Milton Man Arrested In Two Jay Pharmacy Burglaries
July 22, 2011
A Milton man has been arrested for two failed pharmacy burglaries in Jay.
Michael Wayne Lassiter, 26, admitted to Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s deputies that he was involved in the crimes and was charged with burglary and felony criminal mischief. He is also being held on multiple other charges, including dealing in stolen property and making a false statement.
The first burglary occurred at the Jay Pharmacy located at 14088 Alabama Street. During that incident, a double pane window was broken in an attempt to gain entry. Lassiter were only able to break the outer pane of glass, causing approximately $1000.00 in damage. Lassiter then fled the scene without gaining access to the pharmacy.
The second incident occurred at Dura-Med Pharmacy located at 3877 Highway 4 in Jay. During that incident, the front glass door was shattered using a brick, which allowed the Lassiter to gain entry into the pharmacy. Although Lassiter was able to gain entry into the pharmacy, he was unable to access any medications due to roll-down security doors leading to the pharmacy.
Scott Haines, Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson, said deputies had leads concerning Lassiter’s alleged involvement and interviewed him at the Santa Rosa County Jail after he was arrested on unrelated charges. During this interview, Lassiter admitted to entering the Dura-Med Pharmacy and cutting his hand in the process on the broken glass. Lassiter also admitted to breaking the outer window pane of the Jay Pharmacy in an attempt to break in. Lassiter is currently being held in the Santa Rosa County Jail on a $108,000 bond.
Pictured top: A burglary suspect seen on the security footage at Dura-Med Pharmacy in Jay late Sunday night. Pictured bottom inset: Pharmacist Cecil Phillips shows where the burglary suspect tried to enter a drive-thru window at Jay Pharmacy. Photos courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Print School Supply Lists
July 22, 2011
School starts Monday, August 22 in Escambia County. Here are the school supply lists from each elementary school and middle school in the county.
(High schools typically do not have a general supply list. Students are advised of their supply needs in each class.)
North Escambia Area Schools:
- Bratt Elementary
- Byrneville Elementary
- Jim Allen Elementary
- Molino Park Elementary
- Ernest Ward Middle
- Ransom Middle
Complete Escambia County Lists:
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
- Bellview Elementary
- Beulah Elementary
- Blue Angels Elementary
- Bratt Elementary
- Brentwood Elementary
- Byrneville Elementary
- Cook Elementary
- Cordova Park Elementary
- Ensley Elementary
- Ferry Pass Elementary
- Global Learning Academy
- Hellen Caro Elementary
- Holm Elementary
- Jim Allen Elementary
- Lincoln Park Elementary
- Lipscomb Elementary
- Longleaf Elementary
- McArthur Elementary
- McMillan Pre-K
- Molino Park Elementary
- Montclair Elementary
- Myrtle Grove Elementary
- Navy Point Elementary
- Oakcrest Elementary
- Pine Meadow Elementary
- Pleasant Grove Elementary
- Scenic Heights Elementary
- Semmes Elementary
- Sherwood Elementary
- Suter Elementary
- Warrington Elementary
- Weis Elementary
- West Pensacola Elementary
MIDDLE SCHOOLS
- Bailey Middle
- Bellview Middle
- Brown Barge Middle
- Ernest Ward Middle
- Ferry Pass Middle
- Ransom Middle
- Warrington Middle
- Woodham Middle
- Workman Middle
5-Month Old Left Alone In Hot Car; Flomaton Woman Arrested
July 22, 2011
A Flomaton woman was arrested Thursday after a 5-month old baby was left unattended about 20 minutes in a hot car in Pensacola.
The baby was treated and released from a local hospital before being taken into custody by the Florida Department of Children and Family Services before being turned over to its grandparents.
Jessica Burnham, age 20 of Vanhoosen Road, has been charged with child neglect without great harm — a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison and/or up to a $5,000 fine.
