2009 In Pictures: October
January 4, 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 October.
Storyteller Paula Larke at Atmore’s Williams Station Day.
Jay’s Steven James fails to stop Northview’s Dustin Yuhasz during the first meeting of the two teams in several years.
A leaking natural gas line burns at house fire on Hilltop Road in Century.
Jadlyn Agerton soars at the top of a cheerleader tower at an Ernest Ward Middle School game.
The JV Chiefs’ Reid Bell picks up yardage against West Florida Tech.
Raising money for the American Cancer Society, overall Trotting for a Cure adventure race winners William Hudgens of Pace and Jack Sauve of Milton had an early lead in the 2.9 mile canoe trip down the Perdido River.
The Ernest Ward Middle School cheerleaders held a mini-cheerleader clinic.
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Roger Grice, District 5 Commissioner Kevin White and Escambia Sheriff David Morgan walked Juniper Street in Walnut Hill.
The Northview High School’s first ever Homecoming Parade rolls through “downtown” Bratt.
Tommy Weaver, Northview’s DCT class sponsor, looks on as De Facto Bratt Mayor Donnie Bass signs the “Community of Bratt Parade Permit” for the school’s first homecoming parade.
A bald eagle in the top of a tree in Walnut Hill.
2009 Persons Of The Year: Rev. Willie H. Carter
January 3, 2010
Rev. Willie H. Carter of Century has been named one of our North Escambia Persons of the Year.
Turn off the TV — anyone that knows Rev. Carter knows that piece of advice.
Rev. Carter preaches a good sermon as pastor of Pilgrim Lodge Baptist Church, one of the oldest churches in North Escambia with a 130 year history. He has a passion for his Lord, and a passion for youth, including the dozens of youth in his church. But he preaches more than just the Gospel to young people in Century area.
“After you watch TV for an hour, close your eyes and see what you got out of that,” Rev. Carter said. He never missed the opportunity to tell young people to turn off the television. “Then read a book, close your eyes and see what you learned.”
“Your life is in you hands,” the reverend said. “You can make it anything you want it to be.”
Rev. Carter spent many years as a counselor at schools in Century, and he’s never stopped preaching the value of self-worth and education to youngsters.
“I can remember when it was not easy for someone to even make it to the eighth grade,” Rev. Carter told the final class of graduating eighth graders at Carver/Century K-8 School holding his Century diploma from May 22, 1936, in his hand. “Tonight, we have to think of it as a beginning.”
“Nobody’s going to ask you if came out of a little town like Century, but if you can do the job,” he said.
His involvement in the Century community extends beyond church and education. No matter what the cause for the good of Century, the Rev. Carter is there. Dozens of pastors and churches were invited to take part in a Learn To Read luncheon several months ago. One pastor was there — the Rev. Willie Carter.
Whether it was the effort to keep Carver/Century K-8 School open, or the effort to unite Century, Rev. Carter was there.
“If we’d just do like the football player, we could do a whole lot better,” he said. “It does not matter who is going to be blocking, tackling or carrying the ball. They just want to get the job done.”
“I am calling on Century; it is time for us to come together,” Rev. Carter said. “It is time for us to realize that we have one God.”
Pictured top: Rev. Willie H. Carter addresses the last-ever graduating class at Carver/Century K-8 School. Pictured inset: Rev. Carter with his 1936 Century diploma. Pictured bottom: Rev. Carter prays with Century Mayor Freddie McCall. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Inspired By A Cartoon, Bratt Student Raises Money For Children’s Hospital
January 3, 2010
Cold weather did not stop a a nine-year old Bratt Elementary School student and his charity walk Saturday for Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital.
Logan Doremus was inspired to organize the walk after watching a PBS cartoon in which the character Arthur and his friends held a bike-a-thon for cancer research, his mother Shannon Doremus said. Logan had surgery at Sacred Heart for a rare bone condition in 2003, prompting him to raise money for the children and families served by the children’s hospital.
Saturday, Logan walked around Tom Byrne Park in Atmore with friends Cameron Long, 8, and Triston Long, 10. They were joined by others that walked to raise funds for the children’s hospital.
It is not too late to make a donation…for more information email shanabelld33@hotmail.com. Donations can also be mailed to 7650 Hodges Road, Century FL 32535.
Pictured above: Cameron Long, 8; Logan Doremus, 9; and Triston Long, 10; walk Saturday to raise money for Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Year In Review North Escambia’s Biggest Stories Of 2009: August
January 3, 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 August 2009.
Ron Rigby retired from the Escambia County Road Department after 25 years of service.
Playground equipment was installed at the new Bratt Community Park.
The Town of Century discussed water and sewer rate increases for most customers and new fees for future customers.
A series of strong storms downed trees and power lines across the area.
The first day of school was near perfect, including at Bratt Elementary and Ernest Ward Middle with nearly 200 new students from the closure and consolidation of Carver/Century K-8.
The Escambia County Health Department has issued a Rabies Alert for North Escambia after one person was bit by a rabid fox and two raccoons that bit dogs tested positive for rabies.
Escambia County approved the re-submission of a half million dollar library construction grant to construct a public library at the former Molino School.
Sid Wheatley was named the new head coach of the Northview High School football team.
Lance Cpl. Bruce “Bubba” Ferrell Jr., 21, of Perdido, Ala., was killed by an improvised explosive device while serving in Afghanistan.
The Town of Century decided that they did not want to part with the former Helicopter Technology building in the town’s industrial park — unless someone is willing to write checks that would total over $800,000.
