Gene Rackard
May 26, 2011
Mr. Gene Rackard, 68, passed away on Monday, May 23, 2011 in Flomaton.
Mr. Rackard was a native of Uriah and a resident of Flomaton since 1999. He attended the Holiness Church.
He was preceded in death by a son, Lonnel Rackard.
He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Lillian Rackard of Flomaton; three sons, Douglas and Yvette Rackard of Bay Minette, Steve Rackard of Flomaton, and Timothy and Carrie Rackard of Molino; 10 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Graveside services will be held Thursday, May 26, 2011, at 11:00 a.m. at the Serenity Garden Cemetery with Brother Daniel Capers officiating.
Visitation will be held Thursday, May 26, 2011, from 10:00 a.m.. until funeral time at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Daryl York, Danny King, Lantz Benson, Chad Lambeth, Robert Day and Timothy Rackard, II.
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Rev. Herman Reed “Nick” Boren
May 26, 2011
Rev. Herman Reed “Nick” Boren, 84, passed away on Sunday, May 22, 2011, in Kingsland, GA.
Rev. Boren was a native of Stilwell, OK and a resident of Byrneville since 1960. He was a member of the U.S. Army occupational forces during WWII, and a member of the Bethel Temple. He was the pastor for the Century Assembly of God Church for 16 years, the Bethel Temple for 25 years, and other churches of the area for many years. He was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Lillian Boren, his parents and siblings.
He is surved by two Sons, Nick and Sharon Boren of Mobile and Jeff Anderson Boren of West Palm Beach; his daughter, Donna and Ralph Pierno of Kingsland, GA; 10 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, May 26, 2011 at 2:00 p.m.. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with the Rev. Ricky Peebles and the Rev. Fil Enfinger officiating.
Burial will follow at Byrneville Methodist Cemetery.
Visitation was held Wednesday, May 25, 2011 between from 6:00 until 9 p.m.. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be his grandsons and son-in-law, Terry Boren, Bill Boren, Ralph Pierno, Ben Anderson, Shane Long and Lee Long.
Honorary pallbearers will be Bobby Holland and Jeff Anderson Boren.
Century Man Guilty On Animal Abuse Charges, Sentenced To Jail
May 25, 2011
A Century man has been sentenced to jail time on eight animal cruelty charges related to the December seizure of several malnourished dogs and horses from his property.
Willie Lee Jones, 54, was found guilty of three counts of cruelty to animals and five counts of confinement of animals without sufficient food, water or exercise. Judge Thomas Dannheisser sentenced Jones to 30 days in the county jail, 50 hours of community service and six years probation. He will also be required to pay $1,000 in court costs and $3,906 in restitution. Jones was also ordered to actively seek a job or maintain employment, and he is forbidden from possessing any animal anywhere he lives.
Jones is now behind bars in the Escambia County Jail.
On December 22, 2010, Escambia County Animal Control, Panhandle Equine Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office seized at least six dogs and four horses from Jones’ home at 6420 North Century Boulevard, just south of Tedder Road.
One of the dogs, a pit bull, was found chained to a piece of post, according to the Sheriff’s Office incident report. Another, also a pit bull, was found in a cage by itself with open sores on its body. A female pit bull was found with three puppies. The puppies were playful and appeared to be of reasonable health, according to the reporting deputy, but the mother’s ribs and hips were clearly visible.
Two of the pit bulls were euthanized due to their poor health, according to Escambia County Animal Control. The other animals are all recovering after receiving veterinary care.
One of the horses was stabled by himself in what deputies described as “an old dilapidated building”.
“The horse was standing on a thick layer of manure that coated the entire floor of the stall,” according to the Sheriff’s Office report. There was no food or water for the horse.
A man that lives on the property told deputies that he had fed and watered the horses shortly before authorities arrived, but it was the last of the food. He said that Jones was due to purchase more food and hay for the horses the following day.
