Man Bitten By Rattlesnake, Airlifted To Hospital
September 7, 2010
A 28-year old man bitten by a rattlesnake Monday evening was airlifted to a Pensacola hospital.
John Derrek Giddins suffered the bite on his ankle while in the backyard of his home on South Highway 99 between Walnut Hill and Bay Springs near the railroad crossing. Giddins told authorities that the rattlesnake was in a flower pot that he had stepped over. The snake was not captured.
The incident occurred about 6:40 p.m. Within minutes, the Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue was on scene, along with Atmore Ambulance. Giddiens was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola by a LifeFlight helicopter that landed his front yard. Giddins remained hospitalized early Wednesday morning.
Pictured above: A man apparently bitten by a rattlesnake Monday evening was airlifted to Sacred Heart Hospital. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Sex Offender Busted After Failing To Show Up For Jail
September 7, 2010
A convicted sex offender that was living in the Davisville area has been taken into custody after he skipped out on jail time for failing to report his current address to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Michael J. Lassiter, 58, pleaded guilty July 9 to one charge of failure to report a change in his residence as required by Florida’s sexual offender laws. He was to turn himself in on July 19 to begin serving a 364 day sentence, but he was a no-show in court and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
Lassiter is now is behind bars at the Escambia County Jail after being taken into custody September 3.
He was convicted of molesting a juvenile in November, 1998, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. He was released from a Louisiana prison and reported his address to be 4699 Highway 168, Walnut Hill and had also reported 5701 Highway 168, Century.
When the FDLE was unable to make contact by mail with Lassiter at either address in January and April of 2009, they sent Escambia County deputies to look for him. Deputies discovered the 5701 Highway 168 address does not exist; there are no address numbers that high on Highway 168.
Authorities then met with the property owner at the address at 4699 Highway 168. The property owner said Lassiter had been given permission to stay in a shed at the address. They found an empty refrigerator and bed rails in the shed, but no obvious indications that anyone was still living there.
In September, 2009, the FDLE met with a female that said she had allowed Lassiter to stay at her address at 9981 Highway 97 in Davisville. Lassiter, according to the FDLE, never registered the address as required by law.
A few days later, Lassiter was spotted at the 4699 Highway 168 address.
FDLE obtained a warrant for Lassiter’s arrest and he was first arrested in February for failure to update his address. He was released on bond to await trail in July.
Funeral Services Schedued For Elderly Couple Involved In Flomaton Wreck
September 7, 2010
Funeral services will be held Thursday for an elderly couple that died following an August 30 accident in Flomaton that also claimed the lives of a nine-year old boy and his father. The accident happened August 30 at the intersection of Highway 113 and Highway 31 in Flomaton.
Visitation services for Edward Bradford,80, and Alice Bradford, 79, will be held Wednesday from 5 until 7 p.m. at Faith Chapel North in Cantonment. A joint mass of Christian burial will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church with interment to follow with full military honors at Barrancas National Cemetery aboard Naval Air Station Pensacola.
Over a distinguished 31-year military career, Edward Bradford served in command and staff positions throughout the United States and Germany, including combat tours in Korea and Vietnam. He attended the Army Command and General Staff College and his final assignment was editor-in-chief of Military Review Magazine. Upon retirement in 1980 he joined the faculty of Marion Military Institute and retired in 1993 as vice president and moved to Pensacola. Alice Bradford worked as a nurse.
Edward Bradford, 80, of Pensacola, passed away Friday at Sacred Heart Hospital as a result of injuries he received in the August 30 wreck. His wife, Alice Bradford, 79, was pronounced dead shortly after being flown to Baptist Hospital in Pensacola August 30. The couple had been married for 58 years.
Bay Minette residents Stephen Carl Thompson, 33, and his son, Nathan, 9, died instantly in the accident about 2:30 p.m. August 30 at the intersection of Highway 113 and Highway 31. Funeral services for the father and son were held last Saturday in Bay Minette.
