Two More ‘Operation Anything For A Buck’ Arrests
January 18, 2012
Two more Escambia County men have been arrested as part of Operation Anything for A Buck.
The undercover sting was conducted out of a store in which undercover officers would buy firearms and drugs.
Allah Farod Baldwin turned himself in at the Escambia County Jail Sunday morning on three outstanding warrants for selling cocaine to an undercover officer three different times. He was being held with bond set at $75,000.
D’Andre Lydell Robinson was arrested at Forest Creek Apartments on Patton Drive on outstanding federal indictment for selling an undercover officer a firearm during the undercover operation. Robinson also had an outstanding warrant for his involvement in the robbery of a cab driver in which the driver was shot during a robbery that occurred on October 30, 2011. Robinson was booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $120,500.
The arrests bring the total number of arrests for Operation Anything For a Buck to 71. Investigators are still looking for one final suspect. Rodriges Lavonne George is wanted for two counts of dealing in stolen property.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of George is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Northview Honors Winning Football Team, Cheerleaders
January 18, 2012
Northview High School honored members of the school’s football teams and cheerleading squads Tuesday night during their annual banquet.
Chiefs head coach Sid Wheatley told his players that they should be proud of their season with the school’s second ever regional title.
“You’ve paved the way for great things to come next year,” Wheatley told his seniors.
For a photo gallery from the event, click here.
Members of the 2011 Northview Chiefs recognized Tuesday night were:
- Most Valuable Offensive Player – Brandon Sheets
- Outstanding Offensive Back – Lamikal Kyles
- Outstanding Offensive Back – Roderick Woods
- Outstanding Offensive Lineman – Laderious Franklin
- Outstanding Receiver – Austin Albritton
- Outstanding Special Teams – Kevin Vaughn
- Most Valuable Defensive Player – Sean Knight
- Outstanding Defensive Lineman – Brian Ross
- Outstanding Linebacker – Roderick Woods
- Outstanding Defensive Back – LaMichael Banks
- Outstanding Defensive Back – Tanner Brooks
- Chief Award – Alex Payne
- Chief Award – Caleb Leonard
- Academic Award – Justin Halteman
- Team Leader Award – Nathan Therrell
- Team Leader Award – Cole Eicher
- Fire Award – Logan Weber
- Fire Award – Chad Smith
- All-Purpose Award – Montaio Mitchell
- Utility Award – Blake McCall
- Most Improved – Stetson Nash
Wheatley also recognized the team’s seniors — Andrew Farrow, Sean Knight, Montaio Mitchell, Brandon Sheets, Tanner Brooks, Austin Albritton, Jamie Gafford, Wes Chancery, Sam Spence, Caleb Leonard, Alex Payne, Cole Eicher, Nathan Therrell, Brian Ross
Coaches Ty Wise, Derek Marshman, Mandell Smith and John Madison were also recognized.
The Chiefs’ cheerleaders were also honored at the steak dinner. Individual awards were presented to:
- Varsity Most Improved – Brittany Thompson
- Varsity Squad Strength – Anna Fischer
- Varsity Best All Around – Ashley Cunningham
- Varsity Spirit Award – Ariel Holland
- JV Most Improved – Courtney Weaver
- JV Spirit Award – Kamryn Brock
For a photo gallery from the event, click here.
Pictured top: Northview Chiefs MVP Brandon Sheets receives his award from Coach Ty Wise. Pictured below: Varsity cheerleaders (L-R) Brittany Thompson, Ashley Cunningham, Ariel Holland and Anna Fischer. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
White House To Honor Man For Leading Century, Escambia County Disaster Prep
January 18, 2012
The executive director of the Be Ready Alliance Coordinating for Emergencies (BRACE) will be recognized at the White House on Thursday for his efforts in Escambia County and Century.
Greg Strader, founder of BRACE, will be one of the 17 local leaders who will be honored at the White House as Champions of Change who help prepare their communities for disaster and build a more resilient nation.
“These men and women have demonstrated significant innovation and creativity in working to get their communities ready for the unexpected and embraced the approach of involving all members of their communities in emergency preparedness and response, reaching out to faith-based, tribal, non-profit, private sector and community-based organizations, as well as individual citizens,” according to the White House.
The Champions of Change program was created as a part of President Obama’s Winning the Future initiative. Each week, a different issue is highlighted and groups of Champions, ranging from educators to entrepreneurs to community leaders, are recognized for the work they are doing to better their communities.
BRACE works to prepare educate and train local communities in disaster preparedness, response and recovery.
According to Kermit Housh, chairman of the board for BRACE, Strader will meet with administration officials to discus how the public private partnership model used by BRACE to prepare local for disaster can be a model for other communities.
“This past year we’ve been reminded that disasters can strike at any time and that preparedness is critical,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano. “We commend the innovative practices and achievements that these individuals bring to the field of emergency management in order to make our communities safer, stronger, and better prepared.”
