Florida’s Last Fox Pen, Located In Walnut Hill, Shut Down By State
February 25, 2010
Florida’s last state permitted fox pen — located in Walnut Hill — has been shut down by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
The FWC voted last week to temporarily prohibit the chasing of foxes and coyotes in enclosures, while moving forward to draft rules guiding such enclosures in Florida. An executive order prohibiting chasing of foxes and coyotes within an enclosure was issued Wednesday, and it was to be delivered to the Shady Oaks Fox Pen at 4000 South Highway 99 in Walnut Hill, effectively shutting the pen down, according to the FWC.
Shady Oaks operator Dewey Stuckey declined to make any comment for this story. The FWC is not accusing Shady Oaks or its owners of any wrongdoing.
There were as many as six state permitted fox pens in Florida in 2009, but all had closed by the end of the year except for the approximately 200 acre Shady Oaks Fox Pen in Walnut Hill. At one time, there were about 50 fox and coyote pens from the Panhandle to Central Florida.
Before making the decision, Commissioners listened to more than 40 speakers on fox and coyote pens, beginning with Rep. Debbie Boyd, D-High Springs. Boyd urged the Commission to recognize the shortcomings on both sides of the issue, to address those shortcomings and engage stakeholders in the process.
“This issue has been painted with a broad brush,” Boyd said. “I ask the Commission to engage stakeholders and put fox and coyote enclosures into rule rather than through the permit process.”
After listening to emotional appeals from the public, whose comments ranged from calling the practice of hunting foxes and coyotes within enclosures a “heritage” and “a way of life” to making charges of “cruelty” and “mauling” of the animals, Commissioners discussed how to proceed based on staff recommendations and public comment.
“Rep. Boyd said it best,” said Commissioner Kathy Barco. “We need to allow for the process so everybody works together.”
FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto said he leaned toward an outright ban of the practice but also felt the process should be given a chance for review.
“I’m not sure I’ll support the draft rules when they come back,” Barreto said. “I don’t see any sport in the animals’ having no escape. I personally don’t agree with the practice.”
Last September, FWC commissioners directed the agency’s law enforcement staff to explore the history behind the enclosures, including a review of the agency’s permitting process and the number of such enclosures in the state. Then-Executive Director Ken Haddad issued an executive order, putting a moratorium on issuing permits for chasing foxes or coyotes in enclosures.
During Wednesday’s meeting at Apalachicola, commissioners received the report, indicating such enclosures have been around since 1988, when the agency began meeting with stakeholders to draw up regulations for permitting them. Previously, fox hunting took place on large land tracts, but fewer tracts were available as Florida’s human population grew.
Enclosure operators also began using more-readily available coyotes captured within Florida. Importing coyotes from other states is illegal.
It is not legal to kill foxes in Florida, but chasing them with dogs has been a long-standing tradition.
In 2007, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources completed an investigation into fox pens in that state, and shared information with the FWC, indicating illegal importation, sale and delivery of foxes or coyotes was taking place among Alabama and six other states.
FWC investigators made similar discoveries during a 10-month undercover operation in 2008. They found some enclosures were ignoring permit provisions. As a result, officers cited 12 suspects for 46 alleged violations.
FWC wildlife veterinarian Mark Cunningham stated in a report that importation of foxes from other states could result in the spread of disease strains and parasites that are not native to Florida, and that poses health risks for humans, native wildlife, pets and livestock.
“This is not a referendum on hunting; we are a pro-hunting commission,” said Commissioner Brian Yablonski. “But we must consider the concept of ‘fair chase,’ and I am not sure chasing coyotes and foxes in an enclosure meets that standard of hunting – a standard that is important to preserving hunting in the future.”
The Commission asked staff to hold workshops and meet with stakeholders to develop draft rules. The draft rules will be brought back for consideration at the June meeting, with the possibility of final rule approval in September.
Pictured: A fence surrounds the Shady Oaks Fox Pen on South Highway 99 near Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Residents Found Guilty On Multiple Animal Cruelty Charges
February 25, 2010
Two Century residents have been found guilty on multiple animal cruelty charges.
