Playoff Football Finals
November 17, 2012
Here are final football scores from around the North Escambia area Friday night:
FLORIDA
- Northview 57, Cottondale 6 [Read more, photos...]
- Freeport 26 Graceville 21
- Tallahassee Godby 28, West Florida 10
- Catholic 22, Jacksonville Trinity Christian 21
- Crawfordville Wakulla 42, Gulf Breeze 19
- Navarre 30, Pace 10
- Milton 38, Niceville 31 OT
ALABAMA
- Midfield 22, TR Miller 20
- Fayette 34, WS NEal 6
Escambia Man Gets Life In Prison As Habitual Offender
November 17, 2012
An Escambia County man was sentenced to life in prison as a habitual felony offender.
James Allen Black III, 30, was sentenced by Judge Gary Bergosh for robbery with a weapon. He has an extensive criminal history, including convictions for battery on a law enforcement officer, possession of a controlled substance and escape.
Prosecutors said on May 5, 2012, the victim was walking down Cervantes Street in front of the Travel Inn when Black approached him for a cigarette light. When the victim pulled out his lighter, the defendant put a gun to his temple and demanded his money.
Once the victim gave the defendant his money, the victim ran to a nearby convenience store where he saw a Pensacola Police officer. The victim was able to give the officer a detailed description of the defendant and the jacket that the he was wearing. Officers located Black outside the Travel Inn. When the officers approached Black, they saw a jacket that matched the description from the victim.
Black admitted that the jacket was his and when officers arrested him, they found a gun on his person.
Latest Jobs Numbers Show Fewer Unemployed Locally
November 17, 2012
The latest job numbers released Friday showed the unemployment rate dropping in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, and edging up in Escambia County, Alabama.
Escambia County’s unemployment rate dropped from 8.6 percent in September to 8.1 percent in October. There were 758 fewer people reported unemployed during the period, for a total Escambia County unemployment of 11,363 people. One year ago, unemployment in Escambia County was 9.8 percent.
Santa Rosa County unemployment dropped from 7.6 percent in September to 7.0 percent in October. Santa Rosa County had a total of 5,043 persons reported to be still unemployed. The year-ago unemployment rate in Santa Rosa County was 8.6 percent.
In Escambia County, Alabama, unemployment was up slightly from 9.5 percent in September to 9.6 in October. That represented 1,435 people unemployed in the county during the month. The year-ago rate was 9.7 percent.
The jobless numbers released by Florida and Alabama do not include persons that have given up on finding a job and are no longer reported as unemployed.
Florida’s jobless rate fell in October to 8.5 percent, its lowest level since December 2008. Florida still lags behind the nation but closed the gap a bit. The national rate stood last month at 7.9 percent. If discouraged workers and part time employees seeking full-time jobs are added, Florida’s unemployment rate for October was 16.4 percent down from 18.2 percent a year ago.
“We are creating an environment that fosters job creation, economic development and provides a skilled workforce,” Gov. Rick Scott said in a statement. “My number one goal is to create jobs for Florida families and get this state back to work. There is still more work that needs to be done, but I’m confident we’re on the right path.”
Alabama’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, at 8.1 percent in October, was down from September’s rate of 8.2 percent and was below the year-ago rate of 8.5 percent.
Nationally, the unemployment rate fell more, dropping 0.3 points in September to 7.8 percent. That’s 1.2 percentage points lower than September 2011.
Two Dead In Gulf Oil Rig Explosion
November 17, 2012
Coast Guard crews are searching for two missing crew members following a platform explosion about 20 miles southeast of Grand Isle, Louisiana, Friday morning.
Eleven crew members were airlifted from the Black Elk Energy-owned platform to various local hospitals. Nine more crew members were safely evacuated off the platform. The fire has been extinguished, and a sheen has been spotted in the area.
The Coast Guard is currently searching with response boats from Coast Guard Stations Grand Isle and Venice, the 87-foot Coast Guard Cutters Pelican and Razorbill, an HC-144 Ocean Sentry fixed-wing aircraft crew and an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Aviation Training Center in Mobile, and an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Air Station New Orleans.
The cause of the incident is under investigation.
The explosion came a day after BP reached agreement with U.S. prosecutors to plead guilty to criminal charges and pay a record $4.5 billion in penalties for the 2010 Deepwater Horizon accident.
Pictured top: An oil platform burns in the Gulf of Mexico Friday. Photo courtesy U.S. Coast Guard for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Appeal Dropped In Prison Health Privatization
November 17, 2012
A contractor has dropped an appeal against the Florida Department of Corrections in a bidding-related dispute that stemmed from the state’s plans to privatize prison health services.
Wexford Health Sources last week agreed to dismiss the case in the 1st District Court of Appeal and is negotiating a contract to provide health services at prisons in the southern part of the state. Another firm, Corizon Inc., was awarded a contract to provide the services in central and north Florida. Wexford had also sought the contract in those areas.
