First Swine Flu Vaccine Arrives In Escambia County
October 9, 2009
The first swine flu vaccine shipments arrived in Escambia County on Thursday, with 3,200 doses delivered. The first dozes of the nasal mist, intended for children ages 2 to 18, will go to area pediatricians.
Escambia was one of just two counties in the state to get the first shipments, but the three thousand plus doses are not nearly enough for those the health department says are on the priority list. The Escambia County Health Department says 135,000 people are on Escambia’s priority list, which includes children, health care workers and pregnant women.
Additional nasal mist swine flu vaccine doses for children and shots for adults should arrive in Escambia County over the next few weeks. Florida is expected to receive 11 million doses by January of next year.
Escambia is one of 48 counties in the state that plans to make the H1N1 vaccine available in schools. Parents will be required to grant permission for the vaccine to be administered at their child’s school. Permission forms will be sent home with students once the vaccine is available.
If you have a child, you can contact your child’s pediatrician to see if they have the vaccine available and schedule an appointment.
NHS Takes On Baker In High School Volleyball
October 9, 2009
The Northview Lady Chiefs hit the road Thursday afternoon to take on Baker on the volleyball court.
Northview Vs Baker – Varsity
19-25, 12-25, 19-25
**Baker Winning**
Shawna Montgomery 11 M Kills-3, Aces-2, Blocks-1
Caitlin Hall 12 Setter Assists–10,Kills-1 Blocks -1,Aces-7
Angela Rodriguez 12 LS/Middle Kills-2, Aces-1
Shaniqua Jones 11 Middle Kills –3 , Aces-1, -Blocks-1
Record – Overall – 4 -13; District 2 -4
Northview Vs Baker – JV
14-25, 22-25
**Baker Winning**
Trestine Dean 11 Setter Assists – 2, Digs-1
Morgan Payne 09 Middle/Setter Aces –2, Kills -4 Blocks-1
Brittanie Poston 11 Middle /R Aces -2
Green Thumb Jamboree Scheduled Saturday With Master Gardners
October 9, 2009
The public is invited to join Escambia County master gardeners and extension agents at the Green Thumb Jamboree on Saturday.
The event will feature a class from the Victory Garden Series on preparing garden beds. Throughout the morning, extension agents and master gardeners will provide information and instruction on backyard aquaponics, whimsy gardens, nutrition and involving youth in 4-H. Daffodil bulbs and fall perennials will be available for purchase.
Vegetable garden seeds will be given to all visitors who bring a pet food donation to support the dogs and cats at the Escambia County Animal Shelter. For more information, visit www.myescambia.com or contact Beth Bolles at 475-5230.
The Green Thumb Jamboree will be held from 8 a.m. to noon at the Escambia County Extension Office, 3740 Stefani Road.
Gospel Concert Tonight In Molino
October 9, 2009
There will a special gospel concert tonight in Molino featuring traditional and Southern gospel music.
The concert will feature The Hendersons, Endless Praise and Lookin’ Up, at 7 p.m. at Victory Assembly of God on Highway 29 in Molino. There is no admission fee; a love offering will be received. For more information, call (850) 587-2295.
Pictured: The Hendersons, submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Big Fun: Talent Show Tonight At Ernest Ward
October 9, 2009
The Drama Club at Ernest Ward Middle School will host a Talent Show at 7:00 tonight.
There will be a variety of acts including singing, dancing, playing instruments and even a couple of comedy routines. The audience will be allowed to participate in the voting. Audience members can purchase votes for 50 cents.
Tickets for the talent show can be purchased at the school today for $3, or $4 at the door.
BREAKING NEWS: Bruce Day Taken Into Custody Tonight In Atmore Area
October 8, 2009
Wanted murder suspect Bruce Edward Day was taken into custody tonight in the Atmore area.
Day is currently being transported to the Escambia County (Ala.) Detention Center in Brewton, Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Department Mike Lambert told NorthEscambia.com.
He declined to say where in or around Atmore Day was arrested.
NorthEscambia.com will post more details on this developing story as they become available.
A massive manhunt Monday in Pensacola failed to locate Day, wanted for a 2001 Nokomis murder in which authorities have never found a body.
Escambia County, Ala., authorities obtained a murder warrant Monday for Bruce Edward Day, 42, in connection with the death of Woodrow “Token” Allen, who was reported missing by his mother on December 17, 2001, claiming that she has last seen her son on December 13, 2001. Allen’s body was never found.
Day was reportedly working for a contractor at the Gulf Power Crist Plant. Day was summoned to an office at the plant Tuesday afternoon where U.S. Marshals were waiting to serve the warrant, but Day fled somewhere on the complex that includes 40 buildings on 750 acres.
