Ernest Ward Phones Out, Other Systems Damaged After Lightning Storm
September 5, 2013
Ernest Ward Middle School’s phone system is still down today, following a lightning storm Tuesday afternoon that left damage in a portion of the Walnut Hill campus.
In addition to the phone system problems, the lightning storm left the administration building without air conditioning, new roof leaks and damage to several computer systems. Principal Nancy Perry said a couple of trees on the campus were also splintered during the electrical storm.
Do It For 32: Tate Aggies Host PHS Friday Night
September 5, 2013
Coming off what Coach Ronnie Douglas called a “tough” loss, the Tate Aggies are working to rebound this week as they face Pensacola High. The West Florida Jaguars defeated Tate 45-3 last Friday night.
Douglas said the Aggies have been forced to make some changes due to injuries, including senior linebacker Jesse Samuel, carried off the field on a stretcher and transported to the hospital by ambulance last Friday night. He may have suffered a season ending knee injury. Douglas said Samuel underwent surgery on Wednesday and is “doing well”.
Senior cornerback Rashan Johnson said the loss of Samuel will be motivation for the Aggies (0-1) as they host Pensacola High (0-1). This week’s motto, Johnson said, is “Do It For 32″, referring to Samuel’s No. 32 jersey number.
“We have been working hard this week trying to come back from that (loss), and they are always fast and talented,” senior Brett Blackwelder, strong safety, said about the Pensacola High Tigers.
Pensacola High School is “big and fast and we look forward to playing them at home”, Douglas said, adding that his players have been working hard to prep for their meeting with the Tigers.
Friday night’s game between Tate and Pensacola High kicks off at 7:30 at Tate’s Pete Gindl Stadium.
by Darryl Singleton
FWC To Consider Deer Importation Ban At Pensacola Meeting
September 5, 2013
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will meet Thursday and Friday in Pensacola to consider several items, including a ban on importing out of state deer due Chronic Wasting Disease.
“Please accept this letter as acknowledgement that the scientific case for closing the border is stronger than we had originally understood,” Senate President Don Gaetz, Rep. Matt Gaetz, and Sen. Greg Evers wrote in a letter recently to the FWC. “We now believe that moving forward with (the ban) is the prudent course of action.”
Chronic Wasting Disease is similar to Mad Cow Disease and is fatal to deer. If a deer is found with the disease, the entire population — free-ranging or farmed — must be eradicated to prevent it from spreading.
Marion Hammer of the National Rifle Association, which backs the ban, says the disease could wipe out all the state’s deer.
“Some folks say it’s manageable. It’s not manageable,” Hammer said. “Why should you wait to try to manage something when you can take action to prevent getting it in the first place?”
But opponents of the ban said the move is unnecessary.
“I think it’s a shame,” said Chris Winsey, president of the Southeast Trophy Deer Association. “We’re just being prejudiced toward the deer versus any other animal that’s being moved in our state.”
“They don’t have enough data to close the border,” said Mike Vizcaino, a deer farmer in the St. Augustine area. “If these guys were really afraid of CWD, they would be promoting a statewide testing requirement rather than closing the borders.”
Currently, to reduce chances of the disease entering Florida, the state bans deer from being imported from those states and Canadian provinces where infected deer have been found. The ban also prohibits deer killed in those areas from being brought into Florida unless they have first been deboned or treated and mounted by taxidermists outside the state.
The state also requires that imported deer come from herds that have been certified disease-free for five years. Opponents of the ban have recommended the state consider doubling that time frame.
But Hammer said the disease is so deadly that if it spread to Florida, deer hunting would become too dangerous to continue.
“If we got Chronic Wasting Disease in the state of Florida, I’d never eat another piece of venison,” she said. “The risk is too great. So we need to take the steps that are best to prevent ever getting the disease to begin with.”
The disease is not known to affect people.
Backers of the ban include not only the NRA but the Florida Wildlife Federation, United Sportsmen of Florida, Florida Deer Association, Florida Zoo Association and the Humane Society.
The FWC meeting will take place Thursday and Friday at the Crowne Plaza Pensacola Grand Hotel at 200 East Gregory Street with sessions convening at 8:30 a.m. The Chronic Wasting Disease item appears on the agenda for Friday. The meeting is open to the public, and public comments will be allowed.
Dream Defenders Protest At Scott’s Office Cost State $505K
September 5, 2013
The month-long, around-the-clock Dream Defenders protest outside the governor’s Capitol office ran up a tab of $505,248.90 for Capitol police, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement on Wednesday.
