Century Woman Arrested For Violating Cocaine Conviction Probation
October 28, 2009
A Century woman was arrested Tuesday morning for violating her probation on a 2008 cocaine possession charge.
Linda Jean Harris, 49, of Ivey Street, Century, was arrested at her residence by Escambia County deputies. She is being held without bond in the Escambia County Jail on a violation of probation charge.
Harris was arrested in February, 2008, and charged with possession of cocaine and resisting arrest without violence. She was found guilty on May 21, 2008, and was sentenced to 18 months probation on the possession of cocaine charge and a concurrent one year probation on the resisting arrest charge.
A warrant for her arrest for violating her probation was issued October 19, 2009.
Limited H1N1 Vaccine Made Available In Atmore, Brewton
October 28, 2009
The Escambia County (Ala.) Health Department made 400 doses of the H1N1 vaccine available today to individuals in targeted high-risk groups.
The vaccine in injectable form was offered only to pregnant women; children 6 months though 4 years old; parents, siblings and caregivers of children less than 6 months old; children 5 to 18 years old who have underlying medical conditions; and health care workers.
There were 200 does available at the Atmore health department location and 200 available at the health department location in Brewton. The vaccines were administered on a first come, first serve basis only to those Escambia County (Ala.) residents in a high-risk category.
“We must target our limited amounts of vaccine to individuals at the highest risk because of the uncertainties in supply we face,” Dr. Donald Williamson, state health officer, said. “We ask for your support and understanding at this time. As more vaccine becomes available, our department and other health care providers will begin vaccinating school children and others outside of these target groups.”
Statewide, Alabama had 55,000 doses of the H1N1 vaccine available Wednesday.
Masland’s Parent Company Reports Larger Than Expect Losses
October 28, 2009
The Dixie Group, parent company of Masland Carpets, reported that the company lost over $2 million in the third quarter and sales were down 31 percent over a year ago.
Masland employs about 325 people in Atmore and 340 people in Saraland.
Financial results released Tuesday show that for the third quarter of 2009, the Company reported a loss from continuing operations of $2,017,000, or $0.16 per diluted share, compared with a loss from continuing operations of $732,000, or $0.06 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2008. Sales for the third quarter of 2009 were $50,487,000, down 31% from $72,917,000 in the year-earlier quarter.
For the nine months ended September 26, 2009, the loss from continuing operations was $38,442,000, or $3.13 per diluted share.
“The actions taken beginning in 2008 to reduce costs have resulted in 28 percent fewer associates and should produce cost reductions of approximately $23 million to $25 million by 2010. We continue to review our cost position to insure our return to profitability,” said Daniel K. Frierson, chairman and chief executive officer. “Our initial action under the cost reduction plan consisted primarily of consolidating our East Coast and West Coast tufting facilities along with other cost-cutting efforts. This program will be complete by year-end 2009.”
“The second phase of our cost reduction initiative, as described in our second quarter earnings release, realigned our three residential units into one business unit with three distinct brands. This action is progressing well, and we expect to begin seeing savings from this realignment in the fourth quarter – with the full effect to be felt early next year.”
Byrneville Teachers, Staff To Dress As Smurfs – For A Price
October 28, 2009
Students at Byrneville Elementary School have the opportunity to see their teachers dress like a Smurf — for a good cause.
Byrneville is collecting money to sponsor a World War II veteran on an upcoming Honor Flight. If students donate $100 by Friday, the faculty and staff will dress like Smurfs for the day.
For more information, or if you would like to help, call the school at (850) 256-6350.
Application Deadline Friday For Several Landowner Conservation Programs
October 28, 2009
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida has set a cutoff date of this Friday, October 30 to submit applications for several voluntary conservation programs that may help eligible participants pay for conservation practices to prevent soil erosion, improve water quality, restore wetlands and provide habitat for wildlife.
