Number Of Homeless Drop In Florida
July 19, 2013
Far fewer Floridians are living on the streets, according to the Florida Department of Children and Families’ (DCF) Office of Homelessness. The most recent count shows a drop in the number of people in Florida with no shelter. In 2012, nearly 55,000 Floridians were homeless during a one day count. This year, just over 45,000 Floridians were living with no permanent residency.
“The drop in the homelessness count is great news for Florida,” DCF Secretary David Wilkins said. “Shelter is one of the most basic of needs and when families don’t have a place to call home, children suffer. Governor Rick Scott’s commitment to improving the economy and getting people back to work has reduced the number of people living on the streets by giving them more opportunities for consistent employment.”
Since 2007, the rate of homelessness in Florida has declined nearly 25 percent. At that time, Florida’s job market was suffering and more than 60,000 Floridians had no place to call home. As Florida’s job market improves and the unemployment rate declines, more people are finding permanent residency.
The report is a single day count of the homeless population in Florida.
Carl Leslie Cooper
July 19, 2013
Carl Leslie Cooper, 55 of Bratt, passed away Thursday, July 18, 2013, in Mobile. He was a marketing associate with Sysco. He was born in Pensacola on July 24, 1957, to Lawrence Madison and Doris Troutman Cooper. He was a 1975 graduate of Ernest Ward.
Survivors include his wife, Shannon Z. Cooper; one son, Leslie Cooper; one daughter, Lindsey Cooper; mother, Doris Cooper; one brother, Marion Cooper, all of Bratt; one sister, Judy (Chip) Gilmore of Pensacola; and two grandchildren, Kendall Cooper and Bentley Hale.
Graveside services will be Saturday, July 20, 2013, at 9 a.m. in Godwin Cemetery in Bratt with Rev. C.L. Langford officiating.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home, Inc is in charge of all arrangements.
McDavid Church To Host Women’s Conference
July 19, 2013
Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church in McDavid is hosting a one-day Women’s Conference this Saturday titled “Unpacking Titus”.
Registration and breakfast are from 8-8:45 a.m., and the conference will begin at 9:00a.m. Keynote speaker will be Liz Traylor, wife of Dr. Ted Traylor, pastor of Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola. Worship will be led by Leah Taylor. Breakout sessions on a variety of topics will be led by women from Ray’s Chapel and other churches.
Tickets for the conference are $10 each, and include the conference, a continental breakfast and lunch. Contact (850) 256-3422 for tickets or more information. Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church is located 140 West Bogia Rd. in McDavid.
Pictured: Liz Traylor, wife of Dr. Ted Traylor, pastor of Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola, will be the keynote speaker for a one-day Women’s Conference this Saturday at Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church in McDavid. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Fall Flat In Series Opener
July 19, 2013
The Huntsville Stars scored in their first at-bat, providing all the offense on the night in a 1-0 win over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos on Thursday night in front of the 19th sellout crowd of the season at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
Chadwin Stang started the game off with a double for the Stars and moved to third on a sac bunt by Nick Shaw. Two batters later, Brock Kjeldgaard lifted a sacrifice fly into foul territory in left field to score the game’s only run.
Pensacola had numerous opportunities in the contest, smacking eight base knocks, but couldn’t push across any runs. The Wahoos stranded 11 runners, including the bases loaded in the fourth inning. In the second inning, Pensacola had runners at second and third and one out but Chris Berset lined out sharply to second base before Daniel Renken grounded out. Renken batted with the bags packed and two outs in the fourth and struck out.
Despite the shutout, Travis Mattair continued his torrid pace with a 3-for-4 performance with two doubles. In his current seven-game hitting streak, Mattiar is 14-for-23, a .609 average.
Renken (3-7) took the tough luck loss despite tossing his fifth quality start in a row. The right-hander allowed a run on three hits with four strikeouts and four walks in six innings.
Drew Gagnon (2-5) snapped a five-game losing streak with his best start in Double-A. Gagnon shutout Pensacola over 6.2 innings, scattering eight hits with three strikeouts and two walks. Greg Holle picked up his ninth save of the year by pitching around a one-out walk in the ninth inning.
