FHP Seeks Highway 29 Hit And Run Driver
January 25, 2018
The Florida Highway Patrol is looking for a hit and run driver after a traffic crash Wednesday night in Ensley.
The hit and driver was turning from southbound Highway 29 onto Hood Drive near Walmart about 6:10 p.m. when they turned into the path of a car traveling northbound on Highway 29. The 23-year old driver of that car was not seriously injured.
No description of the hit and run vehicle was available, but it will have significant damage to the passenger side.
Anyone with information on the hit and run crash is asked to call the Florida Highway Patrol at *FHP or (850) 484-5000.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Stolen Debit Card Leads To Felony Drug Charges Against Cantonment Man
January 25, 2018
A alleged stolen debit card led to felony drug charges against a Cantonment man.
Jeffrey Ervinton Rivers, 35 was accused of using a debit card stolen from his cousin at a Cantonment Tom Thumb to make a $9.28 purchase and a $400 ATM withdrawal.
When deputies went to an address on Deauville Way in Pensacola to arrest Rivers, they reported finding him asleep on a couch with the stolen debit card in his pocket. Deputies also reported finding three bags of marijuana, 10 Ecstasy pills, snf two pieces of crack cocaine in his pants pockets.
Rivers was charged with three counts of possession of marijuana, possession of crack cocaine, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, fraudulent use of a debit card, petty theft of a debit card and grand theft. He remained in the Escambia County Jail Thursday morning with bond set at $8,000.
Town Planner To Return To Century; Councilman Wants Position Oversight
January 25, 2018
Town officials have announced that Town Planner Debbie Nickles is returning to Century following her resignation, but one council member wants more position oversight.
Nickles worked with the town for decades, until calling it quits December 29 over moral and ethical issues, and concerns about the town’s credibility.
At the town’s last council meeting in December, Nickles expressed grave concerns regarding the town’s decision to bill an apartment developer $180,250 to establish water and sewer service as opposed to $63,500 based upon a 2015 verbal agreement that she and then-mayor Freddie McCall made with the Paces Foundation. The 2015 agreement was based upon then-current published rates. [Read more...]
“I feel like this is a moral, ethical thing to me. I feel like we made a commitment to them and the town should honor that commitment,” she said addressing the town council in December.
The council voted 4-1 in early January to attempt to lure Nickles back, with council member Louis Gomez voting against.
This week, Gomez expressed concerns over the power held by the town planner. He cited comments on stories about Nickles on NorthEscambia.com.
“Mrs. Nickles has been serving the town for 30 years; she’s a big part of Century and a big part of the past of Century. But I was looking at if from the standpoint of if Mrs. Nickles fell ill or decided to retire,” he said of his vote against bringing her back to the planner position. “Some of the comments I read made it seem as though Century should just fold up, pack up and just take a bulldozer and go ahead and level this place without her. In my opinion, just opinion now, is that’s too much power for one person.
“I want to be 100 percent behind Mrs. Nickles, but my recommendation is someone needs to work hand in hand with her at a city government level in order that we won’t be held hostage by one person leaving or staying.”
“If it’s something to do with Century, I want to know about it,” Gomez said. “I don’t want to come up later and say it’s done because she had the authority to sign off on it because I want to see what is happening.”
“The downside to everything to going to come before the council is time with us only meeting twice a month” Council President Ann Brooks said. “For example, if somebody came in and needed a new roof, she has to sign off on that, it’s a land use, before they can get a permit to put a new roof on. Are we going to hold up a roof on someone’s home?”
“Yes,” Gomez replied. “We are gonna hold it up, but we are going to expedite the permit.”
“Until we have the next council meeting, you would like to hold off on anyone getting a roof?” Brooks asked.
“I don’t care,” Gomez said. “There’s people been waiting two years to get their house built over here. They don’t even have a house, let a lone a roof. If you are going to do stuff and be transparent, all I’m saying is I’m on this seat and I want to see it.” Or, as alternative, he said a person should be elected or appointed to “follow up” on anything that has to do with Century.
“I don’t want anybody to come back and say that this administration we have in place now let nothing slip through the cracks,” he said. “…Part of the problem was the way they did business in this past, not the person, not Mrs. Nickles.” He claimed that not all business by “a previous administration” was done “on top of the table”.
Mayor Henry Hawkins said, “I need to be aware of what’s going on….the council will be assured that not one person is doing everything with that authority. I’m in the loop; because I’m in the loop, you’ll be in the loop.”
