Another Member Of LCPl Travis Nelson’s Unit Killed In Afghanistan
December 15, 2011
Another member of LCpl. Travis M. Nelson’s unit has been killed in action in Afghanistan.
LCpl. Christopher P. J. Levy, 21, of Ramseur, N.C., died from wounds sustained while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, NC, along with Nelson.
Nelson, who grew up in Bratt, was killed in action with the same unit back in August, also in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was laid to rest in Atmore.
Florida Has 83,000 Homeless Children
December 15, 2011
Florida has more than 83,000 homeless children, according to a new report by an advocacy group, and doesn’t do well in dealing with it, putting it near the bottom of states in that regard.
A report released this week by The National Center on Family Homelessness said Florida ranks 42 out of 50 states in the number of homeless children, their well being, state policy related to it and other measures.
The group says the recession has dramatically increased the number of homeless children in the state and the nation as a whole since 2007. Nationally, the number of children who don’t have a home has gone up almost 40 percent in that period.
“The state of Florida must provide the needed resources for quality services and programs to children and their families who are homeless,” said Suzanne Edwards, President of the Florida Coalition for the Homeless. “Prevention is the key to healthy and stable families.”
By The News Service of Florida
Ernest Ward Honors Fall Sports Standouts
December 15, 2011
The sixth annual Ernest Ward Middle School Sports Banquet was held Wednesday afternooon. Students were honored for their participation in football, cross country, cheerleading, girls’ basketball, boys’ basketball and band.
For a photo gallery from the event, click here.
In addition to team awards, individual students honored included:
Football
- MVP Offense: Desmone Knight
- MVP Defense: Austin Whitehead
- Coaches Award: Gavin Grant
Cross Country:
- Most Valuable Runner (MVR) Female: Bethany Reynolds
- Most Valuable Runner (MVR) Male: Zachary Calloway
- Most Improved Female: Jessica Barrows
- Most Improved Male: Logan Calloway
- Perseverance Award: Bethany Reynolds
- Perseverance Award: Gavin Coon
Cheerleading
- Most Improved: Mallory Gibson
- Most Dedicated: Autumn Albritton
- Most Spirited: Raegan Harrell
- Best All-Around: Jadlyn Agerton
Individual awards were not presented for basketball or band.
A second Ernest Ward Middle School Sports Banquet will be held next year for winter and spring sports.
Pictured top: Ernest Ward Middle School football’s most valuable players Austin Whitehead (left) and Desmone Knight. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Girl’s Weightlifting: Northview Defeats Jay
December 15, 2011
Northview High School defeated Jay High School in a girl’s weightlifting meet at Jay.
Northview finished first with 45 points, while Jay had 34 points.
For more photos from the meet, click here.
Weight category winners, including scores with combined bench press and jerk weights, were as follows:
101
- Kasie Braun –Northview 125
110
- Lakelynn Parker-Northview 145
119
- Ashley Cunningham-Northview 165
- Samantha Campbell –Jay 150
129
- Ashlynn –Jay 165
- Shelby E.-Jay 165
- Madalyn Coon-Northview 160
139
- Zacarra Davis-Northview 160
- Matti –Jay 130
- Kim –Jay 130
154
- Ashton Gibbs-Northview 200
- Kristine –Jay 180
- Liza-Jay 175
169
- Keyth Grice –Northview 150
- Sunny –Jay 140
- La’Jerika Freeman –Northview 135
183
- Sydney-Jay 160
- Alisha Grice 135
199
- McKenzie Nassar-Northview 190
- Kaylen Blair –Jay 160
Unlimited
- Te’Andreia Knight-Northview 230
- Brianna Hawthorne –Jay 225
- Cheyenne Mark-Jay 160
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
‘D-Money’ Detained For Atmore Armed Robbery With A Machete
December 15, 2011
The suspect in an armed robbery Wednesday afternoon in Atmore is behind bars.
Darrell Marshall, also known as D-Money according to police, was charged with first degree armed robbery for the holdup at Southern Gold Buyers at 100 North Main Street.
Marshall entered the business at 2:38 p.m. and attempted to sell a piece of jewelry. As the owner of of the business inspected the jewelry, Marshall pulled a machete from his pants and demanded money, according to Atmore Police. The store owner, who was not injured, gave chase as he fled the store.
Marshall was last seen entering a wooded area on Ashley Street. A K-9 tracking team from the Alabama Department of Corrections was called to help locate the robber, but could not be located.
At 11:27 p.m. Wednesday, Marshall was spotted an Atmore gas station and taken into custody without incident. He was booked into the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton.
Local Soldiers Headed Home In Time For Christmas
December 15, 2011
Members of a local National Guard unit are headed home from Afghanistan just in time for Christmas.