The prison health privatization issue has been highly controversial, with representatives of state workers leading a long-running legal fight against the idea. A Leon County circuit judge is expected Monday to hear arguments in a case spearheaded by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and the Florida Nurses Association.
By The News Service of Florida
Seniors Win: Northview Holds Manna Food Drive
November 17, 2012
Northview High School recently participated in the Escambia County School District’s Manna Food Drive.
A competition was held between the grade levels during the week leading up to the Chiefs versus West Florida High School Jaguars football game. Each grade level showed their support for Manna and the Chiefs football team by “Canning the Jags”.
The senior class won the competition by collecting the most cans and non-perishable food item for the drive.
Pictured above: The senior class at Northview High School collected the most items for a Manna Food Drive during a week-long competition. Pictured below: Some of the food collected for Manna. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Saturday: Art On The Farm, Gift And Craft Fairs
November 16, 2012
Three Saturday events will offer local residents a chance to get an early jump on Christmas shopping with unique items.
Art at the Farm
The annual Art at the Farm will be held Saturday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. at 8600 Rease Seales Road in Walnut Hill. Ceramics, pottery, water colors, acrylics, wood cuts, jewelry, glass blower, pony rides, live music and more. Kid friendly event. For more info or directions, visit www.artatthefarm.blogspot.com
Holiday Craft Fair
Saint Monica’s Episcopal Church will host an indoor Holiday Craft Fair on Saturday from 8 a.m. until noon with local farmers and crafters offering unique and original gift ideas at 699 South Highway 95A in Cantonment. Available items will include goat milk bath and body products, olive wood prayer crosses from Bethlehem, homemade jams and jellies, sun catchers, pop-top bracelets, handmade hair bows, fresh baked goods and much more. A second Holiday Craft Fair will be held on Saturday, December 1.
Holiday Gift and Craft Show
The 3rd Annual Holiday Gift and Craft Show at Plainview Baptist Church, 1101 West Nile Mile Road, will held Saturday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Items include jewelry, candy apples, home decor, scarves, purses, homemade jelly, cosmetics, chocolates, soap, lamps, paintings, candles and much more.
Man Charged With Shooting Into Stepchildren’s Bedroom
November 16, 2012
An Ensley man was arrested early Friday morning for firing a shot into a bedroom occupied by his two teenage stepchildren.
The incident happened about 3:30 a.m. in the 1400 block of Channing Place. Deputies said 35-year old Alfred L. Patterson got into an argument with his wife. His stepchildren, ages 18 and 19, went to check on their mother. After Patterson threatened the teens, they locked themselves in a bedroom.
When Patterson could not get into the bedroom, he fired a single shot into the room, deputies said. The two victims then fled the room through a window and contacted law enforcement. No one was hit by the shot, and there were no injuries reported. Deputies recovered the firearm at the scene.
Patterson was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, using a firearm under the influence of alcohol and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail without bond.
Molino Pharmacy ‘Underwear’ Armed Robber Gets 25 Years In Prison
November 16, 2012
A Molino man that robbed a local pharmacy in 2010 while wearing underwear on his head is headed to prison.
Joseph Daniel Flowers, now 58, was sentenced Thursday by Judge Gary Bergosh to a mandatory minimum 25 years in state prison. Flowers was convicted in October 2012 by an Escambia County Jury of robbery with a firearm, three counts of trafficking in illegal drugs, and three counts of possession of controlled substances for the September 20, 2010, holdup of Scott’s Pharmacy on Highway 29.
Flowers robbed the pharmacy at gunpoint while wearing a blue bathrobe, slippers, yellow kitchen gloves and boxer shorts on his head.
During the course of the robbery, Flowers took more than 80 prescription bottles containing thousands of dollars worth of narcotics. After he exited the pharmacy, he ran behind the building where he was picked up by co-defendant Krystal Lynn Collin.
Witnesses inside the store were able to identify Flowers based on the fact that he was a frequent customer of the pharmacy.
Collins, the getaway car driver in the robbery, was previously found guilty in July 2011 of armed robbery with a firearm and a half dozen felony drug charges. She was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
Pictured top: Joseph Daniel Flowers is detained by an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office shortly after the robbery of Scott’s Pharmacy in Molino. Pictured below: Scott’s Pharmacy in Molino was robbed September 20, 2010. NorthEscambia.com exclusive file photos, click to enlarge.
Kevin White Offers Simple Goodbye At Commission Meeting
November 16, 2012
Outgoing District 5 Commissioner Kevin White offered a simple goodbye when prompted Thursday during an Escambia County Commission meeting.
White said:
“I’ve enjoyed serving; I’m glad I had the privilege to serve and thank the citizens for allowing me to…It’s like buying a boat….as happy as you are the day you get it, you are just as happy the day you get rid of it. And this is the same way.”