Molino Woman Sentenced To Prison For Shooting At Husband After He Gave Her Divorce Papers
February 18, 2019
A Molino woman has been sentenced to prison for shooting at her husband several times after he came home with divorce papers.
Wendy Maureen Dennis, 42, was convicted by an Escambia County jury of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and discharging a firearm. She was sentenced by Judge Jennie Kensey to 24 months in state prison to be followed by three years probation.
In April 2018, her husband called 911 and stated that his wife had shot a gun at him multiple times before leaving their residence on North Highway 95A and heading toward Molino Road. Responding Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies conducted a felony traffic stop on her vehicle and recovered a .22 caliber rifle that was in plain view on the backseat of the vehicle, according to an arrest report. She was taken into custody without incident.
The husband told deputies that he brought home divorce paperwork to his wife of eight years, and everything was fine as they started to leave their residence to go to the tax collector’s office to have the papers notarized. According to the husband’s statement to deputies, she then walked to her car, retrieved the rifle, yelled at him and fired several shots in his direction. He was not injured.
The couple’s divorce was finalized in August 2018, according to court records.
Florida Highway Intersection To Get Safety Upgrades After Multiple Wrecks In Fog
February 18, 2019
A dangerous Alabama intersection will get safety upgrades as early as this week help prevent accidents.
As Highway 99 heads north from Bratt and out of Escambia County, FL, into Alabama, the name changes to Florida Highway. Two miles later, Florida Highway terminates with a stop sign at Highway 31.
Three weeks ago, a Century woman was seriously injured when she missed the stop sign in dense fog and crossed Highway 31. Her pickup landed on its side across railroad tracks that are below road level and parallel to Highway 31. It’s one of several wrecks that have occurred when drivers missed the end of the road in thick fog.
“When it is foggy, you can be at the end of the road before you know it,” Escambia County (AL) Commissioner Brandon Smith said. “So far we’ve been very fortunate. One day a vehicle is going to get broadsided by a log truck, or one day it is going to be a car load of kids.”
Weather permitting, county crews will install rumble strips this week on Florida Highway to warn drivers of the upcoming intersection. There’s already a stop ahead sign in place.
“But drivers lose track of where they are on the road. It just has big open fields on both sides, so drivers are at the end before they realize it,” Smith said. “If the changes save just one life, it will be worth it.
Pictured: The Florida Highway intersection with Highway 31, about two miles north of the Alabama-Florida state line, Sunday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
FDOT’s $20 Million In Funding For ST Engineering Won’t Hurt Local Projects
February 18, 2019
The Florida Department of Transportation is removing $20 million in funding for two projects well outside Escambia County to contribute to the expansion of ST Engineer at the Pensacola airport.
Last week, FDOT stated in a letter to Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson that the agency is amending funding for other unspecified projects to fulfill the $20 million, but the agency did not elaborate on exactly which projects would be cut. NorthEscambia.com reached out to FDOT for answers.
Tom Byron, FDOT assistant secretary for Strategic Development, told NorthEscambia.com in an email that the funding will come from two passenger rail related projects along Florida’s East Coast, both roughly from Jacksonville from Miami.
“There were two projects already in the pipeline for deletion,” Byron said. “…The projects being deleted are not in Escambia County.
Earlier this month, Escambia County contributed another $5 million, for a total of $15 million, to the project. The money is mostly from local option sales tax funds. The Pensacola City Council also voted to contribute another $5 million to their previous $10 million commitment.
The city also requested another $12.5 million from Triumph Gulf Coast in addition to their previously committed $56 million. The Triumph board committed to additional $10 million, $2.5 million short of the ask, for a commitment of 1,325 jobs for at least seven years.
The project includes the construction of hangers and is expected to create over 1,300 jobs.
Tate Softball Coach, Nine Others Inducted Into PSC Athletics Hall Of Fame
February 18, 2019
Pensacola State College inducted 10 charter members into their Athletics Hall of Fame, including a current Tate High School softball coach.
Pensacola State has a long and storied sports and athletic tradition. The Hall of Fame has been a long time coming with such rich heritage,” said PSC Athletic Director Bill Hamilton. “This Hall of Fame will stand as a reminder for all time that these awesome individuals got their start here.”
