Four Sentenced For Billings Murders
August 4, 2011
Four men convicted in the death of Byrd and Melanie Billings were sentenced Thursday morning.
- Gary Lamont Sumner Jr., who pleaded no contest to two counts of second degree murder, received 20 years with no probation.
- Leonard Gonzalez, Sr., who pleaded no contest to two charges of second degree murder and home invasion, received 17.5 years in prison without probation when released.
- Rakeem Chavez Florence, who entered a plea deal for his testimony to second degree murder and home invasion robbery, was sentenced to 24 years in prison and 21 years of probation.
- Fredrick Thornton, Jr, who pleaded to two counts second degree murder and one count of home invasion, was sentenced to 22 years in prison followed by 18 years of probation under a plea deal with prosecutors.
The sentences were handed down by Circuit Court Judge Nicholas Geeker.
Three other defendants were previous sentenced in the case:
- Leonard Patrick Gonzalez, Jr. — sentenced to death for shooting and killing the Beulah couple.
- Wayne Coldiron — sentenced to life in prison for first degree murder
- Donnie Stallworth — sentenced to life in prison for first degree murder
Pamela Long-Wiggins is due to be sentenced on September 2 as an accessory after the fact.
Bratt ‘Prowler’ Located Hours After Manhunt
August 4, 2011
The focus of an early Thursday morning manhunt in Bratt has been located by Escambia County deputies, about three hours after they called off a formal search.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to Rigby Road off West Highway 4 just before 5 a.m. for a reported prowler. One resident told deputies that she saw a man in her yard. A second resident told deputies he had made contact with the man who told him that he was out of gas.
Deputies located what was believed to be the man’s truck nearby, but it did not appear to be out of gas.
A perimeter was established and an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office K-9 unit responded. The search was called off about 7 a.m. without locating the suspect.
About 10 a.m., several residents in the area called the Sheriff’s Office to report seeing the man. Deputies located him a short time later at a home on Highway 4. The man told deputies that he ran out of gas and went to several houses seeking help. He said he fled when he saw deputies in the early morning hours because he thought he was drunk and he might be arrested for DUI.
No charges have been filed in the incident.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Final Local Defendants Sentenced In Federal Drug Case
August 4, 2011
The last of a dozen North Escambia area defendants have been sentenced on federal drug charges stemming from an undercover operation.
The 12 were indicted and arrested in February for conspiring to obtain pseudoephedrine in order to manufacture methamphetamine. They were arrested in a day-long law enforcement sweep on February 22 as part of a federal effort dubbed “Operation Blister Pack”.
The most recent sentences handed down as a result of the operation were:
- Rebecca Jernigan, of Still Road, Century — eight months home detention without electronic monitoring, five years probation
- Particia Love, of Eastman Lane, Cantonment — 36 months in federal prison, three years probation
- William Robbins, of Duxbury Avenue, Molino — five years probation with first six months at the Keeton Correctional Center followed by six months home detention
The longest sentences stemming from the operation were handed down to Matthew Ramsey of Duxbury Avenue in Molino, James N. Brown of Molino Road in Molino and Terry D. Wolfe of Robertsdale, Alabama. Ramsey will spend the next 20 years in federal prison, while Brown was sentenced to nearly 16 years and Wolfe received 10 years.
All of the dozen defendants entered into plea agreements with federal prosecutors over the past few months.
Those sentenced earlier were:
- James N. Brown, of Molino Road, Molino– 188 months federal prison, three years supervised release.
- Tonya L. Foster, of Vaughn Street, Cantonment– 72 months federal prison, three years supervised release.
- Aarron V. Hendrickson, of Hwy. 95A, Cantonment — 36 months federal prison, three years supervised release.
- Raymond E. Love, of Highway 29, Molino — 54 months federal prison, three years supervised release.
- William T. Neal, of Williams Ditch Road, Cantonment – 40 months federal prison, three years supervised release.
- Terra C. Palmer, of Daylily Road, Cantonment — 60 months federal prison, three years supervised release.
- Matthew M. Ramsey, of Duxbury Avenue, Molino — 240 months federal prison, 10 years supervised release.
- Nicholas D. Scott, of Rumford Road, Molino – 87 months federal prison, three years supervised release.
- Terry D. Wolfe, of Robertsdale, Ala. — 120 months federal prison, five years supervised release.
The case resulted from a long-term investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration
(DEA).
Free Disaster Training Offered
August 4, 2011
North Escambia residents have an upcoming opportunity to become more prepared for disasters thanks to BRACE — the Be Ready Alliance Coordinating for Emergencies.
BRACE will offer Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training beginning August 25 and ending with a disaster drill on October 22.
