97-Year Old WWII Pilot Fulfills Last Wish Of One More Flight
August 25, 2019
Attired in a fighter pilot’s suit, Albert J. Lane, 97. clutched a cold beer in his left hand and a century of life spirit in his heart.
Lane, a U.S. Army fighter pilot in World War II, had just taken one final flight, which included a flyover at Blue Wahoos Stadium, perfectly timed after the National Anthem, as a cheering, sellout crowd waved at the vintage aircraft.
Through Pensacola’s Covenant Care, a Blue Wahoos corporate partner and its “My Wish” program, Lane was able to exit his wheelchair and settle into the co-pilot’s cockpit of a vintage, dual-wing, 1943 Boeing N2S-4 Stearman aircraft and fulfill his own wish.
It was 82 years ago when Lane, a Michigan native, last climbed into an open cockpit plane of that era, training for a future role as a B-17 Bomber in the United States Army. He remembered how to do it again.
“How about that! I got in that plane,” said Lane, excitedly, about an hour after the flight, as young children and admiring adults gathered around him on the stadium concourse.
It created a powerful, emotional scene that made even Jhoan Duran’s no-hit bid into the seventh inning, along with the Blue Wahoos eventual 3-2 win against the Jackson Generals, seem secondary on this memorable night.
“That was really special to see,” said Blue Wahoos manager Ramon Borrego, who stood and cheered from the dugout as Lane was honored on the first base line in the bottom of the sixth inning. “When you see a guy like him who went to World War II and served this country…I was thinking about it and thought, ‘Wow, this guy fought in World War II. He gave everything to his country.’
“And he still had energy. He began to get up from that wheelchair. That was amazing to see. I could think and see this man, say back when he was in his 20’s in that airplane.”
Lane lives in Greenwood, a small town near Marianna in Jackson County, about two hours east from Pensacola. When Covenant Care got involved and arranged a My Wish request, the Blue Wahoos joined to help provide the flyover experience at the stadium.
“It’s such a great tie-in for us,” said Blue Wahoos president Jonathan Griffith. “The wishes Covenant Care grants are local and regional and in our own footprint, so it’s awesome to be part of, and meets our own mission to improve the quality of life in our area. It’s very cool to be part of this.”
The My Wish program began about a year ago and has provided a couple hundred such final wishes, according to Covenant Care president and CEO Jeff Mislevy.
We thought about how do we connect donors to these wishes. And it’s a unique platform,” Mislevy said. “Because an individual donor has an opportunity to entirely support a wish for someone. You make that person to person connection and there is just so much power in that.
“I wanted to be here to see him fly over. It chokes you up in a way. I can’t imagine the emotion that must be pouring through his veins right now. That’s what powers us to do this. And this was unique to him.”
The gold vintage bi-plane that Lane was flown in was provided by Pensacola’s Roy Kinsey, who operates Veterans Flight and annually participates in the Pensacola Beach Air Show.
Kinsey and others at Pensacola Aviation Center helped Lane from his wheelchair. They aided him to climb on a step-stool, hoisted him on the wing and into the open-air co-pilot cockpit of the plane. Kinsey then flew the aircraft.
Lane’s physician, Robin Albritton, who lives in Marianna and works there at Jackson Hospital, was at Blue Wahoos Stadium standing on the concourse, watching the flyover.
“When Covenant Care called me two weeks ago to tell me what they were doing, I put my phone down and cried,” said Albritton, his voice wavering with emotion. “He is a real American hero. He deserves this so much.
“Having taken care of him for the past eight years, I knew he probably got into that plane by himself. That man is sharp as a tack. He first came to me at 90-years-old and gave me the biggest, ol’ hug. I’ve had long conversations with him when he visits. I have done just enough to not get in his way these years. To see this is unbelievable. People like him remind me of why I do this.”
After the plane returned to Pensacola Aviation, Lane and his group traveled to Blue Wahoos Stadium. Covenant Care staff were there waiting to congratulate the World War II veteran.
The smile on his face, the throng of strangers, including so many children, who wanted to meet him and get his autograph, were poignant examples of how meaningful, how special this experience became.
Photos courtesy Pensacola Blue Wahoos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Gets 15 Years After Selling Meth To Undercover Informant
August 25, 2019
An Escambia County man is headed to prison after selling meth to an undercover informant.
James Lee Brown was sentenced to a 15 year mandatory minimum state prison for conspiracy to traffic in methamphetamine.
