County Closes Beulah Road Near Perdido Landfill
November 15, 2011
The Beulah Road bridge north of the Perdido Landfill was closed Tuesday afternoon after an inspection on Monday revealed deficiencies significant enough for emergency repairs.
Signage for the detour routes will be erected.
The detour north of the bridge will be Muscogee Road to Highway 29 and south of the bridge will be Beulah Road to Nine Mile Road. Variable message boards will be placed on Muscogee Road and at the corner of Nine Mile Road and Beulah Road. Bridge closure signs will be placed on Beulah Road. Barricades will also be placed at the bridge.
Traffic south of the bridge and south of the Perdido Landfill can still access the landfill. Traffic north of the landfill will need to use the detour route, Muscogee to Highway 295 to Nine Mile Road west to Beulah Road north.
A reopening date has not been determined; repairs may take up to six weeks to complete.
Woman Charged With Beating Her Girlfriend With A Hammer
November 15, 2011
A Century woman is charged with allegedly beating her live-in girlfriend with a hammer.
Domonique Sade Fisher, 26, was jailed for aggravated battery using a deadly weapon for the incident on East Pond Street in Century. She remained in the Escambia County Jail early Tuesday with bond set at $10,000.
The victim’s 12-year old daughter called 911 to report a physical altercation between Fisher and her mother Sunday night. Fischer told Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies that the incident began when she was confronted by her girlfriend of two years over an online conversation with another person. That’s when, Fisher told deputies, her girlfriend used a hammer to break her computer.
The victim told deputies that Fisher forcibly took the hammer away from her and then hit her multiple times in the face and head. Fisher told deputies that “it was an accident,” according to a Sheriff’s Office arrest report.
The victim was treated on the scene by Escambia County EMS.
Fisher was recently released from jail after being arrested last month during an Escambia County Sheriff’s “Operation Clean Sweep” in Century. During the October 17 operation, Fisher was arrested on an outstanding warrant for petty theft and two violation of probation warrants. She was released at that time from the Escambia County Jail on $4,000 bond.
Pictured top: Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Deputies Curtis Cephas (middle) and David Bashore (right) arrest Domonique Sade Fisher at a home on Pond Street on October 17 during an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office “Operation Clean Sweep” in Century. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Leaders Discuss Countywide Youth Curfew
November 15, 2011
A Pensacola city councilman is pushing for a countywide curfew for youth.
Councilman John Jerralds wants his council and the Escambia County Commission to limit the time periods in which teens can be out without adult supervision. He is advocating a curfew modeled after the one currently in place in Jacksonville that restricts any unmarried person under the age of 18 from being on the streets between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. weekdays or 6 a.m. on the weekend or holidays unless they are with a parent or guardian.
There are several exceptions in the ordinance, including teens on their way to or from work; a church, school or other organization and other events. Both the youth curfew violator and their parents can receive civil citations for violating the Jacksonville law.
On Monday, city and county leaders — including Pensacola council members, Escambia Sheriff David Morgan, Pensacola Police Chief Chip Simmons, Escambia County Schools Deputy Superintendent Norm Ross and Escambia County Administrator Randy Oliver — discussed Jerrald’s curfew at a Pensacola meeting. There were no decisions made at the meeting; there will be more discussions scheduled before the Pensacola City Council or Escambia Commission consider the idea.
To read the entire Jacksonville youth curfew ordinance, click here.
Woman Sentenced To Almost A Year In Jail For Mobile Meth Lab
November 15, 2011
A Century woman has been sentenced to just under a year in jail after an alleged mobile meth lab was found in the truck of her car.
Madeline Hope Johnson, 29, was sentenced to 11 months and 15 days with credit for 94 days served in connection with the case. She is also facing $1,104 in court costs and fees. Once released from jail, she will be on probation for 36 months.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, an off-duty deputy at a Circle K at 3109 North Pace Boulevard in Pensacola was tipped off last year by an occupant of Johnson’s vehicle that she had a meth lab in the vehicle’s trunk.
In the vehicle’s trunk, investigators found several chemical bottles, batteries, two boxes of pseudoephedrine tablets and other items known to be used in the production of methamphetamine. Several lithium batteries were found in the glove box of the vehicle. The glove box also contained what deputies described as an “owe sheet” — a list of names and monies owed.
In Johnson’s purse, deputies said they found several lithium batteries of the same name brand as those in the vehicle. Her purse, according to the arrest report, also contained a list of chemicals and items known to be used in the production of meth.
According to the arrest report, Johnson admitted to being a meth user, but denied ownership of the items in the vehicle.
