Barrel Racing Team Overcomes Dual Disasters To Help Kids With Cerebal Palsy
March 30, 2011
Skeet Davis and his big Paint horse, Boomer, are on a mission — thanks in part to a North Escambia area veterinarian and farrier. Although they are a competitive National Barrel Horse Association team, their hearts are devoted to helping kids with cerebral palsy.
Since 2004, Davis has been organizing benefit barrel races for United Cerebral Palsy, and every summer finds Skeet and Boomer at “Camp Smile” in Mobile, Alabama. There they brighten children’s lives by giving every child a ride on gentle Boomer. Equipped with a special custom-made saddle that provides increased support and security, these children — even those in wheelchairs — are able to experience the thrill of riding Boomer.
With the help of Camp Smile counselors, each child is gently secured into the saddle. Then Skeet leads Boomer around the campground, the horse stepping softly to provide smooth rides for his precious cargo. For Skeet, the father of three, this work has special significance; his youngest daughter has cerebral palsy.
Two freak accidents nearly destroyed the Davis and Boomer goodwill efforts. In October 2008, Skeet came home one day to find that Boomer wasn’t waiting for him at his usual spot. Something was wrong. Skeet found Boomer standing in the lane to the barn, and there was blood everywhere. Boomer had been playing with deer outside his fence line and caught his foot in the one strand of barbed wire that Skeet kept strung along the bottom of the fence to keep the coyotes from catching ducks in his pond. Boomer’s hoof was almost completely severed. Skeet immediately hauled his horse to Boomer’s vet in Grand Bay. Dr. McCoy x-rayed the foot, cleaned it and surgically removed two barbs that had become imbedded deep in the foot.
Boomer’s accident destroyed Skeet’s hopes to ride him in the 2008 National Barrel Horse Association World Championships in Augusta, Georgia. However, through the generosity of a friend, Skeet was able to compete on a borrowed horse. But, Skeet’s problems had only begun. On his second run in the show, a miscue between horse and rider sent Skeet crashing into the ground. He had sustained what is called an “open-book” hip fracture, one that kills more than 50% of it’s victims. Fortunately, the horse show was only minutes from a major teaching hospital with a world-renowned specialist in pelvic fractures. Skeet was in the right place at the right time. Working quickly, the medical team was able to save Skeet’s life and repair his hip. But, the severity of the injury was going to keep Skeet off horses for quite a while.
When Skeet was released from the hospital, he was determined to make sure that both he and Boomer were rehabilitated successfully. By January of 2009, Boomer was still very lame from his injury and Skeet was beginning to fear that he’d never be able to ride his horse again, much less continue their commitments to helping children with cerebral palsy.
But, fellow barrel racers urged Skeet to take Boomer to the Lee Veterinary and Podiatry Clinic in Atmore, Alabama. There, Dr. Hank Lee and certified journeyman farrier Jim LaClaire of Beulah have joined forces to diagnose and treat lame horses, combining astute diagnosis and surgical interventions with innovative horse podiatry. Every Friday, the clinic parking lot is full of stock and horse trailers who travel to see the vet-farrier team from as far away as Tallahassee and upper Alabama. Skeet hoped that something could be done for Boomer.
After examining the horse, the Lee Clinic team had an answer. They constructed a therapeutic shoe for Boomer, filling in the lost hoof wall with epoxy. They had essentially created a partially artificial foot to evenly support Boomer’s weight while his natural hoof wall recovered and regrew. With his new foot and shoe, Boomer was ready to get back into action. It took Skeet a little longer to heal, but now they are both back to barrel racing. Best of all, they have returned to their mission of giving children with cerebral palsy a chance to ride.
Boomer’s recovery from his disastrous injury is testimony to the love of his owner and the cutting-edge experience of the Lee Veterinary and Podiatry Clinic. As for Skeet, he’s doing what he’s always done; he makes plans and continues his mission. Currently, he is working to raise $1,800 to buy another custom saddle, so that more these special needs children can enjoy the thrill of riding a horse. Donations would be welcome! Skeet Davis’ phone number is (251) 865-1000. He and Boomer can be found at 14775 Burnham Road in Grand Bay, Alabama, 36541.
Story and photographs by Janice M. LeCocq, freelance writer and photographer, Century.
Saturday Mail Delivery: NE Readers And Postal Commission Offer Opinions
March 30, 2011
The Postal Regulatory Commission has issued an opinion on the U.S. Postal Service’s plan to eliminate Saturday mail delivery, collection, and outbound mail processing — a plan the commission says will especially impact rural areas like North Escambia.
We asked NorthEscambia.com Facebook fans to weigh-in on the proposed end of Saturday mail delivery, and if it would adversely impact rural residents. Here’s a sample of the responses:
- “It would make things a lot harder on the people in rural areas. My mother is a mail carrier, and if we ended Saturday mail, that would mean they would have to deliver it on Mondays. Giving them two days of mail to deliver on one day would not only mean extra work for them, but mail would come later that day for everyone because there would be so much for them to deliver,” said Sarah McLean.
