Obama Commutes Sentences Of 214, Including Two From Pensacola, One From Atmore
August 4, 2016
President Obama commuted the sentences of 214 more federal inmates Wednesday, including one from Atmore and two from Pensacola.
Scottie Ladon Dixon of Atmore was sentenced to life in prison with a concurrent 33 month sentence with 10 years supervised released on May 18, 2010. Dixon pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine. Dixon admitted in federal court that he sold 6.2 kilograms (13.67 pounds) of crack cocaine while he was on supervised release from a 1997 drug conviction.
A Drug Enforcement Administration’s High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area task force agent used a confidential informant to purchase crack from Dixon near Bay Minette on April 21, 2009. According to court documents, Dixon bragged about the quality of crack and sold the confidential informant two cookies of crack for $2,000. As federal agents raided Dixon’s home, he was found at the end of a trail of cocaine powder, standing over a toilet. Court documents indicated that agents found crack in the sewage pipes under his trailer. He was taken into custody by federal agents at his trailer at 307 East 4th Street in Atmore on April 30.
Dixon’s sentence was commuted to a term of 221 months imprisonment.
Christopher M. Dees of Pensacola was sentenced to life in prison, 10 years supervised release and a $1,000 fine on September 1, 2004. He was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine and 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine base. His prison sentence was commuted to a term of 262 months imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Christopher Stanton of Pensacola was sentenced to 360 months imprisonment with eight years supervised release on July 25, 2006. He was convicted of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of cocaine base. His sentence was commuted to expire August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Obama has now commuted the sentences of 562 people incarcerated under what he calls outdated and unduly harsh sentencing laws, including 197 individuals who were serving life sentences. The majority were nonviolent offenders sentenced for drug crimes. He has commuted the sentences of more prisoners than the past nine presidents combined. He has also granted 70 pardons.
Students Enjoy Milkshakes With Their School Resource Officer
August 4, 2016
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office held a “Milkshake With A School Resource Officer” event at Chick-fil-A on Nine Mile Road Wednesday evening.
The event provided an opportunity for students to meet their SRO before school starts, and enjoy a little conversation over a free milkshake provided by Chick-fil-A.
Over 50 students took part in the event. The Sheriff’s Office also handed out free school supplies to the kids.
Pictured top: Florida’s statewide School Resource Office of the Year, Deputy Ronnie Gill of Ernest Ward Middle School, with students enjoying milkshakes Wednesday evening at Chick-fil-A on Nine Mile Road. Also pictured: The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office “Milkshake With A School Resource Officer” event. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Debate Turns Emotional Over Dozier School Memorial
August 4, 2016
A state task force on Wednesday began an emotional debate about how to commemorate the victims of abuse and brutality at the Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys and what to do with the unidentified remains of youths who died at the shuttered reform school.
“The mission and goals of this task force are different and sensitive from most other task forces,” Secretary of State Ken Detzner told the nine-member panel, which held its first meeting in Marianna, near the site of the 1,400-acre Dozier property in Jackson County.
Detzner said the task force has been directed by the Legislature to develop recommendations by Oct. 1 on the creation of a memorial to honor the victims of the reform school, which operated from 1900 to 2011, as well as designating a permanent burial site for victims whose bodies were unidentified or unclaimed.
An investigation led by University of South Florida researchers found 51 sets of remains in an unmarked graveyard known as Boot Hill Burial Ground at the Dozier facility, including victims of a 1914 dormitory fire. USF anthropologists identified 21 of the sets of remains through DNA and other methods.
The law that created the task force also provided $7,500 for each family for funeral and reburial costs if they claimed the remains of victims.
But in its initial meeting, the task force found itself at odds over the issue of whether the memorial and the permanent burial site should be at the former Dozier reform school or elsewhere in the state.
Eric Hill, a Jackson County commissioner who serves on the task force, said the permanent burial site and memorial would receive greater exposure if it was in a more populated area of the state, rather than the rural Panhandle county.
“I think the location would be best fit with a larger population,” Hill said.
