The Chess Challenge: Youth Can Learn To Play Chess For Free Sunday In Century
July 26, 2019
Rafael Lopez of Cantonment loves the game of chess, and he will share that love with children and teens during free classes the next two Sundays in Century.
“I learned to play chess as a younger man. I was taught by a man who was incredible to watch on the board. As he taught me, he would give me reasons as to why he would move certain places. Also, he played handicapped without his queen on the board until I was able to beat him. Once I was able to beat him, he never took his queen off the playing board ever again,” he said.
Lopez calls his learn to play methodology the “chess challenge”.
“The chess challenge is my dream. It’s purpose it’s make chess fun again in a world full of technology. In the extremely beginning stages of turning this dream into a nonprofit,” Lopez said. “Long term, I would love to have a place to call home. There’s some commercial real estate in Cantonment near my house that is vacant. I pass by it every day and wonder how many sad lonely, lost and even bored kids pass by that location that could be served. A safe place after school that is conducive to higher learning with an emphasis on chess and the study of chess. We have so many basketball camps yet very few brain games.”
The chess challenge is targeted to youth ages 6-17 and will be held Sunday, July 28 from 2-5 p.m. and Sunday, August 4 from 2-5 p.m. at 7321 North Century Boulevard (the building with the large “Florida” mural, just south of the library). There is no cost and refreshments will be served.
Youth can attend either of the Sunday sessions, but the second session will recap and expand on the skills learned in the first session. Lopez starts by teaching the basics, and says this is for youth of any skill level.
“I love chess because we all start out equal, but have the potential to be great depending on how much time and effort we put into the study and application of the game. As a game, it’s almost as old as hide and seek,” he said. To teach one brilliant mind would be one of my simplest goals.”
“Chess doesn’t care what color you are or what gender you are. Every player starts out completely equal. But as with anything in life, you get what you put in. Study the previously played games and this study furthers advancement and skill. When a young brain learns the principles that chess teaches, they’re improving and expanding their critical thinking and reasoning skills with each move. Technology isn’t to blame, but relying on technology to think for us is. Chess teaches us how to think— think about future possible outcomes before they may even happen. Predictive.”
For more information on the chess challenge in Century, call Lopez at (850) 723-5362.
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Kids Enjoy Water Day At Carver Park
July 26, 2019
Kids enjoyed Water Day Thursday during lunchtime at Carver Park in Cantonment.
The Summer Breakspot program at Carver Park provided free meals for kids and teens through Feeding the Gulf Coast during the summer, and other community groups such as Ascend Cares often joined in to help. Earlier this month, the West Florida Library even had real moon rocks at a lunch program.
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Byrneville Elementary Reschedules Board Meeting
July 26, 2019
The Byrneville Elementary School board meeting that was scheduled for Wednesday, July 31 has been rescheduled for Wednesday, August 7 at 3:30 p.m.
As a charter school, Byrneville is directly governed by a board of directors. The meetings are open to the public at the school, 1600 Byrneville Road.
Florida State Parks Set New Record For Land Management With Prescribed Fire
July 26, 2019
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Florida Park Service is celebrating a record year for prescribed fires burned across Florida State Parks. Prescribed fire plays an important role in protecting Florida’s natural communities and provides a safe way to ensure a healthy ecosystem while reducing wildlife risk and protecting public safety.
“I am proud of the hard work of our fire crews and park staff and their dedication to protecting Florida’s precious natural resources. Prescribed burns are crucial for Florida’s environment and reducing the risk and severity of wildfires”, said DEP Secretary Noah Valenstein. ”Our expert fire crews consistently ensure that fires are conducted safely and in a manner that is protective of personnel, the public and the burn areas.”
In fiscal year 2018-19, the Florida Park Service applied prescribed fire to more than 96,000 acres across the state.
Prescribed burns are an important land management tool that benefits many of the 800,000 acres entrusted to the Florida State Park system. Prescribed burns are used to maintain healthy ecosystems, manage wildlife habitat, increase biological diversity, reduce hazardous fuel loads and assist in invasive plant control within these natural areas.
“Fire is a natural process in much of Florida and helps maintain wildlife habitat. The Florida Park Service is a national leader in using prescribed burns to prevent wildfire”, said Florida State Parks Director Eric Draper. “We are proud of the staff and partner organizations who use science and skill to put fire on the ground at the right time and in the right place to benefit nature and people.”
Florida Park Service staff often work with partnering land managers including the Nature Conservancy, Florida Forest Service, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, water management districts, federal and county agencies, and local fire departments. Prescribed fires are planned, set and managed by specialized staff. The training is rigorous for prescribed burners, who are tested annually for physical fitness and trained in wildfire tactics, ecology, safety protocols, fire behavior and related issues.
