Dream Defenders Protest At Scott’s Office Cost State $505K
September 5, 2013
The month-long, around-the-clock Dream Defenders protest outside the governor’s Capitol office ran up a tab of $505,248.90 for Capitol police, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement on Wednesday.
The total includes regular pay plus overtime, which has been put at $172,592.88. Up to $20,338 could be shaved off the overtime total if members of the Capitol police are able to exchange some of the extra hours worked for time off before the end of this year, noted FDLE spokeswoman Gretl Plessinger.
The police worked shifts from July 16 to Aug. 15, as members of a group called the Dream Defenders called for lawmakers to address the “stand your ground” self-defense law and to address what protesters consider other forms of racial bias.
Deputies Seek Info On Apartment Burglary Suspect
September 5, 2013
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office investigators are seeking to identify a person of interest in multiple burglaries at the Fountain Apartments at 9975 University Parkway.
Anyone with information on the person pictured is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Investigations Unit at (850) 436-9709.
Rebecca Morris
September 5, 2013
Rebecca Morris passed away quietly and peacefully Tuesday, September 3, 2013, surrounded by her loving family. She was born on August 20, 1953, in Mobile to Charles and Mary Ann Shellman. She came into this world crying because she had just left her twin sister Roberta for the first time. Roberta joined her fifteen minutes later and for sixty years they were almost inseparable. She resided in Jay for the past seventeen years. She was a member of Cora Baptist Church and the Order of the Eastern Star. She enjoyed going to the beach, clogging, beauty pageants and watching her children and grandchildren cheer and play ball.
She was preceded in death by her parents; infant daughter, Crystal LaJune Morris; and niece, Starla Maxson.
She is survived by her son, Keith (Sheri) Morris and daughter, Christy (Joey) Hutto; grandchildren, Sierra, Travis, and Aiden Hutto and Ashton Walker. She is also survived by sisters, Eva (Billy) Dubose, Roberta (Mickey) Brown and Debbie (Glen) Maxson; one brother, Bill Shellman; sister-in-law, Wanda Shellman; nieces, Angel and Crystal Brown and Susan Cole; nephews, Ricky, Sammy, and Thomas Dubose.
A visitation will be from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. Friday, September 6, 2013, at Jay Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be 2 p.m. on Saturday, September 7, 2013, at Cora Baptist Church with Rev. Mike Hutto, Rev. LaDon Hall, and Rev. Henry Shellman officiating services.
Burial will follow at Elim Baptist Church Cemetery in the Roberts, Alabama community at approximately at 4 p.m.
Active pallbearers will be Keith Morris, Wade Morris, Cory Shellman, Cameron Shellman, Joey Hutto, and Roy Brown.
The family would like to thank Angela and the staff of the CCU at West Florida Hospital.
Jay Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
UWF Will Play Football In 2016
September 5, 2013
The University of West Florida will field a football team in the fall of 2016, college President Judy Bense announced Wednesday.
The Argos will be in the Gulf South Conference, home of seven Division II national champs over the last two decades. UWF won’t have a football stadium in place by their first 2016 kickoff, instead they will be looking for another Pensacola-area facility to call home field. A practice field at UWF, other facilities, equipment and salaries for coaches will come from outside sources including a Football Founders Club.
UWF will not raise student fees or tuition to fund the football program.
The Argos will use a private search firm to start looking for a coach at the end of this season.
Gabrielle Down To A Depression
September 5, 2013
Gabrielle has degenerated to a tropical depression.
Tropical Storm Gabrielle formed Wednesday night in the eastern Caribbean, southeast of Puerto Rico. The storm will move near western Puerto Rico and the eastern Dominican Republic before moving back out to sea. Gabrielle will not have an impact on the North Escambia area’s weather.
The latest position and information on Gabrielle can be found in the graphic above.
Deputies Seek Man In Motel Beating (With Video)
September 4, 2013
Escambia County deputies are looking for a person of interest in an aggravated battery at a local motel.
Deputies discovered the victim, 48-year old Curtis Odom on the sidewalk in front of the Western Inn on Mobile Highway Wednesday morning. He had suffered severe head and facial injuries and was unresponsive. The victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment; an update on his condition was not available.
Investigators determined the incident most likely took place in a bloody room at the hotel, and they are looking for a person seen on surveillance video.
Anyone with information on the identity of the person pictured is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9630.
If you do not see the video at the top of this page, it is because your work, home or school firewall is blocking external videos.
Mosquito Spraying Tonight East Of Hwy 29 From Quintette To Century
September 4, 2013
The Escambia County Mosquito Control Division intends to proceed with a “fogging mission” today in an area bounded by Highway 29 to the west, the Escambia River to the east, the Alabama state line to the north and Quintette Road to the south (essentially east of Highway 29 from Quintette Road to Century).
Mission hours vary but typically occur in the early evening hours from 6 to 10 p.m. For more information, call (850) 937-2188.
