Arrest Made In Year Old Escambia Murder Case
April 20, 2018
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has made an arrest in a year-old murder case.
Antjuan Javien Sanders, 18, is charged with homicide, burglary and sexual battery in connection with the February 13, 2017, death of of 58-year old Susan Midyett of Statler Avenue.
Deputies first believed her death to be accidental, but further investigation determined that Midyett was murdered and her house burglarized. Investigators said DNA evidence collected at the scene revealed Midyett had been sexually assaulted and led to the arrest of Sanders.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said Sanders has been connected to at least one additional residential burglary and could be responsible for others. The ECSO said more charges may be filed.
Voters To Weight 13 Ballot Proposals In November
April 20, 2018
Florida voters will get a chance to decide in November whether 13 is a lucky or unlucky number.
The state Constitution Revision Commission, which meets every 20 years, finished its work Monday night after approving eight proposed constitutional amendments for the Nov. 6 general-election ballot.
Those eight proposals will join five other measures already on the ballot, including three approved by the Legislature and two approved in petition drives, to bring the total to 13.
The constitutional revisions proposed by the Legislature include an expansion of the homestead property-tax exemption and a requirement for two-thirds votes by future legislatures when raising taxes or fees. The petition-drive measures would allow voters to decide on future expansions of casino gambling and would restore voting rights to felons who have served their sentences.
The 13 measures on the November ballot will be the most voters have faced since 1998, the last time the Constitution Revision Commission met and put nine amendments on the ballot. Voters approved eight of the nine amendments as well as four constitutional changes sought by the Legislature.
In 1978, the commission advanced eight ballot proposals, which all were rejected by voters, along with a citizens’ initiative on casino gambling.
This year will be the first time that ballot measures from the commission will have to be approved by at least 60 percent of voters. Florida increased the margin for approval of constitutional amendments from a majority vote to 60 percent in 2006.
In the past two decades, over the course of 11 general elections, the average number of constitutional amendments on the ballot has been more than seven, ranging from a low of three measures in 2014 to the high of 13 proposals in 1998 and this year.
It is typical for some measures to fail, although in 2004 and 2006 voters approved all 14 amendments on the ballot in those two years. But in 2012, when voters faced 11 amendments, all passed by the Legislature, they rejected eight of the measures.
One of the more-controversial aspects of this year’s commission proposals is that six of the eight measures bundle together multiple subjects. As an example, what will appear on the ballot as Amendment 9 combines a proposed ban on offshore oil drilling with a proposed ban on vaping in the workplace.
Two of the proposed constitutional amendments are limited to single subjects, including one measure that would ban greyhound racing in the state. In total, the eight ballot measures group 20 proposals that were debated and advanced by the commission.
Brecht Heuchan, chairman of the panel’s Style and Drafting Committee, which put together the final proposals considered by the commission Monday, defended the use of grouping, noting it was done by the two prior commissions in 1998 and 1978.
Commission Chairman Carlos Beruff said he was pleased with the outcome of the work.
“From protecting our state and territorial waters from oil drilling to strengthening our ethics laws, I commend my fellow commissioners for their hard work and leadership representing the people of Florida,” Beruff said in a statement. “We are grateful to the thousands of Floridians who participated in this historic process and look forward to letting voters have the final say in November.”
Here are the commission measures headed to the November ballot, with the ballot numbers:
— VICTIMS’ RIGHTS AND JUDGES (Amendment 6): It would establish a series of rights for crime victims, including the right to be notified of major developments in criminal cases and the right to be heard in legal proceedings. It would increase the mandatory retirement age for judges from 70 to 75. It would provide that judges or hearing officers should not necessarily defer to the interpretation of laws and rules by governmental agencies in legal proceedings.
— FIRST RESPONDERS AND HIGHER EDUCATION: (Amendment 7): It would require the payment of death benefits when law enforcement officers, paramedics, correctional officers and other first responders are killed while performing official duties. It also would apply to Florida National Guard and active-duty military members stationed in Florida. It would establish a governance system for the 28 state and community colleges. It would require a supermajority vote by university boards of trustees and the Board of Governors when raising student fees.
— PUBLIC SCHOOLS (Amendment 8): It would impose an eight-year term limit on school board members. It would allow an alternative process for approving public schools, including charter schools, rather than by local school boards. It would establish a requirement for the teaching of civic literacy in public schools.
— OIL DRILLING AND VAPING (Amendment 9): It would prohibit drilling for gas and oil in state coastal waters and ban vaping and the use of electronic cigarettes in workplaces.
