Local Officials Participate in National Donate Life Month Event
April 5, 2019
Local officials took part in a kick-off event Thursday for National Donate Life Month.
The event and month-long celebration are designed to raise awareness of the lifesaving role that residents of Escambia County can play by registering as an organ, tissue and eye donor. During National Donate Life Month, tax collector employees are participating in the annual Donate Life Challenge, a month-long effort among tax collectors and the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, to promote awareness of Florida’s organ donor registry.
“We are proud that in 2018 Escambia County remained in the top 10 counties statewide in the donor designation rate and that 58 percent of individuals visiting our office to get their driver license or identification card signed up to donate,” Escambia County Tax Collector Scott Lunsford continued. “We hope to increase that percentage this year.”
Tax collector employees help register potential organ donors by asking all driver license customers if they would like to join the registry. Eighty-five percent of Florida’s donor registrations now occur through driver license transactions. Donate Life Florida hit the 10 million donor mark last year and is the nation’s third largest registry. One person can save up to eight lives through organ donation and enhance dozens more through tissue and eye donation.
Pictured: Escambia County Commission Chairman Lumon May, Chief Deputy Chip Simmons and Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson were among those taking part in a National Donate Life Month kick-off event Thursday afternoon. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Forecasters Predict Five Hurricanes This Season
April 5, 2019
Colorado State University hurricane researchers are predicting a slightly below-average Atlantic hurricane season in 2019, citing the relatively high likelihood of a weak El Niño as a primary factor.
The Colorado State researchers are considered among the best seasonal forecasters.
13 named storms
The CSU Tropical Meteorology Project team is predicting 13 named storms during the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to Nov. 30. Of those, researchers expect five to become hurricanes and two to reach major hurricane strength (Saffir/Simpson category 3-4-5) with sustained winds of 111 miles per hour or greater.
The team bases its forecasts on a statistical model, as well as a new model that uses a combination of statistical information and forecasts from a dynamical model. Both of these models are built on about 40 years of historical data and evaluating conditions including: Atlantic sea surface temperatures, sea level pressures, vertical wind shear levels (the change in wind direction and speed with height in the atmosphere), El Niño (warming of waters in the central and eastern tropical Pacific), and other factors.
So far, the 2019 hurricane season is exhibiting characteristics similar to 1969, 1987, 1991, 2002, and 2009. “1987, 1991, 2002 and 2009 had below-average Atlantic hurricane activity, while 1969 was a very active hurricane season,” said Phil Klotzbach, research scientist in the Department of Atmospheric Science and lead author of the report.
The team predicts that 2019 hurricane activity will be about 75 percent of the average season. By comparison, 2018’s hurricane activity was about 120 percent of the average season. The 2018 season was most notable for Hurricanes Florence and Michael which devastated the Carolinas and portions of the Florida Panhandle, respectively.
Tropical Atlantic sea surface temperatures are currently slightly below their long-term average values and are consequently considered an inhibiting factor for 2019 Atlantic hurricane activity as well.
A weak El Niño has recently developed in the tropical Pacific. CSU anticipates that these weak El Niño conditions are likely to persist through the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season. El Niño tends to increase upper-level westerly winds across the Caribbean into the tropical Atlantic, tearing apart hurricanes as they try to form.
The tropical Atlantic is slightly cooler than normal right now. Colder-than-normal sea surface temperatures in the tropical Atlantic provide less fuel for tropical cyclone formation and intensification. They are also associated with a more stable atmosphere as well as drier air, both of which suppress organized thunderstorm activity necessary for hurricane development.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Tate’s McCammon Signs Soccer Scholarship With Thomas University
April 5, 2019
Tate High School’s Abbie McCammon signed a soccer scholarship Thursday with Thomas University in Thomasville, GA. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview, Ransom, Offer Standards Testing Prep; Jim Allen Hosting Testing Parent’s Night
April 5, 2019
Northview High School
To help students prepare for the Algebra I and Geometry Florida Standards Assessments, the Northview High School math department will offer tutoring to any Northview High School student who will take the algebra I or geometry exam this spring. The tutoring will be on Saturday mornings from 10 am until 12 noon. Students must provide their own transportation and bring their chromebook and materials. The first tutoring session will be Saturday, April 6, and will continue through May 4, with assessments to be given on May 7 and 8. Students should enter the school through the bus loop entrance. No student will be admitted to the tutoring session late. If there are no students present by 10:05 the tutoring teacher will leave campus and the session will be canceled. If you have questions contact the school at (850) 761-6000 ext 302001.
