Firefighters Quickly Extinguish Two Cantonment Structure Fires
March 6, 2013
Firefighters made quick work of putting out back to back structure fires in the Cantonment area Tuesday afternoon.
The first blaze was a kitchen fire in a mobile home in the 400 block of Well Line Road about 4:40 p.m.
The second fire was reported about 5:30 p.m. in the 400 block of East Kingsfield Road. Firefighters found a storage building on fire. Firefighters could only gain access to the building by foot. They were forced to use a “deck gun” from a truck to reach the fire and the surrounding woods.
The Cantonment, Molino, Ensley and Beulah stations of Escambia Fire Rescue were involved in fighting the fires.
Pictured top: Firefighters were able to quickly contain a kitchen fire in this mobile home on Well Line Road Tuesday afternoon. Pictured inset: Firefighter turned to a “deck gun” to fight a fire in a storage building (below) in a wooded area on East Kingsfield Road. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Area Softball, Baseball Results: Northview, Tate, West Florida, Pine Forest
March 6, 2013
Here’s a look at baseball and softball action from around the area Tuesday:
SOFTBALL
The Northview Lady Chiefs continued their perfect season Tuesday with a 5-1 varsity win over the Flomaton Hurricanes. Northview’s Misty Doran pitched her second no hitter of the season while striking out 17. The JV Chiefs also beat Flomaton 16-1 on a game that ended in the fourth due to the 10-run mercy rule.
- Northview 5, Flomaton 1
- Northview 16, Flomaton 1 (JV)
The Tate Lady Aggies swept Pine Forrest Lady Eagles with a 14-4 win (run rule) at Pine Forrest. The Lady Aggies are still perfect in District 6A. Tate will travel to Tallahassee this weekend to play in the Chiles High School Tournament. They will return to district play next week against Navarre, Escambia and Pensacola High.
- Tate 14, Pine Forest 4
- Jay 6, Holmes County 5
- West Florida 8, Gulf Breeze 1
BASEBALL
The West Florida High School Jaguars improved to 7-0 on the season with a 2-0 win over the Gulf Breeze Dolphins Tuesday.
- West Florida 2, Gulf Breeze 0
- West Florida 15, Gulf Breeze 2 (JV)
- Escambia Academy 5, Northview 4
- Pine Forest 3, Washington 2
- Pace 10, Escambia 2
- Tate 5, Milton 0
Scott’s State Of The State: It’s Working
March 6, 2013
Gov. Rick Scott used his third State of the State address Tuesday to issue a spirited defense of his first two years in office, even as the speech capped off a midterm pivot aimed at buoying his popularity ahead of the 2014 elections.
Underscoring an increase in jobs, a drop in state debt and other encouraging economic news, Scott portrayed a rebounding Florida and implicitly criticized his predecessor, and possible rival, former Gov. Charlie Crist.
“This is now the third time I have had the opportunity to address you to report on the state of the Great State of Florida,” Scott said. “And after two years of hard work, this update can be summed up in two words: It’s working.”
Scott returned to the “It’s Working” refrain several times in the speech, and staffers manning the governor’s Twitter account created a hashtag with the phrase, leaving little doubt about the theme of the address — also entitled “It’s Working.”
Scott didn’t use the address to unveil any new initiatives, though he did tout his proposed $2,500 across-the-board raise for teachers and a proposal to do away with the sales tax on manufacturing equipment.
In addition to laying out a case that included a three-point drop in the unemployment rate and a drop of $2 billion in debt, Scott pointed to the economy he “inherited” from Crist as the Republican-turned-independent-turned-Democrat considers mounting a run for his old job in 2014.
“Two years ago, Florida was losing jobs and many Florida families were losing their dreams. … The shorts-sighted policies of borrowing on our future had led to disaster,” Scott said.
An awkward moment, though, came when Scott defended his decision to support an expansion of Medicaid, part of the federal health-care bill reviled by Republicans, for at least three years. His remarks came one day after the House GOP confirmed its opposition to the move.
“I concluded that for the three years the federal government is committed to paying 100 percent of the cost of new people in Medicaid, I cannot, in good conscience, deny the uninsured access to care,” Scott said.
Legislative Democrats erupted in applause and cheers as Scott made his case, while Republicans largely sat stone-faced, one of the few times that the GOP did not lead an ovation for the governor.
After the speech, House Minority Leader Perry Thurston, D-Plantation, seized on Scott’s remarks to try to press Republicans to approve expansion.
“I think that he issued a challenge to the Legislature, whether it be the Senate or the House, that we certainly need to expand Medicaid,” Thurston said.
The party itself was less forgiving. Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Allison Tant accused Scott of “desperately trying to reverse course on his toxic Tea Party agenda.
“The truth is, Scott has the wrong priorities for Florida and is hurting middle class families,” she said in a statement issued by the party.
By The News Service of Florida
Santa Rosa Wooden Bridge Replaced
March 6, 2013
Wagner Bridge, located on Springhill Road over East Coldwater Creek, is now open near Allentown in Santa Rosa County.
The bridge, located approximately one-half mile east of Lewis Road, was closed on Monday, January 7 in order to demolish the old wooden bridge and to build a new bridge in the same footprint. The new bridge was constructed with a steel substructure and concrete deck in order to be low maintenance and provide many years of service.
Construction was completed by the Santa Rosa County Road & Bridge Department.
Pictured: The old and new bridges over East Coldwater Creek near Allentown. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Charged In Stefani Circle Homicide
March 5, 2013
A Cantonment man was arrested last night in connection with a deadly drug-related home invasion late last year in Cantonment.
Robert Dale Purifoy aka Robert Miles, 32, was charged with the November 6, 2012, murder of Amber Tricona Johnson. Johnson, 22, who was shot and killed during an exchange of gunfire during a home invasion on Stefani Circle. Johnson was found dead inside the home from an apparent gunshot wound.
An undisclosed amount of money and a “significant” quantity of marijuana was found at the scene, leading investigators to believe that robbery was a motive, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday.
Purifoy is being held without bond in the Escambia County Jail.
Natural Gas Still Leaking Somewhere Under Hwy 29; Repairs Coming Soon
March 5, 2013
Over a year after the problem was first publicly revealed as a potential “major public safety issue”, natural gas continues to leak under Highway 29 in Century.
The leak has not gotten any worse, according to the town’s engineer, Dale Long. Routine checks are performed to ensure the problem does not worsen.
About 6,515 feet of 4-inch steel natural gas line was buried beneath the southbound lanes of Highway 29 when the road was widened to four lanes. Now, over 45 years since the almost 1.25 mile long pipe was put into the ground, the town believes the steel is corroding and leaking somewhere between West Highway 4 and McCurdy Street.
In April 2012, Century signed off on a $1.4 million USDA Rural Development loan to cover the cost of replacing the pipe. But, according to town officials, the town received the wrong form from the USDA, and as a result advertised the meetings incorrectly.
That meant heading back to the drawing board and starting the loan process again.
Monday night, the Century Town Council gave preliminary approval to a bond issue for just over $1.4 million. Once it is approved by the state, it will be sent back to the council for final approval. The total time until work might begin on the project should be about three months, Long said.
A new 4-inch pipe will be placed on the west side of Highway 29, while a new 2-inch pipe will be installed on the east side of the highway, eliminating the need to install pipes under the road to service natural gas customers.
The pipe will be installed where existing easements exist or can be obtained at no cost, otherwise, it will be installed under existing sidewalks.
Pictured above and below: Natural gas is leaking under Highway 29 in Century. Pictured inset: Century Mayor Freddie McCall signs documents in April for a $1.401 million USDA Rural Development loan to repair the leaky gas lines. The loan was later invalidated by the USDA due to an incorrect form. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Ransom Middle Krafty Krew Art Club Silent Auction, Craft Show Planned
March 5, 2013
The Ransom Middle School Krafty Krew Art Club will host their seventh Annual Silent Art Auction and Craft Show from 6- 7:30 p.m. Friday in the school cafeteria.
Students will be auctioning their pottery alongside art donated by local artists. Local crafters have also been invited to sell their wares.
All proceeds from the auction will go to the American Cancer Society through Relay for Life. The Tate and Ransom Orchestras will be playing throughout the event and refreshments will be provided to attendees. A table will be available at no charge for fine art donations and crafters.
For more information, contact Emily Jefferis, Krafty Krew sponsor, (850) 937-2220, ext. 262 or by email at ejefferis@escambia.k12.fl.us.
