Jim Allen Elementary Names Students Of The Month
March 16, 2018
Jim Allen Elementary School has named their Students of the Month. They are Macey Echols and Carson Jordan. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Winn Dixie Parent Company Files For Bankruptcy Protection
March 16, 2018
Southeastern Grocers, the parent company of Winn Dixie and other brands, said Thursday afternoon it is filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
The company said it will close 94 “under performing” stores, none of which are in the immediate North Escambia area. The closure list does includes stores 10 stores in Alabama, including locations in Mobile and Monroeville, and 35 in Florida. The company will continue to operate 582 stores.
“Southeastern Grocers has conducted a thorough review of options for reducing our current debt. Taking this step was critical to our future and the long-term health of our business,” the company said. “After careful consideration, we have chosen to voluntarily implement a court-supervised, prepackaged restructuring agreement. We have not taken these steps without careful planning and consideration. As part of this restructuring, we have made the difficult but necessary decision to close 94 underperforming stores. It is our goal to work through our financial restructuring as quickly and efficiently as possible, and we will emerge from this process likely within the next 90 days.”
“This course of action enables us to continue writing the story for our company and our iconic, heritage banners in the Southeast,” said Anthony Hucker, Southeast Grocers president and chief executive officer.
Southeast Grocers operate under the Winn Dixie, BiLo, Harvey’s Supermarkets and Fresco y Más names.
Pictured: The Winn Dixie store in Atmore. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Tate Lifters Place At Districts
March 16, 2018
Tate High School’s Chandler McGuffey won first place at Districts 183-pound weight lifting class. Spencer Ruiz won third in the 159-pound weight class and Juanita Gonzales won third in his weight class. Submitted photos.
Alabama Executes Death Row Inmate
March 16, 2018
Alabama death row inmate Michael Wayne Eggers, 50, was executed tonight by lethal injection at the William C. Correctional Facility in Atmore, Ala. The execution was carried out at 6:54 p.m. Eggers was pronounced dead at 7:29 p.m.
Eggers was sentenced to death for the 2000 capital murder of his employerBennie Francis Murray, 67, in Walker County. Prosecutors said he admitted to strangling Murray during an argument.
His final words were, “no ma’am”, when Warden Cynthia Stewart asked him if he had a final statement.
Eggers had two family members, a spiritual advisor and two friends witness the execution. There were no witnesses for the victim.
Eggers has previously dropped his appeals asked the state to quickly schedule his execution.
Kitchen Fire Erupts At Apartment – While Firefighters Were Fighting Kitchen Fire Across Street
March 16, 2018
While firefighters were fighting one apartment kitchen fire Thursday afternoon, another kitchen fire broke out at a second apartment across the street.
The first kitchen fire was in the 500 block of Martin Luther King Drive, taking about 15 to 20 minutes to bring it under control.
As firefighters from the Flomaton Fire Department and the Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue were fighting the first kitchen fire, they receive a report of another kitchen fire across the street.
One person was transported to Jay Hospital for smoke inhalation.
Escambia County (FL) EMS and the Flomaton Police Department also responded.
Escambia Sheriff, Commission Reach Preliminary Budget Agreement
March 15, 2018
For an update to this story, click here.
The Escambia County Commission and Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan have reached a preliminary budget settlement, months after Morgan appealed his budget to Gov. Rick Scott.
Under the four-year agreement, Morgan will receive an extra $1 million for the current fiscal year that ends September 30. The commission will increase Morgan’s budget by an additional $2.6 million in the next two fiscal years, and $2.9 million in the final year. The funds will be for benefits and raises for the implementation of a pay plan.
Beginning April 1, 2018, the BOCC will reduce budgets for discretionary outside agencies by 50 percent, except for Pathways for Change and Community Health Northwest Florida (formerly Escambia Community Clinics). In fiscal years 2019-2021, funding for outside agencies in the general fund will not exceed $734,374. These funds will be used for the implementation of the sheriff’s pay plan.
Discretionary funds for each commissioner, previously at $50,000 each, will be cut by half to $125,000 total ($25,000 each) for the next three years, with $125,000 going to the sheriff’s budget each year.
Under the agreement, Morgan agreed that 50 percent of Law Enforcement Trust fund monies will go toward funding school resource officers. If that is not possible, the remainder can be used to offset other ECSO general fund expenditures as allowed by law.
Commissioners Steven Barry and Lumon May voted against the agreement.
Morgan asked for over $2 million when he appealed his budget to Scott last October to help with pay compression issues.
Pictured: Gov. Rick Scott and Escambia County David Morgan during a meeting October 5, 2017, at the Escambia County Emergency Operations Center concerning then Tropical Storm Nate. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Deputies Seek Two For Questioning In Tuesday Cantonment Shooting
March 15, 2018
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is seeking two people for questioning only in a shooting Tuesday on Well Line Road in Cantonment.
