Future Uncertain For Animals In Two Shelters Slated For Closure
May 23, 2011
Rusty the cat really doesn’t know what his future holds. At 15-years old, his life took a dramatic turn when he landed at the Atmore Animal Shelter. His elderly caretaker was forced to move in with her children, unable to take her cat along.
At the shelter, Rusty (pictured left) did not really fit in with the younger cats in the “Cat Room” (he is in his 70’s in human years, after all), so he adopted the office as his own where he can, between long old-man naps, manage things.
But Rusty has a problem — the Atmore Animal Shelter is closing.
Both the Atmore and Brewton animal shelters, which are operated by the Humane Society of Escambia County (Ala.), lost over 60 percent of their funding when the Neal Trust of Brewton came to an end. Without the commitment of adequate funding from the governments they serve — Atmore, Brewton, East Brewton, Flomaton and Escambia County (Ala.) — Director Renee Jones announced the shelters will close by May 31.
Jones is proud of the work accomplished at the shelters, proud of the numbers that show euthanasias are down from 79 percent of animal intakes in 2008 to less than 15 percent — only the most necessary of cases — in 2011. A spray and neutering program, along with education, has brought the total number of animals housed at the shelter each year down dramatically.
For more photos of cats and dogs at the Atmore animal shelter, click here.
“I just don’t understand how the cities can’t have the vision to fund a shelter,” Jones said. “Animal control and a shelter is a basic and necessary part of government service.”
After the shelter closings were announced on the group’s Facebook page April 11, there were about 50 adult dogs, 25 puppies and 20 cats in the two shelters in need of a home. A shelter in Brunswick, Maine, the nearby North Baldwin Animal Shelter in Bay Minette and others stepped forward to accept animals.
Saturday, pilot Jack Rowell of Cantonment began a “Pilots n Paws” trip at the Brewton Airport with 15 puppies headed to a humane society in Virginia.
“I believe we have a place for all of them — all of them at no-kill shelters,” Jones said Saturday morning as she provided a tour of the Atmore Shelter. As she passed each dog remaining in the kennel, she pointed out their names and personalities.
“She’s a little shy,” she said of one that was frightened by a camera flash.
By Monday morning, the kennels fell silent with all of the dogs relocated from the Atmore shelter, and the same will happen later in the week in Brewton as the last animals are moved out.
As for Rusty the cat, well, 15-year old cats tend not to get too excited. He’s just taking everything one day at time. As is Jones, hoping that the cities of Atmore and Brewton will come to some sort of an understanding and create a funding plan that will save the shelters.
But until that moment, she continues to work to find a place for each animal as the shelters face closure in about a week.
“It wasn’t suppose to be this way,” Jones said, trying to hold back tears. “It really wasn’t suppose to end this way.”
For more photos of cats and dogs at the Atmore animal shelter, click here.
Editor’s note: It is now, according to Jones, too late for individuals to adopt animals in the shelters.
SPCA Suncoast in New Port Richey, Fla., has agreed to accept most of the remaining animals from the Brewton and Atmore shelters. The Humane Society of Escambia County is accepting donations to help pay for hundreds of dollars in fuel needed to transport the animals. To donate, visit www.petango.com/humanesocietybrewton and locate the “donate now” button for a link to make a PayPal donation. For more information about the Humane Society of Escambia County, click here for their Facebook page.
Pictured: Animals that remained at the Atmore Animal Shelter as of Saturday morning. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Molino DUI Manslaughter Suspect Back In Court
May 23, 2011
The Navarre man charged with DUI manslaughter in connection with a Molino wreck that claimed the life of a Pensacola woman was back in court last week.
Terry E. Lee, 41, appeared before Judge Linda Nobles who granted a request to delay his trial until late July.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Lee was traveling on Omega Drive about 6:15 p.m. November 10, 2010, when his Toyota car left the roadway, traveled through a wooden fence and across a pasture before hitting another fence and a tree. Lee’s passenger, Brandee N. Scott, 49, of Pensacola, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. She was reportedly impaled by a wooden board from the fence.
