Fire Damages Atmore Rotary Village Apartment
March 2, 2012
Fire damaged at apartment about noon Friday at the Atmore Rotary Village.
The fire appeared to originate from electrical wiring in an exterior wall of the apartment. The fire was mostly contained to the exterior wall, but the apartment did suffer some water and smoke damage.
There were no injuries reported.
The fire was quickly extinguished by the Atmore Fire Department. The department’s main station is about a block away from the apartments on Ashley Street.
Pictured: Fire damaged one apartment at the Atmore Rotary Village apartments midday Friday. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Man Critically Injured In Alabama Wreck
March 2, 2012
A Century man was critically injured in a single vehicle rollover accident Thursday night on Old Atmore Road just north of the Alabama/Florida state line.
Jeffery Jay, age 37 of Pond Street, lost control of his vehicle and overturned multiple times in the 2100 block of Old Atmore Road, about four miles west of Flomaton. The vehicle came to rest off the roadway.
Jay was trapped in the vehicle and was extricated by firefighters within about 10 minutes using the Jaws of Life. He was transported by ambulance to a helipad in Century and airlifted to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola as a “trauma alert” patient.
The accident is under investigation by the Alabama State Troopers. The Flomaton Vol. Fire Department, Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County (Fla.) EMS also responded to the accident.
Further details have not been released.
Pictured above and below: A Century man was seriously injured in this wreck Thursday night west of Flomaton. NorthEscambia.com photos by Alisa Hart, click to enlarge.
Required Septic Tank Inspection Bill Moves To Senate Floor
March 2, 2012
The Senate Budget Committee on Thursday approved a measure to provide some flexibility to cities and counties over septic tank regulation, a step back from a septic tank inspection requirement passed two years ago.
Responding to a 2010 law to protect Florida springs, several bills were introduced last year aimed at either eliminating the inspection program or scaling it back.
The Senate requires an inspection program in counties with first magnitude springs – though they could opt out. In other counties, the default is to repeal the requirement, though they could opt in.
Existing local inspection programs would be grandfathered in.
The measure remains controversial, with property owners, environmentalists, municipal water utilities and others chiming in from various perspectives.
Critics say the bill ignores the science that governs septic systems and will prevent effective regulation of septic systems.
A bill that passed the House would repeal the requirement altogether, though it allows local governments to vote to keep an inspection program if they have first magnitude springs nearby.
Escambia and Santa Rosa counties do not have first magnitude springs.
Deputies Find Meth Lab, Napalm At Scientist’s House
March 2, 2012
Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office deputies found more than just meth when they executed a search warrant near Milton Thursday at a scientist’s home.
Deputies located an extensive meth lab in a shed on Anthony Avenue — along with napalm and a variety of weapons.
Seth Andrew Stanley, 32, was booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail, charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of felony narcotic equipment, producing methamphetamine, possession of listed chemicals and trafficking in methamphetamine.. He was released on a $45,000 bond.
Deputies obtained a search warrant after receiving credible evidence that Stanley was producing meth at his home, including a large number of purchases of pseudoephedrine over the past year.
Stanley admitted to detectives that he was making methamphetamine to help medicate himself showed deputies his manufacturing equipment in a storage shed. Investigators located a variety of drug production equipment and supplies along with 117 grams of meth. They also found a Mason jar that contained a gas like substance that Stanley stated was homemade napalm. He did not give a reason for possessing the Napalm.
Numerous firearms, to include rifles and handguns, along with a large amount of ammunition were also located inside Stanley’s residence.
Stanley told deputies that he was a scientist, and investigators found documentation inside his residence verifying that information. His workplace has not been disclosed.
Tornado Watch In Effect
March 2, 2012
There is a tornado watch in effect for the entire North Escambia area for tonight.
- Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms. Some of the storms could be severe. Low around 62. South wind 10 to 15 mph becoming west. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
- Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms likely before noon, then a chance of showers. Cloudy, with a temperature falling to around 55 by 5pm. North wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
- Saturday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers before midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 35. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 65. Breezy, with a west wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to between 15 and 20 mph. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph.
- Sunday Night: Clear, with a low around 39. West wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Monday: Sunny, with a high near 71. Calm wind becoming west between 5 and 10 mph.
- Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 41. Northwest wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 70. East wind 5 to 15 mph becoming south.
- Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 43.
- Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 70.
- Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46.
- Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 73.
- Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 48.
- Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 74.
Helicopter Crash: Coast Guard Recovers Two More Bodies
March 2, 2012
The Coast Guard recovered the bodies of two crewmembers, Thursday, as the salvage of the MH-65C Dolphin helicopter that crashed in Mobile Bay continues.
The remains of Lt. Cmdr. Dale Taylor, of Snow Hill, N.C., and Lt. j.g. Thomas Cameron, of Portland, Ore., were recovered by response personnel. The body of Chief Petty Officer Fernando Jorge was recovered Tuesday night after communications with the helicopter was lost during a training flight. Missing is Petty Officer 3rd Class Andrew Knight of Thomasville, Ala.
The Coast Guard suspended the active search and rescue operations Thursday night and are now conducting salvage and recovery operations.
“We saturated 95 percent of Mobile Bay for nearly two days with both aircraft and boats to thoroughly cover the search area. The decision to suspend the active search was terribly difficult,” said Capt. Donald J. Rose, commander of Coast Guard Sector Mobile. “Now, we must shift our focus to continuing salvage and recovery operations. As we continue to recover wreckage, we will look for the missing crewman.”
