Public Meeting: Century Looking To Extend Term Of Mayor, Council Members
June 12, 2014
The Century Town Council will vote during a special meeting Friday on whether or not to extend the term of the mayor and two of five council members for an additional year as part of plan to align the town’s election cycles with the rest of the county and state.
With the current election date cycle, the positions of Mayor Freddie McCall, Council President Ann Brooks and member Annie Savage would be on the ballot in 2015 — when there are no other local elections in the county. The town is looking to extend their term expiration dates from January 2016 to January 2017 and put the three seats on the 2016 ballot, coinciding with other local, state, and national elections, including the presidential election.
The Century Town Council will hold a public hearing on the proposed ordinance, along with one that sets the 2014 election dates, during a special meeting Friday afternoon at 3:00. The meeting, at Century Town Hall, is open to the public.
Pictured: Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David Stafford and Century Town Clerk Leslie Gonzalez review final vote totals in 2011 at the Century Town Hall. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
BayBears Beat Wahoos 5-3
June 12, 2014
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos (29-37) fell to the Mobile BayBears (40-25), 5-3, in the first game of the series at Hank Aaron Stadium. The BayBears are the first team in the Southern League South Division to hit the 40-win mark in 2014. Pensacola outhit Mobile 10 hits to seven, but failed to win their third straight game.
RHP Daniel Corcino took the loss, lasting 5.0 innings for the Wahoos. Corcino struck out seven batters on the game, which was his second-highest total of the season. LHP Fabian Williamson pitched well in relief. He went 2.0 innings without allowing a hit and struck out three BayBear batters
The Wahoos answered the BayBears early after Mobile took a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Ross Perez hit a solo shot to right field in his first at-bat against his former team. Devin Lohman added an RBI sacrifice fly in the inning and Josh Fellhauer nailed a two-out RBI single up the middle to give the Wahoos the lead. Juan Duran smashed the ball all game long; the left fielder ended the day 3-for-4 with three hard hit singles.
RHP Justin Fitzgerald stayed perfect on the year and earned his sixth win for the BayBears. Fitzgerald scattered nine hits over 6.1 innings and gave up 3 R/ER. The right-hander gave up just four hits over his final 4.1 innings of work in the contest. Jake Barrett earned a four-out save for the BayBears, his 11th of the season.
Third baseman Jake Lamb continued his incredible first half with an RBI double in the first inning to give the BayBears a quick 2-0 lead. Lamb provided the big blow in the fourth inning with a bases loaded two-RBI single.
The Wahoos will send RHP Robert Stephenson (3-5, 3.49) to the mound Thursday with just four games remaining in the first half of the season. The BayBears will counter with RHP Mike Lee (3-3, 4.16). First pitch is set for 7:05 from Hank Aaron Stadium.
United Way Disperses Over $170K In Support Of Flood Relief Efforts
June 12, 2014
United Way of Escambia County has disbursed $177,596 to local non-profit partners in support of local efforts to help Northwest Florida recover from the devastating floods that impacted our community April 29 and 30.
The funds were raised online at www.helpNWFLrecover.org, at recent telethon/radio-thons at Cordova and Santa Rosa malls, and from local contributors to flood relief.
A total of $46,876 was donated to the disaster fund through May 20, and was distributed to local United Ways based on the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) assessment of loss and impact. Any donor restrictions were disbursed to the United Ways based on donor instruction. Using these considerations, local United Ways received monies from the fund as follows: United Way of Escambia received $35,324, United Way of Okaloosa/Walton received $6,430, and United Way of Santa Rosa received $5,122.
United Way of Escambia County’s board of directors supplemented funds by adding $150,000 of their reserve funds. The intent of all funding is to assist local survivors and non-profit organizations who need help recovering from damage sustained. United Way of Escambia County reported that funds received locally have been awarded through an allocation process by which non-profit agencies submitted an application that was reviewed by community investment volunteers.
