Escambia Woman Pleads No Contest In Double Fatal Easter Sunday Wreck
December 5, 2019
An Escambia County woman has pleaded on two counts of DUI manslaughter in connection with an Easter Sunday wreck.
State Attorney Bill Eddins said Marie Ann Simpkins pleaded no contest and accepted responsibility for two counts of DUI manslaughter, DUI causing property damage, DUI With a minor in the vehicle, and possession of less Than 20 grams of marijuana before Judge Jan Shackelford on Wednesday.
The charges stem from a traffic crash which occurred on April 21, 2019, in the intersection of Fairfield Drive and W Street in Pensacola which claimed the lives of 49-year old Randy Riley and his son, 22-year old Nelson Riley. Simpkins’ vehicle also hit a Nissan Murano drive by Gladys Taylor, who suffered minor injuries. Two passengers in Simpkins’ car, 19-year old Jobe Simpkins and a 4-year old, were also transported to the hospital with minor injuries.
Prior to the crash, concerned motorists observed Simpkins driving in an unpredictable and reckless manner on Fairfield Drive The motorists had called 911 to report their concerns when the defendant ran the red light at the intersection at W Street causing the collision.
Simpkins’ son and 2-year-old grandson were occupants of her vehicle at the time of the crash. A small amount of cannabis was
found in her belongings. A legal blood draw revealed Simpkins was under the influence of hydrocodone, citalopram, trazodone and tramadol at the time of the crash.
Simpkins will be sentenced on January 8.
She Said It Was Over. He Thought They Were Getting Married. He’s Now Charged With Stalking.
December 5, 2019
A Cantonment man has been charged with the ongoing stalking of his ex-girlfriend along with her father and daughterr because he believed they were getting married, even though she left him months ago.
Ted Dean Spivey, 59, was charged with three counts of stalking. He was later released on a $6,000 bond.
The victim stated she had broken up with Spivey about four months ago after an “off and on” relationship that lasted about three years.
On multiple occasions, Spivey allegedly stood outside a residence where the woman was present for over an hour calling her name, giggling and throwing rocks at the window, according to an arrest report. He also allegedly has threatened her and her family, battered her, and harassed her father and daughter.
Spivey also allegedly “constantly” messages one of the victims on Facebook in an attempt to reach the woman, according to deputies.
When arrested, Spivey told a deputy that he was not aware the victim had broken up with him, and he “believed they would be getting married, despite him not seeing or speaking to her for around one month,” according to an arrest report.
Escambia County Hires Four New Department Directors
December 5, 2019
Escambia County has hired four new department directors in recent weeks.
The are:
- Laura Coale — Director of Communications and Public Information
- Tonya Ellis — Director of Mass Transit
- Bart Siders — Director of Information Technology
- Jana Still — Director of Human Resources
Biographical information for each is below.
Laura Coale, Director of Communications and Public Information
Tuesday, Nov. 19 marked Coale’s first day with the county as the director of communications and public information.
“I’m honored to work with such a talented team and look forward to an exciting career serving the people of Escambia County,” Coale said.
Coale brings 20 years of communications experience in private and public organizations to Escambia County. Most recently, she served as executive director of strategic communications at Northwest Florida State College and Aims Community College in Colorado. Coale also served as the media relations director at Denver International Airport, communications director at the city and county of Denver’s Office of Strategic Partnerships and public information officer at Gainesville Florida Fire Rescue. Coale developed and implemented many award-winning strategic communications campaigns, including recognition for outstanding achievement in design and communication at community and technical colleges.
Coale graduated magna cum laude with a master’s degree in journalism and mass communication from Kent State University. She also earned her bachelor’s degree in speech communication from Miami University.
Tonya Ellis, Director of Mass Transit
Tonya Ellis was approved and promoted on Tuesday, Nov. 19 as the new mass transit director for Escambia County Area Transit.
“I am truly excited about this opportunity, and I am looking forward to collaborating with our elected officials, community leaders, stakeholders, customers and employees to improve ECAT and paratransit’s overall operating efficiency,” Ellis said. “I feel that mass transit in Escambia County has the potential to be transformed to be the best transit system for this community.”
Ellis has worked in the transportation industry for more than 15 years where she has shown leadership skills with the ability to involve, motivate, and empower employees by building rapport and providing excellent customer service. Under her leadership she has developed connections with a variety of regional governmental entities to providing technical planning assistance to local and state governments. The Mass Transit operation provides more than 1.4 million ECAT public transit trips and 95,000 paratransit services in the Escambia County area.
For 13 years, Ellis served in the United States Army Reserve as E-5 Sergeant in Multi-Channel Radio Operations as a member of the 842nd Signal Company, United States Army Reserve. In 2000, she was awarded Unit Soldier of the Year.
Ellis obtained a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of West Florida. She is very active in numerous community outreach activities as well as professional organizations such as serving as a board member for the Florida Public Transportation Association and a member of the Technical Coordinating Committee of the Florida-Alabama Transportation Planning Organization.
