Dawn Good Yoder
July 10, 2009
Dawn Good Yoder, age 50, of Atmore, Ala., died Wednesday, July 8, 2009, in Mobile. She was a Registered Nurse but was primarily a homemaker since her children were born. Her servant’s heart was inspired by her love for Christ. She was born in Harrisonburg, Va., and was a member of Mennonite Christian Fellowship.Mrs. Yoder is survived by her husband, Dr. Jon E. Yoder of Atmore; her father and mother, Ethan J. and Shirley B. Good of Macon, Miss.; two sons, Robert K. Yoder and Stephen J. Yoder of Atmore; two daughters, Amber F. Yoder and Kristin B. Yoder of Atmore; four sisters, Phyllis Miller and husband, Dan, of McComb, Miss., Ardis Diller and husband, Lester, of Belleville, Pa., Rosa Lee Kanagy and husband, Tim, of Macon and Carol L. Roth and husband, Mark, of Jackson, Miss., and many other relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, July 11, 2009, at 2 p.m., from First Assembly of God Church in Atmore with Pastor Carl Martin officiating. Interment will follow in Freemanville Community Cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be Daniel Hubbard, Tim Kanagy, Mark Roth, Dan Miller, David Yoder and Paul Yoder.
The family will receive friends Friday, July 10, 2009, at Mennonite Christian Fellowship Church from 4 to 9 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Dawn Yoder Memorial Fund c/o Atmore Christian School or Christian Aid Ministries c/o Mennonite Christian Fellowship Church, 245 Tennant Drive, Atmore, AL 36502.
Blog: It’s Time For A Change After Animal Control, Livestock Officer Refuse To Help Starving Animals
July 10, 2009
An animal cruelty incident outside of Century Thursday uncovered a problem in the way Escambia County handles some animal cruelty cases.
When a horse, a donkey, two pigs, four goats and dog were found without food and water, Escambia County deputies responded. There was no problem in getting the donkey and the horse rescued from the property. Panhandle Equine Rescue, a non-profit group based in Cantonment, quickly responded to remove the equines from the property. (Click here for that story.)
But when deputies called Escambia County Animal Control, they refused to respond because they normally deal with cats, dogs and perhaps a snake or two. When deputies called the county’s livestock officer, he too refused to respond because his job description stipulates that he will respond only on public property.
Deputies did not want to leave the animals on the property where they had been living without adequate food and water due to safety concerns for the animals. Additionally, the animals were all technically evidence in a criminal investigation.
“No one wants to be responsible for animals like goats and pigs,” Diane Lowery, president of PER said. “Animal control does not do livestock. County ordinances say that the county must provide a location to impound any animal, but there’s no one to actually pick up live stock. It’s time to change that.”
While on the scene, NorthEscambia.com contact leaders in both the sheriff’s department and the county government. What we found could best be described as a loophole in county services.
“We just don’t do livestock,” Sonya Daniel, Escambia County’s public information manager told us after looking into the situation. “Everything is OK on our side of the fence on this one. This is livestock, and since it looks like this is a criminal complaint, this one falls on the sheriff’s department. That’s why the sheriff’s department has a livestock officer.”
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Department does have a contract livestock officer, Terry Brown, who is called out on an as-needed basis.
Captain Bobby Jackson with the sheriff’s department pulled a copy of Brown’s contract for us. That contract states, according to Jackson, that the livestock officer will respond to “at large animals on public property whether dead or alive”. In our case Thursday, the animals were on private property where the livestock officer has no jurisdiction.
“It looks like there is a loophole in the system,” Jackson acknowledged. “I think this is the first time this has popped up.”
We are by no means faulting animal control, the livestock officer or the sheriff’s department. It really appears that everyone played by the rules. While it appears that Terry Brown, the livestock officer, did his job and followed his contract, there is a problem with that contract. And it is time for it to be changed.
