Driver Charged With DUI After Pedestrian Hit By Vehicle On Hwy 95A
July 26, 2012
A Cantonment woman was charged with driving under the influence by the Florida Highway Patrol after she allegedly hit a pedestrian Wednesday night in Cantonment.
The accident happened about 10:30 p.m. on Highway 95A just north of Highway 29, near the Gee Willies convenience store.
Melissa D. Kettering, age 38 of Crowndale Road, apparently struck the pedestrian with the driver’s side of her Mercury car, knocking a rear view mirror off the car. The pedestrian was transported by ambulance to a Pensacola area hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The name of the pedestrian has not yet been released.
The Cantonment and Molino stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the crash.
Pictured above and below: The driver of this Mercury struck a pedestrian on Highway 95A in Cantonment Wednesday night. Pictured inset: The driver was given a series of field sobriety tests. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Sheriff’s Race: Both Morgan And Powell’s Campaign Finance Reports Headed To Grand Jury
July 26, 2012
ARCHIVED STORY — July 26, 2012
Campaign finance reports from both Republican candidates for Escambia County Sheriff will be presented to an Escambia County grand jury on Monday.
The State Attorney’s Office announced Monday that the grand jury would review John Powell’s campaign finance reports after claims were made by incumbent David Morgan. And on Wednesday, the State Attorney’s Office said the grand jury would also review Morgan’s campaign finance reports.
Citing the secrecy of grand juries in Florida, Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille said his office could not say why Morgan’s campaign finance report would be presented.
Due to a letter from Morgan to State Attorney Bill Eddins, the nature of the allegations against Powell became public.
In that letter, Morgan asserts that about 30 cash contributions made to Powell’s campaign that were in excess of the legal $50 per person cash limit.
Powell said Monday afternoon that he has cooperated fully with the State Attorney’s Office investigation and that any mistakes were just that — honest mistakes that were being corrected with any cash contributions in excess of the $50 rule being refunded to contributors.
If the grand jury were to find any wrongdoing on the part of either candidate, a resolution in the case is not likely before the August 14 primary.
$750K In Grants Rehabilitate About A Dozen Century Homes
July 26, 2012
The Town of Century is wrapping up two grants totaling three-quarters of a million dollars that was used to rehabilitate about a dozen homes in the town.
The town was awarded a $650,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to rehabilitate or replace homes that are currently occupied by persons of low or moderate income. The town also received $100,000 in Residential Construction Mitigation Program Funds for hurricane retrofits.
Homes rehabilitated under the program were:
- 210 East Street, Myrtice Lowe, — Bill Walter Construction, $42,786
- 221 East Street, Frankie Lowe et al, — Bill Walter Construction, $36,592
- 7640 Mayo Street, Hattie Odom — Thompson Contractor Resources, $57,915
- 540 East Pond Street, Roy and Rosie Pearl Hale, Motes Construction, $86,465
- 6 Howard Street, Cullie Mae Carter — Motes Construction, Inc., $64,817
- 521 East Hecker Road, Ollie Kelly — Thompson Contractor Resources, $68,102
- 411 Cedar Street, Dorothy Newton — John Claude, General Contractor, $38,215
- 7820 Jefferson Avenue, Elsie Reaves — Parker Custom Homes, $79,120
- 300 Front Street, Charles H. and Wanda Therrell — Mike Motes Builders, $59,000
- 571 Church Street, Maryland P. Bridges – Bill Walther Construction, $47,875
- 301 East Hecker, Richard and Eva Carter — Mike Motes Builders, $32,000
Additional funds from the grants were using for relocation costs, inspections, environmental reviews, lead testing, surveys and other associated expenses.
Pictured above and below: Before and after pictures of a house at 540 East Pont Street in Century that was rehabilitated using grant money. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
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Man That Ran From Wreck Arrested
July 26, 2012
An Atmore man has been arrested in connection with a wreck that led to manhunt last week near Flomaton.
Steven Michael Campbell, Jr. of Canoe Road, was charged with leaving the scene of an accident.
A manhunt followed a July 16 wreck in the 3600 block of Old Atmore Road near Fowler lane, about two-tenths of mile north of the Alabama/Florida line. An manhunt followed because the driver, later identified as Campbell, reportedly suffered a severe head laceration.
Officials said Campbell lost control of of a Jeep Grand Cherokee and overturned several times before he jumped out and ran.
The Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Office, Flomaton Police Department, tracking dogs from Fountain Prison near Atmore, LifeFlight and the Flomaton Fire Department looked for the Campbell unsuccessfully for about an hour.
