Woman Dies In Escambia, Ala., Fire; Third Fatality In Past Month
January 18, 2013
An Escambia County, Ala., woman died in a house fire Thursday morning, the third fire fatality in the county in the past month.
Family members identified the victim as Sonya Nacole Johnson of Brewton. She died in a mobile home fire on Highway 41 north of Brewton in the Wallace Community. There were no other injuries reported.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Alabama State Fire Marshal’s Office. The Wallace, Appleton and McCall volunteer fire departments and the Brewton Fire Department responded to the blaze.
An early morning fire back on December 22 claimed the lives of Perry Buckhault and Leanna Redmond on Sycamore Road in Canoe, Ala. Buckhault was loading or lighting a wood-burning heater when he somehow set himself on fire. Buckhault’s wife was able to escape the fire with minor injuries.
Pictured: Two people died in this fire on December 22 in the Canoe community of Escambia County, Ala. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Longtime Central Water Works Board Member Glenn Grant Steps Down
January 18, 2013
A longtime member of the Central Water Works board of directors was honored recently during the water provider’s annual meeting at Byrneville Elementary School.
Glenn Grant stepped down from the seven member volunteer board after more than 21 years of service. He was presented a plaque on behalf of the remainder of the board and the membership of Central Water Works in appreciation of his faithful years of dedicated service to the water system and the community.
Pictured top: Central Water Works Board President Gary Welch (left) presents a plaque to retiring board member Glenn Grant. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Winter Storm Brings Snow To Deep South; Cold To North Escambia
January 18, 2013
A winter storm brought several inches of snow to parts of the deep South on Thursday, while the North Escambia area experienced a blustery winds, a cold rain and just a very few snowflakes.
Parts of Mississippi and Alabama received 2 to 4 inches of snow in the storm, which is being blamed for the death of a West Point, Mississippi, man who died when his car hit a downed tree.
A few very brief snow flurries were reported Thursday morning by residents of Atmore, Canoe, Flomaton, Bratt and Walnut Hill. At the NorthEscambia.com office in Walnut Hill, a very small number of snowflakes were observed for just a few moments. There were no accumulations anywhere in the North Escambia area.
Gusty winds were reported as a cold front made its way across the area. Gusts of 30 mph were recorded in Bratt, 29 mph in Molino, 28 mph in Cantonment, 33 mph in Atmore and 36 mph in Pensacola.
Locally, Friday night will be clear and cold with a low around 31, while Saturday will be sunny and warmer with a high of 64.
Pictured: Snow covered the campus Thursday at Mississippi State University in Starkville, MS. Photos by Molino native Allie Vidak for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Gulf Power Gives Customers A New Way To Pay Bills
January 18, 2013
Gulf Power customers now have a new way to pay their bill — special payment kiosks that accept cash have been installed at 12 Circle K stores in Escambia County.
The kiosks accept cash only and require a $2 convenience fee. The machines offer easy instructions for paying with cash. The kiosks do not give change, so any change will be credited to the customer’s next bill statement. Customers will receive a time-stamped receipt when the payment is made.
Payment kiosks are located at the following Circle K locations:
- 4233 E. Creighton Road
- 1900 E. Nine Mile Road
- 2205 W. Nine Mile Road
- 330 Kenmore Road
- 3109 Pace Blvd.
- 2350 Michigan Ave.
- 4450 Bayou Blvd.
- 3013 E. Cervantes St.
- 601 N. New Warrington Road
- 2700 Gulf Beach Highway
- 2020 W. Cervantes Road
- 4501 North W Street
Gulf Power customers can also pay electricity bills by mail, at GulfPower.com, through their smartphones or in person at company customer service offices.
Fill A Bowl For Manna
January 18, 2013
Fill a Bowl for Manna will be held Saturday to benefit the local food bank that serves clients across the area.
Attendees will fill their keepsake ceramic bowl with sumptuous soups from several restaurants while helping Manna fill the empty bowls of more than 44,000 people in Northwest Florida.
Fill a Bowl for Manna will take place this Saturday, January 19 at the Jean & Paul Amos Performance Studio of WSRE-TV at 12th and College from 1-3 p.m.. Admission of $30 entitles guests to a ceramic bowl keepsake filled with soups by local eateries. Reservations are requested, but walk ins are welcome.
Reserve your spot online at www.mannafoodpantries.org.
Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Atmore Native Named A Pensacola ‘Rising Star’
January 18, 2013
A second North Escambia area native was among those named as a “Rising Star 2013″ in Thursday’s issue of the Pensacola Independent News.
Cassie Boatwright, 29, is director of publishing and auxiliary services for Pensacola State College. The Atmore native grew up in Nokomis and now lives near Stockton, Ala. She graduated from the Alabama School of Math and Science and will finish her doctorate this fall.
Thursday, we introduced readers to 27-year old Ashley (Wallace) Spikes, a 2004 Northview graduate that was named to the Rising Star list (read more…).
The Independent News Rising Stars program has honored Escambia and Santa Rosa leaders in the under-35 crowd since 2008. To read more, and see the 2013 Rising Stars, click here.
Molino Man Gets Probation On Drug, Animal Cruelty Charges; State Wanted Jail Time
January 17, 2013
A Molino man was sentenced Wednesday on drug and multiple animal cruelty charge for chaining malnourished pit bulls in their own filth while growing marijuana plants in his back yard. Prosecutors had asked the judge to sentence him to jail time.
