Century Man Arrested On 11-Year Old Traffic Ticket
April 26, 2013
A Century man was arrested Thursday afternoon on traffic citation from 11 years ago.
James Ray Foster, now 52, was issued a traffic citation on February 3, 2002, for no valid driver’s license. He pleaded guilty and adjudication was withheld on March 12, 2002. On March 12, 2002, he was fined $186 and ordered to show a valid driver’s license to the court by June 19, 2002, or report to the county jail for 30 days, according to court records.
In August 2002, a pickup and commit order was issued for Foster’s arrest to spend 30 days behind bars after he failed to produce a valid driver’s license.
Foster remained in the Escambia County Jail early Friday morning without bond.
Scott Signs Law Banning 27 New Synthetic Drugs
April 26, 2013
Gov. Rick Scott signed legislation banning 27 new synthetic drugs on Thursday, as a bill sponsored by Rep. Clay Ingram became law.
Scott said, “Florida sheriffs, police chiefs and prosecutors have done a great job in making Florida communities safer. Thanks to their efforts, Florida is at a 41 year crime low. We will continue to work in close partnership with our state and local law enforcement officials to keep Florida families and visitors to our state safe – and this law will provide them with even more tools to fight new drugs that threaten our children.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi also praised the new law.
“Deadly synthetic drugs are targeted to our youth, and I will remain committed to banning these drugs and keeping them off of store shelves. I thank Governor Scott for signing this key public safety legislation,” she said.
Two School Burglaries Under Investigation
April 26, 2013
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is looking for the public’s help in solving burglaries at two schools this month in Escambia County.
Weis Elementary School on North Q Street was vandalized and burglarized early Thursday morning. Video surveillance revealed three suspects had entered the building shortly before 2:00 am. While in the building they broke out glass doors and stole several items. Deputies are searching for three suspects pictured on this page.
Back on April 10, at least three individuals burglarized Woodham Middle School during the early morning hours. Several doors, windows and lockers were damaged. Graffiti was also painted on several walls. The damage was estimated to be in excess of $9,000. Suspects from the surveillance video are pictured on this page.
Anyone with information about either school burglary is asked asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
No Injuries In Wreck At Ernest Ward Middle School
April 26, 2013
There were no injuries in a Thursday afternoon wreck in front of Ernest Ward Middle School.
The accident happened about 6:15 p.m. on Highway 97 when a driver left the roadway and struck a crape myrtle tree next to the school’s main entrance. The 20-year old man refused medical treatment.
The accident was investigated by the Florida Highway Patrol; further details have not been released. The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Atmore Ambulance also responded to the crash.
Pictured top: The driver of this vehicle was not injured when he struck a crape myrtle tree (in background) in front of Ernest Ward Middle School. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Academy Out Of AISA Playoffs With 2-Game Loss
April 26, 2013
Escambia Academy’s Alabama Independent School Association playoff hopes were dashed Thursday as the Cougars from Canoe, Ala., dropped two to Pike County Liberal Arts of Troy.
Pike won game one 11-1 and took the nightcap 16-1 in the best two of three series.
Escambia Academy was coming off a two-game sweep of Kingwood Christian in round one of the AISA playoffs.
Atmore Relay For Life Is Tonight
April 26, 2013
Atmore’s Relay for Life 2013 begins tonight and continues into Saturday morning.
The event begins with opening ceremonies at Tom Byrne Park at 7 p.m., followed by a survivor and caregivers lap at about 7:15. Then 11 teams will walk through the night until 6 a.m.. A luminaria lap will be held at about 9 p.m., with lighted luminarias lining the track honoring lives affected or taken by cancer.
Teams in this year’s Atmore Relay for Life 2013 include Atmore Community Hospital, Atmore Family Dental, Atmore News, First National Bank & Trust, Johnson Ford, Poarch Creek Indians, Team Lucky Charms, The Meadows Assisted Living, Walgreen’s, Wrangler’s Steakhouse and United Bank.
Pictured: The Survivor’s Lap at the 2012 Atmore Relay for Life. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
House Backs Speeding Up Death Penalty
April 26, 2013
After a debate that touched on justice, innocence and the Bible, the Florida House on Thursday approved a bill aimed at reducing delays in carrying out the death penalty.
Supporters of the bill (HB 7083) pointed to convicted murderers who, in some cases, have been on Death Row for more than 30 years. Rep. Matt Gaetz, a Fort Walton Beach Republican who is the bill sponsor, said it is a “blight on our whole justice system” when people are on Death Row for decades with no questions remaining about their guilt.
“This is not about the death penalty,” said Rep. Gayle Harrell, R-Stuart. “This is about justice. And justice delayed is justice denied.”
But opponents said they fear that trying to shorten the appeal process could lead to innocent people being executed, particularly with scientific advances that have helped exonerate Death Row inmates.
“What in the world is the hurry?” asked Rep. Elaine Schwartz, D-Hollywood.
The bill focuses, at least in part, on what is known as the “post-conviction” legal process, which starts after the Florida Supreme Court upholds death sentences in initial appeals. The post-conviction process can involve appeals about issues such as whether defendants have received ineffective legal representation.
