Woman Gets 20 Years In Prison For DUI Death Of Bicyclist
October 29, 2009
Christina Rae Rivkin was sentenced to a total of 20 years in prison for the June death of a Pensacola man riding his bicycle to work so that his wife could use the family’s only car.
Rivkin was sentenced Wednesday for the June 10 DUI death of Michael Steele. After she serves her 20 year sentence in state prison, she will be on probation for another 20 years, and she will never be allowed to have a driver’s license again.
At her sentencing, Rivkin faced up to 20 years in prison on charges of DUI manslaughter, leaving the scene of crash and having her third DUI. She entered a guilty plea on the charges back in September.
When Rivkin hit and killed Steele on June 10, her blood alcohol level was more than three and a half times the legal limit, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The FHP said 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.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 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 p.m. Troopers said 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 said. 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 continued.
Rivkin, according to the FHP, refused to perform a breath test, and a blood sample was taken to determine her blood alcohol level.
“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.
Apply Saturday For Salvation Army Christmas Assistance
October 29, 2009
Christmas is just around the corner, and the Salvation Army is getting ready to help North Escambia residents in need with application days scheduled Saturday in Walnut Hill and in two weeks in Century.
“We expect the need to be greater this year,” Yvonne Warthen, Christmas and volunteer coordinator for the Salvation Army’s Pensacola Corps.
“With the economy, we believe that more people will need assistance,” she said. “This comes at a time where our donations are down, also due to the economy, so it is important that people register for assistance early and not wait to the last minute.”
Applications for assistance will be accepted from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, October 31 at the Walnut Hill Community Center on Highway 97; and Saturday, November 12 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Century Ag Building on West Highway 4.
For more information call (850) 432-1501 or email escarosa@uss.salvationarmy.org.
The following requirements for assistance were provided by The Salvation Army:
In order for The Salvation Army to process the application for Christmas assistance, applicants must bring the items listed below.
- Photo ID of all persons 18 years and older
- Social Security Card(s) for everyone in household
- Birth Certificates/Proof of legal custody of all children 13 years and younger
- Proof of all income for the last 30 days
- TANF/Cash Assistance
- Social Security/SSI statement
- Food Stamps statement from Department of Children and Families
- Child Support statement
- Pension statement
- Paystubs for the last 30 days
- If no income, please provide a notarized statement verifying no income (Note: If a family member or friend is helping with bills or income, you must provide a notarized statement from that person, verifying that they are assisting you.)
- Proof of all expenses
- Rent/Mortgage (copy of lease or mortgage statement)
- Home Owners Insurance/Taxes statement
- Gas/Sanitation bill
- Water/Sewer bill
- Electric bill
- Cable/Satellite bill
- Telephone/Cell phone bill
- Car payment statement
- Car insurance bill
- Health insurance
- Dental insurance
- Medical expenses
- Life insurance
- Credit card statements
- Bank/student loans statement
- Proof of childcare expenses
Deputies Looking For Murder, Robbery Suspect
October 28, 2009
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a man they say is a person of interest in the robbery of two businesses and the murder of a man.
Brandon Donnell Davis, also known as Brandon Darnell Davis, is a black male, 20 years of age, 6-feet 1-inch tall and 180 pounds.
He is wanted in connection with a robbery and homicide that occurred October 23 at the Oakcrest Bar on Fairfield Drive and the October 27 robbery of the Waffle House on Pensacola Boulevard.
According to the sheriff’s office, he is considered armed and dangerous and should not be approached. If you see Davis, you are asked to call 911 or the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
Photos submitted by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Paul Allen Thomas, Sr.
October 28, 2009
Mr. Paul Allen Thomas, Sr., age 51, of Walnut Hill, Fla., died Tuesday, October 27, 2009 in Pensacola, Fla. He worked with construction as a heavy equipment operator. He was born to the late Jim and Clara Belle Caraway Thomas. He was a member of the Church of The Living God.He was preceded in death by two brothers, Luther Thomas and Jimmy B. Thomas and one sister, Polly Ann Harphant.
