New Netbook Computers For Ernest Ward, Northview
December 14, 2010
Four dozen new netbook computers are being purchased for a couple of North Escambia schools.
The Escambia County School District is purchasing 22 Dell netbooks for Ernest Ward Middle School and 26 Dell netbooks for Northview High School. The netbooks are part of a $489,283.72 technology purchase of over 500 computers for schools across the district.
The netbooks for student use at Ernest Ward and Northview are Dell Latitudes with 1.83 Ghz processors, 2GB RAM, 160GB hard drives, Microsoft Office Pro 2007 and a three year warranty.
Man Punched In Face After Wreck Dies; Manslaughter Charges Filed
December 14, 2010
A Pensacola man has been charged with manslaughter after he punched another man in the face and the victim died from his injuries.
Pensacola Police said Telly Jabar Hill, 27, of Pensacola was charged Monday afternoon in connection with the incident that occurred around 6:30 p.m Saturday.
The victim has been identified as Terry Lindon Kelley, 34, of Pace.
Witnesses told police Hill was involved in a minor car crash at 601 W. Cervantes St. When Kelley exited his auto to view the damages, witnesses said that Hill, who was an occupant of the other car, punched Kelley one time in the face with his fist.
Kelley fell to the ground and received a massive head injury. He was taken to Baptist Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries Monday afternoon.
Hill, who immediately fled the scene, was found Monday afternoon only blocks from the scene of the crime. He is being held in the Escambia County Jail on without bond on the manslaughter charge, plus charges drug related and destroying evidence.
The crash remains under investigation.
Ernest Ward Drama Students Compete At Districts
December 14, 2010
Seven Ernest Ward Middle School students recently attended the District 1 Florida Junior Thespian Festival in Jacksonville, with three students advancing to the State Festival.
Megan Bryan, Morgan Packer and Katelyn Born will participate at the state level in Melbourne in February.
“Many of the schools we performed against are prep, fine arts schools or academies so it is an honor to have our students compete,” said Katie Ward, Ernest Ward drama instructor. “It was tough judging this year, but all the girls did their best and made Ernest Ward proud.”
Ernest Ward students participating in the District 1 Florida Junior Thespian Festival were:
- Katelyn Born, performing a monologue entitled “Wedding Woes”
- Danielle Suggs, performing a monologue entitled “A Curse Upon You Sister”
- Amber Freeman, performing a monologue entitled “Class Pictures”
- Kendral Langford, performing a monologue entitled “Don’t Believe a Word I Say”
- Liberty Peebles, performing a monologue entitled “I Hate My Middle Name”
- Megan Bryan and Morgan Packer, performing a duet entitled “The Sister”
Pictured top: Ernest Ward Middle School drama students in Jacksonville: (L-R) Katelyn Born, Amber Freeman, Kendral Langford, Danielle Suggs, Megan Bryan, Morgan Packer and Liberty Peebles. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Jay Christmas Tournament: JHS, Northview, Central, PCA Results
December 14, 2010
Monday, Jay and Pensacola Christian picked up wins and a trip to the boys championship of the Jay Christmas Tournament, while Northview and Central are headed to the consolation game. In girls action in the Jay Christmas Tournament, Jay defeated Pensacola Christian, and Central defeated Northview to set up a Jay versus Central championship game.
Jay 54, Northview 47
Colton Sims paced the Northview Chiefs with 13, while LaDarion White added 12 Monday in Northview’s loss to the Jay Royals. Jay’s Todd Laney 19 had a game-high 19 points, and Chandler Burgess contributed 14 for the Royals.
Northview –Colton Sims 13, LaDarion White 12, Lance Bushaw 7, Devin Morrer 3, Derrick Portis 4, Austin Arrington 6, Roderick Woods 2
Jay — Todd Laney 19, Chandler Burgess 14, Tyler Prescott 9, Conner Weekes 8, Tate Upton 3, Keith Lisonbee 1.