— GOVERNMENTAL STRUCTURE (Amendment 10): It would require all charter-county governments to have elected constitutional officers, including sheriffs. It would lead to the Legislature beginning its annual session in January in even-numbered years. It would create an Office of Domestic Security and Counterterrorism in the Department of Law Enforcement. It would revise the constitutional authority for the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
— PROPERTY RIGHTS AND HIGH-SPEED RAIL (Amendment 11): It would remove language that prohibits “aliens ineligible for citizenship” from owning property. It would remove obsolete language that authorizes a high-speed rail system. It would revise language to make clear that the repeal of a criminal statute does not affect the prosecution of any crime committed before the repeal.
— ETHICS (Amendment 12): It would impose a six-year lobbying ban on former state elected officials, state agencies heads and local elected officials. It would also create a new ethics standard that would prohibit public officials from obtaining a “disproportionate benefit” from their actions while in office.
— GREYHOUND RACING (Amendment 13): It would ban greyhound racing at Florida tracks after Dec. 31, 2020.
by The News Service of Florida
Flag Football: Girls Take On Linemen, NJROTC
April 20, 2018
The Northview girls flag football team took on the boys football team linemen and the NJROTC Thursday in a flag football game. The linemen beat the girls 34-0, and the NJROTC topped the girls 14-6.
This was the first year for a Northview flag football team. Next year, the school plans to take part in the district series.
For more photos, click to enlarge.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate Baseball Gets Ready For Senior Night With Win Over Escambia: Lady Aggies Beat Navarre
April 20, 2018
The Tate Aggies beat the Escambia Gators Thursday night, 10-5.
Lafleur pitched the win for Tate. He allowed five hits and five runs over five innings, striking out four. Reid Halfacre and Ryan Greene helped to close out the game in relief. Halfacre recorded the last three outs to earn the save for Tate.
For Tate: Ethan Bloodworth 2-3, 2B, 2R; Ryan Greene 2R; Reid Halfacre 1-2, 3B, 2R; Trent Jeffcoat 1-3, r, 2RBI; Raymond Lafleur 1-2, 2B, RBI; Mason Land 1-5, 2B, 2RBI; Hunter McLean 1-3, R; Darrien McDowell 2-3, 2B, R, RBI; Jesse Sherrill 1-4, R; 3RBI.
Friday will be Senior Night for the Aggies as they honor seniors Reid Halfacre, Jesse Sherrill, Justin Barnett, Gabe Castro, Ryan Greene, Trent Jeffcoat, Blake Anderson, Zach Hyatt, Ethan Bloodsworth and Steven Bates. Senior night activities will begin at 6:00, with the game at 7:00.
SOFTBALL
Tate 3, Navarre 2
Hanna Brown took the victory for the Lady Aggies in seven innings, allowing two runs, two hits and striking out two. Brown singled in the bottom of the seventh for a walk-off win.
Deazia Nickerson 1-3; Hannah Brown 1-3, RBI; Belle Wolfenden 2-3, 2B, R; Kyndal Bray 1-2, 2B, RBI; Sydni Solliday 1-3; Kayliegh Cawthon 1-1, RBI; Tayler Hedgepath R.
Photo courtesy Tate Baseball for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Fall To Mississippi Braves
April 20, 2018
The Blue Wahoos dropped their second straight to the Braves falling 3-2 despite a fine performance on the mound from Jesus Reyes (L, 0-3).
The Braves opened the scoring with a run in the first inning. Luis Valenzuela led off with a double and scored two batters later on an Austin Riley double. They made it 2-0 in the third inning, taking advantage of a leadoff hit by pitch. Reyes hit Travis Demeritte to start the frame and he came home on an RBI groundout by Tyler Neslony. The Braves added, what proved to be, a key insurance run in the seventh. Daniel Lockhart led off with a hustle double and scored later in the inning on a sacrifice fly by Alex Jackson.
Pensacola was held hitless until Shed Long singled with one out in the sixth inning, but the Blue Wahoos couldn’t break through for a run until the eighth inning. C.J. McElroy led the inning off with a pinch-hit single ahead of another single from Major League rehabber Scott Schebler. The Blue Wahoos loaded the bases with nobody out ahead of Gavin LaValley, who lifted a deep sacrifice fly to right field. McElroy came home for the first Wahoos run of the game. Schebler scored later in the inning on a wild pitch before the tying run was stranded at second.
