FWC Law Enforcement Report
July 13, 2014
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the week ending July 10.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
FWC Officers responded to vessel incident that occurred in Escambia Bay. The incident occurred when four individuals launched their vessel at the 17th Avenue Boat Ramp and traveled to a predetermined fishing spot. When the operator slowed the vessel, he realized one of the passengers, sitting on a pedestal seat at the stern of the vessel, was missing. The officers assisted with searching the area. Just before dark, the passenger was found deceased. Investigator Goley is currently investigating the incident.
Officer Cushing and Lieutenant Berryman were on water patrol in Bayou Chico when they observed a woman swimming behind a boat in the middle of a very busy narrow channel. The woman boarded the boat as the officers pulled alongside to conduct a boating safety check and to determine why the vessel did not display any registration decal or numbers. During the initial contact, the operator of the vessel showed signs of impairment. The officers towed the vessel away from the congested area to a nearby marina and continued their investigation. It was determined that the subject was under the influence while operating a vessel. The subject was placed under arrest and asked to submit to a test of his breath to determine his blood alcohol content and he agreed to do so. The test of his breath revealed the subject’s breath alcohol content to be .259, three times over the legal limit.
The crew of the FinCat (patrol vessel) conducted 16 offshore fisheries inspections. During the inspections, several resource violations were discovered. One vessel had undersized red snapper and undersized gray triggerfish during the closed season. Another vessel had four greater amberjack during the closed season. When the captain was asked about the closed season, he stated that someone told him it had re-opened. Despite the claim of the season being opened, three of the greater amberjack were undersized. Appropriate citations were issued.
Officers Pineda and Clark were conducting fisheries inspections in the Pensacola Pass. During one of these inspections, the operator of the vessel stated that he had only caught vermilion snapper and nothing else. Further inspection revealed undersized red snapper hidden underneath the vermilion snapper. This subject was issued a citation for possession of undersized red snapper.
Officers Pineda and Clark responded to a call for help from a boater who had a female passenger go into a seizure on top of the steering tower in a congested water way. The officers assisted in getting her down from the tower and transported her to the boat ramp where they were met by EMS.
Officers Pineda and Manning were conducting fisheries inspections on Pensacola Beach. While checking fishermen, Officer Pineda observed two very small undersized red fish next to a fisherman on the Bob Sikes Fishing Pier. When asked about the two fish, the fisherman replied that he had bought them at Joe Patties; however, one of the red fish was still alive. This subject was issued a citation for possession of undersized red drum.
While on vessel patrol near the Pensacola Pass, Officers Cushing and Miller were conducting boating safety and fisheries inspections. One particular vessel returning from the Gulf of Mexico was stopped and a fisheries inspection was conducted. During that inspection, it was discovered that the owner/operator was in possession of a 26.5‑inch greater amberjack. When asked if he knew the regulations for the species, he stated that he thought they had to be 27 inches in length. The individual was cited for possession of amberjack during the closed season.
This report represents some events the FWC handled over the past week;however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement. Information provided by FWC.
Healthy Summer Series: Sun Safety Tips
July 13, 2014
The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays can damage your skin in as little as 15 minutes. Follow these recommendations to help protect yourself and your family.
Shade
You can reduce your risk of skin damage and skin cancer by seeking shade under an umbrella, tree, or other shelter before you need relief from the sun. Your best bet to protect your skin is to use sunscreen or wear protective clothing when you’re outside—even when you’re in the shade.
Clothing
When possible, long-sleeved shirts and long pants and skirts can provide protection from UV rays. Clothes made from tightly woven fabric offer the best protection. A wet T-shirt offers much less UV protection than a dry one, and darker colors may offer more protection than lighter colors. Some clothing certified under international standards comes with information on its ultraviolet protection factor.
If wearing this type of clothing isn’t practical, at least try to wear a T-shirt or a beach cover-up. Keep in mind that a typical T-shirt has an SPF rating lower than 15, so use other types of protection as well.
Hat
For the most protection, wear a hat with a brim all the way around that shades your face, ears, and the back of your neck. A tightly woven fabric, such as canvas, works best to protect your skin from UV rays. Avoid straw hats with holes that let sunlight through. A darker hat may offer more UV protection.
If you wear a baseball cap, you should also protect your ears and the back of your neck by wearing clothing that covers those areas, using sunscreen with at least SPF 15, or by staying in the shade.
Sunglasses
Sunglasses protect your eyes from UV rays and reduce the risk of cataracts. They also protect the tender skin around your eyes from sun exposure.
Sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB rays offer the best protection. Most sunglasses sold in the United States, regardless of cost, meet this standard. Wrap-around sunglasses work best because they block UV rays from sneaking in from the side.
