Firefighters Battle Molino Woods Fire
February 24, 2011
Firefighters battled a woods fire in Molino Wednesday night.
The fire was reported about 6:30 in the 5800 block of Pilgrim Trail West (commonly called “the second” Pilgrim Trail West). No structures were damaged by the blaze. A resident was not at home as the fire burned near their home, but a neighbor was able to put out the fire closest to the brick home using a garden hose.
The two-acre fire was reported to be contained by about 7:30 p.m.
The Molino and Walnut Hill stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Florida Division of Forestry responded to the fire.
Pictured above: A woods fire burns Wednesday night on Pilgrim Trail West in Molino. Pictured below: A neighbor was able to use a garden hose to keep the fire away from this house before firefighters arrived. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
36th Annual Ruritan Auction This Weekend
February 24, 2011
The 36th Annual Walnut Hill Ruritan Club Farm Equipment Auction will be held Saturday, and auction items are being accepted today.
The auction will begin at 9:30 a.m. Saturday.
The auction includes not only farm equipment, but also a second simultaneous auction with household items like tools and small equipment, lawn and garden items, antiques and more. Sellers can register their items on Thursday or Friday, or prior to the start of the sale on on Saturday morning. Buyers can register prior to 9:30 on Saturday morning.
Concessions will be available all day from the Ruritan Club. For more information or consignments, call 327-4479 or 327-4318.
The sale will be located at the Walnut Hill Community Center on Highway 97 just north of Ernest Ward Middle School.
Learn About Bullying, Drugs And More Tonight From Sheriff’s Office, DEA
February 24, 2011
Ernest Ward Middle School will host a Parent Awareness Night tonight to give the community a chance to learn more about bullying, the newest illegal drugs, cyberbullying and the dangers associated with Facebook, Myspace and other social networks.
Speakers and topics for the event will include:
- John Johnson, DEA Special Agent, U.S. Justice Department — Drug Information
- Zack Ward, Escambia County Sheriff’s Investigator — Facebook, Myspace, Cyberbullying, Computer Issues
- James Gill, ECSO School Resource Officer — Bullying, School Concerns
All parents and community members are invited to attend the event at 6:00 tonight n the school gymnasium. Refreshments will be served.
Teacher Merit Pay Advances In Both Chambers
February 24, 2011
Key committees in both legislative chambers gave yes votes Thursday to a proposal to partially base teacher salaries on their students’ test scores, a proposal shot down last year after teachers around the state protested that the merit pay system would penalize them.
The measure (SB 736) and a companion House version, would grandfather in current teacher pay plans, but set up new, merit-based ones for teachers hired after July 1, 2014. The proposals also call for an evaluation process to be set up for teachers, but they don’t spell out the details, allowing the Commissioner of Education and local school districts to work out just how teachers would be evaluated.
The Senate Budget Committee voted Wednesday to send its version to the floor – with a technical stop at the Rules Committee to be put on the calendar. The House PreK-20 Competitiveness Committee, meanwhile also voted Wednesday to forward the proposal to its next committee stop. The House bill amended its measure to put it in line with the Senate bill, so both proposals are, for now, the same.
Unlike last year’s measure – SB 6 – the new version would allow the evaluation formula to consider students’ attendance, disciplinary records, disabilities and English proficiency when evaluating teachers for merit pay. It may not, however, set different expectations for students based on gender, race, ethnicity or socioeconomic status.
But a student’s home life, which would likely be affected by socioeconomic status, has remained a major sticking point for teachers in their opposition to the bill. Many have said that they see students who are dealing with serious problems at home, which takes their focus away from simple math and reading. Some teachers said they should not be penalized financially because their students on the testing day may have a major problem at home over which the teacher has no control.
Megan Allen, the 2010 Florida teacher of the Year, was among those who spoke out against the bill Thursday as both House and Senate committees debated the bill. Allen, who is her family’s bread winner while her husband goes back to school, said if the current proposal becomes law, she might consider leaving her Hillsborough County school, where more than 90 percent of the students receive free or reduced lunches. She said she is afraid her pay will suffer if a given class of students does not perform well because of problems outside of the classroom.
