Taylor Roberson Becomes Third Chief To Sign With Jeff Davis Volleyball
May 25, 2013
Northview High School’s Taylor Roberson signed a volleyball scholarship Friday with Jefferson Davis Community College in Brewton.
Roberson became the third Chief to sign a volleyball scholarship this year with Jeff Davis, joining teammates Morgan Smith and Morgan Payne.
Pictured top: (bottom, L-R) Mom Tammy Ashcraft, Taylor Roberson, dad Wayne Roberson, (top) NHS volleyball coach Barbara Luker and Jeff Davis coach Allen Gainer. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Two Sentenced For Convenience Store Robbery
May 25, 2013
Two Escambia County men were sentenced Friday for the 2012 robbery of a convenience store on Mobile Highway.
William Cody Latner and Dylan Michael White, were sentenced by Circuit Court Judge Jole Boles. William Cody Latner was sentenced to 20 years in state prison for robbery with a firearm and two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and Dylan Michael White was sentenced to 11 years in state prison as a youthful offender for the armed robbery of a convenient store, as well as unrelated burglary charges.
The conviction stemmed from an armed robbery of Benn’s U-Save Foods on July 10, 2012. Defendants Latner and White entered the store and confronted the clerk with a firearm and demanded money. The suspects fled the area and were later identified as suspects on August 3, 2012. Days later both suspects were arrested following an interview by law enforcement.
Wahoos On Short End Of Pitchers’ Duel
May 25, 2013
The Chattanooga Lookouts broke a scoreless deadlock with a run in the bottom of the sixth inning when Joc Pederson singled home Rafael Ynoa giving the Lookouts all they needed in a 1-0 win over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos Friday night at AT&T Field.
Ryan Dennick allowed the run in the sixth, but it was his only blemish in an otherwise stellar start. The Wahoos lefty was strong through six innings allowing just the one run on six hits while fanning five. He retired 10 Lookouts in a row following a leadoff double by Blake Smith in the second inning. The next Chattanooga hit came in the sixth when Ynoa singled with a man out before he eventually scored.
Offensively the Wahoos were stymied by Lookouts pitching all night. The Blue Wahoos mustered just three hits, including back-to-back singles by Travis Mattair and Devin Lohman in the second inning. A strikeout and an inning-ending double play left the Wahoos without a tally following the threat. Pensacola’s only other opportunity came in the seventh when a single from Ryan LaMarre and a hit by pitch of Lohman put two on with one out. Despite a double steal, Pensacola was held off the board in the inning.
Dennick (L, 2-4) suffered the loss for the Blue Wahoos, while Rob Rasmussen (W, 3-2) earned the win out of the Lookouts bullpen. Rasmussen, normally a starter, worked two innings in relief of Chris Reed who pitched five scoreless innings for Chattanooga. Jose Dominguez (S, 1) shut out the Blue Wahoos in the ninth to earn the save.
The loss extends the Blue Wahoos losing streak to a franchise high six games.
The series continues from AT&T Field in Chattanooga on Saturday. The Blue Wahoos will start RHP Daniel Renken (1-3, 4.37) against Lookouts RHP Andrew Santiago (2-5, 6.31). First pitch is set for 6:15 p.m. CT.
story by Kevin Burke
Alabama High Speed Chase Ends With Century Manhunt
May 24, 2013
A high speed chase that began Thursday in Brewton, AL, ended with an unsuccessful manhunt in Century.
Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff Grover Smith said officers attempted to serve an outstanding Florida arrest warrant on the suspect, later identified as 20-year old Akino Jama Jackson of Century, at a Brewton motel.
He was picked up in a Dodge Stratus by his alleged girlfriend, Smith said, fleeing the motel and nearly striking two officers. Alabama authorities gave chase along Highway 31 toward Flomaton. Somewhere along the way, he switched places with his girlfriend. With Jackson now behind the wheel, Smith said the chase reached speeds over 100 mph as it neared Flomaton. Alabama deputies deployed a spike strip before the chase reached Florida, but he avoided it.
The chase crossed into Florida on Fannie Road, with Escambia County (AL) deputies and the Flomaton Police Department still in pursuit as Jackson continued south on Jefferson Avenue. Smith said he ordered his officers to “back off” the chase and wait for assistance from Florida authorities.
