Escambia Man Gets Life In Prison For 1996 Murder
May 6, 2011
An Escambia County man was sentenced to life in prison Thursday by Judge Jan Shackelford.
Kevin Jordan was convicted April 21 of first degree murder by an Escambia County Jury for the shooting death of Samuel Palmer in 1996. Palmer was shot and killed during a botched robbery attempt at a home on Luke Street near Catholic High School.
The case remained unsolved until 2005 when information surfaced that Kevin Jordan was involved, according to State Attorney Bill Eddins. In 2009, the Jordan confessed that he was involved in the attempted robbery of Palmer, however he claimed he was not the actual shooter. Jordan told investigators that Allen English fired the shot that killed Palmer. Allen English died in federal prison in 1999.
Jordan had previously been convicted on 20 felony offenses.
Sunny Skies, No Rain Forecast For The Next Week
May 6, 2011
Our dry, sunny weather will continue with no rain forecast for the next week. Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Friday: Sunny, with a high near 83. North wind 5 to 15 mph becoming west.
- Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 50. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 87. Calm wind becoming south between 10 and 15 mph.
- Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 59. West wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 87. West wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 65. West wind around 5 mph.
- Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming southwest between 5 and 10 mph.
- Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 65. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.
- Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 66.
- Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.
- Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 66.
- Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.
Joseph Walter Kimmons
May 6, 2011
Mr. Joseph Walter Kimmons, 47, of Century, passed away suddenly on Tuesday, May 3, 2011, in Century.
He was a native of Century and a longtime resident of the community. During his working years, he worked in the construction industry. He is preceded in death by his parents, Marvin Earl and Eleanor ‘Kitty’ Kimmons; a sister, Debra Jean Kimmons and brother, Marvin Earl Kimmons, Jr.
He is survived by his daughter, Lauren Bateman of Pensacola; brothers, Thomas R. (Jan) Kimmons of Pensacola, FL and Benny E. (Lynn) Kimmons of Jay; sisters, Mary (James) Williamson of Jay, and Rhonda Talbot of Brewton; granddaughter, Aubree Black and numerous other nieces and nephews and other family members.
Visitation will be held on Friday, May 6, from 6 until 9 p.m. at Flomaton Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral services will be Saturday, May 7, at 1 p.m. at Flomaton Funeral Home with Rev. James Gay officiating. Interment will follow in Beulah Chapel Assembly of God Cemetery in Century.
Pallbearers will be Johnny Griffis, Roger Jackson, Cyle Adkins, Adam Young, Jamie Young and Buddy Kimmons. Honorary pallbearers will be Greg Gibson anbd Joshua Griffis.
Century Sawmill Day Details
May 6, 2011
Here are details on the Century Sawmill Day and Car Show as provided by the organizers:
Sawmill Day and Car Show
Historical Park, corner of Jefferson Avenue and 4th Street
8:30 am until 4 pm
For more info, call Jerry Fischer at (850) 256-3980.
Entertainment
Marcia Johnston – Native American Flute Player
Blakely White – Violin/Fiddle Player and Singer
Danielle Scott – 13 Year Old Singer
Southern Pride Dancers from Atmore
Bobby Holland, Henry and Daniel Leonard – Musical Renditions
Holley Driver – Singer
Campfire Girls – Singing
Featuring Buddy Bell with his Silver Eagle Band – Country, Bluegrass
Vendors and Exhibits, Arts and Crafts
Angie Pierce – Jewelry and Purses
Art Giberson – Author
Brewton Quilting Club
Bruce Buford – Frontier Equipment and Indian Artifacts
D&J Imports
Flomaton Railroad Museum
Granny’s Goodies – Candied Apples
Janice Moore
Jerry Fischer, Jr. and Kent Callaway – Bottle Collectors
John Peacock – Crafted Wooden toys
Judson Carden – Civil War Artifacts
Julie Thornton and Roger Williams – Honeybees
Kevin McKinley and the Sons of Confederate Veterans
Marcia Johnston – Native American Culture
Nathan Chessher – Native American Culture and Artifacts
Nettie’s Artist Work
Noah’s Ark Display
Patrick Salter – Ornamental Iron
Roy Moore – Small Furniture
Sandy Marsh – Scentsy Candles
Scott Hillman – Ham Radio Exhibit
Sew & Sew Club of McDavid
Teresa Hendrix – Artist
United Daughters of the Confederacy
Wayne Cook – Old timey buggies
Winston Burnham – Flint napping demonstrations
Other Featured Items and Events:
Barbecue and drinks by Alger-Sullivan
Booth worked by Barnie Jones and his Whippersnappers
1776 Reenactors
Northview ROTC
Atmore VFW
Pam Wood Fiebig – MC
Car Show – late models through antiques – we expect a variety of
entries – public is invited to cast their votes for the favorites to
select the top four places. Register before 11 a.m. the day of the
show. Awards at 2 pm.
