Funeral Services Announced For Mrs. Marty Green
September 4, 2009
Marty Green, 44, of Bratt, the cancer patient that we introduced you to about a month ago, passed away Thursday.
She is survived by husband Greg; daughter Blaze, 16; and son Blake 12. Funeral services will be held Sunday at 2 p.m. at Petty Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Bennie Stokes officiating. Burial will follow at Godwin Cemetery. Visitation will be held Saturday from 6 until 9 p.m. at Petty Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
For the complete obituary, click here.
“It might be his plan to send a message to all those out there to take better care of themselves, and get their faith straight. You never know when it is your time to go,” she said in our late July interview. There was a long pause as she gathered her strength to continue. It was hard to say the next words.
“Don’t take for granted that you will see your kids grown.”
Click here to read the July 30 story — “Don’t Take For Granted That You Will See Your Kids Grown” — featuring Marty Green.
No “Kiddie Tax” County Fee For Youth Sports
September 4, 2009
The Escambia County Commission rejected a $10 per child youth sports fee, but they did vote to increase several other recreation fees at the their Thursday night meeting.
Currently, athletic associations that use county-owned parks for little league sports do not pay for the use of the parks. Instead, the athletic associations maintain and manage the parks in exchange for their use. But under a proposal considered by the Escambia County Commission Thursday night, athletic associations would have been assessed a fee of $10 per child, per sport after October 1.
With two of four county commissioners at Thursday’s meeting speaking out in opposition against the plan, it failed to get the majority vote needed to pass.
The plan would have pumped about $30,000 into the county’s general fund to help pay salaries in the parks and recreation department.
But commissioners Kevin White and Wilson Robertson voiced strong opposition to the plan that became dubbed by some as the “kiddie tax”.
“What we are trying to do is have all of our recreation fees pay for all of our recreation staff,” Keith Wilkins, deputy bureau chief Neighborhoods and Community Services, said, adding that two of four positions have already been cut from his department. He said the county’s adult sports programs do pay for themselves, but youth sports do not.
The youth leagues mow their fields and do the upkeep on their parks, except for major repairs, he said.
“So when they say ‘hey we are doing all of the work’, to them they are doing all work on a daily basis,” Wilkins said at a Thursday morning agenda review meeting. “There is a cost incurred that they don’t see.” With no funds from the youth leagues going to the county, Wilkins said the county’s costs are not covered for managing their 19 associations. He said their are other costs, including “ownership of the land…we do own the land that we lease to them at $1 a year”.
“The biggest argument I’ve gotten so far is that it is going to reduce the players because of income…that’s been a big blow,” Young said.
“I understand that there is a concern there, particularly for the less affluent neighborhoods that it would put an undue burden on them,” Wilkens said. “You’re right, it could have an effect.”
Other Recreation Fees Increase
The commission did vote to increase the rental fee for park pavilions from $25 to $30.
Commissioners also votes for fee increases for county-operated adult athletic league teams by $50. A new fee for high school soccer games at Brosnaham Park will be imposed at $50 for day games or $75 for night games. Building fees, such as using a press box or concession stand, were also increased by $10.
Photo Gallery: Hundreds Turn Out To Meet The Chiefs
September 4, 2009
Hundreds of people turned out Thursday night to Meet the Chiefs at Northview High School.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Some Lake Stone Fees Increasing, But Seniors And The Disabled Get A Break
September 4, 2009
The Escambia Commission is raising some camping rates at Lake Stone, but senior citizens and the disabled from Escambia County will not pay a higher rate.
While the park current breaks even — generating enough revenue to pay for its operation — Keith Wilkins, deputy bureau chief Neighborhoods and Community Services, said the increased fees to help fund a position in the department to oversee Lake Stone and other parks.
Robertson said he was against raising the residential senior citizen and disabled rates at Lake Stone.
“That is a group that really we should not be taxing is seniors and disabled,” Robertson said. “I know that people enjoy the senior’s years going up there and enjoying Lake Stone. If it’s breaking even, I certainly feel different than if we were subsidizing.”
“I don’t see the need to raise the fee at Lake Stone again,” White said. Fees at the facility were last raised in 2007. “You are at more than what it costs to stay at Blue Angel recreation facility which has more to offer than Lake Stone does.”
With the increases passed by the Escambia County Commission Thursday night, Escambia County residents will now pay $16 per night for Lake Stone camping instead of $13, and out of county residents would see the cost jump from $15 to $18. Seniors and disabled residents will not see a fee increase.
Volleyball: Northview Beats Escambia County And W.S. Neal
September 4, 2009
Northview High School beat two Alabama schools on the volleyball court Thursday afternoon in Atmore.
In their first match, the Lady Chiefs beat Escambia County High School of Atmore, 25-10 25-7. In the second match, Northview beat W.S. Neal High School of Brewton, 25-19, 25-23.
Northview’s Lady Chiefs are now 2-1 overall, 0-1 in district play.
Northview over Escambia County (Atmore) 25-10, 25-7
Raylin Spence 10 Left Side Aces-2, Digs-2
Shaniqua Jones 11 Middle/Right Kills-2, Aces-1,
Caitlin Hall 12 Setter Assists-3, Kills-2, Aces-1
Angela Rodriguez 12 Left/Middle Kills-2, Aces-3
Northview over. W.S. Neal 25-19, 25-23
Shawn Montgomery 11 M Kills-7, Aces-1, Blocks-2
Shaniqua Jones 11 Middle/Right Kills-2, Assists-3
Caitlin Hall 12 Setter Assists-3, Blocks-1
Angela Rodriguez 12 Left/Middle Aces-3, Blocks-1
Northview will be at home in Bratt against Baker Tuesday afternoon for district games. The JV hits the court at 5:00, and the varsity plays at 6:00.
