Minyard Reappointed As Medical Examiner
August 12, 2015
Andrea Minyard of Gulf Breeze has been reappointed as district medical examiner by Gov. Rick Scott. Minyard, of Gulf Breeze, is chief medical examiner of District 1, which includes Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton counties.
Minyard was reappointed for a term beginning August 7, 2015, and ending July 1, 2018. She was among four district medical examiners reappointed Tuesday by Scott.
One Murder Suspect On The Run, Two In Custody
August 11, 2015
One murder suspect has been taken into custody and one is still on the run, possibly in the North Escambia area, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Jeremiah Farrish, 24, and Santorialashay Robinson, 23, have been arrested. Warrants are still outstanding on Jesse Dontase Square, 28. Both are suspects in an early Saturday morning homicide.
About 5:45 a.m. Saturday, deputies found Eugenio Acosta Lopez inside a home in the 220 block of Lakeview Avenue suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased.
Farrish and Square were both the subjects of multi-agency police search at an apartment complex on Patterson Street in Atmore late Tuesday morning. That search turned up empty.
Anyone with information on Square’s whereabouts is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP, the Escambia County (FL) Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or their local law enforcement agency.
Man Charged With Attempted Homicide For July 31 Shooting
August 11, 2015
A man has been arrested in connection with a July 31 Moreno Court shooting.
Anthony Tyrone Brock was charged with attempted homicide, possession of a firearm with intent to commit a felon and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
At 1:15 a.m., deputies responded to the Shell Gas Station located at Old Corry and Navy Boulevard for a shooting victim. The victim, 34-year-old Lesean Washington, told deputies that he was shot during a drug transaction at Moreno Courts. He was transported to a local hospital and treated for non-life threatening injuries.
Job Fair Thursday Seeks To Fill 200 Positions At Two Area Prisons
August 11, 2015
The Alabama Department of Corrections will hold a job fair Thursday as they seek to hire 200 correctional officers for two Atmore prisons.
The job fair will be held from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Atmore City Hall at 201 East Louisville Avenue for positions at the the Fountain and Holman Correctional Facilities, located just north of Atmore.
Qualifications are:
- Standard high school diploma
- Valid driver’s license
- 19 years of age
- No felony convictions
- No domes tic violence convictions
- U.S. citizenship or naturalization
- Good health and physically fit
- Drug free
- Honorable discharge for former members of the armed forces
Benefits, according to the department of corrections are:
- $28,516.80 to $43,339 star ting salary
- Paid health and dental insurance
- 13 annual leave days, 13 sick days, 13 paid holidays
- 21 days paid military leave
- Annual salary increases
- Longevity bonus after five Years
- State retirement plan
Applicants must have the ability to pass a written exam, background check and drug tests. A second job fair will be held October 1, with necessary testing scheduled for October 9 at Atmore City Hall.
One Injured In Highway 29, Molino Road Wreck
August 11, 2015
At least one person was injured in a two vehicle crash at Highway 29 and Molino Road Monday afternoon.
The accident happened about 5:35 p.m. and blocked the northbound lanes of Highway 29 for over half an hour. A 22-year old female was transported by ambulance to a Pensacola hospital with injuries that were not considered life threatening.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol; further details have not been released.
Pictured top: This vehicle collided with a sign post after the collision with a vehicle in the intersection of Highway 29 and Molino Road Monday afternoon. Pictured below: This vehicle (moved prior to the photos) came to rest in the intersection. Pictured inset: Two photos showing the damage to the tire on the vehicle. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Maintains Flood Insurance Rating
August 11, 2015
Escambia County has maintained its flood insurance rating.
Escambia County will retain its current rating as a CRS Class 6 community in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Community Rating System (CRS). The NFIP’s CRS is a voluntary incentive program that recognizes and encourages community floodplain management activities that exceed the minimum NFIP requirements. As a result, flood insurance premium rates are discounted to reflect the reduced flood risk resulting from the community actions meeting the three goals of the CRS:
- Reduce flood damage to insurable property;
- Strengthen and support the insurance aspects of the NFIP, and
- Encourage a comprehensive approach to floodplain management.
The floodplain management activities implemented by the county will continue to qualify flood insurance policy holders in the community for a 20 percent discount in the premium costs for NFIP policies issued or renewed in Special Flood Hazard Areas.
The announcement noted that Preferred Risk Policies are not eligible for the CRS discount. Also, standard rated flood insurance policies in certain zones are limited to a CRS discount of 10 percent. The rates for those zones already reflect significant premium reductions
The CRS rating for the community will automatically be renewed annually as long as compliance with NFIP floodplain management regulations continues.
Expect Delays On Highway 4 In Santa Rosa County
August 11, 2015
Traffic on State Road 4 between Cold Water Creek Bridge and Highway 87 in Santa Rosa County will encounter alternating lane closures through, Friday, August 14 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. as crews place a final layer of asphalt on the roadway. Flagmen will be on site to safely direct traffic through the work zone.
