Traffic Stop Near Jay Ends With Chase, Traffic Crash, Arrest
November 18, 2014
What began as a routine traffic stop east of Jay ended with a chase, a crash and multiple felony charges Monday afternoon.
A deputy with the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Unit attempted a traffic stop on a pickup truck about 4 p.m. on Green Rowell Road off Highway 87. The deputy made contact with the driver, later identified as Gregory A. Sweeney of Milton. During the traffic stop. Sweeney became aggressive and physically struck the deputy, the Sheriff’s Office said, before fleeing the scene in the pickup truck with the deputy in pursuit.
During the pursuit, Sweeney’s pickup struck another deputy’s vehicle, causing an unspecified amount of damage to the cruiser. The pursuit ended about 12 miles away when Sweeney’s pickup became stuck in a ditch.
Sweeney was taken into custody without further incident. He was charged with multiple felonies, including fleeing and eluding, battery on an officer, aggravated battery on an officer, possession of a weapon or ammo by a convicted felon, resisting an officer with violence and driving with license suspended third or subsequent offense. He remained in the Santa Rosa County Jail Tuesday morning with bond set at $95,500.
Healthy Start Program Leases Empty Century Building
November 18, 2014
The Escambia County Healthy Start Coalition has leased a county-owned building in Century.
Healthy Start will pay just $1 per year for a three year lease for the property, a former post office, at 511 Church Street, adjacent to the Health and Hope Clinic. The three year lease is followed by two optional two year terms. The building has been empty for a number of years.
“We had this building, an unused resource, just sitting there, and now we’ve found a way to put it to good use for the people,” Escambia County Commissioner Steven Barry said.
Healthy Start will use the facility for administrative offices for its program to promote and protect the health and well being of all pregnant women and their infants in Escambia County.
Under the lease, Healthy Start will be responsible for the routine maintenance, grounds keeping expenses and all utilities.
Money Saving Cold Weather Tips
November 18, 2014
Gulf Power Company is offering some cold weather energy savings tips for everyone, including customers of other utilities. Gulf Power offers the following tips to stay warm, safe and conserve energy.
Things you can do right now to save money and energy
- Set your thermostat to 68 degrees or lower to conserve energy.
- Reverse the direction of your ceiling fans so they rotate clockwise as you look up at them. This will force warm air down from the ceiling.
- During the middle of the day, open blinds and curtains on the sunny side of the house. Also, where possible, reduce the traffic in and out of the house.
- Don’t use your oven to heat your home — it’s not efficient and most important, it’s not safe.
- A fireplace is not always an efficient heat source. If not used properly it can actually make the rest of the house cooler because airflow up the chimney removes the heated air. When using the fireplace, close all doors and warm air ducts to the room where the fireplace is located. Glass doors on a fireplace will reduce the outflow of warm air. And a fireplace with a blower system is ever better because it actually blows the warm air around the firebox back into the room.
- An electric blanket is more economical than heating the entire house all night long.
- Use a portable electric heater to heat only a small area. Buy models that are thermostatically controlled. Keep it at least three feet from items that could catch fire like curtains or furniture. Make sure you have working smoke detectors on every floor and in every sleeping room of your house.
- Make sure vents and return air registers are not blocked by furniture, draperies, doors or other obstacles.
- Use “draft stoppers” or towels/blankets to block drafts at foot of door.
- If you should lose power, go to your thermostat and turn off your heating system. Please wait 10 to 15 minutes after power has been restored before turning it back on. This prevents a power surge from shutting down electricity again.
- If you should lose power, please do not connect portable generators to your household electrical wiring. This can cause serious injury to you and to Gulf Power employees who are restoring electricity. Instead, plug appliances into the generator. Never use a generator in enclosed or partially-enclosed spaces because of the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Things you can do to prepare your home for the whole winter season
Temperature settings
- Heating a house makes up about half of your electricity bill so set your thermostat to 68 degrees or lower in the winter. Did you know that you can decrease the amount of energy you buy for heating by three percent or more for every degree below 68 degrees you set your thermostat?
- Programmable thermostats are a good investment, or you can take advantage of Gulf Power’s Energy Select. Energy Select is Gulf Power’s advanced energy management program that offers a lower price for electricity 87 percent of the time. Energy Select features a programmable thermostat and a special rate of four price periods based upon time of day, day of week and season. Installation and meter-based surge protection are both free with Energy Select. Only $4.95 per month.
