Local Corpsman Receives Silver Star
March 20, 2014
“I didn’t think, I just reacted,” said HM3 Zackery Penner, a corpsman with Naval Hospital Pensacola, when recalling the events of June 22 and 23, 2012, while serving with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Marines in Afghanistan.
For his actions on those two days, Penner was awarded the Silver Star, the third highest military decoration for valor, Wednesday.
On June 22, 2012, with approximately 30 days left in country, Penner’s platoon encountered Afghan insurgents on the first day of a seven-day operation, and a Marine was severely wounded on a nearby rooftop. Without hesitation, Penner ran to the Marine while exposing himself to enemy fire that was only 50 meters away.
With rounds impacting all around him, he treated and evacuated the Marine. Though the Marine did not survive from the wounds he sustained, Penner’s actions reflected the relationship and camaraderie shared between Marines and corpsmen.
“Marines love their corpsmen, and I love being with Marines,” said Penner, who enlisted in the Navy immediately after graduating high school in Sacramento, Calif. “I wanted to be a corpsman because I wanted to help Marines.”
Penner got to help a Marine again the very next day.
While on a partnered patrol with Afghan soldiers, insurgents attacked his squad with machine guns and precision fire weapons.
When two members of the patrol sustained injuries, a Marine and an Afghan soldier, Penner ran more than 100 meters through enemy fire to reach the casualties and quickly established a casualty collection point behind a wall. When the squad began receiving enemy fire from the rear, Penner shielded the casualties from enemy fire with his own body until the evacuation aircraft arrived. Both casualties would ultimately not survive, but Penner again sustained no injuries despite putting himself in harm’s way.
“It never crossed my mind that I wouldn’t be hurt,” said Penner. “It’s actually hard to remember the events of those two days in detail now because I just reacted.”
After returning from the seven-day operation, Penner immediately contacted his wife.
“I couldn’t tell her what happened because of [operational security], but I wanted her to know I was OK,” said Penner, whose grandfather served in the Navy during World War II.
Penner also called the Marine’s family that he evacuated from the rooftop.
“He was my best friend, and I wanted to talk to them,” said Penner before trailing off.
The relationship between Marines and their corpsmen was further demonstrated as a large number of Marines attended the ceremony including Maj. Gen. Raymond Fox, commanding general, II Marine Expeditionary Force.
“The relationship the Marine Corps has had with corpsmen for a long time is what saves a lot of Marines, and [Marines] cherish that relationship incredibly,” said Fox. “Every one of us should aspire to do what he did when called upon.”
After returning from Afghanistan, Penner received orders to NHP where he currently works in the emergency department. Initially, Penner planned on fulfilling his current enlistment and then leaving the Navy, but being stateside has given him a new perspective.
“The stress of working in the emergency room does not compare to the stress of combat,” said Penner. “Being stationed at a hospital stateside is a lot calmer.”
Penner is currently taking college classes and is now planning on continuing his career in the Navy. He is considering the Medical Enlisted Commissioning Program and hopes to eventually receive orders to a naval hospital in California to be closer to his family.
When asked about how he felt about receiving the Silver Star, Penner replied, “It’s humbling. I was in the right place at the wrong time, but any of the Marines would have done the same thing.”
Pictured: HM3 Zackery Penner, a corpsman with Naval Hospital Pensacola, was awarded the Silver Star Wednesday for actions while serving with 1st Battalion, 8th Marines in Afghanistan in the summer of 2012. Maj. Gen. Raymond Fox, commanding general, II Marine Expeditionary Force, presented the medal to Penner at the hospital. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Flomaton Teacher Arrested In Robbery Of Elderly Women
March 20, 2014
A Flomaton Elementary School teacher was arrested Wednesday for an alleged snatch-and-grab robbery Tuesday night outside the Wind Creek Casino.
Clemente Renard Brooks, age 52 of Dixon Road, Flomaton was charged by the Poarch Creek Tribal Police with third degree robbery and first degree theft of property. He was booked into the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center in Brewton.
Butch Lee, assistant chief of the Poarch Creek Tribal Police, said Wind Creek Security reported a purse snatching in the casino parking lot about 9:30 p.m. Tuesday. Two elderly females reported they were leaving the casino when they were approach from behind by a black male in the parking lot. The suspect allegedly grabbed a purse from one of the elderly women and then wrestled with the second victim but was unable to take her purse away from her. The suspect then fled on foot.
Lee said the victims were able to identify the suspect and video surveillance from the casino led to Brooks’ arrest.
Brooks surrendered himself to Poarch Creek Tribal Police on Wednesday. Lee said the victim’s purse was recovered but was missing $400.
Brooks is a former Flomaton Town Council member. He made an unsuccessful bid for Flomaton mayor in 2012, losing by 20 votes to incumbent Dewey Bondurant.
Aggie Classic Continues (With Wednesday Scores)
March 20, 2014
The Aggie Classic, a 24-team tournament hosted by the Tate Aggies, is continuing.
Tickets for each game are $6 for adults and students and will be available at the gate at each location. The championship games on Thursday at 4 and 7 p.m. will be played at the University of West Florida.
