Bratt Woman, 80, Falls Victim To Burglars’ Scam As Husband Showers
April 12, 2018
An 80-year old Bratt woman fell victim to the scam of burglars that stole her wedding rings while her husband, also 80, was in the shower.
The woman told deputies that an unknown Hispanic male dressed as a construction worker knocked at her front door. He stated that he was with a tree trimming company and they were doing work in the woods behind her home on North Highway 99 and needed her to show him where the property line was so they would not damage trees on her property.
She walked toward the back of the property with the man, but got an uneasy feeling as he tried to get her further away from the home. She told him to leave the property. She began to walk back to the house where she found a second Hispanic male standing in the driveway near her husband’s truck, also dressed in work attire type clothing. She told both of them to leave her property.
The two men were returning to their truck when a third Hispanic male ran out of the house and jumped in the truck. He was also dressed in work clothing.
She went inside to check on her husband , who was in the shower, and discovered jewelry missing — including her custom made wedding rings and an anniversary ring and other items worth several thousand dollars. Nothing else was reported missing.
The husband told deputies he was in the shower and heard someone in the house but thought it was his wife until he walked out of the bathroom and discovered a Hispanic male standing directly across from him in the bedroom doorway.
The suspect then immediately asked the location of all faucets in the house, saying there was “poison” in the water from a busted water line. The suspect turned on all the faucets in the bathroom. The husband, thinking something was actually wrong, followed the Hispanic male toward the kitchen. But he decided something did not feel right and headed back to his bedroom to retrieve his gun, He saw a second male standing next to a dresser near his wife’s purse. He yelled at them to leave and grabbed his gun as they ran out of the house.
One of the suspects was described as being heavier set with a mustache.
The truck was described as being a newer model that was silver in color. There was nothing identifiable on the truck such as a company name, logo or decals.
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office is also looking for the same, or a similar, truck involved a burglary involving two Hispanic male male suspects. The truck, pictured above, was seen in Pace in Milton.
Anyone with information should contact the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-620, Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP, the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 983-1190, or the Santa Rosa County Crime Stoppers Program at (850) 437-STOP.
Florida Judge Gives Green Light For Man To Grow His Own Marijuana
April 12, 2018
A Tallahassee judge Wednesday gave the OK to Tampa entrepreneur Joe Redner to grow his own pot to treat cancer, prompting state health officials to immediately appeal a decision that could open the door to more legal skirmishes over Florida’s medical-marijuana regulations.
Leon County Circuit Judge Karen Gievers ruled that the 77-year-old Redner — who made his fortune as a strip-club owner — can grow his own marijuana because state rules prohibit Florida medical-marijuana operators from selling whole plants or flowers.
Redner’s doctor ordered a juicing treatment that uses live marijuana plants to prevent a relapse of stage 4 lung cancer, according to court documents. Emulsification, or juicing, of the “biomass of the marijuana plant” was determined to be “the most effective way” for Redner, a longtime vegan, “to get the benefit of medical marijuana,” according to Gievers’ order.
“The Constitution says what it says, and the judge recognized what I’ve been saying all along: The Department of Health and the Legislature can’t take away the rights that the Constitution gives you,” Redner said in a statement Wednesday.
Redner’s lawyer, Luke Lirot, argued that a voter-approved constitutional amendment broadly authorizing medical marijuana “unambiguously allows” the Tampa man to follow his doctor’s recommended method of taking the pot treatment.
Redner is forced to grow his own plants to make the liquid treatment because the Department of Health hasn’t allowed any marijuana operators to sell whole plants to patients, Lirot argued.
Siding with Redner, Gievers found the prohibition defies the 2016 constitutional amendment.
“Nothing in the amendment authorizes the Department of Health (or any other part of Florida’s government) to ignore the rights of qualifying patients to access the medical marijuana treatment to which they are entitled under the Florida Constitution, or to exclude any method by which qualifying patients may take their medicine,” Gievers wrote in Wednesday’s 22-page order.
The judge also scolded state officials, writing that the health department “has been, and continues to be, non-compliant” with Florida constitutional requirements.
“Until and unless the department stops violating its constitutional duty and adopts the mandated presumptive regulation, the evidence clearly demonstrates that Mr. Redner is entitled to follow the recommendations of his certified physician under Florida law, and to possess, grow, and use his own medical marijuana plants in a secure manner so he will have access to the medical marijuana to which he is entitled under the amendment,” Gievers wrote.
The Department of Health’s notice of appeal in the case “automatically operates as a stay of the final judgment pending appellate review,” lawyers for the state agency wrote.
Lirot said he will file a motion as soon as Thursday asking Gievers to lift the stay.
