Manna Food Pantries Offering Limited Service Once Again
July 29, 2014
Manna Food Pantries’ main facility is partially restocked and the grassroots organization is once again providing emergency food on a limited basis. The food pantry had lost all of its food back in the recent flooding.
Manna staff will be helping people with appointments in temporary trailers set up in Manna’s parking lot. However, the staff and board of directors are actively looking for a new permanent home away from the flood-prone area.
- The Main Pantry re-opened Monday. Because of Manna’s limited capacity to store good, distribute food and see clients, the organization is now scheduling appointments. To schedule an appointment, call (8500 432-2053 Monday – Friday from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- The Cantonment, Milton and Jay pantries have resumed limited service on a first come, first serve basis. Appointment not necessary.
- All clients must present a picture I.D. and social security card for adults in the family, and social security card, birth certificates or shot records for children under 18.
- Manna is no longer providing USDA food, which is what the organization distributed if people did not have a picture I.D. and Social Security card.
Last year, Manna Food Pantries distributed 800,000 pounds of food to the hungry, serving more than 42,000 people. The non-profit has been serving the community since 1983.
Go to mannafoodpantries.org to find out how you can make a donation or volunteer to help.
Four Busted For Commerical Burglaries
July 29, 2014
Four people have been arrested in connection with a series of commercial burglaries in Escambia County.
Last Friday morning, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to multiple burglaries and attempted burglaries at local businesses. They first found a large commercial moving truck had been stolen from the Ellyson Field Industrial Park. According to the truck’s GPS data, the vehicle was driven to other nearby businesses where deputies found that two other burglaries had occurred.
A business in the 8000 block of Grow Road was burglarized with copper stolen, while a building in the 3000 block of a Bill Metzmer Lane was also burglarized.
The vehicle was then driven to the area of Palafox Street and Brent Lane where deputies located another burglary and attempted burglary.
GPS data showed the vehicle was driven to Attapulgus, GA, where it stopped for a period of time before traveling back to Quincy, FL
Deputies in Quincy were notified, and they located the truck abandoned on the side of the road.
Deputies in Decatur, GA, approached a house where the truck had stopped. They observed four males in a vehicle in the front yard.
ECSO Investigators traveled to Georgia. Based upon interviews, forensic evidence and the recovery of stolen items, four arrests were made: Damarkus Larrell Mathis, 26, Bainbridge GA; Victor Lamar Bodison, 36, Bainbridge, GA; Derrick Wilson Hill, 36, Orlando; amd Derrick Joseph Reaves, 24, Orlando. Investigators believe these suspects are responsible for additional burglaries across the Southeast, and the investigation is ongoing.
Braves Claim Third Straight Win Over Wahoos
July 29, 2014
Make it three nights in a row that the Braves have claimed a 6-2 win over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos at Trustmark Park. The Braves used a five-run first inning on Monday night to put the Blue Wahoos away in the middle game of the five-game set.
Jon Moscot (L, 5-10) was met with early adversity when he surrendered a three-run home run to Kyle Kubitza after starting the game with back to back walks. The Braves mounted a second rally in the first inning after two were out. Mississippi strung together four straight two-out hits to go up 5-0 before the first-inning ambush came to an end. Moscot settled down and retired the next seven batters he faced, and 10 of the next 12.
The Blue Wahoos got on the board with a pair of runs in the fifth. Juan Duran’s triple started the threat against M-Braves starter Williams Perez (W, 4-6). Brodie Greene knocked him in with his second single of the game, and Greene came home on a base hit from Yorman Rodriguez. Those were the only runs the Wahoos could put on the board against Braves pitching.
Greene was one of three Wahoos with a multi-hit contest. Duran and Travis Mattair had the other, and both finished 2-for-4.
Moscot was saddled with the loss after going 6.0 innings. He gave up the 5 R/ER on eight hits with two walks and four strikeouts. Perez picked up the win for the Braves after allowing 2 R/ER on seven hits over 6.0 innings.
Pensacola will try to snap their skid with RHP Robert Stephenson (5-6, 4.12) on the mound Tuesday night against RHP Ryan Weber (3-4, 4.54). First pitch is set for 7:00 p.m. from Trustmark Park in Pearl, Miss.
by Tommy Thrall
Virginia Davis Mason Comer
July 29, 2014
Virginia Davis Mason Comer passed away July 28, 2014. She was born on April 9, 1927, in Atmore to Vera and Nathaniel E. Davis. She is preceded in death by her parents; brother, Aubrey; and sister, Mildred Ward. She is also preceded her death by her first husband, Quentin C. Mason, father of her son, Kenny Mason; her second husband, Harold Comer and step- daughter, Janie Carr.
