NAS Pensacola: Everything’s Normal, No Incident On Base
March 5, 2020
Everything is normal onboard Naval Air Station Pensacola Thursday, according to base officials responding to rumors.
Rumors began to circulate that there was something amiss on the base, which was site of a terrorist attack that claimed three lives in December.
NAS Pensacola released the following statement Thursday afternoon:
“There are incorrect reports that a shelter in place announcement was made for NAS Pensacola. There is currently no incident on the base and the base is operating as normal.”
Presumptive Case Of Coronavirus From Santa Rosa County Being Treated In Pensacola
March 5, 2020
Gov. Ron DeSantis announced a presumptive positive case of coronavirus in Santa Rosa County. During a news conference Thursday morning, he described the man as elderly, over age 70, with severe underlying medical conditions.
While the man is from Santa Rosa County, the public safety director there confirms that the patient is being treated at Baptist Hospital in Pensacola.
“He had been doing international travel. He’s not in shape to fully answer all the questions, so there’s an investigation ongoing, but that is a presumptive positive. It has not been confirmed by the CDC. I think we are at a point now with the local testing that we are highly confident that that is going to be verified.”
“Northwest Floridians should take proactive steps to minimize susceptibility by avoiding contact with anyone who is sick, washing their hands regularly, not touching their face, and staying home when sick with any type of illness,” Rep. Matt Gaetz said. “My office is in close communication with the White House and Governor DeSantis’s administration to ensure the residents of Northwest Florida are prepared to address coronavirus.”
The Florida Department of Health will be releasing more information, the governor said.
The Santa Rosa County patient is the third diagnosed in Florida. There are also five Florida residents quarantined in other states after returning from international travel.
New Convenience Store At Highway 29, Highway 97 In Molino Gets Escambia County Approval
March 5, 2020
Plans for a new convenience store at the intersection of Highway 29 and Highway 97 in Molino received final approval Wednesday afternoon from the Escambia County Development Review Committee.
DGS Holdings of Atmore’s plans to build the store on an 8.22 acre parcel (pictured) directly across Highway 97 from the current Tom Thumb. In late 2017, plans were submitted to Escambia County by Diamond Gasoline of Atmore for a convenience store on the property, but that project was not completed.
Current plans show a 4,700 square foot building with fuel pumps in the front and rear. Water will be provided by Molino Utilities, and the building will be on a septic system.
Developers are proposing a turn lane from Highway 29 southbound and for west access from Highway 97. The turn lanes will require a Florida Department of Transportation access permit that is currently in the application process.
Before construction could begin, an Escambia County building permit must be issued. County records show that building permit applications have been submitted and are awaiting approval.
NorthEscambia.com photos and graphics.
Escambia County Screening 911 Calls As Part Of Coronavirus Prep; Asking Some To ‘Self-Isolate’
March 5, 2020
Escambia County is screening 911 calls for possible Coronavirus (COVID-19) patients, and encouraging those that may have had contact with the virus to “self-isolate” until cleared by the health department to go to a medical facility.
In a statement released Wednesday night, the county said they are staying in contact with the health department and local hospitals about the virus.
“The county is screening 9-1-1 calls. During medical calls, dispatchers are asking if flu-like symptoms are present, and what the patient’s recent travel history entails,” the statement said.
The Escambia County statement also said:
- “In coordination with Escambia County Health Director, if you have traveled to an area that the CDC has issued a Warning Level 3 or Alert Level 2 Travel Health Notice, or have been in close contact with an individual that has traveled to such an area, who develops symptoms of fever, cough, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing within 14 days of such travel, immediately contact the Florida Department of Health and self-isolate until cleared by the FDOH.”
