Hurricane Rina Update
October 24, 2011
![[Image of 5-day forecast and coastal areas under a warning or a watch]](http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/storm_graphics/AT18/refresh/AL1811W5_NL+gif/023527W5_NL_sm.gif)
Rina formed in the western Caribbean Sunday night and was upgraded to hurricane status by Monday afternoon. It’s expected to move slowly over the next five days, approaching Yucatan Peninsula, possibly as a hurricane. Models diverge after five days — some taking the storm toward the Pacific, other models toward southern Florida. The latest information on Rina is in the graphic above.
Weekend In 500 Photos
October 24, 2011
There were a lot of happenings over the weekend in the North Escambia area, and NorthEscambia.com was there with over 500 photos published. Click an item below to view the corresponding story and/or photo gallery.
Just A Drill: Citizens Respond As Tornado Hits Century
October 23, 2011
As a hurricane moved across the Century area Saturday, the town’s citizens took shelter at the old high school on Pond Street. All seemed well as the hurricane force winds began to die down outside — until the hurricane spawned a tornado. The twister took aim at the shelter, leaving destruction and mass casualties behind. Ordinary first responders from EMS and the fire department were cut off by the storm.
But the town’s CERT members jumped into action, providing search and rescue, and basic medical care until more help could arrive.
That was the scenario that played out Saturday morning as part of a drill for Century’s first graduation class for CERT — the Community Emergency Response Team sponsored by BRACE, the Be Ready Alliance Coordinating for Emergencies.
About two dozen Century CERT members have attended weekly classes since August to prepare to step up and help in the event of an actual emergency or disaster.
“They have done really well; it was really impressive,” said Chris Hamilton, CERT coordinator for BRACE. “Century is ready.”
The Century CERT training was available to Escambia County (Fla.) residents and included basic disaster response skills like fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization and disaster medical operations.
Pictured top: Century town council member Sandra McMurray Jackson (left) and another CERT volunteer held a disaster “victim” Saturday morning during a disaster drill. Pictured inset and below: CERT volunteers search for tornado victims during a drill. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Photos: Hundreds Attend Williams Station Day
October 23, 2011
Hundreds from across South Alabama and Northwest Florida enjoyed Williams Station Day Saturday in Atmore.
Williams Station Day takes its name from Atmore’s early history when in 1866 the community was a supply stop along the Mobile and Great Northern railroad.
Festival-goers were entertained by a wide variety of musical acts, and a wide variety of arts and crafts were also available.
Click here for a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery.
Pictured top: Artist John Gill displayed his works at Saturday’s Williams Station Day in Atmore. Pictured inset: Entertainment during the event. Pictured below: Hundreds attend the annual Williams Station Day. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Funeral Services Held For Former Sheriff Jim Lowman
October 23, 2011
Funeral services were held Sunday for former Escambia County Sheriff Jim Lowman. Lowman, who served as sheriff from 1992-2000, passed away Wednesday night at a local hospital. He was 76.
Funeral services were held at the First Baptist Church of Cantonment. Burial followed at Whitmire Cemetery. Faith Chapel Funeral Home North in Cantonment was charge of arrangements.
Lowman is survived by his wife Sue, four children and numerous other relatives and friends.
For the complete obituary, click here.
Northview Holds Senior Night
October 23, 2011
Northview High School honored their seniors during the annual Senior Night Friday before a football win over Freeport.
The school also honored Athletic Director Sammy Day who will retire at this end of this school year. Day has been a teacher and coach for 37 years (1975-2012) in the Escambia County School District and has served as athletic director and coach at Northview High School for 18 years (1995-2012).
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery click here.
Seniors honored Friday night included:
Cheerleading Team
- Taylor Byrd
- Alissa Fiellin
- Lauren Ashley McCall
- Charleigh Victoria McPherson
- Abby Odom
- Taylor Nicole Rigby
- Autumn Rose Slay
- Brittany Thompson
Football Team
- Austin Albritton
- Joshua Tanner Brooks
- Wesley Chancery
- Cole Eicher
- Andrew Farrow
- Jamie Lee Gafford
- Sean Knight
- Caleb Leonard
- Montaio Mitchell
- Alex Payne
- Brian Ross
- Brandon Sheets
- Sam Spence
- Nathan Therrell
Tribal Beat Band
- Jacob Baldwin
- Joseph Baldwin
- Joseph Davis
- Cory King
- Melissa Jayne Martinez Moretz
- Chelsea Parham
- Justin Purvis
- DJ Robinson
NJROTC
- Keisha Adams
- Jody Day
- Christina Donald
- Amber Francis
- Lantz Jones
- Seth Long
- Aaron McCants
- Kayla Miles
- Kiani Okahashi
Pictured top: The Northview High School band, cheerleading, NJROTC and football players were honored Friday night. Pictured inset: Athletic Director Sammy Day was presented a plaque and honored by Principal Gayle Weaver. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Crime Drops In Florida
October 23, 2011
The number of violent crimes in Florida dropped 3.2 percent during the first half of the year while certain non-violent crimes dropped by 1.8 percent, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement reported Friday.
