Critical Need For Blood Donors
March 2, 2012
There is a critical need for O-negative blood donors, according to Northwest Florida Blood Services.
Blood drives will be held today at Northview High School (for students and faculty only), and at the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Administration Building at 1700 Leonard Street from noon until 4 p.m. and at the Blood Services.
In addition, Northwest Florida Blood Services holds March Movie Madness Blood Drives today at their centers at 1999 East Nine Mile Road and 2201 North 9th Avenue, both from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. At the Blood Center drives, donors will receive a free movie pass, plus a wellness check and free cholesterol screening.
Nellie Lambert
March 2, 2012
Mrs. Nellie Lambert, 67, passed away on Wednesday, February 29, 2012, at a local hospital.
Mrs. Lambert was a native and resident of Atmore for most of her life. She was a retired employee of Vanity Fair Mills with 25 years of service.
She is survived by her husband of 50 years, Douglas Lambert; two sons, Doug Lambert (Dana) Of Dallas, TX, and Aaron Lambert (Kim) of Christian Home; one daughter, Rhonda Rolin (Hubert) of Atmore; 14 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren; Mrs. Lambert was aslo survived by very special brother-in-laws and sister-in-laws, as well as special nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be Saturday, March 3, 2012, at 10 a.m.. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with the Rev. Joe Gipson officiating. Burial will follow at the Serenity Garden Cemetery.
Visitation will be Friday, March 2, 2012, from 6-9 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Dusty Lambert, Derek Lambert, A.J. Lambert, Chase Lambert, Jeremy Conn and Brandon Conn.
Honorary pallbearers will be Brady Lambert, Jackson Lambert, Gage Lambert and Kaden Boyington.
Frances “NaNa” Juanita Barber
March 2, 2012
Frances “NaNa” Juanita Barber, 74, of Atmore passed away Feburary 29, 2012, in Mobile. She was born December 23, 1937, in McCullough.
She is preceded in death by her parents, James Marvin and Burley Johnson.
She is survived by two sons, Timothy W. Barber of Atmore, and Joseph Barber and wife, Julie of Uriah; two daughters, Sonia J. Purvis and husband, Mike of Atmore, Jackie Garrett and husband Darin of Mesquite, TX; her two brother, Fred Johnson and wife, Roberta of Atmore; brother, James Johnson and wife, Laura of Waynesboro, MS; two sisters, Auger Barton of Fairhope and Doris J. McNeil of Atmore; 14 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
Services will be Saturday March 3, 2012, at 11 a.m. from Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Carl Ropkey officiating. Interment will follow in McCullough Cemetery.
Family will receive friends, Friday; March 2, 2012, from Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home from 6-8 p.m.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home, Inc is in charge of all arrangements.
Ronald Joe Ashworth
March 2, 2012
Ronald Joe Ashworth, age 64, of Berrydale, went to be with his Heavenly Father on March 1, 2012. He was born April 14, 1947, in Brewton to Roy and Opal Ashworth. He attended Berrydale Baptist Church, retired from the Santa Rosa County School Board, amd was a member of Berrydale Volunteer Fire Department since 1973. His passions were the outdoors, hunting, and fishing.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
He is survived by wife of 46 years, Barbara Ashworth; sons, Rodney (Jennifer) Ashworth, and Randy (Ronja) Ashworth; brother, Ken (Jennifer) Ashworth; sisters, Janell (Anthony) Magaha, and Freda Moore and 4 grandchildren, Emily, Ally, Austin, and Garrett Ashworth.
A visitation will be held on Saturday, March 3, 2012, from 6-9 p.m. at Jay Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held on Sunday, March 4, 2012, at 2 p.m. at Berrydale Baptist Church with Rev. Robert Gandy and Bro. Kevin Nelson officiating services. Burial will follow at Bethel Cemetery in Escambia County, AL, with fireman honors rendered by Fire and Emergency Services Gulf Coast. Active pallbearers will be the Fireman Honor Guard. Honorary pallbearers will be Gene McCurdy, Charles C. Taylor, Jerry Nowling, Wayne Cook, Eddie Nelson, Randall Ashworth and the Berrydale Volunteer Fire Department.
Flowers or memorial contributions will be accepted. Contributions can be made to the American Cancer Society.
Jay Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Pedestrian Killed Near Pensacola State College
March 1, 2012
A man was hit and killed by a vehicle Thursday morning near Pensacola State College.
The accident happened about 6 a.m. near the Ninth Avenue and Underwood Avenue intersection. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 40-year old Walter Monroe Kirby of Pensacola attempted to cross Ninth Avenue and stepped into the path of a 1997 Chevrolet pickup driven by 51-year Addison Rogers of Pensacola. Kirby was pronounced dead at the scene by Escambia County EMS.
No charges have been filed.
No Injuries In School Bus Accident
March 1, 2012
There were no injuries reported in a school bus accident Thursday morning in Beulah.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the bus driver, 38-year old Deedee Percival of Pensacola, clipped a utility pole with her mirror at Frank Reeder Road and Pepperwood Drive. There were about 40 students on the bus at the time of the accident. There were no injuries.
