Ernest Ward Student Winners Named In ‘Why I Love America’ Essay Contest
May 29, 2022
Cantonment Masonic Lodge #322 recently sponsored a “Why I Love America” essay contest at Ernest Ward Middle School.
Christian Caraway, Lexi Smallwood, Felix Soileau and Dawson Portwood were the essay contest winners and presented with certificates.
Pictured above: (L-R) \Felix Soileau, Dawson Portwood, Lexi Smallwood and Christian Caraway. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Central’s Mathews Signs With USA Track, Marking First D1 Signing For CHS
May 29, 2022
Morgan Mathews of Central School has signed to continue running hurdles and track and field at the University of South Alabama in Mobile. This marks the first time a Central School athlete has ever signed a letter of intent to continue a sport at a D1 level. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
AAA Predicting Busy Travel Weekend In Florida Despite Gas Prices
May 29, 2022
Memorial Day weekend is expected to be the busiest in three years, building on a travel resurgence that began earlier this spring. This year’s forecast from AAA marks the second highest single-year increase in travelers since 2010 (2021 was the highest), bringing volumes almost in line with pre-pandemic levels.
“By the looks of this Memorial Day travel forecast, the summer travel season is off to a sizzlin’ start,” said Debbie Haas, Vice President of Travel for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “People are more comfortable traveling now than any other time in the past two years, and travel bookings are a reflection of that. Reservations for flights, hotels, and cruises for Memorial Day weekend are twice as strong as last year’s holiday and that momentum will likely carry into the summer.”
AAA predicts nearly 2.2 million Floridians will travel 50 miles or more from home this Memorial Day weekend. That’s an 8.3% increase over 2021, bringing travel volumes almost in line with those from 2017.
Nationally, it’s a similar story. More than 39.2 million Americans will travel for the holiday weekend. The 8.3% increase from 2021 puts travel volumes in line with 2017 figures.
Despite historically high gas prices, 90% of Memorial Day travelers plan to travel by car. Nearly 2 million Floridians are forecast to take a holiday road trip. That’s 5.4% more than last year’s holiday weekend.
Mira Awards Honor Creative High School Students
May 29, 2022
Escambia County Public Schools Foundation recently recognized local high school seniors for their creative and artistic talents through the annual Mira Awards.
Mira, meaning “brightest star,” was conceived by a group of teachers at Tate High School in 1987. Since then, the Mira Awards have been expanded to all Escambia County high schools. Students receive a custom medallion to wear with their cap and gown at graduation.
Beth Partington, who has chaired the Mira Awards ceremony for the past eight years, believes, “It is so important to honor students who excel in the arts. Their creativity, dedication, and talents are often overlooked, yet their contributions add a great deal to everyone’s lives and the high school experience. The Foundation enjoys celebrating these exceptional high school seniors each year.”
This year, the following 74 local high school seniors received Mira Awards:
Escambia High School
Jasmine Collings, Kadence Vanlandingham (Band), Ty Jones (Chorus), Sara Jones (Drama), Charlotte Paolini (Orchestra), Selma Millan (Visual Arts)
Northview High
Adrianne Shanks (Band), Addison White (Creative Writing), Kinzey Powell (Culinary Arts), Hunter Borelli (Graphic Arts), Dallon Rackard (Graphic Design), Jesse Hughes (Journalism), Mia Starns (Photography), Benjamin Rowinsky (Video Design), Madison Watson (Visual Arts), Paige Ross (Visual Design), Anna Adams, Shelby Cotita (Yearbook)
Pensacola High School
Christian McClung (Chorus), Miyauna Copeland (Culinary Arts), Scott Grove, Vitus Larrieu, Steven Rhodes (Drama), Aniya Knight (Graphic Arts), Ezra Baker, Gracie Collins, Abigail Prettyman (Instrumental Music), Isabel Green (Orchestra), Wren Harwell (Photography), Colin Gold (Yearbook)
Pine Forest High School
Kiaeante Hill (Band), Emmie Sasser (Chorus), Thomas Welch (Culinary Arts), Karriema Jones (Design Services Academy), Daniel Jennings (Digital Media), Hailee Hatcher (Photography), Nina Burt (Visual Arts), Dontreal Hines (Yearbook)
Tate High School
Holly Phillips, Carter Pitts, Melissa Schauer (Band), Rose Geinert, Emily Payne (Chorus), Hunter Brumfield, Elias Ray (Drama), Gabrielle Gryskiewicz, Jordan Rinker (Orchestra), Vanessa Lopez, Megan Morris (Visual Arts), Dylainie Charlery (Yearbook)
Washington High School
Kaleb Aymond, Adrianna Blackmon, Michaela Hartley (Band), Alexia Ben, Minh Nguyen, Caitlin Sanderson (Chorus), Samuel Brown, Jovaney Sutherland (Orchestra), Kaitlyn Roe (Theatre), Michaela Luescher (Theatre and Visual Arts), Cassady Hawkins, Yu’miya Walker (Visual Arts)
West Florida High School
Kyla Barrett, Grace Coleman (Band), Arjerne Arrington (Drama-Performance Excellence), William Rabon, Mia Zareck (Multimedia-Graphic Design), Chloe Rabin (Orchestra-Exceptional Leadership), Thien-Loc Uc (Orchestra-Performance Leadership), Mason Mott (Photographic Journalism), Teana Henderson (Theatre-Exceptional Leadership), Fariha Fairooz, Braxton Wickersham (Visual Arts), Micayla Jesse (Yearbook-Graphic Design)
Teen Shot And Killed Man In Jay Saturday, SRSO Says
May 28, 2022
A man was shot and killed by a teen Saturday afternoon in Jay.
Jaden Simmons, 16, shot and killed 43-year old Jonathan Simmons, according to the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies have not revealed any relationship between the two.