“If something goes wrong in Century, I guarantee you they ain’t going to be saying Mrs. Nickles done it. Who they gonna say, who gonna be on the page on NorthEscambia and Tri City Ledger? The town council. If something goes wrong in Century, some money gets lost or whatever the case may be, a grant goes bad, they are going to blame (council members) Ann Brooks, Mr. Riley, Mr. Boutwell, Mr. Gomez and Mayor Hawkins. If my name is on the line, I just want it up on top. It’s no vengeance against no one.”
The council tabled any action on any additional oversight over Nickles’ position until a February workshop meeting.
Pictured top and bottom: Century council member Louis Gomez. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
FWC Law Enforcement Report
January 25, 2018
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the period ending January 18 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officers Clark and Long discovered a large amount of trash dumped along a road way in Escambia County. They dug through the trash and found the name and address of an individual they suspected dumped the trash. They located the subject and interviewed him and he admitted the trash belonged to him and that he dumped it along the roadside. The subject was issued a notice to appear for dumping.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Lieutenant Lambert arrived at Boiling Creek Boat Ramp in Eglin WMA a little after sunset. There were two trucks with boat trailers parked at the ramp. A brief time later, he heard several wood ducks fly over and heard multiple gun shots from two locations, one north of the boat ramp and one south of the boat ramp. The shooting continued until approximately 35 minutes after sunset. During waterfowl season, ducks can legally be hunted until sunset. The vessels arrived back at the ramp, one vessel from the north location and one from the south location. Lieutenant Lambert interviewed the subjects, they both possessed duck hunting equipment along with wood ducks. The subjects were cited and warned for several violations to include hunting ducks after hours, unplugged shotgun and various boating safety violations.
This report represents some events the FWC handled over the past week; however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement. Information provided by FWC.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Tate Lady Aggies 2018 Softball Teams Named
January 25, 2018
The Tate Lady Aggies softball teams for 2018 were named Wednesday.
Varsity
Kyndal Bray
Hannah Brown
Kayleigh Cawthon
Taylor Hedgepeth
Ashley Lundquist
Madisen Nelson
Deazia Nickerson
Katie Snyder
Sydni Solliday
Belle Wolfenden
Emma Baransy
Amber Decoux
Gabby Locke
Shelby Mclean
Shelby Ullrich
Avery Beauchaine
Ryleigh Cawby
Junior Varsity
Hannah Fowler
Lilly Locke
Bailyn Murdy
Taylor Noack
Madison Workman
Courtney Adams
Abbie Burks
Brianna Folmar
Taylor Greene
Hannah Halfacre
Madison Holland
Alyssa Rowell
Madison Solliday
Cam Wolfenden
FHP: Man Killed When He Crashed Stolen Motorcycle
January 25, 2018
An Escambia County man was killed Wednesday afternoon when he crashed a stolen motorcycle.
Markiese Thornhill, 25, was traveling east about 2:25 p.m. on East Oakfield Road on a stolen 2016 Kawasaki motorcycle when he crossed a set of railroad tracks and failed to properly negotiate a curve, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The motorcycle struck a tree stump, ejecting Thornhill against a tree, according to troopers. He was not wearing a helmet.
The Florida Highway Patrol is continuing their investigation.
Lawmakers, Scott Differ On Tourism Marketing Money
January 25, 2018
Lawmakers appear ready to match Gov. Rick Scott’s request for $85 million to replenish a new economic-development fund but might not meet his proposal for tourism-marketing money.
An initial House budget proposal calls for spending $76 million on tourism-marketer Visit Florida during the upcoming year, which is $24 million less than what Scott wants. Meanwhile, an initial Senate plan would provide $50 million.
Still, the proposals released Wednesday indicate that while negotiations and lobbying efforts will continue over Visit Florida, the debate won’t match a 2017 fight over the agency. That fight ultimately led to Visit Florida receiving $76 million for the current year.
House Transportation & Tourism Appropriations Chairman Clay Ingram, R-Pensacola, credited a change in leadership last year at Visit Florida for helping clear up most spending issues at the public-private agency. Ken Lawson, a former secretary of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, took over as Visit Florida’s president.
“Ken Lawson being sort of the reformer that he is, and the emphasis on transparency and doing things the right way and hard work, I think that helps a lot,” Ingram said. “I’m happy that they’re well-funded at the current level. If the decision is made to increase it, that’s a decision for the future.”
Ingram said confidence in the agency was boosted by a Jan. 10 study from the Legislature’s Office of Economic and Demographic Research that found Visit Florida has a $2.20 return on investment for every $1 spent.
The return was down from $3.20 in 2015 due in part to increased spending by the agency, which Ingram said was “part of the thought process” in keeping the funding at $76 million.
The governor’s office credited increased tourism spending for the state attracting a record 112.3 million visitors in 2016. In 2011, the state spent $35 million on marketing and drew 87.3 million visitors.
