MANNA Names New Executive Director
August 6, 2011
The board of directors of MANNA announced today that DeDe Flounlacker will join the organization on August 15 as their new executive director.
““DeDe will bring great experience and compassion to MANNA. She was the unanimous choice of the board,” said Brent Lane, board president.
Flounlacker brings over 25 years in non-profit and volunteer management to MANNA, including vice president of membership services for the Pensacola Area Chamber of Commerce and executive director of the Ronald McDonald House.
“Thanks to the amazing support of organizations, faith-based groups, businesses, individuals and volunteers in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, MANNA has been able to serve those in need for nearly 30 years,” Flounlacker said. “While thousands were helped last year through our services, we have seen an increase in demand for food this year and expect that demand to continue to grow. As demand grows, so will our organization by expanding our partnerships and collaborations with the public and private sectors.”
MANNA is a private, not-for-profit corporation dedicated to alleviating hunger in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties through Manna Pantries, Manna Food Gardens and Manna’s Volunteers and Providers.
Woman Pulls Gun At Atmore Business
August 5, 2011
An Atmore woman was arrested Friday morning after pulling a handgun at an Atmore business during an altercation.
The Atmore Police Department responded to the Cash Express in a shopping center Lindberg Avenue where two women were fighting on the sidewalk. 911 callers reported that one of the women had a gun.
When officers arrived about 9 a.m., the females were separated and the handgun secured.
According to witness statements, Quanette B. Crenshaw 31 of Atmore had driven to the Cash Express and confronted the victim with a handgun concerning a disagreement that had occurred the previous night. They began to fight, and an employee of the business disarmed Crenshaw, police said. No shots were fired.
Crenshaw was booked into the Atmore City Jail on charged of third degree assault and menacing.
Elena Rendell, 17, Now Held At Escambia Jail Charged As Adult
August 5, 2011
Elena Janelle Rendell, 17, is now being held in the Escambia County Jail as she awaits trial for killing her sister, 14-year old Christina Marie Sneary. She is charged as an adult with one count of manslaughter with a firearm with bond set at $300,000.
Rendell is accused of shooting Sneary in the neck Wednesday afternoon at a home in Ferry Pass after the two got into an argument over a cellphone. Rendell allegedly retrieved a 9 mm hangun from a high shelf before firing a single gunshot at Sneary. She then reportedly ran from the home, calling out to neighbors and telling them that her sister had been shot.
She was taken into custody at the scene by Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies and claimed that the shooting was accidental. She was first charged as a juvenile with aggravated battery and held overnight Wednesday in the Juvenile Detention Center. She was in custody as her sister died just before midnight Wednesday at Sacred Heart Hospital.
Rendell sat in her first juvenile court appearance unaware that Sneary had died. She was escorted out of the courtroom and informed that her sister was dead and that charges against her were upgraded.
At Rendell’s court hearing, her brother, Army Sgt. Jason Rendell, asked Circuit Judge Ross Goodman to release her into his custody. The request was denied by Goodman.
Rendell is due to appear in Escambia County Circuit Court on August 18.
Hungry Homeless Man Arrested For Stealing Food From Alabama Home
August 5, 2011
A homeless man was arrested late Thursday afternoon in Escambia County, Ala., after a woman came home to find him stealing food from her home.
The Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Office said a resident of Ashcraft Lane, near Fountain Correctional, apparently interrupted the burglary in progress when she arrived home. The man, later identified as 53-year old Timothy Dueitt of Leakesville, Miss., was located after a manhunt involving numerous departments, a District Attorney’s Office helicopter, and K-9 units from Fountain Prison and the Escambia County (Fla.) Road Prison. Dueitt was taken into custody without incident.
Dueitt told deputies he was homeless and walking in the area when be became hungry. Deputies said he stole a variety of food items from home.
He was charged with first degree burglary, third degree theft of property and unlawful possession of brass knuckles.
Sister Murder: Community Paints A Picture Of A Troubled Shooter, Sweet And Shy Victim
August 5, 2011
Friends and those that knew sisters Elena Rendell and Christina Sneary were in shock Thursday to learn that Elena had been charged as an adult with manslaughter after shooting Christina in neck following an argument over a cell phone.
Most described the victim, 14-year old Christina as a shy, quiet girl. And they describe the shooter, 17-year old Elena, as a troubled young lady that battled her share of problems in life. Meanwhile, their mother, Troyce Sneary, spoke out angrily, saying she could not get the help her special needs daughters required.
Christina Marie Sneary, 14 — Shot and killed
Quiet. Shy. Sweet. Those were the words that were repeated over and over Thursday about Christina Sneary. She had just completed the eighth grade at Ernest Ward Middle School, where she made an impression on those that knew her, where she had received a “Most Improved” award, and where her friends at the lunch table called her “Cherry”.
