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Five Sentenced For Molino Park Burglary, Vandalism

Two adults and three juveniles have been sentenced for the burglary and vandalism of Molino Park Elementary school on August 9, 2013.  Over $60,000 in property was stolen, and the school sustained another $7,000 in damages.  Most the stolen items  — including computers and iPads– were burned by the suspects.

Tatanya Zahna Blackmon, an 18-year old female from the 2400 block of North Highway 29 in Cantonment, and Rodriques Ricardo Young, a 19-year old male from the 1300 block of Barth Road in Molino, both pleaded no contest to grand theft, larceny, criminal mischief with property damage, destroying evidence and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Judge Gary Bergosh withheld adjudication on all counts as he imposed a sentence on both Blackmon and Young of one year in the county jail with credit for time served and 100 hours of community service to be followed  by 72 months probation.  The duo was also ordered to pay $65,601.93 in restitution to the Escambia County School district and write  sincere letters of apology to the school.

Tracy Deshawn Lett, 14, Jacob Lett, 11, and Vashawn Lamond Brown, 13, were charged with grand theft, larceny and criminal mischief. They were placed on juvenile probation under the supervision of the Department of Juvenile Justice through age 19. Each was ordered to undergo counseling, and follow a curfew of 7 p.m. Sunday though Thursday nights and 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights, according to the State Attorney’s Office.

Tracy Lett, Jacob Lett and their mother were also ordered to pay restitution at the rate of $25 per month, with the mother equally responsible. Brown was also ordered to write  letter of apology to the principal of Molino Park Elementary School within 30 days. They were also sentenced to 50 hours each of community service.

Thousands of dollars worth of electronics were stolen from throughout the school, including Apple computers, iPads, Wii gaming systems, cameras used by the school’s student-operated closed circuit TV station, along with other items. As teachers returned to work Monday, items were still being discovered missing and inventoried.

“They stole computers that are needed for education; they stole from our kids,” Molino Park Principal Alice Woodward said shortly after the crime. “These were items directly used by our students.”

Portions of the school were also vandalized during the break-in. Ceiling tiles were damaged or destroyed throughout the campus, and holes were punched in walls. A vending machine was also toppled and burglarized.

On August 21, 2013,  Escambia County Sheriff’s Office crime scene investigators responded to the  1200 block of Barth Road in reference to recovered property relating to the burglary. That’s where many of the stolen items were found burned.

To see the surveillance video, click here.

Pictured inset left: Numerous ceiling tiles were damaged during the burglary and vandalism. Pictured below:  Three Apple computers were stolen from this desk in a computer lab. Pictured below: Surveillance video shows two people running through the school at 9:17 p.m. on August 9. Pictured inset: An overturned and burglarized vending machine in the school. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

Lawmakers Look To Revamp School ‘Zero Tolerance’

While including an exception for threats to school safety, an Orlando Democrat on Tuesday filed a bill that would seek to change the state’s “zero tolerance” laws to prevent students from being expelled for disciplinary issues.

The bill, filed by Sen. Geraldine Thompson, would require school districts to use alternatives to expulsion or referral to law-enforcement agencies, except in circumstances such as when students bring firearms to school. Rep. Clovis Watson, D-Alachua, filed the House version of the proposal last week.

Meanwhile, another zero-tolerance bill  has started moving through the House that would prevent children from being disciplined for simulating guns while playing or wearing clothes that depict firearms. The Senate version of that National Rifle Association-backed proposal  is scheduled to be heard Monday in the Senate Criminal Justice Committee.

by The News Service of Florida

Local Students Place In District History Fair

Over 200 students took part in the District History Fair on February 10-11.  Students who advanced from school level competitions had 141 entries which competed in a variety of categories including exhibits websites performances documentaries and historical papers.  The first and second place winners in the junior and senior categories will advance to compete in the State History Fair slated for this May.

Special awards were given out by various community organizations including Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Fiesta of Five Flags Fort Pickens Chapter National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution West Florida Historic Preservation Inc. the Pensacola Heritage Foundation Escambia PTAs/PTSAs and the Pensacola Historic Preservation Society.

The Junior League sponsors the J. Earle Bowden Young Historian Award for Outstanding Senior Entry which was presented to Nick Krostag from Tate High School for his Senior Individual Documentary “The Legacy of Landis: The Rights and Responsibilities of Baseball’s First Commissioner and the Black Sox Edict.”

