Area Bank Fails, Seized By FDIC
September 10, 2011
Federal regulators closed a bank Friday that has branches in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, the 71st bank failure this year.
The First National Bank of Florida based in Milton was closed by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, which appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as receiver. To protect the depositors, the FDIC entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with CharterBank in West Point, Georgia, to assume all of the deposits of The First National Bank of Florida.
The eight branches of The First National Bank of Florida — including those in Milton, Pace, Pensacola and Milton — will reopen during their normal business hours beginning Saturday as branches of CharterBank. Depositors of The First National Bank of Florida will automatically become depositors of CharterBank. Customers of The First National Bank of Florida should continue to use their existing branch until they receive notice from CharterBank that it has completed systems changes to allow other CharterBank branches to process their accounts as well.
Over the weekend, depositors of The First National Bank of Florida can access their money by writing checks or using ATM or debit cards. Checks drawn on the bank will continue to be processed. Loan customers should continue to make their payments as usual.
As of June 30, 2011, The First National Bank of Florida had approximately $296.8 million in total assets and $280.1 million in total deposits. In addition to assuming all of the deposits of the failed bank, CharterBank agreed to purchase essentially all of the assets.
Prep Football Roundup
September 10, 2011
Here is a look at prep football action from around the North Escambia area Friday night:
Florida
- Northview 27, Marianna 14 [Read more...]
- Fort Walton Beach 33, Tate 0 [Read more...]
- Holmes County 41, Jay 12 [Read more...]
- West Florida 12, Washington 7
- Pine Forest 50, Mississippi-Weston 34
- Niceville 14, Pace 13
- PHS 29, Navarre 22
- Catholic 41, Gulf Breeze 35 (3OT)
- Niceville 14, Pace 13
- Crestview 32, Escambia 0
Alabama
- Flomaton 49, J.U. Blacksher 6 [Read more...]
- UMS Wright 35 Escambia County (Atmore) 12
- Escambia Academy 37, Marengo Academy 8
- Jackson 45, W.S. Neal 6
- T.R. Miller 42, Excel 0
Jay Royals Knocked Off By Holmes County Blue Devils 41-12
September 10, 2011
The Blue Devils of Holmes County beat the Jay Royals Friday night, 41-12.
Holmes County jumped out to an early 7-0 lead with 5:32 to go in the first quarter on a 2-yard run. The Royals answered about a minute later with a 2-yard run from Conner Weekes, but the point after kick missed the uprights. It was 7-6 headed into the second quarter.
The second quarter was dominated by the Blue Devils with touchdown runs of 20, 1 and 48 yards. Jay was scoreless in the second, trailing 28-6 headed into the lockers at the half.
Holmes County picked up two more touchdowns of 2 and 3 yards in the third. With about a second to go in the third, Ricky Cofield scored on a 2-yard for Jay. The kick failed and the Royals were down 41-12 headed into a scoreless fourth quarter in Jay.
The Jay Royals (1-1) will travel to Sneads next Friday night.
Weekend Gardening: ‘Rabbit Tracks’ New Issue For Crape Myrtles
September 10, 2011
There’s a new problem facing crape myrtles, according to the Escambia County Extension Service.
Rabbit tracks is a nutritional disorder most often affecting the crape myrtle cultivars Natchez, Miami, Muskogee, and Tuskegee. The disorder causes elongated spots on either side of the leaf mid-vein during the second growth flush of the spring. Leaf margins may also be distorted.
Plants may often outgrow the symptoms with the formation of new leaves. Current research is being conducted to determine the exact cause of the disorder and to determine if the application of supplemental micronutrients will help minimize the issue.
Escambia Man Sentenced To 30 Years For Home Invasion, Robbery
September 10, 2011
An Escambia County man was sentenced Friday to 30 years in prison for a home invasion robbery and battery.
State Attorney Bill Eddins said Courtney Darnell Henderson was sentenced by Judge Michael Allen to 30 years in state prison as a prison releasee reoffender. On August 10, 2011, Henderson was convicted by an Escambia County jury of home invasion robbery without a weapon, battery upon a person 65 years of age or older, and resisting an officer without violence.
On April 8, 2010, Henderson and two others forced their way into the home of Lloyd E Dawson, while a fourth person waited in the car. Once inside Dawson was pushed and held down while he was struck repeatedly with his own cane. The defendants took a camcorder and other electronic devices.
Flomaton Routs Blacksher
September 10, 2011
The Flomaton Hurricanes defeated J.U. Blacksher on the Road in Monroe County Friday night, 49-6.
Flomaton opened the scoring with a 36-yard pass from Ryheem Dixon to Jacob Newton in first quarter. A good kick from Corey Busbee, and the ‘Canes were up 7-0 headed into the second.
Flomaton kept the scoreboard operator busy in the second, scoring with a 64-yard pass from Dixon to Neiko Robinson, a 5-yard run from Robinson, another 18-yard from Robinson and a 34-yard run from Hunter Bonds. Busbee was 4-4 on kicks in the second.