Steven Wayne Billiot, 57, and Faye Marie Kyle, 48 were both convicted in Escambia County Circuit Court this week on eight animal cruelty charges stemming from confining animals without food or water last year.
Both were sentenced to 12 months probation concurrent on each count. They will each be required to pay $55 per month cost of supervision, public defender costs of $938.29, an indigent application fee of $50. Together, they will be responsible for $878.03 in restitution to Panhandle Equine Rescue, the animal welfare group that seized their livestock.
During their probation, Billiot and Kyle will not be allowed to own any livestock and will be required to allow Panhandle Equine Rescue to check their household.
Billiot and Kyle were charged in July, 2009, on multiple charges of confinement of animals without sufficient food, water or exercise. They were also charged with child abuse and neglect, but those charges were later dropped.They were arrested last year after authorities discovered a horse, a donkey, four goats, two pigs and dog were living without food and water at a mobile home outside Century; and a young teen was found in their mobile home living in what deputies described as “squalor”.
The animals were discovered July 9, 2009, at mobile home at 2390 Highway 168, where rescuers say they had been living for days without water or food. The horse named Champagne was tied to a tree with an extension cord at the rear of the trash-covered property. Her ribs were clearly visible as she stood in an unfenced circle of dirt surrounded by tall grass. She had tried so hard to get to the grass that was just outside her reach that her bridle had worn a large sore on her head. Deputies said that when they provided water for Champagne the horse, she drank nearly a five gallon bucket of water.
The two small pigs were living in a crudely constructed pen made of wire and wood. The dirt in the pen was dry and dusty, according to deputy James Moretz, when he discovered it. There was no water in the pen for the pigs.
The four goats were in a wire pen, also with no water. The donkey was tied to a tree in the front yard of the mobile home, again, with no water. And the dog, also tied a tree in the front yard, appeared to be malnourished and had no water.
Panhandle Equine Rescue, a non-profit group authorized by the court system to investigate equine cruelty in Escambia County, seized the horse and donkey. After difficulty getting any other agency to remove the goats and pigs, PER seized them as well. All of the animals were transported to an area veterinarian for treatment.The dog was seized as evidence by a crime scene investigator with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department and transported to the Escambia County Animal Shelter in Pensacola.
Click here for more NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos from the 2009 rescue, the animals and the property. (Some readers may find some of the photographs in the photo gallery to be disturbing.)
Pictured top: This horse was found without food or water at a mobile home on Highway 168 in July. The horse was unable to reach the grass in the photo because of being tied to a tree. Pictured inset: Deputies James Moretz and Randy Murph remove goats from the property. Pictured below: The backyard of the mobile home were the animals were located. NorthEscambia.com exclusive file photos, click to enlarge.
Pharmacist Continues $2 Bill Stimulus Program Handing Cash To Seniors
February 25, 2010
Area pharmacist Danny Cottrell is at it again, working to teach a valuable lesson and stimulate the local economy with $2 bills.
Tuesday, Cottrell handed out envelopes containing $30 in $2 bills to the seniors at T.R. Miller and W.S. Neal High Schools in Brewton. The money came with strings attached — spend the money locally, spend or give a portion — $6 of the bounty — to charity, and for each student to explain to their parents where the money came from and why.
It’s not the first time that Cottrell has handed out the $2 bills in his own stimulus program. He was in good company for his good deeds after being nominated for one of Beliefnet’s Most Inspiring People of the Year.
Cottrell, owner of pharmacies in Atmore and Brewton, was on a list that includes actor Michael J. Fox and Capt. “Sully” Sullenberger, the pilot that successfully landed his plan in the Hudson River after an engine failure. Cottrell did not win the Beliefnet contest.
Last year, Cottrell gave each pharmacy employee a bonus — $700 for full-time and $350 for part-timers — with a catch. Each employee was required to give 15 percent to a charity or someone in need. The rest of the money, about $16,000, had to be spent one $2 bill at a time at local businesses.
