Okaloosa Prosecutor Running For State Attorney, Seeks To Replace Bill Eddins
February 8, 2020
Ginger Bowden Madden has entered the race for the First Judicial Circuit State Attorney. Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille is also running, and has been endorsed by retiring State Attorney Bill Eddins.
Madden has served as an assistant state attorney for over 25 years prosecuting cases in every division of criminal court–circuit, county, and juvenile court. She currently supervises assistant prosecutors serving in county and juvenile courts.
“I’m so excited to begin this new phase of public service, by putting my name before the voters and earning their trust to lead this critically important office,” said Madden. “Our police, sheriffs’ offices, and other first responders do a magnificent job as our first line of defense. It is the State Attorney’s responsibility to see that work through to its proper conclusion, to put dangerous criminals behind bars and keep our neighborhoods safe.”
She is the daughter of retired Florida State football coach Bobby Bowden.
Marcille has served as the chief assistant state attorney for Eddins since he took office 15 years ago. Eddins will remain in office through the completion of his term at the end of the year.
Florida’s First Judicial Circuit includes Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton counties.
Sara “Tiny” Waters
February 8, 2020
Mrs. Sara “Tiny” Waters, age 66, passed away Wednesday, February 5, 2020 in Atmore, Alabama.
Mrs. Waters was a native of Atmore, AL and had resided in the Century and Flomaton area for most of her life. She was a member of the Gospel Light Temple Church. She is preceded in death by her husband of 48 years, James Earl Waters; parents, Thomas and Jewell Hanks; daughter, Kim Sims; two brothers, Thomas Hanks and Kenneth Hanks and two sisters, Genene Baggett and Mary Griffis.
She is survived by one son, Jamie Waters of Flomaton, AL; one daughter, Ashley Lee of Flomaton, AL; two sisters, Glenda Averett of Atmore, AL and Elizabeth Johnson of Atmore, AL; numerous grandchildren, two special grandsons, Ryder Lee and Brayden Lee and two great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 8, 2020 at 10:00 AM at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Bro. Bobby Carnley officiating.
Burial will follow at the Godwin Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Friday, February 7, 2020 from 6 to 8 PM at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Dak Sims, Wade Harris, Jamie Waters, Johnny Griffis, Jon Jon Griffis and Sammy Portwood.
Honorary Pallbearer will be Travis Moye.
Robert N. Fournier
February 8, 2020
Robert N. Fournier went home to be with his Heavenly Father Jesus Christ Tuesday, February 4, 2020 at the age of 84. He passed away peacefully with his wife at his bedside at their resident in Cantonment, FL.
Bob was born January 10, 1936, in St. Petersburg, FL.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Nelson and Iris Fournier; grandmother, Ina Lingle who he loved dearly; brother; Richard E. Fournier; son, Bobby; and stepson, Terry Snelson.
Bob is survived by his wife, Fran, of 33+ years; step daughter, Teresa Kelly; eight grandchildren, Jesse Snelson (Austina), Janna Rubbert (Dan), Johanna Clark (Cayleb), and Jared and Jamie Snelson, Nick Snelson (Bailie), Lukas Snelson (Michelle), Sydney Spears (Jessie), and Nathan Phillips; four great grandchildren, Lauren Snelson, Gioia and Anthony Snelson, and Aeliana Spears; and sister-in-law, Joann Reeves.
Bob joined the Navy in 1954 serving his Country proudly for 20 years. After retiring from the Navy he worked for the Navy through Civil Service stationed at Whiting Field, Saufley Field and Barren Field.
He was an avid Ham Radio (WA4UTP) Operator, sending messages to missionaries around the world. During his stay in Morocco, he worked at missionaries’ Pig Farms on the weekends. Wherever Bob was stationed he got involved in a local church or helped start a church.
Bob loved his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He was very devoted to his daily prayer time and daily bible study. He served his Lord faithfully. He was a very godly and giving man.
Pallbearers are Jesse Snelson, Lukas Snelson, Warren Duncan, Ronnie Golloher, Dennis Norton, Nathan Phillips, and Nicholas Snelson.
