Medals Of Valor, Purple Hearts Awarded To Officers Involved In NAS Pensacola Attack
February 1, 2020
“These men went above and beyond the call of duty.”
That’s how Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan described eight law enforcement officers honored Friday for their response to the December 6 terrorist attack on NAS Pensacola.
Honored were Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Mike Hoyland, Deputy Matthew Keebler, Deputy Matthew Housam, Senior Deputy Grant Lopez, Deputy Jonathan Glass, and Deputy Matthew Tinch; and Department of Defense security officers Captain Robert Johnson and Captain Charles Hogue. They were awarded the Medal of Valor for going above and beyond during the attack that left three people dead.
Glass, Tinch and Hogue were presented with Purple Hearts during the ceremony at Marcus Pointe Baptist Church.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Gaetz Announces Service Academy Nominations, Including North Escambia Students
February 1, 2020
Congressman Matt Gaetz (FL-01) announced his 2020 service academy nominations for Florida’s First Congressional District Friday.
Those nominations included three North Escambia students — Keaton Brown of Northview High School to both the United States Military Academy at West Point at the United States Naval Academy; Dillon Conti, Tate High School graduate and current University of Florida student, to the United States Naval Academy; and Matthew Johnson of Tate High School to the United States Merchant Marine Academy.
“These young people are the very best that our community has to offer,” Gaetz said, “excellent grades, excellent moral character, leadership in their extracurricular activities.”
A nomination is not a guarantee of admittance to a service academy. The students move on to the next part of the selection process.
Service academy nominations announced Friday by Gaetz were:
UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY
- Victoria Sherwin, Niceville High School
- Mia Goodwin, Pace High School
- Lynsey Geray, Biloxi High School
- Gabriel Hagon, Pace High School
- Brandon Anderson, Pensacola High School
- Russell Cassem, Humphreys High School
- Camron Osborn, University of West Florida
- Corey Church, Northwest Florida State College
- Matthew Hoffman, University of Alabama and Marion Military Institute
- Victoria Salvador, Northwest Florida State College
UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY (WEST POINT)
- Mia Goodwin, Pace High School
- Keaton Brown, Northview High School
- Hunter Pruitt, Niceville High School
- Brian Son, Niceville High School
- Jacob Dunne, Niceville High School
- Sion Yu, Choctawhatchee High School
- Jacob D’Aleo, South Walton High School
- Manas Pandey, Booker T. Washington High School
- Matthew Juntunen, Home School
- Preston Randolph, Milton High School
- Steven Petracca, Humphreys High School
- William Hoffman, Niceville High School
- Asher Spain, James I. O’Neil High School
- Matthew Hoffman, University of Alabama and Marion Military Institute
- Victoria Salvador, Northwest Florida State College
- Sofie Discepolo, Pace High School
- Makayla Hooks, Walton High School
UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY
- Keaton Brown, Northview High School
- Lynsey Geray, Biloxi High School
- Preston Randolph, Milton High School
- Victoria Sherwin, Niceville High School
- Andrew Sowinski, Naval Academy Preparatory School
- Joseph Sears, Loyola University Maryland
- Dillon Conti, Pensacola State College and University of Florida Online
- Sofie Discepolo, Pace High School
- Matthew Sowinski, Naval Academy Preparatory School
- Merete Conley, Navarre High School
UNITED STATES MERCHANT MARINE ACADEMY
- Gabriel Hagon, Pace High School
- Brian Son, Marion Military Institute
- Alex Goodwin, Milton High School
- Travis Delrie, Niceville High School
- Hunter Ruddell, Northwest Florida State College
- Broc McPherson, Niceville High School
- Joel Dunham, Trinitas Christian School
- Manas Pandey, Booker T. Washington High School
- Thomas Frosch, Pensacola Catholic High School
- Matthew Johnson, Tate High School
Pictured top: Dillon Conti (left) and Keaton Brown with Congressman Matt Gaetz following their service academy nominations Friday. Pictured below: Brown and Gaetz with members of the Northview High School NJROTC. Pictured bottom: Conti and Gaetz. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Saturday Clouds, Sunshine Returns Sunday
February 1, 2020
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
This Afternoon: A 20 percent chance of showers before 3pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 57. Northwest wind around 10 mph.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 38. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 65. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 42. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 70. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. South wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 73. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a low around 63. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a high near 71. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Wednesday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 59. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Thursday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 63. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 42.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 61.
