Farm Hill Utilities Rescinds Boil Water Notice For Large Part Of System
December 8, 2018
Farm Hill Utilities in Cantonment has rescinded a boil water notice that was in place for a large part of their system due to a water main break.
The notice was issued Tuesday afternoon for South County Road 97 south of West Kingsfield Road, West Kingsfield Road and all side roads south of Kingsfield including Pinebrook and Carmody Hill.
The utility said bacteriological survey showed the water is safe to drink.
100-Year Old Cantonment Survivor, Tate High Participate In NAS Pearl Harbor Programs
December 8, 2018
A Cantonment Pearl Harbor survivor was recognized, and Tate High School took part in remembrance ceremonies on Friday at Naval Air Station Pensacola.
Pearl Harbor survivor retired U.S. Navy Chief Warrant Officer 4 Francis “Frank” Emond, age 100, attended Pensacola-area Chief Petty Officer’s Association Pearl Harbor Remembrance Ceremony Friday morning at Barrancas National Cemetery.
“Sometimes things happen, and you have to recover. You have to stand up again and get started again. You just can’t let adversity hold you down too long,” Emond said.
“I was in Navy Band Number 8, a musician, and we lost all our friends, Navy Band 22 on the Arizona. And I keep thinking of them a lot. It’s a shame they were so young and their lives were cut off at a very very early age. So I just can’t forget them,” he said.
Originally from Rhode Island, Emond enlisted in the Navy in 1938 as a musician. He played the French horn for the ship’s band and even got to perform at the 1939 World’s Fair in New York before he was assigned to the USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) in Hawaii in the summer of 1941. The day before the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, Emond and fellow Navy musicians played at a dance and band contest. His band won the contest against other bands from the USS California (BB-44) and USS Arizona (BB-39). His band later donated the trophy they won in memory to the men from the Arizona. As the sun rose on Dec. 7, 1941, Emond was preparing for morning colors and the raising of the American flag.
That’s when Emond noticed the hundreds of Japanese planes that filled the sky followed by the sound of a torpedo striking a ship docked behind his battleship. In addition to being a musician, Emond was trained as a stretcher bearer and with the general alarm sounding along with the sound of gunfire and explosions; he began retrieving injured and dead Sailors aboard the Pennsylvania.
Following the war, Emond remained in the Navy until he retired in 1968 in Pensacola. He is currently married and has two sons, five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. His 100-year-old brother still lives in Rhode Island.
Also Friday, the Tate High School Wind Ensemble and Chorus performed at a Pearl Harbor Remembrance Ceremony at the Naval Aviation Museum.
Pictured top: Pearl Harbor survivor Frank Edmond of Cantonment speaks during a Pearl Harbor Remembrance Ceremony Friday at Barrancas National Cemetery. Pictured below: The Tate High School Wind Ensemble perform during a Pearl Harbor ceremony at the Naval Aviation Museum. Pictured bottom: The Tate Wind Ensemble with Florida Sen. Doug Broxson. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Man Hides In Septic Tank After Burglarizing Grandmother’s Trailer, Setting Fires
December 7, 2018
Deputies arrested a man found hiding in a septic tank after he allegedly set multiple fires inside his grandmother’s vacant mobile home near Gonzalez.
Jacob Blake Aeppli, 24, was charged with second degree felony arson, felony first degree burglary and petit theft.
Aeppli allegedly broke into the trailer on Packwood Drive, just off East Kingsfield Road and started several fires that damaged the floors and ceilings. He as also accused of stealing a hand truck from the property.
An Escambia County Sheriff’s Office K-9 found Aeppli, nearby hiding in a septic tank wearing camouflage waders with a survival knife on his hip. The hand truck was close by, with his backpack attached to it.
The fire was extinguished by neighbors using a garden hose. The trailer sustained minor damage.
Aeppli remained in the Escambia County Jail Friday with bond set at $28,500.
One For The Hurricane History Books: Flomaton Hurricanes Win 3A State Championship (With Photo Gallery)
December 7, 2018
The Flomaton Hurricanes beat Piedmont 23-12 to win the Class 3A state championship Thursday afternoon in Auburn’s Jordan-Hare Stadium.
It was the first trip to the state championship in the 94-year history of the Flomaton football program.
For a photo gallery, click here.
The Hurricanes were first on the board with a 25-yard field goal from Da’Shun Odom with just over a minute to go in the first quarter.