The total includes regular pay plus overtime, which has been put at $172,592.88. Up to $20,338 could be shaved off the overtime total if members of the Capitol police are able to exchange some of the extra hours worked for time off before the end of this year, noted FDLE spokeswoman Gretl Plessinger.
The police worked shifts from July 16 to Aug. 15, as members of a group called the Dream Defenders called for lawmakers to address the “stand your ground” self-defense law and to address what protesters consider other forms of racial bias.
Deputies Seek Info On Apartment Burglary Suspect
September 5, 2013
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office investigators are seeking to identify a person of interest in multiple burglaries at the Fountain Apartments at 9975 University Parkway.
Anyone with information on the person pictured is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Investigations Unit at (850) 436-9709.
Rebecca Morris
September 5, 2013
Rebecca Morris passed away quietly and peacefully Tuesday, September 3, 2013, surrounded by her loving family. She was born on August 20, 1953, in Mobile to Charles and Mary Ann Shellman. She came into this world crying because she had just left her twin sister Roberta for the first time. Roberta joined her fifteen minutes later and for sixty years they were almost inseparable. She resided in Jay for the past seventeen years. She was a member of Cora Baptist Church and the Order of the Eastern Star. She enjoyed going to the beach, clogging, beauty pageants and watching her children and grandchildren cheer and play ball.
She was preceded in death by her parents; infant daughter, Crystal LaJune Morris; and niece, Starla Maxson.
She is survived by her son, Keith (Sheri) Morris and daughter, Christy (Joey) Hutto; grandchildren, Sierra, Travis, and Aiden Hutto and Ashton Walker. She is also survived by sisters, Eva (Billy) Dubose, Roberta (Mickey) Brown and Debbie (Glen) Maxson; one brother, Bill Shellman; sister-in-law, Wanda Shellman; nieces, Angel and Crystal Brown and Susan Cole; nephews, Ricky, Sammy, and Thomas Dubose.
A visitation will be from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. Friday, September 6, 2013, at Jay Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be 2 p.m. on Saturday, September 7, 2013, at Cora Baptist Church with Rev. Mike Hutto, Rev. LaDon Hall, and Rev. Henry Shellman officiating services.
Burial will follow at Elim Baptist Church Cemetery in the Roberts, Alabama community at approximately at 4 p.m.
Active pallbearers will be Keith Morris, Wade Morris, Cory Shellman, Cameron Shellman, Joey Hutto, and Roy Brown.
The family would like to thank Angela and the staff of the CCU at West Florida Hospital.
Jay Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
UWF Will Play Football In 2016
September 5, 2013
The University of West Florida will field a football team in the fall of 2016, college President Judy Bense announced Wednesday.
The Argos will be in the Gulf South Conference, home of seven Division II national champs over the last two decades. UWF won’t have a football stadium in place by their first 2016 kickoff, instead they will be looking for another Pensacola-area facility to call home field. A practice field at UWF, other facilities, equipment and salaries for coaches will come from outside sources including a Football Founders Club.
UWF will not raise student fees or tuition to fund the football program.
The Argos will use a private search firm to start looking for a coach at the end of this season.
Gabrielle Down To A Depression
September 5, 2013
Gabrielle has degenerated to a tropical depression.
Tropical Storm Gabrielle formed Wednesday night in the eastern Caribbean, southeast of Puerto Rico. The storm will move near western Puerto Rico and the eastern Dominican Republic before moving back out to sea. Gabrielle will not have an impact on the North Escambia area’s weather.
The latest position and information on Gabrielle can be found in the graphic above.
Deputies Seek Man In Motel Beating (With Video)
September 4, 2013
Escambia County deputies are looking for a person of interest in an aggravated battery at a local motel.
Deputies discovered the victim, 48-year old Curtis Odom on the sidewalk in front of the Western Inn on Mobile Highway Wednesday morning. He had suffered severe head and facial injuries and was unresponsive. The victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment; an update on his condition was not available.
Investigators determined the incident most likely took place in a bloody room at the hotel, and they are looking for a person seen on surveillance video.
Anyone with information on the identity of the person pictured is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9630.
If you do not see the video at the top of this page, it is because your work, home or school firewall is blocking external videos.
Mosquito Spraying Tonight East Of Hwy 29 From Quintette To Century
September 4, 2013
The Escambia County Mosquito Control Division intends to proceed with a “fogging mission” today in an area bounded by Highway 29 to the west, the Escambia River to the east, the Alabama state line to the north and Quintette Road to the south (essentially east of Highway 29 from Quintette Road to Century).
Mission hours vary but typically occur in the early evening hours from 6 to 10 p.m. For more information, call (850) 937-2188.
Spray areas are depicted on the maps below in green; click to enlarge.
