One Injured In School Zone Crash
September 11, 2018
One person was injured in a traffic accident Tuesday morning in the Northview High school zone.
The crash occurred at Highway 4 and Pine Barren Road. One driver was transported to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview JV Defeats Escambia County High
September 11, 2018
The Northview Chiefs junior varisty football team defeated the Escambia County High School (Atmore) JV team 8-6 on Monday night.
The Blue Devils scored early in the first quarter to take a 6-0 lead into the half.The JV Chiefs improve their record to 2-1 and will play next Thursday at Escambia High School in Pensacola at 6:00.
State Attorney’s Investigation Continues In Century; Mayor Seeks To Quiet Council President
September 11, 2018
The State Attorney’s Office inquiry into actions by the Town of Century is continuing, and the mayor is seeking to stop the town council president from talking to others on behalf of the town, according a letter from the mayor.
The letter was distributed to council members at a 5 p.m. budget meeting Monday afternoon. Hawkins attended the 5 p.m. meeting but did not attend a regular council meeting at 7 p.m. The letter was not publicly discussed at either meeting.
Hawkins began the letter with an apparent quote of an email from town attorney Matt Dannheisser.
Dannheisser stated he had spoken to Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille and answered questions concerning possible improprieties regarding the town’s payment of employee wages without sufficient funds in the town’s bank account, possible ethical issues concerning loans to, or failure to replay loans by, current or past members of the town council and possible Sunshine Law violations over a recent meeting with the town’s auditor at which one or more council members may have been present.
The attorney said he has not been asked by the town to provide any legal services, and “other than what has been printed in the media, I am not aware of any particular information” on the insufficient fund and loan issues. NorthEscambia.com has reported on each item questioned.
As for the audit meeting, Dannheisser said he “relayed the substance of the information that I received from (the auditor) as well as my general understanding of the situation”.
“I do not know that there is any action that you need to take at this time; rather I simply wanted you to be aware that the State Attorney’s office is apparently looking into matters involving the Town of Century,” Dannheisser said, according to the mayor’s letter to the council..
On July 25, NorthEscambia.com reported that the council approved a $12,000 loan refinance for council member Sandra McMurray-Jackson, but few details were provided on the loan program. NorthEscambia.com public records requests for loan documentation has gone partially unanswered since July.
On July 27, we reported that Town of Century wrote 41 payroll checks without funds to cover them and missed legally required payroll deposits with the IRS, according to statements by town council President Ann Brooks. [Read story...]
On August 7, NorthEscambia.com first reported that the State Attorney’s Office was reviewing items involving the town of Century. Three council members reportedly attended at least some portion of a closed door meeting with CPA Robert Hudson, Town Clerk Kim Godwin and the town’s auditors. The meeting was not advertised as a public meeting, which would forbid more than one council member from taking part under Florida’s Sunshine Laws.
After the conclusion of the apparent copy of text of Dannheisser’s email, the mayor’s letter continued with concerns about the actions of Council President Ann Brooks.
(Story continues below image, scroll down)
The Mayor’s Problem With The Council President On TV
“Who gave Ms. Brooks the authorization to represent the town via TV or any other public broadcast without Council approval,” Hawkins wrote in his letter presented Monday.
In a WEAR 3 followup to a NorthEscambia.com story, Brooks told the TV station that she learned about the town’s financial problems through public records. She told WEAR in an on-camera interview that “We need to tighten our belts and we need to cut expenses but instead we have department heads asking for more…We have a gas department that is losing money and is bleeding.”
WEAR 3 and NorthEscambia.com are media partners, often sharing news, photos and videos. WEAR 3 and NorthEcambia.com do not share ownership.
In a story about a week later about the State Attorney’s Office review of financial matters and possible Sunshine Law violations in Century, Hawkins blamed problems on the fact that he is black and poor spending by the town council.
“Bottom line now is, you can put on record or off the record I don’t care, bottom line now is that’s a black man taking care of business,” Hawkins said in a recorded interview with WEAR 3 in August.
