Woman Smuggles Pot Hidden In Her Body Into Century Prison
October 7, 2010
An Alabama woman was arrested after she allegedly tried to sneak drugs into Century Correctional Institution.
Sandra Eloise Tompkins, 36, of Greenville, Ala., was charged with possession of marijuana and felony introduction of contraband into a state facility. She was released from the Escambia County Jail on $1,000 bond.
A CCI K-9 alerted to the presence of drugs in Tompkins’ car in the prison parking lot while she was inside for visitation. She was escorted back to her vehicle where she signed a search consent.
Inside Tompkins’ car, prison officials “found personal lubrication, plastic wrap and a torn condom in the car”, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report. Tompkins told deputies that she had a small amount of marijuana hidden internally, and she later removed the marijuana from her person at the county jail, according to the report.
End Of An Era: Cooper’s Grocery To Close
October 7, 2010
A long chapter in the lives of many North Escambia residents is closing soon — Cooper’s Grocery at the Bratt Crossroads will soon be no more.
“I don’t know for sure when we will close it, but it won’t be long. Probably by the end of October,” Doris Cooper, 77, said Tuesday. She and her husband Lawrence Cooper, 84, have owned the country store at the heart of the Bratt community for 54 years.
Besides church, Cooper’s is, without a doubt, the center of the Bratt community. Mornings are a hustle and bustle of activity at “Coop’s”, with moms and children buying those last minute snacks for the school day at Bratt Elementary. Northview High students grab sugary snacks and caffeine to fuel their day.
The wooden front door creaks and moans as it opens and rings the bell to signal another customer. Wooden shelves are stocked with most everything imaginable. Cokes are sold in various sizes of plastic bottles like any other store. But there’s the sound of pure American nostalgia each time the top is popped on a glass bottle of Coca-Cola using the bottle opener located at the front counter. Glass bottles of Coke have been sold at Cooper’s since it first opened at the end of World War II.
The Coopers have offered credit to members of the community for decades. Customers were, and are still, able to add their purchase to their “ticket” for later payment. No credit checks needed, basically just residency in the community.
Some of the charge tickets are old and yellowed, waiting for decades payment. Tuesday morning, Mr. Lawrence located one from 1957. “3 doz. eggs $1.65. Gas $1.55. Groceries $21.35.” They know they will never be paid for the purchases 53 years ago. The gentleman that made the charges is long since deceased.
“But sometimes they will come back in here and make a payment,” Mr. Lawrence said. “I had a guy come in here and make a payment on an old one that I could not find right away. It wasn’t much, but he knew how much it was down to the penny that he owed.”
“I hope and pray that we’ve helped a lot of people,” Mrs. Doris said. “Sometimes that just what it is about.”
Anyone that has grown up around Bratt will happily tell you their memories about the candy counter. Well-stocked with all-time favorite candies, its the stuff dreams — and memories — are made of for little ones.
“Momma would give me 15 cents. We may have been poor, but I was spoiled with my 15 cents in here,” Donnie Bass, longtime Cooper’s Store customer said. “I would get a big candy bar, they were much bigger back then; a Coke and a honey bun.”
Bass, 64, has never really stopped going to Coopers. These days, it’s not uncommon to find Bass at the end of the counter, sharing his lighthearted outlook on most any subject that’s fit for discussion.
Known as the defacto mayor of Bratt, Bass and his buddies gather most mornings at the store to discuss the latest “news” of the day. They talk about the world’s problems, America’s problems and the local problems. And they always have a solution in mind.
“The world’s problems have been solved right here in this store,” Bass said, as he contemplated where he and his buddies will meet after the store’s closure. “I hate it when traditions are broken, don’t you? We might meet at my house, but I don’t know if that’s going to fly.”
It’s no secret that the solutions proposed by the men of Cooper’s Store have not solved America’s problems — the problems that have led to the demise of the store.
“It’s the economy really,” Mrs. Doris said as to why the store will close by the end of the month. And she said the couple hopes to do a little traveling. Then she started naming the trips taken through the years, all funded by the their little country store.
“We were blessed,” she said. “We able to do a lot with our children. We were probably one of the first families from Bratt to be able to go to Disney World.” Then there was the trip to California during which Mrs. Doris refused to get out of the car in Nevada because of legalized gambling.
“It was a Sunday and I wasn’t going to set foot on the ground in that state,” she said. As his wife continued to recount found memories of road trips with their children, Mr. Lawrence interrupted.
“We went to Wawbeek one day,” he said, bringing a chuckle from those around the counter. Even at 84, his humor is quick-witted.
Cooper’s Store adapted over the years to changing times. They once stocked a full line of groceries including fresh meats, hardware, clothes, shoes and animal feed. The store sold gasoline until just recently, and they also added a pizza/deli counter. “We would sell so much back then,” he said, from suppliers like J.U. Blacksher, Flomaton Wholesale and Lewis Bear.
