Man Gets 32 Years For Kidnapping; Victims Saved By Bathroom Note
July 1, 2011
A Louisiana man has been sentenced to prison for the kidnapping of his ex-fiancé and two children that were eventually saved by a note left in a Flomaton gas station bathroom.
Therral Hatfield, 26, was sentenced Thursday to 32 years in prison by Federal Judge W. Keith Watkins.
On April 21, 2010, a customer found a note scribbled on a paper towel in a women’s bathroom at the Yellowhammer truck stop at I-65 and Highway 113 in Flomaton. The note said that the female and her two children had been kidnapped and were being taken to Atlanta by their abductor. The note also contained a description of the vehicle and its license plate number.
An Alabama state trooper patrolling just inside Butler County near Garland spotted the vehicle, ending the kidnapping attempt.
Yellowhammer Truck Stop clerk Connie Kinman said after the incident that she noticed Hatfield outside the women’s bathroom door the entire time she was inside.
“She had to know he was there,” she said. “She was very brave.”
Septic Tank Inspections Still On Hold
July 1, 2011
Florida’s new septic tank inspection requirement legally takes effect today, but the inspections won’t begin any time soon, if ever.
The Senate tried — and failed — to repeal the mandatory inspections after a public outcry about cost and an unfair burden on rural residents. But language was inserted into a budget bill by Sen Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, that prohibits the Department of Health from spending a dime on the inspections without the approval of the Legislative Budget Commission, of which Gaetz is a member.
“In my view, the septic tank mandate is an unnecessary policy,” Gaetz said. “It wrongly assumes that rural North Florida ought to be treated the same as heavily populated urban South Florida.”
The Senate failed to take up a bill sponsored by Greg Evers, R-Baker, repealing the measure prior to the end of the 2011 session.
“I regret that the importance and the need to pass this good piece of legislation was not acknowledged,” said Evers, who represents the North Escambia area. “Although my colleagues were unwilling to support the septic tank repeal at this time, I will keep fighting to reverse this law and I encourage you to keep fighting with me. This will remain my number one priority until we get it accomplished.”
The Florida House passed a measure in mid-April to repeal the mandatory inspection law that was passed in 2010 as part of a broader springs protection bill.
The House bill’s sponsor, Rep. Marti Coley, R-Marrianna, expressed her disappointment.
“I am very disappointed that the Senate chose not to repeal the septic tank inspection,” Coley said, adding that she was encouraged that the Senate stymied the effort with the budget committee approval requirement.
“With these provisions in place to protect our citizens, the fight to repeal this burdensome mandate will continue,” she said.
Backers of the law said it was necessary to protect springs and other waterways from pollution, but opponents argued it would drive up costs for homeowners. Opponents believe that tests — the financial responsibility of the property owner — could cost up to $500 for each of Florida’s 2.6 million septic tanks.
“No property owner in Florida need fear a swarm of bureaucrats and tank-testers invading their property,” Gaetz said. “The moratorium remains in effect.”
Fla. Senate Boss: No Offshore Drilling
July 1, 2011
Senate President Mike Haridopolos said Thursday that while he’s in favor of boosting domestic oil drilling, and interested in studying “all options,” the Legislature will not pursue new drilling in near-shore Florida waters in the coming legislative session.
“Not in Florida waters, not this session,” Haridopolos said.
Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island said he and House Speaker Dean Cannon have agreed that the technology around the safety of oil drilling and what led to last year’s BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill need to be fully understood before moving forward with new drilling in Florida’s nearshore waters.
By The News Service Florida
Longtime EREC Employee Brenda McCall Retires
July 1, 2011
A longtime Escambia River Electric Cooperative employee retired Thursday. Brenda McCall, who worked in customer service/benefits, was employed at EREC for 20 years.
Pictured: A retirement party for 20-year Escambia River Electric Cooperative employee Brenda McCall was held Thursday. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tri-County 9-10 Year Olds Finish 3rd; 11-12 Continues Play
July 1, 2011
The Tri-County 9-10 year old All Stars are out of tournament play, while Tri-County’s 11-12 year olds are still alive.
Niceville 6 Tri-County 4
The 9-10 year old Tri-County All Stars finished third in Florida District 1 Little League Thursday night. Tri-County lost to Niceville White 6-4 in Shalimar.
Niceville 11 Tri-County 0
Tri-County’s 11-12 year old All Stars also lost Thursday night. They were defeated 11-0 by Niceville in Niceville. With just one loss, Tri-County gets another shot in the loser’s bracket, playing Destin at 6 p.m. Friday in Niceville. The winner advances to the tournament final against Niceville Saturday evening.
Pictured Top: Tri-County 9-10 year old All-Stars Thursday night in Shalimar. Submitted photo by Kelly Archer for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Sheriff’s Office Re-accredited
July 1, 2011
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office was awarded full re-accredited status Thursday by the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation.
“Once again, the men and women of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office have proven their dedication to their profession,” Sheriff David Morgan said, “I couldn’t be prouder of our accreditation team and the entire Sheriff’s Office.”
