Hunter Killed In Accidental Shooting Identified As Alabama Man
January 24, 2018
A hunter died in an apparent accident in Escambia County (AL) Tuesday morning.
Darren Smith, age 45 of Daphne. was discovered deceased at a hunting club from an obvious gunshot wound in the Huxford community, near Prestwood Bridge Road, according to Escambia County (AL) Chief Deputy Mike Lambert.
Lambert said authorities believe Smith was accidentally shot by another hunter. Foul play is not suspected.
An investigation is underway by the Escambia County Alabama Sheriff’s Office and Alabama Game & Fish.
Escambia County Would Move To Eastern Time Zone Under Proposal
January 24, 2018
A move to put all of Florida, including Escambia County, in the same time zone, while following daylight-saving time throughout the year, got the backing of a Senate committee on Tuesday.
But even if the proposal receives approval from the full Legislature, the U.S. Department of Transportation and Congress would both have to act for the changes to occur.
The Senate Community Affairs Committee voted in favor of the proposal (SB 858), which seeks to put Panhandle counties in the same time zone as the rest of the state and for Florida to observe daylight-saving time all year. Much of the Panhandle is now in the Central time zone, while the rest of the state is in the Eastern time zone.
Sen. Greg Steube, a Sarasota Republican who is sponsoring the proposal, initially sought to have the state exempted from daylight-saving time and observe standard time throughout the year. But an amendment Tuesday moved the bill closer to a House version (HB 1013), which seeks year-round daylight-saving time.
Steube said his proposal originated when visiting a barber, who complained that having to set clocks back an hour in the fall had a negative impact on children and it’s “kind of created a life of its own.”
“If you look at statistics on when people typically shop, they typically shop during the daytime. Because some people aren’t real comfortable going to the mall, going to shops, when it’s dark outside,” Steube said. “I’ve heard from mayors from all across the state because they’re going to save money on softball fields because it will stay light later in the day.”
Daylight-saving time occurs between 2 a.m. on the second Sunday in March and 2 a.m. on the first Sunday in November of each year.
A Senate staff analysis noted that there would be “indeterminate” and “insignificant” costs tied to the change as people would have to reprogram computers and other electronic devices so the automatic change of clocks wouldn’t occur each spring and fall.
Under the bill, dubbed the “Sunshine Protection Act,” the U.S. transportation secretary would have to initiate rulemaking to redesignate the portions of Florida that currently lie within the Central time zone to the Eastern time zone. Congress would have to approve legislation to allow the state to remain under year-round daylight-saving time.
Steube’s proposal must still go before the Senate Commerce and Tourism and Rules committees.
The House version, which doesn’t include putting the Panhandle counties into the same time zone as the rest of the state, is scheduled to make its first appearance before the House Local, Federal and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Wednesday.
by Jim Turner The News Service of Florida
Byrneville Elementary Releases Honor Roll
January 24, 2018
Byrneville Elementary School named the following students to their honor roll for the second nine weeks of the school year:
Mrs.Barberree-Kindergarten
All Satisfactory:
- Tyrus Bradley
- Trusten Brown
- Lainey Dunsford
- Maggy Dunsford
- Madelyn Faulk
- Russell LeMesurier
- Hailey Levins
- Keaten Odom
- Sawyer Odom
- Cam’Ron Reed
Mrs. Seales-Kindergarten
All Satisfactory:
- Tyree Baker
- Zacharie Barrow
- Jayden Carter
- Kyle Lowery
- Alydia Sutton
