Photos: Northview Baseball Clinic For NWE, Tri-County
April 22, 2012
The Northview Chiefs baseball team held a training camp Saturday for Northwest Escambia and Tri-County Cal Ripken players. From pitching to catching, the camp focused on the basics of improving play and on the transition from Little League to Cal Ripken rules.
NWE offered their thanks to the Northview players, coaches and Diamond Club for offering the camp. “It was excellent. We are looking forward to the next one,” a NWE statement said.
For a photo gallery from the camp, click here.
Pictured: A Northview Chiefs baseball camp for Northwest Escambia and Tri-County players held Saturday at the school. NorthEscambia.com photos by Taylor Rigby, click to enlarge.
Photos: CrossFaith Church Holds Molino SpringFling
April 22, 2012
CrossFaith Church in Molino held a Spring Fling on Saturday, featuring live music, crafts, vendors, horse rides, a petting zoo, inflatables and more.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured: The annual Spring Fling was held Saturday at CrossFaith church in Molino. Submitted photos by Katelyn Garrison for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Births: Tripp Shiver Gilly, Riley Erin Chancery
April 22, 2012
Two local couples that are close friends are celebrating births just hours apart.
Tripp Shiver Gilly
Billy and Ashley Gilly of Molino are proud to announce the birth of their son, Tripp Shiver Gilly, born April 10, 2012, at 4:18 p.m. He weighed 5 pounds, 14 ounces and was 18 inches long. Tripp is the grandson of Greg and Lorri Clary of Byrneville, Johnny Bonner of Pace, Alex and Felicia Amerson of Enon, and Bill Gilly of Molino.
Riley Erin Chancery
Aaron and Britany Chancery of McDavid are proud to announce the birth of their daughter, Riley Erin Chancery, born April 10, 2012, at 6:24 p.m. She was 7 pounds, 6.7 ounces and 19.5 inches long. Riley is the granddaughter of Richard and Lisa Chancery of McDavid, Loretta Floyd of Pensacola and James Ford of Molino.
Pictured on the left are Aaron and Britany Chancery with their daughter Riley Erin Chancery, while Billy and Ashley Gilly are on the right with their son Tripp Shiver Gilly. Pictured below: Riley Erin Chancery (on left) and Tripp Shiver Gilly. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Lamberts Celebrate Silver Anniversary
April 22, 2012
Aaron and Kim (Thortis) Lambert recently celebrated their silver wedding anniversary.
They were married on April 4, 1987, in Walnut Hill at the Walnut Hill Assembly of God. Aaron works at Reichhold Chemical as the purchasing and plant scheduler. He has been there for 17 years. Kim works at Escambia River Electric Cooperative at their Walnut Hill office. She has been there for 12½ years. They have four children, Brittany, A.J., Courtney and Brady. They also have three grandchildren.
Their parents are Ervin and Carolyn (Spence) Thortis and Douglas and the late Nellie (LaField) Lambert.
They enjoy family vacations and taking trips together, especially to watch any Alabama Crimson Tide sporting event. They are planning a trip in the fall to celebrate the occasion.
Pictured: Aaron and Kim (Thortis) Lambert celebrated their silver anniversary. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Seven Run First Dooms Wahoos, Biscuits Win 7-1
April 22, 2012
The Blue Wahoos struck first Saturday night, but the lead was short lived as the Montgomery Biscuits responded with seven runs in the home half of the first and held on for the 7-1 win andeven the five-game series at a game apiece in Montgomery.
Ryan LaMarre continued his hot hitting with a single to open up the game for the Blue Wahoos and scored from second on a base hit by Joel Guzman to give Pensacola the early advantage. LaMarre added a triple later in the game for his sixth multi-hit game of the season. Guzman also had a two-hit performance with a second single in the sixth.
The Biscuits responded with seven run in the bottom of the inning. Blue Wahoos starter Curtis Partch (L, 0-2) walked the first three batters he faced before back to back doubles by Henry Wrigley and Michael Sheridan. After another walk, Kyeong Kang blasted his third home run of the year to give the Biscuits a 7-1 lead. Neither team crossed the plate the rest of the way as three Blue Wahoos relievers combined to work 4.1 scoreless innings.
Partch bounced back and went 3.2 innings allowing the seven runs on three hits. He walked six, four in the first inning, and struck out two in the losing effort. Shane Dyer (W, 2-1) worked five innings in the winning effort for the Biscuits. He gave up just the one first-inning run, he walked two, allowed five hits and struck out two.
The series continues in Montgomery on Sunday evening with first pitch slated for 5:05 p.m. Right-hander Daniel Corcino (0-1, 4.61) will take the mound against Biscuits lefty Frank De Los Santos (1-1, 2.38).
Jay Holds Relay For Life (With Photo Gallery)
April 21, 2012
The 2012 Jay Relay for Life began Friday night at Jay High School. A few hundred participants took part in the annual Relay to raise money for cancer research.
There were 16 teams registered to take part in the all-night event. A Luminaria ceremony was held Friday night as participants remembered friends and loved ones that have lost the battle against cancer and honored those currently fighting cancer.
Hundreds of people enjoyed a variety of entertainment, food fun and fellowship throughout the night.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the 2012 Jay Relay for Life, click here.
Pictured top: The Survivor’s Lap at the 2012 Jay Relay for Life. Pictured inset: Benny Barnes, honorary Century chairperson at the Jay Relay For Life. Pictured below: Survivor’s Lap Friday evening at Jay Relay.
Century CI Inmates Graduate With GED, Ready To Work Certificates
April 21, 2012
Century Correctional Institution held a graduation ceremony Friday morning for inmates receiving their GED diplomas while behind bars.
