Deputy’s Condition Upgraded; Two Arrested In Shooting
March 21, 2013
An Escambia County Sheriff’s deputy is recovering today after was shot in the leg Wednesday night in the Scenic Hills neighborhood.
Keenan Ross Finkelstein, 23, was charged with attempted murder of a police officer in connection with the shooting of Sgt. Shedrick Johnson.
Johnson responded to a house in the 8800 block of Burning Tree Road in the Scenic Hills area off Nine Mile Road in an attempt to locate a robbery suspect, later identified as Jonathan Brett Chappell, 24.
Chappell had robbed an individual at gunpoint at the Tom Thumb on Pensacola Boulevard near W Street earlier in the evening and retreated to the Scenic Hills home where his acquaintance, Finkelstein, awaited.
According to both the victim and the suspect, the robbery occurred after the two had met to make a drug deal.
As deputies approached the house Finkelstein came out of the garage.Johnson identified himself as law enforcement and instructed him to show his hands. At that time Finkelstein raised a handgun and shots were fired. In the exchange of gunfire, Johnson was wounded in the leg and retreated across the street. He was then transported to Sacred Heart Hospital where he remains.
According to hospital officials, Johnson’s condition has been upgraded to fair. Finkelstein was located a short distance away and arrested by Pensacola Police officer. Shortly afterwards, Chappell exited the garage and was arrested. He was charged with armed robbery with a firearm, grand theft of a firearm and possession of a controlled substance.
Finkelstein is being held without bond, while Chappell’s bond is set at $110,000.
Wrecked Vehicle Found In Highway 97 Wooded Area
March 21, 2013
There were no known injuries in a single vehicle wreck near Walnut Hill Thursday morning.
A passerby spotted the wrecked Ford Expedition about 7:15 a.m. in a wooded area on Highway 97 just north of Tungoil Road. There was no one around the vehicle; the wreck had apparently happened sometime overnight.
The driver was apparently northbound on Highway 97 when they missed a curve and ran off the roadway. The vehicle continued at a high rate of speed about 175 feet across one driveway, airborne over a second driveway and into a wooded area. The SUV struck several trees before coming to rest in the woods.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
Pictured: There was no one around this wrecked SUV found Thursday morning on Highway 97 near Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Local Restaurant Owner, Escambia Sheriff’s Office Warn Of Lotto Scam
March 21, 2013
When Jimmy Carter of Jimmy’s Grill in Molino received a check for $3,875 and a letter from Waterhouse Financial Services in Toronto notifying him that he had won $125,000 — his share of a $3 million prize — he knew something just did not seem right.
“We thought it was a fraudulent or scam type thing,” he said, adding that he was initially going to throw the letter away. “On top of this check that was made out to me was the logo that was on one of my things that I bought from my food distributor. That was making me think at that time that we had something that was legitimate.”
He called the Canadian 647 area code number on the letter and was told by a man with foreign accent that he was a winner selected in the International Shoppers Lotto Powerball conducted in North America. He was to cash the check in order to pay $1,875 in taxes on his winnings.
“This person was telling me to deposit the check in my checking account then I would receive the additional money once I called them back again,” Carter said. Along with an employee, he decided it was definitely a scam.
“It was not true what they were saying, and it was a scam,” he said.
Escambia County investigator David Ingram said Carter’s report was beneficial, not only because it allowed the ECSO to forward the information to the appropriate agencies, but also because it provided an opportunity to alert the public about the scam.
“We have the original check, the original document which we can process for fingerprints, so there is some additional evidence we can forward to the appropriate agency,” Ingram said.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office offers the following tips to avoid being the victim of fraud:
○ Never pay taxes or fees before collecting winnings
○ Never send money to win money or merchandise
○ Foreign lotteries and sweepstakes are illegal in the U.S.
○ Never deposit a questionable check
○ Call your bank or local law enforcement with questions
Pictured top: Jimmy Carter hard at work at his Jimmy’s Grill in Molino. Pictured bottom inset: A scam lotto letter received by Carter. Courtesy images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man’s Vehicle Hit By Train
March 21, 2013
A Cantonment man escaped serious injury Wednesday afternoon when his Ford Explorer was hit by a train.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 56-year old Bruce Demars was stopped for traffic on the railroad tracks on Kingsfield Road approaching Palafox Street about 4 p.m. As railroad crossing arms came down on both sides of his 2000 Ford Explorer, Demars attempted unsuccessfully to move out of the way to avoid the train. The front of the train struck the left rear of the Ford Explorer.
Demars was transported to West Florida Hospital with minor injuries. He was cited for improper stopping on railroad tracks, according to the FHP.
