Northview Beats Bozeman 22-19 For District Win
September 26, 2009
The Northview Chiefs hit the road to Panama City Friday night, coming back home with a 22-19 win over Deane Bozeman High School.
The Bozeman Bucks recovered a Northview fumble at about their 20 in the first quarter and ran it back to the 10. A couple of plays later, Bozeman was in for the first touchdown of the night. With a missed point after, Bozeman was up 6-0.
But the Chiefs were about to take the lead, and keep it, for the rest of the game — even though they were not in control of the ball most of the second half.
The Chiefs answered with a Jeremy Jackson touchdown run with 4:01 in the first quarter of play. The Chiefs missed the point after attempt, making it a 6-6 tie ballgame in Bay County.
Bozeman scored on a 55-yard run from their own 45 just before the end of the first quarter to make it 13-6 headed into the second quarter of play.
Then in the second quarter, the Chiefs blocked a Bozeman punt at the Bucks 15 yard line. Northview recovered deep in the end zone for a safety, but the Chiefs still trailed 16-13.
Northview exploded in the third quarter, with Chris Sheets intercepting a Bozeman pass at 10. Sheets returned the interception for a huge 90-yard touchdown. A no good extra point, and the Northview Chiefs were up 22-13 with 3:45 to go in the third.
Bozeman managed to score and miss a kick for a score of 22-19.
And that’s where it ended, with both teams held scoreless during the end of a fourth quarter defensive battle.
Freshman La’Mikal Kyles had 45 yards for Northview on a half dozen carries, and senior Shakel Holmes had 45 yards on eight carries.
With their 22-19 win over Bozeman, the Chiefs improved to 2-1, 1-1 in Class 2A District 1.
The Chiefs will celebrate Homecoming next Friday night against the Baker Gators.
Click here for a photo gallery from the game.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Family Mourns Murder Victim; Seeks Help With Funeral Expenses
September 26, 2009
The Thursday night shooting death of Kenny Porter has left friends and family members in state of shock, and they are also wondering how they are going to pay for the 32-year old’s funeral.
Porter’s wife Liz Porter is pregnant his first child, which is due any day. The baby girl will be named Kennedy in honor of her now-deceased father. She says she does not know how she is going to support the baby or her other three children.
Janice Rolin said the entire incident started with an argument over a ladder between her mother, Lorraine Gray, Clarence Luker and Kenny Porter, who was her brother-in-law.
“Then the next thing I knew, Clarence had a gun when he got out of the van and he was shooting and Kenny with all these kids out here,” Rolin said. “He just jumped out of the van and pointed the gun right at Kenny. Then he went to shooting. I was scared for the kids.” She tried her best to get the children away from scene as fast as possible as Porter collapsed on the porch of a mobile home, she said.
Porter was transported to Atmore Community Hospital by ambulance and then transferred by helicopter to the USA Medical Center in Mobile. That’s where he was pronounced dead.
After Luker was captured, he admitted to Escambia County (Ala.) deputies that he was the shooter. But in a bizarre twist to the story, Gray told deputies that she was the one that shot Porter, and that the argument involved a rake.
“I shot him,” Gray told Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff Grover Smith at the scene Thursday night. “I’m the one that did it….I took the gun and I shot him.”
Both Gray and Luker (pictured left) are in the Escambia County (Ala.) Jail charged with open counts of murder.
And now family members say they need help from the community to pay for Porter’s funeral. Visitation is scheduled for 6 to 9 Monday night at Petty Eastside Chapel in Atmore. Funeral services will follow at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Fretwell Tabernacle Holiness Church. Burial will be in the Bankster Cemetery in Spanish Fort, Ala.
Person interesting in helping the family with funeral expenses can make their donations at Petty Eastside Chapel, 9260 Hwy 31, Atmore, AL 36502; or call the funeral home at (251) 368-4540.
For the Friday morning story about the shooting from NorthEscambia.com, click here.
Click here for an exclusive NorthEsambia.com photo gallery from the arrest of Luker and Gray.
Click here for the full obituary for Kenny Porter.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Canes Blow Over Central 60-14
September 26, 2009
There was a Category 5 hurricane in Flomaton Friday night, as the ‘Canes blew past Central-Hayneville 60-14.
The Hurricanes were coming off a loss last week to number one Leroy, and they were not going to be stopped this Friday night.
Ryheem Dixon stormed in from 12 yards out to put the Hurricanes on the board early 7-0. An impressive Jacob Newton fake and toss to Ta Ta Ellis put the Hurricanes up 14-0. Then the Cane’s were up 21-0 with a 70 yard punt return by Civonta Mitchell. And they were just getting started.
Wesley Steadham was in on touchdown runs of 62 and 10 yards. In all, he had just three carries for 114 total yards. He was out-distanced by James Jackson on eight carries, including an 11-yard TD.
Other touchdowns included A.J. Odom with a 17-yarder and a four-yard run from Shay Gipson.
Overall, the Hurricanes picked up 237 yards on the ground Friday night against Central.
The Flomaton Hurricanes will be on the road next week against Mobile Christian.
