Annual Green Thumb Festival Is Saturday In Cantonment
October 10, 2013
The annual Green Thumb Festival will take place this Saturday at the Escambia County Extension Office.
Attendees are invited to take part in the Master Gardeners Plant Sale, learn to build a raised bed garden, attend a plant clinic, visit plant vendors and more. Activities are available for children, and the McGuire’s Pipe Band will provide the entertainment. Animals are not permitted at the event.
The event will take place Saturday from 8 a.m. until noon at 3740 Stefani Road in Cantonment. The program is presented by Escambia County Extension and Master Gardeners. For more information, call (850) 475-5230.
Man Throws Beer Bottle Through Car Window At Whataburger
October 10, 2013
A Flomaton man was arrested this week on outstanding charges for an alleged domestic violence incident in the parking lot of Century’s Whataburger.
Daniel Dontavious Woods, 22, was charged with felony deadly missile weapons offense, criminal mischief property damage and battery.
During the early morning hours of September 22, Woods allegedly used his gold Cadillac to block in the vehicle of his ex-girlfriend and mother of his child. He then threw a beer bottle through the passenger side widow of the victim’s vehicle, according to an arrest report. She was not injured.
Woods was booked into the Escambia County Jail this week and later released on a $9,000 bond.
Scott Calls On Obama To Hold Back Flood Insurance Hikes
October 10, 2013
Gov. Rick Scott said Wednesday that President Barack Obama needs to delay pending rate increases confronting Florida homeowners who are subsidized through the National Flood Insurance Program.
“The president signed the bill. He can have an impact by stopping this,” Scott said when asked about the possibility of the state getting in the flood-insurance business.
The White House didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Scott’s answers, during an appearance at the Tallahassee City Hall, remained clear of the question about Florida providing the coverage.
A day earlier, a Senate committee floated the idea that Florida could withdraw from the federal program, either by altering regulations to attract more private insurers to provide the coverage or through a state-backed agency — similar to the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund.
Senate Banking and Insurance Chairman David Simmons, R-Altamonte Springs, said hopefully the threat of Florida’s withdrawal from the program will spur the federal government to take action.
Two weeks ago, the state House Insurance and Banking Subcommittee looked at similar proposals to ward off the potential impact of the federal Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act, which phases out subsidies on older properties in flood zones.
However, those state House members weren’t as keen on the idea of creating another state agency.
The 2012 act calls on the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other agencies to make a number of changes to the way the National Flood Insurance Program is run, including raising rates to reflect true flood risk and to make the program more financially stable.
Scott had previously requested the U.S. Senate act to delay the increases.
“We’re a significant donor state, my understanding is we’ve paid $16 billion in since it got started and we’ve only gotten $4 billion back,” Scott said Wednesday. “So it’s hard to believe these rates should be going up like they are.”
About 270,000 Florida homeowners could be impacted by the rate adjustments, many in Pinellas, Hillsborough and Miami-Dade counties.
Realtors and bankers have expressed concerns about the effects that phasing out of the federal subsidies on older properties in flood zones could have on the housing market and the state’s economy.
In June, the U.S. House voted to delay parts of the act, including putting a one-year hold on the rate changes that FEMA is rolling out. The House also approved a delay in the removal of a longstanding grandfather clause that has allowed subsidies to be carried over when properties are sold.
A bipartisan Senate proposal to delay the rates remains on hold. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., has claimed that the federal showdown over Obama’s health care law has become a roadblock.
The Mississippi Department of Insurance has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and FEMA to block the increases.
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Carnley Graduates From Basic Training
October 10, 2013
Air Force Airman Dixie L. Carnley graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.
The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.
Airmen who complete basic training earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.
Carnley is the daughter of Shannon Burkett of Cotton Ridge Road, Flomaton and Mike Carnley of Carnley Road, Century.
She is a 2011 graduate of Northview High School.
Suspect Named In Shooting Death Of 14-Year Old Girl
October 9, 2013
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has named a suspect in the September 19 murder of 14-year old Kenteyonna Anderson.
Deputies are se qarch for 22-year old Zachary Antonio Brooks. described as black male, about 5’10 and 160 lbs. with black hair and brown eyes. He may be armed and should be considered dangerous, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Anderson was outside on West Maxwell Street with friends when a fight erupted nearby and shots rang out, according family members. She was hit by a stray bullet. Anderson was transported by ambulance to Baptist Hospital where she was pronounced dead a short time later.
Anyone with information on Brooks’ whereabouts is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620. Callers are not required to provide their name and may be eligible for a cash reward. Citizens, according to the Sheriff’s Office, should not approach Brooks.
