Overall Crime Rate Falls In Escambia County
June 15, 2017
The crime rate in Escambia County is down over the past year, according to data released Wednesday in the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Uniform Crime Report.
Overall violent crime was down 14.2 percent from 2015 to 2016, with 2,057 fewer crimes reported. The numbers include crimes reported by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Pensacola Police Department, University of West Florida Police Department, Pensacola State College Police and other agencies operating in the county.
Between 2016 and 2015, the number of murders in Escambia County decreased from 24 to 19, rapes from 197 to 188, robberies from 404 to 373 and aggravated assaults from 1,439 to 1,400. Over the period, burglaries were down 2,628 in 2015 to 1,978 in 2016, larcenies were down 9,101 to 7,767 and motor vehicle thefts increase slightly from 644 to 655.
The crime rate per 100,000 population was 3,993, down 15.1 percent. Overall, law enforcement cleared 32.9 percent of cases in Escambia County.
Florida’s crime rate is now at a 46-year low. In 2016, there were 18,146 fewer crimes than in 2015, which is a 2.8 percent decrease. The crime rate has dropped 4.4 percent since 2015.
Escambia Man Gets 20 Years For Auto Theft, Burglary
June 15, 2017
An Escambia County man has been sentenced as a habitual felony offender on burglary and grand theft auto related charges.
Michael Aaron Kistler, 34, was sentenced by Circuit Judge John Miller to 20 years in state prison on charges of armed burglary, possession of a firearm by a convicted felony, grand theft of a firearm, three counts of grand theft auto and grand theft.
Prosecutors said Kistler went to Center Florida Auto Sales on Olive Road pretending to be interested in buying a vehicle on July 30, 2016. He spoke with the owner regarding a couple of the vehicles and left the premises. A short-time later, he returned to the car lot and attempted to steal the owner’s vehicle. The owner observed Kistler in his vehicle and attempted to stop him.
Kistler then grabbed the owner’s firearm located in the door of the vehicle, pointed it at the owner, and fled the scene on foot.
Later that day, Kistler stole a work vehicle belonging to Beasley’s Pest Control located on Olive Road. Kistler was arrested the following day with the work vehicle in his possession. Further investigation revealed that Kistler had previously stolen a vehicle on July 3, 2016.
Northview FFA Advocacy Program Named First Place In State; Chapter Honored
June 15, 2017
The Northview High School FFA’s “Fresh From Florida Advocacy Program” was named the first place program in the state during the FFA state convention Wednesday in Orlando.
Formerly known the Food for America program, the Fresh from Florida Advocacy Program is designed to encourage FFA members to participate in agricultural literacy and awareness projects on the local level. The annual program, conducted by the Northview FFA in March, gave hundreds of students a chance to learn about agriculture firsthand as they got up close and personal with farm animals, farm equipment and more. The students even had the opportunity to make their own butter and enjoy it on crackers.
In addition to this year’s first place award, the Northview High School FFA “Fresh From Florida” program was previously honored in second place in 2015 and 2016, and was awarded first place in Florida for three consecutive years from 2012-2014.
The Northview High School FFA was also named as one of Florida’s Finest FFA Chapters during ceremonies Wednesday in Orlando.
Pictured top: Northview FFA members with their first place Fresh from Florida Advocacy Award and their recognizion as one of Florida’s Finest Chapters at the state FFA convention in Orlando on Wednesday. Pictured are: (front, L-R) Lacie Carter, Tabitha Chavers, Brandon Korinchak, Mitchell Singleton, Raeleigh Woodfin, Olivia Porter, (back, L-R) Cole Hassebrock, Cody Kite, Bryce Korinchak, Wesley Hardin, Clint Gunter and Donnie Dixon. NorthEscambia.com photo by Bethany Reynolds, click to enlarge.
Scott Approves Pay Raises For State Workers
June 15, 2017
Gov. Rick Scott signed legislation Wednesday providing across-the-board pay raises to state employees for the first time since 2013, but remained mum on whether he would also approve a wide-ranging and controversial education bill.
In a ceremony for veterans at the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles in Tallahassee, Scott signed the compensation legislation (SB 7022), a key priority of Senate Appropriations Chairman Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater.
“With the signing of this bill, our state employees will receive a well-deserved pay raise, and our state law enforcement officers will receive a 5 percent raise for their life-saving work,” Scott said.
The bill includes a complex matrix of raises for different state employees. Employees making $40,000 or less will get a $1,400 boost to their pay, while those making more will get an additional $1,000.
