Man Shoots Into Trailer With Children Inside; He Faces Long List Of Charges
July 28, 2008
A Flomaton man remained in jail Monday after shots were fired into a trailer near Bratt with three children inside Friday night. The children and adults in the trailer on Wawbeek Road were not injured.
Joshua Jackson Grimes , 25, of Flomaton was arrested in connection with the incident. He faces a long list of charges, including six counts of aggravated assault, two counts of battery, one count of shooting deadly missiles into a dwelling, one count of criminal mischief and one count of resisting an officer without violence. His total bond was set at $422,000.
The incident occurred in the northeast corner of Wawbeek Road north of Highway 168, just a few feet south of the Alabama state line. It all began about 6:00 Friday evening when Grimes got into a verbal altercation with the resident of the trailer, according to Sgt. Steve Smith of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department.. Deputies say he then left before returning armed with a shotgun about 6:40.
Grimes drove up to the trailer, firing several shots into the trailer busting out windows (pictured left, click to enlarge). He also shot out the windows of two vehicles according to deputies. Three children and two adults inside the trailer at the time of the shooting were not injured.
Grimes and a female friend, identified as Terri Leann Stabler, were stopped by deputies on the long driveway leading away from the residence. Grimes was taken into custody. Stabler was not charged with any crime Friday night. She was briefly taken into custody when she refused to follow orders from officers to stay away from the sheriff’s cruiser with Grimes inside, but she was later released.
Escambia County EMS responded to evaluate Grimes, who suffered a cut on his arm. He refused treatment.
The first court date for Grimes has been set for August 15.
For more photos from the scene, click here.
Pictured top of page: Grimes is evaluated by Escambia County EMS after being arrested for firing into a trailer on Wawbeek Road Friday evening. Pictured above, inset: Windows in the trailer were blown out. Pictured below: An Escambia County Deputy orders Terri Leann Stabler to not approach the cruiser containing Grimes. Pictured bottom: Stabler being taken into custody after ignoring the deputy’s orders. She was not charged with any crime Friday evening. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
County Won’t Hire Smokers Under New Policy; Insurance Changes Coming
July 27, 2008
No smoking…that’s the word from the Escambia County Commission. If you smoke, don’t expect to get an Escambia County job.
The county has adopted a strict no smoking policy effective October 1. The mandatory drug test will include a test for tobacco usage after that date. If a person tests positive for tobacco, they will not be hired for any county position.
The no smoking policies adopted by the commission go even further. Effective October 1, there will be no smoking within 50 feet of an entrance or exit of any county building. That ban will be expanded in 2010 to include all county property…no county employee may smoke anywhere on county property.
The no smoking rules are part of a sweeping change to the county’s health benefits, all designed to improved employee health and save money.
County employee health insurance will be going up on October 1 by an average of almost 25 percent. An employee that participates in the top-tier plan with single coverage will see their rates jump for $60 a month to almost $80 a month.
Almost 200 Medicare-eligible retirees that are on the county’s health plan will face a $50 a month increase or be forced to switch plans to one called BlueMedicare at an increase of $16 per month.
Other parts of the county’s health plan changes include:
- Consolidate life insurance coverage under a single provider, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, in exchange for which BCBS will donate $250,000 for the construction of wellness centers in the county, with the wellness centers to be equipped with funding from the Employee Morale & Wellness Fund.
- Attempt to increase the size of the health insurance pool through alliances with other entities such as the School Board and the City of Pensacola.
- Investigate consolidating the health and dental Insurances under a single carrier.
- Make mandatory the pre-taxing of employee deductions for health, life, dental, and vision (insurance), which means the deductions can only be changed during open enrollment or for a qualifying event; all other forms of benefit deductions will remain voluntary.
- In fiscal year 2009-2010, offer employees a tobacco-free discount of 5% on the employees’ portion of the health insurance, with employees to sign an affidavit attesting to their commitment to remain tobacco free to receive the discount, with the county to randomly drug-test employees to ensure compliance, and with employees found in non-compliance to lose their discount.
- In fiscal year 2009-2010, drop the county-sponsored Long-Term Disability Program and develop an optional program for employees to buy into. If possible, this program will be discontinued in fiscal year 2008-2009, at a cost savings to the county of approximately $70,000.
