One Injured In Highway 99 Crash Near State Line Tuesday Afternoon
August 19, 2009
One person was injured in a single vehicle accident Tuesday afternoon on North Highway 99 near the Alabama/Florida state line.
Witnesses say the driver of a Toyota Corolla appeared to lose control as they were exiting Bradberry Road, hit a road sign, went airborne over North Highway 99 and continued through the ditch into a wooded area. Emergency personnel were forced to cut a few small trees away from the car so the driver could exit the vehicle.
The accident happened about 3:40 Tuesday afternoon.
The driver was transported to Atmore Community Hospital by Atmore with non-life threatening injuries. Further details were not available.
The Atmore Fire Department, Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Department, Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Florida Highway Patrol responded to the call.
The accident is still under investigation by the FHP.
Deputies Arrest 14 More On Prostitution Charges; Over 85 Arrested This Year
August 18, 2009
Another Escambia County prostitution sting has landed 14 more people behind bars. Over 85 people have been arrested on prostitution related charges since Sheriff David Morgan took office in January.
Eight females were arrested on solicitation charges, and eight males were arrested for soliciting during the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office prostitution sting in and around the Brownsville community.
Mug shots and charges for each suspect are below.
Avoid I-10 At I-110, Davis Highway Area; Wreck Kills One, Slows Traffic
August 18, 2009
Drivers should avoid the area of the I-10 and I-110 in Pensacola. Traffic is expected to remain backed up for hours due to a serious accident with a fatality.
A tractor-trailer truck hauling tar overturned off an overpass area from I-110 to I-10, crashing down onto the Davis Highway exit. The driver died in the crash. Tar was reported to be leaking onto the Davis Highway exit. The Florida Highway Patrol is unsure how long the exit will be closed.
Motorists are asked to avoid the area.
More details will be posted as they become available.
Hundreds Of Pages Released In Billings Case Reveal New Details
August 18, 2009
The State Attorney’s office released hundreds of pages of documents in the Byrd and Melanie Billing murder investigation on Monday.
Part of the discovery phase in the case where the state informs the defense attorneys what evidence they have against the suspects, the documents detail the investigation with transcripts from witness and suspect interviews, crime scene reports and medical examiner’s reports.
Some of the information provided by the documents includes:
- Byrd Billings was shot a total of six times, including once in the back of each leg, twice in the back of the head and twice in the face. When his body was found in the master bedroom, he had a white zip tie on his left arm.
- Melanie Billings was shot three times in the face and head and twice in the chest area — a total of five times. Her body was found in a small hallway that led from the master bedroom to a study.
- Leonard Patrick Gonzalez, Jr. said he had been hired by car dealers in the Pensacola area in the past to “whack” people. He said a group of car dealers had tried to get him to “whack” Byrd Billings, but he would not take the job.
- One of the children in the home, Jacob, described men with black masks covering their faces. He said “that his dad was in the room sleeping, heard a knock on the door and he said that two ‘bad men’ said ‘you’re gonna die, one, two, three’ and then ‘no way, no way’. He said ‘Dad grabbed one of the suspect’s necks and mom got shot in her shirt’.”
- Another child, Matthew, described a knock and then seven “booms”
- Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Bill Chavers knew suspect Leonard Patrick Gonzalez, Jr. from a karate class he took in the 1980’s.
- “I asked Patrick if he wanted to talk specifically to me or would he rather talk to the Investigator. Patrick told me that he did not trust the Investigator and asked to talk to me because he trusted me not to mislead him,” Chavers wrote. “Patrick then asked if this was about his red van, because ‘if it is, you can ask me anything you want, I can prove I was not in that van and haven’t driven it lately’. Patrick followed up with ‘I’m not guilty of anything’.”
- “The car dealers just did not like Billings over business dealings and money issues,” Gonzalez, Jr. told Chavers. “Cab Tice came to him and indicated that the group wanted Billings ‘whacked’, but he (Pat) refused the job.”
- Chavers wrote that Gonzalez Jr said ‘I haven’t been driving the van recently and I can prove I’m not guilty of anything’. Patrick then leaned over and stated, ‘if this is about the killings, I didn’t do it; I can prove I didn’t do it, but I may know some people who may have done this, but it wasn’t me Mr. Chavers. This is real deep, I’ll take the heat, I’ll go to prison, I’ll even die if I have to because if this gets out, my family is in danger. They are in danger now because they know I’m in jail. I don’t want anything to happen to my family!’.”
Century Ready To Acquire Helicopter Technologies Building At Foreclosure Sale
August 18, 2009
The Town of Century is prepared to bid on the former Helicopter Technology building in the town’s industrial park when it is sold at a foreclosure auction next Monday — up to about $785,000.
The council voted 3-1 Monday night to first bid up to $745,000 for the building, and then increase their bid up to $785,000. Council member Henry Hawkins voted against the resolution. Council member Ann Brooks was not present at the meeting.
“We don’t have that money…we do not have $745,000,” Hawkins said. “The court’s gonna want their money.”
The final judgment against Helicopter Technologies in favor of the Town of Century was for $740,999.43 — $420,000 as principal, $307,345.08 as interest through July 30, $200 for a title search, $1,125.35 as costs, and $17,342 in attorney’s fees. With interest accruing daily, the total amount of the foreclosure will be about $745,000 by next Monday.
Town Attorney Matt Dannheisser told the council on August 6 by conference call that the town could essentially bid any amount up to the $745,000 and not write a check. By including a second additional judgment in the amount of about $40,000, the town could bid up to $785,000 and essentially not be out of any money since the building proceeds go to the town. If they bid the full $785,000, Dannheisser said the town would have to write a $41,242.71 check to the court, but that money would be returned to the town in about two weeks.
