Man That Allegedly Shot Into Elderly Woman’s Home Released On Bond
September 3, 2009
A Molino man that allegedly fired a rifle into an elderly woman’s house in April after he became upset that he purchased $40 of fake cocaine is now free on $100,000 bond.
Robert Grant Piehl, 41, of Wilder Road, Molino, was released under the condition that he have no contact with the victims and that he stay away from Barth Lane where the incident occurred. Williams is charged with five felonies — aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill, two counts firing into the dwelling, criminal mischief and robbery with a firearm. A charge of using a firearm during a felony was dropped by prosecutors.
Piehl is scheduled to be back in court in October.
Charges have been dropped against the man with Piehl at the time of the incident, Harry Langdale Nowlin, 43, of Molino. Nowlin had been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill and robbery with a firearm.
Piehl reportedly bought what he thought was crack cocaine for $40 on April 15 on Barth Lane. But he discovered the crack was fake and returned to confront the alleged dealer with a .22 caliber rifle Wednesday evening, according to deputies. Piehl pointed the rifle at several people and fired into two houses, according to police reports.
Piehl approached Louise Sampson, 88, and asked about the alleged drug dealer, according to the sheriff’s department. Sampson denied knowing the man, prompting Piehl to fire the rifle through the elderly woman’s door. There were no injuries.
Deputies responding to the 911 call about the incident found Piehl and Nowlin as they were leaving, stopped their vehicle and arrested them on Highway 29. The rifle allegedly used in the incident was still in the truck, according to deputies.
Pictured above: Robert Grant Piehl. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tri-Cities Rotary Club Receives Presidential Citation
September 3, 2009
The Tri-Cities Rotary Club was awarded a Presidential Citation at their Wednesday meeting. The recognition was presented to Tri-Cities Rotary President Bo Brantley (left) by Assistant District Governor Leon Hursch. The Tri-Cities Rotary Club is comprised of members from the Century, Jay and Flomaton areas. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Make Some Noise: Meet The Chiefs Tonight
September 3, 2009
The Northview High School Quarterback Club will sponsor the annual “Meet the Chiefs” tonight at the NHS stadium.
Planned festivities for the night include performances by the Northview Chiefs Tribal Beat Marching Band, the Northview High School cheerleaders and the introduction of the 2009 Northview varsity and junior varsity Chiefs.
As a fundraiser for the football team, each player is currently selling $6 tickets for a hot dog dinner with two hot dogs, chips and a drink. The Quarterback Club will also be selling a variety of items such as t-shirts, cowbells, gold shakers, business signs, magnets and the new 2009 football program.
The gates will open at 6 p.m. and the hot dog dinners will be available at 6:30. All festivities will begin at 7:30 p.m.
The concession stand will only be serving the hot dog dinner platters and individual drinks. Meal tickets will be available at the gate. The meal tickets will be required to receive the hot dog platter. The concession stand will close at 7:25 so that parents who are working will be able to enjoy the program.
The Quarterback Club encourages everyone to join them for “Meet the Chiefs” night and be ready to “Make…Some…Noise!”.
Cats Even Series With Pelicans
September 3, 2009
Though the Pelicans took an early 1-0 lead on an Antoin Gray home run, the Cats would claim victory 8-2 on Wednesday night. Led by starter Joel Kirsten, Fort Worth won game two of the South Division Championship Series.
In the top of the first inning, Antoin Gray went deep for his second home run of the postseason. The solo shot gave the Pelicans an early 1-0 lead. However, the Cats came back strong.
Fort Worth tied the game in the bottom of the first. Brian Fryer singled off Pelicans starter Randy Beam and stole second base. Cameron Blair put down a sacrifice bunt and Fryer moved up to third, scoring on a sacrifice fly to center by Pat O’Sullivan.
The Cats knocked Randy Beam out of the game in the second inning. Bell, Patterson, Gulledge, and Backman all scored, two of them coming on an Isa Garcia double. Dane DeValk came on to record the final two outs of the inning.
Cameron Blair hit a solo bomb in the fourth inning to give the Cats a 6-1 lead. Michael Bell walked to start off the bottom of the fifth inning, and scored when Ryan Patterson doubled.
