District Attorney Looking For Answers In Fire That Claimed 3 Children
November 7, 2011
The Alabama Fire Marshal’s Office and a local district attorney are continuing their investigation into a Wednesday night house fire that claimed the lives of three children in Atmore.
Family members identified the children as3-year old Aniyia Abner, 3-year old Takia Abner and 22-month old Michael Coleman.
Escambia County (Ala.) District Attorney Steve Billy says his office is awaiting the outcome of an ongoing investigation by the the Alabama State Marshal. Pending the outcome of the investigation, the children’s mothers, 18-year old twins Akeivia Abner and Jekeevia Abner, could face criminal charges.
“We’ve still got to gather the hospital records. Of course, the children were sent to Mobile for an autopsy, so we’re waiting on the preliminary findings from the pathologist. Of course, we’re still trying to determine the cause of the fire and interviewing witnesses. So there’s a lot of unknowns out there that are still under investigation,” Billy told FOX 10 TV.
Initial reports said that an oven door was open inside the home at the time of the fire, perhaps indicating that it was being used as a heat source. Photographs taken Thursday morning (see top of page) clearly show the oven door inside the kitchen of the home propped partially open. But it was not immediately known if that was the cause of the fire.
Reports indicated that the two young mothers were at another location several blocks from the home at the time of the fire.
For an earlier stories about the fire, including photos from the aftermath of the fire Wednesday night, click here and click here.
Pictured top: This photo shows the oven door propped open inside the kitchen of a home were three children died in a house fire Wednesday night. Pictured bottom inset: A makeshift memorial outside the home. Pictured below: The remains of a 1st Street home in Atmore. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Football Standings: Champions And 3-Way Ties
November 7, 2011
It’s the final week of the regular season in high school football, with district kings already named in two local districts, while one is in a three-way shootout Monday night.
The Northview Chiefs easily chomped the Baker Gators last Friday night to take the District 1-1A championship and claim home field advantage for the playoffs.
The District 1-5A title will come down to a three-way shootout Monday night between West Florida, Gulf Breeze and Arnold. The top two teams are playoff bound, while number three heads to the lockers for the last time. (For an update to this story, click here.)
The shootout will take place at 7 p.m. at West Florida’s home field at Woodham Middle School.
Pensacola High is on top of District 1-6A, while the Pace Patriots are in second. For the Tate Aggies, an 0-10 season ended Friday night.
Pictured top: Action as Northview beat Baker Friday night to claim in the District 1-1A championship. Pictured inset. Tate takes on Washington last Friday night. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Local Students Place With Fair Art Exhibits
November 7, 2011
Middle and high school students from Escambia and Santa Rosa counties were recognized for their entries in the school art exhibit at the Pensacola Interstate Fair.
The winners were as follows:
Middle Schools
Best in show: Celeste Bishop, Woodham Middle School; Winston Foster, educator.
Drawing: Leslee Scruggs, Ransom, first place; Audrey Mahon, PATS, second; Ashley Ament, Ransom, third; and honorable mentions for Amanda Tobler and Aidan Garcia, Bailey; Joey Jordan, PATS; Taylor Rouchon, Kailee Nolan and Brennan Rohde, Ransom; Brandias Larock, Woodham; and Cameron Rettig, Workman.
Mixed media: Teah Wiley, Workman, first; Brianna Leatherwood, PATS, second; Jackie Gibson, Woodham, third; Maddie Conley, Ransom, honorable mention.
Painting: Callastasia Williams, Woodham, first; Kenard Cook, Woodham, second; Lizzie Partington, PATS, third; Morgan Litton, Workman, honorable mention.
Printmaking: Sakura Kawasaki, Woodham, first; Ebony Coger, Woodham, second; Madelyn Mahon, PATS, third; Addie McKeon, Workman, honorable mention.
Sculpture: Jacob Reosti, PATS, first.
High Schools
Art Program Award of Excellence: Escambia High School; Kymberly Rejda, Marie Henderson and Ruth Fidler, educators.
Best in Show: Savannah Cain, Pace; Kathleen Tracey, educator.
John Frenkel Sr. Award: Jasmin Rhea, Milton; Kenya Longmire, educator.
Beginning art: Cameron Jones, Tate, first; Jacob Brown, Tate, second; Jiwon Kim, Pensacola, third; and honorable mentions for Austin Duffy and Brent Bowman, Central; Cody Overton and Parker Hitt, Escambia; Shonteila West, Glendine Jones and Era Cooper, Tate; Ayannia Cole, Washington; and Lauren Cleary, West Florida.
Ceramics: Frankie Derise, Tate, first; Kimberly Wakefield, Pensacola, second; Austin McElwrath, Pine Forest, third; and honorable mentions for Bridget Stephens, Pace; Sara Omler, Pensacola; and Tyler Maynard and Kimberlee Richards, Tate.
Digital arts: Adrian Brown, Chris Netherton and Kimberlee Richards, Tate, first; Shane King, Washington, second; Jamie Lewis, Tate, third; and Trey Godfrey and Jared Felling, Tate, honorable mention.
Drawing: McKenna Jobe, Escambia, first; Sara Omler, Pensacola, second; Danielle Wheeler, Tate, third; and honorable mentions for Taylor Walden, Escambia; Maranda Wise, Jay; Michael Melendez, Milton; Keondre Hull, Tate; Meredith Gretzinger, Washington; and Kelli Brock, West Florida.
Jewelry/textiles: Dakota Major, Pace, first.
Mixed Media: Katie Ledbetter, West Florida, first; Sara Pertgren, Escambia, second; Matt Lowe, Jay, third; and honorable mentions for Alana Lami and Alyssa Elliott, Escambia; Paul Sebough, Jay; Kyndall Hall, Northview; Stephanie Gunton, Pace; and Luna Zepp, Washington.
Painting: Dylan Nadsady, Jay, first; Sierra Keltz, Escambia, second; Hannah Fernandes-Martin, Pensacola, third; and honorable mentions for Stephanie Gunton, Pace; Kimberly Wakefield, Pensacola; Avery Gaal, Tate; and Kerrie Anderson, West Florida.
Photography: Vivianna Sanich, Pensacola, first; Kelly McDaniel, Washington, second; Carlene Langlois, Escambia, third; and honorable mentions for Alana Lami and Maria Brown-Doig, Escambia; Megan Evans and Sara Thomas, Pine Forest.
Printmaking: Elizabeth Anderson, Pensacola, first; Taylor Young, Pine Forest, second; Tiffany Chiang, Pensacola, third; and honorable mentions for Travis Prescott, Jay; Alicia Echagnggura, Pensacola; and Jessica Broussard, Washington.
Sculpture: Randy Allen, Escambia, first; Brittany Gibson, Pace, second; Emily Downs, Escambia, third; and honorable mentions for Emily Downs, Escambia; Michael Melendez, Milton; Casey Touchstone and Katherine Smyth, Pace; Dusty Wiggins, Alex Jackson and Tristan Nichols, Washington; and Jovianna Mallow, West Florida.
Northview, West Fla. Compete In District Cross Country Meet
November 7, 2011
The District 1-2A cross county meet was held Saturday at Sims Middle School in Pace.
The Northview Chiefs finished in seventh place for both boys and girls — missing a trip to regionals. Northview’s Isaac McGahan (pictured) placed 10th overall with a time of 18:03, earning him an individual trip to the regional meet.
Results were as follows:
Top 5 Boys Teams
- Catholic 47
- West Florida 55
- Arnold 85
- Rutherford 92
- South Walton 97
Top Individual Boys
- Kerrigan, Don (Catholic) — 16:35.00
- Sortino, Mark (West Florida) — 16:36.00
- Clark, Alec (West Florida) — 16:54.00
- Leuze, Jacob (South Walton) — 17:04.00
- Wyllie, Andrew (Rutherford) — 17:10.00
- Engel, Daniel (Catholic) — 17:13.11
- LaNasa, Trey (South Walton) — 17:13.86
- Hyman, Alexander (Arnold) — 17:36.00
- Chope, John (Catholic) — 17:49.00
- McGahan, Isaac (Northview) — 18:03.00
- Remich, Michael (Catholic) — 18:07.00
- Qualls, Darrin (West Florida) — 18:14.00
- Armstrong, Derrick (Arnold) — 18:22.00
- Rowe, Griffin (Arnold) — 18:26.00
- Gutierrez, Carlos (Rutherford) — 18:30.00
- Modin, Seth (West Florida) — 18:35.00
- Patel, Saajan (Rutherford) — 18:37.00
- Lance, Jordan (Arnold) — 18:50.00
- Farner, Spencer (Bay) — 18:51.00
- Bromen, Jeffrey (Catholic) — 18:58.00
Top 5 Girls Teams
- Catholic 39
- West Florida 49
- South Walton 96
- Arnold 107
- Rutherford 134
Top Individual Girls
- Roberts, Kaysi (West Florida) — 19:26.00
- Hodges, Mikayla (Arnold) — 19:34.00
- Gaillard, Christina (Arnold) — 20:36.00
- Farr, Rebecca (Catholic) — 20:37.00
- Endacott, Gabrielle (Catholic) — 21:03.00
- Campion, Natalie (Catholic) — 21:14.00
- Sortino, Jordan (West Florida) — 21:40.00
- Nesbitt, Raleigh (West Florida) – 21:43.00
- Bump, Allysa (South Walton) — 21:46.00
- Weiner, A. (South Walton)– 22:02.00
- Gibson, Dale (Catholic) — 22:04.00
- Garred, Melissa (Rutherford) — 22:12.00
- Lockridge, Kaitlin (Catholic) — 22:44.00
- Busch, Taylor (Catholic) — 22:47.00
- Phillips, Jodi (Rutherford) — 22:50.00
- Wiley, Miranda (West Florida) — 22:54.00
- Moore, Hanna (West Florida) — 23:04.00
- Rivera-Santiago, A. (West Florida) — 23:11.00
- Turner, Danielle (West Florida) — 23:12.00
- Ehlers, Elizabeth (Catholic) — 23:26.00
Monroe ‘Kemp’ Moore, Sr.
