Labor Of Love: Friends Helping Molino Woman Fight Cancer
September 3, 2009
Recently, doctors told Sonja Luker of Molino to prepare for the end because, once again, chemotherapy and radiation were unable to destroy all of the cancer cells attacking her body. As Sonja tried to come to terms with the devastating news, she began to wonder how she will tell her children that she will not live long enough to see them marry, how she would tell her parents that she would probably die before them.
But then there was a glimmer of hope that has turned into a real promise. A doctor at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Texas is convinced that he can trick her body genetically, preventing tumors from forming.
Now Sonja’s friends are working together to help her and her husband Chris afford the treatment she needs. The couple has insurance, but it will not cover all of the expenses for the Texas treatments. They couple has also exhausted their life savings.
Her friends have organized a 75-mile Labor Day motorcycle ride to benefit Sonja. The ride (detailed at the bottom of this story) will start Monday at the Alabama Wing House in Atmore. For the friends, it’s a labor of love.
That’s because Sonja has given so much to the community over the past several years. She’s the person behind the annual Molino Christmas Parade. She has served tirelessly for years on the board of directors for the Molino Recreation Association. Relay for Life, Special Olympics…the list just goes on and on. Helping the communities of North Escambia has been her calling.
“I’m a little overwhelmed by all of the people that want to help me,” Sonja said. “I would rather give than receive. I have the most amazing friends in the world.”
Sonja was first diagnosed with cancer about five years ago when her son was senior in high school. Her son Timothy is now 22 and daughter Samantha is 21.
“All I did was pray for God to let me see my children graduate,” she said. “I got my miracle.”
For Sonja, there’s always someone that needs help more than she does.
“I do what I do because I like to help,” she said. “There is always somebody worse that I am.”
And that’s one of her goals. She plans, and fully intends, for her Texas treatment to work. She, of course, wants the treatment to work so she can be with her family and friends. But she also wants to get fully back into helping others.
“I am going to be around to work on my causes,” she said. “I’m ready to get out there and help raise money for causes that need it.”
She’s already making plans for this year’s Molino Christmas Parade, and she is looking forward to helping with next year’s ball season. “Any I want to make sure that everybody gets involved with Relay for Life,” she said. “It if were not for the cancer research money provided by Relay for Life, I would have not a chance right now in my fight. I would have no hope if it were not for Relay for Life.”
The Labor Day 75-mile motorcycle ride for Sonja Luker will take place Monday. Registration will be at 9 a.m. at the Alabama Wing House at 124 Lindberg Avenue in Atmore. The ride will begin at 11 a.m. The ride is $20 per bike, $25 for two riders. There is a $5 entry fee for a bike competition, and a $20 entry fee to a car show. The event will also feature life music, food and fun activities for the whole family. For more information, contact Jessica at (850) 418-4848 or Pam at (850) 712-6267.
Pictured top and bottom: Sonja Luker with her husband Chris. Pictured middle: Sonja (far right) at this year’s Relay for Life at Tate High School. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Disaster Pet Shelters Now Available In Escambia And Santa Rosa
September 3, 2009
In the event of a hurricane or other disaster, residents of both Escambia and Santa Rosa counties now have a pet friendly shelter available.
A pet friendly shelter in Milton was announced Wednesday in Santa Rosa County. A similar shelter was announced in July at Molino Park Elementary School for residents of Escambia County.
The Santa Rosa shelter is located at Avalon Middle School at 5445 King Arthurs Way in Milton. Pre-registration for the pet friendly shelter in Santa Rosa County is required and available online by clicking here. Those without home Internet access are encouraged to use the computer resources at any of the five county libraries or a paper application can be picked up in Milton at animal services located at 4451 Pine Forest Road and cooperative extension service on 6263 Dogwood Drive, or the Santa Rosa County Southside Service Center located at 5841 Gulf Breeze Parkway.
The Escambia County pet friendly shelter is located at Molino Park Elementary School at 899 Highway 97 in Molino. Pre-registration is required. For more information and registration information for the shelter, click here. Registration information is also available from the Escambia County Animal Shelter, 200 West Fairfield Drive in Pensacola.
Both shelters are limited to dogs and cats only. The animals must have current proof of vaccinations. Pet owners must stay at the shelters with their animals in order to care for their own pets.
Both shelters are considered “last resort” shelters — both counties encourage persons evacuating with their pets to first seek a pet friendly hotel or a place to say with family or friends if possible.
