Automation and Production Technology Academy Night At Northview
October 21, 2013
An Automation and Production Technology Academy night will be held today from 6-7 p.m. in the Northview High School media center.
The Automation and Production Technology Academy at Northview is a pilot program through the Academy. The academy is a pilot program through the Northwest Florida Manufacturers Council with a partnership with Ascend Performance and other area manufacturers.
The A&PT Academy night will help parents, students and community members understand the purpose and benefits of the academy. Ernest Ward will be included in the event due to the foundation courses offered at EWMS.
Impact 100 Awards Eight $104,500 Grants
October 21, 2013
IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area, a local women’s philanthropy group, awarded eight grants Sunday worth $104,500 each to community groups.
The winners were:
ARTS & CULTURE
- Santa Rosa Historical Society, Inc. Project: Light Up The Imogene
EDUCATION
- Independence for the Blind of West Florida, Inc. – Project: IMPACT 100 Windows to the World for the Blind Technology Center
ENVIRONMENT, RECREATION & PRESERVATION
- Humane Society of Pensacola, Inc. – Project: Humane Society of Pensacola Spay and Neuter Clinic
- Pensacola Museum of Art, Inc. – Project: Jail for Art
FAMILY
- Council on Aging of West Florida, Inc. - Project: Moving Safely
- Pensacola Habitat for Humanity, Inc. – Project: Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative
HEALTH & WELLNESS
- FavorHouse of Northwest Florida, Inc.- Project: Safe haven for People and Paws
- Gulf Coast Kid’s House- Project: Expanding the Foundation of Care
This was the 10th year IMPACT 100 has awarded grants to local non-profits. This year’s awards brought the total funds awarded in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties to $5,151,000.
Review Underway In ‘Embarrasing’ Inmate Escape
October 21, 2013
While two escaped murderers released through forged documents were back in custody late Saturday, the head of the state’s law enforcement agency said additional steps are being put in place to keep such incidents from happening again.
And as state lawmakers have called for an in-depth review of the escapes, Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Gerald Bailey admitted that there is no guarantee at this point that the two are the only inmates who have exploited a “gap” in the paperwork process to scam their way to a similar release.
“I can’t tell you with 100 percent degree of certainty that it hasn’t been done before; that will be part of the review,” Bailey said after a press conference Sunday.
The FDLE announced that Charles Walker and Joseph Jenkins, both 34, were caught about 6:40 p.m. at the Coconut Grove Motor Inn in Panama City as they awaited someone to transport them out of state.
The escapes were announced last week and quickly drew attention from state lawmakers.
Gov. Rick Scott told reporters that “once we resolve this and apprehend these individuals, then we’ll find out what we need to do to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island, who chairs the Senate Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations Subcommittee, has indicated in media reports that the Senate will request a review on how the release could have been pulled off.
Rep. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg, the ranking Democrat on the House Justice Appropriations Subcommittee, has issued a statement calling for the House to hold hearings on the incident.
“This is unconscionable, almost unthinkable,” Rouson said in the release. “People have faith in government that it will keep the peace and justice. If these two convicted murderers were let go by the Florida Department of Corrections, something must change.”
Bailey and state Corrections Secretary Michael Crews told reporters Sunday that they have been reviewing release procedures and will meet with the Florida Association of Court Clerks & Comptrollers on Monday to outline additional steps that will be implemented in the inmate release process.
“It is embarrassing, but my concentration at this point, and as I think it is for everyone else here, is making sure that we come up with a process and procedure that prohibits this from happening in the future,” Crews said.
Crews said letters were sent Friday to chief justices and judges in each circuit that when an inmate’s sentence is modified, the FDLE will require the judge whose name is on the document to attest in a follow-up check to verify the change in the sentencing.
“We will now require before the release of any inmate, where we receive a modified order that deviates down a reduction in sentence from the original sentence, and certainly those that rise to the level of emergency releases, that is going to require an attestation from the judge that they in fact issued that order,” Crews said.
Crews said there are “a few thousand” modified orders annually, and previously corrections officials simply complied with the paperwork they received.
Bailey said the FDLE does know of at least two other occasions fake documents were submitted to win releases for inmates, but those attempts failed.
Bailey said additional arrests are expected and he estimated that $8,000 was spent to acquire the “official looking” documents.
“They had to have had help, and a lot of help, to get to where they were last night,” Bailey said.
Jenkins, 34, serving a life sentence on a first-degree murder conviction from Orange County, used fake documents to win his release from the Franklin Correctional Institution on Sept. 27.
Walker, serving a life sentence on a second-degree murder conviction also from Orange County, used the same means to get out of the Franklin prison Oct. 8.
Bailey said law enforcement received a tip from an associate of the inmates about their location.
Jenkins and Walker had been in Panama City for about 48 hours before being apprehended.
Both could face charges of escape, but Crews said that since Jenkins and Walker are already serving life sentences “there isn’t much more we can do” to them.
