Florida Supreme Court Rejects Santa Rosa County Death Row Appeal
March 30, 2018
The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday rejected appeals by two Death Row inmates who were convicted of murdering women in the 1990s in Santa Rosa and Hillsborough counties.
One of the appeals was filed by Norman Grim, who was sentenced to death in the 1998 murder of Cynthia Campbell, whose body was found by a fisherman floating off the Pensacola Bay Bridge, according to a brief by Attorney General Pam Bondi’s office.
victim, who was wrapped in a sheet, a shower curtain and masking tape, had been beaten in the face and suffered multiple stab wounds to the chest.
The other appeal was filed by Samuel Smithers, who was convicted in the 1996 murders of Cristy Cowan and Denise Roach. The bodies of the women were found in a Hillsborough County pond, with a 2002 Supreme Court summary of the case saying both women had been strangled and suffered other injuries, including “chop” wounds to Cowan’s head.
The appeals dealt with issues related to a 2016 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in an Escambia County case known as Hurst v. Florida and a subsequent Florida Supreme Court decision.
The 2016 U.S. Supreme Court ruling found Florida’s death-penalty sentencing system was unconstitutional because it gave too much authority to judges, instead of juries. The subsequent Florida Supreme Court ruling said juries must unanimously agree on critical findings before judges can impose death sentences and must unanimously recommend the death penalty.
Juries unanimously recommended death sentences for Grim and Smithers.
But the appeals decided Thursday involved questions about the other findings needed to sentence defendants to death.
Chief Justice Jorge Labarga and justices R. Fred Lewis, Alan Lawson, Charles Canady and Ricky Polston agreed to reject both appeals. Justice Barbara Pariente supported rejecting the appeal in the Smithers case but dissented in the Grim case. Justice Peggy Quince dissented in both cases.
by The News Service of Florida
Man Fleeing From Deputies Crashes Into Delivery Truck
March 30, 2018
A driver running from deputies crashed into a Coca-Cola truck Thursday afternoon before committing a home invasion, according to authorities.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 37-year Bryant Lee Williams of Pensacola was actively fleeing from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office eastbound on Johnson Avenue when ran a stop sign at Cody Lane and crashed his Nissan Altima into a Freightliner delivery truck driven by 40-year old Michael McCall of Pensacola. McCall suffered minor injuries and was transported to West Florida Hospital.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said had deputies were called to assist the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conduct a traffic stop on Williams but he refused to stop. A spokesman for the ECSO said they had called off the pursuit prior to the crash.
After he crashed into the Coca-Colatruck, deputies said Williams dropped a large amount of narcotics in the road as he ran away. After that, deputies said he committed a nearby home invasion before being apprehended.
Williams is facing narcotics, fleeing and eluding and home invasion charges, plus unspecified charges from the ATF. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $317,000.
Top photo courtesy Allie Norton, WEAR 3, for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Shuts Out Coral Park In Sarasota Classic
March 30, 2018
The Tate Aggies beat Coral Park 9-0 Thursday in the Sarasota Classic to go 2-2 during the week’s tournament play.
The Aggies score one in the first before coming alive in the third with eight runs on their way to an error-free game.
Trey Lafleur threw a complete game with one hit, no runs, two walks and 13 strikeouts.
Ryan Greene, Reid Halfacre, Raymond Lafleur, Mason Land and Jesse Sherrill had RBI’s for Tate.
One Injured In Cantonment Crash
March 29, 2018
One person was injured in two vehicle accident Thursday morning on East Kingsfield Road at Tate Road in Cantonment.
The crash involving a Honda Odyssey minivan and a GMC work truck occurred about 7:40 a.m. One person was transported by Escambia County EMS to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
The cause of the crash is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
The Ensley Station of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Escambia Deputies Arrest Attempted Homicide Suspect
March 29, 2018
An Escambia County man has been arrested for an attempted murder last week.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said Kevin Antonio Jordan was charged with attempted homicide, use or display of a firearm during a felony, deadly missiles, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and robbery with a firearm.
The incident occurred in the 3100 block of North Pace Boulevard.
Jordan remains in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $1.3 million.
Natural Gas Transfer Station Under Construction In Cantonment
March 29, 2018
A natural gas transfer station is under construction in Cantonment.
