UWF To Play Football At Maritime Park
September 19, 2013
The University of West Florida has reached an agreement to play football home games at the Community Maritime Park beginning in 2016. Home of the Blue Wahoos, the Maritime Park Stadium seats 5,100.
“This further strengthens the community’s ties to UWF by bringing these exciting games downtown to the Maritime Park Stadium,” said CMPA Chairman Collier Merrill. “The CMPA promised and delivered an award winning facility that can host multiple types of events. Our hope is that UWF football at the Maritime Park Stadium continues the excitement we see downtown during the baseball season into the late summer and fall.”
Earlier this month, UWF President Judy Bense announced that UWF football will host its inaugural season in the fall of 2016. The addition of a football program is one part of the University’s larger goal to enhance student life, attract more students from across the state and region and increase student retention, provide a more vibrant campus experience for students and alumni, increase school spirit, and expand sponsorship and other fundraising opportunities.
“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to play college football in such a beautiful setting as the Maritime Park Stadium,” said UWF President Judy Bense. “We sincerely appreciate the partnership with Quint and Rishy Studer, The Blue Wahoos, the CMPA and the City of Pensacola. Together we are adding vibrancy to the university and community, and building affinities that will last a lifetime.”
UWF will hire a head football coach in Spring 2014, who will start recruiting the first football student-athletes that fall. The inaugural recruiting class will be enrolled in Fall 2015 and begin practices and scrimmages in preparation for the inaugural season in Fall 2016.
UWF’s long-term plan is for the team to play in a stadium built on campus, as described in the athletics facilities master plan. The athletics facilities master plan also calls for additional on campus practice facilities for the football team.
Pictured: A conceptual rendering of UWF football at the Maritime Park Stadium.
ACLU Sues State Over Suspended Driver’s Licenses For Not Pay Court Costs
September 19, 2013
The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida has filed a lawsuit challenging a state practice of suspending driver’s licenses of people who fail to pay court costs and fees after criminal convictions.
The ACLU, on behalf of named plaintiff Reginald B. Foster, filed the suit against the state Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
It argues that Foster’s constitutional due-process and equal-protection rights have been violated and that the state discriminates against low-income people who can’t afford to pay the costs.
Foster, of Fort Lauderdale, lost his driver’s license after failing to pay $5,450 in five felony cases, the lawsuit says.
“Because the DMV’s suspension and continued suspension of Foster’s driver’s license discriminates against Foster on the basis of economic status, the DMV’s suspension and continued suspension of Foster’s driver’s license violates his equal protection rights secured the by Florida Constitution,” one part of the lawsuit says.
By The News Service of Florida
Appeals Court: Sick Cat No Excuse For Drunk Driving
September 19, 2013
After a Hillsborough County sheriff’s deputy clocked him going 84 mph and veering across three lanes of traffic toward a highway exit ramp, Christopher Brooks was arrested for drunken driving.
But Brooks argued he had a legitimate reason: His friend’s cat was sick, and he was the only person available to take the pet to an all-night veterinary clinic.
A state appeals court Wednesday, however, swatted down Brooks’ attempt to use what is called a “defense of necessity.” The court said such a defense could be used, in certain circumstances, for people charged with driving under the influence — though those circumstances would involve people, not cats, being in danger of serious injuries.
“Although Mr. Brooks’ wish to obtain treatment for the ailing feline is understandable, the elements of the defense and the plain language of the jury instruction compel us to the conclusion that a claim of necessity is not available as a defense to a DUI charge in Florida when the asserted emergency involves the threat of harm to an animal instead of a person,” a three-judge panel of the 2nd District Court of Appeal ruled.
The ruling stemmed from the early morning arrest Oct. 30, 2010, of Brooks, who was charged with third DUI within a 10-year period, according to the ruling. At trial, Brooks did not deny that he was driving under the influence, but offered the sick-cat defense.
“Although Mr. Brooks’ defense is unusual, he presented some evidence to support it,” said the appeals court opinion, written by Judge Douglas Wallace and joined by judges Morris Silberman and Craig Vilanti. “He was transporting a cat, and the cat was very ill. There is a veterinary clinic near the highway exit where the deputy stopped Mr. Brooks. The cat’s owner and two of his acquaintances were passengers in Mr. Brooks’ car. One of these persons was apparently giving Mr. Brooks directions to the clinic when the deputy stopped Mr. Brooks’ vehicle.”
Also, the ruling said: “While Mr. Brooks explained the unusual circumstances of his errand to the deputy, the cat’s owner pleaded, ‘My cat is fixing to die!’ In fact, the cat did die, during or shortly after the vehicle stop that resulted in Mr. Brooks’ arrest.”
A jury found Brooks guilty of felony DUI, which led to the appeal. Among the issues raised by Brooks was that Hillsborough County Circuit Judge Daniel H. Sleet denied his request for a jury instruction on the “defense of necessity.”
But the appeals court upheld Sleet’s decision, ruling that a person can use such a defense in circumstances to “avoid an imminent threat of danger or serious bodily injury to himself or others. We do not interpret the phrase ‘or others’ as applying to animals.”
