Field Of Dreams: Bratt Residents Get Look At Their New Park
February 13, 2009
Clark Caraway begin work on his dream of a community park in Bratt 10 years ago. For the first time, he saw that dream in black and white Thursday night.
Caraway and several other Bratt residents even formed Bratt Community Park, Inc. back in 2001 to work toward the park.
Fast forward to Thursday night…Caraway sat in a public meeting at the Shiloh Free Will Baptist Church as Joy Jones from Escambia County’s parks and recreation department presented preliminary plan drawings for the Bratt Regional Park on Highway 4.
About 30 area residents learned that preliminary plans for the park include a paved, 8-foot wide walking/biking track around the perimeter of the park. There will also be exercise and rest stations positioned along the track.
Plans also call for one or two fenced softball fields, a half-court basketball court, a covered pavilion and playground equipment for children of various ages. The softball fields will not be lit for night play; in fact, the park’s hours will follow that of other county parks — sunrise to sunset.
The money is already in the bank, so to speak, to fund the park’s amentities. District 5 Escambia Commissioner Kevin White has $200,000 in LOST (Local Option Sales Tax) funds set aside to fund the park’s development.
“We are trying to use the money we have to accomodate everybody on this park,” White said.
Some members of the audience Thursday night questioned if a recreation building, perhaps one large enough for an indoor basketball court, could be built on the propery. Jones said she did not believe that was possible with current funding. Other residents questioned lighting the park to keep it open until a reasonable time at night, running drinking water and other items not included in the concept.
Jones will work on finalizing park plans and options. She will have those plans posted on the county’s web site within 30 days, and the county will hold another public meeting within six weeks for public review.
Also at Thursday night’s meeting, White praised Kale and Donna Schneider who traded 57 acres of mostly wetlands that county owned on Hanks Road for their 13.19 acres at the corner of West Highway 4 and Bratt Road for the park.
“He stepped up to the plate to better his community,” White said of Mr. Schneider.
The new park will be located along Highway 4 between Bratt First Baptist Church and Northview High School
Pictured above: Clark Caraway discusses the new Bratt Regional Park at a Thursday night public meeting at Shiloh Baptist Church. Pictured below: Joy Jones (left) from Escambia Parks and Recreation discusses preliminary Bratt Regional Park plans with a local resident. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Flomaton Football Star Tony Ellis Arrested For Sexual Abuse Of 12-Year-Old
February 11, 2009
Flomaton High School football star Tony Ellis has been arrested on multiple sexual abuse charges involving a minor.
Ellis, 18, was arrested Tuesday on charges of sexual abuse, criminal enticement and sodomy. Authorities are not releasing many more details, but the alleged victim was 12 years old.
Ellis was released on a $150,000 bond late Tuesday. If convicted on the charges, Ellis could face to up 10 years behind bars.
He was indicted last week by an Escambia County (Ala.) grand jury, and he was picked up by Escambia County (Ala.) deputies shortly after school ended Tuesday.
His high school career included at least 1,500 rushing yards per year for each of the last three years at Flomaton. Ellis, who is 5-foot-9, had over 5,000 rushing yards in his high school career with the Canes.
FHSAA Releases Classifications; Northview’s District Goes From Four Teams To Nine
February 11, 2009
Preliminary non-football classifications released Tuesday by the Florida High School Athletic Association takes Northview High School from just four teams in their district to district with nine teams.
Northview, Catholic, South Walton and Walton currently comprise a district. Under the new classifications released Tuesday, Arnold (Panama City Beach), Bay (Panama City), Bozeman (Southport), Chipley and Marianna would join Northview, Catholic, South Walton and Walton in District 1-3A.
There would be nine teams in the district for sports like basketball and volleyball, and eight for soccer. Northview does not currently have a soccer program.
Schools can appeal their placements for the 2009-10 and 2010-11 school years by February 20.
In preliminary district alignments released in December for football, Northview remained in District 1-2B. Under a FHSAA rule that allows schools to “play down” one district, the Chiefs requested to be moved down one district to District 1-1A, the same district as the Jay Royals.
Class 1A is Florida’s smallest, comprised primarily of schools with 521 or fewer students. Northview had 544 students during the October week used by the FHSAA to determine the new classifications, but schools in the lower 10% of the population breakdown of each classification have the option of playing down one classification if it is deemed more suitable for district travel reasons.
