Top 10 Most Wanted Gun Crime Suspect Captured In Ensley
October 3, 2012
One of the Gun Response Team’s Top 10 Most Wanted list is behind bars.
Andre Cook, 25, was busted after a tip from an anonymous caller. He was wanted on charges of robbery and aggravated battery from an attempted robbery back in August on Hayworth Avenue in Ensley. That incident sent on man to the hospital with a gunshot wound to his leg.
Based on the information provided by the caller, deputies responded to a home in Ensley where they observed Cook sitting in a chair near the front door. As deputies approached the house, Cook took off through the house and out the back door. Deputies obtained permission from the homeowner to search the residence, and although they did not located Cook, they discovered a sawed off shotgun with the serial numbers filed off. The gun was seized from the residence and turned over to the GCRT.
Deputies later responded to the 8200 block of Durand Avenue in reference to a stolen vehicle. When deputies arrived, the victim told them that earlier in the night, his friend Andre Cook asked him to borrow his car to go to the convenience store. The victim stated that when Cook didn’t return after several hours, he became suspicious and wanted to report the vehicle stolen.
About an hour later, deputies were patrolling the area of Highway 29 and Broad Street when they observed the stolen vehicle. A traffic stop was conducted and the driver, Cook, was taken into custody. In addition to the stolen vehicle, Cook was also in possession of marijuana, cocaine and drug paraphernalia. He was charged accordingly and is being held in the Escambia County Jail on a $115,500 bond.
Northview Tribal Beat Alumini Invited To Play In Homecoming Show
October 3, 2012
Alumni of the Northview High School Tribal Beat Band area invited to join the band for a homecoming performance later this month.
Both musicians and auxiliary members will participate with the band playing pep music in the stands and on the field for the last two songs of the halftime show in October 26. Rehearsals will be at 4 p.m. on Thursday, beginning this Thursday, October 4 in the band room. Extra sectional practice time will also be available at 6:15 p.m. on Thursdays.
Interested participants should email their name, t-shirt size and instrument to bree.halteman@gmail.com. Sheet music and show audio will be emailed back.
Rate Increase Approved For Citizens Insurance
October 3, 2012
State insurance regulators on Tuesday announced they have approved a 10.8 percent average rate hike for Citizens Property Insurance Corp. homeowners policies and even higher increases on sinkhole coverage.
Following more than a month of review and multiple hearings by Citizens board members and the agency, the Office of Insurance Regulation approved new rates that will affect most of the company’s 1.4 million customers on policies renewed after Jan. 1.
“The final rates indicate a more reasonable approach toward moving a significant portion of Florida’s demographic to actuarially-supported rates,” Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty said in a statement.
“Our primary goal is to ensure Citizens policyholders are treated fairly and retain an opportunity to return back to a robust private insurance market as the Florida Legislature intended,” he said.
State lawmakers and OIR officials have been trying to boost Citizens rates in recent years to make them more comparable to rates that would be charged by the private market in some of the riskiest areas of the state.
Lawmakers, however, limited annual increases to 10 percent, a cap that critics say has hindered efforts to depopulate the state-run pool that has become the largest property insurer in the state. The cap, however does not include higher costs for hurricane catastrophe insurance, resulting in rates climbing higher than 10 percent.
Critics, however, said many policyholders are effectively seeing rates go much higher because of changes related to how Citizens awards discounts to policyholders for hurricane proofing measures. The insurer has been revisiting homes to re-evaluate credits given for such home improvements as part of a larger program to reduce Citizens’ exposure.
“This isn’t just a rate hike of more than 10 percent, it’s a rate hike of more than 10 percent after Citizens changed the rules — taking away mitigation discounts, reducing coverage, and changing replacement values,” said Sean Shaw, a former Florida insurance consumer advocate. “Citizens is getting away with charging more for less and policyholders and our economy are worse off because of it.”
The first round of rate approvals includes a 10.8 percent increase in multi-peril policies for residential homeowners. Citizens officials had sought an 11.8 percent average increase.
The agency also approved rates for owners of residential rental property. Those rates will be allowed to increase by 8.8 percent on average.
