Escambia Man Arrested For Dollar General Armed Robbery
August 4, 2013
An Escambia man wanted in connection with the armed robbery of a local business earlier this week has been arrested.
Christopher Clark McWilliams, 24, was arrested Saturday afternoon and charged with armed robbery and grand theft.
McWilliams was wanted for an armed robbery that occurred just after 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Dollar General on West Cervantes Street. A 19-year-old female employee told police the suspect entered the store, walked around and acted as if he was talking on his phone. She said he also approached the checkout line and let other people ahead of him until there was no one else in line.
At that point, the suspect approached the register, handed her a bag and pulled up his shirt. He then pointed a gun at her and demanded money. The store employee complied, and McWilliams fled the scene.
Barry To Hold District 5 Town Hall Meeting In Century
August 4, 2013
Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry will hold a town hall meeting late this month in Century.
The open forum public meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, August 26, at the Century Town Hall located at 7995 North Century Boulevard.
For more information, contact Barry’s office at (850) 595-4950.
Mass Killer To Be Executed Monday
August 4, 2013
An execution is scheduled for Monday evening in Florida.
John Errol Ferguson, who was convicted of murdering eight people in the 1970s in Miami-Dade County, is scheduled to be executed at 6 p.m. Ferguson, now 65, was sentenced to death for the 1977 murders of six Carol City residents who were killed execution style following a drug-related robbery.
Six months later, Ferguson abducted and killed a pair of high school students on their way to meet friends at an ice cream shop in Hialeah.
A stay of execution was imposed last October for Ferguson by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals; that stay expires Monday. The court has ruled that while he suffers from mental illness, he still holds a rational understanding of the crimes he committed and why he will be executed. The Florida Supreme Court had previously reached the same conclusion.
Final Day: Sales Tax Holiday In Florida And Alabama
August 4, 2013
Today is the final day of back to school sales tax holidays in Florida and Alabama, and this year the holiday in both states includes the chance to save sales tax on computer purchases.
FLORIDA
Clothes, shoes, wallets, bags, and backpacks costing $75 or less and school supplies costing $15 or less are covered by the tax holiday. Clothing does not include watches, watch bands, jewelery, umbrellas, handkerchiefs or sporting equipment.
Personal computers and related accessories costing $750 or less, as long as they’re not used for commercial purposes, are also covered, as are digital readers, tablets, and items like keyboards or monitors – as long as they don’t include a TV tuner. Cell phones, video game consoles, digital media receivers or devices that are not primarily designed to process data are not included.
Books are not exempt from tax during the 2013 Sales Tax Holiday.
The tax break, as has been in the case in previous years, won’t apply in theme parks or at airports or hotel gift shops.
State economists have estimated the impact of the proposed three-day holiday at $28.3 million to the state and $6.4 million to local governments – though some economic studies have shown that people are induced to buy more uncovered items during the sales tax holiday, meaning tax collections could increase.
Florida’s sales tax holiday ends at midnight. For complete details, click here for a pdf.
ALABAMA
Until midnight Sunday, Alabama’s four-percent sales tax is waived throughout the state while sales taxes levied by 274 cities and counties also will be waived on clothing priced at $100 or less; school supplies valued at $50 or less; books that cost $30 or less; and computers and computer equipment with a selling price of $750 or less.
Atmore, Brewton, and Escambia County, Ala., will not participate and waive local taxes. Other towns, including Flomaton, Bay Minette, Foley, Gulf Shores and Mobile will take part.
For complete details, click here for a pdf.
Florida House To Hold Hearing On ‘Stand Your Ground’ Law
August 4, 2013
A House subcommittee will look into the state’s controversial “stand your ground” law, but its chairman said he doesn’t intend to support any changes.
House Speaker Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, has directed Criminal Justice Subcommittee Chairman Matt Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, to hold a hearing on the law during a committee week this fall.
“Our evaluation of its effectiveness should be guided by objective information, not by political expediency,” Weatherford wrote in an opinion piece published Friday in The Tampa Tribune. “Does the law keep the innocent safer? Is it being applied fairly? Are there ways we can make this law clearer and more understandable?”
