Escambia Approves New Budget Without Tax Increase
September 26, 2014
The Escambia County Commission has approved a $385 million for the 2014-2015 fiscal year, up $20 million from the current fiscal year. The increase, officials said, comes from increased property values, and there won’t be an increase in millage rates.
The budget included $750,000 to hire 15 new deputies requested by Sheriff David Morgan, and 3-per cent cost of living raise for all county employees.
Photos: Ernest Ward Eagles Host The SF Toros
September 26, 2014
The Ernest Ward Middle School Eagles hosted the Spanish Fort (AL) Toros Thursday night in Walnut Hill. The Toros topped the Eagles 42-20.
Ernest Ward will host Jay Tuesday evening at 6:00.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
DJJ Challenged Over Ending Contract With Controversial Provider In Santa Rosa County
September 26, 2014
A company that operates residential facilities for juvenile offenders has challenged a decision by the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice to terminate a contract in Santa Rosa County and prevent the firm from bidding on other contracts.
The challenge, filed by Youth Services International, Inc., was sent this week to the state Division of Administrative Hearings.
Youth Services has had contracts to operate nine juvenile facilities in Florida, including the Santa Rosa Substance Abuse Treatment Center. But in an August 20 letter, the Department of Juvenile Justice terminated the Santa Rosa contract and prevented Youth Services from seeking other contracts for 12 months, saying the firm had not taken adequate steps at the Santa Rosa facility to “provide a safe and secure therapeutic environment for our youth.”
But in the legal challenge, Youth Services disputes the department’s position. In part, the company pointed to department decisions to transfer juveniles to the Santa Rosa facility from another facility in Madison County that was closed after “significant disruptions.”
It said several of the youths transferred from the Madison facility caused problems and were involved in an August 16 incident that involved destroying property and altercations between residents.
“YSI (Youth Services International) appropriately handled the events by intervening between the participants and calling law enforcement,” the company said in the legal challenge. “After reviewing the video tapes, law enforcement arrested eight of the individual youth involved.”
by The News Service of Florida
State Board Looks To Boost Per-Student Education Funding
September 26, 2014
The Florida Board of Education on Monday is expected to consider a proposed 2015-16 legislative budget request that would mirror Gov. Rick Scott’s pledge to increase per-student funding to the highest level in state history, according to board documents posted online.
The budget request, which is a first step in a process that will end with lawmakers approving a spending plan next spring, calls for the public-school funding formula to include $7,176 per student, the same number Scott proposed last month.
Scott is using the pledge in his re-election campaign against Democratic candidate Charlie Crist, a former Republican governor. The $7,176 amount would top a previous high of $7,126 achieved while Crist was in office.
Among other issues in the proposed budget request, the Department of Education would not seek a tuition increase at state colleges. Scott also has made a priority of holding down tuition. The Board of Education will meet Monday in Tampa.
by The News Service of Florida
Researchers Identify Two Boys Who Died At Old Dozer Reform School
September 26, 2014
University of South Florida researchers on Thursday announced the identification of two sets of remains found at the site of a former Northwest Florida reform school.
The decades-old remains were of Thomas Varnadoe, who died at age 13, and Earl Wilson, who died at 12. They were the second and third children whose remains were identified after being recovered from graves at the former Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys in the Jackson County town of Marianna.
University researchers began exhumations last year after questions arose about whether boys suffered abuse and died at the school, with their bodies buried in unmarked graves.
“There is closure for three families,” U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., said. “I suspect there will be closure for many more in the near future.”
In January, the researchers announced they had exhumed 55 sets of remains from the school grounds. Last month, they announced they had identified the remains of George Owen Smith, who went to Dozier at age 14 in 1940 and was never seen by his family again.
Nelson credited Varnadoe’s nephew, Glen Varnadoe of Polk County, for filing a lawsuit to prevent the state from selling the now-closed school site until researchers from the university could search the grounds.
The state hopes to sell the 1,400-acre Dozier site eventually, a move that has been put on hold by the investigation. In September 2013, Gov. Rick Scott and the state Cabinet gave the research team a one-year window to search the site for more unaccounted-for bodies.
“I am overwhelmed that we have achieved the goal we originally set of removing him from a place of atrocity-laden soils,” Varnadoe said of his uncle.
Thomas Varnadoe was sent to Dozier in September 1934 and died 34 days after being admitted, according to information from the university. His death certificate said the youth died of pneumonia. Ultimately, researchers matched the DNA of Thomas Varnadoe and his brother, Richard.
