Escambia Delays $12.5 Million Radio System Purchase Following Media, Safety Concerns
August 20, 2010
The Escambia County Commission was set Thursday night to approve a $12.5 million replacement of its current radio communications system, but the decision has been delayed until September over issues raised by several local media outlets and possible safety concerns.
Commissioner Grover Robinson said he wanted more time to ensure that there were no safety risks with the system to firefighters in areas where the system might provide a weaker signal.
Robinson and Commissioner Kevin White also called for a delay on the purchase due to concerns raised by media outlets, including NorthEscambia.com.
Under the proposal presented to the county by Motorola, all radio channels operated by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office would be encrypted, preventing the public or the media from listening to the department’s transmissions.
“All broadcast and newspapers with active newsrooms…monitor these channels to learn about breaking news, fires and traffic issues,” said Dave Hoxeng, owner of CatCountry 98.7 and NewsRadio 1620, in a letter to commissioners.
Hoxeng’s radio stations were joined by NorthEscambia.com and WEAR-TV3 in asking the commission to delay a decision on the communications system until the issue with the Sheriff’s Office encryption could be addressed.
NorthEscambia.com is not opposed to the Sherriff’s Office using encryption on their channels, according to a statement released Thursday.
“We understand that the encryption will allow the Sheriff’s Office to be more effective in its daily operations and will provide an extra level of safety and security for the department’s officers,” said NorthEscambia.com Publisher William Reynolds. “However, there are methods by which the radio channels could be securely monitored by the media so that we can continue to inform the citizens of the county about the breaking news, traffic information and other stories that they are accustomed to us providing in a timely manner.”
Hoxeng’s letter to commissioners called for the county to provide two radios capable of decoding the Sheriff’s Office frequencies to each media outlet operating a staffed newsroom in the Pensacola area. That, according to his letter, would include the Pensacola News Journal, the Independent News, NorthEscambia.com, WEAR-TV3, WCOA-AM, CatCountry 98.7 and NewsRadio 1620.
Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan told commissioners Thursday morning that he had a lengthy conversation Wednesday with Reynolds about the media’s concerns. He said his primary goals were the safety of the public and the ability to fight crime, as well as the life safety of his officers. Morgan said that could be best accomplished with an encrypted radio system.
However, Morgan said he would work with the media to ensure access to dispatch information, perhaps expanding an Internet website to provide complete, live call information.
Mike Weaver, interim chief of the Escambia County Public Safety Bureau, said the county’s fire and EMS channels would not be encrypted, allowing the media and public to continue to listen to radio traffic on those channels.
The Escambia County Commission will next address the radio system purchase on September 2. A mandate from the Federal Communications Commission requires systems like that currently used by Escambia County meet certain standards. Escambia County’s current radio system is considered outdated by the FCC.
The system will be funded as follows:
Local Fire Department Wins FOX 10 ‘Extra Mile Award’
August 20, 2010
The Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department received this week’s Chris Myers “Extra Mile Award” from WALA FOX 10.
The award recognizes groups along the Gulf Coast that have gone the “extra mile” to help their community. The fire department was nominated by Shirley Hazley, who credited the Walnut Hill volunteers with saving the life of her son after a car accident a few years ago.
The Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department received $500 from Chris Myers Nissan for winning the award.
Pictured top: Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department Chief Chris Brown and Shirley Hazley. Courtesy WALA FOX 10 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Deputies Investigate Ballpark Burglary
August 20, 2010
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an attempted burglary at a local ballpark.
Someone tried but failed to make entry into the concession stand at the Cantonment Cowboys’ park in the 600 block of Well Line Road. The botched burglary was reported Thursday morning.
The suspects painted over a security camera and tried to take out screws and Plexiglass to gain entry. The bandits were successful in making entry to the park’s press box. Only moderate damage was reported, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
The incident is still under investigation. Anyone with information about the attempted burglary is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
School Board Approves North Escambia School Personnel
August 20, 2010
The Escambia County School Board has approved numerous North Escambia teacher and staff transfers, resignations, and rehires.
