Bank Robbed Saturday Morning
October 3, 2015
Pensacola Police are searching for a man who robbed a bank Saturday morning and escaped with an undisclosed amount of cash.
The incident occurred just after 9:30 a.m. at Wells Fargo, 4441 Bayou Boulevard.
Officer Dennis Salon said the suspect handed a teller a note demanding cash. She complied and he was last seen headed southbound from the bank. Salon said there were approximately 10 employees and one customer in the bank at the time; no one was injured.
The suspect was described as a light-skinned black male, 5 feet 6 to 5 feet 8 inches tall, thin build, and possibly in his 30s. He was wearing a charcoal gray to green long-sleeved sweater with thick blue horizontal stripes, dark jeans, and a lime green skull cap.
Anyone having information on the incident is asked to contact the Pensacola Police Department at (850) 435-1900 or Crime Stoppers at 850) 433- STOP.
Fire Damages Molino Mobile Home
October 3, 2015
Fire damaged a double wide home in Molino Saturday morning.
The fire was reported about 10:50 a.m. on Dewey Rose Lane off Barrineau Park Road. The fire was reportedly contained mostly to a laundry room.
There were no injuries reported.
Iconic Fran’s Country Grill Closes, Sold To New Owner
October 3, 2015
The iconic Fran’s Country Grill in Molino closed for good Friday night after a farewell and retirement party. The restaurant has been sold to nearby competitor Jimmy’s Grill and will reopen in a few weeks under that name.
“There is only one Ms. Fran,” said Roy Wiggins, who has been eating at Fran’s for about 30 years. Friday night — as he enjoyed his final Fran’s meal of fried catfish, hush puppies and baked beans — he reflected on all the things the landmark restaurant and owner Fran Hampton has stood for over the years.
“She helped may people who otherwise would have gone to bed without food; she gave away many free meals,” Wiggins said. “She was just an icon in the community.”
New owner Jimmy Carter, of Jimmy’s Grill fame, said he will be open in the former’s Fran’s location in about three weeks — after a little remodeling.
“We are going to keep a few of her things on the menu,” he said. “She’s agreed to share a few of her recipes.”
“And we are looking forward to the move,” Carter said.
Pictured top: A farewell dinner was held Friday night as Fran’s Country Diner in Molino closed for the very last night. Pictured inset: “The” Fran, owner Fran Hampton, is retiring. (Photos courtesy Roy Wiggins). Pictured below: Fran’s Diner has always been at the center of local and state politics, with candidates like Gov. Rick Scott, Sheriff David Morgan and Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam campaigning in recent years. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate Earns District Win Over Washington (With Photo Gallery)
October 3, 2015
The Tate Aggies won their first district game Friday night as they powered past the Washington Wildcast 38-21.
Washington took the lead 7-0 with 8:43 to go in the fist quarter at Pete Gindl Stadium in Cantonment following a 16-yard touchdown dash. A 57-yard drive ended for Tate with 5:23 to go in the first with a two-yard quarterback keeper from Sawyer Smith. Alonte Thompson was in on the two-point conversion to put the Aggies up 8-7.
Jake Henry hit paydirt from 34-yards out and, along with a good kick from Evan Legassey, the Aggies were up 15-7 with 37 seconds on the clock in the first.
Tate expanded their advantage to 22-7 with 8:28 to go in the second quarter on a touchdown dash from Alondo Thompkins. The Wildcats answered, with the score 22-13 Tate at the half.
The Aggies scored again with 7:50 in the third, with Thompkins from a couple of yards out. Tate missed a later field goal attempt, and Washington pulled within one TD, 29-21 with 9:30 to go in the ballgame.
Thompkins scored again in the fourth for the Aggies on a 49-yard run to put Tate on top 35-21. Then, with 4:08 in the ballgame, Legassey chipped in a 35-yard field goal for the final score 38-21.
The Tate Aggies (4-1, 1-0)) will take the short drive across the river to Pace next Friday night to take on the Patiots at 7:30 p.m.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Keith Garrison, click to enlarge.
Friday Night Finals
October 3, 2015
Here is a look at tonight’s final scores from high school football games across the North Escambia area.
FLORIDA
- Maplesville 32, Northview 0 [Read more, photo gallery...]
- Baker 48, Jay 26 [Read more, photo gallery. ..]
- Tate 38, Washington 21 [Read more, photo gallery...]
