Molino Man Cited After After Hitting School Bus In Cantonment
May 31, 2014
A Molino man was ticketed Friday morning after rear-ending a school bus in Cantonment.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol 21-year old Anthony Lee Salas was traveling southwest on Highway 95A approaching the traffic light at Highway 29 when he rear-ended the Escambia County School District bus driven by 46-year old Barbara Joszell Johnson of Cantonment. There were nine Jim Allen Elementary School students on the bus at the time of the collision.
There were no injuries.
Salas was cited by the FHP for careless driving.
Pictured: The driver of this white car rear-ended an Escambia County School District bus late Friday morning on Highway 95A at Highway 29 in Cantonment. Reader submitted photo by Laura Eggart for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Storm Debris Drop Off Site To Remain Open Another Week
May 31, 2014
Due to continued demand, the Escambia County free storm debris drop off site at John R. Jones Athletic Park, 555 E. Nine Mile Road, will remain open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through Friday, June 6.
This storm debris drop off site first opened on May 10, allowing citizens a place to dispose of debris. This site is for residential use only. Commercial haulers, contractors or commercial companies are prohibited.
Residents needing curbside storm debris removal should contact their waste service provider:
- Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (850) 476-0480
- City of Pensacola Sanitation Service (850) 435-1890
Anyone with concerns, questions or issues with the storm debris collection effort following the closure of this free drop off site is encouraged to contact the Escambia County Solid Waste Management Division at (850) 937-2160.
Nine-Day Hurricane Sales Tax Holiday Now Underway
May 31, 2014
Florida’s nine-day Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday begins this weekend.
From May 31 to June 8, numerous items often purchased to prepare for hurricanes will be tax free:
Qualifying Items
Selling for $10 or less:
• Reusable ice (reusable ice packs)
Selling for $20 or less:
• Any portable self-powered light source
• Battery-powered flashlights
• Battery-powered lanterns
• Gas-powered lanterns (including propane, kerosene, lamp oil, or similar fuel)
• Tiki-type torches
• Candles
Selling for $25 or less:
• Any gas or diesel fuel container (including LP gas and kerosene containers)
Selling for $30 or less:
• Batteries, including rechargeable batteries and excluding automobile and boat batteries
(listed sizes only)
• AA-cell
• C-cell
• D-cell
• 6-volt
• 9-volt
• Coolers (food-storage; nonelectrical)
• Ice chests (food-storage; nonelectrical)
• Self-contained first-aid kit (already tax exempt)
Selling for $50 or less:
• Tarpaulins (tarps)
• Visqueen, plastic sheeting, plastic drop cloths, and other flexible waterproof sheeting
• Ground anchor systems
• Tie-down kits
• Bungee cords
• Ratchet straps
• Radios (self-powered or battery-powered)
• Two-way radios (self-powered or battery-powered)
• Weather band radios (self-powered or battery-powered)
Selling for $750 or less:
• Portable generators that will be used to provide light, communications, or to preserve food in the event of a power outage
Note: Eligible battery-powered or gas-powered light sources and portable self-powered radios qualify for the exemption even though they may have electrical cords.
Northview Seniors Earn Over $1.7 Million In Scholarships
May 31, 2014
Northview High School has announced that members of the the Class of 2014 were awarded at least $1,713,445 in scholarships, a school record.
