Toddler Murder Suspect Still At Large, Another Awaits Extradition

August 8, 2011

The search is continuing for a former Cantonment resident that is the suspected triggerman in the shooting a death of a Pensacola toddler, while another suspect awaits extradition from Louisiana.

Dwayne “Money” Pinestraw, 19, is wanted on an open count of murder for the shooting death of Ty’Quarius Moultrie, 19 months old; aggravated battery for the shooting of Vincent Dennis, 23; and firing a weapon into an occupied building for the incident that occurred last month at Pensacola Village, 500 E. Fairfield Drive.

Another suspect in the shooting, 18-year old Shaquill Besst of Natalbany, La. ,is currently being held without bond in the Tangipahoa Parish Jail in Amite, La. He is awaiting extradition back to Florida.

Multiple shots were fired into the apartment back on July 15, according to Pensacola Police, shortly after several people were involved in a drug transaction nearby.

Pinestraw’s last known address was on Lake Drive in Cantonment. Pinestraw is a black male, approximately 5-feet 6-inches tall and approximately 130 pounds. He should be considered armed and dangerous, according to Pensacola Police.

Anyone having information on the Pinestraw’s location or the shooting is asked to contact Lt. Doug Baldwin at  (850) 435-1908, Detective James Reese at (850) 435-1976, or the Desk Sergeant’s Office at (850) 435-1900.

Congressman Miller’s Staff To Hold Office Hours In Century, Jay

August 8, 2011

Congressman Jeff Miller’s staff will be conducting mobile office hours in Century and Jay on Wednesday.

Several members of Miller’s staff will be on hand to answer questions about problems with federal agencies or issues affecting residents in the First Congressional District.

“We are trying to make contact with our office as convenient as possible for all of our constituents,” Miller said. “Instead of having people come to the office, we’ve decided to bring the office to them.

Miller’s staff will be at the Century Chamber of Commerce at 7811 North Century Boulevard from 8:00 a.m. until 9:00 a.m. and at the Jay City Hall at 3695 Highway 4 from 9:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m.

Hot, Humid Week

August 8, 2011

The heat advisories are gone for now, but our hot and humid summer weather will continue this week.

Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:

  • Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 76. Southwest wind between 5 and 10 mph.
  • Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 95. Heat index values as high as 106. West wind between 5 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
  • Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 75. West wind between 5 and 10 mph.
  • Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 96. West wind around 5 mph.
  • Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 76. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
  • Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 96. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph.
  • Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Calm wind.
  • Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 96.
  • Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 75.
  • Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 96.
  • Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72.
  • Sunday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93.

Molino Library, Community Center, County Office Building Out For Bids

August 8, 2011

An Escambia County project is now out for bids to renovate the Old Molino School into a community center, museum and library, and to construct a new building to house offices for the tax collector and property appraiser.

seeplansclick.jpgBid solicitations were posted and mailed to potential contractors on last week. A non-mandatory conference at the old Molino School will give contractors a chance to visit the facility on Thursday, and bids will be received until 4 p.m. on Thursday, September 1.

The project’s original plans called for a library, complete with the usual shelves of books, children’s areas and computer terminals. But without funding for daily operations and employee salaries, library plans were first shelved. The county needed thousands more to complete building renovations for a library, including the addition of more structural supports under the building’s 72-year old floor to accommodate thousands of pounds of books.

After $700,000 in local option sales tax (LOST) funds were reprioritized at the request of County Administrator Randy Oliver, an additional $1.8 million was funneled to the project to once again include a library.

That put the total cost for the entire project at $4,389,156.

Pictured top: A conceptual drawing of the Molino School after renovation. Pictured below: A recent photo of the building. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.

Calf Ropers Show Their Stuff

August 8, 2011

dThe second tie-down and breakaway calf roping event was held at Howell Farm outside Flomaton recently.

About 200 people enjoyed the family-oriented roping event that drew about 30 ropers from a 300 mile radius, including many from the North Escambia area.

Colter Prescott of Jay posted the fastest time at 8.50 seconds. Other winners in the three rounds were Cody Kent, Kenny Harris, Bill Stewart, Darren Gardner, Mitchell Roland, Brandon Chambliss, Waylon Stucky, Jason Kimbrell and Blake Bryant. Winners of the average in the four brackets were Kenny Harris in 1B, Waylon Stucky in 2B, Blake Bryant and Carl Bowman tied in 3B, and Justin Seale in 4B.

Parker Robinson and Kay Stewart were winners in the breakaway roping event.

Pictured: (top)  Waylen Stuckey of Flomaton, (inset) Luke Brown of Century, and (below) Daniel Chavers of Brewton. Pictured bottom: Jason Kimbrell and his sons, all from Chumuckla. Submitted photos by Wendy Neal for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Two North Escambia Blood Drives This Week

August 8, 2011

Northwest Florida Blood Service’s Bloodmobile will be in two North Escambia area locations this week:

  • Friday, 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at  Harvesters Federal Credit Union, 480 South Highway 29 in Cantonment.
  • Saturday,  12:30 to 4:30 p.m. at Fran’s Country Grill, 5539 North Highway 29 in Molino.