The Mayor’s Problem With The Council President Talking To The Town Attorney
“Ms. Brooks has made numerous requests to Mr. Dannheisser concerning several issues, some which should have been directed through me, thus costing the Town $720.00,” Hawkins wrote.
The Mayor’s Concerns About The Council President Providing Other Info
In his letter Monday, Hawkins said Brooks had provided information about the gas department to a consultant.
“My concern again is who directed Ms. Brooks to provide any information to anyone without our staff being made aware of it,” he wrote.
Mayor: Hold Others Responsible
Hawkins requested, via his letter, than the town “hold everyone in check as to what they do for this Town. If the Council has not given Ms. Brooks the authorization to by pass [SIC} me and take matters into her own hands without the knowledge of the Town or our staff then I think that it’s fair that we do no pay any unauthorized charges due, we hold the responsible person(s) responsible and that we do not act on the behalf of the Town without consent from the Town and the knowledge of the Mayor. I need this in a motion (please)”.
The council did not discuss or take any action on the mayor’s letter.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Ransom Middle Students Get Hurricane Lesson From Tate Grad Hurricane Hunter From The Middle Of Storm
September 11, 2018
Students at Ransom Middle School had a lesson in hurricanes Monday — directly from a Tate High Graduate Hurricane Hunter aircraft in the middle of a hurricane.
Maj. Christopher Dyke is n aerial reconnaissance weather officer (ARWO) in the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, better known as the “Hurricane Hunters”.
“Major Christopher Dyke, a former student, called and had me put my phone on speaker so he could talk to my current students about what he and his crew were doing. He called a few different times, and absolutely brought hurricane science to life,” Ransom Middle science teacher Louis O’Rear said.
“He called from the plane, on satellite phone, while they were flying in the middle of a hurricane,” O’Rear exclaimed about the call from his former student. The Hurricane Hunters were in the middle of a 10.5 hour mission into Hurricane Olivia over the Pacific Ocean and headed toward the Hawaiian Islands.
Dyke, who’s flown 337 sorties and has more than 1,200 flight hours, said the 53rd WRS is a good match for his love of weather, because it’s rewarding to contribute information that improves forecasts and storm warnings, which helps to ensure public safety.
“As an ARWO, we act as a mission director for the weather reconnaissance missions,” said Dyke, who is one of 22 ARWOs in the Air Force. “We work with the National Hurricane Center to gather the data they need, and we work with the aircrew to match our capabilities to those requirements.”
The squadron conducts primarily two types of tropical cyclone missions: low-level invests and fix missions. A low-level invest mission is flown at 500 to 1,500 feet to determine if there is a closed circulation. Once a close circulation exists, they fly at higher altitudes, ranging from 5,000 to 10,000 feet. Aircrews fly through the eye of a storm four to six times per mission to locate the low-pressure center and circulation of the storm. During these missions, the aircrews transmit the weather data by satellite to the NHC.
Dykes and his family moved to Cantonment when he was 13.
Before he became part of the Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters, Dyke served as a meteorologist in the Air Force from 2005 to 2008. His first assignment was at Keesler. He reported to the Weather Officer Course, with his first month being one many on the Gulf Coast he will never forget — Hurricane Katrina.
“It was a nightmare,” he said. “You could hear howling in Wolfe Hall where we were sheltered, and some of the stairwells started taking on water. We spent a week in the shelter, and I was responsible for a security detail after the storm.”
He eventually left the base, reporting to Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, where he completed his weather training and began his first permanent duty assignment.
When Dyke isn’t flying, he is also the Air Force Reserve Command interim weather career field manager. He manages the weather specialists’ career paths, and is also responsible for organizing, training and equipping weather units.
Whether he is working issues to improve the unit or flying into the world’s most powerful storms to gather life-saving data, Dyke has a passion for his profession.
“I’m not the kind of person who can sit in front of a computer all day, every day; so this provides me the opportunity to get out, be hands-on, and at the same time doing a job dealing with a topic I love,” said Dyke.
