Woman Found Sleeping In Stolen Vehicle Wanted By Cops Again
September 14, 2009
A Jay woman found sleeping in a car stolen from Century was sentenced to probation for grand theft auto, and now the court system has issued another warrant for her arrest.
Rachel K. Rice, 30, of Jay, was found by an Escambia County Sheriff’s Department deputy asleep in a vehicle at the south end of Fairfield Drive on Bayou Grande on June 16. The vehicle had a busted rear window, according to the ECSO report. A check of the vehicle’s tag revealed it had been stolen a few days before from North Freedom Road in Century.
Rice was charged with grand theft auto, a third degree felony. She pleaded nolo contendere and was sentenced to 24 months probation with a $52 supervisory fee per month, $518 in court costs, $150 in public defender fees and ordered to make restitution to the vehicle owner in the amount of $354.50.
Now, a judge has found that she violated her probation and a warrant was issued for her arrest. She has not yet been arrested on that warrant. Anyone with information about her whereabouts is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 433-STOP or the Escambia Sheriff’s Office at 436-9620.
Rabies Alert Continues For North Escambia; Person Bit By Rabid Fox
September 13, 2009
A Rabies Alert continues for North Escambia after one person was bit by a rabid fox and two raccoons that bit dogs tested positive for rabies.
Robert Merritt, director of environmental health for the Escambia County Health Department, said that a dog was bitten by a rabid raccoon on Crabtree Church Road in Molino in May, and a dog was bitten by a rabid raccoon on Handy Road in Cottage Hill last month. He said a fox that bit a person somewhere in North Escambia last month also tested positive for rabies, but, due to patient privacy laws, he was not able to identify in which community the incident occurred.
The dogs bitten by the rabid raccoons were quarantined; while the person bitten by the rabid fox is undergoing treatment.
Dr. John Lanza, Director of the Escambia County Health Department today issued a rabies alert for the central to northern geographical region of Escambia County, Florida. This is in response to three wild animals that tested positive for rabies.
Escambia residents should be aware that rabies is present in the wild animal population and domestic animals are at risk if not vaccinated. The public is asked to maintain a heightened awareness that rabies is active in Escambia County. Alerts are designed to increase awareness to the public, but they should not give a false sense of security to areas that have not been named as under an alert.
This rabies alert will last for a total of 60 days and covers all of central and northern Escambia County from Muscogee Road north to the Alabama State line.
An animal with rabies could infect other wild animals or domestic animals that have not been vaccinated against rabies. All domestic animals should be vaccinated against rabies and humans should avoid all wildlife contact, especially with raccoons, bats, and foxes.
Rabies is a disease of the nervous system and is usually fatal to warm-blooded animals and to humans. The only treatment for human exposure to rabies is rabies-specific immune globulin and rabies immunization. Appropriate treatment started soon after the exposure will protect an exposed person from the disease.
The following advice is issued:
o All pets should have current rabies immunizations.
o Avoid contact with all wildlife, especially raccoons, bats, and foxes.
o All persons with any unusual exposure incident, or bites, with a wild animal should be evaluated by a physician to determine their need for treatment.
o For general questions pertaining to rabies in animals, contact the Escambia County Health Department’s Environmental Health Division at (850) 595-6700.
o Secure outside garbage in covered containers to avoid attracting wild animals.
o Do not leave pet food outside as this practice also attracts other animals.
o For questions regarding the health of an animal, contact a veterinarian.
o Veterinarian staff and animal control staff should be alert for animals encountered with signs suspicious for rabies and contact the Escambia County Health Department’s Environmental Health Division at (850) 595-6700.
For further information on rabies, go to the Florida Department of Health website: http://www.doh.state.fl.us/disease_ctrl/epi/diseases.htm or contact the Escambia County Health Department, Environmental Health office at (850) 595-6700.
30 Year Anniversary Of Hurricane Frederic
September 13, 2009
This weekend marked the 30th anniversary of the landfall on Hurricane Frederic along our portion of the Gulf Coast.
