Bill Would Crack Down On Leaving Children In Vehicles
September 1, 2017
It would be illegal to leave children age 6 or younger unattended in cars for any length of time, under a measure filed Thursday by state Rep. Emily Slosberg, D-Boca Raton. The proposal, filed for consideration during the 2018 legislativesession, would be stricter than current law.
Adults currently can’t leave children in vehicles for more than 15 minutes or for any period of time if the motor is running, the health of a child is in danger or a child appears to be in distress.
Under Slosberg’s proposal, violations would be punishable by a second-degree misdemeanor charge, which carries a penalty of up to $500 and 60 days jail.
Violating current law is considered a noncriminal traffic infraction that carries a fine between $50 and $500. Felony charges are already in place if a child is harmed.
by The News Service of Florida
Scott: FWC Officers Rescue More Than 500 Texans
September 1, 2017
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) officers are continuing to actively assist with disaster response efforts in the Houston area. FWC officers have rescued more than 500 Texans since arriving in the area after being deployed by Governor Scott in response to Texas’ request for emergency assistance. Additionally, more than 400 Florida volunteers have been deployed to Texas and Louisiana as Volunteer Florida continues to coordinate the activities of 11 disaster relief organizations.
FWC Response Efforts:
- More than 500 Texans rescued by FWC officers since arriving in the area after being deployed by Governor Scott in response to Texas’ request for emergency assistance.
- Nearly 125 FWC officers are supporting ongoing search and rescue and disaster response efforts.
- FWC resources deployed to Texas include more than 40 boats, 17 high water vehicles, two Mobile Command Centers, and eight shallow draft vessels.
Florida Volunteer Response Efforts:
- The Salvation Army has 43 volunteers who have served approximately 1,270 volunteer hours so far as well as an Incident Management Team (IMT) on site in Texas.
- The Southern Baptist Convention will deploy more than 50 volunteers to Louisiana tomorrow and will be providing feeding, chainsaw teams, roofing teams, and portable showers.
- The American Red Cross has deployed 24 volunteers to Texas and 40 to Louisiana as well as 11 Emergency Response Vehicles.
- Feeding Florida is working with Feeding America to package, store and deliver food to Texas.
- Volunteer Florida is coordinating with local Pensacola business Two Men and a Truck on a nonperishable item drive. Two Men and a Truck is actively collecting donated items from the local community and has volunteered to use their own storage facility to host all donations until it is` possible to make the trip to Texas. Drivers have also volunteered to use their trucks and time to make the trip.
- Volunteer Florida is also coordinating with national manufacturer Kellogg’s, which has donated 200 trucks of food items, to deploy food items to areas in need.
- Volunteer organizations are asking those wishing to help to donate to a recognized, non-profit organization operating in Texas. A list of agencies may be found at www.nvoad.org
Wahoos Fall To Jumbo Shrimp, Head To Playoffs
September 1, 2017
For the first time in three seasons, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos are not the Southern Division champions.
The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp ended Pensacola’s reign by overcoming the Blue Wahoos, 5-2, with three runs in the eighth inning at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.
Pensacola, which had its three game winning streak snapped, won the Southern League crown in the first half. The Blue Wahoos won a Southern League-record four straight halves. The only other team to do that was the Tennessee Smokies between the 2009 and 2011 seasons.
Pensacola and Jacksonville, not only finish the regular season schedule against each other, but will face each other in the Southern Division League playoffs that begin Sept. 6 and 7 at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
The Blue Wahoos fell to 31-35 in the second half, while the second half champion Jumbo Shrimp improved to 38-28.
Blue Wahoos left fielder Gabriel Guerrero hit a deep sacrifice fly to right field in the fifth inning that scored shortstop Blake Trahan to tie the game, 2-2, with the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp.
But the Jumbo Shrimp went ahead, 3-2, when left fielder Austin Dean hit a ground ball single up the middle to score first baseman Taylor Ard, who Pensacola reliever Alex Powers hit with a pitch to lead off the eighth inning.
Jacksonville right fielder John Norwood then his fourth triple of the season to right field that drove in both center fielder Braxton Lee and Dean for a 5-2 lead.
