ECUA Receives National Award For Cantonment Facility
September 21, 2014
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority has been selected to receive a Gold Peak Performance Award, presented by the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA).
The award recognizes public wastewater treatment facilities for their outstanding compliance records in the previous calendar year.
The ECUA received the Gold Peak Performance Award to honor the Central Water Reclamation Facility in Cantonment and its achievement of perfect compliance (out of 6,094 compliance points) with its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit for the 2013 calendar year.
The CWRF, which provides reclaimed water daily to industrial partners Gulf Power and International Paper, is an advanced wastewater treatment facility that the ECUA has operated since its construction in late 2010. The CWRF was built to replace the Main Street Waste Water Treatment Plant, which was damaged in 2004 by Hurricane Ivan.
“The ECUA is an outstanding utility, and a shining example of how concerted environmental management efforts can be considered and implemented. NACWA is honored to showcase the achievements of the ECUA and our nation’s public wastewater utilities through the Peak Performance Awards Program.” said Ken Kirk, NACWA’s executive director.
Pictured top: The Central Water Reclamation Facility in Cantonment.
Nora Catherine Coxwell
September 21, 2014
Mrs. Nora Catherine Coxwell, age 67 of Flomaton, passed away on Friday, September 19, 2014, in a Pensacola health care facility after an extended illness.
Mrs. Coxwell was a native of Akron, OH and a resident of Flomaton for 47 years. She was a retired school teacher having taught at Liberty Christian Academy in East Brewton and Jefferson Davis Community College. Mrs. Coxwell was a member of the First Church of the Nazarene of East Brewton.
She is survived by her husband, Robert R. Coxwell of Flomaton; son, Robert (Rae) Coxwell of Ft. Worth, TX; daughters, Ellen (Jeffery) Ryan of Haleyville, AL and Cathy Coxwell of Waterloo, IA; eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Funeral services were held on Sunday, September 21, 2014, at the First Church of the Nazarene with Bro. James Meadows and Br. Herbert Heller officiating.
Interment was in Fort Crawford Cemetery in East Brewton.
Pallbearers were Nevin Heller, Coy Whitehead, Doug Agerton, Terry Jordan, Richard Robertson, and John Cardwell.
Craver’s Funeral Home is directing.
Gas Leak At Ernest Ward Middle During School Dance
September 20, 2014
A natural gas leak Friday night at Ernest Ward Middle School in Walnut Hill posed no threat students and parents as a school dance was coming to a close, officials said.
The smell of gas was reported by a school resource office outside the gym about 7:45 p.m., just as the campus was filling with parents arriving to pick up their children as a dance was ending at 8 p.m. inside the gym.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue responded and determined the source of the smell was a leak on the Pensacola Energy side of a gas meter along Highway 99A near the gym. The gas service was secured by firefighters, stopping the leak.
The gas meter was recently installed to serve the newly constructed building on the campus.
Pictured top: A gas leak was reported outside the Ernest Ward Middle School gym Friday night as a dance was underway inside. Pictured inset: The source of the leak was traced to this Pensacola Energy gas meter not far from the gym. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Man Gets Prison Time After Young Child Drinks Acid At Meth Lab
September 20, 2014
A man has been sentenced to prison after a young child drank acid from a sippy cup at a Santa Rosa County meth lab.
A jury found Jonathan Wayne Glass, 38, guilty of child neglect causing great bodily harm, permanent disability or permanent disfigurement. Immediately following the trial, Santa Rosa County Circuit Court Judge John F. Simon sentenced Glass to 15 years state prison.
On February 20, 2013, Glass brought sulfuric acid into a residence he shared with a woman and her three children at Piney Woods Place Apartments in Milton. Glass brought the acid into the residence so that he could use it during the process of manufacturing methamphetamine. The acid had been placed into a small plastic cup with a screw-on lid with a straw attached to it. Glass left the cup of acid on a bathroom counter where a 3-year old child drank the acid while brushing his teeth.
Although there was a hospital within three miles of the residence and Glass had a working vehicle and an access to a telephone, he failed to seek medical attention for the child and instructed another child who was present in the residence during the incident not to call 911.
A neighbor who heard screaming and the sound of a child moaning coming from the Glass’ apartment called 911. The 3-year old child was transported by ambulance to Sacred Heart Hospital. As a result of drinking the sulfuric acid, the child suffered severe chemical burns to his chin, lips, mouth, tongue, esophagus, and hands. The child was initially treated in the emergency room; however he was transferred to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit due to the severity of for several weeks following the incident.
Glass is also facing drug charges which include trafficking in methamphetamine and trafficking in hydrocodone. He will be back in court October 20.
Florida DOC Fires Another 32 Workers For Misconduct
September 20, 2014
In what has become a frequent exercise, Department of Corrections Secretary Mike Crews on Friday fired 32 workers accused of breaking the law, including three prison guards involved in the gassing death of an inmate at a Panhandle prison four years ago.
