One Dead, Two Critically Injured After Being Rear-ended By ECUA Truck
October 9, 2019
One person is dead after a collision with an Emerald Coast Utilities Authority vehicle on Perdido Key Tuesday.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 19-year old Victor Hernandez Rogel was driving a Ford F250 ECUA maintenance truck east on Perdido Key Drive when he rear-ended a Chevrolet Captiva that was slowing in front of him.
A passenger in the Chevrolet, 60-year old Melissa Farmer of Portland, Tennessee, was pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver, 20-year old Ashley Farmer, and a passenger, 22-year old Jacob Farmer, were both airlifted to South Baldwin Hospital in critical condition. Robel was transported to Baptist Hospital with minor injuries.
Any charges are pending the outcome a traffic homicide investigation, according to FHP.
Pam Barnes Named Molino Park Elementary Teacher Of The Year
October 9, 2019
Pam Barnes has been named teacher of the year at Molino Park Elementary School. She teaches third grade at Molino Park. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Department Of Corrections Announces $1,000 Hiring Bonuses
October 9, 2019
The Florida Department of Corrections has announced $1,000 hiring bonuses for new hires at several institutions statewide, including the Santa Rosa Correctional Institution in Milton.
Applicants who complete their correctional officer certification through either FDC or certain state colleges will be eligible for the bonus. Paid training is available through the program.
The bonus program does not include the Century Correctional Institution.
Certified new hires are eligible to receive bonuses at the following institutions:
- Apalachee Correctional Institution (Sneads)
- Calhoun Correctional Institution (Blountstown)
- Columbia Correctional Institution (Lake City)
- Cross City Correctional Institution (Cross City)
- Dade Correctional Institution (Florida City)
- Franklin Correctional Institution (Carrabelle)
- Florida State Prison (Raiford)
- Gulf Correctional Institution (Wewahitchka)
- Hamilton Correctional Institution (Jasper)
- Hardee Correctional Institution (Bowling Green)
- Jefferson Correctional Institution (Monticello)
- Liberty Correctional Institution (Bristol)
- Madison Correctional Institution (Madison)
- Martin Correctional Institution (Indiantown)
- Mayo Annex (Mayo)
- Northwest Florida Reception Center (Chipley)
- Okeechobee Correctional Institution (Okeechobee)
- Reception and Medical Center (Lake Butler)
- Santa Rosa Correctional Institution (Milton)
- South Florida Reception Center (Doral)
- Suwannee Correctional Institution (Live Oak)
- Taylor Correctional Institution (Perry)
- Tomoka Correctional Institution (Daytona Beach)
- Union Correctional Institution (Raiford)
- Wakulla Correctional Institution (Crawfordville)
- Walton Correctional Institution (De Funiak Springs)
For more information regarding a career with the Florida Department of Corrections, visit FLDOCjobs.com.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Sunny And Warm, Slight Rain Chance
October 9, 2019
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Today: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming east in the afternoon.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 88. East wind around 5 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 67. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. East wind around 5 mph.
Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 81. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph in the morning.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 59. North wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 85. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 64.
Columbus Day: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66.
Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 85
Northview Ranked No. 4 In FHSAA Projected Playoff Rankings
October 9, 2019
The Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) on Tuesday released their football rankings showing which schools are currently in playoff positions.
Northview is ranked No. 4 in Region 1-1A, which means if the playoffs were held today the Chiefs would be in. There are no districts in Class 1A. The top six teams in each district make the playoffs, with the top two receiving a bye in the first week.
Teams are ranked based upon a RPI formula. RPI stands for Ratings Percentage Index. In short, it is a way to measure a team’s strength relative to other teams, based largely on the strength of their schedules.
Class 1A – Region 1
1. Baker (6-0), RPI .708
2. Freeport (6-1), .642
3. Vernon (5-1), .636
4. Northview (4-2), .593
5. Graceville (4-2), .536
6. Holmes County (2-4), .486
The Math
The RPI is based upon a mathematical formula that takes into the number of games won (WP), the winning percentage of the opponent (OWP), and the winning percentage of the opponent’s opponents (OOWP). The math looks like this:
The score of a game does not matter beyond winner and loser. There is no factor for score differential in the RPI formula. A 1-0 win counts the same as 100-1.
Out of state opponents are counted the same as in state opponents.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Wanted Felon Arrested After Deputies Surround Cottage Hill Neighborhood
October 8, 2019
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office surrounded a Cottage Hill neighborhood Tuesday afternoon in an effort to take a convicted felon into custody.