The series continues on Friday night at 7 p.m. Carlos Contreras will make his Double-A debut with Pensacola after being called up from High-A Bakersfield over the All-Star Break. Huntsville will counter with Brooks Hall (0-3, 6.31).
story by Kevin Burke
Morris Reese Crater
July 19, 2013
Semper Fi! Sergeant Major Morris Reese Crater, 77, of Cantonment, left this world grudgingly on July 17, 2013, with his loving wife and life partner, J.J., by his side. He was born to the late Gertrude Gallaher and Morris Lee Crater on August 10, 1935, in Portsmouth, Virginia. Sergeant Major Crater served his country proudly and with distinction as a United States Marine for 28 years before retiring to Florida in 1981 to pursue a career in counseling. He and J.J., also a counselor, married in 1987 and they enjoyed 26 years of marriage prior to his untimely passing.
Sergeant Major Crater lived life his way and on his terms, with integrity, compassion, deep thought, perseverance, and a copious amount of humor. He held a Master’s Degree in Psychology and a Bachelor’s Degree in History; most importantly, he was a lifelong avid reader, philosopher, intellectual, and student of life. He loved to travel, whether in person or through books, and was very physically active. He loved the outdoors, gardening, landscaping, and his animals, especially the late Blue. Sergeant Major Crater was steadfast and true, unwavering, and deeply responsible. He lived his principles, and by so doing, served as an example to all that knew and loved him; he demonstrated a better and more conscious way to live. Sergeant Major Crater was a beloved husband, father, and son, and he is deeply missed.
In addition to J.J., Sergeant Major Crater is survived by four children, Sheila Keene Crater Koty, of Vancouver, WA, Dawn Lenka Crater of Albany, CA, Morris Reese Crater, Jr. of Torrance, CA, and Philip Steven Portier of Kansas City, MO. He is also survived by several grandchildren, including Matteo Giovanni D’Orio of Albany, CA. Further, Sergeant Major Crater is survived by a blessed multitude of in-laws, including mother-in-law Juanita Howland of Lees Summit, MO; sister-in-law, Jerri Rogers of Overland Park, KS; brother-in-law, John Howland of Overland Park, KS; and a plethora of nieces and nephews.
Services will be held on Monday, July 22, 2013. Visitation will be held at Gonzalez United Methodist Church, 2026 Pauline Street in Cantonment at 10:30 a.m. with the funeral service to immediately follow at 11:30 a.m. Afterward, Sergeant Major Crater will be buried with full military honors at Barrancas National Cemetery at 1:15 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the United States Marine Corps Toys for Tots Foundation, in memory of Sergeant Major Morris Reese Crater, online at toysfortots.org, or by mail at: Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, Gift Processing Administration, 18251 Quantico Gateway Drive, Triangle, VA, 22172.
Gregory E. Roley
July 19, 2013
Gregory E. Roley, of Cantonment, died Monday, July 15, 2013. He is the son of Everett L. Roley, M.D. and Joanne (Nelson) Roley.
He graduated from Middleton High School in June 1977, then attended Steven Point University in Madison, WI. He transferred to St. Mary’s University earning a B.S. in Biology in 1982 in Winona, MN. He joined the US Navy of Science Hospital Corp. School in Great Lakes, IL in July 1985 and graduated in the top ten. He was stationed at Camp Pendleton, CA where he met his wife. In 1989, they got married and went to Yokosuka, Japan. In August 1993, he came back for School of Health and Science Bethesda Detachment of Lythotechnology School in San Antonio, TX in the ASCP National Registry and graduated in 1994 with a 4.0 average. He then was stationed at NASPH in Pensacola. In 2001, he attended the School of Health and Science in San Diego, CA in Preventative Medicine and graduated in the top ten. He then went to Sasebo, Japan and returned to Pensacola in 2005.
Greg enjoyed fishing, football season, hockey and golf. He worked for Florida Pest Control from 2005-2010. Greg was an awesome man and never asked anything from anyone.
He is survived by his wife, Dulce A. Roley; three step-children, Mediatrix (Russell); grandchildren, Austin, Kendra and Brandon Kehl, Michael, Isabella and Trisilla; father, Everett L. Roley, M.D. of Green Bush, WI and three siblings, Amy (Murphy), Tom (Hollie) and Mary (Christine).
Viewing will be held Tuesday, July 23, 2013, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Faith Chapel Funeral Home South. A Mass of Celebration will be Wednesday, July 24, 2013, at Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church at 10 a.m. Burial will follow at Barrancas National Cemetery.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home South is in charge of arrangements.
UF Dean Makes Recomendation On Future Of Escambia 4-H
July 18, 2013
University of Florida/IFAS Extension Dean Nick Place has made his recommendation concerning the future of 4-H in Escambia County at a Thursday morning meeting of the Escambia County Committee of the Whole.
