Niceville-National Wins 8-9 Year Old All-Star Tourney
June 21, 2009
Niceville-National has captured the tournament crown in the District 1 Little League 8-9 Year Old All-Stars Tournament.
Niceville-National beat Destin 8-2 Saturday night at Bradberry Park in Walnut Hill. Niceville-National was undefeated in tournament play.
Special thanks to Chris Brown for helping NorthEscambia.com with our coverage of the tournament this week.
In-Depth Look: School Grades For Area Schools
June 21, 2009
Carver/Century K-8 School, which closed at the end of the school year, received an F rating. Carver/Century was the only F-rated school in Escambia or Santa Rosa counties. There were only 47 F-rated schools in the entire state of Florida.
Pictured: The graphics above and below provide a more detailed look into the school accountability grades released last week by the Florida Department of Education. NorthEscambia.com graphics.
Back Behind Bars: Jail Escapee Captured Saturday In South Alabama
June 20, 2009
An inmate that escaped from a work release program in Pensacola Thursday afternoon was recaptured Saturday in Alabama.
Scott Douglas Hagen, 39, “walked off” from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office garage where he was on fill-in duty.
He was taken into custody in Covington County, Alabama, early Saturday. Hagen had spent time in Covington County and local authorities there acted on a tip and took Hagen into custody, according to Sgt Ted Roy of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department. He is awaiting extradition back to Florida where he will face Felony Escape charges.
No further details were available on how or where in Covington County Hagen was captured, Roy said.
He was last seen about 1:15 Thursday afternoon while taking out the trash at the garage. Hagen was being held on violation of probation for possession of a controlled substance.
Funeral Held For Century Man Shot Last Weekend
June 20, 2009
Funeral services for the former Century resident shot in the face last weekend at a Warrington mobile home park were held Saturday in Century.
Jeffrey Carl Kimbrough, 41, was shot about 3:30 Sunday afternoon in the 1500 block of Gulf Beach Highway in the Warrington community in the southwest part of the county in an apparent dispute over a stolen wallet.
Visitation and the funeral were held at New Life Baptist Church in Century. Internment followed at the Century Cemetery.
Kimbrough was a Century native, having attended Century Elementary and Carver Middle school.
During the time he lived in Century, Kimbrough was a member of Century Volunteer Fire Department where he obtained the rank of captain. After moving from Century, he served as a volunteer for the Pensacola Fire Department. He was employed the last five years at the Pensacola Civic Center.
Kimbrough is survived by his wife of 24 years Clara Ann Nettle; children Bridgett, Leroca, Elandarge and Tamara; mother Carrie Kimbrough; four brothers and three sisters.
Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies said Kimbrough confronted Ellis J. McArthur of Bay Minette about a stolen wallet. That is when, according to deputies, McArthur pulled out a handgun and shot Kimbrough in the face. Kimbrough died Monday evening at Baptist Hospital in Pensacola.
McArthur, 17, has been charged as an adult with second degree murder in connection with the incident. He is being held without bond in the Escambia County Jail.
Florida Man Killed In Wreck North Of Flomaton
June 20, 2009
A Florida man was killed in a single vehicle accident on I-65 just south of the Flomaton exit Friday afternoon.
Alabama State Troopers said Larry James Foster, 52, of Holt, Fla., was killed in the accident about 4:45 Friday afternoon at the 68 mile marker, about one mile south of the Highway 113 Flomaton exit. He was driving a 2000 Mazda pickup truck.
Further information was not available from the Alabama Highway Patrol.
Manager: Proud Of Tri-County All-Stars
June 20, 2009
The Tri-County All-Stars were eliminated from the District 1 Little League 8-9 Year Old All Stars Tournament in Walnut Hill Thursday night, and the team’s manager is proud of how his team played.
“These boys and coaches gave it all they had and played their hearts out. Everybody did their part for the team and courageously did all that was asked of them. We kept battling back and never quit. I’m real proud of them and couldn’t have asked for more,” said Manager Gary Killam.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the game, click here.
Defuniak Springs downed Tri-County 21-20 in seven innings Thursday night. Here are the stats from the game:
Triples: Niekel Robinson, Reid Kelly
Doubles: Seth Killam, Logan (2)
Singles: Neikel(1), Seth (2), Nolin Hawthorne (1), Reid,(1), Zack Wright (1)
Scored Runs: Niekel (2), Seth (5), Logan (2), Brent Groover (2), Dutch Burkhead (2), Reid (2),”MJ”Jones (1), Zach Wright (2)
Pitchers: Seth , MJ, Dutch , Zach Wright, Kevin Arant, Compiled total of 5 K’s
Note: Tri-Co’s team only struck out 3 times and De Funiak only 5 times. Game lasted about 3 1/2 hours.
Pictured above: “MJ”Jones gets a hit Thursday night against Defuniak Springs. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Atmore Businessman Helps Little Girl That Needs Kidney
June 20, 2009
An Atmore businessman is stepping forward to help 11-month Hadyn Allyssa Brake of Flomaton get the kidney she needs.
