Texting And Driving: Hard To Believe So Many Have Had To Die
February 7, 2013
Escambia and Santa Rosa’s state senator is speaking out in support of a texting and driving ban as the Senate works on such a bill.
Sen. Greg Evers said lawmakers must change with the times, as they had to do when requiring the use of seat belts. “I just find it hard to believe that so many folks have had to die,” Evers said. “I, too, was one that would not support the seat belt. But by education – my son, when he crawls in a vehicle, that’s the first thing he does.”
A bill that would ban texting while driving was approved in its first Senate committee Wednesday, but only after lawmakers added some exceptions.
The Senate Transportation Committee amended the bill (SB 52) by Sen. Nancy Detert, R-Venice, to allow texting while a driver is stopped at a red light or stuck in traffic.
This is the fourth year Detert has sponsored a texting ban. She said it’s embarrassing that Florida is one of just a few states with no limits on texting while driving.
Steve Augello traveled from Spring Hill to tell lawmakers about his 17-year-old daughter, Alessandra, who was killed in 2008 when a driver crossed the center line while texting and caused a head-on crash.
“It kills. I’m living proof,” he said. “I have a life sentence. I have to live the rest of my life without my daughter because of someone who was texting and driving. We’ve got to get this law passed.”
Sen. Tom Lee, R-Brandon, wanted to know why the bill didn’t make texting a primary offense instead of a secondary one. “So you would consider it careless?” he asked.
“Beyond careless. I would consider it reckless,” Detert replied. “In the four years we have been doing this bill, we have found that it makes it more passable to make it a secondary offense.”
The News Service Florida contributed to this report.
Standing Strong: NJROTC Annual Inspection Held (With Photo Gallery)
February 7, 2013
Northview High School’s NJROTC Annual Inspection was held Wednesday at the school, with cadets undergoing face to face scrutiny.
The inspecting officer was Captain James Daniels, USN, Commanding Officer, Naval Air Technical Training Center located at NAS Pensacola. He has been in the Navy for 35 years, rising through the ranks from Seaman Recruit, E-1 to Captain, O-6.
The day’s events began with a personnel inspection, drill demonstration and a pass-in-review in the school gym. Other events Wednesday included a financial record review, briefings, administrative inspections, supply inspections and more.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Cadets Sean Allister, Zachary Bradley, Jaquan Dale, Zacarra Davis, Casey Godwin, Blaze Harkness, Moriah McGahan, Jenyia Odom, Talia Syria, Chelsea Ward and Victoria Wright were recognized for their outstanding personal appearance at the inspection Wednesday morning and will be awarded a ribbon for their efforts.
Drill team commanders were Maddie Webber, Freshman (NS1) Drill Team and Jessica Brown, Unarmed Basic Drill Team.
Pictured: Northview High School’s NJROTC Annual Inspection Wednesday morning at the school. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Won’t Pave Lot
February 7, 2013
A newly cleared lot on Mayo Street in Century won’t be resurfaced anytime soon. That’s the word from Century officials who said the cost is just too high. Roads, Inc. — already in Century resurfacing several streets — told the town it would cost about $24,000 to completely pave the lot.
The lot is the former home of a two story asbestos-containing building that was recently demolished after a two year delay. For more details. click here for an earlier story.
Pictured: An empty lot remains on Mayo Street in Century after a building that was owned by the town was demolished. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Area Football Stars Commit On National Signing Day
February 7, 2013
At Northview High School on Wednesday’s National Signing Day, Neiko Robinson signed a letter of intent with the Penn State Nittany Lions, and Blake McCall signed with Jackson State University.
“It’s exciting. I’m just ready to play now,” Robinson said. While Penn State is banned from bowl games for four years following a child abuse scandal, Robinson said he never wavered in his commitment to the Nittany Lions.
“”To me, the football program didn’t do anything wrong…it was a criminal matter,” he said. “Playing in front of 110,000 people, that’s a bowl game in itself.”
