One Trapped After Early Morning Accident
March 20, 2010
One person was trapped for about 20 minutes following an early morning North Escambia accident.
The accident was reported about 3:20 a.m. Saturday.
Firefighters were forced to use chainsaws to cut their way to a vehicle in a wooded area near the intersection of Quintette Road and Highway 95A.
One person was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital by ambulance following the crash.
The wreck is still under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Further details were not available.
Hundreds Take Part In Northview FFA Food For America Program
March 20, 2010
About 600 elementary school students from schools from Byrneville and Bratt to Pensacola Beach attended the annual “Food for America” program Friday at Northview High School. About 800 people total either attended or worked with the program.
The program, sponsored the National FFA Organization and conducted by the Northview FFA, gave the students a chance to learn about agriculture firsthand as they got up close and personal with farm animals, farm equipment and more. The students even had the opportunity to make their own butter and enjoy it on crackers.
The Northview FFA has participated in the program for 15 years, placing second in the state last year. Northview has placed in the top five in the state for the last ten years.
Friday’s program at Northview was dedicated to Philip Caler, a fellow FFA member from Booker, Texas, who accidentally fell 40 feet from the third floor at the October, 2009, FFA National Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana — an event that was attended by Northview students. He has remained in a coma most of the time since the accident.
“It is our hope and prayer that Philip will indeed make a complete recovery,” read a note attached to balloons released in Caler’s honor Friday at Northview. “We are dedicating this day to Philip, and would like you to join us…to live each day to the fullest, take time to laugh each and every day with friends and family, and strive to cultivate friendships that will last a lifetime.”
Click here for a complete NorthEscambia.com photo gallery with dozens of pictures from the event.
FFA students from both Northview and Ernest Ward Middle School conducted the program, including from Northview FFA: President Micah Byars, Vice President Lydia Weaver, Secretary Stephanie Solari, Treasurer Allison Vidak, Reporter Heather Kite, Sentinel Gavin Hinote, Parliamentarian Wes Chancery, Photographer and Historian Shelby Lewis, Chaplain Devin Bell and Advisors Perry Byars and Tommy Weaver.
Pictured above: Pictured top:A students pets a horse at Northview High School FFA’s Food for America Program on Friday. Pictured top inset: Students from Pensacola Beach Elementary School learn about bees. Pictured bottom inset: Northview FFA members release balloons to honor a Philp Caler, FFA member from Texas who has been in a coma for months. Pictured below: Tasting homemade butter. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
MySpace Photos Lead To Capture Of Bank Robbery Suspects
March 20, 2010
The suspects in three Alabama bank robberies are behind bars in Florida, thanks to tips and MySpace photos.
They are identified as Rhianna Marie Jones, 30, address unknown, and Jerry Hover Tinsley, 30, of Rutherford, North Carolina.. The pair allegedly robbed banks in Flomaton, East Brewton and Florala.
The Florala Police Department received a tip from a confidential informant about the couple and confirmed their identity using the popular social networking site MySpace.
The pair was arrested by federal agents and local law enforcement after a short chase from a Motel 6 in Destin, Florida, late Thursday night. The arrest was reportedly the result of a tip phoned into the Florala (Ala.) Police Department Thursday afternoon.
The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Warrants Unit was assisting the FBI from Mobile in the hunt for Tinsley and Jones. They determined that they were staying in the Motel 6 located at 405 Harbor Boulevard in Destin. In addition to being suspects in the bank robberies, authorities knew Jones was wanted on felony charges out of Pinellas County, Florida, and Tinsley was suspected of being in violation of his probation.
At 11:14 p.m. Thursday, the pair was seen leaving the Motel 6 in a gold color 2004 Chevrolet Impala with a Florida tag. Deputies attempted a traffic stop in the parking lot, but Tinsley and Jones fled westbound on Harbor Boulevard, a four lane divided highway, at a high rate of speed, according to the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office arrest report.