- The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a conservation program that provides financial and technical assistance to farmers and ranchers who face threats to soil, water, air, and related natural resources on their land. Through EQIP, NRCS develops contracts with agricultural producers to voluntarily implement conservation practices to address environmental natural resource problems. Persons engaged in livestock or agricultural production and owners of non-industrial private forestland are eligible for the program. Eligible land includes cropland, rangeland, pastureland, private non-industrial forestland, and other farm or ranch lands.
- The Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP) is a voluntary program for developing or improving high quality habitat that supports fish and wildlife populations of National, State, Tribal, and local significance. Through WHIP, the NRCS provides technical and financial assistance to private and Tribal landowners for the development of upland, wetland, aquatic, and other types of wildlife habitat.
- The Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) provides technical and financial assistance to private landowners and Tribes to restore, protect, and enhance wetlands in exchange for retiring eligible land from agriculture.
- The Grassland Reserve Program (GRP) is a program for landowners and operators to protect grazing uses and related conservation values by conserving grassland, including rangeland, pastureland, shrubland, and certain other lands.
NRCS encourages interested parties to visit with their staff as soon as possible because applicants who apply early have more time to resolve any program or land eligibility issues.
Interested landowners should visit their local USDA – NRCS field office at 151 Highway 97 in Molino or click here for more information on these programs. Landowners can also call Josh McElhaney, district conservationist, at (850) 587-5404 ext. 3.
Lady Astros End Successful Season
October 28, 2009
The Lady Astros 16U fast pitch softball team from Molino ended their season recently with a number one ranking in the state.
The Lady Astros were ranked number one in the state in fastpitch softball with the highest number of points with a 15-6 record in their four best tournaments.
The traveling team is comprised of girls from Northview, Tate, Pace, Jay and Washington High Schools. The Astros finished 4-1 in the USFA Gulf South Fall State Tournament in Daphne, losing 5-4 in the semifinals against Alabama Threat.
Pictured above: The Lady Astros 16U fast pitch softball team. (Front, L-R) Maggie Swinford, Washington High; Kathern Tucker, Tate High; Marina Harris, Tate High; Jamie Ujvari, Pace High; Crysta Paulson, Tate High; (second row) Coach Robby Schaff; Avery Cobb, Tate High; Coach Rusty Odea; Amber Steadham, Jay High; Ronni Renfrow, Tate High; Rachuel Zampino, Tate High; Marina Cobbs, Tate High; Heather Schaff, Tate High; Jessi Ujvari, Pace High; and Coach Donnie Nicholson. Not pictured: Candice Greenwell, Northview High. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Business Owner Shot During Attempted Robbery In Atmore
October 27, 2009
The Atmore Police Department is investigating the attempted robbery and shooting of a business owner that occurred Monday night.
Atmore Police responded to a call of shots being fired about 8:45 p.m. in the area of Martin Luther King Avenue and Park Drive. Responding officers were just a few blocks away and unable to find any suspicious activity, according to Glenn Carlee, director of public safety.
“Upon further patrol of the area a motorist made contact with officers stating that he had been shot during an attempted robbery and was enroute to the hospital for treatment,” he said. The victim told Police that while he was closing his business the Game Room, which is located at Park Drive and Martin Luther King Avenue, several black males approached him and attempted to rob him.
“The victim indicated to one of the suspects that he knew him and at that point the gunman fired two rounds from his weapon striking the victim in the chest and arm,” Carlee said. The victim was transported to Atmore Community Hospital where he was kept overnight for observation.
Tracking dogs from Fountain Prison were called to assist in the search for the suspects.
Atmore Police said they have persons of interest in the case, but they continue to ask anyone with any information about this crime to call the department at (251) 368-9141.
Escambia Deputies Investigating String Of Armed Robberies
October 27, 2009
Escambia County deputies are searching for two black males in connection with a string of robberies in Pensacola this morning.
At about 4:40 a.m., two unidentified black males entered the Waffle House located in the 6900 block of Highway 29. The suspects, whose identity was concealed by hunting or camouflage masks, were armed with handguns and ordered the employees to the floor. The suspects ordered one of the employees to open the cash register and then removed the drawer and fled the store and were last seen running behind the Howard Johnson Motel.
