Police Remove NorthEscambia.com From Youth Football Championship At ERC League President’s Request
November 3, 2019
A NorthEscambia.com editorial
NorthEscambia.com does not have coverage of Saturday’s Escambia River Conference (ERC) youth football championship games after the league president had NorthEscambia.com removed by police for taking game photographs.
The man pictured, who identified himself to Flomaton Police as ERC President Dewayne Higdon, asked the Flomaton Police Department to remove NorthEscambia.com from not only the field, but the entire Flomaton High School stadium. He stated media had no right to take or run photographs from the games because the league had a contract with a sports photography company that was selling action shots at the game. Higdon allowed an employee of a printed weekly newspaper to remain on the field.
NorthEscambia.com was removed from a freshman football championship game between NWE (Northwest Escambia) and Flomaton. NorthEscambia.com has covered NWE Football for over a decade, and has covered games involving other ERC teams like Flomaton and Jay for years.
We do not sell or otherwise make money from taking youth football game photos. It actually costs us many hours of time and use of expensive cameras and equipment. In most case we could sell reprints, and many newspapers regularly do. But NorthEscambia.com does not sell photos; our photo coverage is part of what we do in our commitment to the communities we serve.
It’s our understanding that the out-of-town sports photography company was only selling prints, DVDs and any other products on-site at the stadium Saturday during the series, not at a later time on a website or other means. We find it hard to understand how our news coverage Sunday would impact their profits on Saturday. And, notably, our photographs are not published with a file size and quality that is well suited for printing. We in no way ever discourage someone from buying a company’s photographs.
Numerous sports we cover have contracts with action photography companies. Well-managed organizations from little league teams to the Florida High School Athletic Association and member schools welcome NorthEscambia.com at their games.
It’s also worth noting that there are now hundreds and hundreds of photos, many taken with professional camera equipment, published on social media by parents and other fans that took their own photos at the ERC championships and cheerleader competition Saturday. There was no policy against camera equipment in the stadium, which is public property owned by the Escambia County (AL) School Board. Simply put, on that public property the public has the right to take photos.
NorthEscambia.com wishes to make it unmistakably clear that no one affiliated with NWE or Flomaton youth football asked us to leave or conveyed any issue with our presence. We were, in fact, encouraged to attend and cover the games by coaches. Also, we emphasize this not about the Flomaton Police Department or their outstanding officers. Higdon apparently represented himself to police in such a manner that led them to believe he had some authority over the property and they should follow his request.
We do take issue with the freedom of the press being stymied on public property during an event open to the public by the president of a youth football league.
Youth football and cheerleading should not be about the profit. Clearly, youth leagues must make money to operate and provide the best possible experience for our kids. But when did it stop being about the kids?
NorthEscambia.com has always fully supported youth sports. We have published an immense number of youth league announcements, registrations, car washes, bake sales…the list goes on and on. We do all we can to help youth leagues in all sports be as successful as possible by letting the public know about those registrations or fundraisers. We fail to see where media coverage of youth sports is harmful as we celebrate athletes’ accomplishments for many tens of thousands of people to see. Why would you not want publicity?
We cover youth sports because it is about the kids in our communities, not profit. Sports give our youth the opportunity to succeed, to have an activity to stay out of trouble, and to feel accomplished and grow personally whether they win or lose. Youth sports like NWE and Flomaton football draw our communities together, and are good for all of us.
Those NWE players we photographed years ago are the now the young men playing high school ball on Friday nights or that have gone on to play at the next level. When a star high school player says he remembers that photo we took of him and published on our front page when he played for NWE, we hope in some way our coverage was an encouragement.
And we hope just as much that the child who came off the bench even a single time was encouraged by “making the news” in one of our photo galleries. Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant perhaps said it best: “I’ll never give up on a player regardless of his ability as long as he never gives up on himself. In time he will develop.”
It was unclear Saturday night if the Escambia River Conference will allow NorthEscambia.com to photograph ERC league teams like NWE, Flomaton, and Jay in the future. We encourage the ERC board to do some soul searching and examine if their focus is on profits or players as they move forward and choose a new league president.
In the meantime, we’ll be back hard at work covering the youth sports leagues and other events in your community. If you want to let us know about any youth sport, school, church or other event, always feel free to drop us a note at news@northescambia.com. And thanks for being part of the NorthEscambia.com family.
