Operation Clean Sweep Today In Stefani Road Area
December 13, 2012
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and several other agencies will conduct an “Operation Clean Sweep” event on Thursday in Cantonment. The cleanup will begin at 8 a.m. at the Escambia County Extension Center at 3740 Stefani Road..
The focus of “Operation Clean Sweep” is to work with neighborhood watch groups, residents, churches and business owners to control and prevent criminal activity. The operation task force works closely with Escambia County Animal Control, Environmental Law Enforcement, the United States military, Escambia County Roads and Bridges, and neighborhood watch groups to clean up neighborhoods and educate citizens on preventive measures that could be implemented to minimize possible crimes.
Chiefs Week: Toby Weaver’s Very Special Championship Delivery
December 13, 2012
The Northview Chief’s Class 1A state football championship trophy received very special treatment as it was transported from Orlando back to Bratt.
Toby Weaver, son of Northview Principal Gayle Weaver and her late husband Tommy Weaver, kept the trophy for his boys after the win. Toby, mom Gayle said, held the trophy close practically the entire trip back from Orlando. He even kept the trophy in his room Sunday night before delivering it Monday morning to head coach Sid Wheatley at Northview.
Toby is a Friday night fixture on the Northview sidelines, cheering on his Chiefs and motivating the team. Under his No. 7 jersey during the state championship game, Toby wore a t-shirt that simply said “Tommy”. The Chief’s 2012 football season was dedicated to his dad Tommy, a beloved Northview teacher and coach who passed away in March.
It’s Chief’s Week on NorthEscambia.com — we will continue our look back at Northview’s Class 1A state championship win all week long. Coming up tomorrow, more of our hundreds of photos from the Citrus Bowl.
Pictured top: Toby Weaver holds the Northview Chiefs Class 1A state football championship trophy on the way back from Orlando, courtesy photo. Pictured below: Logan Weber (left) and Toby Weaver pose last Friday night with the trophy. Pictured bottom: Toby Weaver (bottom right, No. 7 garnet jersey) poses with his Chiefs and the state championship trophy. Pictured inset: Toby Weaver runs onto the field at Orlando’s Citrus Bowl last Friday night. Northescambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
No Injuries In Truck Crash
December 13, 2012
There were no known injuries in a single vehicle wreck Wednesday night near Molino.
The Molino Stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the area of South Highway 99 and Highway 196 about 10:15 p.m. after an area resident reporting hearing a traffic crash. Firefighters found a drilling truck that had crashed and overturned. The driver had already left the scene when firefighters arrived.
NorthEscambia.com photo by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Cat’s Hat: Bid On Autographed Country Star Hat For Manna Food Pantries
December 13, 2012
The annual Cat Country 98.7 Manna Hat Auction is underway to raise much needed funds for Manna Food Pantries.
The hat is autographed by a long list of country stars, including Blake Shelton, Eric Church, Little Big Town, Miranda Lambert, Luke Bryan, Brantly Gilbert, Lauren Alana, Alan Jackson, Diamond Rio, Rascal Flatts, Charlie Daniels, Clay Walker and more.
The autographs were collected at various concerts and events by Cat Country’s Brent Lane.
“This year the need is particularly great,” Lane said. “There has been an increase of 60 percent in service in the last two years.” All of the proceeds from the auction will go to Manna Food Pantries.
To view the auction and make a bid, click here.
Pictured: Cat Country 98.7 Manna Hat is up for auction on Ebay to benefit Manna Food Pantries. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Fourth Red Bulb Lit In Wreath Fire Safety Campaign
December 13, 2012
Four red bulbs representing residential fires are now lit in the Keep The Wreath Green holiday safety campaign from Escambia County Fire Rescue and the Pensacola Fire Department.
A fourth green bulb will be replaced with a red bulb in each wreath representing a residential fire that occurred on Saturday, December 8.
On Saturday, December 8 at 11:54 p.m., a fire was reported in the 1300 block of Rule Street. Firefighters arrived at 12:01 a.m. and found smoke and fire coming from windows on the front of the home. The occupants were alerted to the fire by a working smoke alarm and they escaped through a bathroom window because their primary escape route was blocked by the fire.
