Danceworks Returning To North Escambia With New Teacher
July 23, 2009
Chelsea Sims has some really big slippers to fill. In the fall, she will be taking over as the teacher for Heather Leonard’s Danceworks.
Before announcing her retirement, Leonard taught dance for 14 years to hundreds of girls from North Escambia and surrounding areas. The business will reopen in the fall, under the Heather Leonard’s Danceworks name. Leonard will serve as the administrator and adviser, while Sims will teach the dance classes.
“I always wanted to teach dance,” Sims said. “I felt like this was where God was leading me. I’m very excited.”
“I’m so glad it worked out this way,” Leonard said. “There were so many girls that had put so much into dance; I wanted them to have a chance to continue.”
Sims (pictured left) is a 2009 graudate of Northview High School, where she was a majorette for two years and a varsity cheerleader for two years. She was named Miss NHS 2008, was a homecoming maid as a freshman and sophomore and was homecoming queen her senior year. She was one of Leonard’s dance students for 14 years.
The Heather Leonard’s Danceworks classes will return to the Byrneville Community Center on September 9. There will be a registration on August 20. For more information, call (850) 256-0948.
Reprinted below is the NorthEscambia.com story from April 22, 2008, with more information about Leonard and Sims.
When the music fades after a dance recital in Flomaton Friday night, Heather Leonard will take off her slippers for the very last time as a dance teacher. She’ll head off for the traditional post-recital pizza with the girls, knowing that she’s not only taught dance, but has taught grace and self-respect to hundreds of girls across North Escambia.
After 14 years teaching dance in North Escambia, Heather Leonard is retiring, and she is closing her Heather Leonard’s Danceworks. She will end her career with her students’ final recital at Flomaton High School.
She has taught not just dance to girls from Jay to Century to McDavid to Byrneville to Walnut Hill. She has taught them self-respect, self-worth and a little bit about her Lord.
She began teaching dance as her business 14 years ago after moving to Byrneville. Her first classes were taught at the Byrneville Community Center, a location she would continue to use until just after Hurricane Ivan.
“When I came here it was the biggest blessing that no one had ever really danced,” she said. “I came in and had a fresh slate. Fresh kids with no experience. They got to be mine.”
She was happy that she got to teach the girls of North Escambia that they could respect themselves and still dance.
“I am a Christian, and my values do not line up with a lot of the dance community. I’ve tried to teach the girls that they are how God made them. They are precious, innocent. They are not trashy.”
“I look at the way the dance community is as a whole…cut throat, self-centered, eating disorders to be too thin, smoking, drugs. I can’t stand those things.” Those are the things that Heather crusaded against during her 14 years.
“Once I was saved, I looked to God who showed me that those things were not what He liked,” she said. “He brought me out of the darkness into His light. I became very focused on ballet and finding a way to teach the girls to love themselves the way He made them. I’ve always been very careful to lead them in the right way.”
“We love Miss Heather,” Chelsea Sims, a senior at Northview High School said. She is 17, and she has danced 14 of those years with Heather. “She’s so much more than a teacher. She’s our friend.”
“She helps us with our lives,” Sarah Killam, a freshman at Northview said. She is 15, and she has danced with Heather for 10 of those years. “She’s like a mom to us. Sometimes we will stay after class and talk to her about what is going on in our lives.” The photo to the left shows Sarah with Heather at one of Sarah’s first recitals.
“And she’s always worked to help us be better Christians,” Chelsea said.
“We can have Sunday School sometimes after dance,” Darbi Langhorne said. She’s now in nursing school at Pensacola Junior College. She has danced with Heather for 14 years.
The theme song for Friday night’s recital will be “Sharecropper’s Seed” by Christian artist Nicole C. Mullen. “So I’m praising the Lord of the harvest…God still cares for the least of these,” the song says.
