Molino Christmas Parade This Saturday
December 1, 2009
The 7th Annual Molino Christmas Parade will be held this Saturday afternoon at 1:00 with a special guest from the North Pole.
The parade will begin again this year on Crabtree Church Road at Sunshine Hill Road and end 1.8 miles away at the Molino Ballpark.
After the parade, for all the good little boys and girls, Santa Claus himself will be on hand at the ballpark for a visit and Christmas gift wish lists. A meal including a hot Alabama Wing House barbecue sandwich, chips and a drink for $5 will be available at the Molino Ballpark after the parade. Bake sale goods will also be available
All funds raised from parade entry fees, the bake sale and the barbecue meals will benefit needy children in the Molino community, according to Sonja Luker, one of the parade organizers. The guidance counselor at Molino Park Elementary School will assist in choosing Molino area children in need of Christmas gifts.
If you or your organization would like to be in the parade, you can pre-register at Fran’s Diner, or register the day of the parade. Fees are $15 for a float or vehicle and $5 for each motorcycle, golf cart or horse. Four-wheelers and go-carts will not be allowed. First, second and third place prizes will be awarded for best float and best horse. Parade participants must line up by noon.
For more information, contact Sonja Luker at (850) 232-4973. Jayson Ging at (850) 587-2825 or Fran’s Diner at (850) 587-2803.
Donations such as toys and non-perishable foods can be dropped off at Fran’s Diner.
For more information and a parade entry form, clickh here.
Pictured: Scenes from the 2008 Molino Christmas Parade. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Keep The Wreath Fire Safety Campaign Begins
December 1, 2009
Two red bulbs were lit last year for residential fires in North Escambia as part of the Keep the Wreath Green safety awareness program.
Monday, Escambia County Fire-Rescue and the City of Pensacola Fire Department kicked off the 2009 “Keep the Wreath Green,” program designed to promote fire safety during the month of December. With this program, officials hope to reduce the number of fires during a time of serious fire danger with simple, life saving tips.
This year, the sixth year of the campaign, five-foot wreaths will be on display at 22 different locations throughout the holiday season. These sites are the Old Escambia County Courthouse on Palafox Place, the Public Safety Building on W Street, all 18 primary county fire stations, and two fire stations within the City of Pensacola. Every time firefighters respond to a residential fire a green light bulb will be replaced with a red one to remind citizens of the dangers posed by holiday decorations.
To help citizens stay safe and “keep the wreath green,” officials are providing a holiday safety tip for each day of the month; visit www.keepthewreathgreen.com for a complete list.
Last year, red bulbs were lit for two North Escambia fires:
On Sunday, December 14 a fire was reported in the 5800 block of Nokomis Road in Davisville. Upon arrival, firefighters found fire coming from the window at the end of a mobile home, moving down the hall toward the rest of the house. The fire was extinguished before any further damage was done to the home. The fire was caused by a child playing with matches and catching the bed on fire. There were no injuries.
Another fire was reported December 23 in 2200 block of Welcome Road, just south of Quintette Road. When firefighters arrived they found smoke coming from the home and a fire in one of the rooms. The fire was quickly extinguished, and the house sustained fire damage to one room and smoke damage throughout the rest of the home. There were no injuries.
Pictured above: The wreath at the Century fire station. Pictured below: A December 14, 2008, fire in Davisville. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Shooting Investigation Leads To Cache Of Guns, Money
December 1, 2009
A shots fired called led Escambia County deputies to a cache of guns, drugs and a large amount of money Sunday afternoon off Highway 29 in Pensacola.
About 3:00 Sunday afternoon deputies responded to the 900 block of Broad Street for a reported disturbance involving shots fired. According to witnesses, the suspects occupied both a white Chevrolet Impala and a white Kia parked on the corner of Broad Street and Regiment Drive. That is where they began shouting at each other, exchanged gunfire and left before the arrival of law enforcement.
The sheriff’s office was later contacted by Xavier Tyrone Moore, 34 of Pensacola, who stated that while standing in his front yard he was approached by the occupants of the Chevrolet Impala which lead to a verbal argument over drugs and threats were made to kill Moore. The argument escalated to gunfire and Moore admitted to defending himself with a firearm. Moore, who is a convicted felon, was still in possession of the gun.
Patrol deputies, using information obtained by Moore, located the other suspects and a number of guns including an assault rifle, drugs and approximately $10,000 in cash. The sheriff’s office contacted the ATF and a federal investigation continues.
Those arrested where:
- Xavier Tyrone Moore, 34 of Pensacola, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
- Ulysses Earl Beck, 26 of Pensacola, for aggravated assault, discharging a firearm in public, discharging a firearm from a vehicle, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and criminal mischief.