Joseph Randall Bush, 36, was taken into custody on Williams Ditch Road about 4 p.m. on outstanding warrants for burglary, larceny, dealing in stolen property and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $205,000.
Maj. Andrew Hobbs said received information that Bush was at a location in the area, and he has a known tendency to flee from law enforcement. Deputies quickly surrounded the immediate area before Bush was taken into custody.
It was not immediately clear if Bush ran from deputies.
According to Escambia County Jail records, Bush was released September 1 after being arrested on drug possession, battery, kidnapping and criminal mischief charges.
Pictured: A wanted felon was arrested in Cottage Hill Tuesday afternoon. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
A Dark Day In Century: Town Official Admits Sunshine Law Violations, ‘Wrongful Act’
October 8, 2019
All governmental agencies in Florida must follow the state’s open meetings law known as the Sunshine law. Monday night, the Town of Century failed.
Four town council members were present as three of them discussed policies and methods to comply with the Sunshine Law prior to the start of a meeting that was not properly noticed. And the interim town manager admitted that a meeting was a “wrongful act” held without being properly advertised per the Sunshine Law.
The meeting in question was four town council members sitting as the town’s Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) board. NorthEscambia.com learned of the meeting Saturday after opening an email sent by the town at 2:48 p.m. Friday that contained an agenda.
When NorthEscambia.com Publisher William Reynolds walked into the council chamber prior to the 6 p.m. start time, at least three board members were involved in active discussion about methods the council could use to provide proper public notice of meetings. A partial transcript of the discussion is at the bottom of this article.
Ann Brooks, Sandra McMurray-Jackson and Luis Gomez were engaged in active conversation about complying with the Sunshine Law and steps staff could take to that end. Ben Boutwell was present at the time, but was not heard speaking.
It is arguable that foreseeable action could be taken by the council regarding policies and procedures related to the Sunshine Law. In fact, the council has held policy and procedure workshops and had repeated discussions on a developing a council-approved policies and procedures manual. That council discussions have included discussion of setting Sunshine Law compliance procedures. In additional, a grand jury recommended that Century develop a set of policies and procedures and receive additional Sunshine training.
“In the absence of statutory exemption, any gathering of two or more members to discuss any matter on which foreseeable action may be taken must be open to the public, noticed to the public, and minutes kept,” the Florida 2019 Government In The Sunshine Manual states.
Following the Sunshine Law policies discussion, CRA board Chairman Ben Boutwell called the CRA board meeting to order at 6 p.m..
During their meeting, the CRA board discussed an executive director agreement with Escambia County, heard an update on a community garden project, learned a CRA report would be due next year, discussed applying for grants, working with other nonprofits, a first project for next year, and a town water project for the community garden. The discussion lasted about five minutes.
“I was advised, William, that the notice was placed sometime before April the first,” City Manager Buz Eddy said in response to questions about any public notice for the CRA meeting. “We sent out a list of three dates when the CRA would meet.”
That CRA meeting list from six months ago was posted in the Century Post Office on Monday night when we checked, but was not posted inside or on the door of Century Town Hall.
Just last week at Sunshine Law meeting with the town’s newly-formed Charter Review Committee, Town Attorney Matt Dannheisser advised that public notices should be on the front door of town hall. While that was his recommendation to ensure compliance, the Sunshine Law does not specifically state that notices be on the front door, just posted as the meeting location.
Two town council members, Gomez and Jackson, attended that Charter Review Committee discussion on the Sunshine Law and public records requirements, even though their presence was not publicly noticed.
Florida’s Sunshine Law specifies that reasonable notice must be given of all public meetings. It does not specifically define what is “reasonable” notice, but the Florida Attorney General’s Office offers several suggested guidelines listed in the Sunshine Manual.
“The notice should be prominently displayed in the area in the agency’s offices set aside for that purpose, e.g., for cities, in city hall…” Again, there was no notice of the CRA meeting posted anywhere at Century Town Hall.
A state attorney general’s opinion noted in the Sunshine Manual states that “Notice is required even though meetings of the board are “of general knowledge” and are not conducted in a closed door manner”. In addition that fact that no vote was taken by the CRA board would be irrelevant, per the Sunshine Manual, because “reasonable notice required even if the subject of meeting is ‘relatively unimportant’.”
Reynolds asked why there was no meeting notice posted at town hall.
“Good question. We talked about that just a second ago before the chairman called the meeting to order,” Eddy said. “We need to have a place out front to post notices.”
“William, sometimes you got to make stuff difficult for your benefit. He (Eddy) said it was noticed and published in April, before the week of April the first. And that’s not good enough for you. You’ve got to make a big deal out of it when it was already published at the post office. I seen that thing a month ago.”
