Molino Park Veterans Program Rescheduled For Tuesday
November 12, 2009
The Molino Park Elementary School Veterans Day program “Sing Across America” has been rescheduled for Tuesday, November 17 at 1 p.m.
The school will also be collecting change for Emerald Coast Honor Flight at this time.
20 Goats Killed In Molino Pasture By Coyotes
November 12, 2009
Coyotes have attacked and killed over 20 goats in Molino, and the coyotes are still on the loose.
Wednesday night, Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies, Escambia County Animal Control and the Florida Department of Fish and Wildlife were dispatched to a pasture in the 6000 block of Fairground Road in Molino.
The owner of 20 goats — 12 adult and eight babies – reported the animals to have been missing or dead in their pasture. Deputies were able to locate the bodies of all eight baby goats and a few of the adult goats. While deputies Heath Cheatham and his partner were investigating, they saw two coyotes in the field.
“While in the pasture looking for the goats, we observed two coyotes to be walking through the wood line area of the pasture,” Cheatham sad in his report. “All of the goats that were located appeared to be killed as a natural act of predation by coyotes.”
The goat’s caretaker told deputies that he would clean up and bury the goats Thursday morning.
A dog was also reportedly killed by the coyotes.
An investigation is continuing by the Florida Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Parade Honors Area Veterans
November 12, 2009
The skies were gray, but the red, white and blue were shining brightly Wednesday afternoon as people from Atmore, North Escambia and surrounding areas honored veterans with a parade.
National Guard units, floats with veterans, a band, beauty queens, fire trucks, a congressman and more took part in the annual event.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the Atmore Veterans Day Parade, click here.
Pictured above: A group of veterans ride in this afternoon’s Veterans Day parade in Atmore. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Couple Accused Of Horse Cruelty Enter Not Guilty Pleas
November 12, 2009
A North Escambia couple arrested on animal cruelty charges in October have entered not guilty pleas in Escambia County Circuit Court.
Robin Brownie Floyd, 53, and Lynn Livingston Floyd, 42, both of Gilmore Road, Century, pleaded not guilty Friday before Judge David Ackerman. Both are faces three count of confinement of animals without sufficient food or water.
Panhandle Equine Rescue received a tip that several thin horses were being moved by the Floyds to Santa Rosa County, according to PER President Diane Lowery. She said the horses were being transferred to a Santa Rosa County residence and then moved out of state to a horse rescue in Georgia. Lowery said that when PER investigated in September, they found three emaciated horses still on the Gilmore Road property. Warrants were issued, and the Floyds turned themselves in at the Escambia County Jail on October 15.
A public defender was appointed for both Floyds after the court found them to be indigent. They are due back in court in early December, and their jury trials are scheduled to begin in mid-December. Both remain free on $6,000 bond each.
Retiring Veteran Honored
November 12, 2009
Rickie Bonner never expected anything out of the ordinary when he headed out to raise the flag at Alto Products on Veteran’s Day. It had been taken down on Monday because of Tropical Storm Ida. With the storm gone, it was being put back to fly at half-staff to honor the fallen at Fort Hood. What he found brought a tear to his eye.
Rickie Bonner, who is Alto’s senior director of operations, was doing something he has done for ten years at Alto. Among his other, more demanding job duties, he took responsibility for flying the American flag at the Atmore plant many years ago. On Wednesday morning he found a plaque on the flag pole in his honor. Rickie is retiring from Alto soon and this was a way his fellow employees choose to honor him. His co-workers had hoped to surprise him with a small gathering as the plaque was presented, but things didn’t go exactly as planned.
“I wondered what was under the white sheet of paper taped to the pole”, said Bonner. “I was very surprised when I found the plaque.”
“I appreciate Rickie’s ten years of dedicated service to Alto,” said David Landa, president of Alto Products in Atmore. “We could always count on Rickie to be responsible for our flag. We wish him well in his retirement”.
Perhaps being responsible for the flag is just a part of who he is. Bonner served in the US Army. He served in the Vietnam conflict for one year and is a combat wounded veteran. Among the honors he earned for his service to his country are two Bronze Stars with Valor, an Army commendation, the Purple Heart and one Air Medal for combat air time.