Editor’s note: Olivia was downgraded to a tropical storm late Monday.
Century Approves Lower Budget, Higher Property Tax
September 11, 2018
The Century Town Council gave preliminary approval Monday night to a $3.43 million budget for the next fiscal year and a property tax higher than the rollback rate.
The budget is $1.17 million lower than the town’s previous year budget.
The council also approved a tentative millage rate of .9204, which a 7.3 percent increase over the rollback rate of 0.8578. The rollback rate is the tax rate that would generate the same amount of property tax revenue as approved for the prior year.
Before becoming final, the 2018-2019 Century budget faces another public hearing on Monday, September 17 at 5:01 p.m., prior to a regular council meeting at 7:00.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Councilman’s Religious Values Could Jeopardize Sunday Liquor Sales In Flomaton
September 11, 2018
The possibility of Sunday alcohol sales in Flomaton could be in jeopardy due to the religious values of one town council member.
Last month, the council voted 5-1 for an ordinance asking the Alabama Legislature to approve a bill that would allow Sunday alcohol sales in Flomaton.
Mayor Dewey Bondurant Jr. told the council Monday night that he spoke with State Rep. Alan Baker, who said the council actually needed to pass a resolution, not an ordinance. The mayor said he was told by Baker that the local legislative delegation would not consider a bill without the full unanimous support of the council.
Councilman Roger Adkinson, who voted against Sunday alcohol sales in August, said he would once again vote no because it goes against his Christian values.
“I will refuse to vote against my values,” remarked Adkinson, a deacon in the First Baptist Church.. “I cannot do that and maintain my Christian values.”
Other council members did not take issues with Adkinson’s beliefs; rather, they took issue with Baker’s request that the vote be unanimous.
“We have a right to our opinion,” council member Buster Crapps said. “Have many times have I gone against the whole council?”
The Flomaton Sunday alcohol sale resolution passed with a dissenting vote cast by Adkinson. If the local delegation should sponsor a bill for Flomaton, it would not go before the Alabama Legislature until their next session in 2019.
A similar state law went into effect March 25 legalizing alcohol sales after 10 a.m. on Sundays in Atmore at the request of the Atmore City Council. Sunday alcohol sales are already legal just across the state line in Escambia County, FL
Pictured top: Flomaton council member Roger Adkinson Monday evening. Pictured below: Council member Buster Capps (right). NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
9/11 Commemoration LifeFlight Training Class Held With Escambia Fire Rescue
September 11, 2018
Dozens of Escambia Fire Rescue members took part in a special LifeFlight landing zone class Monday night in commemoration of September 11.
The training was held at Klondike Baptist Church with firefighters from the Beulah, Bellview, Ferry Pass, Myrtle Grover and Innerarity Point station of Escambia County Fire Rescue.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Broad Street To Close At Highway 29 Intersection
September 11, 2018
Broad Street will be closed on the east side of the Highway 29 intersection from 8 p.m. Friday through 6 a.m. Monday as workers widen the intersection. Motorist can detour on Pittman Avenue and Detroit Boulevard. All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Escambia County Names September Employee Of The Month
September 11, 2018
Anthony Quiles, a Parks and Recreation maintenance technician, has been named the Escambia County Employee of the Month for September 2018.
He joined the county as a temporary employee in November 17 and promoted. ”
He has taken ownership of his position and has proven in short term to be a team player. Mr. Quiles has taken initiative to learn new skills to help him be successful in his role and is willing to do whatever it takes to get the job completed,” according to a proclamation presented to him at a recent county commission meeting.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Church Hosts 9/11 Appreciation Breakfast For First Responders
September 11, 2018
Little Escambia Baptist Church in Flomaton hosted a 9/11 Appreciation Breakfast Tuesday morning for first responders, law enforcement officers, EMS personnel and military personnel from both Alabama and Florida. Photos for NorthEcambia.com, click to enlarge.