Wednesday scores were as follows:
Washington Hornets 6, Brentwood Academy Eagles 5
Knoxville Catholic Irish 8, Pryor Tigers 3
Davidson Academy Bears 13, Jay Bulldogs 2
Ponte Vedra Sharks 5, Niceville Eagles 2
Sallisaw Black Diamonds 7, Milton Panthers 4
Christ Presbyterian Lions 7, Second Baptist School 6
Brentwood Bruins 6, Claremore Zebras 3
South-Doyle Cherokees 6, Escambia Gators 2
Tate Aggies 9, Sapulpa Chieftains 1
Navarre Raiders 5, Tulsa Union Redskins 2
Edmond North Huskies 6, Washington Wildcats 2
West Florida Jaguars 12, Ft.Gibson Tigers 0
Two Northern Santa Rosa Business Burglaries Under Investigation
March 20, 2014
Burglaries at two northern Santa Rosa County businesses are under investigation.
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Up The Creek Country Store at 9857 Highway 87 near Allentown about 3 a.m. Wednesday and the Berrydale Kwik Mart at the Highway 87 and Highway 4 intersection about 3:20 a.m. They discovered windows had been smashed at both locations.
Up The Creek owners said about 10 packs of cigarettes were stolen from a locked counter, and the owner of the Berrydale Quick Mart said an unknown number of scratch off lottery tickets were stolen.
From surveillance video, deputies believe the same two suspects were responsible for both burglaries. Further information has not been released.
Anyone with information on the burglaries is asked to call Santa Rosa Crime Stoppers at (850) 437-STOP.
Pictured top and bottom: Burglars entered the Berrydale Kwik Mart through a smashed window. Pictured inset: Surveillance video shows suspect in the highlighted area. Photos courtesy WEAR for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Luther Franklin Fails, Jr.
March 20, 2014
Luther Franklin Fails, Jr., 62, of Atmore, passed away Wednesday, March 19, 2014, in Atmore. He was employed by Brantley’s Tires both in Monroeville and Atmore. He was born in Monroe County on December 24, 1951 to the late Luther Franklin and Tennie Crawford Fails, Sr.
He is survived by two sons, Franklin D. (Amanda Hogue) Fails of Atmore, and Freddie (Mandy) Fails of Huxford; one brother, Donnie (Patricia) Fails of Atmore; four sisters, Mary Dow and Earline Byrd, both of Atmore, Cornelia Mills of Crestview, and Aline Kirby of Evergreen; grandchildren, Frankie and Jesse Fails, Danielle Fails and Anna Hogue.
Services will be Saturday, March 22, 2014, at 11 a.m. from Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Doug Odom officiating.
Interment will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery.
Family will receive friends, Friday, March 21, 2014, at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home in charge of all arrangements.
Escambia House Fire Claims One Life
March 19, 2014
One person was killed in a residential fire Tuesday night in Escambia County.
The fire was reported just after 9 p.m. on Wilson Avenue, of Barrancas Avenue. A family member discovered the body of a 50-year old woman near the home’s living room, according to a county spokesman. The fire, which took only about 12 minutes to contain, was centered in the living room. Damage to the home is considered moderate.
The victim’s name has not yet been released.
The fire is under investigation by the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Commission Approves New 4-H Building, Moves Forward On Land Purchase
March 19, 2014
The Escambia County Commission voted Tuesday to move forward toward the purchase of two parcels of property for Escambia County 4-H and construct a $1.65 million 4-H Center.
4-H Center Construction
The commission awarded a $1,427,600 bid to A.E. New, Jr., Inc. for the construction of an Escambia County 4-H Center to be located at the Escambia County Extension Office on Stefani Road. The total cost for the facility will be $1.65 million from the Local Option Sales Tax.
In 2012, the children and teens on the 4-H County Council voted to sell their 240 acre Langley Bell 4-H Center to Navy Federal Credit Union. Navy Federal paid $3.6 million for the property next to the credit union’s campus in Beulah, and the Escambia County Commission agreed to construct a new 4-H Center on Stefani Road.
The new facility, as designed by Hernandez Calhoun Design International using input from 4-H leadership, has a final price tag $165,000 higher than originally planned. That amount was originally set to be covered by the 4-H Foundation, but the county will use additional LOST funds to pick up the difference.
The new 4-H Center will be a single story building just under 10,000 square feet that will include a multi-purpose room/auditorium with stage, kitchen, offices, reception area, life skills room, science room with wet lab, volunteer room with technology lab, county council,club meeting room and storage.
The 4-H Center and funds to build it are separate from the $3.6 million the 4-H Foundation received from their land sale and any additional facility or land the foundation may purchase.
4-H Land Purchase
The commission also Tuesday directed county staff to obtain appraisals, environmental site assessments, surveys, title insurance commitments, and complete all other requirements required to create a final sale contract for the approval by the commission.
