Photos: Oprah Winfrey Show To Feature Billings Murder With Markham, Morgan
September 25, 2009
An upcoming episode of the Oprah Winfrey show was taped Thursday afternoon with Ashley Markham, daughter of murder victims Byrd and Melanie Billings, and Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan.
Markham, her husband James, and Robert Beasley, their attorney, were in Chicago for the taping. The sheriff taped his portion of the program via the Skype Internet video chat program from his office in Pensacola.
The show is expected to air sometime next week; and exact date has not been announced. The show will reportedly focus around the Billings family and their children.
Pictured above: Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan waits to film a segment on the Oprah Winfrey show via an Internet teleconference from his office Thursday afternoon. Pictured below: Morgan conducts his interview with Oprah. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
County Passes Budget; Century Courthouse To Remain Open
September 25, 2009
The Escambia County Commission approved a $367.4 million budget Thursday night, including the $65,000 needed to keep the Century Courthouse open.
The budget passed 4-1 with Commissioner Kevin White casting the negative vote.
“I’ve said all along that I could not vote for a budget that included spending one-time funds and reserves,” White told NorthEscambia.com after the vote. The $367.4 million budget for the next fiscal year represents a reduction from the current year $391.6 million budget, but it does require the county to use one-time revenue.
The budget includes $65,000 to keep Escambia County Clerk of the Courts Ernie Lee Magaha in the Billy G. Ward Courthouse in Century. At a budget hearing last week, Commissioner Gene Valentino question if the courthouse could be closed and the money be used to fund the Gulf Coast African American Chamber of Commerce.
Teacher’s Aide Busted In Walnut Hill; Search Warrant Uncovers ‘Large Amount’ Of Cocaine In Jaguar
September 25, 2009
An Escambia County teacher’s aide is behind bars after a search warrant executed at his Walnut Hill home turned up a “large amount” of cocaine as well as other drugs.
Rodney Darnell Portis, 41, of Juniper Street, Walnut Hill, was charged with one count of cocaine possession with the intent to sell and two counts of possessing a controlled substance without a prescription.
Portis is employed as a teacher’s aide at E-SEAL, an associated work skills program that offers vocational training for special education high school students from across Escambia County, according to a spokesperson for the Escambia County School District.
Deputies with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Narcotics Unit executed a search warrant at Portis’ residence in the 100 block of Juniper Street in Walnut Hill.
“Portis stated that he had only been selling crack cocaine for a short time and that all he had was a small amount of crack cocaine in his Isuzu Rodeo,” ECSO Investigator Heath Jackson wrote in the arrest report.
A search of that vehicle revealed a large amount of crack cocaine, $407 in cash and a 9mm handgun in the front seat, according to the ECSO report. A pill container in the Rodeo contained one Lortab and two Oxycontin, according to Jackson’s report. A search of a Jaguar at the home found a “large amount of crack cocaine in the trunk area” and a container containing four more Oxycontin pills, the arrest report states. Portis, according to deputies, admitted that the cocaine and Oxycontin belonged to him.
Jackson said the arrest was part of an ongoing investigatin.
Portis was booked into the Escambia County Jail on $120,000 bond.
Northview Beats Jay; Jay Beats Northview In Volleyball Action
September 25, 2009
Northview High School’s Lady Chiefs beat the Jay Royals on the volleyball court Thursday night; and the JV Royals were victorious over the JV Chiefs.
Here are stats provided by Northview from both games in Jay:
Northview def. Jay – Varsity
15-25 24-26 25-23 27-17 25-11
Shawna Montgomery 11 M Kills-9, Aces-4, Assists- 5, Blocks-4
Caitlin Hall 12 Setter Assists– 16, Aces-5, Block-3, Kills-2
Angela Rodriguez 12 LS/Middle Kills-4, Aces-4, Digs-1
Shaniqua Jones 11 Middle Kills – 6, Digs – 1, Blocks – 2
Record – Overall – 4 -9; District 2 -2
Jay def. Northview – JV
19-25 12-25
Trestine Dean 11 Setter/Left Aces – 2, Assists – 2
Morgan Payne 09 Middle/Setter Kills– 4, Aces – 6
Josie Doucette 10 Middle Kills – 2, Digs-1
Parents, Students Attend Ernest Ward Middle School Open House
September 25, 2009
Hundreds of parents and students attended the annual open house at Ernest Ward Middle School in Walnut Hill Thursday evening. Parents and students changed classes, giving parents the opportunity to meet each of their child’s teachers. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Auto Plant To Bring 5,000 Jobs; Build 300,000 Cars Per Year
September 25, 2009
Alabama Gov. Bob Riley announced Thursday afternoon that a Chinese automaker plans to open an assembly plant near Bay Minette, just a few miles from North Escambia.
