Jay Falls In 2A Regional Quarterfinal
May 4, 2011
The Jay High School Royals came up short in the 2A Regional Quarterfinals Tuesday night. The Royals lost on the Road to Deane Bozeman High of Panama City 7-3.
In other 2A Quarterfinal action, Freeport High beat Vernon 6-3. Bozeman and Freeport will face off in the Regional Semifinals on Friday.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Parole Denied For Nokomis Men In 1993 Murder Of Woman And Girl, 12
May 4, 2011
Parole was denied Tuesday for two Nokomis men behind bars for the 1993 murder of a woman and 12-year old girl.
Shannon Dean Barlow, 33, and Franklin Lee Barlow, Jr., 37, are both serving life sentences in the with the possibility of parole for the murders of Kathy Victor Hall Barlow and Angel Marie Hall. Shannon Barlow was sentenced to three consecutive life terms, and Franklin Barlow was sentenced to two life sentences. With the denial Tuesday from the Alabama Board of Pardon and Parole, the brothers will not be eligible for parole again until 2016.
“”We are so relieved! The outcome is great and we have actually learned a little more about our justice system and how it is works. It truly has been a good day. The parole board members and staff made us feel confident and we know more about what to expect when the next hearing comes in five years,” said Marsha Maher, Kathy Barlow’s niece.
On October 10, 1993, the Barlow brothers went out with Albert Ganoe “Rocky” Beasley, consuming alcohol and smoking marijuana. They then went to the home of Kathy Barlow in Perdido, Ala., shooting her in the head with a .410-gauge shotgun when she opened the door. According to testimony, he then went to the room of Angel Hall, 12, raped her and shot her in the face. Their bodies were found in Florida the the following day, buried in Bluff Springs.
“We want to send out a very special thanks to all of those who sent emails and signed petitions. This tragedy has touched so many lives other than our family’s. Kathy and Angel are sadly missed,” said Kathy Barlow’s sister Janie Criswell.
In addition to written petitions in area businesses, the family turned to Facebook to ask friends and neighbors to oppose the parole. After a NorthEscambia.com article was published last Saturday, readers flooded the Alabama Pardon and Parole Board with emails, creating email problems for the state agency.
“”Thanks to all of you who helped us,” said Jesse Hall, Kathy Barlow’s son and brother of Angel Hall.
Pictured: This undated photograph shows murder victims Kathy Barlow and 12-year old Angel Hall. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
House Against Getting Drivers Out Of The Left Lane
May 4, 2011
An effort by Rep. Scott Clemens, D-West Palm Beach, to bring up legislation that would require drivers holding up traffic in the left lane to move over to the slow lane, was run off the road Tuesday.
The House was considering a catch-all highway safety bill (SB 1150) with several items related to the Department of Highway of Motor Vehicles, when Clemens tried to introduce the proposal, noting that it passed the House in 2005.
Clemens listed the names of several Republicans who voted for it then, including current House Speaker Dean Cannon. But the sponsor of the bill, Rep. Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, raised a point of order that the language was the part of another bill (HB 177) which has failed to get even one committee hearing this year.
Clemens then withdrew the amendment, leaving the left lane requirement appearing unlikely to pass this year.
Trial Begins For Santa Rosa Man Accused Of Killing Brewton Teen
May 4, 2011
Opening testimony got underway Tuesday in the trial of the Santa Rosa County man accused in the February 2010 shooting death of an 18-year old Brewton man in the Berrydale community of north Santa Rosa county.
Robert Franklin Floyd, now 22, is charged with second degree murder with a firearm and one count of shooting into an occupied vehicle in connection with the death of Getyron Lopez Benjamin.
Benjamin was allegedly shot after four people from Brewton arrived at a party at Floyd’s home on Country Mill Road. Floyd allegedly fired at their vehicle as they were leaving the residence following an altercation.
Floyd’s trial is expected to take up to two weeks.
Cox Inspirational Heroes Named
May 4, 2011
A student from Escambia Escambia County School has been named an inspirational hero.
