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Take A Survey: What Do You Think Of Your Child’s School?

The Escambia County School District is giving you the chance to take a survey and rank how well your child’s school and its staff performed.

The survey, offered on the district’s web page, allows participants to rank many school performance areas based upon how they feel about statements such as:

• I feel welcome at this school.
• Learning is interesting at this school.
• The principal at this school communicates effectively.
• Students are challenged to their ability at this school.
• Students receive recognition for good performance in academics.

There is also an open-ended question designed to recognize outstanding persons in the school district: “Can you identify one individual in the Escambia School District who has had an impact on you or your family during this school year?”

The survey is completely anonymous with no attempt to identify the participants, the district says, and the survey asks for “frank and honest” responses.

To take the survey, click here and then click on the red “Take the School Climate survey” link near the upper right corner of the page.

Mark Your Calendars: Molino Memorial Festival Is Coming

The Molino Annual Memorial Festival will be held Saturday, May 29 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at CrossFaith Church.

The day’s activities will include food, arts and crafts vendors, auction, live music and plenty of activities for the kids. Guest speakers will include John Krause, Congressional District 1 candidate and Captain Charlie Code from the NJROTC program at Northview High School.

Live entertainment will include Ashton Gibbs, Keith Rowell, Denise Palmer, Wayward Bypass, FACE and Ember.

Food and craft vendors are needed, contact Debra Smith at (850) 587-6060 or CrossFaith Church at (850) 587-3187.

Today’s Library Sea Turtle Program Canceled

The Century Branch Library program “Sea Turtles and Their Coastal Habitats” that was planned for this afternoon has been canceled. Organizers said oil spill preparation forced the event’s participants to be unable to attend.

The Century Branch Library’s summer programs will begin at noon on Tuesday, June 8 and continue each Tuesday at noon through July 13. The June 8 program will feature the acrobat Liang.

For more information, contact the library at (850) 256-6217.

Woman Accused Of Faking Prescriptions For Cop Jailed In Florida

The Atmore woman accused of calling fake prescriptions into a Century pharmacy for an Atmore police officer has been extradited to Florida to face charges.

Ashley Megan Nall, 24, of Atmore, was arrested earlier this month in Escambia County, Ala., on Escambia County, Fla., warrants for two felony counts of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud. She was held in the Escambia County (Ala.) Detention Center in Brewton pending extradition to Florida.

Nall was booked into the Escambia County (Fla.) Jail early Wednesday evening. She was released on $5,000 bond.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, Nall called in prescriptions for Lortab and Keflex to area pharmacies.  The prescriptions were then picked up by Ronald Sanford Freeman, 23, of Flomaton. The pair would then split the pills, according to the Sheriff’s Office incident report.

Freeman turned himself in at the Escambia County Jail last Friday on two felony counts of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud. Prior to his arrest, Freeman resigned his position as a police officer in Atmore for “personal  reasons”, according to Atmore Police Chief Jason Dean.

Nall was employed by Dr. Francis Salter of Atmore, and she is Salter’s granddaughter, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.

Two such prescriptions were called in to the Century Pharmacy and filled on February 5 and March 5. Both were in Ronald Freeman’s name, and both were for 90 Lortab pills, according to the ECSO report. When Century Pharmacy received another call-in prescription on April 19 for 90 Lortabs and 20 Keflex, they became suspicious and called Dr. Salter to verify that she had issued the prescription. When Dr. Salter said that she did not issue the prescriptions and that Freeman was not her patient, the sheriff’s department was contacted.

To read more about the case and Freeman’s arrest, click here for an earlier story.

Thursday’s Escambia Oil Spill Updated Information

Here is the latest Deepwater Horizon oil spill information specific to Escambia County for Thursday, May 13:

• The oil spill is projected to be 100 miles southwest of Pensacola on Friday due to favorable winds and currents.
• No oil is expected on Escambia County shores within the next 72 hours.
• Tar balls have been reported in Dauphin Island, Alabama though none have washed ashore in Escambia County, Florida. Tar balls are fragments or lumps of oil weathered to a semi-sold or solid consistency, feel sticky, and are difficult to remove from contaminated surfaces. If you observe any evidence of oil on Florida’s coastline, report the incident to 1-866-448-5816.

