Man Dies In Industrial Plant Cement Mixer Accident In Cantonment
March 15, 2023
A man died in an industrial accident in Cantonment Wednesday afternoon.
The man was reportedly working inside or fell inside an industrial plant cement mixing machine when it was turned on at a plant on Highway 95A north of Quintette Road about 4:30 p.m.
The man was pronounced deceased at the scene of the accident at Foley Products, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The ECSO investigation is continuing.
Pictured: First responders arrive at the scene of an industrial fatality Wednesday afternoon in Cantonment. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Two Candidates Could Get To ‘Judge’ Upcoming Century Special Election
March 15, 2023
Century has a special election for two town council seats on March 28. And in an almost preposterous twist created by the town charter, it appears that two of the four candidates may get to judge the election.
In a typical Florida election, a group composed of the county supervisor of elections, the chair of the county commission and a county court judge serve as what is called the “canvassing board”. And there are provisions to replace them with alternates if they are seeking, or they support someone seeking, election.
But in the Century charter — the document that establishes and governs the town — there is one line that’s causing a dispute prior to the special election.
“The council shall be the judge of the election…”
A canvassing board certifies the voting equipment. Reviews, and can reject, the signatures on vote by mail ballots. Reviews poorly marked ballots and reviews provision ballots — and decides if those votes should count. Recounts, certifying the election — those are all canvassing board duties.
But does “judge of the election” mean the town council will serve as a de facto canvassing board? That one candidate could determine that a vote for her opponent is valid or invalid?
Yes, according to emails from Century’s attorney Matt Dannheisser.
“The advisability of an existing councilmember being a judge of his or her own election notwithstanding, we nevertheless are constrained by the terms of the Town’s Charter,” Dannheisser wrote in an email to Town Clerk Leslie Howington. “Until the language is changed, we have no choice but to adhere to its terms.”
Two candidates — Shelisa McCall and Alicia Johnson — are currently serving as appointed interim town council members. Each is facing opposition from another candidate. At a recent council meeting, all four candidates and the three other council members agreed that “judging” the election by two candidates is just wrong.
A 2007 interlocal agreement signed by then-mayor Evelyn Hammond between the town and county says the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections will conduct elections in Century, at the town’s expense.
“There appears to be a disagreement between the Town and my attorney as to the makeup of the canvassing board for the special election,” Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David Stafford told NorthEscambia.com “We have an interlocal agreement in place which we intend to follow. The first canvassing board activity will be the public testing of the voting equipment, which will occur on the Thursday before the election. It is my hope and expectation that some resolution will be reached prior to that time.
In a March 6 email from Assistant County Attorney to Dannheisser, Assistant County Attorney Christi Hankins stated that she contacted the Florida Department of State Division of Elections for guidance. The email was copied to Mayor Ben Boutwell and Town Clerk Leslie Howington, among others, but was not included in 12 pages of related emails provided to the council at their March 7 meeting.
Hankins continues that the phrase “judge of the election” appears in similar form in both the Florida Constitution and in Florida statutes.
“It is a statement the council will not delegate its powers to settle election challenges,” Hankins wrote.
“The appointment of the county canvassing board would not be a delegation of duty based on the language of multiple court opinions interpreting the Constitutional provision and the Florida Statutes. The understanding of the phrase comports with the Interlocal Agreement and the lack of need to address the county canvassing board issue in the agreement.”
The Century Town Council has voted to reach out to the Florida Attorney General’s Office for an opinion on the matter.
We will continue to follow this story and provide updates.
Escambia Schools Look To Hire More Security Officers
March 15, 2023
The Escambia County School District is looking to hire more campus security officers for the next school year in advance of a July class.
“Campus Security Officers are ECPS employees trained by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office whose sole mission is to protect students and staff in our public schools across Escambia County,” said Protection Services Director Kyle Kinser. “All personnel are put through rigorous screening.”
Ideal candidates should have prior law enforcement and/or military experience and must have a passion for working with children, according to the district.
Successful applicants will go through an extensive paid training curriculum with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Selected candidates begin with a starting salary of $33,309 for 10 months of employment. Once the training process has been completed, candidates are eligible for a variety of benefits.
Man Gets Life In Prison For Chemstrand Road Home Invasion, Rape, Kidnapping
March 15, 2023
An Escambia County man has been sentenced to life in prison for Chemstrand Road home invasion robbery that led to the kidnapping and rape of the victim.
Billy Ray Smith, Jr., was convicted of burglary of a dwelling with a battery, sexual battery with a deadly weapon, armed kidnapping, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, grand theft auto, theft of a credit card, fraudulent use of a credit card, petit theft, and battery.
On August 19, 2021, Smith entered the victim’s home on Chemstrand Road while she was asleep on the couch, according to prosecutors. He put a gun to her head, threatened her, demanded money, and ransacked her home.
He then put the victim in the trunk of her car and drove to a vacant lot, where he raped her at knifepoint. He then used the victim’s debit card and withdrew money from an ATM in the area, and then stole the victim’s car, and ultimately left the victim duct taped to a chair in her bathroom.
Smith was seen on surveillance video driving the victim’s car, using her debit card, and hiding her property behind a dumpster. Fingerprint evidence linking him was also located.
