Texting Ban, Water Standard Bills Sent To Scott For Signature
May 22, 2013
The Legislature dropped 14 bills on the governor’s desk Tuesday, including a texting-while-driving ban and a measure about water-quality standards across Florida. The bulk bill delivery from legislative leaders came a day after they sent 34 others to Gov. Rick Scott.
Scott, who is in Chile through Thursday on an economic trade mission, has until June 5 to make decisions about the 14 bills.
According to an executive office email, the texting bill-signing may be held May 28 in Miami, A representative for Sen. Nancy Detert, R-Venice, the sponsor of the bill, said Monday that discussions continue on the signing date. The bill makes it illegal to read or type texts or emails while driving, though it would remain legal to do so while stopped, such as at a red light.
Another executive office email suggests a signing event could be held for the water standards May 28 in West Palm Beach. The water-quality measure directs the Department of Environmental Protection to set new nitrogen and phosphorus levels for almost every body of water in Florida.
The proposal was crafted to meet the requirements of agreements reached between the DEP and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that allow the state agency to establish what are known as “numeric nutrient” standards.
by The News Service of Florida
Wahoos Fall Short In Series Finale Wit The Mobile BayBears
May 22, 2013
The Mobile BayBears won their fourth consecutive game against the Pensacola Blue Wahoos on Tuesday night, surviving a late rally by the Wahoos in a 4-2 victory at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
Shutout through the first eight frames, Pensacola rallied to bring the tying run to the plate in the ninth. Down to the last strike, Bryson Smith doubled home Michael Gilmartin to make it 4-1. After a Luis Durango single, a wild pitch scored Smith to cut the deficit in half. Ryan LaMarre came in representing the tying run, but flew out to deep center to end the game.
Mobile’s offense got off to a quick start in the first inning. Three straight BayBears reached to start the contest, capped by Nick Evans’ RBI single. Another run scored on a double play off the bat of Jon Griffin.
Mobile added to its lead with single runs in the fourth and sixth innings, with RBI’s coming from the bottom of the order. Nick Ahmed’s first base hit of the series brought home Griffin in the fourth and two innings later, Ryan Stovall scored from second on an infield single by pinch-hitter Justin Greene. Stovall never stopped running on a play up the middle behind the second base bag to give the BayBears a 4-0 advantage.
Bradin Hagens (5-3) started for Mobile and danced around trouble all night long. He gave up four hits and four walks in five innings but stranded nine runners during his outing. Pensacola couldn’t score with the bases loaded and nobody out in the fourth and had the first two hitters reach in the fifth but couldn’t move them past first and second.
Tim Crabbe (2-3) took the loss for the Wahoos as he gave up four runs (all earned) on nine hits in 5.2 innings.
The Wahoos will now take Wednesday off before heading to Chattanooga for the first of five with the Lookouts on Thursday night. Chad Rogers (2-2, 2.18) gets the start for Pensacola. First pitch is scheduled for 6:15 p.m.
by Kevin Burke
Flomaton Man Killed In Baldwin County Crash
May 21, 2013
A 25-year old Flomaton man was killed in two vehicle crash Monday evening in Baldwin County.
According to Alabama State Troopers, Clayton Trent Adams was driving a 1996 Honda Civic when he collided with a 2005 Chevrolet pickup driven by 44-year old Shannon Vinson of Robertsdale on Highway 31 about five miles north of Bay Minette.
Adams was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Vinson was transported by North Baldwin Infirmary in Bay Minette.
Further details have not yet been released by Alabama State Troopers as they continue their investigation.
Century Remains Out Of Parking Dispute, Owner Hides From Media
May 21, 2013
A Century woman at odds with her neighbor’s business addressed the Century Town Council again Monday night, also taking aim at NorthEscambia.com as she tried to hide her face from the media’s cameras.
Gayle Aldridge, a resident of 9032 North Century Boulevard, approached the Century Town Council back on May 6 seeking help due to customers at a neighboring plant nursery parking on her property. Mayor Freddie McCall told her that her situation is a private property dispute, and that she needed to hire a lawyer.
During his regular report Monday night, McCall referred to a memorandum from town planner Debbie Nickles of Nickles Consulting Group. She concluded the town’s Land Development Code (LDC) does not apply to the M & D Nursery, owned by James and Danette Odom, because the business has been in continuous operation since April 1987, prior to the LDC’s implementation in 1991. The LDC specifically grandfathers businesses in operation as of April 29, 1991.
