Update: J.B. Continues To Do Well
May 5, 2009
J.B., the baby donkey born within minutes of his mother being shot, is now in his second day of life and is doing well. He’s also become quite a little star, capturing the attention of media locally and around the world.
“He is doing very well,” Lindley Barden, J.B.’s caretaker and adoptive mother told NorthEscambia.com Monday night. “One day has given us more reasons to be optimistic about his future.”
Often sleeping next to J.B. on an air mattress, Barden is bottle feeding the tiny white donkey once per hour, every hour. It’s a process that will go on for about a week.
“He knows that I am not his regular momma, but he’s really bonded to me,” she said. During Monday’s storm, J.B. stayed close for comfort — it was his first storm and having his adopted mom around really seemed to make things better for him.
Bardin is keeping J.B. inside her home, and she says it will be about a week before “he is out of the woods”. He never received milk from his mother, so he’s missing vital colostrum from his mother that contain antibodies important for his survival. He wears a blue bandage around his neck, covering an IV needle inserted by a veterinarian to provide the colostrum.
“It was a very exhausting day,” Bardin said. “We did several TV interviews today. That really wore him out. Before the last one was over, he was up on his pillows asleep.”
NorthEscambia.com was the first to report J.B.’s story Monday morning. Since then, he’s made other publications and local television news. He’s also made news around the world, including HorseTalk magazine in New Zealand.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the shooting of J.B.’s mother. A 17-year old white male juvenile from Cantonment has confessed to the shooting on River Annex Road near Jacks Branch Road. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Department says the juvenile will be charged with cruelty to animals causing death, using a weapon during the commission of a felony and possession of a firearm by a person under 18. His arrest is imminent, deputies said. As of very early Tuesday morning, the juvenile was not in custody.
A .22 caliber weapon used in the shooting was given to sheriff’s deputies by a witness.
For more about J.B. and the shooting incident, click here.
Panhandle Equine Rescue’s mission is to rescue, rehabilitate and provide adoption services for abused, neglected and abandoned equines. PER is authorized by the Escambia County court system to investigate equine reports in the county.
Donations are being accepted to help pay the vet bill or anyone interested in sponsoring J.B.. Checks or money orders can be sent to PER, P.O. Box 777, Cantonment, FL 32533 or you can visit www.panhandleequinerescue.org for more information.
Pictured above: One of the first photos of J.B. taken Sunday by NorthEscambia.com during our exclusive visit to Panhandle Equine Rescue in Cantonment. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Health Department Cuts Services At Molino Clinic
May 5, 2009
The availability of some medical services at the Molino location of the Escambia County Health Department have been cut from weekly to one day per month on a temporary basis.
The decreased services in May and June are due to the early and unexpected retirement of a health department doctor, according to Molly Payne-Hardin, spokesperson for the Escambia County Health Department.
The nurse practitioner that normally sees patients in Molino has been moved to the main Fairfield Drive location of the health department due the doctor’s retirement, she said. Additionally, Payne-Hardin said the department must wait to see what happens to their budget before replacing the retired doctor.
“It’s too soon to say when we will be able to find another doctor,” she said. “We may have to fill the need with a nurse practitioner.” Regardless, she said, the health department hopes to return regular services to Molino soon.
The impacted services include family planning, sexually transmitted disease services and physical exams that require the services of a doctor or nurse practitioner. The Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program, immunization and dental services offered at the Molino Clinic have not changed, Payne-Hardin said.
“We hope this is a temporary change until the state budget is finalized and we know our funding for the coming year,” said Health Department Director Dr. John Lanza. “Again, this only affects clinic services such as family planning and school physicals –- our dental, immunization and WIC services remain the same.”
The medical services at the Molino Clinic will be available on May 7 and a day not yet determined in June. For more information, or to schedule an appointment, call 595-6500.
Century Refuses To Sign Required Public School Document
May 5, 2009
The Town of Century is refusing to sign a Public School Facilities Element document that is required by law that was presented to them by the Escambia County Commission.
The Public School Facilities Element is a joint agreement required between the Escambia County School District, the Escambia County Commission, the City of Pensacola and the Town of Century. In essence, the document spells out how public schools will be planned in the county and its two municipalities.
