William America, Sr.
April 6, 2010
Mr. William America, Sr., age 77, of Atmore, Ala., passed away Saturday, April 3, 2010, at his residence. He was a native of Camden, Ala., born to the late Richard America Sr., and Lillian America. He had been a member of Greater Mt. Triumph Baptist Church where he served as deacon, choir member and many other positions in the church. He then joined McCullough Christian Center where he sang in the choir.
He retired from Monsanto in 1992. He served as a community broadcaster for 105.9 Gospel Radio for many years. He served as County Commissioner of Escambia for eight years. He was chairman of that same board for four years and was awarded a plaque for his loyal service and support to the South Alabama Regional Planning Commission in 1999. He was instrumental and faithful in providing leadership in several community organizations such as: President and founder of the United Civic Club, President of the Alabama Democratic Conference (ADC) Escambia County, Ala., branch, a member of the NAACP, served on the hospital board, a member of the Chamber of Commerce, President of the Progressive Civic & Recreational Club (PCRC), manager and owner of America’s Superfood store and served on the United Bank Board of Directors.
He was preceded in death by his father, Richard America, Sr.; one son, Elder Tommy America and one brother, Richard America, Jr.
Mr. America is survived by his wife of fifty-nine years, Pauline Powers America; five children, Shirley Jean Williams, Cynthia Paulette (Alton) Williams, William America Jr., James (Lesa) America and Ellen (Manual) Valenzuela; one daughter-in-law, Elder Audrey America; a host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren; his mother, Lillian America Golden; two brothers, Henry (Georgia) America and Sammie (Francina) America; five sisters, Maggie (R.C.) Mc Millian, Alice Sanders, Delores (Wade) Brown, Varnell (Anthony) Ward and Fonda L.Poellnitz ; five sisters-in-law, Rutelia America, Amelia Brooks, Ada Lee Powers, Bessie Powers and Flora Powers, two aunts, a host of nieces, cousins and friends and the entire McCullough Christian Church family.
Public viewing will be Friday, April 9, 2010, from 1-8 p.m. and the family will receive friends from 6-7 p.m. from Christian Memorial Funeral Chapel.
Dense Fog Advisory
April 6, 2010
The National Weather Service in Mobile has issued a dense fog advisory in effect until 9:00 this morning.
Area traffic cameras along with surface observations indicate dense fog has become widespread across portions of Mobile and Baldwin County along with many areas in the western Florida Panhandle. Visibilities will improve by mid morning.
Precautionary/preparedness actions…
A dense fog advisory means visibilities will frequently be reduced to less than one quarter mile. If driving, slow down, use your headlights, and leave plenty of distance ahead of you.
Cantonment Man Killed In Motorcycle Crash; Other Driver Charged With DUI Manslaughter And Fleeing
April 6, 2010
A Cantonment man was killed in a motorcycle accident in Pace, and the man that hit him is now in jail.
Motorcyclist Matthew Christopher Harrison, 29, of Cantonment, was eastbound on Highway 90 in Pace about 7:05 p.m. Monday when he was struck by a Ford Taurus driven by Ronnie L. Henley, 49, of Pace. Harrison laid down his motorcycle in an attempt to avoid Henley, but he was run over by Henley’s car, according to the FHP. Harrison was pronounced dead at the scene.
Henley (pictured) immediately fled the scene, according to the FHP. Witnesses, including an off-duty Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s deputy, followed him. Henley was stopped at the intersection of Floridatown Road and Cotton Road where he was arrested.
Troopers found Henley to be under the influence of alcohol, and blood samples were turned over to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. A small amount of marijuana was also located in the Taurus, the FHP said.
Henley was charged with DUI manslaughter, leaving the scene of a crash with death, and possession of marijuana under 20 grams. He remains in the Santa Rosa County Jail on $250,500 bond.
The accident is still under investigation.
Simmons Charged With Armed Robbery Of Convenience Store
April 6, 2010
A Century man that was recently one of Escambia County’s most wanted criminals has now been charged with the March 4 armed robbery of Moyes State Line Food Mart.
