Century Woman Sentenced For Thefts, Burglaries
July 14, 2014
A Century woman has been sentenced to 30 months in state prison on multiple theft and burglary related charges.
Sunceree Covan Bledsoe, 49, was accused by her mother in December 2013 of stealing two checks and antique silver coins with a face value of $298 that were worth an estimated $1,o00. Bledsoe allegedly sold some of the coins to a Jefferson Avenue resident for $10 cash. Bledsoe then allegedly redeemed additional coins at a coin to cash machine at the Century Food Giant, receiving $28.09 . She was convicted of grand theft and felony dealing in stolen property charges.
Bledsoe was also convicted in a second case of burglary, grand theft, larceny of a credit card and fraudulent use of credit cards to obtain goods.
According to court records, Bledsoe had multiple previous convictions in Escambia County including grand theft, burglary, drug charges, battery on a person 65 or older and prostitution.
I-10 Delays Near Highway 29 Through August
July 14, 2014
Beginning this morning, drivers traveling I-10 between I-110 and Highway 29 will encounter lane closures, land shifts and reduced speed limits.
The speed limit reductions will be near mile marker 11.
Construction crews will perform emergency pipe repair work on culverts under the westbound lanes. This pipe damage is a result of the April 2014 floods in the Escambia County area, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.
The repairs will be completed by the end of August.
Drivers are reminded to use extreme caution while traveling through the work zone. All construction activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or re-scheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Chumuckla Camping Trips Leads To Child Molestation Conviction
July 14, 2014
A man has been convicted on multiple child molestation charges after a weekend camping trip in Chumuckla.
Ramon Wade Renfro of Pace was convicted by a Santa Rosa County jury of lewd or lascivious battery, lewd or lascivious molestation, unlawful sexual activity with minors, contributing to the delinquency of a child and tattooing a minor.
The 40-year old Renfro was supervising a group of teenagers on a weekend camping trip to Webb Landing in Chumuckla in February 2013. During the camping trip, Renfro fondled and had sexual relations with several of the girls who were between 14 and 16 years old.
He gave the teens vodka, whiskey and beer to get them drunk before molesting them. Renfro used tools he brought with him to give one of the girls two tattoos in private locations. One of the girls disclosed the activity to her parents after returning from the trip. They notified the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office and Investigator Alvin Bicasan conducted an investigation, which led to Renfro’s arrest on May 24, 2013.
When questioned by Investigator Bicasan, Renfro denied engaging in any sexual acts or inappropriate touching. He further denied providing or bringing alcohol on the camping trip. Renfro claimed that he had not given the girls tattoos; however, during the trial prosecutor Stephanie Pace introduced photographic evidence of the tattoos. Witnesses testified that they had seen Renfro giving the tattoos and engaging in sexual acts with the girls.
Circuit Judge John Simon also found Renfro guilty of violating his felony probation. Renfro had been placed on three years probation on February 10, 2011 for failure to redeliver hired or leased property. Simon set sentencing for August 13.
Renfro faces a sentence of up to 50 years in state prison.
First Baptist Bratt Celebrates Freedom; Burns Mortgage Note
July 14, 2014
The First Baptist Church of Bratt held a very special “Freedom Sunday” this weekend. The Freedom Choir presented the musical “It’s America: The Songs We Sing…The Land We Love”. There was also a special message on freedoms, and the church”burned the note” to celebrate paying off their Family Life Center. Photos by Marcella Wilson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Montgomery Tops Pensacola 12-2
July 14, 2014
At least two Pensacola Blue Wahoos players had a day to remember on the field Sunday – outfielder Jesse Winker and pitcher Robert Stephenson.
Playing in the 16th annual SiriusXM All-Star Futures game with the top 50 prospects in minor league baseball at Target Field in Minneapolis, Winker had the game’s first hit and first run, while Stephenson had the fastest recorded pitch in the game among all the pitchers at 98.1 miles per hour.
Meanwhile, the Blue Wahoos had a forgettable day against the Montgomery Biscuits at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium, losing 12-2. The Wahoos are now 5-41 in games they trailed after seven innings.
But in Minnesota, Winker, the Cincinnati Reds No. 4 prospect, hit a double off the left field wall to lead off the third inning and later scored to give the U.S. Team a 1-0 lead over the World Team. He went 1-2 on the day.
Wahoos leftfielder Kyle Waldrop has known Winker the past two years and said all the players cheered in the dugout when his hit was announced to the stadium.
“He definitely deserves to be there,” Waldrop said. “We were all excited for him.”
Stephenson threw a scoreless 8th inning. In a matchup of the Reds’ top prospect versus the Chicago Cubs’ top prospect – shortstop Javier Baez – Stephenson came out on top striking Baez out on four pitches. Stephenson gave up one hit.
His roommate, Wahoos pitcher Jon Moscot, said Stephenson didn’t sleep the night before flying out to Sunday’s game.
“He was estatic about it and told me he wanted to see how hard he could throw it,” Moscot said. “We all know about Baez. That’s a great matchup for Stephenson.”
Back in Pensacola, the game unraveled for the Wahoos in the seventh inning when Montgomery first baseman Cameron Seitzer hit a grand slam and then the very next batter, third baseman Richie Shaffer, followed up with a solo homer over the left field wall. The Biscuits all of a sudden changed a 3-2 lead to an 8-2 game.
The good news in Lively’s bid for his first victory at the Double-A level, he struck out a season-high nine batters with the Wahoos in five innings of work. The bad news: the Biscuits Ryan Brett and Jeff Hager hit back-to-back solo shots over the leftfield wall to put Montgomery ahead, 3-1, in the fifth inning.
