Cantonment Dollar General Robbed At Gunpoint
September 10, 2013
An armed robbery Monday night at a Dollar General store on Highway 29 in Cantonment is under investigation.
Witnesses said a tall black male wearing all black, including a dark color hoodie and a mask, entered the store about 8:35 p.m. armed with a handgun and demanded money. The suspect took an undetermined amount of money and then fled on foot northbound into a wooded area near the store.
There were no injuries reported.
The Escambia County Sherif’fs Office was on scene moments after the robbery was reported. Deputes set up a perimeter and used a K-9 to search for the suspect. There was no word of any arrests Monday night.
Anyone with information on the robbery is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436–9620.
Pictured: The scene at the Dollar General in the 1400 block of Highway 29 in Cantonment shortly after a Monday night armed robbery. Reader submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Highway 97 Driver Overturns In Cotton Field
September 10, 2013
An Atmore man found himself in high cotton late Monday night after running off the road and overturning his vehicle into a field.
The man told first responders that he hit at least two deer on Highway 97 near Tungoil Road before losing control. His northbound Dodge Charger came to rest on its side in a cotton field. The man crawled out of the wreckage and walked about a third of a mile north along Highway 97 for help. The accident was reported about 11:25 p.m.
The man was transported by Atmore Ambulance to Atmore Community Hospital with minor injuries.
There was no obvious indications that the vehicle had struck a deer, and first responders were unable to local any sign of a deer along the highway. The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Further details have not been released.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the accident.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Olive Baptist Gift To Charity On Hold For Century Council Approval
September 10, 2013
The donation and installation of windows for Carver Community Center on Jefferson Avenue in Century is temporarily on hold following a Monday night Century Town Council meeting.
The Ministry Village at Olive Baptist Church was set to install new insulated vinyl windows for the facility to replace wooden single-pane windows that have been in place since the 7,200 square foot building was constructed in 1945.
The building is owned by the non-profit Carver Community Center Association, Inc; the Town of Century has no ownership or interest in the building or the programs conducted there. The non-profit serves hundreds of children each year.
Last Friday, the window replacement had received blessings of the Century Architectural Review Board– required because the building is within the Alger-Sullivan Historical District.
The Century Town Council was set to ratify that decision Monday night. The council first questioned if installing fewer replacement windows than are currently in the building would “look right”. And the council questioned if Carver Director Marilyn Robinson had agreed to accept the window donation.
“Marilyn (Robinson) is not the Community Center,” her mother Leola Robinson told the council. “I know there has not been a meeting called (of the non-profit’s board) because I am the president of the Carver Community Center…they haven’t met with me.”
“I feel like the Carver Community Center should have been called together and made a decision,” Leola Robinson continued.
“The architectural committee okayed it, and now they are asking y’all to pass it,” Mayor Freddie McCall said of the window donation. The council tabled any action until their next meeting on September 16.
The Ministry Village was originally set to provide and replace 18 windows at the Carver Community Center, but a contractor’s mistake will end up benefiting the center. The contractor for the new Pensacola Bay Baptist Health and Hope Clinic building in Pensacola ordered beige windows, but they arrived white. The Olive Ministry Village will purchase the 23 white windows at the contractor’s cost, saving about $200 per window.
Completely funded by donations, the non-profit Carver Community Center provides a safe place for children to go after school and during the summer as the center provides meals for 150 to 200 children daily. The center also offers tutoring services for children year round. The center was one of 12 causes in need highlighted by the Florida Department of Children and Families during their statewide “Operation Santa Cause” campaign last Christmas, leading to numerous donations of time and services.
This is not the first time the Ministry Village at Olive Baptist Church has reached out to the Carver Community Center. Earlier this year, Ministry Village volunteers joined several other agencies and non-profit groups in painting the interior of the building.
Pictured top: The Ministry Village at Olive Baptist will donate new windows for the aging Carver Community Center on Jefferson Avenue in Century. Pictured inset and below: Volunteers from several groups painted the interior of the building back in January. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Citizens Property Insurance Approves 6.3% Rate Hike For Homeowners
September 10, 2013
Homeowners covered by Citizens Property Insurance Corp. will see an average rate increase of 6.3 percent next year.
