Escambia Man Sentenced As Sexual Predator
March 15, 2012
An Escambia County man has been sentenced as a sexual predator.
Clifford Wiggins was sentenced to a minimum mandatory of 25 years state prison plus 21 years state prison to run concurrently, all followed by a life term of probation with an electronic monitor.
Wiggins was also designated a sexual predator.
On March 13, 2012, Wiggins entered his plea before Judge Jan Shackelford to four counts of sexually related offenses. Between April 2008 and April 2009, on one or more occasions, Wiggins committed sexual battery upon a 15-year female family member, according to State Attorney Bill Eddins.
Northview Beats Baker
March 15, 2012
The Northview Chiefs took two from the Baker Gators on Wednesday.
Northview 5 — Baker 3 (JV)
The Northview junior varsity baseball team defeated the Baker Gators 5-3 Wednesday afternoon. The win improves the JV to 4-2-1 on the season. They will play next against Freeport on Tuesday, March 20, beginning at 4:00 in Bratt.
Northview 4 — Baker 2
The varsity team picked up a big district win against Baker Wednesday at Northview. They defeated the Gators 4-2. Baker scored one in the fourth and one in the 7th. The Chiefs scored all four runs in the 5th inning.
Leading hitters for Northview were: Tanner Brooks, 1 for 3, with 2 RBI. Hunter Rigby 1 for 3, with a run scored. Kevin Vaughan was 1 for 3, with an RBI. David Burkett was 1 for 3. Winston Riley, Brannon Freeman, and Destin Pizzolato all went 1 for 3, with each having a run scored.
Kevin Vaughan pitched 6 ⅓ strong innings for Northview to pick up the win. Hunter Rigby finished the win off, pitching the final ⅓ of an inning.
Northview will be back in action Thursday against Bonifay. The game is at Northview beginning at 6:00.
Unemployment Rate Drops, So Did The Number Of Jobs
March 14, 2012
Unemployment dropped or held steady across the area from December to January, according to numbers released Tuesday, but number of employed people actually went down nearly 4,000 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
That’s the result of a smaller labor force, due to people no longer looking, or possibly because they’ve moved elsewhere.
Escambia County’s unemployment rate was down slightly from 9.7 percent in December to 9.4 percent in January. There were 561 fewer unemployed during the period, but the workforce decreased by about 2,700 jobs. One year ago, the unemployment rate in Escambia County was 10.9 percent.
Santa Rosa County’s unemployment rate held steady at 8.9 percent from December to January. There were 105 fewer unemployed during the period, but the workforce decreased by about 1,200 jobs. One year ago, the unemployment rate in Santa Rosa County was 9.4 percent.
Unemployment in Florida dropped to 9.6 percent in January, down from 9.9 percent in December and more than a full percentage point lower than it was a year ago, the Department of Economic Opportunity announced Tuesday. That rate is the lowest since March 2009, DEO said.
While the drop marks a noted improvement in Florida, the state’s unemployment rate remains among the highest, and is still more than a full percentage point above the national unemployment rate of 8.3 percent.
And on another down note, while the jobless rate dropped from December to January, the number of employed people in the state actually went down by more than 38,000, from 7.33 million to 7.29 million, a 0.5 percent drop, after a year of mostly seeing job growth. Like the local area, the drop in employed persons is due to the fact that people are no longer looking for work or have moved.
Nokomis Man Pleads Guilty To 2001 Murder
March 14, 2012
A Nokomis, Ala., man has plead guilty to the 2001 murder of 25-year old Woodrow “Token” Allen.
Bruce Edward Day was sentenced this week to a 20 year split sentence. He will serve three years in state prison to be followed by seven years on probation.
In October 2009, Escambia County, Ala., authorities obtained a murder warrant for Day in connection with the death of Allen.
Day was reportedly working for a contractor at the Gulf Power Crist Plant in Pensacola. Day was summoned to an office at the plant where U.S. Marshals were waiting to serve the warrant, but Day fled somewhere on the complex that includes 40 buildings on 750 acres.
The University of West Florida campus was later locked down after a man that fit Day’s description was spotted. Authorities also located a pickup truck at UWF that was believed to belong to Day.
A massive manhunt followed, involving U.S. Marshals, Escambia County deputies, helicopters from Escambia and Walton counties, several tracking dog units including one from Century Correctional Institution, and other law enforcement agencies. Authorities from Escambia County, Ala. were also on the scene.
The followed day, Day’s father called Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff Grover Smith and told the sheriff that he wanted to talk to him “now” at his Atmore residence. When the sheriff arrived, Day surrendered without incident.
Day, now 44, was arrested previously on attempted murder charged in January 2002 for shooting three times into a vehicle on James Road in Nokomis on October 28, 2001. The vehicle was occupied at the time by Allen, 25, and his juvenile niece.
Allen’s mother reported him missing on December 17, 2001, claiming that she has last seen her son on December 13, 2001.
Allen was last seen walking away from the residence of his friend, Donald David Clemmons on Nathan Road in Nokomis. When Day was arrested by Escambia County (Ala.) deputies in January 2002, he was in a vehicle on Highway 31 in Nokomis with Clemmons, according to reports. Methamphetamines and drug paraphernalia were found in the vehicle with the two men, deputies said.
Day was charged with shooting into an occupied vehicle, two counts of attempted murder, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Authorities said Allen was scheduled to testify against Day over the shooting. Day was found not guilty on the attempted murder charges, and he was sentenced to a year in jail for reckless endangerment.
