Mugshots: Child Sex Sting Arrests
June 27, 2011
The following are mugshots of those arrested in an undercover child sex sting as announced Monday by the Pensacola Police Department and several other law enforcement agencies.
For details on the undercover operation and the charges against each man, click here.
Escambia Man Charged With Murdering His Grandfather, 69
June 27, 2011
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a suspect in the Sunday shooting death of a 69-year old Escambia County man.
Thomas Isaiah Bunch, 29, was arrested Monday morning and charged with homicide in the death of hist grandfather, Cleo Kennedy. He is being held in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
At around 1:04 p.m. Sunday, patrol deputies and investigators responded to a possible medical call at a home in the 7700 block of Fiesta Drive.
“We responded for a possible medical problem,” said sheriff’s office spokesman Deputy Chris Welborn. “ When our deputies arrived they found the victim lying in the front yard, deceased.”
Investigators found what appeared to be a gunshot wound to Kennedy’s head.
Fiesta Drive is located near the Highway 29 and I-10 interchange.
Pensacola Joins Escambia In Opposition To Mega Conecuh Landfill
June 27, 2011
Pensacola has joined Escambia County and other area governments in opposing the permitting and construction of the planned 5,100 acre Conecuh Woods landfill near Repton, Alabama.
The resolution approved by the Pensacola City Council cites water quality concerns with the landfill upstream from Escambia and Pensacola bays, both of which are currently listed as “impaired” because they already do not meet Florida’s minimum water quality standards.
The Escambia County (Fla.) Commission voted earlier this month to join a lawsuit aimed at blocking the landfill that was initiated by the Town of Repton, Ala., and Repton Mayor Terri Carter. According to the Escambia County (Fla.) resolution, the county opposes the landfill because it poses a threat to Escambia River, Escambia Bay and Pensacola Bay, as well as the drinking water supply in the county.
In late April, attorneys filed the original suit in Conecuh County Circuit Court on behalf of Repton (pop. 280) and Carter seeking an injunction to block the 5,100 acre Conecuh Woods landfill. The landfill was approved 3-2 by the Conecuh County Commission just a week before the lawsuit was filed contending that the application violated applicable law and the public did not have ample opportunity to comment on the proposal.
Escambia County (Ala.), Atmore, Flomaton, Brewton and Orange Beach have also joined, or plan to join, the lawsuit. The Escambia County (Fla.) Soil and Water Conservation District also passed a resolution against permitting the landfill.
Conecuh Woods’ landfill, will include a 1,600 acre “disposal cell” from Range to Repton to near the Big Escambia Creek. Big Escambia Creek flows southward into Escambia County, Alabama, Flomaton and drains through a North Escambia swamp into the Escambia River and then into Escambia and Pensacola bays.
Pictured: Repton (Ala.) Mayor Terry Carter explains her position against the landfill to the Century Town Council earlier this year. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Jones Swamp 172-Acre Wildfire Is 90% Contained
June 27, 2011
(Updated 5 p.m.) Personnel from the Florida Division of Forestry’s Blackwater Forestry Center continue to fight a 172-acre wildfire in southwest Escambia County but have called the blaze
90 percent contained.
Six dozers dealt with two minor spot over fires – one toward U.S. 98 and one closer to Waycross Road – during the day Monday as humidity levels dropped and winds picked up. Forest Rangers continued to widen and improve fire lines throughout the day and will monitor the fire overnight and return in the morning.
The majority of the fire was contained by 7:30 Sunday night and crews monitored the situation overnight, according to Joe Zwierzchowski, spokesperson for the Florida Division of Forestry. Forestry crews returned to the area with four bulldozers Monday morning.
The fire created smoky conditions all the way into North Escambia on Sunday.
County officials urged residents with asthma and other respiratory problems to stay indoors with their windows closed and air conditioning on. Residents in the Cantonment area told NorthEscambia.com that ash was falling into their yards, and smoke moved into Walnut Hill and McDavid by 4:45 Sunday afternoon.
Seven units from Escambia Fire Rescue along with 13 bulldozers and one helicopter were used to battle the blaze Sunday afternoon. The cause of the fire was not yet known.
