Chance Of Showers, Otherwise Partly Sunny
August 22, 2019
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Thursday: Chance of showers and thunderstorms. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 89. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Friday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 90. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. Calm wind.
Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. Calm wind.
Monday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 89. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Monday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 90.
Tuesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72.
Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Former ECSO Crime Scene Tech Gets Probation For Stealing Drugs
August 22, 2019
A former Escambia County Sheriff’s Office crime scene technician won’t spend any time in jail for stealing drugs from evidence.
Christine Rollins, 42, pleaded no contest to two dozen charges, including 11 counts of possession of a controlled substance, 11 counts of grand theft of a controlled substance, trafficking in oxycodone and trafficking in hydrocodone. She was sentenced to two years community control, eight years probation, 200 hours of community service and $10,000 in fines and costs.
Rollins was “stealing narcotics of the deceased from the ECSO evidence building,” according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Florida To Share Voter Registration Data With 28 Other States
August 22, 2019
Florida will become the 29th state to join a national electronic voter registration system to share data with other states.
Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Florida will join the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) as part of his administration’s ongoing efforts to enhance the security and integrity of Florida’s elections. By joining ERIC, Florida will be able to crosscheck voter registration data with 29 other member states in order to identify duplicate registrations and outdated records from voters who have moved or passed away, leading to cleaner and more accurate voter registration rolls.
“One of my administration’s top priorities is protecting the integrity of Florida’s elections, which is why joining ERIC is the right thing to do for our state as it will ensure our voter rolls are up-to-date and it will increase voter participation in our elections,” said DeSantis. “Since taking office, we have been reviewing this issue with Supervisors of Elections. We are confident that by improving the accuracy of our voter rolls, we will reduce the potential for voter fraud.”
In addition to enhancing the accuracy of voter rolls, ERIC also improves voter registration by providing information for member states to contact potentially eligible but unregistered voters with instructions on how to register to vote. The outreach to potentially eligible voters is conducted every two years ahead of each federal general election.
Deputies Go From Funeral Escort To Drug Arrest In Century
August 22, 2019
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies waiting to conduct a funeral escort in Century ended up arresting a local man on drug charges.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies were on Highway 4 near Industrial Boulevard in Century waiting for the funeral escort to begin.
They observed 48-year old Christopher Angelo Phifer drive down Highway 4. Knowing he had an outstanding warrant for trespassing at Century Woods Apartment, deputies followed. They caught up with him as he drove down Ramar Street, driving in a “reckless and careless manner….while passing several children at close range,” according to arrest report.
Phifer traveled to a house in the 100 block of Pond Street and went inside, the report states. He was ordered outside by deputies and placed under arrest. In his vehicle, deputies reported finding crack cocaine and methamphetamine.
Phifer was charged with possession of cocaine, possession of methamphetamine, driving with a suspended license and reckless driving, in addition to the outstanding trespassing warrant.
Century Audit Finds Millions In Deficits, Millions To Be Repaid, Deteriorating Financial Conditions
August 21, 2019
A draft audit shows financial conditions that are continuing to deteriorate in Century and multi-million dollar deficits.
Tuesday afternoon, Kristen McAllister of the auditing firm Warren Averett presented the draft audit for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2018, to the town council. The town will finalize responses to the findings before the audit, which was due back on June 30, is submitted to the state.
Those findings included deteriorating financial conditions, a deficit of $3 million in the general fund, a deficit of $1.5 million in the natural gas fund. The audit also found:
Financial Condition
The town’s overall financial condition demonstrates serious signs of a deteriorating financial condition. The Town has experienced several cash flow and management issues resulting in assessment of late fees, insufficient funds in the payroll bank account, delinquent payroll tax deposits, and missed debt service payments.
The natural gas fund owes the special revenue fund approximately $2.7 million. The sales tax revenues recorded in the special revenue fund are restricted for specific purposes; therefore, these funds will have to be repaid or it will be considered an inappropriate use of the restricted revenues. In June 2018, the town council approved a repayment plan of $300 per month.
“Overall factors contributing to this condition include lack of short and long-term financial planning, improper cash management activities, and lack of analysis of existing tax rates and fee structures for proprietary operations,” the audit states.
Cash Management
The Town’s cash management and control activities are weak, as evidenced by the following:
- Payroll cash account was overdrawn numerous times during the year
- Payroll taxes were not remitted timely to IRS
- Payroll checks were provided to and cashed by employees prior to the issue date on the check causing the town’s payroll bank account to be overdrawn
- Excessive late fees and interest charges incurred on credit cards
- Late and missed debt service payments by the water and sewer fund and the natural gas fund
- Town council not receiving timely information about the cash position and cash needs of the town
Credit Card Usage Policy and Receipts
The audit noted that several receipts and/or other supporting documentation for charges made to the town’s credit cards were not maintained. This practice could result in the payment of unsubstantiated expenses. Furthermore, it was also noted that the business purpose of certain credit card charges was not documented. Examples include purchases of food, fuel, and various supplies.
