Blue Jacket Jamboree And Livestock Show Are Saturday
March 23, 2018
The Northview High School FFA Blue Jacket Jamboree is Saturday in Molino, along with the Gulf Coast Agriculture & Natural Resources Youth Organization Annual Spring Livestock Show.
The Blue Jacket Jamboree is a free festival from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. that will feature over 30 vendors — including clothing, essential oils, Scentsy, baked goods, peanuts, birdhouses, cedar furniture, Mary Kay, Thirty-One, honey, Tupperware, pork rinds, kettle corn, funnel cakes, lemonade and much more.
There will be an Easter Egg drop at 11 a.m. with the Easter Bunny and Kazoo from the Blue Wahoos and over 2,500 eggs including a special section for preschoolers. There event will also have bounce houses, a blood drive, cow train, car show and LifeFlight is scheduled to be there.
Live entertainment will include Molino’s very own Southern Revival band.
This year’s livestock show begins at 8 a.m. with over 100 4-H and FFA youth exhibiting hogs, beef cattle, sheep, goats, poultry, and rabbits from Escambia and neighboring counties. The day will conclude with youth exhibitors auctioning off their market animals beginning at 5 p.m.
Admission and parking are free for both the Blue Jacket Jamboree and livestock show at the Escambia 4-H Livestock Facility located at 5701 Highway 99 in Molino.
The Blue Jacket Jamboree is sponsored in part by NorthEscambia.com
Pictured top and bottom: Last year’s Blue Jacket Jamboree .NorthEscambia.com file photos.
Tate Tennis Teams Earn District Wins
March 23, 2018
The Tate High School tennis teams defeated Escambia High School and Pine Forest last week, and Thursday they defeated Washington High School. The Tate tennis boys are now 8-2, and the girls are 9-1 in district play. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Jeff Sessions, Speaking In Florida, Talks Opioid Fight
March 23, 2018
TALLAHASSEE — Two days after instructing federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty in drug-related cases, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions came to Tallahassee on Thursday to promote President Donald Trump’s plan to combat the deadly opioid epidemic.
Sessions, addressing dozens of law enforcement officials, defended Trump’s controversial death-penalty position, which has sparked pushback from Democrats and others who accuse the president of targeting minorities in a newly resurrected war on drugs.
“We will not hesitate to pursue maximum sentences allowed by law, and if appropriate, the death penalty. Our message should be clear. Business as usual is over,” Sessions, a former U.S. senator from Alabama, said during Thursday’s 30-minute speech inside the federal courthouse. “Plain and simple, drug traffickers show no respect for human dignity. They put their greed ahead of the safety and even the lives of others, knowing people will be dying as a result of their products.”
The president’s “Initiative to Stop Opioid Abuse,” released Monday, addresses issues such as over-prescription, illegal drug supplies, and access to recovery and support services, such as medication-assisted treatment.
Sessions announced Thursday that the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is sending 250 task force officers, and dozens of analysts, to places in the nation “where the opioid crisis is at its worst.”
The task forces will focus on drug traffickers and medical professionals who “are fueling the opioid crisis,” Sessions said.
“Drug trafficking leads directly to addiction. Addiction leads to death around our country. It’s also an inherently violent and deadly business,” he said.
The president’s plan also includes a national campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of prescription and street drugs, as well as support for research to develop a vaccine to prevent opioid addiction.
The same day Trump announced his proposal, Gov, Rick Scott signed into law a sweeping measure aimed at keeping patients from getting hooked on powerful prescription drugs and then turning to even deadlier street drugs like heroin and fentanyl. The $65 million package, nearly half of which comes from federal funds, includes a controversial provision that places limits on prescriptions that doctors can write for treatment of acute pain.
Doctors in many cases would be limited to writing prescriptions for three-day supplies, though they could prescribe up to seven-day supplies of controlled substances if “medically necessary.” Cancer patients, people who are terminally ill, palliative care patients and those who suffer from major trauma would be exempt from the limits.
Neither Scott nor Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, who has led efforts to combat opioid addiction, were present for Sessions’ speech, the second recent opioid-focused talk the U.S. attorney general has delivered in Florida.
