Escambia Bands Concert Receive Music Awards
March 22, 2011
The Florida Bandmasters Association District 1 Concert Music Performance Assessment (MPA) was held recently at Washington High School. As part of the MPA, middle and high school bands play three prepared songs for three different judges and then play two pieces they have not seen before for a fourth judge.
The following Escambia County bands received an overall superior rating: Bailey Middle Symphonic, Brown Barge Middle, Ransom Middle Symphonic, Escambia High Symphonic, and Tate Symphonic.
The bands receiving an Excellent rating were Bellview Middle, Ferry Pass Middle, Bailey Middle Concert, Ransom Middle Concert, and Woodham Middle.
Ray Samsom Trial Begins: Crime, Or Good Legislating?
March 22, 2011
A building put into the state budget by former House Speaker Ray Sansom was never asked for by anyone except a Sansom contributor and ally, the government charged in an opening statement in Sansom’s trial for theft of state money on Monday. The contributor, Jay Odom, is also facing charges in the corruption case that forced the speaker from office.
Sansom, who resigned in 2008, is accused of funneling about $6 million to Northwest Florida State College. Prosecutors allege the money actually was meant to help Odom build an airplane hangar for private jets.
“The college never asked for this building. The county never asked for this building. The city never really asked for this building,” Prosecutor Willie Meggs said in his opening statement. “The only people who wanted this … building is Jay Odom, a defendant in this case. He is the only one who is asking for it and he wanted the state of Florida to build it for him. So then comes Ray Sansom.”
Sansom, who was in the courtroom Monday, faces up to 30 years in prison for grand theft and conspiracy for his part in what prosecutors say was a scheme in 2007 to build the hanger for Odom, a heavyweight political contributor, using state education money. Former college President Bob Richburg was charged with being in on the plan, but he is now testifying against Sansom.
Attorneys for Sansom argued in opening his defense on Monday that their client used his position as an incoming House speaker to do what others before him have done, working to secure for his constituents a valuable project that would improve emergency response capabilities in the coastal city of Destin. Besides, the money was in the state budget, there for lawmakers to see, and they voted on it.
“This has happened since time immortal,” said Sansom attorney Steve Dobson.
Monday’s arguments come more than two years after Sansom stepped down from the powerful legislative position following mounting criticism for taking a $110,000 a year job with the college located in his district. Subsequent investigation found that, as the chairman of the House budget committee, Sansom had helped shepherd more than $35 million in projects to the college, formerly known as Okaloosa Walton Community College.
Meggs, Dobson and Odom’s attorney James Judkins, outlined their upcoming cases to a jury of four women and two men who were picked from a pool of potential jurors on Friday. Much of the evidence will involve emails and other electronic exchanges between the defendants and Northwest Florida’s former president, Richburg, who is expected to testify against Sansom and Odom as part of a plea agreement. The case has been scheduled to go until Friday.
During his opening, Dobson focused on the appropriations process and how the project, which began as a Community Issue Budget Request, was transformed into a member project after then-House Speaker Marco Rubio told members no CIBRs would be funded in 2007. Nonetheless, the item showed up in the final budget as a member project, a routine inclusion given Sansom’s political clout.
“The evidence will show you that he did what any legislator is supposed to do: Fund good, meaningful projects for his community,” Dobson said.
Meggs, in turn, said the process was far from routine as Sansom, Odom and Richburg scrambled to put together a defensible proposal after the fact to justify the hastily added line item.
“Usually buildings on college campuses are on a three to five- year plan,” Meggs said. “This project was on a 30-day plan. It was on the 30-day plan of Ray Sansom and Jay Odom and they used the defendant, Robert Richburg, the president of the college, to accomplish that.”
Odom’s attorney, Judkins, said the emergency operations complex was of paramount importance to Destin City officials, who, following devastating hurricane seasons in 2004 and 2005, wanted a place on the island to house emergency responders and serve as a jumping off point for recovery efforts.