- Pine Forest 21, Escambia 17
- Bay 23, PHS 7
- Catholic High 19, Florida High 13
- Gulf Breeze 48, Milton 26
- Navarre 42, Pace 27
- Niceville 55, FWB 6
- South Walton 41, Freeport 8
- OFF: West Florida
ALABAMA
- Flomaton 38, Choctaw County 20
- Miller 27, Opp 26
- W.S. Neal 57, Monroe County High 20
- Escambia County (Atmore) 26, Faith Academy 14;
- Monroe Academy 41, Escambia Academy 12
Maplesville Downs The Northview Chiefs (With Photo Gallery)
October 3, 2015
Alabama 1A powerhouse Maplesville shut out the Northview Chiefs 32-0 Friday night in Bratt.
“We just beat ourselves,” Northview head coach Sid Wheatley said after the loss. “Nobody likes to lose, obviously, but when you beat yourself, you are not giving yourself a chance. And in my opinion, we firmly beat ourselves tonight.”
The Chiefs suffered through multiple turnovers that pushed Maplesville to the red zone, after the Red Devils took the lead on their first possession.
A pass from Northview quarterback Gavin Grant was intercepted by the Red Devils for an 11-yard touchdown dash following a 57-yard Maplesville run.
“It could have been 14-7 at the end of the second quarter,” Wheatley said, “but, again, we beat ourselves.”
Instead, Maplesville held a 13-0 lead at the half. A Northview turnover in the third set up another Red Devil touchdown, and a Northview fumble led to another Red Devil TD.
And after another Northview turnover, the Red Devils scored again.
“I liked the effort; I just did not like the execution,” Wheatley said. “We didn’t finish them off when we had those opportunities.”
Next week, it’s back to the basics for the Chiefs. “We’ve got to make sure we can take care of the football and have great ball security.”
The Chiefs will be back in Bratt next Friday night as they host Liberty county for the Chiefs’ homecoming.
NorthEscambia.com photos, with additional gallery photos by Gary Amerson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Forest Service, Fire Departments Watching Island Fire On Escambia River
October 3, 2015
Firefighters from the Florida Forest Service responded to reports of a wildfire in western Santa Rosa County along the shores of the Escambia River Friday afternoon. The fire was contained to a small parcel of land in the Escambia River marsh but crews cannot make access and will monitor it throughout the weekend.
The fire is in the area known as Noriegas Island and is surrounded by water. Aerial estimates put the island at about 10 acres and a fire size at less than 1 acre late Friday afternoon.
Smoke may persist throughout the evening and into the night and could impact U.S. 90. Drivers are urged to use caution if they encounter smoke on the roads and treat as if they were driving in fog. Motorists should turn on their low beam headlights or pull safely off the road until conditions improve.
Cantonment Man Charged With Burglary, Vehicle Theft
October 3, 2015
A Cantonment man is behind bars, charged with a burglary and a vehicle theft.
Sundown West Brown, 21, was charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle, burglary of an unoccupied dwelling, grand theft and criminal mischief. He was also cited for operating a motor vehicle without a license. Brown was also arrested on outstanding Pensacola Police Department warrants for burglary of an unoccupied dwelling and grand theft. He remained in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $91,000
Brown was implicated in a September burglary at a home in the 1800 block of Bradley Avenue in Cantonment in which and iPad a nd cash were taken.
Deputies spotted Brown driving 1998 Ford Explorer that had previously been reported stolen from Etta Street.
Baker Gators Top Jay (With Photo Gallery)
October 3, 2015
The Jay Royals opened district play Friday night with a 48-26 loss to the Baker Gators.
Next week, the Royals will host Cottondale.
Photos by Michele Gibbs for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
UF Celebrates 50 Years Of Gatorade
October 3, 2015
The research question posed to University of Florida professor J. Robert Cade, M.D., and his research fellows in 1965 was a simple one: Why were so many Gator football players getting sick in the unrelenting Florida heat?
“That question changed our lives,” Cade would later tell reporters, because the answer led him and his team to develop an innovative product that forever changed athletic performance, launched a new industry, helped people suffering from dehydration and sparked a legacy of innovation that persists at UF today — Gatorade.
This year marks 50 years since Cade and his team — Dana Shires, M.D.; Jim Free, M.D.; and Alejandro de Quesada, M.D. — concocted the mixture of water, electrolytes and lemon juice that ultimately became UF’s most famous invention.
At the time Gatorade was invented, the researchers’ goal was simply to develop something to help the Gator football team stay hydrated in the heat.
“Several football players were in the emergency room because of heat stroke,” said de Quesada, who noted that Gatorade was a side project for the team, which at the time was more focused on the bourgeoning use of hemodialysis and kidney transplantation. “The concept at the time was that if you were engaged in strenuous exercise, you could not drink water because it caused vomiting. The idea was if you create a solution and give it to the players, they would be hydrated much faster.
