Half Million Dollar Bond For DUI Death
June 13, 2009
Bond has been set at a half million dollars for the the woman charged with driving drunk and killing a bicyclist on Nine Mile Road Wednesday night.
Christina Rivkin remains in the Escambia County Jail on the $500,000 bond charged with DUI manslaughter and four other charges in connection with the death of Michael Steele, 25. 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 to work at Winn Dixie 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.
She made her appearance Friday afternoon before Judge Thomas Johnson via a video feed from the Escambia County Jail. Rivkin could be seen wiping tears from her eyes during her appearance. State Attorney Bill Eddins had requested that bond be set at $1 million because Rivkin has two previous DUIs — one in Escambia County and one in Ohio. Johnson denied that request, setting the bond at the half million.
Rivkin will be back in court on July 2 for an arraignment hearing. She told the judge that she will hire her own attorney.
About an hour after Wednesday night’s accident, 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 is the estranged wife of Escambia County Sheriff’s Deputy Scott Rivkin, according to an FHP report.
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.
Pictured above: Christina Rivkin’s Escambia County Jail booking photo. Authorities first refused to release the photo because Rivkin is the wife of an Escambia County Deputy, citing a law that provides privacy for a deputy’s spouse. Click to enlarge.
Four Swine Flu Cases In Escambia County
June 13, 2009
There are four confirmed cases of swine flu in Escambia County, according to the Escambia County Health Department.
The affected adults have been given the appropriate medication and are isolating themselves to avoid spreading the disease, health officials said.
“Evidence indicates that the risk to the general public is low,” said Health Department Director Dr. John Lanza. “Disease investigators are talking with individuals who have been in close contact with the infected adults and have not yet identified additional cases.”
The virus is believed to be circulating widely in Florida and the nation. Most people who have become ill with novel H1N1 in the U.S. have not become seriously ill and have recovered without hospitalization.
Escambia County (FL) Health Department officials believe that the threat of widespread illness from H1N1 Flu (swine flu) in Escambia County is low. To stop the spread of any disease, residents should:
- Stay home from work or school when sick
- Contact their physician or health care provider if they experience cough, fever and fatigue, possibly along with diarrhea and vomiting
- Avoid close contact with people who are coughing or otherwise appear ill
- Avoid touching their eyes, nose and mouth
- Wash hands frequently
- Cough or sneeze into a tissue or upper sleeve — not onto hands — and put used tissue in the waste basket
The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of seasonal flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people report diarrhea and vomiting associated with the swine flu. Like seasonal influenza, swine flu may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions.
Little League Tourney Series Begins Today In Walnut Hill
June 13, 2009
Florida District 1 Little League tournament action gets underway today at Bradberry Park in Walnut Hill with the 8-9 year old special games.
In today’s games, Destin will take on DeFuniak Springs at 2:30; Shalimar will play Niceville-American at 5:00 and Niceville-National will play Tri-County at 7:30.
The Northwest Escambia host team will play at 5:30 Monday against the winner of the Destin vs. Defunik Springs game.
The tournament will continue for about a week.
Poarch Creek Tribal Council Results Certified
June 13, 2009
The Poarch Creek Indians have upheld the results of their recent Tribal Council election and certified the winners.
In the June 6 election, incumbent Stephanie A. Bryan defeated challenger Eddie Tullis for vice chairman of the council. Incumbember Keith Martin and newcomer Berry Ross were elected to the council.
But a challenge to the election was filed by candidates Amy Bryan, Peggy Rolin Couch, Douglas Kelley, Chis Adams and Daniel Smillie.The Poarch Creek Election Board overruled the challenge that they described as an “eight-page, single spaced” document with “somewhat disconnected and often rambling allegations”.
The allegations included improper election procedures, improper participation by the Poarch Legal Department, improper counting of absentee votes, and the turning away of qualified voters.
Sherrill Receives Music Awards At Faulkner State
June 13, 2009
Kate Elizabeth Sherrill of Walnut Hill was recently honored for her musical accomplishments at Faulkner State Community College.
Sherrill was awarded the Faulkner State Freshman Music Major of the Year Award and the Faulkner Singers Award.
The awards were presented at the Department of Fine Arts annual banquet held at the Bienville Club in Mobile.
In addition to being a member of the Faulkner Singers, Sherrill is also part of Faulkner’s Sun Chief Sound.
Sherrill, who attends Faulkner on a music scholarship, is a member of Phi Theta Kappa where she will serve as communications Officer this year. She recently attended the Phi Theta Kappa International Convention in Dallas.
She is the daughter of Kent and Anne Sherrill and the granddaughter of Sam and Dean Graham and the late Hunk and Senie Sherrill.
Firefighters Battle Fire In Trailer Load Of Hay (With Photo Gallery)
June 12, 2009
Molino firefighters battled a stubborn fire in a trailer load of hay Friday afternoon.
Callers to 911 reported that the hay was on fire as the driver of the truck headed north on Highway 97 from near Molino Park Elementary School. An Escambia County Sheriff’s deputy stopped the truck in the parking lot of the Dixie Feed Store during the 5:00 hour.
It took firefighters from the Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue over an hour to completely extinguish the smoldering fire inside the bales. The truck was hauling 20 of the large, round bales of hay.
There were no injuries in the incident.