Recommendations from these volunteer panelists were then reviewed and voted on by United Way’s board of directors. The end result is that $177,596 has been disbursed to meet local needs as follows:
American Red Cross received $16,786 to assist survivors through case management of those adopted from the callers who reached out to United Way 2-1-1 and were determined to have unmet needs after application to FEMA.
AmeriCorps St. Louis received $4,600 to support an extension of their four-member team for a two-week period so they could help coordinate the assistance of field teams assisting survivors in need of mucking and gutting, food, housing, clothing, furniture and other assistance.
ARC Gateway Chapman Group Home received $17,250 to help return their Chapman Group Home to active status so they could continue to provide assistance to special needs residents served at the home.
Be Ready Alliance Coordinating for Emergencies (BRACE) received $20,714 for materials that they can share with field teams who they recruit to help homeowners with recovery from damage. This will be essential to homeowners who will otherwise go without the support of a paid contractor.
Catholic Charities received $23,750, United Ministries received $15,500, and The Salvation Army received $14,286 to assist with case management of survivors that have called in to 2-1-1 asking for help.
Early Learning Coalition (ELC) received $4,400 to help eight partner childcare centers recover from flood damage. The centers were vetted through an application they made to ELC to determine what would be necessary to return them to capacity for school readiness. This funding will help enable them to continue serving the low-income families supported through the subsidized childcare program.
Learn to Read of Northwest Florida received $1,500 to replace office furniture lost in the flooding. While the owner of the building is replacing sheetrock, carpeting and other building materials that had to be extracted from the building, Learn to Read did not have the funding to replace the furniture or supplies they lost.
Legal Service of North Florida, Inc. received $5,200 to assist with an AmeriCorps case manager who could help them double their response to survivors who needed legal assistance.
Manna Food Bank, Inc. received two grants totaling $46,150 to help them return to service. Initial funding was allocated to purchase steel tables for food sorting and subsequent funding has been awarded to help re-establish critical infrastructure needed to facilitate client interviews, volunteers and staff. Additionally, it is hoped some funding will help mitigate heat in the surviving warehouse where volunteers and staff will be working throughout the year.
St. Vincent de Paul/Alfred Washburn Center received $7,460 to assist in the recovery of the supplies and strengthen capacity to return to full service after severe flooding of the grounds and building damaged appliances, food stores, tarps, tents and sleeping bags. The center supports the area homeless.
“The Arc Gateway is grateful for the help in restoring one of our group homes that was flooded. The money will go a long way towards restoring the lives of the women who lived there,” says Charles Brewer, Executive Director of The Arc Gateway.
While United Way of Escambia County has been grateful that long-time donors have helped the organization support so many partners in this time of need, there are many unmet needs remaining. If you would like to join the recovery effort, United Way is continuing to receive donations through the secure site: www.helpNWFLrecover.org.
Local Students Compete In State History Fair
June 12, 2014
Recently, 44 students represented Escambia County at the State History Fair in Tallahassee.
Escambia County brought home three first place winners, one second place entry, one third place entry, and three special prizes, with an additional eight entries making the run-offs. First and second place winners will compete in the National History Day competition to be held this month in College Park, Maryland.
Escambia County winners were:
EXHIBIT BOARDS:
- Holly Gorton (Pensacola High School) – 1st place Senior Individual Exhibit, “Pullman Porters Pave the Way for Civil Rights.”
- Emily Washler (Tate High School) – 3rd place Senior Individual Exhibit, “Tinker v. Des Moines: Defining Student Rights for Generations to Come.”
- Peter Jutras and Mary Jutras (Pensacola Catholic) – Finalist Senior Group Exhibit, “I Don’t Want to Be a Good Captain: Going Down with the Ship.”
WEBSITES
- Drew Anderson and Sara Fuller (Pensacola Catholic) – 1st place Senior Group Website, “Photography with a Purpose: Lewis Hine and the Fight Against Child Labor.”