All of the workers fired were on administrative leave pending a review launched earlier this summer. The housecleaning is part of the secretary’s attempt to salvage the reputation of the beleaguered agency in the wake of reports of widespread abuse and corruption, whistleblower complaints and federal investigations surrounding prisoner deaths.
Among the axed workers are Rollin Austin, Randall Johnson and Kevin Hampton, three former prison guards at Franklin Correctional Institution where inmate Randall Jordan-Aparo died after allegedly being repeatedly gassed by guards and then left to die.
Dismissal letters from Crews to the workers say they are being let go because they “participated in a force incident that resulted in the death of an inmate.” None of the fired workers has been arrested or charged with any crimes.
Four Department of Corrections investigators say they’ve been retaliated against for exposing a cover-up about Jordan-Aparo’s September 2010 death. The investigators claim that Gov. Rick Scott’s chief inspector general Melinda Miguel — who refused to grant them whistleblower protection — was aware of the cover-up for at least three years. The DOC investigators, who found that Jordan-Aparo was too ill to warrant being treated as a threat, are themselves now the subjects of internal reviews.
According to a whistleblower lawsuit, Austin gave the order to gas Jordan-Aparo, who died five hours later after being gassed twice more and being left to die. The 27-year-old, coated in yellow residue from the noxious chemicals, was found dead in solitary confinement with a Bible beside his head. Jordan-Aparo was serving an 18-month sentence for fraud and drug charges.
Also fired Friday were nine Charlotte Correctional Institution guards involved in the April 11 death of inmate Matthew Walker, who was allegedly beaten to death while handcuffed. Walker’s death — and that of another inmate who died at the Punta Gorda facility a month later — are among more than 80 inmate deaths now being probed by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Fifteen prison guards at Union Correctional Institution, all under investigation for use-of-force incidents against prisoners over the past two years, were also pink-slipped Friday. Another guard at the Raiford prison was also fired for unspecified reasons.
Crews’ review also resulted in three employees being sent back to work, including the assistant warden at the Raiford prison, Nan Jeffcoat, who has been on leave with pay since the death of an inmate two years ago.
Crews has been on a housecleaning mission in the wake of Miami Herald reports earlier this year about Darren Rainey, a mentally ill inmate at Dade Correctional Institution who died after guards allegedly forced him to shower in scalding hot water as punishment two years ago..
“I have made it clear that there is zero tolerance for corruption or abuse at the Department of Corrections, and we continue to root out any-and-all bad actors who do not live up to our expectations. Our standards are high and we will accept nothing less to ensure the safety of our staff and those in our custody, as well as Florida families,” Crews said.
by Dara Kim, The News Service of Florida
Unemployment Outlook Improves Slightly In Local Area
September 20, 2014
The latest job numbers released Friday show the unemployment level decreasing in the North Escambia area.
Escambia County’s unemployment dropped slightly from 6.8 percent in July to 6.6 percent in August. There were 9,390 people reported unemployed during the period. One year ago, unemployment in Escambia County was 7.2 percent.
Santa Rosa County unemployment also decreased, from 6.3 to 6.2 percent from July to August. Santa Rosa County had a total of 4,704 persons still unemployed. The year-ago unemployment rate in Santa Rosa County was 6.6 percent.
In Escambia County, Alabama, unemployment decreased from 9.4 percent in July to 8.8 percent in August. That represented 1,232 people unemployed in the county during the month. One year ago, the unemployment rate in Escambia County, Alabama, was 8.5 percent
Florida’s unemployment rate, which a year ago was at 7.1 percent and just below the national mark of 7.2 percent, has been mostly flat this year, wavering between 6.2 percent and 6.3 percent. Across Florida, the lowest unemployment rates continued to come from the Florida Keys and parts of the Panhandle.
Alabama’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, at 6.9 percent in August, was down from July’s rate of 7.0 percent nd was above the year-ago rate of 6.5 percent.
The jobless numbers released by Florida and Alabama do not include persons that have given up on finding a job and are no longer reported as unemployed.
The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.
Friday Night High School Football Finals
September 20, 2014
Here is a look at final high school football scores from across the area Friday night –
FLORIDA
- Tate 52, West Gadsden 3
- West Florida 39, Mosley 15
- Escambia 41, Pine Forest 12
- Navarre 21, Crestview 0 (final, called early due to weather)
- Milton 31, Pensacola High 21
- Pace 35, Washington 19
- Catholic 35, Bay 14
- Niceville 42, Choctaw 20
- Navarre 21, Crestview 0
- Rocky Bayou 35, Oak Hill 8
- OPEN: Northview, Jay, Gulf Breeze
ALABAMA
- Flomaton 37, Southern Choctaw 34
- T.R. Miller 43, Hillcrest 20
- UMS-Wright 38, W.S. Neal 16
- Jackson 49, Atmore 0
- OPEN: Escambia Academy
FWC Law Enforcement Report
September 20, 2014
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the weekly period ending September 18.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Lieutenant Berryman and Officers Miller and Cushing went on patrol in the FINCAT (Offshore Patrol Vessel). Covering more than 140 nautical miles, the crew inspected several recreational, charter and commercial vessels. One spear fisherman was issued a Federal citation for being in possession of a greater amberjack during the closed season.
