‘Golden Cow Dung Award’ Presented To Kenneth Hicks
February 25, 2012
Ernest Ward Middle School history teacher Kenneth Hicks received the fourth annual “Golden Cow Dung Award” from members of the Ernest Ward FFA. The award presented Friday afternoon featured a large piece of cow dung, painted a golden color.
(Cow dung, in case you did not know, is what you are probably thinking it is. It’s that natural byproduct that cows drop in the field. The award is 100 percent real dung spray painted a golden color. The golden piece presented Friday is actually the first award piece created three years ago.)
Hicks received the award from the school’s FFA members as a “thank you” for supporting FFA. The same Golden Cow Dung Award was presented last year to teacher’s assistant Lindsey Kelley, the previous year to Family & Consumer Science teacher Kathy Ellis and three years ago to Principal Nancy Perry.
More than half a million members around the nation participated in National FFA Week activities at the local and state levels this week.
Pictured: Ernest Ward Middle School FFA Golden Cow Dung Award presentation to teacher Kenneth Hicks Friday morning. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Smoke Reported At Ernest Ward In Two Buildings; Students Evacuated
February 24, 2012
Multiple stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to Ernest Ward Middle School today as smoke was reported in both the gym and administrative buildings.
Firefighters determined that one phase of the three phase power feed from Escambia River Electric Cooperative had failed. The exact cause of the smoke was not determined. Firefighters remained on scene for over an hour, using a thermal imaging camera to check for hot spots in both buildings and waiting for EREC to restore the power. A light smokey haze could be seen inside at times.
Students were evacuated from the gym, administrative and agricultural buildings during the incident and moved into the main building of the complex.
There was no damage reported and no injuries.
The Walnut Hill and McDavid Stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the call.
Pictured above and below: Fire units on scene at Ernest Ward Middle School Friday morning. Pictured inset: A firefighter uses a thermal imaging camera to check for hot spots in the administrative building at Ernest Ward Friday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
One Injured In Hwy 97 Crash
February 24, 2012
One person was injured in a single vehicle crash Friday morning on Highway 97 north of Molino.
The driver of a pickup control lost control about 5 a.m., ran off the road and overturned near White Ash Road. The male was transported to a Pensacola hospital by ambulance with non-life threatening injuries.
Further details have not been released by the Florida Highway Patrol. The Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS also responded to the crash.
Jay Man Killed In High Speed Century Crash Thursday Night
February 24, 2012
A Jay man died in a single vehicle crash in Century Thursday night.
Jeffery Leonard Jackson, 47, was pronounced dead at the scene of the 6 p.m. crash on Old Flomaton Road north of Campbell Road.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Jackson was northbound on Old Flomaton Road at an extremely high rate of speed. His 1994 Nissan left the roadway, at which time Jackson applied the brakes and skidded along the grass and dirt shoulder. The front of the vehicle then struck a large oak tree and came to an abrupt stop.
Jackson, according to the FHP, was wearing his seat belt at the time of the crash.
The Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Flomaton Volunteer Fire Department, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the crash.
For more photos from the scene, click here.
Pictured above and below: A Jay man died in this single vehicle crash Thursday night in Century. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
School Board Proclaims It’s National FFA Week
February 24, 2012
The Escambia County School Board has declared this week as National FFA Week. At Tuesday night’s school board meeting, FFA members from Tate and Northview high schools were on hand as the board issued a proclamation.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Aggies Beat Washingon 4-3; Tate’s JV Falls
February 24, 2012
The varsity Tate Aggies beat Washington High School Thursday night 4-3, while Washington got past Tate 4-3 in junior varsity play.
Tate 4 Washington 3 (Varsity)
The Aggies came from behind again for the second game in a row on David Moorhead’s two run double in the top of the seventh inning. Riley Hodge threw a complete game allowing three
unearned runs on three hits while striking out six. Mac Seibert 2-4 RBI. JT Granat 1-3 HR RBI. Austin Quina 1-2 2B. Andrew Mack 2B.
Tate’s varsity with host Escambia High’s Gators Friday night at 7:00 in another district matchup.
Washington 4 Tate 3 (JV)
The junior varsity Tate Aggies fell to 3-2 on the season with a 4-3 loss to Washington Thurday afternoon. The JV Aggies will host Escambia at 4:30 Friday afternoon.
