FHP RemainS Out In Force For Memorial Day Holiday Weekend
May 25, 2008
The Florida Highway Patrol continues to be out in force during this 96-hour Memorial Day holiday weekend, which began Friday and extends through midnight Monday.
The Florida Highway Patrol will participate in three distinct traffic enforcement operations during this period: Operation C.A.R.E. – a Combined Accident Reduction Effort, involving all 50 state police and highway patrol organizations (May 23-26); All-American Buckle Up Week (May 19-26); and the highly publicized Click It or Ticket mobilization campaign (May 19 – June 1). All three campaigns focus on saving lives, preventing injuries, and reducing property damage associated with motor vehicle traffic crashes.
“Vehicle traffic is expected to increase significantly throughout the state during this four-day holiday period,” stated Colonel John T. Czernis, director of the Florida Highway Patrol. “We’ll be using all available resources to make Florida roadways safer. We are also reminding motorists to slow down and buckle up. This high visibility enforcement has a single goal in mind – to save lives,” emphasized Czernis.
All uniformed FHP personnel, including those normally assigned to administrative duties, will be patrolling interstates and other major state roads throughout the holiday period. This strategy is intended to increase the Patrol’s presence on major arteries throughout Florida in an effort to deter traffic violators and to provide enhanced service to motorists who break down while traveling or need other assistance.
In addition, Auxiliary and Reserve troopers will be volunteering their time to assist regular troopers during the heightened holiday enforcements. Motorists are reminded to use their cellular phones wisely and safely. FHP urges all drivers to call *FHP (*347) to report aggressive and/or drunk drivers or if they need assistance on the road. Motorists needing emergency medical services should dial 911.
Junior Miss EWMS Pageant Tonight
May 23, 2008
Seventeen girls will compete for the title of Junior Miss EWMS tonight at Ernest Ward Middle School.
The pageant will take place in the EWMS gym at 7:00 tonight. Admission is $5 and tickets will be available at the door.
For photos from Thursday afternoon’s practice, click here.
Pictured above front row (L-R): Katelyn Zisa, Rachel Presley, Danielle Scott, Jamie Cameron, Skye Brown and Ashley Cunningham. Middle row (L-R): Ashley Burke, Natasha Suggs, Chelsea Parham, Angel Mitchell, Ariel Holland and Shelby Lewis. Back row (L-R): Chelsea Ward, Montana Ard, Harley Caraway, Cheyenne Godwin and Hannah Ziglar. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Bratt 3rd Grade FCAT Results Mixed
May 22, 2008
Bratt Elementary school third graders improved the school’s scores on recent FCAT math test, with 86 percent of them scoring at grade level or above, while the school’s third grade reading scores dropped slightly t0 83 percent at or above grade level.
A score of 3.0 on both the reading and math FCAT is considered to be grade level.
Last year, 84 percent of the Bratt third grade students scored a 3.0 or more in math, and 84 percent were at 3.0 or more in reading.
Of the 64 third grade students taking the math FCAT at Bratt, six percent scored a 5 or higher. Thirty percent scored between 4 and 5, and 50 percent scored between 3 and 4. Nine percent of the students scored 2-3, and five percent scored a 1.
Of the 64 third grade students taking the reading FCAT at Bratt, nine percent scored a 5 or higher. Twenty-eight percent scored between 4 and 5, and 45 percent scored between 3 and 4. Thirteen percent of the students scored 2-3, and five percent scored a 1.
Meeting To Discuss County Budget
May 20, 2008
If you would like a chance for your two cents to be heard on next year’s Escambia County budget, tonight is your chance.
Escambia County Commissioner Kevin White will hold a District 5 budget meeting to allow residents a chance to review and voice their opinions on planned budget cuts in the county.
The meeting will be held at 6:00 tonight at Highland Baptist Church at 6240 North Highway 95A in Molino.
The meeting is open to the public regardless of their district of residence. The meeting is expected to last about two hours.
Residents will be given the opportunity to ask questions and voice their opinion on county budget recommendations.
Crossroads In Concert This Morning At NorthEnd Church
May 18, 2008
Crossroads will be in concert at 10:00 Sunday morning at NorthEnd Community Church in the Barineau Park community.
Crossroads is Kristen Sorrells, Lyndi Hardy and Brad Adkinson. They have been together just over a year, and they were quickly singing at churches across Santa Rosa County and a few churches in Alabama and Escambia County, Florida.
