Escambia (Ala.) Man Dies From H1N1
October 16, 2009
An Escambia County (Ala.) man has died from the H1N1 flu.
Health department officials said today that a man in his 40’s from Escambia County (Ala.) man died after testing positive for H1N1. Health officials did not release the man’s location within the county.
The area man’s death brings the total number of deaths in Alabama to 18 from H1N1, commonly referred to as the swine flu.
Other H1N1 deaths in Alabama have occurred in Bullock, Calhoun, Cherokee, Dale, Houston, Jackson, Jefferson, Macon, Madison, Mobile, Montgomery, Russell and Talladega counties.
Alabama Public Health officials said they would announce when and where the H1N1 vaccine would be available in Escambia County on their website, www.adph.org.
Wanted Man Busted After He’s Found Hiding In Apartment Attic
October 16, 2009
Atmore Police served warrant Friday afternoon on a man they say shot two people — including a juvenile shot in the back.
Charles Franklin Jones, 21, of Atmore, was arrested about 4:30 Friday afternoon connection with the shootings last week. Officers from the Atmore Police Department found Jones hiding the attic of a building at The Pines II Apartments on Jack Springs Road. Three small children were in the apartment; their grandmother took custody of the children as the officers took custody of Jones.
Jones was charged with assault first degree.
At 9:09 p.m. Saturday night, October 10, the Atmore Police Department received calls that shots had been fired on Jones Street in Atmore.
“The responding officer was one block away when he arrived at the scene where he found four males running south on Jones Street,” said Director of Public Safety Glenn Carlee. The approaching officer discovered that two of the four males had been shot.
James Hudson Jr., 20, suffered a gunshot wound to his upper leg. He was transported by ambulance to Atmore Community Hospital and then transferred by helicopter to the USA Medical Center in Mobile. The second victim, a juvenile, was shot in the back. He was transported by ambulance to Atmore Community Hospital and transferred by helicopter to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola. Both victims were released the following day.
The four males were walking on Jones Street when Charles Jones approached Hudson. “Jones then allegedly shot Hudson in the upper leg, as the remaining individuals began to run, Jones then fired his weapon three more times striking the juvenile in the back,” Carlee said.
Pictured: Charles Franklin Jones in a September 2007 file photo. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Open House Saturday At Roy Hyatt Environmental Center
October 16, 2009
The annual open house will be held Saturday at the Roy Hyatt Environmental Center in Cantonment.
Visitors will have the opportunity to stroll through the center’s butterfly garden, climb aboard the one-of-a kind “Bird Bus” and do some bird watching, walk the nature trail, see the endangered White-top pitcher plant, meet the resident reptiles, tour the replica of a one-room school house and the replica of a dog-trot farm house, visit the microscope lab, the bird classroom (where the screech owls live), the water pollution exhibit and more.
There will be activities for the children: face painting, designing butterfly rings, assembling a turtle maraca, constructing pinecone owls, making snake mobiles, plus other fun activities.
Also featured will be a silent auction that will include dolphin cruises, rounds of golf, gift certificates and a one-night stay at a beach hotel.
The Roy Hyatt Environmental Center is at 1300 Tobias Road, Cantonment. The events and open house will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, call (850) 937-2117.
Local Equine Business Owners Arrested On Horse Cruelty Charges
October 16, 2009
Two Century residents that own a horse related business were arrested Thursday on animal cruelty charges after starving horses were found on their property.
Robin Brownie Floyd, 53, and Lynn Livingston Floyd, 42, both of Gilmore Road, Century, turned themselves in at the Escambia County Jail Thursday on charges of confinement of animals without sufficient food or water. They were released from jail on $6,000 bond each. They are due back in court in early November.
Panhandle Equine Rescue received a tip that several thin horses were being moved by the Floyds to Santa Rosa County, according to PER President Diane Lowery. She said the horses were being transferred to a Santa Rosa County residence and then moved out of state to a horse rescue in Georgia. When PER investigated in September, they found three emaciated horses still on the Gilmore Road property.
“While this may seem like the right thing for them to do, we felt that the Floyds needed to be held accountable, since this is the second time that they have neglected their horses and then given them away”, Lowery said. “This seems to be a pattern for them. Mr. Floyd is a local trainer and farrier and has owned horses for over 30 years, so he should know better. There is no excuse for someone with his knowledge to allow his horses to get in this condition.” Business tax receipt records on file with the Escambia County Tax Collector’s office show the Floyds do own an equine services business operated from a Gilmore Road address.
PER investigated a similar complaint about the Floyds in 2006, Lowery said.
Lowery said Robin Floyd transported nine of his horses to Santa Rosa County where one was euthanized by a veterinarian. She said six horses, including one carrying a foal, remain on the Century property. The Georgia group Horse Rescue, Relief and Retirement Fund, Inc. has offered to take the horses.
“We would have taken in the horses, but the other rescue had already agreed to take them. It would have been difficult for us, since we are at full capacity with little donations coming in, but we would have found a way to help them had it come to that,” Lowery said.
For more photos of the horses from Gilmore Road, click here. (Some readers may find the photos disturbing. Submitted photos by Panhandle Equine Rescue from 2009 and 2006.)