“Tinsley, who was identified as the driver, was passing around and between cars to get away,” according to Okaloosa Deputy Todd Watkins. Speeds in the chase, according to Watkins, reach in excess of 90 mph. Tinsley, who is known by the street name “Prison Ink” turned onto two-land roads, and the chase continued over 90 mph until he turned onto the dead end Sea Hills Drive. The total distance of the chase was about 1.8 miles.
While several units pursued the vehicle down the dead end street, Deputy Watkins went to an adjacent street where he observed the duo flee on foot. He was able to take Tinsley into custody, while Jones fled into a wooded area. She was located a short time later hiding in some brush in a fenced in yard.
The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office has charged Tinsley with fleeing and eluding at high speed, resisting arrest without violence, and possession of a controlled substance. Jones is charged with resisting arrest without violence.
Tinsley reportedly had two grams cocaine and three Oxycontin pills in his possession.
According to Watkins’ report, Jones had multiple additional warrants for her arrest. Details on those warrants were not available.
A modern-day Bonny and Clyde first robbed the Wachovia Bank in Florala, Alabama, March 4. Then a couple reportedly struck the United Bank in Flomaton just before closing time on March 8. And, on March 17, they reportedly struck again at the BankTrust in East Brewton.
All three robberies were similar — the pair walked into the bank and each handed holdup notes to different bank tellers. The notes demanded the money be given to them in small bills. They did not display a weapon during any of the robberies.
The FBI has not official charged the pair with any of the bank robberies, according to Doug Astralaga, spokesperson for the Mobile office of the FBI. He said charges are pending the outcome of the FBI’s investigation. He said those charges could come as early as Wednesday.
Teacher Pay Could Be Tied To Student Performance
March 20, 2010
Teacher pay would be based on how well students do on standardized tests under a bill set for a final fight in the Senate – where ruling Republicans look poised to strike a blow against Florida’s Democratic-allied teachers’ union.
The Senate Ways and Means committee approved the measure (SB 6) by a 15-8, party-line vote, with Democrats saying it was wrongheaded to base all teachers’ pay on student performance, while warning it could drive instructors from the classroom.
The legislation is sponsored by Sen. John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine, who doubles as chairman of the Florida Republican Party. It would place teachers on annual contracts and force the Department of Education to implement some method to gauge whether students made learning gains over the school year.
While county school boards would still set teacher salaries, annual raises would have to be based on these new state performance standards.
The committee met for more than three hours, with teachers and education groups mostly critical of the measure, while business organizations and former Gov. Jeb Bush’s Foundation for Florida’s Future endorsing the approach. Bush has wrangled with the Florida Education Association, the state’s largest teachers’ union, for years over class-size and earlier versions of merit-pay plans.
Bush’s 2002 Democratic opponent for governor, Bill McBride, was heavily financed by the FEA and its allies. McBride’s wife, Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, is the Democratic Party’s presumptive candidate for governor this year.
“This legislation, I believe, over the years will allow our students to receive the best education,” Thrasher said.
The measure is set for a floor vote next week. But the House has not yet advanced a version of the merit-pay plan.
Jennifer Barnhill, a teacher at Pace Secondary School in Tallahassee, told the Senate committee Friday that she feared the measure would jeopardize the salaries of teachers like her — whose classrooms include children with special needs. She said she has students who have Asperger syndrome, two who are rival gang members and three who are fathers. One student, she said, is now parenting his younger brother, because their father is in jail.
“He has no parent. He is the parent and I am his parent. No test can ever measure that,” she said.
Supporters said the legislation will put the state in line with proposals it has made in an application for the Race to the Top, the $4.35 billion competitive federal grant that could bring about $1 billion in education dollars to Florida. The state is among 16 finalists for the award, scheduled to be made next month.
Florida Education Commissioner Eric Smith, a proponent of the so-called merit pay plan, said that “America is going in this direction” on merit pay for teachers.
“For the first time we’re actually talking about connecting issues of student achievement to evaluation,” he said.
