Bus Burns At Ransom Middle School
February 16, 2014
A school bus was destroyed by fire at Ransom Middle School in Cantonment Saturday.
The bus was used in the school’s ag program. It had become stuck in field behind the school on Friday as ag students were working in the field, according to Escambia County School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas.
The bus fire was reported about 12:30 Saturday afternoon. A portion of the field also burned.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office. The Cantonment and Ensley stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the blaze.
Pictured: A bus and a portion of a field burned behind Ransom Middle School in Cantonment early Saturday afternoon. Photos by WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Realtor Sentenced To Prison For Tax Evasion And False Statements
February 16, 2014
William “Geri” Eaton, 60, was sentenced to 27 months in prison for tax evasion and for making false statements in a matter involving a health care benefit program.
Between 2004 and 2008, Eaton, a realtor, earned more than $1.18 million in taxable income. He failed to file his federal income tax returns as they became due and instead, in the fall of 2009, Eaton filed late returns for all four prior tax years. His total tax due, not counting interest and penalties, was more than $472,000. In early 2010, Eaton entered an agreement to pay his back-taxes in monthly installments of $1,000. He made six payments, and then stopped paying altogether.
On April 29, 2011, Eaton opened an account under a false social security number at a Tallahassee credit union. One week later, he sold his beach house in St. Teresa, Florida, for more than $1.3 million. To conceal the money from the IRS, Eaton deposited the $727,437 in proceeds he received from the sale into his fraudulently-opened credit union account. He later transferred a portion of this money to a Pensacola credit union account, which he had also opened under a false social security number. Over the course of the next seven months, Eaton spent more than $125,000 of the sales proceeds. He made no payments on his taxes during this period.
In September 2011, Eaton was treated for a heart attack at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola. He applied to the hospital for financial assistance in paying his bill. In his application for assistance, Eaton falsely claimed that he had a single checking account with a balance of only $1,588, when, in fact, the balances in his accounts totaled well over $600,000. In listing his assets on the application, Eaton also fraudulently omitted the fact that he had purchased two vehicles for $31,000 only a month before. In reliance on Eaton’s false statements, Sacred Heart Hospital wrote off $79,622 in charges for Eaton’s care.
In November 2011, the IRS levied Eaton’s fraudulently-opened credit union accounts and obtained approximately $610,000 as payments toward his tax liabilities.
In November 2013, Eaton pleaded guilty to charges of tax evasion and making false statements in a matter involving a health care benefit program. In addition to his prison sentence, Eaton was ordered to pay $99,126 in restitution to the IRS and to Sacred Heart Health System.
All-County Honor Bands To Perform Tuesday Night
February 16, 2014
The All-County Honor Bands 2014 featuring students from the Escambia County School District will perform at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday at the Saenger Theatre.
Students are selected to perform in each honor group through teacher recommendation and an audition process. A variety of instrumental works from the classics to contemporary will be performed.
The conductors this year will be Kim Whaley from Shoal River Middle School, Crestview, directing the Middle School Honors Band; and Steve Rivero from Flanagan High School, Pembroke Pines, leading the High School Honors Band. The concert is free and the public is cordially invited to attend this event.
This event was rescheduled from January 28.
Northview Chiefs Take Two From Escambia Academy’s Cougars
February 16, 2014
The Northview Chiefs took two from Escambia Academy Saturday in Bratt.
In junior varsity action the Chiefs beat the Cougars 8-6, and in varsity action Northview downed EA 10-6.
The varsity Chiefs will host Rocky Bayou on Tuesday at 6:00. Both the varsity and junior varsity will travel to Baker on Thursday for the first district game of the season.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Ramona Preston, click to enlarge.
Dog Show At The Equestrian Center
February 16, 2014
The James C. Robinson Escambia County Equestrian Center will host the Five Flags Dog Training All-Breed Agility Show today from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. There is a spectator fee of $3 per person.
Agility demonstrates the dog’s ability to work with the handler over course jumps, tunnels, weave poles and more. For more information on the event, visit www.fiveflagsdogs.com or call (850) 478-3647.
During this show, the Pensacola Dog Fancier’s Association will also be hosting an Earthdog test and Lure Coursing. Earthdog is open to small terriers and dachshunds. The test measures the dog’s natural ability to hunt and will be held in the afternoon and is open to all breeds. If interested in participating in these events, call (850) 287-0603.
This Week’s Forecast
February 16, 2014
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Washington’s Birthday: Areas of fog before 9am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 69. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Monday Night: Areas of fog after midnight. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
- Tuesday: Areas of fog before 8am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 73. Light south wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
- Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 75. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
- Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 76. South wind 5 to 15 mph.
- Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. South wind around 10 mph.
- Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75.
- Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57.
- Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 75.
- Saturday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57.
- Sunday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 68.
Vivian Catherine Bryan
February 16, 2014
Vivian Catherine Bryan, 93 of Walnut Hill, passed away February 15, 2014, in Atmore. She was a homemaker, born in Saluda, South Carolina on October 29, 1920 to the late Louis and Bessie Moye Sample.
Mrs. Bryan was a graduate of Ernest Ward High School, Class of 1941 and a member of Walnut Hill Baptist Church for 55 Years.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Oscar “Monk” Bryan, six sisters and two brothers.
