Flomaton Native Promoted At NASA. His Job? To Land People On The Moon By 2024.
June 4, 2020
Greg Chavers has been appointed to the Senior Executive Service position of deputy manager of the Human Landing System Program Office at Marshall Space Flight Center.
The Senior Executive Service is the personnel system covering most of the top managerial positions in federal agencies.
Chavers will assist Lisa Watson-Morgan, manager of the Human Landing System Program, in leading the rapid development of an integrated human lunar landing system – including a descent element, ascent element and transfer vehicle for the Artemis program, which will deliver the first woman and next man to the lunar surface by 2024. Chavers will work directly with U.S. industry partners, administer and monitor expenditures of the fiscal year 2020 budget, lead a team of approximately 425 employees at multiple NASA centers and act as the chair of the agency’s Human Landing System Control Board.
Chavers has 29 years of experience in project management and development of lunar landing systems. He joined Marshall in 1991 as an aerospace engineer in the Systems Analysis and Integration Laboratory. Other past roles include acting chief of the Planning, Operations and Analysis Branch; lead systems engineer for the Spacecraft and Lander System; project engineer for the Robotic Lunar Lander Development Project; manager of the Resource Prospector Lunar Lander Project; and manager of the Advanced Exploration Systems’ Lander Technologies Project. Since February 2018, he has been formulation manager of the Human Exploration & Operations Mission Directorate’s Advanced Cislunar and Surface Capability. Chavers has been the acting deputy manager of the Human Landing System Program Office since September 2019.
Chavers earned a bachelor’s in aerospace engineering from Auburn University in 1990. He earned a master’s and doctorate in physics – both from the University of Alabama in Huntsville – in 1998 and 2003, respectively.
A native of Flomaton, he and his wife, Denise, reside in Priceville with their son, Dustin, and daughters Marissa and Maleiha.
Northview Chiefs Name New Head Football Coach. He’s A Former Coach At West Florida And Tate.
June 3, 2020
Northview High School has named their new head football coach.
He is Wes Summerford, who has been the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator for the West Florida Jaguars since 2017.
“I’m just excited to have this opportunity,” Summerford told NorthEscambia.com. “I’ve been looking forward to becoming a head coach since I got into coaching, and I could not think of a better school than Northview. It’s a great program…and I look forward to getting started with the players.”
Summerford’s coaching experience also includes a defensive coach at Tate High School from 2015-2017, outside linebacker coach at West Florida from 2011-2015 and defensive assistant at Tate in 2008.
Wes Summerford is the brother of West Florida Jaguar Head Coach Rhett Summerford.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bars And Movie Theaters Can Open; New Rules For Stores And Gyms Effective Friday In Florida
June 3, 2020
Gov. Ron DeSantis announced a Phase 2 reopening of Florida that beings Friday, including new rules for bars, movie theaters, gyms and stores.
Bars and pubs can operate at 50% capacity inside and full capacity outside with appropriate social distancing, DeSantis said Wednesday morning. Patrons can only be served if they are seated; they can’t be standing or walking around. Restaurants can now offer bar seating with appropriate social distancing.
Movie theaters can operate at 50% capacity, while gyms and stores can return to full capacity with social distancing.
Gatherings can now be up to 50 people.
Body Of Missing Boater Recovered
June 3, 2020
The body of a 76-year old boater missing since Monday on the Escambia River was recovered Wednesday morning.
Miles Morris went fishing Monday morning but did not return in the early afternoon like he normally does, according to family members. Family and friends started searching along the river and the lakes off the river about 6 p.m. before finding his boat about an hour later on Blue Lake . But there was no sign of Morris.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission was notified of the missing boater Monday night and began a search using boats and a helicopter. Escambia Search and Rescue (ESAR) and KlaasKids regional search teams also took part in the search.
“Our hearts and thoughts go out to the family and friends of Mr. Morris,” said Rebekah Nelson, Northwest Region public information officer for FWC.
The investigation into the boating accident is ongoing, Nelson said.
Blue Lake is about two miles directly east of Becks Lake Fish Camp, but it is about a four mile trip by boat.
Pictured: A search along the Escambia River for am missing boater on Tuesday. Pictured bottom: A map of the area. Photos by Jason Robbins/WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, and NorthEscambia.com graphic.
Molino Mid-County Historical Society Presents Two Scholarships
June 3, 2020
The Molino Mid-County Historical Society recently presented two $1,000 scholarships.
The winners were Emma Barlow from Tate High School and Raeleigh Woodfin from Northview High School. Barlow (pictured above) plans to major in pre-med at the University of South Alabama, and Woodfin will major in communications at Troy University.
