Three Injured When Vehicle Plunges Over 50 Feet Below I-65 Bridge Near Atmore
January 30, 2018
Two people were airlifted to the hospital after a vehicle plunged over 50 feet below an I-65 bridge north of Atmore Monday night.
A dramatic rope rescue by the Poarch Fire Department followed, with three people rescued from the vehicle. Two were airlifted in critical condition by two different medical helicopters to area hospitals. while a third victim was transported by ambulance.
The accident happened about two miles north of the Atmore exit.
The accident remains under investigation by Alabama State Troopers; further details have not been released.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
School Bus Driver Ticketed After Highway 95A Accident
January 30, 2018
A school bus driver was ticketed after a minor accident on Highway 95A near Crowl Lane Monday morning.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 70-year old Vaughn Lowe was driving the school bus northbound on Highway 95A when he made a left turn in front of a Nissan Senta driven by 37-year old Karianna Siple of Pensacola. Siple was unable to stop in time and collided with the bus.
There were no passengers on the bus. Lowe and Siple were not injured.
Lowe was cited for an improper left turn by the FHP.
Innovative Steel Bridge Opens On Arthur Brown Road In Walnut Hill
January 30, 2018
The Arthur Brown Road (Hwy. 99A) Bridge over Freeman Springs Branch has reopened after the full demolition and replacement of the previous bridge.
The Florida Department of Transportation ordered the closure of the bridge on November 8 after a failed inspection, and bridge replacement work began December 6 after the completion of preparatory requirements. The new 24-foot wide steel bridge arrived in three major pieces on January 5 and was installed on January 6.
Escambia County Administrator Jack Brown led the charge for the faster pre-fabricated steel replacement versus traditional concrete bridge due to the number of residents facing lengthy detours of many miles.
The steel bridge saved several months of construction time and cost about $400,000 as opposed to $1 million for a concrete bridge.
“I believe this is a great example of the County Administrator Jack Brown understanding that we needed some alternative methods of working both quickly and less expensively,” District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry said. “Additionally, I am very excited for the residents and those who commute through the affected area”
County officials have said they hope to use more of the steel bridges on future county funded bridge replacements.
Eight other North Escambia bridges remained closed for replacement construction.
“I understand many residents are still inconvenienced by the many bridge closures, and I am diligently working to get all the bridges open as quickly as is safely possible,” Barry said.
To read more about the steel replacement bridge and see additional photos, click here for an earlier article “Escambia County Explores How To Build A Bridge Faster, Smarter And Cheaper“.
Pictured: The Arthur Brown Road bridge over Freeman Springs Branch reopened Monday. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
No Serious Injuries In Highway 97 Crash In Davisville
January 30, 2018
There were no serious injuries in a two-vehicle crash Monday night on Highway 97 in front of the Piggly Wiggly grocery store, jus south of the Florida/Alabama state line.
A Chevrolet pickup truck and Chevrolet Equinox were involved in the accident, which remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS also responded to the 7:40 p.m. accident, which shut down Highway 97 in Davisville for a brief period.
NorthEcambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Sacred Heart To Build New $7 Million Medical Park On Nine Mile
January 30, 2018
Sacred Heart will soon begin construction of a new 28,000 square-foot outpatient medical park next to Publix on Nine Mile Road at Pine Forest Road.
The $7 million outpatient facility will include at three physicians and a nurse practitioner, physician specialists including cardiologists and OB/GYNs, outpatient rehabilitation, a medical lab and diagnostic services such as mammography, CT, X-ray, MRI and ultrasound.
The new facility is slated to open in December of this year.
“As the Milestone area grows, so does the community’s need for specialized medical care. Sacred Heart is committed to meeting that need,” said Susan Davis, president and CEO of Sacred Heart Health System. “Our promise to provide personalized, compassionate care begins in our physician offices. By bringing healthcare closer to where people live and work, we can provide services that are more timely, which ultimately leads to better outcomes and quality of life for our patients.”
Florida 4-H Hall Of Fame Member Francis Robert Gindl, Sr. Passes Away
January 30, 2018
Florida 4-H Hall of Fame member Francis Robert Gindl, Sr. passed away Saturday. He was 89.
Gindl was passionate about 4-H and very active about supporting his children and hundreds of other children with their 4-H activities.
Gindl joined the 4-H Corn Club in 1939, but he soon found that 4-H had much more to offer. He was the first 4-H member in his club to raise more than 100 bushels of corn per acre. He participated in public speaking, beef, swine, poultry, and tractor maintenance projects. He also joined a state 4-H livestock judging team.
He became a volunteer leader with the Barrineau Park 4-H club, which is the longest operating 4-H club in the state of Florida. The club’s projects included consumer judging, tractor maintenance, livestock, and public speaking. His club participated in Florida 4-H Legislature, Florida 4-H Congress, the Pensacola Interstate Fair, and community service projects. His club was the first one to be integrated with both boys and girls in 1965 and then racially in 1972.
“Being part of Barrineau Park 4-H is a true honor” Dillon Conti , the 2016-2017 president of Barrineau Park 4-H Club said. “Mr Francis Gindl did so much for our club, we are very lucky that this rich history is preserved at Barrineau Park Historical Society in the museum for my generation and generations to come to see how much this man gave to Barrineau Park 4-H Club”.
