Century Care Center Named Century’s Business Of The Year
February 24, 2010
Century Care Center has been named as the Business of the Year by the Century Area Chamber of Commerce.
The 88-bed facility is ranked by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as the number one of 69 nursing homes within 100 miles of Century
“We always look for ways to improve the quality of life and the quality of care for the people who live in our community,” said Don Ripley, Century Care Center Administrator. He said CCC works to “provide our treasured Residents with the happiest and best care, both physically and emotionally, for the rest of their lives”.
Pictured top: Last year, Century Care Center opened the Ole Mill Pond, a full stocked fish pond that allows residents the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Sheriff’s Office Seizes Two Neglected Horses
February 24, 2010
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and Escambia County Animal Control have seized two neglected horses in Molino.
The horses were removed from property in the 8100 block of Highway 29, just north of Highway 97, by the Sheriff’s Office livestock officer. According to the sheriff’s office incident report, the owner of the horses is expected to face animal neglect charges.
The owner of the horses told deputies that she was temporarily unemployed and was doing her best to care for the animals with her limited resources.
More Info Released On Century Convenience Store Burglary
February 24, 2010
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has released more information about the weekend burglary of a Century convenience store that we first reported yesterday.
Deputies were dispatched to a reported prowler at Moye’s Stateline Food Mart at 9010 North Century Boulevard just before 3 a.m. Sunday. When deputy James Kelley arrived, he found the front door of the business broken out. About the same time, the sheriff’s office received a call from a resident who lives just to the east of Moye’s — giving her a vantage point over the rear the store.
The resident told dispatchers that she would see two people dressed in black run from behind the store toward the front of the building. She she that she observed a small two door car, possibly silver or blue parking behind a nearby church. The witness told deputies that the two individuals came running around the back of the store again, behind the church and continued on foot east on Zion Street. The witness said the car also traveled east on Zion Street and disappeared from her view.
Deputy Kelley wrote in his report that he observed lottery tickets had been pulled off a roll, and some were still on the floor behind the counter. He also observed that a safe had been broken into. A store employee found a stack of money in front of the store that she believed to be the next day’s till. The cash was returned to the store’s owner.
No arrests have been made in the case at the time. Anyone with information about this crime is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
Big Wins For All Northview Varsity, JV Baseball And Softball Teams
February 24, 2010
Northview 13 Pensacola Christian 1 (Boys)
The Northview Chiefs beat Pensacola Christian 13-1 Tuesday night for a district win.
Northview (4-1, 1-0) scored 13 runs on 9 hits, and committed one error. Northview scored three in the first, three in the second, four in the third, and three in the fourth.
Leading hitters for the Chiefs were Austin Arrington, who was 2 for 4, 2 runs scored, an RBI, and a triple. Dabney Langhorne was 2 for 3, including 2 runs scored, and 2 RBI’s. Dakota Stuckey was 2 for 2, one run scored, 2 RBI’s, and one double. Austin Reid was 1 for 1 with 2 RBI’s. Aaron Chancery scored 2 runs for the Chiefs. Colton Sims was 1 for 1 with a run scored. Tyler Brooks was 1 for 1 with an RBI.
Brad Lowery pitched a five inning no-hitter for Northview. During five innings, Lower gave up one run, no hits, walked two, and struck out 12 hitters.
Northview 10 Pensacola Christian 0 (JV Boys)
The junior varsity Northview Chiefs beat Pensacola Christian 10-0 Tuesday afternoon.
The Chiefs scored three in the first, three in the third, two in the fourth, and two in the fifth to win in five innings at Northview.
Hunter Rigby was 1 for 4 with two runs scored. Ty Randolph had one hit and scored a run. Tyler Hester had one single and two runs scored. Brian Sanders had a single and a run scored. Reid Bell had two hits and scored two runs. Harold Harrison scored a run. Chance Jackson had one hit and scored a run.
Reid Bell was the winning pitcher for the Chiefs. Chance Jackson and Hunter Rigby pitched relief. l. The JV Chiefs are 1-0 on the year.
