Man Found Dead After House Explodes
August 1, 2012
The body of a man was found in an Escambia County house following a suspicious explosion and fire early this morning.
Multiple stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the home at near the intersection of Dog Track Road and Brookstone Way about 2:15 a.m. The explosion had blown out windows and the garage door of the home.
Once the fire was out, authorities found the body of 59-year old Richard Dunigan of Pensacola inside.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has joined the State Fire Marshal’s Office in the investigation into the incident.
Pictured: A man was found dead inside this home that exploded early Wednesday morning in Escambia County. Photos courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Molino Man Shot After Driving Into Cantonment House Is Arrested
August 1, 2012
The Molino man that was shot multiple times after driving his vehicle into a house in Cantonment last month was arrested Tuesday afternoon.
John Alex Godwin, age 34 of Molino Road, was booked into the Escambia County Jail on felony charges of aggravated assault, aggravated stalking, criminal mischief property damage and burglary, according to jail records. He was released Tuesday on a $40,000 bond.
During the predawn hours of July 13, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said Godwin crashed is his car into the home of 25-year old Heather McKamey of Cantonment. The car literally pushed in the front door, door frame and surrounding bricks.
Godwin was then shot by 25-year old Andrew Lundy of Cantonment. Lundy was not charged.
Godwin reportedly suffered multiple gunshot woulds and was airlifted to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola. Warrants were prepared for his arrest pending his release from the hospital.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, Godwin was McKamey’s ex-boyfriend. She has unsuccessfully tried to get a restraining order against him in Escambia County back in June after a domestic violence incident between the pair in Mississippi.
According to a Gulfport Police Department incident report, Godwin was dating McKamey when he allegedly assault her on I-10 in Mississippi at the 33 mile marker by grabbing her hair and throwing her to the ground. She suffered minor lacerations to her hand during the incident, according to the report.
Pictured: A man was shot early the morning of July 13 after driving his car into this house in the 900 block of Jacks Branch Road in Cantonment. Deputies say the incident was a domestic violence incident. Photos by WEAR for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century To Talk Budget, No Property Tax Increase
August 1, 2012
The Century Town Council will hold a second budget workshop Thursday afternoon.
During the workshop, supervisors will present budget proposals for their individual departments for the 2012-2013 fiscal year that begins October 1.
The proposed ad valorem millage rate remains at .9048 for third consecutive year. That’s equal to about $90 per $100,000 in taxable value on a piece of property. One mill is equal to $1 in tax for every $1,000 in assessed value.
The tax generates less than $30,000 per year for the property tax levy.
Rain Chance Increasing
August 1, 2012
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 76. South wind around 5 mph.
- Thursday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 95. Heat index values as high as 106. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the morning.
- Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
- Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind around 5 mph.
- Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 93. Light south wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
- Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 94. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
- Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light and variable after midnight.
- Monday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 93.
- Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74.
- Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 93.
- Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74.
- Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 93.
Texting And Driving Is Now Illegal In Alabama
August 1, 2012
It’s now illegal to text and drive in Alabama.
Beginning today, Alabama became the 38th state to ban texting and driving. The ban extends to most manual electronic communications — so email, Facebook, Twitter and instant messaging are out too on public highways.
The fine for violating the law is $25 for a first-time offense, $50 for a second offense and $75 for a third or subsequent offense. Those fines can easily reach $200 in some counties after court costs are added. Also, for each offense, it’s two points on a driver’s record, potentially leading to higher insurance rates.
The ban includes cell phones, PDA’s, personal computers and most any other electronic device used to send or receive messages or email.
Drivers can still send and receive messages using voice commands — such as with Siri on the iPhone. And drivers can also send text messages or emails while legally parked on the shoulder of the road.
The ban does not preclude the use of GPS devices, as long as the device destination is programmed before the vehicle is on the road. Entering a phone number and talking on the phone are still legal.
Also, the ban does not extend to drivers obtaining emergency services.
Pictured top: Texting and driving is now illegal in Alabama. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
New $9 Million County Sports Complex To Open In Escambia
August 1, 2012
Escambia County’s newest $9 million sports complex will open Friday.
A ribbon cutting ceremony for the Southwest Escambia Sports Complex, 2020 Bauer Road, will be held on Friday, August 3, at 11 a.m. A fish fry will follow the ceremony.
The sports complex sits on approximately 200 acres and with lighted baseball, softball, soccer and football fields, an open play area, walking trails, playground, covered pavilions and ample parking.
“This facility is a huge asset to Escambia County and I’m looking forward to seeing it filled with action,” Wilson Robertson, District 1 commissioner said.
The new facility was funded with Local Option Sales Tax monies.
Local Delegation Meets With BP Claims Chief In New Orleans
August 1, 2012
A delegation of local leaders met with BP Oil Spill Claims Chief Patrick Juneau in New Orleans.
The delegation included Representative Doug Broxson (R-Gulf Breeze), Senator Greg Evers (R-Baker), Gulf County Commissioner and Florida Association of Counties President Bill Williams, and Escambia County Commissioner Gene Valentino.
“Mr. Juneau again gave us his assurance that they will perfect this new program for BP claimants including those affected in the Panhandle,” Broxson said, adding that Juneau will soon visit the local area to promote the new claims process and encourage area citizens and businesses to file or re-file their claims.
“The new BP claims administration will be great for the Gulf Coast. Patrick Juneau appears to be an honest broker for doing what is right,” Evers said, a feeling echoed byValentino.
“It was a pleasure meeting Mr. Juneau. Not only is he a part of the local fabric of the Gulf Coast, but he has put together a structure for the settlement of these personal and business
claims that makes sense,” Valentino said.
