Walnut Hill Man Charged With DUI After Highway 97 Crash
May 31, 2010
A local man was arrested for DUI after a wreck Sunday night on Highway 97 in Walnut Hill.
Dusty D. Mason, 24, of Still Road, Century, was taken into custody by the Florida Highway Patrol following the 8:30 p.m. wreck on Highway 97 just north of Tungoil Road.
Mason was northbound on Highway 97 when he ran off the roadway, struck a power pole, continued north in the ditch and went over a driveway, with his Chevrolet coming to rest back on the edge of Highway 97.
Mason refused medical treatment following the crash.
The power pole that Mason struck was broken about 12 feet off the ground. Residents in the area did not lose power immediately after the crash. But an unknown number of Escambia River Electric Cooperative customers south of Howell Road lost power about 9:40 p.m. as the power company worked to replace the broken pole.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the call.
Pictured top: The driver of this vehicle was arrested for DUI following a Sunday night crash on Highway 97. Pictured top inset: Dusty Mason, 24, is taken into custody by the Florida Highway Patrol after the accident. Pictured below: A power pole was broken in the crash. Pictured below: A portion of the power pole was lodged between a tire and rim in the accident. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
North Escambia Memorials Honor Those That Served
May 31, 2010
People across North Escambia and the country paused Monday to remember the brave men and women that have served our country today as we celebrated Memorial Day.
In North Escambia, there are memorials that honor those that have service in the military:
Walnut Hill
The largest such memorial in the North Escambia area, the Veteran’s Honor Wall has stood in front of the Walnut Hill Community Center since its dedication in 2003. There are about 300 names on the wall, including 13 names of soldiers killed in action. The wall honors those from the Walnut Hill area that have served in the nation’s military.
The Walnut Hill Veterans Wall is located in front of the Walnut Hill Community Center at 7850 Highway 97.
Century
About 30 of those that served from the Century area are honored on the Century Veteran’s Wall of Honor at Century’s Roadside Park on Highway 29.
Barrineau Park
The Wall of Honor inside the Barrineau Park Community Center honors over 100 people that have served in the military. The wall was a project of the Barrineau Park Historical Society.
Pictured above: The names of those killed in action on the Walnut Hill Veterans Wall. Pictured below: The Wall of Honor inside the Barrineau Park Community Center. NorthEsambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Gas Prices Up Slightly
May 31, 2010
Travel was a little more expensive this Memorial Day weekend than last year, with gas prices in the North Escambia area up about 35 cents.
According to the AAA Fuel Gage Report, the average cost of a gallon of regular unleaded is $2.65, up from $2.39 a year ago. In North Escambia, that gallon of gas was at about $2.69, up from $2.34 last year.
Two years ago, the average price was $3.91 a gallon.
Pictured: Regular unleaded was at $2.69 a gallon Memorial Day weekend at the Tom Thumb in Molino. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Flomaton Wreck Leads To Meth Lab Discovery, Hazmat Situation
May 30, 2010
A Saturday night wreck in Flomaton led to the discovery of a possible mobile meth lab, landed a Niceville man in the Escambia County (Ala.) Detention Center and created a hazardous materials incident.
Ronnie Eugene Ordis, Jr., 29, was charged with second degree unlawful manufacturing of a controlled substance after authorities found numerous items commonly used to manufacture methamphetamine, according to Interim Flomaton Police Chief Kataris Jenkins.
Ordis was southbound on Upper Creek Road about 7 p.m. when he lost control and ran off the road. When Flomaton Police Officer Jimmy Davis arrived at the scene, he reportedly began to question Ordis and look in his vehicle. When Davis opened a small container in the vehicle, an unknown substance irritated his eyes and nose. Davis was later evaluated by Escambia County (Fla.) EMS and decontaminated by a hazmat team from the Poarch Creek Fire Department.
According to Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Mike Lambert, Ordis was decontaminated at the jail prior to being booked. Lambert said Ordis had most, but not all, of the components needed to manufacture methamphetamine. in his vehicle.
The Drug Enforcement Administration in Mobile was notified of the find, and a hazardous materials team from Birmingham was dispatched to clean up the scene. The Flomaton Fire Department, Lambeth Volunteer Fire Department and Pineview Volunteer Fire Department also responded to the call.
The incident shut down Upper Creek Road for several hours while authorities awaited the arrival of the hazmat team from Birmingham.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the scene, click here.
According to Escambia County (Fla.) Circuit Court records, Ordis is a former resident of West Highway 4, Century.
Pictured top: Some of the meth making ingredients found after a Saturday night wreck near Upper Creek Road in Flomaton. Pictured inset: The suspect’s wrecked vehicle. Pictured below: (L-R) Flomaton Fire Chief Steve Stanton, Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Mike Lambert and Sheriff Grover Smith discuss the situation. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Saturday Blood Drive Honors Woman; More Bloodmobile Visits Scheduled
May 30, 2010
A blood drive was held Saturday in Molino in memory of Karen R. Broxson, 23, of Molino, who was killed last July in an accident at Highway 29 and 9 1/2 Mile Road. And there are at least two more chances to give the gift of life coming up in the North Escambia area.
The Northwest Florida Bloodmobile will be at the McDavid Mini Mart on Wednesday, June 2 from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. and Saturday, June 5 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. And the Bloodmobile will be at the Walnut Hill Farm Supply on Monday, June 7 from 7:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.
When you donate to Northwest Florida Blood Services, you can save the life of a hospital patient in northwest Florida. Northwest Florida Blood Services is the exclusive provider of blood products to more than 24 area hospitals who need 175 blood donations a day. Each donation can save up to three lives.
Requirements for giving blood are below.
