Early Morning Fire Destroys Small Shed
September 15, 2019
Fire destroyed a small shed near Cantonment early Sunday morning.
The fire in the 300 block of Daylily Road off Highway 95A was reported about 12:40 a.m. Firefighters were able to contain the blaze to the shed and keep it from spreading to other nearby structures.
There’s no official word on the cause of the fire, but a pool pump was suspected. There were no injuries reported.
The Cantonment, Ensley, Molino, Bellview and Ferry Pass stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS responded to the fire.
Reader submitted and NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Census Workers Knocking Doors In Escambia County Before The 2020 Count
September 15, 2019
The census is not until 2020, but the U.S. Census Bureau may be knocking on your door in the North Escambia area during the next few weeks.
The Census Bureau employees known as “listers” carry laptops and black messenger bags, and there are about 40,000 of them nationwide. They are visiting areas through October in an effort to verify over 50 million addresses, or about one-third of all home addresses in the United States. They will be out mostly in the evenings and on the weekends. There is a map at the bottom of this page, or you can zoom to your address here to see if your address will be visited.
Address canvassing improves and refines the Census Bureau’s address list of households nationwide, which is necessary to deliver invitations to respond to the census. The address list plays a vital role in ensuring a complete and accurate count of everyone living in the United States, according to the Census Bureau.
“The Census Bureau is dedicated to ensuring that we are on track, and ready to accomplish the mission of the 2020 Census,” said Census Bureau Director Steven Dillingham. “We have made many improvements and innovations over the past decade, including better technologies for canvassing neighborhoods and developing complete and updated address listings and maps.”
The Census Bureau created new software called the Block Assessment, Research and Classification Application (BARCA). It compares satellite images of the United States over time, allowing Census Bureau employees to spot new housing developments, changes in existing homes and other housing units that did not previously exist. Reviewers also use BARCA to compare the number of housing units in current imagery with the number of addresses on file for each block.
“We were able to verify 65% of addresses using satellite imagery — a massive accomplishment for us,” said Census Bureau Geography Division Chief Deirdre Bishop. “In 2010 we had to hire 150,000 people to verify 100% of the addresses in the field, this decade we will only have to hire about 40,000 employees around the nation to verify the remaining 35% of addresses.”
The listers have started walking through neighborhoods across the country checking addresses not verified using BARCA software. In-field address canvassing will continue through mid-October. They will ask just a few questions to verify the address and any additional living quarters on the property for inclusion in the census.
Employees will introduce themselves as a Census Bureau employee, show their official government ID badge, and explain the purpose of the visit.
The 2020 Census officially starts counting people in January 2020 in remote Toksook Bay, Alaska. Following the count of people in remote Alaska, most households in the country will start receiving invitations to respond online, by phone or by mail in March 2020.
This operation is one of several activities the Census Bureau conducts for an accurate and complete count. The Census Bureau also partners with the U.S. Postal Service and tribal, state and local officials to update the address list.
The U.S. Constitution mandates that a census of the population be conducted once every 10 years. Census data is used to determine the number of seats each state holds in Congress and how more than $675 billion in federal funds are distributed back to states and local communities every year for services and infrastructure, including health care, jobs, schools, roads and businesses.
Check Out These Rides: Cantonment Rotary’s Car Show (Photo Gallery)
September 15, 2019
The Cantonment Rotary Club held their second annual “Hawgs & Hoot Rods car and motorcycle show at Krystal on Nine Mile Road. The event also featured pulled pork sandwich plates. It was all a fundraiser for the Cantonment Rotary Club Foundation to support the local chapter of the Boys & Girls Club of America.
For a photo gallery from the car show, click here.
Photos by Perry Doggrell for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Registration Tuesday For Cub Scout Pack 430 In Molino
September 15, 2019
Molino Cub Scout Pack 430 will hold registration on Tuesday from 6:30 until 7:30 p.m. at Aldersgate United Methodist Church at 6915 Highway 29.
