Century Man Gets 15 Years In Prison For Drug Trafficking
June 16, 2014
A Century man has been sentenced to 15 years in state prison on drug charges that stemmed from a traffic stop in Pensacola.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop in August 2013 for improper window tint on Old Spanish Trail at the Moorings Apartments. The driver, 34-year old Kevin Lamar Brown of Ramar Street in Century, admitted to deputies that he did not have a valid driver’s license.
Inside the vehicle, deputies reported finding a plastic bag containing an unmarked pill bottle containing a large quantity of acetaminophen-hydrocodone pills and a digital scale.
Brown told deputies that he and a female had found the bag while visiting Wayside Park at the foot of the 3 Mile Bridge. He said he was taking the pills to a friend to see if they could be sold for money, according to an arrest report. Deputies also reported finding a plastic bag with crack cocaine and marijuana.
Brown was convicted of trafficking in a controlled substance (hydrocodone), possession of drug paraphernalia, cocaine possession and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.
Judge Terry Terrell also ordered Brown to pay $105, 568 in fines and court costs when he handed down the 15 year sentence.
Deputies Searching For Attempted Murder Suspect
June 16, 2014
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a man wanted for attempted murder.
Michael Jerome Gratton, 30, is wanted in connection to a double shooting that happened on May 6th.
Just after 7 p.m. that evening, an 18-year old was shot in the leg near the 2500 block of South Catherine Avenue and North “S” Street. The victim was a “trauma alert” as he was transported to Baptist Hospital by Escambia County EMS.
A few minutes later, a second shooting was reported a on West Yonge Street. The 20-year old male victim of that shooting was transported as a trauma alert to Sacred Heart Hospital. He was reportedly shot in the back, possibly with a shotgun.
If you know the whereabouts of Gratton, you are asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at a (850) 433-STOP.
Appeals Court Backs Man In Anonymous Public Records Request
June 16, 2014
Siding with a man who filed public-records requests without giving his name, an appeals court said the city of Greenacres, Fla., could not require him to fill out a form before obtaining the documents.
The 4th District Court of Appeal overturned a lower-court decision to dismiss the case filed by Joel Edward Chandler. The case stemmed from public-records requests that were submitted by email to the city but did not include the name of the sender.
The city clerk responded that the sender needed to fill out a form on the city website before receiving the documents. The form was not filled out and, ultimately, a lawsuit was filed under the state’s public-records law.
The city argued, in part, that it did not improperly block access to the records but that filling out the form was required as part of the process to obtain payment for costs associated with providing the documents, according to the ruling. But a three-judge panel of the appeals court rejected those arguments.
“In sum, the city could not properly condition disclosure of the public records to the then-anonymous requester on filling out the city’s form and giving an ‘address or other identifiable source for payment of the associated costs,’ ” said the opinion, written by Judge Martha Warner and joined by judges Melanie May and Spencer Levine. “The city could have sent an estimate of costs through e-mail to the requester just as it could through regular mail, had the request been made via paper by an anonymous requester. Requiring appellant (Chandler) to provide further identifying information prior to disclosure could have a chilling effect on access to public records and is not required by the Public Records Act.”
by The News Service of Florida
Election Watch: It’s Qualifying Week For Local Candidates
June 16, 2014
Today is the first day of qualifying week for candidates seeking local offices in Escambia County, Century and Pensacola. Friday is the last day to qualify.
Local offices of interest on the ballot this year are listed below along with the name of the incumbent currently holding that postition:
- Escambia County Commission District 2 – Gene M. Valentino
- Escambia County Commission District 4 – Grover C. Robinson, IV
- ECUA District 2 – Louis Benson
- ECUA District 4 – Dale Perkins
- Santa Rosa Island Authority- Thomas Campanella
- Escambia Soil and Water Conservation District Group 1 – Jacob Gilmore
- Escambia Soil and Water Conservation District Group 2 – Jeff DeWeese
- Escambia Soil and Water Conservation District Group 4 – Lynn Laird
- Century Town Council Seat 3 – Jacke Johnston
- Century Town Council Seat 4 – Gary E. Riley
- Century Town Council Seat 5 – Sandra McMurray Jackson
- Escambia County School Board District 1 – Jeff Bergosh
- Escambia County School Board District 2 – Gerald Boone
- Escambia County School Board District 3 – Linda Moultrie
- Pensacola Mayor- Ashton J. Hayward
- Pensacola City County District 2- Sherri F. Myers
- Pensacola City County District 4 – Larry B. Johnson
- Pensacola City County District 6 – Brian Spencer
- State Senator District 2 – Greg Evers
- State Representative District 1 – Clay Ingram
- State Representative District 2 – Mike Hill
Bill Signed Aimed At Honoring Veterans
June 16, 2014
Florida will redesign 11 military-related specialty license plates and add a new plate — the Combat Medical Badge plate — to the inventory as Gov. Rick Scott signed a bill (HB 559) into law intended to further honor veterans.
The law, which goes into effect July 1, also requires some editing of state laws, changing all references of the Korean Conflict to the Korean War and the Vietnam Era to the Vietnam War. The changes were requested by veterans.
“This legislation is one more way we thank our veterans for their service and sacrifice,” Scott said in a prepared statement. The bill will add related campaign medals or badges to the following already-existing plates: Florida National Guard; United States Armed Forces Reserve; Ex-POW; Pearl Harbor survivor; Operation Desert Storm; Operation Desert Shield; Operation Iraqi Freedom; Operation Enduring Freedom; Combat Action Badge; Vietnam War Veteran; and the renamed Korean Conflict Veteran.
Currently, only the Purple Heart and Combat Infantry Badge plates are stamped with the likenesses of the related campaign medals or badges.
