Early Voting Underway
January 21, 2012
Early voting is underway with four sites in Escambia County for the January 31 Presidential Preference Primary.
Early voting will be available Sunday, January 22 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.; and from Monday, January 23 through Saturday, January 28 from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Early voters will cast paper ballots through digital scanners. As a result of the renovations of the downtown library, the Genealogy Branch Library will not be available as a polling place; the Tryon Branch Library will be used instead.
Early voting will take place at:
- Supervisor of Elections Main Office, 213 Palafox Place, Second Floor
- Supervisor of Elections Annex, 292 Muscogee Road, Cantonment
- Tryon Branch Library, 1200 Langley Avenue
- Southwest Branch Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Highway
Votes may also be cast by mail or on primary day.
By Mail: Voters may vote by mail using an absentee ballot, which can be requested through the online form at EscambiaVotes.com, or by contacting the Supervisor of Elections by mail, phone (850-595-3900), e-mail (absentee@escambiavotes.com), or fax (850-595-3914). Requests must include the voter’s date of birth and the address, and must be received no later than Wednesday, January 25. Voted ballots must be received in the Elections Office no later than 7:00 p.m. on Election Day and may not be returned to a polling location on Election Day. Absentee voters may track the status of their ballot at EscambiaVotes.com by clicking Track My Ballot.
At Your Precinct: The third option for voters is to cast a paper ballot at their precinct on Election Day, January 31, using our digital scanners. Polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. A touchscreen is also available at each polling place and early voting site for persons with disabilities.
Voters are reminded to bring their photo and signature ID with them to the polls, and are encouraged to contact the Elections Office by phone or e-mail with any questions.
Prison Privitization Measure Headed To Budget Panel
January 21, 2012
Senate President Mike Haridopolos said Friday he will send a controversial prison-privatization plan to another committee for review — but stopped short of fulfilling a request by Sen. Mike Fasano for greater scrutiny.
Fasano, R-New Port Richey, sent a letter to Haridopolos arguing that bills dealing with the privatization plan are of “such a magnitude” that they deserve to be heard by three committees that focus on criminal-justice and government-oversight issues.
“In my opinion a subject as complex as prison privatization should have been referred to the substantive committees that oversee this subject matter (i.e. Criminal Justice, Governmental Oversight and Accountability and Criminal & Civil Justice Appropriations),” wrote Fasano, chairman of the Criminal & Civil Justice Appropriations Subcommittee. “The Senate has a rich history as a deliberative body that examines and allows for full vetting of proposed policy changes both major and minor.”
Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, released a memo a short time later saying he would send the primary privatization bill (SB 2038) to the Budget Committee, which is chaired by Sen. JD Alexander, a chief proponent of privatization. Until that announcement, the bill had only been assigned to the Rules Committee.
In the memo, Haridopolos said he decided to “proceed in an abundance of caution” after hearing concerns from senators about the issue, which would lead to privatizing prisons in 18 counties in the southern half of the state. But he also defended his handling of the plan, saying it was fully considered and approved by the Senate during the 2011 legislative session.
Lawmakers included the privatization plan in the fine print of the 2011-12 budget. But a Leon County circuit judge rejected that decision, saying such a plan had to be approved in state law.
Haridopolos and Alexander, R-Lake Wales, say the plan would save tens of millions of dollars for the state, though it is vehemently opposed by correctional officers.
In defending his handling of the issue, Haridopolos also said in the memo that he had “authored an opinion piece stating my position that it is paramount that we prioritize our state’s spending by privatizing prisons, which has the potential to save a minimum of 22 million taxpayer dollars that I firmly believe are better spent on education, health care and economic development.”
The Senate Rules Committee is scheduled to take up the issue Monday, and Haridopolos’ memo said it will go to the Budget Committee on Wednesday.
By The News Service of Florida
Deputy Convicted Of Battery
January 21, 2012
An Escambia County deputy was convicted Friday of misdemeanor battery; he was originally charged with felony battery.
Deputy Zachary McArthur was charged in connection with a December 2010 incident at the Escambia County Jail. According to the State Attorney’s Office, McArthur battered Justin Johnson while he was being detained at the jail. As a result of the incident Johnson received 11 stitches for an injury to his face. The entire incident was captured on video.