Man That Allegedly Shot Into Elderly Woman’s Home Released On Bond
September 3, 2009
A Molino man that allegedly fired a rifle into an elderly woman’s house in April after he became upset that he purchased $40 of fake cocaine is now free on $100,000 bond.
Robert Grant Piehl, 41, of Wilder Road, Molino, was released under the condition that he have no contact with the victims and that he stay away from Barth Lane where the incident occurred. Williams is charged with five felonies — aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill, two counts firing into the dwelling, criminal mischief and robbery with a firearm. A charge of using a firearm during a felony was dropped by prosecutors.
Piehl is scheduled to be back in court in October.
Charges have been dropped against the man with Piehl at the time of the incident, Harry Langdale Nowlin, 43, of Molino. Nowlin had been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill and robbery with a firearm.
Piehl reportedly bought what he thought was crack cocaine for $40 on April 15 on Barth Lane. But he discovered the crack was fake and returned to confront the alleged dealer with a .22 caliber rifle Wednesday evening, according to deputies. Piehl pointed the rifle at several people and fired into two houses, according to police reports.
Piehl approached Louise Sampson, 88, and asked about the alleged drug dealer, according to the sheriff’s department. Sampson denied knowing the man, prompting Piehl to fire the rifle through the elderly woman’s door. There were no injuries.
Deputies responding to the 911 call about the incident found Piehl and Nowlin as they were leaving, stopped their vehicle and arrested them on Highway 29. The rifle allegedly used in the incident was still in the truck, according to deputies.
Pictured above: Robert Grant Piehl. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tri-Cities Rotary Club Receives Presidential Citation
September 3, 2009
The Tri-Cities Rotary Club was awarded a Presidential Citation at their Wednesday meeting. The recognition was presented to Tri-Cities Rotary President Bo Brantley (left) by Assistant District Governor Leon Hursch. The Tri-Cities Rotary Club is comprised of members from the Century, Jay and Flomaton areas. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
School Bus Driver From Jay Involved In Minor Wreck
September 2, 2009
A school bus driver from Jay was involved in a minor traffic crash in Pace Tuesday afternoon
The Florida Highway Patrol says bus driver Angela D. Pennell, 48, of Jay, was stopped at a red light. The FHP says Faye Franks, 61, of Pace, pulled to a stop behind the bus. That’s when Franks reached to pick up something that fell to the floor in her Kia van and rolled forward into rear of the bus.
Pennell and Franks were not injured. A nine-year old Pace girl was transported to Santa Rosa Hospital with minor injuries.
There was no damage to the bus in the minor crash, according to troopers.
Franks was charged with careless driving, according to the FHP.
Deputy Involved In Wreck
September 2, 2009
An Escambia County deputy was involved in a traffic accident in Cantonment early Tuesday evening
The accident happened just after 6 p.m. on Muscogee Road near Highway 29. The Florida Highway Patrol says ECSO Deputy Andrew Taylor, 25, was responding to an emergency 911 call in the 600 block of Muscogee Road. As the deputy turned across the highway into the driveway of the home with the emergency, he turned into the path of a 1981 Chevrolet truck driven by William Fountain, 55, of Cantonment.
The front of Fountain’s truck struck the side of the marked sheriff’s cruiser, sending the patrol car into a ditch.
Fountain was transported to West Florida Hospital with minor injuries. Deputy Taylor was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital with minor injuries.
The FHP says charges are pending in the crash.
Walnut Hill Couple Sentenced To 15 Years In Prison On Drug Charges
September 2, 2009
A Walnut Hill man and his wife have each been sentenced to a mandatory 15 years in state prison for drug trafficking.
In addition to the minimum mandatory 15 year sentence imposed last week, Circuit Court Judge Joel W. Boles ordered Stephen Eugene Freeman, 43, and his wife Monica Lassitter Freeman, 37, to pay a $50,000 fine, $2,500 surcharge and $518 court costs — for a total of $53,018 each. Attorney Patrece Cashwell has filed a notice of appeal on behalf of Stephen Freeman.
In June, it took an Escambia County jury just 50 minutes to convict the Freemans on the trafficking charges involving 14 to 28 grams of illegal drugs.
Monica Freeman faces additional charges of possession of of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and an additional drug trafficking charge. She is due back in court at the end of September.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said the Freemans were originally arrested by Escambia County Sheriff’s Deputies on June 4, 2008, following an undercover operation. Spokesperson Ted Roy says ECSO arrested the pair following an undercover operation where deputies discovered prescription Lortab and other pills in the couple’s home on Garrett Road in Walnut Hill.
