Sheriff Candidate Withdraws; More Candidates Qualify for Escambia Offices
June 8, 2012
Thursday, Rex Blackburn withdrew as a candidate for Escambia County Sheriff as qualification week continued. Friday at noon is the deadline for candidates to qualify for the 2012 General Election.
The following candidates have qualified for Escambia County offices as of the close of business on Thursday, listed by the date of qualification.
Qualified on 6/4/12
Clerk of the Circuit Court
Pam Childers, Rep.
Ernie Lee Magaha, Rep.
Sheriff
David Morgan, Rep.
John R. Powell, Rep.
Property Appraiser
Chris Jones, Dem.
Tax Collector
Janet Holley, Dem.
Mike Whitehead, Rep.
Superintendent of Schools
Malcolm Thomas, Rep.
Supervisor of Elections
David Stafford, Rep.
County Commissioner, Dist 1
Jesse Casey, Rep.
Wilson Robertson, Rep.
Bobby Spencer, NPA
County Commissioner, Dist 3
John R. Johnson, NPA
Tiffany Washington, Rep.
County Commissioner, Dist 5
Steven Barry, Rep.
Packy Mitchell, NPA
School Board, Dist 4
Patty Hightower (Nonpartisan)
School Board, Dist 5
Bill Slayton (Nonpartisan)
ECUA, Dist 3
Calvin Avant, Dem.
City Council, At-Large B
Charles L. Bare (Nonpartisan)
Victor Cross (Nonpartisan)
City Council, District 1
P.C. Wu (Nonpartisan)
City Council, District 5
John Jerralds (Nonpartisan)
Qualified on 6/5/12
Clerk of the Circuit Court
Henry John Misiak, Write-In
Sheriff
Mindy Lynn Pare, Write-In
County Commissioner, Dist 5
Jim A. Taylor, Rep.
ECUA, Dist 1
Vicki H. Campbell, Rep.
ECUA, Dist 3
Clorissti Mitchell, Dem.
ECUA, Dist 5
Larry Walker, Rep.
Santa Rosa Island Authority
Thomas Campanella (Nonpartisan)
City Council, District 7
Jewel Cannada-Wynn (Nonpartisan)
Qualified on 6/6/12
Superintendent of Schools
Claudia Brown-Curry, Dem.
County Commissioner, Dist 3
Lumon May, Dem.
Annie Thomas Walker, Dem.
County Commissioner, Dist 5
Sam Archer, Rep.
Glenn Austin, Rep.
Escambia Soil and Water Conservation District Group 3
Anne B. Bennett (Nonpartisan)
City Council, District 5
Gerald C. Wingate (Nonpartisan)
Qualified on 6/7/12
County Commissioner, Dist 3
Clinton Earl Powell Sr., Dem.
County Commissioner, Dist 5
Pat Burkett, Rep.
ECUA, Dist 1
Tom Brame, NPA
Elizabeth Susan Campbell, NPA
Logan Fink, Rep.
ECUA, Dist 5
Barry B. Tweedie, Rep.
Escambia Soil and Water Conservation District Group 5
Stephen M. Jones (Nonpartisan)
City Council, District 7
Jimmie Perkins (Nonpartisan)
Jim Allen Elementary Awards List
June 8, 2012
Jim Allen Elementary School has announced the following award winners from the 2011-2012 school year:
District Student of the Year
- Lauren Martin
Tropicana Speech Contest
- 3rd place- Aaron Allen
- 2nd place- Alex Williamson
- 1st place- Makenna Stafford- She competed in the District Speech contest and placed Honorable Mention.
