Light Up The Night: New Street Lighting In Cantonment
March 4, 2016
New LED street lights are being installed in the Cantonment area. There are 154 62-watt LED lights being installed in the Cantonment Redevelopment Area (CRA) in the area bordered by Nowak Road, Muscogee Road, Highway 297A and Upland Road. The total cost for the project, funded by the CRA, is $63,192.88.
Pictured: New LED street lights are installed along Callaway Street in Cantonment on Thursday. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Roundup: Wins For Tate, Central, Jay; Loss For Flomaton
March 4, 2016
BASEBALL
Tate 15, Pine Forest 9
The Tate High School Aggies beat the Pine Forest Eagles in a high-scoring game Thursday night, 15-9. The Aggies sealed the win in the ninth inning with six funs. The Aggies scored in the ninth, including a two-run double from Hunter Nesmith.
Josh Kea recorded the win for the Aggies. He pitched 1 2/3 shutout innings. He struck out two, walked none and surrendered one hit.
Tate hitters: Reid Halfacre 1-3, 2R, RBI; Branden Fryman 2-5, 3R; RBI; Hunter Nesmith 3-4, 2RBI, 3R; Reid Halfacre 1-3. RBI, 2R; Mason Land 3-5, 4RBI, 3R; Cole Halfacre 1-2, 2RBI
Tate 11, Pine Forest 2 (JV)
SOFTBALL
Central 6, Flomaton 0
Central blanked Flomaton Thursday 6-0 in a game that was called early due to weather. Lacee Stewart pitched the win in five for Flomaton, allowing no runs, four hits and striking out four.
Jay 7, Freeport 1
The Jay Lady Royals beat Freeport 7-1 Thursday. Destiny Herring earned the win, with three runs on six hits, two strikeouts and a walk in five innings.
Jay hitters: Samantha Steadham 3-4, 4 RBI, 2 doubles, Herring 2-4, 2 runs, Averie Jackson 1-3 RBI, run.
Tate 7, Navarre 1 (JV)
Death Penalty Change Headed To Scott; Local SAO Says Won’t Impact Escambia Cases
March 4, 2016
State lawmakers Tuesday signed off on a measure intended to cure Florida’s death penalty system
Gov. Rick Scott’s aides said he will sign the bill, approved by the Senate in a 35-5 vote after earlier passing the House. The law will take effect immediately once signed by Scott.
The legislation was prompted by a Jan. 12 U.S. Supreme Court ruling, in an Escambia County Popeye’s Chicken murder case known as Hurst v. Florida, that struck down the state’s death-penalty sentencing system as unconstitutional. The decision effectively put the death penalty on hold in Florida.
The legislation on its way to Scott would require at least 10 jurors to recommend death for the penalty to be imposed — a compromise between the House and the Senate, which had originally favored unanimous jury recommendations. Prosecutors, including Attorney General Pam Bondi, pushed for the 10-2 recommendation, arguing that unanimity would allow a single juror to hijack the process. Any vote by the jury that is less than 10 t0 2 will result in the automatic imposition of a life in prison sentence. If the jury recommends death, the judge will still have the option handing down of a life sentence.
State Attorney Bill Eddins said the state is currently seeking a death sentence in 13 cases in the First Judicial Circuit, including six in Escambia County.
“This office believes that each of these cases are still eligible for death under the new law and this office will continue to seek that sentence,” Eddins said. “The state will file notices in each of these cases of its intent to seek the death penalty and the appropriate aggravating factors.”
One of the Escambia County cases in which the State Attorney’s Office is seeking the death penalty is that of accused triple murderer Donald Wayne Hartung (pictured) for the death of his mother and two half-brothers, Voncile Smith, John Smith, and Richard Smith. All three bodies were found on July 31 in their home on Deerfield Drive. All three were beaten with a claw hammer and their throats slit, and Richard Smith was also shot in the head.
The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.
Meet The Girls: Miss EWMS Pageant Is Saturday Night
March 4, 2016
The 2016 Miss Ernest Ward Middle School pageant will be held at 6:00 Saturday night at the school.
The contestants with their biographies, as submitted by the girls, are below. You can click any photo below to enlarge.
