Did You Remember To Change The Clock And The Batteries?
November 2, 2008
Daylight Savings Time ended early this morning, so you should have set your clocks back one your. And changed the batteries in your fire alarm.
We all need reminders from time to time. Some can mean the difference between life and death. For the 21st year in a row, the International Association of Fire Chiefs and Energizer have teamed together to support Change Your Clock Change Your Battery. This campaign encourages families to take action in preventing accidental deaths caused by home fires by changing the battery in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.
“The peak time for home fire fatalities is between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. when most families are sleeping,” says Escambia County Fire Chief Ken Perkins. “Smoke alarm maintenance is a simple, effective way to reduce home fire deaths. Children and senior citizens are most at risk, and a working smoke alarm can give them the extra seconds they need to get out safely.”
Serving as a reminder since 1987, the Change Your Clock Change Your Battery program began as a pilot program in St. Louis and Atlanta, and now incorporates more than 6,100 fire departments including the local departments in North Escambia. IAFC and Energizer will encourage families to use Daylight Saving Time as a reminder to change the battery in their smoke alarms when changing their clocks back to Standard Time.
“Hundreds of fatalities occur every year when individuals neglect to ensure their smoke alarms have fresh batteries. The habit of changing batteries during this campaign is a simple step that can help save the lives of so many families each year,” says Chief Larry J. Grorud, CFO, MIFireE, and president of the IAFC.
The IAFC reports that while 96 percent of American homes have at least one smoke alarm, 19 percent of those alarms are not working, mostly due to missing or dead batteries. On average, home fires kill 540 children, 14 and under each year.*
For more information about fire safety, call Escambia County Fire Rescue at(850) 475-5530 or visit the county’s web site at www.myescambia.com
For information about obtaining a free home smoke alarm call 850-595-HERO (4376).
Pictured above: A sign reminded visitors to the Walnut Hill Fire Station’s Annual Fish Fry on Saturday to remember to change their clocks and their smoke alarm batteries. NorthEscambia.com photo.
One Thousand Attend Fall Festival In Molino
November 1, 2008
An estimated one thousand people attended a community-wide Fall Festival in Molino Friday night. Sponsored by four area churches, the interdenominational event provided a safe Christian alternative on Halloween night.
Click here for a complete photo gallery from the event
The event was sponsored by Victory Assembly of God, Highland Baptist Church, Crossfaith Church and Molino First Assembly of God.
The event featured a variety of games, bounce house, a hayride and lots of free food.
Chiefs Fall To Marianna 42-6
November 1, 2008
The Marianna Bulldogs beat the Northview Chiefs Friday night, 42-6.
The Bulldogs were ahead 35-0 at the half in Marianna, and increased their second half lead to 42-0. A last second play, the final play of the game, saw a pass from freshman Brandon Sheets to sophomore Dustin Yuhasz for the Chief’s only touchdown. That put the final at 42-6.
Yuhasz had three carries on the night for 57 yards and two catches for 47 yards, including the touchdown.
Sheets was four for 14 passing for 56 yards and the single touchdown.
Northview’s typical standout player, Jay Jackson, had threw two Bulldog interceptions against Marianna.
With the loss, the Chiefs fell to 2-6 for the season, 1-2 in district play.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Ernest Ward Red Ribbon Rally; Pies In The Face
November 1, 2008
Ernest Ward Middle School held a rally to celebrate the end of Red Ribbon Week, an anti-drug campaign.
As part of the fun afternoon Friday, students were award prizes for learning goal gains, and they had the opportunity to serve up a pie in the face to members of the faculty and staff.
$50 gift cards were awarded to the highest scores from various schools clubs and sports. Gift cards were awarded to (pictured bottom of page): Jazzlyn Franklin, girls basketball; Christina Donald, swim team; Trey Johnson, boys basketball; Jamie Gafford, football; Chelsea Ward, FFA; Jeremy Stacey, newspaper; Dezara Turner, SGA; Tiffany Chavers, yearbook; and Johnny Robbins, honor society. Ipod Nano’s were awarded to Hunter Poston and Da’Michael Fountain for the highest overall scores.
For a complete photo gallery, include more pies-in-the-face, click here.
Pictured above and below: Ernest Ward Middle School Red Ribbon Rally sponsor Sara McGinnis takes pies in the face as part of Friday afternoon’s event. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Northview Holds Costume Contest
November 1, 2008
Northview High School held a Halloween costume contest Friday morning at the School.
Winners were Lauren Wilson as Raggedy Ann (pictured above), Tyler Hunter as a vampire (pictured below) and Cody Parker as Invisible Man (pictured bottom of page).
