Former NBA Coach To Lead Bratt Basketball Camp Next Week
July 20, 2018
The First Baptist Church of Bratt will host a basketball camp next week with a former NBA, college and high school coach.
The camp for children ages 8-14 will be held July 25-27 at the church. Coach Roger Dutremble of Global Sports Outreach will teach kids the fundamentals of basketball and Biblical awareness.
Dutremble is a a retired coach and member of the International Basketball Hall of Fame. He career includes coaching at every level from high school to the NBA, and into international arenas, with a lifetime coaching record of 687-117 and seven national championships. He was selected “Coach of the Year” six times, and served as national team head coach to Belgium, Scotland, and Jordan. He was an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers, serving under Paul Westhead and Pat Riley, from 1979-83 and helping the team to three NBA championships with players like Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
The cost is $45 per student with a limited number of scholarships available. The funds are used exclusively to purchase shoes and basketballs for needy children in other countries where Dutremble conducts camps.
The First Baptist Church of Bratt is located on Highway 4 just west of Northview High School.
All children participating in the camp will receive a certificate of completion and a t-shirt from Dutremble. For registration information, call (850) 327-6529, or stop by the church Monday through Wednesday mornings.
Pictured: Students that participated in a previous basketball camp at the First Baptist Church of Bratt. Inset: Coach Roger Dutremble of Global Sports Outreach. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
$64.5 Million In BP Oil Spill Money Goes To Pensacola Airport, Whiting Aviation Park
July 20, 2018
Pensacola International Airport landed $56 million in BP oil-spill money for an expansion project, under a decision Wednesday by the Triumph Gulf Coast Board of Directors.
The board, meeting in DeFuniak Springs, also awarded $8.5 million for expansion of Whiting Aviation Park in Santa Rosa County. Triumph Gulf Coast Chairman Don Gaetz said in a news release the projects are expected to create more than 3,100 “high-paying” jobs and “grow Northwest Florida as a leader in aviation and aerospace.”
Approvals are still needed that involve funding obligations and performance requirements. Triumph Gulf Coast would be allowed to reclaim money if terms are not met.
The Pensacola grant, which will go for a new maintenance, repair and overhaul hangar, requires Pensacola’s aviation authority to put up more than $75 million from city, county, state and federal sources and $59 million from private companies.
At Whiting Aviation Park, Triumph Gulf Coast is contributing 48 percent of the costs of an expansion project that includes the purchase of 267 acres adjacent to NAS Whiting Field.
The money for the grants came from $300 million that Triumph Gulf Coast has received from the state’s share of a settlement with BP after the Deepwater Horizon disaster. The state created the non-profit Triumph Gulf Coast to administer settlement money. The seven-member board is expected to eventually handle three-quarters of the $2 billion the state will get over the next 13 years from BP. Triumph is required to spread out money to eight Gulf Coast counties most affected by the oil spill, with minimum spending benchmarks for each county — Bay, Escambia, Franklin, Gulf, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla and Walton.
by The News Service of Florida
Photos: Summer Reading Program At The Century And Molino Branch Libraries
July 20, 2018
Bucky and Gigi, two former Ringling Bros. circus clowns, delighted Summer Reading Program participants this week at the Century and Molino branches of West Florida Library.
The Summer Reading Program continues next week, juggler extraordinaire Ron Anglin is back with a fast paced and fascinating show. The program is at 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 25 at the Century Branch Library and 11 a.m. Thursday, July 26 at the Molino Branch Library.
Pictured: Bucky and Gigi at the Century and Molino branch libraries. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Chiefs Football Team Volunteers At Ronald McDonald House
July 20, 2018
The Northview High School Chiefs football team gave back Thursday, volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House in Pensacola. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Man Charged With Buying Meth From Undercover Officers
July 20, 2018
A man was arrested after allegedly buying meth from undercover officers in Escambia County.
Officials said William Wilder bought approximately 15.6 grams of methamphetamine from undercover officers during an operation conducted by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and ATF.
He was charged with first degree felony methamphetamine trafficking. He remained in jail with bond set at $50,000.
Another Man Arrested For Helping Deadly Hit And Run Suspect Avoid Capture
July 19, 2018
Pensacola Police have arrested a man for helping a deadly hit and run suspect avoid capture.
Ali Rashaan Freeman, 39, has been charged with being an accessory after the fact, a second degree felony, for assisting Markquise DeShawn Wallace avoid capture.
Wallace has an active warrant for a deadly hit and run which occurred on June 6 on Cervantes Street.
PPD said Freeman assisted Wallace in avoiding capture and assisted him with hiding evidence by going with Wallace the day after the crash to purchase a cargo trailer in order to conceal and move the white Dodge Challenger that Wallace was driving when he struck three pedestrians, killing two of them.
Wallace also told Freeman that he (Wallace) was the person who struck the people at M and Cervantes Street. Freeman never came forward with that information.
Detectives are still searching for Wallace, following leads both within the community and out of state. The investigation involving others who have assisted Wallace is continuing with more arrests anticipated.
