Alabama Man Claims $54K Lottery Ticket Sold On Nine Mile Road
December 23, 2014
An Alabama man has claimed a $54,000 prize for a winning Florida Lottery Fantasy 5 ticket sold last week at a Nine Mile Road store.
Claude R. Mitchell of Mobile purchased the ticket for the December 18 drawing at the Publix on West Nine Mile Road at Pine Forest Road. The ticket was one of four winning tickets worth $54,467.31. Other winning tickets matching all five numbers were sold in Cape Coral, Dunnellon and Miami.
The 287 tickets matching four numbers won $122 each. Another 9,461 tickets matching three numbers are worth $10 each, and93,324 tickets holders won a Quick Pick ticket for picking two numbers.
The winning numbers for the December 18 drawing were 2-10-16-22-31.
Legal Threats Over Nativity Scene Spark ‘Holy Night’ In Jay
December 23, 2014
“O night divine, the night when Christ was born; O night, O Holy night….”
The words to the classic Christmas carol “O Holy Night” echoed across the heart of Jay Monday night as nearly 300 people gathered at a corner lot at the town’s only traffic light. A huge turnout for a town of about 575 people.
“It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth…”
Old and young, preachers, friends and neighbors, Baptists, Methodist — from all walks of life — they gathered to celebrate that night in Bethlehem when Jesus Christ was born. Their meeting in front of a Christmas tree and a vintage Nativity scene was sparked by a letter a few weeks ago from an attorney for a Wisconsin group that represents agnostics and atheists claiming that a nativity display at the town hall was illegal.
For the first Christmas in about 40 years, the Nativity scene was moved from the town hall and placed on corner lot by the Santa Rosa Ministerial Association. Following the first report of of the Nativity scene’s fate on NorthEscambia.com, emotions in Jay ranged from outrage to disbelief that some lawyer hundreds of miles away would send such a letter, and outage and disbelief that the group claimed the letter was the result of a complaint from one of their neighbors in the close-knit town.
“We can blame this group; we can blame this town, we can blame governments, we can blame all these other people,” event organizer Nick Jackson said, “but look what is doing amongst us.”
They celebrated the fact that thanks to social media, and thanks to extensive media coverage, their little Nativity scene and the message it carries had spread far beyond their little town.
“Look around you tonight. Look what God is doing in this community. Look what God is doing among your church and your household,” Jackson said. “He is stirring us again. He is reviving the believer to stand and to speak out.”
Jackson said the entire episode had sparked revival in Jay and a Christmas celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ like none before.
“O night divine, O night when Christ was born…”
For more photos from the event, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
CrossFaith Members Bring Christmas Cheer To ‘The Retreat’
December 23, 2014
Members of CrossFaith Church in Molino paid a special visit Monday to The Retreat, operated by the Council on Aging of West Florida. The Retreat offers a stimulating day experience for older adults with physical and cognitive impairments. Participants enjoy a full day of activities, social interaction and recreation in a safe, protective at-home like atmosphere.
While at The Retreat, the CrossFaith group played bingo with the participants and sang Christmas carols to them.
Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Gets 10 Additional Years In Drug Case
December 23, 2014
A Cantonment man has been sentenced to another 10 years in state prison following another drug related conviction.
Johnathan Wayne Glass, 38, was convicted by a Santa Rosa County jury of trafficking in methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. Immediately following the trial, Santa
Rosa County Circuit Court Judge John F. Simon sentenced Glass to 10 years in state prison with a minimum mandatory of three years. Judge Simon ordered the 10 year sentence to run consecutively to a 15 year prison sentence he had previously imposed on Glass in September.
On February 21, 2013, members of the Santa Rosa Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit executed a search warrant at the residence Glass shared with his girlfriend, Victoria Cain, at Piney Woods Place Apartments in Milton.
During the execution of the search warrant, officers found a trafficking amount of methamphetamine along with drug paraphernalia and numerous other items used to manufacture methamphetamine.
The search warrant had been obtained after Glass brought sulfuric acid into the home on February 20, to use during the process of manufacturing methamphetamine. Glass left the bottle of acid on a bathroom counter where a 3-year old child drank the acid. As a result, Glass was charged and convicted on September 18, 2014, by a Santa Rosa County Jury of child neglect causing great bodily harm, permanent disability, or permanent disfigurement. Judge Simon sentenced Glass to 15 years in prison in that case.
