Fire Leaves Mom, Three Children Homeless; Community Asked To Help
June 22, 2010
A Tuesday morning fire in Cantonment left a mother and her three children homeless, and now the community is being asked to help the family.
The fire was reported about 10 a.m. on block of Well Line Road and was was reported to be out at about 10:25 a.m. There were no injuries reported, and the cause of the fire is still under investigation. The fire is believed to have started in the home’s master bedroom.
The American Red Cross is providing temporary assistance to the family.
The family lost almost everything in their rental home. Donations of clothing and household items for the family are being accepted at the First Baptist Church of Cantonment at 118 Morris Avenue Monday-Friday from 8-4:30, except 12-2 for lunch.. (No furniture donations, please.) The adult female wears a size 6. There are three boys who wear sizes 10-12, 8-10 and 3T-4T.
The Cantonment, Molino and Ensley stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the blaze.
For a photo gallery from the scene, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photo by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Piehl Sentenced To 20 Years For Shooting Over $40 Of Fake Crack Cocaine
June 22, 2010
A Molino man has been sentenced to 20 years in state prison after being found guilty of shooting into an elderly woman’s home in a dispute over $40 in fake crack cocaine.
State Attorney Bill Eddins announced that Robert Grant Piehl, 42, of Wilder Road, Molino, was sentenced Tuesday to 20 years state prison as a mandatory minimum followed by 15 years of probation by Circuit Judge Terry Terrell. The 20 year mandatory minimum sentence was required under Florida’s 10-20-Life law as a result of the jury finding Piehl discharged a firearm.
Piehl was convicted on May 6 by an Escambia County jury of three counts of aggravated assault with a firearm, two counts of shooting into a building, and one count of criminal mischief.
Piehl bought what he thought was crack cocaine for $40 on April 15, 2009, on Barth Lane near Molino, according to his original arrest report. But when he discovered the crack was fake, he returned to confront the alleged dealer with a .22 caliber rifle.. He confronted two women in the front yard with the rifle and eventually fired several rounds through the front door of the residence near where the two women were standing, according to the State Attorney’s Office. Piehl then proceeded to the residence next door where he fired yet another round through a window.
As Piehl left the scene he was immediately apprehended by Escambia County Sheriff’s deputy. The .22 caliber rifle and ammunition were found in Piehl’s truck. Testing by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement discovered gun shot residue on Piehl’s hands, according to the State Attorney’s Office.
There was a second man with Piehl at the time his truck was stopped by deputies; charges against him were later dropped.
New Manager Named At Local International Paper Mill
June 22, 2010
International Paper announced Monday that Carl Gunter has been named mill manager of the Pensacola Mill. He will assume overall leadership responsibility for the facility, including the management of the mill’s $65 million environmental improvement project.
Gunter comes to Pensacola from the Red River Mill in Campti, La. He has 27 years of experience and has also worked at International Paper’s Pineville, La., Oswego, N.Y., and Riverdale (Selma), Ala. mills. Carl, his wife Martha, and their family will relocate to the Pensacola area.
“My family and I are looking forward to relocating to the area and learning more about the people and the community,” said Gunter.
In a related move, former Pensacola Mill Manager Chris Read has been named director, Manufacturing Global Center of Excellence; he and his family will relocate to IP’s global headquarters in Memphis, Tenn.
Chris has been with International Paper more than 18 years, having worked at the Riverdale (Selma), Ala., Mobile, Ala., Whakatana, New Zealand, and Eastover, S.C., mills prior to his assignment in Pensacola.
Former Century Resident Buck Showalter Could Manage The Orioles
June 22, 2010
Former Century resident Buck Showalter may be in the running for the manager’s job for the Baltimore Orioles.
Showalter, who is currently an analyst for ESPN, will meet with Orioles about the job on Wednesday, according to The Baltimore Sun. The Orioles dismissed Dave Trebley as their manager back on June 4; they are expected to announce their new manager by the All-Star break.
Showalter, who now lives in Dallas, had three different managerial stints in the majors with the New York Yankees, the Arizona Diamondbacks, and the Texas Rangers. Showalter first managed the Yankees from 1992-1995 for 581 games posting a 313-268 record finishing 45 games over .500 with a .539 win/loss percentage. He was voted 1994 AL Manager of the Year after the Yankees finished first in the AL East going 70-43. Unfortunately, there would be no post-season in 1994 due to the strike. He made it to his first post-season appearance in 1995, losing the divisional series 3-2 to the Seattle Mariners.
He moved on to the Arizona Diamondbacks where he managed 486 games from 1998-2000 with a 250-236 record. His best season with the Diamondbacks came in 1999 when they finished first in the NL West going 100-62 and eventually losing in the divisional series 3-1 to the NY Mets. Showalter took over as Texas Rangers skipper in 2003-2006 posting a 319-329 record in 648 games. He was selected 2004 AL Manager of the Year with the Texas Rangers going 89-73 with a .549 win/loss percentage.
His father was a high school coach and principal, moving to Century in the late 1950’s. Showalter played Little League ball in Century in a thriving program. Century’s modern day Showalter Park is named after him.
Photo Gallery: Fire Destroys Nine Mile Apartments
June 22, 2010
One building of a Pensacola apartment complex was destroyed by fire Monday afternoon, leaving four families homeless and creating a traffic nightmare on Nine Mile Road.
