UWF Opens Nature Trail After Possible Human Bones Found
October 5, 2012
Florida Department of Law Enforcement and Medical Examiner investigators have left the University of West Florida main campus after completing recovery of the bones found late Thursday afternoon on the mile-long Edward Ball Nature Trail.
“University officials have reopened the trail to normal activity and would like to reassure the campus community that the area is safe. We appreciate everyone’s patience and cooperation,” said Jeff Martin, UWF director of operations.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Man Gets 10 Years For Abortion Clinic Arson
October 5, 2012
An Escambia County man was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison Wednesday for the New Year’s Day arson of a Pensacola reproductive health clinic.
Bobby Joe Rogers, 41, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Casey M. Rogers to 120 months for starting the fire that destroyed the American Family Planning Clinic on North Ninth Avenue on January 1.
After his release from prison, Rogers was ordered to stay away from reproductive health clinics and the staff of those facilities.
“This defendant destroyed this clinic because of its lawful work in providing reproductive health services,” said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. “Such violent extremism will not be tolerated. The Department of Justice will continue to vigorously prosecute interference with services provided by the health community.”
Rogers set the fire using a 32-ounced beer bottle filled with gasoline and a wick made from an old shirt. After tossing the device and watching it burst into flames on the back of the clinic, he went across the street to an abandoned car wash to make sure fire was going strong.
According to court records, Rogers’ criminal history included arrests in Florida, Alabama and seven other states, plus felony convictions in Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee for burglary, and in Mississippi for grand larceny.
Molino Couple Charged With Animal Cruelty
October 5, 2012
A Molino couple is facing multiple animal cruelty charges for chaining their malnourished pit bulls in their own filth.
The arrests came about week after a pit bull was shot and killed after charging at a deputy, and after marijuana plants were found in the backyard of the couple’s home, according to Sheriff’s Office reports.
Amanda Leah Oswald, 34, and John Rowland Oswald, 30, were each charged with two felony counts of causing cruel death, pain and suffering to animals and two felony counts of unlawful confinement and abandonment of animals.
Escambia County deputies responded to a complaint about an aggressive put bull on September 21 at a residence in on Highway 29 near Cotton Lake Road. The dog was loose in the victim’s yard and had attacked and killed her dog. Deputies kept the pit bull contained in the yard and notified Escambia County Animal Control. But before animal control arrived, the pit bull attempted to attack two officers who then utilized a shotgun to stop the dog, according to Melissa Rawson, spokesperson for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
When deputies attempted to contact the owner of the dog at a nearby home on Highway 29 across from the Camp Of the Pines, deputies and animal control located two other pit bulls in the backyard of the home.
“I first observed a very skinny brown pit bill dog tied to a large chain barking at me,” one deputy wrote in his report. “I then observed a very skinny black pit bull dog lying on its side, and it appeared to be dead…I observed the black dog lift its head and look at me though due to the dog being so skinny from lack of food, the dog could not stand up.”
Both dogs were “malnourished to the point of starvation”, according to an arrest report, with access to “old nasty water” and no food. Both dogs were tied to heavy chains and were surrounded by flies.
“I then observed the black pit bull who was still lying on his side struggle and make several attempts to stand to his feet. “Once on his feet, his legs were wobbly and looked like he was going to fall over,” the deputy said.
The deputy said in his report that he first though the black dog was covered in ants crawling all over it, but it was actually a “massive amount” of fleas. The dog also reportedly had an eye infection.
The two pit bulls were seized by animal control. Amanda Oswald also voluntarily surrendered a pit bull and three Yorkie dogs from inside the residence to Escambia County Animal Control.
John Oswald was also charged with one felony count of producing marijuana. During the animal cruelty investigation, deputies reported the discovery of located four marijuana plants up to five feet tall and one plant growing in a bucket in the home’s backyard.
Oswald met with a narcotics investigator and admitted that the marijuana plants belonged to him, an arrest report states. “He admitted to having a pill problem prior to being involved in marijuana and that he had started growing marijuana for personal use,” the investigator wrote in his report.
Escambia County Code Enforcement also responded to the home and opened a separate investigation for various code violations, Rawson said.
Pictured above inset and below: Marijuana plants located in the backyard of a Molino home. Photos courtesy Escambia County Sheriff’s Office for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Photos: Northview, Flomaton Dig Pink For Cancer Awareness
October 5, 2012
The Northview Lady Chiefs and the Flomaton Hurricanes took part in a Dig Pink volleyball match Thursday evening to raise breast cancer awareness.
For a photo gallery, click here.