By Jim Saunder, The News Service of Florida
Change Of Address: Bratt House Moved
September 19, 2013
There was a big change of address Wednesday for a home that was located on North Highway 99, just north of Highway 4. The home was moved about 10 miles to its new location by Williams House Movers of Atmore. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
June Helen McMullen
September 19, 2013
June Helen McMullen, 76 of Jay and Petoskey, Michigan, passed away on Sunday September 15, 2013, at West Florida Hospital in Pensacola. June was born April 6, 1937, in Petoskey, Michigan. She was the daughter of Dewitt and Gretchen (Webb) Bearup. She was retired from Northern Michigan Hospital. She moved backed to Jay to enjoy her retirement. She enjoyed watching Nascar Racing, going to the casino and spending time with her dog Baby Bear.
She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Sherri and Mark Schaffer; sister, Bonnie Maddary; brother and sister-in-law, Ivan and Sharon Bearup; daughter-in-law, Diana McMullen; five grandsons, Austin Stead, James, Andrew, Quincy and Dwight McMullen and one granddaughter, Joanna McMullen.
June was preceded in death by her husband, James in 1985 and two sons, Timothy in 2011 and Patrick in 2010.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday September 21, 2013, at 1 p.m. at the Jay Civic Center.
Jay Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Two Burglary Suspects Arrested After Brief Bratt Manhunt
September 18, 2013
Two burglary suspects were arrested after a brief manhunt in Bratt Wednesday morning.
About 9:45, a resident in the 4700 block of Highway 168 called deputies to report that a shed behind their home was being burglarized. The elderly resident and her caregiver said they heard noise from a chain on the shed and observed an individual pushing a 4-wheeler out of the shed. When the caregiver went outside and yelled, a black and white male ran in opposite directions from the shed.
As deputies responded, they observed an individual fitting the description of on of the suspects. They took 25-year old Michael Vernon Carnley of Century into custody just east of the residence. After a K-9 team from Century Correctional Institution responded to the scene, the second suspect, identified as 46-year old Johnnie Jones, Jr., of Stockton, Ala., walked out of a wooded area west of the residence and surrendered.
Carnley was charged with burglary, attempted theft and trespassing after warning. Jones was charged with trespassing and attempted burglary.
Pictured: Deputies search for a burglary suspect along Highway 168 in Bratt Wednesday morning. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Suspect Arrested After Gun Theft Puts Flomaton Schools On Lockdown
September 18, 2013
Flomaton schools were place on lockdown Wednesday morning after a man reportedly allegedly stole a rifle out of a vehicle at a nearby business location.
Kedarius Dailey, 18, reportedly stole the gun from an unlocked vehicle parked in front of Buckshot’s ATV and Tires. Dailey fled on foot, prompting a massive manhunt involving multiple law enforcement agencies that included the Flomaton Police Department, Atmore Police Department, Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Office, Poarch Police Department, Alabama State Troopers, Alabama Probation and Parole, Century Correctional K-9 team and the Escambia County (Fla.) Road Prison K-9 team.
Dailey was taken into custody several blocks from the school on Palafox Street, but the school remained on lockdown for a short time period as a precaution as law enforcement worked to recover to the weapon.
The weapon was eventually recovered on Titi Street, about a block from Flomaton High School, after search by a K-9 unit from the Century Correctional Institution and other agencies, and school lockdown was lifted about 11 a.m.. There were no injuries reported, and there was no indication that the suspect ever entered a school campus.
Dailey was booked into the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton on charges of theft of property first degree, breaking and entering of a vehicle and attempting to elude.
Pictured top: Law enforcement searches for a suspect Wednesday morning in Flomaton. Reader submitted photo by Ashely Griffith. Pictured below: Authorities search for the stolen rifle. Photo by Chris Johnson, WEAR 3, for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Man Found Shot To Death In Ensley Street
September 18, 2013
A man was found shot to death in an Ensley street Tuesday night.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office was called to Lengo Street near Hayworth Avenue about 10:20 p.m. The victim, 31-year old Houston Hale Parker of Pensacola, was found dead in the street.
Investigators spent several hours combing the area and the neighborhood for clues late Tuesday night. The case is being treated as a homicide.
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Rain Chances Increasing Into The Weekend
September 18, 2013
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. East wind around 10 mph.
- Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. East wind around 5 mph.
- Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
- Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
- Friday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. South wind around 5 mph becoming east after midnight.
- Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 84. East wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Saturday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. Northeast wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 85.
- Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65.
- Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 86.
- Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 66.
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.
Authorities: Two State Burglary Ring Busted
September 18, 2013
Alabama authorities say they have busted four men responsible for a burglary ring in Alabama plus over dozen vehicle burglaries in Florida.
The four — 18-year old Darrell J. Smith of Brewton, 27-year old Brandon D. Smith of Brewton, 19-year old Jalen J. Harrod of Andalusia and 18-year old Anthony C. Strength of Flomaton — are charged in connection with residential burglaries in the Appleton area of Escambia County, Ala.
The Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Office said the four targeted homes where the residents were at work. So far, investigators have recovered 16 firearms, two televisions, laptop computers and other stolen property.
Other evidence seized by investigators led to a joint investigation with Brewton and East Brewton Police Departments and resulted in solving several burglaries in those cities.
A joint investigation with the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office also solved 15 vehicle burglaries in Florida. And other evidence seized by investigators led to a joint investigation with Brewton and East Brewton Police Departments and resulted in solving several burglaries in those cities.
Authorities said more arrests or indictments are anticipated. Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff Grover Smith praised the other law enforcement agencies for their cooperation in the case.