Cottrell’s economic stimulus plan made the news across the country, including the NBC Nightly News (see video below). Since the $2 bills begin to circulate in March, other businesses across the country have followed with similar plans of their own. In fact, www.peoplesstimulus.org, a web site inspired by Cottrell’s $2 bill plan, has tracked over $202,000 in people’s stimulus dollars inspired by a man with plans to help his local communities.
To read Cottrell’s story and his Beliefnet’s Most Inspiring People of the Year nomination, click here.
Pictured above: Pharmacist Danny Cottrell was nominated as one of Beliefnet’s Most Inspiring People of the Year. Courtesy Beliefnet.com for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge. Below, Cottrell’s story on the NBC Nightly News.
Stabbing Victim Enters Not Guilty Plea
February 25, 2010
The victim that sought help at a Century Bar after being stabbed in December has pleaded not guilty to battery charges.
Reginald Lee Williams, 24, of Washington Street, Flomaton, was charged with affray, riot or unlawful assembly and battery in connection with the December 27 incident. During his first court appearance this week, Williams entered a not guilty plea. His trial has been set for April 19.
Emergency workers were called to Odom’s Bar at 9520 North Century Boulevard about 12:10 a.m. December 27 after Williams was reported to be stabbed. Reports indicate that Williams was stabbed nearby on Ivey Street and walked to the bar for help. Williams was transported by ambulance to Jay Hospital where he was treated for minor injuries. He was released from the Escambia County Jail on $3,500 bond.
Dusean Labradford Phifer, 20, Century, was arrested the morning of the incident and charged with felony aggravated battery and charged with being involved in an affray, riot or unlawful assembly. He was released from the Escambia County Jail on $5,250 bond. Phifer pleaded not guilty during his first court appearance. He is scheduled for trial in April.
According to arrest reports, both men agreed to fight one another after an argument over Phifer’s cousin, who was Williams’ girlfriend.
Groundbreaking Held For Landfill Gas Generator That Will Power Over 900 Escambia Homes
February 25, 2010
A groundbreaking was held Wednesday for a partnership between Gulf Power and Escambia County that produce enough renewable energy at Perdido Landfill to power more than 900 homes.
Initially, Gulf Power’s landfill gas-to-energy facility will produce 3,200 kilowatts of renewable energy — enough to power more than 900 homes. The energy capacity can be increased as the landfill produces more methane in the future.
“This partnership with Escambia County will produce tremendous benefits for our community — as well as educational opportunities for our schoolchildren,” said Sandy Sims, manager of Gulf Power Public Affairs. “Together, we will eliminate a source of greenhouse gas by capturing and using the methane that is already escaping into the atmosphere. We can produce renewable electricity that will benefit Gulf Power customers and create revenue for Escambia County.”
Gulf Power has a contract with Escambia County for the purchase of landfill gas and with LFG Technologies Development to build and operate the landfill gas-to-energy facility.
Landfill methane gas is one of the most cost-effective forms of renewable energy, forming naturally by decomposition of organic material in landfills. Municipal solid waste landfills are the second largest human-generated source of methane emissions in the United States. Escambia County has a collection system in place and currently flares the gas as required by regulations.
LFG Technologies has built and operated more than 125,000 kilowatts of landfill gas facilities in the U.S. The brick facility will house two Caterpillar generators specially designed to burn landfill methane gas.
Once the facility begins operation, educational tours will be available for school groups and the community.
Pictured top: Escambia County’s Perdido Landfill, click to enlarge.
Really Cool Job
February 25, 2010
A couple of workers had a really cool job Wednesday as they worked to paint a new 118-foot tall water tower as temperatures hovered in the upper 30’s with a strong wind. The new 200,000 gallon tank was constructed next to the Ernest Ward Middle School to provide additional capacity for the 699-connection Walnut Hill Water Works system. It is part of $2.4 million in upgrades. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Jay Little Miss Relay Pageant Set
February 25, 2010
The Jay Hospital Relay for Life team is sponsoring the Little Miss Relay pageant March 6 at Jay High School.
The pageant will have six age divisions from age 0 to 12. The entry deadline for contestants in March 1. For more details and contact information, click here.
Little Miss Relay pageant will be at 2 p.m. on March 6 at Jay High School. Admission is $4 for everyone except contestants and children under 5. All proceeds benefit the Jay Hospital Relay for Life team.
