Jay Picks Up District Tournament Win
April 20, 2010
Jay beat Ponce de Leon Monday afternoon in Bratt to advance in the District 1-2A softball tournament.
The No. 4 seed Lady Royals held an early 8-0 lead over the No. 5 Pirates headed into the third inning, and they held on for a 13-3 win. With the win, the Royals advanced to Game 3 of the tournament Tuesday night against No. 1 seed Northview in the first playoff game for the Chiefs..
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from Monday’s Jay game, click here.
With their perfect record, the Chiefs are the number one seed in the tourney, having beat No. 2 Baker 13-1 in five innings at their last regular season meeting. The Chiefs shut out Baker during another regular season game 8-0.
The District 1-2A tournament schedule is as follows:
- Game 1: No. 4 Jay 13 defeats No. 5 Ponce de Leon,3
- Game 2: No. 2 Baker vs. No. 3 Freeport, 4 p.m. Tuesday
- Game 3: No. 1 Northview vs. Jay, 6 p.m. Tuesday
- Championship: Game 2 winner vs. Game 3 winner, 6 p.m. Thursday
Pictured: The Jay Royals beat Ponce de Leon 13-3 Monday in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Byrneville Elementary Releases Third Nine Weeks Honor Roll
April 20, 2010
Byrneville Elementary School has released its honor roll for the third nine weeks.
Students on the Byrneville Elementary School Third Nine Weeks Honor Roll are:
Kindergarten: Mrs. Barberree
All Satisfactory
- Cody Adams
- Hunter Borelli
- Nevaeh Brown
- Bama Coburn
- Shelby Cotita
- Cole Dunsford
- Cameron Grimes
- Dalton Hanks
- Taylor Levins
- Paige Ross
- Dillon Spears
Kindergarten: Mrs. Dawson
All Satisfactory
- Mallory Bell
- Grace Blackmon
- Kaitlin Gafford
- Eli Jackson
- Alyssa Jordan
- Lillie McCall
- Julianna Money
- Torka Mills
First Grade: Mrs. Thornton
All A’s
- Maille Kilcrease
- Sophie Cotita
All A’s and B’s
- Logan Bryan
Maggie Mae Cufr
Heather Knowles
Ty Rolin
Second Grade: Mrs. Lambeth
All A’s
- Alex Glidewell
- Cloe Smith
All A’s and B’s
- Skyler Busbee
- Jacob Coleman
- Steven Cotita
- Jake Lambeth
- Kelli Merchant
- Olivia Watson
Second Grade: Mrs. Rogers
All A’s
- Ian Gifford
- Hannah Merchant
- Lea Nall
- Valorie Padilla
- Laurel Sims
- Nicholas Trump
All A’s and B’s
- River Calloway
- Tyler Newton
- Ciara Smith
- Ashley Taylor
- Earl Washington
- Hannah Wilcoxon
Third Grade: Mrs. Dunsford
All A’s
- Paige Killam
- Seth Killam
All A’s and B’s
- Kris Baxter
- Matthew Caine
- Rebecca Diamond
- Grace Johnson
- Jacob Jordan
- Grant Matlock
- Peyton Newsome
- Destiny Payne
Third Grade: Mrs. Weaver
All A’s:
- Tanner Levins
- Courtney Payne
- Olivia Porter
All A’s and B’s
- Austin Adams
- Jacob Borelli
- Colby Graham
- Sarah Nelson
- Faith Watters
Fourth Grade: Mrs. Gilmore
All A’s
- Kayla Glavan
- Bailee Hinote
- Alaina Rolin
All A’s and B’s
- Anna Belle Barberree
- Jenna Black
- Patience Newsome
- Meagan Reid
4th grade: Mrs. McDaniel
All A’s
- Shellie Harrelson
- Beau Henderson
All A’s and B’s
- Abby Hammond
- Jayda Warner
- Destiny Watson
5th grade: Mrs. Johnston
All A’s
- Raychell Baker
- Alyssa Bell
- Alyssa Borelli
- Dillon Clary
- Hunter Cofield
- Jessica Stacey
- Jacob Weaver
All A’s and B’s
- Dustin Bethea
- Cameron Biggs
- Tommie Campbell
- Kaley Jo Cofield
- Kristen Johnson
- Hunter Lassiter
- McKayla Macks
- Blake Reid
- Mallarie Rigby
- Brianna Smith
- Caleb Therrell
Firefighters Respond Brush Fires
April 19, 2010
North Escambia fire departments were busy battling brush fires Monday afternoon.