For a photo gallery from the scene, click here.
Pictured above and below: Molino firefighters battle a smoldering fire in a trailer load of large hay bales. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Seven Year Old Injured In Four-Wheeler Accident
June 12, 2009
A seven year old girl was injured in a four-wheeler accident this afternoon south of Walnut Hill.
The accident happened about 3:30 Friday afternoon in the 5000 block of Highway 97. Authorities said the girl was the passenger on a four-wheeler when the driver tried to ride the four-wheeler over a driveway, lost control and flipped.
She was transported by LifeFlight to a Pensacola hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Atmore Ambulance responded to the call.
No further details were available.
Lady Astros Bring Together Players From Several High Schools
June 12, 2009
The summer season is underway for the Lady Astros 16U softball team, and they’ve already picked up one tournament win.
“We have the talent and the softball skills that can get us in the finals,” said Head Coach Donnie Nicholson.
The players for the Lady Astros are from several area high schools, including Northview, Tate, Jay, Pine Forest and Escambia.
Picture above: (top row) Rachuel Zampino, Tate; Shaniqua Jones, Jay; Bri Biggs, Escambia; Lauren Mccall, Northview; Amy Clark, Northview; Marina Cobbs, Tate; (bottom row) Catherine Tucker, Tate; Ronni Renfroe, Tate; Allyssa Landus, Pine Forest; Avery Cobb, Tate; Heather Schaff, Tate; Mariena Harris, Tate; Al Crockett), coach; and Donnie Nicholson, head coach. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Lucky To Be Alive: Horse Rips Through Van, Flips Another Vehicle (Updated)
June 12, 2009
(Updated) Lucky to be alive — those were the words repeated by emergency personnel Thursday night at the scene of a bizarre accident in Molino where a horse ripped a van apart, caused another vehicle to flip and damaged a third car.
Sandy Swindall, 49, of Pensacola said she really did not know what had happened when she struck a horse with her Dodge Caravan about 10:45 p.m. on Highway 29 near Molino, directly in front of Victory Assembly of God. The horse crashed through the windshield and into the interior of the van before peeling the roof off the vehicle and landing in the middle of northbound Highway 29.
A northbound Ford Focus driven by Mireli Scott, 31, of McDavid, then struck the remains of the horse in the highway, sending the car airborne and flipping it over several times. The vehicle landed upright turned in the opposite direction. A third vehicle, a small Ford car driven by Kaitlin Whitfield, 16, of Molino, also struck the remains of the horse.
Swindall, who said she was “very blessed”, was not injured in the accident. Scott, the driver of the Ford Focus that flipped, was transported in serious condition to Sacred Heart Hospital by LifeFlight. The passenger in the Focus, Linda Batte, 56, of Brewton, was transported by ambulance to Sacred Heart in serious condition. Whitfield, the driver of the third vehicle, was not injured.
At last report, Scott was listed in fair condition at Sacred Heart. Batte was treated and released.
None of the three vehicles in the accident collided with the another; they all struck only the horse.
Warning: The following photo gallery is extremely graphic and may be disturbing to some readers. Click here for an exclusive NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the scene.
The original collision between the horse and the van left an incredible scene — the windshield smashed, the passenger seat bent backwards and the van’s roof peeled all the way to the back of the vehicle. A large amount of horse remains were in the back of the van. Firefighters estimated the horse to have weighed between 1,000 and 1,200 pounds.
The Molino and Cantonment stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department and the Florida Highway Patrol all responded to the accident.
The dark colored horse ran across the northbound lane from the median, according to the FHP. Witnesses said there was a white horse as well. The Florida Highway Patrol is asking that anyone that knows the identity of the horse’s owner call Trooper Brian Wood at (850) 484-5000
Pictured above: A horse ripped through this van in a Molino accident Thursday night. Pictured below: After the horse went through the van, it was hit by this car. The car then flipped. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Mayor Pleads For Tax Collector To Return
June 12, 2009
Century Mayor Freddie McCall appeared before the Escambia County Commission Thursday to urge them to convince Tax Collector Janet Holley to reopen her Century office.
Holley closed her office in the Billy G. Ward Courthouse in Century at the end of May, citing low utilization and a chance to save $200,000 per year.
“We are pleading for Mrs. Holley to reconsider,” McCall told the commission at a budget workshop. “I understand that she plans to turn about a million dollars back (to the county). It’s well needed, but the service is well needed in Century also.”
McCall said that while Century residents without transportation could take a bus to Cantonment to do business with the tax collector, that option is not real practical. He said the bus departs Century at about 6 a.m. for Cantonment, but does not return until about noon. He said a person that rode the bus to Cantonment would spend five minutes doing their business with Holley’s office and hours waiting for the return bus.
McCall presented the commission with a variety of resolutions and petitions from North Escambia residents and organizations requesting Holley to keep her office open. The Escambia County Commission, the Century Town Council, the Century Lions Club, the Walnut Hill Ruritan Club, the Tri-Cities Rotary Club and the Century Chamber of Commerce have all asked Holley to keep an office open in Century.
The tax collector’s position is a constitutional office in Florida; Holley’s budget and management practices are governed by the state, not the county commission.
Pictured above: Century Mayor Freddie McCall addresses the Escambia County Commission Thursday morning in Pensacola. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.