He was supported by Jerry Cooper, who was sent to Dozier as a runaway teen and who leads a group of “White House Boys,” an organization named for a building where youths said they were beaten and abused.
“I see no reason, whatsoever, to reinter these people, these children, back on this property,” Cooper said. “As far as I am concerned, it would be only adding insult to injury.”
Dale Landry, representing the Florida NAACP, said his civil rights organization was unanimous in believing that the memorial should be at the former reform school.
“Our biggest fear is that once you let it go, it will be forgotten,” Landry said, adding the goal should be to “repurpose that land and make it sacred.”
Stephen Britt, whose uncle died at Dozier in 1946, strongly objected to the idea of not having a memorial and permanent burial in Jackson County.
“They want it to be totally eliminated. They don’t want any reference of it being here. They are ashamed, but they shouldn’t be,” Britt said. “They didn’t commit those crimes. Their ancestors did, but they didn’t.”
Britt, at one point, called the proceeding “a farce,” but later apologized for his outburst, while adding “you must understand this is extremely personal to me.”
“I think everyone understands how emotional this is,” said Timothy Parsons, head of the state Division of Historical Resources and chairman of the task force. “And I think we all feel really strongly about our responsibilities.”
David Jackson, a Florida A&M University history professor who was appointed as a non-voting adviser to the task force, said it would be “very unusual” to not have a memorial at the site of the former reform school.
“It gives us an opportunity to continue to teach people for generations to come about what’s right, what’s wrong, what should not have occurred so we won’t repeat those things going forward,” he said.
The task force agreed to wait until its Aug. 19 meeting to begin voting on proposals for creating a memorial and designating a permanent burial site for the unidentified or unclaimed Dozier victims.
The task force’s Oct. 1 report will be forwarded to the Department of State, lawmakers and Gov. Rick Scott and the Cabinet.
by Lloyd Dunkelberger and Tom Urban, The News Service of Florida
Pictured top: A trench dug in the search for human remains at the Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys in Marianna. Pictured below: Mapping the graves. Pictured inset: The remains of George Owen Smith have been positively identified. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Zika Tourism Effects Could Take Time To Play Out
August 4, 2016
With Florida battling a Zika virus outbreak in Miami, the full impacts of federal and international travel advisories on the state’s tourism industry won’t be known for months.
The state’s tourism-marketing arm Visit Florida, following Gov. Rick Scott and other officials, has maintained a message that Florida is safe and open for business.
But Mark Bonn, professor of services management at Florida State University’s Dedman School of Hospitality, said the state — which recently has also drawn negative international attention because of a mass shooting in Orlando and toxic algae blooms in estuaries fed by Lake Okeechobee — needs to get a handle on the Zika issue before the cooler-weather tourism season kicks in.
“We know from tourist behavioral research that the most important decision-making motive in a consumer’s mind about where they’re going to go for their vacation is safety and security,” said Bonn, who specializes in tourism marketing and research. “So if a consumer is at all unsure about a destination’s safety and security, they’re probably going to pass and probably go somewhere else.”
Bonn said most travelers to Florida aren’t planning to visit the area of Miami known as Wynwood, where state Department of Health officials believe people have been infected with Zika through mosquito bites. But the perception of the situation, similar to the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010, could be much wider that the actual area of impact.
“The further away the consumer was from the epicenter of the (BP) damage, the more fear they had that there was a factor of unsafeness in the consumptive factor of seafood,” said Bonn, who published a study on the impacts of the BP spill. “I guarantee you that the same hypothesis is true here. That the further away the consumer is, such as in the UK or Canada, the higher the fear is about traveling to Florida.”
British and Canadian health officials have issued advisories about travel to Florida.
The British release was for all of Florida, while the Public Health Agency of Canada advisory said pregnant women and those planning pregnancies should “avoid travel to the area in South Florida and countries with reported mosquito-borne Zika virus.”
The Canadian advisory, ranking the outbreak a Level 2 risk, also informed all travelers to “protect themselves from mosquito bites.”
Under the Canadian grading, a Level 3 risk would advise people to avoid non-essential travel into an area with an outbreak and Level 4 states that individuals should avoid all travel due to a high risk to the general public of infection.