Deputies found another horse in small enclosure standing in a pile of manure that was several inches thick. None of the horses on the property had food or hay, and several lacked adequate water, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Pictured above and below: A Century man was sentenced to jail for the abuse of these animals seized in December. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Complete List: Northview Presents Awards For Grades 9-11
May 25, 2011
Northview High School held their annual Award Program on Tuesday for students in the ninth to eleventh grade.
The following is a complete list of awards and presentations made at the event:
Agriculture (Meehan)
- Exemplary Freshman — Courtney Solari
- Exemplary Sophomore — Jessica Baldwin
- Exemplary Junior — Lydia Weaver
Art (Castor)
- Freshman HAA — Victoria Wright
- Sophomore HAA — Tiffany Sutton
- Junior HAA — Kiani Okahashi
English (Baggett)
- English 1 Hon HAA — Kasie Braun
- Exemplary — Victoria Wright
- English 1 HAA — Audrey Byrd
- Exemplary — Mason Solchenberger
- English 2 Hon HAA — Jazzlyn Franklin
- Exemplary — Julia Thorpe
- English 2 HAA — Zach Johnson
- Exemplary — Maranda Moye
- English 3 Hon HAA — Jamila Codrington
- Exemplary — Holly Dickson
- English 3 HAA — Taylor Hubbard
- Exemplary — Camie Goetter
Family And Consumer Science (Smith)
- Exemplary Freshman — Courtney Solari
- Exemplary Sophomore — Sandy Rainwater
- Exemplary Junior — Elizabeth Wright
Math (Marshman/Barry)
- Algebra 1a HAA — Lauryn Walker
- Exemplary — Jeffery Taylor
- Algebra 1b HAA — Stephanie Roach
- Exemplary — Natyia Bailey
- Algebra 1 HAA — Courtney Jones
- Exemplary — Justin King
- Algebra 1 Hon HAA — Courtney Solari
- Exemplary — Anna Donald
- Informal Geometry HAA — Jessica Hedgepeth
- Exemplary — Alex Riggs
- Geometry HAA — Zach Johnson
- Exemplary — Ashley Gunter
- Geometry Hon HAA — Kasie Braun
- Exemplary — Victoria Wright
- Algebra 2 HAA — Alexander Payne
- Exemplary — Jamila Codrington
- Algebra 2 Hon HAA — Holly Dickson
- Exemplary — Joel Wetzel
Science (Pleasant/Mcdonald/Barry)
- Anatomy Honors HAA — Holly Dickson
- Exemplary — Jamila Codrington
- Anatomy HAA — Taylor Byrd
- Integrated Science Honors HAA — Courtney Solari
- Exemplary — Anna Donald
- Environmental Science — Tyler Hester
- Exemplary — Lydia Weaver
- Integrated Science HAA — Tiffani Pritchett
- Exemplary — Courtney Jones
- Integrated Science Ii HAA — Lantz Jones
- Exemplary — Dylan Cartwright
- Chemistry 1 Honors HAA — Joel Wetzel
Social Studies (Barry)
- American History HAA — Chelsea Parham
- Exemplary — Michael Sepulveda
- American History Hon HAA — Holly Dickson
- Exemplary — Jamila Codrington
Spanish (Baggett)
- Spanish 1 HAA — Jazzlyn Franklin
- Exemplary — Chelsea Parham
- Spanish 2 HAA — Josie Doucette
- Exemplary — Holly Dickson
Business (Smith)
- Digital Design I Exemplary — Jessica Warner
- Computing For College & Careers HAA — Kasie Braun
- Exemplary — Victoria Wright
- Digital Design 2 Exemplary — Alissa Fiellin
- Web Design 1 HAA — Elizabeth Wright
Physical Education (Day)
- Physical Education HAA — Audrey Byrd
- Exemplary — Cory King
Reading (Findley)
- Reading 180 1 HAA — Chloe Leonard
- Exemplary — Harley Davis
- Freshman Reading III HAA — Mashama Codrington
- Exemplary — Mikaelea Santos
- Freshman Reading III HAA(Semester) — Zaccarra Davis
- Exemplary — Hannah Hedgepeth
- Freshman Advanced Reading — Kasie Braun
- Sophomore Reading — Ashley Cunningham
- Junior Reading — Brandon Carnley
- Exemplary — Atidze Johnson
Vocational (Meehan)
- Construction Technology HAA — Justin King
- Drafting HAA — Aaron Rausch
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
VA Awards (Essay Contest)