“I began to challenge my thoughts, feelings and beliefs,” said Century CI Class of 2012 Salutatorian Shawn Ashe, earning his GED at age 30. “I am able to receive my diploma today because I made a choice.”
Ashe is about six months away from finishing a two-year prison sentence for cocaine possession, passing forged bills, trafficking in stolen property and grand theft in St. Johns County. He readily admits that he made very bad choices that landed him in prison, but he said his newly earned GED will open a whole new world of opportunity once he is released.
“I can and will make a difference in my community when I leave out of here,” Ashe said. He thanked God for the opportunity to earn his GED behind bars, and he acknowledged Florida’s tax payers for funding what he called a worthy program.
Henry Jordan, class valedictorian, is serving a 3.5 year sentence for a weapons and felony driving without a license charges from Duval County. His said his days at Century CI were once filled with working out “to look good at the beach” upon his release. But then, he said, he got his priorities straight.
“I decided to join the GED program instead of working out,” Jordan said. “I decided to focus on my GED…a GED increases my odds of making something of myself.”
Four other inmates received their GED diplomas during a graduation Friday morning inside Century Correctional Institution. They were: Joshua Moynihan, Alex Lichtenberger, Karey Murphy and Dachua Oliver. Earning the GED meant passing a five-part test consisting of reading/language and writing (including an essay), math, social studies and science.
“I watched another guy get up and walk out of the GED test because he thought the essay was too hard,” Jordan told fellow inmates at the graduation ceremony. “Don’t y’all give up. Everything is worth it.”
For a photo gallery from the prison’s graduation ceremony, click here.
Also Friday morning, 11 Century Correctional inmates received their Florida Ready to Work certificates. Florida Ready to Work is an innovative state-funded workforce education and economic development program that provides student job-seekers with a standard credential that certifies their workplace readiness and ability to succeed on the job.
Inmates receiving Ready to Work certificates were: Shawn Ashe, Steven Kelly, Robert Brantley, Jraron Lasseter, Vonsha Marshal, Joshua Monynihan, Erving Rogers, Brandley White, Timothy Curd, Alex Lichtenberger and Dachua Oliver.
Century CI Warden Richard Comerford said 16 more Century Correctional inmates will take their GED tests in next few days.
Guest speaker for event was Mark Whitacre, the highest corporate-level executive to ever become a FBI whistleblower, uncovering a massive price fixing scheme at Archer Daniels Midland (AMD) in the 1990’s. He served nearly a decade in federal prison. Whitacre was the subject of the 2009 movie “The Informant!” in which he was portrayed by Matt Damon. Monday morning on NorthEscambia.com, we will bring you Whitacre’s story.
Pictured top: Century Correctional Class 2012 Salutatorian Shawn Ashe addresses fellow inmates Friday morning. Pictured top inset: Ashe and Valedictorian Henry Jordan. Pictured below: GED graduates in their “class photo” with Century Correctional staff members. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Bond Set For Zimmerman
April 21, 2012
A Seminole County circuit judge on Friday set bail at $150,000 for George Zimmerman during a hearing in which the accused shooter of Trayvon Martin told the boy’s family he was sorry for their loss.
Jail officials haven’t said when Zimmerman could be released from custody under the arrangement which includes electronic monitoring.
“I wanted to say I am sorry for the loss of your son,” Zimmerman, 28, said from the stand during the hearing as the family sat in the courtroom. “I did not know how old he was. I thought he was a little bit younger than I am. And I did not know if he was armed or not.”
Zimmerman could face a life sentence on the second degree murder charge.
Martin, who was 17, lived in Miami but had been suspended from school and was spending the time with his father in Sanford. He was unarmed when Zimmerman shot him, telling police he looked suspicious.
Zimmerman has claimed self defense.
By The News Service of Florida
Northview’s Farrow Places In State Weightlifting Finals
April 21, 2012
Northview High School senior Andrew Farrow finished 10th in the state Friday during the Florida High School Athletic Association’s state 1A weightlifting championships in Kissimmee. Farrow’s total lift in the 210 pound weight class was at 575 pounds with a best bench of 305 and a best clean & jerk of 270.
Pictured: Northview High School’s Andrew Farrow lifts during the state 1A weightlifting finals Friday afternoon in Kissimmee, Florida. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Local Numbers Improve, Florida Unemployment Biggest Drop In 20 Years
April 21, 2012
The latest job numbers released Friday showed good news in the three-county North Escambia area — as Florida’s unemployment rate made its biggest monthly decline in nearly two decades as the state’s jobless rate fell to 9 percent in March.
Escambia County’s unemployment dropped from 9.1 percent in February to 8.2 percent in March. There were 1,051 fewer reported unemployed during the period, for a total Escambia County unemployment of 11,251 people. One year ago, unemployment in Escambia County was 10.4 percent.
Santa Rosa County unemployment slipped from 8.6 percent in February to 8.4 percent in March. Santa Rosa County had a total of 6,073 persons still unemployed. The year-ago unemployment rate in Santa Rosa County was 8.8 percent.
In Escambia County, Alabama, unemployment dropped from 9.4 percent in February to 8.4 percent in March. That represented 1,234 people unemployed in the county during the month.
Florida’s 9 percent unemployment rate was 0.4 percentage points lower than February and 1.7 points lower than the 10.7 percent recorded in March 2012. It was the largest monthly drop since October 1992.
Alabama’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate at 7.3 percent in March, was down from February’s rate of 7.5 percent and was below the year-ago rate of 9.3 percent.