Pack 430 meets every Tuesday at the church, with den meeting beginning on October 1 for grades K5-fifth.
Den and pack meetings are held Tuesday evenings from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Den meetings begin October 1. New scouts and volunteers are welcome.
For more information, contact Cubmaster Jimmy Crook at (850) 587-5294.
Boil Water Notice Rescinded For Phalrose Lane, Cooley Road
September 15, 2019
UPDATE: This boil water notice was rescinded Monday morning, September 16.
A precautionary boil water notice has been issued for Phalrose Lane and Cooley Road in Cottage Hill due to a water main break.
Cottage Hill Water Works is advising that all water used for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth, or washing dishes be boiled. A rolling boil of one minute is sufficient as an alternative bottled water may be used.
The precautionary boil water notice will remain in effect until the problem has been corrected and a bacteriological survey shows that the water is safe to drink.
For any additional information, contact Cottage Hill Water Works at (850) 968-5485.
Barrineau Park Fall Gathering Held Saturday
September 15, 2019
The Barrineau Park Historical Society held its annual Fall Gathering Saturday at the Barrineau Park Community Center. There event featured arts and crafts, vendors, activities for the kids, live music by the Southern Revival Band, food and fellowship. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
UWF Beats Shorter With Reed’s Record Setting Day
September 15, 2019
Austin Reed turned Barron Stadium into his own playground Saturday, throwing for 364 yards and accounting for all six touchdowns in a 42-14 road victory over Shorter in the Gulf South Conference opener for both teams.
The redshirt freshman from St. Augustine made his first career start and didn’t disappoint, completing 24-of-35 passes while putting up the sixth-most passing yards by an Argonaut in program history. Additionally, his six touchdowns responsible for tied the school record set by current quarterbacks coach Kaleb Nobles against Missouri S&T in 2016.
UWF (1-1, 1-0 GSC) finished with 556 yards of total offense, including 140 on the ground. The total yards were the third-most in the school’s 39-game history.
The Argos came out on fire in the second half, led by Reed who completed all seven passes in the opening two possessions as UWF took command of the game. After halftime he was 13-for-16 for 217 yards with four passing scores on the first four possessions.
Quentin Randolph had a career day as well, hauling in four balls for 117 yards and a touchdown. His catches went for 44, 51, six and 16 yards apiece. Rodney Coates made seven catches to lead UWF as 10 different players caught at least one ball.
The running game was also strong, led by Anthony Johnson, Jr. who carried the ball 14 times for 72 yards with five of his touches resulting in first downs. UWF finished with 26 first downs.
Chanler Ferguson led a swarming defense with five tackles and an interception. Kedrick Bradley, Trent Archie, Terry Limehouse, Ty Cox and Ian Bush had four stops each.
Shorter (0-2, 0-1) managed just 93 yards of total offense in the second half to finish with 314. The Hawks have not won a game since midway through the 2015 season – a span of 41-consecutive games.
After the Argos held the Hawks on the first possession of the contest, the teams traded scores over the next four times. UWF’s touchdowns came on runs of one and six yards by Reed, while Shorter got a 65-yard run from Tupac Lanier and a 46-yard pass from Tyler Pullam to Andrew Warren to send the teams into the locker room tied at 14-14.
Reed connected with Kevin Grant from eight yards, Randolph from 51, Ka’Ron Ashley from 16 and Coates from 20 as UWF outscored Shorter 28-0 in the second half.
UWF will have three-consecutive games at Blue Wahoos Stadium in Pensacola, beginning next Saturday against Virginia-Lynchburg. Kickoff is set for 6:00 p.m.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
New Stop Sign Highway 29 At Nine Mile
September 15, 2019
The Florida Department of Transportation is reminding drivers that there is a new stop sign installed at the end of the southbound off-ramp from Highway 29 to westbound Nine Mile Road. A full stop is now required before merging onto Nine Mile Road westbound. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Ransom Middle Students Get Tropical Lesson From Tate Grad Hurricane Hunter
September 14, 2019
Students at Ransom Middle School learned a lesson about hurricanes Friday from member of the Hurricane Hunters who is a Ransom and Tate High School graduate.
