Local Volleyball Players Named To All-Star Team
November 20, 2012
The 2012 Subway High School Volleyball game will be played tonight, featuring several local players. The game will take place at UWF beginning at 6 p.m.
WEST GIRLS VOLLEYBALL ALL-STARS
Head Coach: Giulio Simonelli, Catholic
Ashley Griffits – PCA
Kara Heintzelman – West Florida
Kaitlin Johnson – West Florida
Alexis Lugo – Escambia
Brianne Kuhnhausen – Escambia
Kimlyn Bethea – Escambia
Misty Doran – Northview
Shelley Mothershed – Northview
Erin Smithies – Washington
Brooke White – Tate
Jordan Barnette – Tate
Heather Thomason – Tate
Julian Laird – Catholic
Courtney Deason – Catholic
Hana Flurry – Catholic
Aleecia Ybarra – Pine Forest
Lamia Miller – Pine Forest
Sara Goolsby – East Hill
Maia Nguyen – Pensacola
EAST GIRLS VOLLEYBALL ALL-STARS
Head Coach: Nicole Adarme, Choctaw
Haley Meeks – Laurel Hill
Haleigh Hollinhead – Crestview
Olivia Wright – Jay
Krisena Gall – Milton
Kayla Carr – Niceville
Kimy Sarra – Niceville
Katie Wickery – Baker
Sarah Elizabeth Harrell – Pace
Taylor Campbell – Choctaw
Ashley Quackenbush – Choctaw
Allison Freer – Navarre
Kelly Barrett – Navarre
Caitlin Chapman – Gulf Breeze
Ally Hurd – Gulf Breeze
Brittney Forsythe – Central
Rachel Dehlinger – FWB
Jennifer Bazlyak – FWB
Rachel Mosley – Rocky Bayou
Former Flomaton High Coach Passes Away
November 20, 2012
A former Flomaton High School coach passed away on Saturday.
Donald “Don” Thornton, 65, was a 1965 graduate of Sulligent High School and a 1969 graduate of Livingston University. He coached and taught at Kennedy High School, Carrollton High School, and Millry High School. For the next 18 years, he moved into the insurance business, but his passion for coaching continued, leading him back to the field in 1992 at T.W. Martin High School.
He then moved to Flomaton High School in 1994 and taught and coached there until his retirement in 2007 when he moved to his hometown of Vernon, Ala.
Thornton became a volunteer coach for the Lamar County High School Bulldogs from 2008 to the present season. He also served on the Vernon City Council.
Funeral services were scheduled for 11 a.m. Tuesday.
For the complete obituary, click here.
Featured Recipe: Those Cheesy Thanksgiving Potatoes
November 20, 2012
Our Thanksgiving week recipe series continues today with a dish simply named “Those Potatoes”. It’s a great last-minute dish to put together in time to take to grandma’s house for the big dinner. And even an inexperienced cook can pull this one off in impressive fashion.
Man Convicted Of Child Molestation
November 20, 2012
A Milton man has been convicted of molesting a child in Escambia County.
Ryan Scott Debord was found guilty of an Escambia County jury of sexual battery while in a position of custodial or familial authority and lewd or lascivious molestation upon a child over 12 but less than 16 by an offender over 18 year of age.
Between July 2011 and February 2012, Ryan Scott Debord molested a 13 year-old female child, according to evidence presented in court.
Judge Jan Shackelford scheduled Ryan Scott Debord to be sentenced on December 18. Debord faces punishment of up to 30 years state prison for the sexual battery charge and 15 years on the lewd or lascivious charge and designation as a sexual offender.
Century Honors Town’s Newest Citizen
November 20, 2012
The Town of Century presented a proclamation Monday night to resident César González, who recently became a U.S. citizen and almost immediately registered to vote. González is a native of Colombia, South America, and has been in the United States for nine years. He and his wife, Century Town Clerk Leslie Gonzalez, moved to Century in 2010. His path to citizenship took seven years. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Approves Gas Tax Hike For ECAT
November 19, 2012
The Escambia County Commission approved a four-cent gas take hike this afternoon in order to fund the ECAT bus system.
The increased gas tax is expected to net the county about $4 million when it takes effect no earlier than January 2014. It currently costs the county about $3.2 million to fund the Escambia County Area Transit System, plus about $3.7 million from grants from the state and federal governments.
The tax increase passed on a 4-1 vote, with Commission Kevin White casting the vote against.
Escambia County currently collects 10-cents in tax per gallon — a direct seven-cent levy plus a three-cent levy collected by the state and returned to the county.