Down 7-1, the Pelicans added another run in the top of the eighth. Against Ryan Trytten, Antoin Gray walked with two out. Marshall McDougall doubled to drive him in. The next two Pelicans walked, but the Pelicans left the bases loaded.
The Cats added their final run in the last of the eighth, scoring Fryer on a John Allen RBI single.
The Pelicans used five pitchers in the 8-2 loss. Randy Beam took the loss allowing five runs in 1.1 innings, walking two and yielding five hits. Dane DeValk pitched until the end of the fifth, allowing two runs on two hits and two walks. He struck out one. Ron Hill tossed a scoreless sixth, allowing a hit and a walk. Francisco Butto allowed two hits in the seventh, notching a strikeout. Ulysses Roque gained three outs via strikeout in the eighth, but the strikeouts were spaced around two walks and a hit that allowed a run to score.
The Pelicans were limited to six hits, comprised mostly by Gray and McDougall. Gray went 2-3 with the homer and two runs scored, and McDougall hit two doubles in four at-bats, driving in Gray once.
Game three is scheduled for Friday at 7:05 p.m. in Pensacola. The Pelicans are scheduled to start Kieran Mattison against the Cats’ Jae Jung.
School Bus Driver From Jay Involved In Minor Wreck
September 2, 2009
A school bus driver from Jay was involved in a minor traffic crash in Pace Tuesday afternoon
The Florida Highway Patrol says bus driver Angela D. Pennell, 48, of Jay, was stopped at a red light. The FHP says Faye Franks, 61, of Pace, pulled to a stop behind the bus. That’s when Franks reached to pick up something that fell to the floor in her Kia van and rolled forward into rear of the bus.
Pennell and Franks were not injured. A nine-year old Pace girl was transported to Santa Rosa Hospital with minor injuries.
There was no damage to the bus in the minor crash, according to troopers.
Franks was charged with careless driving, according to the FHP.
Deputy Involved In Wreck
September 2, 2009
An Escambia County deputy was involved in a traffic accident in Cantonment early Tuesday evening
The accident happened just after 6 p.m. on Muscogee Road near Highway 29. The Florida Highway Patrol says ECSO Deputy Andrew Taylor, 25, was responding to an emergency 911 call in the 600 block of Muscogee Road. As the deputy turned across the highway into the driveway of the home with the emergency, he turned into the path of a 1981 Chevrolet truck driven by William Fountain, 55, of Cantonment.
The front of Fountain’s truck struck the side of the marked sheriff’s cruiser, sending the patrol car into a ditch.
Fountain was transported to West Florida Hospital with minor injuries. Deputy Taylor was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital with minor injuries.
The FHP says charges are pending in the crash.
Walnut Hill Couple Sentenced To 15 Years In Prison On Drug Charges
September 2, 2009
A Walnut Hill man and his wife have each been sentenced to a mandatory 15 years in state prison for drug trafficking.
In addition to the minimum mandatory 15 year sentence imposed last week, Circuit Court Judge Joel W. Boles ordered Stephen Eugene Freeman, 43, and his wife Monica Lassitter Freeman, 37, to pay a $50,000 fine, $2,500 surcharge and $518 court costs — for a total of $53,018 each. Attorney Patrece Cashwell has filed a notice of appeal on behalf of Stephen Freeman.
In June, it took an Escambia County jury just 50 minutes to convict the Freemans on the trafficking charges involving 14 to 28 grams of illegal drugs.
Monica Freeman faces additional charges of possession of of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and an additional drug trafficking charge. She is due back in court at the end of September.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said the Freemans were originally arrested by Escambia County Sheriff’s Deputies on June 4, 2008, following an undercover operation. Spokesperson Ted Roy says ECSO arrested the pair following an undercover operation where deputies discovered prescription Lortab and other pills in the couple’s home on Garrett Road in Walnut Hill.
Stephen and Monica Freeman both remain in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
Blog: Commission Strikes Out By Taxing Kids
September 2, 2009
The Escambia County Commission will strike out Thursday night if they vote to tax children.
