Traffic Stop Leads To Drug Arrest
February 5, 2012
A Cantonment man was arrested on drug charges following a traffic stop.
Corderious D. Stanton, 19, was charged with possession of marijuana less than 20 grams and possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute.
An Escambia County deputy conducted a traffic stop for a broken tail light on Stanton’s vehicle in the parking lot of the Tom Thumb at 392 South Highway 29.
According to an arrest report, Stanton told the deputy that he had a small amount of marijuana in his front pocket. A search of the vehicle also located a quantity of crack cocaine in the vehicle cut into individual pieces.
Stanton was released from the Escambia County Jail on $16,000 bond.
Super Sunday Forecast
February 5, 2012
Here is your Super Bowl Sunday forecast for the North Escambia area:
- Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 68. North wind around 5 mph.
- Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 41. North wind around 5 mph.
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 68. North wind around 5 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40. North wind around 5 mph.
- Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 67. North wind around 5 mph.
- Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. North wind around 5 mph.
- Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 64. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
- Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
- Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 64.
- Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40.
- Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 62.
- Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 36.
- Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 58.
Memorial Service Today For Local I-75 Crash Victims
February 5, 2012
A memorial service will be held this afternoon for Michael and Lori Hughes, the Escambia County couple that was killed last Sunday during a horrific crash on I-75 near Gainsville.
The service will take place at 2 p.m. at the Quality Inn & Suites at 7601 Scenic Highway in Pensacola.
The crash on a fog and smoke covered interstate claimed the life of 11 people, including Michael Hughes’ daughter Sabryna Hughes Gilley, age 17. A candlelight vigil in her honor was held Friday night at Avondale Park in the Bellview community.
Michael Hughes grew up in the Jacks Branch Road area and was a 1990 graduate of Tate High School.
The Florida Highway Patrol had closed I-75 last Sunday due to reduced visibility from a mix of smoke from a nearby brush fire and fog. The six-lane road was closed about three hours before being reopened by the Florida Highway Patrol. A short time later, the first crash occurred.
Before it was over, authorities said at least a dozen cars, a half dozen semis and a motor home had collided.
Florida Gov’t Weekly Roundup: You Gotta Know When To Fold ‘Em
February 5, 2012
When the 2012 legislative session underway, it would have been safe to predict that redistricting would be the most-difficult — and politically divisive — issue to resolve.
But with House votes Friday, the Republican-dominated Legislature is close to finalizing its redistricting plans. The maps likely will face court challenges from Democrats and other critics, but Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, praised what he described as a “careful, thoughtful and deliberative process.”
Supporters of resort casinos and prison privatization can only wish their proposals had moved so smoothly.
The controversial casino idea appears dead this session, after House sponsor Erik Fresen, R-Miami, decided Friday against taking his chances with a vote in the Business & Consumer Affairs Subcommittee.
Senate President Mike Haridopolos, meanwhile, had to put off a vote this week on privatizing prisons across the southern half of the state after running into bipartisan opposition.
DISTRICTS COMING INTO FOCUS: House members voted along party lines Friday to pass legislative and congressional maps and send them back to the Senate for final approval next week.
Republican leaders said the maps follow constitutional requirements, including complying with a 2010 ballot initiative aimed at eliminating gerrymandering. They said, for example, the maps will lump some incumbent Republicans into the same districts and also split fewer cities and counties than in the past.
“At the end of the day, this decision is bigger than us, this map is bigger than us, the Constitution is bigger than any one of us,” said House Redistricting Chairman Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel.
But Democrats blasted the maps, saying they were designed to help elect Republicans and violate the 2010 ballot initiative, which was known as the Fair Districts amendment. The Democratic arguments also set the stage for a legal fight in the coming months.
“This vote by the GOP is nothing less than a slap-in-the face to the 63 percent of Florida voters who approved Fair Districts — the maps passed today by the Florida House are unconstitutional, pure and simple,” state Democratic Party Executive Director Scott Arceneaux said in a statement Friday. “They represent just the type of partisan gerrymandering and incumbent protection voters rejected in 2010.”
