Woman Charged With Death Of Child; Two Others Arrested
October 16, 2017
Three Escambia County residents were arrested in connection with the death of a child.
Deputies responded to the 300 block of Bryant Road Saturday afternoon. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said a child was transported to a local hospital and later died there. Deputies arrested Veronica Posey, 64, Grace Smith, 69, and James Smith, 62, all of Pensacola in connection to the child’s death.
According to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report, a nine year old girl’s relative, Grace Smith, called upon family members to help discipline her child. Grace’s niece, Veronica Posey, sat on the child while disciplining her, according to the report. Smith reportedly weighs in excess of 300 pounds.
The child told Posey that she could not breathe. The responding deputy found the child unresponsive upon arrival. The girl was taken to Baptist Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Posey has been charged with homicide and cruelty towards a child. According to the Sheriff’s Office, Grace Smith was charged with child neglect for failing to report the incident and also cruelty towards a child. And James Smith charged with child neglect for failing to report the incident.
Posey is being held on a $125,000. James Smith is being held on a $50,000 bond. Grace Smith is being held without bond.
The Sheriff’s Office is continuing their investigation. Further details have not been released.
VFW Essay Contest Winners Named
October 16, 2017
Junior Zachary Prosser has been named Northview High School’s winner of the Atmore VFW Post 7016 Voice of Democracy essay contest.
Second and third place winners of the “American History: Our Hope for the Future” themed contest were sophomores Marissa Rothrock and Will Beach. Other students who made it into the Top Seven were Gracen Brook, Abigayil Mascaro, Nicholas Trump, and Kayla McKillion. Sophomore English teacher Vicki Baggett organizes the event for Northview, and selected teachers grade the essays. Prosser will now advance to the district level of competition against other high school students.
Pictured top: Zachary Prosser, Marissa Rothrock, teacher Vicki Baggett and Will Beach. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County’s Tinker Named State 4-H Parliamentarian
October 16, 2017
Escambia County 4-H member Michelle Tinker was appointed the Florida 4-H state parliamentarian.
Tinker has served in 4-H for many years at the local, district and state levels. She has complete projects in many areas, including swine, leadership, citizenship and public speaking. She currently serves as vice president of teh Escambia County 4-H Council, has served as the group’s president and was vice president of the District 1 4-H Council. She also served as the Florida 4-H State Council Reporter in 2016-2017.
Michelle has honed her skill at public speaking in years of 4-H. At this year’s 4-H University, she placed first, along with her sister Danielle Tinker, in the state plants and gardening team demonstration competition. Michelle was also selected to represent Florida 4-H at National 4-H Conference in Washington D.C. next April.
Michelle Tinker is the daughter of Bill and Angela Tinker.
Bicyclist Killed In Highway 95A Crash Saturday Night
October 15, 2017
The Florida Highway Patrol reports a bicyclist was killed Saturday night in a vehicle crash.
The accident happened just before 10 p.m. in the 3000 block of a South Highway 95A, near Pensacola Ready Mix and directly adjacent to Highway 29. A silver-colored Ford Focus driven by 19-year Thomas Barrow of Pensacola was on Highway 95A when a bicyclist entered his path.
The bicyclist, identified as 19-year old Alexander Cox of Pensacola, was pronounced deceased on the scene. Cox was not wearing a helmet, troopers said.
No charges were filed in the crash.
File photo.
ERC And Southwest Alabama Football Scores
October 15, 2017
Here are Saturday scores from ERC and Southwest Alabama youth league football:
ERC Senior Scores
Flomaton-26, Straughn-8
Excel-2, Uriah-0
Jay-32, Baker-8
NWE-2, Poarch-0
Brewton-50, Neal-14
ERC Junior Scores
Straughn-33, Flomaton-6
Uriah-6, Excel-0
Baker-31, Jay-6
Poarch-41, NWE-0
Brewton-14, Neal-0
ERC Sophomore Scores
Flomaton-14, Straughn-12
Excel-13, Uriah-12
Jay-26, Baker-0
Poarch-12, NWE-6 3OT
Neal-25, Brewton-14
ERC Freshman Scores
Flomaton-3, Straughn-0
Excel-40, Uriah-0
Baker-6, Jay-0
Poarch-38, NWE-0
Brewton-39, Neal-0
Southwest Alabama Youth Football League
Mighty Mites (4-7 year olds)
Century 62 Castlberry 42.
Tyson Phifer rushed for 242 yards and 5 touchdowns to lead the Century Blackcats Mighty Mites over Castleberry 62-42.
Tiny Mites (8-10 year olds)
Century 20 Castleberry 0.
Jaden Santiago rushed for 142 yards and 2 touchdowns as the Century Tiny Mites cruised passed Castlberry 20-0.
