IP Explosion: Cleanup Area Expands Into New Areas; Commissioner Meets With Victims
January 28, 2017
The cleanup and remediation area around the International Paper Mill in Cantonment had expanded into two new neighborhoods by Friday, as a county commissioner vowed to hold the paper company responsible for the needs of his constituents.
“As a result of the events at the International Paper mill Sunday evening, I am greatly concerned about the well being and the livelihoods of my friends, neighbors and constituents who have been negatively impacted by the explosion,” District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry, who represents the area, said.
Barry joined NorthEscambia.com’s publisher in walking Woodbury Circle and Woodbury Place Friday morning, observing the cleanup efforts and talking to residents that remained behind.
“I can’t afford to leave home,” one resident said. “They (International Paper) will pay you back for a hotel, but I don’t have the money to pay for it up front,” one resident said. He said was generally pleased with IP’s cleanup efforts in his neighborhood, but he did have health concerns after the area was covered by with a mixture of black liquor and wood pulp during Sunday night’s explosion.
International Paper has said short term skin irritation was the most common concern with exposure to the material. Individuals with health concerns were urged by IP to contact their primary care physician.
The IP-funded cleanup started days ago in the Woodbury area. By Friday, teams had fanned out into two other neighborhood on Countri Lane and Kathleen Avenue, power washing streets. IP said more than 160 people were working at a faster rate that initially anticipated to “restore” the neighborhood. Full-scale remediation efforts were underway on 10 houses, and more than three miles of roadways have been cleaned.
Residents with concerns following the IP explosion are asked to call the Joint Information Center 24 hours a day at (850) 968-4208. On Saturday from 2-4 p.m., International Paper will host a Community Open House for residents and businesses in the affected area. The open house will take place on the Cantonment Mill lawn (large white tent), located at 375 Muscogee Road.
Pictured top: Escambia County Commissioner Steven Barry meets with a resident of Woodbury Circle Friday morning in the area impacted by the Cantonment International Paper explosion. Also pictured: By Friday, the cleanup had expanded to Countri Lane (pictured inset) and Kathleen Avenue (pictured below). NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Byrneville Elementary Eyes Possible Building Project
January 27, 2017
Big improvements could be on the horizon for Byrneville Elementary School with the construction of a new building.
Currently, over one-half of Byrneville’s classrooms are located in eight aging wooden portable buildings with administration, a lunchroom and a few classrooms located in a wood frame brick building constructed in 1941.
Byrneville has been a “conversion charter” school since 2002 when the Escambia County School District closed the existing Byrneville Elementary School and converted it into charter school operated under its own board of directors.
Funding for the school is still provided by the state and local government, with the local school district providing the campus and major maintenance services.
Now, longtime Principal Dee Wolfe-Sullivan says it is the time for Byrneville to become a full charter school, taking over building ownership and becoming eligible to construct a new permanent building to replace the portables.
“It’s almost like the final snap of the apron strings,” she said. The school would become more directly responsible for its finances, including funding the building construction, but the funds would still come from the county and state coffers. Essentially the change would mean little, she said, other than Byrneville could construct facilities using capital outlay funding that they do not currently receive.
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“Financially, we shouldn’t go broke, right?”, Byrneville board of director member Michelle Driskell asked at a board meeting Wednesday.
“I don’t see us having a problem,” Sullivan replied.
Sullivan said that a new building would allow space for the approximate 200-student elementary school to expand enrollment within class size limits.
“Plus it will be a better learning environment, and much safer. What if that tornado had hit these portables,” Sullivan said, referring to the February 2016 EF-3 tornado that devastated an area of Century about four miles from the Byrneville Elementary School campus.
The new building, if approved by the board of directors and if financing is approved, would be constructed on the Byrneville Elementary School’s current four acre property at 1600 Byrneville Road. While there is no construction timetable in place at this time, the building could open within about two years of final approval.
The school will organize a public meeting to further explain the process to parents and answer any questions. No date for that meeting has been set.
Pictured top: The main building at Byrneville Elementary was constructed in 1941. Pictured below: One of the portable classrooms on the Byrneville Elementary campus. Pictured middle: Principal Dee Wolfe Sullvan addresses the Byrneville Elementary Board of Directors. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Cooler, More Seasonable
January 27, 2017
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 57. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 33. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 57. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 35. West wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 59. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 33. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 58. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 38. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 65.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 45.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 67.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 42.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 61.