Mr. Thomas is survived by his wife, Linda Gail Thomas; one son, Paul Allen Thomas, Jr.; one daughter, Jessica Nicole Thomas; one brother, Roy Thomas, all of Walnut Hill, Fla.; five sisters, Sarah Swartz of San Antonio, Texas, Betty Morris of Canoe, Ala., Corrine Biggs of Walnut Hill, Arena Dawson of Atmore, Ala. and Molly Mae Glover of Troy, Ala.; two grandchildren, Jacob Paul Thomas and Blaze Michael Thomas.
Graveside services were held Thursday, October 29, 2009 in Pine Barren Cemetery at 11:15 a.m. with Bro. Earl Harrison officiating.
Active pallbearers were John Dawson, Travis Dawson, Randal Morris, Todd Morris and Jason Caraway.
The family received friends Thursday, October 29, 2009 at Johnson Quimby Funeral Home one hour prior to graveside services.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home, Inc. in charge of all arrangements. Atmore, Ala.
Gates To Open Early For NHS Senior Night, Silvers Wings Parachute Jump
October 28, 2009
Gates will open early Friday night for Northview’s Senior Night and parachute jump by the United States Army’s parachute demonstration team, the Silver Wings, from Fort Benning, Georgia.
Gates for the event will open at 5:00, and the first approximately 1,000 people will receive free American flags on a first come basis. Senior night activities will begin at 5:30 with the presentation of the seniors from the band, color guard, majorettes, NJROTC, cheerleaders and football players.
At about 6:10 p.m., special guests will be recognized, including Brigadier General Mike Ferguson, retired, Northwest Florida Aide to the Secretary of the Army; Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Boyd, Montgomery Recruiting Battalion Commander; Major Christopher Dawson, Mobile Recruiting Company Commander; and Superintendent of Schools Malcolm Thomas.
A short time later, the Silver Wings will jump. The demonstration team plans to bring down with them a United States flag, a POW/MIA flag, and Army flag and the official game ball. One jumper will land on the 50-yard line to deliver the game ball for the game against Sneads High School.
Following the jump, the Silver Wings will remain at the game for about one and a half hours to meet the public, take photographs and sign autographs.
The U.S. Army will be giving away an Ipod during halftime. Registrations will be accepted until the end of the first quarter. Also during halftime, Principal Gayle Weaver will be making a special presentation.
Adult and student tickets are $6 each and $1 each for elementary students at the gate. Pre-sale tickets will be available from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Friday in the front office. Pre-sale prices are $5 for adults, $4 for students and $1 elementary.
The Silver Wings team is comprised of soldiers from throughout the Fort Benning airborne community. They have diverse backgrounds and various military specialties. The average age of a Silver Wings team member is 33 and the average number of free fall jumps ranges between 200 to 2,500 for the team. The team represents specially trained soldiers who are products of the United States Army Infantry Center and Schools to include Airborne, Pathfinders, and the Army Elite Rangers.
Century Woman Arrested For Violating Cocaine Conviction Probation
October 28, 2009
A Century woman was arrested Tuesday morning for violating her probation on a 2008 cocaine possession charge.
Linda Jean Harris, 49, of Ivey Street, Century, was arrested at her residence by Escambia County deputies. She is being held without bond in the Escambia County Jail on a violation of probation charge.
Harris was arrested in February, 2008, and charged with possession of cocaine and resisting arrest without violence. She was found guilty on May 21, 2008, and was sentenced to 18 months probation on the possession of cocaine charge and a concurrent one year probation on the resisting arrest charge.
A warrant for her arrest for violating her probation was issued October 19, 2009.
Limited H1N1 Vaccine Made Available In Atmore, Brewton
October 28, 2009
The Escambia County (Ala.) Health Department made 400 doses of the H1N1 vaccine available today to individuals in targeted high-risk groups.
The vaccine in injectable form was offered only to pregnant women; children 6 months though 4 years old; parents, siblings and caregivers of children less than 6 months old; children 5 to 18 years old who have underlying medical conditions; and health care workers.
