Marie Wooten

July 29, 2010

Marie Wooten, 71, of Atmore died Thursday, July 29, 2010, at her residence.

She was a homemaker, born in McCullough on February 27, 1939, to the late Ed and Adar Langham Drew.

Survivors include her husband, Billy Wooten of Atmore; three sons, Drew Wooten and wife, Alicia, of Pensacola; Robert Wooten and wife, Tina, of Uriah and Ed Wooten and wife, Melissa, of Atmore; two brothers, Edson Drew of Mobile and Edward Drew of Tennessee; six grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Services will be at 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 31, 2010, from Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow in McCullough Cemetery.

Active Pallbearers include Ashley Buck, Mark Lewis, Wayne Drew, Todd Booker, Eddie Booker and Jamie Booker.

Family will receive friends from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Friday evening, July 30, 2010, at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home.

Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home, Inc in charge of all arrangements.

County Driver Charged After Being Trapped Nearly Two Hours In 9 Mile Crash

July 29, 2010

An Escambia County Road Department work truck driver has been charged following a wreck on Nine Mile Road in which he was trapped for nearly two hours Thursday afternoon.

The Florida Highway Patrol says Robert J. Harvey, 59, of Pensacola, was eastbound on Nine Mile Road at 2:05 p.m. when he attempted to stop for a red light at Guidy Lane, near Hillcrest Baptist Church. The trailer on Harvey’s truck jackknifed, pulling the 1998 Ford truck into a traffic signal pole. A bobcat on the trailer broke loose and came to rest in a nearby ditch.

Harvey was seriously injured in the crash, according to the FHP. Firefighters worked until about 3:45 to free him from the cab of the truck. He was airlifted to Sacred Heart Hospital.

The Florida Highway Patrol charged Harvey with careless driving.

For more pictures from the scene, click here.

Pictured above and below: An Escambia County employee was trapped for nearly two hours Thursday afternoon in a crash at Nine Mile Road at Guidy Lane near Hillcrest Baptist Church. Pictured inset: Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan directs traffic. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.


Six People Involved In McDavid Crash, One Injured

July 29, 2010

One person was injured in a two vehicle crash in McDavid Thursday afternoon.

The driver of a pickup truck apparently pulled from the median into the path of an SUV about 1:45. The pickup driver received minor injuries and was transported to an area hospital by ambulance. There were no passengers in the truck. Five people in the SUV were uninjured.

The accident happened near the Highway 29 and Highway 164 intersection at the McDavid Mini Mart. The store’s band new sign was also damaged in the crash.

The accident is still under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Atmore Ambulance and the McDavid Station of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded to the crash.

Pictured top: Five people in this SUV escaped injured in a Thursday afternoon crash at the McDavid Mini Mart on Highway 29 near Highway 164. Pictured below: The driver of this pickup truck received minor injuries. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

Century’s Showalter Named Baltimore Orioles Manager

July 29, 2010

After lengthy negotiations,  former Century resident Buck Showalter has been named the new manager of the Baltimore Orioles.

“Buck Showalter’s proven track record makes him the right choice for manager of the Orioles and we are thrilled to add a two-time Manager of the Year to our organization,” president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said in a press release.

“We believe Buck’s extensive experience and expertise will be a major benefit to us as we look towards a more successful future.”

buckshowalter.jpgShowalter, 54,will officially introduced as the Baltimore Oriole’s manager on Monday, and his first game will be Tuesday against the Los Angeles Angels.

“Buck Showalter’s proven track record makes him the right choice for manager of the Orioles and we are thrilled to add a two-time Manager of the Year to our organization,” president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said in a press release.  “We believe Buck’s extensive experience and expertise will be a major benefit to us as we look towards a more successful future.”

The Orioles dismissed Dave Trebley as their manager back on June 4.

Showalter, who now lives in Dallas, had three different managerial stints in the majors with the New York Yankees, the Arizona Diamondbacks, and the Texas Rangers. Showalter first managed the Yankees from 1992-1995 for 581 games posting a 313-268 record finishing 45 games over .500 with a .539 win/loss percentage. He was voted 1994 AL Manager of the Year after the Yankees finished first in the AL East going 70-43. Unfortunately, there would be no post-season in 1994 due to the strike. He made it to his first post-season appearance in 1995, losing the divisional series 3-2 to the Seattle Mariners.

He moved on to the Arizona Diamondbacks where he managed 486 games from 1998-2000 with a 250-236 record. His best season with the Diamondbacks came in 1999 when they finished first in the NL West going 100-62 and eventually losing in the divisional series 3-1 to the NY Mets. Showalter took over as Texas Rangers skipper in 2003-2006 posting a 319-329 record in 648 games. He was selected 2004 AL Manager of the Year with the Texas Rangers going 89-73 with a .549 win/loss percentage.

His father was a high school coach and principal, moving to Century in the late 1950’s. Showalter played Little League ball in Century in a thriving program. Century’s modern day Showalter Park is named after his family.

Susan J. Mura

July 29, 2010

Susan J. Mura, 63, of Atmore died Tuesday July 27, 2010 at her residence. She was a registered nurse, born in Centrailia, Illinois on April 23, 1947, to the late
Hewitt J. and Lucy Carpenter Cook..