Escambia Group Meets With State Leaders About Langley Bell 4-H Center Replacement
March 21, 2013
A delegation of concerned citizens from Escambia County met with several elected officials this week to discuss a replacement for the Langley Bell 4-H Center, which was sold to Navy Federal Credit Union.
“I think we made good progress toward getting what the kids deserved,” Jacob Gilmore said after meeting with Agricultural Commissioner Adam Putnam. Other members of the Escambia County group met with Sen. Greg Evers, Rep. Clay Ingram, Senate President Don Gaetz and Rep. Doug Broxson.
Pictured: (L-R) Brett Ward, Angus Brewton, Gayle Brewton, Ag Commissioner Adam Putnam, Jacob Gilmore, George Carpenter, Martha Carpenter and Mike Godwin. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Deputies Seek Clues After Assault Victim Dies From Injuries
March 21, 2013
An Escambia County man died this week from injuries he received in an assault a couple of weeks ago.
Early in the morning on March 1, 41-year old Donald Moore of Pensacola was vising a relative in the 1400 block of East Johnson Avenue in Ensley. As he exited his truck, he was attacked from behind and struck in the back of the head by an unknown assailant.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said the incident was not reported to law enforcement until he was admitted to a local hospital for treatment late on March 3. He remained hospitalized until he died from his injuries on March 17.
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
PCA Takes First, Northview Second In Track And Field Meet
March 21, 2013
Pensacola Christian Academy won both the boy’s and girl’s track an field meets held Monday at Northview High School, while Northview placed second and J.U. Blacksher finished third.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Complete results were as follows:
GIRLS
1st Pensacola Christian Academy 90 points
2nd Northview 57 points
3rd Blacksher 26 Points
4X800
1st PCA 11:31
2nd Northview 12:33
4X100
1st Northview 54.
2nd Blacksher 1:34
4X400
1st Northview 4:52
2nd PCA 4:54
100 Hurdles
1st Floyd –Northview 17.80
2nd Lapid -PCA 24.26
3rd Sistrunk –PCA 27.36
100
1st Phillips -PCA 13.24
2nd Dean –Blacksher 13.36
3rd Fiellin –Northview 13.32
4th Kane – PCA 14.00
200
1st Kane – PCA 27.69
2nd Brown –Northview 28.44
3rd Smiley – PCA 28.45
4th Dailey –Blacksher 31.89
300 Hurdles
1st Phillips– PCA 50.80
2nd Dean –Blacksher 51.75
3rd Lapid -PCA 1:00.46
4th Bobo –Northview 1:00.83
400
1st Davis– Northview 1:09.08
2nd Marona -PCA 1:09.55
3rd Simien-PCA 1:10.82
4th McGahan –Northview 1:11.40
800
1st Buschman -PCA 2:55
2nd McGahan –Northview 2:58
3rd Brock-PCA 2:59
4th Smith-PCA 3:00
1600
1st Buschman -PCA 6:14.82
2nd Henderson –PCA 6:18.49
3rd Houk-PCA 6:52.73
4th Brock-PCA 6:53.94
3200
1st Cochran -PCA 13:28.48
2nd Henderson –PCA 13:46.53
3rd Houk-PCA 14:52.96
4th Franklin-Northview 16:04.64
High Jump
1st Floyd –Northview 4’6
2nd Marona-PCA 4’6
3rd Kane-PCA 4’0
Triple Jump
1st Floyd –Northview 29’2”
2nd Simion –PCA 28’10.5”
3rd Brown –Blacksher 26’11.5”
4th Davis-Northview 26’5.5”
Long Jump
1st Dean – Blacksher 14’2”
2nd Fiellin-Northview 13’1.75”
3rd Brown – Northview 12’11.5”
4th Brown –Blacksher 12’8.5”
Discus
1st Andrews –PCA 93’5”
2nd Anderson –Blacksher 79’11”
3rd Bates– Northview 79’5.5”
4th Gibson –PCA 72’7”
Shot Put
1st Anderson –Blacksher 30’6.5”
2nd Bates– Northview 28’8.5”
3rd Syria– Northview 27’9.5”
4th Andrews –PCA 27’4”
Pole Vault
1st Andrews –PCA 10’5”
2nd Andrews –PCA 7’3”
BOYS
1st Pensacola Christian Academy 85 points
2nd Northview 61 points
3rd Blacksher 32 Points
4X800
1st PCA 9:12
2nd Northview 11:23
4X100
1st Blacksher 49.02
2nd PCA 49.30
4X400
1st Northview 3:55.04
2nd PCA 3:55.79
100 Hurdles
1st Daniel -PCA 17.62
2nd Holland -PCA 18.11
3rd White –Northview 18.20
4th Tristan –Blacksher 19.02
100
1st Robinson –Northview 10.97
2nd Trent –Blacksher 11.37
