Northview Splits V-Ball With Flomaton; Tate Wins Golf Match
September 14, 2018
Northview Volleyball
The Northview Lady Chiefs split volleyball games with Flomaton Thursday. The Northview JV defeated Flomaton 25-15, 25-27, 15-9, and the Flomaton varsity topped Northview 25-17, 25-27, 25-22, 25-18. The Lady Chiefs are on the road Monday at Lighthouse Christian and Tuesday at Jay before returning home to host Central on Thursday.
Tate Golf
In high school golf Thursday, Tate came out on top with a score of 194, followed by Washington with 212 and Pensacola High with 224. Individual medalists were JT Semple from Tate with 40, Jett Zhang of PHS with 45 and Jace Anthony from Washington with 46.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Billings Murder Mastermind Appeal Rejected
September 14, 2018
The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday unanimously turned down an appeal by death row inmate Leonard Patrick Gonzalez Jr. He convicted of killing Byrd and Melanie Billings during a July 2009 home-invasion robbery that drew national attention.
Justices rejected arguments raised by Gonzalez, who was convicted of first degree murder in the slayings.
Gonzalez and four other men entered the home to steal a safe that they thought contained $13 million, according to court records. Byrd and Melanie Billings died after each being shot multiple times.
In the appeal decided Thursday, Gonzalez raised arguments including that he had received “ineffective assistance” from his attorney before being convicted. In part, Gonzalez contended that his attorney didn’t adequately argue for a change of venue because of publicity surrounding the case.
Also, Gonzalez contended that the attorney did not adequately determine during jury selection whether jurors could be impartial.
But the Supreme Court, in a nine-page opinion, upheld the convictions.
“The record before this (Supreme) Court demonstrates that trial counsel provided prospective jurors with a questionnaire inquiring, among other things, about their exposure to pretrial publicity,” the opinion said. “Members of the (potential jury) who responded that they were familiar with the publicity were asked if they could set it aside and consider only the evidence presented during the trial.
Two prospective jurors who indicated they could not set aside what they had heard or read were excused for cause. Once the jury selections were completed, Gonzalez was asked personally if he was satisfied with the jury as selected and he replied affirmatively.
Accordingly, the record reflects that Gonzalez was able to select a fair and impartial jury and the trial court would not likely have granted a renewed motion for change of venue at that time.”
Justices Barbara Pariente, Peggy Quince, Ricky Polston, Jorge Labarga and Alan Lawson concurred in the opinion. Chief Justice Charles Canady and Justice R. Fred Lewis agreed with the outcome but did not fully sign on to the opinion.
Byrd and Melanie Billings died after each being shot multiple times.
“In the case of Mr. Billings, Gonzalez shot him in one leg, repeated the request for money, and then shot him in the other leg when Mr. Billings was still not forthcoming about the money,” earlier court documents said. “Gonzalez then placed Mr. Billings in a headlock and dragged him into the master bedroom where he shot him in the side of the face. Only after Mr. Billings was terrorized and endured repeated non-fatal shootings did Gonzalez finally shoot him in the head. As to Mrs. Billings, although her actual shooting and death occurred fairly quickly, she was aware of her impending death and probably fearful of suffering multiple gunshot wounds, having witnessed her husband being shot and suffer. She was then shot in the face, while looking at her attacker and knowing that her children were probably also in grave danger.”
by The News Service of Florida with contribution from NorthEscambia.com
Carolyn Kay Pittman Monaghan
September 14, 2018
Carolyn Kay Pittman Monaghan, 60, passed away Saturday, September 8, 2018, at her home in Cantonment, Florida with her son, Keith and his fiancé, Jamie by her side.
Kay was born the fourth of six children on April 26, 1958, in Pensacola, Florida to Bruce Pittman and Nayda Faye Poe Pittman.
She is preceded in death by her father.
Kay is survived by her mother, Faye Pittman; son, Keith Landgraff (Jamie); grandson, Drake Landgraff; and numerous extended family members.
