Photos: Summer Reading Fun At The Library (Plus List Of Other Reading Events)
June 29, 2011
Children enjoyed witty stories Tuesday from storyteller Pat Nease at the Century Branch Library as part of the library’s summer reading program.
For a gallery of submitted photos, click here.
There are two other summer reading program this week in the North Escambia area.
The Molino Park Elementary School Library will be open Wednesday from 9 a.m. until noon for students and their parents. Students are encouraged to dress in red, white and blue to celebrate the Fourth of July a few days early. There will be guest readers along with activities related to the stories that are read. Parents and students can check out books, and students can take Accelerated Reader tests. Parents are required to stay with their children.
The summer reading program begins Thursday at the Flomaton Public Library. Programs will be held each Thursday through August 4 from 10-11 am.
Pictured above and below: Children enjoy storyteller Pat Nease at the Century Branch Library Tuesday afternoon. Submitted photos by Amanda Brown for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Gulf Power, West Florida High Honored
June 29, 2011
STEMflorida has recognized Gulf Power and West Florida High School’s Gulf Power Academy as a recipient of the 2011 Best Practices Award.
STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. It was created in 2009 by Workforce Florida and Enterprise Florida to create a business-led statewide council to focus on strengthening the STEM skills of Florida’s students to address the increasing demand for jobs requiring strong foundations in these areas.
“We are honored to be recognized by STEMflorida,” said Jennifer Grove, Gulf Power’s Workforce Development coordinator. “The Gulf Power Academy has long been recognized nationally as one of the first to help develop future workers in the energy industry.”
The Gulf Power Academy, approaching 10 years in existence, provides students with a curriculum to learn the fundamentals of electricity, the energy industry, and about various careers in the energy industry.
The best practice award that Gulf Power and West Florida received was the Excellence Integrating Emerging Needs of a STEM-enabled Industry into Engaging Academy Education award. The honorees were recognized June 24 at the ThinkSTEM meeting in Orlando.
Receive Assistance, Fail Drug Test And Lose Your Kids?
June 29, 2011
With the start of a new law Friday requiring applicants for the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program to test for drugs, a new rule will also require that anyone who fails be reported to the state’s child abuse hotline.
The Tampa Tribune reported Tuesday on a June 24 memo in which the Department of Children and Families directs staff to refer applicants to test positive to the abuse hotline for possible offer of services, or a possible investigation into the welfare of the child.
DCF officials told the Tribune that rule won’t mean that anyone who tests positive will lose their children, although DCF spokesman Joe Follick told the newspaper that a referral likely would trigger a visit to the applicants home by someone representing the agency, though not necessarily a child protection investigator.
“Our goal is always to keep families together, and give them the tools to stay together,” Follick told the Tribune.
Some child welfare advocates are critical, though.
“Caseworkers risk missing more children in real danger while they check out pot-smoking potential welfare recipients,” Richard Wexler, executive director of the National Coalition for Child Protection Reform in Virginia said in an e-mail to reporters.
By The News Service of Florida
Have Wildblue Internet? Make Changes Or Lose Your Email
June 29, 2011
Wildblue satellite internet customers will need to make a change on their email client before Thursday to keep email working.
Current Wildblue customers that use an email client, such as Outlook or Windows Mail, will need to make a settings change on all computers and smartphones before June 30 to maintain the ability to send and receive emails. Settings need to be configured in each customer’s email client for SMTP authentication and for using a full email address rather than just a username.
For directions visit email.sitecare.info.
Escambia River Rural Services customers with Wildblue can call (800) 692-7010 for more information.
These settings changes are not required for web based email, such as Google, Yahoo, Hotmail, or our Webmail.
Rain Provides Relief For Some; More Showers Possible Today
June 29, 2011
Most of the area had at least a little rain on Tuesday. Some areas received fairly significant rain considering our extreme drought, including Walnut Hill with 0.7 inches and Jay with 1.7 inches.
Pictured above is the large retention pond along West Highway 4 at Northview High School — an indicator of just how severe our drought conditions are. Almost dry Tuesday morning, the pond was at the lowest level since the school opened about 15 years ago, except for one time the pond was purposely drained for repairs.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Reader Submitted Weather Photos: Storms, Clouds, Dust And A Rainbow
June 28, 2011
NorthEscambia.com readers captured several photos of a line of storms moving through the area Tuesday afternoon. Scroll down to see all of the photos.
Remember, when you see news or have a photo to share, email news@northescambia.com.
Above: Clouds and a dust storm along Florida Highway near in Alabama just north of Bratt. Photo by Tina Segers for NorthEscambia.com.
Above: The storm along Florida Highway near in Alabama just north of Bratt. Photo by Tina Segers for NorthEscambia.com.
Above: Storm clouds along Highway 99 in Barrineau Park. Photo by Mason Cook for NorthEscambia.com.
Above: Storm clouds at Ernest Ward Middle School in Walnut Hill. Photo by Connie for NorthEscambia.com.
Above: Along Highway 97 in Walnut Hill. Photo by Kim Edmonson for NorthEscambia.com.
Above: Clouds roll into the Cantonment area. Photo by Jennifer Qualls for NorthEscambia.com.
