Take Stock In Children Awards $215K In Scholarships To Local Students
June 4, 2016
Take Stock in Children and the Escambia County Public Schools Foundation awarded $215,000 in scholarships at the June 2 “Graduation & Unsung Hero Celebration”. The event honored 17 graduating seniors who received four-year tuition scholarships. In addition, each graduate received a laptop computer.
The 2016 Take Stock in Children graduates are:
Escambia High: Ashleigh Bell, Shelby Butts, Austin Travis:
Northview High: Ureil Codrington, Amber Freeman, Carly Ward;
Pensacola High: Destinee Brundidge, Savion Henderson, Jazmin Womack;
Pine Forest High: Tara Vanderburg;
Tate High: Brianna Holmquist, Alicia Presswood;
Washington High: Alyssa Barnes, Courtney Greene, Donald Vaughan;
West Florida High: Nikita Babkin, Mariah McMullen
Take Stock in Children was established in 1995 as a non-profit organization in Florida that provides a unique opportunity for deserving low-income students to escape the cycle of poverty through education. Students receive college scholarships, caring volunteer mentors, and hope for a better life. Students are selected through a need-based application process in middle school and comprehensive services continue through high school and include the students’ transition into college. Scholarships are funded through a unique public-private fundraising model in which local scholarship donations are matched by the Florida Prepaid College Foundation when scholarships are purchased each year. Each student is matched with a volunteer mentor who meets with the student weekly at school.
Pictured: 2016 Escambia County Take Stock in Children graduates (front, L-R) Carly Ward, Courtney Greene, Nikita Babkin, Savion Henderson, Ureil Codrington, Destinee Brundidge, Jazmin Womack, Shelby Butts, (back, L-R) Donald Vaughan, Alyssa Barnes, Ashleigh Bell, Austin Travis, Tara Vanderburg, Mariah McMullen, Alicia Presswood and Amber Freeman. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
ECSO Placing The Number ‘6′ On Vehicles To Honor Blue Angel Pilot
June 4, 2016
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office will honor fallen Blue Angel Capt. Jeff Kuss by place the number “6″ on the back of patrol vehicles.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Capt Kuss and with the U.S. Navy Blue Angels crew,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
License Free Fishing Weekends
June 4, 2016
This weekend, June 4 and 5, is a license-free saltwater fishing weekend, and June 11 and 12 will be a license-free freshwater fishing weekend for Florida residents and visitors. On these weekends, a fishing license is not required.
Governor Scott said, “Florida is the fishing capital of the world, and I am excited to announce two license-free fishing weekends this month that include both saltwater and freshwater fishing opportunities. As children get out of school for 
the summer break and more tourists visit our state, I encourage every family to take advantage of these weekends to enjoy Florida’s great outdoors with their loved ones.”
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is hosting these four license-free fishing days near National Fishing and Boating Week, a national celebration of fishing and boating. The Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation’s www.TakeMeFishing.org website offers information on events sponsored by businesses and communities during National Fishing and Boating Week, as well as locating fishing sites, identifying recreational species and finding fishing tips.
This free fishing weekend is a part of the eight total license-free fishing days the FWC offers each year. All bag limits, closed areas and size restrictions apply on these dates. To learn more about license-free fishing days, visit MyFWC.com/License.
Convicted Man Faces Up To Life For 2014 Beulah Murder
June 4, 2016
An Escambia County man has been found guilty of a 2014 murder in Beulah and is facing up to life in prison.
Terrance Soles was convicted by an Escambia County jury of second degree murder in the killing of Skky Shine.
On November 10, 2014, Soles was driving a white Toyota Avalon with the victim Skky Shine in the front passenger seat. Soles made a 911 phone call at approximately 1:30 a.m., and in that phone call Soles can be heard telling the victim, Shine to put his hands on the dash and not to move. Before the call ends, victim Shine can be heard saying “don’t shoot me.” Within minutes, Soles calls 911 back requesting law enforcement to his mother’s home and eventually says on that 911 call “we were going through it here in the car and I shot him.”
Sheriff’s deputies responded to Soles’ mother’s home where Soles drove up flashing his lights and was found to have a 9mm pistol in his lap. The victim, Shine was in the passenger seat with a single gunshot wound to the head.
In the Toyota Avalon, crime scene technicians found one spent 9mm casing and one projectile. FDLE confirmed that the casing was fired from the weapon that the defendant had in his lap. FDLE was also able to identify Shine’se DNA on the 9mm pistol and casing. It was later determined that Soles purchased the 9mm pistol in 2012 from a dealer in Louisiana. During the autopsy, the Medical Examiner determined that the gun was fired from a close range of two inches or less by the presence and location of gunpowder particles on the victim.