The scholarship checks were presented by Sarah Jenness, president of the Molino Mid-County Historical Society.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
The Escambia (AL) Sheriff’s Office Has Warrants For These 12 People. Have You Seen Any Of Them?
June 3, 2020
The Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office is looking for a dozen people with active warrants for failing to report to Escambia County (AL) Community Correctoins.
If you have information on anyone pictured below, contact the Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office at (251)809-0741 or your local law enforcement agency.
Info source: Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office.
Ernest Ward Middle Honors 8th Graders With Fence Photos
June 3, 2020
Ernest Ward Middle School honored their graduating eighth grade class by lining the school fence with banners featuring a photo of each student. The students did not return to school following spring break due to the coronavirus.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by William Reynolds, click to enlarge.
Rare Sea Turtle Lays Eggs On Pensacola Beach
June 3, 2020
Visitors to Pensacola Beach were treated to an exciting sight Tuesday – a rare female Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle crawling ashore to nest and lay her eggs. She was the third turtle to nest on Escambia County Beaches this season, with two loggerhead nests recorded earlier this week.
“She dug a hole about 1.5 to 2 feet deep and when she got down in the hole she laid about 50-100 eggs. She used her flippers to cover the eggs with sand so you can’t see them and then she headed back to the water. She may come back up,” said Brenda Sexton, sea turtle volunteer of approximately 10 years. “Some of them come back up two or three times laying eggs and then they are exhausted and they go back home for two or three years. It’s kinda cool.”
Four species of sea turtles visit Escambia County beaches May through October to lay their eggs. Loggerheads are the most common visitor, however leatherback, green and Kemp’s Ridley nests have also been recorded on county beaches.
Typically, female sea turtles wait for nightfall before crawling ashore to dig their nests. Kemp’s Ridley are the only species that nest during the daylight hours. After 60 days, hatchlings wait for nightfall before emerging all at once, using the light of the moon and stars to find their way to the Gulf of Mexico.
Sea turtles of all sizes face many threats. Excessive artificial lights can disorient both nesting and hatchling turtles, leading them away from the Gulf of Mexico and into danger. Furniture and other personal belongings left on the beach overnight can trap and injure turtles. Plastic pollution and other debris can entangle turtles and cause sickness when accidentally eaten.
Man Charged With Opening Fire, Shooting Bicyclist In Cantonment Street
June 2, 2020
A Cantonment man has been arrested after allegedly shooting a man in a local street last week.
Carnell Levon Williams, 23, was charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, a “deadly missiles” weapons offense for firing into a building, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, using a firearm during the commission of a felony, discharging a firearm in public and criminal mischief.
Deputies arrived at the intersection of Washington and Sheppard streets about 6:30 p.m. on May 28 to find a man in the street suffering from a gunshot wound to his chest. He was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital; an update on his condition was not available.
Witnesses told investigators that the victim was riding his bicycle when someone, later identified as Williams, opened fire in the street.
Deputies located five spent shell casings on the ground in the 200 block of Sheppard Street, and they also discovered that the chimney of a home on Washington Street was hit by gunfire.
The victim told the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office he was riding his bicycle when a car came speeding up. He said someone started shooting at the car, and he was hit.
Williams was taken into custody in the area of Kingsfield and Beulah roads. According to an arrest report, he stated, “I didn’t have no gun; I didn’t shoot nobody” and denied the allegations against him.
Williams remained in the Escambia County Jail Tuesday morning with bond set at $197,000.
High School Sports, Band To Resume In Escambia County. Here’s The Schedule.
June 2, 2020
The Escambia County School District has announced plans for resuming athletic and band participation for students.
Through June 15, student athletes should obtain updated physicals (EL2) and Parent Consent and Release Forms (EL3,) which must be submitted prior to participation in district sports. On Saturday, June 6, the Andrews Institute in Gulf Breeze, will offer free student athlete physicals. Parents and students must coordinate with their coaches to set appointments for these free physicals.
On Monday, June 15, coaches will resume conditioning for those student athletes with current physicals and release forms. Conditioning will include use of weight rooms, gymnasiums, and athletic fields, while utilizing social distancing protocols and proper sanitation measures for training equipment.
“Students who have been inactive over the past 60 days or so due to COVID-19 requirements will need proper conditioning and training in order to participate in school sports,’ stated Superintendent Malcom Thomas. “Social distancing protocols will be followed, as well as the proper sanitation steps by district personnel. This will be a team effort by all participants.”
High school band students may begin on campus activities starting Monday, June 15. Band camps will begin Monday, July 6. Parents and students should refer to their school band director for band camp schedules and guidelines. There will be no middle school band activities this summer.
Pictured: “Midnight Madness” — last season’s first full contact practice that began at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, August 3, 2019, at Northview High School. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