Second Person Dies From Injuries Sustained In Atmore Four Vehicle Crash
February 1, 2020
A second person involved in a four vehicle crash north of Atmore last week has died.
Bessie Lee Murphy, 65, of Beatrice, Ala., passed away from injuries sustained in the January 23 crash, Alabama State Troopers said Friday afternoon. She was a passenger in a Chevrolet Impala driven by Sherry Ann Dale, 60 of Frisco City.
Warren Demetrick Stallworth, 39, of Monroeville, died in the crash about 5:45 p.m. Highway 21 near Ross Road. Minutes before, an Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office began to pursue Stallworth, but Sheriff Heath Jackson said Stallworth may have never known because the deputy never caught up.
Jackson said one of his investigators was traveling south on Highway 21 in an unmarked vehicle when he was passed by a 2019 Acura TLX being driven in excess of 100 mph. The investigator and other drivers were forced off the roadway. The investigator activated his lights and sirens but was unable to catch up with Stallworth. The investigator found the crash a short time later.+
Stallworth’s Acura collided head-on with a 2019 Ford F-150 driven by Spencer Rogers, 36, of Atmore. Also involved in the crash was the Impala driven by Dale and a 2008 Dodge Ram driven by Sharon Banks, 53, of Monroeville.
Stallworth, who was not using a seat belt, was ejected from his vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.
Alabama State Troopers are continuing their investigation.
Cheyenna Novotny Named Escambia County Teacher Of The Year
February 1, 2020
West Florida High School chemistry and science teacher Cheyenna Novotny was named Escambia County’s Teacher of the Year during the annual Golden Apple Awards Friday night.
- Kadee Barnett – first grade teacher, Beulah Elementary
- Jacqueline Chabot – third grade teacher, Montclair Elementary
- Maureen Harden – sixth grade math teacher, Bailey Middle School
- Cheyenna Novotny – chemistry and other science topics teacher, West Florida High School
- Jodi Woods – six grade mathematics teacher and math department chair, Ransom Middle School
Other finalists were Kadee Barnett – first grade teacher, Beulah Elementary, Jacqueline Chabot – third grade teacher, Montclair Elementary, Maureen Harden – sixth grade math teacher, Bailey Middle School, and Jodi Woods – six grade mathematics teacher and math department chair, Ransom Middle School.
Sentencing Delayed For Triple Murderer Hartung
February 1, 2020
Sentencing has been delayed by a few days in the case of Donald Hartung.
Sentencing hearings were set to begin Monday but have been delayed to a Thursday start due to witness availability. An Escambia County jury will decide he will spend the rest of his life in prison or be put to death for the triple murder of three relatives.
Hartung, 63, was convicted on three counts of first degree premeditated murder of his mother, 77-year old V Voncile Smith and two half-brothers, 47-year old John Smith,and 49-year old Richard Smith.
The jury vote must be unanimous to sentence to Hartung to death; otherwise, he will be sentenced to life in prison.
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 interhertience was Hartung’s motivation, and the only way he would collect any cash would be to kill all three.
Three Northview High Weightlifters Place At Regionals
February 1, 2020
The Northview High School weightlifters placed in the Girls Weightlifting Regionals Friday.
Naudia Carach placed third, and De’Janique Lowery and Taylor McMinn both placed fifth in their individual classes.
Pictured above: (L-R) De’Janique Lowery, Taylor McMinn and Naudia Carach. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
ECSO: Missing Teen From Tate Road Located Safe
February 1, 2020
UPDATE: THIS MISSING TEEN HAS BEEN SAFELY LOCATED.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help to locate a missing 13-year old girl.
