Century Man Arrested On Drug Trafficking, Possession Charges
August 14, 2013
A Century man driving without a license was arrested on multiple felony charges — including trafficking — after a Pensacola traffic stop.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop for improper window tint on Old Spanish Trail at the Moorings Apartments. The driver, 33-year old Kevin Lamar Brown of Ramar Street in Century, admitted to deputies that he did not have a valid driver’s license.
Inside the vehicle, deputies reported finding a plastic bag containing an unmarked pill bottle containing a large quantity of acetaminophen-hydrocodone pills and a digital scale.
Brown told deputies that he and a female had found the bag while visiting Wayside Park at the foot of the 3 Mile Bridge. He said he was taking the pills to a friend to see if they could be sold for money, according to an arrest report. Deputies also reported finding a plastic bag with crack cocaine and marijuana.
Brown was charged with trafficking in a controlled substance (hydrocodone), possession of drug paraphernalia, cocaine possession and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. He also received citations for driving while license suspended, felony possession of a controlled substance while in physical control of a motor vehicle and a written warning for the window tint violation.
He remained in the Escambia County Jail Wednesday morning with bond set at $14,000.
Frequent Rains Have Little Impact On Local Crops
August 14, 2013
Most area crops overall are doing fine despite our frequent rains, said Escambia County Extension Agent Libbie Johnson.
She said some farmers are off their peanut spray schedule, opening up the crop for potential damage from pests. The rain also slowed some farmers from applying fertilizer at key times. Cotton that was planted earlier in the year looks better than cotton than was planted later due to the lack of full sun, Johnson said.
Johnson said cooler temperatures during the spring and summer, due to the rain and cloud cover, slowed down the area’s corn crop.
A few farmers were late in harvesting spring wheat and they were unable to get back into those fields to plant a second crop for the year due to soggy ground.
Pictured above and below: A pesticide is aerially applied to a corn field in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Current Immunizations Needed For School; Shots Required For 7th Grade
August 14, 2013
The Escambia County School District is reminding parents that students need to be up-to-date on their immunizations before the first day of school.
Before attending school in Florida, students enrolling in kindergarten through 12th grade are required to be current on all their immunizations. In addition, seventh grade students are required to have a Tdap booster vaccine before starting school on August 19.
Students who have medical insurance that will cover vaccinations should see their private provider, according to the school district.
Students who do not have health insurance coverage for immunizations may receive free vaccinations at the Escambia County Health Department at one of the locations listed below. Vaccinations are by appointment only.
- 1295 W. Fairfield Drive, (850) 595-6554
- 8390 North Palafox Street, (850) 484-5151
For additional information or to schedule an appointment, contact the Escambia County Health Department at one of the listed numbers.
No Votes Close to Ending Calling For Stand Your Ground Special Session
August 14, 2013
The odds of a special session on Florida’s “stand your ground” law got longer Tuesday as legislators started a rare vote to determine if they should return to Tallahassee to debate the controversial law.
A day after 33 Democrats requested the unique polling procedure to hold the special session, 79 lawmakers cast votes, with 24 votes in favor, all from Democrats, and 55 votes against.
Among the “no” votes was one from Rep. Mike Clelland, a Lake Mary Democrat who comes from a Republican-leaning district in Seminole County. Also voting “no” were Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, and House Speaker Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel.
Those calling for a special session on the law have to get “yes” votes from three-fifths of the Legislature — something that would require a total of 96 lawmakers to go along. The state’s 159 Legislators have until 11:59 p.m. Monday to sign and return the ballots to the Department of State. T
he proposal is an effort to circumvent opposition to a special session by Gov. Rick Scott and Republican legislative leaders. The process, allowed in state statutes, has never been used before to call a special session. A House subcommittee is expected to review the “stand your ground” self-defense law during a committee week this fall.
by The News Service of Florida
Two Cantonment Residents Arrested On Drug Charges
August 14, 2013
Two Cantonment residents were arrested on drug charges after deputies responded to a home in reference to a disturbance.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to a home in the 400 block of Nowak Road. While investigating a disturbance, deputies made contact with 31-year old Robin Ann Gatewood and 33-year old Christopher Scott Deaver in a bedroom of the residence.
Deputies reported finding a glass smoking pipe, prescription pills in a plastic bag , powdered cocaine and three cut straws.
Gatewood was charged with possession of cocaine, possession of a harmful new legend drug without a prescription and possession of drug paraphernalia. She was booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $3,500.
Deaver was charged with possession of cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia and a probation violation. Due to the probation violation, he was booked into the Escambia County Jail without bond.
Curtis Melvin Howard, Sr.
August 14, 2013
Curtis Melvin Howard, Sr., went home to be with the Lord on August 9, 2013. Daddy was a loved man and will be missed.
