Atmore Christian Beats West Fla Baptist 13-1
March 16, 2012
Atmore Christian School beat West Florida Baptist in Milton Thursday afternoon 13-1 in five innings. ACS will next face Calvary Christian in Ft. Walton Beach.
Pictured top: Christopher Gehman (left), Zach Burnham and Dalton Hart at bat Thursday afternoon for Atmore Christian. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Missing Man Located
March 15, 2012
The body of a man last seen in Cantonment was located today in Baldwin County.
Terry Snelson, 42, was last seen alive on March 9 in the 900 block of Candy Lane.
He was found deceased in Baldwin County today, according Sgt. Mike Ward, spokesperson for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Officials with the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office declined to provide additional details as their investigation continues.
Ernest Ward Registration Underway, Forms Due Friday
March 15, 2012
Registration for Ernest Ward Middle School is underway.
Registration cards for the 2012-13 school year were sent home with students on Wednesday with current EWMS sixth and seventh grade students.
Students have previously selected elective courses for next school year. Parents should read the entire card (front and back) and discuss courses with the student. Changes in course selections may be indicated on the card. Parents have until June 15, 2012, to make changes. After June 15, changes will be made only for administrative reasons.
Along with the registration card a paper titled “Directions for Middle School Academy” was also sent home with students. It gives directions for applying online for the Culinary Academy, Electrical Academy, and Graphic Arts Academy at Ernest Ward. Application for an academy must be made online before April 1. Parents should sign and complete the registration card and the “Directions for Middle School Academy Registration” and return them to EWMS by Friday, March 16. If assistance is needed in applying for an academy, the parent may indicate this need by marking the appropriate reply on the bottom of the sheet.
For more information, call (850) 327-4283 and ask for Mrs. Murphy or Mrs. Hanks.
Charges Upgraded To Attempted Murder In Century Shotgun Shooting
March 15, 2012
Charges have been upgraded to first degree attempted murder against a 55-year old man accused of shooting a man as he ran across busy North Century Boulevard last December.
Willie James Floyd of Atmore was booked into the Escambia County Jail Tuesday evening on a charge of attempted premeditated first degree murder with a weapon. He remains behind bars with bond set at $87,000. He had previously been released from jail on a $13,000 bond for lesser charges.
Floyd is accused of shooting 30-year old Deririck Medlock of Hoover, Ala., December 6 as he ran across the 8100 block of North Century Boulevard.
Medlock told deputies he was traveling north on North Century Boulevard (Hwy. 29) about 3:50 p.m. when a white four-door vehicle swerved in front of him, cutting him off. Medlock said he pulled into the Century Quick Stop at 8130 North Century Boulevard to calm down after the near-accident.
Medlock said he was outside his vehicle talking on his cellphone when Floyd then pulled into the parking lot and confronted the him, according to an arrest report. Floyd then retrieved a shotgun from his car and fired into Medlock’s car, striking it with birdshot at the roof line above the rear passenger door (pictured below left).
The victim then ran across North Century Boulevard when Floyd fired again, striking the victim in the leg with birdshot. Birdshot was also lodged in his wallet in his back pants pocket. Medlock hid behind a tree across North Century Boulevard from the store, where he watched Floyd drive away. Medlock then drove to the Southern Panhandle Restaurant just north of the store and called 911. He was evaluated there by Escambia County EMS, and he refused transport to the hospital.
Other witnesses confirmed the details given by the victim, and at the shooting was captured on the store’s surveillance video. That video has not been released by prosecutors.
For more photos from the scene, click here.
Pictured top: Deririck Medlock of Hoover, Ala., explains how an Atmore man shot him with shotgun December 6 in Century as Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Frank Way listens. Pictured inset: Damage to the victim’s car. Pictured below: A December afternoon shooting outside a Century convenience has led to first degree premeditated murder charges against the suspected gunman. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Senate Begins Work On Changing New Evers, Gaetz Districts
March 15, 2012
Senators began looking Wednesday for ways to respond to the Florida Supreme Court’s decision to throw out the upper chamber’s redistricting maps, including districts that include Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
A northern district across Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton and Bay counties held by Sen. Greg Evers, R-Baker and the southern portion of the counties making up a district held by Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville were among the eight tossed the Supreme Court.
The court did not like how the counties were split because it said lawmakers could not justify dividing the Panhandle into two districts that ran east-to-west, dividing a number of counties, instead of a north-south alignment.
Wednesday, Senate leaders reiterated their stance, which has come under criticism from some Democrats, that the Supreme Court affirmed the lion’s share of the Senate map by specifically citing just eight districts in its ruling. Any changes are likely to be narrowly aimed at fixing those districts, they said.
“If you know that 32 seats have met the criteria, why upset those 32 if you possibly can (avoid it)?” said Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island.