Maj. Christopher Dyke is n aerial reconnaissance weather officer (ARWO) in the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, better known as the “Hurricane Hunters”. For him, Friday was speaking to his former teacher Louis O’Rear’s class before flying out to the Atlantic on Saturday.
The squadron conducts primarily two types of tropical cyclone missions: low-level invests and fix missions. A low-level invest mission is flown at 500 to 1,500 feet to determine if there is a closed circulation. Once a close circulation exists, they fly at higher altitudes, ranging from 5,000 to 10,000 feet. Aircrews fly through the eye of a storm four to six times per mission to locate the low-pressure center and circulation of the storm. During these missions, the aircrews transmit the weather data by satellite to the NHC.
Dykes and his family moved to Cantonment when he was 13.
Before he became part of the Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters, Dyke served as a meteorologist in the Air Force from 2005 to 2008. His first assignment was at Keesler. He reported to the Weather Officer Course, with his first month being one many on the Gulf Coast he will never forget — Hurricane Katrina.
He eventually left the base, reporting to Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, where he completed his weather training and began his first permanent duty assignment.
When Dyke isn’t flying, he is also the Air Force Reserve Command interim weather career field manager. He manages the weather specialists’ career paths, and is also responsible for organizing, training and equipping weather units.
Whether he is working issues to improve the unit or flying into the world’s most powerful storms to gather life-saving data, Dyke has a passion for his profession.
Friday was not the first time Dykes as taken the time to speak at Ransom. Last year, he spoke to Mr. O’Rears class on a satellite phone from the middle of Hurricane Olivia over the Pacific Ocean.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Baker Barely Gets Past Northview (With Photo Gallery)
September 14, 2019
A Friday the 13th full moon in Bratt turned out to be unlucky for the Northview Chiefs as they lost a hard fought battle 14-12 to the Baker Gators.
Baker was forced to punt it away, and Northview’s Jayden Jackson took it to the house to give the Chiefs a 6-0 lead with 19.8 seconds to go in the first quarter. It was first of two big touchdowns for Jackson, a Boston College recruit, on the night.
With less than 14 seconds to to in the half, Baker answered with a touchdown and a good kick for a 7-6 lead over the Chiefs.
For a photo gallery, click here.
In the third, Joe Brunson, son of Baker coach Joe Brunson, was in from the 2 to expand the Gator’s lead to 14-6. But the Chiefs were quick to answer as Jackson added a 61-yard TD for the Chiefs. A critical two-point conversion was no good, 14-12 Baker on top.
With under two minutes to go in the fourth, the Chiefs recovered a fumble in the endzone for a touchback. On their final drive, quarterback Ben Wilson found Jackson on passes of 24 and 34 yards as the clock ticked down. But with just seven seconds remaining, another Wilson pass was picked off by Baker to seal a win for the Gators.
“There are a not a lot of words honestly,” Northview head coach Derek Marshman said. “We had opportunities, but didn’t capitalize. The defense played a heck of a game. The defensive staff did a heck of a job, kudos to them. We didn’t score enough points; we didn’t run the ball well enough. That’s really what it boils down to. Like I said we had opportunities, we just didn’t capitalize.”
Friday night was the 32nd straight win for the Baker Gators (3-0), their eighth straight win over the Northview Chiefs. Northview (1-2) has not beat the Gators since 2012 when the Chiefs won the 1A state championship.
But the story of the Chiefs and the Gators may not be over for 2019. Both teams were ranked in the top 10 in state in class 1A headed into Friday night. Baker was the runner-up for state last year, and the Chiefs other loss was to Flomaton, the defending 3A Alabama state champions. Baker and Northview could easily meet again this season in the playoffs.
In the meantime, Northview will be on the road next Friday night at Holmes County in Bonifay (1-4).
For a photo gallery, click here. (Look for a cheerleader, band and fan photo gallery in the next few days.)
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
