District 5 Comm. Barry Town Hall Meeting Monday
December 8, 2013
Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry will hold a town meeting beginning at 5:30 p.m. Monday at the Plainview Baptist Church at 1101 West Nine Mile Road.
For more information, contact Barry’s office at (850) 595-4950.
Pictured top: Escambia County Public Works Director Wes Moreno (left) listens to District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry speak during a town hall meeting last August in Century. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Tate Grad Gardipee Completes Basic Military Training
December 8, 2013
Air Force Airman Jonathan T. Gardipee graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.
The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.
Airmen who complete basic training earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.
Gardipee is the son of Rhonda Gardipee of Cantonment.
He is a 2012 graduate of Tate High School, Cantonment.
Photos: Molino Holds Annual Christmas Parade
December 8, 2013
The annual Molino Christmas Parade was held Saturday morning on Crabtree Church Road. After the parade, Santa Claus met with lots of good boys and girls at the Molino Ballpark.
Sponsored by the Molino Recreation Association, proceeds from the parade are used to benefit needy children in the Molino area during the Christmas season.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery, click here.
Pictured: The annual Molino Christmas Parade Saturday morning. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Wreck Cuts Power For Part of Cantonment
December 7, 2013
A single vehicle wreck cut power for a portion of Cantonment Saturday morning.
The accident happened on Highway 95A between Eden Lane and Morris Avenue about 9:15 p.m. Power lines were downed and a pole broken in the accident. One person was transported to a local hospital; their condition was not known.
Highway 95A was closed from Highway 29/Morris Avenue north to Neal Road as a result of the accident. Gulf Power estimated that over 200 customers lost power as a result of the accident.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Northview Beats Escambia
December 7, 2013
The Northview Chiefs beat the Escambia Gators 69-59 Friday night in varsity high school basketball.
Scoring for the Chiefs were: Neino Robinson 28; Tony McAroy 17; Cameron Newsome 11; Jeffery Taylor 1; Nick Lambert 5; Eric Williams 7.
The Chiefs will travel to Jay next Thursday. JV Girls play at 3:30, JV Boys at 4:45; Varsity Girls at 6:00 and Varsity Boys at 7:15.
Lottery Store Murder Suspect Enters Not Guilty Plea
December 7, 2013
The third suspect indicted for murder in connection with the November 2012 shooting death of a Davisville lottery store owner has entered a not guilty plea.
Michael Brad Orso, age 28 of Atmore, was arrested just last month and was due to make his first court appearance Friday. His attorney waived the arrangement and entered the not guilty plea on his behalf.
Orso, is charged with premeditated first-degree murder for allegedly assisting in planning the robbery and providing the gun used in the shooting death of store own Thomas “Tommy” Kroll during a robbery on November 6, 2012.
Malcolm Troy McGhee was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison for the crime late last month. His codefendent, 21-year old Brent Lambeth, previously pleaded no contest to second degree murder. Under his plea deal, he will receive no more than 30 years in prison in exchange for his testimony against McGhee and Orso.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
$88,113 Lottery Ticket Set To Expire
December 7, 2013
A winning Fantasy 5 prize winning ticket worth $88,113.47 remains unclaimed, the Florida Lottery said Friday. The 180-day deadline to claim the top prize in Friday, December 20 at midnight.
The winning Fantasy 5 numbers for the June 23 drawing were 05-07-12-24-35.
The ticket was purchased at the Kangaroo Express lat 3225 West Nine Mile Road in Pensacola.
Evers Bill Would Add Utility Vehicles To ‘Move Over’ Law
December 7, 2013
Motorists would have to slow down or move over a lane when approaching a utility vehicle parked on the side of a road, under a proposal filed Friday by Sen. Greg Evers, who represents the North Escambia area.
The measure would require utility crews — working on electric, natural gas, water, wastewater, cable, telephone or communications services —- to be engaged in tasks related to the purposes of the vehicles.
Florida’s 11-year-old “Move Over” law requires motorists to slow down to a speed that is 20 mph less than the posted limit — when the limit is 25 mph or greater — or to move over a lane when they approach emergency vehicles parked along the sides of roads.
No House companion has been filed to Evers’ bill.
By The News Service of Florida
Pictured top: Electric linemen work on County Road 99A at Highway 97, adjacent to Ernest Ward Middle School. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Book Available Again About History Of Bratt And Surrounding Area
December 7, 2013
A local author now has more copies available of a new book about the Bratt and neighboring communities in the early part of the 20th century. “Bratt: Ramblings and Recollections on the Growth of a Florida Panhandle Farm Community” by Russell Brown contains about 150 pages of text and more than 100 photos.
