Driver Charged With DUI Manslaughter In Fatal Cantonment Crash
November 23, 2013
A Cantonment driver has been charged with DUI manslaughter following a Thursday night traffic crash that claimed the life of his 54-year old passenger.
Melvin Pryear, 48, was released for from Sacred Heart Hospital Friday night, less than 24 hours after the crash. He was immediately taken into custody and charged with the death of Albertina McCarty of Pensacola. The Florida Highway Patrol said Pryear was driving under the influence when he pulled into the path of a 18-wheeler near International Paper.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Pryear was traveling north on Highway 29 in a 2004 Chrysler Sebring about 10:45 p.m. when he turned into the path of a southbound 2000 Volvo 18-wheeler driven by 60-year old Standford Britts of Medina, OH. The FHP said that according to multiple witnesses, both north and southbound Highway 29 had a green light as he approached Muscogee Road, but there was no green turn arrow for Pryear.
The front of the 18-wheeler struck the Chrysler, causing it to rotate onto the southbound shoulder at the Raceway gas station. McCarty, Pryear’s passenger in the Chrysler, was pronounced deceased at the scene by Escambia County EMS. Britts not injured.
Pryear remained in the Escambia County Jail early Saturday morning where he was being held without bond.
Pictured: A 54-year old Pensacola woman was killed in this crash Thursday night in Cantonment. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Turning Colder Tonight; Sunny Sunday
November 23, 2013
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: A 20 percent chance of rain before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37. North wind around 15 mph.
- Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 54. North wind around 15 mph.
- Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 34. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Monday: A 40 percent chance of rain, mainly after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 57. Northeast wind around 10 mph.
- Monday Night: Rain. Low around 51. Northeast wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
- Tuesday: Rain. High near 59. East wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
- Tuesday Night: Rain likely. Cloudy, with a low around 42. North wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 53. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
- Wednesday Night: Clear, with a low around 32. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph.
- Thanksgiving Day: Sunny, with a high near 54.
- Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 34.
- Friday: Sunny, with a high near 60.
- Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 36.
- Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 65.
Escambia Shooting Victims’ Names Released
November 23, 2013
Escambia Sheriff’s investigators have released the names of two shooting victims from an incident which occurred on November 19. The victims are identified as 32-year old Willie Maurice Floyd and 27-year old Courtney Germaine Floyd.
According to the victims, they were walking near the 3200 block of West Gadsden Street when they were approached by two black males. An argument ensued at which time one of the black males pulled a gun and fired several shots. Deputies responded and discovered the victims with what appeared to be non-life threatening injuries
Investigators are seeking any information regarding this crime. Anyone with information about this or any other crime is asked to call Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-7867.
Friday Night Playoff Finals
November 23, 2013
Here are final scores from tonight’s playoff action:
Cottondale 34, Northview 28 [Read more...]
Blountstown 34, Port St Joe 0
Catholic 26, West Florida 20
Niceville 38, Lincoln 17
Leeds 24, T.R. Miller 20
Satsumas Available From Davisville Man’s Orchard
November 23, 2013
A local man is selling the fruits of his labor — satsumas from his orchard.
Jimmie Davis has nearly 180 satsuma trees in his orchard in the Davisville community. The satsumas, which are said to be better than an orange and peel like a tangerine, are available while supplies last.
To purchase the satsumas, stop by 9941 Highway 97 (south of Highway 4, near Pine Forest Road).
Pictured above: Jimmie Davis of Davisville with one of his satsuma trees. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Operation Christmas Child Central Continues At FBC Bratt
November 23, 2013
Volunteers are busy at the First Baptist Church of Bratt during “National Collection Week” for Operation Christmas Child. For the 20th year, the simple, gift-filled shoe boxes will bring Christmas joy and evangelistic materials to children in over 130 countries across the world.
National Collection Week for OCC continues through November 25. The First Baptist Church of Bratt will be the official OCC Relay Center for the north end of Escambia County, Florida. The FBC Bratt will also accept boxes from individuals, groups or churches in and Escambia County, Alabama, again this year.3
“This is not about the FBC of Bratt”, says Student Pastor Tim Hawsey, Relay Center coordinator. “This is about being a blessing and bringing God’s love and hope to children in poverty around the world that would not receive it otherwise. We have gone through the intense process of been approved as a church to be a Relay Center to collect the boxes from individuals, families, and churches of our area, document and pack them into special cartons and take them to the next level for Samaritan’s Purse, and we are blessed to do it.”
Collection hours at the First Baptist Church of Bratt will be:
- Saturday, Nov. 23: 8 a.m. – noon
- Sunday, Nov. 24: 8 a.m. – noon, 4-6 p.m.
- Monday, Nov. 25: 8 a.m. – 11 a.m.
