Century Man Gets 10 Years In Prison For 2007 DUI Death Of His Brother
March 20, 2009
A Century man involved in a drunk driving accident that killed his brother in early 2007 has been found guilty of DUI manslaughter and sentenced to over 10 years in state prison.
John William Lance, 28, was sentenced to 10 years, four months and 24 days for DUI manslaughter in connection with the 2007 death of his brother, Jack Lance, 33 of Holt.
Jack Lance was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident on Highway 29 near Whirlpool Road south of Bluff Springs on February 28, 2007.
Circuit Judge Paul Rasmussen found Lance incompetent to stand trial in September of 2007 after the results of a psychological exam. That ruling was later overturned, finding Lance competent to stand trial. Lance refused a breath test at the Escambia County jail after the accident. He was taken to West Florida Hospital where a blood alcohol test was performed.
The Florida Highway Patrol says Lance was driving north on Highway 29 near Whirlpool Road when he lost control, overcorrected and hit an 18-wheel log truck. Jacky Lance was ejected from the 1992 Pontiac driven by his brother. Dylan Lance, John Lance’s four year old son, was transported from the scene by LifeFlight to Sacred Heart Hospital. His injures were minor. Another passenger, Michael Livingston, 19, was transported by ambulance to West Florida Hospital. Livingston was treated and released.
Ronnie Watson, the driver of the 18-wheeler, suffered minor injuries but was not transported to the hospital.
Lance is being held at the Bay Correctional Facility near Panama City.
Commission Rejects $4 Million Employee Buyout Plan, Calls It “Lucrative”
March 20, 2009
The Escambia County Commission has shot down a lucrative buyout plan that would have paid up to $136,900 for employees to take early retirement.
Commissioners said the county may still be forced to lay off some employees in order to keep a balanced budget, or they may take a look at another less-lucrative early retirement buyout program. The county is expecting next year’s budget to be as much as $12 million short. The plan would have cost the county $4 million this year, but it was expected to save lower level jobs this year and provide a savings next year.
District 5 Commissioner Kevin White gave examples of buyout plans from other counties around the state, none offering the high dollars of the Escambia plan.
“We had one thing throwed at us,” White said. I believe if we were given some options other than the Cadillac version that we were given, we probably could have got somewhere with this. But we were not given an option.”
The one plan presented to the commission Thursday night would have offered employees 50 plus or those with 30 or more years of county service a package that would include two weeks of pay per year of service up to a full year’s salary, and health insurance for a year.
The commission offered a similar plan last year, buying out about 50 positions for $2.7 million. That saved the county only about $300,000 last year, but this year’s savings is expected to be $3 million.
“Every commissioner here has made comments about how great it was, how wonderful it was, how well it worked, how much it saved the county,” Commissioner Wilson Robertson said last year’s plan, which was passed before he was on the board. “Would one of the county commissioners on this board please tell me why it was so great last year and we can’t afford it this year?”
This year’s buyout plan failed on a 4-1 vote, with Commissioner Marie Young voting for the proposal.
The possibility of “last in, first out” layoffs were mentioned as a possible cost savings, along with possibility of rolling back employee benefits during the current year to help cut next year’s budget shortfall.
Pictured: Commissioners Kevin White (top) and Wilson Robertson (bottom) discussed an early retirement buyout plan during Thursday night’s meeting of the Escambia County Commission. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
A Gator, A Snake And A Turtle Equal Library Fun
March 20, 2009
Flomaton’s Turtle Point Science Center amazed children Thursday afternoon at the Century Branch Library with a collection of small critters. Children had the opportunity to see and touch a snake, turtle and a baby alligator. Next month, the library’s monthly program will feature a much more cuddly creature — the Easter Bunny.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
WKRG Adds Live Cam In Atmore
March 20, 2009
WKRG television has added a new live camera in Atmore.
The view from the camera is available live on wkrg.com and may, at times, be used in WKRG newscasts and weather broadcasts.
To access the live camera, click here.
(Keep in mind, that if is dark outside, the view will be…dark.)
“They Busted Me” – Century’s New Code Enforcement Tickets The Town’s Mayor
March 19, 2009
Century Mayor Freddie McCall was one of the first to be ticketed by Escambia County Code Enforcement when they returned to Century on March 4.
McCall was cited for violations that included trash and debris, an inoperable vehicle, overgrowth and a dilapidated structure on property he owns on McCall Road.
Escambia County began code enforcement duties in Century on March 4 after an agreement was signed between the town and the county. Sandra Slay, Escambia County’s code enforcement manager, said the code enforcement is “proactive”. The code officers will not respond to citizen complaints within the Town of Century; rather, the officers will seek out violators no matter who they might be.
McCall said he was proud of the job done in just two days in Century; the officers are usually in town on Wednesdays.
“I have not received the first complaint,” McCall said. “All I’ve got is praise and glory.”
McCall provided a list of addresses where violators had been ticketed on March 4 and March 11. A McCall Road address was highlighted in yellow.
“The one that I highlighted was me,” the mayor said. “They busted me.”
McCall said he has spent about $550 to clean up his property to bring it into line with the town’s codes. He said he was glad that the county was being fair about their code enforcement actions.
Those actions that have been confined to the southern part of the town so far.
