Fifth Suspect Arrested In Cantonment Animal Cruelty Case
May 30, 2014
A fifth and final suspect has been arrested in connection with a Cantonment animal cruelty case.
George Washington Ahl, 76, was charged with three counts of causing the cruel death, pain and suffering of animals, and four counts of unlawful confinement of animals. He was released from the Escambia County Jail on his own recognizance.
Last month, George Edward Kenneth Ahl, 23, Casey Tyler Ahl, 19, Frances Rebecca Ahl, 72, and Randolph Hewell Rigby, 43, were arrested on similar charges. The charges against the five defendents were brought directly by the State Attorney’s Office.
According to case documents, multiple horses, donkeys and goats were seized from the 400 block of Crowndale Court, while several other animals were found dead on the property.
Escambia County Animal Control officers began their investigation last December. A 17-page document released by the State Attorney’s office details the investigation and provides numerous graphic examples of abuse investigators said they found.
Officers reported finding one horse that was dead and apparently stuck in a fence. Several horses were so malnourished that their bones were protruding, while other had hair loss and marks consistent with a condition called rain rot fungus. Many of the animals had numerous sores and wounds, according to the report. Most were malnourished, and one horse had resorted to eating feces. There was little food available for the animals.
Animal Control also located eight poodles, a doberman and five cats on the property.
One of the malnourished horses, a black Tennessee Walker named Ebony, was taken to Panhandle Equine Rescue for rehabilitation. When officers found Ebony on the property, her bones were showing, her stomach was distended and distended, and she suffered from rain rot.
Over the next several weeks, PER and volunteers worked to save Ebony. She was the subject of several NorthEscambia.com articles as PER and volunteers kept watch over her and raised funds for a sling to help her to her feet. Now, she’s able to walk and run on her own and has gained several pounds.
As of Friday morning, George Edward Kenneth Ahl, remained in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $55,000. Casey Ahl and Frances Ahl were released from jail on a $16,000 bond, and Randolph Rigby was free on a $21,000 bond. Each has pleaded not guilty the charges against them.
Editor’s note: George Washington Ahl’s mugshot was unavailable from the Escambia County Jail Thursday night.
Pictured above: Escambia County Animal Control, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Escambia County Fire Rescue’s Cantonment Station and volunteers use a makeshift sling to lift Ebony, a horse seized from Crowndale Court in Cantonment.. Pictured below: Ebony, was unable to get on her feet in her stall about a week after she was seized. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Seeks Players For Summer Softball
May 30, 2014
Young women that are interested in playing summer ball or softball at Northview High School should meet at the Northview softball field Monday morning at 8:00 for tryouts.
More Rain Possible Tonight, Over The Weekend
May 30, 2014
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight Showers and thunderstorms before 1am, then a chance of showers. Low around 68. South wind around 5 mph becoming east after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
- Saturday A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 86. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Saturday Night A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Sunday A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
- Sunday Night A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. East wind around 5 mph.
- Monday A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 88. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Monday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. South wind around 5 mph.
- Tuesday A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 90. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
- Tuesday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70.
- Wednesday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.
- Wednesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 70.
- Thursday A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 91.
- Thursday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 70.
- Friday A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.
Northview High Names 2014 Honors Graduates, Two Valedictorians
May 30, 2014
Northview High School named their honors graduates during Thursday night’s 2014 Senior Awards Night.
The school announced Friday that the Class of 2014 will have two valedictorians for the Class of 2014 — Kasie Lee Braun and Victoria Anne Wright. A total of 34 students were named honors graduates with a final GPA of 3.5 or above.
Northview Class of 2014 Summa Cum Laude graduates (4.0 GPA and above) are:
1. Kasie Lee Braun, Victoria Anne Wright (Valedictorians)
3. Courtney Yvonne Solari
4. Anna Elizabeth Donald
5. Jessica Nicole Lowery
6. Courtney Alexandra Weaver
7. Dale Wayne Brown
8. Talana Michelle Heathcock
9. Tamara Maria Green
10. Karissa Lea Strickland
11. Marina Nikol Gray
12. Danielle Nichole Steadham
13. Rachel Ann Presley
14. Audrey Leigh Byrd
15. Anna Elizabeth Fischer
16. Lana Leigh Clayton
17. Zacarra Kelline Davis
Northview Class of 2014 Magna Cum Laude graduates (3.85 or higher) are:
18. Jeremy Logan Stacey
19. Samantha Suzanne Barrow
20. Hilery Danielle Scott
21. Madison Brooke Arrington
22. Morgan Nicole Digmon
23. Katelynne Nicole Calloway
24. Mashama Ashaki-Kai Codrington
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Northview Class of 2014 Cum Laude (3.5 and above) graduates are:
25. Justin Elliot King
26. Chelsea Brooke Ward
27. Chloe Vanessa Leonard
28. Mariah Laine Albritton
29. Tony Anthony McAroy, Jr.
30. Tiffani Nichole Pritchett
31. Lily Ann Townson
32. Alexandria Nicole Martin
33. Lauryn Elizabeth Walker
34. Kira Nerys Cartwright
The Northview High School Class of 2014 will graduate at 4 p.m. Saturday in the school gymnasium.
