Cat Country Personality, WEAR Reporter In Iraq
November 23, 2009
A local television reporter and morning show radio personality are spending this Thanksgiving week in Iraq, visiting with local Marines and delivering thousands of letters from area residents.
Cat Country 98.7’s Dana Cervantes and Channel 3 reporter Bill Pearson landed at Al Asad Airbase in Iraq Sunday night. They are spending Thanksgiving week in Kuwait and Iraq, visiting Marines, Sailors and Hospital Corpsmen based or trained in the Pensacola area.
Hundreds of Marines at Al Asad trained at NAS Pensacola or NAS Whiting Field. Cervantes and Pearson will be telling their stories on CatCountry 98.7, NewsRadio1620 and Channel 3 beginning today.
Cervantes and Pearson left Pensacola Wednesday and arrived at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait late Thursday night. They spent Friday at the Navy-led Expeditionary Medical Facility (EMF) Kuwait with medical personnel deployed from Naval Hospital Pensacola. EMF-K is the hospital taking care of troops in Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). Late Friday, Cervantes & Pearson left Kuwait for the arduous 40-hour trip via Baghdad to Al Asad, Iraq.
Before leaving, Dana Cervantes collected thousands of letters written for the troops. Most were written by local school children in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. Cervantes and Bill Pearson are delivering these hand-written letters and cards to troops in both Kuwait and Iraq.
Pictured top: Cat Country 98.7’s Dana Cervantes and Channel 3 reporter Bill Pearson are in Iraq this week visiting with local troops. Pictured bottom: Cervantes and Pearson are delivering thousands of letters of support from local residents and school children. Photos courtesy Cat Country 98.7 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Fall Break This Week For Escambia, Santa Rosa
November 23, 2009
Fall break will be this week for students in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
Students in Escambia County will get three days for fall break beginning Wednesday, while Santa Rosa County students will get the entire week out of school.
Students at the University of West Florida will be out of school Thursday and Friday for Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving break at Pensacola Junior College begins at 4 p.m. Wednesday and continues through Friday.
Auburn Beats Alabama 730-274
November 23, 2009
Auburn beat Alabama over the weekend 730-274. With wins two years running, Crimson Tide headed into the third annual Food Bowl at Southern Family Markets in Atmore but came up way short to the AU Tigers.
The annual event raises food and money for Atmore Christian Care Ministries, an area non-profit that provides food assistance to needy families. Points were awarded to either Alabama or Auburn for each dollar or food item donated. In the end, about 830 food items and $170 in cash were donated during the event sponsored by the Atmore First United Methodist Church’s youth department.
In the end, Auburn supporters donated 730 food items or dollars, while 274 were donated by Alabama fans.
Marlboro Man, Supreme Court Justice And Teacher Honored, Inducted Into Area Hall Of Fame
November 23, 2009
Three new members were inducted into the Atmore Area Hall of Fame this weekend.
The new inductees are:
Justice Lyn Stuart, an Atmore native and graduate of Escambia County High School. Upon graduation from law school Justice Stuart worked as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Alabama under former Attorney General Charles Graddick. She also served as Executive Assistant to the Commissioner and Special Assistant Attorney General for the State Department of Corrections. Upon moving to Baldwin County, she became an Assistant District Attorney for Baldwin County on the staff of District Attorney David Whetstone. Stuart was elected as district judge in 1988 and 1984. Gov. Fob James appointed her to the Circuit bench in 1997 an was elected without opposition in 1998. She has served a justice on the Alabama Supreme Court since 2001. Justice Stuart and her husband, George, have two sons, Tucker and Shepard, and a daughter, Kelly.
Annie Ruth Whitten, a teacher who passed away in June. Whitten moved to Atmore with her husband Thomas Whitten in 1944. She was a 1933 graduate of Huntington College, where she majored in math and English. Whitten was in the classroom for 35 years, including 29 years at Atmore’s Escambia County High School.
Paul Smith, who was known on stage as Paul Birch. Born in Atmore in 1912, he was the original Marlboro Man in television and print commercials. Birch appeared in well over 100 movies and television shows, including support roles on Bonanza, The Virginian, and Wagon Train. Smith died in May, 1969, at the age of 57.
Pictured top: Justice Lyn Stuart, Annie Ruth Whitten and Paul Smith were inducted into the Atmore Area Hall of Fame. Submitted and courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Limited H1N1 Vaccines Available Today In Atmore, Brewton
November 23, 2009
The Escambia County (Ala.) Health Department hold H1N1 vaccination clinics today from 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. or until all vaccine has been administered. Limited quantities of the novel H1N1 vaccine will be available for the following groups:
- Pregnant women
- Household and caregiver contacts of children younger than 6 months of age (parents, siblings and child care providers)
- Health care and emergency medical services personnel
- Persons 4 years through 24 years of age (note this is a change from last clinic)
- Individuals aged 25 through 64 years with medical conditions associated with a higher risk of flu complications (such as asthma, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, HIV and certain types of arthritis)
The clinics will be held at the Atmore and Brewton locations of the Escambia County Health Department. The Atmore location is in the satellite courthouse on Highway 31, and the Brewton location is at 1115 Azalea Place.
For additional information, contact the Escambia County Health Department at (251) 368-9188 or (251) 867-5765 in Brewton.
Highway 97 Closed Four Hours After Wreck; One Person Injured
November 22, 2009
(Updated with names) A five-mile stretch of Highway 97 was closed for about four hours Sunday morning due to a single vehicle accident.
