Pedestrian Struck And Killed in Escambia County
November 29, 2016
A pedestrian was struck and killed Monday night in Escambia County.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 67-yaer old Deborah Leigh Askegren of Pensacola was northbound on Pace Boulevard south of Godfrey Street. A pedestrian, identified as 61-year old Richard Johnson of Pensacola, was crossing Pace Boulevard when he was struck by Askegren’s GMC Yukon.
Johnson was pronounced deceased on the scene following the 6 p.m. crash.
No charges were filed against Askegren.
In Escambia Case, Appeals Court Backs Notifying Minor’s Parents Before Abortion
November 29, 2016
With one judge pointing to a lack of “sufficient maturity to make this critical decision,” a state appeals court Monday rejected a minor’s attempt to get an abortion without her parents being notified.
A three-judge panel of the 1st District Court of Appeal upheld an Escambia County circuit judge’s decision to refuse to grant a waiver from the state’s parental-notification law. The ruling did not detail the age or the hometown of the minor, identifying her only as “Jane Doe 16-A.”
Florida voters in 2004 approved a constitutional amendment that requires parents to be notified before their minor daughters can have abortions. But that amendment and subsequent laws created a process for minors to go to court to prevent the notification — a process known as a judicial bypass or waiver.
Monday’s ruling said the minor based her request on two legal grounds: that she was sufficiently mature to decide whether to have the abortion and that the notification would not be in the “best interests of the petitioner.”
In a four-page opinion written by Chief Judge Clay Roberts and joined by judges M. Kemmerly Thomas and Scott Makar, the appeals court said it could find “no abuse of discretion” in Escambia County Circuit Judge Coleman Lee Robinson’s decision to reject a waiver from the notification requirement.
“In considering the denial of a petition for judicial waiver, this court looks to whether the circuit court abused its discretion and may not reweigh the evidence presented below in order to reach a different result from the circuit court,” Roberts wrote. “Our review on appeal is highly deferential to the circuit court, due, in large part, to the confidential, non-adversarial nature of the proceeding below. The circuit court sits in a far better position to assess a minor’s demeanor and credibility than this court can upon review of the transcribed hearing.”
Makar wrote a more-detailed concurring opinion, saying that the minor’s testimony “fell short of the clear and convincing standard required to obtain a judicial order that her parents not be notified she is seeking to terminate her pregnancy.”
“Among many evidentiary deficiencies, the minor did not know what the medical procedure involved (and had no plan if post-surgical complications arose), had accepted little or no responsibility for ‘anything at all’ in her life, and planned on her parents paying for the procedure,” Makar wrote. “The limited evidentiary record paints a portrait of an emotionally overwhelmed young woman lacking sufficient maturity to make this critical decision independent of her parents for whom she expressed only a generalized fear about their possible reaction.”
The ruling does not prevent the minor from having an abortion but requires that a physician notify her parents before it can be performed.
The parental-notification law has been controversial, but a footnote in Makar’s concurring opinion suggested that judges rarely turn down requests for waivers. The footnote said 89.5 percent of petitions were granted in 2013, 90.5 percent in 2014 and 94.7 percent in 2015.
Deputies Seek Man On Firearms, Narcotics Charges
November 29, 2016
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help in locating 23-year old Kewauntez Antonio Matthews. Matthews is wanted for firearms and narcotics offenses.
The Sheriff’s Office said he is to be considered armed and dangerous and should not be approached. Anyone with information on his whereabouts should contact the Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or 911.
Escambia School Board Installs Members For Coming Year
November 29, 2016
The Escambia County School Board held an Installation Ceremony Monday night for newly re-elected Superintendent Malcolm Thomas (pictured above) and board members Kevin Adams, District 1 (below); Bill Slayton, District 5 (below middle); and Patty Hightower, District 4 (pictured bottom).
The board recently elected Linda Moultrie as chairman for 2016-2017 and Gerald Boone as vice-chairman. Regular board meetings are held at 5:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month at the J.E. Hall Center, Room 160.
Photos by Kim Stefansson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Firefighters Battle Winners Circle Brush Fire
November 29, 2016
Firefighters were called to battle a brush fire about 10:00 Monday night in the 2000 block of Winners Circle. The fire was contained to a wooded area bounded by Winners Circle, Filly Road and East Kingsfield Road. It took firefighters over an hour to extinguish the fire as they battled against a strong wind that was pushing the flames. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Local Governments Receive Grants For Disaster Prep and Response
November 28, 2016
Volunteer Florida has awarded over $42,00/0 in federal funding to establish or enhance Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) and citizen corp programs in Escambia County.
The Town of Century received a $7,000 grant for their CERT, plus an additional $7,400 for the Town of Century Citizen Corps.
The Escambia County and Pensacola CERT programs received $7,000 each, while The Escambia County and Pensacola Citizen Corps received an additional $7,000 each.
The organizations will match the funding dollar for dollar through cash or in-kind investments. The program is funded by the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) and administered by Volunteer Florida.
“Volunteer Florida’s CERT funding specifically trains Floridians to take action following emergencies or disasters like hurricanes and tornadoes,” said Chester W. Spellman, Volunteer Florida CEO. “This unique training allows citizens to support the critical work of our emergency management officials by deploying CERT volunteers when they are needed, saving taxpayer dollars.”
CERT was created as a grassroots approach to encourage “neighbors helping neighbors” in the event of emergencies or disasters. Grantees conduct emergency management training to enhance the capabilities of local emergency management personnel. Following their training, grantees deploy citizens to impacted areas so that they can assist in response and recovery. Citizens are prepared to assist with light search and rescue, offer immediate help to victims until professional services arrive, provide evacuation assistance, and support damage assessment teams.
“The CERT program allows communities to recruit and train civilians as neighborhood, business and government teams that become auxiliary responders during disasters,” said Bryan Koon, Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management. “We are thrilled that Volunteer Florida is administering this funding for Florida.”
Pictured: Century CERT volunteers during a disaster exercise. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
FDLE Offers Safe Online Shopping Tips For Cyber Monday
November 28, 2016
It’s Cyber Monday — the Monday following Black Friday. Most online retailers hold a Cyber Monday sale; it is traditionally the busiest day of the year for online retailers. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement offers the following tips for safe online shopping today, and every day of the year.
Make Sure to Use a Secure Browser.
Make sure your browser meets industry security standards. Features such as the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encrypt your personal information as it is sent over the Internet. Most browsers are capable of SSL encryption and other security features.
There are two ways to determine if a website encrypts data before it is sent over the Internet. The first is that the URL displayed in the address bar will begin with the abbreviation “https.” This stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure. Web pages that do not encrypt data only display “http,” without the “s.”
Secure web pages will also display a second indicator, which differs depending on the particular browser being used. In most browsers, a small lock will appear in the bottom-right corner of the browser window.
Shop Only With Companies You Are Comfortable With.
Ask for paper documentation, such as a catalog or a brochure, if you are unfamiliar with an online merchant. This should help you become familiar with the vendor’s services and policies. Never deal with an on-line merchant whose policies are not explicitly clarified.
Keep Your Password(s) Secret.
Never reveal passwords that you use on-line. See the page on SecureFlorida.org for more information about passwords.
Pay by Credit or Charge Card.
Using your credit card online ensures that you will be protected by the Fair Credit Billing Act. This law provides consumers with the right to dispute charges made to their accounts. If unauthorized charges are made to your credit card, by law you are liable only for the first $50, and many companies don’t require you to pay anything.
Keep Records.
Keep a record of confirmation numbers and purchase orders. Print them out and keep personal copies. On-line orders are covered by the Federal Mail/Telephone Order Merchandise Rule. This rule states that merchandise ordered online must be delivered within 30 days unless otherwise noted. Your records will be able to provide proof of the date and time of purchase.
Paying Your Bills Online
Most companies offer you the convenience of paying your bills and checking your account online. Before enrolling in one of these “click-to-pay” programs, make sure you fully understand the company’s privacy policy and security measures. If an appropriate description of a company’s security procedures is not available, ask the company by calling them or e-mailing them.
Santa To Visit The Century And Molino Branch Libraries
November 28, 2016
Mark your calendar…Santa Claus is coming to the Century and Molino branches of the West Florida Library.
Santa will be at the Century Branch Library this Thursday, December 1 at 6 p.m. Children can enjoy stories, Santa and a little holiday spirit. Parents are encouraged to bring a camera for photos with Santa.
Santa will visit the Molino Branch Library on Tuesday, December 6 at 6 p.m. for a special Pajama Story Time with Santa. Children invited to wear their comfy, cozy pajamas, brink a blanket and join the library staff for a stories, milk and cookies along with a very special visit from Santa Claus. Parents are encouraged to bring their cameras.
Pictured: Santa visits the Century Branch Library last year. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Student Athletes Honored At FCA Banquet
November 28, 2016
The Fellowship of Christian Athletes “Go the Distance” Awards were presented recently at a banquet hosted by the First Baptist Church of Pensacola.
Athletes from Escambia and Santa Rosa counties were honored for their participation in cross country, golf, swimming and volleyball.
Honored were:
Catholic Cross Country – Grant Kemp
Catholic Cross Country – Tori Toellner
Catholic Golf – Madelyn Demitroff
Catholic Golf – AJ Panyko
Catholic Swimming – Blakey Baker
Catholic Swimming – Ryan Dockery
Catholic Volleyball – Kiley Brady
East Hill Christian Cross Country – Will Philips
East Hill Christian Volleyball – Kaylie Dickson
East Hill Cross Country – Ella Griffith
Escambia Golf – Jason Bryant
Escambia Volleyball – Angela Harvey
Gulf Breeze Cross Country – Shelby Dunne
Gulf Breeze Cross Country – Mason Youberg
Gulf Breeze Golf – Desirae Kane
Gulf Breeze Golf – Brian Richards
Gulf Breeze Swimming – Whitney Speck
Gulf Breeze Swimming – Nik Bindi
Gulf Breeze Volleyball – Olivia Hepworth
Jay Cross Country – Grace Gillman
Jay Cross Country – Jimmie Ates
Pine Forest Golf – Daniel Taylor Limerick
Milton Cross Country – Brett Kaniper
Milton Cross Country – Becky Ward
Milton Golf – Beau Martin
Milton Golf – Megan Robertson
Milton Swimming – Andrew Simmons
Milton Swimming – Amber Gilley
Milton Volleyball – Mallory Bramel
Navarre Golf – Sultana Pohlmann
Navarre Swimming – Zach Sutton
Navarre Swimming – Killian Casey
Northview Cross Country – Adrian King
Northview Cross Country – Lexxi Baggett
Northview Volleyball – Brittanie McLemore
Pace Cross Country – Ceanna Martin
Pace Golf – Katrina Boteler
Pace Swimming – Richard Fisher
Pace Swimming – Zoe Hall
Pace Volleyball – Morgan Helton
Pensacola High Cross Country – Cody Wolfe
Pensacola High Cross Country – Patricia “TK” McAuley
Pensacola High Golf – Jack Myslak
Pensacola High Golf – Ashley Burroughs
Pensacola High Swimming – Allison Spradlin
Pensacola High Swimming – Jawone Blankenship
Pensacola High Volleyball – Ra’kell Watts
Pine Forest Golf – Rachel Rudd
Pine Forest Swimming – Clark Dunham
PSC Volleyball – Allison Von Brock
Tate Cross Country – Seth Godwin
Tate Cross Country – Hannah Wellenkamp
Tate Golf – Kaylee Jackson
Tate Swimming – Patrick Thorton
Tate Swimming – Olivia Gardner
UWF Cross Country – Kim Napoleon
UWF Cross Country – Micah Kemp
UWF Swimming – Karisa Kostecki
UWF Volleyball – Holly Mattmuller
Washington Cross Country – Jasiana Edwards
Washington Cross Country – Daniel Holzknecht
Washington Golf – Darcy Prendergast
Washington Golf – Peter Calogero
Washington Volleyball – Ally Blankenship
West Florida Cross Country – Rory Carmody
West Florida Cross Country – Mallory Mott
West Florida Golf – Madelyn Lathan
West Florida Golf – Ty Aulger
West Florida High Swimming – Janeese Faircloth
West Florida Swimming – Christian Marvin
West Florida Volleyball – Harmoni Burton
Pictured top: Northview FCA award winners (L-R) Lexxi Baggett, Adrian King and Brittanie McLemore. Pictured below: Northview banquet attendees. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Forest Seedling Nursery To Be Built In Atmore
November 28, 2016
The largest producer of container-grown forest seedlings in North America will construct a nursery in Atmore to serve forest landowners and other customers in the southeastern U.S.
Construction of the PRT USA nursery will be completed in early 2017, and sowing of seedlings will occur in Spring 2017, for shipping to customers for the 2017-18 planting season.
The nursery will be established at the former E.A. Hauss Nursery site in Atmore. PRT has signed a long term lease with the Alabama Forestry Commission, which includes land, buildings and infrastructure suitable to forest seedling production. PRT will construct container growing facilities on the site, which it intends to expand over time in response to customer needs. PRT’s forest seedling product offering will include longleaf, slash and loblolly pine, and other species.
“With establishment of this facility PRT will take another step towards our goal of better serving our customers in the Southeast U.S. This region is an important forestry market in North America, which is poised to grow as the forest industry economic recovery continues and as more customers embrace the advantages of container grown seedlings. An Alabama based nursery will allow us to make PRT’s containerized forest seedlings available for quick and effective turnaround deliveries during the fall and winter plant period starting in 2017,” said PRT President and CEO Rob Miller.
“We have worked diligently with the State of Alabama in order to arrive at this mutually agreeable arrangement for the former E.A. Hauss Nursery. We recognize and respect the legacy of this nursery to the State and the history of forestry in the region. We look forward to continuing this legacy by working with customers throughout the Southeast U.S. and being an integral part of their successful reforestation efforts now and in the future,” Miller added.
The PRT Group currently grows more than 180 million seedlings annually at a network of forest seedling nurseries in the U.S. and Canada.