Highway 95A Crash Lands Man In Jail Charged With DUI On A Bicycle
April 25, 2009
A Cantonment man was arrested for DUI on a bicycle after a Highway 95A crash Friday evening.
The Florida Highway Patrol says Tarry Bryant Kennedy (pictured left) of Cantonment was traveling south on a bicycle on the shoulder of Highway 95A in Cantonment when he veered into the path of a Honda motorcycle driven by Melissa A. Epps, 33, of Milton.
Both Epps and Kennedy received minor injuries in the accident. Kennedy was treated and released Friday night from West Florida Hospital. Epps was not transported to the hospital.
Kennedy, 48, was charged with violation of right of way and DUI on a bicycle and booked into the Escambia County Jail.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
Pictured: The booking photo taken when Tarry Bryant Kennedy was booked into the Escambia County Jail Friday night for DUI on a bicycle.
Lathram Chapel Holding Native American Celebration
April 25, 2009
Lathram Chapel in Cantonment will hold a Native American Celebration beginning Sunday.
The celebration will feature Native American Evangelist Dr. Negiel Bigpond and Marcia Johnston, Native American flutist and storyteller.
The events will be held Sunday at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., and will continue Monday and Tuesday at 6 each evening.
Everyone is invited to attend this celebration and enjoy Native American crafts, food and more. The church is located at 2690 Jacks Branch Road in Cantonment. For more information contact Carl or Dolly Clark at (850) 232-9901.
FHP Conducting Traffic Crackdown Through Today
April 25, 2009
The Florida Highway Patrol has kicked off a statewide traffic enforcement operation focusing on speeding, improper lane change, failure to use turn signals and aggressive driving violations.
Operation Safe Ride will continue through midnight Saturday with all available FHP personnel participating the crackdown.
“We want Florida’s motorists to have a pleasant, crash-free driving experience,” said Col. John Czernis, director of the Florida Highway Patrol. “Our troopers are here to take enforcement action on those drivers who choose to put themselves and others in danger.”
Troopers use RADAR, LASER, motorcycles and marked and unmarked patrol vehicles to track speed violators. FHP also engages its aircraft to spot violators from the air and then direct troopers on the ground to pull them over and initiate appropriate enforcement action.
Benefit Barrel Race Today For Murder Victim’s Family
April 25, 2009
A benefit barrel race in memory of Cheryl Cain will be held today.
The barrel race will began Saturday at noon at a residence off North Century Boulevard near Burger King, look for signs. Admission is free, but there is a $35 entry fee to compete in the barrel racing.
There will also be a silent auction as well as concessions. All proceeds from both the auction and concession sales will be given to the Cain family.
The body of Cheryl Renee Cain, 29, of Cantonment, was found in a dumpster at an abandoned gas station at the corner of Burgess Road and Highway 29 on March 25. There have been no arrests in the murder, but Escambia County deputies said they have possible suspects the case.
Molino Park Elementary Spends Day With The Arts
April 25, 2009
Molino Park Elementary School held its annual Arts Day Friday, with the students spending the day immersed in a variety of arts.
The students enjoyed a wide range of arts, from pottery to painting. They had the opportunity to get “hands on” with many activities.
The day ending with the “Molino Park Arts Day Roundup”, a live concert series in the school cafeteria. Artists appearing in the concert all had local ties to Molino Park.
Pictured above: Singer/songwriter Sheila Allen, Harmony Till (daughter of Linda and Brian Till), Linda Till, Suzanne Plenkers, Angela Hasselbrock and Donna Sutton perform at Molino Park Elementary Friday afternooon. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
No Injuries In Cantonment School Bus, Dump Truck Wreck
April 24, 2009
There were no injuries in school bus wreck Thursday morning in Cantonment.
The accident happened at 6:35 Thursday morning at the intersection of Muscogee Road and and County Road 297A.
The Florida Highway Patrol says a school bus driven by Marilyn Brooks, 60, of Cantonment, rear ended a Mack dump truck driven by Scottie Cook, 45, of Pace. The dump truck was stopped at a stop sign when Brooks failed to stop the school bus and struck the rear of the truck, the FHP said. Brooks was cited for careless driving, according to the FHP. Neither driver was injured.
There four passengers — three students and one aide — on the bus at the time of the accident. They were no injured.
The Florida Highway Patrol continues to investigate the crash
Molino Home Destroyed By Fire
April 24, 2009
No one was injured when a Molino home was completely destroyed by fire Friday morning.
The small brick home was fully involved when firefighters arrived on scene in the 5800 block of Pilgrim Trail West. Smoke from the fire could be seen in the calm blue skies Friday morning from nearly 10 miles away.
Firefighters did report the sound of gunshots when they arrived at the fire from ammunition in the home that was exploding.
There were no injuries reported. Officials say the homeowner apparently left the stove unattended in the home when she left for an appointment. She returned home about two hours later to find the fire department fighting the fire.
The homeowner was concerned about her dogs and horses, but we were told that they were all uninjured.
The Molino, McDavid, Century, Walnut Hill, Cantonment and Beulah stations of Escambia Fire-Rescue responded to the call.
For a photo gallery from the scene, click here.