“In this agreement it says that they have to get with us, and they haven’t done that,” Councilman Henry Hawkins said Monday night.
The agreement does state in part that the governmental entities “will meet on an as needed basis but not less than annually in joint workshop sessions”.
“There’s never been any meeting,” Council President Ann Brooks said. “There should have been a meeting before April 1 and there wasn’t…the document required a meeting with them, and it never happened.”
“My recommendation is that you sign it,” Mayor Freddie McCall told the council. McCall said he tried to tell the county that Century would opt-out of the agreement because the town’s only school, Carver/Century K-8, is closing. “But they said we could not since the school was still open.”
Hawkins said that he had a problem with other portions of the agreement, specifically a section that says an appointed committee will evaluate the location of schools prior to closure.
“I will have to call them (the county) in the morning and tell them you refused to sign it and go from there,” McCall said.
If the Town of Century had signed the agreement, a provision would have allowed them to opt-out with a 30 day notice. Otherwise, the agreement is in force for 10 years.
Pictured: Century Town Council President Ann Brooks reviews the interlocal agreement at Monday night’s town council meeting. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Consolidation Bill To Be Signed Today By Governor
May 5, 2009
Today, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist will sign into law the Florida House bill that will form a commission to study local government consolidation that would combine Century, Pensacola and Escambia County into one.
The bill sponsored by Rep. Greg Evers, requires the creation of a consolidation study commission by July 1.
Once a consolidation plan is created by the study commission, it is to be submitted to the Escambia County Commission, the City of Pensacola and the Town of Century for action before submission to the Escambia County legislative delegation by January 15, 2010. Once approved by the legislature, the plan would presented to Escambia County voters.
Century, Pensacola and Escambia County will not be required to pay for the commission, under the house bill, but they will be required to provide clerical, technical and legal assistance to the commission.
The commission will include up to 25 members from various groups in the county.
Federal Judge Approves Southern Family Market Purchase Of Food World, Bruno’s
May 5, 2009
A federal bankruptcy judge has approved a bid by Southern Family Markets to purchase 31 bankrupt Food World and Bruno’s stores, including three in Pensacola. Southern Family currently operates stores in Atmore and Brewton.
C&S Wholesale Grocers, the owners of Southern Family bid on the 31 stores in South Alabama and Northwest Florida. About 25 other stores will be closed, including the Food World in Monroeville, Ala. and and the Bruno’s in Gulf Breeze.
Food World locations on Davis Highway, Lillian Highway and Pine Forest Road in Pensacola will be among the 31 stores to remain open.
The C&S purchase of the bankrupt Bruno’s and Food World stores would have no impact on the Southern Family stores in Atmore or Brewton.
FEMA Assistance Available In Santa Rosa
May 5, 2009
Federal assistance is now available following spring floods in 12 Florida counties, including Santa Rosa.
The area was declared a federal disaster area after heavy rains and high winds last month.
Residents in Santa Rosa county can apply for assistance by calling (800) 621-3362 or by applying online at www.disasterassistance.gov.
The counties affected include: Calhoun, Hamilton, Holmes, Jackson, Lafayette, Liberty, Madison, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Suwannee, Walton and Washington.
From Oak Grove To Walnut Hill To Cantonment: Woman Honored For Service
May 5, 2009
The life and ministry of a North Escambia woman were honored during a weekend church service.
Pine Forest Assembly of God honored Mrs. Nell Green Sunday for her 90th birthday. Mrs. Green and her late husband, Rev. George Green, pastored many churches in Northwest Florida and South Alabama in the mid-1900’s including Oak Grove Assembly, Ensley Assembly and Ashland Park in Pensacola. They were also the founding pastors of Laurel Hill Assembly and Walnut Hill Assembly now known as New Life Fellowship.
“I haven’t ever felt special in my life, but today I feel special,” Mrs. Green told the congregation.
They had six children including George Wendell Green, Bobby Gene Green, Darlene Marie Harden, Glenda Evelyn Burleson and Rita Frances Kornegay. They also raised their niece and nephew Shirley Grant and Michael Kilpatrick. The Greens also had 26 foster children come through their home. Mrs. Green also served many years in ministry through Brownsville Assembly of God, until her health would no longer allow her to do so.
