Federal Agents Interview Tax Service Clients

June 27, 2010

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Federal agents have reportedly spent part of the past week questioning some former clients of a tax service raided by FBI and IRS back in March.

Agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service served a federal search warrant March at the Preyear’s Tax & Check Cashing, LLC on Ridgely Street in Atmore, as well as locations of the business in Monroeville and Thomasville, Alabama, and the Monroeville home of Alice Preyear Mobley. According to the Alabama Secretary of State’s Office, Mobley is the owner of the tax and check cashing business.

During the last week, federal agents have interviewed some of the tax service’s former clients across the area. The FBI nor the IRS would publicly comment, saying that the investigation is ongoing.

Recently unsealed federal court documents show that FBI and IRS agents seized over $300,000, boxes of tax documents, computers, vehicles and even a stuffed teddy bear when they raided the three locations of a tax and check cashing business and the home of the business owners.

The exact reason the U.S. government sought the search warrants is still secret; a federal judge sealed the search warrant applications and reasons for obtaining them. But other unsealed documents in the case reveal that the government was seeking “business, bank and accounting records, documents and proceeds related to fraud against the government, tax fraud and money laundering, U.S. currency, property that constitutes evidence of the commission of a criminal offense and contraband, fruits of a crime or other things criminally possessed therein.”

Alice Preyear Mobley, Lloyd Preyear and Preyear Tax and Check Cashing Services, LLC have requested that the government return property from the home and business locations in Atmore and Monroeville. The defendants claim that the search warrants were missing a necessary attachment in order to be valid.

Items seized during the execution of the search warrants included $263,000 in $100 bills from the defendants’ house, many boxes of tax records and other documents and even a “stuffed white bear”.

At the time of the search, spokesperson for both the IRS and the FBI would only confirm that they executed the search warrants, with an IRS spokesperson saying “we were there on official business”. Otherwise, the government has not provided any public information about the search warrants.

Pictured above: A federal agent enters Preyear’s Tax & Check Cashing, LLC in Atmore March 4. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.

NWE Downs Tri-County In 9-10 Year Old All-Star Tourney

June 27, 2010

The 9-10 year old Little League All-Star Tournament is taking place in DeFuniak Springs. In Saturday’s action, Northwest Escambia got past Tri-County 9-8.

NWE plays DeFuniak Springs on Monday at 5:30, and Tri-County will play again Tuesday at 7:30.

Members of the NWE 9-10 year old All-Stars include:

Dawson Brown, Jason Fischer, Chase Gifford, Trey Holder, Adrian King, Daniel Mascaro, Preston Milstead, Teddy Nelson, Hunter Spence and Samuel Stott. The team is coached by PJ Gifford and Cameron Horning.

For more photos from the game, click here.

Are you going to the tournament? Share your photos with our readers! Email your pictures to news@northescambia.com

Submitted photos by Ramona Fischer for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Tri-County 11-12 Year Olds Fall To Defuniak

June 27, 2010

The 11-12 year old Tri-County All-Stars fell to Defuniak Springs Saturday in Panama City.

Tri-County will be in action again Tuesday at 5:30 against Niceville. With a win, they will play again Wednesday at 7:30.

Are you going to the tournament? Share your photos with our readers! Email your pictures to news@northescambia.com

Pictured: The 11-12 year old Tri-County All-Stars. Submitted photo by Neisa Terrell for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Day Of Prayer In Alabama For Oil Spill

June 27, 2010

Alabama  Gov Bob Riley has declared this Sunday as a Day of Prayer and he is encouraging Alabamians to pray for the well-being of people who have been impacted by the BP oil disaster.

“Citizens of Alabama are urged to pray for the well-being of our fellow citizens and our state, to pray for all those in other states who are hurt by this disaster, to pray for those who are working to respond to this crisis, and to pray that a solution that stops the oil leak is completed soon,” the Governor’s proclamation declaring Sunday a Day of Prayer states.

“Throughout our history, Alabamians have humbly turned to God to ask for His blessings and to hold us steady during times of struggle. This is certainly one of those times,” said Governor Riley.

