Overflow Parking, Shuttle Service Available For Marine Funeral
August 26, 2011
Overflow parking and a shuttle service will be available this afternoon for the funeral of Lance Cpl. Travis Nelson at the First Baptist Church of Atmore.
The First Presbyterian and Atmore First United Methodist are making their parking lots available to those attending the funeral. A shuttle bus to the funeral service will be provided. Those not attending the funeral but planning to stand in support of LCpl Nelson on the streets are asked to park in the downtown area.
Visitation begins at 12:30 at the First Baptist Church and continues until funeral time at 2 p.m.
Area residents are asked to line the streets for the funeral procession from the church north to the Oak Hill Cemetery.
Funeral Held For Local Marine LCpl Travis Nelson
August 26, 2011
Funeral services were held today for Lance Cpl Travis Nelson, the 19-year old Marine killed in action last week in Afghanistan.
Services were held at the Atmore First Baptist Church with Chaplain Lt. Commander Jeffrey Bornemann and the Rev. George Weaver officiating with military honors.
Nelson, a 2010 graduate of Pace High School, was the son of Scott and Beckie Nelson of Bratt. He is also survived by siblings Daniel Nelson, 28, Jenna McCall, 24, and Anna Nelson, 11. He was engaged to Madeline Cates, 21.
NorthEscambia.com will post a complete photo gallery Saturday morning.
Pictured top: Funeral services were held Friday afternoon for Lance Cpl. Travis Nelson at the First Baptist Church of Atmore. Pictured inset: The hearse carrying the fallen Marine’s remains enters Oak Hill Cemetery. Pictured below: Taps is played during the graveside service for Lance Cpl Travis Nelson. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Ready For Some High School Football? Plenty Of Action Tonight
August 26, 2011
Three North Escambia area football teams in Florida will be in preseason action tonight, while it’s the first night of the regular season for Alabama teams.
Northview Chiefs
The Northview Chiefs’ will host Panama City Bay at home Friday at 7:00 in a preseason classic. The Chiefs are ranked No. 1 in the new Florida High School Athletic Association Rural Division, according to MaxPreps.com, after coming with one game of playing for a state championship last year. Third-year Head Coach Sid Wheatley and his Chiefs will sit out September 2 with an open date before traveling to Marianna on September 9.
Tate Aggies
Head Coach Ed Rigby and his Tate Aggies will travel down Highway 29 for their kickoff classic at 7:30 Friday night against Pensacola High School. The Aggies, coming off a 3-7 season, will open their regular season at home in Pete Gindl Stadium against Washington next Thursday, September 1.
Jay Royals
The Jay Royals will host the Baker Gators at 7:00 Friday night for their kickoff classic game. The Royals, 0-10 last year, will look for their first regular season win under new head coach Kent Smith, a 1979 Jay grad, at home September 2 against Rocky Bayou.
Flomaton at W.S. Neal
The Flomaton Hurricanes will blow into East Brewton Friday night to take on the W.S. Neal Eagles. The Eagles, who were 0-10 last year, are under the leadership of first-year coach Doug Hoehn and looking for improvement. The Hurricanes beat W.S. Neal 35-0 last year. Neal has lost 15 straight games, and they’ve lost their last 21 regional games.
Escambia County High at T.R. Miller
Last year’s game between the Escambia County High School of Atmore and Brewton’s T.R. Miller was a battle, ending with a 35-34 win for Atmore in one overtime. Tonight, ECHS will be on the road against T.R. Miller at 7 p.m. Both teams are ranked in the top 10 in Alabama 4-A — T.R. Miller at No. 7 and ECHS at No. 10.
Clarke Prep at Escambia Academy
It’s week two of play for private schools in Alabama, and the Cougars of Escambia Academy will play host to Clarke Prep of Grove Hill at 7 p.m. in Canoe. The Cougars are coming off a big 30-2 win last week over Sparta, and a looking to avenge last year’s 51-31 loss to Clarke Prep.
Man Charged In Weekend Escambia County Homicide
August 26, 2011
An Escambia County man was charged Thursday night with the death of a man whose body was found Sunday in a wooded area near the Marcus Pointe Apartments in Pensacola.
Sergio Moorer, 18, was charged with an open count of murder, vehicle theft and robbery for his involvement in the death of 68-year old John Daniel Hall of Pensacola. Investigators said Hall was last seen alive Saturday afternoon.
Hall’s vehicle was located Thursday afternoon by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office in the Oakstead Mobile Home Park on Massachusetts Avenue. Moorer and another black male were with the vehicle and fled on foot as deputies arrived. After a short foot chase, both suspects were taken into custody. The second person with the vehicle, who has not been identified by the Sheriff’s Office, was not immediately charged but was named a person of interest in the case.
Moorer was booked into the Escambia County Jail where he was held without bond.
