One Injured In Highway 95A Collision
August 17, 2019
One person was injured in a two vehicle crash Friday evening on Highway 95A near South Chipper Road.
The driver of Chevrolet Blazer was injured when she rear-ended a Ford pickup truck about 6:25 p.m. She was transported to an area hospital by Escambia County EMS with injuries that were not considered life threatening.
The Florida Highway Patrol investigated. The Cantonment Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Nature Trail House Fire Sparked By Lightning
August 17, 2019
Authorities have determined house fire Thursday evening in the Nature Trail subdivision was sparked by lightning.
Firefighters arrived on scene in the 8000 block of Salt Grass Drive in Beulah to find smoke billowing out of large single story home.
Escambia County Fire Rescue said Friday that crews performed an aggressive interior attack on a working attic fire, preventing the fire from spreading to other parts of the home. County officials said the resident’s personal belongings were saved as a result.
There were no injuries reported.
Escambia Fire Rescue said smoke alarms were present in the home, but the occupant was alerted by a neighbor.
Despite Threats, Crowds Attend Gallery Night
August 17, 2019
Crowds attended Gallery Night in downtown Pensacola Friday night despite supposed threats that were making their way around social media.
Various posts stated that a man wanted to shoot up Seville Friday night. All day Friday, Pensacola Police called said the threats were not credible, and Gallery night continued without incident.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Firefighters Work To Help Keep School Zones Safe
August 17, 2019
Escambia County Fire Rescue trucks were in school zones across the county during this first week of school with lights flashing as a reminder to drivers to slow down. Pictured top: An Ensley Station of Escambia Fire Rescue truck in the McArthur Elementary school zone. Pictured below: Engine 18 from the Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue in the Molino Park school zone. NorthEscambia.com photo by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
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.