“The Lord cares about everyone. He cares about you, about me. One of my relatives was having a hard time, addicted to drugs. It could have been me. It’s impresses me so much how much God cares,” Heather said. “This dance is dedicated to him.”
Every performance for Heather Leonard’s Danceworks always starts the same. “Before every performance we circle up and pray,” she said. “It has always been that way.”
For the past few years, her dance studio has been in the back of the Country Bumpkin building in Century. It’s nice studio…a mirrored wall, a proper wood dance floor and metal ballet bars.
“That’s not how we started,” Darbi said. “We started with a mirror on a wood frame we rolled out at the community center. The (ballet) bars were PVC pipe and duct tape. But we just danced anyway.”
Hurricane Ivan proved to be a test for Heather and her students. It heavily damaged the Byrneville Community Center where her classes were held. There was no ceiling, no heat and water puddled on the floor when it rained.
“But we were determined,” she said, “that Ivan was not going to beat us. It was a lesson in perseverance. We felt like we had to continue to show that we had not been beat by Ivan.”
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Heather and the three girls gathered around on the floor looking through a box of pictures (pictured above). They would laugh as they looked at 14 years of memories. Sometimes Heather would pause, a fond memory on her mind.
“It’s been a great time,” she said.
“I love it a lot. I’ve been dancing since I was three years old. There has never been a year since then that I did not dance.”
So why is she retiring from dance?
“The Lord put it on my heart to set dance aside,” Heather said. “He wanted to make sure I love Him more than I do dancing. He changed my life. He made me; He saved me. He wants me to show others how much He cares.”
She expressed her thanks to the North Escambia community for supporting her during her 14 years. And she expressed special gratitude to her husband Stephen.
“My husband has been so supportive over the years,” she said. “He was the brains behind the business. He helped me go into business without doing into debt, and to be a good steward. I appreciate him so much.”
The final Heather Leonard’s Danceworks recital will be at Flomaton High School this Friday night at 7:00. Admission is free.
For more photos from Heather Leonard’s Danceworks, click here.
Pictured top: (L-R): Heather Leonard, Darbi Langhorne, Sarah Killam and Chelsea Sims practice their “Sharecropper’s Dream” dance. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
The Bizarre Billings Multi-Million Dollar Copyright Story
July 23, 2009
Byrd Billings had a plan — copyright the names of his children and charge anyone, including the government, millions each time they used one of the names.
The legal papers were filed in both Escambia County Circuit Court and United States District Court Northern District of Florida. Billings’ rambling writings on the court documents detailed his plan. Billings served as his own attorney when filing the documents.
He would copyright the name of a child. Anyone that used the name of that child in any form would owe him up a million dollars per occurrence. Simply using the name, according to the documents, was an agreement to pay.
Billings even demanded payment from the Florida Department of Children and Families. Each time DCF used a family member’s name in a letter, Billings would fire off a bill back to DCF, often demanding millions of dollars for copyright infringements.
DCF acknowledges that after several attempts to charge the state agency, DCF sent a letter back to Billings warning that the state could take legal action if there were additional demands. After DCF wrote their letter, DCF said Billings’ copyright infringement claims ended.
Wednesday, Billings family attorney Crystal Spencer said she did not believe that Billings’ copyright claims were an attempt to get money, but rather an attempt to protect the privacy of his children.
“I think that he was given some incorrect advice,” Spencer said of Billings’ reasons for filing the court papers.
“I would not call them bizarre,” she said of his filings. “I would call them different…It was to protect the privacy of the children.”
To read two of the documents obtained by NorthEscambia.com, click here and here.
County To Hire Edwards As New Fire Chief Tonight
July 23, 2009
Escambia County’s new fire chief and public safety bureau chief is expected to be officially hired by the county commission tonight.
The Escambia County Commission agenda for tonight includes hiring Pensacola Fire Chief Frank Edwards who will take over both positions at a salary of $100,000 per year.
