Century Woman Dies After Interstate Rollover Crash
October 29, 2019
A Century woman died in a rollover crash Tuesday afternoon at the I-10 and I-110 interchange in Pensacola.
Katherine Susanne Lee, 35, was traveling east on an I-10 exit ramp to I-110 when she failed to negotiate a curve and lost control of her 1996 Chevrolet Caprice at 12:21 p.m., according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The vehicle began to rotate, left the roadway and struck a traffic sign. The vehicle came to rest on its roof on the grassy shoulder.
Lee was transported by Escambia County EMS to Sacred Heart Hospital where she died from her injuries at 1:19 p.m., troopers said. She was the only occupant of the vehicle.
Photos courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Charter Committee Tackles City Manager, Spending Issues
October 29, 2019
The Century Charter Review Committee (CRC) held their first discussion meeting Monday evening.
Much of the discussion, led by Interim City Manager Buz Eddy, centered around what, if any, duties a city manager should have in the scope of Century government. Eddy suggested the city manager position should be made more permanent. Under the current charter, all of the affairs of the town are to be managed by the elected part time mayor, but he said that’s just not practical.
For regular office hours, “you need to have a city manager,” he said, adding the mayor and council would then have someone to work for them full time.
CRC member Evelyn Hammond, a former town mayor, said a city manager would bring a level of experience to town government.
“Sometimes I think the city council has too much power,” Hammond said. “This is a small town. Sometimes we get qualified people to fill these positions, sometimes we don’t.”
“This mayor’s position is not a part-time job,” Mayor Henry Hawkins said. “That’s why we want a city manager, because they can handle more.”
Eddy and Hawkins, who do not serve on the committee, also took aim at a $500 spending limit set for the mayor by the charter.
“That really just hamstrings the needs of the city,” Eddy said, adding that the exact dollar amount could be set by the council with the right charter wording.
“Our attorney has said down over the years that needs to be change,” Hawkins said. “That’s really handcuffing the town.”
The most important thing of all is when we have made the changes you follow them,” CRC member Mary Bourgeois said ” It’s following the charter, not doing things you own way.”
Any recommendations approved by the CRC would first go to the town council to approve placing on an upcoming ballot for voter approval. The charter is the master document that establishes the town and how it operates.
Pictured top: Century Charter Review Committee member Evelyn Hammond, a former mayor, addresses the group Monday evening. Pictured inset above: Mary Bourgeois. Pictured below: Most of the meeting was conducted by Interim City Manager Buz Eddy. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate Grad Jordan Chase Torrez Drops Battle On ‘The Voice’
October 29, 2019
Tate High School graduate Jordan Chase Torrez’s run on “The Voice” on NBC has come to an end.
Using the name “Jordan Chase” on air, he performed “Makin’ Me Look Good Again,” by Drake White and garnered chair turns from judges Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani during his first appearance.
In the last battle for Team Blake during Monday night’s show, Jordan and Rick Braddy sang “Rumor” by Lee Brice, with Braddy winning. Only a few seconds of the battle aired on television.
“I have to try to envision when we get into the lives who is going to handle this kind of situation the best,” Blake Shelton said. “I am going to go with somebody that has the experience and confidence. Ricky, you are the winner of the battle.”
Pictured above and below: Tate High School graduate Jordan Chase Torrez during a brief appearance on “The Voice” Monday Night. Images courtesy NBC.
Order Indian River Fruit From Tate Showband Of The South
October 29, 2019
Time is running out to order fresh Indian River citrus from the Tate High School Showband of the South.
To view items and order now, click here.
Products available include varieties of oranges, grapefruit, apples and more.
The deadline is Friday November 1.
Three County Chase Ends In Atmore When Suspect Crashes Into Police Vehicle
October 29, 2019
A pursuit through three counties ended when a suspect crashed into a police vehicle Monday night in Atmore.
The chase started in Mobile County with Saraland and Prichard Police and continued into Baldwin County where the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office joined in about 7:30 p.m.
The pursuit of a stolen Jeep Cherokee ended with wreck on Highway 21 just south of I-65 in Atmore when the suspect collided with a Poarch Creek Police Department unit.
Two people were taken into custody, but their identities were not immediately released. No information on an injuries was made available by authorities.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Assistant Coach Gets Head Shaved After Losing Touchdown Bet
October 29, 2019
Northview Assistant Coach Tyler Reeves made a bet with players Trent Peebles and Jayden Jackson that one or both of them could not score three touchdowns last Friday night against Chipley or he would shave his head.
He lost.
Jackson scored not three but four touchdowns.
And Reeves is now sporting a new style.
