So What Were Those Military Jets Flying Over Sunday Afternoon?
April 20, 2008
Several military jets were spotted and heard over a portion of North Escambia early Sunday evening. From Bratt to Walnut Hill to Barrineau Park, NorthEscambia.com received emails about the planes.
Emails reported, and we witnessed, at least four low flying military jets. Some emails reported that the aircraft were “putting on an airshow” with circling and maneuvers…a very unusual occurrence in this area.
One email reported that the aircraft appeared to be U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt “Warthogs”. The aircraft we witnessed over our office did resemble the photographs we found of the Warthogs. A stock photo of four Warthogs is at bottom of the page.
Sunday evening, we spoke to the commanding duty officer at Eglin Air Force Base who was unable to provide any information about the planes. He referred all questions to the base’s public affairs office which was closed. A call to Pensacola Naval Air Station yielded the same results.
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Editors note, in case you are wondering why we don’t have pictures of the planes over our office: Jets move fast. It’s hard to get inside a building, grab a camera, get the right lens and snap a picture of something that (assuming they were warthogs) moves at an average speed of 345 mph. The picture below is stock photo from the Air Force.
District 5 School Board Candidates Running Close On Dollars Raised
April 20, 2008
If you were to try to predict the outcome of the Escambia County School Board District 5 race based upon fund raising, you might have a hard time choosing a majority winner. The three candidates for the seat were running fairly close in their total campaign funds raised as of March 31.
Incumbent Peter R. Gindl, Sr. had raised $2,350 as of March 31. He had spent just $44.41 on printing, leaving him with the largest campaign war chest. He had a $2,305.99 balance on March 31.
Tom Harrell had raised the most money by March 31…$3,191.71. He had spent $2,327.80,. He spent just under $2,000 in the last quarter on signs.
Bill Slayton had received $2,236.87 in cash and in-kind contributions as of March 31. He had spent $1,702.70, with $1,567.55 going towards signs.
Click here to see Gindl’s last quarterly finance report.
Click here to see Harrell’s last quarterly finance report.
Click here to see Slayton’s last quarterly finacne report.
The primary election in Escambia County is August 26. The general election is November 4.
Ernest Ward Middle Holds Annual Sports Banquet
April 19, 2008
The Second Annual Ernest Ward Middle School Sports Banquet was held Friday night.
Students were honored for their participation in football, cheerleading, volleyball, track, basketball and swimming.
Principal Nancy Gindl-Perry recognized EWMS Sports Booster President Charles Williams for his dedication to the sports programs at Ernest Ward (pictured below).
Students recognized included:
Football: Shane Bonner, Offensive MVP; Jacob Gibson, Defensive MVP; Caleb Leonard, Coach’s Award; and Ty Randolph, Coach’s Award.
Boy’s Basketball: Austin Albritton, Offensive MVP; Jacob Gibson, Defensive MVP; and La’Derious Franklin, Coach’s Award.
Girl’s Basketball: Taylor Byrd, Offensive MVP; Shelly Reich, Defensive MVP; and Keisha Adams, Coach’s Award.
Girl’s Volleyball: Raylin Spence, MVP; Raven Weaver, Best All-Around; Madison Arrington, Team Spirit Award; Raven Weaver, Best Server Award; Raylin Spence, Leadership Award; Shaina Gibson, Most Improved Player; and Taylor Roberson, Dedication Award.
Cheerleaders: Lauren McCall, Captain; Alissa Fiellin, Co-Captain; Charleigh McPherson, Caroline Prater, Tiffany Chavers, Alexis Amerson, Autumn Slay, Aneicia McGee, Lindsey Holderfield, Ariel Holland, Ashley Mooney, Angel Mitchell, Cheyenne Godwin, Raven Weaver and Ali Martin.
