Another Stabbing Reported At Holman Prison
March 14, 2016
For an update to this story, click here.
[Update 11:35 a.m.]An inmate on inmate stabbing took place this morning at Holman Prison in Atmore.
Alabama Department of Corrections spokesman Bob Horton said the assault happened at approximately 8:30 a.m. in a prison dormitory when an inmate assaulted another inmate with a makeshift weapon. Corrections officers responded to the incident and removed the victim from the dormitory. The inmate’s injuries are not life-threatening.
When officers tried to apprehend the suspect in the stabbing, they were met with resistance. Prisoners became aggressive and barricaded themselves inside the dorm. Officers have secured all sections of the prison to prevent the inmates inside the dorm from entering other parts of the facility. Approximately 70 inmates are in the dorm at this time. No officers, or other inmates have been injured.
The Alabama Department of Corrections has sent a Correctional Emergency Response Team to the prison in response to the situation. The prison is locked-down and there is no imminent danger to prison staff, corrections officers, or inmates in secured areas of the facility.
More details will be posted as they become available.
The corrections officer who was stabbed Friday night is recovering from his injuries. Warden Carter Davenport, who was also stabbed, reported to the prison on Sunday. The inmates who were involved in the weekend stabbings, and other inmates who took part in the disturbance, were being detained away from the prison’s general population
After the weekend disturbance ended, the CERT Teams searched the prison’s housing units and found 30 cellphones, makeshift knives and other contraband. It is not known at this time what prompted the disturbance. An investigation is ongoing to determine the cause.
Pictured above and below: Inmate cell phone photos from inside Holman Prison during a weekend riot.
USDA Accepting Tornado Recovery Applications In Century Wednesday
March 14, 2016
USDA Rural Development will be at the Century Town Hall Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 2 pm. to meet with applicants interested in information about USDA’s Single Family Housing Loan Program for new construction, repair, renovation or purchase of a home or the Single Family Housing Repair Loan/Grant Program for minor repairs
taff will be on hand to accept applications, meet with clients, gather information, and provide advice and services. Income limits apply and the property must be owner occupied to receive assistance.
For more information, call the USDA Rural Development Crestview Area Office at (850) 682-2416.
The Century Town Hall is located at 7995 North Century Boulevard.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Mostly Sunny, 80 Today
March 14, 2016
Here is your official NorthEscambia area forecast:
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 59. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 82. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 59. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 79. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 79. West wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Thursday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57. South wind around 5 mph becoming east after midnight.
Friday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 68.
Friday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55.
Saturday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 70.
Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 67.
Holman Prison Remains On Lockdown Following Uprising
March 14, 2016
Officials with the Alabama Department of Corrections report that the William C. Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore is still locked-down after prisoners assaulted and stabbed a correctional officer and the prison warden during a disturbance that began at 9:15 p.m. Friday and was brought to an end early Saturday morning.
Three Correctional Emergency Response Teams and corrections officers were able to bring the situation under control after an estimated 100 inmates started a fire inside the facility and tried to gain control of one of the prison’s dormitories. After the disturbance ended, the CERT Teams searched the prison’s housing units and found 30 cellphones, makeshift knives and other contraband.
It is not known at this time what prompted the disturbance. An investigation is ongoing to determine the cause.
The corrections officer who was stabbed is recovering from his injuries. Warden Carter Davenport, who was also stabbed, reported to the prison on Sunday.
The inmates who were involved in the stabbings, and other inmates who took part in the disturbance, are being detained away from the prison’s general population.
Corrections Commissioner Jeff Dunn said the quick response to the disturbance by the warden, corrections officers and the department’s operations team helped prevent a volatile situation from escalating to something more serious.
“I want to credit Warden Davenport, members of his staff, and the corrections officers who were able to bring the situation under control without very serious consequences,” said Dunn. “I also want to thank other law enforcement agencies that responded to the incident and assisted the department at a critical time.”
Corrections officials say that there is limited movement inside the prison and inmates are being cooperative and orderly. Corrections officials have temporally cancelled visitation and the prison will remain on lockdown for the next few days until an investigation into the incident is complete.
For an earlier story with more photo and a video, click here.
