Hundreds Witness ‘Miracle’ After Coach’s Heart Attack At Northview
September 14, 2015
Hundreds of people believe they witnessed a real miracle Saturday night during youth football games at Northview High School in Bratt.
The scene was a jubilant one on the Northwest Escambia side over the field after a win over Flomaton and a spirit line forming as their next team was about to get underway. The excitement was building; it had been a great homecoming day for the NWE Chiefs.
But that changed, literally in a heartbeat, as a NWE coach fell to the field in full cardiac arrest.
In the moments that followed, the pieces of a lifesaving puzzle quickly fell into place. Husband and wife medics, a doctor and other football fans trained in CPR rushed to the field, literally taking turns performing chest compression on the beloved coach. There was no AED and no advanced life support immediately available on the field. Fire and EMS arrived on scene several minutes later.
Around the stadium, the crowd began to pray. Entire football teams dropped to their knees in prayer. There were no team divisions, no rivals, no opponents…just the voices of prayer as CPR continued.
Shannon Nolen snapped the powerful photo at the top of the page as another NWE coach, Pastor Ted Bridges, was on his knees, hands on the ambulance in prayer with the fallen coach inside.
“In the middle of all the chaos everyone prayed together with Brother Ted as he lead us over the PA system,” witness Crystal Godwin said. “There was no lines of division between race, team or family, we were all as one and the Holy Spirit could be felt moving through the stadium.”
And then there was an answer.
“Someone came and faced the crowd from the back of the ambulance and gave a thumbs up and the stadium erupted with joy! There wasn’t a dry eye in the stadium.” CPR had worked.
“Coach….is stable which is a work of God after seeing his condition on that field,” Flomaton Youth Football League President William DeSpain said. “These 9-10 year old boys and girls did not get to play Saturday night, but they helped with a great accomplishment of answered prayer. They all won Saturday night.”
The NWE coach was airlifted to Sacred Heart Hospital, where family member said late Sunday he was expected to make a full recovery. A second member of the crowd was also airlifted to an area hospital in a second helicopter after suffering a medical problem.
Karen Jay and her husband Frank, owners of Atmore Ambulance, were off-duty and among those at the game that performed CPR on the coach.
“It truly was a miracle along with CPR that saved him,” Karen Jay said as she encouraged everyone to learn CPR. “But the Lord’s hand was on him. A whole lot of people witnessed a miracle.”
Pictured top and inset: Pastor Ted Bridges, who is also a NWE football coach, on his knees praying outside an ambulance as CPR is performed inside on another NWE coach. Flomaton football players on their knees praying for the NWE coach. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Driver Arrested After Causing Pickup To Slam Into House
September 14, 2015
A pickup truck slammed into a home Sunday afternoon following a hit and run crash.
The accident happened just before 4 p.m. on Tara Down Circle off East 10 Mile Road..
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 31-year old William Russell Stiffey-Sell was traveling west on 10 Mile Road in a 1995 Nissan King Cab pickup when he veered into the travel lane of an eastbound Toyota Tacoma driven by 32-year old Efrain Alberto Paz Marquez.
The impact caused Marquez’s Tacoma to travel a fence, across a yard and well into the brick home. The other vehicle then fled the scene.
Stiffey-Sell was apprehended a short time later and charge with the leaving the scene of a crash and failure to maintain lane.
There were no injuries in the crash.
Photos by Meagan Kennedy for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Retired Veterans Affairs Service Officer Mike Hanks Honored
September 14, 2015
Former area Veterans Affairs Service Officer Mike Hanks was honored with a retirement reception Sunday by VFW Post 7016 and the American Legion Post 90 at the American Legion Hall in Atmore.
Hanks assisted countless area veterans and the families in his 27 years of service. He has also been a familiar face at veterans-related events at area schools, usually in a very patriotic flag tie or shirt.
In 1971, in the midst of the Vietnam War, he was drafted into the U.S. Army.
During a ceremony earlier this year for National Vietnam Veterans Welcome Home Day, Hanks said he did not talk about the Vietnam War for a long time. “I didn’t figure anybody wanted to hear about it.”
He related the story of his “Freedom Flight” home following his tour, and of the business woman sitting next to him on that plane. Her reaction to being seated next to a returning solider from Vietnam and what she said to the stewardess still resonates deeply with Hanks.
“I want a different seat; I don’t want to sit by a baby killer,” she said loudly.
“That hurt me more than anything, because she couldn’t understand how much I love kids. and it hurt,” an emotional Hanks said, as other veterans in the audience were visible moved.
“Words cannot describe how much it helps the healing process for you to have something like this for our veterans,” Hanks concluded as he thanked the organizers of the welcome home ceremony. “I’ve got news for you. I am a Vietnam veteran of the U.S. Army. Any I am proud of it, and I’m proud to be an American.”
