Man Dies After Being Shot In Escambia County
August 4, 2012
One person has died after being critically injured in a shooting Friday night in Brownsville.
A man in his 60’s was transported to Baptist Hospital by ambulance with critical injuries after being shot just after 9:30 p.m. on West Brainerd Street. He passed away a short time later.
The victim’s name has not yet been released.
The gunman was reportedly last seen in a black truck. No other details have been released, and there have been no arrests reported.
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
U.S. Marshals, TAC Unit Bust Alabama Child Porn, Rape Suspect
August 4, 2012
An Alabama man wanted on rape and child porn charges was arrested Friday by U.S. Marshals and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office TAC unit.
Dion Demetrius Taylor was arrested for failure to appear on charges of second degree rape and possession of pornographic material of a minor.
U.S. Marshals observed Taylor, 33, drive away from a home on Sioux Trail in Escambia County with an unidentified woman and three children. Because Taylor has an extensive history of violence, Marshals said they were apprehensive to stop Taylor for fear of the safe of the woman and children.
The Task Force called for aid from the Sheriff’s Office while they followed Taylor into the Sunrise Apartment complex on Fairfield Drive. Task Force officers and ECSO units including a K-9 surrounded Taylor who quickly surrendered.
Taylor’s alleged crimes occurred in Tuscaloosa. Authorities said he lured a 15-year female into a residence by promising her marijuana. He then allegedly raped her and recorded the act on a cell phone. He then allegedly recorded other men doing the same to the teen.
Taylor was booked into the Escambia County Jail without bond as a fugitive from justice as he awaits extradition back to Alabama. He was also charged with resisting arrest without violence for allegedly providing the wrong name to officers.
Justice Dept: High School To Stop Racial Preferences In Selecting Homecoming Courts
August 4, 2012
The U.S. Justice Department has reached an out-of-court agreement with the Escambia County School District in Alabama to end the use of race-based selection criteria for homecoming courts and other student activities in two of the district’s high schools.
Escambia County High School in Atmore permitted students to elect two homecoming queens and two homecoming attendants from each class, one African-American and one not. Another school, W.S. Neal High School, had a similar longstanding practice of using race-based criteria for election of students to its Valentine’s Day courts.
To resolve the U.S. Justice Department’s concerns over these practices, the Escambia County (Ala.) Board of Education voluntarily adopted a district-wide non-discrimination policy for extracurricular activities. The policy will end the use of race-based election and selection criteria in all student activities. The agreement requires the district to fully implement and enforce its new non-discrimination policy, to notify parents and students of changes to student election practices and to provide compliance reports to the department for at least one year.
“This Board policy may change certain past practices or procedures relating to the election or selection of students to extracurricular positions,” Superintendent Randall Little said in memorandum to parents.
“We commend the Escambia County Board of Education for acting swiftly to abolish the use of race in student activities and to ensure that no student is denied participation in any extracurricular activity based on race,” Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Thomas E. Perez said. “It is time for the once common practice of segregating students by race in school activities to come to an end.”
The use of race-based selection and election criteria in public schools’ extracurricular activities, including homecoming courts, proms and similar activities is prohibited by Title IV of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bars public school districts, colleges and universities from discriminating against students on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex and religion.
Pictured: Escambia County High School Freshmen Maids during the school’s homecoming parade last October. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
New $9 Million Southwest Sports Complex Opens In Escambia County
August 4, 2012
A ribbon cutting was held Friday for a new $9 million sports complex in Escambia County.
The Southwest Escambia Sports Complex at 20020 Bauer Road was officially opened with a short ceremony and a fish fry.
The sports complex sits on approximately 200 acres and with lighted baseball, softball, soccer and football fields, an open play area, walking trails, playground, covered pavilions and ample parking.
“This facility is a huge asset to Escambia County and I’m looking forward to seeing it filled with action,” Wilson Robertson, District 1 commissioner said.
The new facility was funded with Local Option Sales Tax monies. Like all county sports parks, routine upkeep will be the responsibility of the two youth leagues that will use the park.
Search Underway For Escaped Alabama Prison Inmate
August 4, 2012
Officials are looking for an Alabama prison escapee that was serving a life sentence.
Shaun Tyler Miller was reported missing Friday afternoon from his job site in Wetumpka, Ala., just north of Montgomery. He is described as a black male, 5-feet, 10-inches tall, 182 pounds with black hair.
He received a life sentenced for robbery back in 2003 out of Baldwin County.
Anyone with information about Miller’s whereabouts is asked to call their local law enforcement agency or 911.
Wahoos Open Series With Huntsville With 8-5 Win
August 4, 2012
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos earned an 8-5 win over the Huntsville Stars at Joe Davis Stadium in Huntsville, Ala. on Friday night to open the five-game set. The Wahoos cranked out 12 hits in the winning effort while shortstop Billy Hamilton inched closer to the Minor League stolen base record with three steals giving him 122 for the season. He is now 23 shy of matching Vince Coleman’s 1983 record.
Pensacola claimed an early lead with a pair of runs in the top of the second. David Vidal doubled home Donald Lutz for the game’s first run. Vidal scored later on an RBI groundout by Miguel Rojas. It was one of three runs Vidal scored in the game.
Huntsville answered with a run in the bottom of the inning when Adam Weisenburger singled in Hunter Morris, part of a three hit game for Weisenburger.
The Blue Wahoos made it 3-1 in the fourth when Vidal came home on an RBI single by Hamilton. Vidal extended the Wahoos lead to 4-1 with his seventh home run of the season. It was a solo shot to center field.