- Zane Therrell
- Nevaeh Tidd
- Caesar Whorff
- Madyson Wiggins
Mrs. Slade-Kindergarten
All Satisfactory:
- Madison Brazwell
- Rilee Campbell
- Jameson Eli Evans
- Brian Madison
- Douglas Maxwell
- Kinsley McKinnon
- Bentley Sanders
- Maryann Tedder
- Jakiy’rah Thomas
Ms. Brown-1st Grade
“A” Honor Roll:
- Ethan Carter
- Allison Grant
- Bryce Miller
- Kaden Smith
- Ember Claire Waters
- Bryce Yoder
“A/B” Honor Roll:
- Landon Barrow
- Mazie Burkett
- McKenzie Griffis
- Ty Jackson
- Brandon Lambeth
- Brooklyn Miller
- Molly Powell
- Zi’nique Smith
Mrs. Kitchin-1st Grade
“A” Honor Roll:
- A/zariyah Elliott
- Olivia Levins
- Tyson Milliken
- Natalie Rogers
“A/B” Honor Roll:
- Clark Burt
- Anastasia Cooley
- Bryce Giger
- Carson Headden
- Dylen McCaw
- SaRai McKee
- Brody Rigby
- Layla Schoonover
Mrs. Linton-2nd Grade
“A” Honor Roll:
- Elizabeth Gilley
- Meeyah Lassiter
“A/B” Honor Roll:
- Jaxon Anderson
- Emma Godwin
- Katelyn Levins
- Olina Miles
- Lola Weldon
- Jeniyah Woods
Mrs. Moorhead-2nd Grade
“A” Honor Roll:
- Briley Beers
- Lyla Calloway
- Sierra Carnley
“A/B” Honor Roll:
- Nicholas Long
- Mason McKinnon
- Darien Smith
- Olivia Thomas
- Zane Weaver
- Cecelia Whorff
Mrs. Dunsford-3rd Grade
“A” Honor Roll:
- Aleah Livingston
- Jase Portwood
“A/B” Honor Roll:
- Valeria Franco
- Warner Maxwell
- Isaiah Phifer
- Trenton Wright
Mrs. Weaver-3rd Grade
“A” Honor Roll:
- Lexi Bingham
- Taylor Curtis
- Gabrielle Hawsey
- Layla Jordan
- Caleb Levins
- Cannon Whorff
- Allison Yoder
“A/B” Honor Roll:
- Michael Brazwell
- Kayden Harwell
- Preston Hudson
- Benji Parker
- Aleah Therrell
- Bonnie Trump
Mrs. Marshman-4th Grade
“A” Honor Roll:
- Elizabeth Coleman
- Luke Godwin
- Savannah Hudson
- Christian Velazquez
“A/B” Honor Roll:
- Cameron Bourgeois
- Tyler Carach
- Mary-Clayton Dawson
- Ryder Lee
- Makenzie Levins
- Easten Odom
- Bree Roberson
- Evelyn Smith
Mrs. Thornton-4th Grade
“A” Honor Roll:
- London Brooks
- Andrew Plant
- Braxton Wagner
- “A/B” Honor Roll:
- Jaycee Harvell
- Sawyer Jackson
- Hanah Lambeth
Mrs. Johnston-5th Grade
“A” Honor Roll:
- Evin Matlock
- Mia Turner-White
- Brian Yoder
“A/B” Honor Roll:
- Logan Bevins
- Zack Herndon
- Raegan Kimmons
- Mia Kornegay
- Allie Odom
Ms. Singleton-5th Grade
“A” Honor Roll:
- Maddie Mae Driskell
- Madison Levins
- Riley Long
- Addisen Miller
“A/B” Honor Roll:
- Kerrisa Dortch
- Jade Howell
- Kelan Jurey
- Adam Waller
Walnut Hill Woman Arrested For Possession Of Crack, Heroin And Meth
January 24, 2018
A Walnut Hill woman was arrested on multiple felony drug counts after a traffic stop in Pensacola.
Victoria Lynn Burkett, 30, was charged with three felony counts of a possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, possession of crack cocaine, possession of heroin, possession of methamphetamine and four counts of possession of drug paraphernalia.
An Escambia County deputy on patrol stopped a Nissan Altima driven by Burkett on Fairfield Drive at Missin Road. An Escambia County K-9 gave a positive search indication on the vehicle, prompting a search. Deputies found a white rock that tested positive for cocaine, a crystal rock substance that had a presumptive positive test for methamphetamine, a small bag of crystal meth, two syringes containing liquids and spoon with residue, according to an arrest report.
Burkett was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $12,000 bond.
The PB&J sandwich: A Classic On National Peanut Butter Day
January 24, 2018
The peanut butter and jelly sandwich is as about as American as apple pie. National Peanut Butter Day was Jan. 24.
The average American schoolchild will consume about 1,500 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches by the time he or she graduates from high school, according to the Peanut Advisory Board, a nonprofit organization dedicated to research on the nutritional value of peanuts.
