Camp Fire Century Presents Thanksgiving Play (With Photo Gallery)
November 23, 2017
The Camp Fire Century Youth Learning Center held their annual Thanksgiving Play last week.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery of the cutest Pilgrims and Indians around, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
College Student Gets Prison For DUI
November 23, 2017
William Joseph Shoffner of Newport, Arkansas, was sentenced by Circuit Court Judge Jan Shackelford to serve 7 years in state prison followed by 5 years of probation for DUI Manslaughter. Four years are to be served as a mandatory minimum sentence.
William Shoffner, a 21-year- old college student from Arkansas, traveled to Perdido Beach for spring break. On March 20th, 2016, while operating a 2015 Honda Civic, Shoffner caused a head-on collision on the Theo Baars Bridge between Pensacola and Perdido Key by drifting into the opposite lane. The driver of the vehicle Shoffner struck died on scene. William Shoffner received grave injuries in the crash. Shoffner had a blood alcohol level of .177 g/100 mL, more than twice the legal limit.
William Shoffner accepted responsibility by pleading to the charge of DUI Manslaughter.
Shoffner’s defense attorney, Gregory Whibbs, argued Shoffner was a young man who had no prior record, no prior history of driving under the influence, or any risk of reoffending due to the severe consequences of the crash. William Shoffner will endure compromised health for the rest of his life. During the hearing, William Shoffner offered a tearful apology to the widowed spouse and family of the deceased victim.
Shackelford, in balancing the mitigating circumstances of William Shoffner’s offense with the loss of life resulting from his actions, sentenced him to seven years in prison and five years of probation as punishment for the crime. Shackelford said that these consequences for driving under the influence should serve as a warning to the community.
Miracle League Holds Annual Turkey Fry
November 23, 2017
The Miracle League of Pensacola held their annual turkey fry fundraiser Wednesday at their park on East Nine Mile Road.
Volunteers with the Miracle League spent their day frying turkeys for a minimum donation, with all of the proceeds going to benefit the Miracle League.
The Miracle League provides physically and mentally challenged children a safe and spirited program in which they can hit, run, and catch on a baseball field – just like other kids. MLP offers a unique and memorable opportunity these children would not otherwise have. It is a place where every player plays, every player hits, every player gets on base, every player scores, and every player wins – every inning.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Jail Staff Delivers Thanksgiving Food For Families In Need
November 23, 2017
After hearing about empty shelves at a local food bank, Escambia County Jail staff members collected Thanksgiving turkeys and other food items for families in need, delivering the items Wednesday to the Epps Christian Center.
Jail staff collected nine boxes of food and seven turkeys for the center, which will be distributed to local homeless and families in need.
Escambia County Jail Lt. Jason Walker, who helped coordinate the food drive along with other jail command staff, said he’s glad to be able to help people in the community this Thanksgiving.
“We wanted to let the community know that the staff working inside the Escambia County Jail care about their fellow man,” Walker said. “We are a diverse group of employees here, and we care about the community as a whole. Seeing that there was a need close by, we wanted to assist with that need.”
Epps Christian Center’s food pantry gives out hundreds of pounds of food each month to the poor and homeless, along with offering free Thanksgiving and Christmas meals annually.
“The staff at the jail did a great job organizing the food drive,” Escambia County Corrections Director Tammy Jarvis said. “The holiday season is an especially difficult time for those in need, and it meant a lot to the staff at the jail to help make the holiday more enjoyable by donating food items to the Epps Christian Center.”
Gas Prices Down Slightly For The Thanksgiving Travel Weekend
November 23, 2017
About 2.3 million Floridians are expected to hit the road during the Thanksgiving holiday period, and gas prices are on the decline.
After holding steady for nine days, the national gas price average is slowly declining at the start of the Thanksgiving week. At $2.54, today’s national gas price average is two cents less than one week ago and 40 cents more than a year ago. However, the more expensive year-over-year pump price is not stopping Americans from hitting the road for holiday travel.
