Deputies: McDavid Man Sold Gun To 16-Year Old For $40 In Marijuana
August 26, 2010
A McDavid man was charged with selling a handgun that shot out a deputy’s tire to a 16-year old that paid with a $40 bag of marijuana.
David Dewayne Simmons, 49, was arrested on felony warrants for selling a firearm to a minor and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He remains in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office believes Simmons (pictured left) sold a .22 caliber handgun to Ladarrious Tamiraye Lett. 16, of Ivey Street, Century. Lett has been charged as an adult with possession of a firearm by a convicted delinquent under 24 years of age, tampering with evidence and culpable negligence after the gun eventually fired into the tire of an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office cruiser.
The incident began at 3:23 a.m. on July 13 when Deputy Scott Rivkin conducted a traffic stop on a black Eagle Talon with no headlights near North Century Boulevard and Henry Streets. The driver of the vehicle was given a warning for failing to use his headlights. Lett was reportedly the passenger in the vehicle. Both left the area.
About five minutes later, Rivkin was traveling on North Century Boulevard in the same area as the traffic stop when when he heard what he believed to be a gunshot. Upon investigation, he discovered a .22 caliber pistol in the middle of North Century Boulevard. When the right rear wheel of the deputy’s cruiser rolled over the weapon, it had fired a round, flattening the tire. Next to the revolver, the deputy discovered one empty shell casing and five live rounds of ammunition.
While Deputy Rivkin was still parked on North Century Boulevard, he noticed the driver from the previous traffic stop and Lett approaching him on foot. The two were separated and questioned as the Flomaton Police Department responded for backup.
The driver told authorities that Lett (pictured left) had dropped the gun out of the vehicle’s window just prior to the traffic stop and that the pair had returned to the area to retrieve the gun. The 16-year old told deputies that he had purchased the gun from an individual. Lett admitted to dropping the gun out of the vehicle window, according to his arrest report.
When Lett was arrested July 13, he provided deputies with a bill of sale with Simmons’ signature, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Lett told deputies he paid $40 for the gun, and he picked Simmons out of a photo lineup.
On August 4, Simmons was interviewed at the Century Sheriff’s Office substation. He admitted selling the handgun to Lett for a $40 bag of marijuana, according to the arrest report. Simmons also told deputies that he had a 16 gauge shotgun and ammunition at his residence. The home in the 400 block of Railroad Street, McDavid, was searched, and deputies seized a 16 gauge shotgun, 150 live .22 caliber shells and one 16 gauge live shotgun shell from the kitchen area of the home.
Lett was originally charged as a juvenile in connection with the July 14 incident, but he is now being tried as an adult in Escambia County Circuit Court.
School Board To Hold Special Class Size Meeting Tonight At Northview
August 26, 2010
The Escambia County School Board will host a special meeting at 5:30 p.m. today at Northview High School to discuss class size.
Lawmakers and school administrators are pushing a proposed constitutional amendment that would relax the class size requirement put into the constitution by voters in 2002. As of Monday, individual classes were capped at 18 students for kindergarten through third grade, 22 in fourth through eighth grade, and 25 in high school, with the limits having been phased in since the amendment was passed.
The proposed amendment on the November ballot would allow class sizes to be calculated in a more lenient fashion. If passed, the class size would be calculated at a grade-level average, not an individual classroom cap, allowing some classes to go above the limit.
After the presentation, the public will have the opportunity to address the school board. Discussion will be limited to class size.
The meeting will take place in the school theater.
Tate Band Reunion Scheduled
August 26, 2010
The J.M. Tate High School Band Reunion will be held October 22-23 for band and color guard members from 1971-1987.
Friday night’s events will begin at 5:30 at the Tate High cafeteria and football stadium. There will be a hamburger or hot dog meal provided by the Tate Band Boosters, followed by the football game. The cost for Friday night is $5 for the meal and $5 admission to the game, per person.
Saturday night’s events will be in the Tate gym. There will be a catered meal and a program to include guests from the past and entertainment. The cost for Saturday night is $40 per couple or $20 for each individual.
Reservations and checks should be mailed to: Tate High Band Reunion, P O Box 565, Cantonment, FL 32533. For more information, email amcmahan64@aol.com or visit the event’s Facebook page by clicking here.
