Local Soldiers Headed Home Today
December 23, 2011
Members of a local National Guard unit are headed home today 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. 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.
Christmas Weekend Forecast
December 23, 2011
Here is your official North Escambia forecast:
- Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 63. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
- Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of rain after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
- Christmas Day: A 50 percent chance of rain. Cloudy, with a high near 61. East wind around 5 mph.
- Sunday Night: A 50 percent chance of rain. Cloudy, with a low around 52. East wind around 5 mph.
- Monday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a high near 63. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Monday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 59. North wind around 5 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 35. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
- Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 63.
- Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 37.
- Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 65.
- Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 43.
- Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 67.
Video: Animated Christmas Lights In Bogia
December 23, 2011
A Bogia family has a Christmas light display that is animated to music.
The display is located at 200 Cotton Creek Road, just west of Highway 29 between Bogia Road and Highway 164. The display is open to the public from dark until 9:00 nightly.
NorthEscambia.com photo/video.
(If you do not see the video above, it is because your home or work firewall is blocking external videos.)
Three Charged With Trying To Pay Walmart Customers To Buy Drugs
December 23, 2011
Three Monroe County, Ala., residents are facing charges for allegedly taking part in an attempt to pay Walmart customers to buy drugs in Escambia County, Ala.
Brewton Police Department narcotics agents received a call from a concerned citizen that people were trying to pay Walmart Pharmacy customers in Brewton to purchase pseudoephedrine, a cold medicine that can be used in the manufacture of methamphetamines. The sale of the products are limited, and customers are required to show identification.
At the pharmacy, Brewton Police Sergeant Williams Mosley found Angel Coakley, age 28 of Monroeville, who was attempting to purchase pseudoephedrine. Officers then later learned that Coakley was traveling with her boyfriend, 31-year old Michael Brandon Morris and his brother, 23-year old Charles Gregory Morris, both of Monroeville.
Police were able to locate the Morris brothers driving in circles in the Wal-Mart parking lot waiting for Coakley to return with the pseudoephedrine.
The investigation then led officers to a room at the Colonial Manor Motel where they executed a search warrant and found an active meth lab, drug paraphernalia and methamphetamines.
Michael Morris and Angel Coakley were both charged with unlawful manufacture of a controlled substance in the first degree, unlawful possession of a controlled substance-methamphetamines, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, and unlawful manufacture of a controlled substance in the second degree. Charles Morris was charged with attempt to commit a controlled substance crime.
Escambia Sheriff’s Office: Tips To Prevent Holiday Crime
December 23, 2011
During the Christmas season, busy shoppers sometimes fail to remain aware of their surroundings, making them easy prey for criminals.
“During the holidays, when we are often busy and in crowds,criminals see opportunities,” Sheriff David Morgan said. “Don’t give them easy chances to commit crimes. Be safe, lock your vehicle and look after your neighbors.”
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is offering the following safety tips:
- Always lock your vehicle.
- When parking your vehicle to go shopping, remember where you parked it.
- Always park in a well lit and well traveled area. Do not park in a remote dark area.
- Stay alert to your surroundings and the people around you.
- Have your keys in hand when approaching your vehicle. You will be ready to unlock the door and will not be delayed by fumbling and looking for your keys.
- When storing items purchased at the stores, place them out of sight. The best place is in a locked trunk.
- Be alert that crooks look for the “high dollar” shopping bags with your purchases. When possible, slip bags/purchases in a plain nondescript bag.
- Do not leave your purse, wallet, or cellular phone in plain view.
- Don’t resist if someone tries to take any of your belongings. Don’t chase someone who robs you, they may have a weapon. Instead,call 911.
- Lock your vehicle and put up your windows even while you are driving.
- If you go to an automatic teller machine for cash, check for people around and make sure it is well lit and in a safe location.
- Carry only the credit cards you need and avoid carrying large amounts of cash.
- If you make a purchase with your credit card, be sure to obtain any carbons or see that they are destroyed in front of you.