British Petroleum (BP)

• The second training class for Vessels of Opportunity was held Tuesday for licensed charter boat captains. To pick up or deliver completed packets, visit BP’s Community Outreach office at 435 East Government Street. For information, call 281-366-5511.
• A local BP community outreach and claims office has been established for citizens at 435 East Government Street. The local phone number is (850) 858-0817.The office is open Monday through Friday – 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday – 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• BP Vessels of Opportunity – see the master vessel charter agreement and vessel requirements checklist online www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com.
• BP claims categories
• Approximately 175,950 feet of boom has been placed out of the Pensacola and Panama City staging areas in support of Unified Command.
• BP officials request residents be wary of scam artists posing as BP contractors. 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.
• BP does not use contractors to contact or solicit volunteers for cleanup. All training offered by BP is free. There are no fees for classes or registration.
• The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research who is contracted by BP to provide assistance to oiled wildlife. All rehabilitation efforts must be coordinated through the service and Tri-State. Specific safety and other requirements must be met before anyone will be allowed on-site for any participation. If you already have wildlife training, call BP at 1-866-557-1401.

Federal (NOAA)

• NOAA modified and expanded the boundaries of the closed fishing area to better reflect the current location of the oil spill, and extended the fishing restriction until May 17. See details.

• State of Florida (DEP, FWC)

• Governor Charlie Crist has issued an executive order creation an Economic Recovery Task Force to facilitate efforts by Florida businesses and industries in recovering from the loss of business and revenues due to the Deepwater Horizon incident.
• A Legal Advisory Council has been established to assess the impact the potential disaster could have on the state.
• DEP Guidelines for Protecting Shoreline from Oil Spill Impacts
• Homeowners may be able to help prevent oil from reaching private property or damaging sensitive vegetation by utilizing sorbent booms.
• Booming and alternative absorption measures should be coordinated through Escambia County as incorrect boom placement in navigable waterways can create a serious hazard.
• Coordination with state and local entities is important to ensure that booming or alternative measures being used do not impede navigation and are not more harmful to the natural environment in the long-run.
• If a boom is placed by a private citizen, that individual assumes responsibility for the boom, including the chance it could dislodge into the water or be harmful to wildlife.
• Booms placed by private citizens that become impacted by oil are the responsibility of that individual and require special authorization for removal and proper disposal.
• Do not place hay bales, sandbags or other unapproved devices along the shoreline, as the overall debris from disposal of such methods would increase and could cause serious long-term damage.
• Do not attempt to clean impacted beaches or attempt to rescue oiled wildlife. Touching oil is a health risk and disposing of it improperly could cause additional environmental damage.
• Authorized protective measures should be conducted in a manner that provides protection to, and does not disturb, native vegetation, species and their habitat.
• Taking or capturing any species, nests or eggs listed as an endangered species is not permitted.
• For more information on types of protective measures, contact BP’s community information line, 1-866-448-5816.
• The Florida Small Business Development Center Network is part of the state’s EOC Emergency Support Function as a responder for assistance in business recovery. The Mobile Area Commands are fully self-contained and staffed by SBDC Certified Business Analysts experienced in assisting businesses impacted by disasters, including assistance with federal and state disaster loan programs. MACs have been deployed in Escambia County. SBDC staff are meeting with area business leaders and available to provide technical assistance to local businesses. For more information, please visit www.floridasbdc.org/Special Programs/bcrm.asp
• The seafood off Florida’s coast in state waters are safe. There are no health alerts at this time.
• The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has temporarily suspended the restriction on use of purse seines landward of the COLRGEGS demarcation line in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
• Affected businesses should file a claim with BP via the hotline number, 800-440-0858. 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).
• The state emergency operations center remains at a level 2 activation.