Shawn Demarcus Simmons, 30, was charged Monday with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without the intent to kill, grand theft and a robbery with a firearm. Simmons was already in the Escambia County Jail on charges of burglary, robbery, two counts of aggravated battery, stalking, possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, criminal mischief and stalking.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Department says Simmons was responsible for the March 4 armed robbery at Moyes. He is accused of forcing the clerk at gunpoint to empty the cash register. He also reportedly took several hundred of dollars in Florida Lottery funds and several lottery tickets. After robbing the clerk, Simmons allegedly robbed a customer at gunpoint.
K-9 units from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and Century Correctional Institution joined Escambia County deputies and Flomaton Police Department officers in a lengthy manhunt for the suspect. The manhunt was centered in an area bounded by Highway 29, Old Flomaton Road, Highway 4 and the Alabama state line.
Less than two hours after the Moyes robbery, a resident just south of the convenience store called 911 to report that a black male wearing a dark colored hoodie jacket was standing at her door, covered in mud. The resident also described the man as having lips that were light in color and appeared to be burned.
‘Don’t you know me? Don’t you remember me? The police are after me’,” the suspect told the woman, according to the sheriff’s office report.
The man reportedly asked the female if he could enter the house, but she refused and called for help. A black jacket was recovered by an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office crime scene technician from behind the woman’s residence. Deputies called off the search about three hours after the robbery, unable to locate Simmons.
The woman at the house later identified Simmons from a photo line up as the man that was at her door. Another witness that was outside the store prior to the robbery also picked Simmons out of a photo line up.
Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers later named Simmons as one of Escambia County’s most wanted fugitives after he was accused of robbing and pistol-whipping a Century man. Simmons was also the subject of additional manhunts in Century and Brewton, Alabama.
Simmons has remained in the Escambia County Jail since he was arrested early the morning of March 24 following a manhunt involving officers from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Pensacola Police Department. Officers began their search for Simmons after he reportedly attacked a female on Lee Street in Pensacola.
For more details on that story, click here.
Pictured top inset: Tracking dogs are used to search for Simmons following a Century armed robbery. Pictured middle inset: A crime scene technician dusts the door of Moyes State Line Food Mart in Century after a March 4 armed robbery. Pictured below: Shawn Demarcus Simmons is a suspect in the March 4 robbery of Moyes State Line Food Mart in Century. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Santa Rosa Tops In Outdoor Marijuana Eradication
April 6, 2010
A new report says Santa Rosa County was number one in Florida for outdoor marijuana eradication in 2009.
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office had the highest statistics in both arrests and number of plants eradicated during outdoor grow eradication. In 2009, the department arrested 19 people and 1,998 marijuana plants were seized and destroyed by the agency.
“The efforts of the Sheriff’s Office, and all participating law enforcement agencies has, and will continue, to prove that we have a substantial impact on domestically cultivated marijuana in the State,” according to Sgt. Scott Haines, spokesperson for the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office. “The eradication of marijuana plants at the source immediately has a large impact against drug dealing and abuse by reducing the availability of marijuana on the streets of Santa Rosa County, and the rest of the State of Florida.”
The 2009 annual report from the United States Drug Enforcement Administration Domestic Cannabis Eradication Program/Suppression Program and the Florida Domestic Marijuana Eradication Program ranked Santa Rosa County at the top of their Florida list.
Editor’s note: The total number of plants eradicated has been updated to 1,998. The number was first reported as 1,198 by the sheriff’s office.
Pictured above: Santa Rosa County deputies cut marijuana plants found in a wooded area near Jay. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Watchdog Group: Florida One Major Hurricane Away From Financial Collapse
April 6, 2010
Florida’s property insurance market is a major storm away from disaster and financial collapse, Florida TaxWatch warned Monday in a report on the state’s self-insurance picture.
With inadequate rates and risk concentrated among too few, the state-run Citizens Property Insurance Corp. and the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund are ill-equipped to pay claims in the event of a major storm without seeking a federal bailout or strapping Floridians with billions in debt payments for decades to come.
A 100-year storm, for example, would outstrip capacity by $35 billion.
