Area Students Attend Youth Tour In Tallahassee
March 17, 2010
Escambia River Electric Cooperative recently gave 14 juniors from the EREC service area in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties an opportunity to take part in a youth tour of the state capital.
The students traveled with EREC to Tallahassee to learn more about their state legislature and electric cooperatives. Participants included Allie Bryan, Taylor Fisher, Alexis Harris, Anna Hollingshead, Sarah Killam, A.J. Lambert, Sarah McLean, Nick McMellon, Courtney Penton, Justin Poley, Josh Scott, Ashley Stokes, Leely Trevino and Jami Wessel.
While in Tallahassee, the students toured the governor’s mansion and observed court in session in the Florida Supreme Court. The students participated in a mock session in the house chambers where various members of the House of Representatives addressed the group. In addition, the students enjoyed visiting the Challenger Museum and viewing the IMAX movie, Forces of Nature.
The Youth Tour program provides students an opportunity to learn more about their state government and electric cooperatives and also gives them a chance to interact with other students from co-ops throughout the state. It was a great educational experience and a lot of fun for the entire group, according to Sabrina Owens, EREC spokesperson.
Pictured above: Youth Tour participants on the steps of the capital and in front of the Florida Supreme Court. (Front, L-R) Leely Trevino, Alexis Harris, Sarah Killam, Allie Bryan, Sarah McLean, Courtney Penton and Jami Wessel. Back row: Anna Hollingshead, Ashley Stokes, Josh Scott, Nick McMellon, Justin Poley, A.J. Lambert and Taylor Fisher. Pictured inset: Sarah Killam plays the piano in the Governor’s Mansion. Pictured below: Jami Wessel, Courtney Penton and Sarah McLean participate in a mock session in the House of Representatives. Pictured bottom: EREC Youth Tour participants in Tallahassee. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Lawyer Sends Letter To Century Council, Mayor, NorthEscambia.com Over Reader Comments
March 16, 2010
A Century man , apparently unhappy with reader comments about him on NorthEscambia.com, had his lawyer send a letter to NorthEscambia.com, each member of the Century Town Council and Century’s mayor. Meanwhile, a couple of town council members expressed displeasure over the letter during Monday night’s meeting of the body.
A letter dated March 3 from attorney Stephen B. Shell was mailed to NorthEscambia.com, members of the Century Town Council and Mayor Freddie McCall on behalf of Century resident Alfonzie Cottrell (pictured). Cottrell often attends and sometimes speaks at Century Town Council meetings.
The letter claims that “disparaging references” to Cottrell were made by NorthEscambia.com readers about two published stories that reported on public meetings of the Century Town Council. The letter does not take issue with the stories themselves, but rather with reader comments.
Cottrell and his lawyer take issue with the reader comments on the story “Century Councilman: Faulty Gas Meters Cause High Gas Bills” published February 16. The story does not reference Cottrell. In a single comment, one reader states that they were tired of Cottrell, another Century resident and Council member Henry Hawkins “complaining about everything”. Cottrell and the other Century resident, according to Century Town Council minutes, have often addressed the council in public meetings on various issues.
Cottrell and his lawyer also take issue with comments on the story “Code Enforcement Cases Headed To Court; Resident Claims Racial Bias”. According to the story and Century Town Council meeting minutes, Cottrell claimed in a regular Century Town Council meeting that Escambia County’s code enforcement in Century is racial biased. Several readers made various online comments about his statements to the council in a December 7, 2009, public meeting.
According to the minutes of that December meeting as approved by the Century Town Council, Cottrell, Helen Mincy and Robert Mitchell took part in a lengthy banter with the council over Escambia County’s code enforcement in the town.
At that meeting, after Council President Ann Brooks stated that the identity of persons cited by code enforcement should not matter, the council minutes state “Alfonzie Cottrell said it matters and he will tell them why — one reason why it is important is because code enforcement is going around in primarily the black areas — and that is exactly what they’re doing and he thinks that everything ought to be in the open on that thing”. The minutes also state “Alfonzie Cottrell said he knows they’re going around in the black areas”, and later “Alfonzie Cottrell said….And they going around and doing this thing and to him it looks like their just dwelling in black areas”.
It should be noted that council minutes are the town’s official record of what occurred in a meeting, and the wording in the minutes summarizes what is said. Minutes do not contain exact word-for-word quotes from individuals.
