Diapers, Baby Wipes Could Get Tax Break
January 6, 2017
Two Democratic lawmakers have filed proposals that would provide sales-tax exemptions for diapers and baby wipes.
Sen. Lauren Book, D-Plantation, filed the tax-break bill (SB 252) on Thursday, slightly more than a month after House Minority Leader Janet Cruz, D-Tampa, filed the House version (HB 71). The proposals, which will be considered during the legislative session that starts March 7, would provide tax exemptions for baby diapers, adult diapers and baby wipes.
Lawmakers during the upcoming session also are expected to consider bills (SB 176 and HB 63) that would provide sales-tax exemptions on feminine hygiene products such as tampons.
by The News Service of Florida
Tate Wrestling Team Wins Holiday Invitational Tournament
January 6, 2017
The Tate High School wrestling team won the recent Tate High Invitational Tournament.
Several Tate Aggie wrestlers received medals. They were:
- Jacob Cochran
- Lee Pedicord
- Alex Porter
- Matthew Blalock
- Kendall Townley
- Isaiah Brill
- Juan Alvarez
- Jeff Rafuse
- Alex Young
- Orlando Milhouse
- Azaya Purifoy
- Jacob Neales
- Jacob Nowling
Second place at the tournament went to Dora, AL and third place was Fultondale, AL.
Pictured: The Tate High School wrestling team. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Judge Denies Bond Reduction For Century High Speed Chase Suspect
January 6, 2017
A Century man that led law enforcement on a high speed chase from Pensacola to Baldwin County last October will remain in jail.
At a hearing this week, Judge Thomas Dannheisser denied a motion to reduce bond for 29-year old Roosevelt Lamont Dixon. He remains in the Escambia County Jail with bond set $162,600. He is charged with fleeing and eluding law enforcement at a high speed, knowingly driving with a suspended license second offense, cocaine possession, possession of drug paraphernalia, fleeing and eluding law enforcement, robbery, driving with a suspended license first offense, aggravated battery and carjacking.
On October 20, an Escambia County deputy in an unmarked vehicle first spotted Dixon on Pensacola Boulevard near I-10 in a Dodge Charger. Dixon took I-10 to Davis Highway as deputies worked to get marked units in the area in order to conduct a traffic stop. He continued to Creighton Road. A traffic stop was attempted in the Rooms-To-Go parking lot on Davis Highway at Airport Boulevard. Dixon allegedly fled north on Davis Highway to I-10 back to Pensacola Boulevard.
The pursuit traveled north to Cantonment and Molino at speeds over 100 mph. The vehicle was chased into Alabama and Highway 112 before Florida deputies lost sight of it. Baldwin County law enforcement located the vehicle near the Foley Beach Expressway and I-10. Dixon was apprehended in a wooded area following a K-9 search.
Several schools in the North Escambia area were place on lockdown during pursuit as a precaution.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, this was not the first time Dixon had run from them.
On June 16, deputies conducted on a traffic stop on a Hyundai Sonata with no tag on Tulip Street near Century, just yards from the Alabama state line. The deputy reported that after the Sonata came to a stop, Dixon allegedly pushed the female driver out of the car, jumped into the car and fled, nearly running over her and taking her vehicle without her permission. Dixon fled into Alabama.
Dixon was also wanted since 2015 on drug charges after the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit and a SWAT team executed a search warrant at his home and recovered items including crack cocaine and spice.
Dixon remains in the Escambia County Jail without bon
One Injured In Tate School Road Crash
January 5, 2017
One person received minor injuries in a two vehicle crash about 3:50 this afternoon on Highway 95A and Tate School Road. The injured party was transported to an area hospital by Escambia County EMS. The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Further details were not available. NorthEscambia.com
What Was The Strange Noise In Cantonment Last Night? Not A Fire Breathing Dragon
January 5, 2017
Numerous readers contacted NorthEscambia.com about a strange, loud noise in Cantonment Wednesday night. A couple of readers even described the noise as sounding like a “fire breathing dragon”.
NorthEscambia.com tracked down the source of the noise, and no, it was not a fire breathing dragon. It was the International Paper plant in Cantonment literally letting off a little steam.
“Noise may occur if our boilers vent steam to bring our equipment back to service. We are back operating today,” said Janice Holmes, spokesperson for IP, adding that the plant was in compliance with all laws regarding noise levels.
“We always want to be great neighbors by listening and responding to community concerns as quickly as possible,” Holmes added.
