Police Release More Details About Body Parts Found In Storage Unit
August 30, 2012
A multi-agency investigation continues into the discovery of human body parts found inside a Pensacola storage unit on August 24 in an effort to determine what, if any, laws may have been broken.
The remains were stored in plastic containers, specimen cups and trash bags inside Unit B12 at Uncle Bob’s Storage at 195 East Fairfield Drive. The unit was rented by Dr. Michael Berkland, a former associate medical examiner who is no longer licensed in Florida, according to the Pensacola Police Department.
Lungs, hearts, tissue samples, and 10 brains were among the body parts from more than 100 people found in the air conditioned unit. The body parts were stored in formaldehyde in plastic containers, plastic bags, and even a 32-ounce Styrofoam cup from a convenience store.
Some of the containers had cracked and leaked, police said.
The discovery was reported to police on Friday. Storage shed Manager George Klages told police contents of the unit had been sold for $900 during an auction on August 22. As the purchaser began cleaning out the unit, cardboard boxes of plastic containers holding the remains were found.
Klages told police Berkland rented the unit from April 8, 2009, until it was auctioned August 22. He said Berkland was late on rental payments several times during the lease, but usually paid right before the unit contents were to be auctioned. The storage unit also contained office furniture and other property.
It is believed the remains are from autopsies Berkland did between 1997 and 2007 at funeral homes in Pensacola, Tallahassee, Fort Walton Beach, and Panama City.
There were labels on some of the containers of a person’s name and autopsy date but other containers did not have identification indicators.
The remains have been given to the Medical Examiner’s Office. The Pensacola Police Department is not releasing the inventory because some of the decedent families may not be aware of the investigation.
Berkland worked for the Medical Examiner’s Office between 1997 and May 2003 when he was fired for failing to complete autopsy reports in a timely manner.
The discovery is being investigated by the State Attorney’s Office, the Medical Examiner’s Office and the Pensacola Police Department.
NHS Volleyball In Action Today
August 30, 2012
The Northview Lady Chiefs will play their first home volleyball games of the regular season today as scheduled.
The Lady Chiefs will host Catholic High School at 4:30 for the junior varsity and 6:00 for the varsity.
Next week, Northview will be on the road at Laurel Hill on Tuesday, September 4 and will host Central on Thursday, September 6 at 4:30/5:30.
Pictured top: The Northview Lady Chiefs in action against the Escambia Lady Gators last week during a preseason game. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Flomaton Lions Present $2,500 To School System To Help Needy Students
August 30, 2012
The newly re-formed Flomaton Lions Club recently made a $2,500 donation to Flomaton schools to provide financial assistance to eligible students. The money included $1,500 earned at a pancake supper plus a$1,000 donation that will be used to assist needy students with required school uniform purchases.
Flomaton High School has formed a Flomaton Lions sponsored LEO Club, sponsored by JJ Hagen to help students develop leadership skills and become conscious of helping others. The Flomaton Lions also presented $150 to the LEO Club.
The Flomaton Lions Club meetings on the first and third Tuesday night of each month at 6:00 at the Flomaton Community Center. New members are welcome.
Pictured above: Ruth Harrell of the Flomaton Lions Club presents a $2,500 donation to Flomaton High School Principal Scott Hammond to provide financial assistance to eligible students. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Isaac Pounds Gulf Coast, Tests New Orleans Seven Years After Katrina
August 30, 2012
[New Orleans] – Isaac was downgraded from a hurricane to a tropical storm on Wednesday. But the slow-moving storm is hovering over New Orleans generating tremendous rain and high winds. Isaac is testing the city’s improved levees that were breached exactly seven years ago by Hurricane Katrina.
Tropical Storm Isaac is a much weaker weather event than Hurricane Katrina, which left 1,800 people dead in Louisiana and Mississippi in 2005. Still the threat of dangerous storm surges and flooding is increasing as Isaac slowly moves across Louisiana.
Storm surges are testing the New Orleans levee system that failed during Katrina and has since been bolstered by $14 billion in federal repairs and improvements. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says that so far the stronger levees are withstanding the assault.
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal says officials might need to cut a hole in a levee in a flooded area to relieve pressure on the structure and prevent a major breach. He says that as many as 40 people in the area need to be rescued.
“Bottom line – this storm is a very slow moving storm. It will be moving through our state. We’ll be dealing with this storm through early Friday morning. So this is a storm that we will be dealing with not only today and tomorrow, but we’re going to continue to see the weather effects especially as it moves to the northern part of our state,” Jindal said.
Earlier on Wednesday, Isaac packed 80 mph winds, driving a wall of water nearly 11 feet high inland and soaking a stretch of land that extends into the Gulf of Mexico. The storm stalled for several hours before resuming its slow trek inland. Isaac’s slow movement over land means it could dump up to 20 inches of rain in some areas. In New Orleans, one district on the west bank of the Mississippi River has ordered a mandatory evacuation because of concerns of a sustained storm surge. New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu has issued a curfew for the city.
Some residents who evacuated, like Gaynell James, say damage from Isaac has been minimal and that they already are thinking of returning home.
“Well they say some areas are a little flooded. But where I live at, they say no water. I talked to, with my neighbor and she says the water is like to the, right to the gutter, [but] not, it hasn’t come up yet. And so the reason we left now [is that] we don’t have any lights now,” James said.
In areas of southeastern Louisiana, people in boats and trucks have rescued residents stranded by floodwaters. Authorities fear that many others could need help following fierce winds and rain that knocked out power to more than 600,000 households and businesses on Tuesday night.
Pictured top: A satellite image of Hurricane Isaac. Pictured inset: Damage from Hurricane Katrina seven years ago in New Orleans. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Pensacola Police Officer Arrested For Insurance Fraud
August 30, 2012
A Pensacola Police officer was arrested early Wednesday morning and charged with insurance fraud.
