Annie Sue Landrum Daniel
November 19, 2015
Mrs. Annie Sue Landrum Daniel, 81, passed away on Monday, November 16, 2015, in Lafayette, Alabama.
Mrs. Daniel was a native of Monroe County, AL and a resident of Nokomis, AL for most of her life. Mrs. Daniel was a member of the Nokomis Baptist Church. She is preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Edward Daniel; and son, Charles Edward Daniel.
She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Elaine and Chris Wallace of Jacksons Gap, AL; six grandchildren, Cpt. Ben E. Daniel of Fort Lee, VA, Patrick Wallace of Charlottesville, VA, Mitchell Wallace of Durham, NC, Jessica D. Allen of Bay Minette, Rebecca Daniel of Perdido and Derrick Daniel of Auburn; five great-grandchildren; and a first cousin, Therman Mills of Prattville.
Funeral services will be held Friday, November 20, 2015, at 10 a.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. James Hill officiating.
Burial will follow at the Serenity Gardens Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Cpt. Ben E. Daniel, Patrick Wallace, Mitchell Wallace, Billy Wayne Donald, Daryl Williams and Brian Stewart.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Cooling Trend Begins
November 18, 2015
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
onight: A 20 percent chance of showers before midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 52. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 69. North wind around 5 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 48. North wind around 5 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 70. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 48. East wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 69. East wind around 5 mph becoming north in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 43. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 54. North wind around 10 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 34.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 56.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 38.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 61.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 43.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 64.
‘Stand Your Ground’ Measure Falls In Florida House
November 18, 2015
A National Rifle Association-backed measure that could have made it easier legally for people to claim self-defense in shooting incidents failed to get through its first House committee on Tuesday.
A lobbyist for the 2nd Amendment group said after the meeting that the proposal will be back, though it is likely dead for the upcoming 2016 legislative session.
House Criminal Justice Chairman Carlos Trujillo joined four Democrats and Keystone Heights Republican Charles Van Zant in opposing the measure (HB 169), which proposed to shift the burden of proof to the state in cases involving Florida’s “stand your ground” law.
The controversial law says people can use deadly force and do not have a duty to retreat if they think it is necessary to prevent death or great bodily harm.
Trujillo, a Miami Republican and former prosecutor, said the “stand your ground” law works without the proposed change.
“If you’re looking at a scenario in which it’s one individual (against) one individual and one of them happens to be dead, how’s the state going to disprove a negative without having the ability to call you to testify?” Trujillo said.
“I’m sympathetic for the individuals who find themselves in bad situations, with bad facts and bad judges,” Trujillo continued. “But I’m also more sympathetic to women of domestic violence, young members of my community who are oftentimes killed, (and) individuals try to use a good law that was passed with noble purposes for very ignoble attempts.”
NRA lobbyist Marion Hammer said upon leaving the committee meeting that while the bill is dead for the 2016 session, the group will continue to push for the measure.
“It will be back until it passes, period,” Hammer said. “In the meantime, the people can pay attention and elect people who are more sympathetic to them than prosecutors.”
Asked if the gun rights group would target Trujillo in the future, Hammer said she is one to “never make predictions.”
A Senate version of the bill (SB 344) has cleared one committee and is scheduled to go before the Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations Subcommittee on Wednesday.
House sponsor Dennis Baxley, an Ocala Republican and one of the key architects of the “stand your ground” law, decided to push forward with a vote after Trujillo asked if he’d prefer to delay it.
“You’re talking about a basic tenet of American justice,” Baxley said during his closing comments before the panel. “This is the difference between being here and in Russia: You’re innocent until proven guilty and it is always the burden of the state. We would rather allow a guilty person go free than to convict an innocent one. Particularly somebody who was defending themselves and others from harm. That’s the kind of society we need.”
The bill was crafted after the Florida Supreme Court ruled that people who use the “stand your ground” defense have the burden of showing they should be shielded from prosecution. In such cases, pre-trial evidentiary hearings are held to determine whether defendants are immune from prosecution under the law. The bill called for placing the burden of proof on prosecutors in the evidentiary hearings.