Pictured: This man, who identified himself to Flomaton Police as ERC President Dewayne Higdon, asked the Flomaton Police Department to remove NorthEscambia.com from the Flomaton High School stadium on Saturday. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
More Sunshine For Sunday; Cool Again Sunday Night
November 3, 2019
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 64. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 42. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph.
Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 68. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. Calm wind.
Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 73. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 75. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. Calm wind.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 76.
Thursday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58.
Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 62.
Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 64.
Pictured: Saturday’s sunset. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Sunny Saturday In The Low 60s; Back In The 30s Tonight
November 2, 2019
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Today: Sunny, with a high near 61. North wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 39. North wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 63. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 41. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 68. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. Calm wind.
Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 73. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 75. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57.
Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 74.
Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53.
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 66.
Walnut Hill Vol. Fire Dept. Holding 50th Fish Fry Saturday (With Department History)
November 1, 2019
Saturday will mark the 50th anniversary of what has become one of the biggest events in Walnut Hill and surrounding communities — the annual fish fry at the Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department.
The fish fry has been held annually since 1969. The first fish fry on record was held about a month after the department was chartered.
The fire department’s first fish fry was held on Saturday, April 10, 1965, just after the Walnut Hill Fire Department was officially chartered on Monday, March 8, 1965, during a meeting held at Ernest Ward High School.
Adult plates were sold for $1, and plates for children under 12 were 50 cents. According to minutes from the fire department’s charter meeting, the fish fry was suggested by O.D. Gibson. It was organized as a fundraiser, and “to let the community know what had been accomplished” with the new department. It was a two hour community event.
That first fish fry cost the department $87.62, including $43 for fish and $13.23 to Lawrence Cooper’s Grocery. The total income was $256.50, netting a $168.88 profit for the Walnut Hill Fire Department’s first fundraiser.
The fire department was organized by the Walnut Hill Ruritan Club, under the leadership of Ruritan President Royce Ward.
In 1968, the Walnut Hill Fire Department held an open house at their first building on November 16, 1968. The first firehouse was located under the water tower at Highway 97 and Arthur Brown Road. Before the building was completed, fire trucks and other equipment was stored in members’ sheds and barns.
There are no records indicating that a fish fry was held each year between 1965 and 1968, but the fish fry events have been held annually since 1969.
The department’s first truck was about a 1957 model GMC 2 1/2 ton 4×2 fuel service truck loaned from the Florida Forest Service.
The department has compiled a list of their fire chiefs as follows: E. C. (Chuck) Church, 1965 to September 1966; Bob Holdeman, September 1966 to August 1968; Vern Peters from August 1968 to 1983; Jack Brown from 1983 to December 1984; Ervin Schneider, 1985 to 1987; Dennis Rigby, 1988 to 1989; Bill Jackson, 1990 to February 1991; Al Bradley, March 1991 to 1992; Robert Stewart, 1993 to September 2008; and Chris Brown October 2008 to present.
The department’s first board of directors were: C.L. Byrd, Robert E. Holdeman, Kenneth Brown, W.H. Corley, Chief E. C. Church, Assistant Chief Buddy Sharpless, Assistant Chief Therman Raines, Captain Don Strickland, Captain James Pierce, Lt. Roger Johnson, Lt. Glenn Thrower, J.H. Morgan, Sam Jantz and Harvey Bradberry.
To read original fire department minutes from December 2, 1968, click here (pdf).
The Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department’s 50th Annual Fish Fry will be held Saturday from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Walnut Hill Fire Station on Highway 97. Plates will be $8 each with a choice of catfish fillets or grilled chicken, plus baked beans, coleslaw, hush puppies, bread and cake. There will also be drawing for door prizes beginning at 1 p.m. and a live auction.
Pictured top: This undated photograph from the early days of the Walnut Hill Fire Department shows Robert Mininger, an assistant chief; Bob Holdeman, the department’s second chief; Royce Ward, president of the Ruritan Club; and Vern Peters who served 15 years as the department’s third chief. Pictured inset: The original handwritten minutes from the department’s first meeting. Pictured below: Former Chief Robert Stewart (left) was honored in 2008. Stewart is being presented a framed uniform shirt by current Chief Chris Brown. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
November Chill: Cool Day, Back In The 30s Tonight
November 1, 2019
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Friday: Sunny, with a high 58-61. North wind around 5 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 37-39. North wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 62. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 38-41. North wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 62. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 41. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 68. East wind around 5 mph.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. Calm wind.
Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 73.
Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58.
Wednesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58.
Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 74.
Pictured: A cool sunset Thursday over Lake Stone near Century. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Friday Night Football Schedule
November 1, 2019
Here is Friday night’s football schedule for the North Escambia area:
FLORIDA
Northview at Jay, 7 p.m.
Tate at West Florida, 7 p.m.
Pine Forest at Gulf Breeze. 7 p.m.
Pensacola High at Escambia, 7 p.m.
Catholic at Milton, 7:30 p.m.
Pace at Oak Mountain, Ala.
ALABAMA
- Escambia County (Atmore) at Marion, 7 p.m.
- Escambia Academy (Atmore) at Fort Dale Academy (Greenville), 7 p.m.
- T.R. Miller at W.S. Neal, 7 p.m.
- Flomaton 22, Southern Choctaw 8 (Thursday p.m.)
A Taste Of Winter: Temperatures Falling To About 35 Tonight
October 31, 2019
A strong cold front will bring a taste of winter by Thursday night.
Temperatures will fall quickly Thursday night. By trick-or-treat or festival time at 5 p.m., temperatures will likely be in the upper 40s to around 50 degrees. By 9 p.m., it will be in the lower 40s on the way to a winter-like overnight low of 35 in North Escambia and the upper 30s closer to the coast.
And it won’t be just a short visit for the colder weather…we’ll have lows in the 30s Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 36. North wind 5 to 15 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 60. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 39. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 62. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 38. North wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 63. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 42. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 69. East wind around 5 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52.
Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57.
Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 75.
Trick-Or-Treat Safety: Most Sex Offenders Can Give Out Candy; How To Avoid Them
October 31, 2019
THIS IS AN ARCHIVED STORY.
There are lots of ways to make trick-or-treating safer for children, including a quick check for sex offenders in the neighborhood.
According to the FDLE database, there are 23 sex offenders and predators in the Century zip code, 16 in the McDavid area, 15 near Molino and 72 in the Cantonment area. The numbers per zip code generally only increase further south in more populated areas in Escambia County. For instance, there are 162 registered offenders in the 32505 zip code.
Most Florida sex offenders are legally allowed to hand out candy to children in their neighborhoods as long as they are no longer on supervised probation, according to law enforcement officials.
The Florida Department of Corrections will work in conjunction with local law enforcement agencies to keep the streets safe by ensuring sex offenders under felony supervision do not take part in any Halloween activities involving minors, the DOC said Wednesday afternoon. FDC probation officers make personal contact with sex offenders under FDC supervision and conduct surveillance initiatives such as residential searches, unannounced visits, covert monitoring of physical activity and location tracking. Special emphasis is also placed on areas such as motels and temporary housing areas where sex offenders live.
Authorities say that parents can turn to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s sexual offender database to find the address of registered sex offenders that may be in an area where their children will trick-or-treat. In addition to addresses, the FDLE database also offers photos and descriptions of offenders along with information about their crimes.
Sex offenders that are sill under supervised probation are not allowed to give out candy or treats, are required to turn off their porch lights and close blinds, have no outside decorations, are not allowed to dress in a costume or mask, and are not allowed to answer their doors for trick-or-treaters.
“Offenders who do not remain in compliance with the terms of their supervision will be subject to immediate arrest,” according to the DOC.
To search the FDLE sex offender database, click here. To check the Alabama sex offender database, click here.
In addition to checking the FDLE database, officials said parents should make sure trick-or-treaters are accompanied by an adult, have a flashlight and phone.
There are also several community fall festivals and events planned across the area tonight, offering a “safe” alternative to the traditional door to door trick-or-treating. For a list of many of those events, click here.
Big List: Trick Or Treats; Trunk Or Treats And More Tonight
October 31, 2019
Several Halloween and fall festival events are scheduled in the North Escambia area tonight and in the next few days. Here’s the big list:
Victory Assembly of God Community Fall Festival
Victory Assembly of God will hold their annual Community Fall Festival on Thursday, October 31, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. There will be carnival games and candy, trunk-or-treat, hayrides, inflatables, a rope-and-barrel bull ride, and much more. Chili and hot dogs will be served. Everything is free. The church is located at 1895 Victory Road in Cantonment. Call (850) 587-2295 for more information.
