Video: Fire Drill, Trapped Student Rescued At Flomaton Elementary
October 15, 2008
NorthEscambia.com was there Tuesday morning as Flomaton Elementary School was evacuated in a mock fire. Click the following video to watch the events unfold.
For a complete story and photo gallery from the drill, click here.
(If you can’t see the video, it is because your school or employer is blocking it. You should be able to watch the video from your home internet connection.)
Scary Stuff: Scientists Warn Giant Hissing Roaches Could Invade Florida, North Escambia
October 15, 2008
As if North Escambia residents aren’t bugged enough by roaches, a growing interest among reptile enthusiasts to farm the insects as lizard food could result in several new cockroach varieties invading the state, University of Florida entomologists warn.
Phil Koehler and Roberto Pereira, researchers with UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, wrote an article in last month’s Florida Pest Pro magazine, alerting pest control operators and homeowners to be on the lookout for several new species of cockroach.
Their main worry is the Turkestan cockroach, which has made itself at home in the southwest United States after being brought in by military personnel and equipment returning from the Middle East.
The other types of roach they say Floridians could soon be in danger of stepping on include the Madagascar hissing roach, the lobster roach and the orange spotted roach, none of which are known to be established in the state.
“We have 69 species of cockroaches in the United States and 29 of them were brought in from other countries,” said Koehler, an entomology professor. “And now we have these new species being shipped into the state.”
Pointing at a hefty, 3-inch-long Madagascar hissing roach, he noted: “People just won’t like having that around their house.”
But with a few keystrokes and a credit card, it could certainly happen, said Pereira, a research associate scientist. “They keep telling us we live in a global economy and society,” he said. “All of these cockroaches you can get over the Internet — you can order something from the Pacific Northwest and have it here in two days or less. You can transfer things that way very easily.”
James Tuttle, a longtime reptile enthusiast who now runs a roach-supply company called blaberus.com that ships insects all across the country, said roaches as reptile food “is probably the most popular thing going these days.”
Crickets, which used to be a more popular reptile food source, are noisy with all their chirping, smell bad when they die and don’t reproduce quickly the way roaches do once a farm is up and running. And they cost more.
“It’s the economy,” he said. “You can spend $50 a month buying crickets, so that’s $600 a year, or you could spend $50 (on roaches) and in six months, never have to buy food again.”
Breeding roaches in captivity isn’t quite as easy as most think, Tuttle said, and roaches have so many natural predators — spiders, turtles, frogs, birds and rodents among others — that unless a large number escaped at once, they’d have a difficult time getting established in the wild.
And he said he knows of several pet-reptile owners in Florida who already have roach farms in their homes that haven’t disrupted the environment, even when a few escape here and there.
But under perfect conditions, he conceded, “it’s possible.”
“I would be stupid, and anyone else would be stupid, to say that they can or can’t, without a full-on study,” Tuttle said.
Tuttle said he agrees with the UF researchers’ contention that the Turkestan roach poses the biggest threat, given that it so easily settled in Texas, New Mexico and Arizona.
Ron Box, director of education and scientific affairs with West Palm Beach-based Hulett Environmental Services, said he is gathering photographs of the cockroach species mentioned in the Florida Pest Pro article for his technicians, so that they’ll recognize them if they see them.
“So far, knock on wood, we haven’t had any,” said Box, whose company has 10 offices throughout Florida. “But I wouldn’t be surprised at all if we did.”
In this photo released from the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, entomologists Phil Koehler and Roberto Pereira watch as a bearded dragon lizard peers into a jar filled with Madagascar hissing cockroaches at the university’s main campus in Gainesville. The entomologists recently warned Floridians and pest control experts that a growing internet trade in exotic roaches could lead to unwanted infestations. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Four Years After Ivan: Steeple Returns To Walnut Hill Church
October 15, 2008
Fours years after Hurricane Ivan ripped the steeple from the top of Annie Jones United Methodist Church, a new steeple now sits atop the small concrete block church.
The steeple was installed Tuesday morning at church, which is located on Arthur Brown Road near Highway 97 in Walnut Hill.
For more photos from the steeple installation at Annie Jones United Methodist Church, click here.
Pictured above: A new steeple was installed under beautiful blue skies Tuesday morning at Annie Jones United Methodist Church in Walnut Hill, four years after the church lost its previous steeple to Hurricane Ivan. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Some photos in the gallery are courtesy Sherry Digmon.
Sheriff’s Helicopter Used In Tuesday Night Search For Man With No Shoes
October 15, 2008
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Department used their helicopter to search for a suspect Tuesday night in Century.
Roger L. Feagin was wanted in connection with twice violating a domestic violence restraining order at a residence in the 400 block of Bonwell Street off Jefferson Avenue. The search for him began just before 9:00 Tuesday night.
The sheriff’s helicopter was called to the area to search for the Feagin in the area of Jefferson Avenue, Front Street and Pond Street. Authorities knew he was on a bicycle with no shoes; he had left his shoes behind in the backyard of the home were he allegedly violated the restraining order. The helicopter was called off the search about 9:45.
