Marine With Local Ties Injured In Afghanistan
March 24, 2010
[Updated] A U.S. Marine with several North Escambia area relatives is recovering after being injured by a roadside bomb while patrolling in Marjah, Afghanistan.
Joseph Daniel Palmer, 24, is listed in stable condition after the amputation of his right foot above the angle.. He also suffered shrapnel wounds to his left leg and shoulder, according to family members.
“He knows that things very easily could have been much worse, and is thankful that his life was spared,” said Melissa Moye, Palmer’s sister who lives in Century. “He is in really good spirits, and does not want anyone to feel sorry for him.”
Palmer, a native of Milton, was transferred to a military hospital in Germany Tuesday morning. He will later be transferred Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland for additional therapy soon.
” I am so proud of my brother, and love him so much. He is a brave man, and a very strong and determined person,” Moye said. “He is not going to let this get him down. He like so many others have sacrificed time away from his family to fight for our freedom. I am thankful that the Lord saw fit to bring him home alive.”
Palmer was injured when a roadside bomb detonated as he patrolled alone Saturday.
Palmer is a 2004 graduate of Central High School. He joined the marines in October 2008 and was deployed to Afghanistan in January. He has several relatives in the North Escambia area, including his sister.
Survey: 85 Percent Of Voters Have No Idea Who Should Replace Greg Evers
March 24, 2010
A survey released Tuesday night shows that about 85% of the voters in Florida House District 1 have no idea who they want to replace State Rep. Greg Evers.
Of the four Republican candidates in the race — if one were to pick –the leader would be Doug Broxson. But with just 6.8 percent of survey respondents choosing Broxson, it’s safe to say voters have yet to decide. Greg Brown was the candidate of choice for 5.3 percent of survey participants, while Jeremy Early and Ferd Saloman were the choice of less than two percent.
With the release of absentee ballots in the race just over 100 calendar days away, 84.7 percent of respondents were undecided or had no opinion in the Marketing Metrics & Media poll conducted March 20-22. According to the survey company, the confidence interval for the survey was 5.4 percent.
Florida House District 1 includes the norther two-thirds of Escambia County, most of Santa Rosa County and a portion of Okaloosa County. The seat is being vacated by Greg Evers who is running for Florida Senate District 2.
Pictured below: The gray area shows Florida House District 1.
Search Continues For Melinda Wall McGhee, Missing From Atmore For Seven Years
March 24, 2010
Seven years ago the morning of March 24, something went terribly wrong at a home on Kent Road north of Atmore. Melinda Wall McGhee, then 31, returned to her home about 8 a.m. after working the night shift as a nurse at a Bay Minette nursing home.
Her husband, Troy McGhee, was at work at Masland Carpets in Atmore. Their two children were at a babysitter, and Troy’s son from a previous relationship was at a dentist’s office. At about 8:30 the morning of March 24, 2003, Melinda McGhee spoke to her mother on the phone. It was the last time anyone known to Melinda would ever hear from her.
At about 4:00 that afternoon, husband Troy came home to find Melinda missing. There was blood and evidence of a violent struggle inside the home. He reported his wife missing.
Melinda’s vehicle was found parked near the house with her keys locked inside. Her purse and cellular phone were inside the residence. Foul play is suspected in her disappearance.
Over the years, there have been several searches for Melinda’s body or clues into the circumstances surrounding her disappearance.
In March 2009, authorities searched an area off Perry Lane in Wawbeek for clues in Melinda’s disappearance. Perry Lane is about a mile north of Highway 31 off Sardis Church Road near Old Atmore Road. The location is about three miles north of the Florida/Alabama line and North Escambia. On the last day of January, 2009, authorities searched a water-filled gravel pit off Jack Springs Roads near the Judson Cemetery between Atmore and Poarch. All of the searches have turned up empty.
Anyone with information on McGhee’s disappearance is asked to call the Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Department at (251) 809-0741 or their local law enforcement agency.
Pictured above: Two photos of Melinda Wall McGhee who went missing in March 2003.
Century Seeks To Increase Sewer Plant Permit Capacity
March 24, 2010
The Town of Century will seek a permit to increase the permitted capacity of its wastewater treatment plant by about 40 percent.
The facility is currently permitted for 425,000 gallons per day. If approved, the new permit from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection would allow the town to flow 625,000 gallons per day. The facility already has the ability to handle the higher flow without any physical upgrades.
Fabre Engineering will handle the DEP permit at a cost of up to $2,000, according to Dale Long, the town’s engineer.
According to Mayor Freddie McCall, the 450,000 gallon daily flow is not adequate to handle excessive rainfall . In addition, according to Long, having the high capacity permit in place would allow the town to be ready if any large commercial customer would located in Century.
Census Form Help Available In Century, Jay
March 24, 2010
If you need assistance filling out your census form, a U.S. Census Bureau employee can help at the Century Branch Library or the Jay City Hall.
The employee can:
- help complete forms
- answer your questions about the form and questions
- help with language or reading problems
- replace lost forms
- provide large print forms
The assistance is available 1p.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday; and Friday from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. at the Century Branch Library. Assistance is also available at the Jay City Hall from 8 a.m. until noon Tuesday through Friday.
If you are not able to visit one of the assistance centers, you can get answers to your questions about the form or assistance filling it out by calling 1-866-872-6868 (for assistance in English); 1-866-783-2010 (for the hearing impaired). On the Internet, information is available at www.census.gov/2010census.
