Moped Traffic Stop Ends With Multiple Criminal Charges
June 14, 2019
A Century man on moped is facing multiple charges after a traffic stop in Ensley.
An Escambia County Sheriff’s deputy observed two mopeds traveling on South Palafox Street. One moped was pulling the other moped. The deputy conducted a traffic stop and identified the first moped driver as Billy Burns, Jr.
A computer check revealed that Burns had a Florida drivers license that was suspended in 2008 and four prior driving while license suspended convictions. Records also showed he had an Alabama drivers license suspended in 2009 for five failure to appear cases in Alabama, and one outstanding warrant.
Deputies found heroin and marijuana on Burns’ person, according to an arrest report.
Burns was charged with possession of a controlled substance (heroin), possess of marijuana, driving with a suspending license and failure to register a motor vehicle. He was released from jail on a $4,250 bond.
Here’s What We Found When We Visited The Escambia County Animal Shelter
June 14, 2019
We recently paid a visit to the Escambia County Animal Shelter, and here’s what we found.
It was a bittersweet trip, a few weeks after the passing of our almost 14-year old Harley, a oversized Maine Coon kitty that when healthy weighed about 18 pounds.
Animal shelter staff had no idea they were speaking to anyone from NorthEscambia.com, and nothing was mentioned during our visit to give them any reason to think they should try to impress. But impress they did.
They were busy on a Saturday afternoon not long before closing time. But we were greeted quickly after entering the bright, friendly lobby. We explained we were looking for a cat, and we inquired about Roscoe (we later dropped the “e” in the spelling, so we’ll call him Rosco for the rest of this story).
We’d found Rosco using the online search linked from the county website. He caught our eye because he was a pretty big guy, about 12 pounds, and because he had been at the shelter over two months, longer than any other kitty as of that day. Also, he is three years old…past that wild kitten tearing up the couch stage.
“Oh! You’re here about Rosco,” the animal shelter staffer said. “I think he’s still here, but I’ll go look.”
In the meantime, staff explained the two areas with kitties. One, a couple of rooms off the main lobby, held felines in their kennels. Many were not yet ready for adoption, on medical holds or waiting out their time for someone to claim them. If the cat was available for adoption, it could be removed from the kennel for a play session. Visitors were playing, well trying to catch up with, a fast little fluffy grey kitten. He was going home today.
We looked around, playing with a few and reading the info cards posted on each kennel. The room and the kennel were well kept and very clean. No scary smells.
The staffer returned.
“Rosco is still here. He’s in the Catnip Cafe,” she said with a smile. Well more of a grin.
The Catnip Cafe? Had Starbucks expanded their empire to the animal shelter? Little grande catnip fraps, perhaps?
The Catnip Cafe (pictured top) was another room where the kitties had their kennels for private space but were free to roam and play. Behind the bright pink door, there were plenty of toys and lots for a kitty to do. Climbing shelves on the walls, cat towers and even toy fish tanks for entertainment. There was also an enclosed outdoor patio for the outdoor types. Again, it was all bright, clean and free of odors.
There in the middle of the room, sitting alone on the benches for people to sit and visit, was Rosco, a big guy that seemed to be in charge.
I sat down next to Rosco and started petting him. He purred, kind of loudly. Three strokes later, he bit me. My wife petted him. And he bit her.
We played with the other cats in the room, and my wife fell for Oreo. A handsome black and white in color fellow that’s five years old. He enjoyed being held like a baby. Total opposite of Rosco.
But there was just something about Rosco I just liked.
My hand had stopped bleeding, so I decided to sit down next to him and try again. He purred. And bit me again.
“Oh you found Rosco! He has been here awhile,” the staffer said when she returned. And she began to tell his story.
Turns out Rosco was a tough guy with plenty of street cred around the shelter. We were told he suffered from overstimulation aggression. That’s vet lingo for pet him and at any moment he will turn and bite or scratch when he’s had enough. Tough guy.
My wife really wanted Oreo, and I liked something about Rosco. We decided to adopt them both.
We let shelter staff know, and excited word begin to spread that Rosco was going home. All the staff knew him.
