Want To Learn More About Solar Power For Your Home?
March 7, 2017
Are you interested in learning more about solar energy but not sure if it’s right for you? Escambia County Extension will present a program on Friday, March 24 from 8:30 until 11:30 a.m with solar contractors and experts.
The three-hour program will include expert insight into trends in the solar industry and local utilities; options for components and installation; and how to calculate energy production and return on investment (ROI)
After the educational sessions, hands-on demonstrations and information will be available from representatives with Compass Solar Energy and SunFarm Energy.
The program will be held at the Escambia County Extension office at 3740 Stefani Road in Cantonment.
For questions or more information, contact Carrie Stevenson at ctsteven@ufl.edu or 850-475-5230.
Man Charged With Battery, Weapons Offense After Attacking Girlfriend
March 7, 2017
A Pensacola man was arrested on multiple charges after an altercation with his live-in girlfriend in Century on Sunday.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, 26-year old Daniel Thomas Fountain tried to hit the female with her cell phone, destroying it. He also grabbed her by her arms, held her down and demanded money. At some point during the arguments, he allegedly retrieved a handgun from his vehicle.
Before exiting the front of house as demanded by law enforcement, Fountain allegedly tossed the gun into a wooded area behind the home on Duncan Alley.
Fountain was charged with assault and battery, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and criminal mischief with property damage. He may face additional charges for narcotics found in his vehicle, according to an ECSO report.
He was also charged with battery for allegedly beating his girlfriend on March 3 at a Pensacola Boulevard motel. She was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital for her injuries, while Fountain had fled the scene prior to the arrival of law enforcement.
Fountain was booked into the Escambia County Jail where he remained Monday with bond set at $13,500.
Century Takes Over Hwy 29, Hwy 4 Mowing
March 7, 2017
The Century Town Council voted Monday night to take over the mowing and edging along Highway 29 and State Road 4 within the town limits.
The town will take care of the upkeep of 3.075 miles of Highway 29 and 1.2 miles of State Road 4,. including the edging of 5.954 miles of sidewalk. Broadspectrum, the current Florida Department of Transportation contract holder, will pay the town $18,327.61 annually for the work.
Broadspectrum will continue to provide herbicide services and will maintain palm trees and other landscaping at the town gateways on Highway 29, and the company will continue to mow and trim large ditches along Highway 29 that fall under FDOT right of way.
Last summer, the town expressed displeasure with the mowing frequency of BroadSpectrum after weeks along Century sidewalks reached several feet high. The day after a NorthEscambia.com story, BroadSpectrum descended on the town to correct the problem. That started discussions about the town taking over mowing of state right of ways in Century.
Pictuerd: Weeds along the right of way in Century last July. NorthEscambia.com file photos.
Florida Felons Look To Ballot Measure To Have ‘Voice Heard’
March 7, 2017
For some, Desmond Meade is the epitome of convicted felons who’ve turned their lives around.
The onetime drug addict, who was homeless after being released from prison in 2004, has a law degree and devoted much of the past five years in helping others.
But Meade, 49, still suffers from a condition that keeps him, in his words, “from being whole again.”
He can’t vote.
Meade watched Monday as the Florida Supreme Court heard arguments on the “Voting Restoration Amendment,” a proposed constitutional amendment that would give voting rights to convicted felons like the Orlando resident.
Meade is the chairman of “Floridians for a Fair Democracy,” the political committee backing the ballot initiative, also endorsed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida.
“It’s a cloak of shame,” Meade said after Monday’s arguments, referring to the inability to vote. “To be constantly reminded, especially during election season, that yes, you’re good enough to be successful. You’re good overcome obstacles. But you’re not good enough to have your voice heard.”
The “Voter Restoration Amendment” would automatically restore voting rights for all nonviolent felons who have served their sentences, completed parole or probation and paid restitution. Felons convicted of violent crimes, such as murder, would not be eligible. The amendment would go on next year’s ballot, if the Supreme Court approves the wording and supporters can gather enough signatures before the February 2018 deadline.
The Supreme Court will decide whether the proposal meets the constitutional “single-subject” requirement and is not confusing or misleading to voters, something lawyer Jon Mills, representing the committee backing the plan, said is an easy call.
“This initiative is rather narrow. It actually simply provides that it restores the right to vote to individuals with felony convictions, excluding convictions for murder and felony sexual offenses,” said Mills, a constitutional law professor and former state House speaker.