- Donors must be in generally good health
- At least 17 years of age, without permission. 16-year olds are now allowed to donate with permission granted by parents or legal guardians.
- Must bring picture ID
- Weigh at least 110 lbs
- Free of infection, fever or flu symptoms, for 3 days
- No cancer within the last 5 years
- No antibiotics within the last 48 hours
- No tattoos within the past 12 months
- No chest pain, heart disease, heart surgery (Requires written physician release with diagnosis)
- No history of viral hepatitis
- Cannot have lived in France for 5 years or more between 1980 and the present
- Cannot have lived or visited in the UK for a total of 3 months or more from 1980 to 1996
- Cannot have received a blood transfusion in the UK between 1980 and the present
- Military personnel (current and former), and their dependents, who spent time in military bases in northern Europe during 1980-1990, or southern Europe during 1980-1996, for 6 months or more
- All military personnel (active & reserve) that are returning from Iraq, are deferred for a period of 1 year after the last date on location in that country.
Pictured: The Northwest Florida Blood Services Bloodmobile at Fran’s Diner in Molino on Saturday.
Free Fishing In Florida
May 30, 2010
Saltwater fishing is free this weekend in Florida as state officials hope to lure visitors and residents to the coast amid fears from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Gov. Charlie Crist signed an executive order establishing two free fishing weekends to help draw visitors to the beaches of the Sunshine State. Both residents and nonresidents in Florida can fish for saltwater species around the state without a license during the Memorial Day weekend, May 29 to May 31, and the weekend of June 5 and 6, which is the first weekend after the popular red snapper season opens in the Gulf on June 1. All other fishing rules apply.
“Florida is the fishing capital of the world,” said Governor Crist, “Our beaches are clear, the fish are biting, and we invite our friends to enjoy some Florida hospitality.”
Chairman Rodney Baretto of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) applauded the Governor’s decision.
“Governor Crist’s actions to offer free fishing this weekend will do wonders for our business communities that have been suffering cancellations since the oil spill started,” Barreto said. “We are not experiencing any oil impacts, and the fact remains that Florida is open for business.”
The FWC will continue to monitor all of the potential impacts of the oil spill on Florida’s fish and wildlife and continue to be involved with many aspects of the oil spill response, Barreto added. In addition, the FWC has consulted with key representatives from several fishing organizations in Florida who are very concerned about inaccurate public perceptions regarding the condition of Florida’s fisheries and the state’s marine environment. There has been strong agreement from these stakeholders that the fishing business in Florida is “as usual” and that fishing remains a safe and viable recreational and commercial activity.
Go to www.MyFWC.com/Fishing to learn about fishing regulations in Florida.
Photos: Molino Memorial Festival
May 30, 2010
The annual Molino Memorial Festival was held Saturday at CrossFaith Church. The day’s activities included arts and crafts vendors, children’s activities, plenty of food, guest speakers and live entertainment.
For more photos from the event, click here.
Pictured scenes from the Molino Memorial Festival Saturday morning. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Fuller, Miller To Wed
May 30, 2010
Danny and Lisa Fuller of Byrneville are pleased to announce the engagement and forthcoming marriage of their daughter, Devon Elizabeth, to Mr. William Ryan Miller, of Long Island, New York.
Devon is the granddaughter of Daniel and Betty Fuller of Pensacola and the late Emory and Ellen Wilkinson of Pensacola. Ryan is the son of William Miller and Marjorie Miller, both of Long Island, New York, and the grandson of Bob Hohenberger and Barbara Blackwelder of Westfield, North Carolina, and Maurice and Alice Blackwelder of Bardstown, Kentucky.
Devon is a graduate of Northview High School and is currently pursuing her RN Degree. Ryan is a graduate of Half Hollow Hills West High School and State University of New York Maritime where he earned a Bachelor’s of Engineering degree in Mechanical Engineering. Ryan is currently serving in the U. S. Navy at NAS Whiting Field, where he is in advanced helicopter flight training school.
The wedding will be held Tuesday, July 6, 2010, at the Naval Aviation Memorial Chapel aboard NAS Pensacola, and will be officiated by Rev. Tim Hawsey.
Update: Near-Drowning Victim, Age 3, Released From Hospital
May 29, 2010
[Updated] The three-year old girl that nearly drowned Thursday afternoon near Walnut Hill is expected to make a full recovery after being released from the hospital Saturday.
Family members said late Friday afternoon that the young girl remained in intensive care at Sacred Heart Hospital, but she was sitting up, playing, talking and watching cartoons.
“I praise God that she’s going to all right,” her mother said.
By Saturday afternoon, the young girl was released from the hospital.
Doctors had feared that she might have suffered some sort of brain damage as a result of not breathing for an unknown period of time, but her mother said that was not the case.
A relative performed CPR and revived the young lady after she was found floating face down, not breathing in a pool.
To read a previous story with more information, click here.
Photos: Fire, Possibly Started By Lightning, Destroys Barn, Farm Equipment
May 29, 2010
A fire, believed to have been sparked by lightning, completely destroyed a hay barn and several pieces of farm equipment Saturday afternoon.
Authorities believe lightning struck the barn on North Pine Barren Road near Bratt about 3:15 p.m. The barn and all of the hay inside were both a total loss. Two small tractors, a hay baler and a small trailer were also destroyed in the blaze.
After the barn itself was mostly extinguished, firefighters backed off to allow a large pile of hay to burn itself out — a process that was expected to take hours.
The Walnut Hill, McDavid, Century and Molino stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, Atmore Ambulance and the Atmore Fire Department responded to the call.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery, click here.
Pictured top: Firefighters battled a barn fire on North Pine Barren Road Saturday afternoon. Pictured below: Firefighters backed off and let the remaining hay in the barn burn. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