“It’s not taking into account many adult life struggles that high poverty students experience each day,” she said.
The bills would require districts to set up evaluation systems that rate teachers as “highly effective,” “effective,” “needs improvement” or “unsatisfactory.” Half of those evaluations would be based on test scores. They would also allow districts to permanently put new hires on one-year contracts instead of the long term agreements that are in place now, making it easier for administrators to fire teachers.
The proposal has been backed by some high profile and politically powerful groups, namely the Florida Chamber of Commerce and former Gov. Jeb Bush’s education advocacy group, the Foundation for Florida’s Future. It has also gained traction in select pockets of teachers around the state.
“It will create a system that focuses on what matters most: Education,” said Savannah Nielson, a middle school teacher from Miami, during the Senate Budget Committee meeting.
The Florida Education Association, the statewide teachers’ union, has been milder in its opposition to these proposals compared to last spring, when it reacted to the bill by encouraging members to flood lawmakers offices with e-mails, letters and phone calls. But it does seem to be ramping up efforts to fight the bill as it progresses through the Legislature.
Former Gov. Charlie Crist ultimately vetoed the bill last year, citing concerns of fairness to teachers. Prior to the veto, his office said he received 65,259 phone calls and e-mails in opposition and 3,090 in support, with thousands more left uncategorized.
The bill now appears poised for easy passage though, with Gov. Rick Scott pledging his support to merit pay legislation and both House Speaker Dean Cannon and Senate President Mike Haridopolos making it a top priority.
Haridopolos told reporters following the Senate vote that he was pleased that the measure was progressing, while acknowledging that some educators still opposed the bill.
“There are some people that are still not happy with the bill, but you know, you’re making a change,” he said. “There’s going to be some of that status quo interrupted.”
By Kathleen Haughney
The News Service Florida
Insurance Company Settles Up For $190K In Sewage Station Wreck
February 24, 2011
The Town of Century has received a six figure insurance settlement check for a December 20 wreck that damaged a sewage lift station and electric generator on Highway 29 near Jackson Street.
The Great Western Casualty Company settled with the town for $190,250.51. That’s “every penny” of the town’s cost for repairs, according to Mayor Freddie McCall.
The truck driver, Freddie Pelzer, 67, of Douglasville, Georgia, was not injured in the crash. He was charged with careless driving by the Florida Highway Patrol.
Pictured: A Town of Century sewage lift station and generator were damaged in this December 20 crash on Highway 29 near Jackson Street. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Guilty Of Murder; Another Man Indicted For Murder
February 24, 2011
An Escambia County man was convicted Wednesday of murdering his landlord last year, while another man was indicted on murder charges in a separate case for shooting a man as he sat in his car.
Murder Conviction
Donald Verne was found guilty of second degree murder with a weapon for killing of his landlord, Peter Delmonico. Verne faces life in prison and will be sentenced before Judge Nicholas Geeker on March 23.
On July 29, 2010, DVerne brutally attacked Peter Delmonico with a 2×4 board. Verne struck his victim multiple times in the back of the head with such force it mimicked that of injuries found in car crashes, according to State Attorney Bill Eddins. Delmonico suffered multiple skull fractures and severe brain injury from which he was unable to recover and he died at Baptist Hospital on August 3, 2010.
Murder Indictment
State Attorney Bill Eddins announced Wednesday that an Escambia County Grand Jury returned a one count indictment against Cameron Tyler Cherry for a murder which occurred December 14, 2010.
Cherry was indicted for first degree murder for the shooting death of Robert Witherspoon, II, who suffered a single gunshot to the head while seated in his car on Mary Lane.
Cherry is scheduled for arraignment March 3 and remains incarcerated under no bond.
The investigation remains ongoing and is being conducted by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact Investigator Buddy Neesmith at (850) 436-9600.
‘Golden Cow Dung Award’ Presented To Ernest Ward Teacher’s Assistant
February 24, 2011
Ernest Ward Middle School teacher’s assistant Lindsey Kelley received the third annual “Golden Cow Dung Award” from members of the Ernest Ward FFA. The award presented Wednesday afternoon featured a large piece of cow dung, painted a golden color.