If the Supreme Court clears the proposal, supporters still have to submit about 766,000 petition signatures to get it on the 2018 ballot, an often expensive and labor-intensive effort.
Meade said his group had relied solely on volunteers to obtain more than 70,000 petitions that triggered the high court review.
“The level of energy around this, because of the organic and grassroots nature and how it’s based on fairness, that has energized people around the state,” Meade told reporters on the steps of the Supreme Court after Monday’s hearing.
Florida is one of a handful of states that require action by the governor or courts before felons who have completed their sentences can have rights restored, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
According to an analysis by the Legislature’s economists, the constitutional change — if approved — could open up voting rights for more than 700,000 Floridians, although fewer than 300,000 could be expected to apply, at least initially.
For Meade, the attention over the petition has injected a new enthusiasm into his failed bid to have his rights restored, which he abandoned as a result of new requirements imposed by Gov. Rick Scott and Attorney General Pam Bondi who — with the blessing of the other members of the Florida Cabinet — changed the process shortly after taking office in 2011.
Meade, who originally applied to have his rights restored in 2006, got caught up in a backlog of thousands of others eager to take advantage of changes authorized by former Gov. Charlie Crist and the Cabinet.
But the process took so long that, by the time Meade’s application was examined, he was no longer eligible for the quasi-automatic restoration of civil rights, which include the right to vote.
By then, the new system instituted in 2011 required felons convicted of nonviolent crimes to wait a minimum of five years to have their rights restored. Others could wait up to 10 years before being eligible to apply.
Since the changes went into effect, just a fraction of the more than 100,000 former felons who sought to have their rights restored were successful.
Meade, originally convicted of drug crimes and, later, of aggravated assault and possession of a firearm, received a letter the same year the 2011 changes went into effect telling him he had to wait at least another year to petition to have his rights restored — more than five years after he had first applied.
He said he abandoned his effort and instead focused his efforts on revamping the system, pointing out that some people have waited more than a decade just for a hearing to have their rights restored.
“We know that the vetting of the applications could take upwards of 10 years and even then the decision of whether to restore someone’s civil rights is purely arbitrary and you can get denied for no reason at all,” Meade said. “It was really discouraging, so when I looked at it with my options, I knew that a better option would be to change current policies.”
Meade earned a law degree from Florida International University in 2014 but is unable to apply for a license to practice law until he has his rights restored.
While he called his situation discouraging, Meade said he hasn’t given up on the effort because of the stories he’s heard traveling around the state drumming up support for the constitutional proposal, including the tale of an elderly man whose rights were restored but who died just months before he could vote in the 2012 election.
“Those stories really gave me energy and really strengthened my resolve to try to do something about it. We knew the system was outdated and something had to change,” said Meade, who works for the Live Free Campaign, which focuses on gun violence and reducing incarceration levels.
Bondi’s office, which represents the state during arguments about proposed constitutional amendments, is not objecting to the proposed amendment at the Supreme Court — a sharp turnaround from the attorney general’s role in the lengthy timeframes now imposed on felons seeking the right to vote.
Bondi and other backers of the current process have argued that the restoration of voting rights for felons should be earned and only after a sufficient waiting period. She recently told reporters she would consider revisiting the system to allow felons to apply to have their rights restored after three years, instead of five.
But Meade rejected that option.
“This is rooted in fairness. Once a person has served their time, has paid their debt to society, they should be given the ability to have their voices heard. Over 95 percent of the country agrees with this, but Florida is an outlier. This is an effort to really get Florida in line with what’s going on across the country,” he said.
by The News Service of Florida
Town Designates State Line Road Magnolia As Heritage Tree
March 7, 2017
The Century Town Council has designated the town’s first heritage tree.
The town’s Land Development Code defines a “historic tree” as one that has been designated by the Town of Century has one of notable historic interest and value to the town because of its location or historical association with the community.
Joan Carnley of West State Line Road submitted a Heritage Tree Nomination Form for the designation of of a magnolia tree on her property as a heritage tree, defined as any tree with a diameter of at least 30 inches or seven feet, 10 inches in circumference, whichever is less, measured 54 inches above ground level.
Carnley said her tree is 11-feet, four inches in circumference. Carnley’s home was constructed in 1938, but the tree predates the home and has been estimated to be 150 to 175 years old.
“We will call it the Century magnolia,” Carnley told the council. “It’s just a simple tree.”
Now approved as heritage tree by the town council, the tree can’t be removed without finding by the council that the tree is hazard or it is no economically or practically feasible to develop the parcel without removing the tree.