John Roland Oswald, 30, was sentenced by Judge Gary Bergosh to 36 months probation and 50 hours of community service at the Escambia County Animal Shelter. He is also forbidden from possessing dogs or any other animal during his probation.
“Our office did not agree with probation being an appropriate sentence in this case,” State Attorney Bill Eddins said. The State Attorney’s Office had recommend a period of probation following a sentence of almost one year in jail.
Last week, Oswald pleaded no contest to one felony count of producing marijuana, two felony counts of causing cruel death, pain and suffering to animals and one felony count of unlawful confinement and abandonment of animals. One additional unlawful confinement charge against Oswald was dropped by prosecutors.
John Oswald’s wife, 34-year old Amanda Leah Oswald, is awaiting trial later this month on two felony counts of causing cruel death, pain and suffering to animals and two felony counts of unlawful confinement and abandonment of animals. She previously pleaded not guilty to the charges against her.
Eddins said his office will ask for a continuance in Amanda Oswald’s case
Escambia County deputies responded to a complaint about an aggressive pit bull on September 21 at a residence in on Highway 29 near Cotton Lake Road. The dog was loose in the victim’s yard and had attacked and killed her dog. Deputies kept the pit bull contained in the yard and notified Escambia County Animal Control. But before animal control arrived, the pit bull attempted to attack two officers who then utilized a shotgun to stop the dog, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
When deputies attempted to contact the owner of the dog at a nearby home on Highway 29 across from the Camp Of the Pines, deputies and animal control located two other pit bulls in the backyard of the home.
“I first observed a very skinny brown pit bill dog tied to a large chain barking at me,” one deputy wrote in his report. “I then observed a very skinny black pit bull dog lying on its side, and it appeared to be dead…I observed the black dog lift its head and look at me though due to the dog being so skinny from lack of food, the dog could not stand up.”
Both dogs were “malnourished to the point of starvation”, according to an arrest report, with access to “old nasty water” and no food. Both dogs were tied to heavy chains and were surrounded by flies.
“I then observed the black pit bull who was still lying on his side struggle and make several attempts to stand to his feet. “Once on his feet, his legs were wobbly and looked like he was going to fall over,” the deputy said.
The deputy said in his report that he first though the black dog was covered in ants crawling all over it, but it was actually a “massive amount” of fleas. The dog also reportedly had an eye infection.
The two pit bulls were seized by animal control. Amanda Oswald also voluntarily surrendered a pit bull and three Yorkie dogs from inside the residence to Escambia County Animal Control.
John Oswald was also charged with one felony count of producing marijuana. During the animal cruelty investigation, deputies reported the discovery of four marijuana plants up to five feet tall and one plant growing in a bucket in the home’s backyard.
Oswald met with a narcotics investigator and admitted that the marijuana plants belonged to him, an arrest report states. “He admitted to having a pill problem prior to being involved in marijuana and that he had started growing marijuana for personal use,” the investigator wrote in his report.
Escambia County Code Enforcement also responded to the home and opened a separate investigation for various code violations.
Navy Federal Named To FORTUNE’s ‘100 Best Companies To Work For’ List
January 17, 2013
Navy Federal was named Wednesday to FORTUNE Magazine’s 2013 list of “100 Best Companies To Work For.” This was the third appearance on the list during the last five years.
“This is an important honor for us. I believe it recognizes the enthusiasm and dedication our employees have for our mission to serve the men and women of the Department of Defense and their families,” said Cutler Dawson, president/CEO, Navy Federal Credit Union. “2012 was a record year for us—record growth in new members, loans, deposits and all our member success measures. But the real story is that we couldn’t have done this without the commitment of our employees. I am so very proud of the entire Navy Federal team.”
In 2012, the Navy Federal workforce grew to over 10,000 employees on its three campuses —Vienna, Va., Winchester, Va. and Pensacola—and 229 branches worldwide.
“We value employees who want to be part of a winning team and will embrace our corporate culture,” Dawson said. “We return that dedication by providing outstanding training, opportunities for career advancement — and excellent benefits.”
Fire Destroys Barn
January 17, 2013
Fire destroyed a large barn just east of Flomaton Wednesday night.
Fire departments from Flomaton and surrounding areas in Alabama, along with the Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Jay Fire Department, responded to the scene of a fully involved barn fire on Twin Bridges Road, just off Highway 31, shortly before 9 a.m.
No other structures were damaged, and there were no injuries reported. The cause of the fire was under investigation Wednesday night.
Field House In The Works For Northview’s Chiefs
January 17, 2013
Approaching 20 years after it first opened , a field house is in the works for Northview High School.
At their January 22 meeting, the Escambia County School Board is set to approved an architectural and engineering services contract with DAG Architects in Pensacola for $69,913.
The new field house will be about 3,500 square feet. The building will include one weight room, coaches’ offices, storage and accompanying restrooms. The construction budget is set at $490,000, to be funded with local option sales tax monies.
The new field house will be constructed near the main building where outdoor basketball courts are currently located. There is no timetable in place for the completion of the project.
Northview is the only public high school in Escambia County without a field house. The school opened in 1995.
Pictured: The Northview Chiefs prepare for a coin toss last season in their stadium. Pictured below: The Chiefs won the Florida Class 1A state football championship. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