Always better neighbors than a fire breathing dragon, we presume.
The sound can be heard from a distance in the video above, and from near the plant in the video below. Reader submitted videos by Alisha Sloan and Brittany Seale.
Pedestrian Struck And Killed By Cantonment Man On Nine Mile Road
January 5, 2017
A pedestrian was struck and killed on Nine Mile Road late Wednesday night.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 52-year old Ricky W. Polk of Saucier, MS, was walking west on Nine Mile Road near the intersection of Cove Avenue when he was struck by a 1999 Dodge pickup driven by 56-year old Marlon K. Shelton of Cantonment. Polk was pronounced deceased on the scene of the 11:19 p.m. crash.
Shelton pulled over to the shoulder of the road following the crash.
The FHP is investigating to determine if Polk was in the roadway or on the shoulder at the time of the crash. Any charges against Shelton are pending the outcome of the investigation.
Teen Hit By Vehicle On Chemstrand Road
January 5, 2017
A teen pedestrian was struck by a vehicle Wednesday morning on Chemstrand Road.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 15-year old Jacob Gallawa was walking along the shoulder of Chemstrand Road when he stepped into the path of a 206 Dodge Ram driven by 49-year old Cynthia Williams of Pensacola.
Gallawa transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in critical condition. Williams and her 8-year old passenger were not injured. No charges were filed in the crash.
George Stone Law Enforcement Academy Donates To Backpack Project
January 5, 2017
Students enrolled in the Law Enforcement Academy at George Stone Criminal Justice Training Center spend 33 weeks learning everything they need to become qualified to take the State Officer Certification Exam that, when completed and passed, will allow the student to become a certified law enforcement officer with municipal and county agencies throughout the state of Florida.
Every Law Enforcement Class in the GSTCs Criminal Justice training program is encouraged to take on a special cause for their class service project as a way to give back to the community. L.E. Class #45 chose the Escambia County School District’s Maintenance Department’s program Backpack Project USA for their class project. After contacting the Maintenance Department to get a wish list, they solicited donations and purchased the needed items.
Class #45’s assistant commander, Kevin Hill said, “After Mr. Lyster, (academy coordinator) suggested the Backpack Project, we realized there was a way we could help a student who may not get enough to eat over the weekend by simply donating some of the items on the wish list. In turn, this allowed us, the students of L.E. Class #45, to help make a big difference in the lives of children in need and in turn begin to give to the community as we would do as those sworn to serve and protect.”
The items have been delivered to the Maintenance Department for distribution in January. Class #45 has also received an invitation to attend the annual 2017 Family Fishing Rodeo and Fish Fry scheduled for next Labor Day.
b
Convicted Rapist Escapee Recaptured
January 5, 2017
Alabama Department of Corrections officials report the recapture of state inmate Bobby Junior Campbell. Campbell, 37, and a male suspect were taken into custody by ADOC agents around 2 p.m. today in Montgomery.
Campbell and Mitchell Shane Worthy, 24, were found at an area hotel near Interstate Park Drive where both surrendered to authorities without incident. Worthy is suspected in aiding Campbell in his escape.
Campbell was transferred from the G.K. Fountain Correctional Facility in Atmore to the Barbour County Sherriff’s Department on Nov. 17. Campbell was later released from the Barbour County Jail the same day.
The Department of Corrections reported Campbell’s release as an escape on Wednesday after corrections officials discovered a fraudulent court document in his file ordering his transfer from the Fountain Correctional Facility to the Barbour County Jail and subsequent release.
Officials said the fraudulent order raised questions of its authenticity when a person’s name authorizing the inmate’s transfer and release could not be validated.
Campbell was serving a 20-year sentence on a 2004 second-degree rape conviction out of Houston County. He faces charges for the escape. Worthy will be charged with aiding an escaped inmate.
Worthy was sentenced to three years in prison in 2014 on a theft of property conviction in Elmore County. He was released from prison in October 2015 and his connection with Campbell is not known at this time.
The ADOC is investigating Campbell’s escape and the circumstances leading to his release.
Driver Escapes Injury In Highway 29 Deer Crash
January 5, 2017
A driver escaped injury in a collision with a deer on Highway 29 just south of Morgan Cemetary Road in Molino Wednesday night. The collision caused the airbags in the vehicle to deploy. The accident was investigated by the Florida Highway Patrol. The deer did not survive. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
