Escambia Man Convicted Of Double Shooting
July 30, 2013
An Escambia County man is facing up to life in prison for shooting two people last year.
Vernon Polk was found guilty as charged on the charges of attempted second degree murder with a weapon and aggravated battery with a firearm by an Escambia County Jury.
On June 18, 2012, Vernon Polk Walked up to the victim’s car outside the Chicago Store on North Davis Highway and opened fire, shooting then 31-year old Alonzo Lindsey twice in the chest and 28-year old Antoinette Hunter in the arm. Lindsey was taken to Sacred Heart Hospital where he underwent lifesaving surgery. Both victims were able to positively identify Polk from photo lineups.
Polk could be sentenced up to life in prison by Judge Linda Nobles on September 4.
Gaetz Suggests Residency Test For Lawmakers
July 30, 2013
The Legislature may be asked to consider imposing stronger residency requirements, amid allegations that a number of sitting lawmakers are loosely following the current rules.
Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, said legislators should have a “litmus test” of sorts regarding residency beyond what is already in state law. But he wants top attorneys for the House and Senate to first recommend what standards are needed.
“This isn’t Great Britain where you can just run in a constituency that needs somebody to run. This is Florida in the United States where you’re supposed to represent the people you live among,” Gaetz said Monday.
State law says each legislator “shall be at least twenty-one years of age, an elector and resident of the district from which elected and shall have resided in the state for a period of two years prior to election.”
However, Senate Ethics and Elections Chairman Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, has raised questions about a number of Democratic lawmakers claiming residences within the districts they represent, but actually living outside those districts.
Besides directing their top attorneys to recommend standards for residency, Gaetz and House Speaker Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, stated in a letter to Latvala last week that they have asked Secretary of State Ken Detzner to compile — by Sept.1 — a list of where all 160 legislators are registered to vote.
“Getting an answer to those questions was the point of writing the letter,” Ryan Duffy, a spokesman for Weatherford, said in an email Monday.
No deadline has been set for the House general counsel and the Senate general counsel to render residency recommendations.
State lawmakers, who tackled high-profile ethics and campaign-finance reform issues during the 2013 session, return to Tallahassee the week of Sept. 23 for the first committee week in advance of the 2014 session.
Latvala has recently expressed concerns about the residency of Democratic Sen. Maria Sachs, as well as Reps. Perry Thurston, D-Fort Lauderdale, Jared Moskowitz, D-Coral Springs, Hazelle Rogers, D-Lauderdale Lakes, and Alan Williams, D-Tallahassee.
Similar questions were directed at Republican Sen. John Legg during his 2012 Senate campaign after his filing paperwork listed a Trinity address that was outside his then-House district.
Gaetz said because of the questions that have been raised and comments he’s received from county supervisors of elections and attorneys, there needs to be “finer” rules in place regarding residency.
“Is it enough that you vote in the district that you represent? Is it enough that you’re homestead there?” Gaetz asked. “Is it enough that you pay your water bill there, that you get your newspaper there? What are the real tests of residency?”
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Jay Resident Dies Three Weeks After Traffic Crash
July 30, 2013
A Jay resident had passed away following a July traffic crash.
Westley Lynn Mote, 26, died Saturday. On July 6, Mote was northbound on Chumuckla Highway near 10 Mile Road about 12:30 a.m. when he drifted off the road onto the east shoulder, over corrected, crossed both lanes of the highway, ran off the west shoulder, and hit a tree, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Mote was critically injured and was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola. A passenger in the 1998 Chevrolet S10, 26-year old Natalie Raye Mote, was seriously injured and also transported to Sacred Heart. Neither occupant was wearing a seat belt, the FHP said.
Report: Bennett Pushed Grade Changes That Benefited Donor
July 30, 2013
Florida Education Commissioner Tony Bennett and his Indiana employees “frantically overhauled” the Hoosier State’s school-grading system last year when it looked like one of his political contributors’ schools might get a “C,” the Associated Press reported.
According to the AP, Bennett — who was then superintendent of public instruction in Indiana — became alarmed when Christel House’s initial marks came back lower than expected. Bennett had touted Christel House in his drive for reform, and its founder had donated $130,000 to Bennett as part of $2.8 million contributed by Christel DeHaan to Republicans over the last 15 years.
