Cantonment Man Charged With Abusing 2 Young Girls
September 13, 2011
A 29-year old Cantonment man is jailed charged with the sexual battery of two young girls.
Leon Nathaniel Harris of Madrid Road was booked into the Escambia County Jail on two felony counts of custodial sexual battery on a victim under 12.
According to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report, the two girls would spend the night at Harris’ trailer, during which time the abuse would occur. The abuse was reported to have started as early as 2003.
Information released by the Sheriff’s Office does not specify the nature of the family or custodial relationship between Harris and the victims.
Harris was being held early Tuesday in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
Escambia Approves New Voting Districts For 2012
September 13, 2011
The Escambia County Commission has approved new commission district boundaries effective with the 2012 commission elections, following the 2010 Census results showing a population shift into District 5.
“To ensure fair representation, the Escambia County Commissioners are required to adjust the boundaries of the county commission districts following the census every 10 years. Adjustments to the boundaries are made to ensure that the population is divided as evenly as possible,” according to Sonya Daniel, public information manager for Escambia County.
Escambia County is divided into five different voting districts, each represented by a county commissioner and school board member. According to County Administrator Randy Oliver, the districts must be redrawn in such a manner that the population difference between the smallest district and the largest district is no more than five-percent.
All of the districts are predominantly white, with the exception of District 3, which remains black.
Data released earlier this year by the U.S. Census Bureau showed a population shift into the area between Barrineau Park and 9 Mile roads. That area, called the Cantonment Census County Division, saw a population increase of 15.8% (6,901 people) while the other Census divisions in the county saw a population decrease of 1.4 to 3 percent. Overall, the county experienced a very slight 1 percent increase during the decade as the population grew from 294,410 in 2000 to 297,619 in 2010.
Click the map above to enlarge.
Ransom Middle FFA Names Officers
September 13, 2011
Ransom Middle School has announced new FFA officers. They are:
- President – Annabella Garcia
- Vice President – Peyton Baisden
- Secretary – Taylor Hodges and Ashley Stokes
- Treasurer – Connor Groff
- Sentinel – Rachel Grammer
- Reporter – Dalton Young
- Student Advisor – Kathryn Caro
- Historian – Brittany Miehe
- Parliamentarian – Tyler Burt
Under the direction of agriculture teacher and FFA sponsor, Dawn Inman, the FFA student membership program at Ransom Middle has quadrupled in size.
Pictured above: (front row, L-R) Connor Groff, treasurer; Taylor Hodges, secretary; Annabella Garcia, president; Tyler Burt, parlimentarian; Kathryn Caro, student advisor, (back, L-R) Dalton Young, reporter; Brittany Miehe, historian; Peyton Baisden, vice president; Rachel Grammer, sentinel; and Ashley Stokes, secretary. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Search Continues In 10-Year Old Case Of Missing Teen Danielle Bell
September 13, 2011
A Tate High School student last seen 10 years ago in North Escambia was among those remembered Monday on the 13th annual Florida Missing Children’s Day.
Danielle Arion Bell, 14, was last seen at a party in September 2001 in the 500 block of Cedar Tree Lane, between Highway 29 and Highway 95A in Cantonment.
“It is imperative that we continue to devote all available resources and raise awareness of those who are missing, regardless of age,” said Gov. Rick Scott Monday. “As a parent, my heart goes out to the families of Florida’s missing children and my prayers are with them. We are also eternally grateful for our law enforcement community and citizens who tirelessly work to protect our children every day.”
Witnesses told authorities that Bell left a party with a man that was in his mid-twenties at the time. Escambia County deputies later questioned that man and searched his home, but he was never charged in connection with the case.
During the summer of 2007, Alfredo Gomez Sanchez, Jr. was charged with providing law enforcement with false information about his whereabouts at the time Bell disappeared. He was not implicated in her disappearance.
In October 2010, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Unit served a search warrant at the home. As part of that search warrant, a septic tank behind the residence was pumped out, and dogs from Escambia County Search and Rescue were also used to search the area. Investigators said nothing was found, and they would not say what new information might have led to the search.
According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Danielle has a scar on her right forearm and blue eyes. She had brown hair at the time of her disappearance. She would now be 24 years old. Danielle, whose nickname was “Dani”, was a member of the Tate Aggies cheerleading squad. The popular teen enjoyed dancing and drawing.
Anyone with information about Bell is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit at (850) 436-9580 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Pictured top: Investigators pumped and searched a septic tank at this home on Cedar Tree Lane in Cantonment in October 2010 in the case of missing teen Danielle Arion Bell. Pictured below: A search and rescue K-9 team was also on site. Pictured bottom: A septic tank company employee prepares to pump a septic tank at the home. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Photos: Northview Vs. Escambia County (Atmore) Junior Varsity
September 13, 2011
The Escambia County High School (Atmore) Blue Devils defeated the Northview Chiefs 8-0 Monday evening in Atmore in junior varsity football action.
The only score in the game came from the JV Blue Devils with less than a minute to go in the half.
The JV Chiefs were coming off a 30-16 win over the West Florida High JV Jaguars last week in Pensacola. The JV Chiefs will travel to Baker on September 22 to take on the JV Baker Gators at 6:30 p.m.
For a photo gallery from the game, click here.
