Sheriff Requests $95 Million Budget, Up $18.8 Million
May 1, 2013
Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan has submitted his 2013-2014 budget to the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners — a $95 million budget that is about $18.8 million more than last year.
The $95,057,838 budget is split into three areas:
Law Enforcement: $50,773,658
Detention: $40,251,178
Court Security: $4,033,002
The $18,864,552 increase over last year, without any staffing level changes, includes:
Decrease in salaries — $37,872
Decrease in FICA taxes — $10,547
Increase in retirement contributions — $1,234,854 (due to state rate increases)
Increase in health and life insurance — $703,558
Increase in workman’s comp – $15,283
Additionally, the increase includes:
Hiring 83 detention deputies and 12 detention assistants – $6,324,157
Increase starting detention deputy pay (2%) to Road Prison deputy pay – $658,409
Morgan cites a Jail Staffing Study that calls for the increase in detention deputies and assistants. Morgan’s request states that in Monday conversation with a Department of Justice attorney, a DOJ investigation into the jail is focusing on Jail Staffing Study in preparing their final report.
And, finally, Morgan’s budget increase includes:
Paying ESCO employees holidays like BOCC employees - $3,952,930
Paying ESCO employees overtime like BOCC employees - $4,340,002
Morgan’s request to the BOCC notes that there is no request for 44 additional deputies to meet the state average number of officers per 1,000 deputies. That would cost, the sheriff wrote, another $4,285,190.
The next fiscal year will mark seven years since ECSO employees have received a three-percent pay increase, Morgan noted.
More Rain Tonight
May 1, 2013
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms before 7pm, then periods of showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 7pm. Low around 63. East wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
- Thursday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a high near 73. East wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
- Thursday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 63. East wind around 5 mph.
- Friday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a high near 76. East wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
- Friday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a low around 52. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 71. Northwest wind around 10 mph.
- Saturday Night: A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. West wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
- Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 55.
- Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 78.
- Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 56.
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 79.
- Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 56.
- Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 82.
Two-Year Old Inside Home As Meth Lab Is Busted
May 1, 2013
The 21st Judicial Drug Task Force and the Flomaton Police Department have arrested four people after busting an alleged meth lab near Flomaton.
Task force agents Brandon Burkett and Adam Johnson along with Flomaton Police responded to a tip about a meth lab at 3487 Old Atmore Road, just northwest of Tulip Street and the Alabama/Florida line.
After arriving at the residence, agents made contact with 23-year old resident Cassandra Smith and smelled what they believed to be a strong chemical odor coming from inside the residence. Agents determined that there was a two-year old child inside the home with an active meth lab.
Agents immediately removed the child from the residence for safety reasons and secured the scene while a search warrant was obtained. After obtaining the search warrant Agent Scott Walden, who is certified in dismantling and handling meth labs, was called to the scene to properly secure the hazardous materials that were discovered in side the residence.
Task Force agents said the items discovered inside the residence were consistent with those routinely used in the illegal manufacturing of crystal methamphetamines.
Smith, 22-year old Joseph “JoJo” Bell of Atmore Road, 26-year old Mark Faulk of Fowler Lane, and 26-year old Steven Bell of Old Atmore Road were each charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance synthetic (spice), unlawful possession controlled substance (meth), unlawful manufacturing controlled substance I, unlawful possession drug paraphernalia, and chemically endangering the welfare of a child.
All were booked into the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton with bond set at $100,000. As of Tuesday afternoon, only Smith had been released on bond.
The Department of Human Resources responded to the scene and took custody of the child.