Due to a “miscommunication” between agencies, Smith said his deputies continued to follow the car south through Century believing Escambia County, FL, deputies would take over the chase.
But Escambia County, FL, has a strict no-chase policy that virtually eliminates involvement in any pursuit. The policy reportedly did not come into play Thursday, as Alabama authorities lost sight of the Dodge Stratus as they fell back. Florida deputies never arrived in the area in time to join in a pursuit or even follow the vehicle.
Authorities located the vehicle a short time later in an overgrown area of a lot at the corner of Gilford Avenue and Bonwell Street. The occupants had fled on foot, and a K-9 unit from the Escambia County Road Prison was called to assist in a manhunt. Authorities were unable to locate Jackson after a complete search of the area.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Akino Jama Jackson is asked to call their local law enforcement agency or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Pictured top and below: A manhunt Thursday afternoon in Century following an Alabama high speed chase. Pictured inset: The suspects vehicle parked in an overgrown area at the corner of Gilford Avenue and Bonwell Street. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Woman Arrested For Vehicular Manslaughter For Olive Road Crash
May 24, 2013
An Escambia County woman has been charged in connection with a traffic death on Olive Road last month.
Candace Marie McArthur, 25, was arrested Thursday on a charge of vehicular homicide. She was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $100,000 bond.
The Florida Highway Patrol said at 2:18 a.m. on April 28, 25-year old McArthur was closely following another vehicle westbound on Olive Road. Troopers said McArthur had been involved in an altercation with the other unidentified driver earlier in the evening.
The driver of the other vehicle switched into the opposite lane and braked to avoid McArthur’s 2002 Chevrolet Impala. McArthur lost control and over-corrected. The Impala slid across Olive Road and onto the shoulder before hitting tree.
McArthur was taken to Sacred Heart Hospital with serious injuries. Her passenger, 19-year old Cassidy Dunaway was transported to Sacred Heart in critical condition and was pronounced deceased the following day.
Deputies Stumble Across Potted Pot Plants
May 24, 2013
Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies literally stumbled across a couple of potted pot plants Thursday afternoon in Century.
As deputies were involved in a manhunt near the intersection of Gilford Avenue and Bonwell Street, they spotted a couple of a small marijuana plants behind a home growing in pots that were labeled as previously containing hybrid tomato plants.
The plants were uprooted and seized as evidence, while the pots were returned to a Bonwell Street resident.
No charges were filed in the incident.
Pictured top and below: Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies stumbled across a couple of potted pot plants during a manhunt Thursday afternoon in Century. Pictured inset: One of the small plants seized as evidence. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Repeal Of Florida’s Ethanol Law Fuels Debate
May 24, 2013
A bio-energy company on the Treasure Coast is calling for Gov. Rick Scott to veto a measure that would repeal the state law requiring most gasoline sold in the state to include nearly 10 percent ethanol.
But based upon the relative ease in which the bill (HB 4001) moved through the Legislature, and a stack of emails sent to the governor’s office in support of the measure, Vero Beach-based INEOS New Planet BioEnergy has a hard road ahead.
“The production of ethanol costs more than the production of gasoline, takes huge amounts of corn out of the food system thus raising the cost of food and causes severe damage to internal combustion engines,” Linda Skidmore of Holiday emailed Scott.
Skidmore’s request for Scott to sign the bill was among the more than 1,000 emails sent to the governor this month in favor of repeal.
Still, regardless of how Scott acts, David Mica, executive director of Florida Petroleum Council, said the legislation may be mostly symbolic because of federal mandates that gasoline be mixed with ethanol or other biofuels.
The bill was sent to Scott on Monday. He has until June 4 to make a decision.
Scott joined several other governors in October in asking the U.S. Environmental Protection Administration to suspend the requirement for putting a certain amount of ethanol into America’s gas tanks, saying it was causing a shortage of cattle feed for Florida ranchers.
Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for Scott said he is reviewing the proposed legislation.
INEOS Bio CEO Peter Williams urged supporters on Wednesday to contact Scott against the bill.
“Repeal of the state’s renewable fuels standard would send a clear signal to companies like ours and other investors that Florida is unfriendly to advanced biofuels, investing in new technology and jobs it creates or to building a clean energy economy,” Williams said in an email.
