Atmore House Fire Claims Life Of 89-Year Old Man
March 21, 2022
A tragic house fire claimed the life of an 89-year old Atmore man Sunday morning.
The fire on Ann Street, just off Patterson Street, was reported about 6:15 a.m.
The victim has been identified as Frank Jones.
The Alabama Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the fire.
The Atmore Fire Department, Poarch Creek Indians Fire Department responded and Atmore Police Department were among those responding to the fire.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Tate’s Strike Out Cancer Softball Game Set For Friday Evening
March 21, 2022
The Tate High Aggies Softball team’s 12 Annual Strike Out Cancer Game against West Florida High will be played Friday evening.
All proceeds will benefit the local chapter of American Cancer Society
The junior varsity will play at 5 p.m., and the first pitch for varsity is set for 7 p.m. at Charlene Varnell Field at Tate High School.
Admission is donations only. Fish dinners will be available for $12 and gumbo for $6.
Last year, the Strike Out Cancer Game raised over $22,000.
Pictured: Last year’s Strike Out Cancer Game at Tate High School. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Three Jailed After Flomaton Police Execute Narcotics Search Warrant
March 21, 2022
Three people were arrested Sunday afternoon after a narcotics search warrant was executed at a mobile home in Flomaton.
The Flomaton Police Department served the warrant at a residence on Wiley Drive off Highway 113. They reported finding methamphetamine, synthetic cannabinoids (“spice”), marijuana and drug paraphernalia including hypodermic needles and pipes.
Amanda Charlene Pugh, 41, was charged with possession of a controlled substance (meth), possession of a controlled substance (spice), possession of marijuana II, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
David Keith McCory, 33, was charged with possession of a controlled substance (meth), and possession of drug paraphernalia (pictured middle below).
Danny Lamarr Harrellson, 57, was charged with possession of a controlled substance (meth), possession of a controlled substance (spice), and possession of drug paraphernalia.
All three were booked into the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center.
The Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office assisted in the operation.
Florida Gas Prices Back Off Record Highs
March 21, 2022
The price of oil suffered steep losses last week, enabling the price of gasoline to back off from record highs.
The state average price for gasoline is on a nine-day streak of declines, dropping a total of 20 cents per gallon. On Sunday, drivers paid an average price of $4.18 per gallon.
In Escambia County, the average was $4.11 per gallon.
A low price of $4.04 could be found Sunday night in North Escambia at a station of Highway 29 in Cantonment. In Pensacola, the lowest price Sunday night was $3.91 at a station on Pensacola Boulevard in Ensley.
“The oil market remains extremely volatile, after seeing big swings in both directions during the past few weeks,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Last weekend, oil prices dropped on demand concerns regarding a COVID outbreak in China, which resulted in lockdowns. By the end of the week, oil prices charged higher again as global crude supply concerns – regarding the fallout from the Russia-Ukraine conflict – moved back to the forefront. Fortunately, oil prices are well below the high we saw more than a week ago. This should enable gas prices to slip lower this week, unless oil suddenly spikes again.”
Search Warrant Served At Gun Shop In Investigation; Officials Seek More Info
March 20, 2022
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is asking the public for information about an Escambia County gun shop after a search warrant was served there on Friday.
NorthEscambia.com was the only media there as local, state and federal authorities executed a search warrant Friday at Don’s Gun Shop at 9413 North Palafox Street, just north of Nine Mile Road. On Friday, FDLE confirmed they were involved in serving the search warrant.
On Saturday, the agency said they have received “multiple citizen complaints” about the gun shop. FDLE said they are investigating the allegations in a joint investigation with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). No further information about the “complaints” has been released.
“We believe members of the public may have additional information that could aid in our investigation,” FDLE said, asking for the public to submit any tips by calling their Pensacola office at (850) 595-2100.
A sign on the front door of the business on Saturday stated, “Closed. If your gun was here, please call the number on the card below. Sorry for the inconvenience.” That number is FDLE Special Agent Chelsea Atzel at (850) 595-2012 or cell (850) 378-6746.
NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Wrong-Way Bicyclist Lands In Jail On Multiple Charges
March 20, 2022
A man riding his bicycle the wrong way on Highway 31 in Flomaton early Saturday morning landed in jail on multiple charges.