But the chamber was also colliding with the reality that any change to the eight districts singled out are likely to ripple across the state, as the requirement that districts be relatively equal in size mean that adjustments in one set of lines will cause another to shift.
“We shouldn’t go remedying things that were not pointed out as problems,” said Gaetz. “Having said that, I don’t think that you can only affect eight districts.”
And Democrats, some of whom warned that the first draft of Senate maps did not meet the anti-gerrymandering Fair Districts amendments approved by voters in 2010, were pushing for more. They have insisted that simply tweaking the existing maps won’t do the job.
“Just because facially, the court didn’t say that this district or another district had some issues doesn’t mean that there aren’t some issues there that we could not possibly address,” said Sen. Nan Rich, D-Weston.
Aside from the incumbents who could see their lines significantly altered, the thorniest potential issue was how to unwind a system for numbering districts that justices also found unconstitutional. All 40 Senate districts are up for re-election this year, meaning that some senators will be elected to two-year terms and some to four-year terms.
But because of the way the state’s term-limits laws work, the districts can be numbered in such a way that most members of the chamber could serve for up to 10 years — longer than the constitutional, eight-year limit for lawmakers. The system adopted by the Senate, which would have allowed that, was struck down by the court for favoring incumbents.
The question now is how to allocate the numbers. Among the alternatives being weighed by the Senate: numbering the districts to ensure no one serves more than eight years; arranging numbers randomly, at least in relation to the odd-even split that determines the length of terms won in 2012; using geography to decide the numbers; or finding some other “orderly pattern” to assign them.
“My own view is that the system ought to be as random as possible,” Gaetz said after the meeting.
But members seemed divided on the question.
Sen. Gwen Margolis, D-North Miami Beach, advocated trying to limit extra time as much as possible, because of the intent of term limits.
“It seems to that the people voted for ‘Eight is Enough,’ and that’s probably what we should be looking at,” Margolis said.
Others were less certain. Sen. Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee, complained that giving four-year terms to lawmakers who got only two in the 2010 elections, could also fatigue voters if they had to return to polls again in 2014.
“It’s not just the incumbent that I think we should focus on, but it’s the question of the community and citizens themselves,” Montford said. “How many elections should they have to endure?”
House members met briefly Wednesday but will not return again until the week of March 26 to approve a redistricting plan. Redistricting Chairman Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, said his committee could meet March 26, with the plan going to the full House the following two days.
The News Service Florida contributed to this report.
Patchy Fog Overnight
March 15, 2012
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Patchy fog. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 57. South wind around 5 mph.
- Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. Calm wind becoming south between 5 and 10 mph.
- Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 56. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 81. Calm wind becoming south between 5 and 10 mph.
- Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. Calm wind becoming south between 5 and 10 mph.
- Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 81. Calm wind becoming south between 10 and 15 mph.
- Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58.
- Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 79.
- Tuesday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Wednesday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 76. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Wednesday Night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Thursday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 74.
Ransom FFA Takes Part In ‘Ag On The Hill’
March 15, 2012
Five Ransom Middle School FFA chapter members recently participated in “Ag on the Hill” day in Tallahassee.
Anabella Garcia, Connor Groff, Patra Miller, Rachel Grammer, and Ashley Stokes were among the FFA members that had the chance to see government in action and promote agricultural education at the state capitol.
Participants were introduced by Rep. Clay Ingram to the Florida House of Representatives in the House Chamber Gallery during a legislative session and were addressed in special chambers by Agriculture Commissioner Adam H. Putman.
The Florida Association of Agricultural Educators (FAAE) in conjunction with the Florida FFA Association and the University of Florida’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS), hosted the event.
Pictured top: Ransom Middle School FFA members Rachel Grammer, sentinel; Patra Miller, creed speaker; Anabella Garcia, president; Connor Groff, treasurer; and Ashley Stokes, secretary.
Century Man Charged After Gun Fired In Nightclub
March 15, 2012
A Century man is facing charges after he allegedly accidentally fired his gun in a crowded Pensacola nightclub.
Christopher Torrey, 19, was charged with carrying a concealed weapon and culpable negligence in connection with the incident at the Platinum Club on North Palafox Street.
According to the Pensacola Police Department, Torrey had the gun in his shorts pocket because he had heard there would be some kind of trouble at the club. He told deputies that he heard a gunshot and realized he was bleeding from his hand. Officers said it appeared he had fired the gun by accident from the pocket of his shorts, with the gun slide injuring his hand. Torrey said it was possible that he fired the gun, but he did not admit to pulling the trigger.
A 26-year old female inside the club was apparently struck on the left knee by the bullet as it ricocheted from the floor. She was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital for treatment.
