Complete text of Sheriff David Morgan’s letter to Escambia Commissioners:
March 24, 2009
20 March 09
Honorable Chairperson Marie Young
Escambia County Board of County Commissioners
217 North Palafox Street
Pensacola, FL 32501
Dear Chairperson Young,
I am writing you and fellow Commissioners to advise of a change in the staffing policy at the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Although I have been in office less than three months, a disturbing pattern has shown itself to be the normal operating procedure for the current Escambia County Administrator, Mr. Bob McLaughlin. Therefore, effective this date, all issues requiring the coordination of my office with the county government will be sent directly to you with informational copies to each commissioner.
The following is offered to substantiate this position;
-The ECSO proposed acquisition of the property located at Fairfield and Mobile Hwy. This project is a direct result of requests from citizens due to the rising crime in Warrington and Brownsville. My staff, Chief Deputy Bill Chavers and Captain Gary Montee, worked directly with the Escambia County Facilities Manager, Mr. Dave Wheeler. This package was staffed prior to its submission before the BOCC. The asking price of this structure is $350K, with an estimate interior restructure of $100K, utilizing prisoner labor as we are and have done in the past. As you may recall, this was not the fact set portrayed to you and the BOCC which was subsequently reported in the local media. It was reported as not having been coordinated, not being a “master plan,” and costing $700K. This is a complete misrepresentation.
-The ECSO (Sheriff) is not going to reduce their budget. Prior to the meeting on 03/13/09 at the County Extension Service on Stefani Road, my staff (I, Commander Aiken, and Mr. Dias) met with Mr. McLaughlin in his office. The subject of the ECSO budget was one of the topics. I advised Mr. McLaughlin that the ECSO had already identified $1.7M in reductions and we were pursuing several other areas, but at that time we did not feel comfortable with giving specific data (numbers) that had yet to be verified. However, we were comfortable in saying that it was currently down in the $76-77M range. As you may recall, Mr. McLaughlin began the meeting with “the Sheriff is not reducing his budget.” (?) As I articulated during the meeting, we are looking at every aspect of our operations and will be presenting a detailed line-item budget to the BOCC. This is another complete misrepresentation.
-The “Leadership Workshop” of 03/13/09. This meeting, as you are aware was not as portrayed (advertised). In point of fact, it was a Budget meeting. Neither I nor any representative of the Sheriff’s Office would have been in attendance had the meeting not been referenced in a separate conversation.
Why? We were not invited nor advised of the actual agenda for the meeting. Can you imagine our surprise to learn that “the Sheriff’s Office budget is one of the agenda items?” What could possibly be the motive of dissecting a constitutional officer’s budget without the courtesy of advising them? So yet again I observe a complete misrepresentation.
This is an unacceptable management style. One of which I will not tolerate nor participate.
Therefore, to ensure that the misrepresentations cease, I will communicate directly with the other duly elected officials in the Escambia County Government, working of course, within the applicable legal parameters.
Respectfully,
David Morgan
Sheriff, Escambia County
Anderson Selected As Assistant Escambia Administrator
March 23, 2009
Cindy Anderson, former executive director of Team Santa Rosa, will be the new Escambia County deputy administrator.
Anderson tendered her resignation late Friday to Team Santa Rosa, an economic development council that promotes Santa Rosa County. She told NorthEscambia.com that she has tentatively accepted the position of deputy administrator and economic development coordinator for Escambia County — a position that pays $120,000 a year.
“I am tickled to death,” Anderson said. “I am really excited about it.”
Anderson also serves as director of Panhandle Fresh, a marketing cooperative that assists agricultural interests with marketing their products to retailers. She plans to keep that position, and she said he has discussed that decision with Escambia Administrator Bob McLaughlin.
“Agriculture is a part of economic development, and my job with Escambia will involved economic development,” Anderson said. “It’s the perfect match.”
Anderson’s position with Escambia County will not be official until McLaughlin offically recommends her and until after she is approved by the full county commission. Anderson said she expects the position to be on the April 2 commission agenda.
Anderson served as county engineer for Escambia County for nine years prior to joining Team Santa Rosa. She holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Oklahoma.
Brush Fire On Barth Road
March 23, 2009
Are fire units were called to a woods fire on Barth Road near Barth Lane in Molino Monday afternoon.
