Deputies: Woman Steals Customer’s Credit Card, Charges $5K
June 20, 2011
A Century woman is accused of using a Food Giant customer’s credit card to purchase over $5,000 worth of money orders that she then cashed.
Kimeko M. Cooper, age 34 of Front Street, is facing a felony grand theft charge and 14 felony counts of fraudulent use of credit cards.
A Flomaton woman filed a report with the Flomaton Police Department that her credit card was used fraudulently over about a one month period beginning in February at the Food Giant in Century.
A Food Giant investigator determined that the stolen Visa card was used to purchase 14 different money orders totaling $5,763.14. Each of the money orders were cashed at the store and put in their next day’s deposit. All were handled by one employee, according to store records. The Food Giant investigator also determined that Cooper worked on each day the money orders were sold or cashed.
According to the Escambia County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office, Cooper admitted to deputies that she found the victim’s card on the counter in the store’s office. She also admitted to deputies that she used the card to purchase the 14 money orders that she then cashed at the store.
Cooper was released from the Escambia County Jail on $3,900 bond.
Rebuilding Plans Begin For Burned School Library
June 20, 2011
Summer classes will resume tomorrow for Pollard-McCall School, and plans are underway to replace the media center destroyed by fire last Wednesday.
The summer program will return Tuesday, June 21, at the nearby Catawba Springs Baptist Church.
After insurance adjusters complete their work, work will begin on the demolition of the burned structure, which was built in 1998. Officials hope the demolition will be complete before school begins August 15. Then, work will begin to replace the media center and classrooms.
The cause of Wednesday’s fire remains under investigation, but preliminary information points toward an electrical problem.
Pictured top: This is all that remains of the Pollard-McCall Media Center. Pictured below. An adjacent classroom in the same building suffered heavy smoke and water damage. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
School Inventories Normal At Northview, Molino Park, Jim Allen
June 20, 2011
Routine inventories at three North Escambia schools found just one item unaccounted for out of 1,677 items.
No items were missing from Northview High School or Molino Park Elementary School. At Jim Allen Elementary, one 2005 computer destined to be thrown away was not located.
According to Jim Allen Principal Rachel Watts the non-working computer was labeled for discard and may have been accidentally placed in a dumpster by a custodian rather than being returned to the district’s surplus department.
The outdated computer was the only missing item in Jim Allen’s inventory of 566 items with an original cost of $761,657.56. All of Molino Park’s 583 items with an original cost of $948,708.01 were located, as were all of the 528 inventory items with an original cost of $924,343.75 at Northview High School.
The Escambia County School District routinely audits property at schools in the county.
Northview, Jay Announce Band Camp Days; Jay Names Officers
June 20, 2011
Band camp dates have been announced for Northview and Jay high schools.
The Northview High School Tribal Beat Band will hold band camp for current and incoming members beginning in late July.
NHS Camp Dates
- Music and Fundamentals — July 26-28, 7-11 a.m.
- Marching Fun and Music — August 1st-5th, 7-11 a.m.
- Halftime Show and other Music — August 8th-11th, 7-11 a.m.
The Jay High School Royal Blue Band has announced summer band camp dates and named new officers for the 2011-2012 school year.
JHS Camp Dates
- Leadership Camp: July 25-27
- Rookie Camp: July 28-29, August 1-2
- Varsity Camp (required for all): August 3-5, August 8-12
JHS 2011-2012 Officers
- Captain: Noah McCarthy
- Lieutenant: Mike Kelley
- Secretary: Gena May
- Quartermaster: David Herring
- Chaplain and Drum Major: Allison Blair
- Uniform Officers: Rachel May, Tabitha Hoomes, Austin Herring
- Librarian Crew: Chanda Hawthorne, Makayla Patterson, Cody Girardeau
- 8th Grade Rep: Chandler Sedlacek
- Assistant Drum Major: Becca Macks
- Guard Captain: Dallas Belanger
Gladys Flowers Ellis
June 20, 2011
Mrs. Gladys Flowers Ellis, 85, passed away on Thursday, June 16, 2011, at a local hospital.
Mrs. Ellis was a native of Goodway, AL, and a resident of Atmore for most of her life. She attended the Sardis Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Willie Lee “Bill” Ellis.
She is survived by her son, Billy and Lisa Ellis of Canoe; a granddaughter, Billie Lee Ellis of Canoe; and a sister, Dollie Shipp of Poarch.
Funeral services will be held Monday, June 20, 2011, at 2:00 p.m. at the Sardis Baptist Church with the Rev. Earle Greene officiating.
Burial will follow at Godwin Cemetery with Petty Funeral Homes, LLC. directing.
Visitation was held Sunday, June 19, 2011, at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home in Atmore.
McDavid Mystery: Steamboat Pulled From The Escambia River
June 19, 2011
A McDavid mystery was pulled from the Escambia River Saturday — what the discoverers believe is the remains of a late 1800’s era steamboat.
