Plane Crashes In Gulf
April 19, 2012
A twin engine planned that flew in aimless loops over the Gulf of Mexico for three hours Thursday crashed about 150 miles southeast of Pensacola.
NORAD notified the Coast Guard 8th District watchstanders at 8:30 a.m. CST of an airplane flying erratically over the Gulf of Mexico. Two F-15 fighter jets were able to intercept the plane, reporting that the windows were iced over and the pilot was unresponsive to repeated hails. The plane was flying between 25,000 and 35,000 feet.
The airplane crashed at approximately 11:15 a.m. and has been identified as a Cessna 421. The plane was reported to float for a period of time before sinking. There were no signs the pilot survived.
The pilot has been identified as Dr. Peter Hertzak, an OB-GYN from near the New Orleans area.
Coast Guard dispatched an HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircrew from Coast Guard Aviation Training Center Mobile in Mobile, Ala., an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and crew from Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater, Fla., and the crew aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Coho, an 87-foot patrol boat homeported in Panama City, Fla.
The Ocean Sentry crew is on scene and monitoring the situation, the Jayhawk crew is en route with an estimated arrival time of 1 p.m., and the Coho is estimated to arrive on scene at approximately 3 p.m.
“This is a joint response with the Coast Guard and Air Force,” said Kevin Robb, the command duty officer for the 8th District command center. “We’re saturating the scene, responding with multiple air and surface assests.”
The plane took off from Slidell, Louisana, en route to Sarasota, Florida. The plane, according to FAA records, is registered to Lee H. Aviation in Wilmington, Delaware.
District Attorney Employee Pleads Guilty To Forgery, Ethics Violation
April 19, 2012
Just before her trial was set to begin this week, the former worthless check coordinator for the Escambia County (Ala.) District Attorney’s Office pleaded guilty to a felony ethics charge and second-degree forgery.
Monica Lynn Watson pleaded guilty to the intentional misuse of her public position for illegal personal gain through the mishandling of funds in the worthless check unit, and to second-degree forgery of a motion that purported to be signed by the District Attorney for the dismissal of a case against a defendant.
“This case involves extensive documentation from the Examiners of Public Accounts of misuse of funds totaling $10,259,” said Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange. “It is important that this defendant has been held to account and will be punished for her crimes to betray the public trust and abuse government funds.”
Charges against Watson arose from information in an audit of the Escambia County (Ala.) District Attorney’s Office conducted in 2008 by the Examiners of Public Accounts, covering the period of September 1, 2006, to May 31, 2008. Discrepancies in funds of the Worthless Check Unit (WCU) led to further inquiries, which uncovered money orders that had been received by the District Attorney’s Office but not receipted in the WCU.
It was discovered that two money orders had been deposited into Watson’s credit union account. Furthermore, there was no record in WCU records for certain people who had paid cash to and had handwritten receipts from Watson, but the receipts were logged in under someone else’s name. The Examiners’ audit also cites Watson for filing motions to dismiss cases saying that those defendants had paid all money they owed when they had not, and that the motions were stamped with the District Attorney’s name. According to the audit, $10,259 was stolen from the WCU, which Watson initially refused but later repaid.
Watson entered a “blind” plea, which means there is no agreement for prosecutors to recommend a particular sentence or for any reduced penalty. She faces a potential penalty of two to 20 years imprisonment for the ethics violation, which is a class B felony, and one to 10 years for second-degree forgery, a class C felony.
A probation and sentencing hearing for Watson is scheduled for May 8.
Century Man Charged With DUI, Threatening To Kill Three Deputies
April 19, 2012
A Century man was arrested for DUI and allegedly threatening the lives of three Escambia County deputies.
Jeremy Scott Young, age 34 of Old Flomaton Road, was charged with DUI and three counts of corruption by threat of public servants and ticketed for an open container in a motor vehicle and failure to drive within a single lane following a traffic stop at North Century Boulevard and Highway 4 East.