Bailey Madison Seibert is the 14-year old daughter of Steve and Lynn Seibert. Bailey is a member of the National Junior Honor Society and is head photographer of the EWMS yearbook. She is a member of the Ernest Ward chorus and has been invited numerous times to sing with the All- County chorus. She is also a member of Teens for Christ at Ernest Ward and an active teen missionary for Highland Baptist Church. Bailey has maintained A/B honor roll throughout school. She won first place in bio chemistry at the science fair and the award from the Daughters of the American Revolution for her history fair project on the Berlin Wall. Bailey has been accepted to West Florida School of Advanced Technology for the critical care and emergency medicine field. Her hobbies include playing softball, target shooting with her bow and arrow, composing poetry, photography, and spending time with family and friends.. Bailey’s future plans include a job as an EMT and higher education to include medical science.
Wylder Amelia Gibson is the 12-year old daughter of Jammie and April Gibson. Wylder is a member of the FFA, the student government association and the Ernest Ward Band. Last year, Wylder won the Gold President’s Award for Educational Excellence. She has taken dance lessons for seven years and is currently a member of Heather Leonard’s Danceworks. Wylder is also a piano student under the direction of Holly Driver. She is a member of Little Escambia Baptist Church in Flomaton.Wylder’s hobbies include reading, hunting with her daddy, helping out with goats and cattle on the family farm, and spending time with family and friends. Wylder’s future plans are to get her forensic anthropology degree from the University of Alabama and work for the FBI.
Ashlan Kaile Harigel is the 14-year old daughter of Dr. Sheldon and Kimberly Harigel. She is a straight A honor student and held the highest GPA for Ernest Ward Middle School for the 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 school years. Ashlan is on the volleyball team, is an EWMS cheer captain, a member of the FFA, student government association, and the National Juniot Honor Society. Last summer, Ashlan was chosen as a UCA All-American Cheerleader and represented Ernest Ward in the 2015 Disney World Thanksgiving Day Parade. Ashlan was seond runner-up for the 2014 EWMS pageant and first runner-up for the 2015 EWMS pageant. She enjoys doing charity work with her youth group, spending time with her family, cheering, showing livestock, playing volleyball, dancing and most of all reading. Ashlan’s future plans include graduating with honors as valedictorian of her class and getting an academic scholarship. She wants to follow in her father’s footsteps and study in the medical field. She plans to become a chief pediatric plastic surgeon. Ashlan also plans to help her mother birth the dream of opening a troubled and abused youth shelter.
Lillian Joan Worden is the 11-year old daughter of Robert and Heather Worden. Lillian is a member of the Teens for Christ. She also plays softball, soccer and cheers. Lillian’s hobbies include shopping, reading, sewing and making bracelets. Lillian’s future plans are to go to college to become a nurse so that she can help others.
Madison Lynne Jogan is the 14-year old daughter of John and Stephanie Jogan. Madison is a member of the Ernest Ward chorus. She has participated in cheerleading at Olive and Hillcrest Baptist churches She has also been awarded second place in the Tropicana Speech Contest. Madison’s hobbies include singing, cheering, photography, drawing and baking. She plans to pursue a law degree after high school. Madison would also like to open a bakery with her mom and grandmother.
Jordan Jade Wilson is the 12-year old daughter of Christa and Will Wilson. Jordan was the recipient of the Cox Hero Award for Bratt Elementary last year due to the success of overcoming a disability. She has played on an Atmore city league soccer team and danced with Heather Leonard’s Danceworks. Jordan has also played softball for Molino and Poarch. Jordan’s hobbies include being outside, playing soccer, hunting, fishing, singing and helping with the care of her little brother who has Autism. Jordan plans to raise funds so that a child with autism can attend summer camp. Her future plans are to attend an art institute and pursue fashion design.
Brystal Marie Rhodes is the 11-year old daughter of Michael and Ashley Rhodes. Brystal is a member of the FFA and the yearbook staff. She is also a member of the Emerald Coast Equestrian Team and the United States Hunter Jumper Association. She has won many competitions jumping with her horse, Aztec. Her hobbies include horse riding, basketball and spending time with her family and friends.