Circuit Judge John Miller ordered a presentence investigation and set sentencing for July 12. Soles is facing a minimum sentence of 25 years with a maximum sentence of life in state prison under Florida’s 10-20-Life statute.
Dixon Homers Again, Mobile Still Beats The Wahoos
June 4, 2016
Pensacola second baseman Brandon Dixon keeps sending pitches out of the ballpark and Friday his solo shot in the sixth inning into the left field berm at Hank Aaron Stadium tied the game, 3-3.
However, Mobile BayBears’ relief corps shutout Pensacola over the last 3.1 innings, which allowed right fielder Gabriel Guerrero to hit a one-out, bases-loaded, walk-off single in the bottom of the 10th inning to give Mobile a 4-3 victory.
Pensacola stayed in first place, although its loss dropped them to 32-22 in the Southern League South Division. The BayBears improved to 24-30. The Blue Wahoos and Mobile are now tied, 2-2, in the five game series.
Dixon’s blast saved Nick Travieso, who simply struggled through four innings. Travieso, the Cincinnati Reds No. 7 prospect, walked a career-high seven batters. Of his 92 pitches, he threw 44 for strikes. A hit batter and error meant half of the 24 batters he faced reached base.
“It’s amazing he held them to three runs,” Pensacola manager Pat Kelly said after the game. “He never got into a rhythm but he battled.”
Remarkably, Travieso left the game down just one run, 3-2, to Mobile. The BayBears had trouble scoring leaving 11 base runners stranded through the first five innings, including leaving the bases loaded in the first and fourth innings. They got its leadoff hitter on base in eight of the 10 innings Friday.
Dixon went 2-4 with a homer, single and walk and is now 13-20 (.650) in his five-game hitting streak. He has six home runs and 15 RBIs during that span. His slugging percentage on the year is .583, and since May 1, Dixon leads all of minor league baseball with a .779 slugging percentage.
“That (homer) was nice,” Kelly said. “It got Travieso off the hook and gave us a chance.”
Dixon now has nine homers on the year, which is third in the Southern League. He has driven in 34 runs, good for fourth in the Southern League. He is batting .319, which ranks third in the league.
The utility player hit two homers in back-to-back games May 29 against the Birmingham Barons and May 31 against Mobile and now has homers in the past two games against the Mobile BayBears.
Pensacola left fielder Tony Renda, 2-5 with one run scored Friday night, put Pensacola on top, 1-0, when he led off the game with a line drive single to left field and crossed home plate when Pensacola catcher Kyle Skipworth hit a deep sacrifice fly to center field. Blue Wahoos center fielder Phillip Ervin, who walked, scored to make the game, 2-0, when shortstop Alex Blandino knocked a single through the left side of the infield.
However, Mobile came right back with two runs of its own when BayBears center fielder Evan Marzilli singled and scored to pull the team within, 2-1. Dixon likely saved two runs from coming in by making a diving stop of a hard hit grounder by catcher Michael Perez and making a heads up play by turning to get the lead runner, Guerrero, forced out at second base.
Mobile first baseman Kevin Cron then doubled in the bottom of the first inning to score shortstop Ildemaro Vargas to tie the game, 2-2.
But it Dixon’s misplay in the bottom of the 10th on a high pop up to shallow center field just behind second base that allowed Mobile shortstop Ildermaro Vargas to reach first base. Instead of going after the catch, he headed to second base to wait for a throw from Ervin from center fielder and the ball fell between them.
Mitchell hit the next batter and then Guerrero hit his walk-off single to left.
The BayBears had gone ahead, 3-2, in the third inning when Guerrero walked, stole second base and took third on a sacrifice fly. Cron then hit a deep fly ball that scored Guerrero, who has hit two solo home runs off Blue Wahoos’ pitching this series.
“The last two years, (Guerrero) has hit .200 in this league,” Kelly said. “He has hit .500 off of us. Obviously, we haven’t pitched him well.”
Click It Or Ticket Seat Belt Campaign Continues This Weekend
June 4, 2016
The Florida Highway Patrol and other law enforcement agencies are wrapping up a two-week “Click It or Ticket” crackdown this weekend. The campaign, which runs day and night, is designed to increase seat belt use and decrease motor vehicle fatalities across the county.
“Although wearing a seatbelt is the law, the department’s data shows that the consequence of not wearing a seat belt is deadly,” said Colonel Gene Spaulding, director of the Florida Highway Patrol. “FHP is committed to raising awareness and enforcement regarding the importance of wearing a seat belt to help ensure motorists arrive alive.”