Northview 12 11 12 12-47 — Jay 15 14 5 20-5
Pensacola Christian 38, Central 24
Central 2 7 8 7-24 — PCA 9 8 14 7-38
Central 28, Northview 24 (Girls)
Shaniqua Jones led the Lady Chiefs with a dozen points Monday, while Shaquanna Jones added half a dozen.
Northview 2 6 6 10-24 — Central 2 6 6 14-28
Jay 55, Pensacola Christian 20 (Girls)
Becca Calloway led the Lady Royals with 17, while Tessa Hendricks and Danielle Skaggs added 10 each as Jay breezed past Pensacola Christian 55-20 in the first round of girls action in the Jay Christmas Tournament.
Jay — Becca Calloway 17, Tessa Hendricks 10, Danielle Skaggs 10, Olivia Wright 2, Hilary Hendricks 8, Lauren Steadham 4, Emily Russell 4.
PCA 7 2 6 5-20 — Jay 14 12 19 10-55
Utility Work To Delay Traffic In Century Today
December 14, 2010
Planned utility work on North Century Boulevard (Highway 29) near Pond Street in Century will cause traffic delays today.
On Tuesday, crews from Gulf Power will perform utility work in the area if the weather permits. Northbound traffic can expect lane restrictions between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.
“Drivers are reminded to use caution and to obey the posted speed limit when traveling through the work zone,” said Tanya Sanders Branton, public information specialist for the Florida Department of Transportation.
ECUA Offers Helpful Hints To Prevent Frozen Pipes
December 13, 2010
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority is offering helpful tips to prevent the expense of frozen pipes — especially external, exposed pipes that are naturally the most vulnerable to freezing.
Short Term:
Run a Trickle of Water: When forecasts call for sustained and / or severe freezing temperatures, run thin trickles of water from the faucet furthest from the water line coming to your house. Usually this is in a room at the back of the house or outside, in the yard. Allowing the water to circulate through your home’s plumbing helps to keep it from freezing. Some consider this a waste of water, but the cost of the water used is extremely slight compared to that of repairing broken pipes and the resulting water damage.
Long Term:
The Backflow Preventer: Residents and business owners who have backflow preventers on their properties for water lines, fire lines, irrigation systems, and swimming pools need to protect their backflow preventers from freeze as well. Extended freezes can burst the body of the backflow assembly, rendering it useless. Wrap these pipes with insulation materials, made especially for this purpose. These materials can be found in most hardware stores or home improvement centers. If the device and the water lines are not in use at this time (i.e., irrigation system or swimming pool lines), shut off the water supply line and drain the backflow device.
Insulate Pipes or Faucets in Unheated Areas: Pipes located in unheated areas of your house, such as a garage or crawl space under the house or in the attic, are subject to freezing. If you have time to do this before freezing temperatures arrive, wrap these pipes with insulation materials made especially for this purpose. These materials can be found in most hardware stores or home improvement centers.
Disconnect And Drain Outdoor Hoses: Detach all hoses from faucets and allow them to drain. This will prevent the water in the hose or pipe from freezing and bursting the faucet or pipe to which it is connected.
For more information visit the ECUA web site @ www.ecua.org, or call Customer Service at (850) 476-0480.
Nominate North Escambia Persons Of The Year
December 13, 2010
NorthEscambia.com will honor several North Escambia residents as North Escambia Persons of the Year as 2010 comes to a close, and we need your help.
We are asking our readers to nominate individuals that they believe made a difference in North Escambia during 2010. We will choose several of them to be named as a 2010 North Escambia. Person of the Year. The awards are our way of saying thanks to those that have worked to improve our lives in the North Escambia area during the past year.
We are not necessarily looking for a person with a long list of accomplishments. We are looking for people that have given of themselves to help others and the communities of North Escambia during 2010.
To nominate someone, please email their name, contact information (if known), and the reason why you believe they should be a Person of the Year. The person must either be a resident of North Escambia, work in North Escambia or otherwise have significantly impacted North Escambia in some way. For the purposes of this award, we define North Escambia as being Cantonment north to the Alabama line.
Entries should be emailed to news@northescambia.com by Monday, December 20. We need your email and phone number just in case we have questions, but your name and contact information will not be published.