The 170 members of the 1165th Military Police Company based in Fairhope and Brewton are set to arrive back in Fairhope for a homecoming celebration on December 23. Supporters are asked to line Veterans Drive, Section Street and Fairhope Avenue prior to a welcome home ceremony at 10 a.m. at the Fairhope Civic Center.
The soldiers, several of which live in the North Escambia area, deployed for Afghanistan in January.
Sgt. Chester Tolbert, a Jay resident assigned to the 1165th, was recently awarded for his actions while in Afghanistan. Click here for a earlier NorthEscambia.com story about the Century Correctional Institution employee.
Two Brewton natives in the 1165th assigned to NATO Training Mission – Afghanistan also received awards a few days ago for actions taken in early August when their team successfully combated an insurgent attack in Kabul.
U.S. Army Spcs. Daniel Fowler (pictured left) and Brandon Hammack helped defeat a multiphased attack in which insurgents used small-arms and improvised explosive devices to attack the British Council Building, a base located in a relatively upscale area of the country’s capital used for education and helping Afghanistan’s civil society groups. Although no U.S. service members were harmed, twelve people died in the attack.
Commander, Task Force Yankee Army Brig. Gen. John Hammond presented 10 soldiers with Joint Service Achievement Medals and combat action badges, one soldier with a Joint Service Commendation Medal and a combat medical badge, one soldier with an Army Commendation Medal and one soldier with a combat action badge.
Pictured top: Sgt. Chest Tolbert of Jay, a member of the 1165th Military Police Company, helps an Afghan National Police officer detect vehicle threat indications in the heart of downtown Kabul last early last month. Pictured inset: U.S. Army Spc. Daniel Fowler of Brewton, also a member of the 1165th, receives a Joint Service Achievement Medal and a combat action badge. Pictured below: U.S. Army Spc. Brandon Hammock of Brewton was also awarded the medals. Photos by Petty Officer 1st Class Chris Fahey for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Jeff James Foster
December 15, 2011
Jeff James Foster, 74 of Barrineu Park, died Tuesday December 13, 2011, in Pensacola .He was retired from the Escambia County Florida system as a school bus
driver and was also a feed store owner and farmer. He was born Pineville, FL, on February 8, 1937, to the late Allen and Cora Flowers Foster.
he is survived by his wife of 52 years, Brenda Foster of Barrineu Park; one sister, Mary Echols of Mobile; and many friends.
Services will be Saturday December 17, 2011, at 10 a.m.from the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Rev.Chip Barbas officiating. Interment will follow in Dry Springs Cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be, Joseph Echols, Steven Joiner, Allen Lee, Robert Leon Stewart, Hoyle Joiner, Pat Lambert and Aubrey Lambert.
Family will receive friends Saturday, December 17, 2011, at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home one hour prior to service time.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home in Atmore is in charge of all arrangements.
Northview, Ernest Ward Name Students Of The Month
December 15, 2011
Students of the month for November were recently named at Ernest Ward Middle and Northview High schools.
Pictured above: Ernest Ward Students of the Month were (L-R) Ladarrious Thames, Cody Kite and Desmone Knight. Pictured left: Penny Banda and Tristan Brown were Students of the Month from Northview High School. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Linda Gail Thomas
December 15, 2011
Linda Gail Thomas, 51 of Walnut Hill, died Tuesday December 13, 2011, in Pensacola. She was a cashier, born in Pensacola on July 4, 1960, to the Late John T. and Irma Wainwright Strops. She was a loving mother and grandmother.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Paul Allen Thomas, Sr.
She is survived by one son, Paul Allen Thomas, Jr. of Atmore ; a daughter, Jessica Nichole Thomas of Atmore; great aunt, Bobby Jean Davis of Davisville; and three grandchildren, Jacob Paul Thomas, Blaze Thomas and Corbin Paul Stacey.
Graveside services will be Friday December 16, 2011, at 11:30 a.m. at Pine Barren Cemetery with Rev. Earl Harrison officiating. Family will receive friend Friday, December 16, 2011, at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home from 10-11 a.m.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home in Atmore is in charge of all arrangements.
Lawmaker: Go Ahead, Pry Cell Phone From ‘My Cold Dead Fingers’
December 15, 2011
A day after a federal agency suggested every state should ban or limit cell phone use while driving, Florida lawmakers began reacting.
Sen. Jack Latvala, a Pinellas County Republican, told WTSP in Tampa that he wouldn’t support the proposed bans that are filed with the Legislature.
“You can take it out of my cold dead fingers,” Latvala said of his cell phone. He said he talks and drives all the time.
One bill has already been filed that would ban texting and driving, while another bill would prohibit minors from using the cell phone in any way while driving.
Sen. Nancy Detert, R-Venice told WTSP that the texting ban is common sense. “It’s not limiting anyone’s personal freedom,” she said. “It’s a safety issue.”
For more on this story and the NTSB opinion that cell phone use should be banned for drivers, click here.