The inaugural Hall of Fame class includes student-athletes, advisers, coaches, game officials and volunteers:
Dana Gilmore is the most-decorated female athlete in Pensacola State history. She was a First Team All-Conference for two years in softball and volleyball, a two-time First Team All-State in softball and First Team All-State her sophomore year in volleyball. She also was a two-time Academic All-American and the winner of the FCSAA’s Softball Jean Williams Award for scholar-athletes. She holds six softball records at Pensacola State and is the College’s all-time leader for volleyball aces. Gilmore was named to the 2003 Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association NJCAA Division I All-America Team and went on to play softball at University of Central Florida for one season. She transferred to University of Mobile where she was a member of the 2006 NAIA National Champion team. She’s now an assistant softball coach at Tate High School where she helped coach the 2015 State Champion team in girls’ softball.
Joel Anthony, a native of Canada, was recruited by Pensacola State and played basketball for the Pirates from 2002-04. He transferred to University of Nevada, Las Vegas where he was named the Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Year. He signed with the Miami Heat, helping the team win back-to-back NBA Championships. He also played for the Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons, San Antonio Spurs and the Milwaukee Bucks. He now plays for Argentina’s San Lorenzo de Almagro basketball club league.
Mary Bailey established the softball program at Pensacola State in 1982. A 1967 Pensacola State graduate, she was head softball coach from 1982-94. In 1988, Bailey led the Lady Pirates slow-pitch softball team to the NJCAA Division I Softball National Championship and she was named the 1988 NJCAA Division I National Softball Coach of the Year. During her time at Pensacola State, she compiled a 498-166 record. The Panhandle Conference Softball Championship trophy was named in her honor.
Bill Brantley taught in the College’s Physical Sciences Department from 1965-95. After retirement, he taught as an adjunct professor until 2009. He generously contributes to the PSC Foundation and PSC athletics and created the William T. Brantley Scholarship Endowment for Physical Sciences. A former basketball player, Brantley attends a majority of Pirate basketball games with his wife Patsy and is a member of the Pensacola State Booster Club.
Jim Donovan was the College’s golf coach from 1987-1993. After serving in the U.S. Navy for 32 years, he coached golf at Catholic High School from 1985-87 before joining the coaching staff at PSC. He led the Pirates golf team to the NJCAA Division II National Championship in 1993 while winning the 1993 NJCAA Division II National Golf Coach of the Year, and missed a second title by one stroke the following year.
Charles Fairchild was a charter member of Pensacola State College Athletic program’s first boosters. He played basketball at Pensacola State from 1962-64 and was a member of PSC’s first state championship basketball team in the 1962-63 season. He was the MVP of the team and the leading scorer and second leading rebounder in both years that he played at PSC. He went on to play at Florida State for two years. Always a basketball fan, he was a member of the group that brought the Pensacola Tornados professional basketball team to the city. He served as color commentator for WCOA radio and later WSRE-TV when those stations broadcast the PJC basketball games.
Dennis Lindsey was Pensacola State’s first full-time assistant coach, coaching men’s and women’s basketball, from 1994-96. He joined the Houston Rockets organization in 1996, and eventually worked his way up to become the franchise’s vice president. He also served as vice president and assistant general manager of the San Antonio Spurs. He has been the general manager of the Utah Jazz since 2012.
Greg Litton played baseball for the Pirates in 1983-84 and signed to play at Mississippi State University, however he was drafted in the first round of the 1984 draft by the San Francisco Giants. After five seasons in the minor leagues, Litton moved up as a rookie and hit a home run in Game 4 of the 1989 World Series. Litton played with the Seattle Mariners and the Boston Red Sox before retiring in 1995. A true utility player, Litton played every position on the field during his Major League career.
Bob Marlin was a Pensacola State basketball coach from 1990-95. In 1993, he led the College to the NJCAA Division I Basketball National Championship and was named the 1993 Division I NJCAA National Basketball Coach of the Year. In his five seasons at Pensacola State, Marlin compiled an astonishing 123-35 record.
