Escambia Sentenced To 33.5 Years For Attack On Sleeping Woman
January 31, 2012
An Escambia County man was sentenced to 33.5 years in prison Monday on a sexual battery conviction.
Alvin Alexander, 58, was found guilty by an Escambia County jury in September 2011 on three counts of sexual battery with great force, burglary of a dwelling with a battery, and aggravated battery with great bodily harm.
On October 21, 2010, Alexander entered the residence of the 22-year old female victim who was alone at home and asleep in her bed. The victim was awakened by Alexander beating her with a metal pipe. As she tried to escape, Alexander forced her to remain inside. While inside, he continued to beat her with the metal pipe and sexually battered her multiple times, according to State Attorney Bill Eddins.
High School Coach Charged With Sexual Battery Of Student
January 30, 2012
A part-time track coach at Pine Forest High School was arrested Monday afternoon for the alleged sexual battery of one of his students .
Paul Lavell Jones, 28, was arrested after being questioned by Escambia County Sheriff’s Office investigators about an incident that occurred over the weekend with a student.
According to the victim, he was picked up by Paul at his home around 10 p.m. Friday night and taken to several bars and nightclubs in the area and where Jones bought and provided the victim with alcohol.
The victim told investigators that the next thing he remembered was waking up nude in a bed. Jones then took the victim back to the victim’s home. where the victim then told his mother what happened.
Investigators posed as the victim and engaged in a text message conversation with Jones using the victim’s phone. Investigators then made contact with Jones and through the interview and text messaging were able to determine that a crime had occurred, an ECSO press release states.
Jones was charged with sexual batter and giving alcohol to a person under 21 years of age. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $30,000.
Rash Of Molino Vehicle Burglaries Under Investigation
January 30, 2012
A series of vehicle burglaries late last week in the Molino area are under investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
About a dozen vehicles were broken into at homes across the Molino area overnight Wednesday and Thursday with the owners reporting the burglaries on Thursday and Friday. No additional vehicle burglaries were reported during the weekend in the area.
At one home on Highway 95A, a resident reported that three vehicles — all unlocked — were burglarized at his home sometime Thursday night. He reported that a .357 revolver, Oakley sunglasses, Nikon binoculars and wallet were missing. Other items — including knives and GPS units — were reported stolen from other vehicles around the area.
Deputies are encouraging residents to lock their vehicles.
So far, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has not reported any leads on the vehicle burglaries. Anyone with information on the crimes is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or CrimeStoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
The vehicle burglaries were reported on Highway 95A near Kemala Avenue and Brickton Road, Barrineau Park Road near Schifko Road, Barrineau Park Road near Blueberry Lane, Youngwood Lane near Red Fern Road and Schifko Road near Barrineau Park Road.
Pictured: Three of the vehicles that were burglarized late last week in Molino. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
EDATE: Vote Is Tuesday On Tax Waiver To Create Jobs
January 30, 2012
When voters head to the polls Tuesday for Florida’s Republican primary, they will also have the chance to vote on EDATE — the Escambia County Ad Valorem Tax Exemption.
EDATE — as much as it may sound like internet dating — is a property tax abatement program that’s designed to encourage businesses to relocate to Escambia County and encourage existing businesses to expand. The tax abatements are good for up to 10 years.
“Over 4,000 new jobs in Escambia County are credited to EDATE,” Escambia County Administrator Randy Oliver said. Navy Federal has created 3,000 new jobs under the EDATE program, while International Paper has added 496. In all, 4,346 jobs have been created under the EDATE program, according to county records.
“It is a tool for economic development,” Oliver said. “The county gives up tax dollars in exchange for jobs.”
In order for a company to qualify to pass on property taxes under EDATE, there must be an increased assessed value on their property. “So in theory it does not impact current tax revenue,” Oliver added.
The tax waivers do not impact any other taxing district — tax revenue is not cut for schools, the Northwest Florida Water Management District or the city of Pensacola.
Companies do not automatically qualify for a full 100% abatement — different levels of discounts are given under the program. A full tax waiver would require an investment over $5 million and over 100 new jobs that pay an above average wage. Anything else and the percentage of forgiven taxes decreases.
The EDATE program has been in place since the early 1990’s and must be approved every10 years. If approved Tuesday, the EDATE program will continue through 2022 in Escambia County.
While Tuesday’s election is the Republican Presidential Primary, Democrats and independent voters can also head to the polls to vote on the EDATE referendum.
