Texas Developer Backs Out Of $7.6 Million ECUA Deal
August 1, 2013
A possible $7.6 million deal is dead between a Texas developer and ECUA for the former Main Street Wastewater Treatment Plant plant.
Aaron Wiese, president of Houston-based HT Land Co., offered the cash for the 19-acre property. The ECUA board came back with a counteroffer for $7.6 million with a few strings attached — Wiese would be required to front a $50,000 non-refundable payment. He was given three days to respond.
One Wednesday, Wiese “informed ECUA that he will not sign the proposed contract for purchase of ECUA’s Main Street property in downtown Pensacola. There is no longer an offer on the
table,” ECUA Board Chairman Larry Walker said Wednesday night. “ECUA will proceed to contract with the firm of NAI Halford Pensacola to market the property.”
Pit Bulls That Mauled Woman At Her Home Have Been Euthanized
August 1, 2013
Two pit bulls that mauled a Nokomis woman have been euthanized at the Escambia County Animal Shelter.
Animal Control’s investigation determined that Lambert’s family had been taking care of the two animals for at least 10 months, making the family the legal owners of the dogs, according to Bill Pearson, Escambia County spokesman. “Animal Control officers then visited the family, and they signed custody of the dogs over to Animal Control with the understanding that the animals would have to be put down,” he said.
Shortly after the July 18 attack, Lambert and her family began calling for the dogs to be euthanized.
“Sandra said they need to be put down. She said what she saw in the eyes of the dogs that day was a look that she’d never seen before-a killer look, and from her injuries it appears that is what the dogs were trying to do,” Lambert’s cousin Martha Hall said on her behalf in a written statement.
Lambert, 63, was airlifted to the USA Medical Center in Mobile following the brutal attack. She underwent multiple surgeries, including the full amputation of her right arm up to her shoulder. She also suffered deep puncture and gash wounds to her left arm and her legs. She still faces more surgeries for skin grafts to her left arm and legs on her long road to recovery. She remains at USA Medical Center.
Lambert had taken both pit bulls out for a walk behind her home. Molly, the female dog, was on a leash and lunged at some chickens in the yard. Lambert yelled “No, Molly” to the dog and pulled on her leash. The dog quickly turned on her and attacked, with the male dog, Rosco, joining in. Buddy, who had been the family’s dog for years, tried to help and was brutally attacked by the pit bulls.
Buddy did not survive the attack, but he is credited with perhaps saving Lambert’s life, giving her the chance to crawl inside her home and call 911.
An account to help Lambert with medical expenses has been established. Donations can be made to the “Benefit Account for Sandra Lambert” at any branch of United Bank.
Pictured top: An Escambia County Animal Control officer removed a tranquilized pit bull from an enclosed porch at the home of Sandra Lambert. Pictured inset: “Molly,”, one of the two pit bulls involved in a vicious attack last July 18 was trapped on an enclosed porch. Pictured below: Molly after being tranquilized. Pictured bottom: The attack happened at a mobile home in Nokomis, FL. Lambert was airlifted to the USA Medical Center in Mobile. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Gulf Power Making It Easier For Customers To Pay Their Bill
August 1, 2013
Gulf Power Company is making it easier for customers to pay their electric bills.
MoneyGram locations located across the service area will now post cash payments immediately to customers’ accounts. Also, the payment kiosks that have been set up at 12 Circle K stores in Pensacola will accept credit card payments, as well as cash.
“Customers want more options to pay their bill,” Gulf Power spokesman Jeff Rogers said. “Developing and offering these convenient new alternatives are part of keeping customers at the center of everything we do.”
There are 93 MoneyGram locations across the service area, including Walmart, CVS/pharmacy, Advance America and others. Customers can go to MoneyGram.com to find the nearest location.
Gulf Power customers an also pay their bills online, by U.S. mail, online at GulfPower.com, through the smartphones or in person at company customer offices.
Circle K locations in Pensacola:
- Store 1720 1900 E. Nine Mile Road
- Store 4958 2205 W. Nine Mile Road
- Store 4620 4233 E. Creighton Road
- Store 4960 330 Kenmore Road
- Store 4790 3109 Pace Blvd.
- Store 4918 2350 Michigan Ave.
