Century Couple Charged With Exploiting Elderly Woman
May 3, 2013
A Century husband and wife have been charged with financially exploiting an elderly woman.
Lashonda Marsha Johnson, 41, and Eric Russell Johnson 43, both of Jefferson Avenue, Century, were charged with felony exploitation of an elderly person. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said Lashonda Johnson worked for Granny Nannies as a certified nursing assistant for the victim at the time of the alleged crime in 2011.
After the Johnsons were denied a loan in December 2011 to purchase a 2011 Buick Lacrosse, Eric Johnson returned to Pen Air Federal Credit Union with his wife’s elderly client and used the elderly woman’s good credit to obtain a $28,583 loan as a co-signer, deputies said. The elderly woman, according to an arrest report, lacked the physical and mental capacity to consent to the loan.
In March 2013, the elderly woman’s son discovered the loan and contact sheriff’s investigators. According to an arrest report, Eric Johnson returned to Pen Air in April 2012 to refinance the vehicle only in his name. The vehicle was later returned to the credit union after Eric Johnson filed bankruptcy.
After their arrests this week, both Johnsons were released from the Escambia County Jail on $5,000 bond each.
Lawmakers Approve Texting While Driving Ban, Awaiting Scott’s Signature
May 3, 2013
Texting while driving will be illegal in Florida if Gov. Rick Scott signs legislation sent to him by the Senate on Thursday after a years-long effort to join most other states in outlawing it.
The Senate voted 39-1 in favor of a bill (SB 52) that makes it illegal to read or type texts or emails while actually driving, though it would remain legal to do it while stopped, such as at a red light.
Scott hasn’t said whether he’ll sign the bill.
Under the measure as passed, only drivers who are pulled over for something else, such as careless driving or speeding, and then are determined to have been texting while driving, could be cited. And in most cases, police and prosecutors won’t be able to seek the driver’s cell phone records to prove it. Under an amendment added to the bill this week by the House, records could only be sought if there were an injury or death in a crash.
That provision weakened the bill, but the measure’s Senate sponsor said the fight to get a texting ban has been long and so it was better to go along with that than not pass the bill – and she said the measure still could reduce the dangerous practice, particularly among kids.
“This bill is still a good bill, it still will allow parents today to say to their kids ‘Don’t text, it’s against the law,’” said Sen. Nancy Detert, R-Venice, who has pushed for the ban unsuccessfully for years.
On the second-to-last day of the legislative session, there was a risk that stripping the House provision on cell phone records and sending it back to the House would keep the bill from passing.
If Scott were to approve, Florida would become one of the last states to have any kind of restriction on texting while driving.
The measure has an exception for use of a GPS device, or for reporting criminal behavior. The bill also allows talk-to-text technology to be used, as long as the driver isn’t typing or reading the message. In addition to texting, the bill includes reading or writing emails, or other messages.
By The News Service of Florida
$58 Million In Projects Proposed, Including $20 Million Fish Hatchery
May 3, 2013
Trustees for the Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage Assessment have proposed $58 million in restoration projects along the state’s oil spill-affected Gulf coast — including a $20 million fish hatchery in Pensacola and $14 million in other projects in the county.
Originally presented to the City Council in June 2011, the Florida Gulf Coast Marine Fisheries Hatchery and Enhancement Center is slated to include a state-of-the-art saltwater fish hatchery, an integrated coastal habitat plant production facility, and a venue for public outreach and education on marine resources conservation. The Council voted unanimously to authorize Mayor Hayward to negotiate a lease for the proposed hatchery at the Bruce Beach site, located south of Main Street west of the Community Maritime Park.
“This is a huge win for Pensacola,” said Mayor Hayward. “This hatchery will be a tremendous asset for our community and our region. Over the past two years, I’ve been fighting every day to make sure Pensacola gets the funding and the resources we deserve. I want to thank Governor Rick Scott for his continued leadership and advocacy for our state and for Northwest Florida.”
The projects would be paid out of a $100 million pot of money from BP from an April 2011 agreement that is overseen by the trustees. Florida has already approved and begun work on seven projects, including several boat ramps, dune restoration, and shorebird and sea turtle habitat restoration.
