One Killed In Friday Night Wreck In Santa Rosa County
May 14, 2011
One person is dead following single vehicle traffic crash Friday night in Santa Rosa County.
Charles W. Ferguson, 24, of Milton, died when he lost control of his 2006 Chevrolet on Hamilton Bridge Road. The Florida Highway Patrol says he was speeding when he lost control in a curve, over corrected and hit several trees in a wooded area. He was pronounced dead at the scene of the 6 p.m. accident.
A passenger in the vehicle, 20-year old Raven N. Pitts of Pace, was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in critical condition.
The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
Man Gets 87 Months For Stealing Credit Card Numbers
May 14, 2011
A New York man was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison for his role in a conspiracy to steal and use the credit and debit card information of more than 600 victims, many of them in Escambia County.
Federal prosecutors said Gaspar Bishop, 20, of Brooklyn, New York, induced his co-defendant, Elizabeth Lail-Caldare, to use her position as a waitress at Famous Dave’s restaurant in Pensacola to steal the credit and debit card information of the restaurant’s customers. Bishop provided Lail-Caldare with a skimming device that enabled her to capture the names, account numbers, and other information from credit and debit cards of approximately 60 customers.
Bishop routinely met with Lail-Caldare to retrieve the skimmer and o download the information she had stolen. He then used the stolen information to create counterfeit cards that he and confederates used to obtain money and merchandise from businesses in Florida, Alabama, Pennsylvania, and New York.
The conspiracy involved not only the theft of account information from Famous Dave’s customers, but thefts from other victims as well. At the conclusion of a sentencing hearing held yesterday in federal district court in Tallahassee, the court found Bishop was involved in the theft of identifying information of more than 600 victims. As part of the sentence, the court ordered Bishop to pay $38,454 in restitution.
Both Bishop and Lail-Caldare pled guilty earlier this year to conspiracy, access device fraud, and aggravated identity theft arising from their involvement in the identity theft scheme.
Lail-Caldare’s sentencing is scheduled for June 22, 2011. The trial of their co-defendant, Trevor Hubbard, is scheduled for June 6, 2011.
Don’t Forget: Help ‘Stamp Out Hunger’ At Your Mailbox Today
May 14, 2011
Saturday is the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive. You can help by placing a bag of non-perishable food items in or around your mailbox. Your letter carrier will collect the food items and deliver them to local food bank banks and pantries.
The Letter Carriers Food Drive is the largest, single-day effort to combat hunger in America.
Suggested non-perishable food items include canned soup, canned meat, canned vegetables, bottled juice, pasta, rice or cereal. Items that are past their expiration date or in glass containers should not be included.
Sunny, Nice Weather Continues
May 14, 2011
Here is your official North Escambia area weekend forecast:
- Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 55. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 80. Northwest wind between 5 and 15 mph.
- Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 52. Northwest wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 72. North wind between 5 and 15 mph.
- Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 76. North wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 48. Northwest wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 82. North wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south.
- Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 56.
- Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 85.
- Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 65.
- Friday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Escambia Schools To Consider No Smoking Policy For New Hires
May 14, 2011
The Escambia County School Board may adopt a new policy to not hire anyone who smokes.
The board will vote to the proposal at their regular meeting on Tuesday and then consider the policy in June. The new policy would allow only smoke-free news hires, but it would not apply to current employees.
The new play would not only mean healthier employees, but it is also designed to lower costs associated with health insurance costs and lost days at work.
Similar policies have been adopted by other large local employers, including Escambia County, ECUA, Sacred Heart Hospital and Baptist Health Care.
Photo Gallery: Molino Park Celebrates The Arts
May 14, 2011
Molino Park Elementary School held its annual Arts Day on Friday, with the students spending the day immersed in a variety of arts.
The students enjoyed a wide range of arts, from pottery to photography to cake decorating. They had the opportunity to get “hands on” with many activities. The day ended with the “Molino Park Arts Day Roundup”, a live concert series in the school cafeteria. Artists appearing in the concert had local ties to Molino Park.
For a photo gallery from the event, click here.
Pictured top: A student checks out a dragster during the annual Arts Day at Molino Park Elementary School. Pictured inset: Photographer Candy McGahan explains her work to students. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview Honors FFA Members
May 14, 2011
The Northview High School FFA held their annual awards banquet Friday night. NorthEscambia.com will have a photo gallery and a story with award winners on Sunday. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Dorothy Jean “Dot” Blanchett
May 14, 2011
Dorothy Jean “Dot” Blanchett, age 74, of Cantonment, passed away Friday, May 13, 2011.
Dot was born in McCormick, South Carolina, and was a member of Victory Assembly. She loved to bowl, work in her flower garden and crochet. She will be remembered as a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother.
Survivors include her husband of 53 years, Wayne Blanchett; daughters, Deby Slack and her husband Ben; Jennifer Jackson and Mark, grandchildren; Wayne Slack and his wife Carla, Carlie Severin, Derek Slack and Abbie Huff, one great grandchild; Cade Severin; and a sister; Glenda Briley.
Preceding her in death was her daughter, Joyce LaWayne Blanchett; great grandson, Aiden Riley Henry; her parents, Eugene and Thelma Brown; and her sister, Nina Wilson.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM on Monday, May 16, 2011,at Victory Assembly with Pastor Jeff McKee and Rev. Lee Tate officiating. Interment will follow at Eastern Gate Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the church on Sunday, May 15, 2011, from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.
The family would like to give a special thanks to the caring staff of Joyce Goldenberg Hospice Facility and also to the loving church family of Victory Assembly.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is in charge of arrangements.
Today: Event To Purchase Saddles For Special Needs Children
May 14, 2011
A “Saddles for Cerebral Palsy Benefit” will be held Saturday in Davisville to help purchase special horse saddles for children with cerebral palsy and other special needs.
The event will take place from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Saturday at the Davisville Community Center on Highway 97, sponsored by Caraway Horseshoeing, H&C Ponies and Ashcraft Horse Training.
There will be pony rides, horse training by Jimbo Ashcraft using the Noavel Headstall (call for an appointment), face painting and a bake sale.
For more information, contact Ryan Caraway at farrier68roc@yahoo.com or call (850) 327-6631 or (251) 422-6019. Volunteers are also needed to assist at the event.
No Injuries In Hwy 97 Wreck
May 13, 2011
There were no injuries in a single vehicle rollover accident this afternoon on Highway 97 just south of Meadows Road in Davisville Friday afternoon.
The driver of a Chevrolet Suburban lost control while southbound on Highway 97 and rolled over into home’s yard about 4 p.m.. He refused medical treatment at the scene.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, the Atmore Fire Department, Atmore Ambulance, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Highway Patrol responded to the crash.
There were no injuries in this single vehicle accident on Highway 97 south of the state line in Davisville Friday afternoon. Northescambia.com photo. Click to enlarge.