Northview 16 Escambia County 0 (Girls)
The Northview Lady Chiefs remain undefeated after a 16-0 non-district win over Escambia County High School of Atmore Tuesday
The Chiefs took an early lead 4-0 at the end of the first inning and expanded their margin to 11-0 by the end of the second.
Amber McMillan pitched five for the Chiefs, allowing just one hit and striking out five.
Northview 17 Escambia County 2 (JV Girls)
The junior varsityLady Chiefs beat Escambia County High School of Atmore Tuesday, 17-2.
Taylor Byrd, Tori Reid, Samantha Johnson, and Lauren McCall led the Lady Chiefs on offense. Taylor Byrd picked up the win pitching three innings and striking out five. With the win, the JV Lady Chiefs are 3-0. The next game for the Lady Chiefs is Thursday against Freeport at NHS beginning at 4:00 p.m.
Tate Loses Regional Quarterfinal In Final Seconds
February 24, 2010
Tate High School’s hopes for state basketball championship came to an end with a Niceville layup with less than ten seconds to go in their Tuesday night matchup.
Niceville (26-3) beat the Aggies 62-60 to win the Region 1-5A semifinals. Tate, which won only 10 games combined in 2008 and 2009, finished the season at 20-9.
Tevin Brown 16 led the Aggies against Niceville with 16, while Shermonne Jones had 13. Krys Walden and Dylan Anderson had 11 each. Petey Jones added 8, and Jabril Rashied had one point.
Another Chance To Take Census Test
February 24, 2010
There is another opportunity this week in Jay for area residents to take the test to qualify for local U.S. Census Bureau jobs that pay up to $15 per hour.
The Census Bureau is currently hiring temporary employees to assist with this year’s census. Jobs will include census takers, crew leaders, crew leader assistant and census clerks.
Pay generally begins at $12.50 an hour, and can range up to $15 an hour, for up to a 40 hour week.
A valid driver’s license is required for most positions. Additionally, the potential Census Bureau employee must be 18 or older, pass a background check, be a U.S. citizen, pass a written test of basic skills and have a valid social security number.
The Census Bureau hires locally because local residents are knowledgeable about their neighborhood and familiar with the community, its residents, and its local customs, according to their web site.
Persons taking one of the North Escambia census tests must have their valid driver’s license and social security card. Census tests will be given in the North Escambia area for Florida residents as follows:
- Thursday, February 25, 6 p.m.: Jay Public Library
Residents of areas outside of northern Escambia and Santa Rosa counties should call (866) 861-2010 for information about testing locations in their area.
For more information on north Escambia and Santa Rosa census jobs, click here or call Tebyl Presley at (251) 253-0622. Churches or other organization that would like to host a census job testing site should call the same number.
Bratt Church Joins FBC Cantonment In Buckets Of Hope Program
February 24, 2010
A Bratt church has joined the Buckets of Hope Program — an earthquake relief effort that is providing hope to the families of Haiti on 5-gallon bucket of food at a time.
The First Baptist Church of Bratt serving as a collection point for the north end of Escambia County, according to FBC Bratt Student Pastor Tim Hawsey. In the Cantonment and central portions of Escambia County, the buckets are still be collected by the First Baptist Church of Cantonment.
The deadline to drop off the filled buckets at the First Baptist Church of Bratt is Sunday, March 14. More information is available from through the student ministry of the church.
The deadline to drop off the filled buckets at the First Baptist Church of Cantonment is Monday, March 15.
More information on the program is in the February 2 NorthEscambia.com article reprinted below. below.
A Cantonment church is spearheading a countywide project that will provide hope to the families of Haiti, one white 5-gallon bucket of food at a time.
It’s called “Buckets of Hope”, a program of the Florida Baptist Convention’s Florida Disaster Relief program. The concept is simple — fill a clean 5-gallon bucket with beans, rice, sugar, flour, cooking oil and other essentials. It’s enough 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.
For less than $30, the bucket and food items can be purchased, according to Drayton Smith, associate pastor at the First Baptist Church of Cantonment.