Spray areas are depicted on the maps below in green; click to enlarge.
Fire Destroys Cantonment Mobile Home
September 4, 2013
An early morning fire destroyed a mobile home in Cantonment.
The fire was reported about 4:40 a.m. at 711 Taylor Street, one block north of Muscogee Road. The double-wide mobile was fully involved in fire when the first firefighters arrived on scene. The home was a complete loss.
There were no other structures threatened by the blaze.
There were no immediate reports of any injuries; first reports indicate the mobile home was not occupied at the time of the fire.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office.
The Cantonment, Molino, Ensley and Beulah stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS responded to the fire.
Pictured top: Fire destroyed this Taylor Street mobile home in Cantonment about 4:40 a.m. Wednesday. Photo courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Additional Defendant Sentenced On Federal Meth Related Charges
September 4, 2013
Another defendant arrested back in April on methamphetamine and pseudoephedrine related conspiracy charges has been sentenced in federal court, while four additional defendants have had their sentencings delayed until November. All either previously pleaded guilty or were convicted.
A federal judge convicted 29-year old Jared L. Hester on charges involving a conspiracy to possess and distribute pseudoephedrine, knowing it would be used to manufacture methamphetamine. Prosecutors said Hester was involved in the conspiracy to possess and distribute large amounts of pseudoephedrine in order to manufacture methamphetamine from January 1, 2011, until his arrest in April 2013.
The jury heard from other members of the conspiracy and was shown pharmacy records displaying dozens of pseudoephedrine purchases by Hester during the conspiracy. Many of these purchases overlapped with his co-defendants’ purchases. In all, the conspirators purchased between 350 and 400 boxes of pseudoephedrine, so that it could be manufactured into methamphetamine. All of Hester’s seven co-defendants pled guilty to the charges.
Hester was sentenced to 97 months in federal prison followed by three years supervised release. He has already appealed his sentence.
Four more defendants are now scheduled to be sentenced in November: Gregory A. Militello, Kirby Brian Smith, Joshua Paul Militello and Nicole Danielle Jones.
Seven defendants were sentenced earlier this summer:
- Stephanie Ann Gunderson, 26, Cantonment — Four months in federal prison, home detention for 24 months, supervised release for three years. She will be allowed to remain free until she surrenders on or before August 12.
- Shawn Michael King, 34, Cantonment – Federal prison for 51 months, three years supervised released.
- Joseph David Peterson, 33, Cantonment – Federal prison for 168 months, three years supervised released.
- Hunter Grant Myrick, 23, Cantonment – Federal prison for 20 months, three years supervised released.
- James E. Atiabi, 35, Pensacola, — Federal prison for 162 months, three years supervised released.
- John Wyatt Casey, 33, Pensacola — Federal prison for 115 months, three years supervised released.
- Shannon Lee Hurd, 29, Pensacola – Federal prison for 70 months, three years supervised released
Federal prosecutors say suspects were all were involved in a conspiracy to possess and distribute large amounts of pseudoephedrine in order to manufacture methamphetamine from January 1, 2011, until their arrests.
The indictments resulted from an investigation by agents of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, and the State Attorney’s Office.
Each defendant faces or faced up to 20 years imprisonment and fines up to $250,000.
Local Governments Win Battle: Judge Nixes Conecuh Woods Landfill
September 4, 2013
An Alabama judge has ruled that approval for the proposed Conecuh Woods Landfill in Repton, AL, is null and void — preventing the construction of a regional landfill in Conecuh County, AL.
The landfill would have accepted solid waste from over 20 states. Many local governments joined in the lawsuit because the proposed 5,100 landfill would have included a 1,600 acres “disposal cell” to be located near the Big Escambia Creek which flows southward through Flomaton, into North Escambia swamps, then the Escambia River and eventually into Pensacola Bay.
The Conecuh County Commission approved the application of Conecuh Woods, LLC for the landfill in March 2011. Upon the approval of the application, the Town of Repton and its mayor, Terri Carter, filed suit against the Conecuh County Commission and Conecuh Woods, LLC seeking a declaratory judgment that the approval of the application was arbitrary and in violation of applicable state law.
Repton also alleged the Conecuh commission faiiled to ensure adequate public opportunity to comment on the proposed landfill and sought an injunction blocking the construction of the proposed landfill.
In June 2011, Escambia County (FL) joined the litigation. Atmore, Brewton, Flomaton, Orange Beach and Escambia County in Alabama joined the suit, as did Century and the Escambia County Soil and Water Conservation District.
The Escambia County Commission voted to authorize the county attorney’s office to represent Century and the ECSWD at no cost to either entity.
Conecuh Woods still has time to file an appeal.
Pictured top: Repton, Alabama, Mayor Terri Carter addressed the Century Town Council in opposition to a proposed 5,100 acre landfill in Conecuh County, AL. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.