“Nearly 46 million Americans will travel more than 50 miles away from their home by car this holiday. Many will be thankful to see gas prices trending cheaper in cities across the country,” said Jeanette Casselano, AAA spokesperson. “Since 2014, the national gas price average has dropped one to five cents heading into the Thanksgiving week.”
Three months following Hurricane Harvey, gas prices in the South and Southeast are again among the cheapest in the country; Florida saw prices decrease four cents with a gallon of regular unleaded averaging $2.47. That’s still significantly higher than a year ago at $2.09.
In Escambia County, the average price gallon was $2.38 on Wednesday, down from $2.45 a week ago.
Pictured: Regular unleaded gas was $2.47 per gallon Wednesday afternoon on Highway 29 in Century. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
FHP Reminds Travelers To Buckle Up, Slow Down This Thanksgiving Weekend
November 23, 2017
The Thanksgiving holiday is a peak travel period for families nationwide. The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) wants all motorists to Arrive Alive this holiday weekend and is reminding motorists to buckle up before they hit the road. During the 2016 Thanksgiving holiday period, law enforcement agencies statewide worked more than 10,000 crashes. Although only two percent of people involved in crashes during the Thanksgiving holiday were not wearing their seat belts, over 30 percent of those that died in those crashes were not wearing a seat belt.
Thanksgiving produces a high volume of motor vehicle traffic and the FHP will increase its presence from November 22 through 26. All sworn FHP personnel, including Auxiliary and Reserve troopers, will patrol Florida’s high volume roadways during the five-day period.
“The Florida Highway Patrol remains committed to keeping Florida’s highways safe and ensuring motorists and their families Arrive Alive this holiday season,” said Colonel Gene S. Spaulding, Director of the Florida Highway Patrol. “It’s imperative to buckle all seatbelts, get plenty of rest before a long trip and allow sufficient time to reach your destination.”
DHSMV wishes everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving and reminds motorists to obey all speed limits and adjust speed accordingly as traffic congestion and weather conditions may require driving more slowly. Motorists should always keep their eyes on the road, hands on the wheel and mind on driving.
The public is encouraged to report impaired or aggressive drivers by dialing *FHP (*347). Also, remember to check traffic conditions before leaving for a trip and allow sufficient time to arrive at your destination safely. For real time traffic conditions and additional travel information, visit: www.flhsmv.gov/fhp/traffic.
Deputies Seeking Child Sexual Abuse Suspect
November 23, 2017
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office is searching for Bradley Wayne Stoner on charges of lewd and lascivious behavior on a victim 12-16 years old. He is 21-year old white male, about 5-foot 8-inches tall and 175 pounds. Anyone with information on his whereabouts should call Santa Rosa Crime Stoppers at (850) 437-STOP. Call are anonymous and information that leads to his arrest could earn up to $3,000.
Tips To Avoid Black Friday, Cyber Monday Scams
November 23, 2017
In advance of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam H. Putnam is providing tips to help consumers avoid scams.
Keep the following tips in mind while shopping on Black Friday:
- Some retailers may inflate prices ahead of Black Friday to create the illusion of a drastic price cut. Research the regular retail price of items to check how much will actually be saved.
- Price matching policies may be suspended by some retailers between Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
- Be wary of unexpected emails that claim to contain coupons with significant discounts and ask for personal information. Don’t click on any suspicious links. These may contain malware to compromise your identity.
- Read the fine print at the bottom of sales ads, as sales may be limited to certain time periods, brands or quantities.
Below are precautions to take on Cyber Monday:
- Avoid websites with odd or incorrect spellings of legitimate companies. Domain names that include hyphens are often red flags.
- Beware of bogus websites promising unbelievable deals. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
- Be wary of “delivery failure” or “order confirmation” emails for items you did not order. These may be used to gain a consumer’s personal information.