Faith Bible Baptist Youth Attend Camp; Walk The Purple People Bridge
July 27, 2008
The youth from Faith Bible Baptist Church in Bluff Springs recently returned from a week long youth trip.
The group of 10 youth and two leaders visited the Creation Museum in Petersburg, Kentucky. The museums presents a scientific approach to Biblical creation.
“It was good to see the things that we know from the Bible confirmed in science. Everything makes sense when you start with the Bible and go on from there,” said Faith Bible Baptist youth member Ryne Barrow, 17.
While at the museum, the youth attended a planetarium presentation and spent time in the museum’s expansive botanical garden. Afterwards, they visited Newport on Levee and cross the Purple People Bridge, the longest pedestrian bridge connecting two states. The 2,670 foot long purple-painted bridge stretches across the Ohio River from Newport, Kentucky, to Cincinnati, Ohio.
The youth attended church services at Salem Baptist Church in Cincinnati, with pastor Phillip Blackwell. Sunday evening, the Faith Bible youth helped with Salem Baptist’s Vacation Bible School country fair by working booths, giving out prizes, serving food and cleaning up.
The youth then spent five days at Camp Chautauqua in Miamisburg, Ohio, where they enjoyed morning and evening chapel services. The camp was Olympic themed using the phrase “Go for the gold” based on 2 Timothy 4:7-8 which says in part “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith”.
The speaker for Monday and Tuesday was Dr. David McCoy, pastor of People’s Baptist Church of McDonough, Georgia.Wednesday and Thursday’s chapel service were brought by Senior Pastor Jerry Siler and by Bro. Kirk Kirkland, both of Cornerstone Baptist Temple of Dayton, Ohio.
While at camp, Kolbi Cobb was nominated by her peers to a court of four out of 430 teens as camp queen. The nomination was based on participation, character and attitude. This was Kolbi’s second consecutive year to be nominated for camp queen.
Camp activities included tournament softball, basketball, volleyball and dodgeball. The senior girls won a gold medal in softball and basketball, while the senior boys won gold in dodgeball.
The teens also enjoyed Frisbee golf, miniature golf, swimming, zip line, paint ball, air hockey, bowling and many other activities. Their daily schedule began at 7:00 a.m. and sometimes continued until 2:00 a.m. with activities.
The Faith Bible Baptist Church teens attending were: Olivia Nolen, Kolbi Cobb, Jordyn Dunsford, Erin Fremin, Lauren Howell, Victoria Barrow, Jamie Gafford, Zach Barrow, Ryne Barrow and Blake Wiggins. They were accompanied by youth leaders Jeremy and Elizabeth Bondurant.
Robert Barrow in pastor of Faith Bible Baptist Church.
Submitted photos and information by Elizabeth Bondurant.
Picture above outside the Creation Museum in Petersburg, Kentucky, are Faith Bible Baptist Church members (front, L-R) Lauren Howell, Jordyn Dunsford, Jamie Gafford, Zach Barrow, Erin Fremin, Olivia Nolen, (back, L-R) Jeremy Bondurant, Ryne Barrow, Blake Wiggins, Elizabeth Bondurant, Victoria Barrow and Kolbi Cobb. Submitted photo.
More Pot Plants Found Near Jay Friday; Total Value: Almost $3 Million
July 26, 2008
A third marijuana field located near Jay was found Friday, bringing the total value of plants destroyed this week to nearly $3 million.
Santa Rosa County deputies located another 249 plants Friday afternoon with the aid of an air search of an area near Bud Diamond Road in the Brownsdale community just southwest of Jay.
That brought the total number of marijuana plants located by deputies this week to just over 1,500.
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Department destroyed about $2 million worth marijuana plants found near Jay Wednesday night.
The 1,183 plants were located in the Brownsdale community southwest of Jay near Bud Diamond Road. Deputies removed the plants Wednesday night after an anonymous tip led them to the 80 by 40 foot patch deep in the woods. Deputies said they did not immediately name any suspects in connection with the plants, some of which were up to 11 feet tall.
Deputies did not say if this major drug find was related to the arrest of a Jay man earlier this week for the cultivation of about 85 marijuana plants. Tharon “Buckshot” Godwin, 66, was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to sell, manufacture or deliver, a third degree felony in connection with 85 pot plants located in a wooded area on Bud Diamond Road near Chumuckla Highway, very near Wednesday night’s find. To read the story about Godwin and the 85 marijuana plants, click here.