Young was stopped by an Escambia County Sheriff’s deputy after he was observed driving erratically on North Century Boulevard. The deputy reported smelling the odor of alcohol from Young’s breath and vehicle. The deputy also noted an open light beer container in an Auburn hugger on the dash of the truck. He refused multiple requests to submit to a field sobriety test.
Just before being taken to jail, Young reported told two deputies that he would “see them tomorrow night and that they would die”, according to an arrest report, adding that his threat was not a joke. He then obtained the unit numbers for both deputies “and continually began stating their numbers over and over trying to remember” them.
Young then told the deputy transporting him to jail that he would kill him if he was “molested” while in jail.
Young was later released from the Escambia County Jail on a $4,000 bond.
Man Charged With Assaulting Pregnant Girlfriend
April 19, 2012
A Century man is charged with assaulting his pregnant girlfriend in Pensacola.
Darryl Thomas Frazier, age 24 of Alger Road, was charged with aggravated battery on a pregnant woman, criminal mischief property damage and second degree petit theft.
He is accused of kicking in doors at his pregnant girlfriend’s residence on Burgess Road, punching her, slapping her and throwing her into a window frame. When she told him that she was going to call police, he told her that he did not care because he would bond out, but first he would take “collateral” from her, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report.
Frazier allegedly took $18 in cash, a debit card and an iPod docking station from the victim.
Frazier was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $6,000 bond.
FHP Trooper Impersonator Arrested
April 19, 2012
A 20-year old man has been arrested for allegedly impersonating a Florida Highway Patrol trooper and an Auxiliary trooper.
Austin Allen Oldfield of Pace is facing multiple charges of impersonating a law enforcement officer and imitation of the Florida Highway Patrol uniform.
According to the FHP, Oldfield was observed in a Pace restaurant wearing a tan uniform with FHP insignia, emblems and a badge. An off-duty trooper in the restaurant took notice and began to talk to Oldfield who identified himself as a FHP Auxiliary trooper. The off-duty trooper left the restaurant and determined that Oldfield was not being truthful. An on-duty trooper was dispatched to the restaurant to make contact with Oldfield, but he had already departed.
The FHP said their investigation determined that Oldfield had worn the uniform and identified himself as an Auxiliary trooper on two other occasions.
Troopers said they believe all of the impersonating incidents were casual in nature; they do not believe Oldfield had contact with anyone while acting in a law enforcement capacity.
The Florida Highway Patrol is asking that anyone who may have had contact with Oldfield in a law enforcement capacity to contact them at (850) 484-5000.
Photo: Can’t Afford Gas Prices? Car Lot Might Have The Answer
April 19, 2012
Can’t afford high gas prices but need a ride? A used car lot in Atmore might just have the answer — pedal power. Wednesday afternoon, Rollins Used Cars was displaying a girl’s Huffy bicycle with a sticker price of $30 alongside Highway 31, right in front of a shiny Ford Mustang.
“That’s funny when you stop and think about it,” a NorthEscambia.com reader said. “Gas prices are getting so high we may all soon be on a bike. There’s just so much irony here that it’s funny.”
Interested in the bicycle? Call Rollins at (251) 368-8353.
Pictured: A bicycle for sale alongside vehicles Wednesday afternoon at Rollins Used Cars in Atmore. Reader submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Gulf Power Wants PSC To Reconsider Rate Increase For North Escambia Plant
April 19, 2012
Gulf Power Company is heading back to the Florida Public Service Commission in an attempt to raise rates to pay the costs associated with the purchase of thousands of acres near McDavid.
The utility had requested a $101.6 million rate hike, but the PSC slashed $37.5 million from the request when it was approved last month. The Public Service Commission did not allow Gulf Power to pass along costs related to a potential nuclear-power plant site in North Escambia because the utility has not taken an initial step — known as getting a determination of need — for such a project.
Wednesday, Gulf Power asked the PSC to allow $2 million in costs associated with the North Escambia land purchases. That would equate to about 20 cents per month for the average customer using 1,000 kilowatt hours per month. The 20 cents would be in addition to the increases that went into effect earlier this month.
The $2 million, just a fraction of the costs of the land acquisitions, would pay interest on finance agreements and fund environmental assessments on the North Escambia property.