Cottrell’s attorney, Stephen B. Shell concluded his letter to NorthEscambia.com and copied to the Town of Century: “I have assured Mr. Cottrell that, as a conscientious journalist who is now cognizant of the legal requirements for defamation, you will provide unbiased but ethical coverage of future matters when Mr. Cottrell exercises his guaranteed right of free speech, and that you will be careful in attribution of words or positions to him.”
“Thank you for your attention to this matter, and we trust that there will be no need for any action with respect to future publications.”
Council Member Comments On Letter
“I got a problem with sending me a letter…it doesn’t concern the council,” Council member Sharon Scott said about the letter from Cottrell’s attorney during Monday night’s Century Town Council meeting. “I don’t have any control over what he say. I have to watch what I say because I get in trouble with him. I get mad with him myself…I don’t know why we got this letter. That’s between the media and whoever.”
Council member Henry Hawkins did not express concern over the contents of the letter, but over the fact that he believes that it was not delivered to him by town staff in a timely manner.
“Suppose we had to answer this, suppose we had to do something with it, and it sat here for three or four days in the office,” he said. He claimed that it is a “federal offense, a federal crime to not post mail in a timely manner”.
“When stuff comes in that has anybody’s name on it, it needs to be got to them,” Hawkins said.
Mayor Freddie McCall said there would be a box made available in the town hall for Hawkins by Tuesday morning. “You come everyday and see if you’ve got anything.”
Public Records
NorthEscambia.com made a written public records request for a copy of the letter received by Century Mayor Freddie McCall. To see the letter, click here (pdf). We also made a public records request for the official council meeting minutes from December 7. To read those minutes, click here (pdf).
Pictured top: Alfonzie Cottrell listens as the Century Town Council discusses a letter from his attorney Monday night. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
New Jobs For Century? Announcement Expected Soon
March 16, 2010
It looks like Century may be in for some good economic news with the announcement of a new industry expected to come soon.
Mayor Freddie McCall said Monday night that there is “something on the horizon” for the old Alger-Sullivan lumberyard location on Front Street. He said he expects to have an announcement about the facility very soon. In fact, he said he had expected the announcement last week, but there were minor delays.
The 38 acre property was last sold in early 2006 to DMT Holdings, LLC in Navarre, according to the Escambia County Property Appraiser’s online records. The facility includes five buildings totaling just over 300,000 square feet, according to the property appraiser. The buildings on the property range in age from 11 to 54 years,with the largest 160,150 square foot building constructed in 1972.
Pictured above: A portion of the old Alger-Sullivan Lumberyard in Century as seen in February. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Walnut Hill Man Arrested For Threatening Family With Knife Following Funeral
March 16, 2010
A Walnut Hill man is being held in the Escambia County Jail, charged with an incident where he allegedly used a knife to threaten three members of his family after a funeral.
David Earl Fountain, 54, of Arthur Brown Road, Walnut Hill, is being held on $75,000 bond on a felony aggravated assault charge.
Escambia County deputies responded to a residence in the 6000 block of Arthur Brown Road in Walnut Hill Saturday night where family members said the incident occurred. Fountain’s wife, age 50, told deputies that she had returned home after a funeral and began to hug family members to console them. That’s when Fountain became angry, grabbed a pair of scissors and swung them at his wife, according to the arrest report. The wife’s son then grabbed Fountain in attempt to protect his mother. The trio began to wrestle before Fountain broke free and grabbed a knife from the kitchen, the report states.
The victim’s daughter escorted Fountain, 32, outside where he was still armed with the knife, deputies said. Fountain’s son said his father tried to stab him several times with the scissors, and another son, 36, said Fountain tried to stab him with the knife, according to Deputy Tod Day’s incident report.
Fountain had left the residence and traveled to Atmore before deputies arrived. Family members called Fountain and convinced him to return to Walnut Hill where he was arrested.
All of the victims refused medical treatment.
Fountain is due in court March 31.
Everyone Qualifies: $70 Worth Of Groceries For $30
March 16, 2010
As the cost of food continues to rise, there is a program available locally that can save more than half of the cost of groceries. And, perhaps best of all, everyone qualifies, no strings attached .It’s called Angel Food Ministries, a program that provides food relief to more than a half million families a month across the nation.
It’s a simple concept…pay $30 for a box of food worth about $70. There are no applications; everyone qualifies regardless of family status or income. The process is simple too…just stop by one of the designated local locations, pay the $30 and return on the designated pickup day to receive the box of food. They even accept food stamps. Or, the food can be ordered online at angelfoodministries.com.
