Jury Splits Life, Death Decision In Double Murder
October 25, 2012
A jury came back with a split decision for a Milton man convicted of murdering two people.
The Santa Rosa County jury recommended that Robert Hobart, 43, be sentenced to death for the death of Tracie Tolbert but receive life in prison for the September 2010 murder of Robert Hamm. The final sentence will be decided at a later date by Judge David Rimmer.
Hobart was convicted last week of the double murder. Hamm and Tolbert were discovered shot to death September 22 on Jesse Allen Road in Allentown. Both victims died from gunshot wounds, according to the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office. Prosecutors said Hobart murdered the couple in order to steal prescription drugs from them.
Hobart was a suspect early in the investigation and arrested by the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office after he was implicated by conclusive forensic evidence. Investigators said ballistics tests matched the weapon to both the shell casings and the bullets recovered from the crime scene.
The murders were discovered after a resident of Jesse Allen Road called authorities to report what looked like a large amount of blood in Jesse Allen Road. When deputies arrived, they found the two bodies on opposite sides of the roadway.
Jesse Allen Road runs west off Highway 87, about 18 miles south of Jay and not far from Central High School.
Large Column Of Smoke Was From Controlled Burn
October 25, 2012
A large column of smoke visible from most of the North Escambia area Wednesday afternoon was from a control burn, according to fire department officials. The Northwest Florida Water Management District conducted a 140 acre prescribed burn off Jacks Branch Road. Reader submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Taking A Bite Out Of Hunger: Peanut Butter Drive Underway
October 25, 2012
The Escambia County Extension office, Santa Rosa County Extension office and the EscaRosa Young Farmers and Ranchers are collecting peanut butter now through mid-November to help take a bite out of hunger.
The groups are accepting donations of unopened jars of peanut butter to be donated in local food pantries during Farm-City Week, November 16-22.
“Let’s keep children eating locally grown peanuts in healthy, nutritious, and yummy peanut butter,” is a slogan being promoted for the drive. The extension service said the average child will eat 1,500 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches before graduating high school.
Unopened jars of peanut butter of any brand can be dropped off until November 16 at any of the following locations:
- Escambia County Extension office, 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment
- Escambia Farm Bureau, 153 Highway 97, Molino
- Escambia County Board County Commission, Public Information Office, 4th Floor, 221 Palafox Place, Pensacola.
- Santa Rosa Farm Bureau Jay office, 4035 Highway 4, Jay
- Santa Rosa County Extension office, 6263 Dogwood Drive, Milton
- Santa Rosa Farm Bureau Pace office, 4474 Woodbine Road, Suite 3, Pace
- Santa Rosa Farm Bureau Gulf Breeze office, 3171 Gulf Breeze Pkwy, Gulf Breeze
For more information, call Escambia County Extension at (850) 475-5230 or Santa Rosa County Extension at (850) 623-3868.
More Fungal Meningitis Cases Linked To Escambia County Clinic
October 25, 2012
The number of fungal meningitis cases linked to a local pain clinic is growing.
The Florida Department of Health confirmed Wednesday that a 60-year old man and a 36-year old woman who both received treatment at the Pain Consultants of West Florida in Escambia County have been diagnosed. This brings the total number of cases in Escambia County to seven, and the statewide total to 22, including three deaths.
“Our Department of Health continues to collaborate with numerous organizations to protect the health of Floridians,” said State Surgeon General and Secretary of Health Dr. John Armstrong. “We assure our residents and visitors that fungal meningitis associated with this outbreak is not contagious.”
Nationwide, the number of cases of fungal meningitis related to contaminated steroid injections is 308 with 23 deaths across 17 states. This fungal meningitis is not contagious and cannot be passed from person to person, the health department said.
The signs and symptoms of meningitis related to epidural NECC medication injections include fever, headache, stiff neck, nausea and vomiting, sensitivity to light and altered mental status. Symptoms for other possible infections related to NECC medications include fever; swelling, increasing pain, redness, warmth at injection site; vision changes, pain, redness or discharge from the eye; chest pain, or drainage from the surgical site (infection within the chest).
