Century Man Slams SUV Into Highway 97 Home (With Photo Gallery)
December 3, 2010
It was a close call for a Molino family Thursday night as a SUV driven by a Century man slammed into their mobile home.
The accident happened about 10:10 p.m. at the intersection of Gibson Road and Highway 97. The driver of a northbound Ford Explorer left the roadway just north of the intersection and missed several trees as it crossed the front yard of the home. The SUV then struck a tree and corner of the mobile home where it became wedged.
The driver, 22-year old Toby Hitchcock of Century, was transported by ambulance to Sacred Heart Hospital with minor injuries. Alcohol was not a factor in the crash, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The FHP did not specify what charges, if any, Hitchcock faces as a result of the accident.
The three occupants of the mobile home were not injured. It was a frightening experience for a 16-year old resident of the mobile home; she was watching TV in her corner bedroom when the SUV slammed into the corner of the home, shattering a window. The impact slammed the television off a shelf into the room. The homeowner said the entire trailer was shifted on its foundation.
For more photos, including a photo from inside the house, click here.
The Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the call.
NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Evers, Broxson Behind Bills To Stop Septic Tank Inspection Law
December 3, 2010
North Escambia’s legislative members are standing behind bills that seek to repeal the septic tank inspection program signed into law by Governor Charlie Crist earlier this year.
A bill was filed in the Florida Senate Wednesday by Greg Evers, whose district includes northern Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
“These are very difficult times for Floridians and we should be looking for ways to reduce the burden of government, not require people to pay more into a bureaucratic, one-size-fits-all program, said Evers. “This bill is the first step in the right direction to reverse this concerning law. SB 168 will repeal all the septic tank inspection provisions that were passed into law during the 2010 regular session and return to a sensible approach of fixing only failing systems – an approach that was already codified in law.”
Over the Florida House, HB13 is sponsored by Marti Coley, with co-sponsors that include Clay Ford and Doug Broxson, whose district also includes northern Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. The bill is the first co-sponsored by Broxson since his election in November.
“This is an issue that the counties need to resolve locally, the state doesn’t need to dictate a solution,” Broxson said. “The local governments can investigate this matter and determine if there are any pollution problems in their county.”
Earlier this month, the Legislature put a six month hold on the law that would require property owners to pay for inspections on their septic tanks every five years.
The septic tank inspection requirement, which opponents say could cost property owners $500 per inspection, was part of a larger environmental bill scheduled to kick in January 1 to improve water quality in Florida’s freshwater springs. Crist signed the springs bill (SB 550) in the spring, so it took a new bill to delay its scheduled January 1 implementation until July.
“Eliminating this government overreach remains my top priority,” Coley, the sponsor of the House bill, said. “I filed legislation to repeal this burdensome requirement altogether in the 2011 regular session. Government should be lifting financial burdens from homeowners, not placing more on them. I’m committed to making sure that some commonsense is put back in our environmental regulations.”
Northview Chiefs Go For Historic Playoff Win (With Video)
December 3, 2010
It’s history in the making tonight for the Northview Chiefs. It’s the first ever football playoff game east of Tallahassee, and the first ever semifinal game for the school. And, as Head Coach Sid Wheatley is quick to point out, it is just four quarters between now and the chance at a state championship trophy.
(This article was originally published prior to Northview’s 49-14 loss December 3 against Trinity Christian.)
The Chiefs will take on top rank Trinity Christian at 6:30 p.m. Century time in Jacksonville in the Region 1-A finals.
Join NorthEscambia.com tonight for live updates from Jacksonville.
“We are four quarters away from a possibility of a state championship, and that’s what we are shooting for, obviously, right now,” Wheatley said.
It was 1979 when the Eagles of Ernest Ward High School last brought the only modern time Class A football championship back to the area. Ernest Ward would later merge with the Century Blackcats to create Northview. It’s been a long time coming.
“We are excited to have an opportunity to play in the state semifinals,” said Wheatley as his team boarded the bus for Jacksonville. (See video at bottom of page.)
Trinity Christian (10-2) will be first private school Northview (11-1) has faced in the playoffs. As a private school in metro area like Jacksonville, Trinity is able to draw players from among the city’s best. Like the Conquerors’ Andrew Buie.
Buie is ranked as the number four all purpose back in the nation by Rivals.com, and the 103rd best player overall in the country. The running back is being recruited by more than a dozen major colleges, including Auburn, Arkansas, Mississippi and Michigan. He’s rushed for nearly1,500 yards this season with 22 TDs.
There’s no one-man show for the Chiefs. The running back trio of sophomore La’Mikal Kyles, sophomore Roderick Woods and senior Dustin Yuhasz has over 1,700 combined rushing yards this season. At quarterback, junior Brandon Sheets has added over 400 yards rushing.
By the numbers, two-time state champ Trinity has 35 playoff wins, while Northview has three. Fifty plus players dress out for the Conquerors; Northview moved seven JV players up to make a varsity roster of just 38.
But those are just numbers on paper. The real story will be four quarters of action Friday night and a group of young men making history from rural North Escambia.
“I feel like if we can control the ball offensively and continue to play great defense, that we’ve got an excellent opportunity to win the football game,” Wheatley said.
Pictured top: Northview defender Tyler Brooks closes in on the Bulldog’s quarterback last Friday night in Freeport. Pictured top inset: La’Mikal Kyles scored a fourth quarter touchdown for the Chiefs in their 21-12 defeat of Freeport. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Man Faces More Charges For Shooting At 4th Deputy During Home Invasion
December 3, 2010
Additional charges were filed Thursday against the man accused of shooting Deputy Jeremy Cassady along with a woman and two other Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies.