Deputies responded to the shooting at 3487 Highway 4 in Jay about 12:20 p.m.
Jaden Simmons has been charged with second degree murder.
“These charges are preliminary and will be reviewed by the State Attorney’s Office. This is an ongoing investigation more information will be released as it becomes available,” Jillian Durkin, SRSO assistant public information officer, said.
Jaden Simmons’ mugshot was not immediately available due to the holiday weekend.
Atmore Man Charged With Nine Counts Of Attempted Murder After Saturday Shooting
May 28, 2022
A man was charged with nine counts of attempted murder after a shooting in Atmore Saturday morning.
The Atmore Police Department responded to a shots fired call on Ann Street, about a block off North Main Street, about 8:40 Saturday morning. They found that three people had been hit with shotgun pellets among at least nine people that were present.
Kelvin Bernard Cooper, 45, had become involved in a dispute with another male and left. He returned in his vehicle and stated that he was “going to come back and kill everyone”, according to Atmore Police Sgt. Darrell McMann.
“Cooper returned a few minutes later and yelled, ‘All of you are about to die’ and shot several times from his open window in his vehicle,” McMann continued. Three people were struck.
He fled, but was spotted less than a half mile away by an officer. Police said that as he was taken into custody, he also threatened to kill the officer.
Cooper was charged with nine counts of attempted murder, nine counts of reckless endangerment, 10 counts of terroristic threats, one counts of certain person forbidden to possess a gun, and one count of possession of a controlled substance (crack cocaine).
He was booked into the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton without bond.
Hundreds Attend Outdoor Movie Night In Beulah
May 28, 2022
Hundreds of people attended a free outdoor movie night Friday at the Escambia County Equestrian Center sponsored by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Foundation
Along with the movie “The Secret Life of Pets”, the night featured numerous units and displays from the ECSO and other community groups, free hot dogs and hamburgers and more.
For more photos, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday Underway; New For 2022: Pet Supplies Are Included
May 28, 2022
Florida’s 14-day Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday is underway, offering a savings on hurricane supplies.
This year, household pet supplies such as pet food, leashes, collars, beds and portable kennels are also included in the list of items eligible to be purchased tax-free (see the bottom of the list below).
Floridians are expected to save $25.6 million on the purchase of tax-free items such as flashlights, radios, tarps, batteries and fire extinguishers. This is more than double compared to the $10.5 million Floridians saved during the 2021 Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday.
The sales tax holiday continues through June 10.
Here is the list of included items:
Selling for $20 or less:
- Reusable ice (ice packs)
Selling for $40 or less:
- Any portable self-powered light source* (powered by battery, solar, hand-crank or gas):
- Flashlights
- Lanterns
- Candles
Selling for $50 or less:
- Any gas or diesel fuel container, including LP gas and kerosene containers
- Batteries, including rechargeable batteries, listed sizes only (excluding automobile and boat batteries):
- AA-cell and AAA-cell
- C-cell
- D-cell
- 6-volt
- 9-volt
- Two-way and weather band radios* (powered by battery, solar, or hand-crank)
* Eligible light sources and radios qualify for the exemption even if electrical cords are included in the purchase.
Selling for $60 or less:
- Nonelectric food storage coolers
- Portable power banks
NEW THIS YEAR: Selling for $70 or less:
- Smoke detectors and smoke alarms
- Fire extinguishers
- Carbon monoxide detectors
Selling for $100 or less:
- Tarpaulins (tarps) or other flexible waterproof sheeting
- Ground anchor systems
- Tie-down kits
- Bungee cords
- Ratchet straps
Selling for $1,000 or less:
Portable generators used to provide light or communications, or to preserve food in the event of a power outage
NEW THIS YEAR: Supplies necessary for the evacuation of household pets, including:
- Cans or pouches of wet pet food selling for $2 or less per can or pouch or the equivalent if
- sold in a box or case
- Collapsible or travel-sized food or water bowls selling for $15 or less per item
- Manual can openers selling for $15 or less per item
- Cat litter pans selling for $15 or less
- Pet waste disposal bags selling for $15 or less per package
- Hamster or rabbit substrate selling for $15 or less per package
- Leashes, collars, and muzzles selling for $20 or less
- Pet pads selling for $20 or less per box or package
- Cat litter weighing 25 or fewer pounds and selling for $25 or less
- Bags of dry pet food weighing 15 or fewer pounds and selling for $30 or less
- Pet beds selling for $40 or less
- Portable kennels or pet carriers selling for $100 or less
Escambia Animal Shelter Offering Adoption Specials
May 28, 2022
The Escambia County animal shelter is offered special adoption rates through the end of June.
All cats and kittens are $10 and dogs and puppies are $25. Adoption fees include spay or neutering services, microchips, heartworm tests and the initial vaccinations including rabies vaccinations. Escambia County residents will be required to purchase a separate $11 license at the time of adoption.
“We have a large number of cats and dogs ready to go to their forever homes,” said Animal Welfare Director John Robinson. “If you can’t adopt right now, we encourage you to become a foster or volunteer. Fosters can help prepare an animal for its future home while helping make way for other animals coming into the shelter. Our volunteers assist with everything from kennel cleaning and washing blankets to playgroup supervision and bottle-feeding kittens.”
The Escambia County animal shelter is located at 200 West Fairfield Drive. Hours of operation are Monday-Friday from noon until 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Bluff Springs, Cotton Lake and Williams Lake Recreation Sites Closed Due To Flooding
May 28, 2022
The Northwest Florida Water Management District has closed three recreation sites in the Escambia River Wildlife Management Area due to flooding.
The Bluff Springs, Cotton Lake and Williams Lake sites are closed until further notice.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.