Feagin was located before midnight and arrested. He was transported to the Escambia County Jail where he was charged with two counts of violation of an domestic violence injunction. He was being held without bond.
NHS Chiefs Down Central On Volleyball Court
October 15, 2008
The Northview High School Chiefs beat Central High School Tuesday evening on the volleyball court in Bratt.
The Chiefs swept three games from Central, 25-17, 25-12, 25-18.
Stats from Tuesday’s game:
Shawna Montgomery: Digs – 2, Kills-3, Aces-6, Blocks-2
Brittney Thompson: Aces-6, Kills-11, Digs-2
Amber McMillan: Digs-13
Caitlin Hall: Assists-15, Aces-3, Kills-1, Digs-5
Candice Greenwell: Kills-3, Aces-1, Digs-4, Blocks-1
The JV Chiefs had Tuesday off. Both the JV and varsity will be in action Thursday against South Walton, with the JV playing at 4:30 and the varsity playing at 6:00.
Century Workshop Postponed
October 14, 2008
The Town of Century was scheduled to hold a workshop Tueday afternoon to discuss the town’s policies and procedures, but that workshop was postponed.
A rescheduled date will be announced soon.
The workshop was postponed due to an illness in the family of a consultant set to met with the council.
Student, Counselor Rescued In Morning School Fire Drill
October 14, 2008
Emergency officials from across Flomaton and Century responded to Flomaton Elementary School this morning for a disaster drill.
Flomaton Fire Chief Steve Stanton said the mock disaster scenario involved a fire at Flomaton Elementary School and the rescue of two trapped victims. The drill was a successful learning experience, Stanton said.
NorthEscambia.com will have a complete story, photo gallery and video posted Wednesday morning.
The response was originally planned last week as part of a fire drill for Fire Prevention Week, but postponed due to rain last Tuesday.
The Flomaton Fire Department, Flomaton Police Department, Escambia County (FL) Fire-Rescue Century Station, Escambia County (FL) EMS, Friendship Volunteer Fire Department and other emergency agencies responded to the school following a 911 call about 9:30 this morning.
Pictured above: Student “victim” Olivia Tatum, 1o, is loaded into a waiting ambulance following a mock disaster fire drill at Flomaton Elementary School this morning. School counselor Susie Kirk (far right) was also rescued from the “burning” building. Pictured below: Engine 519 from Century participated in this morning’s drill. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Accident Injures One On Pine Barren Road Early Tuesday
October 14, 2008
One person was injured in a single vehicle accident early Tuesday morning on Pine Barren Road.
The accident happened on Pine Barren Road near Victor Road in the Christian Home community about 4:35 a.m.
The drive of a Ford Explorer ran off the roadway into a ditch. He was transported to Atmore Community Hospital with what was believed to not be serious injuries.
The McDavid Station of Escambia County Fire-Rescue responded to the call.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
Pictured above: One person was injured in this single vehicle accident about 4:35 Tuesday morning on Pine Barren Road. NorthEscambia.com photo.
Ernest Ward Parents Called About Virus; No Cause For Alarm, Principal Says
October 14, 2008
The principal at Ernest Ward Middle School says there is no cause for alarm following a phone call that notified parents about a student with a virus at the school.
The Connect-Ed phone call made Friday notified Ernest Ward parents that a student at the school was hospitalized with a virus and that students should wash their hands frequently.
“There’s no need for parents to worry,” Ernest Ward Principal Nancy Gindl-Perry said Monday afternoon. “The phone call was just a precaution.”
A student at the school was taken to Jay Hospital Friday with a fever and a backache. The student was later transferred to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola for further tests.
There was some possible concern that the student might have bacterial meningitis, but that was 100 percent not the case, Perry said. The student did have a virus, but it was not meningitis or anything else that would cause serious concern for the other students at the school.
The student was back at school Monday, having been given a clean bill of health by his doctors and the Escambia County Health Department, Perry said.
The phone call was made Friday prior to the student’s diagnosis just a precaution, she said, and as a reminder of good health common sense. The call urged parents to remind their students to wash their hands frequently, as is always recommended by health officials, to prevent the spread of germs.
“There is a ‘bug’ going around right now,” Perry said. “It’s causing students to miss one or two days of school, and they have a fever, vomiting and a headache. But it’s nothing serious.”
“There is just nothing to worry about,” she stressed.
Atmore Adopts Smoke-Free Policy, Raises Garbage Rates
October 14, 2008
The City of Atmore has voted to adopt a smoke-free law and to raise garbage rates over 30 percent.
The smoke-free law adopted by the city council will prohibit indoor smoking in public buildings and places were people are employed. The smoking ban will also extend to outdoor areas such as stadiums. It includes all bars and restaurants in the city. Violators can be fined up to $50, and employers that violate the law can face fines up to $500.
The Atmore City Council has also voted to raise residential garbage rates in the city. A residential pickup will increase from $15 per month to $20 per month. It’s the first garbage service increase the town has had in about 10 years.