Hubert Lamer Johnson, 43, was charged with public intoxication, possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), possession of marijuana second degree, possession of drug paraphernalia, and resisting arrest.
A Flomaton Police Department officer observed a man identified as Johnson riding his bicycle without proper lighting and headed the wrong direction on a four-lane portion of Highway 31.
“Johnson possessed illegal narcotics and was also believed to be under the influence of a substance,” Flomaton Police said, adding that he resisted arrest but was quickly controlled.
Johnson remained in the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton without bond early Sunday morning after his bond was revoked in a previous case.
Straight Line Winds, Not A Tornado, Destroyed Mobile Homes, Injured 10, NWS Says
March 20, 2022
Straight line winds, not a tornado, were responsible for the injuries and damage at a mobile home park north of Atmore Friday morning, according to the National Weather Service in Mobile.
A team from NWS surveyed the damage Saturday morning, determining that “a swath of damaging straight line winds impacted the Poarch, AL, area,” about 9:04 a.m.
A total of 10 people were injured, two critically, at the Big Oak Mobile Home Park at 7400 Jack Springs Road, just north of the Poarch Creek Indian Reservation. There were no fatalities.
At least nine mobile homes were completely destroyed, and other structures in the area were damaging, including structures at Perdido River Farms, a tribe-owned beef farm.
“A narrow swath of intense wind gusts estimated at 90 to 100mph affected a mobile home park where several mobile homes were rolled/destroyed. The surrounding area sustained severe wind gusts to the southeast where several trees were snapped/uprooted and a farm and nearby residences sustained roof damage to several buildings. The survey team found no evidence of convergence with all damage laid out in a southwest to northeast swath suggesting straight line wind damage,” the NWS report states.
“It’s devastating. Those people have nothing left,” Escambia County (AL) Sheriff Heath Jackson said. “We are so thankful that no one was killed or severely injured, but to know everything that you owned is no more. That’s difficult to see.”
“It looked like a bomb hit some of them,” Atmore Fire Chief Ronald Peebles told NorthEscambia.com on Friday.
Several of the homes were blown from their foundations and scattered about the mobile home park. First responders from Poarch Creek, Escambia County, Alabama, Baldwin County and the state combed through the wreckage looking for anyone injured or trapped.
“We have one guy that was in his mobile home when the storm hit. He was asleep. He said when he woke up, he was in the woods,” Jackson said. “Obviously the Good Lord was looking out for him.”
Escambia County (AL) Emergency Management Director David Adams said Friday that while there were indications of some rotation in the damage, it appeared straight line winds were the likely cause.
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Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Flood Warning Issued For The Escambia River Near Century
March 20, 2022
A flood warning is in effect for the Escambia River near Century until early Wednesday morning. Minor flooding is forecast.
Early Sunday morning, the stage was 16 feet. The river is expected to rise to a crest near 18 feet Monday morning. It will then fall below flood stage late Tuesday evening.
At flood stage of 17 feet, considerable flooding of lowlands occur.
The Perdido River near Barrineau Park is expected to crest at 8.9 feet on Monday, just below action stage of 9.0 feet. Minor flood stage for the Perdido River is 13 feet.
Red Cross Assisting Storm Victims That Lost Everything In Trailer Park North Of Atmore
March 20, 2022
The Red of Alabama is assisting victims of Friday’s destruction at a trailer park north of Atmore.
The Red Cross has conducted damage assessments and has been offering assistance from the Poarch Creek Fire Department’s training facility. Anyone that was a victim of Friday’s storm that still needs assistance can call 1-800-RED CROSS.
The National Weather Service on Saturday determined that straight line winds were responsible for damage at the Big Oak Mobile Home Park on Jack Springs Road. There were 10 injuries and at least nine mobile homes that were destroyed when winds of 90-100 mph hit that area north of Poarch Creek reservation.
For more information, click or tap here.
Pictured: The American Red Cross on the ground offering assistance amid the destruction at this mobile home park north of Atmore. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
No Injures In Crash Involving Kia, Pepsi Truck
March 19, 2022
There were no injuries in a Highway 29 crash Friday afternoon involving a Kia and a Pepsi delivery truck.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the crash, which happened about 2:20 p.m. on Highway 29 near Nine and One Half Mile Road.
The crash did close one lane of southbound Highway temporarily.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