Libbie Johnson, agricultural agent for UF/IFAS Extension Escambia County and co-organizer of the annual Peanut Butter Challenge for the Florida Panhandle, explained the popularity of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
“Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches taste so darn good,” Johnson said. “Or maybe because they require no refrigeration and are easy to prepare. They have enough sweetness to satisfy a sweet tooth, but they’re filling.”
Nan Jensen, a family and consumer sciences agent with UF/IFAS Extension Pinellas County offers a more expansive explanation.
“It probably has to do with a combination of taste and nostalgia,” Jensen said. “The savory, gooey texture of peanut butter paired with sweet, sticky jelly served between two slices of your favorite bread make for a great flavor combination. Most of us grew up eating PB&J sandwiches — a lunch box staple — and the tradition has been passed down through the generations.”
But peanut butter’s value also lie in its nutrients, she said.
“While it is high in fat and calories, it is a healthier monounsaturated type, and you are getting some protein, magnesium, niacin, phosphorous and vitamin E for your calorie investment,” Jensen said.
Extension faculty suggest limiting intake to about 2 tablespoons – about 180 calories. Jensen offers additional advice to try to ensure people get nutrition without so much unhealthy trans fats and added sugar in their peanut butter: Buy peanut butter that is just ground peanuts with a hint of salt and one that doesn’t contain the partially hydrogenated fat and added sugars.
Consumers can do much more with peanut butter than make PB&J sandwiches. Jensen suggests some tasty, unique ways to use peanut butter:
- Put it in a smoothie.
- Make a sauce.
- Add it to soup.
- Bake with it.
- Use it as a dipper for fruit and veggies.
Bill Would Require ‘In God We Trust’ To Be Displayed At Schools
January 24, 2018
With supporters saying the motto is a “foundation” of the state and country, a House panel Tuesday approved a bill that would require the message “In God We Trust” to be displayed at all public schools.
“In God We Trust” is included in state law as Florida’s official motto.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Kimberly Daniels, D-Jacksonville, and Rep. Mel Ponder, R-Destin, would require school boards to adopt rules ensuring that the motto would be displayed in a “conspicuous place” in each school.
“There’s a saying that if the foundation is destroyed, what can we do?” Daniels said before the House PreK-12 Innovation Subcommittee approved the bill. Sen. Keith Perry, R-Gainesville, has filed an identical bill, but it has not been heard in Senate committees.
Pictured: “In God We Trust” appears on the Florida state flag.
Video Catches Shootout At Escambia County Intersection
January 23, 2018
One man has been arrested and deputies are seeking a second suspect after two people opened fire at a busy intersection on Monday.
Dash cam video from a nearby vehicle shows a silver Lexus pull up to the intersection of W Street and Fairfield Drive about noon. A man, later identified as 27-year old Jonathan James Harris is seen leaning out the open driver’s window of a silver Lexus. He begins firing across a traffic lane at a gold Toyota driven by 31-year old Jeremy Olds.
The man identified as Olds jumps out of the Toyota and returns fire..
Olds has been located and charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Deputies are still searching for Harris.
Authorities have estimated that 10-12 rounds were fired, including rounds that struck a nearby vehicle with two children inside.
Deputies said the shooting was likely drug related.
Anyone with information on Harris or the shooting is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Bobcat Loader Stolen From Molino Business Recovered Hidden In Wooded Area
January 23, 2018
A Bobcat stolen from a Molino store two weeks ago was recovered Monday in a wooded area less than five miles away.
The $30,000 Bobcat skid was stolen over the long New Year’s weekend from inside a warehouse at HH Feed and Seed on Highway 97. Employees discovered the break-in when they returned to work January 3.
Monday, the store received a call from a man who had found the Bobcat along a logging road on property near Brickton Road in Molino. The Bobcat had been wrapped in a tarp and covered with vegetation.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded, recovered the Bobcat and processed the crime scene.
The store owners are still offering reward for additional information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the suspect(s).
When the Bobcat was stolen, the thief apparently cut power to both buildings at HH Feed and Seed at about 1:38 a.m. Saturday, December 30 in an attempt to disable the surveillance system, and they destroyed cameras. The skid steer was then loaded onto a trailer and removed from the premises.