They have performed at the 100th Anniversary of the Southern Baptist Association, Relay for Life in Mobile and at a recent company celebration at Solutia.
Brad is a member of First Baptist Church in Milton and is employed with Solutia. He and his wife Mindy have two children. Lyndi and her husband Robbie are members at Pine Terrace Baptist Church in Milton. Lyndi is also a teacher at Milton High School. Kristen and her husband Phillipp are members at Pine Terrace Baptist Church. They have three children, and she is a stay at home mom.
NorthEnd Community Church is located at 5630 Hwy 196 in the Barineau Park community.
Two Molino Churches To Hold Blood Drive Today
May 18, 2008
You can give the gift of life Sunday at two Molino churches as they hold a blood drive.
Aldersgate Methodist Church and Highland Baptist Church will hold a blood drive on Sunday. The bloodmobile will be at Highland from 8:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. and at Aldersgate from 12:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m.
The last time the two churches held the blood drive, it was interrupted at Highland by a tornado on back on February 17.
Molino Youth In Sectional Pitch, Hit and Run Event Today
May 17, 2008
Ryan Cocker of Molino will be competing in the sectional competition of the Aquafina Pitch, Hit and Run Event at Tyndall Air Force Base near Panama City today.
Cocker swept the seven and eight year old category in the recent local Aquafina event that was held at the John R. Jones Athletic Park on Nine Mile Road in Pensacola. He was named the Pitch Champion, Hit Champion and Run Champion in the competition’s youngest category.
Storms Damage McDavid Homes, Store
May 15, 2008
Several McDavid homes were damaged in Thursday storms, and the storm ripped part of the roof from Watson’s Convenience Store. Two of the homes were seriously damaged and are not livable.
There were no injuries in the storms, which struck just after noon, according to McDavid Volunteer Fire Department Chief Eric Gilmore.
The area was under a tornado watch at the time, but it has not been determined to be a tornado. The National Weather Service will visit the area on Friday to make an official determination.
NorthEscambia.com will have a complete story posted Friday morning, with a complete photo gallery and an interview with the resident who was inside one of the seriously damaged homes.
School Board To Discuss Closure Of Carver/Century K-8 School Thursday
May 14, 2008
NorthEscambia.com has learned that the Escambia County School Board will discuss the closure and consolidation of Carver/Century K-8 School Thursday morning.
“The superintendent will bring up a proposal to close and consolidate Carver/Century School at the meeting,” Board Member Claudia Brown-Curry told NorthEscambia.com Wednesday afternoon. “I received an email that he would be bringing it up.”
“Century needs to be there at that meeting so they can hear what he has to say,” Brown-Curry said. The meeting is at 11:30 at the Hall Center in Pensacola.
NorthEscambia.com has confirmed with Assistant Superintendent Ronnie Arnold that the proposal will be discussed at the Thursday morning meeting. Arnold said that no vote would be taken at the meeting.
Carver/Century Principal Jeff Garthwaite told his faculty and staff of the meeting and proposal at a faculty meeting Wednesday afternoon.
“There was a wide range of emotions, from disbelief, to disenchantment, to strong emotions,” he said. “There were many tears in the crowd.”
NorthEscambia.com is working on this developing story. More details will be posted here on NorthEscambia.com later today, and a complete story will be posted Thursday morning. We will also post a map and directions to the Hall Center for those who wish to attend the meeting.
Red Flag Warning Issued, Brush Fires Occur Around North Escambia
May 13, 2008
The National Weather Service in Mobile has issued a red flag warning for North Escambia and surrounding areas until 7:00 tonight.
Afternoon relative humidities will fall below 35 percent over the western Florida Panhandle until late this afternoon. A red flag warning means that critical fire weather conditions will occur. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity and warm temperatures will create explosive fire growth potential.
At least three brush fires have been reported in the North Escambia area over the past two days.
Sunday afternoon, the Molino volunteer fire departments responded to a brush fire near Chestnut Road and Molino Road. A short time later, the McDavid and Century volunteer fire departments responsed to a brushfire on Backwoods Road. The Florida Division of Forestry was called in to assist with the Backwoods Road fire.
The Molino and Century volunteer fire departments responded to another brush fire in the 100 block of Elm Street just off Hilltop Road in Century about 4:55 Monday afternoon.