Prison Time For Man That Robbed Bank, Got Change For Taxi Driver
August 24, 2013
A man that used a cab as his getaway vehicle — and stopped along the way to get change to pay the driver – is headed to prison for robbing a Nine Mile Road bank.
Terry Dewayne Gideon, previously convicted of robbery without a weapon by an Escambia County jury, was sentenced by Judge Scott Duncan to 20 years in state prison as a habitual felony offender, 15 years of which will be served as a prison releasee offender.
The charges stem from the October 2, 2012, robbery of the Bank of America on Nine Mile Road. Gideon took a Yellow Cab to multiple banks before robbing the Bank of America. Gideon approached the teller just before closing and handed her a note that demanded cash. He left the bank with more than a $1,000, according to prosecutors.
Bank employees were able to identify the cab number and relayed that information to law enforcement. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office located Gideon a short time later and arrested him. Multiple people were able to identify Gideon and his thumb print was identified on the demand note.
During the investigation, deputies learned that Gideon had gone into a nearby Applebee’s restaurant to get change from the stolen money to pay the taxi driver.
PNJ Cuts 10 Jobs; Both Publisher And Editor Retire
August 24, 2013
The Pensacola News Journal announced Friday that President and Publisher Kevin T. Doyle and Executive Editor Richard A. Schneider are “retiring”, and the newspaper has cut 10 other positions.
Positions eliminated included those of Managing Editor Ginny Graybriel, a 35-year plus veteran of the paper, and columnist Shannon Nickinson.
Layoffs across the country at Gannett owned newspapers, including the PNJ, have totaled over 200 jobs, according to an industry website.
Marketing Director Becca Boles will move into the interim editor’s position, and Kim Thomas will move from managing editor for digital to interim editor.
1A Champ Chiefs Compete Tough Against 5A Bay In Tied Preseason Game (With Gallery)
August 24, 2013
The Northview Chiefs walked away from a preseason classic game Friday night with a tie on the scoreboard against Panama City Bay, but it might as well have been a win for the defending Class 1A state champions.
“I like the way we competed tonight,” Northview coach Sid Wheatley said about how the Chiefs handled the much larger 5A Bay Tornadoes. “”As a confidence standpoint, I know they’ve got to feel good coming out of here, at least score-wise, and the way we did compete. It has to instill some confidence.”
The first half of the game in Bratt was a varsity on varsity scrimmage that ended in a 0-0 tie. Despite the score, the varsity teams showed a depth that impress Wheatley, especially on the defensive side of the ball.
“I love the way the defense competed. They bent at times, but they didn’t break. They played hard,” he said. “”Offensively, we’ve got to go to work on our mistakes. We were able to make plays at times, but the thing was it was third and 28.”
But overall, Wheatley saw the great potential within his Chiefs.
“Those guys, they are going to be OK,” he said. “Physically, I think we have a chance to be pretty good up front. It’s just a maturation process. They are going to be better Tuesday, and better the following Tuesday. But they’ve got to kind of grow into that role. And mentally, that’s a big part of it right now.”
For a photo gallery, click here.
For cheerleaders, mini-cheerleaders, band, dance team and NJROTC photos, click here.
The second half of the game was scheduled to be junior varsity and reserves only. But 5A Bay rolled on with varsity starters against much younger, smaller and less experienced JV and reserve Chiefs.
“They competed; they played tough,” Wheatley said of his JV and reserves, stacked up against a much larger Bay that continued to play starters in the second half. “They just got after them.”
Northview freshman quarterback Luke Ward, moving up from an almost perfect season last year at Ernest Ward Middle, led a late Chiefs drive to tie the game. At third and goal, he found junior Hunter Sherouse for a two-yard touchdown with 37.3 seconds on the clock. With the score tied 6-6, the extra point kick by the Chiefs was no good.
Then the Chiefs were able to set up a 30-yard field goal as time expired, but the kick was far wide to the left as the clock rolled to zeros.
“It was a little drama there at the end,” Wheatley said with a laugh.
Next week, the Chiefs will look at Friday night’s film, looking for the areas that need improvement. “We have inexperienced guys; hopefully we are going to be able to look at the film and correct those mistakes,” he said.
The Chiefs will host Bozeman next Friday night at 7:00 in Bratt.
For a photo gallery, click here.
For cheerleaders, mini-cheerleaders, band, dance team and NJROTC photos, click here.
Pictured top: Northview senior Neino Robinson breaks away from a host of Panama City Bay defenders Friday night in Bratt. Pictured top inset: Northview quarterback Daulton Tullis gains yardage for the Chiefs. Pictured bottom inset: Northview coach Sid Wheatly watches his Chiefs under the Friday night lights. Pictured below: A Bay Tornado pass was too long, almost resulting in a Chiefs interception. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Search Continues For Tiffany Daniels
August 24, 2013
The Pensacola Police Department continues working with area law enforcement agencies as the investigation continues into the disappearance of Tiffany Daniels.
Daniels, 25, was last seen August 12 when she left early from her job as a theatre department technician at Pensacola State College.
Her 1999 Toyota Forerunner was found Tuesday in a parking lot of Park West on Pensacola Beach. Her bicycle and phone were with the vehicle.
“We are processing the vehicle for information on where she may be and what may have happened to her,” Pensacola Police Chief Chip W. Simmons said Friday afternoon. “At this point, we have nothing indicating foul play, but we also don’t know what happened. So, we are following any and all leads.”
Simmons, Capt. David Alexander and Detective Danny Harnett met with family members Friday afternoon to discuss Daniels’ disappearance. “At this point, we are all focused on locating Tiffany,” Simmons said.
An extensive search was conducted Wednesday in the Fort Pickens area on Pensacola Beach. The search centered around the location where Daniels’ car was found.
