Board Seeks Tax Increase To Save County Libraries
April 5, 2012
The West Florida Public Library Board voted unanimously Wednesday to request the Escambia County Commission directly levy a property tax increase to keep public libraries open in the county — including Century and the under-construction Molino Library.
The county may pull its $3.7 million contribution to the library system under a plan proposed by County Administrator Randy Oliver due to a projected $9.5 million budget shortfall.
With a vote of three of five commissioners, the commission can levy the .35 mils tax increase — about $35 on a $100,000 home. But if commissioners do not approve the tax increase, the issue could go to the voters as a referendum on the August ballot.
“The board will go after finding at least three commissioners to vote for the levy,” Bette Hooton, library board president, said following Wednesday’s meeting. “If that’s absolutely a no-go, we will go after the referendum.
“We are not going to go down without trying to save the Molino, Century and Southwest branch libraries,” she said.
The Escambia County Commission will consider the issue at its Committee of the Whole meeting at 9 a.m. on August 12. Wooton and Friends of the Library members are working to gather supporters to attend the meeting.
A yearly user fee of $50 imposed on every Escambia County resident that uses the library has also been suggested as a possible funding source to keep libraries open.
Pictured top: Construction is underway to convert the old Molino School into a library and community center. Pictured inset: The Century Branch Library. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Photos: Camp Fire Kids Easter Egg Hunt
April 5, 2012
Children from the Camp Fire USA Century Youth Learning Center made their annual visit to Century Care Center for an Easter egg hunt Wednesday. The residents prepared a bag of treats for each child and over 300 eggs.
For a photo gallery, click here.
“The children had a wonderful time and we would like to thank the Century Care Center and their staff for all of their hard work in making this annual event wonderful for the
residents and children,” said Pam Townson, Camp Fire Century director.
Pictured: The annual Camp Fire USA took part in an annual Easter egg hunt Wednesday at Century Care Center. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Easter Celebration For Kids At The Century Library Today
April 5, 2012
The Century Branch Library will hold an Easter Celebration this afternoon.
Children, up to 10, will hear a special story, decorate goose eggs and take part in an Easter Egg Hunt. The free event begins at 4 p.m. at the library at 7991 North Century Boulevard.
For more information, call (850) 256-6217.
Sandra McMurray Jackson Named To BRACE Board
April 5, 2012
Sandra McMurray Jackson of Century has been appointed to the board of directors of BRACE , the Be Ready Alliance Coordinating for Emergencies.
Jackson, a member of the Century Town Council, recently became a member of the Century CERT (Community Emergency Response Team), which is coordinated by BRACE.
Jackson is a 1977 graduate of Century High School and attended Jefferson Davis Community College in Brewton. She is an active member of First Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church. She retired after 20 years as a corrections officer with the Florida Department of Corrections. She currently owns Jackson-McMurray Funeral Services in Century.
A Century native, Jackson is the daughter of the late James and Marie McMurray. She was married to the late Rev. Dr. G. Jackson and has two children, Ketric Washington and Demetric Washington.
Pictured top Sandra McMurray Jackson (left) and another CERT volunteer held a disaster “victim” during a disaster drill last October in Century. Pictured inset: Sandra McMurray Jackson at a recent Century Town Council meeting. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Woman Charged With DUI Manslaughter For I-10 Crash
April 5, 2012
A Pensacola woman was been charged with DUI manslaughter for a crash on I-10 in October that claimed the lives of an adult and a child.
Kimberly Renee Rodrigues is now in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
The Florida Highway Patrol says Rodrigues was traveling west on I-10 in the early morning hours of October 21 when she rear-ended a 1996 Chevrolet cargo van driven by Melissa Lynn Lyublanovits, 44, of Pensacola.
A resulting chain reaction wreck claimed the life of 71-year old Lovett Junior Cummings and 11-year old Lovett Deshun Cummings II, both of West Palm Beach.