Pictured above: Nell Green and her family pose at a church service in her honor. Pictured below: Nell Green at the Walnut hill Assembly (now the New Life Fellowship) in an undated photograph. Pictured bottom: Nell Green at the Oak Grove Assembly of God. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Meet With The Governor Today In Pensacola
May 4, 2009
If you would like tell Florida’s governor what issues are important to you, you will have that chance today in Pensacola
Governor Charlie Crist today announced he will hold a town hall meeting at Pensacola Junior College to provide an opportunity for the citizens of Florida to voice their concerns about issues important to them.
“During these difficult economic times, we are faced with new and ever-changing issues that must be resolved,” said Governor Crist. “Town hall meetings provide an excellent forum for Floridians to express their concerns and offer suggestions for the future of our state.”
Details for the Pensacola town hall meeting are as follows:
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
12:00 p.m. – Doors Open, Participants Register
1:00-1:45 p.m. – Town Hall Meeting
Pensacola Junior College
WSRE AMOS Studio
1000 College Blvd, Building 23
Pensacola FL 32504
Power Outages, Road Flooding; Northview High, Bratt Elementary Left In Dark
May 4, 2009
Heavy thunderstorms in North Escambia brought up to four inches of rain and power outages, including an outage that left Northview High, Bratt Elementary and Byrneville Elementary in the dark Monday.
Some minor road flooding was reported across the area in the places that normally flood after heavy rain. The National Weather Service says up to four inches of rain have fell across North Escambia Monday.
Scattered power outages were also reported at other locations across the area.
Confession In Shooting Of Donkey
May 4, 2009
A 17-year old while male juvenile from Cantonment has confessed to the weekend shooting of a donkey off Jacks Branch Road, and his arrest is expected soon.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Department says the juvenile will be charged with cruelty to animals causing death, using a weapon during the commission of a felony and possession of a firearm by a person under 18.
The arrest of the juvenile is pending, according to Sgt. Rick Vincent, once warrants are issued by the judge reviewing the case. A .22 caliber firearm used in the incident was provided to deputies by a witness.
About the time J.B. was born, his mother was shot and killed by a passerby in the area of 901 River Annex Road. Now J.B. will rely on someone to bottle feed him once per hour as he fights for survival.
It’s the sad beginning of life for J.B., a donkey born late Saturday night or Sunday morning in a pasture on Jacks Branch Road near Cantonment.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the shooting death of the young donkey’s mother. Neighbors heard the gunfire before midnight and the mother donkey was found dead. Little J.B. was next to his mother, just minutes old.
It’s not clear if J.B. was born just before or just after his mother’s death. Authorities say the donkey was not shot by her owner, but rather by someone in a vehicle on Jacks Branch Road.
Deputies located and stopped a vehicle in the area following the incident. They were unable to locate a firearm in the vehicle and were not able to make an arrest at the time, according to deputies. One of the two juveniles in the vehicle is the person now facing charges in the incident.
As for little J.B., he is now in the care of Panhandle Equine Rescue. When NorthEscambia.com visited J.B. Sunday afternoon, the less than one day old donkey had just been placed in a stall at PER in Molino. J.B. stumbled around the fresh pine shavings in the stall, still slightly sedated from a trip to the vet. He has an IV needle still in his neck.
J.B. brayed weakly, calling the mother that he will never have. He wondered around the stall, looking for her and a warm meal. Instead, the baby donkey will be fed hourly from a bottle by a PER volunteer.
Diane Lowery, PER president, tells us that the next week will be a tough one for J.B., named that for Jacks Branch where he was born. Survival will be tough for the little guy.
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff Department at 436-9620.
Panhandle Equine Rescue’s mission is to rescue, rehabilitate and provide adoption services for abused, neglected and abandoned equines. PER is authorized by the Escambia County court system to investigate equine reports in the county.
Donations are being accepted to help pay the vet bill or anyone interested in sponsoring J.B.. Checks or money orders can be sent to PER, P.O. Box 777, Cantonment, FL 32533 or you can visit www.panhandleequinerescue.org for more information.
Pictured above: Baby donkey J.B., less than 24 hours old, is fighting for survival after the shooting death of his mother Sunday morning. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photo, click to enlarge. Pictured below: J.B. looks for his mother.