Ernest Ward Cheerleaders Take Second Best In Nation
February 9, 2009
(With Link To Video)The Ernest Ward Middle School cheerleaders have taken second best in the entire nation Sunday afternoon in Orlando in the Universal Cheerleaders Association competition.
The EWMS cheerleaders took first place in the UCA West Florida Regional in November at Tate High School. Their score was so high that they automatically bypassed the preliminary rounds of competition Saturday in Orlando. The EWMS Golden Eagle cheerleaders were automatically advanced to Sunday’s final round.
Click here for a few more photos from Orlando (including new photos from Sunday afternoon’s competition).
Members of the EWMS squad are Cheyenne Godwin, Hannah Gibson, Katelynne Calloway, Ali Martin, Ariel Holland, Mariah Albritton, Lana Clayton, Morgan Ward, Raven Weaver, Reagan Bell, Angel Mitchell, Paeton Hadley, Ashley Mooney, Madison Arrington, Coach Ashley Salter and large number of parent volunteers.
Click here to watch a video of the EWMS performance Sunday in Orlando (enter “Ernest Ward” in the search box under the video tab). The video site is sometimes overloaded and slow; be patient.
Pictured above: The EWMS cheerleaders pose for a quick photo for NorthEscambia.com heading into Disney World this afternoon. Pictured below: And they’re off! The Golden Eagles head to their competition. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Molino Teen Wins Junior 5K In Bridge Run; Many Area Residents Place
February 8, 2009
A 13-year old Molino teen took first place in the male overall Junior 5K at Saturday’s Pensacola Double Bridge Run.
David McGahan, 13, of Molino finished first among the males in the Junior 5K with a gun time of 20:43. McGahan place 19th overall in the overall 5K results,
Several other North Escambia area residents placed in the 5K, including:
Richard Mason, 69, of Molino with a gun time of 31:29 placed third in the male 65-69 age group.
Matt Dobson, 39, of Jay placed first in the male 15K overall, with a guntime of 53:20.
The complete list of North Escambia area residents that placed in the 5K run/walk and 15K run in Saturday’s Pensacola Double Bridge Run is below.
Overall 5K run results:
019 David McGahan M 13 Molino FL 1:19:25
083 Daniel Sheppard M 38 Jay FL 1:22:38
114 Rob Bath M 57 Molino FL 1:23:47
132 Gloria Raney F 17 Jay FL 1:24:23
185 Kenneth Nobles M 29 Molino FL 1:25:38
209 Shirley Raney F 46 Jay FL 1:26:03
210 Lance Raney M 54 Jay FL 1:26:03
217 Melissa Nobles F 25 Molino FL 1:26:17
305 April Watson F 32 Jay FL 1:27:52
318 Greg McGahan M 41 Molino FL 1:28:10
319 Moriah McGahan F 11 Molino FL 1:28:10
329 Abby Raney F 14 Jay FL 1:28:22
367 Beth Anne Whitfield F 46 Jay FL 1:28:59
381 Sandy Arrant F 34 Jay FL 1:29:12
382 Lana Rowell F 27 Jay FL 1:29:13
409 Taylor Brown M 13 Molino FL 1:29:36
413 Anthony Watson M 34 Jay FL 1:29:40
432 Richard Mason M 69 Molino FL 1:30:12
542 Justin Marsh M 24 Atmore AL 1:32:33
575 Amy Sheppard F 36 Jay FL 1:33:17
590 Madison Whitfield M 48 Jay FL 1:33:38
650 Erin McCay F 32 Jay FL 1:35:47
799 Tracy Yuhasz F 44 Molino FL 1:51:22
Overall 5K walk results:
148 Tanya Brown F 47 Molino FL 50:27
Overall 15K results:
012 Matt Dobson M 39 Jay FL 53:20
133 Kristopher Head M 21 Jay FL 1:07:15
210 Keith Bell M 25 Atmore AL 1:10:31
531 Brandon Chambless M 15 Walnut Hill FL 1:19:00
699 Kevin Bell M 30 Atmore AL 1:23:05
940 Stacey Lowe F 34 Jay FL 1:29:45
EWMS Cheerleaders Headed To Orlando For National Finals
February 5, 2009
The Ernest Ward Middle School cheerleaders headed to Orlando Thurday to complete in the national cheerleading finals this weekend, and they have already made it to the final round.
