UPDATED: Road Closures – Nokomis, Pine Forest, North Pineville, Highway 168
October 26, 2015
Road closures are planned this week on Nokomis Road, Pine Forest Road, North Pineville Road and Highway 168 in the North Escambia area. The closures are for repair and construction and unrelated to forecasted rain.
Nokomis Road in Davisville is set to be closed Wednesday at 7 a.m. through Thursday at 4:30 p.m. for railroad crossing repairs. Drivers may detour on Meadows Lane.
Pine Forest Road in Walnut Hill is set to be closed Tuesday, November 3 at 7 a.m. through Thursday, November 4 at 4:30 p.m. for railroad crossing repairs. Drivers may detour on Rockaway Creek and Pelt Roads.
Highway 168 will experience single lane closures on the Hobbs Branch Bridge (between Pine Barren Road and Wiggins Road) through Wednesday, November 25. Lane closures will be from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.
North Pineville Road work has been canceled.
Work may be rescheduled or prolonged due to inclement weather. Any updates will be posted on NorthEscambia.com.
Florida’s Black Bear Hunt Is Now Over
October 26, 2015
Florida’s 2015 black bear hunt was declared closed Sunday night.
More than 3,500 people armed with guns and bows were expected to take to the woods across four swaths of the state starting Saturday morning to begin a quest to kill formerly threatened Florida black bears.
Taking aim at bears is something hunters haven’t been permitted to do anywhere in Florida since 1994.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission closed the beat hunt with a total of 295 bears taken, approaching the statewide objective of 320. The total harvest count was subject to rise as check stations remained opened after the hunt was closed, with hunters having up to 12 hours to check their bears.
The harvest success was higher than expect in the Eastern Panhandle, likely reflecting a higher bear population in that area. FWC expects the 2016 survey to show populations to be significantly higher than the East Panhandle’s 2002 population estimate of 600 bears.
In addition to updated population information expected in 2016 for three additional BMUs (East Panhandle, West Panhandle and South), FWC also will use information from the 2015 hunt to guide management efforts in subsequent years.
Regulated hunting has a long, successful history of contributing to wildlife conservation in North America. Of the 41 states with resident bear populations, 33 of them conduct hunts and all have stable to increasing bear populations, according to FWC.
Some opponents turned out Friday at protests across the state.
“We’re concerned that too many of the bears will be taken,” said Sally Sanders, organizer of a “Stop the Bear Hunt” protest Friday that drew about 70 people outside the commission’s Tallahassee headquarters. “We’re concerned that the population could drop down below a level that it can recover.”
But, state officials remain adamant that the hunt, which limits each permit holder to killing a single bear weighing at least 100 pounds, won’t exceed the overall 320 bears targeted for what the commission calls a “harvest.”
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church Celebrates 125th Anniversary
October 26, 2015
Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church on West Bogia Road in McDavid celebrated 125 years Sunday during the church’s annual homecoming services. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Highway 97 Driver Overturns
October 26, 2015
There were no known injuries when a driver lost control and overturned a pickup truck off Highway 97 in Walnut Hill Sunday night.
The accident was reported about 10:15 p.m. on Highway south of Howell Road
Firefighters arrived to find the Ford F150 on its side, but no one was around the truck. The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Atmore Ambulance also responded to the call.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview Tribal Beat Participates In Dixieland Band Festival
October 26, 2015
The Northview High School Tribal Beat Band scored an over “2″ rating Saturday during the Dixieland Band Festival in Brewton. The band’s drum major received a “1″ rating, while other components such as color guard, majorettes and percussion scored a “2″. Photos by Gary Amerson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
G’day Mate! Local Students Take Virtual Trip To Australia
October 26, 2015
G’day mate! Hundreds of students at Bratt and Byrneville elementary schools recently took a virtual trip to Australia, thanks to The Global Corner International Learning Center.
The students spent time learning through hands-on activities about the language, arts, culture, geography and more of a unique land half a world away. Each year, The Global Corner teachers take students from their classroom virtually to another country. Through The Global Corner, local students have “visited” Japan, Spain, Egypt, Brazil, Russian, Italy, Kenya and now Australia.
Other North Escambia area schools will take the Global Corner virtual trip to Australia. The program will visit Molino Park Elementary in November and Jim Allen Elementary in February.
