5K Runs/Walks Saturday Morning in Atmore, And At Perdido Landfill
November 9, 2012
Saturday morning, there will be 5K run, bike or walk in Atmore, and the annual Dump Dash and Trash-a-Thon will be held in Cantonment.
Atmore Relay for Life 5K Run/Walk/Bike
The Atmore Community Hospital Relay for Life team will hold a 5K run, walk or bicycle on Saturday at 8 a.m. beginning at the back of the hospital near the helicopter pad. Register prior to the race — $10 for adults, $5 for children 10 and up, ages 9 and under are free.
Dump Dash and Trash-a-Thon
Escambia County Solid Waste Management Division is hosting the Perdido Landfill’s “Dump Dash” Saturday morning at 13009 Beulah Road in Cantonment. The Dump Dash will consist of a 5K walk/run, a Trash-a-Thon, food and activities for the whole family. The 5K starts at 8 a.m. and the Trash-a-Thon begins at 10 a.m. Proceeds benefit the United Way of Escambia County.
The Trash-a-Thon consists of an obstacle course assembled for child participants. Free food and drinks will be served, as well as a nature walk and bounce houses. Prizes will be offered for runners, best male and female walkers, fastest teams and fastest overall male and females.
Registration is Saturday morning prior to the events.
Escambia Pushes Gas Tax Hike To Fund Public Transit
November 9, 2012
Escambia County residents may pay more at the pump in order to fund the ECAT bus system.
The Escambia County Commission voted 4-0, with Commissioner Kevin White absent, to schedule a public hearing next week on a 4-cent per gallon increase to the county gas tax.
The item was not on the planned agenda for the commission’s Thursday morning meeting, but it was brought forward by outgoing Commissioner Marie Young, who did not seek re-election.
Commissioners recognized that they were purposefully considering the gas tax increase just hours before two new commissioners — Steven Barry in District 5 and Lumon May in District 3 — are sworn into office on November 20. Commissioner Wilson Robertson.
If approved, the increased gas tax is expected to net the county about $4 million when it takes effect no earlier than January 2014. It currently costs the county about $3.2 million to fund the Escambia County Area Transit System, plus about $3.7 million from grants from the state and federal governments.
Escambia County currently collects 10-cents in tax per gallon — a direct 7-cent levy plus a 3-cent levy collected by the state and returned to the county.
The public hearing on the proposed gas tax increase is set for Monday, November 19 at 10:30 a.m.
Pictured: Gas prices in Davisville. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Atmore Man Gets 20 Years For Century Shotgun Shooting
November 9, 2012
A 56-year old man will spend the next two decades behind bars for shooting another man as he ran across busy North Century Boulevard last December.
Willie James Floyd of Atmore was charged with attempted first degree murder, but last month it took a jury just over four hours to find him guilty of the lesser charge of aggravated battery using a deadly weapon. Thursday, he was sentenced to a 20 year minimum mandatory prison term by Judge Michael Allen.
Floyd shot 30-year old Deririck Medlock of Hoover, Ala., December 6, 2011, as he ran across the 8100 block of North Century Boulevard.
Medlock told deputies he was traveling north on North Century Boulevard (Hwy. 29) about 3:50 p.m. when a white four-door vehicle swerved in front of him, cutting him off. Medlock said he pulled into the Century Quick Stop at 8130 North Century Boulevard to calm down after the near-accident.
Medlock said he was outside his vehicle talking on his cellphone when Floyd then pulled into the parking lot and confronted the him, according to an arrest report. Floyd then retrieved a shotgun from his car and fired into Medlock’s car, striking it with birdshot at the roof line above the rear passenger door (pictured left).
The victim then ran across North Century Boulevard when Floyd fired again, striking the victim in the leg with birdshot. Birdshot was also lodged in his wallet in his back pants pocket. Medlock hid behind a tree across North Century Boulevard from the store, where he watched Floyd drive away. Medlock then drove to the Southern Panhandle Restaurant just north of the store and called 911. He was evaluated there by Escambia County EMS, and he refused transport to the hospital.
Other witnesses confirmed the details given by the victim, and at the shooting was captured on the store’s surveillance video.
For more photos from the scene, click here.