Animal shelter employee Aleisha Blair took care of the adoption paperwork, and had plenty of Rosco stories. “He can get pretty aggressive,” she said. “He would always make a good barn cat if things don’t work out as an inside cat.”
She showed us pictures of Rosco on her phone. It was obvious that Aleisha cares a lot about shelter animals, as did everyone that we met. We just can’t say enough nice things about the shelter, staff and volunteers.
Rosco and Oreo have been at their new furever home for about three weeks now. Both have fit in well and have become an important part of our family, and the NorthEscambia.com family (they are even learning that certain sounds on the fire scanner mean dad is going somewhere).
Oh, and as for Roco’s big bad aggression problem, the picture below tells the story. With a happy home away from the shelter, he’s become a big baby that loves attention and loves to sleep.
For information on the Escambia County Animal Shelter, click here. Adoption fees include spay or neuter, microchip, heartworm tests, basic vaccinations including rabies, and other veterinary care as needed while at the shelter.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Work Continues On Crary Road Bridge Replacement
June 14, 2019
Work is continuing on a $776,874 Florida Department of Transportation FRONTproject to replace the current bridge on Crary Road over Pritchett Mill Creek near Century.
The work involves replacing the current structure with a box culvert, paving the roadway approaches, and improving drainage. Crary Road has been closed between Tedder and Byrneville roads since November 2018 for construction.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Man That Claimed Woman Was Killed In Deer Hunting Accident Sentenced For Manslaughter
June 14, 2019
A Flomaton man who told authorities he was trying to shoot a deer when he shot and killed a woman in December 2016 has been sentenced.
Shannon Bell was indicted for the murder of 36-year old Donna L. Martin, but entered a guilty plea to a lesser charge of manslaughter. He was sentence to two years in state prison followed by 36 months in community corrections.
The night of December 2, 2016, authorities received a call about a gunshot victim near the Pollard Boat Landing. The caller was experiencing problems with his phone connection, but was eventually able to relay that he wanted medical units to meet him at the intersection of Foshee Road and Highway 31. First responders arrived to find Martin suffering from a gunshot wound to her side. She was transported to D.W. McMillan Hospital in Brewton where she was later pronounced deceased.
Bell claimed that he was trying to shoot a deer at night and a struggle ensued over the gun. The gun went off killing Martin.
DeSantis Signs Driverless Vehicle Bill
June 14, 2019
Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed a bill allowing vehicles to operate on Florida roads without a human on board.
“Signing this legislation paves the way for Florida to continue as a national leader in transportation innovation and technological advancement,” DeSantis said. He said the bill removes unnecessary obstacles that hinder the development of autonomous vehicle technology.
The bill signing took place at the SunTrax facility in Polk County which is a national center for the research and development of advanced mobility solutions. Today’s event celebrated the completion of Phase One of the facility with the finish of America’s newest autonomous vehicle test track. SunTrax will be the only high-speed autonomous vehicle testing facility in the southeastern United States. This innovative partnership between the Florida Turnpike Enterprise and the Florida Department of Transportation puts Florida on the leading-edge of the development of new transportation technologies.
42 Local Nonprofits Receive $850K From United Way
June 14, 2019
United Way of Escambia announced on Thursday the 29 nonprofit agencies receiving $850,000 in grant awards through the organization’s Community Investment Process. Programs operated by these agencies provide critical services to individuals and families across Escambia and Santa Rosa counties in the areas of health, education, and financial stability.
“We are excited to announce the programs and agencies that will receive grant funding for the 2019-2020 year through our Community Investment Process,” said President and CEO Laura Gilliam. “Through this process, volunteers, who are also donors, carefully vet the applicants to ensure that we’re being responsible stewards of our donor’s gifts, as well as making the strongest measured impact possible for our community.”
The undesignated gifts of hundreds of businesses, companies, and institutions, in addition to roughly 7,000 individual donors, create this Community Investment Fund. In 2019-20, 23 programs will receive new one-year grants, while 19 programs are in either the second or third year of 2-3 year grant cycles.
