Atmore Man Murdered In ‘Ambush’ Shooting
September 24, 2019
An Atmore man was shot and killed in an apparent ambush early Tuesday morning, not far from Escambia County Middle School.
The shooting occurred about 2:30 a.m. on Jimbos Road, about a block from Escambia County Middle School on Highway 21.
“When officers arrived on scene, they found a male subject identified as Roderick Watkins, Jr. laying beside his car. Officers also noticed several bullet shell casings laying next to the car,” Atmore Police Chief Chuck Brooks told NorthEscambia.com. “Preliminary investigation revealed Mr. Watkins was ambushed.”
He said Watkins was returning home from work when he was shot.
The car was located in the driveway of a home at the end of the road. The back passenger window of the Nissan Altima was shattered with visible bullet holes.
“We believe at this time it was a lone gunman. At this time, we do have a person of interest, and we are actively searching for that individual,” Brook said. He declined to name the person of interest as the investigation continues.
Brook said while the gunman remained on the loose, he did not believe there was any threat to the nearby middle school. He said a K-9 team from the Alabama Department of Corrections searched the area, and it was determined that the suspect may have left the area in a vehicle.
“We believe all the children that are attending Escambia County Middle School are safe,” he said.
No possible motive for the shooting has been released.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Approves $493 Million Budget, Property Tax Increase
September 24, 2019
The Escambia County Commission Monday evening approve a tax increase and an increased budget for the upcoming fiscal year.
The millage rates approved by the board are 6.6165 for the countywide millage rate, .3590 for the Library Municipal Services Taxing Unit (MSTU) and .6850 for the Sheriff’s Law Enforcement Municipal Services Taxing Unit (MSTU). The aggregate of these millage rates is 4.32% above the rolled back rate.
The rolled-back rate is the tax rate that would generate the same amount of property tax revenue as approved for the prior year. A millage rate higher than the rolled-back rate is defined by the state of Florida as a tax increase.
The commission also approved a balanced unified budget of $493,429,327 for fiscal year 2019/2020. That is 3.41%, or about $1.6 million, more than the current fiscal year.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Century Approves Tax Increase, Increased Budget
September 24, 2019
The Town of Century is raising taxes for the upcoming fiscal year in order to meet an increased budget.
Monday, the town council approved $3.63 million budget for the fiscal year 2019-2020, up slightly from $3.43 million during the current fiscal year. The council also approved a millage rate of .9204, which is about 10% greater than the rolled-back rate of .8361.
The rolled-back rate is the tax rate that would generate the same amount of property tax revenue as approved for the prior year. A millage rate higher than the rolled-back rate is defined by the state of Florida as a tax increase.
The budget and property tax increases were approved on a 3-0 vote. Council members Ann Brooks, Luis Gomez and Sandra McMurray-Jackson voted in favor, while James Smith and Ben Boutwell did not attend Monday’s meetings.
Pictured: Century council members Ann Brooks (left) and Sandra McMurray-Jackson await the arrival of councilman Luis Gomez for a quorum in order to conduct a budget hearing Monday. Gomez was running only about threes minutes late, but the council was unable to proceed with three of five members at the table. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Northview Sets Homecoming Parade; Enter By Friday
September 24, 2019
The annual Northview High School Homecoming Parade has been set for Friday, October 4.
The parade will line up at 12:30 p.m. at Bratt Elementary School. It will depart at 1 p.m. and travel to Northview High. Entries are being accepted now; there is no cost to enter. For a printable entry form, click here. Entries are due by Friday, September 27.
A homecoming meal will available Friday from 10 a.m. until from the football concession stand to support the Tommy Weaver Scholarship Fund. The $7 meal will include a barbecue sandwich, chips, cookie and a drink.. Preorder by calling the school at (850) 461-6000 ext. 302137 or email aeubanks@escambia.k12.fl.us
The Northview Chief’s homecoming game will kickoff at 7 p.m. on October 4 against Walton.
Pictured: Last year’s Northview High School Homecoming Parade. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Spending About $47K In Fixes To Keep Sewer Plant Running
September 24, 2019
The Century Town Council Monday night approved tens of thousands of dollars of expenditures to keep the town’s sewage treatment plant up and running.
