Man Wanted For Shooting At FHP Trooper Arrested In Connecticut
April 7, 2010
The man wanted for shooting at two Florida State Troopers on March 25 was arrested by U.S. Marshals, Connecticut State Police and local law enforcement officers early this morning.
Officials in Winchester, Conn., took Brody James Whitaker, 37, into custody after a brief struggle. Whitaker escaped authorities two weeks ago after shooting at two Florida troopers who attempted to pull him over for a traffic violation.
After firing on the Florida troopers, Whitaker crashed the Chevrolet Suburban he was driving and fled on foot into the Lake Panasoffkee Wildlife Management area in Sumter County. Federal, state and local law enforcement officers joined the Florida Highway Patrol in a widespread search of the area for two days as Whitaker eluded his pursuers, which sparked a nationwide manhunt. Yesterday, authorities tracked him to a residence in Connecticut.
“The Florida Highway Patrol wants to thank all the agencies involved in the search and capture of this dangerous man wanted in two states,” said FHP Director, Colonel John Czernis. “Law enforcement officers throughout the area, including Sumter County Sheriff Bill Farmer and his deputies, worked tirelessly in a coordinated effort. Without the combined efforts of law enforcement across state lines, the arrest of this fugitive would not have been possible.”
Whitaker faces an assortment of charges, to include aggravated fleeing and eluding a police officer and aggravated assault on a police officer in Florida. He has a criminal history in several different states: Michigan, Virginia, California, Florida and Ohio. He is wanted in Michigan for illegal drug possession. From today’s arrest, Connecticut has charged him with being a fugitive from justice and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Currently, Whitaker is in custody and awaiting court proceedings before a judge in Connecticut. He will subsequently await extradition to Florida to face charges.
One Injured In Highway 4 Crash
April 7, 2010
One person was injured in a single vehicle accident early Wednesday morning in Bratt.
The accident happened just after 5:30 a.m. on West Highway 4 near Vaughn Road. The driver of a pickup told authorities that he was westbound on Highway 4 when he lost control and ran off the road. His truck traveled through fences on two different pieces of property and came to rest upright in the yard of home.
The driver was transported by Atmore Ambulance to Atmore Community Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
It was extremely foggy at the time of the accident, but it was not immediately known if fog contributed to the crash. The accident is still under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Further details were not available.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department also responded to the call.
Pictured above: The driver of the truck was injured in an early morning crash Wednesday on West Highway 4 in Bratt. Pictured below: The truck traveled through two fences and some landscaping after the driver left the roadway. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Sneak Peek: Plans For Molino Library, Museum, Community Center
April 7, 2010
Preliminary architectural drawings are done for the renovation of the old Molino School into a community center, library and museum.
The drawings show one section of the main building converted into a library with both a children’s and adult area, computers and thousands of linear feet of book shelving. The old auditorium will remain a community auditorium with available seating for 242 people. The rest of the building will include a museum, classrooms and meeting rooms.
“We are very pleased with the design,” Gene Fischer, director of the West Florida Public Library, said in an email.
The final drawings from DAG Architects are expected to be completed and the project let for bid by summer, according to District 5 Commissioner Kevin White.
“By this time next year, we should have the project completed,” White said. Plans are still in the works to convert additional portions of the facility in offices for county officials, he said.
On February 12, several top county officials toured the old school with White. Among those touring the building was Escambia County Tax Collector Janet Holley who is considering moving her north end office to Molino when her lease at her current Cantonment location expires in 2012. Supervisor of Elections David Stafford and Property Appraiser Chris Jones are also considering locating in the building.
In May, 2009, commissioners approved the $400,000 purchase of the building from the Escambia County School District. Commissioners have since approved a budget of $2,089,156 from Local Option Sales Tax monies for the renovation project. DAG Architects is being paid $214,580 to design the renovations.
The school campus includes 9.66 acres and four buildings — the largest of which is 16,630 square feet.
First opened in 1939, the Molino School closed in 2003 when the new Molino Park Elementary School consolidated Molino Elementary and Barrineau Park Elementary.
