Escambia Man Wanted For Hit-and-run Fatality
May 1, 2012
The Florida Highway Patrol is actively looking for an Escambia County man wanted in an April 20 traffic death.
According to the FHP, 28-year old Ryan A. Welch was traveling south on W Street approaching La Rua Street when he struck bicyclist Robert L. Bell, Jr, 32. Welch then fled the scene. Bell died at Sacred Heart Hospital on April 27 as a result of the crash.
Warrants have been issued for Welch charging him with leaving the scene of a crash with death and culpable negligence by vehicle. He is actively avoiding apprehension, according to the FHP.
Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Ryan A. Welch is asked to call their local law enforcement agency Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
George Martin Ferreira
May 1, 2012
Our beloved father, George Martin Ferreira, age 89, passed away Wednesday, April 25 after an extended illness in the home of his daughter, MaryAnn Prell. George resided in the Pensacola area since retiring from the US Navy in 1972, after 30 years of service. A veteran of both the Pacific and Atlantic Theatres in WWII and the Korean War, George also attended Pensacola Junior College and the University of West Florida, after his military retirement. He graduated with honors from UWF in 1977 with a degree in Sociology.
George had one great love in his life, his wife Caroline who shared his life for 59 years before passing away in 2004. He was a familiar face in Pensacola area coffee shops where he found and made numerous friends with other veterans and retirees. The real joy in his life has been his six children and many grandchildren, whose company he enjoyed most of all. Always the shoulder to lean on and the hand to reach for, George held each of his children and grandchildren close to his heart
.
George is survived by his six children, sons; George Jr., Bill (Teresa), and John, and daughters; Donna (Mark) Meece, MaryAnn (Bobby) Prell and Elizabeth (George) Wynne and many, many grand and great grand children.
Visitation will be held from 5 until 7 pm Monday, April 30, 2012, at Faith Chapel South. Funeral services will be at noon Tuesday, May 1, 2012, at St. Monica’s Episcopal Church (Hwy 29 in Cantonment) with Father Millege Baker officiating. Interment with military honors will follow at Barrancas National Cemetery.
The family would like to extend a special thanks to Emerald Coast Hospice for their support and dedication in caring for our father. We would also like to extend our sincere gratitude to Drs. InClan and Dmytrenko, and their staffs, for their commitment and the special care they gave our dad.
Family Appeals To Community To Donate Platelets For Robert Stewart
May 1, 2012
The family of a Bratt man is appealing to the North Escambia community to donate the blood platelets he needs at a critical stage in his battle against cancer.
Robert Stewart, the former chief of the Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department, is in the ICU at Baptist Hospital in Pensacola. According to his daughter, Kelly Stewart Kennedy, Robert is in need of A-positive platelets.
Potential platelet donors are asked to call Northwest Florida Blood Services at (850) 473-3853 to schedule an appointment time. According to Betty Roberts, spokesperson for Northwest Florida Blood Services, an appointment is necessary to make a platelet donation because the process takes about an hour and 45 minutes.
Donors should mention that their donations are for Robert Stewart. If the platelets are unneeded by Robert or are of the wrong blood type, they will still be used to help in the community, Roberts said. Platelets, with a shelf life of just five days, are often used for cancer patients and premature babies.
Donors must be 18 or older (16 or 17 with parental permission), at least 110 pounds and generally in good health.
Pictured top: Robert Stewart teaches fire safety to students at Bratt Elementary School in October, 2011. Pictured inset: Robert Stewart speaks at a 2009 Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department event. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Patti Singleton McCool
May 1, 2012
Patti Singleton McCool, 60, of Cantonment passed away April 28, 2012. Mrs. McCool was a native of Montgomery and resided most of her life in Pensacola. She was employed by Sacred Heart Hospital and enjoyed the beach and her five grand children.
Mrs. McCool was predeceased by her husband, Kenneth Ray McCool (12/24/2011).
Survivors include her mother-in-law, Christine Worley; stepfather, Ellwyn Worley; children, Christian Zelius, Eric McCool and Evan McCool (Sarah) ; grandchildren, Logan Zelius, Kamron McCool, Bryden McCool, Kylie McCool and Maecy Zelius; brother-in-laws, Dennis McCool (Aida) and Larry McCool (Jean); brothers, Michael Singleton, Jesse Singleton (Sandy); aunts, uncles, many nieces, nephews and cousins.
A memorial service will be held 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 2, 2012, at Pensacola Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, 7433 Pine Forest Rd. Pensacola, FL 32526.
Small Plane Crash Lands In Chumuckla, No Injuries
April 30, 2012
No injuries were reported when a small plane crash landed near Chumuckla in northern Santa Rosa County Monday afternoon.
The plane crash landed in a pasture just north of a private landing strip near Chumuckla about 3:25 p.m. and then caught fire. There were no injuries.
The single engine plane had just made a takeoff from the landing strip near 10 Mile and Skyhawk roads, according to witnesses
Multiple fire departments including Allentown, Pace and NAS Whiting Field responded to the fire, which did not threaten any structures.
