Tate Aggies Baseball Holding Golf Shootout
September 10, 2024
The Tate Aggies Baseball team is hosting a golf shootout on Friday, October 4 at Scenic Hills. This event offers a fun-filled day of golf, delicious food, and the opportunity to support a local cause.
Prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd, 3rd place, longest drive, and closest to the pin.
Sponsorship opportunities are available for businesses and individuals who wish to support the event. Various sponsorship levels starting at $150 offer benefits such as tee signs, table/tent space, golf for players, and more.
A portion of the proceeds will go towards the Trace Penton Memorial Scholarship, supporting a top academic athlete.
Details are in the graphic below, click to enlarge.
To register or learn more, contact Rob McLellan at (850) 377.0184 or TateAggiesBaseball@gmail.com.
Bears And Fall: FWC Offers Tips On What To Do – And Not To Do
September 10, 2024
As fall approaches, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is sharing the annual reminder that our state’s black bears are starting their seasonal increase in activity while in search of food before winter. Following BearWise practices such as securing garbage and removing food attractants can help prevent negative interactions with bears, as well as with other wildlife.
Bears start consuming more calories in the fall to store up fat reserves for the winter, even in Florida when not hibernating as long as they do in colder climates. An adult bear needs to consume approximately 20,000 calories a day during the fall. This seasonal need to increase fat reserves results in more activity from bears while in search of food. When given the opportunity, bears will take advantage of easy meals from things like unsecured trash cans and bird feeders.
“People can make a big difference in preventing conflicts with hungry bears by securing or removing potential food attractants such as garbage or bird seed,” said the FWC’s Bear Management Program Coordinator, Mike Orlando. “When bears can’t find a food source in your yard or neighborhood, they’ll move on.”
Want to be BearWise this fall and help prevent negative interactions with bears and other wildlife? Follow these six BearWise Basics:
1: Never feed or approach bears
- Feeding bears can make them lose their natural fear of people.
- It is illegal in Florida to intentionally feed bears or leave out food or garbage that will attract bears and cause conflicts.
- Getting close to a wild animal is dangerous.
2: Secure food and garbage
- Store garbage in a sturdy shed or garage and then put it out on the morning of pickup rather than the night before.
- If not stored in a secured building, modify your existing garbage canto make it more bear-resistant or use a bear-resistant container.
- Secure commercial garbage inbear-resistant dumpsters.
- Protect gardens, beehives, compost and livestock with electric fencing.
- Pick ripe fruit from trees and bushes and remove fallen fruit from the ground.
3: Remove or secure bird feeders
- Remove bird feeders where bears are present.
- If bird feeders are left up, only put enough food out for birds to finish eating before dark
- Use other options to attract birds, not bears.
4: Never leave pet food outdoors
- Feed pets indoors.
- If feeding pets outdoors, only put food outside for short time periods and bring in leftover food and dishes after each feeding.
5: Clean and store grills
- Clean and degrease grills and smokers after each use.
- If mobile, store them in a secure shed or garage.
6: Alert neighbors to bear activity
- If you see a bear, let your neighbors know.
- Share tips on how to avoid conflicts with bears.
- Encourage your homeowner’s association or local government to institute bylaws or ordinances to require trash be kept secure.
While black bears generally are not aggressive, they can injure people and pets. Female bears with cubs can be particularly defensive and protective of their offspring. Dogs can trigger defensive behaviors from bears; 60% of incidents where bears injured people in Florida involved dogs. When walking dogs, keep them close to you – preferably on a non-retractable leash – and be aware of your surroundings. Before letting your dog out at night, flip lights on and off and bang on the door to give bears and other wildlife a chance to flee.
As bears increase their movements in search of food this time of year, they also increase the number of roads they cross. For the safety of yourself and bears, remember to slow down when driving, particularly on rural highways at dawn or dusk. Watch for road signage identifying known bear crossing areas.
