Year In Review North Escambia’s Biggest Stories Of 2009: June
January 2, 2010
NorthEscambia.com is looking back at 2009 with our “Year in Review” series. Each day, we will review the biggest stories of 2009. Today, we take a look at the biggest stories of June 2009.
Signs advertising a Vacation Bible School event at Highland Baptist Church in Molino were stolen at least twice from around the community.
Archaeologists from the University of West Florida were hard at work in June uncovering the past in Molino, looking hard for a mission settlement dating back to the 1750’s.
Funeral services were held for Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Office Major Tommy America who died after enduring a long battle with cancer.
The Escambia County Comprehensive Annual Finance Report showed that each Escambia resident’s share of the county debt was $389.
Battery charges were dropped against a Town of Century employee that reportedly left a state prisoner unattended in a store parking lot while he got into fight inside the store.
June was hot…with multiple days over the 100 degree mark.
Plans moved forward for Escambia County’s first hurricane pet shelter at Molino Park Elementary.
A Century convenience store was robbed at gunpoint. The robber ran from the store with the register.
Elton Gilmore of McDavid retired after 32 years of service in the Florida Division of Forestry.
The Tri-County All-Stars were eliminated from the District 1 Little League 8-9 Year Old All Stars Tournament with a loss to Defuniak Springs.
Paul Edward Black, a sergeant at the Century Correctional Institution, was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of possession of child pornography. In an unrelated case, another North Escambia man, Perry Leonard Gibbs of Bratt, was arrested and charged with molesting a child under the age of 12.
In a bizarre accident in Molino, a woman hit a horse on Highway 29, ripping the van apart. A second car hit the horse and overturned several times, and a third car also struck the animal’s remains.
The Escambia County Commission rejected a 3-cent gas tax to help fund mass transit in the county.
The Northview High School Food For America progrm was named one of top two such programs in Florida.
The Escambia County School Board approved the final documents to sell the old Molino School to Escambia County.
The Town of Century received a $1.5 million grant toward a water project that includes a new elevated storage tank and miles of new water main.
Over 5,000 people attend the first annual Escambia County Blueberry Jamboree sponsored in part by NorthEscambia.com at the Barrineau Park Community Center.
Century Mayor Freddie McCall appealed to the Escambia County Commission to ask them to urge Escambia County Tax Collector Janet Holley to reopen her office in Century.
Scott Joseph Thompson was charged with the murder of a Cantonment woman, Cheryl Cain. Cain’s body was found in a dumpster at an abandoned Pensacola gas station.
A Molino couple — Max and Julie Kent — held a yard sale at their home to sell all of their possession before heading to mission field in Guatemala.
Authorities in two states were on the lookout for a suspect after women were mugged in Walnut Hill and Atmore.
Solutia completed the sale of their nylon division, including their plant near Cantonment, to a New York-based private equity capital group. The company was renamed Ascend Performance Materials.
Century Care Residents Celebrate 2010
January 2, 2010
Seniors at the Century Care Center rang in the New Year in a grand fashion Friday. The residents enjoyed a little non-alcoholic “bubbly”, finger foods, cake and more. The party was complete with party favors and hats as the Century Care Center residents welcomed 2010.
Submitted photos by Mae Hildreth for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Year In Review North Escambia’s Biggest Stories Of 2009: July
January 2, 2010
NorthEscambia.com is looking back at 2009 with our “Year in Review” series. Each day, we will review the biggest stories of 2009. Today, we take a look at the biggest stories of July 2009.
Byrd and Melanie Billings were found dead in their Beulah home, setting off a series of arrests that captivated the nation. NorthEscambia.com was the first media in the nation to report that one of the suspects, Donnie Stallworth of Brewton, was in the military. As a result, NorthEscambia.com was mentioned on CNN, Fox and by United Press International (UPI), and we were linked to by Anderson Cooper and CNN, the New York Times, Huffington Post and MSNBC.
About two weeks after the Billings murders, Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan sat down with just one media outlet — NorthEscambia.com — to talk about what life was like for him personally behind the scenes of the investigation.
The Town of Century’s foreclosure against Helicopter Technology became final on a $740,999.43 judgment.
“Don’t take for granted that you will see your kids grown” was the powerful message from Marty Green of Bratt in story about her battle with stage IV lung cancer. She passed away about a month later.
