Escambia Man Gets 15 Years For Attempted Robbery
May 12, 2012
An Escambia County man is headed to prison for a 2011 attempted armed robbery.
State Attorney Bill Eddins said Thursday that Christopher Light was sentenced by Judge Scott Duncan to 15 years in state prison for attempted robbery with a firearm, aggravated assault with a firearm and battery. Light was found guilty as charged by an Escambia County Jury on March 8, 2012.
On August 15, 2011, Light was hiding outside the Park Place Apartments off Scenic Highway when he attacked the victim and held her at gunpoint demanding money and other items.
Place Food By Your Mailbox Saturday To Help Stamp Out Hunger
May 12, 2012
Saturday is the day to place food out by your mailbox to help local families in need.
Americans in more than 10,000 communities will partner today with letter carriers to help “Stamp Out Hunger.” The Letter Carriers Food Drive is the largest, single-day effort to combat hunger in America.
To participate, residents are asked to place a bag of non-perishable food items, like canned soup, canned vegetables, pasta, rice or cereal, by their mailbox before their mail is delivered on Saturday, May 12. Letter carriers will collect the food items and deliver them to hunger relief agencies with the help of volunteers.
Local hunger relief organizations including Manna Food Pantries, Bay Area Food Bank, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Warrington Emergency Aid, ACTS Ministries, and We Care Ministry will receive the food donated locally and distribute it to needy families throughout the summer.
For more information about the annual Stamp Out Hunger effort, ask your letter carrier, contact your local post office or visit www.helpstampouthunger.com.
Molino Man Killed In Alabama Bulldozer Accident
May 11, 2012
A Molino man was killed when he was run over the by bulldozer he was operating Friday morning about 12 miles northeast of Flomaton.
Joe Gene Boatwright, 73, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident off Wildfork Road near Emmons Road.
Boatwright apparently struck a 4-foot tall debris pile with the dozer at a work site and was ejected. He was then run over by the dozer’s tracks, according to Mike Lambert, chief deputy of the Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Office. The dozer then continued for about 150 yards or more, through a pond, and coming to rest across Wildfork Road.
Family members aid Boatwright has operated heavy equipment for over 60 years, and they believe a medical condition may have caused him to hit the debris pile.
The accident remains under investigation by the Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Office.
Pictured: A dozer that ran over a Molino man came to rest alongside Wildfork Road northeast of Flomaton. Pictured inset: The dozer traveled through this pond without a driver. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Vehicle Hits Propane Tank, Carport
May 11, 2012
A vehicle struck a carport and a 150 gallon propane tank in Pensacola this morning, creating a bit of tense situation for hours.
The Florida Highway Patrol said Amy T. Le, 19, was northbound on Gregg Road near Olive Road (near the side entrance of Academy Sports) when an animal ran into her path of her 2005 BMW about 4:35 a.m.. She veered off the roadway into a propane tank and the brick support of carport at 8036 Gregg Road. The vehicle came to rest under the carport.
An Escambia Fire Rescue special operations team was called to the scene to deal with the propane leak and was still on scene at 8 a.m. There was no explosion or fire.
Le was not injured in the accident.
McDavid Post Office Targeted For Service Reduction
May 11, 2012
The McDavid Post Office will see cutbacks if the U.S. Postal Service moves forward with a new strategy that is designed to keep the nation’s smallest post offices open with reduced services.
The plan would keep the McDavid Post Office open, but with retail window hours reduced from eight to six hours per day. Access to the retail lobby and to post office boxes would remain unchanged, and the McDavid zip code and community identity would be retained.
“We’ve listened to our customers in rural America and we’ve heard them loud and clear – they want to keep their Post Office open. We believe today’s announcement will serve our customers’ needs and allow us to achieve real savings to help the Postal Service return to long-term financial stability,” said Postmaster General and CEO Patrick R. Donahoe.
The new reduced hours would be implemented over a two-year, multi-phased approach and would not be completed until September 2014 at thousands of post offices across the nation. Once implementation is completed, the Postal Service estimates savings of a half billion dollars annually.