Awarded scholarships included:
Mariah Albritton
- Gold Seal Vocational – Bright Futures – $3,384
Madison Arrington
- Atmore Rotary All-Star – $500
Kevin Barrow
- Atmore Rotary All-Star – $500
- Gautrelet Award – Spring Hill College – $52,000
Kasie Braun
- AT&T Foundation Scholarship – $2,500
- Atmore Rotary 4 Year – $750
- Florida Academic Scholar- Bright Futures – $12,000
- IIT Heald Scholarship – $100,000
- Jim & Jumi Ross Memorial – $500
- Johnson & Wales – $500
- Mary Baldwin College – $80,000
- MIRA Book Award – $200
- NJROTC Scholarship – $180,000
- United Bank of Atmore – $300
Taylor Brook
- MIRA Book Award – $200
- Troy Band Scholarship – $2,500
Dale Brown
- Florida Academic Scholar – Bright Futures – $12,000
- UWF Argonaut Scholarship – $12,000
Skye Brown
- Atmore Rotary All-Star – $500
Audrey Byrd
- Atmore Rotary All-Star – $500
Katelynne Calloway
- Atmore Rotary All-Star – $500
Kira Cartwright
- Atmore Rotary All-Star – $500
Matthew Cayson
- Studer Make a Difference Award – $1,000
Mashama Codrington
- Atmore Rotary All-Star – $500
- Take Stock in Children partial – $6,191
Lana Clayton
- Atmore Rotary All-Star – $500
Morgan Digmon
- MIRA Book Award – $200
- Atmore Rotary All-Star – $500
Hunter Dettling
- MIRA Book Award – $250
- University of Mobile University Scholarship – $20,000
- University of Mobile Center for Performing Arts – $8,000
- Fualkner State Music Scholarship
Anna Donald
- Atmore Rotary 4 year – $750
- FBLA District One Scholarship – $250
- MIRA Book Award – $200
- Troy University Chancellors Award Scholarship – $35,000
- Troy University Trojan Opportunity Scholarship – $3,000
Anna Fischer
- Atmore Rotary All-Star – $500
- Gold Seal Vocational – Bright Futures – $3,384
- MIRA Book Award – $200
- UWF Nautilus Scholarship – $6,000
Marina Gray
- Atmore Rotary All-Star – $500
Tamara Green
- Atmore Rotary All-Star – $500
- Southern Normal School Scholarship – $500
Rebecca Grim
- Atmore Rotary All-Star – $500
- Take Stock in Children Scholarship – $12,382
Talana Heathcock
- Spring Hill – Portier Leader Award – $80,000
- University of South Alabama Presidential – $14,000
Cory Hester
- MIRA Book Award – $200
Kelsie Hudson
- Fortis Institute A.S.N. Scholarship – $1,000
Courtney Jones
- Atmore Rotary All-Star – $500
Justin King
- Gold Seal Vocational – Bright Futures – $3,384
- MIRA Book Award – $200
Chloe Leonard
- MIRA Book Award – $200
- Atmore Rotary All-Star – $500
Jessica Lowery
- Florida Medallion Scholar – Bright Futures – $9,000
Ali Martin
- Atmore Rotary All-Star – $500
- PSC Outstanding Minority Scholarship – $1,800
Rachel Presley
- 1st Generation Poarch Scholarship – $40,000
Tiffani Pritchett
- Atmore Rotary All-Star – $500
- Take Stock in Children Scholarship – $12,382
Jonathan Baccari Ramer
- 1st Generation Poarch Scholarship – $40,000
Caitlyn Rigby
- Atmore Rotary All-Star – $500
Hilery Scott
- Atmore Rotary All-Star – $500
- PSC Concert Chorale – $1,400
- PSC Entertainers Scholarship – $1,400
Danny Slay
- Mayville State University Football – $4,800
Kent Smith
- Troy University Band Scholarship – $6,000
Courtney Solari
- Atmore Rotary 4 Year – $750
- Charles & Alice Mayson – $17,400
- FFA Friends and Alumni Scholarship – $500
- Florida Academic Scholar- Bright Futures – $12,000
- Pensacola Interstate Fair Scholarship – $1,000
- Thomas Weaver Memorial FFA – $500
- UWF Nautilus Scholarship – $6,000
Jeremy Stacey
- UWF Argonaut Scholarship – $12,000
- FFA Friends and Alumni Scholarship – $500
- Florida Academic Scholar- Bright Futures – $12,000
Danielle Steadham
- PSC President’s Award – $1,800
Karissa Strickland
- Barrineau Park Scholarship – $500
- Florida Medallion Scholars – Bright Futures – $9,000
- Take Stock in Children – $10,420
Daulton Tullis
- McGhee Tullis Tuition Assistance Scholarship – $100,000
Lauryn Walker
- Atmore Rotary All-Star – $500
- Tommy Weaver Memorial DCT Scholarship – $500
Courtney Weaver
