Dog Blamed For Fatal Cantonment Crash
January 14, 2013
A dog is being blamed after a van ran over and killed a Cantonment man in a driveway Monday morning.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 56-year old Iris Fortner was attempting to back into property near a residence on Desoto Road in Cantonment about 10:20 a.m. Passenger James. W Campbell, age 68 of Cantonment, had exited the passenger side of the 1995 Chevrolet van to open double metal gates at the residence. Fortner had also opened the driver’s door to look for Campbell and see what side of the double gate he was standing on.
While Fortner’s door was open, her large Boxer dog ran from their current address on Desoto Road and jumped into the driver’s compartment, resulting in the accelerator being depressed, the FHP report states. The van backed into the double metal gate and Campbell despite Fortner’s attempts to stop.
The van came to rest with Campbell trapped underneath. He was pronounced deceased on the scene by Escambia County paramedics. Fortner was taken to West Florida Hospital with minor injuries.
The Florida Highway Patrol is continuing their investigation into the incident.
The Cantonment and Molino stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the accident.
Arbor Day Trees Given Away
January 14, 2013
Hundreds of trees were given away Monday morning in Walnut Hill in celebration of Florida’s Arbor Day.
The tree giveaway was sponsored by Escambia County, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Science (UF/IFAS) Extension, and the Florida Forestry Service (FFS). A total of 4,000 trees were available for giveaway Monday morning in Walnut Hill and at an event in Warrington on Friday.
Species included crabapple, mayhaw, cherrybark oak, river birch, wax myrtle and bald cypress. Participants received two tree seedlings of their choice, and experts were on hand to offer planting and placement advice.
Pictured: Residents receive free trees during an Arbor Day tree giveaway Monday morning in Walnut Hill. Pictured inset: The line for the free trees stretched into the parking lot of the Walnut Hill Community Center. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Warrant Issued For Man In Last Week’s Belair Road Shootings
January 14, 2013
An arrest warrant has been issued for 22-year old Kwamane Q. Silas of Pensacola in connect with last week’s triple shooting on Belair Road in Escambia County.
Last week Silas was listed by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office as wanted for questioning, but now a felony warrant is active for his arrest. Deputies say Silas should be considered armed and dangerous.
If you have any information on the whereabouts of Silas, you are asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Freddie Dayshen Fountain III, 23, was arrested last week in connection with the shootings. He was charged with two counts of attempted homicide, a weapons offense of firing missiles into a dwelling, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He remains in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $190,000.
About 10:10 p.m. on January 10, deputies responded to a shots fired disturbance in the 700 block of Belair Road in the Montclair area. Deputies found Aquarius Devaughn dead, and both Durall Sumler and Shawn Jordan suffering from gunshot wounds. Sumler and Jordan remained in Baptist Hospital at last report.
Century Traffic Stop Lands Woman In Jail On Meth Charges
January 14, 2013
A traffic stop in Century landed a Brewton woman in jail on multiple drug charges.
Keisha Lee Odom, 26, was charged with two felony counts of possession of methamphetamine and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia.
An Escambia County Sheriff’s deputy stopped Odom on Hecker Street in Century due to having no tag light. After Odom consented to a vehicle search, deputies reported finding a long list of drug paraphernalia, including coffee filters that tested positive for meth residue and burnt glass bongs.
After she was placed under arrest, deputies reporting finding a cigarette box in her pants pocket that contained a bag with a substance that field tested positive for methamphetamines.
Odom told deputies, according to an arrest report, that she had no knowledge of the meth or methamphetamine because the vehicle belonged to her cousin and the cousin had just given her the cigarette box in which the meth was located.
Deputies also located a 12 gauge Winchester in the vehicle that had been reported stolen out of Harris County, Georgia, in 1985. Odom was not charged in connection with the weapon theft because she was not born until 1986. She told deputies the gun had been handed down in her family for years.
Odom was booked into the Escambia County Jail and later released on a $6,000 bond. The Dodge Durango she was driving was seized by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
School District Dumps Sprint/Nextel, Moves To Verizon Wireless
January 14, 2013
The Escambia County School Board is terminating wireless service with Sprint/Nextel and moving to Verizon Wireless.
In a December letter, the school district notified Sprint/Nextel that their service contract will be terminated on January 22 due to a “lack of service coverage within Escambia County”.
The county has moved its wireless communications to Verizon. The district currently uses about 340 radio/cell phone units, with most departments using the radio feature for continuous communications with service and maintenance crews throughout the district. The contract also includes GPS data service for 424 school buses, and emergency telecommunications backup during disasters.
The annual contract with Verizon Wireless is expected to cost the district $123,000 through the end of 2013.