Lee, who was airlifted to Sacred Heart Hospital following the crash, reportedly told Florida Highway Patrol troopers that he was not involved in the crash.
Lee is facing charges of DUI manslaughter, DUI property damage, no driver’s license, driving with license suspended resulting in death, and three counts of possession of a controlled substance without a prescription. He remains in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
For more photos from the scene, click here.
Pictured above: A Pensacola woman died in this single vehicle crash last November in Molino. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward Schedules Awards Day
May 23, 2011
Ernest Ward Middle School will hold it’s Awards Day this Wednesday in the school gymnasium. Family members and friends are invited to attend.
The time for each grade level program is as follows:
8th grade — 9:30 – 11:15
6th grade — 11:45 – 1:10
7th grade — 1:30 – 3:00
Gulf Power Preps For Hurricane Season
May 23, 2011
Gulf Power conducted its annual hurricane drill on Monday to test its response system.
The utility has a comprehensive plan for any level of hurricane, and its line crews — among the most experienced and storm tested in the nation — have been recognized for restoration efforts following storms that have made landfall all over the Southeast.
“We prepare year-round for storm restoration,” said Jeff Rogers, Corporate Communications supervisor, “and our crews are among the best in the nation to restore electricity, safely and quickly. This drill enhances our employees’ awareness and sharpens our skills.”
The company follows a detailed plan to rebuild the electrical system following a hurricane and works closely with the county Emergency Management personnel. Every Gulf Power employee has a storm assignment and if needed, the company brings in thousands of outside utility workers to help — often staging them ahead of time to speed response.
A Gulf Power storm team of more than 100 employees recently spent a week in the Tuscaloosa, Ala., area, restoring power to an area devastated by tornadoes. It was the fourth storm team that Gulf Power has sent out since January to help other utilities.
“This type of storm duty helps hone our employees’ skills as we head into hurricane season,” Rogers said. “Everyone knows their assignments and it’s amazing to see our employees come together and implement a restoration plan,” Rogers said. ”
Planning is also important for Gulf Power’s 430,000 customers. Gulf Power’s storm center website offers comprehensive preparation and safety information, as well as general storm tips and information on how to report outages. The storm center can be accessed at GulfPower.com/storm.
Portion Of Alger Road In Century Closed
May 23, 2011
A portion of Alger Road in Century will be closed this week.
Alger Road about 300 feet northwest of North Century Boulevard and will be closed for a culvert replacement. The road is scheduled to reopen at 5 p.m. Friday afternoon.
Overdue Property Taxes Must Be Paid This Month
May 23, 2011
All 2010 overdue real estate taxes must be paid by the end of the month to avoid the issuance of a tax certificate, which is a first lien against the property, according to Escambia County Tax Collector Janet Holley.
Payments must be processed by the close of business on Tuesday, May 31 by one of the following methods:
- in person at one of four branch offices
- on the web site www.escambiataxcollector.com
- through the phone service center (850) 438-6500 x252
- on the automated telephone line (800) 601‑1055
Drive thru service and drop box are available at all locations. All tax collector offices will be closed Monday, May 30 for the Memorial Day holiday.
Pedestrian Dies In Sunday Night Highway 29 Crash
May 23, 2011
A pedestrian was killed in an Escambia County traffic crash Sunday night.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 61-year old Heriberto Ponce of Miami was attempting to cross Highway 29 at Milstead Street when he stepped into the path of a pickup driven by Roy Phillips, 69, of Pensacola. Ponce died as a result of his injuries.
No charges were filed against Phillips.
Editor’s note: This accident happened at Highway 29 and Milstead Street just south of I-10, not at Highway 29 and Milstead Road near the McDavid Volunteer Fire Department.
Firefighters Battle Large Swift Lumber Blaze (With Photo Gallery)
May 22, 2011
Firefighters from across the area battled a large fire at Swift Lumber in Atmore Sunday afternoon.
Black smoke from the lumber mill fire could be seen from as far away as Walnut Hill just before 3 p.m. Dozens of firefighters from Atmore, Poarch, Nokomis, Flomaton and Walnut Hill battled for hours to completely contain the fire. The major portion of the fire was extinguished within about an hour, but wood chips continued to smolder and burn for hours.