- “The post office is operating in the red so if this helps them, by all means, stop Saturday delivery. The federal government has not been good to the post office,” said Leza Nelson of Brewton.
- “But what about my Netflix movies received on a Saturday? Gotta have them,” said Brenda Flota of Pensacola.
- “Keep the Saturdays’ I have a new found love of Ebay,” said Dana Kittrell of Cantonment.
- “I say stop Saturday delivery but keep the post office open for a few hours. Will save gas and hours,” said Crystal McDonald of Atmore.
- “Some stuff doesn’t mail out until a ‘business day’, so I don’t think it makes a difference,” said Nicole Davis of Century.
(To join our Facebook page, click here and be part of future discussions.)
The Postal Regulatory Commission Opinion
The Postal Service is required to ask the Commission for an Advisory Opinion on any change in nationwide service it proposes. The Postal Service advised the Commission that due to falling mail volumes and revenues it is considering eliminating Saturday mail collection and delivery except for Express Mail and existing post office box service.
“Some of the Commission’s analysis in today’s Advisory Opinion suggests that even lower estimates of savings and higher volume losses are possible. In all cases, we chose the cautious, conservative path. Our estimates, therefore, should be seen as the most likely, middle ground analysis of what could happen under a five-day scenario,” said Chairman Ruth Y. Goldway.
Key findings of the Commission’s Opinion include:
- The Commission’s annual net savings estimate is $1.7 billion.
- The Postal Service’s savings estimate is $3.1 billion.
- Full savings in either case would likely not be achieved until year three after implementation.
- The Commission’s estimate of net revenue losses due to volume declines caused by the service cuts is $0.6 billion.
- The Postal Service estimate of net revenue losses is $0.2 billion.
- The planned changes would cause an average of 25 percent of First-Class and Priority mail to be delayed by two days.
- The Postal Service did not evaluate the impact of the proposal on customers who reside or conduct business in rural, remote, and non-contiguous areas.
- Customers in rural, remote, and non-contiguous areas can be particularly affected by the Postal Service’s plans. The Commission received significant input from rural America and traveled to South Dakota and Wyoming to meet directly with rural customers and community leaders.
The elimination of one mail delivery day has been proposed many times and was the subject of extensive congressional review in 1977 and 1980. In 1983, Congress adopted specific language requiring the Postal Service to maintain six-day delivery. The Commission’s Advisory Opinion will be considered by Congress as it reviews the Postal Service’s request to change the law.
Photos: 20th Annual Century Sawmill Pageant Winners
March 30, 2011
Over 65 contestants took part in this year’s 20th Annual Century Sawmill Pageant sponsored by the Century Lions Club.
The winners and their photos are below:
Baby Miss: Peyton S. Lee, queen; Ashley Elizabeth Mixon, first, photo, sportswear; Kaydence Makenzie Hadley, second; Addison Wise, third.
Toddler Miss: Emilee Grace Braswell, queen, sportswear; London Vera Brooks, first; Carlisa Spears, second, photo; Malia Jenay Smith, third; Alyssa Hullett, sold most tickets.
Little Miss: Jada Jones, queen; Olivia Blaze Griffis, first; Jordan Elizabeth Sanders, second; Andrea Grace Lasala, third, photo, all over queen; Kaylyn Franklin, sold most tickets.
Young Miss: Briana Dunsford, queen; Emma Barrow, first, sportswear; Maegan Mallett, second; Caroline Elizabeth Harp, third; Mallory Samantha Floyd, photo.
Junior Miss: Ansley Brooke Lasala , queen, sportswear, photo; Carly Leanne Sanders, first; Alexis Ariel Clark, second; Hannah Merchant, third.
Pre-teen: Mackenzie Taylor Leeser, queen; Morgan Shelby Floyd, first; Valencia Ariana Burnette, second; Auburn N’Cole Jernigan, third, sportswear; Tori Marie Knapp, photo.
Miss: Savannah Elizabeth Hart, queen, sportswear; Alayna Nicole Gordon, first, photo; Kourtney Paige Smith, second; Brooklyn Shae Dortch, third.
Overall Queen: Andrea Grace Lasala.
“The Century Lions would like to thank all of the sponsors who bought ads in this year’s program, all of the volunteers who worked at the pageant and assisted with everything, especially the teachers at Byrneville Elementary. Many members of the community worked tirelessly with posters, flyers and signing up contestants. This year’s pageant was the biggest and best ever. All proceeds will benefit children in our area who may need assistance with glasses,” the Century Lions Club said.
All photographs courtesy Photo By Fischer, Century for NorthEscambia.com. Reprints are available (850) 256-3980.