All proceeds after expenses will be donated to the Tate High Band Boosters.
Jay Mayor Confident In One Vote Win After Election Results Change
August 26, 2010
Every vote counts. Jay Mayor Kurvin Qualls is a firm believer in that adage after winning re-election by just a single vote.
Numbers from the Santa Rosa County Supervisor of Elections Office Tuesday night first showed that political newcomer Ben Hudson had won the election with 71 votes to Qualls’ 70 votes. But shortly before midnight, elections officials tabulated votes from Jay’s touchscreen voting machine. The touchscreen votes were delayed in arriving at the elections office in Milton.
Two votes were cast on the touchscreen machine — both for Qualls, giving him a 72-71 victory over Hudson.
“I am very confident in the results from the Supervisor of Elections,” Qualls said Wednesday. “Everything was on the up and up.”
Under Florida Law, if the margin between the two candidates had been 0.05 percent, an automatic recount would have been triggered. But the one vote difference between Qualls and Hudson amounted to a 0.7 percent margin. According to the Supervisor of Elections Office, there will be no recount unless Hudson files suit in Circuit Court.
Confident in his victory, Qualls said he is making plans to continue to improve Jay.
“There are great things going on in Jay, and we are going to keep it going,” he said. “There are exciting things about to happen in the near future, and there are great opportunities in front of us.”
Attempts to contact Hudson for comment on this story were unsuccessful.
Jeff Miller’s Staff To Hold Office Hours Today In Cantonment
August 26, 2010
The staff of Congressman Jeff Miller will conduct mobile office hours in Cantonment Thursday morning.
Miller’s staff be on hand from 9-10:30 a.m. at the Supervisor of Elections Office at 292 Muscogee Road. They will be able to answer questions about problems with federal agencies or issues affecting the First Congressional District.
“This is just another way we can better serve our growing population in Northwest Florida,” Miller said. “We tried the mobile office concept earlier and we had such an outstanding turnout that we decided to expand the concept and add more dates and locations to the program.”
Tropics Are Busy; Sunny Skies Locally
August 26, 2010
The tropics are busy with two storms — Earl and Danielle — but it looks like neither will be a threat to the United States. Here at home, we are expecting hot days and lows dropping into the upper 60’s for tonight.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 96. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.
- Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 67. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Friday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Partly cloudy, with a high near 94. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Friday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Saturday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 91. East wind between 5 and 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
- Saturday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. East wind between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Sunday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 89. East wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. East wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Monday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a high near 90. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 68.
- Tuesday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a high near 91. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 69.
- Wednesday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a high near 91. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Woman Dies Two Weeks After Crash; Daughter Thankful Gift Of Extra Time
August 26, 2010
An elderly woman has passed away following a Flomaton traffic crash, and her daughter is thanking emergency workers and good Samaritans for giving her two weeks with her mother.
Sallie Howington, 89, died as a result of injuries she received in a traffic crash August 7 on Highway 31 at Holt Street.
“To all those that assisted with the accident, thank you for saving my momma’s life,” Howington’s daughter Cathy Green said. “I got to spend extra weeks with momma.”
“To Cassie Newton, thank you for calling 911 immediately. It was comforting to know that paramedics arrived so quickly,” Green said. Newton witnessed the accident and summoned help
Flomaton Fire Department member Jason Bondurant was the first emergency worker on scene. He found Howington not breathing and without a pulse. Nearby, Jeremy Morris, an EMT and paramedic with Defuniak Springs’ Air Heart helicopter was at a home in the Holt Subdivision and heard the crash. He rushed to the scene and cleared Howington’s airway. Morris, who is a volunteer with the Pineview (Ala.) Volunteer Fire Department,maintained the airway for about seven minutes until an ambulance arrived. Howington was airlifted to Sacred Heart Hospital by LifeFlight.
“So many people worked so hard, and I thank them so much,” Green said. “I appreciate the time they gave us by saving her life.”
Howington was the driver of a pickup truck that witnesses said turned in front of an SUV on Highway 31 at Holt Street just after 4 p.m. on August 7. The adult driver of the SUV, Terri Marie Parker, 49, of Jay and two children, ages four and 10, were transported by ambulance to an area hospital.
