Photo Gallery: Hundreds Attend Molino Fall Carnival
November 1, 2011
Hundreds of people attended a community-wide Fall Festival in Molino Monday night. Sponsored by four area churches, the interdenominational event provided a safe Christian alternative on Halloween night.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the event, click here.
The event was sponsored by Victory Assembly of God, Highland Baptist Church, CrossFaith Church and Aldersgate United Methodist Church.
The event featured a variety of games, bounce house, a hayride and lots of free food.
Pictured top: The “Potty Toss” was a popular game Monday night during an annual Fall Festival in Molino. Pictured inset and below: The annual Fall Festival sponsored by four Molino area churches Monday night in Molino. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Two Charged With Stealing, Selling ‘61 Ford, ‘64 Mustang As Scrap
November 1, 2011
Two Century men are charged with stealing a 1961 Ford truck and a 1964 Ford Mustang from a home in Bratt and selling them as scrap.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office charged 32-year old Jessie James Tedder and Brandon Lee Lambeth, both of Century, with felony grand theft of a motor vehicle. Both were released from jail on $2,500 bond.
The victim reported that he planned to restore the two classic vehicles that were in a state of disrepair when they were taken from a home in the 3600 block of West Highway 4. The victim told deputies that he found the remnants of the vehicles at Advanced Auto Recycling in Escambia County, Ala.
According to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report, both Tedder and Lambeth admitted in writing to deputies that they took the vehicles from the victim’s property and sold them for scrap.
Round-up Collects 927 Pounds Of Drugs
November 1, 2011
Last Saturday’s drug roundup at CVS stores across the county and the Sheriff’s Office precinct in Molino collected over 927 pounds of prescription and non-prescription drugs. Residents were invited to drop off their unused or unwanted pharmaceuticals during the event.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office held the collection in coordination with the Pensacola Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and other local agencies as part of a national take-back effort.
Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Sheriff, Commissioner To Hold Town Hall Meeting Tonight In Walnut Hill
November 1, 2011
Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Kevin White and Escambia Sheriff David Morgan will hold a joint town hall meeting in Walnut Hill.
The meeting will take place Tuesday, November 1, at 6 p.m., at the Walnut Hill Ruritan Building at 7850 Highway 97.
The meeting will begin with comments from the commissioner and sheriff then proceed into an open forum. Citizens will have the opportunity to ask questions and make comments.
Photo Gallery: Century Care Center Halloween Carnival
November 1, 2011
Century Care Center held their annual Halloween Fall Carnival Monday afternoon with lots of fun and a haunted house for trick 0r treaters.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
ECUA Approves Water, Sewer Rate Hike
November 1, 2011
ECUA has formally approved a 7 percent rate increase Monday for water and sewer customers that takes effect today.
The rate increase was part of a three-year rate hike plan approved last year. Each portion of the increase must be approved yearly following a public hearing.
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority Board approved the rate hike on a 3-1 vote, with Larry Walker, Elvin McCorvey and Elizabeth Campbell voting in favor and Dale Perkins against. Board member Lois Benson was absent from Monday’s meeting.
The rate hike does not impact customers of smaller water companies in the North Escambia area, nor does it impact residents of the Town of Century.
Santa Rosa Deputies Investigating Halloween Night Arson
November 1, 2011
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a Halloween night arson.
A resident of the 4000 block of Kentwood Street told emergency dispatchers that someone had set fire to his father’s vehicle in the driveway of the residence. Witness told deputies that they observed two suspects running from the vehicle after it exploded. One of the suspects was engulfed in flames as he ran from the scene, setting fire to a nearby wooded area as he ran through them.
Burned clothing belonging to the suspect was found at the scene, according to deputies.
Other witnesses told investigators that hey observed the suspects walking up to the victim’s residence wearing Halloween masks and carrying large buckets.
The incident is currently being jointly investigated by the State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office
Pictured: A Halloween night arson in Santa Rosa County. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
AG Appeals Prison Privatization Ruling
November 1, 2011
At the urging of lawmakers, Attorney General Pam Bondi on Monday appealed a judge’s ruling that a controversial plan to privatize 29 prison facilities was unconstitutional.
Bondi’s office announced about 4:30 p.m. that it had filed a notice of appeal in the 1st District Court of Appeal. The move came as a surprise: Earlier in the day, Gov. Rick Scott’s administration said it would not fight the judge’s ruling.
Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, issued a statement expressing confidence that the appeal will be successful and that privatization will help save tax dollars for the state.
“Not only is the privatization of our state’s prisons good policy, but it ensures that our state can dedicate more money to education, health care or economic development programs that would otherwise be spent on prisons,” Haridopolos said.
The state faced a Monday deadline for deciding whether to appeal. The Florida Police Benevolent Association, which filed the lawsuit, said it was disappointed that Bondi “waited until the last minute” to file an appeal but said it is willing to fight the privatization issue to the Supreme Court, if necessary.