The increase, approved Monday by the Office of Insurance Regulation, is down from a 7.9 percent hike requested on the combined personal-lines and coastal accounts. Citizens officials previously said a 7.9 percent increase wouldn’t be enough to cover the projected costs for next year.
The increase doesn’t include sinkhole coverage.
The hike also comes as up to 400,000 Citizens policyholders will be told in the next month that they will have to decide if they want to remain with the state-backed insurer or be shifted to private carriers.
“We are grateful to OIR for its diligence in reviewing Citizens’ 2014 rates and pleased that it has agreed with our overall approach,” Citizens President and CEO Barry Gilway said in an email. “The agency’s action will allow Citizens to continue providing quality service to our 1.2 million policyholders while reducing the risk of assessments on all Floridians.”
The state-backed company had 1.22 million policies as of July 31.
The increase will be a bigger hit on those with coastal accounts.
The approved hike is 4.4 percent on average for personal-line accounts, down from the 7.3 percent that had been requested in July. Coastal, wind-only accounts will go up 10.5 percent, which is more than the requested 9.8 percent.
Non-residential commercial-line accounts are going up 10 percent, the rate requested by the Citizens board.
The increases are expected to generate less than $200 million for Citizens in the next year, while actuarial numbers have estimated that $505 million is needed in additional premium charges.
For single-family coverage, the average non-sinkhole rate will stand at $2,106 next year, up from $1,981 in the current year.
All rates vary upon location.
Before the rate increases go into place in January and February, about 400,000 Citizens residential customers will have to decide if they will remain with Citizens or agree to be covered by one of 10 private insurance companies that were approved two weeks ago for a massive takeout program.
Those policyholders, with what are expected to be the least-risky policies, will have to decide by the first week of November.
Letters will be sent to the impacted policyholders by Oct. 5.
Citizens estimates that 30 percent to 35 percent will remain with the state-backed insurer when the initial offer is made.
The private carriers must agree not to change the terms of policies until it is time for policies to be renewed.
Customers would have the option to return to Citizens or remain with the private companies after the renewal rate is offered.
Gov. Rick Scott offered his support for the downsizing effort Monday, saying, “Citizens needs to go back to becoming the insurance company of last resort.”
Meanwhile, Sen. Tom Lee, R-Brandon, wrote Gilway on Monday to request that additional warnings be clearly placed on the takeout offers.
“Consumers should be provided clear details on the differences between the current Citizens policy and the policy of the takeout insurer,” Lee wrote. “Many policyholders who elect to accept private market insurance also likely do not fully understand that returning to Citizens can be a complex and difficult process.”
Minimum Wage – Who in Florida Needs a Raise?
September 10, 2013
Fast-food workers around the country have been agitating for raises, and some members of Congress are pressing to increase the national minimum wage. But what would the actual economic impact be of a boost for the lowest-paid workers? Critics have charged that raising the minimum wage would mostly help teenagers, but economists say that’s largely a myth.
David Cooper, an economic policy analyst at the Economic Policy Institute, looked at who would get a bump in pay if the hourly minimum went up to just over $10, as one bill in Congress proposes. He found it would be mostly the working poor, including a large portion of single mothers, who would benefit.
“The reality is that the average age of these workers is 35 years old,” he said. “The majority of them are women, a little over a quarter have children, and 55 percent work full-time; this is their full-time job.”
Another common concern is that raising the minimum wage would increase unemployment. According to Cooper, that was the conventional wisdom, until a series of studies in the 1990s compared states that raised their minimum wages with others that had not. Cooper said the first looked at border counties between New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
“What they found was that in New Jersey, where the minimum wage was raised, employment actually went up relative to Pennsylvania, the direct opposite of what the textbook model would suggest.”
He said other studies have also confirmed that raising low-end wages doesn’t increase unemployment.