Sunscreen
Put on sunscreen before you go outside, even on slightly cloudy or cool days. Don’t forget to put a thick layer on all parts of exposed skin. Get help for hard-to-reach places like your back. And remember, sunscreen works best when combined with other options to prevent UV damage.
How sunscreen works. Most sun protection products work by absorbing, reflecting, or scattering sunlight. They contain chemicals that interact with the skin to protect it from UV rays. All products do not have the same ingredients; if your skin reacts badly to one product, try another one or call a doctor.
SPF. Sunscreens are assigned a sun protection factor (SPF) number that rates their effectiveness in blocking UV rays. Higher numbers indicate more protection. You should use a sunscreen with at least SPF 15.
Reapplication. Sunscreen wears off. Put it on again if you stay out in the sun for more than two hours and after swimming, sweating, or toweling off.
Expiration date. Check the sunscreen’s expiration date. Sunscreen without an expiration date has a shelf life of no more than three years, but its shelf life is shorter if it has been exposed to high temperatures.
Cosmetics. Some makeup and lip balms contain some of the same chemicals used in sunscreens. If they do not have at least SPF 15, don’t use them by themselves.
Sunday’s Forecast (With Walnut Hill Rainbow Pictures)
July 13, 2014
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Sunday A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph.
- Sunday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Monday A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Light southwest wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
- Monday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
- Tuesday Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Tuesday Night A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
- Wednesday A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. Light and variable wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
- Wednesday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Thursday A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 90.
- Thursday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72.
- Friday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 91.
- Friday Night A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72.
- Saturday A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.
Pictured: A partial double rainbow over Walnut Hill Saturday. NorthEscambia.com photos by Ditto Gorme, click to enlarge.
Florida Ag Exports Up
July 13, 2014
With growth in exports such as breeding horses, strawberries and tomatoes, Florida’s international agricultural exports totaled about $4.1 billion in 2013, up 1.9 percent from the previous year, according to a report released recently.
The leading export commodities included meat, prepared foods and prepared fruits and vegetables, including orange and grapefruit juice.
The report, released by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, said Canada is by far the largest destination for agricultural exports, accounting for nearly a quarter of the exports. Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam said increasing exports leads to more jobs in Florida.
“Florida’s agricultural products are of the highest quality, and we’re proud to see international demand on the rise,” Putnam said in a statement accompanying the release of the report.
While it is a relatively small part of the overall total, the $22.8 million in sales of pure-bred breeding horses last year was a 32.2 percent increase over 2012. The report said the horses were sold in places such as the United Arab Emirates, Argentina, Brazil, the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile, Florida’s sales of fresh grapefruit continued to decline last year.
Biscuits Blast Wahoos 8-5 In Game Three Of Series
July 13, 2014
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos (9-14, 40-53) fell in front of a sold out crowd at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium, 8-5, to the Montgomery Biscuits (11-12, 46-47). The Wahoos left 14 men on base as the Biscuits blasted their way to victory with three home runs.
The Biscuits jumped out to an early lead in the second inning when catcher Luke Maile doubled to right field, scoring Cameron Seitzer from second, who had doubled earlier in the inning. The Wahoos responded in the bottom half of the inning with a RBI single off the bat of Juan Duran.
The Biscuits were able to take the lead because of a two-out error by shortstop Devin Lohman in the third, but the Biscuits stretched out their lead in the middle innings thanks to the long ball. Ryan Brett hit a solo shot to left field in the fifth and Richie Shaffer went deep to left with a two-run shot in the sixth off reliever Hector Nelo.
The home run party continued with a two-out solo shot from Devin Lohman to cut the lead in the 6th to just three runs. After two base on balls, Ryan Wright singled up the middle to bring the Biscuits lead to just 5-3.
The Biscuits put the game away for good, however, with a three-run home run by Kes Carter in the top of the ninth inning that extended their lead to five runs. The Wahoos scored two runs in the ninth and put the tying run at the plate, but left two runners on base to end the game.
Brodie Greene went 1-for-4 with a walk and extended his on-base streak to 13 games and Travis Mattair reached base for the 11th straight game while going 1-for-4 with a walk.
RHP Tim Adleman had another successful start for the Wahoos as RHP Robert Stephenson shipped up to Minneapolis to prepare for the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game on Sunday afternoon. Adleman pitched five innings and allowed only 3 R/2ER on five hits, but took the unfortunate loss for the Wahoos. He added three strikeouts to his outing. RHP Brooks Pinckard pitched a scoreless first inning of relief in his first appearance off the disabled list, but gave up the Carter home run when he came out for his second inning of relief in the ninth.
