Police Chase Ends With Shots Fired, Man In Custody
March 16, 2016
A police chase north of Atmore ended with shots fired and Mississippi man in custody tonight.
An Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office deputy stopped with a pickup truck that sitting along Highway 21 north of Fountain Prison to see if the driver needed assistance. After deputies determined the truck had been reported stolen in Mobile, the driver – later identified as Winston David Howell of Lucedale, MS — fled in the vehicle.
The deputy gave chase south toward Atmore. Upon reaching the city limits, the driver turned back north on Highway 21. He eventually turned onto Wayside Road, about five miles north of I-65, and ran off the the roadway a few hundred feet into an open field. The deputy fired at the truck in order to disable it, according to Chief Deputy Mile Lambert.
There were no injuries, and no one was struck by the gunfire.
Howell was taken into custody and charged with felony fleeing and eluding. He will also be charged on the outstanding motor vehicle theft warrant from Mobile, as well as outstanding warrants from Mississippi and additional local charges stemming from the chase. He was booked into the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center without bond.
Lambert said a weapon and drugs were found inside the pickup truck.
The Poarch Creek Police Department assisted in the incident.
Pictured above and bottom: A police chase ended with shots fired in this field north of Atmore Tuesday night. Pictured below: Winston David Howell of Lucedale, MS, was taken into custody at the scene. He is pictured being questioned by Escambia County (AL) Chief Deputy Mike Lambert. NorthEcambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Ex-Senate President Rules Out Congressional Run For Miller’s Seat
March 16, 2016
State Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, ruled out the possibility Tuesday that he will run for a Northwest Florida congressional seat that opened last week when Republican incumbent Jeff Miller said he would not seek re-election.
Gaetz, a former Senate president who will leave the Legislature this fall because of term limits, said in an email that he had been encouraged to run for Congress but will not.
“It has never been my goal to be in Washington, D.C.,” Gaetz wrote. “It has been my honor to be Northwest Florida’s senator in Tallahassee. And we’ve had a pretty good run. But my home and my heart are in Northwest Florida. Gratified as I am by the many offers of support, I will not be a candidate for Congress.”
Gaetz’s son, state Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, is seeking to replace him in the Senate.
by The News Service of Florida
Aggie Classic: Tate Wins Again
March 16, 2016
Tate 6 , Muskogee, OK 0
The Tate Aggies picked up another win in their Aggie Classic Tuesday night with a 6-0 shut out of Muskogee, OK.
WP – Jared Hatch (5 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 3 K)
Tate hitters – Mason Land 2-3, run; Branden Fryman 2-3, RBI, run; Jake Davis 2-4, double, 2 RBIs; Hunter NeSmith 1-4, RBI; Kolby Sprague 1-1; Hunter McLean 1-3; AJ Gordon 1-1
OTHER TUESDAY AGGIE CLASSIC SCORES
Shawnee, OK 3, Christ Presbyterian, TN 2
Stillwater, OK 4, Maryville, TN 1
Piedmont, OK 11, Leon, FL 1
Washington, OK 11, West Florida 2
Union, OK 3, Second Baptist, TX 2
El Reno, OK 2, Gulf Breeze 7
Next Level, AL 8, Morris, OK 6 (11 innings)
Milton 10, Coweta, OK 0
Chiles, FL 11, Jenks, OK 6
SCHEDULE
Wednesday, March 16
At Tate High School
4 p.m. – Stillwater (OK) vs. Leon
7 p.m. – El Reno (OK) vs. Tate
At Milton High School
4 p.m. – Muskogee (OK) vs. Emery/Weiner (TX)
7 p.m. – Shawnee (OK) vs. Milton
At Gulf Breeze
4 p.m. – Jenks (OK) vs. Christ Presbyterian (TN)
7 p.m. – Morris (OK) vs. Gulf Breeze
At Escambia
4 p.m. – Pryor (OK) vs. Second Baptist (TX)
7 p.m. – Washington (OK) vs. Escambia
At West Florida High
4 p.m. – Edmond North (OK) vs. Maryville (TN)
7 p.m. – Coweta (OK) vs. West Florida
At Woodham Middle
4 p.m. – Piedmont (OK) vs. Next Level Baseball (AL)
7 p.m. – Union (OK) vs. Chiles
Thursday, March 17
At Tate High School
4 p.m. – Seed 3 vs. Seed 4
7 p.m. – Seed 1 vs. Seed 2
At Milton High School
4 p.m. – Seed 17 vs. Seed 18
7 p.m. – Seed 7 vs. Seed 8
At Gulf Breeze
4 p.m. – Seed 19 vs. Seed 20
7 p.m. – Seed 9 vs. Seed 10
At Escambia
4 p.m. – Seed 21 vs. Seed 22
7 p.m. – Seed 11 vs. Seed 12
At West Florida High
4 p.m. – Seed 15 vs. Seed 16
7 p.m. – Seed 5 vs. Seed 6
At Woodham Middle
4 p.m. – Seed 23 vs. Seed 24
7 p.m. – Seed 13 vs. Seed 14
Scott To Veto $256 Million From New Budget
March 16, 2016
In a surprise move, Gov. Rick Scott announced Tuesday that he would sign the largest budget in state history while using his line-item veto relatively sparingly, defusing a potential showdown with state lawmakers.
