Century In Depth: Stolen Documents, Council President’s Loan
November 30, 2018
As the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office investigates the reported theft of documents from the Century Town Hall, the council president is speculating that nothing was actually stolen and answering questions about a loan she received from the town over 20 years ago.
Mayor Henry Hawkins told NorthEcambia.com that the town clerk’s notes and audio recordings from September town council meetings were stolen, along with documents pertaining to a now-satisfied economic development mortgage loan made to town council President Ann Brooks years before she took office. Town Clerk Kim Godwin filed a theft report Tuesday with the Sheriff’s Office. [Read earlier story from Thursday...]
Brooks said Thursday that she does not believe that anyone actually stole notes or recordings from the town hall; she blames the missing items on the town clerk’s lack of organization.
“I think that maybe the town clerk possibly can’t locate them now, possibly due to not being organized,” Brooks said. “I think that’s she has misplaced them or lost them.”
At a November 19 town council meeting, Brooks warned Godwin that someone could go to jail for violating the Sunshine Law, which stipulates minutes should be prepared “promptly”. Godwin has not presented the council with minutes from multiple meetings in September, October and November.
The theft complaints come as the State Attorney’s Office continues an investigation into town business.
NorthEscambia.com first reported that the State Attorney’s Office was reviewing items involving the town of Century. Three council members reportedly attended at least some portion of a closed door meeting with CPA Robert Hudson, Godwin and the town’s auditors. The meeting was not advertised as a public meeting, which would forbid more than one council member from taking part under Florida’s Sunshine Laws.
Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille said the inquiry is still underway.
Brooks said she welcomes an investigation into Century.
“I think that needs to happen to bring a lot of things to light in the town of Century. Things that are happening that shouldn’t happen, and things are not being run properly,” she said.
Brooks said earlier this year that she received a $50,000 loan in 1997 and made her final payment in 2011. Brooks was not in office at the time the loan originated. She ran unsuccessfully for a council seat in 2003 and mayor in 2006 before being elected to her current council seat in 2007.
The documents pertaining to the loan were among the items reported stolen, but Brooks said she does not think a theft occurred.
During a regular audit into the town’s finances during the summer, Brooks said the mayor and council member Luis Gomez asked to see documentation for her loan. “The town clerk could not produce it; after saying that searched for it, she was unable to find it.”
NorthEscambia.com made a formal public records request on July 18 for the loan documents. Godwin responded to the the email, “I’m sending it to you bits at a time”, but documentation on Brooks’ loan and other requested items still have not been received over four months later.
On August 7, Brooks emailed copies of her loan documentation from her personal files to Godwin and Deputy Clerk Kristina Wood, according to documentation she provided.
On Thursday, she also provided NorthEscambia.com with copies of the original mortgage agreement, repayment records, copies of checks and a signed receipt from the Town of Century showing the loan was paid in full in 2011. A copy of the payoff check is below (Editor’s note: The account number was redacted by NorthEscambia.com).
After the publication of a NorthEscambia.com article Thursday, Brooks emailed the town auditing firm and received confirmation that auditors received a the loan documents from Wood on August 7.
“Regardless of what happened to those loan documents in city hall, they had those loan documents on August 7 and forwarded them to our town’s auditor. There are just so many strange things going on in city hall that I can’t really begin to tell you what’s really going on. But we need something to happen,” the council president said.
Brooks noted that she does not have physical access to documents in the town hall; instead, she makes “many, many” public records requests. “I don’t go in city hall except for council meetings or an election or something like that.”
Pictured top: Century Council President Ann Brooks. Pictured inset: Town Clerk Kim Godwin. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
OSHA Fines Contractor $94K After Worker Burned At McDavid Sawmill
November 30, 2018
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has found a contractor working at a McDavid sawmill willfully violated safety regulations that resulted in serious burn injuries to an employee .
OSHA said L.A. Disaster Relief and Property Maintenance LLC is facing $94,415 in penalties for the July 21 incident at West Fraser on Champion Drive.