The reduced operating hour strategy replaces a plan announced last year to close 3,700 post offices nationwide.
No changes will occur until after a community meeting is held to review options in greater detail. No date for the meeting has been set for McDavid; residents will be notified by mail of the date, time and location of the meeting.
The McDavid Post Office is the only North Escambia area post office on the list of thousands across the country slated for a reduction in window hours. The plan does not include the Walnut Hill Post Office, which is in the McDavid 32568 zip code and operated under contract by Escambia River Electric Cooperative.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Area Man Busted With $114,200 Kilo Of Cocaine In Louisiana
May 11, 2012
An area resident is behind bars in Lafayette, Louisiana, after being arrested with a kilo of cocaine.
Anterrio Montgomery, age 29 of Brown Street in Atmore, was booked into the Lafayette Parish Correctional Center Thursday on a charge of possession with the intent to distribute cocaine.
His arrest was the result of a three month investigation by the Lafayette Metro Narcotics Task Force. When he was taken into custody in Lafayette, he was found to have one kilogram of cocaine his possession with a street value of $114,200.
He remained in jail early Friday with bond set at $150,000.
Pictured top: A kilo of cocaine with a street value of $114,200 reportedly found in the possession of an Atmore man in Louisiana. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Car Vs. Power Pole Wreck Leaves Homes In The Dark
May 11, 2012
A single vehicle crash Thursday night on Pine Forest Road in Walnut Hill left a small number of residents in the dark.
The driver of a car was northbound on Pine Forest Road just north of Pelt Road when he lost control and struck a power pole about 9:30 p.m. The collision snapped the pole off at the base, and sent power lines down for several hundred feet along Pine Forest Road to the railroad tracks at Pelt Road.
The male driver of the vehicle and his female passenger refused medical treatment at the scene.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol; the Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded.
A small number of homes in the area lost power for a few hours as Escambia River Electric Cooperative worked to replace the pole and lines.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward To Offer Summer Enrichment Program
May 11, 2012
An invitation to attend the Ernest Ward Middle School Enrichment Program was recently mailed to parents of all fifth grade students at Bratt, Byrneville, and Molino Park elementary school.
The program’s objective is to teach and reinforce academic skills that are needed to be successful in middle school. The curriculum will consist of reading, writing and math concepts as well as study skills that are appropriate for the sixth grade.
The dates for this summer school program are June 11-14, June 18-21, and June 25-28 from 8 a.m. until 1:15 p.m. Bus transportation will be provided, and free lunch will be served.
Parents should complete the bottom portion of the invitation and return it in the inclosed self-addressed, stamped envelope by May 16, 2012. For more information, call Mrs. Murphy at (850) 327-4283.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Walnut Hill Man Charged With 100 MPH Chase, Ramming Vehicle
May 11, 2012
A Walnut Hill man is jailed without bond after allegedly chasing, ramming and attempting to run his former girlfriend off the road at speeds over 100 mph.
Jerry Jason Barlow, 37, was arrested Wednesday for aggravated battery with a deadly weapon for the March 23 incident.
Barlow allegedly chased his former girlfriend, who is the mother of his two young children, for miles. She told Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies the chase reached 100 mph or more along Highway 4 from North Highway 99 to Highway 97 to Greenland Road and along “several back roads”.
When the victim lost sight of Barlow, she told deputies that she returned to her home in the 4000 block of Highway 4 and awaited their arrival. As deputies spoke with the victim, they observed Barlow return to his home about 500 feet away.
Barlow locked the front door of his residence and refused to open it, according to an arrest report. Deputies then discovered that Barlow had fled through a rear window. A K-9 unit was not available to track him.
Barlow was also charged with violation of probation in an unrelated drug case.
Dozens Of Rotary Academic All-Stars Named From Four Area Schools
May 11, 2012
The Atmore Rotary Club recognized an outstanding group of area high school students as Academic All-Stars Thursday night, including about 45 Northview High School students.