Speaking in Tampa last month, Session created headlines when he said patients in pain “need to take aspirin sometimes” rather than addictive opioids.
Sessions’ Tallahassee appearance came on the same day Kellyanne Conway, a Trump administration official who oversees the White House’s efforts to combat the opioid crisis, advised a group of college students to “eat the ice cream, have the French fry, don’t buy the street drug,” according to a report in The Hill.
In Tallahassee, Sessions — who recently created a task force to look into bringing lawsuits against opioid manufacturers and distributors — avoided the mention of aspirin, but he reiterated that doctors are over-prescribing pain medications.
Sessions also said he has assigned a dozen federal prosecutors to “opioid hot-spots” — including the Middle District of Florida — to focus on investigating and prosecuting opioid-related health care fraud.
But Democrats blasted the Trump administration’s approach to the opioid epidemic, accusing the president of targeting minorities in a revamped war on drugs.
“Trump’s plan to deal with the opioid crisis is more of the same — a lot of talk and no action — furthermore he is proposing outrageous, dictatorship-style sentences like capital punishment for drug offenders,” state Rep. Shevrin Jones, D-West Park, said in a statement. “Jeff Sessions continues to carry Trump’s policies and message — which target communities of color and offers no meaningful action and too few funding sources for prevention.”
Sessions, meanwhile praised Trump for making it a priority to “defeat the scourge of drugs.”
In a lighter moment Thursday, Sessions, part of an administration where several high-ranking officials have recently been shown the door, alluded to the vagaries of life in the nation’s Capitol.
“It’s great to be here. A little better climate — I’m talking about weather and politics — than Washington, D.C.,” Sessions joked. “It’s a rough bunch up there. I don’t even have a dog. At least you should have a dog in that forsaken place.”
Sessions’ visit came less than a day after Congress approved a $1.3 trillion spending package that includes $3.3 billion for mental-health and substance-abuse treatment and services.
The attorney general said Trump is seeking an additional $6 billion next year, and another $6 billion the following year, to combat what he characterized as the nation’s “deadliest drug crisis ever.”
Drug overdoses are now the leading cause of death for Americans under age 50, Sessions said. In 2016, 64,000 Americans died from drug-related causes, an increase from 52,000 the prior year and the equivalent of the city of Daytona Beach, according to Sessions. And deaths in 2017 are expected to climb even higher, he predicted.
“We need to reverse that trend,” Sessions said.
The data is Florida is just as grim. A report from Florida’s medical examiners released in November showed dramatic increases in all types of drug-related deaths, including a 97 percent increase in deaths caused by the synthetic opioid fentanyl.
The number of opioid-related deaths — 5,725 in 2016 — grew by 35 percent. Opioids were either the cause of death or were present in the people who died, according to the report.
Even more troubling, medical examiners reported that deaths related to all kinds of drugs — prescription drugs, such as oxycodone, and street drugs, like heroin and cocaine — and alcohol were on the rise.
And, doctors and experts say, the numbers of drug-related deaths are more dire than the data in the report reflects.
“These are not just numbers. They are moms and dads, brothers and sisters, daughters, spouses, friends and neighbors. It’s just a very sad thing. More and more people are being touched by this disaster,” Sessions said.
by Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida
Fire Damages Chiropractic Office
March 23, 2018
Fire damaged a business in Pensacola Thursday. The started about 5:15 p.m. at Chiropractic Solutions of Pensacola on East Burgess Road. The fire was quickly brought under control. There were no injuries reported. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Willie Adams Zika Brothers
March 23, 2018
Mrs. Willie Adams Zika Brothers, age 89, passed away on Tuesday, March 20, 2018, in Century, Florida.
Mrs. Brothers was a native of Bay Minette, AL, former resident of Christian Home, FL (60 years) and resided in Bay Minette, AL for the past few years. She was a caregiver for sick and elderly people. She was a member of the Christian Home Freewill Baptist Church. She is preceded in death by her husbands, Frank Zika and Grady Brothers.
She is survived by her sister, Vera Mae Rice of Flomaton, AL; sister-in-law, Doris Adams of McDavid, FL; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, March 21, 2018, at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Grant Dykes officiating.
