Free H1N1 Vaccinations Offered At Ernest Ward Middle School
December 9, 2009
Voluntary H1N1 vaccination clinics will be held for students Ernest Ward Middle School next Monday; permission forms must be returned by Thursday.
Vaccination is voluntary, free and offered only to students; these are not vaccination clinics for the general public, according to Molly Payne-Hardin, spokesperson for the Escambia County Health Department.
Vaccine information sheets and permission forms were sent home with students on Monday. Parents that did not receive a permission form call Ernest Ward at (850) 327-4283 to request another form.
Previous North Escambia vaccination clinics have been held at Bratt, Byrneville, Jim Allen and Molino Park elementary schools, and at Northview High School.
A vaccination click open to the general public will be held Saturday in Century. For more information on that clinic, click here.
Caught Smoking Crack From A Can: Jay Man Busted In Bluff Springs
December 9, 2009
A Jay man was arrested after a law enforcement officer found him in his truck smoking crack cocaine from an aluminum can.
Ernest Earl Creamer, 48, of Cherry Street, Jay, was arrested Friday night by Florida Fish and Wildlife Lt. Brian Lambert in the Bluff Springs community. Creamer was charged with felony possession on cocaine, felony possession of a controlled substance without a prescription and misdemeanor possession of drug equipment.
Lambert said he found Creamer alone in his pickup truck stopped in the road. When he approached the vehicle, he said he could smell a strong chemical odor as Creamer rolled down his window. He said he discovered Creamer was smoking crack cocaine in an aluminum can, and he found another small rock of crack on the front seat of the truck. He also reported finding a dozen Xanax pills in Creamer’s possession without a prescription.
“He basically admitted to buying about $30 worth of crack and smoking it,” Lambert said.
Creamer was booked into the Escambia County Jail. He was released Monday on $5,500 bond. He is due back in court on December 23 for an arraignment hearing.
Salvation Army Needs Christmas Help For Hundreds Of Children
December 9, 2009
Hundreds of needy children have not been adopted for Christmas. The Salvation Army in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties is seeking people to adopt a child or family for the Christmas season.
“Instead of buying a gift for someone who has everything, adopt an angel in their honor.” said Yvonne Warthen Christmas coordinator.
People interested in providing support to a struggling family through the program have until Thursday, December 10, to sign up. They can do so by calling (850) 432-1501 ext. 13 or emailing escarosa@uss.salvationarmy.org. Callers should denote the sex and number of children or the size of the family they want to sponsor.
Salvation Army staff will provide the sponsors with their recipient family’s gift request list. The families’ identities will remain confidential, though sponsors will know the ages and genders of its family members.
The large number of unmatched children and families results from the economic downturn and a declining supply of jobs, said Warthen.
For more information on the Christmas programs supported by the Salvation Army, visit call 850.432.1501 ext. 13 or email escarosa@uss.salvationarmy.org.
PCA Beats Jay; Tate Over Pace In OT; EA Wins Big
December 9, 2009
In Tuesday basketball action, The Jay Royals feel to Pensacola Christian, and the Tate Aggies slipped past Pace in overtime.
PCA 55, Jay 41
Pensacola Christian Academy beat Jay Tuesday in Jay. The Royals were led by Hunter Boutwell with a dozen points.
PCA — Hawkins 4, Harrison 2, Kuloba 10, Riche 4, Goetsch 23, Andrews 12.
Jay (2-2) — Dee Walker 5, Luke Rowell 2, Hunter Boutwell 12, Doug Fischer 10, Conner Weekes 2, Steven Brabham 8, Todd Laney 2.
PCA 12 11 7 25-55 Jay 6 12 13 10-41
Tate 65, Pace 63 OT
The Tate Aggies (6-0, 3-0) slipped past the Pace Patriots Tuesday in overtime.The top scorer for the Aggies was Petey Jones with 15.\
Pace — Keith Colvin 2, Tyler Swanson 11, Rob Smith 6, Jason Varney 18, Drew Simpson 5, Sam Irvin 14, Ross Fruge 7.
Tate — Edwin Richburg 7, Armani Costen 1, Petey Jones 15, Chris Walden 13, Kevin Brown 10, Dylan Anderson 10, Dakota Buttitta 3, Shermonne Jones 4, Adam Srumpf 2.
Pace 10 20 15 11 7-65 Tate 12 23 9 12 9-63
Escambia Academy 66 Patrician 36
Escambia Academy beat Patrician 66-36 Tuesday in Canoe. Michael Hippa led the Cougars with 16 points, the only player in double digits.
EA — Michael Hippa 16, James White 8, Nate Smith 7, Keaton Maher 9, Darron McGhee 5, Jake Wasden 3, Brandon Goddard 6, Tanner Kirk 2, Wade Matthews 2, Jarrett Hadley 5, Jalen Henry 4, Tanner Boatwright 1.