Two Foley Men Arrested For Burglary After Manhunt In McDavid
July 25, 2008
Two Foley men were arrested and charged with burglary after a brief manhunt in the McDavid area Thursday morning.
Calvin Lynn Foote (pictured above left), 37, of Magnolia Acres Drive in Foley and Shannon Devon Bryars, 37, of McDuffy Road in Foley, were both charged with burglary. Bryars (pictured right) was also charged with obstruction by a disguised person.
The incident began about 9:40 a.m. with calls to the sheriff’s department from a resident on Roach Road who reported that two men rang her doorbell and attempted to enter her home when she answered. Another resident on Barnes Road just off Cox Road reported that two men rang her doorbell and ran toward a wooded area when they realized that someone was home.
Units from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department, the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Department and the Flomaton Police Department setup a perimeter around the area. Search dogs from the Century Correctional Institute were brought to the scene. They, along with the Escambia Sheriff’s Department’s helicopter, searched the area. The K-9 unit was able to locate and apprehend the suspects in a wooded area between Barnes Road and Cox Road.
Preliminary information indicated that the two men may be wanted by other agencies for other burglaries. Their truck was located nearby, full of items that may have been from other burglaries.
Only Two People Show Up For Carver/Century School Support Rally
July 25, 2008
Only two people showed up Thursday night at a community rally in support of keeping Carver/Century K-8 School open beyond this school year. The two people that attended the meeting are both members of the 10 member committee that sponsored the rally.
When NorthEscambia.com arrived at 6:20 Thursday evening at Carver/Century for the 6:30 meeting, we could find no one. The cafeteria where the meeting was to be held was locked and dark.
Century Blue Ribbon Committee members Laura Nelson and Brenda Spencer arrived a short time later, but nobody else showed up. Nelson and Spencer are just two of the 10 member committee that was formed by the town council to work toward saving the school.
Escambia School Superintendent Jim Paul had announced his intentions to call for the closure of the school back in May. That recommendation from Paul to the school board was delayed, with Paul deciding to keep the school open for the 2008-2009 school year. He is now expected to recommend closing the school for the 2009-2010 school year at the school board’s August 18 meeting. In the meantime, Carver/Century’s school grade from the Florida Department of Education soared from an “F” to a “B’.
Both Nelson and Spencer agreed Thursday night that people did not show up for the rally in support of the school because of the increased school grade and the fact that the school will be open this school year.
“We need to get the community together,” Spencer said. “It is not over yet. They are still going to try to close this school.”
“Before he (Paul) announced that the school would be open this year, it was an emergency situation and over 70 people came out in support of the school at our last meeting,” Nelson said. “People still need to get involved; it is still important.”
“We need to try to get the community to rally together and have something to lean on,” Spencer said. “It is important that people don’t forget about the school. Don’t relax; don’t let your guard down. We can’t relax.”
The Blue Ribbon Committee has other community events planned, including movie nights every Friday night at New Life Baptist Church and a Community Market Day in the Park at Roadside Park every other Saturday. The next market day will be August 2.
The members of the Blue Ribbon Committee are Mayor Freddie McCall; Principal Jeff Garthwaite, Paula Jernigan, Rev. Wiillie Carter, Laura Nelson, Brenda Spencer, Henry Hawkins; Mrs. Reginald McCants, Marilyn Robinson and Rev. Irwin Stallworth.
We did not have phone numbers immediately available for all of the Blue Ribbon Committee members, but NorthEscambia.com attempted to contact some of the eight committee members not present at the rally. As we stood outside the locked school Thursday evening, we were not able to reach anyone but Mayor Freddie McCall.
McCall said he was planning to attend the meeting. But he said he had a last minute family emergency that prevented him from attending.
Nelson and Spencer said they would attempt to reschedule the rally in the near future.
Habitat Plans To Build Homes In Molino; Families Are Needed To Move In
July 24, 2008
Pensacola Habitat for Humanity still has plans to build six houses in the Molino area next Spring, and now they are looking for deserving families ready to move into them.
Janet Westlake, Habitat’s volunteer in charge of church relations, told NorthEscambia.com that as long as a few corporate sponsors work out, Habitat plans to build the homes during the Spring Break 2009 period.
