Changes Coming To Cordova Mall
November 8, 2011
Big changes are on the way to Cordova Mall in Pensacola.
Dillard’s will no longer operate a separate Men’s Store, moving their men’s products into their main 230,000 square foot store. At the same time, Belk will close its University Mall Store and consolidate with the Cordova Mall store located in the two-story Dillard’s Men’s Store. The new Belk store will be in place by fall of 2012.
A new store for the Pensacola area, Dick’s Sporting Goods, will move into current Cordova Belk location by mid-2013.
Evers: Keep Tabs On Teen Drivers For Just $5
November 8, 2011
Parents wanting to know more than their teenage drivers want them to could pay a little to keep tabs on their young motorists under a bill introduce Monday by Sen. Greg Evers, R-Baker.
The measure would allow parents of under 18-year-old drivers to pay $5 to be electronically notified if junior gets in an accident or gets a ticket. The measure would also inform parents of revocations and suspensions in case their teen “forgets” to let them know.
Political Watch: Blackburn Running For Sheriff; Taylor Collects Petitions For Commission
November 8, 2011
Monday, Rex Blackburn of Cantonment became the fourth candidate to prefile for Escambia County Sheriff in the 2012 general election.
Blackburn, who ran unsuccessful for Escambia County School Board District 5 in 2000, is running with no party affiliation, as is Bill Chavers. Incumbent David Morgan and John Powell are both running as Republicans.
Also Monday, Jim Taylor announced that he became the first candidate to meeting the petition requirement to qualify for August 14, 2012, Republican primary for the District 5 seat on the Escambia County Commission.
Fire Destroys Cotton Picker (With Photo Gallery)
November 7, 2011
Fire destroyed a cotton picker Monday afternoon in Bratt.
The fire was reported in a field south of Hanks Road west of Pine Barren Road just before 3 p.m.; it was declared under control about 3:50 p.m. The John Deere 9970 cotton picker was a total loss.
There were no injuries reported. The exact cause of the fire was not immediately known.
The Walnut Hill, McDavid and Century stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded the blaze.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery, click here.
Pictured top: A cotton picker burns in a field in Bratt Monday afternoon. Pictured below: Firefighters begin their attack on the blaze. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
18 Hour SWAT Standoff Ends With Arrest
November 7, 2011
Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Richard Howard Jr., 21, of Pensacola, about 7:00 Monday morning following an 18 hour standoff. Howard was taken into custody without incident by members of the Pensacola Police Department SWAT team.
Around 1:00 Sunday afternoon, deputies responded to reports of Howard standing on his roof in his underwear yelling at neighbors and threatening suicide. When deputies arrived, Howard jumped from the roof and barricaded himself inside his residence. The Escambia County SWAT team was then activated to establish a perimeter and negotiations were conducted with Howard.
During the course of the stand-off, SWAT team members entered the residence to find that Howard was in the attic of his home. When Howard saw the deputies, he fired rounds at the deputies, but no one was injured. SWAT team members utilized gas agents as a means to get Howard out of the house, but the gas had no effect on Howard. Due to the extended period of time, Escambia County SWAT team members were relieved by the Pensacola Police SWAT team.
After 18 hours, SWAT team members from the Pensacola Police Department entered the attic of the residence and took Howard into custody without incident. Howard was taken to a local hospital for evaluation prior to being booked into the Escambia County Jail on an aggravated assault charge.
Pictured. Escambia County Sheriff’s Office SWAT. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Bratt Park To Be Renamed Tuesday For Fallen Marine Lcpl. Travis Nelson
November 7, 2011
The Bratt Community Park will be renamed Tuesday in honor of LCpl. Travis M. Nelson, the local Marine killed in action in Afghanistan on August 18.
An official dedication for the “LCpl Travis M. Nelson Park” and a monument in his honor will be held on Tuesday, November 8 at 2 p.m. at the park on West Highway 4, just west of Northview High School.
The Nelson family requested the county’s permission to place a monument at the park on Highway 4 near Northview High School, just two doors down from where Travis Nelson grew up. The Escambia County Commission later voted to rename the park in the Marine’s honor.