Bill McArthur, a youth sports advocate, was a longtime supporter of Pensacola State basketball. He played basketball for Pensacola High and was inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame. He graduated from Pensacola State in 1953, and transferred to Florida State University where he earned his bachelor’s degree. He also earned his master’s degree from Mississippi State College. During the Korean conflict, McArthur served in the U.S. Army, returned to Pensacola and worked with the Escambia County School District for many years. He worked the table at basketball games for several local high schools, the Pensacola Tornados professional basketball team and the News Journal and Blue Angels tournaments. As a table coordinator at Pensacola State for 42 years, he enjoyed a relationship with every president, athletic director and coach who served at the College.
Pictured: Tate High softball assistant coach Dana Gilmore at her induction into the PSC Athletics Hall of Fame Saturday. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FDOT: This Week’s Road Work Delays
February 18, 2019
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads and projects in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
- U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – Lane closures will take place from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 17 until Sunday, Feb. 24:
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- U.S. 98 east and westbound from North 14th Avenue in Pensacola to just east of the Pensacola Bay Bridge in Gulf Breeze.
- North 17th Avenue in Pensacola between U.S. 98 and the CSX Railroad overpass (Graffiti Bridge).
- U.S. 29 Widening from Interstate 10 (I-10) to U.S. 90A (Nine Mile Road) – The following traffic impacts will occur from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. from Sunday, Feb. 17 to Saturday, Feb. 23.
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- Temporary Closure of U.S. 29 On-ramp: The northbound U.S. 29 on-ramp from Nine Mile Road will be closed from 8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 18 to 6 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 19 as crews place drainage pipes across the roadway. Nine Mile Road travelers needing to head north on U.S. 29 will be redirected to northbound Palafox Street, then left at 9 ½ Mile Road to return to U.S. 29.
- Nine Mile Road at the U.S. 29 Overpass: Alternating traffic shifts will direct all traffic onto the westbound or eastbound lanes as crews continue construction of the new northbound bridge deck. Nine Mile Road lane restrictions are Sunday through Friday.
- U.S. 29 between I-10 and 9 1/2 Mile Road: Drainage and paving operations continue. Drivers can expect alternating lane closures Monday through Saturday.
- State Road (S.R.) 727 (Fairfield Drive) from South of Usher Circle to North of Hestia Place- The northbound lane on Fairfield Drive from South of Usher Circle to North of Hestia Place will be closed from 8:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. until Sunday, Feb. 24 as crews remove the existing asphalt to prepare for roadway widening.
- U.S. 98 (Lillian Highway) Resurfacing from the Perdido Bay Bridge to Dog Track Road– Drivers may encounter lane restrictions from the Perdido Bay Bridge to Dog Track Road as crews complete paving operations on the project. Lane closures will be in effect from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Monday, Feb. 18 until Sunday, Feb. 24.
- U.S. 90 (Mobile Highway) and County Road (C.R.) 99 (Beulah Road) Intersection – Drivers will encounter intermittent lane restrictions near the intersection the week of Sunday, Feb. 17 as paving operations continue. There will be no lane closures allowed from 6 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
- I-110 Routine Bridge Inspections- Motorists can expect minor delays due to intermittent lane restrictions under I-110 in downtown Pensacola from East Chase Street to East Gonzalez Street as crews perform routine inspections of the I-110 downtown bridges. Lane restrictions will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 17 until Saturday, Feb. 23.
- S.R. 291 (Davis Highway) from Fairfield Drive to Selina Street- The northbound, outside lane will be closed at various locations between Fairfield Drive and Selina Street as crews perform utility work and raise manhole covers. The lane restrictions will be in effect from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 19 until Thursday, Feb. 28
- Theo Baars Bridge Routine Inspection- Motorists may encounter intermittent lane restrictions on the Theo Baars Bridge on S.R. 292 (Gulf Beach Highway) from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 26 until Thursday, Feb. 28 as crews perform a routine bridge inspection.
- Crary Road Bridge Replacement over Pritchett Mill Creek- Crary Road is closed between Tedder Road and Byrneville Road as crews construct a bridge culvert. Motorists will be detoured via C.R. 4 and Byrneville Road. The project is anticipated to be complete spring 2019.
