Flomaton Places Police Chief On Leave, Names Interim Top Cop
February 28, 2012
The Flomaton Town Council voted Monday night to place their police chief on leave with pay as Florida law enforcement continues to investigate his alleged actions, and the council also named an interim chief.
Assistant (Fla.) State Attorney Greg Marcille confirmed last week to NorthEscambia.com that Flomaton Police Chief Goeff McGraw is the focus of an ongoing investigation into the department. The results of the State Attorney’s Office and Florida Department of Law Enforcement probe have not yet been released.
At Monday night’s meeting of the Flomaton council, two Century residents alleged the McGraw pulled his weapon and searched their Florida home without jurisdiction. [Read their complete allegations here.]
Acting on a request by Mayor Dewey Bondurant, the Flomaton Town Council voted unanimously to place McGraw on paid leave with pay for an indefinite time period pending further action. The mayor and the council did not give a specific reason for the suspension, but they did acknowledge that they were aware of the Florida investigation.
The council approved the mayor’s recommendation that current officer Daniel Thompson be named Flomaton’s interim police chief.
Bondurant said McGraw’s status would be up for consideration at the council’s next regular meeting.
Pictured top: Council members Buster Crapps (left) and Jim Johnson (middle), and Mayor Dewey Bondurant Monday night’s meeting of the Flomaton Town Council as they voted to name Daniel Thompson (bottom inset) as the town’s interim police chief. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Dense Fog Advisory Tonight
February 28, 2012
There is a dense fog advisory in effect for tonight.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Areas of dense fog after 11pm. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. South wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 9am. Areas of dense fog before 9am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 77. South wind between 5 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
- Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. South wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 79. South wind between 5 and 15 mph.
- Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. South wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78. South wind between 5 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
- Friday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. Southwest wind around 15 mph.
- Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 70. Northwest wind between 10 and 15 mph.
- Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43.
- Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 70.
- Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 41.
- Monday: Sunny, with a high near 71.
Northview FFA Qualifies For Livestock State Finals
February 28, 2012
Northview High School’s FFA is one of just 30 in Florida to qualify for the Florida FFA Livestock Career Development Event (CDE) State Finals.
There were 94 total teams from throughout Florida that competed for a spot in state finals. Northview’s team qualified at No. 18 overall after qualifying events held earlier this month.
The purpose of the Livestock Evaluation CDE is to stimulate learning activities related to the production and marketing of cattle, sheep and swine.
Woman Charged In ‘Crime Spree’
February 28, 2012
A woman was arrested Monday morning in what deputies are calling a “crime spree”.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the crimes by Amanda Atkins, 33, began when she entered the home of a 74-year old woman on Fairview Avenue. The victim said she heard someone banging on her front door about 6:20 a.m. When she opened the door, Atkins pushed her way into the home, striking the victim in the face.
She fled the scene in a silver pickup. Moments later, deputies received more calls about a female hitting cars with her truck on Kearny Drive. Atkins then entered another home and struck a female victim. After exiting the home, she jumped onto the hood of another car.
Deputies arrived and arrested Atkins. She was charged with burglary with assault or battery, battery on a person over 65, criminal mischief, and battery. She was booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $108,000.
Bill Would Limit Funeral Protests
February 28, 2012
No protests would be allowed within 500 feet of a funeral under a bill was passed unanimously by the House and sent to the Senate.
The bill (HB 31), sponsored by Rep. Pat Rooney, R-Palm Beach Gardens, is a response to the protests that have been held at military funerals around the country by the Westboro Baptist Church in Kansas.
“A funeral is a time meant for family and friends to grieve and remember, it is not a time for a spectacle to be made,” Rooney said in a statement afterward. “For those that are suffering the terrible loss of a loved one, unwarranted harassment some attempt only compounds their grief creating a potential powder keg of emotion and violence.”
Claude W. Moye
February 28, 2012
Mr. Claude W. Moye, 77, passed away on Sunday, February 26, 2012 at a Mobile hospital.
Mr. Moye was a native and resident of Robinsonville for most of his life. He was a retired employee of Monsanto after 35 years of service, a retired farmer and attended the Robinsonville Baptist Church.
He is survived by his wife, Jeannine Moye of Century; two sons, Mike and Barbara Moye of Robinsonville, Duff and Crystal Moye of Booneville; a stepson, Ricky and Linda Rutherford of Perdido; three daughters, Sherrin and Dan Thomas of Brewton, Suzanne and Scott Daniel of Mobile, and Mishalene and Charles Coker of Ft. Walton; a stepdaughter, Kristi and Chris Taylor of Brewton; eight grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; and three sisters, Gertrude Smith of Atmore,, Gladys Stanton of Robinsonville, and Wilanette Troutman of Atmore.
Funeral services will be Tuesday, February 28, 2012 at 10 a.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with the Rev. Mike McMorris and the Rev. Jerry Keese officiating. Burial will follow at the Robinsonville Cemetery.
Visitation will be Monday February 27, 2012, from 6-9 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Chad Moye, Canyon Moye, Dex Daniel, Zack Coker, Jordan Coker and Alex Coker.
Honorary pallbearer will be Blake Daniel.
Northview, Flomaton Softball Canceled
February 27, 2012
This afternoon’s Flomaton Hurricanes at Northview Chiefs softball games have been canceled due to the weather. The Lady Chiefs are scheduled to host the Jay Royals in Bratt on Tuesday — JV at 4:00 and varsity at 6:00.
Today’s Northview Chiefs at Washington baseball games are still scheduled — JV at 4:00 and varsity at 6:30.
Decision Possible Today On Gulf Power $93.5 Million Rate Hike
February 27, 2012
The Florida Public Service Commission could decide today if Gulf Power Company customers will pay $93.5 million more a year for electricity — partially to fund the purchase of 4,000 acres of land for a possible nuclear power plant near McDavid.
The PSC staff has recommend against the full rate increase request. The staff recommendation would not allow Gulf Power to pass along costs related to a potential North Escambia nuclear-power plant site. The recommendation says Gulf Power has not taken an initial step — known as getting a determination of need — for such a project
PSC staff has recommended that Gulf Power be allowed a base rate increase of $62.3 million.
Molino Library, Tax Collector And Property Appraiser Office Work Continues
February 27, 2012
Progress is continuing on a $4 million project to convert the old Molino School into a community center and museum.
Roof shingles are expected to be installed this week, while interior electrical and plumbing rough-in work is in progress on a new building. Rough-in for plumbing, mechanical and electrical continues on the existing building.
The project includes the conversion of the old Molino School into a 15,600 square foot library, community center and museum under a $2.95 million construction contract awarded by Escambia County to Birkshire Johnstone, LLC.
In addition to converting the 72-year old school building, a new 7,000 square foot building is being 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. The facility will also house a polling station for early voting and elections.
Final completion for both buildings is scheduled for November 2012.
Pictured: Work to convert the old Molino School into a new library and museum, plus the addition of a new building for the tax collector and property appraiser. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Slight Chance Of More Rain Tonight
February 27, 2012
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: A 30 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a low around 54. East wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72. Southeast wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. South wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 77. South wind between 5 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
- Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. Southwest wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south.
- Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. South wind around 5 mph.
- Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 77. Breezy, with a south wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to between 15 and 20 mph. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph.
- Friday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 61.
- Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 67.
- Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly clear, with a low around 42.
- Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 69.
- Sunday Night: Clear, with a low around 42.
- Monday: Sunny, with a high near 70.