Walking into a huge stadium also helped seal the deal between McCall and the Jackson State Tigers in Jackson, Miss. “When I walked into the stadium — 65,ooo — I knew I wanted to play there,” McCall said. “It feels amazing; I am really and truly blessed to go to this school.”
Watching McCall and Robinson sign with large schools was a shining moment for Northview High Head Coach Sid Wheatley.
“We want to continue having great success here, and turn out student athletes to the next level. They are going to go and get and education, and that’s very important,” Wheatley told McCall and Robinson’s teammates as they watched the ceremony in the school theater.
Here’s a look at some of the other area commitments made Wednesday on National Signing Day:
Tate High
Tate High School running back Lorenzo Long signed Tuesday morning with the Division I-AA Wofford Terriers. Long holds the Tate Aggie career record with 3,227 rushing yards. During his senior season, Long had 183 carries for 1,175 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Pensacola High
Defensive back Blake Norwood of Cantonment to East Carolina.
Black Norwood to East Carolina.
West Florida High
Defensive end Nate Crawford to Missouri.
Cornerback Demetrius Smith to Georgia Military Academy.
Pine Forest High
Defensive end DeMarcus Glover to Western Kentucky.
Running back Rashaad Lee to Florida Atlantic.
Jordarius Gardner to Butler Community College in Kansas.
Pictured top: Neiko Robinson (left) reacts Tuesday afternoon to applause after signing his letter of intent with Penn State as Blake McCall (right) looks on and prepares to sign with Jackson State University. Pictured below: (front, L-R) Neiko Robinson’s aunt Tina Hicks, father Anthony Robinson, Neiko Robinson, Black McCall, McCall’s mother Kristi Crawford, (back) Northview Athletic Director Gary Mattes, Head Coach Sid Wheatley, and Coach Derek Marshman NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
List Of Stores Released In Undercover Spice Investigation
February 7, 2013
A list of stores targeted in an undercover synthetic marijuana investigation has been released. None of the stores were in North Escambia, where the shooting death of store owner has been attributed to the sale of Spice.
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Unit found seven convenience stores to be participating in the sale and distribution of synthetic marijuana, commonly known as spice. Investigators seized a total of 1,790 packages of suspected spice during last Friday’s operation.
At the following stores, investigators made purchases and seized the listed approximate amounts of Spice:
- Quick Serve – 13121Lillian Hwy.– 842 Packets of Spice, 3031.5 grams
- EZ Serve – 8490 Pensacola Blvd. – 33 Packets of Spice, 243 grams
- Alo Food Mart – 3900 Creighton Rd. – 159 Packets of Spice, 704 grams
- A-1 Food Mart – 3612 Creighton Rd. – 193 Packets of Spice, 543 grams
- Stop and Go – 8701 Gulf Beach Hwy. – 76 Packets of Spice, 1243 grams
- Shop and Go – 2401 Cervantes St. – 17 Packets of Spice, 146.5 grams
- OK Convenience Store – 955 Massachusetts Ave – 471 Packets of Spice, 2580.5 grams
Sgt. Mike Ward, spokesman for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said charges are forthcoming in connection with the listed Spice seizures. “Investigators will continue to target these and other stores that are selling Spice,” he said.
Investigators also attempted to purchase Spice at 11 other stores. The stories either did not sell the synthetic marijuana or were out, investigators said. Those stores were:
- Speed Mart – 1800 S. Hwy
- Raceway – 7271 Pensacola Blvd.
- Express Mart – 9 Mile Rd. / Pine Forest Rd.
- Raceway – 406 Airport Blvd.
- On the Go Food Mart – Johnson / Palafox St.
- QV Mart – W St. Beverly Pkwy.
- BP – 1215 Creighton Rd.
- Quick Serve – 5703 W. Jackson St.
- Lucky Penny – 2900 W. Jackson St.
- BP Gas Station – 9th Ave / Cervantes St.