“This is going to be an expensive lesson for the town,” Hawkins said Monday night. “I just believe that the town just needs to get out of the real estate business period.”
Mayor Freddie McCall explained to Hawkins that the town will not be out any money if it bids on the building at next week’s foreclosure sale since the judgment is in favor of the town. No money will change hands, except if the town wins a bid at the full $785,000. Then, the that $41,242.71 check will need to be written to the court, the court clerk would turn around and write the town a check for the full amount within days.
“We will be alright,” McCall said, “since it is our money.”
During the August 6 conference call with the town’s attorney, council members indicated that they would support bidding up to the $785,000 for the building to prevent it from being sold at a lower dollar figure to another party.
The building was appraised by real estate agent Dee Dee Richie for $800,000 to $900,000. Property appraiser Chris Jones said that the 2009 appraisal on the building would be about $814,000.
“In all likelihood, there’s not going to be any other bids offered,” Dannheisser said. He said there had been no inquiries on the building since it went into foreclosure.
“We just want to get a business there that is viable and working, and get some jobs,” Mayor Freddie McCall said of the town’s desire to keep the building from being sold at auction at a low price.
“If they want to be in Century that bad, I’d love to have them,” Council President Ann Brooks said at that meeting of anyone willing to outbid the town’s $785,000 proposed bid.
If the town makes the winning bid for the building on August 24, the town will be required to pay back taxes from 2008 of $16,824 plus additional property taxes that have accrued since January 1.
Click here to read the court’s judgment ruling (pdf)
Pictured top: File photo showing the inside the Helicopter Technology building in February 2008. Pictured inset: Council member Henry Hawkins reads a document to the Century Town Council Monday night. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
New After School Child Care Program At Molino Park
August 18, 2009
Molino Park Elementary School has a new after school child care provider for the upcoming school year.
Creative School Age Child Care will be hosting after school care this year at Molino Park, offering thematic programs, homework club, activity centers, outside sports and games, academic play centers, special interest programs, nutritious snacks, low adult to child ratio, direct supervision at all times, and a program division by grade level groups.
All staff members are background-screened and trained in developmentally appropriate practices, first aid and CPR.
Pre-registration is required. Scholarships and subsidized child care are available.
Parents can register their child by visiting the Creative School Age Child Care office at 9510 Chandler Street or by calling 479-7814. For more information, visit csacc.com
Funeral Services Held For Area Marine Killed In Afghanistan
August 18, 2009
Marine Lance Cpl. Bruce “Bubba” Ferrell Jr., 21, was buried Monday at a small cemetery in Perdido, next to his sister who also died at the age of 21.
The marine from Perdido, Ala., was killed a week ago Sunday night in Afghanistan by a roadside bomb. Tuesday, a capacity crowd filled the Bay Minette Civic Center for his funeral with full military honors. Mourners listened as the man called “Bubba” was remembered fondly by those that knew him.
He was buried Monday afternoon at Bryars-McGill Cemetery near Perdido next to Danielle Denise Whatley, his sister who died in an automobile accident in 2006.
His body arrived by plane Sunday morning at the Mobile Regional Airport. The body was escorted back to the Bay Minette Civic Center by the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office and the Patriot Guard. Hundreds lined the route, waving flags and homemade signs honoring Ferrell for his military service.
Ferrell joined the Marine Corps in November 2007, and was promoted to rank of lance corporal. His unit deployed to Afghanistan in May of this year as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.
He was a gradate of Baldwin County High School where he was an honor student and a member of the JROTC program.
Ferrell was a member of Fox Company, a rifle unit of the 2nd Battalion, 8th Regiment of the Marine Corps. His tour of duty was scheduled to be just seven months.
He was recently engaged to be married.
Pictured: Scenes from the funeral of Marine Lance Cpl. Bruce “Bubba” Ferrell Jr., 21, in Bay Minette. Photos courtesy WEAR TV 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Teams Are Still Needed For Coed Softball Tournament This Weekend
August 18, 2009
Teams are still needed for a coed softball tournament this weekend in Century sponsored by the Northview High School Quarterback Club.
The tournament will take place Saturday at Showalter Park beginning at 8 a.m.
The entry fee for the double elimination tournament is $200 per team. The proceeds will benefit the football program at Northview High School.
Organizers are encouraging all businesses, churches and local organizations to support the football program at Northview High School by organizing a team and joining in a great day of fun.
For complete details and contact information, click here (pdf).
Chemstand Road Closed Again
August 18, 2009
Chemstrand Road was temporarily reopened to through traffic at Kingsfield Road on Thursday, August 6, while conflicts related to the underground utilities in the area are being worked out.
Morgan Contracting, Inc., the ECUA’s contractor on the Northern Transmission Main Project, expects to resume construction activity on the pipeline’s installation on Tuesday, August 18, at which time Chemstrand will again be closed to through traffic at Kingsfield Road.
Orientation Begins Today At Northview
August 18, 2009
Orientation sessions for all incoming students at Northview High School begin today and continue on Thursday
Northview High School orientation sessions will be as follows:
- Seniors: Tuesday, August 18, 8:30 a.m., cafeteria
- Juniors: Tuesday, August 18, 10:00 a.m., cafeteria
- Sophomores: Tuesday, August 18, 1:30 p.m., cafeteria
- Freshmen and New Students: Thursday, August 20, 8:30 a.m., theater
For complete information on Northview orientations, click here (pdf).
The first day of school is Monday, August 24.