Memorial Held For NAS Pensacola Victims, Their Families
December 20, 2019
The Navy held a memorial service Thursday for the three Sailors killed in the Dec. 6 shooting at Naval Aviation Schools Command (NASC) onboard NAS Pensacola, presenting posthumous awards to the fallen service members for their service.
Family members received the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for heroism on behalf of Naval Aircrewman (Mechanical) 3rd Class Mohammed S. Haitham, 19, from St. Petersburg, Florida; Naval Aircrewman (Mechanical) 3rd Class Cameron S. Walters, 21, from Richmond Hill, Georgia; and Ensign Joshua K. Watson, 23, from Enterprise, Alabama. Haitham and Walters also were awarded the Good Conduct Medal, a recognition for enlisted Sailors. All three Sailors were serving as students at NASC.
Families, friends, NASC staff and students, shipmates, senior Navy leaders and local government officials came together for the service at the National Naval Aviation Museum onboard NAS Pensacola where Adm. Chris Grady, commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, presided over the ceremony.
“We can never know what will be demanded of us on any given day, and no one could have foreseen what would be demanded on December 6th, but these men answered the call,” Grady said. “Through their heroic acts, they saved lives by sacrificing their own and for that, we are forever grateful.”
The memorial service allowed the Navy to honor and pay respect to the victims and their families. The service included remarks from Capt. Vincent Segars, commanding officer of NASC, and a four-ship missing man flyover by the U.S. Navy’s flight demonstration squadron, the Blue Angels.
With NAS Pensacola known as “the cradle of naval aviation,” Segars described it as a special place where all naval aviators and aircrewmen start living their dreams of flying in service to their nation. Segars encouraged NASC students and shipmates of the fallen to always remember Dec. 6.
“One common theme from these heroic Sailors is their infectious spirit that sought to motivate and bring out the best in all they served with,” Segars said. “Let us honor their memory by achieving our dreams in earning the wings of gold, and wear them proudly as we assume the watch.”
On Dec. 10, Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly proclaimed Haitham and Walters as naval aircrewmen by awarding them their wings of gold. They were posthumously advanced to naval aircrewman mechanical 3rd class. Modly also proclaimed Watson as a naval aviator, and awarded him wings of gold as well.
“We owe them a debt that can never be repaid, and it is one that we will never forget,” said Grady. “These men have rightly been described as heroes, and that is how we will remember them.”
Pictured: The U.S. Navy Blue Angels in a missing man formation over NAS Pensacola Thursday to honor the victims of the December 6 shooting on the base. U.S. Navy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
1979 Ernest Ward High School State Championship Football Team Holds Reunion
December 20, 2019
The 1979 Ernest Ward High School state championship football team recently held their 40 year reunion. The reunion was held in the gymnasium of what is now Ernest Ward Middle School.
Under the leadership of head coach Steve McCord, the Ernest Ward Golden Eagles won the 1979 Class A state title with a 13-6 upset of the No. 1 ranked Benjamin High School Bucs of Palm Beach Gardens at Booster Stadium in Ocala.
The 1979 Ernest Ward-Benjamin game still holds the state record for the fewest two-team turnovers during a state final. Both teams were turnover free. The 1979 Golden Eagles were the only team in state football history to knock off three No. 1 ranked teams in the same season.
Ernest Ward High School and Century High School were combined to create Northview High School, which won the Class 1A state crown in 2012. The Century Blackcats with head coach Joe Cardwell fell short of a title by just one point back in 1986 with a 8-7 loss at home to Glades Day High of Belle Glade.
Pictured top: The 1979 Ernest Ward High School state championship football team (front, L-R) Tommy Van Pelt, Marion Cooper, Eric Sanders, Mike Dignam, David Bell, Byron Vaughn, Todd Wiggins, Bill Smith and Perry Byars; (back) Coach Steve McCord, Kevin Beck, Scott Ward, David Beck, Mike Solomon, Mark Hanks, Kenny Bryan, Todd Linam, Phillip Robbins, Glen Sharpless and Kevin Morgan. Pictured below: The 1979 Ernest Ward High School state championship football team. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FWC Law Enforcement Report: Meth, Antlerless Deer, Failing To Report Deer
December 20, 2019
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the period ending December 5 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
No report received for Escambia County.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officer Roberson was on land patrol in the Escambia River Wildlife Management Area (WMA) near Keyser Landing when he saw a vehicle parked in the woods. Officer Roberson approached the vehicle and observed an individual with a lighter, heating up a clear pipe commonly used to cook drugs. Officer Roberson identified himself and observed another individual in the truck, along with a white substance in a clear plastic baggy in between the individuals. K-9 Officer Hutchinson arrived shortly after to assist. Both suspects were booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail for the possession of methamphetamines.
