Woman Seriously Injured In Collision With A Tree In Century
December 18, 2018
A woman was seriously injured in a crash in Century late Monday afternoon.
For unknown reasons, her vehicle left Hecker Road near Kelley Field Road and struck a tree about 4:30 p.m. The woman, reported to be in her 70’s, was transported by Escambia County EMS to the McDavid Fire Station and then airlifted to a Pensacola hospital.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Further details have not been released.
The Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Woman Pleads For Return Of Service Dog Believed To Be Stolen
December 18, 2018
A Cottage Hill woman is pleading for the return of a service dog believed to be stolen.
Deborah Daugherty says her Great Dane named Daman was a therapy dog in training, and he was taken from her yard on Handy Road on Monday.
“I had a back surgery that went bad. Slowly but surely he has helped me walk again,” she said. He was more of a couch potato, someone had to open the gate and grab him.”
The theft, she said, has been reported to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
“I miss him, you know,’ Daugherty said, her voice breaking. “I just want him back.”
Anyone that has any information about Daman should call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Daugherty at (850) 982-4020.
Pictured: Missing service dog Daman. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Photo Gallery: Byrneville Elementary Christmas Musicals
December 18, 2018
Byrneville Elementary School presented their annual Christmas musicals Monday night at Northview High School.
For a photo gallery from the K-2 performance, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview Holds Football, Cheerleader Banquet
December 18, 2018
The Northview High School Chiefs held their annual football and cheer banquet Monday night at the Walnut Hill Baptist Church.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Football Award Winners
Top Academic Achiever: Seth Killam
Top Offensive Back: Trent Peebles
Top Linebacker: Lance McLaughlin
Top Defensive Back: Keyshawn Breedlove
Top Offensive Lineman: Keegun Johnston
Top Defensive Lineman: Jaheem Durant and Jojo Parker
Top Newcomer: Damerion Findley
Utility Award: Seth Killam
Chief Award: Alex McMinn
Special Teams MVP: Gary Clayton
Defensive MVP: Lance McLaughlin
Offensive MVP: Jayden Jackson
Cheerleader Award Winners
Leadership Award: Gabrielle Kline
Team Player: Jessie McCall and Briana White Spruill
Showmanship: Cloe Smith
>Integrity Award: Shelby Bashore
Coach’s Award: Abigail Nelson and Hannah Hughes
JV Leadership, Showmanship and Coach’s Award: Taylor McMinn
Seniors: Dalton Hamilton (mascot), Gabrielle Kline, Shelby Bashore, Ashlan Harigel, Hannah Ellis, Kherstin Johnson, Jessie McCall, Madison Nassar.
Photos by Lacey McLaughlin and others for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
American Legion Auxiliary Donates To Kingsfield Elementary Autism Units
December 18, 2018
The Christmas elves from American Legion Auxiliary Unit 340 donated loads of needed supplies to the autism units at Kingsfield Elementary School. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Molino Park Elementary Choir Performs At Winterfest
December 18, 2018
The Molino Park Elementary School Melodic Minors performed Saturday at Winterfest in downtown Pensacola.
With their performance of “Candy Cane Lane”, the choir won the chance to perform in a contest on Soft Rock 94.1.
Photos by Kathryn Hiscutt for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Blackwater Deer Dog Hunting Case Shot Down By Florida Supreme Court
December 18, 2018
Rejecting arguments by some Northwest Florida residents, the state Supreme Court on Monday declined to take up a lawsuit aimed at reining in “deer dog” hunting on property around the Blackwater Wildlife Management Area.
The justices involved in the decision — Chief Justice Charles Canady and justices Barbara Pariente, R. Fred Lewis, Peggy Quince and Jorge Labarga — unanimously declined to review a decision by the 1st District Court of Appeal.
The lawsuit, filed against the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, contended that “deer dog” hunting infringed on the residents’ property rights and created a nuisance.
“Deer dog” hunting, as the name implies, involves hunters using dogs to flush out deer and has long been allowed in the state’s Blackwater Wildlife Management Area. But the legal battle stems from hunters and dogs trespassing on adjoining private land.
Property owners filed the lawsuit seeking to prevent deer-dog hunting in the wildlife-management area. The lawsuit included what is known as a “takings claim” — essentially arguing that the deer-dog problems were so serious that they were depriving the owners from enjoying their property.
Also, the lawsuit sought an injunction to require the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to “abate” the nuisance on the private property.
Leon County Circuit Judge Karen Gievers issued an injunction requiring the commission to abate the problem. But the majority of a three-judge panel of the 1st District Court of Appeal rejected the injunction and sent the case back for entry of summary judgment in favor of the commission on the takings and nuisance claims.