Sunny, Near 80 Today
March 13, 2016
Here is your official NorthEscambia area forecast:
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 58. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday: Partly sunny, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 81. Southwest wind around 10 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 57. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 79. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 58. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 78. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. South wind around 5 mph becoming northwest after midnight.
Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 73.
Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53.
Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 67.
Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50.
Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 68.
Early Voting Ends With 14K Ballots Cast; Turnout At 21% So Far
March 13, 2016
Early voting for the March 15 Presidential Preference Primary Election with a final unofficial turnout of 14,150, a 59 percent increase over the 2008 presidential preference primary and an 82 percent increase over 2012.
Absentee and early voting turnout combined equal a 21 percent voter turnout so far.
The number of ballots cast at each early voting location were as follows:
SOE Office – 1561
Main Libraary – 1635
Genealogy Library – 3915
Bellview (5 Flags) - 1143
Southwest -2582
Extension Office – 2403
Molino – 911
Pictured: The early voting location at the Molino Community Center. File photo.
Early Voting Ends Today
March 12, 2016
This afternoon at 5:00 is the deadline for early voting for the March 15 Presidential Preference Primary.
Voters may choose any one of the seven early voting locations Saturday; polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.:
- Escambia County Extension Services, 3740 Stefani Road
- Molino Community Center, 6450 Highway 95A North
- Southwest Branch Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Highway
- Genealogy Branch Library, 5740 N. 9th Avenue
- Main Library, 239 N. Spring Street
- 5 Flags Speedway, 7451 Pine Forest Road
- Supervisor of Elections Main Office, 213 Palafox Place, Second Floor
As of the close of early voting on Friday, 11,536 early vote ballots had been cast in Escambia County.
Time Change: Spring Forward (And Don’t Forget The Smoke Alarm Batteries)
March 12, 2016
Don’t forget to “spring forward” and set your clocks ahead one hour before heading off to bed Saturday night. Daylight Savings Time begins Sunday, making use of longer summer days, allowing people to rise early and spend more of the day working or playing.
The peak time for home fire fatalities is between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. when most families are sleeping, according to Escambia Fire Rescue.
It is also recommended that residents test smoke alarms by pushing the test button, planning “two ways out” and practicing escape routes with the entire family. Families should also prepare a fire safety kit that includes working flashlights and fresh batteries.
Communities nationwide witness tragic home fire deaths each year. An average of three children per day die in home fires and 80 percent of those occur in homes without working smoke alarms. Non-working smoke alarms rob residents of the protective benefits home fire safety devices were designed to provide. The most commonly cited cause of non-working smoke alarms: worn or missing batteries.
Tragically, fire can kill selectively. Those most at risk include:
- Children — Approximately 1,000 children under the age of 20 die each year in home fires. Children under age five are at twice the risk of dying in a home fire. Eighty percent of fatal home fire victims who were children were killed in homes without working smoke alarms.
- Seniors — Adults over age 75 are three times more likely to die in home fires than the rest of the population; those over 85 are 4.5 times more likely to die in a home fire. Many seniors are unable to escape quickly.
- Low-Income Households — Many low-income families are unable to afford batteries for their smoke alarms. These same households often rely on poorly installed, maintained or misused portable or area heating equipment — a main cause of fatal home fires.
Changing smoke alarm batteries at least once a year is one of the simplest, most effective ways to reduce these tragic deaths and injuries. In fact, working smoke alarms nearly cut in half the risk of dying in a home fire. Additionally, the International Association of Fire Chiefs recommends replacing your smoke alarms every ten years.
For more information about fire safety, call Escambia County Fire Rescue at 850-475-5530 or visit the web site at www.myescambia.com.
For information about obtaining a free home smoke alarm call 850-595-HERO (4376).
Showers, Thunderstorms Likely Today
March 12, 2016
Here is your official NorthEscambia area forecast:
Saturday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 72. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Saturday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before midnight, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 58. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 59. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 78. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 60. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 78.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59.
Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 74.
Thursday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56.
Friday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 69.
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
March 11, 2016
Here is your official NorthEscambia area forecast:
Tonight: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 60. East wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Saturday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 72. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Saturday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before midnight, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 58. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 59. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 79. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 60. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 78.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58.
Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 75.
Thursday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56.
Friday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 69.