Ashlyn Elizabeth Tidwell was last seen Friday in the 1300 block of Tate Road. Tidwell is 5-feet, 1-inch tall, weighs 90 pounds, and has long black hair and hazel eyes. She was last seen wearing ripped blue jeans and a black sweater.
Anyone that knows where she can be located is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
Richard “Dick” Nicholson
February 1, 2020
Richard “Dick” Nicholson passed away January 29, 2020. He was born at the old Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola on June 13th, 1940. He was the youngest son of Jim and Thelma Nicholson and grew up with his older brother Ray on the family farm in Molino, Florida.
When he was a kid he and his brother raised 100 hatchling hens and they sold the eggs for $1 dollar a dozen. At the tender age of 10 he raised enough money selling eggs to buy his first piece of land – 10 acres. He graduated from Tate High School in 1958 where he participated in the 4-H Club and made 1st chair, solo clarinetist in his last two years of high school. He cherished many of his lifelong friends from high school, some of which are Jackie Grantham and Phyllis Crooke.
From there he went on to graduate from Florida State University and received his masters in Business Management from the University of West Florida.
In 1963 he married Pippa Nicholson-Kuenn and they had two wonderful children, Pippa Leigh and Russ.
Richard was a Renaissance man, who had an early career as a banker and real estate investor. At the age of 50, he left the world of banking and finance and became a registered nurse in the health care profession.
Richard lived in Dallas, Texas, and in Monte Rio California, and traveled extensively. He moved back to Molino, Florida, to help care for his parents and to put his farming genes to use where he later retired there planting sunflowers in the family fields.
His lifelong friend, Diane Somer, would say he was a perfect reflection of his sunflowers because he brought happiness to others. Richard was an avid traveler, loved adventures, and sharing life with family and friends. He also loved history and donated his time to the Molino Historical Museum.
He is survived by his daughter Pippa Leigh Nicholson-Moore (John), son, James “Russ” Nicholson, Pippa Nicholson-Kuenn (Mother of their children), grandchildren: Nicola and Lucas Moore, Nieces: Sandra Nicholson-Fitzpatrick, Lisa Nicholson, Jamie Nicholson, and first cousin: Barbara Hendrix and family along with many close friends, especially a special group of life long friends who loved him dearly.
A memorial Service will be held at Aldersgate United Methodist Church on Tuesday, February 4, 2020, at 11:00 a.m. Aldersgate United Methodist Church is located at 6915 North Highway 29 in Molino.
State Seeks To Reimpose Patrick Gonzalez Death For Deaths Of Byrd And Melanie Billings
January 31, 2020
Friday, the State Attorney’s Office filed a motion to reinstate the death penalty for Leonard Patrick Gonzalez, Jr. for the 2009 deaths of Byrd and Melanie Billings.
Gonzalez was sentenced to death back in 2011, but the Supreme Court later struck down Florida’s death penalty process in 2016. That ruling found that a jury must be unanimous in finding that aggravated factors existed and be unanimous in their decision for impose the death penalty.
The Gonzalez jury was unanimous in finding that there were aggravating factors in the Beulah couple’s death, but they split 10-2 on the vote for the death penalty. He petitioned the court and was granted a resentencing hearing late this year where jurors will revote on the death penalty.
But with a new Supreme Court ruling that allows the judge reinstate the death penalty, Eddins believes a judge could sentence Gonzalez to death without a jury.
“The new decision…makes it clear that the constitutional requirements were fulfilled in the Gonzalez case,” the motion filed Friday states. “A jury made the instant, unanimous findings of the existence of aggravated circumstances.” The court, “carefully considering the evidence, made a constitutionally proper section decision in imposing a death sentence.”
Gonzalez and four other men entered the home to steal a safe that they thought contained $13 million, according to court records. Byrd and Melanie Billings died after each being shot multiple times. The couple was known for adopting special needs children.