Photos: Northview Presents ‘Grease’
May 4, 2013
Northview High School presented Grease before a sold out crowd Friday night.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Bethany Reynolds, click to enlarge.
Photo: Beautiful Rainbow
May 4, 2013
A full rainbow was seen over portions of the North Escambia area Friday afternoon. Pictured top is the rainbow over Northview High School (by Ramona Preston). Pictured below is the rainbow over Atmore (by Ditto Gorme). Pictured bottom is the rainbow over Oakshade Road behind Northview HIgh in Bratt (by Donna Gilman). Reader submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Today: Market at St. Monica’s, Palafox Market Open 2013 Season
May 4, 2013
Today is opening day for two local farmer’s markets named among the best in their size in the U.S. The Market at Saint Monica’s in Cantonment and the Palafox Market in downtown Pensacola will both be open with farm fresh produce and much more.
MARKET AT SAINT MONICA’S
The Market at Saint Monica’s will begin its third season today until 1 p.m. in the parking lot of Saint Monica’s Episcopal Church, 699 South Highway 95-A, Cantonment.
Vendors signed up participate in opening day include Ladybug Acres All-Natural Growers, Smocked with Love, Pawless Ponies & Farm, Carlos Goebels – local artist, Hastings Grass Fed Beef, F & G Craftworks, Enoch’s Walk Farm, Ray of Hope – recycled concrete sculptures, Susan’s Hot Dog’s, Jackie’s Sno-cones and more. All vendors are asked to make a donation to Manna Food Pantry.
In addition to new and returning vendors, opening day will feature a Smoked Pulled Pork Barbecue Fundraiser, music by Mr. V’s DJ Service, and special children’s activities. Barbecue plates are $6 and include pulled pork barbecue sandwich, baked beans, coleslaw, and soft drink or bottled water. All proceeds will benefit St. Monica’s outreach ministries.
For more information about Market’s vendors, special events, or schedule, visit www.st-monicas.org/market.html.
PALAFOX MARKET
The May 2013 – April 2014 Palafox Market season begins today until 2 p.m. in downtown Pensacola. As it enters its sixth season, the Palafox Market continues to expand with new vendors and more products. Customers have Saturdays to browse the unique goods offered by local farmers, gardeners, artisans and bakers.
Items originate directly from onsite vendors and include dozens of local farmers, home gardeners, culinary and area artists. Vendors reside throughout Escambia, Santa Rosa, and Baldwin counties which ensures a variety of colorful, local, and enticing products. In addition to returning vendors, new vendors will also be joining the market. Customers will get to experience new products such as homemade sauces, baked goods, additional local produce and even more original award winning artwork.
Mary Bartlett, market vendor since 2008 and owner of Bartlett Meadows Farms said, “The Palafox Market is the best way for shoppers to find locally grown and crafted products at their freshest. The exchange between people and farmers insures the best possible food on local tables. From local honey and handmade soaps to produce, baked goods, jellies, art, jewelry and handcrafted yard furniture, the Palafox Market has it all.”
The Palafox Market is every Saturday from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. rain or shine. The market is located under the shade trees in Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza on North Palafox Street between Garden and Wright Streets. For more information, including products available and how to become a vendor, or to sign up for the weekly newsletter, visit the website at www.palafoxmarket.com.
May Fest Today At Quintette Community Park
May 4, 2013
The Quintette Community Park Association will hold their 3rd Annual May Fest until 6 p.m. at the Quintette Community Park. The event will include entertainment, food, music, softball, vendors, Maypole planting and much more.
Pictured: The Maypole at last year’s May Fest at the Quintette Community Park. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Chipley Beats Jay In 10 For Region 1-1A Championship
May 4, 2013
The Jay Lady Royals fell short of a return trip to state with a Friday night loss to Chipley.
In Friday night’s Region 1-1A championship game, the Chipley Tigers defeated Jay 4-1 in 10 innings.
Chassity McCranie pitched 10 for the Lady Royals, allowing four runs, 12 hits and striking out four. Sydney Lowery went 2-4 for Jay with two doubles and an RBI. Olivia Wright was 1-3, Destiny Herring was 1-4, and Brittany Gillman was 2-4.
Lawmakers Approve Budget, Finish Session
May 4, 2013
The House and Senate overwhelmingly approved a $74.5 billion budget Friday evening, bringing the curtain down on the 2013 legislative session.
The spending plan for the year that begins July 1 — the one thing lawmakers are constitutionally required to do — gives raises to teachers and state employees, the latter for the first time in six years; repays $300 million that lawmakers had drained from university reserves last year in an effort to close a budget gap; and sets aside money for projects large and small, including $70 million to help restore the Everglades.
Perhaps as significantly, the plan was passed a few minutes before 7 p.m. Friday, marking a departure from the late and sometimes bitter denouements to the sessions of recent years.
“The era of acrimony between the House and the Senate is over,” said Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, moments after the session ended.
In the House, lawmakers voted 106-11 to approve the budget, with a handful of Democrats and Rep. John Tobia, R-Melbourne Beach, voting against the package. Most members of the minority party joined Republicans in approving the deal. The vote was unanimous in the Senate.
The measure still needs to be signed into law by Gov. Rick Scott, who will have the opportunity to nix individual projects and proposals with his veto pen.
“I’ll be going line-by-line, making sure that we don’t waste any dollars,” Scott said after the session.
The era of good feelings was helped along by modest growth in state revenues as the budget finally began to emerge from the shadows of the Great Recession.
“There’s light at the end of the tunnel, and it’s not another train,” said Rep. Joe Gibbons, D-Hallandale Beach.