There were no reports of injuries. There was no immediate word on the cause of the fire.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the scene, click here.
This was the second fire in the same area of the facility on Swift Mill Road in less than six months. Another fire broke out at the facility in early January of this year; that fire was believed to have been caused by an electrical problem.
Pictured: A Sunday afternoon fire at Swift Lumber in Atmore. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Three Injured In Highway 29 Rollover Crash (With Photo Gallery)
May 22, 2011
Two Cantonment residents were trapped in single vehicle rollover accident shortly after 8:00 Sunday morning on Highway 29 at Woodland Avenue in Cantonment.
The Florida Highway Patrol says Kenneth Bedwell, 51, was northbound on Highway 29 at Woodland Avenue when he traveled partially off the roadway onto the northbound shoulder. He then over-corrected and swerved into the median where his 2005 Buick SUV began to overturn. The vehicle came to rest upside down on Highway 29.
Firefighters were forced to use the Jaws of Life to extricate a Bedwell and his passenger, 52-year old Mary Bedwell of Cantonment. Kenneth Bedwell was airlifted to Sacred Heart Hospital in critical condition. Mary Bedwell was transported by ambulance to Sacred Heart Hospital where she was listed in serious condition.
A toddler properly secured in car seat in the vehicle, three-year old Alphonsa Griffin of Cantonment, received only minor injuries and was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital for evaluation.
Charges are pending in the accident, according to the FHP.
The crash, near the Cantonment firehouse, was witnessed D.W. McMillan Hospital EMS crew from Brewton. The Cantonment, Molino and Ensley stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the crash, along with Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
For a photo gallery from the scene, click here.
Pictured top: Three people, including a child, were in this single vehicle crash Sunday morning in Cantonment. Pictured inset: Firefighters use the Jaws of Life to free two people from the vehicle. Pictured inset: Highway 29 was shut down in Cantonment due to the crash. NorthEscambia.com photo by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Suspended Sentence For Man That Killed Elderly Couple In Wreck
May 22, 2011
A Brewton man has received a suspended sentence in connection with a 2007 crash that killed an elderly Atmore couple.
George Hauer, 63, received a one-year suspended sentence in Baldwin County Circuit Court, along with two years probation and was also permanently banned from driving in Alabama.
In the March 20, 2007, wreck, Dwight Eugene Nichols, 74, and his wife Wilma Ellavan Nichols, 77, of Atmore were traveling south in a Mercedes E320 on Highway 31 near Perdido, when they collided with a northbound sports utility vehicle driven by Hauer, according to Alabama State Troopers. Both Nichols died a short time later at an area hospital. Hauer was charged with two counts of vehicular homicide and two counts of manslaughter in connection with that accident. Hauer later pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide in connection with the crash.
Hauer was involved in another accident that injured a family of four on March 22, 2009, on Highway 31 east of Flomaton. At the time of the accident, he had been out on a $300,000 bond for only about two weeks after being charged with the death of the elderly Atmore couple.
No charges were ever filed in the Flomaton crash.
The 2009 accident happened on Highway 31 at Old Fannie Road. Officials say the car, driven by David Smith of Flomaton collided with a truck driven by Hauer. Smith was transported to Baptist Hospital by ambulance were he was treated for a broken jaw. Hauer was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital by LifeFlight in serious condition but was soon released from the hospital.
Leigh Smith, a passenger in the car hit by Hauer, was transported by LifeFlight to Baptist Hospital in critical condition. Another passenger in the car, Samantha Bryant, then 0a senior at Flomaton High School, was transported to Baptist Hospital in Pensacola with non life threatening injuries. Passenger Curtis Byrant refused treatment the scene. Leigh Smith was hospitalized for a lengthy time with broken ribs, a broken shoulder and a broken knee.
Pictured top: The Smith family vehicle that was involved in a 2009 accident with George Wesley Hauer. Pictured below: Hauer’s truck. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
