Helicopter Crash: Coast Guard Recovers Two More Bodies
March 2, 2012
The Coast Guard recovered the bodies of two crewmembers, Thursday, as the salvage of the MH-65C Dolphin helicopter that crashed in Mobile Bay continues.
The remains of Lt. Cmdr. Dale Taylor, of Snow Hill, N.C., and Lt. j.g. Thomas Cameron, of Portland, Ore., were recovered by response personnel. The body of Chief Petty Officer Fernando Jorge was recovered Tuesday night after communications with the helicopter was lost during a training flight. Missing is Petty Officer 3rd Class Andrew Knight of Thomasville, Ala.
The Coast Guard suspended the active search and rescue operations Thursday night and are now conducting salvage and recovery operations.
“We saturated 95 percent of Mobile Bay for nearly two days with both aircraft and boats to thoroughly cover the search area. The decision to suspend the active search was terribly difficult,” said Capt. Donald J. Rose, commander of Coast Guard Sector Mobile. “Now, we must shift our focus to continuing salvage and recovery operations. As we continue to recover wreckage, we will look for the missing crewman.”
Coast Guard crews searched for 36 hours, conducting approximately 30 search patterns with track-line-search legs that covered 1,198 nautical miles within a search area of more than 200 square-nautical miles in an effort to locate the Coast Guardsmen. Crews and aircraft from multiple Coast Guard units, as well as several state and local first responder agencies, such as Alabama Marine Resources, Mobile Sheriff’s Department, Bon Secour Fire Department and Daphne Search and Rescue participated in the search efforts.
The tail section of the helicopter and other components were recovered Thursday by the crew aboard the Ben R. Johnson, a 57-foot salvage vessel. Wednesday night, the Ben R. Johnson recovered the helicopter fuselage from the bottom of Mobile Bay.
Pictured: A Coast Guard MH-65C based out of New Orleans on public relations visit to Ernest Ward Middle School in Walnut Hill in November 2010. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
International Paper Named Industry’s Most Admired Company
March 2, 2012
International Paper in Cantonment is part of the world’s most admired company in the forest and paper products industry, according to a list released by FORTUNE Magazine.
International Paper has received the award 9 of the last 10 years. IP was ranked No. 2 last year.
The company was at the top of the industry in people management, use of corporate assets, quality of management, financial soundness, investments and global competitiveness.
Over 450 people are employed at IP’s Cantonment mill.
Nightclub Stage Dancing, Shoe Throwing, Beer Tossing Ends With Arrest
March 2, 2012
A wanted Atmore woman that was dancing on a nightclub stage is now facing a felony charge after allegedly throwing a shoe at a woman at Seville Quarter.
Trishcelle Danielle Salazar, 25, was charged with felony aggravated battery by the Pensacola Police Department. She was also arrested on an outstanding failure to appear warrant in a traffic case.
According to her arrest report, Salazar was at Seville Quarter with two other people — a man and a woman. She was dancing on stage when she became upset that the man was “standing in her spot”, the report states, and got into an argument with him. Salazar told officers that the woman then “got in her face”, so she threw a shoe at her, striking her in the face. Salazar said the victim retaliated by throwing a beer at her, but she missed.
Salazar was released from the Escambia County Jail on $2,500 bond.
Saturday Northview DCT Softball Tourney Canceled
March 2, 2012
A coed softball tournament set for Saturday in Walnut Hill has been canceled due to weather.
The DCT Coed Softball Tournament that was scheduled for Northwest Escambia’s Bradberry Park will be rescheduled for a later date to be announced. For more information, call (850) 327-6681 or (251) 294-1947.
Byrd, Clark, Barrow Named To Subway All-Star Basketball Roster
March 2, 2012
Three North Escambia players were included as the Pensacola Sports Association announced the rosters for the 2012 Subway High School All-Star Basketball Game.
Taylor Byrd from Northview and Katie Clark from Tate were named to the West Girls team, and Zach Barrow from Northview was named to the West Boys team.
The 2nd annual all-star game is scheduled for Friday, March 9 at Pensacola State College. Beginning at 6 p.m., the women will take the court with the men’s game to follow. This year’s game features some of the best seniors from Okaloosa and Santa Rosa Counties (East) playing against the seniors from Escambia County (West).
Tickets to the game are only $8. Fans are encouraged to bring canned good items to donate to the Manna Food Pantry to get a discount on game admission. Additionally, $1 of every ticket will go toward the Dr. Alec Kessler Scholarship Foundation. Dr. Kessler played for the University of Georgia and the Miami Heat before becoming a surgeon at the Andrews Institute. He passed away in 2007 from a heart attack. The scholarship winners will be announced at the all-star banquet.
Rosters for the 2012 Subway High School All-Star Soccer Game are below. Final game day rosters are subject to change.
West Girls: I’eshia Adams, Allie Plummer, Mary Grace Salinas from Catholic, Taylor Byrd from Northview, Eva Stevens, Jasmine Baldwin, Katie Clark from Tate, Cilmary Hatcher, Kiarra Watts, Cori Snow from West Florida, Kyla Muhammad, Pershawna Williams from Pensacola, Teadra Jones, Megan Briske from Washington, Jenna Weidert, Bethany Roberts from Pensacola Christian Academy, Taron Bright, Megan Lyn, Micala Kirn from Pace.
West Boys: Tom Andrews from Pensacola Christian Academy, Devante’ Riley, Fletcher Forte, Shane Sanders from Pensacola, Michael Burkhard, Chase Wilson from Catholic, David Hawkins, Cole Fountain, Shaquille Purifoy, Joshaun Bryant from Pine Forest, Devante Pope, Keaynon Gulley, Dominic McCrear, Braxton griffin, Joshua Byrd from Washington, Tristan Rudolph, Shanton Bonner from Escambia Charter, Zach Barrow from Northview, Charles Conner, John Kelly from East Hill.