Several churches held Vacation Bible School, including Highland Baptist Church where over 200 children enjoyed a 50 foot long banana split.
Deputies in Escambia County, Alabama, uncovered about $300,000 in goods stolen from homes and businesses in North Escambia, Santa Rosa County and across south Alabama.
Paul Edward Black, 42, of Century, entered a guilty plea to federal child pornography charges.
The Tri-County and Northwest Escambia girls softball teams made the state tournament, but both fell short of a state title.
Florida Tax Watch issued a report critical of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department, recommending that the agency cut millions from its budget. But Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan spoke out against the findings, calling the data “flawed”.
The final items were moved the last week of the month from the closed Carver/Century K-8 to Ernest Ward Middle and Bratt Elementary schools.
An interim report from Escambia County Code Enforcement showed that 160 violators had been cited since code enforcement returned to Century.
Archaeologists from the University of West Florida working in Molino discovered what they believe may the first evidence of a Spanish mission settlement dating back to the 1750’s.
Northview High School Head Football Coach Cody Keene resigned. Sid Wheatley was named the new interim football coach at Northview High School.
After reading a headline on NorthEscambia.com “Wish List: $1.4 Million For Atmore, Nothing For Flomaton”, Flomaton’s mayor said that in the last 16 years, Flomaton had not received any extra funding from Congress because the town had not actually applied.
A federal grand jury indicted Chad Floyd Jeter of Canoe for robbery of the First National Bank & Trust in Atmore.
The Escambia County Commission granted final approval to the county’s first pet-friendly hurricane evacuation shelter to be located at Molino Park Elementary School.
The Escambia Sheriff’s Office substation in Walnut Hill reopened for the first time since Hurricane Ivan.
Scott Slay was named the new director of the Northview High School Tribal Beat band.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
2009 Persons Of The Year: Jerry Fischer
January 1, 2010
Jerry Fischer of Bluff Springs has been named one of our North Escambia Persons of the Year.
From Fischer Landing that bears his name, to his work with the Alger-Sullivan Historical Society, to his never ending smile, to his willingness to stop and help anyone in need, most people in the Century area know the name Jerry Fischer.
The story of Jerry Fischer is perhaps best told by his friend of about 60 years, Jerry Simmons.
Submitted by Jerry Simmons
What can be said about this man that could diminish the good that he has done for this community? He has been a friend to just about everyone he’s met; he’s been generous to the community with his time and talents; he’s been a good provider to his family, and all-in-all a man whose time for acknowledgment by his community has come.
He was a councilman for the Town of Century more than 24 years. During that time he was always for the elderly and the poor people in the town. When there were grants available for housing, he lost his last campaign partly because he spoke out against overlooking those who slept with holes in their roof and those who could not speak out for themselves. There were those who disagreed with him in principle but who had no convincing argument to the contrary when it came time to be fair and equitable. He believes in doing right by everyone, not a select few.
He was one of the original members of the South Flomaton Volunteer Fire Department in the 1960s, because he felt that was a service the community needed. He was one of several who spearheaded facilitating a vote to combine South Flomaton and Century. Some folks might think that wasn’t such a good thing, but Century is much better off with it done.
At various times he’s been a member and/or officer in just about every local civic organization, such as the Lions Club. His contemporaries must have thought well of him and his leadership ability, because he was elected to head the Little League and the Century Recreation Association. He worked selflessly to make a place for boys and girls who otherwise would have no direction. He coached, he worked in fundraising, he did anything he could to make all he was involved in to be successful. He’s passed that on to his children and now his grandchildren, who all rely upon his judgment and respect him deeply.
He once told a friend that when he went to Hawaii with his family and entered high school there, many of the Hawaiian boys didn’t like white boys. That’s where he really became interested in boxing, so he could fend for himself. The discipline that’s required in training for boxing taught him valuable lessons on how that if you wanted something bad enough, there are sacrifices that must be made. He’s followed that philosophy throughout his adult life and it’s done him well.
He wanted to provide a boat landing for the outdoorsmen in the area, so 30 or so years ago he got a group of young men together and had a cement truck come in to pour a boat ramp just about where the Escambia River Fischer Landing is today. In later years, he fought for and helped the Town of Century secure grant funds to create a real boat landing, which today is named for him.
