New Traffic Signal On Nine Mile Road
August 3, 2012
The Florida Department of Transportation will activate a new traffic signal at the intersection of I-10 and Nine Mile Road in Beulah Monday morning at 10 a.m. The signal has been in a flash mode to acquaint motorists with the location.
The new signal is mounted on horizontal mast arms. Since the signal is in the horizontal position, FDOT said motorists with color vision problems will need to remember red is on the left and green on the right. Drivers are urged to use caution when approaching the intersection.
One Shot At Escambia County Apartment Complex, Two Arrested
August 3, 2012
One person was shot Thursday evening in Escambia County, and two men are behind bars charged with the crime.
Van Spikes, 19, was shot in the groin and thigh while at the Alabaster Gardens Apartments off Massachusetts Avenue about 7:30 p.m. He was transported to an area hospital by ambulance with non-life threatening injuries. His name has not been released.
Witnesses told deputies that they heard gunshots and then saw two white males jumping the fence and leaving the area in silver Honda.
Deputies in the area located a car matching that description a few blocks away and witnessed the occupants throw a gun out of the car window. The vehicles occupants — Anthony Schubert, 20, and Dylan White, 17, — were arrested for aggravated battery.
Shubert and White, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, admitted to investigators that they were at the apartment complex to sell drugs.
Further details have not yet been released by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Pictured above: One person was shot at the Alabaster Gardens Apartments off Massachusetts Avenue Thursday evening. Photo courtesy Anthony Pura, WEAR 3, for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Theft Suspect Talking, Praying Her Way Into Homes Of The Elderly
August 3, 2012
Molino and Cantonment are on alert after reports of someone talking their way, even praying their way, into the homes of elderly residents.
A resident of Ridgecrest Lane told the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office that she invited a lady into her home to pray with her because she was under the impression that the stranger was from a local church. The Sheriff’s Office said the woman’s purse was stolen, and her Navy Federal card used to make purchases at two Cantonment businesses. Few other details have been officially released as the Sheriff’s Office continues their investigation.
But family members tell NorthEscambia.com that the 92-year old woman was approached at her home by a woman that said she was from the Beulah Baptist Church and would like to go inside her home to pray with her.
The suspect stayed and prayed with the woman for about 15 minutes. As the suspect started to leave the home, she told the elderly victim that she had left her cell phone behind on the sofa. After going back to get her phone, the female suspect left.
The victim later discovered that her purse was missing — including her keys with a Navy Federal financial card attached.
Family said the victim’s card was then used for $10 at Gee Willie’s convenience store on Highway 29 in Cantonment, and then to make two separate purchases totaling over $300 at the nearby Cantonment Dollar General store.
The suspect was described as a skinny white female, about 5-foot , 4-inches tall, in her mid 20’s to early 30’s. According to the Sheriff’s Office, she may have been driving a silver Dodge pickup truck. Investigators are working with the stores involved to obtain surveillance video of the suspect.
NorthEscambia.com was alerted to another incident involving someone making their way into the home of an elderly resident. A police report was not filed in the second incident.
And an elderly resident on Bet Raines Road said a woman came to her backdoor and started a conversation. The elderly woman was led to believe that the female was from a local church and invited her inside for a cold drink. The female then asked to use the restroom. And some point, the resident became uncomfortable with the situation and tried to call relatives. The suspicious woman then left.
Nothing was reported missing in the Bet Raines Road incident.
Anyone with information about the incidents is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
School Sales Tax Holiday Weekends In Alabama And Florida
August 3, 2012
It’s school sales tax holiday weekends in both Alabama and Florida, giving shoppers a chance to save a bit on clothing and school supplies.
Florida’s sales tax holiday will continue through midnight Sunday with no tax on purchases of clothing, footwear and certain accessories selling for $75 or less, or on certain school supplies that are $15 or less. For complete information, click here (pdf).
Alabama’s sales tax holiday will continue until midnight Sunday with no state sales tax on clothing, footwear and certain accessories selling for $75 or less, or on certain school supplies that are $15 or less. Note that Atmore will not participate in the sales tax holiday and will still charge local sales tax. For a list of exempt items in Alabama, click here (pdf).
Atmore, Escambia (AL) Candidates Square Off In Forum (With Gallery)
August 3, 2012
Candidates for political office in Atmore and Escambia County, Ala., took their message to the people Thursday night during a candidate forum.
Candidates speaking included the three men vying for the job of Atmore’s mayor.
Bernard Bishop said it’s time for Atmore to “get off the porch, roll up out sleeve and get to work.”
“Atmore is sitting on the threshold of a revolution,” Bishop said. “We need to prepare the ground of Atmore for a harvest.”
Lloyd Albritton said he was the candidate of change. “Atmore needs to pick up it’s own trash,” Albritton said. “We desperately need change in this town.”
The third mayoral candidate, Jim Staff, said “Let’s move Atmore forward”.
“We can only go forward for PCI and Atmore,” he mentioned.
