Man Injured After Explosion Inside Garbage Truck
January 25, 2012
A man was injured after an explosion Tuesday afternoon inside a garbage truck in the 4500 block of Chumuckla Highway.
When Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s deputies arrived, they found that a Waste Pro employee was on the ground after having been thrown about 10 feet by the explosion. The employee was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola with minor injuries.
The Pace Fire Department, State Fire Marshal, ATF and the State Fire Marshal’s Office Bomb Squad responded to evaluate the situation, shutting down Chumuckla Highway for about two and half hours. The truck was then escorted to the county’s landfill in Bagdad where the contents were dumped in a controlled environment.
Investigators determined that an initial explosion was caused by a discarded home health care oxygen cylinder. When the trash was compacted in the truck, the cylinder had exploded and ignited the surrounding trash. A secondary explosion was caused from an aerosol can.
The State Fire Marshal’s Office is working to trace the serial numbers on the oxygen container to determine ownership, according to the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office.
“All agencies involved want to stress the severe danger that it causes when people improperly and illegally dispose of hazardous or flammable materials in a trash bin. These items need to be disposed of properly by returning them to a hazardous materials collection site or a medical facility that will accept the empty cylinders,” according to a statement released by the Sheriff’s Office.
Man Gets 25 Years For Sexual Battery Of 60 Year Old Woman
January 25, 2012
An Escambia County man was sentenced to 25 year in prison for the sexual battery of a 60-year old woman.
Ezekiel Temane received the sentence from Judge Michael Allen. On January 18, 2012, Temane pled no contest to two counts of sexual battery, one count attempt burglary of an occupied dwelling, and one count of harassing a witness involving a first degree felony. According to State Attorney Bill Eddins, Temane committed sexual battery of a 60-year old woman on February 22, 2011.
The investigation and arrest were conducted by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Santa Rosa Deputy Injured In Traffic Crash
January 24, 2012
A Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s deputy is recovering after being involved in a traffic crash Monday night.
According to the Florida High Patrol, Deputy Patric Gibson, 46, was responding to an emergency call with lights and sirens when a Ford SUV driven by 45-year old William Burgin of Milton turned in front of him on Willard Norris Road at Pine Blossom Road.
Both men had to be extricated from their vehicles. They were transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola with series injuries. They were both upgraded to good condition by Tuesday night.
Charges against Burgin are pending.
North Escambia Residents Charged In $1 Million Prisoner Tax Refund Scam
January 24, 2012
Two Cantonment residents are among five people facing federal charges for their involvement in a prisoner income tax refund scheme that defrauded the government of nearly $1 million.
Mary Hobbs Blair, age 62 of Cantonment, Nikki Kight, age 44 of Cantonment, Thomas Rabeau, age 62 of Brandon, Carter Hassman, a 49-year old inmate in Santa Rosa County, and Michael “Elton” Blair, age 43 of Gulf Breeze, were indicted in connection with the scheme, Pamela C. Marsh, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, said Monday.
All five defendants are facing one count each of conspiracy to defraud the government with respect to claim. Mary Blair is also facing 17 counts of false claims against the government, 17 counts of theft from the government, and two count of aggravated identity theft.
The federal indictment alleges that beginning around January 2007, the five individuals and others filed fraudulent tax returns using the names and social security numbers of inmates housed in the Florida Department of Corrections, along with those of other individuals who were not incarcerated.
As part of the scheme, Mary Blair, Rabeau, Kight and Elton Blair’s home addresses were listed on the tax returns, so IRS refund checks would be mailed to them. According to federal investigators.
As part of the scheme, false and nonexistent businesses were listed as the purported employers, listing fraudulent wages and withholding amounts for time periods in which the inmates were incarcerated. It is alleged that during the course of the scheme the defendants and others filed and filed 223 false and fraudulent federal income tax returns, which falsely claimed approximately $954,795 in fraudulent tax refunds. The refunds were then deposited into Mary Blair’s bank accounts.
