Dates Announced For Next Year’s Beulahfest
August 2, 2012
Mark your calendars now…the dates have been announced for the 27th Annual Beulahfest.
The event will take place March 15-16, 2013, at the Escambia County Equestrian Center. Entertainment will, as always, feature local and regional bands plus top country stars. The headline acts will be named at a later date.
Over 75 vendors are expected at the 2013 Beulahfest, selling arts and crafts and other merchandise.
Organizers also announced that “surprise changes” are coming to Beulahfest that will be announced soon.
Pictured: Performances at last year’s Beulahfest from Rodney Atkins (above and inset) and Travis Tritt (below). NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Molino Lady Astros Take Second In Southern Nationals
August 2, 2012
The Molino Lady Astros finished second in the Southern Nationals recently. The Lady Astros won all pool and bracket games to head into the championship game at 8-0.
The 16U Astros finished as runner-ups after a 3-2 loss to Mississippi Blast in a grueling game with heat indices well over 100 degrees.
“Our pitching was great from Jessica Briggs, Meagan Green, Heather Thomason and Korina Rosario, who led in strikeouts,” Coach Donnie Nicholson said. “I was very proud of everyone giving it all they had.
Pictured top: The Molino 16U Lady Astros (front, L-R) Caitlyn Hagan, Gracie Kilcrease, Jessica Briggs, Abby Spivey, Meagan Green, (back row) Coach Donnie Nicholson, Kat Griffin, Heather Thomason, Kathleen Smile and Terri Andrews. Not pictured are Coach Nick Rosario and Shawn Green. Pictured below: The Lady Astros in action. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Smokies Take Two From The Pensacola Blue Wahoos
August 2, 2012
The Tennessee Smokies picked up a pair of wins over the Blue Wahoos on Wednesday night at Smokies Park in Kodak, Tenn. Tennessee won the continuation of Tuesday night’s suspended game 4-2 before walking off with a 1-0 win in the second game.
After waiting out a rain delay to start the continuation, the Blue Wahoos quickly tied the score in the top of the fifth. After David Vidal doubled to begin the inning, Billy Hamilton singled him home from second with two outs to even the score at 2-2. Shortly after his single, Hamilton broke for second and dove into the bag safely with his 117th stolen base of the season. He is now just 28 steals shy of Vince Coleman’s 1983 record of 145.
The Smokies were quick to respond in the bottom of the fifth. With two outs and a man on, Nate Samson hit a two-run homer to left field off Brian Pearl to give the Smokies a 4-2 lead. Tennessee kept the Wahoos off the scoreboard the rest of the way as the Smokies won 4-2. Pearl (1-2) suffered the loss for Pensacola after working 2.1 innings and allowing just the two runs. Trey McNutt (6-8) worked the first three innings of the resumption and allowed one run on two hits on his way to the win. Kevin Rhoderick (8) worked a scoreless eighth and ninth to earn the save.
In the second game, Fish starter Daniel Corcino traded zeros with Smokies starter Dallas Beeler through the first five innings before each team went to their bullpen in the sixth.
Corcino allowed just three hits over five innings. He walked one and fanned four. Dallas Beeler allowed just three base runners over his five shutout innings for the Smokies. Neither starter recorded a decision.
The Smokies broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the seventh when Justin Bour hit the first pitch he saw over the right field fence for a walk-off home run giving Tennessee the 1-0 win. After working a 1-2-3 sixth inning, Curtis Partch (4-4) allowed the homer to Bour to suffer the loss. Brian Schlitter (2-2) worked two scoreless innings out of the bullpen for the Smokies to earn the win.
The Blue Wahoos have now dropped four straight. It matches the team’s longest losing streak of the season. It is the first time since June 1-3 that the Blue Wahoos have lost four in a row.
Pensacola will try to salvage the final game of the four-game set with the Smokies on Thursday. Right-hander Wirfin Obispo (2-0, 2.63) will get the nod for Pensacola. The Smokies haven’t announced their starter. First pitch is set for 6:15 p.m. CT at Smokies Park in Kodak, Tenn.