The Molino and McDavid station of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Florida Division of Forestry were called to the blaze behind a home in the 1000 block of Barth Road about 3:30 Monday afternoon.
Firefighters reported a fire about 1.5 acres in size that was not threatening any structures upon arriving.
Forestry reportedly created a fire line around about six to eight acres to contain the fire.
Fire, Ambulance Respond To Northview High School
March 23, 2009
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire-Rescue and Atmore Ambulance responded to a routine medical call at Northview High School just before noon today.
While several fire units and an ambulance did respond to the school, authorities say they were responding to a routine medical call.
Attorney General Announces Cybercrime Arrests
March 23, 2009
A joint agency operation has resulted in the arrest of three men on charges they either possessed child pornography or used the internet to sexually solicit individuals they believed were children, when they were actually chatting with undercover CyberCrime investigators. The operation was coordinated by Attorney General Bill McCollum’s CyberCrime Unit.
“Cooperative efforts are the best way to address this statewide threat to our children,” said Attorney General McCollum.
Arrested during the operation were the following individuals:
Jason Hatch, 23, of Milton, unemployed; charged with two counts of possession of child pornography; booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail;
Joseph Misleh; 56, of Mary Ester, lawn care worker; charged with online solicitation of a minor, traveling to meet a minor for a sexual encounter; booked into the Okaloosa County Jail;
David Girard; 53, of Robertsdale, Ala., unemployed; charged with online solicitation of a minor, attempted lewd and lascivious battery; booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail.
“Joint operations like this make a clear statement that preying on children will not be tolerated in our community,” said Santa Rosa Sheriff Wendall Hall. “The internet will be patrolled, just as we patrol our neighborhoods.”
Over the course of the operation, 11 search warrants were served in Okaloosa, Escambia, and Santa Rosa counties.
“Our police department was happy to be working cooperatively with all these agencies, making a difference and protecting our children,” said Pensacola Assistant Police Chief Chip Simmons.
The agencies involved in the operation included the Attorney General’s CyberCrime Unit, the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office, the Pensacola Police Department, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshal’s Service, the Gulf Breeze Police Department, the Milton Police Department, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, the State Attorney’s Office for the First Judicial Circuit, the Fort Walton Beach Police Department, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Pensacola Junior College Police Department, the U.S. Naval Criminal Investigative Services (NCIS), and the Walton County Sheriff’s Office.
Numerous criminal investigations are ongoing.
Pictured above: Suspects (L-R) Jason Hatch, Joseph Misleh and David Girard. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com.
Driver In March 9 North Santa Rosa Crash Dies
March 23, 2009
A second person has died from injuries they received in March 9 crash in north Santa Rosa County.
The Florida Highway Patrol says Louis J. Konicek, 74, of Silver Lake, Wisconsin, died Sunday morning at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola from injuries he received in the crash March 9 in Munson.
His wife, Carol Konicek, 71, also of Silver Lake, Wisconsin, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident at the intersection of Highway 4 and Munson Highway.
The Florida Highway Patrol says Louis Konicek failed to stop at a stop sign at the intersection at 7:14 a.m. on March 9, driving into the path of pickup driven by Charles L. Owens, 66, of Santa Rosa Beach.
The Koniceks’ vehicle continued into the parking lot of Ruth’s store where it struck a parked vehicle.
Owens received minor injuries in the crash.
The Florida Highway Patrol is continuing their investigation into the crash.
Four People Injured In Flomaton Crash; Two Transported By LifeFlight
March 23, 2009
Four people, including three members of the same family, were injured in a collision on Highway 31 east of Flomaton Sunday afternoon.
The accident happened just after 4:00 Sunday afternoon on Highway 31 at Old Fannie Road. Two people were transported to Pensacola by two different LifeFlight helicopters, one to Sacred Heart Hospital and one to Baptist Hospital.
Officials say the car, driven by David Smith of Flomaton collided with a truck driven George Hauer. Smith was transported to Baptist Hospital by ambulance was non-life threatening injuries. Hauer was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital by LifeFlight in serious condition.
Leigh Smith, a passenger in car, was transported by LifeFlight to Baptist Hospital in critical condition. Her condition was reportedly upgraded to stable Sunday night. Another passenger in the car, Samantha Bryant, a senior at Flomaton High School, was transported to Baptist Hospital in Pensacola with non life threatening injuries. Passenger Curtis Byrant refused treatment the scene.