- Atmore Rotary 4 year – $750
- Gold Seal Vocational – Bright Futures – $3,384
- Spring Hill College – Portier Leader Award – $80,000
Victoria Wright
- AFROTC Scholarship – $180,000
- American Legion Auxillary Scholarship – $5,000
- Atmore Rotary 4 Year – $750
- Barrineau Park Scholarship – $1,000
- District One FBLA – $250
- EREC Scholarship – $4,000
- First National Bank – Sal award – $50
- Florida Academic Scholar- Bright Futures – $12,000
- Florida PEO Scholarship – $2,000
- Jim & Jumi Ross Memorial Scholarship – $500
- United States Air Force Academy – $444,984
- UWF Nautilus Scholarship – $12,000
Northview senior and co-valedictorian Kasie Braun was presented a NJROTC scholarship valued at up to $180,000. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Niceville Upends Tate In Spring Football Jamboree
May 31, 2014
The Niceville Eagles got past the Tate Aggies 21-13 in a two-quarter spring football jamboree Friday night at Pete Gindl Stadium in Cantonment.
Quarterback Sawyer Smith capped an 80-yard trip down the field with a seven-yard touchdown pass to Reginald Payne to open the scoring for the Aggies. Tate scored again on a seven-yard run from Alondo Thompkins.
In the first two quarters of the jamboree, the Niceville junior varsity defeated the Tate JV 16-0.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
‘Genius Map Drawer” Denies Sharing With GOP Officials
May 31, 2014
A state Republican staffer, tagged as a “genius map drawer,” denied discussing or sharing proposed new district lines in 2011 with national GOP officials, as the second week of a trial over the state’s redrawn congressional maps concluded Friday.
GOP staffer Frank Terraferma was called back to provide additional testimony after his name was revealed to have been included in an emailed invitation to a June 15, 2011, meeting at Republican National Committee headquarters.
Terraferma’s brief appearance Friday via telephone highlighted testimony as the state began its defense against allegations from voting-rights groups, including the League of Women Voters of Florida, and seven voters that are challenging the constitutionality of the congressional map.
The plaintiffs had been seeking for six months the full email announcing the 2011 meeting sent by RNC staffer Jessica Furst Johnson.
The names of those invited to the meeting — Terraferma, current House Speaker Will Weatherford, current Senate President Don Gaetz, Weatherford’s chief of staff Kris Money, and Gaetz’s chief of staff Chris Clark — had been redacted on a prior version of the document.
Terraferma, whose name was accompanied on the email by the sobriquet “genius map drawer,” said he was unaware of the meeting, which would have been held prior to the Legislature redistricting effort, or even the full email that was ordered released by a Washington D.C. court on Thursday.
Terraferma recalled little about the national party staffers also listed on the email, saying he may have spoken to Johnson after redistricting was completed, and added there was never talk of submitting maps under third-party names.
Districts identical to those drawn by Terraferma wound up submitted to the Legislature under the names of other individuals, including Alex Posada, a former Florida State University student.
Posada said under oath in a deposition given Thursday morning that he did not draw the congressional map, did not submit it to the Legislature and did not authorize anyone else to do so on his behalf, a lawyer for the voting rights groups told The News Service of Florida.
Terraferma may be called back for additional questioning, as John Devaney, a plaintiff’s attorney, said work is continuing with the D.C. court to get additional documents released from the Republican National Committee.
George Meros, an attorney for the Legislature, said the defense should be completed by Tuesday.
Closing statements could take the trial to Wednesday.
