Manna Nets 73,665 Pounds Of Food From Letter Carrier Drive
May 14, 2013
Saturday’s Stamp Out Hunger food drive in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties collected 73,665 pounds of food for Manna Food Pantries. Manna said they can will feed 4,604 needy people with the donations. Pictured: Food donations from the Stamp Out Hunger food drive are unloaded at the Manna Food Pantries in Pensacola. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
New Mutual Aid Agreements Mean Lower Insurance Rates, Better Protection
May 14, 2013
New cooperation between fire departments in Escambia County and neighboring departments will mean increased protection and lower insurance rates.
Escambia County Fire Rescue has recently entered into automatic aid agreements with the Nokomis (AL) Volunteer Fire Department and the Pace Fire Rescue District. The aid agreements spell out the terms and conditions under which the departments will cooperate jointly to provide automatic aid during emergencies in Escambia County and Nokomis or Pace.
The agreement between Escambia County and Nokomis calls for the Nokomis Volunteer Fire Department to automatically be dispatched to certain emergencies in a portion of the Walnut Hill fire district, and for Walnut Hill to be automatically dispatched to certain types of calls, such as structure fires, in Nokomis, Ala.
The end result, according to Walnut Hill District Chief Chris Brown, will be improved public safety and decreased insurance rates. Residents in a portion of the Walnut Hill fire district, primarily west of Highway 97 and north of Nokomis Road, may immediately see their ISO fire rating drop from a 9 to 5, resulting in monetary savings. Brown said residents in the area can contact their insurance agent for more information.
Monday night, the Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue hosted volunteers from the Nokomis Volunteer Fire Department in a training session. Firefighters from the two departments were able to meet each other and become familiar with each department’s equipment, including Nokomis’ (Tele) Squirt 24.
For more photos from Monday night’s joint Walnut Hill and Nokomis training, click here.
“Squirt 24″ — was formerly “Truck 5″ in Century. After the Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue received a refurbished 75-foot ladder truck that was formerly assigned to Ensley last year, “Truck 5″ was put up for auction and purchased by the Nokomis Volunteer Fire Department for $5,000.
A similar automatic mutual aid agreement was also recently approved between the Pace Fire Rescue District and Escambia County, allowing the departments to mutually respond to certain emergencies such as structure fires.
Pictured: Operating under new mutual aid agreement, the Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Nokomis (AL) Volunteer Fire Department held a combined training exercise Monday night in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
NHS Tribal Beat Band Holds Annual Banquet
May 14, 2013
The Northview High School Tribal Beat Band held their annual banquet Monday night at the school.
Seniors were presented a trophy, while the other members of the band, color guard, majorettes and dance team were presented with a certificate and a medallion commemorating a state championship.
Senior band members recognized Monday night were:
- Alison Bardin
- Autumn Bobo
- Ashley Cunningham
- Misty Doran
- Ashton Gibbs
- Cheyenne Godwin
- Melanie Heard
- Kristin Knight
- Courtney Lambert
- Shelby Lewis
- Leigha Maher
- Sandy Rainwater
- Stephanie Roach
- Clarissa Ross
Pictured top: Senor band members Stephanie Roach, Misty Doran, Ashley Cunningham, Leigha Maher, Kristin Knight and Shelby Lewis. Pictured below: Senor band members Stephanie Roach, Alison Barden, Melanie Heard, Ashton Gibbs, Courtney Lambert and Sandy Rainwater. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Sheriff’s Office To Offer Free Summer Camp
May 14, 2013
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is sponsoring “Camp Friendship”, a free summer day camp for boys and girls ages 6-14.
The free camp will feature presentations by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office K9 unit, a jail tour, sports, arts and crafts and much more. There will be three sessions of camp:
- June 10-14 at Jim Allen Elementary School
- July 22-26 at Montclair Elementary School
- August 5-9 at Navy Point Elementary School
Camp sessions are from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. daily with lunch and snacks provided.
There are a limited number of spaces available and applications will be taken on a first come, first serve, basis. Registration packets may be obtained at the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Administration Building at 1700 West Leonard Street in Pensacola. For more information call (850) 436-9199 or (850) 436-9901.
Jay Elementary Students Visit Ronald McDonald House
May 14, 2013
Students from Jay Elementary School paid a visit to the Ronald McDonald House in Pensacola. They delivered gifts for the mothers at Ronald McDonald House, took a tour and tried out the playground. Courtesy photos for Northescambia.com, click to enlarge.
10U Storm Wins Seven-Team Louisiana Baseball Tournament
May 14, 2013
The Pensacola Storm 10U Majors baseball team won a weekend tournament in Chalmette, LA.
With a dramatic come from behind victory against Moss Point (MS) Team Elite with two outs in the last inning, the Pensacola Storm rolled into the championship game against the undefeated local area Slidell Scrappers team. The Storm ran up five runs in the first inning and continued that momentum to a 6-2 first place win in the seven team tournament.
With the win, the Pensacola Storm team is 31-11 overall with six first place tournament victories out of 11 USSSA tournaments this season. The Pensacola Storm will travel to the Alabama Super NIT Tournament against some of the nation’s top teams this Friday in Auburn.