CASINOS BILL GOES OUT WITH A WHIMPER
For weeks, swarms of lobbyists and public-relations people waged a battle in Tallahassee about “destination” resort casinos. Meanwhile, folks at home turned on their TVs and saw ads touting – or criticizing — the proposed move into a new realm of gambling.
But after all of that, the issue appeared to die Friday without House members taking a vote.
House sponsor Fresen decided against having the Business & Consumer Affairs Subcommittee vote on the bill (HB 487), after it looked like the panel would reject it. Barring a miracle, that dooms the issue for the 2012 session.
The bill’s opponents, such as Florida Chamber of Commerce President Mark Wilson, praised the move.
“For all intents and purposes, today’s decision to postpone consideration of the gambling legislation is a decision to let what happens in Vegas stay in Vegas and frees up the Florida Legislature to address critical issues facing our state,” Wilson said in a prepared statement.
But supporters signaled they would keep working on the issue, which could come back next year.
“Private investment is critical to the health of our industry and our state’s economy, and we firmly believe that this great opportunity should not be put to the wayside,” said Carol Bowen, a vice president of Associated Builders and Contractors Florida East Coast Chapter. “It’s important that the conversation continues on this issue and the job-creating efforts in Florida never rest.”
PRISON PRIVATIZATION SHACKLED
Haridopolos and Budget Chairman JD Alexander have pushed since last year’s session to privatize prisons across the southern part of the state, arguing it would save money that could be used for other needs such as education.
But when Haridopolos brought the issue to the Senate floor this week, he ran into opposition from a coalition of Democrats and Republicans. That forced Haridopolos to twice postpone moving forward with the privatization bill, as he tried to gather enough votes to pass it.
The standoff intensified Wednesday, when Haridopolos stripped Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, of his role as chairman of the Senate Criminal Justice Appropriations Subcommittee. Fasano has been perhaps the most-outspoken critic of the privatization plan.
Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, said he didn’t think Fasano was committed to making needed budget cuts, which includes the prison-privatization plan.
“I’m asking other budget chairmen to make difficult cuts,” Haridopolos said. “It became clear to me that Sen. Fasano was not willing to make those difficult cuts.”
But Fasano harshly criticized the decision and said he was standing up for the “little guy and gal.”
“No matter how big the bully in the schoolyard may be, if the loss of a chairmanship is the result of taking a stand for what is right, I wear that loss as a badge of honor,” Fasano said.
Haridopolos acknowledged this week what was obvious when the vote was postponed – the votes may not be there to pass it.
“It’s super-close,” he said. “There’s a good chance we could bring it up and not win.”
STORY OF THE WEEK: The proposal to allow up to three mega-resort casinos in Florida appeared to die, when the House sponsor pulled it from consideration in a House subcommittee. The subcommittee chairman and House Rules chairman both indicated the bill will not come up again this session in the House.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “It’s also a comfort today as I hear testimony and debate that I’m not the only one moving. I hope it will help the housing market in Florida, what we’re doing here today.”–Rep. Dennis Baxley, an Ocala Republican whose home was drawn into a district with another incumbent.
By The News Service of Florida
Great For The Kids: Turtle Point Science Center Open House
February 5, 2012
There was an open house held Saturday at the Turtle Point Science Center in Flomaton. If you missed it, there is another chance to see the facility next month.
The next open house at Turtle Point is scheduled for March 31 from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Admission is free.
For more photos from Saturday’s open house, click here.
The 3,000 square foot facility offers a touch tank for children and other hands-on exhibits. It boasts an extensive collection of wildlife specimens including many Alabama birds, nests, and eggs; a butterfly and living bee exhibit; live alligators, turtles, snakes, amphibians, and fish of the East Gulf Coastal Plain geophysical region. Also, plant lovers will find six teaching gardens and a wetland nature trail.
