Escambia Man Arrested For March Murder
August 17, 2016
An Escambia County man was arrested Tuesday afternoon for a March murder.
William Hurst Peters III, 35, was charged with homicide for the March 11 murder of Cynthia Finney. Escambia County firefighters found Finney’s body inside her burning home.
DNA evidence played a major role in the homicide investigation, leading to Peters’ arrest, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Peters was already serving time in jail on child abuse charges. He has been arrested 21 times previously, including two juvenile felony arrests, deputies said.
He remains in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $
Child Abuse Charge Upgraded To First Degree Murder
August 17, 2016
An Escambia County man is now charged with murder in connection with a child’s death.
Alonzo Thompkins, 26, has been in the Escambia County Jail since last week on two counts of aggravated child abuse. Now, one count has been upgraded to first degree murder for the death of 2-year old Cornelius Savage who died August 8. The charged was upgraded based upon a preliminary autopsy report that showed the child died in Thompkins’ care.
Police were dispatched to the residence around 9 a.m. August 8 after the child’s mother returned home and found her two-year-old son was not breathing. Thompkins had been left alone with the 2-year-old male, who was the son of Thompkins’ girlfriend.
Thompkins was arrested August 8 after the child died. The second charge was placed on him August 9 after an investigation determined a three-year-old child in the residence had multiple bruises on her body and a broken collar bone.
The investigation is continuing, according to authorities.
Gulf Power To Seek Rate Increase
August 17, 2016
Gulf Power plans this fall to seek an increase in base rates for electricity, saying current rates “do not produce sufficient revenues for us to be able to continue adequately serving our customers and maintain the company’s financial integrity,” according to a filing with the Florida Public Service Commission.
The Pensacola-based utility, which serves larges parts of Northwest Florida, did not provide detailed figures but indicated it likely will seek an increase of $115 million to $125 million. The filing also indicated a full rate proposal will be filed with the Public Service Commission in October.
The regulatory commission later will hold a detailed hearing before deciding whether to approval the proposal, a process that takes months.
“Securing our customers’ energy future requires a balanced energy mix that includes renewables and 24/7 energy sources like natural gas and low-cost coal that’s cleaner than ever,” said Stan Connally, Gulf Power chairman, president & CEO. “Energy security also includes reliability — since 2010, Gulf Power has improved its reliability by 40 percent and we must continue that trend of improvement.”
Gulf Power last requested an increase in 2013. In 2012, the utility’s customers saw the largest price decrease in Gulf Power’s history, a decrease of nearly $10 per month for the typical customer. Again in January 2016, customers received a decrease that lowered the bill $3.71 per month.
“As we continue to secure future energy needs for our customers, we have to make sure our systems are resilient so that we can continue to deliver safe, clean and reliable energy and continue to meet the energy needs of our customers today, tomorrow and into the future,” Connally added.
In a five-page document notifying the commission of its plans, Gulf Power pointed to factors such as investments in its infrastructure and slow sales growth
“As evidenced by our strong levels of customer satisfaction, Gulf continues to provide safe, reliable service to our customers,” said the document, filed Friday. “However, the fact remains that growth in base rate revenues has not kept pace with the cost of providing service to our customers. Adequate rate relief through an increase in base rates is necessary now in order for Gulf to have the capability to continue providing our customers with safe and reliable electric service at reasonable prices.”
The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.
School Board Names New ‘Kingsfield Elementary’ And ‘Beulah Middle’ Schools
August 17, 2016
The Escambia County School Board officially approved names for two new schools.
“Kingsfield Elementary School” will be located at 900 West Kingsfield Road next to Ransom Middle School in Cantonment. The $25 million facility will serve 800 students and help help alleviate overcrowding at Beulah and Pine Meadow elementary schools.
“Beulah Middle School” will be constructed at 6001 West Nine Mile Road on the Coastal Airport property. The $45 to $48 million dollar school will have a capacity 1,100 to 1,300 students. Students will be relocated to the new school from Woodham Midde, while hundreds will be rezoned from the overcrowded Ransom Middle.
Both schools are being funded by Local Option Sales Tax dollars and are scheduled to open in the fall of 2018. The schools were planned in response to population growth in area, much of it spurred by Navy Federal Credit Union.
The school names were recommended to the Escambia County School Board by a naming committee.
Pictured: The Escambia County School Board met Tuesday night at the J.E. Hall Center in Pensacola. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Gaetz, Provost Advance In Search For New UWF President
August 17, 2016
State Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, is among 19 candidates who will be invited to the next step in the interview process to become president of the University of West Florida.
Gaetz, a former Senate president who earlier served six years on the Okaloosa County School Board and six years as the county’s schools superintendent, was among 83 people who applied for the position, including 11 who filed resumes late Monday.
