ICE Arrests 36 Fugitive, Criminal Aliens In Area Operation
September 18, 2012
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) arrested 36 convicted criminal aliens, immigration fugitives and immigration violators during a five-day operation in the Escambia County area.
The operation concluded Sunday and was conducted by ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Fugitive Operations Teams.
Of the 36 arrested, 19 had previous convictions for crimes such as: aggravated assault, burglary, battery on a law enforcement officer, identity theft, possessing cocaine, battery, forgery, fraud, driving under the influence and domestic violence, according to ICE.
Five of the 36 were immigration fugitives that failed to leave the county when ordered, and six had previously been deported before illegally entering the U.S. again.
Thirteen of the arrests were in Escambia County, while other arrests were made in Santa Rosa, Mobile, Fort Walton, Navarre and Defuniak Springs. Most of those arrest, 23 total, were from Mexico. Others were from Honduras, Guatemala, Vietnam, Thailand, Czech Republic, Iran and Cuba.
“These arrests of convicted criminals and repeat immigration violators demonstrate ICE’s ongoing commitment to public safety,” said Scott Sutterfield, acting field office director of ERO New Orleans. “When ICE prioritizes these individuals for arrest, our officers and agents work tirelessly to pursue the leads.”
Among the convicted criminal aliens arrested were:
- A 32-year-old Mexican national who was previously convicted of felony battery and giving false information to law enforcement. He was arrested Wednesday in Pensacola and remains in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.
- A 41-year-old Vietnamese national who was previously convicted of aggravated assault with great bodily harm and felony battery with a weapon. He was arrested Wednesday in Pensacola and remains in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.
- A 32-year-old Honduran national who was previously deported from the United States and illegally re-entered. He was previously convicted of burglary, robbery, theft and has a domestic violence case pending. He was arrested Thursday in Ft. Walton Beach and remains in ICE custody pending removal to Honduras.
“We continuously focus on improving the safety of all of our communities by conducting these targeted enforcement actions,” said Michael Meade, acting field office director of ERO Miami.
The names of those arrested were not immediately released by ICE.
Pictured top: An alleged illegal alien be taken to an ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) facility in Pensacola for processing. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia, Santa Rosa Receive $110K In Grants
September 18, 2012
Escambia and Santa Rosa counties will share in $850,000 in defense reinvestment grants announced Monday. In all, 11 Florida communities with military installations will receive the grants to support diversification of the area economies for helping keep military facilities open.
“Florida continues to be the best place in the nation for military service members and their families to live and work,” Scott said. “The Defense Reinvestment Grant helps maintain vital missions at Florida’s military installations while fostering a cooperative relationship between the military and the community.”
Each of the grants will be used to fulfill the needs of a military installation or help defense-dependent communities develop strategies for expanding their non-defense economic base. Activities can include studies, presentations, analyses, plans, marketing, modeling, and reasonable travel costs.
The Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce will receive $70,000 for Escambia County, and Santa Rosa County will receive $40,000. The largest grant, $125,000, will go to Okaloosa County, home to Eglin Air Force Base and Hurlburt Field.
Gas Prices At Near Record High For The Month Of September
September 18, 2012
Gas prices continue their upward spiral at near-record highs for the month of September. The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded in Escambia County was $3.70 Monday, compared to $3.53 one year ago.
“The national average continues to hover near its highest ever September level,” said GasBuddy.com Senior Petroleum Analyst Patrick DeHaan. “As we push deeper into September, the more optimistic I am that these high prices will begin to come down slightly, but … I’m a bit concerned that prices won’t moderate as much as previously expected as the dollar weakens, leading me to believe 2012 will have featured the highest yearly average ever.”
Pictured: In Century, gallon of regular unleaded was $3.75 Monday night. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Century Moves Forward With $650,000 Housing Rehab Grant Application
September 18, 2012
The Town of Century voted Monday night to move forward with the application process for $650,000 in housing improvement grants.
If awarded, the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) will be used to rehabilitate or replace homes that are currently occupied by persons of low or moderate income. New guidelines recently approved by the town council will allow grant money to be used to replace mobile homes with conventional site built homes.
