Freeport Downs Jay
November 3, 2012
Freeport defeated the Jay Royals 46-7 Friday night in Freeport. Jay will end their season next Friday night, November 9 at home against R.F. Monroe. at 7 p.m.
Photos by Michele Gibbs for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Arrested For Possessing Child Porn
November 3, 2012
An Escambia County man has been arrested on multiple felony child pornography charges after police said a month-long investigation determined he was downloading child porn off the internet.
William Blake Edgar, 24, was charged with 19 counts of possession of child pornography. Additional charges are anticipated, according to Pensacola Police Department Detective Jeff Brown.
Edgar, who is unemployed, was arrested during the execution of a search warrant at his residence. The warrant was served by members of the North Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, which includes personnel from the Pensacola Police Department, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Department of Homeland Security.
Brown said officers seized a computer and several other electronic devices that contained several thousand child notable photographs; additional forensic investigations will be done on the devices.
The male and female children shown in the photographs are believed to be up to 13 years old. Some of the pictures and movies showed children being sexually abused, police said.
Brown said investigators also are trying to determine if Edgar had personal contact with children.
Rain Chance Sunday, Monday
November 3, 2012
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Patchy fog after 1am. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 57. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 81. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 51. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north in the evening.
- Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 72. North wind around 5 mph.
- Monday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 72. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 43. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
- Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 66. Northwest wind 5 to 15 mph.
- Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 40. North wind around 5 mph.
- Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 71.
- Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 45.
- Friday: Sunny, with a high near 74.
- Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 49.
- Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 74.
Pictured: Friday afternoon ended with a mix of sun and clouds across the area, including Walnut Hill where this photo was taken. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Blue Angels Airshow Today At NAS Pensacola
November 3, 2012
The Navy’s Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, will close the 2012 season at their annual Homecoming Air Show aboard Naval Air Station Pensacola today, with gates opening at 8 a.m. and shows starting at 9:30 a.m.
Prior to the world famous Blue Angels F/A 18 Hornet performances, the Blues’ C-130 Hercules transport known as “Fat Albert” will thrill the crowd with its short field take-off and low level passes.
The Emerald Coast Skydivers and the Army Black Daggers Parachute Demonstration teams will make jumps above the show and Training Air Wing SIX will feature a fly-by of training aircraft.
Tentatively scheduled will be extraordinary aerobatics by performers such as Jan Collmer flying the Fina Extra 300L and David Martin will pilot his Brietling CAP 232. Chuck Aaron will amaze the crowd in his Red Bull helicopter, and Bill Leff will excite everyone with the roar of a radial engine in his T-6 Texan.
Elgin Wells will fly his Starjammer aircraft; the only one of its kind, featuring 250 LEDs, five smoke screens and a 4,000 watt amplifier with onboard speakers. Otto the helicopter will amaze everyone with his antics and family-oriented entertainment and the Stearman Flight will perform a salute to 100 years of Marine Corps Aviation. The Max Adrenaline Extreme Show will thrill the crowd with its aerobatic aircraft and the Flash Fire Jet Truck roaring down the runway.
Along with incredible flying demonstrations, more than 50 military and civilian aircraft will be on display. These static displays will include the V-22 Osprey, F-18 Hornet, Japanese Zero, EA-18G Growler, C-130 Hercules a B-52 Stratofortress and various other aircraft ranging from the present day, state of the art fighters to aircraft from the 1930s.
This year for the first time, the Air Force Reserve Command will present their Tour for the Troops concert on Saturday featuring Big and Rich, Cowboy Troy and Bradley Gaskin who will take to the stage at 4 p.m.
Admission and parking for all shows is free. Areas will be reserved for the physically challenged. Food and memorabilia will be available at numerous concession stands. Pets and coolers are not permitted. Security personnel and signs will direct spectators to parking areas near the show site.
Hazel Powell Harris
November 3, 2012
Hazel Powell Harris of Molino passed away Wednesday, October 31, 2012.
She was preceded in death by her parents, four sisters, two brothers, one son Albert Rudd and a special companion of 22 years, Charles Beard.
She is survived by a daughter, Phyllis (Eugene) Peterson, three sons, Richard (Ana) Snowden, Ray (Cathy) Rudd, and Danny (Nita) Rudd, 17 grandchildren and 33 great-grandchildren.