3rd Holden –Northview 11.46
4th Bruanes – PCA 12.12
200
1st Robinson –Northview 24.20
2nd Moore–Northview 24.34
3rd Bruanes– PCA 24.41
4th Fulfer –PCA 25.20
300 Hurdles
1st Daniel– PCA 45.06
2nd Kim -PCA 46.78
3rd Creamer –Northview 49.33
4th Holland–PCA 50.30
400
1st Donobyin– PCA 58.68
2nd Newsome- Northview 58.70
3rd Sherouse –Northview 59.30
4th Grissett –Northview 59.56
800
1st Crist-PCA 2:17
2nd Johnson –Blacksher 2:18
3rd Parker-PCA 2:27
4th Detterson-PCA 2:34
1600
1st Balentine -PCA 5:14.54
2nd Carlson –PCA 5:14.92
3rd Jekel-PCA 5:15.16
4th Stewart-PCA 5:15.42
3200
1st Carlson –PCA 10:51.49
2nd Balentine -PCA 11:17.77
3rd Stewart-PCA 11:46.36
4th Johnson –Blacksher 12:39.11
High Jump
1st Newsome–Northview 6’0
2nd Robbins –Blacksher 5’10
3rd McWilliams–Northview 5’10
4th Myles–Northview 5’8
Triple Jump
1st Jaron–Northview 37’10
2ndFulfer –PCA 37’5
3rd Dean –Blacksher 35’9.5
4th Lett –Blacksher 32’7.5
Long Jump
1st Robbins – Blacksher 19’6.5
2nd Fulfer-PCA 18’6.5
3rd Trevelle– Northview 17’6
4th Myles – Northview 17’2
Discus
1st Waller –Blacksher 105’
2nd Grice– Northview 103’9.5
3rd Hershburger– PCA 94’7.5
4th Nash –Northview 90’4
Shot Put
1st Nash–Northview 41’2.5
2nd Waller –Blacksher 37’3
3rd Whitehead– Northview 35’3.5
4th Shoemaker –PCA 34’10
Pole Vault
1st Collins –PCA 10’
2nd Phillips–PCA 10’
3rd Ordway –PCA 10’
4th Sherouse-Northview 9’
Escambia Report Cards Delayed Until After Spring Break
March 21, 2013
Escambia County public school students will now receive their report cards after spring break.
Students were scheduled to receive their report cards this Friday, March 22, but that date has been delayed until Tuesday, April 2, according to Superintendent Malcolm Thomas. Next week, March 25-29, is spring break for Escambia County students.
Judge Blocks Part Of PIP Insurance Law
March 21, 2013
A Tallahassee circuit court judge has, at least temporarily, blocked part of a law passed last year that sought to reduce fraud in the personal injury protection auto insurance system with a scathing critique of the no-fault law, saying it doesn’t give people access to the courts when they’re wronged.
Leon County Circuit Judge Terry Lewis noted that no-fault law is a trade-off of access to a court remedy for wrongs for “a reasonable alternative” to a right to sue that speeds up payments for injury claims and lost wages, and some immunity from being held liable for others’ losses. But in the 40 years that Florida has used no-fault insurance, which Lewis likened to a “socialist” scheme depriving individuals of their rights, new restrictions have come into play that have forced reviews of whether they go over the line in denying people access to legal remedies to injuries.
In the case of the new restrictions on claims under the PIP law, Lewis said it appears they might. In light of the new law’s restrictions on the ability to be covered for certain treatments and other limits, the question arises, “is the no-fault law still a good deal?” Lewis wrote. “Is it still a reasonable alternative to the rights guaranteed to citizens under … the Florida State Constitution.?
“The answer to those questions is probably, like beauty, in the eye of the beholder, and reasonable people may disagree. From my perspective, however, the revisions to the law make it no longer the ‘reasonable alternative’” earlier courts had okayed,” Lewis wrote in a short order granting a temporary injunction.
Lewis prohibited the enforcement of only those sections of the law requiring a finding of emergency medical condition as a prerequisite for full payment of PIP benefits, or the sections that bar payment of benefits provided by chiropractors, massage therapists and acupuncturists, who had challenged the new law. The PIP law, passed last year in HB 119, limited covered medical care to $2,500, instead of the usual $10,000, if the injured claimant can’t show an emergency medical condition.