LHP Grayson Garvin started the game for the Biscuits and lasted only 3.0 innings, allowing one run on six hits. LHP Jimmy Patterson earned the win with two impressive, scoreless innings out of the pen. RHP Santiago Garrido earned the two-inning save for the Biscuits.
The Wahoos will send Gulf Breeze native Ben Lively (0-2, 4.12) to the mound on Sunday afternoon. Lively leads all of Minor League Baseball with 122 strikeouts on the season. RHP Victor Mateo (9-6, 3.51) will make the start for the Biscuits. The game marks a McDonald’s Family Sunday Funday; after the game, kids can run the bases and play catch in the outfield with Family Toss. Outfielder Jesse Winker will start for Team USA during the Futures Game and Stephenson is set to pitch at some point during the game, which starts at 4 p.m.
by Tommy Thrall
McDavid Church To Host Women’s Conference
July 13, 2014
Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church in McDavid is hosting a one-day Women’s Conference on July 19 titled “Daughters of the King: Knowing Who We are in Christ.”
Tickets are on sale now for $10 per person, which includes breakfast, lunch and door prizes. Worship will be lead by Leah Taylor with message by guest speaker Julie Pickern. To purchase advance tickets contact Lisa Anderson at (850) 207-0006.
“We hope you will join us as we discover from God’s Word and through personal testimonies the awesome privileges and great responsibilities of being an heir to the Most High King,” organizer Danielle Brown said.
The event will be held from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church located at 170 W Bogia Road in McDavid, just west of Highway 29.
Aggidean M. Dagen
July 13, 2014
Aggidean M. Dagen, 96 of Walnut Hill, passed away Friday July 11, 2014, at her residence. She was a retired seamstress employed by Vanity Fair Mill. She was born in Escambia County (Fla.) on May 30, 1918, to the late Rufus Theodore and Elizabeth Williams Barlow.
She was loved by many people and known as Granny. She was a lifetime member of Dry Springs Church.
She is preceded in death by her husband, William “Bill” H. Dagen; three daughters, Gladys Dagen, LaVerne D. Warren and Rita Bolton; one son Robert L. Dagen; three brothers, Arthur L. Barlow, Uriah “Jack” Barlow, and Harrison Barlow; and one sister, Mary Lou Barlow.
Survivors are one daughter, Janice L. Parker of Walnut Hill; 13 randchildren, Patti C. (Doug) Peacock, Charlie W. Creel, H.Aaron Dagen,“Kenny” Dean “Pebbles” (Daw) Dagen, John A. (Rhonda) Cannon, Gwendolynn A. Parker, “Nila” Brett Harrison Dagen, Bruce Anthony Dagen, Timothy Scott Warren, Edward Wayne (Gayle) Warren, Susan Melissa (Mark) Powell, Jennifer Joely Bolton, Tina Suzanne Smith; 28 great-grandchildren and 12 great-great-grandchildren.
Services will be Tuesday, July 15, 2014, at 10:30 a.m. from the Dry Springs Church with Bro. Ray McCullough officiating. Interment will follow in Dry Springs Church Cemetery. ctive pallbearers are Joshua Dagen, Ken Martin, Jerry Barlow, Jason Barlow, Chad Cook, Clinton Nowlin and John McCullough.
Family will receive friends Monday, July 14, 2014, at Dry Springs Church from 4 p.m. until service time on Tuesday, July 15, 2014, at 10:30 a.m.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.
Final O’Yes Lotto Store Murder Suspect Sentenced To Prison
July 12, 2014
The last defendant in the 2012 murder of a Davisville lottery store owner has been sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Brent Dewayne Lambeth, age 21 of Atmore, was one of three people charged in the shooting death of 74-year old Thomas “Tommy” Kroll during a robbery on November 6, 2012, at the State Line O’ Yes Lotto on Highway 97.
Under a plea agreement to testify against his co-defendants, Lambeth received a reduced sentence of 15 years with credit for 610 days already served in jail to be followed by 10 years probation.
Malcolm McGhee and Michael Brad Orso were both previously sentenced to life in prison for the murder. The trio planned to steal synthetic drugs, lottery tickets and cash from the store just a few yards south of the Florida-Alabama state line.
McGhee and Kroll exchanged gunfire during the robbery, with Kroll fatally wounded. McGhee was struck on large cross pendant around his neck which left him with a non-penetrating wound.
Orso and Lambeth were not directly involved in the shooting, but they were also charged with murder because Kroll’s death came during the commission of a felony. According to testimony, Lambeth was to be the getaway driver for McGhee following the robbery. Orso provided the gun and was to drive away with the stolen goods.
According to the State Attorney’s Office, the synthetic drugs, or Spice, for sale at the store were not illegal at the time of the shooting.
