Judge: No Animals Near Walnut Hill Man Accused Of Starving 10 Horses
March 24, 2011
A Walnut Hill man accused of starving 10 horses will no longer be able to have custody of, or live around, any animal as he awaits trial on multiple animal cruelty charges.
Late last week, Judge Ronald Swanson modified bond conditions for James Benjamin Bethea, stipulating that he shall not maintain custody of any animal, and that no animal may reside on any property in which Bethea lives, owns, cares for or maintains. In addition, Bethea must allow Panhandle Equine Rescue to conduct random inspections to ensure the bond conditions are being met. The conditions apply as he awaits trial.
Bethea, 61, has pleaded not guilty to two felony and eight misdemeanor animal cruelty charges. One of the horses allegedly starved by Bethea was euthanized by a veterinarian in a pasture February 2 in the 5000 block of Highway 97A in Enon. Nine others were seized by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and transported to an animal clinic for medical care.
Bethea’s trial is currently set for mid-May.
Pictured top: One of nine horses seized in February in the Enon community. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Century To Set Election For Mayor, Two Council Seats
March 24, 2011
The office of mayor and two Century town council seats will be on the ballot this fall in Century.
Council Seat 1, currently held by Ann Brooks, and Seat 2, currently held by Nadine McCaw, and Mayor Freddie McCall’s post will be on the October 11 ballot. A run-off election, if needed, will be held November 8.
Qualifying for the election will be held from noon, Monday, August 1 until noon, Friday August 5. To qualify for any of the offices, a candidate must be a registered voter in Century. In addition, any candidate for mayor must have been a resident of Century for six months prior to their qualification date. The qualifying fee for mayor is $185.50 and $48 for a council seat.
The Century Town Council is set to approve an ordinance at their April 4 meeting setting the official guidelines for the election. Click here to read the ordinance.
Atmore Woman Gets Nearly A Year In Jail On Drug Charges
March 24, 2011
An Atmore woman has been sentenced to just under a year in the Escambia County (Fla.) Jail on drug charges.
Janice Turner Wall, 53, of Highway 31 Atmore, was sentenced last week to 11 months and 30 days in jail on a felony cocaine possession and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia charges. She was also ordered by Judge Ronald Swanson to pay $518 in fines, and her driver’s license was suspended for 24 months.
Wall was initially arrested by the Escambia County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office on September 25, 2010.
Get Cash Assistance From Florida — Take A Drug Test First?
March 24, 2011
Following more than an hour of debate and questions, a House panel on Wednesday voted to require all recipients of temporary cash assistance be tested for illegal drugs before picking up their checks.
The House Rulemaking & Regulation Subcommittee approved the measure (HB 353) that mirrors a Senate plan (SB 556) that also requires recipients to pay for the tests, which will run between $10 and $25.
“I’ve talked to constituents who say they do not want their tax dollars being spent on people who would potentially buy drugs with it,” said House sponsor Rep. Jimmie Smith, R-Inverness.
A Department of Children and Families study done between 1999 and 2001 on a pilot drug testing program recommended that it not be expanded statewide, saying there was little difference in earnings of recipients who tested positive or not.
The Department also estimated that the test would disqualify few who now receive funds.
“This is outrageous,” said Rep. Jim Waldman, who said the only upside of the bill was that it had three more committee stops. “Hopefully this will never see the light of day on the House floor.”
