It’s Time For The Santa Shop At Molino Park
December 6, 2010
It’s time for the annual Santa Shop at Molino Park Elementary School.
Students will have the opportunity each day this week to purchase gifts for friends and family members during the school day. It’s the perfect opportunity for students to purchase a gift “in secret” for mom and dad and have it gift wrapped.
All proceeds benefit the Molino Park Elementary PTA. Volunteer elves are needed between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m.; contact the school at (850) 587-5265 for more information.
Pensacola’s Johanna Long Wins The Snowball Derby
December 6, 2010
Pensacola’s Johanna Long became the second, and the youngest, female to win the Snowball Derby Sunday in one of the wildest finishes short-track racing’s most prestigious event has seen.
Long, 18, shed tears of joy after hoisting the Tom Dawson trophy to celebrate a historic victory in the 43rd annual Snowball Derby.
Two North Escambia area residents placed in Sunday’s race. Brandon Carlson finished 33rd, while Eddie Mercer placed 37th.
Long joins Mercer (2005), Dickie Davis (1971, 1973) and Wayne Niedecken Sr. (1968) as hometown heroes to find Victory Lane at the Derby.
“It’s absolutely amazing,” Long, 18, said. “I can’t believe I did it. We worked so hard on this.”
Long shifted into another gear late when several of Sunday’s 16 cautions began to wave as the Derby neared its completion and drivers got antsy.
Fresh tires allowed her to pass Landon Cassill on Lap 316 for a lead she never relinquished, but not before Cassill went for a spin on the back straightaway and an ugly collision ensued behind him.
“She had new tires and was way faster than us,” said the 21-year-old Iowan, who finished fourth. “To run fourth here is a great accomplishment. I know I can win this.”
Five Flags’ asphalt is notorious for chewing up tires and spitting them out. This edition of the Derby was no different.
“(Cassill) understood,” said Long, who led 23 laps Sunday, including the final 13. “I had good tires and he didn’t.”
Several leaders lost their shot at racing immortality by foolishly believing their tires would hold up.
Chase Elliott, leading at the time, saw an unprecedented Snowflake 100-Derby weekend sweep fall by the wayside when Cassill spun him on Lap 298.
Before a green-white-checkered finish could be determined, the tower’s official ruling was that the drivers had to complete five total laps under green. Long sat outside the top five.
“I was nervous,” she said. “I was very concerned.”
She blew past Casey Smith and followed Cassill by then-leader Donnie Wilson on Lap 313.
Wilson was a terrific story Sunday. With Freddie Query, Long’s old crew chief, in his tower, Wilson made a valiant run playing the dark-horse role Sunday.
“Our track position was real good,” he said. “It was just our pit stops put us in a bad position. We still finished in the top five, so I’ll take it. I’m not gonna complain.”
Long finally won’t have to either. She was perfect on the green-white-checkered restart, pulling away from Wilson and never having to sweat in the final two laps.
Long stuck her fist outside the window into the cool air and pumped it as the checkered flag swayed in the wind.
A sometimes frustrating season was erased in a blink Sunday.
She came into the Derby win-less this year. Long gained invaluable experience while competing in seven NASCAR’s trucks series races, but her million-dollar smile paid the price for it.
Her confidence never wavered, though.
“I knew the team was working hard,” Long said. “They wanted to win just as much as I did. We finally did it.”
The home-schooled senior has faced many challenging tests this year. In her final exam, though, Long passed with flying colors.
“There’s been a lotta learning this year. It’s been tough,”said Donald Long, Johanna’s father and car owner. “We’ve made a few mistakes here and there, but we wanna race for a living. Hopefully, this gets us to that point.”
Walkers Push The Limits For Cancer Patient
December 6, 2010
About 30 people faced a cold wind and a three mile walk through Century Sunday afternoon to benefit cancer patient Nadine McCaw, a member of the Century Town Council.
“It was a long walk but was nothing compared to what she is going through,” said Joy Walker, who took part in the “Pushin’ the Limits” walk from the northern Century town limits at the Food Giant south along Highway 29 to the southern town limits and the Century Fire Station.
McCaw has is battling renal cancer and recently one of her kidneys and several lymph nodes removed. Her insurance, according to family members, was inadequate to fully pay for her needed treatments.
Other fundraisers are underway for McCaw. Here is how you can help:
- Large purple bows to show support are being sold for $6. The bows are available at the Century Town Hall, the Century Branch Library and at Southern Treasures (across from Whataburger on North Century Boulevard).
- Donations can be made by PayPal to the address nadinemccaw@yahoo.com or at Pen Air Federal Credit Union on North Century Boulevard.