He has a love for the environment and for years has worked with groups to go up and down the river, cleaning up the garbage ignorant people leave behind or deliberately toss out of their boats or their cars and trucks. Tires, old barbecue grills, Styrofoam coolers and cups; you name it – he’s been responsible for picking up thousands of pounds of debris from the creek and river banks in this region.
If it were not for Jerry’s love of history, hundreds of photographs and records would have been destroyed. Because of his interest, these records and pictures are categorized and saved for posterity. His dedication to the Alger-Sullivan Historical Society is legend. He’s been the driving force behind so many projects to preserve not only Century’s heritage, but that of Flomaton and Jay, as well as for miles around.
When the news came out that Jerry was sick, there was hardly anyone in Century or Flomaton whose heart did not go out to him and his family. Wherever one went, there was always a question, “Have you heard how Jerry’s doing?”
After over two years of doctors’ visits and chemotherapy, Jerry finally found himself back where he wanted to be and that was being able to make a difference. He went back to work at the Alger-Sullivan Historical Society and seemed to want to try to make up for lost time. He got buildings painted, new displays up and organized, and spearheaded the writing of a new history book for the area. He was the driving force behind fund-raising efforts by the society and created new avenues of goodwill for the Century, Flomaton and Jay areas.
Wherever he goes, whatever he does, people remember him. He is an unforgettable person, whose constant smile and cheerful banter make all who meet him for the first time feel better for having been around him.
In 2007, he was named Century’s Citizen of the Year in 2007. In 2009, he was given a clean bill of health from cancer.
This town, this community, this world is a better place because Jerry Fischer has been here.
Pictured: Jerry Fischer at the dedication of Fischer Landing on the Escambia River in Century. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
2009 In Pictures: May
January 1, 2010
We are taking a look back at 2009 through some of the thousands of photos we ran here on NorthEscambia.com. Today, we are featuring some of the best and most interesting photos from June.
A horse ripped through this van in Highway 29 accident in Molino. The woman in the van escaped serious injury.
Members of the Escambia County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Department Honor Guard with a 21-gun salute at the funeral of Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Office Major Tommy America.
A rainbow formed beneath an irrigation system in a Walnut Hill field.
“MJ”Jones gets a hit against Defuniak Springs in the District 1 Little League 8-9 Year Old All Stars Tournament in Walnut Hill.
More action from the Tri-County All-Stars in district play.
Pictured: Choosing the perfect healthy snack following a summer reading program at the Century Branch Library.
The second place winner in the “Pies and Cobbler” division was Blueberry Dream Pie from Marti Penland Koemmerer at the first annual Blueberry Jamboree in Barrineau Park.
Molino firefighters battle a smoldering fire in a trailer load of hay.
Charlie “The Noise Guy” Williams reads “Flush: An ode to toilets” at the Century Branch Library during a summer reading program.
Year In Review North Escambia’s Biggest Stories Of 2009: May
January 1, 2010
NorthEscambia.com is looking back at 2009 with our “Year in Review” series. Each day, we will review the biggest stories of 2009. Today, we take a look at the biggest stories of May 2009.
Amid a lot of tears, the final day ever at Carver/Century K-8 came to close. The Escambia County School Board voted to close the school, merging it into Ernest Ward Middle and Bratt Elementary schools.
The end of May was the end of Escambia County Tax Collector Janet Holley’s office in Century. The county’s tax collector has maintained an office in Century for 32 years.A rabid raccoon was shot and killed by a resident on Crabtree Church Road in Molino. It would be the first of several rabid animals found in North Escambia during the year, eventually prompting a rabies alert.
Century does not have a gang problem like some Pensacola areas, but gang members sometimes hide out in the area — that was the word from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department at a town hall meeting in Century.
The Atmore Police Department chased a suspect into North Escambia, shooting him in a field along Highway 97. He later died.
Chad Floyd Jeter of Atmore was arrested and charged with the armed robbery of the First National Bank of Atmore. Jeter allegedly burned a camper top from his getaway truck in North Escambia. Two people were arrested after a meth lab was discovered Bratt as authorities searched for Jeter.
Ernest Ward Middle School principal, Nancy Gindl-Perry, was named Escambia County’s Principal of the Year.