Heading into the ninth inning, the Wahoos were leading 5-3 searching for insurance runs. Two batters after Ryan LaMarre doubled home Hamilton, Bryson Smith drove in two more with a two-run single, which scored Josh Fellhauer and LaMarre and extended the lead to 8-3.
The Stars added some suspense with a pair of runs in the bottom of the ninth, but Chris Manno (1) came in out of the bullpen and retired the final two batters of the game to preserve the win for Pensacola. He retired both batters he faced to earn his first save of the season.
On his 23rd birthday, Chad Rogers (1-0) earned the win in his Blue Wahoos debut. He surrendered just one run on seven hits over five innings. Johnnie Lowe (1-2) took the loss for the Stars after giving up four runs, two earned, on six hits over six innings. He fanned seven and walked two.
Offensively, five Blue Wahoos had multi-hit games. Hamilton (2-for-4), Fellhauer (2-for-4), LaMarre (2-for-5), Smith (2-for-2) and Vidal (2-for-4) all had a pair of hits in the winning effort. Smith, a late inning replacement, finished with three RBI while Vidal finished with a pair of RBI.
The series continues from Joe Davis Stadium in Huntsville on Saturday. LHP Tony Cingrani (5-3, 2.15) gets the nod for the Fish against RHP Ariel Pena (0-0, 9.00). First pitch is set for 6:43 p.m.
By Tommy Thrall
Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tracking Tropical Storm Ernesto; Tropical Storm Florence Forms
August 4, 2012
The tropics are active today, and we are tracking Tropical Storm Ernesto and Tropical Storm Florence.
The latest information on Ernesto is in the graphic above, click to enlarge.
The latest information on Florence is in the graphic below, click to enlarge.
Gloria Mae Paonessa Campbell
August 4, 2012
Mrs. Gloria Mae Paonessa Campbell, of McDavid, born April 17, 1924, in Los Angeles, California, died August 1, 2012.
Mrs. Campbell was preceded in death by her parents, Raymond Paonessa and Ora Mae Field; her sister, Marilyn Stolte and her brother, Raymond Paonessa.
She is survived by her loving husband of 65 years, Richard Hue Campbell; her son, Richard Campbell, II of Chula Vista, CA; her daughters, Carolyn Webster Waggoner of Pensacola and Gloria Vanessa Ramsey of Lakeside, CA; grandchildren, Jamie Leech-Ryal, Christopher Wing, Ashlynn Webster, Nathan Ramsey, Andrew Ramsey, Ocean Ramsey, Joshua Ramsey, Genevieve Ramsey, Elias Ramsey; great-grandchildren, Hunter Leech –Ryal and Lexis Ramsey.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, August 4, 2012, at 11 a.m. at Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church on Bogia Road in McDavid.
The family will receive friends immediately following the service in the CAB building to celebrate her life.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to Covenant Hospice so that their care may continue to help others.
Trahan Family Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
One Person Injured, Three Horses Killed In Wreck
August 3, 2012
One person received minor injuries when she slammed into three horses Thursday night in Davisville.
Delores A. Milam, age 27 of Atmore, was eastbound on West Highway 4 just west of Sandy Hollow Road about 9:30 p.m. when three horses ran into the path of her 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The front of the SUV struck all three horses.
Milam was transported by ambulance to Atmore Community Hospital.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Two of the animals came to rest across West Highway 4. One horse was killed when it went over the hood of the SUV, crushing the windshield and roof the vehicle. A second horse was euthanized due to the severity of injuries. The third horse managed to walk off the roadway but was also euthanized due to critical injuries.
The owner of the horses is unknown, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The FHP is continuing their investigation into the accident.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Atmore Ambulance and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the crash.
Pictured: One person received minor injuries and three horses died as a result of this crash Thursday night on West Highway 4 in Davisville. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Gastrointestinal Infections On The Rise In Escambia County
August 3, 2012
Gastrointestinal infections are on the rise in Escambia County, and the Escambia County Health Department is urging area residents to practice proper hygiene to prevent illness.
According to the health department:
Gastrointestinal infections can be highly contagious and are usually spread through contaminated food or drinking water, person to person contact with an infected person, or contact with contaminated surfaces. Symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, and headache.
Most gastrointestinal infections can be prevented with proper hygiene practices, clean drinking water, and safe food preparation. The best way to avoid contracting or spreading these infections is to take the following precautions:
Wash your hands frequently with soap and water, especially after using the bathroom, handling diapers, and before preparing or eating food.
Use proper hand washing practices by rubbing soapy water on hands and under fingernails for 15-20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based sanitizer.
Cook foods properly and wash fruits and vegetables before serving. Use separate cutting boards and utensils for preparing meats or fish and vegetables or fruits.
If you become ill, stay home. If your child becomes ill, keep him/her out of school or childcare until free from symptoms for 48 hours.
If you are sick with vomiting or diarrhea, do not prepare food for other people.
Thoroughly disinfect contaminated surfaces by using a bleach-based household cleaner.
Immediately remove and wash possibly contaminated clothing or linens after an episode of diarrhea or vomiting.
Treatment for gastrointestinal illnesses includes drinking plenty of clear fluids and getting plenty of rest. Dehydration is a serious concern, especially among elderly adults and young children, so it is important to maintain proper fluid replacement. If symptoms are severe, such as bloody stool or high fever, it is recommended that you contact your doctor.