Coast Guard crews searched for 36 hours, conducting approximately 30 search patterns with track-line-search legs that covered 1,198 nautical miles within a search area of more than 200 square-nautical miles in an effort to locate the Coast Guardsmen. Crews and aircraft from multiple Coast Guard units, as well as several state and local first responder agencies, such as Alabama Marine Resources, Mobile Sheriff’s Department, Bon Secour Fire Department and Daphne Search and Rescue participated in the search efforts.
The tail section of the helicopter and other components were recovered Thursday by the crew aboard the Ben R. Johnson, a 57-foot salvage vessel. Wednesday night, the Ben R. Johnson recovered the helicopter fuselage from the bottom of Mobile Bay.
Pictured: A Coast Guard MH-65C based out of New Orleans on public relations visit to Ernest Ward Middle School in Walnut Hill in November 2010. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
International Paper Named Industry’s Most Admired Company
March 2, 2012
International Paper in Cantonment is part of the world’s most admired company in the forest and paper products industry, according to a list released by FORTUNE Magazine.
International Paper has received the award 9 of the last 10 years. IP was ranked No. 2 last year.
The company was at the top of the industry in people management, use of corporate assets, quality of management, financial soundness, investments and global competitiveness.
Over 450 people are employed at IP’s Cantonment mill.
Nightclub Stage Dancing, Shoe Throwing, Beer Tossing Ends With Arrest
March 2, 2012
A wanted Atmore woman that was dancing on a nightclub stage is now facing a felony charge after allegedly throwing a shoe at a woman at Seville Quarter.
Trishcelle Danielle Salazar, 25, was charged with felony aggravated battery by the Pensacola Police Department. She was also arrested on an outstanding failure to appear warrant in a traffic case.
According to her arrest report, Salazar was at Seville Quarter with two other people — a man and a woman. She was dancing on stage when she became upset that the man was “standing in her spot”, the report states, and got into an argument with him. Salazar told officers that the woman then “got in her face”, so she threw a shoe at her, striking her in the face. Salazar said the victim retaliated by throwing a beer at her, but she missed.
Salazar was released from the Escambia County Jail on $2,500 bond.
Saturday Northview DCT Softball Tourney Canceled
March 2, 2012
A coed softball tournament set for Saturday in Walnut Hill has been canceled due to weather.
The DCT Coed Softball Tournament that was scheduled for Northwest Escambia’s Bradberry Park will be rescheduled for a later date to be announced. For more information, call (850) 327-6681 or (251) 294-1947.
Byrd, Clark, Barrow Named To Subway All-Star Basketball Roster
March 2, 2012
Three North Escambia players were included as the Pensacola Sports Association announced the rosters for the 2012 Subway High School All-Star Basketball Game.
Taylor Byrd from Northview and Katie Clark from Tate were named to the West Girls team, and Zach Barrow from Northview was named to the West Boys team.
The 2nd annual all-star game is scheduled for Friday, March 9 at Pensacola State College. Beginning at 6 p.m., the women will take the court with the men’s game to follow. This year’s game features some of the best seniors from Okaloosa and Santa Rosa Counties (East) playing against the seniors from Escambia County (West).
Tickets to the game are only $8. Fans are encouraged to bring canned good items to donate to the Manna Food Pantry to get a discount on game admission. Additionally, $1 of every ticket will go toward the Dr. Alec Kessler Scholarship Foundation. Dr. Kessler played for the University of Georgia and the Miami Heat before becoming a surgeon at the Andrews Institute. He passed away in 2007 from a heart attack. The scholarship winners will be announced at the all-star banquet.
Rosters for the 2012 Subway High School All-Star Soccer Game are below. Final game day rosters are subject to change.
West Girls: I’eshia Adams, Allie Plummer, Mary Grace Salinas from Catholic, Taylor Byrd from Northview, Eva Stevens, Jasmine Baldwin, Katie Clark from Tate, Cilmary Hatcher, Kiarra Watts, Cori Snow from West Florida, Kyla Muhammad, Pershawna Williams from Pensacola, Teadra Jones, Megan Briske from Washington, Jenna Weidert, Bethany Roberts from Pensacola Christian Academy, Taron Bright, Megan Lyn, Micala Kirn from Pace.
West Boys: Tom Andrews from Pensacola Christian Academy, Devante’ Riley, Fletcher Forte, Shane Sanders from Pensacola, Michael Burkhard, Chase Wilson from Catholic, David Hawkins, Cole Fountain, Shaquille Purifoy, Joshaun Bryant from Pine Forest, Devante Pope, Keaynon Gulley, Dominic McCrear, Braxton griffin, Joshua Byrd from Washington, Tristan Rudolph, Shanton Bonner from Escambia Charter, Zach Barrow from Northview, Charles Conner, John Kelly from East Hill.
East Girls: Kaylynn Chappell, Jameisa Madison, Tontora Stith, Erica Hedmount from Crestview, Ashley Levesque from Niceville, Emily Troell, Marionna Pride from Fort Walton Beach, Brittany West, Alexis Cheeks, Jessinda Skinner from Choctaw, Cierrah Jackson, Abrea Johnson, Kasandra Gilley, Virginia French from Milton, Maggie Mims from Gulf Breeze, Morgan Jones, Danni Mayhair from Baker.
East Boys: Haylen Washington, Ryan Novacic from Milton, Gavin Richardson from Central, Chris Taylor, Jordan Bennett, Donocan President from Gulf Breeze, Tyler Armstrong, Jerrod Stephens from Pace, Anthony Hawthrone, Jonathan Brassell, Mikal Rodgers from Choctaw, Danny Spicer from Baker, Justin Cline, Antryun Coleman from Crestview, Kyle Koszuta, Shane Horton, Iain Persaud from Niceville, Todd Laney from Jay, Rece Drake from Fort Walton, Dylan Dunford from Baker.