“We’ve been ready to go from the start, and we’re taking it to the next level,” PBA Executive Director Matt Puckett said.
Leon County Circuit Judge Jackie Fulford on Sept. 30 agreed with the PBA’s arguments that lawmakers violated the state constitution in the way they approved the privatization plan. Legislative leaders included the plan in the fine print of the state budget — known as proviso language — instead of passing it in a regular bill.
“Based on the record before it, this court concludes that if it is the will of the Legislature to itself initiate privatization of Florida prisons … the Legislature must do so by general law, rather than ‘using the hidden recesses of the General Appropriations Act,’ ” Fulford wrote, partially quoting a decades-old Supreme Court ruling.
Prison privatization has long been a hot-button issue, with the politically influential PBA fighting proposals to turn over operations of correctional facilities to private companies. On the other side, prison firms lobby for the changes and promise budget savings to lawmakers.
The named defendant in the lawsuit is Department of Corrections Secretary Kenneth Tucker, whose agency is part of Scott’s executive branch. As a result, it appeared that an appeal was dead when Scott’s office said Monday it would not challenge Fulford’s ruling.
But Jenn Meale, a Bondi spokeswoman, said the attorney general’s office went forward with the appeal at the request of the Legislature. She said the office, which has represented the state in the case, has the authority to pursue such appeals when defending the constitutionality of laws.
A spokeswoman for Scott, Jackie Schutz, said the case was about a question of legislative power, making lawmakers – with the attorney general representing them – “best suited to litigate this case.”
Haridopolos and House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, both said they think the Legislature acted appropriately in using the budget proviso language to make the prison changes.
Even if lawmakers are not successful in the appeal, they could approve the privatization plan in a regular bill. They could do that as soon as the 2012 legislative session, though revisiting the privatization idea likely would touch off a fierce political fight.
The PBA was already preparing for such a legislative fight Monday, after it appeared the state would not appeal the judge’s ruling. The session starts in January.
“Now we need to educate the public and the Legislature on the significant public-safety issues and lack of significant savings associated with the privatization issue,” Puckett said in a statement released after Scott declined to file the appeal.
The proviso language offered a roadmap to privatize prisons, work camps and other types of correctional facilities in 18 counties across the southern part of the state.
The language called for the Department of Corrections to solicit proposals from private companies and then submit a plan to the Legislative Budget Commission by December 1. If approved by the commission, the proviso said the department “may” award a contract to a private company.
Immediately after Fulford’s ruling, the department suspended the planned opening of bid proposals from companies interested in operating the prisons.
By The News Service of Florida
Jimmy O. Unruh
November 1, 2011
Jimmy O. Unruh, 86, of Pensacola passed away on Friday, October 28, 2011. Mrs. Unruh was born on December 16, 1924, in Pensacola and was a graduate of Tate High School. She worked for 30 years for Field Enterprises Educational (World Book Encyclopedias). She was a member of Northridge Church and loved the Lord above everything else. Jimmy loved jokes and stories, reciting poems, playing piano, reading books, puzzles, giving gifts and making dinners.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Elmer Roy Unruh, Sr.; son, Elmer Roy Unruh, Jr.; sisters, Eleanor Caro, Hazel Garrett and Julia Shofner.
Survivors include her sons, James Unruh (Marsha) and Rodney Unruh (Erin); her sisters, Violet Hogan, Doris Rose (Syd), Betty Ray (Sid) and Gwen Thompson (Weegie); grandchildren, Clint Capp, Ben Unruh, Kevin Unruh and Megan along with a great grandchild, Owen Unruh.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, November 1, 2011, at 10:00 a.m. from Harper-Morris Memorial Chapel with Pastor Charles Stanford and Darryl Eubanks officiating. Burial will follow at Gonzalez United Methodist Church Cemetery.
Harper-Morris Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Julia Manor
November 1, 2011
Julia Manor of Pensacola, Florida, died October 28, 2011.
She was born April 04, 1927, at Molino, the daughter of Jesse and Ola Linton Nicholson. Julia was a 1945 graduate of Pensacola High School. She was united in marriage with Reese L. Manor on April 27, 1952. This union produced two children, Christine of Rockville MD, and David of Orlando. Other survivors are two brothers, Jesse Nicholson of Pace and Eugene Nicholson of Pace.
Julia was a member of Plainview Baptist Church and was retired from U. S. Civil Service. She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Clyde; sisters, Margaret, Clara, Carrie, Ola Mae, Shirley and Dorothy and her husband Reese.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, November 1, 2011, at Bayview Fisher-Pou Chapel with Reverend William Flannigan officiating.
Interment will follow at Bayview Memorial Park.
The family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. until service time Tuesday.