- Alexander Pope (Brown Barge) – Finalist Junior Individual Website “Andrew Jackson: Breaking Rights or Following Responsibilities”
- Chis Bougher and Riley Laggan (Creative Learning Academy) – Finalist Junior Group Website, “The United States Public Health Service: Violating African Americans Rights and Freedom.”
- Eric Masterson (Pensacola Catholic) – Finalist Senior Individual Website, “Rights and Responsibilities Protected During the Civil Rights Movements of the 1960’s.”
HISTORICAL PAPERS
- Sara Buchanan (Bellview Middle School) – 1st place Junior Historical Paper, “Gideon V. Wainwright: The Right to Counsel”
- Gorham Partington, (Episcopal Day School) – Finalist Junior Historical Paper, “Evolution in Science Education: Echoes of the Scopes Monkey Trial”
- Kelly Wu (Pensacola High School) – Finalist Senior Historical Paper, “Debate and Balance Between Government Responsibilities and Private Rights: the Dissolution of the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey”
- Madison Michelis (Pensacola High School) – Finalist Senior Historical Paper “Evolution vs. Creationism: The 1925 Tennessee Butler Act and the Trial of John Thomas Scopes.”
HISTORICAL PERFORMANCES
- Allyson Shumpert and Logan Reeder (Episcopal Day School) -1st place Junior Group Performance “Reading, Writing and Riots: The Responsibility of the U.S. Government to Provide Public Education for All and Ruby Bridges’ Fight for Well Deserved Rights”
HISTORICAL DOCUMENTARY
- Nicholas Krostag (Tate High School)- Finalist Senior Individual Documentary “The Legacy of Landis: The Rights and Responsibilities of Baseball’s First Commissioner and the Black Sox Edict”
Other Special Awards
Sara Buchanan, (Bellview Middle School) was awarded the Frederick Cubberly Florida History Award for her historical paper, “Gideon V. Wainwright: The Right to Counsel.” The Hispanic Heritage Award went to Georgia Rogers (St. Paul’s Catholic School) for her Junior Performance entry, “Viva La Causa.” Maggie Byrd (West Florida High School) was awarded the Outstanding County Entry for his documentary entitled, “The Rwandan Genocide.”
This competition is the largest state level contest affiliated with the National History Day program, with over 11,000 students and 640 entries. Thirty counties competed in the State History Fair with entries aligned to this year’s theme, “Rights and Responsibilities in History.”
Putnam, Atwater Near $2M In Contributions
June 12, 2014
Though they appear to face little opposition, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam and state Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater continued to pile up campaign cash in May, which each nearing $2 million in total contributions, newly filed records show.
Putnam raised $186,295 during the month, bringing his overall total to $1,964,604. Atwater collected $164,500 in May and reported an overall total of $1,899,354.
Updated campaign-finance figures had not been posted online early Tuesday evening for Thad Hamilton, a Democrat running for agriculture commissioner. But Hamilton had raised $12,163 through April. Similarly, William Rankin, a Democrat running for chief financial officer, had raised $8,105 through April.
James Kimberly Smith
June 12, 2014
James Kimberly Smith, 60 of McDavid, passed away Thursday, May 29, 2014, in Pensacola. He was a dry wall artist born in Dade City, FL on November 21, 1953, to James Buford and Patricia Duey Smith.
He is preceded in death by his father, James Buford Smith and a son, James Colin Smith.
Survivors include his mother, Patricia Smith of Kissimmee; one daughter, Celeste Smith of Jacksonville; one grandson, Jacobi James Smith of Jacksonville; and one brother, Stephen Smith of Kissimmee.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Jacobi James Smith College Fund c/o Regions Bank/Celeste Smith.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home, is in charge of all arrangements.
Anne Long Davidson
June 12, 2014
Mrs. Anne Long Davidson, 47, passed away on Thursday, June 12, 2014, in Mobile.
Mrs. Davidson was a native of Decatur, Alabama, former resident of Bay Minette and was a resident of Grand Bay.