“We continue following up on leads, and ask for public assistance with any information they may have,” Simmons said.
Daniels is 5-feet 7-inches tall with blond hair and blue eyes. She has tattoos of plants growing from seeds on the top of both feet. Anyone who may have information on Daniels’ location, or her activities before, during and after her disappearance are asked to contact Detective Danny Harnett at (850) 435- 1979 or the Pensacola Police Department at (850)435-1900.
Teen Found Dead After Jogging
August 24, 2013
A Pensacola teen collapsed and died while jogging Thursday night.
Nicholas Cooke, 16 was found in the intersection of Osceola Boulevard and Whaley Avenue around 8 p.m. Several people stopped and attempted CPR after he was found in the street. He was transported to an area hospital where he was pronounced deceased just before 9 p.m.
Police said there was no indication of foul play, with preliminary autopsy results showing Cooke’s death may have been related to a medical condition.
Cooke did not have any identification with him when he was found; he was identified after his mother contacted police and reported him missing.
Two Get Prison Time On Meth Related Charges
August 24, 2013
Two Escambia County residents have been sentenced to prison on meth related charges.
Vincent Christian Foster and Lindsey Rene Temple were sentenced on charges of trafficking in methamphetamine, possession with the intent to sell, manufacture or deliver methamphetamine, unlawful possession of listed chemical and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Judge Scott Duncan sentenced Foster to 25 years in state prison and Temple to 10 years. They will each have to serve seven years as a mandatory minimum for trafficking and were each ordered to pay a $100,000 fine. The pair was convicted earlier this year by an Escambia County jury.
The charges stem from an ongoing investigation which included surveillance of an Escambia County home. On May 24, 2012, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit arrived at Foster’s home with a warrant for his arrest.
Upon entering the home, there was an overwhelming odor of anhydrous ammonia which is an indication of the production of methamphetamine. The narcotics unit obtained a search warrant and located an active methamphetamine cooking lab. Trafficking amounts of methamphetamine oil and pseudoephedrine were located throughout the house.
Baker Downs Jay (With Photo Gallery)
August 24, 2013
The Jay Royals lost a trio of preseason matchups Friday night to the Baker Gators.
The Royals and Gators will meet again on October 18 in a regular season district game. Meanwhile, the varsity Jay Royals will begin their regular season with a non-district game next Friday night, August 30 at Cottage Hill Christian Academy in Mobile. The Royals will play their first home game of the regular season on the following Friday, September 6 as they host Rocky Bayou.
For a photo gallery from Friday night’s action, click here.
Pictured: Jay and Baker met Friday night in preseason classic game. Photos by Michele Gibbs for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Plans Parent Meeting Monday; Open House Next Month
August 24, 2013
Northview High School will hold a parent meeting this Monday night, August 26 at 6:00 in the school cafeteria. Discussions will cover important topics related to the school year.
Northview will also host an Open House on Tuesday, September 10. The time has not yet been announced.
Wahoos Blow Past Barons 6-2
August 24, 2013
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos used a trio of two-run innings to dispatch the Birmingham Barons 6-2 on Friday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium in front of the 27th sellout crowd of the season. Despite the win, the Wahoos stayed four games behind first place Jacksonville who also won on Friday.
Pensacola got things going early against Birmingham starter Scott Snodgress, loading the bases in the first, but coming away with no runs. An inning later, though, the Wahoos tagged Snodgress for a pair of tallies on a two-run single from Ryan LaMarre to make it 2-0.
After Birmingham countered with two runs of their own on a Cody Puckett two-run single in the top of the third, Pensacola regained its two-run advantage in the last of the third. Travis Mattair drove home Tucker Barnhart to make it 3-2 while Ray Chang singled home Devin Lohman three batters later to make it 4-2.
Pensacola added to its lead in the fifth inning against reliever Nestor Molina with RBI singles from Brandon Short and Chang, making it 6-2. The offense came in support of Carlos Contreras (W, 3-2) who worked his way through five innings while allowing two runs on six hits with six strikeouts. Michael Lorenzen, Parker Frazier and Jamie Walczak combined to pitch four shutout frames to shut the door on the Barons.
Snodgress (L, 11-10) fell for the third straight time, failing to make it past the fourth inning. The southpaw allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits in four innings.
The Wahoos will look to make it two in a row over the Barons on Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. Daniel Renken (6-8, 3.62) will start for Pensacola while Birmingham will give the ball to Scott Carroll (0-2, 6.35). It’s the final Fireworks Saturday of the season presented by Andrews Institute. The Wahoos will be wearing special blue camo jerseys which will be auctioned off throughout the game.
Escaped Inmate Wanted Nationwide And His Girlfriend Arrested Near Jay
August 23, 2013
An Arkansas escapee that was the subject of a nationwide manhunt has been arrested near Chumuckla Elementary School.
Derrick Estell, 33, escaped from the Garland County Detention Center in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office and a U.S. Marshals Task Force took Estell and his girlfriend, 25-year old Tamara Lynn Upshaw, into custody late Thursday night at an abandoned house near the intersection of Highway 182 and Chumuckla Highway.
They are being held in the Santa Rosa County Jail awaiting extradition back to Arkansas.
According to the Garland County (AR) Sheriff’s Office, investigators were able to pinpoint the couple’s location with the assistance of “cooperating individuals” and contact authorities in Santa Rosa County. Within a few hours, the couple was in custody.
Estell had escaped the Arkansas jail on July 28 with the assistance of Upshaw and others after returning from the Arkansas Department of Corrections for a court appearance. He made his getaway by diving out of a window and running to a waiting vehicle. Two other individuals were also taken into custody for their involvement in the escape and are awaiting court hearings, Arkansas authorities said.
Estell was being held on charged of aggravated robbery, burglary, theft and other charges.