Pictured above: Firefighters enter a burning home on Pilgrim Trail West this morning in Molino. Pictured below: Firefighters battle the blaze. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Six People Involved In Friday Morning Accident Near Northview
April 24, 2009
(Updated) There were no serious injuries in a two vehicle accident near Northview High School Friday morning.
The accident happened at the intersection of North Pine Barren Road and West Highway 4 about 11:00.
Witnesses day the driver of a work truck belonging to Highway Specialties Inc. of McDavid pulled out from North Pine Barren Road into the path of a van operated by Clean & Green. The van overturned on its side in a ditch on Highway 4. A utility trailer being pulled by the van hit a tree near the intersection.
The driver of the Clean & Green van, identified as Orbie Barron, 47, of Pensacola, was transported by ambulance with non-life threatening injuries. Two passengers in the van were not injured.
The driver and two passengers, including a child, in the work truck were not injured.
Click here for more photos from the scene.
Pictured above: One person was injured in the is accident Friday morning near Northview High School. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Manslaughter Bond Revoked For Man In Flomaton Crash
April 24, 2009
Bond has been revoked for George Wesley Hauer, the man involved in a serious Flomaton crash about a month ago while he was free on manslaughter charges for the deaths of an Atmore couple in another Highway 31 accident.
Hauer, 61, of Old Atmore Road, Flomaton, was booked back into the Baldwin County Jail Thursday. He is now being held without bond on the manslaughter charge.
Authorities say Hauer was involved in an accident that injured a family of four on March 22 on Highway 31 east of Flomaton. At the time of the accident, he had been out on a bond for only about two weeks after being charged with manslaughter in Baldwin County for a 2007 wreck that killed an Atmore couple.
“Driving or being in actual physical control of a motor vehicle is a violation of the conditions of the defendant’s bond,” according to the motion filed by Baldwin County Assistant District Attorney Matt Simpson.
In the March 20, 2007, wreck, Dwight Eugene Nichols, 74, and his wife Wilma Ellavan Nichols, 77, of Atmore were traveling south in a Mercedes E320 on Highway 31 near Perdido, when they collided with a northbound sports utility vehicle driven by Hauer, according to Alabama State Troopers. Both Nichols died a short time later at an area hospital.
The March 22 Flomaton accident happened just after 4:00 p.m. on Highway 31 at Old Fannie Road. Two people were transported to Pensacola by two different LifeFlight helicopters, one to Sacred Heart Hospital and one to Baptist Hospital.
Officials say the car, driven by David Smith of Flomaton collided with a truck driven Hauer. Smith was transported to Baptist Hospital by ambulance were he was treated for a broken jaw.
Hauer was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital by LifeFlight in serious condition but was soon released from the hospital.
Leigh Smith, a passenger in the car hit by Hauer, was transported by LifeFlight to Baptist Hospital in critical condition. Another passenger in the car, Samantha Bryant, a senior at Flomaton High School, was transported to Baptist Hospital in Pensacola with non life threatening injuries. Passenger Curtis Byrant refused treatment the scene. Relatives tell us that Curtis Bryant suffered a broken wrist in the accident, and Samantha Bryant suffered just minor injuries. Leigh Smith was hospitalized for a lengthy time with broken ribs, a broken shoulder and a broken knee.
Click here for a photo gallery from the accident scene.
Pictured top: The Smith family vehicle that was involved in a March 22 accident with George Wesley Hauer. Pictured below: Haeur’s truck. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Carver/Century Students Visit Ernest Ward, Bratt For A Day
April 24, 2009
Over the past three days, Carver/Century K-8 students have shadowed their Ernest Ward Middle or Bratt Elementary counterparts to learn more about what school life will be like next year.
The Escambia School Board has ordered Carver/Century closed and the students transferred next school year to Ernest Ward or Bratt. The Carver/Century students “shadowed” a Bratt or Ernest Ward student for a day, attending their classes and activities such as lunch. It was a hands on personal orientation to middle school life at EWMS or elementary life at Bratt.
“They had a great time, and many of them became best buddies,” said Ernest Ward Principal Nancy Gindl-Perry. “They are all looking forward to school next year.”
The plan to move the middle school students from Carver/Century K-8 School to Ernest Ward and Bratt Elementary has been put into motion. It’s a detailed 84 page document that details each aspect of the move, down to the last box.
The next part of the transition plan will take place on April 28 when the PTSA and School Advisory Council at Ernest Ward hosts a parents night for parents and guardians of incoming students from Carver/Century.
Then, on April 29, staff from Ernest Ward will travel to Carver/Century to personally hand-register each student one on one.
A full orientation night for the parents and guardians of all incoming Ernest Ward students will be held on May 7. Prior to that event, the teachers and staff at Ernest Ward will host a reception for the school’s new staff members that will be transferring from Carver/Century.
A modular building with five classrooms, two closets, and one 24 by 36 foot restroom facility will be installed sometime in May at Ernest Ward for a total cost of $543,391. Plans also call for five classrooms with included restrooms, five sinks and two closets to be installed at Bratt Elementary at a total cost of $440,006.
Once school is out, the physical move of property and supplies between the schools will begin.
Pictured above: Carver/Century student Grady Floyd and Ernest Ward student John Helmken talk after lunch Thursday in the Ernest Ward cafeteria. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.