Visitation will be Friday, February 7, 2020 at 4PM at Faith Chapel North. A Celebration of Bob’s life will follow at 5PM with Reverend Mike Faircloth officiating. Burial will be Saturday, February 8, 2020 at 2PM at Pensacola Memorial Gardens with Military Honors with Mr. Bill Lewis officiating.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Covenant Care Hospice, 5041 North 12th. Ave., Pensacola, FL.
A very special thanks to family, friends and Covenant Care Staff, employees and volunteers you were there when I needed you. Marty, Samantha, Lori, Jan, Bill, Chaplains, Jose’ and Dean.
Angela Findley
February 8, 2020
Mrs. Angela Findley, age 64, passed away Sunday, February 9, 2020 in Pensacola, Florida.
Mrs. Findley was a native and former resident of Louisiana and had resided in Century, FL for the past 38 years. She was a 25 year employee of Century Pharmacy and an honorary member of the Sisters on the Fly. She was of the Baptist Faith. She is preceded in death by her parents, Everett and Deanna Aucoin and granddaughter, Nickole Lowery.
She is survived by one son, Blaine (Tamara) Findley of Century, FL; one daughter, Amanda (Clint) Lowery of Century, FL; three brothers, Kirk (Darlene) Aucoin of Bayou Vista, LA, Wayne (Jennie) Aucoin of Bayou Vista, LA and Brian (Joan) Aucoin of Locust Grove, GA; two sisters, Shelly Scott of Mobile, AL and Lisa Latorre of Alexandria, LA; six grandchildren, Clay, Cameron, Ethan, Makayla, Lexi and Kyle and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, February 13, 2020 at 7:00 PM at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Bro. Nathan Brown officiating.
Visitation will be held Thursday, February 13, 2020 from 6:00 PM until service time at 7:00 PM at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Hartung Sentenced To Life in Prison For Triple Murder
February 7, 2020
Donald Hartung will spend the rest of this life in prison. He was sentenced Friday afternoon to three consecutive life sentences.
Hartung, 63, was convicted last week on three counts of first degree premeditated murder of his mother, 77-year old Voncile Smith and two half-brothers, 47-year old John Smith,and 49-year old Richard Smith.
Prosecutors said Hartung was intentionally left out of his mother’s will with everything set to go to John and Richard Smith. The state said the inheritance was Hartung’s motivation, and the only way he would collect any cash would be to kill all three.
The state had sought the death penalty in the case, but the jury did not unanimously agree.
Cantonment Man Charged With Arson For Burning Salvage Yard Wrecker
February 7, 2020
A Cantonment man is facing an arson charge for setting a fire that destroyed an auto salvage business’s wrecker in 2016.
Rex Burton Hassell, 59. was charged with one felony count of second degree arson. He is being held in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
On September 2, 2016, Hassell allegedly set fire to a wrecker at Neese’s Auto Salvage on Highway 29 south of Molino. The Florida Bureau of Fire, Arson and Explosives determined the fire was intentionally set and eliminated all possible accidental ignition sources.
Hassell is the suspect in the theft of numerous vehicle and pieces of equipment in Escambia County over the last three years, and his wife has been a witness in the crimes. While she was being interviewed in October 2019, she told stated she was with Hassell in September 2016 when he burned the wrecker.
She told investigators that he burned the vehicle because the business had previously towed one of Hassell’s vehicles.
As they drove north on Highway 29, Hassell said “tonight is the night”, according to arrest report. They immediately went to the Tom Thumb in Molino where he purchased a small amount of gas. They returned to Neese Auto Salvage where Hassell instructed his wife to drop him off, drive for a short distance and return to pick him up. When the wife returned, she saw Hassell walking away from the area of the burning tow truck, the report states.
Damage to the wrecker was estimated at $5,000. Firefighters were able to contain the fire and prevent damage to a nearby building.