Those advisories came as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an advisory that pregnant women should not travel to the Wynwood area of Miami.
Zika, which emerged last year in South America, generally produces mild symptoms. However, it is particularly dangerous to pregnant women because it can lead to severe birth defects, including microcephaly, which leaves babies with abnormally small heads and developmental problems.
Health officials are investigating 15 cases of people infected with Zika in South Florida. No new locally transmitted cases were reported Wednesday. Numerous other cases have been diagnosed involving people who were infected while traveling outside the continental United States.
Scott has been holding roundtables across the state and on Wednesday held a midday call with Visit Florida and tourism leaders about Zika preparedness.
Regional tourism officials in South and Central Florida didn’t respond to requests for comments.
The governor’s office issued a release Wednesday that said the state Department of Health is providing free Zika testing to pregnant women in all county health departments.
On Tuesday, Scott and other state officials tried to assure the public that Florida remains safe.
Visit Florida President & CEO Will Seccombe on Tuesday called the outbreak “a hyper-local situation,” joining Scott in expressing confidence in the state’s effort to contain and eradicate Zika.
“The Florida Department of Health reports that the only locally transmitted cases to date are confined to a neighborhood in Miami,” Seccombe said in a statement. “For perspective, that’s a one-square-mile area in a state where a drive from end to end can cover more than 800 miles.”
Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam said the state needs to get a “clear message” that Florida is safe outside of the Miami neighborhood, but people need take “reasonable precautions.”
“I grilled out every night this weekend,” Putnam said Tuesday after a state Cabinet meeting. “The mosquitoes that are biting you at dusk are not the mosquitoes that are carrying Zika. And based upon what we know so far, the mosquitoes that are carrying Zika are pretty tightly contained in one area of South Florida.”
While state officials were calling Florida “safe,” CDC Director Tom Frieden appeared Tuesday on ABC’s “Good Morning America” where he said eradication has been difficult in the affected area in Miami.
“It could be that the mosquitoes there are resistant to the insecticide being used,” he said.
He added that the neighborhood’s design had contributed to the difficulties.
“It’s mixed use. It has industrial, business and residential and that makes mosquito control very complex,” Frieden said.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Cantonment Community Group, Church Provide Food, Educational Help For Kids
August 4, 2016
Wednesdays in the park have meant a good lunch, a fun time, and a little education thanks a local church and a community group.
All summer on Wednesday, Saint Jude Catholic Church has provided free hot dog meals in Cantonment’s Carver Park on Webb Street. This Wednesday, they provided a pizza lunch. The Cantonment Improvement Committee has cosponsored the events.
Children have also had the opportunity to keep up with their reading and math skills using the computer lab the Carver Park Resource Center.
Photos courtesy Cantonment Improvement Committee for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tour The New School: Century Academy Open House Today
August 4, 2016
An open house will be held Thursday at the new Century Academy, a private, non-profit K-12 school that will specialize in teaching children diagnosed with autism and other related learning disabilities.
Anyone interested in learning more about the school is welcome to attend.
“We are very excited to show the community the wonderful changes to bring this old building back to life and to be able to enrich the Century community. The students will absolutely love the rain forest and ocean themes. It is a beautiful place but one that is carefully designed to enhance the educational experience for children with autism and other learning disorders,” says Barbara Barber, director of Century Academy.
At the present time there are two types of scholarships available, the John McKay scholarship and the Gardiner scholarship. These scholarships generally cover the cost of tuition for a student attending a private school. Century Academy is now actively in the second phase of registration for the John McKay scholarship. This scholarship has a September 1 deadline to file an intent notice.
The Century Academy open house will be held 4-7 p.m. Thursday at the school, 440 East Hecker Road.
Parents looking for more information can call (850) 437-5560.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Football Registration Continues At NWE, Century
August 4, 2016
Practice is underway for the 2016 football season for both Century and Northwest Escambia, and registration is continuing.