Man Pleads To Lesser Charge In Barn Massage Case
January 14, 2013
A Century man that was charged with felony sexual assault for alleged improper conduct while performing a massage on a female in his barn has pleaded no contest to a lesser charge.
Judge Terry Terrell withheld adjudication on a misdemeanor charge of battery against William Haynes Gandy, 68. He was sentenced to one year probation and 25 hours of community service.
The victim told deputies that she met Gandy about a year ago because “he is a well known certified massage therapist”, and she had gone through massage therapy school and was told Gandy might be able to help her find a job. The victim later stopped pursuing a job, but Gandy did give her a few free massages associated with her pregnancy, the arrest report states.
After giving birth to her child, the victim told deputies that she began to ignore Gandy’s phone calls until he told her to come over, bring her resume and get a free massage and “see what he could do about getting her a job”, the report states.
The victim said Gandy took her to a barn outside his home where he keeps his massage table and equipment. She was partially unclothed and covered by a sheet, the arrest report states, when she claimed Gandy began to touch her inappropriately and against her will.
Gandy told deputies that at no time did he inappropriately touch the victim.
Public Meeting Wednesday To Discuss Libraries
January 14, 2013
The West Florida Public Library will host a public meeting Wednesday to provide a format for public discussion and input regarding the future direction of the library system. The meeting will be held from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Escambia County Extension Services Office, 3740 Stephani Road in Cantonment.
The public is encouraged to attend and participate in a discussion of the future of libraries in general and how the West Florida Public Library services, collections and facility can continue to meet the future needs of library patrons. No preparation or expertise on public libraries is required, and no registration is required.
For more information contact Dondie Roper at (850) 436-5037, or droper@cityofpensacola.com.
Ripley Named President Of Century Chamber Of Commerce
January 14, 2013
Don Ripley has been named the new president of the Century Chamber of Commerce, taking over for outgoing president Benny Barnes.
“I’m proud to do what I can for Century as I’ve come to love the people here,” Ripley said. “I’d like to see more people active in the chamber. That would allow us to implement new ideas and garner suggestions to improve our employment opportunities. Ideally, we would like to create an environment that allows our kids to stay in the area after their education is complete.”
Ripley has served as administrator of the Century Care Center since 1999. He has served on the Century Chamber of Commerce Board for 13 years, including two previous years as president and vice president for about 10 years.
Barnes will remain on the all-volunteer chamber’s board of directors.
Pictured: Outgoing Century Chamber of Commerce President Benny Barnes (left) passes the gavel to new President Don Ripley. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
No Serious Injuries In Highway 29, Kingsfield Road Crash
January 13, 2013
There were no serious injures reported in a Sunday afternoon wreck at the intersection of Highway 29 and Kingsfield Road. The accident was reported about 12:48 p.m. Submitted cell phone photos by Kari Doyle for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Flu Outbreak Continues Locally; Officials Still Urge Vaccinations
January 13, 2013
Local health officials say a flu outbreak arrived early in Escambia County this year and has lasted longer than a typical flu season.
The first signs of the flu outbreak appeared in late October and the number of cases kept climbing throughout November, December and into January.
For the October 28 through January 5, Sacred Heart Hospital ran lab tests on 1,923 people who had flu-like symptoms. Of those, 546 tested positive for influenza. Since the beginning of December, the Sacred Heart Urgent Care Center in Pensacola has seen 186 people with flu-like symptoms.
The Florida Department of Health in continuing to encourage residents to get the flu vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control says at this point in the flu season, the vaccine may be harder to find that it was back in the fall. Residents may, the CDC said, need to contact more than one provider such as pharmacies or doctors in order to find available vaccine.
“It is not too late to get vaccinated against the flu, and we encourage anyone age six months and older to get a flu shot,” said State Surgeon General and Secretary of Health Dr. John
Armstrong. “Influenza A is the most common flu type in Florida this season and is countered by the vaccine.”
The flu vaccine this season is overall 62 percent effective, according to CDC data released Friday. That means patients that were vaccinated were about 60 percent less likely to get the flu that required a visit to the doctor.
The Florida Department of Health recommends said residents should watch for symptoms of the flu, such as headache, fever, a severe cough, runny nose or body aches. Contact your primary care physician or a local hospital immediately if symptoms appear. This is particularly important for people at high risk for serious complications from flu.For those with the flu, antiviral medication may shorten both the duration and severity of illness.
State health officials urge the following preventive steps for the flu:
- Get vaccinated EVERY YEAR because as the flu types change, the vaccine changes.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth, because germs spread this way.
- Avoid close contact with sick people.
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
- If you are sick with flu–like illness, contact your primary care physician to determine whether you need antiviral medication. Stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone (except to get medical care or for other necessities).
Pictured top: A graphical representation of flu activity in the United States. Pictured inset: A patient receives a nasal flu mist flu vaccine. Courtesy images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.