Edwards was named Pensacola’s fire chief in 2007 after retiring as one of three deputy chiefs of the Chesterfield County (Virginia) Fire Department. He will take over the fire chief position of Interim Fire Chief Jim Sanders. Sanders was hired on an interim basis in February after former Fire Chief Ken Perkins was asked to resign by County Administrator Bob McLaughlin.
Edwards will also take over the job of Public Safety Bureau Chief Mike Hardin who is leaving that position to return to the supervisor of elections office.
If the commission approves his hiring as expected, Edwards’ first day on the job will be August 18.
In Virginia, Edwards spent 28 years with the Chesterfield County Fire and Emergency Management Service Department and held the rank of Second Deputy Chief with the department since 1999.
Edwards received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Fire Science from the University of Maryland and his Masters Degree in Public Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University. He has received the professional designation of Chief Fire Officer from the International Association of Fire Chiefs and is a graduate of the Executive Fire Officer Program from the National Fire Academy. Edwards had been Pensacola’s fire chief since December 3, 2007.
Perkins was asked to resign after McLaughlin said he wanted a new administration to finally unify the department, eliminating problems between paid staff and volunteers. The county’s paid firefighters and 15 volunteer departments were all brought together with one unified leadership back in September. But McLaughlin said the department’s leaders did not have the skills needed to move the unified department forward with paid and volunteer firefighters working together. Then Assistant Chief Robbie Whitfield was also asked to resign.
Pictured: Escambia County’s new fire chief, Frank Edwards. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
West Nile Virus Detected In Escambia Alabama
July 23, 2009
West Nile virus has been detected in Escambia County, Alabama.
The Escambia County Health Department announced that a sentinel chicken from the Riverview area has tested positive for West Nile virus. Ongoing public health surveillance has detected no mosquito-borne virus activity in humans in Escambia County this year.
“With summer in full swing and many people enjoying outdoor activities, it is important that residents make efforts to reduce their exposure to mosquitoes,” said Escambia County Health Department Environmentalist Josh Coleman. “Keep your mosquito repellent with you at all times when you are working or recreating outdoors.”
West Nile virus, EEE and other mosquito-borne viruses are transmitted from bird to mosquito to bird. Occasionally, the same mosquitoes will take blood from mammals, including humans and horses. Humans and horses can sometimes become ill from the infection. The likelihood of transmission to humans and horses can be decreased by personal mosquito avoidance and the use of West Nile and EEE vaccine in horses. There is no vaccine available for humans, health officials said.
Escambia County Health Department established a mosquito control program in 2008 that includes surveillance activities such as mosquito trapping and sentinel chicken surveillance.
These activities are conducted to monitor for mosquito-borne diseases and track mosquito populations. Serum samples are taken each week from the six sentinel chicken flocks and tested for the presence of West Nile, EEE and St. Louis Encephalitis.
Bill Seeks To Return To Prayer To Schools
July 23, 2009
A bill authorizing prayer in public schools has been filed for consideration in next year’s legislative session, despite the ACLU and court rulings in Santa Rosa County.
Rep. Brad Drake, R-Eucheeanna, this week filed HB 31, released from bill drafting on Wednesday, that would allow school boards to permit prayer at a non-mandatory school event, such as an assembly, sporting event or other school-related activity. The bill has been proposed regularly over the past several years, but generally failed to gain any traction. Last year, neither the House or Senate versions even came to a committee vote.
“I don’t think it’s fundamentally right when 700 kids want to pray in school and three are against it, the government sides with those three and prohibits children from having the opportunity to pray to God in our schools,” Drake said.
Drake, who campaigned on the issue, said it will be one of his top priorities for the upcoming legislative session. He said he has not yet spoken with Sen. Ronda Storms, R-Valrico, who sponsored the Senate version last year, but said he would ask her to do so again this year.
