Birth: Katelyn Jane Golson
May 3, 2009
Travis and Elizabeth Golson are proud to announce the birth of their daughter Katelyn Jane Golson, born April 1, 2009 at Mobile Infirmary. Katelyn weighed 7 lbs, 5oz and was 20 inches long.
Grandparents are Glen and Jean Wiggins of Walnut Hill and Ricky and Cheryl Golson of Davisville. Greatgrandparents are Pattie Stone and the late George Stone, Ouida Wiggins and the late Billy Wiggins, Marlene Forester and the late Curtis Forester, and the late Walter Lee Golson and Doris Oline Hopkins.
Click photo to enlarge.
Swine Flu: Health Officials Say Be Prepared For Possible Closure Of Escambia Schools
May 2, 2009
The Escambia County Health Department is asking parents to plan for the possible closure of Escambia County schools and daycares because of the swine flu.
It is a matter of planning at this point; the health department says there are no confirmed or suspected cases of the swine flu in Escambia County. The Escambia County Health Department has been working with the school district since Monday on emergency planning related to the current swine flu outbreak.
“The decision to close schools could be made very quickly. Now is the time for parents to think through how they would care for their children,” said health department Director Dr. John Lanza. “The health department will work with the school district, local private schools and daycare centers to provide sound recommendations when considering the decision to close schools.”
If schools are closed due to the swine flu, they could remain closed up to two weeks.
The guidance from the Florida Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that temporarily closing schools and childcare facilities should be considered if there are one or more probable or confirmed swine flu cases among students, faculty or staff in order to decrease the spread of illness in the community.
Health officials also recommend the closure of a school district, or a geographic area within a school district if more than one school in the area has a suspected or confirmed swine flu case among students, faculty or staff.
State and federal officials also recommend that if a school or daycare facility closes, related school activities including sports should be canceled. The health department urges that in the event of a swine flu outbreak, people should avoid congregating in large groups.
NorthEscambia.com will keep you updated on any swine flu issues in North Escambia and surrounding areas.
Area Fire Departments Respond To Friday Brush Fires
May 2, 2009
Area fire departments responded to at least two brush fires Friday.
The McDavid Station of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to a small brush fire along Highway 4 at Canoe Creek about 5:45 Friday afternoon. The fire was quickly extinguished.
The Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to a brush fire about 10:30 Friday night near Highway 95A and Barrineau Park Road. That fire was reported to be just over an acre in size. The Florida Division of Forestry was called to assist with the blaze.
There were no injuries or structural damage reported in either fire.
Down Home Good Time
May 2, 2009
Scores of people gathered for the monthly Barrineau Park Music Night Friday at the Barrineau Park Community Center. Pictured above: The award winning group High Cotton performs. Pictured left: Enjoying the music. Pictured below: A large crowd gathers for the free music night on the first Friday night of each month. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
North Pensacola Relay Held At Tate High
May 2, 2009
The North Pensacola Relay for Life wrapped up about noon today at Tate High School. All proceeds from the event, which began at 6:00 Friday night, benefit the American Cancer Society. Over 1,000 people were expected to take part in the annual event.
Click here for a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from Friday evening.
Groups that participated in the annual event included: Molino Park Elementary School, Aldersgate United Methodist Church, Lathram Chapel, Solutia, Winn Dixie, Gonzalez Methodist Church, Ramson Middle School, Westgate School, Lipscomb Elementary School, Jim Allen Elementary School, Pine Meadow Elementary School, Road Dawgs, McArthur Elementary, Penny’s Angels, CJ’s Walk By Faith, Harvester’s Federal Credit Union, International Paper, 1-2-3 Fit, Graphic Packaging, Walmart, First Baptist Church Cantonment, Tate Leadership and Mobile-Exxon.
Pictured above: The North Pensacola Relay for Life gets underway Friday evening at Tate High School. Pictured middle: Cooking up hot dogs at the Molino Park Elementary School campsite. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Welcomes New Store
May 2, 2009
The ribbon was cut officially opening the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store on North Century Boulevard Friday morning. The store is located in the old Country Bumpkin building. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Life, Ministry Of North Escambia Woman To Be Honored
May 2, 2009
The life and ministry of a North Escambia woman will be honored Sunday morning.
