Change Of Venue Motion On Hold In Atmore Man’s Capital Murder Trial
August 22, 2013
A change of venue request in the capital murder trial of an Atmore man is on hold as jury selection in the case is set to begin next month.
Trial is set for September 16 for Cedric Jerome Floyd in Escambia County, Ala. He is accused of the January 2, 2012, murder of Tina Roshell Jones, 43, inside her 5th Avenue residence in Atmore.
Floyd was in court Wednesday morning in Brewton as Circuit Judge Bert Rice heard a change of venue motion from his attorneys, Charles Johns and Kevin McKinley. The defense attorneys say it’s not possible for Floyd to receive a fair trial in Escambia County, Ala., due to pretrial publicity.
Rice said he believes that it will be possible to seat an impartial jury in Escambia County despite pretrial publicity, and he won’t consider the change of venue motion until a jury is seated. Calling the case “complex litigation”, Rice said a large number of potential jurors will be called “from one end of the county to the other”.
The defense attorneys had subpoenaed several area newspaper publishers for Wednesday’s hearing, but they were dismissed without being called to the stand. Subpoenaed were Kerry Whipple Bean, publisher of The Brewton Standard and former publisher of The Atmore Advance; Joe Thomas, publisher of The Tri-City Ledger in Flomaton, Ala.; William Reynolds, publisher of NorthEscambia.com; and Sherry Digmon, publisher of The Atmore News. Digmon was unable to attend Wednesday’s hearing and had submitted requested information by affidavit.
Wahoos Edge Stars In 11 For Fifth Straight Win
August 22, 2013
Pensacola claimed their fifth straight win by sneaking past the Huntsville Stars 1-0 in 11 innings on Wednesday afternoon at Joe Davis Stadium in Huntsville.
Ryan LaMarre scored on a wild pitch from David Goforth (L, 4-3) with two outs in the top of the 11th for the game winning run. He singled to start the inning, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and moved up to third on a groundout allowing him to score when the pitch to Yorman Rodriguez got away.
Both teams had opportunities to score earlier in the game. Corey Wimberly was thrown out at home in the third inning when he tried to score on a throw to first base behind LaMarre who had just singled. That was the second out of the inning, but LaMarre was stranded at second. Huntsville looked like they had a run in the seventh, on what seemed to be a sacrifice fly. With the bases loaded and one out, Hector Gomez flew out to LaMarre in deep left-center field, appearing to score Jason Rogers from third, but the throw to third was in time to get Shawn Zarraga trying to advance from second, and the plate umpire ruled that the out at third was before Rogers crossed home from third base.
Both starting pitchers were outstanding. For Pensacola, Josh Smith fired 6.1 shutout innings with four strikeouts and only one walk in a no decision. Ariel Pena also took a no decision for Huntsville. He worked seven scoreless with eight strikeouts. The Blue Wahoos bullpen preserved the shutout between 2.2 innings from Jaime Walczak, a scoreless 10th inning from Drew Hayes (W, 4-3) and a scoreless 11th from Trevor Bell (S, 16).
Hayes earned the win two strikeouts in the 10th before Bell tied a Blue Wahoos record with his 16th save of the season. The Wahoos closer worked around a two-out single to match Justin Freeman’s record of 16 saves from 2012. The 11th was Goforth’s only inning of work in the losing effort.
The Blue Wahoos will keep an eye on the Jacksonville-Chattanooga game in Chattanooga, Tenn. later Wednesday night. With a Suns loss, Pensacola will only be 3.5 games out of first place.
The Blue Wahoos will go for the series sweep on Thursday night in Huntsville. Pensacola will turn to RHP Robert Stephenson (0-1, 3.00) for his second Double-A start against RHP Books Hall (2-4, 4.53). First pitch is slated for 6:43 p.m. in Huntsville.
Need A Job? One Of The Area’s Largest Jobs Fairs Is Thursday
August 21, 2013
The Fleet and Family Support Center at Naval Air Station Whiting Field will host its 24th annual Job Fair on Thursday from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. The annual event will be held in Sikes Hall onboard Naval Air Station Whiting Field.
More than 70 local, regional and national businesses will be seeking prospective employees on site. The job fair is free and open to the public.Job seekers attending this event are encouraged to bring several copies of their resume with them to this event.
Job Fairs provide a unique opportunity for the employer and those seeking employment to actually discuss the job possibilities available. More than 1,000 prospective employees attended the 2012 fair with greater than 600 interviews and 110 hires occurring during the day. The event is regularly lauded by businesses as one of the largest and best organized in Northwest Florida.
Employers who have confirmed for the event include: Florida Highway Patrol, FlightSafety International, Federal Bureau of Prisons, Colonial Life, Gulf Power, Home Depot, Ingalls Shipbuilding, Navy Federal Credit Union, SECORP Industries, Wells Fargo, Ropella Group, Pep Boys Auto, Lowes, UT Aerospace Systems, and many more.
