Blue Angels Send Off Fallen Soldiers’ Families On Snowball Express
December 11, 2011
The Blue Angels welcomed seven local families of fallen military heroes to the Pensacola International Airport Friday before their flight to a Snowball Express event in Texas.
Snowball Express is a charity organization for children of America’s fallen military heroes, and the team was honored to support this event, said Blue Angel #7 Lt. Mark Tedrow.
Blue Angels team members signed autographs, presented each child with a personalized lithograph, and spent time with the children in the USO center before their flight to North Texas to join nearly 1,700 other children and surviving spouses.
“It was a truly humbling and rewarding experience to be able to spend time with the sons, daughters and spouses of those service members who have made the ultimate sacrifice,” said Tedrow.
The event is a time for the families to do something fun, said April Lyons, whose husband, Niall, died in 2009. April’s son, John Patrick, was excited to interact with other children in a similar situation.
“I think they’re just excited to know they’re not alone,” said Sarah White, a mother of three.
White’s son, Seth, although it was his first time at Snowball Express, said he knew just what the event would be like.
“I know what to expect,” he said, giggling. “I’m gonna have fun.”
Blue Angels C-130 Pilot Marine Capt. A.J. Harrell said he hoped being part of the event helped the families’ healing process.
“I know the kids were excited,” Harrell added. “It meant a lot to be a part of that.”
Tedrow said the experience was special to him because it is important to remember the sacrifices of not only our fallen soldiers, but also their families.
“Our job as Blue Angels is to credibly represent the Sailors and Marines who are forward deployed all over the world,” he said, “but today was a great opportunity to honor and represent the fallen servicemen and women that are no longer with us.”
American Airlines provides transportation annually for families across the world to the Snowball Express event, where children and surviving spouses meet for a weekend of enjoyment. This year, the schedule includes visits to Six Flags Over Texas and the Mesquite Championship Rodeo.
Pictured: Seven families of fallen military heroes flew from Pensacola to Texas Friday on the “Snowball Express”. Photos and article submitted by Rachel McMarr, Blue Angels Public Affairs, for NorthEscambia.com, click photos to enlarge.
Malone, Meacham To Wed
December 11, 2011
Allen and Shelly Jay of Atmore and Blake and Jackie Malone of Pass Christian, MS, announce the engagement of their daughter, Kaysie Antoinette Malone, to Norvelle Alexander Meacham of Perdido, AL, the son of Tom and Bobbie Meacham.
Kaysie graduated in 2010 from Atmore Christian School. She is a full time student at University of Mobile studying elementary education and works with Atmore Ambulance.
Alex graduated in 2008 from Atmore Christian School. He is the intern assistant to the Director of International Ministries and Church Planting for the Mobile Baptist Association and is a sales associate at Kohl’s. Alex is also a student at University of Mobile majoring in intercultural studies.
The wedding will take place at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 17, 2011, at Brooks Memorial Baptist Church on McRae Street in Atmore. Family and friends are welcome to attend.
Fire Department Holds Toy Drive
December 11, 2011
Members of the Atmore Fire Department held their annual Toy Drive Saturday to benefit children in the area at Christmas. The department collected new toys for hours Saturday outside Fred’s on Lindberg Avenue. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
One Critically Injured In Early Morning Hwy 29 Crash
December 10, 2011
One person was critically injured in a single vehicle wreck early Saturday morning on Highway 29 in McDavid.
The accident happened just after 3 a.m. on the southbound side of Highway 29 near Black Road. A 20-year old man from Cantonment apparently lost control, ran off the roadway into a ditch and struck a fire hydrant. He was airlifted by LifeFlight to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola as a “trauma alert”.
The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Further details were not immediately available.
The McDavid Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the call.
Pictured: One person was injured in this wreck early Saturday morning on Highway 29 in McDavid. Reader submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Community Helps Feed 65 Animals Seized Near Molino
December 10, 2011
People from across the North Escambia area banded together Friday to help save the lives of 65 animals that were starving near Molino.
Escambia County Animal Control seized 18 donkeys, six miniature horses, four goats, 12 peacocks and 25 pigs. But since they had no where to house some of them, they were kept on the property, according to Diane Lowery, president of Panhandle Equine Rescue (PER).