Pictured top: Walker finish the three-mile “Pushin’ the Limits” walk to benefit cancer patient Nadine McCaw Sunday afternoon in Century. Pictured inset: Participants walked from the Food Giant on the northern side of Century to the southern boundary and the Century Fire Station. Pictured below: Walkers register and check in at the Century Ag Building prior to the event. Submitted photos by Willene Bryan and Joy Chancery Walker for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Weekend In Photos
December 6, 2010
From parades in Molino, Flomaton and Atmore to state playoff football in Jacksonville, NorthEscambia.com had photo galleries this weekend from several events. Click any of the items below to see more pictures.
Video Highlights: Northview’s Playoff Game Against Trinity Christian
December 6, 2010
Here are video highlights by Keith Garrison from Northview’s Friday night playoff game on the road against Trinity Christian.
(The video is in three parts below.)
For game details and photos, click here for the NorthEscambia.com story.
See Video, Photos From Molino, Flomaton And Atmore Christmas Parades
December 6, 2010
There were three big Christmas parades in the area Saturday, and NorthEscambia.com was there with photos and videos from each.
Click the parade name for a photo gallery and a video.
Pictured top: Santa Claus at the Flomaton Christmas Parade. Pictured below: A float rolls through Molino Saturday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Report Details The Drugs That Kill In Escambia
December 5, 2010
A recently released report details the drugs that kill in the Escambia County area, using information compiled from autopsies performed by medical examiners across the state from January through June 2010. During that period there were approximately 89,800 deaths in Florida. Of those, 4,150 individuals were found to have died with one or more of the drugs specified in this report in their bodies.
“In order for a death to be considered ‘drug-related’ there must be at least one drug identified in the decedent, which is a drug occurrence,” according to the report.
The results are from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and the Florida Medical Examiners Commission Report on Drugs Identified in Deceased Persons.
In the region served by the Pensacola Medical Examiners Office, there were 69 deaths recorded of persons with the drugs in their system during the first half of the year.
Drugs and the numbers of deaths are detailed below.
Alprazolam Deaths — 15
A drug used to treat anxiety disorders and panic attacks. Common brand name Xanex.
Diazepam Deaths — 6
A family of sedative-hypnotic drugs indicated for the treatment of stress, anxiety, seizures and alcohol withdrawal. Benzodiazepines are often referred to as “minor tranquilizers.” Xanax (Alprazolam) and Valium (Diazepam) are the most commonly prescribed drugs in this drug class.
Oxycodone Deaths — 7
A narcotic analgesic (pain killer). OxyContin is one form of this drug and goes by the street name “OC”. Percocet, Percodan, Roxicet, Tylox, and Roxicodone also contain Oxycodone.
Hydrocodone Deaths — 13
A narcotic analgesic (pain killer). Vicodin and Lortab are two common drugs containing hydrocodone.
Methadone Deaths — 15
Methadone – A synthetic narcotic analgesic (pain killer) commonly associated with Heroin detoxification and maintenance programs but it is also prescribed to treat severe pain. It has been increasingly prescribed in place of oxycodone for pain management. Dolophine is one form of methadone.
Morphine Deaths — 4
Morphine – A narcotic analgesic (pain killer) used to treat moderate to severe pain. MS (Morphine Sulfate), Kadian, and MS-Contin are the tablet forms, Roxanol is the liquid form.
Propoxyphene Deaths — 1
A synthetic narcotic analgesic (pain killer) used for mild to moderate pain. A chemical cousin to methadone, it is marketed under the trade name Darvon and Darvocet when mixed with acetaminophen.
Cocaine Deaths — 8
An illicit stimulant. Powdered cocaine goes by many street names including “C”, “blow”, “snow” and “nose candy”, while freebase cocaine is mostly commonly known as “crack.”
Atmore Christmas Parade Photo Gallery, Video
December 5, 2010
The annual Atmore Twilight Christmas Parade rolled through Atmore Saturday night before a crowd of hundreds. The “”All Creatures Great and Small . Celebrate One and All” themed parade featured lighted floats, several bands, community groups, churches and school groups from across the area.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the parade, click here. For a video, click below.
The float from Atmore Community Hospital won first place.
Pictured top: The “Three Little Pigs” float travels down Main Street during the annual Atmore Twilight Christmas parade Saturday night. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Molino Christmas Parade Photo Gallery, Video
December 5, 2010
The annual Molino Christmas Parade was held Saturday afternoon on Crabbtree Church Road. After the parade, Santa Claus met with lots of good boys and girls at the Molino Ballpark.
Sponsored by the Molino Recreation Association, proceeds from the parade are used to benefit needy children in the Molino area during the Christmas season.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the parade, click here. For a video, click below.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Gospel Singing Benefits Bratt Youth Group
December 5, 2010
The First Baptist Church of Bratt held a Gaither Homecoming style Gospel Singing Saturday evening. Local talent from the Bratt community presented a variety of Southern gospel and Christmas music. The event benefited the church youth in their efforts to attend a January Bible conference. Submitted photos by Wayne Holland for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Have news or photos to share from your church? Email your information to news@northescambia.com