Debra Harrison Rumberger, a lobbyist for the League of Women Voters of Florida, said the bill, combined with proposed measures to expand the rights of concealed-weapon permit holders to carry guns on state university and colleges campuses and to openly carry handguns, wouldn’t make Florida safer.
“This bill, as with open-carry and campus-carry, constitutes an attack on law enforcement and the legal process, while placing our citizenry in greater danger,” she said.
But Stacy Scott, the public defender for the 8th Judicial Circuit which includes Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Gilchrist, Levy and Union counties, said the burden of proof should be on the state attorney.
“They hold all the cards and wield all the power,” Scott said. “In order for that citizen to even have an immunity hearing … it’s very likely that they’ve already had to reject a plea offer and face very stiff penalties, years and decades in prison, in order to assert their right that they were right because they acted in self defense.”
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Man Charged With Burglarizing Vehicles At Molino Park Elementary, Other Locations
November 18, 2015
A man accused of burglarizing vehicles in the parking lot of Molino Park Elementary School Monday has been arrested by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office in connection with a several vehicle burglaries in the North Escambia area.
Brett Derel McDonald, 25, was charged with multiple counts of armed burglary of a vehicle, grand theft of a firearm, grand theft and petit theft. He remains in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $86,250.
About 7:50 Monday morning, a parent who had just walked her child into Molino Park Elementary School noticed McDonald in the school parking lot pulling on vehicle door handles before entering a Chevrolet Equinox. The vehicle owner told deputies that nothing was taken. The parent called the school and watched as McDonald went to more vehicles in the parking lot before being confronted by the school principal. The principal told deputies she knew McDonald because has a child in the school, and that he left the campus in a dark colored Mustang.
About 2 p.m., deputies responded to a vehicle burglary on Calderwood Court where the owner reported multiple items stolen, including a designer purse and wallet, paper work, credit cards and other items totaling about $285 in value.
About 2:30 p.m., deputies responded to another vehicle burglary in the 9000 block of Fowler Avenue. The owner reported that sometime during the past day, someone stole three firearms from his vehicle along with a box of ammunition.
About 3 p.m., a vehicle owner reported that a radar detector was taken from her Dodge Charger while it was parked during the school day at Molino Park Elementary.
The weapons, ammunition, wallet, purse, radar detector and other items were recovered when McDonald was taken into custody at his home in the 400 block of 9½ Mile Road. None of the stolen firearms were from vehicles the Molino Park campus, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Reimagine Flomaton Meeting Thursday Night
November 18, 2015
A volunteer meeting for Reimagine Flomaton will be held at 6:30 Thursday evening at the Flomaton Community Center.
Reimagine Flomaton will be held Saturday, February 20, 2016. Reimagine has held similar events in Century, Brownsville, Warrrington, Thomaston, GA, Santa Rosa County and Peru. Events have included clothing giveaways, free haircuts, free food, free health checks and displays from community organizations.
The Flomaton Community Center is located 628 McCurdy Street.
Pictured: Volunteers discuss Reimagine Flomaton last month during a meeting at the Flomaton Fire Department. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Local Players Named To All-Star Volleyball Team
November 18, 2015
Rosters have been announced for the 9th Annual Subway High School All-Star Volleyball game to be held Thursday, November 19 at the University of West Florida Field House at 6 p.m.