- Store 8224 4450 Bayou Blvd.
- Store 8235 3013 E. Cervantes St.
- Store 7680 601 N. New Warrington Road
- Store 4970 2700 Gulf Beach Highway
- Store 1718 2020 W. Cervantes Road
- Store 4961 4501 North W Street
Pictured top: A bill pay kiosk at a local Circle K. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Rick Scott, Republicans Blast Jesse Jackson Comments
August 1, 2013
.Gov. Rick Scott and other Republican leaders slammed the Rev. Jesse Jackson on Wednesday after the civil-rights veteran called a sit-in protest at Scott’s office “the Selma of our time” while implicitly comparing the state to South Africa and Scott to George Wallace.
In a statement issued by his office, Scott took Jackson to task for the Selma comments made Tuesday and an earlier reported comment labeling Florida an “apartheid state.”
“Jesse Jackson owes every Floridian an apology for his reckless and divisive comments,” Scott said. “It is unfortunate that he would come to Florida to insult Floridians and divide our state at a time when we are striving for unity and healing.”
Appearing on the Rick Sanchez Radio Show a few hours later, Jackson dismissed the call for him to apologize as “absurd.”
Jackson also drew scorn from some Republicans for apparently comparing Scott to Wallace, an infamous, segregationist governor of Alabama, during remarks Tuesday.
Jackson spoke ahead of an overnight visit with the Dream Defenders, a group that has staged a sit-in at Scott’s office to demand a special legislative session to consider changes to the state’s self-defense laws, initiatives to end racial profiling and an end to zero-tolerance discipline policies in schools.
“We’ve seen Southern governors before have to change their minds,” Jackson said when asked about Scott’s insistence that he wouldn’t call a special session. Jackson mentioned Wallace as an example of someone who had to change his mind.
That drew the ire of other Republicans.
“With Jesse Jackson having a history of making offensive remarks, like calling New York City ‘Hymietown,’ it’s surprising to see that Democrats are not denouncing Jackson for what he said about Florida and Governor Rick Scott,” Republican Party of Florida Chairman Lenny Curry said in a statement. “Jesse Jackson’s attacks are offensive, inappropriate, divisive and ill-informed.”
Pensacola Rep. Mike Hill, the only black Republican in the Legislature, also blasted Jackson’s comments as “a disgrace” in a sharply-worded statement.
“When Jackson uses language that describes us as an apartheid state and compares our governor to one of history’s most notorious bigots, he is either hopelessly out of touch or purposefully dishonest,” Hill said.
The multipronged attack on Jackson came as the protests wore through a 16th day at the Capitol. Protesters have called their own “People’s Session,” and held a committee meeting in Scott’s office to take testimony on zero-tolerance policies in schools.
During that meeting, officials from local chapters of the Democratic Black Caucus of Florida delivered a letter to Scott endorsing the protests. After being told Scott wasn’t at the Capitol and chief of staff Adam Hollingsworth was in a meeting, the group read the letter from Henry Crespo Sr., the organization’s president, before handing it to Scott’s receptionist.
“As governor of Florida, you have the power to calm the fears of thousands of Florida families, especially blacks and Latinos, who are questioning the ability of this state to protect their children from the gross deficiencies of the aforementioned laws,” the letter said.
Also Wednesday, Senate Minority Leader Chris Smith, D-Fort Lauderdale, unveiled a new website — FloridaStandYourGround.org — to help push for changes to the “stand your ground” self-defense law that has spurred a large amount of the debate.
“The website is a one-stop information center for anyone who wants to know more about the law, what it does, how it’s being misused, and the proposed changes to fix its dangerous flaws,” Smith said.
by The News Service of Florida
Groundbreaking Set For New Ernest Ward, A.K. Suter
August 1, 2013
The Escambia County School Board has scheduled official groundbreaking ceremonies next week for Ernest Ward Middle School and A.K. Suter Elementary School.
The groundbreaking at Ernest Ward will be held on Thursday, August 8 at 9 a.m. at the school campus, 7650 Highway 97 in Walnut Hill. The A.K. Suter groundbreaking will be held at 1 p.m. on the same day at the school, 501 Pickens Avenue in Pensacola. The public is invited to both ceremonies.