Swim Team (some members pictured above): Justice Agerton, Mariah Albritton, Alexis Amerson, Devin Bell, Dale Brown, Katelynne Calloway, Wes Chancery, Madalyn Coon, Ashley Cunningham, Anna Donald, Christina Donald, Alex Edmondson, Anna Fischer, Charlie Hadley, Justin Halteman, Tyler Hester, Ariel Holland, Nikki Janes, Alanna Johnson, Sebastian Jones, Kelby Killiam, Chloe Leonard, Courtney Lewis, Shelby Lewis, Jessica Lowery, Lauren McCall, Charleigh McPherson, Shelby Neilson, Dustin Parker, Caroline Prater, Blake Presley, Rachel Presley, Justin Purvis, Kris Purvis, Layne Purvis, Tim Rackard, Taylor Roberson, Brian Sanders, Mason Solchenberger, Raylin Spence, Sam Spence, Danielle Steadham, Ben Thompson, Justin Thompson, Lily Townson, Daulton Tullis, Lauryn Walker, Jessica Warner.
NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Student names and sports were provided by the coaches. Some names from some EWMS sports teams were not immediately available.
Seventh Candidate Enters District 5 Escambia Commission Race
April 18, 2008
A seventh candidate has tossed his name into the race for the Escambia County Commission District 5 seat.
Jim Barnett, a resident of Camde Lane in Molino, filed Thursday to run as a Democrat in the race.
Barnett ran unsuccessfully for Congress back in 1994 and followed that with an unsuccessful bid for the District 1 seat on the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority.
Other Democrats in the race are John Hartman of Gonzalez and Georgette Harris of Cantonment.
Republicans in the race are incumbent Kevin White of Molino, Randall McCrackin of Cantonment, Packy Mitchell of Cantonment, and Chris Washler of Cantonment.
The seven will appear on the August 26 primary election. The general election is November 4.
Former Poarch Creek Indian Chief Appears At Century Library
April 18, 2008
Billy Smith, the former chief of the Poarch Creek Indians, delighted children and adults alike Thursday afternoon at the Century Branch Library.
Appearing in traditional dress, Smith (pictured above) spoke to the children about safety with strangers while explaining traditional Indian customs.
“They are young, and we want to set the right example for them,” Smith said of the children.
Along with Douglas Daughtry (pictured left), Smith led the children in a “friendship dance” around the library by playing his traditional antelope skin drum. Smith was in a traditional Western Plains dance costume that he handmade. While his dance at the library lasted just a few moments, he said that competition dances at pow wows can last up to ten minutes.
Smith presented the children with copies of a photograph of him on a horse named Buckshot. He said he has distributed about 800,000 of the postcard photos to children around the country during the last several years.
Smith is the general manager of the Magnolia Branch Wildlife Reserve, a business enterprise of the Poarch Band Creek Indians. He served 18 years on the Tribal Council and serves on the PCI Gaming Board that is responsible for the new Windcreek Casino development north of Atmore.
“Windcreek” was Smith’s idea for the casino complex name, he said. It is derived from “wind” in the Wind Clan in Atmore and “creek” in Poarch Creek Indians. He was also responsible for the very first Poarch Creek Indian Pow Wow, an event that started on July 4 but was later moved to Thanksgiving weekend.
Pictured below: Children at the library are reflected in a mirror on Daughtry’s traditional Indian dress.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Gas, Diesel Hit New Record Prices
April 18, 2008
We probably don’t need to tell you this, but gas is up…again. And diesel is now over $4.00 a gallon. It is becoming a weekly story here on NorthEscambia.com.
The price for a gallon of regular unleaded hit a high of $3.55 a gallon in Century on Thursday. In Molino, that same gallon of gas was selling for $3.49. In Davisville, it was at $3.52.
The highest diesel price NorthEscambia.com found in the area during our informal price survey Thursday afternoon was $4.16 per gallon at a Century station.
Pictured above: This station in Century was selling a gallon of regular unleaded gas for $3.55 a gallon Thursday afternoon and diesel for $4.16 per gallon. NorthEscambia.com photo.
Steeple Back On Church Two Months After Tornado
April 18, 2008
Exactly two months to the day after a tornado ripped the steeple from Highland Baptist Church in Molino, church members gathered Thursday to watch a new steeple once again top the church.
About three dozen Highland members, both adults and children, gathered in the church parking lot to witness a steeple on the church once again reaching toward the heavens.
“It’s just like what Jesus said,” said Highland Pastor Brian Calhoun, “that when the Son of Man is lifted up, I’ll draw all men to You.”
