Escambia County State Legislative Delegation To Hold Public Hearing
January 17, 2014
The local legislative delegation will meet next week to discuss issues related to the upcoming Legislative session, and today is the last day to place an item of interest on their agenda.
State Representative Clay Ingram, chairman of the Escambia County State Legislative Delegation, has announced that a public hearing will be held on Tuesday, January 21, 2014, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Jean & Paul Amos Performance Studio, located at 1000 College Boulevard in Pensacola.
Delegation members will consider local bills, hear presentations from government entities and take public testimony on proposals for the 2014 Legislative Session. If you would like to be placed on the agenda, contact Ingram’s Office at (850) 494-7330 no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, January 17.
Any member of the public is welcomed to attend and participate. Local bill proposals (including all supporting materials) must be submitted to Ingram’s District Office by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, January 10.
The Escambia County State Legislative Delegation includes Senator Greg Evers, Representative Clay Ingram and Representative Mike Hill.
McDavid Post Office To Remain Open With Reduced Hours
January 17, 2014
The McDavid Post Office will stay open, but will see a reduction in hours — that was the word Thursday night during a special community meeting with postal officials. The new hours will be announced within about a month.
“This post office is going to stay open,” said Milton Postmaster Steve Seagraves, speaking on behalf of the Postal Service. “We are not closing; we are going to be here for you.”
Residents and businesses in the 32568 zip code were notified in December that the Postal Service will take future action regarding the McDavid Post Office. They were surveyed with 77 percent of respondents choosing a reduction in hours over other options including closure.
Most of the two dozen or so people that attended Thursday night’s meeting were of retirement age, as noted by resident Gary Welch.
“It looks like the trend is to punish the people…an aging population,” Welch said. “We can’t go 10 miles for another post office; we don’t even have a business to put a post office inside.”
“It is important to me to take care of you,” said Pam Tramonte, the postmaster of Century who is also responsible for the McDavid Post Office and the contract post office in Walnut Hill. She pointed out that many postal services such as shipping packages or purchasing stamps can be done online or with a rural mail carrier’s assistance.
The McDavid Post Office’s retail window is currently open 7:45 -11 a.m. and noon – 3:45 p.m. during the week and 7:45 to 9:45 a.m. on Saturdays. The most likely new hours for the McDavid retail window will be 9-11 a.m. and 12:30 until 3:30 p.m. during the week and Saturday from 8-10 a.m., according to postal officials. Access to post office boxes would remain 24/7.
There are no plans to make any changes at the Walnut Hill Post Office, which shares McDavid’s 32568 zip code. The Walnut Hill Post Office is a contract location operated by Escambia River Electric Cooperative, providing retail window services and post office boxes.
Pictured top: McDavid zip code residents Gary Welch (left) and Billy Ward listen to postal officials Thursday night during a community meeting held at the McDavid United Methodist Church. Pictured below: Residents learn more about proposed changes to their post office. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
County Delays Construction Contract For New 4-H Facility
January 17, 2014
The Escambia County Commission decided Thursday to delay action on awarding a construction contract for a new Escambia County 4-H Center located at the Escambia County Extension Office on Stefani Road.
The total cost for the facility will be $1.65 million. The contract was to have been awarded to A.E. New, Jr., Inc. The company was the lowest of 12 companies that bid on the facility.
In 2012, the children and teens on the 4-H County Council voted to sell their 240 acre Langley Bell 4-H Center to Navy Federal Credit Union. Navy Federal paid $3.6 million for the property next to the credit union’s campus in Beulah, and the Escambia County Commission agreed to construct a new 4-H Center on Stefani Road with $1.5 million in local option sales tax (LOST) funds.
The new facility, as designed by Hernandez Calhoun Design International using input from 4-H leadership, has a final price tag $165,000 higher than originally planned. That amount was originally to be covered by the 4-H Foundation, but the county was set to use additional LOST funds to pick up the difference.
Now, commissioners are going to further study the plan before taking addictional action.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Sheriff’s Office, Other Groups Sweep Cottage Hill Clean
January 17, 2014
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office held a Clean Sweep operation Thursday morning in the Cottage Hill area.
The focus of “Operation Clean Sweep” was to work with the Cottage Hill Neighborhood Watch group, residents, churches and business owners to control and prevent the damaging effects of criminal activity, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Volunteers from the U.S. Navy also worked throughout the day to clean trash and debris from alongside neighborhoods streets.
During Thursday’s event, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office served one arrest warrant, making a total of two arrests. There were 55 safety violations issued, plus eight safety violations issued to Florida DOT during three safety inspections. There were citations written for 30 code violations and 15 tons of debris removed the area. The Sheriff’s Office also verified five sex offender addresses.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured top: A driver stops at a vehicle checkpoint on Highway 95A at Williams Ditch Road in Cottage Hill Thursday morning. Pictured inset: Volunteers pick up trash along Williams Ditch Road. Pictured below: A pickup truck is searched after a drug dog alerted on the vehicle. Pictured bottom: A traffic stop along Highway 95A. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Man Gets 30 Years For Robbery With A Hammer
January 17, 2014
An Escambia County man that was armed with a hammer during the robbery of an ATM is headed to prison.
