Free Movie Night Tonight
July 25, 2008
The Century Blue Ribbon Committee will present another Friday free movie night.
The movie will be show at 6:30 tonight at the New Life Baptist Church in the old Century High School.
The movie is scheduled to be “A Walk to Remember”. In the movie, love brings together what peer pressure and lifestyles seek to keep apart in this coming-of-age story based on the bestselling book. Teen idol Shane West and multiplatinum recording star Mandy Moore star as two high schoolers — she a straitlaced preacher’s daughter and he an unmotivated delinquent. When events thrust him into her world he begins an unexpected journey he’ll never forget.
Pot Plants Valued At About $2 Million
July 25, 2008
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Department has destroyed about $2 million worth marijuana plants found near Jay.
The 1,183 plants were located in the Brownsdale community southwest of Jay near Bud Diamond Road. Deputies removed the plants Wednesday night after an anonymous tip led them to the 80 b 40 foot patch deep in the woods. Deputies said they did not immediately name any suspects in connection with the plants, some of which were up to 11 feet tall.
Deputies did not say if this major drug find was related to the arrest of a Jay man earlier this week for the cultivation of about 85 marijuana plants. Tharon “Buckshot” Godwin, 66, was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to sell, manufacture or deliver, a third degree felony in connection with 85 pot plants located in a wooded area on Bud Diamond Road near Chumuckla Highway, very near Wednesday night’s find. To read the story about Godwin and the 85 marijuana plants, click here.
Community To Rally Tonight In Support Of School
July 24, 2008
Century area residents will once again come together for a community meeting in support of Carver/Century K-8 School.
The meeting will be held at 6:30 tonight in the school cafeteria, and the public is invited to attend.
About 70 people attended the last Carver/Century community meeting back on June 10. At that time, Escambia School Superintendent Jim Paul was expected to recommend closing the school to save the district $680,000a year. In June, it looked like that closure could come as early as this school year. But Paul later said he would recommend closure of the school for the 2009-2010 school year at the school board’s July meeting, and that did not happen.
But Associate Superintendent Ronnie Arnold told NorthEscambia.com that Paul is now expected to recommend closure to the school board at their August 19 meeting. If that recommendation is approved, this school year would be the last for Carver/Century.
Many in Century hoped that the school would remain open after the Blackcat’s Florida Department of Education school grade improved from an “F” to a “B”.
But that will have no impact on Paul’s decision, according to Arnold.
“He (Paul) was very happy for the Carver/Century community for the ‘B’ the school received,” Arnold said of Carver/Century’s school grade. “The grade itself does not have a bearing on any potential closure recommendation.”
Arnold pointed out that Paul recommended the closure of Pensacola Beach Elementary School in 2001 despite of the school’s grade. In the 1999-2000 school year, Pensacola Beach Elementary was ranked as an “A” school with 100 percent of students scoring at grade level or above on both the reading and math FCAT. In Pensacola Beach Elementary’s last year, 2000-2001, the school had slipped from an “A” to a “B” rating.
“He recommended the closure of Pensacola Beach Elementary in 2001 for many of the same reasons he would recommend the closure of Carver,” Arnold said of Paul’s recommendation. “Simply stated, it’s the cost-per-student to operate schools of such small population.”
Pictured above: The last community meeting held at Carver/Century K-8 School on June 10. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
About 1,000 Pot Plants Found Wednesday PM Near Jay
July 24, 2008
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Department worked into the night Wednesday night to destroy about 1,000 marijuana plants found near Jay.
The plants were located in the Brownsdale community southwest of Jay near Bud Diamond Road.
It was not immediately known if this major drug find was related to the arrest of a Jay man earlier this week for the cultivation of about 85 marijuana plants. Tharon “Buckshot” Godwin, 66, was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to sell, manufacture or deliver, a third degree felony in connection with 85 pot plants located in a wooded area on Bud Diamond Road near Chumuckla Highway, very near Wednesday night’s find. To read the story about Godwin and the 85 marijuana plants, click here.
Tate Road Closed Until This Afternoon
July 24, 2008
Tate Road will be closed from North Tate School Road to Swift Creek Drive until about 4:00 this afternoon
Students and faculty attending events at Tate High School will need to use the entrances from Highway 29 on Tate School Road or North Tate School Road, according to Sonya Daniel, Escambia County’s public information director.
