Northwest Escambia League Tryouts Postponed Due To Weather
February 16, 2012
Northwest Escambia League tryouts for baseball and softball that were scheduled for this Saturday have been postponed one week due to threat of bad weather.
NWE Bradberry Park tryouts for baseball and softball for all ages will now be Saturday, February 25th beginning at 10 a.m. until. Full concessions will available.
Last minute registration will be accepted from 9:00 – 9:45 a.m.
Today’s Northview JV, Varsity Softball Games Canceled
February 16, 2012
The junior varsity and varsity softball games scheduled at Northview High School for today have been canceled due to rain.
Two Die In Santa Rosa Wreck
February 16, 2012
Two people died in a single vehicle crash early Thursday morning in Santa Rosa County.
Jacob Adam Lee, 24 of Pace, and Patrick Ryan Dicks, 28 of Milton, were both killed in the crash about 1:19 a.m. on Bell Lane near Hartley Drive in Pace. The Florida Highway Patrol says Lee lost control of his 2001 Ford Mustang due to the wet road surface and struck a tree before overturning.
Man Pleads Guilty To Selling Feathers, Faces Federal Prison Time
February 16, 2012
An Atmore man pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday to violating federal laws dealing with the possession and sale of protected bird feathers.
Alexander D. Alvarez pleaded guilty before a federal judge to violating the Lacey Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) for illegally selling and possessing the feathers of anhingas and other migratory birds protected under the MBTA.
Alvarez was charged in February with one felony Lacey Act violation, one felony MBTA violation and one misdemeanor MBTA violation. He faces up to five years in prison and over a half million dollars in fines when he is sentenced on May 22.
Under the MBTA, the Secretary of the Interior maintains a list of migratory birds which are protected from being killed, sold, bartered, transported or possessed, except as otherwise permitted by federal regulation. Enrolled members of federally-recognized American Indian tribes may possess eagle and other migratory bird feathers and parts for religious and ceremonial purposes, but federal law strictly prohibits the sale of migratory birds, feathers or their parts by any person.
Alvarez is not an enrolled member of a federally-recognized American Indian tribe, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
“Mr. Alvarez sought to profit from selling protected bird feathers he had no legal right to possess,” said Ignacia S. Moreno, Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources Division of the Department of Justice. “Federal law prohibits the sale of migratory birds, feathers or their parts for commercial gain. In enforcing these wildlife laws in partnership with tribal law enforcement, we share a duty to protect the nation’s scarce and precious wildlife resources. In protecting these resources for future generations, we also ensure the ability of federally recognized tribal members to possess eagle and migratory bird feathers for religious and ceremonial practices.”
“Protecting our natural resources, particularly wildlife, from being exploited against the law for personal gain continues to be a significant function of the Department of Justice,” said Kenyen R. Brown, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama. “Successful prosecutions of this nature help ensure that the next generation of Americans enjoy the same level of wildlife that we do today.”
According to court documents, Alvarez communicated via email with an individual in Louisiana and eventually exchanged two anhinga tails that Alvarez possessed for a crested caracara tail, a Harris’s hawk tail and $400, which the individual possessed. Alvarez later sent 14 sets of anhinga tail feathers to this individual and asked the individual to photograph and offer the tails for sale via email. Alvarez received payment from the Louisiana individual for the anhinga tail feathers that were sold. A federal search warrant was executed at Alvarez’s home on March 11, 2009, and feathers from several migratory bird species were seized.
This case resulted from an investigation by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Office of Law Enforcement into the illegal commercialization of eagles and other migratory birds protected by federal law. The investigation was jointly conducted with the Navajo Nation Department of Fish and Wildlife. The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Alabama and the Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division, Environmental Crimes Section.
Patchy Dense Fog Tonight
February 16, 2012
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Patchy dense fog. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. North wind around 5 mph.
- Friday: A 30 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 66. North wind around 5 mph.
- Friday Night: A 40 percent chance of rain and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 53. East wind around 5 mph.
- Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms. Some of the storms could be severe. High near 69. East wind 10 to 15 mph becoming south. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
- Saturday Night: A 40 percent chance of rain, mainly before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50. South wind around 15 mph becoming west. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph.
- Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 63. Breezy, with a west wind between 10 and 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
- Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 37. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- President’s Birthday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 64. North wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southeast.
- Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 40.
- Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 68.
- Tuesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a low around 50.
- Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy and breezy, with a high near 70.
- Wednesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy and breezy, with a low around 49.
- Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 69.
‘Guys And Dolls’ Friday At Flomaton High
February 16, 2012
The Flomaton High School Drama Club will present Damon Runyon’s Guys and Dolls tonight at Friday night at 7:00 in the school auditorium. Tickets are $5.
Nathan Detroit (played by Tyler Dove), the organizer of the oldest permanent floating crap game, bets Sky Masterson (played by Phillip Lloyd) that he can’t make the next girl he sees fall in love with him– Miss Sarah Brown (Victoria Creamer) of the Save-a-Soul Mission. Meanwhile, Nathan’s girlfriend and the main attraction at the Hot Box nightclub — Miss Adelaide (K J Head), only wants to get married. In the end the gamblers and “spunky do-gooders” are thrown together.
“The students have worked really hard on this year’s musical. It’s going to be a great production,” said Flomaton drama teacher Jerry Aaron. “Come and bring all of your friends.”
For more photos from the production, click here.
