Adam’s Story: One Of The Few Deaf Firefighters In US
March 10, 2009
North Santa Rosa County firefighter Adam Bondurant has never really heard a call for help. Deaf and a young man of few words, Adam has spoken volumes about being a volunteer firefighter and community service.
“Grandpa, I’m going to be a firefighter like you when I grow up,” a young Adam would sign to his grandfather when the two would drive by the Munson VFD. Adam was born deaf, so his firefighter dream seemed a bit unlikely. He spent much of his young life in and out of hospitals due to a rare medical condition.
Adam’s family knew that his dream would never become a reality; his family was unsure if he would live into his teen years.
But nobody told Adam. He wanted to be like his grandpa.
Back in 1972, a fire destroyed Munson’s school. That’s when the community knew it was time for their own volunteer fire department.
Albert “Sonny” VonAxelson Jr., who would serve 15 years working his way up to chief of the department, was Adam’s grandpa. VonAxelson and Tommy Grice were the two community leaders behind the formation of the Munson Volunteer Fire Department.
“He has always talked about being a firefighter, and even though we have always pushed and encouraged him, I still keep a reality check on what Adam can actually do. I do not want Adam to ever be a burden or hindrance to anyone or any situation,” Adam’s mother Becky Bondurant said.
At the age of 11, Adam was taken to New Orleans for a surgical procedure where he received a cochlear implant to possibly give him a small chance of hearing some sounds. As a teenager, his speech and vocabulary were limited. He spent all his younger years in private schools, as well as school speech therapy. He also spent many years in physical therapy.
But all along, he still dreamed the dream of being a firefighter.
“If we would have only known that the best therapy Adam could ever receive was one mile from home, life sure would have been easier for all of us,” said mom Becky.
That therapy came from the fulfillment of a dream as Adam became a volunteer with the fire department.
Adam Bondurant, 20, is one of only about 50 deaf certified firefighters in the United States. He recently obtained State of Florida Firefighter One Competency Certification, and he is currently enrolled in the EMT program at Pensacola Junior College.
The lifelong resident of the north Santa Rosa County community of Munson has volunteered with the Munson VFD for about two years.
“I knew that he was very task orientated and organized, so I thought that when he joined the department at the age of 18, he would surely only mow grass or wash the trucks,” mom Becky Bondurant said. “Adam’s whole life was high school and helping with the athletic department. Adam had never had many friendships, and had never been invited to other friend’s homes. Even at church, he was left out.”
But at the fire department, Adam is family.
“He truly has a life of his own within the fire department. His speech and vocabulary has developed so much since he joined. It’s so amazing,” his mom said.
In order to pass the firefighter certification, Adam had to participate in a live burn. He did not tell his mom when he was going so that she would not worry.
“I did not know how hard many of the members were working to see if Adam could physically go into the burn, or if his cochlear implant would melt under the heat. I feel bad that so many people had to do so much leg work to get Adam ready for the live burn,” she said. “I have always taken responsibility for Adam, but he has found friends that he trusts in the fire department. He said he didn’t tell me so that I wouldn’t worry, he knows me well.”
Volunteer firemen are dispatched by pagers that provide information about emergency calls. Adam is unable to hear his pagers. He is able to feel them vibration when he is wearing them. At night, he sleeps with his pagers in the bed with him so he can feel the vibrations and answer calls.
It’s hard to stop Adam.
He hopes to one day work his way up to the assistant chief’s job once held by his grandfather. He hopes to obtain his Firefighter II and EMT certifications, allowing him to get a job as a paid firefighter. He is thinking about getting his paramedic degree.
Adam truly has the heart of a volunteer fireman. On Valentine’s Day he heard a sound he had never heard before — the human heart.
He had purchased a new set of stethoscopes designed for the hearing impaired. His heartbeat was the first that he had ever heard.
“Every day that we spend with Adam is a learning experience. We as a department, are truly blessed to have him on our team,” Trish Baggett, a captain with the Munson VFD, said.
“I have always dreamed of becoming a firefighter since I was a little boy, but people told me that I couldn’t be a firefighter due to my deafness. I hope that I have proven myself. It has been a challenge, but I hope I have earned the respect of others,” Adam said.
“After that statement, I realized that it was us, not Adam, who was handicapped,” Baggett said.