Kay’s faith in Christianity guarantees a place for her. She mastered many health challenges throughout her life and wished upon her death to donate her body to science and we respectfully honor that request.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, September 23, 2018, at the home of her son, Keith, 911 Jacks Branch Road, Cantonment, Florida.
In lieu of flowers family request that donations be made to the Ronald McDonald House.3
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is entrusted with arrangements.
Donald King
September 14, 2018
Donald “Joey” King, 51, of Clear Springs, AL, passed away on September 11, 2018, after a battle with cancer. He will be dearly missed by so many friends and family members.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Betsy Jean Hart; and step father, William “Bill” Hart.
He was survived by his father, Norman (Ruby) King; wife, Patricia King; brother, Glenn (Annette) King; three step children, Joshua (Becky) Allen, Dixie Hadley, and Skye Brown; five grandchildren, Jade and Jordan Allen, LJ “Spud”Hadley, CJ “Hoot” and Lilly Bug Moye; three nieces, Brittany King, Kayla Mott, and Xadie Mott; two nephews, Wesley King and Xander Mott; aunt, Susan Vann; and numerous family members.
Funeral services will be held at 12 p.m. on Saturday, September 15, 2018, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North.
Burial will follow in Clear Springs Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at 10 a.m. prior to services.
A Celebration of Life will be held after his burial, at his home, located at 28326 County Road 112, Robertsdale AL.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is entrusted with arrangements.
Larry Dean Milliken, Sr.
September 14, 2018
Mr. Larry Dean Milliken, Sr., age 71, passed away on Monday, September 10, 2018.
Mr. Milliken was born in Ohio and moved to Atmore, AL in his early years. He attended Escambia County High School and was a graduate of the class of 1965. He was a retired instrument technician with NADEP with 24 years of service. He was of the Baptist faith. He is preceded in death by his parents, Vincent and Miriam Nell Milliken.
Survivors include his lifelong friend and mother of his children, Lelia Ann Benner of Atmore, AL; one son, Larry Dean (Lisa) Milliken, Jr. of Atmore, AL; one daughter, Jennifer M. (Dennis) Keller of Havervill, MA; one brother, Alan L. (Libby) Milliken of Pensacola, FL; one sister, Rhonda (Butch) Kinney of Prattville, AL; two grandchildren, Hunter Dean (Hannah) Milliken and Sara Ashlyn Milliken; three great-grandchildren, Tyson D. Milliken, Levi A. Milliken and Chase L. Milliken; numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends and his special Pensacola Family.
Funeral services will be Sunday, September 16, 2018, at 2 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Jimmy Dukes officiating.
Burial will follow at the Oak Hill Cemetery.
Visitation will be Sunday, September 16, 2018, from 12:30 p.m. until service time at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Mark Milliken, Roger Milliken, Stevie Luker, Donnie Seago, Adam White and Danny White.
Special thanks to Javasa, Gina, Anita and many other wonderful staff at Century Health and Rehab for the loving care he received.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
GED Classes Available At The Molino Community Center
September 14, 2018
Fall 2018 GED classes have started at the Molino Community Center and meet every Monday and Thursday from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. This is an open enrollment program, so students may enroll anytime during the semester.
Classes are actively taught by certified teachers and personalized instruction is given based on each individual student’s academic level. Tuition is $30 per semester.
For more information, click here.
New students must complete an online application at www.georgestonecenter.com.
FDLE Arrests Molino Man On Child Porn Charges
September 13, 2018
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has arrested a Molino man on multiple child pornography charges.
FDLE agents arrested Steven Ryan Godwin, 36, of 3512 Highway 97, for 20 counts of possession of child pornography.
In August, FDLE agents received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that a suspect was uploading child porn to another user on Facebook. Authorities were able to trace the uploads to an address in Molino.
Agents obtained a search warrant that was served at his residence Wednesday. When the occupants of the home were exiting, Godwin continued to reach towards his waistband before dropping a LG cell phone, according to an arrest warrant affidavit. The phone was seized and contained child pornography images featuring children under the age of 10, with multiple images including children younger than two years old, according to FDLE.
