Two Injured In Highway 97 Single Vehicle Crash
June 13, 2014
Two people were injured in a single vehicle accident on Highway 97 south of Walnut Hill Friday morning.
The driver of Chevrolet Colorado pickup was northbound on Highway 97 north of Tungoil Road when his pickup apparently ran off the road into a ditch, struck a culvert, went airborne, overturned, and came to rest upright in the ditch.
The driver and passenger, both adult males, were transported by Atmore Ambulance to West Florida Hospital in Pensacola. Their conditions were not available.
The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol; further details have not been released. The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded to the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
No Injuries In Trash Truck, Pickup Crash
June 13, 2014
There were no serious injuries reported in an accident involving a trash truck Thursday afternoon.
The accident involving a pickup truck and a ECUA truck happened about 3:15 p.m. on Beulah Road at the Perdido Landfill. Both vehicles came to rest on a guardrail. Both drivers reportedly refused Escambia County EMS transport to the hospital.
The Beulah Station of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded to the crash. Further details have not been released by the Florida Highway Patrol.
Reader submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Court Rules Against Cities, Red Light Cameras
June 13, 2014
Wading into the controversial issue of red-light cameras, the Florida Supreme Court on Thursday sided with motorists who challenged local red-light camera ordinances in Orlando and Aventura.
The case focused on red-light camera programs that the cities began using before approval of a 2010 statewide law that authorized the traffic devices and set requirements.
In a 5-2 decision, the Supreme Court said the cities did not comply with the state’s traffic laws at the time because of the way they enforced red-light camera violations. The cities used municipal-code enforcement systems that were different than the way state laws said traffic offenders should be punished.
“Each of the ordinances creates a municipal code enforcement system for the disposition of red light violations that is entirely separate from the enforcement system established under (two parts of state law),” said the majority opinion, written by Justice Charles Canady and joined by Chief Justice Ricky Polston and justices R. Fred Lewis, Jorge Labarga and James E.C. Perry.
But Justice Barbara Pariente, in a dissent joined by Justice Peggy Quince, wrote that the majority opinion failed to “take into account the breadth of the home rule authority granted to municipalities by both the Florida Constitution and by statute.”
“Although this subject is of interest to many Floridians, the wisdom and public policy questions regarding the use of red light cameras are not before this court, nor are any potential constitutional issues that may be implicated through the use of these cameras,” Pariente wrote. “Instead, the only issue in this case is the purely legal question of whether municipalities were authorized to enact red light camera ordinances, which imposed municipal fines on drivers for conduct already covered by the Florida Uniform Traffic Control Law, prior to 2010, pursuant to their home rule authority.”
Red-light cameras have been heavily debated in recent years as they have been installed in cities across the state. While supporters say they help traffic safety, critics question, in part, whether the use of the devices is motivated by cities seeking more money from traffic fines.
The Supreme Court took the cases after conflicting rulings by lower courts. The 3rd District Court of Appeal upheld the Aventura ordinance, while the 5th District Court of Appeal struck down the Orlando measure.
The plaintiff in the Orlando case, Michael Udowychenko, challenged the ordinance after getting cited for running a red light in 2009. The Aventura ordinance was challenged by Richard Masone, who also was cited in 2009. The filed the cases, at least in part, to get fines set aside.
State lawmakers in 2010 approved what is known as the Mark Wandall Traffic Safety Act, the statewide red-light camera law.
But in a footnote in her dissent Thursday, Pariente wrote that the 2010 law had not made the issues in the local cases “moot, particularly given the significant amounts of money that were collected by the cities of Orlando and Aventura pursuant to their then-existing municipal ordinances — which the majority has decided must now be returned to the individuals who violated these ordinances.”
The majority opinion does not explicitly address returning money to motorists, but it upheld the decision by the 5th District Court of Appeal.
That decision said, in a footnote, that a proposed class action had been denied in the Orlando case. It also noted that only Udowychenko had challenged the ordinance and that “others who paid the fine most likely would be barred” by a legal doctrine that often prevents recoveries by people who voluntarily make payments.
by Jim Saunder, The News Service of Florida
Weaver Completes Navy Basic Training
June 13, 2014
Navy Seaman Cody J. Weaver, son of Ricky Weaver of Pensacola and Cassandra E. and stepson of Gene M. Craig of Cantonment recently completed U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, IL.