Molino Park Elementary Releases Third Nine Weeks Honor Roll
May 1, 2013
The following students were named to the third nine weeks honor roll at Molino Park Elementary School:
All A’s
5th Grade
Braden Boutwell
Micah Calhoun
Benjamin Cantrell
Lacie Carter
Dean Hatcher
Jacob Hawkins
Alexia Schlobohm
Brianna White
4th Grade
Nathan Danforth
Jaden Fryman
Trey Franklin
Leia Grantham
Ariel Ward
Caden Woodward
3rd Grade
Lakynn Bodiford
Reagan Daniels
Jaden Lewis
2nd Grade
Aaron Adams
Ethan Collier
Noah Edmonson
Alyssa Jackson
Cameron Partrick
Ethan Rea
Brycelyn Woodward
1st Grade
Riley Crites
Kylie Grantham
Lilly Hatch
Bobbie Sue Jarrell
Austin Manning
Leila Mason
Anna McKee
Chloe Ragsdale
Joseph Settle
All S’s
Kindergarten
Trae Ardeneaux
Austin Batz
Camden Beaty
Andrew Chavers
Nehemiah Delarosa
Alyssa Enfinger
Kambie Faircloth
Jericha Finlay
Nolan Goetter
Aiden Harris
Liam Hatcher
Aubre Jordan
Kristopher Kelley
Andrew Manning
Nehemiah Marfil
Savannah McCullough
Emma NIgam
Noel Pugh
Douglas Ragsdale
Caleb Rea
Naoki Rogers
Rylee Rogers
Richard Shaw
James Sheffield
Logan Shoffner
Brooklyn Summerlin
Darcus Turner
Keeley Wiggins
Brooke Wilson
Jacob Wood
Abbigail Woods
All A’s and B’s
5th Grade
Emily Boutwell
Jayda Crabtree
Courtney Devore
Caleb Eddins
Jordan Godwin
Cody Gresh
Jamiesha Gross
John Gulledge
McKinzi Kent
Troya Massey
Kayla McKillion
Darion McShan
Byron Mcvay
Ronnie Plenkers
John Perkins
Bailey Seibert
Kamren Simpkins
Logan Wise
4th Grade
Larry Allie
Teagan Andress
Tayler Bridges
Harley Crumley
Parker Hassebrock
Bryce Korinchak
Justin Miller
Jeremiah Morris
Savannah Nall
Lainey Pace
Kellie Parsons
Scott Skidmore
Clayton Smith
Natalie St. Cyr
Benjamin Ward
Madelyn Zylstra
3rd Grade
Divine Abrams
Aden Fennell
Kaleb Kelly
Clay Kittrell
Isabella Lane
Kileigh Lundy
Melody Patterson
McKayla Ramsey
Brystal Rhodes
Sarah Sconiers
McKenzie Sims
Bryant Walters
2nd Grade
Landry Bellard
Micaela Bolton
Karson Brown
Fred Carnley
Levi Carnley
Riley Crosby
Bailey Danielson
Kameron Enfinger
Ashlin Flowers
Austin Floyd
Nicklas Fowler
Jace Fryman
Caleb Hassebrock
Zachary Jones
David Kersh
O’Nykah Kidd
Kacy Knable
Waylon Langford
Shelby Lashley
Cooper Martinez
Miah Massey
Summer McCullers
Austin McCullers
Chase Pugh
Briana Ragan
Wyat Ramsey
Alex Roloph
Asa Schlobohm
Ty Smith
Elijah Suratos
Adian Vaughn
Gage Wilson
1st Grade
Darius Abrams
Jade Allen
Kendall Alvare
Robert Bodiford
Jarrett Bodiford
Kyler Boutwell
Kelsey Boykin
Nathan Caston
Niko Champagne
Mathew Dix
Susan English
Amber Irby
Sylvia Jarrell
Evin Pedicord
Colton Taylor
Lavon Taylor
Trinity Scroggins
Brier Thompson
Domanique Turner
Dylan Wood
Brooklyn Zylstra
Solari Named Winner In FFA Essay Contest
May 1, 2013
The Florida FFA Association has announced the top 10 winners of the “What FFA Means To Me” Alumni Essay Contest.
The second place in the state went to Courtney Solari of the Northview High School FFA.
Solari and the other winners from across the state will be recognized during the 85th Florida FFA State Convention in Orlando on Friday, June 14.
Softball Tourney To Benefit Wreck Victim Mark Shipps, Jr.
May 1, 2013
The Junior Classic Softball Tournament will be held beginning at 6 p.m. on Friday, May 10 and continuing Saturday, May 11 at Bradberry Park in Walnut Hill, with proceeds benefiting wreck victim Mark Allen Shipps, Jr. and his family.
It will be based on USSSA slow pitch softball rules, with three females on the field per team at all ties. There will be a two loss elimination in effect. Registration is $150 per team.
The event will also include food, music and more. Volunteers are needed in any form — from playing on a team, to umpiring and more. Boston butts are also available for $25. For more information or to register, contact Bradley Lowery at (850) 232-3205 or BJL0005@auburn.edu.
Food and drink donations area also needed (burgers, hot dogs, sodas, water, sports drinks, etc).
A benefit account has been established at United Bank in Atmore for Mark Shipps, Jr. The account information is: Mark Shipps Jr. Benefit Account, account #151892711, P.O. Box 8, Atmore, AL 36504. Checks should be made out to “Mark Shipps Jr. Benefit Account”.
For an earlier story with more information about Shipps’ accident, click here.