Her father, Harold Bracken; daughter, Kristy Windsor and brother, Charles Bracken, precede her in death.
She is survived by her mother, Ann Bracken of Bay Minette; husband of 4 ½ years, Lee Davidson of Grand Bay; two sons, Richard Long, Jr. of Theodore and David (Britney) Long of Theodore; two brothers, Michael (Traci) Bracken of Bay Minette and Timothy (Madeline) Bracken of Columbia, SC; four sisters, Virginia (Bobby) Lee of Bay Minette, Frankie “Nina” (Rodger) McDuffie of Bay Minette, Amy (Clayton) Huggins of Wilcox, and Omaree “Marie” (Jason) Graham of Bay Minette; and seven grandchildren.
Funeral services will be Saturday, June 14, 2014, at 2 p.m. at the Full Power Holiness Church with Rev. Ed McMillan and Rev. Joe Welch officiating.
Burial will follow at the Bay Minette Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Friday, June 13, 2014, from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. at the Full Power Holiness Church.
Pallbearers will be Adam James, Joseph Hilburn, Bill Long, Chris Long and Lee Cooley.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Missing Endangered Adult From Walnut Hill Located
June 11, 2014
A missing endangered adult from Walnut Hill was located early Wednesday morning.
Arver Moorer, 81 was reported missing after he was last seen about 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the area of West Florida Hospital on Davis Highway in Pensacola. Moorer was safely located about 1:15 a.m., shortly after the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office issued a press release that he was missing.
Murder Trial Delayed For Molino Mom Claiming Self Defense
June 11, 2014
A Molino woman that claimed she shot her husband in self defense appeared in court Tuesday for a hearing.
The second degree murder trial of 44-year old Rebecca A. Rogers was set to begin in about two weeks, but Tuesday Circuit Judge Linda Nobles delayed jury selection to begin in mid-August.
Rogers has entered a not guilty plea to the charges against her. She remains free on a $300,000 bond posted in late September.
She allegedly shot her husband, 42-year old Jason Lee Rogers, in the head last August at the couple’s home in the in the 3400 block of Highway 29 near Mathison Road. He died about two days later.
The shooting was domestic violence related, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Rebecca Rogers called 911 to say that her husband choked her and she shot him, according to an arrest report. Deputies arrived to find Rebecca Rogers standing outside the home. They found Jason Rogers lying unconscious in the back bedroom of the home on his stomach with what appeared to be a gunshot to his head. According to the report, he also suffered two other gunshot wounds to the back.
The couple had four daughters together.
Man With DUI History Charged With Two DUI’s For Recent Wrecks
June 11, 2014
A Cantonment man with a history of DUI convictions was arrested this week for two DUI traffic crashes on Beulah Road back in April.
Victor Keen Gallaher, age 60 of Pace Parkway, was charged with two felony counts of DUI fourth or subsequent offense, two counts of DUI property damage, one count of refusing to submit to a DUI test, one count of leaving the scene of a crash with property damage, and two counts of careless driving.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Gallaher first struck a Mazda Miata on Beulah Road at Frank Reeder Road on April 24. The driver of the Miata was allegedly rear-ended by Gallaher before he fled the scene in his white Chevrolet S10 pickup.
A few miles away, witnesses told troopers that Gallaher was traveling about 80 mph when he lost control, ran off Beulah Road and wrapped his pickup truck around a utility pole.
Gallaher was airlifted to Baptist Hospital, where, according to a trooper, he refused a blood alcohol test.
According to the FHP, Gallaher’s license was revoked at the time of the crashes for three prior DUI convictions in 1996, 2004 and 2006, and he has prior charges of refusing to submit to a DUI test and driving while license suspended.
At the time of his arrest on the outstanding traffic warrants this week in Cantonment, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office reported finding Gallaher in possession of 16 Alprazolam (trade name Xanax) in his back pocket. He told deputies, according to an arrest report, that he did not have a prescription for the pills.
Gallaher was charged with one felony count of possession of a controlled substance without a prescription.
