Northview High Girls Fall To Catholic In District 1-3A Tournament, 5-3
April 16, 2008
The Northview Girls softball team came up short Tuesday night at Catholic, falling 5-3 in the District 1-3A Tournament.
The Chiefs went into the game ranked number two in the district.
In other area games, Tate downed Escambia 8-4 at Escambia in the District 1-5A Tournament at Escambia.
In the 1-2A Tournament at Baker, Vernon beat the Jay Royals 7-3.
Incumbent White Leads Fund Raising For District 5 Escambia Commission Seat
April 16, 2008
Incumbent District 5 Commissioner Kevin White has outpaced his opponents in fund raising so far, raising almost twice the money of the four other candidates combined.
Since his campaign began, White has received $36,715 in cash and in-kind contributions. He had spent $5,200.63 as of March 31.
Republican White reported $2,560 in contributions from January 1 until March 31. He reported $4,768.93 in expenditures during the same period, with most of that money ($4,696.65) going for campaign signs. Other funds were spent by the Republican candidate on bank charges and campaign literature.
Republican candidate Chris Washler had received $5,442.72 in cash and in-kind contributions by the end of March. He had spent most of his funds, $4,330.73. His spending on campaign marketing was a bit more diverse than the other candidates in the race. He bought signs ($1,203.75) like most candidates. But he also spent $797.88 for a website to be designed and hosted, $1,000 for a campaign consultant and $882.75 for literature design and printing.
Democratic challenger John Hartman had a total of $11,097 in cash and in-kind contributions by March 31. He had spend about half that money, $5,290.37, during that same period.
During the most recent reporting period of January 1 to March 31, Hartman raised the bulk of his funds, $9,917.94. During that time, he spent $5,046.73. A majority of that, $3,847.16, was spent on signs and related materials.
Republican Packy Mitchell reported $4020.00 in cash and in-kind contributions and $209.63 in expenditures. The $209.63 was spent on magnetic signs.
Democrat Georgette Harris listed a single contribution to her campaign from herself in the amount of $200. She spent $42.64 on bank checks and petition copies.
Republican Randall McCrackin reported that he had no income and no expenditures during the first quarter of this year. That brings his total contributions and total expenditures during his campaign to exactly zero.
Click here for Kevin White’s first quarter financial report.
Click here for Chris Washler’s first quarter financial report.
Click here for John Hartman’s first quarter financial report.
Click here for Packy Michell’s first quarter financial report.
vClick here for Georgette Harris’ first quarter financial report.
Click here for Randall McCrackin’s first quarter financial report.
Coming later this week on NorthEscambia.com: We will take a look at the finance reports for the other District 5 races.
More NWE Opening Day Photos
April 16, 2008
More Northwest Escambia Opening Day photos have been posted in our photo gallery. The photos were sumitted by Ramona Preston.
The Grizzlies (pictured above) beat the Hammer Heads 8-1 this past on Opening Day this past Saturday.
For more NWE Opening Day photos submitted by Ramona Preston, click here.
If you take photos of games or practices at Walnut Hill, Molino or Century, we’d love to have them. Email them to news@northescambia.com
Are You Over 55 And Still Driving? This Can Save You Insurance Money
April 16, 2008
If you are over 55 and still drive, there’s a class coming up next week that you’ll want to take. And doing so might just save you some money on your car insurance renewal.
A senior’s driving class will be offered on Monday, April 21 and Tuesday, April 22 at Highland Baptist Church in Molino. This is an eight hour class, with a four hour session each day. It is open to anyone 55 or older, not just Highland members.
All Florida driver’s safety rules will be covered. The cost is $10. For more info, or to register, call the church office at 587-5174.
Carver/Century Students Learn Safety From Pensacola Pilot Club
April 16, 2008
The Pensacola Pilot Club recently visited the kindergarten and second grade classes at Carver/Century K-8 School, and they brought along some animated friends to talk about safety.
Hero Horse, Brave Bob Beagle,Toolip Pig, Danny Deep the Pilot Fish and Captain Kitty talked safety with the students. The taught them about helmet safety ,gun safety, crossing the street safely, swimming and water safety, wearing a seat belt and calling 911. The students also received BrainMinder Buddies coloring books and other great information to take home.
Submitted photos, click to enlarge.
Molino Man’s Land Is Named As Florida Stewardship Forest
April 15, 2008
About 65 acres near Molino has been named a Stewardship Forest by the Florida Division Forestry.
Richard Freisinger (pictured above left) was presented the Stewardship Forest designation Monday morning by Escambia County’s Senior Forester Adam Parden (pictured above right).
The Division of Forestry helped Freisinger develop a stewardship plan for his forest land located about a mile north of Barrineau Park Road on County Road 95A. That stewardship plan outlines how he should provide for timber, wildlife and soil management on the land.
“Mr. Freisinger’s property is an ideal property,” Parden said. “It is an ideal property for other land owners to follow his example.”
