Escambia County Murder Under Investigation
July 25, 2011
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the homicide that occurred over the weekend.
At around 9:48 p.m. Sunday, deputies and investigators responded to a home in the 5000 block of Mitchell Lane, after the victims brother-in-law called 911.
“His brother-in-law drove over to check on the victim and found him lying on the living room floor,” said sheriff’s office spokesman Deputy Chris Welborn. “The victim was found with obvious injuries about the head.”
Emergency medical personnel responded and pronounced the man deceased.
The victim has been identified as 65-year-old Jerry Wayne Ledden.
“Our investigators are unable to release any more information concerning Mr. Ledden’s death,” said Welborn. “But they are looking into a few leads that have developed.”
Investigators are awaiting results of an autopsy before releasing the cause of death.
Anyone who may have information related to this case is asked to contact the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Hunt Continues For Alabama Prison Escapee Possibly Spotted In Florida
July 25, 2011
The search is continuing for an Alabama prison escapee, and authorities say he may have been spotted in Santa Rosa County.
William Paul Riley, 38, was reported missing about 8:05 a.m. Monday from a work crew in the area of Ridge Road in Brewton. It was later determined that Riley stole a red 1993 Nissan pickup with a distinctive white thunderbolt design on the side. The truck belonged to an employee who left the keys in the vehicle. According to an Alabama Department of Corrections news release, the tag number was 30AI7LS. The tag number 30A17L5 was also provide to law enforcement.
Late Monday morning, a resident reported seeing a man matching Riley’s description near Jay or Milton, but the information was sketchy.
Riley is a white male, 5 feet, 10 inches tall, weighing 175 pounds, with brown eyes and blonde hair. He was seen in a white prison jumpsuit wearing an orange traffic vest.
His last known address before being incarcerated was in Orange Beach, Alabama, and authorities believe he may be headed to Orange Beach or Pensacola.
He was serving a 15-year prison sentence for theft and dealing stolen property at the Atmore Community Work Center near the Fountain Correctional Facility in Atmore. Riley was convicted on the charges in Jefferson County, Alabama (the Birmingham area). He was due to be released in March 2015 and set for a possible parole hearing in March 2013.
Anyone with information is asked to call their local law enforcement agency or 911.
9 Locals Sentenced Up To 20 Years In Federal Drug Case
July 25, 2011
Nine North Escambia area residents have been sentenced to federal prison and three others are awaiting sentencing on federal drug charges stemming from an undercover operation that ended earlier this year.
The longest sentences were handed down to Matthew Ramsey of Duxbury Avenue in Molino, James N. Brown of Molino Road in Molino and Terry D. Wolfe of Robertsdale, Alabama. Ramsey will spend the next 20 years in federal prison, while Brown was sentenced to nearly 16 years and Wolfe received 10 years.
The 12 were indicted and arrested in February for conspiring to obtain pseudoephedrine in order to manufacture methamphetamine. They were arrested in a day-long law enforcement sweep on February 22 as part of a federal effort dubbed “Operation Blister Pack”. Ramsey and Wolfe were also charged with obtaining pseudoephedrine in order to manufacture methamphetamine and conspiring to manufacture the methamphetamine itself.
All of the dozen defendants entered into plea agreements with federal prosecutors over the past few months.
Those sentenced so far are:
- James N. Brown, of Molino Road, Molino– 188 months federal prison, three years supervised release.
- Tonya L. Foster, of Vaughn Street, Cantonment– 72 months federal prison, three years supervised release.
- Aarron V. Hendrickson, of Hwy. 95A, Cantonment — 36 months federal prison, three years supervised release.
- Raymond E. Love, of Highway 29, Molino — 54 months federal prison, three years supervised release.
- William T. Neal, of Williams Ditch Road, Cantonment – 40 months federal prison, three years supervised release.
- Terra C. Palmer, of Daylily Road, Cantonment — 60 months federal prison, three years supervised release.
