Police Seek Man That Burglarized Vehicles In School Parking Lot
January 10, 2015
THE SUSPECT HAS BEEN ARRESTED. CLICK FOR AN UPDATE
The Flomaton Police Department is seeking the public’s help to identify a suspect that burglarized vehicles on a local school campus while students were in class.
The burglaries occurred Wednesday in the parking lot of Flomaton High School. The suspect entered the parking lot and stole Yeti brand coolers from two vehicles and later returned and attempted to break the window out of one of the vehicles.
The suspect is described as a white male wearing blue jeans and a dark color sweatshirt with a hood. When he returned, he was wearing a bright orange long sleeve shirt and blue jeans. The suspect’s vehicle was described as an approximately 2000 year model Chevrolet Blazer, two door, gold or champagne in color.
Anyone with information on the vehicle or suspect is asked to notify the Flomaton Police Department at (251) 296-5811.
Pictured: Surveillance images from the Flomaton High School parking lot showing an alleged burglar and his vehicle. Images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
No Injuries In Molino Crash
January 9, 2015
There were no injuries in a two vehicle traffic accident this afternoon at Molino Road and southbound Highway 29 involving a pickup truck and a car. The accident caused a brief traffic delay on Molino Road. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Settles Lawsuit Over 2009 Traffic Accident In Century
January 9, 2015
The Escambia County Commission voted Thursday night to settle a lawsuit over a 2009 traffic accident in Century by paying $60,000. Plaintiff Jessica Imholz, who was 17 at the time, was a passenger in a Nissan that ran a stop sign at Old Flomaton Road and East Highway 4 as was t-boned by a pickup.
Imholz and her parents, Mark and Jessica, filed suit in 2011 against several parties – including Escambia County, the Florida Department of Transportation and the Town of Century — claiming the parties were negligent and knew the intersection lacked properly visible signage and was dangerous. The Town of Century was later dismissed from the suit.
The accident happened about 4:30 p.m. on November 20, 2009, when the driver of the Nissan, Ryan D. Rodarte, 23, of Madison, AL, ran a stop sign at the end of Old Flomaton Road and traveled into the path of a pickup traveling east on Highway 4. The force of the impact sent the car about 85 feet into a nearby ditch.
Rodarte and and three passengers in the car were transported by ambulance to Jay Hospital. The Florida Highway Patrol identified the passengers as Jessica J. Imholz, 17, of Blythewood, SC; Demario Jordain, 18, of Columbia, SC; and Heather Dorner, 19, of Madison, AL. Imholz’s injuries were classified as severe at the time of the crash; she was later transferred by LifeFlight from Jay Hospital to Baptist Hospital in Pensacola.
Pictured above: Four people including then 17-year Jessica Imholz, were injured in the this Nissan in a two vehicle accident late in the afternoon of November 20, 2009, in Century. Pictured below: The driver of this GMC truck was not injured. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
County Approves Three-Year Contract With Administrator Brown
January 9, 2015
The Escambia County Commission voted Thursday night to extend the contract of Escambia County Administrator Jack Brown.
His contract, with an annual salary of $170,000, was extended for three years, plus an option for the board to approve two, one year extensions. The salary amount was based upon similar positions in the state.
Brown will also receive a $500 per month and will receive annual leave accrual at the level of a five-year employee. If terminated, he would be eligible for severance pay equal of to 25-percent of the annual salary. The three-year contract begins January 9, 2015, and runs through January 8, 2018.
Brown previously accepted a one year contract and moved from Perry, FL, where he was serving as the Taylor County administrator.
The contract was approved by a 3-0 vote, with Commissioners Lumon May and Grover Robinson absent from the meeting.
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.