Northview Chiefs Beat The Escambia Gators
March 28, 2017
Northview 6, Escambia 5
The Northview Chiefs defeated the Escambia Gators 6-5 Monday night at Escambia.
Escambia took a 2-0 lead with runs in the bottom of the first and second. The Chiefs answered with four runs in the third to take the lead. Northview added another run in the top of the fourth, followed by two from Escambia to even the game at 5-5 headed into a scoreless fifth inning. The Chiefs’ winning run cam in the top of the sixth on a single from Chandler Lowery.
Zach Payne, Jared Alif and John Chivington also had RBIs for the Chiefs. Josh Neese had a double for Northview.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Portion Of Hwy 21 To Be Named For Slain Holman Correctional Officer
March 28, 2017
A portion of Alabama Highway 21 near Atmore will be named the “Alabama Correctional Officer Kenneth L. Bettis Memorial Highway”.
Bettis, 44, was assaulted and stabbed by an inmate at the Holman Correctional Facility on September 1, 2016, after refusing to serve the inmate an extra lunch tray. He died from his injury on September 16.
Bettis served the State of Alabama Department of Corrections for seven years, with his entire career at Holman. He was a decorated combat veteran who served in Iraq with the 142nd Battlefield Surveillance Brigade out of Decatur.
“Officer Bettis was known among his colleagues as a firm, but fair corrections officer, and was highly respected for his work ethic and dedicated service to his profession,” according to Corrections Commissioner Jeff Dunn.
The Alabama Legislature has voted to name nearly five miles of Alabama Highway 21 from I- 65 to Smithfield Road as the “Alabama Correctional Officer Kenneth L. Bettis Memorial Highway”. This includes the portion of Highway 21 near the Holman and Fountain correctional facilities.
The bill will be signed during a ceremony at 11:30 a.m. April 12 in the Old House Chambers of the Alabama State Capitol.
Lane Closures: Highway 99, Highway 196, Nine Mile Road
March 28, 2017
Highway 99, Highway 196
County Road 99 and County Road 196 will experience short-term lane closures beginning today. The closures will take place between the hours of 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Construction is expected to be completed by Saturday, April 1. Construction will consist of milling and resurfacing of three bridge approaches on CR 99 and CR 196 and a 500 foot section of CR 196, west of CR 99. The roadway will be reduced to one lane while construction material and equipment is unloa ded and to complete construction. Every effort will be made to expedite construction efforts to reopen the road by Saturday, April 1. If other lane or roadway closures are necessary beyond the anticipated time periods, another notice will be issued.
Nine Mile Road
Nine Mile Road near Scenic Hills Drive will experience lane closures through Thursday. The closures will take place between the hours of 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. on the eastbound side. Construction will consist of adding right turn lanes on the south side of Nine Mile Road, just east of Westside Drive. Every effort will be made to expedite construction efforts to reopen the road by Thursday, March 30. If other lane or roadway closures are necessary beyond the anticipated time periods, another notice will be issued.
Home Invasion Suspect Held At Gunpoint Until Deputies Arrive
March 28, 2017
An Escambia County, AL, homeowner held a home invasion suspect at gunpoint in his living room until deputies arrived.
The Phill Road homeowner told the Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office that his family was sleeping about 2 a.m. Saturday when they were awakened by the sound of breaking glass and realized that someone was inside their home.
The homeowner retrieved his handgun and went into the living room. As he cocked the weapon, the suspect came up from behind a couch asking the homeowner not to shoot. The homeowner’s wife called 911.
When deputies arrived, they found the suspect being held face down on the floor. The suspect, later identified as 37-year old Robert Ryan Delgadillo, was taken into custody without incident. During their investigation, deputies found an open folding knife believed to belong to Delgadillo.
Delgadillo was booked into the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center in Brewton with bond set $50,000 for a charge of burglary first degree. He is also being held on a violation of probation charge from an unrelated incident.
Man Wanted For Murder
March 28, 2017
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a murder suspect.
Claude Lee Whiting, 38, is wanted for the murder of 46-year old Ashlen Harrison. Harrison was shot multiple times in the 800 block of Citrus Street on Sunday.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Whiting is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
Molino Head Start Commits To Two More Years
March 27, 2017
The Escambia County Commission has agreed to extend the low cost lease for the Head Start program in Molino.
The Community Action Program Committee, Inc. first leased the property next to the Molino Library on Highway 95A in April 2014 for Head Start. A grand opening for the program was held in October 2014 after renovations were complete to create classroom space in the 3,755 square foot building.
Community Action Program Committee Inc., is a non-profit corporation that provides assistance to low-income pre-school children ages birth to five years in Escambia County. They lease the building at $1 per year with their new two-year term beginning April 29.
Head Start and Early Head Start Programs provide comprehensive, developmental services for low-income pre-school children ages birth to five and support services for their families. The purpose of the Head Start programs is to promote school readiness by enhancing the social and cognitive development of children through the provision of health, educational, nutritional, social and other services. The cornerstone of the program is parent and community development.