Teresa Lynn Williamson
September 10, 2024
, born December 26, 1955, of Molino, Florida, passed away peacefully on Thursday, September 5, 2024. Teresa is preceded in death by her parents, Harold & Audrey Holder; her sister, Benita King; her son Ronald “Chad” Williamson; her grandson Carter Polanco-Williamson; and her nephew Bobby King. She is survived by her dear husband of 50 years, Ronnie Williamson; her daughter, Moriah Williamson; grandson Kaden Polanco-Williamson; her loving sisters, Deborah Andrews and Belinda Perry; along with her mother-in-law Edna Taylor; numerous sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces and nephews.
Teresa was born in Pensacola and was a member of Aldersgate Methodist Church. She graduated from Tate High School, and earned degrees from both Jefferson Davis Community College and Faulkner State University. She was a long time, dedicated board member of Harvesters Federal Credit Union, along with the Molino Historical Society.
She was lively and sociable – she could spark a friendly conversation any time, any where. She devoted much of her time caring for others; whether it be family, friends, or animals. She had many artistic hobbies and talents such as jewelry making, painting, pottery, sewing and crocheting.
Teresa was a fighter throughout her entire journey, and left a memorable impression on many of the nurses and medical staff at MD Anderson. We take comfort knowing that she no longer has to fight, and rests peacefully in the arms of Jesus Christ, her Savior. Services will be held on Friday, September 13, 2024 at Faith Chapel Funeral Home, 1000 Hwy 29 Cantonment, FL. Visitation will take place at 2:00 PM, with her celebration of Life following after at 3:00 PM.
Bill English
September 10, 2024
Mr. Bill English, age 66, passed away, Monday, September 9, 2024 in Walnut Hill, FL; surrounded by his family. He was a lifelong resident of Walnut Hill and was a truck driver in the logging woods for many years.
Mr. English greatly enjoyed fishing and spending time outdoors. The hobbies he enjoyed greatly was shooting pool and singing karaoke. He enjoyed spending time with his family and was also a proud member of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians.
Preceded in death by his parents, Willie Thomas (Minnie Ruth Coleman) English, and one brother, William English.
He is survived by his loving wife of 44 years, Angie English, of Walnut Hill, FL; one son, Daniel English, of Walnut Hill, FL; one daughter, Emily English, of Walnut Hill, FL; one brother, Tom English, of Walnut Hill, FL; other relatives and friends.
Funeral service will be held Sunday, September 15, 2024 at 2:00 PM at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes, LLC. with Rev. Joe Gibson officiating
Burial will follow at Dry Springs Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Sunday, September 15, 2024 from 1:00 PM until service time at 2:00 PM at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes, LLC.
Pallbearers will be John McCullough, Jesse Grimes, Steve McCullough, John-Wesley McCullough, and Tyson Milliken.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home, Atmore, Alabama is in charge of all arrangements
Unfounded Threat Prompts Increased Security at Ernest Ward Middle School Monday
September 9, 2024
What is believed to be an unfounded mention of a threat to Ernest Ward Middle School is under investigation, Escambia County Schools Superintendent Keith Leonard said Monday morning.
Leonard said the alleged threat was discussed on social media and was believed to be “internal” involving students at the Walnut Hill school. He said it the supposed threat was not believed to have any connection to a weekend threat report at Flomaton High School, about 15 miles away.
The superintendent said law enforcement is investigating, and extra law enforcement is at the school. A callout message was sent to parents Monday morning.
In screenshots of messages (pictured above) sent to NorthEscambia.com from outside the school district, someone states, “i heard there is gonna be a school shooting”, before someone replies that they heard it was going to be at Ernest Ward.
NorthEscambia.com image. The image has been edited for conciseness and to remove names.
Escambia (FL) School Superintendent Learns About Alabama Program That Keeps Classrooms Phone-Free
September 9, 2024
Between classes at Flomaton High School, students walk down the hallway talking to each other. And at lunch, they talk to each other.
“Our lunches have gotten really loud,” Flomaton High School Principal Mark Harbison said. “The kids talk to each other instead of looking down at their phones all the time.”