Pictured top: District 5 Escambia County Commissioner Kevin White and Escambia County Tax Collector Janet Holley discuss potential plans for the old Molino School in the auditorium of the facility back in February. Pictured bottom inset: This end of the old school will be converted into a library. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Century Spells Out Job Requirements For New Town Clerk
April 7, 2010
After advertising for a new town clerk and getting no response, the Town of Century has decided to set higher standards for the job.
Current Century Town Clerk Dorothy Sims is retiring at the end of April, but will remain available to help train her replacement. The town advertised the position in the local weekly newspaper, but received no response, according to Mayor Freddie McCall. The advertisement detailed a set of basic requirements for job applicants.
Now, the town council has voted to set more stringent requirements for the job at the recommendation of Council President Ann Brooks.
The new town clerk will be required to hold at least an associate’s degree with a minimum of three years experience in records management, data processing or experience in municipal government including supervisory experience and any equivalent combination of education and experience.
The applicant will also be required to have working knowledge of state statutes and bylaws relating to the duties and responsibilities of the town clerk, local government procedures and office procedure requirements, as well as other office and financial record keeping experience.
Brooks, who operates an accounting business in Century, told the council that she had considered applying for the job, but she said it would hurt her business to much.
She suggested that by hiring a more qualified town clerk, the town could eliminate much of the work that is currently done by the town’s accountant, Robert Hudson.
The higher qualifications were approved by the council 5-0.
Escambia Could Restrict Tethering Of Dogs
April 7, 2010
The Escambia County Commission may soon restrict how and when dogs can be tethered in the county.
The commission will vote Thursday to set a public hearing for April 22 on a proposed tethering ordinance. The ordinance will require dogs to have a shelter large enough to stand up, turn around, lie down and stretch comfortably.
Tethering of animals over six months old will be allowed, if the ordinance is approved, if the animal is within eyesight of the owner and the tethering system is at least six feet long, below 1/16 the weight of the animal and fitted with a proper collar. The animal can not be tethered during extreme weather or while it is sick.
There are additional requirements set forth in the ordinance. To read the ordinance, click here.
If the commission votes Thursday to set the public hearing on the ordinance, the hearing will be held at 5:31 p.m. on Thursday, March 22 in the commission’s chambers.
Walnut Hill Man Pleads Not Guilty To Threatening Family With Knife Following Funeral
April 7, 2010
A Walnut Hill man has entered a not guilty plea in an incident where he allegedly used a knife to threaten three members of his family after a funeral last month.
David Earl Fountain, 54, of Arthur Brown Road, Walnut Hill, remains in the Escambia County Jail on $75,000 bond. He was charged March 13 with three counts of felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Escambia County deputies responded to a residence in the 6000 block of Arthur Brown Road in Walnut Hill where family members said the incident occurred. Fountain’s wife, age 50, told deputies that she had returned home after a funeral and began to hug family members to console them. That’s when Fountain became angry, grabbed a pair of scissors and swung them at his wife, according to the arrest report. The wife’s son then grabbed Fountain in attempt to protect his mother. The trio began to wrestle before Fountain broke free and grabbed a knife from the kitchen, the report states.
The victim’s daughter escorted Fountain, 32, outside where he was still armed with the knife, deputies said. Fountain’s son said his father tried to stab him several times with the scissors, and another son, 36, said Fountain tried to stab him with the knife, according to Deputy Tod Day’s incident report.
Fountain had left the residence and traveled to Atmore before deputies arrived. Family members called Fountain and convinced him to return to Walnut Hill where he was arrested.
All of the victims refused medical treatment.
Fountain is due back in court in July.
Northview Diamond Club Plans Baseball Tournament
April 7, 2010
The Northview High School Diamond Club will sponsor a baseball tournament on Saturday, April 17 at Showalter Park in Century.
The entry free is just $50 per team for the round-robin two game guarantee tournament. Space is limited on a first come, first served basis.
For more information about the tournament and contact information, click here.
Back To School Sales Tax Holiday Might Be Headed Back
April 7, 2010
The Florida House voted Tuesday to reinstate Florida’s back-to-School sales tax holiday in an effort benefit Florida’s families.
The bi-partisan measure, sponsored by Representatives David Rivera (R-Miami) and Anitere Flores (R-Miami), passed 115-0 on the House Floor in a bi-partisan vote. The bill provides for a one-time three-day sales tax holiday for clothing and other school supplies purchased from August 13-15 of this year. Backers of the bill point out that sales tax collections actually increase during the period as people tend to shop more and buy items not covered by the tax holiday.
