Man Shot During Robbery, Home Invasion
January 1, 2014
An Atmore man was shot during a home invasion and robbery.
Atmore Police said Tuesday that they responded to the 100 block of Brown Street about 7:05 p.m. Monday to find that the victim had been transported by private vehicle to Atmore Community Hospital.
The victim, 32-year old Ronta Watson, told police that a male in his late 20’s came to his front door requesting assistance and jumper cables for a disabled vehicle. Watson did not have jumper cables, but allowed the man to use his cell phone to call for help. After the suspect returned the phone, he fired a single round striking Watson in the leg.
Watson told police that the suspect and a second male entered his home and demanded money. After Watson complied, he was escorted out of the home where he escaped and sought help from a passing motorist.
Police said Watson’s family was present during the robbery but there were no other injuries.
Watson described the first male suspect as a black male, average build, wearing dark colored clothing. The second suspect was also a black male, average build but with lighter skin color and wearing dark clothing.
Anyone with information on this incident is asked to call the Atmore Police Department at (251) 368-9141.
Top North Escambia Stories Of 2013
January 1, 2014
Here are our picks for the Top 10 Stories of 2013 on NorthEscambia.com :
10. Pit Bill Attacks and Debate
A Nokomis woman was viciously attacked and mauled by two pit bulls at her home on Jakes Road in the Nokomis community. Doctors were forced to amputate 63-year old Sandra Lambert’s arm after the attack. The dogs were euthanized. Days later, an Escambia County deputy shot and killed two pit bulls that attacked a road crew near Tate High School in Cantonment.
9. Molino Library Opening
The Molino Branch Library opened on April 1 in the Molino Community Complex — a complete remodel of the old Molino Elementary School. The new library was opened for 52 hours per week. An opening reception in April gave the public an opportunity to meet the library staff, peruse the opening day collection, register for a library card and tour the facility. The Molino Community Complex project included the conversion of the old Molino School in to a library, community center and museum. There was also a new 7,000 square foot facility constructed for the tax collector and property appraiser. The project was funded by local option sales tax monies.
8. Outlawing The Animal Farm
After months of debate — and public protest — the Century Town Council gave final approval just days before Christmas to a new animal control ordinance that prohibits most barnyard animals from most parts of the town. Residents that own animals that don’t meet the ordinance have just weeks to register them at the town hall.
7. One Of The Nation’s Very Best — Northview FFA
The honors just kept pouring in during 2013 for the Northview High School FFA — Outstanding FFA Chapter, State Superior Chapter, State FFA Gold Chapter Rating for hosting the top “Food for America” program in Florida. Then at the National FFA Convention in Louisville, KY, the Northview FFA was awarded the Three Star Chapter designation — the highest status at the national level — on live national television. The chapter’s accomplishments were recognized by the Escambia County School Board and the Town of Century. And it should be noted that Northview FFA sponsor and 25-year teaching veteran Perry Byars was named Northview’s Teacher of the Year in March.
6. Molino Park Burglary
Just days before students and teachers returned to school in August, two adults and three juveniles broke into Molino Park Elementary, cleaning out tens and tens of thousands of dollars of electronics. iPads, Wii games, numerous computers and more — all gone. Within a month the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office busted the offenders and located most of the stolen merchandise. But in an almost unimaginably low twist on a despicable crime, most the items were found burned.
5. Ernest Ward Groundbreaking
A groundbreaking ceremony was held in August for a new $17 million rebuild of Ernest Ward Middle School in Walnut Hill. The oldest buildings at Ernest Ward, including the main classroom wing, were constructed in 1945 to replace a campus ravaged by fire in 1943. That old school had been constructed to replace an Ernest Ward School that first opened in a log cabin in 1896. The new Ernest Ward will be an ultra modern learning facility designed to last for generations to come.
4. Jobs: Black Gold And Yellow Pine
In 2013, the Walnut Hill Crude Oil Rail Unloading Facility operated by Genesis Energy, LP celebrated its first year and 100th unit train of crude oil. The oil is loaded on trains in North Dakota, transported to Walnut Hill, unloaded from the rail cars and injected into a pipeline bound for Gulf Coast refinery. A simple sounding process that has meant mega bucks flowing through the Walnut Hill facility as the largest of its kind in the U.S. It’s also meant jobs, and it allowed Escambia River Electric Cooperative to make major improvements in the electrical system serving the Walnut Hill community. Meanwhile, Gov. Rick Scott announced in July the reopening of the McDavid Sawmill, returning 50 jobs to North Escambia.