Pine Forest Assembly of God in Cantonment will honor Mrs. Nell Green at 10:30 a.m. Sunday for her 90th birthday. Mrs. Nell and her late husband, Rev. George Green, pastored many churches in Northwest Florida and South Alabama in the mid-1900’s including Oak Grove Assembly, Ensley Assembly and Ashland Park in Pensacola.
They were also the founding pastors of Laurel Hill Assembly and Walnut Hill Assembly now known as New Life Fellowship.
They had six children: George Wendell Green, Bobby Gene Green, Darlene Marie Harden, Glenda Evelyn Burleson and Rita Frances Kornegay. They also raised their niece and nephew Shirley Grant and Michael Kilpatrick. The Greens also had 26 foster children come through their home. Mrs. Green also served many years in ministry through Brownsville Assembly of God, until her health would no longer allow her to do so.
The public is invited to attend the service at 10:30 Sunday morning at the Pine Forest Assembly of God at 3125 Pine Forest Road. A lunch reception will follow the service. For more information, call (850) 476-1378.
Pictured above: Nell Green at the Walnut hill Assembly (now the New Life Fellowship) in an undated photograph. Pictured below: Nell Green at the Oak Grove Assembly of God. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Dept. Of Justice Probe Leads Sheriff To Take K-9 Units Off Streets
May 1, 2009
The Escambia County Sheriff has pulled his department’s K-9 units off the streets following findings released in a Department of Justice investigation.
“The problem was not so much with the K-9 officers,” Morgan told NorthEscambia.com. “It was as much or more with the administration at the time not following up on bites and other other paperwork.”
Sometimes, Morgan said the DOJ investigation found, the previous administration would treat it “like it was just a dog bite, a part of the apprehension. The documentation was not done as it should be.”
The K-9 stand down includes the use of dogs for both suspect apprehension and drug searches. But that does not mean Escambia County is totally without the assistance of K-9 officers.
Morgan said the City of Pensacola has offered the assistance of their K-9 officers when needed. In North Escambia, he said deputies can still request the assistance of the K-9 unit from Century Correctional Institute.
The sheriff said the K-9 unit will remain off the streets for three to six weeks. The dogs and handlers will continue to train during that time. He said that training will include new policies and procedures to avoid the types of problems that led to the DOJ findings. The 14 K-9 handlers in the department will also patrol the streets during the down time without their dogs.
“I am very confident that we can quickly handle the corrections and get the K-9’s back to work,” Morgan said, promising a top to bottom investigation into the K-9 program.
The DOJ investigation into the sheriff’s department, which the DOJ announced three days after Morgan was sworn into office, stemmed from allegations of excessive force during the administration of former Sheriff Ron McNesby.
Chiefs Fall To Catholic; Jay Royals Win In Playoffs
May 1, 2009
Catholic High defeated the Northview Chiefs Thursday night, while the Jay Royals beat Ponce de Leon.
The Chiefs lost to the Crusaders 13-3 on the road in Defuniak Springs in the District 1-3A Championship.
Catholic (24-3) will host the runner-up in District 2-3A, while the Northview Chiefs will travel to Bonifay on Tuesday to play the Holmes County Blue
Devils in the first round of the Class 3A State Playoffs. Game time is set for 7 p.m.
Hitters for Northview were Scooter Hamilton, Patrick McPherson, Brad Foster and Dakota Stuckey.
Catholic took an early 4-2 lead by the end of the first. The Crusaders scored three runs in the second and half a dozen in the third for a 13-2 lead going into the fourth. The Chiefs had one more fun in the fourth, making the score 13-3.
Also Thursday night, the Jay Royals beat Ponce de Leon in the District 1-2A Championship in Freeport.
Jay (17-4) will host Sneads on Tuesday in the regional quarterfinals
Sheriff Plans To Re-open Walnut Hill Precinct
May 1, 2009
Escambia County’s sheriff says he’s ready to re-open the department’s Walnut Hill Precinct.
The precinct on Highway 97 in front of the Walnut Hill Community Center has sat empty since it was rebuilt following Hurricane Ivan.
Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan said furniture has been ordered for the building. The sheriff plans for the precinct to be open about three days week once the furniture arrives.