Gaetz said the hearing will provide a platform for anyone to comment on the law, and members of the subcommittee can offer proposals about the self-defense measure.
Just don’t expect him to back any proposed change.
“I don’t intend to move one damn comma on the ’stand your ground’ law,” Gaetz said. “I’m fully supportive of the law as it’s written. I think any aberrational circumstances that have resulted are due to errors at the trial court level.”
House Minority Leader Perry Thurston, a Fort Lauderdale Democrat who on Thursday formally requested a special session on the state’s self-defense laws, would still like a broader review of Florida’s criminal-justice laws and policies.
“He’s concerned about the size and make-up of juries, especially in felony jury cases, and he would like a legislative review of criminal-justice polices beyond ’stand your ground,’ ” said Mark Holls, a spokesman for House Democrats.
The prospect of a hearing also hasn’t placated the Dream Defenders, a group that has staged a sit-in outside Gov. Rick Scott’s Capitol office to demand a special legislative session to consider changes to the state’s self-defense laws, initiatives to stop racial profiling and an end to zero-tolerance discipline policies in schools.
“Ultimately you’re still ignoring the root of the issue, at least in terms of the Zimmerman verdict, and that is the criminalization of our youth, the way that young people are looked at in Florida, black, white and brown, and that’s due to the school-to-prison pipeline and racial profiling that’s perpetuated throughout law enforcement,” Dream Defenders Political Director Ciara Taylor said.
The protesters were spurred to action by the July 13 acquittal of George Zimmerman in the 2012 shooting of teen Trayvon Martin. The law was not used as part of Zimmerman’s defense, but has become associated with the incident.
Weatherford wrote that he requested the hearing because of the “diverse” comments state representatives are receiving about the law.
He had told the Tribune’s editorial board on Tuesday that he is willing to consider changes to the 2005 law if law enforcement clearly outlines that any changes are needed.
Gaetz said the format and schedule for the hearing have yet to be set, and he is working on the process with Rep. Kionne McGhee, a Miami Democrat who has served on the subcommittee.
“We’ll work out a process to have people come forward and offer testimony he (McGhee) believes will flavor the issue,” Gaetz said.
Weatherford’s opinion piece comes as the protesters are in their third week in the Capitol and have undertaken their own “people’s session” in the lobby of Scott’s office, intending to create a report they can give to lawmakers.
“I was not in the Florida Legislature when the (“stand your ground”) bill became law with bipartisan support, but as the current speaker of the House, I have been asked to repeal it,” Weatherford wrote. ” ‘Asked’ is a generous term considering the threats of boycotts, union-sponsored protesters overtaking the governor’s office and Hollywood elites disparaging our state and threatening the livelihood of hard-working Floridians.”
Scott and Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, the House subcommittee chairman’s father, have both maintained their support for the law and have expressed no interest in calling a special session to review it.
Weatherford wrote that he supports the law, stating that it’s critical Floridians be allowed to defend themselves.
“Demands for a special session to repeal the law disregard the very foundation of our representative democracy by presuming that a law passed by the majority of a constitutional body should be reversed by the objections of a few,” Weatherford wrote.
by The News Service of Florida
E. Coli Scare Prompts Winn Dixie Ground Beef Recall
August 4, 2013
Winn-Dixie has announced a voluntary recall of its Fresh 93% Lean Ground Beef due to possible E. coli contamination. The voluntary recall comes on the heels of a larger recall put into motion by the National Beef Packing Company.
“E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration, and in the most severe cases, kidney failure,” according to a Winn Dixie media release. “The very young, seniors and persons with weak immune systems are the most susceptible to foodborne illness.”
The Winn Dixie Fresh 93% Lean Ground Beef was sold in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi with UPC codes 20167100000 and 24370700000. All package sizes and sell by dates are included in the recall. The potentially contaminated meat was shipped to Winn-Dixie stores after July 18.
“We encourage customers to check their refrigerators and freezers for the recalled item and to immediately discard the product or bring it back to their store,” said Brian Wright, Winn-Dixie’s corporate communications senior director. “Customers who purchased the product may visit their neighborhood Winn-Dixie to request a full refund, no questions asked.”