In his last regular season start, Pensacola starting pitcher Deck McGuire was going for his career-high 10th win of the season for the seventh time. But after working six innings, McGuire left the game tied 2-2. The 6-foot-6 righty allowed two runs on three hits, no walks and struck out 11, which tied his career high with Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers in 2015.
It was an excellent regular season for the minor league veteran, who was selected to the Southern League All-Star game.
The former first round pick in 2010 by the Toronto Blue Jays finished the regular season 9-9 with a 2.79 ERA. He led the Southern League with 168 innings pitched and 170 strikeouts, which are also both franchise records. He had a WHIP of 1.10 and held opponents to a .208 batting average.
Jacksonville reliever Miguel Del Pozo ended up earning his first Double-A victory (1-0) in his fourth appearance for Jacksonville, throwing 1.2 scoreless innings and striking out two.
The Jumbo Shrimp had c0me back and tied Pensacola, 1-1, in the bottom of the first inning when third baseman David Vidal smacked a single that scored Lee. The Jumbo Shrimp then went ahead, 2-1, when John Norwood crushed a solo homer, his 19th of the year, in the fourth inning.
The Blue Wahoos scored first in the first inning when first baseman Gavin LaValley singled in second baseman Shed Long to put Pensacola ahead, 1-0.
Tree Falls On Vehicle, Power Lines
August 31, 2017
A tree fell on a vehicle and power lines Thursday morning on Happy Valley Trail off Johnson Avenue during thunderstorm winds. There were no injuries reported. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
One Injured In I-10 Crash
August 31, 2017
One person was injured in a single vehicle crash on I-10 westbound at the 3 mile marker just before daybreak Thursday morning. The driver was transported to an area hospital for treatment. The Florida Highway Patrol, Beulah Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS responded to the crash. Reader submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FDOC: Inmate That Murdered His Mother Assaults Century Correctional Officer
August 31, 2017
An inmate that murdered his mother assaulted a correctional officer at Century Correctional Institution, according to information released Wednesday by the Florida Department of Corrections.
Inmate David Hankins assaulted the officer at approximately 10:15 a.m. on August 25. Hankins became combative and head-butted the officer in the face., according to FDOC. Staff responded appropriately, and the inmate was subdued.
Medical staff examined the officer and noted injuries. Inmate Hankins will receive a disciplinary report for this assault.
According to FDOC records, Hankins is serving a 25 year sentence out of Lee County for second degree murder murder. When Hankins was 15-year old, he stabbed his own 40-year old mother, stuffed her in a closet when she began grunting and left her there to die, according to 2009 media reports.
Escambia Mosquito Borne Illness Alert Issued After West Nile Case Confirmed
August 31, 2017
This year’s first human case of West Nile virus (WNV) has been confirmed in Escambia County, prompting the Florida Department of Health in Escambia County (FDOH-Escambia) to issue a mosquito-borne illness advisory .
Mosquitoes are known carriers of WNV and other disease-causing viruses. Escambia County Mosquito Control Division and FDOH-Escambia continue surveillance and prevention efforts, but want to ensure residents and visitors are aware and take proper precautions to prevent mosquito bites.
According to CDC, most people (70-80 percent) infected with WNV show no symptoms at all. About one in five people who are infected will develop a fever with other symptoms such as headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea or rash. Most people with this type of illness recover completely, but fatigue and weakness can last for weeks or months.
Less than one percent of people who are infected develop a serious neurologic illness, such as encephalitis or meningitis (inflammation of the brain or surrounding tissues). Older adults and persons with weakened immune systems and/or other chronic illnesses are at the greatest risk for severe illness.
To protect yourself from mosquitoes, the health department recommends that practice of “Drain and Cover”:
Drain standing water.
- Drain water from garbage cans, house gutters, buckets, pool covers, coolers, toys, flower pots or any other containers where sprinkler or rain water has collected.
- Discard old tires, bottles, pots, broken appliances and other items not being used.
- Empty and clean birdbaths and pets’ water bowls at least twice a week.
