Bratt Home Invasion Under Investigation
January 10, 2012
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a reported home invasion Monday night in Bratt.
The incident was reported about 10:15 p.m. in the 8000 block of Bratt Road, near Camp Road and the Escambia County Road Department’s Camp Five. Deputies arrived on scene within five minutes of the call.
A resident told deputies that he was in his bathroom when he heard a noise. He investigated and reportedly observed a tall, skinny black male dressed in all black and wearing a ski mask in his living room.
The resident reportedly ran to a closet and armed himself with a rifle. He said he accidentally fired through the roof of the home at which time black male fled the residence.
A K-9 team from the Century Correctional Institution responded as deputies set up a perimeter around the area. They were unable to locate the suspect.
The adult male resident, who was alone at the time of the incident, was not injured.
Anyone with information on the burglary is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
USDA Announces Closure Of Molino Office As Part Of National Cutbacks
January 10, 2012
The U.S. Department of Agriculture will close its Escambia County office along with 258 other offices, facilities and labs across the country, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said Monday.
The Farm Service Agency Office in Molino is the only North Escambia area office on the closure list. The Santa Rosa County office in Milton and the Escambia County (Ala.) Office in Brewton will remain open.
“The USDA, like families and businesses across the country, cannot continue to operate like we did 50 years ago,” said Vilsack. “We must innovate, modernize, and be better stewards of the taxpayers’ dollars. We must build on the record accomplishments of farm communities in 2011 with a stronger, more effective USDA in 2012 and beyond.”
Many of the offices slated for closure, Vilsack said, have a very small staff and are located within 20 miles of other USDA offices. In other cases, he said, technology improvements, advanced service centers, and broadband service have reduced some need for brick and mortar facilities.
“The Department is finding significant savings by consolidating more than 200 offices across the country while ensuring that the vital services they provide are not cut,” Vice President Joe Biden said in a prepared statement.
Across the country there will be 131 Farm Service Agency county offices in 32 states consolidated, leaving more than 2,100 open in the United States.
The USDA’s complete plan announced Monday is estimated to save the department about $150 million annually.
Ads Coming Soon To Your Child’s School Bus?
January 10, 2012
A bill that would allow school districts to sell advertisements on school buses narrowly passed the Senate Education Committee on Monday, showing that there might yet be some speed bumps ahead for the proposal.
The measure, sponsored by Sen. Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee, is aimed at helping ease transportation costs amid a tough budget climate.
“Under better times financial, I would not be presenting this bill,” Montford said.
The measure passed on a 4-2 vote, with Sens. Lizbeth Benacquisto, R-Fort Myers, and Ellyn Bogdanoff, R-Palm Beach, opposing the bill.
“The push of consumerism on our children is, in this instance, a step I’m not willing to take,” Benacquisto said.
But there were also other signs of tension; Sen. Larcenia Bullard, D-Miami, voted for the bill despite concerns that its restrictions on inappropriate advertisements weren’t strong enough.
The bill has two more stops, including the Senate Transportation Committee.
By The News Service of Florida
Brief Severe Storms Possible Tonight
January 10, 2012
There is a slight risk of severe storms Tuesday night in the entire area Damaging winds up to 60 mph, isolated brief tornadoes, large hail and locally heavy flooding rains are all possible, according to the National Weather Service.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before midnight, then scattered showers and thunderstorms after midnight. Low around 52. Southeast wind around 10 mph becoming west. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
- Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 64. West wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 42. West wind around 5 mph.
- Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 60. West wind between 5 and 15 mph.
- Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 26. Northwest wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Friday: Sunny, with a high near 51. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
- Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 25. North wind around 5 mph.
- Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 55. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph.
- Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 29. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming north.
- Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 60.
- Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 36.
- M.L.King Day: Mostly sunny, with a high near 64.
- Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46.
- Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 65.
Senate Septic Tank Inspection Bill Clears First Hurdle
January 10, 2012
A measure that would limit mandatory on-site septic tank inspection to counties that have first magnitude springs passed its first Senate hurdle on Monday, with environmental groups saying the proposal, SB 820, represents a moderate response and better alternative to an all-out repeal of the 2010 law.
