Chiefs Beat Jay 55-43
January 16, 2013
The Northview Chiefs beat the Jay Royals Tuesday, 55-43. The Chiefs held a 36-31 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Neino Robinson led the Chiefs (9-6) on the court with 28 points.
Three Students Receive Minor Injuries When Two School Buses Collide
January 15, 2013
Three students received minor injuries when two Escambia County School District buses collided this afternoon at Pine Forest High School.
The Florida Highway Patrol said bus driver Steven T. Hilliard, age 50 of Cantonment, was traveling east on the Pine Forest High School access road when he rear-ended a bus driven by Joyce I. Fogie, age 60 of Pensacola.
There were 60 students total from both Pine Forest and West Florida high schools on the two buses.
The three injured students were transported by Escambia County EMS to Sacred Heart Hospital.
Police: Man Claims Mother Is Dead; Tries To Use Her Credit Cards For Bar Tab
January 15, 2013
A Cantonment man was arrested on five felony charges after allegedly trying to use his supposedly dead mother’s credit cards to pay a bar tab at an adult entertainment nightclub.
The Pensacola Police Department responded to the Babe’s Gentleman’s Club on North Davis Highway after 34-year old Noah Leigh Morris allegedly racked up a $347 bar tab and did not have a way to pay for it. Manager Sammy Smith told police that Morris was attempting to use his deceased mother’s credit cards to pay for the tab.
Morris told police he was going to pay with his mother’s credit cards, and that she had passed away two days prior. The officer reported Morris was highly intoxicated and showed his wallet containing seven credit cards with his mother’s name. He attempted to use his mother’s Discover Card to pay the tab. The card was denied, as was a card with Morris’ name on it.
As he was arrested, police reported finding several controlled prescription pills on Morris’ person in an unlabeled pill bottle.
Morris was charged with swindling or defrauding an innkeeper, fraudulent use of credit cards and two counts of possession of a controlled substance without a prescription. He remained in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $8,000.
Editor’s note: Family tells NorthEscambia.com that Morris’ mother is, in fact, alive and well.
Supervisors: Elections Were A ‘Perfect Storm’ Of Problems
January 15, 2013
Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David Stafford and state’s local elections supervisors told lawmakers Monday that a “perfect storm” of elections problems created the long lines and other issues that irritated Floridians in November. Stafford is past president of the Florida State Association of Supervisors of Elections.
Supervisors and lawmakers agreed that several factors converged in the November voting, from the length of the ballot to the number of early-voting days and the availability of early-voting sites, leading to Florida being the last state called in the presidential election. The state was eventually carried by President Barack Obama, but that result wasn’t known until days after he was projected to have won a second term.
“It was a combination of things that have contributed to our perfect storm election,” said Lee County Supervisor Sharon Harrington.
But Senate Ethics and Elections Chairman Jack Latvala, R-St. Petersburg, pushed back on the notion that Florida was once again the problem child in presidential elections. Instead, the closeness of the state and the importance of its 29 electoral votes more often shine the national spotlight on Florida.
“These same issues, if they happened in others states, might not have the same focus that we have,” he said.
Seminole County Supervisor Mike Ertel went further.
“We had a good election statewide in Florida; we have to remember this,” Ertel said. As to late-night jokes at the expense of the state, he said: “I don’t care what Jay Leno thinks. I care what Florida voters think.”
The hearing focused on two of the issues that have taken up most of the attention in the wake of the election: Early voting and a number of proposed constitutional amendments blamed for stretching many counties’ ballots onto multiple pages.
Latvala told reporters after the meeting that he planned for the committee to begin work on an elections bill in February. In addition to the issues highlighted by the elections snafus, Latvala said the bill would address gaps in absentee ballot security pointed out by a grand jury report on absentee ballots in Miami-Dade County.
Most supervisors said the state should at least give them discretion to have more days of early voting, after a 2011 change in the law slashed the number of days before the elections that voters could cast ballots from at least 12 to no more than eight.
But lawmakers questioned whether supervisors had opened up enough early-voting sites to handle the crush of voters who tried to cast ballots on those early days. Miami-Dade County Supervisor Penelope Townsley, who conducted a thorough after-action report on the election in her county, admitted she had not.
“It we had to do that again, we would definitely increase the number of early voting sites that were used,” Townsley said.
Other supervisors said they needed more flexibility on where to place early voting sites, and said that not every eligible early voting site was a practical place to have voters to cast ballots because of concerns that range from parking to electrical capacity.
“To invite them to a facility that can accommodate them very efficiently is, I think, a better thing that to just have a lot of sites that are non-productive,” said St. Lucie County Supervisor Gertrude Walker.
Supervisors also pointed to the referendums placed on the ballot by the Legislature, and the exemption in state law that allows lawmakers to avoid the 75-word limit on amendment summaries that applies to citizen initiatives.
“If we can elect the president of the United States based solely on his or her first and last name, I believe that we can pass an amendment with 75 words,” Ertel said.
Even some lawmakers who voted for the exemption in 2000 — after the Supreme Court threw out a legislatively-proposed death-penalty amendment because of its summary — said they were ready to reverse course.
“I have to admit I was maybe part of the problem … about the language that appears on the ballot,” said Sen. John Thrasher, a St. Augustine Republican who was in the House at the time.