“I served a lot of air hours in a helicopter to earn that medal,” Bonner said.
When he speaks of his time at Alto, he has good things to say. “I’m very grateful to have worked for a fine company, outstanding managers and David (Landa),” he said. “I appreciate the team atmosphere and have enjoyed the ten years I’ve worked at Alto.”
“I’ve enjoyed working with Rickie over the years and thank him for his service to Alto,” said Bill Busch, Chief Operating Officer of Alto Products. “He is really a great guy who will truly be missed.”
Pictured top: Retiring Rickie Bonner was honored Wednesday for ten years of service at Alto Products in Atmore. Pictured inset: The plaque on the company’s flag pole honors Bonner. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
County Forgives $57,850 In Fines, Liens On Bratt Property
November 12, 2009
The Escambia County Commission has agreed to waive $57,850 in fines and costs associated with a code enforcement lien on a Bratt property.
In a handwritten letter, Leslie Barnes of McDavid asked the commission to waive the penalties that had accrued on a piece of property at 3600 Ashcraft Road, near the new Bratt Community Park.
In the letter, Barnes stated that he sold the property to and financed it for Linda Holcombe in May, 2001. According to the Escambia County Office of Environmental Enforcement, Holcombe was cited for overgrowth, trash and debris, and illegal burning on April 3, 2006. She was ordered August 22, 2006, by a special magistrate to clean up the property.
After Barnes repossessed the property in September, 2009, he found Holcombe owed the county $1,100 in code enforcement lien and fines that totaled $56,750 by October 8. Barnes cleaned the property to the satisfaction of code enforcement officials on October 8, ending the accrual of new fines.
Citing the inability to pay the $56,760 in fines, Barnes asked the commission to waive the amount owed.
The commission voted 4-1 to waive the fines plus the $1,100 in hard costs. Commissioner Wilson Robertson voted against the waiving the entire lien amount.
Fort Hood Shootings: Local Mom’s Son ‘Was Close’
November 12, 2009
When tragedy struck at Fort Hood last week, one area mother spent several anxious hours waiting to hear from her son.
Bobbie Hobbs of Pollard, a small community east of Flomaton, could not understand how 11 people could be killed and 31 could be wounded by an gunman on an American military base.
She received a phone call from her son-in-law in Ohio. He had seen the events unfolding on television. Her thoughts immediately turned to her son, Sgt. Joseph Johnson, his wife and young child.
“We went around the world trying to get him. We did manage to get his wife and one-year old child,” Hobbs said. They were at a daycare off the base.
“It was scary,” she added. It was four or five hours before she could confirm that her son was uninjured. Sgt. Johnson would not tell his mom exactly where he was or what he was doing during the shootings at the Fort Hood’s “Soldier Readiness Center”.
“All he would say was that he was close,” Hobbs, who works at Alto Products in Atmore, said.
“It was a long scary day,” she said. “He has been to Iraq twice. I can understand that he was in danger over there, not here in the States.”
Pictured top: Jamie Anderson holds a candle for her daughter, Solana, 4, as her grandmother, Jo Ellen Freleigh, of New York, protects her candle from the wind at Fort Hood during candlelight prayer vigil to honor those who were killed and wounded. Pictured inset: Soldiers attend a chemical light vigil held in remembrance of comrades and loved ones who were killed and wounded in the shooting tragedy at Fort Hood, Texas. Photos courtesy U.S. Department of Defense for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Students Honored For Artistic Abilities
November 12, 2009
Dozens of North Escambia area students were honored for their artistic abilities at the 2009 Pensacola Interstate Fair.
