ECSO: Man Attempts To Carjack Deputy
April 26, 2017
One man was arrested Friday after he attempted to carjack an Escambia County Sheriff’s deputy.
The ECSO said 36-year old Kevin Donnell Owens approached a vehicle on Chestnut Street and began to pull a gun from his waistband. That’s when he realized he was about to carjack a deputy in an unmarked vehicle. He fled on foot before being captured.
The Sheriff’s Office said Owens is a convicted felon with an extensive criminal history. He was charged with possession of a firearm by a felon and carrying a concealed weapon.
Owens was one of 16 people arrested during a 16-day high intensity operation by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Click here to read more.
Tate Aggies Celebrate Senior Night (With Gallery)
April 26, 2017
The Tate Aggies lost a tough Senior Night game to Milton 9-0 Tuesday.
The Aggies honored seniors Josh Barnes, Hunter NeSmith, Ian Ruiz, Tanner Helton, Corey Young, Logan Blackmon and Logan McGuffey before the game.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
House Takes Aim At Florida ‘Liquor Wall’
April 26, 2017
A heavily lobbied measure that would remove a Depression-era “wall” separating the sale of liquor and groceries was positioned — after more than two hours of discussion Tuesday — for a final House vote as soon as Wednesday.
The House agreed to take up a Senate-approved version of the proposal (SB 106), after years of debate that has pitted the supermarket giant Publix and small liquor stores against retailers Walmart and Target.
House sponsor Bryan Avila, R-Hialeah, said the proposal, which would repeal a decades-old state law requiring stand-alone liquor stores, doesn’t make Walmart and Target winners. He said the decision to vote on the Senate measure, which includes a provision regarding convenience stores that was not in the House version, was done in the “spirit of cooperation.”
Walmart and Target lobbyists have argued that repealing the law is needed to meet customers’ demands and convenience. Instead of going elsewhere to buy liquor, shoppers could buy it in the same stores where they pick up groceries and other items.
But more than 100 liquor-store owners and employees, many wearing white T-shirts stating “Save Jobs & Small Business Vote No,” lined the entryway to the House chamber prior to the session Tuesday. The bill also could affect Publix, which has opened liquor stores in many of the same shopping centers as its supermarkets.
Critics pointed to the potential impact of the change on small businesses and the possibility there would be greater access to liquor by minors, either as store employees or shoppers.
Rep. Julio Gonzalez, R-Venice, called the proposal “decidedly anti-free market.”
“Isn’t this bill essentially a conduit to allow the large package stores to run amok, to run the small businesses out of the various market places and restrict their ability to find places to conduct their businesses?” Gonzalez said.
In addition to repealing the separation law, enacted in 1934 as Florida was responding to the end of Prohibition, the measure would prohibit new package stores from being licensed within 1,000 feet of schools; require small bottles, 6.8 ounces or less, to be displayed only behind the counter; and require that checkout clerks under the age of 18 to be supervised by someone 18 or older when alcohol is being purchased.
The Senate voted 21-17 last month to approve the proposal sponsored by Sen. Anitere Flores. It also would require retail businesses that sell gas to be 10,000 square feet or larger to receive liquor licenses.
The size restriction had been a sticking point when the proposal first reached the House floor last month. But Avila noted that a number of senators expressed concern about the potential for liquor stores appearing on neighborhood street-corners.
“For all intents and purposes I have not seen a gas station, other than the Busy Bee, that is more than 10,000-square-feet,” Avila said.
Rep. Scott Plakon, R-Longwood, and Rep. Al Jacquet, D-Lantana, failed to convince House members to approve a series of amendments that Avila said were intended to “kill” the bill.
One of Plakon’s proposals, for example, would have prohibited package stores holding liquor licenses from employing anyone under age 21.
“For the first time, tens of thousands of young people, without this amendment, will be in close proximity to hard liquor,” Plakon said of his amendment, which failed in a 70-48 vote.
By taking up the Senate version, and not making any changes, approval by the House would send the bill to Gov. Rick Scott rather than having the bill bounce back to the Senate.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Pictured: A separate liquor store next to the Publix in University Town Center on West Nine Mile Road. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Runners Shine At Regionals; Advance To State Finals
April 26, 2017
Several Northview High School athletes placed at the regional track meet Tuesday and will advance to state. They are:
Boys 800 meter — Brandon Korinchak — placed 2nd
Girls 4 x 100 meter dash — Audriene Odom, Crystal Douglas, Nene Findley, Celeste North — placed 4th
Boys 4 x 100 meter dash — Brandon Spencer, Tim Bush, Keaton Solmonson, Joseph Wright — placed second
Boys 200 meter dash — Brandon Spencer — placed second
Pictured: Brandon Korinchak. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Man Charged With Theft Of Trailers, Boat From Atmore Area
April 26, 2017
A Baldwin County man was arrested on charges related to the theft of items from the Atmore area.
Canyon Duff Moye, 21, was charged with three counts of receiving stolen property after deputies from Baldwin and Escambia counties found a stolen utility trailer, dump trailer and boat at his home in Uriah. He was also charged with using a false identification to obstruct justice. He was released from the Baldwin County Jail in Bay Minette on a $22,500 bond.
Escambia County (AL) deputies received a tip that the items stolen from their jurisdiction were at Moye’s home in Weaver Road in Uriah. The they joined deputies from Baldwin County at the property, the located the items listed as stolen out of Escambia County, AL, including a 2012 aluminum bass boat and multiple utility trailers, along with a dump trailer.
The case remains under investigation. The Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with additional information to contact them at (251) 809-2154.