Bird watchers are encouraged to hike the nature trail boardwalk and enjoy the red-tailed hawk, great blue heron, great egret, pileated woodpecker, red-headed woodpecker, yellow-shafted flicker, yellow bellied sap sucker, eastern bluebird, wren, killdeer, green heron, barred owl, screech owl, and many other native birds and wildlife.
Turtle Point’s goal is to provide hands-on environmental education to students and adults in the South Alabama and Northwest Florida. Turtle Point is located at 20959 Highway 31 in Flomaton, near Hurricane Park and Flomaton High School. For more information, call (251) 296-3401.
Pictured top: The Turtle Point Science Center in Flomaton. Pictured inset: A golden eagle on display at Turtle Point. Pictured below: A view of the Big Escambia Creek as seen from the nature trail at Turtle Point. Photos by Marcella Wilson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Locals Run The Double Bridges (With Results)
February 5, 2012
The 15th annual Pensacola Double Bridge Run was held Saturday with a 15K run, a 5K run and a 5K walk.
Rusty Branch of Cantonment wast the top North Escambia finisher at number 16 overall in the 15K run with a time of 57:09. Jessica Nesmith of Atmore was top local finisher at number three overall in the 5K walk with a time of 33:36.
Numerous North Escambia area residents took part. They were as follows:
Pensacola Double Bridge 15K Run
16. Rusty Branch Cantonment, 57:09
77. James Dillard Cantonment, 1:05:24
114. Matt Dobson, Jay, 1:08:19
136. Hank Colburn Cantonment, 1:08:19
149. Cory Phelps Cantonment, 1:08:41
202. Steve Black Cantonment, 1:11:12
273. James Stinson Cantonment, 1:14:17
277. Ryan Conner Cantonment, 1:11:29
329. Thomas Pierce Cantonment, 1:14:35
361. Thomas Rollins Cantonment, 1:15:28
428. Gayla Rowland Cantonment, 1:17:08
515. Beth Hammond Cantonment, 1:19:33
528. Brad Collins Cantonment, 1:19:42
560. Andrew Kim Cantonment, 1:20:30
591. Stacey Lowe, Jay, 1:21:23
600. Amy Stachowicz Cantonment, 1:21:35
656. Amanda Jensen Cantonment, 1:22:49
661. Timothy Montgome Cantonment, 1:23:17
696. Jeb Hunt Cantonment, 1:23:25
745. Brooke Rowell Cantonment, 1:23:08
817. Terry Goen Cantonment, 1:26:09
819. Roger Dobson, Jay, 1:26:38
854. Jason Weber Atmore, 1:24:26
882. Chad Hetheringto Cantonment, 1:25:49
890. Geoff Cook Cantonment, 1:28:06
1013. Jason Beck Cantonment, 1:26:49
1014. Matt Powell Cantonment, 1:26:49
1016. Joshua Moralita Cantonment, 1:31:46
1045. Christopher Raws Cantonment, 1:28:41
1046. Bill Buck Cantonment, 1:26:07
1066. Beth Anne Whitfield, Jay, 1:30.08
1140. Joshua Tucker Cantonment, 1:33:14
1146. Ashley McCormick Cantonment, 1:31:05
1174. Mark Gibson Cantonment, 1:32:50
1185. Ashley Brewster Cantonment, 1:32:44
1192. Corrie Lenn Cantonment, 1:32:33
1226. Ruth Grissom Cantonment, 1:35:28
1241. Darcy Conner Cantonment, 1:33:38
1264. Lace Raney, Jay, 1:34.28
1273. Brian Moore Cantonment, 1:35:05
1325. Gary Summitt Cantonment, 1:32:26
1392. Shirley Raney, Jay, 1:37:41
1441. Donna Hassebrock Molino, 1:36:43
1493. Dana Stumfall Cantonment, 1:34:37
1521. Melanie Jacobi Molino, 1:38:21
