West Florida Beats Tate
September 15, 2012
The West Florida Jaguars beat the Tate Aggies 56-7 Friday night in Cantonment.
The Aggies were unable to cross midfield until the second quarter against a strong West Florida defense, and West Florida held a 42-0 lead at the half thanks to a strong offense. WFHS quarterback Joey Baker had just over 300 yards and touchdown passes of 15, 46 and 26 yards plus a 1-yard keeper.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured: West Florida beat the Tate Aggies Friday night in Cantonment. Submitted photos by Hope Bonucchi for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Flomaton ‘Canes Blow Past Choctaw County 42-13
September 15, 2012
The Flomaton Hurricanes powered to a 42-13 Class 2A, Region 1 win Friday night over Choctaw County.
Flomaton took the lead 8-0 with just over three minutes to go in the first quarter on a 2-yard run from Ryheem Dixon. But the Choctaw County fought back, taking a 13-8 lead over FHS with a 4-yard TD and a 70-yard interception return.
But the Canes stormed back for the lead with a 15-yard run from Gorad Sanders with just under eight minutes go in the half. That put Flomaton on top for the remainder of the contest.
Tripp Vickery was 5 for 6 with 171 yards. He had a 77-yard TD pass to Levi Carden and a 15-yard pass to Dylan Carpenter. Dixon had three touchdowns on the night and 116 yards on 17 carries. Sander racked up 82 yards for Flomaton on eight carries.
The Flomaton Hurricanes (1-2, 1-1) will be on the road next Friday night at Mobile Christian.
Man Gets 40 Years In Oakwood Terrace Shooting
September 15, 2012
An Escambia man has been sentenced to 40 years in prison for a shooting at Oakwood Terrace.
Marlon Faron Kelly, 27, was convicted of two counts of aggravated battery with a firearm, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and aggravated assault with a firearm.
Following the verdict, Judge Jan Shackelford sentenced Kelly to 40 years state prison with 25 years as a mandatory minimum under the 10-20-Life law.
In the early morning hours of October 10, 2011, at the Oakwood Terrace Apartment complex, Kelly fired a 45-caliber pistol at three young men as they were leaving the complex. Two of the victims were shot in the back of their legs while the third was unharmed.
Kelly was developed as the primary suspect and confessed to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office investigator.
12.5 Pounds Of Pot Found During Raid, Two Charged
September 15, 2012
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office seized 12.5 pounds of marijuana as they executed a search warrant Friday.
“Once all was said and done, 12.5 pounds of marijuana, crack and powder cocaine and prescription drugs were seized and taken off the streets of Escambia County,” said Matt Baxter, spokesman for the Sheriff’s Office, about the raid in the 7100 block of Glendora Street.
Stefan Casanova, 26, and Artic Pryor, 23, both of Pensacola, were arrested during the raid and are facing multiple drug related charges.
Sneads Pirates Take 19-14 Win From The Jay Royals
September 15, 2012
The Jay Royals lost to the Sneads Pirates in Jay Friday night, 19-14.
Sneads took the lead with two and quarter minutes to go in the first quarter. The Pirates held on to the their 7-0 advantage until the Royals tied it up 7-7 with three and half minutes in the half with a pass from QB Tate Upton to Ashton Dennington.
The Royals were pumped as the second half began, scoring on play number two of the third quarter with a 64-yarder from Upton to Hunter Dillawhaw, 14-7 Jay. Sneads quickly fought back but missed a kick for Jay to retain the lead 14-13.
Sneads sealed the win on a 75-yarder for a 19-14 win.
The Jay Royals will sit out next week with an open date before hitting the road to South Walton on September 28.
Pictured: The Jay Royals at home Friday night with a loss to Sneads. NorthEscambia.com photos by Michelle Gibbs, click to enlarge.
Escambia County’s Justin Gatlin, Team USA Honored At White House
September 15, 2012
Escambia County Olympian Justin Gatlin and the rest of Team USA were welcomed to the White House Friday to honor their participation and success in this year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games in London.
At an event on the South Lawn, Mrs. Obama told the athletes that she was impressed not only by the 200-plus medals they brought home, but also by their dedication and hard work leading up to the games.
“I want you to know how inspired we are by all of you — your passion, your dedication, your courage,” First Lady Michelle Obama said the during the event on the South Lawn.
President Barack Obama — who shared that he was able to catch some of the Olympic events thanks to mastering his DVR — told the athletes that they “could not have been better ambassadors and better representatives for the United States and what we stand for”.
During the 2012 Olympics Gatlin won the bronze in the men’s 100m dash and, along with his team, took the silver in the men’s 4×100 meter relay.
