Escambia Academy Beats Sparta
March 21, 2012
Escambia Academy took two from Sparta on Tuesday.
Escambia Academy 14 — Sparta 3
Escambia Academy’s varsity beat Sparta 14-3 on Tuesday. The Cougars scored nine of their runs in the first three innings. Michael Thompson allowed no earned runs, walked none and struck out five for EA. Jarrett Hadley was 2-3 for the Cougars with 3 RBIs, Braxton Chastang also went 2-3 with 2 RBIs, and Chance Jackson was 1-3 with 2 RBIs.
Escambia Academy 5 — Sparta 4 (JV)
Escambia Academy’s junior varsity got past Sparta 5-4 Tuesday in five. The Cougars’ Nate Smith had 2 RBIs on two hits — a homer in the first and a single in the third. Trey Smith took the win on the mound for the Cougars, striking out six, walking one and allowing two hits.
Hannas Dean Donald
March 21, 2012
Hannas Dean Donald, a longtime resident of Atmore, went to be with her Lord on March 18, 2012. She was born to Noah and Anna Dean Wesley on September 1, 1919, in Little River, AL.
She was the only living charter member of Brooks Memorial Baptist Church where she served faithfully those many years. She loved the Lord, her family, her church and community. She was honored by the Atmore Community Hospital Auxilary for 27 years of volunteer service. She will be missed by her family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Amon Elihue Donald; daughter, Virginia Donald Miller and three siblings.
She was survived by a son, Weldie Donald and wife, Loyce of Atmore; daughter, Lorraine Donald May and husband, Bill of McKinney, TX; six grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren, 10 great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday March 21, 2012, at 11 a.m. from Brooks Memorial Baptist Church with Rev. Mike Grindle and Rev. Dave Taylor officiating. Interment will follow in Serenity Gardens in Atmore.
The family will receive friends, Tuesday, March 20, 2012, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home.
Ensley Murder Victim Indentified
March 20, 2012
A man was shot and killed on a street near Ensley in what authorities are calling an apparent drug-related incident Tuesday night.
The victim was identified Wednesday as Frederick John Ortiz, 26.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded about 7:30 p.m. to Hayworth Avenue to a report of shots fire. When they arrived, Ortiz was found shot to death, lying in the middle of the street.
The shooting remains under investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Further details have not yet been released.
Hayworth Avenue is just off Highway 29 near I-10, behind Hardees.
Pictured above: A man was shot and killed on Hayworth Street of Highway 29 Tuesday night. Photos by Bree Sison WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Woman Charged With Weekend Murder
March 20, 2012
An Escambia County woman has been arrested for a weekend murder.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office believes 18-year old Keia Alexis Clausell stabbed Shernique Kemp during a fight at Oakwood Terrace early Sunday morning.
Investigators said there has been an ongoing dispute between a group of females that culminated when a fight broke out at the apartment complex resulting in Clausell fatally stabbing Kemp in the torso.
Investigators were able to obtain a warrant Clausell after interviewing her and other witnesses.
Clausell is being held without bond. She was arrested about an hour after the Sheriff’s Office publicly named her as a suspect.
No Blue Angels On Wednesday
March 20, 2012
The Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, The Blue Angels will not be performing a practice demonstration over Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola on Wednesday.
The team is slated to return to their regularly scheduled practice demonstrations over NAS Pensacola as posted on the Blue Angel website (www.BlueAngels.navy.mil) on March 27th.
Dept. Of Corrections To Pay Century $199K To Settle Water Suit
March 20, 2012
The Town of Century will settle a lawsuit over excessive water usage with the Florida Department of Corrections for just under $200 thousand.
The Department of Corrections will pay Century $199,194.40 to settle the lawsuit that claimed the DOC did not pay for excessive water used at the Century Correctional Institution.
Under the town’s contract to provide water for Century Correctional, there is an added charge for water usage above 6 million gallons per month. In early 2009, Mayor Freddie McCall discovered that the over-usage charge was not paid for the January 2000 to May 2008 time period.
The Town of Century’s lawsuit originally claimed the the Department of Corrections owed $284,444.68, but McCall said two years of billing was not allowable due to the statute of limitations.
In 2008, the Town of Century was successful in recovering $302,488.40 from the prison system for natural gas usage at the Century Correctional Institution.
The dispute stemmed from billing practices that dated back to 2000. Under the town’s agreement with the DOC and Century Correctional Institute, the prison was to pay for natural gas at the rate of 120 percent of the town’s actual cost. The town’s billing system would generate a bill at the normal rate, then town employees would re-rate the bill and send a new bill about 10 days later at the 120 percent rate.
Pictured: Century Correctional Institution. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Scott Signs State Worker Drug Testing Law
March 20, 2012
In a move that likely will draw a constitutional challenge, Gov. Rick Scott on Monday signed a controversial law that would allow random drug testing of state employees.
Scott, who prompted a federal court fight last year when he issued an executive order to begin drug testing, quietly notified the Secretary of State at 5:10 p.m. that he had signed the bill.
The Republican-dominated Legislature overwhelmingly approved the measure (HB 1205) this month, with supporters saying the private sector already uses such programs to improve safety and worker productivity.
“I’ve had a drug-free workplace for more than 20 years,” Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, said before a vote on the final day of the legislative session. “I believe that it has contributed to higher quality employees.”
But legislative opponents and groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida argued repeatedly during the recently completed legislative session that the idea would violate state employees’ constitutional rights.
“We’re talking less personal freedom without probable cause,” Sen. Chris Smith, D-Fort Lauderdale, said during the debate. “This is more government intrusion and more costs.”
The bill would allow, but not require, agencies to conduct random testing every three months. Agencies would use a computer system to choose employees to be tested, with the total not exceeding 10 percent of the agency workforce.
Also, agencies would have to pay for the tests out of their overall budgets, which would help prevent additional costs to the state. The law takes effect July 1.
Scott issued an executive order last year to start employee drug testing, but the order is largely on hold because of a court challenge. The Department of Corrections has continued with drug testing during the challenge.
Supporters dismissed arguments that HB 1205 would violate workers’ constitutional rights. But the legal fight likely will center on whether government agencies have the right to conduct “suspicionless” drug tests of workers.
A House staff analysis said that some of the issues that “may be arguable are whether the suspicionless drug testing of public employees or job applicants contravenes reasonable expectations of privacy and whether the government has a special need for such drug testing that outweighs the privacy interests of such employees and applicants.”
By The News Service of Florida
Century Joins Flomaton With 4th Fireworks Plans
March 20, 2012
The Town of Century has joined Flomaton in plans for a joint Fourth of July fireworks show.
Both towns have now agreed to chip in $1,500 each toward a $5,000 fireworks show to be held at Century’s Showalter Park. The remaining $2,000 will come from chambers of commerce and other sponsors.
Last year, both towns sponsored a fireworks show at Hurricane Park in Flomaton. Century agreed to help pay for the show only if the town’s alternated being the host for the event each year.
Pictured: The 2011 Fourth of July Fireworks Show at Hurricane Park in Flomaton. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Fun For The Kids: Come And Play Day
March 20, 2012
The Barrineau Park Historical Society will present “Come and Play Day” on Wednesday.
School age children and their parents are invited to enjoy the outdoor play area and the indoor history museum at the Barrineau Park Community Center from noon until 2 p.m. Parents must remain with their children during the free event.
NWE Baseball Camp Canceled
March 20, 2012
A Northwest Escambia baseball camp scheduled for this weekend has been canceled.
Players from NWE were to attend the camp with the Northview High School varsity players on the Northview campus. The even will be rescheduled for a later date.