Trish Baggett contributed to this story.
Pictured above and below: Firefighter Adam Bondurant, one of the few deaf certified firefighters in America. Submitted photos by Trish Baggett exclusively for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Blog: We Sure Could Use A Little Good News Today
March 10, 2009
On the March 4 edition of Nightly News, anchor Bryan Williams asked viewers to send NBC news tips about people that are doing positive things, inspiring things. Thousands upon thousands of people have sent them ideas in the past few days.
The folks at the Munson Volunteer Fire Department sent us information about firefighter Adam Bondurant, one of just 50 certified deaf firefighters in the nation. It’s a story that made us feel uplifted and inspired when we read it. It’s not really a local North Escambia story, but it’s from our friends and neighbors in north Santa Rosa County, were we have developed a large number of daily readers. We really thought you would enjoy reading it today on our front page.
Putting one and two together, we decided that “we sure could use a little good news today”, as an old country song says.
We will continue at NorthEscambia.com to cover the news like we always have — the good, the bad, the ugly and everything else. But in today’s doom and gloom in the news, we decided to ask you for your help in finding good news.
Visit our contact form by clicking here and tell us about a person that inspires you, a person that does something in your community, a person that just has an interesting life. Everybody has a story if you’ll just stop and listen.
We want not only to know about good news in North Escambia; we don’t mind sharing a little good news from Atmore, Flomaton, Jay, Cottage Hill, Cantonment — any of our neighboring communities that surround North Escambia.
We will feature the interesting and the inspiring in a series of stories we will call “Hometown People” here on NorthEscambia.com.
To send us your inspiring stories, click here for our contact form.
Go ahead and suggest that person you are thinking about; don’t think their story is too small. Everybody has a story to tell.
Four Jay Residents Involved In Wreck That Sent Car Into Cemetery
March 10, 2009
Four Jay residents were involved in a two-vehicle accident Sunday afternoon that sent one car into a cemetery.
The Florida Highway Patrol says Angela Stephens, 39, of Jay, was attempting to make a left turn into a private drive on Highway 89 near Calvary Church Road about 4:30 Sunday afternoon.
The driver of an Isuzu Rodeo, Craig Thurman, 46, of Jay, was in the process of overtaking and passing Stephens. That is when, according to the FHP, Stephens’ Toyota hit Thurman’s vehicle in the right side, causing him to lose control. Thurman’s vehicle travel 296 feet before overturning several times, ejecting passenger Lori Hillard, 46, of Jay. Thurman’s vehicle continued another 14 feet, through a chain link fence and into the Calvary Church Cemetery where the vehicle came to rest on the driver’s side.
Hillard was seriously injured in the crash and transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola by LifeFlight.
Both Hillard and Thurman were not wearing their seat belts, according to the crash report.
Stephens and a passenger in her vehicle, Aneesa Stephens, 4, of Jay, received only minor injuries.
Angela Stephens was charged with improper lane change by the FHP.
Final Approval For New 22 Lot Subdivision Near Molino
March 10, 2009
Final plans have been approved for a new 22 lot single family private residential subdivision just off Highway 97 north of Molino.
A preliminary plat and construction plans have been approved.
The roads “Sunny Brook Court” and “Sunshine Ridge Court” will be located off Sunny Hill Road in Sunshine Hill Estates. The county says the roads are substantially complete. The roads and their drainage systems will remain private and will create no expense for the county.
The private subdivision will be constructed west of Highway 97 just south of Sunshine Hill Road. It will be about 1.5 miles west of Molino Park Elementary School.
The subdivision is being developed by owner BCK Properties, LLC of Pensacola.
Pictured: This map shows the location of a new 22 lot single family residential subdivision called Sunshine Hill Estates off Highway 97 north of Molino. Click to enlarge.
Northview Baseball Announces Hit-A-Thon Winners
March 10, 2009
The Northview Baseball team held their annual Hit-A-Thon Fundraiser Friday night.
Both the junior varsity and varsity players competed.
The winner in the varsity division was senior Brad Foster. Second place went to junior Heath Burkett, and third place went to Brett Hanks, a senior.
The winner in the junior varsity division was freshman Cole Commander. The runner-up was Taylor Martin, a sophomore.