Escambia County Board of County Commissioners and Staff

• CANCELED – The special Board of County Commissioners’ Meeting scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 13 has been canceled.
• CANCELED- The Committee of the Whole scheduled for 9 a.m. on Thursday, May 13 has been rescheduled to Thursday, May 27 at 9 a.m.
• 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. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) is the permitting agency for beaches and coastal systems. No obstructions to sea turtle nesting behavior is allowed.
• If citizens see anything unusual on the beaches they feel needs to be reported:
• Contact the Perdido Key Chamber of Commerce at 850-492-4660 on Perdido Key
• Report to the lifeguards on duty on Pensacola Beach
• Deflective boom – large floating barriers that help contain floating oil – has been deployed around sensitive shorelines.
• Boom has been deployed in all locations of the Local Action Plan and Addendum One. Staff continues to evaluate areas and is monitoring all deployed boom.
• To keep waterways open as long as possible, boom will be “wet staged” at some locations. When floating petroleum becomes an imminent threat, boom will be fully deployed. “Fully deployed boom” is described as boom anchored into a functional configuration.
• Environmental staff completed collecting sediment, water and oyster tissue samples and have sent them to a lab for analysis. Staff also completed pre-assessments on air quality.
• Escambia County is evaluating several operational options from contractors for coastal protection and recovery. The county is considering every viable proposal, coordinating with Unified Command and will share information as it is approved.
• A PowerPoint of oil spill response strategies is posted at www.escambiadisasterresponse.com.
• Pteropods, also known as the sea butterfly, have been reported washing ashore on gulf beaches. Pteropods are small, basically clear and sharply pointed larval snails. Although they are fairly sharp, they do not pose a threat to people. They are naturally occurring and not washing ashore due to anything oil-related.
• Residents and business owners with water access on their property should have pre-assessments prepared (photos, video, etc. documenting the current condition of the property).
• The brown foam seen on the beaches recently is not associated with the oil spill. This is a common natural occurrence, especially in the spring, when fish are spawning and there are hard winds, rain, and wave action.
• The EOC remains at level 2 activation. This is a minimal activation with only specifically involved agencies. Meetings of all essential local emergency support agencies are held daily.

Local Beaches

• Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key remain open. The water is clear and air quality is good.
• SRIA lifeguards continue patrolling beaches for oil from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• In the event beaches are impacted by the oil spill, it may be necessary to issue health advisories to protect health and safety.
•  The Florida Department of Health will issue advisories as they become necessary for the area of affected water and shoreline.
•  Beaches above the high tide line should remain open for sunbathing, walking, shopping and restaurants.
•  The exact area for the advisories will be determined at the time oil is reported.

City of Pensacola

• The City of Pensacola continues to coordinate with Escambia County officials.

Training Opportunities

• PEC Premier, a BP contractor, will begin free six-hour para-professional training classes in Pensacola on May 17. This is not volunteer training. This course is not a guarantee of employment, but provides credentials needed to be hired for spill cleanup work by BP contractors.
• The county has offered free volunteer orientation training for more than 900 citizens. If you completed the county’s training, your contact information has forwarded to the appropriate volunteer organizations. As the need for volunteers arises, you will be contacted.
• If you would like to be considered for future volunteer opportunities, contact the BP volunteer hotline at 1-866-448-5816.
• 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.

Safety Information

• If you see a tar ball on the beach, DO NOT PICK IT UP. Report it to 1-866-448-5816.

Wildlife

• Do not attempt to rescue oiled or injured birds or wildlife. Doing so can cause additional injuries.
• If oiled, injured or dead wildlife are found, call the Oiled Wildlife Hotline at 1-866-557-1401. Please provide location of where the wildlife was sighted.
• Remember that May is the hatching season for many birds and reptiles.

Boats

• Boats should keep a safe distance from the booms. Do not drive boats over booms.
• Boat owners are urged to dry-dock boats.
• Do not drive your boat through slicks or sheens.

Beaches and Waterways

• Citizens should take precautions around waterways to avoid contact with oil substances.
• Officials are closely monitoring potential public health and environmental concerns.