Deputies want to talk to 22-year old Seth Fuller and 30-year old Summer Campbell.
An adult male was shot about 3:45 p.m. at a home in the 400 block of Well Line Road, near Lakeview Avenue.
“It appears he was involved is some type of drug transaction,” Major Andrew Hobbs of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said shortly after the shooting. “Deputies on scene were working to determine a possible suspect.”
The victim was transported by ambulance to a Pensacola hospital with injuries that were not considered life threatening.
Anyone that knows the whereabouts of Fuller of Campbell is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP. They are wanted for questioning only and have not been named suspects in the case.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
One Injured In Wreck Involving Century’s Mayor
March 15, 2018
Century Mayor Henry Hawkins was uninjured in two-vehicle crash Wednesday near Gonzalez that sent his passenger to the hospital.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 17-year old Andrew Anderson of Crestview was driving a 2004 Chevrolet Silverado pickup and trailer south on Highway 95A at Roberts Road when he turned in front of a northbound 2008 Nissan Pathfinder driven by Hawkins.
Anderson and Hawkins were uninjured in 12:54 p.m. crash. Hawkin’s passenger, 57-year old Maxine Simpson of Century, suffered minor injuries and was transported by Escambia County EMS to Sacred Heart Hospital, according to troopers.
Anderson was cited by the FHP for failing to yield right of way to oncoming traffic when making a left turn.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Gets Life In Prison For 2016 Murder
March 15, 2018
A Cantonment man will spend the rest of his life in state prison for a 2016 murder.
An Escambia County jury previosly found 21-year-old Marquis Derrell Bryant guilty of second degree murder. The life sentence was handed down Wednesday by Circuit Judge Scott Duncan.
Bryant shot 29-year old Alphonso Leon Griffin, who was found in the yard of a residence in the 200 block of Sheppard Street in Cantonment just after 9 p.m. on July 23, 2016. He was transported by ambulance to Sacred Heart Hospital where he later passed away.
Bryant was previously sentenced to five years in state prison for a bribery charge. He offered to pay a law enforcement officer to let him go in connection with the arrest in the murder case.
Bryant was captured by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office just five days before the shooting, but not placed under arrest.
On Sunday, July 17, 2016, Bryant allegedly stole a classic Ford Mustang. On Monday, July 18, 2016, deputies spotted Bryant in the stolen 1965 Mustang at 3:47 p.m. near Hicks Street and Muscogee Road, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. When a deputy attempted a traffic stop, Bryant refused.
The deputy followed the vehicle, not exceeding the speed limit. Bryant opened the driver’s side door while the vehicle was still in motion. He then jumped from the vehicle and fled on foot.
The Sheriff’s Office said Bryant was located by a K-9 a short time later.
Sgt. Andrew Hobbs, spokesperson for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said at the time that deputies suspected that Bryant ingested some type of narcotics before being captured. He was transported to a local hospital for medical care. Hobbs declined to say which day Bryant was released from the hospital, citing medical privacy laws.
Hobbs said deputies submitted a grand theft auto warrant for judicial review. At the time of the murder, the warrant had not yet been signed by a judge.
Florida Senator Rubio Files Bills For Year Round Daylight Saving Time
March 15, 2018
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio backed state legislators Wednesday by filing separate bills aimed at keeping Florida — and the nation — on daylight-saving time throughout the year.
The Legislature during this year’s session approved a bill that calls for year-round daylight-saving time in Florida. The change, if supported by Gov. Rick Scott, ultimately would require congressional approval.
“Reflecting the will of the Sunshine State, I proudly introduce these bills that would approve Florida’s will and, if made nationally, would also ensure Florida is not out of sync with the rest of the nation,” Rubio said in a prepared statement Wednesday.
A news release from Rubio’s office pointed to several potential benefits from the change, including that additional daylight in evenings could reduce car crashes, help lead to more physical activity that would reduce childhood obesity and reduce the number of robberies.
The Florida PTA Legislative Committee, meanwhile, tweeted opposition to the proposal because of how the change would affect students.
“It’s not the will of the PTA as it will negatively impact the safety of our children in the morning,” the committee tweeted Wednesday. “We don’t need more children standing in the dark waiting for a bus.”
The idea of year-round daylight-saving time has been promoted as a way to help the state’s tourism industry, as people would be able to stay out later with the additional sunlight. Hawaii and most of Arizona currently don’t participate in switching from standard time to daylight-saving time and back. They stay on standard time throughout the year.
Daylight-saving time started Sunday and is scheduled to end this year on November 4.
by The News Service of Florida