Gulf Power Lends A Helpful Hand After Alabama Storms
March 20, 2013
A Gulf Power storm team is working in the Birmingham area to help Alabama Power Company restore power to more than 220,000 customers left without power following powerful storms on Monday.
The 62 workers left early Tuesday and worked in the Trussville, AL, area Tuesday afternoon.
“They’ve had some devastating storms,” said Jeff Rogers, Gulf Power Corporate Communications manager. “Our crews are headed that way now — to help but also to add to their experience restoring power after these storms. That’s a great value for our customers.”
Gulf Power sent storm teams to assist other utilities six times during 2012.
Woman Sentenced For Embezzling Thousands From Doctor
March 20, 2013
A Beulah woman was sentenced to prison Tuesday for embezzling thousands of dollars from a local physician.
Ellen Renee Garrett, 56, was sentenced by Judge Ross Goodman to 24 months in state prison followed by eight years probation. She will also be required to pay restitution to her former employer, Gulf Coast Podiatry on North Nine Avenue.
Garrett had previously pleaded no contest to grand theft from the physician for embezzling money from his medical practice over the course of more than four years while she was employed as an office manager.
Police said it was Garrett’s responsibility to post payments to patient accounts. However, an investigation determined she didn’t post payments as she should, nor did she deposit cash into business accounts. Garrett would cover up her activity by fraudulently posting a transaction to reduce balance on patient accounts by the amount of money a patient had paid, Lyster said.
Garrett embezzled $43,739.34 over four years period, police said.
Florida Prison Health Plan To Go Before Appeals Court
March 20, 2013
The 1st District Court of Appeal has scheduled arguments May 14 in a long-running legal battle about privatizing prison health services in much of the state. A Leon County circuit judge in December ruled that lawmakers did not properly approve a plan that would have led to Corizon, Inc., receiving a contract to provide prison health services in central and north Florida.
The decision did not affect a Department of Corrections plan to contract with another firm in the southern part of the state.
Weightlifting: Four Chiefs Advance To Sectional Meet
March 20, 2013
Four Northview Chiefs qualified Tuesday to advance toward the state weightlifting finals.
La’Mikal Kyles (183-pound class), Arkelle Elliott (199), Luke McDaniel (238) and Laderious Franklin (238) all placed Tuesday at the District 1 qualifier weightlifting meet at Baker. All four advance to sectional meet on April 1st at Panama City Arnold.
Kyles placed first in his class with a 515 pound total; Elliott was second in his class with a 565 total. McDaniel was second with a 525 total, and Franklin finished third with a 485 pound total.
Justin Kite finished fourth in the 219 pound class with a 450 total and is an alternate for the sectionals.
Pictured: The Northview Chiefs complete in the District 1 qualifier weightlifting meet at Baker on Tuesday. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Barrineau Park 4-H Students Advance To District Event
March 20, 2013
Three members of the Barrineau Park 4-H Club placed with blue ribbons at recent county competitions.
Izzy Kent, junior divison; Dillon Conti, intermediate division; and Jessica Conti, junior division, will present their Animal Science Demonstrations/Illustrated Talks at the 4-H District event this Saturday at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church at 1394 East Nine Mile Road between 8:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.
For more information on the Barrineau Park 4-H Club, call Tena Gindl at (850) 698-3441.
Pictured top: Izzy Kent, Jessica Conti and Dillon Conti advanced to 4-H District events. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Lady Chiefs Beat Holmes County; JV Jags Over NHS
March 20, 2013
The Northview Lady Chiefs picked up varsity and JV wins Tuesday over Holmes County, while the WFHS JV Jags defeated the JV Chiefs in baseball.
SOFTBALL
Northview 5, Holmes County 3
The Northview Lady Chiefs varsity softball team continued their undefeated season with another win Tuesday night in Bratt. The Lady Chiefs defeated Holmes County 5-3 in seven innings. With the win, Northview’s varsity softball team is now 9-0.
The varsity Chiefs will be in action again on Friday as they host Chipley at 5:00.
Northview 11, Holmes County 1 (JV)
The junior varsity Northview Chiefs softball team beast Holmes County 11-1 Tuesday afternoon in Bratt. The JV Chiefs softball team will be off until after Spring Break, with their next game April 1 in Flomaton.
BASEBALL
West Florida 10, Northview 7
The JV West Florida High School Jaguars beat the Northview Chiefs Tuesday evening at Northview.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Aggie Classic Day Two
March 20, 2013
Here’s a look at Aggie Classic scores from Tuesday followed by Wednesday’s schedule in the 22-team tournament.