Boom Again? Residents Report Boom Or Explosion For Second Day
February 24, 2010
A “boom” or explosion was felt or heard across a portion of Escambia County from Walnut Hill to Pensacola again Wednesday afternoon, the second afternoon in the row.
There were no reports of explosions or other situations that would have caused the rattle. Real-time earthquake data from the U.S. Geological Survey did not show any seismic activity in our area.
So far, the Air Force and Navy still say they did not create the boom.
Several 911 callers in the Pensacola area reported large explosions Wednesday afternoon.
Mistaken ID: Man, Neighbor Chase Down, Shoot At PNJ Delivery Men
February 24, 2010
An Escambia man and his neighbor ended up chasing down and shooting at three newspaper delivery men this morning thinking they were actually burglars.
Sgt. Ted Roy, spokesperson for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, describes what happened:
“At approximately 3:45 a.m., Escambia Deputies responded to a shots fired disturbance in the 5500 block of Turkey Rd. While en route information was being received that a white vehicle was being chased by a pick up truck and an SUV. When deputies arrived they observed three vehicles running in an open field. Deputies secured the vehicles and then observed several people within the field.
“All parties were secured and the following information obtained from the resident at the Turkey Road address: Douglas Weinberg stated that his wife woke him and stated that she observed someone inside the back yard creeping along the fence. Weinberg stated he armed himself with his black semi-automatic handgun and
exited his residence to see a white colored vehicle exit a side street one house from his. Weinberg stated his neighbors began exiting their residences due to the commotion.
“Weinberg’s neighbor, Jerry Stefani exited his residence with a revolver firearm and observed Weinberg yelling at a white vehicle. Stefani entered his pick up truck, picked up Weinberg and began chasing the white car. Another neighbor had entered his vehicle and tried to follow Weinberg and Stefani.
“Weinberg and Stefani pursued the white car, occupied by three people into an open field on Turkey Rd. The three occupants, later identified Dylan Duffewn (19), David Crittenden (32), and Daniel Hayes (22) got the car stuck in the mud in the open field and fled on foot due to Weinberg and Stefani being armed. Weinberg and Stefani then fired several rounds at the three fleeing occupants and into the air in an attempt to stop them from running into the woods. Victim/Duffewn stopped and laid down out of fear of being shot and the other two continued into the woods. Investigation revealed that Weinberg and Stefani had exited their residences with the above described handguns.
“The three occupants of the white vehicle were actually delivering newspapers for the Pensacola News Journal and were not involved in the attempted burglary at the Weinberg residence and fled only because they observed the two homeowners armed with guns and believed they were about to become the victims of a robbery.
“The actual burglars were not apprehended and left the area in the confusion. The Sheriff’s Office is investigating that case and has developed suspect information.
“Warrant Affidavits have been sent off for judicial review charging both Weinberg and Stefani with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill.”
Molino Man, 36, Jailed For Fathering Child With Girlfriend, 16
February 24, 2010
A Molino man is jailed on sex offense charges after allegedly fathering a child with a 16-year old.
Archie Eley Brooks, 36, of Pine Circle, Molino, is charged with sexual assault, unlawful sexual act with certain minors — a second degree felony. Tuesday, his bond was set at $100,000.
In early January of this year, the female victim, now 18, told Escambia County Sheriff’s Office investigators that in 2008, at age 16, she had a consensual sexual relationship with Brooks, then 34. The victim said that during their relationship, she became pregnant by Brooks and gave birth to her baby in February, 2009.
In a February 2, 2010, interview, the victim told investigators that “the relationship started when suspect Brooks moved in with her family and the two shared a room” at her family’s home on Pine Circle Drive in Molino. The victim “stated that Brooks knew she was 16 at the time they began their sexual relationship,” according to the sheriff’s office report.
On February 10, Brooks told investigators that he had a sexual relationship with the victim in which she became pregnant, according to the incident report, and that he knew the victim was 16 at the time. Brooks told deputies that the relationship lasted about two years until it ended on the victim’s 18th birthday.