Man Charged With Busting Through Window, Attacking Sleeping Man
August 14, 2012
A Walnut Hill man was arrested after allegedly breaking into a home near Bratt and attacking a sleeping man.
Dalton Justice, 22, was charged with felony burglary with assault and battery and criminal mischief property damage. He was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $50,500 bond.
About 3:30 a.m., Justice allegedly busted an outside window on a home in the 4000 block of Rigby Road. He entered the house and attacked a man sleeping in the room, an arrest report states. Justice had left the residence by the time Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrived.
The victim had physical injuries but refused medical treatment. The victim told deputies that he is currently dating Justice’s former girlfriend, and he believed that to be the reason for the attack.
More Rain In Forecast
August 14, 2012
Here is your Election Day forecast for the North Escambia area:
- Tonight: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light after midnight.
- Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the morning.
- Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph.
- Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Friday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the morning.
- Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
- Saturday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. Light west wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
- Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Sunday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 89.
- Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72.
- Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.
- Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72.
- Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89.
Escambia County Could Regulate Chickens, Farm Animals
August 14, 2012
The morning crow of a rooster could one day be a thing of the past in some parts of Escambia County.
Monday, Escambia County commissioners discussed the potential of an ordinance that would regulate chickens and other farm animals in some residential areas, including “dairy animals”, poultry, and livestock such as cattle, goats,horses, sheep,and swine.
“Would a rooster trip the noise ordinance machine,” Commissioner Wilson Robertson jokingly asked during a commission meeting.
“It would depend, I think, on how close to the property line he’s standing,” Lloyd Kerr, director of county planning and zoning, replied.
Commissioners decided to not change the county’s animal ordinance for at least six to 12 months to see how a new ordinance in the city of Pensacola works.
Pensacola’s new ordinance requires coops, pens or enclosures with provisions for free range animals. Farm animals are not allowed with 30 feet of an adjacent dwelling, church, hospital, school, public building or park. The ordinance prohibits all roosters or more than eight chickens at a single residence.
Any farm animal ordinance would not likely not apply in agricultural and other rural zones.
Dish Network Customers Could Lose WEAR 3 On Thursday
August 14, 2012
Local Dish Network customers could loose ABC programming — an agreement between Sinclair Broadcasting and Dish Network is set to expire just after midnight Thursday.
If a new agreement is not reached before the deadline, Dish customers will no longer be able to watch WEAR 3. The companies are disagreeing over the contract that allows Dish to carry Sinclair programming and how much Dish Network pays for the programming.
“Although Dish and Sinclair have been negotiating for quite some time in an effort to reach a new agreement, at this time it does not appear that these efforts will be successful,” Sinclair said in a statement.
Sinclair also said the disagreement is not just about fees. “The inability to reach agreement with Dish is about more than just money, including what rights Dish will have with respect to the Sinclair signals.”
Dish Network said Monday that Sinclair is seeking “a massive price increase”.
“We carry more than 1,800 local broadcast stations nationwide. Sinclair is asking for more than any other station anywhere in the country,” said Dave Shull, senior vice president of programming for DISH. “This goes beyond pure corporate greed — it’s profoundly insensitive to the needs of the public.”
Scott Appears With Romney At Florida Rally
August 14, 2012
Gov. Rick Scott joined Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney at a campaign stop Monday morning in St. Augustine. While he continued to talk up Florida’s economy, he said his job would be easier if Romney were in the White House.
“We cannot afford another four years of Barack Obama, his policies have failed us,” Scott said in introducing Romney. “Our economy nationally is struggling … here in Florida, even though we have a president that is making it much, much more difficult to do well, in Florida our econ is getting better. Our unemployment has dropped faster than any state but one in the past 18 months, 127,000 private sector jobs. Just think if we had a president … and a vice president that knew that you build business, government doesn’t build businesses. Think what this state could do then, if we had the right president.”
Romney’s newly announced running mate Paul Ryan made his first solo campaign appearance at the Iowa State Fair.
“President Obama has given us four years of trillion dollar – plus deficits,” said Ryan. “He is making matters worse, and he is spending our children into a diminished future. We don’t have to stand for that; we’re not going to stand for that. And on November 6, we’re going to change that.”
President Barack Obama also campaigned in Iowa Monday, taking a jab at Ryan.
“Governor Romney’s new running mate, Paul Ryan, might be around Iowa the next few days,” said President Obama. “He is one of the leaders of Congress standing in the way. So if you happen to see Congressman Ryan, tell him how important this farm bill is to Iowa and our rural communities. We have got to put politics aside when it comes to doing the right thing for rural America and for Iowa.”
The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.
Gas Prices Take Huge Leap
August 14, 2012
Gas prices have shot up about 33 cents during the last month in the North Escambia area. In the Pensacola metro, the average stood at $3.52 Monday, up from $3.19 one month ago. The increase is being blamed partially on the partial loss of production at a refinery in California.