OSHA investigators found the owner of the property maintenance and land clearing company directed the injured employee to ignite wood and debris inside an air burn box using a torch and gasoline, which caused an explosion. OSHA cited the company for failing to implement a hazard communication program to familiarize employees with flammable and combustible dust hazards.
“This owner’s intentional disregard of the manufacturers’ safety instructions and failure to take proper safety measures resulted in serious injuries to an employee,” said OSHA Jacksonville Area Office Director Michelle Gonzalez.
The company has 15 business days from receipt of the citations and proposed penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
Escambia County’s Top 10 Teachers Announced
November 30, 2018
Escambia County’s Top 10 Teachers of the Year have been announced
They are:
Katie Brand — West Florida High School
Austin Courson — Tate High School
Betsy Eggart — R. C. Lipscomb Elementary School
Danielle Fryman — Brown Barge Middle School
Amanda Long — Hellen Caro Elementary School
Caleb Lovely — Warrington Middle School School
Erica Minchew — Kingsfield Elementary School
Alanna Rohling — Lincoln Park Primary School
Kanisha White — Navy Point Elementary School
Erica Zink — West Pensacola Elementary School
The top 10 will interview before a selection committee, and five will be scheduled for classroom visits. The winner will be announced at the Golden Apple Dinner in February.
Search Continues For Alabama Woman Missing For A Week
November 30, 2018
Today marks one week that 74-year old Eva McBride has been missing from her home near the Alabama/Florida state line.
McBride was last seen November 23 at her home on McBride Circle near Pollard just east of Flomaton , less than a mile north of the Alabama/Florida state line. She may be suffering from a condition that may impair her judgement. Her direction of travel and clothing description were unknown. Her car keys and other personal items were left behind.
The area around her home has been searched with no results.
Anyone with information about here whereabouts should call the Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office at (251) 809-0741.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency has issued a Missing Senior Alert for McBride.
Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview High Names Students Of The Month
November 30, 2018
Northview High School has named Keaton Brown and Kinze Rackard as Students of the Month. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Christmas Parades: Molino And Flomaton Rescheduled
November 30, 2018
The Molino Christmas Parade and the Flomaton Christmas Parade have been rescheduled for December 8 due to weather concerns.
Molino Christmas Parade
The 16th Annual Molino Christmas Parade is rescheduled for Saturday, December 8 at 11 a.m.
The parade route starts at the west end of Crabtree Church Road and ends and the Molino Ballpark where Santa Will be waiting to visit with all the good little boys and girls.
To participate in the parade, register the day of the parade — $30 for floats; $20 for vehicles, motorcycles, tractors or golf carts; and $10 each for horses. No 4-wheelers or go-carts. There is no pre-registration this year…be in line by 10:15 a.m. and register.
All proceeds go directly back to the community to help children in need.
For more information, call René Jones at (850) 255-3330.
Flomaton Christmas Parade
The Flomaton Christmas Parade has been rescheduled for Saturday, December 8 at 10 a.m. The parade will be begin at Flomaton High School, travel east on Poplar Street to Sidney Manning Boulevard (Highway 29) to Houston Street, around Cary Street To Palafox Street and back west on Poplar Street to the school.
Century Christmas Parade — December 21
The Century Christmas Parade will be Friday, December 21 at 11 a.m. Tentative plans call for floats to line up on Hecker Road at 10 a.m. where they will be judged for the wackiest, prettiest and most creative entries. The parade route, which has not been announced, will begin and end on Hecker Road. Winning entries will received certificates following the parade. For more information, call Emily at (850) 256-3208.
Bill Would Move Concealed Weapons Licenses To FDLE
November 30, 2018
The state’s concealed-weapons licensing program would be moved to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, under a measure proposed Thursday by Sen. Lauren Book, D-Plantation.
The proposal came as National Rifle Association lobbyist Marion Hammer is urging that the Republican-dominated Legislature move the program from the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to state Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis’ office.
