Man Gets Life For Murder
April 27, 2013
Fred William Walker, Jr., was sentenced Friday by Judge Ross Goodman to life in state prison with a 25 year minimum mandatory sentence.
On September 4, 2012, Walker shot and killed Sandra Tucker in front of the home Tucker shared with Walker’s father in the 5900 block of Wales Avenue, off Mobile Highway. After killing Tucker, Walker fled the scene. Two days later Baldwin County Sheriffs Office found and arrested Walker in Alabama.
Photos: Atmore Walks For A Cure
April 27, 2013
The 2013 Atmore Relay for Life was held last night at Tom Byrne Park. All proceeds from the event benefited the American Red Cross.
Teams scheduled to take part in this year’s Atmore Relay for Life 2013 were Atmore Community Hospital, Atmore Family Dental, Atmore News, First National Bank & Trust, Johnson Ford, Poarch Creek Indians, Team Lucky Charms, The Meadows Assisted Living, Walgreen’s, Wrangler’s Steakhouse and United Bank.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured top: The 2013 Atmore Relay for Life gets underway early Friday evening at Tom Byrne Park. Pictured inset: Survivors Betty and Curtis Amerson of Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century’s Senior Beauty
April 27, 2013
Ms. Omalee Rutherford from Century Care Center was named the 2nd Runner-up in the 14th Annual Ms. Northwest Florida Senior Pageant Friday. The annual pageant is sponsored by the Florida Health Care Association. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Photos: AND1 Steetball Hoops Show Rocks Local Fans
April 27, 2013
Northview High School featured the AND1 Streetball Tour 2013 Friday night.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Smokies Make It Two In A Row Over Wahoos
April 27, 2013
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos threatened late against the Tennessee Smokies, but fell short 5-3 at Smokies Park in Kodak, Tenn. on Friday night. Tennessee has now won the first two games of the five-game series. Blue Wahoos manager Delino DeShields was ejected for the first time in 2013 when he argued an appeal play at first base in the fourth inning. First base umpire Matt McCoy ruled that Devin Lohman didn’t touch the base on what would have been a two-out double to left field.
Pensacola struck first in the second inning when Tucker Barnhart scored from first on an RBI double from Lohman. The Smokies scored two runs in the fourth inning to go ahead 2-1 and had the Wahoos playing catch up the rest of the way. Ty Wright came home for the first run when Rubi Silva reached on an error by Lohman at short stop. Rafael Lopez brought home the second run with an RBI single later in the inning.
The Smokies delivered a big blow in the sixth. With Jae-Hoon Ha aboard, Silva launched his fourth home run of the season, a two-run shot, to make it a 4-1 Smokies lead.
Theo Bowe singled home Lohman in the seventh inning to chip away at the deficit. It was the first run batted in for Bowe on the season. Ryan LaMarre nearly tied the game, but his long fly ball to right-center field was flagged down on the warning track by Ha at full sprint to end the inning.
The Blue Wahoos answered a Smokies seventh-inning run when Brodie Greene singled home Steve Selsky to pull Pensacola back within two, but that was as close as Pensacola would get.
Daniel Renken (L, 1-2) took the loss after getting charged with two earned runs, four total, on six hits over 5.2 innings. He walked a season-high four batters and struck out two.
Alberto Cabrera (W, 3-1) earned the win for the Smokies with six strong innings. The Wahoos got to the Tennessee starter for one run on three hits. He walked three and fanned six. Trey McNutt (S, 2) worked the final four outs to pick up the save.
Pensacola and Tennessee continue the series at Smokies Park on Saturday night. The Blue Wahoos will send RHP Daniel Renken (1-1, 3.57 ERA) to the mound against Smokies LHP Eric Jokisch (3-0, 1.11 ERA). First pitch is slated for 5:15 p.m. CT.
story by David Burke
International Paper Awards $50,000 In Grants To Community Groups
April 26, 2013
Thursday, International Paper awarded $50,000 in grants to several community organizations. Grants are awarded by the IP Foundation in Memphis, Tenn., which focuses on environmental education, literacy, employee involvement and critical community needs.
Recipients included Jim Allen Elementary School and a program called “Reading Eggs”. The program will support each student’s leaning by offering individual, one-on-one lessons that allow children to progress at their own rate.
The Reading Eggs program is a powerful educational program that is based on the most up to date research on how children learn to read. The program is interactive and it includes activities, and reward games to keep children motivated and interested in learning to read. The program includes progress reports that can be printed and shared with parents.
Jim Allen’s Reading Eggs program will aim to “foster a love of reading at a young age so our students will continue to read and to be successful throughout their life”.