The measure would allow district courts to “permit the delivery of an inspirational message, including a prayer or an invocation, at a non-compulsory high school activity, including a student assembly, a sports event, or other school related activity if a majority of the participating students request the delivery of an inspirational message and select a student representative to deliver the message.”
The bill has been typically opposed by the Anti-Defamation League and other civil rights organizations. However, the issue continues to be a hot topic around the country.
Courtenay Strickland, director of public policy and advocacy for the American Civil Liberties Union, said if the bill ever passed, the ACLU would likely challenge it in court. She also said the organization was concerned that schools would be “hung out to dry” if the school authorized a prayer under the law and was then sued by the family of a student.
“People’s ability to practice their religious freedom and their religious beliefs – or lack thereof – is a core American value,” Strickland said.
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, at least 34 states have laws on the books regarding a moment of silence or school prayer. These include neighboring states Georgia and Alabama, which both say teachers must conduct a moment of reflection for no longer than one minute each school day.
Illinois may have had the most stringent law, which said that teachers shall observe a period of silence for silent prayer or reflection on the anticipated activities of the day. However, a federal court ruled the bill unconstitutional earlier this year.
In legislative analysis of last year’s Florida Senate version, analysts wrote that the bill could be subject to a constitutional challenge.
The issue has been the subject of litigation for years in Florida and elsewhere. Duval County’s schools were embroiled in a fight over the issue in the early 2000s and most recently the ACLU and two Pace High School students sued the Santa Rosa County School District in the Panhandle over the alleged promotion of prayer at school events. A federal judge in May found in favor of the students and a consent decree prevented promotion of prayer. Several students later held a prayer protest at their graduation.
Molino Woman Dies From Highway 29 Crash Injuries
July 22, 2009
A Molino woman passed away Wednesday afternoon from injuries she received in a two vehicle accident earlier in the day on Highway 29.
The Florida Highway Patrol says Karen R. Broxson, 23, of Molino was involved in the accident at Highway 29 and 9 1/2 Mile Road at 9:20 Wednesday morning. She was pronounced dead at 4:49 Wednesday afternoon at Sacred Heart Hospital.
The accident happened when a Toyota Rav 4 driven by Katherine L. Hosack, 50, of Cantonment pulled from a stop on 9 1/2 Mile Road into the path of a southbound Chevrolet Blazer driven by Broxson, according to the FHP. Boxson’s Blazer was spun around several times by the force of the impact and overturned in the southbound lanes. The FHP says Broxson was ejected in the crash; she was not wearing a seat belt. Broxson was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital by LifeFlight.
Hosack and her passenger, Khristopher Hosack, 7, were not injured in the crash.
The Florida Highway Patrol says that charges are pending in the accident.
The accident is still under investigation by the FHP.
Pictured top: Broxson’s SUV. Photo courtesy WEAR TV 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge. Pictured inset: a cellphone photo of the scene submitted by Samantha Rigby for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Billings Donated To Gonzalez Jr; Attorney Won’t Confirm $100,000 In Second Safe
July 22, 2009
The Billings family attorney held a press conference Wednesday afternoon, fielding questions about safe supposedly containing $100,000 in the Billings home at the time of their murders.
Billings family attorney Crystal Spencer would not confirm or deny that there was a second safe in the Beulah home. CNN has reported their sources as saying there was about $100,000 in the safe.
“There was nothing illegal in that home in any location that has been found by any investigative agency,” Spencer said.
“The Billings family wants to put these things to rest so that they can begin to grieve,” she said.
She would not comment about the guilt or innocence of any of the suspects that have been arrested in the murders.
She said daughter Ashley Markham has worked in the family auto businesses for about 12 years and there was no business conducted or loan to Leonard Gonzalez Jr.
Spencer said Byrd Billings contributed a “nominal” amount that she believed to be less than $1,000 to Gonzalez Jr.’s Project Fight Back karate program or some other martial arts project. She said it was not out of character for Billings to donate money to many groups.
“We have not been informed of an imminent or additional arrest,” she said.
