Man Gets 20 Years For Century Shooting
January 12, 2013
An Escambia County man will spend then next two decades in prison for a shooting five years ago in Century.
Vinson Sanders, 26, was sentenced to a minimum mandatory of 20 years in state prison by Judge Linda Nobles. Sanders was convicted in of aggravated assault and discharging a firearm from a vehicle.
On January 14, 2007, a vehicle pulled up at the Carver Community Center in Century, and Sanders yelled out the passenger side window at a group of people playing basketball, according to prosecutors. Sanders was seeking revenge against someone who had allegedly beat up his brother a day before.
Sanders became angry and pointed a gun directly at the victim, then proceeded to shoot multiple times as the vehicle drove away on Jefferson Avenue. There were approximately 50 people present including children at the time of the shooting.
A bullet ricocheted off the ground and grazed the victim in the chest, and several other bullets hit multiple cars.
Prior to being arrested in 2007, Sanders was sentenced to 5 years state prison in New York for armed robbery and was not transferred to Florida until 2012.
Pictured top: The Carver Community Center on Jefferson Avenue. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Five Injured In I-65 Rollover
January 12, 2013
Five people were injured in a single vehicle rollover accident on the interstate north of Atmore Friday.
The accident happened on the northbound side of I-65 about six miles north of Atmore. The 32-year old female driver of a SUV lost control for an unknown reason and ran off the roadway onto a grassy shoulder where the vehicle overturned.
The driver, along with a male passenger about seven years old and three female passengers ranging in age from 14-18 were transported by Atmore Ambulance and Escambia County (Fla.) EMS to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola.
The names of the injured have not been released by Alabama State Troopers. However, officials said some of the injured are from the North Escambia area.
McCall Pumps Up Support For ECAT Gas Tax Exemption
January 12, 2013
Century Mayor Freddie McCall is pumping up support for a state exemption from Escambia County’s proposed four cent gas tax hike to support ECAT mass transit.
Armed with a resolution asking the Florida Legislature for the exemption, McCall addressed the Escambia County Legislative Delegation — Sen. Greg Evers, Rep. Clay Ingram and Rep. Clay Ford.
Century has refused sign off on an interlocal agreement with Escambia County that would allocate additional gas taxes collected in Century to the county for mass transit. Town officials contend the new tax is unfair to North Escambia residents and may force the three gas stations in Century to close as they force drivers choosing to purchase lower priced gasoline across the state line at the first station they come to in Flomaton.
“It’s a quarter mile beyond the state line,” McCall told the legislative delegation during a public forum in Pensacola. “The service station will be taking all of our business.”
The Century Town Council passed a resolution Monday night asking the Legislature to exempt Century due to the town’s proximity to Alabama. The town says the gasoline tax is currently 27 cents less in across the state line in Flomaton.
The resolution also sates that the four cents for ECAT “benefits the south end of the county significantly more than the north end of the county”.
Without the exemption from the Legislature, Century’s refusal to to play along with the county’s new gas tax is perhaps a moot point.
Amy Lovoy, the county’s budget chief, said the county will still receive the additional gas tax proceeds collected in Century because Century will automatically be included if the tax is approved by Pensacola, the largest municipality in the county.
Pictured: Two of Century’s three gas stations at the intersection of East Highway 4 and Highway 29. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
New $7.7 Million Main Library Opens
January 12, 2013
More than 200 people gathered Friday to celebrate the ribbon-cutting and grand opening of the new West Florida Library main location at 239 North Spring Street in Pensacola.
The library reopened after a two-year renovation and expansion which nearly doubled the library’s size to 51,000 square feet. The two-phase project included the construction of a new wing on Spring Street, after which the original 1957 building was gutted and renovated. The new library includes an expanded children’s area, meeting rooms, coffee shop, bookstore and more. The library also includes more than 50 new computers, including a 10-station computer training lab.
“This library is a tremendous resource and asset for our community,” said Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward. “Whether you’re coming to learn, to take online classes, or just to read a good book over a cup of coffee, this library will have something for everyone. This library is truly a beacon of possibility and a testament to our faith in tomorrow.”
The $7.7 million project was funded by $6 million in local option sales tax monies, a $606,500 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, surplus dollars from the construction of the Tryon Branch Library, and a $100,000 donation by the Friends of the Pensacola Public Library.
The ceremony also featured the dedication of a firefighter memorial and a new wing named for Maurice Bartholomew, a Pensacola firefighter who lost his life in the line of duty in 2000. Bartholomew, an avid reader, was based at the old Fire Station 1, which was previously located on the site of the new wing.
The new library becomes the City of Pensacola’s first LEED-certified building, incorporating a number of energy-efficient strategies, such as a tankless gas water heater and low-flow plumbing fixtures. The improvements are expected to cut the main library’s energy costs by as much as 15 percent.
Northview Beats Baker In OT; Robinson Scores 41
January 12, 2013
The Northview Chiefs beat the Baker Gators on the road Friday.
In junior varsity action, Northview’s JV defeated Baker 45-24. The Chiefs outscored Baker 27-8 in the second half. Leading scorers for Northview were Keondrae Lett with 11 and Nick Lambert with 10.
