DOC To Close Atmore Community Work Center, Transfer Employees To Holman
November 9, 2016
The Alabama Department of Corrections will close the Atmore Community Work Center and transfer the employees to augment critical staffing shortages at Holman Prison.
Corrections officials said the plan to close the Atmore Community Work Center, which houses 240 inmates with a staff of 27 employees, will take effect by the end of this month.
“Our decision to close the Atmore Community Work Center and transfer the facility’s security staff to the William C. Holman Correctional Facility is a prudent step toward improving the safety and security conditions at the prison,” said Corrections Commissioner Jeff Dunn. “By closing the work center and transferring security staff to Holman, we will increase ‘boots on the ground’ and provide for a safer facility for our employees and inmates.”
Atmore Community Work Center inmates currently providing services to governmental agencies will be relocated to J.O. Davis Correctional Facility in Atmore in order to continue DOC’s support to the community. Officials added that closing the work center will not affect the local economy.
ADOC officials said a number of Atmore’s correctional officers already volunteer for overtime at Holman Correctional Facility to fill officer shortages. Since Holman prison is in close proximity to the community work center, the impact on officers transferring from the work center to the prison will be minimal.
Located next to Fountain prison, the Atmore Community Work center opened in 1973.
Rubio Wins Senate Race
November 9, 2016
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, who started the year declaring he wouldn’t seek re-election, retained his seat Tuesday, winning a second six-year term by defeating Democratic U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy.
Rubio, who entered the contest in June after his White House aspirations collapsed, overcame efforts by Democrats to link him to Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and to paint his re-election run as simply a step towards a 2020 presidential bid.
As of 10 p.m., Rubio had about 52 percent of the vote, while Murphy had about 44 percent, according to the state Division of Elections website.
“I am glad that I’m an American in the 21st Century,” said Rubio said during a victory speech at his election night party at the Hilton Miami Airport. “America is going to be OK. We will turn this country around. I have faith. I know God is not done with America yet.”
Rubio added that the time has come for America to come together to respect its diversity behind a common dream.
“I believe with all my heart that if we do what needs to be done in the years to come that my children and yours will be the freest and most prosperous that have ever lived,” Rubio said. “But we must start now. For while we still have time to get this right, we don’t have forever.”
Republican Party of Florida Chairman Blaise Ingoglia said in a prepared statement that voters “rewarded the senator’s dedication to public service.”
Murphy, a two-term member of the House, struggled to overcome massive negative attacks from national and state Republican groups. Also he faced a perceived lack of name recognition outside his Treasure Coast district and some self-inflicted wounds tied to exaggerations and explanations about his educational and professional resume.
Murphy also faced criticism even from within his party that he wasn’t as strong a campaigner as they expected.
Murphy said “we put everything we had into this fight,” while giving a concession speech during his election night party at the Palm Beach Gardens Marriott Hotel. However, “we were expecting and hoping for a different result this evening.”
After someone in the crowd shouted “recount,” Murphy said “the people of Florida have spoken and at the end of the day I respect their choice.”
Murphy said he called Rubio before appearing before his supporters.
The contest was one of the most-watched and most-expensive Senate campaigns in the nation, as Democrats eyed the seat as a potential step in recapturing control of the upper chamber.
In addition to the $12.48 million the Federal Elections Commission reported has been raised by Rubio’s camp and $13.72 million that came into Murphy’s campaign, outside groups using super PACs reportedly spent nearly $50 million more in Florida.
Murphy tried to make the race about Rubio’s oft-criticized attendance record in the Senate and the future political aspirations of the former Florida House speaker.
But Rubio during a debate at the University of Central Florida rolled out a line intended to rebuff that claim, saying he will “serve in the Senate for the next six years. God willing.”
Rubio, who sought to promote himself on the campaign trail as more hardline against terrorism than his Democratic challenger, entered the contest after the summer’s mass murder in an Orlando nightclub by a homegrown terrorist.
D.C. insiders were also pushing Rubio to enter the contest, worrying the Republican lineup of congressmen, businessmen and Florida’s lieutenant governor weren’t exciting the electorate.
From that point, Rubio never trailed in any major polls.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Voters Back Tax Exemptions For First Responders, Senior Citizens
November 9, 2016
In two issues that received relatively little attention, voters were poised Tuesday night to overwhelmingly approve two constitutional amendments that could lead to property-tax breaks for disabled first responders and some seniors.
The proposals, known as amendments 3 and 5, were placed on the ballot by the Legislature. Amendment 3 would allow lawmakers to grant property-tax exemptions for first responders who are totally and permanently disabled because of injuries suffered in the line of duty. With about 8 million votes counted statewide, the measure had support from more than 83 percent of voters. Amendment 5, meanwhile, is aimed at allowing low-income seniors to continue receiving an additional homestead tax exemption when their property values rise above $250,000. It was being backed by about 78 percent of voters.
by The News Service of Florida
Century Stabbing Suspect Arrested Monday Night
November 8, 2016
The suspect in an October 30 stabbing in Century was taken into custody Monday night.
Alfreco Lett, 44, was booked into the Escambia County Jail Monday evening on a charge of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon with bond set at $25,000.
Lett is accused of stabbing one person at a mobile home in the 300 block of East Pond Street about 8:30 p.m. Sunday. The victim was transported by Lifeguard ambulance to EMS Post 50 in Century and then transferred to LifeFlight helicopter and airlifted to a Pensacaola hospital. The victim’s name and condition have not been released.
Following the stabbing, Lett allegedly fled the scene on foot in an unknown direction.
Tate Aggie Markus Baxley Recognized By Congressman For Special Touchdown
November 8, 2016
Monday, the office of Congressman Jeff Miller presented Tate Aggie Markus Baxley with special recognition of his 10-yard touchdown run at the Tate versus Pace football game on October 7. Baxley was presented with a flag that flew over the Capitol in Washington on game day.
