Escaped Inmate Wanted Nationwide And His Girlfriend Arrested Near Jay
August 23, 2013
An Arkansas escapee that was the subject of a nationwide manhunt has been arrested near Chumuckla Elementary School.
Derrick Estell, 33, escaped from the Garland County Detention Center in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office and a U.S. Marshals Task Force took Estell and his girlfriend, 25-year old Tamara Lynn Upshaw, into custody late Thursday night at an abandoned house near the intersection of Highway 182 and Chumuckla Highway.
They are being held in the Santa Rosa County Jail awaiting extradition back to Arkansas.
According to the Garland County (AR) Sheriff’s Office, investigators were able to pinpoint the couple’s location with the assistance of “cooperating individuals” and contact authorities in Santa Rosa County. Within a few hours, the couple was in custody.
Estell had escaped the Arkansas jail on July 28 with the assistance of Upshaw and others after returning from the Arkansas Department of Corrections for a court appearance. He made his getaway by diving out of a window and running to a waiting vehicle. Two other individuals were also taken into custody for their involvement in the escape and are awaiting court hearings, Arkansas authorities said.
Estell was being held on charged of aggravated robbery, burglary, theft and other charges.
Two Cantonment Residents Injured In Highway 29 Crash
August 23, 2013
Two Cantonment residents were injured in a two vehicle accident Friday morning at the intersection of Highway 29 and 10 Mile Road.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 37-year old Jennifer M. Lauter-Reed of Cantonment was traveling west on 10 Mile Road just after 9 a.m. when she failed to stop at a red traffic signal. Her 2012 Dodge Charger entered the path of a southbound 2012 Chrysler Town & Country van driven by 64-year old Dale A. Schmeidler of Cantonment. The car came to rest in the intersection, while the van continued on into a ditch on the west shoulder.
Lauter-Reed and Schmeidler were both transported by Escambia County EMS to Sacred Heart Hospital. Their injuries were considered minor. A passenger in the van, 18-year old Julia Schmeidler of Cantonment, was not injured.
The Ensley Station of Escambia Fire Rescue was also dispatched to the crash.
Pictured: Two people were injured in this two vehicle accident Friday morning at the intersection of Highway 29 and 10 Mile Road. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Monday: Commissioner Barry In Century; Sheriff Morgan In Molino
August 23, 2013
Escambia County Commissioner Steven Barry will hold a town hall meeting Monday night in Century, while Sheriff’s David Morgan will speak at a neighborhood watch meeting in Molino.
Barry’s open forum public meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, August 26, at the Century Town Hall located at 7995 North Century Boulevard.
Morgan will be the guest speaker at the monthly meeting of the Mid County Neighborhood Watch at 6:30 p.m. at the Molino Community Complex.
ATV Accident Victim Passes Away; Traffic Homicide Investigation Opened
August 23, 2013
One of the victims in an ATV accident early Saturday morning near McDavid has passed away as the result of his injuries.
Daniel Scott Nelson, age 30 of Century, passed way just before 6 p.m. Wednesday at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola. The ATV he was driving was northbound on Cox Road near Bratt Road about 1:20 a.m. Saturday when he lost control. The 2012 Polaris overturned several times, ejecting Nelson and his passenger, 28-year old Meggan Layne Percey of Cantonment. Nelson was transported by Escambia County EMS to Sacred Heart Hospital as a “trauma alert”.
Percey was transported by Atmore Ambulance to Atmore Community Hospital Saturday morning in serious condition. She was released from the hospital on Saturday.
The Florida Highway Patrol said Thursday afternoon that a traffic homicide investigation is being conducted. Anyone with information on the crash should contact Corporal M. Collins of the FHP at (850) 471-6924.
Tate Aggies Beat Gulf Breeze Dolphins
August 23, 2013
The Tate High School Aggies won a tw0-quarter varsity preseason game 25-7 over Gulf Breeze Thursday night.
The Aggies held a 7-0 lead in the first of two quarters of the preseason classic at Pete Gindl Stadium in Cantonment with a 10-yard touchdown run from Tay Samuel.
In the second quarter, the Dolphins tied it up 7-7 on a 12-yard touchdown pass. Tate answered with a 69-yard touchdown run with 8:39 left from quarterback Sawyer Smith, 14-7 Aggies. Then, with 2:47 left on the clock, Samuel was in on a 60-yard interception return for another Aggie touchdown, 22-7. With a field goal late in the game, the Aggies went on to a 25-7 win.
The Tate Aggies will open regular season play under the leadership of new coach Ronnie Douglas in Class 7A on Friday, August 30 at 7:30 as they take on the West Florida High Jaguars at Woodham Middle School.