- Elizabeth Wright, 1st place
- Victoria Wright, 2nd place
Atmore Youth Leadership (Atmore Chamber)
- Charleigh McPherson
- Caroline Prater
- Hannah Hinton
Atmore Rotary Academic All Stars
- 9th Grade
- Madison Brooke Arrington
- Kasie Lee Braun
- Kira Nerys Cartwright
- Morgan Nicole Digmon
- Anna Elizabeth Donald
- Anna Elizabeth Fischer
- Tamara Maria Green
- Jessica Nicole Lowery
- Tiffani Nichole Pritchett
- Mikaela Lynn Santos
- Courtney Yvonne Solari
- Danielle Nichole Steadham
- Courtney Alexander Weaver
- Victoria Anne Wright
- 10th Grade
- Alison Danielle Bardin
- Hannah Elizabeth Fiellin
- Jazzlyn Shanece Franklin
- Ashton Brooke Gibbs
- Georgia Anna Goetter
- Marcus Trey Johnson
- Zachary Sean Johnson
- Skyler Ashton Macks
- Ashley Nicole Mooney
- Maranda D Moye
- Sandy Michelle Rainwater
- 11th Grade
- Jamila Akilah Codrington
- Holly Nicole Dickson
- Josie Britt Doucette
- Amber Dianne Francis
- Cory Robert King
- Joel Nathaniel Wetzel
- Elizabeth Ashley Wright
‘Flash And Dash Of A Star’ – Molino’s Kart Racing King Jarrett Parker
May 25, 2011
Molino kart racing star Jarrett Parker continues his winning ways, taking another big win this past weekend in Gulfport. The Northview High student has caught the attention of Chase’n Race’n Illustrated magazine, America’s top kart racing publication dedicated to dirt karting.
Rowdy Jordan, the magazine’s publisher, gives NorthEscambia.com an industry-insider’s look at Parker:
Submitted by Rowdy Jordan
A couple of years ago, we stumbled on a youngster on the kart racing scene from Molino. This youngster had the flash and dash of a star. This youngster was Jarrett Parker.
Rules of the sport presented an opportunity in 2010 for Jarrett to continue competing in the junior divisions while also making the move into the senior divisions at select events.
In 2011, Jarrett has made the move into the senior ranks full-time. Early results, while fairly good, paled in comparison to his usual “winning” ways. Struggling a little against much more experienced veterans served as a wake-up call for the teen. Over the past month, Jarrett has competed at two high level events with national media in attendance. If there was ever a time to “answer the call”, this was it.
Jarrett managed a strong weekend in late April in Booneville, MS at the Mississippi Dirt Track Series event, but his “break-out” event of the year came in round three of the Mississippi Series held in Gulfport, MS on May 21.
Jarrett’s performance at Gulfcoast Motorsports Park exuded maturity, confidence, and the demeanor of a champion, something that has been missing in his earlier events this season. As a result, Jarrett bagged a win in the Stock Medium feature. That was just a “warm-up” for the Pro Flathead feature, which is the measure of success on this particular tour. Jarrett started on the outside pole alongside fellow Florida competitor Carson Haulman. While Haulman led the early laps, Jarrett clearly had the fastest ride on the track, but chose wisely to bide his time as the pair of youngsters sailed away from the field of competitors.
Just past the halfway point, Jarrett took over the top spot and cruised to the checkers nearly a half second ahead of second place Wesley LeBlanc of Louisiana, to claim the big payday.
His performance at the Gulfport event signals good and bad news. The good news; Jarrett Parker is here, and he’s here to win. The bad news is for his competitors: Jarrett Parker is here, and he’s here to win!
Photos courtesy Chase’n Race’n Illustrated for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Multimedia Is Career Academy Of The Year
May 25, 2011
The Tate High School Multimedia Academy was named the Career Academy of the Year.
