Escambia Man Facing 30 Years For Cutting Over Social Secuity Benefits
August 5, 2013
An Escambia County man that cut a another man with a box cutter over his social security benefits is facing up to 30 years in state prison.
Jessie Lee Shumaker was found guilty as charged on one count of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon by an Escambia County jury.
On February 12, 2012, Jessie Lee Shumaker cut Edward Lewis on the side of his face and back side of his ear with a box cutter. Lewis requested Shumaker return his social security benefits card. After stating that he would call the police for assistance, Shumaker pursued and attacked Lewis with the weapon.
Sentencing is currently scheduled for September 19. Shumaker qualifies as both a habitual felony offender and prison releasee reoffender. He could be sentenced to up to 30 years in state prison, with 15 years as a mandatory minimum by Judge Michael Allen.
No Injuries In Highway 29 Wreck Near Molino
August 5, 2013
There were no injuries in a single vehicle accident Sunday afternoon on Highway 29 near Barth Road in Molino.
The driver of a pickup truck hauling a trailer with logs appeared to have ran off the road and over-corrected, causing the truck to overturn. The truck came to rest upright back on the highway. The two occupants of the truck were not injured.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
Pictured: There were no injuries in this late Sunday afternoon accident on Highway 29 in Molino. Reader submitted photos by Jane Byrd Franklin, click to enlarge.
Experts Visit Sites For Industrial Certification
August 5, 2013
Gulf Power Company’s site certification program took a step forward last week when consultants visited 14 sites in six Northwest Florida counties to evaluate whether the sites are good candidates to be certified for industrial development.
Gulf Power kicked off the program earlier this year to identify public and private lands that could be prepared ahead of time for the location of new or expanding companies. The consulting firm evaluates the properties, identifies improvements that must be made and then certifies the sites once they have met all the program requirements.
“The program is moving forward, right on schedule with the site visits,” said John Hutchinson, Gulf Power’s director of Public Affairs and Economic Development. “Getting out and kicking the dirt gives the consultants the opportunity to identify which sites are best suited to be certified.”
Six sites were visited in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, including land at the Pensacola International Airport, Whiting Field and four sites in or near the Santa Rosa Industrial Park in east Milton.
McCallum Sweeney will evaluate the data collected during the site visits and report back to landowners in September whether or not their sites are candidates for certification and what additional requirements must be met. Once a site is evaluated and selected to move forward, site owners will have up to a year to complete the program requirements. Gulf Power is paying half the consultant charges for publicly owned sites with private landowners paying the full amount.
The Gulf Power program is the first of its kind in Florida. Once a site is certified it becomes much more attractive to prospective businesses and having certified sites allows Northwest Florida to be more competitive with neighboring states.
“Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi all have certified sites — as well as other states,” Hutchinson said. “If we are going to compete for new jobs, we have to have sites that are ready to go with infrastructure plans and permits in place and sites that are located near transportation corridors.”
Once certified, the sites will be marketed by local, regional and state economic development agencies to prospective companies to bring new jobs to Northwest Florida.
Back To School Prep: Church Members Hold Prayer Walk At Byrneville Elementary
August 5, 2013
Sunday night, members of Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church held their annual prayer walk at Byrneville Elementary School. Participants walked around the school and held prayer at various classrooms and around the campus. Prayers were said for students, teachers, staff and administrators for the coming year with safety and success. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
One Critically Injured In Flomaton Highway 31 Wreck
August 5, 2013
One person was critically injured in a wreck involving a car and a semi-truck Sunday afternoon in Flomaton.
The accident happened about 4:50 p.m. on Highway 31 near Sidney Manning Boulevard. Firefighters were forced to use the Jaws of Life to extricate the unknown age female driver from her vehicle. She was transported by Escambia County (FL) EMS to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola as a “trauma alert”.
The accident remains under investigation. Further details were not available.
The Flomaton Fire Department, Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Flomaton Police Department responded to the crash.
Pictured: One person was critically injured in a two vehicle crash Sunday afternoon on Highway 31 in Flomaton. Submitted photos by Robbie Lynn Burkett, click to enlarge.
Northview To Hold Mini Cheerleader Camp
August 5, 2013
The Northview High School cheerleaders will host a mini-cheer camp later this week.
The mini-cheer camp will be held Thursday and Friday, August 8-9, from 3-5 p.m. in the gym. The cost is $20 for the camp and $10 for a shirt, register at the door. The mini cheerleaders will perform during the first quarter of the first home football game on August 23.
Pictured: Mini cheerleaders perform during a September 2012 game at Northview High School. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Skim Past Barons 4-3
August 5, 2013
Pensacola overcame an early 3-0 deficit, tying the game at three and eventually taking the lead with a two-out rally in the sixth to knock off the Birmingham Barons on Sunday afternoon at Regions Field. The Blue Wahoos have now won two of the first three games in the series.