The 2010 North Escambia Persons of the Year will be named after Christmas.
Last year, the following were named 2009 North Escambia Persons of the Year:
(These persons are not eligible for the 2010 Persons of the Year.)
- Jerry Fischer [Read more...]
- Sonja Luker [Read more...]
- Rev. Willie H. Carter [Read more...]
- Charles Williams [Read more...]
Pictured top: The 2009 Persons of the Year (L-R) Charles Williams, Jerry Fischer, Sonja Luker and Rev. Willie H. Carter. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Gulf Power Offers Money Saving Cold Weather Tips
December 13, 2010
Gulf Power Company is offering some cold weather energy savings tips for everyone, including customers of other utilities.
This week, Northwest Florida is experiencing very cold overnight temperatures. Gulf Power wants to make sure you stay warm, safe and conserve energy.
Things you can do right now to save money and energy
- Set your thermostat to 68 degrees or lower to conserve energy.
- Reverse the direction of your ceiling fans so they rotate clockwise as you look up at them. This will force warm air down from the ceiling.
- During the middle of the day, open blinds and curtains on the sunny side of the house. Also, where possible, reduce the traffic in and out of the house.
- Don’t use your oven to heat your home — it’s not efficient and most important, it’s not safe.
- A fireplace is not always an efficient heat source. If not used properly it can actually make the rest of the house cooler because airflow up the chimney removes the heated air. When using the fireplace, close all doors and warm air ducts to the room where the fireplace is located. Glass doors on a fireplace will reduce the outflow of warm air. And a fireplace with a blower system is ever better because it actually blows the warm air around the firebox back into the room.
- An electric blanket is more economical than heating the entire house all night long.
- Use a portable electric heater to heat only a small area. Buy models that are thermostatically controlled. Keep it at least three feet from items that could catch fire like curtains or furniture. Make sure you have working smoke detectors on every floor and in every sleeping room of your house.
- Make sure vents and return air registers are not blocked by furniture, draperies, doors or other obstacles.
- Use “draft stoppers” or towels/blankets to block drafts at foot of door.
- If you should lose power, go to your thermostat and turn off your heating system. Please wait 10 to 15 minutes after power has been restored before turning it back on. This prevents a power surge from shutting down electricity again.
- If you should lose power, please do not connect portable generators to your household electrical wiring. This can cause serious injury to you and to Gulf Power employees who are restoring electricity. Instead, plug appliances into the generator. Never use a generator in enclosed or partially-enclosed spaces because of the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Things you can do to prepare your home for the whole winter season
Temperature settings
- Heating a house makes up about half of your electricity bill so set your thermostat to 68 degrees or lower in the winter. Did you know that you can decrease the amount of energy you buy for heating by three percent or more for every degree below 68 degrees you set your thermostat?
- Programmable thermostats are a good investment, or you can take advantage of Gulf Power’s Energy Select. Energy Select is Gulf Power’s advanced energy management program that offers a lower price for electricity 87 percent of the time. Energy Select features a programmable thermostat and a special rate of four price periods based upon time of day, day of week and season. Installation and meter-based surge protection are both free with Energy Select. Only $4.95 per month.
Heating and cooling equipment
- The system heating the home is extremely important. If it’s an older, less efficient unit, upgrading to a geothermal heating and cooling system — or a high efficiency air-source heat pump may be a wise choice. Contact Gulf Power at 1-877-655-4001 for a free Energy Check-Up.
Routine maintenance
- A well-maintained heating system runs more efficiently. A complete tune-up of the home heating system can cost anywhere from $50 to $100 and more, but this is a very worthwhile investment and can reduce your heating bill from 3 to 10 percent. Some companies offer regular service contracts, which are a convenience if you tend to forget system maintenance. Remember to replace the filter every month.
Ductwork
- Duct leakage can account for 20 percent of the heating and cooling cost. Getting ducts sealed up should be at the top of the list for making your home energy efficient.
Insulation
- Adding insulation to your attic is one of the most cost-effective energy saving measures. Different types of insulation material have different R-values. The recommended level is R-38 in the attic.
