Only Two Citizens Register Barnyard Animals Under Century Ordinance
February 27, 2014
Only two Century citizens voluntarily registered their non-conforming barnyard animals with town hall during a 60 day grace period following the passage of a strict animal control ordinance.
Residents of the 7900 block of Jefferson Avenue registered 2.5 miniature horses, explaining that one is pregnant and due in June, and a resident of the 9300 block of Old Flomaton Road registered one horse, according to town records.
As of December 23, it became illegal to keep a horse, mule, donkey, goat, sheep, or cow within the town limits except in areas that are zoned agricultural or rural residential. Hogs were already prohibited in all areas of the town.
One horse or cow is now allowed for every two acres, one donkey or mule per acre and one goat or sheep per one-half acre. The animals and their pens must be 200 feet or greater from a dwelling or property line.
Anyone with the regulated animals in an area not zoned agricultural or rural residential within the town limits, was required to register their animals at the Century Town Hall within 60 days from the passage of the ordinance. Anyone with nonconforming animals must apply for and be granted a variance from the town council within six months or get rid of their animals.
Century Mayor Freddie McCall, the town’s planner and an Escambia County Animal Control officer plan to start making site visits Thursday to properties where they believe non-conforming barnyard animals should have been registered to urge compliance.
Pictured inset: Council member Jacke Johnston reads the new animal control ordinance during a December 23 meeting. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Florida Man Executed For Killing Trooper With Pipe Bomb
February 27, 2014
Paul Augustus Howell, who was sent to Death Row for the 1992 murder of a Florida Highway Patrol trooper, was executed Wednesday at Florida State Prison near Stark. Howell, 48, was pronounced dead at 6:32 p.m., according to the Gov. Rick Scott’s office.
Howell, who had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich as his final meal, was the 15th Death Row inmate executed in Florida since Scott took office in 2011. There were five executions during former Gov. Charlie Crist’s single term and 21 during the two terms of former Gov. Jeb Bush.
Howell was convicted in January 1995 in the death of FHP trooper Jimmy Fulford during a traffic stop three years earlier. Fulford was killed by a pipe bomb that Howell had put inside a microwave oven and placed in a gift-wrapped package. The bomb was intended for a Marianna woman who could identify Howell, who with his brother was involved in a South Florida drug ring, for a prior murder.
On Feb. 13 of this year, Circuit Judge Angela Dempsey ruled that a new lethal-injection drug used by the state would not violate Howell’s rights. The hearing, held in Jefferson County Circuit Court at the direction of the Florida Supreme Court, focused on the state’s use of midazolam hydrochloride as the first drug in a three-drug cocktail in executions. Midazolam, which the state began using last year, is supposed to anesthetize prisoners before the other drugs are administered.
Howell’s attorneys contended that the inmate has medical conditions that would lead to the drug not working properly, violating the constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment.
FHP: No Positive ID On Fiery Century Crash Victim; Family Holds Memorial Service
February 27, 2014
The Florida Highway Patrol said Wednesday that it may be a month or more before they are able to positively identify the victim of a fiery single vehicle accident early Saturday morning in Century.
The FHP said the vehicle was burned so badly that no identifying information remained. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is also working on the case, attempting to use DNA for positive identification of the victim’s remains. That process could take several weeks.
Foul play was not suspected in the crash, according the FHP.
Friends and family members have identified the victim as Tara Valinda Ferguson Moore, age 40 of Flomaton. Moore was a LPN and substitute teacher in the Escambia County (Ala.) School System. A memorial service was held in her honor Wednesday afternoon at the Brewton First Baptist Church.
The burning vehicle was discovered by a passing Escambia County Sheriff’s deputy about 3:55 a.m. on Fannie Road just northeast of Campbell Road, across from the Happy Valley Holiness Church.
After the Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue extinguished the blaze, the victim was discovered in the driver’s seat area of the vehicle.
The Florida Highway Patrol has identified the vehicle as an unknown year model Toyota sedan.