Atmore Police Investigating Murder
August 26, 2011
The Atmore Police Department is investigating an early morning murder.
Atmore Police responded to 195 Maxwell Street just before 1 a.m. Thursday where they found 23-year old Christopher Payne Andrews not far from his vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene as the result of multiple gunshot wounds.
As of late Thursday afternoon, there had been no arrests reported in the case. Anyone with information about the shooting death is asked to call the Atmore Police Department at (251) 368-9141.
Northview High Fans Turn Out To Meet The Chiefs
August 26, 2011
Hundreds of people turned out Thursday night to meet the Chiefs at Northview High School.
They were introduced to the JV and varsity cheerleaders, the JV and varsity football team, the coach staff and a performance by the new NHS Dance Team.
Click here for a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the event.
The Northview Chiefs will host a preseason classic Friday at 7 p.m. against Panama City Bay.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Hayley Dortch contributed to the gallery photos.
Flags Ordered At Half Staff Today For Lance Cpl Travis Nelson
August 26, 2011
Florida Governor Rick has ordered all state and national flags in Escambia County to be flown at half staff Friday for Lance Corporal Travis M. Nelson who died August 18 in Helmand province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Nelson’s funeral will be held Friday in Atmore. Flags in Escambia County, Alabama, and Atmore have not been ordered to half staff. A spokesperson for Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley said his office does not order flags to half staff for fallen soldiers.
Pictured: The flag at half-staff at the Walnut Hill Community Center. The name of Lance Cpl Travis Nelson was added to the Walnut Hill Veterans Wall of Honor Monday. He was the first Walnut Hill area resident killed in action since 1969. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Century Residents Are Getting Disaster Ready
August 26, 2011
Over two dozen people took part Thursday night in the first of several training workshops in Century to become more prepared for disasters and emergencies.
BRACE — the Be Ready Alliance Coordinating for Emergencies — is offering the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training for free. There were 28 people, including Century’s mayor and entire town council, that took part in Thursday night’s training class.
Organizers said it is not too late for new participants. CERT training is available to Escambia County (Fla.) residents 18 or older and includes basic disaster response skills like fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization and disaster medical operations.
The CERT training will be offered from 6-9 p.m. at the Century Town Hall on September 1, September 15, September 22, October 6, October 13 and October 20. The training will culminate with a disaster drill on Saturday, October 22 at 10 a.m. at the Ag Building in Century. For more information or to join, contact Denise Wiggins at (850) 256-3208.
Pictured: CERT training Thursday night in Century. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Gulf Power Sending Crews To Washington In Advance Of Hurricane
August 26, 2011
A Gulf Power storm restoration team of 65 employees departed this morning for Washington D.C. to help Pepco Energy Services restore power to their customers in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene.
Forty-eight line personnel and 17 support staff members will support Pepco Energy Services in the Washington D.C. area, after Hurricane Irene has passed through the region. In addition, Gulf Power is sending 24 bucket trucks. These employees will help assess any damage and determine equipment needed to restore power. The crews are prepared to work for up to two weeks and will assist wherever they are needed.
Gulf Power assisted Alabama Power earlier this year after a deadly tornado tore through Tuscaloosa, Ala. and knocked out power to thousands of customers.
Pepco delivers power to nearly 1.9 million customers in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland and New Jersey, making it one of the largest electricity delivery companies in the Mid-Atlantic region.
“We’re glad to be able to help fellow utility companies when devastating storms hit,” said Jeff Rogers of Gulf Power. “Our crews are some of the most highly-trained restoration experts in the world. It’s common for utilities to help each other and we’re just glad to be part of the effort.”
Pictured above and below: Gulf Power crews prepare to depart Pensacola this morning for Washington, D.C. to assist with power restoration after Hurricane Irene makes landfall. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Nortview Defeats Jay And Central In Varsity Volleyball
August 26, 2011
The Northview Chiefs defeated Central and Jay in varsity high school volleyball action Thursday afternoon.
Northview vs. Central
The Chiefs defeated Central in a two-game match, 25-21 and 25-22.
Taylor Roberson — Aces – 2
Misty Doran — Aces – 1, Kills – 5, Blocks -1, Digs-3
Payton Hadley – Aces – 1, Assists – 1
Josie Doucette – Kills – 1, Digs – 1
Morgan Payne — Kills – 1
Shelley Mothershed – Assists – 4
Northview vs. Jay
The Northview Chiefs also defeated Jay in three games Thursday, 13-25, 25-22 15-0.
Morgan Payne –Aces-2, Kills-3, Blocks -1, Assists-2
Misty Doran — Kills-11, Blocks – 1, Digs -2
Shelley Mothershed — Assists-5, Blocks-1, Digs -2
Paeton Hadley — Assists -2, Ace -1
Lily Townson — Assists – 2, Dig – 1