Driver Injured In Jacks Branch Road Crash
March 10, 2019
One person was injured in a single vehicle crash Saturday afternoon in Cantonment.
The vehicle left Jacks Branch Road near River Annex Road and struck a fence. It traveled along and destroyed about 200 feet before coming to rest.
The driver was transported to an area hospital by Escambia County EMS with injuries that were not considered serious.
The Cantonment Station of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded, and the Florida Highway Patrol is investigating.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Six: ESCO Looking For Walnut Hill Woman Convicted Of Animal Abuse
March 9, 2019
A Walnut Hill woman is wanted for violating her probation in an animal cruelty case.
Amber Danielle Creighton was convicted in October 2017 of eight counts of animal cruelty and seven counts of violating Florida’s animal cruelty contagious disease law. She was sentenced to 12 moths probation and ordered not to own or care for any animals. There is now an outstanding warrant for her arrest for violating probation.
According to arrest report, animal control officers found seven adult dogs and seven puppies at her residence in the 3900 block of Highway 97 in May 2017. Records show dogs had open wounds and were suffering from scabies and “Dermanex” (sic -possible spelling error in arrest report for demodex), a highly contagious and infectious disease. Prior to being charged, Creighton had been cited multiple times and warned by Escambia County Animal Control.
Creighton is the newest member of the “Century Six” – a fugitive list from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office that focuses on North Escambia area residents with outstanding warrants. She was added to the list after previous Century Six member Amber Nicole Victor was arrested on two counts of failure to appear. Victor, 29, is jailed without bond.
UWF Students Propose Solutions To Secure, Safeguard Voter Information
March 9, 2019
University of West Florida students are taking steps to create awareness and solutions for registered voter impersonation and misrepresentation, and their proposed solutions are receiving statewide recognition.
Through a sponsorship from the UWF College of Business’s Center for Entrepreneurship, junior mechanical engineering major, Samantha Brown, and senior computer science major, Christian Um Kaman recently participated in the 2019 Future of Florida Summit, where this year’s topic was Technology and Public Policy.
Brown was Tate High School’s 2017 valedictorian.
Students from 20 universities and colleges gathered at the University of Florida to draft a public policy pilot project that utilizes advances in technology and can be implemented in both state and local government election processes.
Brown, Um Kaman and eight students from several other Florida-based universities were placed on a team that worked together to create and present a Voter Identification Privacy Rights proposal. Brown, who believed she might have been susceptible to voter impersonation in last year’s midterm election, proposed the idea during a breakout session.
“Last year, I planned to participate in the midterm election, but I was unable to receive a ballot because my address was listed incorrectly online,” Brown said. “I later learned that in order to update your address you only had to provide a name and birthday.”
Over the course of the two-day competition, the team created a presentation for a panel of judges comprised of policy experts from around the state.
“During our presentation we showed the judges how easy it is to use a Google search and access a person’s address,” Brown said. “We used Sen. Marco Rubio as an example and showed his address and all of his information.”
The team’s proposal suggested making changes to a Florida Statute by preventing other citizens or third-party entities from accessing voter information and protecting anonymity by requiring more extensive authentication to access individuals’ personal voter record.
The proposal earned third place out of ten teams, which came with the reward of judges from the competition making plans to pair the team with voter data experts and other voter-focused organizations to discuss a way to make their proposal a reality.
“After attending this summit, I am excited to enact positive change in my state,” Brown said. “As students, we are are able to turn negative experiences into areas of opportunity that strengthen the election process.”
The UWF Center for Entrepreneurship also sponsored UWF students Carsen Wilber and Jessie Brown who participated in the competition on a different team. UWF student entrepreneur in residence Basil Kuloba was on the organizing committee for the summit.
Brown was recently featured on NorthEscambia as she competed on the television show “Who Wants to be a Millionaire”.
Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Students Learn About Ag During ‘Fresh From Florida’ Event (With Gallery)
March 9, 2019
Hundreds of elementary school students learned about agriculture first hand Friday morning during the Northview High School FFA “Fresh From Florida” program in Bratt.
The program gave students a chance to make and enjoy eating their own fresh butter, get up close to farm animals and farm equipment and learn more about how food gets from the farm to their table.
For a photo gallery, click here.
The Northview Fresh From Florida program has been named the best in the state multiple times by the Florida FFA, and the chapter has been recognized nationally for their efforts.’