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
A Look Back: Northview’s Homecoming In 350 Photos
October 21, 2013
For a look back at Northview High School’s 2013 Homecoming with about 350 photos, click a link below:
- Homecoming Parade (144 photos)
- Homecoming Queen and Court (51 photos)
- Football Action Photos (62 photos)
- Cheerleaders, Band, Floats, Balloon Spirit Line (92 photos)
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Kitchen Fire Damages Cantonment Home
October 21, 2013
A small kitchen fire damaged a Cantonment home Sunday afternoon.
The fire was reported about 3:50 p.m. in the 1900 block of Winners Circle. The fire reportedly started with a stove.
There were no injuries reported.
ECAT Union Postpones Strike
October 21, 2013
The union that represents Escambia County Area Transit employees has postponed a strike set to being today.
The Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1395 Negotiating team has agreed to postpone the set strike date of October. The union has agreed to meet with First Transit management on Tuesday and Wednesday.
First Transit manages the ECAT bus system on behalf of the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners.
The negotiating session will be held at the ECAT main conference room.
“We will reevaluate our position on the strike after we bargain with First Transit, while our bus riders are priority we postpone the strike date because of them, but it has been a year and half with First Transit and it’s time the Transit workers have a contract to focus entirely on the job of providing transportation to our bus riders,” said Michael Lowery, president/business agent for ATU Local 1395.
“We’ve gone over 3 years with an expired labor contract under former Management team Veolia Transportation and now First Transit and almost 6 years without a raise and our retirement benefit is completely unfair compared to employees under the Board of County Commissioners,” Lowery said.
Resident Shoots At Home Invasion Suspects
October 20, 2013
Authorities in Alabama and Florida are on the lookup for two home invasion suspects that fled after the resident opened fire at them Sunday afternoon.
The incident happened about 2 p.m. on North Pineview Drive off Foshee Road and Highway 113 north of Flomaton.
The victim was home alone when a white male and white female, apparently thinking no one was home, forced their way into a home in the 300 block of North Pineview.
“The homeowner greeted them with a firearm,” said Escambia County (Ala.) Chief Deputy Mike Lambert. “He fired multiple rounds at the suspects and their vehicle. It is not known at this time if he hit the suspects.”
The suspects fled at high rate of speed in a white, possible Chevrolet, pickup truck with oa freezer on the back. Lambert said several other residents of the area reported seeing the couple in the area Saturday claiming that they were selling meat.
The homeowner was not injured in the incident.
Anyone with any information on possible suspects is asked to call the Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Office or 911.
Century Considers New Animal Control Law Banning Barnyard Animals
October 20, 2013
The Town of Century is considering a new animal control ordinance that will ban barnyard animals and livestock within most areas of the town.
If the town council approves the ordinance, it would immediately become illegal to keep any horse, mule, donkey, goat, sheep or cattle within the town limits, except on property zoned as agricultural.
The council will hold a first public reading of the ordinance during their regular meeting at 7 p.m. A second reading and public hearing will be held on November at 7 p.m., after which the council is scheduled to vote on the ordinance.
Pictured: Horses that were seized by Escambia County earlier this year outside of Century.NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Fall Like Weather In This Week’s Forecast
October 20, 2013
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 53. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
- Monday Night: Showers likely. Cloudy, with a low around 56. East wind around 5 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers, mainly before 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75. North wind around 5 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 53. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
- Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 74. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
- Wednesday Night: Clear, with a low around 46. North wind around 5 mph.
- Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 72.
- Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 47.
- Friday: Sunny, with a high near 73.
- Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 46.
- Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 74.
WKRG Remains Off Dish Network, FCC Complaint Filed
October 20, 2013
WKRG channel 5 has been missing from the Dish Network lineup for about two weeks due to a contract disagreement between its parent company Media General and the satellite provider.
Friday, Dish Network filed a complaint against Media General requested that the Federal Communications Commission immediately require Media General to negotiate in good faith to resolve the blackout.
“Media General’s conduct violates the Commission’s rules requiring good faith negotiation for retransmission consent rights, because, among other things, Media General failed to respond for 11 days to DISH’s last pre-blackout offer,” the complaint states.
Media General blocked programming from DISH customers in 17 markets after a retransmission contract expired. The disagreement is over the amount of the retransmission fee Dish must pay Media General to carry the company’s stations on their satellite network.
“DISH customers and Media General viewers were without their shows and events for 11 days before Media General would even contact us,” said Dave Shull, Dish executive vice president. “We reacted with a counter offer within hours and Media General has yet to respond. DISH is asking the FCC to act expeditiously to address Media General’s bad faith, push them back to the negotiating table and submit to mediation to get programming back to consumers.”
In a prepared statement released after the blackout, WKRG said Media General is doing everything it can to reach a fair resolution with DISH and have programming restored to the DISH satellite system.
On its website, WKRG says Dish customers can still watch the station for free over the air or by switching pay TV providers. According to the station, local news and other content is available on the station’s website.