3. Tate High Football Program
A man named Ronnie Douglas was 1 of 46 that applied and the chosen one for the Tate Aggies head football coaching job. The Aggies were coming off dismal 1-8 and 0-11 seasons as Douglas led them into a 21-7 Spring Game loss against Niceville. Then for opening night of the fall season, the Aggies lost 45-3 to West Florida. But then the Aggies began to win, and win, and win. The Aggies ended their comeback regular season at 8-2 — their best record in a decade. And they earned a ticket to the playoffs.
2. Highway 29, Highway 97
Perhaps the most “famous” intersection in North Escambia, we reported wreck after wreck at the intersection in 2013. Then a parade of politicians led by District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry held a sit down meeting with the Florida Department of Transportation. With Escambia County agreeing to foot the bill, the state agreed a red light and an intersection redesign was needed.
1. Crime And Punishment
The 2013 headlines were dominated by crime — and punishment. With Operation Blister Pack 2, law enforcement at every level targeted the methamphetamine and pseudoephedrine arrests of about 60 people. Most of the arrests were North Escambia related, with drug groups dubbed “The Village Group”, centered around “The Village” area of Forrest Street and Lakeview Avenue in Cantonment; and “The Ayers Group” for a group centered around Ayers Street in Molino. Add in murders, murder convictions, burglaries and batteries, and the most frequent headline of 2013 was crime.
2013 In Photos: April
January 1, 2014
All this week, we are looking back at the photos that were in the news in 2013. Today, we are featuring photos from April.
The Northview Chiefs received their football state championship rings in April.
The Tate High School Showband of the South marches in the 2013 Fiesta Flambeau Parade in San Antonio, Texas.
Tate High School teachers and volunteers took on the U.S. Marines — and won — during a game of tug of war.
Atmore held their annual Relay for Life.
Local residents remembered the Boston Marathon bombing victims.
A group of locals running the Boston Marathon were not injured.
A powered paraglider trike and the sunset as seen along Highway 97 near Nokomis Road in Davisville.
Arial Holland slides into home for the Northview Chiefs.
In April, the Navy canceled the rest of the season for the Blue Angels.
The 20th Annual Spring Livestock Show was held at the Langley Bell 4-H Center on Nine Mile Road after the sale of the property to Navy Federal.
A flag football tourney was held to benefit the Northwest Escambia sports program.
Century council member Annie Savage renewed her wedding vows with husband Lloyd.
A high speed chase came to an end near Pine Forest High School.
Atmore firefighters use a ladder truck to access an apartment fire.
The Molino Branch Library opened in April.
Florida Minimum Wage Increased
January 1, 2014
Florida workers who earn the state minimum wage saw a slight increase in their paychecks on Wednesday.
An automatic increase of 14 cents an hour went effect on January 1, raising the lowest pay rate in the state to $7.93, up from $7.79. The boost to the minimum wage is below the average increase of around 25 cents an hour since Florida started setting its own minimum wage in 2005.
The federal minimum wage is $7.25.
New Laws: Elections, Sex Trafficking, Natural Gas, Foster Care
January 1, 2014
Bills that crack down on human sex trafficking, address problems from the 2012 election, allow foster care children to remain in the program until 21, and provide an incentive for companies to expand their fleet of natural gas vehicles become law Wednesday.
While the bulk of the nearly 200 new laws approved by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Rick Scott from the 2013 session hit the books in July and October, a few more kick in with the New Year.
Accompanying the handful of new laws is a slight increase in the paycheck for Florida’s minimum-wage earners.
The automatic increase of 14 cents an hour, recalculated by law each year based on the federal Consumer Price Index, raises the minimum pay rate in the state to $7.93, up from $7.79. The federal minimum wage is $7.25.
Here are highlights of bills taking effect Jan. 1:
Elections
HB 7013: The law — quietly signed by Scott before heading to Chile for a trade mission in May — is aimed at cleaning up voting problems that plagued parts of the state during the November 2012 elections.
The law allows up to 14 days for early voting, though local supervisors could remain at the current eight days, and allows for more flexibility with early voting sites. It would limit the length of some ballot summaries for constitutional amendments.
And it would dissolve a committee that sets the date of the presidential primary and instead requires that vote be held on the first Tuesday that complies with party rules. Both Republican and Democratic delegations to national conventions have lost members over the last several years as Florida vied for earlier primary dates.
Elections reform vaulted to the top of legislative priorities after the November 2012 problems, which included some Florida voters not casting ballots until after television networks had projected President Barack Obama the winner nationwide. It also took days before Obama was declared the winner in Florida.
Sex trafficking
HB 1325 and HB 1327: The measures establish a legal process for human-trafficking victims to get their criminal records expunged — typically for prostitution charges.
The new laws only apply to crimes committed while the victims were being forced, threatened or coerced.
