Vietnam Veterans Get Long Overdue ‘Welcome Home’ (With Gallery)
March 30, 2014
It was a tearful welcome home Saturday for a small group of Vietnam veterans….a welcome home 40, 50 or even more years overdue.
“When I came home to California, I kissed the ground. And I looked around,” said Alabama VFW State Commander Val Obergon, pausing for a moment. “And I looked around. Nothing. There were no parades; no welcome home. Nothing.”
National Vietnam Veterans Welcome Home Day is observed on March 29, the 41st anniversary of the last U.S. troops leaving Vietnam — except for the prisoners of war. Saturday, a few dozen people gathered for a ceremony sponsored by the Atmore Memorial Ladies Auxiliary to VFW Post 7016.
“I am thankful to God for this day we can be welcomed home. I have a family sitting here today. Some of the other guys represented by this flag,” Vietnam veteran Harold Askew said, standing before the POW/MIA flag, “they didn’t get that chance.”
Yellow ribbons were tied to trees around Atmore’s Heritage Park for the event which included the patriotic music, food and fanfare of a welcome home ceremony most of the Vietnam veterans in attendance had never received.
“It was a special thank you and tribute to those that came back,” Vietnam veteran Mike Hanks said. “It’s something that was long overdue.”
“Those that served in the Vietnam War are deserving of our country’s praise,” Alabama Rep. Alan Baker said in an address to the group. “They are our unsung heroes.”
Baker ended his speech in the crowd, with a personal “thank you” and a hug for each veteran. “No sir,” the state representative said to an elderly veteran who struggled in an unsuccessful attempt to rise from his chair. “I’ll come down there to you.”
The ceremony concluded with VFW Ladies Auxiliary members giving each Vietnam Veteran a gift and a hug — and sometimes a quick kiss on the cheek — to thank them for their service. It was a scene reminiscent of a welcome home ceremony that has played itself out over and over for other American wars.
And tears that were decades overdue fell from the eyes of several veterans as they were finally welcomed home.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured top: Veterans are welcomed home during national Vietnam Veterans Welcome Home Day Saturday in Atmore. Pictured top inset: Vietnam Veteran Harold Askew remembers the prisoners of war that never returned from Vietnam. Pictured bottom inset: Alabama Rep. Alan Baker leans down to hug a veteran that struggled unsuccessfully to rise from his chair. Pictured below: A yellow ribbon tied around an oak tree welcomed the Vietnam veterans home. Pictured bottom: Several of the Vietnam veterans in attendance at Saturday’s event. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Play Ball! Opening Day For Molino Ballpark (With Photo Gallery)
March 30, 2014
Saturday was Opening Day for Molino Recreation Association and the Molino Ballpark.
For photo galleries, click the links below:
For an Opening Day ceremonies photo gallery, click here.
For photos from select Opening Day games, click here.
Pictured above and below: Opening Day action at Molino Ballpark. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Court: Prison Guards Can Use ‘Stand Your Ground’
March 30, 2014
An appeals court Friday ruled that a correctional officer can use the state’s controversial “stand your ground” law in a case stemming from an altercation with an inmate.
A three-judge panel of the 5th District Court of Appeal sided with correctional officer Brad Heilman, who was charged with aggravated battery after an inmate was injured in an incident at Lake Correctional Institution.
A circuit judge found that Heilman could not use the “stand your ground” law in defense because of another state law that deals with circumstances when correctional officers can use force. But Friday’s seven-page opinion, written by appeals-court Judge Thomas Sawaya and joined by judges William Palmer and Wendy Berger, concluded that the Legislature intended for the “stand your ground” law to apply to correctional officers and sent the case back to circuit court.
The “stand your ground” law says people can use deadly force and do not have a duty to retreat if they think it is necessary to prevent death or great bodily harm. The law offers criminal and civil immunity in such cases.
Escambia Health Figures: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly
March 30, 2014
A new report showing Escambia County was 57th in the State of Florida for healthiness was disappointing but not surprising, said David Sjoberg, executive director of Partnership for a Healthy Community.
“It confirms what we’ve been saying all along,” said Sjoberg, referring to the County Health Rankings & Roadmap tool by the University of Wisconsin and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
The Partnership has sponsored comprehensive health status assessments for Escambia and Santa Rosa counties in 1995, 2000, 2005 and 2012. The studies showed little improvement over the years. Most of the data in the newest study was based on the years 2010-2012.
The Partnership now is developing a plan for the best short-term strategies for dealing with the problems. Sjoberg expects it to be ready in late summer.
While Escambia dropped to 57th place from its previous ranking of 55 out of 67 Florida counties, Sjoberg noted that its ranking for “factors” actually rose two places.
“Factors incorporate data for key behaviors like smoking, drinking and unhealthy weight, as well as key clinical and socioeconomic indicators, including things like availability of health providers and number of people who receive appropriate screenings,” Sjoberg said. “If we sustain it, doing better on ‘factors’ should serve as a predictor that we’ll do better on ‘outcomes’ over time. It’s a sign that we’re starting to do better.
“It will, however, take a few years of collaborative community effort to begin to improve the bigger set of indicators used to measure overall community health status,” Sjoberg said.
He stated that employers and residents of Escambia and Santa Rosa counties are accounting for more than $1 billion related to tobacco use, unhealthy weight and improper use of hospital emergency rooms, which are more expensive than other medical facilities.
This is a statewide problem; Florida is one of the four worst states in the nation when it comes to misuse of emergency facilities. Escambia County is one of the worst offenders in Florida.
“If we can make some progress in improving health and make a dent in those tremendously high costs, it will improve both the economy and quality of life in our two counties,” said Sjoberg.