The honor was presented last week during the Next Generation Learning Community’s second annual Career Academy Awards luncheon at the University of West Florida.
The Tate Multimedia Academy instructor is Cynthia Reeves.
The mission of the career academy is to prepare students for careers in mass media with an emphasis on television production and performance. Upper level students have opportunities for job shadowing and other experiences to help them prepare for college communications programs and jobs in the broadcast field.
Cuts For Prison Health Care Agency Under Fire
May 25, 2011
An agency at the center of the resolution of a 20-year legal battle between the state and its prisoners is facing the chopping block as Gov. Rick Scott considers a bill that would abolish the Correctional Medical Authority.
The move would shutter an agency that has overseen the health care provided to Florida’s prisoners for 25 years.
Legislative budget-writers say the move trims an ineffective bureaucracy as part of the drive to close a $3.75 billion budget shortfall. Critics say it sets up the state for a potential return trip to the federal judiciary that refereed Costello v. Wainwright, a class-action lawsuit against the state prison system that prompted years of federal control.
Scott is expected to sign the budget Thursday, but the conforming bill (HB 5305) abolishing the CMA has not been sent to him.
Bill Sheppard, a Jacksonville lawyer who represented the plaintiffs during parts of the legal odyssey, which began in 1972 and was finally closed out I 1993, said the move showed the “naivete” of legislators and, should he sign the bill, Scott.
“They don’t know any institutional history of this prison system they pretend to know how to run,” Sheppard said.
With a budget of less than $718,000 and six full-time employees, supporters of keeping the CMA say it will not break the bank.
“That, to me, might be a good investment in terms of avoiding future lawsuits,” said Rep. Mark Pafford, D-West Palm Beach.
Pafford sent a letter to Gov. Rick Scott on Tuesday asking him to veto the measure.
“If the CMA is eliminated, Florida may become vulnerable to legal challenges to the constitutionality of health care provided to approximately 103,000 inmates in state correctional institutions which could result in costly federal court intervention,” Pafford wrote.
In an interview Tuesday, Pafford also argued that the state’s recent move toward privatizing prisons in roughly the southern third of the state raises questions about the timing and the motivation of the elimination of CMA.
“I don’t think there’s any kind of coincidence that … a watchdog would be cast aside as we’re readying to privatize prisons,” Pafford said.
The agency’s creation, and pledges from state officials at the time, was critical to the conclusion of federal involvement in Florida prisons, U.S. Circuit Judge Susan Black wrote in 1993. At the time, she praised the work of the CMA and highlighted it as an example of how the federal courts can end their involvement in state functions while making sure constitutional rights are protected.
“It is exemplary that a major state such as Florida, with its significant prison population, would take such a creative step,” Black wrote. “Without innovations such as the CMA, there is little hope for satisfactory withdrawal of federal supervision.”
Supporters of the agency are also raising the specter of renewed interest in prisons by courts after the U.S. Supreme Court this week ordered California to move more quickly to ease its overcrowding issues.
“By keeping the system in check, it prevents the possible federal intervention,” said Murdina Campbell, executive director of the authority.
By Brandon Larrabee
The News Service of Florida
Stolen Air Conditioners Land Men In Hot Water
May 25, 2011
Two different air conditioner thefts cases landed two men in hot water with the law Tuesday.
Walter Edward Gooden, 49, was arrested after witnesses told deputies that they saw him take the air conditioning unit from a residence on Rosalyn Way and pull it down the street on a dolly. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail on charges of grand theft and criminal mischief.
Just 19 minutes later, a witness watched as a man attempted to steal an air conditioner from the backyard of a neighboring house on Erress Boulevard. When deputies arrived, Cedric Antonio Young, 35, was arrested for criminal mischief and possession of burglary tools. He was also charged with resisting arrest because he ran into an abandoned townhouse as deputies arrived.
“These are two excellent examples as to how well neighborhood watch groups work,” said Deputy Chris Welborn. “This type of cooperation with the community has put these two where they belong, in jail.”