The residents then asked the Supreme Court to weigh in.
“Imagine it is Thanksgiving morning and you are enjoying the outdoors with your family, when suddenly hunting dogs chasing deer at high speeds invade your private property from the adjacent state-managed lands, sending your family and grandchildren running inside and causing your livestock to injure themselves by breaking through fences while running from the hunting dogs,” attorneys for the residents wrote in a September petition to the Supreme Court. “Then imagine gunshots ringing out around your property.”
But attorneys for the Fish and Wildlife Conservation wrote in an October brief that there wasn’t a legal basis for the Supreme Court to take up the case.
by The News Service of Florida
Body Found In Shallow Grave East Of Jay At Home Where Deputies Shot Man In October
December 17, 2018
Human remains have been located at a residence east of Jay, where deputies shot a man that threatened them with a crossbow in October.
The remains were located Sunday in a shallow grave in a wooded area behind a residence at 7796 Highway 4. Santa Rosa County Sheriff Bob Johnson said Monday that the remains are believed to be those of Felecia Kuswandy, who was reported missing May 28.
“The last spot she was seen alive is the spot where we are executing the search warrant right now,” Santa Rosa County Sheriff Bob Johnson. He said the woman did not live at the address, but may have stayed there.
On October 20, deputies responded to the home where they were forced to shoot 26-year old Glen Dillon Phillips who pointed a crossbow at them. Johnson did not discuss the incident during a Monday afternoon press conference, but documentation from the State Attorney’s Office confirms the address is the same as that where the body was found.
Phillips is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and three counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, but he has not been named a suspect in connection with the discovery of the body.
The October incident began when the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Officer received a call from a man that said Phillips was threatening to kill him with the crossbow. Phillips refused to exit the Highway 4 residence for over an hour after deputies arrived.
Officers eventually made entry into the residence where they found Phillips naked and armed with a crossbow, according to a Florida Department of Law Enforcement report. He then pointed the crossbow at the deputies, with a deputy firing a single shot that struck Phillips under the right armpit.
Three days later, Phillips told investigators that he was naked on the floor, praying to his “Earth and native God.” He advised that he pointed the crossbow at deputies, but once they identified themselves as law enforcement he threw the crossbow onto a couch before he was shot.
He said “that he believed that people or aliens may be coming to take a meteorite he had previously located because he believed it was worth a lot of money,” the FDLE report states.
He told officers that he had not used narcotics before the incident. However, his hospital records indicate that he tested positive for amphetamines, cannabinoids, and benzodiazepines. During a subsequent television interview with WEAR 3, Phillips said he had been using methamphetamine before the incident.
Gonzalez UMC Provides Christmas Toys In Area Hit Hard By Hurricane Michael
December 17, 2018
A North Escambia church led the charge to make Christmas special for dozens of children impacted by Hurricane Michael.
“The young adult RISK group at Gonzalez United Methodist Church had a burden for the children that had been effected by hurricane Michael. So they teamed up with Lynn Haven Elementary to allow the parents to come and get toys for their children to have Christmas,” said Tammie Penegar.
The event was no small undertaking. There were many toy drives and collections boxes, along with multiple sponsors and volunteers, that made the toy distribution possible.
In addition to Gonzalez Methodist Church, sponsors were Molino Park Elementary School, Ransom Middle School, Gulf Breeze Hospital, Pine Meadow Veterinary Clinic, Tate High School Band, Palm Beach Tan, Nails Envy, The Floor Store, Sew Haven, Miles Antique Mall, Cross Metropolitan Community Church, Bad Boys Rod and Customer car clubs, Step 2 Company Eastern Star, and Lifeway Christian Bookstore.
Pictured: Toys for Christmas were distributed to parents at Lynn Haven Elementary school through the efforts of United Methodist Church. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Santa Claus Visits Century Library (With Photo Gallery)
December 17, 2018
Santa Claus paid a special visit to the Century Branch Library to read a story and hear special Christmas wishes.
For a photo gallery, click here.
One young boy asked for a watch and a kitty cat. After Santa reminded him to be good, Santa handed him a treat bag. A big smile came over his face as he went back to his parent.
“Is this a watch?” he asked.
Other wishes included bicycles, ballet lessons, a microphone “to sing a song,” Lego sets, an Xbox, dollhouse, puppies and a 4-wheeler.
“Are you sure you are big enough for a 4-wheeler?” asked Santa.
“I know how to ride my bike without training wheels,” he said.
Another child also asked Santa if he likes peanut butter cookies.
“They are pretty good,” Santa Said. “But you can’t beat a good chocolate chip.”
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