The town’s official application for the grant money will be submitted October 1. Town consultant Robin Phillips said the town hopes to know if their application is approved by November and December, with the first applications for assistance to be taken from the public in December.
The town has already been awarded $155,000 in grant money to harden homes against hurricanes. The Florida Division of Emergency Management awarded Century $105,000 in Residential Construction Mitigation Program Funds. The Community Action Program Committee will provide an addition $50,000 in grant money, bringing the total dollars for hurricane retrofits to $155,000.
Work was recently completed on a previously awarded $650,000 CDBG grant and a $100,000 hurricane retrofit grant that was awarded last year. About a dozen private homes were rehabilitated under the program. [Read more...]
Pictured: One of about a dozen homes rehabilitated in Century last year using grant funds. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Volleyball: Northview, Jay Split Wins (With Photo Gallery)
September 18, 2012
Northview and Jay split junior varsity and varsity wins in high school volleyball Monday afternoon at Northview.
For a photo gallery, click here.
In varsity action, the Lady Chiefs of Northview beat the Lady Royals of Jay in three, 25-17, 25-18, and 25-18. For the Northview, Danielle Steadham had two aces and seven kills; Lily Townson had one ace, one kill and 10 assists. Misty Doran added four aces, six kills and one assist for the Lady Chiefs.
In junior varsity play, Jay defeated Northview. 25-17, 28-26. Shebly Nielson had three aces and two kills for the JV Lady Chiefs.
Jay and Northview will meet again Tuesday on the other side of the river; Northview will travel to Jay with the JV taking the court at 4:30 p.m. and the varsity playing at 5:30.
Pictured: Volleyball action from Jay at Northview Monday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Man Charged With Stealing 164 Dumpsters
September 18, 2012
An Alabama man was jailed in Santa Rosa County for allegedly scrapping dozens of dumpsters he was hired to refurbish.
Arenza Tyrone Davis, 33, was arrested after an investigation earlier this year. According to the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office, Davis worked as subcontractor welder for Waste Pro. His job was to repair the dumpsters at the landfill in Milton.
But investigators said David stole 164 of the dumpsters valued at $379,500. Authorities discovered that 113 of the stolen dumpsters, weighing 567,200 pounds, were sold for scrap in Alabama, netting $82,353 for Davis.
Davis remains in the Santa Rosa County Jail with bond set at $45,000.
Pictured top: Some of the dumpsters allegedly scrapped by an Alabama man. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Volleyball: Tate Beats PCA (With Photo Gallery)
September 18, 2012
In varsity volleyball action, the Tate Lady Aggies defeated Pensacola Christian Academy in three sets Monday night.
For a photo gallery, click here.
For the Tate Lady Aggies: Brooke White 1 ace, 9 kills, 5 blocks; Shani Conoly 1 ace, 1 dig, 9 kills, 3 blocks; Jordan Barnett 9 digs; Julie McKinley 1 ace, 2 blocks; Heather Thomason 5 aces, 5 digs; Jordan White 2 aces, 1 dig, 4 kills, 1 block; Carissa Carroll 2 digs; Lauren Merts 1 ace, 1 dig, 19 assists; Lexi Windham 2 aces, 3 digs, 1 kill, 1 block.
Photos by Hope Bonucchi for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Scott School Funding Effort Could Require Juggling
September 18, 2012
After a week-long education tour, Gov. Rick Scott said he wants to avoid funding cuts for public schools next year, and he would like to boost spending, if possible.
But while Scott’s stance might turn out to be popular with parents and teachers, he will have to set aside money for education in an overall state budget that is projected to barely break even.
What’s more, Scott will have to come to agreement with some fellow Republicans who say they are just as focused — if not more — on making sure the state’s education money is well spent.
Sen. Bill Montford, a Tallahassee Democrat who also is chief executive officer of the Florida Association of District School Superintendents, said Monday that schools need more money for such things as upgrading technology and covering rising costs of day-to-day expenses such as fuel.
“I’m very encouraged that the governor sees the need for at least holding the line and preferably returning more funding to public education,” said Montford, a former Leon County superintendent and principal.
But Montford also acknowledged that the state likely will have little cushion in its fiscal 2013-14 budget. An analysis released this month showed the state should have enough money to cover expected spending next year — with about $71.3 million to spare.