In varsity action, Northview beat Flomaton 25-10, 20-25, 25-12, 25-8. For the Lady Chiefs, Misty Doran had seven aces, 10 kills, four blocks and two digs. Morgan Payne added two aces and six kills, and Lily Townson had 14 assists.
In junior varsity action, Northview defeated Flomaton 25-16, 25-17. Penny Banda had eight aces for the JV Lady Chiefs, and Hanna Ging had five aces.
The Lady Chiefs will travel to Central next Tuesday with play starting at 4:30 p.m. for the junior varsity and 5:30 p.m. for the varsity. Northview will return home next Thursday for Senior night.
Donations are still being accepted on the Northview Dig Pink website (click here.)
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Freshmen Football: Tate Aggies With Strong Win Over Milton
October 5, 2012
The freshmen Tate Aggies defeated the Milton Panthers Thursday night, 47-27 in Milton.
The freshmen Aggies will be at home on October 18 against the Pace Patriots at 5 p.m. before wrapping up the season on the road at Washington on November 1.
Floridians Buying More Than A Year Ago
October 5, 2012
Taxable sales increased 6.6 percent statewide in July from the previous July, and were up over the year earlier month in every part of the state, state officials announced this week.
In the state report on monthly taxable sales released by the Office of Economic and Demographic Research, officials said some of the biggest increases in taxable sales were in Miami and the Winter Haven-Lakeland areas, which could mean those areas are recovering stronger than the state as a whole. Both areas saw year-to-year jumps of more than 8 percent in the value of taxable goods purchased.
Also good news for the economy — sales in the building category were the most robust, nearly 11 percent higher than a year ago in July, the report said. Floridians were making a number of big purchases in July, according to the report: taxable sales in the autos and accessories category were just under 10 percent higher than a year ago.
By The News Service of Florida
Prep Football Final Scores
October 5, 2012
Here are high school football final scores from around the area Friday night:
FLORIDA
Northview 62, Jay 14 [Read more...]
Milton 40, Tate 28 [Read more...]
Escambia 25, Washington 9
Pace 20, PHS 10 FINAL
West Florida 37, Gulf Breeze 14
Catholic 29, Florida High 26
Open: Pine Forest
ALABAMA
Sweetwater 34, Flomaton 6
Thomasville 48, Escambia County 12
Escambia Academy: 27, South Choctaw 7
W.S. Neal, 44, Excel 18
T.R. Miller 55, Cottage Hill 3
Ribbon Cutting Set For New Molino Community Center
October 4, 2012
A grand opening for the new Molino Community Center has been set for mid-October.
Escambia County Commissioner Kevin White and other dignitaries will cut the ribbon at the Grand Opening of the Molino Community Center on Wednesday, October 17 at 11:00 a.m.
The old Molino School has been renovated into a modern Molino Community Center that will include a library, meetings rooms and a museum with a glimpse into the history of Molino. A newly constructed, and already open, second building houses offices for the Escambia County Tax Collector and the Escambia County Property Appraiser.
The new Molino Community Center is located at 6450 Highway 95A in Molino, just south of the Highway 95A and Molino Road intersection. The public is invited to the ribbon cutting; refreshments will be served.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
McDavid Man Run Over By Forklift In Flomaton
October 4, 2012
A McDavid man was critically injured in an industrial accident Wednesday afternoon.
The 18-year old Brandon Carnley was run over by a forklift while working at Bondurant Lumber on Highway31 in Flomaton. He was airlifted to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola by LifeFlight.
The Flomaton Fire Department, Escambia County (Fla.) EMS, Flomaton Police Department and the Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Office responded to the accident scene.
The accident remains under investigation.
Arrested Again: Former Molino Resident That Fathered Child With 16-Year Old Girlfriend
October 4, 2012
A convicted sex offender from Molino that fathered a child with a 16-year old is back behind bars.
Archie Eley Brooks, 39, is charged with failing to report name or residence change and failure to report vacation permanent residence, both felonies.
Once released from jail after serving time for unlawful sexual activity with certain minors, Brooks reported a new permanent residence on Olive Road. Authorities later determined he was not living at that address, according to an arrest report.
In a February 2, 2010, interview, the victim told investigators that “the relationship started when suspect Brooks moved in with her family and the two shared a room” at her family’s home on Pine Circle Drive in Molino. The victim “stated that Brooks knew she was 16 at the time they began their sexual relationship,” according to the sheriff’s office report.
Brooks told investigators that he had a sexual relationship with the victim in which she became pregnant, according to the incident report, and that he knew the victim was 16 at the time. Brooks told deputies that the relationship lasted about two years until it ended on the victim’s 18th birthday.
Brooks remained in the Escambia County Jail early Thursday morning with bond set at $10,000.