The Molino and McDavid stations of Escambia Fire Rescue were dispatched to bush fire on Richardson Road north of Highway 95A about 2:55. The Florida Division of Forestry also responded to the call with two bulldozers.
Earlier in the afternoon, the Walnut Hill and Century stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to a bush fire in the 7900 block of Nokomis Road, near Albritton Road. The small fire was quickly brought under control.
Mom And Daughter, 6, Die In Fiery Car Crash
April 19, 2010
A mother and her six-year old child were killed in a fiery single vehicle crash Monday morning in Escambia County, Ala.
The victims were identified as Lori Lynn Simmons, 25, and her daughter Zoey. Authorities said Simmons apparently lost control her car, ran off the road and struck a tree in the eastern part of Escambia County, Ala. Both victims were wearing their seat belts at the time of the 7:15 a.m. crash.
Her 2005 Toyota Corolla was fully engulfed in flames when rescuers arrived. Simmons was reportedly transporting her daughter to school in Covington County when the accident occurred.
The cause of the accident is still under investigation by Alabama State Troopers.
Simmons, a Century native, has several relatives, including her parents in the North Escambia area. Simmons, whose maiden name was Lori Smith, is a 2003 graduate of Flomaton High School.
Pictured: A mother and her six-year old died in this vehicle Monday morning. Photo courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
About 1 in 3 North Escambia Residents Fail To Return Census Form
April 19, 2010
About one in three North Escambia area residents failed to return their census questionnaire by Friday’s official deadline, according to the Census Bureau.
As of Friday, about 69 percent of Americans had mailed back their form, a number that closely mirrored the North Escambia area.
For those that did not return the form, there will be a knock a the door in the coming weeks. Census workers will begin going door to door on May 1 to count residents that did not return their 10-question form.
As of Friday, the lowest participation rate in the area has been in Century, were just 58 percent of household receiving a Census form had responded. The low participation rate, however, is actually an improvement over the 2000 Census when just 45 percent of Century residents returned the form. Overall, each community in our area has a slightly higher participation rate in the 2010 Census than the rate 10 years ago.
Below is breakdown of the percent of citizens taking part in the Census in the North Escambia area.
Area towns and cities:
- City of Atmore: 62%
- Town of Century: 58%
- Town of Flomaton: 67%
- Town of Jay: 69%
- City of Pensacola: 68%
- Town of Pollard: 77%
Area communities (not including the towns and cities above):
- Atmore: 56%
- Barrineau Park: 73%
- Byrneville: 64%
- Cantonment: 68%
- Century: 64%
- Cottage Hill: 71%
- Flomaton : 68%
- Gonzalez: 67%
- Jay: 71%
- McDavid: 71%
- Molino: 71%
- Walnut Hill: 73%
The mail participation rate is the percentage of forms mailed back by households that received them. The Census Bureau developed this new measure in 2010, in part because of the current economy and higher rates of vacant housing.
The rate excludes households whose forms were returned to us by the U.S. Postal Service as “undeliverable,” strongly suggesting the house was vacant. According to the Census Bureau, there will be a followup on all forms returned as undeliverable to ensure everyone is counted.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Resurfacing, Traffic Delays Scheduled Begins On Highway 97
April 19, 2010
Lane closures were scheduled to being Monday on Highway 97 as a $5.7 million resurfacing project gets underway.
Work crews will restrict traffic to one lane through the work zone. Crews will begin work this week in the area of Molino Park Elementary School.
