Man Killed In Single Vehicle Chumuckla Highway Crash
January 25, 2020
A 28-year old man was killed in a single vehicle wreck early Saturday morning in Santa Rosa County.
The Florida Highway Patrol said Mason Scott Tobin of Pace was traveling on Chumuckla Highway north of Willard Norris Road about 5:10 a.m.. His Chevrolet Tahoe left the roadway and traveled 107 feet before striking a large tree.
Tobin was extricated to his vehicle and airlifted to Sacred Heart Hospital where he was pronounced deceased at 6:21 a.m.
DeSantis Flunks Common Core, Announces New State School Standards
January 25, 2020
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday announced a new set of education standards to replace common core, including a requirement that students meet literacy standards based upon their grade level, learn cursive and study the Constitution.
Complete details on Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking — B.E.S.T. — Standards won’t be published on the Florida Department of Education website until next week, but a summary has been made available.
The plan outline includes several major points:
- Eliminate Common Core (Florida Standards) and ensure we return to the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic.
- Provide a roadmap to make Florida’s standards number one in the nation.
- Reflect the Commissioner’s consultation with relevant stakeholders to include parents and teachers.
- Deem how to increase the quality of instructional curriculum.
- Suggest innovative ways to streamline testing.
- Equip high school graduates with a sufficient knowledge of America’s civics, particularly as reflected in the Constitution.
- Outline a pathway for Florida to be the most literate state in the nation.
The plan will remove “confusing/crazy math”, provide targeted instruction for students who struggle with reading, reinforce the the basics of arithmetic before students enter middle school and develop a plan with the goal of reducing the total amount of time students spend testing as well as reducing the total questions on assessments.
The U.S. Constitution will be introduced in the fifth grade under the B.E.S.T. Standards. All high school students will be required to take the Florida Civics Literacy Test. Financial literacy will taught in high school, unlike Common Core that did not teach the basics like balancing a checkbook.
B.E.S.T. Standards will replace state tests with the SAT or ACT, better aligning testing for college readiness.
ECSO Arrests 17 In Burglary Ring, Clearing Up 67 Cases
January 25, 2020
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has made 17 arrests since October in a burglary ring, clearing up 67 cases. Suspects ranged in age from 14 to 22.
Charges include vehicle thefts, vehicle burglaries, carjackings, armed robberies and event shootings. The burglary ring hit areas not only in Escambia County, but also Baldwin, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties.
Deputies are still looking for one additional suspect – 20-year old Salathel Hernadez (pictured).
Those charged include:
- Oreion Lane, 18
- Jacquavious Savage, 18
- Deonte Brown, 17
- Rashawn Posey, 17
- Tony McGee, 16
- Kody Gresh, 18
- Christopher Evans, 19
- Dradoni Ricks, 17
- Jalael Smith, 22
- De’Shawn English, 19
- Terrance Harris, 18
- Steven Prayer, 19
- Roy James, 18
- Jacobi Brown, 18
- Zywan Dees, 16
- Roykerria Posey 14
- Santana Chambers, 14
Anyone with information on the whereabout of Hernandez is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
Escambia Man Gets 40 Months For Trying To Sell Equipment To Iran
January 25, 2020
An Escambia County man has been sentenced to 40 months in federal prison for conspiring with foreign nationals to ship technology to Iran.
James P. Meharg, 59, pleaded guilty to federal charges of conspiring to sell and export power generating equipment to a recipient in Iran as well as making false statements on export documents and international money laundering. Meharg, CEO and president of Turbine Resources International, LLC, located in Pensacola, conspired with citizens of the United Kingdom and Iran to export a large turbine and parts from the United States to an Iranian recipient, in violation of the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations as well as federal criminal law.
According to the indictment, Meharg, a citizen of the United States, conspired from October 1, 2017, to June 12, 2019, to violate the embargo by attempting to export a Solar Mars 90 S turbine core engine and parts from the United States, for delivery to an end user in Iran. On April 25, 2018, the indictment alleges, Meharg sent an invoice for $500,000 to a conspirator in the United Kingdom and received two partial payments of $124,950 each, on May 7 and May 24, 2018, at least one of which was routed through a company in Dubai.
Meharg, a local U.S. citizen, admitted that he conspired from October 1, 2017, to June 12, 2019, to violate the Iranian embargo by attempting to export a Solar Mars 90 S turbine core engine and parts from the United States, for delivery to an end user in Iran. Evidence revealed that on April 25, 2018, Meharg sent an invoice for $500,000 to a conspirator in the United Kingdom and received two partial payments of $124,950 each, on May 7 and May 24, 2018, which were routed through a company in the United Arab Emirates. In total, Meharg received approximately $250,000 in funds laundered through foreign accounts as payment for having the turbine sent to Iran. Law enforcement authorities, however, were able to seize the turbine before its transatlantic journey to the end user in Iran. That end user, a conspirator in Iran, is linked to an Iranian oil, gas, and petrochemical company. Meharg also admitted to falsifying documents used to export items from the Pensacola area.
“Exporting technology to Iran is prohibited for a very good reason, and this defendant chose to put his own self-interest above the national security needs of the United States of America,” Keefe said. “This case should send a clear signal that the United States cannot and will not look the other way when one of its citizens endangers the safety of our nation and its people.”