Through Strader and BRACE, Century recently held CERT — the Community Emergency Response Team — training, including mock disaster drill, for over two dozen local citizens.
Pictured top: Century town council member Sandra McMurray Jackson (left) and another CERT volunteer held a disaster “victim” during a CERT disaster drill. Pictured inset and below: CERT volunteers search for tornado victims during a drill. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Miss NHS Tickets Going On Sale
January 17, 2012
Tickets go on sale this week for the annual Miss Northview High School pageant.
Tickets will be sold to Miss NHS contestants only on Wednesday, January 18. All others can purchase tickets on Thursday, January 19th. Tickets are available through the front office at Northview for $6 each. Tickets will not be sold at the door.
The annual Miss NHS pageant will be Saturday, January 28 at 7 p.m.
Trial Begins For Man Accused Of Shooting Escambia Deputies
January 17, 2012
Jury selection began Tuesday in the case of a man accused of shooting three Escambia County deputies in October 2010.
Phillip Monier is charged with shooting Deputy Jeremy Cassady and deputies Sam Parker and Chad Brown during a home invasion hostage incident October 29 at his girlfriend’s home near Scenic Highway in Pensacola.
Monier has about a dozen different charges, including four counts of attempted murder, aggravated assault, aggravate kidnapping, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of methamphetamine.
Cassady was severely wounded in the incident and spent 20 days in Sacred Heart Hospital. He later received a pancreas and kidney transplant in August 2011.
Remembering The Dream: Residents Honor Martin Luther King, Jr.
January 17, 2012
Residents across the area gathered Monday to honor the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with parades, motorcades and uplifting programs.
In Century, residents gathered at a program sponsored by the Century-Flomaton Improvement Association where guest speaker Tony R. McCray, Jr. told the attendees to follow in the footsteps of King’s dream.
For a photo gallery, click here.
“Dr. King had a dream. We need to keep that dream alive that one day we will all be able to stand together and work together. We must have faith,” McCray said. “Remember, faith can move mountains. All we want to do is move some dollars and create jobs and business opportunities for our community, for our cities and for our county.”
McCray, executive director of the IBIS Community Development Corporation, said communities in Escambia County could come together for mutual benefit under a program called Higher Heights Escambia.
“When we work together, when we plan together, when we pray together when we invest together, when we raise our voices together, we can accomplish much more,” he said. ” A new effort of black leadership, and of white leadership, is coming together to move to a higher height of unity…We are going to be calling on you in Century to sit down to the table and let’s work through our problems.”
Also during Monday’s event in Century, a $250 William R. McMurray Scholarship, presented by the Jackson McMurray Funeral Service, was awarded to Kiara Williams.
Similar events, parades and motorcades were held across the area Monday, including Flomaton, Atmore and Pensacola.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured top: Attendees join in a chorus of “We Shall Overcome” during a Martin Luther King, Jr. program in Century Monday morning. Pictured top inset: Leola Robinson listens to a speaker during the program. Pictured bottom inset: A musical performance. Pictured below: Dozens of Century area residents attended the program. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Fire Alarm Upgrade Planned For Tate High
January 17, 2012
Fire alarm systems at Tate High School will be replaced in the coming months.
The Escambia County School District has approved a $120,500 proposal from low bidder Advanced Control Concepts for the work. There was only one other bid on the project — $157,351 from Fire Control Systems.
Bratt Elementary Holds Math Madness Night (With Gallery)
January 17, 2012
Bratt Elementary School recently held their 2012 Math Madness Night. About 200 students, parents and teachers took part in an evening on math activities and games. The evening ended with refreshments and door prizes.
“We would like to thank all of the teachers and parent volunteers who helped make this night a success,” teacher Linda Jackson said.
Pictured: Bratt Elementary’s 2012 Math Madness Night. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Weather Photos: A Colorful Barrineau Park Sunset
January 17, 2012
Low clouds made for an interesting sunset Monday in Barrineau Park, as seen in this weather photo submitted by Lawson Berry.
If you have a photo you would like to share, email it to news@northescambia.com.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Over Half Million Earned: Century Nets $10K From $18.2 Million Bond Issue
January 16, 2012
The Town of Century recently collected $10,000 in fees for signing off on an $18.2 million bond issue for an apartment complex renovation in Miami.
The approval was granted by Century and Gulf Breeze as members of the Capital Trust Agency, an independent public body for the purpose of financing or otherwise accomplishing development programs. Century entered into the Capital Trust Agency with Gulf Breeze in 1999 with Century essentially serving as the “second signature” for CTA.
Century has received over a half million dollars in fees since the inception of CTA.
The latest CTA project was a $18.2 million bond issue for renovation of the Civic Towers Apartments Miami to provide housing for low and moderate income families.
The CTA is structured in such a way to indemnify Century from any financial risk, whether it be from a company that defaults on repayment or any other legal liabilities, according to Matt Dannheisser, attorney for both Century and Gulf Breeze. The funds used for the bonds are from the CTA’s coffers, not from Century or Gulf Breeze.