- Matthew M. Ramsey, of Duxbury Avenue, Molino — 240 months federal prison, 10 years supervised release.
- Nicholas D. Scott, of Rumford Road, Molino – 87 months federal prison, three years supervised release.
- Terry D. Wolfe, of Robertsdale, Ala. — 120 months federal prison, five years supervised release.
Three people other people are awaiting sentencing. They are:
- Rebecca Jernigan, of Still Road, Century.
- Particia Love, of Eastman Lane, Cantonment.
- William Robbins, of Duxbury Avenue, Molino.
The case resulted from a long-term investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration
(DEA).
Scattered Rain Pattern Continues
July 25, 2011
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight…Mostly cloudy. Scattered showers and thunderstorms in the evening…then isolated showers and thunderstorms after midnight. Patchy fog after midnight. Lows in the mid 70s. West winds around 5 mph in the evening becoming light. Chance of precipitation 50 percent.
- Tuesday…Mostly cloudy. Scattered showers and thunderstorms in the morning…then numerous showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs around 90. Northwest winds around 5 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation 70 percent.
- Tuesday Night…Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 70s. South winds around 5 mph becoming east after midnight. Chance of precipitation 40 percent.
- Wednesday…Mostly cloudy. Showers and thunderstorms likely. Highs in the lower 90s. South winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation 60 percent.
- Wednesday Night…Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 70s. Southeast winds around 5 mph in the evening becoming light. Chance of precipitation 30 percent.
- Thursday…Mostly cloudy. Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Highs around 90. Chance of precipitation 50 percent.
- Thursday Night…Mostly cloudy. Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 70s. Chance of precipitation 30 percent.
- Friday…Mostly cloudy. Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 90s. Chance of precipitation 40 percent.
- Friday Night…Partly cloudy. Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 70s. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.
- Saturday…Mostly cloudy. Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 90s. Chance of precipitation 30 percent.
- Saturday Night…Partly cloudy. Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 70s. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.
- Sunday…Mostly cloudy. Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 90s. Chance of precipitation 40 percent.
Official Warns Against Water Service Line Insurance
July 25, 2011
Century’s mayor has issued a warning against water service line insurance.
Mayor Freddie McCall said many citizens of Century received direct mail from a company offering to sell the water line insurance policies, but he said it’s not a needed item.
“You don’t need this,” McCall said at a recent town council meeting. McCall said any repairs covered by the policy could likely be done for less than the “high deductible” listed in the policy solicitation.
History Channel’s ‘American Pickers’ To Feature Pensacola Tonight
July 25, 2011
Pensacola will be featured in segment on the popular History Channel show “American Pickers” tonight.
Stars Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz were in the Pensacola area earlier this year, with several “secret” stops, including The Fish House restaurant. Wolfe and Fritz travel the back roads of America looking for forgotten trash and treasures on the weekly television series.
According to the History Channel episode guide:
“Mike and Frank are picking their way through Florida when they get a lead on a potential gold mine — a five-acre property that’s an automotive graveyard. The guys also visit an off-the-grid hangar-sized geodesic dome home where they discover two gems: a very rare piece of rock ‘n’ roll history and an unusual motorcycle sidecar. Mike’s hunger for seafood lands them a chance pick through slot machines, vintage advertising, sci-fi movie props and taxidermy bears.”
The episode airs Monday night at 8:00 and repeats Friday night at 7:00 on the History Channel.
US Dept Of Justice Wants Gulf Coast Claims Facility Audit
July 25, 2011
The Gulf Coast Claims Facility –which is handling the $20 billion compensation fund for victims of the BP oil spill — has agreed to be audited following concerns about the transparency of the fund’s process.
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder fired off a letter to the fund administrator, Ken Feinberg, to follow up on a July 7 meeting in which they agreed there should be such an audit.