Vote Set On Application For Mega Landfill
March 30, 2011
The Conecuh County Commission has set an April 18 vote on the application for the proposed 5,100 acre Conecuh Woods landfill. The vote will be preceded by an April 11 meeting with engineers to evaluate the application.
Conecuh Woods’ landfill, would include a 1,600 acre “disposal cell” from Range to Repton to near the Big Escambia Creek. Big Escambia Creek flows southward into Escambia County, Alabama, through Flomaton and drains through a North Escambia swamp into the Escambia River and then Escambia Bay.
Many other governments in South Alabama and Northwest Florida have passed resolutions in opposition to Conecuh Woods, including Escambia counties in Alabama and Florida, the Town of Century, Atmore and Flomaton.
Even if the Conecuh County Commissions gives their approval to the Conecuh Woods application, the project may still remain on hold. Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley issued an executive order declaring a moratorium on new landfills in the state.
Lawmaker Wants Teachers To Grade Parents
March 30, 2011
If teachers are being graded for their student’s performance, is it only fair that parents also be held accountable for how well-prepared the student is?
That’s the question a House committee pondered Tuesday when it took up HB 255, by Rep. Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland. The bill would require teachers in grades Pre-K through 3 to grade parents on their involvement, including factors like homework completion, whether the child is physically prepared for class and their absences.
“It’s not grading whether the parent fed a three-course breakfast or what time they went to bed, but is that child prepared for school?” Stargel said. “It’s mostly so we can identify those parents who are not involved.”
Stargel said the intent is not to punish those parents, but to figure out what can be done to motivate or help them.
“We all know a more involved parent (has) a more successful student,” Stargel said.
Some lawmakers questioned whether the bill was inappropriately targeting parents who do not have significant amounts of time to devote to homework preparation and test quizzing.
“How will the grading system be fair to that parent who wants to have that involvement but his or her financial situation won’t allow that to happen?” asked Rep. Charles Chestnut, D-Gainesville.
The Florida Parent Teacher Association spoke out against the bill. “Mandating one more school accountability issue is not the best idea at this time,” said Cindy Gerhardt, the President of Florida PTA. “We love the bill, but we don’t feel that the teacher having to grade the parent is really going to improve that relationship.”
The concept of grading parents has caught a lot of flack, Stargel admitted, and said whether it would work is “up for debate.”
“What I do like about a grade is it is a clear measure of your accountability,” Stargel said. Lawmakers said charter schools have long required parents to sign contracts promising a certain level of monitoring and involvement.
The concept of grading parents is not totally foreign to Florida public schools. In rural Gadsden County, near Tallahassee, the school district has adopted a grading system called “Different Levels of Parent Involvement.”
Gadsden County Parent Services Coordinator Audrey Lewis told the committee the Gadsden initially considered a more formal “grade” but that parents pushed back.
By just changing the name to the DLOPI acronym, Lewis said, more parents came on board.
The program now ranks parents on five different categories, from attendance, to communication with teachers, tutoring, volunteer effort and leadership. “Parent involvement is not all about carnivals and bake sales,” Lewis said.
The bill appears unlikely to pass this year, though it may provide a preview of the Legislature’s education agenda for next year. The House committee took no vote on the bill Tuesday and with just about a month to go in the session and no movement on a Senate companion, its prospects appear slim.
By Lilly Rockwell
The News Service of Florida
Police Seek Info On Photos In Sexual Abuse Case
March 30, 2011
An aggressive attempt is continuing by law enforcement to identify a daycare facility attended by a female child believed to have been sexually abused.
On December 14 of last year, the Pensacola Police Department received a report from the Loaves and Fishes Thrift Store on North Palafox Street that a digital camera containing a disk with a photo of a female child possibly being sexually abused had been left as a donation.
Also on the disk were pictures of children in a daycare setting participating in what is believed to have been a Christmas program in 2006. The daycare center does not appear to be directly related to any sexual abuse.
As a result of the disk, Detective Chris Wilkinson has visited dozens of area daycare facilities in schools, churches and stand-alone businesses and interviewed numerous people, but has been unable to identify any of the children included in photos.
Wilkinson said the children included in the photos may have attended the same facility.
Anyone having information or who believes they might be able to identify the facility is asked to contact Wilkinson at (850) 435-1965.
Pictures: Photos from a camera donated to a Pensacola Thrift Store. Police believe another photo from the camera shows a female child possible being sexually abused. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
ECUA Names Citizens’ Advisory Committee Member
March 30, 2011
A volunteer tutor was named to the Emerald Coast Utility Authority’s Citizens’ Advisory Committee.
Louise Ritz was named too the at-large seat formerly held by Logan Fink. A total of 15 local residents had applied for the vacant position.
Ritz becomes the 12th member of the CAC, which is comprised of five ECUA board members, five appointed citizen members and two at-large citizens members.
The CAC meetings are held on the third Wednesday of the month and are open to the public. The meetings take place in the ECUA Board Room located in the Human Resources building, 9250 Hamman Avenue in the Ellyson Industrial Park.
Former Atmore Police Chief, Emergency Director Passes Away; Former Pensacola Chief Dies
March 30, 2011
A former Atmore Police chief and Escambia County (Ala.) Emergency Management director has passed away, and a retired Pensacola Police Chief has also died.
William Edward “Bill” Smith, Escambia, Alabama
William Edward “Bill” Smith, 68, died Sunday at his residence. Smith served as Atmore Police chief for many years in late 1970’s into the 1980’s before becoming Escambia County EMA director.
Funeral services for William Edward “Bill” Smith will be held today at 10 a.m. at the Atmore Memorial Chapel Funeral Home with Bro. Robert Thower officiating. Interment will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery.
For the complete obituary, click here.
Drexel P. Caldwell, Pensacola
The Pensacola Police Department’s oldest living retired Chief of Police has died.
Drexel P. Caldwell died Monday in Pensacola. He was 96.
“Chief Caldwell was instrumental in transitioning the Pensacola Police Department into the professional organization it is today,” said Chief Chip W. Simmons. “He was a life-long public servant the Pensacola Police Department was honored to have as one of its leaders.”
D.P. Caldwell, as he was known, was hired by the department as a police officer on May 4, 1946. He was promoted to Chief in 1962 and served the community in that capacity until he retired July 12, 1974.
He then served as a narcotics investigator for the State Attorney’s Office from 1976 – 1978. Part of his responsibilities in that job were to command a narcotics task force for the First Judicial Circuit, said his son David Caldwell.
Chief Caldwell was credited with organizing the first local police academy and with giving more attention to safety and crime prevention programs. He also was interested in the department sponsoring Scout troops, the police athletic league and school boy patrol programs.
David Caldwell said his father served in the U.S. Army from 1935 – 1938 and then was a lieutenant/security officer during World War II at the main gate to the Pensacola Naval Air Station. He worked at NAS from 1942 – 1946 when he was hired by the Pensacola Police Department.
Among his survivors are his wife of 72 years, Gladys Caldwell; three sons and one daughter.
Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m. Thursday (March 31) at Pensacola Baptist Temple, 5000 Cerny Road, located at the corner of Muldoon and Cerny roads. The funeral service will begin at 11 a.m. Thursday at the church with burial following at Bayview Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Pensacola Baptist Temple Mission Board.
Health Care Opt Out Advances
March 30, 2011
Moving toward a 2012 ballot fight, a House subcommittee on Tuesday approved a proposed constitutional amendment that might allow Floridians to opt out of a key part of the federal health overhaul.
The House Health & Human Services Quality Subcommittee voted 10-4 along party lines to approve House Joint Resolution 1. The full Senate has already passed its version of the measure.
The proposed amendment says, in part, that “a law or rule may not compel, directly or indirectly, any person or employer to purchase, obtain, or otherwise provide for health care coverage.”
Supporters hope that would allow Floridians to opt out of what is known as the “individual mandate” — part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that eventually will require almost all Americans to have health insurance.
The Florida Supreme Court rejected a similar proposed amendment last year because of misleading ballot wording. Sponsors removed the disputed wording from the new version and want to ask for voter approval in November 2012.
Sponsor Scott Plakon, R-Longwood, told the subcommittee that the individual mandate is “against what our country was founded on.”
But Democrats have long contended that Floridians can’t opt out of the federal health law because of the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution. Rep. Mark Pafford, D-West Palm Beach, said he thinks the proposed amendment “frankly is philosophical rambling.”
Body Found In Bayou Chico Is Former Atmore Resident
March 30, 2011
A body found in Bayou Chico Tuesday night has been identified as John Hawkins, an Atmore native who jumped from a sailboat Monday night.
Thomas Hawkins IV, 35, is a resident of Orange Beach, but family members say his is originally from Atmore. Pensacola Police said an autopsy will be done to determine cause of death.
A man called 911 around 7:15 Tuesday night after finding Hawkins in Bayou Chico, said Sgt. Stephen Davis.
Pensacola Police were initially dispatched to the Pensacola Shipyard area, 700 S. Myrick St., around 7:25 p.m. Monday after receiving a call that Hawkins had jumped into the water and could not be found.
Hawkins and his wife Angela, also 35, had been staying on a friend’s docked sailboat. Angela Hawkins told police she and her husband had been swimming all day and that her husband had been drinking. She said she was near the rear of the boat when she heard her husband, who is a good swimmer, jump from the front.
After about 10 to 15 minutes, Angela Hawkins said she began looking for her husband but couldn’t find him. At that point, she notified a security guard and when they still could not locate him, police were called.