“The observation by coaches in the area is that there are girls that are interested in playing club volleyball, but that driving distances for club teams in Pensacola and Mobile have prohibited them from playing,” Heaton said. “We are interested in starting a club team and/or training team in the North Escambia Florida and surrounding Alabama areas.”

Club Volleyball is used to help players gain more experience playing volleyball. Club Volleyball will give players interested in developing their volleyball skills a chance to practice and play volleyball with a variety of coaches and teammates.

Training Team is a non-tournament club volleyball team. The goals would still be the same as a club volleyball team but they would not travel or play in tournaments. This would provide the players with the chance to practice and improve their skills.

An information meeting has been scheduled to for Friday night, November 20 at 7:00 at the Northview High School gym. Costs and different options available to players will be discussed at this meeting.

For more information, call or email Betty Heaton at bettie08@yahoo.com or (251) 253-0101 or Cheryl Bosley at Willy24@comcast.net (251) 591-0456.

For flyer with more information, click here (pdf).

Escambia County Superintendent Malcolm Thomas sat down with student leaders at Northview High School Thursday morning to learn more about what they think about their school.

Just over a dozen students representing various clubs, organizations and sports were chosen for the round table discussion with Thomas.

“I feel like our teachers try really hard,” junior Sarah Killam told Thomas.

“So they are pushing you? Tell me about that,” the superintendent replied.

“It’s just different now because of the those scores,” she said. Last year, Northview was the only high school in the county to receive a “D” grade from the Florida Department of Education.

“You are one of my target schools for needing improvement,” Thomas told Killam. “This year, we are very serious about what we are doing. We are going to raise the rigor and make sure you are challenged.”

Students were encouraged to speak openly and freely with Thomas without school staff or faculty present.

Thomas is holding the discussions at each high school in the county, mostly with school leadership classes.

Pictured top and bottom: Escambia School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas holds a discussion with Northview High School students  Thursday morning. Pictured inset: Junior Sarah Killam talks to Thomas. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

The following was submitted by Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Chumuckla:

For weeks, President Obama has told us that his $787 billion “stimulus” package has saved or created over a million jobs. As proof, the Administration’s website Recovery.gov gave us the chance to look at the numbers.

So this week I looked through the President’s job claims. I learned that 52 jobs were saved or created in the 34th Congressional District of Florida. 5 jobs created in the 86th District. 46 in District 00. And although $460,000 of your tax dollars were spent in the 53rd District, unfortunately zero jobs were saved.

The problem is, these congressional districts do not exist.

Florida only has TWENTY-FIVE congressional districts.

In fact, according to Recovery.gov, over $11 million has been spent in Florida in districts that just aren’t there.

How can the President and Majority Party in Congress expect us to believe their dubious jobs-created claims when their own numbers are patently false? How can we trust the Administration to run the stimulus when they can’t even properly manage their own website?

Even the Obama Administration is perplexed. The chief federal oversight official for the stimulus program, Recovery Board Chairman Earl Devaney, confirms that it is impossible to certify that the President’s job claims are accurate or auditable. Ed Pound, the communications director for the Recovery.gov website, said he had no idea how these fake congressional districts received stimulus money. When asked by the New Orleans Times Picayune why recipients would plug-in phantom districts, Pound responded, “who knows, man, who really knows?”

I would say to Mr. Pound that the American people know. We know that the Administration is pulling a “jobs created or saved” number out of thin air despite the fact that the unemployment rate remains high. The people of Florida know. We know that although Democrats represent only 10 of Florida’s 25 districts, their districts received 60% of the stimulus funds.

These numbers reek of partisanship and potential corruption.

Instead of spending trillions of taxpayer dollars on programs that do not and will not create jobs, the President should focus on cutting taxes on small businesses and supporting an American economy that will create and sustain jobs. Republicans have a plan that will do just that.

*To take a look at your tax dollars hard at work in non-existent Florida districts, visit: http://www.recovery.gov/Pages/TextView.aspx?data=stateSummaryAllCD&statecode=FL

Escambia County Sheriff’s Deputy Scott Mashburn was working radar Thursday on Mayhaw Road in Walnut Hill in response to community complaints.

At a town hall meeting Tuesday night, Mayhaw Road resident Anthony Ford told Escambia County Commissioner Kevin White and Chief Deputy Bill Chavers that speeding was a problem on the road, which runs between North Highway 99 and Highway 164. Ford expressed concerns over the safety of children that live in the area.

Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies are also using radar to enforce speed limits on other North Escambia roads.

Pictured above:  Escambia County Sheriff’s Deputy Scott Mashburn finds the speed of a passing truck to be 24 mph Thursday on Mayhaw Road in Walnut Hill. The posted speed on the road is 40 mph. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.