Century Changing Uniform Companies, Saving Thousands
January 27, 2017
Newly elected Century Mayor Henry Hawkins switching the town’s uniform supplier, a move that will save several thousand dollars per year.
The town currently utilizes Aramark Uniform Services at an annual cost of $8,026. Most of that contract will be dropped, and the town will purchase utility department uniforms from Reflective Apparel Factory for a one-time fee of $4,410.
Under the new arrangement, employees will be responsible for washing their own uniforms, rather than receiving cleaned uniforms from Aramark.
A small portion of the contract with Aramark will be retained for rugs used by the utility department.
Escambia Man Faces Life Sentence For Armed Robbery
January 27, 2017
An Escambia County jury has found Demeko Sims guilty of robbery with a firearm and petit theft.
On October 24, 2015, the Kwik Mart on Fairfield Drive in Pensacola was robbed by two masked gunmen who stole money from the cash register. Sims and his co-defendant, Joseph Vaughn, were developed as suspects. On November 2, 2015, Sims and Vaughn were detained while riding together in a truck A search of the truck returned the firearms and clothing from in the robbery.
A search warrant of the apartment where Sims and was staying returned additional clothing Sims wore during the robbery. Sims confessed to the robbery when interviewed at the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Sims qualifies as a prison releasee reoffender and will serve a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole. Sentencing is scheduled for March 10 before Judge Joel Boles.
Late last year, Vaughn pleaded and was sentenced to 10 years in state prison.
Suspect Arrested In Nine Mile Road Shooting Death
January 27, 2017
A suspect has been arrested into connection with a January 6 shooting death off East Nine Mile Road.
Shaquille Kushun Jordan was charged with the homicide of Allen Ray Elliott. Elliott died from a gunshot wound to the head after what the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office described as a drug deal gone bad he was found face down in the parking lot of an apartment complex behind Vannoy’s Tires.
Authorities say the suspect and his girlfriend made up a story about being carjacked in order to create an alibi for the crime.
Jordan is being held without bond in the Escambia County Jail.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is still looking for another unknown suspect in this case. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the ECSO at (850) 436-9620.
NorthEscambia.com file photos.
New Radio Station Takes To The Airwaves
January 27, 2017
The area’s newest radio station took to the airwaves Thursday afternoon for their first official broadcast.
WGYJ-LP, The Light is a low power station broadcasting at 93.5 FM in Atmore. The station, owned by Gospel Light Church, is operating at a diminished power at the present time. Once a tower and new equipment are installed in the coming months, the station will broadcast with a power of 100 watts from 100 feet high…giving it expected coverage area of Atmore, Poarch, Canoe and small area of North Escambia around Bratt and some of Walnut Hill.
The Gehman family behind the station was synonymous with broadcasting in Atmore for a numbers of years, with brother Dale, David and Jerry operating WASG AM 550 radio beginning in November 1981 and eventually WYDH-FM before selling both stations in the early 1990’s. David and Jerry, along with other family members and friends, will be involved in the new station.
Sadly, brother Dale Gehman passed away last November unexpectedly after completing most of the engineering work to bring the new low power FM on the air. Much of the station’s first official hour on the air Thursday was devoted to remembering Dale.
The station currently broadcasts from inside the sanctuary of Gospel Light Church on Trammell Street. They plan to move into the renovated space in the church’s education building soon.
The station’s initial broadcast schedule will be 6 a.m. until 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. until 6 p.m. until additional equipment is installed. At that time, WGYJ-LP will broadcast a Christian format 24 hours a day with an emphasis on local news, weather and other Atmore information.
Pictured: WGYJ-LP 93.5 FM took to the air for its first official broadcast Thursday afternoon with David Gehman behind the microphone and guests that included his parents, Martin and Verna Lee Gehman. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Sides Lining Up On Ending Dog Racing, Allowing Slots
January 27, 2017
Both sides of the issue gave a House gambling panel dire warnings Thursday as lawmakers consider allowing Florida’s pari-mutuel operators to do away with horse and dog racing or jai alai games while maintaining other activities like cardrooms or slots.
The House Tourism and Gaming Control Subcommittee heard from the thoroughbred industry, a dog-track operator, a greyhound advocate and the head of an anti-gambling expansion group as lawmakers again gear up to consider sweeping legislation that could alter Florida’s gambling landscape.
The House meeting came a day after a Senate panel unanimously approved a leadership-backed plan that would widely expand slot machine gambling in the state and allow all pari-mutuels but thoroughbred tracks to do away with racing or jai alai games while keeping other gambling activities, a process known as “decoupling.”