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Poarch Creeks To Swap Land For New Atmore Hospital
July 26, 2019
The Poarch Creek Indians will enter into a land swap for a new hospital in Atmore.
Mayor Jim Staff said PCI will trade 10 acres near the city’s Rivercane development for the 10 acres currently occupied by the hospital on Medical Park Drive. The new hospital will be located on Highway 21 just south of I-65.
Atmore Community Hospital is owned by the Escambia County Healthcare Authority (ECHA) and currently managed by Infirmary Health. That deal ends next Wednesday, with ECHA assuming management on August 1.
ECHA has approached the Atmore City Council several times seeking a Rivercane land donation, but none of those requests have been approved.
A feasibility study recommended replacement of the aging hospital on Medical Park Drive with new construction including a 10-bed emergency room, 27 patient rooms, ICU, at least one operating room, urgent care and other medical services. One estimate put the cost of the new hospital at $32 million.
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WWE Superstar Wrestler ‘Jimmy Uso’ Arrested On DUI Charge In Cantonment
July 25, 2019
WWE superstar wrestler Jonathan Solofa Fatu of Cantonment, whose ring name is Jimmy Uso, was arrested on a DUI charge on Highway 297A.
An Escambia County deputy parked at Publix and observed a vehicle turn from Pine Forest Road onto Highway 297A, rapidly accelerate, and come very close to another vehicle. The vehicle’s speed was verified by radar at 86 mph in a 45 mph zone.
At 1:53 a.m., the deputy conducted a traffic stop on 33-year old Fatu in the area of Highway 297A and Brockwood Place, just south of Kingsfield Road in Cantonment. Fatu, 33, seemed to be confused, had bloodshot and watery eyes, droopy eyelids, dilated pupils and slow, slurred speech, the deputy noted in his report.
Fatu was booked into the Escambia County Jail and released on a $1,000 bond several hours later.
The WWE issued a short statement saying “Jonathan Fatu is responsible for his own personal actions.”
Collision With A Tree Claims Life Of Atmore Woman
July 25, 2019
A single vehicle crash on July 18 has claimed the life of an Atmore woman.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said 28-year old Victoria Skye DeSilvery was a passenger in a 1997 Ford Mustang that left Booneville Road north of Atmore and struck a tree on July 18. DeSilvery was airlifted to University Hospital in Mobile where she passed away from her injuries on July 23.
The driver, Chad Houston Alverson, 33, of Atmore and an unknown female passenger were uninjured in the crash.
Troopers are continuing their investigation and have not released any additional details.
Molino Man Charged With Trafficking Marijuana After Cantonment Traffic Stop
July 25, 2019
A traffic stop for speeding ended with a Molino man accused of multiple drug offenses.
Devonche XiaXian Brown, 21, was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription (THC vape cartridges), possession of drug paraphernalia and driving without a valid driver’s license.
Deputies attempted to pull Brown over for driving 79 in a 55 mph zone June 17 on Highway 29 near Well Line Road. The vehicle turned onto Cooley Road and came to a stop on Phalrose Lane, where Brown hit a mailbox.
A male identified as Brown by deputies exited the driver’s seat and ran over several fences. A manhunt followed with a K-9 unit, but Brown could not be immediately located and warrant was issued for his arrest.
In the vehicle, deputies found four sandwich bags of marijuana, 14 boxes of medical marijuana vape cartridges still in their original packaging, a marijuana blunt and digital scales, according to an arrest report. The weight of the marijuana totaled over 100 grams.
The Florida Highway Patrol also investigating due to Brown colliding with a mailbox.
A records check revealed that he holds a Florida ID card, but has never been issued a driver’s license.
Brown was booked into the Escambia County Jail without bond on Tuesday.
McDavid Woman Charged With Meth Possession After Being Found With Reported Stolen Truck
July 25, 2019
A McDavid woman allegedly driving a pickup that was reported stolen was arrested on a drug charge.
Katherine Leigh Glass, 38, was charged with possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine).
The owner of a 2002 black GMC pickup contacted the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office to report that he had found the truck, which had been reported stolen, at the ‘O’Reilly Auto Parts on Pine Forest Road just north of Nine Mile Road. The truck owner reported that there were two females with the truck, but one of them fled on foot in an unknown direction.
Glass admitted to deputies that she had been driving the truck with a passenger she could only identify as “Lisa”, according to the arrest report. During a search of Glass, deputies reported finding a small plastic baggie containing crystal methamphetamine in her pants pocket.
Deputies circulated in the area but were unable to find “Lisa”.
Further investigation into the truck determined that the vehicle was not stolen but was actually a civil matter between the owner of the vehicle and his son.
Ernest Ward Middle School Has New Phone Number, New Website
July 25, 2019
Ernest Ward Middle School has a new phone and a new website.
The new phone number is (850) 761-6301, and the new website is www.ernestward.net.
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