Raleigh Patricia Woodfin is the 13-year old daughter of Walt and Jennifer Woodfin. She is a member of the Barrineau Park 4-H where she shows hogs and has participated in community service projects such as book and shoe drives, care packages for soldiers, and delivering baked goods to local firehouses. She has also volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House cooking meals and donating pop tabs and household items. She serves as vice-president of the Ernest Ward FFA. She is also a member of the National Junior Honor Society and maintains A-B honor roll. Raleigh is also a member of the Ernest Ward volleyball team. Raleigh’s hobbies participating in Escambia County 4-H leadership events, raising, training, and showing livestock, volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House and spending time with family and friends. Her future plans are attend the University of West Florida and major in pre-law. She would like to advocate for grandparent’s rights.
Kally Lee White is the fourteen year old daughter of Kelly White and Jason Wood. Kally is a member of Saint Elizabeth Catholic Church and volunteers with the church’s outreach to help the Alfred Washburn Center and the Ronald McDonald House.. She is an office assistant at Ernest Ward and has also been a cheerleader. Kally cheered for ACE TRIBE competitive cheer company for four years and also helped coach a special needs team who took home the national championship. Her hobbies include tumbling, hunting, fishing, and spending time with family and friends. Kally plans to attend Florida State University after high school and receive a doctorate of dental surgery and continue in the family business.
Taviana Allyse Parker is the 12-year old daughter of Joseph and Sheley Parker. Taviana has participated on the Sunshine Math Team and the Battle of the Books Club. She is a member of the yearbook staff, Ernest Ward Honor Society and has been in the FFA. Taviana also participated in the Brewton Dance Studio for ballet, tap, jazz, tumbling, and hip-hop dance team. Her dance team has danced all over the south and even earned an invitation to New York to practice along side the famous Rockettes. Taviana’s hobbies are dancing, sewing, arts and crafts, shopping, designing clothing, and spending time with family and friends. Her future plans are to graduate from high school and attend college to pursue a nursing degree.
Cloe Madison Smith is the 14-year old daughter of Tammy Jo Smith and the late Michael F. Smith. Cloe is a member of the volleyball team and an EWMS cheer captian. She was selected last summer as a UCA All-American cheerleader and represented Ernest Ward in the 2015 Disney World Thanksgiving Day Parade. She is also a straight A student and a member of the National Junior Honor Society. Cloe has won first place in the Ernest Ward science fair for chemistry and third place overall. Cloe has acted in plays with the Missoula Children’s Theater and most recently with the Greater Escambia Council for the Arts. Her hobbies include acting, singing, dancing, playing the X-box, watching movies, and spending time with family and friends. Cloe’s future plans are to attend college for performing arts.
Jayda Clair Crabtree is the 13-year old daughter of Louis and Layna Crabtree. Jayda is a captain of the Ernest Ward Cheerleading Team, a member of the basketball team, the volleyball team, and the swim and dive team. At cheerleading summer camp, Jayda was chosen as UCA All-American cheerleader for the second straight year and represented Ernest Ward in the 2014 and 2015 Thanksgiving Day parades in Disney World. Jada placed second in the Escambia County School District dive competition this year. She has also won multiple awards in swimming. Jayda is also an honor roll student at Ernest Ward and in the National Junior Honor Society. She is also a member of the student government association. Jayda also helps coach the Northwest Escambia senior football cheer and competition team. Jayda’s hobbies include photography, exercising with her family, listening to music, practicing sports, texting with friends, drawing and spending time with family and friends. Her future plans include graduating high school while receiving her associates degree in fine art from Pensacola State College and then attending the University of West Florida to receive her master’s degree in art production. Jayda would like to become an art producer.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tornado Recovery: Permitting, Inspection Requirements Remain In Effect In Century
March 4, 2016
All repair work and demolition(s) must receive approval by the Town of Century and obtain a Land Use Certificate along with a building permit.
ALL DEMOLITION PERMITS WILL REQUIRE TWO (2) INSPECTIONS:
- IN PROGRESS INSPECTION – inspection to confirm all utilities, (i.e., electric, gas, water and sewer/septic tank), are properly disconnected; and
- FINAL INSPECTION – inspection to confirm property is clean of demolition debris, including foundation for release of property for further building permits.
Inspections may be scheduled using the following methods:
- Email Inspection requests to buildinginspections@myescambia.com;
- Contractors may log in and/or register with BID’s 24/7 Online Citizen Access (ACA) at www.myescambia.com to schedule, cancel and review permit activity online; or
- Schedule through the 24/7 Automated IVR System by calling (850) 471-6640; enter 16-digit Permit Tracking Number located on your permit and follow the prompts.
