Video: Dusty Sanderson – Chuggin’ Along
February 27, 2013
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Shirley H. Perry
January 25, 2013
Shirley H. Perry, age 76, of Cantonment, went to be with her Lord Tuesday, January 22, 2013. She was born January 30, 1936, in Robertsdale to the late Charles T. and Myrtle L. Hedden, Sr.
Shirley retired from Southern Bell after over 30 years of service. She was very independent, she worked hard and was a caring, loving mother and grandmother.
Survivors include her daughter, Shelia Langford; two sons, Michael (Diana) Perry, all of Cantonment; and Dennis Perry of Gulf Breeze; two grandsons, Ronnie Langford and Dylan Ross; and five brothers.
Funeral services will be Monday, January 28, 2013, at 11 a.m. at Eastern Gate Memorial Funeral Home with Pastor Pam Avery officiating. Interment will follow in Eastern Gate Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 10 a.m. until the service hour.
Eastern Gate Memorial Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Escambia Man Gets Life In $5 Million Cocaine Conspiracy
January 10, 2013
An Escambia County man has been sentenced to life in prison on federal drug charges.
Clinton Williams, Jr. was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge Lacey A. Collier to life in prison for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. Williams was also sentenced to a concurrent 360-month term for possessing with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.
The testimony at trial established that Williams was a leader in a multi-state cocaine distribution operation extending from Texas to Florida. The group was responsible for distributing approximately 150 kilograms of cocaine beginning around August 1, 2011, with a wholesale value exceeding $5 million dollars.
Throughout the prosecution, Williams continually told the court he was a “sovereign citizen” and had no “ownership interest” in the name Clinton Williams. He said he believed the charges against him were “only civil disputes” that he wished “to settle” with the “claimant.” He challenged the authority of Senior District Judge Collier to preside over the case.
The conspiracy was investigated by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, assisted by the Pensacola Police Department and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. This on-going investigation has resulted in the federal convictions of several other individuals.
The investigation has also resulted in the seizure of multiple kilograms of cocaine, over $100,000 in illegal drug proceeds, vehicles, and other assets connected with this conspiracy.
In Depth: Clerk-Elect Pam Childers Letter To Employees
January 8, 2013
The following letter was sent from Escambia County Clerk-elect Pam Childers to employees:
January 4, 2013
Dear Fellow Employees:As your incoming Clerk of Court, I would like to take this opportunity to wish each of you a Happy New Year. I trust that you and your families enjoyed the holiday season, and I look forward to getting to know you and working with you beginning Tuesday.
I am sending you this letter so that there will be no confusion or misunderstanding about my intentions for this office going forward. My goal is not to “clean house,” nor is it to make life difficult for you. My job, as the elected Clerk of Court and Comptroller, is to serve the taxpayers in a fiscally responsible and efficient manner.
I want to inform each of you about the efforts that my transition team has made since the primary election to ensure a smooth transition for you, for the taxpayers, and for the agencies we serve. I started the transition process by requesting an internal transition team; however, I was met with a response many weeks later that I could meet the leadership team consisting of five people in early November. Since that first request on August 23, 2012, I have made repeated requests for information, names and addresses of staff to initiate correspondence, meet with each of you individually, and other basic transitional access. My attempts for information were frequently delayed or not taken with priority. Communication with the outgoing Clerk was one way; never did he reach out to have a conversation to assist with the transition or provide an environment open to interaction.
In addition to these disappointing transition steps, since my election there have been several aberrant financial decisions. In summary, over $1,000,000 of additional personnel expenditures have been expended or committed during the transition period, as well as nonmonetary actions that adversely affect the ease of transition. These include:
- September 19, 2012 – Revision of the leave buyback policy from a fiscally conservative, limited policy to an unlimited plan that cost several hundred thousand dollars.
- September 2012 – Bonuses totaling $225,913 (lump sum 3% of salary), FY2012
- October 2012 – Pay raises of 4% totaling $290,000 annually (3% for management), FY2013
- November 2012 – Buyback of leave totaling $290,230, including individual requests of over 400 hours, FY2013
- Approximately 17 new hires (both full time and student positions)
- Promotions to the highest paid positions (Administrators and Directors)
- Employees physically relocated to other parts of the building.
- Long-term front office employees moved to outlying offices or transferred to other departments.
All of these transactions occurred within three months of the August 14, 2012 election, with two of the largest financial outlays taking place within weeks of that election.
Most troubling about these expenditures is the fact that none of them appear to have been part of a clear budget process. In researching the budget submissions to both Escambia County and the Florida Clerk of Court Operations Corporation (CCOC), it appears that neither the FY2012 nor the FY2013 budgets included or projected employee bonuses or raises. Moreover, the Escambia County Commission specifically asked Constitutional Officers, who are funded by county revenues, to refrain from giving raises; likewise bonuses were never expected to occur. As a result, it appears that none of these expenditures was approved by the funding agency.
