North Escambia Rains Provide Some Welcomed Drought Relief
June 12, 2012
While one to two feet of rain in the past few days created havoc in the Pensacola area, a slow and steady weekend rain followed by heavier downpours on Monday were welcome news for many North Escambia farmers.
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, all of Escambia and Santa Rosa counties were officially in a severe drought as of last week. In the North Escambia area, rainfall totals Saturday through Monday morning were mostly in the three to six inch range.
This was the second year that the North Escambia area was in a severe drought. Last year, Escambia and Santa Rosa counties were declared federal disaster areas due to the combined effect of excessive drought and the summer’s high temperatures. Many farmers lost a large percentage of their crops to the dry soils. This year, non-irrigated crops were suffering tremendously in the dry soil, making 2012 look like a repeat of 2011.
Pictured above: Water standing between rows in a Walnut Hill field Monday afternoon. Pictured below: Dry, parched corn in Walnut Hill prior to the rains. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Fire Destroys Cottage Hill Mobile Home
June 12, 2012
Fire destroyed a mobile home in the Cottage Hill community Monday night.
The fire on Williams Ditch Road near Chavers Road was first reported to emergency dispatchers as a brush fire that spread to a fence and then as a house fire.
The single wide mobile home was reported to be about half engulfed in flame when the first firefighters arrived on scene. The fire is under investigation by the State Fire Marshal’s Office.
There were no immediate reports of any injuries in the blaze. Further details were not available.
The Cantonment, Molino, Ensley, Beulah and McDavid stations of Escambia Rescue were dispatched to the fire.
Man Charged With Fathering 13-Year Old’s Child Says He’s Not Guilty
June 12, 2012
A North Escambia man accused of fathering a child with a 13-year old girl has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.
Michael Lee King, 26, remains free on bond after being arrested May 29 on three felony charges — sexual battery, lewd and lascivious battery, and child abuse. His attorney, David B. Ackerman, has filed a written plea of not guilty and waived a scheduled June 21 arraignment hearing, according to court records. No trial date has been set.
According to an arrest report, King first had non-consensual sex in 2010 with the girl when she was 12 years old. Their sexual encounters continued for over a year, she told investigators, until King was arrested on unrelated charges in August.
At age 13, the girl became pregnant, giving birth at age 14, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
The Sheriff’s Office obtained a voluntary DNA sample from the 14-year old girl and baby, and obtained a search warrant for a DNA sample from King. According to a Florida Department of Law Enforcement lab report, there was a 99.99 percent probability that King was the father of the child.
King did not provide deputies with a statement prior to his arrest, according to a Sheriff’s Office report.
At the time of his arrest, King listed his address as a trailer park on Barth Road in Molino. He previously resided on Highway 164 in McDavid, according to jail records. The abuse incidents occurred in McDavid, according to the arrest report.
ZZ Top: Atmore Concert Canceled Due To Stage Safety Concerns
June 12, 2012
Classic rock groups ZZ Top and 3 Doors Down canceled their show Friday night in Atmore over safety concerns over a potential stage collapse.
The scheduled concert at the Wind Creek Hotel & Casino Amphitheater was canceled based on a determination that the structural condition of the stage made it unsafe for the performers, their crews and the audience.
“This is due to numerous safety issues concerning the structural integrity of the stage, which included a significant risk of a potential stage collapse,” a statement by 3 Doors Down said.
“We’re definitely from ‘the show must go on’ school but had to draw the line this time when we found out that numerous hazards were present at the venue. We couldn’t, in good conscience, do the show knowing that the safety for those on and off stage would be in jeopardy,” said a statement released by ZZ Top Monday morning. “We had hoped the situation would have been addressed and corrected by show time but, sadly, that wasn’t the case so we just had to ‘pull the plug’ for the sake of all concerned. We hope our fans and friends understand that the decision that was made was the only one we could abide in light of those conditions.”
Members of ZZ Top were seen Saturday evening before showtime at the Food World grocery store and Jalisco’s Mexican Restaurant in Atmore.
The cancellation has made national news, reported in publications like Rolling Stone.
