2008 Flomaton Grad Dies Following College Football Practice In Montgomery
August 17, 2008
A Flomaton High School graduate collapsed and later died Friday following football practice at Huntington College in Montgomery.
Huntington freshman Sam Collins, 18, died after being taken to a Montgomery hospital following his collapse at the college’s second football practice of the year.
Collins graduated from Flomaton High School this spring. He was a defensive lineman for the Hurricanes, and he was an Alabama Class 2A All-State player that was 6 foot 1, 240 pounds.
“We ask for your thoughts and prayers to surround the Collins family in this time of grief,” Huntington President J. Cameron West said Saturday. “The Huntingdon community is devastated by the death of this bright and promising young man. We are planning a gathering on campus to remember him and to honor his life.”
West said Friday was the second official practice of the season, with players having checked in on Wednesday. The team held practice from 9:30 until 11:30 Friday morning in 85 degree weather. The practiced in shorts, shirts and helmets, but no pads, he said.
“Sam experienced cramping during the latter stages of practice, for which he received hydration. After practice, he became ill and was taken to the Athletic Training Room. He was assessed by our Certified Athletic Trainers, who called paramedics. Emergency personnel arrived on the scene and transported Sam to Jackson Hospital, where he arrived at approximately 12:30 p.m. Head Coach Mike Turk contacted Sam’s mother, who traveled to Montgomery,” West said.
““The medical team at Jackson Hospital cared for Sam until his death at about 7:30 p.m. Mrs. Collins was at Jackson Hospital when her son passed away. An official cause of death has not been determined, and we understand an autopsy will be performed,” West added.
A memorial fund has been established to assist the family with final arrangements. Donations may be sent to the Office of External Affairs, Huntingdon College, 1500 E. Fairview Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama, 36109. Checks may be made payable to Huntingdon College and designated to the Sam Collins Memorial Fund. The funeral is expected to be held in Flomaton, but final arrangements have not been announced.
Gas Prices Continue To Fall In North Escambia
August 16, 2008
Gas prices across North Escambia continue to decline and have fallen below the national average.
Friday, the lowest price for a gallon of regular unleaded that we could find in North Escambia was $3.58 at the Tom Thumb in Molino. In Century, the lowest price we found was $3.65. We normally report the price in Davisville as well, but the one station in Davisville is not currently selling gas while their tanks and pumps are replaced.
On Friday, the national and Florida state average for a gallon of regular unleaded was $3.77, according to AAA. The southeast region average was $3.69.
One month ago, the national average was $4.11 a gallon. A year ago, we were paying just $2.76 a gallon on average in this country.
NorthEscambia.com photos, from Century (left) and Molino (top).
Middle School ‘Walk Zone’ Changed By School Board
August 16, 2008
The Escambia School Board is changing its mind on the their new middle school walk zone policy, and they are going back to the old policy.
The school board voted recently to make students within two miles of a middle school walk to school; the previous walk zone was one and a half miles. But at a Friday workshop, the board decided to reverse that decision and return to the one and a half mile limit. Outside of the walk zone, students get to take a bus. But within the mile and a half, they get to walk.
“It is important to note that restoring this standard will take several weeks to accomplish from an operational standpoint; the projected date for reinstatement of the 1.5-mile limit is September 8. Until that time, the bus routes currently in existence under the two mile limit for middle schools will be in place,” the school district said in a prepared statement.
An emergency board rule will be presented for the offical vote at Tuesday night’s regular school boad meeting.
The school district had said the increased walk zone would have saved taxpayers about a half million dollars per year.
Pictured above: Ernest Ward Middle School as seen from the intersection of Highway 99 and Highway 97. Students within a mile and a half of Ernest Ward will have to walk to school this year, a change from a two mile walk zone that had been imposed by the school board. NorthEscambia.com photo.
Molino Park Students Hold Prayer Walk Prior To New School Year
August 16, 2008
Over two dozen Molino Park Elementary School students took to the hallways of the school Friday morning to ask for the Lord’s blessing on their upcoming school year.
“Dear Lord, bless our teachers, bless our school, bless our students,” they were led in prayer. Following morning orientation for students and parents, the two dozen plus students went from hallway to hallway, holding a short prayer in each one.
Molino park teachers were given a candle with a little note that said “Thank you for being one more light on the path helping our children become all God wants them to be! We are praying for you.”
The event was led by Highland Baptist Church.
Click here for more photos from the Molino Park prayer walk.
Community Market Day Today
August 16, 2008
A Community Market Day will be held this morning at Century’s Roadside Park on North Century Boulevard.
The Community Market Day will begin at 8 this morning Local residents are encouraged to sell their items, including arts and crafts and produce.
At a recent Community Market Day, vendors sold a variety of items, including fresh produce, arts, crafts, snow cones and more. There was also local entertainment.