Pictured top: Northview Class of 2014 Summa Cum Laude graduates. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Tate High Names The Top Of The Class Of 2014
May 30, 2014
Tate High School named their honors graduates during Thursday night’s 2014 Senior Awards Night.
Noah James Heintz was named the Class of 2014 valedictorian, while Eion Michael Blanchard is salutatorian. There were 41 students (listed below) named to the Top Ten Percent of the class.
Heintz is graduating with a 5.15 GPA. He is National Honor Society president, an AP Scholar with Distinction, Mu Alpha Theta vice president, Tri-M vice president, and a member of the Academic team. Heintz the recipient of the Presidential Scholarship valued over $20,000 to the University of Florida and will major in nuclear engineering.
Blanchard is graduating with a 5.125 GPA. He is a National Merit Finalist, National AP Scholar,Mu Alpha Theta president, National Honor Society vice president, and a member of the Academic Team. Blanchard will attend the University of Florida to major in mathematics.
Both Heintz and Blanchard will be in Chicago this weekend for a national Academic Team competition.
Olive Baptist Church will host Tate’s Baccalaureate Service at 3:30pm on Sunday. Tate High School’s Class of 2014 will graduate on Monday at 11 a.m. at the Pensacola Bay Center. Graduates must arrive by 10:30.
Members of the Tate High School Top Ten Percent are:
- Noah James Heintz
- Eion Michael Blanchard
- Britton Shayne Dunn
- Timothy Blake Edgar
- Paul Alan Shelton
- David Graham Gardner
- Ryan Lambert Colburn
- Alyshia Daeshaun Hull
- Elizabeth Mara Blalock
- Brooke Elizabeth Schang
- Justin David Ritchie
- Sarah Ann Birdsong
- Sheilamae Nebria Jensen
- Anna Maria Del Gallo
- Paige McKenzie Ammons
- Jordan James Prince
- Shelby Paige Williams
- Alexa Taryn Atchley
- Sarah Elisabeth Lee
- Kayla Marie Smith
- Emily Meghan Robinson
- Jesse Marion Steele
- Niccole Leanne Auld
- Jon William Walker II
- Gordon Kelliher Pierce
- Matthew Steven Esser
- Kevin Charles Olshaw
- Kelsey Alyse Carter
- Walker James Wilkins
- Will A. Reeves
- Jennifer Haley Krostag
- Sarah Yasir Al-Qahtani
- Charles Taylor Brown
- Katelynn Grace Stillwell
- Bridget Rene’ Dall
- Trinity Ceanora Johnson
- Jack Randal Gonzalez
- Bethaney Rayalan Hall
- Sabrina Leigh Culbertson
- Stephen Owen Pederson
- Haley Faye Malone
Unpaid Property Taxes Must Be Paid By Today To Avoid Lien
May 30, 2014
All 2013 unpaid real estate taxes must be paid to avoid a tax certificate being issued, which is a first lien against the property, by May 30 Over 10,000 accounts totaling $11 million remain unpaid, according to Tax Collector Janet Holley.
Payments must be received and processed by close of business on Friday, May 30:
- in person at one of three branch offices;
- online at www.escambiataxcollector.com; or
- through the phone service center (850) 438-6500 ext. 3252.
Late payments will be returned for additional fees.
Drive thru service and drop box are available at all locations. The Warrington office on Navy Boulevard remains closed due to flooding damage. All tax collector offices are closed Monday, May 26 due to the Memorial Day holiday.
Taxpayers may check the status of their taxes online at www.escambiataxcollector.com or call (850) 438-6500 ext. 3252 for more information.
Escambia Farm Bureau Reps Meet With Congressman On Legislative Priorities
May 30, 2014
Members of the Florida Farm Bureau, including two representatives of the Escambia County Farm Bureau, met with Congressman Jeff Miller in his Washington office last week. The group was there to discuss the legislative priorities of the Florida Farm Bureau.