Groundbreaking Held For Molino Library, Community Center (With Photo Gallery)
November 15, 2011
A groundbreaking was held Monday morning for a new community center and library at the old Molino School on Highway 95A.
“Oh we are absolutely so excited,” said Lil King, president of the Molino Historical Society, which will operate a museum inside the renovated building. “It’s going to be great. We say it’s for the middle of the county, but I think it’s for the whole county. It’s been a long time coming.”
The project includes the conversion of the old Molino School into a 15,600 square foot library, community center and museum. In addition to converting the old school building, a new 7,000 square foot building will be constructed adjacent to the old building for the tax collector and property appraiser. The current Escambia County Tax Collector office in the former Winn Dixie shopping center in Cantonment and the property appraiser office on Highway 97 in Molino will both be closed. This facility will also house a polling station for early voting and elections. The facility is expected to open in the fall of 2012.
For a photo gallery from the event, click here.
Pictured top: Groundbreaking Monday morning in Molino for the renovation of the old Molino School into a library and community center. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Doucette, Wright Receive High School Heroes Scholarships
November 15, 2011
Two Northview High School students were recently awarded $1,000 High School Heroes Scholarships from Fisher Brown Insurance and WEAR TV 3.
The Northview students, Josie Doucette and Elizabeth Wright, were among a dozen dozen scholarship winners from Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties. Each winner received a $1,000 scholarship to their choice of either University of West Florida, Pensacola State College or Northwest Florida State College.
Doucette and Wright will be showcased in upcoming 30 second commercials on WEAR TV 3.
Pictured above: Northview High School Heroes Scholarship winners Josie Doucette (left) and Elizabeth Wright with Escambia County Superintendent of Education Malcolm Thomas. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Henry Street Closed In Century
November 15, 2011
Henry Street in Century is closed at the intersection with North Century Boulevard, and it will remain closed for the next two weeks for road construction by the Town of Century. North Century Boulevard (Highway 29) will remain open during the period.
Motorists are advised to use West Cottage Street as a detour route.
Jay Pageant Winners Named
November 15, 2011
Miss Jay High School and other winners have been announced in pageants sponsored by the Jay High School Cheerleaders and FCCLA.
Pictured top, left to right: Miss Jay High School Pageant — Third runner-up Carly Owens, second runner-up and physical fitness winner Tori Reid, first runner-up and talent winner Abby Raney, and Miss Jay High School Kathryn English.
Pictured left top: Junior Miss Jay Crystal Hope Miller. Pictured left bottom: Little Miss Jay Kinsley Cook.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Jay Lady Royals Cross Country Team Headed To State
November 15, 2011
The Jay High School Lady Royals Cross Country team is headed to the state finals this weekend, with the hopes of finishing their season as the best of 130 teams in Florida’s Class 1A.
The district champ Lady Royals placed fourth at the regionals last weekend in Lake City to advance to state, while Jessica Thornton placed among the top 15 runners to advance individually.
Ranked No. 16 in the state, the Lady Royals are the only team in any classification in Escambia or Santa Rosa counties to advance to the state meet.
Times for Jay runners were as follows at the regional meet:
- Jessica Thornton 15th, 21:53 (personal record)
- Jorja Agrait 21:24 24th, 21:24 (personal record)
- Allison Blair 29th, 22:07
- Savannah Brown 31st, 22:23 (personal record)
- Ally Settle 35th, 22:39
- Jenna Thornton 39th, 23:07 (personal record)
- Shelby Thomas, 24:18 57th
The Class 1A cross country state finals will be held Saturday morning in Dade City.
Pictured top: Jay Lady Royals Cross County Coach Stan Blackman, Shelby Thomas, Savannah Brown, Jenna Thornton, Jorja Agrait, Jessica Thornton ,Ally Settle, Kristen Pike, Allison Blair, Boys Cross Country Coach Teresa Hendricks. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Wants Out Of Some Federal No Child Left Behind Requirements
November 15, 2011
Florida has submitted its request to the federal government to exempt the state from some requirements under the No Child Left Behind law.
Florida is one of several states that have submitted requests to not continue operating federal accountability programs mandated under NCLB, which passed in 2001.
The idea is to streamline various state and federal accountability programs designed to track student progress and help struggling school. At times, the different standards between the two has caused immense confusion for students and parents, such as when a school has improved from an “F” to a “C” school but is still at risk for being shut down under federal standards.
“The…flexibility request will help strengthen Florida’s accountability system and aims to support all of our students in their endeavors toward achieving academic success,” Florida Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson said in a statement.
By The News Service of Florida