In 2015, more than 43 percent of those who were killed in crashes in vehicles where seat belt use is required chose not to wear their seat belts. FHP reminds everyone that Florida law requires the use of seat belts by drivers, passengers in the front seat and all children under the age of 18 in a motor vehicle.
“Safety is our top priority at the Florida Department of Transportation. We know that safety belt use is the most effective way to reduce fatalities in motor vehicle crashes,” said FDOT Secretary Jim Boxold. “We want to remind everyone to always buckle up.”
The FHP offers the following tips:
Buckle up, every time. A seatbelt is your vehicle’s best safety feature. Set the example.
- Drive sober. One drink is one too many.
- Make sure your rear-seat passengers are also buckled. They are more likely to injure themselves and other passengers in a crash, if not buckled up.
- Obey all speed limits. Traffic congestion and construction zones may require driving more slowly.
- Seat belts plus air bags provide the greatest protection for adults. However, air bags are not a substitute for seat belts.
- Don’t drive distracted: Anything that takes your full attention off of the road, even for a second, could be deadly.
Santa Rosa Man Pleads To Collecting 50,000 Child Porn Images
June 3, 2016
A Santa Rosa County truck drive has pleaded guilty to collecting over 50,000 child pornography images.
Andre M. Straughn, 39, pleaded guilty Thursday to receipt and transportation of child pornography, as well as making a false statement to a federal agent.
In July 2015, law enforcement agents became aware of online child pornography files that were linked to Straughn’s online activities. Law enforcement agents conducted an investigation and determined that Straughn was a truck driver who traveled to other states with his cellular device and laptop and used multiple electronic platforms to engage in online child pornography. After Straughn returned home from a trip, agents searched Straughn’s residence. Straughn told law enforcement agents that he did not have an online storage account, did not use the social media application Kik, and could not remember the password to his cellular telephone.
A forensic review of Straughn’s electronic devices revealed that Straughn did maintain online storage accounts and a Kik account. In total, Straughn’s online storage account, laptop, and other electronic devices revealed more than 50,000 images and videos of child pornography, dating back approximately 10 years.
For each child pornography charge, Straughn faces a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of 20 years in prison. For the false statement charge, Straughn faces a maximum of eight years in prison. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for August 18 at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola.
Molino Park Awards Pre-K Through Second Grades
June 3, 2016
Molino Park Elementary School presented the following awards to students in Pre-K through second grades.
Pre-K thru 1st Grade Reading Awards
Most Books Read/Pre-Kindergarten
Blackburn – Savannah Borden
Crites – Brista McIntyre
Hamric – Austin Ellwood
Most Books Read/Kindergarten
Kristopher Hawthorne
Most Books Read per Grade Level
First Grade – Christian Ward
Pre-K Perfect Attendance
Milo Soileau
Pre-K Citizenship – Stellar Sunny Days
Davi-yon Abrams
Wayne Brazwell
Kaylee Harris
Tessa Kendrick
Dahlia King
Abigail Nigam
Brian Sanders
Bella Ann Waldroup
Pre-K Citizenship – Super Sunny Days
Jillian Barraclough
Savannah Borden
Kaylee Davis
Joshua Davis
Braelyn Enfinger
Elam Fayard
Tony Fryman
Chase Gilmore
Shyne Hamilton
TJ Hetherington
Nivea Jordan
Declan King
Brista McIntyre
Greyson Maughon
Baileigh Minor
Haleigh Mishoe
Milo Soileau
Cameron Vaughn
Jayden Williams
Bailey Yuhasz
Pre-K Special Recognition
Excellent Behavior
Dahlia King
Bella Ann Waldroup
Pre-K Special Recognition
Most Improved Behavior
Kyle Canfield
Pre-K Special Recognition
Improved Academics
Savannah Borden
Joshua Douglas
Greyson Maughon
Kindergarten Good Citizenship
Aadan Adams
Jordan Allen
