The Leaning Post Run For The Roses Fundraiser Is Saturday
April 29, 2010
The Leaning Post Ranch of Molino will hold their second annual Run For the Roses Kentucky Derby Fundraiser Saturday.
The Leaning Post is a state-licensed facility and prevention program for developmentally disabled and at-risk young people operated by directors Fran and Newman Gersin and a host of volunteers.
The facility was established in 1992 by the Gersins. They started with one horse, and a dream to use that horse to encourage kids and keep them off drugs. Now The Leaning Post Ranch has 40 acres, a barn, a new open-air arena, a multipurpose facility, a house, 16 horses and a pony…thanks to generosity of several local organizations.
Saturday’s fundraiser will be held from 3-7 p.m. Saturday at De Luna’s Landing in downtown Pensacola. The event will include derby attire with hats for the ladies, live music, food, and both a live and a silent auction.
For more information, visit theleaningpostranch.org/fundraiser.html.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia Academy Sweeps State Track Championships
April 29, 2010
The Escambia Academy Cougars are state track champions — four times over. The Cougars took first place in the Alabama Independent School Association track and field championship for varsity boys, varsity girls, junior varsity boys and junior varsity girls.
For the varsity boys, it was the fourth state championship in a row; for the girls, it was the second consecutive state championship. And for the junior varsity boys, it was also the fourth straight state win.
Jaylen Henry had a first place in the state finish for the Cougars in the 100 meter, 200 meter and long jump. For the girls, Amber Huskey had a first place finish in the discus.
Several members of the JV boys team took first in the state — including Reid Bell with a state record 41-feet three-inches in the shot put. The boys 4×100 team — Chad Cooper, Reid Bell, Jordon Sasser and Scott Brantley – finished first, as did Michael Thompson in the 800 meter, Brandon Goins in the 100, 200 and 400 meters and long jump, and Jordan Sasser in the triple jump.
For the JV girls, there were several first place finishes, including Page Lancaster in the 800 meter, Lacie Flowers in the 400 meter, Peyton Snider in the high jump, Chelsey Ramer in the discus and Allie Brooks in the shot put.
Here are complete Escambia Academy state track results, as provided by the school:
VARSITY BOYS
100 M – Jaylen Henry 1st
200 M – Jaylen Henry 1st
1600 M – Wade Matthews 4th
3200 M – Wade Matthews 4th
4 x 200 M – Jon Dean, Brandon Goddard, Jaylen Henry, Jake Wasdin 3rd
4 x 800 – James Dean, Cameron McGhee, Phillip Kabbott, J. P. Sawyer 3rd
Long Jump – Jaylen Henry 1st
High Jump – Jared Hadley 4th
VARSITY GIRLS
Discus – Amber Huskey 1st
Shot Put – Amber Huskey 3rd
4 x 100 – Lacie Flowers, Page Lancaster, Nikki Bryan, Brooke McGhee 3rd
4 x 800 – Chelsey Ramer, Grayson Emmons, Payton Snider, Kristen Matthews 3rd
JV BOYS
High Jump – Michael Thompson 2nd
Long Jump – Brandon Goins 1st
Triple Jump – Jordan Sasser 1st
Shot Put – Reid Bell 1st – State Record 41’3”
Discus – Mason Caraway 3rd
100 M – Brandon Goins 1st
200 M – Brandon Goins 1st
400 M – Brandon Goins 1st, Michael Thompson 2nd
110 H – Reid Bell 3rd
800 M – Michael Thompson 1st
1600 M – J. P. Sawyer 3rd
3200 M – J. P. Sawyer 2nd, Eddie Agrait 4th
4 x 400 – Chad Cooper, Reid Bell, Jordon Sasser, Scott Brantley 1st
JV GIRLS
Shot – Allie Brooks 1st, Page Allen 2nd, Brooke McGhee 3rd
Discus – Chelsey Ramer 1st, Grayson Emmons 2nd, Victoria Sawyer 4th
High Jump – Peyton Snider 1st
100 M – Lacie Flowers 2nd, Page Lancaster 3rd
200 M – Lacie Flowers 2nd
100 Hurdles – Grayson Emmons 2nd
300 Hurdles – Page Lancaster 1st, Grayson Emmons 2nd
400 M – Lacie Flowers 1st, Peyton Snider 3rd
800 M – Page Lancaster 1st, Grayson Emmons 2nd
Cadets Honored For Academic Exam
April 29, 2010
The Pine Forest High School NJROTC program was honored Wednesday for achieving third place on the 2010 NJROTC Academic Exam out of 1,539 teams that took part in this academic competition.
