NorthEscambia.com Publisher Named One Of Area’s Most Influential People
March 30, 2017
The Pensacola Independent News has released their 2017 IN Power List — their ranking of the most the most powerful and influential people in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
Only two people that work primarily in the North Escambia area were named to the list — Escambia County Commissioner Steven Barry of Cantonment and, for the sixth consecutive year, NorthEscambia.com Publisher William Reynolds.
Topping this year’s list was Rishy Studer, co-owner Studer Properties, Blue Wahoos and Bodacious Shops.
To read this year’s Inweekly Power List edition, click here.
Multiple Fires Set Along Miles Of Roadway
March 30, 2017
Firefighters battled about a dozen brush fires along a 3-4 mile long stretch of Highway 31 east of Flomaton Wednesday afternoon. It appeared that as many as dozen small fires may have been intentionally set along the roadway, with several of those fires spreading into wooded areas. The Flomaton, Brewton, McCall and Friendship fire departments from Alabama, and the Century and McDavid fire stations of Florida were dispatched to the fires. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Former Tate Football Coach Arrested On Multiple Child Sex Charges
March 29, 2017
A former Tate High School football coach and church leader has been arrested on multiple child sex offenses against multiple victims over a period from at least 1997 to 2016. Offenses allegedly occurred in locations that included the Tate High School locker room.
Charlie Mabern Hamrick, 54, is facing charges that include three counts of providing obscene material to minors, multiple counts of lewd and lascivious behavior on a victim age 12 to 16, lewd and lascivious behavior on a victim less than 12 years old, and 36 counts of capital sexual assault on a victim under 12. The capital assault charges are life felonies. He remains in the Escambia County Jail.
Hamrick was allegedly director of a boy’s group called the Royal Rangers at Harvest Christian Center in Cantonment when a 11-year old boy asked him about puberty during the summer of 2014. The victim’s mother agreed to allow Hamrick to show an educational video to the boy. Hamrick took the boy to the Tate High School locker room and showed him a series of videos, including teens discussing puberty, nude men in sexual acts ,and a video of a nude man and woman engaged in sexual intercourse, according to court documents.
Hamrick is also accused of inappropriately touching a 13-year old boy’s private area at Hamrick’s home at 7855 Sasser Lane. He also allegedly led a young boy to a bedroom in his home and while Hamrick was nude in front of him.
An adult male came told investigators this month that he was abused by Hamrick between 1997 and 2000. The victim was 8-11 years old at the time of the alleged abuse and had met Hamrick through his position as a Sunday School teacher at Pine Forest United Methodist Church. Charges against Hamrick include 36 counts of capital sexual assault for allegedly abusing the young boy on numerous occasions at his home, then in the Pebble Creek Subdivision, and at a Pensacola Beach house and onboard his boat.
An Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report details numerous types of sexual contact between Hamrick and the boy, averaging about once per month for three years. Some of the inappropriate contact reportedly happened under a blanket in Hamrick’s living room while his wife was present, but the victim told investigators that the wife had no knowledge of the abuse.
The victim said he just recently reported the abuse from the late 1990’s because he heard of Hamrick’s other charges and wanted to make sure it did not happen to anyone else.
Another boy reported late last year that he was abused by Hamrick during the summer of 2016 while at his house for fishing, four-wheeler riding and other activities with an additional male friend. The victim was 12-13 years old at the time.
Hamrick was not a full time school district employee, but was paid a stipend as a coach at Tate High School where he reportedly served as the freshman team coach. He was at Tate from August 1, 2012, to September 14, 2015.
Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan is encouraging any additional victims to come forward and contact local law enforcement.
ECSO: Woman Pulls Machete On Man Outside Century Business
March 29, 2017
A woman was jailed after allegedly threatening a man with a machete in the parking lot of a Century gas station Monday afternoon.
Sandra Ann Delafosse was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and possession of drug paraphernalia following the 2:50 p.m. incident at the Century Food Mart in the 7900 block of North Century Boulevard.
The victim told deputies that Delafosse pulled a machete out of her car and approached him. He said he was in fear for his life and that he felt she was going to cut him, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report.
When deputies searched Delafosse, they reported finding a burnt glass pipe on her person. Further details on the incident have not yet been released.
Delafosse was booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $7,500.
Bratt Elementary Names March Students Of The Month
March 29, 2017
The following students (pictured above) were named Students of the Month for March at Bratt Elementary School.
