A Look Back: Ernest Ward High School Christmas Past
December 25, 2015
Here’s a look back at Christmas past at Ernest Ward High School, with a peek into the pages of the 1955, 1971 and 1988 yearbooks. Click any of the images to enlarge.
Below: The 1955 Christmas Pageant at Ernest Ward High School.
Below: “In Celebration of Christmas”, 1988, Ernest Ward High School.
Below: “Christmas Present And Future”, 1988, Ernest Ward High School.
Below: Christmas 1971, Ernest Ward High School.
Special thanks to Sherri Stallworth and Delaney Reynolds for their research in finding these photos. Photos courtesy Ernest Ward Middle School for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
A Look Back: Century Christmas In The 1930’s
December 25, 2015
Here’s a look back at Christmas past for the Alger-Sullivan Lumber Company and what is now Century.
In the top photo, Mr. James H. Jones is seen giving out presents to Alger-Sullivan Lumber Co. employee children in the 1930’s. By the 1940’s, this practice had been discontinued, but Mr. Hauss always sent some families a tin of dates from California. The company always seemed to be interested in keeping families together and satisfied, although when it came to the job, it was hard-nosed about making sure the workers gave a day’s work for a day’s pay.
The picture below depicts a scene in December 1936 from one of the logging camps in the woods where races were mixed on the job, despite the attitude towards segregation. Here you see two of the bosses, Fred Gilmore and Mr. Luke Earl (with glasses), a somewhat beloved woods foreman, and a group of workers and children observing Santa Claus as he holds a little boy at their Christmas gathering. Several of the children are clutching their little bags of goodies, probably candy and some trinkets, that Santa had passed out earlier. It’s not know what purpose the wash pot, if any, played in the festivities.
Photos courtesy the Alger-Sullivan Historical Society (top) and Photo by Fischer (bottom) for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
DUI Manslaughter Suspect Released On Bond
December 24, 2015
A Cantonment woman accused of the DUI death of a former Byrneville Elementary School teacher is now free on bond.
Wednesday during her first court appearance, an Escambia County Judge set bond at $100,000 for 52-year old Debra Marlene Ahearn , and she was released from jail just before 5 p.m.
According to court documents, Ahearn’s initial blood alcohol level was .291 — over three and half times the legal limit – when she pulled her 2006 Town and Country van directly into the path of a northbound Chevrolet Tahoe driven by 56-year old John Edward Ryland of Atmore on Highway 29 south of Muscogee Road. The Tahoe was then struck by a northbound Chevrolet Cobalt driven by 21-year old Dontavious Rashwn Anderson of Cantonment.
A passenger in the Tahoe, 61-year old Barbara M. Ryland of Atmore, was airlifted to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola where she was pronounced deceased shortly after the 6:11 pm. crash last Friday. The driver of the Tahoe, John Ryland, was transported by ambulance to Sacred Heart Hospital where he was treated and released Saturday.
Ahearn was transported by Escambia County EMS to Sacred Heart Hospital where she was treated and then released into police custody, while Anderson was taken to West Florida Hospital with minor injuries.
Barbara Ryland was a teacher in the Escambia County School District for over 30 years and continued to substitute after her retirement.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
Fire Destroys Large Barn (With Photo Gallery)
December 24, 2015
Fire destroyed a large barn, shed and at least one vehicle Wednesday night on northern Klondike Road, near I-10.
Multiple fire Escambia Fire Rescue stations responded to the blaze about 7 p.m. The barn was fully involved when the first firefighters arrived on scene.
There were no injuries; the homeowners were reportedly not at home at the time of the blaze.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office.
NorthEscambia.com com photos by Kristi Price and reader submitted photos, click to enlarge.
Bellview VFD Elves Help Santa Make Special Early Delivery
December 24, 2015
Members of Escambia County Fire Rescue Station 1 in Bellview helped Santa Claus make a special early delivery this week. Bellview members picked up Santa and gave him a fire truck ride to the home of two boys, ages 4 and 8, where a special visit from Santa and presents were needed. The 8-year old is home bound after just having heart surgery, and is facing additional heart surgeries.
Both of the young men were happy to see Santa and his firefighter elves with presents….and his special Escambia Fire Rescue firetruck sleigh.
The firefighters delivered the toys and took the time to sit and talk and play with the children for a little bit. The firefighters at Bellview Volunteer Fire Department believe that this kind of generosity, support and caring for a young child that is going through this type of situation is what the Spirit of Giving and what Christmas is all about,” said Bellview District Chief Troy Johnson.
(And, as a footnote, one of the firefighters noticed a dead smoke detector battery in the home and installed a new one to help keep the family safe.)
Christmas In Jail For Convicted Cantonment Insurance Agent
December 24, 2015
A Cantonment insurance agent sentenced to state prison for racketeering and money laundering will spend Christmas in jail despite his efforts to be released.
In May, Randall Petersen, 49, received eight years in state prison to be followed by seven years probation, and was ordered to pay over a half million dollars in restitution. He was back in court Wednesday asking that he be set free while he appeals the sentenced. Judge Ross Goodman took the motion under advisement — meaning that he will issue decision later, and, for now, Petersen will remain behind bars.
In April, Petersen was convicted of conducting a fraudulent insurance scheme that involved the theft of several hundred thousand dollars of commissions and bonuses from American National Insurance Company and Liberty National Insurance Company.
In the scheme, Petersen advertised job opportunities on the internet for College Consultants of the Gulf Coast, and induced hundreds of applicants to provide information for life insurance that he and his associates described as free job benefits.
