Authorities Investigate Threat Against Tate High
September 30, 2011
Authorities are investigating threats made against Tate High School and an Escambia County school bus.
According to deputies, a Tate student made the threats Wednesday against the school and the bus. The student was questioned Thursday at the school and found to have no weapons. They say he could face charges for making the threats.
The exact nature of the threats has not been released.
Man Airlifted To Burn Center
September 30, 2011
A Flomaton man was burned in a fire at a mobile home Thursday night.
The 26-year old male reportedly suffered severe burns to his hands and face at his mobile home on Pecan Grove Lane just before 9 p.m. He was airlifted by LifeFlight to the University of South Alabama Regional Burn Center in Mobile.
The fire was out as the fire firefighters arrived on scene. Further details were not available.
Ernest Ward Names Students Of The Month
September 30, 2011
Students of the Month for September have been named for Ernest Ward Middle School. They are (left to right) Kayleigh Linam, seventh grade; Sarah Dutton, eighth grade; and Celeste North, sixth grade. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
It’s A Bird, It’s A Plane – No, It’s Snoopy One
September 30, 2011
“Snoopy One” — one of three MetLife Blimps — was spotted over Atmore late Thursday afternoon.
According to the company, none of the MetLife blimps requires the use of a home base. Together, “Snoopy One” and “Snoopy Two” combine to travel approximately 120,000 miles a year throughout the United States. Traveling with each MetLife blimp is a dedicated 14 member crew: two pilots and twelve crewmen. The ground crew includes electronic engineers, mechanics, licensed radio technicians, and riggers. In addition to these highly specialized personnel, each MetLife blimp operation requires five ground support vehicles; to move the blimp and crew from one location to the next.
The primary focus of the blimp program is providing aerial coverage of sporting and special events. In a typical year, “Snoopy One” and “Snoopy Two” cover approximately 70 events for a variety of networks including NBC, CBS, ABC, ESPN and TGC. The blimps can be seen capturing shots of events ranging from the US Open and PGA Championship, to NFL football games across the country.
Pictured above: “Snoopy One” as seen over Highway 21 in Atmore about 4:30 Thursday afternoon. Photo by Kim McCullough for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Volleyball: NHS Falls To BCHS
September 30, 2011
The Northview Lady Chiefs lost to Baldwin County High School in varsity and junior varsity volleyball Thursday in Bratt.
Varsity
Baldwin County defeated Northview 11-25, 15-25, 16-25.
Misty Doran had three kills, a block and a dig for the Lady Chiefs, as Lily Townson added four assists. Morgan Payne posted three kills and one dig, and Paeton Hadley had one ace, two kills, an assist, one block and a dig for Northview (3-10, 3-3).
Junior Varsity
Baldwin County defeated Northview 18-25, 14-25.
Rebecca Grim posted two aces and three kills for the Lady Chiefs, while Danielle Steadham had four kills, three blogs and a dig. Junior Hannah Fiellin added two aces and one assist for Northview (7-6, 3-1).
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Two Seriously Injured In Highway 97 Crash (With Photo Gallery)
September 29, 2011
Three people — including a child — were injured in crash between a SUV and a piece of machinery Thursday afternoon on Highway 97 near Walnut Hill.
Witnesses said 22-year old Brittany Tutton hit a loader after the equipment driver pulled into her path on Highway 97 south of West Highway 4 about 2:30 Thursday afternoon. The SUV overturned, coming to rest on its side on Highway 97. Tutton was seriously injured, while her passenger, a 3-year old Maddix, received minor injuries. Both were transported by ambulance to Baptist Hospital in Pensacola. Maddix was treated and released.
The elderly driver of the piece of equipment, Sam Tichi of Walnut Hill, was seriously injured and transported to Baptist Hospital by LifeFlight.
The crash remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Further details have not yet been released.
The Walnut Hill, Century and McDavid stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, the Atmore Fire Department, Atmore Ambulance and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the crash.
For a photo gallery from the scene, click here.
Pictured above: Firefighters used the Jaws of Life to free a 22-year woman from this SUV after she collided with a piece of equipment (pictured below) crossing Highway 97. The occupant of the equipment was transported to Baptist Hospital by LifeFlight (inset). NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Charges Dropped Against Mother’s Day Piggly Wiggly Shooter
September 29, 2011
Charges have been dropped against the Atmore man who shot a Century resident outside the Davisville Piggly Wiggly on Mother’s Day.
Gary Winston Smith, 57, of Rockaway Creek Road, had been charged with aggravated battery with a firearm for the May 8,, 2011, shooting of 45-year old Garland Rodney Johnson of Century. Now, Johnson has told prosecutors that he no longer wished to pursue criminal charges in the case.
“The possibility that it was self defense has also been raised by the defendant,” Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille told NorthEscambia.com Wednesday. “The could also be the issue of insufficient evidence.”
The whole incident, authorities said, was over a woman allegedly seeing both men.
The woman and Johnson, according to a witness, were both at the Grey Goose lounge a short distance from the Piggly Wiggly about 3:30 Sunday afternoon for a “Mother’s Day drink”. The woman told deputies that she and Johnson had just pulled into the Grey Goose parking lot when they heard tires spinning from Highway 97. Johnson then, according to the woman, went to the road to look and then got back into his Nissan Altima and took off toward the Piggly Wiggly. A short time later, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report, Johnson called the woman on her cell phone and said, “He just shot me.” He told her he was “At the Pig” and had been shot in the stomach.
