Keep The Wreath Green Fire Safety Campaign Begins December 1
November 19, 2015
Escambia County Fire Rescue, in collaboration with City of Pensacola and Santa Rosa County, will be launching its annual “Keep the Wreath Green” fire safety campaign beginning Tuesday, December 1. This initiative was designed to promote fire safety during the month of December, with officials hoping to reduce the number of fires during a time of serious fire danger with simple, life-saving tips.
During the month-long campaign, five-foot wreaths will be on display at 23 different county fire stations. Each time firefighters respond to a residential fire, a green light bulb will be replaced with a red one to remind citizens of the dangers posed by holiday decorations.
There were nine fires reported in Escambia County during the 2014 Keep the Wreath Green campaign.
Pictured: A December 1, 2014, mobile home fire on Pine Forest Road. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
County: Storm Damage Was Not Tornado (With Photo Gallery)
November 19, 2015
A Cantonment home was damaged as a line of thunderstorms moved through Escambia County Wednesday afternoon when a large limb from oak tree came crashing down on the roof, and officials say a tornado was not to blame.
The home is located on Highway 95A near Danielle Lane. Two people in the house escaped without injury, and they are not expected to be displaced, according to Escambia County officials.
The tree limb damaged the roof of the home and a window was knocked out. Other small trees in the area were toppled or snapped, and small yard items such as lawn chairs were blown about as the storms moved through before 1 p.m.
The damage was consistent with straight line winds or a microburst, according to Joy Tsubooka, Escambia County spokesperson.
For more photos, click to enlarge.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
Auburn Fans Win Northview High Food Drive
November 19, 2015
Students at Northview High School collected over 500 pounds of food during a college-theme food driver for Manna Food Bank. Auburn fans at the school came out on top, contributed about one half of the total food.
Pounds donated by fans were as follows:
Auburn: 243.76
University of Florida: 109.2
Alabama: 107.4
Florida State: 44.2
A total of 504.56 pounds of food were collected during the food drive.
Scott Wants More Funding For FDLE Crime Labs
November 19, 2015
Gov. Rick Scott on Wednesday said he will propose spending $8.5 million to upgrade Florida Department of Law Enforcement crime labs, as the state grapples with a massive backlog of untested rape kits.
Scott said in a news release the money would go to lab equipment, improvements to a DNA database and crime-scene vehicles.
“The $8.5 million investment we are announcing today is critical to giving innocent victims the answers they rightfully deserve, including the thousands of women who have been victims to absolutely horrific, violent crimes,” Scott said in a prepared statement.
The issue has drawn heavy attention since Attorney General Pam Bondi held a news conference in September and disclosed that thousands of rape kits were untested across the state. Bondi called for more funding for crime labs, and lawmakers also have proposed bills aimed at speeding up the testing of evidence in sexual-assault cases.
Bondi issued a statement Wednesday thanking Scott for the funding proposal, which will be considered during the 2016 legislative session. “Sexual assault is a horrific crime that has profound effects on its victims, and processing these kits will unbind key DNA evidence linked to unsolved crimes in Florida and beyond,” she said.
Oberley Signs To Swim For U.S. Air Force Academy
November 19, 2015
Tatiana Nicole Oberley signed a Letter of Intent to swim for the U.S. Air Force Academy Thursday afternoon.
Present for the signing were her parents Mark and Virtudes Oberley and her older brother Ensign Joshua Oberley. Also attending were her coaches from the Greater Pensacola Aquatic Club, head coach Phil Kraus and head age group coach Greg Johnson. Tatiana is a senior at Pensacola Christian Academy where she carries a 4.0 GPA. She is a three time USA Swimming Scholastic All American. She currently plans to major in history at the Air Force Academy.
Pictured: (L-R) Coach Greg Johnson, Ensign Joshua Oberley, Virtudes Oberley, Tatiana Oberley (seated), Mark Oberley, and Coach Phil Kraus. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
‘Stand Your Ground’ Measure Falls In Florida House
November 18, 2015
A National Rifle Association-backed measure that could have made it easier legally for people to claim self-defense in shooting incidents failed to get through its first House committee on Tuesday.
