Want To Learn More About Law Enforcement?
October 1, 2009
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is currently taking applications for a Citizens Law Enforcement Academy class.
Classes will be held beginning Thursday, September 17 and will cover information about various ECSO units including patrol, narcotics, K-9, crime scene, investigations and more.
The classes will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursdays at the ECSO main administration building, providing an opportunity to gain an in depth understanding of the challenges faced by law enforcement.
Participants will also learn about the training, techniques and technology used to fight crime and keep the community safe. Food and drinks are provided to participants. There is no charge for the academy but seating is limited.
Applications and more information are available from the front desk in the Sheriff’s Department main administration building at 1700 West Leonard Street by calling the Community Oriented Policing Office at (850) 436-9281.
Two Bratt Residents Get Probation For Operating Mobile Home Meth Lab
October 1, 2009
The residents accused of operating a meth lab out of a Bratt mobile home will avoid jail time; both have been sentenced to probation by an Escambia County judge.
Daniel Wayne Sheets, 29, and Mary Elaine Sheets, 28, were arrested May 20 on multiple drug charges after deputies located the meth lab at 3740 Highway 168, near Wiggins Road. Both plead nolo contendere as charged. Daniel Wayne Sheets was found guilty, and an adjudication of guilty was withheld in the case of Mary Elaine Sheets.
Both were sentenced to 18 months probation a drug trafficking charge and 12 months concurrent probation on charges of possession of drug paraphernalia and the possession of chemicals used to manufacture a controlled substance, according to court records.
Daniel Wayne Sheets and Mary Elaine Sheets will face one-time fines and charges of $818, plus $52 per month for the probation supervision, and both will be required to reimburse authorities for the May cleanup of the meth lab at the mobile home on Highway 168, court records state.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Department Narcotics Unit and a special Hazmat team from Tallahassee were called to the home to investigate and remove the meth lab.
Escambia County Deputy David Preston said authorities received a tip that a truck belonging to Atmore bank robbery suspect Chad Jeter might be at the residence. The sheriff’s departments from Escambia counties Florida and Alabama, the Atmore Police Department and the FBI attempted to locate Jeter at the mobile home on May 20, but he was not there.
While authorities searched for the bank robber, they discovered a meth lab being operated at the mobile home.
Century’s Budget Up $1.4 Million
October 1, 2009
The Town of Century begins their new budget year today with a budget that is about $1.4 million higher than last year.
The total budget approved by the town council was $4,587,744 — an increase over last year’s $3,154,355 budget. The increase this year is due to $1.83 million for a water infrastructure project being funded by a grant.
Outside of the grant-funded water project, the town’s biggest source of revenue — $1,707, 600 — is from water, gas and sewer charges, and the biggest expense is $1,246,579 to pay for the costs associated with providing the water, sewer and natural gas service for the town’s residents.
The ad valorem millage rate for the town remained at .823 per $1,000. The ad valorem taxes are estimated to provide Century with $26,000 in revenue during the October 1, 2009, to September 30, 2010, budget year.
The budget passed the town council on a 3-1 vote. The negative vote came from council member Henry Hawkins. Council member Nadine McCaw was unable to attend the final budget meeting.
Click here for a Century budget summary (pdf).
New Law: Kids Under 16 Must Wear Helmet Riding A Horse In Public
October 1, 2009
A new law goes into effect today that requires children 16 and younger riding a horse on a public roadway or public property to wear a helmet.
The legislation, called “Nicole’s Law”, creates safety standards to minimize the number of serious or fatal head injuries to Florida youth sustained during equestrian activities and recreation.
“Nicole’s Law” is named for Nicole Hornstein, a 12-year-old girl from Loxahatchee who died after being thrown from a horse in June 2006. This legislation creates safety measures for children who participate in equestrian activities and recreation. It requires a child under age 16 to wear a helmet that meets the current standards of the American Society of Testing and Materials for protective headgear.
Sponsored by Representative Joseph Abruzzo and Senator Dave Aronberg, “Nicole’s Law” applies to children age 16 and younger who are:
- Riding on a public roadway or right-of-way.
- Riding on a public equestrian trail, public recreation trail, public park, public preserve or public school site.
- Riding on any other publicly owned or controlled property.