West Team roster:
Northview: Hanna Ging
Tate: Sydney Roberson, Hope Tourney, Deja Smith, Kristin Quina
Pine Forest: Alexis Lucas
West Florida: Brianna Parker, Lynn Arthur
Catholic: Hailey Fredrickson, Mirella Gatterdam, Kiley Brady, Madison Yarborough
East Hill: Karin Shull
Escambia: Alyssa Hubbart
PCA: Brianna Ross
Pensacola: Ariel Noethlich
Washington: Julia Grissett, Samantha Yonehiro
Head Coach: Kelly Comerford of Washington High School
Assistant Coach: Larry Lewis of Pine Forest High School
Assistant Coach: Meghan Triolo of Washington High School
East Team roster
Baker: Ashley Black
Central: Sarah Smith
Choctaw: Nakia McKinnie, Britney Kruegar
Crestview: Christia Johnson
Fort Walton: Kiva Malone
Gulf Breeze: Mady Smith, Julia Denby, Alison Von Brock
Jay: Bristin Campbell
Milton: Heidi Peoples, Mikaela Worley
Navarre: Nysha Frank
Niceville: Alexis Creasman, Shelby Young
Pace: Carlee Smith, Justice Gainey
Rocky Bayou: Maria Denbow
Head Coach: Gigi Vardai of Fort Walton Beach High School
Assistant Coach: Mark Gough of Pace High School
Final game rosters are subject to change.
The Subway High School All-Star Series, organized by Pensacola Sports, recognizes senior athletes in volleyball, football, men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s baseball, and women’s softball from Escambia, Santa Rosa, and Okaloosa County.
Tickets to the Subway High School All-Star Game are $8 at the gate and $6 with a canned good item. Pensacola Sports is again teaming with Manna Food Bank for a canned good drive and encouraging everyone to help families by bringing a canned good item.
Pictured top: West All-Star Volleyball team members Hope Tourney, Kristin Quina, and Sydney Roberson of Tate High School. Pictured inset: West team member Hanna Ging of Northview High School. Pictured: The West team at a practice this week. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia District Approves Upcoming School Year Calendars
November 18, 2015
The Escambia County School District has approved calendars for the next two school years.
The calendars begin school on August 10, and both years include a full week out of school at Thanksgiving (a combination fall break and Thanksgiving holiday).
The calendars were approved by the Escambia County School Board Tuesday evening.
To view both calendars, click here (pdf).
District 5 Member Slayton Named School Board Chairman
November 18, 2015
District 5 Escambia County School Board member Bill Slayton was selected Tuesday as board chairman for the next year. S
Slayton is in his second term on the school board. He is a retired educator, with 36 years experience as an employee in the Escambia School District at Tate High School as a teacher, administrator, assistant principal and principal. He holds a bachelor’s degree and a Masters of Education Degree from the University of Southern Mississippi and an administrative certification from the University of West Florida.
District 3 member Linda Moultrie was named vice-chair.
Survey: Grocery Prices Down A Bit This Fall
November 18, 2015
Lower retail prices for several foods, including whole milk, cheddar cheese, bacon and apples resulted in a slight decrease in the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Fall Harvest Marketbasket Survey.
The informal survey shows the total cost of 16 food items that can be used to prepare one or more meals was $54.14, down $.12 or less than 1 percent compared to a survey conducted a year ago. Of the 16 items surveyed, 10 decreased and six increased in average price.
Higher milk and pork production this year has contributed to the decrease in prices on some key foods.
“Energy prices, which affect everything in the marketbasket, have been quite a bit lower compared to a year ago. Processing, packaging, transportation and retail operations are all fairly energy-intensive,” said John Anderson, AFBF’s deputy chief economist. Lower energy prices account for much of the modest decrease in the marketbasket.
The following items showed retail price decreases from a year ago:
- whole milk, down 17 percent to $3.14 per gallon
- bacon, down 11 percent to $4.55 per pound
- apples, down 7 percent $1.45 per pound
- shredded cheddar, down 5 percent to $4.56 per pound
- flour, down 4 percent to $2.37 per five-pound bag
- bagged salad, down 4 percent to $2.46 per pound
- vegetable oil, down 3 percent to $2.61 for a 32-ounce bottle
- Russet potatoes, down 3 percent to $2.64 for a five-pound bag
- white bread, down 1 percent to $1.69 for a 20-ounce loaf
- chicken breast, down 1 percent to $3.42 per pound
These items showed modest retail price increases compared to a year ago:
- eggs, up 56 percent to $3.04 per dozen
- orange juice, up 7 percent to $3.43 per half-gallon
- ground chuck, up 6 percent to $4.55 per pound
- toasted oat cereal, up 3 percent to $3.09 for a nine-ounce box
- sirloin tip roast, up 3 percent to $5.67 per pound
- sliced deli ham, up 1 percent to $5.47 per pound
“As expected we saw higher egg prices because we lost so much production earlier this year due to the avian influenza situation in Iowa, Minnesota and some other Midwestern states,” Anderson said.