The March “Signature Box” for $30 includes enough food to assist in feeding a family of four for about a week, including beef steaks, bacon wrapped turkey fillets, boneless center cut pork chops, ground beef, pizza, fruits, vegetables and more.
In the North Escambia area, orders can be placed online or through Allen Memorial United Methodist Church in Cantonment, New Life Baptist Church in Century or the Poarch Band of Creek Indians.
By combining different food orders, an entire family of four can be fed meals for April for $152 — less than $6 per meal, according to Katrina Williamson, program director at Allen Memorial. To see her meal plan, click here (pdf).
For the complete March menu options, click here (pdf).
At Allen Memorial in Cantonment orders for March can be placed March 17th from 2p.m. -5 p.m. at the church at 206 Pace Parkway in Cantonment for a food delivery on March 27. The church accepts cash, food stamps, checks, money orders or SNAP. Online orders can be made with a credit or debit card for pickup in Cantonment.
“Our food is “restaurant grade” meats, frozen vegetables, fruits, dairy products, etc. which we acquire through our involvement with only the best producers/vendors of high quality, “name brand” foods. Never “seconds” or “day old” type products are involved,” according to the Angel Food Ministries web site.
For more information about the program in Cantonment, call Allen Memorial United Methodist Church at 968-6213 or online at www.angelfoodministries.com. To visit the church and place an order…take Highway 29 south into Cantonment. Turn right at the red light onto Muscogee Road. and take the second right onto Pace Parkway.
For more information about the program in the Century area, call New Life Baptist Church at (850) 256-5696. For more information about the program in the Atmore area, call the Poarch Band of Creek Indians at (251) 368-9136 ext. 2600. Or for information about the program at any site, visit www.angelfoodministries.com.
1,156 ‘Buckets Of Hope’ Headed From North Escambia To Haiti
March 16, 2010
Over 1,100 food-containing Buckets of Hope were donated by North Escambia area residents to help the victims of the Haiti earthquake.
The 1,156 buckets were donated in just over a month at host site First Baptist Church of Cantonment as well as the First Baptist Church of Bratt, area schools and other drop-off points. The buckets contain specific food items, including beans, rice, sugar, flour, cooking oil and other essentials. Each bucket contains enough food to feed a family of four for about a week, plus they have the bucket to reuse to haul water, store food items or even move rubble in the earthquake stricken land.
Monday, the buckets were loaded a trailer donated by Gilmore Services. The company will transport the buckets to Marianna to be made ready for delivery to Haiti.
Pictured top: Volunteers load over 1,100 Buckets of Hope into a Gilmore Services trailer Monday in Cantonment. Pictured inset: First Baptist Church of Cantonment Associate Pastor Larry Huff, Marc Wilson, Ottoway Fillingim, Dalton Smith and Dylan Smith. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Baseball: Northview, Jay, Flomaton; Softball: Northview, Tate
March 16, 2010
T.R. Miller 15 Northview 14 (JV)
Northview 9 T.R. Miller 5 (JV)
The Northview High School JV team split a double header with T.R. Miller Monday in Brewton. T.R. Miller won the first game 15-14, and the Chiefs beat Miller in the second game 9-5.
For more submitted photos from the Northview JV, click here.
Jay 9 Flomaton 1
The Jay Royals beat the Flomaton Hurricanes Monday 9-1.
Dakota Smith had a home run for the Royals and three RBI.
GIRLS SOFTBALL
West Florida 13 Northview 3
The Northview Lady Chiefs lost in Pensacola for the first time this year Monday as they fell to West Florida High School 13-3.
Shawna Montgomery was 1-2; Kolbi Cobb was 1-1 with a double; and Aimee Clarke was 1-2 with a run.
West Florida Tech 6 Northview 2 (JV)
The Northview JV softball team suffered their first loss of the season Monday to West Florida Tech 6-2. The Chiefs, now 5-1, allowed all six of West Florida’s runs on five errors.
Morgan Payne, Shaquanna Jones, Tori Searcy, Ashton Gibbs had base hits for the Chiefs. Shaquanna Jones allowed no earned runs and only three base hits while striking out six in a losing effort on the mound.
The JV Chiefs play again on Monday, March 22 at home against Jay.
Tate 6 Navarre 4
The Tate Aggies beat Navarre Monday 6-4.
Crysta Paulson was 2-3 for the Aggies with a triple and an RBI. Kim Baker was 2-3 with two runs and a double, and Amy Siefert was 1-3 with two RBI and a double.