On June 26, 2019, Escambia County Narcotics Unit conducted an undercover investigation with Brown as the target. An informant arranged to purchase a kilo of methamphetamine from Brown. Once the confidential informant arrived on scene it was revealed that Brown was in touch with two other individuals who supplied him with the ment.
Once the drug transaction occurred and ECSO narcotics deputies moved in and made the bust.
Stranger Things: Check Out This Cloud
August 25, 2019
Afternoon storms brought an interesting weather feature to the area Saturday.
Teresa Dobson of Jay captures these images a little after 6 p.m. in the area of Chumuckla Highway and Mineral Springs Road southwest of Jay.
According to the National Weather Service in Mobile, it appears to be a shelf cloud associated with a thunderstorm outflow. That’s the cooler air spreading outward from a thunderstorm.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Weekly Meeting Schedule
August 25, 2019
Here are Escambia County meetings scheduled this week:
Monday, August 26
Library Board of Governance – 4 p.m., Century Library, 7991 N. Century Blvd., Century
Tuesday, August 27
Fleet Maintenance Technician Interviews – Mosquito Control – 9 a.m., 601 Highway 297A, Cantonment
Environmental Enforcement Special Magistrate – 1:30 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Escambia County Health Facilities Authority – 4 p.m., 1019 N. 12th Ave.
Wednesday, August 28
August Coffee with the Commissioner – Jeff Bergosh, District 1 – 6:30 a.m., Denny’s, 4625 Mobile Highway
Pensacola and Perdido Bays Estuary Program Policy Board – 9:30 a.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place
Development Review Committee – 1 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Visit Pensacola Board of Directors Meeting – 3 p.m., 5049 Corporate Woods Drive
Mass Transit Advisory Committee – 3 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Santa Rosa Island Authority Committee Meeting – 5 p.m., 1 Via de Luna, Pensacola Beach
Thursday, August 29
Florida Police Benevolent Association Collective Bargaining Session – 10 a.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, 2nd Floor HR Training Room
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Driver Hits And Destroys Railroad Crossing Signal On Muscogee Road
August 25, 2019
A driver lost control and destroyed a railroad crossing signal early Saturday morning on Muscogee Road.
It happened about 12:41 a.m. on Muscogee Road at McQueen Drive, about a half mile from Jacks Branch Road. The vehicle overturned in the collision.
The driver suffered injuries that did not appear to be life threatening. The crash is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS also responded, along with Alabama & Gulf Coast Railroad.
There was no train involved in the incident.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escaped Escambia Jail Inmate Recaptured
August 24, 2019
UPDATE: Escaped Escambia Jail inmate Michael Anthony Perkins was recaptured Saturday afternoon near Big Lagoon.
Perkins, a 31-year-old white male with a Milton home address, escaped while loading a food truck about 4:54 a.m.
Deputies and K-9 teams from Escambia County Corrections and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office searched the area into Saturday afternoon.
Perkins is being held on charges of burglary, larceny and dealing in stolen property. He will face additional charges for the escape. He has been at the Escambia County Jail since June 16.
Century Drug Dealer Caught Flushing Narcotics Down The Toilet Sentenced To Prison
August 24, 2019
A Century man caught trying to flush meth down the toilet is headed to prison.
Sim Brown III entered a plea to one count of trafficking in methamphetamine (200 grams or more), three counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, tampering with evidence, possession of firearm by convicted felon and possession of a short-barreled shotgun. Circuit Judge Jan Shackelford sentenced Brown to 15 years in state prison. There is no parole; he will serve every day of the sentence.
The charges stemmed from an investigation conducted by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit into Brown selling narcotics in Century.
On March 28, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team executed a search warrant at Brown’s residence in the 400 block of Bonwell Street at Salter’s Lake Road. Brown was found in the bathroom attempting to flush a large amount of narcotics down the toilet.
Inside the home, deputies located 901 grams of methamphetamine, 400 grams of marijuana, 24 grams of cocaine, and 260 grams of synthetic cannabinoids. An illegal sawed-off shotgun, handgun and ammunition were also recovered inside the mobile home.
Brown has one prior felony conviction.
Woman Charged After Dog Found Dead In Hot Car Outside Highway 29 Business
August 24, 2019
A woman was charged with animal cruelty after being accused of leaving her dog inside in hot car for hours. The dog was found dead.