The state’s request to block Gievers’ decision — which the judge wrote applies only to Redner — comes as no surprise, according to Adam Eland, Redner’s partner in a business called Florigrown. Florigrown filed a separate marijuana-related lawsuit in Tallahassee last year.
“Instead of wasting the taxpayers’ money with an appeal that is a sure loser, the department would be better served to rethink their unconstitutional approach to regulating this program,” Eland said. “Judge Gievers made absolutely clear that the department has no authority to limit any route of administration. That’s what the amendment says, and we expect our state government to defend the Constitution, not try to judge shop their way out of it.”
Wednesday’s decision telegraphs what Gievers may do in a separate lawsuit initiated by John Morgan, the Orlando trial lawyer who largely bankrolled what was known as Amendment 2, the constitutional amendment approved by more than 72 percent of Florida voters in 2016.
In that case, Cathy Jordan and other patients are challenging a state law, passed during a special session last year, that carries out the amendment and, among other things, bans patients from smoking marijuana.
Jon Mills, a former University of Florida law-school dean who represents the patients and who authored the amendment, argued that the ban violates the Constitution, which he maintains allows qualified patients to use smokable marijuana as a treatment if their doctors order it. Gievers is scheduled to hold a hearing in the case next month.
Gievers’ ruling in the Redner lawsuit “makes the Mills case a fait accompli, or, as my friend says, a done deal,” Lirot told The News Service of Florida in a telephone interview Wednesday.
“They’ll get the benefit of that,” he said.
Meanwhile, medical marijuana operator Trulieve is asking state health officials to allow the Gadsden County-based company to sell whole flower to patients like Redner.
“Trulieve is committed to expanding patient access across Florida. In anticipation of this court decision, we sought state approval to provide this patient — and others like him — with the medical marijuana his doctor prescribed and stand ready to dispense it once authorized,” Trulieve CEO Kim Rivers said in a statement.
Trulieve got in trouble with state health officials last year, after the vendor started selling whole-flower cannabis. The health department sent the grower a cease-and-desist order after the News Service reported that the company had started selling a whole flower product for use in vaporizers but which could easily be smoked.
In a separate lawsuit filed last week, Trulieve asked a judge to strike down a state law that limits the number of dispensaries marijuana companies can operate, saying the restriction “arbitrarily impairs product availability and safety” and “unfairly penalizes” pot providers.
by Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida
Northview Football Releases Schedule, Names 2018 Football Coaching Staff
April 12, 2018
Head Coach Derek Marshman has named his 2018-2019 football coaching staff, and the school has released their football schedules for the upcoming season.
Coaches are: Eric Jefferson, Kevin Bryan, Greg Gibson, John Madison, Jared Aliff, Tyler Reaves, Doug Godwin and Glenn Weber.
“I am really excited about the upcoming season. We have a lot of key returners at key positions. The kids are excited and have worked hard and have high aspirations. I am really excited to see the offseason development in the weight room translate to the field and see some kids that have matured excel,” said Marshman.
The Chiefs will start spring practice on April 23. The Chiefs will host Escambia County High School of Atmore in spring game on May 18. There also a Garnet and Gold spring scrimmage in the works, but a date has not been finalized.
Schedules are below.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
ECUA: Test Showing Salmonella In Compost Was Incorrect
April 12, 2018
Days after compost from the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority tested positive for Salmonella, follow up testing indicated the positive test result was incorrect.
On Friday, ECUA notified the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) that a monthly test on the compost had tested positive for Salmonella in excess of the allowable limits.
“Upon notification, the department advised ECUA to immediately contact customers who received the material to inform them of potential exposure, to resample the material to confirm the results, and to retrieve delivered compost where feasible,” Brandy Smith, a spokesperson for FDEP, said.
Nathalie Bowers, ECUA public information officer, said Wednesday that a retest did not show any indication of Salmonella.
“This would indicate that the sample result received last Thursday, which caused concern and only affected customers who had received compost on or after March 20, was a false positive or possibly a lab error,” she said.
Bowers said she expected ECUA to resume normal compost operations on Thursday.
“A review of ECUA’s compliance history since 2016 revealed that ECUA has been in compliance with sampling requirements for the biosolids compost and results for all required parameters have been within regulatory limits,” Smith said.
ECUA’s Emerald Coast Bloom compost is created using a combination of yard waste — such as leaves, grass and pine straw — and biosolids –treated sewage sludge that meets high standards.
File photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Win Home Opener
April 12, 2018
In a showdown of the defending Southern League champions, Pensacola used stellar pitching and timely hitting to squeak past the Lookouts in the Blue Wahoos home opener.
The celebrations started early throughout the stadium. Fans came early to watch the presentation of the championship rings to returning members of last year’s winning team. Once the hardware was passed out, the Blue Wahoos raised their first ever championship banner beyond the center-field wall.
