Cantonment Man’s Appeal Denied In Toddler’s Death
April 4, 2015
The Florida First District Court of Appeals has upheld the conviction of a Cantonment man that was once featured on the America’s Most Wanted TV show.
In August 2013, 23-year old Dwayne “Money” Pinestraw was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for firing a gun through the window of a Pensacola Village apartment, striking and killing 19-month old Ty’Quarius Moultrie on July 15, 2011.
Pinestraw appealed, claiming that he had ineffective legal counsel, but the appellate court did not agree.
He was arrested in Texas in December 2011, hours after being featured on the television program.
Driver Leaves Highway 97, Hits Parked Semi
April 4, 2015
A pickup truck driver ran off the road Friday evening in Walnut Hill, hitting a parked semi-truck and almost colliding with a building.
The older, non-operational semi truck was parked next Tichi’s Garage in the 9600 block of Highway 97 in Walnut Hill. The female victim was was transported by Atmore Ambulance to Atmore Community Hospital with injuries that were not considered serious.
Further details haven to been released by the Florida Highway Patrol. The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded to the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Teen Arrested For Burglary, Theft Of Multiple Firearms
April 4, 2015
An Escambia County teen has been arrested on multiple charges after an investigation determined he took multiple weapons during a burglary last week.
Anthony Walker, 17, was arrested Saturday afternoon. He was charged with eight counts of grand theft of a firearm, and one count each of possession of ammunition/weapon by a convicted felon, burglary, grand theft, and dealing in stolen property.
Pensacola Police Detective Pat Bradley said thousands of dollars worth of firearms plus jewelry and other valuables were stolen from a home in the 700 block of West Moreno Street. Video surveillance provided by the homeowner showed the suspect entering the residence through an unlocked door around 1:30 p.m. Monday. The suspect spent approximately one hour removing items from the home. Walker left with the stolen items but later returned to the home around 3 a.m. Tuesday. During his second visit, Walker looked around the outside of the house but didn’t break in again.
Bradley said Walker sold some of the firearms; however, seven of the firearms along with jewelry have been recovered and will be returned to the homeowner.
Bradley credited the arrest and recovery of stolen property to the hard work of detectives from the Pensacola Police Department along with assistance from deputies and investigators from Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. This cooperation and joint effort was facilitated by the Gun Crime Response Team.
Escambia Commission Sets April Meeting Days
April 4, 2015
The following is the schedule for April’s Board of County Commissioner meetings. All meetings are held at the Escambia County Governmental Center (221 Palafox Place) in the Board Chambers (Room 100) unless otherwise noted.
April 9
- Agenda Work Session, 9 a.m.
- Public Forum, 4:30 p.m.
- Public Hearings and Reports, 5:30 p.m.
April 16
- Special Meeting: RESTORE, 9 a.m. at the Pensacola Bay Center, Conference Room A
- Special Meeting: Public Hearing concerning finalizing the revisions to the Land Development Code Ordinance, 5 p.m.
April 23
- Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting, 8:45 a.m.
- Agenda Work Session, 9 a.m.
- Public Forum, 4:30 p.m.
- Public Hearings and Reports, 5:30 p.m.
The Committee of the Whole Workshop scheduled for Thursday, April 9, has been cancelled.
Northview Tops Freeport; Tate Earns Two Wins
April 4, 2015
Tate 14, South Pointe 6
Tate 2, Lewisville, SC 1
Tate 4, Pace 3 (JV)
The Tate Aggies added number 17 to the win column with a 14-6 win over South Pointe. Trace Penton pitched the win. Branden Fryman was 2-4 with a RBI, Mark Miller was 3-5 with 6 RBIs, Logan Blackmon 2-4, 2B and RBI. Win number 16 earlier in the day for the Aggies came with a 2-1 defeat of Lewisville, SC. Michael Sherrill earned the save. Hunter Worley was 1-2 with 2 RBI, Sawyer Smith 2-3, two 2B. Aggies will face Clover, SC, on Saturday.
Northview 5, Freeport 4
The Northview Chiefs beat the Freeport Bulldogs 5-4 in a district game Saturday. The Chiefs are next set to face district rival Jay at 6 p.m. Tuesday in Jay.
