Century Store Manager Robbed In Broad Daylight
December 23, 2011
A Century store manager was robbed in broad daylight Friday morning.
An unidentified male suspect stole the nightly deposit from the manager of the Food Giant on North Century Boulevard about 9:30 a.m. The incident happened outside of the store. It was not known if the suspect displayed a weapon.
The manager described the robber as a male wearing a dark colored, possibly green sweatshirt and wearing a mask or hood. He fled on foot away from the store in an unknown direction with an undisclosed amount of cash and checks.
K-9 teams from Century Correctional Institution and the Escambia County Road Prison tracked the suspect’s scent south to an unoccupied residence on Henry Street, just west of Highway 29. Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies were unable to locate anyone at the house, but there were reportedly recent tire tracks were an unknown vehicle left the driveway of the home.
The store manager was not injured.
Anyone with information on the incident should call the Escambia County Sheriff’s office at 850-436-9620. More details will be posted as they become available.
Pictured top: Deputies check a house on Henry Street in Century for a robbery suspect Friday morning. Pictured insert: A K-9 team works to track the suspect on Henry Street. Pictured below: The manager of the Food Giant in Century was robbed outside the store Friday morning. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Pedestrian Killed On Nine Mile Road
December 23, 2011
A pedestrian was hit and killed Thursday night on Nine Mile Road.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the unidentified white male stepped into the path of a 1997 Jeep Cherokee driven by 19-year old Victoria N. Oliver of Pensacola on Nine Mile Road near Fowler Avenue about 6:18 p.m.
The pedestrian was wearing dark clothing, and Oliver was unable to see him in time to stop, according to the FHP.
The crash is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol Traffic Homicide Unit. The name of the pedestrian is being withheld until he can be positively identified and next of kin can be notified.
No charges have been filed at this time in the crash.
In McDavid’s Future? NRC Approves New Nuclear Power Plant Design
December 23, 2011
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved a new reactor design Thursday, paving the way for Southern Company — the parent company of Gulf Power — to build the nation’s first new nuclear power plant in more than 30 years.
The NRC certified the use of a Westinghouse reactor design known as the AP1000 for 15 years, after a lengthy review that included looking at safety issues. The design approved can be built at any suitable location in the United States.
The design could potentially be used for a nuclear plant in North Escambia . Gulf Power is in the process of purchasing about 4,000 acres near McDavid for a power plant that company officials say might be a nuclear plant.
Westinghouse said Thursday that a construction site for an AP1000 nuclear plant would generate about 3,000 jobs.
The AP1000 design meets NRC requirements, including those that require the design to withstand the impact of an aircraft crash on its shield building, a steel reinforced concrete structure approximately 3 feet thick that protects the steel containment vessel which houses the reactor.
The company said both the shield building and the containment vessel play significant roles in the passive safety systems of the AP1000 design, which allow it to safely shut down with no, or minimal, operator action and no AC power. The innovative passive safety design was recognized by the NRC as providing significant added capability that allows the plant to safely cope with an event like the Japanese earthquake and subsequent nuclear meltdown.
Officials said Thursday that it would likely be another decade before the first AP1000 would begin producing electricity.
Pictured top: An artist rendering of an AP1000 nuclear plant. Pictured inset: The reactor design. Courtesy images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Video: Animated Christmas Lights In Bogia
December 23, 2011
A Bogia family has a Christmas light display that is animated to music.
The display is located at 200 Cotton Creek Road, just west of Highway 29 between Bogia Road and Highway 164. The display is open to the public from dark until 9:00 nightly.
NorthEscambia.com photo/video.
(If you do not see the video above, it is because your home or work firewall is blocking external videos.)
Three Charged With Trying To Pay Walmart Customers To Buy Drugs
December 23, 2011
Three Monroe County, Ala., residents are facing charges for allegedly taking part in an attempt to pay Walmart customers to buy drugs in Escambia County, Ala.
Brewton Police Department narcotics agents received a call from a concerned citizen that people were trying to pay Walmart Pharmacy customers in Brewton to purchase pseudoephedrine, a cold medicine that can be used in the manufacture of methamphetamines. The sale of the products are limited, and customers are required to show identification.
At the pharmacy, Brewton Police Sergeant Williams Mosley found Angel Coakley, age 28 of Monroeville, who was attempting to purchase pseudoephedrine. Officers then later learned that Coakley was traveling with her boyfriend, 31-year old Michael Brandon Morris and his brother, 23-year old Charles Gregory Morris, both of Monroeville.
Police were able to locate the Morris brothers driving in circles in the Wal-Mart parking lot waiting for Coakley to return with the pseudoephedrine.
The investigation then led officers to a room at the Colonial Manor Motel where they executed a search warrant and found an active meth lab, drug paraphernalia and methamphetamines.