It happened in the parking of the Ensley Walmart on Pensacola Boulevard.
Crystal Marie Houk, age 36 of Milton, was charged with third degree felony animal cruelty. She told Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies that she left the air conditioner running in the vehicle, but a Walmart employee said it was blowing hot air when he opened the door.
Houk told deputies that she was not in the store for very long, but surveillance video actually shows it was about three hours, from 9 a.m. until noon, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Tate Aggies Tame The Pensacola High Tigers In 37-0 Shutout (With Photo Gallery)
August 24, 2019
The Tate Aggies opened the 2019 regular season at home with a big 37-0 win over the Pensacola High School Tigers Friday night.
Tate opened scoring in the first with a field goal from 37-yards out from Matt Johnson for a 3-0 lead over the Tigers. Tate added a touchdown to round out the first quarter from Keaton Solmonson for a 10-0 lead.
In the second, Gavin Grice found the endzone. With a missed point after, the Aggies were up 16-0.
Tate added touchdowns from Kesean Williams, Keontral Culpeper and Ethan George for the 37-0 shutout win over the PHS Tigers.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Next week, the Tate Aggies will be at Pine Forest before back to back road trips to Tallahassee — September 6 at Lincoln and September 13 at Leon. The Aggies won’t be back in their house at Pete Gindl Stadium until September 20 when they host the Bulldogs of Crestview.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Jennifer Repine, click to enlarge.
Northview Blanks Lighthouse 37-0 (With Photo Gallery)
August 24, 2019
The Northview Chiefs beat the Lighthouse Christian Stingrays 37-0 in their season opener Friday night in Bratt.
It was senior night for the Chiefs because it was the first of only three home games this season And the there was hardly a dry eye in the house as the Chiefs honored the memory of Dariontae Richardson. He suffered heart attack last season hours after the Chiefs’s first round playoff win over Graceville on November 9, and later passed away in February.
His parents walked alone during senior night ceremonies. And team captains carried his #10 jersey onto the field during the coin toss, before the Chiefs went on to win one for Dariontae with his #10 on every helmet.
“It was a good win for our guys. First of all everybody got to play because it was senior night. Everybody contributed in one way or another. The good thing is we are coming away with a 37 point win and a shutout,” Northview head coach Derek Marshman said.
For a photo gallery, click here. An additional photo gallery with cheerleaders, the Tribal Beat band and more will be published by Monday.
Late in the first quarter, senior quarterback Ben Wilson found Da’Merion Findley for a big gain from midfield. The Chiefs then took a 7-0 lead with 4:18 with Findley into the endzone for Northview’s first touchdown of the season.
On the first play of the second quarter, Jaheen Durant danced his way to the endzone for another Chiefs touchdown, 14-0. Then with just over seven minutes in the half, Jayden Jackson, who has an offer from Boston College, returned a Lighthouse punt from midfield for a commanding 21-0 lead for Northview.
But the Chiefs were not done with the quarter as Trent Peebles made a long reach for another touchdown. A blocked kick, and the Chiefs were up 27-0 at the half.
Early in the third, Jackson was in at the 10:59 mark for a TD and then Jackson was back in the endzone for the two point conversion. With Northview up 35-0, the mercy rule kicked in for a running clock.
Toss in a safety late in the third to ice the cake, and the Chiefs earned their first win of the season 37-0.
The Chiefs finished at 8-5 last year, making all the way to second round of the FHSAA 1A state playoffs, and Marshman hopes to go all the way this year to Tallahassee, the new home of the FHSAA 1A state championship.
“There is still a lot of stuff we can work on; a lot of stuff we got to get better at,” Marshman said. “You know we’re flying to the football. We were better in coverage today than we have been. A year ago Lighthouse threw for over 300 yards on us so we really had to come out and get great pass rush.”
For a photo gallery, click here. An additional photo gallery with cheerleaders, the Tribal Beat band and more will be published by Monday.
Next week the, Northview Chiefs will head across the state line to take on the kings of Alabama 3A football, the Flomaton Hurricanes.
“That is a big one for our guys and for this community both ways, both sides,” Marshman said. “Going up against a 3A defending state champion is going to be a super challenge for our guys. Mentally I know they will be ready and hopefully physically they can match up with them.”
After the Hurricanes, it’s an off week for September 6 before the Chiefs play host to the Baker Gators on September 13.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
