Lawyer’s Fees Top $3,000 In Defense Of Century Sunshine Law Violation Case
October 6, 2016
Legal bills have exceeded $3,000 for four Century volunteer task force members charged with noncriminal violations of the Florida Government in the Sunshine Law. The four faced possible maximum fines of $2,000 total.
The Century Town Council voted to hire attorney Kim Skievaski, a former circuit judge, at $300 per hour to represent Alfonzie Cottrell, Helen Mincy, Sylvia Godwin, and Robert Mitchell , who were charged by the State Attorney’s Office with having a public meeting that was not properly advertised. On July 26, a meeting was advertised to begin at 4:00 p.m. The meeting was actually held at 2:00 p.m. preventing the public from attending.
Kievaski’s firm, Sellers, Skievaski and Kuder, billed the Town of Century $3,070 for their work on the case. A town official said additional fees are expected but not yet billed by town attorney Matt Dannheiser for his work on the issue.
Kievaski billed the town for 60 minutes to review the case, 90 minutes to meet with Mayor Freddie McCall and Matt Dannheiser, 240 minutes to travel to Century to meet with the four defendants and 44 minutes to appear at the arraignment, confer with the State Attorney’s Office and review a deferred prosecution agreement, and 180 minutes to return to Century to meet with the defendants. That totaled 614 minutes, or 10.23 hours.
The former members of a Citizens Advisory Task Force — Alfonzie Cottrell, Helen Mincy, Sylvia Godwin, and Robert Mitchell — pleaded not guilty to a noncriminal violation of the Florida Government in the Sunshine Law. Each accepted a deferred prosecution agreement under which charges and a possible maximum fine of $500 will be dropped if the defendant has no violation of the law and resigns their position on the Citizens Advisory Task Force or completes an online training course regarding the Sunshine Law. If the individuals meet the conditions, the charge will be dropped in six months. The State Attorney’s Office said any fees or costs in connection with the case will also be waived. In letters from defense attorney Kim Skievaski to Century Mayor Freddie McCall and the Century Town Council, each of the four task force members resigned their positions effective September 12.
The council voted to hire Skievaski on August 30. In an interview conducted that night and published the following morning, the State Attorney’s Office confirmed that the four would be offered deferred prosecution.
The State Attorney’s Office has continued to contend that “there was a clear violation of the Sunshine Law by hold a public meeting at a time other than what was advertised in a public notice”. The SAO said deferred prosecution was offered due to mitigating circumstances included the age of the defendants, their willingness to resign from office and the “considerable responsibility of the Town of Century in allowing the violation to occur”.
For an earlier story with more information, click here.
Pictured top: CATF members Helen Mincy, Robert Mitchell and Sylvia Godwin during a CATF meeting on Thursday, July 28. Alfonzie Cottrell was not present at the July 28 meeting. Pictured inset: Attorney bill for $3,070. Pictured below: The Century Town Hall was locked and the parking lot empty just after 4 p.m. Tuesday, July 26, the time of a publicly noticed town task force meeting. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Health Officials Investigate Escambia County Scabies Case
October 6, 2016
At least one case of scabies has been recently-diagnosed in a resident of Escambia County. The Florida Department of Health in Escambia County advises residents to contact their physician if they suspect themselves to have scabies.
Scabies is an infestation of the skin by the human itch mite. Scabies is found worldwide and affects people of all races and social classes. Scabies can spread rapidly under crowded conditions where close body and skin contact is frequent. Institutions such as nursing homes, extended-care facilities, and prisons are often sites of scabies outbreaks. Child care facilities also are a common site of scabies infestations. Scabies mites are too small to be seen with the naked eye and are usually spread by direct, prolonged, skin-to-skin contact with a person who has scabies.
The most common symptoms of scabies are intense itching and a pimple-like skin rash. Symptoms of scabies infestation may take up to six weeks to appear, however, an infested person can spread scabies even before they experience any itching or rash. The itching and rash may affect a person’s entire body or may be limited to one or more areas or body parts. The rash also can include tiny blisters and scales. Scratching the rash can cause skin sores; sometimes these sores become infected by bacteria. A less-common symptom may be tiny raised and crooked grayish-white or skin-colored lines on the skin surface, made when the mites tunnel just beneath the skin.
A more severe form of the infestation, that can occur in persons with poor immune function, is Norwegian (also called crusted) scabies. This more-contagious version of scabies causes thick crusts of skin to appear on the infested individual. These thick crusts of skin contain large numbers of mites and eggs which are very easily spread by both by direct skin-to-skin contact and by contamination of items such as their clothing, bedding, and furniture. Persons with crusted scabies should receive quick and aggressive medical treatment for their infestation both to minimize their personal risk for bacterial infections and to prevent outbreaks of scabies.