Another Community Market Day will be held on Saturday, August 30, according to the Century Blue Ribbon Committee, which organized the event. The group plans to continue the market days every other Saturday at least through August.
Pictured: Some of the fresh produce available at a recent Century’s Community Market Day. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Over 1,600 Choose Early Voting; 17,500 Absentee Ballots Issued
August 16, 2008
Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David H. Stafford reminded voters Friday that early voting will continue through the weekend, and into next week. As of the
close of business Friday, more than 1,638 voters had voted early and more than 17,500 absentee ballots had been issued for the August 26th Primary Election.
Early voting is offered in four locations in the county; the closest to North Escambia is in Cantonment. Early voters can cast paper ballots using the county’s new optical scanners, and can choose any of the four sites.
The sites for early voting are:
- Supervisor of Elections Main Office, 213 Palafox Place, 2nd Floor
- Supervisor of Elections Annex, 292 Muscogee Road, Cantonment
- Southwest Branch Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Highway
- Tyron Branch Library, 5740 North 9th Avenue
Early voting began Monday will continue Saturday, August 16th from 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.; Sunday, August 17th from 11:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.; and Monday, August 18th through Saturday, August 23rd from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m..
Another option for voters is to cast an absentee ballot, which can be obtained by contacting the Supervisor of Elections by mail, phone (850-595-3900), e-mail absentee@escambiavotes.com), fax (850-595-3914), or by using the online form at www.EscambiaVotes.com. Requests must include the voter’s date of birth and the address where the ballot should be mailed. Requests must be received no later than Wednesday, August 20th. Voted ballots must be received in the Elections Office no later than 7:00 p.m. on Election Day.
The third option for voting in Escambia County is the old fashioned way…at the polls on Election Day. Polls will be open August 26 from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.
In 34 of 90 precincts there are no non-partisan or universal primary contests on the ballot. As a result of Florida’s closed primary system, only registered Democrats and Republicans in those precincts are eligible to vote in this primary. Voters in these precincts who are not eligible to vote in this election are being notified by mail. All voters, regardless of party affiliation, may vote in the General Election on November 4th.
Parents, Staff Learn About Next School Year At Carver/Century; School Needs 65 More Kids
August 15, 2008
About 40 people attended a meeting Thursday night at Carver/Century K-8 School to learn more about the upcoming school year that begins Monday, and to learn about what the principal believes is needed to keep the school open another year. The closure of the school for the 2009-2010 school year is on Monday’s agenda for the Escambia County School Board.
The night’s meeting began by celebrating the fact that the school has improved from a status grade of “F” to a “B”.
“I want to say thank you to the parents; you have an active roll in making this possible,” Principal Jeff Garthwaite said. “We have shown the world that this is not an “F” school. We have proven that. We have ruffled some feathers here and there.”
But to avoid closure, the school needs another 65 or so students…fast. School begins Monday, with about 235 students currently enrolled. Garthwaite said that number would need to be at about 300 for the school to remain open.
“There’s a rich cultural heritage in being a Century Blackcat,” he said. “We need to bring people back to this school from communities like Bratt, Byrneville and McDavid. We need those students back to continue Blackcat pride.”
He asked the parents, faculty and community members at the meeting to tell their friends, family members and neighbors to return their children to Carver/Century.
“It’s going to be an exciting year at Carver/Century,” Garthwaite said.
Budget cutbacks have led to the elimination of 12 positions at the school. The assistant principal, four teachers, front office staff, food service workers and a custodian are all gone this year.
Without the 65 or so additional students, those cuts wont’ be the end; the school will close, Garthwaite said.
“We are down to the wire. It’s is time to have a really heart wrenching discussion about what is wrong and how we can fix it. We need the students that have left this school to come back, and we need them to come back now.”
Pictured above: Carver/Century staffer Judy Bakers listens to Principal Jeff Garthwaite at a Thursday night meeting at the school. NorthEscambia.com photo.
Century Woman Arrested In Connection With Shots Fired Into Trailer With Kids Inside
August 15, 2008
A Century woman has been arrested in connection with a July 25 incident where multiple shots where fired into a trailer occupied by three adults and three children.
Terri Lynn Stabler, 27, was arrested and charged with being an accessory after the fact of the shooting, a second degree felony.
Joshua Jackson Grimes , 25, of Flomaton was arrested in connection with the incident. Grimes (pictured left) faces a long list of charges, including six counts of aggravated assault, two counts of battery, one count of shooting deadly missiles into a dwelling, one count of criminal mischief and one count of resisting an officer without violence. His total bond was set at $422,000. He is scheduled to face a judge today after entering a plea of not guilty on all charges.
The incident occurred in the northeast corner of Wawbeek Road north of Highway 168, just a few feet south of the Alabama state line. It all began about 6:00 July 25 when Grimes got into a verbal altercation with the resident of the trailer, according to Sgt. Steve Smith of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department.. Deputies say he then left before returning armed with a shotgun about 6:40.
