Details Released On Alabama Shooting
March 11, 2009
Alabama authorities have released more details about a shooting that left 10 people — including the suspect’s own mother and girlfriend — dead in South Alabama. The Alabama Department of Public Safety issued the following statement:
State, federal and local investigators responding to the multiple homicides March 10 in south Alabama are piecing together the sequence of events that resulted in the shooting deaths of 10 victims, the injury of six individuals, and the death of the suspect from a self-inflicted gunshot. Investigators also are working to determine a motive for the deadly attacks.
The gunman has been identified as Michael Kenneth McLendon, 28, of Coffee County.
We believe the attacks began at McLendon’s mother’s residence in Coffee County on County Road 474 in Kinston, where McLendon also lived. The body of a woman was discovered at the residence at approximately 3:30 p.m. when local firefighters responded to witness reports of a fire at that location. The Department of Forensic Sciences is working to confirm the identity, but the victim is believed to be Lisa White McLendon, 52, McLendon’s mother.
McLendon then traveled to Samson in Geneva County, where he shot and killed five individuals on the front porch of his uncle’s residence on West Pullum Street. The victims are identified as:
- Corrine Gracy Myers, 18 months, the daughter of Geneva County Deputy Josh Myers
- Andrea D. Myers, 31, mother of the 18-month-old and wife of Deputy Myers
- James Alford White, 55, identified as McLendon’s uncle
- Tracy Michelle Wise, 34, identified as McLendon’s cousin
- Dean James Wise, 15, identified as Ms. Wise’s son and McLendon’s second cousin
Injured at that residence was 4-month-old Ella K. Myers, the daughter of Deputy Myers. Ella was transported by LifeFlight to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola. This morning she was listed in stable condition and scheduled for surgery.
McLendon then shot and killed Virginia E. White, 74, identified as McLendon’s grandmother, who was standing in the doorway of her home on Pullum Street, next door to the residence where the first attack occurred.
McLendon then left Pullum Street, traveling north on Wise Street in a red 2003 Mitsubishi. On Wise Street, McLendon shot and killed a pedestrian, James Irvin Starling, 24. McLendon continued north onto Main Street in Samson, where he shot and injured Jeffrey Lynn Nelson, 50. McLendon then traveled to the Inland Gas Station on Main Street in Samson, where he shot and killed Sonja Smith, 43. Injured at that location was Greg McCullough, 49. McLendon continued traveling east on Alabama 52, firing rounds into several businesses and vehicles as he drove.
At 4:01 p.m. CDT, an Alabama state trooper notified the Dothan State Trooper Post that he had received a report of a subject shooting at people in Samson, and the trooper proceeded toward Samson on Alabama 52. McLendon, traveling east on Highway 52 toward Geneva, then shot and killed Bruce Wilson Malloy, 51, who was traveling in a vehicle on 52.
At 4:06 p.m. CDT, the Alabama state trooper encountered McLendon on Alabama 52,and McLendon fired at least seven rounds into the trooper’s vehicle. The trooper, Mike Gillis, was injured slightly by broken glass, and continued the pursuit on McLendon into Geneva.
The Geneva Police Department attempted to stop McLendon using a PIT, or pursuit intervention maneuver, in front of the Wal-Mart in Geneva. McLendon fired several rounds into the officer’s vehicle, injuring him with glass fragments. Geneva Police Chief Frankie Lindsey attempted to block McLendon’s exit from the area, at which time McLendon fired several rounds at the chief. Chief Lindsey was wounded in the shoulder.
McLendon continued on Highway 52, turned onto Maple Avenue in Geneva, and then onto Highway 27 north. He stopped at Reliable Products in Geneva at 4:17 p.m., where he exited his vehicle. McLendon exchanged fire with a Geneva County deputy and a state Conservation officer before entering the Reliable Products building. Within minutes, gunshots were heard, and McLendon was discovered dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
McLendon was employed at Kelley Foods of Alabama. We have identified that in 2003, he was briefly employed as a police officer in Samson, but failed to complete required training at the police academy in Montgomery. He had no known criminal record.
McLendon was armed with two assault rifles, an SKS and a Bushmaster, using high-capacity magazines taped together; a shotgun; and a .38-caliber handgun. At this time we believe that he fired in excess of 200 rounds during the assaults.