In the third, Flomaton scored on a 26-yard from Dixon and a 5-yard run from Dustin Postlewait. Busbee was 2-2 through the uprights for a 49-0 Flomaton lead going into the fourth.
Blacksher managed a TD with about 50 seconds to go in the game and missed the point after for a 49-6 Flomaton Hurricane win.
Flomaton (3-0) will host Mobile Christian next Friday night.
Submitted photos by Mike Newton Photography for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Gets 15 Years For Attempted Robbery
September 10, 2011
An Escambia County man was sentenced to 15 years in state prison Friday for attempted robbery.
Judge Nickolas P. Geeker handed the sentence down on Vander Johnson as a prison releasee reoffender. He was convicted in August of principal to attempted robbery with a firearm.
On July 28, 2010, Johnson and another unknown male attempted to rob a man at a gas station near Pensacola Village. The unknown male fired a pistol at the victim as he sped off in his car. The bullet shattered the rear window and lodged in the driver’s headrest.
Raymond Diamond
September 10, 2011
Raymond Diamond of Jay was born in Century, Florida on April 3, 1940, and passed away surrounded by his family on September 9, 2011.
He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Julia Faye (Nowling) Diamond; his daughter, Vaneica (Jimmy) Burgess of Jay; his grandchildren, Ashlynn Burgess, Chandler Burgess and Andrew Diamond, all of Jay; his sister, Elaine Golden (Roy) of Pace; his daughter-in-law, Lucinda Diamond of Jay;, his brother-law, Elton Nowling of Jay; nieces, nephews and many friends.
Raymond was preceded in death by his son, Raymond Diamond Jr., his father, Bernie Lee Diamond and his mother, Elise Jackson Diamond.
Visitation will be held on Sunday evening from 6 to 9 p.m. with family gathering at 5 p.m. at the Jay Funeral Home. The funeral will be held on Monday at 3:30 p.m. at Cora Baptist Church with Bro. Bobby Carnley, Bro. Frederick Barrow, and Bro. LaDon Hall officiating services. Burial will follow at Cora Baptist Cemetery.
Honorary pallbearers will be Don Bales, Keith Caraway, Charles Carnley, Lee Deese, Mickey Diamond, Merlin Edwards, Glen Gavin, Ricky Godwin, Tony Gomillion, Ben Hudson, J.B Hudson, Dan Langham, Curt Lowry, Frank Lowry, John Lowry, Bubba McCaskill, Gary McCaskill, Jimmy McCaskill, Doyle Marshall, Jimmy Nelson, Douglas Odom, Reggie Odom, Leroy Peacock, Frank Rowell, Tony Simmons, Tommy Smith, David Walther, Roger Watson, Sammy Lowry and Jimmy Lowry.
Active pallbearers will be Jansen Burgess, James Diamond, Bruce Godwin, Daniel Golden, Steven Jackson and Michael Nowling.
Raymond was a pillar of the community and was well loved by all who knew him. He was very passionate about his family and loved to fish and work. He was well known as the owner of Diamond’s Grocery where he worked for 50 years. He was also a bus driver for 41 years and enjoyed farming.
A special thank you to Dr. David Smith, Dr. James Stringfield, Dr. Lance Raney and Dr. Jeff Kelley. The family would also like to thank the nursing staff of Jay Hospital and the 3 West nursing staff at Baptist Hospital, as well as the Jay Volunteer Fire Department.
He will be greatly missed by family, friends and the community.
Jay Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Man Charged With Murdering Teen
September 10, 2011
A 22-year old has been arrested in connection with an early Friday morning shooting in Escambia County that left a 17-year old dead and another person injured.
Jeremy Cornell Rand has been charged with the murder of Deiante Elijah Graham. Rand has also been charged with attempted murder of a 16-year-old female that was shot along
with Graham. Her injuries are not life threatening and she is expected to recover, according to authorities.
The incident happened about 3 a.m. at the Royal Crest Apartments at 190 Old Corry Field Road.
“Initial reports stated that a vehicle was parked in the complex and was occupied by two females and one male. They were approached by another unknown male and after an exchange
of words, the unknown male pulled out a gun and began firing into the vehicle,” said Sgt. Mike Ward, public information officer for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
After the shooting, the vehicle was driven to the entrance of the Twin Oaks Villas Apartments at 4600 Twin Oaks Drive. Once deputies arrived, they found 17–year old Graham dead from multiple gunshot wounds to the chest. One female suffered a non-life threatening gunshot and was transported to a local hospital. The second female in the vehicle was not injured.
The case remains under investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
One Killed In Escambia Wreck
September 9, 2011
One person was killed in single vehicle wreck early Friday morning in the Ensley area of Escambia County.
Matthew D. Hood, 19, of Pensacola, died from injuries he received at 2:42 a.m. at Pitman Avenue and Tower Drive, just off Highway 29. The Florida Highway Patrol says Hood failed to navigate a curve on Pitman Avenue and ran off the road and overturned twice and struck a guardrail. Hood, who was ejected in the 2:42 a.m. crash, passed away at 7:40 a.m. at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola.