Cantonment Man Pleads Not Guilty Of Murdering Baby
September 25, 2010
The man accused of the stabbing death of a pregnant Cantonment woman and her baby was in court Friday.
Phillip Arnold was indicted by a grand jury this week on another first degree murder charge for the death of the newborn. He was already facing one first degree murder charge for the death of Angela Castella Brown on July 5 in Cantonment.
Friday, Arnold issued a not guilty plea before Judge Linda Nobles. He will be back in court in December.
Brown, who was six months pregnant, underwent an emergency C-section after she was stabbed. The newborn, named Angela Chambers, died just over seven hours after being delivered.
Arnold, 65, of 349 South Chipper Road, fatally stabbed Brown in the chest, according to the State Attorney’s Office. Arnold and Brown were neighbors, and that was their only known connection, according to Sgt. Ted Roy, spokesperson for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies were dispatched to the stabbing at a mobile home at 349 South Chipper Road about 8:35 p.m only July 5. When they arrived, witnesses told deputies that Arnold fled into a nearby wooded area. As deputies were arriving in the area, EMS personnel advised they had seen a black male running down the railroad tracks on South Chipper Road.
Witnesses at the scene reported observing a black male known to them as Arnold running from the scene moments before they discovered the victim, according to the Sheriff’s Office. K-9 officers attempting to track Arnold discovered a knife that was believed to be the murder weapon. As deputies were surrounding the area to search for Arnold, he called sheriff’s dispatchers about 9:10 p.m. Arnold said he was at a home at 2473 Stacey Road and that he wanted to turn himself in. He was taken into custody without incident.
Brown was the mother of seven other children.
Atmore’s Blue Devils Keep The Faith
September 25, 2010
First-year Blue Devils coach Mark Heaton added another one to the win column Friday night as Escambia County beat Faith Academy 28-17.
Demetric Henderson returned a 75-yard interception for a first quarter touchdown. Rico Stallworth found Neiko Williams with a 31-yard touchdown pass in the second. Stallworth also had a 50-yard touchdown pass to Gavin Salter, and Christopher Smith added a five-yard touchdown run in the fourth for the Blue Devils.
Escambia County will be on the road next Friday night against Thomasville.
Time To Plant Those Fall Vegetables
September 25, 2010
The slightest hint of fall is in the air. But this doesn’t mean that the vegetable gardening season is over. Fall is an excellent time to grow cool-season vegetables.
Florida is unique in that we have multiple growing seasons. There is something that can be grown in the vegetable garden all year round. Knowing which vegetables to grow during which season is the key to having a successful harvest.
In the summer, gardeners are somewhat limited in the different types of warm-season vegetables that can be grown and will survive the heat. Now with cooler days approaching, we have a much wider selection of cool-season vegetables to plant.
In September many vegetables can be planted in the garden including beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, collards, kale, kohlrabi, leek, lettuce, mustard, onions and radish. In October, you can plant Chinese cabbage, spinach and strawberries.
These vegetables are best started from transplants but many can be direct-seeded. If you seed them directly into the soil, keep the ground moist while it’s still warm to give them a good start. Keep them well watered if you transplant, too. The later you start, the smarter it becomes to transplant to cut the time to maturity. Preparing the garden properly is as important as selecting the right plants.
Choose a sunny location. Most vegetables perform poorly in shade. An area that receives at least eight hours of sunlight per day is best. Some vegetables such as broccoli, collards and spinach will tolerate partial shade. Avoid locating your garden near hedges or trees. They not only create too much shade but also compete with the garden for moisture and nutrients.
Locating the garden near the house will make it easier to periodically check the garden for insect pests and disease. And, it is easier to keep an eye on the garden for larger pests such as birds, squirrels and rabbits. Closeness to the house will make it convenient in tending to the garden chores.
Locate the garden near a water supply so it can be watered as needed. You’ll get only moderate results if you try to grow a garden without supplemental irrigation.
Of course, it’s important to prepare beds properly before planting. To do that, clear the site of all weeds or finished vegetable plants. Turn the soil with a shovel, fork or tiller to a depth of at least 8 inches, and spread a 2-inch to 4-inch layer of organic matter (leaves, grass clippings, aged manure or compost) over the tilled soil. This helps to maintain a high level of organic matter in the soil, which encourages a strong, healthy root system, improves drainage, retains moisture, provides nutrients and promotes vigorous plant growth.
Mix the organic matter thoroughly into the soil. Turn the soil by digging with a shovel, garden fork or a tiller until the materials you’ve added are evenly distributed in the soil. When using fresh organic amendments, it’s best to wait a couple of weeks before planting your transplants or seeds.
By this time of year, insects and diseases have had all summer to build up their populations. Insects such as whiteflies, stink bugs, aphids and caterpillars are commonly seen. Since insect and disease pressure often is greater in the late summer/early fall than in the spring, watch plants carefully for problems and use appropriate control measures promptly when needed. Contact your local Extension Office for control recommendations.
Library Book Sale Underway
September 25, 2010
It’s time to stock up on reading material, and the Friends of the Pensacola Public Library Book Sale is the place to do it at a reasonable price this weekend.
The book sale will continue through Sunday at First United Methodist Church Wright Place, 80 E. Wright Street in Pensacola, and will offer thousands of gently used hardcover and paperback books, CDs and DVDs. Most range in price from 25 cents to $3. It also will feature a “Collectors’ Corner” and silent auction to showcase the more valuable books, Chairwoman Meredith McCarthy said.
On Sunday, hours are noon to 3 p.m. No admission is charged, and a bag of books can be purchased for $5.
All proceeds from the sale go to support the West Florida Public Library system — including the library in Century.
Flood Advisory Issued
September 24, 2010
The National Weather Service in Mobile has issued a
* Flood Advisory for…
west central Escambia County in northwest Florida…
east central Baldwin County in southwest Alabama…
* until 430 PM CDT
National Weather Service radar showed a series of showers and
thunderstorms continuing to move northward over east central Baldwin
County and west central Escambia County between Elsanor Alabama and
McKinnon Florida. The rain pattern is showing a slow northward drift
around 5 mph. Estimated rainfall rate is 2 to 3 inches per hour
which may flood poorly drained areas and increase the risk of motor
vehicle accidents due to hydroplaning and low visibility.
Precautionary/preparedness actions…
Motorists should slow down to anticipate high water and ponding
which can cause accidents due to hydroplaning and low visibility.
Most flood deaths occur in automobiles. Never drive your vehicle
into areas where the water covers the roadway. Flood waters are
usually deeper than they appear. Just one foot of flowing water is
powerful enough to sweep vehicles off the Road. When encountering
flooded roads make the smart choice…turn around…dont drown.
Do not drive your vehicle into areas where the water covers the
roadway. The water depth may be too great to allow your car to cross
safely. Move to higher ground.
Showers And Thunderstorms Develop This Afternoon
September 24, 2010
Developing afternoon showers and thunderstorms are bringing some much needed rain to some areas of North Escambia this afternoon. And rain chances will increase for Saturday and Sunday.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- This Afternoon: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. South wind around 5 mph.
- Tonight: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 7pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Saturday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. North wind around 5 mph becoming south.
- Saturday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Sunday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. West wind around 5 mph.
- Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 84. Northwest wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 61. North wind around 5 mph.
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 83. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 61.
- Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 85.
- Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 62.
- Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87.
Lawmakers Raise Stink Over New Septic Tank Inspection Requirements
September 24, 2010
Several lawmakers are raising a stink over a new law that requires septic tank inspections every five years in Florida.
Florida Senate Bill 550 requiring all septic tanks in the state to be evaluated by the Florida Department of Health every five years at the property owner’s expense will go into effect on January 1 unless action is taken to amend or repeal the bill. Passed into law on June 7, the environmental protection bill requires an evaluation of the septic tank and drainfields, along with an assessment of the system’s overall condition. Residents will be required to pay the cost of the evaluation and an inspection fee. Some tanks will also require a tank pump out, repairs or replacement.
Two Panhandle lawmakers, Sen. Durrell Peaden, R-Crestview, and Rep. Greg Evers, R-Baker, wrote Gov. Charlie Crist Thursday to say septic tank inspection requirement is too expensive in a tight economy and should be pushed back from January to July 2011 to allow lawmakers to revisit the matter next year. Earlier this summer, outgoing Senate Democratic Leader Al Lawson, D-Tallahassee, said the bill should be repealed altogether and has promised to keep hammering the state on the issue.
But Crist, who signed the measure in June, will not heed either suggestion.
Meanwhile, on the local level, the Santa Rosa County Commission passed a resolution in opposition to the state bill, and they are firing off a letter to the governor expressing their concerns.
“The Santa Rosa County Commission is opposed to this bill, as they feel it will impose excessive and unnecessary costs to Santa Rosa County residents with fully functional septic systems, particularly those on fixed incomes,” said Joy Tsubooka, public information officer for Santa Rosa County. There is already a law on the books in Santa Rosa County that requires a septic system to pass inspection whenever a property is sold or conveyed.
Besides monetary costs, Santa Rosa County is concerned that the law does not address the different soil types and geological differences across the state.
“The governor is not delaying implementation,” Crist spokesman Sterling Ivey said. “It was a Senate bill that passed both houses and he signed into law. He didn’t have any reservation about the bill when it reached his desk or he would have vetoed it.”
Backers of the springs protection bill say the requirements will cost much less than possible federal water regulations from the U.S. Environmental Protection agency. The EPA is currently considering limits on the amount of chemical pollution that would be allowed in state bodies of water, but backers argued they may consider letting Florida have more of a say in that – and not eventually try to police Florida septic tanks – if the state showed it was serious about protecting its water resources.
But Peaden and Evers said Thursday that said that less expensive was not good enough in a rocky economic time.