In addition to the Alabama Department of Public Safety, agencies participating in the investigation are the Geneva County Sheriff’s Department, Geneva Police Department, Samson Police Department, Coffee County Sheriff’s Department, Dothan Police Department, Dale County Sheriff’s Department, Andalusia Police Department, Covington County Sheriff’s Department, New Brockton Police Department, Ozark Police Department, State Fire Marshal, Alabama Beverage Control Board, Conservation and Natural Resources, Department of Forensic Sciences, Emergency Management Agency, Alabama Power Company investigators, the FBI, ATF, and Ft. Rucker Police Department.
Immigrant Arrested For Arson
March 11, 2009
Atmore Police have arrested an immigrant for allegedly setting a house fire.
At 12:36 a.m. Wedneday, Atmore Police and the Atmore Fire Department responded to a 911 report of a fire at 105 Greer Avenue. When they arrived, they discovered that someone had apparently poured gasoline on parts of the house and yard and set the fire.
After a preliminary investigation, Agustin Hernandez, a 26-year-old Mexican immigrant who lives next door at 103 Greer Avenue, was named a suspect in the case, according to Atmore Police.
Hernandez was arrested and charged with arson in the first degree, a class A felony.
Atmore Police and the Atmore Fire Department will be assisting the State Fire Marshal’s Office in the investigation.
Suspect From Byrneville Manhunt Turns Himself In
March 11, 2009
Escambia County deputies have arrested Jedd Jackson Grimes — the man that deputies were unable to locate in a Friday afternoon manhunt that sent a local elementary school into a lock down. Meanwhile, the female in the vehicle with Grimes that was arrested Friday afternoon was released on bond Tuesday.
Grimes, 24, of Highway 168, Century, was arrested Tuesday by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department after he turned himself in, according to Sheriff’s Department spokesman Ted Roy.
Grimes was being held Wednesday in the Escambia County Jail without bond as a fugitive from justice. He was being held pending extradition to Escambia County, Ala., where authorities there have outstanding warrants for his arrest.
The search for Grimes started Friday afternoon when Lt. Carl Jones attempted to turn around and stop a small pickup truck occupied by Grimes and a female near 960 Byrneville Road just south of Byrneville Elementary School. Before Jones could make the traffic stop, Grimes fled the scene on foot into some nearby woods behind a house.
At one point shortly after the search began, Jones said Grimes actually called deputies to say that he was in a wooded area not far from where he had ditched his truck.
“But he was on the run and lying to us,” Jones said.
The Escambia County (Fla.) Sherrif’s Department, the Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Department and the Flomaton Police Department were involved in the search for Grimes along with tracking dogs from the Century Correctional Institute and Santa Rosa County. The nearly four-hour manhunt was called off late Friday afternoon with Grimes still on the run.
The female in truck, Teka Michelle Campbell, 32, of Pensacola, was taken into custody at the scene without incident. Deputies say she was wanted on a probation violation warrant on a petty theft charge from 2006.
Campbell was released Tuesday from the the county jail on a $2,500 bond that was set Tuesday morning by Escambia County Circuit Judge Joyce Williams. Campbell will be in court next on April 23 for a violation of probation hearing before Judge Williams.
Nearby Byrneville Elementary School was placed into lock down during the manhunt. Students were dismissed slowly at about the normal time Friday afternoon under the watchful eye of school employees and a deputy.
Pictured top: Suspect Teka Michelle Campbell is placed in a deputy’s cruiser Friday afternoon in Byrneville. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Dense Fog Advisory Extended Until Noon
March 11, 2009
The National Weather Service in Mobile extended a dense fog advisory until noon. Patchy dense fog remains around the area. Locations to the south are worse that most of North Escambia.
Areas of dense fog over the western Florida Panhandle will continue this morning. Visibilities in several locations will continue at less than one quarter of a mile for several hours.
“The fog is of the advective variety making it rather deep. It will therefore be more resistant to morning solar heating and will linger until around noon or shortly before,” the weather services says.
A dense fog advisory means visibilities will frequently be reduced to less than one quarter mile. If driving, slow down, use your headlights and leave plenty of distance ahead of you.
Bill To Provide Tax Credits To Get Jay Oil Flowing, Restore Jobs
March 11, 2009
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.
The state is expected to lose $5.2 million in revenue, but Evers said it would put people back to work, royalty checks back into the hands of property owners and contractors back on the job.
Evers said that if the bill is passed, it “would provide economic incentives, including temporary oil and gas production tax relief, for small field producers such as Quantum”.