The boat was first discovered by L.B. Malone barely sticking out of sand and debris near McDavid, and it was pulled to a sandbar by the Greenwell family.
Mark Greenwell believes, based upon some of his research, that the hull is from the late 1800’s, partially based upon the square nails used in the construction and an area of the hull that would have contained the large steam pipe.
“When you look at it up close, you can tell what (the steam pipe) would have been there. The steam side is on the part of the boat that had deteriorated the worst,” said Cindy Greenwell.
The family hopes that they will be able to find an expert to further identify the vessel and that an area museum will be interested in preserving their find.
“It was exciting for all of us,” Cindy Greenwell said.
For a photo gallery from the discovery, click here.
Pictured above and below: Remains of a boat pulled from the Escambia River at McDavid on Saturday. Pictured inset: Mark Greenwell and Timothy Greenwell with their discovery. Submitted photos by Cindy Greenwell for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Near 100 Today
June 19, 2011
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Sunday: A 10 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny and hot, with a high near 100. Southwest wind between 5 and 15 mph.
- Sunday Night: A 10 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Monday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 97. Calm wind becoming south between 5 and 10 mph.
- Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 94. Calm wind becoming south between 5 and 10 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Wednesday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 94. Calm wind becoming south between 10 and 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Wednesday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Thursday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
- Thursday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Friday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 91. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
- Friday Night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Saturday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 92. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Meeting To Discuss Future Of Langley Bell 4-H Center
June 19, 2011
Gulf Coast Agricultural and Natural Resource Association (GCA/NRA) will hold a public meeting Tuesday evening about the future of the Langley Bell 4-H Center in Beulah.
Escambia County could sell the 240-acre Langley Bell 4-H Center in Beulah to Navy Federal Credit Union to grow its customer service center campus.
“As an organization whose focus is on the 4-H and FFA youth in our area, we want to be sure the future is bright for those members interested in pursuing livestock projects and programs,” said Jack Livingston, GCA/NRA president. “If the sale goes through as everything stands at this moment, there may be no educational facility such as the Langley Bell 4-H Club Center to promote livestock programs such as hogs, cattle, poultry, goats and such.”
During Tuesday’s meeting, attendees will be invited to share their ideas on how the GCA/NRA can work to ensure that there is a place for 4-Hers and FFA members to pursue their goals in a livestock project or program.
“Agriculture, and livestock in particular are very important to the development of our economy and in the development of the leadership skills in our youth,” Livingston said.
The meeting will be held Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. at the Langley Bell 4-H Center, 4810 West Nine Mile Road.
4-H supporter Dr. M. Langley Bell, Jr. donated 400 acres to Escambia County for the Langley Bell 4-H Center. The center, which is now 240 of the original 400 acres, is used for events such as 4-H camps, retreats, timber projects, livestock projects, and as a meeting site for extension agents. The Langley Bell 4-H Center comprises about 240 acres of the original 400 acres. Four cabins, a kitchen, meeting hall, nature trails, forestry and livestock educational areas, barns, pastures, a 5-acre lake, and a campfire circle are part of the 4-H center’s learning environment.
Pictured top: This group of students took part in the GCA/NRA Spring Livestock show last April at the Langley Bell 4-H Center. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
WSRE To Cut Jobs, Programming After Scott Funding Veto
June 19, 2011
WSRE will eliminate employees and cut programming after Gov. Rick Scott vetoed $4.8 million in funding for public television in Florida.
Station officials said the veto will cost WSRE about $307,000, forcing the station to cut five of their 27 employees. Staff reductions will be made in the production area, donor services, SightLine reading service and broadcast engineering as of June 30 when the current fiscal year funding ends.
Some local productions will also be going on hiatus, and the “The Lawrence Welk Show” will be pulled from WSRE’s schedule to save programming costs.
The station said viewers can still expect to see core PBS programming such as Masterpiece, Antiques Roadshow and NOVA. In addition, the station’s educational services and events for the community will continue.
“The difficult decision to cancel programs and eliminate the jobs of valued WSRE employees was made after an exhaustive review of our entire organization, and with the greatest reluctance,” said Sandy Cesaretti Ray, WSRE’s general manager. “With all of our remaining revenue sources under pressure, these actions were necessary to responsibly ensure the long-term sustainability of the organization and put WSRE on a realistic financial path for the future. We are counting on the increased support of our viewers, corporate support partners, and private foundations to help WSRE rebound from this loss while continuing to retain our award-winning prominence in public media.”
Have Your Say In Redistricting Florida
June 19, 2011
The redistricting process is underway in Florida, and there’s only one meeting in the area if you want to have input into the process.
The Florida House and Senate redistricting committees will hold their first round of joint public meetings in Pensacola on Tuesday.
These meetings will give the public an opportunity to start the conversation about redistricting and share their ideas directly with Florida legislators. For more information on the Florida House of Representatives’ redistricting efforts, visit FloridaRedistricting.org.
A Public Redistricting Meeting will be held Tuesday from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the WSRE TV Amos Studio at 1000 College Boulevard in Pensacola.