Man Charged With DUI Manslaughter After Fatal Wreck
August 17, 2015
A Milton man is jailed after a Sunday night wreck on Chumuckla Highway claimed one life and seriously injured another.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 40-year old Anthony Keith White was traveling southbound on Chumuckla Highway north of Highway 90 at a high rate of speed. White’s 2015 Ford F150 collided with a 2000 Chevrolet Malibu driven by 64-year old Ester Brown of Milton as she attempted to turn into the driveway of a business.
Brown was critically injured in the 8:10 p.m. crash. Her passenger, 62-year old Robin C. Brown of Milton died as a result of the crash. White was not injured.
White was booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail without bond on a charge of DUI manslaughter.
Man Sentenced On Animal Cruelty Charges
August 17, 2015
An Escambia County man has been sentenced on animal cruelty charges.
Mitchell Brent Dempsey, 36, was sentenced to 180 days in the county jail on two counts of animal cruelty by Judge Gary Bergosh. He was also sentenced to two years probation, during which he is prohibited from owning any animals. He was also ordered to pay restitution to Escambia County and Panhandle Equine Rescue.
Dempsey was charged for neglecting two miniature horses, one of which died. The second, named “Lightning Bug” was rehabilitated by Panhandle Equine Rescue and later became the group’s mascot his own Facebook page.
The only horse rescue in Escambia County, Panhandle Equine Rescue in Cantonment was founded by a small group of concerned citizens with a mission to rescue, rehabilitate and provide adoption services for abused, neglected and abandoned equines. PER is authorized by the court system to investigate equine cruelty in Escambia County.
Pictured top: A rehabilitated miniature horse Lightning Bug at Panhandle Equine Rescue now. Pictured below: Lightning Bug after the arrest of an Escambia man for animal cruelty. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
School Lunch Information: Prices, Free Or Reduced Application Available
August 17, 2015
Parents can expedite the processing of free or reduced lunch applications in Escambia County by submitting the form online.
For students at 30 Escambia County Schools, all children will be provided free meals with no application necessary and regardless of income. For a list of those schools, click here.
For schools not on the list, parents must apply for free or reduced price meals. For the 2015-2016 online free and reduced meal application, click here for a secure form.
Application forms are sent to all homes with a letter to parents or guardians. To apply for free or reduced priced meals, parents of students not approved by direct certification must fill out the application and return it to the school. Additional copies are available in the front office.
Children from households with incomes of less than or equal to the income criteria may be eligible for either free or reduced priced meals. Each school and the school system’s Food Services office have copies which are available to the public.
Meal prices are as follows:
Elementary
- Full price breakfast – $1.25
- Reduced price breakfast – 30¢
- Full price lunch – $2.25
- Reduced price lunch – 40¢
Middle/High Schools
- Full price breakfast- $1.50
- Reduce price breakfast – 30¢
- Full price lunch – $2.50
- Reduced price lunch – 40¢
Biloxi Beats The Wahoos
August 17, 2015
In the deciding game of the series, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos dropped to the Biloxi Shuckers, 5-3, despite a home run from Juan Duran to extend Pensacola’s home run streak to seven straight games.
Barrett Astin fell to 4-4 with Pensacola this year as Drew Gagnon picked up his first win of the season for the Shuckers and Damien Magnifico picked up his 16th save of the season.
Another contingency of season ticket holders and staffers from Pensacola came to MGM Park and watched the game with 1,956 fans. With Mobile and Mississippi’s game canceled, Pensacola remains in second place in the South Division and is a game back behind the BayBears.
The Wahoos got on the board first with by a sacrifice fly from Duran to score Bryson Smith in the first inning. Astin got into a jam in the second inning by allowing the Shuckers to load the bases with no outs after hitting Taylor Green and walking Tyrone Taylor and Parker Berberet. After striking out fellow pitcher Hobbs Johnson, Brett Phillips scored Green on a sacrifice double play to tie the game at 1-1.
Alex Blandino started the third inning with his second hit of the night, after advancing to second on Marquez Smith’s single, he stole third and then scored on Seth Mejias-Brean’s double to give the lead back to the Wahoos.
The Shuckers took the lead in the fourth inning as Taylor and Berberet both doubled to start the inning and then Orlando Arcia drove in Berberet to make the game 3-2.
Biloxi locked up the game in the fifth inning as Victor Roache hit his seventh home run of the season.
Duran knocked his fourth home run of the season in the eighth inning to put the Wahoos in striking distance but it wasn’t enough as the Shuckers nabbed an insurance run to finish the game at 5-3.
The Blue Wahoos return home for a ten game homestand against the Chattanooga Lookouts and Mississippi Braves beginning Tuesday.
School Bus Safety And Traffic Laws
August 17, 2015
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, drivers must follow these school and school bus safety rules:
- Adhere to the posted speed limit in designated school zones.