Pictured: (bottom row, L-R) Jaxon Topel, Trenton Norton, Tanner Rouchon, Josh Turner, Aaron Noack, (top row) Damarius McGhee, Ian Ladieu, Jackson Penton, Hunter Pierson, Jordan Peacock, Jordan Jarman and Jordan McCants. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Santa Rosa Breaks Ground On $1.23 Million Arena
May 14, 2013
Santa Rosa County broke ground Monday morning on a new $1.23 million arena in East Milton.
Once completed, the June Ates Arena, named after a local horse enthusiast, will provide a venue for a wide variety of community and outdoor events. Construction on the 61,500 square foot arena is expected to be complete in late September. The project cost is estimated at $1.23 million from District 2 recreational funds.
The June Ates Arena will be located at 8690 Bobby Brown Road in East Milton
Wahoos Snap Skid, Beat Lookouts 5-1
May 14, 2013
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos scored three runs in the first inning, which was more than enough against the Chattanooga Lookouts as the Wahoos snapped their five-game losing streak with a 5-1 on Monday night in front of 3,629 fans at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
Pensacola welcomed two major league rehabbers for the first time in the team’s history and both played just one inning. Manny Parra got the start and gave up a double in the first inning while striking out two. He threw 13 pitches, nine of which were strikes. Chris Heisey was involved in two plays in center field in the first inning. He was lifted from the game after the top half of the first for unannounced reasons.
The Wahoos backed up their Major League guests with three early runs, one coming on an RBI single from Travis Mattair and two more coming on a single from Tucker Barnhart.
Ryan Dennick (2-2) took over on the mound for the Wahoos and cruised through his piggyback start, limiting the Lookouts to just two base hits over six frames. Dennick earned the win for the first time since Opening Day.
Pensacola added to its lead with a fourth-inning RBI single from Bryson Smith and an eighth-inning RBI single from David Vidal.
The Lookouts lone run came in the ninth inning as Chris Jacobs doubled home C.J. Retherford with two outs. Loek Van Mil retired Griff Erickson to finish off the game.
The five-game series continues tomorrow night at 7 p.m. Daniel Renken (1-3, 3.67) will get the ball for the Blue Wahoos against the Lookouts’ Andres Santiago (2-4, 4.19).
story by Kevin Burke
Pictured: The Pensacola Blue Wahoos beat the Chattanooga Lookouts Monday night. Photos by Gary McCraken for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Sheriff’s Office Holds Leadership Academy
May 13, 2013
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is hosting the Florida Leadership Academy at the agency’s new training facility on Leonard Street.
The Florida Leadership Academy began in 2003 and has graduated 26 classes. The (FLA) is designed to provide current first-line supervisors with the knowledge and skill necessary to become efficient first-rate leaders in today’s criminal justice environment. Participants include sworn and non-sworn employees from various law enforcement and correctional agencies.
The FLA meets for one week per month for a total of four consecutive months and covers topics such as leadership, management, communication, professionalism, ethics, legal issues, decision making and stress awareness. FLA class 27 kicked off last week at the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and will conclude in August.
Pictured: A training area inside the Escambia County Sheriff’s Video Visitation and and Training Facility near the Escambia County Jail on Leonard Street. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
FHP Seeks Info In Two Motorcycle Hit And Run Accidents
May 13, 2013
The Florida Highway Patrol is continuing to search for vehicles involved in two hit and run accidents that left motorcyclists injured in North Escambia.
Molino Hit and Run
On April 8, a 72-year old motorcyclist was seriously injured in a hit and run accident in Molino.
The Florida Highway Patrol said Bruce Winsor of Pensacola and the pickup that fled the scene were both traveling northbound on Highway 97 near Gibson Road about 7:30 p.m. Winsor was traveling two to three car lengths behind the pickup and one of the witnesses when he changed lanes and attempted to pass the vehicles in front of him. At that time, the pickup slowed and began to turn onto Gibson Road. The front of Winsor’s Honda 1300 motorcycle struck the rear quarter panel of the pickup.
The pickup truck driver allegedly stopped, looked at the wrecked motorcycle and then fled the scene on Gibson Road.
There were three witnesses to the crash, according to FHP Lt. Steve Preston. They were not able to provide a positive vehicle description, but the FHP did develop a possible tag number. The pickup was located but did not have damage consistent with the accident. In addition, the pickup driver was included in a photo lineup presented to the witnesses, but he was not identified as the person involved in the accident.
Cantonment Hit And Run
A motorcyclist was injured in a February 7 hit and run on n Highway 29 southbound at Morris Avenue in Cantonment. The motorcycle driver was transported to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Witnesses told authorities that an older model blue station wagon with wood grain panels was involved in the crash but fled the scene. The station wagon rear-ended the motorcycle, pushing it into a pickup.
Prestoon said the FHP has been unable to located the station wagon, described as being a mid 1990’s model with wood grain side panels and front end damage. The vehicle was last seen on Morris Avenue.
Have info that might help?
Anyone with information on either accident is asked to call the Florida Highway Patrol at (850) 484-5000 ext. 103 or their local law enforcement agency.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