A witness that told police he saw a man run from the overturned jeep identified Campbell from a photo lineup.
Campbell was arrested by the Atmore Police Department. He was also wanted on three outstanding failure to appear warrants from Escambia County, Ala.
Pictured: The driver of this Jeep Cherokee fled on foot after a wreck July 16 on Old Atmore Road. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Huntsville Homers Past The Pensacola Blue Wahoos 6-2
July 26, 2012
The Stars slammed four home runs, including two from first baseman Hunter Morris and one each from left fielder Khris Davis and right fielder Kentrail Davis, as Huntsville powered past the Pensacola Blue Wahoos 6-2 on Wednesday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
The victory was the fourth in a row for the Stars, who improve their record in the second half to 15-17. The defeated dropped the Fish to a 18-14 mark since the league’s All-Star Break. The team wore Reds jerseys for the contest in honor of the club’s affiliation with the Cincinnati Reds, while fans in attendance also wore red.
Pensacola got the scoring started in the opening frame to take the early 1-0 lead. SS Billy Hamilton drew a free pass and subsequently swiping second for his 113th steal of the year before moving to third on an error and home on an RBI single by RF Bryson Smith. The theft means the speedster is now 32 steals away from Vince Coleman’s all-time mark of 145, which he set in 1983 with Single-A Macon.
Huntsville would then launch their first homer of the contest in the next inning, when Morris led off the second with a solo shot to right. The left-handed slugger then mashed his second longball of the evening in his next at bat in the fourth to up his season total to 18. Kentrail Davis followed Morris with a solo blast of his own to combine for back-to-back jacks. A third Stars tally would come across in the fourth thanks to a Blue Wahoos error to make it 4-1.
The fourth and final Stars shot would come in the fifth, when Khris Davis deposited the first pitch of the at bat to left for his sixth roundtripper of the year, extending the advantage to five. Pensacola pinch hitter Josh Fellhauer cut the deficit to three in the fifth, scoring 3B David Vidal from third, but Huntsville answered right back in the sixth with a run-scoring single by SS Tommy Manzella to complete the scoring.
Morris (2-3, 2 R, 2 HR, 2 RBI, 1 BB) was the lone Huntsville hitter to collect two or more hits in the contest, while Smith (2-4, 1 RBI) also recorded a multi-hit effort for the Blue Wahoos. 1B Beau Mills drew a free pass in the sixth to extend his team-record on-base streak to 28, accounting for every game he has played for Pensacola this year.
Stars starter Johnnie Lowe (5.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO) earned the win after yielding just two earned runs on four hits in his five innings of work, while the relief trio of Dan Meadows (2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 SO), Darren Byrd (1.0 IP, 1 SO) and Brandon Kintzler (1.0 IP, 1 H) combined for the final four shutout frames. Pensacola RHP Kyle Lotzkar (4.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 5 SO) suffered the loss to fall to 4-5, as Josh Ravin (1.0 IP, 1 BB, 3 SO), Justin Freeman (1.0 IP, 2 SO) and Chris Manno (1.0 IP, 2 SO) totaled seven strikeouts in the last three innings.
The two teams are scheduled to meet again on Thursday evening, with first pitch set for 7:05 p.m. at the bayfront stadium. RHP Daniel Corcino is slated to toe the rubber for the Blue Wahoos, while Huntsville is expected to counter with RHP Josh Stinson.
By Andrew Green
Pictured: Pensacola’s Billy Hamilton stole his 113th base of the season in Wednesday’s 6-2 loss to Huntsville. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escaped Prison Inmates Recaptured
July 26, 2012
Authorities have recaptured two two prison inmates that escaped in Mobile County Wednesday night.
James Ledford and Dallas Morgan were discovered missing at 5:30 p.m. during a bed check at the Mobile Community Facility. They were taken into custody by the Mobile Police Department Thursday morning in west Mobile.
Ledford is a three time offender sentenced to life out of Mobile County for theft.
Morgan was sentenced in March 2012 out of Pike County for manufacturing narcotics. He was last seen wearing shorts and a white shirt.
Molino Man Sentenced On Multiple Drug Charges
July 25, 2012
A Molino man has been sentenced to the county jail on multiple drug charges related to the discovery of a methamphetamine lab.
Joseph Daniel Flowers previous pleaded no contest to charges of possession of methamphetamines with intent to sell, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of listed chemicals with intent to manufacture a controlled substance.