Chiefs Coach Sid Wheatly pitched seven hits to each player, pitching for nearly two hours straight.
Winners received gift cards from area businesses.
Principals Say Their Schools Are Ready For FCAT
March 10, 2009
Area principals say they are ready for the FCAT tests that get underway today for students grades three through 10.
At Bratt Elementary School, the top rated school in all of Escambia County according to the Florida Department of Education, Principal Sheryl Pomeroy said her students are ready for the FCAT.
“Bratt works everyday to prepare to be our best academically,” Pomeroy said. “Over the past week, we have done a lot of FCAT review with material provided by the state.”
Now that test time is here, the Bratt principal said her students are “encouraged to relax and think positive thoughts”.
At Carver/Century K-8 School, Principal Jeff Garthwaite also feels that the school has worked hard to prepare students for FCAT testing. But he knows that the impending closure of the school and all of the negative discussion about the school’s past low FCAT grades will likely impact the students and teachers.
“We feel positive about the FCAT, but there is a certain measured feeling because of the closure issues,” Garthwaite said. “The closure issue has kind of been on our shoulders all school year.”
But regardless of the impending closure — which will see a final school board vote on March 17 — Garthwaite said his staff has worked hard to prepare and motivate students.
“We can’t get away from the focus of our school, and that is each and every child,” he said.
“We believe in you!” is the word from Ernest Ward Middle School Principal Nancy Gindl-Perry to her students.
At Ernest Ward, breakfast will be served each FCAT testing day to give students a little extra boost. And students are asked to not checkout prior to noon for any reason.
At Northview High School, Principal Gayle Weaver said her students are more than ready for the FCAT, and she’s hoping for just a little improvement this year to move Northview to “A” status, a level the school barely missed last year.
“The faculty and staff were excited about the progress made last year, and they became immediately dedicated to surpassing those results for this year,” Weaver said. “Northview’s commitment to education has always been to provide the best education possible to each and every student. This has been Northview’s objective, whether it has been for either the FCAT or any other tool of measurement. Students at Northview are fortunate to have such dedicated individuals working to help each and every one of them succeed.”
Weaver is also hoping that students at the other area schools do well on the FCAT. ” To our fellow educators, we wish much success on FCAT 2009,” she said.
Lady Chiefs Pickup Softball Win
March 10, 2009
The Northview Lady Chiefs beat West Florida High 10-0 in five innings Monday afternoon.
Shawna Montgomery had one RBI; Candice Greenwell had three. Aimiee Clark had 2 RBIs; and Miranda Burkett had one RBI.
Burkett pitched five innings for the Chiefs allowing two hits and no runs.
The Lady Chiefs are now 4-6 on the season, 0-1 in the district.
FCAT Round Two Begins Today
March 10, 2009
Round two of this year’s FCAT testing starts this morning morning in schools across North Escambia. Students in grades three through 10 will take the reading and math portions this week. Grades five, eight, and 10 will also take the science portion.
In a recent newsletter sent home to parents, Bratt Elementary offered several tips for parents and students for the all important FCAT test:
- Get a good night’s sleep before the test. Staying up late at night increases anxiety, which interferes with clear thinking.
- Eat for success. A hearty breakfast with seven to ten grams of fiber will keep your child from getting jittery from a sugar high, or later, bottoming out when the insulin goes up.
- Relax. If your child is too nervous, he/she may forget what he/she knows. Stretching and/or breathing deeply helps to focus the mind.
- Wear comfortable clothes. If your child is comfortable, he/she will be less distracted and better able to focus on the tasks given.
- Drink plenty of water. Drinking plenty of water will help keep the body hydrated and alert.
- Don’t forget to give your child a big hug on test days. This will increase his/her sense of well-being and energy.
Students are not permitted to have any electronic device on their person or within reach during the test that reproduces, transmits, calculates or records. Prohibited items include cellphones. Any student who violates this policy will have his FCAT test invalidated.
If a student starts a test and leaves without finishing (for an appointment, illness, etc.), he/she will NOT be allowed to complete the test. NO EXCEPTIONS will be made once the student leaves the school’s campus.
If a student arrives at school after the test begins, he/she will not be admitted to the testing site. The student will be required to sit in the office until testing is finished for the day.