“This is another shining example of the efforts being made here at Pine Forest to increase our academic rigor and improve our academic standing both on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test and college readiness exams. In addition, this same NJROTC Unit, at the close of the 1st semester, had earned over 6,000 community service hours,” said Principal Frank Murphy.
The 100 question test covers a variety of topics including world history, American history, naval and maritime history, physical sciences, current events and more.
The five-member Pine Forest NJROTC was comprised of Cadet LTJG Sirikanya Sellers, Cadet ENS Joseph Mills, Cadet ENS Michael Core, Cadet CDR Kelly MacMurray, and Cadet CPO Robby Rudd.
Pictured: (L-R) PFHS Principal Murphy, Cadet LTJG Sirikanya Sellers, Cadet ENS Joseph Mills, Cadet ENS Michael Core, Cadet CDR Kelly MacMurray, and Cadet CPO Robby Rudd. Submitted photo by Lori Rudd for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Hot Tracks: About 50 Railroad Cross Ties Burn
April 28, 2010
About four dozen railroad cross ties burned Wednesday afternoon near Walnut Hill. A resident reported seeing smoke after a Alabama & Gulf Coast Railway train passed through the area alongside South Highway 99 north of Highway 97A. The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue quickly extinguished the blaze about 2:45 p.m. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Lady Chiefs Best Season Ever Ends In Regionals
April 28, 2010
The best season ever in the history of the Northview Lady Chiefs came to a tearful end Tuesday night with a 3-2 loss to Sneads in the Region 2A softball tournament.
“It was our best season ever,” Head Coach Sammy Day said. “We could not have asked for anything better, except to win this game. We, overall, just did not hit the ball hard enough tonight.”
The Lady Chiefs (24-4) took an early 2-0 lead in the first and held Sneads scoreless until the fifth. In the fifth, Sneads scored a couple to tie the ballgame 2-2 headed into the sixth. In the sixth inning, Sneads added one, giving them a 3-2 lead.
“They played hard. They gave it all they had, and that was all I could ask,” Day said. “We are coming back at it next year. We are going to be there next year too. We’ll be back.”
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the game, click here.
Losing pitcher was freshman Misty Doran, who walked two and struck out three. Doran finished the season at 19-4. Northview hitters were Doran 2-3 with a triple, Kolbi Cobb 2-3 with a double, Candace Greenwell 1-3 and Amy Clark 1-3.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview, Jay Pick Up District Tournament Wins
April 28, 2010
The Northview Chiefs and the Jay Royals both picked up wins Tuesday in Baker in the District 1-2A baseball tournament.
The Northview Chiefs bit the Baker Gators 5-2 Tuesday night.
Winning pitcher was Austin Reid with 14 strikeouts, six hits and two runs.
Brandon Sheets was 1-2 with two runs scored, Brad Lowery was 1-2 with two runs score and one RBI, Dabney Langhorne 1-2 with two RBI’s, Austin Reid 2-2 with one RBI, Austin Arrington was 103 with one run scored, Austin Lowery was 1-3, and Heath Burkett had one RBI.
The Jay Royals beat Ponce de Leon 12-2 in Tuesday’s other district semifinal game.
The Chiefs and Royals will meet for the District championship on Thursday.
Submitted photo by Edie Jackson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Fourth Person Arrested On Drug Charges Stemming From Search Warrant
April 28, 2010
A Century man was arrested Tuesday on narcotics charges, the fourth person arrested in connection with a search warrant executed earlier this month.
Travis Lavar Scott is facing two felony counts of marijuana possession and is being held without bond in the Escambia County Jail.
Members of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Narotics Unit executed the search warrant at Scott’s residence at 6860 Gilford Lane in Century on April 9 and arrested Orlando Dantaus Dixon, 22, of Robert Road, Century; Antwon Montrex Smith, 26, of Salters Like Road, Century; and Brandon Dewayne Jackson, 24, of Jefferson Avenue, Century, on variety of charges.
Paperwork in the house indicated that Scott resided at the home, according to an ECSO report.
According to the the Sheriff’s Office report, deputies heard several individuals running toward the rear of the residence. That is where they found Jackson standing in the bathroom near the toilet. Officers located plastic baggies containing marijuana floating in the tank water.
On Smith’s person, officers located under 20 grams of marijuana and $101 in cash, and on Dixon’s person, they located over 20 grams of marijuana, packed in two separate bags, according to the report.
