Auburn Tigers Win National Championship 22-19 Over Oregon
January 11, 2011
A 19-yard field goal as the clock wound down from Wes Byrum gave No. 1 Auburn a 22-19 win over No. 2 Oregon for the BCS national championship Monday night.
The Ducks managed to tie it at 19 with 2:33 to go with a two point conversion. But Auburn’s Cam Newton came back with a 73-yard drive for the Tigers on the strength of key plays from freshman Michael Dyer. Dyer rolled over an Oregon defender, with most of the field thinking the play was over about the midfield mark. But cheered on by his teammates on the sidelines, Dyer sprinted another 30 yards down to the 23.
On the next play, Dyer was down to the one on a 16-yard run.
Byrum’s kick at the buzzer gave the Auburn Tigers their first national championship since 1957.
Area Woman Convicted On Federal Weapons Charges
January 11, 2011
An Atmore woman has been convicted on federal weapons charges after a gun went off in vehicle being chased by police.
A federal jury in Mobile found Britney LaFaye Barnes, 20, of Ridgley Street guilty of being an unlawful drug user in possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm while under indictment.
According to prosecutors, Barnes was a marijuana user and has used cocaine the day before the August 16, 2010, police chase. At the time of the chase, she had been indicted for a September robbery of man in the parking lot of a Winn Dixie in Foley. She later pleaded guilty to the robbery.
Barnes testified that her husband, James Ellis Brown, had forced her at gunpoint to come with him. She said she grabbed the .380 caliber pistol because she feared for her life, causing the gun to go off in the vehicle. Brown told authorities that they pair was trying to throw the gun out of their vehicle’s window on Highway 31 near Brewton when it fired.
Barnes is scheduled to be sentenced April 18 in Mobile federal court.
Deputies Seek Suspect In Sexual Battery
January 11, 2011
Escambia County Sheriff’s Investigators and Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers is seeking the public’s help in locating a suspect who is wanted for questioning pertaining to a sexual battery and child molestation case.
Terrance Anton Harris, 26 of Pensacola, currently has an outstanding felony warrant for violation of probation for two counts of failure to redeliver leased property. Investigators also want to question Harris about a November 2010 sexual battery of a 15-year-old child.
Any information on the whereabouts of Terrance Anton Harris should be reported to Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP (7867) or Escambia Sheriff’s Investigator Brian Shorette at (850) 436-9682.
Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers pays cash rewards for information which leads to the arrest of a felony suspect and you never have to give your name when you call.
Florida Senate Begins Immigration Debate
January 11, 2011
With immigration one of the top issues in the nation’s legislatures in the wake of last year’s Arizona law, a panel of Florida senators took its first steps Monday in crafting its own law to deal with those suspected of being here illegally.
The Florida Senate held a three hour meeting to gather information from homeland security officials, the state Department of Education, the Department of Corrections and the Department of Highway Safety on how both legal and illegal immigration affects the state. The meeting spurred no immediate plans for legislation, and was intended as a way to start people asking questions to learn about the issue, said Sen. Anitere Flores, R-Miami, who chaired the meeting.
“The most important thing that we want is input from all people from across the state of Florida, whether you’re on one side, the other side or as I suggested earlier, there’s probably 20 sides to the issue,” Flores said.
Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, has filed a bill addressing illegal immigration and in the House, Rep. Will Snyder, R-Stuart, is spearheading similar efforts. The issue became a major focal point in the governor’s and attorney general’s campaigns last year. Both Attorney General Pam Bondi and Gov. Rick Scott have said they are supportive of strengthening the state’s laws for removing illegal immigrants, though neither has put forth a specific proposal.
Snyder’s draft legislation would require police to check the status of suspected illegal immigrants during a lawful stop, require businesses to use the federal E-Verify database to check the status of new hires and subject illegal immigrants who commit crimes to harsher penalties than legal immigrants or U.S. citizens.
Bennett’s bill (SB 136) allows law enforcement officers during a lawful detention or arrest to ask for the detainee’s immigration documents if the officer suspects they may be in the country illegally. The bill, however, prohibits law enforcement from using race as a reason for checking the person’s documentation. The bill also penalizes legal aliens who refuse to carry their documentation, with a possible fine of up to $100 and a 20-day jail sentence.
Monday’s meeting contained little debate from lawmakers, but featured presentations from a variety of state and federal agencies about the impact of immigrants on the state.
Florida International University law professor Ediberto Rámon did caution lawmakers that he believed an Arizona-style law would be struck down by the courts and that it would be devastating to the state’s economy because it would turn off international tourists. He also said the state shouldn’t discount the positive economic impact immigrants have on the state.
“The business sector is reaping the benefit and then you see frustration as you see here at the state and the local levels,” Rámon said. “Frankly some of it is legitimate in terms of health care in the short term, in terms of education.”
Flores said no agenda has been set for the two other meetings that Senate President Mike Haridopolos has pledged to hold on the issue, but she said the next step would be to hear from some of the advocates.
Juan Chavez, a membership organizer for the Florida Immigrant Coalition, said he believes the Legislature does need to hear more about immigrants’ contributions to the state, but he also questioned whether lawmakers could put together a bill that did not have a racial component, despite pledges from legislators to do so.
“If they bring something similar [to Arizona’s law], it will be a good sign that they are ignoring Floridians,” he said. “And that’s basically a good sign to destroy the economy of the state. So we’d be basically legalizing racial profiling if they bring something similar.”
By Kathleen Haughney
The News Service Florida
Cantonment Man Among 3 Injured In Crash That Shut Down I-10
January 10, 2011
A Cantonment man was among four people in a three vehicle crash this morning that shut down I-10 near Milton.
