Cantonment Man Charged With Burglary
August 19, 2012
A Cantonment man has been charged with burglarizing a home on Neal Road.
Joshua Dylan Leavell, 20, was arrested this week on an outstanding warrant for burglary, criminal mischief and petit theft. He remained in the Escambia County Jail early Sunday with bond set at $11,000.
On September 25, 2011, a resident reported a burglary in the 200 block of Neal Road. The victim reported that someone broke in through a bedroom window and stole Lortab from her bedroom. Fingerprints at the scene were from Leavell, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report.
Leavell told deputies that he had opened the bedroom window, but another man had actually entered the house. The man fingered by Leavell had an alibi, according to deputies.
Century To Hold Housing Grant Public Hearing
August 19, 2012
The Town of Century will hold a public hearing Monday night as they begin the application process for $650,000 in grants to rehabilitate private homes in town.
The town is applying for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to rehabilitate or replace homes that are currently occupied by persons of low or moderate income.
The public hearing will be held in conjunction with a regular council meeting at 7 p.m. at the Century Town Hall.
The town received a similar $650,000 during the last fiscal year; it was used to rehabilitate about a dozen private homes.
Citizens Insurance Reverses Course On Inspection Program
August 19, 2012
With customers complaining about getting hit with higher premiums, leaders of Citizens Property Insurance Corp. said Friday they will revise an inspection program aimed at helping prevent wind damage to homes.
The program is supposed to give homeowners a discount on their premiums for doing construction upgrades such as improving roofs or better protecting doors and windows. But it has faced criticism recently because many customers have lost previous discounts — known in the insurance industry as “mitigation credits” — when Citizens has done reinspections of the homes.
Citizens Chairman Carlos Lacasa and President Barry Gilway held a news conference Friday to announce changes to the program, such as offering free follow-up inspections if homeowners disagree with the findings of inspectors. Also, Citizens will provide more information to consumers about a dispute-resolution process.
Gilway said the changes will put the “onus” on the state-backed Citizens to validate whether homeowners should receive the credits. State officials have long said strengthening homes against hurricane damage is critical to the property-insurance system and that credits can serve as an incentive for customers to spend thousands of dollars on improvements.
“We want to get the credits to them,” Gilway said. “That’s what ultimately reduces our exposure.”
The Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post have recently reported that reinspections have increased Citizens premiums by more than $130 million. Gilway said Friday that Citizens has completed about 255,000 reinspections and has 88,000 more to go. Citizens is the largest property insurer in the state, with 1.45 million policies as of July 31.
Lacasa, a former Miami-Dade County lawmaker, said one of the problems facing homeowners is that standards for receiving the credits have changed in recent years. The newer standards are more stringent, which has led to people losing credits during reinspections.
Gilway said, for example, standards have changed for how much of a roof surface can be flat and still qualify for credits.
Another frequent issue stems from inspectors being unable to gain access to attics to check structural issues. Under the changes announced Friday, Citizens will provide free follow-up inspections for people whose credits have been removed because of a lack of access to attics.
South Florida insurance agent Larry Willis, who phoned into the news conference, said disputes have even arisen from situations such as inspectors needing to go through clothing-filled closets to climb into attics. He said some inspectors won’t move clothing that blocks access.
Gilway said he will provide recommendations to the Citizens board next month about credit-related issues, possibly including whether the changes should apply retroactively to customers who have already lost credits. He said, however, Citizens will not retroactively return premium dollars.
By The News Service of Florida
Special Section: Back To School Info You Need To Know
August 19, 2012
School started Monday in Escambia County, and we have the last minute information you need to know, including start times, school supply lists, lunch prices, bus routes, and information on free and reduced price lunches.
Click a link to visit that story.
- School Start Times
- School Lunch Prices
- Free And Reduced Lunch Guidelines
- School Lunch Menus
- School Supply Lists
- School Bus Routes
Buford Wooten
August 19, 2012
Mr. Buford Wooten, 87, passed away on Sunday, August 19, 2012, in Atmore.
Mr. Wooten was a native of Bratt and a resident of Atmore for most of his life. Mr. Wooten was an avid farmer of 65 years. He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Lilla Wooten.
Survivors include his wife, Cassie Wooten of Atmore; 3 sons, Buford Larry (Connie) Wooten of Brewton, Joe Frank (Kay) Wooten of Bratt and David (Janice) Coleman of Bratt; five daughters, Brenda (Ron) Sessions of Stockon, Connie (Billy) Dorriety of Stockon, Sylvia (Joe) Gipson of Walnut Hill, Angelia (Jimmy) Boatwright of Atmore and Lisa Chafin of Atmore; one brother, Clark P. (Wiloneese) Wooten of Pleasant Grove, AL; two sisters, Adeline Rhinehart of Canoe and Barbara Jean (Joe) Pennington of Bratt; 23 grandchildren; 48 great-grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be Tuesday, August 21, 2012, at 10 a.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with the Rev. Chris Pruitt and Rev. Joe Gipson officiating.