Democrat Nikki Fried, who was elected Nov. 6 to succeed term-limited Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, has questioned the need for the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to oversee the program, which came under scrutiny this summer after the Tampa Bay Times and Associated Press highlighted errors in background checks.
In a tweet on Tuesday, Fried came out in support of the proposed move of the program to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Fried and Hammer have clashed over the program.
In Book’s measure (SB 108), which would take effect Jan. 1, 2020, the Department of Agriculture and Consumers Services would have to provide the FDLE all records of the program and “may not retain any copies, whether physical, electronic, or otherwise.”
The bill is filed for consideration during the 2019 legislative session, which starts in March. Senate President Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, declined to comment Thursday. “He will review legislation that has been filed and refer it to the appropriate committees for their consideration,” Galvano spokeswoman Katie Betta said in an email.
by The News Service of Florida
Cantonment Manhunt Continues For Hours
November 29, 2018
A manhunt for a man wanted on felony warrants continued into the evening Thursday in Cantonment.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office was searching for Jordon King, 19, according to Maj. Andrew Hobbs, spokesman for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. He said King has outstanding warrants for burglary and a stolen vehicle.
No further description was provided.
King reportedly ran out of a house and away from deputies as they attempted to arrest him.
The manhunt led to the lockdown of Kingsfield Elementary and Ransom Middle schools earlier in the day as deputies searched the area. [Read more...]
Pictured: Deputies converge on Highway 297A in the area of Kingsfield Road and Meander Circle. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Ransom Middle, Kingsfield Elementary Placed Under Lockdown
November 29, 2018
For an update on the manhunt, click here.
Ransom Middle and Kingsfield Elementary schools were placed under a precautionary elevated security threat midday Thursday.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, a subject ran from a residence near the schools when deputies attempted to serve felony arrest warrants.
Escambia County School Deputy Superintendent Norm Ross said under the threat level, there was still normal movement of students within the schools, but outsiders were not permitted access to the campuses.
As of 12:30 p.m., deputies were still searching for the suspect. Further details will be posted as they become available.
“Elevated security threat” is the Escambia County School’s new term for a “lockdown”.
ECSO Investigates After Town Of Century Documents Reported Stolen
November 29, 2018
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the reported theft of documents and audio recordings from the Town of Century.
Mayor Henry Hawkins told NorthEcambia.com that the town clerk’s notes and audio recordings from September town council meetings were stolen, along with documents pertaining to a now-satisfied economic development loan made to the town council president years before she took office.
“I have been advised to notify each of you that legal action is being taken,” Hawkins said in a letter emailed Wednesday afternoon to council members, the town attorney and NorthEscambia.com. “I am contacting Sheriff, David Morgan to have him do an investigation due to this being a Federal offence (sic),” the letter concludes.
Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille said that while he had not seen the theft report, the theft of documents or recordings from the town would violate state laws, not federal.
Town Clerk Kim Godwin filed a theft report with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Tuesday afternoon, according to Major Andrew Hobbs, spokesperson for the ECSO. He said the investigation is ongoing.
Hawkins said Godwin was about to work on transcribing the minutes for September meeting when she discovered the theft.
“The tape and her notes are gone,” the mayor said. “We have asked staff to come clean and tell us where they are….or someone will do jail time.”
Hawkins said documents relating to a loan to Council President Ann Brooks were taken by someone about a month ago, and they were reported stolen to the Sheriff’s Office Tuesday.
Brooks said earlier this year that she received a $50,000 loan in 1997 and made her final payment in 2011. Brooks was not in office at the time the loan originated. She ran unsuccessfully for a council seat in 2003 and mayor in 2006 before being elected to her current council seat in 2007.
During the last meeting of the Century Town Council on November 19, Brooks warned that someone could go to jail for violating the state’s Sunshine Law requiring the “prompt” production of meeting minutes. She expressed that the council had yet to see minutes from two meetings in September, one in October and one in November [Read more...].
Pictured: Town Clerk Kimberly Godwin takes handwritten notes at the September 3 Century Town Council meeting as Mayor Henry Hawkins speaks. Those notes have now been reported stolen. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.