She is survived by her son, Kenny Mason (Elaine); grandsons, Jacob D. Mason (Chelle) of Raleigh, NC, Adam W. Mason and Joshua J. Mason (Sarah) of Pensacola; and seven great-grandchildren; two step-children, Audrey Gabbard of Tampa and Hubert Comer (Marilyn) of Smyrna, TN; step son-in-law, Howard Carr (Deabron) of Baker and seven step-grandchildren. She was a member of Old Ty Ty Primitive Baptist Church near Moultrie, GA.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, July 30, 2014, at Johnson Quimby Funeral Home in Atmore at 2 p.m. with Elders Harold Brown and Mike Johnson officiating.
Interment will follow in Pine Barren Cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be Josh Mason, Jake Mason, Hunter Mason, Bo Bartley, Howard Carr and Ricky Skaggs.
Family will receive friends Wednesday, July 30, 2014, at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home from 1 p.m.until service time at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.
Fire Heavily Damages Nokomis Road Home
July 28, 2014
Lightning may have been responsible for a fire that heavily damaged a home near Davisville Monday afternoon.
Heavy smoke was visible from around the roof of the single story brick home on the corner of Nokomis Road and Rockaway Creek Road when the first firefighters arrived on scene. The fire was spotted and reported by passers-by who rescued the family dogs. There was no one at home at the time of the blaze and no injuries reported.
A thunderstorm with frequent lightning was moving through the area at the time of the fire. The exact cause of the blaze is under investigation by the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office.
The Walnut Hill, McDavid and Century stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, the Atmore Fire Department and Atmore Ambulance responded to the fire.
Pictured top and inset: Firefighters make entry into a burning home near Davisville Monday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Parents Charged With Toddler’s Death
July 28, 2014
Two Escambia County parents have been charged with homicide – negligent manslaughter in the death of their son, who went untreated for burns for about two weeks.
Pensacola Police said Christopher Redd and Jennifer Perry failed to seek medical treatment for their two-year old son after he was severely burned by boiling water. He suffered second and third degree burns over more than 40 percent of his body.
The parents told police that the child, Bryson, managed to spill boiling water that was on the stove about two weeks ago. They said Bryson acted like a typical two-year old and they did not seek medical treatment until until Sunday. In the meantime, they had searched burn treatments on the internet and had applied products purchased at local retailers, according to an arrest report. Additional, Perry had received prescription medication for a burn she suffered on her finger, and she said she applied the leftovers to the child.
He died Sunday after being taken to Baptist Hospital.
Both told police they delayed medical treatment because they would not know what story to tell the hospital about the burns, and they were concerned Bryson and their two other children would be removed from the home by the Department of Children and Families.
Frontier Communications Internet Outage Repaired
July 28, 2014
Technicians from Frontier Communications have repaired a high speed internet outage.
Frontier customers in the Walnut Hill, Bratt, Molino and Atmore areas lost their internet service from the company late Sunday afternoon. Some customers reported losing service as early as Saturday.
By late Monday morning, technicians had repaired a splice in a fiber optic cable to restore service to most customers.
Day Of Hope: Free School Supplies, Backpacks, Groceries And More
July 28, 2014
Mark your calendars for August 16 — that’s when a free “Day of Hope” will offer back to school supplies and more.
The Day of Hope will be held from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Victory Assembly of God at 1895 Victory Road, just south of Barrineau Park Road on Highway 29. The event will offer free groceries, haircuts, backpacks, school supplies, a kids zone and a hot lunch. Items are available while supplies last, rain or shine. No identification is required.
Parts Of Highway 99, Barrineau Park Road To Be Widened, Paved
July 28, 2014
Escambia County has entered into agreements with the Florida Department of Transportation to construct paved shoulders and resurface portions of Barrineau Park Road and Highway 99.
Due to the traffic crash rate on the two stretches of highway, both qualify for state funding through the FDOT Highway Safety Program. The FDOT has already completed the project design to install 2-foot wide pave shoulders on both sides of the roadways, resurface the travel lanes and make minor safety upgrades.
Construction on both projects will be administered by Escambia County, with FDOT reimbursing the county as costs are incurred.
The paved shoulders and other improvements will be made along Highway 99 from Barrineau Park Road to Highway 97A near Enon at a cost of up to $3.37 million; and along Barrineau Park Road from Jacks Branch Road to Highway 99 at a cost up to $1.62 million.
The next step in the project is to let contracts. There’s has been no start date for the work announced.
Maps show the areas to be improved on Highway 99 (left map) and Highway 196 (below). Click the maps to enlarge. NorthEscambia.com graphics.
Atmore Businessman Robert Faircloth Passes Away
July 28, 2014
Atmore businessman Robert Faircloth passed away Sunday morning. He was 84.
Faircloth opened the Ponderosa Drive-In on South Main Street in Atmore in 1968. Popular with residents of South Alabama and Northwest Florida for decades with its “party burgers”, the Ponderosa was open until 1993 when Faircloth closed it and opened David’s Catfish House. Faircloth later sold the landmark physical location that housed the Ponderosa and David’s to make room for a Walgreen’s store and reopened David’s Catfish in its present day location just north of Florida line.
Funeral services for Robert Faircloth will be held Tuesday at 11 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church of Atmore. Visitation will be held at the church prior to the service, from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m.