The prosecutor, Assistant State Attorney Russ Edgar, showed that College Consultants was not a real company and Petersen merely used the information from the job applicants to complete life insurance applications that he submitted to the insurance companies. The companies paid Petersen advance commissions, which were as much as 130% of the first year premiums, and bonuses.
Before the companies realized the insureds were not employees, Petersen had obtained hundreds of thousands of dollars of commissions and bonuses and let the policies lapse for nonpayment.
Escambia, Santa Rosa Christmas Closures
December 24, 2015
The following closures are planned due to the Christmas holiday:
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Below is a listing of the offices and departments closing Thursday, Dec. 24, and Friday, Dec. 25, for the Christmas holidays. Normal operations resume on Monday, Dec. 28.
- Escambia County Board of County Commissioners
- Escambia County Supervisor of Elections
- Escambia County Property Appraiser
- West Florida Public Library System
Exceptions
- Escambia County 911 Dispatch, EMS and Fire Rescue services will remain operational.
- Escambia County Tax Collector will be closed on Thursday, Dec. 24, Friday, Dec. 25, and Friday, Jan. 1, 2016. The office will be open for normal business hours on Thursday, Dec. 31.
- Escambia County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller will be closed on Thursday, Dec. 24, Friday, Dec. 25, and Friday, Jan. 1, 2016. The office will be open for normal business hours on Thursday, Dec. 31.
- Perdido Landfill will be open for normal business hours on Thursday, Dec. 24, and Thursday Dec. 31.
Escambia County Area Transit:
- Administrative office will be closed on Thursday, Dec. 24, Saturday, Dec. 26, and Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016. The office will be open for normal business hours on Thursday, Dec. 31.
- No bus service and administrative office will be closed on Friday, Dec. 25, and Friday, Jan. 1, 2016.
- UWF Trolley and express shuttle service will be suspended on Friday, Dec. 25, and Friday, Jan. 1, 2016.
- UWF Trolley Express Shuttle service will resume Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016, and regular UWF Trolley service will resume Monday, Jan. 4.
- Details for specific routes are listed on www.goecat.com
ECUA
ECUA offices will be closed Thursday, December 24 and Friday, December 25, in observance of the Christmas holiday, and on Friday, January 1, 2016, in observance of the New Year’s holiday.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY ONLY:
Residential Customers: Garbage, Yard Trash & Recycling Services
• Friday pick-ups will be on Saturday
Commercial Customers: Dumpster Services
• Friday pick-ups will be on Saturday
SANTA ROSA COUNTY (NORTH-END) ONLY:
Residential Garbage, Yard Trash & Recycling Services
• No garbage, yard trash or recycling collection on Dec. 24 & 25, & Jan. 1.
• Garbage and yard trash will be collected on the next normally scheduled collection day for those routes (Monday or Tuesday).
• Please place real wreaths and Christmas trees, free of stands and decorations, at the curb for pick-up with regular yard waste collection.
• Recycling collections scheduled for Dec. 24 & 25 will be collected on Saturday, December 26, and Recycling collections scheduled for Jan. 1 will be collected on Saturday, Jan. 2.
All other holiday week collections will remain on normal schedule. Customers may call ECUA Customer Service at 476-0480, if they require further information.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
The following offices and departments are closed Thursday, Dec. 24 and Friday, Dec. 25 in observance of Christmas. Regular hours of operation resume Monday, Dec. 28.
· Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners, including the library system and animal shelter
o The Central Landfill located on 6337 Da Lisa Road will be open from 7 a.m. – noon Thursday, Dec. 24.
· Santa Rosa County Clerk of the Court
· Santa Rosa County Property Appraiser
· Santa Rosa County Supervisor of Elections
· Santa Rosa County Tax Collector
Flooding Closes Barrineau Park Road At The Perdido River
December 24, 2015
Barrineau Park Road at the Perdido River has been closed due to flooded bridge approaches.
Standing water creates a serious road hazard, even when only a portion of the roadway is flooded, according to Escambia County. Motorists should always avoid crossing flooded streets and should never attempt to cross flooded bridges.
This is the only weather related road closure in Escambia County. Any additional road closures will be announced as they occur.
Pictured: The Perdido River crosses Barrineau Park Road late Thursday afternoon. Photo by Rhonda Corley for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Driver Cited After Three-Vehicle Highway 95A Crash
December 24, 2015
An elderly driver was cited by the Florida Highway Patrol following a three vehicle crash Wednesday night in Cantonment.
According to the FHP, 73-year old Joann Elliot Reeves of Cantonment was traveling north on Highway 95A at Old Chemstrand Road about 5:30 p.m. when she failed to stop her Toyota Avalon at a stop sign and rear-ended a Chevrolet driven by 24-year old Mercedes Kay Byrd of Pensacola. The Impala then collided with a 2005 Toyota Tacoma drive by 34-year old Christy Lee Davis.
Reeves, Byrd, and a four-year old passenger in Byrd’s vehicle were all transported to Sacred Heart Hospital with minor injuries. Davis and an eight-year old passenger in her vehicle were not injuries.
Reeves was cited for careless driving, expired registration and no proof of insurance, according to a FHP report.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
Two Injured In Escambia River Bridge Crash
December 23, 2015
Two people were injured in a single vehicle wreck Tuesday night in Century.
A driver eastbound on Highway 4 lost control and hit a guardrail on the approach to the Escambia River Bridge about 10 p.m. The vehicle’s passenger was ejected in the crash. Both were transported by ambulance to an area hospital with injuries that were not considered life threatening.
The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol; further details have not been released.
The Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and emergency crews from Santa Rosa County also responded to the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
