Church Back To School Splash Benefits Molino Park Elementary
September 14, 2014
Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Molino held a Back to School Splash for the community Saturday afternoon. Everything was free, but attendees were encouraged to bring a ream or two of copy paper for Molino Park Elementary School. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Federal Charge Dismissed Against Molino Man Convicted Of Stealing Copper Wire
September 13, 2014
Federal charges have been dismissed against a Molino man that allegedly took copper wire from aboard Naval Air Station Pensacola and then sold it.
Calvin Antwane Smith, age 28 of Cedartown Road, was sentenced in Escambia County Circuit Court August 4 by Judge Gary Bergosh to 36 months probation on charges of felony fraud providing a false statement verifying ownership of regulated metals, and felony dealing in stolen property. According to investigators, he sold two spools of copper wire to two recycling companies after the wire was stolen from his private contractor employer at NAS Pensacola.
He was then arrested by federal authorities and released on his own recognizance on a federal charge of larceny within a special maritime jurisdiction for stealing the wire, which was valued at less than $1,000. But federal prosecutors dropped the charge before Smith’s scheduled trial date.
He remains on probation following the Escambia County conviction.
Northview Rolls Over Chipley (With Photo Gallery)
September 13, 2014
The Northview Chiefs rolled over the Chipley Tigers Friday night in Bratt, 24-6.
The Chiefs lit up the scoreboard first with a 17-yard pass from quarterback Gavin Grant to Jacob Weaver. A missed kick, and Northview was up 6-0. Senior Keondrae Lett scored three touchdowns for the Chiefs, the first from a couple of yards out just a couple of minutes before the half, the second on a 75-yard run with 5:00 in the third quarter, and the final seal the deal TD early in the fourth. Lett’s third quarter touchdown was set up by a Nick Lambert interception at Northview’s 15 and a return to Chipley’s 33.
Overall, Lett was close to 240 yards on the night.
“I thought our offensive line did a good job tonight,” Northview Coach Sid Wheatley said after the win. “I thought our running backs ran the ball extremely well.”
Chipley’s only score of the night came a lateral when Northview appeared to think the ball was dead.
“Our defense stepped up big. We game them one touchdown in the first half kind of on a flukish play when we thought we had him stopped. We gave up no points in the second half, and that was huge,” he said.
Friday night might not be the only meeting of the year between Chipley and Northview. Both are in different districts in Class 1A and could feasibly meet again in regional play in late November.
For a photo gallery, click here. (Cheerleader, band, dance team and mini-majorette photos have been delayed for technical reasons and will be published as soon as possible.)
The Chiefs (3-0) will be off next Friday night and travel to Fort Walton Beach to play Choctaw on September 26.
During the two weeks downtime, Wheatley said the team will work “fine tune little things”. “We are not where we need to be, but we are doing enough, and we know we can do better.”
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Weekend Gardening: It’s Easy To Attract Hummingbirds
September 13, 2014
by Santa Rosa County Extension
Few sights are more thrilling in the garden than rapidly moving hummingbirds darting among colorful flowers. Hummingbirds, also known as hummers, are always a wonder to see, and it’s easy to attract them to your garden.
In Florida, we see three different types of hummingbirds, but the most common is the ruby-throated. This feathered jewel is only about three inches long and weighs as little as a single penny.
For their size, hummingbirds have among the largest appetites in the bird world. They feed every 10 or 15 minutes from dawn until dusk. During this period, they eat more than half their weight in food and 8 times their weight in water.
If you’re fascinated by hummingbirds, you probably hang out a feeder or two in the summer to provide them with sugar water. Artificial feeders will attract hummingbirds.
However, feeders should not be the sole source of food provided. The sugar solution may appeal to the hummingbirds’ sweet tooth, but it provides little nourishment. Nectar is much more vital to the hummingbird than just water and sugar. By planting certain flowers and shrubs, home gardeners can provide food and habitat for hummingbirds.
Typical hummingbird flowers are red, have a tubular shape and have no strong scent. But there are several notable exceptions to this general rule. Many plants with red flowers don’t contain very much nectar. Roses, petunias, geraniums and zinnias have brilliant colors but little nectar.
Plants that produce an abundance of flowers over an extended period of time and those that require little care are good choices. Native plants can “fill the bill” where nectar-seekers are concerned and should be used whenever possible.