Pictured top: Billy F Gibbons of ZZ Top poses with Jennifer Colbert of Bratt just inside the Food World in Atmore late Saturday afternoon. Pictured inset: Classic rock group ZZ Top. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tri-County, Atmore Gets Wins In 8U Tournament
June 12, 2012
The 2012 8U Machine Pitch District Baseball Tournament continued Monday night at the Northwest Escambia Bradberry Park.
In Monday night’s first game, postponed from Saturday morning by rain, Tri-County’s All-Stars easily defeated Atmore 14-2.
Atmore came back in the second game of the night to beat Northwest Escambia 12-3.
Reorganized Flomaton Lions Club Looking For New Members
June 12, 2012
The Flomaton Lions Club is being reorganized with the help of the Atmore Lions Club. The Flomaton club’s first meeting in over three years was held last week with several new members.
Judy Champion, Ruth Harrell, Goodie Odom, Scott Hammond and returning Lion Charles Bowles joined the club, according to organizers. The club came together to discuss community needs, including school uniforms for the upcoming year.
Hammond, Flomaton High principal, told the group that there is a need to provide school uniforms for children in need. The Lions will hold a fundraiser pancake supper on August 2.
Former Lions or community minded individuals interested in making a difference in the Flomaton area are invited to join the Flomaton Lions at their next meeting on June 19 from 6-7 p.m. at the Lions Flomaton Community Center.
Ernest Ward Seventh Grade Awards
June 12, 2012
The following seventh grade students received year-end awards at Ernest Ward Middle School.
Highest Academic Average at Ernest Ward Middle School
- Alyssa Borelli, presented by EWMS Honor Society
Highest Academic Average for Seventh Grade
- Alyssa Borelli, presented by EWMS Honor Society
Overall Most Outstanding Student
- Autumn Albritton
Overall Most Improved Student
- Jimi Brooks
A Honor Roll
- Alyssa Borelli
- Ian Schneider
- Mitchell Singleton
A/B Honor Roll
- Autumn Albritton
- Dustin Bethea
- Amy Branch
- Dillon Clary
- Austin Collier
- Peighton Dortch
- Denise Floyd
- Emily Heard
- Adrian King
- Kaleigh Linam
- Ean Lundy
- Quentin Sampson
- Brianna Smith
- Jada Tucker
- Chelsea Waters
- Alston Wiggins
- Elizabeth Wright
Golden Eagle Top Gun Award — Students who receive this award are recognized for maintaining grades of C or higher on report cards, having 10 or less absences, and receiving no referrals during the course of the school year.
Golden Eagle Top Gun Award
- Autumn Albritton
- Dustin Bethea
- Alyssa Borelli
- Amy Branch
- Kaylee Brown
- Dillon Clary
- Colby Dees
- Peighton Dortch
- Hunter Edwards
- Denise Floyd
- Jewel Garner
- Adrian King
- Kaleigh Linam
- Ean Lundy
- Brittany McLemore
- Audrienne Odom
- Quentin Sampson
- Ian Schneider
- Mitchell Singleton
- Brianna Smith
- Cody Smith
- Devin Stabler
- Jada Tucker
- Jacob Weaver
- Tylia White
- Alston Wiggins
- Hadley Woodfin
- Elizabeth Wright
Bell’s Awards
- Most Outstanding Students
- Catherine Jernigan, Advanced Reading
- Chelsea Waters, Advanced Reading
- Dustin Crumbley, Reading
- Most Improved Students
- Trenton Martin, Advanced Reading
- Mallory Gibson, Advanced Reading
- James White, Reading
Cassevah’s Awards
- Most Outstanding Students
- Brianna Smith, Geography
- Jada Tucker, Geography
- Alston Wiggins, Geography
- Mitchell Singleton, Geography
- Adrian King, Geography
- Most Improved Students
- Hunter Edwards, Geography
- Jimi Brooks, Geography
- Kyle Reaves, Geography
- Gaten Scott, Geography
- Hanna Clarke, Geography
Cassevah and Harris’ Awards
- Most Outstanding Students
- Gregory Presley, Intensive Geography
- Deonte’ Martin, Intensive Geography
Chavers’ Awards
- Most Outstanding Students
- Alyssa Borelli, Advanced Geography
- Keviana Brown, Critical Thinking
- Most Improved Students
- April Payne, Advanced Geography
- Gaten Scott, Critical Thinking
Ellis’ Awards
- Most Outstanding Students
- Alyssa Borelli, Culinary Academy
- Jada Tucker, Culinary Academy
- Ian Schneider, Culinary Academy
