Man Arrested On Drug Charges After He Is Caught Checking Doors
April 16, 2009
A Cantonment man was arrested on narcotics charges after residents say he was trying doors in their neighborhood.
Christopher Emory Lutheran, 28, of Cantonment was found Wednesday in the area of Neal Road after residents called the sheriff’s department to report that a strange white male appeared to be trying to find open doors in the area of Neal Road and Ridgeway Drive.
Deputies located Lutheran in the area and found drugs on his person. He was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance without a prescription.
Lutheran was being held on $5,000 bond in the Escambia County Jail Thursday night.
Two Arrested: Man Buys Fake Crack Cocaine; Returns With Friend, Shoots Into Two Homes
April 16, 2009
(Updated 12:45 p.m.) The Escambia County Sheriff’s Department has arrested two men in connection with a shooting Wednesday night in Molino after one of the men was sold fake crack cocaine.
Deputies say Robert Grant Piehl, 41, and Harry L. Nowlin, 42, were arrested in connection with incident that occurred on Barth Lane about 6:40 p.m.
Piehl reportedly bought what he thought was crack cocaine for $40 earlier in the day on Wednesday 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 Lt. Tony Jordan with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department. Piehl pointed the rifle at several people and fired into two houses, Jordan said.
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, Jordan said. They were booked into the Escambia County Jail on multiple charges.
Robert Grant Piehl, 41, was charged with aggravated assault, having a weapon during the commission of a crime, shooting into a dwelling, criminal mischief and robbery. He is being held in the Escambia County Jail on $165,000 bond.
Harry L. Nowlin, 42, was charged with aggravated assault and robbery. He is being held in the Escambia County Jail on $105,000 bond.
The incident is still under investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department.
Pictured above: Robert Grant Piehl (L) and Harry L. Nowlin were charged in connect with shooting into a Molino home. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
In Depth: Transition Begins Between Carver/Century And Ernest Ward
April 16, 2009
The plan to move the middle school students from Carver/Century K-8 School to Ernest Ward Middle School has been put into motion. It’s a detailed 84 page document that details each aspect of the move, down to the last box.
But before the physical move starts, a plan to welcome the Carver/Century students into the Ernest Ward family will begin.
Four highly qualified Carver/Century personnel have been informed that they will be teaching at Ernest Ward next year.
A diverse group of Ernest Ward students were selected to make handmade invitations for incoming Ernest Ward students transferring from Carver/Century. The group includes students that reside in the current Carver/Century attendance zone but attend EWMS, along with students from each community from Barrineau Park Road to the Alabama state line.
Carver/Century students will accept those invitations next week. Incoming sixth grade students — this year’s current fifth graders — from Carver/Century will attend school at Ernest Ward on Tuesday. They will “shadow”a sixth grade student all day, attending their classes and activities such as lunch. It will be hands on personal orientation to middle school life at EWMS. The incoming seventh and eighth grade students will repeat the process on Wednesday and Thursday.
“It will help the transition be smoother, and will let the kids know that they are going to be my babies,” Ernest Ward Middle School Principal Nancy Gindl-Perry said Wednesday.”My babies”is the term that she always uses to refer to Ernest Ward students; she says she considers each student to be part of her family. “Everyone wanted to do the invitations; my babies were so excited that we are getting the new students.”
“This will be their special day,” Perry said of the “shadow” days next week.
The next part of the transition plan will take place on April 28 when the PTSA and School Advisory Council at Ernest Ward hosts a parents night for parents and guardians of incoming students from Carver/Century.
Then, on April 29, staff from Ernest Ward will travel to Carver/Century to personally hand-register each student one on one.
A full orientation night for the parents and guardians of all incoming Ernest Ward students will be held on May 7. Prior to that event, the teachers and staff at Ernest Ward will host a reception for the school’s new staff members that will be transferring from Carver/Century.
There is also an 84 page plan detailing the physical move of students records, furniture, computers and other property from Carver/Century to Ernest Ward.
A modular building with five classrooms, two closets, and one 24 by 36 foot restroom facility will be installed sometime in May at Ernest Ward for a total cost of $543,391.
Once school is out, the physical move of property and supplies between the two schools will begin.
Consolidation Bill Passes Florida House
April 16, 2009
The Florida House has approved a bill that would lead to a commission to study local government consolidation that would combine Century, Pensacola and Escambia County into one.
The Florida House approved the bill sponsored by Rep. Greg Evers with a 120-0 vote with no discussion. The bill now goes to the Florida Senate for approval.
Once approved, the bill sets into motion the creation of study commission to create a plan for the governmental consolidation. That 25 member committee would be appointed by July 1 and be tasked with returning a consolidation proposal by January 15, 2010. If approved by the legislature, final say on the plan would be in the hands of the county’s voters.