St. Monica’s Episcopal Church Trunk Or Treat
Join St. Monica’s Episcopal Church on Thursday, October 31 for Trunk or Treat. To participate, decorate your car, truck or even your motorcycle and yourself with a theme of your choice and set up in our parking lot by 5:30. Kids will trick or treat from car to car and enjoy some free, fun and entertaining activities.
Beulah Free Will Baptist Trunk or Treat
Beulah Free Will Baptist Church Trunk or Treat on Thursday, October 31 from 6-8 p.m. There will be free food, fun and games. Everyone invited.
Canoe Church Trunk Or Treat
Second annual Trunk or Treat at Canoe Church, 155 South Canoe Road, on Thursday, October 31 from 4-6 p.m. Refreshments and hot dogs provided.
First Baptist Church of Cantonment Trunk or Treat
Trunk or Treat at First Baptist Church of Cantonment, 118 Morris Ave, on Thursday, October 31 from 6-8 p.m. There will be hayrides, games and candy.
Beulah Church Trunk-N-Treat
Trunk-N-Treat at Beulah Church, 7561 Mobile Highway, from 6-8 p.m on Thursday, Ocotober 31. Free candy, food and fun.
Trick or Treat In Jay
The Town of Jay will hold Trick or Treat on Commerce Street on Thursday, October 31 from 5-8 p.m. Trick or treat booths open at 5 p.m. Kids Costume Contest (no pets) at 6:30 p.m. Sponsored by Town of Jay.
Bratt Assembly of God Fall Carnival
Bratt Assembly of God will have a fall carnival on Thursday, October 31 from 5-7 p.m. The church is located at 5841 Godwin Cemetery Road.
Atmore Trick or Treat
Trick or Treat on Main Street in Atmore will be held from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. on Thursday, October 31.
Ensley Church of The Nazarene Fall Festival
Ensley Church of The Nazarene will hold a fall festival on October 31, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. The event is free. All are welcome. The church is located at 8300 N Palafox Street in Pensacola.
Highland Baptist Church Trunk or Treat
Highland Baptist Church will hold a Trunk or Treat on Thursday, October 31, from 6 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. A snack supper will be provided free of charge and there will be bounce houses for children. The church is located at 6240 County Hwy 95A in Molino.
Heritage Baptist Church Fall Festival
Heritage Baptist Church Fall Festival will be Thursday, October 31 from 6-8 p.m.. Fun, games, and fellowship for the community.
Light the Night Block Party
Klondike Church will host their 7th annual “Light The Night” Block party on Thursday, October 31, from 4:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. Activities include trunk or treat, hayrides, games, give-away drawings, and photo booth. Hot dogs will be available. The entire event is free. For more information visit https://lovepensacola.org/blockparty. The church is located at 7201 Klondike Road in Pensacola.
Century Chamber of Commerce Trunk or Treat
The Century Chamber of Commerce will hold a town trunk or treat on Thursday, October 31, from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. Pumpkin carving/decorating contest, costume contest, goodies, and a dunking booth at Showalter Park.
Windy Hill Baptist Church Fall Festival
Windy Hill Baptist Church at 9896 Rebel Road is having a Fall Festival on Thursday, October 31 from 6-8 p.m. Free chili, hot dogs, nachos, drinks and a hayride.
Jim Allen Elementary School Fall Carnival
Jim Allen Elementary School will hold their annual Fall Carnival on Friday, November 1 from 3-6 p.m.
Cora Baptist Church Fall Festival
Fall Fest on Saturday, November 2, at 3:30 p.m. at Cora Baptist Church at 12953 Chumuckla Highway, Jay.
Pollard McCall Junior High Carnival
Pollard McCall Junior High School will hold their Fall Festival on Saturday, November 2 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely Through Thursday, Then Turning Colder
October 30, 2019
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 67. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Thursday: Showers. Temperature rising to near 73 by 8am, then falling to around 53 during the remainder of the day. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 35. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 60. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 35. North wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 62. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 35. North wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 63. North wind around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 42.
Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 69.
Monday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52.
Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 76.