Pictured: A recent gas deliver at a station in Atmore. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Candidate Responds To Claim That He Failed To Pay Property Taxes
August 14, 2012
A District 5 Escambia County Commission candidate says that claims he has not paid his property taxes from last year are true, but the non-payment was just an oversight.
In a published newspaper ad on Sunday, District 5 Commission candidate Jim Taylor claimed that one of his opponents, candidate Sam Archer, did not pay his property taxes.
The Escambia County Tax Collector’s Office confirmed Monday that Archer has not paid 2011 taxes on seven properties, including his primary residence, and has not paid a 2011 tangible personal property tax bill. The taxes, fees and interest total $8,128.46.
“I did not realize that until today,” Archer said Monday evening. ” I have a CPA that takes care of that, or my wife takes care of that. Evidently in the hustle and bustle of campaigning every day, I overlooked that they had not been paid. I’ve been out there all day, every day on the campaign.”
“I probably have not written a check for taxes in over a decade; someone else like the CPA takes care of that. But the taxes will be paid.”
Archer said that he has refrained from attacking other candidates in the District 5 commission race, avoiding “mud slinging”. He said he was happy to respond to the claims about his taxes.
Tax certificates were sold on seven properties owned by Archer, according to the Escambia County Tax Collector Office.
“An investor or bidder buys the tax certificate so the county gets paid,” Tax Collector Janet Holly said. “A tax certificate in Florida is a vehicle that allows the taxing authority to get their money.” Additional fees and interest are added to the late tax account to be paid by the property owner when their property tax is paid, allowing the certificate owner to make a small profit. The property owner has a period of two years from the date the tax became delinquent to redeem the tax certificate.
Alabama Man Arrested For Shooting Outside Cantonment Grocery Store
August 13, 2012
A Robertsdale man has been arrested in connection with a shooting in the parking lot of the Grocery Advantage on Highway 29 in Cantonment Sunday evening.
Coy Carter, 33, remains jailed without bond. Deputies say he met his estranged wife in the parking lot to return his children to their mother. During the exchange, a fight broke out between Carter and victim Robert Slay. Slay is currently dating Carter’s estranged wife, according to Deputy Matt Baxter, spokesman for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Carter was also transported to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries sustained during the fight. Deputies said he was not shot.
After being released from the hospital, Carter was arrested and charged with battery, aggravated battery, discharge firearm in public, and child abuse without great harm (domestic violence).
Pictured: One man was shot in the parking lot of the Grocery Advantage in Cantonment just before 6 p.m. Sunday. The photo at top and immediately below were taken just minutes after the shooting. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Man Faces Sexual Battery Charge After Massage Session In A Barn
August 13, 2012
A Century man has been charged with sexual assault for alleged improper conduct while performing a massage on a female in his barn.
William Haynes Gandy, age 68 of Gandyville Road, was charged with sexual battery 12 years of age or older with special conditions, according to an arrest report. The victim was a legal age adult at the time of the alleged incident, according to Deputy Matt Baxter, spokesman for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Gandy was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $25,000 bond.
The victim told deputies that she met Gandy about a year ago because “he is a well known certified massage therapist”, and she had gone through massage therapy school and was told Gandy might be able to help her find a job. The victim later stopped pursuing a job, but Gandy did give her a few free massages associated with her pregnancy, the arrest report states.
After giving birth to her child, the victim told deputies that she began to ignore Gandy’s phone calls until he told her to come over, bring her resume and get a free massage and “see what he could do about getting her a job”, the report states.
The victim said Gandy took her to a barn outside his home where he keeps his massage table and equipment. She was partially unclothed and covered by a sheet, the report states, when Gandy began to touch her inappropriately and against her will.
The victim told deputies that when she tried to leave the barn, Gandy held the door shut with his hands and would not let her exit until she accepted his apology.
Gandy told deputies that he is a registered massage therapist and tries to help out friends by giving them free massages to relieve stress. Gandy, according to the arrest report, stated that he did invite the victim over to give her a free massage to relieve stress and possibly help her find a job. He told deputies that the victim did ask him to stop when he was appropriately massaging her inner thigh, and she left. Gandy stated that he did not know exactly why she was upset.
Gandy told deputies that at no time did he inappropriately touch the victim.
Work Week Forecast
August 13, 2012
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Monday Night: Partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 70s. Southwest winds around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny in the morning becoming mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 90s. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation 50 percent.
- Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 70s. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph becoming around 5 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.
- Wednesday: Mostly sunny. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 90s. Chance of precipitation 30 percent.
- Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 70s.
- Thursday: Mostly sunny. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 90s. Chance of precipitation 40 percent.
- Thursday Night: Partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 70s. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.
- Friday: Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 90s. Chance of precipitation 40 percent.
- Friday Night: Partly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 70s. Chance of precipitation 30 percent.
- Saturday: Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 90s. Chance of precipitation 40 percent.
- Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 70s. Chance of precipitation 30 percent.
- Sunday: Mostly sunny. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs around 90. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.