Pensacola Police Department Officer Jud Fillingim said Burnham went to LabCorp on North Ninth Avenue to have some blood work done. Initially, she took the baby inside, but returned to the car with the baby after being told it could not go into the blood drawing area.
Burnham told LabCorp employees she had someone in the car and would take the baby to them while her blood was drawn. A witness told police she saw Burnham place the baby in a car seat, enter the vehicle and drive it to a partially shaded area of the parking lot.
Fillingim said Burnham told officers she turned on the air conditioning while she went back inside LabCorp. The female witness said approximately 20 minutes passed, no one was with the baby in the vehicle, and she was worried about the baby’s safety so she notified a LabCorp employee.
The employee and witness went to the car, found the doors unlocked, the windows up and the car’s air conditioner blowing hot air.
Fillingim said the women took the baby, who was sweating profusely and hot to the touch, inside and called for an ambulance. The female baby was taken to a local hospital for observation.
$2,345 – Total Cost To Replace Community Center A/C Unit Stripped Of Copper
July 22, 2011
The final tally is in on the cost to replace an air conditioning unit stripped of copper at the Byrneville Community Center.
Escambia County’s material and labor cost to replace the unit was $2,345.43, according to Brandi Ziglar, a spokesperson for the county.
The theft at the county-owned facility was reported July 11. Someone destroyed one of three air conditioning units, stripping out the copper coils. Officials said the thief cut the power to the air handling unit before stripping the copper. The air handling units are located behind a privacy fence, just feet from the community center’s playground.
Meanwhile, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is continuing their investigation into the theft.
Anyone with information about the crime should contact the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Pictured above and below: Crime scene investigators with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office retrieve fingerprints from air conditioning units at the Byrneville Community Center the morning of July 11. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
School Sales Tax Holidays Returning In Florida And Alabama
July 22, 2011
Back to school sales tax holidays are coming up in both Florida and Alabama next month.
In Florida, the sales tax holiday will be August 12-14 with no state or local sales tax on clothing, footwear and some accessories selling for $75 or less or certain school supplies for $15 or less. Click here for a list of exempt items in Florida. (To download and print a school supply list for an Escambia County school, click here.)
While it’s a sales tax cut for the careful shopper, retailers say it’s actually a big tax collection increase for the state. Many consumers actually increase their purchases of non-covered items during that period, which often coincides with sales.
Alabama’s sales tax holiday will be August 5-7. However, in Escambia County, AL, Atmore and Brewton will not be participating. In Atmore and Brewton, shoppers will save the state’s four percent tax, but still pay the county and city tax rate. Flomaton will participate, with back to school purchases in Flomaton exempt from the state and city tax, but not the one percent county tax. Click here for a list of exempt items in Alabama.
Sheriff Candidate To Kick Off Campaign Saturday In North Escambia
July 22, 2011
One of three candidates that has prefiled to run for sheriff in Escambia County will officially begin his campaign Saturday with a North Escambia event.
Republican John Powell will hold a campaign kickoff free fish fry at the Barrineau Park Community Center on Barrineau Park School Road beginning at 11 a.m.
Powell conducted an unsuccessful run as a Democrat against Ron McNesby in 2004. He served as the police chief in Dothan, Alabama, until being appointed Director of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco in August 2009 by Gov. Charlie Crist.
Incumbent Sheriff David Morgan filed his paperwork in May announcing that he will run again as a Republican. He held a campaign kickoff event two weeks ago at a Pensacola Boulevard motel.
Bill Chavers, who was originally Morgan’s chief deputy before being demoted about year later, prefiled as an independent candidate back in February, 2010.
Northview To Host August 26 Preseason Fall Classic Game
July 22, 2011
Ready for some football? It’s only just over a month away for Chiefs fans. A preseason Fall Classic has been added to the Northview High School football schedule, and a couple of special football dates have also been marked for the season.
The Northview Chiefs will host a Fall Classic in Bratt on August 26 against Bay High School at 7 p.m., two weeks before the regular season begins with two games on the road for the Chiefs.
