Atmore Man Charged With Attempted Murder After Victim Found In Road
August 10, 2011
An Atmore man is charged with attempted murder after a man was found severely injured and bleeding in a local roadway.
The man was found lying on Airport Road near Atmore Saturday night with severe head trauma and multiple abrasions. Investigators were able to take a brief statement from the man, whose identity has not been released, before he was airlifted to a Pensacola hospital where he remains in critical condition.
Derek Coleman, 21, was later taken into custody and charged with attempted murder. He is being held in the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton on the attempted murder charge with bond set at $50,000.
Investigators are not saying exactly what happened — if the man was beaten and left in the roadway or if a vehicle was involved in the incident. The incident was investigated by the Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Office, Atmore Police Department and Alabama State Troopers.
McDavid Man Gets 2.5 Years In Prison For DUI
August 10, 2011
A McDavid man with a long history of alcoh0l-related driving convictions has been sentenced to two and a half years in state prison after a Molino DUI arrest.
It took an Escambia County jury just 25 minutes to find 31-year old Michael Aaron Killam guilty of his fourth or subsequent DUI.
Judge Michael Allen sentenced Killam to 30 months in state prison to be followed by 30 months probation and ordered him to pay $2,786 in court costs and fines. He was also ordered not to consume alcohol or be in any vehicle or residence with alcohol, and once released from prison any vehicle he drives must have an ignition interlock to test for alcohol consumption. Killam remains in the Escambia County Jail while his attorney has filed motions seeking to modify the sentence.
Several stations of Escambia Fire Rescue were dispatched to a possible accident on Highway 97 near Molino Park Elementary School about 5:40 a.m. on July 18, 2010. Rather than an accident, they found Killam apparently passed out or asleep behind the wheel of a Nissan Frontier truck in the ditch alongside the roadway.
Killam was arrested by the Florida Highway Patrol after he failed a field sobriety test.
Killam was arrested in late May, 2009 for driving under the influence, driving while his license was suspended, resisting arrest without violence and for threatening a deputy and his family. He was also issued traffic citations for an open container of alcohol and failure to drive in a single lane.
Escambia County deputy James Gilman was on Pine Barren Road the morning of May 20, 2009, at a brush fire when Killam made a u-turn in the roadway to avoid approaching Gilman’s patrol car and fire trucks. He sped away, prompting Gilman to follow. After observing Killam cross the yellow center and side white lines of the highway several times, Gilman initiated a traffic stop on Highway 164, according to Sheriff’s Office records.
That’s when Gilman said Killam headed for the passenger seat, reaching into the floorboard. After Killam was removed from the vehicle, he refused a field sobriety test and stated that his license was already suspended for DUI.
Killam was found guilty and sentenced to community control for 12 months, 24 months probation, 90 days in jail and community service. He was also ordered to avoid the possession or consumption of alcohol, ordered to use an ignition interlock system to test for the presence of alcohol before driving, and his driver’s license was revoked for 10 years.
Escambia County Court records show the following arrests or convictions for Killam:
- DUI, third conviction within 10 years after prior conviction
- Driving with license suspended
- Threatening a public servant
- Resisting arrest without violence
- Driving with license suspended, third or subsequent conviction
- Open container of alcohol in vehicle
- Failure to drive in a single lane
- Open container of alcohol in vehicle
- Trespassing
- DUI, third conviction within 10 years
- Refusal to submit to DUI test
- Driving with license suspended, second conviction
- DUI property damage, second offense
- Refusal to submit to DUI test
- Driving with license suspended
- Open container of alcohol in vehicle
- Failure to display registration
- Careless driving
- DUI property damage
- failure to leave info at accident
- Unlawful speed
- Careless driving
Pictured top: Michael Aaron Killam of McDavid is given a field sobriety test during the early morning hours of July 18, 2010, along Highway 97 in Molino. Pictured below: Killam is taken into custody. Pictured inset: A Florida Highway Patrol trooper pours out an apparent container of beer found in Killam’s truck. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Search Still On For ZTR Mower Thief
August 10, 2011
The Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Office is still asking for the public’s help in locating three high-value lawn mowers and arresting those responsible for stealing them.
Three John Deere Z-700 series zero-turn-radius mowers (similar to the photo) were stolen from Smith Tractor Company in Atmore sometime overnight June 29, according to Bruce Shue, an investigator for the Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Office. The mowers, he said, are valued at about $20,000 total.
Due to a previous article, deputies learned that the mowers were loaded from the outside of the building into a 26-foot U-haul. Otherwise, investigators have developed few clues.
Anyone with information on the crime is asked to contact the Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Office at (251) 368-4779 or (251) 867-0304. Smith Tractor Company is offering a $500 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the theft.
Fight Is On Again To Repeal Mandatory Septic Tank Inspection Law
August 10, 2011
A new bill has been filed to permanently flush Florida’s septic tank inspections off the law books. The law, which went into effect July 1, has not led to state mandated inspections because the Department of Health is not allowed to spend a dime on the inspection program without the go ahead from a legislative committee.
Rep. Marti Coley of Marianna filed a bill this this week aimed at dramatically scaling back the law that calls for septic tanks to be inspected every five years and that makes owners responsible for repairs. Similar proposals died at the end of the 2011 legislative session.