Wilson was admitted to Dozier in August 1944 and later was moved with eight other students to a cottage known as the “sweat box,” the university said in information released Thursday. Court documents indicated Wilson was killed by four of the students and that the cause of death was listed as blunt trauma to the head.
The university said researchers found Wilson’s grave in an area of the Dozier site where marked crosses had been ceremoniously placed during the 1990s. The university said the crosses did not accurately reflect the location of grave shafts or the number of bodies buried in the vicinity.
Wilson’s DNA was matched with DNA collected from his sister, Cherry Wilson of Lakeland. She and three other relatives also participated in a press conference Thursday in Tampa.
Also on hand was state Sen. Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland, to whom Varnadoe had turned for help.
“I couldn’t believe that was something that could happen in this state,” Stargel said.
The researchers are still trying to locate family members to help identify other sets of remains.
“There are still a lot of mysteries out there,” Nelson said. “The investigation, really, has just begun.”
by Margie Menzel, The News Service of Florida
Freeport Volleyball Sweeps NHS
September 26, 2014
The Freeport Bulldogs swept straight games from the Northview Chiefs Thursday in Bratt.
Junior Varsity
20-25, 17-25. Freeport wins
Varsity
15-25, 23-25, 16-25 Freeport wins
The Lady Chiefs will host Pensacola Christian Academy Monday. The junior varsity takes the court at 5 p.m., followed by the varsity at 6 p.m.
Photos by Kayleen Amerson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
McDavid Vehicle Fire Shuts Down Highway 29
September 25, 2014
A vehicle fire temporarily shut down Highway 29 in McDavid Thursday morning. There were no injuries reported. The Molino and McDavid stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the blaze. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
ECSO Seeks Three For Questioning In Convenience Store Murder
September 25, 2014
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is looking to question three additional people in the September 13 homicide of a convenience store owner.
Investigators are looking for Willie Mae Thornton, 39, Devarian Tevion Weatherspoon, 19, and Brittany Janeisha Dixon, 20, for questioning only for the homicide of 50-year old Phuong Nguyen Truong.
Investigators had been looking for Dontonio Diaz Thornton earlier in the week. He has been located and has spoken with investigators. On September 13 shortly before 2 p.m, Truong was found deceased behind the counter at his place of business, the T M Food Mart located in the 1000 block of West Michigan Avenue.
Anyone with any information as to the whereabouts of any of these individuals is asked to call Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Century Man Charged With School, Residential Burglaries
September 25, 2014
A Century man was arrested this week for stealing thousands of dollars worth of items from an empty Century school and local homes in a series of burglaries.
Taylor Blade Scott, 18, is accused of breaking into the former Carver/Century K-8 School, which closed in 2009. Once inside during the July burglary, Scott, allegedly took an ice machine, computer wiring, garbage disposal, two stainless steel sinks, four stainless steel garbage can boxes and an window air conditioner. The property was valued at $3,000, and damage to the building was estimated at $1,100.
The day after stealing the items, Scott and a second man allegedly sold the items at Advanced Environmental Recycling in Flomaton for $199.17. An arrest warrant is outstanding for the second suspect.
For the school burglary, Scott was charged with grand theft, burglary of an unoccupied structure and felony criminal mischief with property damage.
In August, Scott allegedly took a Stihl leaf blower valued at $400 from a shed in the 6800 block of North Century Boulevard. He later told deputies that he tried to pawn it but was only offered $80, so he sold it to a man in the parking lot of the Cash America Pawn Shop on Nine Mile Road for $100 “because he needed money’, according to an arrest report.
He was charged with grand theft and dealing in stolen property for the leaf blower theft.
Scott was also charged with an August burglary at a second residence in the 5800 block of North Century Boulevard. He is accused of stealing a 40-foot ladder, a bushwhacker, tools, a battery charger, jewelry, cell phones, and a .22 caliber gun.
He was charged with grand theft of a firearm, grand theft of dwelling, burglary, criminal mischief and two counts petit theft.
Sc0tt remains in the Escambia County Jail without bond due to a probation violation charge.
Bad Boys, Whatcha Gonna Do When They Come For You? Meet Century CI’s New K-9 Pups
September 25, 2014
They are cute. They are adorable. They are adorably cute. But they could also be your worse nightmare if you are a convict on the run, or a cute little blessing if you are lost in the woods.
These cute (have we mentioned that enough yet?) little puppies are K-9 tracking dogs in training in the Century Correctional Institution.
The Florida Department of Corrections has 38 K-9 programs statewide which are used to support other law enforcement agencies with felon apprehension, searching for missing persons and locating and providing aid to persons in distress.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.