Frederic formed on August 29, 1979, as a tropical depression over the far eastern Atlantic, and became a hurricane on September 10 over the Gulf of Mexico. Frederic strengthened to a Category 4 hurricane over the Central Gulf with maximum sustained winds near 132 mph.
On Wednesday, September 12, 1979 at 5 a.m., the National Weather Service posted hurricane warnings from Panama City, Florida. west to Grand Isle, Louisiana. Frederic continued to strengthen, with highest winds estimated at 130 mph and central pressure of 28.05 inches of mercury. With a slightly increased forward speed at 12 mph, the hurricane continued moving northwest about 220 miles south of the Alabama coast.
Hurricane Frederic was expected to produce a storm surge of 10 to 15 feet above normal in the area where the center made landfall. By 11 a.m. on September 12th, Frederic was located 175 miles south of Pensacola moving north-northwest at 12 to 15 mph. The diameter of the hurricane eye was reported to be about 10 miles. Reports from hurricane hunter reconnaissance aircraft and coastal weather radar networks indicated the eye of Frederic would cross the coast between Gulfport and Pensacola. Evacuation of the coast was nearing completion at that time. By 5 p.m., the center of Hurricane Frederic was about 80 miles south of Gulf Shores moving north at 15 mph.
Conditions began to rapidly deteriorate during the afternoon of September 12th as Frederic made it’s final approach to the Alabama Gulf Coast. Hurricane Frederic approached the coast with a forward speed of 15 mph. The eye of the storm measured 50 miles in diameter east to west, and 40 miles north to south. In the opinion of some weather forecasters at the time, Frederic had the largest storm center they had ever recorded.
Shortly before 10 p.m. on the evening of September 12th, 1979, the northern eyewall of Frederic move ashore on Dauphin Island. As the eye struck land, it decreased in size to about 15 miles in diameter. The storm center crossed over the western end of Dauphin Island at 10 p.m. An automated wind gust recorder, located at the top of the Dauphin Island Bridge, recorded a peak wind gust of 145 mph. around 9:40 p.m.
At landfall, Frederic was as strong category 3 on the Saffir Simpson hurricane intensity scale, raking the Mobile Bay area with winds gusting from 100 to 145 mph for several hours from the evening of September 12th until the early morning of September 13th. Hurricane wind gusts were experienced as far inland as Choctaw County Alabama during the early morning hours of September 13th.
The damage cost from Frederic was $2.3 billion. Five deaths were directly attributable to the storm. A storm surge of 12 to 15 feet on the Gulf beaches and 8 to 10 feet on northern Mobile Bay destroyed numerous coastal buildings. Storm surge damage was documented for 80 miles along the coast.
The winds from Hurricane Frederic damaged or destroyed many homes and businesses. Many homes and businesses well inland suffered severe damage when large pine trees fell onto them or their roof structures failed. Along with peak wind gusts of 145 mph at the Dauphin Island Bridge, wind gusts of 97 mph from the east were recorded at Mobile Regional Airport. At midnight, Mobile County Civil Defense reported measured wind gusts at 101 mph, along with massive damage in Mobile and surrounding areas. At midnight, wind gusts from the north at 98 mph were reported by Biloxi Civil Defense, with north winds gusting to 115 mph at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula.
On Thursday, at 2 a.m., the National Weather Service issued an intermediate advisory reporting the center of Hurricane Frederic had passed just west of Mobile and the hurricane force winds began to slowly subside in Mobile as Frederic continued to move north along the Alabama/Mississippi border. Extensive reports of damage in the Mobile metropolitan area were beginning to come in.
After moving inland from the coast, the hurricane moved north and then northeast, increasing its forward speed to 23 mph. It did not lose hurricane intensity until it was in the vicinity of Meridian, Mississippi, at about 7:00 the following morning. By 8 a.m. September 13, Frederic was downgraded to a tropical storm. It maintained that intensity as it moved north through Mississippi, crossing back into Alabama west of Tuscaloosa. Late that Thursday afternoon, what had been Hurricane Frederic was further downgraded to a tropical depression as it moved north through Alabama.
