Escambia Man Convicted Of Killing His Grandfather
July 19, 2013
An Escambia County man was convicted Thursday of the first degree murder of his grandfather.
Thomas Isaiah Bunch fatally shot 69-year old Cleo Kennedy while the yard of a home they shared on Fiesta Drive on June 26, 2011. Bunch later confessed to the killing.
Bunch, 29, now faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison.
Number Of Homeless Drop In Florida
July 19, 2013
Far fewer Floridians are living on the streets, according to the Florida Department of Children and Families’ (DCF) Office of Homelessness. The most recent count shows a drop in the number of people in Florida with no shelter. In 2012, nearly 55,000 Floridians were homeless during a one day count. This year, just over 45,000 Floridians were living with no permanent residency.
“The drop in the homelessness count is great news for Florida,” DCF Secretary David Wilkins said. “Shelter is one of the most basic of needs and when families don’t have a place to call home, children suffer. Governor Rick Scott’s commitment to improving the economy and getting people back to work has reduced the number of people living on the streets by giving them more opportunities for consistent employment.”
Since 2007, the rate of homelessness in Florida has declined nearly 25 percent. At that time, Florida’s job market was suffering and more than 60,000 Floridians had no place to call home. As Florida’s job market improves and the unemployment rate declines, more people are finding permanent residency.
The report is a single day count of the homeless population in Florida.
Wahoos Fall Flat In Series Opener
July 19, 2013
The Huntsville Stars scored in their first at-bat, providing all the offense on the night in a 1-0 win over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos on Thursday night in front of the 19th sellout crowd of the season at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
Chadwin Stang started the game off with a double for the Stars and moved to third on a sac bunt by Nick Shaw. Two batters later, Brock Kjeldgaard lifted a sacrifice fly into foul territory in left field to score the game’s only run.
Pensacola had numerous opportunities in the contest, smacking eight base knocks, but couldn’t push across any runs. The Wahoos stranded 11 runners, including the bases loaded in the fourth inning. In the second inning, Pensacola had runners at second and third and one out but Chris Berset lined out sharply to second base before Daniel Renken grounded out. Renken batted with the bags packed and two outs in the fourth and struck out.
Despite the shutout, Travis Mattair continued his torrid pace with a 3-for-4 performance with two doubles. In his current seven-game hitting streak, Mattiar is 14-for-23, a .609 average.
Renken (3-7) took the tough luck loss despite tossing his fifth quality start in a row. The right-hander allowed a run on three hits with four strikeouts and four walks in six innings.
Drew Gagnon (2-5) snapped a five-game losing streak with his best start in Double-A. Gagnon shutout Pensacola over 6.2 innings, scattering eight hits with three strikeouts and two walks. Greg Holle picked up his ninth save of the year by pitching around a one-out walk in the ninth inning.
The series continues on Friday night at 7 p.m. Carlos Contreras will make his Double-A debut with Pensacola after being called up from High-A Bakersfield over the All-Star Break. Huntsville will counter with Brooks Hall (0-3, 6.31).
story by Kevin Burke
UF Dean Makes Recomendation On Future Of Escambia 4-H
July 18, 2013
University of Florida/IFAS Extension Dean Nick Place has made his recommendation concerning the future of 4-H in Escambia County at a Thursday morning meeting of the Escambia County Committee of the Whole.
He accepted three recommendations from an advisory committee concerning property to replace the Langley Bell 4-H Center that was sold to Navy Federal:
Cottage Hill State Forest, Cottage Hill. About 31 acres; the state is willing to deed the property to Escambia County. Site would support environmental and horticultural sciences, outdoor education, forestry and other 4-H activities. Currently has horse trails.
Escambia County Equestrian Center, Mobile Highway. Owned by Escambia County, includes 151 acres. Not currently equipped to handle any livestock except horses. A memorandum of understanding would ensure the 4-H could use the facility for animal shows.
Privately Owned Land. The Barrineau Park 4-H and the Livestock 4-H currently use the facilities of private landowners for livestock. By recruiting other members of the agriculture community, more sites could be developed with leases and grants to provide opportunities for 4-H club members to have off-site raising facilities.
Place also recommended that most of the $1.6 million from the Navy Federal sale proceeds that was to have purchased land instead by given to the 4-H Foundation for use only in Escambia County.
District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry expressed his displeasure in the recommendations, saying that it was not fair and equitable because 4-H sold 240 acres and did not receive something comparable in return. Commissioner Wilson Robertson also agreed, saying the 4-H’er had been promised comparable property.
A non-binding vote by commissioners in the Committee of the Whole meeting was 3-2 against accepting Place’s plan. What happens next in the process was not immediately clear. With the vote Thursday, the county’s can’t accept the proposals. A memorandum of understanding gave Place the final decision, but Escambia County must accept the Cottage Hill Forest from the state, and the Equestrian Center belongs to the county.
Woman Mauled In Pit Bull Attack
July 18, 2013
A Nokomis woman is in critical condition after being viciously attacked and mauled by two pit bulls at her home in the 8000 block of Jakes Road early Thursday morning.
Sandra Lambert, 63, was outside to feed her chickens just before 6 a.m. when two pit bulls attacked her, causing massive injuries to her arm and biting her legs. Lambert was airlifted as a “trauma alert” to the University of South Alabama Medical Center in Mobile. Relatives said doctors were forced to amputate her arm at the elbow, and she may lose her entire arm.
