Fourth Suspect Arrested In Cantonment Animal Cruelty Case
April 25, 2014
A fourth person has been charged in connection with a Cantonment animal cruelty case.
George Edward Kenneth Ahl, 23, was arrested Thursday night on charges of causing the cruel death, pain and suffering of animals, and unlawful confinement of animals. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $21,000.
Earlier this month, Casey Tyler Ahl, 19, Frances Rebecca Ahl, 72, and Randolph Hewell Rigby, 43, were arrested on similar charges. The charges against the four were brought directly by the State Attorney’s Office. Authorities said an arrest warrant is outstanding on one additional person in the case.
According to case documents, multiple horses, donkeys and goats were seized from the 400 block of Crowndale Court, while several other animals were found dead on the property.
Escambia County Animal Control officers began their investigation last December. A 17-page document released by the State Attorney’s office details the investigation and provides numerous graphic examples of abuse investigators said they found.
Officers reported finding one horse that was dead and apparently stuck in a fence. Several horses were so malnourished that their bones were protruding, while other had hair loss and marks consistent with a condition called rain rot fungus. Many of the animals had numerous sores and wounds, according to the report. Most were malnourished, and one horse had resorted to eating feces. There was little food available for the animals.
Animal Control also located eight poodles, a doberman and five cats on the property.
One of the malnourished horses, a black Tennessee Walker named Ebony, was taken to Panhandle Equine Rescue for rehabilitation. When officers found Ebony on the property, her bones were showing, her stomach was distended and distended, and she suffered from rain rot.
Over the next several weeks, PER and volunteers worked to save Ebony. She was the subject of several NorthEscambia.com articles as PER and volunteers kept watch over her and raised funds for a sling to help her to her feet. Now, she’s able to walk and run on her own and has gained several pounds.
As of late Friday night, Casey Ahl remained in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $16,000. Frances Ahl was released from jail on a $16,000 bond, and Randolph Rigby was free on a $21,000 bond. They are due to make their first court appearance May 1. In the meantime, they have been ordered, if released on bond, to not possess any animals.
Pictured above: Escambia County Animal Control, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Escambia County Fire Rescue’s Cantonment Station and volunteers use a makeshift sling to lift Ebony, a horse seized from Crowndale Court in Cantonment.. Pictured below: Ebony, was unable to get on her feet in her stall about a week after she was seized. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Sheriff’s TAC Team Dismantled
April 25, 2014
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office TAC Team has been dismantled.
The TAC team often worked with the U.S. Marshals Regional Task Force to arrest felony suspects, and the group targeted high crime areas of the county.
According to Sheriff David Morgan, members of the TAC team were reassigned to areas that included patrol and investigations.
“In the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office’s continuing efforts to improve our process it has been determined that it is statistically not feasible to maintain the TAC team. Due to critical shortages in Patrol and Investigations, these officers will be reassigned,” Morgan said in a prepared statement.
Driver Wraps Truck Around Utility Pole In Beulah
April 25, 2014
One person was injured in a single vehicle accident Thursday evening on Beulah Road.
The accident was reported near the intersection of Peartree Drive about 7:18 p.m. The driver of a pickup truck lost control and struck a utility pole. He was transported by ambulance to an area hospital with injuries that were not life threatening.
The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Further details, including the driver’s name, have not yet been released.
Pictured: One person was injured in this crash on Beulah Road. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Relay For Life Events Begin Tonight At Tate High, Atmore
April 25, 2014
Relay for Life events will get underway tonight at Tate High School and in Atmore.
The Greater Escambia Relay for Life event at Tate High School begins at 7 p.m. and continues until 7 a.m. Saturday. The Opening Ceremony begins at 7:00, followed by the Survivor’s Lap and Celebration, and the Caregivers Lap at 7:10. The Luminaria Ceremony will take place at 9:00 to remember people we have lost to cancer, to support people who are currently battling the disease, and to honor those who have won their battle. The power of this ceremony lies in providing an opportunity for people to work through grief and find hope. The 37 registered teams and 309 individuals in the Greater Escambia Relay were just shy of $70,o00 raised by late Thursday night.