Latvala said he was less certain that was at the root of the problem, pointing out that the law has been effect for a decade now.
“I don’t think it’s the fault of the Legislature 100 percent that we had these lines,” he said.
By The News Service of Florida
West Holding Career Fair For $11 Hour Jobs
January 15, 2013
West, a provider of technology-driven communication services, recently announced plans to hire new, part-time sales/care associates in Pensacola. To support its hiring efforts, West is hosting a career fair today from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at its Pensacola office at 5031 Commerce Park Circle.
This is the first time West has offered part-time positions in Pensacola. These positions offer a competitive hourly wage of $11. Shifts are available from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. or 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., for 20 hours per week.
“We’re very excited to be offering part-time opportunities to candidates who are seeking long-term part-time employment,” said Vanessa Clement, divisional director of Human Resources at West. “This is a great opportunity for college students seeking a part-time opportunity or anyone looking for some extra income.”
Those who are interested in applying but are unable to attend the career fair can visit www.westemployment.com, or apply in person at the office mentioned above, Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunshine Hill Road Bridge Deck To Be Replaced
January 15, 2013
Escambia County is set to install a new deck on the Sunshine Hill Road Bridge in Molino.
The lowest bidder on the project was F&W Construction Co., Inc. for $73,500. Other bids were received from Murphree Bridge Corp ($86,500) and Davis Marine Construction, Inc. ($88,499).
The Sunshine Hill Road Bridge, located just south of Cedar Springs Road, was closed last November for about three weeks for emergency repairs.
Escambia County Mosquito Illness Advisory Lifted
January 15, 2013
The mosquito-borne illness advisory issued for Escambia County back in August has been lifted. The Escambia County Health Department said surveillance data indicates that the risk of human infection has decreased.
Although mosquito-borne illnesses are less common in the winter months, the health department said it is important that residents of Escambia County continue to observe the proper precautions to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes that may cause disease.
A total of 13 people were diagnosed with West Nile Virus in Escambia County during 2012. One case was fatal.
Mr. John Hilbert Martin
January 15, 2013
Mr. John Hilbert Martin, age 87 of Stallworth Street in Brewton, AL, passed away on Tuesday, January 15, 2013, in a local hospital.
Mr. Martin was born in Castleberry, AL, and had lived in the Brewton area for the past 55 years, coming from Castleberry. Mr. Martin was a veteran of the Korean War, having served with U.S. Merchant Marines. He served at fire chief for the City of Brewton for a number of years. He was a member of the Masons, Lions Club, and Brewton’s First Baptist Church.
Mr. Martin was preceded in death by a daughter, Susan Annette Taormina. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Leola Morris Martin of Brewton, AL; one son, Wayne Martin of Brewton, AL; two daughters, Janie (Leon) Hamric of Robertsdale, AL, Jeanette “Jenny” Martin of Monroeville, AL; one brother, James Martin of Bay Minette, AL; six grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held with Fire Department Honors on Friday, January 18, 2013, at 11 a.m. at Brewton’s First Baptist Church with Rev. Jack Fitts officiating. Interment will follow in Union Cemetery.
Visitation will be held at Craver’s Funeral Home on Thursday from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m.
Rosetta G. Flowers
January 15, 2013
Mrs. Rosetta G. Flowers, 87, passed away on Monday, January 14, 2013, in Wawbeek, AL.
Mrs. Flowers was a native and life-long resident of Wawbeek. She attended the Sardis Baptist Church and she held various positions over the years at the Sardis Wawbeek Volunteer Fire Department.
Survivors include her son, John Flowers of Wawbeek; one daughter, Marietta Johnson of Wawbeek; one brother, Stanley Godwin of Brewton; six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be Thursday, January 17, 2013, at 2 p.m. at the Sardis Baptist Church with Rev. Earle Greene and Rev. Jimmy Colley officiating.
Burial will follow at the Sardis Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, January 16, 2013, from 6-9 p.m. at the Petty Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Scott Barrow, John Hawthorne, Ronnie Marshall, Rick Bracken, Eric Jerkins and J.R. Godwin.
Honorary pallbearer will be Wendall Carnley.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes in Atmore is in charge of all arrangements.
Tickets Going On Sale For Miss NHS Pageant
January 15, 2013
Tickets go on sale Wednesday for the 2013 Miss NHS pageant at Northview High School.
The “Reach for the Stars” pageant will be held Saturday, January 26 at 7 p.m. in the school theater. Tickets are $6 each in advance, $10 at the door. The pageant usually sells out in advance.
Pictured above: Miss NHS 2013 contestants (front row, L-R) Ashley Cunningham, Penny Banda, Julia Thorpe, Shaquanna Jones, Tiffani Pritchett, Jody Paramore, Julie Hester, Ashley Mooney,Mariah Albritton, (middle) Lily Townson, Audra Martin, Ariel Holland, Olivia Neal, Karmen Watson, Clarissa Ross, Kamryn Brock, Courtney Lambert, (back) Misty Doran, Rebekah Sepulveda, Ashlynn Mccall, Morgan Ward, Lauryn Walker, Kaitlyn Abbott, and Kendal Cobb. Pictured in front of the group is Miss NHS 2012 Charlie McPherson. Pictured left inset: A few of the contestants practice a dance routine.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.