“Florida’s current homeowner’s insurance system is broken,” the Tallahassee-based group concluded. “One major hurricane has the potential to bankrupt private insurers, and the State’s self-insurance programs, devastating Florida’s already weakened economy.
“Florida TaxWatch independent analysis unequivocally shows that our current property and causality insurance system leaves the state and the taxpayers vulnerable to an economic disaster,: said Representative David Murzin (R-Pensacola), chair of the Economic Development & Community Affairs Policy Council at the event announcing the release of the report at the Florida Capitol on Monday.
“Should a major storm hit, Florida will be forced to borrow tens-of-billion of dollars – more money than any state has ever borrowed – and the interest payments alone will suck billions of dollars out of the state for decades to come. With hurricane season approaching and the legislative session coming to a close, we [the Legislature] must reduce the state’s potential crippling financial exposure through Citizens Property Insurance Corporation and the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund by reforming the state’s insurance system,” Murzin added.
In 2009, both Citizens and the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund faced enormous potential shortfalls, despite the absence of 2006-08 landfalling storms, because of artificially low premiums. Despite reserves built from a lack of major storm activity recently, there would be significant shortfalls to pay claims in 2010 if a major storm strikes Florida, according to TaxWatch.
Click here to read the entire report.
Learn About Florida KidCare Thursday In Bratt
April 6, 2010
If your children are uninsured or are on the Medicaid share of cost program, there is an easy opportunity coming up on Thursday to get Florida KidCare insurance for your children.
Thursday, a Florida KidCare outreach advocate will be at Bratt Elementary School from 8 a.m. until 10 a.m. Anyone with children is welcome to attend and sign up, not just those with children at Bratt.
This is a direct computer application process, but the advocate will be on hand to answer questions and provide assistance.
In order to apply for Florida KidCare for your children, you will need to bring:
- Picture Identification
- Social Security numbers for the children
- Pay stubs from past four weeks (or), 2009 W-2 form (or) Most recent tax return
- Proof of child support, Social Security and or unemployment benefits
- Information on cost to add child to parent’s health insurance through employer
For more information, contact Sara Knighten, RN at (850) 327-6137 ext. 249, click here for a printable information sheet, or visit floridakidcare.org for information and eligibility requirements.
Former Escambia (Ala.) Commissoner William C. America Passes Away
April 6, 2010
Area residents are mourning the loss of William C. America of Atmore, a man that made history as the first black member elected to the Escambia County (Ala.) Commission. He was 77.
America served on the commission, including four years as chairman. Retired from Monsanto in 1992, he was known for his community service — he served on the South Alabama Regional Planning Commission, was president and founder of the United Civic Club, president of the Alabama Democratic Conference Escambia County (Ala.) Branch, member of the NAACP, served on the hospital board, member of the chamber of commerce and he served on the United Bank Board of Directors.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 10 at 11 a.m. at the McCullough Christian Center in McCullough, Alabama. Visitation will be held Friday, April 9 from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Christian Memorial Funeral Home Chapel in Atmore. The family will receive friends from 6 to 7 p.m.
Click here for the complete obituary.
It’s Relay Season
April 6, 2010
It’s Relay for Life season in the North Escambia area.
The American Cancer Society Relay For Life is a life-changing event that gives everyone in communities across the globe a chance to celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against the disease. At Relay, teams of people camp out at a local high school, park, or fairground and take turns walking or running around a track or path. Each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times during the event. Because cancer never sleeps, Relays are usually overnight events.
Teams are made up of businesses, churches, friends and families working together to raise money for, and awareness of, cancer research.
Relay offers great family fun for those not directly participating on a team — with tent campsites offering lots of food for sale, arts, crafts, fun and games.
Relay for Life events are scheduled as follows in the North Escambia area:
- UWF — April 9, University of West Florida, 6 p.m.
- Jay — April 16, Jay High School, Alabama Street, 6 p.m.
- Atmore — April 24, Tom Byrne Park, noon (following parade)
- Century — April 24, Kayo Stanton Stadium, old Century High School, noon.
- North Pensacola — April 30, Tate High School, Cantonment, 6 p.m.
- Pensacola — May 7, Pensacola Junior College, 6 p.m.