Lively, who took the loss and now is 0-3, did retake the lead in strikeouts in minor league baseball with 131 Ks. He surpassed Single-A Visalia Rawhide pitcher Aaron Blair, who has 125.
Wahoos Manager Delino DeShields said he hopes Winker and Stephenson and the other Pensacola ballplayers continue to improve after the games they played Sunday.
“I hope they benefit from their experiences and are better players next time around,” he said. “People’s expectations were a little higher than mine. I knew there would be ups and downs coming in.”
The finale of the five-game series with Tampa Bay Rays Double-A affiliate the Montgomery Biscuits gets underway at 6:30 p.m. Monday. RHP Mikey O’Brien (3-3, 3.86) takes the mound for the Wahoos and is scheduled to be opposed by the Biscuits RHP Jeremy Hellickson, who is rehabbing from arthroscopic surgery on his throwing elbow.
by Tommy Thrall
Military And Overseas Escambia County Ballots Hit The Mail
July 14, 2014
Ballots for military and overseas voters are now on the way.
The Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Office began sending out the ballots on Friday to eligible military and overseas citizens. Voters will either receive their ballot by mail or electronically, depending on their chosen method of delivery. Absent military voters and those living overseas can request, mark and track their absentee ballots electronically.
Mail/absentee ballots for all eligible domestic voters will be mailed beginning on Tuesday, July 22. The deadline to request a mail/absentee ballot for the Primary Election is 5:00 p.m. on
Wednesday, August 20.
To request or track your absentee ballot for the Primary Election, visit EscambiaVotes.com and click “Vote by Mail”, or contact the Supervisor of Elections Office at (850) 595-3900.
Atmore Area YMCA Closing In August; Cutbacks Begin Today
July 14, 2014
The Atmore YMCA is on track to close its door permanently late next month, and the process begins today.
According to an email last week from Paul Chason, CEO of the Atmore Area YMCA, the Y’s board of directors and staff have worked hard to pursue income opportunities above membership dues. The group has submitted grant requests, held fundraising events, submitted grant requests and solicited financial support from area businesses.
“Our country’s and, even closer to home, our state’s economic struggles have made it difficult to obtain financial contributions for the Atmore YMCA,” Chason wrote.
The Atmore YMCA has served Atmore and surrounding areas since June 1995.
“Our YMCA has provided a safe, welcoming environment for members from youth to senior citizens to improve their quality of life through health and wellness activities, educational opportunities, and relationship building. During this time, the YMCA has often struggled financially to remain open. The Atmore area business community has been instrumental in previous years in helping keep our YMCA open for our community through financial contributions and employee participation at the YMCA,” a news release stated.
The step in the closure comes today as the YMCA morning nursery will no longer be provided. On July 16, the YMCA will close on Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. with no evening nursery, and the Y will be closed on Saturdays beginning July 19.
“Prior to closure, additional changes may be required to ensure we are able to meet our financial obligations. Barring a major miracle, and without fanfare, the YMCA will progressively reduce operations until closure on August 29,” the news release stated.
“We have heard from many in our community stating they do not want the YMCA to close; however, just talking about it does not sustain the YMCA. We understand the disappointment and emotion involved in this decision…We certainly would welcome an event that would sustain our YMCA financially moving forward which would allow us to remain open.”
There’s no word yet what may happen to the Atmore Area Chamber of Commere, which is located in the YMCA’s building. The facility was constructed in 1926 to house Escambia County High School. The building was acquired by the Atmore Lions Club in 1989 and later dedicated as the Atmore Lions Community Center in 1991. In 2004, the building was donated to the Atmore Area YMCA.
Pictured top: The Atmore Area YMCA building. Pictured inset: The building is the hub of the annual Williams Station Day each October. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Repairs Begin On Highway 97 Collapse In Walnut Hill
July 13, 2014
Repairs began Saturday to a collapsed road shoulder on Highway 97 in Walnut Hill.
Back on May 15, the shoulder of Highway 97 about a mile south of Ernest Ward Middle School collapsed in an existing 50-foot deep gully. About a month later, the situation worsened, with part of the paved shoulder falling into the hole, prompting temporary repairs by the Florida Department of Transportation.
A FDOT spokesman was unable to provide a cost for the repair project or a completion date for the repairs that started Saturday due to the weekend.
On or about May 15, a large drainage pipe separated under the shoulder of the roadway, just beyond a guardrail, blew out and undermined the shoulder of the road.
Crews used sandbags to shore up the shoulder on temporary basis back on June 13.
Since the damage occurred after the flooding event that led to a presidential disaster declaration for Escambia County, repair costs for Highway 97 will not be reimbursed by FEMA.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Troopers Seek Info In Pedestrian Hit And Run
July 13, 2014
The Florida Highway Patrol is asking for the public’s help in locating a vehicle that fled the scene after hitting a pedestrian Friday night in Escambia County.
About 9:30 p.m., 59-year old Roy Reasoonover of Pensacola was attempting to cross Mobile Highway south of Edison Drive when he was hit by an unknown vehicle in a northbound right turn lane. He was dragged under the vehicle for about 20 feet before the vehicle fled the scene, leaving him in the roadway.
Investigators believe the vehicle may be a sport utility vehicle of some type and may have traveled east on Edison Drive. The vehicle, according to the FHP, should have front end damage consistent with a pedestrian collision.
Anyone with information should contact Trooper Register at (850) 484-5000 ext. 329 or Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Reasoonover was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital where he was listed in critical condition.
Record Crowds Pack Pensacola Beach For The Blues (With Gallery)
July 13, 2014
About 100,000 people packed Pensacola Beach Saturday for the annual Pensacola Beach Air Show featuring the Blue Angels.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Ditto Gorme, click to enlarge.