SEC Releases 2011 Football Schedule
March 24, 2011
The Southeastern Conference released its 2011 football schedule Wednesday. The schedule is, as provided by SECSports.com:
2011 SEC TEAM-BY-TEAM FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
[As of Feb. 23, 2011 – Schedule is subject to change]
*- SEC conference games
ALABAMA
Sept. 3 KENT STATE
Sept. 10 at Penn State
Sept. 17 NORTH TEXAS
Sept. 24 *ARKANSAS
Oct. 1 *at Florida
Oct. 8 *VANDERBILT
Oct. 15 *at Ole Miss
Oct. 22 *TENNESSEE
Nov. 5 *LSU
Nov. 12 *at Mississippi State
Nov. 19 GEORGIA SOUTHERN
Nov. 26 *at Auburn
ARKANSAS
Sept. 3 MISSOURI STATE
Sept. 10 NEW MEXICO (at Little Rock)
Sept. 17 TROY
Sept. 24 *at Alabama
Oct. 1 vs. Texas A&M (at Arlington, Texas)
Oct. 8 *AUBURN
Oct. 22 *at Ole Miss
Oct. 29 *at Vanderbilt
Nov. 5 *SOUTH CAROLINA
Nov. 12 *TENNESSEE
Nov. 19 *MISSISSIPPI STATE (at Little Rock)
Nov. 25 *at LSU
AUBURN
Sept. 3 UTAH STATE
Sept. 10 *MISSISSIPPI STATE
Sept. 17 at Clemson
Sept. 24 FLORIDA ATLANTIC
Oct. 1 *at South Carolina
Oct. 8 *at Arkansas
Oct. 15 *FLORIDA
Oct. 22 *at LSU
Oct. 29 *OLE MISS
Nov. 12 *at Georgia
Nov. 19 SAMFORD
Nov. 26 *ALABAMA
FLORIDA
Sept. 3 FLORIDA ATLANTIC
Sept. 10 UAB
Sept. 17 *TENNESSEE
Sept. 24 *at Kentucky
Oct. 1 *ALABAMA
Oct. 8 *at LSU
Oct. 15 *at Auburn
Oct. 29 *vs. Georgia (at Jacksonville)
Nov. 5 *VANDERBILT
Nov. 12 *at South Carolina
Nov. 19 FURMAN
Nov. 26 FLORIDA STATE
GEORGIA
Sept. 3 vs. Boise State (at Atlanta)
Sept. 10 *SOUTH CAROLINA
Sept. 17 COASTAL CAROLINA
Sept. 24 *at Ole Miss
Oct. 1 *MISSISSIPPI STATE
Oct. 8 *at Tennessee
Oct. 15 *at Vanderbilt
Oct. 29 *vs. Florida (at Jacksonville)
Nov. 5 NEW MEXICO STATE
Nov. 12 *AUBURN
Nov. 19 *KENTUCKY
Nov. 26 at Georgia Tech
KENTUCKY
Sept. 1 vs. Western Kentucky (at Nashville)
Sept. 10 CENTRAL MICHIGAN
Sept. 17 LOUISVILLE
Sept. 24 *FLORIDA
Oct. 1 *at LSU
Oct. 8 *at South Carolina
Oct. 22 JACKSONVILLE STATE
Oct. 29 *MISSISSIPPI STATE
Nov. 5 *OLE MISS
Nov. 12 *at Vanderbilt
Nov. 19 *at Georgia
Nov. 26 *TENNESSEE
LSU
Sept. 3 vs. Oregon (at Arlington, Texas)
Sept. 10 NORTHWESTERN STATE
Sept. 15 *at Mississippi State
Sept. 24 at West Virginia
Oct. 1 *KENTUCKY
Oct. 8 *FLORIDA
Oct. 15 *at Tennessee
Oct. 22 *AUBURN
Nov. 5 *at Alabama
Nov. 12 WESTERN KENTUCKY
Nov. 19 *at Ole Miss
Nov. 25 *ARKANSAS
OLE MISS
Sept. 3 BRIGHAM YOUNG
Sept. 10 SOUTHERN ILLINOIS
Sept. 17 *at Vanderbilt
Sept. 24 *GEORGIA
Oct. 1 at Fresno State
Oct. 15 *ALABAMA
Oct. 22 *ARKANSAS
Oct. 29 *at Auburn
Nov. 5 *at Kentucky
Nov. 12 LOUISIANA TECH
Nov. 19 *LSU
Nov. 26 *at Mississippi State
MISSISSIPPI STATE
Sept. 3 at Memphis
Sept. 10 *at Auburn
Sept. 15 *LSU
Sept. 24 LOUISIANA TECH
Oct. 1 *at Georgia
Oct. 8 at UAB
Oct. 15 *SOUTH CAROLINA
Oct. 29 *at Kentucky
Nov. 5 TENNESSEE-MARTIN
Nov. 12 *ALABAMA
Nov. 19 *at Arkansas (at Little Rock)
Nov. 26 *OLE MISS
SOUTH CAROLINA
Sept. 3 vs. East Carolina (at Charlotte)
Sept. 10 *at Georgia
Sept. 17 NAVY
Sept. 24 *VANDERBILT
Oct. 1 *AUBURN
Oct. 8 *KENTUCKY
Oct. 15 *at Mississippi State
Oct. 29 *at Tennessee
Nov. 5 *at Arkansas
Nov. 12 *FLORIDA
Nov. 19 THE CITADEL
Nov. 26 CLEMSON
TENNESSEE
Sept. 3 MONTANA
Sept. 10 CINCINNATI
Sept. 17 *at Florida
Oct. 1 BUFFALO
Oct. 8 *GEORGIA
Oct. 15 *LSU
Oct. 22 *at Alabama
Oct. 29 *SOUTH CAROLINA
Nov. 5 MIDDLE TENNESSEE
Nov. 12 *at Arkansas
Nov. 19 *VANDERBILT
Nov. 26 *at Kentucky
VANDERBILT
Sept. 3 ELON
Sept. 10 CONNECTICUT
Sept. 17 *OLE MISS
Sept. 24 *at South Carolina
Oct. 8 *at Alabama
Oct. 15 *GEORGIA
Oct. 22 ARMY
Oct. 29 *ARKANSAS
Nov. 5 *at Florida
Nov. 12 *KENTUCKY
Nov. 19 *at Tennessee
Nov. 26 at Wake Forest
Colder Temps Tonight
March 24, 2011
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Clear, with a low around 42. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Friday: Sunny, with a high near 76. Calm wind becoming south between 5 and 10 mph.