State Attorney: Flomaton Chief Target Of Florida Investigation; Council To Consider Job Status
February 24, 2012
The State Attorney’s Office confirmed late Thursday that Chief Geoff McGraw is the target of their investigation into the Flomaton Police Department over an incident that occurred in Escambia County, Florida. The announcement came just days before the Flomaton Town Council is set to consider the chief’s job.
Prior to Thursday, the State Attorney’s Office had only said the department was the subject of the investigation by the State Attorney’s Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE).
Assistant (Fla.) State Attorney Greg Marcille said Thursday that his office and FDLE met this week concerning the status of the case involving McGraw. “All I can say right now is that the investigation is still ongoing” he said.
NorthEscambia.com has confirmed through multiple independent sources outside the State Attorney’s Office that the investigation centers around a suspect that claims he was wrongfully detained or arrested in Century by a member or members of the Flomaton Police Department without following proper arrest and extradition procedures.
McGraw’s employment status as police chief has become the focus of multiple rumors this week in Flomaton and on internet sites like Facebook, but Mayor Dewey Bondurant told NorthEscambia.com that McGraw remains Flomaton’s police chief.
“Chief McGraw is still chief of the Flomaton Police Department,” Bondurant said. The mayor said that McGraw is out of work this week on medical leave due to a sick relative. Bondurant had no further comment concerning McGraw or the investigation.
The police chief’s position is on the agenda for discussion at next Monday night’s meeting of the Flomaton Town Council at 6:30.
“I do not have any comment at this time due to this being an ongoing investigation,” McGraw said January 26, the day before NorthEscambia.com broke the story about the State Attorney and FDLE investigation into the Flomaton Police Department.
Man Charged With Choking Girlfriend To Death
February 24, 2012
An Escambia County man is behind bars today, charged with choking his girlfriend to death Thursday evening.
Kristopher Shawn Silas, age 36 of Garden Street, is being held in the Escambia County Jail without bond, charged with second degree murder.
Pensacola Police Department detectives James Gore and Chad Willhite determined Silas and his girlfriend – 40-year old Tammy Lynn Bigham –were arguing in their apartment at the Carlton Palms condominiums at Alcaniz and Garden streets. The disagreement then escalated into a physical confrontation. Silas called 911 around 5 p.m. and said he had choked his girlfriend, according to police.
Bigham died at the scene. A motive remains under investigation, and an autopsy is pending.
Golden Apple: Escambia’s Pribble Named Teacher Of The Year
February 24, 2012
Jeffrey Pribble of Escambia High School was named Escambia County’s Teacher of the Year Thursday night during the annual Golden Apple Awards dinner.
Pribble teaches English, journalism and multimedia classes at Escambia High. He has been a teacher for 16 years.
One teacher from each school in the district was nominated for the award. From the North Escambia area, nominees were: Laura Jackson, Jim Allen Elementary; Pamela Trice, Bratt Elementary; Stephanie Gilmore, Byrneville Elementary; Chet Truet, Ernest Ward Middle; Twinette McDonald, Molino Park Elementary; Sammy Day, Northview High; Karen McRae Ransom Middle; Alan Culp, Tate High; and Majorie Stradle, West Florida High.
For a complete list of nominees, click here for an earlier story.
Twin Sisters Ask For Youthful Offender Status In Fire Deaths Of 3 Kids
February 24, 2012
The twin sisters from Atmore accused of reckless murder after their three young children died home alone in a house fire last year are now seeking youthful offender status.
Akeevia Lajoseia Abner and Tekeevia Lajoseialan Abner, both 18, were due to appear in court Thursday for an arraignment hearing. The hearing never happened after the women applied for youthful offender status.
Under Alabama law, a person under 21 that is designated as a youthful offender will waive their right to a jury trial and consent to be tried without a jury. Youthful offenders can have their sentences suspended with or without probation. The most time a youthful offender can serve in prison is three years and the longest probation term is also three years.
To determine youthful offender status, the court will perform an investigation and look a the women’s previous records. The determination process could take several months.
If tried and convicted of reckless murder as adults, the Abner twins face up to life in prison on each of three counts. Both women remain in the Escambia County (Ala.) Detention Center in Brewton with bond set at $300,000 each.
The November 7 fire on 1st Street in Atmore claimed the lives of 3-year olds Aniyia Abner and Takia Abner, and 22-month old Michael Coleman.
A State Fire Marshal’s investigation determined the fire 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 shortly after the arrests.
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 the three young children died from smoke inhalation, authorities said.
Pictured top: Pictured bottom inset: This photo shows the oven door propped open inside the kitchen of the home. Pictured below: Three children died in a November 7 fire at this home. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
