Molino Man Sentenced On Two Felony Animal Abuse Counts
August 1, 2017
A Molino man has been sentenced on two felony animal abuse charges in connection with two malnourished horses.
Charles Van Deese, 53, was charged with two felony counts of animal abuse causing cruel death or pain and suffering. Judge John Miller withheld adjudication in sentencing Deese to 36 months probation on each count to run concurrent. He was prohibited from owning, possessing or controlling any animals, and prohibited from possessing or consuming alcohol. He was also ordered to pay $1,734.85 in restitution to Panhandle Equine Rescue.
According to court documents, Escambia County Animal Control received a complaint from Panhandle Equine Rescue about two horses in poor condition on Parker Lane off the 3000 block of Highway 97. PER told a county investigator that Deese had been in and out of the hospital during the last several months and was unable to care for his horses. In his absence, they were being cared for by two of his friends.
Animal control reported that a veterinarian that examined the horses stated that they needed to be fed more often, and that the pasture was not sufficient to provide enough food for the horses. The pasture was reported to contain only weeds and very short grass.
Photos by Panhandle Equine Rescue for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Sneak Peek: School Sales Tax Holiday Starts Friday
August 1, 2017
The 2017 Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday begins at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, August 4, 2017, and ends at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, August 6, 2017.
During this sales tax holiday period, qualifying items will be exempt from tax including: certain school supplies selling for $15 or less per item; clothing, footwear, and certain accessories selling for $60 or less per item; and personal computers and certain computer-related accessories purchased for noncommercial home or personal use selling for $750 or less per item.
Click here for complete details (pdf).
Escambia County Accepting Applications For Fall Youth Employment Program
August 1, 2017
Applications are now being accepted for the fall cycle of the Escambia County Youth Employment Program, which will provide opportunities for youth to get paid work experience in various county departments.
Qualified youth who are accepted into ECYEP will be able to work up to 20 hours a week at $8.10 per hour. Participants will also receive job readiness training prior to job placement as well as post-employment briefings.
Limited positions are available. Requirements for the program are as follows:
- Must be age 16-20
- Must live in Escambia County, Florida
- Family household income must meet income criteria (200 percent or below 2017 Poverty Level Guidelines)
Applications can be downloaded here or picked up during normal business hours at 221 S. Palafox Place, 4th floor reception desk. Applications must be submitted by 3 p.m. Friday, Sept. 8 at the same location. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.
For more information, please call 850-595-0457 or visit the Youth Employment Program page.
Radio Control Aircraft Demonstration Wednesday At Molino Library
August 1, 2017
The Northwest Florida Modelers will present some high-flying fun Wednesday afternoon at the Molino Branch Library. Members of the group will demonstrate their skill and expertise in operating radio controlled aircraft.
The free demonstration will take place at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the area behind the Molino Branch Library in the Molino Community Complex on Highway 95A.
Traffic Delays At Davis And University
August 1, 2017
A safety improvement project to upgrade the traffic signal on State Road 291 (North Davis Highway) at University Parkway in Escambia County will begin the week of July 31. Drivers can expect lane restrictions to occur between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m., however, only one lane will be closed to traffic at any given time. Access to businesses and residences will be maintained. The project is anticipated to be complete in approximately 45 days, weather permitting. Motorists are urged to use caution when traveling through an active work zone and reminded to watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway.
All activities are weather dependent and may be rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Escambia 4-H Members Gain Skills, Earn Money At Regional Tailgate Contest
August 1, 2017
Recently, 4-H members from across Northwest Florida participated in the second annual Northwest Regional 4-H Tailgate Contest.
Grilling competitors took part in one of four categories: beef, pork, poultry (half a chicken or turkey breast), and shrimp. Participants were judged on their grilling abilities, but also on questions from judges on food safety, fire safety, and meat selection.
Regional winners earned $400 in scholarship money for first place, $250 for second place, $100 for third place, and $50 for fourth place. The top two individuals in each protein category earned the opportunity to participate in the State 4-H Tailgate Contest in Gainesville in October.