Source: Escambia County Building Inspections Department
House Fire That Killed Four Children Was Accidental
March 3, 2016
The State Fire Marshal’s Office says a house fire that claimed the lives of four children last month was accidental. The fire originated inside the residence at or near the ceiling above a hallway entrance to the kitchen where the main electric wiring for the house was located. The wiring could not be ruled out as the possible cause.
Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the 5:28 a.m. call on February 18 in the 2500 block of North Baylen Street in Pensacola to find small wood frame home fully involved in fire. Four children — an 11-year old male, 5-year old male, 3-year old female, and and 11-month old female perished in the blaze. They were discovered in a back bedroom of the 700-square foot home.
The mother, Curtisa Johnson, and her 15-year-old daughter, Lakeisha King, escaped without injury.
There were no working smoke detectors in the home.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
according to firefighters.
Appeals Court Ruling Sends Century Man Back To Prison On Drug Charge
March 3, 2016
A Century man that recently completed a prison sentence for a drug charge is headed back to prison following an opinion issued by Florida’s First District Court of Appeal.
Steven Daniel Kite was sentenced this week to seven more years in state prison — the minimum mandatory sentence on a reinstated trafficking charge. The seven years must be served day by day without the possibility of parole or gain time.
He was arrested as part of the “Operation Blister Pack 2″ sweep in April 2013. It took an Escambia County jury just under an hour to find Kite guilty of conspiracy to traffic in methamphetamine and unlawful possession of a listed chemical – pseudoephedrine.
However, Kite moved for and obtained a judgement of acquittal on the conspiracy to traffic count. The trial judge cited two grounds for the judgement of acquittal — inaccurate wording and the failure to prove that there was any agreement between Kite and any other person to purchase and deliver pseudoephedrine. The state appealed the ruling.
The appeals court found the acquittal on the conspiracy to traffic count to be incorrect and ordered the trial court to reinstate the jury’s original guilty verdict.
The appeals court found that Kite did conspire to traffic in methamphetamine. Between December 2010 and April 2013, Kite made 53 purchases of pseudoephedrine, totaling 123.94 grams, from various pharmacies. He would deliver the package of pseudoephedrine to the home of a known methamphetamine cook and receive half a gram of meth each time in return.
Kite previously received a two year sentence, with credit for 122 days previously served, on the possession charge. According to Florida Department of Corrections records, Kite was released from prison on September 20, 2015.
In 2013, Operation Blister Pack targeted nearly 80 individuals on methamphetamine and pseudoephedrine related charges. Many of those arrested were involved with drug groups dubbed “The Village Group”, centered around “The Village” area of Forrest Street and Lakeview Avenue in Cantonment; and “The Ayers Group”, a group centered around Ayers Street in Molino, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Northview’s Calloway Honored As One Of State’s ‘Highest Impact’ Teachers
March 3, 2016
Northview High School teacher Tammy Calloway received double honor last week — not only was she honored at the Golden Apple Dinner for being Northview’s teacher of the year, but also she was recognized as one of the “highest impact” teachers in the state.
In a recent letter, Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart congratulated Calloway for being one of the highest impact teachers in the state.
“On behalf of the state of Florida, I would like to congratulate you for being one of the highest impact teachers in the state,” Stewart wrote. “In a recent analysis of your former students’ performance on statewide standardized assessments, for which a state level value-added model (VAM) score is calculated, the Florida Department of Education found that your impact on student learning is among the most statistically-significantly positive in the state.”
Calloway has been teaching for 22 years. She teaches ninth grade reading and co-teaches ninth grade language arts and earth science.
Pictured: Northview Teacher of the Year Tammy Calloway with her Teacher of the Year “Golden Apple”. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Housing Rehabilitation Assistance Available In Century On Friday
March 3, 2016
Staff from the Escambia County Neighborhood Enterprise Division will be at the Century Town Hall Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 pm. to take applications for housing rehabilitation programs for citizens in the unincorporated areas, or outside the town limits, affected by the February 15 Century tornado.