Bart Siders, Director of Information Technology
William Bart Siders joined Escambia County on Monday, Oct. 21 as the director of information technology.
“I am very excited about joining the IT team who currently provides quality IT products and services to the employees of Escambia County,” Siders said. “I look forward to building on the team’s current success by establishing a culture of innovation and collaboration.”
Siders most recently served as Gulf Power IT technology leader with NextEra Energy. He directed and managed the planning, development, implementation, maintenance, and operation of all end-user environments for Gulf Power, Mississippi Power, APC-Mobile Division and Sequent Energy Houston. He also served as a coastal workplace support manager, regional IT manager, applications services manager, CSS lead analyst and corporate systems analyst at Southern Company Services from 1988 to 2018.
Siders obtained a bachelor’s degree in system science from the University of West Florida. He has been a member of the IT Technical Advisory Board for George Stone Vocational School, the Cyberthon Planning Committee, UWF Code-A-Thon Planning Committee and the Gulf Power Technology Innovation Team.
Jana Still, Director of Human Resources
Wednesday, Nov. 6, marked Jana Still’s first day as director of human resources.
“I am very excited about the opportunities I see for growth and change that can positively impact all employees as well as Escambia County as a whole,” Still said. “I feel that the current county administration is very progressive and open to change, so I am looking forward to working with everyone. I think as a team we can accomplish great things.”
Most recently, Still served as senior personnel classification and assessment specialist at the Mobile County Personnel Board, where she advised city and county municipalities concerning personnel selection, leadership, EEOC compliance, organizational development, employee relations and retention. She has also worked as a consultant for some private sector organizations. Still is currently an adjunct professor at the University of South Alabama where she teaches industrial/organizational psychology, behavioral neuroscience and general psychology.
Still earned a master’s degree in industrial and organizational psychology from the University of West Florida and bachelor’s degrees in psychology and sociology from the University of South Alabama.
Pensacola Gun Task Force Makes 117 Arrests In Just 90 Days
December 5, 2019
Well over 100 arrests were made through the efforts of the Protect Pensacola joint task force established by the City of Pensacola, Pensacola Police Department and the United States Attorney’s Office, with multiple local, state and federal agencies partnering to address gun violence.
The task force encompassed multiple operations over approximately 90 days, with a goal of working proactively to stop gun violence and maintain public safety in the Pensacola community. Task force operations led to the arrest of 117 criminals for primarily felony charges, including assault, robbery and harboring fugitives.
“We are incredibly proud of the partnerships and hard work that went into making this joint task force a success, and we are grateful for the willingness of our federal, state and local partners to assist us in tackling gun violence in our city,” Mayor Grover Robinson said. “Because of the efforts of all agencies involved, the City of Pensacola and surrounding community are now safer with these criminals behind bars.”
“This joint task force was an incredible success, targeting and apprehending violent felony offenders who were committing serious crimes in our community,” Pensacola Police Chief Tommi Lyter said. “I can say with confidence that Pensacola is safer today because of this operation – but our work isn’t finished. We will continue to work in partnership with the DEA, U.S. Marshals, ATF and all of our law enforcement partners to apprehend dangerous criminals and keep residents safe.”
The task force also sought to make additional arrests in the deadly shooting of Elizabeth Harris, which took place on May 27, 2019 near the Platinum Club in Pensacola. A fourth arrest was made on Oct. 22, with United States Marshals Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force arresting Cordellious Lashawn Dyess near Atlanta on a warrant charging him with Felony Murder, Attempted Murder, Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, and Shooting a Deadly Missile into a Dwelling or Vehicle.
“One of our primary priorities in federal law enforcement is an active level of cooperation and collaboration with local law enforcement agencies that serve on the front lines of protecting public safety every day,” said Larry Keefe, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. “We’re pleased to have entered in such a positive and productive alliance with our local partners here to Protect Pensacola with resources that have been effective and helpful in attacking gun violence.”
Participating agencies included the Pensacola Police Department, U.S. Attorney’s Office, U.S. Marshals Service, Office of the State Attorney, 1st Judicial Circuit, Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Florida Highway Patrol and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
“I appreciate the participation of all agencies in this matter,” State Attorney Bill Eddins said. “It is particularly refreshing to see our federal agencies participate.”
The Protect Pensacola joint task force partnering agencies will continue to work together on operations addressing crime and gun violence.
As part of the task force partnership, the Pensacola Police Department will also receive VALOR training in January through the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance Survive & Thrive program. The program includes training on safety and preparedness, officer-citizen encounters, leadership and critical decision making. The training will take place in Pensacola Jan. 22-23, 2020.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Pedestrian Passes Away After Being Struck By Vehicle In Beulah Last Week
December 5, 2019
A man struck by a car last week in Beulah has died.
