Escambia County Drive-By Shooting Under Investigation
February 25, 2013
A drive-by shooting Sunday in Escambia County is under investigation.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to Rochelle Drive and Massachusetts Avenue about 5:30 Sunday morning in reference to a shots fired call. Deputies found 34-year old Herbert Lee Bonner of Pensacola with a gunshot wound to the thigh.
He told deputies that he had been walking on Massachusetts Avenue when a white car traveling eastbound fired multiple rounds at him, striking him in the back of the thigh.
Bonner was transported to a local hospital for treatment. Further details have not been released. Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
Escambia County Students Of The Month Named
February 25, 2013
Students of the month for January have been named in Escambia County. The awards are presented monthly to a limited number of students from participating schools.
(North Escambia area schools are in bold.)
Bellview Elementary — Marleigh Gideons, fifth; Silkia Conley, first;
Beulah Elementary — Sadie Ridley, second; Tyson Snyder, second;
Blue Angels Elementary — Jude Trahan, first; Alara Biggs, first;
Bratt Elementary — Brayson White, KG, Savannah Doremus, fourth;
Brentwood Elementary — Jakiya Williams, third; Logan Labossiere, third;
Ferry Pass Elementary — Mackenzie Jones, first; Jonathan Dean, first;
Global Learning Academy Nicole Wigington, second; Lakota‐Rayne Gibbs, second;
Hellen Caro Elementary — Aidyn Hemmert, fourth; Jonah Leland, fifth;
Holm Elementary — Grace Hurt, Pre-K, Kaleb Bowser, Pre-K,
Jim Allen Elementary — Audrey Rudd, first; Robert McClammy, first;
Lipscomb Elementary — Aubriana Frick, second; Emily Oswald, third;
Longleaf Elementary — Nahriyah Alejandro, fourth; Alexander Russo, fourth;
McArthur Elementary — Kylee Rose, first; Hajar Abdelqader, first;
Montclair Elementary — Camden Vandervort, second; Lyquasha Mccorvey, second;
Myrtle Grove Elementary — Christian Sande, second; Bos’nia White, second;
Navy Point Elementary — Patience Goble, third; Maksim Stakheev, second;
Pleasant Grove Elementary — Quo’tasha Leverette, fourth; Cortrez Sims, fourth;
Sherwood Elementary — Makayla Amante, second; Joshua Rumpff, second;
Suter Elementary — Margaret Adair, first; Austin Doidge, first;
Weis Elementary — Jacques Brewington, second; Jaynisha Howard, second;
MIDDLE SCHOOLS
Bailey Middle — Riley Annabel, sixth;Julie Percle, seventh; Aniya Gaines, eighth;
Bellview Middle — Tineka Benjamin, eighth; Benjamin Northcutt, eighth;
Brown Barge Middle — Sarina Paolini, eighth; Erick Lopez, eighth;
Ernest Ward Middle — Jessica Stacey, eighth; Cody Kite, seventh; Lexxi Baggett sixth,
Ferry Pass Middle — Darius Anderson, seventh;
Ransom Middle — Justin Schubeck, seventh; Maggie Sharritt, seventh;
Warrington Middle — Zayda Sepulveda, sixth;Ty’asia Knight sixth,
Workman Middle — Samar Aalshareef, eighth; Majad Alqassim, eighth;
HIGH SCHOOLS
Escambia High — Marissa Magill, 10th; Allison Nicholas, 12th;ohnie Sublett, 12th;
Northview High — Dustin Parker, 12th; Courtney Peebles, 10th;
Tate High — Lacie Walker, 11th; John Pendleton, 12th;
West Florida High — Delaney Anderson, 10th; Samuel Skinner, 12th;
SPECIAL CENTERS
Escambia Westgate — Diamond Whitesell, third; Amaya Katumba, first; Whitney Brown, eighth; Timothy Fink, seventh;
Escambia Westgate — Justin Matthews, 10th; Alexis Fredericks, 10th;
Beulah Academy — Dallon Burgess, eighth; Hayley Lester, seventh.
Northview To Hold Baseball Camp This Saturday
February 25, 2013
The Northview Chiefs will hold a Baseball Camp this Saturday, March 2.
The camp is open to all machine pitch through senior league players wanting to sharpen their baseball skills. Players can get valuable, specialized training from the Northview
Chief’s Varsity Baseball Team.
Under the supervision and direction of Northview’s Head Coach Marty Lister, players will be taught the necessary skills to become a better player. All aspects of the games will be covered such as, base running, stealing bases, pick-off moves for both pitchers and catchers, batting and throwing.
All camp participants will get one-on-one instruction from the Northview players.
The camp, sponsored by the Northview Diamond Club, will be held Saturday, March 2 from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Registration time is 8:30; registration is $20 per player.
For complete information (including preregistration information), click here (pdf).
Pictured: Last year’s Diamond Club Baseball Camp at Northview High School. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Century Proclaims Military Family And Community Covenant Day
February 25, 2013
The Town of Century has declared April 17 as Military Family and Community Covenant Day, joining cities across Florida and the state in the effort.
The proclamation and day recognizes military men and women along with their families.
By approving the proclamation, the town expressed “their unwavering support and admiration to all current and former military personnel for their true and faithful service and further recognize the tremendous sacrifices of their families”.
The complete proclamation is below, click to enlarge.
DCF Warns Floridians About Fake Public Assistance Websites, Apps
February 25, 2013
The Department of Children and Families is warning Florida residents about fake websites offering to help people apply for public benefits and asking for financial and credit card information.
