Jay Council Member Dies; Town Hall Closed For Thursday Funeral
June 3, 2009
Louise Freels, a member of the Jay Town Council, has died, leaving the five seat council with just three members.
Mary Louise Phillips Freels, 73, passed away at Jay Hospital over the weekend. Jay Town Hall will be closed Thursday for her funeral.
Freels won her first seat on the Jay Town Council in 2004 and was reelected last year for another four year term as one of the top two vote getters for two open seats on the council. Council member David Bush resigned his seat in May. Town officials have not yet announced if they will appoint new members or wait until one is elected in 2010.
Jay Town Hall will be closed Thursday in memory of Freels. Visitation for Mary Louise Freels will be 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Jay Funeral Home. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home with pastors Virginia Beckham and Jeff Hemley officiating. The Jay Town Council and Jay employees will be among the honorary pallbearers.
Freels was born and raised in the Jay area, and graduated from Jay High School where she was homecoming queen n 1952. She attended Troy State University in Troy, Alabama, graduating with a degree in English. Freels returned to Jay in 1976 to teach English at Jay High School. She later received a Masters degree in Library Science. She was a member of Jay United Methodist Church.
Freels is survived by her daughter and son in law, Drs. Michael and Stephanie Marschall, her grandchildren Erika and Ehren Marschall, her brothers William Eugene Phillips, Cecil (Margaret) Phillips, Joe Phillips, Lloyd Phillips and Neal (Millie) Phillips, and her sisters Thelma (Howard) Phillips and Rochelle (Wayne) Brown.
Friends and Family wishing to honor Mary Louise Freels may make a donation in her memory to the United Methodist Children’s Home in Selma, Alabama.
Woman Arrested For Violating Probation On Drug Charge
June 3, 2009
A Century woman has been arrested for violating her probation on charges that stemmed from a 2008 undercover operation and drug raid in Century.
Rebecca Lynn Warrick, 44, was arrested Monday on a violation of probation charge after she failed to comply with terms set by an Escambia County judge on the 2008 drug charges.
Warrick was among ten people arrested in a pre-dawn drug sweep in Century on July 11, 2008. She was charged with narcotics possession and/or use. She was arrested again after she failed to appear in court in October, according to court records. She was sentenced to 180 days in jail, but that sentence was suspended with credit for the 75 days she spent in jail. She was placed on probation in early November, 2008.
When Warrick failed to comply with her probation terms, a warrant for her arrest was issued on February 20, according to court records.
She is currently being held in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
Insurance Audit: Century $4 Million Short In Coverage
June 3, 2009
The Town of Century has discovered that some of the town’s property is not insured against hurricanes and other losses, and that some property is grossly underinsured.
Insurance agent Wayne Hood of Underwood Anderson & Associates has informed the town that their sewage treatment plant is not insured, and that it never has been. But he said that really was not a concern.
“You are insuring water,” Hood told the council, referring to the fact that the sewage plant is always underwater, immune from fires, floods and hurricanes. Insuring the plant would provide some coverage for pipes, pumps and other equipment, but would otherwise be nearly worthless, he said.
The discovery was part of a free insurance audit and appraisal conducted by an independent appraiser on behalf of the town’s insurance carrier, the Preferred Government Insurance Trust. The company pools the insurance resources of about 700 Florida governmental agencies.
The audit found that while Century has about $6 million of property insured, the actual value of Century’s property is $10 million. The biggest discrepancies were the sewage treatment plant and two water towers insured for $200,000 each when the appraiser said they were worth $700,000 each.
PIGT provided the town with the option of increasing coverage between now and October 1, the policy renewal date, for $4,000. The increase would have upped the current coverage to 125% replacement cost as an added bonus. But the the company recommended, Hood said, that Century increase the coverage as desired at the time of the policy renewal.
“I am in favor of waiting until October first since we haven’t budgeted this amount” Council President Ann Brooks said. The council has agreed, opting to wait until their new fiscal year on October 1 to increase coverages.
Town Urges Holley To Reopen Century Office
June 3, 2009
The Town of Century has joined the list of local groups seeking to have Escambia County Tax Collector Janet Holley reopen her office in the Century Courthouse.
Holley closed the office last week to save an estimated $200,000 and because she said a low number of citizens actually use the office.
Mayor Freddie McCall said he hoped that Holley would consider reopening the office, and the Century Town Council passed a resolution asking her to stay in Century.