During the eight-week program, Weaver completed a variety of training which included classroom study and practical instruction on naval customs, first aid, firefighting, water safety and survival, and shipboard and aircraft safety. An emphasis was also placed on physical fitness.
The capstone event of boot camp is “Battle Stations”. This exercise gives recruits the skills and confidence they need to succeed in the fleet. “Battle Stations” is designed to galvanize the basic warrior attributes of sacrifice, dedication, teamwork and endurance in each recruit through the practical application of basic Navy skills and the core values of Honor, Courage and Commitment. Its distinctly ”Navy” flavor was designed to take into account what it means to be a Sailor.
Northview Students Earn Microsoft, Adobe Certifications
June 13, 2014
Numerous Northview High School students in grades 9-11 earned Microsoft Office Specialist Certifications or passed Adobe certifications as follows:
Passed three MOS certifications –
- Jessica Barrows
- Ciara Campbell
- Holly Cofield
- Hailey Forcheaux
- Mallory Gibson
- Landon Godwin
- Kaitlyn Kline
- Aaron McDonald
- Danielle Robinson
- Caleb Therrell
Passed four MOS certifications -
- Alyssa Bell
- Ethan Bomba
- Christopher “Noah” Coker
- Hanna Ging
- Kaylie Hudson
- Adrian King
- Andrea Miles
- Samantha Sharpless
- Destiny Stevens
Passed five MOS certifications –
- Alyssa Borelli
- Niki Coleman
- Charmayne Fountain
- Trevor Levins
- Kaitlyn Pugh
- Mitchell Singleton
- Nathan Singleton
- Harmoni Till
- Asja Trotter
- Jessica Stacey
Passed Adobe Illustrator
- Breanna Payne
Passed Adobe Photoshop
- Jadlyn Agerton
- Sean Allister
- Natalie Barrow
- Matthew “Ryan” Chavers
- Iyanna Davidson
- Lawrence Douglas
- Austin Faircloth
- Nathan Galvan
- Mallory Gibson
- Cheyenne Gray
- Dariane Guy
- Dillon Hall
- Brayden Hubbard
- Taylor Kearley
- Kaitlyn Kleinatland
- Logan Lambeth
- Brittanie McLemore
- Teamber Moorer
- Audriene Odom
- Kortney Reid
- Savanna Roux
- Jada Tucker
- Shania Ward
- Takeya Williams
- Hadley Woodfin
Brown On The Job As Escambia County’s New Administrator
June 13, 2014
Today wraps up the first week on the job for new Escambia County Administrator Jack Brown. He was hired back in April, ending a hiring process that took about 18 months for commissioners to make their final decision.
His first official day on the job was June 9, and his contract is for just one year. His salary was set at $150,000 for the year, plus normal county benefits. The county also offered up to $5,000 to pay his moving expenses from Perry, Fla., where he served as administrator in Taylor County.
One of Brown’s first big tasks is to present a proposed budget to the county commission. It’s due July 15. And while he’s the boss over county employees, he can’t hire any assistant administrators or department heads without the backing of commissioners.
After retirement from the Army in 1996, Brown served Taylor County as the director of human resources, county coordinator and county manager. In January 2001 he was hired as the general manager of RDS Manufacturing Company, a position he held for 18 months prior to being recruited as a faculty member at Florida State University.
While at FSU, he was elected as a Taylor County County commissioner . In the summer of 2006 he announced that he would not seek a second term. In January 2007, he resigned from FSU and returned to serve Taylor County as the county administrator.
Four Run Fourth Powers Mobile Over The Pensacola Blue Wahoos
June 13, 2014
The Mobile BayBears scored four runs in the fourth inning to put the Wahoos away on their way to a 6-3 win in the second game of the five-game set between the cross-bay rivals.
Wahoos starter Jon Moscot (L, 4-5) ran into some tough luck as the BayBears took advantage of an error, an infield single, a broken bat single and even a double from the pitcher to plate four runs and overcome a 3-2 Wahoo advantage. Mobile went in front 6-3, and both teams were held scoreless the rest of the way.
Moscot made it through five innings and was charged with 6 R/4 ER with a walk and four strikeouts and ended up as the tough-luck loser for the Wahoos.