At approximately the same time as the Waffle House robbery another report came in from a truck driver who was parked in the Howard Johnson parking lot stating he had been robbed at gunpoint. Contact was made with truck driver for Hungry Howie Distribution. The driver stated he was inspecting his truck before going on his route when he was approached by two black males.
According to the truck driver, both suspects brandished semi automatic handguns and demanded his money. The suspects had their identities concealed with what was described as bandanas and sunglasses. The clothing description of jeans with one suspect wearing a windbreaker type jacket along with the physical description, matched the suspects from the Waffle House robbery.
While patrol and K-9 units worked the scene at the first two robberies, a holdup alarm was received from the Tom Thumb convenience store in the 6900 block of Pine Forest Road. Escambia Deputies responded to the alarm and discovered that the business had just been robbed along with customers that were inside the store.
The suspects’ descriptions given matched that of the same suspects from the two previous robberies. The suspects entered the Tom Thumb at approximately 5 a.m. and demanded money from the cash register. The suspects also demanded money from the customers inside the business and one customer that was standing outside the business. The suspects were last seen running down Longleaf Drive where it is believed they entered an unknown vehicle.
No one was injured in the robberies. The suspects are facing multiple charges to include Armed Robbery/with a firearm, Aggravated Assault with intent to commit a felony, public order crimes (wearing a mask/hood during the commission of a felony) and displaying a firearm during a felony, according to Sgt. Ted Roy, public information officer for the ECSO. “Once caught, the suspects will be facing many years behind bars on the multiple felony counts.”
Anyone with any information in this string of robberies is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at 436-STOP.
Man Wanted On Outstanding Narcotics Related Warrant Leads Deputies On Chase
October 27, 2009
A Century man was arrested late Monday afternoon after leading deputies on a brief foot chase.
Kevin Lamar Brown, 29, of Old Flomaton Road, Century, was wanted on an outstanding warrant for failure to appear on multiple narcotics charges.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office received a tip that Brown was in the 700 block of West Highway 4 at 4:52 Monday afternoon. When deputies arrived in the area and spotted Brown, he ran. Deputies gave chase on foot, briefly losing sight of him on Hadley Lane.
Additional deputies and tracking dogs from the Century Correction Institution were called to assist in the search, but the first deputies on the scene located Brown in a wooded area off Hadley Lane. He was taken into custody and booked into the Escambia County Jail on the failure to appear warrant.
According to Escambia County Circuit Court records, Brown did not appear in court of charges of possession of a controlled substance, marijuana possession with intent to sell, and possession of narcotic equipment charge stemming from his August 25, 2008, arrest. The failure to appear warrant for his arrest was issued July 9 of this year.
Brown remained in the Escambia County Jail Tuesday morning without bond.
Northview Lady Chiefs Advance To District Championship Game With Win Over Freeport (Photo Gallery)
October 27, 2009
The Northview Chiefs advanced to the final round of the District 1-1A volleyball tournament Monday night in Bratt with a win over the Freeport Bulldogs.
Northview beat Freeport 25-10, 13-25, 18-25, 25-22, 15-9. Thursday night at 6:30, the Chiefs will play for the district championship against the winner of a Tuesday night game between Pensacola Christian and Baker.
“I am very proud of the team tonight,” an almost speechless Northview Head Coach Betty Heaton said of the Chiefs’ win. “They did a great job. They were a tough team, but the our girls worked hard for the win.”
Sophomore Shawna Montgomery led the Chiefs with eight kills, six digs, nine aces, two blocks and one assist Monday night. Caitlin Hall, a senior, had 20 assists, two digs, four aces, two kills and a couple of blocks.
Senior Angela Rodriguez had three kills, two digs and one ace. Shaniqua Jones added seven kills, one block and a single ace for Northview.
The Chiefs are now 9-17 overall, 5-4 in the district.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the game, click here.
Pictured above and below: Volleyball action as Northview beat Freeport in the District 1-1A tournament Monday night at Northview. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