The facts are simple. There is a lot of livestock in North Escambia, and most animal owners are very responsible. But a situation like Thursday’s incident will undoubtedly arise again. Look at PER for instance — they have investigated over 450 cases and seized about five dozen horses.
The problem is simple to resolve — remove the words “private property” from the livestock officer’s contract. The additional cost to the county? Nothing, really. Since the officer is charged with removing animals anyway on public property, he just needs the authority to remove them from private property. It’s for the well being of the animals, plus the animals are criminal evidence. In an animal cruelty case, leaving the animal behind makes about as much sense as leaving a child behind in a child abuse case.
It is time for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department to review the livestock officer’s duties and contract. We don’t know when the contract was last bid or how much the livestock officer is paid; we were not able to determine that late Thursday afternoon. But perhaps it is time to review and rebid the contract as well.
Animals Found Without Food, Water; Child Found Living In Filth
July 10, 2009
(NorthEscambia.com Exclusive) Authorities are pursuing animal cruelty and child neglect charges against two people after a horse, a donkey, four goats, two pigs and dog were found living without food and water at a home outside Century; and a young teen was found in their mobile home living in what deputies described as “squalor”.
The animals were discovered at mobile home at 2390 Highway 168, where rescuers say they had been living for days without water or food. The horse named Champagne was tied to a tree with an extension cord at the rear of the trash-covered property. Her ribs were clearly visible as she stood in an unfenced circle of dirt surrounded by tall grass. She had tried so hard to get to the grass that was just outside her reach that her bridle had worn a large sore on her head.
Escambia County deputies are in the process of obtaining animal cruelty warrants for the arrest of Steven Wayne Billiot, 57, and Faye M. Kyle, 48, over the starving animals. Deputies are also seeking a child neglect warrant because of a young male teen living in the single wide mobile home on the property. The home had no apparent air conditioning and deputies described the living conditions inside the home as deplorable — full of cockroaches, dirty dishes, exposed electrical wiring, holes in the floor and filth. The Department of Children and Families was called to the scene to investigate the living conditions of the child.
Deputies said that when they provided water for Champagne the horse, she drank nearly a five gallon bucket of water.
The two small pigs were living in a crudely constructed pen made of wire and wood. The dirt in the pen was dry and dusty, according to deputy James Moretz, when he discovered it. There was no water in the pen for the pigs.
The four goats were in a wire pen, also with no water. The donkey was tied to a tree in the front yard of the mobile home, again, with no water. And the dog, also tied a tree in the front yard, appeared to be malnourished and had no water.
Panhandle Equine Rescue, a non-profit group authorized by the court system to investigate equine cruelty in Escambia County, was called to the scene. PER seized the horse and donkey. After difficulty getting any other agency to remove the goats and pigs, PER seized them as well. All of the animals were transported to an area veterinarian for treatment. Click here for a story about how animal control and a livestock officer refused to respond to the scene.
The dog was seized as evidence by a crime scene investigator with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department and transported to the Escambia County Animal Shelter in Pensacola.
This was not the first time an animal cruelty incident involving Billiot and Kyle had been investigated at the home. The couple voluntarily surrendered two starving horses, Raver and Racer, to PER in April 2008. There were no charges filed in the incident due to the voluntary surrender. (Raven and Racer are pictured left, click to enlarge.)
Deputies also called Escambia County Code Enforcement to the property to investigate conditions inside and outside of the mobile home.
Click here for more NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos from the rescue, the animals and the property. (Some readers may find some of the photographs in the photo gallery to be disturbing.)
Pictured top: This horse was found without food or water at a mobile home on Highway 168 Thursday afternoon. The horse was unable to reach the grass in the photo because of being tied to a tree. Pictured inset: Deputies James Moretz and Randy Murph remove goats from the property. Pictured below: The backyard of the mobile home were the animals were located. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
County Increases Fire Fee For Over 2,500 Small Businesses
July 10, 2009
The Escambia County Commission has approved a change to the county’s fire services fee that will impact over 2,500 small businesses.