Tate Softball Preseason Classic Begins Tuesday
January 30, 2012
The Tate Lady Aggies will host a Preseason Classic Tuesday and Thursday this week at the Tate Softball Field.
On Tuesday, West Florida will take on Pace at 4:30 and Tate will play Escambia at 6:30. The two losing teams will play again Thursday at 4:30, while Tuesday’s winners will meet Thursday at 6:30.
Deer Blamed For Highway 97 Wreck That Injured Two
January 30, 2012
A deer is being blamed for a traffic crash on Highway 97 in Davisville Sunday night.
The driver of a Ford Focus collided with the deer about 6:20 p.m. while southbound on Highway 97 south of Meadows Lane at Mike’s Ag Air Airport. The three people in the vehicle were not injured.
The driver of a motorcycle lost control while southbound on Highway 97 as he saw and attempted to avoid the deer that had just been hit by the Ford Focus. Both the driver and a female passenger on the motorcycle were ejected. They were transported by ambulance to Atmore Community Hospital in stable condition.
Both accidents are under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Atmore Ambulance and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the call.
The deer did not survive the collision with the Ford Focus.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Poll: Romney Pulls Ahead Of Gingrich Among Likely GOP Voters
January 30, 2012
Republican candidate Mitt Romney has gained ground on contender Newt Gingrich as the former Massachusetts governor opened up a 38-29 percent lead among likely Republican voters, according to a Quinnipiac Polling Institute poll released Friday. With just hours remaining before the January 31 Florida presidential primary, Romney expanded his lead over the former U.S. House Speaker.
A Q-Poll released Wednesday showed the two in a statistical dead heat following Gingrich’s victory over Romney in South Carolina last week. The poll’s margin of error is 4.1 percentage points.
By The News Service of Florida
Two Railroad Crossings Being Installed In Walnut Hill
January 30, 2012
Railroad crossing gates and flashing lights are being installed at two locations in Walnut Hill at a cost of about $445,000.
The crossing are being install on Arthur Brown Road about two miles west of Highway 97 and on Pine Forest Road.
Arthur Brown Road
The Florida Department of Transportation will fund the $250,000 estimated cost to improve the Alabama & Gulf Coast Railway crossing on Arthur Brown Road. Escambia County and Alabama & Gulf Coast will split the $3,146 annual maintenance cost for the crossing controls.
Currently, westbound drivers on Arthur Brown Road approaching the crossing travel parallel to the railroad tracks before making an immediate 90 degree turn across the tracks, making it difficult to see oncoming trains.
Work on the Arthur Brown Crossing began last week.
Pine Forest Road
A railroad crossing signal will be installed on Pine Forest Road in Walnut Hill.
The Florida Department of Transportation will fund the $195,000 estimated cost to improve the the Alabama & Gulf Coast Railway crossing on Pine Forest Road.. Escambia County and Alabama & Gulf Coast will split the $3,146 annual maintenance for the crossing controls.
The railway, Pelt Road and Rockaway Creek Road all intersect Pine Forest Road over about a 200 foot span, in what is almost a three-way intersection with the railroad tracks in the middle. The crossing is about two miles from Highway 97.
Work on the crossing is expected to begin as early as this week.
Pictured: Work is almost complete on a new railroad cross on Arthur Brown Road in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Your Work Week Forecast
January 30, 2012
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 39. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 72. Calm wind becoming south between 5 and 10 mph.
- Tuesday Night: A slight chance of showers, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55. Southeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
- Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms. High near 69. Southeast wind between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
- Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 73. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
- Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 71. East wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. East wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 68.
- Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44.
- Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 61.
- Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 38.
- Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 62.
Janice Lee Turner
January 30, 2012
Mrs. Janice Lee Turner, 77, passed away on Sunday, January 29, 2012, in Century.
Mrs. Turner was a native and lifelong resident of Byrneville, and she owned and operated Head Hunters Beauty Shop in Flomaton for a number of years.
She was preceded in death by her parents, four brothers and three sisters.
She is survived by two sons, Steve and Angie Turner of Byrneville and Mike and Diane Turner of Theodore; her daughter, Charlotte and Curtis Moye of Flomaton; nine grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be Tuesday, January 31, 2012, at 2 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home in Atmore with the Rev. Bobo Bell officiating..
Burial will follow at the Byrneville Cemetery.
Visitation will be Tuesday, January 31, 2012, from 12:30 p.m. until funeral time at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Bo Odom, Coley McColeman, Curtis Moye, Deston Taylor, Jerry Doran, and Johnny Lee.
Honorary pallbearers will be Dale Findley.