Personal Safety (if areas are affected by oil)

• Avoid areas where oil can be seen or smelled. If you see or smell oil, leave immediately.
• Avoid direct skin contact with oil, oil-contaminated water and sediments.
• Do not swim or ski in areas affected by the oil spill, and if you travel through the area by boat, take precautions when hoisting the boat anchor. If you get oil on your skin, wash it off immediately with soap and water.
• 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.
• Young children, pregnant women, people with compromised immune systems, and individuals with underlying respiratory conditions should avoid the area.
• Restrict pets from entering oil-contaminated areas.
• Those near Florida’s Gulf Coast may detect an odor because of the oil spill. Some people are more sensitive to these odors and may experience nasal irritation and feelings of nausea. In combination with seasonal allergies, such as sensitivity to pollen or pre-existing respiratory conditions such as asthma, some people may experience more severe symptoms.
• Individuals who have pre-existing medical conditions, such as asthma or other respiratory illness should contact their health care provider if feeling symptomatic.
• Report oiled shorelines to 1-866-448-5816.

Business Information

• 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, so please check back, as your specific situation and information may change with time.
• BP has established a claim system and toll free number, 1-800-440-0858. This system will allow people to begin the process to recover lost income or recoup damage-related expenses.
• If you are not satisfied with BP’s resolution, call the Coast Guard at 1-800-280-7118.
• More information about what types of damages are eligible for compensation under the Oil Pollution Act as well as guidance on procedures to seek that compensation can be found at www.uscg.mil/npfc.
• Take detailed records of cancelled reservations. It is important that when these cancellations occur, the canceling party is questioned whether the cause is because of the oil spill. If the answer is yes, keep a record of the person’s name and contact information, and also the revenues lost as a result of the cancellation.
• Businesses, including shops, restaurants, sport fishing charters, watersports rental companies, etc. that may be negatively impacted, 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 be able to provide records, sales receipts and documentation to support your claim. One good option is to 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 appropriate records to support the list. Example: if your hotel or restaurant is within walking distance to the beach and that beach has oil reach its shores, the business’s assets could be damaged even though there is no physical damage to the structure. It is important to record this depreciation.
• To register as a consultant, contractor, vendor or submit information on alternative response technology, services products or suggestions, call BP at 281-366-5511.

Citizen Information

• The Citizen Information Center line remains open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., 850-471-6600.
• Florida Oil Spill Information Line is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week, 1-888-337-3569.

Northview Names 2010-2011 Volleyball Teams

Northview High School has named their Lady Chiefs volleyball teams for next year.

Last year’s Lady Chiefs varsity team advanced to the regional quarterfinals, just the third time in Northview’s history that a  volleyball team had advanced beyond the district level.  The Lady Chiefs also made the first round of the quarterfinals in 2007 and back in 1997.

Members of the 2010-2011 Northview Lady Chiefs volleyball teams are:

VARSITY

• Trestine Dean
• Ashley Digmon
• Misty Doran
• Josie Doucette
• Ashton Gibbs
• Kara Hardin
• Sarah Killam
• Shawna Montgomery
• Morgan Payne
• Peyton Sandoval
• Raylin Spence
• Katie Wieborg

JUNIOR VARSITY

• Madison Arrington
• Alison Bardin
• Lana Clayton
• Hannah Fiellin
• Rebecca Grim
• Paeton Hadley
• TeAndreia Knight
• Ally Martin
• Rebecca Masaitis
• Shelby Nielson
• Tiffany Pritchett
• Taylor Roberson
• Danielle Steadham
• Lily Townson
• Mallory Wiggins

Thousands Of Feet Of Oil Containment Boom Stolen

Thousands of feet of oil containment boom has been stolen from Escambia County waters.

Yesterday, Lance Thayer,, an employee of First in Rescue Safety and Training of Deer Park, Texas, reported 3,400 feet of orange oil containment boom missing from the south end of the Bob Sikes Bridge on Pensacola Beach, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.

The boom is valued at about $68,000, according to Thayer.