In the Escambia and Santa Rosa county areas, the projects also include:
- Florida Gulf Coast Marine Fisheries Hatchery/ Enhancement Center, Escambia County. Approximately $20 million
- Florida Artificial Reef Creation and Restoration, Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, and Bay counties. Approximately $11.4 million
- Pensacola Bay Living Shoreline, Escambia County. Approximately $11 million
- Florida Oyster Reef Restoration Escambia, Santa Rosa, Bay and Franklin counties. Approximately $5.4 million
- Scallop Enhancement for Increased Recreational Fishing Opportunity in the Florida Panhandle, Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Bay, Gulf, and Franklin counties. Approximately $3 million
- Big Lagoon State Park Boat Ramp Improvement, Escambia County. Approximately $1.5 million
- Bob Sikes Pier Restoration, Escambia County. Approximately $1 million
- Perdido Key Boardwalk Improvements, Escambia County. Approximately $600,000
- Perdido Key Dune Restoration, Escambia County. Approximately $600,000
“These early restoration projects will help revitalize our precious coastal ecology and restore our area’s natural resources after the damage of the BP oil spill,” said Rep Clay Ingram. “I am also hopeful that these plans will help ease the economic losses suffered by so many members of our community who depend on the environment for business and recreation.”
“We’re committed to restoring the environment and economy that families have relied upon in the Gulf for generations,” said Gov. Rick Scott. “These $58 million in Florida projects represent a critical step forward in recovering from the natural resource and recreational losses that resulted from the BP oil spill.”
National Day Of Prayer Observed In Century, Atmore
May 3, 2013
From iPads and iPhones, to the tattered and torn pages of cherished family Bibles, participants in a National Day of Prayer event in Atmore read the entire Bible aloud in just 30 minutes Thursday evening.
In Atmore, the threat of rain from the heavens pushed about 300 National Day of Prayer participants from a local park into the gym at Escambia County High School. Community, business and spiritual leaders led those gathered in prayer before the annual Bible reading.
In Century, community leaders gathered in prayer, asking for God’s favor on their town, surrounding communities and the nation.
For more photos from the Atmore National Day of Prayer events, click here.
Pictured top: Rev. Ted Bridges of the Walnut Hill Baptist Church, on his knees, reading from his Bible during a National Day of Prayer event Thursday evening in Atmore. Pictured inset: Dr. Johnathon Yoder of Atmore reads aloud from his Bible. Pictured below: Luanne Henderson and Lonnie Wilson at the Atmore Bible reading event. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
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Four Kids Found In Home With Meth Lab
May 3, 2013
Authorities say they found four children living in a home where they discovered an active meth lab.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office found the working meth lab inside a home in the 8500 block of Acapulco Camino. Inside the home with four children, deputies reported finding numerous materials commonly used in the manufacture of methamphetamine.
The children – ages 1, 9, 11 and 13 — were turned over to other family members for care, and a hazardous materials team was called to clean up hydrochloric acid and other chemicals.
Melissa Rae Anderson, 37; Richard Melcolm Anderson, 53; Hershel Keith Cranford, 31; Shelly M. Cranford, 27; and Camron Lechelle Hummel, 34, were each charged with manufacturing methamphetamine with a child present, two counts of producing methamphetamine, possession of narcotics equipment, and two counts of possession of a chemical with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine.
They were booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $86,000 each. All five remained in the Escambia County Jail early Friday morning.
Biscuits Blast Wahoos 6-1
May 3, 2013
The Montgomery Biscuits smacked two home runs en route to a 6-1 win over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos in front of 4,206 fans on Thursday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
The game was originally delayed an hour and 28 minutes by rain and both offenses came out cold. Neither team had a hit through three innings before Montgomery ignited their onslaught. With one out, Mikie Mahtook walked, Cameron Seitzer singled and Todd Glaesmann blasted a three-run homer to left off of Ryan Dennick for a 3-0 lead.
An inning later, it was Mahtook delivering the goods as he launched a two-run homer off Dennick to push Montgomery’s lead to 5-0. Dennick (1-2) went just five frames, allowing a season-high five runs on five hits.
The Biscuits added their sixth run of the day on an RBI single in the sixth from Shawn O’Malley.
Pensacola’s lone run came on an RBI single from Brodie Greene in the seventh that scored Tucker Barnhart who had doubled earlier in the frame.
Matt Buschmann (3-1) was dominant for Montgomery, going a season-high eight innings and yielding just a run on five hits combined with eight strikeouts.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series with the Biscuits on Friday night with a 7:00 p.m. first pitch. Daniel Renken gets the start for Pensacola against Montgomery’s Merrill Kelly.
story by Kevin Burke
21 Arrested In Internet Prostitution Investigation
May 3, 2013
An Escambia County Sheriff’s Off task force has arrested 21 1 people in an internet prostitution investigation known as “Operation Back Page”.