As the even started, Northview dedicated the Glenn Key Livestock Handling Facility. Key, who passed away in 2013, taught agriculture at Ernest Ward High School for 27 years. He established numerous scholarships and education funds for agriculture students. Friday’s program was dedicated in his honor.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tough Night For Tate; Good Night For Northview
March 9, 2019
Friday night was tough for the Tate Aggies, but good for the Northview Chiefs.
BASEBALL
Pine Forest 9, Tate 3
The Tate Aggies dropped a Friday night road game to Pine Forest 9-3.
The Aggies took a 1-0 lead in the second before the Eagles pulled away for in the third with three runs and added four in the fourth.
Darrien McDowell gave up three runs on four hits in three innings while striking out three. Sam Shackle, Cole Fryman, and Jace Dunsford pitched relief.
Mason Land, Hunter McLean and McDowell had hits for the Aggies, while Michael Potts had Tate’s lone RBI.
For a Tate photo gallery, click here
(scroll down for more scores)
Northview 6, Excel 3
Northview 2, Excel 0 (JV)
For a Northview photo gallery, click here.
SOFTBALL
Niceville 6, Tate 0
Tate 17, Niceville 0 (JV)
The Niceville Eagles defeated the Tate Aggies Friday night in Niceville. In seven innings Niceville held the Aggies to just one hit from Ryleigh Cawby.
Burks took the loss for the Aggies. In three innings, she allowed three runs and four hits while walking one and striking out two.
Northview 9, Central 0
Northview beat Central Friday night at Central. Kailyn Watson had two homers for the Chiefs, and hit a foul that busted the front windshield of the team bus.
Tate photos by Crystal Tolbert for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Chiefs Lifters Take Second In Baker Meet
March 9, 2019
The Northview boys weightlifting team took home 2nd place Friday afternoon at the 4th annual Baker Gator Invitational.
The Chiefs fell to the host Gators, while beating West Florida, Jay, Pensacola Catholic and Rocky Bayou. The Chiefs finished with a team total of 54 points, while 3rd place West Florida only scored 23.
Individually, the Chiefs were led by junior Jacob Hawkins in the 219-lb. class, who finished first.
Also placing for the Chiefs were:
119-lb. class: Gary Clayton – 3rd
129-lb. class: Ashton Ray – 4th
139-lb. class: Logan Bryan – 3rd; Tyler Ray – 6th
154-lb. class: Jarius Moorer – 2nd
169-lb. class: Daniel Merit – 2nd
183-lb. class: Aunterio Minor – 3rd; Rayvon Bush – 5th
199-lb. class: William Swearengin – 3rd; Ah’zavion Gregory – 5th
219-lb. class: Jacob Hawkins – 1st; Lance McLaughlin – 4th
238-lb. class: Jojo Parker – 3rd; Trevor Scott; 4th
HVY-lb. class: Cameron Findley – 4th
The Chiefs return to action next week in the district weightlifting meet at Baker.
Senators Roll Out Hurricane Relief Plan
March 9, 2019
Northwest Florida lawmakers have promoted a $315 million proposal that would make loans available to local governments still reeling from Hurricane Michael and would set up a task force to determine additional state assistance for the storm-battered region.
The wide-ranging Senate bill (SB 1610) comes after numerous other proposals have been filed in the House and Senate to provide relief following the deadly Oct. 10 storm that left a path of devastation after making landfall in Mexico Beach and roaring north into Georgia.
Sen. Bill Montford, a Tallahassee Democrat who represents some of the hardest-hit areas, said the intent is to make sure the region is “not forgotten.” So far, about $1.2 billion has been spent by the state to help with cleanup efforts, and local communities have burned through their budgets.
“The people of North Florida are self-sufficient, they’re independent, but there comes a time when government, rightfully so, should step in and help those who work hard,” Montford said.
Rep. Jay Trumbull, a Panama City Republican who has filed about 70 bills seeking more than $600 million for the region’s recovery, said the Senate bill is a “starting point” for a relief package, with state aid able to be provided faster than federal assistance. Still, with the legislative session in the third day of its scheduled 60-day session, he said lawmakers have time to get it right.
“This is something that we’re going to want to take a lot of time on, and focus a lot of effort, and make sure we have as much community involvement and input as we possibly can,” Trumbull said.
Neither Montford nor Trumbull could put an overall price tag on the storm.
“FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management Agency) doesn’t know that number yet,” Trumbull said. “Panama City is a prime example on debris removal. They’re not sure exactly what it’s going to cost. They have an idea that it’s about $75-ish million, but it could be $80 (million.) It could be less than that. … A lot of people haven’t sent in bills yet.”
House members from the Panhandle have filed nearly $1 billion in requests for the storm.
“It’s hard to put a number on what we’ve got,” Montford said. “But what we do know is there is commitment from all of Florida, from the Senate anyway, a total commitment to do what is necessary from a budget standpoint.”
On Tuesday, the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee backed a separate proposal (SB 376) by Montford that would allocate $50 million a year for storm recovery efforts from the Land Acquisition Trust Fund. That trust funds handles money from a 2014 constitutional amendment that designated a portion of revenue from a real estate documentary-stamp tax to go to land and water projects.
The Senate proposal would set aside $300 million for the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity to set up the Public Facilities Hurricane Restoration Cash Flow Loan Program for eligible counties, cities and school boards.
Noting that Bay County has lost 5,000 of its 28,000 students, a goal of the proposal is to make sure school districts see “minimal” impacts, said Montford, who also is chief executive of the Florida Association of District School Superintendents.
Montford is sponsoring the bill with Sen. George Gainer, R-Panama City, and Sen. Doug Broxson, R-Gulf Breeze. Gainer said Senate leaders are behind the effort.
“We’ve been assured that if we can come up with a good pathway for recovery, that it’s going to happen,” Gainer said.
“We never had another storm where it took every other house, where it took 90 percent of the pine trees,” Gainer said. “We’ve seen 300-year-old trees from the bottom up. We go to work, we go home, and we’re reminded every day of how terrible the storm has been.”
Another part of the Senate proposal would set aside $15 million for the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to help provide loans to the timber industry, which accounted for about $1.3 billion of the $1.5 billion in agricultural damages from the storm.
The bill also would establish a Hurricane Housing Recovery Program for local governments, similar to the state Housing Initiatives Partnership Program. Also, it would establish a task force under the direction of the Division of Emergency Management that would have until Dec. 15 to determine what additional relief is required for the region.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Earthquakes In Our Area? We Take A Look At Local Quake History
March 8, 2019
Following a magnitude 2.7 earthquake about 10:45 p.m. Wednesday near Jay, NorthEscambia.com is taking a deeper look at earthquakes in the area over the past three decades.
There have been six earthquakes reported in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties in Florida and in Escambia County, Alabama, since 1990, and all of them were within 10 miles of the state line.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the North Escambia area sits on the Bahamas Seismic Zone (the BSZ). Several earthquakes have occurred along this zone in recent years, but most are too weak to be felt by residents. While not a likelihood, the USGS says another significant earthquake could happen in the area at any time.
The last recorded earthquake in Florida was a 5.9 in the Gulf of Mexico felt across much of Florida in September 2006.
At 3:35 a.m. on October 24, 1997, a significant earthquake startled a large number of people in Escambia County, Ala., and Escambia and Santa Rosa counties in Florida. The quake, which measured 4.9 on the Richter scale, was centered near the Little Rock community in Escambia County, Ala., and was felt as far away as Eglin AFB, and Gulfport, Miss. It was the strongest earthquake in the southeast in 30 years. No significant damage was reported.
Four days later, on October 28, 1997, a magnitude 3.0 quake happened a few miles away. There was also a magnitude3.1 earthquake north of Bratt on May 3, 1997.
The U.S. Geological Survey classifies earthquake intensities. Here is how the October 24, 1997, earthquake measured up across the area, using intensity level descriptions from the Federal Emergency Management agency:
- (VII) Epicenter / Little Rock, Ala.
- People have difficulty standing. Drivers feel their cars shaking. Some furniture breaks. Loose bricks fall from buildings. Damage is slight to moderate in well-built buildings; considerable in poorly built buildings
- (VI) Brewton, Canoe and Lambeth
- Everyone feels movement. People have trouble walking. Objects fall from shelves. Pictures fall off walls. Furniture moves. Plaster in walls might crack. Trees and bushes shake. Damage is slight in poorly built buildings. No structural damage.
