Century Correctional Inmate Death Under Investigation
November 17, 2017
The death of an inmate at the Century Correctional Institution is under investigation.
Officials say inmate John Terry Hollis died at the facility on November 4. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Florida Department of Corrections Office of the Inspector General are investigating. No further information concerning the death have been released.
Hollis was 50 years old. He was serving life on a 1988 sentence for robbery and murder out of Nassau County. He had been in the custody of the Florida Department of Corrections since November 1988.
ECUA Board Elects Officers
November 17, 2017
The ECUA board elected the following officers during their 2017-2018 organizational meeting Thursday -District 2 member Lois Benson, as chairman and District 4 member Dale Perkins and vice-chairman.
Also re-elected to the following positions were:
- Vicki Campbell, District One, to the chairmanship of the Citizens’ Advisory Committee and Larry N. Walker, District Five, to serve as the vice-chairman.
- Deborah Benn, Chuck Kimball, Catherine Booker, Paul Frederick, Michael Steltenkamp, Randy Ponson, and Louise Ritz, were unanimously appointed to serve as members of the Citizens’ Advisory Committee.
Pictured: Lois Benson, ECUA board chairman, speaks during the August 2016 opening of the Materials Recycling Facility, or IMRF, at the Perdido Landfill. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
All-Star Volleyball: East Tops West
November 17, 2017
The West lost to the East Thursday night 4-2 in a best of seven series at the 11th Annual Subway High School All-Star Volleyball game at the University of West Florida Field House.
The West team, representing the best seniors of Escambia County, included North Escambia players Kayla Galvan from Northview High and Brynna Magruder, Logan Hamlin and Casey Wright from Tate High School. The East team represented the best from Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties.
The full roster was as follows:
WEST TEAM
- Catholic – Kayla Carrell, Ellen Floyd
- Escambia – Kelsey Beasley, Eve Pesta, Angela Harvey
- Northview – Kayla Galvan
- Pensacola – Dina Razek, Malainna White, JT Barnes
- PCA – Allaena Fulfer
- Pine Forest – Brianna Sasser
- Tate – Brynna Magruder, Logan Hamlin, Casey Wright
- Washington – Madison Douglas, Elle Bardsley, Victoria Day, Jessica Butler
EAST TEAM:
- Baker – Ayajah Coleman
- Central – Ali Hawthorne
- Choctaw – Lindsey Legg (Honorary), Kassandra Fairly (Honorary
- Crestview – Dominique Thompson
- FWB – Zoey Quitugua
- Gulf Breeze – Sam Karcher, Olivia Hepworth, Gracie Snider
- Jay – Haylee Watson
- Milton – McKenzie Stevenson
- Navarre – Caitlin Bethell
- Niceville – Bayley McMenimen, Claressa Kohler
- Pace – Tori Butcher, Alexis Van Norman
- Rocky Bayou – Kaylee Orr, Melanie Marchena
The coaching staff for the West Team:
- Head Coach, Dave Bryant of West Florida Tech High School
- Assistant Coach, Kathryn Clarke of Pensacola High School
The coaching staff for the East Team:
- Head Coach, Mark Gough of Pace High School
- Assistant Coach, Karson Hinds of Niceville High School
Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Three Escambia Deputies Credited For Saving Man From Burning Vehicle
November 16, 2017
Three Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies are being credited for saving a man from a burning pickup truck following an early morning accident on I-10 near Pine Forest Road.
According to a statement from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office:
“This morning Sgt. Pollock witnessed a pickup truck crash into an impact attenuator deployed on the back of an L30 truck. The pick-up truck burst into flames with the driver trapped inside. Sgt. Pollock grabbed his fire extinguisher and began battling the flames. The fire was too intense and his extinguisher ran out. Sgt. Pollock called for backup. Deputy Shelly along with Deputy Godfrey responded and were able to use their fire extinguishers to put the fire out.
“Once the fire was extinguished Sgt. Pollock and Deputy McMullen tried to get inside the vehicle. Sgt. Pollock had to use his empty fire extinguisher to bust out the back window of the truck, so the deputies could provide first aid to the driver. Fortunately, the driver didn’t suffer any burns and was airlifted to a local hospital.”
The Florida Highway Patrol report stated that 26-year old Harris McDonnel of Crestview was driving eastbound on I-10 at a high rate of speed in a lane that was closed for construction when his 2016 GMC Sierra collided with a construction zone crash attenuator truck.
McDonnel was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in critical condition.
File photo.
Century Convicted Felon Arrested With Drugs, Ammunition
November 16, 2017
The routine search of a Century area residence by a probation officer landed a man behind bars on multiple charges for weapons and drugs.
Aaron Lee Sutton, 28, was charged with felony possession of a weapon or ammunition by a convicted felon, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
A Florida Department of Corrections probation officer was conducting a routine search of a residence on Whirlpool Road when he reported finding multiple items, including small bags of marijuana, 14 rounds of ammunition, two shotgun shells hidden behind a dresser in Sutton’s bedroom and a .22 long rifle cartridge hidden in an air vent..
The probation officer also found another small bag of marijuana and drug paraphernalia in a shed behind Sutton’s residence.
Sutton is a convicted felon out of Georgia for possession of a controlled substance, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report.
Sutton is being held without bond in the Escambia County Jail and will face extradition back to Douglas County, GA.
Firefighters Battle Large Brush, Tire Fire
November 16, 2017
Firefighters from Alabama and Florida battled a large brush and tire fire just north of Atmore late Wednesday morning.