“They need to understand that anything less than an A for Christel House compromises all of our accountability work,” Bennett wrote in one email obtained by the AP.
But he told the news organization Monday morning that the changes in Indiana helped schools besides Christel House. “This wasn’t just to give Christel House an A. It was to make sure the system was right to make sure the system was face valid,” Bennett said. Unlike Florida, Indiana allows voters to select the head of the state’s education system.
Bennett was defeated for re-election last year.
by The News Service of Florida
Santa Rosa Elected Officials Meet And Greet Tonight
July 30, 2013
Santa Rosa Young Professionals (SRYP) will host an elected officials meet and greet today at the Santa Rosa County Auditorium, 4530 Spikes Way, Milton.
Attending officials will be introduced at 6 p.m.; there will be no formal speeches. The general public is invited to attend this free event and will have the opportunity to speak one-on-one with their representatives.
Complimentary refreshments will be provided.
Scheduled to attend are:
State of Florida
Sen. Greg Evers
Rep. Clay Ingram
Rep. Doug Broxson
Rep. Matt Gaetz
Public Defender Bruce Miller
Santa Rosa County
Commissioner Jim Williamson
Commissioner Don Salter
Commissioner Jim Melvin
Commissioner Bob Cole
Clerk of Court Don Spencer
Supervisor of Elections Tappie Villane
Superintendent of Schools Tim Wyrosdick
Sheriff Wendell Hall
Tax Collector Stan Colie Nichols
School Board Member Jennifer Granse
School Board Member Scott Peden
School Board Member Diane Scott
City of Milton
Mayor Guy Thompson
Councilman Grady Hester
Councilwoman Patsy Lunsford
Councilman Wesley Meiss
Northview Quarterback Club Meets Tonight
July 30, 2013
The next meeting of the Northview High School Quarterback Club is tonight at 6:30 in the Northview Media Center. All current and prospective members are encouraged to attend.
Families can support the Chiefs by joining the Quarterback Club for just $10 per family per year. All of the proceeds go directly to help the school, the football program and the students.
Details Emerge In Deputy Involved Shooting Of Unarmed Man
July 30, 2013
Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan released more details Monday about an unarmed man shot at his own home by two deputies early Saturday morning.
Roy Howard Middleton, 60, said he was searching for a cigarette in his mother’s car when deputies approached.
The deputies had answered a theft in progress call about 2:40 a.m., according to Morgan, on Shadow Lawn Lane. A caller had reported that a subject was attempting to steal a white car parked in the driveway of the residence. Just before deputies arrived, the caller reported to a 911 dispatcher that the subject was still inside the vehicle. The deputies arrived, parked a few houses away, and approached on foot.
The deputies ordered Middleton to get out of the Lincoln Town Car and put his hands up, but they say he was not compliant. At one point, he started to get out of the car, but then got back in and reached toward the center console. Then Middleton exited the car very quickly with a lunging motion with one hand raised with something metallic in it, Morgan said. Sgt. Matthew White and Deputy Jeremiah Meeks then fired 15 rounds, hitting Middleton in the leg. Morgan said the deputies feared for their safety. He attributed the number of shots fired to “officer anxiety”.
“There’s numerous commands going throughout this incident,” Morgan said. “You’ve got to remember, everybody’s ramped at this point.”
The first shots were fired by Meeks, the sheriff said. He said White was to the right of Meeks and unable to determine if Middleton was firing, so White also fired in the suspect’s direction as backup.
A third officer on the scene, Wayne Wright, was still walking toward the driveway when the gunfire began. “Sergeant White was slightly ahead of me, and as I got closer to the residence I observed Deputy Meeks near the end of the driveway,” Wright wrote in an incident report. “I then heard verbal commands being shouted to have the subject get out of the vehicle and show his hands. Deputy Meeks and Sergeant White then both fired their weapons.”
“If we rolled on the scene and Mr. Middleton had been compliant and Mr. Middleton had followed all directions of the law enforcement officers, I can give you with a 99.9 percent of assurance that this shooting would not have occurred. But when an individual, a suspect, or victim in this case, is not compliant, then the officers react to that,” Morgan said. “We are not in control of that. The individual we are approaching is in control of that.”
