Today: Dig Pink Volleyball To Benefit Breast Cancer Awareness
October 4, 2012
The Northview Lady Chiefs and the Flomaton Hurricanes will take part in Dig Pink volleyball today to raise breast cancer awareness.
Dig Pink is an organization raising awareness for cancer through volleyball. A hospitality room will be available for survivors and cancer survivors will receive free admission to the games.
The Dig Pink event will take place today with the junior varsity playing at 4:30 and the varsity playing at 6:00 at Northview High School in Bratt.
Donations are being accepted now on the Northview Dig Pink website (click here.)
Pictured: Action from last year’s Dig Pink matchup between Northview and Flomaton. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Obama, Romney Face Off in First Debate
October 4, 2012
President Barack Obama and his Republican challenger, Mitt Romney, faced off Wednesday in their first debate of the election campaign. The debate focused on the top issue of the campaign – the state of the U.S. economy.
For 90 minutes, the president and the former governor of the state of Massachusetts clashed over how best to strengthen the country’s sluggish economy.
Romney aggressively attacked the Democratic president’s economic policies, and they disagreed sharply about tax cuts. “Virtually everything he just said about my tax plan is inaccurate. So if the tax plan he described were a tax plan I was asked to support, I would say ‘Absolutely not.’ I am not looking for a $5 trillion tax cut,” Romney said.
Obama countered that Romney’s ideas for changing the tax system would not work. “The fact is, if you are lowering the rates the way you described, Governor, then it is not possible to come up with enough deductions and loopholes that only affect high-income individuals to avoid either raising the deficit or burdening the middle class,” he said.
They also sparred over whether the president’s health care program, sometimes called “Obamacare,” would help or hurt the U.S. economy. Romney said Obama should have concentrated instead on creating jobs.
“I just do not know how the president could have come into office, facing 23 million people out of work, rising unemployment, an economic crisis at the kitchen table, and spent his energy and passion for two years fighting for Obamacare, instead of fighting for jobs for the American people,” said Romney.
The president responded that when he took office, problems in the nation’s health care system were just as urgent as the jobless rate.
The widely-anticipated debate, in Denver, Colorado, took place 34 days before the election.
This was the first of three debates between the two contenders. Obama and Romney will square off next on October 16, on both domestic and foreign policy issues. The final debate, exclusively on foreign policy, is set for October 22.
Vice President Joe Biden and his Republican challenger, Congressman Paul Ryan, will debate on October 11.
[VOA]
Escaped Alabama Prisoners Caught In Escambia County
October 3, 2012
Two escaped Alabama prisoners were captured Tuesday night by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Marshals Florida Regional Task Force.
Jamie D. Morgan, 40, of Pensacola and Jeremy Hadden, 33, of Eight Mile, Ala., had escaped from the Elmore County Jail in Wetumpka, Ala, on September 18. Officers spotted the duo in a stolen vehicle near Mobile Highway and Fairfield Drive and conducted a traffic stop at which time Hadden was taken into custody without incident. Morgan was taken into custody after a brief foot chase and struggle with officers.
Morgan was transported to a local hospital for treatment and later booked on charges of vehicle theft, resisting an officer, and an Alabama escape warrant. Hadden was arrested on an Alabama escape warrant. Both remained in the Escambia County Jail Wednesday awaiting extradition back to Alabama.
New Library Hours In Effect; Century Cut Two Days
October 3, 2012
New, reduced hours are now in effect for the libraries in Escambia County, including fewer days of operation in Century.
The Century Branch Library is now closed on Wednesdays and Fridays, in additional to the normal Monday closure. Library employees and hours will be split between Century and the Molino Branch Library when it opens later this month. Century and Molino are the only libraries in the system to be closed on days other than Sunday.
Library officials said the new library hours were a result of budget constraints.