The Katherine Pomeroy Memorial Award for Best Junior Entry in 2014 was awarded to Alexander Pope from Brown Barge Middle School for his website entitled “Andrew Jackson: Breaking Rights or Following Responsibilities.”

Historical Performance Awards

• Elementary Individual Division-1^st Sam Bradley (Molino Park); 2^nd place Grace Stanley (NB Cook); 3^rd Aaron Smith (NB Cook).
• Elementary Group Division- 1^st Amanda Mills Riley Easton Charlotte Calvert Marley Crawford Aundrea Jordan (NB Cook); 2^nd Anna Gorton Landon Caraway Brooke Bradley Ella Morris and Ryan Worley (NB Cook); 3^rd Brad Adams Nyasia Legg J’la Thompkins Jakaylin Donson Payton Daniels (NB Cook).
• Junior Individual Performances- 1^st Georgia Rogers (St. Paul’s Catholic);  2^nd Ellie Rose (Bailey Middle School).
• Junior Group Performances-1^st Allyson Shumpert and Logan Reeder (Episcopal Day).

Historical Website Awards

• Junior Individual Websites- 1^st Alexander Pope (Brown Barge); 2^nd Triston Long (Ernest Ward); 3^rd Camille Macks (Bellview Middle School).
• Junior Group Websites- 1^st Chris Bougher and Riley Laggan (Creative Learning Academy); 2^nd Vanessa Welch and Wally Odom (Creative Learning Academy).
• Senior Individual Website Division- 1^st Kirsten Telhiard (Pensacola High School); 2^nd Eric Masterson (Pensacola Catholic); 3^rd Jamie Malsberger (West Florida).
• Senior Group Website Division- 1st Sarah Fuller and Drew Anderson (Pensacola Catholic); 2^nd Alexa McKnight and James Videau (Pensacola Catholic).

Historical Paper Awards

• Junior Division-1^st Gorham Partington (Episcopal Day); 2^nd Sara Buchanan (Bellview).
• Senior Division- 1^st Kelly Wu (Pensacola High School); 2^nd Madison Michles (Pensacola High School); 3^rd Case Wagner (Pensacola Catholic).

Historical Documentary Awards

• Junior Individual Documentary Division- 1^st Quin Baker Jr. (St. Paul Catholic); 2^nd Parker Beverly (Creative Learning Academy).
• Junior Group Documentary Division- 1^st Drew Jimenez Robert McGhee and Parker Kotlarz (Episcopal Day); 2^nd Rachel Nguyen and Macy Peaden (Episcopal Day); 3^rd Virginia Remington and Claire Wilson (Episcopal Day).
• Senior Individual Documentary Division- 1^st Nick Krostag (Tate); 2^nd Maggie Byrd (West Florida).
• Senior Group Documentary Division- 1^st Alexa Haines and Kelly Donahue (Pensacola Catholic); 2^nd Grace Mosier and Hannah Branstetter (Pensacola Catholic).

Historical Exhibit Awards

• Elementary Individual Division-1^st Freedom Hinkson (McArthur); 2^nd Chase Throckmorton (Lipscomb); Tie 3^rd Rachel Curran (Blue Angel); Tie 3^rd Sidney Stojak (Lipscomb).
• Elementary Group Division-1^st Meghan McCarthy and Hannah Faulkner (McArthur); 2^nd Caitlin Sarfert and Tram Doan (Lipscomb); 3^rd Ariel Ward and Kenley Brown (Molino Park).
• Junior Individual Division-1^st Mary Elizabeth Galloway (St. Paul’s Catholic); 2^nd Kate Reagan Costello (Episcopal Day); 3^rd Ronnie Plenkers (Newpoint Academy).
• Junior Group Division- 1^st Louise Harris and Kate Owens (Episcopal Day); 2^nd Anna Jordan Luth and Kasey Page (Episcopal Day); 3^rd Christopher Stockton Jacob Powell and Lethan Peaden (Bellview).
• Senior Individual Division- 1^st Emily Washler (Tate); 2^nd Holly Gorton (Pensacola High School).
• Senior Group Division-1^st Peter Jutras and Mary Jutras (Pensacola Catholic); 2^nd Macauley Haferkamp and Jodee Flurry (Pensacola Catholic); 3^rd Audrey Ussery and Victoria Warren (Pensacola High School).

Super Volunteer: Rev. Janet Lee Honored By Century Chamber

Lee is active throughout the Century community. She is a regular volunteer at the Century Health and Rehabilitation Center where she is known for visiting with her dogs and spearheading the “Methodist Mischief” program that continually delights the residents. Creativity abounds with her lessons like “Trip Across the USA in our Chevrolet”.