Middleton and his family tell a different story. Middleton said he at first thought the flashlights were those of his neighbors playing a trick on him. He said he followed the orders given by deputies and raised his hands, holding his car keys with metal flashlight. When he turned to face the deputies, they opened fire.
Meeks has been with the Sheriff’s Office for two years; White has served for 15 years. Both are on paid administrative leave, as is standard procedure in officer involved shootings.
The shooting is under investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the State Attorney’s Office.
Tate’s Dunsford, West Florida’s Rosario Named To All-State Softball Teams
July 30, 2013
Miracle Sports has named two local players to the 2013 All State Softball Team.
Rachel Dunsford, an incoming senior at Tate high school, made First Team 6A for 2013 as a Utility player. The University of Alabama Birmingham commit hit .432 for the year with eight doubles, two home runs, 16 RBI, .519 on base percentage and a .591 slugging percentage. In 2012, Rachel made Second Team All State.
Korina Rosario, incoming senior at West Florida High, made Honorable Mention in 5A for 2013. The Florida State commit hit. .467 for the year with 12 doubles, four triples, one home run, 16 RBI, .495 on base percentage and had nine stolen bases. Korina was 9-4 pitching for the jaguars with 134 strikeouts and a .166 batting average against.
Both players will sign their National Letter of Intent with their respective universities in November.
Miracle Sports is the official website of the Florida High school softball rankings and the Florida All-State high school softball teams.
Pictured: Korina Rosario (left) and Rachel Dunsford. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Ruby Jean Thomas
July 30, 2013
Mrs. Ruby Jean Thomas, 65, passed away on Sunday, July 28, 2013, in Atmore.
Mrs. Thomas was a native of Mexia, AL, former resident of Miami and has resided in Atmore for the past 15 years. Mrs. Thomas was an employee at We Care and attended the Grace Fellowship Church.
She is survived by her two sons, Michael Anthony (Mary) Thomas of Atmore, and Shallist Hudson of Polk City, FL; one daughter, Joyce Jones of West Palm Beach, FL; four brothers, Lester Mark of North Carolina, Montie Thomas and Jerome Thomas of California and Charles Thomas; five sisters, Elois Blanchard of Mobile, Hilda Mark of Anchorage, Alaska, Rose Thomas of Century, Patricia Thomas and Betty Thomas of Atmore; one grandson, Michael Lawrence Thomas and one great-grandchild, Jailen Thomas.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes, LLC is in charge of all arrangements.
Renken Leads Wahoos To Second Straight Shutout
July 30, 2013
Daniel Renken fired six shutout frames for the second straight outing and the Blue Wahoos offense provided two early runs to knock off the Mobile BayBears 2-0 on Monday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. It was Pensacola’s ninth shutout of the season and extended the team’s scoreless innings streak to 18 innings.
Renken (5-7), riding a string of six consecutive quality starts since his last start against Mobile, dominated the BayBears over six innings. The right-hander allowed three scattered hits while falling one shy of a season-high in strikeouts with six. Renken’s lone bit of trouble came in the fifth when he worked with two runners on and one out, but he got a groundout and a strikeout to retire the side. With the six shutout frames, Renken extended his scoreless innings streak to 17.1 frames dating back to July 12.
The Pensacola offense provided solo tallies in the first two frames for the only runs of the night. In the first inning, Yorman Rodriguez jacked his second home run of the year off Mobile starter David Holmberg to give the Wahoos a 1-0 lead. An inning later, Ray Chang doubled home Travis Mattair to give Pensacola a 2-0 lead.
Holmberg took the loss for Mobile to fall to 5-6 on the season. He allowed two runs on seven hits with two strikeouts and three walks.
That was more than enough for Renken, who gave way to Lee Hyde in the seventh inning. The Wahoos southpaw reliever fired two scoreless frames, allowing just one hit to extend his personal scoreless streak to 27.1 innings dating back to May 21.
Trevor Bell came on in the ninth inning and retired the BayBears in order to pick up his ninth save of the year.
Pensacola will now look to take the series against Mobile on Tuesday night at 6 p.m. Tim Crabbe (4-7, 3.33) looks to build on his nine scoreless innings last time out for Pensacola against Mobile’s Bo Schultz.
story by Kevin Burke