The extra money allowed the Legislature to both allow spending to grow and say that they were being careful guardians of taxpayer money.
“And this year in addition to taking care of the people who you’re supposed to take care of, you’ve also responsibly balanced your budget by putting $2.6 billion in reserves, and responsibly funding one of our most important missions coming up here, and that is education, by putting $1.8 billion new into your entire education system,” said House Appropriations Chairman Seth McKeel, R-Lakeland.
It was not a universally shared sentiment. Democratic leaders in the House hammered Republicans for not including as part of the budget any program to use federal funds to provide health-care for low-income Floridians. While Scott and the Senate backed doing so, House Republican leaders balked and said that the federal government was an unreliable partner.
House Minority Leader Perry Thurston, D-Fort Lauderdale, acknowledged that lawmakers should not proverbially let the perfect be the enemy of the good.
“But we do have an opportunity to be great, and we’re settling for good,” Thurston said.
Republicans, who also claimed victories on an overhaul of the state’s education system, bills dealing with ethics and elections reforms and measures revamping campaign-finance laws, didn’t let the criticism get to them.
“I can go home and sleep well tonight,” Gaetz said. “When I go back to northwest Florida, I’m going back proud of our accomplishments.”
by The News Service of Florida
Broken Down: LifeFlight Helicopter Grounded In Walnut Hill
May 4, 2013
A LifeFlight helicopter was grounded in Walnut Hill Thursday afternoon. The helicopter had responded to the Walnut Hill Fire Station on Highway 97 to transport a patient to Pensacola. Shortly after the helicopter lifted from the ground, it experienced a reported radio problem and aborted the flight. The patient was transported by ambulance to Pensacola with no additional complications. The 2010 Eurocopter is operated by Air Methods for Baptist Health Care. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Biscuits Beat The Wahoos 3-2
May 4, 2013
The Montgomery Biscuits rallied from an early two-run deficit to beat the Pensacola Blue Wahoos 3-2 on Friday night in front of 4,662 fans at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. With the win, Montgomery clinched the five-game series by winning the first three contests.
Trailing 2-0 after the first inning, the Biscuits tied the game in the third on a two-run triple from Mikie Mahtook. It stayed that way until the eighth inning when Montgomery took advantage of wild Pensacola pitching. Lee Hyde loaded the bases with two walks and a single before being lifted for Drew Hayes. With nobody out, Hayes struck out back-to-back hitters, but wasn’t able to escape the frame without the Biscuits pushing across the go-ahead run on a five-pitch walk to Mark Thomas. Hayes would strike out Shawn O’Malley to avert further danger.
Pensacola jumped out to an early two-run lead in the first as the first four batters reached, culminating in RBI base knocks from Ryan LaMarre and Steve Selsky. Those would be the only runs the Blue Wahoos could muster but it wasn’t for lack of opportunities. Pensacola had the bags packed and one out in the seventh but Travis Mattair bounced into a 6-4-3 double play to keep the game tied at two.
In the ninth, Pensacola had the tying run at second with one out, but Juan Sandoval was able to get out of the jam with two groundouts sandwiched around a hit by pitch. Sandoval picked up his sixth save of the season in the process.
Matt Nevarez (2-0) earned the win for the Biscuits by tossing 1.2 innings of scoreless relief. Starter Merrill Kelly went 6.1 frames for Montgomery and allowed two runs on six hits, striking out five and walking a pair.
Daniel Renken settled for a no-decision for Pensacola despite tossing a quality start. Renken went six innings, yielding two runs (one earned) on four hits while tying a season-high with six strikeouts. Hyde (1-3) picked up the loss by giving up a run on a hit in .1 innings while walking three.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series with the Biscuits on Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. Josh Smith gets the start for Pensacola against Montgomery’s Enny Romero. It will be Boy Scout night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium with local scout troops participating in pre-game activities and sleeping over after the game. I
story by Kevin Burke
Photos by Gary McCracken for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Greater Escambia Relay At Tate To Go On Rain Or Shine
May 3, 2013
Organizers say the annual Greater Escambia Relay at Tate High School will go on tonight regardless of rain.
The annual Relay for Life fundraiser kicks off at 6:00 tonight and will continue into the overnight hours, regardless of weather conditions. The area will be filled with cancer survivors and people from all walks of life hoping to find a cure to the killer disease.
“It’s looking like we are getting a lucky break in the weather,” said Pat Clements, Relay For Life of Greater Escambia event chair. “We are not going to let a little rain set us back from this important fight.”
The opening ceremony will be at 6 p.m. with a Survivor Lap followed by the Luminaria Ceremony at 9 p.m. Closing ceremonies begin at 11:30 Saturday morning.
Atmore Police Searching For Murder Suspect
May 3, 2013
This suspect has been arrested. For an updated story, click here.
The Atmore Police Department has named a suspect in the murder of a local man last Sunday morning.
An arrest warrant has been issued for 28-year old Kendrell “Dick” McCants of Atmore. He is accused in the death of 50-year old Marvin D. Norman of Atmore.
McCants’ last known address is 406 Peachtree Street in Atmore. He is described as a black male, 5-foot 9-inches tall, weighing 137 pounds. He has brown eyes and black hair.
At 6:17 a.m. on April 28, Atmore Police responded to a reported unconscious person in the 80 block of Brooks Lane. As officers arrived, they observed a man later identified as Norman on the ground in a yard. Police said he had injuries consistent with an assault.
Norman was transported by Atmore Ambulance to Atmore Community Hospital. He was later airlifted by LifeFlight to Baptist Hospital in Pensacola where he passed away a short time later.
The Atmore Police Department is asking for anyone with information on the whereabouts of McCants to call (251) 368-9141 or 911.