Atmore Man Was Alabama’s First-Ever ‘Missing and Endangered Person Alert’. He Was Quickly Found Safe.
June 10, 2020
When an 81-year old man with dementia left his home late Sunday afternoon near Atmore, a missing person report was filed with the Atmore Police Department, and local officers began to search.
And a short time later, Alabama issued its first-ever “Missing and Endangered Person Alert”. Within minutes, NorthEscambia.com and other media across Alabama and beyond shared the missing person information for Verbin. L Kemp. About an hour after the alert, Kemp was located on Lowery Landing Road near the Appleton community in northern Escambia County, Alabama.
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed into law an expanded version of Alabama’s Missing Senior Alert, changing the name to the Missing and Endangered Person Alert, effective June 1.
Previously, the Missing Senior Alert was issued for missing citizens with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia and at risk of bodily harm or death. The newly expanded alert also includes individuals ages 18 and older who have a mental or physical disability and who are at risk of bodily harm or death.
“In the past, our Alabama Fusion Center has faced the challenge of how to alert the public when a missing individual is too old to meet the criteria for an AMBER or Emergency Missing Child Alert and too young to meet the criteria for a Missing Senior Alert,” Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Secretary Hal Taylor said. “We appreciate Governor Ivey and the Llegislature’s support in working with us to ensure some of the state’s most vulnerable individuals who are reported missing are found as quickly as possible.”
According to Alzheimer’s of Central Alabama, wandering is a danger for 60 percent of those living with Alzheimer’s. The organization recognizes the need to include anyone ages 18 and older who has a mental or physical disability and who is at risk of bodily harm or death in the state’s new Missing and Endangered Person Alert.
The new Missing and Endangered Person alert is one of four alerts in Alabama. The other alerts are:
- AMBER Alert: for a child ages 17 and younger who has been abducted and is believed to be in danger of serious bodily injury or death
- Emergency Missing Child Alert: for a child ages 17 and younger who is missing (not abducted) and believed to be in danger of serious bodily injury or death
- Blue Alert: for a peace officer who is missing, injured or killed and the at-large suspect is believed to be a serious threat to the public
Pictured: Verbin Kemp. Photo below is from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency; the photo above was provide to NorthEscambia.com by family.
42-Year Old Cold Case Murder Solved; Real Estate Agent’s Body Was Found At Cantonment Home
June 9, 2020
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has solved the 42-year old cold case murder of a real estate agent found dead at an empty home in Cantonment.
On April 7, 1978, the body of 47-year-old Carolyn Cox Rose was discovered in a house in the Pine Forest Hills subdivision off Highway 297A. Rose, who was vice president of Better Homes Realty, received a call to show the empty home. When she did not return, coworkers went to the home to check on her and discovered her body.
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office investigators launched a full investigation, several suspects were interviewed and investigated thoroughly. DNA evidence was collected on scene, but lack of technology made it impossible to use for an arrest.
As DNA technology advanced, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office investigator Kevin Coxwell partnered with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Parabon NanoLab. Their research revealed Julius William Hill Jr. as Rose’s killer.
In 2007, Hill died in the Victorville United States Penitentiary in California, while serving a 30-year sentence for two different bank robberies.
“We are extending our heartfelt sympathy to the family and descendants of Mrs. Rose. While nothing fills the void of a lost loved one we can at least finally bring closure in knowing justice was served,” Escambia County Sheriff’s David Morgan said.
Semi Truck Hauling Frozen Chicken Overturns On I-10 Bridge
June 9, 2020
A semi-truck hauling frozen chicken overturned on an I-10 bridge Tuesday morning.
The crash happened on the bridge over the Perdido River at the Florida/Alabama state line, just inside Alabama. There were no injuries reported.
Emergency crews from both states responded. Alabama State Troopers are investigating the crash that closed eastbound I-10.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Boutwell Resigns From Town Council To Run For Century Mayor: Incumbent Hawkins Prefiles
June 9, 2020
Ben Boutwell resigned from the Century Town Council Monday and qualified to run for mayor. Henry Hawkins, the incumbent mayor, prefiled Monday to seek reelection.
Under Century’s charter, the existing council is responsible for filling the immediate vacancy on the council until a successor is elected. Candidate qualifying is currently underway for state and local offices, including the Town of Century. Anyone wishing to run for the vacant Seat 3 must qualify no later than noon on Friday, June 12. The office of mayor and council seats 1 and 2 are also on the ballot.