Myrtle Louise Smith
May 1, 2013
Mrs. Myrtle Louise Smith, age 75, of Century, passed away on Wednesday, May 1, 2013, at Century Care Center.
Mrs. Smith was a native of Brewton and had been a resident of Century since 1960, coming from Brewton where she was a member of the 1958 Class of W.S. Neal High School. She was retired from Monsanto where she worked as a lab technician. Mrs. Smith was of the Pentecostal faith and was preceded in death by her husband, Cleveland R. ‘Buck’ Smith, Sr.; and brothers, James Blow and William Joseph ‘Joe’ Blow.
Her survivors include her children, Cleveland ‘Buckie’ Rufus (Susan) Smith of the McCall community near Flomaton, Sonja (Mike) Allen of Bratt, Tammy (Tom) Wilkerson of Pollard, and Johnnie Joshua (Kimberly) Hughes-Smith of Gulf Breeze; brother, Charles (Cathy) Blow of Navarre; grandchildren, Burton Smith, Brandon Smith, Rachael Smith, Brandy Wilkerson and Johnnie Buck Smith; great-grandchildren, Jackson Smith, Brayden Smith, Robert Weston Spicer, Juliana Smith, Samantha Smith, Dalton Smith and another on the way.
Graveside services will he held on Friday, May 3, 2013, at 11 a.m. at Union Grove Freewill Baptist Cemetery in Castleberry, AL with speaker Ronnie Fore.
Flomaton Funeral Home is directing.
Hunt For Suspect Continues After Atmore Armed Robbery
May 1, 2013
A manhunt was underway late Tuesday afternoon and early Tuesday in Atmore for a robbery suspect.
A property owner reported was doing construction work at his rental property on Fourth Avenue when he was robbed of his wallet and phone at gunpoint in by a while male. The suspect was described as a white male, about 5-foot, 10-inches and 175 pounds wearing pants that had a black and white camouflage pattern, and a hoodie or cap.
The Atmore Police Department established a perimeter around the area and called a K-9 team from the Alabama Department of Corrections. Horner Street and several other streets in the area were closed for the search.
A suspect was taken into custody about 7:30 p.m. near Fourth Avenue and Horner Street, and roads were re-opened about 7:40 p.m. Later in the evening, the man taken into custody was released without being charged after police were unable to find evidence linking him to the crime.
Anyone with information on the robbery is asked to call the Atmore Police Department at (251) 368-9141.
$1.5 Million Replacement Of Highway 97A Bridge Begins Next Week
May 1, 2013
The Florida Department of Transportation will begin replacement of a bridge on Highway 97A over Boggy Creek in the Bay Springs community the week of May 6. Crews are setting up work zone signage this week.
Weather permitting the $1.5 million project should take about eight months to complete. During construction, an on-site diversion will be built for local residents to continue to have access to the area.
The 121 foot bridge was constructed in 1969 and is supported on wooden timbers. The bridge is rated as “structurally deficient” and has a current weight limit of 15 tons. The bridge is located about one mile west of South Highway 99.
The speed limit will be reduced to 30 mph through the work zone. FDOT is advising motorists to use caution when traveling through the work area and to be aware that speeding violations will be doubled when workers are present.
Marrahnell Wright Culp
May 1, 2013
Marrahnell Wright Culp of Cantonment, age 78, passed away April 29, 2013, after a chronic illness. She was born in Laurel Hill on July 28, 1934.
She was preceded in death by her parents, George W. Wright and Percie L. Wright and an infant brother. After working for years at the telephone company, she was a homemaker who enjoyed cooking, flowers and gardening. After her husband retired, they enjoyed traveling with their camper and meeting new friends while fishing and camping around the country. “Nell”, as everyone knew her was devoted to her husband, children and grandchildren. She was a devout member of Cantonment First Baptist Church.
She is survived by her loving husband of 43 years, John E. Culp; two sons, Gregory (Sue) Henderson and Dale (Angela) Henderson; daughter, Starlyn (Jessie) James; five granddaughters, Candace (Bill) Hendricks, Jessica (Todd) Barlow, Whitney and Courtney Henderson and Kristie Henderson; three great-grandchildren, Nathan and Matthew Hendricks and Addistynn Barlow; two brothers, George C. Wright and Preston Wright; and many nieces and nephews.
She will be remembered as a generous, strong and loving wife, mother and grandmother. Saying she will be missed is an understatement.
Visitation will be Thursday, May 2, 2013, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Faith Chapel North.
Funeral Services will be Friday, May 3, 2013, at 10:30 a.m. at Faith Chapel North.
Burial will follow in Barrancas National Cemetery.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is in charge of arrangements.