“These animals have been neglected for quite some time; some have already died,” she said in an emergency plea via email Friday, asking for hay or funding for hay, for some of the animals.
“I just sat at the computer and cried at the responses and the number of people that wanted to help animals in trouble,” she said Friday afternoon on her way to help distribute eight large bales of hay weighing hundreds of pounds to the animals.
“This is such a great community that we live in,” Lowery said. “It just warms my heart the way people helped so quickly.”
She said the owner of the animals is currently in the hospital and was unable to care for them. It was not known late Friday if any charges would be filed against the person.
Pictured top: Hay is delivered to starving donkeys Friday afternoon near Molino. Pictured inset: An Escambia County Animal Control Officers feeds a donkey an apple. Pictured below: Another county animal control officer documents conditions. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Funeral Services Set For Wade Jernigan; His Organ Donation Allows Others To Live
December 10, 2011
A heart of gold, always a smile, always positive, always there, and always giving of himself. Those are just some of the ways Wade Jernigan’s friends described him in the hours following a tragic wreck Wednesday morning not far from Northview High School. And, even in his death, he continued to give of himself.
“Wade was truly a sweetheart, he was the best friend a girl could have. I was so shocked and overwhelmed about the passing I broke down in to tears,” a friend wrote on NorthEscambia.com. “But later on in the day i realized this is a time not mourn and grieve but to mainly honor how great of a guy he was.”
“I’ve never in my time being at Northview witnessed the halls so empty of emotion and noise. Silence had overwhelmed us completely. This tells you how great of a guy he was. It hurts us all to think the guy you surrounded yourself with in case you were having a bad day, is gone. In return, we will all grow stronger, and learn from this,” another student wrote about the Northview sophomore.
After doctors did all they could do, Wade was kept on life support at Sacred Heart Hospital in order to donate his organs.
“Through his unselfish, giving spirit he chose to be an organ donor, and even though we greatly grieve his passing, through it he gave eight people and their families life and in this way he lives on through them,” the family said.
Funeral services for 16-year old Kenneth Wade Jernigan will be held Sunday, December 11 at 1 p.m. at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North inCantonment with Rev. Jeff Howard and Rev. Doug Hogg officiating. Interment will follow at Bayview Memorial Park Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 5-8 p.m. on Saturday, December 10, 2011.
For the complete obituary, click here.
Class 1A Championship: Jefferson County Beats Chipley
December 10, 2011
With 40 points in the second half, Jefferson County beat Chipley 47-13 to claim the Florida Class 1A football championship Friday night in Orlando.
Jefferson County and Chipley were tied 7-7 early in the third until Jefferson County exploded to take a 33-7 lead headed into the fourth quarter.
It was the sixth state championship for Jefferson County (9-5). Chipley, coming off a win last week over the Northview Chiefs, finished at 11-3.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
‘Memory Line’ Remembers Northview Student Wade Jernigan
December 10, 2011
Northview High School students remembered classmate Wade Jernigan with a “memory line” Friday morning.
Dozens of Northview students met before school at the Travis M. Nelson Park on West Highway 4 and drove their vehicles in a continuous motorcade to the school campus. Jernigan, 16, died Thursday as a result of an accident on the way school Wednesday morning.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century’s Lashley Steps Down As Head Coach Of Navarre Raiders
December 10, 2011
Former Century resident Chad Lashley stepped down Friday as the head coach of the Navarre Raiders.
Lashley told team members that he was stepping down to spend more time with his family — wife Amanda Wiggins Lashley, who is from Walnut Hill, and the couple’s three children Taylor, Aden and Gavin.
He said he has plans to remain in coaching, just not as head coach.
Man Convicted Of DUI Manslaughter
December 10, 2011
A Santa Rosa County man was found guilty Friday of DUI manslaughter and DUI.
Jeremy Joseph Hammill faces 20 years in state prison when he is sentenced on January 31.
On February 27, 2010, Hammill ran the red light at Hamilton Bridge Road and Dogwood Drive and crashed into a car driven by Tammy Cabaniss. Cabaniss was seriously injured, and her passenger, Dwight Davis, died as a result of the crash.
Hammill, who had a previous DUI conviction, had a blood alcohol level of .26, according to State Attorney Bill Eddins.