Jackson, a Boston College recruit, had nine carries, 160 yards for two touchdowns; one catch for 44 yards and a touchdown; and he was 2-2 passing for 23 yards and a touchdown.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Webb Nall Retiring Today After 52 Years At Pepsi Bottling Of Atmore
October 29, 2019
An Atmore icon is retiring after more than half a century.
Webb Nall is retiring effective today from Pepsi Cola Bottling Company of Atmore after 52 years.
Often the public face of the company, Nall has been around longer than any other employee. He’s been there since the Matthews family bought the soft drink distributor in 1967.
In 2015, the Pepsi Cola Bottling Company of Atmore was named one of the top three Pepsi bottling companies in the United States and Canada as a finalist for the Donald M. Kendall Bottler of the Year Award. Named for PepsiCo’s co-founder and former chairman and chief executive officer, the Donald M. Kendall Bottler of the Year Award was created in 1994 to honor the best of the best among Pepsi-Cola bottlers in the United States and Canada.
Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Beulah Man Faces 30 Years For Setting Pregnant Girlfriend On Fire
October 28, 2019
A Beulah man is facing up to 30 years in prison for the attempted murder of his live-in, pregnant girlfriend by lighting her on fire and hitting her in the head with a sledgehammer multiple times with enough force to cause a brain bleed.
Kenneth Duaine Swanger entered a plea of guilty to attempted first degree murder, attempted second degree murder, kidnapping to inflict bodily harm or terrorize the victim, and aggravated battery on a pregnant person. He will be sentenced November 22.
Swanger, 43, and the 23-year old victim had been romantically involved and resided together for about a year preceding these offenses. The victim had originally worked for defendant as a maid prior to their relationship.
Between July and September 2018, Swanger set the victim on fire with lighter fluid, hit her over the head with a blunt object, and punished her with other numerous acts of verbal and physical abuse. Swanger misled friends and family by telling them the victim was a drug addict, and attempted to explain her injuries away as being related to her addiction. Though he told friends and family that he took her to the hospital and contacted law enforcement, it was later learned the victim was unable to leave the home without him, and he had screwed all of the doors and windows shut from the inside.
On September 15, 2018, the victim escaped, leaving everything behind, and ran to the Tom Thumb on Nine Mile Road and Beulah Road where she called her family in Mississippi. Once she received proper medical attention for her injuries, it was discovered she had second degree burns over 15% of her body, subdural hematoma, and broken fingers. It should be noted, at the time of her escape, she was 26 weeks pregnant with the defendant’s baby.
Cantonment Man, Two Others Charged With Homicide For Sunday Shooting
October 28, 2019
Three people have been charged after a man was shot and killed on Tiki Lane Sunday morning.
Christopher Staten, age 25 of Cantonment, was charged with homicide, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and using a firearm during a felony. Reggie Lewis and Ladarryl Paige, both of Pensacola, have been charged with homicide. All three were booked into jail without bond.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a shots fired call on Tiki Lane and Travis Street where they found Malik Tyquan Jenkins suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was taken to Sacred Heart Hospital where he later died.
Investigators were looking for a dark-colored sedan that may have been involved in the shooting, but the exact make and model were not known.
Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Pictured (L-R): Reggie Lewis, Christopher Staten and Ladarryl Page.
Cantonment Man Charged With Human Trafficking, Sexual Battery
October 28, 2019
FOR AN UPDATE TO THIS STORY, CLICK HERE.
A Cantonment man is facing multiple charges including human trafficking for the alleged abuse of a woman.
John Chess Foster, 50, was charged with human trafficking, sexual battery, false imprisonment and battery.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a disturbance on Balboa Road in Cantonment Saturday night. The victim told deputies she “stayed” with Foster, and the two had an argument over money that turned physical after he spent all the money they had at the casino. She stated she was slapped twice in the face and pinned against an outside trailer wall by his arm. She stated she bit Foster’s arm, and deputies observed a bite mark on his arm, according to an arrest report.
The victim stated, “It’s only going to get worse. Tell him I did not call 911.”
The arrest report states the victim told deputies he gets high on methamphetamine, brings guys over and forces her to perform sexual acts on them. She stated that he has facilitated sexual contact between her and over 20 men where he forces her to sit naked before telling her what acts to perform on them. When finished, Foster forces her to bathe in bleach, the report continues.
She said she was not allowed to leave the house except for short periods of time with a family member.
As the deputy was speaking with the victim, she was cleaning dishes and crying, telling him that if he did not get the dishes cleaned Foster would beat her when released from jail. The victim stated that the mental abuse was so severe that she has considered suicide.
Foster remained in the Escambia County Jail without bond Monday.