Once the players took the field, Daniel Wright (W, 1-1) made sure the applause didn’t end there. The Memphis native bounced back from his Opening Day struggles and neutralized Chattanooga’s bats through six innings. He held the defending North Division champs to just one run on three hits while striking out three. After running into a slight hiccup in the first inning, Wright was in total control retiring the next 11 Lookouts in-a-row.
Pensacola’s offense turned in a total team effort, with four different Wahoos producing RBIs and six different fish scoring runs. Chadwick Tromp turned in a 2-for-4 performance for his first multi-RBI effort of the season and Gavin LaValley added his team-leading sixth RBI of the season.
The Wahoos used small ball to open the scoring in the third. Shed Long led off the inning with a single and then stole second base off Lookouts starter Zack Littell (L, 0-1). LaValley followed by poking a single into right to score Long.
Pensacola added two more in the fourth thanks to clutch hitting by Taylor Sparks and Tromp. After an O’Grady double, followed by a stolen base. On a 3-2 pitch, Sparks lined a single to left to double the Blue Wahoos advantage. That’s when Tromp doubled down the left-field line to score Sparks for his first of two RBIs.
It appeared Pensacola put the game out of reach when Guerrero crushed his first home run of the season off Zack Jones in the seventh to make it a 6-1 lead. Last season, Guerrero didn’t record his first homerun at Blue Wahoos Stadium until July 25.
The Lookouts saved their best for last with a furious ninth inning rally that nearly ruined the Blue Wahoos party. Carlos Navas struggled out of the bullpen and issued walks to Chris Paul and Zander Wiel before surrendering a three-run home run to T.J. White to make it a 6-4 game.
Jody Davis opted for a change and called upon Robinson Leyer to record the final two outs of the game. Leyer’s command was never in tune and he hit Wynston Sawyer with a pitch before walking Ryan Walker. Again, Davis went to the bullpen and this time brought in left hander Brennan Bernardino to pitch to the left-handed hitting Nick Gordon.
Gordon singled into right field to bring home Sawyer, but as Walker tried to go first-to-third, right-fielder Aristides Aquino unleashed a spectacular throw to third base to throw out Walker. Bernardino then froze Tanner English to pick up an unexpected first save of the season.
Sharon “Sherry” Odom
April 12, 2018
Mrs. Sharon “Sherry” Odom, age 60, passed away on Tuesday, April 10, 2018 at her home in Century, Florida.
Mrs. Odom was native of Atmore, AL and resided in Century, FL for most of her life. She loved family times with her grandchildren, swimming at the creek and was an avid fisherman. She retired from the Century Correctional Center and was a member of the Byrneville Methodist Church. She is preceded in death by a son, Michael Devon Odom, two sisters, Kathy Black and Teresa Jordan and a brother, James Michael Wilson.
She is survived by her parents, Jimmy & Barbara Wilson of Byrneville, FL; husband of 42 years, Ricky Odom of Century, FL; one son, Jesse James (Morgan) Odom of Brewton, AL; one sister, Beth (Kevin) Beck of Orlando, FL and three grandchildren, Michael Andrew Odom, Allie Alysse Odom and Anna Bell Alexis Odom.
Funeral services will be held Friday, April 13, 2018 at 10:00 AM at the Byrneville Methodist Church with Rev. Chris Hawkins officiating.
Burial will follow at the Byrneville Cemetery.
Visitation will be Thursday, April 12, 2018 from 6 to 8 PM at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Jake Hart, Cody Odom, Greg Odom, Bobby Holland, David Benaeur and Dusty Carnley.
Pensacola Sears Store Closing
April 12, 2018
The Sears store in Pensacola will close this summer.
The Davis Highway store location, which opened 44 years ago, will close by mid-July. Liquidation sales will begin April 27.
The store was among over 250 Sears and Kmarts sold to Seritage Growth Properties and then leased back to Sears Holdings.
James “Jimmy” Roscoe Brittain, Jr.
April 12, 2018
James “Jimmy” Roscoe Brittain, Jr., age 81, passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 5, 2018, following a lengthy illness.
Jimmy was born and raised in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Around the age of 11 or 12 he met his lifelong friend Billy Andrews. Jimmy, Norma Jean, Billy, and Katherine all crossed the Alabama state line into Columbus, Mississippi and eloped in 1953. He threw papers in Tuscaloosa until he was 18, at which time he and Norma Jean moved to Pensacola. That was in 1956 and he was hired at Chemstrand , which later became Monsanto. He retired from Monsanto after 35 plus years and was a husband to his childhood sweetheart Norma Jean Brittain for 64 years. They spent many a happy day at the beach or around a ball field.