Officer Jamon Johnson, 35, was arrested by the Florida Department of Financial Services, Division of Insurance Fraud.
Johnson presently is on a 5-day suspension stemming from a previous disciplinary action.
After the conclusion of the suspension, he will be on administrative leave pending a pre-termination hearing scheduled for September 5, said Chief Chip W. Simmons.
Johnson has been employed by the department since March 13, 2000. He presently is assigned to the Uniform Patrol Division.
Ryan Calls For ‘Turnaround’ In America With Romney In Charge
August 30, 2012
Paul Ryan of Wisconsin officially accepted the Republican vice presidential nomination during the party’s convention Thursday night in Tampa.
“I accept the duty to help lead our nation out of a jobs crisis and back to prosperity – and I know we can do this. I accept the calling of my generation to give our children the America that was given to us, with opportunity for the young and security for the old – and I know that we are ready,” Ryan said at the Republican National Convention.
“Our nominee is sure ready. His whole life has prepared him for this moment – to meet serious challenges in a serious way, without excuses and idle words. After four years of getting the run-around, America needs a turnaround, and the man for the job is Governor Mitt Romney,” Ryan said.
Ryan called for a “turnaround” in the country, accusing the Democrats of creating a division in the country.
“They’ve run out of ideas. Their moment came and went. Fear and division are all they’ve got left,” he said.
For the full text of Ryan’s speech, click here.
Mitt Romney will give his nomination acceptance speech Thursday night, following an introduction by Senator Marco Rubio of Florida. Rubio was tight-lipped Wednesday about the speech, saying that he planned to outline the differences between Romney and Democratic incumbent President Barack Obama. But Rubio did say he wanted the moment to mean something to his parents, including his late father.
“I hope on a personal level, for my mom, watching from home, and my dad, wherever he’s watching from, it will be affirmation that their lives mattered, that all the sacrifices and hard work they went through was worth something,” Rubio told reporters.
For the full text of Ryan’s speech Wednesday night to the Republican National Convention, click here.
Northview’s Neiko Robinson Suspended For Six Games
August 29, 2012
Northview High School Chiefs senior Neiko Robinson has been suspended for six games by the Florida High School Athletic Association after being ejected from a kickoff classic game last Friday night.
Robinson, a transfer from the Flomaton Hurricanes and a verbal commitment to Penn State, was ejected in the fourth quarter after Neino Robinson, Neiko’s younger brother, was flagged for pass interference on a play. A brief scuffle followed, and Neiko Robinson allegedly threw a punch.
A new FHSAA sportsmanship policy went into effect a year ago calling for an automatic six-game suspension for a player ejected for being involved in a fight. Northview will be eligible to appeal the FHSAA decision.
The Chief will open their regular season at home Friday night against John Paul Catholic at 7 p.m.
Pictured top: Senior Neiko Robinson picks up yardage for the Northview Chiefs last Friday night against Panama City Bay. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Back To School On Thursday; Some Changes At Northview, Tate, Ernest Ward
August 29, 2012
Escambia County (Fla.), Escambia County (Ala.) and Santa Rosa County schools will be open on Thursday. All students and staff are to report as normal.
Outdoor school activities can resume as early as this afternoon at school principal’s discretion, in Escambia, Fla.
At Northview High, pictures and senior portrait makeups on Thursday have been rescheduled for next Tuesday.
The Northview High JV football game scheduled for Thursday has been canceled. It will be rescheduled to a later date.
The Tate High School Aggies regular season opener at Louisiana’s St. Charles High School scheduled for Friday night has been canceled due to Isaac.
At Ernest Ward Middle School, the football jamboree scheduled for Thursday night at Summerdale has been canceled. The first EWMS football game will be next Thursday, September 6 at home versus Perdido at 6 p.m.
Record Setting Winning Fantasy 5 Ticket Sold In North Escambia
August 29, 2012
A winning, record setting Florida Lottery Fantasy 5 ticket in Tuesday night’s drawing was sold in Davisville.
The winning ticket, with numbers 01-03-05-07-09, was sold at the State Line O’Yes Lotto, 11331 Highway 97, at the Alabama state line. The ticket was one of 98 winning tickets in the drawing — new record for the for the most winners in a single drawing since the game change to 5 of 36 eleven years ago. Of the winners, 97 picked their own numbers; only one was a machine-generated Quick Pick ticket.
When prize jackpot of $195,541 was split 98 ways, the of the winning tickets is worth $1,995.32 There were also 1,037 tickets with four correct numbers worth $30 each, and 15,276 with three of five numbers worth $5.50 each.
Isaac Weakens To A Tropical Storm (With Local Photo Gallery)
August 29, 2012
Hurricane Isaac official made landfall at 6:45 Tuesday night along the southeast Louisiana coast. Once inland, the storm moved slowly along the coast, remaining a hurricane into Wednesday morning.
By 2 p.m. Wednesday, Isaac had weakened to tropical storm status.
In the North Escambia area, very few problems were reported. There were a few scattered power outages and a few downed trees. In the southern half of the county, tens of thousands of people lost power Tuesday, and there were more reports of downed trees. Isaac’s big punch to Escambia County came in the form of storm surge, flooding many coastal areas.
For the very latest information on Isaac, click the graphic below to enlarge.
For other Isaac updates such as closures, check the front page of NorthEscambia.com.
For a reader submitted photo gallery, click here.
Pictured top: Pictured top: Heavy surf caused by Hurricane Isaac at Pensacola Beach Tuesday afternoon. Pictured inset: Heavy waves pound Bayfront Park at the foot of the Pensacola Bay Bridge Tuesday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