“Nicole’s Law” does not apply to children under age 16 who are riding while:
- Practicing for, riding to or from, or competing or performing in, shows or events such as rodeos and parades where helmets are not historically a part of the show or event.
- Riding on privately owned land even if the land is occasionally separated by a public road or right-of-way that must be crossed.
- Engaged in an agricultural practice or pursuit.
Photos: Bald Eagle Spotted In Walnut Hill
October 1, 2009
A bald eagle was spotted in Walnut Hill about noon Wednesday. The eagle was in the top of a tree along Highway 97 in Walnut Hill, within about a mile of Ernest Ward Middle School — home of the EWMS Eagles. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, there were 1,280 pairs of bald eagles in Florida last nesting season. FWC has a mapping project to map eagle’s nests; there are no nests mapped by FWC in north Escambia or Santa Rosa counties. To read more about eagles in Florida, click here and here. Eagles are no longer an endangered or threatened species; however, they are protected by state and federal law.
‘Mayor’ Of Bratt Issues Permit For NHS Homecoming Parade
October 1, 2009
The unofficial mayor of Bratt has issued an equally unofficial parade permit for Friday afternoon’s first ever Northview High School Homecoming Parade.
De Facto Mayor Donnie Bass issued the “Community of Bratt Parade Permit” to the Northview High School DCT Class for the parade at 12:30 p.m. Friday from Bratt Elementary School to Northview. Marion Cooper took time off from his duties at Cooper’s Store in Bratt to sign the permit as a witness.
Bass is among a group that meets everyday at the Bratt store to discuss everything from politics, to sports, to marriage advice, Cooper said. Bass earned the title of unofficial mayor because of his “input” on local issues. Cooper’s Store is a popular hangout for Northview students before and after school. The students often just refer to the store at North Highway 99 and Highway 4 as just “Coops”.
“I always support the school,” said “Mayor” Bass from his office — a seat at the end of the checkout counter, right next to the honey buns and boiled peanuts in a can.
Cooper said the parade permit was a way to let the school know just how much the community supports the Northview Chiefs.
There currently about 35 units entered in the parade.
Everyone is encouraged to support the Chiefs and line the parade route. There is still time to enter the parade, call the school at (850) 327-6681 ext. 254. There is no charge to enter, but all entries must be approved by the sponsoring Northview DCT class. Candy throws are welcome; no beads or necklaces.
The DCT class will be throwing candy during the parade, and they are also selling parade t-shirts for $10. Contact any member of the DCT class to purchase a t-shirt.
Pictured top: Tommy Weaver, Northview’s DCT class sponsor, looks on at De Facto Bratt Mayor Donnie Bass signs the “Community of Bratt Parade Permit” for Friday’s homecoming parade. Pictured below: The parade permit. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Burglary Call Lands Woman In Jail On Outstanding Warrants
October 1, 2009
A reported burglary in progress near Davisville led to the arrest of a Walnut Hill woman on outstanding warrants Thursday afternoon.
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to the reported burglary in progress at 3:34 Thursday afternoon after a neighbor called to report two females were breaking into a nearby house on Green Village Road, just north of Highway 164. Both females were still at the house when deputies arrived.
Deputies determined that it was not a burglary; one of the females was allowed to leave. But deputies David Bayshore and Rudy Brown discovered that Michelle Marie Hockett, 31, of Ashcraft Road, had three outstanding warrants.
One warrant was issued February 28, 2008, after Hockett failed to appear for violating her probation on a conviction on 18 worthless check charges. According to court records, was first arrested in the case in November 2005 for 16 worthless checks totaling just over $500 to Tom Thumb, one check to Diamond Gasoline for $35 and one to Barnes Supermarket for $7.85.
A second warrant was outstanding against Hockett for failure to appear on March 27, 2008, in a drug possession case. She had a third outstanding warrant on another worthless check case for a $95.86 check written in 2007 to Driskell’s Grocery.
The worthless checks were not Hockett’s first in Escambia County. Court records show she was convicted in 2006 of writing 61 worthless checks totaling about $4,000 to Driskell’s Grocery, Piggly Wiggly, Tobacco Annies and Diamond Gasoline.
Hockett remains in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
Pictured top: Escambia Sheriff’s deputy David Bayshore takes Michelle Marie Hockett into custody Thursday afternoon on Green Village Road. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.