The fire, declared out at 12:14 a.m., caused major damage to the living room and smoke and heat damage throughout the rest of the home. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office. Firefighters from Ensley, Brent, Ferry Pass, and Bellview responded to the fire.
During this, the ninth year of the campaign, there are five-foot wreaths on display at 26 different fire stations and other locations throughout the county.
Florida Issuing Record Number Of Concealed Weapons Permits
December 13, 2012
The number of licensed concealed weapons holders in Florida is expected to top 1 million next week, state Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam told reporters Wednesday.
Doubling since 2007, the number of concealed weapons license holders will top 5 percent of Florida’s 19.1 million residents in a state that is number one nationally in licenses issued.
“Clearly it is a popular law and has been taken advantage of by a large number of Floridians who have acted responsibly,” Putnam said.
Florida has been licensing concealed weapons since 1987, when state officials took over authority from counties that had a patchwork of requirements regarding who could carry and what was needed to qualify for a license. Since then, more than 2 million licenses have been issued.
License holders are predominantly male and most are over 31 years old, with more than 219,000 at least 65 years old. While still a relative minority, representing about 20 percent of all license holders, more than 200,000 women also have licenses to carry.
Putnam said that of the 2 million issued, only 0.3 percent have been revoked.
“Floridians who are obtaining these licenses are obtaining them for the right reason and are using them in an appropriate way,” Putnam told reporters.
Gun advocates have long argued the legal gun ownership is a deterrent to crime, a message that was repeated Wednesday by Marion Hammer, executive director of United Sportsmen of Florida and former president for the National Rifle Association.
“Criminals commit crimes, but they aren’t stupid,” Hammer said. “They don’t want to get shot.”
Overall gun sales are also up. On Tuesday, Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Gerald Bailey, said the agency processed more criminal background checks for firearms on the Black Friday shopping day than any single day in the agency’s history.
Background checks are required for all gun purchases. Persons seeking concealed weapons licenses must undergo further screening and submit fingerprints.
A concealed weapons permit now takes a little over a month to obtain, down from more than 15 weeks only a few years ago. About 10 percent of licenses issued in Florida are for out-of-state residents.
By The News Service Florida
Deputy Justified In Shooting Unarmed Suspect At Apartment Complex
December 13, 2012
An investigation has determined that an Escambia County deputy was justified in shooting Justin Coon in September at an apartment complex on Olive Road.
Escambia County Deputy Daniel Moore was attempting to serve felony warrants on 27-year old Justin Coon of Pensacola at the Hidden Village Town Homes in the 3600 block of East Olive Road, near 9th Avenue, when the shooting occurred.
According to a State Attorney’s Office report, deputies from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office TAC Unit spotted Coon in the apartment complex. He refused orders to stop and ran back inside his dimly lit apartment. Deputies gave chase, and Moore observed Coon raised a dark object in his hand that Moore believed to be a weapon. Moore fired a single shot, striking Coon in the hand and chest.
The object in Coon’s hand was a cell phone. An investigation determined that Coon pointed the phone, which in the dim light Moore believed to be a gun, in the deputy’s direction. Coon survived his injuries.
At the time of the shooting, Coon was wanted on several outstanding felony warrants, including battery, interference with custody and probation violations. He as also charged with resisting arrest without violence.
Pictured top: Escambia County Sheriff’s Office vehicles line Olive Road tonight near 9th Avenue on September 5 following an office involved shooting. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Gulf Power Employees Collect $36,000 For Communities Caring At Christmas
December 13, 2012
Gulf Power Company employees have wrapped up their annual holiday collection of hundreds of toys, clothing and other gifts, which will be donated to the 2012 Communities Caring at Christmas campaign this Friday.
In addition to the almost $16,000 worth of bikes and helmets bought and assembled by the utility’s employees, they also raised close to $12,000 to give as a cash donation and collected hundreds of toys and other gifts for Communities Caring at Christmas. The estimated grand total of all the donations equals more than $36,000 from Gulf Power employees.