There fire services fee in the county for small businesses was 3.4 cents per square foot. At that level, there were 2,551 small businesses with less than 2,200 square feet that payed less than the county’s residential fire fee.
The county voted Thursday night to impose a $75 per unit minimum for businesses, the same rate paid on residential property in the county. The increase will net the county $125,921 per year.
Commissioner said that they will increase the resident fire fee next year.
Flomaton Police Chief Released By Town’s Mayor
July 10, 2009
Flomaton Police Chief Tim Hardage has been released, according to Mayor Dewey Bondurant, Jr. because the two did not see eye to eye.
“He and I just didn’t work well together. Sometimes that happens,” Bondurant told NorthEscambia.com Thursday. “I called him into my office and I terminated him.”
Hardage is not accused of any wrongdoing during his service as Flomaton police chief, according to Bondurant. The mayor said Hardage was a “good police officer” while on the streets of Flomaton.
The Flomaton Town Council will decide Monday night who will lead the police department while the search for a new police chief begins, Bondurant said.
Hardage joined the Flomaton Police Department as chief on February 23, 2009.
U.S. Marshals Arrest 247 In North Florida, 96 In Pensacola Area
July 10, 2009
The U.S. Marshals Service has wrapped up Operation FALCON — Federal and Local Cops Organized Nationally — with 247 arrests in the Northern District of Florida, 96 of those in the Pensacola area.
Operation FALCON combined the collective efforts of multiple law enforcement agencies in one of the area’s largest-ever fugitive initiatives, focusing on capturing individuals wanted on felony charges including sexual predators and fugitives wanted for crimes of violence.
During the 30-day operation, Deputy U.S. Marshals from the Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force teamed with federal, state and local law enforcement partners, arresting seven fugitives wanted for homicide, 31 sex offenders wanted in connection with sex crimes charges to include charges of sexual assault and failure to register, nine gang members of documented street gangs, and 16 felons on weapons charges. During the operation, 16 guns were seized as well. Overall, 353 warrants were cleared in the Northern District of Florida which covers area from Pensacola to Gainesville.
One of the fugitives captured by Task Force members was Wendell Ray Hurley who was wanted by Escambia County Sheriff’s Office for the alleged murder of Timothy Thames. His warrants charged him for homicide, armed home invasion, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. According to police reports, Hurley allegedly broke into Thames’ home and shot him two times with what was believed to be a .380-caliber handgun before fleeing. Around noon on June 2, the Task Force and apprehended Hurley without incident while he slept in a house located on the 1200 block of Tamara Drive in Pensacola. Task Force Officers found a .380 caliber handgun believed to be the murder weapon in the bed where he was sleeping.
Within the Northern District of Florida, Operation FALCON consisted of approximately 30 federal, state and local law enforcement officers, working throughout the operation. Each participating local officer was sworn in as a Special Deputy U.S. Marshal immediately prior to the start of this operation. This special authority empowers them to cross traditional lines of jurisdiction to track down and arrest targeted fugitives throughout the operation.
“The cooperation and enthusiasm of law enforcement agencies in the Northern District of Florida has always been incredible,” said U.S. Marshal Dennis Williamson. “The team effort our partners displayed throughout this initiative is commendable and this cooperative effort underscores how successful law enforcement can be when it embraces a spirit of cooperation.”
The Pensacola Task Force made its last Operation FALCON arrest at 6 p.m. on June 30. Fugitive Earl Lee Cummings was wanted in Grand Rapids, MI for felony sexual assault. Police reports indicate that Cummings’ offense involved the sexual assault of a fourteen year-old sometime in 1997. The warrant for his arrest was issued in November of 1998.