Pace Beats Tate Aggies 28-14
September 26, 2009
The Pace Patriots and the Tate Aggies were both 2-2 heading into Friday night’s showdown at Pete Gindl Stadium. When it was over, the Patriots added one to the their win column with a 28 to 14 win over the Aggies.
The Patriots jumped out to an early 3-0 lead with a 29-yard field goal from Greg Peranich with 10:30 on the clock in the first quarter. Then with 1:37 to go in the first, Tyler Hunt added at Pace touchdown and Peranich’s kick was good to put the Patriots up 10-0.
The Aggies answered in the second with a touchdown on a 24-yard pass from senior quarterback Edwin Richburg to senior defensive back Petey Jones. After a good kick from senior kicker Black Chicheskie, the lead for the Patriots was cut to 13-7.
The last thee minutes of the third saw both teams scoring. The Aggies gained a 14-13 lead with Richburg taking it in from one yard out and a good kick from Cicheskie with 2:52 to go in the third.
But the Aggies lead was short-lived — 14 seconds to be exact — with Thomas McCorvey on a 91 yard kickoff return. A good Patriot kick, and Pace was back on top 20-14.
The Patriots were not done; a one-yard run by Tanner Nichols on a Josh Reeves Pass added more to the Pace bottom line.
That was the end of the night’s scoring, with the Pace Patriots downing the Tate Aggies 28-14.
Next week is homecoming for the Aggies against Pensacola Catholic.
Escambia County Loses; Escambia Academy A Winner
September 26, 2009
Baldwin County High School beat Atmore’s Escambia County High School 20-6 Friday night.
The Blue Devils jumped out to an early 6-0 lead on a 40-yard pass from Derrick Williams to Marshall Roland. But it will be the only points on the board for ECHS the entire night. The Blue Devils will host LeFlore High next week.
Escambia Academy rolled over Wilcox Academy 30-8 Friday night. The Cougars will be in action next Friday night against Marengo.
Family Fun Day In Walnut Hill
September 26, 2009
The Walnut Hill Church of God in Christ will hold a Family Fun Day today.
The event will begin at noon at the church, located at 54 North Cypress Street in Walnut Hill. The day will feature food, games, music and lots of fun, according to event organizers.
The public is invited to attend.
Berrydale Volunteer Fire Department Celebrating 35th Anniversary Today
September 26, 2009
The Berrydale Volunteer Fire Department will celebrate its 35th anniversary today from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 13000 Highway 87 North, about eight miles from Jay at the intersection of Highway 87 North and Highway 4.
North Santa Rosa County area families are encouraged to attend this event and help Berrydale Volunteer Fire Department celebrate 35 years of service to Santa Rosa County with an open house and a free fish fry. The celebration will start off with a history of the department and includes displays by LifeFlight, Lifeguard Ambulance Service, equipment displays, and other activities.
Flu shots will also be available for $25 each or free for Medicare B cardholders (card is required to be shown at time of shot).
For more information, please contact Jimmy Cagle at (850) 712-4628.
Nokomis Shooting Press Release
September 25, 2009
The following is the unedited press release issued by this morning by the Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Department concerning a murder in Nokomis, Ala.
At approximately 7:20PM dispatch received a call of shots fired on Nathan Rd in the Nokomis area. Atmore ambulance, Nokomis Fire Department and Deputies were dispatched and arrived to find Kenneth Portor with a gunshot wound. Portor was treated on scene and transported to Atmore Community Hospital where he was treated and transferred by Life flight to USA in Mobile, Al. Portor underwent surgery but due to the extent of his injuries he was pronounced dead at 9:20PM.
Witnesses stated two suspects, Clarence Luker and Lorraine Gray, had an altercation with the victim. The argument pursued and the victim was shot. Both suspects then fled the scene.
Witnesses gave a description of the suspect’s vehicle and Bolo’s were issued to all surrounding agencies for the vehicle and suspects. After officers finished processing the scene and left, a short while later at approx. 10:40PM, William with Northescambia.com (internet newspaper) drove up to take photos of the scene and spotted the alleged vehicle that had returned to the scene. He then notified the S.O. After the female was in custody, the dog teams from Al and Fl arrived. Shortly after their arrival the male was located by Inv Adam Johnson while the dogs were tracking. The male suspect was taken into custody without incident.
Both suspects admitted to shooting the victim. The case is under investigation. Both suspects are in custody at the detention center with an open count of Murder each. At the time of this press release both suspects are awaiting bond setting.
Kenneth Matthew Porter
September 25, 2009
Mr. Kenneth Matthew Porter, 32, passed away Thursday, September 24, 2009 at a Mobile hospital.
Kenneth was a native and resident of Atmore, AL, for most of his life, and a former resident of Perdido, AL. He loved to fish and attended the Holiness Church. Preceded in death by his Father, Ricky Porter and a Brother, Danny Porter.