The money raised for the cash donations, bikes and helmets and some of the donated gifts are raised throughout the year through fundraisers held by the employees, such as golf tournaments and bake sales.
“We know the holiday season can be a difficult time for many so Communities Caring at Christmas is a great way to directly help those in need,” said Natalie Smith, Gulf Power spokesperson. “Every year our employees reach into their own pockets to help make sure as many children as possible have a great Christmas.”
Communities Caring at Christmas provides new toys, clothing and daily living needs for low income and abused, neglected and abandoned children living in foster care in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Waltoncounties.
This is the 17th year Gulf Power and its employees have participated in Communities Caring at Christmas. Anyone wishing to make a donation can drop off their gift at WEAR-TV on Mobile Highway by Friday, December 14.
Pictured: Gulf Power employees raised enough money to purchase almost $16,000 worth of bikes for Communities Caring at Christmas this holiday season. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bennett Tapped To Lead Florida’s Schools; Union Slams Choice
December 13, 2012
The State Board of Education chose a rising star in the school-choice movement to be Florida’s next education commissioner Wednesday, sparking a blistering condemnation from the state’s main teachers union.
Tony Bennett, the superintendent of public instruction in Indiana, was unanimously tapped by the board at its December meeting. The position has been filled by interim Commissioner Pam Stewart since Gerard Robinson resigned last summer amid controversies surrounding Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test scores and the botched rollout of school grades.
Bennett had been mentioned for the job in 2011, when Robinson got it, but didn’t apply. The Indiana supervisor of public instruction is an elected position, and Bennett was defeated in his bid for re-election last month.
“I think we have a great opportunity to capture Florida’s moment,” Bennett told the board in brief remarks after he was selected.
In the resume he submitted to the board, Bennett boasted of spearheading “the most comprehensive education reform effort in 25 years” while in Indiana. The initiative introduced a voucher program and limited collective bargaining to pay and benefits.
Bennett also highlighted an increase of more than four percentage points in Indiana’s graduation rate and his decision to change the state’s school grading scale to a system using letter grades.
Board members pointed to Bennett’s experience and work on some of the same reform efforts that Florida is pushing, including a nationwide guideline for curriculum known as the common core standards, as an asset. Gov. Rick Scott also praised Bennett in a statement issued by his office.
“Tony has a great record of achievement in Indiana and I am confident he will be a tireless advocate for Florida’s students,” Scott said.
But the Florida Education Association blasted Bennett, saying he had an antagonistic relationship with teachers in Indiana.
“He is a champion of the testing mania, unchecked expansion of charter schools and voucher programs and has proven to advance the Jeb Bush education agenda that has drawn fire from teachers, parents and experts in the field,” FEA President Andy Ford said in a statement. “That’s the same approach that has led to a flawed and chaotic system in Florida that has frustrated parents and teachers alike.”
Democrats, many of whom have opposed elements of Florida’s education agenda in recent years, largely held their fire.
“I hope the choice the board made is the right one for Florida,” said House Minority Leader Perry Thurston, D-Plantation. “Florida deserves an education commissioner who puts public schools and public school students first.”
Bill Ties Bright Futures To Living, Working In Florida
December 13, 2012
A House Republican filed a bill Wednesday that would require future recipients of Bright Futures scholarships to reimburse the state if they do not graduate or if they go to work outside of Florida.
The bill (HB 35), filed by Rep. Jimmie Smith, R-Inverness, would take effect with students who receive their initial Bright Futures scholarships during the 2014-15 academic year. It says, in part, that Bright Futures “shall serve as an incentive for students to remain and work in the state after graduation.” It would require recipients of the scholarships to submit information each year about proof of residence and employment in Florida.
“A student who receives an award, but who does not graduate or complete the program for which the award was received or who no longer resides in the state after graduation or program completion, must reimburse the state for the amount of the award received or a prorated portion thereof,” the bill says.
The state Department of Education would come up with procedures if money is not reimbursed. The bill includes some exceptions, such as for Bright Futures recipients who go on active duty in the military. They would be considered employed in Florida, regardless of where they are located.
By The News Service of Florida