FDLE tracks certain crimes that are reported to the FBI as part of the national Uniform Crime Reporting program.
The statistics for the first 6 months of 2011 showed a 3.1 percent drop in the number of murders, a 4.3 percent decrease in robbery, and a marked decrease of nearly 10 percent in auto theft.
One group of tracked crimes, forcible sex offenses, saw a slight increase of 1.1 percent, FDLE reported.
“These first six months’ results are a strong indicator of what we will see for 2011, and the downward trend of Florida’s crime numbers is a positive sign,” said FDLE Commissioner Gerald Bailey.
The report also noted that five police officers were killed in the line of duty in the first half of the year. The half-year report only reflects actual number of crimes, not the crime rate, which would factor in population. The crime rate is reported on an annual basis.
By The News Service of Florida
ECAT Receives Safety Award
October 23, 2011
Escambia Count Area Transit has received the 2011 Veolia Transportation Safety Performance Award, Category B, for its commitment to transit safety.
The award was presented at the 2011 Veolia General Managers’ Conference on October 5 in New Orleans.
Veolia Transportation’s CEO, Mark Joseph, and COO, Ken Westbrook, joined Jérôme Gallot, Veolia Transdev’s CEO, to present this the award to Mike Ake, Veolia’s Regional VP on behalf of ECAT, during the conference’s award presentations.
The Safety Performance Award, presented every two years, recognizes Veolia transit systems for positive safety records and dedication to improving safety.
The top honor in each category is given to the system with the best overall bus safety program based on the previous year’s data. ECAT’s low accident and injury frequency was a factor in winning against the other 85 eligible transit systems in Category B (transit systems with a fleet size of 41-80 vehicles).
Criteria for the Safety Performance Award include:
- No catastrophic losses during previous year
- A strong culture of safety, ensuring safety programs exceed company standards
- Analysis of combined accident and injury frequency
Ken Gordon, general manager of ECAT, said he was honored that ECAT has been recognized for its committed efforts in safety. ECAT’s performance in safety has shown significant improvements since 2008.
“This would not be possible without Veolia’s dedicated support in safety training and education,” said Ted Woolcock, ECAT’s director of Safety and Training.
CPR Saves Two Puppies Rescued From Century House Fire
October 22, 2011
First responders used CPR to save two puppies rescued from a Century house fire Friday afternoon.
The fire damaged a small wood-frame home at the end of Cumbie Lane off McCall road about 4:30 p.m. The blaze was contained mostly to a bathroom, but smoke filled most of the house.
Firefighters found three puppies in the house suffering from smoke inhalation and rushed them outside to a waiting EMT from Escambia County EMS. With the help of other first responders, the EMT administered oxygen and performed CPR on the puppies. Slowly, one of the puppies began to breathe normally and was returned to the its owner. A second puppy was breathing poorly, the human-size oxygen mask too big for its tiny face. The EMT improvised, cutting a water bottle for a perfect puppy fit.
CPR was performed on a third puppy for about 10 minutes, but it did not survive.
There were no human injuries in Friday afternoon’s fire. The cause of the blaze remains under investigation.
The Century, McDavid, Walnut Hill and Molino stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the fire, along with the Flomaton Volunteer Fire Department and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Pictured top: A puppy saved from a Friday afternoon fire in Century is returned to its owner. Pictured inset: First responders administer oxygen and perform CPR on two puppies. Pictured below: An improvised oxygen mask made from a water bottle is used on a tiny puppy. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Woman Murdered Friday Night In Escambia, Man Arrested
October 22, 2011
A Friday night murder in Escambia County is under investigation.
James Scott Thompson, 50, is charged with first degree premeditated murder after shooting a woman whose identity has not yet been released.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 4900 block of LaVentana Circle where they found Thompson leaning over the female’s body outside the residence. Deputies gathered enough evidence during their investigation to arrest Thompson, according to Sgt. Mike Ward, spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Office.
Thompson remains in the Escambia County Jail under no bond. Further details have not been released.