Shining Star Award Winner
- Logan Nelson
Cox Inspirational Student Hero Award Winner
- Destiney Lindsey
Jim Allen Elementary School Award of Excellence
- Alex Williamson
Perfect Attendance Kindergarten through 5th grade
- Mykell Bryant
Sunshine Mathematics District Competition, 2nd place
- James Shufelt
- Dillon Conti
- Kenzi Wiley
- Elena Nicole Lucci
5th grade FCAT Mathematics Test Perfect Score
- Tristan Key
- Gregory Williamson
4th grade FCAT Mathematics Test Perfect Score
- Madison Couture
- Anthony Green
- Cameron Reece
3rd grade FCAT Reading Test Perfect Score
- Andrew Robinson
3rd grade FCAT Mathematics Test Perfect Score
- Randall Boyette
- Andrew Robinson
- Charlie Wine
President’s Award for Academic Excellence
2012 5th grade class
- Aaron Allen
- Jazmin Brown
- Jacob Bryant
- Gracie Cole
- Dillon Conti
- Cartier Cook
- Michelle Cook
- Amber DeCoux
- Kayla Doten
- Cody Glass
- Ethan Helms
- Christopher Johnson
- Jolie Johnson
- Jacob Joyner
- Tristan Key
- Nicole Lucci
- Levi McDonald
- Aiden Mills
- Logan Nelson
- A.J. Norman
- Janine Northington
- Hunter Riggan
- Jim Shufelt
- Makenna Stafford
- Cassidy Stevens
- Jack Teague
- Noah Tucker
- Alexandria Whaley
- Kenzi Wiley
- Aizlin Williams
- Alex Williamson
Man Indicted For 2009 Murder
June 8, 2012
An Escambia County man was indicted Thursday on murder charges.
An Escambia County grand jury returned the indictment charging Joseph Rhashawn McNeil with first degree premeditated murder or felony murder for the death of Derry Dickerson.
Dickerson was stabbed in his own home on Crescent Drive on October 9, 2009. Investigators said McNeil stabbed Dickerson several times and took beer and money from Dickerson. During the investigation and forensic tests, McNeil was developed as a suspect and subsequently charged, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
He was arrested late last month in Pollock, LA.
Century Correctional Brightens The Day At Century Care
June 8, 2012
Staff from Century Correctional Institution delivered sunflowers grown at the prison facility to the residents at Century Care Center.
“It was so kind of them to bring summertime to Century Care Center,” Century Care Center Activities Director Mae Hildreth said. “Sunflowers have always reminded me of a smiling face. They can cheer up the gloomiest of days, just by looking at them.”
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge
Supreme Court Considers Right To Public Defender
June 8, 2012
Grappling with whether poor people are getting adequate representation, the Florida Supreme Court heard arguments Thursday about whether the Miami-Dade County public defender’s office should be able to decline to take cases because of overwork.
The dispute raises constitutional questions about the quality of representation provided to criminal defendants and the relationship between the courts system and the Legislature. Attorney General Pam Bondi’s office and a statewide group of prosecutors have fought the Miami-Dade public defender’s attempts to decline to take certain types of felony cases.
Parker Thomson, an attorney for the public defender, argued Thursday that the Supreme Court has said lawyers should not represent clients if they can’t effectively handle the cases.
“This court said when you can’t represent a person, get out,” Thomson said. “And if you have not yet accepted representation, decline.”
But Louis Hubener, an attorney for the state, pointed to a law that bars public defenders from withdrawing from cases solely because of “inadequacy of funding or excess workload.” Also, he raised questions about the past management of the Miami-Dade public defender’s office, saying it had not filled open lawyer positions and instead used the money to increase salaries.
“He (the public defender) has to be accountable to someone for the use of his resources,” Hubener said.
The Supreme Court, which typically takes months to rule in such disputes, will consider two decisions by the 3rd District Court of Appeal that sided with the attorney general and prosecutors. The issue has been in the court system since 2008 and involves two related lawsuits — one focused on the overall public defender’s office and the other focused on an assistant public defender.
In the lawsuit involving the overall office, for example, a circuit judge ruled that then-Public Defender Bennett Brummer could temporarily decline to take third-degree felony cases. The 3rd District Court of Appeal overturned that ruling in 2009 and followed a year later in the case involving the assistant public defender.
Public defenders sometimes withdraw from representing people because of conflicts that arise, such as two clients being implicated in the same crime. The state has a system of what are known as “regional counsels” that can take cases, and private lawyers also can be appointed.
