Man Turns To Facebook, $1,000 Reward To Solve Local Burglary
February 17, 2014
A North Escambia man is turning to a reward and Facebook in hopes of catching whoever burglarized his mother’s home in Cantonment on Valentine’s Day.
“My mom is safe, and that is the most important thing to us,” Craig Morgan said on his newly created “Cantonment Fl. Break ins” Facebook page after the burglary on Filly Road. By Sunday night, the page had over 460 likes.
“My hope with this page is to make a stand against these cowards who are breaking in to all our homes in our community,” he said. “Never accept being a victim. It’s what they want you to do. Just accept. Not me. I will never rest until these cowards are brought to justice.”
The burglary occurred between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. last Friday, with the thieves forcing their way into the home, ransacking a bedroom and stealing jewelry belonging to his mother, as well as jewelry and other items from his father. Morgan’s dad, who retired from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office in 1989, passed away three years ago.
On his Facebook page, Morgan has reached out to the community to identify several vehicles unusual to the neighborhood caught on video in front of the home on the day of the burglary. So far, all but one has been identified.
He intends for the Facebook page to be a place for others in the Cantonment area to share information about the burglaries in the Cantonment area — a virtual neighborhood watch of sorts.
Morgan is also offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the burglary. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
Pictured: A ransacked bedroom at a home on Filly Road in Cantonment following a burglary last Friday. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Posts Record 2013 Tourism Numbers
February 17, 2014
Florida attracted an estimated 94.7 million tourists last year, about a 3.5 percent increase over 2012. The figure marks the third consecutive year the state has posted a record number of visitors.
Visit Florida, the state’s tourism arm, estimated there were 91.4 million visitors in 2012 and 85.9 million in 2011.The bulk of the visitors are from the other states and U.S. territories, with the total growing 2.5 percent in year-to-year comparisons. Visit Florida also estimates that there were 3.7 million Canadian visitors, a 4.1 percent increase, and 11.5 million visitors from overseas, a jump of 11.1 percent.
The tourism number doesn’t include the projected 20.1 million in-state trips taken by Floridians in 2013.
Gov. Rick Scott, who has requested a $35 million increase in state funding for Visit Florida next year, to $100 million, announced the annual tourism figures during an appearance at Universal Orlando Resorts. Universal said the company will add nearly 3,500 new jobs this year as it expands in Central Florida. The company is constructing the Wizarding World of Harry Potter-Diagon Alley, a new onsite hotel and expanding the CityWalk Entertainment complex.
Pictured: Pensacola Beach at sunset. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Local School Districts Could Get Final Say On Textbooks
February 17, 2014
Contending that school districts have a “constitutional duty to decide what materials best suit their classrooms,” a Senate Republican filed a bill that would revamp the way textbooks and other materials are approved in Florida.
Bill sponsor Alan Hays, R-Umatilla, said the bill would eliminate the statewide adoption of textbooks and other materials and give the responsibility to school districts.
Also, the proposal would set up a process for local committees to review and recommend materials to school boards and also would create an appeals process for the public.
“Local school districts, not the state or federal government, are the most qualified to determine what textbooks are appropriate for Florida’s classrooms,” Hays said in a prepared statement.
by The News Service of Florida
Library’s Bookmobile Out Of Service
February 17, 2014
The West Florida Library’s Bookmobile is currently out of service. The library says they are currently investigating short and long term resolutions for the lighting and heating of the Bookmobile. For more information, call (850) 436-5060. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Anna Fischer Named Miss NHS 2014 (With Photo Gallery)
February 17, 2014
Anna Fischer was crowned Miss NHS 2014 Saturday night at Northview High School.
First Runner-Up was Jessica Amerson, Second Runner-Up was Danielle Scott, Third Runner-Up Olivia Neal, and Fourth Runner-Up was Julie Hester.
Other awards presented were:
- Self Expression Award – Anna Fischer
- Talent Award – Danielle Scott; Morgan Digmon (tie)
- Physical Fitness Award – Danielle Scott
- Creative Costume Award – Jessica Amerson
- Scholastic Award – Jessica Amerson
- Judges Award – Olivia Neal
- Distinguished Young Woman Award – Morgan Ward
- Spirit of Miss NHS – Brianna Smith
For a pageant photo gallery, click here.