FCAT Writing Scores Good News For Local Schools
May 5, 2011
FCAT writing scores are out for fourth, eighth and tenth graders, and they are good news for North Escambia area schools.
Over three quarters of elementary school students in the area scored a proficient 4.0 or above , and each of the schools — Bratt, Byrneville, Jim Allen, Molino Park and Jay were up several percentage points over last year.
At the middle school and high school levels, over 80 percent of eighth grade students a Ernest Ward, Random and Jay scored a 4.0 or greater, as did the tenth graders at Tate, Northview and Jay high schools.
Jim Allen and Jay were on the only area elementary schools to surpass the state average of 81 percent of elementary students at 4.0 or greater. Bratt, Byrneville and Molino Park were below the state average.
At the middle school level, Ernest Ward, Ransom and Jay all surpassed the state 82 percent at 4.0 plus. And among area high schools, Northview, Tate and Jay has more than the state average 75 percent at 4.0 or greater.
The table below shows the percentage of fourth, eighth and tenth grade students cores a 4.0 and above on the FCAT writing test at North Escambia area schools.
Walnut Hill Man Gets Five Years In Federal Prison For Child Pornography
May 5, 2011
A Walnut Hill man has been sentenced to federal prison for possession and distribution of child pornography.
Jonathan Mark Jantz, 39, was sentenced this week to five years in prison, the minimum allowed by law. He will be required to register as a sex offender upon release.
Florida Department of Law Enforcement Cybercrimes Unit investigator Chuck McMullen located known child pornography on Jantz’s computer that was made available on a file sharing network using the program Limewire in 2005.
McMullen, according to court documents, located a child pornography video over three minutes in length on Jantz’s home computer by searching the file sharing network for the term “kiddy”. He also located six computer files that were cataloged as known child porn and 120 files that “were named with file names that would suggest the file contained images of child pornography,” according to federal court documents.
The case was turned over to the Alabama Bureau of Investigation, and a search warrant was executed at Jantz’s residence on Highway 31, Atmore on February 1, 2006. “A forensic analysis of the digital evidence confirmed the presence of multiple images and videos of child pornography,” according to a court document.
The indictment against Jantz was returned by a federal grand jury on June 24, 2010, charging him with possession of child pornography and distribution of child pornography.
In a brief filed August 6, 2010, Jantz asserted that he believed the file sharing software was set to not allow access to the “shared” folder on his computer. His attorney argued that without a search warrant, law enforcement violated the Fourth Amendment that protects individuals against unreasonable search and seizure. Jantz also asserted that authorities were unable to prove that he had actually viewed the child pornography because his anti-virus software had accessed all files on his computer the morning of the search warrant and seizure.
Jantz also claimed that he had unknowingly downloaded any child porn on his computer.
“Mr. Jantz initially downloaded a large quantity of pornography with no intent to download child pornography. His interest was in adult pornography,” according to court documents filed by defense attorney Christopher Knight. “His possession of the alleged child pornography was incidental to his primary interest in collecting adult pornography.”
Jantz’s motion to dismiss the evidence against him was denied by Judge Callie Granade in September 2010. He immediately entered a guilty plea on both counts against him.
According to documents filed last week by his attorney, Jantz downloaded both adult and child pornography using the file-sharing program Limewire. He then organized the adult pornography into separate files by category and “placed what he considered to be suspect or perhaps illegal pornography into files which he designated as ‘New Folder’.”
“He did not select the files to be downloaded initially, but sought files using key words such as ‘teen’ and ’sex’. The result of his Limewire search produced both legal and illegal pornography, which he admittedly saved on his hard drive. He intended to delete the illegal pornography, but he failed to do so due to procrastination. He produced no pornography, distributed no pornography, spent little time viewing the pornography, whether legal or illegal, because of his busy schedule. He did not rape, torture or sodomize children. His reputation in the community is nothing but pristine with respect to his treatment of children,” according to response filed by by his attorney, Assistant Federal Defender Christopher Knight.
“Mr. Jantz is a good man, a hard-working man with a family who made a mistake, which, more than five years after the fact, he has taken steps to correct and go on with his life,” Knight stated.
Santa Rosa Commission Won’t Consider Jay Hospital Changes Next Week; No Decision From Baptist
May 5, 2011
Any proposed changes to Baptist Health Care’s lease on Jay Hospital won’t happen next week, but Baptist says no decision has been made about a future Jay Hospital partnership involving a Naples company.