“This is something anyone can do and know they are helping a family in Haiti,” Smith said. He hopes that other churches, schools, business and community groups will become involved in the bucket program.
You don’t have to be a Christian to be involved in this,” said Ronnie Gilmore, a First Baptist Church member. “You just have to have a caring heart.”
Florida Baptists are committed to helping Haiti in both the short and long term, Smith said, with help provided in over 800 locations across the country.
As Region 1 chaplain coordinator for Florida Disaster Relief, Smith learned of the program at a training session recently in Orlando. When he learned of the Buckets of Hope program, he knew he was ready to become involved.
“The Bible tells us to do that and help others,” he said. “We have a passion for the world, and we love people. We just want to share the love.”
The filled Buckets of Hope must be returned to the First Baptist Church of Cantonment by March 15. They are also being collected at Gilmore Services at 31 East Fairfield Drive in Pensacola.
Smith said financial donations, or donations of any of the bucket items, can also be given in lieu of a full bucket. He said 100 percent of material and financial donations go straight to Haiti; none of the money is use for administration or other fees. Florida Disaster Relief does ask that persons donating buckets also donate $10, if possible, to offset the cost of shipping the bucket to Haiti.
Every bucket must be exactly alike with a specific list of items inside. Detailed instructions must be followed exactly to ensure that every bucket quickly passes through customs and into the hands of the Haitian people.
For a complete list of food items and instructions on how to pack the bucket, click here (pdf).
Pictured top: First Baptist Church of Cantonment Associate Pastor Drayton Smith explains the Buckets of Hope program. Pictured inset: Church members Barbara Reynolds explains how to pack a Bucket of Hope. Pictured below: The bucket and food items can be purchased for less than $30. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Firefighters Rescue Woman From Submerged Vehicle After It Plummets Off Bridge
February 23, 2010
Two volunteer firefighters from Cantonment are being called heroes this morning after jumping into the cold waters of Jacks Branch to save a woman from a submerged vehicle late Monday night.
The Cantonment Station of Escambia Fire Rescue was dispatched to a possible accident on a bridge over Jacks Branch on Jacks Branch Road about 11:45 Monday night. When firefighters A. Fails, Shay McCarro and Coy McKenna arrived just minutes later, they found that a vehicle had gone through the guardrail, over the bridge and fallen about 25 feet to the water below. The vehicle was completely submerged in the branch, the tail lights barely visible.
A woman who was unable to swim had climbed out of the vehicle and was calling for help.
“We came out of our gear and went in after her,” McKenna said. “It was just instinct.”
After McCarro and McKenna swam back to shore with the woman, they discovered she had survived the crash without injuries.
The Florida Highway Patrol said Denise Ann Holden, 47, of Cantonment, was southbound on Jacks Branch Road when she lost control on the bridge and crashed through the guardrail. Her vehicle, a 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer, was submerged standing almost on end in an estimated 12-15 feet of water.
Holden was not impaired at the time of the crash and will not face any charges, according to the FHP. She told the FHP that she was headed to Winn Dixie in Cantonment for coffee creamer and “hit a slick spot” on the bridge.
She was evaluated on the scene by Escambia County EMS but not transported to the hospital.
Firefighters credited a nearby resident for calling 911 after hearing what they thought might be an accident on the bridge.
Pictured above: A Cantonment driver crashed through the guardrail on this bridge over Jacks Branch late Monday night, crashing about 25 feet into the water below. Pictured below: In this digitally enhanced photo, the tail lights and outline of the vehicle are barely visible in an estimated 12-15 feet of water. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Consolidation Plan Fails, Likely Dead
February 23, 2010
The Escambia County legislative delegation failed to pass the plan created by the Escambia County Consolidation Study Commission to consolidate the government of Century, Escambia County and Pensacola.
Meeting Monday night in Pensacola, the delegation did not pass a motion that would have sent the plan to the Legislature and then to a public referendum in 2010, and a motion to delay any possible vote to 2012 also failed.