The following changes below were made this month:
Instructional/Professional Appointments
Atkins, Gail V., teacher, Tate High
Bedford, Payden, teacher, Tate High
Burkett, Erika D., teacher, Tate High
Chamberlain, Rachel, teacher, Tate High
Dossett, Regena G., teacher, Tate High
Fugate, Arthur H., teacher, Tate High
Guy, Victoria P., teacher, Tate High
MercadoDiaz, Joalex, teacher, Northview High
Schlaegel, Samantha L., teacher, Tate High
Skaggs, Scotty A., teacher, Tate High
Smyth-Chandler, Samantha, teacher, Tate High
Wells, Kelly A., teacher, Tate High
Wisdom, Rachel R., teacher, Tate High
Zanca, Tamra L., teacher, Tate High
Reappointments, Annual
Fowler, Leal D., guidance counselor, Tate High
Newsome, Angelia M., teacher, Jim Allen Elementary
Salon, Heather M., teacher, Jim Allen Elementary
Reappointments, Professional
Reeves, Cynthia V., teacher, Tate High
Ruckman, Erin K., teacher, Tate High
Transfers
Barton, Tammy A., Ransom Middle math to Hall Center
Bordelon, Juanita L., Tate High to Washington High
Johnson, Jr., Arthur H., George Stone Center to Ernest Ward Middle
Ryland, Amanda N., Blue Angels Elementary to Jim Allen Elementary
Resignations, Retirements, Other
Howell, Brian L., teacher, Tate High
Rivers, Sr., Jeffery, custodial worker, Ransom Middle
Ruckman, Stephen A., teacher, Tate High
Educational Support Appointments
Hairston, Robert, food service assistant, Tate High
Hall, Leslie, food service assistant, Tate High
Willette, Timothy, custodial worker, Tate High
Editor’s note: The preceding personnel changes by the Escambia County School Board do not include changes made at prior board meetings or that might be made at a future date. The list only includes personnel changes that were made at the August board meeting.
Escambia Schools Release 2010-2011 Bus Routes
August 20, 2010
The first day of school is Monday, and the Escambia County School District released bus routes for the 2010-2011 school year.
For current routes, click a school file name below. (North Escambia area schools appear in bold.)
Elementary Schools
Bellview Elem.pdf
Beulah Elem.pdf
Blue Angels Elem.pdf
Bratt Elem.pdf
Brentwood Elem.pdf
Cook Elem.pdf
Cordova Park Elem.pdf
Ensley Elem.pdf
Ferry Pass Elem.pdf
Hallmark Elem.pdf
Hellen Caro Elem.pdf
Holm Elem.pdf
Jim Allen Elem.pdf
Lincoln Park Elem.pdf
Lipscomb Elem.pdf
Longleaf Elem.pdf
McArthur Elem.pdf
Molino Park Elem.pdf
Montclair Elem.pdf
Myrtle Grove Elem.pdf
Navy Point Elem.pdf
Oakcrest Elem.pdf
Pine Meadow Elem.pdf
Pleasant Grove Elem.pdf
Scenic Heights Elem.pdf
Semmes Elem.pdf
Sherwood Elem.pdf
Spencer Bibbs Elem.pdf
Suter Elem.pdf
Warrington Elem.pdf
Weis Elem.pdf
West Pensacola Elem.pdf
Yniestra Elem.pdf
Middle Schools
Bailey Mid.pdf
Bellview Mid.pdf
Brown Barge Mid.pdf
Ernestward Mid.pdf
Ferry Pass Mid.pdf
Gulf Breeze Mid.pdf
Ransom Mid.pdf
Warrington Mid.pdf
Woodham Mid.pdf
Workman Mid.pdf
High Schools
Escambia High.pdf
Gulf Breeze High.pdf
Northview High.pdf
Pensacola High C2C.pdf
Pensacola High.pdf
Pine Forest High.pdf
Tate High.pdf
Washington High.pdf
West Florida High.pdf
Other Routes
For more information, visit escambiayellow.com.
Molino Pair Busted For Burglary
August 20, 2010
Two young Molino men are facing felony charges after burglarizing a Molino garage.
James Oliver Ard, 19, of Wildwood Road, and William Houston Faberman, 18, of Barrineau Lane, are both charged with burglary, grand theft and grand theft of a firearm. Both are being held in the Escambia County Jail on $16,000 bond.
On August 9, a Molino Road resident reported that his garage had been burglarized, and items that included a string trimmer and a chainsaw had been stolen. Later that day, a third party implicated Ard in the burglary, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report.
Ard and Faberman “admitted that they had been doing drugs and alcohol over the weekend along with several of their friends and began burglarizing several people’s properties,” the arrest report states. “They stated several times that they had become extremely intoxicated and they could not remember several details about the burglaries.”
