Weekend In 360 Photos
May 16, 2011
From two big Relay for Life events, to a Fairy Tale dance recital, to Art Day and FFA honors, our NorthEscambia.com cameras were there this weekend with over 360 photos from across the area.
Click any of the items below to read more and see the photo galleries.
Regular Business Tonight For Century Council
May 16, 2011
Tonight’s regular meeting of the Century Town Council will include normal business items.
The town is expected to approve two resolutions to allow the town to continue to apply for Community Development Block Grants. The the council will also hear an update on code enforcement issues from Sandra Slay of Escambia County.
For the complete council agenda, click here.
Century Road Resurfacing Project Almost Complete
May 16, 2011
Century’s project to resurface the town’s worst streets is expected to be finished this week.
Repaving is complete on Freedom Road, the portion of Old Flomaton Road in the city limits, Hecker Road, Elm Street, Hilltop Road, B Street and Archie Street — the streets placed on the top of the town’s priority list for works.
Crews from Roads, Inc. will work raise manhole covers to street level on Freedom Road, and then traffic striping will be done on Freedom Road, Hecker Street and Old Flomaton Road. Weather permitting, the entire project should be completed this week, according to town officials.
The resurfacing part of the project will cost the town about $200,000 by piggybacking on an Escambia County contract with Roads, Inc. Of Northwest Florida. Another $14,000 will be added for pavement striping on Freedom, Old Flomaton and Hecker. Striping — those lines down the middle and on the side of the roadway — will not be added to the other roads because they are low-traffic.
There will be about a dozen roads remaining to be paved on the town’s priority list. Five of them — West Cottage Street, Academy Street, Pleasant Hill Road, Ramar Street and Lake Street — are all short or dead end streets. The remaining are dirt roads that will require extensive drainage work prior to surfacing.
Pictured top: The newly resurfaced Hecker Road in Century. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Shirley F. Martin
May 16, 2011
Mr. Shirley F. Martin, 81, passed away on Sunday, May 15, 2011, at a Mobile hospital.
Mr. Martin was a native of Troy, Ala., a former resident of Atmore and a resident of Stockton, Ala. for the past two years. He was a U.S. Army veteran, owned and operated the Martin Timber Company and attended the Methodist church.
He was Preceded in death by his wife, Betty Gibbs Martin.
Survivors include his son, Dan Steven and Pamela Martin of Gulf Shores; his daughter, Mitzi and Allen Thomas of Atmore; one grandchild, Kimberly Walker; two great-grandchildren, Alyssa Walker and Austin Walker; two brothers, Carol Martin of Atmore, and Douglas Martin of Bratt; and two sisters, Lillie Goleman of Bell Fountain, Ala., and Shelby Hatcher of Atmore.
Graveside services will be held Tuesday, May 17, 2011, at 11:00 a.m. at the Serenity Garden Cemetery with the Rev. Homer Stewart officiating and Petty Funeral Homes, LLC directing.
Visitation will be held Monday, May 16, 2011, from 6-9 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Ronnie Martin, Harold Martin, Bobby Martin, Greg Martin, Benjamin Martin and Michael Chavers.
Honorary pallbearers will be members of the VFW.
Headed To The Beach Today? Gulf Breeze Highway Closed Due To Major Water Main Break
May 15, 2011
If you are headed to Pensacola Beach today, getting through Gulf Breeze is going to be a problem.
A major water main break has Highway 98 at Shoreline Drive — that’s just across the bridge near Gulf Breeze Highway — down to just one lane being used by traffic in both directions. There’s no word on when the roadway will re-open. With just a small detour open through a closed gas station parking lot, traffic at mid-afternoon Sunday was backed all the way up to downtown Pensacola.
Man Enters Plea On Eight Animal Cruelty Charges
May 15, 2011
A Century man has pleaded no contest to eight animal cruelty charges related to the December seizure of several malnourished dogs and horses from his property.
Willie Lee Jones, 54, entered the no contest plea to three counts of cruelty to animals and five counts of confinement of animals without sufficient food, water or exercise. Two additional confinement charges were dropped by prosecutors. Judge Thomas Dannheisser withheld adjudication on all charges and set a sentencing hearing for later this month. Jones remains free on bond.
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 is facing six animal cruelty charges in connection with these animals seized in December. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Man Dies In Escambia Wreck; Fourth Fatality In 48 Hours
May 15, 2011
There was a another fatal crash in Escambia County Saturday – the fourth fatal crash in the two-county region during a 48-hour period.