Wahoos catcher Ross Perez hand another strong outing against his former team going 1-for-3 with a run scored and throwing out two Mobile base stealers. Three Blue Wahoos relievers, James Walczak, Lee Hyde and Justin Freeman combined to work three scoreless innings out of the bullpen. Rey Navarro got the offense started with a solo home run in the first inning, his ninth of the year.
BayBears starter, Mike Lee (W, 4-3), logged 6.0 innings and allowed 3 R/1 ER with four walks and four strikeouts on his way to his fourth win of the year. Jake Barrett (S, 12) worked a scoreless ninth inning to earn his second straight save against Pensacola.
After a shakeup in the rotation, the Wahoos turn to RHP Robert Stephenson (3-5, 3.49) to get back in the win column as they play first half spoiler against Mobile. The BayBears have a three-game lead on the Southern League South Division with only three games remaining. The BayBears will start RHP Bradin Hagens (5-2, 3.25). First pitch is set for 7:05 from Hank Aaron Stadium.
The Blue Wahoos open play on the second half of the season at home against the Huntsville Stars on Thursday, June 19.
by Tommy Thrall
Florida Bar Fights Hike In Dues For Legal Aid For The Poor
June 13, 2014
The Florida Bar came out forcefully Thursday against a proposal to increase attorneys’ Bar dues to help pay for legal services for the poor.
As we reported last month, former state Supreme Court Justice Raoul Cantero and attorneys for the poor were leading an effort to increase Bar dues by up to $100 a year to help fund legal-aid groups. But the Bar said in a press release Thursday that its Board of Governors had voted unanimously to oppose the proposal, which is expected to be filed next week with the Supreme Court.
Bar President Eugene Pettis told the The News Service of florida last month and reiterated in the press release that funding legal-aid services will take a broader strategy than increasing attorneys’ dues.
“It is laudable to see a problem and want to help, but this is a societal issue and a much larger problem than the legal profession can solve alone,” Pettis said in the press release. “It is time we bring the community together to address this problem by employing alternate forms of access, delivery and funding.
” The Board of Governors has “conceptually” approved a $6 million bridge loan to The Florida Bar Foundation, which administers legal-aid efforts, according to the press release. The board is expected to give final approval to that loan July 25. But supporters of increasing Bar dues say the proposal would help fund legal services for low-income people who face problems such as getting health benefits or preventing home foreclosures.
“This could be a major, wonderful thing that the legal profession does for the people of Florida,” Randall Berg, executive director of the Florida Justice Institute, told the News Service last month. “We give lip services to legal services for the poor, but when we’re asked to step forward and help in any meaningful way we oppose it.”
by The News Service of Florida
Murder Victim Identified
June 12, 2014
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday morning that the victim in a homicide Tuesday night has been positively identified as 39-year old Angela M. Cook.
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the area of Hayes and “U” streets on a welfare check call. They found 32-year old Matthew N. Warren in roadway. He told deputies that there was a body inside his residence.
Officers found Cook deceased inside his residence. Warren was arrested and charged with murder in the first degree.
The cause of death and a motive have not yet been released as the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office continues their investigation.
Charges To Be Dismissed Against Man For Allegedly Attacking Troopers At Son’s Fatal Wreck
June 12, 2014
A Molino man has entered into an agreement with the state to dismiss charges after being arrested last November on felony charges for attacking first responders and troopers at the scene of a traffic accident that claimed the life of his son.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 34-year old Joiel Wilson Edmonson of Molino lost control of his pickup truck just after 11 p.m. on November 2, 2013, on Molino Road and died as the result of his injuries.
His father, John David Edmonson, Jr. arrived on the scene a short time after the accident. Florida Highway Patrol troopers alleged he refused to follow orders of firefighters to clear the scene, pushed a trooper away, and punched another trooper in the chest before he was tased. He was arrested and charged with battery on an officer, firefighter or EMT, felony aggravated assault on officer, firefighter or EMT, felony resisting an officer with violence and a misdemeanor count of failure to obey police or fire department.
Edmonson entered no plea to the charges against him and accepted a deferred prosecution agreement. If he follows the agreement and is not arrested again, charges against him will be dismissed when he returns to court in 2015. He paid a $100 assessment for costs in the case.
In an unrelated incident on January 25, 2014, John Edmonson was charged with resisting arrest without violence at a Molino bar. Adjudication was withheld in the case, and Edmonson was assessed $350 in fines and costs.