Trio Charged With Having Phony Money, Real Drugs
August 21, 2013
A Cantonment man and two Pensacola residents are accused of passing phony money and having real drugs in their vehicle when they were arrested.
Scott Thomas Toto, age 44 of Cantonment, Dexter Jermor Campbell, 27, and Jessica Tera Tipton, 26, were each charged with uttering a counterfeit Federal Reserve note, possession of ten or more counterfeit Federal Reserve notes, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of crack and powder cocaine.
Deputies were tipped off by the Barnes Dollar Store on Pace Boulevard after Toto allegedly tried to spend a fake $10 bill. When the clerk realized the bill was phony, Toto took it back and fled the store. The store clerk was able to provide a description of the vehicle, along with a partial tag number.
Less than an hour later, deputies conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle on Hollywood Boulevard near Hernandez Street. Campbell, the driver, and Toto were detained right away, but Tipton reportedly refused commands from the deputy. She began to fight with the deputy, hitting him at least twice, before fleeing on foot. She was later taken into custody after a manhunt utilizing a K-9 unit.
A K-9 alerted to the presence of drugs in the vehicle. Inside the car, deputies reported finding crack and powdered cocaine and numerous drug paraphernalia items. Deputies also reported Tipton dropped a cigarette package during the struggle with the deputy; inside the package they found crack cocaine and marijuana.
Also in the vehicle, deputies reported finding a package of paper consistent with the type used to print counterfeit money, a copier-printer and other items used to allegedly make the fake cash. Deputies also found receipts from multiple stores were items were recently purchased.
Campbell was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $16,000 bond, while Toto remained in jail early Wednesday with bond set at $51,000.
Tipton was also charged with resisting a law enforcement officer with violence, battery on a law enforcement officer, possession of marijuana and trespassing. She is being held in the Escambia County Jail without bond due to an outstanding warrant for violating her probation in a grand theft auto case.
Molino Woman Claims Self Defense In Shooting Death Of Her Husband
August 21, 2013
A Molino woman accused of shooting her husband Saturday night was in court Tuesday, claiming she shot him in self defense. And her daughter told the court that her father had a history of violence.
“He did shove me . He punched holes in my doors. I’m sure the cops could go now and still see them there,” the daughter testified.
Rebecca A. Rogers, 43, made her first court appearance via video Tuesday afternoon. She is charged with second degree murder for the death of her husband, 42-year old Jason Lee Rogers. She allegedly shot him twice in the back and once in the head the couples home in the 3400 block of Highway 29 in Molino about 10:45 p.m. Saturday. He died from his injuries Monday afternoon.
The couple had four daughters together, one of which testified Tuesday that her father had several guns in the home.
“As far as I know, he was going to get them and he was…my mom believed he was going to kill her. So, she was protecting herself,” she said.
Rogers remains in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $550,000.
For an earlier story, click here.
Pictured top: Rebecca A. Rogers made a court appearance by video Tuesday afternoon. Pictured inset: Rogers’ daughter testified that her father had a history of violence. Images courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Seeking Grants For Splash Pad, New Playground Equipment
August 21, 2013
A splash pad and new playground equipment could be coming soon to Century, if the town is successful in obtaining a couple of state grants.
The town is submitting two grant applications to the Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program. FRDAP is a competitive program which provides grants to local governments for outdoor recreational projects. The grants are administered by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
The first grant application is for $125,000 for the splash pad, which would be Century’s only water-based children’s recreational activity, at the Anthony Pleasant Sportsplex. If the grant is awarded, Century will be require to provide a $31,500 match in the form of about $10,000 in cash and the balance as in-kind services.
The second grant application will be for $50,000 to replace playground equipment at Showalter Park. The current equipment is in poor repair and is not designed for disabled users. If the grant is awarded for the playground equipment, no matching local funds will be required.
Grant applications are due September 30. The 2014-2015 FRDAP grants are contingent upon approval of an annual appropriation by the Florida Legislature.
Pictured top: A conceptual drawing showing a potential splash pad at the Anthony Pleasant Sportsplex in Century. Courtesy graphic for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
GED, Adult Ed Classes Offered In Molino
August 21, 2013
GED and adult basic education classes will be offered at the Molino Community Center in September.
Registration for the classes and TABE testing (test of basic education) will be held Tuesday, August 27 at 6 p.m. in Room 123. Classes will be held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6-8 p.m. at the same location beginning September 3.
For more information, call (850) 516-4451 or (850) 587-5334.
Escambia Woman Busted For Pot On School Campus
August 21, 2013
A Escambia County woman was busted for having pot on campus at a Santa Rosa County School.
Lisa Ann Anderson, 42, drove a friend to register a child at Central High School on Monday. Anderson was apparently unaware that it was the first day of school, and a school resource officer was on patrol.
