West Florida Celebrates Most Wins Ever In A Season
October 1, 2011
West Florida High School is having a good season. In fact, with a perfect 5-0 record, this year’s Jaguar football team has set a school record with the most wins ever in a single season.
The Jaguars easily defeated Walton High Friday night in Defuaniak Springs, 35-0.
West Florida scored on their first possession of the night with a 2-yard run from Jalen Jones. With a good kick from Luke Jackson, the Jags were up 7-0. Lawrence Lee scored about five minutes later in the first quarter on a 45-yard pass from Kyle Faxlanger. The point after pass failed.
In the second quarter, West Florida scored with tackled punter in the end zone and a 1-yard run from Jones.
Faxlanger scored with touchdown runs of 12 and 4 yards in the fourth.
The West Florida Jaguars will play a District 1-5A game next week against Gulf Breeze.
New Laws Begin Saturday
October 1, 2011
A list of new laws kick in Saturday in Florida as new bills passed by lawmakers earlier this year go into effect.
In all, 29 new laws go on the books Oct. 1, the first day of many local governments’ fiscal years and the last major push of legislation passed during the 2011 Legislative session.
Among the most controversial measures is one that places heavy fines on local governments that enact tougher gun laws than those imposed by the state. Despite being on the books for decades, laws prohibiting cities and counties from enacting stricter gun laws lacked any teeth. No more.
Backed by the National Rifle Association, the new law imposes penalties for local officials and fines of up to $100,000 in attorney fees and damages if a plaintiff successfully sues local officials gun laws that go beyond state law. City and county officials face fines up to $5,000 and can’t use taxpayer money to defend themselves in court.
Local officials have spent the past few months repealing local ordinances deemed to be tougher than state law. The bill was one of a handful of NRA-backed measures pushed during the last legislative session. Another that restricts the ability of health care providers from asking patients about gun ownership is being challenged in federal court.
Also controversial is another law that kicks in Saturday. The bill (HB 1247) makes a number of changes to the current laws requiring parental notification when minor girls seek an abortion. Among the changes, the bill lengthens the time a judge has to act on request for a judicial bypass.
The measure also requires minors seeking a judicial waiver from the requirement to seek a judge within their judicial circuit. Minors can now seek a judge residing within their appellate district, a much larger geographic area.
Backers say the measure still provides protections for minors who feel they can’t tell their parents. Critics say that in some small judicial circuits, the new law will make it difficult for the minor to remain anonymous.
Other bills that go into effect Saturday include:
-HB 75: The law creates the crime of “sexting”, the transmission of sexually explicit pictures, often by cell phone. But it reduces the penalties from what they would be for teens charged with doing that now, which would brand them a sex offender for many years. Under the new law, a first time offense would not result in a sex offender label.
“House Bill 75 modernizes these laws to ensure that children’s lives are not ruined due to youthful indiscretion,” said sponsor Rep. Joe Abruzzo, D-Wellington. “This reform will let our youth know that such behavior is wrong without labeling them sex offenders for the rest of their lives.”
-HB 479 bolsters requirements for expert witnesses in medical malpractice lawsuits. Gov. Rick Scott in June signed legislation that doctors said was their most significant victory at fighting off lawsuits since caps on certain damages were put in place in 2003. The legislation makes it harder for some doctors from out of state to serve as expert witnesses in medical malpractice cases. The bill also gives medical and dentistry boards the authority to discipline witnesses who provide “deceptive” or fraudulent testimony in a malpractice case. Another feature of the bill creates a standard informed consent form for cataract surgery patients and says that incidents resulting from certain specific risks aren’t considered adverse incidents.
-HB 99 allows companies providing five types of commercial insurance coverage to raise rates without first seeking approval by the Office of Insurance Regulation. The provision still allows the agency to reject rates that are excessive, inadequate or unnecessarily discriminating. The bill continues a move begun last year when Gov. Charlie Crist approved an insurance package that deregulated other lines of commercial coverage. The changes were supported by the insurance industry and employer groups. “The bill pretty much completes changes begun last year,” said Sam Miller, executive vice president for the Florida Insurance Council.
-SB 344 makes it a crime to have sex with animals or know about someone having sex with animals, or making it possible to have sex with animal. Apparently, existing Florida law does not allow for easy prosecution. The law makes it a first degree misdemeanor, punishable by p to a year in jail.
-HB 339 is aimed at reducing credit card fraud by toughening penalties for possession of stolen credit or debit cards by someone who knows or should know the card was stolen.