Items in the company’s warehouse were damaged during the theft.
Anyone with information on the burglary is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Pictured: The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office investigates after a stolen Bobcat was recovered in a wooded area in Molino on Monday. Pictured inset and first photo below: The Bobcat was concealed with a tarp and vegetation. The Bobcat is hidden in the left of the photo below. Pictured bottom photos: The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office investigated the theft on January 3. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wanted Florida Felon Arrested After Search Warrant, Manhunt In Flomaton
January 23, 2018
A wanted Florida felon was taken into custody after police executed a search warrant and a manhunt in Flomaton Monday night.
Anthony Williams, 51, was charged with possession of a controlled substance (cocaine) and possession of drug paraphernalia by the Flomaton Police Department. He was also being held on outstanding felony warrants out of Escambia County, FL.
According to Flomaton Police Chief Bryan Davis, Williams was not at home on Martin Luther King Boulevard when authorities went to pick him up on the outstanding Florida warrants. As police where executing a search warrant at his home, Williams reportedly drove by, saw police, got out of his vehicle and fled on foot.
He was tracked by a K-9 team from Fountain Correctional in Atmore, along with officers from the Flomaton Police Department, Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office and Escambia County (FL) Sheriff’s Office.
Williams is being held without bond in the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center in Brewton on the Flomaton charges and awaiting extradition back to Florida. Authorities have not said what charges he faces in Florida.
Barry Talks Roads And Bridges At Town Hall Meeting
January 23, 2018
Escambia County District 5 Commissioner held a “roads and bridges” town hall in Walnut Hill Monday evening, as residents expressed their problems with closed bridges, long detours, dirt roads and speeders.
There are 145 county maintained bridges in Escambia County, with 110 of them in Commissioner Steven Barry’s district. And eight of those are current under reconstruction, which has been a source of much grief for hundreds or even thousands of people in District 5.
The North Escambia area from Molino north to the Alabama line has been dotted with bridge closures over the past year or more. Some of the closures were planned projects funded by the state, while others were emergency closures due to an aging and failing infrastructure…most North Escambia bridges on county roads were constructed 50 or more years ago with concrete spans on wood pilings. Many of the detours are miles long, some require the use of slippery dirt roads.
Barry said the county has installed one per-fabricated steel bridge on Arthur Brown Road in Walnut Hill (read previous article) that will allow the bridge to reopen just two months after a rapid emergency closure by the state.
The steel bridge will last about 50 years as compared to 75 years for traditional concrete, Director of Public Works Joy Blackmon said,, but the entire bridge project will be done in two months with a cost of about $400,000 as opposed to $1 million for a concrete bridge.
“The technology is a good use of tax money that gets the residents back to their normal lives faster,” Barry said.
County officials have said they hope to use more of the bridges on future county funded bridge replacements.
Currently closed bridges in Escambia County are listed below, along with projected reopening date:
FDOT Projects
- Highway 99 At Pine Barren Creek — April 28
- Dortch Road at Beaver Dame Creek — February 9
- Highway 97A at Boggy Creek — February 2
- Highway 99A at Boggy Creek (at Walnut Hill Baptist) — March 3
- Highway 196 at Jacks Branch — June 16
Escambia County Projects
- Highway 99A – January 29 (near Pineville)
- Occie Phillips Road — April 3
- Nokomis Road – April 29
- Bratt Road – November 18
The Florida Department of Transportation has provided Escambia County with a bridge inspection schedule, which will allow the county to know in advance which bridges might be closed by the state due to a failed inspection.
FDOT bridge inspections are currently scheduled in January for:
- Tate Road at an unnamed branch
- River Annex Road at the Perdido River
- Highway 196 at Jacks Branch
- Crabtree Church Road at Alligator Creek
- Schaag Road at branch of Jacks Branch
- Schaag Road at Jacks Branch
- Rockaway Creek Road at Rocky Branch
Several residents also express concerns to Barry about speeding drivers.
“I want something to stop these people from speeding,” a resident of Pine Forest Road said. “Of 75 vehicles that passed my house, 73 were speeding. The other two were John Deere tractors.”
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
