Traffic Alert: Highway 97 Down To One Lane In Walnut Hill
July 16, 2014
Traffic on Highway 97 in Walnut Hill is restricted to one lane this afternoon near the South Highway 99 intersection, about a mile south of Ernest Ward Middle School. Drivers can expect delays in the area.
Traffic is restricted due to repairs to a collapsed should repair that has been ongoing all week. Click here for an earlier story about the project.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Deputies Seek Suspect In Armed Robbery Of Dollar General Store
July 16, 2014
The search is continuing today for the suspect in the armed robbery of a Dollar General store Tuesday night just off Nine Mile Road.
An armed male entered the Dollar General in the 4000 block of Pine Forest Road, just north of Nine Mile Road, about 10 p.m. and demanded that the clerk open the register. According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the clerk was unable to open the register.
The armed man then robbed a customer before fleeing the store on foot. There were no injuries.
Anyone with information on the armed robbery is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
File photo.
Escambia Deputy Fired, Investigated For Alleged Non-Consensual Sex Act
July 16, 2014
The Escambia Sheriff’s Office has fired a deputy trainee for an alleged “non-consensual sex act” against a woman while he was answering a call.
After an adult female made a complaint with the Sheriff’s Office that Chris Majors had committed the sex act, an investigation was immediately launched by the ECSO and the State Attorney’s Office. When questioned by investigators, Majors “admitted to engaging in a sexual act on duty, although he denied it was non-consensual,” according to a written statement from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Physical evidence, including DNA, is still being evaluated and based upon the joint investigation Majors is potentially facing multiple, severe felony charges, the statement says.
“Majors was a probationary employee,” Sheriff David Morgan said in a written statement Tuesday. “That means there are fewer hoops to jump through to terminate this employee, which is exactly what I did this morning.”
“Majors betrayed the trust that the community and I placed in him. He has brought disgrace to the Sheriff’s Office, to the community, and to our profession. Good riddance. We will actively work with the victim in this case to ensure justice is served,” Morgan continued.
Majors was hired at the Escambia County Jail in 2008. Shortly after the transfer of the jail from the Sheriff’s Office to the Escambia County Commission last October, Majors applied to become a law enforcement officer with the ECSO. He had just completed the department’s field training program five weeks ago. Prior to that, he would have answered calls only with a senior officer, the Sheriff’s Office said.
FEMA Flood Assistance Deadline Fast Approaching
July 16, 2014
The deadline to apply for FEMA assistance following local flooding is fast approaching.
Residents affected by the storms and flooding from April 28 to May 6 in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Jackson and Walton counties have until next Monday, July 21, to register for disaster assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Survivors can register online at DisasterAssistance.gov or at m.fema.gov on a smartphone. Survivors may also apply by phone at 800-621-3362 or TTY 800-462-7585.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Century Seeking Federal Housing Rehabilitation Grant
July 16, 2014
The Town of Century is seeking a federal grant for housing repair.
The town intends to submit a Housing Preservation Grant application to the USDA’s Rural Development Housing Services requesting $90,000 to provide basic housing repairs.
If grant funds are award, it is anticipated that funds will be available in the range of $2,000 to $5,000 per home, providing enough funds to rehabilitate about 15 homes within the town limits.
It is too early for residents to apply for housing assistance. If the town is awarded the grant, it will then advertise an open application period during which Century homeowners may request assistance through the program. That information will be published on NorthEscambia.com.
Pictured top: One of the homes in Century rehabilitated through a different grant program back in 2012. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
New Walmart Neighborhood Market Opens In Pensacola; Atmore Walmart Open Soon
July 16, 2014
A new Walmart Neighborhood Market opened in Pensacola Wednesday, and a new Walmart in Atmore is still on track to open early next month.
The new Walmart Neighborhood Market is located at the corner of Pine Forest Road and Mobile Highway and will be open from 6 a.m. until midnight every day. Walmart Neighborhood Market stores are smaller than a traditional Walmart store and offer products mostly in line with the average grocery store. The store will employee about 95 people.
August 6 is the grand opening date for the new Walmart in Atmore. The 70,000 square foot store at 911 North Main Street will include a full line of groceries and a wide assortment of merchandise….almost everything in a Walmart Supercenter except for an auto care center or fine jewelry department. The smaller prototype store will be open 24 hours a day. The store will employee nearly 150 people.
Pictured top: The new Atmore Walmart. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Abrupt DJJ Resignation Could Alter Dispute With Escambia, Santa Rosa, 23 Other Counties
July 16, 2014
A key player in the dispute between the state and counties over juvenile-detention costs abruptly resigned last week, leaving counties to wonder how his departure will affect the high-stakes negotiations. Escambia and Santa Rosa are among 25 counties involved in the dispute.
Jason Welty, who worked as chief of staff at the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, turned in his resignation last Wednesday. The move came two days after he told The News Service of Florida that Gov. Rick Scott believes counties should pay to detain a certain category of offender.
“It’s going to take the Legislature to resolve whether or not the counties pay for new law violations or not,” Welty said in a July 7 interview that was published on NorthEscambia.com. “We believe that they should be. The governor believes that they should be. And we believe that the Legislature believes that they should be. But (the counties) obviously don’t.”
After the story was published, however, the governor’s office took issue with Welty’s statement. Frank Collins, Scott’s communications director, said in an email that the statement did not reflect the governor’s position on the issue.
Welty, who had 10 years of state government experience, did not explain his reasons for leaving in a resignation letter submitted to department Interim Secretary Christy Daly. He also could not be reached for comment by the News Service.
“We appreciate Jason’s service to the agency,” department communications director Heather DiGiacomo wrote in an email. “Fred Schuknecht is currently serving as interim chief of staff.”