When Tammie Brown started her high school career in 2006 at Northview High, she was a young mother of a little boy. In that same year, the family suffered a devastating fire in which they lost almost everything.
Despite her hardships, Tammie has always striven to do her very best, maintained the best possible grades while working a job through the school’s DCT program. She will graduate this year and has been accepted to Bishop State College.
Tammie was named an inspirational hero by Cox Gulf Coast during their 17th annual Inspirational Student Hero Celebration Tuesday night. The event honors students that have faced significant challenges, including the loss of their parents, physical illness, handicaps and language barriers.
Other North Escambia area students that received the Cox Inspirational Hero award were:
- Latoya Williams – Jim Allen Elementary
- Haven Rae Shores – Bratt Elementary
- Anna Belle Barberee – Byrneville Elementary
- Nicolas Parrish – Molino Park Elementary
- Lauren Brianna Barnes – Ernest Ward Middle
- Serena Schwerdfeger – Ransom Middle
- Tammie Renea Brown – Northview High
- William Thomas Gilbert – JM Tate High
The award was also presented to:
- William Betchy – Jim Bailey Middle
- Dwayne Louis Jr – Bellview Middle
- Jacob James – Blue Angels Elementary
- Tyrone, Tydreka and Tyronaisa Walker – Brentwood Elementary
- Sam Barker – Brown Barge Middle
- Michele Orkisz – Hellen Caro Elementary
- Jeremiah Lin – NB Cook Elementary
- Miranda Jennings – Cordova Park Elementary
- Trinnon Maurice Wright – Ensley Elementary
- Heather Yasment – Escambia High
- Skye Cogan – Ferry Pass Elementary
- Rahkeem D Cox – Ferry Pass Middle
- Jaylen Moore – Hallmark Elementary
- Destiny Thornton – Holm Elementary
- Tavares Nichols – Lincoln Park Elementary
- Daniel Erick Dillard – RC Lipscomb Elementary
- Aman Hussain – Longleaf Elementary
- Jaylen Smith – Myrtle Grove Elementary
- Nakiya Holmes – Oakcrest Elementary
- Sam Waz – Pensacola High
- Matthew Money – Pine Meadow Elementary
- Olivia Christine Whatley – Pleasant Grove Elementary
- Makayla Rankins – Scenic Heights Elementary
- A’Darius Adams – Sherwood Elementary
- Forest Skyler McCormick – Warrington Middle
- Tennessee Lewis – Booker T Washington High
- Lindasha Williams – CA Weis Elementary
- Jonathan Bish – West Florida High
- Tyler Lee Hamilton – West Pensacola High
- Justin McKenzie – Woodham Middle
- Alec Crumpler – Workman Middle
- Justin Cassels – Allie Yniestra Elementary
Pictured top: Northview High School’s Cox Inspirational Hero Tammie Brown. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Low Near 40 For Tonight
May 4, 2011
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Clear, with a low around 40. North wind around 5 mph.
- Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 79. North wind around 5 mph.
- Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 43. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Friday: Sunny, with a high near 84. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph.
- Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 52. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 88. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph.
- Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 58. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming south between 5 and 10 mph.
- Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 61.
- Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.
- Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 65.
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.
Tate Student Florida FFA’s Best Tractor Operator
May 4, 2011
A Tate High student really knows how to operate a tractor.
Jeff Hansford of Tate High School won first place in the recent Florida FFA 2011 State Tractor Operations Event held in Polk County. He competed against 12 other FFA members from across Florida.
The purpose of the FFA Tractor Operations Career Development Event (CDE) is to stimulate student interest and allow students to demonstrate their knowledge and ability related to the maintenance and safe operation of tractors.
Senate Passes Jobless Package, Sends Back To House
May 4, 2011
An unemployment compensation bill that would reduce the length of benefits unless the jobless rate gets particularly high passed the Senate on Tuesday, sending the measure back to the House with just days left in the 20111 session.