Tate Dominates Washington, 38-7
September 4, 2009
The Tate Aggies dominated the Washington Wildcats Thursday night, 38-7.
With about four and half minutes to go in the first quarter, senior Blake Cicheskie had a 26-yard field goal for the Aggies to put them up 3-0. Then in the second quarter, defensive back Q Ford picked up a 52 yard run to put the Aggies up 9-0 with 9:42 on the clock. The point after was no good. The quarter ended with Tate up 9-0.
In the second half, Washington scored from the two. With a good kick, Washington closed in 9-7. About four minutes later, with 3:35 to go in the third, Tate QB Edwin Richburg was in for the TD on a two yard run.
The fourth was all Aggies all the time. A 14-yard touchdown from Q Ford, a one yard TD from Thumper Grice and a seven yard run from Russell Ruth all added to Tate’s total. Blake Cicheskie made the point after following all three runs.
The Aggies will be home next Friday night against Pensacola High School.
Final Day To Register For Small Farm Producers Program
September 4, 2009
Upcoming training sessions will give farmers in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties the opportunity to learn about new markets, regulations that impact their farms and how to get their products to market.
There will be four televised weekly sessions beginning on September 10 from 6 to 8 p.m.. These workshops can be accessed through several participating extension offices statewide.
The programs are free to everyone, but participants should register by September 4. The availability of program notebooks and materials at the Santa Rosa County, Milton Extension office location will be based on pre-registration numbers.
The first session will cover state food regulations and federal food laws as they apply to Florida. Session two on September 17 covers potential markets and sales venues, as well as how to price various products. Session three on September 24 discusses marketing skills and packaging requirements, while session four on October 1 will cover basic merchandising, marketing, cash flow and accountability.
Contact the Santa Rosa County Extension office at (850) 623-3868 for more information or to register.
This small farms program is the result of cooperation between the University of Florida’s IFAS Extension, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and Florida A&M University College of Engineering Sciences Technology and Agriculture.
RV Bus Destroyed By Fire (With Photo Gallery)
September 3, 2009
Fire destroyed an Allegro Bus motor home on Highway 113 north of Flomaton Thursday afternoon.
The driver of the Allegro Bus pulled over on the southbound side of Highway 113 at Old Sardine Road, about one and half miles north of Highway 31. The vehicle was quickly engulfed in flames, with smoke visible from miles away in Century. The driver of the motor home was not injured, and he managed to disconnect and save a vehicle that was being pulled by the RV. The fire was reported about 1:30 Thursday afternoon.
Traffic on Highway 113 southbound was backed up and blocked for about half an hour due to the fire.
Fire units from Flomaton, Friendship, Lambeth and Century responded to the blaze.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Click here for a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the scene.
Pictured above: A firefighter works to extinguish hot spots in the motor home. Picture below: This Allegro Bus RV was destroyed by fire Thursday afternoon north of Flomaton. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Rivkin Admits Guilt In DUI Death Of Bicyclist
September 3, 2009
Christina Rae Rivkin pleaded guilty this morning to being drunk when she struck and killed a bicyclist before fleeing the scene back in June.
When Rivkin hit and killed Steele on June 10, her blood alcohol level was more than three and a half times the legal limit, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The FHP sayid Rivkin’s blood alcohol levels tested at .297 and .295. The legal limit in Florida is .08. The FHP said Rivkin was so drunk that she did not know her own name when she hit the bicyclist. She left the scene, and nearly hit a deputy’s cruiser when she returned about an hour later.
The Florida Highway Patrol said Rivkin was traveling westbound on Nine Mile Road when she crossed the white line near Brewster Street and struck Steele as he was riding his bicycle about 11:15 p.m.. Troopers said Steele and his bicycle were dragged under Rivkin’s GMC Yukon for about a quarter of a mile. Rivkin then fled the scene.
A passerby called 911 after discovering the body in the roadway. About an hour later, Rivkin returned to the scene, where she “skidded to an abrupt stop nearly striking the patrol car of Deputy Mark Smith,” the FHP report said. She “appeared extremely intoxicated. She smelled strongly of alcoholic beverage and her speech was slurred. She could not walk without assistance. (She) could not remember her name or say where she was,” the report continued.
Rivkin, according to the FHP, refused to perform a breath test, and a blood sample was taken to determine her blood alcohol level.
“He jumped out in front of me. What was I suppose to do?” Rivkin told a trooper at the scene.
The FHP says that the front of Rivkin’s vehicle had damage consistent with hitting the bicyclist, and “there appeared to be blood on the front of her vehicle.”
Rivkin had at least two prior DUI arrests and five other moving violations, according to the FHP.
Steele was riding his bicycle to work as part of the stock crew at the Nine Mile Road Winn Dixie when the accident occurred, according to family members. Steele and his wife, Brittney, 20, only owned one car, and family members said he wanted his wife to have the car for her morning commute. He rode the bicycle so that she did not have to drive him to work so that she would be well rested for her job.
Major Pensacola Road Open Again After Train Derailment
September 3, 2009
A major Pensacola road is open again after being shutdown most of Thursday morning due to a train derailment.
Airport Road between Old Palafox and Rawson and St. John Street were closed because of train cars across the roadway.
“Two engines have derailed inside the Golden Yard and the length of the train has blocked these two intersections,” Sonya Daniel, Escambia County spokesperson said shortly after Thursday morning’s derailment..
There were no injuries in the derailment.