Code Enforcement Has Been Good For Century; 160 Cited, Most Comply
July 22, 2009
The return of code enforcement to Century has been a good thing, according to the town’s mayor.
Since Century’s contract with Escambia County Code enforcement began in early March, at total of 160 citations have been issued, according to Mayor Freddie McCall. Of those, all of 15 have been cleared up, not counting about a half dozen citations issued just last week.
“The code people have been well received in our town,” McCall said. “People have really cooperated.”
McCall was one of the first to be ticketed by Escambia County Code Enforcement when they returned to Century on March 4. McCall was cited for violations that included trash and debris, an inoperable vehicle, overgrowth and a dilapidated structure on property he owns on McCall Road. McCall said he spent about $550 to clean up his property to bring it into line with the town’s codes. He said he was glad that the county was being fair about their code enforcement actions.
He said the return of code enforcement to Century has encouraged residents to clean up their property, often leading to piles of debris on the town’s streets. At times, the mayor said, there has been a backlog of debris pickups that have stressed the town’s resources. But workers have removed the debris, and that, the mayor said, is leading to much cleaner Century.
Century’s code enforcement agreement calls for Escambia County to provide code enforcement for both county and town ordinances within the town limits. Sandra Slay, Escambia County’s code enforcement manager, told the town council that the enforcement will be “proactive”, The code officers will not respond to citizen complaints within the Town of Century; rather, the officers will seek out violators.
Under the agreement, the Town of Century is responsible for removing nuisance violations, such as tearing down buildings that owners do not repair.
The county is to provide a monthly report of all enforcement activities in Century to the town The county’s enforcement activities are being funded by a Community Development Block Grant. The county is receiving all fines and fees collected from Century violators.
Previously, Century ended an agreement with Escambia County to provide code enforcement in the town. Under that agreement, the county’s code enforcement officers worked Century and wrote citations that were turned over to the town for abatement. The services were provided by the county at no charge to Century.
That earlier arrangement came under fire, with allegations that the county’s officers provided selective enforcement, citing some people but no others. That prompted the council to sever the relationship with Escambia Code Enforcement.
Pictured top: After the owner of building at 9500 North Century Boulevard was cited by Escambia County Code Enforcement, he had the buildings demolished. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
School District To Insure Student Athletes For Free
July 22, 2009
All Escambia County student athletes will have free accident insurance complements of the school district during the upcoming school year.
The bill for $55,820 blanket insurance policy will be paid out of the Escambia County School Districts $9 million reserve fund. The board voted 3-2 Tuesday night to provide the insurance, with Patty Hightower and Gerald Boone voting against the plan. Boone and Hightower instead supported a plan requiring all student athletes to purchase a policy from the school system at $12 per high school student and $6 for each in middle school.
The new insurance plan will be at no cost to student athletes in any sport regardless of their current insurance status. If a child is already insured, the school district policy will serve as secondary coverage, covering additional expenses like co-pays on the primary policy.
During the last school year, if a student provided proof of at least $25,000 in insurance, they were not required to purchase a district policy. If they opted for the district policy, it last year’s cost was $54 for football players, $20 for soccer players and $9.50 for other sports.
The district current has about 5,500 total student athletes.
CNN: Another Safe In Billings Home With $100,000
July 22, 2009
CNN reported late Tuesday night that there was a second safe in the Billings home that contained about $100,000, but the suspects were unable to get into it.
The news network attributed their information to a “source familiar with the investigation”.
Appearing on CNN, Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan would not confirm the existence of the second safe.
Morgan said at a press conference last week that the safe contained personal paperwork such as adoption papers, passports, prescription medication and heirloom jewelry. The medication was prescribed to family members, he said. That is the same contents list provided by Crystal Spencer, the Billings family attorney.
The safe was buried in the backyard of a home owned by Pamela Long Wiggins, according to Morgan, and was covered by bricks.