“Hopefully she can change her mind; if not, maybe next election somebody else can see different,” the mayor said.
Escambia County Clerk of the Courts Ernie Lee Magaha had announced that his office was pulling out of Century, but he he changed his mind and the office remains.
The Escambia County Commission and several community groups have also passed resolutions urging Holley to keep her Century office open.
Man Questioned As Search Continues For Walnut Hill, Atmore Mugging Suspect
June 3, 2009
The search continued Tuesday for the man wanted for questioning in connection with muggings that happened Monday afternoon in Walnut Hill and Atmore.
Just after 1:00 Tuesday afternoon, Escambia County Sheriff’s Department deputies acted on a tip that a vehicle possibly matching the suspect’s vehicle was spotted on Highway 4 near Bratt. Deputies quickly located the dark green Jeep Cherokee on Highway 4 near Lake Stone. Escambia deputies stopped the white male driver and questioned him at the scene. They also called investigators from the Atmore Police Department to the scene.
The man was transported to the ESCO Century Precinct where he was questioned at length by Escambia deputies and Atmore investigators. He was released after authorities were confident that he was not the man that mugged women in Walnut Hill and Atmore.
Authorities across the area are continuing their search for the SUV involved in the incidents. The Walnut Hill victim described the suspect’s vehicle as a black, older model two-door style Ford Bronco or Chevy Blazer, while the Atmore victim described the vehicle as a dark green SUV.
In both cases, the man, described as a clean cut white male possibly with a goatee and mustache, physically pushed or shoved the women prior to stealing or attempting to steal their purses or wallets.
For more details on the muggings, click here.
Pictured above: Authorities from Alabama and Florida questioned the driver of this dark green Jeep Cherokee Tuesday afternoon in connection with muggings that occurred in Walnut Hill and Atmore. The driver was stopped at a power substation on Highway 4 near Lake Stone. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Over 200 Ernest Ward Students Receive Awards
June 3, 2009
Today, NorthEscambia.com continues a series of stories with award listings from area schools. Today’s listing contains the names of all Ernest Ward Middle School students that received awards in ceremonies at the end of the year.
(Editors note: If you are a teacher or administrator at an area school, please send any awards lists that you might have to news@northescambia.com for a future story.)
ERNEST WARD MIDDLE SCHOOL
Sixth Grade
Autumn Ates, Penny Banda, Reagan Bell, Shalmali Bhadkamkar, Joshua Borelli, Megan Braun, Jessica Brewton, Kamryn Brock, Tristan Brown, Aquanis Brown, Megan Bryan, Murphy Bryan, Joshawa Burton, Kristen Byrd, Fountain Charmayne, Kendall Cobb, Aaliyah Creamer, Tiffani Cruce, Austin Cunningham, Aden Davis, Alliana Davis, Nelson Deloach, Desire’e Elliard, Elizabeth Fillingim, Chasen Freeman
Hannah Gibson, Jessica Glick, Christian Gould, Kyndall Hall, Davy Hanks, Elijah Harbison, Jon Michael Hart, Jacob Hendrix, Julie Hester, Victoria Ingram, John Hunter Johnston, Justin Kite, Katitlyn Kline, Ariel Langston, Auden Lassiter, Logan Lee, Ben Linam, Brittany Martin, Jessica McCall, Destiny McCullough, Aaron McDonald, Madison McGhee, Brandon McNeil
Andrea Miles, Teamber Moorer, Amy Murph, Kade Parham, Lakelynn Parker, Emily Pippins, Kevin Pippins, Tristan Portwood, Madison Presley, Darby Randolph, Kortney Reid, Mallory Ryan, Smantha Sharpless, Hunter Sherhouse, Rickey Smith, Irene Stewart, Danielle Suggs, Addie Thames, Chelsea Turner, Morgan Ward, Ashlynn Webster, Katlynn Welford, Joselyn Wiedel, Tamara Wise, Kelton Wooten
Seventh Grade