The Supreme Court justices Thursday asked numerous questions of attorneys on both sides of the Miami-Dade case. Justices R. Fred Lewis and Barbara Pariente, for instance, questioned Hubener about meeting the constitutional requirement that poor defendants receive effective legal representation.
Pariente said she agrees evaluations have to be based on more than just excessive caseloads. But she also pointed to an assistant public defender with 600 or more cases, indicating she thought that could prevent effective representation.
“I can’t believe there was a lawyer who had a caseload during a year of 600 cases,” she said.
Justice Ricky Polston, meanwhile, asked Thomson whether the “heart of the matter” was not enough funding from the Legislature. Polston also asked how the Supreme Court could resolve the issues.
“We can’t just make a decision out of thin air,” Polston said at one point.
First Lady Hopeful Ann Romney Tours Escambia County Clinic
June 8, 2012
Ann Romney spent Thursday afternoon doing what she pledges to do if her husband is elected president: Bringing attention to breast cancer.
“My huge concern is bringing more awareness to breast cancer,” said Romney, who is a breast cancer survivor and who also lives with multiple sclerosis.
Romney, the wife of presumptive Republican presidential nominee and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, toured the Woodlands Medical Specialists clinic on Davis Highway.
“If I have the duty, honor and privilege of being the next first lady, I want to make sure more attention is brought to centers like this and sort of good practices people can learn from,” said Romney.
Like Michelle Obama, who trumps better childhood nutrition and physical fitness, and Laura Bush, who used her role as first lady to encourage literacy, Romney said she would use the White House to help “bring a compassion to people who are struggling.”
In addition to breast cancer, “there would also be the diagnosis and treatment of multiple sclerosis, it’s a very mysterious disease for a lot of people,” Romney said. “If you can combine those two with anyone who is going through a lot of struggles, or having a hard time in life. That leads out to not just health issues.”
The Woodlands Medical Clinic touts itself as a “center for specialized medicine” concentrating on the treatment and prevention of various forms of cancers, blood disorders and diseases, abnormalities of the urinary system and breast health.
Linda D’Amore, the chief executive officer of the Woodlands, lead Romney on a tour of the facility’s breast health services center, its imaging center, radiation therapy unit and its chemotherapy infusion center. At the infusion center, she spoke with several patients who were receiving their therapy.
“She is a fabulous woman, down to earth. As a breast cancer survivor, she understands what we do here very well, so it was our pleasure, ” D’Amore said. To have a first lady dedicated to spreading breast cancer awareness “would be a big advantage.”
“The most important thing is for women to get screened. If they don’t get screened, they’re going to miss the opportunity to detect it early. To put any light on breast cancer, whether it’s the first lady or anyone who could so that, would be very important.”
Romney visited Pensacola on the third and final day of a visit to Florida. She started in Miami on Tuesday, where she met with a small group of Latino women voters. On Wednesday, she visited an equine therapy center in Ocala. There, she spoke about how equine therapy had helped her deal with MS.
Romney’s visit to Pensacola brought her to one of the staunchest Republican areas of the state. In Escambia County, 44 percent of voters are registered Republicans, with just 37.8 percent registered Republicans. In Santa Rosa, 57 percent of voters are registered Republicans, while just 25 percent are Democrats.
The former governor, however, was not the favorite of local Republicans in the January presidential preference primary. He came in second to the more conservative former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich in both counties.
In Escambia, Gingrich got 38.8 percent of the vote, while Mitt Romney garnered 37.7. In Santa Rosa, Gingrich got 40.8 percent and Mitt Romney got just 33 percent.
By Louis Cooper
Pictured top: Ann Romney, wife of presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, toured the Woodlands Medical Clinic in Pensacola Thursday afternoon. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Child Killed, Four People Injured In I-10 Wreck
June 8, 2012
A 10-year old Pensacola boy was killed and four other were injured in a single vehicle rollover accident Thursday morning on I-10.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Ladarius Drayton was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident between the Avalon Boulevard exit in Santa Rosa County and the Scenic Highway exit in Pensacola.
