Food Bank Collects Cash From Lawsuit Settlement
May 24, 2011
The Bay Area Food Bank is one of eight food banks in the state that will share nearly $1.7 million in grants for a settlement reached by the Florida Attorney General’s Office in 2010. The multi-state, class action settlement agreement involved allegations of an illegal vitamin price-fixing conspiracy.
“I am pleased that we can distribute these funds to food banks throughout Florida, which will help our fellow citizens who are in need,” stated Attorney General Pam Bondi. “Each of these organizations is a member of the Florida Association of Food Banks, which feeds an estimated three million Floridians annually.”
The settlement agreement required the money to be used for the improvement of health and/or nutrition of the citizens of Florida and/or the advancement of nutritional, dietary or agricultural science
The Bay Area Food Bank will receive $78,99.14 for the settlement. The food bank serves clients though locations in 24 counties in Alabama, Florida and Mississippi, including Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. The agency is on track to deliver more than 14 million pounds of food this year.
Go Blue Wahoos! Pcola’s New Baseball Team Gets A Name
May 24, 2011
Pensacola’s new Double-A baseball team will be named the Blue Wahoos.
The name, submitted by Shelley Yates of Pensacola, was the slight favorite among thousands of fans that cast their vote during a “Name the Team” contest.
The Blue Wahoos brand was officially welcomed to Pensacola Monday at Cordova Park Elementary School. Quint and Rishy Studer, owners of the Double-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds, Blue Wahoos President Bruce Baldwin and fifth grade students and teachers from Cordova Park Elementary School were on hand to cheer for the six finalists and ultimately the winning name.
“From the 1,700 people who submitted team names to the pep rally here today at Cordova Park Elementary School, we have all thoroughly enjoyed this whole process,” said Quint Studer. “Naming the team is one of many opportunities for our fans and community to really take ownership of their new team. If the energy and creativity we saw from fans during this contest is any indication, we are going to have a lot of fun when the Blue Wahoos begin playing in Pensacola.”
Named for the explosive way they pull out of the water, Wahoos are a tough hometown fish that mean business. Blue, while part of the fish’s color, also connects to Pensacola’s blue water, blue skies and the Blue Angels, according to the team.
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos are the future Double-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. The team will begin play in April 2012 at Maritime Park.
Pictured top: The Pensacola Blue Wahoos name is announced Monday morning during a pep rally at Cordova Park Elementary School. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Accused Of Burglary, Punching Police Dog
May 24, 2011
An Escambia County burglary suspect was arrested early Monday after punching a police dog in the face and trying to break into a car wash.
Allen Jay Dillard, 20, was arrested shortly after deputies responded to reports of the burglary at a Mobile Highway car wash.
The business owner, Donald Roe, witnessed the burglary by watching video surveillance of the business from his home. He called 911 and gave a description of the suspect to sheriff’s dispatchers.
An Escambia County Deputy was on patrol a few blocks away when the call was put out. As the deputy arrived at the car wash, Dillard fled on foot.
“Dillard ran away from the deputy and into a wooded area near Mobile Highway and Michigan Avenue,” said sheriff’s spokesman Deputy Chris Welborn. “Shortly after Dillard ran into the woods one of our K-9 units arrived on scene.”
Deputy Mark Smith and his K-9 partner, Jeck, tracked Dillard through the woods to the Denver Avenue area.
“Dillard, who was armed with a crowbar, was given several commands to stop running but refused to do so,” Welborn said. “Jeck was released and quickly apprehended him.”
According to a report, Dillard punched Jeck in the face several times but the K-9 refused to let go. Deputies were then able to restrain Dillard with handcuffs.
Dillard was booked into the Escambia County Jail and charged with attempted burglary, possession of burglary tools, battery on a police dog, criminal mischief and resisting arrest without violence. He was held on a $12,500 bond.
Escambia Considers Small Increase To Fire Tax
May 24, 2011
The fire fee tacked onto your annual property tax bill may be going up if you are a resident of Escambia County.
The Escambia County Commission has scheduled a June 16 public hearing to consider hiking the Municipal Services Benefit Unit (MSBU) fee by $5 per year for the next couple of years.
The current fee, assessed to Escambia County residents outside the city limits of Pensacola, is $75 per year. If the county commission passes the proposal, the fee would be $80 in 2012 and $85 in 2013.