Hybrid Kinetic Motors (HK Motors) announced plans to construct a new green-vehicle manufacturing plant in Baldwin County, Alabama, during a press conference held jointly with Governor Bob Riley, the Alabama Development Office and key members of the state legislature on Thursday.
HK Motors Chairman Yung (Benjamin) Yeung cited the strength of Alabama’s economy and the quality of its workforce as the main reasons for the board’s decision to locate its primary manufacturing operations in Alabama. Initial production of all model lines is expected to begin in 2013, with Phase 1 capacity of 300,000 vehicles, while creating more than 5,000 direct jobs.
HK Motors aims to be the first large-scale manufacturer of environmentally-friendly vehicles, which will help revitalize the American automotive industry while protecting the environment and stimulating the local and national economy. Utilizing a unique hybrid engine that employs compressed natural gas (CNG), electricity, and gasoline, the company’s vehicles will provide unprecedented efficiency at affordable prices to consumers, while bringing thousands of environmentally-friendly new jobs to American workers.
“Our cutting-edge multi-fuel hybrid powertrain system delivers excellent performance while reducing CO2 emissions to exceed Euro-2012 and future EPA guidelines,” said Chairman Yeung.
By utilizing natural gas, HK Motors taps into a resource that is abundant, exceptionally clean, and surprisingly affordable. The low emissions achieved by this engine technology already surpass the most stringent international standards, including those recently enacted by both American and European governments. By stressing mass production, HK Motors will be able to offer vehicles that are less expensive than the competition, without sacrificing driving performance, ride comfort, and safety.
Under the leadership of Chairman Yeung and an executive board with many years of combined automotive experience, HK Motors has chosen some of the world’s most renowned automotive companies to serve as its partners in this endeavor. Representatives from these suppliers were on hand for the press conference today, and many will also be setting up bases at the Baldwin County production base, bringing in more international expertise and offering more opportunities for local workers.
“It didn’t take long for Alabama to become a leader in the automotive industry. Now as America and the world begin making a historic transition to a green economy, we look to make Alabama a leader in the production of next-generation, clean-tech automobiles,” said Governor Riley. “Our Alabama team, in cooperation with local officials in Baldwin County, has been working with HK Motors for several months on this project. We will continue to work with them as the company puts the financing in place to move forward.”
The plant, once funding is in place, will be located on 3,000 acres near I-65 and Highway 287. The location is about 10 miles from North Escambia.
Pictured above: Alabama Gov. Bob Riley shakes hands with Hybrid Kinetic Motors Chairman Yung (Benjamin) Yeung after they unveiled an artist’s rendering of the automotive plant the company plans to build in Baldwin County. The company announced Thursday during a news conference at the state capitol that it will build hybrid vehicles in Alabama and expects to create more than 5,000 direct jobs. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Murder In Nokomis; Suspects Last Seen Headed Toward North Escambia
September 24, 2009
(Update) One person has reportedly died after being shot in an apparent domestic dispute in the Nokomis community in Escambia County, Ala., Thursday night.
The incident occurred just about 7:10 p.m. on Nathan Road, about a mile north of Highway 31. The victim, identified by neighbors and relatives as Kenny Porter, age unknown, was transported from the scene by ambulance and then by LifeFlight helicopter to an area hospital. He died from his injuries at 9:20 tonight, according to Mike Lambeth, Escambia County (Ala.) chief deputy.
The shooting reportedly stemmed from an argument over a ladder that was leaning against a mobile home in a trailer park.
The alleged suspects, identified as Clarence Luker and Lorraine Gray, fled the scene in a two-town older model Ford Econoline van. It was described as being maroon and either silver or white.
The van was later reported to be seen on Pineville Road in Escambia, Ala, headed toward North Pineville Road in Escambia County, Fla. Luker was a resident of the mobile home where the shooting occurred.
The suspect was reported to be armed with a handgun.
Anyone with information on the crime should call their local law enforcement agency. Anyone coming in contact with the suspect should call 911. The suspect is considered armed and dangerous.
10-Year Old On A Dirt Bike Injured In Bratt Crash
September 24, 2009
A 10-year boy was injured in a dirt bike accident involving a pickup truck this afternoon on Hall Road in Bratt.
The accident happened about 4:45 Thursday afternoon on Hall Road north of Breastworks Road. The driver of the pickup apparently rounded a slight curve on the narrow dirt road where the boy was riding the dirt bike in the roadway. It was not immediately clear if the two vehicles collided, if the boy was struck by the truck, or if he fell off the bike trying to avoid the truck . He was found lying in the roadway several feet from both the truck and the dirt bike.