“The local consolidation bill needs the support of the delegation,” Rep. Dave Murzin (pictured left) said. “It is pretty much dead for 2010.”
“I just had some issues that they (the consolidation committee) were not willing to work on to make it be a better bill,” Rep. Greg Evers told NorthEscambia.com after the vote. “I could not support taxation without representation, and I was afraid that this bill did that to the north end.”
A motion by Sen. Don Gaetz to send the consolidation study commission plan to the Legislature died without a second. Then Rep. Greg Evers made a motion to give the Consolidation Study Commission until November 2011 –if half the meetings were held outside of Pensacola and 25 percent were held north of Nine Mile Road. Ken Bell, who chaired the consolidation committee, then told the legislators that he felt the members of the now dissolved committee would not be willing to reconvene.Evers’ motion was seconded for discussion purposes, but failed 2-2 with Evers and Rep. Clay Ford for and Gaetz and Rep. Dave Murzin against.
Evers’ stipulation that any future consolidation meetings be held across Escambia County came over concern that the Consolidation Study Commission had not held throughout the county. As NorthEscambia.com reported Monday morning, 84 of 85 consolidation related meetings were held south of Ten Mile Road.
“I felt like if we were going to have consolidation, the meetings needed to be across the county,” Evers (pictured left) said. “The folks in the northern end needed to have the same input as the folks in the urban areas.”
Gaetz reintroduced his motion to send the plan to the Legislature this session, but it failed 2-2 with Gaetz and Ford for, and Evers and Murzin against. Legislative delegation member Sen. Durell Peaden was not Monday night’s meeting due a legislative meeting in Tallahassee.
“The local delegation did not need to be involved in this process at all,” Murzin said late Monday night. “In order to create a consolidation proposal, the group did not need the legislative delegation’s blessings…they (consolidation supporters) came to the delegation because they wanted us to show support.”
Evers said he introduced the bill last year in the Florida Legislature that empowered the Consolidation Study Commission only because he was chairperson of the legislative delegation. “If you are chair, you work for the other members; if a bill passes the delegation, you carry that bill to the Legislature.”
Murzin said he would reconsider supporting a consolidation bill if Century, Pensacola and Escambia County were to create the plan and present it to the delegation.
But the plan created by the Escambia County Consolidation Study Commission did not have the support of any of the governmental bodies in the county. Century pulled all support before the committee was even formed. Pensacola failed to support the plan, and Escambia County asked that any public referendum be delayed until at least 2012.
“I went into this with an open mind,” Century Mayor Freddie McCall said Monday night, one of about dozen people to address Monday night’s legislative delegation meeting. “I am not for it because it was rushed, and we need more time.”
Pictured below: The only Escambia Consolidation Study Commission meeting held north of Ten Mile Road was held in Century last October. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Sex Offender Living In Davisville Busted For Failing To Update Address
February 23, 2010
A convicted sex offender that was living in the Davisville area is in jail for failing to report his current address to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Michael J. Lassiter, 58, was convicted of molesting a juvenile in November, 1998, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. He was released from a Louisiana prison and reported his address to be 4699 Highway 168, Walnut Hill and had used 5701 Highway 168, Century.
When the FDLE was unable to make contact by mail with Lassiter at either address in January and April of 2009, they sent Escambia County deputies to look for him. Deputies discovered the 5701 Highway 168 address does not exist; there are no address numbers that high on Highway 168.
Authorities then met with the property owner at the address at 4699 Highway 168. The property owner said Lassiter had been given permission to stay in a shed at the address. They found an empty refrigerator and bed rails in the shed, but no obvious indications that anyone was still living there.
In September, 2009, the FDLE met with a female that said she had allowed Lassiter to stay at her address at 9981 Highway 97 in Davisville. Lassiter, according to the FDLE, never registered the address as required by law.
A few days later, Lassiter was spotted at the 4699 Highway 168 address.
FDLE obtained a warrant for Lassiter’s arrest. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail on the warrant and remains in jail on $2,500 awaiting his first court appearance on Thursday.