Northwest Florida Blood Services is the exclusive provider of blood products to more than 24 area hospitals who need 175 blood donations a day. Each donation can save up to three lives.

Requirements for giving blood are below.

  • Donors must be in generally good health
  • At least 17 years of age, without permission.  16-year olds are now allowed to donate with permission granted by parents or legal guardians.
  • Must bring picture ID
  • Weigh at least 110 lbs
  • Free of infection, fever or flu symptoms, for 3 days
  • No cancer within the last 5 years
  • No antibiotics within the last 48 hours
  • No tattoos within the past 12 months
  • No chest pain, heart disease, heart surgery (Requires written physician release with diagnosis)
  • No history of viral hepatitis
  • Cannot have lived in France for 5 years or more between 1980 and the present
  • Cannot have lived or visited in the UK for a total of 3 months or more from 1980 to 1996
  • Cannot have received a blood transfusion in the UK between 1980 and the present
  • Military personnel (current and former), and their dependents, who spent time in military bases in northern Europe during 1980-1990, or southern Europe during 1980-1996, for 6 months or more
  • All military personnel (active & reserve) that are returning from Iraq, are deferred for a period of 1 year after the last date on location in that country.

Tips To Keep Your Pet Safe During The Hot Summer

August 8, 2011

The Escambia County Animal Shelter is offering tips to keep your pets safe this summer:

From unpredictable weather to unusual routines, household animals are exposed to all sorts of hazards during June, July and August and your pets are counting on you to keep them safe.

Do not leave pets in the yard without plenty of shade and water. Even the healthiest pets can suffer from dehydration, heat stroke and sunburn if overexposed to the heat.

Also, never leave your dog, cat or any other animal friend alone in a car. The inside of a car can heat up very quickly—even with an open window. When it’s 85 degrees outside, the temperature inside a car, even with the windows opened slightly, can reach 102 degrees in just 10 minutes. After 30 minutes the vehicle becomes a deadly 120 degrees. Cracking the windows provides an insignificant effect on both the rate of heating and the final temperature.

Recognize the symptoms of animal heatstroke:

  • Heavy panting
  • Dizziness
  • Lethargy
  • Glazed eyes
  • Lack of coordination
  • Vomiting
  • Excessive thirst
  • Profuse salivation
  • Unconsciousness

If your pet exhibits any of the symptoms, immediately move the animal into the shade or an air-conditioned area. Gradually apply ice packs or cold towels to the animal’s head, neck and chest or slowly immerse it in cool (not cold) water.  Let your pet drink small amounts of cool water or lick ice cubes.  Then take it directly to a veterinarian.

If you see a pet in a parked vehicle or penned and/or tethered without sufficient shade and water – call your local law enforcement or the Escambia County Animal Control Office at (850) 595-0097.

Stay cool near the pool. Do not leave pets unsupervised around a pool or body of water—not all dogs are expert swimmers.

Other tips for keeping animals safe include, avoid lathering your pet with any insect repellent or sunscreen not intended for animals. Keep your pet away from matches, citronella candles and lighter fluid, which if eaten can irritate the stomach, lungs and central nervous system.

From hurricanes to floods, we’ve seen the devastation severe weather has brought to pets and their families. Develop an evacuation plan well ahead of time in case you’re forced from your home in an emergency.

NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.

Reports Reveal Events, Details In Sister Shooting

August 7, 2011

We are learning more about what happened in the shooting death of a 14-year old at the hands of her 17-year old sister as detailed in reports obtained by NorthEscambia.com.

The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest and offense reports detail the results of their investigation into the shooting death of 14-year old Christina Marie Sneary by her sibling by adoption, 17-year old Elena Janelle Rendell. Rendell has been charged as an adult with manslaughter by a firearm and remains in the Escambia Jail with bond set at $300,000.

The Sheriff’s Office reports state the following about the events of Wednesday afternoon, August 3:

When deputies arrived in the 7600 block of Kipling Street, they found Christina Sneary (pictured left) lying on the ground by the driveway of the residence with a gunshot wound to her neck. Elena Rendell was next to her and motioned to deputies that she had shot Sneary.

Rendell was described as being extremely upset, crying and shaking. She repeated over and over that the shooting was an accident. She first told deputies that she was trying to shoot a black male in a red shirt armed with a handgun that had broken into their residence, but she had accidentally shot her sister and that the firearm was still inside the bedroom of the residence.

“I shot my sister.  A man came into the house with a gun and I picked up my mom’s gun trying to shoot the man and accidentally shot my sister,” Rendell told the deputy.

As deputies tried to get a better description of the suspect, Rendell admitted that there was no black  male involved. She said that she had been playing with a gun in her mother’s room. Rendell said she and her sister were not suppose to play with firearm and that she believed the firearm had a safety on it which would prevent if from firing. Rendell said that, while playing with the gun, it accident fired, hitting Sneary.