The House had earlier passed the bill (HB 7005), but the Senate made some changes to that bill Tuesday to try to take some of the bite out of it for the unemployed. The Senate then passed the bill 29-10 and sent it back to the House for approval of the changes.
“The best way to help unemployed people is to see that businesses are healthy so we can find you a job,” said Sen. Nancy Detert, R-Venice, and sponsor of the Senate version (SB 728.) Businesses pay into the unemployment compensation fund.
The bill would maintain the current 26 weeks of state benefits when the jobless rate is above 12 percent. Until that threshold is reached, benefits would be capped at 20 weeks. The unemployment rate in Florida in March was 11.1 percent, meaning
The bill does not affect federal unemployment benefits or food stamps.
Tuesday’s vote came over the objections of Democrats who said the changes unfairly target workers during the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. They also dismissed the argument that the duration of benefits could be reduced when the unemployment rate falls because it would be easier for the jobless to find work.
“The purpose of unemployment is to provide financial benefits to folks so they will be in a position to maintain some quality of life, though I dare not say decent,” said Sen. Arthenia Joyner, D-Tampa. “It’s the wrong time to do this. I know businesses are hurting but so are the people.”
The bill passed by the Senate on Tuesday was less aggressive than the plan proposed by the House, which would cut the number of weeks of state eligibility to a maximum of 20 weeks. The House plan would also reduce the number of weeks as the jobless rate drops. Both bills could cut the number of weeks of unemployment compensation to as little as 12 weeks.
The current maximum unemployment benefit dollar amount stays the same under the measure, at $275 a week, which opponents pointed out is already near the bottom of states. Federal statistics show the state’s average weekly benefit is just over $230. Employers, who pay into a state trust fund on the first $7,000 of a worker’s wages, have complained that they’ve been hard hit by increases in the tax, which has gone up as unemployment has increased.
Even worse for businesses, the state trust fund has dropped into the red and has had to borrow about $2 billion from the federal government to pay benefits. Interest on that is due, and that payment is being passed on to businesses.
“We need to take all those competing interests, come up with a bill that is fair to everyone – almost impossible- while at the same time work toward making the unemployment trust fund healthy once again,” Detert said.
By Michael Peltier
The News Service of Florida
Books To Honor Memory Of Tate Freshman
May 4, 2011
Students at Pensacola State College’s Collegiate High School collected over 600 books to honor a 15-year old Tate High student who passed away suddenly in March.
The PSC students collected the books in honor of Gabriel Carter. The books will be donated to Delaine Wright, a sixth grade reading teacher at Bellview Middle School. Wright was Carter’s middle school reading teacher. A memorial honoring Carter will be placed in her classroom.
Carter, a freshman, collapsed in a Tate High classroom in late March and died.
State Attorney: Officer Involved Shooting Was Justified
May 4, 2011
The State Attorney’s Office announced Tuesday that an officer involved shooting back in January was justified.
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Courtney Clanton fired shots at a suspect’s vehicle as the suspect drove towards him in an aggressive manner. In the early morning hours of January 12, deputies responded to an officer in trouble call on New Forest Court after 50-year-old Harold Anthony Baggett, of Pensacola, confronted Clanton.
Clanton was standing outside near the roadway when he was approached by Baggett (pictured), who was driving a silver Honda. Baggett asked Clanton if he was a cop and Deputy Clanton identified himself as a deputy sheriff. Baggett then drove his vehicle towards Clanton in an aggressive manner.
Fearing for his life, Clanton fired shots at the vehicle. As a result, Baggett suffered gunshot wounds but was able to flee the area. He was later found at a residence in the 700 block of Deedra Avenue.
Baggett was treated and released from Sacred Heart Hospital. He is awaiting trial on a charge of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer and remains in the Escambia County Jail on a $20,000 bond.
Clanton, who has worked for the Sheriff’s Office since 2006, was placed on routine administrative leave pending the results of the on-going investigation.
Clanton and Baggett both live in the same subdivision just north of East 10 Mile Road.