The commission will consider a recommendation at their Thursday meeting that would have non-profit athletic associations assessed a fee of $10 per child, per sport after October 1.
Currently, athletic associations that use county-owned parks for little league sports do not pay for the use of the parks. Instead, the athletic associations maintain and manage the parks in exchange for their use. The athletic associations charge players a fee to participate on organized teams. The fees along with concession sales go to the athletic associations. In turn, the associations maintain the parks — from cutting the grass to making repairs to changing light bulbs. The county does not actively participate in or fund the maintenance of a park like Bradberry in Walnut Hill or Don Sutton in Molino.
Now the Escambia Commission will consider slapping a $10 tax on every child that plays ball. Moms and dads that are already out of work will be forced to pay another $10 that will go into the general fund of Escambia County. There’s no promise, not even the slightest hint, that the extra ten bucks per child will go back to the athletic parks. The $75,000 in extra money could be used to pave a road, fund the jail, prevent layoff or buy cars for a couple of administrators.
There’s no arguing that the county needs more funding — but taxing children that want to play ball?
“That ridiculous to do that,” Steve Hanks, president of Northwest Escambia Little League said. “It not going to do anything but hurt a lot of kids. It’s tough enough now for parents to afford for their children to play.”
It’s also tough on many parents who selflessly volunteer countless hours at the county-owned parks.
Volunteers “give their time to make a difference in the community and a positive impact on future generations,” Arty Kleinatland, president of the Molino Recreation Association wrote in a comment on NorthEscambia.com. “If the county can’t afford to pay the salary for oversight of the operations to give the children a place to play organized ball and learn the skills ball teaches at a young age, then they should supplement the salary from another avenue and not roll the burden back to the already strained families in the community.”
Is $75,000 important enough to tax kids that play ball? We think not.
Sandy Jennings, bureau chief for the county’s Neighborhoods/Community Services Bureau, should have never recommending taxing kids. And now the only clear action for the Escambia County Commission is for each and every member to vote against the proposal.
Members of the public should express their opinion TODAY in three ways: Call not just your commissioner but all five of them; email each one, and post your comments below for them to read publicly. Urge your friends to do the same.
Wilson Robertson
(850) 595-4910 email district1@co.escambia.fl.us
Gene Valentino
(850) 595-4920 email district2@co.escambia.fl.us
Marie Young (Chair)
(850) 595-4930 email district3@co.escambia.fl.us
Grover Robinson (Vice Chair)
(850) 595-4940 email district4@co.escambia.fl.us
Kevin White
(850) 595-4950 email district5@co.escambia.fl.us
Volleyball: Northview Loses Season Openers To Freeport
September 2, 2009
The Northview Chiefs lost there regular season opening varsity and junior varsity volleyball matches on the road Tuesday night.
The varsity Chiefs lost three of four to Freeport, 23-25, 25-14, 15-25, 20-25.
Against Freeport, junior Shawna Montgomery had five kills, a couple of assists, one ace, five digs and seven blocks. Kara Hardin, also a junior, had a block, an aces and a pair of digs. Senior setter Caitlin Hall finished the night with seven assists, eight blocks and two aces. Senior Angela Rodriguez had a pair of aces and a pair of kills for the Chiefs.
Freeport swept two from the JV Chiefs, 16-25, 22-25.
Tresine Dean, a junior, had two assists, one block and an ace for Northview. Jordan Satterwhite, a freshman, had two digs and an ace. Sophomore Josie Doucette,picked up two blocks and junior Brittanie Poston had two kills.
Deputies Seek Mailbox Vandals
September 2, 2009
Escambia County deputies are looking for the person or persons that destroyed about half dozen mailboxes from Walnut Hill to Enon.
The mailboxes and their supports were apparently hit by a vehicle along Highway 97A sometime late Monday night or early Tuesday morning. Destroying a mailbox can actually be a federal felony offense.
Anyone with information on this crime is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 433-STOP or the Escambia Sheriff’s Office at 436-9620.
Pictured above: One of the mailboxes destroyed on Highway 97A near Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.