The Florida Highway Patrol says 53-year old John Franklin Sears of Gulf Breeze died in the wreck just before noon Saturday on Michigan Avenue at Sun Valley Drive in Pensacola.
Bruce Luttrell III, 81, of Pensacola, was eastbound on Michigan Avenue when he crossed the center turn lane into the path of a vehicle driven by Jeremy Shields, 21, of Pensacola. The impact forced Shields’ vehicle into a head-on collision with Sears.
Shields was not injured, but a passenger in his vehicle, 27-year old Michelle Cuffey was taken to West Florida Hospital in serious condition. Luttrell was not injured in the crash.
Three other accidents claimed three lives during the 28 hours prior to Saturday’s crash:
- Friday night, 24-year old Charles W. Ferguson was killed in a single vehicle accident on Hamilton Bridge Road in Santa Rosa County. (Read more…)
- Early Friday morning, 50-year old McNoel Davis died after being hit by a vehicle near Walmart on Highway 29. (Read more…)
- Thursday night, 25-year old Rodney W. Faircloth of Cantonment died when his truck plunged into Escambia Bay. (Read more…)
Fairy Tales: Danceworks Students Present Annual Recital
May 15, 2011
Heather Leonard’s Danceworks students presented their annual recital “Fairy Tales” Saturday night at Flomaton High School.
For a photo gallery from the event, click here.
The Danceworks students are instructed weekly at the Byrneville Community Center by teachers Heather Leonard and Chelsea Golson, who coordinated each of Saturday night’s dances.
The program included:
- Monster — Jalyn Bodiford, Morgan Digmon, Anna Fischer, Leah Fischer, Chelsea Golson, Karrie Gibson, Sarah Killam, Chloe Leonard, Jessica Lowery, Shelby Nielson
- A Whole New World — Ella Wade Caraway, Carsyn Dortch, Maddiemae Driskell, Madalyn Grimes, Ava Gurganus, Berklee Hall, Daisy Davis-Johnson, Meredith Johnston, Reiley Morgan, Maggie Scott
- Kingdom Dance, Choregraphy Heather Leonard — Anna Belle Barberree, Lana Harris, Allison Johnson, Olivia Porter, Delaney Reynolds
- The Little Mermaid — Lola Capps, Marina Franklin, Emma Gilmore, Kaleigh Macks, Lillie McCall, Mary Rice, Gracie Stockstill, Aubrey Stuckey, Aleigh Thornton, Abby Weber
- Escape from the Dragon — Bama Coburn, Jamison Janes, Ansleigh Maholovich, Kenna Redmond, Bailey VanPelt
- Charlotte’s Web — Taylor Kearley, Elizabeth Sanders
- Do You Believe in Magic — Anna Belle Barberree, Lana Harris, Allison Johnson, Olivia Porter
- Hero — Chelsea Golson, Heather Leonard
- You’ve Got a Friend in Me — Lola Capps, Marina Franklin, Emma Gilmore, Kaleigh Macks, Lillie McCall, Mary Rice, Gracie Stockstill, Aubrey Stuckey, Aleigh Thornton, Abby Weber
- Something That I Want — Bama Coburn, Jamison Janes, Ansleigh Maholovich, Kenna Redmond, Bailey VanPelt
- Ever Ever After — Anna Belle Barberree, Lana Harris, Allison Johnson, Olivia Porter
- Ready — Jalyn Bodiford, Morgan Digmon, Anna Fischer, Leah Fischer, Karrie Gibson, Sarah Killam, Chloe Leonard, Jessica Lowery, Shelby Nielson
For a photo gallery from the event, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Sunny And Dry Weather
May 15, 2011
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 80. Northwest wind between 5 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
- Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 52. Northwest wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 72. North wind between 5 and 15 mph.
- Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 76. North wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 48. Northwest wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 82. North wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south.
- Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 56. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 85.
- Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 65
Florida Weekly Government Roundup: Calm Before (And After) The Storm
May 15, 2011
There was a noticeable spring in the steps of Tallahassee’s lobbying corps, government workers (those whose jobs weren’t cut) and public officials this week as players in the annual melee of the legislative session caught their breaths following a chaotic finale that kept lawmakers up to the predawn hours of last weekend.
Freed from their dawn-til-dark schedule, many spent the week reacquainting themselves with families that for all intents and purposes lost a parent or two to the session’s final days. But capital insiders also sifted through myriad pieces of legislation to determine if the session was successful or not, an annual ritual made more difficult this year as lawmakers passed no less than 40 conforming and conference measures spanning thousands of pages literally in the middle of the night.