By Tommy Thrall
Pictured: Daniel Corcino worked five shutout innings in the Blue Wahoos’ 1-0 loss in game 2 against the Smokies Wednesday night. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Thousands Of Supporters Turn Out For Chick-fil-A ‘Appreciation Day’
August 1, 2012
Thousands have turned out Wednesday to support Chick-fil-A at restaurants across the area.
NorthEscambia.com reader submitted photos show lines out the door, packed restaurant lobbies and drive-thru lines filling parking lots and spilling into nearby streets.
For a reader submitted photo gallery, click here.
Wednesday was proclaimed “Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day” by former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. A social media campaign on Facebook followed, urging those that support the chicken restaurant to eat at a location near them on Wednesday.
“Let’s affirm a business that operates on Christian principles and whose executives are willing to take a stand for the Godly values we espouse by simply showing up and eating at Chick Fil-A on Wednesday,” Huckabee said in a Facebook posting.
Dan Cathy, president of Chick-fil-A told the Baptist Press last month that the company is “guilty as charged” for supporting the “the biblical definition of a family” as marriage being the union of one man and one woman. Those statement drew fire from gay rights groups who have called for boycotts and to block the chain from opening more restaurants.
Pictured: The rush at Chick-fil-A restaurants in the North Escambia area Wednesday. Reader submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Flomaton Police Seize Drugs, Over $46,000 In Cash In Traffic Stop
August 1, 2012
Police in Flomaton seized a small quantity of drugs and over $46,000 in cash following a traffic stop Tuesday evening — believed to be the largest cash seizure ever by the department.
Flomaton Police Department Officer Chris Neal conducted a traffic stop on a 2010 Dodge Challenger on Highway 113 for a moving violation. When asked if there was anything in the vehicle that police should know about, Neal said the driver — 21 year old Jarvis Dionte Corry of Atlanta — admitted that there was $35,000 in cash under the driver’s seat.
Neal said after detecting the possible odor of marijuana from the vehicle, he asked for and obtained consent to search the car. The front seat passenger, Neal said, had small baggie of a substance in his possession that tested positive for cocaine and a small quantity of marijuana.
Police reported finding a total of $46,010 in the vehicle. The money was discovered in several locations, including under the driver’s seat, in a shaving bag and in luggage, sorted into $1,000 bundles.
For a photo gallery, click here.
The men claimed the money was from student loans and that they had driven to Pensacola to buy a truck with the cash, but decided against the purchase and instead were returning to the Atlanta area.
Corry, the driver, was cited for impeding the flow of traffic. The front seat passenger, 35-year old Antwan Deonte Jackson of Atlanta, was charged with felony possession of a controlled substance in connection with the cocaine allegedly found on his person and possessions of marijuana. He was transported to the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton.
Two other people in the vehicle, a 31-year old male and a 20-year old male, both from the Atlanta area, were not immediately charged with any crime. They were released along with Correy.
The investigation into the traffic stop and the cash continued into Wednesday morning at the Flomaton Police Department. The department will file paperwork to seize the cash due to possible narcotics activity, officers said. The vehicle remained impounded for further investigation.
Pictured top: Flomaton Police officer Chris Neal with over $46,000 in cash seized during a traffic stop Tuesday evening. Pictured inset: Part of the cash was discovered during this search of luggage belonging to the suspects. Pictured bottom inset: The 2010 Dodge Challengers stopped by the Flomaton Police Department. Pictured below: A portion of the cash, cocaine and marijuana (in foreground) seized. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Man Found Dead After House Explodes
August 1, 2012
The body of a man was found in an Escambia County house following a suspicious explosion and fire early this morning.
Multiple stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the home at near the intersection of Dog Track Road and Brookstone Way about 2:15 a.m. The explosion had blown out windows and the garage door of the home.
Once the fire was out, authorities found the body of 59-year old Richard Dunigan of Pensacola inside.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has joined the State Fire Marshal’s Office in the investigation into the incident.