“God cannot be ignored,” Valedictorian Luke Fletcher Killam told over 100 members of the Class of 2009 as they graduated from Northview High School. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.”
Only four students in Escambia County made a perfect “5″ on the third grade Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test in both reading and math, including Sarah Perritt from Molino Park Elementary School.
Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies simultaneously executed 10 search warrants and made 19 felony drug arrests in Century using SWAT teams from across Northwest Florida.
The Town of Century held a “visioning day”, giving participants an up closed look at what Century has to offer.
Century heard a proposal from a Virginia company that wanted to install a wireless broadband network in the town. The town never took action on the proposal.
Camp Fire USA celebrated the first anniversary of the Century Early Learning Center.
The newly formed Ernest Ward Middle School Drama Club presented their first production.
An apparent lightning strike during an afternoon thunderstorm did not cause an damage at Ernest Ward Middle School.
Escambia Commissioners approved the purchase of the old Molino Elementary School building too add a library and community center for the growing community.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Year In Review North Escambia’s Biggest Stories Of 2009: April
December 31, 2009
FCAT writing scores were released in April, and they were good news for most North Escambia schools.
A bill has passed the Florida legislature that could pump life back into Jay and North Santa Rosa County. The Florida Senate passed a bill that will provide exemptions and tax breaks to the six active oil producing companies in Florida. One of those producers is Quantum Resources in Jay.
Century became home to a new video conferencing system that allows area residents to interact with the Social Security Agency face to face, one of just three such sites in an eight state area. The video system now available at the Workforce Escarosa office in Century was just one of just three in an eight state Southeastern U.S. region.
Communities from across the area joined together for Century’s Relay for Life.
Students at Molino Park Elementary School planted a tree in honor of Earth Day and teacher Sharon Smith who died on the final day of school in 2008.
The Escambia County School Board formally voted to sell the old Molino School to the county for a new library and community center.
Escambia River Electric Cooperative held their 70th Annual Meeting at Jay High School. James Earl Hall and Ernie Hester were elected as cooperative trustees from Escambia County and Ed Kelly was elected as a Santa Rosa County trustee.
Escambia Sheriff David Morgan (pictured at the Century Substation with Sgt. David Preston) announced that arrests were forthcoming from weeks of undercover drug buys in Century.
The Town of Century voted to apply for a loan for water systems improvements in the State Line Road, Highway 4A and Backwoods Road areas, but the town was still hoping to receive a grant to fund the nearly $2 million project.
The town of Century celebrated its 108th birthday with a big bash in the town’s historical district.
A small army of volunteers headed out from the Barrineau Park Community Center for a Clean and Green Community Cleanup.
Molino Park Elementary School held its annual Arts Day, with the students spending the day immersed in a variety of arts.
Over a three day period, students from Carver/Century K-8 School had the opportunity to visit the campus of Ernest Ward Middle School.
The Northview High School Theater Department presented “Willy Wonka the Musical”.
The Escambia County Commission wanted Sheriff David Morgan to cut another $4 million from his budget before it is submitted to the BOCC for approval, but the sheriff said he cut all that he intended to cut. Morgan says he would take his budget to the governor before dealing with the commission.
Students at Molino Park Elementary held a wagon parade to raise money for Relay for Life.
The faithful gathered for Easter Morning Sunrise Services across North Escambia.
FFA students and 4-H members from Escambia County celebrated the 100th anniversary of the 4-H in conjunction with the GCA and NRA Spring Livestock Show.
Residents of Century turned to a letter writing campaign in hopes of saving Carver/Century K-8 School. About 200 letters were mailed to President Barack Obama.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
2009 In Pictures: May
December 31, 2009
Graduate Jessica Mothershed shares a tearful moment with teacher Tommy Weaver following May’s graduation exercise at Northview High School.
During closing ceremonies for Northwest Escambia Little League, a trophy for Drew Marlow was presented to his mother Cyndi Marlow Wendt. Drew Marlow died in a 2008 auto accident near Walnut Hill.
Final goodbyes as the last day of school ever came to a close at Carver/Century K-8 School.
Rev. Willie Carter addresses the students, his 1936 Century diploma in hand, during the final graduation excercise at Carver/Century K-8 School.
Firefighters locate the “victim” in a simulated McDavid building fire, part of an Escambia Fire Rescue training exercise.