Pictured top: The gamblers — Joey Macks, Hunter Chavers, Phillip Lloyd, Dan Condrey, Max Wilcox, Brett Gafford, Brett Newton and hanging from the scalfoldling, Jay Harris and Zach Hadley in the Flomaton High School production of Guys and Dolls. Pictured below: The Save-a-Soul Mission Band — Kristen Dixon, Molly Barnett, Jamie Dailey, Alexis Williams, and Victoria Creamer. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
ECUA Receives National Award For Cantonment Facility
February 16, 2012
ECUA has received another national award for replacing the former Main Street Wastewater Treatment Plant with the new Central Water Reclamation Facility in Cantonment.
ECUA received a National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) National Environmental Achievement Award for its excellence in operations and environmental performance.
Elvin McCorvey, ECUA chairman, accepted the NEAA award this week at the 2012 NACWA Winter Conference at the Omni Hotel in Los Angeles.
ECUA was selected for this award for its completion of the Main Street Wastewater Treatment Plant Replacement Project. The project was the result of Hurricane Ivan’s impact on the Main Street Wastewater Treatment Plant, and ECUA’s subsequent action to plan, design and build the Central Water Reclamation Facility (CWRF). The CWRF is a state-of-the-art facility that significantly reduces the ECUA’s exposure to facility damages in the coastal floodplain, and eliminates the direct surface water discharge to Pensacola Bay from the former Main Street WWTP.
Authorities Raid Cantonment Property Again, Seize More Animals
February 16, 2012
Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies and animal control officers raided a Cantonment property for the second time on Wednesday afternoon, seizing even more of about 90 animals found in what was described as poor living conditions.
On Tuesday, animal control officers seized nearly 20 dogs from the property in the 2800 block of Lawson Lane off Jack’s Branch Road. It all started with a dog bite complaint, but when they arrived, officers found 50 or more dogs, 20 hogs and about 17 goats, according to Kelly Cooke, spokesperson for Escambia County.
Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies stood by as county animal control officers seized about 20 of the dogs. “They were the ones that were in really, really bad health or bad shape,” Cooke said. Some of the animals were reportedly tethered without food, water or property shelter.
Seven of the dogs were euthanized due to their severe condition.
By Wednesday, property owner Roger Kervin spoke out in his own defense, saying that he had doing nothing wrong. Kervin said he keeps the dogs in good shape for wild hog hunting, often using the wild pork to feed people at charity events.
Late Wednesday afternoon, Escambia deputies served a search warrant on Kervin. More dogs were seized, and authorities returned on Thursday to seize the wild hogs and even a few peacocks on the property.
Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille said Wednesday afternoon that his office is reviewing the case to determine what, if any, criminal charges may be filed against Kervin.
This was not the first time Kervin has been investigated on animal mistreatment allegations. According to court records, he was sentenced to six years probation in 1992 for using animals to bait or fight other animals.
Pictured: The Lawson Lane property were authorities found over 90 animals in poor conditions. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Celebrate Mardi Gras At The Library Today
February 16, 2012
The Century Branch of the West Florida Library will celebrate Mardi Gras this afternoon with a special program.
At 4 p.m., kids of all ages and their families are invited to the library to enjoy an afternoon of Mardi Gras fun. There will be a special story and the chance to make a Mardi Gras mask. Afterwards, there will be a Mardi Gras Parade at the library.
The Century Branch Library is located at 7991 North Century Boulevard.
For more information, call (850) 256-6217.
Florida House Passes Bill That Could Breathe Life Into Area’s Old Oil Wells
February 16, 2012
The Florida House passed legislation Wednesday that could breathe life into old oil wells in the North Escambia area.
Sponsor Matt Hudson, R-Naples, said his seeks to “rejuvenate” oil fields that were discovered decades ago but have been abandoned. At least in some cases, he said active wells are operating near the abandoned sites.
“If producers decide to tap into those abandoned wells, without question it will create jobs,” Hudson said recently.
The bill puts as low as a 1 percent severance tax on oil from the abandoned wells, instead of the current 8 percent severance tax rate. It applies to old oil fields in the western Panhandle and in the Big Cypress Reserve in southwest Florida. The measure passed the House 80-36, with most Democrats opposing it.
One of the dissenters, Rep. Jeff Clemens, D-Lake Worth, said he had questions about where the abandoned wells are located and the potential environmental effects of tapping them.
Though drawing relatively little attention, Florida has long had oil production in the northwest Panhandle, and in parts of Southwest Florida. Most of the oil wells are in the Jay area, but many are in extreme northeastern Escambia County east of Century and north of Highway 4.
A House staff analysis said the Panhandle fields produced about 1 million barrels of oil in 2010, while the Southwest Florida fields produced about 775,000 barrels. The Jay Field, including some Escambia County wells, produced 993,841 barrels in 2010.
The House bill targets fields that were discovered before 1981 and that would begin producing oil after July 1, 2012.
It would not lead to offshore oil drilling, a highly controversial issue in Florida. Earlier this year, Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann drew criticism when she raised the prospect of opening up the Everglades to oil drilling, though backers of the idea noted that it wasn’t that far from some of the drilling already going on in Southwest Florida.
The House analysis says 16 oil fields were discovered in Florida before 1981, with seven of them plugged and abandoned. Nine of those abandoned wells are in Northwest Florida, most in the North Escambia area.
Pictured top: This map shows the wells in the Jay Oil Field. Pictured inset: The oil and gas from the Jay Field is processed by Quantum Resources in Jay. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.