To receive the refund, customers may present proof of purchase through a receipt or the product packaging label.
The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) advises all consumers to safely prepare their raw meat products, including fresh and frozen, and only consume ground beef that has been cooked to a temperature of 160 degrees. The only way to confirm that ground beef is cooked to a temperature high enough to kill harmful bacteria is to use a food thermometer that measures internal temperature.
Customers with questions about the recalled products may contact the Winn-Dixie Customer Call Center toll free at 866-946-6349, Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. EDT and Saturday, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. EDT.
Softball Tourney Benefits Northview Quarterback Club
August 4, 2013
A coed softball tournament in Walnut Hill Saturday benefited the Northview High School Quarterback Club. Winning the tournament was the team named “Balls Deep”. Team members included Justice Agerton, Daulton Tullis, Morgan Ward, Jadlyn Agerton, Chasen Freeman, Brannon Freeman, Morgan Payne, Kevin Vaughan, Mark Shipps Jr., Brad Lowery, Melissa McCall Ward and Nathan Shipps. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Where Are We In The 2013 Hurricane Season?
August 4, 2013
There have only been four named tropical systems so far this hurricane season — Andrea, Barry, Chantal and Dorian. But June and July tend to be the less active months of the season.
Climatologically speaking, August is the month where tropical cyclone activity begins to ramp up.
“This does not mean we will get a tropical cyclone along the Gulf Coast, but it is a good preparedness reminder,” according to the National Weather Service in Mobile.
NWS graphic, click to enlarge.
Birmingham Routs Pensacola 8-0
August 4, 2013
Stephen McCray carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning, completely shutting down a Pensacola attack that scored 16 runs the night before in Birmingham’s 8-0 win over the Blue Wahoos on Saturday night at Regions Field.
McCray retired the first 12 batters he faced before giving up a leadoff walk in the top of the fifth to Donald Lutz for Pensacola’s first baserunner. Lutz was erased on a double play. Ryan LaMarre reached on an error by the second baseman David Herbek in the sixth inning, but he was stranded.
The no-hitter extended into the eighth inning before Tucker Barnhart blooped a single into shallow left-center field for the Wahoos first base knock. McCray (10-7) ended up departing after the first two batters reached in the ninth, allowing two total hits in 8-plus innings with six strikeouts and a pair of walks.
The Barons offense provided plenty of cushion for McCray, scoring eight runs for the second straight day. Tyler Saladino led off the first with a walk and came around to score a sacrifice fly from Trayce Thompson to make it 1-0.
In the fourth inning, Mike Blanke blasted a three-run homer off Pensacola starter Daniel Renken to make it 4-0. Birmingham added another run in the sixth on a David Herback single to make it 5-0. All five runs were charged to Renken, who saw his string of seven straight quality starts come to an end. He allowed five runs on seven hits with four strikeouts and three walks in six frames.
The Barons left no doubt with an additional three runs in the seventh inning off of Drew Hayes, highlighted by a two-run double from Brandon Jacobs, who extended his hitting streak to 17 games.
Pensacola looks to bounce back with Tim Crabbe (4-8, 3.39) on the mound in Sunday’s middle game. Birmingham will counter with Michael Nix (3-3, 4.76). First pitch from Regions Field is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
story by Kevin Burke
Leon Wilson, Sr.
August 4, 2013
Mr. Leon Wilson, Sr. of Atmore, passed away Saturday, August 3, 2013, at his residence.
He was a veteran the Korean War, having served with the U.S. Navy, and was a farmer and carpenter by trade.
He is survived by three sons, Leon (Donna) Wilson, Jr. of Baltimore, MD, Keith Joseph (Sherry) Wilson of Panama City, FL, and Walter Scott (Bridget) of Atmore; one daughter, Mary Martha Clauson of Baltimore, MD; one brother of Nhyppgrass, MD; three sisters; seven grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, August 6, 2013, from the chapel of Craver’s Funeral Home with Rev. David Cooper officiating.
Interment will follow in Weaver Cemetery.
Visitation will be held at Craver’s Funeral Home on Tuesday from 1 p.m. until service time at 2 p.m.