‘Bonnie and Clyde’ Woman Gets 20 Year Sentence
October 18, 2017
The female defendant in dubbed a modern day Bonnie and Clyde for their multi-state crime spree last year has been sentence to two decades in state prison.
Brittany Nicole Harper pleaded no contest to charges stemming from crimes committed in Escambia Countyat the tail end of a crime spree encompassing Missouri, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida from January 26 through February 5, 2016.
Harper accompanied Blake Fitzgerald on a robbery crime spree during this time period.
Circuit Court Judge Scott Duncan accepted Harper’s plea and sentenced her to 20 years in state prison.
The local charges included principal to robbery with a firearm, home invasion robbery, three counts of false imprisonment and grand theft auto.
On February 4, 2016, both Blake Fitzgerald and Brittany Harper committed an armed robbery of the Famous Footwear on Davis Highway. Subsequently, in the early morning hours on February 5th, 2016, the pair forced their way inside the residence of a local family, holding them against their will for several hours before stealing their vehicle.
Due to local law enforcement’s efforts to locate them, they were discovered in the stolen vehicle. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office pursued Fitzgerald and Harper into Santa Rosa County. Fitzgerald was killed during an armed stand-off with law enforcement and Harper was taken into custody.
Harper also faces further prosecution for crimes similar to these that were committed in other states. She will now be released to be transferred to the other states to face the charges there.
Pictured top and bottom: The scene in February 2016 on Garcon Point Road at Saragon Lane, a short distance from where gunfire erupted, killing one member of a couple dubbed a modern-day Bonnie and Clyde by federal authorities. Pictured bottom inset: The home were a chase involving the Missouri couple came to an end on Saragon Lane off Garcon Point Road in Santa Rosa County. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Molino Boy Scouts Learn About Government With ECUA Board Member
October 18, 2017
Boy and Cub Scout Troop 430 in Molino spent Tuesday evening with ECUA District 5 board member Larry Walker at Aldersgate United Methodist Church. Walker spoke about his role and about local government. Meeting and speaking to an elected official is part of Webelos advancement and the Boy Scout “Citizenship in the Community” merit badge. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
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Week 8 Football Playoff Point Standings Released
October 18, 2017
The Florida High School Athletic Association has released current projected football playoff point standings for local schools at the end of Week 8:
District 1-Class 6A
Escambia 39.00
Tate 34.83
Pine Forest 37.00
Washington 29.57
District 2-Class 6A
Navarre 36.00
Gulf Breeze 34.86
Milton 31.14
Pace 27.00
District 1- Class 5A
West Florida 41.14
Pensacola 28.14
Mosley 34.29
Arnold 27.00
Bay 28.57
Region 1-1A
Chipley 41.00
Baker 40.57
Holmes County 37.14
Bozeman 34.50
Vernon 34.50
Jay 32.50
Freeport 31.63
Graceville 26.80
Northview 25.88
Beginning this season, district play has been eliminated in Classes 1A-4A, with teams making the playoffs based on a points system. Classes 5A-8A retain districts, with the district champion receiving an automatic playoff bid.
For Classes 1A-4A, no region or district play is required, with each school controlling its own schedule. Four teams from each region (16 total statewide) will make the playoffs based on the new points system.
District play for Class 5A-8A remains, with 32 teams qualifying for the playoffs in each class. District champions will receive an automatic bid to the playoff and will receive a 1-4 seed based on the new points system. Four wild cards will be taken from each region based on points following the conclusion of Week 11.
For more information on the points system, click the graphic at the bottom of the story to enlarge and click here for a informative pdf.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Nonstop Flights To Denver, Chicago Coming To Pensacola Airport
October 18, 2017
Frontier Airlines announced Tuesday it will begin service from Pensacola International Airport (PNS) this spring with nonstop, low-cost flights to Denver International Airport (DEN) and Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) as part of its nationwide expansion. Service to Denver (DEN) will begin April 22, 2018, while service to Chicago O’Hare (ORD) is scheduled to begin May 12, 2018.
“Over the last seven years, my team and I have really focused on growing our air service and I am excited that Frontier Airlines understands the value and benefit of Pensacola,” said Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward. “Chicago and Denver are ranked as part of our top ten markets and Frontier’s new low-cost service will greatly expand our opportunities for both business and leisure travel. This is a huge win for Pensacola and I look forward to a long-term partnership and additional growth opportunities with Frontier Airlines.”
“We are excited to show our commitment to the Pensacola community with more low-cost flight options,” said Michael Pewther, senior director onboard experience – Frontier Airlines. “Even before our first flight has taken off from Pensacola, the community interest in our Low Fares Done Right product has been great and that’s why we are now offering flights to both Chicago and Denver.”