Faberman provided the stolen string trimmer and chainsaw to a deputy, who returned it to the victim. The victim told deputies that he did not want to press charges, if his other stolen property was returned.
On August 12, the victim reported that a 20-gauge shotgun was missing from the corner of the garage. Ard told deputies that he had hidden a side grinder taken from the garage, but it had been taken by unknown suspects. Faberman’s stepfather provided deputies with a stolen shotgun that had been recovered from Faberman, according to the ECSO report.
Warrants were then prepared for both Ard and Faberman. They were taken into custody on Wednesday, August 18.
High School Football Tonight
August 20, 2010
High school football will begin Friday night in Alabama:
- The Escambia Academy Cougars will be home against the Sparta Warriors, 7 p.m., Bachelor Field, Canoe.
- The Escambia County Blue Devils will be on the road in Linden, Ala., for a football jamboree against the Hillcrest-Evergreen Jaguars and the Linden Patriots, 6 p.m.
- The Flomaton Hurricanes will travel to Marengo County, 7 p.m. for a preseason game.
Century Correctional Sgt. Sentenced To Federal Prison For Child Porn
August 19, 2010
A former Century Correctional Institution sergeant has been sentenced to federal prison for possession of child pornography.
Paul Edward Black, 43, was sentenced to 40 months in federal prison after being found guilty on one count of possession of child pornography. He was also ordered to receive mental health and sexual offender treatment while in custody.
Black has until noon on September 7 to surrender to federal authorities. The court recommended that he be allowed to serve his sentence as close to Century as possible and further recommended the Federal Prison Camp at Saufley Field in Pensacola once he completes a sexual offender program.
Once his prison sentence is complete, Black will remained under supervised release for a period of eight years. He will also be required to participate in a sexual offender treatment program. He will be required to register as sex offender. His future computer use will be subject to monitoring, and his house, computer and other property will be subject to search.
Black was arrested while at work at the Century prison in June, 2009. He entered a guilty plea in July, 2009, but sentencing was delayed until this month while Black underwent court ordered evaluations.
Deputies seized a laptop computer, desktop computer and 56 CD’s from Black’s residence while he was at work at the Century Correctional Institution. When sheriff’s investigators later interviewed Black at CCI, he admitted to searching the Internet for child pornography, according to federal court documents, and admitted to specific search terms that he used such as “teen”, “lolita”, “PTHC” and “Bambina”.
“A forensic review of his electronic media located images and videos of child pornography on his laptop and desktop,” federal court documents signed by Black state. “A review of the compact disks (CD’s) revealed the same.”
According to Florida Department of Corrections Spokesperson Gretl Plessinger, Black was first employed at the Century Correctional Institution on March 21, 1991. He was later terminated.
Black faced a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison and a lifetime supervised release.
Drug Dogs To Be Used Daily In Escambia Schools
August 19, 2010
The Escambia County School Board has approved the daily use of drug dogs in the county’s schools.
Each day, at least one middle or high school in the county will be randomly visited by a canine officer and his dog. Only one person at the district office, Manager of Protection Services Steven Sharp, will know which school will be visited in advance. The canine officer will report to the principal’s office upon his or her arrival and will be accompanied during the search by an administrator.
The district will spend $36,000 from its general fund over the course of a year for the program. Two dozen off-duty canine officers from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Pensacola Police Department will be utilized for the searches.
Students will not be searched, and they will be removed from any classroom that is searched. Searches will also include hallways, lockers, parking lots and other common locations.
The plan was passed by the school board 4-0, with Linda Moultrie, an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office employee, abstaining.
Jay Hospital Foundation Awards Scholarships
August 19, 2010
The Jay Hospital Employee Foundation recently awarded two college-bound students a $1,000 scholarship each.
The 2010 recipients were Destiny White from Flomaton High School, and Kaitlin Hunter from Baker High School. White is pursuing a nursing degree and Hunter’s goal is a degree in physical therapy.
The foundation offers scholarships each year to students in high schools located in the Jay Hospital service area. Grades, class rank, ACT scores and volunteer hours are considered in the selection process. To ensure fairness, students’ names are not included on the selection roster, according to the group.
The Jay Hospital Employee Foundation also provides assistance to employees in need, contributes to disaster recovery, and supports local charitable organizations including the American Cancer Society.
Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.