Smith acknowledged that the department still really didn’t know how all teachers would be evaluated. He said staff has been consulting with leading researchers on the issue, but there is no template because Florida would be the first state to initiate this type of system.
One method could have students take an exam at the beginning of the year and one at the end of the year. But the lack of a clear path was a major sticking point for Democrats who voted against the bill.
“What I’m not going to support is a system that has no idea where we’re going to land,” said Sen. Dan Gelber, D-Miami Beach. “You have no valid pre-test and no valid end of course exam.”
Authorities Search For Missing Atmore Grandmother
March 20, 2010
Authorities are asking for your help in finding a missing Atmore grandmother
The Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Department is looking for Ronda Carol Woods. She has not been seen or heard from since March 14. The sheriff’s office and her family say that they are concerned about her safety.
If you have seen Woods or have any information, call the Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Department at (251) 867-0304.
Troopers Issue About 37,000 Citations During Click It Or Ticket Campaign
March 20, 2010
The Florida Highway Patrol issued near 37,000 citations during a “Click It Or Ticket” campaign during the first half of the month that focused on drivers who did not fasten thier safety belts.
Troopers issued 36,858 traffic citations from March 1 through March 15 Of those, more than 6,500 were for failure to buckle up. They also made 311 arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, cited more than 10,000 drivers for speeding, and assisted nearly 10,000 motorists.
Florida implemented the Dori Slosberg and Katie Marchetti Safety Belt Law on June 30, 2009, which allows law enforcement officers to stop and cite motorists who violate the law. The law allows for the primary enforcement of Florida’s safety belt requirements, which the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates will save 124 lives and prevent more than 1,700 serious injuries in Florida annually.
“We are committed to educating motorists and enforcing Florida’s Safety Belt Law to ensure they buckle up,” said Col. John Czernis, director of the Florida Highway Patrol. “The Florida Highway Patrol will continue to collaborate with our law enforcement partners on such initiatives to pave the way to a safer Florida. The dedicated service and commitment to highway safety that our troopers exhibit makes a difference.”
First Day Of Spring (With A Weather Duck Photo!)
March 20, 2010
We are in for a some spring showers for Saturday night and Sunday.
And if you are wondering about the picture — those are the NorthEscambia.com Weather Ducks. Back on Groundhog Day, we ran a photo of the Weather Ducks [click here] where they saw their shadows and predicted six more weeks of winter. Ten days later, we had snow in North Escambia and up to five or six inches of snow just to our north.
The NorthEscambia.com Weather Ducks are seen posing with their snowman in Atmore. They’ve been in hiding ever since, ashamed of their wintry prediction. Believe it or not, we’ve actually had dozens and dozens of emails asking about the Weather Ducks since Groundhog Day, so for the first day of spring, we thought we would share the photo.
Here is your official NorthEscambia.com Weather Duck forecast for the first day of spring:
- Tonight: Periods of showers, mainly after 1am. Low around 54. Southeast wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
- Sunday: Scattered showers, mainly before 10am. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 58. Breezy, with a east wind 10 to 20 mph becoming west. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
- Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36. West wind around 5 mph.
- Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 57. West wind around 10 mph.
- Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41. West wind around 5 mph.
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 70. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 45. Calm wind.
- Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 75. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph.
- Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 50. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 75.
- Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53.
- Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74.
- Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 53.
- Saturday: Partly cloudy, with a high near 76.
Confused About Spring Pruning?
March 20, 2010
Beautiful, spring weather is just around the corner. It’s time to start spring cleaning, both inside the house and outside in the landscape.
One of the first things you will want to tackle is the pruning of cold-damaged or overgrown plants. But not all plants can be pruned the same way or at the same time.
(Submitted by Santa Rosa Extension Service)
Timing is everything
If a shrub is grown for its flowers, time the pruning to minimize disruption of blooming. Spring-flowering shrubs bloom on last season’s growth and should be pruned soon after they bloom. This allows for vigorous summertime growth and results in plenty of flower buds the following year.