- Use a credit card for online orders. It is easier to dispute and mediate fraudulent charges with a credit card than a debit card.
- Use strong passwords for credit cards and bank accounts.
Consumers who believe fraud has taken place can contact the department’s consumer protection and information hotline at 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352) or, for Spanish speakers, 1-800-FL-AYUDA (352-9832).
William Harold Allen
November 23, 2017
William Harold Allen, age 72, passed away at his home in Atmore, Alabama on November 20, 2017, surrounded by his loved ones, after a long battle with cancer.
He was born on March 2, 1945 to Grady C (Doc) Allen and Gladys E (Woods) Allen in Atmore, Alabama. He was a lifelong resident of Atmore, Alabama and in 1972 opened a small mobile home dealership on the north side of town. He expanded this to include 4 different locations in South Alabama. Harold Allen Mobile Homes became a household name and chances are if you or someone you knew lived in a manufactured home, it probably was purchased on one of his lots. He was always proud of his business and the hard work put forth by his employees. In 1996, he sold almost 800 houses and employed more than 30 people. His children followed in his footsteps and all entered the manufactured home industry. He was a pillar of the community and was constantly helping those in need. His family was always his top priority and he loved spending time with them. He was an animal lover till the end and loved having his “fur babies” close by.
He is survived by his loving wife of twenty years, Janet Katherine (Styron) Allen, two sons William Marcus Allen (Amalia) of Knoxville, TN, Ethan Harold Allen (Paula) of Atmore, Alabama, one daughter Victoria Ann Allen Black (Josh) of Atmore, Alabama, two step-sons, Brandon Sells (Melissa) Atmore, Alabama, Jacob Sells of Atmore, Alabama, one step-daughter, Janet Welch of Atmore, Alabama, three half-sisters, Marie James of Mobile, Alabama, Louise Harrell of Mobile, Alabama, Linda Wingyard of Jackson, Alabama, two half-brothers, Steve Petrantis of Mobile, Alabama, Mike Burns of Mobile, Alabama, 22 grand- children, 13 great grand- children, a large extended family and countless friends.
The wake will be Friday, November 24, 2017 from 5:00 till 8:00 at Johnson- Quimby funeral home, with family visitation beginning at 4:00 p.m. Funeral service will be Saturday, November 25, 2017 at 11:00 am at Johnson-Quimby Funeral home with burial immediately following at Mothershed Cemetery.
All family and friends are urged to attend.
**And remember friends, Harold Allen knew mobile homes and you knew Harold Allen
Cop Impersonator Also Charged With Sexual Battery
November 22, 2017
An accused cop impersonator has also been charged with sexual battery.
Martin Goodman was booked into the Escambia County Jail for impersonating a law enforcement officer,. false imprisonment, kidnapping and sexual battery. He remains in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $450,000.
Authorities said on November 21, Goodman flashed a badge and tried to pull a person over on Highway 90 in Santa Rosa County, but the victim kept driving.
The victim said Goodman used a siren and that a light was visible on the dash of Goodman’s SUV. The victim called 9-1-1 and pulled in to the Winn-Dixie parking lot on Creighton Road. The victim assumed Goodman was law enforcement, but called dispatch to confirm.
Goodman then pulled his car in front of the victims and flashed his badge once more and began arguing, then left the parking lot. ECSO deputies arrived and were able to get a description of Goodman and his vehicle. Using that description Pensacola Police officers were able to stop Goodman in his vehicle.
Inside the Goodman’s vehicle, ECSO deputies found a security badge and light on the dash. Goodman was arrested.
During the investigation Escambia Sheriff’s Office investigators determined Goodman was responsible for a sexual battery that occurred on May 18th. In that incident Goodman also pretended to be a law enforcement officer and pulled the victim over in the area of Amber Street and North Davis Highway.
ECSO investigators believe there might be other victims. If you’ve had any encounters with Goodman call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.