Missing Brewton Teen Found Safe In Georgia
April 1, 2016
There’s a happy ending to the nearly two month search for a teen missing from Brewton.
On Thursday, the Brewton Police Department said 16-year-old Brooke Bridges had been found safe and sound in her home state of Georgia. However, officials stressed she was not found in her hometown.
She was found thanks to tip police received on social media Thursday. Police have not confirmed if she was abducted or ran away, but they said she was ready to return to her family in Brewton.
FBI officials said their investigation into the matter is not over; there is no word yet if anyone will face in charges in the case.
Bridges had been missing since she was last seen at the family home in Brewton about 11 pm. on Sunday, February 7.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Supreme Court Sets Arguments In Slots Case
April 1, 2016
The Florida Supreme Court will hear arguments June 7 in a case involving a Gadsden County horse track that could have widespread implications for pari-mutuels throughout the state.
The court will decide whether Gretna Racing, a tiny horse track with a card room west of Tallahassee operated by the Poarch Creek Indians of Atmore, should be allowed to have slot machines without the express permission of the Legislature.
The court accepted jurisdiction in the case after a split appellate court ruled in October that the track cannot have slot machines without the authorization of the Legislature, even though voters in the county approved slots in a referendum. The 1st District Court of Appeal sided with Attorney General Pam Bondi and Gov. Rick Scott’s administration and also asked the Supreme Court to weigh in on the issue of whether pari-mutuels can have slot machines if local voters approve, or if the games require the express say-so of the Legislature.
A ruling in the Gretna case could affect five other counties — Brevard, Hamilton, Lee, Palm Beach and Washington — where voters have also approved referendums authorizing slots at local pari-mutuels.
The Gretna case hinges on a semantic analysis of a 2009 law establishing eligibility for slot machines at pari-mutuels. The 2009 law, which went into effect the following year, was an expansion of a 2004 voter-approved constitutional amendment that authorized slot machines at seven existing horse and dog tracks and jai-alai frontons in Broward and Miami-Dade counties.
The 2009 change allowed a Hialeah track, which wasn’t operating at the time the amendment was approved, to also operate the lucrative slots. The law in question consists of three clauses, including one that deals with counties outside of Broward and Miami-Dade.
State regulators denied the Gretna track a slots license, arguing the Department of Business and Professional Regulation was “not authorized to issue a slot machine license to a pari-mutuel facility in a county which … holds a countywide referendum to approve such machines, absent a statutory or constitutional provision enacted after July 1, 2010, authorizing such a referendum.”
Florida Lottery Warns Of Email Scam
April 1, 2016
The Florida Lottery is warning citizens of a lottery scam in which scammers are sending emails to the public in an effort to obtain personal and financial information.
The email includes the Florida Lottery logo and uses the Florida Lottery headquarters’ address as part of the letterhead. In further efforts to appear legitimate, the email references other companies, including: LinkedIn and Microsoft. The 
email states that the recipient has won a prize and should contact the listed “Contact Person” to claim his or her prize. The email asks the individual to provide general information required to claim the prize. The email does not ask the individual to pay or provide financial information, but once he or she responds to the “Contact Person”, the scammers will then request financial information and/or that a tax or fee be paid to claim the prize.
The Florida Lottery does not contact players to inform them that they have won a prize unless they have entered a promotional game or second chance drawing on the official Florida Lottery website or social media pages. Individuals who receive an email similar to the one attached should not respond to the email. For more information and to find other tips to protect yourself, please visit flalottery.com. To report a lottery scam, consumers should contact the Florida Lottery’s Division of Security at (850) 487-7730.
License Free Fishing This Weekend In Florida
April 1, 2016
Saturday, April 2 and Sunday, April 3, will be a license–free freshwater fishing weekend for Florida residents and visitors.
Governor Rick Scott said, “License-free fishing weekends are a great way for Floridians and visitors to enjoy the fishing capital of the world and to experience every fishing opportunity Florida has to offer. I hope everyone enjoys springtime in our state and takes advantage of license-free fishing this weekend.”
“This is a great opportunity to expose new anglers to Florida’s rich fishing heritage,” said FWC Chairman Brian Yablonski. “We hope residents and visitors alike are inspired to enjoy a weekend on the water here in Florida, the Fishing Capital of the World. We want hooked fish and hooked anglers!”