CERT training is available to Escambia County (Fla.) residents 18 or older and includes basic disaster response skills like fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization and disaster medical operations.
“CERT members can assist others in their community or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available for help,” according to Gloria Horning, spokesperson for BRACE.
The CERT training will be offered from 6-9 p.m. Thursdays at the Century Town Hall on August 25, September 1, September 15, September 22, October 6, October 13 and October 20.
For more information, contact Denise Wiggins at (850) 256-3208.
Man Charged For Laundry Room Meth Lab
August 4, 2011
An Atmore man has been arrested on drug charges after police discovered a meth lab in his laundry room.
Richard Jacob Akers, 30, was charged with first degree manufacture of a controlled Substance, manufacture, sale or transfer of precursor chemicals, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of a controlled substance.
Agents with the 21st Judicial Drug Task Force received a tip that methamphetamine was being manufactured at Akers’ residence at 215 5th Avenue in Atmore. When agents arrived at the address, the owner gave them consent to search the residence. Inside, they found the laundry room meth lab. Agents also seized methamphetamine with a street value of about $1,200, according to the Atmore Police Department.
Akers was booked into the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton with bond set at $250,000.
Gulf Power Working To Keep Those Air Conditioners Humming
August 4, 2011
This week’s high temps and heat indexes are causing air conditioners to work overtime along the Gulf Coast, and Gulf Power Company says they are prepared for record electric demands.
“We work hard to anticipate additional demand from our customers in the summer,” Jeff Rogers, Gulf Power spokesperson, said. “Through careful planning, we forecast demand years in advance to provide ample, reliable electricity for our customers. That includes planning for future power plants and other facilities. And, as part of Southern Company, we work with Alabama Power, Georgia Power and Mississippi Power to help ensure we have sufficient capacity.”
The utility can generate 2,659 megawatts of electricity on its own and purchase more electricity if necessary from sister companies and neighboring utilities. The all time peak record occurred in August of 2007 when Gulf Power customers demanded 2,634 megawatts. This year’s peak summer demand of 2,432 megawatts was reached on July 2, however a new summer peak is expected this week.
“What this means is our customers are buying more electricity to stay comfortable in the summer heat,” said Rogers. “About half of the electricity a customer consumes during the summer is for air conditioning.”
No Property Tax Increase For Century Residents
August 4, 2011
The Town of Century will not increase property taxes for the next year.
Ad valorem taxes will remain at .9048 mils. Even with the same tax rate as last year, city officials said that property tax revenues will actually decrease. That’s because property values are down.
Headed To The Creek? Santa Rosa Deputies Enforcing New Rules
August 4, 2011
Fun seekers headed to Coldwater Creek need to be aware of new rules and regulations, according to the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office.
According to a Sheriff’s Office news release:
Timber company Resource Management Services has closed the area on the northeast side of Coldwater Creek on Munson Highway to all traffic. Due to liability concerns, RMS has decided to post it as “No Trespassing” and has asked the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office to enforce this. The area has now been posted for several weeks and strict enforcement is set to begin.
The land on each side of Steel Bridge Road, excluding a portion of privately-owned land next to the water on the northeast side, was recently acquired by the Florida Division of Forestry. This area is also frequented by swimmers and is used as a launching point for canoes and inner tubes. Recently, the land was posted as an “Alcohol-free” zone by the state, which means no alcohol is allowed on the shoreline of the creek. Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office plans to begin strict enforcement, and violators may face a $50 fine.
Pictured above: Coldwater Creek. Photo courtesy the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Major Road Project Planned For Flomaton; Atmore Highway Gets Improvements
August 4, 2011
Major roadwork will soon begin in Flomaton, while a state improvement project is already underway in Atmore.
Highway 29/113 Flomaton
Highway 29/113 from the Florida state line at Century to the Highway 31 intersection will be resurfaced in Flomaton. The project should begin within the next two months, according to Rebecca Leigh White, spokesperson for the Alabama Department of Transportation. The contract allows for 30 working days — about two calendar months — to complete the project, making the estimated completion sometime late this year.
The seventh-tenths of a mile will be resurfaced by low bidder Mobile Asphalt Company, LLC, of Theodore for $267,826.20. Other bidders on the project included Roads, Inc. Of NWF, from Cantonment at $270,348.85 and Hosea O. Weaver & Sons, Inc. of Mobile at $285,568.20.
The state had estimated the project would cost $256,000 TO $313,000 to complete.
Highway 31/Industrial Atmore
A project is currently underway on Highway 31 in Atmore to add a turn lane at Industrial Road. Highway 31 will also be widened six feet on each side to accommodate the turn lane.
The $365,000 project is funded through an Industrial Access Roads Grant through the Alabama Industrial Access Road and Bridge Program administered by ALDOT. The grant can be used to build or improve public access roads and bridges to assist new or expanding industrial and manufacturing firms, according to White.
“ALDOT is pleased this project that will provide more efficient access to manufacturers in the Atmore Industrial Park as industry continues to expand in this area of Alabama,” White said.
Contractor Roads, Inc. Of NWF, from Cantonment is expected to complete the project this fall.
Pictured top: Cantonment’s Roads Inc. is working to add a turn lane on Highway 31 at Industrial Road in Atmore. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
State Forecasts Property Value Increases
August 4, 2011
In a sign that Florida’s housing market may be on the road to recovery, the state’s top economist expects an increase in school property tax rolls next year of 1.3 percent.
Though that is actually a slight decrease from the original forecast of 2 percent, it is one of the most promising signs yet that Florida’s ailing and hard-hit housing market is on the mend after four years of plunging values.
Florida’s housing market was one of the hardest hit in the nation, the victim of an overwrought housing bubble, loose mortgage standards and a tourism-based economy.
The state’s housing woes have become fodder for national newspaper and magazine articles spotlighting the housing glut, examining over-developed South Florida subdivisions with plummeting home values.
But now Realtors, economists and property appraisers say they see signs of a housing market recovery.
“We turned the corner,” said state economist Amy Baker, though she cautioned the economic recovery is still fragile. Her forecast was part of a discussion Wednesday of adjusting estimated property tax revenue this year.
“The correction from the housing boom was severe and very dramatic on the (tax) rolls,” Baker said. “Now most of that correction is behind us, but we are still not back to the growth we typically see.” She said that property tax rolls are going to stabilize after four years of decreases, with drops over 10 percent in tax rolls in 2009 and 2010.
The forecast of school property tax rolls is a big indicator of the health of the housing market. When home values go down, school districts typically collect less money. When home values go up, then property tax rolls swell.
But is Baker’s forecast too optimistic? After all, Florida’s median home values are still sinking.
The latest real estate data shows that the median home price in Florida slipped 2 percent in June to $138,000, and that home sales fell by 4 percent in June from the same period last year.
Sean Snaith, an economics professor at the University of Central Florida, called Baker’s forecast “reasonable.”
The state’s tenuous economic recovery is heavily dependent on hiring, Snaith said.
“The states of the housing market and labor market are intertwined going forward,” Snaith said. “As we see better job creation numbers and a falling unemployment rate, that will help the housing market.” But while Florida’s unemployment rate has inched lower, it still stands at 10. 6 percent in June.
Snaith said an increase in what a school collects in property taxes could come from home value appreciation, or a combination of that and an increase in the number of people or homes in Florida next year.
Property appraisers said they are already seeing signs of an improved housing market.
Pedro Garcia, the property appraiser for Miami-Dade County, said in the downtown area, populated by high-rise condominiums, home values jumped 12.1 percent this year over last year.
In high-income areas, such as Coral Gables, property tax values have begun to inch upwards from last year, Garcia said. “It’s getting better, it’s definitely getting better,” Garcia said.
In Lee County, Property Appraiser Kenneth Wilkinson said tax rolls have improved from a 25 percent decrease three years ago to a mere 3.46 percent decrease this year.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if statewide we have a very slight increase,” Wilkinson said. “I wouldn’t disagree with Amy’s numbers. It sounds reasonable to me. What we are seeing is residential has bottomed out.”
But property appraisers said while homes and condos appear poised for a comeback, commercial properties are lagging behind. “Commercial property will always follow what is happening in residential,” Wilkinson said. “Commercial went down in double digits this year.”
Realtors and property appraisers say the recovery could still be unhinged by a significant increase in foreclosures, and a so-called “shadow inventory” of homes that are waiting to be put in the market.
The forced slowdown in foreclosures due to investigations into foreclosure fraud last year have helped home values in some areas by stalling the number of foreclosed homes, which often bring down the value of homes overall.
Florida Realtors President Patricia Fitzgerald said there are signs of increased housing activity in some parts of the state, but she said recovery is uneven, with some subdivisions seeing robust sales while others aren’t.
“We do see more activity, in the lower price ranges,” Fitzgerald said. “In the St. Lucie market, (homes) are selling like hot cakes,” Fitzgerald said.
Some of this activity is from investors, who sense the market may have reached its bottom, she said.
Some homes in St. Lucie are selling from $40,000 to $100,000 and many investors are snatching them up, she said, turning them into rental properties or fixing up foreclosed homes for a profit, Fitzgerald said.
“For the most part, you are seeing a big influx of investors coming into our marketplace,” Fitzgerald said. “A lot of those investors are local investors and are using cash.”
By Lilly Rockwell
The News Service of Florida