Century Blackcats CRA football is continuing football player registration during practices 5:30-7:00 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays until August 23 at the Anthony Pleasant Park on Highway 4. Registration fee for football is $25, free for cheerleaders. Cheerleaders must purchase a uniform for $110-$140. The ages for football are 5-13 and 4-13 for cheerleading. For more information, contact April at (850) 776-5334 or Ricky at (850) 777-6288.
Northwest Escambia is continuing to register football players during practices. Football registration is $50 with NWE providing all equipment and uniforms, except cleats. Football practices and registration times are 6-8 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and some Fridays until August 12 at Bradberry Park. Cheerleader registrations are no longer being accepted due to uniform turnaround times. For more information, call (251) 234-4716.
Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Douglas Lambert
August 4, 2016
Mr. Douglas Lambert, 74, passed away on Monday, August 1, 2016, at a local nursing home. Mr. Lambert was born on January 24, 1942, in Fruitdale, AL and was a resident of Atmore for most of his life.
He is preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Nellie Ann Lambert; parents, Angus Lambert and Emma Presley Reed; and one sister, Helen Gipson Burkett.
He is survived by his two sons, Doug (Dana) Lambert of Forney, TX, and Aaron (Kim) Lambert of Molino; one daughter, Rhonda (Hubert) Rolin of Atmore; three brothers, Donald (Judy) Lambert of Walnut Hill, John Earl Reed of Houston, TX, and James Reed of Cleveland, TX; and four sisters, Gaynell Vaughn of Arab, AL, Viola Conn of Atmore, Lagatha Lilly of New Caney, TX, and Wanda (Kerry) Vowels of Houston, TX; 15 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and very special nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held Friday, August 5, 2016, at 10 a.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Joe Gipson and Rev. Ricky Tedder officiating.
Burial will follow at the Serenity Garden Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Brandi Lewis, Brittany Hartley, Traci Boyington, Kelli Boyington, Jessica Lambert, Courtney Lambert and Lexus Lambert.
Honorary pallbearers will be LiLi Hartley, Kylee Brantley and Sadie Lambert.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Theresa Louise Evans
August 4, 2016
Theresa Louise “Tweet” Evans, 58, of Cantonment, passed away Monday, August 1, 2016. She was born February 10, 1958, to the late Benjamin and Vera Cartwright McCrory. She was a homemaker. She was family oriented, loved the beach, was an avid reader and life of the party. She also loved musicals and old movies and especially loved her dogs.
She is preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Benjamin McCrory.
She is survived by her loving husband, Wayne Hallman Evans; daughters, Amanda Evans of Canton, GA, Amber (Jason) McCurley of Cartersville, GA, and Ashley Cox of Canton, GA; grandchildren, Cierra McCurley, Jacob McCurley and Paisley McCurley of Cartersville, GA, and Zoe Cox of Canton, GA; brothers, Daryl McCrory, Michael McCrory, Eddie McCrory; sisters, Adonna Rutland and Cynthia (Bart) Gaines; and many nieces, nephews and friends.
Pallbearers will be Jacob McCurley, Jason McCurley, Tom Norris, Mark Coburn, Bart Gaines and Artice Skipper.
Visitation will be Friday, August 5, 2016, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North beginning at 11:00 a.m. with the funeral service to follow at 12 p.m. with Brother Roy Chewning officiating.
In lieu of flowers, family would appreciate donations be made to Faith Chapel Funeral Home towards the funeral cost.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is in charge of arrangements.
Tate Showband To Hold Preview Night, Dinner And Auction
August 4, 2016
This Friday is the Tate High School Showband of the South preview night for friends and family at 6:30 p.m.
The preview will be followed with a dinner and auction at 7:30 p.m. Dinner tickets are $6 per person and can be purchased at the door. The dinner will include a BBQ sandwich, chips, and a dessert.
A live and silent auction will be held to raise money for the December Hawaii trip where the band will perform at the 75th anniversary of Pearl Harbor. Auction items to include donations from Dolphin Cruises, Pensacola Lighthouse, Blue Wahoos, Ice Flyers, musical instruments, golf passes, dinner at Hemingway’s, Flounders, and much much more.