Commercial property owners would also see an increase in the their fire tax, jumping about $60 per 10,000 square feet.
The increase fees, estimated at about a half million from residential property owners, will go toward funding 12 paid firefighters at the Ensley Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, the busiest station in the county. The firefighters were first hired under a 2009 grant that decreases yearly before ending.
The public hearing on the increase will be June 16, 5:30 in the commission chambers at the Escambia County Governmental Complex on Palafox Place in downtown Pensacola.
Donald Ray Hart
May 24, 2011
Donald Ray Hart passed away at the age of 81 on May 23, 2011.
He was born in St. Louis Missouri on November 1, 1929. In 1957, he moved to the Chicago area and in 1976 moved to the Cleveland, Ohio area. In the mid 1990’s Don relocated to Walnut Hill where he lived the remainder of his life and peacefully passed away in his home with his family members at his side.
At the age of 15, Don began his lifelong career with the railroad in St. Louis as a mail courier, then rose through the ranks and was promoted to the Chicago office as a freight claim adjuster. In 1976 he was promoted to freight claim district manager and moved to the Cleveland area. In 1987 Don retired from the Norfolk Southern Railroad after 42 years of dedicated service. Upon retirement Don began his own company, Granite City Enterprises.
Don is survived by his wife of 55 years, Emma E. (Sommer) Hart; his two children, Michael R. Hart, wife Bethany; Donna L. Hart-Miller, husband Edward; two grandsons, Aaron P. Miller and Jeremy C. Miller; and one great-grandson, Lochlan Fleming-Miller.
In Don’s leisure time he enjoyed fishing, hunting, flea marketing and traveling with his family. He was an active member and trustee of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Downers Grove, Illinois and the President of the Smart Acres Home Association in Darien, Illinois. He was a member of The First United Methodist Church in Atmore.
The family wishes to thank the staff of Covenant Hospice for the care and comfort for Don and his family. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Covenant Hospice of Milton 6479 Caroline St. Suite B, Milton, FL. 32570 or to First United Methodist Church 311 South Pensacola Ave. Atmore, AL. 36502.
A memorial service will be Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. at The United Methodist Church Atmore, AL.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Inc. of Atmore, AL. is in charge of arrangements.
Thomas Tyrone Fralick
May 24, 2011
Mr. Thomas Tyrone Fralick, 71, passed away on Sunday, May 22, 2011, at a Pensacola hospital.
Mr. Fralick was a native of Excel and a resident of Walnut Hill for the past 42 years. He was a U.S. Marine Corp veteran, retired from Vanity Fair after 29 years and attended the Sovereign Grace Baptist Church.
He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Lynn Fralick of Walnut Hill; his son, Kevin and Marina Fralick of Pensacola; two daughters, Trellis and Jeff Barnes of Walnut Hill, and Julie and Jason Taylor of Booneville; four grandchildren, Breanna Barnes, Jordan Taylor, Jaimee Taylor and Jake Taylor; two brothers, Arvel Lee Fralick of Uriah, and Randall Paul Fralick of Pensacola; and four sisters, Barbara Gibson of Grove Hill, Nina Welborn, Lavine Kast, and Judy Branch, all of Pensacola.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, May 25, 2011, at 11:00 a.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Minister Kevin Fralick and Minister Chuck Ellis officiating.
Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery with military honors.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, May 25, 2011, from 9:30 a.m. until funeral time at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home in Atmore.
Pallbearers will be Allen Sharpless, Larry Sharpless, Glenn Sharpless, Wayne Fralick, Mark Fralick and Paul Fralick.
Future Uncertain For Animals In Two Shelters Slated For Closure
May 23, 2011
Rusty the cat really doesn’t know what his future holds. At 15-years old, his life took a dramatic turn when he landed at the Atmore Animal Shelter. His elderly caretaker was forced to move in with her children, unable to take her cat along.
At the shelter, Rusty (pictured left) did not really fit in with the younger cats in the “Cat Room” (he is in his 70’s in human years, after all), so he adopted the office as his own where he can, between long old-man naps, manage things.
But Rusty has a problem — the Atmore Animal Shelter is closing.
Both the Atmore and Brewton animal shelters, which are operated by the Humane Society of Escambia County (Ala.), 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 the shelters will close by May 31.
