Suspect Charged In Ax-Wielding Home Invasion Of Elderly Woman
January 28, 2011
Multiple charges have been filed against a man in connection with the ax-wielding home invasion of an 85-year old woman Thursday afternoon.
Fred Clay Reed, 42, of Bessemer, Ala., was charged with first degree burglary, first degree robbery and second degree theft of property, according to Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff Grover Smith.
The incident began about 1:30 p.m. on Godwin Road just west of Flomaton. Authorities said Reed broke into the woman’s isolated home and threatened her with the ax while demanding money. After a brief struggle, the elderly woman was able to break free. Reed fled the scene into a nearby wooded area.
The woman was not seriously injured.
K-9 units from the Century Correctional Institution and the Alabama Department of Corrections joined officers from several law enforcement agencies in searching for the suspect. About 3 p.m., a man matching the suspect’s description attempted to force a log truck to stop on Highway 31. When he was unable to get into the log truck, he reportedly ran south from Highway 31. The log truck driver and passing motorist alerted deputies, who quickly apprehended Reed on Old Atmore Road.
Smith said K-9 officers were able to recover the woman’s purse which contained an undisclosed amount of money.
The Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriffs’ Office, Escambia County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office, Flomaton Police Department, Poarch Creek Police Department, Atmore Police Department and District Attorney’s Office Investigators all took part in the manhunt.
“The Escambia County SO would like to thank the public for their assistance and quick response in the apprehension of this convicted felon,” Sheriff Smith said. “The suspect was a convicted felon, with an extensive past criminal history and had recently been released from prison in 2008.”
Godwin Road is a narrow dirt road about three miles west of Flomaton, not far from the intersection of Old Atmore Road and Highway 31 and just north of Alabama/Florida line.
Pictured top: Officers Fred Clay Reed Thursday afternoon in an Alabama home invasion. Pictured inset: Authorities investigate a Thursday home invasion. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Fire Damages Laundry Room
January 28, 2011
The McDavid Station of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to a laundry room fire this morning.
The fire, which was reported about 9:45 a.m. in the 1300 block of South Pine Barren Road, was out by the time first firefighters arrived on scene. There was no major damage and no injuries reported.
The exact cause of the fire is under investigation.
Northview NJROTC Attends Annual Field Meet
January 28, 2011
The Northview High School NJROTC completed in the annual FAMU Field Meet in Tallahassee Friday.
At the regional event with units from across Florida, Northview competed in several events, including armed basic drill team, unarmed basic drill team, armed exhibition drill team, unarmed exhibition drill team, color guard team, academic team and a individual fitness challenges.
The Northview NJROTC unit is under the leadership of Captain Charlie Code, senior military science instructor; Chief Petty Officer Jeffery Simpkins, military science instructor; Cadet Commander Tyler Garrett, Cadet Command Master and Chief Petty Officer Kiani Okahashi.
Members of the Northview NJROTC team are: Kasie Braun, Michelle Carnley, Dylan Cartwright, Jody Day, Christina Donald, Amber Francis, James Garrett, Casey Godwin, Alanna Johnson, Lantz Jones, Kelby Killam, Seth Long, Jessica Mahon, Kayla Miles, Johnathan Moretz, Kiani Okahashi, Willie Owens, Timothy Rackard, Aaron Rausch, Jordayn Rice, Johnny Robbins, Kent Smith, Austin Strehl, George Tangeman, James Tangeman, Thomas Walston, Nathan Waters and Victoria Wright.
Pictured top: Members of the Northview High School NJROTC prepare to leave for the annual FAMU Field Meet in Tallahassee early Friday morning. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Woman Found Not Guilty Of Throwing Teen Open House Party
January 28, 2011
A Century woman has been found not guilty on a charge that she threw an open house party with alcohol for minors last year.
Escambia County Judge Thomas Dannheisser found Jennifer Leigh Black, 40, not guilty this week. Black was arrested after the parents of several teens told deputies that she threw the open house parties with alcohol. According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, some of the minors at one party were as young as 16.
Four deputies from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office raided a house at 4330 North Century Boulevard in September, 2010, after receiving complaints about a house party. When they arrived, several underage juveniles were stopped as they attempted to run out the backdoor while others were seen inside the house running from room to room trying to hide, the Sheriff’s Office report states.
Other juveniles were observed by deputies that appeared to be under the influence of alcohol. Open alcoholic beverage containers were noted to be across the living room by deputies.
Deputies also raided a party at the Black’s residence back in February, 2010. At that party deputies found a “large number” of teenagers drinking and gathered around a bonfire in the backyard and inside a detached garage. Jennifer Black was not charged in connection with that incident, but her daughter, Alexis Black, now 19, was cited for a misdemeanor open house party offense for allowing minors alcohol. She was found guilty in March, 2010, and given a 30 day suspended jail term along with fines and costs of $473.