- “If you believe you may have been exposed to COVID-19, please contact the FDOH Call Center (866-779-6121) or FDOH-Escambia’s number (850-595-6500) prior to traveling to any physician’s office, emergency department, hospital, or urgent care center, to ensure proper protective measures are taken to prevent further risk of spread to others. If possible, also review your signs, symptoms and travel history with your physician over the phone. Your physician will evaluate you for other possible causes of respiratory illness and also contact the county health department to access COVID-19 testing. If you are without health insurance or a health care provider, please contact your county health department so the health department can coordinate your medical evaluation and testing.”
The county will follow the “Escambia County Pandemic Influenza Emergency Plan” if need, and a flier about COVID-19 will be posted in public buildings. Fire and EMS first responders have appropriate personal protective equipment, and the fleet maintenance department is working to make sure all services vehicles are disinfected daily.
To view the Escambia County Coronavirus information flyer, click here.
NorthEscambia.com graphic.
Century Mayor Has Returned To Work After Hospitalization
March 5, 2020
Century Mayor Henry Hawkins is improving after his hospitalization earlier this year and has returned to work.
Hawkins was admitted to the hospital on January 22 and spent time in intensive care with flu symptoms along with blood sugar and kidney problems, according to Interim City Manager Vernon Prather. All total, he spend about three weeks in the hospital.
At a town council meeting earlier this week, Prather said Hawkins had returned to work, usually for a few hours on Mondays and Fridays. The position of mayor in Century is a part-time job with no set hours.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Tate High School Names Students Of The Month
March 5, 2020
Tate High School recently named their Students of the Month for January. They are Ana Sanchez-Morales and Kai Burnett-Burrows. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Man Charged With Breaking Mom’s TV, Stealing Her Vehicle
March 5, 2020
A Century man has been charged with allegedly breaking his mom’s television and stealing her vehicle.
Darryl Thomas Frazier, 32, was charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle and criminal mischief with property damage. He remained in the Escambia County Jail Thursday with bond set at $7,500.
Frazier’s mother reported that he punched her flat screen television and threw it on the floor, punched the headboard of her bed and took her vehicle without permission while saying “that he was going to Pizza Hut in Flomaton, Alabama, to meet some friends,” according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report.
The mother had a friend drive her to Pizza Hut in Flomaton where she observed her vehicle but did not want to confront Frazier due to his violent tendencies.
Deputies later located the mother’s vehicle and Frazier at the community center on Pond Street in Century.
Frazier told deputies that his mother allowed him to use the vehicle, and that he fell on her television with his buttocks when he tripped. Deputies noted in their report that Frazier’s hand had numerous small cuts that were bleeding and appeared to be caused by glass. He was placed under arrest.
Beulah Academy Of Science Wins Escambia County Middle School Volleyball Championships
March 5, 2020
Beulah Academy of Science won both the varsity and junior varsity Escambia County middle school volleyball championships Wednesday night. NorthEscambia.com photos by Crystal Tolbert, click to enlarge.
Four Convicted In Federal Dogfighting Case
March 5, 2020
A federal jury has convicted Shane Patrick Sprague, 35, of Pensacola of felony conspiracy to violate the dogfighting prohibitions of the federal Animal Welfare Act.
Co-defendants James “Tommy” Peek, 67, and Haley Cook Murph, 24, both of Milton, and David Lee Moser, 36, of Waynesboro, Tennessee, had previously pleaded guilty to seven federal felonies for their involvement with Sprague and others in a dogfighting operation centered in Pensacola. The jury acquitted co-defendant Derek Jedidiah Golson, 38, also of Pensacola.
Evidence at trial, along with admissions made by the pleading defendants in conjunction with their plea agreements, established that Sprague operated C Wood Kennels, a dogfighting operation that arranged dogfights and trafficked in fighting dogs with Moser and others outside of Florida. Moser admitted that he and Sprague agreed to fight their dogs against one another and to prepare a dog for a dogfight, and that they had discussed concealing evidence that one of Moser’s dogs had killed another dog.
