Teen Arrested For Pointing Laser At LifeFlight Helicopter
October 7, 2012
An Escambia County teen was arrested after he allegedly pointed a laser light at a landing LifeFlight helicopter.
Nicholas Padilla, 14, was charged with public order crimes – pointing a laser at a driver or pilot, a third degree felony.
Escambia Count Sheriff’s deputies working an attempted suicide were waiting for Lifeflight to land and transport the attempted suicide victim when the Lifelight crew informed them that they would have to abort their landing and circle the area due to someone pointing a laser at the helicopter. Once they were able to land safely, a member of the flight crew and a firefighter questioned neighbors about the laser and where it originated. The crew member was able to locate Padilla and the fire department stayed with him until deputies could arrive.
Deputies said Padilla admitted to pointing the laser at the helicopters and apologized for his actions.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Tate Freshmen Take Third In Volleyball Tourney
October 7, 2012
Thousands Attend Jay Peanut Festival
October 7, 2012
The annual Jay Peanut Festival attracted thousands to the Gabbert Farm Saturday and Sunday.
For more than 20 years, The Jay Peanut Festival at the Gabbert Farm has been a fall tradition on the Gulf Coast, showcasing the history, agriculture, food and fun of Santa Rosa County. What started as a chance for local kids and farmers to show off their best of the season has become an annual event covering 15 acres and drawing about 70,000 people to the Gabbert farm over two days.
The event included tours of the 1930s Farm Museum, food booths, dozens of arts and crafts vendors, pony rides, games and fun. The Jay Peanut Festival was also a chance to try all varieties of peanuts – boiled, green, fried, candied and more.
Jury Convicts Molino Pharmacy ‘Underwear’ Armed Robber
October 6, 2012
A Molino man accused that robbed a local pharmacy in 2010 while wearing underwear on his head was convicted Friday.
The jury trial of Joseph Daniel Flowers, now 58, got underway Wednesday on multiple charges including robbery with a firearm and several drug possession charges for the September 20, 2010, holdup of Scott’s Pharmacy on Highway 29.
Flowers robbed the pharmacy at gunpoint while wearing a blue bathrobe, slippers, yellow kitchen gloves and underwear on his head. He was still recognized by pharmacy employees as a longtime customer.
He will be sentenced in November by Circuit Judge Gary Bergosh.
The getaway car driver in the robbery, Krystal Lynn Collins, was previously found guilty of armed robbery with a firearm and a half dozen felony drug charges. She was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
Pictured top: Joseph Daniel Flowers is detained by an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office shortly after the robbery of Scott’s Pharmacy in Molino. Pictured below: Scott’s Pharmacy in Molino was robbed September 20, 2010. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Warm Saturday, Cooler Sunday
October 6, 2012
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 87. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph.
- Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 58. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph after midnight.
- Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 77. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 51. North wind around 5 mph.
- Columbus Day: Sunny, with a high near 77. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 54. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
- Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 82. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
- Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 59. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 85.
- Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 61.
- Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 84.
- Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 62.
- Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 84.
Former Flomaton Police Chiefs Pleads In Century Unauthorized Arrest Case
October 6, 2012
The former Flomaton police chief arrested on a felony kidnapping charge has pleaded no contest to a lesser charge for making an unauthorized arrest across the state line in Century.
Geoffrey Ashley McGraw, 30, entered the no contest plea Thursday to a misdemeanor battery charge. Friday, Judge Michael Allen withheld adjudication again McGraw, and ordered him to pay $625 in court costs and $1,500 in restitution to victim Ronald Adam Barrow.
Prosecutors did not offer a sentence recommendation Friday in Escambia County Circuit Court. Instead, the prosecution pointed out that as a chief law enforcement officer, it was a “serious violation”, according to Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille. The sentence was left to the discretion of the court.
Escambia County (Ala.) District Attorney Steven Billy, Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff Grover Smith and Escambia County (Ala.) Chief Deputy Mike Lambert appeared in the Pensacola courtroom Friday, testifying as character witnesses on behalf of McGraw.
McGraw’s arrest stemmed from a joint operation by the Florida 1st Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
FDLE obtained the warrant for McGraw’s arrest for an August 14, 2011, incident in which Barrow was arrested by McGraw at a home on Old Flomaton Road in Century — 0.177 miles from the Alabama state line. The FDLE said McGraw, without jurisdiction,took Barrow into custody in Florida on an outstanding Escambia County (Ala.) failure to appear warrant in a misdemeanor case. Barrow was then transported back across the state line into Alabama.
McGraw was placed on leave by the Flomaton Town Council on February 27, 2012, and subsequently fired on March 12. Prior to being named the Flomaton police chief in January 2011, McGraw was a member of the 21st Judicial Drug Task Force.