Molino Marijuana: $80K Worth Of Pot Found Growing Behind House (With Photo Gallery)
September 30, 2011
Escambia County deputies are working to determine who was responsible for tens of thousands of dollars worth of marijuana found growing behind a Molino home Thursday afternoon.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Air One helicopter located about 80 marijuana plants as they were flying a marijuana eradication mission. Tactical Flight Officer Sgt. Vince Odenbrett and pilot Rich Hunt were flying over the area of Highway 29 and Highway 97 when they located the plants behind a home at 7511 North Highway 29. Patrol units and narcotics investigators were called to take over the eradication process and the investigation. The plants ranged in height from about five inches to five feet.
Sgt. Robert Quinata, assistant officer in charge of the ECSO Narcotics Division, said the marijuana plants had a street value of about $80,000. No arrests had been made as of Thursday night as the investigation continued.
The house at 7511 North Highway 29 is located down a long driveway, blocked from view from the highway by a large wooded area. Deputies said the plants were growing in an open area behind the home, close to a shed.
According to the Escambia County Property Appraiser, the property belongs to Keith and Donna Ciano, but deputies said they don’t know yet if the plants belonged to them.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured above and below: Marijuana plants found and removed from behind a home on Highway 29 in Molino Thursday. Pictured top inset: Deputy Mike Coburn with the marijuana plants. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Authorities Investigate Threat Against Tate High
September 30, 2011
Authorities are investigating threats made against Tate High School and an Escambia County school bus.
According to deputies, a Tate student made the threats Wednesday against the school and the bus. The student was questioned Thursday at the school and found to have no weapons. They say he could face charges for making the threats.
The exact nature of the threats has not been released.
Man Airlifted To Burn Center
September 30, 2011
A Flomaton man was burned in a fire at a mobile home Thursday night.
The 26-year old male reportedly suffered severe burns to his hands and face at his mobile home on Pecan Grove Lane just before 9 p.m. He was airlifted by LifeFlight to the University of South Alabama Regional Burn Center in Mobile.
The fire was out as the fire firefighters arrived on scene. Further details were not available.
Ernest Ward Names Students Of The Month
September 30, 2011
Students of the Month for September have been named for Ernest Ward Middle School. They are (left to right) Kayleigh Linam, seventh grade; Sarah Dutton, eighth grade; and Celeste North, sixth grade. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
It’s A Bird, It’s A Plane – No, It’s Snoopy One
September 30, 2011
“Snoopy One” — one of three MetLife Blimps — was spotted over Atmore late Thursday afternoon.
According to the company, none of the MetLife blimps requires the use of a home base. Together, “Snoopy One” and “Snoopy Two” combine to travel approximately 120,000 miles a year throughout the United States. Traveling with each MetLife blimp is a dedicated 14 member crew: two pilots and twelve crewmen. The ground crew includes electronic engineers, mechanics, licensed radio technicians, and riggers. In addition to these highly specialized personnel, each MetLife blimp operation requires five ground support vehicles; to move the blimp and crew from one location to the next.
The primary focus of the blimp program is providing aerial coverage of sporting and special events. In a typical year, “Snoopy One” and “Snoopy Two” cover approximately 70 events for a variety of networks including NBC, CBS, ABC, ESPN and TGC. The blimps can be seen capturing shots of events ranging from the US Open and PGA Championship, to NFL football games across the country.
Pictured above: “Snoopy One” as seen over Highway 21 in Atmore about 4:30 Thursday afternoon. Photo by Kim McCullough for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Volleyball: NHS Falls To BCHS
September 30, 2011
The Northview Lady Chiefs lost to Baldwin County High School in varsity and junior varsity volleyball Thursday in Bratt.
Varsity
Baldwin County defeated Northview 11-25, 15-25, 16-25.
Misty Doran had three kills, a block and a dig for the Lady Chiefs, as Lily Townson added four assists. Morgan Payne posted three kills and one dig, and Paeton Hadley had one ace, two kills, an assist, one block and a dig for Northview (3-10, 3-3).
Junior Varsity
Baldwin County defeated Northview 18-25, 14-25.
Rebecca Grim posted two aces and three kills for the Lady Chiefs, while Danielle Steadham had four kills, three blogs and a dig. Junior Hannah Fiellin added two aces and one assist for Northview (7-6, 3-1).
