DeSantis Names Secretaries Of Corrections, DCF
January 4, 2019
Filling top jobs at two of the most-scrutinized agencies in state government, incoming Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday appointed new secretaries of the Florida Department of Corrections and the Florida Department of Children and Families.
DeSantis named Mark Inch, a retired U.S. Army major general who also worked as director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, to serve as secretary of the Department of Corrections.
DeSantis also announced that Chad Poppell will head the mammoth Department of Children and Families. Poppell served in outgoing Gov. Rick Scott administration as secretary of the Department of Management Services before resigning in March 2017.
With DeSantis set to take the oath of office Tuesday, his transition team has gradually announced appointments to top administration positions.
The new secretaries of the Department of Corrections and the Department of Children and Families will take over agencies that in recent years have drawn scrutiny — and litigation — because of issues such as the treatment of inmates and tragedies involving abused children.
Inch will replace Julie Jones, who has served as corrections secretary since January 2015. In Thursday’s announcement, DeSantis called Inch “one of the foremost experts on criminal justice.”
“I look forward to working with him to strengthen Florida’s Department of Corrections and ensure efficiency and accountability at such an important agency,” DeSantis said.
Before being named to run the Federal Bureau of Prisons in September 2017, Inch’s Army career specialized in military incarceration. Inch left the federal prisons position last year after what The New York Times called a “turf” battle between presidential adviser Jared Kushner and former Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
While Inch’s career has been focused on the military and federal system, DeSantis’ appointment of Poppell continued moves to bring back some current and former members of Scott’s administration.
Prior to serving as secretary of the Department of Management Services, which oversees issues such as state human resources, procurement and real estate, Poppell worked as chief of staff at the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity.
“Chad Poppell is a dedicated public servant with a proven track record of achievement within the public sector,” DeSantis said in a prepared statement. “From this service at the Department of Economic Opportunity to his leadership at the Department of Management Services, Chad is the kind of leader who will be committed to strengthening Florida’s families and fighting for Florida’s children.”
Since leaving state government, Poppell has worked as an IBM industry client leader for Florida’s public sector.
The Department of Children and Families has been led since September by interim Secretary Rebecca Kapusta. She replaced longtime Secretary Mike Carroll, who resigned last year.
Along with the choice of Poppell to run the Department of Children and Families, DeSantis’ decisions to hire people with ties to the Scott administration have included appointing Visit Florida chief Ken Lawson to serve as executive director of the Department of Economic Opportunity.
Also, DeSantis has kept Agency for Persons with Disabilities Director Barbara Palmer and Florida Lottery Secretary Jim Poppell and has retained Scott’s budget director, Cynthia Kelly.
by Christine Sexton and Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Health, Wellness Fair Saturday At Molino Library; Weekly Walking Program On Tuesdays
January 4, 2019
The Molino Branch Library will hold a Health and Wellness Fair Saturday with fitness fun for all ages.
There will be story time with Walker Wiggle, nutrition information, information about estheticians and massage therapy and signups for non-certified CPR instruction. OneBlood will be onsite for blood donations, and those that donate blood can have up to $50 in late fees waived from their West Florida Library account.
The health fair will be from 10:30 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Also, the Molino Branch Library is inviting participants for “Walk This Way at Molino Branch Library” every Tuesday at 8 a.m. Groups will walk the track behind the library every Tuesday morning at 8:00.
NorthEcambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Molino Double Shooting Suspect Ordered Held Without Bond
January 4, 2019
A judge has ordered a Molino double shooting suspect held without bond as he awaits trail.
Justin Demarte Young, 21, will be back in court January 24 for an arraignment hearing on two counts of attempted first degree premeditated murder.
He is charged with shooting Aretha Vaughn and her adult daughter Mea Vaughn about 7:50 p.m. Tuesday night on Barth Road in Molino.
Mea Vaughn was shot on the left side of her face, and Aretha Vaughn was shot in the back and abdomen. The victims were transported to area hospitals by Escambia County EMS.
For a photo gallery from the shooting scene, click here.
Young fled the scene and was taken into custody about 25 miles away in the 7700 block of Kipling Street off East Olive Road. He was charged with two counts of attempted first degree premeditated murder. His bond was set at a quarter of a million dollars. While being transported to the Escambia County Jail, Young denied being at location of the shooting on Tuesday.
Young had been temporarily staying with the Vaughns, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The women told deputies that he just walked in the door and started shooting at them without saying anything.
Young had allegedly moved in with the women after being kicked out of his residence after allegedly pulling a gun. According to an arrest report from that September 20 incident, he allegedly threatened to shoot woman, claiming she was the reason he lost his job. Her child younger son was reportedly in the room at the time. He is awaiting trial on two counts of felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, domestic violence related in connection with the incident.
For a photo gallery from the shooting scene, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Molino Man Charged With Local Burglary
January 4, 2019
A Molino man is facing multiple charges after a local burglary.
Timothy Shaine Garrett, 28, was charged with burglary of a unoccupied structure, criminal mischief and grand theft.
On December 5, Garrett allegedly forced his way into a shed and garage and stole a generator. Multiple witnesses reported seeing a male dragging the generator down the road, according to an arrest report. A relative of Garrett told deputies he was living in area off Molino Road in a camper trailer with no power, and he needed the generator for electricity.
Garrett was taken into custody in the area of a camper in a wooded area off Molino Road on Wednesday.