The changes are expected to cost the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles $52,920 to do the redesigns.
by The News Service of Florida
ECUA Free Flood Debris Collection Ends
June 16, 2014
The free ECUA flood debris removal program has ended.
After June 16, normal ECUA policy regarding the collection of C&D materials will be back in force, and materials such as sheetrock, lumber and flooring, will be collected with an additional charge. Once materials are placed at the curb, ECUA customers may call (850) 476-0480 to request a quote for C&D debris removal. The ECUA can also provide roll off containers and dumpsters for removal of debris at an additional charge. Furniture and other large non-construction related items will continue to be collected weekly after June 16 free-of-charge as part of the ECUA’s bulk waste collection program.
For more information on ECUA residential sanitation and recycling programs, customers may visit the ECUA website at www.ecua.fl.gov, or contact customer service at (850) 476-0480.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
BayBears Over Wahoos 4-2
June 16, 2014
The Mobile BayBears broke a two-two tie with a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the fifth inning on their way to a 4-2 win over the Blue Wahoos in the series finale at Hank Aaron Stadium in Mobile.
Pensacola took a 2-1 lead in the top of the third inning on an RBI double by Yorman Rodriguez and a Devin Lohman sacrifice fly. The lead was short lived when Mobile answered with a run in the bottom of the inning. In the fifth inning, an error by Juan Silverio at third base opened the door for a pair of runs by Mobile which proved to be the difference in the game.
Fabian Williamson (L, 0-5) was on the mound when the BayBears scored the two go-ahead runs, thus saddling him with the loss. Both runs, however, were unearned. BayBear starter Charles Brewer (W, 3-1) picked up the win. He gave up 2 R/0 ER over 6.0 innings on four hits. He struck out eight against just two walks in his second consecutive win. Kaleb Fleck (S, 4) worked a perfect ninth inning to record his fourth save of the season.
Rodriguez led the way for the Wahoos offensively snapping an 0-for-15 slump with a 2-for-4 afternoon including a run scored and an RBI. Steve Selsky (2-for-3) also had a multi-hit game for Pensacola. Rey Navarro extended his on-base streak to a team-high 23 games with a walk in the third.
Pensacola will enjoy a three day break for the Southern League All-Star game. The Blue Wahoos will return to the field on Thursday, June 19 against the Huntsville Stars to open a five-game series.
by Tommy Thrall
Wahoos Even BayBear Series 8-5 With 11th Inning Win
June 15, 2014
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos got another huge night offensively from Ross Perez and a three-hit game from Devin Lohman to beat the Mobile BayBears 8-5 at Hank Aaron Stadium on Saturday night.
It was the second night that hundreds of Blue Wahoos fans traveled across the bay courtesy of the Blue Wahoos organization to see the team on the road. In all, more than 800 Blue Wahoos fans made the trip to Mobile to watch the Blue Wahoos over the last two nights, many of them opting to take advantage of the provided round-trip bus transportation.
Pensacola had to play catch up, coming back from two-run and three-run deficits late in the game. Lohman tied the game in the ninth inning with a two-run home run to force extra innings. In the 11th inning, Lohman led off with a single and scored later on an RBI double from Steve Selsky. Perez put the game out of reach with a two-run home run to make it 8-5.
Both Lohman and Perez had identical 3-for-6 games with two runs scored and two RBI. Rey Navarro went 1-for-5 to extend his on-base streak to 22 games, the longest streak by a Wahoo this season.
On the mound, Mikey O’Brien started and went 6.0 innings allowing 2 R/ER with a walk and five strikeouts. Carlos Contreras (W, 2-1) pitched well late in the game for Pensacola. He earned the win with three shutout innings and five strikeouts. James Walczak (S, 4) got the save by holding the BayBears scoreless in the bottom of the 11th. BayBears backup catcher Steve Rodriguez (L, 0-1) took the loss. Making his first professional appearance on the mound, Rodriguez allowed all three Wahoos runs in the 11th inning.
Pensacola can win the series with a win Sunday to close out the first half. RHP Michael Lorenzen (4-4, 2.41) will get the start for the Wahoos against BayBears RHP Charles Brewer (2-1, 2.32). First pitch is set for 2:05 p.m. from Hank Aaron Stadium.
by Tommy Thrall
Escambia 4-H Shows Off New Molino Home
June 15, 2014
An open house was held Saturday at the new Escambia County 4-H property on Chalker Road in Molino.
The site includes two parcels — a 79.5 acre lot that already includes a covered barn and will be home to most 4-H activities and a 28.7 parcel that will be used for livestock activities.
Construction should be complete within one to three years on facilities set to include restrooms, a small classroom, nature trails, campsites for tent camping, fire pit for outdoor cooking and group events, bird blind, archery area, low ropes course, a horse arena, and livestock facilities for shows, clinics, animal science seminars and field days. The facility will also allow 4-H’ers to study astronomy, meteorology, animal science, plant science, soil science, water quality, health sciences, environmental science and more.
“The utility of what 4-H has now at Langley Bell can easily be recreated on the new property,” Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry said.
4-H members, supporters, families, community leaders and politicians hopped on a tractor-pulled wagon Saturday for tours of the site, where neatly labeled signs help them envision the location of various activities.
The land sales were handled by Beck Properties, which made a $9,750 donation to 4-H Saturday to return the real estate transaction fees.
Night Work On I-10 At Hwy 29 In Escambia County
June 15, 2014
Drivers on I-10 in Escambia County will encounter nighttime lane closures Monday, June 15 and Tuesday, June 16 on the eastbound I-10 on ramp from northbound Highway 29 and the outside eastbound I-10 lane to east of milepost 10.75.
Lane restrictions will remain in effect 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. for roadway repair work. All planned construction activities are weather dependent and may be re-scheduled in the event of inclement weather.