Landon Allcock
Kyle Blanton
Madilynne Cardwell
Jonah Carter
Malonie Curry
Irmani Dixon
JaCee Dortch
Elizabeth Gilley (not pictured)
Nathan Gilmore
Cate Greenwood
Kyndal Hadley
Joshlynn Helton
Fallon Hubbard
Camden Jacobson
KayLeigh Jay
Savannah Lowry
Kaya Mason
Carley Moore (not pictured)
Briley Moore
Gracie Norton
Brooklyn Reynolds
Cooper Rice
Braylan Shelly
Brayden Smith
The students pictured below, Cooper Rice and JaCee Dortch were chosen to represent Bratt Elementary School as Escambia County Students of the Month for March.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
House Moves Foward On Medical Marijuana
March 29, 2017
Pledging that it is only a start, a Florida House panel gave a thumbs-up Tuesday to a medical-marijuana proposal castigated by supporters of a constitutional amendment that legalized cannabis for a broad swath of patients with debilitating conditions.
The House Health Quality Subcommittee overwhelmingly approved the measure (HB 1397), sponsored by House Majority Leader Ray Rodrigues, with just one “no” vote after nearly three hours of public testimony.
“I believe this is a measured approach,” Rodrigues, R-Estero said, “but I will caution you that it is not the final product.”
The Rodrigues proposal would prohibit smoking of cannabis products, as well as edibles, and would ban all but terminally ill patients from using vaporizers to consume medical marijuana, one of the biggest objections to the bill raised by supporters of the constitutional amendment.
Known as Amendment 2, the ballot initiative was approved by more than 71 percent of Florida voters in November. It came after the Legislature in 2014 and 2016 passed far-more limited medical marijuana laws, allowing non-euphoric cannabis for some patients and full-strength marijuana for people with terminal illnesses.
The House bill would provide fewer additional licenses for purveyors of medical marijuana than a Senate plan would allow. Currently seven “dispensing organizations” have been approved by state health regulators.
Another point of contention in the House proposal would require health officials to grant medical marijuana licenses to applicants that lost out when vying to become one of the handful of operators authorized to grow, process and distribute non-euphoric cannabis products more than a year ago.
The proposal would require the Department of Health to grant another five licenses once the patient population reaches 200,000, and another three licenses for every additional 100,000 patients registered in a state database.
That’s in contrast with a leading Senate proposal, which would require the state to issue five new licenses by the end of the year and up to 20 new licenses — nearly quadruple the current number of seven — by the time the patient registry reaches 500,000.
Rodrigues’ legislation would also maintain a required three-month relationship between patients and doctors before health care providers could order the marijuana treatment, something critics say is detrimental.
Opponents of the constitutional amendment — including Drug Free America and Save Our Society from Drugs — are throwing their support behind the Rodrigues bill.
Calvina Fay, executive director of St. Petersburg-based Drug Free America, told the panel Tuesday she was pleased the proposal “has incorporated many of our recommendations.”
But Ben Pollara, campaign manager for the political committee that backed Amendment 2, harshly criticized the House plan, saying it “was written for the less than 29 percent who voted ‘no’ rather than the over 71 percent who voted ‘yes’ “” on the amendment.
“This proposal undermines and contradicts the Constitution, the will of 71 percent of Floridians, and would impose significant, arbitrary barriers to patient access,” Pollara said.
by Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida
Drivers Hits And Kills Two Cows After Vandals Open Gate
March 29, 2017
A driver struck and killed two cows near Walnut Hill Tuesday morning after vandals apparently let them out of their pasture.
The pickup truck driver refused EMS at the scene after he struck the two black cows before daybreak on Gobbler Road, just off Highway 97. The two cows were part of herd of 180 in a nearby pasture. It was discovered that someone had cut the lock and opened the gate to pasture sometime during the overnight hours.
The owner of the cows says this is not the first time vandals have caused damage allowing the cows to escape.
Each cow weighed an estimated 600 pounds or more with a market value of $1,000 each.
The incident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the ECSO at (850) 436-9620.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
FWC Law Enforcement Report
March 29, 2017
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the two week period ending March 23 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officers Ramos and McHenry were conducting saltwater fishing license and marine resource inspections on Pensacola Beach and saw a man, who was actively fishing, begin to behave suspiciously. When asked, the man provided a false name to the officers. After establishing the man’s name, an active warrant was found for violation of probation/DUI. The subject was booked into Escambia County Jail for the outstanding warrant and issued a citation for not having the required non-resident fishing license.