The text of the Governor’s proclamation is below:

WHEREAS, Alabama is suffering from an unprecedented disaster caused by the explosion and sinking of the BP Deepwater Horizon and its aftermath, a disaster that threatens the livelihoods of our fellow citizens, the environmental beauty of our coast, and our quality of life; and

WHEREAS, throughout our history, Alabamians have turned in prayer to God to humbly ask for His blessings and to hold us steady during times of difficulty; and

WHEREAS, citizens of Alabama are urged to pray for the well-being of our fellow citizens and our State, to pray for all those in other states who are hurt by this disaster, to pray for those who are working to respond to this crisis, and to pray that a solution that stops the oil leak is completed soon:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Bob Riley, Governor of Alabama, do hereby declare Sunday, June 27, 2010, as a Day of Prayer in Alabama and encourage individuals to pray on their own or with others, according to their own faith, in an expression of faith and hope.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that citizens of Alabama are also encouraged to give personal thanks to God for the blessings we have received and for God’s continued guidance during these difficult times.

Defuniak Beats Tri-County In 11-12 Softball

June 27, 2010

The Florida District 1 All Star Tournament for 11-12 year old girls is underway this week at Bradberry Park in Walnut Hill.

In Saturday’s action,  DeFuniak Springs beat Tri-County 26-8. DeFuniak advances to a 7:30 p.m. Monday games against Northwest Escambia.  Tri-County will play Destin Monday at 5:30 p.m.

In another game Saturday at NWE, Niceville beat Destin 16-0. Niceville will face the winner of Monday’s DeFuniak Springs versus Northwest Escambia game.

Are you going to the tournament? Share your photos with our readers! Email your pictures to news@northescambia.com

McGhee, Cobb To Wed

June 27, 2010

Mr. and Mrs. Harold McGhee of Brewton are pleased to announce the engagement and upcoming marriage of their daughter, Amanda Janette McGhee, to Jonathan Patrick Cobb, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Cobb of Opp.

The bride-elect is the granddaughter of Mr. Carl McGhee and the late Mrs. Atrebe McGhee of Walnut Hill, Fla., and Ms. Lois Ford and the late Mr. William Ford of Phil Campbell, Ala.

She is a 2002 graduate of Flomaton High School and a 2006 graduate of the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. She is currently in her fourth year at the University of Alabama in Birmingham School of Optometry.

The prospective groom is the grandson of Ms. Ruth Holmes and the late Mr. Kernest Holmes of Opp and the late Mr. Guy Cobb and Mrs. Thadie Cobb of Andalusia.

He is a 2003 graduate of Straughn High School and a 2007 graduate of Troy University. He is currently in his fourth year at the University of Alabama in Birmingham School of Optometry.

The ceremony will take place on the afternoon of July 31, 2010, in Andalusia.

Hometown Recipe: Browned Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie

June 27, 2010

We get a lot of requests for recipes at NorthEscambia.com, so over the coming weeks, we are going to give you a chance to sample a few different recipe columns.

Today, we have the “Just a Pinch” column from Janet Tharpe. Janet features the best in hometown recipes from across the country. Today, its a Browned Butter Cookie, a chocolate chip cookie that is not your average dessert. You can click the image below to load a printable pdf with a recipe card.

If you like the idea of weekly recipes here on NorthEscambia.com please let us know. Email news@northescambia.com or enter a comment at the bottom of the page.

Oil Update For Sunday

June 27, 2010

Here is the latest BP oil spill information specific to Escambia County for Sunday, June 27:

  • Report tar or oiled debris on the beach 1-877-389-8932 or #DEP from a cell phone.
  • DO NOT TOUCH oiled or injured wildlife. Report your finding to 1-866-557-1401.
  • There will not be a news conference in the EOC on Sunday. News conferences will continue on Monday as regularly scheduled.
  • Winds are forecast to be east-southeasterly through Monday. Seas of one to three feet and a 10-30 percent chance of offshore rain are expected.
  • Conditions will be mostly favorable for recovery efforts across the northern-central gulf today.
  • Tropical Storm Alex has formed in the western Caribbean. While it is still too soon to tell if the storm will impact Florida or the Deepwater Horizon Response, long-term model forecasts predict the storm to stay west of Louisiana.
  • Incident Command reported 51,907 pounds of tar ball and oil material was collected on Friday.o  Perdido Key- 9,775 poundso  Perdido Beach- 10,950 poundso  East Pensacola Pier- 12,087 pounds