The defendants are scheduled for trial on March 5. If convicted, each faces a maximum of 10 years in prison for conspiracy to defraud the government. Mary Blair faces up to 10 years in prison on each of 17 counts of false claims against the government, and two years imprisonment on each of 17 counts of theft from the government.
Trial Postponed In Molino Couple Cancer Scam Case
January 24, 2012
Trial was set to begin Monday for one member of the Molino couple accused of faking her cancer diagnosis to scam people out of thousands of dollars.
Jury selection had been scheduled for Monday in the case of Gerald “Chris” Luker, but a request for a continuance by his attorney was granted.
Both Chris and Sonja Luker are now set for trial in mid-March.
Felony grand theft charges were dropped against the couple back in May, but they both still face felony fraud charges in the alleged scheme.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, numerous fundraisers were held between May 2004 and October 2010 that raised over $19,000. Evidence shows that about $14,000 was used in 2009 to avoid foreclosure on their home in the 4700 block of Pine Circle Drive and about $4,000 in cash was used by Chris Luker to purchase a 1997 Harley motorcycle.
The Sheriff’s Office investigation found that Chris and Sonja Luker personally received money from friends, family, church members and co-workers under a “scheme” that Sonja Luker was being treated for cancer. Investigators believe both Chris and Sonja Luker are guilty of fraud in the scheme; witnesses said the couple was observed together at fundraisers talking about her cancer treatments.
They have each pleaded not guilty to the charge against them.
Pictured above: Sonja and Chris Luker (in black shirts) are seen in a 2009 NorthEscambia.com photo from a motorcycle ride fundraiser that benefited her alleged fight against cancer. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Road To The Crown: Miss Northview High 2012 Contestants
January 24, 2012
Join NorthEscambia.com this week for our annual multi-part series “the road to the crown”.
We will follow 24 young ladies at Northview High School in their quest for the crown and the title of “Miss Northview High School” for 2012. We’ll introduce you to each girl and go behind the scenes with exclusive photos for a look at the annual Northview High School pageant.
A new installment of “the road to the crown” will be posted each morning this week. Then on Sunday morning, we’ll introduce you to the new Miss Northview High School.
The annual Miss Northview High School Pageant will be held on Saturday, January 28 at 7:00 in the school auditorium. The pageant is sponsored by the Northview High Varsity Cheerleaders.
Today, we begin with a group photo of all the young ladies participating. Their names are listed below.
Pictured top: Participants in this year’s Miss Northview High School 2012 are: (front, L-R) Charleigh McPherson, Danielle Scott, Courtney Weaver, Lauren McCall, Katelynne Calloway, Logan Wainwright, Melissa Moretz, (middle row) Cheyanne Garnett, Morgan Digmon, Ashley Mooney, Ariel Holland, Ashley Cunningham, Erica Wiggins, Brittany Thompson, Tiffani Pritchett, (back row) Misty Doran, Ali Martin, Hannah Gibson, Rebekah Sepulveda, Anna Fischer, Abby Odom, Kendal Cobb, Ashlynn McCall, Morgan Ward. Front: Miss NHS 2011 Haley Simpson. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Century To Use $250K Line Of Credit, $116K In Reserve Funds For Grant Expenses
January 24, 2012
The Century Town Council voted Monday night to allow the mayor to open $250,000 line of credit and use $116,000 in reserve funds to pay reimbursable grant expenses.
The town currently has grant projects of over $1 million in the works, and the town is required to pay out of pocket for various grant projects before receiving guaranteed reimbursements. That, according to Mayor Freddie McCall, has left the town shuffling money between town accounts to pay the grant-related bills.
The council gave McCall permission to open the quarter million dollar line of credit back in November; Monday night’s vote was to affirm that decision and accept the 3.25 percent interest rate offered by United Bank. The motion to open the line of credit passed 4-1 with council member Sandra McMurray Jackson voting against.
