15-Year Old Arrested After Gun Rumor Forces Middle School Lockdown
March 1, 2018
Jim Bailey Middle School in Escambia County was on lockdown Wednesday after a rumor was started that there was a gun inside the school.
A 15-year student at the school was arrested and charged with disrupting a school function following the incident.
Nearby Helen Caro Elementary was also place on lockdown as a precaution.
Work Underway On Temporary Highway 97 Bridge Near Walnut Hill
March 1, 2018
Construction work is underway on Highway 97 in Walnut Hill as crews replace the current bridge over Sandy Hollow Creek, about a mile south of Highway 4. This week, crews have been working to drive pilings for a temporary detour bridge west of the existing structure.
The existing wooden-support bridge constructed in 1940 will be replaced with a new concrete structure with 12-foot travel lanes, eight-foot shoulders and a solid concrete barrier railing. The bridge approaches will also be milled and resurfaced.
The speed limit in the area has been reduced to 45 mph.
The bridge has an average daily traffic count of about 5,000 vehicles. The project is expected to cost $5 million.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Local Students Honored For Their Freedoms Foundation Essays
March 1, 2018
The Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge Pensacola Chapter honored six local students for their essays.
A Youth Essay Medal was presented to Sarah Perritt from Northview High School, Levi Shaffer from Tate High School, and Bryce Cox and Myles Herren from East Hill Christian.
A Youth Essay certificate was presented to Jaysea Young from Tate High School and James Riggins from Pensacola High School.
The ceremony at the Pensacola Yacht Club also honored additional members of the community.
Pictured top: Levi Shaffer and Sarah Perritt. Pictured inset: Jaysea Young. Pictured below: Myrles Herren and Bryce Cox. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Chiefs Weightlifting Takes Second In Gator Invitational
March 1, 2018
The Northview Boys Weightlifting team was runner-up at the 2018 Gator Invitational on Wednesday.
The Chiefs fell to co-champions Pensacola Washington and Baker, while outpacing and out scoring West Florida, Pensacola Catholic, Jay and Rocky Bayou.
Individually, sophomore Trent Kite placed first overall in the 129-lb. weight class, winning by a demanding 110-lbs. in his total over second place.
Also placing for the Chiefs were:
Aunterio Minor – 169-lb. class – 3rd
Logan Bryan – 119-lb. class – 4th
Justin Helton – UNL class – 4th
Dalton Hadley – 139-lb. class – 5th
Jarius Moorer – 154-lb. class – 5th
Colten Dockens – 154-lb. class – 6th
Jacob Hawkins – 219-lb. class – 6th
Jojo Parker – 238-lb. class – 6th
Northview returns to action next Friday in the district weightlifting meet at Baker High School. The Chiefs will be competing against Baker, Jay, Pensacola Catholic, Pensacola High, Rocky Bayou and West Florida.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Atmore Student Charged With Attempted Murder In Shooting; Security Heightened At Schools
February 28, 2018
A drive-by shooting in Atmore Tuesday afternoon left a student in critical condition and led to a precautionary increased police presence at two schools.
Atmore Police said a 17-year old was taken to Atmore Community Hospital about 4:08 p.m. with a possibly life threatening gunshot wound. Police said he was shot when someone fired at a group of classmates gathered in a porch on the 300 block of East 4th Street off Martin Luther King Avenue. Officials believe the shooting may have been retaliation after a fight that happened Tuesday at Escambia County High School in Atmore.
The police department stated in a press release that “the victim suffered a punctured lung and the bullet also struck his spine leaving the victim paralyzed”. He was airlifted to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola.
The victim was conscious and was able to identify the person who shot him.
The suspect, 17-year old De’Andre Lamar Mitchell arrived at the Atmore Police Department Wednesday morning with his mother. After speaking with investigators, Mitchell was placed under arrest for attempted murder and transported to the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center in Brewton. He is expected to be tried as an adult.
A decision was made, according to Escambia County (AL) Chief Deputy Mike Lambert,” to provide extra security as a precaution at both Escambia County High School and Escambia County Middle School in Atmore. Deputies could still be seen monitoring ECHS Wednesday afternoon from near parking lot entraces, as Atmore Police officers patrolled through the parking lot.
Inside the high school, it was what appeared to be a normal day. The campus was not on lockdown.
“We have a safe a secure learning environment here today,” ECHS Principal Dennis Fuqua told NorthEscambia.com as he walking a school hallway Wednesday afternoon. “It’s business as usual in here today. I did meet with about 100 students at a time this morning to assure them that we do care about the one that was injured, but there is no reason to be worried about their safety at school”
Lambert said the law enforcement presence at both the middle and high schools in Atmore was greatly increased due to information received that indicated there might be some sort of retaliation.
“It wasn’t very specific about it, whether it migth be at school or off the school premises, but as a safety precaution and a deterrent, we decided it would be best.” Lambert said. “The safety of these students is a number one priority.”
Pictured top: Escambia County High School Principal Dennis Fuqua discusses school security as he walks the hall of the school Wednesday afternoon with Escambia County (AL) Chief Deputy Mike Lambert. Pictured below: A deputy watches an entrance at the high School in Atmore. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Molino Man Facing Drug, Weapon Charges After Traffic Stop
February 28, 2018
A Molino man was charged with multiple drug and weapon offenses after deputies pulled over a vehicle in which he was a passenger in Cottage Hill.
Jacob Monroe Colville, 24, was charged with carrying a concealed firearm, possession of a firearm while committing a felony, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, possession of a drug paraphernalia and providing a false name to law enforcement. He was also arrested on an outstanding battery warrant for allegedly spitting on a another man in an incident unrelated to the traffic stop.
