Allison Woodfin Named Junior Miss EWMS
January 23, 2010
Sixth grader Allison Woodfin, 12, was named Junior Miss EWMS tonight at Ernest Ward Middle School.
First runner up was sixth grader Kaitlyn Abbott, second runner-up was seventh grader Morgan Ward, and third runner-up was eighth grader Mariah Albritton.
Victoria Wright received the Miss Hospitality, Miss Congeniality, and the Poise and Appearance awards. Hope Coggins was presented with the Physical Fitness Award.
Pictured above(L-R) Second Runner-Up Morgan Ward, First Runner-up Kaitlyn Abbot, Junior Miss EWMS Allison Woodfin and Third Runner-up Mariah Albritton. Pictured below: Allison Woodfin (left) reacts as she is named Junior Miss EWMS. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Allison Woodfin was sponsored by Gulf Winds Federal Credit Union and Tammie’s Cuttin Loose.
Latest Data Released: Almost 24,000 Out Of Work In Area
January 23, 2010
For the first time in many months, unemployment rate in Escambia County held steady in the latest statistics released Friday.. The number of jobless was up slightly in Santa Rosa County, Escambia County, Ala., and across the two states. There were 23,970 total persons out of work in the three counties.
In Escambia County, unemployment data released Friday shows that 11.0 percent of the labor force was out of work in December. That’s 15,320 people out of work.
There were 6,891 Santa Rosa County residents out of work last month. Santa Rosa County’s unemployment rate was 10.0 percent in December, up from 10.0 percent in November.
Escambia County, Alabama, unemployment was up to 12.7 percent from 12.5 in November. That translates to 1,759 people out of a job.
Florida’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for December 2009 is 11.8 percent. This represents 1,087,000 jobless out of a labor force of 9,180,000. The unemployment rate is up 0.3 percentage point from the November rate of 11.5 percent, and up 4.2 percentage points from the December 2008 rate. The state’s current unemployment rate is 1.8 percentage points higher than the national unemployment rate of 10.0 percent. December’s rate is the highest since May 1975 when it was 11.9 percent.
Industries losing the most jobs in Florida were construction; trade, transportation, and utilities; and professional and business services. These three industries account for more than two-thirds of the job losses in the state. Health care has been Florida’s only growth sector for most of 2009.
Alabama’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, at 11.0 percent in December, increased from November’s rate of 10.5 percent and was still well above the year-ago rate of 6.5 percent.
High School Basketball: Northview Chiefs, Jay Royals, Flomaton ‘Canes
January 23, 2010
Here’s a look at Northview and Jay basketball action from Friday afternoon:
BOYS BASKETBALL
Northview 47 Freeport 45
The Northview Chiefs beat Freeport by a basket in Bratt Friday, 47-45. Jacob Gibson led the Chiefs with 14, while Lance Bushaw added 13 in the district win.
Northview — Lance Bushaw 13, Aaron Bellamy 3, Colton Sims 4, Austin Arrington 2, Stanley Chestnut 2, Dabney Langhorne 9, Jacob Gibson 14.
Northview 9 17 16 5-47 Freeport 16 11 5 13-45
Baker 73 Jay 59
The Jay Royals dropped District 1-2A game to the Baker Gators Friday. Luke Rowell and Hunter Boutwell had 17 each for the Royals.
Jay — Dakota Walker 8, Luke Rowell 17, Hunter Boutwell 17, Bugg Fischer 10, Steven Brabham 6, Tyler Prescott 2, Todd Laney 2.
Jay 12 10 16 21-59 Freeport 6 21 19 27-73
Flomaton 57 Excel 44
The Flomaton Hurricanes beat the Excel Panthers 57-44. Ta-Ta Ellis had a game-high 15 points, while Dalvin Craft sent 11 through the hoop in Flomaton’s district win at home. Flomaton is now 14-9, 3-2 in District 2A-1.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Freeport 48 Northview 33
The Northview Lady Chiefs lost a District 1-2A game Friday in Bratt to Freeport, 48-33. Shaniqua Jones added 18 for the Chiefs.
Northview — Sarah Killam 4, Shaniqua Jones 18, Amber McMillan 3, Angela Rodriguez 8.
Northview 5 10 6 12-33 Freeport 14 12 13 9-48
Flomaton 50 Excel 34
It was another win for the Lady Hurricanes Friday in Flomaton as they beat Excel 50-34. Paige Harwelle led the Canes with 9. Flomaton, 20-4 overall, is still undefeated in 2A Area 1. The Lady Canes will travel Highway 31 to Atmore on Monday to take on the Lady Blue Devils of Escambia County High School,
Radio, TV Stations Raise $70,000 For Haiti Relief
January 23, 2010
Two Pensacola radio stations and a television station raised about $70,000 Friday disaster relief in Haiti.
CatCountry 98.7, NewsRadio1620 and WEAR Channel 3 teamed up for the special broadcast “Gulf Coast Help for Haiti” live from Cordova Mall. All day, the stations were broadcasting live from the mall as people stopped by with their contributions to the Red Cross Haiti Relief Fund.
Latest Road Closure Update
January 22, 2010
(Updated 3:30 p.m. 1/23) Here’s the latest update from Escambia and Santa Rosa counties on roads that are closed due to flooding.
The following Escambia County roads were closed as of early Saturday afternoon:
- Cotton Lake Road – from last house on road going east to the river
- Hwy 196 (Barrineau Park Road) – from the Railroad Track to the Perdido River Bridge
The following Santa Rosa County roads were closed as of early Saturday afternoon:
- Gin Road Bridge over Thomas Creek in Chumuckla
- The bridge on Indian Ford Road over Juniper Creek in Munson
- Coldwater Bridge at Springhill Road in Springhill
- Jones Bridge on Walling Road in Walling
- Bryant Bridge Road near Harold
- Deaton Bridge Harold
- Jernigan Bridge on Gordon Land Road over Coldwater Creek at the Horse Stables in Berrydale
- All three bridges on Red Rock Road in Springhill
The following Escambia County roads have reopened:
- Pineville Road – between Highway 97-A and Ryals Lane
- Occie Phillips Road – between end of pavement off Hwy 97-A and Pineville Road
- Lambert Bridge Road – from the bridge to Velor Road
- Carnley Road – dirt portion from Fannie Road to the Alabama stateline
- Rocky Branch Road – starting ¼ mile North of Quintette Road to end
- Rigby Road – between Still Road and Highway 4
- Pin Oak Lane – Highway 29 to east end
- Wingfoot Way – between Rolling Hills Road & Diamond Dairy Road
The following Santa Rosa County roads have reopened:
- Hamilton Bridge Road at Pond Creek is open with hazards
- Wolfe Creek Bridge on Springhill Road in Springhill
- Allentown Road west of Central School is open
Bud Day Backs Evers
January 22, 2010
Veterans activist George “Bud” Day, a retired air force colonel well known for his local and national support of veterans issues, has announced his endorsement of Rep. Greg Evers’ for the state Senate seat in District 2.
“As a Representative, Greg Evers has been a champion for the families of Northwest Florida,” said Colonel Day in a press release from Evers’ campaign. “He has stood up to Big Business to protect our Second Amendment rights and he has fought to support our military bases and the families who live and work in the area. I give my endorsement of Greg with the full confidence that he will serve our district in the Florida Senate doing all he can for our community.”
“Colonel Day is a hero in every sense of the word,” Evers said in the release. “It is an honor to have the support of a man who has done so much for our great nation. And, I am committed to continuing to advocate for the unique needs of our Northwest Florida military families and to protect the military bases that are so critical to our community.”
Senate District 2, which includes Holmes and Washington and parts of Bay, Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton Counties, is being vacated by term-limited Senator Durrell Peaden, Jr. from Crestview.
Evers’ release highlighted his sponsorship and support of “the strongest military base land use protection bill in Florida history, as well as legislation that helps military spouses more easily conduct family business when their loved ones are deployed overseas or stationed out of state”.
“As a Senator, I will continue to fight for the unique needs of military families,” said Evers. “I will also keep working to protect the longevity and key national importance of Eglin Air Force Base, NAS Pensacola, Tyndall Air Force Base, NAS Whiting Field, Hurlburt Field and Duke Field. Members of our military and their families are critically important to all of us in Northwest Florida, and I will continue to keep their needs and interests a top priority in Tallahassee.”
Day is a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel and command pilot who served in active service in World War II and the Vietnam War. Shot down in an air strike in North Vietnam, he was a prisoner of war for five years and seven months during which time he shared a cell with U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ). He is often cited as being the most decorated U.S. service member since General Douglas MacArthur, having received nearly 70 decorations, a majority for actions in combat.
Day is a recipient of the Medal of Honor.
Evers currently represents Florida House District 1, which includes the northern parts of Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties. He is a farmer and small businessman who was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2001 and was subsequently re-elected.
Pictured: State Rep. Greg Evers (left) has been endorsed by George “Bud” Day, a highly decorated retired Air Force Colonel. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Library Director Asks For Public’s Support For New Molino Branch
January 22, 2010
The director of the West Florida Library is asking the public to push our local legislative delegation to work to fund a new library in Molino.
Last year, Escambia County purchased the old Molino School on Highway 95A for $400,000 for a library, community center and perhaps a museum. The county has budgeted funds toward the renovations, but additional funding is needed to complete the library.
In 2007, the county applied for a $500,000 state library construction grant. That 2007 application was ranked number two for funding among 23 applicants; but, the Florida Legislature did not fund any applicants. The county has already committed $510,408 in matching local option sales tax funds toward the $1,010,408 total library cost. The same application was again re-submitted in 2008 and ranked number three, but due to funding constraints, the Legislature did not fund any projects. The county has submitted the grant request a third time.
“This $500,000 is vitally important for the construction of the library and the furnishings inside,” Gene Fischer, director of the West Florida Library wrote in an email sent Thursday to library supporters. Fisher asked in the email that supporters contact members of the legislative delegation and encourage them to approve the funding this year.
Escambia County currently does not have a library between the Tryon Library, located on Langley Avenue a short distance from Sacred Heart Hospital, and the Century Branch Library — a distance of about 40 miles. Fischer said that library supporters have tried for 12 years to locate a library in the middle portion of the county.
“This is an opportunity to fulfill that need,” he wrote. “Please let the legislators know that this construction is not only to support formal and informal education, but it is also an economic stimulus to the ailing state construction industry.”
The grant, if awarded by the legislature, would require the county to use the facility as a library in Molino for a minimum of 20 years.
Contact information for the local legislative delegation is in the comments section below.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
the road to the crown: Meet The Girls, Part 4 With Photos
January 22, 2010
Today, it’s part four of our five part series “the road to the crown” brought to you by Tammie’s Cuttin’ Loose and Mike Newton Photography. We are following 30 young ladies at Northview High School in their quest for the crown and the title of “Miss Northview High School” for 2010.
Today we are taking a behind the scenes look at a recent practice. To see the photos, click here.
Our series “the road to the crown” will continue Saturday with more behind the scenes photos. The pageant is Saturday night at 6:30, and NorthEscambia.com will have the new Miss Northview High School and all the photos here Sunday morning.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Former Cop Charged With Sexually Assaulting Man
January 22, 2010
A former Flomaton cop remains in jail after he was charged with sexually assaulting a man in Pensacola.
Tracey Allen Johnson, 40, is being held in the Escambia County Jail in lieu of $17,000 bond. Johnson provided jail officials with a North Escambia address on Frank Ard Road just north of Quintette Road. Court records indicate his address to be in Loxley, Alabama.
Johnson was charged by the Pensacola Police Department with sexual assault, harassing communication, battery and stalking after an incident at a Pensacola motel. According to police reports, Johnson picked up the 33-year old male victim at a bar. Johnson then, according to the report, took the man back to a hotel room where he had sexual relations with the victim while he was passed out.
The victim told Pensacola Police that he first met Johnson in early November at the Emerald City bar, the “Gulf Coast’s premier gay/high-energy dance bar”, according to the establishment’s web site. The victim said Johnson stated that he was an Alabama State Trooper and that he had a phone that would allow him to check a person’s address, criminal warrant status and license plates. Johnson, according to Pensacola Police, is not a law enforcement officer. He did, however, work as a patrol officer for the Flomaton Police Department for less than six months in 2005.
After the incident in the motel room, the victim said he began to receive multiple text messages, telephone calls and emails from Johnson, including one message with a picture of what he claimed was Johnson’s private parts. The victim also said Johnson threatened to physically harm him and slash his tires.
Johnson denied that had he the victim’s phone number, according to the police report, until officers told him they had listened to voice messages that he had left on the victim’s phone. Johnson sent a text message, according to officers, in which he claimed to have had intercourse with the victim three times. Johnson told police that the relationship between the two men was consensual. Johnson said that after the hotel encounter, the two men even had breakfast together.
Felon Busted After Firing Shotgun In Front Yard
January 22, 2010
A convicted felon is behind bars after allegedly firing a shotgun in the front yard of his Cottage Hill home.
Derrick Jerome Phelon, 38, is charged with improperly exhibiting a firearm and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon following the incident shortly before midnight Wednesday.
Phelon was “extremely intoxicated and had a strong odor of alcohol emanating from his person” when deputies responded to a shots fired call on Williams Ditch Road. According to the arrest report, the incident started as an argument between Phelon and his fiancee that eventually led to him firing the shot into the air outside their home. The fiancee and her six-year old son had fled the residence before deputies arrived. They were later located unharmed by other deputies on Highway 95A near Quintette Road.
This was the second time in less than a year that Phelon was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, according to the arrest report.
He is also facing a bad check charge. Phelon is being held in the Escambia County Jail on $21,000 bond on all three charges.