He accepted three recommendations from an advisory committee concerning property to replace the Langley Bell 4-H Center that was sold to Navy Federal:
Cottage Hill State Forest, Cottage Hill. About 31 acres; the state is willing to deed the property to Escambia County. Site would support environmental and horticultural sciences, outdoor education, forestry and other 4-H activities. Currently has horse trails.
Escambia County Equestrian Center, Mobile Highway. Owned by Escambia County, includes 151 acres. Not currently equipped to handle any livestock except horses. A memorandum of understanding would ensure the 4-H could use the facility for animal shows.
Privately Owned Land. The Barrineau Park 4-H and the Livestock 4-H currently use the facilities of private landowners for livestock. By recruiting other members of the agriculture community, more sites could be developed with leases and grants to provide opportunities for 4-H club members to have off-site raising facilities.
Place also recommended that most of the $1.6 million from the Navy Federal sale proceeds that was to have purchased land instead by given to the 4-H Foundation for use only in Escambia County.
District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry expressed his displeasure in the recommendations, saying that it was not fair and equitable because 4-H sold 240 acres and did not receive something comparable in return. Commissioner Wilson Robertson also agreed, saying the 4-H’er had been promised comparable property.
A non-binding vote by commissioners in the Committee of the Whole meeting was 3-2 against accepting Place’s plan. What happens next in the process was not immediately clear. With the vote Thursday, the county’s can’t accept the proposals. A memorandum of understanding gave Place the final decision, but Escambia County must accept the Cottage Hill Forest from the state, and the Equestrian Center belongs to the county.
Woman Mauled In Pit Bull Attack
July 18, 2013
A Nokomis woman is in critical condition after being viciously attacked and mauled by two pit bulls at her home in the 8000 block of Jakes Road early Thursday morning.
Sandra Lambert, 63, was outside to feed her chickens just before 6 a.m. when two pit bulls attacked her, causing massive injuries to her arm and biting her legs. Lambert was airlifted as a “trauma alert” to the University of South Alabama Medical Center in Mobile. Relatives said doctors were forced to amputate her arm at the elbow, and she may lose her entire arm.
A family pit bull was also critically injured and was not expected to survive.
One of the dogs involved in the attack was trapped on an enclosed porch until Escambia County Animal Control arrived, tranquilized and captured it.
The second pit bull was captured by Escambia County Animal Control Friday morning at the home.
The second pit bull also attacked and critically injured a family pit bull that intervened and tried to protect Lambert. That dog did not survive.
Lambert had taken the two dogs in as strays, according to the Sheriff’s Office, and had been caring for them. The dogs had reportedly been left behind about five months ago when their owners moved away from the area.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and Escambia County Animal Control will continue to patrol the area throughout the day to search for the second dog. Traps have also been set.
Pictured top: An Escambia County Animal Control officer removed a tranquilized pit bull from an enclosed porch. Pictured inset: One of the two pit bulls involved in a vicious attack Thursday morning was trapped on an enclosed porch. Pictured below: One of the dogs responsible for the attack after being tranquilized. Pictured bottom: The attack happened at a mobile home in Nokomis, FL. The victim was airlifted to the USA Medical Center in Mobile. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Small Fire At West Florida Hospital
July 18, 2013
Multiple fire stations responded to a small fire at West Florida Hospital early this morning.
About 3:30 a.m., smoke was reported in the facility’s emergency room area. Hospital staff had the fire out upon arrival of the fire department. The smoke originated from a large battery pack on an emergency room x-ray equipment.
Fire department crews used large fans to ventilate the area and clear the smoke. There were no injuries.
The Ferry Pass, Ensley, Osceola and Bellview stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the incident.
Century To Rework Personnel Policy
July 18, 2013
The Century Town Council is considering an new personnel policy to give the mayor more control and eliminate the need for direct council involvement in some employment issues.
The changes were prompted after May’s termination of a lower level employee by the council in a special called council meeting. The employee was repeatedly late for work.
Under Century’s current employment rules and regulations, the mayor is the town’s top boss, but the mayor can’t fire an employee without a vote of the town council. And, under those same town rules, the Mayor can’t make his termination recommendation known until a special meeting of the town council begins.
Under the new policy, the mayor will be able to discipline and terminate employees without input from the council; the employee can then appeal their punishment or termination to the council for a final determination. Similar policies are in place at governmental agencies throughout the area.
The council is set to consider the new personnel policy at their next regular meeting on August 5.
For more information about the public firing of a town employee last May, click here for a previous story.
Pictured top: Four of the five members of the Century Town Council. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.