Five Injured In Highway 29 Five Vehicle Crash
January 28, 2011
Five people were sent to the hospital and traffic was snarled for hours following a five-vehicle crash on Highway 29 Thursday night just south of Ten Mile Road.
The Florida Highway Patrol says Kallen Phillips, 32, of Cantonment was northbound in a 2003 Ford F150 just after 5 p.m. when he changed lanes and rear-ended a 2011 Volkswagen Jetta driven by Michael Horton, 47, of Birmingham. Horton and his passenger, Eddie Cassell, 41, of Homewood, Ala., were both transported in serious condition to Sacred Heart Hospital by LifeFlight. Phillips was transported by ambulance to Sacred Heart Hospital with minor injuries.
The force of the initial impact pushed the vehicles forward, involving three other vehicles.
Driver Kimberly McGhee, 35, of Atmore, and a passenger in her 2005 Dodge Magnum, Madison McGhee, 13, were transported by private vehicle to Sacred Heart Hospital with minor injures. Two other passengers in the vehicle — Bryan McGhee, 37, and Braeden McGhee, 5 — were not injured.
Russell King, 61, of Pensacola was not injured when his 1995 Chevrolet Silverado was hit from behind.
Driver Nicole Boyd, 35, of Pensacola and her passengers Jalen Boyd, 10, and Amiya Boyd, 6, were not injured in the fifth vehicle in the crash.
Phillips, the driver of the vehicle that started the chain-reaction crash, was charged with careless driving, according to the FHP.
Pictured: A five-vehicle accident Thursday night on Highway 29 just south of Ten Mile Road. Photos by WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Mayor: Still Hope For New Lumber Industry
January 28, 2011
Things have been pretty quiet around the old Alger Sullivan Lumber Company property in Century since a ribbon cutting back in October for a group of new businesses including Century Lumber and Land. According to the town’s mayor, financing delays have stalled a real opening date.
But there’s still hope that Century Lumber and Land will bring new jobs to the Century area, according to Mayor Freddie McCall. He said that, as of early this week, the company is about 97-percent complete with their financing arrangements.
Century Lumber and Land unofficially announced a venture with several other companies at a September 2 meeting of the Century Chamber of Commerce. Century Lumber and Land Manager Jim Craft said at that meeting that the operations would eventually employee 300 to 500 people within a 36 to 42 month period.
Pictured top: A group hoping to apply for a job gathered during the ribbon cutting for Century Lumber and Land last October. Pictured below: The old Alger Sullivan Lumber Company, and the planned future home of Century Lumber and Land, sits idle this week. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Deputies Honored For Valor
January 28, 2011
Several deputies and employees at the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office are being honored for putting their lives on the line for others and for doing a top notch job.
Three deputies — Jason Ates, Jenna Lovely and Joshua Hendershott — will be awarded the ESCO Medal of Valor.
A Purple Heart will be awarded to Deputy Ates after being shot in the leg on September 29 of least year when he and Deputy Lovely responded to the Motel 6 on Highway 29 in Pensacola to check on a missing person. Both deputies returned fire, killing the suspect.
Deputy Hendershott will be honored for pulling wounded Deputy Jeremy Cassady to safety October 29 after Cassady was shot three times during a hostage situation off Scenic Highway.
The complete list of Escambia County Sheriff’s Office honorees is as follows:
- Commendation Medals – Wendy Martin, Detention Assistant Ronnie Whiddon
- Life Saving Medals – Deputy Jason Comans, Deputy Ryan Robinson, FHP Trooper Josh Tucker, FHP Corporal Michael Tucker, Deputy Courtney Clanton,
- Civilian Service Medal – Robert Burns, Regiland Rees
- Unit Citations – Dispatchers: Julie Weaver, Wendy Martin, Amanda Joye, Lisa Scholmann, Debi Teets, Belinda Greathouse, Carl Miller, Rose Majors, Jeff Archer, Jason Coleman, Lori Rani, Matt Pike, , Carla Kunert, Kimberly Lawson, Valerie Slevin; Tactical Unit: Sgt. Hoyland, Curtis Cephas, Eric Peck, Phillip Folmar, Heather Williams, Jeff Gillespie
- Medal of Courage – Deputy 1st Class Jeremy Jarman, Deputy Justin Moore
- Medal of Valor – Deputy Jason Ates, Deputy Jenna Lovley, Deputy Joshua Hendershott
- Purple Heart – Deputy Jason Ates
- LEO of the Quarter - Deputy 1st Class Jeremy Jarman
- Detention Deputy of Quarter – Detention Deputy Gray Frazier
- Employee of the Quarter- Kelley Brown, Kim Harris
- Detention Deputy of the Year – Sgt. Jan Rich
- Employee of the Year – Kelley Brown
- LEO of the Year – Sr. Deputy Brian Munhollon
Pictured above: The scene after Deputy Jason Ates was shot and a suspect was shot and killed September 29, 2010 at the Motel 6 on Pensacola Boulevard. Photo by Liz Nagy WEAR TV for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
McGraw Named Flomaton Police Chief
January 28, 2011
A drug task force agent has been named the new police chief in Flomaton.