The facility is located at 1647 South Highway 95A, a 0.37 acre parcel located between the former Sonic and Waffle House that front on Highway 29. Officially known as the Peninsula Pipeline Custody Transfer Site, the project will include two natural gas pipeline access areas. The property will be fenced and gated, according to documents filed with Escambia County.
According to Barry Kennedy, gas operations director for Florida Public Utilities, the pipeline operator, a single natural gas pipeline will be split into two lines on the property. The above-ground piping will allow access for “pigs” — devices that are placed inside the pipeline for inspection or cleaning purposes.
Florida Public Utilities is constructing the pipeline along a 42-mile route through North Escambia from Century to Nine Mile Road. The pipeline continues south from Century along Highway 29 right of way from Century to the Highway 95 transfer station. From there, an eight-inch line will follow Old Chemstrand Road to Ascend, while another eight-inch line will continue south to West Roberts Road to Pine Forest Road to West Nine Mile Road where the project will connect to an existing gas system.
Pictured above and below: A natural gas transfer station under construction on Highway 95A in Cantonment. Pictured inset: A door to allow for “pig” access to the pipeline. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Atmore Winn Dixie Closing; Ramey’s To Acquire Assets And Move Into Building
March 29, 2018
The Winn Dixie store in Atmore will close in the coming weeks, and Ramey’s Marketplace will move into the building.
“Ramey’s has entered into an agreement to purchase the fixtures and non-perishable inventory of the Winn Dixie located on Church Street in Atmore. While a specific date has not been set, it is expected the sale will be finalized on or about the end of April,” Ramey’s CEO Herbert E. Ramey, Jr. told NorthEscambia.com.
Once the sale iss complete, Ramey’s will close their Lindberg Avenue location and move into the Winn Dixie building on Church Street.
“We expect the new store to have approximately 50 full and part time employees and will provide Ramey’s a great opportunity to offer the residents of Atmore and surrounding areas an enjoyable and rewarding grocery shopping experience,” Ramey said.
Ramey’s opened their Atmore store in October 2013, having purchased Bella Foods. The privately held Ramey’s company operates 22 stores — six in Alabama, one in Louisiana and the remainder in Mississippi.
Southeastern Grocers, the parent company of Winn Dixie, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection just two week ago. The company simultaneously announced the closure of 94 “under performing” stores, but the Atmore Winn Dixie was not on the list, and the Cantonment and Pensacola stores were also spared. The Atmore Winn Dixie, known decades ago as a “Kwik Chek” has been open for about 60 years.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Thousands Attend Blue Angels First Home Practice Of Year (With Gallery)
March 29, 2018
The Blue Angels took to the skies for their practice of the season in front of a large crowd Wednesday at Naval Air Station Pensacola.
For a complete schedule of Blue Angels practices at NAS Penacola, click here.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Photos by Ditto Gorme for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Branden Penegar Car Show Set For Saturday
March 29, 2018
The annual Brandon Penegar Memorial Car Show will held this Saturday.
Any make, model or year car is welcomed for the show. Car registration will be from 8:00-11:00 a.m. on March 31. The fee is $15 to only display a car, $25 to enter the car in the show. Spectator admission is free. Click here for a printable flyer (pdf) with more information.
The Southern Revival Band from Molino will be playing from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.
Branden Penegar, known as the “Gentle Giant” was a 2011 graduate of Tate High School, an assistant coach for the freshman Tate Aggies’ football program and varsity tennis team, and a member of the Tate High School Student Hall of Fame. He passed away in March 2013 at the age of 20. Penegar was a active member of the Gonzalez United Methodist Church and youth program.
The car show was rescheduled from March 17 due to weather.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Falls To Sarasota
March 29, 2018
The Tate Aggies lost to Sarasota 7-2 in a battle of the historic champions in the Sarasota Classic.
Tate took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the third, but Sarasota answered with four in the bottom of the third and three in the bottom of the fourth.
Sarasota and Tate have won a combined 15 state championships and are third and fourth among public schools with the most championships in state history.
Darrien Mcdowell took the loss for Tate Aggies Varsity 2018 . He surrendered five runs on five hits over three innings, striking out one.
For Tate: Reid Halfacre 1-3, R; Mason Land 1-4; Hunter McLean 1-4, RBI; Darrien McDowell 1-2; Jesse Sherrill 2-4.