Year In Review North Escambia’s Biggest Stories Of 2009: September

January 3, 2010

NorthEscambia.com is looking back at 2009 with our “Year in Review” series. Each day, we will review the biggest stories of 2009. Today, we take a look at the biggest stories of September 2009.

Two murder suspects were captured 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, were each charged with open counts of murder.

A rabies alert for North Escambia was continued after three more animals were found with rabies.

The Town of Century approved a $1.6 million low interest loan for water system improvements. The load will automatically forgive about $1.4 million in principal.

mcdavidrays14.jpg  Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church held their annual McDavid Volunteer Fire Department appreciation service.

NorthEscambia.com became the official voice of the Northview High School Chiefs, providing audio from Chiefs football online.

A $367.4 million budget approved by the Escambia County Commission included the $65,000 needed to keep Escambia County Clerk of the Courts Ernie Lee Magaha in the Billy G. Ward Courthouse in Century.

A Santa Rosa County man died from the H1N1 Swine Flu, the first death in our area.

An Escambia County teacher’s aid, Rodney Darnell Portis, was arrested on drug charges after a search warrant executed at his Walnut Hill home turned up a “large amount” of cocaine as well as other drugs.

An auto plant was announced for Bay Minette with up to 5,000 jobs — if the company behind the plant is able to obtain funding.

tom-thumb-robbery-10.jpgA 19-year old male and a 15-year old middle school student were charged  in connection with the September 14 robbery of the Molino Tom Thumb. Deputies found the 19-year old trying to steal tires after he had a flat on the getaway car.

Lawton “Bud” Chiles began his journey of One Million Steps across Florida retracing the steps of his father, former Florida Governor Lawton Mainor Chiles, Jr. to raise awareness of children’s health, education and safety issues in the state.

A Century man, Coy Otis Rhea, was struck and killed by a 40-foot tree being cut down at his rental home.

Frank Lay and Robert Freeman were both found not guilty on criminal charges that they prayed in violation of a federal court order in Santa Rosa County.

syatpz-molinopark-20.jpgHundreds of North Escambia students gathered to pray at their schools as part of the annual See You At The Pole rally.

A Cantonment man found himself nearly $200,000 richer after purchase a FANTASY 5 Quick Pick ticket.

Controversy erupted across the nation over a planned speech by President Barack Obama to the nation’s schoolchildren. In Escambia County, Superintendent Malcolm Thomas elected to not show the speech live.

Hundreds of area residents enjoyed the second Annual Bull Bash Blowout in Flomaton presented by the Tri-Cities Rotary Club.

The Escambia County Commission rejected a $10 per child youth sports fee.

Stephen Eugene Freeman, 43, and his wife Monica Lassitter Freeman, 37, of Bratt received a mandatory 15 year sentence in state prison for drug trafficking.

buspre10.jpg

Jesse Warner of Bratt was seriously injured when he rear-ended a school bus in Bratt.

NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.

Comments

One Response to “Year In Review North Escambia’s Biggest Stories Of 2009: September”

  1. Angi on January 3rd, 2010 11:33 pm

    Yes, this was a horrible tragedy that happened with Jesse Warner, which is my neighbor… At first he was taken to Atmore Hospital in Atmore Alabama, where they were unsure if he would make it or not. They were going to lifeflight him, but could not because of the fog. After spending a few hours at atmore hospital, he was then transported by ambulance to USA Hospital in Mobile Alabama; where he stayed in ICU and in a coma for some time, still unsure if he would ever make it or not. He had several concussions to the brain and cuts on his face, broken facial bones and loss of vision in his right eye… Later he was transported to West Florida Hospital Rehab, in Pensacola Florida by ambulance for several weeks of therapy of all sorts. Also went to Atlanta to another rehab for a few weeks, Jesse is now home with his family and is still not back to the same person as he was before the accident. He can walk with help and he can talk, but with so much head truama, his mind comes and goes. This is such a sad thing, but I guess it could have been worse; if his life had been taken. Leaving behind a wife and 4 children… I guess all we can do is keep praying that he will get back to himself…