Arrest Made In Murder Of Former Molino Resident
December 6, 2010
(Updated) A former Molino resident’s boyfriend has been charged with her murder after her body was found late last week in South Carolina.
Cherokee County (SC) Coroner Dennis Fowler said Winter Delane Windgard’s body was found on the side of a rural road last Thursday. Fowler said Monday that Wingard, 26, died as the result of hemorrhages caused by blunt force injury to her head. Fowler said the victim was severely beaten in the head and neck and strangled. In addition, the coroner said Wingard sustained multiple stab wounds to the neck.
Monday, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office charged Joey L. Clark of Mooresboro N.C. with Wingard’s death. He is being held without bond.
Wingard’s mother reported the 26-year old missing Thursday night, saying that she was last seen about 1:30 that morning as she left her home in Gaffney, SC., in her mother’s vehicle to go to a store.
“I felt horrible; I don’t know how to describe it,” Winter Wingard’s sister Summer Wingard said Sunday.
Summer Wingard said the sisters formerly lived on Molino Road. Winter Wingard attended Molino Elementary, Ransom Middle and Tate High before completing her education online.
Gaffney is a town of about 13,000 people about 20 miles northeast of Spartanburg, South Carolina.
A memorial service for Winter Delane Wingard will be held Wednesday from 4-6 p.m. at Faith Chapel Funeral Home on Beverly Parkway in Pensacola.
Local Singer Appears On NBC’s ‘The Sing-Off’
December 6, 2010
A local singer is appearing on NBC’s a cappella singing competition series, “The Sing-Off”, which premiered Monday night.
Adam Chance Ray, who performs as Adam Chance, sings bass for the six-member Street Corner Symphony. Ten a cappella groups will compete on the nationally televised show for a $100,000 prize and a Sony Music recording contract .
Chance (pictured), who was born in the Florida Panhandle, currently resides in Tuscaloosa, but still has numerous relatives in the Atmore and Jay areas.
The members of Street Corner Symphony are from all over the Southeast United States and call Nashville their home base. The group was formed in May of 2010 for the sole purpose of competing in The Sing-Off.
“We met right before we had to get things together for the show,” Chance said.
Street Corner Symphony’s music is described as “laid back southern soul” with a rich heritage in gospel music. Chance is the only one of the six members that is not the child of a preacher.
“The Sing-Off” will feature a cappella groups performing popular songs from various genres, with America ultimately deciding the winning group.
Returning celebrity judges Ben Folds, Shawn Stockman and Nicole Scherzinger will critique each performance, narrowing down the finalists to the top three groups competing for America’s vote.
“The Sing-Off” is a five-night holiday event premiering Monday, December 6 (7-9 p.m.) on NBC, locally on WPMI TV 15. The one-of-a-kind battle of voices will continue on December 8, 13 and 15, culminating in a live finale on December 20 (7-9 p.m. each night).
A behind the scenes NBC interview with Street Corner Symphony is below. Adam Chance is on the far right.
Pictured top: Street Car Symphony members (L-R) Jon McLemore, Adam Chance, Jeremy Lister, Mark McLemore, Richie Lister, John Martin. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cold Tonight, Flurries? For Tuesday Night, Wednesday
December 6, 2010
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast from the National Weather Service:
- Tonight: Clear, with a low around 22. North wind around 5 mph.
- Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 52. Wind chill values between 15 and 25 early. North wind around 5 mph.
- Tuesday Night: A chance of flurries after midnight. Increasing clouds, with a low around 26. North wind around 5 mph.
- Wednesday: A chance of flurries before 9am. Partly sunny, with a high near 50. Wind chill values between 20 and 30 early. North wind around 5 mph.
- Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 24. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 56. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 31. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.
- Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 60. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
- Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
- Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 67.
- Saturday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49.
- Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny and breezy, with a high near 55.
- Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 30.
- Monday: Sunny, with a high near 49.
It’s Time For The Santa Shop At Molino Park
December 6, 2010
It’s time for the annual Santa Shop at Molino Park Elementary School.
Students will have the opportunity each day this week to purchase gifts for friends and family members during the school day. It’s the perfect opportunity for students to purchase a gift “in secret” for mom and dad and have it gift wrapped.
All proceeds benefit the Molino Park Elementary PTA. Volunteer elves are needed between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m.; contact the school at (850) 587-5265 for more information.
Pensacola’s Johanna Long Wins The Snowball Derby
December 6, 2010
Pensacola’s Johanna Long became the second, and the youngest, female to win the Snowball Derby Sunday in one of the wildest finishes short-track racing’s most prestigious event has seen.
Long, 18, shed tears of joy after hoisting the Tom Dawson trophy to celebrate a historic victory in the 43rd annual Snowball Derby.
Two North Escambia area residents placed in Sunday’s race. Brandon Carlson finished 33rd, while Eddie Mercer placed 37th.
Long joins Mercer (2005), Dickie Davis (1971, 1973) and Wayne Niedecken Sr. (1968) as hometown heroes to find Victory Lane at the Derby.
“It’s absolutely amazing,” Long, 18, said. “I can’t believe I did it. We worked so hard on this.”
Long shifted into another gear late when several of Sunday’s 16 cautions began to wave as the Derby neared its completion and drivers got antsy.
Fresh tires allowed her to pass Landon Cassill on Lap 316 for a lead she never relinquished, but not before Cassill went for a spin on the back straightaway and an ugly collision ensued behind him.