1602. Dominick Mondell Cantonment, 1:39:50
1609. Johnny Mondello Cantonment, 1:40:05
1652. Jennifer Little Cantonment, 1:43:12
1880. Janie Cobb Cantonment, 1:54:39
1899. Lindsey Milam Cantonment, 2:00:18
1907. Michelle Chan Cantonment, 1:54:02
1908. Nicholas Chan Cantonment, 1:54:06
1928. Brittny Abrahams Cantonment, 1:55:38
1940. Julie Spurlock Cantonment, 1:56:59
1946. Cinda Skaggs Molino, 1:55:55
1947. Scotty Skaggs Molino, 1:55:56
1986. Jennifer Collins Cantonment, 1:59:56
2018. Rebecca Corneliu Cantonment, 2:05:20
2020. Kency Summitt Cantonment, 2:07:03
Pensacola Double Bridge 5K Run
42. Randall Kelley, Jay, 24:13:00
71. Teresa Hendricks, Jay, 25:25:00
121. Haley Malone, Cantonment, 26:55:00
148. Alex McCrory, Cantonment, 27:45:00
209. Todd Stachowicz, Cantonment, 28:52:00
233. Jeffrey Bretana, Cantonment, 29:23:00
242. Brad Faulk, Century, 29:31:00
244. Adrian King, Century, 29:32:00
261. Sherry Glover, Cantonment, 29:52:00
263. Michael Leblanc, Cantonment, 29:55:00
269. Kendall McCrory, Cantonment, 29:57:00
273. Courtney Clarke, Cantonment, 29:58:00
326. Gene King, Century, 30:52:00
335. Glen Weber, McDavid, 31:03:00
389. Allison McCrory, Cantonment, 32:17:00
391. Kim Brown, Cantonment, 32:18:00
392. Susan Stromberg, Cantonment, 32:18:00
404. Patrick Wilkcs, Cantonment, 32:27:00
405. Kathy Stinson, Cantonment, 32:27:00
427. Allison Miller, Cantonment, 32:49:00
432. Waleed Kader, Cantonment, 32:56:00
438. Chris Reiter, Cantonment, 33:02:00
454. Clif Strickland, Cantonment, 33:18:00
482. Kelly Gary, Molino, 33:57:00
485. Bridgette Clancy, Cantonment, 33:59:00
534. Stephanie Godfrey, Cantonment, 34:49:00
538. Madison Whitfield, Jay, 34:54:00
550. Bruce Pope, Cantonment, 35:15:00
572. Judy King, Century, 35:37:00
588. Franklin Alexander, Cantonment, 35:53:00
648. Louis Lanier, Cantonment, 37:06:00
660. Dawn Thomas, Cantonment, 37:30:00
679. Kim Golden, Cantonment, 38:09:00
686. Robyn Hoffman, Cantonment, 38:22:00
733. Debi Luke, Cantonment, 39:56:00
768. Whitney Bretana, Cantonment, 41:14:00
793. Jeremy Evans, Cantonment, 42:16:00
802. Amber Wise, Cantonment, 42:41:00
805. Sharon Colburn, Cantonment, 42:49:00
814. Sandra Long, Cantonment, 43:40:00
846. Debbie Stewart, Cantonment, 45:19:00
847. Anna Gilg, Cantonment, 45:20:00
881. Mrs. Wilkcs, Cantonment, 49:05:00
898. Kimberly Kelly, Atmore, 52:02:00
899. Lori Eddins, Cantonment, 52:32:00
Pensacola Double Bridge 5K Walk
3. Jessica Nesmith, Atmore, 33:36:00
7. Sonny Manning, Cantonment, 36:14:00
17. Kim McLean, Cantonment, 38:50:00
19. Candace Gibson, Cantonment, 39:24:00
22. Wiley Tramble, Cantonment, 39:42:00
45. Darline Jones, Cantonment, 43:11:00
47. Catherine Griffin, Cantonment, 43:14:00
53. Lisa Taylor, Cantonment, 43:39:00
54. Mike Taylor, Cantonment, 43:39:00
135. Michael Clouse, Cantonment, 49:32:00
151. Joan Martin, Jay, 50:58:00
160. Donna Lancaster, Cantonment, 51:20:00
168. Chrystal Pedicord, Cantonment, 51:53:00
169. Carly Haskins, Cantonment, 51:53:00
170. Cindy Walker, Cantonment, 52:00:00
190. Fielding Stephens, Cantonment, 52:50:00
213. Mary Virgini Mills, Cantonment, 54:58:00
