Grass Fire Burns Within Inches Of Cantonment Home
February 9, 2018
A grass fire burned within inches of a Cantonment home Thursday afternoon. The Cantonment and Ensley stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the fire in the 200 block of Madrid Road about 4:55 p.m. The cause of the fire was not known. There were no injuries. Photos by Kristi Barbour for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bingo Hall Operators Convicted Of Fleecing Charities
February 9, 2018
After an eight-day jury trial, Larry L. Masino, 67, of Gulf Breeze, and Dixie L. Masino, 65, of Pensacola, were convicted late yesterday in the U.S. District Court in Pensacola of wire fraud conspiracy, operating an illegal gambling business, and money laundering conspiracy. In addition, Larry L. Masino was convicted of 18 counts of money laundering, and Dixie L. Masino was convicted of 20 counts of money laundering.
Larry and Dixie Masino owned and operated Racetrack Bingo Inc. in Fort Walton Beach, which purported to conduct bingo games and provide the proceeds to a group of local charities in Okaloosa County. Between 2006 and 2015, the Masinos conspired to defraud the charities out of more than $8 million dollars. The Masinos specifically falsely assured the charities they were complying with provisions of the Florida statute. In fact, the Masinos were unlawfully paying themselves and their employees to conduct bingo games and were charging the charities a lease fee based on inflated expenses. Racetrack Bingo was an illegal gambling business because it was conducting bingo games and unlawfully retaining profit, rather than returning the net proceeds of the bingo games back to the players in the form of prizes. The Masinos conspired to launder more than $5.8 million of the bingo proceeds through profit distribution checks that the Masinos and their three children received as shareholders of Racetrack Bingo.
For the wire fraud conspiracy, the Masinos face a maximum of 20 years in prison. For the money laundering conspiracy and money laundering charges, the Masinos face a maximum of 10 years in prison. For operating an illegal gambling business, they face a maximum of 5 years in prison. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 25.
State Attorney: Deputies Justified In Shooting Suspect In The Buttocks
February 9, 2018
The State Attorney’s Office has ruled that two Escambia County deputies were justified in shooting a man in the buttocks after he opened fire on them.
The shooing occurred during the early morning hours of November 24, 2017, at a home on Holly Street approximately one block south of Nine Mile Road. Deputies Scott Rappa, Brant Kessinger, Eric Alvarez, and Larry Richardson responded to that address based upon an anonymous tip that a fugitive with outstanding warrants, Brittany Knapp, had just been dropped off at that location.
The uniformed deputies received permission from the lawful tenant to search the property. While searching a storage building attached to the rear of the home, Richardson and Rappa came in contact with Russell Enfinger and Kristen Allen. Allen obeyed the deputies’ directions and went outside to talk to Deputy Alvarez. After a brief discussion with the deputies, Enfinger stated ”I’m not going.” Enfinger then produced a firearm and pointed it at the deputies.
The deputies yelled “gun” and attempted to exit the storage building. The storage building, as well as the surrounding yard, was crowded with furniture, equipment, and miscellaneous other items. As Richardson and Rappa retreated from the storage building to a point of safety, they tripped and fell to the ground. Enfinger then exited the storage building and fired multiple times at the deputies.
Alvarez returned fire. Richardson moved to a wooded alleyway north of the residence where he saw Enfinger jump a fence into the alleyway. Richardson ordered Enfinger to drop his weapon. At this point, Enfinger turned and fired towards Richardson.
Richardson returned fire until Enfinger climbed over a second fence heading west. Additional deputies arrived on scene to assist and search the area. Enfinger was located a short distance away laying in a retention area behind a Taco Bell. Enfinger had been shot once in the buttocks. A firearm was located on the ground next to his leg.
Enfinger was taken into custody without further incident. First aid was provided and he was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Enfinger is awaiting trial on three counts of attempted first degree murder.
Pictured: The scene at a Taco Bell on Nine Mile Road following deputy involved shooting last November. File photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate’s Grissom Signs Division I Soccer Scholarship
February 9, 2018
Tate High School’s Emma Grissom signed a Division I soccer scholarship with Florida Atlantic University on National Signing Day. She scored almost 100 goals during her career at Tate, and has been a leader on her Gulf Coast Texans travel team for eight years.
“Emma is an outstanding individual and asset to any team. Her work ethic and versatility will ensure she makes a smooth transition to the college game,” her Texans coach, David Kemp, said.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Clouds Move In, Wet Weekend On Tap
February 9, 2018
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after noon. Cloudy, with a high near 65. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after midnight. Patchy fog after 9pm. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low around 59. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: A chance of showers before 9am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 9am and noon, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after noon. Patchy fog before 8am. High near 71. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Saturday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Patchy fog after 9pm. Low around 63. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Sunday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Patchy fog before 8am. High near 72. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Sunday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 57. Southeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Monday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 71. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Monday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a low around 61. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Tuesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61.
Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 75.