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Two Seriously Injured In Highway 97 Crash (With Photo Gallery)
September 29, 2011
Three people — including a child — were injured in crash between a SUV and a piece of machinery Thursday afternoon on Highway 97 near Walnut Hill.
Witnesses said 22-year old Brittany Tutton hit a loader after the equipment driver pulled into her path on Highway 97 south of West Highway 4 about 2:30 Thursday afternoon. The SUV overturned, coming to rest on its side on Highway 97. Tutton was seriously injured, while her passenger, a 3-year old Maddix, received minor injuries. Both were transported by ambulance to Baptist Hospital in Pensacola. Maddix was treated and released.
The elderly driver of the piece of equipment, Sam Tichi of Walnut Hill, was seriously injured and transported to Baptist Hospital by LifeFlight.
The crash remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Further details have not yet been released.
The Walnut Hill, Century and McDavid stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, the Atmore Fire Department, Atmore Ambulance and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the crash.
For a photo gallery from the scene, click here.
Pictured above: Firefighters used the Jaws of Life to free a 22-year woman from this SUV after she collided with a piece of equipment (pictured below) crossing Highway 97. The occupant of the equipment was transported to Baptist Hospital by LifeFlight (inset). NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Charges Dropped Against Mother’s Day Piggly Wiggly Shooter
September 29, 2011
Charges have been dropped against the Atmore man who shot a Century resident outside the Davisville Piggly Wiggly on Mother’s Day.
Gary Winston Smith, 57, of Rockaway Creek Road, had been charged with aggravated battery with a firearm for the May 8,, 2011, shooting of 45-year old Garland Rodney Johnson of Century. Now, Johnson has told prosecutors that he no longer wished to pursue criminal charges in the case.
“The possibility that it was self defense has also been raised by the defendant,” Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille told NorthEscambia.com Wednesday. “The could also be the issue of insufficient evidence.”
The whole incident, authorities said, was over a woman allegedly seeing both men.
The woman and Johnson, according to a witness, were both at the Grey Goose lounge a short distance from the Piggly Wiggly about 3:30 Sunday afternoon for a “Mother’s Day drink”. The woman told deputies that she and Johnson had just pulled into the Grey Goose parking lot when they heard tires spinning from Highway 97. Johnson then, according to the woman, went to the road to look and then got back into his Nissan Altima and took off toward the Piggly Wiggly. A short time later, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report, Johnson called the woman on her cell phone and said, “He just shot me.” He told her he was “At the Pig” and had been shot in the stomach.
Smith told deputies he went to the Piggly Wiggly to get a steak to grill for his dinner. He said he observed Johnson get out of his Nissan Altima before he “charged” at him. Smith admitted to deputies that he reached into his pocket, pulled out a .22 caliber revolver, pointed it a Johnson and told him to stop. Smith said Johnson did not have anything in his hands, but came at him in an aggressive manner. Smith said Johnson stated that he was not scared of the gun and that “he was going to beat his brains in,” according to the Sheriff’s Office report.
Smith (pictured) told deputies that he shot Johnson in the stomach from about three feet away because he feared Johnson was going to “beat him up”. He also told deputies that he hoped Johnson would be okay.
When deputies arrived at the Piggly Wiggly after the shooting, they found Smith standing at the rear of his Mustang, which was parked along the sidewalk outside the store. His revolver was on the ground about three to four feet away. He was placed into custody without incident.
Deputies found Johnson inside the store, shot in the stomach with an exit wound in his back. He was transported by LifeFlight to Baptist Hospital and later recovered.
Smith’s brother-in-law told deputies he was about 20 yards away when he observed another man approach Smith, and it appeared the two men were arguing. The witness said the man got into Smith’s face, before stepping back and being shot.
Employees inside the Piggly Wiggly told deputies that they heard the gunshot before Johnson walked in the door and sat down on a bench. Store employees then called 911. Two of the employees told deputies that after the shooting, they observed Smith pacing with a gun in one hand and talking on this cell phone outside the store. Smith’s sister told deputies the two men had been feuding for the past few months.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the scene, click here.
Pictured top: A Century man was shot just outside the Piggly Wiggly on Highway 97 in Davisville on May 8. Pictured inset: This NorthEscambia.com exclusive photo shows Gary Winston Smith of Atmore being arrested in connection with the shooting. Pictured below: The victim, Garland Rodney Johnson of Century, was transported by LifeFlight to Baptist Hospital in Pensacola. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
