Severe Thunderstorm Warning – North Escambia
August 5, 2009
The National Weather Service in Mobile has issued a
* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for…
Northwestern Escambia County in Northwest Florida…
Central Baldwin County in Southwest Alabama…
* until 430 pm CDT
* at 347 pm …National Weather Service radar indicated a severe
winds over 60 mph. this storm was near Phillipsville…or about 9
miles east of Bay Minette…and moving southeast at 20 mph.
Rural Northwestern Escambia County at 400 pm
Rural Western Escambia County at 410 pm
Rural Central Escambia County at 420 pm
This is a dangerous storm. if you are in its path…prepare
immediately for damaging winds…destructive hail…and deadly cloud
to ground lightning. high winds can bring down trees and large limbs
resulting in serious injury or property damage. people outside should
move to a shelter…preferably inside a strong building away from
windows.
Shakedown At Escambia Jail
August 5, 2009
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office conducted a complete shakedown of the Escambia County Jail Wednesda after reports of a possible incident involving the inmates were developed late Tuesday afternoon.
Every inmate and cell was searched thoroughly in an attempt to uncover any weapons that could potentially be used in an incident. These security measures were taken to ensure the safety of both the inmates and the personnel within the Escambia County Jail, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department.
Escambia County Swat Team members were brought in to provide additional security during the shake down. The operation progressing satisfactory and the safety of all involved was a top priority, officials said.
Vehicle Registration, Driver License Fees To Increase
August 5, 2009
It’s going to be more expensive to drive as a Florida resident after September 1. The fees for vehicle registrations, renewals, titles and driver licenses are about to go up and, in some cases, more than double.
The initial registration fee – the fee paid for a vehicle registration on an additional vehicle not replacing a current vehicle — will jump from $100 to $225.
Tag and registration fees will go up as much as 66 percent; the exact amount depends on the weight of the vehicle. Transfer fees for titles will more than double from $29.75 to $75.75. Motorcycle registrations will also increase, from $24.60 to $41.65.
Reinstating a suspended driver license will increase, late payment fees on driver license renewals go up 15-fold, from $1 to $15, and the cost of the original driver license will go from $32.25 to $54.25. Renewing a driver license goes from $25.25 to $54.25.
But there’s a chance to avoid some of the fee increases for some Florida residents.
If a registrant’s birthday falls between July through October, they can renew at the current rates. Beginning Saturday, persons with November birthdays can also renew early because registrations can be renewed up too three months in advance. Persons with December birthdays will not have the opportunity to renew early and save.
“There’s that chance for some people to renew now and save,” Escambia County Tax Collector Janet Holley said. “It is like a two-for-one deal if you can renew now and you do.”
Holley stressed that the increases were mandated by the state legislature for all Florida residents; the increases are not specific to Escambia County.
There is also a chance to save on the driver license renewal fees. A valid Florida driver license can be renewed up to 18 months in advance.
For more information, contact Holley’s office at (850) 438-6500 ext. 252.
Teen To Be Tried As Adult In Billings Murders
August 5, 2009
Rakeem Chavez Florence, 16, will now be tried as an adult in connection with the deaths of Byrd and Melanie Billings.
Florence appeared for the first time in adult court on Tuesday; he had been held in the Juvenile Detention Center since his arrest in Okaloosa County on July 14.
Escambia Circuit Court Judge Parnham ruled that Florence would be charged as an adult. It was the last initial appearance for the seven suspects in the July 9 Beulah murders.
He has since been transferred to the adult population at the Escambia County Jail where he is being held without bond. His next court appearance is an arraignment hearing on August 28 in front of Circuit Judge Paul Rasmussen.
Florence reportedly knew three of the other murder suspects – Donnie Ray Stallworth, 28, Lamont Sumner, 30, and Frederick Lee Thornton Jr., 19 through Sumner’s Fifth Dimension auto detailing business in Fort Walton Beach.
Century To Hold Budget Meeting
August 5, 2009
The Town of Century will hold a budget workshop on Thursday afternoon, and they will also meet with the town’s attorney about their foreclosure on the property formerly occupied by Helicopter Technology, Inc.
The budget workshop will take place at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Century City Hall as the the town council works to finalize a fiscal year 2009-2010 budget.