“It is my hope that this small energy production investment incentive and tax relief package will help in creating and saving much-needed local Northwest Florida investment and jobs during these very challenging and difficult economic times,” Evers said.
About 70 people were left without a job when Quantum shutdown the Jay Oil Field.
Jay Field was purchased from Exxon and ConocoPhillips in 2007 for about $200 million. When oil prices soared earlier this year, company officials were quoted as being pleased with their return on the investment, even though they sold 75 percent of their rights in a bet against falling prices. The Jay Oil Field’s first crude flowed back in 1970 and was estimated to contain 100 million barrels, making it one of the largest discoveries in the history of U.S.
A similar bill has been introduced in the Florida Senate by Sen. Ken Pruitt.
Agencies Present Ag Info At Century Meeting
March 11, 2009
An agricultural community outreach program was held Tuesday in Century to introduce landowners and agricultural producers to a wide variety of services offered by agencies in Escambia County.
From the USDA-Natural Resources Service, Farm Service Agency, Escambia County, University of Florida/IFAS Extension, Florida Division of Forestry, the Escambia Soil and Water Conservation District and more, attendees learned about the county’s service agencies.
And the best part? Most of the services offered by the agencies are free.
“It’s almost all free,” Libbie Johnson said of the services offered by Escambia County Extension. “Almost everything we do is primarily free.”
At the Extension Service, Johnson works primarily on issues related to row crops, but she works with vegetables and even catfish ponds. The Extension Service also coordinates the annual Farm Tour each spring.
Carrie Stevenson, Florida Neighborhoods and Yards agent, works with landowners on landscaping and its impacts on downstream water sources. She also teaches how to conserve water, build a green room and even build a rain barrel for collecting rainwater for irrigation.
Angela Hinkle with the Expanded Food and Nutrition Program told the Century group that her program teaches nutritional skills to adults and children.
“Another huge part of what we teach is saving money and how to stretch those food dollars,” Hinkle said. One such way to save money on food, she said, is to purchase local produce when available.
“It helps the community continue to be able to grow,” she said.
Adam Parden, County Forester with the Florida Division of Forestry, told the group that his agency provides a variety of services. From managing wildfires, to forest management plans, to burn plans, to basic help with trees, the Division of Forestry offers a variety of services.
“If one of these agencies can’t help you when you call, we can pass you on to someone else who can,” said Josh McElhaney from the USDA, NRCS that helped coordinate Tuesday’s presentations in Century.
The Florida Division of Forestry office in Molino can be reached at 587-5123. The variety of other agencies mentioned in this article can be reached at 475-5230.
Pictured top: (L-R) Angela Hinkle, Carrie Stevenson and Libbie Johnson address an agricultural community outreach meeting in Century Tuesday. Pictured below: An agricultural community outreach meeting in Century. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Highway 97 Wreck Causes No Injuries
March 11, 2009
No one was injured in a two-vehicle accident Tuesday afternoon in Walnut Hill. A car and pickup truck collided at the intersection of Arthur Brown Road and Highway 97 just after 1 p.m. The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
State Representatives Want Input For Legislative Session
March 11, 2009
If you want to tell your state representative how you feel about area issues, there’s an easy way to do it.
A session survey is available online for Florida residents to express their opinions on everything from health care and education to immigration and insurance.
Florida House Rep. Dave Murzin mailed a copy of the 2009 Pre-Session Survey to constituents of House District 2.
“Since being elected in 2002, I have used a pre-session survey to solicit the thoughts and opinions of constituents about a variety of issues that could come before the legislature,” said Rep. Murzin. “I take the survey results seriously and keep them in mind as I conduct business in Pensacola and Tallahassee.”
The online version available for residents and other interested parties to complete can be found at www.flhouse.us.
The survey can also be completed by residents of House District 1, which includes North Escambia. The district is represented by Rep. Greg Evers.
All hard copy surveys received will be entered into this survey website so that results can be tabulated electronically. The survey results will also be posted on the same website. Constituents who submit the survey electronically and provide their email address will receive the results by email.
Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader? Try These Questions From The Actual Fifth Grade FCAT
March 11, 2009
As the FCAT continues today in schools across North Escambia, we thought we would help you waste a little time by playing a game of “Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?” with actual questions from past fifth grade FCATs.
Grab everybody around you and get ready. To play along and see how you might do on the fifth grade FCAT, you’ll need a piece of paper to record your answers to the following questions:
(1) Samantha baked a dessert for her class using the recipe shown below.
Samantha used the least amount of which ingredient?
CRANBERRY APPLE CRUNCH
- A. 3/4 cup chopped apples
- B. 1/2 cup oats
- C. 2/3 cup cranberry sauce
- D. 1/4 cup brown sugar
(2) Louie made 17 bag lunches for the school outing. If Louie
had made 4 more lunches, he would have made exactly
3 times as many bag lunches as Marc did. How many lunches did Marc make?
- A. 6
- B. 7
- C. 13
- D. 4
(3) Coach Neal is planning a track meet for 84 students. Each race has 3 teams,
with 4 runners on each team. How many races should Coach Neal plan so
that each student runs in exactly one race?
- A. 7
- B. 12
- C. 21
- D. 28
(4) Toshi wants to find out which after-school sport is most popular among all
the students at his elementary school. Which of these groups would be best
to survey in order to get this information?
- A. all students at the school
- B. all teachers at the school
- C. all fifth grade students at the school
- D. all parents of the students at the school
(5) The 1927 legislative session designated the mockingbird as the state bird of
Florida. The bird is about 10 inches long and has a wingspan of 15 inches.
Which fraction represents the mockingbird’s length compared to
its wingspan?
- A. 1/5
- B. 2/15
- C. 2/3
- D. 3/2
(6) Angie is flying to London, England, on a plane departing at 2:00 p.m. She is
required to be at the airport one and a half hours before the departure time and it takes her 45 minutes to get from her house to the airport. What is the latest time
Angie can leave her house to arrive at the airport at the required time?
- A. 11:45 am
- B. 12:30 am
- C. 1:15 pm
- D. 4:15 pm
(7) Melanie measured the mass of the textbooks in her backpack. Which unit of
measure best describes the mass of the textbooks?
- A. 3 grams
- B. 3 kilograms
- C. 3 metric tons
- D. 3 milligrams
(8) Marchelle built a rectangular wooden picture frame. The frame has a
perimeter of 130 inches and a width of 30 inches.
What is the height, in inches, of the picture frame?
- A. 30 inches
- B. 35 inches
- C. 10 inches
- D. 13 inches
(9) Sonya has to write the greatest four-digit number she can think of by
following these three rules:
1. Any digit 0 through 9 may be used.
2. Any digit may be used only once.
3. There must be an 8 in the tens place.
What is the greatest number Sonya could write by following the three rules?
- A. 9876
- B. 9786
- C. 8796
- D. 9867
For the next two questions, read the two selections in blue.
Betsy Brandon Meets the Betsy Brandon Meets the President
by M.V. Pollock
There was a flurry of excitement in the Brandon household early one morning in
1791. It was the day that General Washington, the president, was supposed to visit
Salisbury, North Carolina. For most of the people, it would be their only chance to
see anyone so important. Everybody planned to be there. Everybody, it seemed,
except fourteen-year-old Betsy, the oldest child of Squire Richard Brandon’s
family. Betsy had to stay at home to finish the chores.
“Ha! Betsy won’t get to see the president,” teased the younger children as they
climbed into the family buggy. Betsy tried to hide her disappointment as they rode
away.
But Betsy was not one to mope. She returned to the kitchen and washed the
breakfast dishes and swept the floor. Then she took her bonnet from the hook on
the back of the door. She was going outside to feed the chickens. But what was
that rumbling noise? It sounded like wheels, but not like those of her father’s
buggy. It seemed to come from the opposite direction.
Betsy hurried to the front door and peeked out. Her eyes grew wide. Coming
down the road that passed in front of the house was the most beautiful coach she
had ever seen. It was pale ivory and trimmed in gold.
As it came near, Betsy felt herself drawn down the pathway to get a better
view. The coach was decorated with elaborate scenes that reminded Betsy of the
four seasons. And it bore an impressive emblem, like a coat of arms.
Suddenly the driver pulled on the reins. “Whoa!” he said loudly. The ornate
harnesses tinkled musically as the four fine horses halted right in front of the gate
where Betsy stood.
Fearful, Betsy wanted to run, but she felt as if her feet were glued to the path.
The door of the coach opened, and a tall, handsome man in uniform stepped down.
He was almost as tall as her father. He tipped his hat and nodded in her direction.
Then another, even more handsome man stepped out. He was white haired and at
least six-feet-four. Surely they were men of importance on their way to Salisbury
to see the president.
“Good morning, miss,” said the white-haired man. His face was stern and
deeply lined, but his blue eyes were warm and friendly.
“Good morning, sir.” Betsy’s voice quavered when she spoke.
“Is your father home?”
“No, sir.”
“Is your mother home?”
As Betsy shook her head, her golden braids moved back and forth. “My family
all went to Salisbury to see the president,” she explained.
“Did you not wish to see the president, too?” The voice was kind.
“Oh yes, sir,” Betsy replied. “I wanted to see the president more than anything,
but I must stay here to do the chores.”
The two men exchanged amused glances. “If you will prepare breakfast for us,
I promise you will see the president before any of the others.”
Thinking that the president would soon pass by on his way to Salisbury, Betsy
hurried into the kitchen. She prepared a delicious breakfast, which the two men
seemed to enjoy.
They thanked her and prepared to leave. Betsy asked, “Sir, when my family
returns, to whom shall I say I served breakfast?”
The white-haired man climbed inside the coach. Leaning out the window he
smiled. “Just tell them you served breakfast to President Washington and his aide,”
he said. And the coach rolled away in clouds of dust.
Washington by Nancy Byrd Turner
He played by the river when he was young,
He raced with rabbits along the hills,
He fished for minnows, and climbed and swung,
And hooted back at the whippoorwills.1
Strong and slender and tall he grew —
And then, one morning, the bugles blew.
Over the hills the summons came,
Over the river’s shining rim.
He said that the bugles called his name,
He knew that his country needed him,
And he answered, “Coming!” and marched away
For many a night and many a day.
Perhaps when the marches were hot and long
He’d think of the river flowing by
Or, camping under the winter sky,
Would hear the whippoorwill’s far-off song.
Boy or soldier, in peace or strife,
He loved America all his life!
(10) Based on the story and the poem, how was Washington’s life as a child
different from Betsy Brandon’s life?
- A. Washington played by the river, but Betsy played at home.
- B. Washington practiced marching, but Betsy prepared tasty meals.
- C. Washington practiced birdcalls, but Betsy listened for passing coaches.
- D. Washington spent his days playing, but Betsy spent her days helping at home.
(11) Which event from the story FIRST prepares the reader for something
unexpected to happen?
- A. Betsy watched the family buggy leave.
- B. The coach stopped in front of the house.
- C. Betsy wondered what the rumbling noise was.
- D. People were excited about seeing an important man.
(12) Read this sentence from the story.
As it came near, Betsy felt herself drawn down the pathway to get a
better view.
In which sentence below does the word view have the same meaning as it
does in “Betsy Brandon Meets the President”?
- A. Direct your view to the second picture on the left.
- B. The report clearly states the writer’s point of view.
- C. The defense lawyer’s speech affected the judge’s view of the situation.
- D. The guests can get a view of the garden by looking out of the window.
(13) The author of the story describes Washington as having a face that is “stern
and deeply lined” and eyes that are “warm and friendly.” What does this lead
the reader to believe?
- A. Washington was always polite to others, even when he was worried.
- B. Washington’s experiences in life had made him tough, but he remained akind person.
- C. Washington was difficult to know because his looks were so different from his personality.
- D. Washington’s hardships as a soldier made him older than he really was, but he continued to serve his country.
(14) Read these lines from the poem “Washington.”
He said that the bugles called his name,
He knew that his country needed him,
The poet includes these lines to show that Washington
- A. heard the sounds of nature.
- B. wanted to travel the country.
- C. played a musical instrument.
- D. felt patriotic toward his country.
(15) Read these lines from the poem “Washington.”
Perhaps when the marches were hot and long
He’d think of the river flowing by
The poet includes these lines to suggest that whenever Washington felt weary
and tired, he would
- A. find shade by a river.
- B. cool himself in a river.
- C. change his travel route to follow a river.
- D. recall a childhood experience about a river.
That concludes our questions from last year’s actual fifth grade FCAT. Now it is time to grade yourself. Click here for the answer key.
Just so you know…we picked the “easier” multiple choice questions. We did not use the math questions, for instance, where you had to draw geometric figures or show and explain your work.
If you’d like to let us know how you did, add a comment at the bottom of the article.
For the entire fifth grade reading FCAT, click here for the test, or click here for the test with answers.
For the entire fifth grade math FCAT, click here for the test, or click here for the test with answers.
Pictured above: Students at Carver/Century K-8 School just before taking the FCAT.