Numerous large swaths of significant wind damage were documented in the days immediately following the landfall of Frederic. Fallen trees were a significant impact to residents, bringing down thousands of power lines and blocking roads for several days. Some areas of Mobile County experienced electric power outages for five weeks.
Over 500,000 people evacuated from the central Gulf Coast region ahead of Frederic, the largest evacuation along the Gulf Coast up to that time. Frederic was the first hurricane to strike Mobile directly since 1932. Before Frederic, the last hurricane with Category 3 winds to directly strike the Alabama Gulf Coast occurred in 1916.
Information and photos courtesy the National Weather Service.
Firemen Called To Rescue Trapped Dog
September 13, 2009
Members of the Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue were called to rescue a dog early Saturday evening.
The dog was reported to be trapped in a ditch near the intersection of Pond Street and North Century Boulevard about 6:40 p.m. Saturday. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office called for the fire department’s assistance after the dog was found in the ditch. Deputies said the dog was unable to escape the ditch because of a vine wrapped around one of its hind legs.
Firemen were able to quickly free the dog from the ditch. The dog did not sustain any major injuries in the incident.
Video: Northview Chiefs
September 13, 2009
This exclusive NorthEscambia.com video includes some of the most exciting plays, the cheerleaders, mini-cheerleaders, the band, and an exclusive interview with Chief Head Coach Sid Wheatley.
Click the video below to watch.
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Photo Gallery: Hurricane Football
September 13, 2009
Southern Choctaw beat the Flomaton Hurricanes Friday night, 25-14. It was the first loss of the season for the Canes, now 2-1-0. Both of the Hurricanes’ touchdowns came from Ryheem Davis. Flomaton will host 2A’s top team Leroy next week.
For more photos, click here for a gallery and then visit mikenewtonphotography.
Submitted photo by Mike Newton Photography for NorthEscambia.com, click toe enlarge.23
Online Audio: Listen To Entire Northview Vs. South Walton Game
September 13, 2009
Northview Chiefs fans can now listen to entire Northview football games here on NorthEscambia.com — the new official voice of the Northview High School Chiefs.
Join us each Sunday for a complete game playback from the Northview Chiefs. You will be able to listen to each game online, or even download the game to your MP3 player and take it with you.
The audio from Friday night’s game against South Walton should play automatically on this page. If it does not, click the play icon below.
To download the entire game (MP3 format) for your iPod or other MP3 player, click here.
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Man Arrested After Running From Deputies Late Friday Night
September 12, 2009
A Century man was arrested after running from deputies Friday night in Century.
Clark Gable Burt, 36, of Jackson Street, Century, was charged with trespassing and resisting an officer after an incident at Century Woods Apartments late Friday night.
When Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Deputy James Gilman spotted Burt at the apartment complex, Burt fled on foot. After a short foot chase, he was taken into custody and booked in the Escambia County Jail.
Burt remained in jail on $1,000 bond early Saturday morning.
Jay Royals Slam Holmes County 28-7
September 12, 2009
The Jay Royals opened their football season in big way Friday night, slamming Holmes County 28-7.
The Royals were three for three inside the three — three times the Blue Devils were inside the three ,and three times the Royals defense prevented them from scoring.
On their opening drive, the Royals were on the board after a Steven Brabham quarterback keeper. Brabham scored again in the second quarter. Both kicks were good, the Royals were up 14-0 in Bonifay.
With about three minutes to go in the half, Holmes County scored on a 24-yard touchdown pass.
In the third, the Royals’ Rush Hendricks rushed 56 yards to the one. A dive into the end zone from Hendricks and a good kick put the Royals on top 21-7 with about nine minutes in the third.
With 4:25 in the half, QB Brabham had a 56-yard TD pass to Hunter Boutwell for another half dozen. The kick was good, as the Jay Royals beat Holmes County 28-7.
Pensacola High Beats Tate
September 12, 2009
Tate High School lost to Pensacola High Friday night in close ballgame, 7-0.
The first three quarters were scoreless. A 12-yard pass with 7:23 to go in the game from Jalen Spencer to David Giannotti put Pensacola High on the board. A good kick, and the PHS was up 7-0.
Tate will be on the road to Satsuma, Ala., next week.