Annual Spring Fling Youth Summit Is Saturday At Carver Park
March 15, 2023
The Annual Spring Fling Youth Summit will be held Saturday from noon until 3 p.m. at Carver Park in Cantonment.
There will be free prizes, free food, music, arts and crafts, games, guest speakers, educational and career information (grades 5-12), and other activities.
The Spring Fling Youth Summit is sponsored by Ascend Performance Materials, IP, FPL, Phil Hall, PA, and the Escambia County CRA and is hosted by the Cantonment Improvement Committee.
Carver Park is located at 208 Webb Street in Cantonment.
For more information call Mary at (850) 346-2797.
Pictured: Last year’s Spring Fling Youth Summit at Carver Park in Cantonment. NorthEscambia.com file photos.
Photos: Jim Allen Elementary Holds Annual Heart Run (With Gallery)
March 15, 2023
Jim Allen Elementary School held their annual Heart Run last week.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Aggie Classic: Tate Wins No-Hitter Against Santa Fe South
March 15, 2023
Three Tate pitchers combined for a no-hitter as the Tate Aggies beat Santa Fe South (OK) 9-0 on day two of the Aggie Classic.
Gabriel Patterson started for Tate, going three innings with no hits, no runs, no walks and striking out eight. Aiden Byrd went for three, striking out five, and Tristin Lynn pitched one with two strikeouts.
Cliften Quiggins and Javin Floyd led at the plate for the Aggies with two hits each.
Tate will play Union (OK) High School at 7 p.m. Wednesday as the Aggie Classic continues.
ECUA Issues Boil Water Notice For Chemstrand Road Area
March 15, 2023
Due to a broken eight-inch water main, ECUA has issued a precautionary boil water notice for a portion of the Chemstrand Road area.
Specifically, the boil water notice includes:
- Chemstrand Rd. (Address Range: 8695-9131)
- Topeka Rd. (Address Range: 207-295)
- Kaylyn Rd. (Address Range: 211-293)
- Lost Oak Dr. (Address Range: 8914-8916)
- Barker St. (Address Range: 205 – 421)
- Crum Ave. (Address Range: 343 – 347)
- Sabrina Dr. (Address Range: 101-126)
- Polo Terrace (Address Range: 120-198)
- Derby Ln. (Address Range: 8803-8843)
The water main was broken by nearby construction activities, according to ECUA.
Residents located in the specified boil water notice area are advised to boil water for one minute at a rolling boil or to use eight drops of regular unscented household bleach per gallon of water, for water to be used for drinking or cooking purposes. Two independent bacteriological samples have been initiated and the advisory will be lifted as soon as possible. This process routinely takes 48 hours and the notice will be rescinded at that time.
ECUA crews have completed the repairs and flushed out the lines. Residents within the area and nearby are advised that there is a possibility of discolored water as a result of the utility work, and to flush their home’s plumbing by running their taps for a few minutes. If problems persist, customers are asked to contact ECUA Customer Service at (850) 476-0480 for assistance.
Precautionary boil water notices are issued as a part of the standard protocol following any loss of water pressure, whether as a result of planned maintenance activities or unscheduled repairs.
Century Looks For $13 Million To Renovate Old CHS Gym, Fix Bridges
March 14, 2023
Century is looking to seek $10 million to renovate an old gym and $3 million for bridge and drainage repairs.
The town is eligible to apply for state funding for the projects.
A $10 million grant award would be used to renovate or rebuild the old Century High School gymnasium for use as a multipurpose facility that could also serve as a hurricane or other disaster shelter. Century High closed over 25 years ago; the 16,500 square foot building was constructed in 1960.
The town will also seek $3 million to replace a failed bridge on Freedom Road that has been closed for three years, and make drainage improvements to two other bridges that suffered embankment erosion during Hurricane Sally.
The funding, if awarded, would be from Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Small Cities Hurricane Sally Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery funding. through the Rebuild Florida Infrastructure Repair Program.
The town is currently soliciting public comment on the proposed projects by email to Kristina Wood at kwood@centuryflorida.us or by calling Century Town Hall at (850) 256-3208.The deadline is March 20. At 7 p.m. on March 21, a public hearing will be held at Century Town Hall.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Charged With Fleeing From Deputies, No Driver’s License
March 14, 2023
A Cantonment man is facing charges after allegedly failing to stop for deputies.
X’Zavian Mikel Davis, 21, was charged with felony fleeing and eluding from law enforcement and misdemeanor operating a motor vehicle without a license.
According to an arrest report, deputies witnessed Davis failed to completely stop at the stop sign at the intersection of Erress Boulevard and Massachusetts Avenue. Deputies attempted a traffic stop, but Davis continued without stopping and accelerated away at a high rate of speed on Montclair Road, the report continues. Deputies called off the traffic stop.
Another deputy reported seeing three people run the vehicle as it later turned into a driveway on Sante Fe Circle, and all were taken into custody.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said a vacuum sealed bag containing 272 grams of marijuana was inside the vehicle. Davis was not charged in connection with marijuana.
Davis was released from jail on a $11,000 bond.