Century Awards $230K In Grants To Repair Four Private Homes
November 10, 2011
The Town of Century has awarded $230,567 in grant-funded contracts to rehabilitate four private homes in the town.
The town was awarded a $650,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to rehabilitate or replace about nine homes that are currently occupied by persons of low or moderate income. The town also received $100,000 in Residential Construction Mitigation Program Funds for hurricane retrofits.
The town first selected five homes to be rehabilitated under the programs, but later decided to reconstruct a home at 511 East Pond rather than rehabilitate it.
Bids were awarded for housing rehabilitation as follows:
- 6 Howard Street/Cullie Mae Carter — Motes Construction, Inc., $50,560
- 521 East Hecker Road/Ollie Kelly — Thompson Contractor Resources, Inc., $67,902
- 411 Cedar Street/Dorothy Newton — John Claude, General Contractor, $38,215
- 7820 Jefferson Avenue/Elsie Reaves — Parker Custom Homes, Inc., $73,980
Pictured top: Grants will fund $67,902 in repairs to this house at 521 East Hecker Road in Century. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Video: Superintendent Malcolm Thomas Veterans Day Address To Ernest Ward Middle School
November 10, 2011
Escambia County School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas delivered a the keynote address to Ernest Ward Middle School during their annual Veterans Day program Wednesday morning.
For the complete story and photo, click here.
If you do not see the video above, it is because your home, school or work firewall is blocking external videos.
Pensacola Airport Has New Name
November 10, 2011
Pensacola Gulf Coast Regional Airport has a new name — the Pensacola International Airport.
Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward said the name change was part of a broader effort to position Pensacola as an attractive place for businesses to locate or expand.
“We live and compete in a global economy, and we need to prepare and position our city to be competitive,” said Hayward. ”We don’t have to be a huge city to be a great place to do business, and this name change sends a signal to the region, the nation, and the world that Pensacola is accessible, that we are open for business, and that we are prepared to grow.”
Hayward said that other airports in the region were assumed to be larger and more worthy of investment or bonding simply because of their name or location. Airport Director Melinda Crawford had first-hand experience dealing with credit and bond agencies that assumed Pensacola was a smaller player in the Gulf Coast air passenger market based on the name of the airport.
“Pensacola serves more passengers than any other airport between New Orleans and Jacksonville, but when it comes to competing for capital dollars and bond ratings, a lot of inaccurate assumptions have been made about us based on our name,” said Crawford. ”That’s going to change today.”
The airport does not offer any international flights.
The announcement came as Mayor Hayward dedicated the airport’s new terminal expansion, part of an $82 million, five-year capital improvements project. The improvements also included a new baggage screening system, enlarged security checkpoint area, and new seating, flooring, and signage throughout the terminal.
Pictured: A new logo and name plaque unveiled Wednesday at the Pensacola International Airport. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Some Bratt, Century Area Residents Lose Power
November 9, 2011
A small number of Escambia River Electric Cooperative customers in the Bratt and Century areas lost power Wednesday night.
EREC says about 45 households lost power in the Bratt area due to a problem in the Bratt substation. After power was restored to the Bratt area, an undetermined number of EREC customers in the North Century Boulevard, Highway 164 and Milstead Road areas lost power when a large tree limb knocked out a breaker, according to the company.
Power was restored to all EREC customers before 9:30 p.m.
Two Arrested After Three ‘One Pot’ Meth Labs Found In Bratt (With Photo Gallery)
November 9, 2011
[Exclusive] The discovery of a methamphetamine lab at a mobile home in Bratt led to the arrest of two people on multiple drug charges.
Working on an anonymous tip early Tuesday evening, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office developed information that a meth lab was located at the home in 4200 block of Rigby Road, just south of West Highway 4.
After obtaining a search warrant late Tuesday night, investigators with the county’s Narcotics Unit located three “one pot” methamphetamine labs in the residence, at least one of which was active. They also found a variety of drug paraphernalia and an active “gas generator”.
For a photo gallery from the scene, click here.
For video of the cleanup, click here.
Mark Steven McGhee, age 44 of Rigby Road in Bratt, and 24-year old Charissa Leigh Clarke of North Highway 99 in Walnut Hill, were taken into custody at the scene. They were charged with possession of methamphetamine/trafficking, two counts of possession of an illicit chemical and manufacturing methamphetamine. They were booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $40,500.
According to investigators, the mobile home’s electricity was disconnected and an extension cord to a neighboring home was being used for power. They said the home had no running water, and it appeared that a lawn chair with a large hole in the seat was being used as an improvised toilet behind the residence.
A hazardous materials team from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Rapid Response unit responded to the scene to neutralize the meth labs and associated chemicals about 2 a.m. Wednesday.
For a photo gallery from the scene, click here.
For video of the cleanup, click here.