Pictured top: Deririck Medlock of Hoover, Ala., explains how an Atmore man shot him with shotgun December 6, 2011, in Century as Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Frank Way listens. Pictured inset: Damage to the victim’s car. Pictured below: The shooting incident began in this parking lot. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Search Continues For Woman Last Seen At Nine Mile Road Bar
November 9, 2012
Investigators are still looking for 55-year old Nancy Jean Craycraft of Pensacola who has been missing since October 19.
Craycraft was last seen at Chan’s Bar on Nine Mile Rd in the company of Archie Hauck, who has been interviewed, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Both the Escambia and Baldwin County sheriff’s offices are investigating her disappearance. Her car was found in Baldwin County two days after her disappearance.
Authorities and family members have not had any contact with Craycraft since before October 19 and are concerned about her safety.
Investigators and family have not had any contact with raycraft since before she went missing and are concerned about her safety.
Craycraft is described as a white female, 5-foot 4 inches, 110 pounds, with blondish-brown hair and brown eyes.
Anyone with information about here whereabouts is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
Walnut Hill VFD Fish Fry Is Saturday
November 9, 2012
The Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department’s 43rd Annual Catfish Fry will be held Saturday from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Walnut Hill Fire Station on Highway 97.
Plates will be $7 each with your choice of catfish fillets or grilled chicken, plus baked beans, cole slaw, hush puppies, homemade bread and cake. There will also be drawing for door prizes beginning at 1 p.m.
Proceeds from the fish fry are used to provide assistance to displaced fire victims in the area.
The Northwest Florida Blood Center Bloodmobile will also be on hand for a blood drive.
Pictured: Scenes from last year’s annual catfish fry at the Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward Middle Honors Veterans (With Gallery)
November 9, 2012
An emotional program honored veterans Thursday morning at Ernest Ward Middle School in Walnut Hill.
Much of the program centered around the story of Albert Hunninghake of Walnut Hill. Appearing in a video produced by the school, Hunninghake provided a firsthand account of the attack on Pearl Harbor days after he enlisted in the Navy. He told of being stranded afloat in a life raft in the Pacific for 28 days, an ordeal he survived by thinking of being back on the family farm.
Hunninghake also watched nuclear tests at Bikini Atoll, and watched from a neighboring ship through long binoculars on September 2, 1945, as Japan surrendered aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay.
The program included a slideshow of students’ and faculty members’ family members that have served in the armed forces, along with music from the EWMS band and choir.
Each branch of the armed forces was recognized in a solemn hat ceremony as members of the Patriot Guard and the Northivew High School NJROTC stood at attention.
Many wiped tears from their eyes as the students prepared a small, white table with a place setting for one in front of an empty black chair. The ceremony represented the never-ending hope for the return of MIA soldiers.
The annual Veterans Day program at Ernest Ward is a longstanding community tradition, held annually for about the last 20 years.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured: Seth Killam, Ian Schneider, Zach Sheldon, Mitchell Singleton and Triston Long take part in a hat ceremony honored the branches of the military Thursday morning at Ernest Ward Middle School. Pictured top inset: Scores of local veterans attended the program. Pictured bottom inset: A table set during a ceremony to remember MIA soldiers. Pictured below: The Ernest Ward choir performs a patriotic selection. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Old Truck Prompts Reports Of Burning Gasoline Tanker
November 9, 2012
A wreck of a truck with a lot of mechanical problems prompted fears of a burning gasoline tanker on Highway 29 at Roberts Road Thursday evening.
Some callers to 911 reported black smoke boiling out of a vehicle was not visible, while other callers even reported they thought a gas tanker truck was burning. That prompted the dispatch of five stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and an ambulance to the area.
The first firefighters to arrive in the area reported so much smoke in the air that they could not determine exactly where the reported burning truck was located. They were soon able to find the multicolor Ford F800in the parking lot of Shear Illusions on Highway 95A.
Firefighters reported that the truck was leaking large quantities of hydraulic fluid, oil and other fluids that had burned while the truck was in motion.
There was no driver with the vehicle when firefighters arrived; witnesses said the driver fled on foot when he heard sirens approaching.
The incident was referred to the Florida Highway Patrol for investigation. Further details were not available.