Escambia Sheriff’s Office Presents Awards, Promotes Deputies
February 9, 2018
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office presented multiple awards Thursday afternoon and promoted several officers.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Life Saving Awards: Senior Deputy T. Hernandez and Master Deputy M. Clark (not pictured), & Deputy L. Richardson
Medal of Courage: Deputy S. Housam, Deputy P. Roberts, Deputy K. Bull, Deputy J. Zabelle.
Civilian Service Medal: Dylan Smith (not pictured), Zachary Caudill (not pictured)
Purple Heart Award and Law Enforcement Officer of the 3rd Qtr: Deputy T. Young
Law Enforcement Employee of the 3rd Qtr: Kelley Brown
Law Enforcement Employee of the 4th Qtr: Arielle Barroga
Law Enforcement Officer of the 4th Qtr: Deputy J. Timo
Law Enforcement Employee of the Year Medal: Kelley Brown
Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Medal: Deputy T. Young
Promotions: C. Dickin to Lieutenant, B. Barnhill to Lieutenant, B. Munhollon to Sergeant, R. Reguindin to Sergeant, M. Lee, II to Sergeant, J. Holloway to Sergeant and M. Roe to Sergeant.
Letters of Commendation” Deputy P. Gallion, K. Brown, B. McNair, P. Bell, K. Jones, J. Ramano, J. Weaver, C. Kunert, and T. Kafka. Sgt. M. Dewees, Sgt. B. Price, Sgt. S. Mashburn, Sr. Deputy W. Shiver, Sr. Deputy J. Kelley, Sr. Deputy J. Taylor, Deputy 1st Class S. Vestal, Sr. Deputy D. Bashore, Deputy 1st Class J. Gilman, Master Deputy E. Jackson, Deputy D. Griffin, Deputy E. Anderson, Deputy 1st Class B. Ates, Deputy 1st Class C. Daniel, Deputy D. Shaw, Deputy 1st Class T. Brewton, Deputy J. Beard, Deputy K. Haver, Deputy J. Bandurski, Deputy J.Tungol, Deputy C. Bowling, Deputy R. Busbee, Deputy K. Haddocks, Deputy D. Ramires.
Submitted by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Producers Attend Farm Day 2018
February 9, 2018
Farm Day 2018 was held Thursday at Grace Fellowship in Atmore with producers from Alabama and Florida.
The event was sponsored by the Extension Services in Escambia County, AL, and Escambia County, FL. The event featured a cropping systems specialist and an entomology specialist from the University of Florida WFREC, a peanut breeder from UF/IFAS NFREC Marianna and Josh McElhaney, NRCS Escambia County (FL) District Conservationist.
Pictured top: Dr. Silvana Moraes, entomology specialist, University of Florida WFREC, assists a local farmer with an entomology project Thursday during Farm Day 2018 at Grace Fellowship in Atmore. Pictured inset: Dr. Barry Tillman, Peanut Breeder, UF IFAS NFREC Marianna, discusses pest management and peanut varieties. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Drilling Foes And Supporters Say Florida Still In Play
February 9, 2018
Supporters and opponents of oil drilling closer to Florida’s shoreline refused Thursday to accept U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke’s declaration that the state wouldn’t be part of a White House plan to expand exploration.
The federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management held the only Florida open house on a proposed five-year program to open more waters to oil and gas exploration. But participants in competing press conferences doors away at a Tallahassee hotel agreed on one thing: Zinke’s stance on a Florida exemption isn’t final.
“Why are the environmentalists here? Why are they raising hell about this issue if no means no? It’s because, you know what, no is never no,” said Barney Bishop, a Tallahassee consultant and offshore drilling proponent. “You all don’t know about the discussions that are being held in private. No, publicly, can mean a whole lot of things in private.”
Zinke flew to Tallahassee International Airport on Jan. 9 and, after a brief meeting with Gov. Rick Scott, announced that Florida waters were removed from plans to open previously protected parts of the Atlantic Ocean and the eastern Gulf of Mexico to offshore oil and gas drilling.
The announcement, hailed by Scott and environmentalists, has drawn questions about whether the quick decision was made to further Scott’s political career. Meanwhile, governors in some other coastal state have made their own inquiries about getting exemptions from the White House plan.
Opponents of the plan on Thursday held a “people’s hearing” to gather public comments they will submit to the federal bureau.
Ian MacDonald, a Florida State University professor of oceanography, argued that a potential future spill — similar to the deadly 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster — would impact the physical well-being of Floridians.
“We received countless calls from state agencies and the federal government … asking for information which in many cases we didn’t have,” MacDonald said. “How many fish are there? How will they be impacted? How will coral be affected by this? These were all questions we didn’t know the answer to. Well, we still don’t have enough answers. And we still don’t have enough regulations.”
And Jerry DiFabrizio, a tile distributor from Tampa, said the threat of oil rigs appearing on the horizon could impact the quality of life in Florida by hindering property values.
“Whenever it’s announced that there is drilling off the coast, revenue for the state that helps the state provide good things is reduced,” DiFabrizio said. “We don’t want to just put condos wall to wall. We need the beaches to be preserved. We need the beaches to be maintained, conserved and restored.”