“It is my opinion that this is a civil matter between the two property owners which could be settle by both property owners conducting a property boundary survey,” Nickles wrote in her report, after concluding that the nursery is not required to provide parking spaces under the Land Development Code and that M & D Nursery is in compliance with existing zoning regulations.
McCall also said Town Attorney Matt Dannheisser had also concluded that the parking problems are not town business but a private dispute between landowners.
Following McCall’s presentation Monday night, Aldridge began to address the council. As she spoke, she continually turned away from the council and our NorthEscambia.com camera, hiding her face from our photographer and speaking with her back to council members. Aldridge called NorthEscambia.com’s publisher a “crook” , before turning away from the council and walking out of the council chambers, covering her face with paper apparently attempting to avoid being photographed.
Despite a postal address on North Century Boulevard, Aldridge’s property does not front on any roadway; it’s accessed from a driveway and easement from nearby Zion Street, behind the First Mt. Zion Church. The same driveway provides access to the nursery property, and Aldridge said the driveway and access to and from her property is often blocked by nursery customers.
Aldridge has called the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, but deputies have not become involved with her parking problems because they believe it’s a civil, rather than criminal, issue, McCall said.
At the May 6 Century council meeting, McCall said he has been called to the location several times, including once when he was told “to hurry up and get up there because there is going to be a fight or a killing”. Aldridge responded from the audience at that meeting, saying McCall’s statement was a lie.
According to Escambia County Property Appraiser records, the property at 9022 North Century Boulevard is owned by the Brenda Gayle Aldridge Life Estate, James O. Mathis, Jr., Laudie Mildred Higdon, Mary Evelyn Cozart, Peggy Jean McDonald, Jerry W. Mathis, Brenda Gayle Aldridge, Johnny Mathis and Kathy Simmons.
Pictured top: Gayle Aldridge of 9032 North Century Boulevard turns away from the Century Town Council Monday night in an apparent attempt to avoid being photographed. Pictured below: Aldridge continues to hide her face in an apparent attempt to avoid being photographed as she exits the council chambers Monday night. Pictured inset: Aldridge looks at the camera during a May 6 Century Council meeting. NorthEscambia.com photographs, click to enlarge.
Molino Park Students Collect Over A Half Million Pop Tabs
May 21, 2013
Molino Park Elementary School students collected over a half million pop tabs — those little pull tabs off the tops of aluminum drink cans — to benefit the Ronald McDonald House of Northwest Florida.
MPES students collected 377 pounds of the pop tabs this year that have been delivered to the Ronald McDonald House. The money from recycling the tabs are used by the facility to help pay their utility bills for the 26-bedroom house on Bayou Boulevard.
Ronald McDonald House Volunteer Services Manager Ariana Murray and Director of Marketing Susan Brady presented the pop tab trophy for the medium size school category Monday afternoon at Molino Park. Molino Park’s 377 pounds of pop tabs were more than were collected by any of the other 64 schools that participated.
During the presentation, Brady invited students and faculty that had stayed at any Ronald McDonald house to join her on the stage. Three staff members and eight students said they had an experience with the Ronald McDonald house in Pensacola and other cities due to premature babies, spinal issues, brain tumors and open heart surgery.
According to the Ronald McDonald House, there are 1,430 tabs per pound — meaning Molino Park’s 377 pound donation would contain an estimated 539,110 tabs. Monday, Molino Park Principal Alice Woodward challenged each of the students to collect a pound of pop tabs over the summer for an early start on earning next year’s trophy.
Pictured top: Ariana Murray from the Ronald McDonald House and Principal Alice Woodward with a group of Molino Park Elementary School students and staff personal touched by Ronald McDonald House. Pictured inset: April Pawless (left) and Melanie Dix delivered 377 pounds of pop tabs from Molino Park Elementary to the Ronald McDonald House recently. Pictured below: Molino Park’s 1st place pop tab trophy. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Carjacker Runs Away Because He Can’t Drive A Stick Shift
May 21, 2013
Deputies say a carjacking in Escambia County came to a quick end because the suspects were unable to drive a stick.
The incident happened near the intersection of North 50th Avenue and Carey Street. The victim said she was driving through the area when she was flagged down by three young white females who were looking for a ride.
The victim stated that as she got out of her vehicle to offer help, an unknown black male approached her from the side and pointed what appeared to be a gun at her. The suspect then told her that this was their vehicle now and jumped into the driver’s seat of the vehicle. The victim ran away and contacted the Sheriff’s Office.
