Photo Gallery: Chief Fans Hold Pep Rally
November 18, 2011
The Northview Chiefs held a pep rally Thursday night on the school campus, complete with a bonfire and rolling trees Toomer’s Corner style with toilet paper.
The pep rally is in advance of the Chiefs’ playoff game at 7:30 tonight in Bratt against Wewahitckha.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured: The Northview Chiefs hold a pep rally Thursday night at the school. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
C. Wilson Johnson
November 18, 2011
C. Wilson Johnson, age 80, passed away Wednesday, November 16, 2011, in Atmore. He was a native of Neshoba County, MS, and a resident of Atmore for most of his life. Wilson was owner of Johnson Timber Company and best remembered as an outdoorsman and cane-maker/log-puller at Williams Station Days. He loved horses, dogs, people, and “the woods”.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ethel and Carlene Johnson, and two sisters, Ethelyn Stribling and Frances Hewitt.
Wilson is survived by his wife of 59 years, Carole Johnson; two sisters, Corrine Brister and Ellen Kahl; one brother, Rodney Johnson; a son and daughter-in-law, Jim and Julie Johnson; and two grandsons and a grand daughter-in-law, Matt and Anne Johnson and Drew Johnson.
A graveside service was held on Friday, November 18, 2011 at from Oak Hill Cemetery.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Molino Park Presents ‘On The Radio’, Collects 2,900 Food Items For The Needy (With Gallery)
November 18, 2011
Students at Molino Park Elementary School collected over 2,900 food items during a drive to held the needy in the Molino area at Thanksgiving and Christmas.
The school partnered with Aldersgate United Methodist Church for a “Help our Neighbor’ food drive. The items collected by Molino Park will distributed in the community along with turkeys and hams from Aldersgate.
Venetia Fountain’s class was first place in the food drive, donating over 800 items.
The students wrapped up the food drive with a fourth grade performance of “On the Radio” Thursday, under the direction of music teacher Twinette McDonald.
For a photo gallery from “On The Radio”, click here.
Pictured top: “On the Radio” Thursday night at Molino Park Elementary School. NorthEscambia.com photo by Sara Calhoun. Pictured below: Over 2,900 food items donated by MPES students and staff, submitted photo by Sandra Greenwell.
In Hot Pursuit 5K Raises Cash For Youth Ranches
November 18, 2011
The recent Escambia County Sheriff’s Office “In Hot Pursuit 5K” raised $8,882.43 for the Florida Sheriff’s Youth Ranches. Over 230 runners and walkers took part in the annual 5K on Pensacola Beach. Pictured: Sheriff David Morgan presents the 5K proceeds to John Szaroleta of Florida Sheriff’s Youth Ranches. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
No Charges To Be Filed In Equestrian Center Hiring
November 17, 2011
The State Attorney’s Office announced this afternoon that no criminal charges will be filed against Escambia County Commissioner Wilson Robertson or any other person as a result of a the hiring process at the Escambia County Equestrian Center.
Robertson was accused of becoming overly involved in the hiring of Forest Gibbs as an Equestrian Center manager, possibly influencing the process. There were also allegations made that Robertson was involved in getting Gibbs a salary that was higher than advertised $44,000.
Robertson, Gibbs and about eight other witnesses were interviewed as part of the investigation, according to the State Attorney’s Office.
Robertson said eight of about 60 applicants for the job were selected an interviewed by the selection committee. After the committee selected Gibbs, Robertson said he contacted Assistant County Administrator Larry Newsome and the county attorney “to remind them of the budget the county had created and approved, including the starting salary of $60,000.00 plus benefits per year.”
There was no attempt to to influence the candidate chosen for the position, Robertson said.
Gibbs was removed from his position at the Equestrian Center so that the position could be re-advertised under the watchful eye of County Administrator Randy Oliver.
The commission also approved policies that will prevent any commissioner from being as a job reference for a county job, and prevent commissioner from speaking to the human resource department or selection committee about an applicant until an offer is accepted.
