Deputy Cleared In Shooting Of Jay Man; The Man Shot Is Now Jailed
December 13, 2018
A deputy has been cleared in the shooting of a Jay man, and the man that was shot has now been arrested.
The State Attorney’s Office announced Wednesday they have completed their review into the October 20 shooting by a Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office deputy at a home on Highway 4 in Jay.
Glen Dillon Phillips, 26, was shot after he pointed a crossbow at deputies. He has now been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and three counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer.
The 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 prior to the incident. However, his hospital records indicate that he tested positive for amphetamines, cannabinoids, and benzodiazepines. During subsequent television interview with WEAR 3, Phillips said he had been using methamphetamine prior to the incident.
One Injured In Highway 29 Wreck
December 13, 2018
One person was injured in a two vehicle accident Wednesday evening on Highway 29 at Archer Road. The driver of a car apparently rear-ended a pickup truck and trailer. The trailer was loaded with a tractor. The 5:50 p.m. crash is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Tate Alumni Association Collects Food For Molino Ministry
December 13, 2018
The Tate High Alumni Association collected food items at their Wednesday meeting for the mission program at the Cross Roads Thrift Store in Molino. The food was delivered by Grace Howard Paulcheck (pictured). Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Prison Visitor Caught With Marijuana
December 13, 2018
The Florida Department of Corrections continues their zero tolerance policy for any type of contraband.
Sunday, the Century Correctional Institutions K-9 team alerted on a visitor’s vehicle. During a search of the vehicle, the visitor admitted to possessing marijuana. Their visitation was terminated
Whenever contraband is recovered on a visitor, local law enforcement is also contacted and makes the determination whether to make an arrest. No information was provided by the FDOC on any arrest in connection with Sunday’s incident.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Photo Gallery: Santa Claus Visits Molino Branch Library
December 13, 2018
Santa Claus visited the Molino Branch Library Tuesday night, and he will be visiting the Century Branch Library today at 5:30 p.m where he will read a story and hear Christmas wishes.
For more photos from Santa’s visit to the Molino Branch Library, click here.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Hurricane Michael Could Put Dent In Florida Budget
December 13, 2018
Florida’s budget will face increased pressure from the impact of Hurricane Michael, a new report reviewed Wednesday by the Senate Appropriations Committee showed.
The state’s costs for emergency-relief and recovery efforts related to Michael, a major storm that struck the Panhandle in October, will exceed the costs for Hurricane Irma, a 2017 storm that damaged a larger portion of the state, the report said.
The hurricane impact and factors showing slower economic growth are enough for state analysts to now project that a potential $223 million budget surplus for 2019-2020 — outlined in a September report — “has likely disappeared.”
“The projected discretionary balance identified in September has gone to zero (in the best case scenario) or is negative by as much as $250 million (in the more realistic scenario), as a result of Hurricane Michael and the (revenue-estimating) conferences held to date,” according to the revised long-range financial outlook.
Senate Appropriations Chairman Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island, said the new report means lawmakers will have to be “even more diligent in making sure that we are very, very conservative” in their approach to the new state budget and revenue projections. Lawmakers will work on a 2019-2020 budget during the annual session that starts in March.
“The numbers speak for themselves,” Bradley said after Wednesday’s meeting. “Hurricane Michael was devastating for the people of the Panhandle and the people of the state of Florida. But it also adds real enduring effects on our budget this year and in future years. And we need to be mindful of that as we build our budget.”
The financial impact of Michael has been amplified because it struck a largely rural portion of the state that was already “economically challenged” prior to the storm, with lower wages and higher poverty than many areas in Florida, the report said.
“Their capacity to recover from Michael is probably less than counties that were most affected by Irma,” Amy Baker, coordinator for the Legislature’s Office of Economic and Demographic Research, told the Senate committee.
She also said a larger portion of homes in the region did not have mortgages — 14.8 percent have mortgages, compared to a statewide average of 23 percent — meaning homeowners were more likely to lack property insurance to help them rebuild after the storm.