Percival was cited for careless driving.
In addition to the Florida Highway Patrol, multiple stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the accident.
WABB 97.5 Signs Off Forever; Atmore Licensed 104.1 Looks To Fill Void
March 1, 2012
After nearly 50 years, WABB 97.5 FM signed off into the history books at midnight Wednesday, as Cumulus Media flipped formats on Atmore licensed 104.1 in an attempt to fill the void left as 97.5 FM began playing a satellite Christian music format.
WABB 97.5 — one of the oldest rock/contemporary radio stations in the country — was sold to not-for-profit EMF (Educational Media Foundation) of Rocklin, CA. EMF took over all programming and the format for the station on Thursday, switching 97.5 FM to the Christian K-Love format. The station’s call letters were changed to WLVM 97.5 FM.
At the same moment, what was WYOK 104.1 FM switched from their variety hits “104.1 Jack-FM” format to the same contemporary hit format that was on WABB. The station also changed call letters to the very similar to WABB sounding WABD 104.1. The station, WABD 104.1 FM, is licensed to Atmore, but does not operate from the city.
Scott Adams, who was the morning host on “Journey 100″, which is also owned by Cumulus, tweeted that he’s headed to WABD 104.1. Adams is former DJ on WABB.
Three Seriously Injured In Highway 97 Crash (Updated With Names)
March 1, 2012
Three people were seriously injured in a near head-on wreck south of Walnut Hill Wednesday night.
The accident happened about 10 p.m. on Highway 97 just south of Tungoil Road. The Florida Highway Patrol said a 2010 Chrysler 300 sedan driven by Kenneth Ray Spivey,71, of Molino was traveling northbound in the southbound lane of Highway 97 as a Chevrolet Silverado pickup driven by Guy E. Giancola, 65, was traveling southbound in the southbound lane. Giancola swerved to avoid the impact, but the front left of both vehicles collided.
The car came to rest in the southbound lane of Highway 97; the pickup came to rest in a nearby ditch.
All three people in the crash– two in the pickup and one in the car — were trapped in their vehicles. First responders were forced to use the Jaws of Life to free them. All three were transported by ambulance to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola.
Giancola and his 63-year old passenger, Gail L. Giancola, were listed in serious condition Friday morning at Sacred Heart Hospital. Spivey, who was also seriously injured, was charged with driving on the wrong side of the roadway, according to FHP.
Highway 97 was shutdown for over an hour due to the crash.
The Walnut Hill, McDavid and Molino stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS, Santa Rosa County EMS and Atmore Ambulance also responded to the accident.
Pictured top: One person was trapped in this car in a two-vehicle wreck Wednesday night on Highway 97 near Walnut Hill. Pictured above: Firefighters use the Jaws of Life to free two people from this pickup. Pictured below: Authorities said the driver of this pickup cross the center line into the path of the car. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Deputies Searching For Cop Impersonator
March 1, 2012
Escambia Sheriff’s investigators are trying to identify a man who impersonated a law enforcement officer earlier this week.
Deputies received a report from a female who said that she was driving west on Ten Mile Road near Chemstrand Road about 11 p.m. Monday with a white Ford Crown Victoria behind her.
The victim said that the male turned on a rotating blue light that appeared to be on the dash. The victim believing that it was a law enforcement officer, pulled over and
stopped. At that time an unknown white male walked up to her driver’s door and attempted to open it. The victim then drove off and called law enforcement when she arrived home.
The suspect is described as a white male, approximately 5’11”, 200 pounds, brown hair and possibly in his mid-30’s. He was wearing blue jeans, black bomber style jacket and motorcycle gloves.
Anyone who has information regarding this case is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP (7867).
House Passes Repeal Of Mandatory Septic Tank Inspection Law
March 1, 2012
After a long-running debate that has included rural lawmakers, builders and environmentalists, the Florida House approved a measure on Wednesday to repeal state-mandated inspections of septic tanks.
“Removing this burden from our citizens is a priority and I am proud to have co-sponsored this bill for the second straight year,” Rep Doug Broxson. R-Gulf Breeze, said. “It is my goal to see that this over-bearing state mandate is finally repealed so that the residents of Northwest Florida will not be subject to costly inspections of their septic tanks that are not justifiable. Last year, the House overwhelmingly supported the repeal, but it failed to pass through the Senate.”
The bill has a provision that would let local governments vote to keep an inspection program in areas with first magnitude springs — none of which are in Escambia or Santa Rosa counties.
Opponents of the repeal said that the state’s springs – the program was meant to curb pollution into springs from old septic tanks – are too valuable a resource to risk ending the requirement.
Rep. Marti Coley, R-Marianna, a backer of the repeal, said the measure essentially leaves it up to local communities to protect their environment rather than taking a “one-size-fits-all” approach that would require expensive inspections in areas with no threatened springs.
The bill passed the House 105-11, but still needs Senate approval.