Ashley Elenea Burkett, 31, and April Burford Watson, 33 — teachers at Jay High School — were arrested for allegedly having sex in their homes with teenage boys.
Year In Review North Escambia’s Biggest Stories Of 2009: September
January 3, 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 September 2009.
Two murder suspects were captured after NorthEscambia.com spotted their getaway van returning to the scene of the crime in Nokomis, Ala. The suspects, Clarence Luker, 37, and Lorraine Gray, 50, were each charged with open counts of murder.
A rabies alert for North Escambia was continued after three more animals were found with rabies.
The Town of Century approved a $1.6 million low interest loan for water system improvements. The load will automatically forgive about $1.4 million in principal.
Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church held their annual McDavid Volunteer Fire Department appreciation service.
NorthEscambia.com became the official voice of the Northview High School Chiefs, providing audio from Chiefs football online.
A $367.4 million budget approved by the Escambia County Commission included the $65,000 needed to keep Escambia County Clerk of the Courts Ernie Lee Magaha in the Billy G. Ward Courthouse in Century.
A Santa Rosa County man died from the H1N1 Swine Flu, the first death in our area.
An Escambia County teacher’s aid, Rodney Darnell Portis, was arrested on drug charges after a search warrant executed at his Walnut Hill home turned up a “large amount” of cocaine as well as other drugs.
An auto plant was announced for Bay Minette with up to 5,000 jobs — if the company behind the plant is able to obtain funding.
A 19-year old male and a 15-year old middle school student were charged in connection with the September 14 robbery of the Molino Tom Thumb. Deputies found the 19-year old trying to steal tires after he had a flat on the getaway car.
Lawton “Bud” Chiles began his journey of One Million Steps across Florida retracing the steps of his father, former Florida Governor Lawton Mainor Chiles, Jr. to raise awareness of children’s health, education and safety issues in the state.
A Century man, Coy Otis Rhea, was struck and killed by a 40-foot tree being cut down at his rental home.
Frank Lay and Robert Freeman were both found not guilty on criminal charges that they prayed in violation of a federal court order in Santa Rosa County.
Hundreds of North Escambia students gathered to pray at their schools as part of the annual See You At The Pole rally.
A Cantonment man found himself nearly $200,000 richer after purchase a FANTASY 5 Quick Pick ticket.
Controversy erupted across the nation over a planned speech by President Barack Obama to the nation’s schoolchildren. In Escambia County, Superintendent Malcolm Thomas elected to not show the speech live.
Hundreds of area residents enjoyed the second Annual Bull Bash Blowout in Flomaton presented by the Tri-Cities Rotary Club.
The Escambia County Commission rejected a $10 per child youth sports fee.
Stephen Eugene Freeman, 43, and his wife Monica Lassitter Freeman, 37, of Bratt received a mandatory 15 year sentence in state prison for drug trafficking.
Jesse Warner of Bratt was seriously injured when he rear-ended a school bus in Bratt.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
2009 In Pictures: July And August
January 3, 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 July and August.
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.
Children at Faith Bible Baptist Church in Bluff Springs had a chance to learn about firefighting from the Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue.
Fire heavily damaged a home on Meadows Road.
An abandoned house on Juniper Street in Walnut Hill burns.
Action from Northwest Escambia versus Niceville-Valparaiso at Bradberry Park in the Junior League All-Star Tournament.
NWE versus Pace.
Anna Lee, 5, decided to cool off with a hose during a car wash at the First Baptist Church of Bratt.
2009 Persons Of The Year: Sonja Luker
January 2, 2010
Sonja Luker of Molino has been named one of our North Escambia Persons of the Year.
What would a Christmas parade in Molino be without Santa Claus? And Sonja Luker?
Sonja has been the driving force behind the Molino Christmas Parade for years. She has served tirelessly for years on the board of directors for the Molino Recreation Association. Took part in Relay for Life, Special Olympics…the list just goes on and on. Helping the communities of North Escambia has been her calling.
Earlier this year, doctors told Sonja to prepare for the end because, once again, chemotherapy and radiation were unable to destroy all of the cancer cells attacking her body. As Sonja tried to come to terms with the devastating news, she began to wonder how she will tell her children that she will not live long enough to see them marry, how she would tell her parents that she would probably die before them.
But then there was a glimmer of hope that has turned into a real promise. A doctor at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Texas was convinced that he could trick her body genetically, preventing tumors from forming.
Sonja was first diagnosed with cancer about five years ago when her son was a senior in high school. Her son Timothy is now 22 and daughter Samantha is 21.
“All I did was pray for God to let me see my children graduate,” she said. “I got my miracle.”
For Sonja, there’s always someone that needs help more than she does.
“I do what I do because I like to help,” she said. “There is always somebody worse that I am.”
Our communities did reach out and help Sonja back in September as dozens of motorcyclists took part in a 75-mile Labor Day ride from Atmore.
She said at that time that she was “a little overwhelmed by all of the people that want to help me. I would rather give than receive. I have the most amazing friends in the world.”
She did ask for one thing in return.
“I want to make sure that everybody gets involved with Relay for Life,” she said. “It if were not for the cancer research money provided by Relay for Life, I would have not a chance right now in my fight. I would have no hope if it were not for Relay for Life.”
Pictured top: Chris and Sonja Luker at a benefit motorcycle ride in Atmore in September. Pictured top inset: Sonja rides on float during the 2009 Molino Christmas Parade. Pictured bottom inset: Sonja (in purple) at the North Pensacola Relay for Life at Tate High School. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
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.