The Atmore Relay for Life event begins with opening ceremonies at Tom Byrne Park at 6 p.m., followed by a survivor and caregivers lap at about 7:15. Then teams will walk through the evening until closing ceremonies at midnight. A luminaria lap will be held at about 9 p.m., with lighted luminarias lining the track honoring lives affected or taken by cancer.
Pictured top: The Survivor and Caregiver’s Lap gets underway during last year’s Greater Escambia Relay for Life at Tate High School. Pictured below: Atmore Relay for Life last year at Tom Byrne Park. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Tate Lady Aggies Beat Chiles In Regional Play
April 25, 2014
The Tate Lady Aggies beat Tallahassee Chiles 7-3 Thursday night in regional softball playoff action. With the win, the Lady Aggies advanced to the Region 1-7A semifinals on Tuesday as they host Navarre.
NorthEscambia.com file photo by Timothy Dunsford.
Florida Senate Approves Higher Speed Limits
April 25, 2014
The Senate approved a measure Thursday that could increase the posted speed to 75 mph on certain stretches of state roads, where motorists would be allowed to push the lead to 80 mph with little fear of getting a ticket.
Despite concerns expressed by some lawmakers about safety and the potential impact on tourists and seniors, senators voted 27-11 to support the measure (SB 392), which directs the Florida Department of Transportation to determine whether to increase the minimum and maximum speed limits on all divided highways that have at least four lanes.
“We’re not talking about raising the speed limits to 90 (mph) or 95, we’re talking about the potential to raise the speed limit a mere 5 miles per hour,” said Sen. Jeff Clemens, a Lake Worth Democrat who sponsored the bill. “I would suggest to you, ladies and gentlemen, that 5 miles per hour clearly is not going to cause any difference in safety of our constituents in the state of Florida.”
But Sen. Arthenia Joyner, D-Tampa, argued that allowing speeds to be increased could become problematic for many of the state’s seniors and tourists who aren’t used to the higher speeds.
“Slow down, Senate,” Joyner said. “Let’s not increase the speed. This is a safety issue. The faster you go, the more lives are in peril, and you don’t get there but maybe 10 seconds, or more, faster than the person driving the speed limit.”
The Senate action could put the pedal to the metal on the House companion (HB 761), which has yet to appear on the floor since clearing the second of its two scheduled committee appearances on April 11.
The result of the transportation studies could be that Florida joins Maine and 16 western states is posting maximum speeds at 75 mph or higher.
The 75 mph limit is a speed many motorists already drive on the highway, as Florida law allows for a warning to those traveling less than 6 miles per hour over the posted speed limit.
Sen. Audrey Gibson, D-Jacksonville, said increasing the maximum and minimum speed limit will only “encourage all drivers to drive faster, whether they want to or not.”
“We’re a tourist state and we want people to slow down and not speed up,” Gibson said. “Just because we can increase the speeds in certain areas doesn’t mean we should.”
St. Petersburg Republican Sen. Jeff Brandes, the other sponsor of the bill, defended the proposal as simply allowing state engineers to determine the safe speeds on rural stretches of roads.
The bill could eventually allow state transportation officials to increase speed limits on Florida’s “limited access highways” to 75 mph and raise the maximum posted limits on divided four-lane highways in sparsely-populated rural areas from 65 mph to 70 mph. The transportation department could hike speeds to 60 mph on other roads they deem safe. And the agency would also have the authority to set minimum speeds on certain highways.
The proposal, opposed by AAA, was not requested by Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Ananth Prasad.
Prasad has said his agency would only conduct the speed studies in select areas where conditions may warrant an increase.
Florida’s highways have had a 70 mph maximum since 1996, the last time the speed limit was reviewed.
