Escaped Alabama Inmates Spotted In Walnut Hill; Arrested In Pensacola
September 24, 2008
Two escaped state prisoners from Atmore were captured Tuesday in Pensacola, just days after they were spotted in Walnut Hill.
An anonymous tip to Crimestoppers led to the capture of Charles Bales, 33, and John Rice, 42, Tuesday morning at the Palm Court Motel on Highway 29 in Pensacola. The pair escaped from a work detail in Atmore last Wednesday.
On Thursday, a Walnut Hill resident, Tracy Benner, found the two men walking down Arthur Brown Road and gave them a ride. He said they stated that they were hungry. The local resident drove them to the Walnut Hill Farm Supply to buy food. When he left them at the business on Highway 97, he had no idea he had just given a ride to two escaped prisoners.
The clerk at the farm supply, who did not wish to be identified, did not know the two were wanted by authorities when they came into the store Thursday.
“They said they were looking for a telephone and for food,” she told NorthEscambia.com. “They got about $20 worth of food, snacks and stuff, and they never did ask to use the phone.”
She said she asked the men were they were headed, and they responded “Mississippi”. She said they were wearing “regular street clothes”, and that they were nice.
The clerk said they were in the store for about five minutes and they left on foot, walking south on South Highway 99, away from Highway 97.
Both Benner and the clerk said they immediately recognized the pair as Bales and Rice Sunday when they saw a story on NorthEscambia.com. They reported their contact with the prisoners to the Escambia County Sheriff’ Department.
“If it wasn’t for the story on NorthEscambia, I would have not known they were wanted,” Benner said.
Sgt. David Preston with the sheriff’s department said there were no other reported sightings of the two men in the North Escambia area.
Rice was serving a life sentence for a 1997 Baldwin County burglary. Bales was serving a 10 year sentence in connection with a 2002 robbery. Bales could have been eligible for parole as early as June of 2010.
A third person, Wendy Sweeney, was also arrested at the motel Tuesday on outstanding local warrants,” Sheriff’ spokesman Glenn Austin said. It was not immediately known if she had any connection to Rice or Bales, or is she had any part in the their escape. No further details on her arrest were available from the sheriff’s department.
Pictured above: Escaped Alabama inmates Charles Bales (left) and John Rice were arrested in Pensacola Tuesday, just days after being spotted in Walnut Hill. Wendy Sweeney (left) was also arrested along with the two men. Submitted photos.
School Advisory Councils Decide How To Spend Thousands; Work Hard Behind The Scenes
September 24, 2008
Working behind the scenes at area schools are school advisory councils, and they began this school year with the responsibility of deciding how to spend thousands of dollars awarded by the state.
School advisory councils are made up of a team of people representing the various segments of the community, from parents and teachers to students, administrators, support staff and local business people.
Based on the state’s school grading system, schools that either receive an “A” grade or improve at least one grade from the previous year were eligible to receive the recognition funds. Bratt Elementary received $33,492. Carver/Century K-8 School received $17,319. Molino Park Elementary was awarded $36,436. Charter school Byrneville Elementary got $13,830. Ernest Ward Middle School received $38,973, and Northview High School was awarded $46,887.
At Tuesday morning’s meeting of the school advisory council at Bratt Elementary School, the council voted to split Bratt’s $33,492 among all current school employees that were on the payroll last year — including teachers, lunchroom employees, custodians and other staff — as a bonus. It’s the same thing Bratt has done with their awarded school performance funds for each of the past several years, according to Principal Sheryl Pomeroy.
At Northview High School’s School Advisory County meeting Tuesday afternoon, members voted to form a committee to report back on possible uses for the school’s $46,887. The committee will consist of parents on the SAC, teachers and faculty. The committee will report back to the SAC at a future date.
By law, the funds can be used for non-recurring faculty bonuses, educational equipment, new technology or hiring temporary personnel to assist in maintaining and improving student performance.
“I want to give praise to our students, faculty and staff for their hard work. We were just six points away from an ‘A’. We were very close,” Northview Assistant Principal Mike Sherrill told the SAC of the B-graded school.
At Bratt’s school advisory council meeting, members were also informed that Bratt was rated as the only Five Star School in North Escambia.
“It’s an honor to be the only one in the north end,” outgoing SAC advisory council member Tami Calloway said. “It’s an honor that Bratt got that.”