The boy was transported to Atmore Community Hospital with a leg injury. His injuries were not life-threatening.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire-Rescue, Atmore Ambulance and the Florida Highway Patrol responded to the call.
The accident is under investigation by the FHP. Further details were not immediately available.
Pictured above: A 10-year old on a dirt bike was involved in accident with this truck on Hall Road Thursday afternoon. The owner of the truck stated that the damage to the front of the truck was caused by a previous collision with a deer. Pictured inset: The truck had a flat tire after the crash. Pictured below: The dirt bike. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Highway 97 Accident Sends One To The Hospital
September 24, 2009
One person was transported to the hospital following a single vehicle accident on Highway 97 in Davisville about 7:05 Thursday morning.
The accident happened just south of Pine Forest Road, when the driver of a Ford Explorer lost control and ran off the road into a ditch. He was transported by ambulance to Atmore Community Hospital with minor injuries. There were no other occupants in the vehicle.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire-Rescue, Atmore Ambulance, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Atmore Police Department and the Florida Highway Patrol all responded to the call.
The accident is under investigation by the FHP.
Pictured above and below: One person was transported to the hospital following this minor accident on Highway 97 just south of Pine Forest Road Thursday morning. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Two Suspects Charged With Last Week’s Molino Tom Thumb Robbery
September 24, 2009
A 19-year old male and a 15-year old middle school student were charged Wednesday in connection with the September 14 robbery of the Molino Tom Thumb.
Antonio Demetrius Ewing (pictured left), 19, of West Highway 4, was already in the Escambia County Jail when he was charged when warrants were served on him for robbery, larceny and criminal mischief property damage in connection with the robbery.
Another suspect, a 15-year old juvenile from Century, was also in jail when he was charged Wednesday. NorthEscambia.com’s policy is to not identify juveniles in criminal cases.
Surveillance video from the Tom Thumb (click here to watch) shows the 10 second robbery. Two people entered the front door, pushed a customer out the way, grabbed the entire case register and leave. One of the suspects is shown wearing a dark colored shirt, white socks on his hands and a camouflage bandanna around his face.
About three hours later, Escambia County deputies were called to a reported suspicious person and a possible burglary on Alger Road in Century. When they arrived, they found a Pontiac Firebird with no tag in the parking lot of the Gospel Light Temple on Alger Road in Century.
That is where they found Ewing, with a flat tire. He had apparently stolen several tires and tools from a nearby shed in order to try fix his flat. According to deputies, the juvenile what was with Ewing had been given a ride by passerby and was not with the car when they arrived.
While deputies were questioning Ewing about the stolen tires in Century, a deputy that was not in Century at the time realized he had read a comment on NorthEscambia.com’s story about the Tom Thumb robbery. The comment posted by someone with the name “me” mentioned a teal green Firebird with no tag being seen off the road on Sunshine Hill Road shortly after the robbery.
The deputy call Sheriff’s dispatchers on the the telephone, and dispatchers talked on the phone with deputies in Century — alerting them that they possibly had the Tom Thumb robber in custody. In the meantime, NorthEscambia.com was able to provide contact phone numbers for the poster “me” to deputies in Century. Deputies spoke to the poster’s husband in Molino, and he exactly described the car in that deputies had found in Century.
When deputies searched the location provided by the NorthEscambia.com reader on Sunshine Hill Road at Cedar Springs Road, they found the cash register from Monday morning’s robbery of the Tom Thumb, parts of the vehicle where the suspects had apparently hit a stump and money. White socks were also located in some brush.
In the car in Century, investigators discovered a camouflage shirt that appeared to match the one used in the robbery.
Ewing was taken into custody and transported to the Century Precinct of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office for questioning about the tire theft and about the Tom Thumb robbery. When deputies walked Ewing out of the Century Precinct to place him a cruiser to take him to jail, he ran. Deputies said Ewing ran across Highway 29 toward Century Woods Apartments where he lives. After a brief foot chase, Ewing was taken back into custody.
Ewing was charged with burglary, escape and larceny and had been held in the Escambia Jail on those charges since September 14.
The juvenile was originally arrested on larceny and burglary charges Monday when he appeared in court on an unrelated trespassing charge.
Pictured top: Investigator Frank Way discovered camouflage clothing in the back of a car in Century. A camouflage bandanna was used earlier that morning in the robbery of the Molino Tom Thumb. Pictured top inset: Ewing in the back of a deputy’s car in Century. Pictured bottom inset: The cash register recovered on Sunshine Hill Road at Cedar Springs Road. Pictured below: The September 14 Tom Thumb robbery scene in Molino. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