Pictured top: Third Runner-Up Olivia Neal, First Runner-Up Jessica Amerson, Miss NHS 2014 Anna Fischer, Second Runner-Up Danielle Scott and Fourth Runner-Up Julie Hester. Pictured inset: Anna Fischer is crowned Miss NHS 2014 by Miss NHS 2013 Ariel Holland. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Delays On Hwy 4 Escambia River Bridge
February 16, 2014
Crews will perform a routine bridge inspection on State Road 4 over the Escambia River in Escambia County on Tuesday. Eastbound traffic will encounter lane restrictions from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or re-scheduled in the event of inclement weather. Motorists are reminded to travel with care through the work zone and to watch for construction equipment and workers entering and exiting the roadway.
Bus Burns At Ransom Middle School
February 16, 2014
A school bus was destroyed by fire at Ransom Middle School in Cantonment Saturday.
The bus was used in the school’s ag program. It had become stuck in field behind the school on Friday as ag students were working in the field, according to Escambia County School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas.
The bus fire was reported about 12:30 Saturday afternoon. A portion of the field also burned.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office. The Cantonment and Ensley stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the blaze.
Pictured: A bus and a portion of a field burned behind Ransom Middle School in Cantonment early Saturday afternoon. Photos by WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Realtor Sentenced To Prison For Tax Evasion And False Statements
February 16, 2014
William “Geri” Eaton, 60, was sentenced to 27 months in prison for tax evasion and for making false statements in a matter involving a health care benefit program.
Between 2004 and 2008, Eaton, a realtor, earned more than $1.18 million in taxable income. He failed to file his federal income tax returns as they became due and instead, in the fall of 2009, Eaton filed late returns for all four prior tax years. His total tax due, not counting interest and penalties, was more than $472,000. In early 2010, Eaton entered an agreement to pay his back-taxes in monthly installments of $1,000. He made six payments, and then stopped paying altogether.
On April 29, 2011, Eaton opened an account under a false social security number at a Tallahassee credit union. One week later, he sold his beach house in St. Teresa, Florida, for more than $1.3 million. To conceal the money from the IRS, Eaton deposited the $727,437 in proceeds he received from the sale into his fraudulently-opened credit union account. He later transferred a portion of this money to a Pensacola credit union account, which he had also opened under a false social security number. Over the course of the next seven months, Eaton spent more than $125,000 of the sales proceeds. He made no payments on his taxes during this period.
In September 2011, Eaton was treated for a heart attack at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola. He applied to the hospital for financial assistance in paying his bill. In his application for assistance, Eaton falsely claimed that he had a single checking account with a balance of only $1,588, when, in fact, the balances in his accounts totaled well over $600,000. In listing his assets on the application, Eaton also fraudulently omitted the fact that he had purchased two vehicles for $31,000 only a month before. In reliance on Eaton’s false statements, Sacred Heart Hospital wrote off $79,622 in charges for Eaton’s care.
In November 2011, the IRS levied Eaton’s fraudulently-opened credit union accounts and obtained approximately $610,000 as payments toward his tax liabilities.
In November 2013, Eaton pleaded guilty to charges of tax evasion and making false statements in a matter involving a health care benefit program. In addition to his prison sentence, Eaton was ordered to pay $99,126 in restitution to the IRS and to Sacred Heart Health System.
All-County Honor Bands To Perform Tuesday Night
February 16, 2014
The All-County Honor Bands 2014 featuring students from the Escambia County School District will perform at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday at the Saenger Theatre.
Students are selected to perform in each honor group through teacher recommendation and an audition process. A variety of instrumental works from the classics to contemporary will be performed.
The conductors this year will be Kim Whaley from Shoal River Middle School, Crestview, directing the Middle School Honors Band; and Steve Rivero from Flanagan High School, Pembroke Pines, leading the High School Honors Band. The concert is free and the public is cordially invited to attend this event.
This event was rescheduled from January 28.
Northview Chiefs Take Two From Escambia Academy’s Cougars
February 16, 2014
The Northview Chiefs took two from Escambia Academy Saturday in Bratt.
In junior varsity action the Chiefs beat the Cougars 8-6, and in varsity action Northview downed EA 10-6.
The varsity Chiefs will host Rocky Bayou on Tuesday at 6:00. Both the varsity and junior varsity will travel to Baker on Thursday for the first district game of the season.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Ramona Preston, click to enlarge.