- (V) Atmore, Flomaton, Frisco City and Century
- Almost everyone feels movement. Sleeping people are awakened. Doors swing open or close. Dishes are broken. Pictures on the wall move. Small objects move or are turned over. Trees might shake. Liquids might spill out of open containers
- (IV) McDavid, Molino and Walnut Hill
- Most people indoors feel movement. Hanging objects swing. Dishes, windows, and doors rattle. The earthquake feels like a heavy truck hitting the walls. A few people outdoors may feel movement. Parked cars rock.
Pictured below: The U.S. Geological Survey installed a seismic monitoring station just north of Brewton following the 1997 earthquake.
Felony Child Abuse Charge Dropped As Unfounded Against Cantonment Woman
March 8, 2019
A felony child abuse charge against a Cantonment woman has been dropped.
The State Attorney’s Office dropped the charge against Marshall Gage Gilley after the Florida Department of Children and Families found the case was unfounded. The SAO said further investigation into the facts and circumstances of the incident failed to find sufficient evidence to charge a crime.
The child told deputies that Gilley slammed on brakes several times in an attempt to make him hit his head on the dash and head-butted him, but DCF’s findings did not support the claim.
After Approving $2 Billion In Projects For Bond Agency, Century Wants A Larger Fee
March 8, 2019
Over the past 20 years, the Town of Century has served an integral role in the tax-exempt financing about $2 billion worth of projects, including affordable housing projects, airport facilities, hotel and convention developments promoting tourism, health care projects, and K-12 educational buildings.
It’s a role that has provided significant income for Century.
On the surface it might seem unlikely that Century, the poorest small city in the state, could play a part in the financing of dozens of multi-million projects including the Community Maritime Park in Pensacola, $439 million in hotel and convention centers for the Seminole Nation, airport cargo terminals, schools and apartment complexes.
The approvals were granted by Century and Gulf Breeze as members of the Capital Trust Agency, an independent public body for the purpose of financing or otherwise accomplishing development programs. Century entered into the Capital Trust Agency with Gulf Breeze in 1999 with Century essentially serving as the “second signature” for CTA, certifying that the projects meet a public purpose under IRS rules and regulations.
The CTA is structured in such a way to indemnify Century from any financial risk, whether it be from a company that defaults on repayment or any other legal liabilities, according to Michael Stebbins, CTA attorney. The funds used for the bonds are from the CTA’s funds, not from Century or Gulf Breeze.
Century has received over $1 million dollars in fees since signing on to CTA.
This week, Mayor Henry Hawkins said Century should have received a fee increase at some point during the past two decades, and he wants more for the town.
Since the inception of the agreement, Century has been paid $350 after closing for each million dollars of bonds issued, with a minimum of $2,500.
After discussions with Hawkins, the CTA has proposed:
- Increasing the minimum fee to $3,500.
- $400 per million for transactions of $50 million or less, a 14 percent increase
- For transactions exceeding $50 million – $400 per million up to $50 million, then $325 for each additional million
During the last three fiscal years, Century received $323,873.75 in fees from CTA. Under the proposed new fee schedule, the town would have received $351,711.80, which would have been a $27,838.05 or 5.9 percent increase.
“I am hopeful this more than fulfills the expectations of the Century officials in realizing an increase in income for the town. Far more important to realizing greater income than some percentage fee increase is the need to maintain the market reputation enjoyed by CTA for being responsive,” CTA Executive Director Ed Gray said in a February 22 email to Hawkins.
The town council was set to hear two CTA bond proposals at their February 18 meeting for up to $25.5 million for charter schools in Holleywood and St. Cloud, FL. Those proposals were pulled from the council’s agenda without explanation and not heard.
But they were addressed in Gray’s February 22 emailed correspondence to Hawkins.
“I urge you and the Town Council to immediately reinstate for action the financing now submitted for the council agenda. With this proposal now before you, I am demonstrating my good intentions to work positively with you. Removing the item previously scheduled for consideration isn’t the type action one would expect from its partner and can be damaging to CTA’s reputation. Your help in addressing this situation will be appreciated,” Gray said.
The council did sign off on both bond issues at their March 4 meeting, during which the new fee schedule was proposed. Council members expressed concern that they had not been provided a copy of Gray’s letter letter in a time fashion because it had been sent a week and a half earlier by the mayor.
Pictured above: Capital Trust Agency attorney Michael Stebbins (far left) and Denis McKinnon III, CTA senior analyst and compliance officer (second from left), address the Century Town Council. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.