Saying that greyhound racing is a dying sport, dog-track operators have urged lawmakers to do away with race requirements. The greyhound advocacy group Grey2K also has pushed Florida — one of just six states that currently allow dog racing — to put an end to the sport.
Over the past decade, pari-mutuel wagering has declined nearly 50 percent, generating more than $30 million in revenue for the state in 2006 and less than $12 million last year, according to an annual report issued by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation.
“We have a product that the audience is not interested in. Frankly, if it wasn’t for the addition of poker, a lot of the pari-mutuel operators would be closed,” said Dan Adkins, vice president of Hartman & Tyner, which owns Mardi Gras Gaming in Hallandale Beach.
Florida’s greyhound tracks got their start nearly a century ago, Adkins said, “but we still need to have products that people are interested in or we can’t survive.”
Adkins’ facility is among pari-mutuels in Broward and Miami-Dade counties that are allowed to have slots. The Senate plan (SB 
would allow “racinos” like Mardi Gras to also operate 25 blackjack tables.
Cary Thiel, executive director of Grey2K USA, maintained that dog racing is not only a thing of the past but is costing the state money and has led to the cruel treatment of racing animals by some operators who use the greyhounds as a means to operate more lucrative poker rooms.
“This industry has found itself out of touch with where mainstream values are regarding the humane treatment of animals,” Thiel said, pledging that his group would continue its crusade to end dog racing until the activity is eliminated.
Lonny Powell, CEO and executive vice president of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association, cautioned that eliminating thoroughbred racing — now taking place only at Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs — would decimate an industry that generates billions of dollars in revenue and thousands of jobs.
Lawmakers’ discussion of decoupling over the past few years has injected an element of fear into the state’s horse industry, Powell said.
“It’s like an anvil hanging over your head every day with a real thin rope,” he said.
Decoupling all horse breeds — not contemplated in the Senate proposal — would have a “nuclear” effect, Powell warned.
“The industry will quickly dissipate. It would be cataclysmic for the second-largest thoroughbred breeding industry in North America,” he said.
Powell also called slot machines pari-mutuel racing’s biggest threat.
“Slot machines, once they’re out, they clobber all forms of gambling,” especially due to “their ability to offer quick, mindless action,” he said.
The Senate bill would not decouple thoroughbreds, but would require a portion of the revenue from slot machines to go toward purse pools for horse races, something that Adkins characterized as an unfair “subsidization” of his competitors.
A former gambling regulator once characterized Florida’s highly competitive pari-mutuel industry as one in which operators “care more about what the other guy doesn’t get” than what the operator can obtain.
Adkins reflected that the gambling industry in Florida, with more pari-mutuel operators than any other state, can sometimes be its own worst enemy.
“We’re dysfunctional. The industry needs to get its act together, literally,” he said.
Lawmakers are considering the gambling legislation as the state renegotiates a 2010 agreement, called a compact, with the Seminole Tribe. A portion of the compact that gave the tribe the exclusive rights to operate “banked” card games, such as blackjack, expired last summer.
Despite the expiration, a federal judge ruled in November that the Seminoles could continue to offer blackjack because the state had breached the agreement by permitting controversial “designated player” games at pari-mutuel cardrooms.
Meanwhile, the Florida Supreme Court is poised to rule on a case focused on whether pari-mutuels in counties where voters have approved slot machines can expand their operations without the express approval of the Legislature.
John Sowinski, president of the group No Casinos, said Thursday that lawmakers shouldn’t permit pari-mutuels to quit conducting the activities that allowed them to get licenses for other gaming operations, even if they are more lucrative.
For example, Sowinski said, his father once owned a television repair shop.
“But nobody offered me the exclusive license to sell Apple computers because my dad owned a TV store,” he said.
by Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida
Free Beans And Rice Giveaway Saturday In Cantonment
January 27, 2017
Saint Monica’s Episcopal Church, will be distributing free rice and dried beans and other non-perishables on Saturday from 9 until 11 a.m. at the church located at 699 South Hwy 95-A in Cantonment. Recipients are also invited to enjoy a free sausage biscuit and coffee. For more information, call the church office at (850) 937-0001.
Escambia Fire Rescue Sharpens Extrication Techniques
January 27, 2017
Escambia Fire Rescue members recently sharpened their extrication techniques with the help of Butler Auto Recycling. Butler provided the vehicles for the training, staging them in various wrecked scenarios. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