Applicants must bring a social security card for all household members and a picture ID for all household members over 18. Additionally, applicants should bring the following current information with them as applicable:
- Three most recent pay stubs
- Social security award letter
- Retirement/pension statement
- Unemployment statement
- Child support/alimony verification
- Current bank statements
- Current mortgage statement
- Current insurance statement
- Utility bill
- Any other documentation related to income being received by any member of a household
Programs available include the county’s HOME, CDBG and SHIP rehabilitation programs. Income limits apply and the property must be owner occupied and current on property taxes to receive assistance. Staff will also take applications again Thursday, March 10 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Century Town Hall. For more information, call the Neighborhood Enterprise Division at (850) 595-0022.
Century Town Hall is located at 7995 North Century Boulevard.
Florida Alimony Overhaul In The Works
March 3, 2016
After years of wrangling, lawmakers are poised to approve an alimony overhaul that would do away with permanent alimony and change the way judges decide how much time children should spend with their divorced parents.
The time-sharing portion of the alimony measure was at the center of a bitter disagreement between two prominent Republican lawmakers — Senate budget chief Tom Lee, who wanted it included in the bill, and House Rules Chairman Ritch Workman, who opposed it. The disagreement caused alimony proposals to stall last year.
While Lee and Workman reached consensus on the measure this week, changes inserted into the Senate proposal on Tuesday haven’t satisfied the Family Law Section of The Florida Bar, which remains opposed to the time-sharing provision.
Like last year’s legislation, both chambers are again proposing to establish a formula for judges to use when deciding alimony payments for divorcing couples.
Lee proposed an amendment on Tuesday that he said “softens” the child-sharing component of the Senate bill. The amendment did away with language that would have established a state policy that a schedule “that provides for substantially equal time-sharing with both parents” — an issue known as a legal “presumption” — is in children’s best interest.
Instead, the Senate measure (SB 668) now instructs judges to “begin with the premise that a minor child should spend approximately equal amounts of time with each parent” and instructs the court to formulate a time-sharing plan based on a variety of factors.
Lee, whose wife is a judge, has pushed for the time-sharing changes to reduce animosity in child custody cases.
“It takes some of the ambiguity out of the statute but not all of it. The language goes from a presumption to a premise, and it no longer says 50-50 (time sharing). It’s approximately, so it gives the court a little bit of room, and then it retains all of the criteria and asks them to inform the litigants of the reason the court has arrived at its decision,” Lee, R-Brandon, said in an interview Wednesday.
Workman said he would have preferred that the alimony bill not address time sharing, but called the revamped Senate proposal a “good compromise” that would likely get a House floor vote, if approved by the upper chamber.
“It moves away from the presumptive language that I think was very detrimental in previous versions of time share,” Workman, R-Melbourne, said. “The merged family-law bill does seem to accomplish both what the members of the Senate wanted when it comes to time share and what the members of the House wanted when it comes to alimony reform.”
The proposals would eliminate certain types of alimony, including permanent alimony, and create formulas for alimony payments. The duration of alimony payments would be based on the number of years of marriage, while the amount of the payments would rely on a couple’s gross income — the higher earner’s salary minus the earnings of the spouse seeking alimony.
The proposals do not contain a retroactivity provision that prompted Gov. Rick Scott to veto an alimony reform measure three years ago, but critics of the overhaul maintain that the changes would hurt older women who stayed at home to raise children and then have a hard time finding jobs.
Workman has worked for years with alimony reform advocates and the Bar’s Family Law Section to revamp what all sides called Florida’s outdated alimony statutes.
The Family Law Section endorsed the alimony changes, but objected to the time-sharing provision, a position Lee’s new language hasn’t changed.
Switching from a “presumption” of equal time sharing to a “premise” of the same does little to change the impact of the proposal, lawyers for the Family Law Section argued.
The revised Senate bill would favor one parent who “has the financial resources to disprove this presumption” of equal time sharing, Elisha Roy, past chair of the Family Law Section, said in a text.
“The unintended result of this presumption is a situation where many cases will resolve with no child support being awarded to either parent, leaving one parent in a situation where they may have the child a great deal more of the time because the other parent does not exercise the timesharing they are presumed to get, without the financial resources to support the child,” Roy said.
The changes would likely cause an increase in child-custody litigation, Roy predicted.
Workman said it was “tough to hear” that the Family Law Section opposed the measure, but that he’s heard from other divorce lawyers who support it.
“So I feel comfortable enough that is a step in the right direction because it’s not universally rejected by all of those that work in the business,” he said.
by Dara Kam, The News Servie of Florida