The sprints roar through Five-Flags Speedway

Flying around the half-mile track at 160 mph, weighing a mere 1,300 pounds, these winged machines are unlike anything I had seen before.

The cars are so light and fast the tires become almost molten and “stick to the pavement like glue”, said crew member Billy Hovey. This makes tires a major concern for every race; so much so, the right-rear tire is stamped before and measured after the race by officials.

An opportunity arose for me to spend a grueling and exhilarating week-end with top-notch sprint car racing team out of Tampa, Miller Motor Sports.

The experience was punctuated by Joey “the Ace” Aquilar taking the checker flag at Five-Flags Speedway, Friday night. A first for the team.

Although Team Miller has been together only a year, the crew are all connected to one another as family or childhood friends. Cumulatively, they have almost two centuries of experience and passion in the sport.

“When we first started racing the Sprints, Tre and I would save $100 from every pay check just for tires,” Hovey said.

Totally designed for speed, there are no transmissions, gears or starters. The cars must be push started; its go or stop, there are no in-betweens.

Shane Miller, owner of team Miller sponsored three vehicles for the Pensacola,Fla., and Mobile Ala., races. One of which was driven by Johnny Timmore, who normally competes in open-wheel modified division, and had never driven a sprint car before.

“I’m a little nervous,” Miller said, unable to sit still before the race.

All of the team work regular jobs then head to the shop in the evenings said Mike Alvis, the team's newest member.

“This is the best of habits,” Alvis said. “We all get to live our dream.”

The Greater Good Music, Art and Children's Festival

Interview with filmmaker Kohl Harrington

Religion is so prevalent in the South, often times it go unnoticed. From bibles on display in government offices to scripture readings transmitted over the P.A. systems in public schools, there is an omnipresence of religion in the South that is hard to ignore.

I caught up with documentary filmmaker Kohl Harrington, 20, in his hometown of Vernon, Fla. He was filming a street evangelist who delivers sermons every Sunday afternoon directly across from the only store in town selling alcohol.
We met again a few days later, as he and his father criss-cross the South, to talked about his upcoming projects.




Harrington returned to gather footage for his second documentary, examining religion in the South. A hot topic in light of the recent lawsuits filed in Pace, Fla. over prayer in public schools.

“I like to take on controversial issues,” Harrington said.

A few months after graduation he hit the road for Hollywood to follow his dream of making films, he said.

In two years Harrington has completed his first documentary focusing on the death penalty,which received honorable mention at California's "Do It Yourself Film Festival" in Febuary and will be featured in a festival in New York 5 Mar. Also to his credit, he wore two production assistance hats on the blockbuster movie "2012".

With all the controversial subjects afoot, Harrington will be one to watch for many years come.





http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/aug/14/criminal-prayer-case-stirs-protests/?feat=home_headlines

Chasidy Hobbs Interview

Pensacola residents are concerned about the safety of their drinking water following a damning report,by the Environmental Working Group, ranking the local tap-water quality “lowest” in the nation.

Chasidy Hobbs, newly appointed Coastkeeper of the Emerald Coastkeeper Alliance, brought scientists, Emerald Coast Utilities Authorities representatives and officials from federal and Florida state Environmental Protection Agencies together at Pensacola Junior College to find answers to the troubling questions raised by the report.

I met with Hobbs in her office a few days after the forum to get a sense of her reaction to the event.

In addition to questions on the forum, Hobbs shared thoughts on the media coverage and her other project, protesting the opening of the Gulf to near-shore oil drilling. Hobbs also discussed ideas the community should take to insure water sources in the area are properly tended.

Video clips of the interview have been merged with those of the forum to provide a more conclusive piece. Initially, I intended this to be my "interview" assignment, but my long and over the shoulder shots were botched. It then became, given the importance of the topic, just a piece worth posting.

Near-shore Oil Drilling Bill going before the Florida Senate

I asked UWF students how they felt about the bill going before the Florida Senate this term.

UWF Eco-Initiatives

UWF is located on a beautiful Nature Preserve. This is a glimpse of Edward Ball Nature Trail.




UWF has embraced Eco-friendly future.

Pensacola Homeless

Trying to find our how the homeless are handling the record tempatures.