For more information on an individual Relay for Life event, click the name of the Relay above.
Pictured top: Relay for Life last year in Century. Pictured below: The North Pensacola Relay gets underway at Tate High School last year. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
House Committee Approves Education Reform Bill Linking Teacher Pay To Student Performance
April 6, 2010
After nearly eight hours of debate and testimony, a House committee on Monday approved a comprehensive education reform measure that would start paying teachers based on student performance rather than length of service, setting it up for a floor vote.
The House Education Policy Council approved the bill (HB 7189) on a party line vote of 12-5 sending to the floor a proposal that would take part of a school’s budget to create a “performance fund” to dole out teacher pay raises based on a performance appraisal system where 50 percent is based on student learning gains. Proponents say the system will reward teachers who are dedicated to improving Florida’s schools and weed out bad apples.
“I have to tell you teacher quality reform is a hard task and we cannot shy away from it because it’s a hard task, because it’s unpleasant,” said Rep. John Legg, R-Port Richey.
Lawmakers scheduled the marathon meeting after the previous House committee hearing for the bill left opponents angry after testimony was cut short and Democrats were not allowed to offer any changes to the bill. During the Monday meeting, 120 people signed up to speak, but lawmakers ran out of time and could not recognize all of the speakers again. Council Chairman Will Weatherford had to ask Capitol security to tell one observer to be quiet after he interrupted the meeting, protesting that he was not allowed to speak though he had stayed for the whole meeting.
The legislation would take five percent of a school’s total funding for the creation of performance pay, or salary increases, that are half based on performance factors such as class management, advanced degrees and mastery of the subject, and half based on learning gains by students on some sort of exam.
The Department of Education still has to figure out how it would define learning gains and the precise testing mechanism to measure the gains. However, schools are required to create end-of-course exams in all subjects.
The proposal has spurred a highly emotional and political debate among lawmakers and teachers. The concept of measuring educational improvement and quality through testing has been championed by former Gov. Jeb Bush and has been pushed during this legislative session by Sen. John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine, who doubles as head of the Republican party. Several business organizations also back the legislation, saying the improvement of public schools is tied directly to the economy.
The Senate approved the bill by a 21-17 vote in March.
Teachers turned out in volume Monday to testify against the bill. This came on top of thousands of e-mails, letters and phone calls that have been sent to lawmakers on the issue.
Several teachers and administrators cautioned that with so many unknowns, the legislation could have unintended consequences. Superintendents and school board members said the five percent hold back of state funds could create major budget problems especially as state funds shrink. And teachers questioned the assessment process since DOE has yet to determine how learning gains would be determined.
Legg has said that DOE would ensure that teachers would not be penalized for circumstances outside of a teacher’s control, like a natural disaster or a student’s illness. But some lawmakers and many teachers said the list goes on and on about what would affect a student and whether a teacher is effective.
Kenneth Blankenship, a social studies teacher at Land O’Lakes High School in Pasco County, said the bill would “make education a political football” and that it would not evaluate teachers, but their students, who aren’t fully influenced by teachers.
“The most important factor in a student’s education is their parents, their home life and their socioeconomic status,” Blankenship said.
Several representatives of Hillsborough County Schools, which has received $100 million for education reform from the Gates Foundation, spoke during the meeting and asked the state to use Hillsborough County as a pilot project to see what merit pay could look like. The school district has been working for years on that type of reform.
Jean Clements, the president of the Hillsborough teacher’s union, noted that the union worked with the district on the Gates grant and reform issues, whereas the state teachers’ union is opposed to the measure in the Legislature. She asked that lawmakers “let Hillsborough be the learning laboratory for the state.
“We should not choose between collaboration and bold innovation. We should insist on both,” Clements said.
Prior to the debate on HB 7189, the committee approved HB 7053, which would implement end-of-course exams in algebra, geometry and biology, phasing out the ninth and 10th grade FCAT in mathematics and the high school science FCAT.
Pictured top: Teachers testify Monday against a bill in the Florida House that would start paying teachers based on student performance rather than length of service. News Service of Florida photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
By Kathleen Haughney, News Service of Florida