Pictured top, inset and below: The scene outside the O’Yes Lotto store in Davisville shortly after store own Thomas Kroll was shot and killed in November 2012. Pictured bottom: Lambeth and McGhee and were arrested at or near this trailer home on Sandy Hollow Lane near Walnut Hill two days after the shooting. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
School Grades Good News For Most North Escambia Schools
July 12, 2014
Preliminary school grades were release Friday by the Florida Department of Education, and they were good news for most North Escambia Schools.
Most notably, Ernest Ward Middle School and Molino Park both jumped from “C” schools in 2013 to “A” schools for 2014, and charter school Byrneville Elementary improved from a “B” last year to an “A” in 2014. Ernest Ward would have been a “D” school in 2013 if it were not for a provision that limited grade drops to one letter.
“Thank you to everyone that made EWMS not only an ‘A’ school but a place where children learn, enjoy going to school, and a place parents want to send their children,” Ernest Ward Middle School Principal Nancy Perry said, as she offered thanks to everyone involved from the school from teachers to students.
Ernest Ward earned the second highest total points among middle schools in the county, while Byrneville Elementary was third among elementary schools.
“Students who believe they can be the best, teachers and staff who believe in their students, and parents and guardians who believe in us are what Byrneville is all about. I am very proud to be their principal,” Byrneville Elementary School Principal Dee Wolfe-Sullivan said.
Among other North Escambia schools in District 5, Ransom Middle and McArthur Elementary improved from a “C” to a “B” in 2014, while Pine Meadow and Jim Allen elementary schools earned conservative “B” grades. Bratt Elementary earned a “C” grade for the second year, and Lipscomb Elementary dropped from a “B” to a “C”.
High school grades will be released at a later date.
Escambia County School Grades:
Panel Hears Florida Still Has Long Way To Go To Stop Child Deaths
July 12, 2014
Despite a new law revamping Florida’s child welfare system, the state still has far to go to stop child deaths from abuse and neglect, a federal panel heard.
The Commission to Eliminate Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities held a meeting in Tampa to review Florida’s policies and practices, as the panel is doing in other states, with an eye to making recommendations to President Obama and Congress.
Hundreds of state officials, social workers, law enforcement officers and children’s advocates listened as their peers described which policies and practices are working in Florida — and which ones aren’t.
For instance, the state is making better use of data to understand trends in child deaths, said Maj. Connie Shingledecker, who oversees child-protective investigations for the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.
Shingledecker pointed to the discovery that within a group of deaths, all the children had been killed by male perpetrators while the mothers were out. “We found they were working, they were in school … and perhaps day care might have saved the lives of some of these children,” she said. “So drilling down into that data can be extremely helpful.”
Department of Children and Families Interim Secretary Mike Carroll touted what is known as “Rapid Safety Feedback,” which the department rolled out last year with Eckerd Community Alternatives to quickly identify cases with issues that pose the greatest risks to children.
Eckerd became Hillsborough’s community-based care lead agency in 2012, after nine child killings in two years under the previous provider.
“Fortunately, we have had no new abuse-related child tragedies since that time,” Carroll said.
“This should be funded not only in the state of Florida, but on a national level,” said Lorita Shirley, who heads Eckerd Community Alternatives. “The outcomes speak for themselves: zero child deaths.”
Rep. Gayle Harrell, a Stuart Republican who chairs the House Healthy Families Subcommittee, told commissioners about Senate Bill 1666, the sweeping child-welfare reform law that went into effect July 1.
Harrell praised the bill’s establishment of a Department of Children and Families website that posts data on all child deaths reported to the state abuse hotline. She said she hoped to add more data requirements to it next year, such as the community-based care lead agencies responsible for the areas where deaths occurred.
Other speakers said a statewide push to prevent children from dying because of drowning and what is known as “co-sleeping” — the two biggest causes of child deaths in Florida — had been effective. Maj. Rob Bullara of the Hillsborough Sheriff’s Office said his agency had given away more than 100 portable bassinets to prevent co-sleeping deaths, which occur when young children sleep with their parents and get suffocated.
But other reports were more troubling. Several speakers said Florida’s policies on reporting child fatalities made it impossible to accurately assess whether they had been caused by abuse or neglect or not. Drowning and co-sleeping deaths often occur when a parent is intoxicated — but they aren’t always reported that way.
Shingledecker urged the commission to recommend a uniform set of standards for reporting child abuse and neglect, the same way other crime statistics are compiled. She also said Florida should review all its child fatalities, not only those reported to the state child-abuse hotline.
“We’re one of the few states that don’t look at all child deaths,” she said. “The children are still dying. The medical examiners know it.”
After the daylong meeting, Harrell said she’s “starting a list of glitches already” with an eye toward making more improvements to the child-welfare system during the next legislative session.
by Margie Menzel, The News Service of Florida