- When approaching an intersection where a crossing guard is present in the crosswalk with the stop sign raised, do not cross – or turn – into the crosswalk until the guard has completely left the crosswalk.
- Never stop a vehicle in a manner that blocks a crosswalk.
- When you approach a stopped school bus (from behind) with lights flashing and the stop arm extended, you must stop.
- When you approach a stopped school bus (from front) with lights flashing and the stop arm extended, you also must stop, unless:
- you are on a divided highway and the roadways are separated by an unpaved space at least five feet in width, or
- you are on a divided highway and the roadways are separated by a physical barrier.
- You are required to stop at least 10 feet away from the school bus.
- You must not resume driving until the school bus turns its lights off and withdraws its stop sign.
- Be certain all exiting children have reached a safe place before proceeding.
Security Costs For Scott, Bondi, VIPs Nears $3 Million
August 17, 2015
Protection for Gov. Rick Scott, First Lady Ann Scott, other officials and the governor’s mansion cost the state nearly $2.9 million in the recently completed fiscal year, according to an annual report from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The “Report of Transportation and Protective Services” covers the period from July 1, 2014, to June 30, 2015.
The largest parts of the costs were for salaries and overtime pay.
The report put the cost of security and transportation for the first family at just under $2.37 million, while 97 details for governors and governors-elect from 35 states, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, along with Attorney General Pam Bondi, the Republican Governors Association and former President George W. Bush, came in at $530,330.
A number of the details covered times when out-of-state governors were in Florida last year campaigning for Scott, such as New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s October appearances in Boca Raton and Plantation — $2,026.16 — and in St. Lucie and Indian River counties — $460.58.
The biggest expense went to a May 22 to July 2 detail involving Bondi that came to $216,240. Another $95,290 was needed to cover expenses involving the Republican Governors Association’s annual conference last November in Boca Raton.
The cost for security when former President Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush visited Florida on Feb. 27 came to $504.15.
by The News Service of Florida
Florida Forest Service Firefighters Battling Wildfires In Eight Other States
August 17, 2015
The Florida Forest Service on Friday sent 40 wildland firefighters to assist efforts to suppress a blaze in the Kisatchie National Forest in Louisiana, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam announced. The deployment brings to 129 the number of Florida forest-fire personnel working in other states.
Those states are California, Oregon, Arizona, North Carolina, Washington, Montana, Idaho and Louisiana.
“Every state’s wildfire season differs in timing and severity, so while Florida is not experiencing large, uncontrolled wildfires, the Florida Forest Service is proud to lend a helping hand to protect life, property and natural resources in Louisiana,” Putnam said in a release.
The Florida contingent is joining crews in Louisiana to create a fire break in the forest around the wildfire.
Pictured: Florida Forest Service firefighters head out to battle a wildfire in California in early August. File photo.
Cantonment Improvement Committee Provides Free School Supplies
August 16, 2015
The Cantonment Improvement Committee joined other community partners for a back to school bash Saturday. The groups distributed backpacks and schools supplies, offered free haircuts and provided a hot lunch at Carver Park in Cantonment. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Blessing The New School Year: Prayer Walk Held At Byrneville Elementary
August 16, 2015
A Prayer Walk was held Saturday morning at Byrneville Elementary School. Students and adults from Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church in Bogia prayed for the Lord’s blessings upon the upcoming school year. NorthEscambia.com photos by Ramona Preston, click to enlarge.
Florida Breaks Prescribed Fire Records
August 16, 2015
The Florida Forest Service treated more than 246,000 acres of state forests with prescribed fire over the last 12 months, the highest number ever reported by a state forestry agency in United States history. The Florida Forest Service, a division of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, uses prescribed fire as a safe way to apply a natural process to ensure ecosystem health and reduce wildfire risk.
“I am proud that Florida is home to the most active prescribed fire program in the nation,” said Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam. “Prescribed fire helps keep Florida’s natural habitats healthy and protects Floridians and visitors by reducing the overall risk of wildfire.”
“Last year, we were fortunate to experience many days with conditions favorable for prescribed fire. Conditions can change quickly and drastically in Florida, so the Florida Forest Service has made it a priority to take advantage of these favorable conditions whenever they are present,” said Jim Karels, Florida State Forester.
Prescribed fire is an important land management tool used to reduce the buildup of flammable plant materials that fuel and intensify dangerous wildfires. The reduction of hazardous buildup results in increased safety for surrounding areas. In addition, many of Florida’s plant and animal communities are dependent on the regular occurrence of fire for a healthy existence.Prescribed fires mimic this natural process, returning nutrients to the soil, providing better forage for wildlife and livestock, and helping control certain plant and tree diseases
. Prescribed fires also help preserve rare and endangered plant and animal species including the Yellow Fringeless Orchid found on the Blackwater River State Forest.
In addition to administering Florida’s prescribed fire program, the Florida Forest Service responds to wildfires during Florida’s year-round wildfire season. This year, more than 2,000 wildfires have burned more than 65,000 acres in Florida.