Officers Manning and Allgood concentrated their efforts on offshore fisheries inspections in the Gulf of Mexico. Four vessel operators were found in possession of undersized greater amberjack. Notice to appear citations were issued for these violations. Later that day as they approached another vessel, they noticed the operator throw some fish into the water. As Officer Allgood boarded the vessel, Officer Manning retrieved two gray triggerfish that were still floating. Officer Allgood questioned the operator of the vessel about the triggerfish and he admitted to throwing them. During his inspection, a strong odor of marijuana was present. One of the passengers admitted to having a small amount of marijuana and a pipe. The pipe and marijuana were seized and notice to appear citations were issued for possession of undersized gray triggerfish, possession of cannabis, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officer Jones was on patrol in the early morning on the Eglin Wildlife Management Area (WMA) and found a fresh set of vehicle tracks going through a closed range gate and into an area closed to all public access. He followed the tracks to an area where he saw flashlights working off in the distance. He followed the lights on foot and found a man and a woman standing near a parked vehicle. The two subjects were in possession of hundreds of spent brass ammunition shell casings. They were charged with numerous violations including entering a closed area, entering Eglin property during closed hours, no Eglin permit and theft. The male subject was also charged with resisting arrest without violence.
Officer Jernigan concluded an investigation into a boat that was found abandoned in the Blackwater WMA. He contacted the last registered owner who referred him to another man to whom he gave the boat. The officer finally contacted a subject who admitted to finding the boat in what appeared to be an abandoned state. He took the boat but later thought that it might have been stolen, so he hauled it to the nearby forest where he disposed of it. The man was charged with littering and the boat was returned to the registered owner.
Officer Hutchinson received information about a man who had a small alligator as a pet at his residence. The subject did not have the proper permits to possess the alligator and the officer found that the man was keeping the alligator inside an aquarium. The man admitted to catching the alligator in Yellow River at the end of the 2016 alligator hunting season. He said he caught two small alligators and took them home, but one later died. He kept the other one as a pet. The alligator was seized and the man was charged for possession of an alligator without a permit.
Lieutenant Berryman and Officers Hoomes, Roberson and Cushing responded to a request from the U. S. Coast Guard (USCG) of a reported distress call from a vessel somewhere in East Bay/Blackwater Bay. After searching the area for three hours in rough seas and inclement weather, the search was called off due to lack of additional information on the possible location of the vessel.
Officer Hutchinson helped coordinate an after-school function for S. S. Dixon Elementary School. The event’s theme was camping, fishing and nature. FWC Wildlife Biologist Almario, Wildlife Technician Jernigan and Officer Hutchinson participated in the event. They set up a wildlife display that involved hands‑on wildlife identification games as well as other displays. They answered many questions and interacted with the students and their parents. Approximately 300 people attended the event.
This report represents some events the FWC handled over the past week; however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement. Information provided by FWC.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Dortch Homers As Northview Beats Baker; Ullrich Homers As Tate Tops Escambia
March 29, 2017
Northview 7, Tate 5
Peighton Dortch hit an inside the park home run Tuesday evening and Jamia Newton had a triple as the the Northview Chiefs beat the Baker Gators 7-5 in Bratt.
For Northview – Jamia Newton 1-4, R, 2RBI, 3B; Kendall Enfinger 2-4, R, RBI; Tori Herrington R; Aubrey Love R, RBI; Peighton Dortch 1-3, R, 2 RBI; Valen Shelly 1-3. R; Lydia Smith 1-3.
Tori Herrington pitched the district win for the Chiefs in seven innings, allowing five hits, five runs, three errors and striking out nine.
The Chiefs will be at Washington on Thursday.
For more photos from the Northview game, click here.
Tate 12 , Escambia 7
Shelby Ullrich homered as the Tate Aggies scored eight in the fourth on their way to a 12-7 defeat of the Escambia Gators Tuesday. The win earned the Aggies (12-3, 7-0) the top seed in the Class 7A, District 1 tournament.
Hannah Brown earned the win for the Tate Aggies. She tossed seven innings, giving up seven runs, six hits, and striking out 10.
For Tate: Hannah Brown 2-5; Hayden Lindsay 1-4, R, 2 RBI; Belle Wolfenden 1-3, 2 R, 2 RBI; Leslee Scruggs, 2-4, 2 2B; 4 RBI; Shelby Ullrich 2-3, R, 2B, 2 RBI, HR; Ashley Lundquist 1-1; Tristen Cook, 1-4, R; Deazia Nickerson 1-4, R, RBI;
Tate 11, Escambia 11 JV
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview Tops Jay In District Contest
March 29, 2017
The Northview Chiefs defeated Jay 4-2 Tuesday at Bratt.
Josh Neese pitched six for Northview allowing two hits, two runs and striking out six, while Bailey Wilson pitched one, walking two and striking out two. Logan Dobson took the loss for Jay in six, allowing nine hits and striking out three.
For Northview: Quinton Sampson 2-2, RBI, 1R. Chandler Lowery 3-3 1 RBI, Bailey Wilson 2-3 RBI 1 R.
The Northview Chiefs (8-6, 3-2) will host South Walton on Friday in a 5 p.m. varsity game.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