For more on the accident and additional photos, click here. For more on the Thompson family, click here.
Pictured above: All four victims in this accident have died. Edward Bradford and his wife Alice were in the silver car to the left and were airlifted to a Pensacola hospital. Stephen Carl Thompson and his nine-year old son Nathan were pronounced dead in the maroon car to the right. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Last Day To Register To Vote In Century Primary Election
September 7, 2010
Today is the last day to register to vote for Century residents who wish to cast a ballot in the town’s October 5 primary election for three council seats.
Per the Town of Century charter, the primary election is scheduled for October 5, 2010. The charter states that the primary election should be 30 days prior to the November election, but that date falls on Sunday, October 10. As a result, the date was moved to October 5. Florida law mandates that registration books close 29 days before an election. The date was moved to Tuesday, September 7, because Monday, September 6th was Labor Day.
Century citizens have several ways to register or update their record:
Online/By Mail: Visit EscambiaVotes.com and complete, print, and sign the online application. Be sure to include a valid Florida Driver’s License number, a valid Florida ID number, or the last four digits of your Social Security Number in the appropriate space. Mail the completed application no later than September 7 to: Escambia County Supervisor of Elections, PO Box 12601, Pensacola, FL 32591-2601. Or, take the completed application to the Elections Office at 213 Palafox Place, 2nd Floor, in downtown Pensacola.
In Person: You can register at the Elections Office at 213 Palafox Place, 2nd Floor, in downtown Pensacola, at any Florida Driver’s License Office, and several other governmental offices and public assistance centers. Registration forms are also available to pick up at many locations countywide. For a complete list of locations throughout Escambia County, visit EscambiaVotes.com or call or e-mail the Elections Office.
In Century, registration can be completed at the Century Branch Library at 7991 North Century Boulevard and at WIC Dept. of Children & Families, at 701 Mayo Street. Forms only are available at the Century Bait Shop at 11 East Highway 4, and Mitchell’s Grocery & Seafood at 8221 North Century Boulevard.
In the Century primary election, council seats three, four and five are on the ballot this year — the positions currently held by Henry Hawkins, Gary Riley and Sharon Scott.
Alzheimer’s Support Group To Meet Wednesday
September 7, 2010
Alzheimer’s Family Services provides monthly support groups for family members or friends coping with a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease.
A support group meeting will take place Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. at Century United Methodist Church at 530 Church Street. The support group is free but registration is required to attend, and respite care is available in most locations.
Support Groups are a means for caregivers and others interested in learning more about Alzheimer’s disease to exchange ideas, gather information and discuss their concerns with others who are dealing or have dealt with the same issues. To register for this support group or for additional information, call (850) 478-7790 or visit www.AlzFamServ.org.
Alzheimer’s Family Services is a not-for-profit organization serving individuals and families in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, and Walton counties in Florida as well as Escambia County in Alabama. Our mission is to provide education and emotional support through a variety of services including: memory screens, support groups, tracking devices for wandering patients, respite, and counseling. AFS is an affiliate of Covenant Hospice.
Equine Group Makes Plea For Help
September 7, 2010
A local equine rescue group is putting out an emergency plea for help after being hit with an unexpected large vet bill from an injured horse.
Panhandle Equine rescued two horses — Raven and Racer — from Highway 168 near Century in April, 2008. Raven, an Arabian mare, cut her back foot very badly on July 5. She underwent weeks of rehabilitation, a cast and numerous trips to a veterinarian. A Panhandle Equine Rescue volunteer provided the needed transportation and a stall for Raven.
On Saturday, the non-profit group received a vet bill for $1,648.87, according to PER President Diane Lowery.
“This is a huge expense for us since donations have been at an all time low with the economy situation,” Lower said. “It has been a long time since PER has asked for donations, but we are pleading with the community to please help!”
“Even just five or 10 dollars will help if we can get enough people to show their support,” she said.
For more information about Panhandle Equine Rescue and how to help financially or to foster a horse, visit www.panhandleequinerescue.org.