The Forest Stewardship Program was founded in 1990 by Congress to encourage and help private forestland owners with at least 20 acres to actively manage their forest resources for multiple benefits including wood products, habitat for fish and wildlife, clean air and water, recreational opportunities, and aesthetic beauty.
A difference between Forest Stewardship and more common Tree Farm designation is that the stewardship program’s emphasis on management for multiple benefits. Stewardship landowners choose a primary objective and at least one other secondary objective. Many landowners in the program manage for some combination of timber and wildlife.
“”The program helped me to managed my land better,” Freisinger said. “And more than the program called for, I’ve always tried to keep everything neat and nice to look at.”
He said hurricanes Ivan and Dennis were a major setback, one that he has not yet completely been able to clean up after. “I used to go down the rows with a grub hoe and clean up. Then I would bush hog. But since the mess made by the hurricanes, I have not been able to bush hog down all of the rows.”
Pictured below: Richard Freisinger points out some young pine seedlings in an area of his Florida Stewardship Forest. Additional pictures below (scroll down): Several views of Freisinger’s Stewardship Forest in Molino. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
T-ball Field To Be Named In Memory Of Drew Marlow
April 15, 2008
Cyndi Marlow stood alone in the middle of a simple, unfinished dirt t-ball field Monday afternoon. A cold wind blew across the nearby wheat field as she stood holding a small, child-size Florida Gator bat.
It was Drew’s bat. A brightly colored little bat, with scuff marks on its fat end where Drew played hard with it.
It was Drew’s dream to play t-ball. And Drew’s dad dreamed of the day he would see his son give that ball a good strong whack off a tee at the ballpark. It does not matter if a little fellow gets to first base in that first game. Dads will cheer; dads will smile with pride anyway for their sons. It’s just what dads do. Danny Marlow looked forward to that day with great anticipation.
But Monday afternoon, Cyndi Marlow stood alone on that field at the back of Walnut Hill’s Bradberry Park. She did not hold the bat dangling from her hand or just in the middle like most people hold a bat. She held the bat close to her heart with both hands before posing for a picture with Drew’s bat. On Drew’s Field.
(story continues below photo)
Drew and Danny will never see that field. Two year old Drew Marlow and his dad Danny Marlow died January 28 in an accident on Highway 97.
The Northwest Escambia Little League has voted to name the new t-ball field at the back of Bradberry Park “Drew’s Field” in honor of Drew’s dream.
“We were going to go play t-ball,” Cyndi said with a smile. “That’s all Drew talked about. “
“He would play and play with this bat, his very own Gator bat,” she said of her son, gently rubbing a finger along the handle where Drew would hold the bat.
She laughed a little. “Well, it was more like golf when he played with it. He could not really hit the ball unless it was on the floor, or unless Danny held it is his hand and let him hit it.”
Drew and Danny spent hours playing with that blue and orange bat. Dreaming of that big t-ball opening day they both just knew would come when that little boy with a big number “3” on his jersey stepped to the plate.
Danny had it all planned out, down to the jersey number. Drew was Cyndi and Danny’s “miracle baby”…he was their third attempt at in vitro conception.
“We were just so excited. But then we went to the doctor. They rate the chances of the embryo surviving on a scale of one to five. A four or below has a small chance of surviving.”
“The doctor rated the embryo as a three that was Drew. A three out of five. We knew it was all in God’s hands.”
And God blessed the Marlows with a healthy sandy blonde baby boy they named Drew.
“That’s where the jersey number ‘3’ came from. Danny always said ‘could you imagine if he was a five’,” Cyndi said. “He always wanted Drew to wear ‘3’ in his first t-ball game.”
“I kept thinking that I wanted to do something so that they would be remembered. My family was always at almost every ballgame. I wondered if they (NWE) would let me make a field and call it ‘Drew’s Field’.” When she approached the NWE Board, they agreed to make her dream a reality.
Now the rush is on…the plans call for Drew’s Field to be ready for dedication on closing day, June 6. The biggest expense, Cyndi said, will be the memorial marker for the field.
“We have quite a few volunteers ready to help us on making this happen,” she said. “I’m so excited. I have mixed emotions. I’m still sad, but I’m really excited about it. It is quite an honor for it to be named after him.”
“I still cry every day,” she said. Up this point, she has fought back the tears during our interview. Now she wipes the tears from her eyes. “It’s been hard.”
“I was overwhelmed with your printed comments,” Cyndi said, referring to a Memorial Message Board and a blog that was published here on NorthEscambia.com. Dozens and dozens of people from the community posted their thoughts and comments about the tragedy.
“I’m really sad. But it makes me feel good that he touched so many lives,” she said.
“There was this family that told me they started going to church. There was this lady that bought Bibles for her children. Drew’s story has changed so many lives.”
“Everything is for His glory,” Cyndi said. “I’ve been asked why I am not mad at God.”
“But I am not mad at God. I don’t understand it,” she said, fighting back her emotions. “I know God has a purpose. And I try to think about the good losing my husband and my child has done for others. To bring glory to God.”
“I was blessed to have him two and a half years,” she said of Drew. She paused and took a deep breath to get the words out. “I love him. I really miss him.”
