Two Charged With Cantonment Vehicle Burglaries
January 9, 2015
Two Cantonment men have been charged in connection with burglary and grand theft in connection with break-ins on Winners Circle.
Bryan Douglas Lester, age 19 of McKenzie Road, was arrested this week on for felony unarmed burglary and grand theft for an alleged vehicle burglary on October 14. The owner of the vehicle reported that his driver’s door was found open, and he was missing a Garmin GPS and a Kodak camera. The suspect was caught on surveillance video leaving the scene in a four-door Nissan Frontier.
Later in the day, Lester was stopped by deputies, and they reported finding him in possession of a firearm taken from the same area that morning. Deputies received consent to search a trailer on Stefani Road where several stolen items were reportedly found.
Lester was also charged with grand theft of a firearm and felony burglary for stealing the shotgun found during the traffic stop. It was allegedly taken from a vehicle on Winner’s Circle early the morning of October 13.
Lester is being held in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $35,000.
Stephen Ray Mitchell, age 22 of Dolan Circle, was previously charged for the crimes; he remains in the Escambia County Jail on multiple additional charges with bond set at $299,000.
Bill: Accept Military ID’s For Florida Driver’s License Identification
January 9, 2015
Senator Don Gaetz today joined Iraq war veteran Senator Jeff Brandes (R-St. Petersburg) in introducing a bill to require government offices to recognize military-issued ID’s as valid identification in applying for Florida drivers’ licenses.
The companion bill in the House has been introduced by Representative Matt Gaetz (R-Fort Walton Beach).
“In Northwest Florida, men and women in uniform or who are retired military have access to secure bases where the most sophisticated weapons are designed and tested and from which highly sensitive and secret missions are launched,” according to Senator Gaetz (R-Niceville). “The vetting and clearances they undergo are certainly more detailed than getting a passport or birth certificate or other forms of identification. Yet, under current law, a military ID is not sufficient proof of identity to apply for or renew a driver’s license. That just doesn’t make sense and this bill will remedy the problem.”
The bill would ensure that active or retired military personnel with an identification card issued by the United States government would not have to produce any other form of identification in order to obtain a Florida driver’s license.
“Our bill not only clears out unnecessary bureaucratic underbrush, but it also shows respect to our uniformed military, many thousands of whom live and work in our area,” said Representative Gaetz. “We are proud to work on this issue with Senator Brandes, whose combat record as an infantry captain during the Iraq war and whose experience as a veteran make him highly sensitive to the needs and concerns of military members. This bill is part of our ongoing initiative to make Florida the ‘welcome home state’ for America’s military.”
Bill Would Allow Concealed Weapon Carry With No License During Evacuations
January 9, 2015
After a similar proposal died last year amid a contentious debate, Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, filed a bill Thursday that would allow Floridians to carry concealed weapons without licenses during times of mandatory emergency evacuations.
Brandes’ 2014 proposal drew criticism from the Florida Sheriffs Association, which raised questions about issues such as how long and where a person could continue to carry a concealed weapon without a license outside an evacuation area.
The National Rifle Association made clear last May it would seek to bring back the issue during the 2015 legislative session and described the sheriffs association as declaring “war on the Second Amendment.”
Brandes’ 2015 bill would make an exception to the state’s concealed-weapons laws. That exception would apply to an unlicensed person “who carries a concealed firearm, on or about his or her person while in the act of evacuating during a mandatory evacuation order issued during a state of emergency declared by the governor … or declared by a local authority.”
The proposal will be considered during the legislative session that starts in March.
by The News Service of Florida
Four Tate Players Named To All-State Class 7A Team
January 9, 2015
Four members of the Tate High School Aggie football team have been named to the Florida All-State Class 7A team.
Linebacker Marquis Cass (6-0, 220) was named to the first team defense. Christ Terrell was named to the second team defense, and Reggie Payne was named to the third team offense.
Tate quarterback Sawyer Smith received an All-State Class 7A team honorable mention.
Law Seeks To Finalize Last Year’s CareerSource Escarosa Name Change
January 9, 2015
It has been about year since the local nonprofit employment and training agency Workforce Escarosa rebranded as CareerSource Escarosa. The name change included one-stop service center in Pensacola, Century and Milton. Across the state, 24 regional workforce boards and nearly 100 one-stop career centers were renamed under the statewide title of CareerSource.