North Escambia Man Sentenced To Prison For Fathering 13-Year Old’s Child
October 24, 2012
A North Escambia man will spend the next 10 and a half years in prison for fathering a child with a 13-year old girl.
Michael Lee King, 26, was found guilty Tuesday of sexual battery and child abuse. He was sentenced as a sex offender to 130.5 months is state prison, with credit for 104 days served while awaiting trial, on the sexual battery charge. Judge Jan Shackelford also sentenced him to 60 months in prison to run concurrently for child abuse.
According to an arrest report, King first had non-consensual sex in 2010 with the girl when she was 12 years old. Their sexual encounters continued for over a year, she told investigators, until King was arrested on unrelated charges in August.
At age 13, the girl became pregnant, giving birth at age 14, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
The Sheriff’s Office obtained a voluntary DNA sample from the 14-year old girl and baby, and obtained a search warrant for a DNA sample from King. According to a Florida Department of Law Enforcement lab report, there was a 99.99 percent probability that King was the father of the child.
King did not provide deputies with a statement prior to his arrest, according to a Sheriff’s Office report.
At the time of his arrest, King listed his address as a trailer park on Barth Road in Molino. He previously resided on Highway 164 in McDavid, according to jail records. The abuse incidents occurred in McDavid, according to the arrest report.
Cantonment Gas Leak Leads To Evacuations
October 24, 2012
A gas leak led to the evacuation of three homes about 4:30 Tuesday afternoon on Littleton Street in the Milestone subdivision off West Nine Mile Road. A small cloud of natural gas could been seen in the neighborhood until Pensacola Energy (the former Energy Services of Pensacola) shut off the gas and repaired the leak.
Pensacola Energy said the leak was caused by a contractor who was digging in the area.
The Ensley and Bellview stations of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded to the leak.
Pictured: A cloud of natural gas can been seen in a Milestone neighborhood Tuesday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photo by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Connie Mack, John McCain Make Escambia County Campaign Stop
October 24, 2012
Former presidential candidate John McCain joined U.S. Senate hopeful Connie Mack for a “Freedom Tour” rally Tuesday at Seville Quarter before a crowd of military members and veterans.
Mack promised that if elected, he will fight any cuts to military spending. He also vowed to make sure that funding is available for not only active duty, but also veterans.
Mack is running against incumbent Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson.
Pictured: Connie Mack (right) was joined my John McCain at a campaign stop in Pensacola on Tuesday. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
School District Donates Lawnmowers To Century Correctional Program
October 24, 2012
The Escambia County School District has donated numerous surplus lawnmowers to Century Correctional Institution.
The mowers were outdated and beyond economical repair for the school district. But the mowers will be repaired by CCI inmates and used in a rehabilitation program that benefits North Escambia schools, including Northview High, Byrneville Elementary and Bratt Elementary.
As part of the program, CCI inmates do lawn maintenance and other work on the school campuses at no cost to the school district. No students are allowed on campus while the inmates are working.
Items donated to Century Correctional by the school district included six zero-turn mowers and four push mowers.
Ernest Ward Football Ends Almost Perfect Season At EA
October 24, 2012
The Ernest Ward Middle School Eagles ended an almost perfect season Tuesday night with a close loss on the road in Canoe, Ala.
EWMS (6-1) lost to Escambia Academy 22-20.
Ernest Ward has the only public middle school football program in Escambia County. Fla.
Pictured top: Ernest Ward Middle School head coach Jeremy Greenwell talks to his team Monday night after their hopes of a perfect season were dashed. Pictured below: Ernest Ward at Escambia Academy in Canoe, Ala. Photo by Melissa Ward for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Baker Gators To Face Jay Royals In 1-1A Volleyball Final
October 24, 2012
The final has been set in the District 1-1A volleyball tournament between Jay and Baker.
On Tuesday, Jay defeated Northview in three sets, 25-21, 27-25 and 25-22. And Baker beat Laurel Hill in three, 25-17, 25-11, 25-14.
The Lady Royals will play the Lady Gators at 6 p.m. Thursday at Central High School.