Deputy Hits Deer
April 16, 2009
An Escambia County Sheriff’s deputy struck a deer with his cruiser late Wednesday night near Bratt.
The accident happened on Highway 168 near Wiggins Road about 11:00 p.m. The deputy was not injured. The condition of the deer was not immediately known.
As is standard practice with any accident involving a deputy’s car, a crime scene unit was called to the location to photograph the damage.
Molino Park Spring Carnival Is Rescheduled
April 16, 2009
The Molino Park Elementary School Spring Carnival originally scheduled for this Saturday has been rescheduled for the third Saturday in May.
The MPES Spring Carnival will be held May 16 from 4 to 8 p.m. inside the school. The carnival will include games, prizes, vendors, BBQ, pizza and, of course, fun.
Party Like It’s 1773: Tea Parties Protest Obama’s Policies
April 16, 2009
Hundreds of people, including several North Escambia residents, turned out for a modern day tea party in Pensacola Wednesday to protest President Barack Obama’s economic policies, bailouts and stimulus packages.
Waving homemade signs critical of the Obama administration, peaceful protesters lined Davis Highway at University Mall, just one of hundreds of such demonstrations across the country.
“Stop the Bailout”, “TEA = Taxed Enough Already”, “Stop Spending My Grandchildren’s Money” and “No More Bailouts” were but just a few of the signs that protesters waived at passing motorists.
Nationwide, the tea parties were expected to be the largest tax day protest in American history.
For a photo gallery from the tea party in Pensacola Wednesday, click here.
The tea parties were intended as grassroots protests against government spending. On December 16, 1773, a group of American colonists, in protest to the British government’s Tea Act (a tax on tea), hijacked a British ship and dumped the cargo into Boston Harbor. This act of defiance sent a bold statement to the British government that colonists in America would no longer accept the burdens of excessive taxation from a distant land, without representation.
Pictured: Protesters take part in a tea party at University Mall in Pensacola Wednesday afternoon. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Jakes Road Open Again
April 16, 2009
Jakes Road in extreme northwestern Escambia County has been reopened.
The Nokomis area road was closed between Jones Road and Reynolds Lane after a washout from heavy rains on Monday, according to Sonya Daniel, Escambia County public information manager.
4-H Celebrates 100; Barrineau Park Club One Of State’s Oldest
April 16, 2009
Florida’s 4-H has turned 100 years old, and North Escambia is home to the oldest continuous 4-H club in Florida.
The Barrineau Park 4-H Club is the oldest continuous 4-H club in the state. The Barrineau Park 4-H Club was established in 1914.
Attorney General Bill McCollum celebrated 100 years of 4-H in Florida with over 100 4-H members from around the state. During a tree planting ceremony at the Capitol, the Attorney General spoke about the importance of 4-H’s commitment to teach young people to be leaders in their communities and good stewards of their environment.
“I am excited to join Florida’s environmental community to champion an effort to make our planet a little greener,” said Attorney General McCollum. “It is imperative the young people of this state understand the gravity of their responsibility to lead their peers and protect the precious resources with which they have been entrusted.”
Florida 4-H is a strong youth development program which has touched the lives of over 263,000 youth and nearly 12,000 volunteers. Nationally, 4-H has over 6 million members who participate in hands-on learning activities geared at helping youth become contributing, productive, self-directed members of society.
“We are excited that Attorney General Bill McCollum is honoring our legacy by planting this tree in the Rose Garden at the Florida Capitol,” said Marilyn Norman, Ph.D., associate professor and associate dean over the state’s 4-H program. We feel the growth of this tree represents the thousands of Florida 4-H volunteers, parents, and professionals over the last 100 years who created quality learning environments in which positive youth development occurs.”
The tree planting was part of 4-H’s “Million Tree Project,” which is working toward the goal of planting 1 million trees across the continent to help lower greenhouse emissions, reduce runoff, and promote a better state of environmental consciousness. The tree, a crepe myrtle, was chosen because of its ability to thrive in Florida’s environment with little water once established.
Pictured above: Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum plants a tree with help from 4-H members to celebrate the groups centennial. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Hot Dog Supper And Twilight Movie
April 15, 2009
Northview High School’s Relay for Life Team will sponsor a Movie On the Green Monday evening. Admission is $5 for a hot dog supper at 6:00 p.m. Entertainment will be at no charge with a showing of the movie “Twilight” on Northview’s football field. Presale tickets are available at the Northview High office and tickets will be available for student purchase during lunches. Please bring a blanket or lawn chair. Sponsored in part by Audio Plus and Pepsi of Atmore. For more information, contact Mrs. Nall at 327-6681 ext. 251.