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is now accredited by CFA, Florida Corrections Accreditation Commission (FCAC), and the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC).
Reported Early AM Highway 97 House Fire Was A/C Problem
July 1, 2011
A report of a possible house fire early Friday morning turned out to be an electrical problem with an air conditioning unit. Firefighters responded to the brick home in the 10000 block of Highway 97 near West Highway 4 just before 3 a.m. after the resident reported the smell of something burning. Firefighters discovered that smoke was from a malfunctioning outdoor air conditioning unit. There were no injuries and no damage outside of the air conditioner. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
A-Celebration: Every North Escambia Area Middle, Elementary Gets An “A” School Grade
June 30, 2011
There was lot of celebrating at every North Escambia area elementary and middle school — all of them received A’s in the Florida Department of Education school accountability grades released Thursday morning.
All five North Escambia area elementary schools — Bratt, Byrneville, Molino Park, Jim Allen and Jay– returned to A status for 2011.
Bratt Elementary returned to A-status in 2011, up from a B last year. Byrneville improved from a C, Jim Allen and Molino Park improved from a B, and Jay improved from a C.
The news was equally good for Ernest Ward and Ransom, the two middle schools in North Escambia.
Both Ernest Ward and Ransom were A schools for 2011 — the sixth straight year at an A-ranking for both schools.
The Escambia County School District is now an A-rated district, up from a C last year. And the Santa Rosa County School District remained A-rated for the eighth consecutive year.
High school grades will not be released until later this year because graduation rates and other factors are being considered this year and that data is not yet available.
Each school is given a grade based primarily upon student achievement data from the FCAT. The grades are designed to communicate to the public how well a school is performing relative to state standards.
School grades are calculated based on annual learning gains of each student toward achievement of Sunshine State Standards, the progress of the lowest quartile of students, and the meeting of proficiency standards.
Man Accused Of Starving 10 Horses Changes Plea; Sentencing Set
June 30, 2011
The Walnut Hill man accused of starving 10 horses changed his plea to no contest to the charges against him Wednesday. He will be sentenced in August.
James Benjamin Bethea, 61, appeared Wednesday afternoon before Escambia Circuit Judge Ronald Swanson and entered the no contest plea on two felony and eight misdemeanor animal cruelty charges. He had previously pleaded not guilty.
Bethea had 20 horses on his property in the 5000 block of Highway 97A in Enon when Panhandle Equine Rescue arrived to investigate an abuse complaint on February 2. A neighbor told deputies she observed a horse lying in the pasture the previous morning that did not move all day.
For more photos from the scene, click here. WARNING: Some readers may find the photos disturbing.
One of the horses was so severely malnourished, according to PER President Diane Lowery, that it was euthanized in the pasture by a licensed veterinarian.
Another was in critical condition, unable to stand. The thin animal shivered in the February cold and sleet as rescuers worked to load it into a trailer for transport to a veterinarian for evaluation. Nearly a dozen volunteers were forced to push and pull the horse into a trailer as it lay nearly motionless on a tarp.
Another eight horses were seized by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and taken to a veterinarian for treatment.
“They won’t survive the night in this cold and sleet if we don’t get them out of here,” Lowery said as a small army of volunteers assembled with horse trailers to load the animals for transport.
An Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene unit was called to the scene to photograph the horses and their surroundings, including empty food troughs and old bathtubs that were presumably the water source for the horses. The bathtubs were dry.
Many of the horses gathered around a fresh roll of hay that, according to Lowery, appeared to have been placed in the pasture sometime Wednesday. Other horses, bones clearly visible under their skin, stayed away. Another horse gently nudged volunteers, seeking attention and closely following those that would rub it on its face.
For more photos from the scene, click here. WARNING: Some readers may find the photos disturbing.
Pictured top: One of nine horses being seized last February in the Enon community. Pictured inset: This horse was in critical condition, unable to stand even with assistance. Pictured below: Another of the seized horses. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Stabbing Victim Arrested
June 30, 2011
A stabbing victim that sought help at a Century bar in late 2009 was arrested Wednesday on an outstanding failure to appear warrant in the case.
Reginald Lee Williams, 25, of Washington Street, Flomaton, was charged with affray, riot or unlawful assembly and battery in connection with the December 27, 2009, incident. He was scheduled for an arraignment hearing on November 23, 2010, but failed to appear before Judge Joyce Williams, according to court records.
Williams was booked into the Escambia County Jail Wednesday morning with bond set at $3,000.
Emergency workers were called to Odom’s Bar at 9520 North Century Boulevard about 12:10 a.m. December 27, 2009, after Williams was reported to be stabbed. Reports indicate that Williams was stabbed nearby on Ivey Street and walked to the bar for help. Williams was transported by ambulance to Jay Hospital where he was treated for minor injuries.
Dusean Labradford Phifer of was arrested the morning of the incident and charged with felony aggravated battery and charged with being involved in an affray, riot or unlawful assembly. Charges against Phifer were later dropped by prosecutors.
According to arrest reports, both men agreed to fight one another after an argument over Phifer’s cousin, who was Williams’ girlfriend.