“I went out there to challenge a mountain,” Gatlin said after winning the bronze. “I went out there to challenge the odds.”
Pictured top: Escambia County Olympian Justin Gatlin (far left) and Team USA were welcome to the White House Friday. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Teen Struck, Killed By Vehicle
September 14, 2012
A teen was struck and killed by a vehicle Thursday night in Ensley.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 13-year old Jonathan Wright was running across the southbound lanes of Highway 29 at Barber Street at 10:30 p.m. when he was struck by a 2006 Dodge driven by 69-year old Frankie J. Brown of Pensacola. Wright was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital where he was pronounced deceased a short time later.
Brown and his passenger, 65-year old Shirley Brown of Pensacola, were not injured. Any charges are pending completion of a traffic homicide investigation.
Wright was a seventh grade student at Woodham Middle School.
No Tag Light Lands Two In Jail On Drug Charges
September 14, 2012
A non-working tag light landed two people in the Escambia County Jail on drug charges.
An Escambia County deputy stopped a Toyota at the intersection of Well Line Road and Coulter Road in Cantonment for the tag light. Deputies reported that the driver, 49-year old Kirby Brian Smith of Molino, had prescription medications containing oxycodone and hydrocodone in his front pants pocket.
The passenger, 31-year old Nicole Danielle Jones of Pensacola, had a pack of cigarettes containing half of an oxycodone in her possession, according to an arrest report. In her pink purse inside the vehicle, deputies reported finding marijuana and medications containing oxycodone and hydrocodone. Also in the purse, deputies said they found a black digital scale.
Jones said the half oxycodone pill belonged to her mother, and she was holding it so her mother would not over-medicate. She claimed the scales were used for her son’s boy scouts. She told deputies that none of the other pills or the marijuana belonged to her.
Smith told deputies that he had a prescription for the pills in his pocket, but he did not have the prescription with him.
Smith was charged with possession of a controlled substance without a prescription and given a warning for the defective tag light. Kirby was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $15,000 bond.
Jones was charged with marijuana possession, drug possession and possession of drug paraphernalia.She was released from jail on a $7,000 bond.
Stepfather Gets 15 Years For Abuse Of Disabled Daughter
September 14, 2012
An Escambia County man is headed to prison for making his mentally disabled daughter parade around a backyard with heavy chains holding a signboard that read “I am a liar and a theif” (sic) around her neck.
Rondal Floyd Hale, 60, was sentenced by Judge Michael Allen to 15 years state prison followed by 15 years probation upon his conviction of four counts of aggravated abuse of a disabled adult.
Law enforcement discovered on April 12, 2012, that the woman had been forced to wear the sign and repeatedly walk the perimeter of a backyard pool allegedly as punishment for “stealing” candy from the defendant’s collection of food he claimed was for the homeless.
The sign was made of two pieces of wet plywood, approximately 3-foot squared, being held around her neck with two heavy metal chains. Deputies asked the girl to kneel down and were able to remove the signs, which were estimated to weigh about 40 pounds. Due to the weight of the signs the chain had slightly embedded into the victim’s neck, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
The woman had also suffered a lacerated scalp which had been stitched closed with a common sewing needle and thread. Further investigation into the woman’s treatment revealed that during the previous 12 months, she had been forced to stay outside 24 hours a day for days on in and deprived of adequate shelter, food and medical attention, according to the State Attorney’s Office.
Co-defendant Clinton Michael Carr has pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated abuse of a disabled adult and battery. He is scheduled to be sentenced on October 5, 2012. Co-defendant Deeann Marie Hale, the victim’s adoptive mother, remains set for trial.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
DCF: Drug Testing Public Assistance Recipients Makes Sense
September 14, 2012
The head of the state welfare agency is asking a court to throw out a challenge to the state law requiring drug testing of public assistance recipients, which could allow the program to restart.
Children and Families Secretary David Wilkins has filed a motion in U.S. District Court in Orlando seeking a summary judgment in favor of the agency in a case over the legality of the drug testing program. The testing is on hold following a lower court judge’s decision last year in favor of the man challenging the law, Luis Lebron.
Lawmakers passed a measure requiring recipients of Temporary Assistance to Needy Families pass a drug test. Wilkins argues in the motion for summary judgment that the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program isn’t aimed at simply providing cash for participants, but at helping them find a job.
The program by statute is aimed at ending “the dependence of needy parents on government benefits by promoting job preparation, work and marriage,” Wilkins argues.Part of being ready for work would be being drug free, the agency argues.
“In short, TANF’s purpose is not merely to give money to those falling below a certain economic threshold—it is to ‘help move people from welfare to work,’” the motion says. “Any amount of drug use can interfere with obtaining and maintaining employment.”
By The News Service of Florida