The fire was reported at 3:03 p.m. at the Woodlands Apartments on Sunnehanna Boulevard near Nine Mile Road. The fire, which was contained to the single building, was reported under control at 4:35 p.m. There were no injuries reported.
Multiple fire stations from Escambia County and two units from Pace battle the blaze, including the Cantonment and Ensley stations of Escambia Fire Rescue. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the State Fire Marshal.
The American Red Cross is assisting the four families displaced by the blaze, according to Sonya Daniel, Escambia County spokesperson.
The fire created traffic delays in the area, including a complete shutdown of Nine Mile Road in both directions near Pen Air Federal Credit Union. Nine Mile reopened about 4:15.
For a photo gallery from the scene, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Deputy Involved In Wreck, Cantonment Teen Uninjured
June 22, 2010
There were no serious injuries in a Monday wreck involving an Escambia County Sheriff’s cruiser and two other vehicles, including one driven by a North Escambia teen.
The Florida Highway Patrol said Angela Maddox, 61, of Pensacola was stopped due to traffic on Westside Drive’s southbound side in 1990 Lincoln. A marked Sheriff’s Office cruiser driven by Robert R. Way, 48, was southbound in the northbound lane with its emergency lights activated. That’s when, FHP said, Maddow turned into the path the Sheriff’s cruiser at 4:24 p.m..
After the impact, Maddox’s vehicle collided with a 2003 Ford driven by Alyson Shoemaker, 17, of Cantonment. Shoemaker was also stopped due to traffic on Westside Drive near Nine Mile Road. Shoemaker and her passenger, Britany N. Ford, 16, of Pensacola, were not injured. Shoemaker’s vehicle had an estimated $50 in damage, according to the FHP. Shoemaker was not at fault in the accident, according to the FHP.
Maddox received minor injuries and was transported to West Florida Hospital. Way was not injured.
The Florida Highway Patrol charged Maddox with improper change of course.
Short And Sweet: Century Keeps Ordinary Business Ordinary
June 22, 2010
It was a night ordinary business in near-record time Monday for the regular town council meeting — in an ordinary fashion.
With no public speakers and no council member agenda items, the council took few actions including:
- a vote to hire Fabre Engineering for the design of $600,000 in drainage projects funded a grant (read more here).
- a vote to keep their next regular scheduled meeting on July 5 despite it being a federal holiday. The town will be open for business as usual on July 5 and will take July 2 as a day off for the Independence Day weekend.
- a vote to pay the town’s ordinary bills.
The Century Town Council meeting lasted only about 15 minutes.
Molino’s Parker Dominates Pro Kart Tour Races
June 22, 2010
A Molino teen picked up a couple of big kart racing wins this past weekend, dominating the Maxxix Pro Kart Tour at Beaver Creek Speedway in Toney, Ala.
Jarrett Parker, an incoming sophomore at Northview High School, won pole positions and three events in the Junior Gold Division.
Parker’s #46 Todd Miller-powered Icon kart dominated the Junior Gold division leading every lap of Gold Lite and Gold Heavy classes. In the Pro Gold race it was a duel to the end between three drivers from different states, and Parker triumphed with the win. Parker’s MB Motorsports teammate, Dee Pascal from Hawkinsville Ga., won four poles and four races in the adult division.
The Molino teen will next be off to a race in Mississippi. He is leading the points chase in the Junior Gold FH in Mississippi, and he is also in first place in the points chase in Alabama’s Senior Heavy class.
Parker, who has been kart racing since 2003, is the son of Scott and Tammy Parker of Molino.
Turn4LIVEProductions will stream a show from this weekend’s race beginning at 6 p.m. Tuesday on turn4liveproductions.com.
Pictured top: Molino kart racer Jarrett Parker at the Maxxix Pro Kart Tour this past weekend. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Driver Dies In Early Morning Pine Barren Road Crash
June 21, 2010
A Pensacola man was killed in a single vehicle accident early Monday morning in the Christian Home community.
The Florida Highway Patrol said Joshua Herring, 23, of Pensacola was northbound on on Pine Barren Road south of Breastworks Road about 2:50 a.m. He lost control of his 2004 Jeep as he traveled around a curve, hit a tree and spun around into a wooded area. Herring was pronounced dead on the scene by emergency personnel. There were no passengers in the vehicle.
According to the FHP, Herring was not wearing his seat belt, and results of alcohol testing are pending.
The McDavid and Century stations of Escambia County Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Florida Highway Patrol responded to the crash.
For more photos from the accident, click here.
Pictured top: The driver of this vehicle was pronounced dead following an early Monday morning wreck. Pictured below: Firefighters work to reach the vehicle. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Driver Charged With DUI After Death Of Pedestrian
June 21, 2010
A driver involved in the early Sunday morning death of a pedestrian has been charged with DUI.
The Florida Highway Patrol says William E. Carlson, 30, of Pensacola was walking west on Wilde Lake Boulevard shortly after 3 a.m. when he was struck and killed by a 2002 Saturn driven by Tyler Neal Wass (pictured), 25, of Pensacola.
According to the FHP., Wass saw Carlson at the last second and attempted to avoid him, but struck him with the right front of his Saturn. Wass and a passenger, 25-year old Carissa L. Snipes, 25, of Pensacola, were not injured.
Wass was booked into the Escambia County jail early Sunday morning and released later on a $1,000 bond.
Pictured: The Escambia County Jail booking photo of Tyler Neal Wass, 25. Wass was charged with DUI after the early Sunday morning death of a pedestrian on Wilde Lake Boulevard. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.