Man Convicted In Local Travel Fraud Scheme
February 13, 2014
Michael Lee Mitchell has been found guilty of grand theft and aggravated white collar crime by an Escambia County jury.
Mitchell, a resident of South Carolina , sent a sales team to Pensacola during July and August 2008 and fraudulently sold travel club memberships under the name of Elite Escapes International to approximately 50 area citizens, obtaining over $84,000.00 from them. Mitchell solicited the public through mail and telephone calls and offered free gifts to attend the sales presentations.
Victims who attended the presentations were promised discounted travel in exchange for their money. But those victims were never provided what they were promised, according to prosecutors.
Mitchell faces up to 45 years in prison when he is sentenced in April.
One Injured In Highway 97 Car, 18-Wheeler Crash
February 12, 2014
A Milton man was seriously injured in a two vehicle crash involving an 18-wheeler and a car Wednesday morning on Highway 97 in Walnut Hill.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 34-year old Jason Turner of Milton was southbound in a curve on Highway 97 south of Howell Road when he allowed his 2012 Chrysler 200 to cross the center line and into the path of a northbound 2012 International semi. The semi driver, 23-year old David Creach of Pensacola, saw the vehicle enter the northbound lane veered to right shoulder until its right side was against the tree line.
Turner continued until he struck the two axles of the semi trailer, with his vehicle then rotating across Highway 97, coming to rest partially in the southbound lane. The semi continued in a northerly path until it came to a controlled stop in the wood line on the northbound shoulder of Highway 97.
Turner was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in serious condition. The driver of the truck sustained minor injuries but was not transported to the hospital.
According to the FHP, Turner was cited for failing to drive within a single lane. Highway 97 was completely shutdown by the 8:12 a.m. wreck, with lane closures continuing until the roadway was completely reopened about 2 p.m.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Atmore Ambulance and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Slight Chance More Rain Tonight; Sunny For Thursday
February 12, 2014
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: A 20 percent chance of rain before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32. Northwest wind around 10 mph.
- Thursday: Partly sunny, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 56. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 34. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Friday: Sunny, with a high near 67. Light west wind becoming southwest 10 to 15 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
- Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers before midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 40. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph becoming north after midnight.
- Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 62. North wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
- Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 39. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 70. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
- Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 46. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Washington’s Birthday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 72.
- Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51.
- Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 71.
- Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48.
- Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 71.
Burglar Shot In Walnut Hill Enters Plea
February 12, 2014
A burglar shot last summer by a Walnut Hill homeowner has pleaded no contest to the charges against him.
Ricky DeWayne Taylor, now 34, broke into the victim’s home on Rockaway Creek Road and began removing items. The victim unexpectedly returned and caught Taylor and co-defendant Teresa Sunday in the act. Sunday, who was acquainted with the victim, had called him earlier that day to lure him away from the home to meet her at a local pool hall.
The victim held them at gunpoint with a .38 caliber revolver and contacted the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. As the victim was speaking with dispatchers, Taylor lunged toward him. The homeowner fired a .38 caliber revolver, striking Taylor in the leg and grazing Sunday on the left cheek. Taylor was alert and conscious when he was transferred to LifeFlight to be airlifted to Baptist Hospital in Pensacola. He was charged with burglary, larceny, criminal mischief property damage and battery.
Sunday, age 35 of Century, pleaded guilty to charges of burglary of an unoccupied dwelling and grand theft of a dwelling. In January, she was sentenced by Judge Michael Allen to five years in state prison.
Taylor was also charged with burglary and grand theft on Klondike Road on May 10, 2013. Deputies say he parked his Lincoln Town Car with Alabama plates near a home in the 8000 block of Klondike. He then allegedly took a duffle bag, five extension cords and a five gallon gas can from a barn and placed them outside, according to an arrest report.
The resident walked outside and confronted Taylor near the duffle bag outside of his barn. Taylor ran and the victim gave chase but was unable to keep up. The victim noticed the out of place Lincoln Town Car in the neighborhood and photographed the tag. After the victim returned home, he drove around in an attempt to located the suspect and passed the Lincoln, being driven by the man he chased from his yard.
Deputies were able to trace the Lincoln to Taylor from the tag photo, and the victim positively identified Taylor from a photo lineup.