Officers Miller and Cushing worked the Pensacola Fishing Bridge late Saturday night into early Sunday morning. Officer Miller issued a citation to an individual for oversized redfish. Upon the initial contact, the individual stated that they only had catfish. An inspection of the cooler, on top of which he was cutting bait, revealed several catfish and one oversized redfish. The subject said the fish was given to him hours ago, but the fish were still moving.
A few moments later, they conducted a fisheries inspection of another group of fishermen. The fishermen initially denied having any fish and quickly revealed the contents of their drink cooler, which had only drinks. When asked if there was any fish in the cooler covered by a blanket in the back of their pickup, the fishermen declared “no.” One of the individuals opened and closed the cooler quickly and continued to deny having any fish. When he realized the officers would look all the way in the cooler, he admitted that he had an illegal fish. Officer Cushing issued him a citation for an oversized redfish.
This report represents some events the FWC handled over the past week;however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement. Information provided by FWC.
Tate Blasts West Gadsden For Homecoming Win (With Gallery)
September 20, 2014
It was a very happy homecoming Friday night for the Tate High School Aggies as they easily beat the Panthers of West Gadsden.
Seven first half touchdowns were one after another for the Aggies as they earned a 52-3 victory.
One their first offensive possession, junior Reginald Payne scored on a 42-yard touchdown pass from Aggies quarterback Sawyer Smith. After the Panthers were forced to punt, Josh Kea returned the pigskin for another TD. Toss in a field goal and 5-yard touchdown pass to Corey Moorer from Smith, and Tate was up 24-0 by the end of the first quarter.
After a Kea punt return, sophomore quarterback Jake Henry ended Tate’s drive with a 1-yard TD run for a 31-0 advantage.
Tate scored again with an 18-yard touchdown run from Jesse Fernandez and a 1-yard TD from LaDarius Thomas to move ahead 45-0.
A Panther fumble was recovered by Tate’s Trace Penton who broke a dozen or so tackles for another score, 52-0. West Gadsden managed a 45-yard field goal at the end of the half, 52-3.
The running-clock second half was scoreless.
For a photo gallery, click here. (Photos by Jennifer Repine and Kristi Price for NorthEscambia.com)
Next Friday night, the Aggies (4-1) will be at Pine Forest (2-3) with a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.
HOMECOMING QUEEN
Tate’s 2014 Homecoming Queen was Carissa Carroll (pictured). First runner-up was Sarah Baxter, and second runner up was Madison Metcalf.
Friends Of The Library Plan Book Sale For Next Weekend
September 20, 2014
Friends of West Florida Public Library, a non-profit support organization of the West Florida Public Library, will hold its Big Fall Book Sale and Silent Auction September 26, 27 and 28 at the downtown Main Library at 239 N. Spring Street. Thousands of hardcover, paperback, and collectible books will be available for purchase, plus a variety of DVDs, CDs, puzzles, and other items. Proceeds are used to fund programs and enhancements at WFPL branches.
Friday, September 26 is preview day of the book sale. From 4-8 p.m., Friends of WFPL members get exclusive early access to the book sale. Non-members can pay $5 admission to take part in preview day. Memberships can be purchased at the door.
On Saturday, September 27, the book sale will be open from 9-5 p.m. with free admission and reduced prices for all shoppers.
Sunday, September 28 is the final day of the Book Sale, with free admission and the popular $5 Bag Sale from noon to 3pm.
Book Sale items include thousands of generous donations from the public and some library books retired from circulation, many of them now out-of-print. Novels and mysteries are sorted by author or into genres like Science Fiction and Westerns. Other book categories include arts and entertainment, children’s, cookbooks, history, holidays, home and hobbies, literature, foreign language, military, modern living, nature and gardening, religion, science, sports, technical, and travel. Most prices range from $0.50 for paperbacks to $2 for hardcover. There are also recorded books, magazines, and other media for sale.
The Collector’s Corner will feature an assortment of signed books, pre-1950s books, books by local and Florida authors, and other special books that are great for gifts. These items are priced as marked and must be checked out separately, so shoppers paying by check should bring two of them.
Payment by cash or check is preferred. Credit cards are accepted for sales of $20 or more. All profits are used to support the West Florida Public Library branches and programs.