Rep. Bonner Staffer To Visit
March 24, 2010
A staff member from the office of U.S. Representative Joe Bonner (R-AL) will visit Escambia County (Ala.) on Thursday to meet with any constituents who who may be experiencing difficulties with the federal government and who are seeking the congressman’s assistance in resolving these problems.
The Bonner staffer will be available at Atmore City Hall between 9:30 and 10:30 a.m., and at the Brewton City Hall from 11:15 to 12:15 p.m. on Thursday.
For more information on these visits, please contact Bryan Parker, Bonner’s District Representative, at (251) 943-2073 or (800) 288-8721.
JV Chiefs Fall To W.S. Neal
March 24, 2010
W.S. Neal 7 Northview 4 (JV)
The JV Northview Chiefs fell to W.S. Neal Tuesday afternoon 7-4.
Kevin Vaughn had a hit two RBI’s for the Chiefs. Logan Brown wen 1 for 1 with two runs; Chance Jackson had 2 RBI’s; Hunter Rigby scored one run; Harold Harrison had one hit; and Brian Sanders had one hit.
Tanner Brooks pitched the first two innings, allowing three runs on three hits and two walks. He had one strikeout. Harrison pitched four innings with six strikeouts and one walk. He allowed four runs on five hits.
For more photos from the game, click here.
Reader submitted story and photos for NorthEscambia.com.
Two Unrelated Walnut Hill Fires Damage Homes On The Same Road
March 23, 2010
Two unrelated fires damaged two different homes a mile apart on Arthur Brown Road in Walnut Hill Tuesday night. Both fires were apparently accidental.
Firefighters responded the 5000 block of Arthur Brown Road near Morgan Road about 7:50 p.m. When they arrived, light smoke was pouring out of the wood frame home. The fire was in a rear bedroom of the home and was quickly extinguished. Damage from the fire was limited to the bedroom, but the entire home suffered some smoke damage.
The occupants of the home were able to escape without injury. The exact cause of the blaze is still under investigation.
As fire units were completing the cleanup at the first fire, another fire was reported about 9:20 p.m. in the 6000 block of Arthur Brown Road near Juniper Street.
The fire was contained to the kitchen area of the home. There was some smoke damage throughout the brick home. There were no injuries reported. The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation.
The Walnut Hill, McDavid, Century and Molino Stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Atmore Fire Department responded to both calls.
Pictured above and top inset: Fire was contained to the rear room of this Arthur Brown Road home in Walnut Hill Tuesday night. Pictured below: A short time later, a kitchen fire was reported in this home on Arthur Brown Road. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tina Marie Petty
March 23, 2010
Miss Tina Marie Petty, 47, passed away on Thursday, March 18, 2010 in Cobleskill, NY.
Miss Petty was a native of Camp Lejeune, NC, a former resident of Atmore, AL, and a resident of Cobleskill, NY for the past 25 years. Tina came to live with Marion and family after the death of her “Mama” Grandmother. She then moved to Schoharie County, NY in 1985 where she worked two jobs, one at Price Chopper Supermarket and one at McDonalds. She lived a full and happy life, taking vacations to some very beautiful places in her off time, such as Virginia Beach, the Cape, Martha’s Vineyard, and Disney World. She was well liked by people and friends in the town where she resided, always attending the Cobleskill United Methodist Church, social functions, movies, community gatherings and celebrations. Preceded in death by her Grandparents who were also her adopted Parents, Dr. W.M. and Nell Petty.
Survivors include: three Brothers, Elgia Uriah Petty of Saipan, Basil Petty of Hayden, AL and Joe M. Petty of Atmore, AL; four Sisters, Marion P. Stedman of Flomaton, AL, Donna B. Fillmore of Flomaton, AL, Anita Lyssy of New Braunfels, TX and Prentis; and a number of cousins.
Funeral services will he held Friday, March 26, 2010 at 2:00 P.M. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with the Rev. Bennie Stokes and President Harlon Spencer officiating.
Burial will follow at Ray’s Chapel Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Thursday, March 25, 2010 between 6:00 and 9:00 P.M. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Clarence Buford Sanders
March 23, 2010
Mr. Clarence Buford Sanders, 68, passed away on Sunday, March 21, 2010 in Cantonment, FL.
Mr. Sanders was a native of Scranage, AL, a resident of Atmore, AL, for most of his life, a loving Husband, Father and Grandfather, an avid gardener and attended the Baptist Church. Preceded in death by two Sisters, Luverne Jones and Velma Hendrix.
Survivors include: Marie Sanders of Atmore, AL; four Sons, Dennis and Michelle Fowler of Atmore, AL, Tim Sanders of Pensacola, FL, Tony and Cathy Sanders of Pace, FL, and Alan and Belinda Sanders of Elberta, AL; his Daughter, Charlotte and David Mendoza of Albuquerque, NM; 12 Grandchildren; 1 Great-Grandchild; two Brothers, Lonnie Sanders of Robertsdale, AL and Roy and Vivian Sanders of Rome, GA; two Sisters, Elbia and Audrey Wood of Berrydale, FL, and Barbara Ann Wood of Berrydale, FL; and a special Niece, Vicki and Sam Andrews of Cantonment, FL.
Funeral services will he held Wednesday, March 24, 2010 at 10:00 A.M. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with the Rev. James Hughes officiating.
Burial will follow at Moyeville Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Tuesday, March 23, 2010 between 6:00 and 9:00 P.M. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.