The Academic All-Star program is open to students who attend Northview High School, Atmore Christian School, Escambia County High School or Escambia Academy. To be named an Academic All-Star, a student must have maintained at least a B average in every subject for each grading period of the school year, with at least one A for each grading period.
Those who have maintained this status from the 9th through the 12th grades, were honored as Four-Year Academic All-Stars: Amber Francis from Northview High; Branden Goddard from Escambia Academy; and Jazmine Nicole Adams, Quinston Ephraim, Jr., Taylor Rain January and Mary LaRose Powell from Escambia County High. (Photos above and below.)
The following students were recognized Thursday night as Atmore Rotary Academic All-Stars:
Northview High School
9th Grade
Annie Lorene Bobo, Joshua Joseph Borelli, Megan Paige Bryan, Kendal Brooke Cobb, Aaliyah Delois Creamer, Austin Blake Cunningham, Kyndall Lauren Hall, Julie Beth Hester, Jessica Leigh McCullough, Aaron Thomas McDonald, Tristan Hunter Portwood, Mallory Mason Ryan, Samantha Elizabeth Sharpless and Kelton Joe Wooten.
10th Grade
Madison Brooke Arrington, Kasie Lee Braun, Dale Wayne Brown, Audrey Leigh Byrd, Lana Leigh Clayton, Morgan Nicole Digmon, Anna Elizabeth Donald, Chloe Vanessa Leonard, Jessica Nicole Lowery, Rachel Ann Presley, Hilery Danielle Scott, Courtney Yvonne Solari, Jeremy Logan Stacey, Danielle Nichole Steadham, Lily Ann Townson, Courtney Alexandra Weaver and Victoria Anne Wright.
11th Grade
Jazzlyn Shanece Franklin, Ashton Brooke Gibbs, Justin Lance Halteman, Zachary Sean Johnson, Ashley Nicole Mooney and Julia Renee Thorpe.
12th Grade
Jamila Akilah Codrington, Josie Britt Doucette, Amber Dianne Francis, Jacob Nathaniel Gibson, Alexandra Nicole Riggs, Lydia Ann Weaver and Elizabeth Ashley Wright.
Escambia Academy
9th Grade
Scott Brantley, Claire Dawe, Bailey Godwin, Garrett Kirk, Cecily McCullough, Erin Rider, Anna Catherine Sasser and Nate Smith.
10th Grade
Abby Akins, Elaine Davidson, Megan Duncan, Grayson Emmons and Sarah Weatherford.
11th Grade
Caitlyn Bruley, Blake Clark and Page Lancaster.
12th Grade
Branden Goddard
Atmore Christian School
9th Grade
Caleb Hochstetler, Wesley Hostetler, Darren Landis, Anna Presley and Taylor West.
10th Grade
Charity Hall, Durrell Martin and Travis Smith.
11th Grade
Aimee Jurjevich, Jacinda Stahly, Narisa Wiggins and Hannah Ziglar.
12th Grade
Logan Boatwright, Casey Freeman, Frisco Gehman and Josh McDonald.
Escambia County High School
9th Grade
Rodrick Felder, Robert Henderson, Ben Hubert, Lyricia Johnson, Cheyenne McGee, Allanis Rolin, Ashleigh Simpkins and Jerome Webster.
10th Grade
Tristen Boothe, Yamilex Gutierrez, Annah Nichols, Ashley Prime, Matthew Quimby, Davontae Walker and Iva Wiggins.
11th Grade
Mariah Hinton, Charmia Hollinger, Scarlet Martin, Jazmine McGinnis, Violet Miller, Heather Taylor and Bria Willis.
12th Grade
Jazmine Adams, Lovincy Brown, Daejon Burrous, Quinston Ephraim, Jr., Amber Hubert, Keierikai James, Taylor January, Ta’Kia Johnson, Kiona Lambert, D’Asia Lockett, Ashley McKenzie, Aaron Miller, Jamieka North, LaRose Powell, Taniecha Richardson, Stacie Young and Diamond Williams.