Pictured: When thick smoke finally cleared off Highway 29 Thursday evening, firefighters discovered this truck was the source. NorthEscambia.com photo by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
In The End, Florida Finally Goes For Obama
November 9, 2012
Florida finally appeared to go for President Barack Obama on Thursday, ending an entirely academic exercise in which the state was decided almost two days after Obama won re-election.
Unofficial returns on the Florida Division of Elections website showed the Democratic incumbent clinging to a lead of slightly more than 58,000 votes over former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. Even without Florida’s 29 electoral votes, which were viewed as essential for any Romney win, Obama had already carried enough states to claim the presidency.
Still, Democrats touted a final victory after one of their strongest elections in years. U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson won re-election while the party gained seats in Congress and both chambers of the Legislature, though Republicans continue to hold commanding majorities in state government.
Democratic Party Chairman Rod Smith issued a statement congratulating Obama for winning the state.
“Florida Democrats ran the strongest, largest ground game this state has ever seen: out-registering Republicans for eight consecutive months, cutting the GOP’s historical absentee ballot advantage in half, requesting over a million Democratic absentee ballots for the first time in history, and out-pacing Republicans during every day of early voting, and this hard work has paid off,” Smith said.
Meanwhile, Romney Florida adviser Brett Doster told The Miami Herald in a statement that the campaign had lost Florida.
“We thought based on our polling and range of organization that we had done what we needed to win,” Doster said. “Obviously, we didn’t, and for that I and every other operative in Florida has a sick feeling that we left something on the table. I can assure you this won’t happen again.”
Brian Burgess, communications director for the Republican Party of Florida, essentially conceded defeat.
“We’re obviously not happy with the result, but given the wave that we saw all over the country, we’re glad that we gave them enough of a fight in Florida to prolong the battle here as long as we did,” Burgess said in an email. “But we’re not looking back, we’re looking forward to building a stronger coalition of Floridians who believe America can do much better than what we’ve seen over the last four years.”
The odyssey of Florida’s electoral votes began shortly after the polls officially closed. Some voters in Miami-Dade County waited in line until after 1 a.m. Wednesday — after several networks had called the race for Obama. Obama had already claimed 303 electoral votes before Thursday’s announcement, more than the 270 needed to win re-election.
By Brandon Larrabee
The News Service of Florida
NWE Mites Playoff Bound
November 9, 2012
The Northwest Escambia Mites are playoff bound. Their first playoff game will be Saturday, November 17 against East Pensacola with game time and location to be announced.Members of the NWE Mites are (front, L-R) Jacob Findley, Josh Wilson, Kenaundre Richardson, Dillon Grant, Trent Kite, Michael Merchant, Trent Peebles, Ben Wilson, Cody Edwards, (second row) Tripp Gipson, Tyler Kite, Wyatt Windham, Josh Merchant, Jayson Helton, Jason Fayard, Adam Aliff, Ian Gifford, Johnny Windham, (back) Assistant Coach Danny Fuller, Assistant Coach Ronnie Merchant, and Head Coach Josh Edwards. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Woman Sentenced To Prison For Abusing Mentally Disabled Daughter
November 9, 2012
An Escambia County woman was sentenced Thursday to 69 months in state prison for abusing her mentally disabled daughter.
DeeAnn Hale, 59, was charged in April along with friend Clinton Michael Carr and her husband. Carr was sentenced Thursday to five years, six months in prison.
On April 12, law enforcement discovered that the daughter had been forced to wear a signboard that read “I am a liar and a theif” (sic) around her neck. She was forced to repeatedly walk the perimeter of a backyard pool allegedly as punishment for “stealing” candy from food the family claimed was for the homeless.
The sign was made of two pieces of wet plywood, approximately 3-foot squared, being held around her neck with two heavy metal chains. Deputies asked the girl to kneel down and were able to remove the signs, which were estimated to weigh about 40 pounds. Due to the weight of the signs the chain had slightly embedded into the victim’s neck, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
The woman had also suffered a lacerated scalp which had been stitched closed with a common sewing needle and thread. Further investigation into the woman’s treatment revealed that during the previous 12 months, she had been forced to stay outside 24 hours a day for days on end and deprived of adequate shelter, food and medical attention, according to the State Attorney’s Office.
DeeAnne Hale’s husband, Rondal Hale, was previously convicted of four counts of aggravated abuse of a disabled adult and sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