This free fishing weekend is a part of the four total license-free fishing weekends 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.
Century Tornado Assistance Waiting List Opens Monday
March 31, 2016
Escambia County and the town of Century are establishing a waiting list beginning Monday, April 4 for town of Century residents requesting housing repair or reconstruction assistance as a result of the February 15 tornado. Only residents in the incorporated town of Century whose housing units were damaged by the tornado are eligible to apply. Owner occupants of manufactured homes are also eligible to apply if they own the property on which the home is located.
Starting April 4, Century residents may call (850) 595-0872 to be placed on the waiting list. Residents must provide the following information when calling:
- Name
- Street address of impacted residence
- Contact phone number
Calls received before April 4 will not be accepted. Services will be made available to income-eligible owner occupants on a first qualified, first served basis as funding permits. Staff will follow up with applicants within five business days to determine program eligibility and to make appointments to begin the application process.
The following chart shows the maximum gross family household income requirements in Escambia County (effective March 28, 2016) for the housing repair and reconstruction activities through the State Housing Initiatives Partnership program, or SHIP. Household income includes income received from all persons residing in the household and from all sources providing income to the household.
Applications are still being accepted for owner occupants needing housing repair or reconstruction assistance from the February 15 and 23 tornadoes. Owner occupants in unincorporated Escambia County can call the Neighborhood Enterprise Division at (850) 595-0022, and those inside the city of Pensacola limits can call the City of Pensacola Housing Office at (850) 858-0306 to apply.
Federal Charges Filed Against Surviving Suspect In ‘Bonnie And Clyde’ Duo
March 31, 2016
A federal grand jury Wednesday returned conspiracy and armed carjacking charges against the surviving member of the Missouri couple dubbed a modern day “Bonnie and Clyde” that was sought for crimes in four states earlier this year before being apprehended in a hail of gunfire in Santa Rosa County in February.
An eight-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges Brittany Nicole Harper, 30, of Joplin, Mo., with one count of conspiracy to transport a stolen vehicle across state lines, two counts of transporting a stolen vehicle across state lines, three counts of carjacking and two counts of brandishing a gun during a crime of violence. Harper remains in the Escambia County Jail in Pensacola on state charges.
The indictment states that the purpose of the conspiracy was for Harper and “her co-conspirator to unlawfully obtain vehicles, by whatever means necessary,” including acts of violence, and then to use the stolen vehicles as transportation between various states. The indictment refers throughout to Harper’s co-conspirator, but does not name him.
Harper was arrested aftera face-off with deputies in which her co-conspirator was shot and killed.
The indictment describes a 10-day, four-state crime spree by Harper and her male companion, Blake Fitzgerald, that began in Webb City, Mo., on Jan. 26, when the couple took a 2009 Cadillac on a test drive from a dealership and never returned. Highlights of the crime spree, as outlined in the indictment, are as follows:
Before arriving in Alabama, the couple burglarized a home in Missouri, where they parked the stolen Cadillac in the garage and stole a 2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer parked at the home.
The couple’s first crime in Alabama is listed as a theft at the Walmart in Bessemer on Jan. 30, before the couple drove the Trailblazer to Tuscaloosa, where they forced a motel clerk at gunpoint into the backseat of the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta he had driven to work. Harper and her companion drove the Jetta to Hoover, where they tried, unsuccessfully, on Jan. 31, to take a Camaro from a McDonald’s employee, and then released the motel clerk in Vestavia Hills.
Soon after releasing the clerk, Fitzgerald entered a home on Monte Vista Drive in Vestavia Hills, where he encountered one of the home owners and his minor children. Fitzgerald put a gun to the man’s neck and began forcing him toward the garage, but the man got free and went for help. Fitzgerald then forced the man’s wife at gunpoint into the homeowners’ 2010 Ford Edge and drove away.
Harper and her companion released the woman near the Grandview Medical Center on Cahaba River Road in Birmingham, and then drove the stolen Ford Edge to Perry County, Ga.
The indictment lists other crimes in Georgia and Florida before Harper’s arrest on Feb. 5 following a high-speed chase through neighborhoods in Santa Rosa County after deputies confronted the couple.