While Thursday’s event at the Four Points by Sheraton Tallahassee Downtown hotel allowed people to see videos and papers and interact with bureau officials, before leaving comments, the “people’s hearing” provided a chance for people to vent their concerns with an audience.
A short-time earlier, proponents of oil exploration called for Florida’s waters to remain in the program.
Kevin Doyle, executive director of the Consumer Energy Alliance, which advocates “in support of affordable, reliable energy,” said exploration would enable the United States to be energy-dominant with the rest of the world.
“I think the original plan that was proposed is something that is a good starting point in this process,” Doyle said. “To import energy from areas that don’t like us as much, like Venezuela and other places such as that, if we can do that here in the United States, it’s a great thing for small businesses, for families and for consumers.”
The hearing, one of 22 being held through March 8 across the country, is the only one in Florida. Most are being held in state capitals.
A draft report is expected by the end of the year, which will be followed with another round of public hearings.
Renee Orr, the bureau’s chief of strategic resources, said the open house format allows more interaction than lining people up at a podium.
“We’re going to look at the comments we receive as a result of all of these public hearings and all of the information that is submitted,” Orr said. “We are going to look at all of the eight factors and provide that information to the secretary. Ultimately, he will make that balancing decision.”
Prior to the hearing, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection submitted its opposition to the proposal.
Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Noah Valenstein said in a letter that Florida’s coastal areas have “high environmental, economic and military value not only for Florida, but also for the nation.”
Valenstein also noted the comment by Zinke to Scott that Florida was off the table.
“As we have seen in the past, oil spills can have a devastating impact to Florida’s economy and our diverse natural resources,” Valenstein wrote.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Naureen Anne Hubbard Lockridge
February 9, 2018
Naureen Anne Hubbard Lockridge died at home after a prolonged illness on February 8, 2018, in Cantonment, Florida at the age of 88. She was born on July 19, 1929, in Rosiere, New York to Freeman and Elsie Hubbard.
She graduated from Cape Vincent Central High School in 1946. She married Reginald Lockridge on September 8, 1951. They moved to the Pensacola area in 1954. Her husband, children and everyone who knew her remembers her as a loving wife and as a mother who loved and encouraged her children to pursue their goals. She taught by example; her deep faith, love of family, and generous heart. Naureen was passionate about gardening and her volunteer activities, serving as a member of the St. Jude Church Altar Society and teaching children’s religion classes. She was a dedicated volunteer with the Mother Seton Guild at Sacred Heart Hospital where she delivered mail to the patients for 30 years.
Naureen is survived by her husband of 66 years, Reginald (Reg); children, Craig Lockridge (Jenny), Regina Ratliff (Kenny), Mark Lockridge, and Cheryl Pilling, all of Pensacola, Florida; her brother, John Hubbard (Majken) Chaumont of New York; grandchildren, Kaitlin and Caleb Lockridge, Victor and Kenneth Burke, Christopher Ratliff, Krista and Brandon Lockridg, Brian and Patrick Pilling, Stephanie Firth; and four great-grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her son, Kim Lockridge; her parents, Freeman and Elsie Hubbard; brothers, Glen, Paul, and Harry Hubbard; and her sister, Nina Schloop.
A rosary service was held at Faith Chapel North on Friday, February 9, 2018. A Mass of Christian Burial was held February 10, 2018, at St. Jude Catholic Church in Cantonment. Rev. George Thekku officiated the services.
Burial was at Spruell Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Caleb Lockridge, Christopher Ratliff, Kenneth Burke, Brandon Lockridge, Patrick Pilling, and Brian Pilling.
Honorary pallbearers were Victor Burke and Kenny Ratliff.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is entrusted with the arrangements.
Lewis Gaines Strawbridge
February 9, 2018
Lewis Gaines Strawbridge, 74 of Atmore, AL passed away Thursday, February 8, 2018, at his residence. He was part of his family business at Strawbridge Machine Shop. He was born in Atmore, AL on January 25, 1944, to the late Thomas Garland and Alice Estelle Millican Strawbridge.
He is preceded in death by his parents; grandson, Dylan Strawbridge; brothers, Thomas Priddy Strawbridge, James Edward Strawbridge, Sr. and Ronald Strawbridge; sisters, Mary Wadweema Guyton and Sylvia JoAnn Johnson.
Survivors include his wife of 53 years, Hazel Smith Strawbridge of Atmore, AL; two sons, Keith (Ashley) Strawbridge of Atmore, AL and Michael Strawbridge of Huxford, AL; one sister, Sue (Clarence) Roley of Bay Minette, AL; one brother, Ollie (Rachel) Strawbridge of Navarre, FL; grandchildren, Keely and Braylee Strawbridge.
Services were held Friday, February 9, 2018, at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Ollie Strawbridge and Johnny Guyton officiating.
Interment was in Oak Hill Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were David Strawbridge, Brandon Smith, Tommy Strawbridge, Johnny Guyton, Troy Baker and Brian Huskey.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.