Another individual on a bicycle told the victim that her car was still sitting on Carey Street. The victim later stated that she believes the suspects did not take her vehicle because they could not drive a stick shift.
Arriving deputies soon located two of the females on foot in the area of 49th Avenue and Jackson Street. One of the juveniles told deputies they had jumped into the car with the black male suspect, known by the street name of “Chief Keef”, but that he didn’t know how to drive a stick so he ordered everybody out of the vehicle at which time they fled on foot.
“Chief Keef” is described as a black male with medium length dreads, approximately 5’9” to 6’ tall with a stocky build and a gap between his two front teeth. He is believed to have also been involved in a previous vehicle theft that had taken place near Jackson and “W” Street.
The juveniles were released to the custody of their parents with possible charges forthcoming. Anyone with any information on the identity or whereabouts of “Chief Keef” should contact Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Woman Accidentally Shot By Father In Century
May 21, 2013
A 38-year old woman was accidentally shot by her father Monday in Century.
Witnesses told deputies that the father had .22 caliber weapon inside the house and was headed outside to shoot “a varmit” in the family’s yard. The woman reportedly tried to take the weapon from her father, believing it was not loaded, when it fired accidentally inside the home, striking her in the lower chest or upper abdomen. Her injury was not believed to be life threatening.
The woman was transported by ambulance to the Escambia County EMS Post in Century and then airlifted to a Pensacola hospital by LifeFlight.
The shooting is under investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. No charges are expected to be filed.
Pictured top and bottom: A woman was accidentally shot in this home on Backwoods Road in Century early Monday evening. Pictured inset: The woman was airlifted to a Pensacola hospital by LifeFlight. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
After A Century Start, Special Olympics Torch Run Ends In Orlando
May 21, 2013
The annual Special Olympics Florida’s Summer Games were held over the weekend in Orlando, marking the end of the 2013 Law Enforcement Torch Run that started in Century in March.
The state run began at the Florida/Alabama state line back on Monday, March 25. Employees from Century Correctional Institution and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office escorted the torch down Highway 29 through Century. The run continued over 1500 miles in segments across the state, ending in Orlando.
At the Special Olympics in Orlando, deputies Jeff Cutaio and Jeremiah Weeks represented the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office in the opening ceremonies.
Pictured top and bottom. The 2013 Law Enforcement Torch Run for Florida Special Olympics began March 25 in Century. Pictured inset: The run ended at the Summer Games in Orlando this weekend, with Deputies Jeff Cutaio (left) and Jeremiah Weeks representing the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. NorthEscambia.com and courtesy photo, click to enlarge.
Florida Dept Of Corrections Faces $45 Million Deficit
May 21, 2013
The Florida Department of Corrections will enter the 2013-14 fiscal year with a budget deficit, after lawmakers did not fully cover a shortfall from the current year, Gov. Rick Scott said in a written budget message Monday.
Scott said the department will have to use “upwards of $45 million” in 2013-14 funds to cover the 2012-13 deficit.
“This unfortunate reality will require strong fiscal management during the next year,” Scott’s message said. Scott took issue with budget fine print, known as proviso language, that seeks to make sure public work squads will be maintained during the fiscal year that starts July 1.
He wrote that the “ability of the department to reduce expenditures and responsibly manage its budget is severely limited by this proviso language.”
by The News Service of Florida
Walnut Hill Man Charged With Burglary
May 21, 2013
A Walnut Hill man is facing multiple felony charges after burglarizing an Enon residence twice.
William Arbon Gilly, age 20 of South Pineville Road was charged with armed burglary of a dwelling, unarmed burglary of unoccupied structure, two counts of grand theft, and three counts of grand theft of a firearm. He was booked into the Escambia County jail Friday before being released on a $18,000 bond.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Gilly drove to a single family home on Dan Hall Road twice over a three day period in March where he entered the residence without permission. He is accused of taking firearms, jewelery, coins and electronics valued at approximately $6,000.
After the burglaries, Gilley utilized numerous online methods to sell the stolen items, deputies said. When interviewed by deputies, “Gilly admitted to taking all of the property and indicated he needed money bad and was sorry for what he did,” according to an arrest report.
Gilly cooperated with deputies, the report states, allowing Sheriff’s investigators to recover almost all of the property that was stolen.