Brown quickly sold out of his first printing of 100 books, but now has copies available. Books will be available while supplies last at Gilley’s Store in Bratt, Dixie’s Antiques in Ensley, and The Copper Possum Antiques in Milton. Books are $25. The paperback can also be ordered from Amazon.com.
Brown grew up in a rural area south of the Bratt community and often visited family and church there. All his great grandparents had come to Bratt near the turn of the century and both his parents were raised there. After completing his first small book about his great grandfather, “Traces of John M and Fannie M Brown”, he wanted to provide a continuation to the story of the families that came to this farm community in the early part of the 20th century.
The first part of the book recalls the history of the settlement of north Escambia County as it evolved around the logging industry. This is followed by the growth of Bratt after 1900 as the area evolved into a farming region. The book contains 18 separate sections that discuss some of the early families, the schools, early county roads, the churches, the community’s cemetery, followed by infrastructure improvements in the days of the depression, and those locally who fought in World War II. The ending is a general discussion of the changes in the community in the last part of the 20th century.
Brown will be signing and selling copies of the book in person this Saturday morning beginning at 8:00 a.m. at Gilley’s Country Store at the corner of West Highway 4 and North Highway 99 (at the Bratt Crossroads). This self-published book is limited to about 100 copies. Books are $25 each.
Pictured top: From the book “Bratt”, Over 165 students, including David Hanks and Grady “Gray Jay” Wiggins in a tree, in front of the new Bratt Wardville School in 1929. Students attended grades 1-6 here before transferring to the Oak Grove School. Pictured below: Oliver and Emma Wiggins (seated center) with their 11 mostly married children and their extended family in about 1911. Courtesy images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Christmas Parades Continue (With Mega List)
December 7, 2013
Christmas parades are continuing across the area. Here’s a list of area parades, followed by a complete mega list:
December 12 — Century Land To Lake Parade
Century will hold a Land to Lake Lighted Boat Parade on Thursday, December 12 at 5 p.m. The parade will begin on Front Street, travel to Jefferson, Pond Street and West Highway 4, ending at Lake Stone.
December 13 — Poarch Christmas Parade
The Poarch Creek Christmas Parade will be Friday, December 13 at 5:30 p.m. The parade will begin on the Poarch Creek Reservation at the Wellness Center (gym) and end at the PCI Health Department Building.
December 14 – Brewton Christmas Parade
The Brewton Christmas Parade will be at 2 p.m. on Saturday, December 14. The parade will travel from Forrest Avenue in East Brewton, across the Mildred Street Bridge to St. Joseph Street to Belleville Avenue.
December 14 — Atmore Christmas Parade
The Atmore 2013 Twilight Christmas Parade will be held Saturday, December 14 beginning at 5:30 p.m. The parade will follow its traditional route from the Atmore City Hall, down Main Street, to Lindberg Avenue and ending at Escambia County High School. Over two dozen floats are entered, along with several bands and numerous other groups. Parade participants should be at the Atmore City Hall by 4 p.m.
December 14 — Chumuckla Redneck Parade
The Chumuckla Redneck Christmas Parade will be Saturday, December 14 at 1 p.m. The parade will begin at the Cotton Gin on Chumuckla Springs Road/Gin Road, cross Chumuckla Highway and end at Salter Road. More than 250 units are expected along the 1.5 mile parade route.
December 14 — Pensacola Christmas Parade
The Pensacola Christmas Parade will be held at 5 p.m. on Saturday, December 14 in downtown Pensacola. Featuring local bands. Parade begins at Spring and Garden and travels through downtown.
PARADE LIST
December 12th
5:00 pm – Century Land To Lake Lighted Christmas Parade
December 14th
10:00 am – Destin Christmas Parade
1:00 pm – Chumuckla Redneck Christmas Parade
1:30 pm – Bay Minette Christmas Parade
2:00 pm – Bewton Christmas Parade
5:30 pm – Atmore Twilight Christmas Parade
5:30 pm – Gulf Shores/Orange Beach Annual Christmas Lighted Boat Parade
5:30 pm – Downtown Pensacola Christmas Parade
6:00 pm – Harbor Destin Boat Parade
Pictured: The 2012 Molino Christmas Parade. NorthEscambia.com file photo.