Some examples of shrubs that bloom on last season’s growth are azalea, spirea, mock orange, quince, hydrangea, weigelia, forsythia, gardenia, camellia, viburnum, and deutzia. For azaleas, complete pruning by late June or early July.
Some shrubs that bloom after May usually do so from buds which are formed on shoots that grow the same spring. These shrubs should be pruned in late winter to promote vigorous shoot growth in spring.
Examples of shrubs that bloom on current season’s growth include crapemyrtle, glossy abelia, butterfly bush, oleander, vitex and althea.
How much to prune
The extent of annual pruning depends on the plant. Some shrubs may require the removal of a considerable amount of wood each year, while others require little pruning. It’s much better to prune lightly each year rather than severely butcher a plant after several years of growth.
When you prune, first remove weak and spindly wood inside the plant or near the ground. Next, lower the height of the plant to the level you want by making cuts at various levels, always keeping in mind the natural form of the plant.
One rule for cane-type plants like nandina and mahonia is to remove one-third of the oldest and tallest canes near the ground each year. This will keep the height of the plant at a reasonable level.
Palms are different
Many palms have suffered significant cold damage in Northwest Florida. Pruning should wait until all chance of frost has passed. Then, only remove the leaves that are completely brown. If the leaves have any green on them, even if it is just on the petiole, wait to prune. Wait until the palm has produced 2 to 3 new leaves before removing these partially-green leaves.
However, if you think the spear leaf has died, give it a gentle pull. If the spear leaf pulls out easily, remove it and consider applying a copper fungicide bud drench. Contact your local Extension Office for more information.
Perennials and tropicals
With our perennials and tropical plants, its best to wait until new growth has occurred to ensure that live tissue is not removed.
If new growth has not emerged, it may be difficult to tell if the plants are alive or dead. One test is to scrape the outer bark to see if the cambium layer is green or brown. If the cambium layer is not green but is brown or black, the stem was injured by the cold and will not come back. Sometimes there is life closer to the ground level so don’t be too hasty to remove the plant.
Home Invasion In Walnut Hill
March 19, 2010
Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies are investigating a home invasion in Walnut Hill Friday morning.
The incident was reported at 8:49 a.m. in the 6500 block of Highway 97. Two males entered the home through a rear window or door. When the adult male resident heard noises, he met the pair in the hallway of the home. One was armed with a handgun.
The suspects turned and ran when confronted by the resident, according to deputies.
Both suspects were white males. The male in the camouflage jacket was described as being about 6-foot tall, between 25-30 years old, and with a military style haircut. The other was described as wearing a gray hoodie jacket, 55-60 years old with gray hair.
Both men fled the scene in a blue truck with a roll bar. The truck was described as being possibly a Chevrolet or GMC model.
The truck was possibly spotted at a Shell gas station in Atmore about 9:15 a.m. Atmore Police reviewed survelliance video from the store, but determined it was not the suspect vehicle or the suspects.
Bratt Man, 72, Appeals Life Sentence For Abusing 5-Year Old Girl
March 19, 2010
A 72-year old Bratt man sentenced to life in prison for sexually abusing a five-year old North Escambia girl is appealing his conviction.
Jody Posey received the life sentence in early February from Escambia County Circuit Court Judge Kenneth Williams after being convicted by an Escambia County jury on charges of lewd or lascivious molestation of a child under 12. He was arrested March 5, 2009, for fondling a five-year old girl at his residence at 7100 North Pine Road in Bratt between November 2007 and January 2009.
The child victim took the witness stand and testified about Posey touching her underneath her clothes as she sat on his lap. The most recent molestation reported by the five-year old was January 9, 2009. The girl told officials that Posey said she would go to jail if she told anyone about the incidents.
The State Attorney’s office also presented testimony from another girl who testified that she had been molested by Posey between 2001 and 2006 at his home. Posey faces additional charges of lewd or lascivious molestation in that case.
Posey has remained in the Escambia County Jail since his February conviction.