State Rep. Murzin Visits With Students
October 19, 2009
State Rep. Dave Murzin visited with fourth grade students at Molino Park Elementary School. Murzin talked with the students about state government, his job and his responsibilities in Tallahassee during his visit Friday morning. The students also had the opportunity to ask him questions. NorthEsambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
New Reading Books For Ernest Ward, Ransom
October 19, 2009
The Escambia School District has approved the purchase of $236,378 in reading materials for county middle schools.
The “Voyager Passport Reading Journeys” is a comprehensive reading program for middle school students who are reading two to four years below grade level. It is designed to accelerate the learning goals of below grade level readers.
Ernest Ward Middle School will receive $18,853 in materials, and $26,177 will go to Ransom Middle.
The district had wanted to purchase the program in the past, but did not have the funding. The $236,378 cost this time will be paid for with stimulus dollars.
Fund Established For Cantonment Family That Lost Everything In Fire
October 19, 2009
A fund has been established to help a Cantonment couple that lost their house in a fire on October 8.
Buford and Dolly Johnson’s home on Frank Ard Road was destroyed by fire. They have nothing left and no insurance. Persons wishing to make a donation can do so at any location of RBC Bank, including the location in Cantonment, to “The Johnson Fund”.
The family is staying temporarily in a loaned travel travel at their burned out home.
For more information, contact Tina at (850) 587-3063.
Man Arrested As Accomplice of Home Invasion Suspect Shot By 81-Year Old
October 19, 2009
A Brewton man has been arrested and charged with taking part in a burglary and home invasion gone bad that left his partner dead, shot by an 81-year old man.
Hunter Madden, 24, was charged last week with burglary first degree. Authorities said Madden dropped Jeremy Paul McCall, 35, off at the home of Ralph and Shirley Burkett on Highway 31 north of Brewton about 3 a.m. on Monday, October 12. McCall threatened the couple and demanded money, but 81-year old Ralph Burkett shot and killed him with one round from a .357 Magnum.
Madden reportedly watched from nearby as emergency workers responded to the scene on Highway 31 north of Brewton. He was being held in the Escambia County (Ala.) Detention Center on $50,000 bond.
McCall had been released from a Nebraska jail less than 48 hours before the incident. He was jailed on narcotics charges. Authorities said he had a crack cocaine addiction, and that he was facing two pending drug cases in Escambia County (Ala.). His rap sheet includes several drug crimes, assault, domestic violence and theft.
The shooting will go to a grand jury, but the sheriff does not believe either of the Burketts will be charged.
Jay Grad Takes The Field For USA Jaguars
October 19, 2009
A 2009 graduate of Jay High School is part of the first ever University South Alabama football team — a team that is now 4-0.
Dustin James, who graduated seventh in his class at JHS, is a 6-foot 290 pound member of the Jaguars’ offensive line. He is on the scout team this year, and he has had several tackles so far this season.
James earned four football letters at Jay and was twice named all-state and all-area. He lettered six times in track and field and was fifth at the state 1A meet in the shot put as a senior. He also lettered three time in weightlifting.
He is a civil engineering major who enjoys working on cars in his spare time.
James, 18, is the son of Brian and Tracy James of Jays. Brian James is a professional wrestler that once the Intercontinental champion and was a five-time tag team champion known as the “Road Dogg”.
He has two younger sisters: Amberly, 13, plays volleyball, basketball and softball; and Hanna, 6, who plays tee ball. Both attend Jay School.
Names Released In Fatal Cantonment Crash
October 18, 2009
A Navarre resident was killed in a Saturday afternoon crash in Cantonment, and four people — including a five year old child — were injured.
According to the Highway Patrol, a 1999 Saturn driven by Theresa M. Guy, 26, of Navarre, failed to stop at a stop sign at the intersection of Kingsfield Road and County Road 97. The Saturn was struck by a 2003 Dodge 2500 pickup driven by Samuel Seeley, 63, of Cantonment. Seely and his passenger, Beverly Seeley, 61, of Cantonment, were transported to West Florida Hospital in critical condition.
Guy’s passenger, Glen D. Ashby (pictured left), 39, of Navarre, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Guy and a second passenger, Nathien Guy, 5, of Navarre, remain in critical condition in Pensacola hospitals.
The force of the impact forced both vehicle to leave the road and overturn, coming to rest on the shoulder of County Road 97.
The accident was reported at 12:30 Saturday afternoon.
The case is still under investigation and charges are pending a traffic homicide investigation, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Pictured above: A Navarre man died in this accident Saturday afternoon in Cantonment. Pictured inset: Glen Ashby, 39, was killed in Saturday’s crash. Family members said he loved to fish. Pictured below: Map shows crash location. Click to enlarge.