Lowery said both groups are in need of donations to take care of the horses. For more information on the Georgia group, visit www.savethehorses.org and for more information on PER and how to donate to that organization visit www.panhandleequinerescue.org.
Pictured top: One of the horses involved in an abuse case on Gilmore Road. Pictured left inset: Escambia County Jail mug shots of Robin Floyd (top) and Lynn Floyd taken Thursday. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
NorthEscambia.com Named Best Local Blog On The Coast
October 16, 2009
NorthEscambia.com has been named the “Best Local Blog” in the ninth annual Pensacola Independent newspaper’s Best of the Coast issue.
Over 8,400 ballots were cast, with NorthEscambia.com being named in the Best Local Blog category. We join other media winners Best TV Station WEAR, Best Radio Station Cat Country 98.7, Best TV Personality Mollye Barrows and Best Local Radio Personality Marty White of WXBM.
The extensive “best of” lists are a who’s who of Pensacola, Escambia County and the rest of the coast.
Read “Best of the Coast 2009″ from the Pensacola Independent News by clicking here.
Editor’s note: NorthEscambia.com is on the “Comprehensive Winners List” at the link above. And, by the way, we are big fan of the “Restaurants” list. Mmmm.
Ernest Ward Middle Eagles Take On T.R. Miller Tigers
October 16, 2009
The Ernest Ward Middle School Eagles fell to the T.R. Miller Thursday night, 34-30.
The first quarter ended scoreless in Walnut Hill. In the second, a Tigers pass from the Eagle’s 39 put T.R. Miller on the board. A pass into the endzone for another two points, but T.R. Miller up 8-0 with 6:41 in the half.
The Eagles pushed forward for three downs after the Miller TD, but they fumbled the ball away to the Tigers on the Eagles 29. A couple of plays later, T.R. Miller struck again for another half dozen. Dalton Tullis stop the Tigers on their two point attempt. With 4:11 in the half, Miller was up 14-0.
With 1:37 in the second quarter, Ernest Ward was in a second and 10 situation on their own 35. But the Tigers recovered another Eagles fumble. T.R. Miller tried a quarterback keeper, but Dalton Daniels stopped him after a short gain. With 35 seconds in the half, the Tigers passed, and Brandon Freeman stopped the run on the Eagles 21. On the next down, Jordon Bodiford and William Andreolli sacked the Miller QB for a lost on the play with 24.4 seconds in the second.
Miller pulled off a successful 15-yard pass only to be stopped on the ground by Azeen Grissett and a host of Eagles to end the half 14-0, Miller.
The Miller Tigers struck again in the third quarter for a touchdown with 6:13 and again with 4:13 to go. Both point after attempts failed, and T.R. Miller held a 26-0 lead late in the third.
With 1:45 to go in the game, Miller added another six and a two point conversion, 32-0.
The Eagles started on final drive with 1:38 remaining in the ballgame. Cameron Newsome returned the kick to the midfield line. On second down, Bodiford picked up a handful of yards to make it second and six. On the next down, Gregory Madison was stopped after a short gain for the Eagles. On the final down of the ballgame, Ryan Ashcraft gained three yards for EWMS. The final — T.R. Miller 34, Ernest Ward 0.
For an exclusive NorthEscambia.com photo gallery with over 100 photos from the game, click here.
Pictured top: Tristan Montgomery makes a gain for the Eagles. Pictured inset: Jaylen Parker gains yardage for EWMS. Pictured below: Eagles cheerleader Jadlyn Agerton soars at the top of cheerleader tower Thursday night. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Seasonal Flu Vaccinations Almost Compete At Schools; H1N1 Vaccine Coming Soon
October 16, 2009
Over 4,000 Escambia County students have participated in voluntary vaccinations for the seasonal flu, and health officials say voluntary H1N1 swine flu vaccinations in schools will begin in about a week.
The Escambia County Health Department will begin offering the voluntary H1N1 vaccination through public schools beginning next Thursday and will continue through November. C.A. Weis Elementary and West Pensacola Elementary are scheduled to have their voluntary vaccination clinic on October 22. The only North Escambia school scheduled to receive the H1N1 vaccine in the next two weeks in Jim Allen Elementary, according to Molly Payne-Hardin, health department spokesperson. Parents will get information about the vaccine and permission forms about one week before the voluntary H1N1 vaccination clinic is scheduled to be at their child’s school.
Thursday morning, a seasonal flu vaccine event was held at Ferry Pass Elementary School. Superintendent Malcolm Thomas, Escambia County Health Department Director Dr. John Lanza, Ferry Pass Elementary School Principal Rhonda Shuford, and Ferry Pass Elementary School Nurse Julie Terrell talked with a class of fourth graders about the importance of getting a flu vaccine and learning how to prevent the flu. The school’s mascot for good health, Wiggum, a large fuzzy purple puppet (animated by Nurse Julie Terrell) encouraged the students by giving them each a high-five, kiss or hug after they got their flu shots.
There season flu vaccine was made available to students at 26 Escambia County schools through a federal stimulus initiative. Participating schools in North Escambia were Bratt, Byrneville, Molino Park and Jim Allen elementary schools. The Escambia Health Department’s School Health Division reports an average participation rate of 42 percent.
“If a child gets sick from flu, they can be out of school for up to seven days. When a child is out sick, they are not learning. Flu is a disease that can be prevented — I urge everyone to get their seasonal flu vaccine and practice basic prevention like washing our hands frequently, covering our coughs and sneezes, and staying home when we’re sick,” Lanza said.
The first shipments of the H1N1 vaccine are in the nasal mist format and are available through some pediatricians offices and at the Escambia County Health Department’s Fairfield Drive location. Additional shipments of vaccine are arriving weekly and are expected to continue arriving through December, Payne-Hardin said. The health department’s website www.EscambiaHealth.com has details on getting the H1N1 vaccine at the health department. Residents can also call their pediatricians office to find out if they will be offering the H1N1 vaccine.
Pictured top: Ferry Pass Elementary student Shawn Schiewe receives the seasonal flu vaccine Thursday morning. Pictured inset: Escambia County Health Department Director John Lanza discusses the swine flu with Ferry Pass fourth grade students. Pictured below: Escambia School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas takes flu questions. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Barrineau Park Road Closed For Bridge Repair
October 16, 2009
Barrineau Park Road will be closed beginning this morning from Jacks Branch Road to Barrineau Park School Road.
The road will be closed while repairs are made to the Penasula Creek Bridge which is located north of the intersection of Barrineau Park Road and Jacks Branch Road. Sonya Daniel, Escambia County spokesperson, did not give a timetable for the bridge to reopen, but NorthEscambia.com has learned the closure may last several weeks.
The only detours around the closure would be either Chestnut Road or Highway 29 between Barrineau Park Road and Molino Road.
Henry Hiebert, assistant chief of the Molino Station of Escambia Fire-Rescue, said his volunteer members will be aware of the bridge closure and plan their responses so that it will not be a problem.
“We have volunteers responding to calls from both sides of the bridge,” he said. “It won’t really be a problem.”
The closure also impacts a popular route from South Highway 99 and Highway 97 in Walnut Hill to Pensacola.
The closed bridge is marked with the green icon on the map below.
NHS Beats PCA, Honors Senior Volleyball Players
October 16, 2009
The Northview Chiefs honored their senior volleyball players prior to their victory over Pensacola Christian Academy Thursday evening.
Scores and stats from the game are at the bottom of this article.
Seniors Caitlin Hall, Danielle Martin and Angela Rodriguez received flowers and framed volleyball photos. The crowd was introduced to each girl, and learned a little bit more about each:
Caitlin Hall enjoys watching CSI, Everybody Loves Raymond, Disney movies and Sweet Home Alabama. She enjoys pizza, country and rap music. Her favorite subject at Northview is P.E., and she would one day like to be either a professional athlete or teacher.
Danielle Martin likes to watch CSI, and her favorite movie is Diary of a Mad Black Woman. She loves a good Hershey Cookies & Cream Bar and likes all types of music. Her favorite school subject is P.E., and she is undecided about her future career.
Angela Rodriguez likes to watch Family Guy and House. Her favorite movie is Hangover, and she loves Italian food. Her favorite types of music and rap and R&B. Her favorite school subject is DCT, and she would like to be an ultrasound technician.
Northview vs PCA – Varsity
25-20 25-16 25-16
**Northview Winning**
Shawna Montgomery 11 M Kills-10, Aces-3, Assists-2
Caitlin Hall 12 Setter Assists–21, Blocks-1, Aces-3,Kills-2
Angela Rodriguez 12 LS/Middle Kills-5 Assists -1, Aces-4, Block-1
Danielle Martin 12 LS Kills – 1, Assists-2
Shaniqua Jones 11 M Kills-5, Blocks-2
Ashton Gibbs 09 Libero Aces-3, Digs – 2
Record – Overall –7 -15; District 4 -4
Northview Vs PCA- JV
25-12 25-12
**Northview Winning**
Trestine Dean 11 Setter Assists –3, Aces-4
Morgan Payne 09 Middle/Setter Aces – 2, Kills -3, Blocks -1
Josie Doucette 10 Middle Kills – 3, Aces -2
Rebecca Masaitis 09 Left Aces-1, Blocks-1
Cool! Fall Weather On The Way Today
October 16, 2009
After weeks of warm, humid conditions, fall weather is finally on the way. A strong cold front is completing its move across the area this morning, ushering in temperatures that will fall as low as 39 over the next few nights.
Here is your complete North Escambia weather forecast:
- Today: Isolated showers and thunderstorms before 10am. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 74. North wind between 10 and 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 47. North wind around 10 mph.
- Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 63. North wind between 10 and 15 mph.
- Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 39. North wind around 10 mph.
- Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 64. North wind around 10 mph.
- Sunday Night: Clear, with a low around 38. North wind around 5 mph.
- Monday: Sunny, with a high near 69. North wind around 5 mph.
- Monday Night: Clear, with a low around 44. East wind around 5 mph.
- Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 75. East wind around 5 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 52.
- Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 74.
- Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60.
- Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77.