- Autumn Albritton, Personal Development
- Jimi Brooks, Personal Development
- Taylor Kearley, Personal Development
Findley’s Awards
- Most Outstanding Students
- De’Asia Fountain, Reading
- Brianna Smith, Intensive Reading
- Hunter Kite, Intensive Reading
- Most Improved Students
- Hanna Clarke, Reading
- Mallory Merchant, Intensive Reading
- Roquan Wiggins, Intensive Reading
Grant’ s Awards
- Most Outstanding Students
- Tanner Guidry, Geography
- Most Improved Students
- Lindsey Gindl, Geography
Greenwell’ s Awards
- Most Outstanding Students
- Jared Jeter, Physical Education
- Mallarie Rigby, Physical Education
- Adam Smith, Physical Education
- Tanner Guidry, Physical Education
- Kyle Reaves, Physical Education
- Brianna Smith, Physical Education
- Jacob Weaver, Team Sports
Hendrix and M. Johnson’ s Awards
- Most Outstanding Students
- Ashley Davis, Reading
- Most Improved Students
- Tatyanna White, Reading
A. Johnson ’ s Awards
- Most Outstanding Students
- Ian Schneider, Electrical Academy I
- Quentin Sampson, Electrical Academy I
- Alyssa Borelli, Electrical Academy I
- Brittanie McLemore, Science
Luker’ s Awards
- Most Outstanding Students
- De’Asia Fountain, Science
- Alston Wiggins, Language Arts
- Tanner Guidry, Language Arts
- Most Improved Students
- Michela Hall, Science
- Sophia Meeks, Language Arts
- Brittney Faberman, Language Arts
Rutherford’ s Awards
- Most Outstanding Students
- Jessica Stacey, Graphic Arts Academy
- Jada Tucker, Graphic Arts Academy
- Most Improved Students
- Connor Riley, Graphic Arts Academy
- Preston Milstead, Graphic Arts Academy
Salter’ s Awards
- Most Outstanding Students
- Trey Holder, Physical Education
Shamblin’ s Awards
- Most Outstanding Students
- Alyssa Borelli, Advanced Math
- Elizabeth Wright, Advanced Math
- Charlie Schachle, Math
- Dimonique Brown, Math
- Alston Wiggins, Math
- Makensie Colvin, Math
- Kristen Johnson, Math
- Brianna Smith, Math
- Ian Schneider, Advanced Math
- Mitchell Singleton, Advanced Math
Shamblin and Spence’ s Awards
- Most Outstanding Students
- Taconius Stallworth, Intensive Math
- Hunter Terry, Intensive Math
Thomas’ Awards
- Most Outstanding Students
- Zippy Harris, Intensive Science
- Most Improved Students
- Jimi Brooks, Intensive Science
Tucker’ s Awards
- Most Outstanding Students
- Amy Branch, Chorus
- Jewel Garner, Chorus
- Adrian King, Band
- Kylie Brook, Band
Ward’ s Awards
- Most Outstanding Students
- Elizabeth Wright, Drama
- Kaleigh Linam, Drama
White’ s Awards
- Most Outstanding Students
- Katie Cmehil, Math
- Ashley Davis, Math
- Jimi Brooks, Math
Wilkins’ Awards
- Most Outstanding Students
- Alexandra Burt, Language Arts
- De’Asia Fountain, Language Arts
- Peighton Dortch, Advanced Language Arts
- Rachael Irby, Advanced Language Arts
- Alyssa Borelli, Advanced Language Arts
- Most Improved Students
- Caleb Therrell, Advanced Language Arts
- Flenequa Mitchell, Language Arts
- Dylan Amerson, Language Arts
- Hunter Edwards, Language Arts
- Hunter Kite, Language Arts
Wilkins’ and Harris’ Awards
- Most Outstanding Student
- Deonte’ Martin
- Most Improved Student
- Kyle Reaves
Wilson’s Awards
- Most Outstanding Students
- Mitchell Singleton, First Semester Agriculture
- Tabitha Chavers, Second Semester Agriculture
Womack’s Awards
- Most Outstanding Students
- Alyssa Borelli, Advanced Science
- Rachel Irby, Science
- Most Improved Students
- Tanner Guidry, Advanced Science
- Shyanne Snyder, Science
Students of the Month
- Kaleigh Linam, September
- Ashley Davis, October
- Desmone Knight, November
- Troy Stuckey, December
- Ian Schneider, January
- Elizabeth Wright, February
- Hunter Kite, March
- Mallory Gibson, April
- Mitchell Singleton, May
Take Stock in Children Scholarship Opportunity
- Alston Wiggins
Duke University Talent Search Awards
- Khari Codrington
- Ian Schneider
- Zachary Sheldon
- Hadley Woodfin
The Principal’s Award, presented by Nancy Gindl-Perry, is awarded to students who show overwhelming improvement in their behavior, attitude, or academic status over the course of the school year.