A family pit bull was also critically injured and was not expected to survive.
One of the dogs involved in the attack was trapped on an enclosed porch until Escambia County Animal Control arrived, tranquilized and captured it.
The second pit bull was captured by Escambia County Animal Control Friday morning at the home.
The second pit bull also attacked and critically injured a family pit bull that intervened and tried to protect Lambert. That dog did not survive.
Lambert had taken the two dogs in as strays, according to the Sheriff’s Office, and had been caring for them. The dogs had reportedly been left behind about five months ago when their owners moved away from the area.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and Escambia County Animal Control will continue to patrol the area throughout the day to search for the second dog. Traps have also been set.
Pictured top: An Escambia County Animal Control officer removed a tranquilized pit bull from an enclosed porch. Pictured inset: One of the two pit bulls involved in a vicious attack Thursday morning was trapped on an enclosed porch. Pictured below: One of the dogs responsible for the attack after being tranquilized. Pictured bottom: The attack happened at a mobile home in Nokomis, FL. The victim was airlifted to the USA Medical Center in Mobile. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Small Fire At West Florida Hospital
July 18, 2013
Multiple fire stations responded to a small fire at West Florida Hospital early this morning.
About 3:30 a.m., smoke was reported in the facility’s emergency room area. Hospital staff had the fire out upon arrival of the fire department. The smoke originated from a large battery pack on an emergency room x-ray equipment.
Fire department crews used large fans to ventilate the area and clear the smoke. There were no injuries.
The Ferry Pass, Ensley, Osceola and Bellview stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the incident.
Century To Rework Personnel Policy
July 18, 2013
The Century Town Council is considering an new personnel policy to give the mayor more control and eliminate the need for direct council involvement in some employment issues.
The changes were prompted after May’s termination of a lower level employee by the council in a special called council meeting. The employee was repeatedly late for work.
Under Century’s current employment rules and regulations, the mayor is the town’s top boss, but the mayor can’t fire an employee without a vote of the town council. And, under those same town rules, the Mayor can’t make his termination recommendation known until a special meeting of the town council begins.
Under the new policy, the mayor will be able to discipline and terminate employees without input from the council; the employee can then appeal their punishment or termination to the council for a final determination. Similar policies are in place at governmental agencies throughout the area.
The council is set to consider the new personnel policy at their next regular meeting on August 5.
For more information about the public firing of a town employee last May, click here for a previous story.
Pictured top: Four of the five members of the Century Town Council. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Take A Guess: How Far Away Was This Cool Cloud?
July 18, 2013
A rather unique looking “mushroom cloud” was visible across the North Escambia area just before sunset Wednesday. It was the only major cloud in the skies, visible from Walnut Hill (above, NorthEscambia.com photo) and even from Mobile (below, National Weather Service photo).
How far away do you think this cloud was? Scroll down the page for the answer.
As shown on this radar image from the National Weather Service is Mobile, the cloud was actually about 40 miles from the location of the top photo taken in Walnut Hill. It was about 80 miles away from the bottom photo taken by the National Weather Service in Mobile.
Gas Prices Climb
July 18, 2013
Gas prices are headed back up following the long Independence Day weekend, the busiest summer holiday travel period. The price for a gallon of regular retail gasoline jumped 15 cents in the Pensacola metro over the past week.
The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded was $3.57 Wednesday, up from $3.42 one week ago. The per gallon price on year ago in the Escambia area was $3.20 on average.
The Florida average price was $3.59 on Wednesday, up from $3.45 a week ago.
Today’s national average price for regular unleaded gasoline is $3.61 per gallon. Although this price is fractions of a penny less than one month ago, it is 14 cents more expensive than one week ago and 22 cents higher than the same day last year. The national average has now increased for eight days in a row, but remains 18 cents lower than the peak price this year of $3.79 on February 27.
Pictured: Regular unleaded was $3.55 per gallon Wednesday evening in Cantonment. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Chloe Channell Advances To NYC On ‘America’s Got Talent’
July 18, 2013
Chloe Channell of Pace has moved on to the next round of “America’s Got Talent” in New York City.
Chloe, just 11 years old, covered the Reba McEntire song “Turn on Your Radio” is Las Vegas to earn her ticket to the Big Apple.
“I want to go to the live show in New York City more than I want to catch a 100 pound snapper, and that is a lot,” she explained Wednesday night on national television before her performance.
After performing “Turn on Your Radio”, a classic country break up song, celebrity judge Howie Mandell asked Chloe if she understood the song, and if she’s had break-ups.
“My dad says boys are the devil,” she said in a confident voice. “Your dad is a very smart guy,” judge Howard Stern said.
Chloe has been a regular around the Pensacola area for years, becoming a full-time member of The Sawmill Band at the Chumuckla Farmer’s Opry at the age of seven.
“I’m so thankful to GOD for giving me this wonderful opportunity and to all of you for all the support and I promise u in NY!! I’m gonna bring it!! I can’t share but totally love the song I’m getting to do!! So please when it’s time vote for me and thank u all so much!!”, she wrote on her Facebook page after Wednesday’s show.
The next episodes of American’s Got Talent will air next Tuesday and Wednesday from Radio City Music Hall. There’s no word yet on which night Chloe will appear.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