Perennials that are recommended as nectar sources include butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa), red basil (Calamintha coccinea), shrimp plant (Justicia brandegeana), cigar plant (Cuphea ignea), firespike (Odontonema stricta), red star hibiscus (Hibiscus coccineus), and obedient plant (Physostegia spp.).
It’s also important to plant a mixture of nectar producing trees, vines and shrubs that have overlapping blooming seasons. This will insure that a continuous source of nectar will be available to hummingbirds throughout the growing season. Some of the species recommended include red buckeye, bottlebrush, firebush (Hamelia patens), wild azalea, trumpet vine, and coral honeysuckle.
Contrary to popular belief, hummingbirds are not strictly nectar feeders. Insects and other invertebrates are the primary source of protein for adult hummingbirds and their young. An adult female can consume up to 2,000 insects per day. Small invertebrates including mosquitoes, gnats, small bees, fruit flies, spiders, caterpillars, aphids, and insects eggs make up the hummingbirds diet. So keep your plants free of pesticides. Pesticides destroy the insect food base vital to hummingbirds and their offspring, and may also contaminate the nectar they drink.
And if you do use artificial feeders, remember that the sugar solutions must be kept fresh. Florida’s hot weather can cause rapid bacterial growth in these feeders and birds that drink contaminated water could die. To avoid this, change the solution every 3 to 5 days. Clean the feeders with hot water and white vinegar. Do not use soap or chlorine bleach.
Tate Blows Away Panama City Bay (With Photo Gallery)
September 13, 2014
The Tate Aggies beat Panama City Bay 47-0 Friday night in Panama City in a game that ended with the mercy rule’s running clock.
The Aggies blew the Tornadoes away with 450 yards.
Tate’s first touchdown of the night came on a 10-yard fun from Alondo Thompkins. A few minutes later, the Aggies improved to 12-0 with a nine yard run keeper from quarterback Sawyer Smith. Smith found Payne on three touchdown passes, the first just seconds before the end of the half to put the Aggies up 26-0. The final Tate TD of the night came from reserve quarterback Jacob Hamrick from the one.
For a photo gallery, click here.
The Tate Aggies (2-1) will celebrate homecoming next Friday at 7:30 as they host West Gadsden.
Photos by Jennifer Repine for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Woman Gets 20 Years For Carjackings After Luring Victims Online
September 13, 2014
An Escambia County woman was sentenced to 20 years in prison for carjackings and related crimes in which she used social media find her victims.
Brianna Nicole Armour, age 19, was sentenced by Circuit Judge Michael Allen to 20 years minimum mandatory state prison. Armour entered a guilty plea on April 29, 2014 to two counts of attempted carjacking with a firearm, one count of shooting at, into or within an occupied vehicle, two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted delinquent under 24 years of age, two counts of aggravated assault by threat with firearm, one count of grand theft auto, and one count of criminal mischief.
Prosecutors said the defendant utilized the social media website “tagged.com” to lure all three of her victims into meeting her. In the first case, the defendant met the victim and drove to a local gas station whereupon the victim went into the store to purchase a drink. While the victim was in the store, the defendant drove off in the victim’s vehicle.
In the second case, upon Armour meeting the victim, she directed him to drive to a remote location. Once at that location, the defendant brandished a pistol and ordered the victim out of the car. When the defendant attempted to get into the driver’s seat, the victim managed to drive away. Upon driving away, Armour shot out the back window of the vehicle.
In the third case, Armour once again directed the victim to drive to a remote location. Once at that location, the defendant brandished a pistol and ordered the victim out of his truck. A brief struggle over the pistol resulted in the victim receiving a minor gunshot wound to his arm, after which the defendant fled on foot.
Florida Corrections Continues Terminations For Inappropriate And Criminal Behavior
September 13, 2014
Friday, the Florida Department of Corrections announced that in addition to the six members of its staff that were terminated Thursday, this week an additional seven were dismissed under the DOC’s new employee discipline policy.
Five employees of Lancaster Correctional Institution — Officer Earl Short, Officer Stephen Nygard, Officer Julious Riley, Sergeant Robert La Puma, and Sergeant Brittain Williams — were dismissed for battery on an inmate. Officer Houston Biddle of Okaloosa Correctional Institution was dismissed for a DUI arrest and Officer Glen Gordon of Desoto was dismissed for an arrest for operating a motor vehicle with a suspended/cancelled/revoked driver’s license.