Commissioners previously recognized that they were purposefully considering the gas tax increase just hours before two new commissioners — Steven Barry in District 5 and Lumon May in District 3 — are sworn into office on November 20.
Search Warrant Leads To Arrest On Drug, Weapons Charges
November 19, 2012
A Cantonment man was arrested on felony charges after a search warrant revealed drugs and firearms in his bedroom.
Reginald DeNeal McHenry, age 32 of Quintette Road, was charged with three counts of possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $40,500 bond.
When the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Narcotic’s Unit executed a search warrant at McHenry’s Cantonment residence, they reported finding a plastic baggie containing powdered cocaine, items with cocaine residue, items with marijuana residue, a Smith & Wesson revolver in a flower-patterned bag, a .22 caliber revolver and a loaded Beretta .22 caliber semi-automatic handgun.
According to an arrest report, McHenry admitted to knowing about the crack cocaine in his room and that “he does not sell crack very often”. He said the firearms were already in the residence when he inherited the house, and he had not had a chance to dispose of them.
McHenry is due back in court in early December.
Flomaton Man Charged With Century Thefts
November 19, 2012
A Flomaton man was jailed for burglary and theft after allegedly stealing and recycling several items from a vacant home.
Michael Dannell Pleasant was charged with felony burglary and felony grand theft.
An Escambia County Sheriff’s Office investigator observed the vehicle on Elsie Davis Road and spoke to Pleasant, the driver. The vehicle was observed to contain a gas stove, vehicle transmission and a double iron sink that were later identified as coming from inside and outside a vacant property in the 600 block of Elsie Davis Road.
When stopped later by an Escambia County deputy, Pleasant had tickets from a Flomaton recycling company for $178.65 for the sale of scrap metal.
Pleasant was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $2,000 bond.
Get Your Turkey Fried For A Donation To The Miracle League
November 19, 2012
Want a fried turkey but afraid to try it yourself? Volunteers from the Miracle League of Pensacola will fry your turkey for you on Wednesday, saving you the time and trouble while benefiting the charity.
Completely thaw your turkey, removing all of the inside packaging and giblets. Write down exactly how much your turkey weighs so it is fried perfectly and take it to the Miracle League Park at 555 East Nine Mile Road from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Wednesday. For a monetary donation to Miracle League, the volunteers will fry your turkey to perfection.
While walk-ups are welcome, appointments are encouraged. Call (850) 476-1650 to schedule your time.
New Beginning: Church Purchases Chumuckla Farmer’s Opry
November 19, 2012
A church has purchased the Chumuckla’s Farmer’s Opry and Campground just weeks after the country music landmark closed due to the owner’s retirement.
The Living Truth Church purchased the facility for a permanent home after meeting in various temporary school locations in Santa Rosa County for the past 12 years.
“We will use the Opry location in keeping with the vision of a come-as-you-are to hear God’s word-church. Our church family is truly a family,” said Pastor Norman Sullivan. “This is just a building and campground and we want to use it for God’s glory. It’s going to be exciting to see what God has planned for us here at our new location. Our congregation is made up of folks from East Milton, Pensacola, Cantonment as well as Milton and Pace proper. We look forward to meeting new folks from the nearby Chumuckla community who would like to come check us out.”
In additional to regular services, the church plans to host concerts and various events to stay in touch with the community, such as the “Punches Family” gospel group that performed Saturday night in Opry tradition.
Sullivan said Living Truth Church was excited to purchase the 10.5 acre facility to have plenty of space for future growth.
“We’re excited to see how God continues to use this ministry to love on this community,” said Sullivan. “When the opportunity came to buy the Farmer’s Opry, it was more of a God-thing than anything else. It was just the right time for both us and the Wyatt family. We were looking to build and, they were ready to slow down.”
“The main thrust of Living Truth is to follow Jesus’ mandate to be disciples-making disciples. We connect folks to Christ and His church, help them grow spiritually, get them to love on the community by serving, and then multiply who they are in Christ. And we do a lot of this through small groups that meet throughout the local area during the week, said Living Truth Disciple Pastor Andy DeGuire. “Our modern worship style differs from other churches, but that’s just because we’re trying extra hard to reach the next generation. The cool thing is that the older folks enjoy this worship style (or some of them put up with it because they know we’re trying to reach their kids and grandkids).
Services are held at 10:30 each Sunday at the Living Truth Church at the former Farmer’s Opry location at 8897 Byrom Campbell Road, about five miles north of the Pace soccer fields. For more information about the church, visit www.LivingTruthChurch.com or call (850) 994-7698.
Pictured: The Living Truth Church has purchased the former Chumuckla’s Farmer’s Opry. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
