Atmore Wreck Traps, Injures Three
March 3, 2009
Three elderly people were injured in a two vehicle accident in Atmore Tuesday morning.
The three were trapped in their overturned Chevrolet Impala for about 20 minutes while rescue workers worked to free them. They were transported by to Atmore Community Hospital by ambulance. Their injuries were not believed to be life-threatening.
The accident happened just before noon at the intersection of Owens and Presley streets in Atmore. That is about a block west of the Family Dollar in the shopping center with Winn Dixie.
It appeared that the driver of the overturned car failed to stop a stop sign and was hit in on the passenger side by a southbound Mercury Grand Marquis. The driver of the Grand Marquis was not seriously injured in the crash.
The accident is under investigation.
Pictured above and below: Three people were trapped in on overturned car in an accident at Presley and Owens streets in Atmore just before noon today. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Lots Of Smoke From Tungoil Burn
March 3, 2009
The Florida Division of Forestry conducted a 100 acre burn off Tungoil Road south of Walnut Hill Tuesday. A large plume of smoke was visible for miles from the fire, which was just off Highway 97. This photo was taken from several miles away at the intersection of Highway 97 and South Highway 99. NorthEscambia.com photo.
Consolidated Government Bill Filed In Florida House
March 3, 2009
State Rep. Greg Evers filed a bill in Florida House Monday afternoon that, if approved, would led to the formation of a commission to study the consolidation of the governments of Century, Pensacola and Escambia County.
Once a consolidation plan is created by the study commission, it is to be submitted to the Escambia County Commission, the City of Pensacola and the Town of Century for action before submission to the Escambia County legislative delegation by January 15, 2010. Once approved by the legislature, the plan would presented to Escambia County voters.
Century, Pensacola and Escambia County will not be required to pay for the commission, under the house bill, but they will be required to provide clerical, technical and legal assistance to the commission.
The commission, to be appointed by July 1 of this year, would include up to 25 members from various groups in the county.
The commission will include:
- Five members appointed by the Escambia County Commission, with one member being appointed from each district
- One member appointed by the Century Town Council, with that member being a resident of Century
- Two members appointed by the Pensacola City Council, both of them being residents of Pensacola
One member will be appointed by each of the following groups:
- NAACP
- Escambia County Taxpayer’s Association
- League of Women Voters of Pensacola Bay Area
- Pensacola Young Professionals
- Pensacola Ministerial Alliance
- Escambia County Farm Bureau
- Home Builders Association of West Florida
The president of the University of West Florida will appoint one member with expertise in local government matters. The sheriff, tax collector, property appraiser, clerk of court and supervisor of elections will each appoint one member.
The chief judge of the First Judicial Circuit will appoint two Florida Bar members with legal expertise in local government matters.
One member will be appointed by the Escambia County School Board, and the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority will appoint a member.
A special advisory committee on public safety will be appointed under the house bill, consisting of the following or their designee:
- Escambia County Sheriff
- Pensacola Police chief
- Escambia County Community Corrections Bureau
- Escambia County Public Safety Bureau Chief
- Pensacola fire chief
- Escambia County Medical Director
- chairperson of the Escambia County Fire Services Advisory Board
- Police Benevolent Association of the City of Pensacola
- Police Benevolent Association of Escambia County
- Chapter of of the International Association of Firefighters of the City of Pensacola
A special advisory committee on economic development will be appointed, including members appointed by the following groups:
- Pensacola Junior College
- Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce
- Perdido Key Chamber of Commerce
- Pensacola Downtown Improvement Board
- Gulf Coast African American Chamber of Commerce
- local chapter of the Florida Black Chamber of Commerce
- Florida’s Great Northwest
- Town of Century Chamber of Commerce
- Walnut Hill Ruritan Club
- Pensacola Beach Chamber of Commerce
An advisory committee on health care will be appointed by:
- Baptist Health Care
- Sacred Heart Health System
- West Florida Hospital
- Escambia County Health Department
- Escambia County Medical Society
Click here to read the entire bill (pdf format).
Flomaton Football Star Tony Ellis Appears In Court
March 3, 2009
The Flomaton High School football star arrested on multiple sexual abuse charges involving a minor has asked to be tried as a youthful offender.
Tony Ellis, 18, was indicted by an Escambia County (Ala.) grand jury for enticing a minor into a vehicle for immoral purposes, sodomy II, and sexual abuse. The alleged victim is 12-years old.
Ellis asked an Escambia County (Ala.) court for youthful offender status. His arraignment has been delayed until the court decides if he will receive that youthful offender status or if he will tried as an adult.
Ellis is currently free on bond posted a volunteer coach that coached Ellis at one time in youth baseball.
Authorities have said Ellis picked up the 12-year old girl, a girl they say he knew, on December 15 from Pollard-McCall School and attempted to have sexual relations with her.
School officials say Ellis was suspended from his classes at Flomaton High School, including all extracurricular activities, and is attending the county’s alternative school.
His high school career included at least 1,500 rushing yards per year for each of the last three years at Flomaton. Ellis, who is 5-foot-9, had over 5,000 rushing yards in his high school career with the Canes.
Students Make Wacky Photos Of Teacher
March 3, 2009
Northview High School celebrated National FBLA week with several contests, including a typing contest and a wacky photo contest.
In the fastest typing contest, Joshua King won a $20 gift card to Walmart for being the FBLA’s best. He typed 84 net words a minute for three minutes.
