Ascend Contributes $50,000 To College Scholarship Endowment
September 14, 2022
Ascend Performance Materials’ Cantonment site has announced a $50,000 contribution to an endowment established by former employees from Monsanto and Solutia.
Income from the endowment will be given in the form of scholarships to support students who have demonstrated an interest in the fields of chemical engineering or healthcare, who have shown a devotion to academics, and who have a need for financial support. Preference will also be given to students who have an association with Monsanto, Solutia or Ascend and to current Ascend employees attending college to enhance their job skills.
“Our Cantonment site has been a proud member of the Pensacola and surrounding community for over 50 years. Generations of families have built their careers here. The Ascend-Monsanto-Solutia Endowed Scholarship gives us a chance to support the next legacy of employees,” said Matthew Stewart, senior site director at Ascend’s Cantonment site.
The endowment was established in 2019 by a group of retired employees from Monsanto and Solutia, the companies who owned and operated the Cantonment site from 1953 until 2009. Ascend purchased Solutia’s nylon assets in 2009 and continues to operate the Cantonment site today.
The endowment contribution matches that of the initial funding amount from the group in 2019.
The Solutia/Ascend college endowment is open for additional contributions which can help the funds grow. Anyone wishing to make such a contribution should contact the Pensacola State College Foundation and request information for the Ascend-Monsanto-Solutia Endowed Scholarship.
The Chemstrand, Monsanto and Solutia companies grew here and have greatly contributed to our community. That growth was done hand-in-hand with Pensacola Junior College/Pensacola State College. Our organization wants to leave a legacy of support to the students at PSC, in recognition of our long relationship with the college,” said Gerald McArthur, chairman, Association of Monsanto-Solutia Retirees.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
West Detroit Boulevard Closed For Two Months
September 14, 2022
Detroit Boulevard will be closed to through traffic for about two months for the installation of a new force main and sewer.
Detroit will be closed from Blue Jay Way to Ashland Avenue. Traffic will be detoured to Nine Mile Road
The road is expected to reopen by November 13.
Salzman Named Children’s Home Society Legislator of the Year
September 14, 2022
The Children’s Home Society of Florida named House District 1 Rep. Michelle Salzman as Legislator of the Year on Tuesday.
“While our work in the community together is making a huge impact on the lives of children ~ we have so much work left to do,” Salzman said.
“We all know the real winners are the ones who are given hope through the work that is done,” she added.
Children’s Home Society of Florida is the oldest and largest statewide organization devoted to helping children and families. The organization serves more than 50,000 children and family members throughout the state each year.
Pictured: Rep. Michelle Salzman (right) was named the Children’s Home Society of Florida’s Legislator of the Year. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Fall 7-2 To Biloxi Shuckers
September 14, 2022
After a successful two-week road trip to Chattanooga and Tennessee, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos began their final series of the regular season with a 7-2 loss to the Biloxi Shuckers on Tuesday night.
Zach King (L, 2-6) blew past his previous Double-A high with nine strikeouts over 4.2 innings, but allowed a two-run double to Jackson Chourio and a solo homer to Garret Whitley as the Shuckers took an early lead and kept it for the remainder of the night.
Pensacola got on the board with a Bubba Hollins RBI double in the second and a Marcus Chiu RBI single in the fourth, but that was all they could muster against Biloxi starter Carlos Luna (W, 5-5).
The Shuckers broke the game open in the sixth, scoring four runs against Brady Puckett. Jason Lopez hit an RBI single and Corey Ray hit a two-run double to turn a 3-2 lead into a 6-2 lead. Chourio, a top Brewers prospect making his Double-A debut at just 18 years old, capped the inning with a sacrifice fly for his third RBI of the night.
Josan Mendez gave Pensacola 3.0 scoreless innings of relief, but the Blue Wahoos couldn’t manage any offense against Taylor Floyd and Ryan Middendorf as the two Biloxi relievers combined to close out the game.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Shuckers on Wednesday evening
by Erik Bremer, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Man Charged With Attempted Murder Of Atmore Police Officer, Firefighter
September 13, 2022
A man has been charged with the attempted murder of a firefighter and police office in Atmore.
Norman Collins Lambert, 34, was charged with two counts of attempted murder and obstructing government operations.
Sunday, the Atmore Fire Department responded to a mobile home fire on South Road. As they were leaving the property, Lambert drove onto the property recklessly at a high rate of speed, according to police.
“Lambert nearly struck a firefighter as he drove to the rear of the property and was driving in circles in the mud,” Atmore Police Sgt. Darrell McMann said. “An officer approached the area where Lambert was still revving his engine and driving recklessly in the mud and was almost struck by Lambert before becoming bogged down in the mud again.”
Lambert was taken into custody after his vehicle became stuck in the mud.
The obstruction charge was due to Lambert interfering with firefighters who were gathering up their equipment.
Lambert remained in the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center without bond.
There was no one at home at the time of the fire. The trailer was a total loss.