“Don’t you think a month or two months is adequate time to post for a meeting?” Gomez asked. He the accused NorthEscambia.com of wanting to “sabotage and disrupt for their benefit”.
“If it was done several months ago, people need a reminder. You probably wouldn’t have remembered this meeting at 6 o’clock if you hadn’t had some kind of reminder,” Brooks said. “Anyone that is interested in the town, they need a reminder.”
“Anybody can go to the post office and see it,” Gomez said.
“I never go in the post office,” Brooks responded.
Gomez said he did not check the lobby bulletin board or front door at town hall to see if a public notice was posted because “I knew I had a meeting tonight.”
“I looked, and I didn’t see them there,” Eddy said.
Gomez then denied that he took part in the discussion prior to the convening of the CRA meeting.
“Did you hear me speak?” Gomez said. “Check the recording, but until then don’t go putting words in my mouth. If I didn’t say nothing and nobody else said nothing, nobody said anything.”
Gomez is clearly audible on a recording participating in the discussion prior to the start of the meeting, with his statements listed below.
During the regular council meeting, Eddy apologized for the public notice discussion during the CRA meeting.
“We did not advertise that meeting properly,” Eddy said. He said a “timeout should have been called and the meeting should not be held. And that’s what we should have done.” He said the town would advertise another CRA meeting and redo all discussion.
“This is going to hopefully mitigate the action, but it’s not going to eliminate the wrongful act,” Eddy remarked.
“I just hate that we put you in that position,” he later added.
Here is portion of the discussion held by Gomez, Brooks and Jackson prior to the convening of an improperly advertised meeting Monday night:
Ann Brooks suggested posting public notices at the post office.
“I know they at the post office,” Sandra McMurray-Jackson said.
“What about the sign out there?” Luis Gomez asked, referring to the electronic message board in front of town hall.
“That was exactly the reason we purchased that sign,” Brooks said.
“How hard would it be to type it in there?” Gomez asked.
“That would be a very good solution if it worked,” Brooks continued later in the conversation.
Pictured: Century Town Council members Luis Gomez, Ann Brooks, Sandra McMurray Jackson and Ben Boutwell sit as the Century CRA board Monday night. Pictured inset: Town officials said a notice for the October 7 meeting was placed on this bulletin board over six months ago. Pictured below: Bulletin boards in the Century Post Office as seen Monday night. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Several North Escambia Railroad Crossings To Close For Maintenance
October 8, 2019
Several North Escambia railroad crossings will be temporarily closed at some point during the next two weeks as CSX crews install new rail ties as part of a network-wide crossing maintenance program.
Traffic will experience temporary closures at the following railroad crossings during the operations period:
- McCurdy Street (Century)
- East Cottage Street (Century)
- East Pond Street (Century)
- Daffin Road (Molino)
- Fairground Road (Molinio)
- Old Chemstrand Road (Gonzalez)
- East Oakfield Road (Pensacola)
The roadways will be temporarily closed at different times throughout the period depending on the maintenance schedule.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Pictured: Maintenance was performed on several railroad crossings in North Escambia in January 2016. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
A Little More Comfortable; Highs In The 80s, Lows In The 60s
October 8, 2019
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. North wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 64. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. North wind around 5 mph becoming east in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 63. Calm wind.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 89. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 67. East wind around 5 mph.
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. East wind around 5 mph.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 82.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 56.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 80.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 56.
Columbus Day: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 83.
Escambia Youth Commissioners Meet Their Adult Counterparts
October 8, 2019
The Escambia County Commission had the chance last week to meet the junior counterparts on the Escambia County Youth Commission.
The Youth Commission gives five outstanding youths the opportunity to learn more about civics and local government through firsthand experience. For the next eight months, they will be able to tour the county’s many facilities, attend board meetings, and see issues the county faces each day.
Youth Commission members are:
- Maggie Brown, Tate High School junior
- Mallory Bell, Escambia High School sophomore
- Amelia Myers, Pensacola HS IB sophomore
- Trinity Kyles, Pensacola High School sophomore
- Claire Jimenez, Pensacola Catholic High School junior
Sponsored by the Escambia County Board of Commissioners, the Escambia County Youth Commission is a leadership and service-oriented program that empowers young people to become knowledgeable and involved in the local governmental process.
Pictured above: Escambia County Youth Commissioners (L-R) Trinity Kyles, Amelia Myers, Mallory Bell and Maggie Brown with Escambia Commissioners Robert Bender, Steven Barry, Jeff Bergosh and Lumon May. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