Pictured above: Raven with her bandaged rear foot. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
In HIS Steps Dance Classes Offered In Molino
September 7, 2010
A Molino church will be hosting dance classes from the In HIS Steps Christian Dance Studio and Performing Arts Center.
Classes will be held on Tuesdays at Highland Baptist Church on Highway 95A. The monthly fee is $30 per child with no registration fee. Discounts are available for children from the same family.
In HIS Steps classes offered will include ballet, tumbling, lyrical and funky jazz.
For more information, click here (pdf).
Ernest Ward Football Tonight
September 7, 2010
The only middle school football team in Escambia County, Florida, will be in action tonight.
The Ernest Ward Eagles will take on Excel at 6 p.m. at the school’s football stadium in Walnut Hill.
Here is the remaining 2010 schedule for the Ernest Ward Middle School Eagles:
- September 7 — Home — Excel
- September 14 — OPEN
- September 21 — Away — Uriah
- September 28 — Away — Escambia Academy
- October 5 — Home — Uriah
- October 12 — OPEN
- October 19 — Home — Escambia Academy
Blue Skies Continuing
September 7, 2010
Sunny skies are forecast to continue on Wednesday, with temperatures climbing back into the middle 90’s the next few days.
But a few very isolated storms are possible, like a shower that moved through the Century, Byrneville, McDavid and Jay areas Tuesday afternoon.
Pictured above: A bird on a power line outside the NorthEscambia.com office, click to enlarge.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 96. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.
- Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Thursday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Partly cloudy, with a high near 94. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Friday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a high near 94. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Saturday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a high near 92. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 73.
- Sunday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 91. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Sunday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Monday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a high near 89. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Edward and Alice Bradford
September 6, 2010
The devoted husband and wife of fifty-eight years were involved in a tragic automobile accident on August 30th, 2010. Alice B. Bradford passed away later that evening after surgery. Edward M. Bradford passed away peacefully on September 3rd.
Edward was preceded in death by his brother George Bradford and sisters Helen Hess and Virginia Balfe. Alice was preceded in death by her brother Robert Bradley.
They are survived by their children Edward Jr. (Ellen) of Aberdeen, NC, Mary Metcalf of Centreville, VA, Patricia Dix of Vienna, VA, William Bradford of New York, NY, and James Bradford (Patience) of Birmingham, AL; grandsons Ryan Dix and Fletcher Bradford as well as great-granddaughter Grace Dix. Alice is also survived by sister Jane Beeman (Don) of Salem, NY.
Edward, a native of New York City, graduated from St. Johns College. He joined the Army in 1949 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Infantry in March of 1951. Over a distinguished 31-year military career he served in command and staff positions throughout the United States and Germany, including combat tours in Korea and Vietnam. He attended the Army Command and General Staff College and his final assignment was Editor-in-Chief of Military Review Magazine. Upon retirement in 1980 he joined the faculty of Marion Military Institute and retired in 1993 as Vice President and moved to Pensacola, FL. He was an active member of Lions International, The Society of Mayflower Descendants, The Knights of Columbus and The Military Officers Association of America.
Alice, a native of Brooklyn, NY, graduated from Long Island College Hospital School of Nursing as a Registered Nurse. She was a dedicated and selfless Army wife, volunteer and health-care provider. Alice brought her nursing skills to hospitals in communities and military posts throughout the United States, serving as a Public Health Nurse and Director of Nursing. As a military and community volunteer, she was active with thrift shops, Army Wives Clubs, The Arlington Ladies, Pineglades Garden Club and local hospitals and churches.
The family will receive friends for visitation from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm on Wednesday, September 8th at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North located at 1000 Highway 29 South, Cantonment, FL.
A mass of Christian Burial will be held at Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church on Thursday, September 9th at 11:00 am; interment with full military honors to follow at Barrancas National Cemetery aboard Naval Air Station Pensacola.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org/donate) or a charity of your choice.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North, 1000 Highway 29 South Cantonment is in charge of arrangements.