The overall purpose of a school advisory council is to assist in the preparation and evaluation of the results of the school improvement plan and to assist the school principal with the annual school budget. Additionally, SAC’s receive funds to be used by the SAC at their discretion and monies to be used to reach the goals of the school’s improvement plan.
Pictured above: Assistant Principal Mike Sherrill at Northview’s School Advisory County meeting Tuesday. NorthEscambia.com photo.
Lady Eagles Finish Season Undefeated
September 24, 2008
The Ernest Ward Middle School Lady Eagles volleyball team finished a perfect season Tuesday afternoon with a win over Flomaton.
The Eagles beat the Canes 19-25 25-22 and 15-4 to finish at 8-0 on the year.
Click here for a photo gallery from Tuesday’s action at Ernest Ward Middle School.
Pictured above: Volleyball action Tuesday at Ernest Ward Middle School. NorthEscambia.com photo.
A Run In The Country: Northview Hosts Cross Country Meet
September 24, 2008
Northview High hosted a cross county meet Tuesday afternoon, and the Chiefs placed second in both the boy’s and girl’s categories.
West Florida High School placed first among both the boys and girls. Escambia Academy placed third in the boy’s divison.
The top male runners in the 5K, and their times, were:
- Alan Ash, Escambia Academy, 17:57
- Greg Adams, West Florida High, 19:24
- Mark Simmones, West Florida High, 19:55
- Elliot Ross, Northview High, 19:57
- Coty Chance, Northview High, 19:58
The top female runners in the 5K, and their times, were:
- Taylor Drie, West Florida High, 26:32
- Haleigh Sport, West Florida High, 26:34
- Brooke Bosso, West Florida High, 27:27
- Jeranda String, West Florida High, 27:28
- Sarah Killam, Northview High, 28:29
Members of the Northview Boy’s Cross Country team are: Cody Chance, Elliot Ross, Cory Calloway Justin Whiting, Wesley Chancery, Daniel Jordan, Zachary Lamb, Clinton Davis, Joshua Scott, Dustin Lewis, AJ Lambert, Blake Luker, Brett Rolin, and Zachary Byers.
Members of the Northview Girl’s Cross Country team are: Hannah Jordan, Amanda Sellers, Samantha Macks, Jessica Bloodsworth, Miranda Scott, Mallory Bell, Sarah Killiam, Katie Mann, Dixie Carnley and Monica McClain.
The next meet for both teams will be Tuesday, September 30 at 4:30 at Northview. Other teams running will be Pensacola High, Jay High, & Pensacola Christian Academy, Tate High, T.R. Miller High and Escambia Academy.
Click here for a photo gallery from the meet.
Pictured top: The race to the finish at a cross country track meet Tuesday afternoon at Northview High School. Pictured above: Sarah Killam, Northview’s top female runner Tuesday, rounds the corner toward the finish line. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
NHS Girls In Spanish Fort Volleyball Tournament
September 24, 2008
The Northview Varsity girl’s volleyball team competed in the Spanish Fort Tournament this past weekend in Spanish Fort, Alabama.
In their first game, the Chiefs swept two from the Blue Devils from Atmore, 25-15, 25-9.
Then the Chiefs fell to Spanish Fort, 14-25, 9-25.
In their final game, Northview lost to Foley, 11-25, 23-25.
In the tournament, sophomore Ashley Digmon had eight digs, and sophomore Shawna Montgomery had three blocks, six kills, seven aces and a pair of digs.
Caitlin Hall, a junior, had two blocks, 20 assists and two kills. Junior Amber McMillan had nine digs.
And senior Brittney Thompson racked up four blocks, 13 kills, two aces and 10 digs.
Northview’s Lady Chiefs are now 4-6 overall, 0-2 in the district.
Both the varsity and junior varisty will be on the road Thursday at South Walton. The JV plays at 4:30 and the varsity hits the court at 6:00.
EWMS Volleyball Team Now 6-0
September 23, 2008
The Ernest Ward Middle School volleyball team is now 6-0 after beating T.R. Miller last night.
Ernest Ward’s Lady Eagles beat the Tigers from Brewton 25-10, 25-13. It was the Eagle’s second win of the season over T.R. Miller.
Ernest Ward will wrap up their volleyball season this afternoon at 4:00 at Ernest Ward.
Pictured above: The EWMS Lady Eagles volleyball team Monday against T.R. Miller. Submitted cellphone photo.
Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department Names Chris Brown As New Chief
September 23, 2008
The Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department named Chris Brown as their new chief Monday night.