Ransom Middle School
Ransom Middle School is hold an Algebra ECO Bootcamp beginning Tuesday, April 9. It will be held every Tuesday afternoon from 4-4:50 p.m. and every Thursday morning from 8:40-9:15 a.m. in room 701 until the EOC is over on May 8th. If a student attends the Tuesday afternoon session they must have a ride home at 4:50 p.m.
Jim Allen Elementary
Jim Allen is hosting “Spring into Testing” Parent Night for third to fifth grade families on Monday, April 8 from 5:30-7 pm. It will be held in the Jim Allen Cafeteria where a Cracker Barrel dinner will be served. After dinner, parents will receive FSA testing tips, door prizes, and dessert. For more information and to RSVP for parent night please contact the school office.
Tate Softball Beats Mantansas
April 5, 2019
The Tate Lady Aggies defeated the Mantansas Pirates 13-2 Thursday night.
Avery Beauchanie pitched the win in six innings, allowing two runs on one hit while striking out three. She als led the Aggies at the plate going 3-4. The Aggies had a couple of hits each from Amber Decoux and Gabby Locke.
ECSO: Video Shows Ransom Middle Student Abusing A Rabbit
April 4, 2019
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a disturbing social media video that shows the alleged abuse of a rabbit by a Ransom Middle School student.
The female in the video is a Ransom Middle School student, but the alleged incident happened off campus at a private residence and was not connected to the school, according Maj. Andrew Hobbs of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Social media posts incorrectly claim the incident happened at the school, and there is no evidence the rabbit died as purported.
Hobbs said the Sheriff’s Office became aware of the video late Wednesday afternoon and launched an investigation that led to the identity of the young female.
**WARNING: Some readers will find the following details disturbing.
In the video, the female is seen wearing an “Aggies” t-shirt, holding a rabbit. She tosses it into the air, letting the rabbit fall to the ground before picking it up and repeating her actions. Other persons off camera can be heard laughing.
“They are like a cat. They land on their,” someone says.
“Throw it high,” someone off camera yells.
The rabbit runs, and the female give chase before tackling it. She then continues to throw the sometimes limp animal about.
Pictured: Screenshots from a video that allegedly shows a Ransom Middle School student abusing a rabbit.
Stolen U-Haul: Brewton Man Arrested, One On The Run After Century Manhunt
April 4, 2019
One suspect custody was taken into custody and another was on the run following a manhunt in Century Thursday morning.
An Escambia County deputy attempted to stop a U-Haul truck that had been reported stolen from Georgia when the driver and passenger stopped and bailed out at a residence in the 100 block of Hilltop Road. A K-9 team from the Century Correctional Institution was quickly able to track one suspect and take him into custody.
Jeffery Alonzo Ivery, age 28 of Brewton, was charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle, fraud failure to redeliver hired vehicle and resisting arrest. He remained in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $11,000.
The second suspect, identified as 42-year old Manadre Jamel Houston, evaded capture, according to Maj. Andrew Hobbs of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Houston was described as a black male with braids wearing white pants and a possibly a striped shirt. He is expected to face local charges including fleeing from police, plus possible additional charges from Georgia.
The cargo of the U-Haul was mostly empty.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
Pictured above: Two suspects ran from a stolen U-Haul on Hilltop Road in Century Thursday morning. Pictured below. K-9 teams and deputies search in the area of North Century Boulevard, Hilltop Road and Alger Road. Deputies also checked nearby businesses, such as the pictured CVS Pharmacy. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Exclusive: Who Traveled To Century On Mayor’s Airline Ticket Purchases And Why
April 4, 2019
EXCLUSIVE: NorthEscambia.com has learned the identities of two people flown to Century last month by Century Mayor Henry Hawkins, and the purpose for their visit.