Scott said he would sign the previously $82.3 billion spending plan for the year that begins July 1 while slicing a little more than $256.1 million in local projects and other spending initiatives. The announcement, which came on the same day as the state’s presidential primary elections, was unexpected. Scott generally doesn’t announce specific intentions on the budget until lawmakers officially send it to him for his approval — something that hasn’t happened.
By tipping his hand early, though, Scott dispelled speculation that he would veto a raft of projects in retribution for lawmakers gutting his main priorities during the legislative session, which ended last week. That essentially ended talk that House and Senate leaders would return to Tallahassee to override his decisions.
“Before I came into office, Florida was raising taxes and fees and there is no doubt that I will always want more tax cuts and more jobs,” Scott said in a statement released by his office Tuesday. “I look forward to continuing to work with the Legislature to find more ways next year to return money back to families all across Florida.”
The budget bumps up per-student spending on public schools by 1 percent, moving it to a record amount. It spends more than $713.5 million on education construction projects and funds $151 million for restoration of the Everglades and an area lawmakers are calling the Northern Everglades.
However, legislators largely rejected much of what Scott wanted in a tax-cut package, though he used the numbers to declare victory on his 2014 re-election campaign promise to cut taxes by $1 billion over his first two years in office. Scott’s request for a $250 million “Florida Enterprise Fund” of business incentives was zeroed out.
That led some lawmakers to fear the worst. Senate Appropriations Chairman Tom Lee, R-Brandon, said Scott’s vetoes added up to about half of what Lee had expected. The budget chief noted that “a substantial increase in city and county projects” have been worked into the state budget.
“The governor is right to go after a lot of those line items where there is no compelling state interest,” he said. “I feel like there’s a real role for the governor in this process, and it sounds like, just from a first glance, that he has been very measured.”
Among Scott’s line-item vetoes were $55 million swept from an economic-development trust fund and used to pay for other items that will still be funded. That means he removed about $201 million in spending authority from the plan.
Still, that economic development money could not be spent for its original purpose unless lawmakers approve a budget amendment.
In fact, the amount of money vetoed from the budget falls in the lower half of yearly erasures in Scott’s term. The governor cut more than he did in 2012 or 2014, but less than he did in 2011, 2013 or 2015.
House leaders were also pleased with the announcement. Speaker Steve Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island, and his expected successor — House Appropriations Chairman Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’ Lakes — issued statements applauding Scott.
“Although I do not agree with every decision he has made, the governor’s vetoes provide an important check on the budget process. … I look forward to working with Governor Scott over the next two years, and I know that together we will continue to produce better, smarter and leaner budgets,” Corcoran said.
Crisafulli said Scott “has used his veto in a prudent and fair manner.”
Few of the lines struck from the budget were big-ticket items. The biggest cut was nearly $15 million for construction of the Center of Innovation Technology Education at Eastern Florida State College. The only other vetoes of $10 million or more were the elimination of $11 million to build a performing arts center at Pasco-Hernando State College, and the removal of $10 million for “quiet zone” improvements near railway lines.
But several small-bore projects were also whacked from the plan. The vetoes included items like $3 million for the Historic Cocoa Village Playhouse parking structure; $1 million for the St. Johns River Ferry; $200,000 for youth crime prevention programs in West Park; and $25,000 for college prep and science, technology, engineering and math — or “STEM” — programs for girls.
As part of his message, Scott — who has pushed for colleges and universities in particular to focus on STEM education — listed the STEM project among several items he vetoed because “there is no identifiable statewide impact and school districts have the ability through historic funding ($7,178 per pupil) to implement these programs.”
