Driver In Serious Condition After Highway 97 Wreck
December 8, 2011
[Updated An 80-year old Century woman was serious injured in a two vehicle wreck late Thursday morning in front of the Piggly Wiggly in Davisville.
The Florida Highway Patrol said Martez Dortch was traveling south on Highway 97 when she attempted to turn her 2007 Ford Taurus into the store parking lot. She crossed into the path of a northbound 1998 Ford pickup driven by 25-year old Reuben Maxwell of Century.
Dortch was transported by ambulance to Atmore Community Hospital in serious condition. Maxwell was not injured.
Dortch was cited by the FHP for violation of right of way.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Atmore Fire Department, Atmore Ambulance and Escambia County EMS responded to the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Police Hunt For Bank Robbery Suspect
December 8, 2011
A Thursday morning bank robbery is under investigation in Escambia County.
A man armed with a handgun demanded cash from a teller at the Suntrust Bank on North Davis Highway about 9:30 a.m. Pensacola Police Department Detective Shannan Fortenberry said the suspect entered the bank, walked up to a teller, pointed a handgun at her, and demanded cash. When the teller complied, he left the bank and ran southbound on Davis Highway.
There were five employees and three customers in the bank at the time; no one was injured.
The suspect is a white male, about 5-feet 10-inches and at least 200 pounds. He had a grayish brown mustache and was wearing a wool cap, sunglasses, khaki pants, a khaki/olive green colored jacket, and cowboy boots.
Anyone having information on the incident is asked to contact Detective Shannan Fortenberry at (850) 435-1978 or the Pensacola Police Department at (850) 435-1900.
Northview Student Passes Away From Injuries Received In Wreck
December 8, 2011
A 16-year old Northview High School student passed away mid-morning today from injuries he received when he crashed his pickup Wednesday morning in Bratt.
Kenneth Wade Jernigan of Century, a sophomore at Northview, was on his way to school at the time of the wreck. He was northbound on Pine Barren Road north of Breastworks Road at about 8:30 a.m. when he drifted off the roadway onto the shoulder as he attempted to travel around a curve. He over-corrected, lost control and struck a tree, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Firefighters worked over 20 minutes using the Jaws of Life to remove the teen from his mangled 1999 Chevrolet pickup. He was airlifted by LifeFlight to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola. Jernigan passed away at 9:38 Thursday morning at Sacred Heart Hospital.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Jernigan was not wearing a seat belt.
For a photo gallery, click here.
The Escambia County School District will have counselors available to students and staff at Northview High School on Thursday.
The Molino, McDavid and Century stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the call.
Pictured: A Northview High student passed away from injuries he received in this single vehicle crash Wednesday morning on North Pine Barren Road. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Proceeds With Paving Shoulders On Crabtree Church Road
December 8, 2011
Escambia County has received a state grant to design paved shoulders along Crabtree Church Road between Highway 97 and Sunshine Hill Road in Molino.
The county will enter into an agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation for Transportation Enhancement Program funding of up to $138,824 to design the paved shoulders.
Now, Escambia County will advertise for engineering service proposals for the design of five-foot asphalt shoulders on the 2.5 mile segment of roadway.
Pictured top: The 2010 Molino Christmas Parade travels down Crabtree Church Road. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Local Students, Schools Place In FFA Competition
December 8, 2011
Eleven middle and high school FFA chapters from Escambia, Santa Rosa, and Okaloosa counties took part in the Sub-District I FFA Competition this week in Jay.
To take part in the Career Development Events (CDE), students spend many hours training for the competition and receive assistance from their advisor, industry partners, alumni and community stakeholders.
“The key to achievement lies in the ability to think critically, communicate clearly, and perform effectively in a competitive world. These skills are enhanced through participation in CDEs,” according to the Escambia County FFA.