To date, the town has refused to provide unredacted documents showing the names of the travelers despite repeated public records requests. But NorthEscambia has independently obtained unredacted documents from a source outside the town showing the completed travel and the names of those that traveled.
Travel itineraries from Expedia show the travelers to be Tyson Diavalpham and Mark Endo. With a slightly different spelling, “Tyson Diaz-Lapham” identified himself as a marketing executive with ADC Energy in proposals Hawkins emailed to Escambia County Commissioner Steven Barry. Mark Endo, according to an email forwarded by Hawkins to Barry, is with Emesgy Consulting. Both companies are located in California.
Hawkins also emailed Barry on October 29, inviting him to attend an alternative energy presentation by Endo on October 30 at Century Town Hall.
The companies were involved in proposals to sell Century $200,000 worth of energy saving upgrades at three town properties.
Hawkins Reimburses Town For Tickets
Monday night, Hawkins provided town council members with a copy of a PenAir cashier’s check for $1,751.70 to reimburse the cost of the tickets and hotel rooms, along with a written statement.
“The Town of Century will never move forward as long as we’re stuck on what’s not being doing [sic] with other’s approval. I am repaying the Town for airline tickets and hotel fees for two gentlemen that I brought to the Town to discuss economic development,” Hawkins wrote. “This is not an admission of guilt but a gesture of good faith in moving Century forward. It seems that there are those that do not want our Town to prosper. We grown [sic] when businesses come into the Town and our citizens are given a chance for better paying jobs. When we don’t strive for economic development then we all lose.”
In December, the town council approved payment of $1,751.70 to Expedia and three airlines on a bill list.
Under the town’s charter, Hawkins is required to seek advance council approval for purchases in excess of $200. The council never gave Hawkins permission to purchase airline tickets.
Hawkins repeatedly contended that Escambia County Commissioner Steven Barry promised to reimburse the costs with county economic development, but Barry has denied even communicating with Hawkins about travel expenses. During a public council meeting, Hawkins called Barry “a lie.” ”
What Happened When The Travelers Were In Town
EMESGY, a consulting company in Torrance, CA, presented written proposals for potential cost saving energy upgrades from ADC Energy of California to the electrical systems at the Century Town Hall, the “Ag Building” community center on West Highway 4 and the former Helicopter Technology building in the Century Industrial Park. The industrial park building is currently unoccupied.
On October 29, Hawkins emailed the general Escambia County District 5 address inviting Barry to attend a presentation from Mark Endo of EMESGY. The presentation was set for the following afternoon.
On November 27, Century Mayor Hawkins forwarded a copy of the proposals in an email to Escambia County Commissioner Steven Barry. “I’m hoping to get your approval on using economic money to do these. If we can do either City Hall or the Community Center would be great,” Hawkins wrote.
Barry said he did not respond to either email, and he never presented the proposals to the Escambia County Commission.
Escambia County has committed $105,000 for economic development in the Century area this fiscal year. Proposals for the money are presented to Barry who in turn seeks approval of the entire commission at a regular meeting. So far, the commission has approved only $24,500 to the University of West Florida Haas Center for a market analysis.
The Energy Proposal
“ADC Energy is patented technology that allows transmission of low-voltage DC to travel long distance using existing wiring. It is now possible for you to battery power your entire facility with ADC Energy,” the company states on its website.
The proposals were in three phases. In the first phase, lighting in each building would be upgraded to “24V Battery powered facility lighting”. The second phase would add solar panels, and third phase would be a solar-powered HVAC system.
The total cost of the equipment, design and installation totaled $197,642 for just the first phase, itemized as follows:
- Town Hall: $34,593
- Community Center: $43,368
- Industrial Park Building: $119,681
Endo proposed the project would be a “renewable energy showcase … to secure massive visibility in local, national, and international media viewed by domestic and international audiences” in an email to Hawkins.
