Felony Suspect Arrested After Alabama Manhunt
June 13, 2016
A man wanted on an outstanding felony warrant and a person of interest in a murder was arrested after a manhunt late Sunday afternoon near Flomaton.
Johnny Jermaine Johnson, 38, was taken into custody by the Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office on escape charges from community corrections, according to Escambia County (AL) Chief Deputy Mike Lambert. He was apprehended on Fannie Church Road, near Highway 31, just east of Flomaton, after a three hour multi-agency manhunt.
Law enforcement officers from Alabama and Florida, along with K-9 teams from the Century Correctional Institution, the Santa Rosa Correctional Institution and Holman Prison, tracked Johnson in an area between Highway 31 and Junction Road for about three hours.
Johnson was reportedly also a person of interest in an apparent murder Sunday morning in Brewton. Someone reportedly dropped a woman off that was beaten to death outside the D.W. McMillan Hospital Emergency Room Sunday morning. As of early Monday morning, the Brewton Police Department had not released any further information on the apparent murder.
Cantonment Church Builds Courtyard For Waterfront Rescue Mission
June 13, 2016
Pinewoods Presbyterian Church of Cantonment worked last week to construct a courtyard for the men in the Waterfront Rescue Mission program. The project was part of the church’s annual local missions outreach. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
No Injuries In Beulah Crash
June 13, 2016
There were no injuries in a two-vehicle accident Sunday at the intersection of Nine Mile and Beulah Roads. Everyone involved in the crash refused medical treatment at the scene. Further details have not been released by the Florida Highway Patrol. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
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Tate’s Branden Fryman Drafted By The New York Mets
June 13, 2016
Tate High School graduate Branden Fryman was chosen by the New York Mets in the 37th round of the Major League Baseball Draft. He was selection 1,120 overall.
Fryman has signed to play baseball for Samford University in Birmingham. Fryman hit .400 last year as a junior. The Aggies shortstop is the son of Travis Fryman who spent 12 years in the majors with the Detroit Tigers and the Cleveland Indians, and he was named an all-star five times.
Pictured: Tate’s Branden Fryman signs with Samford University. Filed photos.
Biscuits Beat The Wahoos, Snapping Three Game Streak
June 13, 2016
The Montgomery Biscuits snapped the Pensacola Blue Wahoos three-game winning streak on Sunday with a 5-2 victory.
The Biscuits relied on strong pitching from starter Hunter Wood, who limited Pensacola to two hits through five innings in his third start in Double-A, in front of the 15th sellout crowd of 5,038 at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Pensacola snapped Wood’s scoreless inning streak at 14.1 innings when Pensacola DH Donald Lutz hit a deep sacrifice fly to center to score Sebastian Elizalde from third in the fourth inning. In his first two starts at the Double-A level, Wood had thrown 11 scoreless innings and won both games.
The Blue Wahoos finally chased Wood, the Rays’ No. 30 prospect, from the game in the sixth inning when Pensacola’s left fielder Tony Renda doubled to the left field corner and then scored when Kyle Parker smacked a double to left to pull the Blue Wahoos within, 4-2.
Pensacola manager Pat Kelly said he was impressed with Wood, now 3-0, and his mix of pitches.
“He was terrific,” Kelly said. “He has a nice mix of pitches and throws two different kinds of changeups. We had our chance in the sixth.”
However, Ryne Stanek, a former Biscuits starter and the Rays No. 17 prospect, came in and got the next two hitters out with runners on second and third. Pensacola second baseman Brandon Dixon did hit a 398-foot fly out to dead center that measures 400-feet from home plate.
Over the final 3.2 innings, Stanek, whose fast ball reaches the upper 90-mph range, allowed just two hits, walked one and struck out four to shut down the Pensacola offense.
Pensacola will remain in first place, despite the loss, in the Southern League South Division with a record of 36-26. The Biloxi Shuckers were one game behind and could tie the Blue Wahoos with a win over the Birmingham Barons.
Pensacola manager Pat Kelly played down the hunt for the first half title that gives the winner an automatic pass to the Southern League playoffs.
“You have two good teams and playing five games is tough,” Kelly said. “You’re not going to win all five games.”