Tadrian Rushing, 20, was previously charged by Pensacola Police with being an accessory after the fact, a second degree felony, for assisting Wallace avoid capture.
Three people were crossing Cervantes Street near M Street when they were hit by a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed. Neariaah Ikerria Williams, age 8 months, and a family friend, 28-year-old Nephateria Monique Williams, died. The child’s mother, 27-year-old Quineka Tyon Baldwin, was injured.
Anyone with information on the crash or Wallace is asked to call 911, the Pensacola Police Department, or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Legally Blind Century Man Raising Money To See Again With High Tech Glasses
July 19, 2018
“I experienced a miracle.”
That’s how Eddie Hammond of Century described trying on a pair of eSight glasses a few days. Eddie is legally blind, but the glasses gave him a chance to see again.
The eSight glasses are high tech, engineered to aid the visually impaired to see. The life-changing technology uses a high quality camera to projects a live feed onto two small screens in front of the wearer’s eyes.
And for 57-year old Eddie Hammond, they worked.
When Eddie was 12, he suffered an eye injury that caused vision problems in his left eye. A few years later, the same problem struck his right eye. He served his community for 33 years with the Town of Century. But he was forced to retire due to his vision.
Four years ago, he experienced retinal detachment that left him totally blind in his right eye. Coupled with very poor vision in his left eye, Hammond was plunged into a blurry world.
“I can only see the world around me in a blur of shapes, colors and motion,” he said. Until last week, when the eSight glasses allowed him to see clearly.
But Eddie could not bring the glasses home — he can’t afford the $10,000 price tag that’s not covered by insurance.
He learned of the eSight glasses after a news story about a a legally blind Beulah Academy of Science Middle School student. His classmates raised nearly $10,000 in just a few weeks to purchase a special pair of eSight glasses to allow him too see clearly again. [Read story...]
Now Eddie is hoping North Escambia area residents will help him see again.
“I am reaching out to ask if you can help give me the gift of sight. eSight will allow me to actually see, and any contribution from you would truly change my life,” he said.
“These glasses would benefit every aspect of my life. They would help me to regain my independence, see my grandchildren and to live a better life.”
Donations towards Eddie Hammon’s eSight glasses can be made to the “Edward R. Hammond Benefit Account” at any location of United Bank, or online at eSight.
Pictured top: Eddie Hammond of Century stands on his porch, staring out into a blurry world. Pictured inset: Eddie Hammond hopes the community will help him pay for special glasses that will allow him to see again. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Firefighters Rescue Woman, Service Dog After Crash Into Barrineau Park Woods
July 19, 2018
Firefighters rescued a woman in her 70’s and her service dog from deep in a wooded area following a wreck in Barrineau Park late Wednesday night.
The woman’s vehicle came to rest about 40 feet into the woods at South Highway 99 and Highway 196. She was transported to an area hospital by Escambia County EMS, while firefighters from the Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue stayed with the service dog until family members arrived.
Injuries to the woman and her dog were not considered life threatening.
The crash remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Further details have not been released.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Century Drops Budget Workshop Over Missed Public Notice
July 19, 2018
The Town of Century has dropped a budget workshop planned for today after public notice issues were raised.
At council meetings on July 2 and July 16, it was noted that a budget workshop would be set for today, July 19. By Wednesday, no public notice had been posted or sent to the media for publication.
In an email Wednesday morning to council members and Mayor Henry Hawkins, Town Clerk Kim Godwin stated that “The Government in the Sunshine Manual” states 24 hours notice is needed and posting of the notice by 4 p.m. would satisfy requirements.
However, the 2018 edition of Florida’s “Government in the Sunshine Manual” states, “Except in the case of emergency or special meetings, notice should be provided at least 7 days prior to the meeting. Emergency sessions should be afforded the most appropriate and effective notice under the circumstances.”
The Sunshine Manual states that special meetings should have no less than 24 and “preferably” at least 72 hours notice to the public.
The manual also notes that press releases and contact with the local news media “is highly effective in providing notice of upcoming meetings.” NorthEscambia.com publishes those notices at no charge to the Town of Century as a public service.
In 2016, four members of the Citizens Advisory Task Force, which served at the pleasure of the council, were charged by the State Attorney’s Office with violating the Florida Government in the Sunshine Law. The town was notified at that time in writing by Chief Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille of the public notice requirements as set forth by Florida law.
Highway 113 Crash Near I-65 Claims One Life
July 19, 2018
A two vehicle crash Wednesday night north of Flomaton has claimed the life of an Illinois man.
Alabama State Troopers said 54-year old John A. Janis of Brookfield, IL, was driving a 2007 Buick Lucerne that collided with a 2003 GMC Sierra driven by 18-year old Hunter A. Majors of Brewton. The accident happened on Highway 113 near the I-65 Flomaton exit.
Janis was airlifted to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola where he later died.
John Majors, 54, was a passenger in Majors’ vehicle and was transported by ambulance to D.W. McMillan Memorial Hospital in Brewton. Three other people were transported to McMillan with non life-threatening injuries.
The GMC Sierra caught fire after the crash.
The accident remains under investigation by Alabama State Troopers.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