The SRO walked past Anderson’s car and could see a large bag of marijuana and other drug paraphernalia in plain view. He made contact with Anderson, and she was placed under arrest. She was booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail with bond set at $5,000.
Deputies said the bag of marijuana weighed 96 grams, enough for a third degree felony charge.
Pelican Statue ‘Kidnapped’, Four Charged
August 21, 2013
Four men were arrested for “Pelican-knapping” after a caller reported a large pelican statue hanging out of a suspicious vehicle.
A Santa Rosa County deputy located the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop. Contact was made with the driver, three passengers and the pelican, named “Peli-Whacker”. When asked about the large pelican statue, the driver stated he knew nothing about it.
Santa Rosa County dispatch contacted the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and was told the pelican was just stolen from in front of the Sandshaker Lounge on Pensacola Beach. The owner of the pelican told Escambia deputies that he wanted to pursue charges, and there were witnesses to the theft. The four occupants of the vehicle were arrested for taking the $3,500 pelican, and the pelican was safely returned to its roost at the beach bar.
Daniel Joe Fureigh, 43, Michael Cary Duncan, 40, David Allen Darden 41, and Richard A. Querney, 43, were each charged with grand theft and booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail.
Scott, Cabinet: Privacy At Stake In Federal Health Program
August 21, 2013
Gov. Rick Scott and members of the Florida Cabinet envision that unscrupulous individuals seeking personal information could find jobs helping enroll people in a new federal health program unless proper background checks are in place.
Supporters of the Affordable Care Act counter that concerns raised by the state officials are intended simply to score political points, scare people away from enrolling and further delay implementation of the law.
Scott and the Republican Cabinet members, during a meeting Tuesday at Miami-Dade College, pointed to potential privacy violations and identity theft under part of the law that creates what are known as “navigators.”
Scott said the federal government needs to provide assurances that proper background checks will be in place in hiring the “navigators” and their assistants, who are expected to help people through the paperwork in signing up for health coverage.
“Federal safeguards that should be in place to protect our privacy are behind schedule and inadequate,” Scott said. “It is unclear how the federal government will protect personal information from being stolen or otherwise misused.”
The statewide officials, who have long criticized the health law known as Obamacare, said they want the federal government to ensure that the people hired are properly vetted, as enrollment is expected to begin in six weeks. The navigators will help enroll people through new health-insurance exchanges, a type of online marketplace that is a key part of carrying out the law.
Leah Barber-Heinz, spokeswoman for Florida CHAIN, a patient-advocacy group, called the claims by Scott and the Cabinet members another “outrageous” attack on the federal program.
“They’re trying to scare people away, trying to distract from the important work of implementation in Florida,” Barber-Heinz said.
Joshua Karp, a spokesman for the Florida Democratic Party, asserted that Scott’s “latest attack on Obamacare smacks of desperation.”
“It is deeply disappointing that Rick Scott and other Republicans are trying to score political points, rather than help provide access to health care for hundreds of thousands of Floridians who lack it,” Karp said in an email.
State legislators during the 2013 session approved a health law (SB 1842) that requires navigators hired in Florida to be registered with the state, be U.S. citizens or legal aliens and undergo background checks by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty, in delivering a presentation to the Cabinet, said it remains unknown if the federal government will bar the state from enforcing the law.
Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater said that since the state law designates navigators, it is also unknown if the state could use its law to require other positions — described as assistants and counselors by the federal government — to undergo similar background scrutiny.
And Scott said that even if the state is allowed to enforce its law, that still doesn’t ensure that sensitive personal information won’t end up being shared throughout the federal government.
“They’re going to have access to your tax information, your personal information, your Social Security information,” added Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Bondi is one of 13 Republican state attorneys general who last week requested that U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius address various aspects of the navigator program.
The attorneys general want Sebelius to respond by Aug. 28 to questions about the privacy of individual records and the need for more-stringent background checks on those hired for the navigator program.
Bondi said the attorneys general also need to know who will oversee the navigators and who will be responsible if any individual’s information is stolen.
“All we’re asking from the secretary of HHS is to give us assurances that they will be properly trained,” Bondi said. “I don’t want a convicted felon having our citizens’ personal information. So we need to know how they’re going to be trained.”
The federal government has allocated $67 million to train people nationwide for the navigator program.
Florida CHAIN has received $125,000 to conduct enrollment fairs throughout the state to help the uninsured enroll.
Another $4.2 million grant has been given for the University of South Florida’s Florida Covering Kids & Families program at the Lawton and Rhea Chiles Center to provide in-person assistance with the health-insurance marketplace.
However, with the program set to be in place by Oct. 1, the federal government has cut proposed training of the new employees from 30 hours to 20 hours.
The federal government is running the exchange in Florida. The Republican-dominated state legislature declined to implement a state exchange.
by The News Service of Florida