Shots Fired In Highway 29 Standoff
April 6, 2009
Shots were reportedly fired in a standoff between a man and Escambia County deputies at a Highway 29 bridge Sunday night near McDavid.
Deputies responded to a possible suicide call along Highway 29 about 10 p.m. Sunday. They located the man in a vehicle on the banks of Canoe Creek, just north of Highway 164 and Highway 29. The shots were reportedly fired by the man, not deputies.
After about 45 minutes, the man exited his truck and was taken into custody and transported by ambulance to a Pensacola hospital.
Highway 29 was partially shutdown during the standoff.
Further details were not immediately available. The incident is still under investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department.
Good Kitty: Area Radio Station Claims Major Country Music Awards
April 6, 2009
You may have seen some familiar voices during last night’s national broadcast of the Academy of Country Music awards.
Cat County 98.7 “Cat Pak” morning show personalities Dana Cervantes and Brent Lane were named the ACM’s Small Market Personalities of the Year. The station picked up a second ACM award last night, being named the Academy of County Music’s Station of the Year.
Cervantes and Lane, along with station co-owner and General Manager Mary Hoxeng were in Las Vegas for the awards ceremony. Their TV appearance came during special segments during the ACM show.
“It was nice to be recognized as representing Pensacola. Being at the ACM’s is an extraordinary trip and wonderful opportunity to see the glamour and glitz. It’s nice to be able to hang with the stars and get some great stories for our radio show,” Lane said.
The ACM statutes were presented to Cat Country 98.7 by Sugarland’s Christian Bush and Jennifer Nettles. Sugarland won CMA Vocal Duo of Year last year.
Hoxeng said, “It’s truly an honor to be able to represent Pensacola at the ACM’s and for (husband) Dave and I to be recognized for doing what we love to do in Pensacola.”
Cervantes and Lane will be broadcasting The Cat Pak with Brent & Dana show on Monday from Las Vegas sharing their Las Vegas stories.
Cervantes said, “It’s unbelievably great to be around the country stars, and all the excitement. I am very honored to be representing Pensacola. I can’t wait to bring home the hardware and some juicy stories.”
“We are all very excited and honored to win this prestigious award for the second time in three years, said Kevin King, operations manager for Cat Country 98.7.
Spring Break! Share Your Photos
April 6, 2009
It’s Spring Break for Escambia County schools, and we want to see the photos!
Email your Spring Break photos to news@northescambia.com for possible inclusion in a weekend photo gallery. It’s your chance to be on NorthEscambia.com!
Escambia County students and staff are out of school Monday through Thursday for Spring Break, and they are out of school on Friday for the Good Friday holiday.
Deputies Continue To Investigate Dumpster Murder; Possible Suspects
April 5, 2009
As the investigation into the murder of a North Escambia woman continues, we now know that the Sheriff’s Department investigators have suspects in the case.
The body of Cheryl Renee Cain, 29, of Cantonment, was found in a dumpster at an abandoned gas station at the corner of Burgess Road and Highway 29 on March 25.
There have been no arrests in the murder, but Escambia County deputies now say they have possible suspects the case. Deputies are continuing to wait for forensics evidence in the case to be processed before naming the suspects or making an arrest. They have not released a cause of death or other autopsy results.
Cain’s car and wallet were found at a Highway 29 motel, about a half mile from where her body was located. Her family last heard from her about 8 pm. on March 23 when she called to say that she would be home soon.
If you saw Cain after 8 p.m. on March 23, investigators urge you to call Crime Stoppers at 433-7867. There is a $2,000 reward for tips that lead to an arrest in the case.
A maintenance worker located Cain’s body in the dumpster the afternoon of March 25 behind a closed Shell gas station. The sheriff’s department had the entire dumpster, body inside, moved to their department to continue their investigation. The exact cause of Cain’s death has not been released. She was identified using fingerprint records.
The location is near a McDonald’s restaurant and the Greyhound bus station. Deputies have reviewed surveillance video from the bus stations, where they removed some evidence.
This was Escambia County’s fifth homicide of the year. One of those deaths was ruled justifiable by the state attorney’s office.
Pictured top: A murdered Cantonment woman was found inside this dumpster in Pensacola on March 25. Pictured inset: A crime scene technician takes photographs in the dumpster. Photos courtesy WEAR for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Batter Up: Opening Day At Molino Ballpark (With Photo Gallery)
April 5, 2009
Saturday was the official Opening Day at the Molino Ballpark. The park has 18 teams this year, compared to 14 in 2008.
“On behalf of the Molino Recreation Association Board, we would like to thank all the parents, sponsors, volunteers and the community that came out to
make our opening day a success,” said Arty Kleinatland, president of the Molino Recreation Association. “Good weather, good food and good support made
the day the most enjoyable for all.”
For a complete NorthEscambia.com photo gallery with over 100 photos from Opening Day activities and games at the Molino Ballpark, click here.
Pictured above: Watch the ball! Action on Opening Day at the Molino Ballpark Saturday morning. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Local Girl Hopes To Sing Her Way To Washington In National YouTube Contest
April 5, 2009
A local girl hopes to sing her way via YouTube to a historic event in Washington for Flag Day.
Ernest Ward Middle School student Danielle Scott of Walnut Hill is taking part in a contest called “O Say Can You Sing” sponsored in part by the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. Participants upload video of themselves singing the National Anthem to YouTube. Danielle’s video is at the bottom of this article.