Thayer,  who has been contracted by BP  to assist in the oil clean up, said that more boom is missing from the Three Mile Bridge area also. Thayer told the Sheriff’s Office that it is not uncommon for boom to go missing and then the thieves try to resell it or lease it at another location.

The boom is owned by Eagle SWS Environmental Co. Thayer stated the company checked the surrounding waterways to see if the boom had broke loose but was unable to locate it.

Highway 97 Traffic Delays

Expect delays on Highway 97 today north of Molino and in Walnut Hill.

Paving crews are continuing to work north of Molino, reducing traffic to one lane. Traffic is also delayed and one-lane in Walnut Hill between North Highway 99 and South Highway 99 for guardrail work.

Imprisoned Atmore Dentist Office Manager Pays Restitution

A former dentist office manager serving four months in federal prison has paid just over $5,000 in restitution.

Toni McMurphy, 55,  pleaded guilty to health care fraud and mail fraud in federal court in March. McMurphy was sentenced by Judge Kristi K. DuBose to four months in prison. She is due to be released from the Marianna Federal Correctional Institution on August 11.

Her prison term will be followed by four months of home confinement under the supervision of the Bureau of Prisons during which time she will be subject to electronic monitoring or another location verification system.

Late last week, McMurphy paid $5,267 in restitution, according to federal court documents.

In her plea agreement, McMurphy admitted that while working for Buckley and Buckley Family Dentistry between January 1, 2006, and November, 2008, she bilked about $45,000 from insurance companies by filing false claims for services never performed or by upgrading lower cost procedures to higher cost procedures.

“The insurance carriers would then send reimbursement checks to Buckley Family Dentistry to pay for the fraudulent claims,” McMurphy stated in her plea agreement. “I would then misapply said fraudulent proceeds, thereby allowing me to apply proceeds to different patients and to withdraw cash from Buckley Family Dentistry.”

The mail fraud charge stemmed from an incident in June, 2008, when McMurphy admitted that she filed a false claim with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama asking for reimbursement on behalf of a patient claiming that the dentist had extracted two of her teeth. Blue Cross and Blue Shield then mailed a payment for the services never performed to an Atmore post office box.

McMurphy faced up to 20 years in prison, three years probation and a fine up to $250,000 on each count.

Updated: Boy, 11, Facing Felony Charge After Pulling Gun At Ballpark; Girl, 13, Pulls Knife

 

A fifth grader has been charged with a felony after pulling an unloaded gun at a local ballpark Tuesday night.

The 11-year boy is facing a third degree felony charge of carrying a concealed weapon and a first degree misdemeanor charge of improperly exhibiting a firearm.

The incident happened just before 8:00 p.m. at Bradberry Park in Walnut Hill as ballgames were played nearby.

Two 13-year old girls “were involved in a verbal altercation when (the boy) pulled a handgun out from underneath his shirt and displayed it in a reckless manner, pulling back the slide of the firearm and waving it around,” according to the Sheriff’s Office report. The report notes that the gun was not loaded.

“At some point (a 13-year old girl) pulled a knife out of her back pocket, but did not threaten anyone with it,” the report released Wednesday afternoon states.

The gun, according to the Sheriff’s Office was taken by the 11-year old from his grandfather’s locked filing cabinet. The grandfather told deputies that he was unaware how his grandson had removed the firearm.

The boy was transported to the county’s juvenile justice facility for processing.  The 13-year old girl that allegedly pulled the knife was not charged.

The gun, according to the report, was a Armi Gales .35 caliber.  The gun and the boy were secured shortly after the incident by an off-duty Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputy that was coaching a game at the park.

“It was an isolated incident. No one was hurt, and no one was in danger,” Pam Brown, the ballpark’s president, said. “Everyone was safe and is always safe here.”

NorthEscambia.com does not identify juvenile suspects unless they are charged as adults.

Pictured above: A fifth grade student that produced a gun Tuesday night at a Walnut Hill ballpark is questioned by Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge. (Editor’s note: The photograph has been altered to conceal the identity of the juvenile.)

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