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.