Now Seven Confirmed West Nile Cases In Escambia County
September 11, 2012
Two additional human cases of West Nile Virus have been confirmed in Escambia County, bringing the total number of diagnosed West Nile Virus cases to seven for 2012.
“The risk of additional persons becoming infected with West Nile Virus from mosquito bites remains very high,” according to the Escambia County Health Department.
“One preventable risk factor is going outdoors, for even short periods of time, unprotected. Persons making short outdoor trips to put out the trash, get the mail, or use tobacco should take the same protective precautions as persons who spend longer periods of time outdoors,” said Dr. John Lanza, director of the Escambia Count Health Department.
Mosquitoes infected with West Nile Virus can bite and infect humans. About one in 150 people infected with WNV will develop serious illness. Symptoms of infection can range from mild to severe, including development of diseases such as meningitis or encephalitis. People with weakened immune systems and individuals over 50 may be at higher risk of the most severe form of the infection, according to the health department.
Gary E. Early
September 11, 2012
Gary E. Early, 72 of Cantonment, passed away Saturday, September 8, 2012, at home surrounded by his family after a courageous fight with colon cancer.
Gary was born on June 4, 1940 in Pensacola to Joseph T. Early, Sr. and Ora L. Early. He was preceded in death by his father Joseph T. Early, Sr., and brother Joseph T. Early Jr. (Buddy).
He is survived by his loving wife Susan of 13 years; mother Ora L. Early; children, Gary E. Early II (Kelly), H. Bradford Early (Kim), Byron Hubble, Crystal Sherman (Kenny), Melissa Robinson; ten grandchildren, one brother Bill Early (Sarah); two sisters, Pamela Williamson, Linda Alvarez (Mike); numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and countless friends.
Gary graduated from Pensacola High School and received his BS degree from the University of Southern Mississippi. He was a Certified Public Accountant for the last 48 years and owned several additional businesses in the surrounding Pensacola area throughout the years.
He was an active member of the St. Monica’s Episcopal Church in Cantonment and member of the Moose Lodge. Gary enjoyed Rving, Nascar, Motocross racing, fishing, and greatly enjoyed time spent with family and friends.
A memorial service in Gary’s honor will be held on Wednesday, September 12, 2012 at 6 p.m. at St. Monica’s Episcopal Church with the Reverend Milledge Baker officiating.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials be made to St. Monica’s Episcopal Church.
A private burial will be held at St. Monica’s Memorial Gardens at a later date.
Teen Dead, One Injured After Being Hit By Deputy’s Cruiser
September 10, 2012
One teen pedestrian is dead and another injured after being struck by an Escambia County deputy’s cruiser early Monday morning in Pensacola.
Deputy Ty Brewton, 41, was westbound on Mobile Highway at the New Warrington Road overpass at 4:10 a.m. as two pedestrians were walking side-by-side in the inside westbound lane with their backs facing traffic, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Brewton “approaching the pedestrians from the rear was not able to recognize the pedestrians in the roadway in sufficient time to take evasive action,” according to a FHP report. The left front of his 2011 Chevrolet Tahoe collided with 16-year old Aaliyah S. Howard of Pensacola. She was pronounced deceased on the scene.
Louise Johnson, 16, was struck by the vehicle’s left side mirror; she was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital for minor injuries.
Brewton, who has been a deputy since 2006, was placed on paid administrative leave.
No charges were filed Monday morning in connection with the accident; the FHP said the crash is still under investigation.
Missing Children’s Day: Search Continues In North Escambia Case
September 10, 2012
A Tate High School student last seen 11 years ago in North Escambia was among those remembered Monday on the 14th annual Florida Missing Children’s Day.
Danielle Arion Bell, 14, was last seen at a party in September 2001 in the 500 block of Cedar Tree Lane, between Highway 29 and Highway 95A in Cantonment.
Witnesses told authorities that Bell left a party with a man that was in his mid-twenties at the time. Escambia County deputies later questioned that man and searched his home, but he was never charged in connection with the case.
During the summer of 2007, Alfredo Gomez Sanchez, Jr. was charged with providing law enforcement with false information about his whereabouts at the time Bell disappeared. He was not implicated in her disappearance.
In October 2010, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Unit served a search warrant at the home. As part of that search warrant, a septic tank behind the residence was 
pumped out, and dogs from Escambia County Search and Rescue were also used to search the area. Investigators said nothing was found, and they would not say what new information might have led to the search.
According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Danielle has a scar on her right forearm and blue eyes. She had brown hair at the time of her disappearance. She would now be 24 years old. Danielle, whose nickname was “Dani”, was a member of the Tate Aggies cheerleading squad. The popular teen enjoyed dancing and drawing.
Anyone with information about Bell is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit at (850) 436-9580 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Pictured top: Investigators pumped and searched a septic tank at this home on Cedar Tree Lane in Cantonment in October 2010 in the case of missing teen Danielle Arion Bell. Pictured below: A search and rescue K-9 team was also on site. Pictured bottom: A septic tank company employee prepares to pump a septic tank at the home. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Great Weather Continues
September 10, 2012
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 60. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 88. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
- Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 64. South wind around 5 mph becoming east after midnight.
