Grenade Victims Identified; Photos Released
September 16, 2008
(Updated) Officials have released the names of three people injured in a grenade explosion Sunday afternoon in Jay, along with photos of a second grenade found later.
Shortly after 4:00 Sunday afternoon, Santa Rosa deputies were dispatched to the 3800 block of Nowling Road just south of Jay for three males injured when a car battery exploded.
When the Jay Fire Department and deputies arrived, they found that three had be injured by a hand grenade that exploded.
One victim, Johnny Bruce Pyles 29, was transported by Life Flight to Sacred Heart Hospital with severe injuries and trauma to his body and hands. Pyles was holding the grenade in his hand when it detonated. The two other victims, James E. Grice, 37, and Zachary Talbot, 26, were transported to Jay Hospital with serous injuries suffered from the shrapnel from the grenade. They were later transported to other hospitals having the resources to care for trauma type injuries. All three men are from the Jay area.
Initial investigations reveal that the subjects were standing outside around the bed of a pickup truck (pictured left) when they were handling the grenade. When it exploded, the shrapnel pierced numerous parts of the pickup truck, leaving fragments from the grenade in the surrounding vicinity. The fuse, pin, and various fragments of the grenade were recovered at the scene, according Sgt. Scott Haines, spokesperson for the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’ Department.
In addition to sheriff’s office investigators and crime scene, ATF and the State Fire Marshal’s Office also responded and are participating in this joint investigation. Investigators searched the premises for other possible devices and none were located.
Investigators went to the residence of one of the other victims, which is also located in Jay, and located a second hand grenade and the ATF took it into their custody. Investigators are in the process of determining where the devices were obtained and what the victims were doing with the grenades.
The investigation into the incident is continuing.
Pictured above: A grenade found Sunday in Jay. Pictured below: An ATF agent hold the pin from a grenade. Pictured bottom: Shrapnel from the explosion hit the toolbox on the truck. Submitted photos.
Century Imposes Fee For After-Hours Utility Reconnects
September 16, 2008
If you are a Town of Century Utilities customers and get cutoff for non-payment, it’s going to cost you more if you want your water or gas turned back out outside business hours.
Mayor Freddie McCall told the council Monday night that the town pays a minimum of two hours to a water or gas employee to turn service back on after-hours. At $18 an hour for the town’s highest paid employee that might make the after-hours call, that’s $36 the town spends to turn a person’s water back on. Add in an additional employee certified to turn the gas back on for a customer, and it’s another $36 cost to the town.
The town has a $20 reconnect fee in place for customers that are disconnected. Now, disconnected customers will be given the option of paying an additional $36 per gas or water reconnect, up to $72 total, to have their service restored after-hours or on the weekend. The customer can choose, McCall said, to wait until the next business day to have their service restored without paying the extra $36 or $72 fee.
“We have some customers that do this every month,” Town Clerk Dorothy Sims said. “They come in 10 minutes before we close.”
The utility office in Century currently closes at 3:30, and utility system employees get off at the same time. If a disconnected customer requests that their service be restored before the water or gas employees go home, that might be able to avoid the additional fees since the employee will not be called out for an after-hours reconnect.
The additional after-hours reconnect fees will not apply if the town made any error in disconnected someone’s service, McCall said.
Public Defender Candidate Speaks In North Escambia
September 16, 2008
Tony Henderson, Democratic candidate for public defender in the First Judicial Circuit, brought his message to North Escambia Monday night.
The First Judicial Circuit Court of Florida’s public defender office covers Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton counties.
Henderson has ran the public defender’s office in Santa Rosa County for the past seven years, The public defender’s office is responsible for providing legal representation to those in the court system charged with crimes that are unable to afford their own attorney.
“I believe that equal representation for everyone,” Henderson said. “It should not be based on how much money you have to hire an attorney.”
Not everyone assigned an attorney by the public defender’s office is unemployed, Henderson said. Attorneys are often assigned to defendents from middle class families that are unable to afford $3,000 to $10,000 for a criminal defense attorney.
Henderson played championship football at Milton High School and later turned his football abilities into a scholarship at Marshall University. He then attended law school at Florida State. His first job out of college was in the public defender’s office where he worked for 15 years.
“I have a passion for this type of work,” he said. One part of the job he feels is important is simply doing his job to make sure that the innocent do not go to prison.
Henderson said crime in our area is not a black-white issue.
“We have to fight the battle together,” he said. “The battle is education, education, education.”
Trial Delayed Yet Again For Molino Man Accused Of Killing His Daughter
September 15, 2008
The trial of a Molino man accused of killing his infant daughter in 2006 has been delayed yet another time.
A continuance was granted back on July 28 until September 15, but now the trail has been delayed another week until September 22.