“She had new tires and was way faster than us,” said the 21-year-old Iowan, who finished fourth. “To run fourth here is a great accomplishment. I know I can win this.”
Five Flags’ asphalt is notorious for chewing up tires and spitting them out. This edition of the Derby was no different.
“(Cassill) understood,” said Long, who led 23 laps Sunday, including the final 13. “I had good tires and he didn’t.”
Several leaders lost their shot at racing immortality by foolishly believing their tires would hold up.
Chase Elliott, leading at the time, saw an unprecedented Snowflake 100-Derby weekend sweep fall by the wayside when Cassill spun him on Lap 298.
Before a green-white-checkered finish could be determined, the tower’s official ruling was that the drivers had to complete five total laps under green. Long sat outside the top five.
“I was nervous,” she said. “I was very concerned.”
She blew past Casey Smith and followed Cassill by then-leader Donnie Wilson on Lap 313.
Wilson was a terrific story Sunday. With Freddie Query, Long’s old crew chief, in his tower, Wilson made a valiant run playing the dark-horse role Sunday.
“Our track position was real good,” he said. “It was just our pit stops put us in a bad position. We still finished in the top five, so I’ll take it. I’m not gonna complain.”
Long finally won’t have to either. She was perfect on the green-white-checkered restart, pulling away from Wilson and never having to sweat in the final two laps.
Long stuck her fist outside the window into the cool air and pumped it as the checkered flag swayed in the wind.
A sometimes frustrating season was erased in a blink Sunday.
She came into the Derby win-less this year. Long gained invaluable experience while competing in seven NASCAR’s trucks series races, but her million-dollar smile paid the price for it.
Her confidence never wavered, though.
“I knew the team was working hard,” Long said. “They wanted to win just as much as I did. We finally did it.”
The home-schooled senior has faced many challenging tests this year. In her final exam, though, Long passed with flying colors.
“There’s been a lotta learning this year. It’s been tough,”said Donald Long, Johanna’s father and car owner. “We’ve made a few mistakes here and there, but we wanna race for a living. Hopefully, this gets us to that point.”
Woman Hopes To Find Wedding Rings Lost In Christmas Trees
December 6, 2010
A Cantonment woman is wishing for a small Christmas miracle this year — she is hoping someone will find and return her wedding rings that were lost among the live Christmas trees at Home Depot.
Kari Doyle and her two children, Emma 4, and Olivia, 2, were shopping for a family Christmas tree Saturday at the Home Depot on Nine Mile Road in Pensacola. After picking up several trees, she realized that her wedding rings had fallen off.
“We searched everywhere, but there were so many pine needles,” she said. “We could not find them.”
“I am asking for anyone who may have bought a Christmas tree at the Home Depot (on Nine Mile Road) to please look in the tree to see if my ring is there,” Doyle said.
Doyle and her husband of about seven years, Greg, returned to the Home Depot on Saturday and Sunday hoping to find the rings, or hoping someone turned them into the store. But so far, no luck.
“I would really like to have them back for Christmas,” she said. “I’m just praying someone that has a conscience finds them.”
A reward is being offered for the return of Kari Doyle’s wedding rings. If you find the rings, call (850) 572-8817.
Pictured: Kari and Greg Doyle. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Walkers Push The Limits For Cancer Patient
December 6, 2010
About 30 people faced a cold wind and a three mile walk through Century Sunday afternoon to benefit cancer patient Nadine McCaw, a member of the Century Town Council.
“It was a long walk but was nothing compared to what she is going through,” said Joy Walker, who took part in the “Pushin’ the Limits” walk from the northern Century town limits at the Food Giant south along Highway 29 to the southern town limits and the Century Fire Station.
McCaw has is battling renal cancer and recently one of her kidneys and several lymph nodes removed. Her insurance, according to family members, was inadequate to fully pay for her needed treatments.
Other fundraisers are underway for McCaw. Here is how you can help:
- Large purple bows to show support are being sold for $6. The bows are available at the Century Town Hall, the Century Branch Library and at Southern Treasures (across from Whataburger on North Century Boulevard).
- Donations can be made by PayPal to the address nadinemccaw@yahoo.com or at Pen Air Federal Credit Union on North Century Boulevard.
Pictured top: Walker finish the three-mile “Pushin’ the Limits” walk to benefit cancer patient Nadine McCaw Sunday afternoon in Century. Pictured inset: Participants walked from the Food Giant on the northern side of Century to the southern boundary and the Century Fire Station. Pictured below: Walkers register and check in at the Century Ag Building prior to the event. Submitted photos by Willene Bryan and Joy Chancery Walker for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Weekend In Photos
December 6, 2010
From parades in Molino, Flomaton and Atmore to state playoff football in Jacksonville, NorthEscambia.com had photo galleries this weekend from several events. Click any of the items below to see more pictures.
Video Highlights: Northview’s Playoff Game Against Trinity Christian
December 6, 2010
Here are video highlights by Keith Garrison from Northview’s Friday night playoff game on the road against Trinity Christian.
(The video is in three parts below.)
For game details and photos, click here for the NorthEscambia.com story.
See Video, Photos From Molino, Flomaton And Atmore Christmas Parades
December 6, 2010
There were three big Christmas parades in the area Saturday, and NorthEscambia.com was there with photos and videos from each.
Click the parade name for a photo gallery and a video.
Pictured top: Santa Claus at the Flomaton Christmas Parade. Pictured below: A float rolls through Molino Saturday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