- Protect boats and vehicles from rain with tarps that do not accumulate water.
- Maintain swimming pools in good condition and chlorinated. Empty plastic swimming pools when not in use.
Cover skin with clothing or repellent and cover doors and windows.
- Wear shoes, socks, long pants and long sleeves when mosquitoes are most prevalent.
- Apply mosquito repellent to bare skin and clothing.
- Always use repellents according to the label. Repellents with DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, and IR3535 are effective.
- Re-apply mosquito repellent as often as needed to prevent mosquito landings and bites.
- Use mosquito netting to protect children younger than 2 months old.
- When using repellent on children, apply to your hands first and then rub on their arms and legs.
- Place screens on windows, doors, porches, and patios. Always repair broken screens.
Photos Capture Possible Tornado Near Molino
August 31, 2017
NorthEscambia.com photos taken about 4:30 Wednesday afternoon of what looks like a tornado approaching Highway 29 and Highway 97 in Molino. A tornado warning was in effect at the time for a radar-indicated tornado in the exact area. There was no touchdown and no damage reported. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
FWC Law Enforcement Report: Man Was Keeping An Alligator In His House
August 31, 2017
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the weekly period ending August 17 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officer Manning responded to a call to assist the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. An individual who was arrested for child endangerment also had an alligator in his possession. The individual had constructed a special room in his home for the alligator to live. While interviewing the subject at the jail, he admitted catching the alligator and keeping it as a pet. Officer Manning seized the alligator and charged the subject with three criminal violations.
Officers Roberson, Hoomes and Pettey worked a detail on Pensacola Beach checking fishermen. One subject was seen with two redfish and was issued a citation for over the daily bag limit of redfish. Officer Pettey located another individual who was in possession of 18 Spanish mackerel. The subject was issued a citation for over the bag limit of Spanish mackerel.
Officer Pettey followed up on a deer case he made earlier this month. After meeting with the state attorney’s office, warrants were obtained for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and willful waste of wildlife. The case involved an individual who poached a deer then left it on his front porch where it spoiled in the heat for approximately 16 hours.
Officers Roberson and Mullins received a call of an oversized redfish at the Bob Sikes fishing pier. The officers arrived and located a subject who had a redfish which was measured at 37 inches, 10 inches over the maximum legal length for redfish. The subject was issued a citation for possession of oversized redfish. The fish was seized as evidence.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officer J. Rockwell received a call from FWC Dispatch advising that two girls had not returned from a short tubing trip on Cold Water Creek. Officers Lugg and Land also responded to the call. In a joint effort with Santa Rosa County deputies and Santa Rosa Fire Rescue, they located the girls and returned them to their mother.
This report represents some events the FWC handled over the past week; however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement. Information provided by FWC.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Nine Mile Road Armed Robbery Suspect Sentenced
August 31, 2017
The man who acted as a lookout in a Nine Mile Road convenience store robbery is headed to prison.
Joseph Donald Reynolds was sentenced by Circuit Judge Edward P. Nickinson to 20 years in state prison. On May 26, 2017, Joseph Reynolds pleaded no contest to the charges of robbery with a deadly weapon and battery upon a jail visitor or other detainee.
On June 15, 2016, Reynolds and co-defendant Ryan Cheney, entered the Raceway Gas Station on Nine Mile Road. While Reynolds acted as a lookout, Cheney pointed the firearm at the clerk and demanded money and cigarettes. Cheney discharged the firearm into the floor towards the clerk. Both defendants fled the scene in the getaway vehicle waiting outside driven by co-defendant, Hunter Lafoe. All three defendants were apprehended a few days later.
Cheney was convicted of armed robbery with a firearm with discharge in May 2017. Cheney was sentenced to life in state prison. Since there is no parole in Florida, Cheney will serve the remainder of his life in prison.
Hunter Lafoe pled no contest to the charge of principal to robbery with a deadly weapon in May 2017. He will be sentenced on September 8, 2017, at 1:30 p.m. He faces up to 10 years in state prison.
Editor’s note: At time of story publication, Reynolds’ mugshot was available from the Escambia County Jail.