Murph pleaded guilty to unlawfully conspiring with the co-defendants to violate the dogfighting prohibitions of the federal Animal Welfare Act, traveling to Steele, Alabama, to purchase a fighting dog from a known dogfighter, and possessing that dog for purposes of using the dog in an animal fighting venture. Peek pleaded guilty to unlawfully conspiring with the co-defendants to violate the dogfighting prohibitions of the federal Animal Welfare Act, delivering a dog to defendant Sprague for purposes of having the dog participate in an animal fighting venture, and possessing a dog for purposes of having the dog participate in an animal fighting venture. Moser pleaded guilty to conspiring with the co-defendants to violate the dogfighting prohibitions of the federal Animal Welfare Act.
Each of the eight counts of conviction in the case carries a maximum of five years in prison and a criminal fine of up to $250,000.
Peek was one of the sources of supply of fighting dogs to C Wood Kennels. He admitted to having sold dogs to Sprague, believing that the dogs would be used for fighting purposes. He also admitted to having sold a dog to an undercover agent after making representations about the fighting “bloodlines” as well as prior and upcoming dogfights of some of the dogs on his yard.
Murph’s role was that of a makeshift “veterinarian” for C Wood Kennels. Although Murph at no time possessed a veterinary license, she admitted to offering and performing veterinary and surgical procedures on dogs belonging to members of the conspiracy, including by treating dogs injured in a dogfight and by surgically removing dogs’ ears, including for the purpose of dogfighting. Two dogs in her “care” died from their fighting injuries. Murph also admitted to supplying a “bait” animal to test the fighting abilities of one of the co-defendant’s dogs. Finally, Murph admitted to traveling to Alabama on two occasions to receive dogs from a known dogfighter, and to keeping one of the dogs for herself for the purposes of having the dog participate in an animal fighting venture.
“These barbaric acts of animal cruelty have no place in a civilized society, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office will pursue and prosecute these criminals to the fullest extent of the law,” said U.S. Attorney Lawrence Keefe of the Northern District of Florida. “Societies are measured in part by how well they treat their domestic animals, and these defendants failed that test miserably – and now will pay the consequences.”
“The provisions of the Animal Welfare Act were designed to protect animals from being used in illegal fighting ventures, which often entail other forms of criminal activity involving drugs, firearms and gambling,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Jason M. Williams of the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Office of Inspector General. “Together with the Department of Justice, animal fighting is an investigative priority for USDA-OIG, and we will work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and assist in the criminal prosecution of those who participate in animal fighting ventures.”
Assistant United States Attorney Ryan Love and Department of Justice Trial Attorney Ethan Eddy prosecuted the case. The matter was investigated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Inspector General.
Pictured: Law enforcement and the ASPCA conducted an operation in the 7000 block of Beulah Road in July 2018. Photos courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Boys Weightlifting Tops Milton And Jay
March 5, 2020
The Northview Boys Weightlifting team traveled to Milton on Wednesday afternoon to lift against the Milton Panthers and Jay Royals.
The Chiefs came out victorious with a total of 53 points. Milton finished 2nd with 47, while Jay finished 3rd with 4 points.
Individually, Northview had lifters win 5 of the 10 weight classes. The following won their respective class:
- Dustin Santinelli – 129-lb. class
- Colton Dockens – 154-lb. class
- Aunterio Minor – 199-lb. class
- Jacob Hawkins – 219-lb. class
- Jojo Parker – 238-lb. class
Also placing for the Chiefs were:
- 119-lb. class: Jacob Daw (2nd); Garrett Bodiker (3rd)
- 139-lb. class: Case Bradley (2nd); Jonathon McCarthy (3rd)
- 169-lb. class: Mekhi White (2nd); Blake Yoder (3rd)
- 183-lb. class: A’hzavion Gregory (3rd); Jacob Houston (4th)
- 199-lb. class: William Swearengin (2nd)
- 219-lb. class: Trevor Scott (3rd)
- 238-lb. class: Travis Nelson (4th)
- UNL class: Cameron Findley (2nd); Garrick Davis (4th)
The Chiefs return to action next Wednesday, as they travel to Baker for a dual meet.
File photo.