There were 200 does available at the Atmore health department location and 200 available at the health department location in Brewton. The vaccines were administered on a first come, first serve basis only to those Escambia County (Ala.) residents in a high-risk category.
“We must target our limited amounts of vaccine to individuals at the highest risk because of the uncertainties in supply we face,” Dr. Donald Williamson, state health officer, said. “We ask for your support and understanding at this time. As more vaccine becomes available, our department and other health care providers will begin vaccinating school children and others outside of these target groups.”
Statewide, Alabama had 55,000 doses of the H1N1 vaccine available Wednesday.
Masland’s Parent Company Reports Larger Than Expect Losses
October 28, 2009
The Dixie Group, parent company of Masland Carpets, reported that the company lost over $2 million in the third quarter and sales were down 31 percent over a year ago.
Masland employs about 325 people in Atmore and 340 people in Saraland.
Financial results released Tuesday show that for the third quarter of 2009, the Company reported a loss from continuing operations of $2,017,000, or $0.16 per diluted share, compared with a loss from continuing operations of $732,000, or $0.06 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2008. Sales for the third quarter of 2009 were $50,487,000, down 31% from $72,917,000 in the year-earlier quarter.
For the nine months ended September 26, 2009, the loss from continuing operations was $38,442,000, or $3.13 per diluted share.
“The actions taken beginning in 2008 to reduce costs have resulted in 28 percent fewer associates and should produce cost reductions of approximately $23 million to $25 million by 2010. We continue to review our cost position to insure our return to profitability,” said Daniel K. Frierson, chairman and chief executive officer. “Our initial action under the cost reduction plan consisted primarily of consolidating our East Coast and West Coast tufting facilities along with other cost-cutting efforts. This program will be complete by year-end 2009.”
“The second phase of our cost reduction initiative, as described in our second quarter earnings release, realigned our three residential units into one business unit with three distinct brands. This action is progressing well, and we expect to begin seeing savings from this realignment in the fourth quarter – with the full effect to be felt early next year.”
Byrneville Teachers, Staff To Dress As Smurfs – For A Price
October 28, 2009
Students at Byrneville Elementary School have the opportunity to see their teachers dress like a Smurf — for a good cause.
Byrneville is collecting money to sponsor a World War II veteran on an upcoming Honor Flight. If students donate $100 by Friday, the faculty and staff will dress like Smurfs for the day.
For more information, or if you would like to help, call the school at (850) 256-6350.
Application Deadline Friday For Several Landowner Conservation Programs
October 28, 2009
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida has set a cutoff date of this Friday, October 30 to submit applications for several voluntary conservation programs that may help eligible participants pay for conservation practices to prevent soil erosion, improve water quality, restore wetlands and provide habitat for wildlife.
- The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a conservation program that provides financial and technical assistance to farmers and ranchers who face threats to soil, water, air, and related natural resources on their land. Through EQIP, NRCS develops contracts with agricultural producers to voluntarily implement conservation practices to address environmental natural resource problems. Persons engaged in livestock or agricultural production and owners of non-industrial private forestland are eligible for the program. Eligible land includes cropland, rangeland, pastureland, private non-industrial forestland, and other farm or ranch lands.
- The Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP) is a voluntary program for developing or improving high quality habitat that supports fish and wildlife populations of National, State, Tribal, and local significance. Through WHIP, the NRCS provides technical and financial assistance to private and Tribal landowners for the development of upland, wetland, aquatic, and other types of wildlife habitat.
- The Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) provides technical and financial assistance to private landowners and Tribes to restore, protect, and enhance wetlands in exchange for retiring eligible land from agriculture.
- The Grassland Reserve Program (GRP) is a program for landowners and operators to protect grazing uses and related conservation values by conserving grassland, including rangeland, pastureland, shrubland, and certain other lands.
NRCS encourages interested parties to visit with their staff as soon as possible because applicants who apply early have more time to resolve any program or land eligibility issues.
Interested landowners should visit their local USDA – NRCS field office at 151 Highway 97 in Molino or click here for more information on these programs. Landowners can also call Josh McElhaney, district conservationist, at (850) 587-5404 ext. 3.