Animals Shelters Closed
June 1, 2011
All of Escambia County, Alabama, is now without the services of an animal shelter — the Humane Society of Escambia County’s agreement to operate shelters in Atmore and Brewton ended as of Tuesday.
The humane society lost over 60 percent of their funding when the Neal Trust of Brewton came to an end. Without the commitment of adequate funding from the governments they serve — Atmore, Brewton, East Brewton, Flomaton and Escambia County (Ala.) — Director Renee Jones announced in early May that the shelters would close by May 31.
Most of the animals in the two shelters were transferred to no-kills shelters in Virginia and Florida, as well a shelter in Baldwin County. Pilot Jack Rowell of Cantonment even helped to fly some of the animal to a humane society in Virginia from the Brewton Airport through the “Pilots n Paws” program.
Human society Director Renee Jones said that talks are continuing between the various municipalities in Escambia County, Alabama, about the possibility of operating just one shelter to cut costs.
Pictured above and below: Some of the animals housed recently at the Atmore Animal Shelter. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
NHS Holds Scalpball Tourney
June 1, 2011
Team Bradley and Quarantine were the winners in the recent Northview High School Spring 2011 Scalpball Tournament.
Team Bradley was tops among five teams in the adult bracket, while Quarantine took the teen bracket which consisted of eight teams.
“As always the day was filled with action packed volleyball from all levels of play,” said Betty Heaton, Northview’s volleyball coach. All proceeds from the event benefited Northview High’s volleyball program.
The next Scalpball tournament will be in October, and Heaton said now is the time to start forming teams and get ready.
Pictured top: Team Quarantine – Dabney Langhorn, Derek Lewis, Josh Scott and Colton Sims. Pictured below: Team Bradley — Josh Bilon, Tara Bradley, Michael Bradley, Dan McDonald and Mike Dalton. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida To Begin Testing Welfare Recipients For Drugs
June 1, 2011
Florida will begin testing welfare recipients for illicit drug use following action Tuesday by Gov. Rick Scott that will link the state’s temporary cash assistance program to tests critics say have already been ruled unconstitutional.
Following up on a campaign promise, Scott signed the measure during a Panama City visit that makes Florida the only state in the nation to test all applicants for Temporary Assistance to Needy Families before they can collect benefits, according a Washington-based public policy group that says other states have narrower testing requirements.
The new law (HB 353) requires recipients to pay for the tests and periodically be retested at their expense to continue receiving benefits. Recipients will be reimbursed if the tests, which cost anywhere from $10 to $70, depending on who is estimating, come back negative. Backers say the law will help ensure that taxpayer money goes for helping the family get back on its feet and not used to fuel a drug habit.
“While there are certainly legitimate needs for public assistance, it is unfair for Florida taxpayers to subsidize drug addiction,” Scott said in a statement. “This new law will encourage personal accountability and will help to prevent the misuse of tax dollars.”
Beginning July 1, recipients who test positive for drugs would be denied benefits for a year. A second failed test would result in a three-year ban. Recipients who complete a drug rehab program can re-apply in six months.
In two parent households, both adults would be tested. Benefits to children could be awarded to a third party recipient, who must also pass a drug screen. The law will not affect the federal food stamp program.
Critics including the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida and Florida Legal Services, which say they will decide in the coming weeks if they plan to file suit challenging the law, a version of which was struck down in 2003 by a federal court in Michigan.
During debate, opponents pointed to a pilot testing program in Florida that was shut down in 2001 after it showed no significant difference in drug use between welfare recipients and the population at large.
“The wasteful program created by this law subjects Floridians who are impacted by the economic downturn, as well as their families, to a humiliating search of their urine and body fluids without cause or even suspicion of drug abuse,” Howard Simon, executive director of ACLU Florida in a statement Tuesday.
Federal law allows states to screen for drug use under the TANF program, which provides a maximum of $300 a month in cash assistance to needy families. The program, which replaced traditional welfare in the mid 1990s, has a 48-month lifetime cap on benefits.
Other states have studied the issue and decided that testing all recipients was not cost effective, the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Legal and Social Policy wrote in a study released in January. Most states conduct drug assessments but do not require across the board urine or blood tests. Some require drug tests from recipients who have been convicted of felony drug crimes.
By Michael Peltier
The News Service of Florida
Florida Minimum Wage Increases – By 6 Cents
June 1, 2011
If you work for minimum wage in Florida, you received a raise Wednesday — but it won’t make any real difference in your paycheck.
Florida’s minimum wage increased from $7.25 per hour to $7.31. For a 40-hour week, that means a paycheck increase of $2.40 before taxes, or about $125 per year.