A person who thinks they might have scabies should contact a doctor. The doctor can examine the person, confirm the diagnosis of scabies, and prescribe an appropriate treatment. Products used to treat scabies in humans are available only with a doctor’s prescription. Anyone who is diagnosed with scabies, as well as his or her sexual partners and other contacts who have had prolonged skin-to-skin contact with the infested person, should be treated. Treatment is recommended for members of the same household as the person with scabies, particularly those persons who have had prolonged skin-to-skin contact with the infested person. All persons should be treated at the same time to prevent reinfestation.
Everyone Wins: Welcome To The Miracle League (And How Tate Students Can Help)
October 6, 2016
Every game ends in a tie. Every player hits; every player scores. There are no strikeouts, no errors. Everybody wins.
Welcome to the Miracle League.
Every child, no matter their disability or ability, is just a regular kid…playing the field and getting a good hit.
It’s a baseball league for disabled and special needs persons of all ages. Some of the players are in wheelchairs and walkers. Some handicaps are mental, some are physical. It’s a place for miracles.
In the end, Saturday’s game between the Cardinals and the Phillies was tied, just as every game has ended in a tie for the past 14 seasons. The stats for each of the 100 plus players will be the same at the end of the season — perfect.
Players and volunteers come from not just Pensacola, but Mobile, Crestview, Brewton and points in between. Everybody is a volunteer that participates with the Miracle League. The are paid only in smiles.
Each of the two Pensacola Miracle League fields is made up of 180,000 pounds of recycled tires formed into tiles painted to match a regular field. It provides a softer landing spot for a hard fall, while still providing a good bounce for the hollow core ball that is also designed to lesson injury potential.
The Miracle League needs more volunteers to serve as buddies, work the concession booth, pickup trash and many more tasks around their area of the Nine Mile Road ballpark.
The public is always welcome and encouraged to cheer on the players.
For more information on Miracle League, or to volunteer, visit www.miracleleaguepensacola.org.
Tate High School students are collecting a donation this week for the Miracle League in honor of senior and varsity football honoree Markus Baxley. Collection bins are located throughout the school, and donations will be accepted during the Pace at Tate football game Friday night.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured top and below: Game action Saturday at Miracle League. Pictured below: Northview High School SGA members volunteer as Miracle League buddies Saturday were (front, L-R) Morgan Myrick, Kayla McKillion, Alyssa Borelli, Brianna Smith, Delaney Reynolds, (back, L-R) sponsors Laura Johnson and Anna Barry.
FWC Law Enforcement Report
October 6, 2016
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the weekly period ending September 29 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officers on board the vessel FinCat conducted 33 hours of offshore patrol over a four‑day period. A total of 12 violations were documented with federal charges. The violations included undersized mingo/vermillion snapper, undersized scamp, possession of red snapper and greater amberjack during closed season, and failure to allow inspection.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officer Hutchinson was patrolling the Blackwater State Forest when he made contact with two subjects in possession of alcoholic beverages where they are prohibited. He asked the subjects for their identification and followed them to their vehicle to get the IDs. While standing next to the passenger side door of their vehicle, Officer Hutchinson could smell a strong odor of cannabis emitting from the vehicle. After further investigation, he found a glass pipe with cannabis residue in it and a plastic bag containing cannabis inside of the vehicle. Both subjects were charged with possession of cannabis and possession of drug paraphernalia. They were issued warnings for the alcohol violations.
Northview Accepting Entries For Homecoming Parade, Orders For Meal
October 6, 2016
The annual Northview High School Homecoming Parade has been set for Friday, October 14.
The parade will line up at noon and travel from Bratt Elementary School to Northview High. Entries are being accepted now; there is no cost to enter. For a printable entry form, click here. Entries are due by October 10.
Contact Perry Byars at (850) 327-6681 ext. 248 for more information.
A homecoming meal will available Friday from 10 a.m. until from the football concession stand to support the Tommy Weaver Scholarship Fund. The $7 meal will include a BBQ pulled pork sandwich, chips, cookies and drink. To reserve lunch, call (850) 327-6681 ext. 248 or tickets are available in the Northview front office. Checks should be made payable to the NHS FFA Alumni.
The Northview Chief’s homecoming game will kickoff at 7 p.m. on October 14 against the Jay Royals.
Pictured: A float in the 2015 Northview High Homecoming Parade in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Man Charged With Burglary After Being Caught In Cantonment Home
October 6, 2016
A man was charged with burglary after being caught inside a Cantonment home by an observant neighbor that called the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
When deputies arrived at the home on Shallow Branch Street in Cantonment, they were able to look through a window and observe the top of the suspect’s head lying down in a bedroom.
Inside the home, they reported finding 19-year old Zeb Jordan Bailey, and he was placed under arrest for felony unarmed burglary of an unoccupied dwelling. He remained in the Escambia County Jail Thursday with bond set at $10,000.