The town approved up to $36,000 for emergency repairs to a clarifier — a device that removes solids from sewage passing through the plant. Interim City Manager Buz Eddy said the clarifier was last rebuilt some 19 or 20 years ago. He described it as a geared device that has simply worn out and dropped the plant’s capacity by one-third.
There are three clarifiers at the wastewater plant, with the other two last rebuilt in in 2007 and 2017. The town will fund the repair using capital outlay money in the upcoming fiscal year that begins October 1.
Monday night, the town also approved the removal of biosolids and sludge and evaluation of filters as first reported by NorthEscambia.com Monday morning. Those items are reprinted below.
Sewage Sludge/Biosolids Removal
According to town documents, the level of biosolids and sewage sludge are too high, and the town’s current disposal method using drying bed is inadequate to remedy the problem.
The Century treatment facility has three drying beds, but one is out of service and in need of significant repairs estimated at $25,000. Somewhere around 2006, the town purchased a belt press – which essentially squeezes the liquid out of the sludge — but it has been out of service for several years and repair parts are no longer available.
The town has a tanker truck that could be used to haul the sludge away, but it is not in operating order. It’s a 1987 Peterbilt that pulls a 1970’s era tanker trailer that holds about 5,000 gallons. It is estimated it would cost $7,000 for truck repairs and an inspection on the structural integrity of the tank.
The town contacted three companies for quotes to remove the sludge:
- Johnson Septic declined to quote.
- Boyett’s in Pensacola quoted $1,500 per 4,000 gallon tanker load, including a $405 ECUA disposal fee, which equates to 37.5 cents per gallon.
- Green South Solutions in Florala, AL, quoted a turnkey solution at $950 per $6,500 gallon tanker load, or 14.6 center per gallon. The price includes all equipment, personal, disposal permits and insurance to remove the excess biosolids.
The town council awarded the contract to Green South Solutions to remove 10 loads of biosolids/sludge for $9,500 total.
Wastewater Filters
The town council awarded a $1,800 contract to Aqua-Aerobic Solutions to evaluate the effluent filters at the wastewater treatment plant. The filters, according to town documents, have been out of service for several years due to the controls being submerged.
The filters, manufactured by Aqua-Aerobic Solutions, were installed in 2002 and 2007.
Jim Allen Elementary Names Students Of The Month
September 24, 2019
Jim Allen Elementary School has named students of the month for August. They are Addyson Smallwood and Jamarion Purifoy. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
No Serious Injuries In Escambia School Bus Crash
September 24, 2019
There were no serious injuries when a woman rear-ended a school bus in Beulah Monday afternoon.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 33-year old Jennifer McCool was traveling east on Mobile Highway near Beulah School Board when she failed to slow and rear-end the Escambia County School District bus, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Of 34 children on the bus, on 11-year old complained about minor arm pain, according to troopers, but was not transported to the hospital.
McCool was ticketed for careless driving.
Winner Selected To Flip The Lights On The New Pensacola Beach Sign
September 23, 2019
Escambia County has selected the winner of their online contest to flip on the lights at the new Pensacola Beach sailfish sign during a ceremony Tuesday.
The winner, randomly selected from 1,548 contest entries, is Robin Bjorklund.
The new sign was designed to look exactly like the old sign, and it features energy efficient LED lights. While in Santa Rosa County, the sign is owned by Escambia County.
Man Critically Injured When He Falls Off His Motorcycle On Munson Highway
September 23, 2019
A Santa Rosa County man was critically injured when he fell off his motorcycle Sunday night on Munson Highway.
At about 6:37 p.m., 42-year old Robert Henry Seemer was northbound on Munson Highway when he lost control off his 2006 Harley Davidson and fell off, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. He was transported to Baptist Hospital in Pensacola.
Troopers said Seemer was not wearing a helmet.
File photo.
Surveillance Photos Released From Airport Boulevard Armed Robbery
September 23, 2019
Pensacola Police have released surveillance photos from an armed robbery last Tuesday at 8:21 p.m. at Jersey Mike’s on Airport Boulevard. Anyone with information on the robbery or suspects is asked to call Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