Cooper said the economists found that a higher minimum wage improved productivity, reduced turnover and absenteeism, and boosted morale among low-wage employees. In addition, he said, the new wages have a ripple effect on the local economy, because most minimum-wage workers have to spend every dime they make.
“Maybe they needed to buy a new car,” he cited as an example. “Now that they’re making a little more money, they can afford to make a payment plan, so they go and they buy that new car. That not only benefits the car manufacturer, but it also benefits the local dealership.”
About 1.8 million Floridians would be affected if the federal minimum wage went up to $10.10 an hour, as that bill now before Congress proposes, and 92 percent of them are over age 20.
Courtesy images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Gaetz: Legalize Fireworks, Keep Money In Florida
September 10, 2013
Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, has filed a bill that would repeal a fireworks ban in the state because Floridians are already buying fireworks online or bringing fireworks back from other states.
“We’re pushing economic activity out of our state with a regulation that’s relatively meaningless because people get fireworks elsewhere and just bring them down and shoot them off here,” Gaetz told the Panama City News Herald. “We’d rather keep those dollars in Florida.”
State law limits sales to relatively innocuous devices such as sparklers, while banning sales of such things as bottle rockets. But a loophole also has allowed the sale of fireworks to people who sign a statement saying they have an exemption to the law.
Gaetz said the idea for the bill came from a Marianna High School student, who said it was silly for people to cross state lines to buy fireworks and then bring them back to Florida.
Pictured: A Flomaton, Ala., fireworks stand, just north of the Florida/Alabama state line. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Northwest Escambia Eagles Split Games With Uriah
September 10, 2013
Northwest Escambia traveled to Uriah, Ala., Saturday, splitting games.
Freshmen
Uriah 39, NWE 33
Sophomores
NWE 47, Uriah 12
Juniors
NWE 62, Uriah 0
Jaheem Durant scored on the first play of the game, while Jaden Cunningham scored two touchdowns and one extra point. Jayden Jackson scored two touchdowns, one of which he stripped on defense from a Uriah player, and one extra point. Michael Merchant scored one touchdown. Logan Bryan scored one touchdown, and Jacob Lee scored two touchdowns. The Eagles defense prevented the Bulldogs from ever converting at 3rd down and ended the game holding them in negative yardage.
Seniors
NWE 44, Uriah 0
Trent Kite ran in one touchdown, and Seth Killam recovered a fumble and ran it in for a touchdown, Killame also threw a touchdown pass with Keeton Solmonson running it it. Tanner Deese scored two touchdowns, and Cameron Cloud completed a pass to Jason Fayard for a touchdown.
Northwest Escambia will play their first home games of the season as they host Poarch this Saturday. The Freshmen play at 10 a.m., followed by the Sophomores at 11:30, the Juniors at 1:30 p.m. at the Seniors at 3:00 at the Ernest Ward Middle School field.
Pictured top: Jacob Lee fakes a handoff to Jaden Cunningham before Lee scores a touchdown for Northwest Escambia. Pictured inset: Jaheem Durant running a touchdown on the first play of the NWE Juniors game against Uriah. Pictured below: Jaxon Singleton on a 15-year gain for the NWE Eagles. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Missing Children’s Day: Search Continues In North Escambia Case
September 10, 2013
A Tate High School student last seen 12 years ago in North Escambia was among those remembered Monday on the 15th annual Florida Missing Children’s Day.
“Today we join Floridians in remembering all of the missing children of our state. We come together with their families to grieve, pray and offer our comfort and support. It’s important that we never forget our state’s most innocent victims and work to ensure that every child reported missing has a safe return,” Florida Gov. Rick Scott said Monday.
“Those of us who are parents understand that the loved ones of missing children will never stop loving them, and law enforcement will not stop searching for them,” Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Gerald Bailey added.
Danielle Arion Bell, 14, was last seen at a party in September 2001 in the 500 block of Cedar Tree Lane, between Highway 29 and Highway 95A in Cantonment.