According to court records, Johnson went to Chan’s Nightclub on December 8, 2010, a week after a deputy had told him to leave the business. Johnson said he did not see deputies at the nightclub during a four to five hour period until Deputy McArthur and a bouncer snatched him from his seat and taken outside where he was placed in the deputy’s cruiser.
Johnson told investigators that he was never told he was under arrest. He said that he remembered arriving at the Escambia County Jail where his head was slammed into something before blood poured down his face. Johnson said that while in the jail’s booking area, he made the statement that he wanted to kill himself just so someone would get him medical attention.
A State Attorney investigator said he viewed video from the jail’s booking area at the time of Johnson’s arrival with Deputy McArthur. According to the investigator, a black male and three other deputies, one of which was a sergeant, were also in the booking area.
The investigator stated that McArthur used his upper body to throw Johnson to the floor. “Deputy McArthur then grabs Justin Johnson by the handcuffs and drags him about 3-4 feet and leaves him lying on the floor bleeding,” State Attorney Investigator Richard Furmaniuk stated. “After Justin Johnson is dragged to the front of the bench, you can see the trail of blood on the floor, from Justin Johnson’s face.”
Furmaniuk said the video shows that Johnson is left on the floor for four minutes with no medical attention from McArthur or any of the other deputies in the booking area.
The incident was investigated by both the State Attorney’s Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Man Sentenced To 30 Years For Touching Girl
January 21, 2012
An Escambia County man is headed to prison for inappropriately touching a seven year old girl.
Steven Gibout was sentenced by Judge Joel Boles to 30 years in state prison with 25 years minimum mandatory. He was also designated as a sexual predator.
Gibout was found guilty last month by an Escambia County jury of lewd or lascivious molestation on a victim under 12 years of age.
In 1992, Gibout was convicted of third degree murder and served approximately 13 years in state prison.
The investigation and arrest were conducted by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Mildred Simmons Dean
January 21, 2012
Mildred Simmons Dean, 89 of Little River, AL, died Saturday, January 21, 2012, at her residence. She was a homemaker, born in Lottie, AL, on July 20, 1922, to the late Charlie and Edith Chambliss Simmons.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Hilud Dean.
She is survived by two sons: Charlie Dean and wife, Martha, Robert Dean and wife, Angela, all of Little River; one daughter, Diane Spence and husband John of Walnut Hill; seven grandchildren, Tracie, Don, Jaime, Noah, Jacob, Hannah, and Mary Kathryn; and one great-grandSon, Brady.
Services will be Sunday January 22, 2012, at 2:30 p.m. from Little River Baptist Church, with Rev. Wayne McMillian officiating. Interment will follow in the Little River Baptist Church Cemetery.
Family will receive friends Sunday January 22, 2012, at the church one hour prior to service time.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.
Dense Fog Advisory, Rain For Saturday
January 20, 2012
There is a dense fog advisory in effect until 9 a.m. Saturday.
- Tonight: A 30 percent chance of showers. Areas of fog after 4am. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low around 60. South wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Saturday: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 7am. Areas of fog before 7am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 75. South wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
- Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Areas of fog after 4am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Sunday: A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 7am. Areas of fog before 7am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 75. South wind between 5 and 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Sunday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. South wind 10 to 15 mph becoming west.
- Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers before noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 68. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 41. North wind around 5 mph.
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 69. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50. East wind around 5 mph.
- Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72.
- Wednesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 53.
- Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 66.
- Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39.
- Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 65.
Four Life Sentences: Phillip Monier Guilty Of Shooting Three Escambia Deputies
January 20, 2012
An Escambia County jury returned a guilty verdict Friday afternoon in the trial of Phillip Monier for shooting three Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies in 2010.
Monier was sentenced to four consecutive life sentences in prison.
He was found guilty of four counts attempted murder, along with counts of aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of methamphetamine. A burglary charge was reduced to trespassing.
Monier convicted of shooting Deputy Jeremy Cassady and deputies Sam Parker and Chad Brown during a home invasion hostage incident October 29 at his girlfriend’s home near Scenic Highway in Pensacola. Monier was also charged in connection with shooting at a fourth deputy who was not wounded.
Cassady was severely wounded in the incident and spent 20 days in Sacred Heart Hospital. He later received a pancreas and kidney transplant in August 2011.