East Girls: Kaylynn Chappell, Jameisa Madison, Tontora Stith, Erica Hedmount from Crestview, Ashley Levesque from Niceville, Emily Troell, Marionna Pride from Fort Walton Beach, Brittany West, Alexis Cheeks, Jessinda Skinner from Choctaw, Cierrah Jackson, Abrea Johnson, Kasandra Gilley, Virginia French from Milton, Maggie Mims from Gulf Breeze, Morgan Jones, Danni Mayhair from Baker.
East Boys: Haylen Washington, Ryan Novacic from Milton, Gavin Richardson from Central, Chris Taylor, Jordan Bennett, Donocan President from Gulf Breeze, Tyler Armstrong, Jerrod Stephens from Pace, Anthony Hawthrone, Jonathan Brassell, Mikal Rodgers from Choctaw, Danny Spicer from Baker, Justin Cline, Antryun Coleman from Crestview, Kyle Koszuta, Shane Horton, Iain Persaud from Niceville, Todd Laney from Jay, Rece Drake from Fort Walton, Dylan Dunford from Baker.
Pedestrian Killed Near Pensacola State College
March 1, 2012
A man was hit and killed by a vehicle Thursday morning near Pensacola State College.
The accident happened about 6 a.m. near the Ninth Avenue and Underwood Avenue intersection. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 40-year old Walter Monroe Kirby of Pensacola attempted to cross Ninth Avenue and stepped into the path of a 1997 Chevrolet pickup driven by 51-year Addison Rogers of Pensacola. Kirby was pronounced dead at the scene by Escambia County EMS.
No charges have been filed.
No Injuries In School Bus Accident
March 1, 2012
There were no injuries reported in a school bus accident Thursday morning in Beulah.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the bus driver, 38-year old Deedee Percival of Pensacola, clipped a utility pole with her mirror at Frank Reeder Road and Pepperwood Drive. There were about 40 students on the bus at the time of the accident. There were no injuries.
Percival was cited for careless driving.
In addition to the Florida Highway Patrol, multiple stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the accident.
WABB 97.5 Signs Off Forever; Atmore Licensed 104.1 Looks To Fill Void
March 1, 2012
After nearly 50 years, WABB 97.5 FM signed off into the history books at midnight Wednesday, as Cumulus Media flipped formats on Atmore licensed 104.1 in an attempt to fill the void left as 97.5 FM began playing a satellite Christian music format.
WABB 97.5 — one of the oldest rock/contemporary radio stations in the country — was sold to not-for-profit EMF (Educational Media Foundation) of Rocklin, CA. EMF took over all programming and the format for the station on Thursday, switching 97.5 FM to the Christian K-Love format. The station’s call letters were changed to WLVM 97.5 FM.
At the same moment, what was WYOK 104.1 FM switched from their variety hits “104.1 Jack-FM” format to the same contemporary hit format that was on WABB. The station also changed call letters to the very similar to WABB sounding WABD 104.1. The station, WABD 104.1 FM, is licensed to Atmore, but does not operate from the city.
Scott Adams, who was the morning host on “Journey 100″, which is also owned by Cumulus, tweeted that he’s headed to WABD 104.1. Adams is former DJ on WABB.
Three Seriously Injured In Highway 97 Crash (Updated With Names)
March 1, 2012
Three people were seriously injured in a near head-on wreck south of Walnut Hill Wednesday night.
The accident happened about 10 p.m. on Highway 97 just south of Tungoil Road. The Florida Highway Patrol said a 2010 Chrysler 300 sedan driven by Kenneth Ray Spivey,71, of Molino was traveling northbound in the southbound lane of Highway 97 as a Chevrolet Silverado pickup driven by Guy E. Giancola, 65, was traveling southbound in the southbound lane. Giancola swerved to avoid the impact, but the front left of both vehicles collided.
The car came to rest in the southbound lane of Highway 97; the pickup came to rest in a nearby ditch.
All three people in the crash– two in the pickup and one in the car — were trapped in their vehicles. First responders were forced to use the Jaws of Life to free them. All three were transported by ambulance to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola.
Giancola and his 63-year old passenger, Gail L. Giancola, were listed in serious condition Friday morning at Sacred Heart Hospital. Spivey, who was also seriously injured, was charged with driving on the wrong side of the roadway, according to FHP.
Highway 97 was shutdown for over an hour due to the crash.
The Walnut Hill, McDavid and Molino stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS, Santa Rosa County EMS and Atmore Ambulance also responded to the accident.
Pictured top: One person was trapped in this car in a two-vehicle wreck Wednesday night on Highway 97 near Walnut Hill. Pictured above: Firefighters use the Jaws of Life to free two people from this pickup. Pictured below: Authorities said the driver of this pickup cross the center line into the path of the car. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Deputies Searching For Cop Impersonator
March 1, 2012
Escambia Sheriff’s investigators are trying to identify a man who impersonated a law enforcement officer earlier this week.
Deputies received a report from a female who said that she was driving west on Ten Mile Road near Chemstrand Road about 11 p.m. Monday with a white Ford Crown Victoria behind her.
The victim said that the male turned on a rotating blue light that appeared to be on the dash. The victim believing that it was a law enforcement officer, pulled over and
stopped. At that time an unknown white male walked up to her driver’s door and attempted to open it. The victim then drove off and called law enforcement when she arrived home.
The suspect is described as a white male, approximately 5’11”, 200 pounds, brown hair and possibly in his mid-30’s. He was wearing blue jeans, black bomber style jacket and motorcycle gloves.
Anyone who has information regarding this case is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP (7867).