“At our meeting we discussed concerns that I heard in the Gulf regarding the transparency of the process,” Holder wrote in the letter. “This letter will confirm your conversation with Associate Attorney General Tom Perrelli, in which you agreed, as we discussed at our meeting, to an independent audit of the GCCF.”
Holder said the DOJ recognizes that the GCCF continues to get thousands of claims per week “and that resolving those claims quickly and fairly should be its highest priority,” and so said it would work with the fund to come up with a time for the audit to start, but said it would be before the end of the year.
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson’s office claimed some credit for getting the DOJ interested in such an audit. Nelson and others had asked the administration to order it after news reports earlier this about a $10 million claims payment to one of BP’s business partners.
Nelson praised the decision to order an audit. “There’s clearly a need to assure more accountability and transparency,” he said.
By The News Service of Florida
Northwest Escambia Girls Pick Up Win At State
July 25, 2011
The Northwest Escambia senior girls softball team fell short of a state title, but they went further in the tournament than any another NWE team in their age bracket.
After winning the sectional championship earlier this month, NWE lost to Port St. John 12-0, beat Fort Myers 10-4 and lost to Palm Bay 14-4. The tournament was the first state win for a NWE seniors girls team.
Port St. John 12 Northwest Escambia 0
Courtney Peebles, Addie Lee and Penny Banda pitched for NWE as they fell to Port St. John, 12-0.
Northwest Escambia 10 Fort Myers 0
For Northwest Escambia, Cheyenne Schoonover had three runs and Danielle Steadham had two runs. Adding one run each for NWE were Kristen Byrd, Courtney Peebles, Penny Banda, Kendal Cobb and Addie Lee. Peebles pitched the entire game.
Palm Bay 14 Northwest Escambia 4
Cheyenne Schoonover, Kristen Byrd, Penny Banda and Kendal Cobb had one run each for Northwest Escambia against Palm Bay. Courtney Peebles and Penny Banda pitched for NWE.
Members of the NWE Senior Girls All-Star Team are Penny Banda, Kristen Byrd, Courtney Peebles, Kendal Cobb, Kyndall Hall, Danielle Steadham, Addy Lee, Samantha Bethea, Makayla Flowers and Cheyenne Schoonover. The team is managed by Ronald Peebles and coached by Jarrod Peebles and Danny Hall.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
School Board Member Slayton Elected To State Board
July 25, 2011
District 5 Escambia County School Board member Bill Slayton has been elected the Florida School Boards Association Board of Directors. Slayton, who represents the North Escambia area, will serve a two-year term on the state board.
The Florida School Boards Association is a nonprofit corporation representing all school board members in Florida.
Edna Forte
July 25, 2011
Edna Forte, 84 of Cantonment, went to be with her Lord Friday, July 22, 2011, with her family by her side. She was the glue that held our family together. She was preceded in death by her husband, James (Jim) Forte; her parents, Joseph and Mary Gilmore; her beloved sister, Lottie Pugh and three brothers, Harold, Dewey and Chester Gilmore.
She is survived by her two children, Frances Pittman (husband, Ron), and Don Forte; her sister, Hazel Bolen; her brother, Alton Gilmore; four precious grandchildren, Brad Butler (Joli), Ashley Hardy, Mandy Moye (Rusty) and Robert Forte; and her daughter-in-law, Jeanie Forte. Mom’s 10 great grandchildren always made her heart happy, Brayden and Brooke Butler, Delaney Hardy, Russ, Bradley, Trenton, Josh, and Brittany Moye, Maddy and Haley Forte. Mom welcomed into her heart her step grandchildren and all of the step great grandchildren. She loved them all.
Heaven had a great celebration on the day Mom left her earthly home. Jesus opened his arms and she went to Him with a smile on her face.
Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 26, 2011, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North, 1000 Hwy 29, Cantonment with Rev. Andy Gartman and Rev. Bob Bailey officiating. Interment will follow in Spruell Cemetery in Cantonment.
The family will receive friends at Faith Chapel North from 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday, July 25.