Gulf Coast Soldier Killed in Afghanistan
November 17, 2011
Another Gulf Coast soldier has been killed in Afghanistan. Pfc. Matthew C. Colin of Navarre was serving in the U.S. Army as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Details surrounding his death have not yet been released. His remains arrived at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware Thursday afternoon.
Car Found In Ravine Long After Apparent Traffic Crash
November 17, 2011
A car was discovered in a deep ravine Thursday morning, apparently weeks or even months after a traffic crash.
The car was spotted by a passerby in a ravine parallel to railroad tracks on South Highway 99 at Highway 97A in Bay Springs. Area fire departments and an ambulance were dispatched because the caller was unable to advise anything other than that the airbags had deployed on the vehicle.
Firefighters discovered that the 1999 Chevrolet Monte Carlo had been in the ravine perhaps for a long period of time; brush and small trees had grown around the vehicle. A search did not find any human remains in or near the vehicle.
It appeared that the driver of the vehicle was headed south on South Highway 99 and failed to negotiate a 90-degree turn.
The incident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
Pictured: This Chevrolet Monte Carlo was discovered deep in a ravine Thursday morning, apparently a long time after a traffic crash. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia To Purchase Land Where Trash Inadvertently Buried
November 17, 2011
Escambia County is set to purchase about 15 acres of land in North Escambia where trash was inadvertently buried over 20 years ago.
The county will pay RMS Timberlands $52,879 for the 14.81 acres along Camp Road and Pine Barren Road. The property is adjacent to the former county-owned Camp V Landfill, which closed in June 1988, and a current Escambia County Road Camp.
According to county documents, “It is confirmed that during operational activities, municipal waste was inadvertently buried outside defined waste limits onto adjacent property to the south. In addition, there are documented groundwater impacts associated with same property.”
RMS Timberlands attempted to sell the property to Gulf Power as part of the 4,000 acres the utility is acquiring in the area for a potential nuclear power plant. Due to the waste and groundwater issues, Gulf Power declined to purchase the property and turned to Escambia County to buy the land.
Purchasing the property will allow Escambia County to continue monitoring activities under Florida Department of Environmental Protection regulations.
The Escambia County Commission is expected to approve the purchase at their regular meeting Thursday night.
Pictured top: The property to be purchased by Escambia County is near the county road camp at Camp and Bratt Roads. Pictured inset: This NorthEscambia.com graphic shows the property bounded by Camp Road to the east, Pine Barren Road and Breastworks Road to the south.
Century Man Arrested After Short Foot Chase
November 17, 2011
A Century man was apprehended after a short foot chase Wednesday night.
Justin Wayne Kyles, age 20 of Zion Street, reportedly ran from deputies near the intersection of North Century Boulevard and Pond Street about 7:30 p.m.. He was taken into custody a short distance away near Hudson Hill Road.
Kyles was arrested on an outstanding violation of probation warrant. He is also facing additional charges of possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia related to cash and small bags of marijuana found following the chase.
Kyles was booked into the Escambia County Jail without bond.
Charges Dropped Against Man Accused In Dumbbell Attack
November 17, 2011
Charges have been dropped Century man accused of beating a man with a dumbbell weight in the parking lot of a local convenience store.
Sammy Maurice Myles, 25, of old Flomaton Road, was charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon after the incident May 30 at the Century Kwick Stop at 8130 North Century Boulevard.
The charges were dropped as a result of the victim’s unwillingness to prosecute, according to the State Attorney’s Office.
The victim’s wife told Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies that the couple was in their car outside the store when the three men approached them. One allegedly hit her twice in the head, breaking her glasses. Myles allegedly began to beat the husband in the head with the dumbbell weight. The husband claimed that he began to fight back in self defense, at which time the other two men began to hit him.
Both victims were transported to a local hospital by ambulance for treatment of their injuries.
Myles, when questioned later by deputies at the Century Sheriff’s Office precinct, was observed to have a swollen eye and busted lip. He told deputies the husband and wife had jumped him earlier in the evening on Pond Street in Century. He said he had gone to the convenience store to get ice for his eye, at which time the husband and wife jumped him.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report does not specify how many pounds the dumbbell weight was.