Price checks of alternative milk and egg choices not included in the overall marketbasket survey average revealed the following: 1/2 gallon regular milk, $2.21; 1/2 gallon organic milk, $4.79; and one dozen “cage-free” eggs, $4.16.
The year-to-year direction of the marketbasket survey tracks closely with the federal government’s Consumer Price Index report for food at home. As retail grocery prices have increased gradually over time, the share of the average food dollar that America’s farm and ranch families receive has dropped.
“Through the mid-1970s, farmers received about one-third of consumer retail food expenditures for food eaten at home and away from home, on average. Since then, that figure has decreased steadily and is now about 16 percent, according to the Agriculture Department’s revised Food Dollar Series,” Anderson said.
Using the “food at home and away from home” percentage across-the-board, the farmer’s share of this $54.14 marketbasket would be $8.66.
AFBF, the nation’s largest general farm organization, began conducting informal quarterly marketbasket surveys of retail food price trends in 1989.
Man Convicted Of Stealing Guardrail, EBT Fraud
November 17, 2015
An Escambia County man has been convicted for stealing tons of steel guardrail from his McDavid employer, fraudulently installing the guardrail in two states and fraudulently using state EBT funds for years.
Barry Paul Fehr, 53, pleaded no contest Monday to multiple felony charges including grand theft, fraud – unauthorized user of public assistance and fraud – swindle obtaining property. Fehr was adjudicated guilty and sentenced to five years probation and 45 days in the county jail with an eligibility for work release. He was also ordered to pay restitution to both his former employer and the State of Florida, with a full amount still to be determined.
Fehr billed a contractor using Highway Specialties letterhead after representing himself as owner of the company and using letterhead to prepare quotes and establish contracts so that he would be paid personally for the installation of guardrail components on federal, state and local roadways.
He billed the contractor $6,300 for guardrail installed on I-10 and $500 for a guardrail repair on I-110 at Brent Lane, according to an arrest report. Investigators said he took inventory from Highway Specialties stock and transported it to the job site and performed the installation himself.
In a separate incident, Fehr allegedly negotiated a contract with Biles Construction for guardrail that was installed in Semmes, AL, and billed the company on Highway Specialties letterhead with his name at the top of the invoice. The guardrail used had been purchased by Highway Specialties for a project in Okaloosa County, but was reportedly taken from their inventory by Fehr.
The owner of Biles Construction told investigators that he was asked to pay for the guardrail in cash. When the company refused, Fehr reportedly asked that the $8,550 check be made out to him personally instead of Highway Specialties because he was going through a “nasty divorce”, the arrest report states.
Fehr was also charged with unrelated counts of grand theft and fraud after an investigation found that he sold 30,145 pounds of steel highway guardrail components in 19 transactions to Wise Recycling without the permission of Highway Specialties for a total of $3,428.
The investigation also found Fehr in possession of additional guardrail components owned by Highway Specialties and valued at $2,135, the report states.
Several times, Fehr represented himself in a capacity to complete jobs and accept payment without proper invoicing and receipts, investigators said. Within the past two years, deputies said Fehr and his crew installed 150 feet of guardrail on I-10 and was paid $5,200 outside the scope of Highway Specialties.
Fehr was also convicted of paying cash at one-half the face value for State of Florida EBT cards over the past five years. He then used the card as his own, fraudulently obtaining thousands of dollars worth of benefits.