Everly Scott Lippwe, 22, was convicted Thursday by an Escambia County Jury of attempted robbery with a weapon while wearing a mask. Following the verdict, Circuit Judge Linda Nobles sentenced Lippwe to 30 years in state prison.
On April 13, 2012, at the Circle K located on Gulf Beach Highway, Darrell Wickson was working in the back of the store when he heard a loud noise up front. When he went out front to see what caused the noise he saw Lippwe and his co-defendant, Joseph Cameron, enter the store wearing hooded sweatshirts, their faces covered with masks and both armed with hammers.
They ordered Wickson to the back of the store where he was forced to lie on the ground while Lippwe attempted to break into the ATM machine. After the failed attempt, both defendants fled the store. Cameron was later found and confessed to the robbery. He also stated that Everly Lippwe was the second robber.
Lippwe was previously sentenced in Santa Rosa County to 40 years in prison on his conviction of multiple counts of burglary, theft and dealing in stolen property. The sentence imposed by Judge Nobles will run consecutive to the 40 years state prison sentence he is currently serving.
Northview Remains Undefeated With Win Over Holmes County
January 17, 2014
The undefeated Northview Chiefs continued to dominate Thursday night as they earned another big district win 51-20 over Holmes County.
With the win, the Chiefs improved to 12-0 overall , 4-0 in the district. Scoring for the Chiefs were Cameron Newsome 22, Tony Mcaroy 17, Eric Williams 5, Nick Lambert 5, and Keondrae Lett 2.
For a photo gallery, click here.
In girls varsity action Thursday, Holmes County defeated Northview. The Lady Chiefs were down 34-7 at the half when Coach Derek Marshman decided to play all freshmen in the second half for a 55-32 final. Danielle Steadham led with 7 points. Jada Tucker added 3, Mallarie Rigby, Abbie Johnson, De’Asia Fountain each scored 2 points. Emily Heard had 1.
The Chiefs will face Chipley in another big district game on road tonight. JV boys play at 4:00, varsity girls at 6:00 and varsity boys at 7:30 in Chipley.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Correctional Helps Byrneville Elementary Celebrate Literacy
January 17, 2014
Byrneville Elementary School took part in “Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida!” this week with a little help from Century Correctional Institution.
Several Century Correctional staff members volunteered their own time to read to the students this week because they realize that reading to young children is a great activity to stimulate language and cognitive skills while building motivation for reading, curiosity and memory.
The CCI staff members stressed the importance of learning to read and good education to the Byrneville students.
Pictured top: Assistant Warden Hutchins with Byrneville Elementary students. Pictured below: Warden Doug Sloan reads to students. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Interim County Administrator Touart Submits Retirement
January 17, 2014
Escambia County Interim Administrator George Touart has announced his retirement, effective February 3.
“I would like to thank the Board of County Commissioners for the opportunity to serve the citizens of Escambia County,” said Touart, who became interim administrator December 1, 2012.
In retirement letter, Tourt said he was proud of accomplishments that included the transition of the Escambia County Jail and the library system, the four-cent gas tax for mass transit and a 3 percent across the board employee pay raise.
The BOCC is currently in the process of hiring a new permanent administrator from a short list of five candidates that did not include Touart. Although he applied for the job, the board had voted to exclude him from the final selection process.
Touart has been on sick leave since December 26 as he battles cancer, with Assistant County Administrator Larry Newsom handling his duties.
Forestry Responds To Cantonment Grass Fire
January 16, 2014
The Cantonment Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Florida Division of Forestry responded to a grass fire early Thursday afternoon. The fire was reported to be small in size but quickly grew larger in an orchard and around farm equipment and structures in the 1000 block of Pine Top Lane.
There were no injuries reported.
Pictured: The Florida Division of Forestry arrives at an out of control grass fire on Pine Top Lane in Cantonment. Pictured below: Light smoke could be seen from Pine Top Lane. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Animal Cruelty Charges Filed Against Three People
January 16, 2014
Felony animal cruelty charges brought directly by the State Attorney’s Office have been filed against three people.
For an update to this story, click here.
Robert Earl Simmons, age 54 of McDavid, and 36-year old Feather Lynn McGlothren of Century are each facing two counts of confinement of animals (dogs) without sufficient food or water, and four counts of cruelty to animals. The same charges were filed against a third person, but that person has since died.
Simmons was arrested on the charges against him Tuesday afternoon. He is being held without bond due to a probation violation in a 2012 grand theft and trespassing case.
Arrest warrants have been issued for McGlothern and are still outstanding, according to the State Attorney’s Office. Anyone knowing her whereabouts is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
The State Attorney’s Office has not yet released any specific information about the alleged animal cruelty in the case, other than dogs were involved.