Baxley has cerebral palsy and spent his high school career as an honorary member of the Aggies team. Until that one game in October, he had never scored a touchdown, made a tackle or even played a single down. On October 7, he was out of his wheelchair for a special pre-game down. With his from his team, he scored a 10-yard touchdown. The play earned Baxley his varsity letter in football.
In conjunction with the game, Baxley also helped the Aggie Nation raise $1,000 for the Miracle League of Pensacola.
Pictured above and below: Stevan Davis from the office of Congressman Jeff Miller presented special recognition Monday to Aggie Markus Baxley. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge. Pictured bottom: Baxley scores his October 7 touchdown. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Entire State Of Alabama Now Under No Burn Order
November 8, 2016
All 67 counties in Alabama are now under a “no burn” order in which all outdoor burning is prohibited.
The no burn order is a result of the prolonged drought that most of the state is experiencing this year, as well as the increasing number of fires that have occurred recently and reduced availability of suppression resources.
Under the no burn order, ” it is illegal for any person to set fire to any forest, grass, woods, wildlands or marshes; to build a campfire or bonfire; or to burn trash or other material that may cause a forest, grass or woods fire. Specifically, the regulation prohibits any prescribed burns, any campfire or bonfire, any trash or debris fires, or any other open burning. If convicted, the penalty for violating the No Burn order is up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $500.”
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
FHP: 96-Year Old Causes Beulah Four-Vehicle Crash
November 8, 2016
An elderly woman was cited after causing a four-vehicle crash Monday evening on Nine Mile Road at Heritage Oaks.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 96-year old Chelton Wilson of Mobile was eastbound on Highway 90 in Mercury Sable when she rear-ended a Nissan Sentra driven by 29-year old Megan Schaff of Pensacola. That vehicle was pushed into a 2015 Ford F150 driven by 48-year old Steven Pinette of Pensacola, which was pushed into a 2007 Ford Escape driven by 44-year old Vasheta Rogers of Pensacola.
Wilson’s vehicle then traveled down an embankment on the shoulder of the roadway.
All injuries in the crash were minor.
Wilson was cited for careless driving by the FHP.
Century Council Honors Late Member Annie Savage, Discusses Replacement
November 8, 2016
The Century Town Council paused Monday night to remember Council Member Annie Savage, who passed away recently at age 75.
A black ribbon marked Savage’s place at the council table Monday night, the first meeting since her death. The council paused for a moment of silence in her honor.
The council also discussed a temporary appointment to the seat. The council decided that council members will accept names of those interested in serving and discuss a replacement at their November 21 meeting. A special election will also be scheduled for a permanent appointee to fill Savages unexpired term of just over four years.
Pictured top and bottom: A black ribbon marked the place of late council member Annie Savage Monday night in Century. Pictured inset: A file photo of Savage. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
FDLE Agent Accused Of Abusing Third Young Boy
November 8, 2016
A third victim has surfaced in the case of a Florida Department of Law Enforcement special agent accused of child sex crimes.
Charles “Chuck” Calvin McMullen was arrested on an additional charge of lewd and lascivious behavior and held without bond in the Santa Rosa County Jail.
He was first arrested on two counts of sexual battery on a victim under 12 and two counts of lewd lascivious behavior victim less than 12 years old.
The mother of the third victim contacted the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office after reading about McMullen’s first arrest. She became concerned because her child spent “almost every other weekend” at McMullen’s home, and she questioned her son.
The son told his mother and investigators that McMullen touched him in and inappropriate sexual manner.
McMullen investigated similar cases during his five year employment with the FDLE. He previously worked as Chief of the Cybercrimes Unit for then-Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum and for the Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office.
For more information about his previous arrest, click here.
Pictured top: Charles Calvin McMullen. Courtesy WEAR 3.
Ransom Middle Academic Tigers Move on to Nationals
November 8, 2016
Students from Ransom Middle School have once again qualified to compete at the national level at the Middle School National Championship Academic Tournament.
The members of the Ransom Academic Team participated in the Second Annual Lewis Falcons Middle School Academic Tournament in Valparaiso on November 5. They competed against 28 middle school teams from across the Florida Panhandle.
The matches in the tournament challenged team members to work together to answer complex academic questions more accurately than an opposing team. To gain an advantage each team tried to answer more quickly than the other team.
Clarissa Brown and Lucinda Bateman coached the teams for Ransom Middle and explained that the tournament questions are so much more than quick “trivia” questions.
“They have a pyramidal structure, where the questions begin with more difficult clues, slowly progressing to more familiar information. It rewards the more knowledgeable students for their ability to answer quickly while only using less, and more difficult, high-level information,” Brown explained.
Members of Ransom Middle’s teams were: Ransom Team A – Captain Maggie Brown, Carter Pitts, Abby Gryskiewicz, and Maggie Shaffer. Ransom Team B – Captain Lili Rollins, Ian DeLay, Owen Painter, and Saahil Soni.
Ransom’s Team A finished fifth overall, qualifying them for the 2017 Middle School National Championship Tournament. Brown ranked #8 overall out of 124 players.
“We are so proud of their outstanding and enthusiastic effort, and how well they continue to represent Ransom Middle School and Escambia County Schools,” Bateman said.
The 2017 Middle School National Championship Academic Tournament will be held May 12-14 in Dallas.
Pictured top: Ransom Academic Team members (front, L-R) Carter Pitts, Owen Painter, Saahil Soni, Ian DeLay, (back, L-R) Maggie Shaffer, Abby Gryskiewicz, Lili Rollins, Maggie Brown. Pictured below: Team A ready to complete (L-R) Gryskiewicz, Shaffer, Brown and Pitts. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