Boil Water Notice Rescinded For Chipper Road, Tyler Lane Areas
September 13, 2022
UPDATE: THIS BOIL WATER NOTICE WAS RESCINDED THE AFTERNOON OF SEPTEMBER 15.
Due to a hydrant repair, Cottage Hill Water Works has issued a precautionary boil water notice for customers around East Chipper Road, South Chipper Road and Tyler Laine.
Cottage Hill Water Works advises residents of the area that all water used for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth, or washing dishes be boiled. A rolling boil of one minute is sufficient, or as an alternative bottled water may be used.
This precautionary boil water notice will remain in effect until a bacteriological survey shows that the water is safe to drink.
If you have any questions call (850) 968-5485.
This story will be updated when the notice is rescinded.
Flomaton TV Star Moonshiner Arrested By State Authorities On Alcohol Charges
September 13, 2022
A TV star moonshiner from Flomaton was arrested Monday night by state authorities on alcohol charges.
Johnny Wayne Griffis, 48, was charged with felony distillation or manufacture of prohibited liquors and beverages, and a class C misdemeanor of sale, offer for sale, possession or barter of prohibited liquors and beverages.
He was booked into the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center where he remained early Tuesday morning without bond.
Johnny Griffis competed on Moonshiners: Master Distiller on the Discovery Channel in 2020. In the end, his “old school corn liquor moonshine” took second place.
His new television series “Alabama Shine” premiered in August on The Country Network (TCN). It showcased Griffis in Flomaton and a moonshiner in Carbon Hill, Alabama. In the television series, Griffis discusses evading law enforcement during the moonshine distillation process.
State officials did not release further information about Griffis’ arrest Monday night. If convicted as charged, Griffis would face one to five years in prison, according to Alabama Code.
Molino Family Wakes To Find Man In Their Home
September 13, 2022
A Molino family woke up to find a man inside their home early on a recent early morning, and the suspect is now charged with burglary and assault.
Robert Lee Jones, Jr., 37, was charged with felony burglary of a residence while committing an assault, and aggravated assault with the intent to commit a felony.
The victim told the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office that he woke to hear his dog barking, exited his bedroom and saw Jones standing in his living room. He yelled at Jones to leave, but Jones threw a dining room chair at the victim and missed, an arrest report states.
When Jones saw the dog, he ran out the backdoor of the Brickyard Road home, the report continues.
Deputies said the incident was witnessed by two other occupants of the home.
Jones told deputies that he went to the home during the early morning hours to tell the victim that his daughter went to jail earlier that day. He stated that he opened an unlocked backdoor and called out to the victim, but he denied entering the home.
According to the father, the daughter has actually been in jail for several months.
When arrested, deputies said Jones had a screwdriver in his pocket.
Jones remained in the Escambia County Jail Tuesday morning with bond set at $55,000.
Salzman Teams With Faith Based Organizations To Create ‘Foster With Faith”
September 13, 2022
Rep. Michelle Salzman has teamed up with local faith based organizations to create “Foster with Faith”, a steering committee focused on bringing together faith-based leaders to help provide clothing drives, cooking meals, yard work, rides to appointments and many other supportive roles to help relieve some of the stress on foster families.
Currently, the Department of Children and Families (DCF) works through faith-based organizations with Share Your Heart by giving referrals so the faith-based community can come together to better serve this underserved population. Salzman said by bringing various faith-based leaders to the table, the group will be able to create a plan to focus community effort to bring resources and monies together into one place that can be put to use in the most efficient and impactful way.
“Many in our community are underserved,” stated Pastor Bill Wright with Share Your Heart Ministries. “I believe that we have the appropriate partnering agencies to fill the great gap of social services.”
Faith-based leaders in the community are asked to contact Debbie Malsberger in Salzman’s office at (850) 941-6091for more information on how to become involved.
National Guard To Be Deployed To State Prisons, Including Santa Rosa But Not Century
September 13, 2022
The Florida National Guard is being deployed to several prisons across the state to provide relief and supplement staff vacancies.
In the local area, the Guard will be deployed to the Santa Rosa Correctional Institute, but not Century Correctional Institute, according to the Florida Department of Corrections.
Florida National Guard members will supplement security posts at select institutions, under the direction of the warden and facility command staff. Guardsman will undergo training from FDC’s staff development office to equip them with the knowledge necessary to work alongside Florida’s corrections professionals.
“We received historic pay increases for our correctional officers and have hired more correctional officers monthly than we have seen in years,” said Corrections Secretary Ricky Dixon. “With the temporary support of the Florida National Guard we will be able to recover and train the next generation of public safety professionals to perform our important mission.”
“I am personally seeing our agency turnaround. For the first time in years our institution is hiring more staff each month than we are losing, and this would not have been possible without the pay raises we received from the Governor and Legislature last session. I appreciate this added step being taken so we can train our new staff and safely operate our facilities,” said Warden Aaron Leavins, Santa Rosa CI.