Cardinal Pool
Edmond North (OK) 3, Navarre 1
Hueytown (AL) 8, Jay (OK) 1
Tahlequah (OK) 9, Overton 6
Tate 9, Washington (OK) 6
Escambia 13, Hume-Fogg (TN) 2
Washington 5, Grove (OK) 1
Grey Pool
McAdory (Ala.) 6, Claremore (OK) 1
Jacksonville Arlington Country Day 10, Westmoore (OK) 2
Pryor (OK) 8, West Florida 5
Goodpasture (TN) 6, Milton 1
Norman North (OK) 8, Greenwood (AR) 1
WEDNESDAY’S SCHEDULE
At Tate High
• Greenwood vs. Pryor, 4 p.m.
• Tate vs. Grove, 7 p.m.
At Escambia High
• Good Pasture vs. Westmoore, 4 p.m.
• Escambia vs. Tahlequah, 7 p.m.
At Washington High
• Jay vs. Washington, 4 p.m.
• Edmond North vs. Hueytown, 7 p.m.
At West Florida High
• Overton vs. Washington (OK), 4 p.m.
• McAdory vs. West Florida, 7 p.m.
At Pensacola State
• Norman North vs. Milton, 4 p.m.
• Arlington Co. Day vs. Claremore, 7 p.m.
At Woodham Middle
• Hume-Fogg vs. Navarre, 7 p.m.
Armed And Dangerous Robbery Suspect Surrenders
March 20, 2013
A man the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office called armed and dangerous is off the streets.
Donald Donita McBride turned himself in Tuesday morning. He was wanted in connection with an armed robbery which occurred shortly before 1 p.m. Monday on Teakwood Circle in West Pensacola. McBride allegedly held a gun to the victim’s head and demanded that he had over prescription narcotics.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said the media’s coverage was essential on locating McBride.
Deputies: 52 More Charges Await Burglary Suspect Trio
March 19, 2013
A trio arrested last week in Escambia County in connection with 37 burglaries will face another 52 charges in Santa Rosa County.
Charles Dylan Williams, age 19 of Walnut Hill, Richard Kevin Craig, age 21 of Pensacola, and Kevin Randall Bell, age 26 of Pensacola, were each charged with multiple counts of burglary, larceny, vehicle theft and fraudulent use of credit cards in Escambia County, and now 52 warrants have been issued for their arrests by Santa Rosa County.
The Santa Rosa County cases center around vehicle burglaries that begin January 28 in the Woodbine Springs and Autumn Run North subdivisions in Pace. Victims advised their cars were ransacked and items were stolen.
“Investigators were able to put the pieces of the puzzle together which lead them not only to the arrest of the three suspects, but also the recovery of the stolen items,” Deputy Rich Aloy, spokesman for the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office said Monday.
The trio will be transferred to Santa Rosa County after they face the Escambia County charges.
In Escambia County, a rash of burglaries were reported January 25 from Beulah to Cantonment, including the theft of credit cards and a set of car keys. The suspects later returned to attempt to steal the vehicle. Deputies said they abandoned the vehicle when spotted, but a witness was able to give a good description of the trio.
Evidence against the men include surveillance video of the suspects and the vehicle as they used stolen credit cards at a Red Box video machine. Based on this information, investigators were able to locate the vehicle at a home in the 9000 block of Bridlewood Road.
During a search of the vehicle and home, the suspects confessed to multiple burglaries. According to the suspects they had been using the stolen credit cards for gas, fast food and “Magic” gaming cards at Walmart.
As of Monday afternoon all three men remained in the Escambia County Jail. Bond was set at $292,500 for Craig, $129,500 for Bell and $239,000 for Williams.
Leadership Pensacola Breaks Ground On New Trail
March 19, 2013
The Greater Pensacola Chamber and Leadership Pensacola’s (LeaP) Class of 2013 broke ground Tuesday morning on the LEAP Trail, the group’s official class project.
The LEAP Trail, located near the City’s Roger Scott Athletic Complex, will be an inclusive activity space, providing leisure, exercise, activity, and play opportunities for the entire community. Among the trail’s amenities will be a three-mile Innisfree Hotels Track, which will begin at the new Hyatt Place Hotel at Pensacola International Airport and run south down 12th Avenue, then through Roger Scott, down Summit Boulevard, and up Jerry Maygarden Road. The trail will also feature an inclusive playground accessible for children and adults of all physical abilities, as well as six workout stations placed along the trail.
“This project is a great example of what we can accomplish through community-driven initiatives and public-private partnerships,” said Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward. “As we continue to make Pensacola a better place and improve our city’s quality of life, the LEAP Trail is going to be an incredible asset for our community.”
Construction on the LEAP Trail is expected to be completed in May.
Pictured top: A Monday groundbreaking for the LEAP Trail in Pensacola. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