Bailiegh Blackwell
Landon Brown
Lawson Brown
Hunter Chance
Rahanna Chiles
Jakob Cutting
Addysen Bolen
Kiely Chamness
Ruby Driver
Devin Dyer
Jonathan Echele
Jackson Erickson
Gabe Finlay
Carmen Garcia
Nicole Garcia
Jordyn Gibbs
Kensee Gibson
Conner Goetter
Brylee Hassebrock
Valerie Hassebrock
Kristopher Hawthorne
Rachael Holley
Raelynn Holley
Karlie Isakson
Aubrey Jacobi
Omar Jacobs
Emily Maughon
Tristan Norton
Wyatt Sturdivant
Braelyn Wiley
Isabella Joiner
LaymayaMcFann
Danika Payne
Brody Ragsdale
Maximus Ridgley
Tucker Scully
McKinley Shoemo
Wyatt Sisson
Marcus Smith
Michael Smith
Nathan Smith
Presley Spikes
Alena Staneart
Abigail Williams
Brileigh Wright
Kindergarten All S Honor Roll
Aadan Adams
Jordan Allen
Bailey Blackwell
Kiely Chamness
Hunter Chance
Rahanna Chiles
Jakob Cutting
Ruby Driver
Jonathan Echele
Gabe Finlay
Carmen Garcia
Conner Goetter
Karlie Isakson
Aubrey Jacobi
Omar Jacobs
Isabella Joiner
Nicole Garcia
Jordyn Gibbs
Kensee Gibson
Brylee Hassebrock
Valerie Hassebrock
Presley Spikes
Abigail Williams
Rachael Holley
Raelynn Holley
Emily Maughon
Tristan Norton
Danika Payne
Brody Ragsdale
Maximus Ridgley
Tucker Scully
McKinleyShoemo
Wyatt Sisson
Alena Staneart
Braelyn Wiley
Kindergarten Perfect Attendance
Lauren Harris
Kindergarten Excellent Attendance
Haylee Hill
Special Recognition – Miss Cristofoletti
Excellence in Reading
Jonathan Echele
Excellence in Writing
Rachael Holley
Special Recognition – Mrs. Fountain
Reading Achievement
Alena Staneart
Most Improved in Reading
Kimree Martin
Most Improved in Behavior
Morgan Jenkins
Special Recognition – Mrs. Miller
Greatest Determination
Randy Thomas
Allie Bethea
Special Recognition – Ms. Scanlon
Most Improved
Aiden Leger
Reading Achievement
Karlie Isakson
Most Improved Behavior
Trenton Wenzel
First Grade Good Citizenship
Morgan Ard
Aunaleah Arredondo
Grace Barraclough
Callen Beaty
Tristan Buck
Cortez Chambers
Donald Cole
Asher Creighton
Eli Crites
Dalton Davidson
Autumn Dinkle
Aidden Edmonson
KobiFiorenti
Katy Galloway
Brielle Garcia
Khloe Gibson
Hayden Gulsby
Cooper Halfacre
Landen Harris
Taylor Hart
Shelby Jarrell
Emily Johnson
Bella Joiner
Lyndsey Jones
LacieKittrell
London McAnally
Chelsea Mace
Addie Manning
McKinsey Mayne
John Parker Miller
Gavin Newman
Aydan Nigam
Addison Parsons
Addison Pitts
Zamari Reed
Elias Ridgley
Addie Salmon
Felix Soileau
Tucker Spruill
Kenzee Tanner
Ethan Thompson
Rayna Thompson
Charlie Walters
Brooklynn White
Brinleigh Woodward
First Grade A Honor Roll
Aunaleah Arredondo
Tristan Buck
Donald Cole
Autumn Dinkle
Katy Galloway
Brielle Garcia
Khloe Gibson
Savannah Gilmore
Bella Joiner
Chelsea Mace
John Parker Miller
Aydan Nigam
Brooklyn White
Brinleigh Woodward
Addison Parsons
First Grade A/B Honor Roll
Morgan Ard
Samuel Ard
Jayden Arredondo
Callen Beaty
Camden Borelli
Eli Crites
Jaxson Daniels
Dalton Davidson
Aidden Edmonson
Cooper Halfacre
Taylor Hart
Gavrial Hernandez
Shelby Jarrell
Emily Johnson
Addie Manning
Zamari Reed
Elias Ridgley
Felix Soileau
Kenzee Tanner
Daniel Tourney
Charlie Walters
Christian Ward
First Grade Perfect Attendance
Samuel Ard
Callen Beaty
Camden Borelli
Eli Crites
Taylor Hart
Addie Manning
Felix Soileau
First Grade Excellent Attendance
Asher Creighton
Kenzee Tanner
Special Recognition – Mrs. Bodiford
Most Advanced
Kaiden Barfield
Jonathon Fish
Special Recognition – Mrs. Calhoun
Most Improved
Jagger Etheridge
John Thompson
Most Sunshine Math points for 1st grade
Callen Beaty
Special Recognition – Mrs. Gilmore
Incredible Growth in Reading
Asher Creighton
Taylor Dyer
Special Recognition – Mrs. Greene
Best Effort
Alexander McAdoo
Waylon Pardue
Special Recognition – Mrs. Venable
Reading Excellence
Laedin Jordan
London McAnally
Second Grade Good Citizenship
Destiny Abrams
Nicole Bell
Camo Bodiford
Jack Boutwell
Sherrod Chambers
Mileigh Clifford
Ayden Crabtree
Garrett Crabtree
Joseph Douglas
Lily Driver
Desi Fryman
Kamryn Gibbs
John Hatch
Kelsey Hiatt
Raegan Holley
Austin Jackson
Chet Knable
Gus Leatherberry
Chris Leger
CaelanMcKillion
Darla Massey
Bryant Mason
Macy Miller
Hunter Mothershed
Mary Oliver
Nathan Peterson