Candidates may qualify at the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections office in Pensacola during regular business hours, until qualifying closes at noon on Friday. In addition, a member of the supervisor of elections staff will be at Century Town Hall on Wednesday, June 10 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. to receive and process paperwork for candidates wishing to qualify for office.
Pictured: Ben Boutwell (above) and Henry Hawkins. NorthEscambia.com photos. Pictured inset: Boutwell’s resignation letter. Click to enlarge.
International Paper Accepting Applications For $65K In Community Grants (With List Of Last Year’s Winners)
June 9, 2020
International Paper Pensacola Mill will award $65,000 in grants in 2020.
Applications will be accepted at www.ipgiving.com through Monday, July 6. In 2019, the foundation awarded $65,000 in grants to area non-profit organizations (list is below).
The International Paper Foundation makes sustainable investments to address critical needs in the communities where its employees live and work.
Signature Causes include:
- Education – Programs focused on helping children succeed via a comprehensive approach to education. Priority is given to literacy programs from birth through 3rd grade.
- Hunger – Programs dedicated to improving food security throughout our communities.
- Health & Wellness – Programs that promote healthy living habits.
- Disaster Relief – Programs that help communities prepare for and recover from natural disasters.
Funding also is available to address environmental initiatives (forests, water and air), employee involvement grants and other critical community needs.
Eligibility
Applicants must be a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization or qualifying federal entity to apply for a grant. To be considered, organizations must have a program that addresses critical community needs and have measureable objectives to demonstrate impact. Details on grant eligibility, guidelines and restrictions are available at www.ipgiving.com.
Application Process & Procedures
An eligible non-profit organization with a program in an area that the foundation supports must apply online by visiting http://www.ipgiving.com. Applications are routed to the local IP facility and must be completed in its entirety to be considered. If you have questions about the grant guidelines or process, contact Whitney Fike at (850) 968-3076 or via email at whitney.fike@ipaper.com.
Local International Paper Foundation grant award winners in 2019 were:
- Autism Pensacola – Kids For Camp Summer Learning Lab
- Bright Bridge Ministries – Cold Storage, Warm Hearts
- Capstone Adaptive Learning – Tell Me Early Learning Literacy Program
- Council On Aging Of West Florida – Ways To Go Green Project
- Creative Learning Academy – Strengthening Literacy by Empowering Young Readers
- Ernest Ward Middle School – Pollinators Promote Sustainability and Hydroponics
- Escambia County 4-H Foundation – Escambia County 4-H Team Challenge Course
- Escambia County Public Schools Foundation – Grants for Excellence
- Every Child A Reader – Books for the Break
- Feeding The Gulf Coast – Weekend Backpacks for Children at Carver Park
- Gulf Coast Kid’s House – Getting Families Back Together
- Institute For Human And Machine Cognition (IHMC) – Hands-On Science Saturday
- Jim Allen Elementary School – Leveled Readers Lead The Way to Literacy
- Kingsfield Elementary – Flocabulary for Fundamental Fabulous Readers
- Manna Food Bank – Healthy Kids Initiative
- Molino Park Elementary School – Classroom Literacy Leap
- Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center – Light Boxes and Educational Displays
- Pace Band Boosters – Pace Band Polish and Shine
- Pensacola Children’s Chorus – Inaugural Preparatory Choir
- Pensacola Little Theatre – Teaching an Old Dog New (Dramatic) Tricks
- Pensacola Mess Hall – Questioning Corner
- Pensacola State College Foundation – PSC Milton Campus Food Pantry
- Chain Reaction – Teens Impacting Literacy and Learning
- Quintette Community Park Association – Senior Citizen and Youth Programs
- Ronald McDonald House Charities Of Northwest Florida – Home for Dinner Program
- Studer Community Institute – Brain Bags
- The Arc Gateway – Tools For Developmental Screening: Helping All Children Be Ready for Kindergarten
- United Way of West Florida – Born Learning Trail
- University of West Florida Foundation – Argo Pantry, Community Garden, National Writing Project and B.E.S.T. Robotics Competition
Pictured: 2019 IP grant recipients Ernest Ward Middle School (top), Molino Park Elementary School (below), Feeding the Gulf Coast (second below), Escambia County 4-H Foundation (third below) and the Ronald McDonald House (bottom). Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Flomaton Votes To Cancel Fireworks Show With Century; Century Council Can’t Vote Without Quorum
June 9, 2020
It now looks certain that the annual Century-Flomaton fireworks show won’t happen this year for the Fourth of July.