The email also stated, “Century and EMESGY will invite Miami International University (MIU) who is the 4th largest R & D University in the US to work with Century to establish an offsite joint R & D initiative with MIU funding, new jobs, and technology development.”
According to their website, the Miami International University of Art & Design “is one of The Art Institutes, a system of schools throughout North America,” and MIU offers degrees in design, fashion and media arts.
Endo suggests in his email that notification be sent to governors, senators, local to international media, and educational institutions to alert them of Century’s renewable energy initiatives and make Century a showcase.
Hawkins never presented the proposals to the Century Town Council in a public meeting.
The Airline Tickets, Unfilled Public Records Requests
As part of a public records request on January 8, NorthEscambia.com asked for the “airline invoices or receipts that have been discussed and appeared on the bill list at recent meetings, along with reservation information for such.”
That request was ignored by the town until it was mentioned at a March 4 council meeting when Hawkins told us and council president Ann Brooks that he would provide the receipts, but he would “black them out.” He refused to answer questions about the legal justification for the proposed redactions.
The following day, a town staffer emailed documents to NorthEscambia.com and Brooks. On each page from Expedia, the name of the traveler was redacted, marked out by hand. No justification for the redactions was provided as required by Florida statute.
No explanation was given as to why it took nearly two months to produce the redacted documents. Florida’s Sunshine Law dictates that records must be produced in a reasonable time, and the only delay permitted “is the limited reasonable time allowed the custodian to retrieve the record and delete those portions of the record the custodian asserts are exempt.”
When pressed Monday night, April 1, as to why the complete public records request as not fulfilled, Hawkins said, “I’ve paid it back, so I’m not obligated.”
The documents included two itineraries and one sheet labeled as a receipt. The “receipt” from Expedia did not indicate the purchaser, but it did show the last four digits of a Visa card used for payment.
In March, the town provided redacted versions of the following documents. The travelers’ names listed appear on the documents obtained by NorthEscambia.com.
- An Expedia itinerary showing a cost of $560.92 for an American Airlines flight departing October 28 from Los Angeles to Pensacola, and a room with double beds for one adult for two nights at the LaQuinta Inn on Davis Highway in Pensacola. The traveler’s name was Mark Endo.
- An Expedia itinerary showing a cost of $689.38 for a Delta flight departing October 29 from Los Angeles to Pensacola, a return flight on Frontier Airlines on October 31, and a room with double beds for one adult for one night at the LaQuinta Inn on Davis Highway in Pensacola. The traveler’s name was Tyson Diavalpham.
- An Expedia receipt for $501.40 for a one-way flight from Pensacola to Eugene, Oregon, on October 31. The receipt does not specify the airline, and the traveler’s name is redacted.
The items provided in early March by the town total $1,751.70.
The December town bill list showed payments were made for charges incurred in October as follows:
- American Airlines $501.40
- Delta $366.90
- Expedia $668.50
- Frontier Airlines $214.90
The items total $1,751.70, equal to the itineraries and receipt provided but the payee entries listed differ.
NorthEscambia.com photos and graphics.
Man Seriously Injured In East Kingsfield Road Rollover Crash
April 4, 2019
One person was seriously injured in a single vehicle rollover crash Wednesday night on East Kingsfield Road near Berrydale Road.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 60-year old Wendell Stephen Graham of Pensacola was eastbound on East Kingsfield road when he failed to negotiate a curve and left the roadway. His Mazda pickup overturned, colliding with a street sign and shearing off a fire hydrant before coming to rest upside down.
He was trapped in the pickup truck until extricated by firefighters.
Graham was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital by Escambia County EMS follow the wreck about 7:10 p.m.
Graham was cited with careless driving by the FHP.
NorthEscambia.co photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Teen Rescued From Deep In Sand Pit
April 4, 2019
A teenager was rescued from deep in a sand pit Wednesday night.
The incident happened at Clark Sand at 1100 Capitol Boulevard near Highway 29 and I-10.
Escambia Fire Rescue used a rope system with a basket to get the teen out of the pit. He was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital as a trauma alert by Escambia County EMS.
Further information has not been released.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