- Lucky Penny – 5249 Blue Angel Pkwy.
The sale of Spice has been directly attributed to the shooting death of one person in North Escambia. State Line O’Yes Lotto owner Tommy Kroll, 74, was killed inside his store on Highway 97 in Davisville in November. Malcolm McGhee and Brent Lambeth went to the store with the intent of robbing the store of its Spice, according to arrest reports. They are awaiting trial for first degree murder and robbery.
Pictured top: Owner Thomas Kroll was gunned down inside the State Line O’Yes Lotto store on Highway 97 in Davisville last November when two people allegedly attempted to rob him of his supply of Spice. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Postal Service Cutting Saturday Delivery
February 7, 2013
The financially strapped U.S. Postal Service said Wednesday that it will stop delivering mail on Saturdays in early August while continuing to deliver packages six days per week. The Postal Service expects to generate cost savings of approximately $2 billion annually, once the plan is fully implemented.
Once implemented during August of 2013, mail delivery to street addresses will occur Monday through Friday. Packages will continue to be delivered six days per week. Mail addressed to PO Boxes will continue to be delivered on Saturdays. Post Offices currently open on Saturdays will remain open on Saturdays.
Market research conducted by the Postal Service and independent research by major news organizations indicate that nearly seven out of ten Americans (70 percent) supported the switch to five-day delivery as a way for the Postal Service to reduce costs in its effort to return the organization to financial stability. Support for this approach will likely be even higher since the Postal Service plans to maintain six-day package delivery.
The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.
Pictured: The Walnut Hill contract post office. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Hunter Bags 400 Pound Wild Hog
February 7, 2013
A giant wild hog that had eluded hunters for years was killed Wednesday morning by Angus Brewton of Walnut Hill. The wild hog, weighing in at 400 pounds, was killed on the the Black Branch Hunting Club between Pine Barren Road and Pine Barren Creek, just south of Lambert Bridge Road. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Woman Charged With Pulling Gun On Her Sister
February 6, 2013
A Century woman is behind bars charged with pulling a gun on her sister in an argument over care for their elderly mother.
Mattie Alice Carter, 60, is charged with aggravated assault. She remained in the Escambia County Jail early Wednesday morning with bond set at $100,000.
Carter allegedly got into a verbal argument with her 64-year old sister at their mother’s residence on Jefferson Avenue over money owed by the sister to Carter for their mother’s care. The sister told deputies that Carter pulled a black handgun on her and stated, “I’m gonna blow your [expletive] head off if you don’t give me my money”, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report.
The victim fled the residence and called deputies.
Residents Report ‘Boom’ Or Explosion; Cause Linked To Hurlburt Field
February 6, 2013
Residents across a wide area reported feeling or hearing a large “boom” or explosion that rattled their homes just after 10:00 Tuesday night.
The noise and rattle were reportedly caused by target practice at Hulbert Field involving AC-130 gunships. Original reports were that noise originated with an unspecified training exercise that originated at Eglin Air Force Base, but an Eglin spokesperson said Wednesday morning that was not the case.
Most of the reports received by NorthEscambia.com were centered in an area from Molino to Cantonment to Nine Mile Road, east across Pensacola Bay into Pace and Milton. There were no reports of any explosions, plane crashes or other events in the two-county area as being rumored Tuesday night on Facebook and other social media sites.
Escambia Invesigators Seize 17 Pounds Of Spice From Seven Stores
February 6, 2013
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office seized over 17 pounds of synthetic marijuana with a street value of about $40,000 from seven convenience stores in the county during undercover operations last week.
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Unit targeted 11 convenience stores and found seven to be participating in the sale and distribution of synthetic marijuana, commonly known as spice. Investigators seized a total of 1,790 packages of suspected spice during last Friday’s operation.
Several felony charges and arrests are pending further investigation, the Sheriff’s Office said Monday. No other details, including the locations of the stores, have been released.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.