Pensacola Police reported recovering the gun from Torrey’s shorts and the bullet from the floor of the club.
NAS Pensacola To Be Closed Next Week For Exercise
March 15, 2012
Naval Air Station Pensacola (NASP, Corry Station and Saufley Field) will participate in Exercise Solid Curtain-Citadel Shield 2012; an anti-terrorism/force protection exercise that will be conducted on all continental United States naval installations March 19 – 24.
This annual exercise, coordinated by U.S. Fleet Forces Command is designed to enhance training and readiness of Naval Security Force personnel to respond to threats to installations and units throughout the nation. All security processes will be implemented during the exercise to evaluate preparedness.
Military personnel, civilian employees, retirees, family members and visitors should factor in additional time for getting through gates to conduct business on NAS Pensacola. Vehicle drivers and passengers should carry proper identification with them at all times.
Local communities may also experience traffic delays on roadways leading to or in proximity to the base. Area residents may also notice increased military activity associated with the exercise. Elevation of force protection conditions and increased security measures can be anticipated for the duration of the exercise.
Naval Air Station Pensacola will close all access and activities aboard the base at 11 a.m., March 22 and remain closed through 11 a.m., March 24. Only mission essential personnel will be allowed on the base.
The National Museum of Naval Aviation will be closed all day, Friday and Saturday, March 23 and 24. Fort Barrancas, the Advanced Redoubt, and Barrancas National Cemetery will be closed Thursday, Friday and Saturday, March 22 though 24.
Solid Curtain-Citadel Shield is a regularly scheduled exercise and is not being held in response to any specific threat.
Leaders: Efforts To Crack Down On Pill Mills Is Working
March 15, 2012
Efforts to crack down on Florida’s pill mills have already shown results, Gov. Rick Scott and other state officials said Wednesday.
When Scott took office in January 2011, seven Floridians a day were dying of prescription-drug overdoses, and people from other states came here to make their buys.
Now, according to the 2011 Interim Drugs Identified in Deceased Persons Report, the number of prescription-drug deaths has fallen nearly eight percent compared to the same period in 2010.
And since their creation a year ago, Florida’s Drug Enforcement Strike Force Teams have made 2,150 arrests and seized nearly half a million pills, 391 weapons and $4.7 million, said Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Gerald Bailey.
“We’ve gone from being known as the ‘Oxy Express’ to being a role model for our sister states,” Bailey said.
As a result of law enforcement efforts and a new state law, which went into effect on July 1, oxycodone purchases by Florida doctors have dropped 97 percent from 2010 to 2011, officials said.
In 2010, Florida was home to 90 of the nation’s top 100 Oxycodone-buying doctors and 53 of its top 100 Oxycodone-buying pharmacies. But over the last year, the number of such doctors has been reduced by 85 percent, to 13, and the number of pharmacies has dropped 64 percent, to 19; the number of pain clinics has dropped from 800 to 508 statewide.
What’s more, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration reported in January that 21 doctors in Georgia and 11 in Tennessee are now among the nation’s top 100.
Bailey, Scott, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Interim Surgeon General Steven Harris and other officials touted the success of the state’s efforts Wednesday. Bondi, who worked with her counterpart in Kentucky, Attorney General Jack Conway, recalled a trip there to meet with Conway and anti-drug advocates.
“I had to hug a mother who lost her daughter two years ago to prescription drugs, and those drugs were bought here in Florida,” Bondi said. “So hopefully, that’s going to stop.”
The new law restricts doctors from prescribing the type of opiate drugs that are often abused, leading to overdoses and deaths, said Harris, interim head of the state Department of Health.
Among those arrested by the strike forces were 34 doctors, and DOH is reviewing the emergency suspension order used when licensed medical practitioners pose a threat to the public safety.
The amount of time it takes for a suspension to occur has been reduced from an average of more than five months to 30 days or less in half the cases, Harris said.
Florida law enforcement officers, meanwhile, are breathing sighs of relief as the allure of the state’s pill mills abates – and with it, a powerful magnet for related crimes.
Compared to last year, said Winter Park Police Chief Brett Railey, the number of drug offenses in Central Florida has plummeted.
“Over 650 arrests have been made, numerous illicit pain management clinics have been closed, and dozens of unethical medical professionals have been stopped from doing business in our region.”
Railey said an important tool has been the availability of strike force funding, without which many of the cases would have gone unaddressed. The statewide strike force, under the coordination of FDLE, works with seven regional teams, each led by a police chief and sheriff.
But law enforcement officials warned that much work remains – and that criminals will find new ways to dispense their wares.
Sales are already migrating to online locations.
“We will not be able to restore our state’s good name overnight,” said Steve Casey, executive director of the Florida Sheriffs Association, “but we are making progress.”
By The News Service of Florida