Headed The Beach? There’s Now A Cheaper Toll Option
March 17, 2017
At the Thursday, March 16 commission meeting, the Escambia Board of County Commissioners approved a reduction in the Pensacola Beach General Public Annual Pass, reducing the annual fee from $50 to $20. The fee reduction will become effective Monday, May 1.
The board’s action does not impact the ability to choose to pay the cash toll of $1 for single trips or the other Pensacola Beach Annual Pass rates. The homestead pass will remain at $5 and the commercial pass, $70. No refunds will be given for any general public annual passes purchased prior to the new fee rate.
The new Pensacola Beach Annual Pass integrated with SunPass® provides a true 365-day pass to Pensacola Beach by providing unlimited passage through the Bob Sikes Toll Booth for one full year from the date of purchase. To get your Pensacola Beach Annual Pass:
- Step one – Purchase a SunPass transponder online at www.SunPass.com or in person at retail outlets including Publix, CVS Pharmacy and Walgreens. For a full list, visit https://www.sunpass.com/sunPassRetailers.
- Step two – Enroll in the Pensacola Beach Annual Pass program online or in person at the Bob Sikes Bridge Toll Plaza Customer Service Office located in the Santa Rosa Island Authority office, 1 Via De Luna Drive, Pensacola Beach.
Running A Stop Sign Gets Century Man Busted For Meth
March 16, 2017
Running a stop sign landed a Century man in jail on meth charges.
James Edward Lewis, 49, left the Century Woods Apartment on West Highway 4 at a high rate of speed without stopping at a posted stop sign, according to an arrest report. A deputy who witnessed the incident conducted a traffic stop.
The deputy noted Lewis was very nervous and the vehicle had an odor of marijuana, and Lewis was detained. A small plastic bag with a white substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine was located in Lewis’ wallet. A bag with a “brown leafy substance” was found in Lewis’ pocket.
Lewis was charged with felony possession of methamphetamine. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail and later released on a $10,000 bond.
He may face additional charges pending the outcome of laboratory testing on the brown leafy substance, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. He was given a verbal warning for running the stop sign.
Search Warrant Turns Up Drugs, One Arrested
March 16, 2017
An Atmore man was arrested after narcotics agents executed a search warrant in Atmore Tuesday.
Officers searched a home at 157 Harris Street in Atmore where they say they found Derek James Staples in possession of large amount of marijuana and a handgun. Staples was charged with drug trafficking, being in possession of a firearm and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Staples was booked into the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton.
The search warrant was served by officers from the Atmore Police Department, Poarch Creek Police Department, and the Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office.
Escambia Man Busted Afer Traveling To Meet Minor For Sex
March 16, 2017
An Escambia County man who expected to meet a 13-year old for sex when he traveled to Okaloosa County this week was met by Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office investigators instead.
William Charles Huff is charged with obscene communication – traveling to meet after use of a computer to lure a child, and use of a two way communication device to facilitate a felony.
OCSO Investigators say Huff, 31, traveled from Pensacola to a predetermined location in Okaloosa County for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity with a person he believed was 13-years old.
Huff made the trip after a period of communication throughout February and March with an undercover officer who was posing as the youngster. They arranged to meet for a sexual liaison and Huff was taken into custody after he showed up in the parking lot for the encounter.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate High FFA Provides Meals Of Hope To The Needy
March 16, 2017
The Tate High School FFA is lending a hand to local families in need along with Feeding the Gulf Coast and Meals of Hope.
The group raised $5,000 to purchase bulk commodities to be packaged in single family portions and redistributed to help feed families in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
Wednesday, the FFA students packaged thousands of macaroni and cheese meals — carefully measuring, pouring, weighing labeling and counting each bag. Each family receiving one of the mac and cheese meals will know from the label that it was packed by the Tate High School FFA.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Photos by Kim Stefansson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Aggie Classic: Complete Day Three Results, Championship Schedule
March 16, 2017
Host team Tate and Niceville will battle it out tonight for the Aggie Classic championship.
Here are scores from Wednesday and the Aggie Classic Championship Day schedule:
Wednesday Scores:
- Presbyterian Christian, MS 6, Southmoore 2
- Pryor, OK 7, Knoxville Catholic, TN 6
- Edmond North, OK 17, Leon, FL 7
- Second Baptist, TX 10, Fort Gibson, OK 8
- Houston, TN 12, Piedmont, OK 2
- Magnolia Heights, MS 7, Mustang, OK 4
- Bartlett, TN 4, Choctaw, OK 3
- Milton FL 5, Coweta, OK 1
- Pace FL 13, Union, OK 2
- Booker T Washington 3, Durant, OK 2
- West Florida 3, Booker T Washington, OK 2
- Tate 9, Knoxville Catholic, TN 2
- Gulf Breeze 1, Berryhill, OK 0
- Niceville 9, Jenks, OK 0
Aggie Classic Championship Day Schedule:
- At Tate High – 3rd place: Houston vs. Edmond North, 4 p.m.; Championship game: Niceville vs. Tate, 7 p.m.