- Friday Night: Patchy fog after 1am. Otherwise, increasing clouds, with a low around 57. South wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Saturday: A slight chance of showers between 8am and 1pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 81. South wind between 5 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
- Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind between 5 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
- Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82. Southwest wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Sunday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57. East wind around 5 mph.
- Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 76.
- Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57.
- Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 80.
- Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53.
- Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78.
Lawmakers On Board With Ads On School Buses
March 24, 2011
This school bus is brought to you by…Coca-Cola?
Corporate-sponsored school buses could become a reality under a bill that permits advertising on school buses, seen as a way to bring in much-needed dollars for school districts to spend on transportation.
The measure (SB 1124, HB 109), sponsored by Sen. Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee, would permit only 2-by-6-feet advertisements that meet a long list of criteria, including no sexual images, tobacco or alcohol products, or anything that is not “child and community sensitive.” The bill also prohibits political ads on school buses and requires reimbursement of any cost of installing or printing the advertisement.
“It provides an investment-free source of revenue for school districts,” said Montford, a former school superintendent and the current head of the Florida Association of District School Superintendents. He pleaded the case that school districts are in dire need of money to pay for transportation.
The bill requires that 50 percent of money earned from ads is used toward school district transportation with another 40 percent going toward programs as determined by the school district. The remaining 10 percent goes toward driver education programs.
Montford said school districts in another state with a bus fleet of 200 made $250,000 a year from school bus ads.
The bill is gaining ground in the Legislature, with the Senate Pre-K-12 Committee approving it on Wednesday. It has two more committee stops in the Senate. The bill has made more headway this year than a similar proposal last year, which didn’t make it out of any committees.
What types of ads are permitted would be up to the school district, Montford said.
“The intent is to make absolutely sure the integrity of the school bus is not jeopardized,” Montford said. “It’s actually more restrictive than the current practice of advertising on some athletic facilities.”
School buses are traditionally yellow and advertising-free for safety reasons. How a school bus must look is even spelled out by the Department of Education, and all buses must use the same paint and black trim.
A Senate staff analysis of the proposal raised questions about the constitutionality of rejecting certain ads over others, but concluded that the bill is written in such a way that it is not likely to be challenged in court. However, the measure could make school districts vulnerable to lawsuits if they adopt policies that specifically reject or accept certain sponsors.
By Lilly Rockwell
The News Service of Florida
Thomas Craig Garrett
March 24, 2011
Mr. Thomas Craig Garrett, 50, passed away on Thursday, March 24, 2011, in Mobile.
Mr. Garrett was a native and lifelong resident of Bluff Springs and attended the Baptist church. He will be loved and missed by many. He was preceded in death by his parents Clarence and Edna Garrett.
He is survived by eight brothers and sisters, Joe and Monika Garrett of Bluff Springs,, Susan and Milt Lowrey of Jay, Earl and Karen Garrett of Flomaton, Merle and D.C. Odom of Century, Stephen “Cotton” Garrett of Flomaton, Sherry and Rickie Holley of Petry, AL, Jabo and Teresa Garrett of Flomaton, and Lisa and Leavon Sessions of Mobile; and a host of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held Sunday, March 27, 2011, at 2 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with the Rev. Sam Weaver officiating.
Burial will follow at Crary Memorial Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Saturday, March 26, 2011 6-9 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
The family would like to thank Dr. C. David Smith and Providence Hospice.
Escambia Man Gets Life In Prison For Murdering His Landlord
March 24, 2011
An Escambia County man has been sentenced to life in prison for a 2010 murder.
Judge Nickolas Geeker sentenced Donald Verne to life in prison for the murder of Peter Delmonico. On February 23, 2011, Verne was found guilty by an Escambia County Jury of second degree murder with a weapon for the killing of his landlord, Peter Delmonico.
On July 29, 2010, Verne brutally attacked 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; he died at Baptist Hospital on August 3, 2010.
NHS Anime Club Raising Funds For Japan Earthquake Victims
March 24, 2011
A Northview High School club is working to raise funds for earthquake victims in Japan.
The Northview Anime Club is selling t-shirts and rubber bracelets, with all proceeds going to the Americares relief effort in Japan. Bracelets should arrive at the school by Friday for $3 each; and “I (heart) Japan” t-shirts are pre-order at $10 each. The Japanese symbol for love is set within the heart.
The students chose a white shirt and red heart to symbolize the Japanese flag. The bracelets are similar in design with the symbol for love framing the wording.
For more details or to order a shirt, email Sascha Blackburn at bblackburn@escambia.k12.fl.us or stop by the Northview High front office.
Anime is form of animation art that originated in Japan.