The University of West Florida campus was later locked down after a man that fit Day’s description was spotted. Authorities also located a pickup truck at UWF that was believed to belong to Day.
A massive manhunt followed, involving U.S. Marshals, Escambia County deputies, helicopters from Escambia and Walton counties, several tracking dog units including one from Century Correctional Institution, and other law enforcement agencies. Authorities from Escambia County, Ala. were also on the scene, including Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff Grover Smith and Chief Deputy Mike Lambert.
The campus lockdown at UWF was lifted about 5:15 p.m. Tuesday evening, and law enforcement agencies slowly scaled back their search as the night became later.
Day is described as a white male, last seen wearing a dark green shirt and jeans. He is 5-foot 8-inches tall and about 160 pounds.
Click here for more details on the 2001 case.
Fire Destroys Frank Ard Road Home
October 8, 2009
An afternoon fire left two people homeless off Quintette Road Thursday.
The fire heavily damaged the home of Buford and Dollie Johnson late Thursday afternoon in the 3100 block of Frank Ard Road, just north of Quintette Road.
Firefighters said the fire may have started when one of the two adult residents was cooking.
The Cantonment, Molino and Ensley Stations of Escambia Fire Rescue; the Pace Fire Department and Escambia County EMS were among those that responded to the call.
There were no injuries in the fire, although one of the Johnsons did complain of chest pains over 30 minutes after firefighters arrived.
Pictured above: Fire heavily damaged this home on Frank Ard Road north of Quintette Road Thursday afternoon. Pictured below: Firefighters work to make sure the fire was extinguished. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Dense Fog Advisory
October 8, 2009
The National Weather Service in Mobile has issued a dense fog advisory until 9:00 this morning.
Dense fog reducing visibilities to below one quarter of a mile continues to form and become more widespread across coastal and inland sections of the forecast area this morning. Fog will slowly lift after 8 a.m. Motorists are urged to use slower speeds and use extreme caution in dense fog qand allow for extra time when traveling to morning destinations.
Over Four Months Later: FDLE Investigation Into Atmore Police Shooting Continues
October 8, 2009
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has not yet completed its investigation into the death of an Atmore man shot by Atmore Police near Walnut Hill about four and a half months ago.
Danny Ray Williams, 33, died May 25 from wounds he received when he was shot by Atmore Police early Sunday morning, May 24 in Walnut Hill. Atmore Police said Williams was seen leaving the scene of a shots fired call in Atmore when they gave chase. That chase came to an end on Highway 97 just south of Kansas Road when officers fired on Williams’ car after they say he attempted to run over them.
“It is still an active and ongoing investigation,” Mike Morrison, spokesperson for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, told NorthEscambia.com Wednesday afternoon. “We are getting closer.”
Morrison said he expects the investigation to continue to progress, with the final FDLE report set to be turned over to the State Attorney’s Office for review.
“Every investigation is different, and it’s hard to a put a time frame on one,” he said. “We try to be as thorough as we can.”
Once the FDLE investigation into the officer-involved shooting is complete, the FDLE will not provide any details on the case until the State Attorney’s Office completes their review, Morrison said. “They make the call if it was justified or not, the legal determinations.”
Williams was shot by Atmore police officers following a high speed chase that started in Atmore and ended in Walnut Hill just south of Kansas Road about 1:45 a.m. on May 24.
Atmore Public Safety Directory Glen Carlee said the chase began after a reported shots fired incident near Ashley Street and Jones Street, a location about three miles driving distance from the Florida line. Officers say they spotted the Nissan Altima driven by Williams leaving the area of the shots fired call. That’s when the chase began that eventually crossed the state line into Florida. Carlee said Williams apparently tried to hit an Atmore Police Department cruiser head-on.
Once he stopped and officers approached the car with weapons drawn, Carlee says Williams accelerated toward an officer in an attempt to hit him. That prompted at least two officers to fire at Williams. Florida authorities told NorthEscambia.com at the scene that Williams had been shot at least once in the head.
For a complete gallery of exclusive photos from the scene and inside the car that you will see only on NorthEscambia.com, click here.
For a statement on the shooting released May 25 by the Atmore Police Department, click here.
For NorthEscambia.com’s original story on the shooting, click here.
Pictured above and below: The scene of a shooting involving an Atmore Police Department officer early May 24 in Walnut Hill. Pictured middle: Crime scene investigators from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement work to recover evidence inside the car. Pictured bottom: FDLE investigators returned to the scene four days after the shooting. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Firemen Respond To Reported Rattlesnake In Home
October 8, 2009
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue was called to a snake reported to be in a home Wednesday afternoon. When they arrived, they found and removed a four-foot rattlesnake from the home on Wiggins Lake Road.
Pictured: Firefighter Tracy Benner with the rattlesnake. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.