State law enforcement officers will get a 5 percent hike, while most current correctional officers will get an extra $2,500 a year. There will also be $1,000 hiring bonuses for some prisons.
State corrections officials have pushed for higher pay to try to retain quality workers in response to a string of reports of inmate deaths and brutality by prison guards, allegations of cover-ups and corruption and low morale.
Judges, state attorneys and public defenders will see 10 percent raises. There are also different increases for a handful of other positions in state government, mostly in the legal field or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
“We want to make sure we keep the most talented and dedicated professional staffers in our state workforce,” Latvala said in a statement issued after Scott’s action. “These employees guard our prisons, protect our highways, care for abused and neglected children, and perform hundreds of other tasks that are in many cases thankless or unnoticed by many Floridians.”
The legislation also includes changes to health insurance and retirement plans for state employees. For example, it includes a change long sought by House Republicans that would put state employees into a 401(k)-style retirement plan unless they specifically opt for the state’s traditional pension system. Currently, workers “default” into the pension plan.
State workers and some Democrats have opposed those changes, saying they undermine the current pension system and could harm new state employees. But business groups support the overhaul.
Scott signed 28 other bills Wednesday and vetoed a higher-education measure (SB 374) that was a priority of Senate President Joe Negron, R-Stuart.
But after the ceremony, Scott brushed off a question about whether he will sign a broad public education bill (HB 7069) that includes provisions on charter schools, teacher bonuses, state testing, recess and more.
Supporters have said the bill will help improve the state’s education system, while critics have lambasted it as a step towards privatizing public schools. Critics also say it was cobbled together behind closed doors in the final days of the regular legislative session.
Rumors have spread that Scott will sign the bill, perhaps as soon as Thursday. But the governor didn’t reveal his plan to reporters.
“I’m going to be careful in reviewing the bill and I’m going to act in the best interest of all of the students and the parents in our state,” he said.
Police: Man Shot Videos Under Women’s Dresses At Mall, Other Stores
June 15, 2017
Police have arrested a man they say was using a cell phone to record videos under women’s dresses in several Pensacola stores.
The suspect – Michael Donson, 25, of 1821 E. Hatton Street, Pensacola – was arrested after he used the camera on his cell phone to take videos underneath women’s dresses in various retail and convenience stores. He was first arrested May 31 and charged with four counts of video voyeurism.
Now police say videos of at least 18 additional victims have been phone on his cell phone camera.
Two women notified police on May 21 after they saw Donson trying to use his camera phone to photograph beneath their dresses while they were walking around Ross Dress for Less in Cordova Mall.
Detectives Chad Willhite and Shannan Briarton believe Donson made the videos between May 7 and May 21. The investigation initially identified four of the victims. Willhite said 26 videos were found on the suspect’s cell phone after he was arrested.
Willhite said Donson is believed to have targeted adult women who were wearing dresses and in at least one case he videotaped a woman wearing short shorts.
Anyone who recognizes the suspect and believes he may have tried to videotape underneath their clothes is asked to contact Detective Chad Willhite at (850) 435-1972 or Detective Shannan Briarton at (850) 435-1978.
Donson remains in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $110,000.
Pictured top: Photos of Michael Donson from his cell phone, as provided by police. Pictured inset: Donson’s booking photo at the Escambia County Jail.
McArthur And Pine Meadow Named All Star Drug Free Elementary Schools
June 15, 2017
Informed Families, a Florida nonprofit devoted to helping kids grow up safe, healthy and drug-free, has announced two North Escambia area school have been named All Star Safe, Healthy and Drug Free Schools for 2017.
McArthur and Pine Meadow elementary schools were among 16 schools across the state to receive the honor.
To be eligible for All Star status, schools must complete the four prevention campaigns Informed Families sponsors throughout the school year:
- Family Day
- Red Ribbon Week
- Lock Your Meds
- Safe Homes, Smart Parties
“Ambassadors”—usually teachers, guidance counselors, or administrators—at each school manage these campaigns on the local level. Informed Families provides ambassadors everything they need and equips them with the information necessary to create a safer, healthier environment that fosters student success, both in the short term and the long run.
Schools and organizations honored as All Stars will receive $1,000 of prevention merchandise from NIMCO, Inc. for the next school year.
Thousands More Citizens Policies Go To Private Market
June 15, 2017
Up to 19,520 Citizens Property Insurance policies will be offered to a pair of private companies in August, the state Office of Insurance Regulation announced.
Southern Oak Insurance will be able to select up to 15,000 policies, of which 10,000 will be coastal accounts, and National Specialty Insurance can acquire up to 4,520 coastal accounts on Aug. 22.
