U.S. Marshals Arrest Man After Drunken Family Brawl
January 9, 2008
The United States Marshals North Florida Violent Fugitive Task Force arrested Jimmy Cash of Flomaton, Alabama, at his home Monday in connection with an incident authorities say happened at a family Christmas party near Century.
Authorities say Cash became drunk at the family’s Christmas party back on December 23, and when family members asked him not to drive, he became violent. According to an Escambia County Florida Sheriff’s Department report, Cash then got into a fight with a family member and assaulted a second family member that tried to break up the fight.
The second victim was then allegedly strangled by Cash and the fight continued outside. After that Cash reportedly kicked in a back door of the home. Then he went to a car where the second victim’s six year-old daughter was inside and started punching and breaking the windshield, according to police reports. That victim once again tried to stop Cash, but Cash reportedly grabbed her by the throat and threw her to the ground.
Cash, 48, was arrested by the U.S. Marshals Task Force and Flomaton Police Department at his home on the 700 Block of Upper Creek Road without incident about 2:30 Monday afternoon. He was transported to the Escambia County (Ala.) Jail, and is awaiting extradition back to Escambia County, Florida.
He will face a long list of charges in Escambia County, Florida. That list includes battery or domestic battery by strangulation, battery on a person 65 years or older and a felony charge of cruelty toward a child/abuse without great harm. He also faces two misdemeanor charges of criminal mischief with property damage.
Northview Grad Leads Mississippi Community To National Title
January 8, 2008
Northview High School graduate Cedric McKinley led Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College to a 62-28 win in the Heart of Texas Bowl over Kilgore (Texas) College.
The Mississippi GCCC Bulldogs finished the season at 12-0 in the National Junior College Athletic Association, the first time the Bulldogs had gone undefeated since 1984.
The Butler (Kan.) Community College also ended the year with a 12-0 record and were declared co-national champions, a first for NJCCA.
Mississippi GCCC is coached by Steve Campbell, a graduate of Tate High School.
Atmore Businessman Merrill Still Passes Away; Services Held
January 8, 2008
Funerals services were held Tuesday for longtime Atmore, Alabama, businessman Merrill Still.
AtmoreNews.com is reporting that longtime Atmore, Alabama, businessman Merrill Still passed away Friday afternoon. Still and his wife Pat own Atmore Appliances, formerly Western Auto, and Atmore Ambulance. Atmore Ambulance provides ambulance service for the Walnut Hill, Bratt, Oak Grove, Davisville and nearby areas in North Escambia.
Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon at the McCullough Christian Center in McCullough, Alabama, north of Atmore. Burial followed in the Judson Cemetery in Freemanville. The family received friends Monday night at the McCullough Christian Center. Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home in Atmore is in charge of arrangements.
Pictured above: A black wreath hangs on the door of Atmore Appliances (the former Western Auto store) in Atmore Friday afternoon. Photo courtesy Sherry Digmon, AtmoreNews.com.
Century Council Talks Trash; Forgives Overdue Payments; Hawkins Blasts The Tri-City Ledger
January 8, 2008
The Century Town Council voted unanimously to forgive 16 garbage bills totaling over $13,500 at their first meeting of the new year Monday night.
The 16 customers received letters back in December claiming that even though they were never billed, they owed the back garbage fees. The largest amount of the 16 accounts, just over $2,200, was owed by the Alger-Sullivan Historical Society, according to the letters.
“We are not trying to worm our way out of anything,” said Jerry Simmons of the historical society. He said the society received a call asking when it was formed, and that was 1988. They then received a back garbage bill for service back to 1988 from the Town of Century.
Simmons (pictured left addressing the council as Mayor Freddie McCall listens) said the group met in homes for 13 years, and former Mayor Benny Barnes waived all garbage and other utility fees for the group when they moved to their current location in 2000.
“There’s 13 years right there that somebody made a mistake on,” Simmons said. He said the new administration starting charging the historical society for garbage service in March 2005, even though there was no can at the historical society’s museum. “If we owe anything, it’s only about 18 months of garbage,” he said. “It’s not 18 years of garbage.”
Pastor Idainer Bradley of the Cry Aloud Spare Not New Testament Holiness Church told the council that the $1,467 that the town claimed the church owned was not correct.