The EWMS cheerleaders took first place in the Universal Cheerleaders Association West Florida Regional in November at Tate High School. Their score was so high that they automatically bypassed the preliminary rounds of competition Saturday in Orlando. The EWMS Golden Eagle cheerleaders were automatically advanced to Sunday’s final round.
There will be about 8,000 cheerleaders on 400 teams from 33 states will be participating in this year’s tournament. This is the first year the Ernest Ward cheerleaders have made the national finals.
NorthEscambia.com will keep you updated as often as possible during the weekend with reports from the Ernest Ward cheerleaders in Orlando.
Members of the squad at the West Florida Regional in November are, pictured above: (front row, L-R) Jessica Lowery, Hannah Gibson, Katelynne Calloway, Ali Martin, Ariel Holland, Mariah Albritton, (second row L-R) Lana Clayton, Morgan Ward, Raven Weaver, Reagan Bell, Angel Mitchell, Paeton Hadley, (back row L-R) Ashley Mooney and Madison Arrington. Not pictured: Coach Ashley Salter.NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
County Finalizes Land Swap For Bratt Park, Public Input Meeting Set
February 5, 2009
Escambia County has finalized a land swap that will bring a new community park to Bratt, and area residents are wasting no time in beginning to plan what they want to see done with the park.
The Escambia County Commission approved the land swap back in April, and there has been a “coming soon” sign on the property for months. But the deal just became final a few days ago.
The county traded 57 acres of mostly wetlands that county owned on Hanks Road for 13.19 acres at the corner of West Highway 4 and Bratt Road. The Highway 4 property was owned by Kale and Donna Schneider.
District 5 Commissioner Kevin White said that the new park had been a “long time coming”, with plans having been in the works for about 10 years.
“I think this is a great thing,” White recently told NorthEscambia.com. “A park in that area has been needed for a long time. This has been 10 years in the making.”
The land swap will end up costing the county only about $9,000. That will leave about $141,000 currently budgeted in White’s discretionary Local Option Sales Tax funds to develop that park. In the beginning, that money will pay for land improvements, playground equipment and a walking trail. Softball fields are part of the ultimate plan for the park, White said. The county’s budget crisis will not effect the funding for the park since funds will come from the local sales tax monies.
Area residents interested in the park are invited to attend a public meeting to be held at 6:30 next Thursday night, February 12 in the Fellowship Hall at the Shiloh Free Will Baptist Church at 5410 North Highway 99.
“It will be a great asset for the community, and we expect the private sector will get involved and help too,” White said. “It provides another park in the north part of the county that the other board members have supported since I have been here.”
The new park will be located along Highway 4 between Bratt First Baptist Church and Northview High School.
Pictured above: The site of a new county-owned park in Bratt is currently an open area with just a few very small trees. Pictured below: The aerial photo shows the placement of the new park. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Area Ball Registrations
January 31, 2009
It’s that time of the year again…ball registration is scheduled in Century, Molino and Walnut Hill.
Registration will be held each Saturday for the Molino Recreation Association at Don Sutton park in Molino. Registration will continue each Saturday from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. through February 23. The annual draft will be February 28.
Registration fees have been reduced this year due to the economy. This year, registration fees are $50 for the first child, $45 for the second, $40 for the third and free for additional players from the same family. A birth certificate copy is required to be on file for each child.
Teams for the Molino Recreation Association will include:
- Wee Ball –ages 3 & 4
- Tee Ball — ages 5, 6 & 7
- Baseball — ages 8 to 15
- Girls Softball — ages 8 to 16
If you would like to coach or just help out on your child’s team, you can sign up on the day your child is registered. For more information, call 587-4090.
Registration for Northwest Escambia Little League baseball begins Saturday, February 7 and continues each Saturday until February 21 from 10 a.m. until noon at Bradberry Park in Walnut Hill.
The cost is $35 for the first child from a family, $25 for the second child and free for each additional child. A copy of each child’s birth certificate is required for registration.
This year, NWE will offer Wee Ball for children ages 3 and 4 on the brand new “Drew’s Field”
For more information, call 327-6722 or 327-6155 after five p.m.