Results from the competition were:
High School
Prepared Public Speaking
- Ashley Mcleod – Laurel Hill
- Austin Pfeiffer – Tate
- Courtney Solari – Northview
Extemporaneous Speaking
- Ashley Mcleod – Laurel Hill
- Justin Hall – West Florida
- Megan Gibbs – Tate
Creed Speaking
- Savannah Maddox – Tate
- Patra Miller – Ransom
- Karli Butcher – Milton
Tractor Operation and Maintenance
- Jake Scott – West Florida
- Brandon Chambless – Northview
- Forrest Gibbs – Tate
Parliamentary Procedure
- Tate
- Northview
- Milton
Middle School
Prepared Public Speaking
- Harley Tagert – Jay
- Andrew Bosinger – Beulah
Extemporaneous Speaking
- Madison Lockman – Ransom
- Emalie Sharpe – Beulah
- Hannah Garrett – Bellview
Opening and Closing Ceremony
- Beulah
- Ernest Ward
- Ransom
Parliamentary Procedure
- Ernest Ward
- Bellview
Northview Girls Get District Win Over Freeport
December 8, 2011
The Northview Varsity girls won their first district basketball game against Freeport by one — 47-46.
Shaquana Jones led the Lady Chiefs with 28 points, while Elaza Bates added nine. Danielle Steadham contributed four points. Taylor Byrd, Talia Syria and Jazzlyn Franklin each added two points for the Chiefs.
Molino Man Pleads No Contest To Ripping Off Vacationing Couple
December 8, 2011
An 18-year that allegedly ripped off a vacationing Molino couple while watching their home has entered a no contest plea to the grand theft charges against him.
Nicholas Allen Jones of Molino entered the plea before Judge Terry Terrell. He will be back in court December 27 for a sentencing hearing and the results of a pre-sentencing investigation. Meanwhile, Jones remains free on $18,500 bond.
A Molino couple told Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies that Jones was watching their property and collecting their mail while they were on a two-week vacation this summer. When the couple returned home, the wife noticed her iPod was gone. After checking the house, she found the couple was missing $7,080 worth of jewelry.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, there was no sign of forced entry, and the wife said Jones was the only person with a key to the house.
Deputies were able to determine that many of the items were pawned at The Gold Xchange, Elite Jewelers and Kernel Enterprises in Pensacola. When asked why he took the items and pawned them, Jones told deputies “I don’t know”, according to the arrest report.
Jailers Collect 166 Coats For Needy Kids
December 8, 2011
The Detention Division of the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office collection 166 coats to keep children warm in the Jay area during the long cold days of winter. The coats were collected as part of the “Coats for Kids Drive”. The nearly 14 dozen coats will be distributed by the Jay Chamber of Commerce.
C-Shift was tops in the coat drive, collecting 65 coats. They received a certificate and a pizza party for their efforts.
Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Ransom Middle Takes First Place In Chess Tournament
December 8, 2011
Twenty-four students from Ransom Middle School’s Chess Club competed against students from various private schools in Pensacola in the Junior Chess Club in a four- round tournament. Each game was played for 60 minutes.
Gary Moore, Ransom Middle School, won first place. The competition was very skilled and evidenced by the fact that the opposing chess club had a player that had a 960 rating. Ransom Middle School’s highest rating player is Ryan Reyes, Ransom’s Club president, who has a 630 rating. Second place was won by Anish Gupta of the Creative Learning Academy and Tristan Carr of Ransom Middle School won third place.
This is also the first year that the Ransom Knights have won first place. Also, this is the first year that Ransom Middle School had female competitors (Randa Shaw and Sydney Roberson), while the opposing chess club had none.
The following Ransom Middle School students played in the tournament.
- Paul Ashton
- Tristan Carr
- Dallas Ditto
- Zach Donaldson
- Eric Esselburn
- Nicholas Gulsby
- Isaiah Hansen
- Johnathan Hendren
- Brett Henry
- Warren Hetherington
- Marcus Hurston
- Gavin Kelley
- Travis King
- Wayne Lawley
- Gary Moore
- Leandro Perez
- Ryan Reyes
- Sydney Roberson
- Devin Searcy
- Caleb Schaffer
- Randa Shaw
- Devonte Simmons
- Justis Walker
- Patrick Wellborn
Walnut Hill Man Arrested On Four Year Old Warrant
December 8, 2011
A Walnut Hill man wanted by authorities for over four years was arrested Wednesday.
Alton Wade Broxson, age 45 of Corley Road, was booked into the Escambia County Jail without bond on an outstanding probation violation warrant.
According to court records, Broxson placed on probation after being convicted in October 2006 on a misdemeanor battery case from 2005. A violation of probation warrant was issued for his arrest in May 2007.