Woman Settles Personal Injury Lawsuit Against Escambia County, Cantonment Football
January 7, 2020
Escambia County and the Cantonment Football Club have settled a lawsuit over an injury at a Cantonment Cowboys football game for $65,000.
The county will pay $45,000 and the football club’s insurance company will pay $20,000.
Following an October 2017 Cantonment Cowboys game, Tonia Moye, a then 47-year old woman, fell from the third row bleacher bench onto a concrete pad, completely shattering her left ankle and breaking her right foot. Moye and two relatives contended the bench board sounded unusual and loose.
About two weeks prior to the incident, Moye underwent brain surgery to remove a tumor that left her completely blind in her right eye and affected her depth perception, according to county documents. After the fall from the bleachers, Moye made statements to EMS personnel and treating physicians that her poor depth perception contributed to her fall.
Moye was represented by a blood relative, Tallahassee personal injury attorney Dana Brooks. Brooks retained a forensic engineer who contended the fall was due to negligence because the bench boards and bolts were not inspected annually as required by Florida Building Code. A video taken shortly after the accident showed the first bleacher board was not connected to the frame and was easily lifted up. In addition, Escambia Parks and Recreation replaced a loose bolt in the area of the third bench board after the accident, according to county documents.
Moye underwent surgery and subsequent treatment including the insertion of rods and screws to stabilize bones at a cost of $115,000. She continues to have pain and significant lack of mobility in her left ankle which has limited her ability to participate in activities that she had enjoyed before the accident such as hiking, walking on the beach, cycling and dancing, county documents state.
“Due to the significant nature of the injuries to Ms. Moye and the possibility that the judge may allow testimony and video evidence concerning the general condition of the bleachers as a·n indication that there was negligent maintenance of the bleachers, this office recommends settlement for the County’s portion of liability in the sum of $45,000,” Escambia Deputy Attorney Charles Peppler wrote in a report to the Escambia County Commission, which signed off on the settlement.
Pictured: Fans in the bleachers watch Cantonment Cowboy football in September 2018. Escambia County and the Cantonment Football Club were sued for a 2017 fall from the bleachers. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Job Service Moves Into New Location Inside Century Town Hall
January 7, 2020
CareerSource Escarosa hopes to be up and running by Wednesday in their new location inside the Century town hall.
The nonprofit agency that provides employment and training resources for area job seekers and employers is leasing about 200 square feet of a storage room just off the lobby of the town hall for zero rent. They will reimburse the town $150 per month for utility costs.
CareerSource CEO Sheryl Rehberg said phone and internet service are scheduled to be installed Wednesday, allowing the office to open. A video conferencing system that allows face to face interaction with the Social Security Administration was operated by CareerSource at their previous standalone location in a mobile home on North Century Boulevard won’t be available immediately at the town hall location.
The agency vacated the mobile home at the end of their lease term because it was “falling apart”, according to Rehberg.
The contract between the town and CareerSource can be terminated by either party upon 30 days notice.
Pictured: CareerSource Escarosa was in the process of moving into space at the Century Town Hall on Monday. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Brooks, Gomez Selected To Lead Century Town Council
January 7, 2020
Ann Brooks was re-elected as Century Town Council president Monday night, and Luis Gomez, Jr. was elected as council vice president.
Both were elected on a 4-0 council vote; Gomez arrived late and missed the vote.
The council elects new leadership at the beginning of each calendar year.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Woman Facing Felony Charges For Allegedly Trying To Cash Forged Checks
January 7, 2020
A Cantonment woman is facing two felony charges for allegedly trying to cash bad checks at a local credit union.
Jessie Nicole Fisk, 23, attempted to cash two forged checks at Navy Federal Credit Union where she had an account, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report. An alert Navy Federal teller noticed the writing on the front and the endorsement on the back of the check appeared to be the same handwriting, and Fisk’s Navy Federal account was already flagged for fraudulent activity over $800 in the past. The checks were written on a PenAir Federal Credit Union account, and when called PenAir advised that the checks were no good.
The owner of the PenAir account told the ECSO she had never given any checks to Fisk and did not believe her PenAir account was even still open.
The two checks Fisk attempted to pass totaled $700. She was charged with two felony counts of uttering a forged instrument and was released from Escambia County Jail on a $7,000 bond.
Here’s Your Sign: Police Recover Guns, A Sword, Narcotics And Stolen Street Sign During Search Warrant
January 7, 2020
A search warrant executed in Atmore turned up narcotics, guns and a stolen street sign.
The Atmore Police Department, Alabama Drug Task Force, and U.S. Marshal’s Service executed a search warrant at a residence in the 5000 block of Highway 31 near West Road during the early morning hours last Friday.
“The search warrant was obtain after agents completed an investigation of illegal narcotic activity at the residence,” Atmore Police Chief Chuck Brooks said. Agents found an undisclosed amount of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia including scales and pipes, multiple firearms, ammunition, a sword and a road sign stolen from Peacock Lane.