McGraw will be able to retain his law enforcement certification under Alabama law.
Chiefs Destroy Jay In 1-1A District Opener (With Gallery)
October 6, 2012
The Northview Chiefs destroyed the Jay Royals 62-14 in the 1-1A district opener for both schools.
“I thought it was big that we were able to get a touchdown right before the half knowing that we would get the football first in the second half,” Northview head coach Sid Wheatley said. “And then the momentum was clearly in our favor.”
For a game action photo gallery, click here.
The Royals opened the scoring Friday night in Bratt with a 39-yard touchdown pass from Tate Upton to Hunter Dillashaw, 7-0 Royals. Northview tied it up with a four-yard touchdown dash from senior LaMikal Kyles, 7-7 headed into quarter two.
With 5:43 to go in the second quarter, Upton found Ashten Dennington with a 35-yard touchdown pass, 14-7 Royals. That was it on scoring from Jay, but the Chiefs were just getting the party started.
Neino Robinson returned the TD kickoff 60-yards, and with a good kick, the game was tied 14-14.
With 3:55 in the second, Kyles was in again with a 44-yard touchdown, 21-14. But that was not good enough for Kyles, who hit the end zone again from one yard out with 32 seconds in the half, 28-14 Northview.
By the third quarter, the Chiefs were on fire. Sophomore Ladarius Thomas scored on a two-yard run with 10:36 on the clock, 35-14. Northview’ Chad Smith recovered a quick off fumble by Jay’s Ricky Cofield setting up another Northview touchdown just 20 seconds later. Kevin Vaughn hit Neino Robinson with a 30-yard TD pass, 49-14.
With the mercy rule, the game went to a running clock, and the Chiefs, ranked fifth in the state, switched mostly to reserves.
Just to round out the third quarter, junior Daulton Tullis completed a 23-yard touchdown pass to Jaron Myles, 56-14 to end the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Thomas rounded out the scoring on a 31-yard touchdown run, 62-14 Chiefs.
“I thought the defense, particularly after the first two touchdowns, played extremely well,” Wheatley said. “And the offense — anytime they put up 62 points with reserves in as well, that’s good.”
The Chiefs (4-2, 1-0) are off next Friday night before traveling to district opponent Freeport on October 19. Freeport defeated Baker 41-34 Friday night, putting the Chiefs and Freeport in the district lead.
“Freeport is always very well coached,” Wheatley said. “Those guys play extremely hard. Some of them play 48 minutes without taking a single play off. We have to go there, and we know it’s always a tough place to win over there. So we’ve got to really prepare and use those two weeks to our benefit.”
The Royals will host Cottondale next Friday night for homecoming.
For a game action photo gallery, click here. A photo gallery will cheerleaders and bands from both schools will be published Sunday.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Clinics Receive Medication Linked To Meningitis Outbreak
October 6, 2012
At least two Escambia County clinics received back pain medication linked to a meningitis outbreak, according to state health officials.
The Florida Department of Health is working closely with the CDC, state partners and other states on a meningitis outbreak associated with spinal injections of methylprednisolone for back pain. To date, eight facilities in Florida — including the two in Escambia County — have been identified as having received shipments from one or more of the CDC-identified contaminated lot numbers of the medication.
The facilities receiving the potential contaminated medications in Escambia County are the Interventional Rehab Center in Pensacola and Pain Consultants of West Florida, also in Pensacola.
The health department said that individuals that may have been injected with methylprednisolone acetate from these facilities be evaluated immediately and monitored or treated as necessary.
Chef Emeril Lagasse Filming New Cooking Channel Show In Pensacola
October 6, 2012
Chef Emeril Lagasse was in Pensacola Friday, filming segments for “Emeril’s Florida”, his new show that premieres on the The Cooking Channel in January. On Friday, he filmed segments at Joe Patti’s Seafood and at The Fish House. Additional segments will be filmed Saturday on Pensacola Beach.
“He was very nice; he was in front of me getting some Beignets,” said Felicia Amerson of Walnut Hill, Amerson and her husband Alex bumped into Lagasse at Joe Patti’s. “He turned around, and I said ‘OMG’ I’m your biggest fan, can I have a picture with you. He said sure we gotta hurry cause I’ve got a lot of work to do.”
Pictured: Felicia Amerson of Walnut Hill posses with chef Emeril Lagasse Friday at Joe Patti’s Seafood in Pensacola. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Photos: Let The Music Play And Everyone Cheer
October 6, 2012
There is plenty going on under the Friday night lights at a high school football. In addition to the gridiron action, there’s also band performances and cheerleaders leading the crowds.
For a photo gallery from the Northview and Jay high school bands, the Northview dance team, Northview’s NJROTC, NHS mini-majorettes and both Chief and Royal cheerleaders, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
