Updated: One Arrested In Wednesday Murder; Victim Named
May 20, 2010
One man has been charged another has been named as person of interest in the Wednesday murder of Brian P. Puckett, 34, of Pensacola.
An update to this story is available by clicking here.
The cause of death appears to be blunt force trauma to the head, according to a statement released Thursday morning by Sgt. Ted Roy, spokesperson for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Nathan Gregg Smith, 28 of Hollowbrook Circle,was booked into the Escambia County Jail late Wednesday afternoon, charged with an open count of murder. He resided in the same house as the victim, Roy said.
Deputies have identified Constance K. Smith, 45, the girlfriend of the victim, as a “person of interest in the case. She also resided in the same house as Puckett.
Deputies responded to a cardiac arrest call in the 9600 block of Hollowbrook Circle, a cul-de-sac just north of Nine Mile Road., at about 7:55 a.m. When they arrived, they found a man’s body in the home’s garage, the apparent victim of foul play.
‘Fighting For Papa Bear’: Deepwater Horizon Tragedy Through The Eyes Of One Victim’s Family
May 20, 2010
He wasn’t supposed to be on the rig.
Blair Manuel, 56, was known on the rigs as “Papa Bear.” He had a huge smile and such warmth that he reminded everyone who knew him of Santa Claus. He loved his LSU Tigers and had both football and baseball season tickets. Even more than his beloved Tigers he loved his daughters.
Manuel was one of the 11 killed April 20 when the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico. Our friend Rick Outzen over at the Pensacola Independent News traveled to Louisiana and sat down with Manuel’s family to learn more about him and the human side of the 11 men.
To read the story, click here.
Luke Bozeman
May 20, 2010
Luke Bozeman, age 95, of Cantonment, Florida passed away Tuesday, May 17, 2010. Mr. Bozeman was born March 30, 1915 in Covington County, Alabama.
Preceding Mr. Bozeman in death was his wife; Sarah Leona Barrow Bozeman.
Survivors include his daughter; Sarah Juanette Boshears, his son; Luke L. Bozeman, 3 grandchildren; Shawna Upshaw, Jonathan Boshears and Sara Bozeman, 3 great-grandchildren; Alex Groshong, Christian Upshaw and Noah Upshaw
Funeral services will be held at 12:30 PM on Thursday, May 20, 2010 at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North-Cantonment with Rev. Ron McGlotheren officiating. Interment will follow at Cottage Hill Assembly of God Church Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home one hour prior to service time.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North-Cantonment is in charge of arrangements.
McDavid Man Sentenced To Two Years In Prison
May 20, 2010
A McDavid man will spend two years in prison after being busted at an area fishing spot last year with drugs, drug paraphernalia and the feet of an owl.
Chad Andrew Giddins, 33, of Christian Home Road, McDavid, has been sentenced to 24 months in state prison after being found guilty on charges of possession of a controlled substance, possession of a listed chemical and manufacturing methamphetamine. He was also found guilty of possession of drug paraphernalia and sentenced to time served.
Charges of possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana and possession of migratory bird parts were dropped by the state.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Giddins was fishing at Bogia Landing last September with another man, John Wesley Brooks, 34, of Black Road, McDavid.
When the two men headed back to their trucks, a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officer at the fishing spot noticed a glass smoking pipe, according to the arrest report.
The Fish and Wildlife officer recovered the pipe after Brooks placed it on the ground, and it appeared to have a drug residue on it. The arrest report says that two large knives and a bag of methamphetamine were recovered from Brooks.
The officer then noticed two owl feet on the dash of Giddins’ truck. Giddins, according to the arrest report, said that he killed the owl after it killed his chickens. A search of Giddins’ truck uncovered bottles and tubing with meth residue, other items often used in the production of methamphetamine, and marijuana seeds, according to the arrest report.
Giddins is currently being held in the Escambia County Jail.
Brooks was sentenced earlier this year to 24 months probation after adjudication was withheld on a charge of possession of a controlled substance and a concurrent 12 months on a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia.
Century Man Arrested For 10th Time In About A Year
May 20, 2010
For at least the 10th time in about a year, Ronald Berlan Newton, 49, of Century was May 19.
He was charged with contempt of court for violating a restraining order after he reportedly approached a person at an address in Century from which he had been banned. He was released from the Escambia County Jail without bond.
Escambia County Jail online records show Newton has been booked into the facility 10 times since September, 2009. Escambia County Clerk of the Courts records show over a dozen times that he has been arrested or issued citations since April, 2007. Most of those cases were dismissed or charges were dropped by the the judge or prosecutors, according to court records.
Escambia County court and jail records show the following arrests and charges for Newton:
April 11, 2007
- trespassing, charges dropped
August 14, 2007
- simple assault — 60 days in jail
- aggravated assault with deadly weapon — charges dropped
- criminal mischief under $1,000 — charges dropped
April 28, 2008
- driving while license suspended, first offense – charges dropped
- open container in vehicle – paid $123.50 fine
- expired registration – paid $73.50 fine
May 31, 2009
- battery — charges dropped
- criminal mischief — charges dropped
July 29, 2009
- driving while license suspended, second offense — fined $500, suspended 11 months, 30 days in jail
January 8, 2009
- battery — charges dropped, defendant “mentally defective”
September 1, 2009
- indecent exposure in public — dismissed due to incompetence
- lewd lascivious behavior victim under 18 — no action by prosecutor
- lewd lascivious behavior victim under 18 — no action by prosecutor
November 23, 2009
- criminal mischief under $1,000 — dismissed
January 1, 2010
- disorderly conduct — charges dropped
February 1, 2010
- battery — dismissed
March 23, 2010
- trespassing, case pending, pleaded not guilty, released on $500 bond
- disorderly conduct, case pending, pleaded not guilty, released on $500 bond
April 27, 2010
- trespassing, case pending, pleaded not guilty, released on $500 bond
- criminal mischief over $1,000 — case pending, released on $2,500 bond, pleaded not guilty
April 8, 2010
- littering under 15 pounds, fine and costs of $135 remains unpaid
May 7, 2010
- aggravated assault — case pending, released on $5,000 bond
May 19, 2010
- arrested for contempt of court
Improved Backwoods, Hwy. 4A Water Pressure Soon
May 20, 2010
Decades of water woes will soon come to an end for residents of Backwoods Road in Century.