Five Escambia County 4-H members participated in the regional contest, including Noah Ball – Beef, Aubrie Dillon – Beef, Dillon Conti – Poultry, Raeleigh Woodfin – Pork, and Stewart Woodfin – Pork. All of the Escambia County entrants earned the opportunity to compete after winning the county competition as part of the Escambia County 4-H Tailgate Day Camp.
At the regional contest held at Washington County Ag Center in Chipley, Aubrie Dillon placed fourth in the beef category and Dillon Conti placed third in the poultry category. Dillon plans to continue using his grilling skills to cook for his family.
“I had a lot of fun at the regional 4-H tailgate contests this year. It was actually the first time I ad ever thought about grilling chicken and I think I’ll probably be grilling chicken a lot more now. I want to encourage more 4-H members to participate in the contest and I hope to see many more contestants next year,” Conti said.
Pictured top: Aubrie Dillon relaxes while cooking her steak recipe. Pictured below: Dillon Conti prepares his chicken for the grill, and Noah Ball checks the internal temperature of his steak. Pictured bottom: Raeleigh Woodfin prepares to grill her pork chops and Stewart Woodfin with his pork chops. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FWC Law Enforcement Report
August 1, 2017
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the weekly period ending July 27 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officers Land and McHenry were on patrol in Pensacola Bay when they saw a vessel anchor fishing near the Pensacola Pass. The officers saw one of the subjects reel in an undersized red snapper. One of the men on board stated, “That’s a good one.” Officer Land boarded the vessel to conduct a fisheries inspection and located 13 undersized red snapper. Two of the fishermen on board claimed possession of the fish. It is illegal to possess red snapper measuring fewer than 16 inches. It is also illegal to possess more than two red snapper per person. The appropriate action was taken for the violations.
Officer Pettey responded to a report of an individual that had a dead deer on his front porch. After interviewing one of the residents about the deer, the resident first claimed someone put it there to set him up, but then admitted to killing it the evening before. He stated he was driving around when he decided to shoot a deer. He shot the deer, brought it home and was still deciding what to do with it more than 12 hours later. The gun and deer were seized and the individual was issued a notice to appear citation for killing a deer during closed season.
Officers made several fisheries-related cases this week while conducting water patrol. These included three cases of possession of undersized red snapper and one case of failure to land red snapper in whole condition.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officer Land was on patrol in Eglin Wildlife Management Area (WMA) and saw multiple vehicle tracks entering a closed area of the WMA. Officer Land tracked the tire sign to a clay pit within the WMA and located two vehicles. Each vehicle had multiple occupants and only one individual possessed a valid Eglin permit. Officer Land informed Eglin Range Patrol of the violation and asked for their assistance. The appropriate action was taken and individuals were banned for two years by the Eglin Range Patrol.
Officers Hutchinson and Mullins responded to a shot they heard on the Blackwater River. They found two men on a dock in the area. After questioning the men, they determined that the shooter was just shooting into the water. While talking to him, they determined that he had multiple felony warrants. Officer Mullins placed him under arrest and transported him to the Santa Rosa County Jail.
Officer Roberson was conducting fisheries inspections when he found a subject to be in possession of undersized and over the bag limit of redfish. The subject was issued the appropriate citations.
Officer Jernigan assisted with a Hunter’s Safety Course at the Jay Community Center. Officer Jernigan spent a little over an hour going over the hunting laws and regulations of the state. The class was small with only 15 present, but all were very attentive and asked questions concerning hunting regulations in Florida.
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.
Father Sentenced For Scalding Water Death Of Son
August 1, 2017
An Escambia County man has been sentenced to three decades in prison for his part in killing a child.
Christopher Redd pled guilty to one count of aggravated manslaughter of a child. Following his plea, Circuit Judge John Miller sentenced Redd to 30 years in state prison.
In January 2017, Jennifer Perry entered a plea of guilty to first degree felony murder. At that time, Perry was sentenced by Circuit Judge John Miller to life in state prison. Redd and Perry were arrested in July 2014 for the death of their two-year old son, Bryson Redd. The child died from injuries sustained when he was scalded with a pot of boiling water.