All planned construction activities are weather dependent and may be rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. Motorists are reminded by the Florida Department of transportation to obey the posted speed limit and pay attention to traffic flaggers when driving through work zones.
Bill Aims To Shield Churches That Won’t Perform Marriages Against Beliefs
August 11, 2015
A Central Florida Republican filed a bill Monday that would shield churches and clergy members from liability if they refuse to perform marriages that violate their beliefs.
The bill, filed by Rep. Scott Plakon, R-Longwood, comes after the U.S. Supreme Court in June ruled that same-sex couples have a fundamental right to marry. After the ruling, Plakon went on Facebook and said he and Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, would file what was dubbed the “Pastor Protection Act” to safeguard clergy members from being forced to perform marriages contrary to their principles.
The bill filed Monday would go beyond clergy members, applying to churches, religious organizations and their employees. It also would go beyond solemnizing marriages, applying to such things as providing services and facilities. Clergy and others in the bill would not be required to take part in marriages or related activities “if such an action would cause the church, organization, or individual to violate a sincerely held religious belief of the entity or individual,” the bill said.
The proposal, which will be considered during the 2016 legislative session, would provide a shield from criminal or civil liability and also would provide protections for religious organizations’ tax exemptions, government contracts, grants and licenses.
Nadine Smith, executive director of the advocacy group Equality Florida, criticized such proposals last month after Plakon posted the information of Facebook. She called the issue an “invented problem” and said ministers already can refuse to marry couples.
by The News Service of Florida
Pawnbroker Arrested For Dealing In Stolen Property
August 11, 2015
A Niceville pawnbroker was arrested in Escambia County following an investigation by multiple law enforcement agencies.
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam announced Monday that pawnbroker Bryan Kirk, 36, was arrested for dealing in stolen gold and jewelry, a second degree felony. The department’s Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, and the State Bureau of Investigation in Alabama conducted a month-long investigation into allegations that Kirk knowingly purchased and sold stolen gold and jewelry through a gold refinery. Approximately $10,000 worth of gold was seized at the time of Kirk’s arrest.
“I thank all of our partnering law enforcement agencies for their collaboration on this investigation involving stolen gold and jewelry,” stated Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam.
“I am proud of this cooperative, multi-agency effort and the actions on the part of Escambia County Sheriff’s Property Crimes investigators which led to this arrest,” stated Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan.
The Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement, an office within the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, protects Florida’s agriculture and consumers through professional law enforcement in support of all the regulatory aspects of the department
Wahoos Drop To B’ham
August 11, 2015
One of the areas that Pensacola Blue Wahoos manager Pat Kelly wanted to see improve in the second half was the team’s bullpen.
The Blue Wahoos used three relievers Monday, who allowed one run on seven hits and one walk over 6.1 innings and struck out four.
Despite the solid performances by Jacob Johnson, Joel Bender and Kyle McMyne in relief of starter Cody Reed, Pensacola dropped its second straight game to Southern League North Division leaders the Birmingham Barons, 7-2, in front of 4,136 at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
However, the Blue Wahoos remained tied for second place with the Mississippi Braves in the second half in the Southern League South Division at 25-19 (50-62).
The bullpen got its opportunity to show its stuff when Pensacola left-hander Cody Reed was chased after 2.2 innings. Reed came over in the Johnny Cueto trade July 26 with the Kansas City Royals and was making a much-anticipated Double-A start at home.
Kelly said the relievers kept Pensacola in the game. The Barons had the bases loaded in the second and seventh innings and runners at first and third in the third inning but couldn’t get a run across the plate.
“They did a great job,” Kelly said. “We had a couple of opportunities and they kept us in the game.”
Reed entered the game 2-0 in two starts on the road with a 0.60 ERA, giving up one run in 15 innings. The Southern League pitcher of the week, though, promptly faced nine batters and gave up five runs in the first inning to Birmingham. However, in the second inning he struck out the top of the Barons’ order.
But when the struggling Reed walked in a run in the third inning, he was pulled. His line was: 2.2 innings, six earned runs, three hits, five walks and three strikeouts.
Kelly said he liked that Reed kept his composure despite being in trouble most of his start.
“His command was a little off,” Kelly said. “He really competes. He came out in the second inning and struck out the side. I liked what I saw. He didn’t give in.”
Meanwhile, Birmingham starter Frankie Montas shut down the Blue Wahoos lineup over the first five innings. He allowed four hits one run and zero earned runs walked two and struck out five. Rated the No. 89 prospect in Major League Baseball, Montas improved to 4-3 and lowered his ERA to 2.59.
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos play the final game of a five-game series at 6:35 p.m. Tuesday against the Chicago White Sox Double-A affiliate the Birmingham Barons.