Pictured above: A pickup involved in an October accident on I-10. (Note: The tractor-trailer in the photo was not involved in the crash.)The scene on I-10 in Pensacola where at least two people were killed in a multi-vehicle accident. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tralve R. McKinley
April 5, 2012
Tralve R. McKinley, age 87 of Atmore, died Thursday April 5, 2012, in Atmore. He was a mechanic with McKinley’s Auto Service. He was born in Atmore on March 26, 1925, to the late Pearlie and Minnie Smith McKinley.
He is survived by his wife, Ethel Brown McKinley, one son, Steve McKinley; two daughters, Mary Ann Minchew and Debbie Smith of Atmore,; two sisters, Helen Davis of Dothan and Evelyn Spearman of Homa, LA, and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Graveside service will be Friday April 6, 2012, at 2 p.m. in McCullough Cemetery with Rev. Don Davis officiating.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.
Man Sentenced For DUI Manslaughter
April 5, 2012
A Santa Rosa County man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for DUI manslaughter.
Jeremy Joseph Hammill received the sentence from Judge David Rimmer.
On February 27, 2010, Hammill ran the red light at Hamilton Bridge Road and Dogwood Drive and crashed into a car driven by Tammy Cabaniss. Cabaniss was seriously injured, and her passenger, Dwight Davis, died as a result of the crash.
Hammill, who had a previous DUI conviction, had a blood alcohol level of 0.26, according to State Attorney Bill Eddins. That was more than three times the legal limit of 0.08.
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Pickup Rear-ends School Bus
April 5, 2012
One student was injured when a school bus was rear-ended by a pickup Wednesday afternoon on Pine Forest Road.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Hildred B. Harrelson, age 70, skidded 38 feet in her 1999 Ford pickup into the back of the bus, which was stopped to allow students to exit near Mandeville Lane.
There were 22 students on the bus at the time of the crash. One suffered a minor injury and was released to their parents.
Harrelson was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital by ambulance with minor injuries. A 15-year old passenger in her truck was not injured.
Harrelson was cited for careless driving by the FHP.
Marshals Nab Suspect That Ran From His Murder Trial
April 5, 2012
An Escambia County man that fled from his murder trial during jury deliberations was captured by federal agents in Baldwin County.
Ortavious Devon Wilson, 33,was busted at the Loxley Motel by U.S. Marshals Task Force members from Pensacola and Mobile, along with Task Force members from the Florida State Attorney’s office, Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, Monroeville Police Department and the Alabama Depart of Corrections.
Wilson was arrested outside of a room he rented without incident. However, a search of the room revealed a 9 mm handgun that was reportedly stolen from Escambia County (Fla.) last year, as well as substances that appeared to be crack cocaine and marijuana and drug paraphernalia indicative of dealing and selling drugs.
Wilson is not currently facing any local charges in Alabama but stands to face charges from the United States Attorney’s Office in Mobile as well as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office in Florida.
He was taken to the Baldwin County Jail in Alabama and remanded without bond.
Shortly after Wilson fled the courtroom at the Escambia County Courthouse he was found guilty in a murder trial.
He was charged in connection with the January 2011 murder of 29-year old Eddie Llyod Peterson of Pensacola near the intersection of Mobile Highway and Massachusetts Avenue. Peterson and two other men – Grimsley and 32-year-old Ortavious Devon Wilson — tried to rob the victim at gunpoint, but the victim shot back and killed Peterson.
10-Year Old Charged With Breaking Into School
April 4, 2012
A 10-year old boy has been charged with breaking into an Escambia County elementary school.
Witnesses reported seeing the boy lurking around West Pensacola Elementary just after 7 p.m. Tuesday night. A short time later, a witness heard a window break.
As Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrived and surrounded the school, the boy called his mother to say he was inside the school and about to exit. The mother in turn called the Sheriff’s Office.
As the boy exited the school, he refused verbal commands to put his hands behind his back and took off running. Deputies were able to catch up and place him under arrest.
Deputies found a broken window at the school, but they were unable to locate any missing property.
The boy was charged as a juvenile with burglary, possession of burglary tools, criminal mischief, trespassing on school grounds and resisting arrest without violence.