Mostly Sunny Saturday; Rain For Sunday
August 17, 2019
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 95. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 88. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Sunday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Monday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Monday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Tuesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. Calm wind.
Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 89.
Wednesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72.
Thursday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 89.
Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72.
Friday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 89. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Photo Shows Suspect Running From Stolen Vehicle Involved In Pine Forest Wreck
August 16, 2019
Two people were seen running from a stolen vehicle after a traffic crash with injuries Friday morning on Pine Forest Road, leading to a manhunt in the area.
Witnesses told the Florida Highway Patrol that two people ran from a stolen red 2016 Chrysler 200 after the wreck about 10:30 a.m. on Pine Forest at Wilde Lake Boulevard and I-10, according to FHP Lt. Robert Cannon. Two people — driver Joanne Brancati, 55, and passenger Cesar Antonini, 51 — were transported to Sacred Heart Hospital with minor injuries.
The photo above taken for NorthEscambia.com reportedly shows one of the suspects running from the stolen vehicle. The photo has been provided to the FHP to assist with their investigation.
An Escambia County Sheriff’s Office K-9 and other law enforcement conducted search for the suspect, who was believed to have entered a wooded area. There were no arrests.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Florida Highway Patrol or their local law enforcement agency.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Grocery Store Active Shooter Suspect Identified
August 16, 2019
The suspect in Thursday’s active shooter incident at an Escambia County grocery store has been identified.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said he is 29-year old Reginald Lee Booker of Pensacola.
According to the ECSO, Booker walked into the Grocery Advantage on Lillian Highway at New Warrington Road with a handgun and then opened fire, according to Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan. He said the suspect was the only person injured; no civilians or deputies were hurt.
Chief Deputy Chip Simmons said three deputies were on scene quickly, and “they started to pursue the gunman through the store”. He said the suspect, now identified as Booker, ran into the back warehouse area of the store and was hiding behind boxes of produce.
“The deputies challenged him there. He produced a firearm, and he was shot,” Simmons said. He described the gun as a small caliber handgun.
Booker remains in the hospital. An update on his condition is not known. Mugshot above is from May 2018.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the officer involved shooting.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
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Century’s Financial Audit Late For The Fifth Straight Year In Violation Of State Law
August 16, 2019
The Town of Century’s Annual Financial Report is late in violation of state law for the fifth straight year.
The legal deadline for submitting the Annual Financial Report, often referred to simply as an audit, to the Florida Department of Financial Services is June 30. But after a series of missteps, the town did not even hire an auditor until early June.
The town council has a workshop scheduled for Tuesday, August 20 at 5 p.m. to review the audit findings for the 2017-2018 fiscal year.
At a June council meeting, Mayor henry Hawkins said he had still not hired the auditing firm because he disagreed with a price increase, but primarily because the council had not given him the necessary approval to sign the engagement letter, which is a type of contract with a CPA firm.
Council President Ann Brooks said the council had previously voted to accept the increase and authorize the mayor to sign the agreement.
“They voted to accept, but they did not authorize me to sign it,” Hawkins said.
Mayor Never Received Authority To Hire Auditor
At their last meeting in May, council members learned that the auditor disagreed with claims by Mayor Henry Hawkins as to why the audit had not started for this year, and the council learned for the first time publicly that the town had yet to sign an agreement to hire the auditing firm.
A check of a NorthEscambia.com audio recording of the May 20 meeting confirmed Hawkin’s claim that the council did not give him approval to sign off on the auditor’s contract.
“Can we have a motion to authorize our auditor to proceed with the audit at a minimum fee of $30,000?”, Brooks asked during that meeting. The motion was made by council member Ben Boutwell to pay the $30,000 fee to the auditing firm, up from $21,000 last year.
“I would think you have to vote to authorize the mayor or the clerk to sign the engagement letter,” accountant Robert Hudson advised the the council.
“Any other questions before we vote?”, Brooks asked. The original motion was not amended before being passed unanimously after several minutes of discussion and did not give the signature authority to the mayor.
“Let the records show that we’ve decided to take $9,000 from CTA (funds received from the town’s Capital Trust Agency partnership) and put it with the $21,000 budgeted for the audit,” Brooks said after the May 20 vote.
Why Didn’t The Auditor Start Months Ago, And Why The $9,000 Fee Increase?
Century’s annual audit will cost thousands of dollars more due to several factors, including a scathing grand jury investigation, and the mayor tell did not inform the council for weeks, as NorthEscambia.com learned and first reported in May.
The town was informed in an April 8 email sent to Mayor Henry Hawkins, Town Clerk Kim Godwin, and town CPA Robert Hudson that the auditing firm Warren Averett was increasing their fee from $21,000 last year to a minimum of $30,000 this year.
Hawkins repeatedly told the town council that the firm would begin the audit after tax season, but he never mentioned receiving any communication from the auditor or the $9,000 fee increase to the council. In the meantime, the audit did not begin due to a lack of an engagement letter.
But an email obtained by NorthEscambia.com shows Hawkins forwarded the auditor’s email to Chief Deputy Clerk of Finance Kristina Wood on April 9. “FYI,” Hawkins wrote. “Now where do they think we’re getting the money from?”