During the search of the residence, deputies located a marijuana and crack cocaine on an end table, two plastic bags of marijuana in drawer by stove, four plastic bags of crack cocaine in a drawer by the sink, a set of digital scales with marijuana residue on a kitchen counter, a loaded Beretta .40 caliber handgun in a drawer by the kitchen sink and “miscellaneous paperwork”.
Jackson was charged with possession of cocaine, possession of marijuana and destruction of evidence. Jackson had given deputies another name, according to the Sheriff’s Office, at the time of his arrest. When a relative of that person heard that the person Jackson named had been arrested, they called the jail to alert deputies about the incorrect name. About the same time, a fingerprint record returned positively identifying Jackson. Jackson was charged with obstruction of justice and a public order crime of using a false identification. He remains in the Escambia County Jail on $10,000 bond.
Smith was charged with misdemeanor marijuana possession and was released from jail on $1,000 bond.
Dixon was charged with possession of marijuana over 20 grams. He is being held in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
Jim Sanders To Be Appointed Acting County Fire Chief
April 28, 2010
Chief Jim Sanders will take over as Escambia County’s interim fire chief of July 15, the last day on the job for current Chief Frank Edwards.
Edwards, who serves as both fire chiefs and bureau chief for the Department of Public Safety, submitted his resignation back on April 15, two weeks after Interim County Administrator Larry Newsom asked the county’s fire marshal, Steven Rinaldi, to resign. Rinaldi did not resign; instead, he was transferred into a training position by Edwards. Edwards has not yet given a reason for his resignation.
Mike Weaver will be appointed active public safety bureau chief on July 15.
Local Group Collecting Underwear For Gulf Coast Kid’s House
April 28, 2010
The Escambia Farm Bureau Women’s Committee is conducting a drive to collect underclothes for children being seen by the Gulf Coast Kid’s House.
These abused children are often in need of new clothing items. While there is adequate gently used outer clothing donated, underwear is always needed. The committee is asking the North Escambia community to donate new, never worn underwear, socks and diapers. There is a need for all sizes, infant through adolescents.
The Gulf Coast Kid’s House is a center where abused and neglected children receive services from a number of agencies.
“While the Kid’s House is located in Pensacola and serves all of Escambia County, a fair number of the children served are from our area. Unfortunately, abuse is an issue found in every community, both urban and rural,” said Rikki Vidak, Women’s Committee member.
Last Sunday, many area churches took part in “Undie Sunday” to accept donations. A donation box will remain at the Molino Farm Bureau office through the first week of May. There will also be a donation box this Sunday at Aldersgate United Methodist Church, Highland Baptist Church and Ensley United Methodist Church.
For more information, contact Rikki Vidak at 587-4246 or call the Farm Bureau office at 587-2135.
Stamp Out Hunger Saturday
April 28, 2010
Saturday, May 8, Americans in more than 10,000 communities will partner with letter carriers to help “Stamp Out Hunger.” The Letter Carriers Food Drive is the largest, single-day effort to combat hunger in America.
To participate, residents are asked to place a bag of non-perishable food items, like canned soup, canned vegetables, pasta, rice or cereal, by their mailbox before their mail is delivered on Saturday, May 8. Letter carriers will collect the food items and deliver them to hunger relief agencies with the help of volunteers.
Local hunger relief organizations including Manna Food Pantries, Bay Area Food Bank, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Warrington Emergency Aid, ACTS Ministries, and We Care Ministry will receive the food donated locally and distribute it to needy families throughout the summer.
Last year, letter carriers across the country collected a record total of more than 73.4 million pounds of food. But with hunger impacting 49.1 million Americans, including 16.7 million children, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s annual study measuring food security in the United States; help is needed now more than ever before.
“While we’re very proud of our success over the years in the battle against hunger, the fact remains that more Americans than ever are in need, which is why we remain committed to this drive,” said Fredric V. Rolando, president of the National Association of Letter Carriers.
In a recent survey conducted by Feeding America, the nation’s leading domestic-hunger-relief organization, its 203 food bank members consistently reported increased demand for emergency food assistance, ranging from five to 150 percent. Food banks are also notoriously empty during summer months, having exhausted the supply of donations received from food drives conducted during the holidays that are then distributed during spring. Summer donations are even more critical since many children in need no longer have the benefit of their school lunch program.
For more information about the annual Stamp Out Hunger effort, ask your letter carrier, contact your local post office or visit www.helpstampouthunger.com. You can also follow the drive at www.twitter.com/StampOutHunger or text STAMP3 to 30305 to sign up for mobile reminders.