Pictured top: Northview sophomore Brannon Freeman takes down an ECHS Blue Devil Monday evening in Atmore. Pictured inset: Freeman and Phillip Myrick gain yardage for the Chiefs. Pictured below: Northview’s Jaron Myles (#2) maneuvers through a host of ECHS Blue Devil defenders. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview Ranked No. 1 In Florida 1A Football
September 13, 2011
The Northview Chiefs are ranked No. 1in Florida in Class 1A in two football polls released Monday.
The Chiefs are ranked No. 1 by both the Associated Press and in a poll by the national sports website Maxpreps.com by CBS Sports. The Chiefs moved up from No. 2 in the AP poll after a lost last Friday night by then No. 1 Jefferson County to Madison County, 42-7.
The Chiefs lost in the state semifinals last year, just one win away from the state championship game. This year, the Northview is in a newer “Rural Division”, allowing them to play similar rural public schools, not private schools.
The 2011 season opened with the Chiefs sitting out week one with a bye and a week two 27-14 non-district win over Marianna. Northview will travel to Chipley Friday night.
Pictured: The Northview Chiefs celebrate after their first win of the season Friday night in Marianna. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Volleyball: Flomaton Defeats Northview
September 13, 2011
Flomaton defeated Northview in varisty and junior varsity volleyball action Monday afternoon.
Varsity
Flomaton defeated Northview 22-25, 16-25, 14-25.
Taylor Roberson — Aces-2, Kills-1, Digs-2
Payton Hadley — Aces-2 Kills-2 Assists-2, Digs-1
Morgan Payne — Aces-2, Kills-6
Lily Townson — Aces-1, Assists-2, Digs-1
Junior Varsity
Flomaton defeated Northview 14-25, 18-25.
Makayla Flowers — Aces-1, Kills-1
Kyndall Hall –Aces-1, Kills-2
Tiffani Pritchett — Aces-2, Kills-1, Assist-4
Danielle Steadham — Aces-3, Kills-4, Assists-1,Blocks-1
Five Century Streets To Be Resurfaced This Week
September 13, 2011
The ride around Century will soon get even better — five streets will be resurfaced this week.
The town will resurface West Cottage Street, Lake Street, Ramar Street, Academy Street and the portion of Pleasant Hill Road that is in the town limits. The resurfacing project will cost the town just under $88,500 by piggybacking on an Escambia County contract with Roads, Inc. Of Northwest Florida.
Weather permitting, work is scheduled to begin Thursday and be completed by Saturday.
Earlier this year, the town resurfaced Freedom Road, the portion of Old Flomaton Road in the city limits, Hecker Road, Elm Street, Hilltop Road, B Street and Archie Street — the streets that were placed on the top of the town’s priority list for repaving. That project came in with a total price tag just over $200,000.
Pictured top: The recently resurfaced Hecker Road in Century. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Northview, Pace Tops In JV Volleyball Tourney
September 13, 2011
Pace won the Northview High School JV Volleyball Tournament this past weekend in Bratt. The JV Northview Chiefs finished second.
Northview vs Pace
Pace wins — 12-25, 18-25
Tiffani Pritchett — Aces-1, Kills-1, Assist -2
Rebecca Grim — Aces-1, Digs-2
Danielle Steadham — Aces-1, Kills-1, Digs-3
Northview vs West Florida
Northview Wins — 25-19, 25-15
Harley Caraway — Aces-1, Assists-2
Rebecca Grim — Ace-3, Kills-1
Tiffani Pritchett — Ace-2, Kills-1, Assists-2, Digs-1
Danielle Steadham — Aces-6, Kills-5
Northview vs PCA
Northview wins — 25-7, 25-20
Kyndall Hall — Kills-3, Assists-2
Rebecca Grim — Ace-3, Kills-1
Tiffani Pritchett — Ace-6, Kills-1, Assists-2
Danielle Steadham — Aces-5, Kills-3, Assist-1
Northview vs Flomaton
Northview wins — 25-9, 25-21
Kyndall Hall — Aces-3, Kills -1
Rebecca Grim — Aces-3, Assist-1
Tiffani Pritchett — Kills-1, Assists-3
Danielle Steadham — Aces-3, Kills-7, Blocks-1, Digs-2
Northview JV vs Flomaton
Northview wins — 27-25, 17-25, 16-14
Kyndall Hall — Aces-5, Kills-2, Blocks-1
Harley Caraway — Aces-3, Assists-2
Tiffani Pritchett — Aces-2, Assists-8
Danielle Steadham — Aces-1, Kills-11, Digs-3
Northview vs Pace
Pace wins — 9-25, 11-25
Kyndall Hall — Aces-1, Kills-2
Rebecca Grim — Kills-1, Assist-1, Digs-3
Harley Caraway — Assists-1, Digs-1
Danielle Steadham — Kills-1, Digs-1
No Injuries In Morning School Bus Wreck
September 12, 2011
(Updated 1 pm) There were no injuries in a school bus wreck this morning near Northview High School.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 16-year old Alison Danielle Bardin of McDavid pulled her 2004 Honda CRV from a stop sign on Pine Barren Road into Highway 4 and the path of a 2007 Escambia County School District bus 28-06 driven by Stephanie Morgan of Century.
There were 37 Northview High and Ernest Ward Middle School students on the bus at the time of the 8:20 a.m. crash. The students were transferred to another bus and transported to school.
Bardin was charged with violation of right of way, according to the FHP.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