Also among the 19 candidates is Martha Saunders, who has been provost and executive vice president at the university since 2013. Saunders previously served as president at the University of Southern Mississippi and as chancellor at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
A presidential search committee will invite the remaining candidates to appear for face-to-face meetings on August 29 and 30. The committee expects to approve a list of three finalists on September 6, and the school’s Board of Trustees will select the replacement for retiring President Judy Bense on September 15.
by The News Service of Florida
Fall Baseball, Softball Registration Underway In Cantonment
August 17, 2016
Registration will continue this Saturday for fall baseball and softball from 9-1 at the Cantonment Sportsplex baseball boardroom. Registration is $65 per child with a discount for each additional child. Or register online by clicking here. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FDOT Outlines Plan To Remedy Hwy 29 Truck Rollovers
August 16, 2016
The Florida Department of Transportation has taken a another step toward addressing the problem with a North Century Boulevard curve that has seen multiple semi-truck rollovers.
A month after covering signage south of the curve that instructed northbound drivers to remain in the right lane, the Florida Department of Transportation has informed the Town of Century that FDOT has a plan in the works.
FDOT has completed a “geometric analysis” of a two mile stretch of northbound Highway 29 between Front Street and the Alabama state line. As a result, FDOT has developed a plan to install signs that will warn truckers of the tipping hazard on northbound Highway 29 leading into two curves, including the one near Jackson Street that has been of the most concern.
In addition, FDOT plans to restrict trucks to the left lane in the area and install additional signs to communicate that message to truck drivers.
An email from the Florida Department of Transportation acknowledges that new signs and lane restrictions are short term fixes, and the department is working to identify a design and construction project to correct the slope of the roadway.
FDOT’s email did not identify a time frame for the new signage, other than to say “as soon as possible”.
Century and Escambia County have both pressed FDOT to eventually fix the elevation problem with the roadway.
Twice this year, semi-trucks rolled over in a curve on North Century Boulevard at Jackson Street. City and county officials believe the curve is badly designed with a slope in the outer lane that is difficult for semis to negotiate at the posted 35 mph speed limit. The amount of lean on an 18-wheeler in the outer lane is demonstrated in the photo below.
Pictured top: The Florida Department of Transportation has covered a sign on North Century Boulevard that instructed trucks to use the right lane. Pictured below: A tanker truck leans as it negotiates a dangerous curve on North Century Boulevard. Pictured inset: Mayor Freddie McCall and FDOT engineers observe North Century Boulevard traffic. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Reinstates Permit Fees For Tornado Recovery
August 16, 2016
County fees for building and demolition permits related to tornado recovery have been waived since February, but those waivers are ending.
The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners agreed to waive the residential permit fees in Century until August 15 and until August 23 in the Northpointe/Ferry Pass area — six months after the respective areas were hit by EF-3 tornadoes.
The county permit fees were reinstated after the close of business on Monday for Century area permits.
However, the Town of Century has voted to waive their permit fees indefinitely for tornado recovery.
Couple Sentenced In Meth Case That Injured Child
August 16, 2016
A couple has been sentenced to prison after a young child consumed acid used in the process of making meth.
Amber Nicole Cooley, 24, and Kyle Joseph Cooley, 27, were sentenced to 10 years in state prison by Circuit Judge Ross Goodman for charges that arose when a 3-year old child ingested ingredients used by the couple to manufacture methamphetamine in their home. The 10 year sentence is a minimum mandatory, requiring that the couple serve the entire sentence without receiving gain time.
The Milton couple entered pleas of no contest to charges of manufacture of methamphetamine in the presence of a child causing great bodily harm, two counts of child neglect causing great bodily harm, unlawful possession of listed chemicals, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia
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On December 9, 2015, Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a medical emergency at the Cooley home on Fleetwood Drive in Milton. Upon arrival they found a 3-year old child that had severe burns to the face, neck, mouth, and chest area. Amber Cooley stated that the child had swallowed drain cleaner, which contains a strong acid used in making methamphetamine. The child was taken by Life Flight to Sacred Heart Hospital for treatment and has been released but continues to undergo surgeries for injuries that will leave permanent scarring. Deputies found numerous items used formanufacturing methamphetamine inside in the Cooley home. A second child hadchemical burns to the face and was also treated for these injuries.
New Fire Fighter, Criminal Justice Academies Kick Off School Year
August 16, 2016
The Escambia County Fire Fighter Academy at Pine Forest High School and Escambia County Criminal Justice Academy at Escambia High School started classes last week, providing students an opportunity to get a head start on their careers in public safety.
The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners helped fund the career academies through a donation of $50,000 to the Escambia County Public Schools Foundation in 2015, supporting the Escambia County School District’s efforts to create immersive learning environments within the high schools that focus on each specific career path. Participating students will develop knowledge in firefighting and criminal justice and have the opportunity to earn relevant industry certifications. To date, 111 students have enrolled in the Fire Fighter Academy, and 68 students have enrolled in the Criminal Justice Academy.
“These academies will offer students a chance to get an early start to their careers in firefighting or criminal justice, and Escambia County is excited to be a part of the future of workforce education,” Assistant County Administrator Chip Simmons said. “With a background in public safety, I would have loved the opportunity to start my training at a younger age. The public safety needs in Escambia County are going to continue to grow, and these programs will lay the foundation for our future fire fighters and law enforcement officers.”