The school has also announced that October 21 will be Senior Night against Freeport, and November 4 will be homecoming against Baker.
The following is the 2011 varsity football schedule for the Northview Chiefs. All games are at 7 p.m.
Sept 2 — OPEN
Sept 9 — at Marianna
Sept 16 — at Chipley
Sept 23 — at South Walton
Sept 30 — Gulf Breeze
Oct 7 — at Jay
Oct 14 — OPEN
Oct 21 — Freeport
Oct 28 — at Vernon
Nov 4 — Baker
Nov 10 — at West Florida
Pictured: Jay’s Allen Perry is tackled by Northview’s Corry Baggett the Chiefs defeated the Royals last fall. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Santa Rosa Names Farm Family Of The Year
July 22, 2011
The Edwards family of Jay has been named the Santa Rosa County Farm Family of the Year.
Alan Edwards, his wife Michele, and daughters Shelby, 12, Madison 9, and Brianna, 5, received the honor during the 45th Annual Santa Rosa County Farm Tour Thursday.
Over 200 people took part in the farm tour with visits to Emerald Coast Growers, WFREC Jay Research Farm, the Edwards Farm, Hendrick & Sons Ranch in Allentown and Holland Farms.
For a photo gallery, click here.
The Edwards family was honored for their contributions to agriculture. Alan Edwards, a fifth-generation farmer, has about 750 acres near Jay, where he farms cotton, soybeans, peanuts, wheat and hay in addition to raising cattle. He has served on the board of directors of the Santa Rosa County Farm Bureau for 23 years and has served as vice president for the last six years. He also serves on numerous state and national boards, including the USDA Cotton Board, the Florida Peanut Producers Association, Florida Farm Bureau Cotton Advisory Board and the West Florida Research and Education Center Advisory Committee.
Michele also works away from the family farm; she is a staff assistant at the Century Correctional Institution.
Pictured above: The Santa Rosa County Farm Family of the Year (L-R) Madison, Michele, Brianna, Alan and Shelby Edwards. Pictured below: Participants on the annual Santa Rosa County Farm Tour Thursday. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Fire Destroys Storage Shed
July 22, 2011
Fire destroyed a storage shed in the Cottage Hill community late Thursday night.
The fire was reported just before midnight. The first firefighters on scene reported that the 10 x 12 foot shed on Eastman Lane was fully involved. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
There were no injuries reported.
The Cantonment, Molino, McDavid, Beulah and Ensley stations of Escambia Fire Rescue were dispatched to the blaze.
William Yancey Jernigan IV
July 22, 2011
William Yancey Jernigan IV, 43, died Wednesday, July 20, 2011.
He was born in Century on December 8, 1967 and lived most of his life in Brewton. He was a graduate of T.R. Miller High School and Auburn University. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church. He was preceded in death by his parents, Emily Wood and William Yancey Jernigan III.
He is survived by his wife, Emmie Pilcher Jernigan; three sons, Yancey Jernigan, V, Lyon Alexander Jernigan and Joseph Blake Jernigan; three sisters, Ruth Jernigan Parker of Brewton, Martha Jernigan Scott of Lanett, Alabama and Elizabeth Jernigan Rodgers of Auburn, Alabama.
The family will receive friends Friday afternoon July 22, 2011, from 1 until 3:00 p.m. at the Brewton First United Methodist Church.Private interment will be in Union Cemetery Brewton with Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Brewton directing.
Memorials may be made to the Yancey Jernigan Foundation, P.O. Box 37, Brewton, AL 36427. The Foundation will provide financial and emotional support to families fighting cancer in Escambia County, Alabama. It will strive to educate the public and provide resources to accelerate progress in the fight against cancer.
Yancey’s legacy of love and laughter will continue even though the cancer battle rages on with others. Memorials may also be made to the First United Methodist Church in Brewton.