Matt Dannheisser, the town’s attorney, is also scheduled to attend the meeting to discuss the foreclosure against Helicopter Technologies. That foreclosure became final on July 30 with a $740,999.43 judgment in favor of the Town of Century. The building will be sold at public auction on August 24, with the proceeds up to the judgment amount going to the town. Read more about the foreclosure here.
Chemstrand Road To Reopen – Temporarily
August 5, 2009
New Chemstrand Road will temporarily reopen to through traffic at Kingsfield Road sometime Thursday.
The roadway had been closed as a transmission pipeline was installed from Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ECUA) Main Street Wastewater Treatment Plant to the new Central Water Reclamation Facility (CWRF). It had been scheduled to remain closed for up to four months.
But due to some conflicts with underground utilities, the pipeline installation was delayed. While the contractor works to resolve the utilities issues, the roadway will be reopened.
New Chemstrand Road is expected to be closed again next Wednesday, August 12.
State Attorney: No Charges Over McNesby Computer Files
August 5, 2009
The State Attorney’s Office said Tuesday that there is not enough evidence to prove that a criminal violation occurred from the deletion of computer files during former sheriff Ron McNesby’s term.
Bill Chavers — chief deputy under current Sheriff David Morgan — wrote a letter to the State Attorney’s Office in April concerning five computers missing files from McNesby’s administration.
The investigation discovered that data saved on Escambia County Sheriff’s Office computers is also saved on a main server, according to Assistant State Attorney John Molchan.
“During the transition of administrations, data was deleted from those desktop computers,” Molchan wrote in a letter addressed to Chavers. “However, much of this data was also saved to the server by personnel in the computer division.”
The State Attorney’s Office obtained the saved documents and data.
“The data consisted of personal photos and miscellaneous emails, transitory and work product documents which upon our review do not constitute public records,” Molchan’s letter to Chavers said. “There is no available evidence that documents belonging to the Office of the Sheriff was deleted from the computers in question in a willful and unlawful manner.”
Florida’s public records laws require that public records, including items produced on a computer, be maintained. A violation can be a criminal offense.
To read the letter from the State Attorney’s Office to Chief Deputy Bill Chavers, click here.
Walnut Hill Resident Finalist In Taco Jingle Contest
August 5, 2009
Olivia Godwin of Walnut Hill is hoping that a short tune about tacos will win an Alabama radio station contest.
Godwin is a finalist in a Taco Casa jingle contest sponsored by radio station 94.1 WZBQ in Tuscaloosa, Ala., where she is a student at the University of Alabama. The winner of the taco restaurant’s jingle contest wins a three day, two night stay at the Marriott Golf Resort and Spa in Panama City, Pepsi products and $600 worth of Mexican food from Taco Casa.
There are five finalists in the contest. Click here to vote. Olivia Godwin is in the photo at the bottom of the page. You must enter a valid email in order to verify your vote. To view Godwin’s video entry, click here.
Godwin is a 2008 graduate of Northview High School.
Old Fashioned Gospel Time At Century Care Center
August 5, 2009
There was some pickin’ and grinnin’ going on Tuesday morning at the Century Care Center.
Three of the residents’ favorite musicians all took part in a morning jam session for the residents. Harold Pope, “Brother” Kelly and Robert Strength entertained with old style gospel music.
Pictured above: (L-R) Harold Pope, “Brother” Kelly and Robert Strength Tuesday morning at the Century Care Center. Pictured below: The CCC residents enjoyed singing along. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Special Weather Statement: Strong Thunderstorm Near McDavid
August 4, 2009
…A strong thunderstorm will affect Escambia and Santa Rosa
counties…
At 517 PM CDT…National Weather Service Doppler radar indicated a
strong thunderstorm 4 miles northeast of McDavid…moving southeast
at 10 mph.
This thunderstorm will affect areas in and around…
McDavid through 545 PM CDT.
The primary threats from this storm are small hail…frequent
lightning…and wind gusts of 45 to 55 mph. Winds this strong could
bring down dead or diseased trees and large limbs resulting in
serious injury or property damage. Local loss of electrical power may
result from downed power lines. Exercise extreme caution when
outdoors during such strong winds…or seek shelter in a safe home or
building until the storm has passed.