Heating and cooling equipment
- The system heating the home is extremely important. If it’s an older, less efficient unit, upgrading to a geothermal heating and cooling system — or a high efficiency air-source heat pump may be a wise choice. Contact Gulf Power at 1-877-655-4001 for a free Energy Check-Up.
Routine maintenance
- A well-maintained heating system runs more efficiently. A complete tune-up of the home heating system can cost anywhere from $50 to $100 and more, but this is a very worthwhile investment and can reduce your heating bill from 3 to 10 percent. Some companies offer regular service contracts, which are a convenience if you tend to forget system maintenance. Remember to replace the filter every month.
Ductwork
- Duct leakage can account for 20 percent of the heating and cooling cost. Getting ducts sealed up should be at the top of the list for making your home energy efficient.
Insulation
- Adding insulation to your attic is one of the most cost-effective energy saving measures. Different types of insulation material have different R-values. The recommended level is R-38 in the attic.
Weather-stripping and caulking
- Weather-strip door jambs and caulk any cracks around windows to prevent cool air from entering your home.
Window units
- If you have a window air conditioning unit, remove it for the winter months to prevent heat from escaping through and around the unit. If it can’t be moved, put a cover over it to prevent drafts.
Humidifier
- Use a humidifier to keep your home more comfortable. Adding moisture allows you to reduce the thermostat setting without feeling colder.
Gulf Restoration Projects Funded, Including $11 Million To Escambia County
November 18, 2014
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, which is managing funds from settlements involving the 2010 Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill, announced Monday that nine environmental restoration projects in Florida will collectively receive $34.3 million. The largest award, $11 million, will go to the restoration of the Bayou Chico Watershed in southern Escambia County, which is a 10.36-square-mile drainage area that empties into Pensacola Bay.
The awards also will provide $3 million to remove invasive species and increase freshwater flows from priority coastal dune lakes across the Panhandle. Another $4.22 million will go to the Boggy Bayou area of northwestern Choctawhatchee Bay. The money comes from a pair of 2013 settlements totaling $2.544 billion with the U.S. Department of Justice to resolve certain criminal charges against Transocean and BP as a result of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill.
Both settlements are being administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. The Transocean funds will be paid over a two-year period. BP is to pay the money over a five-year period. Funds from both settlements will be used for natural-resource restoration projects in the five gulf states, including Florida. Louisiana will get half, with Florida and the other three states splitting the rest.
by The News Service of Florida
County Purchases Property To Improve Drainage On Ponderosa Drive
November 18, 2014
The Escambia County Commission voted Monday night to purchase two pieces of property in the Ensley area to improve stormwater drainage.
The properties are located on Ponderosa Drive, where the county already has a small retention pond that proved to be inadequate during flooding earlier this year. Following Monday night’s vote, the pond will be expanded onto most of three additional acres.
The 1.01 acre property and house at 1861 Ponderosa Drive will be purchased by the county for $85,000, which is above appraised value of $75,000, and the 3.01 acre parcel and house at 1871 Ponderosa Drive from Charles and Anna M. McSwain, for $103,000, which is above the appraised value of $90,000.
Both properties, along with other residences on Ponderosa Drive, flooded during rain event earlier this year.
John Hutchinson Retiring From Gulf Power
November 18, 2014
John L. Hutchinson, Gulf Power’s director of Community and Economic Development is retiring on November 21 after 24 years of service for the local utility and a total of 32 years working for the utility industry.
In his current role, he is responsible for the company’s job creation, community building and charitable and civic programs as well as ensuring the company maintains strategic and credible relationships with key community stakeholders.
Before taking over economic development, John served as the face of Gulf Power as director of Corporate Communications for 22 years. He was the utility’s spokesperson during some of the company’s most challenging storm events, including Hurricane Ivan.
John has worked extensively with local, regional and state economic development organizations and has helped Gulf Power build strong community relationships and manage important public policy issues.
“John has helped Gulf Power become the company it is today,” said Stan Connally, Gulf Power president and CEO. “He has worked hard over the years to not only help ensure Gulf Power is providing our customers with what they need, but also has continued to invest personal time and energy into moving Northwest Florida forward as a region. His creativity, passion and guidance has made him a well-respected leader and friend to many at our company and across Northwest Florida and he will be missed.”
