Thompson Pleads Not Guilty To Killing Cheryl Cain, Dumping Body In Dumpster
July 3, 2009
Scott Joseph Thompson of Jay has entered a plea of not guilty on charges that he murdered Cheryl Cain, the Cantonment woman whose body was found in a Pensacola dumpster back in March.
Thompson will next appear in court for an arraignment hearing in late October. His jury trial is set to begin November 2.
Thompson, 29, has been held without bond since his arrest on June 9. When he was arrested on the murder charges, he was already in the Escambia County Jail for violating probation on 2007 narcotics charges, according to court records, waiting for a bed to become available in a drug treatment facility.
Cain’s body was found in a dumpster behind a Highway 29 gas station in Pensacola on March 25.
DNA evidence from the dumpster and in Cain’s car were used to charge Thompson with murder, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department. Thompson’s DNA was reportedly found in Cain’s vehicle, which was located after the murder at a Pensacola motel.
Cain’s wallet was found under Thompson’s bed, authorities said. Thompson was the roommate of Cain’s ex-boyfriend, according to authorities.
Pictured TOP: Scott Joseph Thompson (standing) appears in court via a video feed from the Escambia County Jail.
Destin Downs Tri-County; Rain Causes Delays In Jay, Destin
July 3, 2009
Tri-County was knocked out of the 11-12 Year Old Baseball All-Star Tournament in Jay with a Thursday night loss to Destin.
The Destin All-Stars defeated Tri-County 15-5 in a game that was delayed by weather. That weather delay in the first game of the night caused the second Thursday night tournament game between Defuniak Springs and Niceville-American to be postponed until a future date to be determined.
Meanwhile, it was a wet and stormy night in Destin too, with a rainout of the Northwest Escambia softball game against Shalimar. It has been rescheduled for Monday night as the 11-12 Year Old All-Star District 1 Tournament continues in Destin.
The Destin area was hit hard by storms Thursday afternoon, with over $1 million in damage done to several planes at the Destin Airport.
Rivkin’s Blood Alcohol was .295 When She Hit, Killed Bicyclist
July 3, 2009
When Christina Rivkin hit and killed a bicyclist on his way to work on June 10, her blood alcohol level was more than three and a half times the legal limit.
Friday morning, the Florida Highway Patrol released its results of Rivkin’s blood tests; The FHP says Rivkin’s blood alcohol levels tested at .297 and .295. The legal limit in Florida is .08.
The FHP said Rivkin was so drunk that she did not know her own name when she hit the bicyclist. She left the scene, and nearly hit a deputy’s cruiser when she returned about an hour later.
Christina Rae Rivkin, 32, is charged with DUI manslaughter, DUI with property damage, DUI and leaving the scene of a crash involving a death in connection with the death of Michael Adam Steele, 25, of Pensacola.
The Florida Highway Patrol says Rivkin was traveling westbound on Nine Mile Road when she crossed the white line near Brewster Street and struck Steele as he was riding his bicycle about 11:15 Wednesday night. Troopers say Steele and his bicycle were dragged under Rivkin’s GMC Yukon for about a quarter of a mile. Rivkin then fled the scene.
A passerby called 911 after discovering the body in the roadway. About an hour later, Rivkin returned to the scene, where she “skidded to an abrupt stop nearly striking the patrol car of Deputy Mark Smith,” the FHP report says. She “appeared extremely intoxicated. She smelled strongly of alcoholic beverage and her speech was slurred. She could not walk without assistance. (She) could not remember her name or say where she was,” the report continues.
Rivkin, according to the FHP, refused to perform a breath test, and a blood sample was taken to determine her blood alcohol level. Those test results are not yet available.
“He jumped out in front of me. What was I suppose to do?” Rivkin told a trooper at the scene.
The FHP says that the front of Rivkin’s vehicle had damage consistent with hitting the bicyclist, and “there appeared to be blood on the front of her vehicle.”
Rivkin had at least two prior DUI arrests and five other moving violations, according to the FHP.
Steele was riding his bicycle to work as part of the stock crew at the Nine Mile Road Winn Dixie when the accident occurred, according to family members. Steele and his wife, Brittney, 20, only owned one car, and family members said he wanted his wife to have the car for her morning commute. He rode the bicycle so that she did not have to drive him to work so that she would be well rested for her job.
Rivkin remains in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
Barrineau Park Music Night Is Tonight
July 3, 2009
Sons of the Pines and Rolling Tide will take to the stage tonight at the Barrineau Park Community Center for the July installment of the monthly Barrineau Park Music Night.
The singing starts at 7 p.m. and is free. Food and refreshments will also be available beginning at 5 p.m. This is a family friendly event. No alcohol is permitted on the property and no smoking is allowed in or near the building.
For more information, call 587-5575.
The Barrineau Park Community Center is located three miles west of Molino on Barrineau Park School Road. Everyone is invited to attend.
Pictured: Sons of the Pines (above) and Rolling Tide (below) will take the stage tonight at the free Barrineau Park Music Night. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Holiday Closings For The Fourth
July 3, 2009
The following will be closed in observance of the Independence Day holiday:
- Century and Jay city offices will be closed Friday and Saturday.
- Escambia County offices will be closed on Friday and Saturday.
- Santa Rosa County offices will be closed on Friday and Saturday.
- West Florida Library branches, including Century, will be closed Friday and Saturday.
