No Injuries In Hwy 97 Crash
July 5, 2013
There were no injuries in a single vehicle wreck Friday afternoon on Highway 97 near South Highway 99 in Walnut Hill.
The female driver of a Buick apparently hit standing water on the roadway and struck a tree about 12:20 p.m.After hitting the tree, the vehicle continued about 500 feet without one rear wheel before coming to rest alongside Highway 97.
The drive refused transport to the hospital.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. The Walnut Hill and Molino stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and Atmore Ambulance also responded to the crash. Further details have not been released.
Pictured top and inset: The driver of this vehicle refused transport to the hospital following a single vehicle crash on Highway 97 in Walnut Hill Friday afternoon. Pictured below: After hitting this tree, the vehicle continued without on rear wheel for about 500 feet. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Two Teens Arrested For Stabbing, Robbing Transient Outside Church
July 5, 2013
Two Escambia County teenagers have been arrested for the June 25 stabbing and robbery of a transient at a church just off Nine Mile Road.
Damon Scott Rambo, 16 and Kamron Reid Boshart, 14, allegedly attacked 41-year old Bradley Kocian outside Liberty Church, just behind a Wendy’s Restaurant at Nine Mile Road and Music Lane.
Responding Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies found Kocian suffering from injuries that were consistent with stab wounds. Deputies discovered he had been attacked by Rambo and Boshart just before stealing his backpack.
Kocian was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital where he was treated and released after a few days.
Rambo and Boshart were charged with aggravated battery, robbery with a deadly weapon and tampering with evidence.
Mississippi Man Killed In I-10 Crash
July 5, 2013
One person was killed in a single vehicle accident late Thursday morning on I-10.
The accident happened about 11:55 a.m. at the 28 mile marker in Santa Rosa County. The Florida Highway Patrol said 65-year old Isaac Coleman of Gulfport ran off the roadway and struck a concrete culvert with his 2005 Dodge Caravan. Coleman was transported to West Florida Hospital in Pensacola where he was pronounced deceased.
Photos: Jay Celebrates With Fireworks
July 5, 2013
The Town of Jay and the Jay Area Chamber of Commerce celebrated the Fourth of July Thursday night with a fireworks show. Earlier in the day, arts and crafts vendors were on hand at the Bray-Hendricks City Park, along with plenty of food and entertainment. The day started with the Celebrate Freedom 5K Road Race and 1 Mile Fun Run. NorthEscambia.com photos by Ramona Preston, click to enlarge.
Photos: Atmore Fireworks
July 5, 2013
Crowds from across the area celebrated the Fourth of July Thursday with a fireworks show at the Wind Creek Hotel in Atmore. NorthEscambia.com photos by Ditto Gorme, click to enlarge.
Molino Lady Astros Take On The Firecracker Classic
July 5, 2013
The 18U Molino Lady Astros finished as runner-ups recently in the Firecracker Softball Tournament at Pensacola’s Exchange Park.
Behind a strong offense and defense, the team held strong in throughout the tournament, despite a 2-1 loss to the Mississippi Ice in the finals. The 18U Lady Astros have made it to the finals the last three of four tournaments including a state championship.
The team is one more tournament away from the Southern Nationals in Mississippi.
Pictured: The Molino Lady Astros. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Pensacola Beats Generals
July 5, 2013
Shaun Ellis dominated in his return to the rotation and the Blue Wahoos offense provided just enough support as Pensacola knocked off the Jackson Generals 2-1 on Thursday afternoon at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium in front of the 17th sellout crowd of the season.
Played in a swift 1:56, Ellis combined with relievers Josh Ravin and Trevor Bell to stymie the Generals throughout the contest. Ellis (3-1) allowed just an unearned run on one hit over his career-high seven innings pitched, retiring the final 12 batters he faced and 21 of the 23 hitters overall. The lone run the Generals scored against Ellis came in the top of the fourth inning when Chris Taylor walked, stole second base, advanced to third on a throwing error by the shortstop Devin Lohman and scored on a groundout from Ramon Morla.
The Wahoos hurlers carried a one-hitter into the eighth, facing just two over the minimum before Taylor singled with two outs, snapping a streak of 17 straight set down. Bell struck out Julio Morban to end the contest and sew up his fourth save of the year.
Pensacola had its hands full with Jackson starter Anthony Fernandez through the first five innings, but broke through in the sixth. Lohman reached on a dropped third strike to spark the rally before Yorman Rodriguez doubled him home to knot the game at one. Two batters later, Marquez Smith singled to right-center, scoring Rodriguez and giving Pensacola a 2-1 lead.
Fernandez fell to 5-4 on the year despite allowing only two runs on five hits in seven innings.
