Newton C. McNeil (Mac)
August 22, 2012
Newton C. McNeil (Mac), 88, of Pensacola passed away on August 21, 2012.
Mac was born and raised in Excel, AL. He attended high school in Uriah, A:. and then entered the military in December 1942 as a pharmacist mate. Mac was assigned to Easy Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Division during the assault on Peleliu Island. He was honored with the Purple Heart and the Navy and Marine Corps medal for his heroism. After being discharged Mac moved to Pensacola where he began his career with Monsanto as a mechanic for 30 years. On weekends he served his community by donating thousands of hours as a reserve officer with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department over a period of 20 years. After his retirement with Monsanto he was hired by the Sheriff’s department and retired in 2002. He was a member of Pine Forest United Methodist Church. Mac enjoyed hunting, fishing and spending time with his family.
Mac was preceded in death by his son, Monroe. He is survived by his loving wife of 45 years Ruth, his sons and their wives, Tim and Kim McNeil, Tony and Sherry McNeil, two step daughters and their husbands Pam and Robert (Kit) Callahan, and Cheryl and Kevin Buckmaster. He was blessed with seven grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. Mac is also survived by special family member Charlotte Armstrong and numerous others that were considered family as well as great friends.
Visitation will be Thursday August 23, 2012, from 5-7 p.m. and the service will be Friday August 24, 2012, at 10 a.m.. Visitation and the service will be held at Pensacola Memorial Gardens with Rev. Rodney Smith officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in memory of Newton C. McNeil may be made to the American Heart Association, 4400 Bayou Blvd., Pensacola, FL 32504 or Covenant Hospice, 5041 North 12th Avenue, Pensacola, FL 32503.
Hamilton Breaks Steals Record As Biscuits Sweep Fish In Twin Bill
August 22, 2012
Pensacola SS Billy Hamilton stole four bases to set a new professional baseball record of 146 for stolen bases in a single season, while Montgomery swept the Blue Wahoos in Tuesday night’s double header. The Biscuits took the first game 4-2 before they topped the Fish 3-1 in the second contest at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
With the defeats, the Blue Wahoos fell to an even 29-29 record in the second half, while Montgomery improved to 34-25 since the league’s All-Star Game. The Wahoos are now four games out of first place in the Southern League South.
With two outs in the bottom of the third of game one and one steal away from tying the top mark, Hamilton lined a single into right field to reach for the second time in the contest. Hamilton then took off for second and swiped the base just under a strong and accurate throw from Montgomery catcher Mark Thomas. Three pitches later, the Mississippi native ran on the 0-2 pitch and dove head-first into third base ahead of Thomas’ throw to claim the record.
The record falls 20 years to the day after Vince Coleman and Donnell Nixon broke Rickey Henderson’s single-season stolen base record with their 131st stolen base of the 1983 season.
After both teams went scoreless through the first five innings of game one, Montgomery got the scoring started with a run in the sixth. 1B Greg Sexton walked and then advanced to third on C Mark Thomas’ double, before an RBI groundout sent home Sexton. One inning later, LF Brad Coon increased the advantage to 2-0 with an RBI single to center.
The Blue Wahoos however, came back to tie it with a clutch two-out two-run game-tying homer. LF Donald Lutz drew a one-out walk, before C Tucker Barnhart left the yard for his second longball of the year.
However, Montgomery plated two tallies in the extra eighth inning to pull ahead for good. 1B Michael Sheridan led off with a solo shot to right, his ninth roundtripper of the year, prior to RF Mikie Mahtook’s RBI single. Pensacola again fought hard in bottom of the frame and loaded the bases, but their hopes were shut down by the Biscuits.
Fish starter Tony Cingrani (7.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 SO) did not factor in the decision despite giving up just two earned runs on three hits while fanning seven in seven innings, while RHP Justin Freeman (1.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 SO) suffered the loss. Cingrani started off the contest by retiring the first 16 batters he faced. Montgomery starter Kyle Lobstein (6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 SO) also did not receive a decision in the first game despite yielding just two hits in six shutout frames, while RHP Kirby Yates (2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 SO) earned the victory.
Pensacola struck first in game two, beginning with 1B Beau Mills’ leadoff single in the second. The infielder eventually moved to second on a passed ball and third on a bunt, before being sent in on LF Donald Lutz’s run-scoring single to right. The Biscuits however, scored the next three runs to push ahead with single tallies in the third, fifth and seventh innings.