(Cow dung, in case you did not know, is what you are probably thinking it is. It’s that natural byproduct that cows drop in the field. The award is 100 percent real dung spray painted a golden color.)
Kelley received the award from the school’s FFA members as a “thank you” for supporting FFA. The same Golden Cow Dung Award was presented last year to Family & Consumer Science teacher Kathy Ellis and two years ago to Principal Nancy Perry.
More than half a million members around the nation are participating in National FFA Week activities at the local and state levels this week.
Pictured top: Ernest Ward Middle School FFA Gold Cow Dung Award presentation with Madison McGhee, photographer; Allison Woodfin, treasurer; Haley Brown, secretary; award-winner Lindsey Kelley; Addy Lee, parliamentarian; Tiffani Cruce, president; Penny Banda, FFA member; Bethany Reynolds, sentinel; FFA Sponsor Cynthia Wilson, Haylee Weaver, reporter; and Miranda Vidak, historian. Pictured inset: Kelley inspects her award. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Murder: Body Of Missing Woman Found
February 23, 2011
Investigators with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office have identified the body of a local woman found in a wooded area near the intersection of Twin Oaks Drive and Prieto Drive in unincorporated Pensacola, just off New Warrington Road.
The body of Catherine Angelica Lindsey, 22, was discovered at around 2:25 p.m. Wednesday afternoon in the wooded area behind the Twin Oaks Villas Apartments.
“Lindsey had been reported missing on February 18,” said Sheriff’s spokesman Deputy Chris Welborn. “Investigators were searching the area for evidence in that missing person case when they discovered her body in a shallow grave.”
Investigators have classified Lindsey’s death as a homicide.
“Even though we are in the very early stages of a homicide investigation,” said Welborn, “we have developed a person of interest, and he has been brought in for questioning.”
The Sheriff’s Office would not release any further details concerning the investigation.
U.S. Marshals Nab Suspect Hiding In Car Trunk
February 23, 2011
The U.S. Marshals Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested a Pensacola man yesterday after they found him hiding in the trunk of a car.
Henry Dewayne Watson was wanted by the U.S. Marshals in Pensacola on a federal warrant for failure to appear on a convicted felon in possession of a firearm charge. Watson also has a Santa Rosa County warrant for aggravated stalking.
The U.S. Marshals along with the ATF had been working together on Watson’s capture for two weeks when they finally caught a break last Friday when they discovered a house where Watson may be hiding out. After hours of surveillance, Watson was finally spotted walking near that home on the 200 Block of Craft Street just north of 9 Mile Road in Pensacola around 2 p.m. Tuesday.
Watson then disappeared and task force officers weren’t sure if he actually went into that house. About two hours later a vehicle driven by an unidentified woman drove up to the house, entered the garage momentarily then emerged and took off down the road.
Task Force Officers assisted by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Gang Unit pulled the car over not far away as it pulled into a fast food restaurant. After the driver was asked to exit the car; Task Force Officers found what appeared to be an empty car.
However, they were suspicious and used the remote to open the trunk where they found the 32-year old Watson hiding. Watson was arrested without further incident and booked into the Escambia County Jail and will see a federal magistrate judge on Wednesday. There are also additional warrants pending in Santa Rosa County. On the federal charges alone he is most likely facing a minimum of fifteen years behind bars.
Brush Fire Damages Walnut Hill Mobile Home
February 23, 2011
A Wednesday morning brush fire caused minor damage to a Walnut Hill mobile home.
A burn pile reportedly got out of control on Garrett Road just after 11 a.m., spreading to a couple of large grassy yards and a wooded area. The fire spread under a mobile home, sparking a minor fire inside an exterior wall of the home. Firefighters were able to quickly bring the fire in the wall under control.
The Walnut Hill and Century stations of Escambia Fire Rescue battled the brush fire, along with the Florida Division of Forestry.
Pictured above: An out of control brush fire caused minor damaged to a mobile home in Walnut Hill Wednesday morning. Pictured inset: A firefighter surveys the damage to an exterior wall of the mobile home. Pictured below: A Forestry bulldozer moves into the woods to plow a line around the brush fire. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