Murder Suspect Commits Suicide Monday
March 9, 2009
The man police say is responsible for the Atmore murder of a 19-year old pregnant woman committed suicide Monday morning in Bay Minette.
Authorities say Ferrell Perdue, 44, of Bay Minette, apparently shot and killed himself in Chevrolet Silverado about 9 a.m. Monday at Dobbins Trailer Park in the Pine Grove community southeast of Bay Minette. The Baldwin County Sheriff’s Department says Perdue shot himself once in the head with handgun.
A capital murder warrant was obtained Friday against Ferrell Perdue, 44, of Bay Minette, in connection with the murder of 19-year old Marquetta A. Washington in Atmore last Thursday. Washington was pregnant.
Perdue was also charged with shooting Washington’s boyfriend, Tony Hudson, 26. Officials say he was shot in the chest at close range with a shotgun.
After the shooting at McRae Apartments in Atmore, Perdue reportedly drove to Bay Minette to the home of his mother where he told her what had happened. His mother told authorities he left after she said she was calling police.
Atmore Police received a domestic violence report from the apartment on McRae Street at 10:18 Thursday night. When they arrived, they found Washington dead in the bedroom and Hudson seriously injured in the living room/dining room of the ground floor apartment.
The apartment, belonging to Washington’s mother Alice Evans, had a broken front window. Police say broke out the window of the apartment using a child’s bicycle. He then shot Washington and Hudson at close range with the shotgun. Evans, who was at home at the time of the incident, escaped out of the broken window. She was unharmed.
Hudson was transported to Atmore Community Hospital and later transferred to the University of South Alabama Medical Center where he was listed in critical condition.
Atmore Police say the incident may have stemmed from a relationship gone bad between Evans and Perdue. She had tried to end the relationship, police said. Evans had filed a warrant against Perdue on February 23, but that warrant had not been served.
Pictured above: Police say Atmore murder suspect Ferrell Purdue commited suicide Monday morning. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com.
Ernest Ward Holds Penny War To Send Two Local Veterans On Honor Flight
March 9, 2009
The students at Ernest Ward Middle School fought a “Penny War” to raise over $2,200 to send two local veterans on an upcoming Emerald Coast Honor Flight.
The Honor Flights take veterans on a one day trip to Washington, D.C. to see the war memorials that stand in their honor.
“We had a lot of fun doing this,” said Ernest Ward teacher Janna Dickey. “And it was for a really good cause. We were honored to be able to raise money to honor two of our local veterans in this way.”
The 10-day “Penny War” was a competition between the 26 EWMS homerooms to collect the most pennies, but their penny count could be “bombed” with dollars and silver coins. The silver coins essential canceled out the pennies. In other words, a $1 bill dropped in a container with 100 pennies would cancel out the pennies for the class total.
“They had a lot of fun doing this. The collection jars were in the cafeteria, and the teachers would make a really big deal out of bombing the penny jar from another class,” Dickey said. “It really added to the competition.”
Mr. Wark’s homeroom raised the most money at $583.22 and was rewarded with a pizza party. The second highest total was Mrs. Spence’s homeroom with $269.03. The most pennies that counted were collected by Mrs. Dickey’s homeroom. Second was Mr. Gindl’s homeroom.
The next Emerald Coast Honor Flight is April 1. The Ernest Ward Middle sponsored veterans from our local area will be on a future flight to be announced at a later date.
If you are a veteran and would like to take an honor flight to Washington, visit www.emeraldcoasthonorflight.com for an application.
Emerald Coast Honor Flight is a non-profit organization honoring America’s veterans for their sacrifices. The program flies our heroes and their guardians from Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Washington and Holmes counties to Washington, DC, to reflect at their memorials for a one day free visit. Top priority is given to the senior veterans – WW II survivors along with those other veterans that may be terminally ill.
The trip for the veterans is free; it is all paid for by sponsors and supporters.
The “Penny War” to support the Emerald Coast Honor Flight was a project of the Ernest Ward Middle School chapter of the National Junior Honor Society.
Pictured above: Bombs away! Ernest Ward Middle School Principal Nancy Gindl-Perry bombs a class during the school’s Penny Wars to raise money for Emerald Coast Honor Flight. Pictured below: Penny War containers were placed in the cafeteria for 26 homerooms. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