Pictured top: Thanks in part to a grant from the International Paper Foundation, The Global Corner was able to provide Passport to Australia Activity Books to K-2 students at Bratt Elementary School. These books reinforce the information taught during our Passport to Australia with fun activities. Pictured two photos below: Global Corner at Bratt Elementary School. Pictured bottom: Byrneville Elementary School’s “Bob” and Bess” discuss the visit of Global Corner to their school. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
I Lost My Son: Remembering Fallen Marine J.R. Spears
October 25, 2015
It’s been 10 years since Marine Cpl. J.R. Spears was killed by a single gunshot wound in Iraq, the first fatality from Escambia or Santa Rosa counties during the war in Iraq.
Saturday afternoon, his family, community members and even complete strangers gathered next to the J.R. Spears Memorial Field at Don Sutton Ballpark in Molino to remember the Tate High School graduate. It was, according to his father Tim Spears, a chance to celebrate what he meant to family and the community.
Spears and his daughters Jessie and Jenny wore black t-shirts with the No. 62 — J.R. Spears’ jersey number at right guard for the Tate Aggies. The team has since retired the jersey number in his honor.
Those gathered Saturday afternoon laughed and cried as they remembered J.R., and many wrote personal messages to him on red, white and blue balloons.
“Love and miss you – our hearys are broken. Save a place for us. Kisses from Molino,” said the message on one balloon. Many people wrote “Semper Fi” or “Thank you”. While another person wrote “You are forever in our hearts”. The balloons were released heavenward in his memory.
“We are going to send them straight to heaven,” event emcee T. Bubba Bechtol told the crowd.
For a photo gallery, click here.
The event also raised money for the J.R. Spears Memorial Scholarship that provides tuition for deserving Tate High graduates at Pensacola State College. When the winner of a “50/50 raffle” to benefit the scholarship fund was announced, a member of the Patriot Guard stepped forward and collected his winnings, only to return the cash to Tim Spears for the scholarship fund.
From the balloons, to the stories, to the hugs, and even the hamburgers and hot dogs, it was all about remembering the legacy of J.R. Spears.
“I don’t want everybody to forget why he died. He was doing what he thought was right,” father Tim Spears said. “A month or so before he was killed, there was a picture that came out…that showed him inside a house in Iraq talking to a man and a woman about why it so important for them to go and vote in their election and telling them what democracy was all about. That’s the kind of stuff that I want everybody to know.”
“They are not just over there killing people. They are trying their best to do what is right for the country that they are in and while defending our freedom and way of life over here,” he continued.
Then he paused, fighting back tears.
“And I guess there’s just a little bit personal on my part. I lost my son, and I want everybody to remember him and what he did.”
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Firefighters Battle Fire At Atmore Chemical Plant
October 25, 2015
Firefighters spent several hours battling a fire at a chemical plant in Atmore.
Smoke was reported Saturday morning at Sunbelt Chemicals, located just off Highway 31 near the Atmore Country Club. The source of the smoke was traced to a smoldering fire inside insulation located over an office area inside the plant. The insulation contained sulfur dust that was burning, official said.
Firefighters worked for hours to remove the smoldering insulation. There were no injuries reported, and officials say the fire poised no danger to the public.
The plant manufactures and distributes sulfur products.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
CrossFaith Church Motorcycle Ride Benefits Alzheimer’s Services
October 25, 2015
CrossFaith Church in Molino held their annual “Ride to Remember” motorcycle ride Saturday to benefit local Alzheimer’s victims and their families. The ride began at Eagle’s Talon on Copter Road and ended at the church in Molino with a cookout, door prizes and more.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Photos by Megan Whitney Horne for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Motorcycle Hits Tate High School Band Bus, Flees Scene
October 25, 2015
The Florida Highway Patrol is still searching for a motorcyclist that slammed into a school bus loaded with Tate High band members early Saturday morning.
Members of the Tate High Showband of the South were on several buses returning from an away football game. At Highway 87 and High School Boulevard in Navarre, the driver of a 2006 Yamaha motorcycle attempted a U-turn and struck the rear of the bus driven by Jackie Carnley of Milton.
After the collision, the driver of the motorcycle fled the scene on foot. The passenger on the motorcycle, 29-year old Donna G. Williams of Navarre, was transported to Fort Walton Beach Medical Center with minor injures.
There were 51 total passengers — 43 minors and eight adults — on the school bus. None of of them were injured.
The accident remains under investigation by the FHP.