Ernest Ward Names March Students Of Month
March 22, 2012
Ernest Ward Middle School has named Students of the Month for March. They are: (L-R) Rhayeshawanna Davidson, sixth grade; Blake Green, eighth grade; and Hunter Kite, seventh grade. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Man Arrested After Wheelchair Rampage
March 21, 2012
A Century man was jailed after allegedly going on a rampage in a convenience store, running over people, tossing merchandise and shattering a glass door.
Curtis Edward Smith, age 55 of the 3000 block of Highway 168, was charged with two counts of aggravated battery and criminal mischief property damage after the incident before sunrise Monday at the Bindu Food Mart on Gulf Beach Highway. He was jailed with bond set at $6,000, but the amount was lowered to $1,100 by a judge.
Smith allegedly approached the clerk and demanded to speak to the manager, who was not in the store at the time. The clerk told deputies that Smith then began yelling and ripping his shirt, claiming he had been attacked. Smith began to chase the clerk around the store in motorized wheelchair, hitting her once on the shin, and threw potato chip racks at her and around the store, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report.
The clerk said Smith then began ramming his wheelchair into the store’s door, shattering the glass. Another witness corroborated the clerk’s story and also claimed the Smith called him racial obscenities and hit him with the wheelchair.
When deputies arrived, Smith was still inside the store, yelling, “Call the [obscenity] police and take me to jail”, the arrest report states. As the deputy tried to calm Smith, he attempted to roll toward the deputy, demanding that the officer purchase him a drink and some food. The deputy ordered Smith to turn off the wheelchair, but he began to roll around the store.
Smith was later stopped and transported to West Florida Hospital to be treated for injuries to his feet caused by shattering the glass door of the store.
Smith remained behind bars Tuesday afternoon.
Resident Claims 1979 Century Town Limits Amount To Slavery, Discrimination
March 21, 2012
What started as a public hearing on a new land use map for the Town of Century, ended with a woman claiming slavery and discrimination based upon the town limits drawn 33 years ago.
Leola Robinson, a frequent speaker at Century Town Council meetings, made the claims Monday night as the council met in a final public forum before approving a 2025 future land use map. The plan, which cost the town $40,000 to develop and was the subject of numerous public meetings, is required by the state.
Robinson, a resident of 350 West Highway 4, claimed that her “farm” was wrongly annexed into the city back in 1979 when other farmland was not.
“It is slavery and discrimination,” Robinson told the council. “It must be because I am black.”
According to Escambia County Property Appraiser website records, Robinson owns a 19-acre parcel at 7501 Williams Road that is currently zoned for a mobile home. Records indicate three mobile homes are on the property.
Robinson also owns a 28.72-acre parcel at 351 West Highway 4, across the street from her residence, that is zoned improved agricultural and contains two mobile homes. The remainder of the property is wooded, according to property appraiser satellite images.
Current Century council members, some seemingly bewildered by Robinson’s claims, were unfamiliar with the 1979 annexation process and Robinson’s claims of discrimination for the last 33 years by the inclusion of her “farm” in the town limits.
The 2025 future land use map, which was approved Monday by the council, classifies Robinson’s 19-acre parcel as residential while her 28.72 acre parcel remains zoned agricultural.
Robinson told the council that she wants her property removed from the Town of Century. The council voted to have their attorney explore the legality of the request. But town consultant Debbie Nickles told the council that she doubted it would be possible because removing Robinson’s property from the town would create non-contiguous , and likely illegal, town boundaries.
Pictured top: Town consultant Debbie Nickles(foreground) explains Century’s 2025 future land use map as council members Ann Brooks, Sandra McMurray Jackson, Jacke Johnston and Annie Savage look on. Pictured top inset: Century resident Leola Robinson listens as the map is explained. Pictured below: Consultant Debbie Nickles. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Expect Overnight Lane Restrictions On Hwy 29 In Cantonment
March 21, 2012
Drivers can expect delays tonight in Cantonment.
Southbound traffic on U.S. 29 at Muscogee Road will encounter lane restrictions between 8:00 Wednesday night and 6:00 Thursday morning. The outside left lane will be closed as crews from Floyd Brothers Construction continue construction placement of a new right turn lane for the Raceway gas station.
According to the Florida Department of Transportation, drivers are reminded to pay attention to the speed limit when traveling through the construction area, and to use caution, especially at night, when driving in work zones.
NHS JV Beats Freeport (With Photo Gallery)
March 21, 2012
The junior varsity Northview Chiefs defeated the Freeport Bulldogs 8-2 Tuesday afternoon in Bratt.
For a photo gallery from the game, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
2 Pedestrians Die in 2 Different Wrecks
March 21, 2012
Two pedestrians died in two separate wrecks in the Escambia-Santa Rosa area Tuesday night.
The first fatality was reported just before 8 p.m. near Liberty Church on South Blue Angel Parkway. The Florida Highway said 28-year old Emmanuel Jamaal Nelson of Pensacola was walking in Blue Angle Parkway when he was struck by a 1998 Ford pickup driven by 30-year old Justin Shaun Barbour of Pensacola. The are was dark, and Barbour was unable to take any evasive action, according to the FHP. Nelson was pronounced dead at the scene. No charges have been filed.
The second pedestrian was killed about 9:08 p.m. on Hwy 98 in Gulf Breeze, near the Bay Breeze Nursing Home. According to the FHP, 54-year old Deborah Lousie Rector of Gulf Breeze was hit and killed by two vehicle as she attempted to cross the road. She was struck by a 1997 Dodge Intrepid driven by 21-year old Craig Robert Schwartz of Gulf Breeze and a 2005 Lexus driven by 35-year old Gabriel Garon Benjamin of Navarre.
Rain Moving Into Forecast
March 21, 2012
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 7pm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. Southeast wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
- Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78. Southeast wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
- Thursday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. South wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Friday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77. South wind between 5 and 15 mph.
- Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. South wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 80. West wind around 5 mph.
- Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 58. West wind around 5 mph.
- Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
- Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 53.
- Monday: Sunny, with a high near 81.
- Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 54.
- Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 82.
Welcoming Spring: Great Weather, Great Fishing
March 21, 2012
Residents at the Century Care Center took advantage of great weather on Tuesday and spent their first day of spring fishing at the facility’s Ole Mill Pond.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
U.S. Marshals Nab Maryland Bank Robber In Escambia
March 21, 2012
The U.S. Marshals Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested a Maryland man wanted for armed bank robbery and a number of other violent felonies Tuesday afternoon in Escambia County.
Brian Danielle Taylor, 37, was captured at 3 p.m. Tuesday afternoon by the Marshals Task Force with the assistance of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and special agents from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Taylor was arrested without incident near the intersection of Jackson and Citrus Streets in the Brownsville area of Pensacola.
Task Force members were doing surveillance on a house on the 600 block of Citrus Street when Taylor left the home on foot and walked to Jackson Street where he was arrested.
The warrants from Chestertown, MD, charge Taylor with several counts which include armed bank robbery, robbery, first and second degree assault, reckless endangerment and theft. He also has a pending warrant from Maryland that charges him with failure to appear on traffic violations.
Taylor was booked into the Escambia County Jail and will await extradition back to Maryland.
Atmore Christian Beats Gateway
March 21, 2012
Atmore Christian School picked up another win Tuesday afternoon, defeating Gateway Academy of Bonifay 16-6 in five innings.
Atmore Christian will host Escambia Academy’s Cougars on Friday afternoon at 4:30.
Pictured top: Jonathan Bender (left), Christopher Gehman and Perry Metzer up to bat for Atmore Christian. Pictured below: Brooks Hart for ACS. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