The Flomaton Fire Department, Friendship Volunteer Fire Department, Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS, Atmore Ambluance, Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Department, Flomaton Police Department and Alabama State Troopers were among those that responded.
The accident is still under investigation by Alabama State Troopers.
Pictured above: Two people were seriously injured in this accident east of Flomaton Sunday afternoon. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com.
Panhandle Fresh: Group Markets Local Produce
March 23, 2009
The watermelon and the sweet corn you buy at Wal-Mart late this spring or during the summer may just be from North Escambia. Or the peanuts, or the peppers, or one of the many crops that the marketing cooperative Panhandle Fresh helps local farmers market to the world’s largest retailer.
“I never thought I would be selling my sweet corn in Wal-Mart,” Walnut Hill farmer Steve Hiebert told NorthEscambia.com.
Panhandle Fresh handles the marketing, the insurance and logistics of getting produce like Steve’s Sweet Corn from Walnut Hill to Wal-Mart. Panhandle Fresh secures the orders from Wal-Mart and works with local farmers to get coordinate the produce delivery.
“We really just work between the farmers and Wal-Mart to sell what is on the land,” said Andrea Sutrick, marketing coordinator from Panhandle Fresh. Sutrick recently joined Panhandle Fresh after working for Kraft Foods for 10 years to secure shelf space for Kraft products.
“This year we hope to ramp it up a little bit and experiment with more production,” Sutrick said.
No matter the scale, Panhandle Fresh Executive Director Cindy Anderson said selling to a giant retailer is very different for most farmers than selling on their farms or at curbside markets.
“This isn’t for everbody,” Anderson said. “We encourage farmers to commit just 20 percent of their crops to the Panhandle Fresh program. This gives us and the producers a chance to figure out how to best make the program work. I’d rather walk before we run.”
Panhandle Fresh sits between the farmer and Wal-Mart, providing the $3 million in liability insurance that Wal-Mart requires. The group also provides the marketing, works to secure shelf space for the products, takes care of most paperwork and bills Wal-Mart for the produce. The farmer delivers his goods, bills Panhandle Fresh and receives a check for the fresh goods.
Most farmers are happy with the price that they receive, Anderson said, making it a win-win situation for everyone. Wal-Mart gets the freshest product possible from local farms, and the local farmers that participate get a much needed financial boost.
In addition to Steve’s Sweet Corn from Walnut Hill, Walnut Hill farmer Jerry Davis’ watermelons and Holland Farms peanuts from Jay are among the top Panhandle Fresh products sold in area Wal-Marts in the Florida Panhandle.
Coming up Tuesday, we’ll take a look at one of the big challenges faced by the farmers that participate in Panhandle Fresh, and how the solution may just mean more jobs in North Escambia.
Pictured top and top middle: Steve’s Sweet Corn from Walnut Hill is just one of the products that Panhandle Fresh works to get from area fields in into retail giant Wal-Mart. Pictured bottom middle: Panhandle Fresh greens being sold in an area Wal-Mart. Submitted and NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Local Church Member Continues To Serve In Iraq
March 23, 2009
A member of a local church that is serving in Iraq is expected to return home in the next two months.
US Air Force Sgt. John Weaver is currently serving in Iraq. Sgt. Weaver is originally from Jay and currently lives in Pensacola with his wife Lisa and three girls, Krista, Randi, and Starla.
He and his family are very active and faithful members of Ray’s Chapel, and the family makes the drive several times a week to the church. Over the past several months, the church has continued to support Sgt. Weaver in prayer and with care packages from home.
Pictured top: Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church member Sgt. John Weaver poses in a chair in a former Saddam Hussein palace in Iraq. Pictured middle: Weaver is big Alabama Crimson Tide fan. Pictured below: Weaver (middle) poses with his troop. Submitted photos from Iraq for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
School District To Repair Northview Ceilings, Kitchen Hood At EWMS
March 23, 2009
The school district has awarded bids for ceiling repairs at Northview High School and for a new kitchen exhaust hood at Ernest Ward Middle School.
The Escambia County School District has awarded a $209,104 contract to repair ceilings in the 100 wing at Northview. The contract was awarded to low bidder Acousti Engineering Company of Pensacola.
The district awarded a $49,236 contact to low bidder Comfort Systems USA of Pensacola for a new kitchen hood at Ernest Ward. Two other bids — $53,472 and $67,500 — were received.