A lobbyist for the 2nd Amendment group said after the meeting that the proposal will be back, though it is likely dead for the upcoming 2016 legislative session.
House Criminal Justice Chairman Carlos Trujillo joined four Democrats and Keystone Heights Republican Charles Van Zant in opposing the measure (HB 169), which proposed to shift the burden of proof to the state in cases involving Florida’s “stand your ground” law.
The controversial law says people can use deadly force and do not have a duty to retreat if they think it is necessary to prevent death or great bodily harm.
Trujillo, a Miami Republican and former prosecutor, said the “stand your ground” law works without the proposed change.
“If you’re looking at a scenario in which it’s one individual (against) one individual and one of them happens to be dead, how’s the state going to disprove a negative without having the ability to call you to testify?” Trujillo said.
“I’m sympathetic for the individuals who find themselves in bad situations, with bad facts and bad judges,” Trujillo continued. “But I’m also more sympathetic to women of domestic violence, young members of my community who are oftentimes killed, (and) individuals try to use a good law that was passed with noble purposes for very ignoble attempts.”
NRA lobbyist Marion Hammer said upon leaving the committee meeting that while the bill is dead for the 2016 session, the group will continue to push for the measure.
“It will be back until it passes, period,” Hammer said. “In the meantime, the people can pay attention and elect people who are more sympathetic to them than prosecutors.”
Asked if the gun rights group would target Trujillo in the future, Hammer said she is one to “never make predictions.”
A Senate version of the bill (SB 344) has cleared one committee and is scheduled to go before the Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations Subcommittee on Wednesday.
House sponsor Dennis Baxley, an Ocala Republican and one of the key architects of the “stand your ground” law, decided to push forward with a vote after Trujillo asked if he’d prefer to delay it.
“You’re talking about a basic tenet of American justice,” Baxley said during his closing comments before the panel. “This is the difference between being here and in Russia: You’re innocent until proven guilty and it is always the burden of the state. We would rather allow a guilty person go free than to convict an innocent one. Particularly somebody who was defending themselves and others from harm. That’s the kind of society we need.”
The bill was crafted after the Florida Supreme Court ruled that people who use the “stand your ground” defense have the burden of showing they should be shielded from prosecution. In such cases, pre-trial evidentiary hearings are held to determine whether defendants are immune from prosecution under the law. The bill called for placing the burden of proof on prosecutors in the evidentiary hearings.
Debra Harrison Rumberger, a lobbyist for the League of Women Voters of Florida, said the bill, combined with proposed measures to expand the rights of concealed-weapon permit holders to carry guns on state university and colleges campuses and to openly carry handguns, wouldn’t make Florida safer.
“This bill, as with open-carry and campus-carry, constitutes an attack on law enforcement and the legal process, while placing our citizenry in greater danger,” she said.
But Stacy Scott, the public defender for the 8th Judicial Circuit which includes Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Gilchrist, Levy and Union counties, said the burden of proof should be on the state attorney.
“They hold all the cards and wield all the power,” Scott said. “In order for that citizen to even have an immunity hearing … it’s very likely that they’ve already had to reject a plea offer and face very stiff penalties, years and decades in prison, in order to assert their right that they were right because they acted in self defense.”
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Man Charged With Burglarizing Vehicles At Molino Park Elementary, Other Locations
November 18, 2015
A man accused of burglarizing vehicles in the parking lot of Molino Park Elementary School Monday has been arrested by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office in connection with a several vehicle burglaries in the North Escambia area.
Brett Derel McDonald, 25, was charged with multiple counts of armed burglary of a vehicle, grand theft of a firearm, grand theft and petit theft. He remains in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $86,250.
About 7:50 Monday morning, a parent who had just walked her child into Molino Park Elementary School noticed McDonald in the school parking lot pulling on vehicle door handles before entering a Chevrolet Equinox. The vehicle owner told deputies that nothing was taken. The parent called the school and watched as McDonald went to more vehicles in the parking lot before being confronted by the school principal. The principal told deputies she knew McDonald because has a child in the school, and that he left the campus in a dark colored Mustang.
About 2 p.m., deputies responded to a vehicle burglary on Calderwood Court where the owner reported multiple items stolen, including a designer purse and wallet, paper work, credit cards and other items totaling about $285 in value.
About 2:30 p.m., deputies responded to another vehicle burglary in the 9000 block of Fowler Avenue. The owner reported that sometime during the past day, someone stole three firearms from his vehicle along with a box of ammunition.
About 3 p.m., a vehicle owner reported that a radar detector was taken from her Dodge Charger while it was parked during the school day at Molino Park Elementary.
The weapons, ammunition, wallet, purse, radar detector and other items were recovered when McDonald was taken into custody at his home in the 400 block of 9½ Mile Road. None of the stolen firearms were from vehicles the Molino Park campus, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Reimagine Flomaton Meeting Thursday Night
November 18, 2015
A volunteer meeting for Reimagine Flomaton will be held at 6:30 Thursday evening at the Flomaton Community Center.
Reimagine Flomaton will be held Saturday, February 20, 2016. Reimagine has held similar events in Century, Brownsville, Warrrington, Thomaston, GA, Santa Rosa County and Peru. Events have included clothing giveaways, free haircuts, free food, free health checks and displays from community organizations.
The Flomaton Community Center is located 628 McCurdy Street.
Pictured: Volunteers discuss Reimagine Flomaton last month during a meeting at the Flomaton Fire Department. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Local Players Named To All-Star Volleyball Team
November 18, 2015
Rosters have been announced for the 9th Annual Subway High School All-Star Volleyball game to be held Thursday, November 19 at the University of West Florida Field House at 6 p.m.
West Team roster:
Northview: Hanna Ging
Tate: Sydney Roberson, Hope Tourney, Deja Smith, Kristin Quina
Pine Forest: Alexis Lucas
West Florida: Brianna Parker, Lynn Arthur
Catholic: Hailey Fredrickson, Mirella Gatterdam, Kiley Brady, Madison Yarborough
East Hill: Karin Shull
Escambia: Alyssa Hubbart
PCA: Brianna Ross
Pensacola: Ariel Noethlich
Washington: Julia Grissett, Samantha Yonehiro
Head Coach: Kelly Comerford of Washington High School
Assistant Coach: Larry Lewis of Pine Forest High School
Assistant Coach: Meghan Triolo of Washington High School
East Team roster
Baker: Ashley Black
Central: Sarah Smith
Choctaw: Nakia McKinnie, Britney Kruegar
Crestview: Christia Johnson
Fort Walton: Kiva Malone
Gulf Breeze: Mady Smith, Julia Denby, Alison Von Brock
Jay: Bristin Campbell
Milton: Heidi Peoples, Mikaela Worley
Navarre: Nysha Frank
Niceville: Alexis Creasman, Shelby Young
Pace: Carlee Smith, Justice Gainey
Rocky Bayou: Maria Denbow
Head Coach: Gigi Vardai of Fort Walton Beach High School
Assistant Coach: Mark Gough of Pace High School
Final game rosters are subject to change.
The Subway High School All-Star Series, organized by Pensacola Sports, recognizes senior athletes in volleyball, football, men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s baseball, and women’s softball from Escambia, Santa Rosa, and Okaloosa County.
Tickets to the Subway High School All-Star Game are $8 at the gate and $6 with a canned good item. Pensacola Sports is again teaming with Manna Food Bank for a canned good drive and encouraging everyone to help families by bringing a canned good item.
Pictured top: West All-Star Volleyball team members Hope Tourney, Kristin Quina, and Sydney Roberson of Tate High School. Pictured inset: West team member Hanna Ging of Northview High School. Pictured: The West team at a practice this week. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia District Approves Upcoming School Year Calendars
November 18, 2015
The Escambia County School District has approved calendars for the next two school years.
The calendars begin school on August 10, and both years include a full week out of school at Thanksgiving (a combination fall break and Thanksgiving holiday).
The calendars were approved by the Escambia County School Board Tuesday evening.