These flights are on sale now and Frontier Airlines is celebrating this announcement with fares as low as $39 one-way. Passengers can book online at flyfrontier.com. Service to Denver (DEN) is scheduled to operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays arriving to PNS at 6:50 pm and departing PNS at 7:10 pm. Service to Chicago O’Hare (ORD) is scheduled to operate on Wednesdays and Saturdays arriving to PNS at 1:18 pm and departing PNS at 2:25 pm.
Century Finances Three New Utility Trucks
October 18, 2017
The Town of Century has voted to purchase three new pickup trucks.
The three 2017 Dodge Ram 3500 crew cab pickups will cost a total of about $107,000 to be financed for 72 months at United Bank. The town obtained two written quotes for financing: Hill Kelly Dodge proposed a 7.13 APR for 72 months, while United Bank in Flomaton proposed a 5.99 APR, also for 72 months.
According to Mayor Henry Hawkins, the stnadard beds will be removed and work bodies added to the trucks. Two will be used in the water department, and one truck will be utilized in the gas department.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Escambia Man Sentenced To Life In Prison On Burglary Charge
October 18, 2017
An Escambia County man was sentenced to life in prison as a prison releasee reoffender after being convicted on a burglary charge by Circuit Judge Thomas Dannheisser.
Kerrick Teamer, Sr. was convicted by an Escambia County Jury of two counts of burglary of a dwelling with a firearm, felony battery, simple assault, two counts aggravated assault, and discharging a firearm in public.
On March 8, 2015, Teamer unlawfully entered the residence of his ex-girlfriend. He shoved his way into the residence while armed with a firearm. When confronted by Teamer, his ex-girlfriend fled the residence. While she was running, Teamer began to chase her and fired at least one shot. The victim went to a neighbor’s home and hid in the backroom. Teamer then broke into that home and pointed his gun at a minor child looking for the victim. He then left that residence firing the gun again.
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office was called to the scene to investigate and collect evidence. Teamer was subsequently located and arrested.
Circuit Judge Thomas Dannheisser scheduled sentencing for October 16, 2017.
Jim Allen Elementary Students Receive Free Dictionaries
October 18, 2017
Every third and fourth grade student at Jim Allen Elementary School received a student dictionary Tuesday from St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church in Cantonment. The national Dictionary Project program’s goal is to assist all students in becoming good writers, active readers, creative thinkers, and resourceful learners. File photo.
Century Approves New Water, Trash Policies
October 17, 2017
The Century Town Council approved new water and residential trash service policies during their Monday night meeting.
One policy sets forth and defines service parameters to residential trash service. Trash is defined as limbs, discarded furniture, appliances and junk. Residents are allowed to put out trash up to 48 hours in advance of their normal pickup days and is limited to two cubic yards — a pile measuring three feet high, three feet wide and six feet long, for instance. That’s equal to 15 bags of leaves, pine straw or other yard materials.
Larger quantities of trash may be taken by the resident to the trash land field or collected by the Public Works Department for a fee of $50 per half load or $100 for loads exceeding a half trailer load but not over one trailer load.
For the complete trash policy, click here (2-page pdf).
The new water and sewer policy states that each residence is required to have its own meter and to establish new service a customers must provide proof of residence. The policy allows a one-time courtesy water and sewer adjustment for a customer-side leak or filling a swimming pool — if the customer notifies the town about the pool fill in advance with an estimate of how many gallons will be used.
If a customer turns on water service themselves, whether a new service or a re-connection, they will be subject to a $100 fine. The policy states service calls including water turn off for a leak on customer’s side and leak detection on customer’s side will be charged a fee of $25 during business hours or $50 during non-business hours. This includes service restoration after a non-payment disconnect.
For the complete policy, click here (2-page pdf).
Pictured: The Century Town Council meets Monday night. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Flomaton Tops Ernest Ward (With Photo Gallery)
October 17, 2017
The Flomaton Hurricanes defeated the Ernest Ward Middle School Eagles Monday night, 10-8. The EWMS Eagles will wrap up their season next Monday night, October 23, as they host Flomaton in Walnut Hill.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Grover Robinson Pre-files To Run For Pensacola Mayor
October 17, 2017
Monday, Escambia County District 4 Commissioner Grover Robinson became the first candidate to pre-file for mayor of Pensacola.
Robinson has served on the county commission since 2006, and was appointed chairman in 2010 and 2016. He has also serves as chairman for the Florida Gulf Consortium and as an at-large board member of the National Association of Counties. His past services include president of the Florida Association of Counties from 2014-15 and 2016 class member of Leadership Florida.
Robinson has been actively involved in the community, serving as a current or past board member for the Pensacola State College Foundation, Junior Achievement of Northwest Florida, United Way of Escambia County, Baptist Health Care Foundation, Christ Church Episcopal Parish and more. He and his wife Jill have two children, Grover V and Anna Lowrey.
Robinson’s current term on the Escambia County Commission is set to end in November 2018.