The Senate Environmental Preservation Committee approved the measure, which is being offered by Sen. Charlie Dean, R-Inverness, and chairman of the committee.
The bill is among several bills aimed at repealing or revamping the septic tank rule.
Eric Draper, executive director of Audubon of Florida, said the organization supports the bill, which unlike others including HOB 999, does not call for an outright repeal of the controversial septic tank inspection program that rural lawmakers say is too expensive.
“The original intent was to protect the springs, which is want this does,” Draper said after the vote. The bill would require counties that have large freshwater springs, to require inspections every five years and includes protections and repair options for homeowners of failing systems.
Phillip Burte Victor, Jr.
January 10, 2012
Mr. Phillip Burte Victor, Jr., 36, passed away on Sunday, January 8, 2012, in Harrisonburg, LA.
Mr. Victor was a native and resident of Christian Home for most of his life and attended the Freewill Baptist Church.
He is survived by his father, Phillip Burte Victor, Sr. of Christian Home; two sons, Phillip Burte “Little Phil” Victor, III and Dakota Randolph Victor, both of Cantonment; two sisters, Rachel Victor Owens of Atmore and Veronica Nowling of Pace; and his best friend and companion, Norma Cupp of Winnsboro, LA.
Funeral services will be Tuesday, January 17, 2012, at 10 a.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with the Rev. Tim Floyd and the Rev. Alfred Long officiating.
Burial will follow at Christian Home Cemetery.
Visitation will be Monday, January 16, 2012, from 6-9 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be James Victor, Colin Owens, Timothy Victor, Eric Merchant, Ronnie Merchant and Dennis Comalander.
Honorary pallbearers will be Nathan Merchant, Steven Rigby, Buck Kimmons and Justin Long.
Crimson Tide Wins 14th National Championship, 21-0, Over LSU
January 10, 2012
A staunch defensive effort, combined with a record-setting night from kicker Jeremy Shelley, propelled the University of Alabama football team to its 14th national championship with a 21-0 victory over LSU Monday night in the BCS National Championship Game.
The Crimson Tide’s defense held LSU to just 92 total yards and five first downs as Defensive Player of the Game Courtney Upshaw and Jerrell Harris each had seven tackles. As a unit, the defense had 11 tackles for loss, four sacks and an interception.
“I think it’s a great team win,” UA head coach Nick Saban said. “Our offense controlled the tempo of this game. We did a great job on special teams. It was just a great team win for every guy here, every fan that we have, every supporter of this program. This is great for Alabama.”
Fifteen of UA’s 21 points came from the leg of kicker Jeremy Shelley, who converted on a bowl-record five field goals from 23, 34, 41, 35 and a career-long 44 yards. The defense provided the offense with excellent field position all evening and quarterback AJ McCarron did a masterful job under center completing 23-of-34 passes for 234 yards to earn Offensive Player of the Game honors.
“We knew that he [McCarron] was going to have to play well because we knew that we were going to throw the ball,” Saban said of his quarterback. “He showed great leadership and poise in making good decisions.”
Thanks to Shelley, the Tide carried a 15-0 lead into the final quarter when LSU mounted its first legitimate charge after being held to just 55 yards in the previous three quarters. Upon crossing midfield for the first time all game, the drive stalled and left the Tigers facing 4th and 18 to gain on the UA 40. The Tide defense came through again as Dont’a Hightower sacked LSU’s Jordan Jefferson and knocked the ball loose at the 50-yard line. Nick Gentry fell on the fumble to end the drive and set the UA offense up at midfield with 6:15 left in the contest.
Four plays later, Pensacola’s Trent Richardson (pictured left) raced 34 yards for the first touchdown of the game and the Heisman Trophy semifinalist finished with 96 yards on 20 carries and 107 all-purpose yards.
Alabama put up the first points of the game when Shelley capped off a five-play, 20-yard drive with a 23-yard field goal with five minutes left in the first quarter. Shelley would come up big for the Tide on two more occasions in the first half, connecting from 34 and 41 yards to give Alabama a 9-0 lead at the break.