Escambia Academy 66 Patrician 56 OT (girls)
In girls basketball, Escambia Academy beat Patrician 66-56 in overtime Tuesday in Canoe. The Cougars (5-1) put a dozen points on the board in overtime while holding Patrician to just two.
EA — Amber Huskey 16, Taylor Helton 16, Jordan Jaye 14, Kristin Matthews 8, Kayleigh Miller 8.
EA 8 9 16 21 12-66 Patrician 12 17 16 9 2-56
Basketball: Northview, Jay, Flomaton, Escambia Academy Scores
December 8, 2009
Here’s a roundup of basketball action from around the North Escambia area:
Flomaton 49 Northview 44
The Flomaton Hurricanes beat the Northview Chiefs in basketball action 49-44 at Flomaton.
Flomaton led Northview the first two periods. The Chief rallied to take a 37-35 lead by the end of the third quarter, but the ‘Canes outscored the Chiefs in the fourth for the win. Flomaton’s Tata Ellis was the leading scorer with 19 points.
Northview (1-4) — Lance Bushaw 17, Ladarion White 10, Aaron Bellamy 10, Austin Arrington 3, Dabney Longhorne 4.
Flomaton (5-4) — Shay Gipson 5, Phillip Lloyd 3, Austin Patterson 16, Ryheem Dixon 3, Tee Mitchell 3, Tata Ellis 19.
Northview 7 13 17 7—44 Flomaton 16 11 8 14—49
Jay 49 PCA 14
Jay defeated Pensacola Christian 49-14 in girl’s basketball action at Jay. The Royal’s Becca Calloway was the leading scorer with 13.
Pensacola Christian Academy — L. Weidert 4, Hawkins 2, Brauneis 6, Balentine 2, J. Weidert 0.
Jay (4-2) — Ginger Jennings 4, Courtney Hammac 1, Tessa Hendricks 8, Danielle Skaggs 6, Candace Mulford 8, Shelby Thomas 4, Amber Steadham 5, Becca Calloway 13.
PCA 2 2 2 8—14 Jay 20 19 6 4—49
Meadowview 60 Escambia Academy 48
The Escambia Academy Cougars lost to Meadowview Monday 60-48. The Cougars were led by Michael Hippan and Nate Smith with 10 points each.
Escambia Academy — Michael Hippa 10, Nate Smith 10, James White 5, Keaton Maher 6, Jarett Hadley 3, Jalen Henry 2, Tanner Boatwright 3, Robert Whatley 2.
Escambia Academy 45 Meadowview 31
The Escambia Academy girls beat Meadowview Monday 45-31. Amber Huskey was the leading scorer for the Cougars with 15.
Escambia Academy Escambia Academy — Amber Huskey 15, Jordan Jaye 9, Kayleigh Miller 6, Grayson Emmons 5, Kristin Matthews 4.
Century Buys Hams; $495 Newspaper Holiday Greeting Ads
December 8, 2009
At their regular Monday night meeting, the Century Town Council voted to buy about $750 worth of hams, and $495 in holiday greeting ads.
The town will purchase 24 hams for employees and council members, plus one extra ham to be served at town hall just prior to Christmas. The hams are a holiday tradition; they are purchased each year as Christmas gifts for the town’s employees and council members. The total estimated cost will be $750 for the hams.
The council also voted to spend $495 for Christmas and New Year’s greeting ads in the Tri-City Ledger. The council will run a half page ad Christmas Eve ad with a photo of the council for $330 and an additional New Year’s Eve half page ad for $165. The council was presented with other advertising options by the weekly newspaper, including a quarter page ad for $165, a 3-column by 5-inch ad for $75 or a 2-column by 5-inch ad for $50.
Zoo Sold, Should Reopen In 2010
December 8, 2009
The Zoo Northwest Florida has been sold, and it is expected to open later this winter or early in the Spring.
The zoo was sold last Friday to Eric Mogenson who owns the Virginia Safari Park in Natural Bridge, Va. The Virginia park is a “a 180-acre adventure, offering ‘up close and personal’ experiences with free-roaming herds of animals from six continents, including camels, llamas, bison, elk, zebras, antelopes, ostriches, deer, and giraffes”. Visitors drive-thru the park, which has been open since 2000, with an opportunity to interact with many of the animals.
“The experience of having a huge bull elk or bison only inches away, feeding from your bucket, is virtually impossible to describe. This unique animal encounter park appeals to all ages and has become one of the region’s top attractions,” the park’s web site states.
The Zoo Northwest Florida closed in August after 25 years. The Zoo attempted to obtained funding from Escambia and Santa Rosa counties in order to remain open. Zoo officials said the facility, owned by Animal Park, Inc., was $4.5 million in debt, much of it from Hurricane Ivan and Dennis damage.
The financial terms of the sale were not disclosed.