While he appeared to leave bond funding for education construction projects standing, Scott slashed several of the Legislature’s specific proposals. In addition to the cuts at Eastern Florida State College and Pasco-Hernando State College, Scott removed $8 million to help Florida International University buy land and $8.3 million for the University of Central Florida that was to go to the Interdisciplinary Research and Incubator Facility and towards the renovation of its engineering building.
But Scott left in place $20 million to pay for the state share of a downtown Orlando campus for the University of Central Florida, a top priority of outgoing Senate President Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando.
Scott cut almost $8.4 million in projects that lawmakers added to the spending plan at the last minute. The so-called sprinkle lists contained about $123.1 million in funding — but Scott’s vetoes of those projects were larger proportionally than his other cuts to the spending plan.
The governor also let at least one proposal that he had previously vetoed stand: a pay increase for some state firefighters, one of several priorities for Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam.
“With the support of the Florida Legislature and the governor, we are increasing pay for our wildland firefighters, supporting Florida citrus, protecting and growing Florida’s water supply, preserving Florida’s precious landscapes, promoting and defending Florida agriculture, protecting Floridians and much more,” Putnam said, in one of a string of statements from officials indicating the intrigue over the 2016 budget is over.
by Brandon Larrabee and Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Baseball And Softball Recap: Northview, Tate, Jay
March 16, 2016
BASEBALL
Baker 4, Northview 3
The Bakers Gators defeated Northview Tuesday night 4-3.
Baker score one run in the first; two in the fifth and one in the seventh for the win. Northview’s three runs cam in the final inning.
Northview hitters: Quentin Sampson 1-1, R; Seth Killam 1-3, RBI; Neese 1-3.
The Chiefs will travel to Chipley on Friday with the JV playing at 4:30 followed by the varsity at 6:30.
Baker 8, Northview 3 (JV)
SOFTBALL
Northview 5, Monroe County 1
The Northview Chiefs defeated the Monroe County Tigers Tuesday night at Northview 5-1. Tori Herrington pitched the win for the Chiefs in 7 innings striking out 10 while only allowing 1 earned run on 2 hits by the Tigers.
Northview hitters – Laurie Purdy 2-4, 1R, 2RBI. Aubree Love: 2-4, 1R, 1RBI. Alana Brown: 1-2, 1R. Daphne Young: 1-2, 1BB. Jamia Newton: 0-2, Sac Bunt, 1RBI. Kendall Enfinger: 1-3, 1R, 1BB. Tori Herrington: 0-2, 1R, 2BB.
The Chiefs travel to Chipley Wednesday for a double header due to rescheduling. First game will be at 4:00 with the second at 6:00.
Tate 18, Washington 1
The Tate Aggies beat Washington 18-1 Tuesday night.
The Aggies scored four in the first, one in the second, four in the third, six in the fourth and three more in the fifth for the win. Hannah Brown struck out 10 batters, allowing four hits and one run, while going 4-4 at the plate with a couple of triples, three RBIs and four runs.
Tate hitters – Hannah Brown 4-4, 2 triples, 3 RBIs, 4 runs; Syndi Solliday 3-3, double, RBI, 2 runs; Savannah Rowell 4-5, double, 3 RBIs, 2 runs; Savannah Ullrich 3-5, double, 2 triples, 3 RBIs, run
Jay 8, W.S. Neal 0
The Jay Royals rolled past W.S. Neal 8-0 in Brewton Tuesday night.
Jay hitters: Samantha Steadham 4-5 1R, 2B, 2 RBI; Michaela Stewart 1-3 2 R, 3 RBI Avery Jackson 1-3 1R… Mattie Holt 1-1 RBI.
WP — Harley Tagert 7 IP 0 R, 4 H, 3 K, 0 BB.
Pictured top: Northview JV at Baker. Photo by Ramona Preston for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
William (Bill) Thomas Bramlett
March 16, 2016
William (Bill) Thomas Bramlett, 63, gained his angel wings while surrounded by family on March 12, 2016. Bill was born on March 6, 1953, in Ft. Benning, Georgia. On December 1, 1974, he married the love of his life, Debra Mitchell Bramlett. Bill served our country from 1972-1984.
Bill was preceded in death by Nathan and Dorothy Bramlett.
He is survived by his wife, Debra; two sons, Thomas Bramlett, and Nathan Bramlett; one brother, Donny Bramlett, and one granddaughter, Olivia Bramlett.