Michael Morris and Angel Coakley were both charged with unlawful manufacture of a controlled substance in the first degree, unlawful possession of a controlled substance-methamphetamines, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, and unlawful manufacture of a controlled substance in the second degree. Charles Morris was charged with attempt to commit a controlled substance crime.
Escambia Sheriff’s Office: Tips To Prevent Holiday Crime
December 23, 2011
During the Christmas season, busy shoppers sometimes fail to remain aware of their surroundings, making them easy prey for criminals.
“During the holidays, when we are often busy and in crowds,criminals see opportunities,” Sheriff David Morgan said. “Don’t give them easy chances to commit crimes. Be safe, lock your vehicle and look after your neighbors.”
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is offering the following safety tips:
- Always lock your vehicle.
- When parking your vehicle to go shopping, remember where you parked it.
- Always park in a well lit and well traveled area. Do not park in a remote dark area.
- Stay alert to your surroundings and the people around you.
- Have your keys in hand when approaching your vehicle. You will be ready to unlock the door and will not be delayed by fumbling and looking for your keys.
- When storing items purchased at the stores, place them out of sight. The best place is in a locked trunk.
- Be alert that crooks look for the “high dollar” shopping bags with your purchases. When possible, slip bags/purchases in a plain nondescript bag.
- Do not leave your purse, wallet, or cellular phone in plain view.
- Don’t resist if someone tries to take any of your belongings. Don’t chase someone who robs you, they may have a weapon. Instead,call 911.
- Lock your vehicle and put up your windows even while you are driving.
- If you go to an automatic teller machine for cash, check for people around and make sure it is well lit and in a safe location.
- Carry only the credit cards you need and avoid carrying large amounts of cash.
- If you make a purchase with your credit card, be sure to obtain any carbons or see that they are destroyed in front of you.
- Drive defensively. Traffic is heavier during the holidays. Drivers may also have indulged in too much holiday spirits.
AAA Forecasts 30% Of Population Will Travel For Holiday
December 23, 2011
An estimated 30 percent of the U.S. population will travel during the Christmas and New Year’s holiday period, the second highest rate in the past ten years.
That’s according to AAA which forecasts 1.9 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home during the 2011-12 year-end holiday travel season, a 1.4 percent increase over the 90.7 million people who traveled one year ago. This year’s expected travel volume is the second highest in the past decade and represents 30 percent of the total U.S. population.
The 11-day holiday period is the longest holiday travel season of the year, affording many more Americans time to visit family or take vacations. AAA defines the year-end holiday travel season as Friday, December 23 to Monday, January 2.
Approximately 83.6 million people (91 percent of holiday travelers) plan to take to the nation’s roadways during the holiday period, a 2.1 percent increase compared to 2010-11 when the number of auto travelers totaled 81.9 million. This year’s projected automobile travel volume is the second highest in the past decade and only 100,000 less than the 2006-07 auto travel peak of 83.7 million. Automobile travel remains the preferred choice of transportation for 2011-12 Year-End holiday travelers as nearly 27 percent of the total U.S. population will hit the road.
Air travel is forecast to be down about 10 percent this year, while AAA says about 4.2 percent more people will travel by train, bus or other modes.
Escambia Man Gets Life Plus 10 Years In Cocaine Conspiracy
December 23, 2011
An Escambia County man was sentenced to life plus 10 years in federal prison Thursday morning on charges related to conspiracy to distribute cocaine in Pensacola,
according to United States Attorney Pamela C. Marsh, Northern District of Florida.
The federal indictment alleged Hill and others were involved in the distribution of large amounts of cocaine and crack cocaine, as well as in the possession of firearms to further the drug conspiracy.
During the trial earlier this summer, jurors heard evidence of multiple cocaine seizures from Hill. The jury also heard testimony regarding death threats to a member of the Pensacola community who was aiding law enforcement in its investigation. These threats, as well as a drive-by shooting of this person’s residence, were linked to Hill through his cellular telephone records.
Chief United States District Judge M. Casey Rodgers sentenced Hill today to life on the drug conspiracy conviction and imposed a ten-year consecutive sentence for discharging a firearm in furtherance of the conspiracy. The severity of Hill’s sentence was based in part on his prior state convictions for felony drug and violent crime offenses.
Photos: Bluff Springs Double Rainbow
December 23, 2011
Thursday’s rain and storms gave way to rainbows in some parts of North Escambia. Philip Bell photographed this double rainbow about 4:45 Thursday afternoon in Bluff Springs.
Photos by Phillip Bell for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Bank Robbed
December 22, 2011
A Thursday morning bank robbery in Escambia County is under investigation.
Just after 11 a.m., the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a robbery at the Compass Bank at 6701 North Davis Highway. A suspect entered the bank and demanded cash before fleeing the area. The suspect was described as an approximately 65-year old while male wearing a white or cream colored button-up shirt and dark dress slacks, He was last seen headed north away from the bank.
Further details have not been released.
Anyone with information on the robbery as asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.