Florida Education Commissioner Out Amid Testing, School Grade Controversy
August 1, 2012
Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson resigned late Tuesday amid a months-long controversy over the state’s testing regimen and errors on school grades that forced the department to change the marks for dozens of schools.
In letters to Gov. Rick Scott and State Board of Education Chairwoman Kathleen Shanahan, Robinson said he was proud of his work with the department but wanted to spend more time with his family. Robinson was secretary of education in Virginia before taking over the Florida job in August 2011.
Robinson’s resignation is effective August 31, when he will have been on the job a little more than a year.
“Living far away from my family has proven to be the one challenge all this progress could not overcome,” Robinson wrote after listing his accomplishments. “So it is with sincere appreciation and deep regret my time of service to Florida’s students, parents, teachers, superintendents, college and university presidents, business and community organizations is cut short.”
Scott, who backed Robinson after reportedly pushing out former Education Commissioner Eric Smith, issued a brief statement praising Robinson.
“I appreciate Gerard’s service to the state of Florida and his commitment to ensuring Florida’s students receive a first class education,” the governor said. “He has been a tireless advocate for creating quality learning opportunities for all of Florida’s students and he will certainly be missed.”
But Robinson’s tenure had been dogged in recent months by the public-relations pounding the department took after FCAT scores collapsed, followed a few months later by the school grades mix-up.
The Florida Board of Education was forced to lower passing grades for the statewide writing tests in May after the passing rate plunged from 81 percent to 27 percent for fourth graders and showed similar drops in eighth and 10th grades.
Then, in July, the department had to reissue grades for 213 elementary and middle schools and nine school districts as part of a “continuous review process.”
That came after the number of schools receiving an “A” had plummeted from 1,481 in 2011 to 1,124 this year. The new grades showed 1,240 schools getting the highest mark — a jump of 5 percentage points from the first cut of the numbers.
Shanahan, who said the board would consult with Scott while looking for a new commissioner, also praised Robinson in a statement released by the Department of Education.
“He has worked with the board as we have raised standards for our students and our schools,” she said. “He is a leader who embodies and understands the importance of education reform. We wish him the best as he makes the decision that is best for his own young children.”
by The News Service of Florida
Davis Named Sacred Heart CEO
August 1, 2012
Sacred Heart Health System and Ascension Health announced Tuesday the appointment of Susan Davis as the president and CEO of Sacred Heart Health System.
Davis was selected as the interim President and CEO of Sacred Heart in February and recently was named the permanent CEO. Davis said that when she arrived in Pensacola to succeed Laura Kaiser as the Sacred Heart CEO, she intended to serve as only the interim leader until a permanent CEO was chosen.
“After discussions over the past few months with the leaders at Ascension Health and Sacred Heart’s Board of Trustees, I decided to make a long-term commitment to lead Sacred Heart,” Davis said. “I am excited about the opportunity to lead a great team of employees and to build stronger relationships with the many loyal physicians who have made Sacred Heart a leader in excellent patient outcomes.”
“A number of factors led to my decision to stay as Sacred Heart’s CEO,” she added. “Over the past four months, I have fallen in love with the Sacred Heart family and the communities it serves. I also saw the opportunity to provide Sacred Heart with a vision for the future and a renewed focus on quality, safety and patient satisfaction.”
Davis will lead a health care system that includes hospitals in Pensacola, Walton County, Panama City and Port St. Joe, as well as a network of physicians stretching from Gulf Shores to Apalachicola, Fla.
In addition to her role at Sacred Heart, Davis also will serve as Ascension Health’s Ministry Market Leader for Florida, the Gulf Coast, New York and Connecticut. Ascension Health, the parent organization for Sacred Heart, is the nation’s largest Catholic and nonprofit healthcare system.
Davis has served as the CEO of St. Vincent’s Health in Bridgeport, Conn., since 2004. She began her healthcare career as a nurse in New York City. She served for 18 years in leadership roles at Vassar Brothers Medical Center in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., where she began as vice president of patient care services and then became the chief operating officer and eventually the CEO. She holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Mount Saint Mary College, a master’s degree in nursing administration from Columbia University in New York, and a doctorate in education from Columbia.
Scott Appoints Three To Judicial Nominating Commission
August 1, 2012
Gov. Rick Scott announced Tuesday the appointments of Pamela E. Langham, Thomas F. Gonzalez, and Lennard B. Register III to the First Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission.
Pamela E. Langham, 47, of Gulf Breeze, has been a sole practitioner since 2005. Previously, she was an assistant attorney at the University of West Florida from 2002 to 2003 and an assistant public defender with the Jacksonville Office of the Public Defender from 1992 to 1996. In addition, she has been an adjunct professor at the University of West Florida and Pensacola Junior College. She received a bachelor’s degree from the University of New Orleans and a law degree from the Mississippi College School of Law. She succeeds Susan N. Marks and is appointed for a term beginning July 31, 2012, and ending July 1, 2016.
Thomas F. Gonzalez, 45, of Pensacola, has been a partner with Beggs and Lane since 1999. He served in the United States Navy from 1984 to 1996. Gonzalez received a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina and a law degree from the Catholic University of America. He is appointed for a term beginning July 31, 2012, and ending July 1, 2015. He is appointed from the list of nominees submitted by the Florida Bar.
Lennard B. Register III, 58, of Pace, has been an Assistant United States Attorney for the United States Attorney’s Office in Pensacola since 2002. Previously, he served as an assistant state attorney for the Eighth Judicial Circuit from 1989 to 1993. Register received bachelor’s and law degrees from the University of Florida. He succeeds Sally B. Fox and is appointed for a term beginning July 31, 2012, and ending July 1, 2016. He is appointed from the list of nominees submitted by the Florida Bar.