Taylor will be sentenced next week in both cases by Judge Michael Allen. He remains free on bond until his sentencing.
Pictured: The scene on May17, 2013, at a burglary victim’s home on Rockaway Creek Road in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Ingram, Hays File Veterans’ Employment Preference Bill
February 12, 2014
Florida Sen. Alan Hays (R-Umatilla) and Rep. Clay Ingram (R-Pensacola) have filed legislation which allows private, non-public employers in Florida to give hiring preference to an honorably discharged veteran, or the spouse of a service-disabled veteran, without violating any state or local equal employment opportunity law.
“I am pleased to sponsor this legislation in the Florida Senate,” said Hays. “This is one small way we may thank our veterans and their families for their sacrifices.”
“We appreciate all that our veterans and their families have sacrificed during their service, and we want to honor them by doing everything we can to help ease their transition into civilian life,” Ingram said. “In addition to encouraging private companies to help our veterans, this legislation also gives employers confidence and an added layer of protection when it comes to their employment decisions.”
“What better way to celebrate freedom and free enterprise than to honor our veterans with a job,” President and CEO of the Florida Chamber of Commerce Mark Wilson said. “Florida’s veterans are dedicated, skilled workers that our country has invested in, and this presents a tremendous opportunity for Florida’s private-sector businesses looking to fill jobs with trained professionals.”
While private employers could potentially offer a preference to veterans under current law, Senate Bill 970 and the companion House Bill 873 explicitly protect non-public businesses from Equal Employment disparate impact claims. Florida follows Washington, Minnesota, Arkansas and North Carolina in providing similar private sector exceptions.
Santa Rosa Schools Set Three Make Up Days Due To Winter Storm
February 12, 2014
The Santa Rosa County School Board has officially set three makeup days to replace the days missed during our late January winter storm.
Santa Rosa County students will now attend class on the President’s Day holiday this upcoming Monday, Feburary 17, along with March 14 and 17 taken from Spring Break.
Escambia County Superintendent Malcolm Thomas previous announced that Escambia students won’t be required to make up the three days – there were extra days already built into the school calendar.
Byrneville Elementary Releases Second Nine Weeks Honor Roll
February 12, 2014
The following students were named to the second nine weeks honor roll at Byrneville Elementary School:
Mrs. Barberree, Kindergarten
All Satisfactory
Emily Adams
Savannah Barrow
Allie Bradley
Elizabeth Coleman
Luke Godwin
Sawyer Jackson
Katherine Johnson
Ryder Lee
Makenzie Levins
Mrs. Golson, Kindergarten
All Satisfactory
Mary-Clayton Dawson
Logan Jordan
Hanah Lambeth
Easten Odom
Andrew Plant
Brynlie Shaw
Layla Sims
Evelyn Smith
Christian Velazquez
Mrs. Dawson, First Grade
All A’s:
Raymie Brechin
Ashton Covan
Addisen Miller
Layla Brown
A’s and B’s:
Hunter Johnson
Gage McCormick
Logan Bevins
Zi’don Smith
Luke Diamond
Rhett Madden
Daisy Johnson
Danny Ray Wilson
Madeleine Atallah
Kerrisa Dortch
Blake Shaw
Mrs. Thornton, First Grade
All A’s:
Gavin Beasley
Maddie Mae Driskell
Kelan Jurey
Mia Kornegay
Madison Levins
Riley Long
Evin Matlock
Zack Herndon
Jayden White
Brian Yoder
A’s and B’s:
Ayden Atallah
Destiny Burt
Tyler Gilmore
Jikeem Hall
Jaci Jackson
Allie Odom
Mia Turner-White
Mrs. Gilmore, Second Grade
All A’s:
Riley Dawson
Kaylee Hamilton
Tyson McBride
Tyler Riggs
Aydan Smith
A’s and B’s:
Adrianna Atallah
Mrs. Marshman, Second Grade
All A’s:
Alexa Castro
Meredith Johnston
A’s and B’s:
Tyler Davis
Nolin Godwin
Madalyn Grimes
Takayla Lewis
Leif Waters
Mrs. Dunsford, Third Grade
All A’s:
Drake Allen Driskell
Emily Levins
Kaden Odom
Blake Yoder
A’s and B’s:
Leah Anderson
Josh Diamond
Marina Franklin
Zane Rolin
Dreama Wright
Mrs. Weaver, Third Grade
All A’s:
Aloysia Dortch
Briana Dunsford
Bradley Hamilton
Kayla Johnson
Tiana White
A’s and B’s:
Chase Hampton
Johnnie Howell
Emily Lambeth
Nicholas Martin
Mrs. Gilmore, Fourth Grade
All A’s:
Hunter Borelli
Jace Gifford
A’s and B’s:
Cody Adams
Kaitlin Gafford
Torka Mills
Harley Walker
Mrs. Johnston, Fifth Grade
All A’s:
Maille Kilcrease
A’s and B’s:
Travon Brown
Logan Bryan
Heather Knowles
Justin Lambeth
Dustin Martin
Abigail Levins
Tyler Merchant
Jalexis Robinson
Ty Rolin
New Florida Public Employee Pension Measure Introduced
February 12, 2014
A Senate measure dramatically overhauling the pension plans for many future public employees has been introduced, setting off a highly anticipated election-year fight between unions and Republican legislative leaders.