Budgets for most, if not all, Florida governmental agencies have been tight for over five years. Most government employees at the state and local levels have not had raises during this period of time. In fact, only four years ago the Clerk’s office had to layoff twenty (20) upper level and key staff employees because of a fiscal crisis, making these recent expenditures even more puzzling.
It is for these reasons – a lack of transparency and full disclosure on the part of the outgoing administration, unbudgeted financial expenditures, and questionable employee policies- that as of January 8, 2013, the pay raises for Clerk’s employees given on October 8, 2012 will be suspended pending further budget review and audit. This decision is based on an effort to protect Clerk’s employees from layoffs due to these unexpected, unexplained, and imprudent financial decisions by the outgoing administration. Without adequate information and justification from my predecessor and his administration, these unbudgeted expenditures cannot continue without potentially incurring employee layoffs.
For twenty years I have worked at the City of Pensacola finance department. I have been in your shoes, I have faced the challenges you face. I know that this decision will cause difficulties for some of you, and that many family decisions are made based on financial expectations. I firmly believe that each of you is deserving of these raises, but for the sake of all of us and out of respect for the taxpayers whom we serve, we must be wise and prudent.
Hopefully this letter has given you some perspective on my decisions and my efforts to reach out to you prior to now. I would have preferred to meet with all of you personally, but unfortunately that was not permitted by the outgoing Clerk during this transition. I look forward to talking with you at an introductory meeting I have scheduled for Friday, January 11, 2013 at 7:15am to talk about my plans for the future.
Sincerely,
Pam Childers
Clerk-Elect
Video: Northview Dance Team Performs
December 15, 2012
Video: The Northview Dance Team performs at the NHS Christmas Variety Show Friday night.
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Video: NHS Band, Glee Club ‘Little Drummer Boy’
December 15, 2012
Video: The Northview band and glee club perform “Little Drummer Boy” at the NHS Christmas Variety Show.
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Video: Northview Cheerleaders At Tate Competition
December 2, 2012
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31 Fire Safety Tips: Keep The Wreath Green
December 1, 2012
As part of the “Keep the Wreath Green” fire safety campaign, Escambia Fire Rescue and the City of Pensacola public safety officials have joined forces to promote fire safety during December with a month’s worth of holiday safety tips:
- Dec. 1 - Prior to buying a live tree, test its freshness by pulling along a small branch. If the needles fall away in your hand, the tree is already too dry.
- Dec. 2 - Prior to buying an artificial tree, make sure the tree bears a UL label of approval and be certain the tree is made of fire retardant materials.
- Dec. 3 - To keep a live tree fresh cut 1-2 inches from the bottom to expose fresh wood and place it in water. Make sure your tree stand can hold water. Check the water level every day, and add water as needed. Do not place trees near sources of heat like radiators, space heaters or heating ducts.
- Dec. 4 - Use candles with care. Keep candles out of the reach of children and pets. Burn candles inside a 1-foot circle of safety, free of anything that can ignite. Use sturdy candleholders that will not tip over. Never leave a burning candle unattended.
- Dec. 5 - Make sure all holiday lights are UL labeled and inspect them prior to use. If possible, use LED lights since they burn cooler. Check each set of lights for broken or crushed sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections. Discard all damaged lights.
- Dec. 6 - When hanging holiday lights, either on your tree or outside, make sure you follow the manufactures guidelines on how many strands can be connected together. Usually it is not more than 3. Make sure you do not overload electrical outlets or circuits. Do not run power cords underneath rugs or carpets.
- Dec. 7 - When decorating, remember not to block stairways, doors, or windows. Remember to always unplug lights and extinguish candles before leaving the house or going to bed.
- Dec. 8 - Have a plan in case you have a fire:
- Step 1 – Design a plan for your home and your family. Make sure every one understands exactly what to do and where to go in an emergency. Also, make sure you have enough smoke alarms.
- Dec. 9 - Have a plan in case you have a fire:
- Step 2 – Know two ways out of every room and practice them to make sure you can do it.
- Dec. 10 - Have a plan in case you have a fire:
- Step 3 – Make sure you crawl low under smoke and feel closed doors for heat. If you come to a door that is warm, find another way out.
- Dec. 11 - Have a plan in case you have a fire:
- Step 4 – If you become trapped, close doors and stuff the door cracks to keep smoke out. Try to call 911 and let them know exactly where you are and signal for help from a window.
- Dec. 12 - Have a plan in case you have a fire:
- Step 5 – Pay special attention to young children, elderly people and the disabled. Be sure to include them in your plan.
- Dec. 13 - Have a plan in case you have a fire:
- Step 6 – Get out as fast as you can and stay out. Never go back inside. Once you’re safely outside have someone go to a neighbor’s house and call 911.