Survivors include: his Wife, Elizabeth Gray Porter of Atmore, AL; two Sons, Clay Gray and Dakoda Gray, both of Atmore, AL; his Daughter, Taylor Gray of Atmore, AL; his unborn Daughter, Kennedy Gayle Porter of Atmore, AL; his Mother, Vanessa Porter of Chunchula, AL; Stepfather, David Phillips of Chunchula, AL; Grandparents, Jewel Porter of Mobile, AL, Travis Hadley of Perdido, AL, and Aline Hadley of Perdido, AL; three Sisters, Shanna Johnson of Biloxi, MS, Tasha Johnson of Mobile, AL, and Ona Johnson of Chunchula, AL; a number of Aunts and Uncles; and a number of Nieces and Nephews.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, September 29, 2009 at 2:00 P.M. at the Fretwell Tabernacle Holiness Church with Sister Helen Stewart officiating.
Burial will follow at Bankster Cemetery in Spanish Fort, AL with Petty Funeral Homes, LLC. directing .
Visitation will be held Monday September 28, 2009 between 6:00 and 9:00 P.M. at the Petty Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Ben Harris, Randal Boutwell, Marshall Hadley, Jason Hadley, Eddie Dean Huckabee, and Ray Boutwell.
NorthEscambia.com Finds Nokomis Murder Suspects; Both Behind Bars (EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS)
September 25, 2009
Two murder suspects were captured Thursday night after NorthEscambia.com spotted their getaway van returning to the scene of the crime in Nokomis, Ala.
The suspects, Clarence Luker, 37, and Lorraine Gray, 50, are in the Escambia County (Ala.) Detention Center, each charged with open counts of murder.
Kenneth Porter, 32, was shot about 7:10 p.m. after a dispute with his neighbors at a trailer park on Nathan Road, about a mile north of Highway 31 in Nokomis. Porter was transported by ambulance to Atmore Community Hospital. He was later transferred to the USA Medical Center in Mobile by LifeFlight helicopter. He was pronounced dead from his injuries about 9:20 p.m., according to Mike Lambeth, chief deputy of the Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Department.
The suspects, Luker and Gray, fled the scene in a late 1980’s two-tone Ford Econoline van. Law enforcement agencies from Alabama and Florida were on the lookout for the van.
When NorthEscambia.com arrived at the murder scene about 10:40 pm. to take a picture of the trailers were the incident occurred, all law enforcement personnel had been gone from the scene just a short period of time. After our photos were taken, NorthEscambia.com spotted the alleged getaway vehicle around the corner from the murder location, headed toward the murder scene.
Nathan Road is a horseshoe-shaped road that intersects James Road in two locations. We parked on James Road where it was possible to see both ends of Nathan Road, and then we called Chief Deputy Mike Lambeth on his cell phone to tell him what we had observed. He immediately had several officers make an emergency response to our location.
When the first deputies arrived on Nathan Road about 10 minutes later, they found Gray, the female suspect, in the van parked at the murder scenes. Deputies said she exited the van with her hands up and said “I’m the one you are looking for”.
She was taken into custody just before 11 p.m. and placed in the back of a patrol car. NorthEscambia.com was there as she made a complete confession to Sheriff Grover Smith, telling him that she shot Porter.
“I shot him,” she said. “I’m the one that did it….I took the gun and I shot him.”
Tracking dogs from Fountain Correctional Facility in Atmore and the Century Correctional Institution were called to the scene to search for Luker. As the dogs began their search of the area, Luker was taken into custody about midnight near the intersection of Nathan and James Roads. His clothes were splattered with blood. Luker also admitted to deputies that he was the shooter.
Investigators searched the van for the murder weapon, but they were unable to locate it in the vehicle, which they termed as being “extremely nasty”. Hundreds of small roaches were visible crawling around the van, and what was believed to be blood was found on the driver’s seat. The van was towed back to Brewton to be processed by investigators.
The murder was first reported to be the result of an argument over a ladder that was propped against the suspect’s travel trailer. But when Luker, who appeared to be intoxicated, made her confession to the sheriff, she said the ladder was not part of the incident. Gray said she got into an argument with Porter, words were exchanged and she shot him once with a handgun. She denied that Luker had any part in the murder. She told the sheriff that she had tossed the murder weapon “in the river”.
After deputies enter Luker’s camper with guns drawn to make sure it was empty, they found Luker had been living in absolute squalor. The small travel trailer was littered with clothes and dirty dishes. Hundreds of roaches were scattered by light, and the stench was overwhelming. Children’s toys could be seen among the mess. Outside, raw sewage dripped on the ground. Children’s toys were scattered around an open septic tank.
Click here for an exclusive NorthEscambia.com photo gallery. The gallery contains photos you will see only on NorthEscambia.com from the scene, both suspects taken in custody, inside the suspect’s camper, and inside the getaway van.
Pictured top: Murder suspect Lorraine Gray confessed to Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff Grover Smith that she shot Kenneth Porter Thursday night. Pictured top inset: Escambia County (Ala.) Chief Deputy Mike Lambeth as the deputies searched for murder suspect Clarance Luker. Pictured bottom inset: Murder suspect Clarence Luker was taken into custody about midnight Thursday. Pictured below: NorthEscambia.com found the suspect’s getaway van returning to the scene of the crime. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.