The measures ran through the Legislature as companions to a bill (HB 7005) that prevents the operation of massage establishments between midnight and 5 a.m. That bill — which has exceptions for businesses such as health facilities and hotels that might offer massage services — became law Oct. 1.
Natural gas
HB 579: This measure exempts natural gas from the state fuel tax for five years, provides an incentive for companies to expand their fleet of natural gas vehicles and, starting in 2019, establishes a fuel-tax structure for natural gas that is similar to that for diesel fuel.
“This legislation will pave the way for the increased use of natural gas; spurring economic growth, reducing our dependency on foreign oil, and providing a cleaner burning source of fuel,” Sen. Wilton Simpson, the Trilby Republican who sponsored the bill, declared in April.
The Natural Gas Fuel Fleet Vehicle Rebate Program offers rebates of up to 50 percent of the costs of converting certain vehicles to natural gas-powered vehicles. An applicant would be eligible to receive a maximum rebate of $25,000 per vehicle, up to a total of $250,000 per fiscal year.
The bill also requires any person selling natural gas fuel at retail in Florida to obtain a license from the Department of Revenue.
The Revenue Estimating Conference estimated that by 2019 the law will cut $100,000 from the state’s general revenue, $300,000 from state trust funds, and $200,000 from local governments.
Courts
HB 7017: Repeals fixed terms of court, which are an old concept left over from the days when circuit judges or Supreme Court justices went to the town where their court was meeting for a specified term.
Limited liability companies
SB 1300: A voluminous 224-page package that is intended to modernize the rules for limited liability companies and keep Florida competitive with other states in efforts to retain businesses and jobs.
Foster care
SB 1036: This law gives young adults the option to stay in foster care until age 21. Those in the foster care system would be allowed to remain in the program past the age of 18 if they are completing high school, postsecondary or vocational educations, participating in job-training programs, working at least 80 hours per month or are unable to participate due to disabilities.
The bill analysis concluded that it wouldn’t cost more to allow children to stay in the system until 21 because youths who age out of foster care often end up homeless, jobless or in jail.
Make A Resolution To Be More Wildlife Friendly
January 1, 2014
The tradition of the New Year’s Resolutions dates back to 153 B.C. Janus, a mythical king of early Rome was said to have two faces which allowed him to look back on past events and forward to the future.
The beginning of a new year is a great time to reflect on the issues of the past and resolve to do better in the upcoming year. The 2010 Gulf oil spill had a devastating impact on local wildlife. Florida is a state renowned for its diverse and unique ecosystems. But rapid development and environmental disasters, particularly in coastal areas, is continuing to destroy wildlife habitat. Resolve to be more wildlife-friendly in 2012 by following these easy tips from the Florida Yards and Neighborhoods Program.
Provide food
Select plants with seeds, fruit, foliage, or flowers that butterflies, birds, and other wildlife like to eat. Berries, fleshy fruits, nuts, and acorns are all treats for many animals.
Supply water
Any water you provide will attract wildlife. You could have running water in the form of a natural feature, such as a pond, creek, or other body of fresh water, but a fountain or birdbath will also beckon wildlife. Empty and clean your birdbath every few days. Do not clean it with soap or bleach—just physically scrub all surfaces with a brush or scouring-type sponge. Change the water regularly to prevent mosquito breeding and bacterial contamination.
Leave snags
Leave snags, which are the trunks of dead trees, in place if they do not create a hazard. Many birds use snags for perching, nesting, and feeding. Snags are often removed from yards or land mistakenly thought of as no longer having value. Nothing could be farther from the truth. A tree’s full life cycle at this point, is far from over.
Manage pets
If you permit pets to harass or kill wildlife, you will only hinder any efforts you make toward attracting wildlife. This is especially true for cats allowed outdoors.
Reduce insecticide use
Each time you apply an insecticide to your landscape, you reduce insect populations, which form an important food source for birds. Some chemicals can also poison birds and other animals that feed on affected insects.
Reduce the amount of mowed lawn area
Unmowed areas can contain more plant species than mowed areas, providing more potential food sources and habitat for wildlife. Reduce the mowed area around your house, especially in low-traffic areas, such as corners of the yard.
Increase vertical layering
Plant a variety of plants in different sizes and heights to provide more cover and feeding opportunities for diverse species of wildlife.
By following the simple tips in this chapter, your Florida-Friendly lawn and garden can become a sanctuary for wildlife, as well as part of a migratory passage between one wild space and another. Animals need to move from place to place, just like people. They have trouble traveling in heavily urban and suburban landscapes, but you can help them by joining your Florida-Friendly yard with others in the neighborhood to create a “natural corridor”—a safe, traversable route between woodlands, wetlands, or other wild areas.