Stephen and Monica Freeman both remain in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
Blog: Commission Strikes Out By Taxing Kids
September 2, 2009
The Escambia County Commission will strike out Thursday night if they vote to tax children.
The commission will consider a recommendation at their Thursday meeting that would have non-profit athletic associations assessed a fee of $10 per child, per sport after October 1.
Currently, athletic associations that use county-owned parks for little league sports do not pay for the use of the parks. Instead, the athletic associations maintain and manage the parks in exchange for their use. The athletic associations charge players a fee to participate on organized teams. The fees along with concession sales go to the athletic associations. In turn, the associations maintain the parks — from cutting the grass to making repairs to changing light bulbs. The county does not actively participate in or fund the maintenance of a park like Bradberry in Walnut Hill or Don Sutton in Molino.
Now the Escambia Commission will consider slapping a $10 tax on every child that plays ball. Moms and dads that are already out of work will be forced to pay another $10 that will go into the general fund of Escambia County. There’s no promise, not even the slightest hint, that the extra ten bucks per child will go back to the athletic parks. The $75,000 in extra money could be used to pave a road, fund the jail, prevent layoff or buy cars for a couple of administrators.
There’s no arguing that the county needs more funding — but taxing children that want to play ball?
“That ridiculous to do that,” Steve Hanks, president of Northwest Escambia Little League said. “It not going to do anything but hurt a lot of kids. It’s tough enough now for parents to afford for their children to play.”
It’s also tough on many parents who selflessly volunteer countless hours at the county-owned parks.
Volunteers “give their time to make a difference in the community and a positive impact on future generations,” Arty Kleinatland, president of the Molino Recreation Association wrote in a comment on NorthEscambia.com. “If the county can’t afford to pay the salary for oversight of the operations to give the children a place to play organized ball and learn the skills ball teaches at a young age, then they should supplement the salary from another avenue and not roll the burden back to the already strained families in the community.”
Is $75,000 important enough to tax kids that play ball? We think not.
Sandy Jennings, bureau chief for the county’s Neighborhoods/Community Services Bureau, should have never recommending taxing kids. And now the only clear action for the Escambia County Commission is for each and every member to vote against the proposal.
Members of the public should express their opinion TODAY in three ways: Call not just your commissioner but all five of them; email each one, and post your comments below for them to read publicly. Urge your friends to do the same.
Wilson Robertson
(850) 595-4910 email district1@co.escambia.fl.us
Gene Valentino
(850) 595-4920 email district2@co.escambia.fl.us
Marie Young (Chair)
(850) 595-4930 email district3@co.escambia.fl.us
Grover Robinson (Vice Chair)
(850) 595-4940 email district4@co.escambia.fl.us
Kevin White
(850) 595-4950 email district5@co.escambia.fl.us
Volleyball: Northview Loses Season Openers To Freeport
September 2, 2009
The Northview Chiefs lost there regular season opening varsity and junior varsity volleyball matches on the road Tuesday night.
The varsity Chiefs lost three of four to Freeport, 23-25, 25-14, 15-25, 20-25.
Against Freeport, junior Shawna Montgomery had five kills, a couple of assists, one ace, five digs and seven blocks. Kara Hardin, also a junior, had a block, an aces and a pair of digs. Senior setter Caitlin Hall finished the night with seven assists, eight blocks and two aces. Senior Angela Rodriguez had a pair of aces and a pair of kills for the Chiefs.
Freeport swept two from the JV Chiefs, 16-25, 22-25.
Tresine Dean, a junior, had two assists, one block and an ace for Northview. Jordan Satterwhite, a freshman, had two digs and an ace. Sophomore Josie Doucette,picked up two blocks and junior Brittanie Poston had two kills.
Deputies Seek Mailbox Vandals
September 2, 2009
Escambia County deputies are looking for the person or persons that destroyed about half dozen mailboxes from Walnut Hill to Enon.
The mailboxes and their supports were apparently hit by a vehicle along Highway 97A sometime late Monday night or early Tuesday morning. Destroying a mailbox can actually be a federal felony offense.
Anyone with information on this crime is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 433-STOP or the Escambia Sheriff’s Office at 436-9620.
Pictured above: One of the mailboxes destroyed on Highway 97A near Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.