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com.
Walnut Hill Baptist Holds Fall Festival
November 1, 2008
Walnut Hill Baptist Church held their annual Fall Festival Friday night at the church.
Visitors enjoyed a variety of games, trunk-or-treat, a hayride, food and more.
Click here for a complete photo gallery.
Pictured above: Church member Royce Ward ready for trunk-a-treaters at the annual Walnut Hill Baptist Church Fall Festival. Pictured below: Meg Sherrill adding the finishing touches to her face painting on Clint Davis. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Flomaton Beats Coffeeville; Retires Jersey Of Player That Died In August
November 1, 2008
The Flomaton Hurricanes beat Coffeeville Friday night in Flomaton, 42-8. They also retired the jersey of a former team member that died in August.
The Hurricanes took the lead 6-0 in the first quarter, and they pushed that lead to 22-0 at the half and 36-0 by the end of the third. Coffeeville picked up eight in the fourth quarter, as did the Canes for the 42-8 final.
Flomaton dominated offensively with 481 total yard to Coffeeville’s 189 yards. Coffeeville fumbled five times Friday night, losing the ball four times.
Flomaton finished the regular season at 8-2. The Canes travel to Dothan to take on Houston Academy in the first round of the playoffs next week.
Sam Henry Collings, Jr.
The Hurricanes also retired jersey number 56 — the jersey worn by Sam Henry Collins, Jr. when he played for Flomaton.
Huntington College freshman Sam Henry Collins, Jr., 18, died August 15 after being taken to a Montgomery hospital following his collapse at the college’s second football practice of the year.
Collins graduated from Flomaton High School this past spring. He was a defensive lineman for the Hurricanes, and he was an Alabama Class 2A All-State player that was 6 foot 1, 240 pounds.
Click here for more photos from the game.For even more photos from Flomaton, visit www.mikenewtonphotography.zenfolio.com.
Pictured above: Flomaton beat Coffeville Friday night. Pictured below: The number 56 jersey of former player Sam Collins who died back in August is presented to family members. Submitted photos by Mike Newton Photography for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward Middle School Holds Career Day
November 1, 2008
Career Day was held Friday at Ernest Ward Middle School.
Students were able to talk to representatives from a wide variety of businesses, including pharmacists, nurses, teachers, performing artist, taxidermists and a reporter from NorthEscambia.com.
Click here for a complete NorthEscambia photo gallery from the Ernest Ward Career Day.
Deputy Reggie Bruster and his K-9 Gunner talk to student at Ernest Ward Middle School’s Career Day Friday. Pictured below: Student pose after visiting with NorthEscambia.com at the EWMS Career Day. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Town Receives $302,488 To Settle Past Gas Bills
October 31, 2008
The Florida Department of Corrections has settled a gas billing dispute with the Town of Century by making a $302 thousand dollar payment.
The town received the $302,488.40 check Thursday, Century Mayor Freddie McCall said, to cover back gas billings for the Century Correctional Institute.
The dispute stemmed from billing practices that dated back to 2000. Under the town’s agreement with the DOC and Century Correctional Institute, the prison was to pay for natural gas at the rate of 120 percent of the town’s actual cost. The town’s billing system would generate a bill at the normal rate, then town employees would re-rate the bill and send a new bill about 10 days later at the 120 percent rate. That adjustment was originally done twice a year based upon the rate from nine months earlier.
But in 2000, there was spike in natural gas prices, Matt Dannheisser, the town’s attorney said, and the town went back to the DOC that agreed to pay 100 percent of the town’s cost on a monthly basis. But they did not agree to pay the 20 percent profit margin until a new agreement was reached.
Town Accountant Robert Hudson had reported to the council several months ago that the DOC owed about $569,000 in back payments. But that amount included $127,000 in interest that Dannheisser said the DOC was not willing to pay, and the DOC disputed some of the billing amounts.
The check received Thursday will be deposited into the town’s gas fund, McCall said, with the town council to make the eventual decision what to do with the funds.
“This is exciting that we finally have the money we were owed,” McCall said, “and we can move forward.”
Hundreds Attend Bratt Elementary’s Annual Fall Festival
October 31, 2008
Bratt Elementary School held its annual Fall Festival Thursday afternoon at the school, with hundreds of students and area residents attending.
The festival featured a variety of games, a hulu hoop contest, a cake walk, cake auction and plenty of food.
For a complete NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the Bratt Elementary Fall Festival, click here.
Bratt also named a festival king and queen Thursday. Click here for that story.
Pictured above and below: The annual Bratt Elementary School Fall Festival was held Thursday afternoon.NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