Burial will follow at the Oak Hill Cemetery.
Visitation will be Monday, August 20, 2012, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Chad Wooten, Brad Wooten, Ricky Wooten, Wiley Gipson, Chris Morris, Wayne Coleman and Tyler Boatwright.
Honorary pallbearers will be Randy Martin, Bobby Wooten, Robbie Gipson, James Morris, Anthony Gipson, Dakota Boatwright, Teddie Lambeth and Blake Walker.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of arrangements.
Mobile Tops Pensacola 5-2 In Series Finale
August 19, 2012
BayBears starter Chase Anderson held the Blue Wahoos to just five hits and struck out seven in six scoreless innings of work, while left fielder Brent Clevlen blasted a three-run homer in the eighth to give Mobile a 5-2 victory over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos on Saturday evening at Hank Aaron Stadium in Mobile, Alabama.
With their victory Mobile improved their second half record to 23-32 this year, while Pensacola fell to 28-27 since the midpoint of the 2012 season. Despite the defeat, the Blue Wahoos won the first Bay-to-Bay series with a 12-10 record against the BayBears this year.
Anderson (6.0 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 SO) earned the victory after giving up just five hits, in addition to his seven punchouts in six shutout innings of work, while Pensacola starter Daniel Corcino (6.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 5 SO) suffered a tough loss, allowing only a lone earned run on just two hits in his six frames pitched.
Mobile struck early, plating their first tally in the second to take the 1-0 advantage. Clevlen began the frame with a walk, before eventually scoring on an RBI double off the left field wall by 2B David Nick.
The BayBears would then add four insurance runs in the eighth to pull away. Dan Kaczrowski led off with a double to right, and subsequently scored on a Pensacola fielding error. SS Chris Owings and RF Alfredo Marte followed with base knocks prior to coming home on Clevlen’s homer to left, making it 5-0.
Pensacola ended Mobile’s shutout hopes in the final frame thanks to the longball. CF Bryson Smith singled before being sent in on 1B Beau Mills’ two-run blast to left. It was the ninth homer of the year for Mills, which ties him for the team lead with 3B David Vidal.
2B Brodie Greene & RF Andrew Means were involved in a collision in right field during the eighth. Greene was taken to a nearby hospital for further evaluation, while Means was able to walk off the field under his own power. There is no word on the extent of injuries for either player at this time.
Owings (2-3, 1 R, 1 BB) was the lone BayBears batter to record a multi-hit effort, while SS Billy Hamilton (3-4, 1 SB) collected three hits and LF Donald Lutz (2-4) tallied a pair of base knocks. Hamilton stole second in the first inning to increase his season total to 143, which places him two away from tying Vince Coleman’s record and three from setting a new mark.
Pensacola now returns home for a five-game series with the Montgomery Biscuits, the Double-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays, beginning Sunday afternoon. First pitch is set for 4:05 p.m. from the bayfront stadium, with RHP Wirfin Obispo expected to get the nod for Blue Wahoos, while Montgomery is slated to give the ball to RHP Merrill Kelly.
Alabama Chief Justice Candidate Roy Moore To Speak Monday Night
August 19, 2012
Roy Moore, conservative Republican candidate for the chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, will speak Monday evening in Brewton.
Moore was elected chief justice of Alabama’s highest court back in 2000, but he was removed — and made national news — in 2003 when he refused to follow a federal judge’s order to remove a granite Ten Commandments monument that he had placed in Alabama’s judicial building.
The Alabama Democratic party removed their candidate for chief justice Friday after he made online comments the party deemed to be inappropriate for judicial candidate, according to al.com.
The Democratic State Executive Committee said Harry Lyon’s “increasingly erratic behavior” had “undermined his ability to stand as a candidate for the Democratic Party”.
Lyon made comments “critical of Republican justices, homosexuals and supporters of gay marriage”, The Birmingham News reported. Lyon even said Moore suffered from “dementia” and was a “devil worshiper”.
“It is disappointing that this close to the election process we find ourselves without a candidate for Chief Justice, but are hopeful that we will soon have a truly qualified candidate and future Chief Justice,” said Democratic Chairman Mark Kennedy.
“It only will show Alabama voters what a farce the once powerful Alabama Democratic Party has become,” Bill Armistead, the state Republican Party chairman, said in a statement about the Democratic party’s lack of a candidate. “The Alabama Republican Party will stand shoulder to shoulder with Judge Roy Moore to defeat you and support conservative Alabama values.”