Colville was a passenger in a vehicle deputies stopped on Williams Ditch Road near Wishbone Drive due to suspected illegal window tint. He falsely told deputies that his name was”Desean Rickit”, according to an arrest report. A K-9 positively alerted on the vehicle, and deputies found a black backpack where Colville had been sitting.
In that backpack, officers located a container containing 15 clonazepam pills (a controlled substance), a loaded .22 caliber revolver, two metal smoking devices, additional ammunition of differing calibers and other paraphernalia, the report states. Colville remained in the Escambia County Jail Wednesday morning with bond set at $27,500. The driver of the vehicle was given a verbal warning for a window tint violation.
In September 2017, Colville’s neighbor filed a police report claiming Colville spit on his right shoulder, and showed deputies that there was a stain remaining on his shirt.
House Backs Rules For Nursing Home Generators
February 28, 2018
A House committee on Tuesday agreed to take steps to ratify a rule requiring nursing homes to have backup-power sources but didn’t endorse similar requirements for assisted living facilities because of concerns about the costs.
Gov. Rick Scott in recent months has pushed for nursing homes and assisted living facilities to have generators that can keep buildings cool if electricity goes out.
McKinley Lewis, Scott’s deputy communications director, told The News Service of Florida on Tuesday that assisted living facilities need to be “included” in the mix and that the governor’s office is “continuing to work with the Florida Legislature to make sure this gets done.”
The House Health & Human Services Committee voted unanimously to introduce a bill that would ratify a rule issued by the state Agency for Health Care Administration, which regulates nursing homes. The proposed rule, which was hammered out by the Scott administration and the long-term care industry, would require nursing homes to have alternative power sources, such as generators, on site and 72 hours of fuel. The generators would need to be able to keep cool an area of no less than 30 square feet per resident at a temperature of 81 degrees Fahrenheit or lower for at least 96 hours.
The rule is estimated to cost nursing homes $121.3 million over the first five years, and about $66 million can be offset by Medicaid, according to a staff analysis. Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Justin Senior told committee members that about $25 million of the $66 million Medicaid tab would be borne by the state.
Since 2010, Florida law has required legislative ratification of any rule that would increase the costs of doing business by more than $1 million over a five-year period.
House Health & Human Services Chairman Travis Cummings, R-Fleming Island, has repeatedly expressed concerns that requiring assisted living facilities to abide by backup power rules would result in an unfunded mandate on some of Florida’s smallest businesses.
The 2,951 assisted living facilities in the state would have to spend more than $243 million to comply with the requirements.
Scott’s administration has pushed for generators at ALFs and nursing homes since the deaths in September of residents of The Rehabilitation Center at Hollywood Hills, a Broward County nursing home that lost its air-conditioning system in Hurricane Irma. But long-term care providers have raised repeated concerns about issues such as costs and requirements to store fuel.
Assisted living facilities are designed to provide services in a less-restrictive and more home-like environment than nursing homes. They range from one resident to several hundred residents and offer various types of personal and nursing services.
Senior told members of the House committee that in the days following Hurricane Irma, the state emergency operations center had nightly phone calls with long-term care providers and that the Agency for Health Care Administration sent facility-surveyor staff across the state to get a gauge on what was occurring.
Senior said 1,677 assisted living facilities reported that they lost power during Hurricane Irma. Senior said facilities without backup power tended to have what he called employee abandonment, or staff not showing up for work.
He said that the “lack of staffing really put some frail elders at risk.”
Moreover, Senior said, the state “saw ALF residents, in particular, dumped inappropriately at special needs shelters and hospital emergency rooms.”
Cummings then asked Senior to focus what was in the bill and not on ALFs, which weren’t included in the bill.
Century Chamber Names Citizen, Student Of The Year
February 28, 2018
The Century Chamber of Commerce’s citizen and student of the year were named Tuesday night.
Byrneville Elementary School Principal Dee Wolfe-Sullivan was named Century’s Citizen of the Year. Northview High student Logan Calloway was named Student of the Year.
Pictured top: Dee Wolfe-Sullivan (left) was named Century’s Citizen of the Year Tuesday night. The award was presented by Tame Dunsford, Byrneville Elementary’s lead teacher. And Logan Calloway was presented Century’s Student of the Year, with the award presented by Northview Principal Gayle Weaver. Pictured inset: Logan Calloway. Pictured below: A large number of Byrneville Elementary staff and friends were on hand to see their principal receive her award. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Contracts With Panhandle Equine Rescue
February 28, 2018
Escambia County has entered into a an agreement with Panhandle Equine Rescue in Cantonment to house equines for the county animal shelter.
The county has budgeted up $20,000 for PER to provide shelter, food, veterinary care and transportation. Payments will be made on a cost reimbursement basis.
The only horse rescue in Escambia County, PER was founded by a small group of concerned citizens with a mission to rescue, rehabilitate and provide adoption services for abused, neglected and abandoned equines. PER is authorized by the court system to investigate equine cruelty in Escambia County.
File photo.
Auburn, Georgia And Beekeepers Could Get Specialty License Plates
February 28, 2018
A House committee has approved a bill that would revamp state laws dealing with specialty license plates, including creating plates for Auburn University and the University of Georgia.
The bill (HB 1359), sponsored by Rep. James Grant, a Tampa Republican and Auburn alum, is ready to go to the House floor after being approved by the Government Accountability Committee.
The measure would make a series of policy changes to laws dealing with specialty plates, including setting a limit of 125 plates and taking steps to weed out plates that have relatively few sales. But in proposing to create Auburn and University of Georgia plates, the bill would add to the long-standing plates of Florida colleges and universities.
It would require that fees collected from the Auburn and Georgia plates go to scholarships for Florida residents attending those schools.
bill also would create other new specialty plates, such as the Florida State Beekeepers Association plate, the Beat Childhood Cancer plate and the Florida Bay Forever plate.