Taylor James Kropenick
January 4, 2019
Taylor James Kropenick unexpectedly passed away at home in Pensacola, FL. He was born in Fort Walton Beach, FL on June 14, 1990.
Taylor is survived by his parents, Jay Kropenick and Lisa Blackmon Kropenick; his brother, Parker Kropenick; his grandmother, Becky Blackmon; and many aunts, uncles, cousins as well as his many friends.
Taylor graduated from Choctawhatchee High School in Fort Walton Beach, FL and attended Northwest Florida State College. Taylor worked in the A/V industry and during the last months of his life he was involved in the reconstruction efforts of Panama City and the surrounding areas following Hurricane Michael.
Taylor packed many passions into his time with us and excelled at all. He inherited his interest in firearms and the L.A. Rams football team from his father and his deep sense of compassion for others from his mother. He shared a passion for animals and all things fast with his brother. Taylor made friends easily and always considered himself fortunate when he was able to lend a hand or comfort others.
Arrangements are being made through Faith Chapel Funeral Home where the family will have a private service.
In lieu of floral contributions, the family requests donations to your favorite charity in honor of Taylor.
Mary Lou Smith Rink
January 4, 2019
Mary Lou Smith Rink passed away Thursday, January 3, 2019, in Pensacola.
Public visitation is from 12 p.m. until 1 p.m. with funeral services immediately following.
Services will be conducted by Faith Chapel North.
Woman Shot And Killed In Pensacola Boulevard Motel, Suspect Charged
January 3, 2019
A woman was shot and killed Thursday morning at at Pensacola Boulevard motel.
Jasamyne Leportia Blunt, 27, was found deceased from a gunshot wound at the Key West Inn about 4 a.m. by responding Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies.
Johnnie Lee Graphenreid, 26 was charged with murder, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a controlled substance and neglect of a child without great bodily harm. He is being held in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
Further details have not been released by investigators.
Three Century Council Members Charged With Sunshine Violations; Grand Jury To Review Other Items
January 3, 2019
Three Century Town Council members are facing noncriminal charges, and a grand jury will look into additional matters involving the town.
Sandra McMurray Jackson, Ann Cofield Brooks, and Luis Gomez, Jr. — have been charged with noncriminal violations of the Florida Government in the Sunshine Law, according to the State Attorney’s Office. Brooks is council president.
If found guilty of the charge, they face a civil fine of up to $500. They are scheduled for a court appearance on January 24.
Last summer, three council members allegedly attended at least some portion of a closed door meeting with CPA Robert Hudson, Town Clerk Kim Godwin and the town’s auditors. The meeting was not advertised as a public meeting, which would forbid more than one council member from taking part under Florida’s Sunshine Laws.
The State Attorney also announced that a grand jury will be convened to review various matters regarding the operations and management of the Town of Century. Because of the nature of Grand Jury proceedings, no further information regarding these issues can be released at this time.
Pictured top: Century Council members (L-R) Luis Gomez, Jr., Ann Cofield Brooks and Sandra McMurray Jackson at the council’s most recent meeting on December 17, 2018. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Developer Seeks Rezoning For New General Retail Store Fronting Muscogee Road
January 3, 2019
A new general retail store could be on the way to Cantonment.
Terramore Development, as agent for owners Steven and Carrin Buttrick, are seeking to rezone a portion of the property at 149 Highway 97 South from low density residential to a commercial district. The parcel is at the intersection of Highway 97 and Muscogee Road, with most of the frontage on Muscogee Road.
The zoning change must be approved by the Escambia County Planning Board and the Escambia County Commission before any permits are issued. The Planning Board is set to hear the proposal on January 8, and the BOCC will hear the request on February 7.
The rezoning application does not reveal what business might be opened at the location. But according to their website, Terramore Development of Thomasville, GA, is “a preferred developer for Dollar General along with developing for other national tenants such as Publix Supermarkets, Vitamin Shoppe, Dunkin Donuts, Chipotle and AT&T” in the southeastern United States.
Pictured top: Looking from Muscogee Road toward the property. Pictured below: The red outline indicates an area developer wants rezoned for a new retail development.
ECSO: Woman Smashed Stranded Motorist’s Windshield, Smuggled Meth Into County Jail
January 3, 2019
A McDavid woman allegedly used a baseball bat to bust the windshield of stranded motorist and smuggled meth into the Escambia County Jail.
Valene Walker, 33, was charged with criminal mischief, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana and two counts of introduction of contraband into a detention facility.
A woman told Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies that she ran out of gas and pulled into a driveway in the 6900 block of North Century Boulevard. She said Walker came outside, starting arguing with her before she picked up a baseball bat and busted the windshield, an arrest report states. Walker then allegedly fled the scene.
When Walker was arrested on a warrant for the incident, jailers reported finding 40 grams of methamphetamine in two plastic bags hidden in her bra.
Walker is awaiting trial on unrelated charges of trespassing and bribery. Last August, her ex-boyfriend called the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office to the 6000 block of North Century Boulevard after Walker was allegedly banging on the window of his residence. An arriving deputy reported that he observed Walker on the property causing a disturbance as she walked from the backdoor to the front yard of the home. Walker was previous trespass-warned from the property by the ECSO.
While Walker was being transported to the Escambia County Jail on the trespassing charge, she tried to bribe the deputy, according to an arrest report, by offering to give him the bond money in her possession so he would let her go. The report notes that audio and video were captured on the deputy’s in-car camera.
She remained in the Escambia County Jail Thursday morning.