Montgomery C Mayo Acosta launched his fourth big fly of the year in the third to tie it, while the club took advantage of a Blue Wahoos passed ball to take the 2-1 advantage in the fifth. In the final frame, 3B Omar Luna drew a free pass and then moved to third on a single before coming across on Acosta’s sacrifice fly to center.
Biscuits starter Matt Buschmann (7.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 3 SO) fired a seven-inning complete game to earn the win after giving up the lone earned run on just four hits in seven frames, while Blue Wahoos reliever Josh Ravin (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB) suffered the loss.
The two teams will now meet on Wednesday evening, with first pitch scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at the bayfront stadium. Pensacola is scheduled to send RHP Mark Serrano to the mound, while Montgomery is expected to counter with RHP Nick Barnese.
By Andrew Green
Pictured: Billy Hamilton broke Vince Coleman’s record of 145 Tuesday night. Photo courtesy Emmele Photography for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Four Busted After Agents Find Active Meth Lab
August 22, 2012
Four people, including a former Century resident, were arrested in Escambia County, Ala., after officers found an active meth lab in a mobile home.
Sandra Watson, 38; Josh McCormick, 26; Sena Daw, 22; and Karissa Carroll, 19 were all charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia and manufacturing of a controlled substance. All listed a current address in Brewton. According to Escambia County, Fla., jail records, Daw is a former resident of Century.
Agents from the 21st Judicial Drug Task Force received a tip that an individual was making multiple purchases of pseudoephedrine, a common ingredient used in the meth making process. Agents responded to the residence on Highway 31 in Brewton where the they entered the home with a resident and discovered the components of a meth lab. The residence was evacuated, and a search warrant was obtained for the home.
When the search warrant was executed, agents found what they believed to be an active meth lab with about $1,000 worth of crystal methamphetamine.
All four suspects remained in the Escambia County (Ala.) Detention Center Tuesday afternoon awaiting a bond hearing.
Pictured top and inset: An alleged meth lab discovered by the 21st Judicial Drug Task Force in Escambia County, Ala. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Two Drive-By Shootings Reported
August 21, 2012
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is investigating two drive-by shootings.
About 6:15 Tuesday morning, deputies responded to the 3100 block of West Moreno Street for a shots fired call. The victims reported hearing gunshots in front of their home and a vehicle leaving the area. The home was hit by gunfire, but none of the occupants were struck or injured. There was no suspect vehicle description available.
A few hours earlier, about 8:12 p.m. Monday, deputies responded to a shots fired call in the 2200 block of West Blount Street where they found a female that had been shot in the leg. She told deputies that she was inside the house when she heard shots and a felt pain in her leg. It is believed the shots were fired from a vehicle as it drove by.
The female was transported by ambulance to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries. No one else in the home was injured.
The Gun Response Team responded and is assisting in the investigation.
Sheriff’s investigators are asking for the community’s help in locating a suspect. Anyone with information about either incident is asked to call Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP. Witnesses do not have to give their name and may remain anonymous.
Deputies: Drunk Teen Drives For Intoxicated Relative
August 21, 2012
A Milton man and a juvenile relative were both arrested after authorities said he was drunk and had the drunk juvenile drive for him.
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office responded to public reports concerning an erratic vehicle on Highway 90. When deputies stopped the vehicle, they reported an overwhelming odor of alcohol.
Deputies reported that the driver was a heavily intoxicated, belligerent 15-year old driving for 47-year old Christopher Stone who said he was too impaired to drive. Stone was too intoxicated to remember the birthday of the juvenile, authorities said.
The 15-year was charged with driving under the influence and driving without a license. The juvenile had a blood alcohol level of .18, which is nine times the legal limit for drivers under 21, the Sheriff’s Office said, and more than twice the legal limit for adults.
Stone was charged with allowing an unauthorized minor to drive and felony cruelty to a child.
The teen was booked and released to a guardian. Stone was booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail and released on a $3,000 bond.
Century Begins $650,000 Housing Rehab Grant Application Process
August 21, 2012
Monday night, the Town of Century started the application process for $650,000 in housing improvement grants.