Nelson was the first soldier killed in action from the Walnut Hill or Bratt area since 1969.
Pictured top: Work continues on a memorial in honor of LCpl Travis M. Nelson at the Bratt Community Park, which will be renamed Tuesday in Nelson’s honor. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Driver Hits Concrete Ditch, Airlifted To Hospital
November 7, 2011
A driver was airlifted to a Pensacola hospital after apparently suffering from a medical condition and running into a concrete ditch Sunday afternoon in Cantonment.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 77-year old Rudolph M. Smith of Pensacola was southbound on Highway 29 near Cedar Tree Lane when drifted the roadway and struck a street sign before his 2002 pickup came to rest in a concrete ditch.
Smith was transported by LifeFlight to West Florida Hospital suffering from an unknown medical problem, according to the FHP.
There were no other injuries in the crash.
Molino Man Gets Probation On Drug Charges
November 7, 2011
A Molino man has been sentenced to probation on drug charges.
Adjudication was withheld by Judge Michael Allen as he sentenced 26-year old Thomas Sheffield to 24 months probation on a felony count of marijuana possession with intent to sell and felony possession of a controlled substance without a prescription.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations/Narcotics Unit executed a search warrant in July 2011 at Sheffield’s residence in the 9000 block of Gibson Road.
Sheffield told deputies that all of his drugs were on the back porch, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report. That’s were deputies found over 20 grams of marijuana and a 9mm Glock handgun, according to the arrest report. Inside the house, deputies reported finding more marijuana, questionable prescription medication, a .22 caliber handgun, a SKS rifle and $1,725 in cash located on the top of the fireplace.
District Attorney Looking For Answers In Fire That Claimed 3 Children
November 7, 2011
The Alabama Fire Marshal’s Office and a local district attorney are continuing their investigation into a Wednesday night house fire that claimed the lives of three children in Atmore.
Family members identified the children as3-year old Aniyia Abner, 3-year old Takia Abner and 22-month old Michael Coleman.
Escambia County (Ala.) District Attorney Steve Billy says his office is awaiting the outcome of an ongoing investigation by the the Alabama State Marshal. Pending the outcome of the investigation, the children’s mothers, 18-year old twins Akeivia Abner and Jekeevia Abner, could face criminal charges.
“We’ve still got to gather the hospital records. Of course, the children were sent to Mobile for an autopsy, so we’re waiting on the preliminary findings from the pathologist. Of course, we’re still trying to determine the cause of the fire and interviewing witnesses. So there’s a lot of unknowns out there that are still under investigation,” Billy told FOX 10 TV.
Initial reports said that an oven door was open inside the home at the time of the fire, perhaps indicating that it was being used as a heat source. Photographs taken Thursday morning (see top of page) clearly show the oven door inside the kitchen of the home propped partially open. But it was not immediately known if that was the cause of the fire.
Reports indicated that the two young mothers were at another location several blocks from the home at the time of the fire.
For an earlier stories about the fire, including photos from the aftermath of the fire Wednesday night, click here and click here.
Pictured top: This photo shows the oven door propped open inside the kitchen of a home were three children died in a house fire Wednesday night. Pictured bottom inset: A makeshift memorial outside the home. Pictured below: The remains of a 1st Street home in Atmore. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Football Standings: Champions And 3-Way Ties
November 7, 2011
It’s the final week of the regular season in high school football, with district kings already named in two local districts, while one is in a three-way shootout Monday night.
The Northview Chiefs easily chomped the Baker Gators last Friday night to take the District 1-1A championship and claim home field advantage for the playoffs.
The District 1-5A title will come down to a three-way shootout Monday night between West Florida, Gulf Breeze and Arnold. The top two teams are playoff bound, while number three heads to the lockers for the last time. (For an update to this story, click here.)
The shootout will take place at 7 p.m. at West Florida’s home field at Woodham Middle School.
Pensacola High is on top of District 1-6A, while the Pace Patriots are in second. For the Tate Aggies, an 0-10 season ended Friday night.
Pictured top: Action as Northview beat Baker Friday night to claim in the District 1-1A championship. Pictured inset. Tate takes on Washington last Friday night. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
