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.
Water Projects Funded For ECUA, Jay; No Money For Century, Cottage Hill, Molino, Gonzalez
February 15, 2014
The Northwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board has approved nearly $10 million in grant funding to be used for water supply project across Northwest Florida, including three major projects for ECUA, Jay and Chumuckla.
The board also rejected millions in proposals from various water systems, including Century, Cottage Hill, ECUA, Gonzalez, Molino and Jay.
Approved projects in the North Escambia are included:
ECUA Cantonment Central Water Reclamation Facility Reclaimed Water System Expansion — $522,000 in grant funding to the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ECUA) for planning, design and construction of a major reuse extension from the Central Water Reclamation Facility in Cantonment to the University of West Florida’s main campus and Scenic Hills Golf Course.
Town of Jay Asbestos Water Main Replacement – $663,024 in grant funding to the Town of Jay to replace approximately 10,200 linear feet of asbestos-concrete water line, reducing water loss and protecting public and environmental health.
Chumuckla Water System Upgrades – $100,721 to Chumuckla Water System, Inc., to provide improvements to the current system, including upgrades to the well motor controls and computerized control and data system. It will also be used to acquire an excavator, trailer and ground penetrating radar to locate water mains in need of repair or replacement. These improvements will help eliminate lengthy system outages and water loss, and provide an overall increase in system reliability.
Proposed projects in the North Escambia area that were not funded included:
Town of Century — $673,782 to upgrade existing 2-4 inch lines to 6-inch lines over about 1.91 miles for Fannie Road and about 1.41 miles for Campbell Road.
Town of Century — $50,000 to develop accurate map that can be easily referenced for system needs, including isolation for emergency repairs, maintenance, planning for future expansion, and upgrades, and to satisfy FDEP requirements.
Cottage Hill Waterworks — $195,421 to replace aging water lines, primarily along Highway 95A.
Cottage Hill Waterworks – $214,959 to replace aging water lnies, primarily along Phalrose Street and Williams Ditch Road
ECUA Central Water Reclamation Facility — $238,250 toonstruct two test wells and associated monitoring wells; implement hydrologic monitoring plan to assess and characterize any potential impacts to streams and wetlands on the CWRF property; conduct aquifer modeling. Update and application of groundwater model, and develop preliminary wellfield desigm.
Gonzalez Utilities — $78,540 to update chlorine and pH injections systems on two wells, including soft starter systems.
Town of Jay –$286,959 to 550 meters with drive-by meters.
Molino Utilities – $169,200 to construct 9,300 LF of watermain and appurtenances with fire hydrants for fire protection; replacement of concrete asbestos water main from Meherg Road south to Casey Lane.
Last fall, the District launched a grant program to help local governments and utilities within the District’s 16-county area apply for funding for water supply projects. Projects eligible for grant funding included traditional water supply development projects, as well as alternative water supply projects, such as reuse and conservation projects that result in quantifiable water savings.
After careful review and evaluation of the many worthwhile projects submitted, the District identified 24 projects it was able to fund in this grant cycle.
Many of the funded projects include replacements, repairs or upgrades to aging and deteriorating water distribution and treatment systems currently experiencing water loss, a lack of reliability or inadequate fire protection. The majority of the projects awarded serve financially disadvantaged communities which struggle to fund vital projects without infrastructure assistance.
“This grant funding will provide an important contribution to the health and well-being of these communities,” said Jerry Pate, Governing Board Vice-Chair and representative of the Perdido-Escambia River basin.
Combined with match funding from the local governments and other grants, the District’s funding is anticipated to leverage a total of $15.8 million in projects to meet regional water supply challenges.
Weekend Work Scheduled For Nine Mile Road Project
February 15, 2014
Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures on Nine Mile Road eastbound at the intersection of Davis Highway in Escambia County both Saturday and Sunda.
Lane closures will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. as crews seal joints in the bridge deck. Drivers are reminded to watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the work zone.