The other crimes listed as part of the conspiracy, but not individually charged in the indictment, include the robbery and kidnapping of a convenience store clerk in Perry, Ga., on Feb. 1, the robbery of Alvin’s Island beach shop in Destin, on Feb. 3, and the robbery of a shoe store and a home invasion and carjacking, all in Pensacola, Fla. on Feb. 4.
Pictured top and bottom: The scene on Garcon Point Road at Saragon Lane, a short distance from where gunfire erupted, killing on member of a couple dubbed a modern-day Bonnie and Clyde by federal authorities. Pictured bottom inset: The home were a chase involving the Missouri couple came to an end on Saragon Lane off Garcon Point Road in Santa Rosa County. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
NorthEscambia.com Publisher Named One Of Area’s Most Influential People
March 31, 2016
The Pensacola Independent News has released their 2016 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 — NorthEscambia.com publisher William Reynolds of Walnut Hill and Escambia County Commissioner Steven Barry of Cantonment.
Topping this year’s list was Bentina Terry, vice president of customer service and sales for Gulf Power.
To read this year’s Inweekly Power List edition, click here.
Jay Tops Northview; Pace Over Tate
March 31, 2016
BASEBALL
Jay 5, Northview 2
The Jay Royals rallied in the eighth inning Wednesday evening to defeat the Northview Chiefs 5-2.
Northview had a two-run second inning. The Chiefs scored on an RBI double from Jacob Dunsford and on a groundout by Seth Killam. Roman Manning went 3-4 with three singles.
Josh Neese pitched seven and third inning for the Chiefs, allowing three earned runs, six hits and three walks while striking out six.
The Chiefs are set to host Hopkinsville, KY, Thursday. JV plays at 4:00 followed by the varsity at 6:00.
Pace 9, Tate 5
The Tate Aggies were up four runs in the fourth inning but Pace rallied late to take a 9-5 win and earn District 1-7A top spot.
Tate’s Jake Davis had two RBIs on one hit. He homered in the second inning. On the mound, Davis allowed one earned run, no walks an six hits in five innings. The loss went to Trace Penton with no walks, no strikeouts while allowing three runs in one-third of an inning.
The Aggies will be at Pace in a district matchup Friday at 6 p.m.
Pictured: Northview’s Jared Aliff splintered a bat during Wednesday evening’s game against Jay. NorthEscambia.com photos by Ramona Preston, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Gets 15 Years For Robberies
March 31, 2016
An Escambia County man that failed at two of three robbery attempts is headed to prison.
Rodney Jones was sentenced 2016 by Circuit Judge Gary Bergosh to 15 years in state prison to be followed by 10 years of probation. He previously pleaded to charges of attempted robbery by sudden snatching, attempted robbery without a weapon, robbery without a weapon and petty theft.
On June 24, 2015, Rodney Jones went to Sonic on Navy Blvd. When he started to pay for his food, Jones asked the server if she could make change for $100. When she pulled out her money, Jones grabbed the money in her hand but after brief struggle he was unsuccessful in taking the money. Jones then fled the scene.
Shortly after leaving Sonic on Navy Blvd., Jones went to CVS on Ninth Avenue and asked the clerk if she had change for $100. When the clerk opened the drawer, Jones told her to give him the money, and “don’t make me shoot you.” He then fled the scene with approximately $200.
The following day, June 25, 2015, Jones went to Wells Fargo on Fairfield Drive. He approached the counter and gave the teller a note that said “robbery, have a gun on you, all 20’s, quiet”. When the teller opened the drawer and started to collect the money, Jones leaned over the counter and said “all 20’s”. At that time, customers in the bank noticed something strange happening, and Jones fled the scene empty handed.
Rodney Jones was apprehended in the area by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office following the Wells Fargo robbery. Jones admitted to the other two robberies. Prior to these incidents, Jones had previously been convicted of eight prior felonies and numerous misdemeanors.
Concealed Weapons Fees Are Lowered
March 31, 2016
The cost to get concealed-weapons licenses will be reduced under a bill signed into law Wednesday by Gov. Rick Scott.
The measure reduces the license fee from $70 to $60 on the initial application and from $60 to $50 for renewals. With nearly 1.5 million concealed-weapons licenses currently issued in Florida, the change is projected to reduce state revenue by $2.99 million next fiscal year, according to a Senate analysis of the bill. Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, whose agency oversees concealed-weapons licenses, has said the measure is part of efforts to make the application process “more convenient and affordable.”
by The News Service of Florida