Mariah Albritton, Madison Arrington, Jodie Ard, Montana Ard, Miranda Bailey, Samantha Barrow, Timothy Born, Shawn Boutwell, Kasie Braun, Taylor Brook, Dale Brown, Jessica Brown, Skye Brown, Tristan Brown, Audrey Byrd, Katleyn Calloway, Michelle Carnley, Kira Cartwright, Aaron Cayson, Matt Cayson, Lana Clayton, Jaquoia Collins, Madalyn Coon, Tristen Creamer, Dalton Daniel, Morgan Digmon, Anna Donald, Derrick Edmonson, David Edwards
Anna Fischer, Hunter Gafford, Shaina Gibson, Cheyenne Glenn, Casey Godwin, Marina Gray, Tamara Green, Quanisha Green, Rebecca Grim, Dakota Guidry, Douglas Hadley, Paeton Hadley, Tony Haynie, Logan Holder, Casey Jackson, Wade Jernigan, Courtney Jones, Brainna Jordan, Tori Jordan, Angel Leonard, Chloe Leonard, Courtney Lewis, Jessica Lowery, Jeffrey Macks, Jasmine Maher, Lakota Maloney, Brittany Martin, Alexandria Martin, Audra Martin
Rebekah Miles, Tristen Montgomery, Shelby Nielsen, Will Owens, Natasha Peebles, Tristan Portwood, Mikaela Santos, Danielle Scott, Hilery Scott, Rebekah Sepulveda, Mileah Showers, Danny Slay, Kent Smith, Sharaina Smith, Alkota Snyder, Mason Sochenberger, Jennifer Spears, Jeremy Stacey, Danielle Steadham, Karissa Strickland, Lily Townson, Daulton Tullis, Lauryn Walker, Chelsea Ward, Courtney Weaver, Raven Weaver, Kelton Wooten, Victoria Wright, Roc Young
Eighth Grade
Korey Amerson, Parker Andrews, Colby Baggett, Alison Bardin, Reid Bell, Angela Bellamy, Colby Berry, Hannah Black, Harley Caraway, Ashlynn Clemmons, Devon Coates, Zachary Cole, Joseph Coon, Ashley Cunningham, Harley Davis, Nysha Dunn, Hannah Fiellin, Jazzlyn Franklin, La’Derious Franklin, Ashton Gibbs, Bethany Giveans, Michael Glick, Georgia Goetter, Kaityln Gunn, Ashley Gunter, Justin Halteman
Anna Held, Nick Helmken, Ashley Hicks, Ariel Holland, Hayden Howard, Joshua Inghram, Zachary Johnson, Alanna Johnson, Samantha Johnson, Trey Johnson, Ashley Joiner, Tori Jordan, Courtney Lambert, Ryan Lambert, Radeja’nique Lewis, Rebecca Masaitis, Blake McCall, John McGary, Angela Mitchell, Ashley Mooney, Jonathan Moretz, Maranda Moye, Jacob Munro, Dylan Nowlin, Dustin Parker, Jarrett Parker, Anthony Peacock
Marisa Penland, Travis Pittman, Blake Presley, Timothy Rackard, Sandy Rainwater, Shila Reid, Stephanie Roach, Johnny Robbins, Kyle Roberts, Marena Roley, Tyler Roley, Sean Rolin, Denisha Showers, Johnnie Smith, Morgan Smith, Lindra Street, Natasha Suggs, Justin Thompson, Julia Thorpe, Dezarae Turner, Garrett Turner, Haley Turner, Dezarae Turner, John Victor, Jessica Warner, Hannah Ziglar, Katelyn Zisa
Democrat Keahey Wins Alabama Senate Seat
June 3, 2009
Democrat Marc Keahey appeared to be the winner of the Alabama Senate District 22 race in eight South Alabama counties Tuesday.
Unofficial returns Tuesday night shows Keahey, 28 about 2,500 votes ahead of Republican challenger Greg Albritton, 57.
Keahey, a Grove Hill attorney, currently serves in the Alabama House of Representatives. Albritton is a former state representative from Range.
Albritton was the top vote getter in Escambia, Monroe, Baldwin and Conecuh counties — the area he represented while he was in the Alabama House from 2003 to 2007. In Escambia County, Albritton received over 500 more votes than Keahey.
The District 22 Alabama Senate seat left vacant early this year by the death of Sen. Pat Lindsey.
Smoke ‘Tornado’ Photo: Wheat Field Burns
June 2, 2009
Pictured above: A control burn in wheat field at Highway 97 and Tungoil Roads near Walnut Hill Monday afternoon. If you look carefully at the photo below, you can see three different smoke vortexes spinning like three tornadoes. Pictured below: The smoke from the fire was visible from several miles away. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Women Mugged Monday In Atmore And Walnut Hill; Police Look For Suspect
June 2, 2009
Authorities in two states are searching for a man that reportedly mugged two women — one in Atmore and one in Walnut Hill — during a three hour time span Monday.