Century Likely To Raise Business Tax, How Much Undecided
May 25, 2011
The Town of Century is still exploring options that will likely mean a higher tax for businesses — but just how much higher remains to be seen.
Century failed to update their business license regulations and fees as required by the state by 2008, now the town must try to backtrack and fix the error.
In 1971, the responsibility of issuing building licenses in Florida shifted from the state to local governments. Century adopted a business license scheduled in 1981. But following the 2005 to 2006 Florida hurricanes, Florida mandated that the business licenses should no longer be called a “license”, but rather a tax.
Now, the town must either adopt the 1971 state rates and business classes, adopt the rates set by Escambia County, or find a schedule of rates adopted properly by another Florida municipality.
Century’s current business license rate is $25 per year. Escambia County charges $26.25. Some council members, including Ann Brooks, have expressed a desire to see a more graduated cost depending on the business.
“I think the small businesses should pay less than the very largest business,” Brooks said. “Something should dictate why it is higher like size or greater revenue.”
“I pay $400 a year for a license to run just one night a week in Flomaton,” Mayor Freddie McCall, owner of the Flomaton Speedway added.
There are currently 56 companies and individuals that hold a business license in Century.
The council first considered updating the business tax in April and will continue to look at options that might be adopted. It’s not yet know if any changes will be adopted before the beginning of the new tax year on September 1.
Pictured: The Town of Century must revamp its current business license regulations and fees paid by businesses like Food Giant (seen in the aerial photo at top) and Whataburger. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Tax Watch Finds Millions Worth Of Turkeys In State Budget
May 25, 2011
Despite agonizing over deep cuts to education and health care, lawmakers found room in the state’s nearly $70 billion budget to slip in $203 million in questionable member projects, the largest amount in four years, according to an annual analysis by Florida TaxWatch.
The biggest beneficiary of this increase in member projects, known in Capitol parlance as “turkeys,” are colleges and universities, which scored $124 million in funding for 34 construction projects and other programs in ways that don’t fit what TaxWatch considers the standard budget process.
State universities and colleges defend the budget items identified by TaxWatch as legitimate expenditures that were vetted by their local boards, such as renovating decades-old classroom buildings or providing needed classroom space.
One lawmaker joined in the defense of the budget Tuesday, delivering a blistering critique of the TaxWatch report. Sen. Joe Negron, R-Stuart, called it a “media gimmick,” that mistakenly gives too much credence to the governor’s limited budget authority.
“Deference to the executive branch is entirely misplaced,” said Negron said in a statement. “Under the Florida Constitution, the Legislature has the exclusive authority to budget.”
TaxWatch, a conservative tax policy advocacy group, issued its annual recommendation of spending items that should be vetoed on Tuesday ahead of Gov. Rick Scott’s reported plans to sign the budget on Thursday.
“In one of the toughest budget years on record, our leaders should have been more disciplined and consistent with taxpayer money as Florida families are forced to be with their budgets,” said TaxWatch head Dominic Calabro.
Scott has said he will find “additional savings” in the budget. Colleges and universities are fearful that he will target their projects and are lobbying to save them from his veto pen, saying many will create jobs.
“TaxWatch is on the right track,” said Scott spokesman Lane Wright. “There are far too many tax dollars in this budget that could be put towards more important priorities.” Wright said the budget turkeys could be put to better use on overall education funding rather than “shipping it off to special interest earmarks.”
Tax Watch said it identified projects that did not receive a full vetting by the Legislature or were not formally requested by the agency or organization that it benefits. TaxWatch also said it was concerned that more college and university construction projects that use bond funding will jeopardize the state’s bond rating.
Negron defended the budget process as open and transparent, saying the budget conference process at the end of the session, when the House and Senate negotiate over their separate budgets is “meaningful” – not simply a way to slip in spending items.
It’s not uncommon for governors to veto spending projects approved by the Legislature in order to claim credit for being good stewards of taxpayer dollars. But turkeys remain popular for lawmakers as a way to prove their worth to local voters, snagging dollars that benefit projects in their home district.