And the now, the change is one its way to being fixed into law.
Members of the Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee on this week advanced a proposal that replaces throughout state law all references to the former Workforce Florida, Inc., with the new name.
“We’ve already moved forward with this,” CareerSource Florida President Chris Hart told the committee. The name change, which occurred in the first quarter of 2014, is part of a rebranding of Workforce Florida to boost awareness and improve access to the employment-related agency. As part of the new brand, each region retained its own identifier:
Orlando-based marketing firm IDEAS was hired for nearly $500,000 to oversee the rebranding, which was authorized as part of the Regional Workforce Boards Accountability Act of 2012.
The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.
Pictured: The sign change last February at the main Careersource Escarosa Center in Pensacola, formerly known as Workforce Escarosa. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
HS Basketball: Jay Over Freeport, Tate Loses To Freeport, Niceville
January 9, 2015
Here are high school basketball scores from around the area Thursday:
Jay 46, Freeport 40
The Jay Royals defeated Freeport Thursday evening, 46-40. Justice Garcia led the Royals with 16, while Thomas Fischer added 14. Other scorers were: Victor Mishoe 5, Eric Trevino 5, Taylor Kelley 4 and Dallin Edwards 2.
The Royals will play Escambia Charter on Tuesday.
Pace 68, Tate 44
The Pace Patriots down the Tate Aggies Thursday night, 68-44. Christian Cass scored 13 for the Aggies. Other Tate scorers: Daniel Cafarella 8, Jordan Watkins 5, Robert Rush 5, Mike Roberts 4, Quintin McGhee 3, Jake Henry 2, Justin Baker 2, and Zach Phalen 2.
The Aggies will take on Crestview at 7 p.m. Friday.
GIRLS
Niceville 58, Tate 32
The Tate Lady Aggies fell to Niceville Thursday, 58-32, in a District 1-7A game.. Scoring for Tate: Victoria Samuel 11, Brianna Daniels 8, Callie Richardson 6, Valerie Samuel 3, Madison 2, and Amani McRae 2.
No Injuries In Kingsfield Train Versus Car Crash
January 8, 2015
There were no injuries in a collision between a train and passenger car Thursday afternoon in Cantonment.
About 1:30 p.m., a CSX engineer reported that his train had struck an occupied vehicle at the East Kingsfield Road crossing at Highway 95A. Ryan Collier, age 22 of Pensacola, had stopped his 2013 Dodge Avenger in traffic on East Kingsfield while waiting for the red traffic light at Highway 95A. The Dodge was not on the railroad crossing, but it was not fully clear from the path of the northbound CSX train, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The train clipped the back bumper of the vehicle, causing relatively minor damage to the Dodge. Collier continued to a nearby parking lot. He was not injured.
Any charges in the crash are pending, according to the FHP. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Escambia County EMS, and the Cantonment and Ensley stations of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos (above) by Kristi Price and (below) by Heather Murphy, click to enlarge.
Three Injured In Highway 29 Crash In Molino
January 8, 2015
Three people were injured in a two-vehicle rear-end type collision Thursday afternoon in Molino.
The accident happened about 12:30 on Highway 29 near Duxbury Avenue. The driver of a pickup truck apparently rear-ended a SUV in the southbound lane of Highway 29. The pickup truck then left the roadway and came to rest in an open area off the highway.
The injured were transported by ambulance to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola with injuries that were not considered life threatening.
Further details have not yet been released by the Florida Highway Patrol as they continue their investigation. The Molino and Cantonment Stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS also responded to the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
Photos: Icy Morning
January 8, 2015
It was cold, and in some instances, icy Thursday morning in North Escambia. On Highway 168, these trees were iced over using a sprinkler.
Do you have icy or cold photos to share? Email news@northescambia.com
Photos submitted by Terry Emmons for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Fire Destroys Shed, Fence
January 8, 2015
Fire destroyed a detached shed and a privacy fence Thursday morning. The fire was reported about 9:25 in the 500 block of Templehill Street, near the intersection of East Kingfield and Chemstrand roads. There were no injuries and no damage to any adjacent homes reported. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