- Drive defensively. Traffic is heavier during the holidays. Drivers may also have indulged in too much holiday spirits.
AAA Forecasts 30% Of Population Will Travel For Holiday
December 23, 2011
An estimated 30 percent of the U.S. population will travel during the Christmas and New Year’s holiday period, the second highest rate in the past ten years.
That’s according to AAA which forecasts 1.9 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home during the 2011-12 year-end holiday travel season, a 1.4 percent increase over the 90.7 million people who traveled one year ago. This year’s expected travel volume is the second highest in the past decade and represents 30 percent of the total U.S. population.
The 11-day holiday period is the longest holiday travel season of the year, affording many more Americans time to visit family or take vacations. AAA defines the year-end holiday travel season as Friday, December 23 to Monday, January 2.
Approximately 83.6 million people (91 percent of holiday travelers) plan to take to the nation’s roadways during the holiday period, a 2.1 percent increase compared to 2010-11 when the number of auto travelers totaled 81.9 million. This year’s projected automobile travel volume is the second highest in the past decade and only 100,000 less than the 2006-07 auto travel peak of 83.7 million. Automobile travel remains the preferred choice of transportation for 2011-12 Year-End holiday travelers as nearly 27 percent of the total U.S. population will hit the road.
Air travel is forecast to be down about 10 percent this year, while AAA says about 4.2 percent more people will travel by train, bus or other modes.
Escambia Man Gets Life Plus 10 Years In Cocaine Conspiracy
December 23, 2011
An Escambia County man was sentenced to life plus 10 years in federal prison Thursday morning on charges related to conspiracy to distribute cocaine in Pensacola,
according to United States Attorney Pamela C. Marsh, Northern District of Florida.
The federal indictment alleged Hill and others were involved in the distribution of large amounts of cocaine and crack cocaine, as well as in the possession of firearms to further the drug conspiracy.
During the trial earlier this summer, jurors heard evidence of multiple cocaine seizures from Hill. The jury also heard testimony regarding death threats to a member of the Pensacola community who was aiding law enforcement in its investigation. These threats, as well as a drive-by shooting of this person’s residence, were linked to Hill through his cellular telephone records.
Chief United States District Judge M. Casey Rodgers sentenced Hill today to life on the drug conspiracy conviction and imposed a ten-year consecutive sentence for discharging a firearm in furtherance of the conspiracy. The severity of Hill’s sentence was based in part on his prior state convictions for felony drug and violent crime offenses.
Photos: Bluff Springs Double Rainbow
December 23, 2011
Thursday’s rain and storms gave way to rainbows in some parts of North Escambia. Philip Bell photographed this double rainbow about 4:45 Thursday afternoon in Bluff Springs.
Photos by Phillip Bell for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Bank Robbed
December 22, 2011
A Thursday morning bank robbery in Escambia County is under investigation.
Just after 11 a.m., the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a robbery at the Compass Bank at 6701 North Davis Highway. A suspect entered the bank and demanded cash before fleeing the area. The suspect was described as an approximately 65-year old while male wearing a white or cream colored button-up shirt and dark dress slacks, He was last seen headed north away from the bank.
Further details have not been released.
Anyone with information on the robbery as asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Weather: Minor Flooding, House Hit By Lightning
December 22, 2011
Minor weather-related problems were reported across North Escambia Thursday afternoon.
A house on Cool Creek Lane in Atmore (near Hwy 31 and the Country Club) was reportedly hit by lightning. The strike knocked a few bricks off the outside of the home, but no major damage was reported. The Atmore Fire Department responded but did not find a fire.
Minor street flooding has also been reported in North Escambia, with more widespread flooding in the usual low-lying areas of Atmore.
A tree also fell into some power lines during the noon hour on North Century Boulevard near West Highway 4.
Pictured above: Street flooding at South Trammell and Church street in Atmore Thursday afternoon. Photo by Beth Protsman for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.