The family would like to give a special thank you to Regency Hospice, Nurse Finders, Jana, Mae, Ashley and Scott’s Pharmacy for the great care they showed in this time of need.
A time of visitation will be held at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North, 1000 S Hwy 29, Cantonment, FL on Monday, November 5, 2012, from 1-2 p.m. with a funeral service to follow there at 2 p.m. Burial will be in the Highland Baptist Church Cemetery in Molino following the service.
Arrangements entrusted to Rose Lawn Funeral Home of Gulf Breeze.
BREAKING NEWS: Northview Chiefs Win District Championship
November 2, 2012
The Northview Chiefs won the District 1-1A championship Friday night with a 40-6 win over the Baker Gators.
Complete details on this game and all the Friday night action coming up Saturday morning on NorthEscambia.com.
The Chiefs will open their trip to the state championship at home on Friday, November 16.
Pictured: The Northview Chiefs celebrate their district championship win over Baker tonight in Baker. Photo courtesy Carrie Bryan for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Charges Dropped In Murder Of Domino’s Pizza Driver
November 2, 2012
Charges have been dropped against the man accused of killing a West Florida graduate working as a pizza delivery driver last year.
The State Attorney’s Office said Thursday second degree murder charges were dismissed against Gary Demeatric Harrison. Harrison was accused of attacking Tyler John Hinkle, a 2010 West Florida High School graduate, outside the Domino’s Pizza at 27 North Navy Boulevard on September 24, 2011.
“There is insufficient evidence available at this time to prove the charge beyond a reasonable doubt. Two witnesses provided information to law enforcement during the investigation of this case,” the State Attorney’s Office said in a released statement. “One of these witnesses has now recanted his statement and the other has refused to cooperate and is unwilling to testify at trial. In addition, the trial court has excluded these witnesses from being used at trial.”
Court documents indicate that there was no physical evidence to link Harrison to the murder.
Harrison’s trial had been scheduled to begin Monday.
In His Own Words: The Ride Of A Lifetime With The Blue Angels
November 2, 2012
This morning, NorthEscambia.com takes you along for a flight with the Blue Angels with Escambia County School Board member Jeff Bergosh, in his own words:
The interesting aspects of the experience were numerous, but the standout in my mind is just the professionalism of the entire team, from the support staff, to the briefing personnel, to the PAO, to the ground crew, to the pilots.
For our rides, the #7 pilot, who also doubles as the team’s narrator, was tapped for the job. Lt. Mark Tedrow, a 2004 Naval Academy graduate, was extremely gracious and accommodating. In addition to his gregarious demeanor, this pilot was physically impressive.
He was easily 6’3”, and when I shook his hand before and after the flight, I felt like I was shaking hands with a bronze statue—this guy was a rock—kind of what one would expect as a Naval aviator from the movies. I also learned that none of the pilots wear “G Suits” during their flights—they have to control the G-forces’ effects on their bodies via a muscle flexing and breathing regimen called the HICK maneuver.
As we taxied down the runway we talked a bit, and he told me he was a football player, wide receiver. “On a team that didn’t like to pass the ball,” he quipped. An interesting thing I learned from Lt. Tedrow was that as a part of the rotation process coming on to the Blue Angels, many of the pilots spend their first year serving as narrator, before they rotate up to the actual demonstration team.
While serving as narrator, these pilots still train and fly, and these are the pilots tapped for giving VIP rides. Another thing I learned was just how lucky I was to get a ride; the ground-crew member who assisted with buckling me into the 14 point restraint system in the cockpit told me it took him eight years to earn his first backseat ride — eight years serving with the Blue Angels before he got a ride! That puts it into perspective for me — I was SO LUCKY to get this chance!
BLAST OFF
My ride lasted 30 minutes, and started with a bang as Lt. Tedrow began our flight by executing a high-speed, high performance takeoff that pulled six G’s of force. After we flew down the runway at 300 Knots, Lt. Tedrow put the nose of the jet straight up, vertical, and hit the afterburners. The jolt of the sudden change in direction pushed my whole body forward as we quickly ascended into the sky.