Pensacola first baseman Kyle Parker, who was released from the Colorado Rockies after spring training and missed most of April before the Cincinnati Reds picked him up, got his fourth multi-hit game in his last five contests. He went 2-4 with a double and drove in one of Pensacola’s two runs Sunday.
Parker isn’t focused on the first half crown either. He said the best thing to do is relax
“We’re all competitors and we want to win,” he said. “Obviously, it’s nice to be winning. We’re playing our best every single day. Things like that will take care of themselves.”
Pensacola starter Sal Romano cruised through the first two innings, striking out four including Montgomery second baseman Tommy Coyle on a 3-2 count with runners on first and second to end the second inning.
But Romano has had tough luck this season, compiling a 1-6 record losing his last four starts in a row. He has given up 34 hits in 22.2 innings pitched during that span, posting a 5.96 ERA.
In the third inning, Montgomery finally got to Romano scoring three runs on three hits and two walks. Biscuits left fielder Pat Blair earned a leadoff walk and scored from third to give Montgomery the lead, 1-0, when right fielder Cade Gotta hit a slow roller to Pensacola first baseman Kyle Parker, who tagged him out.
The Biscuits made it, 2-0, when shortstop Willy Adames, Tampa Bay Rays’ No. 3 prospect, tripled over the Pensacola outfielders’ heads into the right center gap to drive in third baseman Kean Wong, who had singled to left field, to go ahead, 2-0.
The final run of the third inning came when DH Patrick Leonard singled on a ground ball to left field to score Adames, putting Montgomery up, 3-0.
Montgomery added another run to go up, 4-1, when first baseman Jake Bauer hit a hard liner to center in the fifth inning to score Adames from third base, which he reached when Pensacola third baseman Eric Jagielo fielded a routine ground ball and threw it past first base.
Romano finished the game throwing five innings, giving up eight hits and three walks and allowing four runs, three earned, while striking out five. He lost his fifth consecutive start and is 1-7 with a 4.93 ERA on the season.
Kelly said Romano seemed to lose faith in his 95-mph fastball when he struck out a couple batters on his breaking ball.
“I thought he lost trust in his fastball,” Kelly said. “He hurt himself with a couple of walks and the triple (by Adames) hurt him.”
Montgomery stretched its lead back to three runs in the eighth when Bauer earned a leadoff walk and reached third on a routine single to left field by Leonard. Bauer increased the Biscuits’ lead to 5-2 on a sacrifice fly by catcher Jake DePew.
‘Monster’ Fire Destroys Historic Atmore Home
June 12, 2016
A massive fire Sunday morning destroyed a historic turn of the century home in downtown Atmore.
The fire was reported about 6:35 a.m. at 311 South Main Street, at a two story, 4000 square foot home built in 1900. Flames were shooting skyward from the second floor as the fire firefighters arrived on scene.
“It was a real monster,” Atmore Fire Chief Ronald Peebles said of the fire.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery, click here.
The resident of the home was reportedly not at home at the time of the blaze. A family dog was miraculously found alive and doing well on the first floor of the home nearly two hours after the blaze began. Click here to read more about the dog.
Firefighters were hampered by heat and humidity as they fought the blaze, but there were no immediate reports of any injuries. The cause of the fire is still under investigation by the Alabama State Fire Marshal.
Smoke from the fire was visible as far away as Ernest Ward Middle School on Highway 97 in Walnut Hill.
The Atmore, Poarch and Flomaton fire departments from Alabama and the Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue in Florida, Atmore Ambulance, the Atmore Police Department and the Poarch Creek Tribal Police responded to the fire.
“We are real blessed that we have that ladder truck, and we are grateful that these other departments responded to prevent this from becoming a lot worse,” Atmore Mayor Jim Staff said.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Dog Miraculously Found Alive Hours After Massive House Fire
June 12, 2016
In what is being call a miracle of sorts, a family dog was found alive and doing well inside historic home in Atmore about two hours after a massive blaze began to rip through the home.
The dog was discovered by firefighters in a first floor room of the home, well after the roof had collapsed, sending flames exploding 30 feet or more into the air.
“It was a miracle for the little guy,” Atmore Fire Chief Ronald Peebles said. “I don’t know how he survived.”
The soaking wet dog, shivering with fear, was evaluated by Atmore Ambulance, dried off and given some much need water.