Assistant United States Attorney David L. Goldberg, who is a National Security Cyber Specialist, is prosecuting the case following a joint investigation by the United States Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security along with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Woman Arrested At Holman Prison With Gun, Narcotics In Her Vehicle
January 25, 2020
The Alabama Department of Corrections reports a woman was arrested with a gun and narcotics in her vehicle outside Holman Prison in Atmore.
On Saturday, January 18, at approximately 12:50 p.m., a narcotic-detection canine alerted to a vehicle on property at Holman. After a search, an ADOC investigator discovered marijuana and a handgun in the vehicle.
The driver, identified as Amelia Allen, 43, of Moundville, Alabama, was on prison property to visit an inmate. The ADOC investigator who completed the search placed Allen into custody and charged her with second-degree possession of marijuana.
“My department is fully committed to eliminating the presence of illegal contraband throughout our facilities,” said ADOC Commissioner Jeff Dunn. “Addressing this nationwide challenge in our state’s facilities is a crucial step to providing a safe, rehabilitative environment. We will continue to take this commitment seriously through regular contraband raids as well as heightened security to ensure illegal paraphernalia does not enter our facilities from external parties.”
Funeral Services Announced For Former Longtime Brewton Mayor Ted Jennings
January 25, 2020
Funeral services have been announced for former longtime Brewton Mayor Ted Jennings, 75. He passed away January 20 while on vacation in Georgia.
Visitation will be held Sunday night, January 26 from 6-8 p.m. at the Brewton First United Methodist Church. A celebration of life service will be held Monday, January 27 at 1 p.m. at the Brewton First United Methodist Church.
Family is asking that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to: Greater Brewton Foundation C/O Stephanie Walker, P.O. Box 87, Brewton, Alabama 36426, or donations made to Drexell and Honeybees.
Jennings served as Brewton’s mayor from 1998 to 2012, and also worked as a local pharmacist.
Jennings is former president of the Alabama League of Municipalities where he continued to work with the League and the Municipal Workers Compensation Fund as a staff member of Millennium Risk Managers.
He is survived by his wife Susan, five children and numerous other relatives and friends
Your Caller Id Says It’s Gulf Power. But It’s Probably A Scam.
January 25, 2020
Gulf Power, the Better Business Bureau and law enforcement are warning area residents about scammers claiming to be from Gulf Power and demanding money.
As NorthEscambia.com reported Wednesday, Gulf Power is legitimately in the process of updating their payment system, and scammers are taking advantage of that situation. The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office said the scammers are contacting Gulf Power customers advising they need to pay a balance on their account before their electricity is turned off. Some have been advised to pay with gift cards or other “odd” methods of payment.
“We never threaten to cut your power immediately, or require payment using a prepaid card,” Gulf Power posted on social media. Gulf Power will never ask for money when they visit a residence, and Gulf Power representatives carry badges with picture identification with the company name and logo.
According to the BBB, the scammers are spoofing Gulf Power’s actual customer service number on caller ID. The BBB is advising don’t answer the call, and don’t call back any phone number they may leave on a voicemail.
Gulf Power customers can call the utility directly at (800) 225-5797 with any questions or concerns about their account.
Northview Girls Weightlifting Places At Districts, Advances To Regionals
January 25, 2020
Northview High School’s girls weightlifting team placed at districts Friday at Baker. They advance to the regional meet on January 31, also at Baker.
Team members are (pictured, L-R) De’janique Lowery, Jayla Barron, Caitlin Gibbon, Elianna Morales, Naudia Carach and Taylor McMinn.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
One Person Killed In W Street Crash; Century Man, Pensacola Woman Critical
January 24, 2020
One person was killed in a crash Thursday afternoon on W Street at Marcus Pointe Boulevard.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 36-year old Ava Stoudemire of Pensacola attempted to turn her Toyota van onto Marcus Pointe Boulevard. She failed to negotiate the turn and collided with a semi-truck and then rotated into a box truck, both of which were traveling south on North W Street.
Stoudemire and the front seat passenger, 34-year old Gregory Matthews of Century, were transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in critical condition. The rear passenger was pronounced deceased at the scene. The male’s identity has not yet been released pending notification of next of kin.
The drivers of the trucks were not injured.
The FHP investigation is continuing.
One Killed In Four Vehicle Wreck North Of Atmore
January 24, 2020
One person was killed in a four vehicle crash north of Atmore Thursday evening.
About 5:45 p.m., Alabama State Troopers responded to the crash on Highway 21 near Ross Road.
Troopers said Warren Demetrick Stallworth, 39, of Monroeville, was traveling south when his 2019 Acura TLX collided head-on with a 2019 Ford F-150 driven by Spencer Rogers, 36, of Atmore.
Also involved in the crash was a 2015 Chevrolet Impala driven by Sherry Ann Dale, 60, of Frisco City and a 2008 Dodge Ram driven by Sharon Banks, 53, of Monroeville.
Rogers, Dale, Banks, and two others were transported for treatment of injuries.
Stallworth, who was not using a seat belt, was ejected from his vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.
Additional details have not been released as troopers continue to investigate.