Bill was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend to all.
A celebration of his life was held at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North on Tuesday, March 15, 2016.
In lieu of flowers, Bill would want you to make a donation in his name to The Wounded Warrior Project.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is in charge of arrangements.
Margie Springfield McCraney
March 16, 2016
Mrs. Margie Springfield McCraney, 69, passed away on Sunday, March 13, 2016, in Mobile.
Mrs. McCraney was a native and former resident of Mobile and a resident of Atmore for the past 25 years. She is preceded in death by her husband, Waderick Jackson McCraney; parents, Gilbert and Marjorie Springfield; and two brothers, Richard Dale Springfield and Gilbert Wayne Springfield.
She is survived by her two sons, Waderick James (Dana) McCraney of Creola, AL and Jerry Wayne McCraney of Atmore; two daughters, Deborah Faye McCraney of Atmore, AL and Marjorie Dianne (Bobby) Byrd of Atmore; one brother, Robert W. (Nancy) Springfield of Mobile; seven grandchildren, Larry, LaShay, Dana, Skyler, Brett, Summer and Noah; three great-grandchildren, Jade, Michael and Jackson; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
Graveside services were held Wednesday, March 16, 2016, at the Oak Hill Cemetery with Rev. Earl Harrison officiating.
Burial was at the Oak Hill Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Derek Chasting, Tito Dixon, Tony Springfield, Trey Dixon, William Reed and Jerry Capers.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Northview Softball Today: Schedule Change
March 15, 2016
The schedule for today’s Monroe County at Northview softball games has been changed. The JV game time has been changed from 4:00 until 5:00, and the varsity game will start at 6:30 p.m.
Alabama Gov. Addresses Violence At Holman, Calls For Prison Reform
March 15, 2016
Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley addressed the recent uprisings and stabbings at Holman Prison in Atmore and called for statewide prison reform to curb the violence.
The governor said the situation at Holman is under control, but it is only a matter of time before another uprising occurs, and he is pressing Alabama lawmakers for funding to make that happen.
“Failure is not an option,” Bentley said. “The Legislature has an opportunity to join us in making public safety in the prison a real priority.”
“I want us to go in this state from being the worst in the country to the best in the country,” Bentley said during a Tuesday morning press conference at Holman. Alabama has the most overcrowded prison system in the country at almost 200 percent occupancy.
For an earlier story detailing the violence at the Holman Prison, click here.
Bentley is pushing the Alabama Legislature to approve the Alabama Prison Transformation Initiative Act to construct four modern, efficient prisons across the state — three for men and one for women — to replace other facilities.
Many of the state’s current prison facilities were built decades ago. The age and design of the facilities are causing inefficiencies in the operation of the prison system, including increasing costs of maintaining and repairing the facilities, increasing costs of transporting inmates from prison to medical care facilities, increasing correctional and support staff costs because of the geographic disparity of the system and the antiquated design of the prison facilities, and increasing medical costs due to inefficiencies in delivering medical services to inmates.
The purpose of the Alabama Prison Transformation Initiative Act is to reduce overcrowding and improve safety conditions for inmates and corrections officers, allow for additional inmate re-entry programs and to improve operational practices and procedures for the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC). The legislation allows for the issuance of up to $800 million bonds for up to 30 years by the Alabama Corrections Institutions Finance Authority with the debt service on these bonds to be paid from savings within the annual budget of ADOC. The three men’s facilities will be designed to house at least 3,500 inmates.
Construction of the three regional men’s facilities and one female facility should begin in the fall of 2017 and is expected to be completed within three years, if the Legislature approves.
Pictured top: Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley during a Tuesday morning press conference at Holman Prison. Pictured below: Bentley in a closed-door meeting inside Holman. Photos for NorthEscambia.com click to enlarge.
One Month Later: New Video Shows Century Tornado; Other Videos Show Aftermath
March 15, 2016
Today, March 15, marks one month since an EF-3 tornado with winds of up to 152 mph ripped through 16.5 miles of the North Escambia area.
We’re looking back with three videos below.
The first is a previously unpublished video from NorthEscambia.com reader Wayne Mixon that shows the tornado from the Flomaton Show Shop as it moves along Fannie and Carnley Road in Florida and crosses the Alabama state line.
The second video, a NorthEscambia exclusive, shows the rescue of an elderly woman from a collapsed home in Century. This video aired on several national newscasts and networks.
The third video is from Escambia County and shows a drone aerial view of damage in Century.