Jones is proud of the work accomplished at the shelters, proud of the numbers that show euthanasias are down from 79 percent of animal intakes in 2008 to less than 15 percent — only the most necessary of cases — in 2011. A spray and neutering program, along with education, has brought the total number of animals housed at the shelter each year down dramatically.
For more photos of cats and dogs at the Atmore animal shelter, click here.
“I just don’t understand how the cities can’t have the vision to fund a shelter,” Jones said. “Animal control and a shelter is a basic and necessary part of government service.”
After the shelter closings were announced on the group’s Facebook page April 11, there were about 50 adult dogs, 25 puppies and 20 cats in the two shelters in need of a home. A shelter in Brunswick, Maine, the nearby North Baldwin Animal Shelter in Bay Minette and others stepped forward to accept animals.
Saturday, pilot Jack Rowell of Cantonment began a “Pilots n Paws” trip at the Brewton Airport with 15 puppies headed to a humane society in Virginia.
“I believe we have a place for all of them — all of them at no-kill shelters,” Jones said Saturday morning as she provided a tour of the Atmore Shelter. As she passed each dog remaining in the kennel, she pointed out their names and personalities.
“She’s a little shy,” she said of one that was frightened by a camera flash.
By Monday morning, the kennels fell silent with all of the dogs relocated from the Atmore shelter, and the same will happen later in the week in Brewton as the last animals are moved out.
As for Rusty the cat, well, 15-year old cats tend not to get too excited. He’s just taking everything one day at time. As is Jones, hoping that the cities of Atmore and Brewton will come to some sort of an understanding and create a funding plan that will save the shelters.
But until that moment, she continues to work to find a place for each animal as the shelters face closure in about a week.
“It wasn’t suppose to be this way,” Jones said, trying to hold back tears. “It really wasn’t suppose to end this way.”
For more photos of cats and dogs at the Atmore animal shelter, click here.
Editor’s note: It is now, according to Jones, too late for individuals to adopt animals in the shelters.
SPCA Suncoast in New Port Richey, Fla., has agreed to accept most of the remaining animals from the Brewton and Atmore shelters. The Humane Society of Escambia County is accepting donations to help pay for hundreds of dollars in fuel needed to transport the animals. To donate, visit www.petango.com/humanesocietybrewton and locate the “donate now” button for a link to make a PayPal donation. For more information about the Humane Society of Escambia County, click here for their Facebook page.
Pictured: Animals that remained at the Atmore Animal Shelter as of Saturday morning. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Molino DUI Manslaughter Suspect Back In Court
May 23, 2011
The Navarre man charged with DUI manslaughter in connection with a Molino wreck that claimed the life of a Pensacola woman was back in court last week.
Terry E. Lee, 41, appeared before Judge Linda Nobles who granted a request to delay his trial until late July.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Lee was traveling on Omega Drive about 6:15 p.m. November 10, 2010, when his Toyota car left the roadway, traveled through a wooden fence and across a pasture before hitting another fence and a tree. Lee’s passenger, Brandee N. Scott, 49, of Pensacola, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. She was reportedly impaled by a wooden board from the fence.
Lee, who was airlifted to Sacred Heart Hospital following the crash, reportedly told Florida Highway Patrol troopers that he was not involved in the crash.
Lee is facing charges of DUI manslaughter, DUI property damage, no driver’s license, driving with license suspended resulting in death, and three counts of possession of a controlled substance without a prescription. He remains in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
For more photos from the scene, click here.
Pictured above: A Pensacola woman died in this single vehicle crash last November in Molino. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward Schedules Awards Day
May 23, 2011
Ernest Ward Middle School will hold it’s Awards Day this Wednesday in the school gymnasium. Family members and friends are invited to attend.
The time for each grade level program is as follows:
8th grade — 9:30 – 11:15
6th grade — 11:45 – 1:10
7th grade — 1:30 – 3:00
Century Council To Hold Two Special Meetings
May 23, 2011
The Century Town Council will two special meetings this evening.
The first is a workshop at 5:30 p.m. to discuss the Town of Century’s Brownsfield and Enterprise Zone programs and the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce Vision 2015 plan.
The second is special council meeting at 7 p.m. to discuss the town’s local business tax.