Piedmont intercepted on fourth and goal and returned it 60 yards to the Flomaton 36 yard line, setting up a 3-yard touchdown run for Piedmont and a 6-3 Bulldog lead.
After a Flomaton interception, Daquan Johnson found Quincie McCall for a 48-yard gain for the Canes. On the next down, Johnson connected with Samuel Smith on a 14-yard touchdown pass. Flomaton was back on top, 9-6.
Piedmont’s Kaedon Jenkins carried for a 75-yard touchdown. With a failed 2 point conversion, the Bulldogs were leading 12-9.
With 50 seconds in the third, Johnson gave Flomaton a 16-12 advantage with a 2-yard touchdown run. Flomaton expanded their lead to 23-12 on another touchdown run from Johnson.
Johnson was named the game MVP.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured top: Daquan Johnson over a Piedmont defender (Trent Penny/Anniston Star). Pictured left inset: Quincie McCall gains yardage for Flomaton (AL.com/Dennis Victory). Pictured below: The Hurricanes celebrate their first ever state championship (Trent Penny/Anniston Star). Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Photo gallery game photos courtesy Trent Penny/Anniston Star, Dennis Vickery/AL.com, Mark Almond/AL.com; fan photos from Alisa Hart and numerous Flomaton fans.
Banks, Heard Named Tate High Students Of The Month
December 7, 2018
Tate High School has named Sean Banks and Raliegha Heard as Students of the Month for October. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Superheroes, Firefighters To Hold Toy Drive Saturday
December 7, 2018
The Atmore Fire Department will hold their second toy drive of the season Saturday beginning at 9 a.m. at the Atmore Walmart on North Main Street. Superheroes from Causeplay Gulf Coast will be on
hand. The donations will be for local children in need and children impacted by Hurricane Michael. Pictured: A November 10 Atmore Firefighter Toy Drive. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Animal Shelter Offering Special Adoption Rates
December 7, 2018
The Escambia County Animal Shelter is offering a special reduced adoption fee of $50 for all dogs and puppies and $20 for all cats and kittens during the month of December. Adoption fees include altering of the animal (spay or neutering services), microchip, heart worm test and the initial vaccinations, including rabies vaccinations. Escambia County residents will be required to purchase a license at the time of adoption. This is an additional $11 over the adoption fees and is paid separately.
While Escambia County Animal Shelter staff want every pet to have a home for the holidays, they highly discourage giving pets as presents, especially surprise presents. The shelter recommends if your friend or loved one has expressed interest in pet adoption, consider wrapping a food bowl and treats to put under the Christmas tree and coming to the shelter together to pick out a lifelong pet that’s right for their lifestyle, family and budget.
The Escambia County Animal Shelter is located at 200 West Fairfield Drive and is open Monday-Friday from noon to 5 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, contact the shelter at (850) 595-3075.
Creek Indian Enterprises Purchase Atmore Holiday Inn Express
December 7, 2018
Power Line Falls On School Bus; 2,200 Lose Power
December 6, 2018
A power line fell onto a school bus Thursday morning in Beulah in a sequence of events that left a couple thousand without power.
The Beulah Academy of Science bus was stopped on Beulah Road at Nine Mile Road when the power line fell shortly before 6:30. There were no students on the bus, and the driver was not injured. The bus did not collide with a utility pole.
Gulf Power spokesman Jeff Rogers said there was a problem with a switch box for underground electric lines in the area. That caused an overhead neutral or ground wire to overheat, pull from a holder and fall on the bus.
“A breaker immediately locked out and de-energized the line,” Rogers said.
During the incident, a roadside switch box shorted, causing what bystanders said sounded like a huge explosion. The box (pictured below), showed visible signs of damage.
About 2,200 Gulf Power customers including Beulah Middle School lost power as a result. About 500 customers remained without power as of 11:30 a.m., and all were restored by about noon.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
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$1,000 Reward Offered As Missing Woman Investigation Continues
December 6, 2018
A $1,000 reward is now being offered for information that helps law enforcement located a missing woman from Pollard, AL.
Eva McBride, 74, was last seen at her home on November 23 on McBride Circle, east of Flomaton and very near the Alabama/Florida line.
The Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office is now treating her disappearance case as a homicide investigation at this point, but they are not certain yet that a crime was committed. There was no evidence of foul play at the scene.
Anyone with information about here whereabouts should call the Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office at (251) 809-0741.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency has issued a Missing Senior Alert for McBride.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.