- At Gulf Breeze- 4 p.m. Magnolia Heights vs. Jenks; Gulf Breeze vs. Union, 7 p.m.
- At Milton- Second Baptist vs. Choctaw, Okla, 4 p.m.; Mustang vs. Milton, 7 p.m.
- At Pace- Leon vs. Coweta, 4 p.m.; Pace vs. Southmoore, 7 p.m.
- At Escambia- Presbyterian Christian vs. TBA, 4 p.m.; Berryhill vs. Knoxville, 7 p.m.
- At West Florida- Bartlett vs. Durant, 4 p.m.; Pryor vs. West Florida, 7 p.m.
- At Washington- Fort Gibson vs. Booker T. Washington, Okla., 4 p.m.; Booker T. Washington vs. Piedmont, 7 p.m.
House Ponders Potential Budget Cuts
March 16, 2017
Ahead of a Friday meeting to determine how much lawmakers will have to spend in the fiscal year that begins July 1, the House budget-writing committee heard recommendations Wednesday for potential cuts across state government.
The Legislature is not expected to face a shortfall in the 2017-2018 budget, which lawmakers will negotiate before the annual legislative session wraps up in early May.
But by the following year, lawmakers could be $1.3 billion short of how much they will need to cover expected spending, with a $1.9 billion hole projected the year after that.
House budget subcommittees came up with a pair of scenarios based on how quickly the state should move to reduce the future shortfalls, but the prescriptions were largely the same in big-ticket areas: cuts in payments to hospitals, reductions in spending on universities and scaling back early-learning and other public-education programs.
House Appropriations Chairman Carlos Trujillo, R-Miami, said how closely lawmakers follow the recommendations will depend on how state finances shape up in the future. But he said a reduction in expected spending of about $1.4 billion is a “realistic goal” for the coming budget year.
“I think it’s a roadmap — whether we decide to go down Road A or Road B — but I think it’s a roadmap of how we’re going to craft our budget,” he said. “I don’t think anything’s set on stone as far as specific amounts.”
Lawmakers likely will get updated revenue estimates after a panel of economists meets Friday. The panel, known as the Revenue Estimating Conference, will analyze the state’s general revenue, which plays a critical role in paying for schools, health care and prisons.
Some of the House’s potential budget reductions would essentially be cuts in name only. Shortfall projections take into account likely future increases in spending, so the Legislature could balance out some of the problem simply by declining to add money to areas of the budget.
But many of the ideas floated Wednesday suggested that such maneuvers wouldn’t be enough.
For example, House Health Care Appropriations Chairman Jason Brodeur, R-Sanford, proposed the Legislature not increase some funding to reimburse health-care providers. But he also suggested $220.6 million in cuts to inpatient and outpatient hospital reimbursements.
One potential hang-up with the Senate could come if the House follows through on ideas that would scale back spending on universities. A plan outlined by Higher Education Appropriations Chairman Larry Ahern, R-Seminole, would reduce increases by more than half of the level projected by state economists — under a slower-moving scenario.
Under the faster-moving scenario, universities would be hit with a cut of $80 million, though Ahern played down the significance of the reduction.
“While $80 million sounds like a large number, remember that the estimated expenditures for universities in the current year is $10.3 billion,” Ahern said.
The House is also considering asking universities to use some of their reserves to cover a one-time hit of $38 million in both scenarios. However, when lawmakers tried a similar move to save $300 million five years ago, many universities covered at least part of the reduction with cuts to programs.
Senate President Joe Negron, R-Stuart, has made boosting the reputations of the state’s universities one of his top priorities for the coming session — though he now speaks more about increasing financial aid for students than a large boost in university spending.
Trujillo suggested Wednesday that the House could go along with that idea.
“Whether we should just give a bunch of money to the university system is one debate,” he said. “Whether we should increase access to education …. I think we’re much more receptive of that message than we are of just giving wholesale amount of money to the university system.”
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
FWC Law Enforcement Report
March 16, 2017
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the weekly period ending March 9 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officer Clark received information that an individual posted a picture of himself on a social media website holding an alligator snapping turtle at his residence. After speaking to the individual, he found that two other individuals had also been in possession of the turtle. One of the individuals caught the turtle and then brought it home to take pictures. The turtle was reportedly taken back to the spot where it was first located and released. The individual was cited for possessing and transporting a species of special concern. The other two individuals were given warnings and educated on the laws concerning that species.
Officer Pettey received an internet complaint that showed an individual in possession of what appeared to be an oversized redfish. The individual was located and found to be in possession of a 38‑inch redfish. A citation was issued for the violation.
Officers Pettey and Allgood responded to a trespass complaint that occurred on a hunting club in the Walnut Hill area. Earlier in the week, several trail camera photographs of an individual walking through the club holding a gun were provided. The officers located the subject walking in the area near the club, interviewed him and when he was shown some of the photographs, he admitted to trespass while hunting on the property. A criminal history check revealed the subject is a convicted felon and is not allowed to possess firearms. A warrant was obtained the next day for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Officer Allgood received information that some fishermen were harvesting over the bag limit of sheepshead at the Fort Pickens fishing pier. When he arrived on the scene, there were three men with several buckets and a cooler filled with sheepshead. The fishermen were in possession of 59 sheepshead and given notice to appear citations for over the bag limit.
