Woman Charged With Animal Cruelty
February 27, 2008
A Cantonment woman has been arrested and charged with felony cruelty to animals in connection with a colt found hanging from a sling in a barn.
A 5-month-old colt named “Miracle Man” was rescued by Panhandle Equine Rescue January 29 when he was found suspended from the rafter in an attempt to get it off an injured leg.
Iris Rose Fortner, 51, of De Soto Road, Cantonment, was arrested on the cruelty charge because she failed for seek medical attention for Miracle Man. Her bond was set at $2,500.
PER investigators received an anonymous tip about Miracle Man in the Cantonment area. Fortner contacted a veterinarian at PER’s insistence. But the veterinarian was unable to do a complete exam because the horse’s owner could not afford the needed x-rays, according to Lowery.
Fortner voluntarily surrendered the colt to investigators, and he was immediately taken to the veterinarian where he was hospitalized. Miracle Man suffered a variety of serious medical problems as a result of hanging from the makeshift sling, she said.
“The attending vet says his life can be saved, but he wouldn’t have lasted another day or two in the conditions he was living in,” Lowery told NorthEscambia.com back on January 30. “The vet reported to us this morning that he stood on his own all night and is eating and drinking.”
Donations are being accepted to help defray the cost of Miracle Man’s veterinarian bills. Donations can be mailed to Panhandle Equine Rescue, P.O. Box 777, Cantonment, FL. 32533. All donations are tax deductible.
Pictured above: Submitted photo of “Miracle Man”, a 5 month old colt rescued by Panhandle Equine Rescue. Click the photo to enlarge.
WARNING: Some readers may find the enlarged photo to be disturbing.
This is a follow up to a story NorthEscambia.com first reported on January 31.
Century And Flomaton Chambers Hand Out Annual Awards At Banquet
February 26, 2008
The annual Flomaton and Century Joint Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet was held Tuesday night in Flomaton, Alabama. Multiple awards, including Outstanding Citizens of the Year for each town, were given. Scroll down the page for photos of each winner along with a description of their award.
Jerry Fischer, pictured center above, was named the Century Outstanding Citizen of the Year. He served 24 years as a town councilman. He has been active with the Century Recreation Association, the Lions Club, the cleaning of Escambia River, the Alger-Sullivan Historical Society and much more.
Mr. and Mrs. John Folsom, pictured above, were named the Flomaton Outstanding Citizens of the Year.
Terri Sanders and her Country Bumpkin were named the Century Outstanding Business of the Year. The Country Bumpkin began as a small craft shop in 1991. It closed 10 years later in 2001 when Sanders decided to walk the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine to raise funds for the Rotary International PolioPlus Program. Her walked raised over $5,000 for the program. She returned to Century and the Country Bumpkin, opening the Tea Room inside the business. It served items such as homemade fudge, fresh baked goods and hand-dipped ice cream. She is active in the Tri City Rotary Club, the Health and Hope Clinic in Pensacola and the American Red Cross. Pictured above: Sanders receives her award from Benny Barnes of the Century Chamber.
Brantley Contractors were named the Flomaton Outstanding Business of the Year. Pictured above: Helen, Joe and Dave Brantley receive their award from Larry White (second from left).
Jessica Born, pictured above, was name the Century Outstanding Student of the Year. The Northview High School student is currently dual-enrolled at Pensacola Junior College.
Tara Brown from Flomaton High School was named the Flomaton Outstanding Student of the Year. Pictured above: Brown receives her award from Bo Brantley.
Molino Highway 97 Accident Injures Two Tuesday AM
February 26, 2008
Two people were injured in a two vehicle accident on Highway 97 just north of the Dixie Feed Store in Molino Tuesday morning.
The Florida Highway Patrol says Elisha J. Tyler, 50, of Molino and Tina M. Vickery, 53, of Cantonment were seriously injured in the crash. They were transported by ambulance to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola. Lifeflight was originally called to the scene, but was unable to respond due to weather. Firefighters used the Jaws of Life to extricate both drivers.
The accident happened just before 8:00 about a tenth of a mile north of Abromovich Lane. Witnesses and the FHP say that Tyler’s vehicle was headed southbound on Highway 97 when she hit standing water in the roadway and spun across into the wrong lane. Tyler’s vehicle, visibly crushed over halfway into the middle, landed on its side off the highway after being struck by Vickery’s northbound vehicle. Witnesses say it was raining heavily at the time of the crash.
Vickery was in a car belonging to the Escambia County School system.
Charges are pending, according to the FHP. Both drivers were wearing their seatbelts.
For more exclusive NorthEscambia.com pictures from the accident scene, click here.
Pictured above: The van involved in Tuesday morning’s Highway 97 accident in Molino. Pictured below: the car involved in the accident. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos. Click to enlarge.
Two Vehicle Crash On Highway 97 In Walnut Hill Monday Afternoon
February 26, 2008
Two people were injured in a Monday afternoon accident on Highway 97 in Walnut Hill. The accident happened about 5:10 along Highway 97 just south of County Road 164.
The Florida Highway Patrol says 22 year old Jade Supapo of Pensacola was traveling southbound on Highway 97 in a 2008 Nissan Altima when she failed to negotiate a curve south of County Road 164 and spun into the southbound lane.
Northbound Brenda Ekstrom, 58, of Walnut Hill drove her 2005 Lincoln Aviator into the ditch in an attempt to miss the spinning vehicle. The rear of the Altima struck the front of the Aviator. in the ditch The Altima continued about 100 feet in one direction, while the Aviator came to rest about 100 feet in the other direction.
The Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department was forced to use the Jaws of Life to free Supapo from the Altima. She was transported to Atmore Community Hospital by ambulance. Her injuries were minor, according to the FHP.
