Top Stories Of 2011

January 2, 2012

Here is the first part of our pick for the Top 11 Stories of 2011. The remainder of the list will be published on Tuesday.

11. Jay Hospital

The Town of Jay was abuzz in late April that Jay Hospital was about to be closed, sold or merged with another facility. A town meeting was called and 250 residents were told that Baptist Healthcare and Naples-based Health Management Associates wanted to form a new partnership involving Jay Hospital and the Santa Rosa County Medical Center in Milton. Dr. David Smith said Baptist wanted to strike the word “non-profit” from their contract with Santa Rosa County, perhaps leading to a reduction in services at the 55-bed hospital. Century and Flomaton leaders also spoke out against any change in the hospital’s services. After the public outcry, Baptist never requested any change to their lease.

10. Health and Hope Clinic

The Pensacola Bay Baptist Association opened their second Health and Hope Clinic in Century to meet the needs of uninsured and medically underserved in Escambia County. The clinic is entirely volunteer and donor supported, bringing access to health care to potentially hundreds of North Escambia residents that otherwise could not afford it.

9. Conecuh Woods

The Conecuh County (Ala.) Commission gave their blessings to a proposed 5,100 landfill near Repton despite an outcry against it. The Conecuh Woods landfill will include a 1,600 acre “disposal cell” from Range to Repton to near the Big Escambia Creek. Big Escambia Creek flows southward into Escambia County, Alabama, Flomaton and drains through a North Escambia swamp into the Escambia River and then into Escambia and Pensacola bays. Downstream governments joined a lawsuit seeking to stop the landfill that was filed by the tiny town of Repton, Ala., (pop. 280). Escambia counties in Alabama and Florida, Century, Flomaton, Atmore, Brewton and Pensacola all joined the suit expressing concerns about potential harm to drinking water. No decision was rendered by the end of the year.

8. Northview Quarterback Suspension

The Northview Chiefs were without starting senior quarterback Brandon Sheets as they faced Chipley in the second-ever state semifinal game for the Chiefs. Sheets was suspended for a game by the Florida High School Athletic Association. The first flag against Sheets in playoff game against Chipley came after a touchdown when Sheets stopped just across the goal line and dropped the ball near a Freeport defender. The second flag came on the next play. As a referee was explaining the flag to coach Sid Wheatley on the Chiefs’ sideline (pictured), Sheets ran back on the field to run the extra point play. That’s when Sheets allegedly mocked a referee by looking at him and clapping. Northview’s appeal of the suspension was denied by the FHSAA.

7. Wicked Weather

The list of top stories from 2011 would certainly not be complete without the weather. From a freezing start to the year in January to extreme drought and tornadoes, 2011’s headlines often included the weather. An EF-1 tornado slammed the heart of McDavid in March with 105 mph winds, damaging or destroying several homes. The destruction was much more intense at the end of March as 263 people died in a massive tornado outbreak in Alabama, many of them in Tuscaloosa. A McDavid native was among those killed; Iva Mae Cantrell died in Jefferson County, Ala. Following the tornadoes, North Escambia communities rallied to help north Alabama with supplies and volunteers. Weather headlines in 2011 also included an extreme, record-setting drought that impacted local agriculture.

6. Cancer Scam Arrest

Communities across North Escambia were stunned at the arrest of a Molino couple, Chris and Sonja Luker, on allegations that she faked a cancer diagnosis to scam people out of thousands of dollars in donations. An Escambia County Sheriff’s Office investigation determined the Lukers used thousands of dollars in fundraising dollars to avoid foreclosure on their home and purchased a $4,000 Harley motorcycle. Both were awaiting trial by year’s end on a felony fraud charge.

The Top 5 stories of 2011 will be published on Tuesday.

Pictured top: About 250 people attended a community meeting  in support of Jay Hospital in late March. Pictured top inset: Northview Coach Sid Wheatley discusses the suspension of quarterback Brandon Sheets with an official. Pictured bottom inset: One of the homes destroyed by a tornado on Main Street in McDavid. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.

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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News