There are no other designated historic trees in Century.
Pictured: Photos from Joan Carley’s historic tree application filed with the town of Century. Images for NorthEscambia.com click to enlarge.
Green Eggs, Ham And The Mayor Delight Camp Fire Kids
March 7, 2017
Last week, the children at Camp Fire Century learned about Dr. Seuss and celebrated his birthday. Century Mayor Henry Hawkins stopped the center to read “Green Eggs and Ham” to the children. Afterwards, the children had a chance to eat green eggs and ham. They also had a chance during the week to dress as their favorite Dr. Seuss character. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Animal Clinic Readies Youth For Spring Livestock Show April 1
March 7, 2017
A Gulf Coast Agricultural Project Animal Clinic was held this past weekend at the Escambia County 4-H Livestock Facilities on South Highway 99 in Molino. Presenters hosted workshops focused on chickens and rabbits, pigs, cows, and sheep.
The event was a precursor to the 2017 GCA/NRYO Spring Livestock show which will be held on April 1.
The GCA/NRYO Spring Livestock is open to all FFA and 4-H members in southwest Alabama and Northwest Florida. Admission for the livestock show and the adjacent Northview High School Blue Jacket Jamboree will be free.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Middle School Volleyball Playoffs – Ernest Ward Beats Ransom
March 7, 2017
The Ernest Ward Middle School volleyball team defeated Ransom Middle two sets to one in playoff action Monday night. The EWMS Eagles won the game on a 15-5 third set. Ernest Ward advances in the county middle school playoffs with a bye on Tuesday; their next game time and opponent for Wednesday is to be announced. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Tops W.S. Neal
March 7, 2017
The Northview Chiefs beat W.S.Neal 7-6 Monday night in Bratt.
Neal took an early 3-0 lead in the first, but the Chiefs scored unanswered runs in the second, third fourth and sixth before scoring the winning run in the seventh.
John Chivington went 3-3 with a run and RBI. Also for the Chiefs: Quinton Sampson 1-4; Zach Payne 2-4, R, RBI; Josh Neese 1-3, R; Blake Reid 1-4, R, RBI; Bailey Wilson 1-3 R, RBI; Daniel Mascaro R, RBI.
Alston Wiggins tossed the win for Northview in five innings, giving up two hits, four runs, two errors and striking out four. Josh Neese pitched two with no hits, no error, two hits, one strikeout and a walk.
Northview will travel to T.R. Miller on Tuesday. Game times have been switched…varsity will play at 4:00 and the junior varsity is scheduled for 6:00.
Photos by Ramona Preston for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Manhunt: Flomaton Man Charged With Kidnapping Ex-Girlfriend
March 6, 2017
A Flomaton kidnapping suspect that reportedly threatened his victim with a machete was taken into custody late Sunday afternoon after a day-long manhunt.
About 1:33 Sunday morning, the Flomaton Police Department received a 911 call from a woman who stated that Thomas Cofield had broken into her daughter’s home and had threatened her daughter with a machete. Cofield was the ex-boyfriend of the victim.
When officers arrived at the home, they could not locate the victim or Cofield. Officers checked the area and called for a K-9 tracking team to search for Cofield and the Victim. Neither could be located but were believed to be on foot in the area.
Officers from different agencies searched multiple homes over a period of several hours for the two. At approximately 10:13 a.m., officers located the victim off of Highway 113, where she had been allegedly held against her will for several hours. She was reportedly visibly shaken, but not injured.
Cofield had already fled on foot. The K-9 tracking team tracked him from the area of Wiley Drive in Flomaton to the area of Pecan Grove Trailer Park area on Highway 113.
After searching the area for several hours, law enforcement determined that Cofield had likely been picked up by someone in a vehicle. Officers searched several additional locations for Cofield as they received tips.
At 4:53 p.m., a family member brought Cofield to meet with officers to turn himself in.
Cofield was taken in custody without incident. It was later learned that Cofield was able to catch a ride from Highway 113 into Florida.
Coefield was charged with attempted domestic violence, kidnapping, burglary in the first and second degree and domestic violence in the third degree. He was booked into the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center in Brewton.
This case remains under investigation and more arrests could be forthcoming.
Multiple law enforcement agencies assisted in the hunt for Cofield, including the Flomaton Police Department, Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Department, Escambia County (FL) Sheriff’s Office, Escambia County Road Prison K-9’s, and the Alabama Department of Corrections K-9’s.