Godwin was arrested yesterday and booked into the Escambia County Jail with no bond. Additional charges are dependent upon completion of forensic exams.
The arrest affidavit does not indicate if FDLE believes any of the children are local.
Gulf Power Prepares Storm Team For Hurricane Florence Help
September 13, 2018
A 76-person Gulf Power storm team was released on Thursday, shortly after beginning their trip to the Carolinas to assist with restoration following Hurricane Florence.
“With the hurricane weakening slightly as it approaches, the anticipated crew levels needed are being adjusted,” said Gordon Paulus, Gulf Power spokesperson. “However, there is a chance we could be picked up by another utility between now and Monday.”
The storm is forecast to be a tropical storm as late as Saturday night in South Carolina.
The unpredictability of tropical storms means planning is constantly shifting. Gulf Power is part of the Mutual Assistance group of the Southeastern Electric Exchange, which coordinates the placement of utility restoration teams with the host utilities that might need them.
“Once the utilities in North and South Carolina assess how much damage there is from the winds of Hurricane Florence and the flooding, we could very well be called to assist one of them,” Paulus said. “We are ready to help.”
Gulf Power has a strong history of restoring power — both at home and away assisting other utilities. Crews have deployed nearly 40 times since 2008 to help other energy companies restore power to their customers, most recently to Puerto Rico, to help rebuild the energy grid following Hurricane Maria.
Pictured: Corey Ness, a line technician out of the Pensacola Pine Forest office, packs some gear into a bucket truck in preparation for the storm restoration trip to the Carolina. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Molino Woman Accused Of Shooting At Her Son’s Friend In Drug Money Dispute
September 13, 2018
A Molino woman is accused of firing a gun at her son’s high school friend in a dispute over drug money in an incident that played out on the roads of Bratt.
Crystal Lorraine Holliday, 36, was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, discharging a firearm from a vehicle and robbery with a firearm. She was released from the Escambia County Jail Wednesday morning on a $7,500 bond.
The victim told deputies that he was given $200 to go buy “weed” for the dad of another student he knew from school. But instead of purchasing marijuana, the victim decided to keep the cash.
He received text messages from a number he did not recognize asking him to meet at a convenience store at the corner of North Highway 99 and Highway 4 in Bratt. When he arrived at the store, he saw the man get out of his car and start to approach him. The victim became scared and drove away.
The student’s dad pulled up next to the victim’s car as they traveled on Breastworks Road. The student’s mother, later identified as Holliday, fired a shot at the victim, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report. The victim stopped his car and put his hands up as Holliday pointed the gun at him and demanded the $200, the report states.
The victim told investigators that he had already spend part of the $200, so Holliday took a compound bow valued at $900 and his $600 iPhone at gunpoint and told him he could get his phone back for $90. The victim drove to a residence on Pine Barren Road and called deputies.
The father told deputies that there was never a gun involved in the incident, and Holliday owns a .380 caliber weapon that she keeps in another vehicle, according to the report. The father also said the money was for a cell phone that the victim did not give his son, so they chased him, taking his phone and bow until the victim could pay back the money.
Holliday’s statements to deputies were redacted from the arrest report.
The bow and iPhone were returned to the victim by the ECSO.
New Traffic Light At 297A And Kingsfield To Be Activated
September 13, 2018
Escambia County is currently constructing roadway improvements at the intersection of Highway 297A and Kingsfield Road in Cantonment. New overhead traffic signals will be installed and placed into flash mode today and will remain in flash mode until Monday when the signals will be fully activated.
The intersection improvement project also includes the installation of turn lane improvements, pedestrian amenities and drainage upgrades, and is anticipated to be completed within the next few weeks. All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or re-scheduled in the event of inclement weather.
The project will greatly improve both general and school traffic flow along the two roadways. Drivers are advised to be aware of the new traffic improvements at the intersection and take caution when driving around construction areas. If lane or roadway closures are necessary at any time during construction, another notice will be issued.