Christina was, by all accounts, excited about the idea of moving on to become a Northview High School Chief next year.
“She was a nice girl, she seemed to be very quiet. She didn’t talk much unless you talked to her. She was looking forward to going to high school,” one of her middle school friends told NorthEscambia.com Thursday afternoon. They had first met in sixth grade at Ernest Ward. “I will miss her, she was a cool girl.”
Ernest Ward Principal Nancy Perry agreed as she remembered Christina.
“She was one sweet child. So sweet. So quiet. She was an excellent young lady that truly is going to be missed. She did not cause any trouble, no problems at all. She was a super young lady” Perry said.
“I’m going to miss Christina very much; I hope God watches over her and her family,” another classmate wrote. “She was a very nice and quiet girl. She’s gonna be very missed.”
Elena Rendell, 17 — Charged as an adult with manslaughter
Elena Janelle Rendell is facing 25 years to life in prison for the shooting death of her sister Christina Sneary. But according her high school friends and those that knew her, she was already a prisoner in her own different world.
Elena was also described as a quiet girl, but many described the anger they could see in her. And they saw a special needs girl that was bullied and mercilessly taunted by those around her at Northview High School and elsewhere in her young life.
“I knew Elena from our ROTC group at Northview, and she was a very sweet girl despite her disabilities and the ridicule she went through on nearly a daily basis. This really shows that verbal abuse can really change people and affect their behavior — not saying she shouldn’t be held responsible for what she did but it does play a role in the whole thing ultimately,” a fellow Northview student said.
“I used to live by them, and I know both of the girls. Elena was made fun of quite often, and I agree a person can only take so much. It’s nowhere near right what she did, but I feel bad for her and prayers go out to the whole family because this is a horrible thing for anybody to go through,” a former neighbor wrote on NorthEscambia.com.
“I remember seeing Elena walking down the hallway in school before I graduated. She was steaming and red in the face. I was unaware of what was going on until I saw a group of females chasing her while verbally abusing her. She tried to be the bigger person and walk away…the other females wouldn’t allow it. I could see her being taunted and picked on day by day because of her physical appearance,” a Northview graduate said. “Its too much emotional distress for one person especially if she is already suffering from a disorder.”
A young lady that once visited friends near Elena’s Molino home said “she was constantly made fun of and treated VERY badly. It’s no excuse, but some people can only take so much. Hopefully somebody can learn something from this. Don’t make fun of people because they are different.”
“Elana was a sweet child and very shy. I cannot help but believe she was bullied and ‘pushed over the edge’. It was a long time in coming. I have seen her taunted and picked on and watched her reactions. All I ever saw was sadness.,” a commenter wrote on NorthEscambia.com. “She was one of the saddest children I have ever known. Not one to ‘open up’ to allow anyone to see inside. She looked liked she needed emotional support, especially with all the taunting she got. Looking back, there were ‘cries for help’ that went unheeded possibly, because she could not voice them.”
Troyce Sneary — Mother
Troyce Sneary was raising Christina Sneary and Elena Rendell in a quiet Molino neighborhood until just recently. They lived in brick home that sits on just under three acres on Sunset View Lane, a quiet dirt road off Cedar Springs Road and Sunshine Hill Road. It’s not far from the The Leaning Post Ranch, a non-profit facility that, somewhat ironically, provides equine assisted activities to disabled individuals and at-risk youth.
Trocye Sneary made no secret of the fact she believed Elena Rendell had issues in life and needed help. Trocye was confused and angry Thursday as she spoke to a reporter from WEAR TV, saying that she had tried to get her daughter help.
“Her counselors knew about this, the anger problem,” she told the TV news crew from her new home on Kipling Street in Ferry Pass. “For years I’ve been trying to get help. Nobody would help me. So I moved here out of Molino so I could get help.”
“You think you can leave a 14-year old and a 17-year old home alone,” Troyce said. “The guns were put away. Don’t know how they got them.”
Trocye Sneary lost both of her daughters in a single gunshot on a hot summer afternoon — one to the grave and one to jail, perhaps for a very long time. Despite the murder, she’s supporting Elena.
“I love her; I’m standing behind her,” Troyce said.
…..
For an earlier story with more details about the murder, click here.
Northview, Ernest Ward Offer Grief Counseling Following Student Murder
August 5, 2011
Both Northview High and Ernest Ward Middle schools are offering grief counseling following the murder of a student by her sister.
Elena Rendell, who attended Northview last year, is accused in the shooting death of Christina Sneary, who completed eighth grade at Ernest Ward Middle last year. Free grief counseling is available to students who may be distraught over the incident.
Parents may contact Northview at (850) 327-6681 or Ernest Ward at (850) 327-4283 to receive further information and make arrangements for the free counseling.
Cash Savings Beginning Today With Back To School Sales Tax Holidays
August 5, 2011
There’s a chance to save some cash on back to school shopping this weekend in Alabama and next weekend in Florida.