County Commissioner Don Salter encouraged hundreds of people at a pro-hospital public forum last week in Jay to attend a commission meeting May 12 for possible action on the Jay Hospital lease. Now, Santa Rosa County Administrator Hunter Walker said Wednesday afternoon that Baptist has not requested any action by the commission next week.
At issue is the future of Jay Hospital — Jay doctor David Smith says Baptist and Naples-based HMA want to strike the term “non-profit” from their 99-year lease with Santa Rosa County, perhaps leading to a reduction in services at the 55-bed Jay Hospital — a reduction that could include the elimination of in-patient care and the emergency room.
According to Salter Baptist and HMA are attempting to form a new company that will share management of Jay Hospital and Santa Rosa County Medical Center. HMA would own a controlling 68 percent interest, he said. Baptist and HMA have declined to discuss their exact plans publicly.
But while a request to alter the lease will not take place next week, Baptist’s plans have not necessarily changed.
“Baptist Health Care conducted a regular scheduled board meeting on Monday, May 2. The boards discussed the proposed partnership with HMA and Jay Hospital but no action has been taken at this point,” said Liz Adams, Baptist spokesperson, told NorthEscambia.com late Wednesday afternoon.
Smith, who serves on the Jay Hospital advisory board, said he was encouraged that Baptist will not ask Santa Rosa County to alter the lease next week.
“We still want to work with all the of parties involved,” Smith (pictured) said, “to make sure Jay Hospital is not hurt at all. We do not want reduced or eliminated services or to be closed in the future. There’s room for all parties involved to talk.”
Walker said he believes the five Santa Rosa commissioners will have the best interest of Jay hospital in mind if any changes to the hospital lease are ever presented to the board.
“Our board is not inclined to do much of anything until they (Baptist) agree with the Jay Hospital advisory board and the community’s wishes,” Walker said.
Jay Hospital is the town’s largest employer with 160 employees, a $5 million annual payroll and about $2 million per year in charity care.
Pictured: About 250 people attended a community meeting last week in support of Jay Hospital. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
McDavid Native Among Those Killed In Alabama Tornadoes
May 5, 2011
A McDavid native was among the 236 people killed in last week’s Alabama tornadoes.
Iva Mae “Nana” Cantrell, of Pleasant Grove, Ala., was killed in the Jefferson County town of Concord as the tornadoes ripped through the Birmingham area.
Cantrell was born in McDavid to Sam and Iva Mae (Davis) Eddins in 1937. She lived in the Pensacola area most of her life. Funeral services for the 73-year old were held Tuesday in Pensacola.
For the complete obituary, click here.
No Arrests In Manhunt For Molino Burglary Suspect
May 5, 2011
There were no arrests following a late night manhunt in Molino for a burglary suspect interrupted in the act.
A neighbor called the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office to report the sound of glass breaking and a burglary in progress at a home on Fairground Road between Jahaza and Brickyard roads about 11:05 Tuesday night.
The burglary suspect or suspects fled on foot as deputies arrived a short time later. A brief manhunt ensued, with a K-9 unit attempting to track the suspect.
Deputies were unable to located the suspect, according to Deputy Chris Welborn, spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Office. He said neighbor was unable to provide a physical description of the suspect. There were no arrests in the case as of late Wednesday afternoon.
Anyone with information about the burglary is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
Principal Gets Probation In DUI Case
May 5, 2011
An Escambia County principal arrested on a DUI charge last month entered a no contest plea Tuesday.
Sheree Diane Cagle, 49, of Cantonment was sentenced to 12 months probation by Judge Thomas Dannheisser. Her driver’s license was suspended for 12 months, and she was ordered to attend DUI school, ordered to perform 50 hours of community service and an ignition interlock breathalyzer was ordered installed on her vehicle for six months. The vehicle will first be impounded for 10 days. She was ordered to not possess or consume alcohol, or prescription drugs without a prescription. She will also be subject to random urine or blood tests.
Cagle is principal of both Hallmark Elementary and Allie Yniestra Elementary. The schools will merge with Spencer Bibbs Elementary this fall to form a 800-student, $17 million high-tech elementary in downtown Pensacola with Cagle as principal.
Deputies stopped Cagle just after 6 p.m. April 9 on Highway 29 just north of Nine and One-Half Mile Road. The deputy reported that he could smell alcohol on Cagle’s breath, and she failed both a breathalyzer and field sobriety test. She tested about twice the legal limit for alcohol — .176 and .178.
On the way to jail, Cagle told deputies “that she was going to be in so much trouble” and asked “is there anyway this could just go away”, according to the arrest report.
According to the report, Cagle told deputies that she had consumed three margaritas and a beer at a Pensacola Beach restaurant about two or three hours prior to the traffic stop.