Weather-stripping and caulking
- Weather-strip door jambs and caulk any cracks around windows to prevent cool air from entering your home.
Window units
- If you have a window air conditioning unit, remove it for the winter months to prevent heat from escaping through and around the unit. If it can’t be moved, put a cover over it to prevent drafts.
Humidifier
- Use a humidifier to keep your home more comfortable. Adding moisture allows you to reduce the thermostat setting without feeling colder.
Other tips are available on the Energy Tips section at www.gulfpower.com, along with an extensive set of Frequently Asked Questions on energy use in the home.
Customers can get a free Energy Check-Up online or at your home with an appointment. Gulf Power energy experts will analyze your house and electricity use, and look for ways to make the house more energy efficient. Just go to www.gulfpower.com or call 1-877-655-4001.
Gulf Power Company is an investor-owned electric utility with all of its common stock owned by Atlanta-based Southern Company. Gulf Power serves more than 400,000 customers in 10 counties throughout Northwest Florida. The company’s mission is to safely deliver affordable, reliable and environmentally responsible energy to very satisfied customers in strong communities.
Charges Dropped Against Felon With Alleged Sawed Off Shotgun
December 13, 2010
Charges have been dropped against a convicted felon that allegedly admitted to deputies responding to a disturbance at his Cottage Hill home that he had a sawed off shotgun hidden behind a bedroom TV.
Brian Gray Falkenberry, 39, was facing three felony counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and one felony count of possession of a short barreled shotgun. But all of the charges were dropped for insufficient evidence, according to Escambia County Clerk of the Circuit Court records.
Deputies were called to a disturbance between Falkenberry and a 40-year old female in the 1400 block of Williams Ditch Road in August. When they arrived, Falkenberry was moving his belongings out of the house and into the driveway, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report.
While moving items of the house, Falkenberry told deputies that he needed to go back to the master bedroom to retrieve the last of his items. He was escorted to the bedroom by a deputy. Behind the bedroom TV, deputies found a sawed off .20 gauge shotgun, bird shot, a Smith and Wesson .38 special and 17 live rounds of ammunition, according to the Sheriff’s Office report.
According to Falkenberry’s arrest report, he has at least five felony convictions on his record, including one for cocaine trafficking.
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Church Uses Cardboard Testimonies To Share Stories Of Faith
December 13, 2010
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. But a few words on piece of plain brown cardboard can tell a life story and story of faith in a way a thousands words could not touch.
The concept is simple. A piece of cardboard. A permanent marker. On the first side of the cardboard for all to see is the story of a sin, a trial, a struggle or battle. On the flip side is where the person stands today though Christ.
A young woman walks into the spotlight at Highland Baptist Church in Molino with a few simple words written on a piece of cardboard. Words that perhaps would be hard to verbally express about childhood abuse in front of strangers, much less friends, family and neighbors in a rural church.
“Innocence Taken as a Young Girl,” one side of her cardboard says. The other side: “By God’s Grace Finally Healing. One Step Closer to Peace.”
Her “Cardboard Testimony” was one of many shared at a recent service at Highland. The biggest challenges, hurts, prayers of a lifetime condensed into moments in the spotlight on plain cardboard.
“Told Preacher – Stay On Your Side of the Fence,” one man’s Cardboard Testimony read. The other side: “God Removed the Fences”.
Removing fences – that’s what Cardboard Testimonies do in a figurative manner , according to Highland Baptist Pastor Brian Calhoun.
“People that might not be able to step up and speak out their testimony in words in front of others can do a cardboard testimony without speaking,” he said. And sometimes the visual is the evidence of the powerful.
“Only child born with severe (heart) defects. 2 cardiac arrests. 4 heart surgeries. Gave Her Back to God,” a mother’s cardboard reads. Her child’s cardboard: “8 Year Old Heart Survivor. Standing here by God’s grace and love.”
“The point is that even in the darkest hour, there’s a time a strength and God provides,” Calhoun said.
Watch the Highland Baptist Church “Cardboard Testimonies” in the YouTube video at the top of the page. If you don’t see the video, it is because your church, school, home or work firewall is blocking external videos.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