Rates for mobile homes and commercial lines are expected later this month.
Lawmakers last year removed the 10 percent cap on sinkhole coverage, following a meteoric rise in claims in certain portions of the state, but especially in the Tampa Bay area.
Also Tuesday, OIR approved homeowners sinkhole insurance increases averaging 21.4 percent, down from the requested 29.6 percent increase. McCarty said Tuesday the sinkhole rates would have been even higher if lawmakers had not passed sinkhole-coverage changes in 2011.
By The News Service of Florida
DAR Partners With Wreaths Across America
October 3, 2012
The Three Rivers Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution announced its partnership with Wreaths Across America to double the number of wreaths at Barrancas National Cemetery this Christmas as part of the 20th Annual Wreaths Across America.
“The Emerald Coast is home to more than 128,000 veterans and their families. Our community has always come together to pay tribute and honor these brave men and women, and this Christmas, we hope to double the number of wreaths laid at Barrancas National Cemetery to pay our respects to those we have lost,” stated Mrs. Vicki Miller, chairwoman of the Three Rivers Chapter Wreaths Across America partnership. “Wreaths Across America has started one of America’s most enduring and special traditions, and I am proud that our community is one of its strongest supporters.”
Wreaths Across America, founded by Morrill and Karen Worcester, began in 1992 to honor, remember, and teach the next generation of the service and sacrifice of America’s veterans. More than 400 locations across the United States participate in the annual event, as well at national cemeteries abroad.
Last year, more than 2,000 wreaths were placed at veterans’ gravesites at Barrancas National Cemetery, which is the final resting place of 39,000 veterans and their families. Wreaths Across America has sent wreaths to Barrancas since 2005.
“The effect Wreaths Across America has had on the Barrancas National Cemetery, and our greater community has been dynamic. Every year, we see an increasingly larger amount of people coming out to place a wreath; to remember a loved one, a friend, or a veteran they didn’t know, but who served our nation with honor,” said Angela Nash, director of Barrancas National Cemetery. “Wreaths Across America has become one of our traditions, and we could not be more grateful for the support of our military, veterans, families, and community partners.”
This year’s Wreaths Across America will take place on December 15, at 11 a.m.at Barrancas National Cemetery. Members of the public are welcome; volunteers should arrive at 8:30 a.m.
For every wreath donated, a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Three Rivers Chapter Scholarship Fund. To donate a wreath to be placed at Barrancas National Cemetery as part of this effort, or to learn more, click here (select “fldar0001” as the group sponsor). Wreaths Across America is a 501(c)3.
Cross Country: 98 Percent Of Jay Royals Set New Personal Records
October 3, 2012
Members of the Jay High Cross Country team set numerous personal records Tuesday during a meet at Lake Jackson hosted by Paxton High School.
Taking first overall for boys was Micah Kemp with a personal record of 16:45, an improvement of 15 second over his 17:00 last week in the JD Mac Invitational in Jay. For the girls, Jessica Thornton took first with a personal best time of 19:51, over 40 second off her previous personal best set last week in Jay. Overall, 98 percent of the Jay Royals set personal best records Tuesday.
For the Royals:
GIRLS
1 – Jessica Thornton , 19:51
2 – Jorja Agrait , 20:23
4 – Savannah Brown , 21:40
9 – Jenna Thornton , 22:54
10 – Carsen Arrant , 22:49
25 – Alexis Mitchem , 25:58
29 – Kendra Weekes , 26:46
33 – RayAnn Free , 27:15
36 – Carly Sanders , 27:59
43 – Brandy Jackson , 30:09
44 – Ally Ashworth , 30:17:
61 – Jennifer Lowry , 35:27
64 – Haven Tagert , 37:38
BOYS
1 – Micah Kemp , 16:45
3 – Cody Wolfe , 18:29
13 – Mark Foley , 21:04
26 – Austin Gonzalez , 21:47
32 – Joey Belanger , 22:42
59 – Noah Goodson , 26:56
Atmore Man Charged With Fleeing From Police, Assaulting Officer
October 2, 2012
An Atmore man has been charged with running from police and then assaulting an officer.
