FDLE Arrests Man In Escambia Travel Fraud Scheme
March 10, 2017
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has arrested a man for a travel reimbursement fraud that cost an Escambia County company thousands of dollars.
Agents with the FDLE arrested Doug Landry, 37, on one count of organized fraud over $50,000, related to a fictitious over billing scheme.
In 2015, Landry orchestrated an elaborate fraudulent scheme based on his work-related travel expenses. He created fictitious reimbursement receipts, incorporated fraudulent companies, and provided fictitious receipts to his employer, a company located in Pensacola. The company’s accounting department reimbursed Landry for approximately $152,000 from 2015-2016. Landry also utilized his own company, Reign Industries in Louisiana, to further his fraudulent activities in Florida.
FDLE began its investigation in October 2016 with assistance from the Escambia County State Attorney’s Office. Landry was arrested today by FDLE agents and the Louisiana State Police and booked into the jail located in Hammond, Louisiana, Tangipahoa Parish.
He will extradited back to Escambia County to face local charges.
Students Awarded For Sawmill Pageant Program Design
March 10, 2017
Artwork and designs by Northview senior Hadley Woodfin and sophomore Ashtyn Carnley were picked to be featured on the front and back covers of this year’s Sawmill Pageant sponsored by the Century Lions Club. Both received prizes for their work. The Century Lions Club will present the 25th Annual Sawmill Pageant on March 18.
Pictured top: Ashtyn Carnley (left) and Hadley Woodfin. Pictured below: Sawmill Pageant program front cover (left) designed by Hadley Woodfin, and back cover (right) designed by Ashtyn Carnley. Photo/images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Defeats Pine Forest
March 10, 2017
The Tate Aggies shut out Pine Forest 7-0 Thursday night.
Logan McGuffey pitched a complete game, allowing two hits, no runs, no errors, two walks and 11 strikeouts.
Ian Ruiz 1-1, R, 2 RBI; Logan Blackmon 2-4; Hunter NeSmith 3-3, 2 R; Jesse Sherrill 2-2, 2 RBI; Mason Land 1-3, R; Logan McGuffey 1-3; Logan Blackmon 2-4; Tray LaFleur R; Ethan Bloodworth 1-2; RBI.
Escambia Man Gets 25 Years For 2016 Shooting
March 10, 2017
An Escambia County man is headed to prison for a 2016 shooting.
Antonio Devon Williams was sentenced by Circuit Judge John L. Miller to 25 years in state prison as a mandatory minimum sentence under Florida’s 10-20- Life law. This means that Williams will serve his sentence day for day without the possibility of parole. Williams was found guilty by an Escambia County jury of attempted second degree murder with a firearm on January 25, 2017.
On February 22, 2016, Javier Chandler was shot in the neck by Antonio Williams in the driveway of Williams’ residence. Chandler had been seated in the driver’s seat of his vehicle when Williams shot him from a standing position outside of the car. Williams then fled the scene.
Williams turned himself in to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office within 24 hours of the shooting and claimed self-defense.
The two had been childhood friends and had a dispute regarding the purchase of a firearm.
IP Releases Preliminary Findings From Explosion Investigation
March 9, 2017
International Paper has released their preliminary findings on the cause of the January 22 explosion at their Cantonment mill.
“The findings indicate that an explosive atmosphere was created by a combination of off-gasses normally produced in the pulping process and air introduced to maintain pressure while the vessel was not in operation. The explosive nature of the off-gasses and air combination was likely related to the extended period of mill down time prior to the incident where no chips and liquor were flowing into the digester,” a statement from Tom Ryan, director of IP’s corporate communications, said.
“The gas mixture, combined with one of several possible ignition sources, provided the necessary components for the incident. The unusual set of circumstances set in motion a chain of events unlike any that International Paper had ever seen or heard of. The company has implemented enhanced procedures and protections across the entire mill system and has also taken the step to share this information industry-wide, to ensure enhanced safety measures are in place across the entire industry,” he said.
Ryan said all IP employees are back to work and have been for some time, and a portion of mill has been restarted.
“We continue to dedicate all resources to a safe return to full operations, but it is important we follow all responsible steps to do so. Hundreds of mill team members are working safely and diligently to get the facility fully operational,” Ryan said.