- Bratt Road Bridge Replacement over Canoe Creek - Bratt Road will continue to be closed near Canoe Creek. Drivers on Bratt Road, west of the bridge, will be detoured to Pine Barren Road and C.R. 4. Drivers east of the bridge will be detoured east on Bratt Road. The project is anticipated to be complete summer 2019.
- Hanks Road Bridge Replacement over Breastworks Creek - Construction activities have begun. The roadway will be temporarily closed during construction. Drivers on Hanks Road, west of the bridge, will be detoured to C.R. 99 and C.R. 4. Drivers east of the bridge will utilize Pine Barren Road.
Santa Rosa County:
- I-10 from Blackwater Bay to East of S.R. 87 (Exit 31)-Traffic may encounter alternating and intermittent lane restrictions from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., Sunday through Thursday, until Thursday, March 28 as crews remove and replace pavement markings. Law enforcement will be on site to assist with traffic control.
- S.R. 87 Pavement Markings Replacement- Traffic will encounter minor delays at the following locations Monday through Thursday from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. until Thursday, April 25 as crews remove and replace pavement markings in the roadway. Law enforcement will be on site to direct traffic:
- U.S. 90 to Nicholas Lake Road
- U.S. 98 to Vonnie Tolbert Road
- U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – Lane closures will take place from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 17 until Sunday, Feb. 24:
- U.S. 98 east and westbound from North 14th Avenue in Pensacola to just east of the Pensacola Bay Bridge in Gulf Breeze.
- North 17th Avenue in Pensacola, between U.S. 98 and the CSX Railroad overpass (Graffiti Bridge).
- I-10 Widening from Escambia Bay Bridge to Avalon Boulevard (S.R. 281/Exit 22) – The following construction related traffic impacts are planned for I-10 and Avalon Boulevard from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. the week of Monday, Feb. 18:
- Drivers may encounter alternating lane closures on Avalon Boulevard, near the I-10 interchange, Monday through Thursday evenings, as crews perform construction activities.
- Alternating lane closures on I-10, from the Escambia Bay Bridge to east of S.R. 281, Monday, Feb. 18 until Friday, Feb. 22 as crews work to widen the roadway.
- Drivers will encounter new traffic pattern(s) on I-10 east and westbound as crews reconstruct the inside and outside shoulders. This work will continue through spring 2019.
- U.S. 98 Safety Improvements at Constitution Drive and Navarre School Road- There will be intermittent eastbound lane closures near Thresher Drive from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday through Thursday as crews construct a right turn lane.
- Drainage work is underway at Newport Street and Thresher Drive.
- Construction activities continue from Sunrise Drive to east of Cotton Bay Lane. Lane Closures will be in effect Sunday through Thursday from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. as crews perform concrete operations in the median.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. Drivers are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling through a work zone and to watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway.
Pictured: Road work on Nine Mile Road. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Northview Girls Weightlifting Presents Annual Awards
February 18, 2019
Northview Girls Weightlifting celebrated their accomplishments during a recent year-end banquet.
The following awards were presented:
MVL — Most Valuable Lifter — Hailey Harigel
MVL -Most Valuable Lifter — Chanalei Auelua
Spirit — Destiny Cleckler
Leadership — Lexxi Baggett
Team — Shelby Bashore
Coach — Ayiana Courtney
Dedication — Destiny Braddock
Lettering in Weightlifting
Mia Starns
Anna Adams
Miyhanna Davidson
Payton Gilchrist
Taylor McMinn
Ayiana Courtney
Shelby Cotita
Chanalei Auelua
Jayla Barron
Maggie Amerson
2nd Year Letter
Lynnsey Holzapfel
Destiny Braddock
Destiny Cleckler
Shelby Bashore
Libby Pugh
Naudia Carach
Hailey Harigel
Abigail Nelson
3rd Year Letter
Crystal Douglas
4th Year Letter
Lexxi Baggett
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Blood Drives This Week At Northview, Tate And UWF
February 18, 2019
Blood drives are upcoming this week for students and staff at Northview and Tate high schools, and the University of West Florida.