Pictured top: Smoke from Jones Swamp fire dominates the skyline as seen from Gulf Breeze about 5:30 Sunday afternoon. Pictured inset: A Division of Forestry helicopter was used to dump water on the fire. Submitted photos by Hunter Kinnard for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Docs Seek Injuction Against Guns At Home Question Law
June 27, 2011
Calling the new law constitutionally vague and overreaching, a group of physicians and medical organizations have asked a federal judge in Miami to suspend, at least temporarily, enforcement of a state law that prohibits health care practitioners from asking certain patients if they own guns.
Attorneys representing at least three physicians and medical associations including the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Florida chapter say the so-called “Docs v. Glocks” law unconstitutionally steps between health care providers and their patients. Scott signed the measure into law in early June.
Backers of the measure, which provides exemptions to the “Don’t Ask” provision, were led by the National Rifle Association, which argued that gun ownership was a constitutionally protected right.
Opponents of the law say health care practitioners should be allowed to ask about gun ownership and whether weapons are properly stored as part of a battery of questions aimed at minimizing accidents in the home, especially among children.
BP Payments To Local Governments Top $31 Million, $9 Million To Escambia
June 27, 2011
Payments to local governments for costs incurred following the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill have totaled more than $31.5 million, according to company figures that list payments made through June 23.
Escambia and Bay Counties have so far collected the most from BP, with each receiving more than $9 million to offset costs of recovery and mitigation. Walton County received more than $5.1 million. Most of the money was spent on emergency response and removal costs.
Unlike private residents and businesses, state and local agencies recover their costs directly from the company instead of the Gulf Coast Claims Facility, which is reimbursing claimants out of a $20 billion BP fund. So far, the GCCF has paid out nearly $5 billion on more than 150,000 claims.
By The News Service of Florida
Tennis Anyone? Court Ready To Play In Century
June 27, 2011
Century has recently rehabilitated the town’s tennis court at Showalter Park.
A few months ago, the court was overgrown with grass, did not have a good net and was in a general state of disrepair. According to Mayor Freddie McCall, the tennis court had not been used in several years.
After a suggestion by a citizen at a town council meeting, the town cleaned up the court and installed a new net.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Read To Rosie: Parrot To Encourage Literacy
June 27, 2011
Rosie the Parrot is coming to the Century Branch Library next month, and he just loves to hear children read to him.
Modeled after the “read to dogs” programs used successfully by some libraries, children will have an opportunity to read a story to Rosie on July 14. He is an African Grey Parrot that belongs to Pat Rigel, Century’s librarian.
“They have found that when kids read to animals they do not have unnecessary anxiety about their reading skills and don’t worry about stumbling over words,” Rigel said “I hope that learning that African Grey’s are as intelligent as a 2-year old child and can have an enormous vocabulary, they will want to try to teach him new words or phrases.”
Safety will be priority for all involved — parents will need to sit with children six and under and a staff member will always be in the room. Rosie will be in an acrylic travel cage for his safety too.
Reservations are being accepted now for 15-minute sessions to be held on July 14. To reserve a time slot, or for more information, call the Century Branch Library at (850) 256-6217.
Typical Summer Weather
June 27, 2011
Our typical summertime weather continues this week with just slight chances of mostly afternoon storms and plenty of heat.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 96. Calm wind becoming south between 5 and 10 mph.
- Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. South wind between 10 and 15 mph becoming calm.
- Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 10am. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 97. Calm wind becoming south between 5 and 10 mph.
- Tuesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 95. Calm wind becoming southwest between 5 and 10 mph.
- Wednesday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Thursday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 95. Calm wind becoming south between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 93.
- Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 72.
- Saturday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 94. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73.
- Sunday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 95. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
ECUA Employees Gets 3.5 Percent Pay Raise
June 27, 2011
The Emerald Cost Utilities Authority has approved a 3.5 percent pay raise for employees over the next three months to offset the portion of their salaries that they will be required to contribute to their retirement.
The raise will be effective July 1 until the end of the fiscal year on September 30. Beginning July 1, state legislation mandates that employees contribute three percent to the state pension system.
The temporary pay raise passed 3-1, with District 5 member Larry Walker voting against the increase.