Pensacola had another chance in the ninth inning. Taylor Sparks ripped a one-out double and advanced to third on a wild pitch with one out, but the next two batters struck out to end the game.
Despite taking the loss, Reyes struck out a season-high nine batters over five innings. He surrendered just two runs on five hits without allowing a walk. Kevin Shackelford continued his rehab assignment by working 1.2 innings. He was charged with one run on just one hit. He walked two and struck out one. Devon Watts earned the win for the M-Braves out of the bullpen. He worked two scoreless innings and Jacob Webb pitched a scoreless ninth for the save.
The two teams wrap up the series with the rubber match Friday night.
Jim Allen Elementary Names Students Of The Month
April 20, 2018
Jim Allen Elementary School has named students of the month for March. They are Alivia McGlothlin and Kodi Farias. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Alabama Executes Mail-Bomber For Killing Federal Judge
April 19, 2018
Alabama death row inmate Walter Leroy Moody, 83, was executed Thursday night by lethal injection at the William C. Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore.
The execution was carried out at 8:17 p.m. Moody was pronounced dead at 8:42 p.m.
Moody was sentenced to death for the 1989 capital murder of U.S. 11th Circuit Judge Robert Vance, Sr. in Jefferson County. Vance was killed when he opened a package mailed to his home that contained a bomb.
Moody did not give a final statement.
Flomaton Police Seek Man On Child Endangerment, Drug Charges
April 19, 2018
The Flomaton Police Department is searching for a fugitive wanted for child endangerment and multiple drug offenses.
Kelly Lavon Bryan, 54, has arrest warrants outstanding for chemical endangerment of a child, possession of heroin, possession of methamphetamine, possession of Alprazolam, possession of marijuana second degree, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of prescription medication without a prescription, according to Flomaton Police.
Bryan may be driving a red 2002 Ford Explorer with Alabama tag #9924AY3. He described as being six feet tall, 180 pounds with red hair and blue eyes.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts should call the Flomaton Police Department at (251) 296-5811 or their local law enforcement agency.
Two Wanted For Questioning In Home Invasion, Robbery
April 19, 2018
Update 4/24: John Linley and Tara Cook have contacted investigators.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is seeking two people in connection with a robbery home invasion last Friday.
John Linley and Tara Cook are wanted for questioning only.
On April 13 at 1:33 a.m. ECSO deputies were called to the 4000-block of Ashland Avenue for a reported home invasion.
John Linley told deputies that three white males came into his home, held him at gunpoint, stole his money, kidnapped his girlfriend Tara Cook and left in a silver Ford Edge.
During the investigation it was determined that his girlfriend’s ex-husband, Justin Cook, along with two accomplices, Jonathan Coffey and Joshua Miskimens took Tara Cook to Seminole, AL, where they hid the money and guns on property that belonged to one of Coffey’s family members.
Cook then drove back to Florida and was spotted in the parking lot of the Circle K at 2205 West Nine Mile Road. Tara Cook was found to be unharmed.
Justin Cook was arrested and charged with robbery home invasion with a firearm, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, false imprisonment, tampering with evidence, grand theft and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Coffey and Miskimens were also arrested and charged with robbery home invasion with a firearm, false imprisonment, tampering with evidence, and grand theft.
Anyone that knows the whereabouts of John Linley or Tara Cook is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or call CrimeStoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
ECSO: Molino Woman Shot At Husband After He Came Home With Divorce Papers
April 19, 2018
A Molino woman was jailed Tuesday after allegedly shooting at her husband several times after he came home with divorce papers, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Wendy Maureen Dennis, 41, was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. She remained in the Escambia County Jail Wednesday with bond set at $10,000.
Her husband called 911 and stated that his wife had shot a gun at him multiple times before leaving their residence on North Highway 95A and heading toward Molino Road. Responding deputies conducted a felony traffic stop on her vehicle and recovered a .22 caliber rifle that was in plain view on the backseat of the vehicle, according to an arrest report. She was taken into custody without incident.
The husband told deputies that he brought home divorce paperwork to his wife of eight years, and everything was fine as they started to leave their residence to go to the Tax Collector’s office to have the papers notarized. According to the husband’s statement to deputies, she then walked to her car, retrieved the rifle, yelled at him and fired several shots in his direction.
Dennis left the residence as the husband locked himself inside and called 911, according to the arrest report. The report states the husband said he feared for his life and believed that Dennis was going to shoot him. He was not injured.