The driver was apparently headed east on Fannie Road when they failed to negotiate a curve, ran off the roadway, down an embankment and struck several trees on the shore of a gravel lake. A post-crash fire completely gutted the vehicle.
The Florida Highway Patrol was unable to identify the driver of the vehicle at the scene. Further details have not yet been released as the FHP continues their investigation.
Pictured top and inset: One person was killed in this fiery crash in Century early Saturday morning. Pictured below: The vehicle shortly after the fire department extinguished the blaze. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Deputies Seek Two Arsonists
February 27, 2014
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is looking for at least two people that intentionally set fire to the Alfred Washburn Center at 31 Murphy Lane in Pensacola back on December 9.. The facility provides food, clothing, shelter, and other items to the homeless population in the area.
At least two people were involved with this arson, according to investigators.
Wednesday, investigators released a photo that shows one suspect in the case.
Anyone with information on the crime is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP. An additional 5,000 reward is available through the State Fire Marshal’s Office.
UF: Consumer Confidence Remains Stable In Florida
February 27, 2014
The state’s consumer confidence held steady the first two months of the year, according to a University of Florida report. On a scale that ranges from two to 150, confidence among Floridians sat at 78 in February, the same as in January and a point higher than the final month of 2013, according to numbers released Tuesday.
“We expected little change to the February index given the agreement in Congress that averted another shutdown and debate over the debt ceiling,” Chris McCarty, director of UF’s Survey Research Center in the Bureau of Economic and Business Research, said in a news release.
The monthly survey found that Floridians have slightly increased faith that the U.S. economy will improve over the next year, are more pessimistic about their personal finances, yet believe that now is the best time since before the recession to buy big-ticket items such as automobiles.
by The News Service of Florida
Chloe Channell ‘Excited’ About Northview Blue Jacket Jamboree Appearance
February 27, 2014
America fell in love with Chloe Channell last fall on NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” when she sang the Carrie Underwood cover song “All American Girl”. The song title almost describes the 12-year old middle school student, but perhaps make it “All American Country Girl”.
She was already a local star of sorts, performing with the Sawmill Band on a regular basis at the Farmer’s Opry in Chumuckla, since she was seven. But since the national TV appearances in front of millions, her fame has grown (how many local 12-year olds do you know with two million YouTube views on one video?).
She spent the Christmas holidays in Branson, Missouri, on stage with country star Billy Dean in the Kenny Rogers production “The Toy Shoppe”.
But now she’s “really excited” about March 8 and her appearance at the Blue Jacket Jamboree at Northview High School.
“I can’t wait because that will be the first show of the year with my band The Two-Dollar Pistols,” she said. “I’ve mostly just been singing at my church. But we are about to really get busy for the year beginning with the Northview show.”
Chloe will perform for an hour and a half during the Northview Blue Jacket Jamboree — a long show that she says will give her plenty of time for her favorites. She will perform her the cover of “All American Girl”, debut some original songs written for her by Billy Dean and a few favorites from The Band Perry and Sugarland.
“I can really relate to some of the Sugarland songs,” she said Wednesday night.
When asked what’s her favorite song right now, she replied “Shout to the Lord”.
“Do you know that one?” she asked.
“Shout to the Lord, all the earth, let us sing. Power and majesty, praise to the King,” she began to sing. “That’s a cool song. I don’t know if I’ll get to do that one (at Northview) or not.”
The Northview High School FFA Alumni Blue Jacket Jamboree is Saturday, March 8 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. in the football stadium. All-day events include a craft show, car show, kids activities and games and food. Local artist Dusty Sanderson will perform from noon until 1:30 p.m., and Chloe Channel will perform from 2:30 until 4:00.
Admission, including entertainment, is $5 at the gate, $2 for children 12 and under. Parking is free. Craft and vendor booths are still available; call Pam at (850) 712-6267. The Blue Jacket Jamboree is sponsored in part by NorthEscambia.com.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview, Tate FBLA Students Place At District Competition
February 27, 2014
Numerous Northview and Tate high school FBLA students placed at the recent District Leadership Conferences.
