No Injuries In Wrecks On Muscogee, Crabbtree Church Roads
February 25, 2013
There were no injuries in single vehicle wrecks Monday morning on Muscogee Road and Crabtree Church Road.
Muscogee Road Crash
The Florida Highway Patrol said 49-year old Kenneth Vincent Oakley of Mobile was traveling eastbound on Muscogee Road west of Highway 29 at about 5 a.m. in a 1996 Peterbuilt truck when he said he met another vehicle with high beams that blinded him.
Oakley veered off the road and into a ditch. He tried to continue to the travel out of the opposite end of the ditch but collided with a culvert, rupturing a fuel tank and dumping the truck’s load of sheet metal.
Charges against Oakley are pending, according to the FHP.
Crabtree Church Road
There were no injuries reported when a driver overturned about 6:10 a.m. on Crabtree Church Road near Homeplace Lane, just west of Highway 97.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 29-year old Jason Williams of Molino was traveling east on Crabtree Church Road where he said he hit standing water and lost control of his 2000 Ford SUV. The vehicle hit a culvert and overturned onto its right side.
Williams was not injured. There were no charges filed, according to the FHP.
Couple’s Mandatory Prison Time Cut From 15 To 3 Years For Drug Trafficking
February 25, 2013
A Walnut Hill man and his wife sentenced in 2009 to a mandatory 15 years in state prison for drug trafficking have had their mandatory sentence cut to only three years.
In June 2009, it took an Escambia County jury just 50 minutes to convict the Stephen Eugene Freeman, 43, and his wife Monica Lassitter Freeman, 40, on the trafficking charges involving 14 to 28 grams of hydrocodone.
Both Freemans filed a motion alleging that they had ineffective counsel during their trials, “essentially claiming that their lawyers did a poor job”, according to Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille, asking the judge to set aside their convictions.
“They made substantial allegations that would have been very difficult to refute,” Marcille said. “If their motion was granted, it would mean a new trial.”
Prosecutors were unable to locate the confidential informant that testified against the Freemans in 2009, Marcille said, making it near impossible to prove without question the number of pills sold. For that reason, the State Attorney’s Office negotiated the charges against both Freemans down from trafficking 14 to 28 grams to trafficking in more than four but less than 14 grams — which carries a much shorter minimum mandatory sentence — in order to avoid a new trial.
Monica Freeman was sentenced on the lesser charge to 69 months in state prison with a minimum mandatory of three years with credit for 214 days plus time served in prison since her conviction. Stephen Freeman was sentenced to 60 months in state prison with a three year minimum mandatory with credit for 81 days plus time served in state prison since his conviction. The court did not rule on the ineffectiveness of the Freeman’s lawyers.
The Freemans were originally arrested by Escambia County Sheriff’s Deputies on June 4, 2008, following an undercover operation in which deputies discovered prescription Lortab and other pills in the couple’s home on Garrett Road in Walnut Hill.
Pictured: Monica and Stephen Freeman as seen in their 2008 Escambia County Jail booking photos (below) and their most current Florida Department of Corrections photos (above).
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.