Most of the items TaxWatch identified for colleges and universities focused on construction or renovation projects funded by the bond program PECO, or Public Education Capital Outlay.
TaxWatch targeted for veto the renovation and construction of buildings worth $19 million to the University of Central Florida. These projects were flagged for either not being on the Board of Governor’s priority list or for being added late in the budget negotiation process. Lobbyist Daniel Holsenbeck defended the projects as legitimate needs that were vetted and approved by the university’s board.
“We vetted them as thoroughly and publicly as we can,” Holsenbeck said. “Ultimately it is the Legislature’s discretion as to how they create the budget and appropriate items.”
Given its booming student population, Holsenbeck said the university wants to build more classroom space. The budget includes $5.2 million to go towards the construction of a new classroom building as well as about $7.5 million for the renovation of two buildings, one of which was first built in 1968.
“I don’t have anything to be ashamed of with these projects,” Holsenbeck said.
TaxWatch also targeted community and state colleges for their earmark list. Pasco Hernando Community College would receive $6.9 million in the budget for the “Wesley Chapel Center” at a new campus. TaxWatch flagged it because it was added late in the budget process, preventing it from a full vetting by the Legislature. Wesley Chapel happens to be home to Republican House Speaker-designate Will Weatherford.
Brevard Community College stands to receive $7.5 million in the budget for a new $26 million building that provides a centralized location for the school’s fire fighting, law enforcement and criminal justice programs. Tax Watch called this a “turkey” because it was not requested by the Florida College System.
Some of the projects on the Tax Watch list this year were vetoed last year by Gov. Charlie Crist.
Last year, Crist vetoed $35 million to start work on the new University of South Florida Polytechnic campus in Lakeland and another $10 million for a new pharmacy school there. Those projects resurfaced in the budget this year, with the pharmacy school appearing on the Tax Watch list.
Universities and colleges also defended the process that led to so many projects being added to the budget at the last minute. The House and Senate did not determine the amount of dollars available for PECO projects until near the end of budget negotiations. At that point, the Legislature managed to more than double the amount of available PECO dollars by adding $160 million to the pool, opening the window for last-minute additions.
Universities and state colleges weren’t the only areas that caught the eye of TaxWatch.
Nearly $80 million in other programs and projects were highlighted by the group. One hefty item is the $4 million set aside for an emergency operations center in Glades County, a project that TaxWatch said was a local project that was not competitively bid.
The region would also benefit from $ 1.7 million in storm water programs for LaBelle and greater Glades County. Rep. Denise Grimsley, R-Sebring, chairman of the House budget committee, has said the projects are linked to overall Everglades restoration efforts.
Also on the TaxWatch list is the Duval County Wounded Warrior Project, which would get $3.2 million in general revenue. TaxWatch said the project hasn’t historically gotten any government money.
But it appears unlikely that Scott would veto that line item – the Wounded Warrior Project is one of his favorites. Extra money from Scott’s inaugural celebration went to the program in Jacksonville.
Several community groups that do social work were singled out by TaxWatch for improperly included earmarks. Among those were groups like the Gould’s Coalition of Ministries and Lay People, which provides services, mostly to migrant workers, in south Miami-Dade County.
A trio of Central Florida redevelopment projects in Orange and Osceola Counties totaling $4.6 million were flagged as a member request that was not requested by the governor or any agency.
TaxWatch also targeted $1 million from general revenue funds to develop a pilot program to provide jobs for at-risk youth in Pinellas, Hillsborough and Manatee counties. The request has been tagged before by the group for lacking adequate performance standards.
The group also suggested a veto for a $12 million facility for homeless veterans in Brevard County.
Local governments weren’t the only targets. A $4 million appropriation within the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to promote precision agriculture caught TaxWatch’s gaze.
The program uses satellites and geographic information systems to help farmers collect data about their fields, allowing them to surgically irrigate, apply fertilize or apply pesticides to crops.
The group said the project was neither asked for nor recommended by Scott.
By Lilly Rockwell and Michael Peltier
The News Service of Florida