The meat and cheese scale is still at the front counter — mostly used to weigh babies, she said.
Mrs. Doris’ own children are no strangers to the store, with all having worked behind the counter at one time or another.
“It’s been our family for all these years,” she said. “I’m going to miss seeing all the people in the community. They are like our family.”
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Man Charged With Arson For Two Fires In Two Days
October 7, 2010
A Decatur, Ala., man has been charged with torching his pickup truck and Cantonment home in two different fires on consecutive days.
The State Fire Marshal’s Office says Lawrence William Patterson III, 23, set a fire inside his 2006 GMC Canyon pickup truck late the night of February 15. That fire caused extensive damage to the garage and home in the 1800 block of Wareham Way in Cantonment. About six hours later, early on the morning of February 16, firefighters responded to the home again, this time for a fire that originated on the opposite side of the home.
A Beulah district fireman fell through the ceiling of the home and was injured while fighting the second fire.
Patterson was charged with two counts of first degree arson, one count of second degree arson and two counts of insurance fraud. Fire Marshal investigators said he received a $13,000 reimbursement for his truck and submitted a $300,000 claim for damage to his home.
Early Thursday morning, Patterson remained in the Escambia County Jail on $72,500 bond. If convicted on all counts, he faces up to 120 years in jail.
Cross Country Bicyclist Hit, Killed By Molino Driver
October 7, 2010
A Gulf Breeze bicyclist on a cross-country trip to raise money to help oil spill victims was struck and killed Wednesday by a driver from Molino.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Roger W. Grooters, 66, of Gulf Breeze was riding his bicycle on the shoulder of State Road 20 in Bay County about 8:55 a.m. Wednesday. Eddie R. Hogg, 41, of Molino, traveled onto the shoulder of the roadway in his 2006 Chevrolet pickup where he hit the bicyclist.
Grooters was ejected from the bicycle and came to rest on the shoulder of the road where he was pronounced dead by Washington County EMS.
Charges against Hogg are pending further investigation, according to the FHP.
Grooters was on the final leg of a bicycle journey from Oceanside, California, to Jacksonville, Florida, according to his blog.
“I’m doing this to raise money to help the victims and communities on the Gulf Coast affected by the recent oil spill,” he wrote on his blog.
Northview Names Homecoming Court (With Photo Gallery)
October 7, 2010
The Northview High School Chiefs have named their 2010 Homecoming Court. The homecoming queen and her court will be crowned prior to Friday night’s football game. Pregame festivities begin at 6 p.m., with kickoff at 7 p.m.
For more photos of the Homecoming Court, click here.
Pictured: The Northview High School 2010 Homecoming Court. Front row (L-R), seniors: Kara Hardin, Brooke Tullis, Sarah Killam, Hayley Simpson, Laneicia Gomez. Back row (L-R), sophomores: Tiffany Sutton, Ashley Mooney, Ashley Cunningham; juniors: Abby Odom, Elizabeth Wright, Chelsea Parham; freshmen: Tamara Green, Danielle Scott and Anna Fischer. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Found Cell Phone Leads To Arrest
October 7, 2010
A Century man that allegedly found a cell phone on a store shelf found himself behind bars Tuesday night.
Arthur Walker, Jr., 39, of Pond Street, was arrested by Escambia County deputies on an outstanding warrant for petty theft in connection with the August 30 incident.
The clerk at the Century Food Mart told deputies that she placed her cell phone down on a store shelf while she was working and forgot to retrieve it when she went to help customers at the front counter. When she returned, the phone was gone. Upon reviewing the store’s security camera footage, she said she observed a man she knew only as Arthur take the phone and exit the store.
An Escambia County deputy that viewed the security footage recognized the suspect at Arthur Walker, Jr. The store clerk identified him from a photo lineup and an arrest warrant was issued for Walker.
Walker remained in the Escambia County Jail early Thursday morning on $10,000 bond.
Century Man Not Happy With Sheriff’s Office Traffic Enforcement
October 7, 2010
A Century man has informed the Century Town Council that he is not happy with stepped up traffic enforcement by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Alfonzie Cottrell told the council at their last regular meeting that it appeared that deputies had “invaded” Century last week, writing “a lot” of traffic tickets.
Cottrell asked the council if the town had anything to do with the traffic enforcement. “A lot of these people can’t pay,” he said about those receiving citations. “They can’t pay their gas and water bills.”
He said excessive speeding was not a problem in Century.
“They should slow down,” Council President Ann Brooks told Cottrell. She said the town council had nothing to do with the Sheriff’s Office traffic enforcement in Century.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Unit often spends days in Pensacola working traffic in between escorting funerals. But Sheriff David Morgan has directed the unit to also crack down on traffic in North Escambia when time allows, make traffic control a priority.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, the ECSO Traffic Unit worked both Century and Walnut Hill on Tuesday, September 28. There were 14 citations issued in Century and six in Walnut Hill.