Teen, 16, Gets 10 Years In Prison For Violent Attack During Molino Burglary
October 9, 2013
A 16-year old has been sentenced to spend a decade in prison for a violent attack on a Molino woman as he burglarized her home.
Aquanis Javon Brown of Richardson Road convicted as an adult for burglary of a dwelling with assault or battery and aggravated battery using a deadly weapon. As a juvenile, he was also charged with battery by strangulation and attempted sexual assault with a weapon at the time of his October 2012 arrest at age 15.
Judge Linda Nobles sentenced Brown to 10 years in state prison following by five years probation. He was ordered to pay restitution to the victim; the amount of which will be determined within 90 days.
The 54-year old victim told the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office that she returned alone to her home were she found Brown standing in a bedroom wearing gloves. Brown physically attacked her, punching her in the face and body with his fists, according to an arrest report, before attempting to remove the victim’s pants. He then began to strangle the victim to the point she told deputies she believed she was going to die. She fought back, clawing at Brown’s face.
Brown grabbed a pair of scissors, the report states, and began stabbing at the victim, stabbing her in the hand. Brown continued to attempt to remove the victim’s pants before walking out and going through things in other rooms of the home. She then closed the bedroom door, barricaded it with furniture and waited for deputies to arrive.
Deputies found the victim with several injuries. She told them that she was absolutely certain that Brown was her attacker; she said she has known him all of his life. The victim was transported to an area hospital for treatment.
Sheriff’s deputies located Brown suffering from multiple fresh lacerations to his face and neck. He told deputies that he had cut himself shaving.
According to court documents, Brown was accused of stealing needles, medications, baking powder and other household items from the victim’s home.
Tuesday Night Homicide Victim Named
October 9, 2013
Another shooting death is under investigation in Escambia County.
About 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a shots fired call at the Forest Creek Apartments on Patton Drive. Deputies discovered 21-year old William Lawrence George deceased in yard across the street from the apartment complex.
He may have been shot somewhere other than the yard. There were no known suspects as of Wednesday afternoon in the shooting death of George.
Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Cantonment Insurance Agent Pleads Not Guilty To Selling Fraudulent Policies
October 9, 2013
A Cantonment insurance agent says he is not guilty of selling hundreds of fraudulent life insurance policies through a fake employment company.
Randall Petersen, 47, was charged in April with racketeering, insurance fraud, money laundering, grand theft and criminal use of personal identification. Investigators contended that Petersen created a fictitious employment company to lure individuals into applying for fraudulent life insurance policies earning him more than $330,000 in bonuses and commissions, according to Florida Department of Financial Services and CFO Jeff Atwater.
Prosecutors have since dropped 285 counts of insurance fraud filed against Peterson, and he pleaded not guilty to the four remaining charges. Peterson’s jury trial is set for February.
Petersen placed an estimated 285 fictitious life insurance policies with American National Insurance Company, which paid him bonuses and commissions of more than $330,000. American National informed the department of the suspected fraud once the policies started canceling for nonpayment, according to Atwater.
Petersen remains free on a $30,000 bond as he awaits trial.
Ernest Ward Middle Names September Students Of The Month
October 9, 2013
Ernest Ward Middle School has named their September Students of the Month. They are: (L-R) Henry Wiggins, sixth grade; Madelyn Plant, seventh grade; and Triston Long, eighth grade. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Senior Night: Northview Sweeps Pensacola Christian (With Gallery)
October 9, 2013
The Northview Lady Chiefs honored their seniors Tuesday night during their last home volleyball matches of the season, as the Chiefs beat Pensacola Christian in varsity and junior varsity action.
The JV Chiefs beat Pensacola Christian 26-24, 24-26, 18-16. Brittany Ward had four aces and nine assists for Northview, while Laurie Purdy contributed six aces, one kill and an assist.
In varsity action, Northview beat Pensacola Christian in three straight, 25-16, 25-23, 25-12. Danielle Steadham had nine kills, four blocks and four digs. Lily Townson added two aces, one kill, 17 assists and five digs for the Chiefs, and Shelby Nielson had six aces, one kill and a dig.
The junior varsity Chiefs will travel to Pensacola on Thursday to play Catholic High School at 5 p.m. The JV and varsity teams will round out their season with games against Baldwin County High School on October 15 and Central on October 17.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured: The Northview Lady Chiefs honored their seniors Tuesday night: (L-R) Lily Townson, Rebecca Grim, Lana Clayton, Shelby Nielson, Tiffani Pritchett, Danielle Steadham and Mallory Wiggins. Pictured inset and below: Northview beat Pensacola Christian. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