The accident happened at the intersection of Highway 97 and Highway 164 about 6:30. The driver of a 1977 Ford Thunderbird, Anthony McWilliams, 22, of Bay Minette, lost control while headed northbound on Highway 97. He traveled about 250 feet on shoulder before striking a power pole. The impact broke the pole, and sent power lines down across Highway 97 and Highway 164.
McWilliams and his passenger, William Lewis, 22, of Bay Minette, were transported by ambulance to Atmore Community Hospital with minor injuries. McWilliams was charged with careless driving by the Florida Highway Patrol.
Highway 97 was closed from Highway 99A at Ernest Ward Middle School to Highway 4 in Davisville due to the wreck. Drivers were detoured onto Highway 99A, Highway 99 and Highway 4. Highway 164 was also closed. All of the roadways were reopened at about 10:30 a.m.
Several dozen Escambia River Electric Cooperative customers were without power for about four hours as a result of the accident..
Pictured above and below: One person was injured in this single vehicle accident on Highway 97 Sunday morning. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
No Injuries In Early Morning Highway 29 Wreck
November 22, 2009
(Updated) No one was injured in a single vehicle accident on Highway 29 in McDavid Sunday morning.
The accident happened about 4:45 a.m. on Highway 29 about one mile north of Champion Drive and the sawmill. The driver of a Ford F350, Philip M. Bell of Century, lost control of his vehicle and ran off the road into the woods. Bell told troopers that he fell asleep; he was not injured in the crash. The FHP says charges are pending against Bell.
The McDavid Station of Escambia Fire-Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Florida Highway Patrol responded to the accident.
The accident is still under investigation by the FHP.
Accident On Tedder Road In Century
November 22, 2009
The Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to a single vehicle accident on Tedder Road.
The accident happened about 6:55 about a half mile from Highway 4. The Florida Highway Patrol says Lisa K. Lyons, 35, of Atmore, lost control of her 1997 Ford Explorer in an “S” curve and hit a small embankment. Lyons was transported to Atmore Community Hospital with minor injuries.
Lyons told the FHP that the inside compartment of the vehicle begin to fill with smoke from the dashboard, which caused her to lose control the vehicle. She was not charged in connect with the accident.
The Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS also responded to the call.
Pictured above: One person received minor injuries in this single vehicle wreck Sunday morning in Century. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Tate Aggies Claim First Miracle Bowl From Northview Chiefs
November 22, 2009
The Tate Aggies claimed the first ever Miracle Bowl Saturday afternoon with a 41-27 victory over the Northview Chiefs to end Tate’s best season in 13 years.
Proceeds from the game will benefited the Miracle League of Northwest Florida, a baseball league for disabled and special needs persons that plays spring and fall at the Mitchell Homes Miracle League Park on Nine Mile Road.
The Class 1A Northview Chiefs, under first year Coach Sid Wheatley, finished the regular season a 7-3 record, a huge improvement over last year’s 2-8 season. The Tate Aggies were 7-3 this season in Class 4A. Both teams finished third in their respective districts; one loss away from a trip to the state playoff series.
The Aggies were first on the board at Pete Gindl Stadium in Cantonment following a Northview turnover. That gave the Aggies a 7-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
With 8:44 to go in the second quarter, Tate added seven more with 50-yard touchdown from senior Qudarius Ford. Then to round out the half, the Aggies struck again, with a four yard pass to Abe Hutcheon to make it 21-0 heading into the lockers.
In the third, the Aggies scored again with 5:34 in the quarter to expand their lead to 28-0.
But the 1A Chiefs were not going to be shut out by the 4A Aggies. Late in the third, La’Mikal Kyles had a 34-yard touchdown run for Northview. After a good kick from Brad Lowery, the Chiefs were on the board, trailing Tate 27-7 with 2:59 in the third quarter.
Tate scored again in the third after Josh Dees broke free from a host of Chiefs for a 35-yard touchdown run. A kick through the uprights, and Tate held a 34-7 advantage at the end of the third quarter.
Darius Michael, a junior, started the fourth quarter with a 60-yard touchdown for Tate; the Aggies were up 41-7. Then Jeremy Jackson added a touchdown for the Chiefs. A missed point after, the Aggies were on top 41-13.
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Northview continued their fourth quarter scoring run with a Roderick Woods (pictured above) touchdown with 2:19 to go in the game. Then, with just 40 seconds on the clock, the Chiefs were in the end zone again freshman Roderick Woods hustling for another six.
In the end, the 4A Tate Aggies claimed the Miracle Bowl with a 41-27 win over the 1A Northview Chiefs.
Pictured above: Action from the Miracle Bowl Saturday between Tate and Northview high schools Pictured below: Tate Head Coach Ed Rigby presents a Miracle Bowl Trophy to Miracle League founders Larry and Donna Thompson. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Juniors Claim Gulf Coast Youth Alliance Football Championship
November 22, 2009
The Cantonment Juniors won the Gulf Coast Youth Football Alliance championship Saturday night at Pensacola High School.
The Cantonment Cowboys beat Ensley 34-0. The game was called with 6:59 to go under the mercy rule.
During their three game championship bid, the Cantonment Juniors only allowed one touchdown against them. During those three games, the Cowboys scored a total of 88 points.
The one TD allowed by Cantonment came during last’s win last week over Pensacola 24-6. In the first game of the three week championship series, Cantonment beat Myrtle Grove 30-0.