The fire was reported about 11:15 a.m. on Power Road, just off Robinsonville Road. A brush fire ignited a pile of tires reported to be about 50-feet in diameter. The fire also consumed at least one vehicle, while firefighters were able to save a nearby mobile home.
The resulting plume of dark black smoke could be seen from as far away as Century.
Multiple Alabama fire department including Atmore, Poarch, Nokomis and Robinsonville and the Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue from Florida battled the fire for about two hours.
Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Let The Miracle League Fry Your Thanksgiving Turkey
November 16, 2017
Volunteers from the Miracle League of Pensacola will fry your turkey for you next Wednesday, saving you the time and trouble while benefiting the charity. And there is still time to make an appointment.
Completely thaw your turkey, removing all of the inside packaging and giblets. Write down exactly how much your turkey weighs so it is fried perfectly and take it to the Miracle League Park at 555 East Nine Mile Road from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Wednesday. For a monetary donation to Miracle League, the volunteers will fry your turkey to perfection. A minimum of $20 per turkey is necessary to help cover costs, and any additional donation will benefit the Miracle League of Pensacola.
Call (850) 503-8894 with questions or to schedule your time (leave a message if no answer). Reservations should be made early as the number of time slots is limited.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Property Taxes Likely To Spur School Funding Fight
November 16, 2017
Another battle about using increases in local property taxes to bolster public schools will complicate upcoming state budget negotiations.
In his $87.4 billion budget proposal for 2018-2019, Gov. Rick Scott on Tuesday called for a $770 million increase in funding for Florida’s kindergarten through 12th-grade education system. But nearly $7 out of every $10 of that increase would come from rising local property-tax revenue, much of it the result of increasing property values with a stronger economy.
Senate leaders support the governor’s plan, while House leaders remain firmly opposed to using the increased local property tax collections, arguing that such a move would represent a tax increase.
The projected $534 million increase in local property tax revenue includes $450 million in “required local effort” taxes and $84 million in discretionary local school taxes.
In an explanation of Scott’s budget, his office noted the school proposal does not change the required local property-tax rate, meaning “there is not tax increase.”
“The amount of local funding provided in the (school funding formula) calculation primarily increased due to a 6.15 percent, or $117.1 billion, rise in the school taxable value that was the result of an increase in the value of Florida property,” the explanation said. “When property values rise, it’s a good thing for Florida families.”
Senate Appropriations Chairman Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island, said the Senate supports Scott’s K-12 plan, including the use of increased local property tax collections.
“It’s not a tax increase. It’s just simply not,” Bradley said.
“If I were to buy a lawnmower at Home Depot for $200 in January and then buy the same lawnmower as a present for my brother four months later and it’s priced $230, there will be more taxes owed on the $230 purchase, but that’s not a tax increase,” Bradley said.
He said it’s “just the same tax rate being applied to a purchase that is a little higher than it used to be.”
But House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’Lakes, reaffirmed Wednesday the House’s strong opposition to using increased property tax collections.
“I think our position has been very clear for the last two years and it will not change,” Corcoran said. “We’re not raising taxes.”
The House prevailed in the negotiations on the current 2017-2018 budget, with the Senate agreeing to roll back the “required local effort” property tax rate to offset the increase in tax collections.
Rather than having the majority of an increase for the K-12 system come from local property tax collections, lawmakers funded most of the $455 million increase from state revenue, along with a $92 million increase in discretionary local property-tax collections.
But that meant the Legislature had to shift $364 million in state revenue, which could have been used in other areas of the budget like health care or criminal justice, to come up with a $100 per-student increase in funding.
Under Scott’s new plan, per-student funding would rise by $200, but that is based on $450 million in property taxes. If lawmakers reject using the property tax revenue, they will have to again shift more state revenue into the schools’ budget, which will be even more difficult in the coming year.
“We’re very committed in the Senate to K-12 education,” Bradley said. “And an important part of that commitment is making sure that we have the (local property tax collections). It’s not a tax increase. I agree with the governor. And that’s where we are.”
Corcoran downplayed the differences with the Senate over the next state budget, which will be debated when lawmakers begin their annual session in January.
“Where we are right now is in a good place and the likelihood we’re going to end in a good place is as strong as ever,” he said. “I think it’s a good situation.”
by The News Service of Florida
Teen Works To Raise $1,000 To Feed The Homeless On Thanksgiving
November 16, 2017
Claire Jimenez is 14. She has a heart for her community, and her enthusiasm is contagious. With some of her friends, she formed a group called the Volunteens. They look for opportunities to be a blessing to their not-so- blessed neighbors, to the have-nots, to the underprivileged. And in October, Claire decided they’d help Waterfront Rescue Mission.
They set up a table to collect donations in front of Apple Market, and then went door to door in Claire’s neighborhood. They asked that people help Waterfront Rescue Mission feed the homeless on Thanksgiving, that we needed turkeys, stuffing, rolls, all the fixin’s to make Thanksgiving thankful. They took time that could have gone to any of a dozen things that we all do to relax and distract ourselves, and instead they went and collected money to make lives better for others. And they raised over $1,000.
“I was trying to find a service project to do and I thought the perfect one would be helping feed the homeless for Thanksgiving through Waterfront Rescue Mission,” Claire said. “My family has worked with Waterfront Rescue Mission before. We know it’s a trusting organization and helps a lot of people.”
Alumni Cheerleaders Contribute To Tate Program
November 16, 2017
The Tate High School Alumni Cheerleaders presented a $600 donation to the Tate Aggie Cheerleader program on Wednesday. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.