    o  West Pensacola Pier- 10,995 pounds

    o  Gulf Island National Seashore- 8,100 pounds

  • Incident Command is also reporting 10 skimmers in the inland waterways in Escambia County.
  • Perdido and Pensacola Passes – A line of dark orange oil approximately five to 10 feet wide running from Ono Island west towards Alabama. Several small patches oil were observed in the Pensacola Pass. These areas have been reported.
  • Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key Beach Protection and Shoreline Cleanup Plan
  • The beaches are open for business.
  • The Health Department rescinded the health advisory for a portion of the beach. The area from Walkover 23 (just west of Portofino) on Pensacola Beach to the entrance of Fort Pickens is no longer under a health advisory.
  • The entire Gulf Islands National Seashore from Fort Pickens to Johnson Beach is still under the advisory. (More Information, Map)
  • Please be sensitive to the clean up efforts on the beaches. We understand curiosity, but officials are asking the public to avoid work areas and allow room for the workers and equipment needed to clean the beaches.
  • Please do not handle or walk through the tar balls and oil. This only spreads the product and makes cleanup more difficult.
  • Unified Command has released a fact sheet on “If Oil is Spotted on the Shore” that provides details on what happens after the oil reaches the shore. Details.

BP
  • BP claims in Florida total 20,932 with $18,241,105.61 paid.
  • There are 387 vessels are deployed in Florida for the Vessels of Opportunity program.
  • Do not sign any documents in return from money from BP or anyone else until you know the extent of your loss. BP officials carry proper identification badges or business cards.
  • There are reports of a scam involving individuals falsely representing themselves as BP employees and offering applicants training and job placement for a fee. BP does not charge to train applicants.  If you or someone you know has been charged for training, please contact law enforcement.
  • BP’s Florida Gulf Response web site: www.floridagulfresponse.com.
  • File claims with BP online: http://www.bp.com/claims.
  • BP’s claims office is located at 3960 W. Navy Boulevard, Suite 16 & 17. The office is currently open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week, until further notice. BP claims categories. Call 1-800-440-0858 to help expedite the process. If you are not satisfied with BP’s resolution, call 1-800-280-7118.
  • The BP community outreach office is located at 435 East Government Street for questions on volunteering, vessels of opportunity program, or any other questions. Phone: 850-912-8640.
  • To register as a consultant, contractor, vendor or submit information on alternative response technology, services products or suggestions, call BP at 281-366-5511.
  • BP Vessels of Opportunity – see the master vessel charter agreement and vessel requirements checklist online www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com. To pick up or deliver completed Vessels of Opportunity packets, visit 435 East Government Street. For information, call 281-366-5511.
  • The Fish and Wildlife Service is working with Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research, contracted by BP to provide assistance to oiled wildlife. Specific safety and other requirements must be met before anyone will be allowed on-site for any participation. If you have wildlife training, call 1-866-557-1401.
  • Boaters are requested to report sightings of broken, disconnected or adrift boom and are asked to keep their distance from boom especially at night or in conditions of restricted visibility. Please report damaged, vandalized, adrift or stolen boom to: 1-866-448-5816. See details.

Federal
  • Latest information from NOAA Fisheries Service, including federal fisheries closure, regulation changes and quota increases: http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov.

State of Florida
  • Governor Charlie Crist sent a letter to Doug Suttles, Chief Operating Officer of Exploration and Production for BP America, Inc. requesting the data needed to evaluate the claims process and measure the economic impact of the losses to all level of governments throughout Florida. Letter
  • Five skimmers were contracted by the state of Florida for this area with one skimmer designated for Escambia County.
  • See Florida Department of Health information and alerts about the health effects from oil.
  • See DEP’s Homeowner Tips for Protecting Florida’s Shorlines (PDF).
  • The Small Business Administration issued an economic injury Disaster Loan Declaration for the state of Florida. Pensacola office: 401 E. Chase St., Ste. 100. For more information on Economic Injury Disaster Loans visit the SBA website.
  • For information on the Florida Small Business Development Center’s Mobile Area Command units, visit www.floridasbdc.org/Special Programs/bcrm.asp.
  • Additional guidance to help small businesses survive a disaster can be found at www.MyFloridaCFO.com or by calling 850-413-3089 or toll-free 1-877-MY-FL-CFO (1-877-693-5236).
  • Submit innovative technology ideas, suggestions or products by completing this form. Send the form and supporting documentation to Innovative.Technology@dep.state.fl.us.
  • Video and audio public service announcements are available for download to educate the public on response, safety, coast watch and beach cleanup. See details.
  • Report boom vandalism to the 1-800-320-0519 or #DEP from your cell phone.