The Flomaton Fire Department, the Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Atmore Ambulance and Escambia County EMS also responded to the call.
Pictured above: Four people were injured in this crash August 7 in Flomaton. Sallie Howington, the driver of the pickup, passed away about two weeks later. Pictured below: Sallie Howington was airlifted to a Pensacola hospital in critical condition. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Driver Now Facing DUI Manslaughter Charges For Pedestrian’s Death
August 26, 2010
Charges have been upgraded to DUI manslaughter against a Pensacola man for the June death of a pedestrian.
Tyler Neal Wass, 25, was booked into the Escambia County Jail Wednesday night where he is being held on $100,000 bond.
The Florida Highway Patrol says William E. Carlson, 30, of Pensacola was walking west on Wilde Lake Boulevard shortly after 3 a.m. on June 20 when he was struck and killed by a 2002 Saturn driven by Wass (pictured), of Rebel Road, Pensacola.
According to the FHP., Wass saw Carlson at the last second and attempted to avoid him, but struck him with the right front of his Saturn. Wass and a passenger, 25-year old Carissa L. Snipes, 25, of Pensacola, were not injured.
Wass was taken into custody after the accident and charged with a misdemeanor count DUI. Prosecutors upgraded the charge against Wass to vehicular manslaughter on Wednesday.
Noah A Yoder
August 25, 2010
Noah A Yoder, 91, of Atmore died Tuesday August 24, 2010, in Atmore. He was the president of Gold Crown Campers. Yoder born in Homes County, Ohio on March 1, 1919, to the late Andy and Amanda Troyer Yoder.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Ida D. Yoder and son Romon “Sunny” Yoder.
Survivors include two sons, Paul Yoder of Atmore and John Yoder and wife Brenda of Huntsville, Ala.; two daughters, Miriam Classen and husband Roy of Walnut Hill and Barbara Ward and husband James of Flomaton; one sister, Amanda Mullett of Pennsylvania; nine grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Friday, August 27, 2010, at 10 a.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Jimmy Johnson and Pastor Dave Moulton officiating. Interment will follow in Freemanville Community Cemetery. Active pallbearers are Jameson Ward, Andrew Ward, Scott Wynn, Kevin Classen, Roy Classen and James Ward.
The family will receive friends, from 5:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. Thursday, August 26 at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.
Evers Wins Senate Nod; Broxson Wins 4-Way Race For House Nomination
August 25, 2010
Sen. Greg Evers, R-Baker, defeated fellow Republican Mike Hill in Tuesday’s Republican primary for Senate District 2. There is no Democratic candidate, but Evers faces write-in and Tea Party opposition in November.
“I am humbled and honored that the voters in Northwest Florida have selected me to be their Republican candidate for Senate District 2,” said Evers. “I ran for Senate District 2 because I am a proud, conservative, fifth-generation Northwest Floridian, farmer and small-business man; and I ran because I believe together we can make Northwest Florida great, we can work to bring back sanity to our national government, to reclaim a debt-free future for our children and grandchildren, and together we can bring back all that makes America great again. I thank all of my neighbors, friends and supporters in the Panhandle for helping me achieve victory tonight, and I look forward to continuing our fight.
“My campaign during the general election will remain focused on conservative values and making certain that Northwest Florida does not take a backseat to the interests of South and Central Florida in the Legislature,” added Evers. “I believe that the true and tested conservative candidate in this race prevailed tonight, and I am certain that our campaign will prevail again in November.”
Doug Broxson won a four-way Republican primary in the race to replace Rep. Greg Evers in the Panhandle’s House District 1. Broxson defeated Greg Brown, Ricky Perritt and Ferd Saloman. Now, Broxson will face Mathias Venditto, an independent, in the November 2 general election.
Next door in District 2, Clay Ingram won the GOP nomination, and with it likely the seat. Broxson will face NPA candidate Mathias Benditto in November. In District 2, which is being vacated by Pensacola Republican Rep. Dave Murzin, who was term-limited, Ingram defeated David Karasek and will face only write-in opposition in November.