They will be built by college students in the Pensacola area for spring break. They will work on the houses in the mornings and enjoy the area beaches and attractions in the later afternoons and evenings.
The first house, the “Methodist House”, will be a joint project of Aldersgate, Cottage Hill, Allen Memorial, Lathram Chapel, McDavid and Farm Hill United Methodist churches.
A Habitat home is not a free handout; home recipients must have the ability to repay a small mortgage payment each month. That money goes into the program to build future Habitat homes.
Qualification is based upon three primary criteria: the ability to pay the mortgage, the need for adequate housing and the willingness to partner with “sweat equity” of 300 hours of volunteer time in the construction of their own home or in community service with another community organization. Income guidelines are in the table to the left.
For more information on Pensacola Habitat for Humanity, visit www.pensacolahabitat.org or call 434-5456.
The homes will be located on donated lots on Schaag Road off County Road 95A in Molino.
Pensacola Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit Christian ministry whose purpose is to build homes and improve communities in partnership with low and very low income families in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties.
Lightning Sparks Davisville House Fire, Minor Damage
July 24, 2008
Lightning was blamed for a fire that damaged a home in Davisville Wednesday afternoon.
The fire was reported about 2:30 at a home in the 9700 block of Highway 97 behind the Davisville Community Church. At the time, a line of storms was moving through the North Escambia area.
Someone at the home had extinguished the exterior fire with a garden hose by the time the first firefighters arrived on scene. There were no injuries reported.
The Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department, Century Volunteer Fire Department and Molino Volunteer Fire Department responded to the scene.
Pictured above: Fire sparked by lightning damaged the exterior of the home. Pictured below: Fire damaged the outside of this home behind the Davisville Community Church. Pictured bottom: A firefighter removes a ladder from a truck in preparation to check to the attic of the home. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Some Area Workers Received A Pay Raise
July 24, 2008
Some of the lowest paid workers in our area got a little raise Thursday.
Many workers in Alabama will got a raise Thursday as the federal hourly minimum wage went from $5.85 to $6.55 per hour. However, the change won’t put more in the pockets of minimum wage workers in Florida.
Florida’s minimum wage is already higher than the federal minimum. Florida’s mininum wage is $6.79 per hour. Florida voters approved a minimum wage admendment in 2004 that requires an annual increase on January 1 to adjust for the annual rate of inflation.
Next year, the federal minimum wage will increase to $7.25 an hour.
Jay Man Busted For Growing Pot In The Woods
July 23, 2008
A Jay man was arrested for growing marijuana after deputies found him leaving a wooded area in the Brownsdale community southwest of Jay with the tools of the trade in his possession.
Tharon “Buckshot” Godwin, 66, was was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to sell, manufacture or deliver, a third degree felony.
Santa Rosa deputies were dispatched to a wooded area off a Bud Diamond Road off Chumuckla Highway near Jay after a suspicious vehicle was reported in the area. When they arrived, they found Godwin walking from the woods. The area was private property, and he did not have permission to be there. He was observed to be carrying water bottles and pruning shears, which is commonly encountered with individuals who grow marijuana, according to the Santa Rosa Sheriff’s office.
Deputies called K-9 officers from the Century Correctional Institute. Tracking dogs were able to follow Godwin’s scent back into the woods and to 85 marijuana plants, which had all been well maintained and pruned in order to yield a higher quality of marijuana, according to the sheriff’s department report.
A search of Godwin’s truck revealed more water containers, fertilizers, cultivation tools, packaging and collection materials commonly used in the production of marijuana, and human hair clippings, according to the sheriff’s report. Hair clippings are commonly used to repel deer from marijuana and other crops.
Based on all of the facts and circumstances that were observed, Godwin was arrested for Cultivation of Marijuana and transported to the Santa Rosa County Jail. Godwin’s truck was also seized by deputies, according to Sgt. Scott Haines from the Santa Rosa Sheriff’ Department.
Haines said all of the plants were cut and destroyed. Godwin has been released from the Santa Rosa County Jail on a $7,500 bond.
Pictured above: Santa Rosa County deputies cut marijuana plants found in a wood area by dogs from the Century Correctional Institute. Pictured below: Some of the 85 marijuana plants found southeast of Jay prior to them being cut and destroyed.