Northview, Jay Out In 2-1A; Tate Advances To 1-7A Final
April 26, 2017
DISTRICT 2-1A Tournament
South Walton 3, Northview 0
Chipley 11, Jay 0
The Northview Chiefs finished third in district play with a 3-0 loss to South Walton Tuesday afternoon at Baker. The Chiefs finished the season at 12-6. Also Tuesday, Chipley beat Jay 11-0, setting up a Chipley-South Walton district championship game on Thursday.
DISTRICT 1-7A Tournament
Tate 10, Washington 0
Escambia 8, Pace 2
The Tate Lady Aggies knocked off Washington 10-0 and Escambia beat Pace 8-2 Tuesday in District 1-7A.
Hanna Brown earned the win for the Lady Aggies. She tossed five innings, allowing no runs, no hits, no walks and striking out six.
Tate hitters – Hannah Brown 3-3, RBI, 3B; Katie Snyder 1-1, 2 RBI; Belle Wolfenden 2-3, 2 R, 3B; Shelby Ullrich 2-3, RBI; Leslee Scruggs RBI; Madison Nelson 1-3, R, RBI, 2B; Shelby McLean R, RBI; Sydni Solliday 1-2, 2R, 2 RBI; Deazia Nickerson 1-3, 2 R.
Tate will face Escambia at 7 p.m. Thursday at Tate for the District 1-7A championship.
Pictured top: Northview’s Tori Herrington. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Flomaton’s Philyaw Signs With Gulf Coast Prep Sports Academy
April 26, 2017
Joe Philyaw of Flomaton High School signed Tuesday to play football at Gulf Coast Prep Sports Academy in Moble. Pictured with Philyaw at the signing are his parents, Wendell and Esther Carnley and Andy and Pamela Philyaw, Flomaton Head Coach Doug Vickery, Principal Scott Hammond, and Gulf Coast Prep Coach Willie Gaston. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Drop Third In A Row To Mobile
April 26, 2017
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos lost its first five-game Southern League series of the year when the Mobile BayBears won, 3-0, Tuesday at Hank Aaron Stadium.
Mobile leads the series, 3-1, with the final game scheduled for 11:05 a.m. Wednesday.
Pensacola and Mobile have played an interesting series, to put it mildly, with each of the first three games decided by one run.
Tyler Mahle won the first game, 1-0, Saturday with a nine-inning perfect game — the first in 47 years in the Southern League. Mobile took the second game, 3-2, Sunday when it pushed across a run in the eighth inning. Pensacola and Mobile then battled in a 17-inning duel that the BayBears captured, 2-1, on a walk-off single by Zach Houchins.
In the fourth game Tuesday, the BayBears shutout Pensacola, which was the first time they failed to score this season.
It was also their third straight loss after winning a franchise record eight in a row. Pensacola fell to 13-6 on the season and Mobile is 10-9. The Blue Wahoos remain in first place in the Southern Division trailed by the BayBears, which is three games back.
Mobile scored one run in the second, third and fourth innings. In the second inning, Wade Wass double on a fly ball to center field that scored Andrew Daniel for a 1-0 lead. Alberto Triunfel then smashed his second homer of the year to left field to put the BayBears up, 2-0, in the third. It tacked on another run in the fourth to go ahead, 3-0, when Francisco Arcia scored on a wild pitch by Pensacola starter Deck McGuire.
The right-handed McGuire is now 1-1 with a 3.68 ERA. He worked six innings, allowed three runs on four hits, walked three and struck out four. Jake Ehret, who gave up the winning run in the 17th inning the night before, pitched two scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out one.
Mobile starter Jordan Kipper pitched seven scoreless innings to improve to 2-1 with a 1.80 ERA. He allowed five hits, walked two and struck out six. BayBears reliever Alex Klonowski earned his first save, despite walking two and striking out one in one inning of work.
14-Year Old Arrested For Robbing Woman Outside Cantonment Subway
April 25, 2017
A teenager has been arrested for the April 2 assault and robbery of a woman outside a Highway 29 restaurant.
Eric Lee Moorer, Jr., age 14, is charged with robbery by sudden snatching, wearing a mask during the commission of a felony, battery, grand theft and fraudulent illegal use of a credit card.
The victim told the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office that she was attacked about 9 p.m. as she walked out of the Subway, next to Winn Dixie on Highway 29 at Old Chemstrand Road. The attacker took her purse and later used the debit cards inside to wipe out her bank balance. He also got away with keys and cash.
Witnesses reported that he jumped into the passenger side of an older electric blue Dodge or similar truck with shiny chrome rims. The truck fled the area northbound on Highway 95A.
The woman was not injured.
Trailer Fire Claims Life
April 25, 2017
An Escambia County mobile home fire has claimed a life.
Firefighters responded to a mobile home fire in the 5900 block of Flaxman Street on Sunday. Escambia County Public Safety officials initiated an additional search on Monday after friends and family were unable to locate the adult female resident. The victim was found during the daylight search. The Florida State Fire Marshal and Escambia Sheriff’s office are conducting an investigation into the death.
Escambia County Emergency Communications received a call at 10:32 p.m. reporting a mobile home fire with flames visible and possible entrapment. The first crew arrived on scene at 10:41 p.m. to find the home fully involved with 25 percent of the single-wide mobile home engulfed in flames. As is standard protocol, sweeps of the home were made by two separate Escambia Fire Rescue companies. The primary search of the home was completed at 10:51 p.m. and the secondary at 10:55 p.m. with no victims found. The fire was called under control at 10:58 p.m. with the home a total loss.
The state fire marshal arrived at 12:10 a.m. to investigate, clearing the scene at 12:50 a.m. The cause of the fire was determined to be cooking related.
The victim has been identified as 46-year-old Detra Oliver.