To apply for public assistance, including Medicaid, cash or food assistance, in Florida, the only legitimate site is www.myflorida.com/accessflorida. Other sites are using ads, sometimes on the side of news articles, offering help filling out applications for public assistance benefits. These links may take visitors to another site where they are asked for personal information, including credit card information. DCF, its employees or service providers, will never ask for credit card information.
“We want our clients to safeguard this personal data just like they would any bank or financial information,” said Secretary David Wilkins. “Do not give your information out to any unauthorized or unknown website.”
The department also cautioned about various mobile applications have been produced for smartphones that request confidential information from clients who use Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards. To help maintain the security of an account, EBT users should never share information about an account with others, especially through websites or mobile applications. Several mobile apps called “EBT Buddy” have been developed for both iPhones and Android platforms and require EBT card and PIN numbers in order to check abalance. DCF said providing this information can put a user at risk for fraud.
Federal Funds Available To Agricultural Producers In Escambia River Watershed
February 25, 2013
Agricultural producers living in the Escambia River watershed have until March 15 to apply for financial incentives from the Gulf of Mexico Initiative resulting from the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill.
Financial assistance is available to help eligible producers focus on reducing soil erosion, improving water quality, and improving wildlife habitat on cropland, pastureland, and forestland, according to the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
NRCS and their conservation partners developed this initiative in response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and President Obama’s call to help restore the waters, shores, and wildlife populations along the Gulf Coast.
All NRCS conservation programs are voluntary but participants must meet eligibility requirements. For more information about signing-up for this initiative contact Escambia County District Conservationist Josh McElhaney at 151 Highway 97 in Molino or call (850) 587-5404, ext. 3.
For a printable information sheet, click here.
Woman, 76, Dies In Santa Rosa Traffic Crash
February 24, 2013
A 76-year old woman was killed and three others were injured in a Saturday night wreck in Milton.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 76-year old Herminio Reyllo Valderama was northbound in the turn lane of Highway 87 approaching Firehouse road when he turned his 1998 Tracker into the path of a 2006 Kia Optima driven by 24-year old Destiny Elisabeth Gregg of Milton.
Valderama received minor injuries. His passenger, 76-year old Lilia R. Valderama, was pronounced deceased following the crash. Gregg and her passenger, 25-year old Ryan Anthony Bush of Milton, were transported to Sacred Heart Hospital with minor injuries.
Charges against Herminio Valderama are pending further investigation, according to the FHP.
Female Murdered Saturday Night In Pensacola
February 24, 2013
Pensacola Police are continuing their investigation into the first homicide that has
occurred this year within city limits.
Alexia Baggett, 29, of Pensacola was shot to death around 11:30 p.m. Saturday outside a home in the 400 block of South L Street, said Lt. Doug Baldwin. Baldwin said Baggett was visiting the residence at the time of the shooting.
In addition, Baldwin said detectives are pursuing leads related to the woman’s death.
Anyone having information on the incident is asked to contact the Pensacola Police Department at (850) 435-1900.
Rotary Clubs Partner To Create 100,000 Meals For Needy
February 24, 2013
Rotarians from Escambia and Santa Rosa counties joined together with Manna Food Pantries on Saturday to fight hunger in Northwest Florida.
The Rotary Against Hunger service project involved 13 Rotary Clubs that committed financial support and volunteer participation to create over 16,000 food packets for those in need. The result was about 100,000 meals that the Combined Rotary of Pensacola (CROP) will donate to Manna for distribution to partner pantries in the two county area. The donation will benefit pantries that provide much needed food to those in need.
“Many of our neighbors are struggling to have enough food to eat, including thousands of children in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. The need continues to grow, with Manna providing food to an average of 68 children a day,” said Manna Executive Director DeDe Flounlacker.
“We are so grateful to Rotary for continuing to support the needs of the hungry through this project. Last year, Manna provided the equivalent of 663,135 meals to 44,209 people. These are your neighbors and mine – folks who are the working poor, grandparents raising their grandchildren, moms and dads who do not have enough money to pay their bills and buy food. Thanks to Rotary, thousands of people will once again be helped this year through the gift of nutritious food,” she said.
Saturday marked the second year for the Rotary Against Hunger project and the second time in history that all Rotary clubs in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties have come together on one day to work on a service project. Last year, over 700 Rotary members and friends donated over 1,200 hours of time to pack the meals.
“The Combined Rotary Clubs of Pensacola are pleased to join with MANNA Food Pantries and work on this Second Annual volunteer project to help feed the hungry in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties,” said Buz Eddy, Rotary project chair. “Area Rotarians have raised over $25,000 for this project that will provide over 100,000 meals.”
Tax Holiday Through Midnight On Hurricane Supplies In Alabama
February 24, 2013
A sales tax holiday on hurricane preparedness supplies continues through midnight Sunday in Alabama.
The severe weather preparedness sales tax holiday allows Alabama shoppers to stock up tax free on common supplies costing less than $60 that every home and business needs to prepare for a natural disaster or even a general emergency. Generators costing $1,000 or less also can be purchased free of the state’s four-percent sales tax.
Almost 190 city and county governments also have agreed to participate by waiving their sales tax, which means as much as 10 percent savings for consumers in some areas of the state. Atmore, Brewton, East Brewton and Escambia County are not participating, while Flomaton is waiving local sales tax in addition to the state’s four percent.
Alabama is one of three states with a severe weather preparedness sales tax holiday. Louisiana and Virginia hold their emergency preparedness sales tax holidays in May.
For a complete list of tax exempt items, click here.