Pictured: Northview beat Freeport on Friday. Photos by Ramona Preston for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Not As Warm Today
April 4, 2015
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Saturday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 70. Northwest wind 5 to 15 mph becoming north in the afternoon.
Saturday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 50. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 74. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night
A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday
A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 79. Southeast wind around 10 mph.
Monday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 84.
Wednesday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66.
Thursday
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 84.
Thursday Night
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66.
Friday
A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82.
License Free Freshwater Fishing This Weekend
April 4, 2015
Free fishing days provide an excellent opportunity for parents who don’t yet have licenses to take youth fishing, or avid anglers to introduce a friend to fishing without having to purchase a license. On these days, the fishing license requirement is waived for all recreational anglers (residents and non-residents).
All other rules (e.g., seasons, bag and size limits) apply.
License-free freshwater days for 2015 and beyond
- First Saturday and Sunday in April
- Second Saturday and Sunday in June
License-free saltwater days for 2015 and beyond
- First Saturday and Sunday in June
- First Saturday in September
- Saturday following Thanksgiving
The saltwater waiver applies to any recreational harvest requiring a saltwater fishing license (e.g., crabbing, lobstering, scalloping, etc.) as well as fishing from shore or a boat. A snook or spiny lobster permit are not required on these days.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Two Homes Destroyed By Fire Friday Morning
April 3, 2015
Two homes were destroyed by fire Friday morning in unrelated incidents.
Four people escaped uninjured from a fire in the 10000 block of Fox Run, just off Nine Mile Road, about 7:11 a.m. The home was fully involved in fire when the first firefighters arrived on scene.
No one was at home at the time of a fire at 5:11 a.m. in the 8200 block of Caminitti Lane near Olive Road in Ferry Pass. When firefighters arrived on scene, they found the house fully involved.
The cause of both fires is under investigation by the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office.
Pictured top, inset and immediately below: The first firefighters from the Beulah Station of Escambia Fire Rescue arrive at a Friday morning on Fox Run and begin fighting the blaze. Pictured below: More photos from the scene. Photos by Dalton Young for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Killed In I-10 Crash
April 3, 2015
An Escambia County man was killed in a traffic accident Thursday night on I-10 east of the Pine Forest Road exit.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 23-year old Trenton Evan Demonte was westbound on I-10 approaching Pine Forest about 10:10 p.m. His 2003 Dodge Ram crossed over the center grassy median into the eastbound lanes and was struck nearly head-on by a semi-truck driven by 34-year old Orlando Hernandez of Lake Worth.
Demonte was pronounced deceased on the scene. His passenger, 24-year old Kassie Marie Klein of Pensacola, was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in critical condition. Hernandez and a passenger in the semi, 37-year old Angel Omar Reyes Roman of Riverview, FL, were not injured.
One Dead, Many Injured In Fiery 9-Vehicle Wreck On I-65
April 3, 2015
For an update to this story, click here.
One person was killed and several others were injured in a fiery multi-vehicle crash on I-65 near Flomaton that first responders described as nothing less than horrific.
The accident involved three northbound 18-wheelers and six passenger vehicles at the 69 mile marker, with two of the 18-wheelers catching fire and burning into an almost unrecognizable pile of mangled metal. The female driver of a passenger car died in a vehicle that was nearly totally destroyed before catching fire in the crash.
One 18-wheeler was hauling lumber, one was hauling salt, and the cargo of the third, while not hazardous, was not known.
“It was the worst accident I’ve seen in 38 years of being a firefighter,” Flomaton Fire Department Chief Steve Stanton said from the scene.
Stanton said no less than 15 fire departments from Alabama and Florida responded to the crash, including departments from Century and McDavid. Multiple ambulances from both states and three helicopters were used to transport the victims to hospitals. Officials were not immediately sure how many people were injured, but state troopers said they believed it to be around five.
I-65 was closed between Flomaton and Atmore for hours, with traffic diverted through Atmore and Flomaton along Highway 31. Traffic backed up for miles and miles in both directions, often at a complete standstill.
Alabama State Troopers are continuing their investigation. Names and details on how the crash happened have not yet been released.
NorthEscambia.com exclusive and reader submitted photos, click to enlarge.