Hanks is a 1969 graduate of Ernest Ward High School in Walnut Hill. He has been married to his wife Gayle for 45 years; they have two children and five grandchildren.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Fire Damages Ensley Home
September 14, 2015
Fire damaged an Ensley home Sunday night. The fire on Brosnaham Avenue, near Kenmore Road and North Palafox, was quickly extinguished by fir fighters with no injuries reported. There was no immediate word on the cause of the fire. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
Three Juveniles Charged With Burglarizing Former Elementary School
September 14, 2015
The juveniles were arrested Sunday for burglarizing a former Escambia County elementary school.
Charged with burglary were Jose Grady Polnitz, 13; Roderrick Ali Stallworth, 12; and Josea Williams, 11. Stallworth also was charged with falsely identifying himself to a law enforcement officer.
Police were dispatched to the former Spencer Bibbs Elementary School at 2005 North Sixth Avenue just before 1 p.m. after a man called police and reported seeing the juveniles climbing onto the school roof. Officer Ronald Boutin said Stallworth and Williams entered the school through an unlocked window, while Polnitz waited outside and acted as a “lookout.”
Once inside, the suspects ransacked some desks, and fled the building when an interior door alarm sounded. Polnitz also fled the scene before police arrived but was found a short time later near the intersection of Seventh Avenue and Lakeview Drive.
Boutin said all three suspects had oxidized white paint on them from where they had climbed onto the school roof.
Detective Eric Hubley said the reporting person positively identified the males as the ones who burglarized the school. The The three males were taken to the Department of Juvenile Justice after they were arrested.
Spencer Bibbs Elementary School closed in 2011 and is used as training and office space by the school district.
Fire Destroys SUV In Piggly Wiggly Parking Lot
September 14, 2015
Fire destroyed a SUV in the parking lot of the Piggly Wiggly on Highway 97 in Davisville Sunday afternoon.
The engine compartment of the vehicle was fully involved when the first firefighters arrived on scene. No other vehicles were threatened or damaged, and there were no injuries.
The Atmore Fire Department, the Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the blaze.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
West Florida High Football Player Killed In Crash
September 13, 2015
A pedestrian – who has been identified as a West Florida High School freshman football player - was struck and killed Friday night in Escambia County.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 21-year old Khadija Aujahne William of Pensacola was traveling south on W Street approaching Lloyd Street in a 2008 Ford Edge when she struck pedestrian Caravez Peterson about 9:36 p.m.
Peterson was pronounced deceased at the scene. Further details have not been released the Florida Highway Patrol.
Grief counselors will be available Monday morning at West Florida High School.
Photo courtesy WFHS Football.
Inmate Mistakenly Released From Jail Is Back Behind Bars
September 13, 2015
The inmate mistakenly released from the Escambia County Jail last Monday by corrections officers is now back behind bars.
Correction officers meant to release Steve Watson on bond, but they retrieved the wrong inmate and mistakenly released 53-year old Peter Watson instead. Peter Watson was being held on $2,500 bond on a shoplifting charge. Shortly after the release, corrections officers realized their mistake and unsuccessfully searched the immediate area surrounding the jail, according to a county news release.
Watson was re-booked into the Escambia County Jail late Friday night.
The incident was under investigation by jail administration and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Barrineau Park Community Gets Together For Day Of Fun (With Gallery)
September 13, 2015
A Barrineau Park Community Gathering was hled Saturday at the community center on Barrineau Park School Road. Residents of Barrineau Park were joined by friends, family and neighbors for a day of family fun.
There were arts and crafts vendors, plants sales, a bounce house and other games for children, a cake walk, live bands and free admission to the historical museum.
The event was sponsored by the Barrineau Park Historical Society.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
FWC Law Enforcement Report
September 13, 2015
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the weekly period ending September 11 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officers Clark and Pineda were on vessel patrol in Pensacola Bay when they observed a group of individuals snorkeling along the shoreline. One of the individuals was found in possession of 15 Stone Crabs. Most of the crabs were undersized and they were in whole condition. It is unlawful for a stone crab to be kept in whole condition and the claws are required to be at least 2 3/4 inches long. The season for harvesting Stone Crabs is currently closed. Officer Clark issued the individual notice to appear citations for the violations.
Officers Manning and Barnard conducted off shore patrol in federal and state waters. They cited two individuals for possession of red snapper during the closed season and issued a state citation to another individual for possession of grey triggerfish during the closed season. Additionally, they cited a charter boat captain for not having a federal reef fish permit.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officer Hutchinson and Reserve Officer Strong were on patrol at the Blackwater State Park when they observed an SUV parked in a Day Use area. The SUV did not have a day use permit attached to the vehicle. The officers approached the vehicle and made contact with the vehicle’s owners and confirmed that they had not paid the day use fees. While speaking with a passenger of the vehicle, Officer Hutchinson determined that there was a bag containing cannabis in the vehicle. The cannabis was seized and the passenger was charged with possession of less than 20 grams of cannabis.
This report represents some events the FWC handled over the past week; however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement. Information provided by FWC.