A fund will soon be established at an area bank if you would like to contribute to Drew’s Field. NorthEscambia.com will post information on how you can help as soon as the fund is established.
To read the NorthEscambia.com blog from February 3 entitled “Go Home Truck”, click here.
To read the “Tragedy In Walnut Hill: A Memorial Message Board”, click here.
Pictured top of page: Drew Marlow’s bat on first base at Drew’s Field. Pictured middle of page: Cyndi Marlow holds Drew’s bat in the middle of what will become Drew’s Field. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Two Northview High Students Headed To State FBLA Conference
April 15, 2008
Two Northview students will be headed to the state FBLA Conference April 27-30 in Orlando.
Jessica Bloodsworth (picture above left) and Ashley Snow (pictured above right) will represent both Northview High School and Florida’s District 1 at the state event.
Bloodsworth was District 1’s first place winner in the job interview category, and Snow will be attending as a member at large, according to Annie Gilmore, Northview’s business education teacher. Snow also serves as this year’s Northview FBLA president.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Tuesday Is Deadline To Report Wheat, Oats Acreage
April 14, 2008
Tuesday is the deadline for producers in North Escambia to repor their 2008 wheat and oats acreage to the FSA office.
When reporting, producers must be prepared to providing planting dates. Crops and acreage should be reported if it is to be harvested either for grain, hay or grazing.
If the crop was planted as winter cover and will be destroyed, the acreage does not need to be reported.
The FSA Office is in the Farm Bureau building, located at 151 Hwy 97 in Molino. For more information, call 587-5345, ext. 2.
McDavid VFD Honored At Church Appreciation Day
April 14, 2008
The McDavid Volunteer Fire Department was honored Sunday for over 25 years of service to McDavid and surrounding communities.
Most of the department’s 18 members were on hand Sunday morning at Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church in Bogia as the church devoted much of their morning worship service to recognizing “Station 9″. The event was Ray’s Chapel’s first ever service honoring the local volunteer fire department.
Prior to the formation of the McDavid VFD, calls in the McDavid area were answered by the Century Volunteer Fire Department.
“This started out with an idea to give more to the folks in McDavid,” Elton Gilmore (pictured left) of the McDavid VFD told the packed church. “Many of you and many of the volunteers gave of their time, themselves and sometimes gave by risking their lives for this department.”
“It’s a real pleasure to work with these guys,” Escambia County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. David Preston said during the service.
“When I’m called to duty God, wherever flames may rage, give me strength to save a life,” Preston read from The FireFighter’s Creed. “I want to fill my calling and to give the best in me to guard my neighbor and protect his property. And if according to Your will I have to lose my life bless with Your protecting hand my children and my wife.”
“I appreciate them, and I appreciate them being there,” he said of the working relationship in North Escambia between the volunteer fire departments and the sheriff’s department. Often the job is hard, but the McDavid VFD is always there, he said.
“When there’s a fire, a death, a MVA (motor vehicle accident), a family that has just lost everything in a fire, there’s rarely emotion right then,” Preston (pictured left) said. “You are trained to react, and you do it.”
“Sometimes it’s really personal when something happens,” he said. “They have to work it; they have to clean it up. Then they have to go home and think about it.”
“We are gratefull to help out community out where we can,” McDavid VFD chief Eric Gilmore told the church during. “We have been to a lot of these recognition ceremonies, but it really means much more coming from our community.”
Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church’s RA (Royal Ambassadors) children’s group presented the firemen with handmade cards of appreciation.
“When my mom had a seizure, you were there,” one young man said in his card. “Thank you for helping.”
The children in the church also present small gifts to each fire department member that was present.
“Lord, we thank You for the McDavid Volunteer Fire Department. We thank You for the service they provide for the community ” recently retired Ray’s Chapel Pastor Fil Enfinger prayed at the close of the service. “Lord, we pray that You would keep them safe. Lord we pray that You would keep them secure.”
The McDavid Volunteer Fire Department was incorporated in 1982 with a 1962 firetruck on loan from the Florida Division of Forestry. They purchased a1948 Ford firetruck in 1983. The station was constructed on land purchased from what was then St. Regis Paper Company in 1984. Many more modern trucks and pieces of equipment were purchased over the years.
The department has nine certified firefighters, with one in training. The department has seven certified first responders and one EMT.
The McDavid VFD answered 237 calls last year, ranging from fires, to motor vehicle accidents to one call for an activated fire alarm.
Pictured above: Mark Digmon from Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church presents a certificate of appreciation to McDavid Volunteer Fire Department Chief Eric Gilmore Sunday morning.
The members of the McDavid Volunteer Fire Department are: Eric Gilmore, Elton Gilmore, Kenny Malone, Phyllis Malone, Ben Gilmore, Chris Kinley, Michelle Kinley, Larry Kinley, Matt Carter, Matt Gilmore, William Sheffield, Wayne Godwin, Galen Goetter, Morgan Goetter, Eddie Gunter, Chris Hawkins, Dorothy Gunter, Alec Estes and Adam Estes.