Those students included:
- Impromptu Speaking – 1st, Victoria Wright, Northview
- Accounting I – 4th, Jamilia Smiley-Knight, Northview
- Accounting I -3rd, Mikaela Santos, Northview
- Accounting I – 2nd, Keyth Grice, Northview
- Accounting I – 1st, Matthew Chavers, Northview
- Business Calculations – 5th, Holly Cofield, Northview
- Business Calculations – 4th, Kevin Barrow, Northview
- Business Calculations – 1st, Kelton Wooten, Northview
- Business Communication – 4th, Tamara Green, Northview
- Business Communication – 1st, Kasie Braun, Northview
- Business Math – 4th, Abbie Johnson, Northview
- Business Procedures – 5th, Mariah Albritton, Northview
- Business Procedures – 2nd, Courtney Weaver, Northview
- Health Care Administration – 5th, Iyanna Davidson, Northview
- Health Care Administration – 4th, Logan Lambeth, Northview
- Introduction to Business Communication – 5th, Savanna Roux, Northview
- Business Calculations – 2nd, Ward Hooten, Tate
- Business Communication – 5th, Jason Crabbe, Tate
- Cyber Security – 1st, Greg Barton, Tate
- Introduction to Business – 4th, th, rd, Kenny Overholt, Tate
- Introduction to Business – 2nd, Matthew Lawson, Tate
- Introduction to Business – 1st, Zac Sheldon, Tate
- Introduction to Business Communication – 4th, Katelyn Bailey, Tate
- Introduction to Business Communication – 2nd, Abigail Bruner, Tate
Kasie Braun, Abbie Johnson and Victoria Wright from Northview High, and Zac Sheldon from Tate are eligible to attend the State Leadership Conference (SLC) to be held in Orlando, March 21-24.
In addition to the district winners, Northview FBLA also won the “Outstanding FBLA District 1 Chapter of the Year, 2013-2014 Award” for being the most active and best all-around chapter. The chapter has been extremely busy this year with numerous activities including service projects such as the Manna Food Drive, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation fundraiser, and promoting Breast Cancer Awareness.
Victoria Wright earned recognition for Northview’s chapter by participating in the State Business Achievement Awards program (BAA) and earning certificates for achieving Membership Madness, Business Award. Wright, the NHS FBLA President, has served as the district president for the past two years.
Kasie Braun, NHS FBLA Vice President, has served as the District 1 vice president for the past two years. Wright and Braun received the Gloria Cooper Award and the Who’s Who in District 1 Award. The Gloria Cooper Award is given to outstanding FBLA members in District 1 who have helped promote FBLA and progress the goals of FBLA. Gloria Cooper was once a business teacher at Woodham High School who exemplified everything FBLA tries to help students achieve.
Wright and NHS FBLA Treasurer Anna Donald both received FBLA Scholarships of $250.
Pictured: Members of the Northview High School FBLA chapter. Pictured below NHS FBLA (L-R) Treasurer Anna Donald, Vice President Kasie Braun, and President Victoria Wright. Photos for NorthEcambia.com, click to enlarge.
AKC Dog Show This Weekend At The Escambia Equestrian Center
February 27, 2014
The Pensacola Dog Fanciers Association will hold an American Kennel Club dog show at the Escambia Equestrian Center this Saturday and Sunday.
The two, seven-hour shows begin at 9 a.m. both Saturday and Sunday. They will both feature conformation— featuring many of the breeds seen on TV at the Westminster show— obedience— including the newest obedience trials— and rally.
This year the show also includes herding dog instinct tests, where dogs must show they have the instinct to herd, not harm sheep, and lure coursing runs Saturday after Best in Show as a precursor to a lure coursing CAT trial that will be held at a later date. There will be a short course set up in a paddock for pay-as-you-go interest runs (after 2:30 pm). These runs and the CAT trials are open to all breeds.
More information on these types of trials and information about dog shows can be found on the AKC web site- http://www.akc.org/ .