Brent Antwon Simpson, 23, was charged with with felony assault on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest, reckless endangerment, and fleeing and attempting to elude.
Atmore Police responded to a complaint of a fight and shots fire on Adams Street about 3:08 p.m. Monday. Witnesses said the violator was leaving the scene in a white car with a paper dealership tag.
Officers spotted the vehicle a short time later in the of Sunset Drive and Martin Luther King Avenue. The officer attempted to stop the vehicle on Martin Luther King Avenue, but the driver, identified as Simpson, refused to stop. Other officers responded and also attempted to stop the vehicle, but police said Simpson continued to flee. Officers pursued him at relatively low speeds never exceeding 40 mph, according to a statement from the Atmore Police Department.
The pursuit ended when Simpson drove to a residence on Mobile Street. Police said Simpson exited his car and physically assaulted officers as they attempted to take him into custody. Simpson was eventually subdued by officers and placed into custody.
Simpson had a toddler-aged child in his vehicle that was turned over to family members at the residence.
Two Injured In Century Highway 29 Rollover Crash
October 2, 2012
Two people were injured in a rollover accident Tuesday morning in Century.
The accident happened on North Century Boulevard at the Century Food Mart, just south of the Century Town Hall about 11:30 a.m. Both injured individuals were transported by Escambia County EMS to Jay Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
The wreck is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Names have not been released.
The Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the crash.
Pictured: Two people were injured in a rollover crash Tuesday morning in Century. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Cool Nights, Great Days
October 2, 2012
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 55. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph after midnight.
- Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. East wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
- Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 58. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 87. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph in the morning.
- Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 60. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Friday: Sunny, with a high near 88. North wind around 5 mph.
- Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 60. Calm wind.
- Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 86. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph in the morning.
- Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 60. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming north after midnight.
- Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 78.
- Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 53.
- Columbus Day: Mostly sunny, with a high near 77.
- Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 53.
- Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 79.
New Fence Height Law Now In Effect In Century
October 2, 2012
The Century Town Council approved a new ordinance Monday night that cuts back the height of fences allowed in front yards around the town — a new law that is a mix of Century’s current code and regulations that are already in place in the unincorporated areas of Escambia County.
The new law, approved on a 5-0 vote, adopted Escambia County’s current standards that limit the height of a solid fence in front of a single family residence to three feet and a chain link or other transparent fence to a four foot height. The fence height for a corner lot is limited to two feet as to not obstruct the view of traffic. For the purposes of the ordinance, the height of a hedge or shrubbery will be regulated as a solid fence.
Fences in the side, or rear yard of a home may not exceed eight feet, which is no change from Century’s current restrictions.
The new law became effective immediately. To read the new Century fence ordinance, click here.
Mayor Freddie McCall said residents with existing fences that violate the new ordinance, if passed, can ask the town council for a variance.
Pictured top: The Century Town Council met Monday night, approving a new fence ordinance. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Gets 30 Years For Kidnapping, Burglary
October 2, 2012
An Escambia County man has been sentenced to state prison for multiple charges including burglary and kidnapping.
Monday, Lee Milner was sentenced by Judge Michael Allen to 30 years in state prison on kidnapping to inflict bodily harm or terrorize victim and burglary of a dwelling with assault and battery along with other charges. Milner was sentenced as a Habitual Felony Offender.
On January 31, 2012, the victim stated when she returned home from the store, she walked in her house and was hit over the head by Milner. Milner tied her up and told her to give him her cash and her vehicle or she would be raped or killed if she told anyone.
Milner took the victim’s vehicle as well as $1,000 worth of jewelry. On February 2, 2012, law enforcement spotted the victims vehicle and the defendant was apprehended after a high speed chase.
In a separate case, the defendant was arrested for robbery without a weapon. The robbery occurred on January 24, 2012, when the victim arrived at work and the defendant inquired about renting a storage unit. Shortly after a struggle ensued and the defendant grabbed the victims wallet, ripping his pants. The pocket was swabbed for DNA and a hit came back to the defendant. Milner plead to the robbery charge and was sentenced to 15 years as a habitual felony offender with the sentence concurrent with the 30 year prison sentence.