“No arrest were made at the completion of the search, but warrants have been signed for the person responsible,” Brooks said.
Peacock Lane is located near Little Rock, about 14 miles northeast of search warrant location.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Enter The Escambia Extension Arbor Day Art Contest
January 7, 2020
The annual Escambia County Extension Service Arbor Day Art Contest is underway.
Make your own drawing, collage, painting or photo based on the theme “Spreading Roots and Branching Out” and send in by postal mail or drop it off at the Extension OFfice.
The contest age groups are children 12 and under, teens ages 13-18, and adults 18 and older. One winner will be selected from each age group, and winners will receive either a 7-gallon tree, a shovel, gloves or a book about trees. For complete details, click here (pdf).
Mail entries to: Escambia County Extension, 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment, FL 32533. Entries can also be dropped off at the Extension office. Include your name, age and phone number or email address on the back of your art. Entries must be postmarked by Monday, January 13, 2020.
Entries will be displayed at the Escambia County Extension office and Beulah Middle School.
Winners will be awarded Saturday, January 18 during the mail art display and tree giveaway event from 8:30 a.m. until noon at Beulah Middle School.
For more information, contact Carrie Stevenson at (850) 475-5230 or ctsteven@ufl.edu.
Escambia Students Back In Class On Tuesday
January 7, 2020
The long Christmas and New Year’s break is over for students in Escambia County as they are back in class on Tuesday. Teachers in Escambia County started back with a work day on Monday.
Officials are also reminding drivers that those big yellow school buses are back on the road.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Starbucks Coming To Atmore
January 6, 2020
Starbucks is coming to Atmore, with groundbreaking set for this month.
Construction is scheduled to begin in March 2020 with plans for a fall grand opening just off I-65 near the casino. The Atmore location is projected to draw an additional 300 cars and 750 customers daily from I-65 Exit 57.
“I see this as a great opportunity to introduce travelers to Wind Creek, the Poarch Creek Indians and the town of Atmore. Starbucks will provide a well-respected, international brand to residents of Escambia and surrounding counties,” said Wind Creek Atmore Property Manager Tim Ramer.
The 2,000 square foot stand-alone facility will offer convenient drive through, seated dining and full retail store across the street from the Creek Convenience Store on Poarch Road, adjacent to the Spa at Wind Creek. The destination will occupy a prime location for coffee lovers; the nearest Starbucks along the I-65 corridor are north 113 miles in Prattville and south 47 miles at Springhill Avenue in Mobile.
The project is expected to create 20 or more permanent jobs for local residents in addition to temporary construction jobs.
Pictured: A rendering of the Starbucks planned for Atmore. Image for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Eric Gilmore Named Escambia County’s New Emergency Management Manager
January 6, 2020
Eric Gilmore of Bratt has been named the new Escambia County Emergency Management manager.
“I am absolutely ecstatic to have Eric join Escambia County Emergency Management,” Escambia County Administrator Janice Gilley told NorthEscambia.com. “His experience, his knowledge and his family’s reputation and work ethic are all qualities that will make him one of the best managers we have had in this role. I hope everyone will join me in welcoming him to Team Escambia.”
Gilmore has worked for the Florida Department of Health since 2004, serving as a planner, public health preparedness director, and most recently regional emergency response advisor for a 10 county region. He is also the district chief of the McDavid Station of Escambia Fire Rescue.
HE takes over the EMA director position held by John Dosh who is currently serving as interim public safety director.
Gilmore’s first official day on the job as Escambia County Emergency Management manager is Tuesday.
Eric Gilmore’s father, Elton Gilmore, retired in 2017 after seven years as the Emergency Management Operations Officer in the Escambia County Public Safety Department.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Story updated 1/7/2020 to reflect Gilmore’s official title at Emergency Management will be “manager”.
Arrest Made In Alabama Murder Of Century Native
January 6, 2020
An arrest has been made the murder of a Century man who was shot and killed December 30 in rural Alabama about 20 miles south of Auburn.
Deontra Jones, 20, confessed to the murder of 63-year old Randolph Cannon, according to Russell County Sheriff Heath Taylor said.
Jones was with a female in a vehicle parked on Shady Grove Lane, a lonely, rural dirt road in Hurtsboro, Alabama when Cannon was out walking his dog.
“This was a random situation,” Taylor said. Cannon, who owns the property on both sides of the road, walked up the pair in the vehicle. “He was questioning them about being there, about trespassing and that type of situation. Mr. Jones got out and started shooting at him. He ran, and he he chased him down the road. He ultimately shot him multiple times, killing him.”
The female has not been charged, Taylor said, because authorities do not believe she had anything to do with the shooting.
Family members tell NorthEscambia.com that Cannon is a native of Century and lived in Bogia for several years. He attended Century HIgh School.
The investigation is continuing.
Pictured to: Robert Cannon. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.