Adam’s Story: One Of The Few Deaf Firefighters In US
March 10, 2009
North Santa Rosa County firefighter Adam Bondurant has never really heard a call for help. Deaf and a young man of few words, Adam has spoken volumes about being a volunteer firefighter and community service.
“Grandpa, I’m going to be a firefighter like you when I grow up,” a young Adam would sign to his grandfather when the two would drive by the Munson VFD. Adam was born deaf, so his firefighter dream seemed a bit unlikely. He spent much of his young life in and out of hospitals due to a rare medical condition.
Adam’s family knew that his dream would never become a reality; his family was unsure if he would live into his teen years.
But nobody told Adam. He wanted to be like his grandpa.
Back in 1972, a fire destroyed Munson’s school. That’s when the community knew it was time for their own volunteer fire department.
Albert “Sonny” VonAxelson Jr., who would serve 15 years working his way up to chief of the department, was Adam’s grandpa. VonAxelson and Tommy Grice were the two community leaders behind the formation of the Munson Volunteer Fire Department.
“He has always talked about being a firefighter, and even though we have always pushed and encouraged him, I still keep a reality check on what Adam can actually do. I do not want Adam to ever be a burden or hindrance to anyone or any situation,” Adam’s mother Becky Bondurant said.
At the age of 11, Adam was taken to New Orleans for a surgical procedure where he received a cochlear implant to possibly give him a small chance of hearing some sounds. As a teenager, his speech and vocabulary were limited. He spent all his younger years in private schools, as well as school speech therapy. He also spent many years in physical therapy.
But all along, he still dreamed the dream of being a firefighter.
“If we would have only known that the best therapy Adam could ever receive was one mile from home, life sure would have been easier for all of us,” said mom Becky.
That therapy came from the fulfillment of a dream as Adam became a volunteer with the fire department.
Adam Bondurant, 20, is one of only about 50 deaf certified firefighters in the United States. He recently obtained State of Florida Firefighter One Competency Certification, and he is currently enrolled in the EMT program at Pensacola Junior College.
The lifelong resident of the north Santa Rosa County community of Munson has volunteered with the Munson VFD for about two years.
“I knew that he was very task orientated and organized, so I thought that when he joined the department at the age of 18, he would surely only mow grass or wash the trucks,” mom Becky Bondurant said. “Adam’s whole life was high school and helping with the athletic department. Adam had never had many friendships, and had never been invited to other friend’s homes. Even at church, he was left out.”
But at the fire department, Adam is family.
“He truly has a life of his own within the fire department. His speech and vocabulary has developed so much since he joined. It’s so amazing,” his mom said.
In order to pass the firefighter certification, Adam had to participate in a live burn. He did not tell his mom when he was going so that she would not worry.
“I did not know how hard many of the members were working to see if Adam could physically go into the burn, or if his cochlear implant would melt under the heat. I feel bad that so many people had to do so much leg work to get Adam ready for the live burn,” she said. “I have always taken responsibility for Adam, but he has found friends that he trusts in the fire department. He said he didn’t tell me so that I wouldn’t worry, he knows me well.”
Volunteer firemen are dispatched by pagers that provide information about emergency calls. Adam is unable to hear his pagers. He is able to feel them vibration when he is wearing them. At night, he sleeps with his pagers in the bed with him so he can feel the vibrations and answer calls.
It’s hard to stop Adam.
He hopes to one day work his way up to the assistant chief’s job once held by his grandfather. He hopes to obtain his Firefighter II and EMT certifications, allowing him to get a job as a paid firefighter. He is thinking about getting his paramedic degree.
Adam truly has the heart of a volunteer fireman. On Valentine’s Day he heard a sound he had never heard before — the human heart.
He had purchased a new set of stethoscopes designed for the hearing impaired. His heartbeat was the first that he had ever heard.
“Every day that we spend with Adam is a learning experience. We as a department, are truly blessed to have him on our team,” Trish Baggett, a captain with the Munson VFD, said.
“I have always dreamed of becoming a firefighter since I was a little boy, but people told me that I couldn’t be a firefighter due to my deafness. I hope that I have proven myself. It has been a challenge, but I hope I have earned the respect of others,” Adam said.
“After that statement, I realized that it was us, not Adam, who was handicapped,” Baggett said.
Trish Baggett contributed to this story.
Pictured above and below: Firefighter Adam Bondurant, one of the few deaf certified firefighters in America. Submitted photos by Trish Baggett exclusively for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