The Leadership Atmore Alumni Association, a non-partisan group, sponsored the forum.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Candidates Set For Atmore City Elections
After a total of more than two decades in office, incumbent Atmore Mayor Howard Shell won’t seek re-election. He was first elected to the Atmore City Council 1984 before being appointed mayor after the death of then-Mayor Patricia McKenzie. After winning the mayor’s race twice, he remained in office until being beaten in 1996 by Rodney Owens, an Atmore chiropractor. He returned to office in 2000 and is serving his third term since returning to office.
The Leadership Atmore Alumni Association, a non-partisan group, sponsored the forum.
Qualified candidates for Atmore city offices are as follows:
- Mayor — Lloyd Albritton, Bernard Bishop, Jim Staff
- District 1 – Webb Nall (incumbent), Chad Thrower
- District 2 – Cornell Torrence (incumbent), Thomas S. “Teddy” McNeal
- District 3 – Chris Walker (incumbent)
- District 4 – Larry Houck, Phil Johnson, Susan Smith
- District 5 – Gregg Akins, Michael Arnold, Sandra Gray, Chris Harrison
Other Escambia County races of interest in the Atmore area include:
- Judge of Probate — Emilie Mims (R, incumbent), Robert Douglas Agerton (D).
- School Board District 2 – Danny Benjamin (D, incumbent)
- School Board District 3 – Jack Donald Crutchfield (D, incumbent) , Mike Edwards (R).
- School Board District 7 – Charles H. (Chuck) Brooks (D, incumbent), Coleman Wallace Sr. (R).
- Commission District 2 – John Raymond Wiggins (D, incumbent)
- Commission District 4 – Brandon Smith (R, incumbent), James H. Hall Jr. (D).
- Circuit Court — Bert Rice (D, incumbent )
- Circuit Clerk — John Robert Fountain (D), Becki Breckenridge (R)
Picture top: Atmore mayoral candidates Bernard Bishop, Jim Staff and Lloyd Albritton share a laugh during a political forum Thursday night in Atmore. Pictured inset: Probate judge candidate Emilie Mims (incumbent) and Douglas Agerton. Photos by Jodi Peacock for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Man Gets Prison Time For Torching Home, Pickup In Cantonment
August 3, 2012
A man has been sentenced for torching his pickup truck and Cantonment home in two different fires.
The State Fire Marshal’s Office said Lawrence William Patterson III, 24, set a fire inside his 2006 GMC Canyon pickup truck just before midnight on February 15, 2011. The fire was extinguished by the fire department, but not before it caused extensive damage to the garage in the 1800 block of Wareham Way in Cantonment. The rest of the house was not damaged.
The fire marshal left the scene at 5:03 a.m. on February 16. At 5:23 a.m., the fire department was called back to the house. This time, the other side of the house was on fire.
Patterson told investigators that the first fire was caused by some sort of malfunction in the truck. But when fire marshals investigated the two fires, they took debris samples from inside that truck that later test positive for gasoline.
Two fire marshal investigators and an independent fire investigator all determined that the fires were not accident and had been intentionally set.
Patterson attempted to file claims with two insurance companies — one for the truck and the other for the house. During the investigation, he gave conflicting statements to the insurance companies, claiming the fires were accidents.
Patterson was convicted of two counts of arson first degree, arson second degree, arson resulting in injury, two counts of insurance fraud and two counts of burning to defraud insurer. He was sentenced to Judge Linda Nobles to 10 years in state prison followed by 15 years in probation.
Florida Consumer Confidence On The Rise
August 3, 2012
Consumer confidence was up slightly in July over June, and dramatically higher than it was a year ago, a new report from the University of Florida finds.
Confidence of Florida consumers rose three points from June to July, to 76, nine points higher than the same period last year, according to the report by the university’s Bureau of Economic and Business Research. Perceptions of personal finances rose in July to their highest point since the end of the recession at the end of 2009.
Expectations of personal finances a year from now also rose, while expectations of U.S. economic conditions over the next year fell one point, the pollsters said.
Floridians’ gloomiest thoughts are on the prospects for U.S. economic conditions over the next five years, on which confidence fell three points to 77.
Perceptions as to whether it is a good time to buy big ticket items rose seven points to 84 in July.
“In July consumers are feeling much better about their personal finances compared to June and really to their circumstances since the recession ended two and a half years ago,” said Chris McCarty, the survey director. “Some of this can be attributed to a more positive housing picture in some areas of the state where prices are actually rising rather than falling.
By The News Service of Florida
Stewart Named Interim Florida Educational Commissioner
August 3, 2012
Public Schools Chancellor Pam Stewart will take over as interim education commissioner while the State Board of Education looks for a permanent leader for the department.
Board members agreed to tap Stewart for the position during a Thursday morning conference call.
On Tuesday, Commissioner Gerard Robinson announced his resignation, effective Aug. 31, saying he wanted to spend more time with his family. Robinson had also come under fire in recent months for his agency’s handling of the rollout of some FCAT scores and school grades.