Meanwhile, the Partnership for a Health Community has been working on solutions.
It has established a comprehensive website which promotes healthy living and health education. It also has recruited businesses and institutions to become Live Well Partners and formed groups to work on top priorities – healthy weight, tobacco cessation and efficient use of healthcare facilities. The priorities were established last May at a gathering organized by Partnership.
In addition, the group won a prestigious award to help it show people how to deal with weight-related problems. Partnership was one of 12 groups nationwide chosen to receive the guidance of a “community coach” from the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps program at the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. The service is offered at no cost, thanks to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the nation’s largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to health and health care.
The goal of Partnership is to develop a community action plan for the three priority areas in the Escambia-Santa Rosa area, which ranks 19th out of 22 Florida Metropolitan Statistical Areas.
Results, Photos: FCA & Justin Gatlin Panhandle Championships
March 30, 2014
About two dozen high school track and field teams competed Saturday in the FCA & Justin Gatlin Panhandle Championships at Washington High School.
For the women, Pine Forest High School finished first, followed by Niceville, Bay, Fort Walton Beach and Spanish Fort. Among North Escambia area teams, West Florida High finished eighth, followed by Tate at 16th and Northview at 21st.
For the men, Fort Walton Beach finished first, followed by West Florida, Pine Forest, Pensacola and Washington, Among other North Escambia schools, Tate was 11th, and Northview was 18th.
With fewer athletes competing, and no entries in some events, smaller schools like Northview are at a disadvantage when paired against the Panhandle’s largest schools. Northview’s Cameron Newsome (pictured top) placed fourth overall in the Men’s High Jump at 6-feet, 2-inches.
For complete results, click here.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview Defeats Jay
March 30, 2014
The Northview Chiefs defeated the Jay Royals Saturday afternoon, 9-2.
Aaron McDonald 1-1, R, RBI; Brannon Freeman 1-3, 2R; RJ Prichett 1-4, 2B, R; Thomas Moore 2-4, R, 2 RBIs; Brett Weeks 1-3, R; Daulton Tullis 2-4, RBI, R. Winning pitcher was Daulton Tullis, pitching 5 1/3 innings, allowing 4 hits, one earning run, two walks and 9 strike outs.
The Chiefs (10-4,5-3) hosts T.R. Miller on Tuesday.
Farm Tour Highlights North Escambia Agriculture
March 29, 2014
Participants in the 2014 Escambia County Farm Tour learned one very important lesson Friday — rain is important to farming.
Local governmental officials and community leaders were scheduled to tour several agricultural locations in North Escambia and get an up close and personal look at a variety of farming activities. But heavy rains forced them to spend most of their time on their tour buses.
Tour participants were able to get out at their first stop, the Florida Forest Service in Molino to take a look at firefighting equipment. Other scheduled stops that were either skipped or where attendees stayed on their buses due to rain included a visit with the Matt Carter family of Bryneville, the 2013 Escambia County Farm Family; a look at modern corn planting on the McElhaney Farm on Dortch Road; a lesson in forestry from Kent Sherill of Sherill Timber at a location on Nokomis Road; and a look at precision agriculture at Walker Farms on North Highway 99.
Pictured: Participants in the 2014 Escambia Count Farm Tour learned about firefighter equipment at the Florida Forest Service in Molino Friday morning. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Extension Celebrates 100 Years Of Service
March 29, 2014
The 100th birthday of UF/IFAS Extension was celebrated Friday afternoon at the Barrineau Park Community Center.
The Smith-Lever Act of 1914 established the Cooperative Extension Service, allowing the public to benefit from the knowledge and expertise of land-grant universities. Extension has helped millions of Floridians by tapping the latest information from the research engines of the University of Florida and Florida A&M, creating practical knowledge that can be used every day.
From making healthier food choices, saving money, growing better crops to conserving water and energy — many Floridians have learned from Florida Extension. 4-H youth development camps and program, and Master Gardeners are also popular outreach programs.
Pictured top: Escambia County Extension Agent Carrie Stevenson and 4-H caretaker Ellis Miller blow out the candles on 100th birthday cake for Escambia Extension. Pictured below: Extension employees sing “Happy Birthday” during the celebration Friday afternoon at the Barrineau Park Community Center. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
County Set To Move Foward Toward Paving Blue Berry Lane
March 29, 2014
The Escambia County Commission is set to accept the final parcel of property needed to pave Blue Berry Lane in Molino.
The county has a project in the design phase to pave and make drainage improvements on Blue Berry Lane, located east off Barrineau Park School Road. Due to limited right of way, it was determined that there were nine parcels along the roadway from which the county would need additional property. Eight of the right of way donations were already received by the county.
At their April 4 meeting, the Escambia County Commission is set to accept the final right of way needed to pave the road. The parcel, which was owned by Phillip and Anne Weber, is now owned by National Residential Nominee Services, Inc. which has agreed to donate the right of way.
Escambia Man Arrested In Juvenile Sexual Predator Investigation
March 29, 2014
After a week-long investigation, an Escambia County man has been charged with juvenile sex crimes.
James Michael Olshefskie, 43, was arrested by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office on charges of traveling to meet a juvenile for sex, lewd and lascivious behavior and using a computer to solicit a child.
Last weekend, an Escambia County Computer Crimes investigator began communicating online with an individual who was soliciting a juvenile on the internet for sex, according to an ECSO press release. During these communications the subject solicited the investigator and suggested they meet for sex. He also allegedly sent the investigator photos which were pornographic in nature. .
Friday morning, Olshefskie attempted to meet the investigator, who he believed to be the juvenile female, at which time he was taken into custody.