If awarded, the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) will be used to rehabilitate or replace homes that are currently occupied by persons of low or moderate income. Century’s current guidelines do not allow mobile homes to be included in the program, but the council will consider changing that at an upcoming meeting. If Century receives the grant and includes mobile homes, they will only be eligible for replacement, not repair.
The town hopes to learn if their grant application is approved by the end of the year. Applications for assistance will not be accepted until grant approval.
Work is currently wrapping up in the Century on a $650,000 CDBG grant and a $100,000 hurricane retrofit grant that was awarded last year. About a dozen private homes were rehabilitated under the program. [Read more...]
The town has already been awarded $155,000 in grant money to harden homes against hurricanes. The Florida Division of Emergency Management awarded Century $105,000 in Residential Construction Mitigation Program Funds. The Community Action Program Committee will provide an addition $50,000 in grant money, bringing the total dollars for hurricane retrofits to $155,000.
Pictured: One of about a dozen homes rehabilitated in Century last year using grant funds. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Jay Library To Close For Renovations
August 21, 2012
The Jay Library will be closed Thursday, September 6 through Saturday, September 16 for renovation.
Other Santa Rosa County libraries in Milton, Pace, Gulf Breeze and Navarre will remain open during the period.
No materials will be due at the Jay Library during the time the library is closed. Library officials request that no materials be returned to the Jay Library during the closure period.
The Jay Library at 5259 Booker Lane will reopen on Monday, September 17 at 9 a.m. and resume regular hours.
Convicted Sex Offender Busted After Removing GPS Monitor
August 21, 2012
A convicted sex offender from McDavid is back behind bars without bond after allegedly removing his GPS monitoring device and wandering away from his home.
Nathan Arron Mack, age 21 of Rail Road Street, was charged with tampering with an electronic monitoring device and violation of probation.
An Escambia County deputy spotted Mack walking on train tracks near Bluff Springs Road and Dawson Road. The deputy discovered that Mack had removed his court-ordered GPS ankle monitor. Mack told the deputy he had thrown it in the woods in the area of Mystic Springs about two weeks earlier and that his probation officer was aware. According to an arrest report, he said he was “going to hide out until the warrants became active”.
In January 2011, Mack was convicted of the sexual battery of a 14-year old girl. He was sentenced to 18 months in prison, with credit for time service awaiting trial, followed by 18 months probation. Under the terms of his probation, he was forbidden to have unsupervised contact with any minor and enter a sex offender counseling program.
Mack, a registered sex offender, was released from the Okaloosa Correctional Institution on November 30, 2011. His probation required that he wear the ankle monitor at all times.
The victim’s stepfather told Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies that the 14-year old, who had been reported as a runaway, was at Mack’s residence on Railroad Street. When deputies arrived at the residence, they found Mack and the teen girl.
According to a Sheriff’s Office arrest report, Mack admitted to having intercourse multiple times with the 14-year old. He admitted that he had picked up the Pensacola girl at the Winn Dixie on Nine Mile Road because he knew the victim’s mother would not allow the two to be together. The young girl corroborated Mack’s story, according to the report.
When deputies contacted the victim’s mother, she advised that she wanted to pursue criminal charges against Mack. The mother stated that she had retrieved her daughter from Mack at the McDavid Mini Mart the week prior and had forbidden him from having any contact with her daughter.
Photo Galleries: Back To School
August 21, 2012
Tens of thousands of students in the North Escambia area headed back to class on Monday. NorthEscambia.com invited parents to submit their back to school photos. Click a gallery name below to see some of the reader submitted photos.
Pictured top: Aubree Jordan on her first day of kindergarten at Molino Park Elementary School. Pictured inset: Mike, second grade, and Emily, first grade, are ready to head to Jim Allen Elementary School. Pictured below: Christopher, Hope and Blayne Miller all buckled up on the way to Jay High School. Reader submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
HS Football: Meet The Chiefs Thursday At Northview
August 21, 2012
The Northview High School Quarterback Club will sponsor the annual “Meet the Chiefs” at 7:00 Thursday night at the NHS stadium.
Planned festivities for the night include performances by the Northview Chiefs Tribal Beat Marching Band, the Northview High School cheerleaders, the Northview Dance Team, and the introduction of the 2012 Northview varsity and junior varsity Chiefs. Admission is free. Spirit items will be available.
The Chiefs will host a preseason classic against Bay High School Friday night at 7:00.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.