Pictured: A small plane burns after crash landing in Chumuckla Monday afternoon. Photo courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
No Injuries In Molino Crash
April 30, 2012
There were no injuries in a two vehicle crash Monday morning in Molino.
The accident happened at the intersection of Highway 95A and Phillips Road, across from Highland Baptist Church. The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Further details have not been released.
The Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded to the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Drought Continues, Federal Disaster Loans Available
April 30, 2012
Spring is off to a dry start as farmers plant their crops, and time is running out to apply for federal economic injury disaster loans available in Florida as a result last year’s drought.
The latest U.S. Drought Monitor map shows the area in a moderate to severe drought — a drought that has persisted about a year. Most of Escambia County in Florida is in a moderate drought, while the northern area of Santa Rosa County is 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.
Small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private non-profit organizations of all sizes have a May 21 deadline to apply for federal disaster loans related to the 2011 drought. While the federal disaster area was southern Alabama, the loans are also available in Florida counties including Escambia and Santa Rosa.
“These counties are eligible because they are contiguous to one or more primary counties in Alabama. The Small Business Administration recognizes that disasters do not usually stop at county or state lines. For that reason, counties adjacent to primary counties named in the declaration are included,” said Frank Skaggs, director of SBA’s Field Operations Center East in Atlanta.
“When the Secretary of Agriculture issues a disaster declaration to help farmers recover from damages and losses to crops, the Small Business Administration issues a declaration to eligible entities affected by the same disaster,” Skaggs added.
Under this declaration, the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program is available to eligible farm-related and nonfarm-related entities that suffered financial losses as a direct result of this disaster. With the exception of aquaculture enterprises, SBA cannot provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, but nurseries are eligible to apply for economic injury disaster loans for losses caused by drought conditions.
About the Disaster Loans
The loan amount can be up to $2 million with a 4 percent interest rate for eligible small businesses and 3 percent for non-profit organizations with terms up to 30 years. The SBA determines eligibility based on the size of the applicant, type of activity and its financial resources. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition. These working capital loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred. The loans are not intended to replace lost sales or profits.
Disaster loan information and application forms may be obtained by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing) or by sending an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Loan applications can be downloaded from the SBA’s website at www.sba.gov . Completed applications should be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.
Pictured top: Many area farmers have turned to late afternoon and overnight irrigation on growing crops, like this corn field being irrigated at sunset in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Alabama Attorney General Takes Aim At Indian Gaming
April 30, 2012
Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange is asking the National Indian Gaming Commission to prohibit electronic bingo machines that are slot machine-like at Indian casinos in the state.
Indian casinos in the state, including Wind Creek in Atmore, are prohibited from offering Las-Vegas style Class III games because there is no agreement allowing them with the state. Bingo games, known as Class II gambling games, are allowed.
“In Alabama, the Poarch Band of Creek Indians operate Class II gambling that approximates the same kind of slot machine gambling that one might find in Las Vegas or Atlantic City,” Strange wrote in his letter to the Indian Gaming Commission.
“The Tribe’s ability to obscure the line between Class II and III makes it harder for my office to enforce Alabama law outside of Indian land. Alabama citizens are understandably confused when Indian tribes are allowed to call their Class III slot machines ‘bingo,’ but gambling promoters within the State’s jurisdiction cannot use the same gimmick,” Strange wrote.
According to Strange, proposed Class II gambling game rules “do nothing to give teeth to the important distinction” between what is a bingo game and what is a slot machine.
Historically, Strange has argued that the slot machine-like games offered by the Poarch Creek Indians are illegal under federal regulations.
The Alabama Attorney General is asking the National Indian Gaming Commission to “make clear that Native American Indian tribes located in Alabama cannot engage in gambling activities that are patently illegal under Alabama law”.
Kindergarten Registration Underway
April 30, 2012
Kindergarten registration for Escambia County students is underway.
Students who will be five years old on or before September 1, 2012, are eligible to register for the 2012-2013 school year. Registration will occur at the school which serves the student’s residence.
At the time of registration, parents/guardians should bring the following:
- Child’s birth certificate
- Child’s social security card
- Proof of residence (electric bill or rent receipt – telephone and cable bills are not accepted)
- Immunization record (Florida blue card provided by the health department or family physician)
- Physical form completed by family physician
To locate a child’s school, visit www.myescambiaschools.com and click on “Find Your School”.
Man, Grandkids Injured In Scooter Crash
April 30, 2012
A man and his two grandchildren were listed in critical condition following a motorized scooter accident about five miles north of Flomaton Sunday afternoon.
Authorities said a 54-year old man was traveling on Old Foshee Road with two children ages four and six. He reportedly lost control, ran off the road and flipped the vehicle. The two children were reportedly ejected and hit a concrete bridge. None of the three were wearing helmets.
The six year old was airlifted by LifeFlight to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola . The man and a four-year old were transported by ambulance to Sacred Heart. All three were classified as “trauma alerts” due to possible head injuries.
The accident is under investigation by Alabama State Troopers. Further details, including the names of the victims, have not yet been released.
Editor’s note: Authorities originally described the vehicle driven by the man as a “motorcycle”; however, on Monday, authorities said it was type of motorized scooter.