He leaves behind his loving wife of 53 years, Mavis E. Howard; five children, Karen Thall, Sharon Phillips (Dale), Curtis M. Howard, Jr. (Beth), Stephanie W. Hughes (Lonny), Joseph B. Howard (Trisha); 14 grandchildren, Jared, Aubrey, Matthew and Zachary Thall of Port St. Lucie; Kristen, Kayla, Kasey, Karmen, Jacob and Jesse Hughes of Pensacola; Kayla J, Aden Howard, Tristin and Leila Randolph of Robertsdale; one great-grandchild, Gabriella Thall of Port St. Lucie; five sisters, Joyce, Delores, Barbara Jean, Elaine, Marilyn; two brothers, Bobby and Earl and his little dog Jackson.
Daddy loved fishing with his sons and grandkids, family get togethers and cookouts. He loved Alabama Football (Roll Tide Daddy) and joking around a good camp fire.
We love you daddy and will see you again soon!
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in daddy’s name to Olive Baptist Church Financial Office, 1836 E. Olive Rd., Pensacola, FL 32514, for the Charis House Ministry and Most Excellent Way Jail Ministry.
Visitation will be Friday, August 16, 2013, from 12 p.m. until 1 p.m. at Cross Faith Church located at 5107 Highway 29 in Molino with a memorial service following immediately.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North has been entrusted with arrangements.
Lady Chiefs Prep For Volleyball Season
August 14, 2013
The Northview Lady Chiefs volleyball teams will begin the 2013 season soon.
On August 22, the varsity Lady Chiefs will host a preseason classic beginning at 5 p.m. featuring Northview, PCC, Jay and Central. On Monday, August 26, the varsity team will be in action at home against Holmes County at 5 p.m.
On Tuesday, August 27, Northview will host Pensacola Catholic. The JV plays at 5 p.m., followed by the varsity at 6 p.m.
Pictured top: Members of the varsity Lady Chiefs are: (front, L-R) Hanna Ging (9 Soph), Lily Townson (10 Sr), Tiffani Pritchett (2 Sr), (middle row) Shelby Nielsen (4, Sr), Mallory Wiggins (12, Sr), Rebecca Grim (5, Sr), Penny Banda (13, Jr), (back row) Lana Clayton (6, Sr), E’Layzha Bates (8, Jr), Danielle Steadham (7, Sr), Kyndall Hall (14, Jr). Pictured below: Members of the JV team are (front, L-R) Beverly Hughes (9, Fr), Hope Coggins (3, Jr), Maddi Weber (2, Soph), Brittany Ward (24, Soph), (back row) Mallory Merchant (5, Fr), Dimonique Brown (1, Fr), Laurie Purdy (7, Soph), Leah Fischer (6, Soph), Courtney Grim (10, Fr), Victoria Amerson (14, Fr). Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida To Sue Georgia In Water Fight
August 14, 2013
Gov. Rick Scott announced Tuesday that Florida will file a lawsuit in the U.S. Supreme Court as part of a long-running battle with Georgia over water consumption.
The announcement came shortly after a U.S. Senate field hearing in Franklin County about the collapse of the seafood industry in Apalachicola Bay, with Florida senators Bill Nelson and Marco Rubio conducting the hearing.
The lawsuit is the latest move in a 23-year dispute among Florida, Georgia and Alabama over the water in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin.
Florida has long argued that water use at the top of the system, in the metro Atlanta area, has reduced the downstream flow of freshwater to the Apalachicola Bay region, damaging northwest Florida’s critical oyster industry. Both Florida and Alabama contend that too much water is siphoned off upstream for Atlanta’s drinking-water supply
Last year, the Apalachicola Bay collapsed. The lack of freshwater combined with a historic drought to produce the lowest flows in 89 years — since they have been recorded. That followed a series of court rulings that sent the responsibility for regulating the flows back to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
“It’s having a dramatic impact, and it’s because Georgia has taken our water,” Scott said. “The Corps of Engineers is not worried about us. That’s why Florida’s going to file suit against Georgia. Take this all this way to the Supreme Court.”
Scott called the lawsuit “our only way forward after 20 years of failed negotiations with Georgia.” Under federal law, a lawsuit between states can only be brought as an original action in the U.S. Supreme Court, according to Attorney General Pam Bondi’s office.
Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal called the move a frivolous waste of time and money when Georgia has waited more than a year for Florida to respond to a settlement proposal.
“Gov. Scott’s threat to sue my state in the U.S. Supreme Court greatly disappoints me after I negotiated in good faith for two years,” Deal said in a prepared statement. “More than a year ago, I offered a framework for a comprehensive agreement. Florida never responded. It’s absurd to waste taxpayers’ money and prolong this process with a court battle when I’ve proposed a workable solution.”
The Corps of Engineers, which controls the flows, relies on a 2011 ruling from a federal appeals court that says Georgia has a legal right to water from Lake Lanier, at the top of the river system. The ruling overturned a federal magistrate’s 2009 ruling in favor of Florida and Alabama.
Florida has asked Congress for help getting the Corps of Engineers to release more water downstream, to no avail.