The show is funded by both communities, and it alternates locations each year from Showalter and Anthony Pleasant parks in Century to Hurricane Park in Flomaton. This year’s show was set to be in Century.
Century Council President Ann Brooks called a special council meeting for Monday morning to discuss the future of the show, but only one other council member – Ben Boutwell – joined the teleconference meeting. Council members Louis Gomez, Sandra McMurray-Jackson and James Smith were virtual no-shows for the meeting\. Without a quorum of the members on the call, the meeting could not progress.
Century Mayor Henry Hawkins said Monday afternoon said he would be waiting to see what Flomaton wanted to do, possibly still contributing Century’s portion of the cost to Flomaton.
But Monday evening, the Flomaton Town Council voted not to take part in a fireworks show this year.
Barring any drastic last minute action by the Century Town Council at their next meeting on June 15, the fireworks show will not happen this year.
This year’s Sertoma 4 of July Fireworks Celebration in Pensacola has also been canceled due to the coronavirus, permitting issues, and a lack of funding.
Northview High Creates Senior Honors Video For The Class Of 2020
June 9, 2020
Northview High School created a video to honor the 70 members of the Class of 2020 that would have been recognized during the annual Senior Honors Night.
Gulf Power Donates $300K For Small Business COVID-19 Recovery Grants; Application Deadline Is Friday
June 9, 2020
A second round of grants from the Florida SBDC at UWF will be available for eligible businesses impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, thanks to an additional $300,000 contribution from Gulf Power through its economic development fund. The Northwest Florida Small Business COVID-19 Recovery Grant Program assists for-profit businesses in Northwest Florida with their immediate cash flow needs as a result of a demonstrated economic impact due to COVID-19.
“Once again we are grateful for Gulf Power’s support to continue this grant program that will benefit small businesses,” said Kelly Massey, Regional Director of the Florida SBDC at UWF. “We know that many businesses across Northwest Florida continue to suffer, and a grant program like this can help a local small business make it through these challenging times.”
Gulf Power initially contributed $250,000 earlier this spring, which provided 50 local businesses with grants of up to $5,000. The application period for the second round of grants opens next week.
“We are honored to be able to provide additional assistance to our local businesses as we continue to navigate this pandemic together,” said Gulf Power President Marlene Santos. “Gulf Power is dedicated to continuing to find innovative ways to support our customers and our communities during these unprecedented times.”
The application period for the second round of grants will be open until 5 p.m. Friday, June 12. Only grant applications submitted during this timeframe will be eligible for review. Grant awards will be up to $5,000, and some of the eligibility requirements include:
- Must be a for-profit, privately held small businesses established on or before January. 1, 2019.
- Must maintain a place of business, including a physical location (commercial building), within eligible Northwest Florida counties (Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes, Jackson, Washington, Calhoun and Bay).
- Must have 11 to 29 employees.
- Must have a demonstrated reduction in sales revenues of 25% or more due to the loss of business income related to COVID-19.
- Can’t have been awarded another recent local grant facilitated by the Florida SBDC at UWF (Such as the Escambia County Small Business COVID-19 Recovery Grant)
The Florida SBDC at UWF will receive these applications, and send eligible applications to a third-party review board created to approve the award of grant funding to each applicant on a case-by-case basis. UWF will distribute the appropriate funds to businesses who have been awarded grant funds.
The full list of eligibility requirements, steps to apply, and grant application can be found by scrolling down to the grant information link found at https://sbdc.uwf.edu/
Tree Causes Sewage Spill In Cantonment
June 9, 2020
The Emerald Coast Utilities authority cleaned up most of a sewage spill in a Cantonment cause by a tree and worked to prevent a larger overflow.
An overflow of an estimated 800 gallons occurred in the 1200 block of Lake Drive on June 7 due to tree root damage to a four-inch sewer force main, with 500 gallons recovered by vacuum trucks and transported to an ECUA Water Reclamation Facility for proper treatment and disposal. ECUA crews diverted an additional 3,000 gallons from the site to tanker trucks, preventing a larger overflow. Bacteriological sampling has been initiated.
ECUA crews repaired the force main and cleaned the overflow area with a biocide agent to eliminate any contamination concerns.
Gulf Power Completes Service Restoration To 25,000 After Tropical Storm Cristobal
June 8, 2020
Gulf Power has now restored service to all 25,000 customers across their service territory that were impacted by Tropical Storm Cristobal. Gulf Power’s parent company, Florida Power & Light , and contract crews assisted with the power restoration across the utility’s seven county service area in Northwest Florida. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.