Phillip Monier, 47, is charged with shooting Cassady and deputies Sam Parker and Chad Brown during a home invasion hostage incident October 29 at his girlfriend’s home near Scenic Highway in Pensacola.
He was originally charged with three counts of attempted murder, aggravated assault and kidnapping. Thursday, State Attorney Bill Eddins added an attempted felony murder charge for shots that were fired an a fourth deputy who was not injured. Monier was also charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of methamphetamine.
Cassady was severely wounded in the incident and spent 20 days in Sacred Heart Hospital.
Deputies said Monier’s girlfriend, Jackie Rosenbloom, called 911 as Monier forced his way into her home looking a ring that he demanded be returned. He took Rosenbloom hostage and ignored orders to drop his weapon as deputies entered the home. Monier used Rosenbloom as a human shield, but he was struck by at least one round in the hand. He was eventually talked out of the home by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team and hostage negotiators.
Monier’s trial will be held in Escambia County before Okaloosa County Judge John Brown; all of Escambia County’s judges were disqualified from the case due to their previous involvement with Cassady. He had worked court security for nine months before returning to patrol just four days before he was shot.
Support The Chiefs: Poster Contest Winners Named
December 3, 2010
Winners were named Thursday in the Support the Chiefs poster contest at Northview High School.
Kara Hardin’s “Let’s Go Chiefs: Get That Ring” was the winner in the non-computer enhanced division. There was a three-way tie for the winning poster in the digital publishing category: between Katie Wieborg’s “I Am A Chief”, Dixie Carnley’s “Show Some Spirit Northview Chiefs” and Heather Barrows’ “Go Chiefs”.
Pictured above: Katie Wieborg, Kara Hardin, Dixie Carnley and Heather Barrows. Winning posters are below. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Above by Heather Barrow.
Above by Dixie Carnley.
Above by Katie Wieborg.
Above by Kara Hardin.
3rd Copper Theft Reported From A Molino Tower
December 3, 2010
For the second time in just over two months, copper wiring was stripped from a county-ownned radio tower in Molino.
The theft was discovered Thursday at the communications tower, which is located behind the Escambia County Health Department on Highway 29. Each time, the thief removed copper wiring that is part of the tower’s grounding equipment. Radio communications using the tower were not interrupted.
In October, a technician for CES Team One Communications, the company that maintains the radio tower for Escambia County, discovered items worth about $3,450 missing from the tower. That theft occurred sometime between September 1 and October 11.
On November 22, technicians discovered hundreds of dollars in copper grounding wire missing from the privately owned communications tower adjacent to the Molino Ballpark on Crabtree Church Road. The wiring was part of that tower’s electrical grounding system. There were no reports that any of the services on the tower were disrupted. At least one cellular telephone company serves the Molino area from the tower.
Anyone with information on the thefts is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Pictured above and below: Copper wiring was discovered missing from this cellular telephone tower on Crabtree Church Road earlier this month. Pictured inset: Wiring was discovered missing from this county owned communications tower in October 11 and again on December 2. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Claimed: Escambia Lottery Ticket Worth $1 Million
December 3, 2010
A Powerball lottery ticket sold on Nine Mile Road is worth $1 million.
Four players matched five numbers in the Wednesday Powerball drawing, with three of the winners adding “Power Play” to their ticket to win the a $1 million prize. A million dollar ticket was sold at the Kangaroo Express at Nine Mile Road and I-10.
The ticket was claimed Friday by Gary Morgan, 43, of Daphne, Ala. Morgan told Lottery officials that he plans to spend a portion of the winnings to buy Christmas presents for his children.
The winning numbers were 05-10-11-12-20 and the Powerball was 02.
Chiefs Spirit Hits The Road
December 3, 2010
Two spirit buses of Chiefs fans pulled out of Northview High School this morning on their way to Jacksonville for tonight’s Region 1-A playoff game. Pictured left: The Chief take over a Cracker Barrel along the way. Pictured below: Decorating a bus.
(This article was originally published prior to Northview’s 49-14 loss December 3 against Trinity Christian.)
Submitted photos by Wayne Holland for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bike Ride To Benefit Toys For Tots
December 3, 2010
The Pensacola Off-Road Cyclists will host a cycling trail ride on December 4 to benefit the Marine Corp’s Toys for Tots program.
The ride will be held at the University of West Florida mountain bike trails. The 50-mile ride begins at 8 a.m.; the 25-mile ride begins at 11 a.m.; and a 10-mile ride begins at 1 p.m. The entry fee is at least one new, unwrapped toy donation for Toys for Tots.
The event will include feeding and mechanic stations, a post-ride meal and prizes.
Check-in begins at 7 a.m. at the trail head. For details, visit, porc.org.
One Injured In Highway 99 Rollover Crash
December 2, 2010
One person was injured in a single vehicle rollover accident Thursday morning on North Highway 99 in Oak Grove.
The driver of a SUV was transported to a local hospital by ambulance with non life-threatening injuries. The female driver apparently lost control while northbound near the Oak Grove Citizen’s Convenience Center, ran off the road, through a fence and overturned into the driveway of a home in the 700 block of North Highway 99.
Firefighters were forced to used the Jaws of Life to free the driver, who was not seriously injured, from the overturned vehicle. There were no passengers in the SUV.
The name of the driver has not been released; the accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Atmore Ambulance also responded to the call.
Pictured above: First responders work from free the driver from the overturned vehicle. Pictured inset: The vehicle came to rest upside down after going through a fence and downing a small tree. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.