Local Home Sales Sluggish Compared To Statewide Rate
May 23, 2013
Statewide single-family home sales are up 17.4 percent from a year ago, Florida Realtors reported Wednesday, while single-family home sales saw more sluggish growth in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
Statewide closed sales of existing single-family homes totaled 20,662 in April, with 477 closed sales in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, up just 4.8 percent over a year ago. The average sales price locally was $144,950, almost steady from last year. The statewide median sales price for single-family existing homes last month was $165,000, up 14.2 percent from the previous year.
Townhouse and condo sales outpaced the state average, up 30 percent in April over a year ago. The state average was up 13.6 percent.
Florida Realtors chief economist John Tuccillo credited the sales increases to a stabilization of the distressed property market with the number of short sales dropping, while foreclosures and real estate owned property sales remaining steady. “Because the government is selling foreclosed properties in bulk and also using online auctions, our sales numbers actually understate the vigor of the market,” Tuccillo said in a Realtors’ news release.
Northview Chiefs Announce 2013 Football Schedule
May 23, 2013
The state champion Northview High School Chiefs have released their 2013 football schedule.
The schedule begins with a Preseason Classic game on August 23 against 5-A Panama City Bay. The Chiefs will also face 4-A Marianna, 6-A Choctawhatchee and 4-A Defuniak Springs Walton.
District games (in bold below) will be against Jay, Freeport and Baker. Homecoming is October 18 against Freeport.
Highway 164 Signs: You’re Awesome Sandra
May 23, 2013
Handmade signs lined Highway 164 just off Highway 29 Wednesday, and balloons were flying from many mailboxes — prompting several readers to contact us and ask why.
The signs were lining the route home for Sandra Morris of McDavid, diagnosed with cancer on October 4, 2012. On Wednesday, she completed her final round of chemo. Friends and relatives, part of “Team Sandra” planned the special welcome home.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Indicted On Federal Firearm Charges
May 23, 2013
An Escambia County man was indicted Wednesday by a federal grand jury for six sales of firearms to convicted felons and for dealing in firearms without a license.
Buddy Lamar Redden, 65, was charged in a seven-count indictment announced by United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida Pamela C. Marsh.
If convicted of dealing in firearms without a license, Redden faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. For each count of conviction for sale of a firearm to a convicted
felon, Redden faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The indictment was the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edwin Knight.
Escambia County Summer VPK Registration Open
May 23, 2013
The Escambia County School District will offer a Summer Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) program at four schools.
Summer VPK is a high quality, developmentally appropriate early learning program that prepares children to be ready for kindergarten. Children who were 4-years of age on or before September 1, 2012, will enter kindergarten in the fall of 2013, and have not attended a VPK program during the 2012-2013 school year are eligible for Summer Voluntary Prekindergarten. Summer VPK will be offered from June 10-August 2, 2013, Monday through Thursday, from 7:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Parents must provide transportation.
Summer VPK will be offered at the following elementary schools:
- Beulah
- Blue Angels
- Holm
- Pine Meadow
Parents must receive a Certificate of Eligibility from the Early Learning Coalition located at 3636 D North “L” Street prior to registering their child at the school site. Parents will need to bring the following documents to registration:
- Child’s Birth Certificate
- Social Security Card
- Immunization Record
- Physical
- Photo ID of parent registering the child
- Proof of residency (within 90 days)
For additional information, call (850) 595-6915 extension 227.
Escambia Academy Class Of 2013 Graduates
May 23, 2013
The Escambia Academy Class of 2013 graduated Thursday night at the school’s Bachelor Field in Canoe, Ala.
The Cougar’s valedictorian was Caitlyn Elizabeth Bruley and salutatorian was Elizabeth Page Lancaster.
Members of the Escambia Academy Class of 2013 are:
- Paige Elizabeth Allen
- David Reid Bell
- Dustin Lee Bishop
- Allison Taylor Brooks
- Caitlyn Elizabeth Bruley
- Andrew Blake Clark
- Alexander Clayton Dall
- Andrew Evan Daughtry
- Hannah Morgan Fountain
- Michael Dwane Glick
- Charity Elizabeth Hacker
- Brandy Michal Helton
- Elizabeth Page Lancaster
- Prentiss Jarrod Leachman Jr.
- Dustin Aaron Mack
- Kelsey Brooke McGhee
- Sydney Lauren McGhee
- Suhag Sevantilal Patel
- Joshua Lawrence Peebles
- Blakeley English Quimby
- Chelsey Lynn Ramer
- Luke Russell Roberson
- Nora Breann Rolin
- Austin Earnest Ryan
- Andrew Jordan Sasser
- TehronDevonteStallworth
- Michael Shane Thompson
- Nicholas Austin Thompson
- James Michael Wimberley
- Sarah Elizabeth Wooten
Pcola Police: 91 Car Burglaries Since May 1; Suspects Arrested
May 23, 2013
There have been 91 car burglaries in the City of Pensacola since May 1, according to Pensacola Police, a three people have been arrested for a few of the burglaries. Most of the vehicles were unlocked.