Food and vendors of specialized, often hard to find items will be available. The club offers educational material and will feature a novice exhibitor iof the dog show for those who are showing or thinking about showing for the first time at an AKC show.
Spectators are welcome. Tickets are $3 a person or $5 a car, whichever is less. Organizers said a dog show is an excellent opportunity to learn about the different breeds and to talk to their owners. The judging schedule will be on the club website at http://www.pensacoladogs.org/ when it becomes available.
Five Sentenced For Molino Park Burglary, Vandalism
February 26, 2014
Two adults and three juveniles have been sentenced for the burglary and vandalism of Molino Park Elementary school on August 9, 2013. Over $60,000 in property was stolen, and the school sustained another $7,000 in damages. Most the stolen items — including computers and iPads– were burned by the suspects.
Tatanya Zahna Blackmon, an 18-year old female from the 2400 block of North Highway 29 in Cantonment, and Rodriques Ricardo Young, a 19-year old male from the 1300 block of Barth Road in Molino, both pleaded no contest to grand theft, larceny, criminal mischief with property damage, destroying evidence and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Judge Gary Bergosh withheld adjudication on all counts as he imposed a sentence on both Blackmon and Young of one year in the county jail with credit for time served and 100 hours of community service to be followed by 72 months probation. The duo was also ordered to pay $65,601.93 in restitution to the Escambia County School district and write sincere letters of apology to the school.
Tracy Deshawn Lett, 14, Jacob Lett, 11, and Vashawn Lamond Brown, 13, were charged with grand theft, larceny and criminal mischief. They were placed on juvenile probation under the supervision of the Department of Juvenile Justice through age 19. Each was ordered to undergo counseling, and follow a curfew of 7 p.m. Sunday though Thursday nights and 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights, according to the State Attorney’s Office.
Tracy Lett, Jacob Lett and their mother were also ordered to pay restitution at the rate of $25 per month, with the mother equally responsible. Brown was also ordered to write letter of apology to the principal of Molino Park Elementary School within 30 days. They were also sentenced to 50 hours each of community service.
Thousands of dollars worth of electronics were stolen from throughout the school, including Apple computers, iPads, Wii gaming systems, cameras used by the school’s student-operated closed circuit TV station, along with other items. As teachers returned to work Monday, items were still being discovered missing and inventoried.
“They stole computers that are needed for education; they stole from our kids,” Molino Park Principal Alice Woodward said shortly after the crime. “These were items directly used by our students.”
Portions of the school were also vandalized during the break-in. Ceiling tiles were damaged or destroyed throughout the campus, and holes were punched in walls. A vending machine was also toppled and burglarized.
On August 21, 2013, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office crime scene investigators responded to the 1200 block of Barth Road in reference to recovered property relating to the burglary. That’s where many of the stolen items were found burned.
To see the surveillance video, click here.
Pictured inset left: Numerous ceiling tiles were damaged during the burglary and vandalism. Pictured below: Three Apple computers were stolen from this desk in a computer lab. Pictured below: Surveillance video shows two people running through the school at 9:17 p.m. on August 9. Pictured inset: An overturned and burglarized vending machine in the school. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Lawmakers Look To Revamp School ‘Zero Tolerance’
February 26, 2014
While including an exception for threats to school safety, an Orlando Democrat on Tuesday filed a bill that would seek to change the state’s “zero tolerance” laws to prevent students from being expelled for disciplinary issues.
The bill, filed by Sen. Geraldine Thompson, would require school districts to use alternatives to expulsion or referral to law-enforcement agencies, except in circumstances such as when students bring firearms to school. Rep. Clovis Watson, D-Alachua, filed the House version of the proposal last week.
Meanwhile, another zero-tolerance bill has started moving through the House that would prevent children from being disciplined for simulating guns while playing or wearing clothes that depict firearms. The Senate version of that National Rifle Association-backed proposal is scheduled to be heard Monday in the Senate Criminal Justice Committee.
by The News Service of Florida