- Santa Rosa County libraries will be closed on Saturday.
- Local post offices will close at noon Friday and remain closed on Saturday. There will be mail delivery on Friday as usual, but there will be no mail delivery on Saturday. No mail will be collected from the collection boxes on Saturday or boxed to post offices.
- ECUA offices will be closed Friday and Saturday.
- There will be no change in ECUA or Allied Waste service.
Editor’s Note: The offices listed above as being closed on Friday
Coming Friday: All You Need To Know For The 4th
July 2, 2009
Friday morning here on NorthEscambia.com, will will have all the Fourth of July celebration information from across North Escambia and surrounding areas.
From fireworks shows to singings to old fashioned picnics, we will have complete schedules of all the family-friendly Fourth events.
County Funds Half Of Pensacola Chamber, Gives Century Chamber Nothing
July 2, 2009
Escambia County directly or indirectly provides over 50 percent of the $4.3 million in revenue for the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber and exactly nothing for the Century Chamber of Commerce.
Escambia County contracts with the Pensacola Chamber to provide economic development for the county. Commissioner Gene Valentino had pushed a plan that would have brought more economic development control back to the county, but Wednesday that plan failed to gain the approval of the Pensacola-Escambia Economic Development Commission. Instead, the PEDC endorsed a plan presented by the Pensacola Chamber to continue chamber and private economic development efforts. Read more here.
Through various funding sources, the Pensacola Chamber received $2,342,136 in funding from Escambia County during their fiscal year that ended September 20, 2008. That was 54 percent of the Pensacola Chamber’s entire $4,337,642 gross receipts.
During the same year, the Century Chamber of Commerce received no money from Escambia County, according to Margie McCall, the chamber’s treasurer.
The county provides funding for the Pensacola Chamber, not the Century Chamber, because the Pensacola Chamber is the one contracted to do the county’s economic development, McCall said.
Escambia County did contribute funds several years ago to the Century Chamber. They first received $50,000 to purchase their current office location, then another $50,000 to renovate the building, and finally $50,000 for furnishings and to pave the parking lot.
After that, McCall said the county would have continued funding for the Century Chamber — with the restriction that the funds could not be used for marketing or economic development. Since the chamber is in the business of marketing and economic development in Century, McCall said the Century Chamber did not apply for additional county funds.
That has left the Century Chamber with little funding. The chamber receives about $2,500 per year in membership fees from about 50 members. A few businesses provide a few thousand dollars per year in economic support for the chamber. Otherwise, the Century Chamber has little in the budget, McCall said.
‘We are reaching the point that we will have to do something,” she said. “We are strapped for funds. We may have to look at trying some kind of fund raiser in the future.”
As part of its economic development functions for the county, the Pensacola Chamber provides business prospects with information about available industrial sites in the county, including Century. For instance, the Pensacola Chamber web site highlights the Century Industrial Park and the availability of the old Alger-Sullivan Lumber Company building.
Valentino’s Economic Plan Out; Chamber’s Plan In
July 2, 2009
The competition over economic development plans in Escambia County is over, with a plan from the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce winning out over a plan by Escambia County Commissioner Gene Valentino.
The Pensacola-Escambia Development Commission listened for less than an hour to Valentino and Chamber Chairman Mort O’Sullivan as they detailed their plans. Valentino’s plan would have given the county more control over economic development; the chamber’s plan would leave economic development with the Pensacola Chamber and the private sector.
The PEDC members voted to express a clear preference for the Chamber plan and send it to the Century Town Council, Pensacola City Council and Escambia County Commission for a vote. The PEDC can only offer recommendations to the governmental entities; the group has no authority to actually put the plan in motion.
The PEDC members are Century Mayor Freddie McCall, County commissioners Kevin White and Valentino, Pensacola council members Sam Hall and Martin Deweese and businessmen Blaise Adams, Rhette Anderson, Collier Merrill and O’Sullivan.
The Chamber plan creates the Greater Pensacola Partnership, a new economic development organization. The PEDC recommended that the county and Pensacola use increases in utility franchise fees to fund economic incentives of at least $4 million per year. PEDC voted to ask the Century and Pensacola councils and the county commission to allow the board to recommend how that $4 million is allocated.
To read more about the Pensacola and Century chambers, click here.
NWE Falls Out Of Jay Tournament With Loss To Niceville
July 2, 2009
Northwest Escambia is out of the 11-12 Year Old Baseball All-Star Tournament in Jay following a Wednesday night loss to Niceville-American.
Niceville-American topped NWE 13-0. Wednesday afternoon, Destin beat Shalimar 11-9.
The Tri-County will face Destin at 5:30 this afternoon in Jay.
Celebrate Fourth With Jay Freedom Fun 5K, Fun Run
July 2, 2009
Jay will celebrate the Fourth with the 10th annual Jay Celebration Freedom 5K and One Mile Fun Run at 6 p.m. at the Jay City Park on Booker Lane.
The patriotic race will begin and end at the city park. Runners will loop around Jay Elementary and Jay High as they pass the neighboring countryside.
The last half of the course is on a paved road between cotton and peanut fields. Awards will be presented to top finishers, master runners, grand master runners and senior grand master runners. Day-of-race registration begins at 4:30 p.m., and costs $20. For details, call Matt Dobson at (850) 217-2603 or (850) 675-6474.