Officers Andrews and Allgood were conducting water patrol on opening morning of duck season in the Santa Rosa Sound and observed three male subjects in waist deep water near a camouflaged hunting blind. A resource and license inspection found an unplugged shotgun. The appropriate citation was issued.
Officer Specialist Lewis was on land patrol in Blackwater River State Forest on opening day of General Gun Season when he heard a shot at the final minutes of legal shooting hours for deer. The shot sounded like it originated on private property near his location. Officer Lewis located a hunter with an antlerless deer, which the hunter admitted to shooting on the property. Antlerless deer were not permitted to take on that day and the hunter was cited appropriately.
Officers Hutchinson and Hicks were on patrol near Blackwater State Forest when they observed a deer being cleaned behind a barn. They conducted a resource check and found that the deer had not been recorded on a harvest log. The person admitted to knowing he had to log the deer, but chose not to do so. The subject was issued a citation and a Santa Rosa County Court date for failure to report the deer.
Officers Hicks and Hutchinson were patrolling the Blackwater State Forest when they located three large piles of trash that had been dumped along one of the roads. They collected evidence from the trash piles that led them to a residence. Once at the residence they contacted three male subjects who all admitted to dumping the trash in the woods. The appropriate citations were issued with a court date and the men were instructed to remove the trash and properly dispose of it.
Officers Murphy and Hutchinson received a complaint of a subject who had shot a spotted fawn with his bow and left it to waste in the Blackwater State Forest. While conducting their investigation, Officer McVaney helped them identify the subject and confirm that he had already harvested and registered his yearly bag limit for antlerless deer. The subject was located and admitted to shooting the fawn and leaving it in the woods. An arrest warrant was filed through the State Attorney’s Office for the violations of taking a spotted fawn and taking over the yearly bag limit of antlerless deer.
This report represents some events the FWC handled during the time period; however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement. Information provided by FWC.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Escambia County High Principal Submits Resignation
December 20, 2019
Escambia County High School Principal Dennis Fuqua has submitted his resignation to accept a new position. His last day at the Atmore high school will be January 10.
Fuqua will become the director of the Coastal Alabama Community College Brewton Campus director.
He served as ECHS principal for seven years, and also worked as Flomaton High School principal and an ag instructor during his 16 years with the Escambia County (AL) School System.
Pictured: Principal Dennis Fuqua of Escambia County High School in Atmore has submitted his resignation. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Bicyclist, 77, Killed On Escambia Roadway
December 19, 2019
A 77-year old bicyclist lost his life on an Escambia county roadway Thursday morning.
The Florida Highway Patrol said Luvenia Boyd, 54, was traveling east on Fairfield Drive near Mission Road when bicyclist Willie Gaines entered the roadway directly in her path. Gaines was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The FHP said no charges were filed.
One Airlifted After Highway 29 Crash In Cantonment
December 19, 2019
One person was airlifted to the hospital following a Thursday afternoon crash on Highway 29 at Well Line Road in Cantonment.
The crash involved a SUV pulling a utility trailer and a pickup truck. The southbound lanes of Highway 29 were closed due to the accident.
The wreck is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. The Cantonment, Ensley and Molino stations of Escambia Fire Rescue were dispatched, along with Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Man Gets Life In Prison Without Parole For Murder Of Beulah Convenience Store Clerk
December 19, 2019
An Escambia County jury sentenced a man to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the for the death of a Beulah convenience store during a robbery last year.
Effidarius Bryant was found guilty of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit robbery for the February 19 death of f Govardhan “Reddy” Kotha, a clerk at the Quick Fill gas station located at 7144 Mobile Highway. Kotha was killed the day before he planned to leave town to attend his daughter’s wedding.
Two other people are also charged in connection with the robbery.
Keandra Martez Smith is charged with murder and robber with a firearm; he is scheduled to appear in court in February. Crystal Clausell is charged with robbery with a firearm and is scheduled to appear on January 3.
