Search And Rescue Volunteers Work Through Super Bowl To Find Missing Man
February 2, 2015
When an 84-year old Alzheimer’s went missing Sunday afternoon, the volunteers of Escambia Search and Rescue were called to assist in finding him as most area residents turned their attention to the Super Bowl.
Five K-9 teams and 26 volunteers spent their night assisting in the search Joaquim Prates, who last seen on Spring Creek Circle off Chemstrand Road — an area that backs up to the vast Gulf Power Crist Plant property. About 11 p.m., ESAR notified the media that Prates had been found safely due to a citizen’s tip.
For ESAR, it was a chance to put their new command center to good use. Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan donated his agency’s former command center to ESAR because of their on-going partnership responding together in searches and natural disasters. The Sheriff’s Office purchased a new command center last year using Local Option Sales Tax funds.
ESAR volunteers assist emergency responders with search and rescue operations in South Alabama and Northwest Florida. They were working out of an aging and outdated command center.
Pictured: Inside Escambia Search and Rescue’s new command center Sunday night as volunteers scour the area for a missing Alzheimer’s patient. Pictured below: The command center was recently donate to ESAR by Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
No Injuries In Old Chemstrand Road Crash
February 2, 2015
There were no injuries when a driver lost control and hit a pole on Chemstrand Road Sunday night. The accident occurred about 8:35 in the 2200 block of Old Chemstrand Road, near Longbranch Drive. NorthEscambia.com photo by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
New Ernest Ward Opens: New Traffic Pattern For Drop Off, Pick Up
February 2, 2015
Now that students have moved into the new Ernest Ward Middle School today in Walnut Hill, there is a new traffic patternt for student drop off and pick up.
Parents will enter the campus at the Highway 99A gate at the old blue gym and take an immediate left into the school parking lot. Parents will continue through the parking lot to the drop off/pick up point at the school’s entrance. Then parents will exit the parking lot, turning left and exiting back onto Highway 99A.
Parents entering or exiting the school building (such as to check out a student) will parking the pictured parking lot and use the door marked with the red arrow.
Editor’s note: This traffic pattern for parents and buses will change once the old Ernest Ward building is demolished.
Pictured: The yellow arrows represent the parent line pick up and drop off at the new Ernest Ward Middle School. The entrance and exit to the school is marked with a red arrow. NorthEscambia.com graphic, click to enlarge.
Update: Missing Alzheimer’s Patient Located
February 1, 2015
UPDATE: Missing Alzheimer’s patient located safely after a citizen tip. Earlier story:
Authorities are searching for a missing Alzheimer’s patient from Escambia County.
Joaquim Prates, 84, was last seen shortly after 2:00 Sunday afternoon at 941 Spring Creek Circle, just northeast of the Chemstrand Road, East 10 Mile Road intersection.
He is described as a dark skinned white male who is approximately 5′4″ and 140 pounds. At the time of his disappearance, he was wearing blue jeans and a dark sweater and was walking a medium-large German shepherd mix dog. Anyone with any information on his whereabouts should contact the Escambia Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
Century Man Arrested For Negligent Manslaughter In Fatal Shooting
February 1, 2015
FOR AN UPDATE TO THIS STORY, CLICK HERE.
A Backwoods Road man has been arrested for manslaughter following a fatal shooting Saturday night in Century.
Jaran Britt Myles, 20, was booked into the Escambia County Jail Sunday morning on charges of negligent manslaughter, aggravated assault and kidnapping false imprisonment. He is being held without bond after turning himself in.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, 20-year old Jonathan Wilson was shot inside a home in the 1000 block of Backwoods Road about 8:00 Saturday night. Wilson was pronounced deceased on the scene from an apparent gunshot wound, while Myles fled the scene by forcing two additional victims at gunpoint to give him a ride, according to investigators. Myles was identified as the shooter by witnesses.
Witnesses told investigators that the shooting was the result of the reckless use of a firearm, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies and investigators from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office were on scene for several hours Saturday night, working to identify the victim and figure out exactly what happened. Numerous potential witnesses were transported to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Motorcyclist Injured In Collision With Pickup On Nine Mile Road
February 1, 2015
A motorcyclist was reported to be briefly pinned under a pickup truck after a Saturday crash on Nine Mile Road. The accident occurred at the Nine Mile Road intersection with Chandler Street, just east of North Palafox. The motorcyclist was transported to an area hospital with injuries that were not considered life threatening, while the pickup truck driver was not injured. The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate Varsity Cheerleaders Fall Short Of State Title
February 1, 2015
The Tate High School Varsity Cheerleaders took sixth place in the state Saturday in the Class 2A Medium Division of the 2015 FHSAA Competitive Cheerleading State Championships at the Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee.
The state championship went to Winter Park with 81.88 points, and the Jupiter claimed the runner-up spot with 74.88 points. The Lady Aggies earned 69.50 points. The Lady Aggies earned their trip to stat with a first place win a week ago at the FHSAA Regionals in Marianna.
Team members are Anna Barrow, Sarah Baxter, Nikki Cagle, Jasmine Crabtree, Megan Edgar, Jessica Hedden, Taylor Howey, DeAnna Jernigan, Kirstyn Johnson, Genevieve Leonard, Mia Morris, Taylor Nisewonger, Alie Phillips, Kaitlyn Riddell, Taylor Rouchon, and Brooke Vincent.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Chaparrals Winter Guard Take First In Fairhope
February 1, 2015
The Tate High School Chaparrals winter guard team won first place in the Scholastic Regional “A” Class Saturday at Fairhope High School. Chaparrals members are Katie Dupre, Celina Dyess, Breanna Langley, Megan Leonard, Katy Luebke, Jo Jo O’Steen, Michaela Overbey, Madison Philley, Brenn Repine, Kelsey Strength, Virginia Vaughn and Savannah VonStein.
Photos by Jennifer Repine for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Lawmakers Want Review Of ‘Baker Act’
February 1, 2015
Two South Florida lawmakers have filed bills that would require a review of Florida’s “Baker Act,” which allows for the involuntary commitment of people who have mental illnesses and are considered dangers to themselves or others.
The proposals, filed by Sen. Joseph Abruzzo, D-Boynton Beach, and Rep. Lori Berman, D-Lantana, will be considered during the legislative session that starts in March. Under the proposals, the Florida Department of Children and Families would create a workgroup that would study issues such as lengthening the amount of time in conducting initial assessments of people subject to the Baker Act.
Also, the panel would consider issues such as using telemedicine for patient evaluation, case management and ongoing care. Telemedicine involves using the Internet and other technology to provide health-care services remotely. The workgroup, which would include a wide range of members, would be required to submit a final report by Nov. 1.
In a prepared statement Monday, Abruzzo said the proposal is aimed at curbing a cycle of commitment and treatment. “There are far too many people who are caught up in a revolving door of treatment and release with no long-term plan for turning things around,” Abruzzo said. “We need to review and revise the law to offer greater options and better outcomes.”
by The News Service of Florida
Fire Destroys Cedartown Road Home
January 31, 2015
Fire destroyed an unoccupied home in Molino Friday night.
The fire in the 6800 block of Cedartown Road was reported about 6:15 p.m. The wood frame home was fully involved when the first Escambia Fire Rescue firefighters arrived on a scene.
There were no injuries reported.
The exact cause of the blaze in under investigation by the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Price and others, click to enlarge.