Democrats tried to amend the bill on the floor Tuesday to extend the sales tax holiday for additional days and to make it permanent each year, rather than having lawmakers enact the proposal, but Republicans opposed the proposals saying the money wasn’t available this year, and that it may or may not be in future years.
“The bottom line here is that this is not Tallahassee’s money,” said Rep. Rivera. “The money belongs to Florida taxpayers and they deserve some of it back as they stretch their hard-earned dollars to ensure that their children have the school supplies they need. This bill provides Florida families relief.”
“As a parent, I understand how every little bit helps when it comes to crafting a family budget, especially in these challenging economic times,” stated Rep. Flores. “This bill will provide Florida families with a respite from sales taxes at a time when they are preparing their children for the school year.”
“Tax breaks like these are never enough, but it’s a way for elected representatives to remember that the money we spend in Tallahassee belongs to the people and we must seize every opportunity to let Floridians keep their hard-earned tax dollars, especially during difficult economic times such as we are experiencing in Florida. I commend our Democrat colleagues for joining House Republicans in this bi-partisan measure,” said House Majority Leader Adam Hasner (R-Delray Beach).
Clothes, books, shoes, wallets and certain other items costing less than $50 and school supplies under $10 would be tax free for those three days under the measure.
The measure is expected to gain Senate approval and be signed by Gov. Crist.
Rain Forecast By Early Morning, Cooler Air Moving In
April 7, 2010
We are in for another warm, sunny day, but big changes are in store.
There is some rain in overnight and Thursday morning forecast. By the end of the week, our overnight lows will dip down to near 42.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Scattered showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Patchy fog after 1am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. South wind between 10 and 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
- Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 1pm. Cloudy, with a high near 71. South wind around 10 mph becoming northwest. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Thursday Night: Isolated showers before 1am. Cloudy during the early evening, then clearing, with a low around 45. North wind between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Friday: Sunny, with a high near 72. North wind around 5 mph.
- Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 43. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
- Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 75. East wind around 5 mph.
- Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 42. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 77. Calm wind becoming east between 5 and 10 mph.
- Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 49.
- Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 76.
- Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 52.
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 77.
Verna Mae Harris
April 6, 2010
Mrs. Verna Mae Harris, 64, passed away on Tuesday, April 6, 2010 at a Pensacola hospital.
Mrs. Harris was a native and lifelong resident of Atmore, AL. She was a loving Wife, Mother, Grandmother and Sister and attended the Atmore Church of God. Preceded in death by her Grandparents, Shirley J. Rutherford and Ida Mae Rutherford and a Sister, Alice Ruth Harrison.
Survivors include: her Husband, Leo Harris of Atmore, AL; her Son, Jerry L. Harris of Stockton, AL; four Daughters, Tammy E. Harris of Molino, FL, Judy L. Harris, Janice M. Ashcraft, and Krystal L. Harris, all of Atmore, AL; 4 Grandchildren, Daniel Ray Pierce, Heather Denise Pierce, Justin Tyler Harris, and T.J. Ashcraft; five Brothers, Harold E. Harrison and the Rev. H. Earl Harrison, both of Atmore, AL, Robert W. Harrison of Walnut Hill, FL, Donald R. Harrison of Martinville, AL, and David M. Harrison of Brewton, AL; and five Sisters, M. Helen Jones of Atmore, AL, Dorothy A. Milstead of Atmore, AL, Glenda Faye Odom of Nokomis, AL, Linda K. Robinson and Sarah F. O’Leary, both of Atmore, AL, .
Funeral services will he held Thursday April 8, 2010 at 2:00 P.M. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with the Rev. Virgil McIntyre and the Rev. Wayne Fails officiating.
Burial will follow at Serenity Garden Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, April 7, 2010 between 6:00 and 9:00 P.M. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Jarrod Jones, Eddie Odom, Kenny Robinson, Matthew Robinson, Floyd Harris, and Wayne Harris.
Honorary pallbearers will be Beau Harrison, Bobby Harrison, Robert W. Harrison, Tommy Ashcraft and Judd Mason.