He was a member of Myrtle Grove Baptist Church since 1963. Jimmy coached baseball, football and softball for many years at Myrtle Grove ballpark. He, along with his good friend, Arthur Miller, were instrumental in starting T-ball at Myrtle Grove. Jimmy also helped coach softball at Escambia High School in the early 80’s and spent many volunteer hours working on the fields and doing just about anything that needed doing through 2012. He was also a member of the Pensacola Harley club and enjoyed riding on the group rides for many years.
He was preceded in death by his parents, James (Pop) Roscoe Brittain, Sr and Clara Mae (Noland) Brittain; brothers, Eugene Brittain and John Brittain; In-laws, A. L. Kelley and Pauline Kelley; Brother in-laws, James Chester Kelley, Allan Kelley, and Johnny Campbell; Sister in-law, Jean Brittain.
Jimmy is survived by his wife, Norma Jean; children, James Roscoe Brittain ,III (Jani), Terry Lance Brittain, and Cheryl Brittain Peters (Doug);grandchildren, Kelley Hise (Jason), Neil Brittain(Natalie), Brittainy Peters, and Ashley Peters; great-grandchildren, Hayley and Nicholas Hise; sister in-laws, Billie Joyce Campbell, Mary Kelley, Susan Kelley, and Jerrie Brittain, and many nieces and nephews.
Special thanks to the nurses and doctors of Covenant Hospice Sacred Heart, Dr. David Mann and his nurse Jane, Dr. Thomas Sunnenberg and his nurse Shannon, and Dr. Stephen Willis.
Active pallbearers are Robert Smith, Richard Solchenberger, Otey Infinger, Bill Kimball, Ken Richmond, and Neil Thorsen.
Honorary pallbearers are Billy Andrews and family, Ron Lowe, Bob Graf, Chuck Keistler, James Jowers, his Monsanto Co-workers, and all of his former baseball, football, and softball players.
Saturday, April 14th at Myrtle Grove Baptist church visitation will be from noon to 1 pm followed by the funeral service. Graveside will follow at Bayview Memorial Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Myrtle Grove Baptist Church.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home South is entrusted with arrangements.
Joseph “Joe” Leon Smith
April 12, 2018
Mr. Joseph “Joe” Leon Smith, age 51, passed away on Tuesday, April 10, 2018, in Pensacola, Florida.
Joe was a native and life long resident of Flomaton, AL. He loved life, family, friends, was an avid hunter and fisherman. Past employee of Service Welding, Charco and H&H. Preceded in death by his grandparents, Hosie & Willie Vaughan Smith and Lou & Bertha Bondurant.
He is survived by his father, Leon & Kim Smith of Flomaton, AL; mother, Carole & Don Hamilton of Atmore, AL; Fiancé, Cindy Gradeless of Flomaton, AL; two sons, Justin (Tarissa) Smith of Brewton, AL and Jake (Haley) Smith of Brewton, AL; two brothers, Jeff (Laura) Taylor of Flomaton, AL and Mike (Serese) Taylor of Flomaton, AL; two sisters, Kay (Reo) Pugh of Flomaton, AL and Angie Taylor of Century, FL and two grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Sunday, April 15, 2018 at 2:00 PM at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Pat Carden officiating.
Burial will follow at the Green Acres Cemetery.
Visitation will be Saturday, April 14, 2018 from 6 to 9 PM at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Brian Peebles, Daniel McBride, Brady Lambeth, , Tuffy Boutwell, Jason Beasley and Anthony Boutwell.
Thomas “Tommy” Falk
April 12, 2018
Mr. Thomas “Tommy” Falk, age 64, passed away on Monday, April 9, 2018 in Nokomis, Alabama.
Mr. Falk was a native of Walnut Hill, FL and has resided in Nokomis, AL since 1976. He retired as an Insulation Foreman, was an avid Bass Fisherman and Auburn Fan. He was a member of the McCullough Christian Center. He is preceded in death by his parents, Raymond & Opal Falk and a brother, F.B. Sharpless, Jr.
Survivors include his two sisters, Sharon (Jerry) Poulsen of Walnut Hill, FL and June (Roger, Sr.) McCann of Pensacola, FL and two special friends, Dot Nall of Nokomis, AL and Sissy Phillips of Nokomis, AL.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 14, 2018 at 10:00 AM at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Corneilus Phillips officiating.
Burial will follow at the Walnut Hill Baptist Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Friday, April 13, 2018 from 6 to 8 PM at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Jerry Poulsen, Chris Poulsen, Tim Albritton, Matt Jordan and Ray Lee and Justin Morse.
Honorary Pallbearers will be William McCurdy, Adrian Smith, Buford Wiggins and Peanut McDonald.
Special thanks to Covenant Hospice Nurses, Regina & Connie for their excellent care.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes, LLC in charge of all arrangements, Atmore, Alabama.