Police: Escambia Caregiver Sexually Assaulted 106-Year Old
November 6, 2012
An Escambia County woman was arrested Monday for sexually assaulting a 106-year old woman.
Taquita Lashay Watson, 29, was charged with sexual assault on a victim 12-years of age or older with special conditions. She was booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $25,000.
Pensacola Police Department Detective Shannan Fortenberry said Watson had been providing in-home care for the victim, who is bedridden for the most part, for about three months. The investigation determined Watson had used a sexual instrument on the victim in October.
Fortenberry said the investigation is continuing to determine if anyone else may have been victimized by Watson, who has worked as a geriatric patient caregiver for over eight years.
New Atmore Mayor, Council Sworn Into Office
November 6, 2012
A new era began Monday night in Atmore as Jim Staff was sworn in as mayor, replacing longtime Mayor Howard Shell.
After a total of more than two decades in office, current Mayor Howard Shell did not seek re-election. He was first elected to the Atmore City Council 1984 before being appointed mayor after the death of then-Mayor Patricia McKenzie. After winning the mayor’s race twice, he remained in office until being beaten in 1996 by Rodney Owens, an Atmore chiropractor. He returned to office in 2000 and completed his third term since returning to office.
Along with Staff, new council members Chris Harrison and Susan Smith and returning members Chris Walker, Cornell Torrence and Webb Nall were sworn in Monday during a ceremonial meeting.
Pictured top: Newly elected Atmore Mayor Jim Staff (left) is congratulated on election night by outgoing Mayor Howard Shell (right). File photo by Emilie Mims for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Local Teacher Named To State Educators Hall Of Fame
November 6, 2012
A local educator was one of 15 teachers in Alabama honored for excellence in economic education and inducted into the inaugural class of the Alabama Economic Educators Hall of Fame in Birmingham recently.
Gerri McDonald of Walnut Hill and her students at Perdido Elementary/Middle School have been recognized frequently by ACEE. She was selected to attend a weeklong economics workshop held at the New York Stock Exchange and to write curriculum for economics at the International Cooperative Education Exchange Program in Economics held in Washington.
She has also been named the Alabama Economics Teacher of the Year and ACEE Master Teacher of Economics. Her students have consistently placed in the top 10 every year in the Stock Market Game, and have placed first six times. They have also placed first and second in the state in the “Whit King: Entrepreneurship and the American Free Enterprise Essay Contest” two years in a row.
Showing off their understanding of economic concepts and creativity, her students have placed in the top 12 in the state for the past five years in the “Color the Concepts” competition too.
“We have a vision of every student graduating from Alabama’s schools with superior economic education and the knowledge, understanding and skills to make successful economic decisions” said Johnnie Aycock, managing director of ACEE. “Through the Economic Educator Hall of Fame, we had the opportunity to recognize and honor exceptional teachers in Alabama that are having a significant impact on our young people’s knowledge of economic, personal finance and entrepreneurship.”
Pictured top: (L-R) Teacher Gerri McDonald, Gov. Bob Riley and Perdido Principal Craig Smith. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Names New Fire Chief
November 6, 2012
Patrick T. Grace has been appointed as the new Escambia County Fire Chief by Acting County Administrator Larry M. Newsom.
Grace has served Escambia County as a battalion chief since 2001, gaining extensive fire ground experience and interactions with all personnel in the organization, both volunteer and career.
“I am very excited about Chief Grace’s appointment to fire chief,” said Escambia County Public Safety Director Mike Weaver. “His experience as a career and volunteer firefighter gives him special insight into the needs of both groups.”
Grace was a longtime volunteer in upstate New York before beginning his career with the Milton Fire Department in 1994. During his time in New York he was an active participant in creating a fire department by combining both volunteer and paid personnel. With his personal commitment to the value of both volunteer and career personnel, he was heavily involved in Escambia County’s unification process. Additionally, he volunteers his time as a captain in the Gulf Breeze Fire Department.
According to a county news release, he has high regard and respect for all fire personnel, both paid and volunteer and looks forward to continuing improvement of the department for the betterment of the Escambia County’s fire services.
Bus Driver Charged With Sex Offenses Against Juvenile
November 6, 2012
A former school bus driver has been arrested for alleged sex offenses against a juvenile.
Lee Calvin Pardue, 43, was charged with use of a computer to solicit a child and lewd/lascivious behavior. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $260,000. He will be transferred to the Santa Rosa County Jail.
Pardue was a school bus driver in Santa Rosa County during the 2011-2012 school year. The Department of Children and Family Services alleged that Pardue made flirtatious comments towards a minor on his bus, and later began to communicate with the minor through text messages and Facebook. The conversations became sexual in nature and nude photographs were exchanged, investigators said. Authorities said Pardue met with the minor on three separate occasions in which the minor was provided alcohol and sexually molested.
Anyone with any further information concerning possible illegal activity committed by Pardue is asked to contact the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 983-1100 or Santa Rosa Crime Stoppers at (850) 437-STOP (7867).