The series continues on Friday night at 7 p.m. Pensacola will go with right-hander Tim Crabbe (3-6, 3.53) while Jackson will counter with southpaw Roenis Elias (4-7, 2.96).
story by Kevin Burke
Panhandle Equine Rescue Awarded Petfinder Tractor Supply Grant
July 5, 2013
Panhandle Equine Rescue of Cantonment has been awarded a Tractor Supply Operation grant valued at $1,000 by the Petfinder Association.
This grant is made possible through the Petfinder Foundation’s partnership with Tractor Supply to assist in funding basic operation costs such as hay, veterinary costs or other operating needs for animal welfare organizations who work with barnyard animals.
The non-profit Petfinder Foundation is dedicated to ending the euthanasia of adoptable pets. They help Petfinder member shelters save lives through adoption, help shelters prepare for and recover from disaster and work to ensure animal welfare organizations across the country are more sustainable.
“Due to the economic times and the rising cost of feed and hay, sufficient donations have not been coming in, which makes it difficult to feed the twenty horses we currently have in foster care. We are so grateful to the Petfinder Foundation and for Tractor Supply’s partnership with them. Awarding this grant to our rescue for use towards everyday operations will benefit the horse’s most basic daily needs; feed, hay and vet care” said Diane Lowery, president and co-founder of Panhandle Equine Rescue.
The only horse rescue in Escambia County, Panhandle Equine Rescue was founded by a small group of concerned citizens with a mission to rescue, rehabilitate and provide adoption services for abused, neglected and abandoned equines.
Pictured top: Panhandle Equine Rescue volunteers during a recent fund raiser at Tractor Supply Company on Nine Mile Road. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century, Flomaton Celebrate The Fourth With A Bang
July 4, 2013
Fireworks lit up the night Wednesday with an early celebration at Flomaton’s Hurricane Park. The fireworks show was a joint effort of both the Town of Flomaton and the Town of Century. The towns alternate hosting the festivities each year. Photos by Ditto Gorme for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Forester To Lead Probe Into Arizona Firefighter Deaths
July 4, 2013
Florida State Forester Jim Karels has been named the lead investigator for the review of the tragic deaths of 19 firefighters in Arizona this week. The Arizona State Forestry Division announced the members of the Yarnell Hill Investigation Team that will investigate the deaths of the Granite Mountain Hotshots killed Sunday in the Yarnell Hill Fire. The investigation begins immediately.
“Our hearts go out to the people of Arizona, especially to the families of the 19 men who tragically lost their lives while protect the lives of others,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam. “Jim Karels is a nationally recognized firefighter who will use his decades of experience to lead this team to better understand what happened and how to possibly prevent such a terrible loss in the future.”
A wildfire in Yarnell, Arizona, northwest of Phoenix, claimed the lives of 19 wildland firefighters on Sunday. The fire started on Friday and spread to more than 6,000 acres in two days. Sunday was the deadliest day for U.S. firefighters since Sept. 11, 2001, and the deadliest wildfire since 1933.
Karels will lead the independent investigation, and Mike Dudley, Acting Director of Cooperative Forestry of the U.S. Forest Service, will be the secondary team lead. Others participating in the investigation include the U.S. Forest Service Missoula Technology and Development Center, the Missoula Fire Department, the Bureau of Land Management and the Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health. The local liaisons to the nine-member Yarnell Hill Investigation Team are Arizona State Forester Scott Hunt and Prescott Fire Chief Dan Fraijo.
Karels, appointed Florida State Forester in 2008, is director of the Florida Forest Service, which manages 1 million acres of public forest land while protecting more than 26 million acres of homes, forestland, and natural resources from the devastating effects of wildfire.
He has more than 30 years of experience in land management and wildfire suppression, including four fire seasons with the U.S. Forest Service. He represents all 50 states as the National Association of State Foresters Wildfire Committee Chairman and serves on the Wildland Fire Leadership Council providing support for the implementation and coordination of national fire management policies. He is a member of the Governor’s Land Acquisition and Restoration Council and sits on numerous national boards and associations dealing with wildland fire suppression and forest land management.
Karels also organized and directed the interagency review team into the Blue Ribbon Fire, which took the lives of two Florida wildland firefighters on June 20, 2011. The team, comprised of representatives of the Florida Forest Service, U.S. Forest Service, Georgia Forestry Commission and Office of State Fire Marshal, worked together to gather all factual information regarding the Florida Forest Service’s response to the Blue Ribbon Fire and to discover and define the environmental, management and human factors that contributed to the tragic incident, as well as identify steps to take to prevent similar incidents in the future.
In addition to Karels, one Florida Forest Service firefighter has been assigned to the Yarnell Hill Fire, and one mitigation specialist/public information officer was assigned to assist efforts in Colorado.