Century Man Charged With Burglary, Copper Theft At Town Building
March 5, 2013
A Century man has been charged in connection with a burglary and copper theft at vacant town-owned industrial building in Century.
Jonathan Devon Andrews, 29, was charged with felony burglary, grand theft and criminal mischief with property damage. He remained in the Escambia County Jail Tuesday morning with bond set at $8,500.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said Andrews burglarized the former Van Nevel Helicopters building on Industrial Boulevard in Century in late January. He forcibly removed sections of industrial size copper tubing from eight outdoor air conditioning condensing units, according to an arrest report, and removed a garbage can from the building that contained three paint gun spray heads. The air conditioning units were not opened or damaged.
The property removed by Andrews and damage caused by its removal was estimated to be $6,500, the report states.
According to investigators, Andrews was positively identified as the suspect by a fingerprint removed from broken glass where entry was made into the front of the building.
Also in late January, someone stole copper from 10 of 14 units at the Town of Century’s Habitat Building on Pond Street. Andrews has not been a named a suspect in that theft. Anyone with information on the Habitat burglary is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
The copper thefts hit Century’s budget hard, with $23,349 in repairs not covered by insurance, according to Mayor Freddie McCall.
Pictured: The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said a fingerprint belonging to Jonathan Devon Andrews was positively identified on glass broken during a burglary at the town-owned Van Nevel Helicopter building in Century. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Minimum Mandatory Sentences For People With RX Drugs Debated
March 5, 2013
The state’s drug laws allow painkiller addicts to be charged as dealers and sent away for long sentences for possession of amounts of drugs that are common for people battling addiction – though not necessarily selling – say backers of a proposed change to the sentencing law.
A bill to give judges more discretion in cases where people are charged with trafficking was approved Monday in the Senate Criminal Justice Committee.
Supporters of the measure say people with a relatively small amount of prescription painkillers – less than many addicts say they take in a day – can be charged with trafficking.
Opponents, including police and prosecutors, say painkiller abuse has become the main drug problem police are fighting and urged lawmakers not to get rid of tough sentences. They argue that prosecutors have the discretion to decide to charge true addicts who aren’t involved in dealing with simple possession.
But often, prosecutors don’t do that, argued Sarasota defense attorney Derek Byrd.
“I’ve got a lot of clients sitting in prison right now who had 15 pills,” Byrd told the panel. “It’s just not fair…. We are netting people who are not traffickers.”
The measure sponsored by Sen. Maria Sachs, D-Delray Beach, would allow judges to depart from minimum mandatory terms in some cases involving first time offenders. It was approved by the committee 6-1 with Sen. Charlie Dean, R-Inverness, the lone “no” vote.
By The News Service of Florida
Third Suspect Arrested In Attempted Homicide
March 5, 2013
The third suspect in an attempted homicide that occurred in 2012 was arrested Sunday.
Kenneth Weathers, 22, of 1013 North L St., Pensacola, was taken into custody Sunday afternoon by Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies.
Weathers was wanted on an outstanding Pensacola Police Department warrant for attempted homicide and firing into an occupied vehicle for an incident that occurred September 17, 2012, at Tarragona and Hernandez streets. In that incident, a 20-year-old male was sitting in a car when he was shot.
An officer on patrol near Tarragona and Hernandez streets heard the gun shots, responded to the area and saw a truck leave the area at a high rate of speed. Officers followed the truck and arrested two males – Ulysses Samuel Jr., 34, of the 700 block of Fowler Avenue, Pensacola and Aquarius Devaughn, 17, of the 2500 block of North Seventh Avenue, Pensacola.
Both were charged with possession of a weapon by a convicted felon. In addition to the arrests, officers also recovered three guns from the truck.
Detective Justin Roedel said the victim was shot during a disturbance. Roedel said multiple suspects shot into the vehicle.
The Gun Crime Task Force was activated for the investigation, and additional arrests are pending as the investigation continues, Roedel said.
On Sunday, deputies saw a vehicle fail to completely stop at a stop sign at Roosevelt and Crescent drives and followed it. The vehicle pulled into a driveway in the 200 block of Crescent
Drive. Weathers was driving the car; the other two occupants got out and ran but also were captured. All suspects were arrested on drug charges by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.