Monier’s girlfriend, Jackie Rosenbloom, called 911 as Monier forced his way into her home looking a ring that he demanded be returned. He took Rosenbloom hostage and ignored orders to drop his weapon as deputies entered the home. Monier used Rosenbloom as a human shield, but he was struck by at least one round in the hand. He was eventually talked out of the home by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team and hostage negotiators.
Multiple Accidents Create Morning Problems On I-10
January 20, 2012
Multiple accidents created major traffics problems on I-10 near the Pine Forest Road exit Friday morning.
In a 7:30 a.m. accident, 51-year old Henry King of Cantonment and his passenger, 8-year old Joshua King, were stopped due to traffic. According to the Florida High Patrol, 37-year old Robert J. Roach of Pensacola locked his brakes, veered into the outside lane of I-10 and slid into the rear of the King’s vehicle. Henry and Joshua King were transported by ambulance to Sacred Heart Hospital with minor injuries. Roach was cited for an improper lane change.
In one accident at 7:49 a.m., the Florida Highway Patrol said Nicholas Larry Davis, age 27 of Cantonment, veered into the median to avoid stopped traffic, colliding with a Jeep driven by 47-year old Sherry Maureen Toler of Seminola, AL, that was already in the median. Both were uninjured. Davis was cited for careless driving.
In an accident at 8:02 a.m., the FHP said 29-year old Katrina Rook of Pensacola was stopped for traffic when Leslie Gildersleeve, age 30 of Daphne, rear-ended her. Gildersleeve was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital with minor injuries. She was also cited for careless driving.
In a fourth accident, 23-year old Ashley Smith of Seminole, AL, was stopped for traffic when she was rear-ended at 8:09 a.m. by 42-year old Naomi Gentry, also of Seminole. Both were uninjured; Gentry was cited for careless driving.
Extreme Makeover: Refurbished Fire Trucks Save Escambia $1.6 Million
January 20, 2012
Escambia County has seven like-new refurbished fire trucks in service, including five in the immediate North Escambia area — with the refurbished models saving the county over a million and a half dollars versus new.
In late 2010, the Escambia County Commission authorized $2,147,586 to refurbish six “commercial pumpers”, to refurbish one 75-foot aerial truck and to purchase one 2011 model 78-foot aerial truck.
Two fire trucks from the Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and one each from McDavid, Molino, Beulah and Innerarity Point were completely refurbished and returned to their respective home stations during the last few weeks.
The 1991 model trucks were stripped down and completely rebuilt from the tires up, including new electronic pumps, new bodies, new paint and new lights. The process is estimated to add another 20 years to the expected life of each truck.
“It’s just like a new truck,” Century District Fire Chief Regi Burkett said, adding that Escambia County saved about $1.6 million by choosing to refurbish rather than buy new.
The Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue received a refurbished 1991 75-foot ladder truck that was formerly assigned to Ensley. The Ensley Station received a 2011 78-foot aerial truck.
While there are few multi-story buildings in North Escambia, Burkett said that Century’s ladder truck will prove useful for rescues and for reaching over a large square footage building.
Pictured above: Newly refurbished Escambia Fire Rescue trucks together at the Walnut Hill Fire Station. From the left, Engine 1814 – Molino, Engine 911 – McDavid, Engine 1512 – Walnut Hill, Ladder 5 – Century, Engine 1511 – Walnut Hill, Engine 214 – Beulah, and Engine 812- Innerarity Point. Pictured below: Century’s newly refurbished 75-foot ladder truck. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Sheriff’s Office Offers Free Fingerprinting For Children Saturday
January 20, 2012
Free fingerprinting for children will be available this Saturday at the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Substation in Century.
The fingerprinting will be offered from 9 a.m. until 1 pm. at the substation located at 7500 North Century Boulevard. The fingerprints are for family records only; the Sheriff’s Office will not retain copies of the prints, according to a news release.
The event will be hosted by the Sheriff’s Office Explorers, a voluntary program that educates and involves young people in law enforcement operations whether or not they choose to enter a career in law enforcement. Members gain a working knowledge of police work and have the opportunity to serve their community.
Explorers receive training in patrol procedure, first aid, honor guard, criminal law, crime prevention, finger-printing, arrest techniques, drug abuse prevention, firearms safety, crime scene techniques and more.