November 7, 2011
Mr. Monroe ‘Kemp’ Moore, Sr., 70 of Century passed away on Saturday, November 5, 2011, at his home. He was a lifetime resident of the Century community and a 1958 graduate of Century High School where he was captain of the Century Blackcats football team.
During his working years, he worked at Wayne Dalton Doors as a supervisor and he enjoyed hunting and fishing. Mr. Moore was a veteran of the United states Army having served in the 101st Airborne where he was wounded in service. He was a member of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church and he is preceded in death by his parents, Paul W. and Myrtle Gill Moore,Sr.; his wife of 42 years, Sylvia Grimes Moore; sisters, Edna Garrett and Helen McCrary.
He is survived by his sons, Monroe Kemp (Marian) Moore, Sr. of Byrneville, Dabney (Dana) Langhorne of McDavid, and Steve (Frances) Langhorne of Cedar Creek, TX; brothers, John G. Moore of Arkansas and Paul W. ‘Pete’ Moore, Jr. of Bluff Springs; sisters, Hazel Boyarski of Panama City, and Margaret Creamer of Byrneville; grandchildren, Thomas and Jackson Moore of Byrneville, Justin Langhorne of Castorville, TX, and Jesse Langhorne of Clear Lake Oaks, CA, Darbi and Dabney Langhorne of McDavid; and great grandchilden, Nora and Natalie Langhorne of Castorville, TX.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, November 8, 2011, at the Flomaton Funeral Home Chapel beginning at 10 a.m. and will continue until service time at 11 a.m. with Rev. Mitch Herring and Rev. Benny Barnes officiating. Interment will follow in Beulah Chapel Cemetery in Byrnevile.
Pallbearers will be Thomas Moore, Dabney Langhorne, Rodney Grimes, Larry Stuckey, Will Stuckey and Jackson Moore.
Judge Again Blocks Prison Privatization
November 7, 2011
A Leon County circuit judge has ordered the state to “cease and desist” from taking further steps toward accepting bids for a prison-privatization plan that she found unconstitutional.
In an order dated Friday and made public Saturday, Circuit Judge Jackie Fulford sided with the Florida Police Benevolent Association in halting the procurement process during the state’s appeal of her earlier ruling.
The Department of Corrections had argued that filing the appeal led to an automatic stay of Fulford’s Sept. 30 ruling — effectively allowing the bidding process to go forward. Fulford’s latest order vacated, or rejected, that stay.
“This court finds that the evidence in the record establishes the likelihood of irreparable injury to the plaintiffs (the PBA and members) if the stay is not vacated and further that the defendants are not likely to succeed on the merits on appeal,” Fulford wrote.
The privatization plan calls for the state to contract out the operation of 29 prison facilities across the southern part of the state. Jim Baiardi, the president of PBA’s chapter for correctional officers, issued a statement Saturday praising Fulford’s latest ruling.
“The PBA is pleased that Judge Fulford has stopped this action,” said Baiardi, who testified during a hearing Friday about “panic” among officers. “State correctional officers can breathe a sigh of relief today.”
The dispute stemmed from a Thursday announcement that the Department of Corrections was reopening the bidding process for the privatization plan. PBA attorneys argued during the hearing Friday there was no reason to move forward with bidding, unless the department was trying to gain some type of advantage in the legal challenge or in the legislative session that starts in January.
But the Department of Corrections said Thursday it would not sign a privatization contract while the legal challenge is pending — a point reiterated during Friday’s hearing by Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Glogau.
In her ruling on the stay, however, Fulford noted the testimony of Baiardi, who also is a captain at the South Florida Reception Center.
“Specifically, Captain Baiardi identified such factors as the disruption of families, the threatened separation of families, loss of jobs, change of schools, lack of sleep, loss of homes and displacement of experienced officers to institutions away from their families as concerns which are overwhelming the correctional officers of the affected facilities,” she wrote.
Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Monday that she would appeal Fulford’s Sept. 30 ruling on the constitutionality of the privatization plan. Bondi made the decision at the request of the Legislature, after Gov. Rick Scott declined to file the appeal.
The PBA challenged the way lawmakers approved the privatization plan, which was included in budget fine print — known as proviso language — instead of in a typical bill.