Three people were injured in this accident on Highway 97. The Blazer burst into flames shortly after the last passenger was pulled from the wreckage.
Flags fly on the Walnut Hill grave of PFC Russell William Stewart on Memorial Day. PFC Stewart died April 14, 2007, while serving at Camp Lejeune, NC.
NorthEscambia.com had exclusive photos from the scene where the Atmore Police Department shot a suspect following a chase into North Escambia. The suspect later died.
The Northview High School Class of 2009 held their Baccalaureate service at the First Baptist Church of Bratt — the first time in the history of the school that Baccalaureate was not held at the school.
The Northview Chiefs held their intrasquad Garnet and Gold game on a rainy night.
A truck driver from Greenville, Alabama, was killed in a fiery explosion on I-65 between Flomaton and Atmore.
The Pen Wheels Fishing Rodeo was held in Walnut Hill.
The North Pensacola Relay for Life was held at Tate High School.
Year In Review North Escambia’s Biggest Stories Of 2009: March
December 30, 2009
In March, the Escambia County School Board voted to closed Carver/Century K-8 School, despite pleas from area residents like Annie Savage (pictured) to keep the school open. The vote came a few weeks after the school board held a meeting in Century where dozens of angry parents argued for the school.
NorthEscambia.com broke the exclusive story that Gulf Power was purchasing land in Cox and Road road areas between Bratt and Byrneville for possible nuclear power plant.
The Escambia County School Board approved $1 million in renovations for Bratt Elementary and Ernest Ward Middle Schools.
The 2009 Law Enforcement Torch Run across Florida in support of Special Olympics started in Century.
Hundreds of people gathered at Jay High School to pray for schools across the area. The prayer service came about two months after a federal judge issued an order against any prayer or promotion of religion in Santa Rosa County Schools.
State Rep. Greg Evers filed a bill in Florida House that would led to the formation of a commission to study the consolidation of the governments of Century, Pensacola and Escambia County.
Century’s celebrated its heritage with the annual Teaspoon Festival.
Softball returned to Century after a long absence at Century Little League.
Hundreds attended the annual Ruritan Farm Auction in Walnut Hill.
Up to 15 inches of rain brought flooding to Molino, shutting down all highways between the north of south parts of the county.
A North Escambia woman, Cheryl Renee Cain, was found murdered in a dumpster at an abandoned Pensacola gas station.
The Town of Century voted to spend $4,000 to find out how much it would cost to hire a Crestview attorney to find out what legal grounds the attorney thought Century would have to fight the Escambia County School board over the closure of Carver/Century K-8 School.
Drew’s Field was dedicated in honor of Drew Marlow, a two-year old that died in a 2008 auto crash.
About 1,000 students and volunteers took part in the annual Food for America program at Northview High School. The program, sponsored the National FFA Organization and conducted by the Northview FFA, gave the students a chance to learn about agriculture firsthand as they got up close and personal with farm animals, farm equipment and more.
John William Lance, 28, of Century, was sentenced to 10 years, four months and 24 days for DUI manslaughter in connection with the 2007 death of his brother, Jack Lance, 33 of Holt.
On the first to be ticketed by the new code enforcement program in Century was the town’s mayor, Freddie McCall.
Escambia County listed 22 projects on a “Project Priority List” — including a new community center and library in Molino.
Florida House and Senate committees have approved a bill proposal that would get the oil flowing again in the Jay Oil Field. The bill, sponsored in the House by Rep. Greg Evers, would provide exemptions and tax breaks to the six active oil producing companies in Florida. One of those producers is Quantum Resources in Jay.
March was time for FCAT testing at area schools
Ernest Ward Middle School held “Penny Wars” to raise funds to send veterans on an Emerald Coast Honor Flight.
Escambia School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas paid a surprise visit to Northview High School, meeting with students and faculty.
Northview High School held their first home track meet in years on their newly resurfaced track.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
2009 In Pictures: April
December 30, 2009
The annual Century Relay for Life was held.
This unique cloud formation rolled across North Escambia in late April.
An Escambia County Deputy was involved in this accident near Jay.
Enjoying a cupcake at an Easter event in Molino.
Firefighters battle a blaze that destroyed a home on Pilgrim Trail West in Molino.
Pictured above: Opening day at the Molino Ball Park.