Niela V. Johnson, 28, was traveling on I-10 when she lost control about 11:25 a.m. while changing lanes. Her 1999 GMC 1500 SUV overturned multiple times across the westbound lanes of I-10. The SUV came to rest upright at the wood line next to the interstate.
Niela Johnson was seriously injured, as was front seat passenger Talacius O. Campbell, 27. Passenger Alyili Fields, 11, was seriously injured, while passenger Annasha Drayton was critically injured.
Charges are pending the outcome of the FHP’s investigation.
Pictured top: Debris is scattered across I-10 westbound following a fatal crash in Santa Rosa County. The SUV involved came to rest off the shoulder of the road. Pictured inset and below: At least one person was transported by LifeFlight to an area hospital following the crash. Photos by Rick Evans for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Earn Series Opening 5-2 Win Over Birmingham
June 8, 2012
The Blue Wahoos used a five-run sixth inning to roll to a 5-2 win over the Birmingham Barons in the first game of the five-game set from Regions Park in Birmingham on Thursday night.
With the Wahoos trailing 1-0, Joel Guzman hit a ground ball to third with the bases loaded, the ball was bobbled and the tying run scored without an out getting recorded on the play. With the bases still loaded, the next batter, David Vidal, was hit by a pitch to force in the go-ahead run. Yordanys Perez cleared the bases on the very next pitch with a double in the right-centerfield alley scoring all three runners and putting the Wahoos in front 5-1.
Tim Crabbe (3-2) pitched well for the Blue Wahoos by allowing just two hits over five-plus innings. He struck out six and was charged with two runs in earning his third win of the season. Donnie Joseph retired the final four Birmingham batters to earn his league-leading 13th save of the season. Simon Castro (5-3) was pegged with the loss. He was charged with all five Wahoos runs, only four were earned, over six innings.
The Wahoos have now won three of their last four and look for their second-straight win on Friday night. Lefty Tony Cingrani (0-0, 2.70) will oppose right-hander Cameron Bayne (5-4, 6.10). First pitch is set for 7:05 at Regions Park.
By Tommy Thrall
Pictured top: Tim Crabbe allowed just two hits over five-plus innings in the winning effort Thursday as the Blue Wahoos beat the Birmingham Barons. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Two Business Owners Busted For Spice
June 8, 2012
The owners of two specialty “smoke shops” in Santa Rosa County have been arrested for selling illegal bath salts and spice.
Michael D. Johnson, owner of Stackhouse Records in Milton, was arrested on six separate warrants after undercover officers made numerous bath salt and spice purchases from his establishment this year.
Johnson was also charged with one count of possession of a controlled substance for a small amount of “spice” that was located in his establishment during a search warrant executed on April 3. Johnson was also charged with three counts of sale of amphetamine, eight counts of sale of a hallucinogen, one count of sale of a synthetic narcotic, and one count of possession of a controlled substance. He was booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail without bond.
Rachael Hartsell, owner of Showcase Smoke Shop in Milton was arrested on charges stemming from the execution of a search warrant at her business on April 3. Deputies said Hartsell was found to be in possession over 1,000 packages and 16 different brands of “spice”. She was also charged with selling spice to an undercover officer. She was released from jail on a $85,000 bond.
““We will continue to arrest those responsible for this type of activity. As with all illegal narcotics, they have no place in this county. We will continue to do our very best in shutting down any establishment that disregards the laws that are in place to keep our community safe and drug free,” Sheriff Wendell Hall said.
No Injuries In McDavid Rollover Accident
June 7, 2012
There were no injuries in a single vehicle rollover accident Thursday afternoon in McDavid.
The driver of a southbound car apparently lost control in a curve on Highway 29 near Cox Road just before 3 p.m., over-corrected, ran off onto the shoulder of the road and overturned. The vehicle came to rest upside down.
One person involved in the accident, 40-year old Brandon Link Austin, first told authorities that he was the passenger in the vehicle and not the driver. He was not injured in the crash. The Florida Highway Patrol’s investigation into the crash is continuing as they work to determine the driver of the vehicle.
Escambia County EMS, the McDavid Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the call.
Pictured: There were no injuries in this single vehicle crash Thursday afternoon in McDavid. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
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