He was sentenced by Judge Michael Allen to 11 months and 30 days in jail with credit for 210 days served to be followed by 18 months community control and 42 months probation.
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies located an active methamphetamine lab inside a residence at 1115 Muscogee Road during the early morning hours of February 7, 2011. They reported finding Flowers inside the residence with the meth lab. He was transported to a Pensacola hospital for an untreated burn on his hand and warrants were issued for his arrest. He was taken into custody on February 23, 2011.
Wife Waking Husband Leads To Pillow Fight, Felony Arrest
July 25, 2012
A Cantonment man allegedly became upset that his wife disturbed his sleep, leading to pillow fight and his arrest on a felony charge.
The victim told Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies that Dwayne Lanier Johnson, 50, became upset when she disturbed his sleep while getting ready for bed. She said Johnson began to hit her with a pillow and then grabbed her around the neck and choked her, and then threw her to the floor and choked her again.
Johnson told deputies that he did become upset when his wife disturbed his sleep. According to an arrest report, he admitted to throwing a pillow at her and then grabbing her in a bear hug and walking her toward the door.
Johnson was charged with felony domestic battery by strangulation. He was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $500 bond.
Local Twirler Places Second In National Baton Competition
July 25, 2012
Colbi Kendall of Flomaton recently took part in the National Baton Twirling Competition on the campus of Notre Dame University in South Bend, Indiana.
She placed second in the 2-baton 12-year old division, missing the title by one-tenth of a point. She competed against 33 girls from across the U.S. and Canada.
“Twirling is my life, I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t twirl,” Kendall said.
Kendall is the daughter of Keith and Alissa Lodge. She twirls with the Santa Rosa and Escambia Twirlers under the instruction of Melissa Majors.
Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Huntsville Downs Wahoos 6-1
July 25, 2012
Huntsville starting pitcher Hiram Burgos tossed a nine-inning complete game, while left fielder Khris Davis and and first baseman Hunter Morris each blasted two-run homers, as the Stars defeated the Pensacola Blue Wahoos 6-1 in front of a sellout crowd of 5,038 on Tuesday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
The victory improved the Stars’ record in the second half to 14-17, while the loss dropped the Fish to an 18-13 mark since the league’s All-Star Break. The capacity crowd was the 32nd of the year for the Blue Wahoos in their 50th home opening of the season. Before the game, the Blue Wahoos and Cincinnati Reds announced a four-year extension to their Player Development Contract, meaning Pensacola will be affiliated with the Reds through the 2016 season.
The lone hiccup for Burgos (9.0 IP, 8 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 SO) came in the opening frame, when he gave up a solo home run to left off the bat of CF Ryan LaMarre, the outfielder’s second roundtripper in a three game span. It was also the fifth longball of the season for LaMarre.
From that point on, the Stars’ hurler did not allow a runner past second, giving up the lone earned run on eight hits while fanning one in his nine frames. It was also the first complete game in Burgos’ professional career, who improved to 6-1 on the year.
Pensacola starting pitcher Tony Cingrani (5.1 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 7 SO) suffered the loss, snapping his four-game winning streak that dated back to June 27. Relievers Brian Pearl (1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 SO), Mark Serrano (1.0 IP) and Chris Manno (1.0 IP, 1 BB, 1 SO) all combined to give up just one hit in the final 3.2 scoreless frames.
Huntsville took the lead they would not give back in the fourth, with the first of their two big flies. With two outs, 2B Scooter Gennett doubled to right, before Davis deposited the first pitch he saw over the right field line to move the Stars ahead 2-1.
They would then plate two tallies in the next two innings to extend the margin to five. RF Kentrail Davis doubled and C Anderson De La Rosa walked in the fifth, before CF Josh Prince sent both home with a triple to right center. Morris in the following frame then mashed his 16thh homer of the year to right to end the scoring for Huntsville.
Kentrail Davis (2-4, 1 R, 1 2B) and Khris Davis (2-4, 2 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI) each recorded multi-hit efforts in the victory for the Stars, while LaMarre (2-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI) and LF Donald Lutz (2-4) both accumulated two hits. 1B Beau Mills reached base with a single to extend his on-base streak to 27, as well as his hit streak to seven.
With Huntsville leading the series 1-0, the two clubs will meet Wednesday night for the second game of the five-game set, with first pitch set for 7:00 p.m. at the bayfront stadium. RHP Kyle Lotzkar is expected to get the nod for the Blue Wahoos, while the Stars are scheduled to counter with RHP Josh Stinson.
By Andrew Green
Photo by Andrew Green for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.