He shared many of his skills with youth and adults in 4-H. He taught the state 4-H record book workshop for extension agents at the University of Florida and obtained community service grants for 4-H projects. He hosted an exchange student from Brazil with the International Farm Youth Exchange (IFYE) program.
When inducted into the Florida 4-H Hall of Fame 2n 2002, Gindl said his decades as a 4-H member and volunteer helped him become a people person, improve his speaking ability and raising his confidence.
Gindl served on the Langley Bell 4-H Center Board of Trustees. The impact Gindl made on Escambia County 4-H is still felt today in livestock, public speaking and community service project areas. He was recognized with the State 4-H Alumni award in 1964 and was selected as the 4-H volunteer leader of the year in 1976.
He also spent 39 years working at Monsanto, and was a charter member of the Barrineau Park Historical Society.
Gindl was a 1946 graduate of J.M. Tate High School where he was voted the most handsome in the senior class. While he attended high school, he was employed by the system to drive a school bus because there was a driver shortage due to WWII. After graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was stationed at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba during the Korean War.
Gindl is survived by his wife, Pauline Summerlin Gindl; daughters, Linda (Andrew) Veren of Fairhope and Amy (Marc) Thibodeau, of Danville, VA; daughter in law, Tena Mann Gindl, Cantonment; sisters, Mildred Anderson, Pensacola and Mary Ann Prembroke of Bennington, VT; and a large number of other family members.
Visitation will be at Faith Chapel Funeral Home in Cantonment on Tuesday, January 30 from 5:00 to 7:00. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 2:00 at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church on Wednesday, January 31. Interment will follow at the church cemetery.
To read the complete obituary, click here.
Updated: Owl Recovering After Rescue From Tangled Fishing Line
January 30, 2018
A barred owl — better known as a hoot owl — rescued near Century Saturday is recovering from his injuries.
The owl was hanging by a wing that was tangled in fishing line at Salter’s Lake. After being rescued by a group of local residents, the owl was picked up by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and transported to the Wildlife Sanctuary of Northwest Florida.
Wildlife Sanctuary Director Dorothy Kaufmann said Monday afternoon that the owl was examined by Dr. Tommy Knight at the Westside Animal Clinic. She said the biggest concern right now is the left wing tip from which the owl was dangling.
“We will see how things heal over the next six to seven days,” Kaufmann said. “The shoulder will also be a time situation to see how much he can recover the range of motion.”
The owl was rescued by local duck hunters Ben Preston and Lakelynn Parker…click here to read more.
Photos by Ross Daughdrill and Tammy Parker for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Volleyball: Ernest Ward Middle Defeats Beulah Academy Of Science (With Photo Gallery)
January 30, 2018
The Ernest Ward Middle School varsity and JV volleyball games both improved to 2-0 Monday night with wins over the Beulah Academy of Science Bobcats.
The Ernest Ward varsity Eagles beat Beulah in two sets (25-13, 25-20) and the JV Eagles topped the Bobcats in two (25-17, 25-14).
Last Thursday, Ernest Ward’s varsity beat Ferry Pass 25-22, 25-21. The JV EWMS Eagles defeated Ferry Pass 25-18, 25-18.
On Thursday, Ransom Middle will travel to Ernest Ward, and Beulah will be at Woodham. JV games begin at 5:30 and varsity takes the court at 6:15 p.m.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Eleanor Annette Jones
January 30, 2018
Eleanor Annette Jones, 78 of Atmore, AL, passed away Sunday January 28, 2018, in Atmore, AL. She worked at the bingo palace and Swift Lumber in bookkeeping. Se was born in Century, FL, on April 13, 1939, to the late Luke and Bernice Rutherford Emmons.
She wass preceded in death by her parents and her sister Merle Forbes.
She is survived by three sons: James (Angie) Jones of Milton, FL, Kenneth (Jenise) Jones of Pensacola, FL, David (Felicia) Jones of Arab, AL; one sister Betty Lou Odom of Atmore, AL, and eight grandchildren.
Services will be Wednesday January 31, 2018, at 11 a.m. rom Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel, Bro. Greg Forbes officiating. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery.
Family will receive friends Wednesday January 31, 2018, at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home in Atmore from 10 a.m. until service time at 11 a.m.
Bobby Mathis
January 30, 2018
Mr. Bobby Mathis, 61, passed away Sunday, January 28, 2018 in Pensacola, Florida.
Mr. Mathis was a native and life long resident of Century, FL. He was an avid fisherman, pasted Little League Coach and was a member of the Tabernacle Baptist Church. He is preceded in death by his parents, Tom & Annie Mathis and a son, Nicholas Andrew Mathis.
Survivors include his one son, Dennis Mathis of Century, FL; one daughter, Annie Mae Mathis of Century, FL; two brothers, Jimmy (Phyllis) Mathis of Century, FL and Tommy Lee (Sandra) Mathis of Clermont, FL; three grandchildren, Trevor Mathis, Destiny Mathis and Blake Mathis and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.
Funeral services will be Friday, February 2, 2018 at 11:00 AM at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Glenn Johnson and Rev. Steve Crawley officiating.
Burial will follow at the Flomaton Cemetery.
Visitation will be Thursday, February 1, 2018 from 6 to 8 PM at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Rico Padilla, B.J. Johnson, Zac Sims, Aubrey Goodman, Ronnie Ardis and Jeffrey Hightower.