The Northview varsity beat Baker 79-71 in overtime. The Chiefs went on a 12-4 run in overtime for the win after Baker hit a three-pointer with 0.9 seconds left to tie in regulation. Leading scorers for the Chiefs were Neino Robinson 41 and Cameron Newsome with 16.
Lowe’s Stores Looking To Hire Over 100 People
January 12, 2013
Lowe’s Home Improvement Stores in the Pensacola area are looking to hire over 100 people for full and part-time seasonal positions with the help of the non-profit Workforce Escarosa.
Interested individuals should apply online at www.lowes.com/careers. After applying online, applicants are advised to attend (and bring a resume) to the hiring event on Thursday, January 17, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. inside the Amos Performance Studio at Pensacola State College, 1000 College Boulevard in Pensacola.
Representatives from area Lowe’s stores will be present during the event and intend to review resumes and conduct interviews.
According to Lowe’s:
- Rotating shifts/hours may vary
- Pay depends on experience
- At least 6 months of customer service experience preferred
- Must be willing to work nights/weekends/holidays
- Must be able to work outside in environmental conditions
- Physical ability to move and lift merchandise is required
Free Trees: Seedlings To Be Given Away In Walnut Hill On Monday
January 12, 2013
In celebration of Florida’s Arbor Day, Escambia County, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Science (UF/IFAS) Extension and the Florida Forestry Service (FFS) will be giving away 4,000 seedling trees at two locations, including Walnut Hill.
Species include crabapple, mayhaw, cherrybark oak, river birch, wax myrtle and bald cypress. Participants will receive two tree seedlings of their choice.
The first event will be held on Monday, January 14, at the Walnut Hill Community Center (Ruritan Building) at 7850 Highway 97 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
The second event will be held on Friday, January 18, in conjunction with the grand opening of the Southwest Greenway at the Jones Swamp Preserve Trail entrance at 198 Patton Drive, near the intersection of Brigadier and Patton Drive, in Warrington, also from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Extension agents and master gardeners will be available at both locations to advise participants on tree types and tree placement in the landscape.
Suspect Arrested In Dairy Queen Officer Involved Shooting
January 12, 2013
The driver of a vehicle involved in a deputy involved shooting Wednesday at a Scenic Highway Dairy Queen has been arrested.
Derrick Emerson McMillian, 33, was charged with four counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, one count of possession of cocaine and one count of obstruction of justice.
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies were working on a narcotics investigation in the Scenic Highway area about 2 p.m. As they tried to apprehend McMillian, two deputies were forced to discharge their weapons, according to a statement released by the Sheriff’s Office. No one was hit by the gunfire, but one deputy was treated for minor injuries received due to breaking glass.
The two deputies involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave, as is standard procedure in officer involved shootings.
Weekend Gardening: Tips for January
January 12, 2013
Here are gardening tips for the month of January from the Santa Rosa Extension Service:
Flowers
- Refrigerated bulbs such as tulip, daffodil and hyacinth should be planted in prepared beds.
- Start seeds of warm season flowers late this month in order to have transplants in March.
- There’s still time to transplant some cool season annuals such as carnations, foxglove, pansies, petunias and snapdragons.
- Re-fertilize cool season flowerbeds, using a liquid or dry form of fertilizer. Be careful not to apply excessive amounts and keep granules away from the base of stems.
- Finish dividing crowded perennials. Don’t wait until spring for this job.
- Plant bare root roses immediately after they are purchased.
Trees and Shrubs
- Plant trees and shrubs. This is an ideal time of year for transplanting larger specimens.
- Plant bare root plants such as deciduous ornamental shrubs and trees.
- Prune dormant shade trees, if needed.
- Stick hardwood cuttings of fig, grape, honeysuckle, Althea, Catalpa, Forsythia and Wisteria.
Fruits and Nuts
- Apply dormant oil spray to peach, plum, nectarine and other deciduous fruit trees. This practice is necessary when growing the stone fruits in locations along the Gulf Coast. Note: This applies to the flowering peaches and cherries since they are susceptible to the same pests as their fruiting cousins.
- Plant bare root deciduous fruit trees
- Prune dormant fruit trees if needed
Vegetable Garden
- Start seeds of warm season vegetables late this month in order to have transplants in March.
- Lime (if needed), and begin preparing vegetable gardens for the spring planting.
- Cool season vegetables that can still be planted in the garden are: beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, Chinese cabbage, kale, kohlrabi, leek, mustard, bunching onions, parsley, English peas, Irish potatoes, radishes and turnips.
- Irish potatoes can be started from January through March by planting seed pieces 3 to 4 inches deep in rows. Always purchase certified seed potatoes.
Lawns
- Check soil moisture during winter and water as needed.
No Injuries In School Bus Wreck
January 11, 2013
There were no injuries in a minor school bus wreck Friday morning on East Kingsfield Road.
The Florida Highway Patrol said driver Willie Jame Pryor stopped the Head Start Program bus at a railroad crossing just east of North Palafox Street about 8:09 a.m. Jocelyn Jean Longo, age 31 of Cantonment, turned off North Palafox onto Kingsfield and hit the bus in a “very low-impact collision”.
There were five students on the bus.
Longo was cited for careless driving by the FHP.