A $1.58 million project to improve the Town of Century’s water system in the Backwoods Road, State Line Road, Highway 4A area is waiting on health department approval.
The improvements failed two of 20 recent water quality tests, according to Mayor Freddie McCall. The system is being flushed to remove impurities so that future tests will give the town the go-ahead to pump water to customers through the improvements.
The entire project includes a new 300,000 gallon elevated water storage tank to improve system reliability and fire protection, two natural gas operated back-up generators to improve system reliability for the existing water treatment plants, 16,000 feet of six-inch water main and a booster station to provide fire protection, improve pressure and system reliability in a portion of the existing water system franchise area.
Almost all of the project is complete, according to the mayor. The booster station has not been installed yet, but McCall said the system will be used prior to its construction.
Residents of Backwoods Road have complained about poor water pressure and poor water quality for 10 years. They are currently served by just a two-inch water main.
Pictured top: A new 500,000 gallon elevated water storage tank under construction at the intersection of Academy and Henry streets in Century. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Jay Man Jailed For Failure To Appear
May 20, 2010
A traffic stop led to the arrest of a Jay man Wednesday morning in Century on outstanding warrants for failure to appear on multiple charges.
Jeffrey Edgar Macks, 41, is being held without bond in the Escambia County Jail on charges that he failed to appear in Escambia County Circuit Court on April 15. He was facing charges from 2008 of battery, child abuse, resisting an officer with violence, and two counts of battery on an officer or firefighter.
Macks was arrested after Investigator Frank Way spotted him driving on North Century Boulevard near Boundurant’s Lumber shorty after 10 a.m.
Escambia County Honors Tate Mock Trial Team
May 20, 2010
Tate High School’s Mock Trial Team was honored Thursday night by the Escambia County Commission for winning state in the Florida High School Mock Trial Competition tournament and placing in the National High School Mock Trial Championship.
Members of the team are Collin Metcalf, Dylan Lunsford, Allison Baliey, Jacob Sander, Asia Cravens, Amy Sapp, Denis McKinnon III, Josh Levins, Austin Perry, Sarah Barlow,Ashley Fasshauer, and Brooke St. Pierre. Collin Metcalf also won the “Best Attorney” award at the state competition.
At the National High School Mock Trial Championship earlier this month in Philadelphia, the Tate team placed 27th. In addition, Collin Metcalf was presented the Judge Marjorie O. Rendell Outstanding Performance Award at the national level.
The group is coached by Amanda Brown. Former coach Kelly Krostag and Attorney Aaron Watson from The Levin Firm also worked with the group.
Pictured: (left of stairs, bottom to top) Brooke St. Pierre, Asia Cravens, Ashley Fasshauer, Amy Sapp, Sarah Barlow, Allison Bailey, coach Amanda Brown, (bottom of stairs, bottom to top) Dylan Lunsford, Austin Perry, Jacob Sander, Josh Levins, Collin Metcalf, Denis McKinnon III. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Commissioner Wants Escambia Waters Tested
May 20, 2010
One Escambia County Commissioner wants to make sure that the water quality off Escambia’s beaches is safe following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. He is calling for weekly water testing to monitor any changes.
Commissioner Grover Robinson issued the following statement Wednesday:
Recently it has come to our attention the public concern with water quality on the Gulf of Mexico. Prior to the end of April and first of May we quickly took water samples for clinical testing of both our Gulf and inland waters to determine the baseline for the existing waterways. With this baseline we are able to know what is a clean and acceptable level for people who participate in water activities.
We must and will do all we can to ensure the environmental protection of our citizens and our tourists. Towards that end, I am working through staff to submit a request to e-Constellation (Unified Command) to perform weekly testing on Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key. This water sampling would be tested and the results compared against the baseline. If there is no detectable difference between the test and the baseline then the water will be deemed safe.
If the water is significantly in variation from the baseline we will work with the State Health Department and notify our citizens and visitors. The plan is to take one sample on Pensacola Beach and the following week take a sample from Perdido Key and return to Pensacola Beach the following week and so forth as we proceed through the summer and fall season. We believe the cost of this testing will be around $25,000 but would seem the right allocation of resources from BP and e-Constellation to ensure the public’s safety and wellbeing.
I believe it is Escambia County’s responsibility to ensure the citizen’s wellbeing; however, if there is no detectable variation, then it is equally our responsibility to promote our economic entities. At this point there are many details of the testing plan yet to be resolved; however, I do hope that it will be made available on a weekly basis to the public and to the media for publication.
If you have any questions or comments you are welcome to contact myself or Larry Newsom to discuss.
Sincerely,
Grover C. Robinson, IV
Chairman,
Escambia Board of County Commissioners
Northview Spring Football Game Friday Night
May 20, 2010
Northview High School and West Florida High will face off Friday night in a spring football game.
The game begins at 7 p.m. Concessions will be available.