Pictured: The grand opening of the Head Start program in Molino. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Schools Honor Volunteers, Partners
March 27, 2017
The 2017 Escambia County School District Appreciation Luncheon was held recently to thank volunteers, mentors, business and community partners and teachers.
Those honored from the North Escambia area included:
Jim Allen Elementary
Teacher of the Year – Lacey Brown
Adult Volunteeer - LessLee Earnest
Senior Volunteer – Jill Hale
Bratt Elementary School
Adult Volunteer – Bonnie Reaves
Senior Volunteer – Carolyn Loggins
Partner – Walnut Hill Vol Fire Dept
Escambia Westgate
Adult Volunteer – Anna Dudenhofer
Senior Volunteer – Anthony Keligond
Youth Volunteer - Victoria Kent
Partner - Liberty Church, North Campus
Roy Hyatt Envir Studies Center
Adult Volunteer – Kay Uriz
Senior Volunteer -Tony Uriz
Lipscomb Elementary
Adult Volunteer – Ayako Chibano
Senior Volunteer – Arnie Zinck
Youth Volunteer – Anna Pearce
McArthur Elementary
Adult Volunteer – Kayla Henderson
Senior Volunteer – Lucy Timpson
Youth Volunteer – Carly Jo Johnecheck
Molino Park Elementar
Adult Volunteer – Marsha Marks
Senior Volunteer – Pat Levoy
Youth Volunteer – Brittanie McLemore
Partner Little Caesars
Ransom Middle
Adult Volunteer – George Foss
Senior Volunteer – Theresa Frazier
Youth Volunteer – Louis LeDuc
Partner - Jersey Mike’s Subs
Ernest Ward Middle
Adult Volunteer - Dr. Sheldon Harigel
Senior Volunteer – Henry Lewis
Youth Volunteer – Tristin Long
Partner - Poarch Band of Creek Indians
Northview High
Adult Volunteer - Mike Neese
Senior Volunteer – Jerry Fischer
Youth Volunteer – Mitchell Singleton
Partner – Town of Century
Tate High School
Adult Volunteer Arthur Porter
Senior Volunteer - Daniel Keely
Youth Volunteer -Zyreshia Jackson
Partner– Escambia Heat and Air
Pictured top: The Northview High School table at the 2017 Escambia County School District Appreciation Luncheon. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FDOT: Delays At Highway 29, North Tate School Road
March 27, 2017
Drivers can expect delays this week on Highway 29 at North Tate School Road, according to the Florida Department of Transportation. The northbound, outside lane will be closed from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday, March 27 through Thursday, March 30 as crews extend the southbound (left) turn lane, install a new northbound (right) turn lane, and construct a new driveway at Arby’s. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Latvala Vows Help For Department Of Corrections Employees
March 27, 2017
With the Florida Department of Corrections asking to boost pay for entry-level employees to help fight turnover, “help is on the way from the Florida Senate,” according to the chamber’s top budget-writer.
Senate Appropriations Chairman Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, told his panel that he and other Senate leaders had agreed to help the agency try to stop the outflow of correctional officers to higher-paying private-sector and local jobs.
“Our budget will include some substantial help for you,” Latvala told Corrections Secretary Julie Jones, who presented a pay plan to the committee. Latvala said the details were still being hammered out, in part because state economists will meet to project how much money lawmakers will have to work with as they craft a budget for the year that begins July 1.
Jones told the committee her plan has three prongs: raising pay for correctional officers, probation officers and some supervisors; a hiring bonus for some employees at facilities with high vacancy rates; and additional pay for those who work with inmates with mental-health problems.
The department has already taken some steps to try to tamp down turnover among its newest employees, Jones said, by strengthening penalties meant to recoup training costs for those who leave the agency within their first two years. “But I truly believe that without some kind of a pay package for recruitment and retention, we have nothing left to offer employees to keep them beyond those two years,” she said.
by The News Service of Florda
Saint Monica’s Cleans Up Along Highway 95A
March 27, 2017
Saint Monica’s Episcopal Church in Cantonment started a new ministry Sunday after their monthly potluck — their first quarterly Highway 95A trash pick up.
There were 16 people that set out on Highway 95 with trash bags in hand. In just 45 minutes, they group had picked up a pickup truck load of material from the roadside, including 12 bags of trash, five bags of recyclables, one tire and an old desk.
St. Monica’s is partnering with Keep Pensacola Beautiful who provided them the vests along with trash and recycling bags. The church will log their time and effort, and Keep Pensacola Beautiful will provide an Adopt-A–Road sign
The true rewards from starting this ministry is getting to spend time talking and singing with fellow parishioners while doing their part to help the environment and getting a little exercise at the same time, said Elizabeth MacWhinnie.
Photos for NorthEcambia.com, click to enlarge.