The Florida Highway Patrol said Oscar Campbell, 37, of Navarre was westbound on I-10 at 6:10 a.m. when he lost control while changing lanes to avoid a slow moving vehicle. His vehicle overturned in the median and continued into the lanes of oncoming eastbound traffic. That’s where Campbell’s vehicle was struck by a Nissan Altima driven by Roosevelt Davis, 34, of Cantonment, and a 2001 Saturn driven by Douglas Hansen, 40, of Pensacola.
Campbell and his passenger, Dana Wooley, 38, of Ft. Walton Beach, were transported to Sacred Heart Hospital with minor injuries. Davis also received minor injuries and was transported to Sacred Heart. Hansen was not injured.
Campbell was charged with careless driving by the Florida Highway Patrol.
Robbery Suspect Shot, Killed By Victim; 2 Others Charged With Murder
January 10, 2011
Sheriff’s investigators said a robbery victim shot and killed one of his attackers early Sunday morning.
According to investigators, Eddie Llyod Peterson, 29, of Pensacola, was shot once at about 2:13 a.m. Sunday near the intersection of Mobile Highway and Massachusetts Avenue.
Peterson and two other men identified as 32-year-old Tavares Joeneeke Grimsley and 32-year-old Ortavious Devon Wilson, both of Pensacola, tried to rob the victim at gunpoint, but the victim shot back and killed Peterson.
The victim has been identified as Cornell Stallworth Jr., 25, of Pensacola.
Investigators arrested and charged Grimsley and Wilson with murder and robbery. They are being held without bond in the Escambia County Jail.
Century Still Dealing With Aftermath Of Sewage Lift Station Wreck
January 10, 2011
The Town of Century is continuing to deal with the aftermath of a December 20 wreck that damaged a sewage lift station and electric generator on Highway 29 near Jackson Street.
Mayor Freddie McCall said he is currently obtaining estimates to replace the lift station and generator, possibly looking to move the lift station underground. Once ordered, McCall said the lift station would arrive in about three weeks, while it might take up to 13 weeks for a replacement natural gas generator.
The mayor said he is negotiating a proper monetary settlement with the trucking company’s insurance carrier to cover the repairs.
The truck driver, Freddie Pelzer, 67, of Douglasville, Georgia, was not injured in the crash. He was charged with careless driving by the Florida Highway Patrol.
Pictured: A Town of Century sewage lift station and generator were damaged in this December 20 crash on Highway 29 near Jackson Street. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Video: War Eagle! South Korean Students Cheer For AU
January 10, 2011
Even the South Koreans had War Eagle fever before Monday night’s BCS National Championship game.
A video shows a few hundred South Korean children screaming “War Eagle”. And some of the kids even have names like Bo, Jackson, Cam and Aubie.
The spoof video was produced by Lauren Bercarich, an American with a broadcast journalism background, who lives in South Korea.
“How many times has Auburn won the national championship?” Bercarich asks one child.
“One hundred and seventeen times,” the student replied.
“I’m pretty sure that’s impossible,” she said.
“That’s what teacher says,” the student replied.
And teacher Chris Lowe explained to his students in South Korea that Auburn did not play in the national championship last year, “because they were too good”.
Bercarich explains the video on her YouTube page:
“It’s true: Chris Lowe is an Auburn alumnus, he is an English teacher in South Korea, and he taught hundreds of his students some of his favorite Auburn chants and cheers to celebrate the Tigers playing in the BCS Championship. However, this video is a fictional comic take based on Chris’ love for all things Auburn. No, he did not actually name any of his students Bo, Jackson, Cam or Newton. He has not been teaching his students about Auburn football all semester long. Oh, but one more thing is true; Chris and all his students wish Auburn good luck against Oregon in the national title game.”
The video is posted at the top of this page. If you don’t see it, it is because your work, school or home firewall is blocking YouTube videos.
Squirrel Boy Begins Jail Sentence For Selling Pot To Undercover Informant
January 10, 2011
A Century man known by law enforcement by his street name “Squirrel Boy” reported to the Escambia County Jail Sunday to being a 180 day sentence for selling drugs to an undercover informant.
Eric Quincy Allen, 42, was found guilty last month on two counts of marijuana possession with the intent to sell by an Escambia County jury after he sold drugs from his front porch to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office informant.
He was sentenced to 180 days in jail and his driver’s license was revoked for two years by Judge Paul Rasmussen. He will also be required to perform 50 hours of community service and will be on probation for two years upon release, according to court records. Allen was given 30 days to report to jail to begin his sentence.
According to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report, Allen was sitting on his porch at his Salter’s Lake Road home when he sold marijuana to the informant in April, 2010.
Voluntary Pre-K Celebrates 5th
January 10, 2011
Florida’s four-year old voluntary prekindergarten program is celebrating its fifth birthday this school year.
“For five years now results have shown us that when children participate in a VPK program, even partially, they enter kindergarten better prepared for success,” said Florida Education Commissioner Dr. Eric J. Smith. “I’m excited that the latest To the Core segment highlights this and all that VPK has done to give our children a focused head start on their future education.”
Cynthia R. Lorenzo, Director of the Agency for Workforce Innovation, added: “Since its inception, the VPK program has provided Florida’s four-year-olds with a rich learning environment, which is critical to creating a talent pool of future leaders who will thrive in the classroom and in the workforce. We are grateful for the many successes of the VPK program over the past five years and remain committed to preparing our youngest Floridians for a lifetime of learning success.”
Established in 2005, Florida’s VPK program is jointly administered by the Department of Education, the Agency for Workforce Innovation, and the Department of Children and Families. The program provides funding for 4-year-olds to attend prekindergarten in order to better prepare them for entrance into kindergarten. For more information on VPK, including local provider contact information, click here.
Pictured: VPK students at Bratt Elementary enjoy a little outside learning during an early December snow flurry. Submitted photo, click to enlarge.