In 2012, the children and teens on the 4-H County Council voted to sell their 240 acre Langley Bell 4-H Center to Navy Federal Credit Union. Navy Federal paid $3.6 million for the property next to the credit union’s campus in Beulah, and the Escambia County Commission agreed to construct a new 4-H Center on Stefani Road with $1.5 million in local option sales tax (LOST) funds.
$2 million of the sale proceeds were placed in an endowment fund for 4-H, and $1.6 million was reserved for 4-H to use under the guidance of UF/IFAS for a property including livestock facilities.
But after reviewing the findings of a task force, University of Florida/IFAS Extension Dean Nick Place recommended 4-H keep the $1.6 million and use the Cottage Hill State Forest, Escambia County Equestrian Center and private lands for outdoor activities and livestock education. The Escambia County Commission in July refused to accept the plan, with some commissioners saying that land deal was in no way equitable to the former 240 acres at Langley Bell.
And in January, the commission put the brakes on approval of a $1.65 million 4-H facility to be located at the Escambia County Extension Office on Stefani Road.
As the impasse continued between Place and the commission — including very public letters chastising each other — Place reached out to Lamar Christenberry, retired Escambia County IFAS director, as in intermediary.
Escambia County Commissioner Steven Barry researched local available properties on the internet and found the two properties which he toured with Christenberry and 4-H supporters Brett Ward and Jimmy Cunningham, who is also president of Escambia County Farm Bureau.
One parcel is 79.5 acres in the 5600 block of Chalker Road and currently belongs to Scott and Denise MacMurray of Pensacola. The property includes about 20 wooded acres, a pond and a 5722 square foot barn. The property was listed at $425,000 with a $390,000 offer accepted on behalf of 4-H.
The second property, located at South Highway 99 and Chalker Road, is about 28.7 acres and allows the main property to have road frontage on South Highway 99. An offer of $5,000 per acre was accepted.
A few residential lots border east side of the proposed 4-H site along Chalker Road, while the north side is bordered by a 50 acre improved agricultural lot. The southern and western sides of the site are surrounded by hundreds of acres of timber belonging to La Floresta Perdida, Inc.
After the land deal is approved by the Escambia County Commission, which acts at trustee for the 4-H Foundation, commissioners are expected to consider moving forward with the 4-H Center on Stefani Road. The 4-H Center will be used indoor classroom type activities, while the 198 acres will be used for outdoor activities and livestock education.
Pictured top and bottom: An existing 5,722 square foot barn on one of two parcels that may soon be home to Escambia County 4-H. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge. Pictured inset: Two parcels will provide 4-H about 108 acres near Barrineau Park. NorthEscambia.com graphic, click to enlarge.
Head Start To Move From Cantonment To Molino
March 19, 2014
The Escambia County Commission voted Tuesday to negotiate a lease with the Community Action Program Committee for a 3,755 square foot building at the Molino Community Center.
The space will be refurbished by CAPC to house a Head Start program next school year. The program will move from it’s current home in the old Ransom Middle School on Muscogee Road in Cantonment to the Molino location, according to Commissioner Steven Barry.
The building was originally slated to be razed when the rest of the community center was refurbished, Barry said, but the county did not have the funds for the renovation.
Alcohol To Be Allowed At Some Community Centers Including Molino, Barrineau Park
March 19, 2014
Escambia County has approved the serving and consumption of alcohol at seven community centers, including those in Molino and Barrineau Park. The consumption of alcohol was previously strictly prohibited at all county community centers.
The new rules allow for the serving and consumption of alcoholic beverages during special events held on the premises, if the alcoholic beverages are not sold and any required permits and/or licenses are obtained by the organization. The change does not allow for alcohol to be served outside of special events nor does it allow for alcohol to be sold under any circumstances
For six community centers managed by non-profits for the county, the alcohol change means a required increase in the amount and type of liability insurance coverage now required to be maintained by the organization.
The six community centers and managing non-profits that will be able to allow alcohol to be served at special events are:
- Barrineau Park Historical Society, Inc. (Barrineau Park Community Center & Historical Society)
- Molino Mid-County Historical Society, Inc. (Molino Community Center & Historical Museum)
- Collaboration of Community Organizations, Inc. (Lexington Terrace Community Center)
- Ebonwood Homeowner & Neighborhood Watch Community, Inc. (Ebonwood Community Center)
- Wedgewood Community Center Group, Inc. (Marie K. Young/Wedgewood Community Center & Park)
- West Escambia Senior Citizens Organization Inc. (Felix Miga Senior Citizen [Community] Center)
Alcohol will also be allowed for special events at the Perdido Community center, which is managed directly by the county.
K-9 Regional Trials Going On This Week, Public Demo Planned
March 19, 2014
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the Pensacola Police Department and the United States Police Canine Association are hosting the 2014 Region I K-9 Trials through Thursday.
K-9 competitors from across the region are competing in a variety of events, including competitions in obedience, agility and criminal apprehension. As part of the competition, the public is invited to a free demonstration at 7 p.m. Thursday at Woodham Middle School, 150 East Burgess Road, to showcase the skills of the dogs and their handlers.
Pictured: Escambia County Deputy Deputy Jason Land and his K-9 Edo. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.