pin-Chieh Chen got the rally started with a lead-off walk and then scored the first run of the inning to tie the game, 2-2, when with the bases loaded Esch hit left fielder Phillip Ervin with a pitch.
Pensacola improved its record to 5-1 to remain atop the Southern League South Division.
Kelly said this game was a test to see how good the Wahoos are. Jacksonville entered the game with a 4-1 record, too.
“Playing another 4-1 club was a good challenge,” Kelly said. “I wanted to see how we would rise to the occasion.”
The game also featured the right field lights going out in the third inning. They never came back on. However, the umpires decided to continue the game when both team’s right fielders said they could still see the ball.
Jacksonville did get a run back in the sixth when second baseman Avery Romero singled to center field to score third baseman J.T. Riddle from second base.
The Suns loaded the bases in the eighth inning off Pensacola reliever Alejandro Chacin. But with one out, he struck out the final two batters to get out of the inning unscathed.
“Those were tremendous,” Kelly said. “That’s why we love this kid. He’s not afraid. If you’re going to pitch late in the game you can’t have any fear.”
The Blue Wahoos wasted little time to score the first run of the game, when center fielder Beau Amaral led off the first inning by pulling the ball over the right field wall into the Hill Kelly Hill area. Amaral went 2-4 with two runs scored and a solo home run.
Jacksonville shortstop Peter Mooney doubled to lead off the third inning, moved to third on a bunt single by pitcher Esch and scored on a fielder’s choice by center fielder Yefri Perez to tie the game, 1-1.
Disaster Loan Outreach Centers Now Open In Century, Pensacola
April 13, 2016
Disaster Loan Outreach Centers opened Tuesday in Century and Pensacola to assist tornado victims.
The loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration will be available to business, non-profits, churches an individuals that suffered physical or economic losses as result of the EF-3 tornado on February 15 in the Century area or the Feburary 23 EF-3 tornado in the Pensacola area.
The Century Disaster Loan Outreach Center will be at the Century Business Center at 140 East Pond Street beginning 8 a.m. Tuesday. The center will be open 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday, until final closing at 3 p.m. on Thursday, April 21.
The Pensacola location will be open at the West Florida Regional Planning Council office at 4081 East Olive Road, Suite A. The office will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday until final closing on 3 p.m. on Thursday, April 21.
Both locations will be closed on Sunday, April 17.
Loans are available to businesses, individual homeowners and even renters.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Judge Turns Downs Challenge To Prison Health Contract
April 13, 2016
An administrative law judge has rejected a challenge to a Florida Department of Corrections decision to award a $268 million contract for health services at the majority of the state’s prisons.
The department in January awarded the contract to Centurion of Florida LLC after another firm, Corizon Health, decided to end its contract to provide services to about three-fourths of the state’s inmates.
The award of the contract drew a challenge from Wexford Health Sources, Inc., which provides services to inmates in the rest of the state. Wexford questioned, at least in part, whether the department acted properly in awarding a no-bid contract to Centurion. The department, however, argued that state law allowed it to award such a contract and that Administrative Law Judge R. Bruce McKibben should “relinquish jurisdiction” of the dispute.
McKibben issued an order last week siding with the department and closing the case at the Division of Administrative Hearings.
“Wexford’s argument, though not without merit, is a matter for resolution by the Legislature,” McKibben wrote.
by The News Service of Florida
Pictured: The medical unit inside Century Correctional Institution. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Ernestine Crutchfield Husley
April 13, 2016
Ernestine “Tina” Crutchfield Hulsey, age 74, of Pace, was called home April 10, 2016, at home surrounded by her cherished family. Tina was born May 22, 1941 to the late Rildie and Ernest Crutchfield in Pensacola. She grew up in Brentwood, on Concordia Blvd near Brentwood Assembly of God Church, where she was a member most of her life. She was proud of the time she spent in her youth working at a daycare center and later helping her husband of 38 years, Bob, drive their 18 wheeler. Tina and Bob also owned a curb market on the corner of Michigan and S streets. She will be remembered for her love of camping, flowers, and organizing functions for church family and friends.
Tina is preceded in death by her son, Kenneth Gerald Barnhill; her parents; her brother, Gordon Lamar Crutchfield; and two sisters, Nell Rea Fitch and Mittie Lou Baker.
She is survived by her devoted husband, Bob; children, Wanda (Daniel) Vines, Rachel Hulsey (Robert) Taylor, Becky Hulsey (Tom) Young, Cathy Hulsey (Hershel) Walker, Bob (Evelyn) Hulsey, Jr., Vickie Hulsey (Larry) Lashley and Carrie Hulsey; 15 grandchildren; 36 great-grandchildren; daughter in-law, Diane Barnhill; sister in-law, Betty Stewart; and nieces, Holly Clifford, Terri (Larry) Cooley and Pat Harvey.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, April 12, 2016, Faith Chapel Funeral Home South, with Pastor Kenneth Martin officiating.
Interment will follow at Gonzalez UMC Cemetery.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home South is entrusted with the arrangements.
Ada Lee McCreary
April 13, 2016
Mrs. Ada Lee McCreary, 77, passed away on Saturday, April 9, 2016, in Atmore.
Mrs. McCreary was a native of Bedford, Indiana and a resident of Atmore for the past 38 years. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. She was of the Baptist faith.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Walter McCreary.
She is survived by her two sons, Rodney (Jackie) Stewart of Perdido and Brian (Terrie) McCreary of Atmore; one daughter, Debra (Bobby) Harrison of Atmore; one brother, Dick Cummings of Minnesota; eight grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, April 12, 2016, at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. J.T. Guyton officiating.
Burial was in Oak Hill Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Zack Stewart, Charles O’Barr, Tommy Crews, Cody Burroughs, Dakota O’Barr and Hunter Stewart.
Honorary pallbearers were Sara McCreary, Aundrea Gates and Kindle James.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Marguree H. Womack
April 13, 2016
Marguree H. Womack, 92, of Atmore, passed away Sunday, April 10, 2016, at her residence. She was retired from Vanity Fair Mills as a sewing machine operator, born on March 12, 1924, in Monroe County, AL to the late George Cobb and Lula Belle Powell Hughes. She was a member of Enon Baptist Church of Goodway, AL.
She is preceded in death by her husband, R.B. Womack; one infant brother; and one sister, Nettie Lou Lilley.
Survivors include one son, James D. (Rosemary) Womack of Atmore; one daughter, Margie Ann (Mitchell) Harrison of Goodway; one brother, Collie Ray “Bo” Hughes of Cantonment; grandchildren, Anita Harrison, Genie Morrison, Teresa Nichols, Michelle Firzhugn, and Paula Daniel; nine great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren and one on the way.
Services were held Tuesday April 12, 2016, at the Enon Baptist Church of Goodway, AL with Rev. C.L.Langford officiating.
Interment was in Enon Baptist Church Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Steven Morris, Jr., Paul Morrison, Jay Nichols, Randall Daniel, Ryan Daniel, Craig Fitzhugh, Ryan Hames, Alden Harrison, Britton Morris.
Honorary pallbearers were her Sunday School Class.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.