The boxes collected this year at FBC Bratt will go through the Atlanta Processing Center then will be shipped to the countries of Belize, Botswana, Columbia, Dominican Republic, Gabon, Georgia, Ghana, Haiti, Macedonia, Madagascar, Niger, Seychelles, Suriname, Trinidad, Tobago, and the Ukraine.
Operation Christmas Child boxes should be packed in a specific manner, and there are changes this year. For more information, call Hawsey at the First Baptist Church of Bratt at (850) 327-6529, visit www.samaritanspurse.org/occ, or call (800) 353-5949. Resources are available for churches that wish to participate.
Unemployment Inches Downward
November 23, 2013
The latest job numbers released Friday the unemployment level inching down across entire three-county North Escambia area — as Florida’s unemployment rate also dropped.
Escambia County’s unemployment dropped from 6.5 percent to 6.1 percent from September to October There were 8,582 people reported unemployed during the period. One year ago, unemployment in Escambia County was 7.8 percent.
Santa Rosa County unemployment fell from 5.8 to 5.4 percent from September to October. Santa Rosa County had a total of 4,054 persons still unemployed. The year-ago unemployment rate in Santa Rosa County was 6.7 percent.
In Escambia County, Alabama, unemployment dropped from 8.3 percent in September to 8.0 percent in October. That represented 1,116 people unemployed in the county during he month.
Florida’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.7 percent in October 2013, down 0.1 percentage point over the month, and down 1.5 percentage points from 8.2 percent a year ago. The state’s October rate was the lowest since August 2008 when it also was 6.7 percent.
Alabama’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, at 6.5 percent in October, was up from September’s revised rate f 6.4 percent and was below the year-ago rate of 7.1 percent.
Pictured top: Gov. Rick Scott announces the latest Florida unemployment data Friday morning in Lake Mary, FL. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Two Benefit Events Saturday At Equestrian Center
November 22, 2013
There will be two benefit events this Saturday at the Equestrian Center on Mobile Highway.
The Crazy Acres Ranch Horse Show, benefiting Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital, starts at 8 a.m Saturday. The event will include a costume contest, three and four barrel races, a cake walk, and other fun events. For more information, call Rhonda Jones at (850) 206-8113.
Children’s Charitable Services (CCS) Bulls & Barrels includes exhibition barrel racing from 10 a.m. to noon, a 4D barrel race at 1 p.m., and open barrel racing, bull riding, and mutton busting at 7 p.m. The event benefits Isaiah Mainer, Caleb Owens and Wyatt Oglesby. For tickets or other information, call Kim Jones at (850) 525-5334.
Both events will have a full service concession stand for spectators.
Firefighters Battle Train Engine Fire Near State Line
November 22, 2013
Firefighters from Alabama and Florida battled a train engine fire Friday afternoon near the state line.
The CSX locomotive caught fire near Welka Road just outside Flomaton. Flames were shooting several feet into the air over the engine, which was still attached to freight cars. None of the train cars were on fire or immediately threatened by the engine fire. The train cars did not contain any hazardous materials, and the fire was not posing any threat to the public.
CSX officials were on scene with firefighters dispatched from Flomaton, Friendship, McCall, Barnett Crossroads, Century, McDavid and other departments. Preliminary information indicated there was abut 3,000 gallons of diesel fuel on the locomotive, and CSX devised a plan to turn off the fuel supply and extinguish the fire.
The Flomaton Police Department, Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Office, Alabama State Troopers, Escambia County (AL) Emergency Management and Escambia County (FL) EMS were also among the responding agencies.
The fire was declared out by about 3:25 p.m. No injuries were reported in the incident.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Highway 29 Wreck Claims One Life
November 22, 2013
For an update to this story, click here.
A wreck involving a semi-truck and a car claimed one life about 10:45 Thursday night at the intersection of Highway 29 and Muscogee Road in Cantonment.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 48-year old Melvin Pryear of Cantonment was traveling north on Highway 29 in a 2004 Chrysler Sebring when he turned into the path of a southbound 2000 Volvo 18-wheeler driven by 60-year old Standford Britts of Medina, OH. The FHP said that according to multiple witnesses, both north and southbound Highway 29 had a green light, but there was no green turn arrow for Pryear.
The front of the 18-wheeler struck the Chrysler, causing it to rotate onto the southbound shoulder at the Raceway gas station. A passenger in the Chrysler, 54-year old Albertina McCarty of Pensacola, was pronounced deceased at the scene by Escambia County EMS.
Pryear was transported by ambulance to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola with serious injuries. Britts was not injured.
Charged in the accident are pending, according to the FHP. The Cantonment, Ensley and Molino stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the accident.
Pictured: The semi involved in a fatal crash Thursday night at Highway 29 and Muscogee Road in Cantonment. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