Smith told deputies he went to the Piggly Wiggly to get a steak to grill for his dinner. He said he observed Johnson get out of his Nissan Altima before he “charged” at him. Smith admitted to deputies that he reached into his pocket, pulled out a .22 caliber revolver, pointed it a Johnson and told him to stop. Smith said Johnson did not have anything in his hands, but came at him in an aggressive manner. Smith said Johnson stated that he was not scared of the gun and that “he was going to beat his brains in,” according to the Sheriff’s Office report.
Smith (pictured) told deputies that he shot Johnson in the stomach from about three feet away because he feared Johnson was going to “beat him up”. He also told deputies that he hoped Johnson would be okay.
When deputies arrived at the Piggly Wiggly after the shooting, they found Smith standing at the rear of his Mustang, which was parked along the sidewalk outside the store. His revolver was on the ground about three to four feet away. He was placed into custody without incident.
Deputies found Johnson inside the store, shot in the stomach with an exit wound in his back. He was transported by LifeFlight to Baptist Hospital and later recovered.
Smith’s brother-in-law told deputies he was about 20 yards away when he observed another man approach Smith, and it appeared the two men were arguing. The witness said the man got into Smith’s face, before stepping back and being shot.
Employees inside the Piggly Wiggly told deputies that they heard the gunshot before Johnson walked in the door and sat down on a bench. Store employees then called 911. Two of the employees told deputies that after the shooting, they observed Smith pacing with a gun in one hand and talking on this cell phone outside the store. Smith’s sister told deputies the two men had been feuding for the past few months.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the scene, click here.
Pictured top: A Century man was shot just outside the Piggly Wiggly on Highway 97 in Davisville on May 8. Pictured inset: This NorthEscambia.com exclusive photo shows Gary Winston Smith of Atmore being arrested in connection with the shooting. Pictured below: The victim, Garland Rodney Johnson of Century, was transported by LifeFlight to Baptist Hospital in Pensacola. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Photos: Bratt, Byrneville Students Learn All About Peanuts
September 29, 2011
Second graders from Bratt and Byrneville Elementary Schools had the chance to learn all about peanuts Wednesday morning — including a hands-on experience in a peanut field within walking distance of Bratt Elementary.
It was all part of a Peanut Field Day sponsored by Escambia County Extension.
“There’s a lot of important things to make peanuts grow,” Bratt Elementary second grader Paige Gibbs said. “And we learned how to find the bugs that like peanuts.”
Extension agricultural experts provided lessons about peanut products, nutrition and the life cycle of the peanut plant. Students had the chance to get their hands dirty and learn the parts of the peanut plant in the field, plus “sweep” the field for pests harmful to peanuts. They also learned about the machinery used for the harvest.
“It’s important for the peanuts to grow,” Gibbs said.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the Peanut Field Day, click here.
Pictured top and inset: Second graders learn how to use insect nets to sweep a peanut field for harmful pests. Pictured below: Farmer Robert Godwin and Extension Service Agent Libbie Johnson explain the growth cycle of peanuts during a hands-on lesson. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Planned Century Industry Boss Waives Extradition On Alabama Financial Crime Charges
September 29, 2011
James Leonard Craft — the man behind up to 500 jobs announced last year that never materialized in Century — has waived extradition to Alabama to face multiple financial and fraud charges.
For now, the 71-year old remains behind bars in Santa Rosa County, and he’s likely to be there for at least another week.
“He’s waived extradition back to Alabama,” Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille told NorthEscambia.com Wednesday. “Alabama authorities are expected to pick him on up October 7.”
Craft was arrested without incident September 23 and booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail. He will be transported to Etowah County, Alabama, to face multiple felony charges.
At last report, Craft was the manager of Century Lumber and Land, a company that held a ribbon cutting back in October 2010 for a group of new businesses that planned to locate in Century’s vacant Alger Sullivan Lumber Company property and bring up to 500 jobs to the struggling town. According to Workforce Escarosa, over 3,000 people have applied for those jobs as of earlier this year.
Sgt. Steven Hooks with the Etowah County Sheriff’s Office declined to specify exactly what securities fraud and financial charges Craft faces.
“He was indicted by a grand jury in Etowah County,” Hooks said last week, “and the exact charges are not public record until he is returned here and the warrant is served.” Craft’s bond is expected to be set at $30,000 once he is formally booked into the Etowah County Jail in Gasden, Alabama.
In a public order in late 2010, the Alabama Securities Commission ordered Century Lumber and Land, LLC and James Craft to cease and desist from offering or selling financial securities, within or from the state of Alabama after an alleged attempt to solicit an investment without a license for a wood products business.
Late Friday, Dan Lord, public affairs manager for the Alabama Securities Commission, referred NorthEsambia.com to the cease and desist order that names Craft and Century Lumber and Land. He declined to say if Craft’s indictment in Etowah County was related to the 2010 Alabama Securities Commission order.
Pictured top: The October 22, 2010, ribbon cutting for Century Lumber and Land. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Toy Gun Prompts School Bus Lockdown At Ransom Middle
September 29, 2011
A Ransom Middle School bus was put on lockdown Wednesday morning after someone saw what turned out to be a toy gun.
A parent saw what she thought was a gun on the bus at the intersection of Tara Dawn Circle and Chippewa Way, prompting the lockdown and for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office to meet the bus at the school campus.
The gun turned out to be a four-inch long toy gun.
The school notified parents with an automated phone call about the incident, and school officials said the incident will be handled internally.