New West Florida Library hours by location are now:
MAIN LIBRARY — 200 W. Gregory Street
- Sunday 12pm – 4pm
- Monday 10am – 6pm
- Tuesday 10am – 6pm
- Wednesday 10am – 6pm
- Thursday 10am – 8pm
- Friday 10am – 4pm
- Saturday 10am – 4pm
TRYON BRANCH LIBRARY -- 1200 Langley Avenue
- Sunday CLOSED
- Monday 10am – 6pm
- Tuesday 10am – 6pm
- Wednesday 12pm – 8pm
- Thursday 10am – 6pm
- Friday 10am – 4pm
- Saturday 10am – 4pm
SOUTHWEST BRANCH LIBRARY – 12248 Gulf Beach Highway
- Sunday CLOSED
- Monday 12pm – 8pm
- Tuesday 10am – 6pm
- Wednesday 10am – 6pm
- Thursday 10am – 6pm
- Friday 10am – 4pm
- Saturday 10am – 2pm
WESTSIDE BRANCH LIBRARY — 1580 W. Cervantes Street
- Sunday CLOSED
- Monday 10am – 6pm
- Tuesday 12pm – 8pm
- Wednesday 10am – 6pm
- Thursday 12pm – 8pm
- Friday 10am – 4pm
- Saturday 10am – 4pm
CENTURY BRANCH LIBRARY – 7991 N. Century Boulevard
- Sunday CLOSED
- Monday CLOSED
- Tuesday 9am – 5pm
- Wednesday CLOSED
- Thursday 12pm – 8pm
- Friday CLOSED
- Saturday 9am – 5pm
MOLINO BRANCH LIBRARY — 6450 Highway 95A
- (Opening Fall 2012)
- Sunday CLOSED
- Monday 10am – 6pm
- Tuesday CLOSED
- Wednesday 10am – 6pm
- Thursday CLOSED
- Friday 10am – 6pm
- Saturday CLOSED
WFPL BOOKMOBILE
- New Schedule: TBA
Local EMS Pioneer Louise Gandy Passes Away
October 3, 2012
A former Century resident instrumental in the history of emergency medical services in the area has died. Margaret Louise Campbell Gandy, age 73, passed away Sunday.
She was the owner of Gandy Ambulance Service back in the early 1970’s, which was later merged into the current Escambia County EMS system by 1979. Following the merger, Gandy was employed as a supervisor and coordinator for Escambia County EMS. After her retirement from Escambia County EMS, she started Gandy’s Nursery and Landscaping.
Gandy had resided in Molino for the past 10 years, after moving from Century.
Funeral services were held Wednesday at Berrydale Baptist Church with interment following in McCurdy Cemetery in Century.
For the complete obituary, click here.
Town To Give Asbestos Containing Building To Chamber Of Commerce
October 3, 2012
The Town of Century will give an dilapidated asbestos-containing building to the Century Chamber of Commerce, allowing the chamber to demolish the building.
The town council had voted to demolish the building at 7601 Mayo Street back in 2011, but asbestos concerns put those plans on hold. A study found asbestos in the older 6,400 square foot two story portion of the building, as well as in the newer single story portion of the structure, according to Century Mayor Freddie McCall.
The town found a grant from the Regional Planning Council to abate the asbestos and demolish the structure. Because the town is not eligible to receive the grant, the building will be deeded to the chamber of commerce, which is eligible for the assistance.
Once the building is demolished, the chamber will have up to 10 years to lure development to the property or it will revert back to the town. The town will approve or deny any lease or purchase of the property.
The white, mostly brick building at 7601 Mayo Street (across from the old hospital) housed doctors’ offices and even a pharmacy and soda fountain years ago. It has been abandoned for several years and is in an obvious state of disrepair with roof and structural problems.
Pictured above: This building on Mayo Street will be demolished. Pictured below: The interior of the building. NorthEscambia.com file photos.
Pedestrian Killed Tuesday Night
October 3, 2012
A pedestrian died was hit and killed in Escambia County Tuesday night.
The pedestrian was walking across the northbound lanes of New Warrington Road about 6:50 p.m. as a 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe driven by 49-year old Patrick M. Norcross entered the intersection of Jackson Street on a green traffic signal. Norcross was unable to see the pedestrian crossing the dark roadway, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The pedestrian was pronounced deceased at the scene by Escambia County EMS.
The name of the pedestrian has not been released pending notification of next of kin.
No charges have been filed in connection with the accident.
NAACP Hopes To Revive Debate Over Civil Rights Restoration
October 3, 2012
Hoping to take advantage of a nationwide focus on new voting restrictions, advocates of allowing former felons to more easily gain the right to vote called Tuesday for Gov. Rick Scott and the state clemency board to reverse a decision last year making the restoration of those rights more difficult.