- Wednesday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 65. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming northeast after midnight.
- Thursday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Thursday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Friday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Friday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. East wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Saturday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
- Saturday Night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Sunday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 87. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
- Sunday Night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Monday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 86. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Teen Charged After Hit And Run Pedestrian Death
September 10, 2012
A 16-year old is facing charges after a hit and run in a Santa Rosa County accident that claimed the life of a 20-year old pedestrian.
Ricky Shane Weldon was walking north in the center of the northbound lane of Farm Life Road about 8:15 Friday night when he was struck by a 1985 Ford F150 driven by Robert William Chapman, 16. Chapman then fled the scene, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Weldon was knocked into the southbound lane where he was struck by a southbound 2001 GMC Sierra driven by 21-year old Courtney Renee Fleming.
Champman turned himself in to the Santa Rosa Count Sheriff’s Office and the FHP about two hours later. He was charged with leaving the scene with death and transported to the Juvenile Justice Center in Pensacola.
The accident investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol is continuing.
Perdido Couple Dies In Bay Minette Murder Suicide
September 10, 2012
A Perdido, Ala., couple died a in murder-suicide Sunday morning in Bay Minette as their trailer burned in Nokomis, Ala.
The Bay Minette Police Department responded to a BP gas station at Highway 59 and I-65 at 8:25 Sunday morning. An investigation determined that 41-year old Linda Diane Milstid, working as the store clerk, pressed a panic alarm as she saw her husband approach. Mark Anthony Milstid, 41, entered the business with a sawed-off shotgun, shooting and killing Linda Milstid. He then shot himself.
Linda Milstid was pronounced dead on the scene. Mark Milstid was transported to North Baldwin Hospital where he later died.
Police said the couple had an ongoing domestic dispute.
As the shooting was happening at the gas station, the Nokomis (Ala.) Fire Department was dispatched to Coleman Road in Perdido where a trailer belonging to the Milstids was fully engulfed in flames.
Sheriff Shot Friday Returns Home After Surgery
September 10, 2012
Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff Grover Smith was released from the hospital Sunday, two days after being shot following a deadly standoff in Flomaton. And Monday, he was back at work in his Brewton office.
Fragments from the .357 bullet that hit Smith are still in his arm, along with metal plates to strengthen a shattered bone.
Meanwhile, funeral services were held Sunday for James Arrington Jr., who took his own life Friday after shooting Smith.
The Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Office was joined by a tactical response team from the Brewton Police Department in an attempt to serve a mental health commitment order to pick up Arrington from his home in Flomaton and transport him to a mental health facility.
Arrington became uncooperative with authorities and barricaded himself alone inside his residence.
When the Brewton tactical team and Smith entered the home about two and a half hours later, Arrington fired his weapon, striking Smith in the forearm. The Alabama Bureau of Investigation’s preliminary investigation has confirmed hat Arrington then shot himself.
For an earlier story and more details, click here.
Pictured top: Investigators remained on scene for hours after the Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff was shot Friday morning at this home in Flomaton. Pictured top inset: Sheriff Grover Smith. Pictured below: The Escambia County (Fla.) EMS unit that transported the wounded sheriff arrives at the scene Friday morning. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Week Two: Prep Football Standings
September 10, 2012
There are winners and losers after week one of high school football in Florida, but none of the area teams have yet to play a district game.
Here’s a look at last week’s results and this Friday night’s schedule:
Kids Marathon Registration Opens
September 10, 2012
What’s an eight-week marathon? It’s a special kid’s marathon for Pensacola area children ages 5-12 that’s split into three segments— a one-mile kickoff on September 15 at the University of West Florida, followed by a 24 mile run, walk, or wheel-chair over the next eight weeks at school or home, and ending with a final 1.2-mile run following the Pensacola Marathon. Upon completion, the young athletes will have ran, walked, or wheel-chaired a full 26.2 mile marathon.
Registration for the 5th Annual Pensacola Kids Marathon is now open by visiting www.marathonpensacola.com or by contacting your child’s PE teacher or track coach. Each participant will receive:
- Pensacola KIDS MARATHON T-shirt
- Pensacola KIDS MARATHON medallion
- Official race number
- Training materials
- Official mileage log
- Subway and other refreshments at the Pensacola Marathon finish line and kick-off event
Participants will be able to log their first mile on their training log on Saturday, September 15 at 9 a.m. at the University of West Florida track for the Kids Marathon Kick-Off. They will then have eight weeks to compete the remaining 24 miles in half or one mile increments. The final 1.2 miles will be ran the day of the Pensacola Marathon – Sunday, November 11 at 12:30 p.m. – in which every child will run through the finish line structure and will be awarded their finishers medal.
This program is supported by the Escambia and Santa Rosa county school districts and offers young students ages 5 to 12, their families, and schools a great opportunity to promote physical activity and good nutrition.
Registration information is available at local Subway restaurants, Running Wild, and the Pensacola Sports Association or online at www.marathonpensacola.com. For information go online or call the Pensacola Sports Association at (850) 434-2800.