Above: Clouds swirl above the Cantonment area. Photo by Jennifer Qualls for NorthEscambia.com.
Above: The Escambia County Sheriff’s Department in Brewton. Photo by Julie Adams for NorthEscambia.com.
Ominous clouds seen looking south on Main Street in Atmore. Reader submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com.
Above: Clouds move south in Davisville at the state line. Reader submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com.
Above: North of Brewton. Photo by Julie Adams for NorthEscambia.com.
Above: A look at the storm clouds from Mobile. Photo by Randon Watson for NorthEscambia.com.
Above: A rainbow over Walnut Hill. Reader submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com.
Man Dies In Atmore Wreck (With Photo Gallery)
June 28, 2011
One person died in a three vehicle collision on Highway 21 at Fountain Prison in Atmore this morning.
Jessie Hemphill, 73, of Geraldine, Alabama, was pronounced dead on the scene. Witnesses said Hemphill was northbound in a 1996 Jaguar when he collided with a southbound 2005 Freightliner operated by Standard Furniture of Bay Minette. Witnesses said he attempted to pass a Nissan Maxima when the rear wheels of the tractor and wheels of the trailer hit the Jaguar.
For a photo gallery from the scene, click here.
The driver of the Maxima, 47-year old Patricia Ann Myers of Atmore, was transported by ambulance to Atmore Community Hospital and then transferred by LifeFlight to USA Medical Center in Mobile. Her condition was not available. The driver of the semi-truck, Robert Earl Stevens, 44, of Bay Minette, was not injured.
The accident is still under investigation by Alabama State Troopers.
Pictured: The driver of this Jaguar (top) was killed after colliding with this 18-wheeler (below). A passenger in a third vehicle (pictured inset) was also injured in the wreck on Highway 21 at Fountain Prison in Atmore. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Man Second Candidate To Prefile For District 5 Commission Seat
June 28, 2011
A second candidate has tossed their name into the running for the Escambia County Commission District 5 seat currently held by Kevin White of Molino.
Dennis Wiggins of Killam Road, Century, prefiled Monday for the job. He will run on the 2012 ballot as an independent with no party affiliation.
Sam Archer of Cantonment was the first candidate to announce for the seat back on June 15. He will run as a Republican.
Tri-County Advances In Tournament Play, NWE Still Alive
June 28, 2011
The 9-10 and 11-12 year old Tri-County All Stars are moving on undefeated in Florida District 1 Little League tournament play after wins Monday evening, while Northwest Escambia remains alive in 11-12 year old play.
Tri-County 2 Niceville White 1 (ages 9-10)
The Tri-County 9-10 year olds came from behind in the sixth inning to win their second round playoff game Tuesday evening, 2-1 over Niceville White.
Tri-County was led by Judd Smith who went 3-3 with a three singles. Seth Killam went 2-4 with a single and a double, and both Trevor Flowers and Jackson Free went 1-3 with a single. Flowers allowed just two Niceville hits and striking out three. Killam struck out four of six batters.
Tri-County allowed just three errors during the game.
Tri-County advances to the next round at 7:30 Wednesday in Shalimar. Tri-County will face Niceville Maroon, which beat Shalimar 13-1 Monday.
Tri-County 8 Northwest Escambia 3 (ages 11-12)
Tri-County’s 11-12 year old All Stars defeated Northwest Escambia 8-3 Monday evening. With the win, Tri-County advances to take on Niceville at 7:30 Wednesday in Niceville. Northwest Escambia gets another shot in the loser’s bracket Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. against DeFuniak Springs.
Pictured top: Jackson Free slides in for the Tri-County 9-10 year olds. Pictured inset: Nathan Archer on the mound for Tri-County. Submitted photos by Tammie Free for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Man Gets Three Years In State Prison After Shot Fired Into Molino Home
June 28, 2011
A gunshot fired into a Molino home back in March has landed one man in prison for three years.
Three people were arrested after a resident in the 6000 block of Highway 99 near Blackberry Lane reported that someone fired a shot into their home on March 16, 2011.
Anthony Taylor Crepeau, 21, of Gulf Breeze, received a minimum mandatory sentence of three years in state prison for possession of a weapon by a convicted felon. Zachary Brandon Miller, 20, of Cantonment was sentenced to six months probation on a disorderly conduct charge. And Riley Edward Baldwin, 35, of Pensacola, pleaded no contest to a disorderly conduct charge and adjudication was withheld.
All three men were ordered to pay restitution ranging from $400 to $850.
The three were, according to deputies, firing at targets in a nearby field. All three claimed to have never shot in the direction of the house, but deputies said they would have had to intentionally pointed a weapon in the direction of the residence in order to strike it. Deputies found the trio with a shotgun, a handgun, an AK-47, a Keltec semi-automatic rifle and what appeared to be a Mac 10 pistol.
According to deputies, the bullet fired into the residence exploded a window, went through a wall and struck a kitchen cabinet. The bullet reportedly passed just above the head of someone inside the residence.
Crepeau’s father, the owner of the property where the three men were found, told deputies that they did not have permission to be on his property shooting firearms.
The home is located about 500 feet off Highway 99.
Pictured above: Escambia County deputies investigate after a shot was reportedly fired into a Molino home Wednesday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