Pictured top: Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Unit motorcycle deputies use a radar gun to check the speed of passing motorists recently on Highway 97 in Walnut Hill. Pictured inset : A deputy writes a ticket on Highway 97 in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Lawmakers Plan Repeal of Septic Tank Inspection Bill
October 7, 2010
A pair of lawmakers from the Florida Panhandle have said that they will file a bill for the 2011 session that would repeal legislation passed earlier this year to require septic tank inspections every five years to protect Florida springs.
Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, and Rep. Marti Coley, R-Marianna, said the requirement, which they say could cost residents $500 or more, was secretly inserted into a wide-ranging springs protection bill (SB 550) passed late in session this year.
“The proper management of septic systems is important to our environment,” Gaetz said in a statement. “But this mandate is not supported by scientific necessity. Moreover, it works a special hardship on many people in rural areas who are struggling to make it financially in these exceptionally hard times.”
“One of the many problems with this requirement is that it was crafted by the companies that will be paid to do the inspections,” Coley added. “This is a clear conflict of interest.”
The wide-ranging spring bill, SB 550, would require inspections of the state’s 2.6 million septic tanks once every five years by 2016. The bill would ban solid and liquid residuals created by septic tanks that are currently allowed in other unrestricted public places and expand the definition of alternative water supply projects, which opponents have said would require some septic tanks to be replaced altogether.
The bill also calls for the creation of regional bodies to handle the septic tank inspections, instead of a state agency or “water czar,” as had been floated in previous proposals that ran into opposition in the Legislature. The new requirements are scheduled to go into effect Jan. 1.
The planned repeal bill, which would only affect the septic tank provision, follows a comment last month from Gov. Charlie Crist that he would not delay implementation of the bill despite requests to do so by two other Panhandle lawmakers, Sen. Durrell Peaden, R-Crestview, and Rep. Greg Evers, R-Baker. Peaden and Evers wanted Crist to push back the effective date of the requirement to July 2011 so lawmakers could study the effects of the mandate when they return to Tallahassee next March.
However, Crist spokesman Sterling Ivey noted “it was a Senate bill that passed both houses and he signed into law” and told the News Service of Florida recently that the governor had no plans to wade back into the septic tank debate this fall, his last at the head of state government.
Backers of SB 550 say the septic 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 water bodies. SB 550 supporters argued the federal agency may consider letting Florida have more of a say in septic tank monitoring if the state showed it was serious about protecting its water resources.
But Gaetz and Coley said that was not enough reason to ignore the burden they said requiring the inspections would put on taxpayers.
“County governments, taxpayer organizations and hundreds of concerned citizens have asked for relief from this intrusive, unnecessary expense,” both lawmakers said.
Sen. Lee Constantine, R-Altamonte Springs, declined to comment Tuesday because he will not be in the Legislature next year after facing term-limits. Constantine has said he considered SB 550 to be a capstone of his career in the Legislature and lawmakers presented him with a framed copy of the bill after he made farewell remarks on the floor of the Senate this year.
Earlier this summer, another term-limited senator, Democratic Leader Al Lawson, D-Tallahassee, said the bill should be repealed.
“Tallahassee simply cannot impose such a high financial burden on homeowners at this time,” Lawson said in August.
By Keith Laing
The News Service Florida
Record Setting Run For Jay’s Cross Country Team
October 7, 2010
The Jay High School Girls Cross Country team posted their fastest times of the season with 9 of 13 runners setting personal records at a meet earlier this week at Pace High School.
Robin Blackman led the Royals with a personal record of 21:27. The top five was rounded out by Leely Trevino with a time of 21:30, Jessica Thornton with 22:23, Allison Blair with 22:31, and Caristyn Golden with 22:48. Jay placed third in a field of nine teams.
Team scores were as follows:
- T.R. Miller 29
- Pace 59
- Jay 64
- Gulf Breeze 71
- Pensacola High 158
- Navarre 166
- Baker 250
- Central no score
- Tate no score
Dobson Takes Second In Disney Half Marathon
October 7, 2010
Matt Dobson of Jay finished second in the inaugural Disney World Wine & Dine Half-Marathon at Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando.
Dobson, 41, was only 13 seconds behind the winner, Anton Van Zyl, 37, of Fort Lauderdale. Dobson’s time was 1:15:04. The 13.1 mile race was the first nighttime half marathon at night.
Dobson, a graudate of Jay High School, holds the distinction of being the only American to win the Disney World Marathon Championship with a first place finish in 2004.
Dobson’s upcoming races include the Pensacola Marathon on November 14, the Disney Marathon in January and the 115th Boston Marathon in April, 2011.
Dobson finished the 2004 Boston Marathon 49th overall out of 20,000 runners and was the 16th fastest American.