Burial was at the Christian Home Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Robbie Thompson, Zack Thompson, Johnie Poesl, Nick Thompson, Vince Thompson and Regan Thompson.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Wanted Cantonment Man Arrested Day After High Speed Pursuit; Speeds Topped 100 MPH
March 22, 2018
Deputies have arrested a man they say led them on a high speed chase through North Escambia Monday night, reaching speeds of up to 110 mph.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office received a tip that Marcelo Adrian Reyes was on his way to his girlfriend’s house in the 1500 block of Lake Drive in Cantonment. They responded to serve five felony burglary related warrants.
About 10:19 p.m., deputies spotted Reyes arriving in a gold Toyota Camry, but he saw them, making a u-turn and fleeing. On the way, he allegedly hit a deputy’s vehicle “in what appeared to be an intentional attempt to incapacitate ” it, according to an arrest report. The deputy reported that Reyes intentionally aimed for his patrol vehicle. Damage to the vehicle was minor, and the deputy was not injured.
Another deputy initiated a vehicle pursuit with lights and sirens activated, but Reyes “made no attempt to slow down or stop,” the report states. “Reyes drove at speeds between 90-110 mph and drove in such a way that demonstrated a wanton disregard to a person or property.”
Local residents told NorthEscambia.com that the pursuit continued into Molino, traveling along Highway 95A. The Sheriff’s Office said the pursuit was canceled with the vehicle last seen traveling north on Highway 29. But the arrest report does not specify where the pursuit was called off.
The following day, Reyes called the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and said he would be on his knees in the parking lot of the Hardee’s at 2500 Wilde Lake Boulevard. He was placed under arrest without incident.
Reyes was arrested on two counts of criminal mischief property damage, burglary of an unoccupied dwelling, burglary of an unoccupied conveyance and grand theft — all felony charges. The warrant stemmed from an early March incident on Thoroughbred Road in Beulah.
Reyes was headed to his boss’s house in order to pickup up his check, but his gold Camry overheated and parked in the parking lot of the Tom Thumb at the corner of Nine Mile Road and Beulah Road before walking to the house, a witness said.
He then allegedly broke into his boss’s home in an unsuccessful attempt to find a five gallon bucket of quarters While there allegedly entered a garage, rummaged through a 1963 Volkswagon camper van, causing $4,000 in damage to the custom interior and stole items from a saddlebag attached to a Harley motorcycle. He also allegedly entered the home by breaking the lock on an exterior door and damaged newly refinished kitchen cabinets.
Reyes remained in the Escambia County Jail Thursday morning with bond set at $155,000.
Nice Day, Cool Night; Warmer For The Weekend
March 22, 2018
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 67. Light north wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 43. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 71. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 53. South wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 76. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 80. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. South wind around 5 mph becoming east after midnight.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74.
Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57.
Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74.
Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59.
Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 78.
Flomaton Man Enters Plea In 2016 State Line Shooting
March 22, 2018
An Atmore man has pleaded guilty to manslaughter for an April 2016 shooting death in Flomaton.
Devonte DeShawn Rollins faces up to 20 years in state prison for the shooting death of 18-year old Kenneth Harris, Jr. at a home on Lender Street, an area directly on the Alabama-Florida state line off Alley 5 in Century.
Rollins shot Harris one time in the back of his head; he was pronounced deceased at the scene by Escambia County EMS. Officers from the Flomaton Police Department and the Escambia County (FL) Sheriff’s Office responded to the initial call, with the the Flomaton Police Department taking the lead role in the investigation.
NorthEscambia.com was the only media present as agents from the FBI, U.S. Marshals, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and the Flomaton Police Department executed a search warrant at a home and removed evidence from the home shortly after the shooting. Rollins was charged three days later.
Pictured top: Devonte DeShawn Rollins was arrested in Atmore and transferred into the custody of the Flomaton Police Department. Pictured below: A Flomaton Police officer (right) and a FBI agent removed evidence from a home on Lender Street in Flomaton in April 2016. Pictured below: A U.S. Marshal watches over the scene where a search warrant was executed Friday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
‘Golden Cow Dung Award’ Presented To Ernest Ward Media Specialist During FFA Breakfast
March 22, 2018
Ernest Ward Middle School media specialist Sherri Stallworth received the tenth annual “Golden Cow Dung Award” from members of the Ernest Ward FFA Wednesday. The award presented during a FFA appreciation breakfast features a large piece of cow dung, painted a golden color and mounted on a board painted in school colors.