The proposals released Wednesday are an early step in a process that will lead to the House and Senate approving overall spending plans and then negotiating a final budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1.
During last year’s session, House Republican leaders clashed with Scott about the future of Visit Florida and the business-recruitment agency Enterprise Florida.
House leaders objected to Enterprise Florida receiving money to provide incentives directly to individual businesses. Also, they questioned several years of spending by Visit Florida on such things as cooking shows, a contract with Miami-based rapper Pitbull and sponsorships of a race-car team and a London-based football club.
After a special legislative session, lawmakers agreed to provide $76 million for Visit Florida and $85 million for the “Job Growth Grant Fund,” which was created as a compromise in the dispute about economic-development incentives.
The proposals released Wednesday would provide another $85 million to the job-growth fund.
“I believe that the governor has done a great job spending these dollars,” said Senate Transportation, Tourism and Economic Development Appropriations Chairman Wilton Simpson, a Trilby Republican who also is Senate majority leader. “Today, most of that money has been appropriated or at least put towards projects that are going to be appropriated over the next few years.”
The fund has attracted more than 200 proposals, with requests totaling more than $750 million.
Scott dipped into the fund for the first time on Jan. 9, awarding $201,500 to Manatee Technical College for workforce training programs in manufacturing. According to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity website, that remained the only grant award as of Wednesday morning.
Sen. Audrey Gibson, D- Jacksonville, expressed concerns Wednesday over the pace of awards.
“I believe that if those dollars had been used for senators to make those decisions for their districts, it would have already been spent,” Gibson said. “And that just goes to the fact we know our districts better than the governor’s office. We’re there every day.”
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Gulf Power Storm Team At Work In Puerto Rico
January 25, 2018
A 10-man storm team from Gulf Power is on the job in Puerto Rico, helping to restore power to the island. The crew arrived Saturday and, after their trucks had arrived by barge, started working with other Southern Company workers to restore power. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Senators Back Two Tax Holiday Periods For Hurricane Supplies
January 24, 2018
Floridians would be able to buy hurricane supplies without paying sales taxes during two weeks in June and July, under a bill approved by a key Senate committee.
The Finance and Tax Appropriations Subcommittee unanimously backed the proposal (SB 620), which would create tax “holidays” from June 1 through June 7 and from July 6 through July 12.
The bill includes numerous items that would be exempt from sales taxes during the periods, such as portable radios costing $75 or less; tarps costing $50 or less; gas or diesel fuel tanks costing $25 or less; cell-phone chargers costing $40 or less; carbon-monoxide detectors costing $75 or less; and portable generators costing $1,000 or less.
The annual six-month hurricane season starts June 1.
Finance and Tax Chairwoman Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland, said the two tax-free periods would cover the start of hurricane season and a later period when people start becoming more aware of hurricane threats.
“We all wait until we get the notice that the hurricane is upon us, and we all go and line up at Home Depot and there’s nothing left,” bill sponsor Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, said. “So I think, having this in the back of our mind, we’re saving money, people will go ahead and buy the items ahead of time.”
The proposal is now slated to go to the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Fire Inspections Skipped, Fire Extinguishers Removed From Town Of Century Buildings
January 24, 2018
Century Mayor Henry Hawkins said he has discovered buildings operated by the town of Century have not had required fire safety inspections since 2012 and community centers have been operated with the fire extinguishers removed. And fire extinguishers that remain are out of date and have not had required inspections in over five years.
The community center, know as the “Ag Building” on West Highway 4 and the Century Business Center on Pond Street last had legally required annual fire inspections in 2012. Both buildings are rented to the public by the town as event spaces, including birthday parties, family reunions, weddings and the like, and both buildings contain kitchens. Additional buildings at the Century Business Center include office space, a portion of which is rented by the town to an attorney.
Fire extinguishers that were in the buildings were outdated and removed, Hawkins said.
“Somebody in their infinite wisdom took out all the fire extinguishers out of all the buildings, so I’ve told them to put them back in,” he said.
Hawkins also said the fire extinguishers inside the Century Town Hall have not been checked since 2012. Florida fire code specifies internal checks that must be done on fire extinguishers, plus an annual inspection.
“If we use the Ag Building and it catches fire, and the suppression system don’t work, we are up the creek. We are going to get major lawsuits,” Hawkins said.
The mayor said now that problem has been discovered, the town will make every effort to rectify the situation.
“But hold on to your purse strings,” Hawkins told council members.
Pictured: A crowd attends Martin Luther King Day event inside the Ag Building in Center on Monday, January 15. According to the mayor, the building has not had a required fire safety inspection since 2012 and fire extinguishers were removed from the facility. Pictured below: The Century Business Center. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