Still, the atmosphere was darn right serene in a city that only last week was home to a cacophony of noise from the throngs fuelled by fifth floor M&Ms and Mountain Dew.
Such pastoral moments may be short lived.
Stung by an avalanche of legislation affecting pensions, teacher performance, elections, drug testing and abortions to name a few, groups who fared poorly during the recently concluded session spent this week deciding whether they would fare better in courtrooms than they did in committee rooms.
Slammed by supermajorities in both chambers, groups with different political bents watched almost helplessly as wave after wave of Republican-backed legislation worked its way through. Those groups were huddling this week to determine what to do to regain some of the ground lost on a variety of fronts.
“Unfortunately, the list is long, very long,” said Howard Simon, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, who added that the organization will likely have to triage its choices. “We can only do so much.”
Among the ACLU’s first targets will likely be a proposed constitutional amendment (SJR 1218) that would allow taxpayer dollars to go to religious groups. Another likely target is a proposed constitutional amendment (HJR 1179) that would prevent the Florida Constitution from being interpreted more broadly than the U.S. Constitution on abortion issues. That is important because the Florida Constitution’s privacy clause has been successfully used in the past to challenge abortion laws.
Looking beyond the constitution, Simon said the group is likely to file separate challenges to an executive order requiring state agencies to drug test potential employees and another measure (HB 353) that requires all recipients of temporary financial assistance to test negative for drugs or be barred from collecting benefits.
Among the most politically charged issues is a measure dealing with elections. The proposal (HB 1355) makes changes to early voting, address changes and get-out-the vote campaigns. Republicans said the bill was necessary to crack down on election fraud, noting ominously that the Florida code contains loopholes for what the House sponsor called “mischief.”
Democrats slammed the elections bill as an attack on Florida voters by shaving days off early voting, blocking voters’ access to the constitution through citizen initiatives and discouraging key portions of President Barack Obama’s 2008 electoral coalition from returning to the polls next year.
The bill also places further restrictions on groups such as the League of Women Voters that have historically gone out and registered voters. Under the bill, the league and others would have to file completed registration forms within 48 hours or else face a $50 fine for each late form.
“We took a look at the law and determined it is very broad and vague,” said League President Deirdre Macnab, adding that the league is reviewing its legal options. “They created an entirely new set of regulations that is going to be very cumbersome for volunteers to comply with.”
At least one action by Gov. Rick Scott has already drawn a legal challenge. A coalition of groups has filed a petition with the Florida Supreme Court asking the high court to declare unconstitutional an executive order to suspend rulemaking authority from state agencies. Scott took the action days after taking office.
Unions are also eyeing the passage of measures to base teacher pay on merit and other that would expand the McKay Scholarship program to students with less debilitating ailments such as allergies and asthma.
“The Florida Education Association is looking at legislation that got passed this last session and kind of examining our options are far as what kinds of things we need to look at as far as deciding whether we are going to challenge anything in court,’ said FEA spokesman Mark Pudlow. “There is plenty of legislation that looks like it could be challenged and we are trying to assess what had the best chance of success and we have limited resources so we can’t go after everything.”
SCOTT HAPPY WITH FIRST SESSION:
Scott is touting the success of a session that included victories on several of his campaign promises and legislative proposals, from pension reform to drug testing for welfare recipients and education reform — and a deal on the corporate tax cut.
“For a novice, he did remarkably well pushing through an agenda,” said Dan Smith, a political science professor at the University of Florida.
In his post-session radio address, Scott nodded toward some of his successes, including beefing up school choice programs and reorganization of the state’s economic-development agencies that he pushed.
“I applaud the Senate and the House for taking these great first steps to move our state in the right direction,” he said. “In the coming months, I’ll begin putting these first pieces of my 7-7-7 plan into action.”
The hallmark of many of Scott’s successes, though, lies in the phrase “first steps.” Many of the details of Scott’s proposals were pared down or completely altered by the Legislature, which balked at the idea of forcing new state employees into a 401(k)-style defined-contribution retirement plan and increased the exemption for corporate taxpayers rather than the rate cut Scott favored.
STORY OF THE WEEK: Thoughts turn to summer vacation instead of summer session.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “It’s not like I’m some jerk. I’m 50-years-old.” Richard Catalano, who won a case in the 2nd District Court of Appeal this week that found the state’s car stereo noise law unconstitutional. Catalano was ticketed for blasting Justin Timberlake, but the court said the law violated his freedom of speech.
By Michael Peltier
The News Service of Florida