CPA Kristen McAllister of Warren Averett said in a May 20 email to Town Council President Ann Brooks, “I do not think you have been informed correctly. I reach out to the Clerk, Mayor, and Robert (Hudson) a month ago to discuss a change in the audit contract before we can begin.” She added the delay “did not have anything to do with waiting until after tax season”.
McAllister said the higher audit fee was due to concerns over the utility billing cycle, concerns noted in the grand jury report, incorrect information provided that required multiple adjustments in the past two audits and a failure to follow the audit timeline.
For a previous story with details on the March grand jury report, click here.
Century’s Late Financial Report Submission History
Century’s last five audits were submitted to the state as follows:
- The 2016-2017 report due June 30, 2018, was completed August 10, 2018.
- The 2015-2016 report due June 30, 2017, was completed October 31, 2017.
- The 2014-2015 report due June 30, 2016, was completed February 15, 2017
- The 2013-2014 report due June 30, 2015, was completed November 17, 2015.
- The 2012-2013 audit was completed on time on June 30, 2014.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Dept. Of Corrections: Visitor Caught With Contraband At Century Work Camp
August 16, 2019
The Florida Department of Corrections is continuing their zero tolerance crackdown on contraband of any kind.
On August 11, staff the Century Work Camp on Tedder Road discovered a visitor attempting to pass contraband to an inmate. Their visitation was terminated.
The type of contraband was not specified in a report from the FDC.
The Department of Corrections said visitors attempting to introduce contraband are subject to suspension or termination of their visitation privileges and arrest.
Salzman Outraises Hill So Far In 2020 Florida House Race
August 16, 2019
Political newcomer Michelle Salzman (R) has financially outraised incumbent Mike Hill (R) so far in the 2020 race for the Florida House 1st District seat, according to the Florida Department of State.
In July, Salzman raised $6,442.52, of which $1965.80 was cash and $4,476.52 was in-kind contributions.
Also during July, Hill raised $1,150 from four contributors, one of which was $1,000 from former Escambia County Commissioner Wilson Robinson.
All total, Salzman has brought in $14,048.32, while Hill has raised $13,40075. About 40 percent – $5,405.75 – of Hill’s total is carryover funds from the 2018 election
Pensacola Mayor Robinson Joins Century Mayor Hawkins On Florida League Of Mayors Board
August 16, 2019
Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson was elected Thursday to an at-large seat on the Florida League of Mayors board of directors, joining Century Mayor and 44 other Florida mayors on the board.
Robinson paused at the Florida League of Cities Conference in Orlando for a selfie with Hawkins. Pensacola was marking #CityHallSelfie Day.
Photo: A selfie from Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
More Sun, Lower Chance Of Showers
August 16, 2019
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 96. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Calm wind.
Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Heat index values as high as 106. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Sunday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light in the evening.
Monday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 86. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Monday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 85. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Tuesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72.
Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 89.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Escambia Man Gets 10 Years In Fatal Hit And Run Involving Bicyclist
August 16, 2019
An Escambia County man has been sentenced for a fatal hit and run accident two years ago.
Circuit Court Judge Jeffrey Burns sentenced Jason Lee Huff to serve 10 years in state prison for leaving the scene of an accident causing death. On September 6th, 2017, Huff fled the scene of a traffic crash with a bicyclist in the intersection of Creighton Road and 9th Avenue in Pensacola. The bicyclist passed away as a result of his injuries.
The next day, a witness reported seeing a man matching Huff’s description abandoning the vehicle involved in the crash in an apartment complex parking lot. Further investigation proved it was the same vehicle from the crash and that Huff was the driver.
Ultimately, Huff admitted to fleeing the scene and was arrested on March 27th, 2019.
There is no parole in Florida, so he will be required to serve 85% of his sentence.
Escambia County To Receive $21.8 Million For New Jail
August 16, 2019
Escambia County will receive $21.8 million from the Florida Division of Emergency Management through Federal Emergency Management Agency reimbursement, which will go directly toward the county’s $145 million correctional facility project.
“On behalf of the board of commissioners, I’d like to thank the Escambia County legislative delegation chairman, Sen. Doug Broxson, and Rep. Alex Andrade, for their continued support of this project,” Commission Chairman Lumon May said. “Sen. Broxson has been working with our county administrator for the past six weeks on these reimbursements and we appreciate his efforts and diligence in delivering these funds.”
To date, the county has received over $111 million in funding for the correctional facility project from bond proceeds, Local Option Sales Tax, the State of Florida and FEMA.
“These funds get us closer to the completion of this priority project for our community,” Sen. Doug Broxson said. ” Making sure that Escambia County gets to close the door on a devastating incident and move forward is important and I am thankful to be able to provide meaningful assistance.”
Whitesell-Green/Caddell construction crews broke ground on the correctional facility in November 2018 and the project is on track for completion by mid-2020. The new building is located near the southeast corner of North Pace Boulevard and West Fairfield Drive and will serve as the central booking facility and juvenile housing area.
The facility is expected to provide approximately 90 new jobs. The three-story building will house 784 inmates and include an inmate intake and receiving area, and dining and kitchen service areas that will serve both the old and new facilities.