Welty’s resignation came amid a renewed legal fight between the department and counties about how to split up juvenile-detention costs.
The dispute centers on a 2004 law that requires counties to pay to detain juveniles who are waiting for their cases to be resolved in court. The state pays for “post-disposition” costs — that is, after the cases have been decided. But the two sides are far apart on which costs are “pre-disposition” and which are “post-disposition.” As an example, one of the issues involves who should pay for detaining youths whose cases have already been resolved and then, while on probation, commit new offenses that violate terms of their probation — circumstances that are the “new law violations” cited last week by Welty.
In June 2013, the 1st District Court of Appeal upheld an administrative law judge’s ruling that the Department of Juvenile Justice had shifted more responsibility for the costs to the counties than the law required: 75 percent for the counties, 25 percent for the department.
The dispute then moved to the 2014 Legislature, where a bill that would have mandated a 50-50 split died on the last day of the session. All parties had accepted the equal division of costs going forward, but the counties also held out for $140 million they said they had overpaid the state, which the Senate refused.
With the failure of the bill, the state decided to use a formula by which the counties will pay 57 percent of juvenile-detention costs, while the state pays 43 percent. The department then held a rule hearing with the counties on June 6, but it ended in impasse and sent the counties back to the Division of Administrative hearings, where counties have won two earlier legal battles on the issue.
In the aftermath of Welty’s resignation, some people questioned how his departure will affect the cost-sharing dispute.
Florida Association of Counties spokeswoman Cragin Mosteller said in an email that the group “appreciated Mr. Welty’s open lines of communication and hope to have the same going forward. FAC hopes to work with the governor and the department to find a solution to DJJ’s unfair and incorrect billing so that we can put our full attention to the children who so desperately need our help.”
Roy Miller, president of the Children’s Campaign, an advocacy group, called Welty “a thoughtful worker on behalf of children needing a better direction in life.”
“Welty is known by stakeholders for being trusted for what he says and does,” Miller said. “The fight between the state and counties over detention costs has led to very bad outcomes for children, and it’s long past time to bring an end to it. Welty did his best to listen to all sides and report it accurately and without bias.”
In an email, department spokeswoman DiGiacomo wrote, “The agency has had a collaborative relationship with the counties and we are committed to maintaining open lines of communication.”
While Scott’s office took issue with Welty’s comments last week, it has not publicly spelled out a detailed position for resolving the dispute with the counties.
“The 21 cost-shared juvenile centers across Florida work to ensure that Florida’s children and families are kept safe until legal proceedings can take place.” Scott spokesman John Tupps said in an email. “After a careful review of the district court ruling this past year, the Department of Juvenile Justice worked to develop an adjusted county cost share. The Legislature adopted the DJJ’s recommendation which results in a reduction in costs to the counties. We’re open to working with the counties to find a path forward that will benefit Florida’s children and families.”
Local Boys, Girls State Attendees Honored
July 16, 2014
A reception was held Tuesday night at the American Legion Post 90 in Atmore to honor local students that attended Alabama Boys State and Alabama Girls State last month.
Recognized were: Austin Cunningham and Tristan Portwood from Northview High School; Scott Brantley and Nate Smith from Escambia Academy; Brooke Bell and Jacob Esser from Flomaton High School; and Christin Simpkins, Ben Hubert and Rodrick Felder from Escambia County High School.
Local students attending the Boys and Girls State program each year are sponsored by the American Legion and American Legion Ladies Auxiliary.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Gulf Coast Storm 12U Takes Second In Gulf Coast Nationals
July 16, 2014
The Gulf Coast Storm 12U travel baseball team placed second in the 11-team Nations Gulf Coast Elite National Championships this past weekend at the NEP ballpark.
After losing their first bracket game in the double elimination tournament, the Gulf Coast Storm battled back to win five straight. The Storm won the first championship game, forcing a second winner-take-all game.
The Gulf Coast Storm will play their last tournament of the year this weekend in Biloxi. Gulf Coast Storm team members are from the Pace, Pensacola and Cantonment areas.
Pictured: (front, L-R) Trevor Norton, Adam Nisewonger, Grant Gill, Cody Gavin, John Pinette, Hunter Smith, (back, L-R) Parker Tubb, Cole Fryman, Cameron Bailey, T.J. McCants, Timmy Williams, Sam Shackle and Chase Tolbert. Not pictured are Head Coach Matt Faust and Assistant Coach Mike Norton. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Lawrence Douglas Lassiter
July 16, 2014
Lawrence Douglas Lassiter, 70 of Atmore, passed away Wednesday, July 16, 2014, in Mobile. He was born in Atmore on August 28, 1943, to the late Chester and Lucille Wall Lassiter. He was a farmer, owner and operator of Lassiter Trucking Company and was a retired multi-craft maintenance technician from International Paper Company with 35 years of service. He was a Past Master of the Huxford Lodge #779 and a 32nd Degree Mason and an avid Alabama fan.
He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Cubie Dean Cook, Charles Lassiter and Bobby Lassiter.
He is survived by his children, Tim Lassiter of Nokomis, AL; Roxanne (David) Martinie of Uriah, and Rocky (Troy) Smith of Cerola, AL; eight grandchildren; three great-grandchildren and a special companion “Reece.”
Funeral services will be held Friday, July 18, 2014, at 10 a.m. from the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Willie Oglesby officiating.
Burial will follow in McCullough Cemetery with Masonic Honors.
Visitation will be held Thursday, July 17, 2014 from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. from the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home.
Flowers will be accepted but donations can be made to the American Cancer Society or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.