Principal’s Awards
- Javier Brown
- Josie Smith
Escambia Man, 22, Gets Life In Prison For Robbing Couple
June 12, 2012
An Escambia County man has been sentenced to life in prison for robbing a couple.
Darius Christopher Austin was convicted by an Escambia County jury of principal to robbery armed with a firearm and pled to fraudulent use of a credit card and resisting an officer without violence. Immediately following the verdict, Judge Paul Rasmussen sentenced Austin to life in prison.
In December 2011, a couple was robbed in the parking lot of Wellington Arms Apartments. Austin took the victim’s wallet and shortly thereafter used his credit card at a local convenience store where the police were able to get a description of the vehicle from the store’s video. Shortly thereafter, the vehicle was located and a high speed pursuit ensued. The defendant was apprehended after a manhunt with a K-9.
Co-defendant, William Isiah Johnson, is set for trial in July 2012.
Escambia Health Department Offers Tips For Cleanup After Flood
June 12, 2012
The Escambia County Health Department offers the following tips for safe home cleanup after a flood:
After your home has been flooded it is important that water be removed as quickly as possible since it may contain material from overflowing sewage systems. Failure to remove contaminated materials can cause health risks.
If there has been a backflow of sewage into the house, the following measures should be taken to ensure proper clean-up:
- Walls, hard-surfaced floors and many other household surfaces must be cleaned with soap and water and disinfected with a solution of 1 cup of bleach to five gallons of water.
- Thoroughly disinfect surfaces that come in contact with food and children’s play areas.
- Wash all linens and clothing in hot water or dry-clean.
- Items that cannot be washed or dry-cleaned, such as mattresses and upholstered furniture, must be air dried in the sun and sprayed thoroughly with a disinfectant.
- Steam-clean all carpeting.
- Fiberboard, fibrous insulation and disposable filters that have contacted floodwater or sewage should be replaced in your heating and air conditioning system.
- Wear rubber boots and waterproof gloves during clean-up. Be careful about mixing household cleaners and disinfectants, as combining certain types of products can produce toxic fumes and result in injury or death.
It can be difficult to throw away items in a home, particularly those with sentimental value.
However, keeping certain items soaked by sewage or flood waters may be unhealthy. In general, materials that cannot be thoroughly cleaned and dried within 24-48 hours should be discarded.
For further information, please contact your local county health department or visit www.doh.state.fl.us.
Wahoos Washed Out
June 12, 2012
Inclement weather and the resulting field conditions forced the fifth and final game of the series between the Pensacola Blue Wahoos and the Birmingham Barons to be cancelled in the bottom of the fourth inning with the Wahoos up 2-1 on Monday night at Regions Park in Hoover, AL. The game is not expected to be made up, and all events that took place in the game will be erased from stats.
The Blue Wahoos took each of the first four contests of the series over the Barons and will now return home to Pensacola for a five-game series with the Mobile BayBears, the Double-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, with the first game slated for a 7:00 start on Wednesday evening. Fans attending Wednesday’s game are encouraged to show their support for their state’s school with a Florida vs. Alabama theme that night for the Bay-to-Bay Series with Mobile.