State To Seek Death Penalty In Beating, Burning Death (With Video)
April 9, 2013
The State Attorney’s Office may seek the death penalty against three people accused of beating a woman then burning her alive.
Anthony Lamar Pressley, 26, Kiesha LeShay Pugh, 28, and Gregory Edward Williams, 21, were each charged with homicide and robbery for the March 31 death of Melinda McCormick inside her burning apartment of Mobile Highway. All three have confessed, investigators said.
Deputies say an autopsy shows McCormick was hit 40 times with a hammer, lead pipe and crow bar. She was still alive when her bed sheets were set on fire, according to the State Fire Marshal’s Office. They were caught on video (see below) headed to and away from the area of the apartment.
Williams reportedly told investigators that he hated white people, and that was a partial reason for the crime.The trio allegedly planned to steal Social Security money from McCormick. Officials said arson charges may also be added against the men.
“This was a particular hateful crime,” Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan said. “One of the saddest parts of this story is that the card that they intended to steal was not even in the woman’s residence.”
Decades Of 4-H Activities Come To An End In Beulah
April 8, 2013
The 20th Annual Spring Livestock Show Saturday was most likely the last one to ever be held at the Langley Bell 4-H Center on Nine Mile Road after the sale of the property to Navy Federal.
Saturday was an emotional day for the 4-H kids and adults as they dedicated the Bobby Gindl Memorial Hog Barn on the property — even though it will likely never be used again, perhaps even razed by Navy Federal as they expand. Gindl, who passed away unexpectedly in November at the age of 54, taught agriculture for 30 years. He was also the leader of the Barrineau Park 4-H Club, the oldest continuing 4-H Club in the state of Florida. He spent most of his life involved in 4-H, and took part in activities for many years at Langley Bell.
The children and teens on the 4-H County Council were the ones that voted to sell their 240 acres to the credit union. Navy Federal paid $3.6 million for the property next to the credit union’s campus in Beulah. $2 million of the sale proceeds were placed in an endowment fund for 4-H, and $1.6 million was reserved for 4-H to use under the guidance of UF/IFAS for a property including livestock facilities.
The children were promised a new piece of property comparable to Langley Bell, according to Escambia Commissioner Wilson Robertson, who also serves on the 4-H Foundation board. IFAS as assembled committees to research pros and cons of particular properties. The committees are still in the decision making process.
Speaking on behalf of the young 4-H’ers, a delegation of concerned citizens from Escambia County traveled with Tallahassee to meet with several state officials to discuss a Langley Bell replacement, including Agricultural Commissioner Adam Putnam, Sen. Greg Evers, Rep. Clay Ingram, Senate President Don Gaetz and Rep. Doug Broxson.
During Saturday’s livestock show, Escambia commissioners Steven Barry, Wilson Robertson, and Lumon May each individually visited with parents and 4-H members.
After a lunch break, Barry and Sen. Evers visited with young 4-H’ers to hear first hand to learn what they would like to have in a replacement facility. At one point, Evers knelt down to the childrens’ level in manure-filled show area to hear exactly what the 4-H kids had to say.
For more information about Saturday’s livestock show, click here.Pictured top: A panoramic view of the 20th Annual Spring Livestock Show Saturday at the Langley Bell 4-H Center. Pictured below: Current Navy Federal buildings can be seen across a lake at the Langley Bell 4-H Center in Beulah. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate Student, Grandmother Arrested After Drug Dog Alert
April 8, 2013
A 17-year old Tate High School student was arrested on multiple charges last week after a drug dog alerted on his car, and his grandmother was arrested for creating a disturbance at the county jail.
During a routine K-9 search of the campus, the drug dog alerted officers to drugs in the student’s car in the school parking lot. When school officials and the School Resource Office made contact with the student, a struggle ensued, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The male student was taken into custody, and deputies located marijuana, cocaine and durg paraphernalia is his car.
The students was charged with resisting an officer, disorderly conduct, marijuana possession, cocaine possession, and drug equipment possession.
He was transported to the Escambia County Jail, where he, along with his mother and grandmother created a disturbance in the Rapid Intake area. They were asked by detention deputies to stop yelling and the women were ordered to leave the area. The mother complied, but the grandmother, Dianna Kay Bair, refused to leave after multiple commands, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Bair was taken into custody and charged with resisting without violence. She was released from jail on a $500 bond.
JoJo Road Closed
April 8, 2013
The Escambia County Public Works Department has announced the closure of the JoJo Road effective today. JoJo Road is located south of Nine Mile Road, and will be closed at the intersection of JoJo Road at Chisholm Trail.
The closure is in conjunction with the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority lift station upgrades, and it is estimated that the intersection will be closed for one week.
Volunteers Attend Live Fire Training Class
April 8, 2013
Volunteers that have spent the last several week attending a Firefighter I class at the McDavid Station of Escambia Fire Rescue took part in the final phase of their training Saturday with a “life fire” exercise.
The training at the Pensacola Fire Department Training Grounds gave the students their first exposure to interior firefighting with actual flames and smoke.
Scroll down for additional photos.
Pictured top: Firefighter I class members Saturday at a Live Fire Training Class in Pensacola. Pictured inset: Lt. James Shaw (left) and Firefighter Jason Felicelli serve as a Rapid Intervention Team to handle any emergency during the training.