Flomaton High and several other school in Escambia County, Alabama, are using what’s called a Yondr pouch to control cellphone usage in school and make classrooms phone-free. Students keep the pouch with them all day until the final bell, and it makes it impossible to take a picture, shoot a video, send a text, or access social media. The pouches are used by many big-name artists to stop recording at their concerts.
And officials say it is now transforming education.
“This is certainly something that we need to talk to our school board members about,” says Escambia County (FL) School Superintendent Keith Leonard. “And more importantly, get with our school-based administrators and our teachers — actually give them the opportunity to visit three or four of the schools here in Escambia County, Alabama, which have implemented the Yondr pouches. I believe it will help our students have more engagement at school and do better academically and socially for that matter.”
And Leonard is taking notes as his district just across the line in Florida is considering new cellphone restrictions for over 37,000 students. Leonard was so impressed, in fact, with the Yondr pouch system that he expects the Escambia County, Florida, district to do something in the next five to six months.
NorthEscambia.com was present recently as Leonard and Cody Strother, Escambia County (FL) School District coordinator for communications, visitedt to Flomaton High to see the Yondr pouches in action.
Each student in the Alabama program is assigned one of Yondr’s form-fitting lockable soft pouches. Students place their powered-off phones and connected devices like earbuds and smart watches inside their individual pouch before they enter the school, and it locks the phone inside with a magnetic disk mechanism. The lock is much like those anti-theft clothing tags that stores remove after you make a purchase. If a student forgets the pouch, they surrender their phone to be locked up in the office for the day.
When students exit the building at dismissal, a specially designed magnet unlocks the pouch. It’s a process that Harbison said only slows down dismissal by just a few minutes as students funnel out of the building.
And, no, not just any magnet or super-strong rare earth magnet will unlock the pouch. It’s a specially designed magnet from the California-based pouch company. The unlocking magnets at school are closely guarded by school staff.
When students enter Flomaton High, they may be asked to show that their phone is locked inside a pouch, and there are random checks during the school day to make sure phones are secure.
“We have people all the time say what do you do if they cut them (the pouches) open,” George Brown II, Escambia County (AL) Schools assistant superintendent, told Leonard. “You can break into a locked house if you really want to. It’s discernment. You’ve got to choose right from wrong.”
If a student cuts open and destroys a pouch in Escambia County, Alabama, they are on the hook for a $20 replacement.
Teachers are in love, we are talking head over heels smitten, with the Yonder pouches. They say their classrooms are phone-free, students are paying attention, and students are actually learning more. Teachers also love that they are not burdened with collecting phones before class begin. Teachers don’t actually have to do anything with phones. If they see a phone, they let the front office know, and an administrator responds to deal with the policy transgression.
“I just love it,” Flomaton High teacher Amy Dullard said. “It has changed my classroom like I never could have imagined.”
Escambia County (AL) Schools Superintendent Dr. Michele Collier is also in love with the program.
“We are expecting to see real numbers from this in learning gains and scores,” she said.
But what about the students?
We visited a classroom where students said they were very apprehensive when they learned the pouches would be in place this school year.
“I didn’t like it at first. My phone is right here,” one student said, pointing at the Yondr pouch next to her with her phone locked inside. “I guess I feel better because it’s here with me all the time, but I still can’t use it.”
In the event of any kind of personal emergency or illness, students are allowed to go to the office to use a (gasp!) landline to call home.
In a more serious situation…just to talk about the worst that is sometimes a reality in our world…during a school shooting or severe weather, students’ phones would be locked inside the pouches as the situation unfolds.
Brown said that in the near-term that would be good, because perhaps hundreds of students would not call 911 at the same time. “They would tie up the lines,” he said. “They (emergency services) would be the first person to tell you that.”
“We have a procedure. We have Centegix (brand) badges. We can get police to a building when we press this,” as he held out a badge on a lanyard around his neck. “And once it’s cleared for it to happen, then they could come around and open them (the phone pouches). And they would. Severe weather, they would come around and do that as well.”