In other states, higher speed limits have resulted in more deaths from speeding accidents because drivers’ reaction times are reduced, and the severity of injuries is intensified, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
West Florida Jaguars Claim District 1-4A Title Over Catholic
April 25, 2014
The West Florida Jaguars defeated the Catholic Crusaders Thursday night to claim the District 1-4A championship.
West Florida (14-12) earned home field advantage, hosting Taylor County at 6 p.m. next Thursday, while Catholic will hit the road to play Tallahassee Godby at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Region 1-4A quarterfinals.
Ashton Linton pitched the win for the Jaguars, allowing two runs, seven hits and striking out one in seven innings at the plate.
For West Florida: Joey Baker 2-3, RBI; Dakota Milstead 1-4, RBI; R.J. Lewis 2-2, double, run; Chad Simmons 1-4; Kyle Harrison 1-4; James Antoine 1-4; Branson McCombs 1-3; Nick Henderson 1-3, 2 runs.
Reader submitted photo, click to enlarge.
Free Beans And Rice Saturday
April 25, 2014
Saint Monica’s Episcopal Church will be distributing free dried beans, rice and sausage biscuits beginning at 9 a.m. at the church. There are no guidelines and no paperwork required.
The church is located at 699 South Highway 95A in Cantonment.
Chipley Downs Northview For District 3-1A Title
April 25, 2014
Chipley took the District 3-1A baseball title Thursday night with a 6-2 win over the Northview Chiefs.
The Chiefs are still alive headed into the regionals, but the loss will cost them the home field advantage as they hit the road next Thursday against a to be announced team.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Wahoos Drop Third Straight
April 25, 2014
A sellout crowd turned out at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium Thursday night as the Blue Wahoos honored two-time Master’s champ Bubba Watson. Once the celebration was short lived as the Blue Wahoos dropped the first game of the series 11-9 to the visiting Mississippi Braves. The Wahoos (8-13) had a season-high five errors, which led to six unearned runs for the Braves (8-13).
RHP Carlos Contreras started for the Wahoos but had to leave the game due to an injury after just 1.2 innings of work. RHP Mikey O’Brien (0-2) came on in relief of Contreras and pitched 2.0 innings while allowing 5 R/3ER. RHP Brooks Pinckard made his first appearance with the Blue Wahoos this season and pitched 1.1 innings in relief.
Left fielder Donald Lutz led the way for the Wahoos. Lutz went 3-for-5 with a two-run home run and two doubles. Lutz’s fifth home run of the season tied teammate Rey Navarro for the league lead. Brian Anderson hit his third home run of the season just two batters after Lutz in the bottom of the sixth. Travis Mattair continued his hot streak with a 2-for-5 night with two RBI and a double. Yorman Rodriguez extended his hit-streak to nine games, which is a team best this season. The Wahoos scored at least five runs so use the promo code WAHOOS and receive 50% off your entire order Friday at PapaJohns.com.
Braves’ RHP Ryan Weber got the surprise start Thursday evening and went just 2.0 innings while giving up eight hits and 5 R/ER. John Cornely (2-0) pitched well and earned the win in relief for the Braves; he went 3.2 innings and gave up 2 R/ER with four strikeouts. RHP Shae Simmons earned his fifth save of the season and struck out five batters through 2.0 innings.
Emerson Landoni and Elmer Reyes had two RBI each for the Braves. Seth Loman had a 4-for-6 night with a couple of doubles. Former Wahoo Matt Kennelly went 0-for-1 but had four walks and scored two runs.
The Wahoos will send RHP Daniel Corcino (1-2, 4.35) to the mound on Friday. The Braves will send Major League rehabber Mike Minor (0-1, 13.50) to the bump to oppose Corcino.
by Tommy Thrall
Pictured top and bottom: The Pensacola Blue Wahoos lost to the Mississippi Braves Thursday. Pictured inset: The first pitch was tossed by two-time Master’s champ Bubba Watson. Photos by Michael Spooneybarger/ Pensacola Blue Wahoos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