Above: Fire rages in the “burn can” for a volunteer training class.
Above: Students exit the “burn can” after a fire exercise.
Above: Students kneel inside the “burn can”.
Above: Students enter the “burn can”.
Above: Lt. Matt Scallan (red helmet) gives instructions to students prior to entering the “burn can”.
Above: McDavid Chief Eric Gilmore (gray shirt) speaking with students.
Photos submitted by Craig Ammons, Escambia County Fire Rescue, for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Time Running Out To Purchase Northview Yearbook
April 8, 2013
Time is running out to purchase a Tribal Spirit yearbook from Northview High School.
The yearbooks will ship near the end of the month, and there is no guarantee that additional copies will be available. Additional copies, if available, will be priced higher.
This year’s edition has eight additional pages, with four additional pages of football state championship coverage. The staff has worked hard to include more students than ever.
To order a yearbook, visit www.jostensyearbooks.com or visit Mrs. Robinson in the school library. Yearbooks are currently priced at $65.
Clerk Of Court: Electronic Filing Switch Successful
April 8, 2013
Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller Pam Childers said Friday that the April 1 mandatory date for electronic filing of court documents in civil cases was successful. More than 300 filings totaling 600 documents were electronically filed Monday. Electronic filing enables Childers to reduce costs, increase timeliness in the processing of cases, and provide improved service to the public and judiciary.
While attorneys must now electronically file any civil, family law or probate documents with the Clerk of Court, those parties who represent themselves will still file paper documents with the Clerk. Electronic filing will be mandatory in criminal cases in October.
Childers’ office provides daily updates to the legal community in an effort to keep them aware of updates and policy changes in assisting with the transition to a less paper intensive environment.
Wahoos Slip Past Smokies 5-4
April 8, 2013
After two days of struggling at the dish, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos used a balanced attack in a 5-4 win over the Tennessee Smokies on Sunday afternoon in front of the fourth straight sellout crowd to start the 2013 campaign at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. It wasn’t without stress, however, as Tennessee had the tying and go-ahead runs on base in the ninth before Curtis Partch got Jonathan Mota to ground out to end the game.
The Wahoos broke out of their semi-dry spell by pounding 10 hits, highlighted by a three-run home run in the last of the sixth from Donald Lutz that put Pensacola up 5-2. It was Lutz’s second dinger of the year.
Pensacola jumped on top early in the first with a two-out, two-run double from Steve Selsky, scoring Ray Chang and Bryson Smith. Selsky was one of six Wahoos with at least one base knock in the ball game. Chang and Smith accrued three hits and two runs apiece to lead the Wahoos offense.
Ryan Dennick (1-0) picked up the win in his first start of the season. The left-hander, acquired from the Royals organization in the offseason, went 5 innings and yielded two runs on four hits. The only two tallies he gave up were in the third. With two outs, Jae-Hoon Ha walked and scored on a double by Justin Bour, who was then promptly brought home on an RBI single by Mota.
Tennessee added single runs in the eighth and ninth, but weren’t able to scratch across the tying run. Partch picked up his first save of the season by pitching the final two frames.
Smokies starter Kyle Hendricks (0-1) was handed the loss after giving up five runs on eight hits in five frames, including the Lutz blast.
With the Wahoos scoring five runs, fans can take advantage of Papa John’s special offer. All fans can get 50% off online orders tomorrow by going to papajohns.com and entering promo code: WAHOOS to redeem their offer.
The five-game series concludes tomorrow as Pensacola right-hander Daniel Renken battles with Tennessee righty Dae-Eun Rhee in the rubber game of the series. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. It is FSU day at the park with former Seminole kicker Graham Gano on hand to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.
Story By Kevin Burke
File photo by Gary McCraken, Pensacola Blue Wahoos, for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bill Nelson Changes Position On Gay Marriage
April 8, 2013
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson is changing his position on gay marriage. Nelson said last month that he didn’t favor marriage for gay couples, but on Thursday he sent out a statement changing his position.
Nelson said he believes in the constitutional protection of unalienable rights for all.
“The civil rights and responsibilities for one must pertain to all,” Nelson wrote in a piece he sent to the Tampa Bay Times. “If we are endowed by our Creator with rights, then why shouldn’t those be attainable by gays and lesbians?” Nelson wrote.
“Simply put, if the Lord made homosexuals as well as heterosexuals, why should I discriminate against their civil marriage? I shouldn’t, and I won’t. So I will add my name to the petition of senators asking the Supreme Court to declare the law that prohibits gay marriage unconstitutional.”
Nelson had been one of only a handful of Democrats in the Senate who had opposed gay marriage.
By The News Service of Florida
One Killed In Escambia Crash
April 7, 2013
One person was killed in a two vehicle accident late Saturday night in southwestern Escambia County.
The accident happened about 11:45 p.m. on Sorrento Road near Choctaw Avenue. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 24-year old Kristen Michelle Laguardia of Jacksonville was eastbound on Sorrento Road in a 2001 Ford Forcus when she crossed the center line in a curve and collided with a 2004 Kia Rio driven by Stacy Peter Viquelia of Pensacola.
Laguardia was ejected from her Ford Focus as the vehicle overturned multiple times. She was pronounced deceased on the scene. Stacy Peter Viquelia and a passenger, 45-year old Lisa Renee Viquelia, were not seriously injured.
The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.