United Way of Escambia County also announced their Top 5 Workplace Campaigns, as well as the winner of a new KIA Soul, John J. Tria, Jr., of Ascend Performance Materials.
TOP 5 WORKPLACE CAMPAIGNS
- Gulf Power Company
- Publix Super Markets
- Ascend Performance Materials
- Navy Federal Credit Union
- Armstrong World Industries
HEALTH AWARDS – $377,686
- Ashley Offerdahl Counseling Program – Children’s Home Society of Florida
- Access to Care – Health and Hope Clinic, Inc.
- Family Advocacy – Gulf Coast Kid’s House, Inc.
- Healthy Seniors Food Program – Manna Food Bank, Inc.
- Tummy Bundles – Manna Food Bank, Inc.
- Healthy Start, Century Program – Escambia County Healthy Start Coalition, Inc.
- Mobile Outreach Program – OASIS Florida
- PUMCM Hot Meal Service – Pensacola United Methodist Community Ministries
2-3 YEAR COMMITTED AWARDS
- Child Abuse Prevention Education – Gulf Coast Kid’s House
- Epilepsy Services – Epilepsy Florida
- Essential Life Skills – Capstone Adaptive Learning and Therapy Centers, Inc.
- Healthy Lifestyles – Boys and Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast
- Nutrition Program – Council on Aging of West Florida
- Pearl Nelson Child Development Center, Pediatric Therapy – The ARC Gateway, Inc.
- Senior Companion Program – Council on Aging of West Florida
- Sexual/Physical Abuse Treatment Program – Lutheran Services of Florida
- Victim Services – Lakeview Center
- Youth Development – YMCA of Northwest Florida
EDUCATION AWARDS – $377,008
- AMI Pensacola GED and Vocational Program – AMIkids Pensacola, Inc.
- Capstone Academy – Capstone Adaptive Learning and Therapy Centers, Inc.
- Girls Earning Diplomas (GED) Program – PACE Center for Girls, Inc.
- Kids for Camp Summer Learning Lab – Autism Pensacola, Inc.
- ReadingPals – Every Child a Reader in Escambia County
- School to Work – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida, Inc.
2-3 YEAR COMMITTED AWARDS
- Academic Success – Boys and Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast
- Community Based Mentoring – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida, Inc.
- Heritage Oaks Affordable Housing – Be Ready Alliance Coordinating for Emergencies
- Independence for Dependent and Homeless Youth – Legal Services of North Flroida
- Pearl Nelson Child Development Center, Early Intervention Services – The ARC Gateway, Inc.
- School Readiness Program – Early Learning Coalition of Escambia County
- Service Learning and Leadership Development – Chain Reaction
- Teenspace – Children’s Home Society of Florida
- Veteran’s Legal Assistance – Legal Services of North Florida
FINANCIAL STABILITY AWARDS – $95,306
- Chadwick House – Pensacola United Methodist Community Ministries
- Child Care – YMCA of Northwest Florida
- Domestic Violence Shelter – FavorHouse of Northwest Florida, Inc.
- Emergency Assistance – Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida
- Every Adult Achieves Self-Sufficiency – Pathways for Change, Inc.
- Feeding Stability – Manna Food Bank, Inc.
- His Place Shelter – Pensacola United Methodist Community Ministries
- The Mobile Pantry Program – Feeding the Gulf Coast
- Recovery and Career Development Program: A Path to Self-Sufficiency – Waterfront Rescue Mission, Inc.
UWF Rises To Second In Florida For Performance
June 14, 2019
The Florida Board of Governors named the University of West Florida as a top-performing public university for the third consecutive year, with UWF securing a spot in the top two.
The University earned 94 points out of the 100-point scale in the Board’s performance-based funding model results from the 2018-19 academic year. UWF scored its highest point total in the six-year history of the metrics and finished one point behind the University of Florida. The distinction for UWF comes one month after the U.S. News & World Report ranked the Florida State University System No. 1 in the country for the third consecutive year.
“We are a top-ranked university in the best university system in the country,” said UWF President Martha D. Saunders. “Once again, UWF has distinguished itself as a leader in higher education. This ranking is a testament to our hard-working students, faculty and staff and our no limits approach to education.”