Alabama
Alabama’s back to school sales tax holiday is underway through midnight Sunday. However, in Escambia County, AL, Atmore and Brewton will not be participating. In Atmore and Brewton, shoppers will save the state’s four percent tax, but still pay the county and city tax rate. Flomaton will participate, with back to school purchases in Flomaton exempt from the state and city tax, but not the one percent county tax. Click here for a list of exempt items in Alabama.
Florida
In Florida, the sales tax holiday will be August 12-14 with no state or local sales tax on clothing, footwear and some accessories selling for $75 or less or certain school supplies for $15 or less. Click here for a list of exempt items in Florida. (To download and print a school supply list for an Escambia County school, click here.)
Man Dies In Nine Mile Road Crash
August 5, 2011
A 59-year old Escambia County man died in a single vehicle accident early Thursday afternoon on Nine Mile Road.
Johnnie C. Ruston of Pensacola was traveling west on Nine Mile Road in his 2002 Dodge Ram when, for an unknown reason, he veered off the roadway and made contact with several rocks. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Rushton was not wearing a seat belt in the 12:30 p.m. accident.
Boil Water Notice Continues In Nine Mile Road Area
August 5, 2011
Effective immediately, a precautionary boil water notice has been issued for the area of Nine Mile Road (both sides of the road) from Chemstrand Road to Highway 29 North, (Pensacola Blvd.) including the following streets:
- All of Holsberry Road north and south of Nine Mile
- Nims Lane
- Allison Lane
- Holsberry Lane
- Tulsa Drive
- Holsberry Place
- Edith Lane
- Strandview Drive
- Salets Street
- Craft Street
- Sprague Drive
- Chandler Street
- Chauncey Street
- North Palafox from Nine Mile to 9 ½ Mile
- Highway 29 North (Pensacola Blvd.) from 9 Mile Road to 10 Mile Road, east side of the street only
This notice is being issued following a water main break. Residents are advised to boil water for one minute at a rolling boil or to use six drops of regular unscented household bleach per gallon of water for water to be used for drinking of cooking purposes. Bacteriological sampling is underway and the advisory will be lifted as soon as possible.
ECUA crews have repaired the main, and are flushing out the lines. Residents are advised that there is a possibility of discolored water as a result of the break and flushing, and to flush their home’s plumbing by running their taps for a few minutes. If problems persist, customers are asked to contact ECUA Customer Service at (850) 476-0480 for assistance, or see precautionary boil water notice guidelines on the ECUA website at www.ecua.fl.gov.
NOAA Predicts More Storms This Hurricane Season
August 5, 2011
NOAA has issued its updated 2011 Atlantic hurricane season outlook, raising the number of expected named storms from its preseason outlook issued in May. Forecasters also increased their confidence that 2011 will be an active Atlantic hurricane season.
“The atmosphere and Atlantic Ocean are primed for high hurricane activity during August through October,” said Gerry Bell, Ph.D., lead seasonal hurricane forecaster at the Climate Prediction Center. “Storms through October will form more frequently and become more intense than we’ve seen so far this season.”
Key climate factors predicted in May continue to support an active season. These include: the tropical multi-decadal signal, which since 1995 has brought favorable ocean and atmospheric conditions, leading to more active seasons; exceptionally warm Atlantic Ocean temperatures (the third warmest on record); and the possible redevelopment of La Niña. Reduced vertical wind shear and lower air pressure across the tropical Atlantic also favor an active season.
Based on these conditions and on climate model forecasts, the confidence for an above-normal season has increased from 65 percent in May to 85 percent. Also, the expected number of named storms has increased from 12-18 in May to 14-19, and the expected number of hurricanes has increased from 6-10 in May to 7-10.
Across the entire Atlantic Basin for the whole season – June 1 to November 30 – NOAA’s updated seasonal outlook projects, with a 70 percent probability, a total of:
- 14 to 19 Named Storms (top winds of 39 mph or higher), including:
- 7 to 10 Hurricanes (top winds of 74 mph or higher), of which:
- 3 to 5 could be Major Hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5; winds of at least 111 mph)
NOAA says these ranges indicate an active season, and extend well above the long-term seasonal averages of 11 named storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes.
These ranges are indicative of an active season, and extend well above the long-term seasonal averages of 11 named storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes.
The Atlantic basin has already produced five tropical storms this season: Arlene, Bret, Cindy, Don and Emily. All eyes this week are on Emily, which continues to develop and move towards the United States.
The last hurricane to make landfall in the United States was Ike in 2008. Last year saw above-normal hurricane activity, but none made landfall in the United States. August through October are peak months of the Atlantic hurricane season, and FEMA urges people not to be lured into a false sense of security by the lack of hurricanes so far this year.
Pictured above: The Alantic Basin early Friday morning. Courtesy NOAA.