While off duty, Lieutenant Clark saw a vehicle pulling a trailer full of waste tires on Highway 98 in Gulf Breeze. He contacted Officer Allgood and advised him that there was no placard or permit displayed on the side of the vehicle as required. Officer Allgood saw the vehicle approaching his location and confirmed the vehicle was not displaying a placard and conducted a traffic stop. The driver confirmed he did not have a permit to haul waste tires and was issued a notice to appear for transporting waste tires without a permit.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officer Hutchinson was patrolling the Blackwater State Forest when he saw a vehicle driving carelessly, almost striking his patrol vehicle. After stopping the vehicle, he discovered that the passenger had a warrant for his arrest from Santa Rosa County. The subject was placed under arrest and transported to the Santa Rosa County Jail. The driver of the vehicle was issued a written warning for careless operation.
Officer Lewis was on forest patrol in Blackwater River State Forest when he detected the odor of cannabis emanating from a tent. He heard people inside the tent and asked them to come outside and speak with him. One of the men admitted to smoking a cannabis cigarette and consented to a search of the tent. Drug paraphernalia and a baggie that appeared to contain methamphetamine were located. A field test of the substance in the baggie was positive for methamphetamine. The man was arrested for possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, possession of cannabis not more than 20 grams and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was transported to the Santa Rosa County Jail and the drugs and paraphernalia were seized as evidence.
Officer Lewis saw a vehicle swerving all over the roadway and stopped the vehicle. He detected a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from the vehicle and on the driver’s breath. During field sobriety tasks, the driver showed obvious signs of impairment. The driver was arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) and transported to the Santa Rosa County Jail where he blew a .163, more than twice the legal limit. The subject was charged with operating a motor vehicle with a breath-alcohol level of 0.08 or above.
Officer Lewis was on patrol at the Webb Landing campsite in the Escambia River Wildlife Management Area (WMA) when he saw a man and woman camping. As the man was taking items out of his vehicle, a box commonly used to store drug paraphernalia was in plain sight. He asked the man about the box and the man admitted that there were pipes he used to smoke weed in the box. The man consented to a search of the vehicle and three pipes with cannabis residue were found in the box. He also found another box that contained a glass pipe and a small baggie of methamphetamine. Officer Jernigan arrived to assist. The officers located a large water bong used for smoking cannabis. The subject was arrested for possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, possession of drug paraphernalia and for an outstanding warrant out of Pinellas County.
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.
Weightlifting: Northview Tops Jay
March 16, 2017
The Northview Boy’s Weightlifting team defeated Jay on Wednesday by a score of 48-33.
Placing for the Chiefs in their respective weight class, with totals, were:
119-lb class: 2nd Place – Caze Bradley (9th) – 225-lb. total
129-lb. class: 1st Place – Dalton Hadley (11th) – 300-lb. total; 2nd Place – Gracen Brook (9th) – 225-lb. total
139-lb. class: 1st Place – Jarius Moorer (10th) – 370-lb. total; 2nd Place – M.J. Jones (11th) – 365-lb. total
154-lb. class: 1st Place – Ohijie Elliott (12th) – 465-lb. total
169-lb. class: 1st Place – Chase Olsen (12th) – 520-lb. total; 3rd Place – Colton Dockens (9th) – 445-lb. total
183-lb. class: 2nd Place – Keaton Solmonson (9th) – 375-lb. total; 3rd Place – Rayvon Bush (10th) – 360-lb. total
199-lb. class: 1st Place – Tim Bush (11th) – 405-lb. total
219-lb. class: 2nd Place – Jacob Hawkins (9th) – 360-lb. total
239-lb. class: 2nd Place – Tyler Kite (9th) – 340-lb. total
Unlimited class: 2nd Place – Justin Helton (11th) – 465-lb. total
Six of the Chiefs return to action on Saturday, March 25 in the Regional Weightlifting meet at Baker.
File photo.
Century Begins To Burn Debris From 2016 Tornado
March 15, 2017
The EF-3 tornado that roared through Century on February 15, 2016, left behind a tremendous amount of debris. And now, the Town of Century has started to burn the vegetative debris.
The downed trees were transported to an empty lot in the town’s industrial park. The first of those piles was burned Tuesday.
“We are burning this one to see how it goes, like a test,” Century Mayor Henry Hawkins said. “Under our burn permit, the piles that we burn must be put out and covered with dirt at the end of the day. So we want to see how much of it burns today.”
Hawkins said the piles in the industrial park contain over 800 dump truck loads of trees and other vegetative debris from the tornado.
Additional piles will be burned each day this week as permits are issued from the Florida Forest Service; the entire process will take several days. Hawkins said residents should see little, if any smoke from the burns.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