In recent years, John participated in several economic development trade missions with Enterprise Florida and Florida’s Great Northwest and worked closely with local economic development organizations across Northwest Florida to help attract new businesses and to help existing businesses expand.
An active member of the community, he also represented Gulf Power in many different venues, from making frequent public presentations to serving on community and civic boards and task forces. He is currently serving as Community Economic Development Association president, University of West Florida Foundation chairman, and is on the executive committee for Florida’s Great Northwest.
He has been named both Community Leader of the Year (2002) and Volunteer of the Year (1997) by the Pensacola Area Chamber of Commerce. He also was named Communicator of the Year in 2009 by the Florida Public Relations Association.
A graduate of Louisiana State University, John held various positions with Gulf Power, Mississippi Power and Southern Company Services during his 32 years in the electric utility business.
Tate’s Casey McCrackin Signs With Auburn University
November 18, 2014
Tate High School senior Casey McCrackin signed a letter of intent Monday to play softball at Auburn University.
McCrackin played softball for three years for the Aggies, after having played on the school’s baseball team her freshman year. She was member of Tate’s 2014 state final four team with a .351 average, 34 hits and 40 runs. She also played for the West Florida Elite Travel team.
Pictured: Tate senior Casey McCrackin (in the Auburn cap) signed a softball letter of intent with Auburn University Monday. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Commission Honors Top K-9 Team
November 18, 2014
An Escambia County Sheriff’s Office K-9 team recently named one of the best in the country was honored Monday night by the Escambia County Commission for their dedication and many hours of training.
The ECSO team won first place in the four-man team competition at the United States Police Canine Association Police Dog Trials in October in Wilson, NC. Team members are Mark Smith with his K-9 Jeck, Wayne Gulsby with his K-9 Caleb Carlos Lizarraga and his K-9 Saban, and Jason Land with his K-9 Edo. Lizarraga is employed by the Foley Police Department, but trains with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Pictured top: Lt. Jason Potts, Carlos Lizarraga, Wayne Gulsby, Jason Land and Mark Smith. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Possible Vehicle Trade For Crack Cocaine, Dispute Leads To Arrest
November 17, 2014
A dispute over a vehicle that may have been traded for crack cocaine has landed a Century man behind bars.
Jermain Lavelle Smith, 28, was charged with battery and booked into the Escambia County Jail. He remained behind bars Monday morning with bond set at $50,000.
The female victim told deputies that she confronted Smith over allegedly stealing her husbands vehicle and abandoning it with a blown engine in Canoe, AL, where law enforcement had it towed away. She said the confrontation escalated until Smith punched her in the face and in the throat. She refused medical treatment.
The incident was witnessed by about a half dozen people at the Carver Community Center, but all of the witnesses wished to remain anonymous, according to an arrest report.
The victim’s husband told deputies that he had tried to report the vehicle stolen with Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office but had difficulties in doing so. According to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report, Smith may have had possession of the vehicle after a possible crack cocaine trade.
The husband also told deputies that he intervened after his wife was attacked and threatened to cut Smith with a box cutter. Smith allegedly left the area while threatening to shoot the man and wife.
Escambia County Establishes Fraud, Waste And Abuse Hotline
November 17, 2014
Escambia County has launched an fraud, waste and abuse hotline that allows residents and employees to anonymously report activity that may be considered unethical or otherwise of concern.
The hotline will be managed by an outside organization, Lighthouse Services, which will monitor incoming reports. Reports may be made 24 hours a day.
In the coming weeks, all County vehicles will be given identification numbers and bumper stickers with the hotline phone number advertising the program.
Examples of major violations:
- Fraudulent financial practices
- Breaking the law
- Verbal and physical threats
How to submit a report:
- Call Lighthouse Services toll free at (844) 640-0008 and an operator will ask the caller a series of questions
- Visit www.lighthouse-services.com/myescambia
- Email reports@lighthouse-services.com and identify Escambia County BCC in the message
- Fax your report to (215) 689-3885 and identify Escambia County BCC in the message
Remember:
- When making a report, please provide thorough and accurate information
- All complaints are within the Sunshine Law and are subject to public record. You are responsible for remaining anonymous if you choose to do so. While you will be asked your name when giving the report, you are not required to disclose yourself.
- County employees should keep in mind that by providing job-specific duties and details you may reveal your identity without actually giving your name