The Legislature created the no-fault car insurance system in 1971, a move, Lewis wrote, that not only took away people’s right to sue, but relieved “the wrongdoer of responsibility for his conduct, and granting him immunity from civil liability.” He called the system an example of an “experiment with socialism and the trend away from those libertarian principles of individual liberty and personal responsibility.”
Backers of the new law had said for years that the PIP system was rife with fraud, with fly-by-night providers billing for un-needed, or phantom “medical care.” Gov. Rick Scott had made passage of limits on the insurance claims a major part of his agenda last year.
By The News Service of Florida
Mira Awards Honor Escambia’s Most Creative Seniors
March 21, 2013
Seventy of Escambia County’s most creative high school seniors were honored Thursday night during the 2013 Mira Creative Arts Awards Banquet at New World Landing.
Mira Award recipients were nominated for the award by their teachers and received engraved medallions, a book scholarship from Pensacola State College, memberships from the Pensacola Museum of Art and Artel Gallery, and Certificates of Special Congressional Recognition from Congressman Jeff Miller.
2013 Mira Creative Arts Award recipients were:
Northview High School: Alison Danielle Bardin, Vocal Music; Ashton Brooke Gibbs, Instrumental/Vocal Music; Alisha Grice, Graphic Arts; Zach Johnson, Journalism; Courtney Lambert, Culinary Arts; Ashley Mooney, Graphic Arts; Maranda Moye, Journalism; Stephanie Roach, Instrumental Music; Johnnie Smith, Visual Arts; Julia Thorpe, Journalism.
Tate High School: Lindsey Gordon, Band; Marissa Sue Jackson, Orchestra; Jennifer Haley Krostag, Visual Arts; Nicholas Andrew Krostag, Television Production; Katie Massey, Band; Kimberlee Marie Richards, Photography; Victoria Ryder, Yearbook Photo Editor; Amy Sapp, Mock Trial; Brooke Lindsey Marie Verlaan, Drama; Elizabeth Violet Watson, Chorus.
West Florida High School: Natalie Allgyer, Art; Italia Maria Brinston, Band; Lauren Hughes, Journalism/Yearbook; Jacob McDonough, Band; Lauren Elaine Meadors, Drama/Performance; Jahleel Ordoñéz, Multimedia; James Rhyne, Drama-Scenic Design/Technical Theatre; Michelle Shepherd, Newspaper; Jessica Taylor, Art; Hannah Woolford, Journalism/Yearbook.
Pine Forest High School: Serena Bishop, Band; Jennifer Lenore Cacal, Media Academy; Joshua Tyler Carnahan, Yearbook; Alyssa Marie Jones, Art; Christopher S. Patch, Culinary Arts; Kaylee Toyne, Art; Angel Trevino, Culinary Arts; Zachary Walston, Media Academy; Adrian Maurice Jackson Weatherspoon, Yearbook; Morganthë Williams, Theatre.
Escambia High School: Erran Bergstrom, Instrumental Music; Mindy Lynn Cramlet, Visual Arts; Danielle Davis, Culinary Arts; Alyssa Etienne Elliott, Visual Arts; James Thomas Faist, Chorus; Caitlin Fournier, Journalism; Elaina Keyes, Theatre; Amelia Slaughter, Instrumental Music; Shelby Vanstraten, Instrumental Music; Kelsey Wood, Digital Multimedia.
Pensacola High School: Jasmine Bradstreet, Instrumental Music; Anishandeliz Claudio-Torres, Instrumental Music; Hannah Fernandes-Martin, Visual Arts; Savannah Green, Drama; Lauren Heckathorn, Visual Arts; Christina Jones, Instrumental Music; Samantha Negron, Instrumental Music; Caroline Shell, Photography; Rhiana C. Simon, Fiction/Nonfiction; Courtney Stein, Visual Arts.
Washington High School: Heath Barrow, Visual Arts; Kristen Michelle Broussard, Instrumental Music; Breyanna Cayla Chapron, Vocal Music; Austin Paul Marvin Conner, Jr., Instrumental Music; Elliot David Friedman, Drama; Cameron A. Gonzales, Drama; Amanda Irby, Vocal Music; Shane King, Visual Arts; Adam Vinson, Instrumental Music; Matt Young, Visual Arts.
About The Mira Creative Arts Awards
In 1987, a group of teachers at J. M. Tate High School created the Mira Awards to recognize talented and creative students in the arts and sciences. The following year, the committee approached the Foundation to bring the awards under its umbrella and to initiate county-wide student participation each year in the areas of writing, performing and visual arts, and other disciplines. The term “Mira” is Latin for the name of the brightest star in the constellation Cetus.
Pictured top: Alison Bardin (left) and Ashton Gibbs of Northview High School are two of the 2013 Mira Creative Arts Award winners. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.