Grimes drove up to the trailer, firing several shots into the trailer busting out windows (pictured left, click to enlarge). He also shot out the windows of two vehicles according to deputies. Three children and the adults inside the trailer at the time of the shooting were not injured.
Pictured top: Terri Leann Stabler being taken into custody after ignoring the deputy’s orders on July 25. She was late released that evening, but has since been arrested on a warrant issued in connection with the incident. Pictured below: An Escambia County Deputy orders Stabler to not approach the cruiser containing Grimes. Pictured bottom: Satterwhite being taken into custody after ignoring the deputy’s orders. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Local Man On A Crusade To Prevent More Deaths At Highway 29 And Byrneville, Bluff Springs Roads
August 15, 2008
A Byrneville man lost his granddaughter on Thanksgiving day 2005 at the intersection of Byrneville Road, Bluff Springs Road and Highway 29. It’s a tragedy that he says could have been prevented with a traffic signal, and he is on a mission to save other lives from being lost at the North Escambia intersection.
Callista LeEtta White died November 27, 2003, at the intersection. She was returning to Pensacola after spending time on Thanksgiving with her family. It was raining, and she approached Highway 29 too fast, apparently not realizing that she was near the intersection. She missed the stop sign and hydroplaned into the path of of a tractor trailer truck on Highway 29 about 7:35 p.m. The 2003 Northview High School graduate died a short time later at West Florida Hospital.
“I’m not doing this for Callista,” Leroy White (pictured left) of Byrneville told NorthEscambia.com “I am doing it for the ones that are still around, the ones that are still driving on these roads.”
White wants to see a caution light installed at the intersection, and he wants to see that speed limit on Highway 29 in the area lowered from 65 to 55 m.p.h. That, White believes, will help prevent more accidents at the intersection, accidents like the one that killed his granddaughter on Thanksgiving Day.
“If they can have a red light up here on Highway 4 in Byrneville, why can’t they have at least a caution light over there on 29?” White asked, referring to a traffic signal at Highway 4 at Byrneville Road.
White apparently is not alone in wanting something done about the Highway 29 and Byrneville/Bluff Springs intersection. He said 450 signatures requesting improvements at the intersection were gathered on a petition that he presented to the Florida Department of Transportation.
“I believe that if there had been a caution light at the intersection, it would have saved my granddaughter,” White said.
The most recent fatality at the intersection was on June 23 when Carolyn Hightower, 60, of Pensacola died as a result of injuries she sustained in a two vehicle accident there. Her husband, Richard Hightower, 63, was seriously injured in the crash. The Florida Highway Patrol said that Floyd D. Calloway, 65, pulled into the intersection from Bluff Springs into the path of the Hightower’s SUV.
“I just don’t want to see it happen to another family,” White said.
Pictured above: Approaching the Highway 29 intersection on Byrneville Road. Pictured below: The accident at the intersection that claimed the life of a Pensacola woman on June 23. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
School District Paid $52,000 In Power Bills On Building Leased By New Life Church
August 15, 2008
The Escambia County School District has paid over $52,000 in power bills on the old Century High School building since it was leased to the New Life Baptist Church. That is in addition to thousands paid for water, sewer and gas used in the building.
NorthEscambia.com first broke the story that New Life had never paid utility bills since moving into the building. The school district paid over $60,000 in water, gas and sewer bills for the old Century High building occupied for New Life, as we first reported last week.
In an exclusive interview with NorthEscambia.com, Rev. Irvin Stallworth of New Life Baptist acknowledged that his church had never paid a power bill for the building either.
According to Gulf Power bills, a total of $52,338.07 has been paid by the school district since New Life moved into the building in 2004. New Life pays $1 per year for their lease on the building.
The power bills do not include the former high school’s gym or the stadium; those are on a different meter.
Stallworth refused to make further comment on the issue Thursday night.
On August 7, Stallworth said “The taxpayers have a right to know where their money is going. We are willing to do what we need to do to make restitution for what we owe.”
He blamed the confusion on the fact that his church was moving into the building at the same time the school district was moving out of the building…the same time Hurricane Ivan hit the Gulf Coast. He said his church immediately went into a reaction mode after Ivan, working to provide aid and relief for the community. As that relief effort was beginning to wind down, Hurricane Dennis then hit the area, sending the church back into a reactionary mode.
“With all the things that were going on post-Dennis,” Stallworth said, “we did not realize that we were not receiving any bills.”
He said he realized that the church was to be paying the utility bills per the lease, which had signed, but the trustee responsible for paying the bills did not know that fact.
To read more on last week’s interview with Stallworth, click here.
To read more about the water, gas and sewer bills on the New Life building, click here.