The bill (SPB 7046), which was filed Monday, would close the Florida Retirement System to most new public employees, instead shifting them to either the state’s existing 401(k)-style investment plan or a new “cash balance plan.” Law-enforcement officials and firefighters would still be allowed to join the traditional pension plan.
Exempting those “special risk” employees appears to be an effort to attract support from renegade Senate Republicans who last year killed an effort to move all new employees into the investment plan. Many of those senators had strong ties to the law-enforcement community.
Overhauling the pension plan is one of the elements of a joint agenda that House Speaker Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, and Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, introduced to reporters last month.
“The proposed committee bills relating to Florida’s retirement system are a common sense approach to ensure that we are able to fully deliver on the benefits that we’ve promised our hard-working state employees for years to come,” said Senate Community Affairs Chairman Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, whose committee sponsored the bill and is scheduled to take it up next Tuesday.
Under a “cash balance plan,” employees would have accounts that can be withdrawn when they retire as either a lump sum or an annuity.
Employees hired by the state on or after July 1, 2015, would be automatically enrolled in the cash balance plan to start. However, if employees didn’t tell the state that they wanted to remain in that plan within eight months, they would be transferred to the investment plan. Special-risk employees would be able to elect to join the pension plan, but would also be moved to the investment plan if they didn’t tell the state about their choice of plans.
Speaking before Florida Chamber of Commerce members on Tuesday, Weatherford said changing the pension system would help the state avoid hundreds of millions of dollars in payments a year to the fund and allow that money to flow elsewhere.
“If you look at the states that are raising taxes,” Weatherford said in reference to New York, Illinois and California, “they’re not raising taxes to put more money into education, they’re not raising taxes to pay for health care, they are raising taxes to bail out a broken pension fund.”
Gaetz, speaking before the same group, indicated he believed the new push would be successful.
“I think we’re going to bring this one over the line,” he said.
But allowing special-risk employees to be part of the traditional pension plan opened the bill up to charges from critics that it was unfair.
“If it’s good for one set of employees, it should be good for all sets of employees,” said Florida Education Association Vice President Joanne McCall in a press conference Tuesday morning.
Opponents of the change also point to studies that have consistently shown Florida has one of the best-funded pension plans in the country.
“Our Florida Retirement System is sound,” said Sen. Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee, who is expected to play a key role in the pension debate. ” … My question is, why tinker with a very good system that has worked for years?”
By Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Winning $121K Fantasy 5 Ticket Sold In Century Not Claimed Yet
February 12, 2014
Check those Fantasy 5 tickets you might have around the house…so far no one has claimed a $121,183.96 winning ticket from a drawing a week ago.
Last Wednesday, February 5, a Fantasy 5 ticket sold at Becky’s Mini Mart, 9010 N Century Boulevard, was one of two winning tickets sold for Wednesday’s drawing worth $121,183.96. The second winning ticket matching all five numbers was sold in Boynton Beach.
According to the Florida Lottery, no one had claimed the prize from the Century ticket as of early Wednesday morning.