Glass is also charged with conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine and unlawful possession of listed chemicals. Those charges are set for trial on January 20, 2015. He faces a maximum possible sentence of 30 years in prison in that case.
Victoria Cain was also arrested as a result of her involvement and entered a plea to aggravated child abuse, child abuse causing great bodily harm, trafficking in methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of prescription drugs without a prescription, conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine and unlawful possession of listed chemical.
Cain testified at both trials against Glass. She is set for sentencing on February 4, 2015, before Circuit Judge Marci Goodman and faces a maximum possible sentence of 135 years.
Minor Injuries In Late Night West Roberts Crash
December 23, 2014
One person received minor injuries in a single vehicle crash late Monday night. The accident happened about 11:55 p.m. on West Roberts Road near Tate Road. A young female driver was transported to an area hospital by ambulance. The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Further details have not been released. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
Century Offices To Close December 26 Rather Than Christmas Eve
December 23, 2014
The Town of Century normally closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, but this year town leaders have decided to close town hall on Thursday, December 25 and Friday, December 26 to allow employees to enjoy a four-day weekend. Town offices will be open on December 24.
The closure schedule change in include all town departments such as water and gas. For more information, contact the town at (850) 256-3208.
Supreme Court: Another Circuit Judge Needed For Escambia, Santa Rosa
December 23, 2014
After lawmakers have turned down requests in recent years for more trial judges, the Florida Supreme Court on Monday said the state needs an additional three circuit judges and 32 county judges — including an additional circuit judge in the 1st Judicial Circuit, which includes Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton counties.
“The First Judicial Circuit continues to experience a heavy criminal workload as well as a steady number of tobacco cases, which frequently go to trial and thus require significant judicial labor,” the Supreme Court said.
The request came in an annual process known as a “certification of need” to the Legislature, which ultimately decides whether to approve new judges.
“As the state economy continues to steadily improve, we recognize that in a post-recessionary period competing demands for state funding persist across state government,” the Supreme Court said in a 10-page document. “We also note that, due in large part to the recession, the judicial branch has had no increase in trial court judges since 2007, despite a documented need.”
Video Visitation Coming To Santa Rosa County Jail
December 23, 2014
Video visitation is coming soon to the Santa Rosa County Jail, according to the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office Detention Division. Complete details are still being finalized, but the system will even allow visitors to use the system from their homes. There will be a charge for the service. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Alleged Drug Dealer Beats Century Man Over Unpaid Drug Debt
December 22, 2014
A local man has been charged with allegedly beating another man with a pipe in a Century street over a drug debt.
The 61-year old victim told Escambia County deputies that he was walking in the area of Jefferson Avenue and Mincy Court in Century when he was attacked by 33-year old Johnnie Leethomas Carter. The victim said he drove up, got out of his car, and struck him several times in the face with his fist before hitting him in the back of the head with a metal pipe.
The victim told deputies, according to an arrest report, that Carter beat him because he had not paid up for a previous drug deal. He said he could positively identify Carter from the neighborhood and previous drug deals.
The victim was transported by Escambia County EMS to Jay Hospital with a bloody nose, a profusely bleeding busted lip and a large knot and cut on the back of his head.
Deputies located Carter a short time later and placed him under arrest during a traffic stop at Jefferson Avenue and Pond Street. On Carter’s person, deputies reported finding a plastic bag containing what tested positive for crack cocaine.
Carter was charged with felony possession of crack cocaine and felony aggravated battery causing bodily harm. Deputies also seized his 2007 Lincoln MKX and $523 in cash.
Carter was released from the Escambia County Jail on on a $5,000 bond.
Fight Between Brothers Ends With Cantonment Stabbing
December 22, 2014
A domestic dispute between brothers ended with a stabbing Sunday night in Cantonment.
It happened just after 9 p.m. on Joshua Drive near Harlington Street. According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, two brothers got into a fight. One brother, about 17-years old, was stabbed and transported by ambulance to an area hospital for treatment. He is expected to face domestic violence charges.
Nicholas Anthony Deluca, 19, was charged with the stabbing. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail without bond a charge of aggravated battery using a deadly weapon.
Further details have not been released.