H1N1 Vaccine Available To All Over Six Months Old; Clinic Saturday In Century
December 8, 2009
The H1N1 vaccine is now available in Escambia County to anyone over six months old at any of several locations, including at a vaccination clinic to be held Saturday in Century.
The Escambia County Health Department announced Monday that their H1N1 Vaccination Clinic this Saturday in Century is now open to all individuals six months and older who would like the H1N1 vaccine. In addition, the clinic will offer seasonal flu vaccine in the nasal mist format to healthy 2-49 year old as long as they have not had the H1N1 vaccine in nasal mist format in the past 28 days. Both vaccines are offered at no charge.
The H1H1 vaccination clinic will be held this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the former Carver/Century School gym at 700 East Hecker Road.
In addition to the Century clinic, Escambia residents can also obtain the H1N1 vaccination by:
- calling their local retail pharmacy or physician’s office.
- visiting the Escambia County Health Department’s Flu Fast Track Clinic, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. at 1295 W. Fairfield Drive, Pensacola. Walk-ins only.
To fill out the consent forms in advance for the Century clinic (this step is optional; you will have time to do this at the clinic):
First, read the appropriate Vaccine Information Sheet (VIS). Healthy individual ages 2 through 49 years old, will be offered the nasal mist format of the vaccine and should read the Vaccine Information Sheet labeled “Live Attenuated”.
H1N1 Influenza Vaccine (Live, Attenuated)-VIS (36.8kb; pdf)
H1N1 Influenza Vaccine (Inactive)-VIS (36.4kb; pdf)
Second, after reading the Vaccine Information Sheet (VIS), print, fill out, sign and the following consent form. Each person being vaccinated needs their own consent form.
H1N1 Vaccine Consent Form (1.4mb; pdf) (This consent form is ONLY for the Century vaccination clinic on December 12. Do not take this form to the health department’s main location or your doctor’s office or pharmacy.)
Code Enforcement Cases Headed To Court; Resident Claims Racial Bias
December 8, 2009
Five code enforcement cases in Century are headed for either abatement or a special magistrate, the first such cases since code enforcement returned to Century on March 4. And at least one resident says that code enforcement’s actions are racial motivated.
Two property owners will be headed to a special magistrate where they could face fines and fees for failing to bring their property up to code, and three are headed for summary abatement. An abatement involves the county using a contractor to clean the property and then placing a lien against the property for the costs.
The property owners have had ample time to correct their code violations, Mayor Freddie McCall said. “They (code enforcement) have been contacting them for months.”
The Century Town Council voted Monday night to support Escambia County Code Enforcement taking further action on the properties. Prior to the action, one resident told the council that he is concerned that code enforcement officers are racial biased.
“Code enforcement is going around primarily in black areas,” Alphonzie Cottrell said. “They are really in the black areas. I watch them; I know.”
“We are more than 50-percent black in Century,” Council President Ann Brooks said.
Councilman Henry Hawkins, who said he has ridden with code enforcement officers twice, did not indicate that had noticed any racial profiling on the part of code officers.
“When I went with them, they took an area and went,” Hawkins said.
Prior to Escambia County Code Enforcement’s return to Century, Sandra Slay, code enforcement director, told the council that her agency would target the entire town, one area at a time. She told the council that her officers would seek out violators regardless of who they might be.
Cottrell also expressed concerns at Monday night’s council meeting that the list of five violators presented to the council did not contain names, but only addresses.
Brooks said the names are irrelevant to the council’s actions. “The decision we make shouldn’t matter if it was you or me, or who it was,” she told Cottrell.
According to Slay and McCall, the following properties are slated for the action listed:
- 15 block Ramar Street, abatement hearing
- 8001 Alger Road, abatement hearing
- 9441 North Century Blvd, special magistrate hearing
- 13 George Street, abatement hearing
- 8850 Blackmon Street, special magistrate hearing
The list of properties was provided to McCall in an email from Slay last Friday. The email did not contain any property owner’s names.
Pictured top: The owners of this property at 9441 North Century Boulevard will likely be headed to code enforcement special magistrate hearing. The building had been occupied by Royal Pizza until the building burned in the early morning hours of July 6, 2008. The building has been vacant since the fire. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Barrineau Park Bridge Could Reopen Within A Week
December 8, 2009
After almost two months, Barrineau Park Road near Jacks Branch Road should be open again soon.
“Bridge repairs on Jack’s Branch Road should be completed within about a week,” Sonya Daniel. Escambia County spokesperson, said Monday.
Barrineau Park Road from Jacks Branch Road to Barrineau Park School Road was closed October 16 so that repairs could be made to the Penasula Creek Bridge which is located north of the intersection of Barrineau Park Road and Jacks Branch Road.
The only detours around the closure are Chestnut Road or Highway 29 between Barrineau Park Road and Molino Road.
The closed bridge is marked with the green icon on the map below.