The USMS had determined that CUMMINGS has been living in Pensacola for about seven years renting a room of a house on the 2400 Block on Kelso Rd, Pensacola. While conducting surveillance at Kelso Road, U.S. Marshals and Task Force Officers spotted Cummings at the house. Assistance was summoned from other Task Force Officers from Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Escambia and Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Offices. The Task Force entered the home and found Cummings in his bedroom. He was arrested without incident, brought to the Escambia County Jail and booked in as a fugitive from justice on the Michigan warrant.
Boil Water Notice: Central Water Works Customers In Byrneville Area
July 9, 2009
Central Water Works has issued the following precautionary boil water notice for residents in the Byrneville Area:
TO: Residents of the Byrneville community, area of Century, Escambia County, Florida, living in the area bounded by Whirlpool Road, Crary Road, Thompson Road, and Byrneville Road south of 1101 Byrneville Road
A water main break occurred at the intersection of Crary Road and Thompson Road at approximately 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 8, 2009. The main break has been repaired.
What should I do?
As a precaution, we advise that all water used for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth, or washing dishes be boiled. A rolling boil of one minute is sufficient. Residents are also advised to take precautions when bathing, especially immune-compromised individuals, infants, or the elderly.
What happened? What is being done?
A loss in system pressure could cause backsiphonage of contaminants, such as e. Coli bacteria, into the water system. Water containing e. Coli bacteria can be considered safe for drinking and cooking after vigorously boiling the water for one minute. Epa has set an enforceable drinking water standard for e. Coli to reduce the risk of adverse health effects. Under this standard, all drinking water must be free of these bacteria.
The water system is currently collecting samples to determine if the presence of e.coli bacteria exists within the water system. This precautionary boil water notice will remain in effect until a bacteriological survey shows that the water is safe to drink. Customers will receive notice after the water system has received satisfactory laboratory results. The anticipated date for rescinding this notice is July 10, 2009.
If you have any questions you may contact Lisa Fuller, Central Water Works, 1101 Byrneville Road, Century, FL 32535, 850-256-3849.
Federal Judgment Against Helicopter Technology; Century Continues With Foreclosure Proceedings
July 9, 2009
A federal court has awarded a Costa Rican company a $424,550.72 judgment against the former Helicopter Technology company of Century. Meanwhile, the Town of Century’s efforts to foreclose on the former Helicopter Technology building are continuing, with a final ruling expected by the end of the summer.
The United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida entered the judgment in favor of El Colona Agropecurario of Costa Rica. The company paid Helicopter Technology $407,500 down on a $560,000 remanufactured FH1100 helicopter with an agricultural spray system to spray banana plantations. (Click the image to load a pdf of the invoice obtained by NorthEscambia.com.)
According to federal court documents, Helicopter Technology was to have delivered the helicopter by April 2007. “Between April 2007 and December 2007, El Colono made numerous demands for delivery of the helicopter and spray system without success,” the lawsuit states. El Colono began asking for their $407,500 back on December 20, 2007.
The federal court ruled in favor of El Colono, awarding the $407,500 plus interest for a total of $424,550.72.
Meanwhile, the Town of Century started mortgage foreclosure proceedings against Helicopter Technology, Inc. in Escambia County Circuit Court on August 26, 2008, after the company defaulted on payment arrangements with the town. Company owner Georges Van Nevel apparently left the country about that time.
At the time the mortgage foreclosure proceedings were filed, the town was aware of two other liens against the property. One from Williams, Cox, Weidner & Cox. P.A. from 2005 was for $8,000. Another judgment from 2008 by Anthony Urella and Demetri Urella had a $27,000 balance. After the lawsuit was filed, the town learned that there was an additional lien for $90,000 for a judgment in favor of Landmark National II Corp.
The town’s foreclosure motions in Escambia County Circuit Court sought to have the other liens dismissed. Only one party, the accounting firm, filed an answer supporting their claim. A motion of default was entered against the other defendants, including Helicopter Technology, in October.