Photo above courtesy WEAR.
NWE Midgets Beat Brewton, One Game Away From The Playoffs
October 18, 2009
The Northwest Escambia Midgets won their second straight game Saturday by beating Brewton 34-12.
Star running back Dalton Daniel saw limited playing time due to injury but still carried the ball three times for 50 yards and a touchdown.Taylor Reyes filled in for Dalton scoring on a 23-yard run; he finished the game with over 100 yards rushing.
Brannon Freeman also had a good performance with a 48-yard run for a TD, and he also finished with over 100 yards rushing. Daulton Tullis scored a touchdown on a 8-yard run, and Ryder Gifford capped the scoring off with an impressive 43-yard run late in the fourth quarter.
NWE finished with over 300 yards rushing behind the blocking of Olan Barlow, Deonte Mitchell, Matthew Lee, Hunter Sherouse, John D. Rhodes, Gavin Grant, and Zach Holland. On defense, Hunter Sherouse picked off two of Brewton passes, one of with he returned 60-yards down to Brewton’s 6-yard line.
Chasen Freeman and Brodie Amos recovered fumbles for the Eagles and also made several tackles.
Also seeing playing time were Elijah Harbison, Andrew Edwards, and Dylan Berry. NWE will take on Bellview Gold next Saturday afternoon at 3:00. With a win over Bellview, the NWE Midgets will be playoff bound.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Early Morning Fire Destroys Home
October 18, 2009
An early morning fire destroyed a home on Hilltop Road in Century.
The blaze was reported about 4:10 a.m. in the 100 block of Hilltop Road. The abandoned home was fully involved and had collapsed to the ground when the first firefighter arrived on scene just a few minutes after the initial emergency call. The wood frame structure was a total loss.
The blaze was quickly brought under control since most of the structure had burned before firefighters were called.
A natural gas line at the side of the home continued to burn while firefighters waited for a Town of Century Gas Department worker to arrive at the scene to cap-off the line. Firefighters say there was no gas service inside the home at the time of the fire. The meter had been removed and the gas line had been shut-off, but the seal was broken in the blaze.
The cause of the fire was not immediately known. It was believed that there was no one inside the structure at the time of the blaze. There were no injuries reported.
The Century and McDavid stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, the Flomaton Fire Department and Atmore Ambulance responded to the call.
Click here for more photos from the scene.
Pictured above: Firefighters work to extinguish a house fire in Century early Sunday morning. Pictured inset: A leaking natural gas line burns. Pictured below: The abandoned house was a total loss. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Portions Of Walnut Hill Without Power Early Sunday
October 18, 2009
A portion of the Walnut Hill area was without power for a few hours Sunday morning.
Escambia County emergency dispatchers said a caller reported power lines down and tree limbs on fire on Highway 97 north of Howell Road at about 1 a.m.
Firefighters from the Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue were unable to locate the downed lines or a fire.
Escambia River Electric Cooperative restored power within about three hours.
The power was reported to be out in Walnut Hill from Arthur Brown Road to south of Tungoil Road, in the Oak Grove area, along South Highway 99, and in surrounding areas.
Earliest Freeze Ever? Not Quite Tonight, But Close; Frost Advisory In Effect
October 18, 2009
The earliest freeze ever recorded in the North Escambia area is October 20. If forecasters are correct, we will barely miss breaking that record tonight.
The official North Escambia forecast for tonight calls for a low of 35, with patchy frost possible after 1 a.m. Monday. The weather service has issued a front advisory for the entire area tonight.
According to the National Weather Service, the earliest freeze ever recorded in Atmore was October 27, 1957, and the earliest freeze ever recorded in Jay was October 20, 1989. Jay and Atmore are the closest cities to North Escambia for which the weather service keeps official records.
Here is your official North Escambia weather forecast:
- Today: Sunny, with a high near 63. North wind around 10 mph.
- Tonight: Patchy frost after 2am. Otherwise, clear, with a low around 35. North wind around 5 mph.
- Monday: Patchy frost before 9am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 68. North wind around 5 mph.
- Monday Night: Clear, with a low around 36. East wind around 5 mph.
- Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 76. East wind around 5 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 46. East wind around 5 mph.
- Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 77. East wind around 5 mph.
- Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. East wind around 5 mph.
- Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 76. East wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Thursday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64.
- Friday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Friday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57.
- Saturday: A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Pictured above: Saturday was a cold day for a car wash. Northview Tribal Beat Band members (L-R) Sandy Rainwater, David Ford, Johnny Robbins, and Devin Dries washed cars in a cold north wind as part of band fundraiser in Atmore. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.