FWC Law Enforcement Report: Pet Deer, Palmetto Berry Pickers
October 8, 2018
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the period ending September 20 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officers Manning and Allgood patrolled offshore concentrating on fisheries enforcement utilizing the newly arrived Safe Boat in Pensacola. They found occupants from five different vessels in violation of federal fisheries regulations. Five federal citations were issued for charges including possession of triggerfish during closed season and for possession of red snapper in a closed season. The officers also charged one vessel operator with interference with an FWC officer for attempting to throw illegally harvested triggerfish and red snapper overboard.
Officer Allgood assisted FWC captive wildlife investigators with a subject who was attempting to keep a whitetail deer as a pet. Officer Allgood issued a citation to the subject who was keeping the deer in an enclosure. The individual had previously applied for a permit but was denied.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officers Hoomes, Roberson, Ramos, Hutchison and Pilot Tolbert have been working a ring of illegal palmetto berry pickers on Eglin Wildlife Management Area (WMA). The officers found evidence of the illegal activity and caught up with four subjects who had picked over 600 pounds of palmetto berries from Eglin WMA. All four subjects were cited for 13 misdemeanors which included harvesting live plants from a management area, entering a closed area, and no Department of Defense permit. One subject, who fled but was later located, was cited for resisting arrest without violence.
This report represents some events the FWC handled over the past week; however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement. Information provided by FWC.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Molino Park Holds Community Helpers Day (With Photo Gallery)
October 8, 2018
Molino Park Elementary School held a “Community Helpers Day” Friday for students to learn about some of people that are hard at work, often behind the scenes, in the Molino area.
The event included personnel and equipment from Escambia County EMS, the K-9 unit from the Escambia Road Prison, the Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, J. Miller Construction Company, the Florida Highway Patrol, Escambia Search and Rescue, UPS, Gilmore Services, the Florida Forest Service and more.
Students also dressed as their favorite community helpers, such as firemen, policemen, teachers, nurses and others.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Three Injured In Bristol Park Shooting
October 8, 2018
Three people were shot near Bristol Park Sunday afternoon.
Bristol Park is located off Michigan Avenue, not near Bristol Park Road in Cantonment.
The three adults were taken to a local hospital for treatment. There was no immediate word of any arrests in the shooting, which reportedly involved multiple vehicles.
Further details have not been released.
Bonus Gallery: Jay And Northview Bands, Cheerleaders And More
October 8, 2018
For game action photos, click here.
For homecoming court photos, click here.
For homecoming parade photos, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tent Revival Gets Underway
October 8, 2018
A tent revival opened Sunday night in Atmore.
The “Fire in the Field” event is going on each night at 7 p.m. through Thursday night with evangelist Ken Freeman and musicians Brandon and Jennifer Johnson.
The revival is sponsored by local churches in Escambia County.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Church Evacuated Due To Smell Of Smoke
October 8, 2018
A Cantonment church was evacuated Sunday morning due to the smell of smoke.
The odor was reportedly traced to a light ballast. There were no injuries and no damage reported.
Cantonment, Ensley, Belleview, Beulah, Ferry Pass and Bellview stations of Escambia Fire Rescue were dispatched to the call, along with Escambia County EMS.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Accident Claims The Life Of A Pedestrian On Highway 95A In Cantonment
October 7, 2018
A Cantonment accident claimed the life of a pedestrian Saturday night in Cantonment.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 31-year old Ronald Smedley of Milton was struck by a Ford Expedition on Highway 95A just south of Archer Road about 8:35 p.m. Smedley was walking in the roadway when he was hit by a Ford Expedition driven by 43-year old Charles Kimbel of Cantonment.
Smedley was pronounced deceased on scene by first responders. Kimbel and his passenger, 47-year old Brenda Kimbel of Cantonment, were not injured.
No charges were filed.
Highway 95A was closed for several hours following the accident.
This story will be updated when additional details are available.
File photo.
Photos: Century Blackcats Host The Frisco City Whippets
October 7, 2018
The Century Blackcats hosted the Whippets of Frisco City Saturday night.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery, click here.
Scores were not available at publication time.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Car Buyers Can Now Shift Sales Tax Money To Hope Scholarship Contributions
October 7, 2018
Florida auto dealers were required Monday to begin carrying out part of a new law that will allow car buyers to help fund the controversial “Hope” scholarship program.
Under the law, car buyers can voluntarily shift up to $105 from the sales taxes they would normally pay on vehicle transactions to the Hope scholarship program. The scholarships, approved during this year’s legislative session, will allow students who are victims of bullying or other violence to receive public funding to move to private schools.
Opponents have argued, in part, that the bullying issue is being used to expand school vouchers to thousands of students. If vehicle buyers want to make contributions, they have to fill out a form designating the money to go to the scholarship program, according to information posted on the Florida Automobile Dealers Association website.
Dealers then will send the money to the non-profit group Step Up for Students, which helps administer the program.
by The News Service of Florida
Escambia County Farm Family Recognized For Environmental Leadership
October 7, 2018
Two Escambia County farmers and ranchers were recently honored for their environmental stewardship with a County Alliance for Responsible Environmental Stewardship (CARES) award.
Recipients honored were Jimmy and Jerry McElhaney of McElhaney Farms. They grow cotton, corn and peanuts using recycled water to irrigate more than 1,400 acres. Through best management practices, they have reduced fertilizer use by 50 percent.
The CARES program was established by Florida Farm Bureau and the Suwannee River Partnership in 2001 to recognize superior natural resource conservation by agricultural producers. The program relies on action by farmers and ranchers to implement state-of-the-art natural resource management systems, or Best Management Practices, on their properties.
McElhaney Farms been in operation in Escambia County for nearly 100 years. Today, Jimmy and Jerry McElhaney grow cotton, peanuts and corn on 1,400 acres. In 2016, they enrolled in Best Management Practices with the goal of reducing water use, nutrient use and improving water quality on their family farm. Some of the BMPs implemented include installing two soil moisture sensors to better determine irrigation needs as well as a surface water pond to capture and recycle water. In order to reduce nutrient use, they use GPS and variable rate applications for spraying and fertilizing applications.
These two BMPs alone have helped them reduce their fertilizer use by 50 percent, and reduced their their use of lime. Planting cover crops, using conservation tillage and terracing their fields all work together to prevent soil erosion, increase crop yields and improve soil health.
Pictured top: (L-R) James McElhaney, Judi McElhaney, Gleda McElhaney, Jerry McElhaney and Florida Farm Bureau President Federation President John Hoblick during the Escambia County Farm Bureau’s annual meeting at Molino Park Elementary School. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.