Dominic Picheo
Ana Randall
Dylan Randall
Jessica Santos
Taryn Shoemaker
Aryanna Smith
Dakota Smith
Felecity St. Louis
Kailyn Wiggins
Layton Woodward
Second Grade A Honor Roll
Ayden Crabtree
Lily Driver
Austin Jackson
Jessica Santos
Layton Woodward
Second Grade A/B Honor Roll
Destiny Abrams
Findley Barlow
Jack Boutwell
Alyssa Brooks
Mileigh Clifford
Garrett Crabtree
CadenEady
Kamryn Gibbs
John Hatch
Raegan Holley
Chet Knable
Gus Leatherberry
Mary Oliver
Dominic Picheo
Aryanna Smith
Ona Spinks
Sophia St. Cyr
Second Grade Perfect Attendance
Ayden Crabtree
Lily Driver
Desi Fryman
Austin Jackson
Will Nowlin
Nathan Peterson
Second Grade Excellent Attendance
Joseph Douglas
Special Recognition – Mrs. Bethea
Most Improved
Maryjane Kata
Academic Improvement
Cameron Thompson
Special Recognition – Mrs. Cutler
Most Improved
Benjamin Boyett
Special Recognition – Mrs. Daniels
Academic Excellence
Macy Miller
Academic Improvement
Noel Pugh
Special Recognition – Mrs. Sims
Academic Excellence
Bryan Simmons
Outstanding Effort
Sean Sturdivant
Special Recognition – Mrs. Solchenberger
Most Sunshine Math points in 2nd Grade
Ayden Crabtree
Local Teacher Recounts Flight With Blue Angel Capt. Jeff Kuss
June 3, 2016
Like the rest of America, Northview High School teacher Anna Barry was shocked to learn that Blue Angels pilot Capt. Jeff Kuss died Thursday in a crash in Smyrna, TN.
But for Barry, the news was particularly hard because she had come to know Kuss last November when she flew with him as Escambia County’s Teacher of the Year.
“He was so nice; this is just terrible,” Barry said when she learned of the crash. “He was just so polite, so nice, very personable.”
“He was very knowledgeable and very capable. I am just shocked to know it was him.”
Barry’s flight included many of the demonstration maneuvers that Blue Angels fans know from airshows, including flying upside down and barrel rolls. Her flight was not in the #6 plane that crashed Thursday; it was in the #7 plane, the only two-seater. She said at the time that the entire experience was “surreal”.
“He was so easy to talk to, like I had known him for a long time,” Barry said. “He was funny, a genuinely nice guy.”
She said Kuss talked about how he and his wife loved living in East Hill, and how he loved Pensacola just as much as Pensacola loves the Blue Angels.
When asked if she would fly again with the Blue Angels, Barry paused before answering. “Yes. Yes I would fly with them again. It’s scary to think about what could happen, but the Blue Angels are the very best at what they do.”
While an official cause for the crash has not yet been released, there has been much speculation in the media that Kuss went down with his ill-fated F/A-18 in order to avoid hitting a densely populated apartment complex. He’s being called an American hero for sacrificing his life to perhaps save many others.
“He loved being a Blue Angel,” Barry said. “He is a hero.”
File photos by U.S. Navy, Regina Barry and others for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Man Facing Drug, Weapons Charges
June 3, 2016
A Century man has been arrested on multiple felony charges after being caught by police in a hotel room with drugs and weapons.
Joseph Christopher Smith, 35, was charged with possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, possession of marijuana with intent to sell, possession of cocaine, destruction of evidence and destroying evidence. He remained in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $130,000.
The Pensacola Police Vice and Narcotics Unit served a search warrant on a room at the Garden Inn and Suites on Pine Forest Road.
Smith was in the room where police reported finding $1205 in cash, two loaded guns, 34 rounds of ammunition, numerous cell phones, plastic bags containing narcotics residue, a large amount of marijuana, several digital scales and other drug paraphernalia, a plastic bag of white powder and an aluminum can containing liquid heroin and residue.
Smith also allegedly flushed a quantity of marijuana down the toilet as officers were entering the room.