Moore will speak during the August meeting of the Escambia County GOP at 6 p.m. Monday at The Hourglass, 220 St. Joseph Avenue in Brewton.
Back To School: School Bus Routes
August 19, 2012
School begins Monday in Escambia County. The school district’s transportation department has released school bus routes and schedules for the upcoming school year.
The following are the bus schedules for North Escambia area schools:
- Bratt Elementary
- Jim Allen Elementary
- Molino Park Elementary
- Ernest Ward Middle (same as Northview)
- Ransom Middle
- Northview High (same as EWMS)
- Tate High
- West Florida High
The following are the bus schedules for all Escambia County Schools:
Elementary Schools
- Bellview Elem
- Beulah Elem
- Blue Angel Elem
- Bratt Elem
- Brentwood Elem
- Cook Elem
- Cordova Park Elem
- Ensley Elem
- Ferry Pass Elem
- Global Learning Academy
- Hellen Caro Elem
- Holm Elem
- Jim Allen Elem
- Lincoln Park Elem
- Lipscomb Elem
- Longleaf Elem
- McArthur Elem
- Molino Park Elem
- Montclair Elem
- Myrtle Grove Elem
- Navy Point Elem
- Oakcrest Elem
- Pine Meadow Elem
- Pleasant Grove Elem
- Scenic Heights Elem
- Semmes Elem
- Sherwood Elem
- Suter Elem
- Warrington Elem
- Weis Elem
- West Pensacola Elem
Middle Schools
- Bailey Middle
- Bellview Middle
- Brown Barge Middle
- Ernest Ward Middle
- Ferry Pass Middle
- Gulf Breeze Middle
- Ransom Middle
- Warrington Middle
- Woodham Middle
- Workman Middle
High Schools
- Escambia High
- Gulf Breeze High
- Northview High
- Pensacola High
- Pine Forest High
- Tate High
- Washington High
- West Florida High
Other Routes
Back To School: First Week Breakfast And Lunch Menus
August 19, 2012
Here are the breakfast and lunch menus for elementary schools in Escambia County, and the middle school lunch menus, for the first week of school.
High school menus were not available. Check with your school; individual school menus subject to change.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
Monday, August 20
Breakfast
French Toast Sticks
Mixed Fruit
Lunch
Chicken Tender
WG Pizza
Turkey Sub
Lima Beans
Garden Salad
Peaches
Tuesday, August 21
Breakfast
Sausage Link
Cereal
100% Juice
Lunch
Nachos
Popcorn Chicken
Chicken Tender
Salad
Corn
Carrot Sticks
Pears
Refried Beans
Wednesday, August 22
Breakfast
Doughnut
Cheese Stick
Applesauce
Lunch
Oven Baked / BBQ
Chicken
Corndog
Turkey Pita
Mashed Potatoes
Mixed Vegetables
Fresh Fruit
Thursday, August 23
Breakfast
Doughnut
Cheese Stick
Applesauce
Lunch
Oven Baked / BBQ
Chicken
Corndog
Turkey Pita
Mashed Potatoes
Mixed Vegetables
Fresh Fruit
Roll
Friday, August 24
Breakfast
Bagel
Peaches
Lunch
CF Steak Sandwich
Fish Square
Chef Salad
Coleslaw
Baked Beans
Mixed Fruit
MIDDLE SCHOOLS
Monday, August 20
Chicken Tender
Cheeseburger Slider
Tuesday, August 21
Taco
Chicken Tender Salad
Wednesday, August 22
Baked/BBQ Chicken
Chef Salad
Thursday, August 23
Nachos
Chicken Alfredo
Friday, August 24
Lasagna
Mandarin Orange Chicken
Wraps, subs and pizza will be available daily in the middle schools.
Back To School: Lunch Prices, Free And Reduced Guidelines
August 19, 2012
There’s a little good news for parents sending their children back to school Monday in Escambia County — school lunch and breakfast prices are the same as they were last year.
And there’s no need to worry about cash or checks — pay online at mealpayplus.com.
Escambia Breakfast And Lunch Prices
- Elementary Breakfast: $1, full; $0.30, reduced; $1.80, adult.
- Elementary Lunch: $2, full; $0.40, reduced; $3, adult.
- Middle/High Breakfast: $1.50, full; $0.30, reduced; $1.80, adult.
- Middle/High Lunch: $2.50, full; $0.40, reduced; $3, adult.
- Extra Milk (Elementary): $0.50
Free And Reduced Price Meals
Applications will be sent home with students during the first week of school, or click here to apply online now. There are no charges or fees to use the online free and reduced meal application.
To view the income guidelines for the free and reduced price meal program, click here.