House Subcommittee Passes Ingram’s Controlled Substances Bill
February 15, 2014
The House Criminal Justice Subcommittee this week unanimously passed a bill sponsored by Rep. Clay Ingram (R-Pensacola), which bans a set of illicit synthetic drugs and adds three extremely lethal synthetic compounds, commonly found in the street drug “molly,” to the trafficking statute.
“Synthetic drugs are dangerous drugs that are marketed to our youth, and I applaud Representative Ingram and the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee for joining the effort to protect our kids from these substances,” said. Attorney General Pam Bondi.
This legislative proposal would also add six additional substances to Schedule I of controlled substances, making it a third-degree felony for an individual to “sell, manufacture, or deliver, or possess with intent to sell, manufacture or deliver” these dangerous drugs.
A Senate companion bill is sponsored by Senator Rob Bradley.
Woman Injured In Early Morning Molino Accident
February 15, 2014
One person was injured in an early morning ATV or 4-wheeler type accident early Saturday morning in Molino.
A 27-year old female was transported to an area hospital by ambulance following the accident about 12:15 a.m. on Jahaza Road near Cedartown Road in Molino. Her injuries were not considered life threatening.
Details on the accident have not yet been released, but preliminary information indicated she was thrown from an ATV, 4-wheeler or possibly even a go-kart. A male on the vehicle fled the scene following the accident.
The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. The Molino and Cantonment stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and Escambia County Sheriff’s Office were also dispatched to the scene.
Police Seize $150K Spice Lab
February 15, 2014
A routine traffic stop has led to the arrest of two Escambia County residents, recovery of 16 guns, and the discovery of a spice lab.
Timothy C. Edgar, 23, was charged with possession of a weapon/ammunition by a convicted felon and destroying/tampering with evidence. The second suspect – Dante T. Williams, 24 – was charged with resisting without violence.
Just after 11 p.m. Wednesday, Officer Brittany Austin was on routine patrol when she stopped a Toyota Camry driven by Edgar near the intersection of Pace Boulevard and DeSoto Street for not having a license tag attached. Williams was a passenger in the car. Edgar and Williams got out of the car and consented for officers to search them and the vehicle. A live round of ammunition was found in Williams’ right jacket pocket.
While K-9 Officer David Rogers was searching the vehicle, Williams fled the scene on foot but was taken into custody in the area of Hayden Court and Lloyd Street after he voluntarily came out of hiding.
Meanwhile, Edgar stayed with the vehicle while officers pursued Williams. A bystander told police he saw him take something from the passenger side of the car and throw it over a fence. Edgar then sat down in the driver’s seat until Austin arrived back at the vehicle. Escambia Sheriff’s K-9 Deputy Jason Land and K-9 Edo responded to the area to search for the item Edgar threw over the fence and found two loaded firearms.
On Thursday officers served a search warrant at a residence. In addition to seizing guns, a bulletproof vest and stolen laptop computers, officers discovered a spice manufacturing operation, said Sgt. Marvin Miller. Approximately 100 pounds of spice with an estimated street value of about $150,000 were recovered. Spice is synthetic marijuana and it is illegal to sell or possess, Miller said.
An investigation is underway to determine how long the spice manufacture/sales had been occurring. Additional arrests are pending. Officers also are continuing to examine evidence they believe was stolen in burglaries.
Escambia Man Convicted On Two Counts Of Attempted Murder
February 15, 2014
An Escambia County man has been convicted on two counts of attempted murder.
Timothy Jerome Lowe, 29, was convicted by an Escambia County Jury of attempted second degree murder, two counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer and resisting an officer with violence.
Circuit Judge Ross Goodman scheduled sentencing for March 25. Lowe faces a minimum mandatory 25 years to life in prison.
On December 16, 2012, Lowe shot at Melvin Coley in the parking lot of the Travel Inn on Cervantes Street in a dispute over narcotics. Two police officers were in the area and heard the shots. When those officers responded to the scene, Lowe turned his gun on them. The officers fired at Lowe, striking him one time in the leg. The officers were not harmed. After
a short foot pursuit, Lowe was apprehended.