Fulford found that the constitution required lawmakers to change state law or use an already-existing department review process before privatizing the prisons. She did not say privatization is unconstitutional, just that the way lawmakers approved the plan was unconstitutional.
The proviso language offered a road map to privatize prisons, work camps and other types of correctional facilities in 18 counties.
It called for the Department of Corrections to solicit proposals from private companies and then submit a plan to the Legislative Budget Commission by Dec. 1.
After Bondi announced she would appeal Fulford’s earlier ruling, Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, issued a statement expressing confidence that the state will win and that privatization will help save tax dollars.
“Not only is the privatization of our state’s prisons good policy, but it ensures that our state can dedicate more money to education, health care or economic development programs that would otherwise be spent on prisons,” Haridopolos said.
The 1st District Court of Appeal has not scheduled a hearing in the case, according to an online docket.
By Jim Saunders
The News Service of Florida
Robert ‘Bobby Woods’ Quinton Edwards
November 7, 2011
Mr. Robert ‘Bobby Woods’ Quinton Edwards, age 78 of Century, passed away at his home on Monday, November 7, 2011. Mr. Edwards was a native of Flomaton, but spent his lifetime living in Century and was a member of the Byrneville United Methodist Church. Mr Edwards was preceded in death by his mother, Mrs. Maggie Woods.
He is survived by his brother, Gilbert Edward Woods of New Mexico; sisters Ruby Gail Clary of Century, and Betty Woods (E.J.) Deubler of Harvey, LA; numerous nieces and nephews and great nieces and great nephews and great-great nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday evening, November 8, 2011, at the Flomaton Funeral Home Chapel from 7 until 9 p.m. Funeral services will be November 9, 2011, with graveside at 11 a.m. at Byrneville United Methodist Cemetery with Rev. Chris Hawkins officiating.
Walnut Hill Fire Honors Firemen, Community Members During Fish Fry
November 6, 2011
The Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department honored members of the community and the department during their 42nd annual fish fry Saturday.
District Chief Chris Brown said the Walnut Hill Station had responded to 357 calls during the past year in their 200 square mile district with 16 active members.
Chester Jantz received the department’s community service award for hosting the annual Pen Wheels Fishing Rodeo at his catfish pond on South Highway 99. The fishing rodeo is provided to the disabled for free as a project of the Pensacola Fiesta of Five Flags organization. [Click here for a May story about this year's fishing rodeo.]
Jeffrey Huber was recognized as firefighter of the year, an award chosen by his peers. Kevin Mininger was named officer of the year. Arthur Levins was also recognized for 30 years of service to the department on Saturday, his 50th birthday, with a gift, cake and a letter from Gov. Rick Scott.
The department also recognized Robbie Whitfield for providing over 7,200 training hours for station members.
A blood drive during the fish fry collected 25 units of blood, according to Sarah Noel of Northwest Florida Blood Services. She said 110 units of blood were collected during drives at the Walnut Hill fire department during the year, up from last year. The next blood drive at the Walnut Hill Fire Station will be 8 a.m. until noon on January 12.
For more photos, click to enlarge.
Pictured top: Kevin Mininger (left) was honored as officer of the year Saturday by the Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department. Pictured inset and below: Hundreds enjoyed the department’s annual fish fry. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
20 Homeless After Two Escambia County Fires
November 6, 2011
Twenty people were left homeless after a fire Saturday afternoon in Cantonment and an early Saturday morning fire in Pensacola.
The after fire in the 2300 block of Welcome Road, just off Quintette Road, was reported just before 3 p.m. as the resident reported that a bedroom was on fire. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Fire Marshal’s office. The American Red Cross was called to provide temporary assistance to eight children — from toddler age to 14 years old — and one adult.
In a fire about 4 a.m. Saturday, 10 adults and one child were left homeless when fire ripped through an apartment building at the Courtyard Apartments of Cordova on North Ninth Avenue in Pensacola. The were no injuries. The fire is under investigation by the State Fire Marshal’s Office. The Red Cross also assisted those displaced by the fire.
Photo Gallery: Northview High 2011 Homecoming Court
November 6, 2011
Lauren McCall was named the 2011 Northview High School Homecoming Queen Friday night. Also named Friday night were:
- First Runner-up: Mallory Turner
- Second Runner-up: Savanna Singleton
- Junior Maid: Shaquanna Jones
- Sophomore Maid: Lindsey Francis
- Freshman Maid: Kamryn Brock
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery, click here.
Pictured top: Sophomore Maid Lindsey Francis, Junior Maid Shaquanna Jones, Second Runner-up Savanna Singleton, Homecoming Queen Lauren McCall, First Runner-up Mallory Turner, and Freshman Maid Kamryn Brock. Pictured inset: 2010 Homecoming Queen Brooke Tullis crowns 2011 Northview High School Homecoming Queen Lauren McCall. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.