Escambia County
  • Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp will visit the EOC on Monday, June 28 at 2 p.m. for an EOC briefing and tour of the facility. He will be available to the media immediately following.
  • Cleaning stations have been placed on both Perdido Key and Pensacola Beach at the crossovers (between the crossovers and the roadways) to aid in the removal of tar and oil. Clean-up crews continue to work both beaches at night when temperatures are cooler.
  • “Hot shot” teams are responding to specific requests during the day as needed.
  • Staff continue to monitor clean-up efforts and skimming operations.
  • Skimmer vessels continue to respond as reports are received. Skimmers are working nightly.
  • A federal website is live providing real time information about the Deepwater Horizon BP Oil spill into one customizable, interactive map.
  • A  Recreational Vessel Decontamination Facility for local boaters is being established.
  • Reports vary widely throughout the day as heat from the sun brings subsurface oil to the top, and cooler temperatures at night tend to cause it to sink below the surface.
  • Anyone caught destroying, disturbing or stealing boom will be prosecuted. If you spot any illegal activity related to the booms, please call 1-800-320-0519.
  • See Escambia Inland Waterways Deployed Boom List.
  • Perdido Pass, Pensacola Pass and Bayou Texar are navigationally restricted during flood (incoming) tide and reopen during ebb (outgoing) tide as water flows out to the gulf. They are manned to allow access to necessary vessel traffic. (See NOAA tide predictions.)
  • Boaters are asked to be mindful of the boom and skimming operations, to use slow speeds so as not to produce a wake that may disrupt the boom, and to be aware of restricted areas.
  • A flashing light has been attached to all boom to increase visibility to boaters.
  • The Intracoastal Waterway remains open.
  • The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), in coordination with Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Department of Health, issued an executive order to temporarily close a portion of coastal state waters offshore of Escambia County to the harvest of saltwater fish, crabs and shrimp. Details.
  • The closure includes state waters from the beaches out nine nautical miles into the Gulf from the Alabama line east to the Pensacola Beach water tower. Interior bays and estuaries remain open to fishing. This area covers approximately 23 miles of Florida’s coastline in Escambia County. Map.
  • Recreational catch-and-release fishing is still allowed.
  • The Pensacola Beach Fishing Pier and the Pensacola Bay Fishing Bridge are open for sightseers and fishing, however fishing off the Pensacola Beach Fishing Pier is catch and release only.
  • Reconnaissance flights and ATV beach patrols are being conducted daily, weather permitting, to monitor Florida’s shoreline for impact.
  • Unified command continues to check, verify the condition and make repairs as needed to currently placed booms.
  • If citizens see anything unusual on the beaches, Escambia County has opened field offices on Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key to assist in answering questions from the public and to also act as staging areas for the county monitoring teams.
    • The Pensacola Beach field office is located at 5 Via Deluna, Suite 8; phone: 934-6500.
    • The Perdido Key field office is located at 13578 Perdido Key Drive; phone: 791-6905
  • Staff continue to monitor and maintain boom. See Booming Locations and Booming Maps.
  • Hurricane season began June 1. See the Hurricanes and Oil Spill Fact Sheet (PDF)
  • Escambia County, in conjunction with the University of West Florida, is collecting gulf water samples from Santa Rosa Island and Perdido Key routinely to indicate any changes in water quality. The latest testing came back negative for aliphatic hydrocarbons, meaning no dissolved or dispersed hydrocarbons were found. Tar balls represent a different and less toxic form of the oil.
  • On inland waters (bays, bayous, estuaries, rivers), private property owners may install oil absorbent material, booms or fences on private property above the mean high waterline (MHWL) only. No material may be installed or sprayed below the MHWL.
  • On gulf-front property, the use of silt fences, obstructions, hay bales, peat, surfactants or other material is not approved. DEP is the permitting agency for beaches and coastal systems. No obstructions to sea turtle nesting behavior is allowed.

City of Pensacola
  • Boom has been added by city at the Escambia Bay entrance to Gaborone Swamp off Scenic Highway.
  • As requested by the city, additional boom has been placed at the mouth of Bayou Texar by the county to provide additional protection.
  • Boom has been added by city to protect aquatic vegetation just south of 17th Avenue boat ramp at Bayou Texar on west side.
  • DEP has boomed Project Greenshores Phase II from Muscogee Wharf to Hawkshaw Lagoon.
  • Boom has been added by the city across entrance to Pitt Slip Marina in the very near future, as warranted.
  • Boom has been added by the city to entrance of new Maritime Park bulkhead mitigation site immediately west of Crab Trap restaurant.
  • City is currently requesting/seeking approximately 1100′ of boom to secure and protect the rip-rap surrounding the Bruce Beach wetland mitigation site maintained by the Port of Pensacola.
  • Boom has been added by city to protect shoreline of Sanders Beach-Corrine Jones community center and waterfront park facility immediately east of Bayou Chico.

