Sheriff’s Office, Escambia Firefighters Team Up To Save Kitten
September 19, 2015
Escambia Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office teamed up to save kitten Friday morning.
K-9 Deputy Tim Taylor came across a woman at Airport Boulevard and W Street that was distraught because a kitten was stuck near the wheel of her car. Deputy Taylor worked to removed the frightened kitten who had been hanging on for dear life. He realized he would need gloves for the job, so he called for the assistance of Escambia Fire Rescue.
A crew from the Brent Fire Station responded, and they worked together to rescue the kitten which was transported by Fire Rescue to the Escambia County Animal Shelter for evaluation. The kitten was just fine and will be available for adoption after a five-day hold, according to a county spokesperson.
Firefighters have named the kitten “Spot”, like a fire station Dalmatian.
Pictured. Firefighters and an Escambia County deputy work to save kitten Friday morning on Airport Boulevard. Pictured inset: The kitten, now named “Spot”. Pictured below (courtesy Julia M. Carney): Escambia Fire Rescue Sta. 3 members with Spot. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
The Band Perry Takes Over Escambia County High In Atmore
September 19, 2015
Award winning country music group The Band Perry made a surprise visit to Escambia County High School in Atmore Friday. “We literally woke up and were like, ‘Yeah, let’s go surprise/hang out with the Blue Devils’,” the band posted on Facebook. And on Twitter, the group called the “awesomest TBP (The Bank Perry) takeover ever.” Photo courtesy The Band Perry for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Man Gets Life For Ensley Shooting
September 19, 2015
An Escambia County man will spend the rest of his life in prison for a 2008 shooting.
Reginald Jerome Smith was convicted by an Escambia County jury of second degree murder and immediately sentenced by Judge Linda Nobles to life in state prison as a prison releasee reoffender. Smith is not eligible for parole and will spend the rest of his life in prison, according to State Attorney Bill Eddins.
This case was previously reversed as a result of a finding by the Florida Supreme Court that a standard jury instruction was incorrect.
On January 16, 2008, Reginald Smith shot Mary Ann Spencer one time resulting in a fatal head wound. The shooting occurred at the home they shared on East Ensley Street.
High School Football Finals
September 19, 2015
Here are high school football final scores from around the area tonight:
FLORIDA
- Chipley 30, Northview 14 [Read more, photos...]
- Tate 24 PHS 16 [Read more, photos...]
- West Gadsden 30, Jay 6
- Pace 24, Washington 7
- Jesuit (LA) 28, Escambia 17
- Pine Forest 56, Gulf Breeze 17
- Milton 42, Catholic 21
- Mosley 31, West Florida 24
- Navarre 16, Choctaw 14
- Blountstown 34, South Walton 21
- Walton 65, Baker 48
ALABAMA
- Flomaton 34, Southern Choctaw 8
- Jackson 49, Escambia County 6
- T.R. Miller 30, Hillcrest 20
- UMS Wright 45, W.S. Neal 21
- Escambia Academy 35, Crenshaw Christian 13
Local Jobless Mark Improves
September 19, 2015
The latest job numbers released Friday show the unemployment level holding steady to slightly increasing in the three county North Escambia area.
Escambia County’s unemployment rate fell from 5.7 percent in July to 5.4 percent in August. There were 7,642 people reported unemployed during the period. One year ago, unemployment in Escambia County was 6.6 percent.
Santa Rosa County unemployment decreased from 5.1 to 4.8 percent from July to August. Santa Rosa County had a total of 3,612 persons still unemployed. The year-ago unemployment rate in Santa Rosa County was 5.7 percent.
In Escambia County, Alabama, unemployment decreased from 8.1 percent in July to 7.7 percent in August. That represented 1,110 people unemployed in the county during the month. One year ago, the unemployment rate in Escambia County, Alabama, was 8.6 percent.
Florida’s unemployment rate for August stood at 5.3 percent, down 0.2 percentage points from a revised number for July. The latest monthly numbers show an estimated 507,000 unemployed Floridians in August, about 10,000 fewer than in July, out of a workforce of 9.5 million, according to the state Department of Economic Opportunity. The state’s unemployment rate continues to hover just above the national mark, which went from 5.3 percent in July to 5.1 percent for August. Florida’s monthly jobs numbers were driven by improvements in fields such as education, health and hospitality. Some of the monthly gains were offset by drops in construction, retail and local-government jobs.
Alabama’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, at 6.2 percent in August, was unchanged from July’s rate of 6.2 percent and was below the year-ago rate of 6.5 percent.
The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.
Tate Celebrates Homecoming, Bell Named Queen (With Photo Gallery)
September 19, 2015
Tate High School celebrated homecoming Friday night. Alli Bell was named 2015 Homecoming Queen for the Aggies.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Keith Garrison, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Weekly Traffic Alerts
September 19, 2015
According to the Florida Department of Transportation, drivers will encounter traffic disruptions Sunday through Friday, September 25 on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
- U.S. 98 between the Pensacola Bay Bridge and the Gulf Breeze Zoo in Santa Rosa County. Alternating lane closures 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 20 through Friday, Sept. 25 Crews will pave and perform shoulder widening.
- U.S. 90 (Scenic Highway) emergency repair at the intersection of Scenic Highway Circle. No lane closures are anticipated, however, traffic flaggers will be on site to assist with traffic control as construction vehicles enter and exit the work area.