Ekstrom suffered minor injuries and was taken to Atmore Community Hospital by a private vehicle. There were three passengers, ages 8, 10 and 11, in Ekstrom’s vehicle. They suffered only very minor injuries.
Charges are pending according to the FHP. All occupants of Ekstrom’s vehicle were wearing their seatbelts, but Supapo was not, according to the crash report.
Pictured above: Firefighters work to remove the Jade Supapo from her 2008 Nissan Altima following a two car collision on Highway 97 Monday afternoon. Pictured below: The Lincoln Aviator and the Altima landed some distance apart. Pictured bottom of page: Damage to the Altima was extensive. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos. Click to enlarge.
Molino Churches View Tornado Video Sunday AM
February 24, 2008
A week after a devastating EF-1 tornado hit Molino, things were continuing to return to normal as much as possible Sunday morning. Hundreds of worshipers at Highland Baptist Church and Victory Assembly of God in Molino viewed a video Sunday morning looking back at images from last week’s tornado.
The twister passed over Highland Baptist Church last Sunday just as their morning worship service was ending, ripping the steeple off the top of the sanctuary and slamming it into parked cars in the parking lot.
Exactly a week later, worshipers at Highland ended this Sunday morning’s service by gathering together at the altar to view the video. Some cried. Some hugged others around them. Some raised their hands in praise as the video played.
The soundtrack to the video was “Praise You In This Storm” by the Christian group Casting Crowns. It included dozens of NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos shot shortly after last week’s tornado as well as during the week. There were also NorthEscambia.com reader submitted photos of the actual tornado and photos by Highland Baptist in the video.
The theme of the video was praising God in spite of the storm. It was produced by NorthEscambia.com. It can be viewed by clicking on the image above.
Hundreds Attend Annual Ruritan Farm Auction
February 24, 2008
The annual Walnut Hill Ruritan Club farm equipment auction was held Saturday in Walnut Hill. Items sold included farm equipment, lawn and garden equipment, vehicles, household items and more. The sale is held each year on the last Saturday of February. About 200 buyers registered for the event.
All proceeds benefit the Ruritan’s community service projects in the Walnut Hill area.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the event, click here.
Century Teaspoon Festival Celebrated Heritage Saturday With Bands, Choirs And Ballet
February 24, 2008
The second annual Teaspoon Heritage Festival was held Saturday in Century. There were live choirs, bands, special shows by Ballet Pensacola, food and more.
The festival celebrated the heritage of African slaves that escaped from Colonial plantations in the Carolinas and Georgia to settle in the community of Teaspoon, now modern day Century.
The free festival was sponsored by The Teaspoon Foundation and New Life Baptist Church.
For a complete NorthEscambia.com photo gallery of the Teaspoon Festival, click here.
Dogwood Park Baptist Holding Weekend Revival, Youth Event
February 23, 2008
A weekend revival will continue Sunday at Dogwood Park Baptist Church with Evangelist Rick Ingle, and music by Paul and Christy Newberry.
Ingle has a Doctorate of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Seminary. He has conducted of 1,300 revival campaigns, including revivals at five of the top 10 churches in the Southern Baptist Convention.
Ingle is the author of seven books, including If I Had Ministry to Live Over I Would…”. His testimony has been broadcast worldwide on over 400 radio stations.
Since 1981, the Newberrys have ministered through music at over 1,000 churches throughout the United States. They spent 42 of the 52 weeks of 2007 on the road in their ministry.
Sunday services will be at 10:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
For more information, contact Dogwood Park Baptist at 587-2617. The church is located on Highway 97, about six miles north of Highway 29.
Molino Boys Play Soccer In Recent Pensacola Classic
February 22, 2008
Ryan Mims (right) and Matt Urbanavage (left) from Molino play soccer for the Pensacola Football Club. This picture was taken at the Pensacola Classic February 16-17. They are on the U10 Academy team. Submitted photo from Sherri Mims.
You too can submit photos and stories by emailing them to news@northescambia.com
Northview High School Holds Black History Month Programs
February 22, 2008
“Rising above our obstacles” was the theme of the annual Black History Month program Friday at Northview High School.
“Everything one learns in the classroom will help later in life”, Greenville, Alabama, Councilman Jeddo Bell told the Northview freshmen and sophomore classes. “Are you setting goals for what will happen tomorrow?”
Bell (pictured left) read a list of prominent and historic black Americans to the students…Martin Luther King, Jr., George Washington Carver, Tiger Woods, Booker T. Washington and others.
He said he once asked a student who the student would like to “be like” as an adult. The student pointed out that no one had yet cured cancer or found the solution to world peace.
“‘I don’t want to be be like anyone else, I want to be myself’,” Bell quoted the student.
“You might not want to be like someone else; you might want to be like yourself,” he said. “The ball is in your court. You can be whatever you want to be. You just have to make up your mind to do it.”
Bell is a retired educator from the Butler County (Alabama) Schools, where he taught alongside Northview Principal Gayle Weaver. He currently works at LBW Community College and serves as vice mayor for the City of Greenville.
Earlier in the day, the junior and senior classes at Northview attended a similar program with Jarl T. Young, CIO and regional information technician for the Gulf Power division of the Southern Company. Young joined Southern Company in 1989 in the marketing organization at Gulf Power. Since then, he has held a variety of leadership positions in the marketing organization and was Gulf Power’s Pensacola district manager before assuming his current role.
Both programs included a variety of entertainment, including poetry reading, a slide show presentation, a mime show and a live music video. The annual event was sponsored by Northview’s Minority Culture Club under the direction of Annie Gilmore.
For more photos from Friday’s program, click here.