Picture above: A firefighter extinguishes a wrecker fire. on September 2, 2016 at Neese Auto Salvage. Pictured below: Firefighters cut the hood open on the vehicle. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Escambia Commission Votes For Renaming Part Of I-10 For Deputy Killed 30 Years Ago
February 7, 2020
The Escambia County Commission voted 3-0 Thursday night to approved a resolution in support of renaming a section of I-10 as “Deputy Don Cook Memorial Highway”.
As NorthEscambia.com was first to report on Monday, the resolution will be forwarded to the Sen. Doug Broxson and the Florida Legislature for final approval.
On December, 3, 1988, Deputy Donald Ray Cook was on his way to an off duty job in his patrol car. While monitoring his police radio, Cook learned of a high speed pursuit of armed robbers on I-10 headed into Escambia County from Santa Rosa County.
Cook responded to I-10 where he set up a roadblock in the west bound lane between the off ramp to Highway 29 and the I -10 spur near the railroad trestle. Cook exited his vehicle and the pursuit continued toward the roadblock where he was struck and killed. The suspect were taken into custody several miles away after their vehicle was disabled.
Cook was a five-year veteran of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
“His name is engraved on the Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington D.C., and he is recognized at the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, but we have reached a point in time where our citizens need to be reminded daily of the sacrifice our officers make, especially those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. One way we could do this is to name an appropriate section of Interstate 10 in memory of Deputy Donald Ray Cook,” retired FDLE Agent Ed Hudson of McDavid wrote in an email to Senator Doug Broxson’s Office.
Six Charged With Trespassing After Allegedly Climbing Onto Byrneville Elementary Roof
February 7, 2020
Six young adults from Century and Flomaton have been charged with trespassing after allegedly climbing onto the roof of Byrneville Elementary School outside school hours.
Ashley Marie Walther, 19, Try Morris, 19, Levi Dalton Wagner, 19, Grayson Stafford, 20, Alexandria Brook Lambeth, 20, and Brandon Kyle Jones, 20, were each charged with second degree misdemeanor trespassing on school grounds. Jones was also charged with criminal mischief with property damage. All have been released from the Escambia County Jail.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to Byrneville Elementary School where the principal said an awning was damaged over a January weekend.
Surveillance video shows a golf cart with four males and a white vehicle with two females pull into the school’s parking lot before all of the individuals climbed onto the roof of the school. The video then shows a male jump onto an awning, followed by a second male that fell through the awning. Damage was estimated at $2,500. All of the individuals then left the area.
Deputies questioned Morris, Walther and Lambeth before arrest warrants were issued. Under Florida law, their statements were redacted from the arrest reports, but a deputy noted that all three were “very truthful”.
Escambia County Now A Second Amendment Sanctuary
February 7, 2020
Escambia County is now a Second Amendment sanctuary after a vote of the county commission.
On a 3-0 vote with no commissioner comment Thursday night, Escambia became at least the 27th such sanctuary county in Florida.
“The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners hereby declares Escambia County as a Second Amendment Sanctuary in order to preserve for the People of and in Escambia County, their rights guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States of America,” the resolution sponsored by Commissioner Doug Underhill states.
“Second Amendment sanctuary refers to a resolution to not expend resources to enforce gun control measures perceived as violations of the Second Amendment,” according to the county.
“….the Federal government cannot compel law enforcement officers of the States to enact or administer Federal regulations as it would disrupt the principal of ‘dual sovereignty’ by increasing the power of the Federal government beyond that which is permissible,” according to the resolution.
A copy of the resolution will be sent to Gov. Ron DeSantis. It’s largely symbolic and does not change any firearms laws or enforcement.
Neighboring Santa Rosa County also declared itself to be a Second Amendment sanctuary three days after the terrorist attack on NAS Pensacola.
Commissioners Lumon May and Robert Bender were not at the meeting.
Chilly Air Returns; Gusty Winds Today
February 7, 2020
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 54. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 41. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 66. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 45. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 67. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 72. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 62. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 73.
Tuesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61.
Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 73.
Wednesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63.
Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a high near 73. Chance of precipitation is 60%.