“We never had a can,” she said. Bradley said the church got a garbage collection can in “the middle of 2007″, and had been billed for and paid for service since November 2006.
“Do we really want to treat our citizens like that? We made a mistake,” new council member Ann Brooks said.
Council member Nadine McCaw made a motion that the town “start from this day forward with the records right (and) wipe everything off”. The motion was seconded by Sharon Scott and passed unanimously.
Hawkins Blasts The Tri-City Ledger
A complete listing of the 16 accounts — seven commercial and nine residential — was printed in the January 3 edition of The Tri-City Ledger in an article that lists Ledger Editor Joe Thomas as the author. That article upset council member Henry Hawkins.
Hawkins said he disagreed with the city releasing the information to the newspaper, and he disagreed with the Ledger for printing the information. The council was not aware of who owed the past due garbage amounts, he said. “It’s bad when I’ve got to read about it in the newspaper.”
Hawkins called for all town employees that had access to the bills to get a letter of reprimand for allowing the information to be provided to Thomas. Hawkins directly asked Thomas who provided him with the information.
“I’m not going to say,” Thomas replied.
“It is public record,” said Brooks, referring to the list of past due accounts. While Allied Waste provides the actual trash pickup in Century, the service is under city contract and each resident or business using the service is billed by the town. Under Florida law, most utility bills from a municipality are public record.
Other Business
In other utilities related business, the council also voted to change the water non-payment cutoff date to about the 25th of each month.
“We just cut off too quick,” said Brooks. Currently, bills are dated the first of each month and are due by the 15th. On the 16th of the month, a $5 late charge is added and service is suspended on the 20th.
Since meters are read on or about the 25th, Brooks suggested that the cutoff date be changed to the 25th to save labor costs since the meter reader could disconnect a past due account while reading the meter instead of making a special trip.
Brooks also asked that the town conduct an assessment of street lights, especially along Highway 29 near the town’s southern limits.
Mayor Freddie McCall said he would meet with Gulf Power and assess the condition of streets lights billed by Gulf Power to the town. He said some may not have been replaced after Hurricane Ivan.
Pictured above: Century Town Council member Henry Hawkins holds the January 3 issued of The Tri-City Ledger that contains the names of commercial and residential garbage accounts that the town said were past due. NorthEscambia.com photo.
New Century Mayor, Council Members Take Office
January 8, 2008
Freddie McCall, Sr. was sworn in as the new mayor of Century Monday night, and Ann Brooks and Nadine McCaw were sworn in as new council members.
McCall (pictured left) defeated former mayor Evelyn Hammond 341 to 241. Controversy followed, with allegations of wrongdoing by both candidates, but the State Attorney’s Office found no criminal action by either candidate.
At Monday night’s meeting, the Century Town Council voted to forgive several year’s worth of back garbage fees the town said 16 business and residential customers owed. Click here for complete details on this story from NorthEscambia.com.
“I look forward to working with the new council and the citizens,” McCall said. “We are going to straighten out this garbage issue and some other things.”
McCaw (pictured left) won seat number two on the Century Town Council in November, defeating write-in candidate Sheryl Jordan by a three to one margin. McCaw received 294 votes, while Jordan received 101 votes. McCaw defeated James Sutton 348 to 252 in the October 9 city primary.
For town council seat one, Ann Brooks (pictured at top of page being sworn in by Town Clerk Dorothy Sims) defeated 30-year incumbent Marie McMurray 412 votes to 183 in October.
Council member Henry Hawkins read a plaque for outgoing mayor Evelyn Hammond at the close of the meeting. “Your achievements will not be forgotten,” the plaque stated. Hammond was not present.
Students Return To School After Long Break
January 7, 2008
Students across North Escambia returned to school Monday after their lengthy Christmas break. Public school students had been out of school since December 21.
It will be a big week for students at Northview High School. There will be senior meeting during sixth period on Tuesday in the school theater. Thursday and Friday will bring semester exams and early release each day. Semester exams and early release days will continue Monday and Tuesday of next week.
On Tuesday morning, students will be greeted with temperatures in the upper 50’s. Highs Tuesday will be in the middle 70’s with a 40 percent chance of rain by afternoon.
Victory Assembly Begins New Service Times
January 6, 2008
Sunday was the first day on a new schedule at Victory Assembly of God in Molino. The church now holds Sunday School from 9:30 until 10:15, followed by morning worship at its new time of 10:30.