Harold Allen, owner an Atmore mobile home business, has written a $1,000 check to help with the $20,000 the family needs for Hadyn’s kidney transplant.
Hadyn was born with congenital nephrotic syndrome, a chronic kidney disease. In February, doctors were forced to remove both of her kidneys, and now she needs a kidney transplant by her first birthday on July 28.
Allen knows the pain of waiting for a kidney transplant; he underwent the procedure nine years ago, receiving a kidney from his son.
It’s estimated that the family needs $20,000 for Hadyn’s kidney transplant. For now, she is on dialysis 12 hours a day every day.
Last weekend, Atmore Dialysis Center held “Hadyn Brake Day” to help the little girl and her family.
Donations can be made to the “Hadyn Kidney Fund” at the Bank Trust in Brewton, Ala, or call Sonya Higdon at the Atmore Dialysis Center at (251) 368-5593 for information.
Pictured above: Hayden Allyssa Brake of Flomaton at a benefit last Saturday in Atmore to help her family afford her kidney transplant. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
BBB Warns Of Security System Scammer
June 20, 2009
The Better Business Bureau is warning consumers to be wary of salesmen who are going door-to-door offering home security systems “at no cost”.
Consumers have alerted the BBB that salesmen identifying themselves as being from Safeguard America are distributing fliers offering a free security system for homeowners, claiming they can save up to 25 percent on their homeowners’ insurance.
The fliers cite a Mississippi address, but according to the U.S. Postal Service, the address is that of an apartment complex, not a business.
The fliers and the business’ Web site include BBB’s old logo and claim that Safeguard America is a BBB member. However, the Better Business Bureau says they are not an accredited Business. Salesmen are also citing a Florida license from the Department of Business and Professional Regulation; however that license expired in 2004.
Another DBPR license, improperly displayed on the flier, is issued to a David Roman for Security Systems Inc, DBA Safeguard America. David Roman is also the president of Safe Home Security, Inc., a Connecticut-based business with an F rating from the BBB because of the number of complaints filed against the business, a failure to respond to a number of complaints against the business, the number of serious complaints filed against the business and the length of time the business has taken to resolve complaints.
The Connecticut Attorney General has filed suit against Safe Home Security, Inc., Safe Home Monitoring, Inc., and their owner, David G. Roman, charging them with installing and failing to fix faulty equipment, as well as violations of the state’s home improvement contractor laws.
The Better Business Bureau warns consumers to be cautious doing business with anyone who shows up on their doorstep. The BBB says not to do business with anyone “on the spot”. Verify licensing, bonding, insurance or any other requirements that may be necessary for that industry. And if a business claims BBB Accreditation or “membership,” verify their status with BBB.
For additional information and advice visit bbb.org.
Century Correctional Sergeant Arrested On Federal Child Porn Charges
June 19, 2009
A Century man who works as a sergeant at Century Correctional Facility has been arrested on federal child porn charges.
Paul Edward Black, 42, was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of the possession of child pornography, according to United States Attorney Thomas F. Kirwin, Northern District of Florida.
Black is a sergeant at the Century Correctional Institution. He made his initial appearance before United States Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Timothy today in federal court. A trial date has been set for August 3.
Black was arrested about noon Wednesday while he was at work at Century Correctional Institution. Florida Department of Corrections Spokesperson Gretl Plessinger said Black has been employed at CCI since March 22, 1991. She said he typically worked the day shift at the prison. He has not been fired, but the Department of Corrections is working toward his termination, Plessinger said. DOC officials will not allow Black to return to work at CCI unless the charges are dropped, she said.
Black was indicted by a federal grand jury on Tuesday, and a warrant was issued for his arrest through the Jacksonville Field Office of the FBI.
Black is accused of using online file sharing software to download images and videos of child pornography. If convicted, Black faces a term of up to ten years imprisonment and a lifetime term of supervised release, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
This investigation was initiated by the Computer Crime Unit of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and supported by the Pensacola Police Department, the United States Marshals Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and other members of the North Florida Child Pornography Task Force. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David L. Goldberg.
Four People Injured In Highway 29 Wreck
June 19, 2009
Four people were injured in a two vehicle accident about 9:05 this morning on Highway 29 at Bluff Springs Road.
Three people in a Dodge Caravan and one person in a Nissan car were transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola by ambulance.+
The driver of the Nissan was northbound on Highway 29 when the struck the side of the van as it turned onto Bluff Springs road, causing the van to overturn.
The accident is still under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
The Century Station of Escambia-Fire Rescue, Engine 519, Escambia County EMS, Atmore Ambulance and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department also responded to the call.
Pictured top: One person in this car was injured in a Friday morning accident on Highway 29 at Bluff Springs Road. Pictured inset: A van involved in the accident overturned. Pictured below: Three people in this van were injured in the accident. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