Pictured top: An Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Rapid Response unit hazardous materials teams works to neutralize an the “one pot” meth labs about 2 a.m. Wednesday in Bratt. Pictured top inset: Charissa Leigh Clarke is taken into custodyby Deputy George Kichler. Pictured bottom inset: Three “one pot” meth labs located inside a Bratt mobile home. Pictured below: Deputy James Gilman (left) places Mark Steven McGhee into a patrol vehicle. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Bratt Park Renamed For Fallen Marine
November 9, 2011
LCpl Travis Nelson left behind a short, simple note just in case he did return from the battlefield in Afghanistan.
“Dear friends and family, if you are reading this, I didn’t get to come home. I love each and every one of you. I have no regrets, I died for a meaningful cause.”
Nelson was killed August 18 in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. It was just two weeks after his 19th birthday and only about a month after he arrived in Afghanistan.
Family, friends, community leaders and government officials including Congressman Jeff Miller gathered Tuesday afternoon at a new county park on Highway 4 in Bratt to unveil a monument in his honor and official dedicate the park as the Travis M. Nelson Park. As a young boy, Nelson grew up in house just two doors down from the site of the park.
For a photo gallery from the event, click here.
“He played right on these very grounds,” Scott Nelson said standing in the park named for his son. “He’d shoot his BB gun, ride his go cart.”
“He had the biggest go cart in all of Bratt,” his mother, Beckie Nelson, said.
“”I think it’s great. Even for our family to see for years to come. And our children, our grandchildren, I think it’s fantastic,” Scott Nelson said. “It’s an honor… a big honor,” Beckie Nelson added.
“Indeed we are free, but our freedom is far from being free. I challenge you to take advantage of this very special place the LCpl. Travis Nelson Park and each time you come and look at this monument, remember the sacrifice that not only Travis made for you, but the sacrifice his family will make each day of their life from this moment forward,” said longtime family friend Janet Little Cooper.
Pictured above: The family of Lance Cpl. Travel Nelson react Tuesday afternoon to the unveiling of a monument in his honor at the Travis M. Nelson Park on on West Highway 4. Pictured: (L-R) Nelson’s fiancee Madeline Cates, Louise Nelson, sister Anna Nelson, and parents Scott and Beckie Nelson. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Bond Set For Sisters Charged With Murder In Fire Deaths
November 9, 2011
The mothers of three children who died in a house fire last week in Atmore were in court Tuesday afternoon where a judge set their bond at $300,000 each.
Akeevia Lajoseia Abner and Tekeevia Lajoseialan Abner, both 18, were arrested Monday for three counts of reckless murder of 3-year olds Aniyia Abner and Takia Abner, and 22-month old Michael Coleman. The women face up to life in prison on each count if convicted.
A State Fire Marshal’s investigation determined the fire on 1st Street last Wednesday night was caused by an unattended stove. Authorities say the mothers had left the children home alone while they were elsewhere in the neighborhood.
“They showed an extreme indifference to these children’s lives and created a grave risk of death to the children by leaving them home alone on November 2, 2011,” according to the Escambia County (Ala.) District Attorney’s Office.
Two of the children were found dead in a hallway while the third was found in a bedroom. And prosecutors said that a mattress was blocking the living room door.
Forensics evidence determined that three young children died from smoke inhalation, authorities said.
Funeral services for the children will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at the New Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church, 1712 M.L. King Avenue in Atmore. The Rev. Dr. Harold Askew will be officiating.
For earlier stories about the fire, including photos from the aftermath of the fire Wednesday night, click here and click here.
Pictured below: The aftermath a fire November 2 in Atmore that claimed the lives of three young children. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Northview Volleyball, Cross Country, Golf Athletes Honored
November 9, 2011
Several Northview High students were honored during a recent Fellowship of Christian Athletes banquet for their participation in volleyball, cross country and golf.
Northview Chiefs honored were:
Escambia Paramedic Gets Probation For Faked Shooting
November 9, 2011
An Escambia County paramedic who faked his own shooting has pleaded no contest to the charges against him.
On January 28, Escambia County deputies responded to the 1100 block of W. Hayes Street and found that Richie had been shot in the shoulder. Richie told deputies that he was retrieving an item from a bag located inside his ambulance when someone tapped him on the back. As he turned around he was shot. Two weeks later, he admitted that the gunshot wound was self-inflicted.
He was sentenced to three years probation for fraud and filing a false report. He will also be responsible for court costs and will undergo mental health counseling.
Pictured top: An Escambia County EMS medic claimed to be shot January 28 on Hayes Street in Pensacola. Photo courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Poarch Man Pleads Guilty In Child Sex Abuse Case
November 9, 2011
An Escambia County, Ala., man pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday to charges that he sexually abused three young boys.
Dustin O. Raybon of Poarch entered the plea, ending his ongoing trial for sexual contact with a child younger than 12. The boys, which were Raybon’s relatives, were reportedly abused in 2003 on the Poarch Creek Indian Reservation near Atmore.
Raybon’s plea came under an agreement with prosecutors to recommend a light sentence of less than three years and registration as sex offender for the abuse of a 3-year old. Another boy, now 13, testified that he was sexually abused by Raybon when he was 5 or 6. Another male victim, age 8, testified that Raybon engaged him in oral sex in April 2011.