Gulf Power has not said what type of power plant it wants to construct in North Escambia, but PSC filings indicate that it could be natural gas, coal or nuclear. However, nuclear was repeatedly cited in the latest PSC filings.
“This small price is extraordinarily reasonable when compared to the potential benefits of nuclear power if it is pursued, or the lost opportunity if the nuclear option is foreclosed by the action taken by this commission in this case,” documents state.
At last report, Gulf Power had purchased 2,700 acres for about $13 million in the McDavid area.
Pictured top: One of many houses that now sit abandoned near McDavid where Gulf Power has purchased thousands of acres for a possible nuclear power plant. One of many Gulf Power “Posted” signs that line the roads in the area of the potential plant. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Dangerous Highway 4 Intersection Getting Four-Way Stop
April 19, 2012
The intersection of Highway 4 and Highway 87 in Berrydale in northern Santa Rosa County will be soon undergo improvement aimed at increasing safety.
The Florida Department of Transportation will make the intersection a four-way stop, installing warning signs with flashing beacons on all four approaches. Also, the speed limit will be reduced from 55 to 45 mph on Thursday, May 3.
The improvements were ordered as the result of a recent FDOT traffic operations evaluation.
The intersection has been the site of numerous serious traffic crashes over the last several years, including a December 2011 crash that claimed the life of a man and injured several member of his family.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 47-year old William J. Bray of Jay had stopped at a stop sign at the intersection of Highway 87 and Highway 4 the morning of December 3. He failed to see a northbound 1998 Ford SUV driven by 40-year old Michael L. Cale of Milton. Bray pulled into Cale’s path. He collided with the Cale family vehicle, causing it to overturned two times. Cale and two of his children were ejected.
Michael L. Cale was pronounced deceased on the scene by Lifeguard EMS. Dominique Cale, 14, and 10-year old Ethan Cale were ejected. Both were transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in critical condition. Passengers Courtney Cale, age 16; Brandon Nicholson, 10; and Marsha Cale, 46, were transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in serious condition.
Sheriff’s Office ‘Clean Sweep’ This Morning In Cantonment
April 19, 2012
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Farm Hill Neighborhood Watch will conduct an “Operation Clean Sweep” event this morning in Cantonment.
The clean-up will begin at 8:00 a.m. at Farm Hill Baptist Church 111 Madrid Road, Cantonment and will include areas from Muscogee Road to Well Line Road.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, the focus of “Operation Clean Sweep” is to work with neighborhood watch groups, residents, churches and business owners to control and prevent the damaging effects of crime.
The operation task force works closely with Escambia County Animal Control, Escambia County Environmental Law Enforcement, the military, Escambia County Roads and Bridges, and neighborhood watch groups to clean up neighborhoods and educate citizens on preventive measures that could be implemented to minimize possible crimes.
Pictured top: Youth from the Greater First Baptist Church pick up trash from along Booker Street during a ‘Clean Sweep’ in Cantonment one year ago. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Dance Group Places In Birmingham Competition (With Gallery)
April 19, 2012
Brewton Dance took part in the Legacy Dance Competition recently at the Alabama Theater in Birmingham, with girls from across the area bringing home several awards.
The mini competitive team placed fifth and sixth overall. Team members were: Alonna Bedsole , Lauren Thompson, Clair Hart, Bronwyn Patterson and Maegan Bondurant.
The middle competitive team placed placed third and fourth overall, received two elite gold medals and a special judge’s award for “smile and entertainment”. Team members were Peyton Barns, Aaliyah Bedsole, Daisy Canty, Lexi Clark, Sarahann Devers, Emma Grace Harris, Ella Hart, Madison Lambeth, Sydney Lucas, Taylor Peters and Kathryn West.
An older competitive team comprised of Donnavia Williams, Ariell Fain and Mykeicia Collins also performed.
The group, under the direction of Ann Peevy, will take part in a competition next month in Mobile. If they place again, they will head to a national competition in Orlando.
Pictured: Brewton Dancer performs at the Alabama Theater in Birmingham. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