The Atlanta area uses 360 million gallons of water per day, according to the governor’s office, and Georgia’s consumption is expected to nearly double to 705 million gallons per day by 2035 — about the entire amount of water in the Apalachicola Bay.
In his opening remarks during the hearing, Nelson said the Apalachicola River and bay are the “true economic engines of this region. Without more freshwater, this region’s economy could find itself in jeopardy to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars.”
Jonathan Steverson, executive director of the Northwest Florida Water Management District, told Nelson and Rubio that Georgia’s consumption has increased to more than 90 percent of the water from the river system. Florida, in contrast, uses 2.5 percent.
He also said the formula for allocating water was weighted toward Georgia.
“Georgia is getting its piece first,” Steverson said. “The good lord giveth and Georgia and the court taketh away.”
A reworking of the formula allocating the flows is waiting for the Corps of Engineers to prepare a new environmental impact statement for the river system.
Representing the corps at Tuesday’s hearing, Col. Jon Chytka said the final version of the statement wouldn’t be complete until early 2016.
“The reason we don’t think we can expedite it is the technical complexities,” he said.
“Anything that needs to be expedited can be expedited,” returned Nelson. He asked Chytka what it would take to “get it done quickly.”
“Sir, we have to follow the law,” Chytka replied.
The hearing drew an overflow crowd and was preceded by a rally on the courthouse steps.
Historically, the Apalachicola River and bay have been major economic drivers for the region, producing 90 percent of Florida’s oysters and 10 percent of the nation’s supply. The commercial and recreational fishing industries of the river basin generate $200 million a year and support 85 percent of the local population, according to the Seafood Management Assistance Resource and Recovery Team, a group of seafood workers and buyers.
The bay’s waters also have made rural Franklin County a destination for seafood-loving tourists. But the quality of the seafood depends on a mix of freshwater and saltwater that can’t be achieved without the release of freshwater upstream.
Witnesses at the hearing said the seafood industry is being harmed because the freshwater flows are too low.
Fourth-generation oystermen Shannon Hartsfield and Ricky Banks testified to the devastating impact of the low flows on the local workforce. Banks said three of his family members had been forced to leave the state to find work.
The oystermen were glad for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s announcement on Monday that it will issue a fishery disaster declaration for Florida’s oyster harvesting area in the Gulf of Mexico. But they warned that only increased freshwater flows would keep their way of life intact.
“We’re used to doing it on our own,” Banks said. “But we’ve come up against something we have no control over.”
After the hearing, Rubio and Scott toured the riverfront and sampled fresh oysters on the dock with Republican Congressman Steve Southerland, who represents the area.
Scott said Alabama hadn’t yet decided whether to join the lawsuit.
Other Florida leaders supported the lawsuit. Bondi, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, Senate President Don Gaetz and House Speaker Will Weatherford released statements praising Scott.
“We don’t like to sue our neighbors,” Gaetz said. “But their intransigence has left us no other course.”
By Margie Menzel, The News Service of Florida
Mary Nell Meitzler
August 14, 2013
Mary Nell Meitzler, 79 of Atmore, passed away Monday, August 12, 2013, at Century. She was retired as a seamstress for 33 years with Vanity Fair Mills. She was born in Monroe County, AL, on January 9, 1935, to the late Luther Bryant and Ollie Mae Hayles Stafford. She was a member of Atmore Church of God.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Ralph Meitzler.
Survivors include two sons, Larry (Pat) Meitzler of Walnut Hill and Ellis “Bubba”(Angie) Meitzler of Canoe; one sister, Jewell Mae Melvin of Atmore; two grandsons, Michael Meitzler and John Victor.
Services will be Thursday, August 15, 2013, at 11 a.m. from Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Bryars officiating. Interment will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home, Inc is in charge of all arrangements.
Micheal D. Lee
August 14, 2013
Micheal is survived by his mother and step-father Shelia and Allen Griffin; sisters, Cheri and Tiffani Griffin, all of Pensacola; special grandmother, Gloria Sims, of Molino; father, Donnie (Sue) Lee of Biloxi; aunt, Sharon Ford of Jasper, GA; uncle, Joe Sims of Tallahassee and Larry Ford of Atlanta; and special uncle and aunt Darnell and Janay Sims of Gonzalez; cousins Branden Ford of New York City, Darnell Ford of Atlanta, Erica Sims and Jalisa Houston of Tallahassee; special cousins, Glenda and Lacheka Weaden, and Edward and Amber Wilson all of Pensacola; and godparents, Lewis and Velma Robinson of Pensacola.
Funeral services will be held August 15, 2013, at 1 p.m. at Mt Olive Missionary Baptist Church on North Davis Highway, with the Rev. Frank Jenkins officiating.
Internment will be at Holy Cross Cemetery in Pensacola.
Friends may visit from 12 p.m. until 12:45 p.m., August 15, 2013, at Mt. Olive Baptist Church.