Rendell (pictured left) told deputies that she had learned some first aid while in ROTC in school and that she tried to help Sneary as much as possible before help arrived.

The black semi-automatic handgun was found lying on the top covers at the foot of the bed in the master bedroom. The hammer was in the firing position.

When interviewed later by investigators, Rendell’s story changed.

She told deputies that she began to argue with Sneary over a cell phone. During the argument, Rendell ran into her parent’s bedroom and retrieved her father’s 9 mm handgun from the top of a television shelf that stood about 12-feet high. Rendell then pointed the handgun at her 14-year old sister and fired a single gunshot into the right side of Sneary’s neck.

Public Input Invited In Beulah To Barrineau Park Development Plan

August 7, 2011

Monday morning, Escambia County residents will have an opportunity to comment about a detailed long-term plan for thousands of acres from Beulah to Barrineau Park.

The Escambia County Planning Board will hold a public workshop on the Preliminary Detailed Specific Area Plan at 8:35 Monday morning in the Board Meeting Room at the Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place.

As part of the county’s adopted Optional Sector Plan, the Detailed Specific Area Plan encompasses approximately 15,000 acres of land north of Interstate 10, south of Barrineau Park Road and west of Highway 29. It is a long-term conceptual planning project aimed at encouraging orderly, logical growth and economic development in north Escambia County that incorporates road networks, parks, schools, as well as commercial and residential projects.

Featured Recipes: Sweet (And Cold) Summer Delights

August 7, 2011

Making homemade ice cream and cool treats for friends and family is a sweet way to celebrate summer – and it’s easier than you might think. Scroll all the way down the page to see all four recipes — Fresh Fruit Ice Cream, Pineapple and Chipotle Ice Pops, Orange Cream Granita and Creamy Latte Pops.

Orange Cream Granita

(pictured at top of page)

Ingredients

  • 3 cups orange juice
  • 1 (14 oz.) can Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon grated orange peel

Preparation

  1. COMBINE orange juice, sweetened condensed milk, lemon juice, orange peel and rose water, if desired, in large bowl; mix well.
  2. POUR into 9-inch square baking pan. Cover and freeze just until edges are frozen, about 1 1/2 hours. Using a fork, scrape frozen granita toward center to break up ice crystals. Pat mixture evenly into pan. Cover and freeze. Repeat every 30 minutes until granita is firm, about 4 hours.

Serves
Yield 4 cups

Preparation Time:
15 minutes

Fresh Fruit Ice Cream

Ingredients

  • 1 (14 oz.) can Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup pureed or mashed fresh fruit, such as peaches, strawberries, bananas and raspberries
  • Food coloring
  • 2 cups (1 pint) heavy cream

Preparation

  1. COMBINE sweetened condensed milk and vanilla in large bowl; stir in 1 cup pureed fruit and food coloring, if desired. Fold in 2 cups (1 pint) heavy cream (do not use non-dairy whipped topping). Pour into 9 x 5-inch loaf pan or a 2-quart freezer container; cover. Freeze 6 hours or until firm.

Serves
Yield about 1 1/2 quarts

Preparation Time:
10 minutes

Pineapple and Chipotle Ice Pops

Ingredients

  • 1 (20 oz.) can crushed pineapple in pineapple juice, undrained
  • 1 (14 oz.) can Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk
  • 3/4 cup pineapple juice
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
  • 1/4 teaspoon chipotle chile powder

Preparation

  1. PLACE pineapple in food processor. Cover and process until pureed. Combine pureed pineapple, sweetened condensed milk, pineapple juice, lime juice and chile powder in large bowl; mix well.
  2. SPOON into 8 (4 oz.) plastic ice pop molds or 10 (3 oz.) wax-coated paper cups. If using paper cups, insert wooden craft stick into the center of each cup. Freeze until firm, about 4 hours.

Serves
Yield 8 to 10 servings

Preparation Time:
15 minutes

Creamy Latte Pops

Ingredients

  • 1 (14 oz.) can Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk
  • 2 cups milk
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon Folgers Classic Roast(r) Instant Coffee Crystals
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Preparation

  1. BRING sweetened condensed milk to a boil in medium saucepan, stirring frequently. Reduce heat to low and cook, stirring constantly, about 15 minutes or until very thick.
  2. ADD milk, cream and coffee crystals slowly to saucepan on low heat, whisking until well blended. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
  3. POUR 1/3 cup cooled mixture into each of 12 (3 oz.) disposable plastic cups or 12 (3 oz.) ice pop molds. Freeze until partially frozen, 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Insert wooden craft sticks. Freeze until firm, about 6 hours or overnight.

Serves
Yield 12 pops

Notes, Tips & Suggestions
TIP: To release from ice pop molds, dip quickly into warm water.

Preparation Time:
10 minutes

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