“International Paper remains committed to the entire remediation effort. We are not going anywhere. We are going to be here,” Cantonment Mill Manager Brett DeJong said.
IP said cleanup of homes is now complete. A citizen’s information line remains in place at (850) 968-4208.
Pictured top: Emergency crews on the scene following an explosion January 22 at International Paper in Cantonment. Pictured below: First responders coordinate their response efforts from a command post at IP shortly after the explosion. Pictured bottom: A vehicle that was passing the mill at the time of the explosion covered in black liquor from the explosion. NorthEscambia.com file photos.
Highway 297A Head-On Crash Causes Serious Injuries
March 9, 2017
At least two people were seriously injured in a two vehicle crash Wednesday night on Highway 297A near Corral Drive.
The near head-on collision between a car and a pickup sent at least one person to the hospital as a “trauma alert”.
Further details have not been released by the Florida Highway Patrol as they continue their investigation.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Century To Recognize Employees Of The Month
March 9, 2017
Outgoing Century council member Kevin Stead has proposed that the town honor an “employee of the month”.
The proposal comes on the heels of a 53-cent per hour pay raise for all employees given by the mayor but rescinded by the council (read recent story).
Under Stead’s plan, which was approved by the full council, town employees would vote to choose one person as employee of the month. The award winner will be honored by the town with a public proclamation and received four paid hours off during that month.
Employees will not be able to vote for themselves, and they can only be employee of the month once per calendar year.
Stead was temporarily appointed to the council to replace Annie Savage who passed away in late October. Stead lost a recent special election to Luis Gomez, Jr., to fill the seat until January 2021.
Negron Skeptical About Deepwater Horizon Proposals
March 9, 2017
Senate President Joe Negron has expressed concerns about House proposals he said could attach “Washington-like” bureaucratic strings on money from the Deepwater Horizon disaster settlement — money headed to counties including Escambia.
“I don’t believe we should set up some complicated bureaucracy for those funds to be released to the community, to compensate them for actual economic damages that occurred,” Negron told reporters. He indicated a concern that the House proposals could limit how local officials use the money.
The House Select Committee on Triumph Gulf Coast canceled a meeting Monday in which it was expected to discuss a pair of proposed measures that would define how Triumph Gulf Coast Inc. — a non-profit organization within the Department of Economic Opportunity — can handle the bulk of the state’s settlement money from the 2010 disaster. The committee has started to consider changes to an initial plan that would give the non-profit the ability to use the settlement money to market Northwest Florida and for broad economic-development projects. The committee also was looking to eliminate a requirement for projects to get approval from the Joint Legislative Budget Commission.
Instead, Triumph Gulf Coast Inc. would be required to post online details of any project or program 14 days before cash awards are made.
Florida is in line to eventually receive up to $2 billion from the $4.9 billion that is expected to be paid by BP to resolve Gulf Coast economic claims arising from the Deepwater Horizon oil-spill disaster. The state received $400 million last year and is expected to get $106.7 million a year from 2019 through 2033.
Seventy-five percent of the money is to go to the non-profit representing eight Panhandle counties most impacted by the disaster — Escambia, Santa Rosa, Bay, Franklin, Gulf, Okaloosa, Wakulla and Walton.
by The News Service of Florida
New Look For Walnut Hill Landmark: Escambia Grain Gets Coat Of Paint
March 9, 2017
A Walnut Hill landmark has an updated look, thanks to a fresh coat of paint at Escambia Grain, one of just a handful of grain elevators in Florida. First opened in 1965, Escambia Grain has six storage silos, each about 100 feet tall.
The silos were previously white, with little paint remaining on the concrete surfaces (see bottom photo).
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
FHP Still Looking For Driver That Hit 15-Year Old Last July
March 9, 2017
The Florida Highway Patrol is still seeking a hit and run driver that hit a 15-year old last July.
Brianna Nicole Mark was crossing Pine Forest Road at Citation Drive about 4:25 a.m. July 22 when she was struck by a northbound vehicle that fled the scene. Mark was seriously injured.
The vehicle should have extensive front end damage according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Wednesday, the FHP said the vehicle may be a pickup or midsize SUV.
Anyone with information on the crash is asked to call Trooper J. Durham at (850) 484-5000 or Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 436-STOP.