Beulah Chapel Assembly of God held its annual Community Thanksgiving Lunch for Byrneville senior citizens Thursday. Dozens of seniors attended the lunch, which featured a full Thanksgiving menu of turkey, dressing and a variety of side dishes and desserts. Firemen from the Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, including the crew of Engine 519, assisted church members in serving the lunches. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

The Poarch Creek Indians presented  pow wow dances Thursday at the Century Branch Library.

Several dozen children enjoyed the performance at the library. For a complete photo gallery, click here.

The Century Branch Library and the other libraries in the West Florida Public Library system will be closed November 26 and 27 for Thanksgiving.

Pictured above: A Poarch Creek Indian dancer performs at the Century Branch Library Thursday afternoon. Pictured below: A packed house for the performance. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

The first program will be this Saturday, November 21 at 9 a.m. at Aldersgate United Methodist Church on Highway 29 just south of Highway 97.

The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office will present “Safety In the Home, Shopping Safety” and information on other basic safety issues. At the first meeting,  Lt. Pat Spears will provide information specific to living in a rural area, as well as tips to stay safe when starting holiday shopping.

Future talks and workshops are planned around self defense and age-specific issues. For more information, contact the Molino Farm Bureau office at (850) 587-2135.

The Gulf Coast Dirt Track Championships will take place Friday and Saturday night at the Flomaton Speedway with 80 to 100 cars.

“The action this weekend will be unbelievable,” said Jimmy Goodwin, Flomaton Speedway owner

The Stingers and Bombers will race full programs both nights. The street stock and late models will qualify on Friday. The top eight will be locked in and will race a dash on Friday to set the first four rows for Saturday.

Grandstand admission is $7 on Friday, $15 on Sunday. A two-day pass will be available Friday night for $20. Special admission rates will apply to children. Pit passes will be available $30 per night or $50 per night.

In the event Saturday night is rained out, Goodwin said Saturday night’s events will be run at 2:00 Sunday afternoon. In the event Sunday night is rained out as well, the races will be held Saturday night, November 28.

The Flomaton Speedway is located off Highway 113 just north of Highway 29; look for the signs. For more information, visit www.flomatonspeedway.com or call (251) 296-DIRT. The Flomaton Speedway is an alcohol-free facility.

Complete highlights from the weekend’s events are below:

Friday

• BKW, Inc Crate Late Model Qualifying (Top 8 locked in, $250 fast qualifier award).
• Street Stock Qualifying (Top 8 locked in, $100 fast qualifier award).
• Jim’s Furniture and Appliances Stingers will run heats and feature ($500 to win).
• Fleetpro Commerical Bombers will run heats and feature ($500 to win).
• Top 8 qualifiers will run a dash to set starting positions. Invert will be determined by fast qualifier pill draw.

Saturday

• Heat races and last chance races (if required) for Late Models and Street Stock. (22 car field).
• Jim’s Furniture and Appliances Stingers will run heats and feature ($500 to win).
• Fleetpro Commercial Bombers will run heats and feature ($500 to win).
• BKW, Inc Crate Late Model Feature ($3,500 to win, $100 to start).
• Street Stock Feature ($1,000 to win).

Pictured top: Bomber feature winner Steven Fretwell (#24) has the lead as Doc McDaniel (#27S) tries to pass on the outside during September racing at Flomaton Speedway. Pictured inset: Steven Brantley won the Crate Late Model feature Labor Day race . File photos by Mike Newton Photography for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge

Proceeds from the game will benefit the Miracle League of  Northwest Florida, a baseball league for disabled and special needs persons that plays spring and fall at the Mitchell Homes Miracle League Park on Nine Mile Road.

The Class 1A Northview Chiefs, under first year Coach Sid Wheatly, finished with a 7-3 record, a huge improvement over last year’s 2-8 season. The Tate Aggies were 7-3 this season in Class 4A.

Kickoff is at noon. Admission is $5. Bands from both schools will perform during halftime.

(Updated 10:00 a.m.) A young driver was injured in a single vehicle accident in Molino the morning.

The Florida Highway Patrol says Francis Marquis, 16, of Cantonment, was northbound on Schifko Road at about 6:50 a.m. when she lost control, struck a dirt embankment and overturned. Her 1998 Chevrolet Monte Carlo came to rest upright in the middle of Schifko Road, just south of Barrineau Park Road.

Marquis, who was wearing her seat belt,  was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital by ambulance. There were no passengers in the vehicle. LifeFlight was called to the scene, but was canceled.

The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.

Engine 1819 from the Molino Station of Escambia Fire-Rescue and Escambia County EMS responded to the call.

Pictured above and below: A Cantonment teen was injured in this Thursday morning accident in Molino. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.