- Terrence Letrell Woods, 29 of Pensacola for aggravated assault, discharging a firearm in public, discharging a firearm from a vehicle, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and criminal mischief.
A warrant affidavit was completed for Darius Andreas Brooks, 22 of Pensacola for aggravated assault, discharging a firearm in public, discharging a firearm from a vehicle, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and criminal mischief.
Anyone with information concerning the whereabouts of Brooks is asked to contact the sheriff’s office at 850-436-9630 or Crime Stoppers at 850-433-STOP (7867).
Hurricane Season Comes To An End
December 1, 2009
The 2009 Atlantic hurricane season officially came to an end at midnight tonight, marking the close of a season with the fewest named storms and hurricanes since 1997 thanks, in part, to El Niño.
Two systems, Claudette and Ida, brought tropical storm force winds to the northern Gulf Coast. For the first time in three years, no hurricanes hit the U.S. There were 38 hurricane hunter aircraft reconnaissance missions flown by NOAA and the U.S. Air Force over the Atlantic Basin this year compared to 169 in 2008 – another indication of a less active season.
Nine named storms formed this year, including three hurricanes, two of which were major hurricanes at Category 3 strength or higher. These numbers fall within the ranges predicted in NOAA’s mid-season outlook issued in August, which called for seven to 11 named storms, three to six hurricanes, and one to two major hurricanes. An average season has 11 named storms and six hurricanes, including two major hurricanes.
“The reduced activity was expected and reflects the development of El Niño during the summer,” said Gerry Bell, Ph.D., lead seasonal hurricane forecaster at NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, a division of the National Weather Service. “El Niño produced strong wind shear across the Caribbean Sea and western tropical Atlantic, which resulted in fewer and shorter-lived storms compared to some recent very active seasons.”
“El Niño is expected to reach peak strength this winter, and will likely continue into the spring. It is far too early to say whether El Niño will be present next summer,” added Bell. NOAA will issue its initial 2010 Atlantic Hurricane Outlook in May, prior to the official start of the season on June 1.
NOAA understands and predicts changes in the Earth’s environment—from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun—and conserves and manages our coastal and marine resources.
Pictured above: 2009 Atlantic storm tracks. Click to enlarge.
Molino Teen Has Four Top 10 Finishes In National Kart Championships
November 30, 2009
A Molino teen had four top 10 finishes this weekend in the National Indoor Kart Championships in Batesville, Mississippi.
Jarrett Parker, 15, finished eighth in the Junior 3 Heavy Feature kart race Friday with a time of 3:43.662, just 6.936 off first place. In the Junior 3 Animal Lite Feature, Parker finished tenth, with a time of 15:10.899, 3.125 off first place.
In the Junior 3 Pro Feature, Parker was ninth, with a time of 7:09.350, 6.364 behind first place. In the Junior 3 Animal Feature, he was eighth, finishing 6.919 off first with a time of 5:43.825.
In the Junior Pro 3 race Saturday night, he started in the rear in the 20th position, working his way up for a ninth place finish in the 2o-lap race.
Parker, a Northview High School freshman, won the state championships in both Alabama and Mississippi this year. He has previously competed, either winning or placing, in races across Florida, Georgia, Mississippi and Alabama.
Jarrett, who has been Kart racing since 2003, is the son of Scott and Tammy Parker of Molino.
This weekend’s National Indoor Kart Championship will air on ESPN2 and The Outdoor Channel sometime in 2010.
Pictured above: Molino teen Jarret Parker has made it big the in the world of kart racing. Pictured top inset: Parker after a big win. Pictured bottom inset and below: Parker at the National Indoor Kart Championship this weekend in Mississippi. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Highway 97 Repaving Work Set To Begin This Week
November 30, 2009
Work is set to begin this week on a $5 million resurfacing project on Highway 97 from Molino to Alabama that will take about 10 months to complete.
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 some possible changes near the intersection of Highway 97 and Crabtree Church Road. There will also be new and replacement guardrails installed along the state highway.
“They will probably start with some isolated drainage work,” according to Tanya Branton, spokesperson for the Florida Department of Transportation. “There should not be any major lane closures in the first few days.”
Once work begins on the actual highway, work crews will restrict traffic to one lane through the work zone. Weather permitting, the project should be completed in September 2010.
“They will maintain accesses to businesses and residences during the process,” she Branton said.
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.
NorthEscambia.com will work with the Florida Department of Transportation and the contractor to keep you updated on the status of the project.
Pictured above: Highway 97 (running left to right in the photo) in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Trial Delayed For Bratt Man Accused Of Child Molestation
November 30, 2009
Trial has been delayed again for a Bratt man charged with allegedly abusing two girls — one just five years old.
Jody Posey, 71, of 7100 North Pine Barren Road, was arrested in early March by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department and charged with three felony child sexual abuse charges. His trail was scheduled to begin today in front of an Escambia County Circuit Court jury, but was delayed due to Hurricane Ida. He had been scheduled to appear on November 10 for a plea hearing prior to trial, but court cases on that date were all rescheduled due to Ida.
Posey is now scheduled to appear in court January 12 for a plea hearing, and his jury trial is set for February 1.
Posey has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
He was originally held without bond, but Circuit Judge Michael Allen approved a bond reduction request in the case. Posey remains free on $200,000 bond.
North Escambia Students Of The Month Named For November
November 30, 2009
Escambia County Students of the Month for November have been named by the Escambia Association for Administrators in Education. The awards are presented monthly to two students from participating schools.
The following students were named from North Escambia area schools:
- Bratt Elementary: Aiden S. Broadhead, PK; Ta’keyzha D. Johnson, fourth grade.
- Jim Allen Elementary: Deontrey A. Brown, third grade; Kayla A. Doten, third grade.
- Molino Park Elementary: Meredith F. Morgan, third grade; Leonard R. Solano, third grade.
- Ernest Ward Middle: Timothy M. Born, eighth grade; Jensyn L. Warner, sixth grade.
- Ransom Middle: Lauren A. Spencer, seventh grade; Chandler W. Cotton, seventh grade.
- Northview High: David A. Lambert, 11th grade; Holly N. Dickson, 10th grade.
- Tate High: Leslie A. Godwin, 12th grade; Dalton S. Campbell, 10th grade.
Pictured top: David Lambert and Holly Dickson, Northview High School’s Students of the Month for November. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Rabies Alert Ends; Mom Talks About Son’s Rabies Shots
November 29, 2009
A three month rabies alert is still underway in North Escambia, with several residents faced with a series of rabies shots after being bit or scratched by a rabid or possibly rabid animal.
We spoke to one Walnut Hill family with a child that was forced to endure the rabies shots last year after their then four-year old was bitten by a bat.
Luke Bridges, 5, underwent the series of rabies shots during the summer of 2008. Luke walked up on the family’s porch in Walnut Hill where he was bitten by a brown bat, according to his mother Somer Bridges.
“To him, it was not that serious,” Bridges said. “He thought he was going to be Bat Boy just like on Scooby Doo.” But it was different for Somer and her husband Ted.
“I was just horrified,” she said. “I was very alarmed.”
The family went to the Sacred Heart Hospital emergency room. Over the next few weeks, Luke received the rabies shots under the supervision of the Escambia County Health Department.
“The health department really does pay a lot of attention to these kinds of cases,” Bridges said. “They were helpful during the entire process.”
While Luke suffered no ill side effects from the bat bite or rabies shots, Bridges said, it was a trying time that she would not want any family to endure.
“I would not wish this on any parent or child,” she said.
The original North Escambia rabies alert this year was issued at the end of August after one person was bit by a rabid fox and two raccoons that bit dogs tested positive for rabies. Then three more rabid animals were found in North Escambia, prompting the health department to extend the rabies alert until November 29. The alert has since been extended until January 26, 2010.
The Escambia County Health Department received laboratory-confirmation of rabies in a skunk and two raccoons. The skunk and raccoons were sent for testing after interacting with pets and, in one case, a pet owner. These positive tests are in addition to the rabid animals that prompted the August alert.
Then in late October, six more people — including at least one animal control worker — were exposed to rabies following an incident with a rabid cat in the McDavid area.
The Escambia County Health Department confirmed the incident occurred, but they would not confirm the location of the incident, citing concerns that identifying the community would violate health privacy laws. But NorthEscambia.com learned the incident occurred near McDavid.
According to a source familiar with the incident, a woman was bitten outside her home. She retreated inside her house and called for help from a neighbor because she feared going back outdoors where the cat remained. We are told that four or five people total were bitten or scratched by the animal. Some those attacked by the cat were attempting to trap the cat. Health department officials would confirm that an animal control worker called to the scene was also “exposed” to rabies.
Sector Plan Meeting To Address North Escambia Growth
November 29, 2009
If you want to help to plan the growth of a portion of the North Escambia area, there’s a meeting Monday night for you.
The Escambia County Long Range Planning Division will hold an Optional Sector Plan meeting Monday from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. at the Escambia County Building Inspections Conference Room at 3300 N. Pace Blvd., Suite 300.
The Optional Sector Plan encompasses approximately 15,000 acres of land north of Interstate 10, south of Barrineau Park Road and west of Highway 29. It is a long-term conceptual planning project that will incorporate road networks, schools, parks, and commercial and residential projects. Representatives will be on hand to discuss any issues, answer questions, and receive ideas for creating a unified sector plan.
For more information, visit the Planning and Zoning web pages at www.myescambia.com or contact Eva Peterson, project manager at (850) 595-3475.