Last week DOC announced a strict zero-tolerance policy for employee misconduct and DOC Secretary Mike Crews sent a memo to all employees. DOC employees who commit a criminal act will immediately be placed on administrative leave and the Department will initiate disciplinary action for their dismissal.
“The action we have taken this week makes it clear that we will not tolerate inappropriate behavior or criminal activity by our staff. Our staff should be held to the highest standards, and the zero-tolerance policy that we have put in place ensures that anyone who fails to do the right thing will no longer work for this agency. We value our culture of professionalism and integrity, and we will not let the bad actions of a few undermine and tarnish the reputations of all the hard working men and women in our department. Enforcement of our new discipline policy is a critical step in ensuring that happens,” Crews said in a written statement.
Six Florida Department of Corrections employees were arrested and fired for alleged wrongdoings at a Panhandle facility, as announced Thursday. For that story, click here.
Friday Night Football Finals
September 13, 2014
Here is a look at Friday night’s high school finals.
FLORIDA
- Northview 24, Chipley 6 [Read more...]
- Vernon 42, Jay 3
- Tate 47, P.C. Bay 0 [Read more...]
- West Florida 19, Cairo (GA) 7
- Niceville 48, Pine Forest 0
- Escambia 45, Rutherford 7
- PHS 25, Catholic 17
- Washington 48, Lake Area (LA) 7
- Navarre 49, at Pace 21
- Baker 42, Holmes County 13
- Rickards 28, Crestview 7 12
- Milton 48, Ft. Walton 21
- Arnold 37, Freeport 7
ALABAMA
- Leroy 19, Flomaton 12
- T.R. Miller 55, Cottage Hill 14
- B.C. Rain 29, Escambia County (Atmore) 6
- Ecambia Academy 54, Fort Dale 12
- W.S. Neal — (open)
Two Seriously Injured In Pine Forest Road Crash
September 12, 2014
Two people were severely injured in three-car pileup Friday morning on Pine Forest Road just north of Five Flags Speedway.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Jason McDaniel, age 41 of Cantonment, was southbound on Pine Forest Road and slowed to turn into a paved median break about 6 a.m. His 1995 Chevrolet pickup was rear-ended by a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu driven by 31-year old Casey Williams of Pensacola.
About a minute later, Williams’ disabled Malibu was rear ended by a 2006 Ford pickup driven by 30-year old Shayla Riley of Cantonment.
Riley was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in serious condition, while Williams was transported to Sacred Heart also in serious condition. Williams’ 2-year old passenger was no injured. McDaniel received minor injuries and was not transported to a hospital.
Charges against Williams are pending, and Riley was cited for careless driving, according to the FHP.
Photos by Chris Johnson, WEAR 3, for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Second Time In A Week: Pygmy Rattlesnake Bites Victim Near Walnut Hill
September 12, 2014
For the second time in less than a week, someone has been bitten by a pygmy rattlesnake near Walnut Hill and airlifted to a Pensacola hospital.
A 28-year old Flomaton man told first responders that he was along Pineville Road outside Walnut Hill with friends early Thursday evening when he was bitten on the finger by a pygmy rattlesnake, commonly called a Florida ground rattlesnake. Exactly what the man was doing when he was bitten was not clear.
He was driven several miles from Pineville Road to Escambia Grain on Arthur Brown Road where he met first responders. He was then transported by Atmore Ambulance to the Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and airlifted by LifeFlight to Baptist Hospital in Pensacola.
The man and his friends were unable to retrieve the snake for species identification; however, his symptoms reportedly were consistent with a pygmy rattlesnake bite. His name and condition were not available Thursday night.
Saturday, 49-year old Sandy Marsh of Walnut Hill was bitten by a rattlesnake while pulling weeds at her home on Highway 97A outside Walnut Hill. For more on that story, including an interview with Marsh and photos of the snake, click here.
Pictured top: A rattlesnake victim was airlifted from the Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue Thursday evening. Pictured below: The man was first driven by friends to Escambia Grain on Arthur Brown Road before being flown to Baptist Hospital. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