“We came up with a solution that could be absorbed quickly. It was very simple.”
With the permission of then-UF coach Ray Graves, the researchers tested the beverage on the Gators’ “B” team. Although the taste took some time to be perfected, the results of the fledgling sports drink were promising and seemed to help the team on the field. By 1966, the Gators had an 8-2 regular season record and had won the Orange Bowl for the first time, and many thought Gatorade played a role in that success. The Florida Times-Union famously wrote “One Lil’ Swig of That Kickapoo Juice and Biff, Bam, Sock — It’s Gators, 8-2.”
Today, Gatorade, now owned by PepsiCo, is the official sports drink of the National Football League, the National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball and more. Within UF, the invention of Gatorade has cultivated another lasting legacy — a culture of innovation. The example set by Gatorade’s inventors has influenced generations of Gator researchers to be persistent in their pursuit of discovery and to aim big.
“What Bob Cade did for the university was make everyone else realize that someone working quietly on something interesting and relevant to them could make a difference,” said Nikolaus Gravenstein, M.D., the Jerome H. Modell, M.D., professor of anesthesiology in the UF College of Medicine. “You could be in any discipline and make a difference.
“It is one of our reasons our UF Office of Technology and Licensing is the size it is, because there are so many people who say ‘I can do that, too.’”
Mark Segal, M.D., Ph.D., the J. Robert Cade professor of medicine and division chief of nephrology, hypertension and renal transplantation in the College of Medicine, said Cade’s work has influenced many in his division.
“I truly believe this division is innovative, and that innovation has its origins with Dr. Cade,” Segal said. “He never accepted the status quo. We shouldn’t accept the status quo, either.”
Royalties from Gatorade also have funded more than $250 million in research projects across the university and notably within the College of Medicine, where Cade was a faculty member in the department of medicine division of nephrology, hypertension and renal transplantation until his death in 2007.
In 2014, UF Health researcher Michael Lauzardo, M.D., received $200,000 from the Gatorade Trust to open a tuberculosis lab in Gressier, Haiti. Haiti has the worst rate of tuberculosis infection in the western hemisphere. At the lab, UF researchers are performing rapid diagnostic tests to more quickly diagnose patients, training Haitian lab technicians to perform these tests and conducting research to answer crucial questions related to the transmission of the disease and why some strains have become resistant to well-known treatments.
“We want to move research forward and address how to best provide drug-resistant TB therapy in a difficult environment, how to best get specimens to a lab, and how to get people who live in remote areas complicated lifesaving therapy. This is an area where Haiti can be a leader,” said Lauzardo, director of the Southeastern National Tuberculosis Center, chief of the UF division of infectious diseases and global medicine and a member of the Emerging Pathogens Institute. “Gatorade’s funding has helped us do something novel and unique and efficient that moves research forward.”
Gatorade royalties have funded many pilot projects throughout UF, helping researchers get their work off the ground or establish labs. One such project that has come to full fruition is the Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, which received a $30,000 grant from Gatorade to assist with its opening in 1974. Although the grant was small, the seed funding has paid off in big ways. Researchers at the Whitney Lab, located by the Atlantic Ocean in St. Augustine, Florida, specialize in understanding marine creatures to benefit human health.
For example, in 2014, Whitney researcher Leonid Moroz, Ph.D., became the first scientist to conduct genome sequencing of fragile marine creatures, such as rare comb jellies, in real time while aboard a ship. Because of their delicate bodies, these creatures cannot be safely shipped to the lab, so the researchers brought the lab to them. The research could lead to better understanding of the mechanisms at work in these creatures and could lead to new drug discoveries.
Gatorade’s influence also has spawned numerous discoveries at UF benefiting sports medicine. Gravenstein and his team developed air-cooled football pads to combat heat illness in athletes. The technology is now used in the NFL. Other UF researchers such as Jay Clugston, M.D., in the College of Medicine, are studying ways to prevent and reduce concussions in athletes.
“(Gatorade) infected people with the spirit of discovery,” Gravenstein said. “I am convinced the best is yet to come.”
For de Quesada, looking back on the invention he, Cade, Shires and Free devised five decades ago, what makes him the most proud is Gatorade’s use off the field, helping children recover from dehydration caused by vomiting and diarrhea.
“Babies, used to die because of severe diarrhea and vomiting. There was little they could do. With the use of Gatorade, that problem was solved,” he said. “We never claimed that Gatorade is a medication. But it can be used to hydrate people who need hydration for medical reasons. That is one of the great satisfactions I have, is how many lives it has saved.”