Redd and Perry both gave statements that they believed the child was burnt as a result of his or his brother’s actions. However, during a recent interview conducted by the State Attorney’s Office and the Pensacola Police Department, Perry disclosed that she had her hands on the pot of boiling water when the incident occurred.
Wahoos Beat Birmingham On The Road
August 1, 2017
In his four starts in Double-A since his call up from the High-A Daytona Tortugas, Pensacola Blue Wahoos starting pitcher Jesus Reyes has allowed just four runs in 23.1 innings.
Behind his six-scoreless innings and three-hitter Monday that dropped his ERA to 1.54, Pensacola defeated the Birmingham Barons, 4-1, at Regions Field.
It was Reyes first Southern League victory improving his record to 1-1. The 24-year-old right hander also struck out seven — the most in a game for the Blue Wahoos — and now has 21 Ks in four outings.
Despite being without three of its five pitchers that made up its starting rotation at the beginning of the season, Pensacola owns a 3.00 team ERA, which is second in the Southern League. Tyler Mahle was promoted to Triple-A Louisville Bats, Austin Ross is on the DL and Luis Castillo is pitching in Cincinnati, where he is holding his own at 2-4 with a 3.56 ERA, a 1.188 WHIP and struck out 51 in 48 innings.
Reyes also benefited from four runs from the Pensacola batting order, which has now scored four runs or more in six of its last 10 games.
Leading the way against Birmingham Monday was first baseman Gavin LaValley and center fielder Gabriel Guerrero.
LaValley was 3-4 and knocked in two runs in the eighth inning when he hit a ground rule double to left center that put the Blue Wahoos on top, 4-0. He now has 11 doubles, a .280 average and 18 RBIs in 36 games for Pensacola.
Guerrero drove in two runs in the sixth inning when he singled up the middle and both shortstop Blake Trahan and second baseman Shed Long scored. It gave Pensacola a, 2-0, lead. Guerrero was 2-4 and has 37 RBIs for the Blue Wahoos and 30-multi-hit games.
Birmingham avoided being Pensacola’s 12th shutout victim when it scored one run in the bottom of the ninth inning. Barons center fielder Hunter Jones, who was 2-4, laced his fifth triple of the season to right field to bring home right fielder Mason Robbins.
Pensacola took over sole possession of first place in the Southern League South Division with a 19-18 record in the second half. Pensacola is 59-48 overall and won the first half title. They are the first Southern League team since the Tennessee Smokies (2009-2011) to win a Southern League record four straight halves.
CINGRANI L.A. BOUND Cincinnati Reds reliever Tony Cingrani was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers for outfielder Scott Van Slyke and catcher Hendrik Clementina.
The 28-year-old southpaw, who pitched as a starter for the Double-A Pensacola Blue Wahoos in 2012, appeared in 25 games with Cincinnati this year and was 0-0 with a 5.40 ERA and 1.329 WHIP. He had 24 Ks in 23.1 innings pitched. In six seasons with the Reds, he started the first two years before transitioning to the bullpen in 2015.
He played part of 2012 in Pensacola, where in 15 starts the flamethrower went 5-3 with a 2.12 ERA, 1.097 WHIP and 101 strikeouts in 89.1 innings. Cingrani made the jump to the Reds from the Blue Wahoos.
For Cingrani, the Reds picked up two players, including 31-year-old outfielder/first baseman Van Slyke. He was hitting .122 with two homers and three RBIs in 41 at bats with the Dodgers this season and has a .242 career average in six Major League seasons with Los Angeles. The 20-year-old Clementina plays catcher and first baseman for the Ogden Raptors in the Rookie League where Curacaon has four homers, 25 RBIs and is hitting .370 in 24 games.
No Injuries In Flomaton Vehicle Fire
July 31, 2017
The Flomaton Fire Department battled a vehicle fire Monday at the intersection of Wolf Log Road and Highway 31. There were no injures reported. Alabama State Troopers and the Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office also responded Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.