Calvin “Pedo” Taylor
November 6, 2012
Mr. Calvin “Pedo” Taylor, 51, passed away on Tuesday, October 30, 2012, in Portland, Oregon.
Mr. Taylor was a native of Atmore and a resident of Portland, Oregon for the past 20 years. His father, Jake Calvin Taylor, preceded him in death.
Survivors include his mother, Shirley Henley Taylor of Atmore; one brother, David Taylor of Flomaton; three sisters, Shelby Caraway of Walnut Hill, Cindy Scruggs of Flomaton and Myrtle Kulhman of Kerrville, TX; nine nieces and four nephews.
Funeral services will be Thursday, November 8, 2012, at 10 a.m.. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with the Rev. John Coleman officiating.
Visitation will be Thursday, November 8, 2012, from 9 a.m. until funeral time at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes in charge of arrangements.
Man Taken Into Custody After Allegedly Trashing Mobile Home, Starting Fire
November 6, 2012
One person was taken into protective custody Monday night after allegedly trashing a mobile home on Pond Street and attempting to set it on fire.
The incident happened just after 7 p.m. in the 300 block of Pond Street, near Jefferson Avenue. Escambia Fire Rescue was called to the mobile home after the occupant allegedly set fire to a couch or chair inside the home; the small fire was out when firefighters arrived on scene.
The male inside the house had apparently thrown numerous household items out of windows and into the front yard of the mobile home.
The adult male was taken into protective custody by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office under the Baker Act and transported to a Pensacola health care facility. Florida’s Baker Act allows officers to take an individual into custody for an involuntary mental examination when it is believed they are a danger to themselves or others.
Names of individuals involved in Baker Act proceedings are not released.
Pictured above and inset: A man reportedly trashed this Century mobile home Monday night, tossing household items into the yard. Pictured below: The man, whose identity has not been released, was taken into custody as a Baker Act. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
ESCO To Present ‘CarFit’ Event For Senior Drivers
November 6, 2012
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Community Oriented Policing Unit will present Operation CarFit this weekend.
The event will be held Saturday in the back parking lot of Hillcrest Baptist Church on Nine Mile Road and Guidy Lane from 8:00 am until noon.
A unique program geared for senior citizens, CarFit was developed in collaboration with the American Society on Aging, AAA, AARP and the American Occupational Therapy Association. CarFit is the first program to offer older adults the opportunity to check how their personal cars “fit” them.
Trained professionals will lead drivers through a 12-point checklist with their vehicle, recommend car adjustments and adaptations and offer community specific resources and activities that could make their cars “fit” better or enhance their safety. An occupational therapist also will be on hand to provide information to older drivers on how to maintain and strengthen driving health.
The sessions take approximately 20 minutes per driver and vehicle. Advanced scheduling is encouraged. To schedule a CarFit session contact Rhonda Ray at the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9553.
Organizers said people over 65 are the fastest-growing population in the United States. By 2030, one in five drivers will be age 65 or older, which means there will be more than 30 million older drivers on our roads. Because of their fragility, seniors have the highest crash death rate of everyone except teenagers.
Crime Rate Increases In Escambia And Santa Rosa
November 5, 2012
Overall crime was up in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties during the first six months of 2012, according to a report just released by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
In Escambia County, the crime rate jumped 12.3 percent, with an increase in every major crime category except robberies. In Santa Rosa County, the crime rate was up 5.9 percent, with a increase in all categories except burglaries.
Here are the latest numbers from the FDLE’s Semi-Annual Crime in Florida Report:
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
- Overall Crime: Increased from 7,679 to 8,620 (+12.3%)
- Murder: Increased from 3 to 9
- Forcible Rape: Increased from 83 t0 98
- Robbery: Decreased from 264 to 242
- Aggravated Assault: Increased from 665 to 894
- Burglary: Increased from 1,590 to 1,798
- Larceny: Increased from 4,752 to 5,222
- Motor Vehicle Theft: Increased from 322 to 357
- Percent Cleared: Increased from 25.2 to 26.8
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
- Overall Crime Increased from 256 to 271 (+5.9%)
- Murder: No change, 0 to 0
- Robbery: Increased from 0 to 2
- Aggravated Assault: Increased from 2 to 11
- Burglary: Decreased from 64 to 49
- Larceny: Increased from 187 to 202
- Motor Vehicle Theft: Increased from 3 to 7
- Percent Cleared: Dropped from 25.4 to 17.3
Rain, Turning Cooler
November 5, 2012
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- This Afternoon: A 30 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 72. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
- Tonight: Showers. Low around 50. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
- Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers before noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 66. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 43. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 66. Northwest wind 5 to 15 mph.
- Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 37. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
- Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 66. North wind around 5 mph.
- Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 40. Calm wind.
- Friday: Sunny, with a high near 71. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the morning.
- Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 44.
- Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 74.
- Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 49.
- Veterans Day: Partly sunny, with a high near 74.