- State Road 297 (Pine Forest Road) between Nine Mile Road and Mobile Highway. Operation will require slow moving vehicles as crews replace reflective pavement markers from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 20 and Monday, Sept. 21.
- Westbound Interstate 10 (I-10) between Scenic Highway (Exit 17) and Davis Highway (Exit 13) in Escambia County. Alternating lane closures beginning Monday, Sept. 21 and continuing for approximately two weeks. Lane closures will be in effect from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. as crews place asphalt.
- Interstate 110 from I-10 to Maxwell Street (Exit 3). Operation will require slow moving vehicles as crews replace reflective pavement markers from 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22 to 5 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23.
Drivers are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling through a work zone. All planned construction activities are weather dependent and may be rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Tate Beats PHS (With Photo Gallery)
September 19, 2015
Pensacola High was one of just two teams to top the Tate Aggies last season, but the Aggies had different plans this year. Tate beat Pensacola High 24-16 for a big homecoming win at Pete Gindl Stadium in Cantonment.
Tate scored in the first half with a 52-yard touchdown run from Alondo Thompkins, a 28-yard run from Sawyer Smith, and a 36-yard field goal from Evan Legassey. Thompkins added a 49-yard touchdown run in the fourth.
The Aggies (3-0) will host Niceville next Friday night at 7:30.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Keith Garrison, click to enlarge.
Chipley Downs Northview 30-14 (With Photo Gallery)
September 19, 2015
The Chipley Tigers earned a 30-14 win over the Northview Chiefs Friday night in Chipley. The Tigers ran up 16 unanswered points in last five minutes of the game to seal the win.
Chipley was first on the board on a short run with 10:07 to go int he second quarter. Northview scored with 8:58 to go in the half on a Luke Ward touchdown. With a good extra point, the Chiefs took a 7-6 lead. With 5:49 remaining in the second, the Tigers made it 14-7 with a 40-yard touchdown pass.
Northview tied it up 14-14 with a Gavin Grant touchdown in the last seconds of the third quarter, before Chipley went on their 16 point scoring run in the fourth.
The Northview Chiefs will play host to Vancleave, MS, next Friday night, 7:00, at Tommy Weaver Memorial Stadium in Bratt.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Gary Amerson, click to enlarge.
Florida Supreme Court Makes Fashion Statement For Judges
September 19, 2015
The Florida Supreme Court says the issue comes down to public trust and confidence.
And from now on, that means judges can only don solid black robes when they head into court.
Despite arguments that it doesn’t need to act as the fashion police, the Supreme Court on Thursday approved a rule that will prevent judges throughout the state from wearing colorful robes or other adornments while presiding over cases. Justices said in an eight-page decision that judges “wearing different colored robes or robes with varying embellishments” could lead to uncertainty for people going before courts.
“Depending on the color or pattern of the robe or the type of embellishment worn, some may wonder whether the presiding judge is a ‘real judge’ or whether the judge will take the proceedings seriously,” the decision said. “Robe color also could be seen as a reflection of a judge’s mood or attitude that day. Should a defendant facing the death penalty feel trepidation when the presiding judge appears in a red robe or feel more at ease when the robe is green? The possibility that the unique attire of the judge assigned to one’s case could raise these concerns and thereby diminish public trust and confidence in the proceedings is not acceptable.”
While it’s not clear from the decision how many judges might have ditched traditional black for something more colorful, the rule drew some opposition before it was approved.
Maybe most notably, the Conference of District Court of Appeal Judges said in a May filing that it “does not see any need” for the rule.
“The conference is not aware of any instances in which the use of judicial robes other than black robes without embellishments has been detrimental to the administration of justice, nor any inappropriate circumstances which it believes would be curtailed by the proposed rule,” the group said.
Similarly, Broward County Circuit Judge Merrilee Ehrlich wrote in an April filing that the issue of judicial robes should be handled on a case-by-case basis. She wrote that a judge “need not be required to have the literal appearance of severity (black,unadorned robes), only solemnity.”
“Historically, the respect was accorded austere, plain black judicial robes designed for my brethren, at the time, older, somber-appearing men,” Ehrlich wrote. “I wear a simple white lace collar on my plain black robes to add a touch of femininity to the dignity of the robe. It is equally important for the Florida Supreme Court to acknowledge that we now have a diverse bench.”
Chief Justice Jorge Labarga and justices Barbara Pariente, R. Fred Lewis, Peggy Quince, Ricky Polston and James E.C. Perry approved Thursday’s decision. Justice Charles Canady concurred in the result, though he did not sign on to the decision.
The court said it has “no doubt that the clear majority of judges conduct themselves in the most exemplary manner and hold themselves to the highest standards.” But it said that is not the case with all judges and that the rule can help bolster trust and confidence in the judiciary.
“The public should not have to guess as to the meaning of different colored, patterned, or embellished robes,” the decision said. “Promoting uniformity in judicial attire, by requiring all judges to wear unembellished, solid black robes, will no doubt avoid these concerns and promote public trust and confidence. The people of Florida have a right to expect equal justice every day in every court in this state, and should not have to question whether equal justice is being dispensed based on the color of a judge’s robe.”
by Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida