Sherrill Named To Dean’s List
March 6, 2011
Kate Elizabeth Sherrill was recently named to the Dean’s List at Berry College for the fall semester.
Sherill is a junior majoring in vocal performance with a minor in theater. She is a member of the Berry Singers and the Berry Concert Choir. Sherill recently appeared in Berry’s production of Hecuba and was invited to participate in the Irene Ryan scholarship program for her role as Rhonda in Almost, Maine.
Sherrill is the daughter of Kent and Anne Sherrill of Walnut Hill and the granddaughter of Dean Graham and the late Sam Graham and the late Hunk and Senie Sherrill, all of Atmore.
No Known Injuries In Early Saturday Crash
March 5, 2011
There were no known injuries in a single vehicle crash on Wiggins Road near Bratt early Saturday morning.
The driver of a pickup truck slammed into a tree about 12:30 a.m. on the dirt road just north of Highway 168. Emergency responders were unable to determine who the driver of the vehicle was. It was first reported that the driver had walked to a home on Highway 168, but that person as well as other people at the scene claimed to not be the driver.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Atmore Ambulance and the Florida Highway Patrol responded to the crash.
Pictured: An early Saturday morning crash on Wiggins Road in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Three Facing Murder Charges For 2010 Hit And Run Death Of Billy Beck III
March 5, 2011
Three people stand accused of murder for the 2010 hit and run death of a 23-year old on Chemstrand Road.
Phillip Michael Chevalier, 20, of Cantonment; Rebecca Maryellen Austin, 20, of Pensacola; and Brandon Charles Bell, 17, of Pensacola are all accused of felony murder for the death of Billy G. Beck III. The Florida Highway Patrol said Chevalier was the driver of the 1998 GMC truck that struck Beck, while Austin and Bell were passengers.
Beck, 23, was walking on Chemstrand Road May 6, 2010 when he was struck by at least three vehicles. The driver of the first vehicle to strike Beck fled the scene. Beck’s family maintained that foul play may have been involved in the crash; however there were few leads or witnesses, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Chevalier, Austin and Bell were developed as suspects; Chevalier fled the area soon after the crash and could not be located, the FHP said. FHP investigators said Austin was also actively avoiding them and could not be located. Bell, according to the FHP, refused to be interviewed.
“The case went cold without other leads and witnesses,” according to a report by FHP Cpl. Brian Davis.
On February 27, Florida Highway Patrol investigators developed additional evidence that led to arrest warrants being issued for Chevalier for felony murder and leaving the scene of accident with death.
Felony murder warrants were also issued for Bell and Austin.
Bell was arrested Friday during a traffic stop by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. He was also charged with possession of cocaine and is being held in the Escambia County Jail. Austin was already in the Santa Rosa County Jail on an unrelated failure to appear charge.
The Florida Highway Patrol is asking for the public’s help in locating Chevalier, who remained at large as of early Saturday morning. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 436-STOP.
The drivers of the second and third vehicles to strike Beck were not charged.
Correction: This story was updated March 7, 2011. The male passenger in the vehicle was incorrectly identified by the Florida Highway Patrol in a written press release as Brandon Charles Page. His correct name is Brandon Charles Bell.
Pictured top: Victor and Austin Beck mourn the loss of their brother Billy G. Beck III during a memorial service last year on Pensacola Beach. Pictured inset: Suspect Rebecca Maryellen Austin is held in the Santa Rosa County Jail while suspect Phillip Michael Chevalier, seen in this April 2010 photo, remains at large.
Escambia Man Charged With Homicide
March 5, 2011
Sheriff’s investigators have made an arrest in the death of an Escambia County woman whose body was found in a shallow grave.
Friday, investigators with the Escambia Sheriff’s Homicide Unit arrested 30-year-old Robert Snipe Jr. , of Pensacola, and charged him with second degree murder. He is accused of killing his live-in girlfriend, Catherine Angelica Lindsey, 22.
Lindsey’s family reported her missing on February 18. Lindsey’s body was discovered in a shallow grave the afternoon of February 23 in a wooded area behind the Twin Oaks Villas Apartments in Warrington as investigators working the missing persons case searched a wooded area.
“This arrest was the result of the tireless efforts of our crime scene technicians and criminal investigators,” said Sheriff’s spokesperson Chris Welborn.
Woman Charged In Connection With Wreck That Killed Two Teens
March 5, 2011
A 38-year old woman was arrested Friday night on a narcotics charge in connection with a traffic crash earlier in the week that claimed the life of two teens on Munson Highway in Santa Rosa County.
Nadja Chandler was booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail Friday on a charge of marijuana possession over 20 grams.
The Florida Highway Patrol says Chandler was southbound on Munson Highway near East Gate Road in Santa Rosa County March 1 when she lost control of her 2002 Ford Ranger, ran off the road, struck and culvert and rolled over. The two passengers in the vehicle, 18-year old Zoe M. Chandler and 15-year old Brandi Bartholomew, were pronounced dead at the scene of the 7:55 p.m. crash. Nadja Chandler was transported by LifeFlight to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola.
No one in the vehicle was wearing a seat belt, according to the FHP.
An ambulance responding to the scene was totaled when the driver lost control in a curve. The Florida Highway Patrol says Clayton Miller, 34, of Milton, lost control on Munson Highway near Womack Road. The 2007 ambulance traveled over two raised driveways before striking a tree. Miller and his passenger, 40-year old Greggory Lawler, received minor injuries and were transported to Pensacola hospitals. Both were treated and released.
District Baseball Win For Northview; Lady Chiefs Win Two In Tourney; Royals Win
March 5, 2011
The Northview Chiefs earned a big district win Friday night, while the JV team ended in a tie and the Lady Chiefs won two in tournament action.
Northview 7 Baker 1
The Northview Chiefs picked up a big district 7-1 win over the Baker Gators Friday night to improve to 2-0 in the district.
Colton Sims was the winning pitcher for the Chiefs, with a complete game on the mound. Sims gave up five hits in seven innings,while holding the Gators to one unearned run and striking out eight batters.
Leading the Chiefs at the plate was Dabney Langhorne with two singles, two runs and one RBI; Austin Arrington with two singles, three runs,and two RBIs; Brandon Sheets with a single, a double, and one RBI; Tyler Brooks, one single and one RBI; Taylor Martin, one single and one run; Kevin Vaughan a single and a run; Zach Barrow a double; and Josh Scott withe one RBI.
The Chiefs will be back in action again at home on March 10th in another district game against Jay. The junior varsity will take the field at 4 p.m.and varsity game will begin at 6:30p.m. On Friday, March 11, the Chiefs will host Ponce de Leon in a varsity only district game at 5 p.m.
Northview 7 Baker 7 (JV)
The junior varsity Northview Chiefs tied the Baker Gators 7-7 Friday afteroon in Bratt. The JV Chiefs will travel to W.S. Neal for doubleheader Monday at 4 and 6 p.m.
Jay 13 Freeport 4
The Jay Royals beat Freeport Friday, 13-4.
Tyler Prescott was the winning pitcher for the Royals, with six innings pitched, giving up eight hits and four runs, and striking out seven. Hunter Brown was 1-3 for Jay with and RBI; Twent Sweeney was 1-3; Toddy Laney went 2-3 with two RBIs; Sammy James was 1-3 with a double.
The Royals will be in action Monday at 5 p.m. on the road at Walton High School.
SOFTBALL
Northview 9 Thomasville 2
Northview 15 Bay Minette 1
The varsity Northview Lady Chiefs are were undefeated Friday during the Gulf Shores (Ala.) Tournament. The Lady Chiefs opened tournament play with a 9-2 win over Thomasville (Ala.), and went on to defeat Bay Minette 15-1. The Lady Chiefs be in action again Saturday in tournament action.
Escambia Pedestrian Dies After Traffic Crash
March 4, 2011
A 54-year old Escambia County man died Friday, just hours after being hit by two vehicles on Mobile Highway Thursday night.
The Florida Highway Patrol said James Suber, 54, of Pensacola died Friday morning from injuries he received about 10:53 Thursday night on Mobile Highway at Wabash Avenue. Troopers said was walking east on Mobile Highway in the path of both vehicles. He was first hit by a 1995 Cadillac driven by Latasha Rogers, 38, of Pensacola. Suber was then thrown into the path of the second vehicle, a 1996 Buick driven by Jewell Jernigan, 33, of Pensacola. Luber was trapped under the second vehicle.
Rogers, Jernigan, and Jernigan’s passenger — 29-year old Haley Jernigan — were not injured in the crash.
Any charges are pending the outcome of an investigation, according to FHP.
Alabama Man Dies As A Result Of February North Santa Rosa Wreck
March 4, 2011
A Brewton man has died from injuries he received in a north Santa Rosa County traffic crash last month.
The Florida Highway Patrol says Horace A. Smith, 57, passed away Thursday afternoon from injuries he received in the February 13 crash on Sellersville Road, just a sort distance from the Alabama/Florida line.
Smith was westbound on Sellersville Road when he lost control for unknown reasons and struck several trees. He was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola where he later died.
High Court Sides With Scott In Turning Down Rail Billions
March 4, 2011
The Florida Supreme Court has rejected a petition from two state senators seeking to force the state to accept $2.4 billion in high speed rail money. With the court siding with Gov. Rick Scott, the state has again turned down the federal money as of Friday morning.
Sens. Thad Altman and Arthenia Joyner took their case to the state’s highest court as individual lawmakers, claiming that Scott had no authority to scrub a Tampa to Orlando bullet train.
Scott’s General Counsel Charles Trippe said nothing in state law could force the governor to spend the federal money offered as a carrot to states to develop alternative transportation networks.
“The governor is not demanded by the federal government to do anything,” Trippe said. “He only has to spend what has been appropriated. None of that federal grant money has been appropriated so he has no duty to spend it.”
Escambia Deputy Involved In Traffic Crash
March 4, 2011
An Escambia County deputy received minor injuries in a traffic crash with two Alabama residents Thursday night.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Deputy Michael Milstead,32, was traveling west on Barrancas Avenue in a marked 2007 Ford Crown Victoria about 9:10 p.m. That’s when Daniel Stamaris, Jr., 51, of Headland, Alabama, was also westbound in the center turn lane before tuning into the path of Milstead’s cruiser.
Both vehicles then ran off the road. The deputy’s cruiser hits a utility pole, while Stamaris hit a business sign. Stamaris and his passenger, Heather Stamaris, 35, also of Headland, were transported to Baptist Hospital with minor injuries. Milstead also received minor injuries and was transported to Baptist Hospital.
There were no charges filed in connection with the accident.
Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.