The absence of insurance is one of the reasons why state analysts are not projecting a short-term boost in sales tax revenue from Michael as residents rebuild and make major purchases, such as for appliances.
“We are not anticipating there will be a discrete positive adjustment to the sales tax,” Baker told the senators.
In contrast, after Irma, Baker said analysts projected a $354 million boost in the short-term sales tax collections.
Eventually, some of the state’s storm recovery costs will be reimbursed by the federal government. But Baker said that based on the experience with Irma, it will take time.
The report showed the state spent some $776 million in general revenue and trust fund money for Irma that may be reimbursed.
But through August, the Federal Emergency Management Agency had only provided $69.6 million to the state, with another $47.6 million in September to pay for students displaced by Irma and other storms.
“We’re waiting on a lot of money to come back, but it’s not yet in the state’s coffers. I point that out to say it’s a long time from when the state makes its initial investment to when it gets reimbursed,” Baker said.
Other factors that could impact state revenues in the next three years are a residential construction industry that has not reached its pre-recession peak and the impact of a stronger U.S. dollar on international tourism, the report said.
Baker said a stronger dollar could make Florida less attractive to foreign visitors, which could impact tourism expenditures that account for about 13 percent of Florida’s annual sales tax collections.
On the positive side, the state budget includes $3.5 billion in reserves that could help mitigate some immediate financial challenges, the report said.
The revenue forecast will be further impacted as state analysts finish projections for school enrollment and expenditures related to Medicaid, the state-federal health care program for poor and disabled people, Baker said.
Next Tuesday, state analysts will meet to make another projection of the state’s general revenue funds, which amount to more than $32 billion in the current state budget The overall budget is just under $90 billion.
by Lloyd Dunkelberger, The News Service of Florida
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Jay Woman Passes Away Following Molino Wreck
December 12, 2018
A Jay woman has passed away following a wreck Tuesday evening on Highway 29 at Highway 97 in Molino.
Benny Ray Wolfe, age 76 of Jay, was northbound on Highway 29 in a Chrysler van about 5:50 p.m. when he made a left toward Highway 97. Wolfe did not see an approaching southbound Chevrolet pickup driven by 58-year old David Lamar Wade of Pensacola, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Wolfe pulled directly into the path of the pickup, causing the pickup to collide with the van. The pickup came to rest in a culvert.
Wolfe’s passenger, 71-year old Johnnie Riene Wolfe of Jay, was airlifted by LifeFlight to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola where she was later pronounced deceased. Benny Wolfe was transported by Escambia County EMS with minor injuries, and Wade received minor injuries but was not transported to the hospital.
Benny Wolfe was cited for failure to yield right of way by the FHP.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
What Can Be Done About Trains Blocking Roads In Cantonment?
December 12, 2018
What can be done about trains blocking Highway 29 and other roads in Cantonment?
That’s an issue the Escambia County Commission will tackle during a Committee of the Whole meeting on Thursday.
The big issue lies with the fact stopped trains will block Highway 29 or neighborhoods for extended periods of time.
Express your ideas in the comment section below, or on our NorthEscambia.com Facebook page. We’ll pass your comments along to Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry.
Pictured: A CSX train on the Highway 29 crossing at International Paper. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Prep Basketball: Northview Beats Neal; Pine Forest Over Tate
December 12, 2018
High school basketball scores from Tuesday night:
BOYS
Northview 72, W.S. Neal 52
—Northview was led by Joseph Johnson with 23, Jason Fayard with 14 and Seth Killam with 11. Up next: The Chiefs take part in the Jay Christmas Tournament Thursday and Friday.
Pine Forest 69, Tate 50
GIRLS
W.S. Neal 36, Northview 30
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Two More Tate Volleyball Seniors Sign With Colleges
December 12, 2018
Four of six Tate High School volleyball seniors have now signed to play at the collegiate level.
Lauren Seibert (pictured above) signed with Wallace State Community College on Tuesday.
Claire Roverson (pictured below) signed with Florida Gateway College on Friday.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