On their first sweep through Century on March 4, four code officers issued citations on 20 properties. The citations included inoperable vehicles, dilapidated structures, overgrowth and prohibited burning. Citations were issued on Century Boulevard, Upton Road, Hudson Hill Road, McCall Road, Ramar Street, Jefferson Street, and Cumbie Road.
On their second day in town on March 11, three code officers issued citations on 13 properties on Hudson Hill Road, George Avenue, Highway 4, Sellers Road, Pond Street, and Church Street. In addition to the types of citations issued the week before, code enforcement also issued citations for four unsafe structures.
Clarification: Health Emergency At Northview
March 19, 2009
Clarification: The “health emergency” at Northview High School involving bird excrement at a single building at the school has not impacted the regular school day or Friday’s “Food for America” program at the school. There will be school on Friday, and the Food for America program will still take place.
“Health emergency” was the term used by the Escambia County School District in order to facilitate the cleanup of a single building without going through the normal bidding procedure for a contractor. There is no health risk to the students, and no impact on the Food for America program because the impacted building is closed to the public.
A health emergency was declared at Northview High School over bird poop, allowing the school district to take swift action to cleanup the problem.
According to school district documents, a building used by the Northview agricultural department was infested by birds, covering the interior of the building and its contents with excrement.
Under school district rules, Superintendent Malcolm Thomas declared a health emergency existed around the building, allowing a contractor to be hired without prior school board approval. The total estimated cost was $5,310.
Principal Gayle Weaver said crews are working from about 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. to clean up the problem.
The agricultural department at West Florida Tech had more expensive problem. Rodents in storage buildings, classrooms at the courtyard of the ag departments led to an estimated $32,300 in cleanup expenses.
Century To Get Half Million In Stimulus Money
March 19, 2009
Century is one signature by the governor away from $500,000 in economic stimulus money for drainage improvements.
Escambia County will receive $8.7 million of $38.2 million submitted by the Florida Department of Transportation for local roadway projects for approval by Gov. Charlie Crist.
The half million dollars for the Century area will be used for drainage improvements along Highway 29 and in the Dogwood Lane area.
The $8.2 million for Escambia County, if approved by Crist, will include projects in the Pensacola area on Old Palafox, Copter Road and W Street.
Educators Protest Cuts, Deliver Pennies
March 19, 2009
Teachers and school administrators from across the state headed to Tallahassee Wednesday to show state leaders they care about children in our schools to ask for a reduction in funding cuts.
“We want to make sure that education is a priority in the state,” Escambia County Superintendent Malcolm Thomas told NorthEscambia.com while he was driving back from Tallahassee. “I understand the reality is that the state has to cut something, but they need to think about the children.”
Thomas expects another $13 million in state funding to be cut from Escambia’s schools. That on top of the $20 million already cut. Before the cuts are done, Thomas is looking at trimming about nine percent of district positions — perhaps hundreds of jobs — if the legislature continues to cut educational funding.
For non-tenured teachers, it may spell layoffs. The district’s contracts with the teacher’s union will almost guarantee jobs for certified tenured teachers that are teaching in their field.
While about 40 Escambia teachers and staff loaded on a charter bus for the trip to Tallahassee Wednesday, Thomas drove his own car. He departed early on his roadtrip, and he stayed late. He was a man on a mission.
That mission was to walk the halls of the state capital, lobbying everyone he could find in state government for education funding.
“I want them to think about the impact on the children,” Thomas said. And he wants to the state to cut unfunded mandates — requirements that districts fund certain projects without providing the money — whether it be in education, health care or any other arena.
At Wednesday’s eduation rally in Tallahassee, educators delivered 2.6 million pennies, one for each child in school in Florida. The Florida Education Association is asked the legislature to raise the state’s sales tax by a penny to fund education.
Pictured above: Educators delivered 2.6 million pennies to the state capital, one for each child in Florida, on Wednesday. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com courtesy WEAR.
Highland Baptist Kids Klub & Undie Sunday Results
March 19, 2009
The Highland Baptist Church Kids Klub presented the results of their Undies Sunday to the Escambia County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee.
Wednesday night, the children presented new underwear, socks and diapers to the women’s committee. The items will presented to the Gulf Coast Kid’s House. The drive at Highland Baptist was organized by Children’s Coordinator Sara Calhoun.
There will also be a donation box at the Molino Farm Bureau office in Molino and Molino Park Elementary School through Monday afternoon.
The Gulf Coast Kid’s House is a center where abused and neglected children receive services from a number of agencies. While the Kid’s House is located in Pensacola and serves all of Escambia County, a fair number of the children served are from our area. Abuse is an issue found in every community, both urban and rural.
For more information, contact Rikki Vidak at 587-4246 or call the Farm Bureau office at 587-2135.
Pictured above: Members of the Kids Klub at Highland Baptist Church presented their Undies Sunday donations for the Gulf Coast Kid’s House during the church’s Wednesday night service. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Turtle Point Presents Library Program
March 19, 2009
The Turtle Point Science Center from Flomaton will present a special program today in Century.
Turtle Point’s program will take place at the Century Branch Library at 4 this afternoon. Children of all ages are invited to attend the informative free program.
For more information, call the Century Branch Library at 256-6217.