For more on the fire, including a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Video: Atmore Historic House Fire
June 12, 2016
NorthEscambia.com video of Sunday morning house fire in Atmore. For the story, click here.
If you do not see the video above, it is because your home, work of school firewall is blocking YouTube videos.
NorthEscambia.com video.
FDOT: Weekly Traffic Alerts
June 12, 2016
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County:
- U.S. 29 – Intermittent and alternating lane closures continue within the town of Century and north beginning at Champion Drive.
- Interstate 10 (I-10)/U.S. 29 Interchange Improvements – The following traffic impacts will occur Sunday, June 12 through Thursday, June 16 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. to allow crews to install barrier wall and prepare for bridge widening work:
- Alternating lane closures on I-10 near U.S. 29 (exits 10A and 10B).
- The U.S. 29 south to I-10 eastbound ramp will be closed. Traffic will be detoured south to make a U-turn at Diamond Dairy Road.
- The U.S. 29 north to I-10 westbound ramp will be closed. Traffic will be detoured north to make a U-turn at Broad Street.
- I-10 Widening – Intermittent and alternating lane closures on I-10 eastbound, between Davis Highway (Exit 14) and Scenic Highway (Exit 17), from 7 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. the week of June 13 as crews install guardrail.
- I-110- Minor delays between the Maxwell Street ramp and the I-10 overpass from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, June 12 through Thursday, June 16. A slow moving vehicle will be used to place reflective pavement markers along the roadway.
- U.S. 98 east of Naval Hospital – FHP DUI Checkpoint, Friday, June 10, anticipate eastbound outside lane closures.
Santa Rosa County:
- I-10 Widening – Alternating lane closures, between the Escambia Bay Bridge and State Road (S.R.) 281 (Avalon Boulevard/Exit 22), from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, June 12 through Thursday, June 16 as crews continue widening work. In addition, alternating lane closures on Avalon Boulevard near the I-10 interchange for bridge work.
- I-10 Santa Rosa and Okaloosa Rest Area –Resurfacing entry/exit ramps of rest areas in Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties continues through Friday, June 17. Lane closures will be in effect 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Only one rest area in each county will be closed during paving operations. Variable message boards and the I-10 Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) will be used to alert drivers of the temporary closure.
- S.R. 281 (Avalon Boulevard)- Intermittent lane closures and slow moving operations from U.S. 98 to the toll bridge from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. continuing through Thursday, June 30 as crews perform striping operations. There will be no work performed Friday through Sunday.
- S.R. 87 and S.R. 89 from S.R. 4 to the Alabama line – Intermittent and alternating lane closures and slow moving operations from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. continuing through Friday, July 15 as crews perform striping operations.
- U.S. 98 – Crews will perform striping operations and install raised pavement markers (RPMs) from the Pensacola Bay Bridge to Central Parkway (approximately nine miles) Sunday through Thursday nights through Thursday, June 30. Motorists may encounter minor traffic delays from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.
- S.R. 399 over U.S. 98 – Overnight repairs to the S.R. 399 southbound overpass over U.S. 98 will be in place from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. throughout the project. U.S. 98 will be reduced to one lane in each direction from Shoreline Drive to just east of S.R. 399 to allow westbound U.S. 98 traffic to be diverted to eastbound U.S. 98. Westbound U.S. 98 access to S.R. 399 will be closed. An on-site detour will direct traffic to turn left on Daniel Street, left on Shoreline Drive and then right on eastbound U.S. 98 to access S.R. 399 via the at grade on ramp.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or re-scheduled in the event of inclement weather. Drivers are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling in a work zone and to watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway.
Century, Flomaton To Present Annual Fireworks Show
June 12, 2016
The annual fireworks show presented by the towns of Century and Flomaton will return again this year. The show has been scheduled for Sunday night, July 3.
The show alternates each year between the two towns…this year’s show will be at Showalter Park in Century at “dark”.
The $5,000 show cost is split between the towns. The show is being held on July 3, according to Century Mayor Freddie McCall, because it would have cost $10,000 if held on the July 4 holiday.
Pictured: Last year’s fireworks show in Flomaton. NorthEscambia.com file photos by Ditto Gorme, click to enlarge.