All of the policies will be offered through what is known as the “takeout” process. The process has been a key part of the Citizens’ strategy to move policies into the private sector, reducing the state-backed insurer’s risks. Most of the newly targeted policies, however, are expected to remain with Citizens, as private firms have historically sought to pick up the least-risky policies.
Citizens customers also can opt to reject offers from private insurers.
Of the 57,724 policies that have been offered through the “takeout” process this year, 12,276 have shifted hands. As of April 30, Citizens had 451,126 policies, down from 451,189 at the end of March and 455,843 on Dec. 31.
Northview Chiefs Release Revised Fall Football Schedule After Cancellation
June 15, 2017
Northview High School has released a revised fall football schedule after a cancellation.
Lighthouse Christian School canceled an August 18 preseason Kickoff Classic with the Chiefs. Northview will now travel to Vernon August 18 for their Kickoff Classic preseason game.
The revised varsity and junior varsity schedules for the Northview Chiefs are as follows:
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
OSHA Won’t Cite IP For Paper Mill Explosion
June 14, 2017
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) says International Paper won’t be cited of fined for the January explosion at their mill on Highway 29 in Cantonment.
A letter from OSHA says a digester at IP exploded when gases built up inside.
OSHA acknowledged the mill’s plan to reduce the introduction of gases into the digester. They also encouraged IP to share information about the risk of explosion throughout the industry.
The plant resumed full operations in April after the January 22, 2017, explosion. The explosion caused significant structural damage to the largest pulp digester and the power house, bringing operations at the mill to a halt for just over a week.
The explosion caused an estimated $50 million in damage, most of which IP said was covered by insurance.
Pictured top: Emergency crews on the scene following an explosion January 22 at International Paper in Cantonment. Pictured below: First responders coordinate their response efforts from a command post at IP shortly after the explosion. Pictured bottom: A vehicle that was passing the mill at the time of the explosion covered in black liquor from the explosion. NorthEscambia.com file photos.
Scott Signs Budget With $3.1 Million For ‘The Bluffs’ In Cantonment
June 14, 2017
Tuesday, the FloridaWest Economic Development Alliance announced The Bluffs, Northwest Florida’s Industrial Campus has received $3.1 million in funding for site connectivity and infrastructure improvements as part of the 2017-2018 State of Florida budget signed by Governor Rick Scott last week.
“We are thankful to Governor Scott, Senator Broxson and Representative Frank White for their constant commitment to economic development in our Greater Pensacola region,” said Scott Luth, President & CEO of the FloridaWest Economic Development Alliance. “This infrastructure funding is another piece of the puzzle to make sure we have the assets and workforce needed to recruit new companies to the region.”
The funding, sponsored by Senator Doug Broxson, Representative Frank White and supported by the entire NWFL legislative delegation, will be used for the detailed design and permitting associated with critical site transportation connectivity. This connectivity features a new Industrial Boulevard within the master planned industrial campus. The funding builds upon infrastructure funds received in the 2016-2017 budget which were used by PEDC to develop transportation infrastructure priorities and construction criteria.
Strategic investments, in infrastructure and site development at The Bluffs, aids FloridaWest in their mission to facilitate job creation and capital investment and improve the economic prosperity of residents in the Greater Pensacola community. The Bluffs campus contains more than 1,700 acres of developable land, rail and barge access. The shovel ready site also features all the needed utility infrastructure including electric transmission service, natural gas, reclaimed water from Emerald Coast Utilities Authority, steam production, wastewater treatment ready for manufacturing and industrial customers.
“Access to markets is a vital component of any economic development project,” said Lewis Bear, Chairman of Pensacola Escambia Development Commission. “This funding will ensure The Bluffs provides adequate infrastructure within the campus to allow companies to deliver their products via our region’s rail, roadways, ports or airports.”
The Bluffs which is partnership between the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority, Ascend Performance Materials, Gulf Power and the University of West Florida has the capacity for as many as 60 manufacturing and industrial tenants and could create as many as 15,000 jobs for the community.
The 6,000 acre master-planned development area includes about 1,700 acres of land that can be developed in an area east of Highway 29 bordered by the Escambia River to the east, Becks Lake Road near International Paper to the north, and the University of West Florida to the south. Although located along the Escambia River, most of the property to be developed is at a high elevation, about 100 feet above sea level, and not in a flood plain. Minimally, the project is expected to recruit approximately 10 companies that would occupy more than 3.9 million square feet of building space on 295 acres of land which will be significant to Escambia County and the regional economy.