The Big Red Bus will be at:
Northview High School on Tuesday from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m.
University of West Florida on Tuesday from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Tate High School on Thursday from 9 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.
OneBlood welcomes blood donations from donors 16 years old and older. Donors that are 16 years old must present a signed permission form from their parent or a guardian before the donation.
Pictured: The OneBlood Big Red Bus at the Molino Branch Library. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
National TV Show To Feature Local Sister Murder Story
February 17, 2019
A documentary television series is set to take a look at the case of a Northview High School student that shot and killed her sister in 2011 in an argument over a cellphone.
Elena Janelle Rendell — who was 17 at the time of the August 3, 2011, shooting — was convicted as a youthful offender for shooting 14-year old Christina Marie Sneary, a former Molino resident.
“We’re currently producing a docuseries for the Investigation Discovery network, focusing on true crime cases involving sisters and their families. Each episode examines their lives and relationships involved before things went bad, to help us understand the context for the crime,” Wesley Middleton, a producer for 44 Blue said in an email to NorthEscambia.com.
Rendell was sentenced to one year in the county jail, with no credit for nearly one year she spent behind bars awaiting trial. She also received five years probation. The reduced sentence was due to Rendell’s mental capacity at the time of the shooting.
She was also ordered to continue with mental health counseling and treatment.
The two girls had recently moved with their mother from Sunset View Lane in Molino to the 7600 block of Kipling Street in the Ferry Pass community.
Rendell told deputies that she began to argue with Sneary over a cell phone. During the argument, Rendell ran into her parent’s bedroom and retrieved her father’s 9 mm handgun from the top of a television shelf that stood about 12-feet high. Rendell then pointed the handgun at her 14-year old sister and fired a single gunshot into the right side of Sneary’s neck. Sneary died a short time later at Sacred Heart Hospital.
There air date of the program is not yet known. It is being filmed through early this week in Escambia County.
44 Blue’s recent crime and justice programming includes HBO’s top-rated documentary “Rock and A Hard Place,” produced in association with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Dany Garcia’s Seven Bucks Productions, which took an in-depth look at an alternative sentencing program for young offenders in Miami. 44 Blue is also known for A&E’s top-rated “Nightwatch,” produced in association with Dick Wolf, MSNBC’S “Lockup,” the longest running prison documentary series on television, and its trio of spinoff series “Lockup: Raw,” “Lockup: World Tour” and “Life After Lockup,” as well as Animal Planet’s number-one rated “Pit Bulls & Parolees,” currently airing its ninth season.
Local Rotary Clubs Pack 54,300 Meals For Manna To Fight Hunger
February 17, 2019
The Combined Rotary Clubs of Pensacola (CROP) packed 54,300 meals Saturday to fight hunger with the Manna food bank.
Over 250 volunteers contributed to the project — a morning spent packing nutritious lentil casserole packets to provide much-needed food to those in need. According to Manna Executive Director DeDe Flounlacker, the project has become a critical part of their ability to meet the needs of the hungry throughout the year in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
“The Rotary Against Hunger project provides much-needed food during the winter and early spring months when giving has decreased and need has increased,” said Flounlacker. “Last year, Manna provided food assistance to 13,533 people. Many are the working poor, grandparents raising their grandchildren, and moms and dads who do not have enough money to pay their bills and buy food for their family. Thanks to our Rotary friends, thousands of our neighbors in need will be given the gift of nutritious food.”
Since Rotary Against Hunger started in 2012, CROP has packed over 650,000 meals for the hungry.
“Through this project, Rotary is striving to exemplify Service Above Self, the Rotary motto,” said Tracy Allen, Rotary Against Hunger Project Chair.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
No Change In ECUA Trash Collections Due To Presidents Day
February 17, 2019
ECUA offices will be closed Monday, February 18, in observance of the Presidents Day holiday. All residential and commercial sanitation collections for ECUA customers in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties will be unaffected, and will be carried out as scheduled. Customers may call ECUA Customer Service at (850) 476-0480 for additional information.