The bill is intended to repeal the 2008 Florida Renewable Fuel Standard Act, which requires most gas sold in the state to include nearly 10 percent ethanol.
During debate on the proposed repeal, House sponsor Matt Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, called the law a “flawed business model” for government to require people to buy products. “Do we believe in free markets or not?” Gaetz asked.
Rep. Debbie Mayfield, R-Vero Beach, argued to keep the law in place, saying the repeal “does nothing but hurt the businesses that are here in Florida, and it hurts an industry that we are wanting to move to the state of Florida.”
INEOS Bio received a $50 million grant in December 2009 from the U.S. Department of Energy to build the first full commercial bio-refining facility in the nation. The grant was considered part of a move to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil and create new clean technology jobs.
The company is part of Switzerland-based INEOS, which is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of petrochemicals, specialty chemicals and oil products.
The Vero Beach plant, which is using yard and vegetative waste to produce its advance bioethanol, started to produce electricity in October. Eventually the plant is expected to provide enough energy to power its own facility and 1,400 homes in the Vero Beach area.
Despite Williams’ call for support of the law, the emails have remained overwhelming in favor of repeal.
Most of the email sent to Scott this past week, appearing under the subject line “Please Sign HB 4001, Repeal the Florida Ethanol Mandate,” is a form letter, while others that feature a more simple “HB 4001″ subject line, offered impassioned comments to end the state law.
“I own an antique car, and it has screwed up my fuel system,” wrote GR Dornfeld of The Villages. “The Ethanol attracts water, and when my car sits for long periods, rust occurs. Also, the substance deteriorates all the rubber parts in the fuel system. I have had to replace the fuel tank, steel tube to deliver fuel forward from the tank, the fuel pump and carburetor on my 1939 Ford.”
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
West All-Stars Win In Softball, Baseball
May 24, 2013
The West beat the East Thursday night in the Subway All-Star Softball Game at the University of West Florida, 4-3. It was the first time in many years that high school seniors of the West, representing Escambia County, beat the East girls from Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties.
Jessica Brigg of West Florida High School was named the West MVP. The West was coached by Amy Holland of the Northview Chiefs.
In the Subway All-Star Baseball game, the West of Escambia County beat the east 13-6 for the West’s first win in seven years.
Pictured top: West All-Star Coach Amy Holland (second from right) with Northiew All-Star players (L-R) Shaquanna Jones, Ariel Holland, Misty Doran and Morgan Payne. Pictured below: The 2013 Subway West All-Star Softball team. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
NOAA Predicts Active 2013 Hurricane Season
May 24, 2013
In its 2013 Atlantic hurricane season outlook issued Thursday, NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center is forecasting an active or extremely active season this year.
For the six-month hurricane season, which begins June 1, NOAA’s Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook says there is a 70 percent likelihood of 13 to 20 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), of which 7 to 11 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including 3 to 6 major hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5; winds of 111 mph or higher).
These ranges are well above the seasonal average of 12 named storms, 6 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes.
“With the devastation of Sandy fresh in our minds, and another active season predicted, everyone at NOAA is committed to providing life-saving forecasts in the face of these storms and ensuring that Americans are prepared and ready ahead of time.” said Kathryn Sullivan, Ph.D., NOAA acting administrator. “As we saw first-hand with Sandy, it’s important to remember that tropical storm and hurricane impacts are not limited to the coastline. Strong winds, torrential rain, flooding, and tornadoes often threaten inland areas far from where the storm first makes landfall.”
Cleaning Fluid Causes Massachusetts Avenue Hazmat Scare
May 24, 2013
A large drum of a cleaning solution caused a hazardous materials scare Thursday on Massachusetts Avenue, about a block from Montclair Elementary School.
The orange 55-gallon drum was believed to have fallen off a truck just before noon, landing near some railroad tracks. About a half dozen homes were evacuated as a precaution as officials worked to determine exactly what was in the leaking drum. Some residents reported a strong chemical odor.
There were no injuries reported.
The hazmat scene closed down roads in the area for a couple of hours. An investigation is now underway by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
Pictured top: An Escambia County Fire Rescue Hazmat team on scene of a chemical spill Thursday afternoon on Massachusetts Avenue. Pictured below: A decontamination area is set up in the parking of University Auto Recyclers. Reader submitted photos by Edwin Schaff for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