The grand prize winner of the contest will be invited to perform the National Anthem at the museum in Washington, D.C. and at the Baltimore Orioles vs. Atlanta Braves game, both on Flag Day, June 14. The prize includes a trip for two to Washington, D.C., including airfare and three nights hotel accommodations; tickets and transportation to a Baltimore Orioles baseball game; and $400 in spending money.
If you do not see the YouTube video above, it is because your school or employer is blocking YouTube videos. Try watching the video from your home internet connection.
Free Easter Advertising For Area Churches
April 5, 2009
NorthEscambia.com will provide free advertising for churches in North Escambia or North Santa Rosa counties in Florida, or Atmore or Flomaton in Alabama. If your church is having a special Good Friday and/or Easter service, let us know and we will let thousands of readers across the area know.
We will list the services on our Events page free of charge. Please try to keep your announcement for our events page to 100 words or less. Please send your event listing as far in advance of your service(s) as possible.
We will also provide free display advertising for churches on NorthEscambia.com on a space available basis.
Send your announcement to news@northescambia.com or click here for our contact page.
All advertising and announcements subject to our editorial standards.
Rep. Miller Requests $2 Million For Century Water System Improvements
April 4, 2009
Century may finally get nearly $2 million for water system improvements to solve a 10-year old problem.
U.S. Congressman Jeff Miller has released his annual list of local appropriation requests, and it includes $1,191,960 for Century’s water system.
Funding would provide for installation of a new 500,000 Gallon Elevated Tank to improve system reliability and fire protection, two natural gas operated back-up generators to improve system reliability for the existing water treatment plants, 16,000 feet of six-inch water main and a booster station to provide fire protection, improve pressure and system reliability in a portion of the existing water system franchise area.
Many of the approximately 25 households on Backwoods Road have complained to the town for nearly a decade about poor water pressure, muddy water and sometimes the lack of water. The homes are served by 1.7 miles of pipe just two inches in diameter.
Miller is requesting about $80 million for 33 projects that must get past both chambers of Congress and a signature from President Barack Obama.
Flomaton High School Students Make Prom Promise
April 4, 2009
Silence fell over the gym at Flomaton High School Friday morning as Alabama State Troopers passed around photos of vehicles involved in alcohol or drug related crashes. Some of the photos involved wrecks where many of the students knew those that were involved.
It was the simple message of the Prom Promise program presented at the school — don’t drink and drive, and don’t do drugs and drive. Flomaton High juniors and seniors signed the Prom Promise after the program.
Flomaton Police Officer Terri Tolbert has attended proms for the two years she has been the school’s resource officer. For those two years, every student she has seen at the prom has made it back to school the following Monday morning. She wants to keep it that way.
WEAR Channel 3 news anchor Bob Solarski told the Flomaton students about his struggles with alcoholism. Solarski was arrested for DUI in the parking lot of University Mall in Pensacola in early October after he rammed several vehicles. The newscaster said it is hard to report on young people losing their lives in DUI accidents.
Karen Brown Rhodes of Fort Walton Beach lost her son, Jonathan Kohlheim, on March 19, 2002. The 17 year old was involved in a drunk-driving accident in Crestview.
She told the emotional story Friday morning to the students at Flomaton High School.
Kohlheim’s brother survived the crash, but he is now an alcoholic, unable to deal with what happened to his little brother, Rhodes said.
Kohlheim’s friend is in prison for his death, and he plans to visit high schools to tell of his mistakes once he is released. Rhodes said she has forgiven him because it was an accident, but, it could have been prevented had he not been drinking and driving. Rhodes passed around pictures of her son and the the mangled car.
Rev. Doug Hogg, pastor of the Little Escambia Baptist Church, prayed for the safety of the Flomaton students as they attend their prom. The church’s youth director, Buddy Goodman, was also on hand in support of the students.
The Flomaton High School Prom was held Saturday night in the school’s gym.
Joel Ellison of Ellison Construction Inc., Jason Hart of Med-South, Inc., Buddy Smith of Bud’s Refrigeration, Earnest Ray White, Attorney At Law and Larry White Insurance Agency contributed to Friday morning’s Prom Promise program at Flomaton High. Assistant Flomaton Police Chief Sean Golden and members of Flomaton Fire Rescue were also on hand for the program.
Pictured top: April Cayson and other seniors turn in their Prom Promise Friday morning at Flomaton High School. Pictured top inset: Channel 3 anchor Bob Solarski addresses the students about his alcohol problems. Pictured bottom inset: Seniors Kaitlyn Hambrick and Allison Gafford showing off their shirts that were handed out to each student who signed a Prom Promise. Submitted photos by Alisa Hart for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Alisa Hart contributed to this story.
Molino Park Elementary Holds Relay For Life Wagon Parade
April 4, 2009
Molino Park Elementary School held a parade Friday to celebrate after a successful Relay for Life fund raiser.
Each grade created a wagon float with a holiday theme. They paraded around the school’s back parking lot Friday, one grade at a time, to lots of clapping and cheering.
The winning float — Krewe for a Cure — was from the fifth grade.
The students raised money for the school’s Relay for Life team by taking home donation envelopes. The Molino Park Relay for Life team will compete in the Relay for Life at Tate High School in a few weeks.
For a complete photo gallery from the Molino Park parade, click here.
Pictured above: The first grade wagon “Soar for a Cure” in Molino Park Elementary School’s annual wagon parade Friday. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com.