Christopher Paterson, 28, was scheduled to stand trail July 14 for the death of his one year old daughter Ali Jean Paterson. But Assistant Public Defender Fred Carmody requested that the trial be postponed so an expert witness could prepare for the trial. The continuance request was granted by Circuit Judge Michael Allen until July 28.
Paterson’s trial was first been set to begin on May 12, but was postponed after the defense announced a new witness in the case.
The girl died on November 26, 2006, from burns she received two weeks earlier when she was left unattended in a hot bath, according to authorities. Paterson told deputies he placed the child in shower that just felt warm and went to another room to get a towel. He said that when he returned, Ali was screaming, and there was steam rising from the shower. He then called 911 after noticing red sores on the child.
Ali survived at Children’s Hospital in Birmingham for two weeks before she died.
This was not Paterson’s first involvement with authorities over Ali. The Department of Children and Families investigated a broken leg she suffered in May 2006. Paterson and Brittany Knapp, Ali’s mother, took Ali to the hospital with a broken leg. They said her leg was broken when it became trapped in a slot in her crib. DCF did not find that the incident was abuse at that time.
Paterson was indicted by a grand jury on second degree manslaughter charges in February of 2007. He was arrested on May 1, 2007, near Gainesville. He has remained in jail since his arrest.
The latest delay in the trail stemmed from a defense motion to allow expert witnesses to exam the hot water system at the home were Ali suffered her fatal injuries. A hearing on that motion is scheduled for this afternoon.
Northview Downs Chipley 20-7; Photo Gallery
September 15, 2008
The Northview Chiefs downed Chipley 20-7 Friday night on the road.
The Tigers were first on the board with 6:20 in the first quarter. Jacques Givens hit the end zone from one yard out. The kick was good, 7-0, Chipley.
The Chiefs made a 77 yard drive in the second quarter to even the score. Quarterback Jay Jackson finished the nine-play drive with 13-yard TD run. The kick was good.
The Chiefs and the Tigers were tied 7-7 at the half. The Tigers were unable to score again the the second half, but Northview put another 13 on the board in the second.
Jackson picked up another touchdown run, this one at 13-yards, early in the fourth quarter to end a 14-play drive for the Chiefs.
Junior Shakel Holmes picked up a huge interception in the fourth quarter, putting Northview on the Chipley 32. After two more plays, Jackson was in the endzone for the third time with 9:02 to go in the game.
QB Jackson, a senior, had 26 carries on the night for 122 yards. He had three touchdowns against the Tigers, racking up 208 of the Chief’s 372 offensive yards.
For the Chief defense, sophomore Cole Gandy had 10 tackles.
Northview Head Coach Cody Keene said victory over the Chipley Tigers was one of the biggest wins of his career. Northview had never beaten Chipley since Keene has been the Chief’s head coach.
The Chiefs (1-1) will be at home next Friday night against Walton County. Northview’s first district game will be the following week on the road against Holmes County.
For a photo gallery from the game, click here.
Pictured above: Montaio Mitchell with the ball for Northview. Pictured below: Northview’s big win Friday night against Chipley. Heather Leonard photos for NorthEscambia.com.
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Gulf Power Crews Head To Texas To Help After Ike
September 15, 2008
Gulf Power storm restoration teams have been dispatched to assist another utility for the second time this year, this time to help restore power near Galveston, Texas.
Sunday morning, a 20-truck caravan carrying 51 Gulf Power employees departed for the Lone Star state to assist crews from the Texas New Mexico Power Company as they restore outages caused by Hurricane Ike.
Because Gulf Power has finely-honed and experienced storm restoration teams, the company is called upon regularly to help other areas of the Southeast restore electric service after major storms.
“Our crews are recognized as some of the best in the industry,” said John Hutchinson, Corporate Services general manager, “They have a reputation for safe, fast, high quality work, so they get called on often.”
Of the 51 Gulf Power employees, 12 are from the Panama City are, 16 are from the Fort Walton Beach area and the other 23 are from Pensacola. They expect to be on assignment as long as they’re needed.
“Having a lot of help makes a big difference in how fast you can get the power back on,” Hutchinson said. “Companies from around the country have been there for us after previous storms, and we believe it’s the right thing to do.”
Flomaton Hurricanes Beat Southern Choctaw, 50-27
September 15, 2008
The Flomaton Hurricanes came from behind Friday night to take a huge victory against Southern Choctaw.
The Canes (3-0) were trailing 13-8 with about six minutes to go in the half. The Hurricanes then took over and stormed ahead with three touchdowns in the last five minutes of the first half. The score was 28-13 at the half.
Southern Choctaw picked up the last TD on the night with just less than 12 seconds on the clock. The Southern Choctaw Indians made the two point conversion, making the final 50-27.
Flomaton had 262 yards on the night; the Indians had 240 yards.
Tony Ellis had five touchdowns for the Canes against Southern Choctaw.
Flomaton is now 2-0 in regional play. The Hurricanes will travel to Leroy next Friday night to take on the Leroy Bears.
For more photos from the game, click here.
For even more photos, visit www.mikenewtonphotography.zenfolio.com.
Pictured above: The Flomaton Hurricanes beat Southern Choctaw Friday night. Submitted photo by Mike Newton Photography for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Six People Injured In Highway 29 Molino Wreck
September 14, 2008
Six people were injured in a two vehicle accident early Friday evening in Molino.
The accident happened about 6:40 at the intersection of Highway 29 and Highway 97. All six people were transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
The Florida Highway Patrol says Travis E. Payne, 30, of Molino was crossing over Highway 29 from Highway 97 in a 1993 Buick when he pulled into the path of Lonna M. Knotts, 33, of Pensacola. Knotts was northbound on Highway 29. The two cars collided in the northbound lane of Highway 29. Payne’s vehicle spun around and came to rest on the shoulder of Highway 29. Knotts car landed in a deep ditch at the intersection.
Passengers in Payne’s vehicle were Brannen Batemen, 14, and Tommy Payne, 9, both of Molino. Passengers in Knott’s vehicle were Quimaine Knotts, 33, and Trevilis Lewis, 34, both of Pensacola.
Witnesses said Payne might have been unable to see Knott’s southbound vehicle as he pulled across Highway 97 due to a church bus in the northbound turn lane of Highway 29.
The accident is still under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. The Molino Volunteer Fire Department, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department all responded to the scene.
All six people in the accident were transported by ambulance to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola.
Pictured above: Three people were injured in this vehicle driven by Travis Payne of Molino early Friday evening at the intersection of Highway 29 and Highway 97. Pictured below: Three more people were injured in this car driven by Lonna M. Knotts of Pensacola. The car landed in a ditch behind Payne’s Buick (visible in the far left of the photo). NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Many Escambia Stations Out Of Gas; AL Prices Up
September 14, 2008
Due to Hurricane Ike, many Escambia gas stations were out of gas Saturday night, or had only one grade available. Prices in Alabama, meanwhile, are soaring to near the $4 mark for regular unleaded.
Gas station after gas station in Pensacola had empty price signs and bags over pump handles. At the Tom Thumb on Airport Boulevard in Pensacola, only regular unleaded was available at $3.63 a gallon. At a Tom Thumb on Nine Mile Road, only diesel was available Saturday night; the station was out of all grades of gas. There was a similar across Pensacola Saturday night.
Most North Escambia stations had gas Saturday night. Prices ranged from $3.69 at the Tom Thumb in Molino, where all grades were still available, to $3.75 in Century. In Davisville, a gallon of regular unleaded was $3.69.
Across the state line in Alabama, the gas story is a bit different. Many stations have gas, but the price has spiked. At a station in Atmore, regular unleaded was at $3.89 a gallon. In Flomaton, one station was at $3.99 a gallon on Saturday. A station in Brewton, Alabama, was reported to be selling a gallon of regular unleaded at $4.65 per gallon.
Why the problems? Hurricane Ike is the simple answer, industry officials say.
In Texas, 13 of 26 major refineries are shut down. Add in increased demand from people that decided to top off their tanks and a few extra containers because a hurricane was in the Gulf, and you get an increased demand adding to the diminished supply.
Florida Governor Charlie Crist issued a statement assuring Floridians that our gas supply is adequate in the wake of Ike.
“Our supply is good, based on the projected demand from consumers. If stations do not have fuel, it is not due to the lack of supply, but because of a temporary increase in demand,” Crist said.
Meanwhile, as prices in Florida continue to rise as high as $5 a gallon in some place, the state’s attorney general says price gouging complaints are pouring in.
“Investigators with my Economic Crimes Division are reviewing the 261 complaints we have received about gasoline price gouging in multiple locations throughout the state,” Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum said Saturday night.”
Pictured above: The Tom Thumb in Molino had all grades of gas available Saturday night. Regular unleaded was $3.69 per gallon. NorthEscambia.com photo.
“Our investigations will continue, and I encourage Floridians to stay vigilant and keep reporting complaints to my office. This information from consumers is essential to our investigators as they work to ensure businesses are not taking advantage of our consumers. Price gouging should be reported to my hotline, 1-866-966-7226,” McCollum said.\
Other Area Football Scores
September 13, 2008
Vernon 28, Jay 7
After a halftime 7-0 lead, Veron picked up 21 points in the second half to down the Jay Royals Friday night. Jay fumbled six times on the night and had three plays intercepted.
Southern Academy 62, Escambia Academy 7
Faith Academy 20, Escambia County 14
Pensacola Catholic 17, Tate 15