Pictured: A man was found dead inside this home that exploded early Wednesday morning in Escambia County. Photos courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Molino Man Shot After Driving Into Cantonment House Is Arrested
August 1, 2012
The Molino man that was shot multiple times after driving his vehicle into a house in Cantonment last month was arrested Tuesday afternoon.
John Alex Godwin, age 34 of Molino Road, was booked into the Escambia County Jail on felony charges of aggravated assault, aggravated stalking, criminal mischief property damage and burglary, according to jail records. He was released Tuesday on a $40,000 bond.
During the predawn hours of July 13, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said Godwin crashed is his car into the home of 25-year old Heather McKamey of Cantonment. The car literally pushed in the front door, door frame and surrounding bricks.
Godwin was then shot by 25-year old Andrew Lundy of Cantonment. Lundy was not charged.
Godwin reportedly suffered multiple gunshot woulds and was airlifted to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola. Warrants were prepared for his arrest pending his release from the hospital.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, Godwin was McKamey’s ex-boyfriend. She has unsuccessfully tried to get a restraining order against him in Escambia County back in June after a domestic violence incident between the pair in Mississippi.
According to a Gulfport Police Department incident report, Godwin was dating McKamey when he allegedly assault her on I-10 in Mississippi at the 33 mile marker by grabbing her hair and throwing her to the ground. She suffered minor lacerations to her hand during the incident, according to the report.
Pictured: A man was shot early the morning of July 13 after driving his car into this house in the 900 block of Jacks Branch Road in Cantonment. Deputies say the incident was a domestic violence incident. Photos by WEAR for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century To Talk Budget, No Property Tax Increase
August 1, 2012
The Century Town Council will hold a second budget workshop Thursday afternoon.
During the workshop, supervisors will present budget proposals for their individual departments for the 2012-2013 fiscal year that begins October 1.
The proposed ad valorem millage rate remains at .9048 for third consecutive year. That’s equal to about $90 per $100,000 in taxable value on a piece of property. One mill is equal to $1 in tax for every $1,000 in assessed value.
The tax generates less than $30,000 per year for the property tax levy.
Texting And Driving Is Now Illegal In Alabama
August 1, 2012
It’s now illegal to text and drive in Alabama.
Beginning today, Alabama became the 38th state to ban texting and driving. The ban extends to most manual electronic communications — so email, Facebook, Twitter and instant messaging are out too on public highways.
The fine for violating the law is $25 for a first-time offense, $50 for a second offense and $75 for a third or subsequent offense. Those fines can easily reach $200 in some counties after court costs are added. Also, for each offense, it’s two points on a driver’s record, potentially leading to higher insurance rates.
The ban includes cell phones, PDA’s, personal computers and most any other electronic device used to send or receive messages or email.
Drivers can still send and receive messages using voice commands — such as with Siri on the iPhone. And drivers can also send text messages or emails while legally parked on the shoulder of the road.
The ban does not preclude the use of GPS devices, as long as the device destination is programmed before the vehicle is on the road. Entering a phone number and talking on the phone are still legal.
Also, the ban does not extend to drivers obtaining emergency services.
Pictured top: Texting and driving is now illegal in Alabama. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Local Delegation Meets With BP Claims Chief In New Orleans
August 1, 2012
A delegation of local leaders met with BP Oil Spill Claims Chief Patrick Juneau in New Orleans.
The delegation included Representative Doug Broxson (R-Gulf Breeze), Senator Greg Evers (R-Baker), Gulf County Commissioner and Florida Association of Counties President Bill Williams, and Escambia County Commissioner Gene Valentino.
“Mr. Juneau again gave us his assurance that they will perfect this new program for BP claimants including those affected in the Panhandle,” Broxson said, adding that Juneau will soon visit the local area to promote the new claims process and encourage area citizens and businesses to file or re-file their claims.
“The new BP claims administration will be great for the Gulf Coast. Patrick Juneau appears to be an honest broker for doing what is right,” Evers said, a feeling echoed byValentino.
“It was a pleasure meeting Mr. Juneau. Not only is he a part of the local fabric of the Gulf Coast, but he has put together a structure for the settlement of these personal and business
claims that makes sense,” Valentino said.