Odom made no attempt to conceal the fact he was interested in leasing space from the college, but went ahead with other plans when the deal fell through.
Pictured: Ray Samsom looks on Monday as attorney offer pre-trail motions in the case against the former House Speaker. Photo by Mike Peltier for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Story by Michael Peltier
The News Service of Florida
Log A Load Bass Tourney To Benefit Children’s Hospital
March 22, 2011
The 15th annual charity Log A Load For Kids Bass Tournament is coming up in May to benefit Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital.
The event will take place Saturday, May 7 at the Swamp House Marina and Landing in Pensacola with $10,000 in guaranteed prize money, including a $3,000 first place prize.
Entry fees are $120 by May 6 or $140 day of the tournament for a two person team. Pre-register at A-1 Accessories/Small Engines on Highway 29 in Cantonment. For more information, click here for a tournament flyer.
Gulf Power Crist Plant Reclaimed Water Project Receives Accolades
March 22, 2011
Gulf Power Company’s project to reuse millions of gallons of reclaimed water at its Crist generating plant in Escambia County was named the top project among the 2011 Industry Excellence Award winners by the Southeastern Electric Exchange.
Gulf Power has partnered with Emerald Coast Utilities Authority to use reclaimed water from the new Central Water Reclamation Facility. The reclaimed water is being used at Plant Crist for cooling tower operations and for operating a scrubber system, which began operations in January 2010 to reduce overall regulated emissions by more than 90 percent.
Gulf Power teams integrated the reclaimed water system into the Plant Crist infrastructure building additional on-site water treatment systems.
“This award goes to our employees who have dedicated so much of their time and their know-how to complete this project,” said Sandy Sims, Gulf Power manager of Public Affairs. “It was an incredibly complex challenge that required teamwork and innovation, and ultimately this project — this partnership — benefits Northwest Florida with cleaner air and cleaner water.”
Gulf Power was the winner in the Environmental Category, beating entries from larger utilities in the Southeast. The Chairman of the SEE Industry Excellence Awards then selected the Gulf Power project as the top overall project of the 11 winning categories. Although recognized by SEE in the past, it is the first time Gulf Power has won the Chairman’s Award.
The Southeastern Electric Exchange, a non-profit, non-political trade association of investor-owned electric utility companies, includes about 20 major utilities in the Southeast and mid-Atlantic from Texas to Maryland and Virginia.
No Offers So Far; Process Continues To Sell Civic Center
March 22, 2011
Escambia County’s second step to sell the Pensacola Civic Center got underway Monday after no one made an offer when it was first listed on the market.
Escambia County Administrator Charles R. “Randy” Oliver said no “letters of interest” were received to purchase the civic center by the deadline last week. In February, the Board of County Commissioners directed the Purchasing Office to offer to sell the Civic Center for $10 million, but there were no offers received.
Monday, the Civic Center Advisory Committee began the process of selecting a firm to conduct a performance, economic and marketing assessment of the Civic Center. Three firms will participate in a question and answer session. Once the committee selects a firm and the study is completed, the findings will be presented to the Board of County Commissioners for further direction.
The Pensacola Civic Center, owned by Escambia County, is a 10,000 seat arena with over 20,000 square feet of exhibition space. A dozen meeting rooms with 13,000 square feet of meeting space are also available. The facility opened in 1985.
Woman Wanted For Questioning In Wal-Mart Purse Snatching
March 21, 2011
Investigators with the Sheriff’s Office major crimes unit are asking for the public’s help in locating a woman wanted for questioning in connection with a purse snatching at an Ensley Wal-Mart.
Lisa Marie Zimmermans wanted for questioning in the purse snatching which occurred Saturday, March 7, in the Wal-Mart parking lot located at 8970 Pensacola Blvd.
On that day, 45-year-old Melissa Williams was approached by a white female who tried to take her purse. Williams held onto her purse and struggled with the female suspect as the suspect got into a red Dodge Neon driven by a white male. Williams continued to hold on to her purse as the male suspect drove away, dragging Williams several feet through the parking lot.
Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Lisa Marie Zimmerman is encouraged to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at 850-436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at 850-433-STOP.
Two Arrested For Year-Old Escambia Murder
March 21, 2011
Two Escambia County men has been arrested in connection with a year old murder case.
Jarvis Lamar Jessie, 25, and Charmdar Turner, 19, were charged with first degree murder in connection with the death of 20-year old Donald Diego Turner, who was shot outside of his home in the 1600 block of Augusta Avenue on March 21, 2010.
Eyewitness statements and DNA evidence taken from the suspect vehicle lead to the arrest of Jessie by Escambia County deputies on Sunday afternoon; he is being held without bond in the Escambia County Jail. Charmdar Turner was already serving time in the state system on an unrelated charge.
Investigators are currently asking for any information as to the whereabouts of 20 year old Anthony Clayton Bell (pictured top) as a possible suspect in this crime. If you have any information on his whereabouts, please contact the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at 850-436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at 850-433-STOP.
New County Boss: Positive Potential Abound In Century
March 21, 2011
There is a lot of positive potential in Century that Escambia County can help promote — that was the word for new Escambia County Administrator Randy Oliver as he toured the town.
“There are a lot of assets here in Century,” Oliver said Friday as he toured Century with Mayor Freddie McCall and District 5 Commissioner Kevin White. “Mayor McCall’s got a lot to work with here.”
Oliver said that be believes the Pensacola Area Chamber of Commerce and Escambia County can help Century locate new business and industry.
Many of Century’s industrial and business properties are complete buildings, and many are move-in, get to work ready. “There’s a huge open door here for us to help Century, Oliver said.
The town’s business incubator, located on East Pond Street, is the former Century High School. Classrooms are converted into individual area for office space or other business uses. There is even a commercial kitchen available. But years after grant funding pair to renovate the buildings, the occupancy rate is exactly zero.
‘There’s potential here,” McCall said. “We just need to get the right people in here.”
Pictured top: Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Kevin White, County Administrator Randy Oliver and Century Mayor Freddie McCall discuss the future of Century while outside Century’s business incubator. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
11 Injured In Nine Mile Road Crash (Updated With Names)
March 21, 2011
Eleven people were injured in a Nine Mile Road Crash Sunday night.
The Florida Highway Patrol says 17-year old Airieale Gibbs of LaPlace, Louisiana, made a left turn into the path of a 2010 SUV driven by 52-year old Jeffery Goins, of Gonzales, Louisiana about 8:30 p.m. at the intersection of Nine Mile and Pine Forest roads.
Gibbs and three passengers in her 2011 Chevrolet receiving minor injuries, including Tremika Warner, 17, of Cantonment, Sherlene Gibbs, 49, and Ashley Gibbs, 12, of Louisiana.
Goins and six passengers received minor injuries, including Valerie Goins, 54; Hannah Goins, 9; Lisa McKinnis, 39; Terry Reese, 15; Cary Reese, 15; and Ebony Gary, 17, all of Louisiana.
Airieale Gibbs was charged with violation of right of way by the FHP.
The eleven injured were transported to West Florida and Sacred Heart hospitals with non-life threatening injuries.
Langley Bell 4-H Center Could Be Sold To Navy Federal Credit Union
March 21, 2011
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.
Within weeks, Navy Federal will employ over 3,000 people at its facility on Nine Mile Road, directly adjacent to the Langley Bell 4-H Center. To expand, Navy Federal, the largest credit union in the U.S., has begun talks to purchase the 4-H property for $2.5 to $4.5 million.
A public meeting was held Tuesday evening at the Langley Bell 4-H Center with a history of the facility, perspective from the Bell family, the current proposal, a Pensacola Chamber of Commerce/Navy Federal presentation and an open period for comments.
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: Students from Ernest Ward Middle and Northview High schools attend a Forestry Field Day at the Langley Bell 4-H Center in 2009. A construction crane at the Navy Federal campus can been seen in the background behind the lake. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.