A customer that entered the store the night of February 19 called authorities because he did not see a clerk in the store and the register drawer was open.
On the surveillance video, deputies watched as Smith entered the store in a gray hoodie. He purchased sunflower seeds and left the store. Then Bryant entered the store wearing mask, brandishing a 9mm semi-automatic automatic handgun at Kotha. A short time later, he lifted the cash register draw and fired two shots at Kotha, hitting him in the upper chest and head, according to a report.
Smith, according to the report, left the store without taking any cash.
By early morning, surveillance images were posted on social media and news media, including NorthEscambia.com. A tipster came forward an identified one of the suspects as Smith to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Smith was taken into custody and transported to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, wearing the same hoodie as in the surveillance video. A police report notes he was distraught and crying hysterically.
At no point did Smith attempt to render first aid to Kotha, contact emergency medical services or reach out to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the report revealed.
Smith provided his DNA to authorities, according to the report.
Clausell and Bryant were dating, the investigation revealed.
Study To Determine If Century To Raise Water And Sewer Rates Again
December 19, 2019
The Town of Century is undertaking a study to determine if water and sewer rates should be increased on the heels of increases the last three years.
The rate study will be conducted as a no cost benefit to the town by the Florida Rural Water Association, and any increases will go before the town council for approval before consumers see higher rates on their bills. The study will look ta the rates paid by residential and commercial customers, including the Florida Department of Corrections for the prison.
The last increase was implemented over a three year period following a 2017 rate study.
Before the last rate increase, the average family of four customer using 5,000 gallons of water per month paid $18.65 for water and $13.00 for wastewater, for a total monthly bill of $31.65. After the three-year incremental rate increase, Century water and sewer customers pay 21.36 for 5,000 gallons of water and $27.59 for wastewater, for a total bill of $48.95.
The last step of the water and sewer rate increase was implemented in July 2019.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
People Trusted This Cantonment Man To Fix Their Cars. He Sold Them For Scrap. Now He’s Facing 135 Years In Prison.
December 19, 2019
A Cantonment man that owned an Escambia County automotive repair business is facing up to 135 years in prison for defrauding customers.
Harley Brian Palmer, owner of Harley’s Automotive & Performance, entered a plea to racketeering, organized fraud (more than $20,000 but less than $50,000), four counts of dealing in stolen property, and six counts of grand theft (more than $300 but less than $5,000).
Between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2018, Palmer committed multiple counts of theft and dealing in stolen property in a systematic and ongoing course of conduct against multiple victims. Victims took their vehicles to Harley’s Automotive with the expectation that their vehicles would be repaired. Money was exchanged but the repairs were never completed, according to State Attorney Bill Eddins.
Palmer continued to use Harley’s Automotive to take in additional vehicles without completing repairs. Ultimately, he sold several of the vehicles without the permission or consent of the vehicle owners. Several of these vehicles ended up at a recycling company and were destroyed.
Palmer’s record includes convictions for worthless checks, petit theft, burglary, possession of burglary tools and more.
Giving Back: Georgia Pastor Holds Christmas Toy Giveaway In Century (Photo Gallery)
December 19, 2019
A Georgia pastor pulled into Century Tuesday with a truck load of toys and household items to make the Christmas a bit brighter in the town he once called home.
Century native Rev. Dr. Vincent Dortch now lives in Atlanta and is pastor of Antioch Baptist Church is Carrollton, Georgia. He conducted the giveaway in honor of his late grandmother, Jennie V. Dortch of Century.
Families lined up at the Century Community Center on West Highway 4 for the event. They were able to get toys for Christmas, along with a few household essentials like toilet paper.
“I always had a desire to come back home and be a blessing to my people,” Dortch said. “I’m doing it all in the honor of my grandmother, who is deceased, because she always taught us as grandkids and kids as the Lord blesses you, give back to your people.”
For a photo gallery, click here.
“Lord we pray that everything that’s been received that you get the glory to honor, and that you bless these families as they go through this holiday,” he prayed at the conclusion of the event. “…and Lord that we remember most of all that is not about the toys but it’s about your son Jesus Christ and so we say thank you. And Lord bless Century as a whole and each and everyone in the surrounding areas.”
The Dortch family in Century suffered a tragic loss this year when 4-year old Kamerius Dortch was struck and killed by a car in mid-April.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