Both schools are being rebuilt, Ernest Ward at a cost of about $16.5 million and A.K. Suter at a cost of about $21 million. Both schools will remain open during the reconstruction process.
Both construction projects are being funded by half-cent sales tax monies. It is anticipated that the new structure at A.K. Suter will be open for the 2014-2015 school year; Ernest Ward Middle School’s construction will take approximately two years for completion.
Pictured top: Demolition work has already started at Ernest Ward Middle School. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Four Injured In Flomaton Crash
August 1, 2013
Four people were injured in a two-vehicle wreck near Flomaton Wednesday evening.
The accident happened in a curve on Highway 31 near Pipeline Road, not far from Bondurant Lumber, about 6:10 p.m. Two people, a 39-year old female and an adult male, were airlifted by LifeFlight to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola as “trauma alerts”. Two other people were transported by ambulance to Sacred Heart with non-life threatening injuries.
All four people were trapped in their vehicles, with firefighters forced to use the Jaws of Life to extricate them.
The Flomaton and Friendship fire departments, the Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Atmore Ambulance, Flomaton Police Department, Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office and Atmore Ambulance responded to the accident.
The accident remains under investigation by the Alabama State Troopers. Further details have not been released.
Reader submitted photos by Carleen Spears and Robbie Lynn Burkett for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Teen Charged In Warrington Murder
August 1, 2013
Nkosi Zuriel Chamberlain of Navarre is charged with second degree murder in the death of 17-year-old Ledarrious Ramone Washington. He is also charged with two counts of aggravated assault. He is currently being held in the Okaloosa County Detention Center pending his first court appearance.
Investigators are still searching for 23-year-old Blaise K. Albertie Chamberlain of Navarre for questioning only. They are also seeking a 2011 black Suzuki 4-door SX4 with Florida tag number N546PX, which they say was used in commission of the crime.
For an earlier story with more details about the shooting, click here.
Shots Fired During Berrydale Burglary
August 1, 2013
Authorities in Santa Rosa County are looking for clues in two vehicle burglaries late Monday night in Berrydale, including one in which shots were reportedly fired.
Several undisclosed items were taken during first vehicle burglary which was reported at 11:22 p.m. in the 14000 block of Highway 87, just south of the Alabama state line. While deputies were on scene, the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Officer received a report of another vehicle burglary in progress on just over two miles away on Gainey Ford Road.
During the incident on Gainey Ford Road, the victim observed two males in the victim’s car, which had been left unlocked. The victim approached the two suspects and yelled at them. The suspects then ran from the scene, at which time the victim said one of the suspects fired three rounds in the direction of the victim. No one was injured.
As of Thursday afternoon, there had been no arrests in the case and no suspect descriptions were available. The investigation by the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office is continuing.
Deputies said the incidents appear to be isolated and not part of a larger trend.
Anyone with information on the incidents is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 437-STOP of Detective Gau at (850) 983-1253.
Milby, Erickson Win Free Wedding; Local Couple Falls Short
August 1, 2013
Evan Milby and Alanna Erickson have won this year’s Pensacola Block Party Wedding Contest — a free wedding held on the streets of Pensacola with everything donated by various vendors.
“We had a great experience and we wish them the best in life,” Jessy Killam, a top ten finalist in the contest, said Wednesday night. “The marriage truly begins after the wedding is over.”
Jessy and her fiance Jarrett Swearingen, were featured Monday in a NorthEscambia.com story due to their local ties.
Jessica grew up in Byrneville and graduated from Northview High School. Her fiance Jarrett grew up in Jay and graduated from Jay High School. He’s now an Escambia County Sheriff’s deputy.
Pictured top: Pensacola Block Party Wedding winners Evan Milby and Alanna Erickson. Pictured below: Top ten finalists Jessy Killam and her fiance Jarrett Swearingen. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
NHS QB Club Still Needs Teams For Weekend Softball Tournament
August 1, 2013
The Northview High School Quarterback Club still needs a few teams for a coed softball tournament to be held this Saturday.
The entry fee is $150 per team. To register a team and support the Class 1A state football champions in their upcoming season, call Bodie Tullis at (850) 390-3945.