“They will maintain access to businesses and residences during the process,” according to Tanya Branton, spokesperson for the Florida Department of Transportation.
The entire 22.5 mile length of Highway 97 will be repaved from County Road 95 in Molino across Highway 29 to the Alabama state line. No major drainage changes are expected to the route’s 55 cross drains under the highway, with the exception of changes currently underway at the intersection of Highway 97 and Crabtree Church Road at the Tom Thumb. New guardrails have already been installed on the state highway.
Existing 12 foot wide travel lanes and five foot paved shoulders will be milled and resurfaced. This project does not include the four-laning of Highway 97. A four lane highway is not in any of the state’s current plans for Highway 97.
Weather permitting, the project should be completed in September 2010.
During the entire project, NorthEscambia.com will provide the most current Highway 97 lane closure and construction updates to help you avoid delays.
Northview Track Team Members Headed To Regionals
April 19, 2010
Four members of the Northview High School Track Team are headed to Regionals at Bay High School in Jacksonville on Friday.
The Northview team took part in the District meet last week, at Bay High School. The following qualified to advance to Regionals:
- Girls 4 X 100 team (Laneicia Gomez, Tierra Floyd, Angel Mitchell, and Ariel Holland), 4th
- Angel Mitchell placed 3rd in the 100 meters
The following Northview track team members also placed at the District meet:
- Laneicia Gomez 6th triple jump 30′11″
- Tierra Floyd 5th 100 hurdles 17.62
- 4 X 800 Team (Georgia Geotter, Tori Reid, Ashley Cunningham, & Charleigh McPherson) 5th
- 4 X 400 Team (Lauren McCall, Tierra Floyd, & Ariel Holland, & Hannah Fiellin) 8th
- Jeremy Jackson 8th 110 HH 19.01
- Edward Dixon 6th 100 meters
- Anthony Pierce 8th Discus
Pictured top: The Northview 4 x 100 team (L-R) Tierra Floyd, Ariel Holland, Laneicia Gomez and Angel Mitchell. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Santa Rosa Civil Court Division Relocates
April 19, 2010
Santa Rosa County citizens take note: the Santa Rosa Clerk of the Circuit Court announced Wednesday that the County and Circuit Civil divisions have relocated.
Last week, the offices located to the Santa Rosa County Courthouse at 6865 Caroline Street in Milton.
For more information, call (850) 981-5535.
‘Stamp Out Hunger’ On May 8
April 19, 2010
On 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.
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.
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.
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.
Area Unemployment Rate Inches Down; 25,240 Still Out Of Work
April 18, 2010
For the first time in many months, the unemployment rate in the counties of the North Escambia area inched downward. New figures released Friday shows 25,240 unemployed in the three county area.
In Escambia County, Florida, the unemployment rate for March held fell to 11.5 percent from 11.9 percent the month prior. That compares to 9.3 percent out of work a year ago. The March nemployment rate represents 16,171 people without a job.
In Santa Rosa County, March’s unemployment rate was 10.2 percent, a decrease from 10.9 percent in February. It was 8.3 percent one year ago. There were 7,286 people out of a job in March in Santa Rosa County.
In Escambia County, Alabama, the unemployment rate decreased 12.6 percent in February. It was 13.1 percent the month prior and 11.8 percent a year ago. There were 1,783 unemployed in Escambia County, Alabama, during March.
Florida’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for March 2010 was 12.3 percent. This represents 1,138,000 j jobless out of a labor force of 9,269,000.. The unemployment rate is up 0.1 percentage point from the February revised rate of 12.2 percent, and up 2.7 percentage points from the March 2009 rate of 9.6 percent. March’s unemployment rate is the highest in the recorded series going back to 1970. Florida’s unemployment rate remains higher than the national rate, which is 9.7 percent in March.
Alabama’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, at 11.0 percent in March, declined slightly from the March rate of 11.1 percent but was above the year-ago rate of 9.2 percent.