Treniqua Hollinger, 19, Maurissa Atkins, 20, and Maurice Atkins, 19, were charged with nine vehicle burglaries, one residential burglary and possession of burglary tools. The trio was arrested Wednesday morning and Pensacola Police say there were caught in the act of breaking into a vehicle.
Police are also looking for Tonjas Cornielus Dixon, 20, and Lucas Jenkins, 21, on multiple counts of vehicle burglary, vehicle theft, grand theft, petit theft and credit card fraud.
Pensacola Police Chief Chip W. Simmons said one of the easiest ways to prevent vehicle burglaries is to simply lock vehicle doors.
Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Dixon or Jenkins is asked to call Pensacola Police at (850) 435-1900 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Atmore Rotary Scholarship Fund Raiser ‘Old Time Fiddler’s Convention’ Canceled
May 23, 2013
The Atmore Rotary Club announced Wednesday that the annual Old Time Fiddler’s Convention — a primary fund raiser for the group’s Academic All Stars Program — will not be held in 2013. This year would have been the 33rd annual event.
Organizers said the Academic All-Stars program will continue and will not be impacted by the decision.
The Rotary Club decided to not hold the event this year in order to explore ways to update and improve this event with the goal of increasing event attendance numbers, organizers said.
“This long running event is held close to our hearts as Rotarians, but as with all things, it is good business practice to review event processes and effectiveness, said Atmore Rotary Club President Jennifer Chism. “We want to be proactive and ensure this event can continue to be successful both in terms of exposure and profitability.”
The Old Time Fiddler’s Convention was a primary fund raiser for the Atmore Rotary Club’s Academic All Star Program, which rewards academically successful high school students with recognition of their scholastic achievements through scholarship awards. This year the Rotary Club awarded scholarships to 130 students from Atmore Christian School, Escambia Academy, Escambia County High School and Northview High School.
Pictured top: 2013 Academic All Star scholarship winners from four area high schools at a May 9 program. Pictured inset: Atmore Rotary Club President Jennifer Chism. Pictured below: Randolph B. Luttrell, Sr.Scholarship Winner La’Derious Ty’Shon Franklin of Northview High School. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Molino Man Gets 15 Years For Driving Into Ex-Girlfriend’s Home
May 22, 2013
A Molino man that was shot multiple times after driving his vehicle into a house in Cantonment last summer is headed to prison.
John Alex Godwin, age 35 of Molino Road, was found guilty of burglary and two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He was sentenced by Judge Terry Terrell to 15 years in state prison as a habitual offender, to be followed by five years probation.
During the predawn hours of July 13, 2012, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said Godwin crashed his car into the home of 25-year old Heather McKamey of Cantonment. The car literally pushed in the front door, door frame and surrounding bricks.
Godwin was then shot by 25-year old Andrew Lundy of Cantonment. Lundy was not charged. Godwin suffered multiple gunshot woulds and was airlifted to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, Godwin was McKamey’s ex-boyfriend. She had unsuccessfully tried to get a restraining order against him in Escambia County back in June 2012 after a domestic violence incident between the pair in Mississippi.
According to a Gulfport Police Department incident report, Godwin was dating McKamey when he allegedly assaulted her on I-10 in Mississippi at the 33 mile marker by grabbing her hair and throwing her to the ground. She suffered minor lacerations to her hand during the incident, according to the report.
Northview Thanks Poarch Creek Indians, Students Win Bikes
May 22, 2013
Northview High School took a moment to stop and say “thanks” Tuesday to the Poarch Band of Creek Indians for their ongoing support of the school, and employees from Century Correctional Institution gave away a few bicycles just to add to the excitement of the event.
During this school year, notable contributions from the Poarch Creeks to Northview, including items in a $56,594.66 grant, were use of their buses, minor sports uniforms and equipment, laptops, projection mounts, contributions to different groups for expenses to attend the Class 1A State Championship football game in Orlando, and two “workhorse” copiers. Visitors to the school will see the PBCI logo affixed to the copiers and technology items.
“On behalf of the entire Northview Chiefs’ family, I would like to thank the Poarch Band of Creek Indians who have been overwhelmingly supportive,” NHS Principal Gayle Weaver said Tuesday. “All of us are most appreciative. Their contributions and support enabled the students to have an enhanced quality education.”
During Tuesday’s Poarch Creek appreciation event at Northview, five students received new bicycles courtesy of Century Correctional Institution. The winning students were chosen from those nominated as “most improved” in particular areas, including behavior, grades, attendance and class participation.
Winners were seniors Zach Bradley and Demontra Mitchell, junior Matt Cayson, sophomore Jessica Brewton and freshman David Godwin.
Pictured top and inset: Northview students and faculty showed their appreciation to the Poarch Creek Indians on Tuesday. Pictured below: Bicycles were award to Jessica Brewton, David Godwin, Matt Cayson, Zach Bradley, Demontra Mitchell. Pictured bottom (courtesy photo): The bicycles for “most improved” students were donated by Century Correctional Institution employees and delivered by Lt. Matthew Jackson, Sgt. Dale Henderson and Warden John Whitehurst. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