For more specific information, visit the University of Florida/IFAS website at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_landscaping_for_wildlife or call your local Extension Office.
Theresa Friday is the Residential Horticulture Extension Agent for Santa Rosa County.
Three Northview High Cheerleaders In London’s New Year’s Day Parade
December 31, 2013
Three Northview High School cheerleaders are in London today, preparing to march in London’s New Year’s Day Parade on January 1.
Madison Arrington, Katelynne Calloway and Hannah Gibson have been in London since last week enjoying seven days in London as part of the National Cheerleaders Association All-American group that will march in the parade.
“It is such a privilege to be selected as NCA All-American Cheerleader. I am very excited to be able to go to London and participate in the New Year’s Day Parade and all the other activities they have planned for us. I am very grateful for the wonderful cheerleading coaches I have had over the years that made it possible for me to achieve this honor and represent NHS and our community,” Calloway said.
According to organizers, London’s New Year’s Day Parade attracts a worldwide TV audience approaching 300 million, sees almost 700,000 on the streets of London and has about 10,000 performers.
“I am excited about being selected as NCA All-American Cheerleader. It is a great honor and exciting opportunity to represent my school and community in the London New Year’s Day Parade,” Gibson said.
And Arrington said she is equally excited about the London performance. “I looked forward to traveling to London as an All-American cheerleader in the New Year’s Day parade. I consider this a great honor to have been chosen to represent my school and community at such an amazing event. I am so thankful to all the people in my life who have helped make this possible. This is the trip of a lifetime!”
During the past several days, the Northview cheerleaders have toured the city,visiting several well known landmarks. The girls were given the opportunity to go on the London trip after being selected as All-American cheerleaders during an NCA cheer camp over the summer.
The London New Year’s Day Parade begins at noon London time, 6 a.m. local North Escambia time.
Pictured top: Northview cheerleaders (L-R) Madison Arrington, Katelynne Calloway and Hannah Gibson in London. Pictured inset: The girls at Northview prior to the trip. Pictured below: The All-American cheerleaders with their parent-chaperones in London. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Lock Your Car: Multiple Vehicle Burglaries Reported In Beulah
December 31, 2013
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is reminding residents to lock their vehicle doors after several car burglaries were reported Monday morning in the Beulah area.
“There were several cars opened and rummaged through in the area of Fort Deposit Drive and Bridlewood Road,” Sena Madison, spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Office said. “(There was) very little taken, but it’s always good to remind people at any time to lock their doors and not leave valuables in their vehicles.”
Anyone with information about the burglaries is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
Manhunt For Suspect After Driver Clips FHP Trooper
December 31, 2013
A suspect reportedly clipped a Florida Highway Patrol trooper as he fled a traffic stop Monday night near Pensacola Christian College, leading to a manhunt in the area.
The trooper had stopped a Mitsubishi Eclipse on Brent Lane. The driver sped off, clipping the trooper, who was not injured. A short distance away, the suspect flattened a couple of tires when he collided with a curb on East Brent Lane, a small side street that runs parallel to Brent Lane. The man fled the vehicle on foot, leading troopers and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office on a manhunt that involved a K-9.
There was no word or any arrests or further suspect information from law enforcement as of late Monday night.
Evers Files Warning Shot Bill
December 31, 2013
A second measure that would grant immunity to people who show guns or fire warning shots in self-defense has been filed in the Senate, and it will get a hearing next week.
Sponsored by Sen. Greg Evers, R-Baker, the “Threatened Use of Force” bill will come up Jan. 8 in the Senate Criminal Justice Committee, which Evers chairs. It’s identical to a proposal (HB 89) by Rep. Neil Combee, R-Polk City, that would amend the “stand your ground” self-defense law. And it’s closely related to a bill (SB 438) filed by Sen. Thad Altman, R-Viera, called the “Defense of Life, Home, or Property” bill, which says, in part, that it is the “intent of the Legislature that a person be immunized from prosecution if he or she acts in such a manner as to protect life, home, or property from an imminent or actual unlawful activity.”
Combee’s bill passed the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee in November as a committee substitute, which is now being reviewed.
A similar measure by Combee failed to advance during the 2013 legislative session. The prior attempt sought to amend the state’s 10-20-Life sentencing law. Under the 10-20-Life law, possessing a gun while committing certain crimes is punishable by at least 10 years in prison, discharging a gun while committing those crimes is punishable by at least 20 years in prison, and hurting or killing someone during those crimes is punishable by 25 years to life in prison.
Now, with Combee’s bill seeking to amend the “stand your ground” law instead of 10-20-Life, it has gained the support of the Florida Public Defender Association.
by The News Service of Florida