The minimum wage also increases for those that make tips like waitresses, from $4.23 to $4.29 per hour.
The increase is due to a 2004 constitutional amendment that set Florida’ minimum wage to increase with inflation. But it took a lawsuit on behalf of Florida’s lowest paid workers to get the increase.
Ashley Rachea Creamer
June 1, 2011
Ashley Rachea Creamer, 27, of Jay died on May 28, 2011. She was a lifelong resident of Jay and a graduate of the Jay High School class of 2002. She graduated from OWCC in 2004. She was a loving mother, daughter, sister and friend to those that knew and loved her.
She is survived by her daughter, Madalynn Grace; parents, Charles and Linda Creamer; sister, Crystal Creamer (Derek) Kelley; fiancee, Chad Summerlin; grandmother, Bernice Creamer; niece, Dalana Brake and many cousins, aunts, uncles, and friends.
A visitation will be held from 6-9 p.m. on Thursday, June 2, 2011, at Jay Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held on Friday, June 3, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. at Jay Funeral Home with Rev. Jeff Dwenger officiating services. Burial will follow at Jay City Cemetery.
Jay Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Hurricane Season: Storm Surge Evacuation Zone Map Change
June 1, 2011
New hurricane evacuation zones in Escambia County reach inland all the way to the North Escambia area. And as the 2011 storm season begins, Escambia County Emergency Management is encouraging residents to check their property on the updated storm surge evacuation zone map.
The old evacuation zones stretched as far north as just north of Nine Mile Road along the Perdido and Escambia Rivers only for category 3 or greater storms. The new evacuation zones stretch as far north as North Barth Road along the Escambia River and Vantage Road on the Perdido River — locations that are prone to flooding.
“Property owners impacted by the new storm surge maps should consider the purchase of flood insurance. Please check with your insurance agent if you are now in an evacuation zone. Staying safe from surge flooding is easy if you follow evacuation orders and don’t wait until it is too late,” said John Dosh, Escambia’s emergency management chief.
The new plans will eliminate evacuation zone references based up the category of the storm. Rather than the category evacuation zones, the county will instead identify evacuation zones with an A, B, C, D, and E reference.
While the new evacuation zones stretch further inland into North Escambia based upon storm surge date, the overall number of people that would be ordered to evacuate will be reduced — most of the included land in the North Escambia area is along the Perdido or Escambia River and very sparsely populated.
To view the new evacuation zones, visit click here.
New Principal Named For Jay High School
June 1, 2011
The Santa Rosa County School Board has named a new principal for Jay High School.
Brad Marcilliat will transition into the principal’s job on July1. He has served as assistant principal at the grade 7-12 school since late 2009. Principal Dale Westmoreland is retiring after five years at Jay High School’s principal.
One Dies In Escambia Crash
May 31, 2011
One person is dead following a three vehicle traffic crash in Escambia County Tuesday morning.
The Florida Highway Patrol said Kelvin Antonio Taylor, 35, of Pensacola was northbound on Blue Angel Parkway near Millview Road about 7:30 a.m. when he traveled into oncoming traffic for unknown reasons.
He struck vehicles driven by Cody James Ramey, 27, of Pensacola and and Gwendolyn Vaughn Thompson, 71, of Milton. Taylor died at the scene; while Ramey was seriously injured and Thompson was uninjured.
Animal Cruelty: Pregnant Cow Found Strangled To Death (Exclusive Photos)
May 31, 2011
In what’s being called a surprising case of animal cruelty, a pregnant cow was found dragged and strangled Monday in the Enon community.
The owner of the cow found the animal dead in a pasture just behind his house on Highway 97-A Monday morning as he checked on his animals. Thin twine — often called grass string – had been tied several times around the cow’s neck and had apparently strangled the animal as it was dragged through the pasture. The cow was found on its side, with its head upside down and its horns pushed several inches into the dirt.
For more photos, click here. (Warning: Some readers may find the photos disturbing.)
“I just don’t understand who would do something like this and why,” said the owner of the cow. “It was just senseless.” The owner last saw the cow alive in his pasture Sunday. He said he believed that the incident could have been some sort of prank gone wrong or a case of just cruelty.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the incident. A crime scene investigator responded to the pasture near the Enon Baptist Church to take photographs and collect evidence. The suspect or suspects in the case are expected to face felony animal cruelty charges.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Pictured: An Escambia County Sheriff’s Office crime scene investigator photographs a cow that was apparently strangled to death in Enon. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photo, click to enlarge.
More Photos: Pregnant Cow Found Strangled
May 31, 2011
A pregnant cow was found dragged and strangled to death Monday in Enon. For the complete story, click here.
These are additional photos from the scene. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