Both companies have now agreed to settle with the town for under $10,000. Now, attorney Matt Dannheisser is seeking an additional $17,000 in attorney’s fees added to the claim against Helicopter Technology for his work on the case.
After that hearing, which will not take place for about three weeks, Century Mayor Freddie McCall said he expects the foreclosure to soon become final.
“There’s nobody here as far as I know to protest,” McCall said of Van Nevel and Helicopter Technology. “Mr. Van Nevel is out of the country as far as I know.”
One of the biggest points that the town will be required to prove in court is the amount of interest owed, Town Attorney Matt Dannheiser said in a recent letter obtained by NorthEscambia.com. According to the letter to Mayor Freddie McCall, Dannheiser said the interest rate could mean a $235,000 difference in the amount of money the town receives.
The promissory note provides for a seven-percent interest rate, making the total amount owed by Helicopter Technology $471,000. But one provision of the note provides for an 18-percent default rate, which would make the total amount the town could claim $706,000 if the rate is applied back to March 1, 2004 — the first day of default.
If the building is sold at auction for less than $471,000, the interest rate is unimportant, Dannheisser’s letter says. But if it sells for more than $471,000, the excess would go to the other lien holder before the town. If the court agrees the interest rate should be the 18 percent back to 2004, the town would receive the full auction selling price up to the $706,000 before a lien is paid.
“Of course, that effort would be for naught if the amount bid at the foreclosure sale would be less than $471,000,” Dannheisser said in his letter to McCall.
Pictured bottom: Helicopter Technologies owner Georges Van Nevel addresses the Century Town Council in early June 2008. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
NWE Girls Win 11-12 Year Old Softball Championship
July 9, 2009
The Northwest Escambia All-Stars won the 11-12 Year Old All-Star District 1 Tournament championship Wednesday night in Destin.
NWE beat Niceville 4-1 to claim the district title. They will advance to the sectional tournament July 18 and 19 in Destin.
Pitching for NWE Wednesday night, Mallory Ryan had seven strikeouts and allowed just two walks. Reagan Bell, Danielle Steadham, Cheyenne Schoonover and Kyndall Hall each scored once for Northwest Escambia.
The NWE All-Stars were undefeated during the tournament, with a 7-0 win over Niceville, a 12-1 win over Shalimar and Wednesday night’s 4-1 win over Niceville.
Pictured above: The NWE 10-11 Year Old All-Stars with their championship banner Wednesday night in Destin. Pictured front: (L-R) Addy Lee, Kyndall Hall, Kendal Cobb, Courtney Peebles, Darby Randolph, Mallory Ryan, Danielle Steadham, Cheyanne Schoonover, Reagan Bell and Madison Arrington. Pictured back row: Manager Jerry Mason and Coach David Arrington. Submitted photo by Kim Ryan for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Final ApprovalFor Pet Hurricane Shelter In Molino
July 9, 2009
The Escambia County Commission has granted final approval to the county’s first pet-friendly hurricane evacuation shelter to be located at Molino Park Elementary School.
While there are over 1,500 local hotel and motel rooms that will accept pets, the county determined the need for a pet-friendly shelter as a last resort for those unable to evacuate their pets elsewhere or simply will not evacuate without their pets. The domestic pets would be housed in the 3,158 square foot area of the school’s gym, about 100 feet from the man building.
The county says the gym will house between 148 to 350 pets in pet carriers or cages. The main school building, which has previously served a hurricane shelter, can house 2,200 people under the supervision of the American Red Cross.
The shelter would be for household cats and dogs only, with no other pets or animals allowed. Pet owners would be responsible for providing their own food, water, medicine and cleanup supplies.
Owners would not be allowed to shelter with their pets in the pet area, nor would pets be allowed in the people shelter area of the school.
The gym floor will be protected with plastic and mats. A contractor will be used to sanitize the school and spray for fleas before students are allowed to return.
The plan has been approved by the Escambia County School Board and will became final after approval Thursday night by the Escambia County Commission.