Pictured: Action from NHS JV versus T.R. Miller Monday in Brewton. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Police Seek Info On Heavy Equipment Theft
March 16, 2010
Several thousand dollars worth of heavy equipment were stolen from a Flomaton business recently, and the Flomaton Police Department is asking for any information that might help them put the suspects behind bars.
The burglary occurred between 5 p.m. March 4 and 5:45 a.m. March 5 at CharCo, Inc. on Highway 31 in Flomaton, according to Flomaton Police Chief Terri Tolbert. The business reported that a 2003 Peterbuilt truck pulling a 1996 blue Fontaine lowboy trailer with a yellow John Deere wheel loader backhoe were stolen. According to police, someone had cut a chain and lock to enter a fenced area where the equipment was located.
Anyone with information on the crime is asked to contact the Flomaton Police Department at (251) 296-5811 or their local law enforcement agency.
Pictured: These photos, provided by the Flomaton Police Department, are representative of the equipment stolen from a Flomaton business. Submitted for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Man Charged In Home Invasion, Robbery
March 16, 2010
A Century man was arrested late Sunday night on outstanding warrants in connection with an August 2009 home invasion and robbery.
Justin Wayne Kyles, 18, of Jackson Street, Century, is charged with home invasion robbery, aggravated battery using a deadly weapon and petty theft. He is being held in the Escambia County Jail on $90,000 bond.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Kyles and two other men allegedly entered a home on Gilford Avenue in Century by removing a window air conditioner at about 1 a.m. on August 30, 2009. Once inside, they attacked a male in his bed, smashing a table lamp over his head, and then struck him repeatedly in the head with other unknown objects, according to the arrest report. They reportedly stole $280 before fleeing the residence.
The victim went to a neighboring house for help — with a lamp cord and lamp parts still wrapped around his neck, the ECSO report says. The victim was transported to Jay Hospital where it took 35 staples to repair his head injuries. He told sheriff’s deputies that he knew Kyles was one of his attackers.
According to deputies, the victim’s story appeared to check out, with broken lamp pieces and blood on the bed and a trail of blood leading to the neighbor’s house.
Martha Johnson Hammann
March 15, 2010
Martha Johnson Hammann, age 86, passed away Tuesday, March 10, 2010, surrounded by her loving family. She was born in Plainfield, NJ, the daughter of Dr. Harold and Helen Johnson, where she spent her youth with her three siblings. On July 7, 1945, she married Eugene Hammann, the love of her life. During their 64 years of marriage, they spent most of their life in Illinois before retiring to Kill Devil Hills, NC. In 2004, she and her husband moved to Pensacola, FL.
Martha was a registered nurse who enlisted in the Army Nurse Corps in 1945, shortly after graduation from St. Luke’s Hospital, NY. She served her country during World War II at Fort Dix, NJ. After raising her four daughters, she resumed her nursing career working in labor and delivery at Proctor Hospital in Peoria, IL. Prior to her retirement from nursing, she worked as an office nurse for Peter Couri, MD, an obstetrician in Peoria, IL.
In Pensacola, Martha was a member of Northminster Presbyterian Church where she was proud to be asked to use her musical ability playing the piano and organ during church services. She loved golf and played frequently at Cypress Lakes (Solutia) Golf Club where she had her first hole-in-one on the eighth hole where a cypress tree now stands in her memory. She was an active woman who loved nature, music, her family, and the many friends who crossed her path during her life. She cherished hummingbirds, butterflies and flowers, jigsaw puzzles, crossword puzzles and cross-stitch needle work.
She is survived by her husband, Gene, four daughters – Nancy (Tom) Sislow, Linda Hammann, Carol (Larry) Bergman, and Marje (John) Luetkemeyer, four grandchildren – Joseph Sislow, Brandon (Marcela) Sislow, Jennifer Luetkemeyer and Lauren Luetkemeyer, one great granddaughter, Sophia Sislow and one brother Paul Johnson (Jacksonville, FL), along with many relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Nancy (Johnson) Piddington and her brother Roger Johnson.
The family will receive friends on Monday, March 15th from 6pm-8pm at Faith Chapel North, 1000 Highway 29, Cantonment, FL 32533.
A memorial service will be held Tuesday, March 16 at 10:30am at Northminster Presbyterian Church, Nine Mile Road, Pensacola, FL, officiated by Rew Randolph, followed by a reception for family and friends. Internment will be at Barrancas National Cemetery at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to The Joyce Goldenberg Hospice Inpatient Residence, 1007 Hillview Road, Pensacola, FL 32514, or Northminster Presbyterian Church, 1100 East 9-Mile, Pensacola, FL 52314.