The church is also holding a week of prayer until January 12. The sanctuary will be open for prayer today through Saturday from 5:00 a.m. until 8:00 a.m. and from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.
The church is located on Highway 29, south of Barrineau Park Road. For more information, contact the church office at 587-2295, or visit victorycan.org online.
Teen Hit By Vehicle In Molino
January 5, 2008
A 14 year old male was struck by a vehicle on County Road 95A in Molino about 5:45 Saturday evening.
The accident happened near Highland Baptist Church, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Lifeflight was initially called to the scene but was canceled after arriving overhead.
The Molino Volunteer Fire Department responded to the scene, along with emergency medical personnel. The accident is still under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol, and no other details have been released.
Iowa Primary Over–Now When Does Florida Vote?
January 5, 2008
The Iowa caucus is over, opening up the 2008 presidential campaign season. So the question becomes—now when does Florida vote?
The Florida Presidential Preference Primary will be Tuesday, January 29. If you are not already registered to vote in the primary, it is too late. The registration books and the chance to change your party affiliation ended on December 31.
In the Presidential Primary, you will vote along party lines. Registered Republicans will receive a Republican Party ballot. Registered Democrats will receive a Democratic Party ballot, and those without a stated party affiliation will receive a nonpartisan ballot.
None of the local races for sheriff, county commission, school board or ECUA will be on the January ballot.
All three ballots will include a property tax amendment…we’ll have more coverage on this closer to election day. For now, we’ll focus on the presidential part of the January 29 vote.
The Republican ballot includes names both familiar and perhaps a few you do not know. Republicans will vote for one from a list that includes Rudy Giuliani, Mike Huckabee, Duncan Hunter, Alan Keyes, John McCain, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, Tom Tancredo and Fred Thompson. To view a sample Escambia County Republican ballot, click here.
Those voting on the Democratic ballot will also choose just one from a list that includes Joseph Biden, Hillary Clinton, Christoper Dodd, John Edwards, Mike Gravel, Dennis Kucinich, Barrack Obama, and William “Bill” Richardson. To view a sample Escambia County Democratic ballot, click here.
There are no presidential candidates on Florida’s nonpartisan ballot, but nonpartisan voters will have the chance to vote on the property tax amendment. To view a sample Escambia County nonpartisan ballot, click here.
The January 29 Florida Presidential Primary follows primaries in just a handful of states. The Iowa primary was last night. Michigan will vote on January 15, Nevada on January 19 and South Carolina on January 26.
Voters who wish to vote by mail but have not yet made a request may contact the Supervisor of
Elections by mail, phone (850-595-3900), e-mail (absentee@escambiavotes.com), fax (850-595-
3914), or by using the online form at www.EscambiaVotes.com. Requests must include the voter’s date of birth and the address where the ballot should be mailed. Written requests must include the voter’s signature.
Absentee ballot requests must be received no later than Wednesday, January 23, 2008, and voted absentee ballots must be received in the Elections Office no later than 7:00 p.m. on Election Day, January 29, 2008. Due to a recent change in Florida law, voters who wish to vote regularly by mail in future elections may now make a single request for all elections through the next two general elections (November 2010).
In addition to absentee voting, early voting will be offered during the two weeks prior to the election, or voters may cast a ballot at their precinct on Election Day. Voters must present photo and signature ID at the polls, or must vote a provisional ballot.
NorthEscambia.com will have complete election coverage before, during and after each vote during this election year.
Magaha Latest Escambia Candidate To Qualify
January 5, 2008
Incumbent Clerk of the Circuit Court Ernie Lee Magaha became the latest candidate to qualify for the 2008 elections in Escambia County. He filed his qualification papers Friday.
Republican Magaha will face Republican Greg Mitchell for the $132,000 per year job as boss the Escambia court system. Magaha has held the post for 51 years.
As of the close of business Friday, there are still four candidates for Escambia County Commission District 5. The are Democrat John F. Hartman and Republicans Randall McCrackin, Chris Washler and incumbent Kevin White.
Two people, incumbent Pete Gindhl and Tom Harrell, have qualified for the District 5 school board seat.
No one has qualified for the Escambia County Utilities Authority District 5 seat currently held by Larry Walker.
We’ll have complete election coverage during the year here at NorthEscambia.com.