Per Wees (11-13 year olds)
Castleberry 32 Century 0
Pine Meadow Elementary Holds Fall Carnival
October 15, 2017
The annual Pine Meadow Elementary School Carnival was held Saturday at the school on Omar Avenue. The day featured plenty of games and activities, food, fun and a themed basket auction Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Assisted Living Owner Arrested By AG’s Office
October 15, 2017
Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit has arrested an Escambia County resident for criminally using someone’s personal identification information.
Aisha Westbrooks, 40, is the owner of the assisted living facility House of Honor The Westbrooks Inc. According to the investigation, Westbrooks illegally used the information of an employee’s sister to hide the identity of the same employee, who is a convicted felon. Westbrooks also allegedly used this information to bill Medicaid and private pay clients for more than $15,000 in services provided by the employee, who is not eligible to work for a Medicaid provider.
This House of Honor employee, Sade Grier, used her sister’s identification and training records to qualify employment. Grier has been previously convicted of theft from a person 65 years of age or older, fraudulent use of a credit card and grand theft. Under Florida law, a person with prior felony convictions for theft is disqualified from working with the elderly or disabled, and an assisted living facility cannot employ a disqualified person. In July 2017, the MFCU and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrested Grier on a lesser charge of the same crime.
According to the investigation, Westbrooks and Grier are longtime friends, and she hired her to work at the House of Honor from January 2015 through November 2015.
Westbrooks faces one count of criminal use of personal identification more than $5,000, a second-degree felony. If convicted, Westbrooks faces up to 15 years in prison. Attorney General Bondi’s Office is prosecuting this case through a special agreement with the State Attorney’s Office for the First Judicial Circuit.
Westbrooks was released from jail on a $5,000 bond.
Victory Assembly Of God Adds Sunday Morning Early Service
October 15, 2017
Victory Assembly of God in Molino has added a new early service each Sunday morning.
Sunday morning services are now at 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., with Children’s church during both services. Sunday School is at 9:30 a.m. A nursery is provided for all services.
File photo.
Delta State Outlasts UWF, 28-25
October 15, 2017
The West Florida football team raced out to a 25-14 lead after three quarters, only to see 20th-ranked Delta State score early in the fourth and return a blocked kick 65 yards for a touchdown to come away with a 28-25 win at Blue Wahoos Stadium Saturday.
UWF (4-2, 2-2 Gulf South) had a season-high 443 yards of total offense and Austin Williams tied his own school record with four field goals before a Homecoming crowd of 5,458.
Mike Beaudry threw for a career-best 354 yards on 22-of-47 with a touchdown. Caleb Robinson was the biggest beneficiary among the receivers with six catches for 151 yards. Ka’Ron Ashley had six receptions for 56 yards, including a 7-yard touchdown in the first quarter that drew the Argos to within 7-6.
UWF took its first lead of the contest when Leroy Wilson broke off a 31-yard scoring run up the middle one play after Jalen Spencer intercepted Collin Willis and returned it 20 yards into Delta territory.
Wilis got some redemption in the second quarter when he capped a 5-play drive with a 1-yard run to put the Statesmen up 14-13. He opened the drive with a 40-yard pass and then rushed four-consecutive times for 16 yards.
The Argonauts were able to regain the lead at 19-14 going into the locker room thanks to a pair of Williams field goals in the final two minutes. His 51-yarder with 1:38 to play broke his own school record before he ended the period with a 48-yarder.
Beaudry led consecutive drives deep into the Statesmen end of the field in the third quarter before Williams made kicks of 24 and 26 to stake UWF to a 25-14 edge.
Delta used a 13-play, 65-yard drive at the start of the fourth to pull within 25-21 after Chris Robinson scampered in from five yards.
On the ensuing possession, UWF ended a brief drive on the DSU side of midfield and setup for a Williams attempt from 52 yards. But Quantarious Boone blocked the kick and JohnQuavious McBride returned the deflection 65 yards for the go ahead score.
Four scoreless possessions later, UWF took possession of the ball on its own five with 1:34 to play. Beaudry rushed twice for a first down and then completed three passes that put the Argos at the Delta 39 with 18 seconds left. On the second-and-five play, a mishandled snap ended in disaster for UWF as the Statesmen recovered the fumble and ran out the final 10 seconds.
Delta State (6-1, 4-1) finished with 384 yards, including 183 on the ground. Willis was 13-of-20 for 164 yards with an interception. Backup quarterback Breck Ruddick came of the bench to throw for 37 yards and lead the rushing attack with 63 yards on 17 carries.
Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Fields of Faith: Student Led Community Worship Wednesday At Northview
October 15, 2017
Northview High School’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes will host their 4th annual Fields of Faith at Northview High School Wednesday, October 18, at 6:00 p.m. on the football field.
Admission is free; the public is encouraged to attend.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