Last Wednesday’s winning numbers were 11-19-25-30-31.
the road to the crown: Meet The Girls (With Photos)
February 12, 2014
Today, is part one of our annual multi-part series “the road to the crown” as we follow 14 young ladies at Northview High School in their quest for the crown and the title of “Miss NHS 2014″.
Today we introduce you to the first few contestants. Their biographies, as submitted by the girls, are below along with their photos. You can click any photo below to enlarge.
Our series “the road to the crown” will continue tomorrow with biographies and photos of the second set of contestants. The pageant is Saturday night at 7:00, and NorthEscambia.com will have the new Miss Northview High School and all the photos here Sunday morning.
Tickets are available at the Northview High School office.
Kylie Brianne Brook
Kylie is 14-years old and is a freshman at Northview High School. Kylie has been a band member for four years, participated in Alabama State Fine Arts for three years, member of the Ernest Ward Middle school swim team for three years, member of the Ernest Ward Middle school Teens for Christ for three years and a member of the Ernest Ward Middle school book club for three years. Kylie has been a member of the Atmore First Assembly Kingdom Kids staff for two years and a member of the Power House praise and worship team for one year. She has participated in All County Chorus. Kylie has received the band director’s award and won first place in photography in the county Reflections Competition.
Her hobbies include reading books, writing poetry and short stories, hosting a web show and playing Minecraft.
Her future plans are to attend college to major in music and animal rescue, and to be a strong woman of God who is very skillful with her vocal and instrumental talents to save souls all over the world.
Anna Elizabeth Fischer
Anna is 17-years old and is a senior at Northview High School. Anna has been a member of the junior varsity cheerleading team for one year and the varsity cheerleading team for three years where she has served as co-captain. She has been a member of the competition cheerleading team for three years. She has been a member of the Northview dance team for three years and has danced with Heather Leonard’s Danceworks for 14 years. She was part of the winning dance team for the 2013 talent show. Anna was Miss NHS first runner-up in 2012 and is the 2013 Homecoming Queen. She is the senior class historian and was voted senior class Who’s Who most school spirit. She has received the Atmore Rotary Academic All-Star award for three years, the FCA spirit of champions award as a senior, best leaps award for 2012-2013 dance team, and squad strength award as a 2011-2012 cheerleader. Anna designed the cover art for Escambia County School District’s first annual fishing rodeo material. In her community she is an active member of Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church youth group.
Her hobbies include baking, drawing, photography, dancing and spending time with family and friends.
Her future plans are to attend Florida State University and study to become a nurse practitioner.
Julie Beth Hester
Julie is 16-years old and is a junior at Northview High School. She has been a majorette with the Tribal Beat band for threeyears, serving as captain one year, has twirled with Angie Shelley Twirl Time for six years and was a Twirl Time teacher for one year, member of the Northview concert band for two years and a member of Northview winterguard for one year. Julie has been a member of the beta club for one year, theater for one year, and a member of FCA for one year. In her community she is an active member of First Baptist Church of Bratt and helps with children’s activities, is a member of Team David leadership club and volunteers for vacation bible school. Julie also volunteers during the summer at elementary schools. She has received the Atmore Rotary Academic All-Star award and Northview’s Battle of the Books one year.
Her hobbies include baton twirling, reading books, playing musical instruments, drawing and spending time with family, friends and her youth group.
Her future plans are to attend Troy University to receive a major in psychology and specialize in mental health. She wants to become a part of the Troy band program as well. She also wants to one day open her own baton studio.
Chloe Vanessa Leonard
Chloe is 17-years old and is a senior at Northview High School. She has been a cheerleader for four years, including one year as captain, and has been a member of the competition cheerleading team for one year. She has also been a member of the Northview Dance Team for three years. She has danced at Heather Leonard’s Danceworks for 14 years and has served as a dance teacher for one year. She is senior class reporter, CECF treasurer and was named an Atmore Rotary Academic All-Star. Chloe is involved in the youth group at Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church. She has volunteered for the Manna Food Bank, Nothing Lost Outreach and the Ray’s Chapel nursery.
Chloe’s hobbies include dancing, hanging out with friends and always having a good time, shopping, and being adventurous.
Chloe plans to attend the University of West Florida and then transfer to Auburn University to be a part of their dance team, The Tiger Paws.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.