Jared Scott Dunn, 42, was walking along Beulah Road near Nine Mile Road about 6:15 p.m. on November 30 when he was struck by a Chevrolet Traverse driven by 44-year old Constance Spencer of Pensacola.
The Florida Highway Patrol said Spencer was unable to see Dunn in time to avoid a collision.
Dunn was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital where he passed away due to his injuries on Wednesday, December 4.
Any charges are pending the outcome of the FHP investigation.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
UPDATED: Sheriff’s Office Now Says Arrests Expected In Tate High Fight
December 4, 2019
This story has been updated. Click the here for the latest information.
(Additional comments on this incident should be made on the story linked above. This is now an archived post.)
What’s That Being Built In Molino? It’s Bigger Than You Think
December 4, 2019
NorthEscambia.com has received numerous questions about what is being built along Highway 29 near Jimmy’s Grill, and we’ve learned that it involves a project much larger than the 18 acre lot.
“Gulf Power is using as a staging site for the pipe in preparation for the construction of the Crist Lateral Pipeline,” said Kimberly Blair, spokesperson for Gulf Power. The property is located on the east side of Highway 29 just south of Chance Road.
As NorthEscambia.com first reported last February, Gulf Power is constructing an underground natural gas pipeline from Century to Plant Crist, a power plant that is being converted from coal burning to natural gas.
The proposed natural gas pipeline will run about 39 miles from the existing Florida Gas Transmission Pipeline near the Florida/Alabama border outside Century south through McDavid, Molino and Cantonment to Plant Crist on Pate Street just northwest of the University of West Florida. Over 85 percent of the proposed route will be located on existing right of way like Gulf Power transmission line corridors.
“Construction is expected to be begin in early 2020, after we receive all permits,” Blair said Tuesday.
The Gulf Power documents indicate the conversion of Plant Crist to natural gas will mean cleaner energy and projected lower bills for customers. It is estimated the project would create 375 “good-paying” jobs at peak construction and $37 million in tax revenue for Escambia County during the 35-year operating life of the pipeline.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
A Couple Of Dry Days Before Rain Chance Returns
December 4, 2019
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
This Afternoon: Sunny, with a high near 65. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 39. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 66. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Friday: A slight chance of showers, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 7am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 69. East wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Friday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 7pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 7pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52. Northeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 66. East wind around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers after 7pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. East wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after 7am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 69. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly before 7pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56.
Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75.
Monday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58.
OK. That’s Weird. And Kind Of Creepy. And It’s Going Viral.
December 4, 2019
It’s weird, and kind of creepy at the same time. And like a bad meme, it’s going viral locally on social media.
It’s a really big stuffed dog sitting in the ditch facing northbound vehicles on Pine Barren Road. Round a curve northbound at night and there it is, staring back.
That part of Pine Barren Road is, well as the name implies, a lonely stretch through the woods. Pitch black at night. Truth is it’s the kind place you would expect something creepy after watching the wrong movie.
Pictures of the dog were posted on Facebook and Instagram Tuesday night with all kinds of theories…from it was just trash tossed on a lonely road, to it’s bait to lure people into the woods, to it was dropped off by aliens. Toss in a creepy clown with a red balloon meme, and you get a viral post. And maybe a few chill bumps. And the urge to call your momma for a comforting voice.
Is it innocent roadside trash, a practical joke or the makings of a horror movie?
NorthEscambia.com headed out just after midnight to solve the mystery. Before we made it to Pine Barren Road, a black cat crossed the road in front of us. Seriously happened, and admittingly would not be a good omen for the superstitious. But we pressed on for the story.
We photographed the dog, and yes we got out of the car. Nothing bad happened. At one point, a fog began to move over the dog (pictured below). A little unnerving, until you remember it’s cold and it’s exhaust from the car.
Things were moving in the woods. And we did see eyes looking back from the woods nearby…those woods are full of a lot of deer and who knows what else.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate High Graduate Wins Food Network’s Great Cookie Challenge
December 4, 2019
A Tate High School graduate has won a national cooking baking championship.
Stephanie Torres, who graduate from Tate in 2009, won the $10,000 grand prize in the “Christmas Cookie Challenge” that aired Monday on The Food Network.
Torres and the other bakers face challenges that included making Christmas cards and tree toppers from cookies.
“This experience was surreal. When I was contacted last December to see if I was interested in interviewing, I really didn’t think I would want to even try to be on the show,” Torres said. “I really didn’t think I would want to even try to be on the show. I was unsure of leaving Addie for 5 days, I wasn’t even sure if I had the personality to be in a competition like this, and I was unsure of how my mental health would respond if I utterly failed! Thankfully, with the help of my friends and family, I took the leap and went through the crazy interview process and found out I was casted.”
The show was filmed last February, but she had to keep the results secret until the final episode aired.
Torres now lives in Hialeah Gardens, Florida, with her husband and children where she operates the Little Love Cookie Company. She was a culinary specialist in the Coast Guard for six years, and her husband is still active duty.
Photos courtesy Food Network for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