Century Little League will hold a board meeting at 10 a.m. on Saturday, January 31 at Showalter Park. The meeting is open to the public.
Ball registration will held again on Saturday, January 31 and Saturday, February 7 from noon until at Showalter Park.
Registration fees have been lowered this year for $30 for the first child and $20 for each additional child. A copy of each child’s birth certificate is requested. The following teams will be formed:
- Pre-T — 3 & 4
- Tee Ball — 5 to 7 boys and 5 to 8 girls
- Minor League Baseball — 8 to 10 y
- Machine-Pitch Minor League — 8 to 10
- Girls Minor League Softball — 9 to 10
- Boys Major League Baseball — 11 to 12
- Girls Major League Softball — 11 to 12
Ages are determined according to the child’s age on May 1, 2009.
NorthEscambia.com is looking for people to help us with stats and photos from NWE, Century and Molino play this year. If you are interested, use our contact form to let us know.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Ernest Ward Cheerleaders Need Your Help To Get To National Finals
January 26, 2009
The Ernest Ward Middle School cheerleaders are headed to Orlando next month to compete for a national title, and they could use a little help from you.
The EWMS cheerleaders took first place in the Universal Cheerleaders Association West Florida Regional in November at Tate High School. That qualifies the girls to head to Orlando for the national championships February 5-9.
Ashley Salter, EWMS cheerleading sponsor, says that the girls still need about $1,500 to make the trip. The girls have completed several fund raisers, including a pecan pie sale and a volleyball tournament, raising about $5,000 so far.
If you would like to help the Ernest Ward Middle School cheerleaders make their trip to the national finals, you can drop your donations off at the Ernest Ward office.
For a “sneak peek” at the EWMS cheerleaders’ national finals routine, click here for a photo gallery from a recent practice.
Pictured above: (front row, L-R) Hannah Gibson, Katelynne Calloway, Madison Arrington, Reagan Bell, Paeton Hadley, Morgan Ward, Mariah Albritton, (back row) Lana Clayton, Raven Weaver, Ariel Holland, Ali Martin, Cheyenne Godwin, Angel Mitchell and Ashley Mooney. Pictured left: The EWMS cheerleaders at a recent pratice. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Football Legend Carl Madison, 77, Returns To Coaching
January 23, 2009
Legendary football coach Carl Madison is returning to sidelines as the offensive coordinator for the Tate Aggies. From his first coaching job at Ernest Ward High School at age 26, Madison went on to become one of America’s most winning coaches.
Madison, age 77, is 326-129-7 over a 45 year coaching career, making him number two on Florida’s all-time coaching victories list and in the top 30 in the entire nation. He coached Tate to a state championship in 1980, and took the Pine Forest Eagles to two state championships in 1987 and 1988. The 1988 Eagle team was named as national champions by USA Today, and Madison earned the title of the National High School Football Coach of the Year. All in all, he coached at five different Florida High Schools including Ernest Ward, plus three out of state schools.
His football days began early at Escambia County High School in Atmore where he played tailback under Coach Herbert Barnes from 1945 to 1947, making him one of Atmore’s semi-famous “Barnes Boys” with 30 straight wins. After a stint in the Army, from 1950 to 1952, Madison played college ball for Texas Tech and Troy State Teachers College in the mid-1950’s.
Fresh out of college, Madison coached for four years beginning in 1957 at Ernest Ward High School in Walnut Hill. He moved to Milton High in 1961, coaching them to a state championship and 34 straight victories. He then took a coaching job at a Georgia High School, losing a state championship game in 1968.
Madison joined the coaching staff at Tate in 1971 on his way to winning that 1980 state championship. He left Tate in 1983, heading to Pensacola High for a couple of years. Then it was off to Pine Forest and those back-to-back state championships. He coached at an Albany, Georgia, school, another 10 years at Milton High and another short period at PHS during the period from 1989 until 2002.
In 2002, he took the head coach job at the small Jackson Academy in Alabama. The 71-year old took over a team that had gone 0-10 prior to his arrival. He lost his first two games at Jackson, but he went on to win the state championship. The following year, Jackson was undefeated and won another state championship.
Madison will continue to live in Atmore. On March 1, he will begin working with the Aggies, which finished with a 4-7 record last year.