Under the performance funding model, the Board of Governors scores Florida’s 11 public universities based on 10 metrics designed to incentivize university excellence and improvement. These metrics establish a minimum acceptable level of performance on issues including graduation and retention rates.
Pictured: The University of West Florida celebrated a significant milestone at the Fall 2018 Commencement last December, awarding the 100,000th degree since the institution opened in 1967. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
South Alabama Fugitive In Custody After A Week On The Run
June 13, 2019
A fugitive on the run for a week in South Alabama is now in custody after a four to five hour standoff with police Thursday.
John Cobb was arrested near the Covington-Conecuh county line about 6:30 p.m. Thursday by deputies from the Covington, Conecuh and Escambia County (AL) sheriff’s offices.
Deputies said John Cobb was at a home in the Damascus area Friday night but was gone by the time they arrived. The search continued in the area until 3:30 a.m. Saturday. Sunday night, K-9s tracked Cobb until rain washed out the scent trail.
Tuesday, deputies responded to a burglary and found that someone had showered and slept in a camp house, and they found a shotgun had been stolen from another camp house. A truck Cobb allegedly stole was recovered in Conecuh County.
And Tuesday night deputies from Escambia and Conecuh counties responded to a burglary in Brooklyn where a pistol and rifle were stolen.
For the next two days, Cobb continued to elude law enforcement.
ECSO: Man Fabricated Shooting Story, His Girlfriend Charged With Battery
June 13, 2019
Authorities say a man that claimed he was shot Wednesday afternoon in Escambia County was actually injured in a domestic violence situation.
The victim was shot in the hip in the 200 block of Topaz Avenue and went to Sacred Heart Hospital for treatment. He told investigators that he was breaking up a fight between two teens when he was shot, but the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office now says he fabricated the story.
The ECSO charged the victim’s girlfriend, 30-year old Xiaomae Jenkins, with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription and possession of a marijuana in connection with the shooting incident. She was booked into the Escambia County Jail without bond.
The Sheriff’s Office says the victim is expected to recover. His identity has not been released.
Financial Expert Recommends Sweeping Changes To Save Century
June 13, 2019
An independent financial consultant that wrote the Town of Century is “teetering on a financial cliff, and quick decisive action is needed to rescue it” sat down with the town council Wednesday evening to expound on his report. He recommended the town divest management of its utilities, hire a chief financial officer, get rid of their current accountant and just simply learn to work together.
With natural gas and water utilities losing about a million dollars in three years, Bob Inzer told the council they must take action now.
“Those are big numbers for a city of your size,” he said, adding most cities operate their utilities to make money to offset other expenses or provided additional services. He said it was the council’s responsibility to know about financial problems and take corrective actions on a timely basis, but “looking at the minutes (of council meetings), that’s not happened”.
He said the town’s charter, which has not been updated for four decades, is “antiquated” and presents a role for the mayor’s office that is more like that of a city manager. The council, he said, has been left with only limited information about the financial condition of the town from the mayor and town employees.
“The buck stops really with the council in this community,” Inzer said “You’ve got to find a way to work together.”
“Y’all are the board of directors. This is your money, this your system, this your government. Somebody’s got to be asking the questions and paying attention to what is going on,” he said.
Inzer repeatedly told the council that Century needs to hire someone for a chief financial officer type position to have direct oversight over the town’s finances.
“You hire the people that have that expertise to report to you, and you hold them accountable,” he said. “…I believe your city is not operating with the level of oversite it needs to be as evidenced by your losses.”
If the town were to hire a CFO, that could replace the town’s current accountant. “I would think he would not be needed,” Inzer remarked.
He also recommended that the town sell the town’s utilities or outsource their management.
“It was harsh, but it was an eye opener,” council member Luis Gomez said. “It felt like 95 percent was spot-on.”
To read more about Inzer’s report in depth, click here for an earlier NorthEscambia.com story. Inzer has spent nearly 50 years in municipal finance, including 30 years with the City of Tallahassee. Through the Florida League of Cities, his services and report were at no cost to the town.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