In a two-quarter junior varsity game, Tate also beat Gulf Breeze 7-0 Thursday.
For more varsity action photos, click here.
For junior varsity and band photos, click here.
Pictured: Tate High School’s preseason opener against Gulf Breeze ended with varsity and JV wins for the Aggies. Top photo: Tate quarterback Sawyer Smith returns an interception for a 60-yard touchdown. Photos by Kristi Smith for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bad Idea: Passing Notes Before Court
August 23, 2013
Three Escambia County men pleaded guilty to home invasion and robbery after court security deputies discovered a note written by one of the defendants to another.
Joshua Burgess, Chaz West and Marquise Williams,were awaiting trial before Judge Jan Shackelford stemming from a December 25, 2012, incident.
As court security deputies Richie Faunce and Joseph Kastor were taking the inmates to the courtroom, they noticed one of the men digging in his jumpsuit. When questioned, he stated he was missing a letter he had received from his attorney.
Deputy Kastor found a note in the jury box. Upon closer inspection, he realized that the note was from one of the suspects to the other advising on what to say in order to get their stories straight for trial.
After the note was found, all three co-defendants pleaded guilty to the charges rather than going to trial.
West Florida Jaguars Beat The Escambia Gators 35-0
August 23, 2013
The West Florida Jaguars beat the Escambia Gators 35-0 in a preseason classic game Thursday night.
The Jags were first on the scoreboard with a 17-yard touchdown catch by Ty Peasant from QB Joe Baker. The Jags upped their lead to 14-0 on a 24-yard touchdown pass from Baker to Lawrence Lee.
With 2:47 to go in the third quarter Chris Mitchell was in for West Florida with a 25-yard touchdown catch from Baker, 21-0 Jags.
West Florida went on to win with a one-yard quarterback keeper from Baker and a 40-yard touchdown catch by Kevin Lewis.
The West Florida Jaguars will open their regular season on Friday, August 30 as they host the Tate Aggies at Woodham Middle School.
Solari Wins Escambia County Youth Farm Bureau Speech Contest
August 23, 2013
Northview High School senior Courtney Solari won the 2013 Escambia County Youth Farm Bureau Speech contest Thursday afternoon in Molino.
She will present her speech at a Farm Bureau county meeting on September 19 and then move on to the district and state competitions.
Students between 14-18 years old were invited to take part in the contest, delivering a speech about five minutes long on the topic ““Over the past 500 years, how has technology influenced Florida agriculture?”
“Changes in…technology here in Florida have been occurring since the first European settlers introduced Native Americans to new practices and livestock. The Native Americans quickly adapted to these practices, and Florida agriculture has been changing ever since,” Solari said in her speech.
“Technology has helped increase production of many crops, while also diminishing the production of others. These advancements in agriculture are all in an effort for Florida farmers to produce more food while utilizing less land and protecting the environment. No matter how many changes occur though, one thing will remain consistent. Florida agriculture will continue to grow and thrive throughout the future as it has for the last 500 years,” she said.
The 2013 Escambia County Youth Farm Bureau Speech contest was sponsored by the Escambia County Farm Bureau Board of Directors, in collaboration with Escambia County Extension, EscaRosa Young Farmers and Ranchers and the Escambia County Women’s Committee.
Preseason Football Thursday Scores
August 23, 2013
Thursday Night Scores
- Tate 25, Gulf Breeze 7 [Read more...]
- West Florida 35, Escambia 0 [Read more...]
- Choctaw 7, Pine Forest 0
- Milton 14, Navarre 7
- W.S. Neal 36, Elba 28
NHS Lady Chiefs Sweep Volleyball Preseason Classic
August 23, 2013
The Northview Chiefs swept a varsity volleyball Preseason Classic at the school in Bratt Thursday evening.
The Chiefs beat Central 25-10, 25-19. Lana Clayton had three aces, eight kills; Tiffani Pritchett had five aces, three kills and two digs.
The Northview Chiefs also beat the Jay Royals 25-16, 8-25, 15-9. Lily Townson had two aces and a dozen assists; Danielle Steadham recorded one ace and six kills.
The Lady Chiefs will open their regular season Monday at 5 p.m. as they host Holmes County.
Pictured top: Members of the varsity Lady Chiefs are: (front, L-R) Hanna Ging (9 Soph), Lily Townson (10 Sr), Tiffani Pritchett (2 Sr), (middle row) Shelby Nielsen (4, Sr), Mallory Wiggins (12, Sr), Rebecca Grim (5, Sr), Penny Banda (13, Jr), (back row) Lana Clayton (6, Sr), E’Layzha Bates (8, Jr), Danielle Steadham (7, Sr), Kyndall Hall (14, Jr). Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.