Cross Country: Northview, EWMS, Flomaton
October 6, 2016
Northview High School, Flomaton High School and Ernest Ward Middle School took part in a cross country meet Tuesday at Northview High School in Bratt.
Results were as follows:
Top Girls Team
- Northview
- Flomaton
- Ernest Ward
Fastest Girl- Charley Boutwell from Flomaton 27:06
Top Boys Team
- Flomaton
- Ernest Ward
Fastest Boy- Dwayne Hamby from Flomaton 19:43
TOP FIVE RUNNERS FROM EACH SCHOOL
Northview Girls
- Jasmine Elliott 28:18
- Marissa Rothrock 29:15
- Hannah McGahan 30:12
- Lydia Smith 31:03
- Rebekah Amerson 33:37
Northview Boys
- Tanner Levins 20:17
- Oscar Rodriguez 21:50
- Josiah Stilwell 23:56
- Adrian King 24:09
Ernest Ward Middle Girls
- Leah Anderson 29:42
- Emily Levins 33:43
- Kacy Knable 3549
- Autumn Williams 35:51
- Hadassah Mascaro 35:58
Ernest Ward Middle Boys
- Dakota Bryan 26:30
- Levi Kirkpatrick 27:46
- Braedan McGhee 29:05
- Kole Stewart 29:12
- James McElhaney 30:42
Flomaton Girls
- Charley Boutwell 27:06
- Makenzie Morrison 32:34
- Cheris Rogers 32:35
- Shea 34:48
- Sarah 33:58
Flomaton Boys
- Dwayne Hamby 19:43
- Dustin Reaves 22:04
- Dylan Patterson 22:05
- Dustin Martin 27:15
- Noah 29:20
Regulators Approve More Citizens’ Policies For Takeout
October 6, 2016
Nearly 100,000 Citizens Property Insurance policies will be offered to five private insurers, as state regulators Monday approved a final round of policy “takeouts” for the year.
The Office of Insurance Regulation approved December takeouts for Avatar Property & Casualty Insurance, National Specialty Insurance, Safepoint Insurance, Southern Fidelity Insurance and Southern Fidelity Property & Casualty. Most of the 97,390 policies that could be moved are personal-lines accounts, with 12,217 policies from coastal accounts and 1,925 from commercial non-residential accounts.
The takeout program has been a key part of Citizens’ strategy to move policies into the private sector, reducing the state-backed insurer’s risks. Most of the newly targeted policies, however, are expected to remain with Citizens, as private firms have historically sought to pick up the least-risky policies.
Citizens customers also can opt to reject the offers from private insurers.
Since the start of the year, the Office of Insurance Regulation has approved 667,470 policies to be removed from Citizens. Many of the same policies are made available to more than a single company. As of Monday, 48,360 had changed hands.
As of Aug. 31, Citizens had 491,695 policies.
Police Seek Convenience Store Armed Robbery Suspects
October 5, 2016
A Flomaton convenience store was robbed at gunpoint early Wednesday and police believe it was the same suspects as a robbery last month.
On the morning of September 20, 2016, at approximately 12:45 a.m., two armed subjects entered the Texaco Station in Flomaton and held the clerk at gun point. Both subjects were disguised as seen in the photos.
Wednesday morning, October 5, at about 1:40 a.m., two armed subjects entered the Kangaroo Station in Flomaton and held the clerk at gun point. Both subjects were disguised in a similar fashion.
The Flomaton Police Department believes that the same persons are responsible for both robberies. During the robbery of the Texaco Station, the suspect in the gray jacket can be heard calling the suspect in the blue jacket “Steve”.
The Town of Flomaton has set up an email address for any tips in reference to the robberies or other crimes, crimetips@flomatonal.org. Anyone can also contact the Flomaton Police through their Facebook page or by phone at (251) 296-5811.
A $1,000 reward is being offering for information leading to the arrest of these armed robbery suspects. The reward money is being provided by two anonymous individuals.
The suspects are armed and should be considered very dangerous, according to police.
Escambia Man Arrested In September Murder
October 5, 2016
An Escambia man who murdered an elderly woman with a stolen gun last month has been arrested.
Perry James Ford Jr., 19, was arrested Tuesday night. He was charged with an open count of murder and armed robbery.
Ford was charged with the murder of Carolyn Barnes, 75, whose body was found September 10 in her home in the 5300 block of Flintwood Circle. A friend of the victim found her body when she went to check on her after she didn’t answer her phone.
Detective Christopher Forehand said the autopsy determined Barnes had been shot once in the back of her head. The gun had been stolen in a vehicle burglary that occurred August 9.
Forehand said Barnes had hired Ford on several occasions to do odd jobs for her at her home. The investigation determined she is believed to have opened her door when he showed up at her house around 12:52 a.m. on September 9 and allowed him inside.