Capital Asset Tracking
Town assets are not properly recorded in the town’s records, creating the need for a complete physical inventory.
Budget Over Expenditures
General fund expenditures exceeded budgeted amounts by $653 thousand, which is in violation of Florida statutes. The town budgeted grant revenues and expenditures in the special revenue fund, but recorded this activity in the general fund causing the over expenditure. Without an accurate and complete budget, the council cannot effectively make the necessary financial decisions for the town.
Audit Late Again
The town’s audit is being submitted late for the fifth consecutive year. The audit was due to the state by June 30, 2019, but still has not been filed.
Unused Bank Accounts
The town maintains over 25 checking accounts. Many of the accounts were established for narrow purposes and have few transactions and small balances.
Pictured top: Century council members Sandra McMurray Jackson, Ben Boutwell and James Smith review audit findings Tuesday afternoon. Pictured below: Mayor Henry Hawkins listens as auditor Kristen McAllister presents her findings. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
‘Operation Sprinkles’ Collects 300 Plus Stuffed Animals For Kids
August 21, 2019
Remember the lost stuff animal Bubblegum Sprinkles that led to stuffed animal drive at a local doughnut shop? In about two weeks, over 300 stuffed animals were collected, and now they’ve been donated to local groups.
As we reported earlier this month, the stuffed animal husky named Bubblegum Sprinkles was accidently left behind at Maynard’s Donut Company on Nine Mile Road. Maynard’s knew he was something special, so they found the surveillance video of the young lady that left him behind and set out to find her on social media. That led to a sweet reunion with with 3-year old Nina English and her dad Michael.
And that led Maynard’s to launch “Operation Sprinkles” to collect the stuffed animals.
Operation Sprinkles collectd over 300 stuffed animals and passed them along to Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northwest Florida.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
ECSO: Molino Man Hits Grandfather With An Apple, Threatens Him With Machete
August 21, 2019
A Molino man threatened his grandfather with a machete and hit him with an apple, leading to two felony charges, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Ricardo John Molina, 28, was charged with aggravated assault on an elderly person and batter on an elderly person. He remained in the Escambia County Jail Wednesday morning with bond set at $54,500.
The grandfather told deputies that he became involved in an heated argument with Molina, who had a machete. Fearing his safety, he said he went to his bedroom and closed the door. Molina began to kick the door, and the victim opened it briefly to tell him to stop.
In self defense, the grandfather pepper-sprayed Molina as he advanced toward him with the machete, according to an arrest report. Molina threw an apple at the victim, striking him in the chest. Molina told his grandfather “he would cut his head off”, the report states.
The grandfather refused medical treatment.
Molina stated that he did not touch his grandfather.
Some Sun Plus Those Afternoon Thunder Boomers Today
August 21, 2019
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Wednesday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 90. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Thursday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 90. East wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Friday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Saturday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 89.
Sunday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72.
Monday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 89. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Monday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 89. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Pictured: Clouds build ahead of afternoon thunderstorms Tuesday in North Escambia. NorthEscambia photo, click to enlarge.
Century Grants Easement For Gulf Power Natural Gas Pipeline
August 21, 2019
Century is granting a permanent easement to Gulf Power for the installation of a natural gas pipeline on a piece of property the town owns on Tedder Road.
The pipeline is part of a Gulf Power project to convert Plant Crist from coal to natural gas. The proposed natural gas pipeline will run about 39 miles from the existing Florida Gas Transmission Pipeline near the Florida/Alabama border outside Century south through McDavid, Molino and Cantonment to Plant Crist on Pate Street just northwest of the University of West Florida. Over 85 percent of the proposed route would be located on existing corridors like Gulf Power transmission line corridors.
Gulf Power is paying the town $28,000 for the 50-foot easement that will temporarily be expanded to 95 feet during construction.
The entire parcel is 23.53 acres along Tedder Road just west of the Century Work camp and Elsie Davis Road. A Gulf Power high voltage electrical transmission line already traverses the property, and the natural gas pipeline will be installed parallel to and just west of the electrical line, according to town documents.
The pipeline will be at least 36 inches deep, allow the town to construct any needed driveways across the easement with the approval of Gulf Power. The parcel of land is currently mostly wooded and not used by the town for any purpose.
Escambia Man Gets 30 Year Sentence For DUI Manslaughter
August 21, 2019
An Escambia County man has been sentenced to 30 years in state prison for the death of two passengers in his vehicle last year not far the the Walmart in Ensley.
Jamie Ty Hamrick, now 29, was convicted of DUI manslaughter. He was driving south on North Palafox Street at Sharmon Street when his Honda Civic ran off the road, collided with a ditch, became airborne, hit a fence and overturned into a large oak tree about 2:50 a.m.on September 27, 2018.
Passengers La’Phontae DeWayne Lewis, 25, and Antion Wade Lindsay, 32, were ejected from the vehicle and pronounced deceased. Hamrick was not injured.
Prosecutors said Hamrick was under the influence of alcohol, Xanax and marijuana. He had a blood alcohol level of .155, nearly twice the legal limit.