One Injured In Minor Hwy 97, Hwy 29 Accident
May 3, 2013
One person was injured in a minor accident Thursday afternoon at the intersection of Highway 97 and Highway 29 in Molino.
The driver of a Nissan Maxima was stopped at a stop sign on Highway 97 when she was lightly bumped from the rear by the driver of a Toyota Hybrid, witnesses said. Both vehicles were moved to the nearby Tom Thumb parking lot.
The driver of the Maxima was transported by Escambia County EMS after complaining of injuries in the low-speed crash. Her condition was not available.
The only obvious damage to either vehicle was small scuff mark on the bumper of the Maxima. The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Further details were not available.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Southeastern Conference, ESPN Announce New SEC TV Network
May 3, 2013
A new SEC television network which launch next year.
The Southeastern Conference and ESPN have signed a 20-year agreement through 2034 to create and operate a multiplatform network, which will launch in August 2014, it was announced today by SEC Commissioner Mike Slive and ESPN President John Skipper. The new network and its accompanying digital platform will air SEC content 24/7 including more than 1,000 events in its first year.
The network will televise approximately 45 SEC football games, more than 100 men’s basketball games, 60 women’s basketball games, 75 baseball games, and events from across the SEC’s 21 sports annually. Programming will also include studio shows, original content such as SEC Storied, spring football games, signing day and pro days coverage. Hundreds of additional live events from various sports will be offered exclusively on the digital platform. The network and its digital extensions will connect with each SEC institution and create opportunities for each school to produce and develop content.
“The SEC Network will provide an unparalleled fan experience of top quality SEC content presented across the television network and its accompanying digital platforms,” stated Slive. “We will increase exposure of SEC athletics programs at all 14 member institutions, as we showcase the incredible student-athletes in our league. The agreement for a network streamlines and completes an overall media rights package that will continue the SEC’s leadership for the foreseeable future.”
Each weekend throughout the season, the new network will air multiple top-tier matchups from the strongest conference in college football. Since 2006, the SEC has claimed seven consecutive football national championships. In 2011-12, SEC teams won eight national championships: football (Alabama), men’s basketball (Kentucky), gymnastics (Alabama), men’s indoor track and field (Florida), women’s tennis (Florida), women’s golf (Alabama), men’s outdoor track and field (Florida), and softball (Alabama). Since 1990, the SEC has won 149 national team championships for an average of more than six per year.
Skipper said, “The SEC is unmatched in its success on the field and its popularity with fans nationwide. The new network’s top-quality SEC matchups across a range of sports will serve all sports enthusiasts including the most passionate, die-hard SEC fans. Also, it will serve the needs of our multichannel distributors and advertisers by providing extremely attractive programming options across all platforms.”
As part of the agreement, ESPN will now oversee the SEC’s official Corporate Sponsor Program. In addition, ESPN and the SEC also agreed to extend their existing media rights agreement through 2034. ESPN has televised the SEC since 1982. ESPN’s existing networks present more than 1,600 hours of SEC action each year. The new network will focus exclusively on the SEC and add another outlet to deliver sports fans more SEC content than ever.
AT&T U-verse has been secured as the network’s first national distributor.
HUD Awards Nearly $1 Million In Area Homeless Grants
May 3, 2013
U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan on Friday awarded nearly a million dollars in a second round of grants to support local homeless housing and service programs in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
Local grants totaling $987,587 include:
HMIS Expansion 2 $31,342
Loaves and Fishes Transitional Housing Program $248,672
Permanent supportive Housing Escambia $162,231
Permanent Supportive Housing Santa Rosa $108,125
Supportive Housing Program $129,330
Transitional Supportive Housing $307,887
“We know these modest investments in housing and serving our homeless neighbors not only saves money, but saves lives,” said Donovan. “These local programs are on the front lines of the Obama Administrations efforts to prevent and end homelessness as we know it once and for all.”
HUD’s Continuum of Care grants are awarded competitively to local projects to meet the needs of their homeless clients. The grants fund a wide variety of programs from street outreach and assessment programs to transitional and permanent housing for homeless persons and families. HUD funds are a critical part of the Obama Administration’s strategic plan to prevent and end homelessness.
HUD’s Continuum of Care grants announced Friday will continue offering permanent and transitional housing to homeless persons as well as services including job training, health care, mental health counseling, substance abuse treatment and child care. Continuum of Care grants are awarded competitively to local programs to meet the needs of their homeless clients. These grants fund a wide variety of programs from street outreach and assessment programs to transitional and permanent housing for homeless persons and families.