The following students received awards:
Category — Mixed Media
Parish Kelley, third place, Northview High
Parish Kelley, Honorable Mention, Northview High
Cally Hayes, Honorable Mention, Tate High
Rachel Waldroup, Honorable Mention, Tate High
Category — Drawing
Dusty Kennedy, first place, Jay High
Parish Kelley, Honorable Mention, Northview High
Category — Digital Arts
Cody Maxwell, third place, Jay High
Gisele “Bai” Ronquillo, second place, Tate High
Jessica Bennett, Honorable Mention, Tate High
Erica Davis, Honorable Mention, Tate High
Mallory McDonald, Honorable Mention, Tate High
Amy Lacour, Honorable Mention, Tate High
Christa Lee, Honorable Mention, Tate High
Category — Sculpture
Travis Prescott, third place, Jay High
Gloria Ramey, Honorable Mention, Jay High
Myrinda Carver, Honorable Mention, Jay High
Amanda Gilmore, Honorable Mention, Jay High
Emily Smith, Honorable Mention, Tate High
Category — Beginning Arts
Drew Kennedy, Honorable Mention, Jay High
Dylan Nadsady, Honorable Mention, Jay High
Sawyer Gandy, Honorable Mention, Jay High
Jordan Bray, Honorable Mention, Jay High
Ciara Golden, Honorable Mention, Jay High
Dakota Ellis, Honorable Mention, Jay High
Hannah Johnson, Honorable Mention, Tate High
Ian Harrington, Honorable Mention, Tate High
Dylan Smith, Honorable Mention, Tate High
Wendy Stradley, Honorable Mention, Tate High
Erica Davis, Honorable Mention, Tate High
Category — Ceramics
Daniel Morris, second place, Tate High
Joe Fischetti, third place, Tate High
Cheyenne Robinson, Honorable Mention, Tate High
Grace Mingo, Honorable Mention, Tate High
Category — Photography
Spencer Taylor, first place, Tate High
Emily Creahan, Honorable Mention, Tate High
Lindsay Creahan, Honorable Mention, Tate High
Torie Passione, Honorable Mention, Tate High
Tyler Acosta, Honorable Mention, Tate High
Northwest Escambia Mite Cheerleaders Place In Competition
November 12, 2009
The Northwest Escambia Mite cheerleaders recently competed in the Gulf Coast Youth Football Alliance 2009 Cheerleading Competition in Navarre. NWE placed third out of six teams in the small non-mount category.
The competition consisted of one cheer, one chant and a dance routine
Pictured left: (front L-R) Kayla Turner; Memory Peebles; Danielle Stucky; Reagan Harrel; Madison Sherhouse; (middle row) Kylie Brook, cheer captain; Ann Margaret Boothe; Gabby Peebles; (back row) Jennifer Peebles, coach; Ashleigh Skaggs, assistant coach; and Morgan Ward, choreographer. Not pictured: Matt Brock, who mixed the music for the dance routine. Pictured below: The Northwest Escambia Mite cheerleaders perform in Navarre. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Santa Rosa Library Hours Cut
November 12, 2009
Libraries in Santa Rosa County, including the one in Jay, are cutting back hours effective this week because of the economic downturn.
Due to declining county revenues and a reduction of 59 percent in the state’s aid to Santa Rosa County libraries, county commissioners approved the county administrator’s recommendation to reduce library hours by five hours per week. The reduced hours begin at all locations in the county today.
The reduced hours will eliminate two full time jobs and nine student positions.
Libraries in Jay, Milton, Pace and Gulf Breeze will see a reduction of five hours per week. The new hours are:
- Monday, 9 am – 5 pm
- Tuesday 11 am – 7 pm
- Wednesday 11 am – 7 pm
- Thursday 9 am – 1 pm
- Friday 9 am – 5 pm
- Saturday 9 am – 1 pm
The new library hours were based upon user surveys that indicated patterns of library usage by students that use the library for homework that generally depend on working parents to take them to the library after work, typically come between 5 and 7 p.m. from early to mid-week, working adults that typically use the library after 5:30 p.m. and high early morning library usage.
“Many factors must be considered in making changes to library hours. Our foremost library service goal is to provide the highest possible level of library service to the greatest number of our citizens, while also considering the welfare and safety of library employees, schedules for youth programs and community groups who use library space for their meetings,” Linda Hendrix, Santa Rosa county library director, said.
Library usage in Santa Rosa County is actually on the increase, with a 27 percent increase in checkouts during the last year.