Brown is taking over the position following the recent retirement of Robert Stewart, who served as the department’s chief for 15 years.
“I look forward to continuing the department’s long standing tradition of service in Walnut Hill and surrounding communities,” Brown said.
Brown, 33, joined the Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department in April of 1997. He had served at the rank of captain for the past four years. He is a certified instructor, has Firefighter I certification and a Hazmat endorsement.
He said he is looking forward to leading the team at the Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department, which has the largest district in Escambia County in terms of square miles.
“I’m just here to support the guys,” Brown said.
Pictured above: Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department Chief Chris Brown at Walnut Hill’s Station 15 Monday night. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia, Century Want To Know About Your Disaster Plans
September 23, 2008
What would you do if you were faced with disaster? Have you an effective disaster plan in place to protect your home and belongings or property? Escambia County wants to know.
In 1998, Escambia County, the City of Pensacola, the Town of Century, and the Santa Rosa Island Authority were provided a federal grant through the Florida Department of Community Affairs to develop a Local Mitigation Strategy (LMS). This was a State of Florida initiative that was implemented to help reduce the spiraling costs of disasters. The LMS identifies specific hazards, man-made, natural, and technological, that could negatively impact our community, and as such, have created a strategy to try and mitigate our community against those disasters.
Escambia County’s Local Mitigation Strategy Group (LMS) has posted a ten question survey on the county’s website. This brief survey takes a few minutes to complete and includes questions such as: “Do you have flood insurance? What steps have you taken to prepare for a natural disaster? Would you spend more money on a new home that was disaster resilient? Are you aware that by mitigating your home against disaster, you may be eligible discounts on your insurance?”
Mitigation is the effort to reduce or eliminate the risks of injury and damage, to both people and property, against potential disaster events. This mitigation can be through mitigation construction type projects or through an educational outreach program to our community and its residents.
Your responses will help us greatly in planning for potential future disasters in the local area. The results will be used to guide the LMS in revising outreach and training goals.
To participate in the survey, visit www.myescambia.com. The survey will be available until Friday, October 3.
Mitigation can include items like:
- Hurricane shutters for a home, business, or government building.
- Hurricane roof clips or re-enforcement.
- Installation of tornado safe rooms
- Elevation of a flood vulnerable building or home.
- Flood proofing a home or business.
- Small drainage improvement projects that reduce or eliminate local flooding.
- Educational programs to educate our community on things they can do to protect and mitigate their families, their employees, and their property against potential disaster.
Northview High School’s NJROTC Wins Big At Gator Games
September 23, 2008
The NJROTC unit from Northview High School earned several awards at the recent Gator Games. Northview placed third overall at the annual event hosted by Escambia High School.
The Gator Games are comprised of 11 competitive athletic and fun events. Fifteen high schools from across the area participated.
Northview earned six trophies, including:
- 4th place team sit-ups
- 3rd place knot tying
- 2nd place wheelbarrow relay
- 1st place orienterring
- 1st place female push-ups
- 3rd place overall
“It was a team effort, and all the cadets had a great time,” said Northview Senior Naval Science Instructor Charlie Code.
Click here for a complete photo gallery from the event.
Pictured above: Northview’s NJROTC cadets with their trophies from the annual Gator Games. Pictured below: Northview’s NJROTC took second place in the wheelbarrow race. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com.
Local Boys Attend Atlanta Falcons Game
September 23, 2008
Two local boys attended Sunday’s Atlanta Falcons game as the Falcons beat Kansas City 38-14.
Luke Ward (left) and Zachary Holland of Walnut Hill watched Sunday’s game in Atlanta. Both boys play football for the Northwest Escambia Football League. Luke is the son of Carl and Melissa Ward; Zachary is the son of Wayne and Amy Holland.
In the game, the Falcons (2-0) scored five touchdowns, racked up 378 yards on offense, had three interceptions, a defensive score and ended in a tie for the NFC South lead.
Running back Michael Turner rushed for 104 yards and a career-high three touchdowns while rookie quarterback Matt Ryan found Roddy White on a 70-yard touchdown.
Defensive backs Erik Coleman, Brent Grimes and Chris Houston each recorded an interception off second-year quarterback Tyler Thigpen, who was starting his first NFL game. Houston returned his for a touchdown late in the game. The defense opened the game by forcing five straight three-and-outs.
Pictured above: Luke Ward (left) and Zachary Holland of Walnut Hill at Sunday’s Falcon’s game in Atlanta. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com.