“In recent months…many individuals have contacted our offices regarding the adverse impacts to them both financially and physically as a result of the new septic system evaluation requirements,” they wrote to Crist. “Concerns have continued to grow as estimates from various counties on the cost of implementing the septic tank evaluation provisions have varied widely from a low of $180 to a high of $800. Since the law itself makes no mention of the actual cost of an evaluation, Floridians can be left to deal with unscrupulous individuals that can charge any fee they choose under the authority of the state,” the Evers and Peaden wrote.
The springs bill, SB 550, was backed by environmentalists, but heralded by sponsor Sen. Lee Constantine as a product of negotiations with various competing interests groups.
“When you get the home builders and the Sierra Club to agree” Constantine told the News Service last month, that’s consensus. “This was landmark legislation.”
But Peaden and Evers said that a review of the cost of complying with the bill by the Florida Department of Health as it considers rules for implementing the septic inspections shows that lawmakers should take another look at the requirement.
“This raises serious concerns that in a rush to pass legislation to protect Florida’s water resources, insufficient time was spent on how this law was going to financially affect Floridians,” they said. “Therefore, we request that you use executive authority granted to you under the Florida Constitution to direct the Department of Health to postpone the implementation of this legislation … allowing the Florida Legislature to more thoroughly investigate the financial impact to Floridians.”
The two lawmakers also asked Crist to direct the Department of Health conduct a fiscal analysis on the “full and actual costs of the implementation of such an evaluation program” before the new requirements go into effect January 1.
ECUA Raises Water, Sewer Garbage Rates; Nixes Employee Pay Increases
September 24, 2010
ECUA voted Thursday to increase rates across the board at a lower level that originally proposed while forgoing planned employee pay raises.
Emerald Coast Utility Authority customers will see an eight percent rate increase for each of the next three years, pushing the average bill from $65 per month now to $88 per month in three years. That amounts to a 26 percent rate increase over a three year period.
ECUA garbage customers will see a two percent rate increase each year during the period. Monthly sanitation rates will jump 17 cents for Lifeline customers, 31 cents for seniors and 36 cents for ordinary residential customers.
The rate increases passed 3-2, with board members Larry Walker, Elizabeth Campbell and Elvin McCorvey voting in favor. Lois Benson and Dale Perkins voted against the proposal, citing concerns about rate increases during the current economic times. The rate increases will be effective October 1.
“Periodic rate increases are necessary to reflect the cost of investments in the utility system and to account for rising costs,” said McCorvey.
The additional revenue, according to ECUA, will be used to continue the modernization of pipes, sewer lift stations and other infrastructure requirements. ECUA also said revenue is significantly down due to decrease water usage, foreclosures and a loss in the total number of customers. At the same time, ECUA said the cost of doing business, higher electric and natural gas rates, and rising chemical costs have impacted the utility’s bottom line.
Also Thursday, ECUA’s board turned down proposed pay increases for over 500 employees.
700,000 employee raises not this year
Dramatic Photos: House Burned
September 24, 2010
An unoccupied wood home in Atmore was burned to the ground Thursday afternoon. The controlled burn was conducted to remove the structure while giving area fire departments a chance for training.
The burn on South Presley Street was conducted by the Atmore Fire Department, Poarch Fire Department and the Nokomis Fire Department. The Walnut Hill Fire Department on standby at the scene to assist or answer any emergency calls in the city.
Click here for a dramatic photo gallery that shows the chronological progress of the fire.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
October 4 Is Last Day To Register To Vote In General Election
September 24, 2010
Monday, October 4 is the last day to register to vote in the November 2 General Election.
Florida law mandates that registration books close 29 days before an election. New registrations must be completed on or before October 4th in order for them to be effective for the November 2nd election, said David Staford, Escambia County supervisor of elections.
Address changes can be made after the books close. To check registration status, visit EscambiaVotes.com and click “Am I Registered?”.
Escambia County citizens have several ways to register or update their record:
Online/By Mail: Visit EscambiaVotes.com and complete, print, and sign the online application. Be sure to include a valid Florida Driver’s License number, a valid Florida ID number, or the last 4 digits of your Social Security Number in the appropriate space. Mail the completed application no later than October 4th to: Escambia County Supervisor of Elections, PO Box 12601, Pensacola, FL 32591-2601. Or, take the completed application to the Elections Office at 213 Palafox Place, 2nd Floor, in downtown Pensacola. Or, call (595-3900) or e-mail the Elections Office (soe@escambiavotes.com) to have a form mailed to you.
In Person: You can register at the Elections Office at 213 Palafox Place, 2nd Floor, in downtown Pensacola, at any Florida Driver’s License Office, and several other governmental offices and public assistance centers. Registration forms are also available to pick up at many locations countywide. For a complete list of locations throughout Escambia County, visit EscambiaVotes.com or call or e-mail the Elections Office.
For voters who wish to cast an absentee ballot, go to EscambiaVotes.com and complete the online request form, or call or e-mail the elections office. Early voting begins October 18th at four locations throughout Escambia County. For more information, including sample ballots, visit EscambiaVotes.com.