Survivors are husband of of 46 years, Joseph Mura, Jr. of Atmore; one son, Joseph Mura III and wife, Ranae of Atmore; two daughters, Tammy Boon and
husband John of LaGrange, KY; Deborah Mura of Atmore; seven grandchildren, Heather, Brittany, Russell, Alexandra, Brittany, Taylor and Landon; one great-grandchild, Brentli.

Services will be Saturday July 31, 2010, at 10 a.m. from Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow in Oak Hill cemetery. Active pallbearers will
be the grandchildren and honorary pallbearers will be Brentli and Landon.

Family will receive friends Friday evening July 30, 2010, at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.

Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home, Inc is in charge of all arrangements.

Man Indicted For Pregnant Woman’s Murder; Could Face Charges For Baby

July 29, 2010

An Escambia Count Grand Jury has indicted the man accused of the the stabbing death of  a pregnant mother and her unborn child July 5 in Cantonment.

On Wednesday, the Grand Jury returned a first degree premeditated murder indictment against Phillip Arnold for the murder of Angela Castella Brown, according to State Attorney Bill Eddins. He faced Judge Ron Swanson in an arraignment hearing on Thursday.

Arnold, 65, of 349 South Chipper Road, fatally stabbed Brown in the chest, according to the State Attorney’s Office. Brown was about six months pregnant at the time. Doctors performed an emergency C-section to deliver the baby, which died about seven hours later, prosecutors said. The State Attorney’s Office is continuing to consult with the medical examiner’s office to determine whether any additional charges will be filed.

Arnold and Brown were neighbors, and that was their only known connection, according to Sgt. Ted Roy, spokesperson for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies were dispatched to the stabbing at a mobile home at 349 South Chipper Road about 8:35 p.m only July 5. When they arrived, witnesses told deputies that Arnold fled into a nearby wooded area. As deputies were arriving in the area, EMS personnel advised they had seen a black male running down the railroad tracks on South Chipper Road.

Witnesses at the scene reported observing a black male known to them as Arnold running from the scene moments before they discovered the victim, according to the Sheriff’s Office. K-9 officers attempting to track Arnold discovered a knife that was believed to be the murder weapon. As deputies were surrounding the area to search for Arnold, he called sheriff’s dispatchers about 9:10 p.m. Arnold said  he was at a home at 2473 Stacey Road and that he wanted to turn himself in. He was taken into custody without incident.

Brown was the mother of seven other children.

Scott Won’t Seek Re-election To Century Council

July 29, 2010

Century Town Council member Sharon Scott has announced that she does not plan to seek re-election. Scott currently holds Seat 5 on the council, one of three seats up for election this year.

“I love Century and everything about Century,” she said Wednesday night, “but it was just not for me to run again.”

As of the close of business Wednesday, one candidate and prefiled for the seat. Click here for the story. The deadline for candidates to qualify for Century’s primary election is noon Friday.

Pictured: Century Council member Sharon Scott listens to a speaker at a recent Century Town Council meeting. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.

Savage Prefiles For Century Council Seat

July 29, 2010

Annie Carter Savage prefiled Wednesday for Century Town Council Seat 5 currently held by Sharon Scott.

In order to actually qualify to be on the primary ballot October 5, Savage must file two additional forms and pay her qualifying fee by noon Friday, according to the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Office. Savage said those tasks would be complete on Thursday.

“I’ve been here 47 years in this town, and I’ve seen so much negative and bad,” Savage said Wednesday about her decision to seek a post on the town council. “I’ve got something good for Century, and it was time for me to share.”

Council seats three, four and five are on the ballot in Century this year — the positions are currently held by  Henry Hawkins, Gary Riley and  Scott. This is the official qualifying  week for Century’s elections. Hawkins has already qualified.

Scott has announced that she will not seek re-election. Click here for that story.

Pictured: Longtime Century resident Annie Savage addresses the Escambia County School Board in January, 2009. Savage was speaking in favor of keep Carver/Century K-8 School open. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.

Forfeited: $68K Lottery Ticket Goes Unclaimed

July 29, 2010

A $68,663.34  lottery prize for a winning ticket sold near Jay has been forfeited.

fant5.jpgNo one claimed the Fantasy Five prize ticket by the 180 day deadline, meaning the prize money returned to the state. Florida law requires that 80 percent of unclaimed prize funds from expired tickets be transferred directly to the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund. The remaining 20 percent is returned to the prize pool from which future prizes are awarded or used for special prize promotions.

The Fantasy 5 ticket was sold January 25 at McDonald’s State Line Lotto on Highway 87 at the Alabama/Florida line. The prize winner had 180 days to claim the prize, and that time period expired at midnight Saturday.

The winning numbers were 2-13-19-24-28.

Winn Dixie Announces Closures; Local Stores To Remain Open

July 29, 2010

Winn Dixie has announced the closure of 30 “”underperforming” stores, but none none of the store in this area are on that list.

The stores in Cantonment, Atmore and the rest of the Pensacola area will stay open. The list of stores to close by September 22 includes one location in Alabama and 18 in Florida.

To see the Winn Dixie store closure list announced Thursday morning, click here.

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