Another grant recipient included the Health and Hope Clinic, with locations in Pensacola and Century. The clinic provides free medical services for individuals have no other resources for medical care.
“We feel privileged to be able to assist our local non-profits and community organizations in their continued efforts to serve Northwest Florida and Escambia County, Alabama,” said Janice Holmes, Communications Manager. “We look forward to seeing their great results.”
The complete list of local community organizations and their projects that were awarded grants for 2013 are: Ballet Pensacola, ”Discover Dance;” Children Services Center, “Adventure in Learning;” City of Brewton, “Boardwalk Wildflower Garden Project;” Council on Aging of NWFL, “Little Readers;” Escambia County Board of Education, “The Learning Tree;” Escambia County Board of Education, “Down and Dirty: Into the World of Composting;” Escambia County Extension Horticulture Program, “Smart Trees;” Escambia County Public Schools Foundation for Excellence, “Literacy Classroom Grant Partnership with IP;” Every Child a Reader in Escambia, “Project Ready;” Greater First Baptist Church, “Community Literacy Mentoring and Tutoring Program;” Health and Hope Clinic, Inc., “Direct Patient Care;” Jim Allen Elementary School, “Eggstraordinary Readers;” Manna Food Bank, “Get FRESH Food Initiative;” Pathways for Change; “Pathways to Success;” Pensacola Promise Chain Reaction, “New Wave Project Recycle;” Pensacola State College Foundation, Inc., “PSC Summer Environment Camp;” Perdido Bay Tribe, SE Muscogee Creek Indians, “Native Paths Greenhouse/Native Plant Propagation and Restoration Project;” Perdido Bay United Methodist Church, “Literacy Materials for Global Learning Academy;” Seasons of Hope, “Seasons of Hope;” UWF Foundation, “Explore Summer Camps;” UWF Foundation, “UWF Community Garden;” Waterfront Rescue Mission, “Day Resource Center;” WSRE TV Foundation, “Literacy Link.”
Pictured top: International Paper (IP) Pensacola Mill awarded $50,000 in Foundation Grants to local community organizations. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
One Injured In Wreck That Cut Power
April 26, 2013
One person was injured in a single vehicle accident Thursday night near Walnut Hill that cut power to several homes.
The driver of a pickup truck lost control on Pine Forest Road just off Highway 97 about 8:10 p.m. His pickup struck and power pole, sending the pole and power lines to the ground. The driver was transported to Atmore Community Hospital with minor injuries.
The accident cut power to a unknown number of residences in the immediate area.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol; further details have not been released. The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Atmore Ambulance also responded to the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Man Arrested On 11-Year Old Traffic Ticket
April 26, 2013
A Century man was arrested Thursday afternoon on traffic citation from 11 years ago.
James Ray Foster, now 52, was issued a traffic citation on February 3, 2002, for no valid driver’s license. He pleaded guilty and adjudication was withheld on March 12, 2002. On March 12, 2002, he was fined $186 and ordered to show a valid driver’s license to the court by June 19, 2002, or report to the county jail for 30 days, according to court records.
In August 2002, a pickup and commit order was issued for Foster’s arrest to spend 30 days behind bars after he failed to produce a valid driver’s license.
Foster remained in the Escambia County Jail early Friday morning without bond.
Scott Signs Law Banning 27 New Synthetic Drugs
April 26, 2013
Gov. Rick Scott signed legislation banning 27 new synthetic drugs on Thursday, as a bill sponsored by Rep. Clay Ingram became law.
Scott said, “Florida sheriffs, police chiefs and prosecutors have done a great job in making Florida communities safer. Thanks to their efforts, Florida is at a 41 year crime low. We will continue to work in close partnership with our state and local law enforcement officials to keep Florida families and visitors to our state safe – and this law will provide them with even more tools to fight new drugs that threaten our children.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi also praised the new law.
“Deadly synthetic drugs are targeted to our youth, and I will remain committed to banning these drugs and keeping them off of store shelves. I thank Governor Scott for signing this key public safety legislation,” she said.
Two School Burglaries Under Investigation
April 26, 2013
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is looking for the public’s help in solving burglaries at two schools this month in Escambia County.
Weis Elementary School on North Q Street was vandalized and burglarized early Thursday morning. Video surveillance revealed three suspects had entered the building shortly before 2:00 am. While in the building they broke out glass doors and stole several items. Deputies are searching for three suspects pictured on this page.
Back on April 10, at least three individuals burglarized Woodham Middle School during the early morning hours. Several doors, windows and lockers were damaged. Graffiti was also painted on several walls. The damage was estimated to be in excess of $9,000. Suspects from the surveillance video are pictured on this page.
Anyone with information about either school burglary is asked asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