Watkins Graduates From Basic Combat Training

Army Pvt. David T. Watkins has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Sill, OK.

During the nine weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army mission, history, tradition and core values, physical fitness, and received instruction and practice in basic combat skills, military weapons, chemical warfare and bayonet training, drill and ceremony, marching, rifle marksmanship, armed and unarmed combat, map reading, field tactics, military courtesy, military justice system, basic first aid, foot marches, and field training exercises.

Watkins is the son of Amber Fletcher of Cantonment and Tommy Watkins of Manor, TX.

He is a 2013 graduate of Siatech Charter HIgh School and the pre-law program at Job Corp in Gainseville.

Scott Appoints Merrill, Five Others To Gulf Consortium

Tuesday, Governor Rick Scott announced six appointments to the Gulf Consortium:

• Collier Merrill, 53, of Pensacola, is the president and co-owner of the Merrill Land Company. He fills a vacant seat and is appointed for a term beginning February 25, 2014, and ending at the pleasure of the Governor.
• Pam Anderson, 64, of Panama City Beach, is the operations manager of Capt. Anderson’s Marina. She fills a vacant seat and is appointed for a term beginning February 25, 2014, and ending at the pleasure of the Governor.
• Peter Bos, 67, of Destin, is the president and chief executive officer of Legendary LLC. He fills a vacant seat and is appointed for a term beginning February 25, 2014, and ending at the pleasure of the Governor.
• Lino Maldonado, 41, of Niceville, is the vice president of Wyndham Vacation Rentals North America. He fills a vacant seat and is appointed for a term beginning February 25, 2014, and ending at the pleasure of the Governor.
• Mike Sole, 49, of Tallahassee, is the vice president of state governmental affairs for Florida Power and Light. He fills a vacant seat and is appointed for a term beginning February 25, 2014, and ending at the pleasure of the Governor.
• Neal Wade, 67, of Panama City, is the executive director of the Bay Economic Development Alliance. He fills a vacant seat and is appointed for a term beginning February 25, 2014, and ending at the pleasure of the Governor.

The Gulf Consortium is a public entity created in October 2012 by Inter-local Agreement among Florida’s 23 Gulf Coast counties, from Escambia County in the western panhandle of Florida to Monroe County on the southern tip of Florida and the United States.

Florida’s 23 Gulf Coast Counties formed the Consortium to meet requirements of the RESTORE Act to develop a State Expenditure Plan for economic and environmental recovery of the Gulf coast in Florida following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.  The RESTORE Act was passed by the Congress on June 29, 2012 and signed into law on July 6, 2012 by the President.

Rain, Cold Today

Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:

• Today: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before noon, then a chance of showers. Temperature falling to around 40 by 4pm. North wind around 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
• Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 31. Wind chill values between 25 and 30. North wind around 10 mph.
• Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 55. Wind chill values between 25 and 35 early. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
• Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 27. North wind around 5 mph.
• Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 61. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
• Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light southeast after midnight.
• Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 72. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the morning.
• Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 51. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
• Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 75. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
• Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55.
• Monday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 70.
• Monday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46.
• Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 60.

Softball: Northview Beats Catholic

The Northview Chiefs beat Catholic Tuesday night 14-3 in Bratt. The varsity Chiefs will take part in the T.R. Miller Tournament beginning Friday  in Brewton.

For more photos, click here.

NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

Baseball: Tate, Northview

Northview’s  junior varsity beat the JV Tigers of Pensacola 2-0. And in varsity action, PHS defeated Northview 3-1. The  varsity Chiefs will travel to Freeport for a 4:00 district game on Thursday. For more photos, click here.

The junior varsity Aggies beat Washington 9-0 to improve to 4-2-1. Tate’s varsity beat Washington 8-3 to improve to 3-2.  And Tate’s 9th grade team lost Tuesday to Navarre 6-5, dropping their record to 2-2.

Pictured: Northview takes on Pensacola High Tuesday in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com photos and photos by Ramona Preston for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

100 Percent Chance Of Rain Tonight

Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:

• Tonight: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after midnight. Low around 48. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 100%.
• Wednesday: Showers. Temperature falling to around 43 by 2pm. North wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
• Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of rain, mainly before 9pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 31. North wind around 5 mph.
• Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 56. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
• Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 26. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
• Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 61. North wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
• Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
• Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 71. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the morning.
• Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 51.
• Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 72.
• Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53.
• Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 70.
• Monday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48.
• Tuesday: A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 61.

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