- Dec. 14 - Remember, matches and lighters are tools for adults. Store them in a safe place above the reach of children. Also teach youngsters to never touch them, instead tell a grownup.
- Dec. 15 - Have a fire extinguisher readily available in your home and make sure it is fully charged. Know how to use your fire extinguisher.
- Remember the PASS system:
- Pull the pin,
- Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire,
- Squeeze the trigger lever, and
- Sweep the stream side-to-side at the base of the fire.
- Remember the PASS system:
- Dec. 16 - Have your chimney and fireplace inspected by a professional to make sure it’s clean and free of obstructions. Never burn paper or trash in the fireplace.
- Dec. 17 - Be sure your fireplace is covered with a metal screen or glass doors to prevent the spread of sparks and fire.
- Dec. 18 - Make sure to have a working smoke alarm outside of every bedroom and on every level of your house. Make sure to test monthly and change batteries every time you change your clocks.
- Dec. 19 - With children out of school, people doing yard work, dry vegetation, high-winds and low-humidity, remember that wildfires can happen quickly.
- Dec. 20 - If you are enjoying the great outdoors during the holidays, don’t leave campfires or warming fires unattended – make sure they are completely out!
- Dec. 21 - Never leave cooking food unattended. Handles on stovetop pots should be turned away from the front, so they won’t be accidentally tipped or knocked over.
- Dec. 22 - Before you cook that holiday dinner be sure that the oven and stovetop are clean, free of grease, and are in good working order.
- Dec. 23 - Keep cooking areas clean and free of grease and other combustibles (e.g. potholders, towels, rags, drapes, and food packaging), which can catch fire easily.
- Dec. 24 - Do not burn wrapping paper in the fireplace because of the high flammability, dangerous sparks and possibility of flash fires.
- Dec. 25 - Remember to be safety conscious and have a happy holiday.
- Dec. 26 - When purchasing a space heater look for heaters that have safety features such as cut-off switches that turn the heater off if they accidentally tip over or overheat.
- Dec. 27 - Space heaters need space. Make sure they are at least 3 feet away from combustible materials such as draperies, furniture, bedding, clothing and decorations. Also teach youngsters to keep away from them.
- Dec. 28 - Use only UL labeled space heaters and follow the manufactured instructions. Never use stoves, ovens or other cooking appliances to warm your home.
- Dec. 29 - Turn space heaters off when you leave the room. Also, remember to constantly supervise children and pets when space heaters are in use.
- Dec. 30 - Don’t cut up and burn your tree in the fireplace. Burning evergreens give off tar and creosol, which can ignite and cause a chimney fire. Dispose of your tree by following the instructions of your local trash disposal service.
- Dec. 31 - Don’t drink and drive, have a designated driver or call a friend.
Richard Billy Williams
November 5, 2012
Richard Billy Williams, born January 17, 1936, in New Orleans, to the late Willie and Lucille (Campbell) Williams, died on November 3, 2012, after a long battle with Pulmonary Fibrosis. He was a long time resident of the Dixonville Community. Richard retired from Chemstrand. He was a member of the Berrydale Baptist Church, the Dixonville Fire Department, the Red Lodge Masonic Lodge #97, The Scottish Rite, the Hadji Shrine Temple and Jay #208 Order of the Eastern Star. Richard was a “die hard” NASCAR fan, he loved to travel and sit around and “shoot” the breeze with family and friends. Richard had a “soft spot” for the needs of others, especially children. His “mailbox” money went to help many good causes.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife of 57 years Sabra; brothers, Julius, Kenneth, Frank and Leslie.
He is survived by his son, Rick; granddaughter, Ashley (Joshua) Stringer; great-granddaughter, Sophia Stringer, and great-grandson, Calleb Stringer of Groten, CN; sister, Maxine of California; sister-in-law, Amanda (Kevin) Thorne of Tennessee, and many caring family members and friends.
A special thank you to Heath Owens, Kevin Borders, Gary Nelson, Aubry Phillips, and Arnold Stowers.
A Masonic and Eastern Star service will be held on November 7, 2012, at 11 a.m. at Jay Funeral Home.
Jay Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Northview, West Florida Only Area Teams State Ranked
September 19, 2012
Two Escambia County football teams are in the state rankings this week.
The Northview Chiefs (2-1) held on to their No. 4 ranking this week in Class 1A behind Union County (3-0), Trenton (3-0), and Holmes County (3-0),.
The West Florida Jaguars (3-0) debuted in the state rankings this week at No. 10 in Class 5A.
Pictured top: The Northview Chiefs, ranked No. 4 in the state in Class 1A, defeated Chipley last Friday night. Pictured below: The West Florida Jaguars, ranked No. 10 in Class 5A, beat 6A Tate High School last Friday night. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