Board Chairwoman Kathleen Shanahan said Stewart is only interested in being interim commissioner.
“Right now, she is not interested in the job on a permanent basis. That is her position today.” Shanahan said.
Blue Wahoos Top Tennesee 6-1
August 3, 2012
Blue Wahoos starting pitcher Wirfin Obispo struck out a career-high ten batters and gave up just two hits, while third baseman David Vidal homered and shortstop Billy Hamilton stole two more bases as Pensacola topped the Tennessee Smokies 6-1 on Thursday night at Smokies Park in Kodak, Tennessee.
The victory snapped Pensacola’s four-game losing streak and improved their second half record to 21-19, while Tennessee fell to 19-21 since the All-Star Break. The win also ended the Smokies’ hopes of sweeping the five-game series.
Obispo (6.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 10 SO) retired each of the first ten batters he faced and gave up the lone earned run on just two hits, along with just one walk. It was the first time the right-hander had last six innings, as he improved to 3-0 on the year.
The bullpen duo of Wilkin De La Rosa and Justin Freeman shut down the Smokies the rest of the way by combining for the final three perfect frames. De La Rosa (1.1 IP, 2 SO) received his fourth hold of 2012, while Freeman (1.2 IP, 2 SO) notched his 12th save.
The Blue Wahoos got the scoring started in the opening frame, plating two tallies. Hamilton began the inning with a walk before swiping both second and third to increase his total to 119 this year, moving him to within 26 of Vince Coleman’s single-season record of 145 set in 1983. Hamilton came home on RF Josh Fellhauer’s RBI double to left, while Fellhauer later came home when 1B Beau Mills reached on an error.
Pensacola then added an additional score in the third to extend the margin to 3-0. CF Bryson Smith reached on a base knock, subsequently stole second and took third on LF Donald Lutz’s single, before Vidal brought home Smith with a single to left.
The two clubs would then trade solo shots, with the Smokies getting on the board with a longball from 2B Logan Watkins, his fifth of the year. Vidal would then push Pensacola’s advantage back to three with a solo blast to left, his sixth roundtripper of the year.
Two insurance runs would then come plateward in the final frame for the Fish. 2B Miguel Rojas led off with a single, before Hamilton’s free pass and Fellhauer’s bunt single loaded the bases for Smith. The center fielder would drive in both Rojas and Hamilton with his two-run single into center, making it 6-1.
Vidal (2-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI) and Fellhauer (2-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI) each recorded multi-hit efforts in the victory for the Blue Wahoos, while Watkins collected the only two hits for Tennessee in the defeat. In total, Pensacola stole a total of four bases, one shy of their single-game season-high.
Tennessee starter Jake Brigham (3.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 SO) suffered the loss in his Smokies debut after giving up three runs, two of which were earned on five hits in his three innings of work. RHP Zach Rosscup (5.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO) fired five frames in relief, yielding a lone earned run on just two hits.
The Fish will now head to Huntsville to finish their 10-game road trip with a five-game series against the Huntsville Stars, the Double-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. RHP Chad Rogers, who was promoted from High-A Bakersfield earlier on Thursday is scheduled to make his Double-A debut for Pensacola, while RHP Johnnie Lowe is expected to get the nod for the Stars. First pitch is scheduled for 6:43 p.m. in Huntsville.
By Andrew Green
Pictured: Wirfin Obispo struck out a career-high 10 in his six innings on Thursday night for the Wahoos. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Herman John Hassebrock
August 3, 2012
Herman John Hassebrock, 85, of Bratt, was born to John and Annie Hassebrock on November 20, 1926, in Molino and passed away on Thursday, August 02, 2012.
He was a chemical operator at Monsanto for 31 years and the owner of Hassebrock’s Nursery in Bratt. He was a deacon emeritus and faithful member of Pine Barren Baptist church in Davisville.
He leaves behind his loving wife of 52 years, Annette Darby Hassebrock of Bratt; daughters, JoAnne Hassebrock Webb (Phillip) of Daphne; Donna Hassebrock Burkett (the late Gary Burkett) of Spanish Fort and Rhonda Hassebrock Gehman (Joe) of Birmingham; grandchildren, Zach Webb (Brook), Daphne; Kayla Gehman, Tuscaloosa; Ben Webb, Auburn and Abbey Gehman, Birmingham; his siblings, Eleanor Hassebrock Conover, Connie Hassebrock Gooden, Anne Hassebrock Jernigan, Johnny Hassebrock, Harry Hassebrock, all of Pensacola and Edwin Hassebrock of El Cajun, CA.
Funeral services will be Saturday, August 4, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with the Rev. Mike Harper officiating. Burial will follow at the Pine Barren Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Zach Webb, Ben Webb, Marion Cooper, Greg Vaughn, Mickey Peterson and Scottie Baker.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Covenant Hospice of Pensacola (5041 N. 12th Avenue, Pensacola, Florida 32504) who lovingly cared for him.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.