Stallworth received the award from the school’s FFA members as a “thank you” for supporting FFA. This is National Agriculture Week.
(Cow dung, in case you did not know, is what you are probably thinking it is. It’s that natural byproduct that cows drop in the field. The award is 100 percent real dung spray painted a golden color. The golden piece presented Thursday is actually the first award piece created and painted nine years ago.)
Pictured: Ernest Ward Middle School FFA Golden Cow Dung Award presentation to Sherri Stallworth Wednesday morning Also pictured: EWMS FFA Appreciation Breakfast. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
FWC Law Enforcement Report
March 22, 2018
FWC Law Enforcement Report
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the weekly period ending March 8 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officer McHenry completed his investigation on a derelict vessel located in the Santa Rosa Sound. The owner of the vessel claimed he sold it, but did not have a bill of sale or proof of transferred title. Officer Allgood issued the subject a notice to appear citation for the derelict vessel. Citations were also issued for improper lighting and expired registration.
Officer Pettey issued a notice to appear citation to an individual for turkey hunting in a closed season in McDavid. The individual was discovered turkey hunting by a hunting club member who relayed the information. After an interview, the subject admitted to hunting turkey out of season. Charges were filed with the State Attorney’s Office for attempting to take turkey out of season.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officer Hutchinson was patrolling in Blackwater State Forest when he observed a campsite where a man and woman were packing up. As he pulled up, the man threw items under a log. A quick look revealed drug paraphernalia. A closer look revealed numerous items of drug paraphernalia and several containers with cocaine in various forms. The subjects were also in possession of methamphetamine. The woman admitted to making crack cocaine in the campsite and smoking methamphetamine. Both subjects were charged with manufacturing crack cocaine, possession of methamphetamine, and possession of drug paraphernalia and booked in the Santa Rosa County Jail.
Lieutenant Hahr was patrolling in Blackwater State Forest when he observed a campsite where some of the people were drinking alcoholic beverages. As he approached them, the five subjects passed around a cannabis pipe and each of them smoked from it. Lieutenant Hahr identified himself and seized the pipe, a bag of cannabis, and numerous items of drug paraphernalia. All five subjects were charged with possession of not more than 20 grams of cannabis and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Officers Ramos, Lugg, Wilkerson, Clark, Long, Cushing and Land participated in targeted enforcement of pompano regulations along Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Escambia County beaches. The officers checked more than 200 anglers in a two-week span resulting in 5 citations and 12 warnings for various violations.
O
fficer Ramos was patrolling the Santa Rosa Sound and observed a vessel operating in the Quietwater Beach area. A routine boating safety inspection was conducted and the operator could not produce two required safety items or the required registration. He stated he bought the boat two years ago but could not produce a bill of sale or any type of registration. Officer Ramos followed the vessel to a nearby boat ramp where the operator recovered the vessel from the water. The truck used to pull the boat did not have a registration tag on it nor the vessel trailer. After a thorough investigation, the operator was deemed to have purchased the out-of-state vessel in 2013 and failed to transfer the title. The truck he was driving had an expired registration of 2016. The owner was issued a criminal citation for failing to record an out of state vessel, a traffic citation for expired vehicle registration greater than 6 months, a boating citation for failing to carry required safety equipment, as well as multiple warnings for other violations.
Officer Ramos observed two men return from a fishing trip and followed them to a local boat ramp. The vessel was pushing a wake in an idle speed zone until they saw the officer approach. After a boating safety inspection, Officer Ramos asked if the men had caught any fish. The men showed him ten gray snapper and several unregulated fish in a cooler. Upon measuring the snapper, seven of the ten were undersized. The captain of the vessel admitted he should have measured the fish and took responsibility for the seven undersized fish. The fish were seized and the man was cited for the undersized fish and issued a warning for violating the idle speed zone.
This report represents some events the FWC handled over the past week; however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement. Information provided by FWC.
NorthEscambia.com photo.