229. Jodi Livingston, Cantonment, 57:18:00
140. Haley Murph, Century, 49:58:00
99. Taunia Williams, Molino, 47:31:00
100. Lynda Mabire, Molino, 47:32:00
186. Tracy Yuhasz, Molino, 52:31:00
188. Wesley Partrick, Molino, 52:49:00
226. Robynn Maloney, Molino, 57:16:00
227. Lakota Maloney, Molino, 57:16:00
Birth: Freddie W. McCall IV
February 5, 2012
Freddie W. McCall III and Ashley L. McCall are proud to announce the birth of Freddie W. McCall IV. Freddie was born January 27, 2012.
Freddie weighed 7-pounds, 12-ounces and was 18.5 inches long.
He was welcomed by grandparents Freddie McCall, Jr. of Brewton and Sheri McCall of McKenzie, and Katie and Donnie Gibson from Atmore. Great-grandparents are Bo and Dot Brantley of Flomaton; Freddie McCall, Sr. and Margie McCall of Century; and Linda Giles of Atmore and Boby Gibson of Atmore. His great-great grandmother is Lois Gibson of Walnut Hill.
Clara Jean Freeman Wolfe
February 5, 2012
Clara Jean Freeman Wolfe age 63 of Jay, passed away Friday, February 3, 2012, in Pensacola.
Funeral Services will be held at noon on Tuesday, February 7, 2012, at Jay Funeral Home. A visitation will be held from 11 a.m. until noon. Burial will follow at Pinelevel Cemetery.
Marion Monroe Collins
February 5, 2012
Mrs. Marion Monroe Collins, 58, died Thursday, January 26, 2012, after a brief illness.
She was a native of Boston and a resident of Pollard. She was a member of Flomaton United Methodist Church. She was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas and Yvonne Monroe, Sr.; a son, Sam Collins Jr. and two siblings, Joyce Monroe and Walter Monroe.
She is survived by her husband of 32 years, Sam Collins Sr. of Pollard; two daughters, Jenna Collins of Wisconsin, and Martha Collins of Pollard; one step-daughter, Samantha Boykin of Mobile; two grandchildren, Kaleigh Pierre and Samuel Boykin; two brothers, David Monroe of Massachusetts, and Thomas Monroe of Mobile; two sisters, Virginia Monroe of Massachusetts and Shafia Monroe of Mobile; and other friends and family.
Funeral services were held Saturday, Feb. 4, at 11 a.m. at Flomaton United Methodist Church with Pastor Patricia Bruner officiating. Burial followed at Pollard Cemetery with Presley-Fluker Funeral Home directing.
Escambia Double Murder Under Investigation
February 4, 2012
A double murder early Saturday morning is under investigation.
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies remained on the scene in the 2300 block of North Spring Street throughout the morning Saturday investigating the murders.
Investigators are saying two victims were found, but they are releasing few other details at this point. Identities and causes of death have not yet been released.
Saturday, the Sheriff’s Office said they were looking for two possible witnesses to the crime. By Sunday afternoon, investigators said the witnesses had been located and other leads in the case were being followed.
Anyone with information about the double murders is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at 850 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.