The Walnut Hill incident occurred on South Highway 99 between Grimes Lane and Highway 97 about 6:45 Monday evening. A female driver told deputies that she noticed the driver of a dark colored SUV flashing his headlights at her and pointing to her gas cap. Thinking the gas cap was open, the woman stopped alongside South Highway 99. That’s when the white male pushed the female and went through her trunk and glove compartment, according to Escambia deputies.
The man took the woman’s wallet, but she told him that there was no money in it. He returned the wallet after she gave him $10 from her pocket, deputies said. The woman was not injured.
The suspect was described as a while male in his 30’s with light brown hair, a mustache and a goatee. He was wearing a dark colored t-shirt and wearing a red hat. His vehicle was described as black, older model two-door style Ford Bronco or Chevy Blazer.
Escambia deputies said the incident was extremely similar to a mugging in Atmore earlier Monday afternoon.
In the Atmore incident, an elderly female reported that she was driving on Main Street about 4:00 Monday afternoon when a white male in a dark green SUV flashed his lights at her. When she pulled off Main Street on Craig Street, the man reportedly told the female that she had a tire problem. She stopped at the Atmore YMCA, and that’s where she told police the man shoved her and took her purse off the front seat of her car.
The Atmore victim told police that the white male was in his 20’s or 30’s with a red hat and dark t-shirt. The Atmore victim reported a partial Alabama license plate number of “30A69″ to police.
Authorities advise anyone with any information to call their local law enforcement agency. If you believe you are being approached or followed by this man on the highway, you should continue driving and call 911 immediately.
Century Not Buying 3-Cent County Gas Tax Increase
June 2, 2009
The Escambia County Area Transit system is looking to have a 3-cent gas tax imposed in the county to fund mass transit, an idea that the Town of Century is not buying into just yet.
Marilyn Wesley, director of Neighborhoods and Community Services and Ken Gordon, ECAT general manager, pitched their plan to the Century Town Council Monday night, looking for support. The council did not vote on supporting the plan; instead, they fired back with questions and concerns.
“We would lose four of our businesses in this town,” Council member Nadine McCaw said. She explained that gas is typically about a dime cheaper just north of Century in Flomaton, Ala., and that another 3-cent tax would serve to put Century’s gas stations out of business. “We would be just about killing our town here.”
Council member Henry Hawkins expressed concern about supporting an ECAT funding plan when ECAT has not provided what he considers adequate services in Century. Currently, Century has a morning and midday bus to Pensacola, and a midday and late afternoon bus from Pensacola.
“I’m going to be hard pressed to say yeah,” Hawkins said, “and we are not getting any better service.”
Hawkins said he had approached the former ECAT director with a plan that would house ECAT buses in Pensacola rather than the buses making two empty trips per day between Century and Pensacola. The savings, he said, would allow ECAT to expand service in Century and provide transit service to other communities like Byrneville and Bratt.
“We are always open to ideas,” Gordon said.
Council members also expressed concern that if ECAT faced further budget cutbacks, Century’s current bus service would be the first routes cut due to low ridership.
“The first one that’s going to go are the ones not utilized as much,” McCaw said. “The first person that is going to be again will be us.”
Wesley said the $4 million that the gas tax would be estimated to generate would “hopefully” be used to improve service in North Escambia. But for now, ECAT has ordered two smaller buses to be assigned to the Century route to replace the current full-size transit buses that are used to service the town. That route currently has less than 8,000 riders per year on the three buses per day.
The county contributes $7.6 million toward ECAT’s annual budget. A 3 cent gas tax would provide an estimated $3.1 million of that figure, and it would cost the average county citizen $15 per year, according to study the ECAT Citizen Advisory Committee.
ECAT estimates the gas tax would cost the average Escambia driver an extra $15 per year. ECAT also estimates that about two-thirds of the additional revenue would come from tourists and non-residents, not from Escambia citizens.
The Escambia Commission is expected to approve a public hearing on the gas tax for June 18 and vote on the proposal at that night’s commission meeting.
Pictured: Marilyn Wesley, director of Neighborhoods and Community Services, addresses the Century Town Council Monday in favor of a 3-cent gas tax increase in Escambia County to fund ECAT. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.