“The empty cross at the top of the new steeple tells us that there is hope in the cross of Christ,” Calhoun said.
Back on February 17, as the tornado destroyed homes in the Crest Lane area and then ripped he steeple off the church, slamming it into cars in the parking lot as 125 worshipers inside Highland took cover in the church fellowship hall.
The new steeple is exactly the same size as the old steeple, and it weighs in at 1,240 pounds.
“I think it’s great that it is back,” Calhoun said.
NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Drug Raids Lead To Eight Arrests, Seizure Of 50 Dogs
April 17, 2008
Early morning drug raids in several locations in the north half of Escambia County led to eight arrests and the seizure of 50 dogs.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Department Narcotic Unit served warrants in the 1000 block of Barth Road north of Molino, the 800 block of Highway 29, the 500 block of Cedar Tree Lane in the Cottage Hill community, the 1700 block of Cedar Point Road also in the Cottage Hill Community, and the 600 block of Booker Street in Cantonment.
The arrests included Jabari D. Smith, 21; Tiakanimi R. Padgett, 25; Joshua Middleton, 19;Reginald D. Tucker, 32; Marvin D. Cooks, 34; Kuan White, 29; Fredrick T. Lee, 27; and Lamario Carter, 23.
All 50 dogs were taken to the Escambia County Animal Shelter. The dogs — 47 pit bull mixes, two Chihuahua mixes and one Husky mix — were not believed to have been involved in any sort of dog fighting, according to authorities. The dogs were seized at the Barth Lane, Cedar Tree Lane and Cedar Pint Road addresses.
A total of 306 grams of marijuana, 47 grams of crack cocaine and 19 grams of powder cocaine were seized.
Smith was charged with two counts of a narcotics violation. His total bond was set at $75,000.
Padgett was charged with multiple drug counts, including possession of cocaine, possession of marijuana and possession of cocaine with an intent to sell. His total bond was set at $320,000.
Middleton was charge with two counts of a narcotics violation. His total bond was set at $26,000.
Tucker was charged with four counts of a narcotics violation and possession of drug paraphernalia. His total bond was set at $120,000.
Cooks was charged with three counts of a narcotics violation. His total bond was set at $125,000.
White was charged with one count of a narcotics violation. His bond was set at $10,000.
Lee was charged with two counts of a narcotics violation and one count of trafficking. His total bond was set at $100,000.
Carter was charged with three counts of a narcotics violation, one count of providing false identification to law enforcement and violation of probation. His total bond was set at $56,000.
Deputies also took custody of three chickens.
Ms. Century Care Center Competes In Regional Senior’s Pageant
April 17, 2008
Mrs. Century Care Center, Jimmie (Mozelle) Roberts recently competed in the 8th Annual Ms. Northwest Florida Senior Pageant.
Mrs. Roberts was born in Wedowee, Alabama, on October 28, 1917, to W.L. Smith, a farmer, and Maude Wilson, a homemaker.
The family moved to Florida when Mrs. Roberts was only about six years old. She married Ortho Roberts one day before her seventeenth birthday. He later became a Santa Rosa County Deputy Sheriff, an electrician and a farmer. They were married 52 years before he passed away.
Mrs. Roberts was a Merle Norman representative for 16 years, until her husband became ill.
She has six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Roberts did not win the pageant, “but she put a scare into the competition,” Century Care Center Activities Director Mae Hildreth said.
The pageant was sponsored by the Florida Health Care Association.
Ernest Ward Competes In Track Meet
April 17, 2008
The Ernest Ward Middle School track team recently competed in their first track meet of the season at Woodham High School.
These photos were submitted by Christal Bell. Scroll down to see all photos.
If you have photos from any newsworthy event or sporting event in the North Escambia area, email them to news@northescambia.com
Heather Barrows, Hanna Fiellen, Angel Mitchell and Melissa Moretz
Sam Spence in the long jump.
Heather Barrows in the long jump.
Trey Johnson running the mile.
Angel Mitchell in the mile relay.
Austin Abbriton in the long jump.
Alexis Amerson running the mile.
Angel Mitchell (middle gold shorts) running the 200 meter.
Shane Bushaw in the mile.
Hanna Fiellen long jump.