Geoff McGraw, who served as an investigator for the 21st Judicial Drug Task, was named the Flomaton police chief by the town council. Two others — Tracy Ownes and Bennie Stokes — applied for the job.
McGraw, 29, has also worked as a patrolman for the Brewton Police Department. He replaces Katarius Jenkins who Mayor Dewey Bondurant called to be fired. Jenkins returned to the force as a patrolman under an agreement reached between his attorney and the town last November.
Byrneville Elementary Releases Second Nine Weeks Honor Roll
January 28, 2011
The following students were named to the second weeks honor roll at Byrneville Elementary School:
Kindergarten: Mrs. Barberree
- Leah Anderson
- Daquan Ball
- Drake Allen Driskell
- Audrey Goetter
- Chase Hampton
- Destiny Hanks
- Johnnie Howell
- Emily Levins
- Sarah Long
- Zane Rolin
- Bryan Romeros
- Aleigh Thornton
Kindergarten: Mrs. Dawson
- Josh Diamond
- Aloysia Dortch
- Briana Dunsford
- Marina Franklin
- Jamarkus Jefferson
- Kayla Johnson
- Jessica Loftis
- Kaden Odom
- Aubrey Stuckey
- Cheyanne Thomas
- Savanah Watters
First Grade: Mrs. Rogers
All A’s:
- Tessa Flowers
- Alyssa Jordan
- Kayli Rodgers
A’s and B’s:
- Hunter Borelli
- Nevaeh Brown
- Dalton Hanks
- Julianna Money
First Grade: Mrs. Thornton
All A’s:
- Shelby Cotita
- Dillon Spears
A’s and B’s:
- Grace Blackmon
- Bama Coburn
- Kaitlin Gafford
- Taylor Levins
- James Loftis
- Lillie McCall
- Torka Mills
Second Grade: Mrs. Lambeth
All A’s:
- Sophia Cotita
- Maille Kilcrease
A’s and B’s:
- Logan Bryan
- Maggie Mae Cufr
- Heather Knowles
- Abigail Levins
- De’Janique Lowery
- Tyler Merchant
- Ty Rolin
- David Wiggins
- Cash Wilson
Third Grade: Mrs. Dunsford
All A’s:
- Ian Gifford
- Lea Nall
- Cloe Smith
A’s and B’s:
- Skyler Busbee
- Steven Cotita
- Alexis Lee
- Hannah Merchant
Third Grade: Mrs. Weaver
All A’s:
- Alex Glidewell
- Jake Lambeth
- Nicholas Trump
- Richard Perry
A’s and B’s:
- Madicyn Bell
- Jacob Coleman
- Valorie Padilla
- Kelli Merchant
- Savannah Steadham
- Olivia Watson
Fourth Grade: Mrs. Gilmore
All A’s:
- Seth Killam
- Tanner Levins
- Destiny Payne
- Olivia Porter
A’s and B’s:
- Austin Adams
- Patton Goetter
- Faith Watters
Fourth Grade: Ms. Levins
All A’s:
- Kris Baxter
- Rebecca Diamond
- Courtney Payne
A’s and B’s:
- Grant Matlock
- Jacob Borelli
- Matthew Caine
- Colby Graham
- Paige Killam
- Sarah Nelson
- Peyton Newsome
Fifth Grade: Mrs. Johnston
All A’s:
- Anna Belle Barberree
- Kayla Galvan
- Shellie Harrelson
- Beau Henderson
- Bailee Hinote
- Alaina Rolin
- Jayda Warner
A’s and B’s:
- Jenna Black
- Abby Hammond
- LeeAnne Lassiter
- Patience Newsome
- Tristan Qualls
- Meagan Reid
- Destiny Watson
the road to the crown: Practice Makes Perfect (With Photo Gallery)
January 28, 2011
Today, it’s part five of our multi-part series “the road to the crown” as we follow 25 young ladies at Northview High School in their quest for the crown and the title of “Miss Northview High School” for 2011.
Today we’ll take you behind the scenes with photos from a recent practice.
For the complete photo gallery, click here.
Our series “the road to the crown” will continue tomorrow with more behind the scenes practice photos. The pageant is Saturday night at 7:00, and NorthEscambia.com will have the new Miss Northview High School and all the photos here Sunday morning.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