The students also took part in the wacky photo contest. They were given a photo of business technology teacher Donna Smith (left) and told to make it “wacky”.
Eric Ickeringill’s rendition of Mrs. Smith as a PBS star Bob Ross from the “Joy of Painting” won. He also received a $20 gift card.
In the wacky photo contest, students were told use “Photoshop, Paint, or whatever software program you wise, enhance Mrs. Smith’s photo. For example, you can give her a halo, horns, mustache, etc. Be creative!”.
To see other entries in the wacky photo contest, click here..
Pictured top: Eric Ickeringill’s wacky photo of Northview business technology teacher Donna Smith. Pictured middle: The original photo. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com.
NHS Softball Player’s Leg Healing; 8-12 Weeks To Play Again
March 3, 2009
Northview High School softball player Amber McMillan — the girl in the photo that shows her leg being broken — was at the Andrews Institute Monday afternoon to find out more about how bad her leg is.
Mom Donna McMillan says that it will be 8 to 12 weeks before there is any chance for Amber to play softball again.
The doctor said Monday that the original surgeon did a great job, Donna said. Amber still has a rod in her leg that begins just below the knee and ends near her ankle. It will be about six months before doctors know if the rod will need to be removed.
Now, Donna said, Amber will being physical therapy four times a week. She will be able to return to Northview as soon as she can put weight on her leg and the swelling decreases.
NorthEscambia.com ran a story about Amber last Friday and the amazing photo that shows her leg at the moment it was broken. Click here for that story.
Pictured above: Northview softball player Amber McMillan’s left leg is broken in tournament game in Dothan. Her Submitted photo by Scott Harris, www.scottharrisphotos.com for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Chiefs Beat Mobile Christian (Updated With Stats)
March 3, 2009
The NHS Chiefs beat Mobile Christian on the road Monday night, 6-4 in eight innings.
Northview scored one in the third, one in the fifth, two in the 7th, and two in the 8th.
Mobile Christian picked up two runs in the 4th, and added two in the 7th.
Brad Lowery pitched 6 innings and gave up two runs on five hits, walked four and struck out eight. Brett Hanks pitched the final two innings and got the win. He allowed two runs on no hits, and struck out four.
Northview hitters:
Brad Foster 2 hits, 2 runs, 2 RBI.
Dabney Langhorne 1 single
Austin Lowery 1 single
Luke Killam 1 single
Dakota Stuckey 1 single
The Chiefs are now 3-2 on the season.
Have Frontier Telephone Voice Mail? It Changes Today
March 3, 2009
If you have voice mail service from Frontier, there have been changes made to your service with an all-new voice mail system.
The new voice mail system includes several state of the art features not available with the company’s former system.
Some of the new features available with the new Frontier voice mail include the ability to check voice mail online, forward messages to an email address and even received faxes. Some of the new features may cost an additional $1 to $2 depending on your current service package.
In order to use the new voice mail service, you will be required to access the new mailbox, choose a new PIN pass code and record a new greeting.
All Frontier customers received a letter in the mail explaining the new voice mail system and options.
A copy of that letter is available clicking here.
For a sheet with voice mail instructions click here.
In our area, Frontier provides local telephone service in the Walnut Hill, Bratt and Davisville 327 exchange, the Molino 587 exchange and the Atmore 368 exchange.
Ordinary Business For Century Council
March 3, 2009
The Monday night meeting of the Century Town Council was very ordinary and usually short.
The council approved minutes from their last two meetings with a few changes, and they approved paying the town’s bills.
Council member Gary Riley reported that no decisions had been made yet on a location for a cold weather shelter for the town.
Council member Henry Hawkins questioned potential problems from forgiving water bills for Backwoods Road residents while they wait for water improvements.
Council member Nadine McCaw referenced an article on NorthEscambia.com Sunday morning that warned area residents to be wary of scam letters that have been sent to several North Escambia residents. Read the story here.
“Our citizens need to be very careful,” McCaw said.
Century Mayor Freddie McCall was not at Monday night’s meeting. He is recovered from surgery last week. Council member Sharon Scott was also not at the meeting.
Another Local Family Heads Off On ‘Snow Quest’
March 3, 2009
We published a blog Monday morning on NorthEscambia.com about a “Snow Chaser” trip Sunday from North Escambia to Montgomery to see snow.
It turns out that the NorthEscambia.com family was not the only family to hit the highways Sunday.
The Diamond family of Jay did the same, heading all the way to Calloway Gardens in Georgia. They took some incredible pictures along the way, and wanted to share.
In response to our Monday blog, Ashley Burkett wrote:
My family did the same thing! My parents decided that since the grandkids had asked Santa for snow this year that when they heard there would be snow, we loaded up. Papa, Grammy, Aunt Ashley (to two kids, Momma to the other 2) and all 4 grandkids… We went to Calloway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Ga. We usually go there twice a year; once during the summer and once for the Christmas lights so who says we can’t go at the drop of a hat… We named it the 2009 Diamond’s Great Snow Quest…. It was awesome and unbelievable. When we called Calloway Gardens to make reservations, they told us that the snow probably wouldn’t stick… boy did we show that lady! We got stuck in the snow and then unstuck and still played for hours and hours yesterday and this morning before heading back to Jay, Florida!! We had an amazing time, kids and adults!!!!
For a look at their pictures, click here.
Pictured above: A Jay family took this photo after heading to Georgia to see snow over the weekend. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com.