Approved in an 84-34 vote, the bill would make a series of changes to try to reduce delays and end what one lawmaker described as gamesmanship in post-conviction proceedings.
As an example, part of the bill would try to ensure that attorneys have “actual” conflicts of interest before being replaced in death-penalty cases — replacements that can cause delays. “A possible, speculative or merely hypothetical conflict is insufficient to support an allegation that an actual conflict of interest exists,” the bill says.
Another part of the bill, meanwhile, would try to weed out attorneys who have inadequately represented defendants in death-penalty cases. It would bar such attorneys from working on death-penalty cases for five years if courts have found that they provided deficient representation twice.
Rep. James Grant, R-Tampa, said the bill is aimed at making sure attorneys and Death Row inmates don’t abuse the system.
“We’re not speeding up the death penalty,” Grant said. “We’re just slowing down fraud.”
But critics repeatedly raised concerns about the potential of executing wrongly convicted inmates.
“The one thing that you cannot take back is, if you put a person to death, you can’t bring them back to life,” said Rep. Mia Jones, D-Jacksonville.
Debate about the bill became intense at times, with some lawmakers even citing the Bible to back their positions.
Rep. Charles Van Zant, a Keystone Heights Republican who supported the bill, referred to a passage in the Old Testament book of Genesis. That drew a response from Rep. Dwayne Taylor, D-Daytona Beach, who countered with passages from the New Testament.
At one point, Rep. Larry Lee, Jr., D-Port St. Lucie, said his sister was murdered by a jealous ex-boyfriend. But he said was torn about the bill, because he said he often sees reports of inmates being exonerated by scientific evidence. In the end, Lee voted against the bill.
By The News Service of Florida
Sheriff’s Office To Hold Church Safety And Security Workshop
April 26, 2013
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is inviting church leaders to attend a special conference on Church Safety and Security next month.
“Our places of worship should be regarded as safe havens where the community can worship and experience fellowship free from worries about violence, theft or unethical behavior,” says Sheriff David Morgan, “I encourage all citizens to arm themselves with the knowledge necessary to prevent fraud, theft and other crimes.”
The workshop is free and is designed to assist you in efforts to reduce crime in our places of worship and in our community. It will be held at the ECSO Main Administration Building, 1700 West Leonard Street on May 16 at 5:30 p.m.
To register, call Deputy Delarian Wiggins at (850) 436-9496.
Smokies Take Series Opener Over Pensacola’s Blue Wahoos 2-1
April 26, 2013
The Tennessee Smokies scored single runs in the second and third innings which proved to be enough as the Blue Wahoos dropped the series opener at Smokies Park 2-1.
The Smokies got on the board in the second inning taking advantage of a two-out walk to Jonathan Mota. A batter later, Rafael Lopez doubled him home to put Tennessee in front 1-0. The next inning, Ronald Torres tripled to open the third off Blue Wahoos starter Ryan Dennick. He scored on a base hit by Jae-Hoon Ha, which would prove to be the winning run.
Pensacola would break though with their only run of the game in the eighth inning. Ryan LaMarre scored from third on a wild pitch from Zac Rosscup. That was all the Blue Wahoos would get. Brian Schlitter (S, 1) retired Pensacola in order in the ninth to earn his first save of the season.
LaMarre finished the game 2-for-4 with a double and a stolen base. It was fifth multi-hit game of the season.
Despite another strong start, Dennick (L, 1-1) took the loss. He was charged with both Smokies runs. The lefty worked six innings with four strikeouts, two walks and five hits allowed.
Dallas Beeler (W, 2-2) allowed seven hits but shut out the Blue Wahoos over his seven innings to earn the win.
The Blue Wahoos look to even the series Friday night at Smokies Park. RHP Daniel Renken (1-1, 3.57) will start for Pensacola against Smokies RHP Alberto Cabrera (2-1, 4.63). First pitch is set for 6:15 p.m. CT.
story by Kevin Burke
District Losses For Northview, Tate
April 26, 2013
Both Northview and Tate came up short Thursday night in their homes for district championships, but both teams are still alive headed into the district semis as runner-ups.
District Finals Class 6A
The Tate Aggies had a taste of playing as the visiting team on their own field as the No. 2 sees as they faced the Pace Patriots in the District 1-6A title game.
The Aggies were first on the scoreboard with a base hit from David Moorhead that sent JT Granat in to score for a 1-0 Aggie lead. The Aggies stole home to make it all tied up 1-1 in the second.
The Patriots took at 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth and held on, as Pace beat Tate 2-1 for the tourney title.
Also Thursday night, Crestview beat Mosley 3-2.
It will be Tate at Crestview and Mosley at Pace when the regional tournament gets underway
District Finals Class 1A
In the Class 1A title games, the Northview Chiefs lost to Holmes County Bonifay 3-0 and Paxton beat Central 3-0. When the 1A regional semifinals get underway on May 7, Northview will travel to Paxton, and Central will travel to Bonifay to face Holmes County.