Witnesses told authorities that Bell left a party with a man that was in his mid-twenties at the time. Escambia County deputies later questioned that man and searched his home, but he was never charged in connection with the case.
During the summer of 2007, Alfredo Gomez Sanchez, Jr. was charged with providing law enforcement with false information about his whereabouts at the time Bell disappeared. He was not implicated in her disappearance.
In October 2010, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Unit served a search warrant at the home.
As part of that search warrant, a septic tank behind the residence was pumped out, and dogs from Escambia County Search and Rescue were also used to search the area. Investigators said nothing was found, and they would not say what new information might have led to the search.
According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Danielle has a scar on her right forearm and blue eyes. She had brown hair at the time of her disappearance. She would now be 24 years old. Danielle, whose nickname was “Dani”, was a member of the Tate Aggies cheerleading squad. The popular teen enjoyed dancing and drawing.
Anyone with information about Bell is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit at (850) 436-9580 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
FDLE invites the public to sign up to receive Missing Child Alerts and AMBER Alerts via email or text message by visiting www.missingchildrenalert.com. To view photos of missing children, visit www.fdle.state.fl.us.
Pictured top: Investigators pumped and searched a septic tank at this home on Cedar Tree Lane in Cantonment in October 2010 in the case of missing teen Danielle Arion Bell. Pictured below: A search and rescue K-9 team was also on site. Pictured bottom: A septic tank company employee prepares to pump a septic tank at the home. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Judy Faye Blackmon
September 10, 2013
Mrs. Judy Faye Blackmon, 73, passed away on Monday, September 9, 2013, in Davisville.
Mrs. Blackmon was a native of Christian Home and a resident of Davisville for the past 30 years. Mrs. Blackmon was retired from Vanity Fair after 45 years of service. Her parents, Stanley and Mae Holland; two sons, Stephon Eugene McDowell and Eric Edward Amerson; two brothers, Nolan Holland and Wayne Holland precede her in death.
Survivors include her two sons, Allen (Shelia) Holland and Mark Holland, all of Byrneville; one daughter, Wendy (Dudley) Wilson of Wawbeek; one brother, Jerry (Mary) Holland of Cantonment; four sisters, Ruth (Charles) Hopkins of McDavid, Doris Amerson of Bratt, Jannie (Pete) Singleton of Walnut Hill and Betty (Kenneth) Blanton of Bratt; six grandchildren, Amiee (Jeremy) Clements, Dustin Holland, Jimmy (Tiffany) Odom, Katrina Odom, Chase (Katie) Amerson and Joshua Holland and thirteen great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be Thursday, September 12, 2013, at 10 a.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home Pastor Howard Holland with officiating.
Burial will follow at the Christian Home Cemetery.
Visitation will be Wednesday, September 11, 2013, from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Dustin Holland, Jimmy Odom, Chase Amerson, Joshua Holland, Wayne Gunn and Jeremy Clements.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Wilson Earl Barrow
September 10, 2013
Mr. Wilson Earl Barrow, Sr., 77, passed away on Monday, September 9, 2013, in Atmore.
Mr. Barrow was a native of Wawbeek and had resided in Flomaton for the past 30 years. Mr. Barrow was retired from the U.S. Air Force, co-founder of Wawbeek Volunteer Fire Department, past chief and board of directors and present president of the Fire Department. He was the owner and operator of the Wawbeek Antique Store and he attended the Sardis Baptist Church. His parents, Earl & Obie Barrow, precede him in death.
Survivors include his wife, Loetta Barrow of Flomaton; son, Wilson E. (Michele) Barrow, Jr., of Daphne; two brothers, Willie Frank Barrow of Century and Donald Ray Barrow of Atmore; one sister, Margaret Langley of Mobile; four grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be Friday, September 13, 2013, at 10 a.m. at the Sardis Baptist Church with the Rev. Earle Green officiating.
Burial will follow at the Sardis Cemetery.
Visitation will be Thursday, September 12, 2013, from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be fellow firemen.
Honorary pallbearers will be firemen.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.