The inspections law, which was approved in 2010, has become a controversial issue, particularly among legislators who represent largely rural districts. Also, it would eliminate a grant funding that is slated to take effect in 2012.
Backers of the law said it was necessary to protect springs and other waterways from pollution, but opponents argued it would drive up costs for homeowners. Opponents believe that tests — the financial responsibility of the property owner — could cost up to $500 for each of Florida’s 2.6 million septic tanks.
The News Service Florida contributed to this report.
Molino Park Library Open Today
August 10, 2011
The Molino Park Elementary School Library will wrap up their summer reading events today.
The library will be open from 9 a.m. until noon for students and their parents. There will be guest readers, along with activities related to the stories that are read. Students will be able to take Accelerated Reader tests. Parents are required to stay with their children.
Books that have been checked out from the library during the summer are due back today. For more information, contact the school at (850) 587-5265.
Day Camp To Teach Cooking To Kids
August 10, 2011
Youth ages 8-12 can learn cooking basics at a “Cooking by the Cup Full” day camp next week offered by Escambia County Extension.
Participants will learn kitchen skills, preparation, decorating and healthy lifestyles. In addition, the youth will explore the origins of baking ingredients. The day camp will also involve several outdoors activities — wearing closed-toe shoes is recommended.
The camp is August 17 from 9 a.m. until noon at the Langley Bell 4-H Center, 4810 West Nine Mile Road. The day camp is open to youth ages 8-12 and limited to the first 12 youth registered. The cost is $5 per person and preregistration is required by Wednesday, August 10.
For more information or to preregister, call the Escambia County Extension Office at (850) 475-5320 or email Fran Lainhart at lainhaf@ufl.edu.
New Partnership Saves SightLine Reading Service
August 10, 2011
A new partnership has been announced that will save the SightLine daily reading service for the visual impaired.
WSRE, Pensacola State College’s public television station, recently announced that the service was discontinued as a result of the elimination of state funding for public broadcasting.
UWF Public Media, the public radio station and public access channel licensed to the University of West Florida, approached WSRE with a suggestion – relocate the reading service and coordinating responsibilities to WUWF 88.1 FM but, continue to use WSRE’s SAP (Second Audio Program) channel — an audio channel for TV that broadcasts over the air and over cable TV — to deliver the service, just as it has for the last 19 years.
This is a great opportunity for us to work with our public television colleagues in continuing an important community service,” said Pat Crawford, WUWF executive director. “Long-time listeners to SightLine will still be able to hear it on the WSRE SAP channel, but we are adding an additional digital radio broadcast channel (WUWF HD-3) dedicated to the reading service and will be streaming the service online at http://wuwf.org , where local SightLine segments featuring the reading of newspapers, periodicals, and books will continue to be available on demand. WUWF will also be adding some new programs. With WSRE’s proven delivery system and WUWF’s access to additional content, it’s a perfect match.”
One new program that will be added to the SightLine lineup is The Radio Reader with Dick Estell, a highly acclaimed daily half-hour public radio program, featuring the reading of newly published books. On the air since 1962, regular listeners to WUWF 88.1FM may find themselves tuning in for each installment on the HD-3 channel. Other public radio programs will be added to the SightLine schedule as well, providing a 24 hour a day service to vision-impaired.
“We are grateful for this partnership with WUWF Public Media to continue and bring new life to the SightLine Reading Service,” stated Sandy Cesaretti Ray, WSRE general manager. “We did not want to see the 19 year service end. This kind of collaboration is a win-win for all involved,” said Ray.
Photos: Century Care Center Clowns Around
August 10, 2011
There was a lot of clowning around caught on camera recently among the normally professional staff at Century Care Center.
The residents and staff celebrated National Be a Clown Day with a special visit from Lady Butterfly — also known as Faye Gandy, the daughter of a former Century Care Center resident. She painted faces, created balloon art for the residents and just generally clowned around.
Pictured top: Century Care Center residents recently enjoyed National Be a Clown Day. Pictured inset. Faye “Lady Butterfly” Gandy creates balloon art for the residents. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Gets 30 Years In Sexual Battery Case
August 10, 2011
An Escambia County man has been sentenced to 30 years in prison in a sexual battery case that left a 16-year old girl pregnant.
Paul Cornelius Boatman, Sr., was convicted of sexual battery while in the position of familial or custodial authority by an Escambia County Jury. Following the verdict, Judge Jan Shackelford sentenced the 54-year old Boatman to 30 years state prison and designated him as a sexual predator.
Between March and April 2010, Boatman committed sexual battery upon the victim on multiple occasions in their home. At the time of the incident, the victim was 16 and became pregnant as a result.
Jerry Randell Powell
August 10, 2011
Jerry Randell Powell, 61 of Atmore passed away August 5, 2011. He loved boating, fishing, camping and four wheeling. His prize possessions included his grandson Jakob, the electrical business and his many friends that he met on a daily basis.
Jerry is survived by his daughter, Jennifer D. Powell; grandson, Jakob Elliott Powell; one brother, Wendell Powell, and one sister, Lendell Parker, both of Crestview; and many other family and friends.
Funeral service will be 11:00 am Thursday, August 11, 2011, at Lewis Funeral Home, Milton Chapel. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, August 10, 2011 at the funeral home.