Among the group were Jacob and Carla Gilmore from the Escambia County Farm Bureau.
“Among the most pressing issues facing our nation’s farmers and agricultural sector are the constant attempts by EPA and other federal regulators to expand their regulatory regime under the Clean Water Act,” Miller said. “I am staunchly opposed to this government overreach, and I recently joined more than 200 of my colleagues in sending a letter to EPA calling on them to withdraw their most recent proposed rule on this issue.”
Pictured top: Congressman Jeff Miller (center) with Florida Farm Bureau members including Carla Gilmore (far left) and Jacob Gilmore (right) from the Escambia County Farm Bureau. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Citizens Property Insurance Braced For Hurricane Season
May 30, 2014
Citizens Property Insurance enters the 2014 hurricane season believing its finances are on solid ground.
Of course, after a major storm makes landfall, all projections would start to shift like the state’s well-known sand.
As the six-month hurricane season starts Sunday, Citizens has a $7.3 billion surplus. Also, the state-backed insurer has completed a $1.5 billion, multi-year reinsurance bond deal, and the state’s backup catastrophe fund is at $13 billion.
Those figures should allow Citizens to withstand a 1-in-70-year storm event without having to use an “assessment” process to collect money from all vehicle- and property-insurance policyholders in Florida to cover additional hurricane costs.
An assessment of $2.3 billion would be expected from the impact of a 1-in-100-year storm event.
“We’re the best prepared for a hurricane since we were created in 2002,” Citizens spokesman Michael Peltier said Thursday.
Advocates for consumers and the insurance industry tend to agree.
“I think Citizens has been very conscientious to make sure they have an infrastructure, that they have the ability to put adjusters out in the field after a (catastrophic) event,” said Jay Neal, director of the advocacy group Florida Association for Insurance Reform. “The (backup Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund ), according to our numbers, is capable of taking a first hit, and a second hit, and really not having to go to the bond market for more than one or two years to be able to pay the freight.”
Sam Miller, executive vice president of the Florida Insurance Council, said the numbers for Citizens could be better if fraudulent water-loss claims were reduced in South Florida and the size of the state-backed insurer was further trimmed.
“Citizens is not nearly as big as it was,” Miller said. “But there is still a lot of exposure in Citizens that doesn’t need to be there.”
The fiscal improvement comes after Citizens shifted nearly a quarter of its policies into the private market during the past 12 months. Also, Citizens has enjoyed the luxury of not having a hurricane directly crash across Florida’s shorelines the past eight years.
The state was smacked by eight storms in 2004 and 2005, which depleted Citizens and the Hurricane Catastrophe Fund and drove some private firms from the market, which helped swell the number of policies in Citizens.
Reducing the number of policies, and thus the potential risk of assessments to all Florida policyholders, has been a priority for Citizens and state leaders in recent years.
They have started to achieve that goal by allowing private companies to acquire thousands of policies through bundled take-outs, and in rolling out a “clearinghouse” earlier this year that gives private firms the first look at new policies.
Through the clearinghouse, if coverage by a private firm is found within 15 percent of Citizens’ premium, a policy would go to the private carrier.
As of May 23, Citizens had 929,627 policies, with more than a third concentrated in six counties — Miami-Dade, Pinellas, Broward, Hillsborough, Palm Beach and Pasco.
The number is down from 1.26 million on May 31, 2013. A year earlier, the state-backed insurer topped 1.43 million policies.
To further keep the numbers down, the clearinghouse will be expanded Aug. 1 to include policies up for renewal.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Northwest Escambia Closes Out Season With A Bang (With Photo Gallery)
May 30, 2014
The Northwest Escambia league at Bradberry Park in Walnut Hill closed out their season with a bang Thursday night. Each player received a trophy prior to a fireworks show.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Wahoos And Braves Washed Out Thursday Night
May 30, 2014
For the third straight night, the Blue Wahoos and Mississippi Braves had to deal with rain at Trustmark Park in Pearl, Miss., and the rain finally won. The Blue Wahoos and Braves were postponed and the two teams will make up the game as part of a doubleheader on Friday.
The game will consist of two seven inning games with roughly a half-hour break between the two games.
The Blue Wahoos will send RHP Michael Lorenzen (2-3, 1.99) to the mound in game one followed by RHP Mikey O’Brien (2-2, 4.58) in game two. The Braves will counter with RHP Jason Hursh (3-4, 4.18) followed by RHP Aaron Northcraft (4-2, 2.70).
Pensacola will return home after the games and open a five-game series with the Jacksonville Suns on Saturday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
by Tommy Thrall