Repeat Robber Gets Life For Tom Thumb Holdup
March 14, 2012
An Escambia County man was sentenced to life in prison Tuesday for the armed robbery of a Tom Thumb.
Andrew Fountain III was sentenced to life in prison today by Circuit Court Judge Rasmussen. Fountain was convicted last month by an Escambia County Jury of two counts of robbery with a deadly weapon.
The robbery that Fountain was sentenced for today occurred just four months after Fountain’s last release from prison for another robbery charge.
On September 11, 2010, Fountain entered the Tom Thumb gas station at the intersection of Blue Angel Parkway and Mobile Highway, produced a butcher knife, and demanded
money. After taking money from two clerks working at the gas station, Fountain ran out of the store and fled in silver car.
A passerby saw the commotion and followed Fountain down Blue Angel Parkway. Fountain then stopped in the Springfield Meadows subdivision and exited the car to remove the clothing he wore to commit the robbery. At that time he was seen and identified by the citizen who had followed him. Fountain was also identified by one of the clerks who was robbed.
Century’s Mayor ‘Rethinking Rural’ This Week
March 14, 2012
Century Mayor Freddie McCall is scheduled to attend the “Rethinking Rural” Rural Economic Development and Tourism Summit the next three days near Tallahassee.
The summit will focus on several issues facing rural areas, including changes in the way the state of Florida is focusing on these issues and partnerships with such entities as education and the military, according to organizers. Agenda items will include a legislative update, self-sustainability by economic development organizations, tourism and funding sources.
The cost for the mayor to attend the summit will be $95 plus two nights in a hotel.
Pictured: Century Mayor Freddie McCall at a recent Century Town Council meeting. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Flomaton, Century Making Plans For 4th Of July Fireworks
March 14, 2012
Fourth of July fireworks could light up the summer sky again this year in a joint Flomaton-Century show.
Last year, the Town of Flomaton, the Town of Century, the Flomaton Chamber of Commerce and the Century Chamber of Commerce contributed $625 each for a fireworks show that was held at Hurricane Park in Flomaton.
The town of Century helped fund the show last year with the stipulation that the 2012 show be held in Century. This year’s fireworks show will cost $5,000, according to Flomaton Mayor Dewey Bondurant.
The Flomaton Town Council has already voted to contribute $1,500 to the show at Century’s Showalter Park, while the Town of Century will consider a $1,500 contribution at a future council meeting. The remaining $2,000 will come from chambers of commerce and other sponsors.
“It will be a good show,” Bondurant said.
Pictured: The 2011 Fourth of July Fireworks Show at Hurricane Park in Flomaton. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Deputies Seek Clues In Death Probe
March 14, 2012
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is looking for leads in a death investigation.
On Saturday, the body of Everett James Bass IV was found near Airport Boulevard and Memory Lane. Investigators said Tuesday afternoon that they don’t know what killed Bass, and they are awaiting the results of preliminary autopsy results from the Medical Examiner’s Office.
Investigators would like to speak to anyone who may have known Bass or have any information about him or his death. Anyone with information should call Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 433- STOP (7867) or the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
Baseball Roundup: Tate, Flomaton, ECHS, Atmore Christian, Jay, Escambia Academy
March 14, 2012
Here’s a look at high school baseball action from across the area Tuesday:
Tate 11 – Ackerman (MS) 1
Tate 6 — Ackerman 1 (JV)
The Tate High School Aggies beater Ackerman, MS, Tuesday evening to improve to 7-0 on the season. The junior varsity Aggies also picked up a win, 6-1, over Ackerman. The varsity Aggies will host Gulf Shores Friday at 7:00.
Flomaton 15 — Escambia County (Atmore) 2
The Flomaton Hurricanes captures their eighth straight win Tuesday 15-2 over the Escambia County High School Blue Devils of Atmore. James Dean took the win for the ‘Canes as they improved to 9-3 on the season. Flomaton will host J.U. Blacksher of Uriah on Friday with the JV at 4:00 and the varsity playing at 6:00.
Jay 3 — T.R. Miller 2
The Jay Royals defeated T.R. Miller Tuesday, 3-2. The Royals will be in action next on March 19 against Walton.
Escambia Academy 11 — Sparta 0
Escambia Academy 6 Sparta 3 (JV)
Escambia Academy defeated Sparta. J. Hadley pitched five for the Cougars, allowing three hits and striking out six. Austin McGhee had four RBIs for EA, while Braxton Chastang had two. Also with one RBI each were Reid Bell, Chance Jackson, Cole Boatwright and Cameron McGhee. In JV action, Escambia Academy defeated Sparta 6-3 to improve to 2-0 on the season.
Robertsdale 13 — Atmore Christian 2
Atmore Christian School lost to Central Christian of Robertsdale 13-2 Tuesday in high school baseball action.
Pictured: Actions as Atmore Christian lost to Central Christian on Tuesday. Submitted photos by Alisa Hart, click to enlarge.
Photos: Molino Park’s E-I-E-I-Oops!
March 14, 2012
Kindergarten students at Molino Park Elementary School “raised the barn and brought down the house” with their production of E-I-E-I-Oops! Tuesday night at the school.
Pictured: Molino Park kindergarten students present E-I-E-I-Oops! Tuesday night. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