By Jim Turner
Bad Check Racketeering Gets Man 15 Years In Prison
May 31, 2014
Irving Brown was sentenced Friday by Circuit Judge Linda Nobles to 15 years state prison for conspiring to conduct or participate in an enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity and grand Theft. Brown was convicted by an Escambia County jury on May 8.
In 2012, an investigation began after an individual was arrested for failing to pay for a taxi cab fare. It was later determined she had been in Marion, Broward, Orange, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Escambia counties involved in a ring of individuals who had burglarized vehicles, stolen people’s identities and checks, and writeenfraudulent checks within Escambia and other counties.
The investigation implicated Brown as the person who broke into the vehicles and provided identifications and stolen checks for other conspirators to cash.
Additionally, the investigation revealed the group traveled on multiple occasions from Fort Lauderdale to Escambia County for the purposes of passing stolen checks that Brown and his co-conspirators provided.
Brown would then get the females in their group to utter forged checks at various banking institutions throughout Florida and several other states. The checks that were issued were written for various amounts and the cash was then turned over to Brown and his associates.
Bittersweet Goodbye: Molino Park 5th Graders Take Final Walk
May 31, 2014
It was a bittersweet time at Molino Park Elemenatry School Friday as fifth graders took their final walk to the buses on the last day of school. Many shed tears, while others celebrated as the students were cheered on. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Drop Both Games Of Mississippi Doubleheader
May 31, 2014
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos (22-33) dropped both games of the doubleheader against the Mississippi Braves (32-22). The Wahoos were held scoreless in both contests and managed just nine hits combined. With the two victories, the Braves swept the five-game series over the Wahoos.
Mississippi took game one of the series 7-0. RHP Jason Hursh pitched a complete-game shutout for the Braves. Hursh gave up just four hits in the game. Wahoos’ RHP Michael Lorenzen was tagged for 7 R/6ER over just 2.1 innings of work. Lorenzen fell for the fourth time this season and will end May with an 0-3 record, but a 3.62 ERA.
Catcher Braeden Schlehuber led the Braves offensively; he hit a three-run home run and ended the day with four RBI. Cedric Hunter continued his hot series with a 2-for-3 game and an RBI. The Wahoos only extra-base hit on the day came from Lorenzen, a double to right field in the third inning.
The Wahoos again fell 7-0 in game two. Braves starter Aaron Northcraft pitched 5.0 innings and struck out eight Wahoo batters. The right-hander won his sixth game of the season. RHP Mikey O’Brien took the loss for the Wahoos. It was the first loss for O’Brien as a starter and the first time the Wahoos lost in one of his starts this season.
Hunter played well again for the Braves in game two. The left-fielder went 1-for-4 with a double and two RBI. Right-fielder David Rohm finished the second game 2-for-3 with two RBI. Rey Navarro had the only multi-hit game on the day for the Wahoos; he finished the game 2-for-3.
The Wahoos return to Pensacola Bayfront Stadium Saturday to take on the Jacksonville Suns. RHP Daniel Corcino (4-4, 3.66) will start the first game for the Wahoos in the five-game set with the Suns. Jacksonville will send RHP Jose Urena (5-2, 4.17) to the bump.
by Joey Truncale
Irene Jones
May 31, 2014
Mrs. Irene Jones, 77, passed away on Thursday, May 29, 2014, in McDavid.
Mrs. Jones was a native and former resident of Flomaton and had resided in McDavid for most of her life. Mrs. Jones served on the Water Board of Central Waterworks and was a member at the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, where she served as treasurer. Her husband, William Jones; and parents, Cleve and Mollie Roberson precede her in death.
She is survived by one brother, Bennie Roberson of Brewton; two sisters, Frances Roberson and Marie Lambeth, both of McDavid; and one nephew, Joe Roberson of Opelika, AL.
Funeral services were held Saturday, May 31, 2014 at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. James Hughes officiating.
Burial was at Crary Cemetery.
Pallbearers were John Fillingim, Don Word, Doodle Langhorn, Mike Brown, Howard Smith and Joe Adams.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.