Volunteer Opportunities
  • The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) has determined volunteers cannot be used in any situation where they may come in contact with oiled shorelines or oiled wildlife.
  • To volunteer, visit www.volunteerfloridadisaster.org.

Safety Information

Wildlife

  • Do not attempt to rescue oiled or injured birds or wildlife as this may cause additional injuries.
  • If oiled, injured or dead wildlife are found, call 1-866-557-1401. Provide location where the wildlife was sighted.

Boats

  • Boats should keep a safe distance from the booms. Do not drive boats over booms.
  • Do not drive boats through slicks or sheens.

Personal Safety

  • Gulf coast residents may detect an odor because of the oil spill. Some are more sensitive to these odors and may experience nasal irritation and feelings of nausea. In combination with seasonal allergies or pre-existing respiratory conditions, some may experience more severe symptoms. For Air Quality Reports, see http://www.epa.gov/bpspill/air.html.
  • Individuals who have pre-existing medical conditions, such as asthma or other respiratory illness should contact their health care provider if feeling symptomatic.
  • If you see or smell oil, leave immediately. Avoid skin contact with oil or oil-contaminated water. Do not swim or ski in areas affected by oil, and if you travel through the area by boat, take care when hoisting the anchor. Restrict pets from entering oil-contaminated areas. If you get oil on your skin, wash it off with soap and water. Young children, pregnant women, people with compromised immune systems, and individuals with underlying respiratory conditions should avoid the area.
  • Do not fish in the oil spill-affected waters. Do not harvest and eat dead fish, fish with oily residue or fish that have a petroleum odor.

Business Information
  • More information about what types of damages are eligible for compensation under the Oil Pollution Act as well as guidance to seek compensation can be found at www.uscg.mil/npfc.
  • Florida emergency management and economic development staff are gathering information from businesses impacted by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Please complete their survey and help shape Florida’s response to this event. The survey will be updated periodically.
  • Take detailed records of cancelled reservations. When cancellations occur, ask the party if the cancellation is related the oil spill. Keep the person’s name and contact information, and the revenues lost as a result of the cancellation.
  • Businesses negatively impacted due to the oil spill, are asked to keep detailed profit and loss records should a claim need to be presented. Calculate estimated losses for a six-week period and have records, receipts and documentation to support your claim. Compare business to a five-year average of revenues between May and June, which can offer insight as to the damages incurred.
  • Make a detailed list of assets, including non-structural, and include supportive records. If your hotel or restaurant is within walking distance to the beach, the business’s assets could be damaged even though there is no physical damage to the structure. Please record this depreciation.

Important Phone Numbers For Citizens

    • Report oil on the beach or shoreline: 1-877-389-8932 or #DEP from a cell phone
    • To report oiled wildlife: 1-866-557-1401
    • BP Claims: 1-800-440-0858
    • To report damaged, vandalized, adrift or stolen boom: 1-866-448-5816 or 1-800-320-0519
    • Escambia County Citizen’s Information Line: 471-6600
    • Florida Oil Spill Information Line: 1-888-337-3569

NWE Football Meeting This Afternoon

June 27, 2010

Northwest Escambia Football will hold a public meeting Sunday at 2 p.m. in the Ernest Ward Middle School gym.

Northwest Escambia is no longer a part of the Gulf Coast Youth Alliance and is in the process of getting a new league started. Everyone is invited to attend and offer their input.

For more information, contact Charles Williams at (850) 327-4603.

Alex Moves Across Mexico, Headed For Gulf And Hurricane Status

June 27, 2010

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/storm_graphics/AT01/refresh/AL0110W5_NL+gif/023312W5_NL_sm.gif

Tropical Storm Alex, the  first tropical system of the Atlantic hurricane season, made landfall on the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico Saturday night and headed for the Gulf of Mexico by Sunday night. The storm is expected to gain hurricane status by Tuesday.

Click map above to enlarge for latest information including coordinates.

If the storm approaches the Deepwater Horizon oil spill location, workers will be forced to abandon efforts to contain the leak and clean up the existing surface oil.

Officials are in the process of replacing the current, rigid well containment and oil collection system with another that is more flexible. Though that will allow them to collect more oil, it does not help in the event of bad weather. In the event of a storm, the recovery vessels and their crews will have to detach themselves from the collection system, leaving the oil free to spew into the gulf again.

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