McCall will first use the $116,000 in reserve funds to pay reimbursable grant related expenses prior to using the line of credit.
Santa Rosa Schools Ranked No. 2 In Florida; Escambia At No. 44
January 24, 2012
The Santa Rosa County School District was ranked No. 2 in the state while the Escambia County School District was ranked No. 44 in student performance in rankings released Monday by the Florida Department of Education.
Santa Rosa County was one of 30 districts in the state that received an A from the state, while Escambia County was one of 23 to receive a B.
Thirty-five percent of the students in Escambia County taking the FCAT read below grade level (Level 3), 32% percent are below grade level in math and 52% are below grade level in science. In Santa Rosa County, 20 percent were below grade level in reading, 17% below grade level in math and 38% below grade level in science.
“Education is our highest priority,” said Santa Rosa County Superintendent Tim Wyrosdick. “As educators, we see ourselves as servant leaders who demand excellence and put kids first. We have tremendous support from our community and our partners. They understand that quality of life and high quality education are tied together.”
Wyrosdick said that the district uses data-driven progress monitoring with teachers reviewing data daily so they can identify where they may need to intervene with students early in the year to help them improve.
The numerical ranking is based on each school’s total points derived from FCAT scores. The total is the sum of scores for reading, math, science and writing; learning gains in reading and math; and scores for learning gains in reading and math among the lowest 25 percent of students in each school. The school district ranking is determined by the school grade points they earned based on the assessment scores of all students in the district that were enrolled for the full year.
“Santa Rosa County deserves congratulations for this accomplishment,” said Florida Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson. “Ranking in the top ten takes commitment, hard work and collaboration not only from those within the educational setting; it takes the support of the entire community.”
Wednesday Final Day To Request Primary Absentee Ballot By Mail
January 24, 2012
Voters who wish to be mailed an absentee ballot for the January 31 Presidential Preference Primary Election must request their ballot by close of business on Wednesday, according to Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David Stafford.
Voters can make their request by contacting the Supervisor of Elections by mail, phone at (850) 595-3900, email (absentee@escambiavotes.com), fax at (850) 595-3914, or by using the online form at EscambiaVotes.com. Requests must include the voter’s date of birth and address. Absentee voters may track the status of their ballot by clicking Track My Ballot at EscambiaVotes.com.
After Wednesday, a voter may still pick up an absentee ballot in person from the Elections Office. Voted absentee ballots must be received in the Elections Office (not at a polling location) no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day, January 31.
In addition to absentee voting, early voting is being offered from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. daily through Saturday at four area locations:
- Supervisor of Elections Main Office, 213 Palafox Place, Second Floor
- Supervisor of Elections Annex, 292 Muscogee Road, Cantonment
- Tryon Branch Library, 1200 Langley Avenue
- Southwest Branch Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Highway
A third option for voters is to cast a ballot at their precinct on Election Day – polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Voters must present a photo and signature ID at the polls, or they must vote a provisional ballot. A touchscreen is also available at each polling place and early voting site for persons with disabilities.
Evers’ Farm Land Agritourism Bill Gets Committee Nod
January 24, 2012
Despite objections from cities and counties, the Senate Agriculture Committee on Monday approved a bill that would prevent local regulation of “agritourism” on farm land.
The Senate Agriculture Committee voted 6-1 to approve the measure sponsored by Sen. Greg Evers, R-Baker. Agritourism can involve a variety of activities, such as farms offering tours and educational activities.
But Stephen James, a lobbyist for the Florida Association of Counties, said his group is concerned that the bill is overly broad. For example, he said some farm land is close to densely populated areas and that problems could arise if owners wanted to hold festivals that could affect such things as parking.
Pictured: An bill sponsored by Sen. Greg Evers would prevent local regulation of agritourism on farm land, such as the Jay Peanut Festival. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.