Birmingham jumped out to a quick three-run lead in the last of the first against Pensacola starter Tim Crabbe. Brandon Jacobs brought home a run with a sacrifice fly and Cody Puckett drove home a pair with a two-out double to open up the three-run advantage. That was all Crabbe would allow, though, over 6.2 innings. The right-hander allowed just four more baserunners throughout his outing, allowing a total three runs on five hits with two strikeouts and two walks to improve to 5-8 on the year.
The Pensacola offense responded immediately to the trio of tallies from Birmingham with three runs of their own in the top of the second. The first two batters reached on singles before Tucker Barnhart doubled off the right field wall to score a run and make it 3-1. Corey Wimberly notched an RBI with a groundout to short while Theo Bowe completed the rally with an RBI single up the middle, scoring Barnhart and tying the game.
The game remained knotted at two until the sixth inning when Pensacola mounted a two-out rally. Bowe tripled to the gap in left-center and scored on Devin Lohman’s ground rule double to make it 4-3. Lohman was 3-for-4 on the night, his third three-hit game in the last four contests.
All four runs came off Birmingham starter Michael Nix, who fell to 3-4 on the year. Nix allowed four runs on nine hits with four strikeouts and two walks in 5.2 innings.
Parker Frazier and Trevor Bell combined to retire the final seven Barons they faced over 2.1 innings to shut the door. For Bell, the perfect ninth was his 11th save in as many chances for Pensacola.
The Wahoos will look for a series win at Regions Field on Monday night at 7:05 p.m. Josh Smith (8-8, 3.90) will get the ball for Pensacola opposite Birmingham’s Chris Bassitt (2-1, 3.18).
story by Kevin Burke
Joe Patti Memorial Reef Deployed In Gulf of Mexico
August 5, 2013
Escambia County Marine Resources and the Patti family have deployed the Joe Patti Memorial Reef, following a blessing ceremony at Joe Patti’s Seafood. The 175-foot barge now sits in 50 feet of water in the Gulf of Mexico, four miles southeast of Pensacola Pass.
“By building an artificial reef closer to shore, individuals have an opportunity to explore an ecosystem not otherwise easily accessible,” said Robert Turpin, Escambia County Marine Resources division manager, “Escambia County looks forward to the addition to our artificial reef system, which was recent assessed, showing a great economic impact to our area.”
All reef and deployment costs have been donated by the Patti Family and the reef is now open to the public.
Pictured: The Joe Patti Reef prior to sinking in the Gulf of Mexico south of Pensacola Pass. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Beatrice Singleton
August 5, 2013
Mrs. Beatrice Singleton, 89, passed away on Sunday, August 4, 2013, in Molino.
Mrs. Singleton was a native and resident of Bratt for most of her life. She had resided in Molino for the past four years. She never had any children of her own, but helped raise five generations of family and other children. Her parents, Owen & Minnie Singleton; three brothers, Perry, Curtis and Clark Singleton; and three sisters, Inolia Avery, Lillian James and Ethel Louise Suarez precede her in death.
Survivors include her four nieces, Helen Chavers of Cantonment, Shirley Jordan of Pace, Arletha McKinney of Mt. Pleasant, TX and Debbie Barlow of Pineville; two nephews, Ralph James of Newton, MS and Lane Singleton of Atmore; special great niece and family, Charity (Russell) Sheldt and Heath and Brandon Sheldt of Molino and numerous other great nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be Wednesday, August 7, 2013, at 10 a.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Brian Calhoun officiating.
Burial will follow at the Godwin Cemetery.
Visitation will be Wednesday, August 7, 2013, from 9 a.m. until funeral time at 10 a.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Jason Barlow, Jerry Barlow, Olan Barlow, Slick Roley, Chad Giddins and Patrick McKinney.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes, LLC, is in charge of all arrangements.
Karen Judy Hill
August 5, 2013
Mrs. Karen Judy Hill, age 58 of Brewton, passed away Sunday, August 4, 2013, at her residence.
Mrs. Hill was born in Atmore and was a long time resident of Brewton, coming from Pascagoula, MS. She was a homemaker and was of the Baptist faith.
Mrs. Hill is survived by her husband, Mr. George L. Hill, Jr. of Brewton; three sons, Michael (Natalie) Higginbotham and Robert (Jennifer) Higginbotham, both of La Follette, TN, and David (Miki) Higginbotham of Japan; one daughter, Tracy (Jason) Cook of Laurel, MS; brothers, Joseph Hugh “Hootie” Westbrook of Atmore, Frank Lloyd of Slidell, LA, Thomas Jeffords of New Orleans, LA, Sam Jeffords of Pascagoula, MS, and Curley Davis of Jay; sisters, Patsy Kirkland of Pace, Patty Ann King of Paris, TN, Dorothy Baker of Tennessee, and Joanie Bishop of Galveston, TX; and seven grandchildren.
Graveside funeral services will be held on Thursday, August 8, 2013, at 11 a.m. at Green Acres Memorial Gardens with Rev. Jeff Edwards officiating.
Visitation will be held at Craver’s Funeral Home on Thursday, August 8, 2013, from 10 a.m. until 10:45 a.m.