“It’s going to be extremely difficult,” he said. “The best-case scenario doesn’t give the state much breathing room.”
Scott offered his position on school funding after a dinner Friday night with leaders of the Florida Education Association teachers union and after a series of gatherings earlier in the week at schools across the state. But even in making the position public, he pointed to the tension between paying for schools and facing increased tabs for programs such as Medicaid.
“I went through and talked about how my goal was to maintain the state funding and hopefully increase it,” Scott said. “It’s really tied to two things: It’s tied to what happens with Medicaid – historically, Medicaid has been growing at three-and-a-half times the general-revenue growth of the state…and also how fast our economy grows.”
Scott and lawmakers increased public-education spending by about $1 billion this fiscal year, though critics said the money did not make up for cuts in recent years as the state grappled with a troubled economy. As lawmakers put together the 2013-14 budget, public schools also could face competition from other programs that have sustained past cuts — and from possible efforts to cut taxes.
Incoming House Speaker Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, pointed to the increase in this year’s budget as a sign of support for public schools.
“Education was a priority for the Legislature this past session and as a result, we increased its share of funding by $1 billion,” he said in a prepared statement Monday. “We will continue to make education a priority.”
But part of the debate about the education budget also likely will center on the effectiveness of spending. Incoming Senate President Don Gaetz, a Niceville Republican who earlier served as Okaloosa County schools superintendent and as a school board member, said he will be “more interested in the how than the how much.”
“As a former superintendent of schools and a former school board member, I’ve always been more concerned with how education dollars are spent than marginal increases or decreases in spending,” Gaetz said Monday.
Sen. Nancy Detert, a Venice Republican and former Sarasota County School Board member, said it is good news that Scott has made education a priority and said she was happy to see him travel across the state to talk with “actual troops in the field.” But like Gaetz, she said part of the equation is how money is spent.
“Any new money is good,” Detert said. “But what’s it going to go for?”
Many Democratic lawmakers, the FEA and left-leaning interest groups have long complained about how the state’s Republican leadership has dealt with education funding and other issues, such as school vouchers.
Even with Scott’s tour and support for education funding, that likely will not go away during the 2013 legislative session. A group called Florida Watch Action — which refers to Scott as “Pink Slip Rick” — released a statement and video Monday blasting his tour as a publicity stunt.
“Rick Scott is putting on a dog and pony show for the media, posing with school kids in an effort to boost his dismal approval ratings,” Susannah Randolph, the group’s executive director, said in the statement.
By The News Service of Florida
More Rain Tonight
September 17, 2012
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Periods of showers and thunderstorms. Low around 71. South wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
- Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 83. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon.
- Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. North wind around 5 mph.
- Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 56. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph in the afternoon.
- Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 57. Calm wind.
- Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon.
- Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 61.
- Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 87.
- Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 62.
- Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 84.
- Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 58.
- Monday: Sunny, with a high near 82.
Pictured top: A rainbow as seen from Bogia and Pine Barren roads in McDavid this morning. Submitted photo by Ramona Preston, click to enlarge.
West Nile Death In Escambia County, More Cases Reported
September 17, 2012
One death in Escambia County has now been linked to the West Nile Virus, and three more cases have been confirmed — bringing the total number of human cases in the county to 10.
“We are saddened to learn of the death of an Escambia County resident who tested positive for WNV. Whether a person experiences a few symptoms or develops the more severe disease is highly dependent on the age and underlying health of the individual,” said Dr. John Lanza, director of the Escambia County Health Department.
The risk of additional people becoming infected with West Nile Virus from mosquito bites remains very high, the health department said Monday morning.
Mosquitoes infected with West Nile Virus can bite and infect humans. About one in 150 people infected with WNV will develop serious illness. Symptoms of infection can range from mild to severe, including development of diseases such as meningitis or encephalitis. People with weakened immune systems and individuals over 50 are at higher risk of the most severe form of the infection.
“One preventable risk factor is going outdoors, for even short periods of time, unprotected. Persons making short outdoor trips to put out the trash, get the mail, or use tobacco should take the same protective precautions as persons who spend longer periods of time outdoors,” Lanza said.