As the Escambia County (AL) Schools pilot their use of the phone pouches, they’ve developed a few exceptions to the program. Students with a medical reason — such as those that use their phones to scan a glucose monitor — are issued a pouch that does not lock. It instead has a Velcro-like closure. It’s loud when it opens. There’s just no way to open it quietly and sneak a phone out during class (We saw it tested by Stother, and it just can’t be opened without garnering attention.)
At Flomaton, yearbook staff members are given a press pass that allows them to sometimes have their phones unlocked for snapping yearbook student life photos at school events.
NorthEscambia.com will keep you updated on any future cellphone policy changes for Escambia County (FL) Schools.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tropical Storm Francine Forms, Landfall Expected In Louisiana As A Hurricane
September 9, 2024
Tropical Storm Francine formed in the Gulf of Mexico on Monday. It is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane on Tuesday, according to the National Hurricane Center.
A hurricane watch was issued for portions of the Louisiana coast due to hurricane conditions being possible within the next 48 hours.
The latest details are in the graphic above from the National Hurricane Center.
Officials Say ‘Potential School Threat’ At Flomaton High Was Not Credible
September 9, 2024
A potential threat at Flomaton High School over the weekend was unfounded, according to the school district, but extra law enforcement will be at all Escambia County, Alabama, schools today.
“The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office was contacted Saturday about a possible threat made that involved Flomaton High School,” Escambia County (AL) Sheriff Heath Jackson told NorthEscambia.com. “An in-depth investigation is still in going and there does not appear to be any legitimate threat at this time. As a precaution, All county schools will have an extra law enforcement presence on Monday morning. East Brewton police, Atmore Police, Flomaton Police, and the Brewton Police Departments are all aware and are providing extra coverage.”
Sunday, Escambia County (AL) School Superintendent Michelle Collier issued a statement about “a serious matter that occured over the weekend at Flomaton High School…we received notice of a potential school threat.”
School district officials and the Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office investigated, and “no credible threat was found”, she said.
“However, we take these matters very seriously and only want to protect our school communities. As part of our response to this situation, we will be utilizing our metal detectors more thoroughly and frequently. Local law enforcement will be visible and monitoring our schools. These enhanced safety measures are in place to protect everyone on campus and provide peace of mind to our students, staff, and community,” the superintendent’s statement continued.
Pictured: An empty hallway during classes Friday at Flomaton High School. NorthEscambia.com photo.
Slight Chance Of Rain, Lower 80s For Monday
September 9, 2024
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 83. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. East wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Tuesday: A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81. East wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Tuesday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am, then a chance of showers between 1am and 4am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. East wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Wednesday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 76. East wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Wednesday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 70. East wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Thursday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 77. East wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Thursday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 82.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 66.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 83.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 66.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 84.
Falling Oil Prices Equate To Lower Florida Gas Prices, AAA Says
September 9, 2024
Florida gas prices fell after a drop in the crude oil market, according to AAA.
Last week, the U.S. price for a barrel of oil fell to the lowest level since June 2023. The crude price plunge has reportedly been driven by concerns about both the U.S. and international economies, and the belief that global oil supplies could outpace global fuel demand by the end of the year.
On Sunday, Florida gas prices averaged $3.16 per gallon. That’s the lowest daily average price since February 12, 2024. Sunday’s state average is 15 cents less than last week, 24 cents less than last month, and 47 cents less than this time last year. The highest price so far this year was $3.64 per gallon. The all-time high was $4.89 per gallon – recorded in June 2022.
The average price per gallon in Escambia County was $2.95. North Escambia prices were as low as $2.77 on Highway 29 in Cantonment, while Pensacola prices dipped to $2.63 on East Nine Mile Road.
On Friday, domestic oil prices settled at $67.67 per barrel. That’s almost $6 per barrel (-8%) less than last week. Oil prices had been trading at more than $80 per barrel just one month ago.
NorthEscambia.com photo.