Alabama held LSU to one first down throughout the first half, while collecting 13 of its own. The Tide also collected 156 total yards compared to the Tigers’ 26 total yards in the first 30 minutes.
The title is the Tide’s 14th in program history adding to the national championships won in 1925, 1926, 1930, 1934, 1941, 1961, 1965, 1966, 1973, 1978, 1979, 1992, 2009 and 2011. The Crimson Tide finished the 2011 season with a 12-1 record. The combined record of UA’s 14 national championship teams stands at 157-7-2.
Pictured top: Alabama Coach Nick Saban celebrates the BCS National Championship Monday night in New Orleans. Pictured top inset: AJ McCarron was named the BCS National Championship Game Offensive Player of the Game. Pictured bottom inset: Escambia High School graduate Trent Richardson scored the only touchdown in the game for the Tide. Photos by Kent Gidley, University of Alabama, for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Article courtesy the University of Alabama.
Tell On Teens Who Get Tickets, But Don’t Tell The Boss
January 10, 2012
Lawmakers want state officials to be able to send you a note to let you know if your kids get a speeding ticket. But if you get a caught going too fast, they don’t really want the state telling your boss.
Of course you – and your boss – can find out anytime you want if someone’s had a ticket: driving records are public under state law. Just go to the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and give them your kid’s name – or an employee’s name – and pay the fee, and you can find out whether they have a lead foot or drive while drunk.
Almost any company that has employees who drive for work, from school bus drivers to package deliverers, checks on driver records.
But at issue on Monday was a bill that would turn the process around in some cases, letting parents sign up to be notified electronically anytime their child violates a traffic law. The parent wouldn’t have to periodically check their child’s record, the DHSMV would simply let them know any time their kids have seen blue lights in the rearview.
The bill (SB 854) enjoyed full support of the Senate Transportation Committee on Monday, sending the measure to the Budget Committee.
But not before the Transportation Committee firmly rejected a proposed amendment that would have also allowed employers to sign up with DHSMV to get notices when their workers – whether they drive for their job or not – get some sort of traffic ticket.
That would mean, for example, that instead of a school board simply checking up on bus drivers from time to time, it would now be automatically notified if a teacher had gotten a ticket, or a janitor, for example. Theoretically, the Senate president could also sign up to be notified if senators get pulled over and ticketed, noted Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto, R-Wellington.
To have employers routinely notified of workers’ driving slip-ups, “for me, that goes a little bit too far,” Benacquisto said.
An official with the highway safety agency, which actually recommended the change, reminded legislators that employers can check up on their employees now. “It’s public record, they can do that today,” noted Steven Fielder, the agency’s legislative affairs director.
But having the agency proactively rat out employees to their bosses is different than having the agency go through the effort to find out, said several members of the committee.
“That’s a horse of a different color,” said Sen. Arthenia Joyner, D-Tampa. “There’s something that’s just not right about it,” added Sen. Larcenia Bullard, D-Miami.
No vote was even needed on the amendment.
“Is there anybody here besides (amendment and bill sponsor Sen. Greg) Evers who supports this?” asked the committee’s chairman, Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, who had earlier called the provision a “Big Brother amendment.”
No one spoke up and Evers, R-Baker, withdrew the amendment before the panel approved the original bill.
By The News Service of Florida
Jim Allen To Present “What’s On The Menu” For Families
January 10, 2012
Parents and students at Jim Allen Elementary School will gather for an engaging and educational program called “What’s on the Menu.” This program is aimed at helping promote financial education among the students’ families. The program will be held Thursday from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the school’s cafeteria.
For additional information, please contact Rachel Watts, Principal of Jim Allen Elementary School, 937-2260.
Pedestrian Killed Friday Night Identified
January 9, 2012
The name of a pedestrian who died from injuries he received Friday night after being struck by a vehicle in Escambia County has been released.
The man was identified through fingerprints as 38-year old Justin Langham of Pensacola, according to Pensacola Police.
Police said 90-year old Clyde Eddins was southbound on Ninth Avenue near Creighton Road in a 2011 Jeep Cherokee when Langham stepped into his path. Langham was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital were he passed away late Saturday morning.
No charges will be filed, according to police.