Survivors are her son, Gary “BoBo” (Twyla) Bryan of Walnut Hill; three daughters, Mary Ann (Butch) Chism of Cordova, TN, Delores Parker of Pensacola, and Ginger (Jerry) Cochran of Atmore; one sister, Ruth (Ernie) Graham of Pensacola; seven grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
Services will be Tuesday, February 18, 2014, at 11 a.m. from the Walnut Hill Baptist Church with Rev. Ted Bridges officiating.
Interment will follow in Walnut Hill Baptist Cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be Ricky Crosby, Bert Bryan, Jeremy Chism, Jeff Blackmon, Tyler Kendrick and Beau Bryan.
Family will receive friends, Monday, February 17, 2014, at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.
Water Projects Funded For ECUA, Jay; No Money For Century, Cottage Hill, Molino, Gonzalez
February 15, 2014
The Northwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board has approved nearly $10 million in grant funding to be used for water supply project across Northwest Florida, including three major projects for ECUA, Jay and Chumuckla.
The board also rejected millions in proposals from various water systems, including Century, Cottage Hill, ECUA, Gonzalez, Molino and Jay.
Approved projects in the North Escambia are included:
ECUA Cantonment Central Water Reclamation Facility Reclaimed Water System Expansion — $522,000 in grant funding to the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ECUA) for planning, design and construction of a major reuse extension from the Central Water Reclamation Facility in Cantonment to the University of West Florida’s main campus and Scenic Hills Golf Course.
Town of Jay Asbestos Water Main Replacement – $663,024 in grant funding to the Town of Jay to replace approximately 10,200 linear feet of asbestos-concrete water line, reducing water loss and protecting public and environmental health.
Chumuckla Water System Upgrades – $100,721 to Chumuckla Water System, Inc., to provide improvements to the current system, including upgrades to the well motor controls and computerized control and data system. It will also be used to acquire an excavator, trailer and ground penetrating radar to locate water mains in need of repair or replacement. These improvements will help eliminate lengthy system outages and water loss, and provide an overall increase in system reliability.
Proposed projects in the North Escambia area that were not funded included:
Town of Century — $673,782 to upgrade existing 2-4 inch lines to 6-inch lines over about 1.91 miles for Fannie Road and about 1.41 miles for Campbell Road.
Town of Century — $50,000 to develop accurate map that can be easily referenced for system needs, including isolation for emergency repairs, maintenance, planning for future expansion, and upgrades, and to satisfy FDEP requirements.
Cottage Hill Waterworks — $195,421 to replace aging water lines, primarily along Highway 95A.
Cottage Hill Waterworks – $214,959 to replace aging water lnies, primarily along Phalrose Street and Williams Ditch Road
ECUA Central Water Reclamation Facility — $238,250 toonstruct two test wells and associated monitoring wells; implement hydrologic monitoring plan to assess and characterize any potential impacts to streams and wetlands on the CWRF property; conduct aquifer modeling. Update and application of groundwater model, and develop preliminary wellfield desigm.
Gonzalez Utilities — $78,540 to update chlorine and pH injections systems on two wells, including soft starter systems.
Town of Jay –$286,959 to 550 meters with drive-by meters.
Molino Utilities – $169,200 to construct 9,300 LF of watermain and appurtenances with fire hydrants for fire protection; replacement of concrete asbestos water main from Meherg Road south to Casey Lane.
Last fall, the District launched a grant program to help local governments and utilities within the District’s 16-county area apply for funding for water supply projects. Projects eligible for grant funding included traditional water supply development projects, as well as alternative water supply projects, such as reuse and conservation projects that result in quantifiable water savings.
After careful review and evaluation of the many worthwhile projects submitted, the District identified 24 projects it was able to fund in this grant cycle.
Many of the funded projects include replacements, repairs or upgrades to aging and deteriorating water distribution and treatment systems currently experiencing water loss, a lack of reliability or inadequate fire protection. The majority of the projects awarded serve financially disadvantaged communities which struggle to fund vital projects without infrastructure assistance.
“This grant funding will provide an important contribution to the health and well-being of these communities,” said Jerry Pate, Governing Board Vice-Chair and representative of the Perdido-Escambia River basin.
Combined with match funding from the local governments and other grants, the District’s funding is anticipated to leverage a total of $15.8 million in projects to meet regional water supply challenges.
Weekend Work Scheduled For Nine Mile Road Project
February 15, 2014
Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures on Nine Mile Road eastbound at the intersection of Davis Highway in Escambia County both Saturday and Sunda.
Lane closures will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. as crews seal joints in the bridge deck. Drivers are reminded to watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the work zone.
House Subcommittee Passes Ingram’s Controlled Substances Bill
February 15, 2014
The House Criminal Justice Subcommittee this week unanimously passed a bill sponsored by Rep. Clay Ingram (R-Pensacola), which bans a set of illicit synthetic drugs and adds three extremely lethal synthetic compounds, commonly found in the street drug “molly,” to the trafficking statute.
“Synthetic drugs are dangerous drugs that are marketed to our youth, and I applaud Representative Ingram and the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee for joining the effort to protect our kids from these substances,” said. Attorney General Pam Bondi.
This legislative proposal would also add six additional substances to Schedule I of controlled substances, making it a third-degree felony for an individual to “sell, manufacture, or deliver, or possess with intent to sell, manufacture or deliver” these dangerous drugs.
A Senate companion bill is sponsored by Senator Rob Bradley.