The road was closed early yesterday for asphalt repairs.
Annual Fiddler’s Convention Today
July 19, 2008
The 29th Annual South Alabama Fiddler’s Convention is today in Atmore.
Musicians and singers will compete for cash prizes up to $1,000 in various categories like fiddlers, vocal groups, bands, dobro, banjo, guitar and mandolin. An exhibition will be held for dulcimers and bass fiddles to see if there is enough participation to add the instruments to a future convention.
The contest started at 2:00 this afternooon. Admission is $9 for adults and free for children under 12. The event has moved this year from the high school to Rachel Patterson Elementary School at 1120 West Craig Street in Atmore.
BBQ plates will also be available.
The event is sponsored by the Atmore Rotary Club, with proceeds going toward the club’s Academic All-Stars Program that honors high school students that maintain A and B averages during the school year. The awards are presented to students from Northview High School, Escambia County (AL) High School, Escambia Academy and Atmore Christian School. Last year, 36 Northview students were honored.
Pictured above: Will Fink performs at last year’s Atmore Fiddler’s Convention. Fink won the fiddler category. Photo courtesy Atmore News.
Meet The Democratic Candidates Saturday At Fish Fry
July 19, 2008
Saturday is your chance to meet the Democratic candidates for local offices at a North Escambia fish fry.
The Democratic Party of Escambia County invites you to meet their candidates this afternoon.
The two democratic candidates for sheriff, Samuel Lucas and Larry Scapecchi are expected to attend. District 5 Escambia County Commission candidates Jim Barnett and John Hartman plant to attend, as does Tony Henderson, candidate for public defender.
The fish fry will be held at the Wiggins Lake Pavilion at 5140 Wiggins Lake Road in Walnut Hill from 4:00 until dusk.
There is a $6.00 suggested donation for the fish plate with all the trimmings. The public is invited. For more info, call the Democratic Party of Escambia County office at 475-9755.
Two Churches To Hold Men’s Breakfast Meetings
July 19, 2008
Two Molino churches will hold their monthly men’s breakfast meetings this Sunday morning.
Aldersgate United Methodist Men will meet for breakfast Sunday morning at 7:15. All the men of the community are invited to attend for a hearty breakfast and great fellowship. The meeting is in the Aldersgate Cafe at 6915 Highway 29 North, Molino.
Highland Baptist Church Brotherhood will have their monthly Breakfast Sunday morning at 7:00 in the church fellowship hall. You are invited to hear Rev. James Hughes give his testimony and enjoy a great breakfast. The church is located at 6240 North Highway 95A in Molino.
Have an announcement for your church or civic organization? Let us know about it by sending an email to news@northescambia.com
Free Movie Tonight: “Facing The Giants”
July 18, 2008
A free community movie night will be held tonight in Century.
The Century Blue Ribbon Committee will present “Facing the Giants” tonight at 6:30 at the New Life Baptist Church in the old Century High School on Hecker Road.
Facing the Giants is an action-packed drama about a Christian high school football coach who uses his undying faith to battle the giants of fear and failure.
In six years of coaching, Grant Taylor has never led his Shiloh Eagles to a winning season. After learning that he and his wife Brooke face infertility, Grant discovers that a group of fathers are secretly organizing to have him dismissed as head coach.
Devastated by his circumstances, he cries out to God in desperation. When Grant receives a message from an unexpected visitor, he searches for a stronger purpose for his football team. He dares to challenge his players to believe God for the impossible on and off the field.
When faced with unbelievable odds, the Eagles must step up to their greatest test of strength and courage. What transpires is a dynamic story of the fight between faith and fear. Facing the Giants is a powerful experience for the whole family inspiring viewers to live with faith, hope, and love.
The movie “A Walk To Remember” will be shown next Friday night at 6:30.
Red Flag Warning Today
July 15, 2008
The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for today for the North Escambia area.
The warning is in effect from noon today until 7:00 tonight.
Afternoon relative humidities were forecast to drop below 35 percent after noon and then return above 35 percent by 7:00 tonight.
A red flag warning means that dangerous fire weather conditions are either occurring now… or likely will occur. A combination of low relative humidity and warm temperatures will create explosive fire growth potential. Outdoor burning should be restricted.