Once we hit our cruising altitude of 16,000 feet, we flew about 30 miles off the coast, descended toward the ocean, and performed a series of low and high speed maneuvers that resulted in various levels of G-forces on our bodies — from three to five G’s sustained — during some of the turns. The highlight for me, aside from the ridiculously insane takeoff, was when Lt. Tedrow lit the afterburners and we broke the sound barrier and went supersonic. I have never felt anything like that in my life; it was incredible!
And how many civilians will ever get the chance to break the sound barrier? Flying upside down was also an amazing sensation — and the views out of the canopy when one is flying upside down simply defy description. Awesome.
Aside from the majestic beauty of the day which allowed for views of over 20 miles up and down the coast, the final highlight was coming in to NAS Pensacola for a landing amidst the beauty of our local beaches and emerald water. After the flight, the Blue Angels presented me a signed commemorative photograph, as well as the complete cockpit video of the entire flight (Something my wife and kids now affectionately refer to, as their “endless source of entertainment” due to my facial expressions up there during the flight.) And to answer the one lingering question everyone has asked — NO, I did not black out during the flight — even while pulling G’s. I did grunt and strain but never blacked out!
The 30 or so minutes I spent up there that morning are 30 minutes I will remember as long as I live. I still can’t quite believe I was so fortunate to be selected for this honor, so much so that a part of me is still up there in the sky — on cloud nine!
Pictured top: Escambia County School Board member Jeff Bergosh flies with the Blue Angels. Pictured insets: Bergosh with the Blue Angels. Pictured below: Bergosh’s autographed ride photos. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
He’s Back: County Hires George Touart As Interim County Administrator
November 2, 2012
Former county administrator George Touart is back — the Escambia County Commission voted Thursday night to hire Touart as interim county administrator
“This would be nothing less than temporary until we could find a qualified, permanent, top shelf, class act replacement,” Commissioner Gene Valentino said as he made a motion to bring Touart in to to temporarily fill the position vacated when the commission voted to fire Randy Oliver last month.
District 5 Commissioner Kevin White, who did not seek re-election and will be off the board in about two weeks, seconded the motion for discussion purposes. But White said he wanted the job.
“I was going to throw my name in the hat tonight,” White said, eliciting laughter from some of his fellow commissioners. “Seriously, I brought my resume, he said.”
Touart’s return to Escambia County government will be effective December 1 and he will remain until the board hires a permanent county administrator, a process estimated to take about six to 12 months. His employment will be at will, meaning that he can be terminated at any time. A regional search for a permanent administrator will begin in January.
“It’s a patch on the tire; it should not be construed as part of some longer term scheme,” Valentino said.
“It still have a problem with us making a decision on this when in two and a half weeks you are going to have two new board members in here,” White said.
Grover Robinson said he wants to have a new county administrator in place by March when work begins on next year’s budget.
The move to hire Touart at a $130,000 annual salary passed in a 3-2 vote Thursday night, with Commissioners Grover Robinson IV and Marie Young voting against. Touart will also receive a $500 monthly car allowance and “other benefits commensurate with county employment.”
“At least somebody could have made a motion for me,” White said.
Touart served as county administrator for five years, resigning amid ethics questions in 2007. All formal ethics complaints against him were dismissed.
Century Man Sentenced For DUI, Threatening To Kill Three Deputies
November 2, 2012
A Century man was sentenced this week for DUI and threatening the lives of three Escambia County deputies following an April 16 traffic stop at North Century Boulevard and Highway 4 East.
Jeremy Scott Young, 35, pleaded guilty to three counts of corruption by threat of public servants and he was found guilty of DUI. He was sentenced by Judge Darlene Dickey to a total of 24 months probation for all charges and sentenced to 50 hours of community service for refusing a DUI test. His license was suspended for one year, his vehicle was impounded for 10 days and he was ordered to complete recommended counseling.
Young was stopped by an Escambia County Sheriff’s deputy after he was observed driving erratically on North Century Boulevard. The deputy reported smelling the odor of alcohol from Young’s breath and vehicle. The deputy also noted an open light beer container in an Auburn hugger on the dash of the truck. Young refused multiple requests to submit to a field sobriety test.
Just before being taken to jail, Young reportedly told two deputies that he would “see them tomorrow night and that they would die”, according to an arrest report, adding that his threat was not a joke. He then obtained the unit numbers for both deputies “and continually began stating their numbers over and over trying to remember” them.
Young then told the deputy transporting him to jail that he would kill him if he was “molested” while in jail.