With little more than a month before the November general election, the groups conceded that the changes were unlikely to be approved in time for the election. But they hoped that the attention being devoted to a state-by-state battle over voting rights could help boost the restoration of rights issue.
“It’s easy to do dirt in the dark,” said NAACP President Benjamin Todd Jealous. “It’s harder to keep doing dirt in the light.”
The clemency board, which consists of Scott and the Cabinet, voted in early 2011 to reverse a policy change four years earlier allowing felons who had completed their sentences and any other requirements of the criminal justice system to more easily gain the right to vote.
The new rules require offenders to wait between five and seven years after completing their obligations to apply for their rights to be restored.
Though Attorney General Pam Bondi was also a key supporter of the change, much of the fire at a Tuesday news conference was focused on Scott.
“It should be unconscionable for all of us as citizens for a governor to turn back the clock on an entire group of citizens who, if they lived somewhere else, would be able to vote,” Jealous said.
Supporters of the restoration of civil rights said making it more difficult for felons to vote can actually make it harder for the offenders to rejoin society.
“What people don’t realize or fail to realize is once a person decides that they want to register to vote, they want to go down and make their voice be heard, that is part and parcel of being rehabilitated,” said Charles Dutton, an actor who spent years in prison for violent crimes.
As part of the effort to draw attention to the issue, the NAACP plans to have mobile billboards deployed to Florida, Virginia, Kentucky and Iowa — states that have some of the more difficult processes for the restoration of rights. Many of those rules, originally rooted in post-Civil War movements to restrict the political power of freed slaves, have since become ways of suppressing the black vote in order to hold down Democratic votes, opponents argue.
Sen. Arthenia Joyner, D-Tampa, said the clemency board’s decision was aimed at making it more difficult for President Barack Obama to win re-election this year. Republicans hold every seat on the clemency board.
“They saw the numbers and they saw the trend among ex-felons to vote Democratic,” Joyner said of Scott and Bondi.
Scott’s office didn’t appear to be backing down.
“Gov. Scott believes that for convicted felons to re-enter civic society, they must demonstrate a commitment to remaining crime-free as well as a willingness to request to have their rights restored,” spokeswoman Jackie Schutz said in an email.
By Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Deputies: Man Robs Bank, Gets Change To Pay Taxi Driver
October 3, 2012
A bank robber was caught Tuesday after making his getaway in a taxi and stopping to get change to pay the driver.
The Bank of America on Nine Mile Road near Palafox was held up about 4:10 p.m. Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies said 33-year old Terry Dewayne Gideon fled the bank with an undisclosed amount of cash in a Yellow Cab. Deputies caught up with the cab and Gideon a short time later.
During the investigation, deputies learned that Gideon had gone into a nearby Applebee’s restaurant to get change from the stolen money to pay the taxi driver.
There were no injuries reported and no weapons were used in the robbery.
Gideon was charged with robbery and providing false information to a law enforcement officer. He remains in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $16,000.
Gaetz: Voter Fraudsters Should Be Punished Regardless Of Party
October 3, 2012
Incoming Senate President Don Gaetz told reporters Tuesday that law enforcement officials should throw the book at Strategic Allied Consultants if the company is found guilty of systemic fraud in the gathering of voter registration applications for the Republican National Committee.
So far, more than 100 questionable registrations in Palm Beach County have surfaced. Potential irregularities in 10 other counties — including Escambia and Santa Rosa — have also been reported.
“Let’s hope there’s not selective indignation here,” Gaetz said when asked whether there was any irony that Republicans had pressed hard against voter fraud last year and now were faced with a GOP firm being accused of it.
“I don’t find it ironic, I find it outrageous,” he said. “I hope they go to jail.”
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement was reviewing evidence sent Friday by the Division of Elections regarding potentially fraudulent voter registration efforts by the Virginia-based company, agency spokeswoman Gretl Plessinger said in an email Tuesday. The agency has not yet determined whether a formal investigation will ensue.
State election officials also forwarded a handful of suspect ballots collected by National Council of La Raza, the largest Hispanic advocacy organization in the nation, sent to them by the Miami-Dade elections supervisor’s office.
The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.