Impact 100 Awards Eight $104,500 Grants
October 21, 2013
IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area, a local women’s philanthropy group, awarded eight grants Sunday worth $104,500 each to community groups.
The winners were:
ARTS & CULTURE
- Santa Rosa Historical Society, Inc. Project: Light Up The Imogene
EDUCATION
- Independence for the Blind of West Florida, Inc. – Project: IMPACT 100 Windows to the World for the Blind Technology Center
ENVIRONMENT, RECREATION & PRESERVATION
- Humane Society of Pensacola, Inc. – Project: Humane Society of Pensacola Spay and Neuter Clinic
- Pensacola Museum of Art, Inc. – Project: Jail for Art
FAMILY
- Council on Aging of West Florida, Inc. - Project: Moving Safely
- Pensacola Habitat for Humanity, Inc. – Project: Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative
HEALTH & WELLNESS
- FavorHouse of Northwest Florida, Inc.- Project: Safe haven for People and Paws
- Gulf Coast Kid’s House- Project: Expanding the Foundation of Care
This was the 10th year IMPACT 100 has awarded grants to local non-profits. This year’s awards brought the total funds awarded in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties to $5,151,000.
Review Underway In ‘Embarrasing’ Inmate Escape
October 21, 2013
While two escaped murderers released through forged documents were back in custody late Saturday, the head of the state’s law enforcement agency said additional steps are being put in place to keep such incidents from happening again.
And as state lawmakers have called for an in-depth review of the escapes, Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Gerald Bailey admitted that there is no guarantee at this point that the two are the only inmates who have exploited a “gap” in the paperwork process to scam their way to a similar release.
“I can’t tell you with 100 percent degree of certainty that it hasn’t been done before; that will be part of the review,” Bailey said after a press conference Sunday.
The FDLE announced that Charles Walker and Joseph Jenkins, both 34, were caught about 6:40 p.m. at the Coconut Grove Motor Inn in Panama City as they awaited someone to transport them out of state.
The escapes were announced last week and quickly drew attention from state lawmakers.
Gov. Rick Scott told reporters that “once we resolve this and apprehend these individuals, then we’ll find out what we need to do to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island, who chairs the Senate Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations Subcommittee, has indicated in media reports that the Senate will request a review on how the release could have been pulled off.
Rep. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg, the ranking Democrat on the House Justice Appropriations Subcommittee, has issued a statement calling for the House to hold hearings on the incident.
“This is unconscionable, almost unthinkable,” Rouson said in the release. “People have faith in government that it will keep the peace and justice. If these two convicted murderers were let go by the Florida Department of Corrections, something must change.”
Bailey and state Corrections Secretary Michael Crews told reporters Sunday that they have been reviewing release procedures and will meet with the Florida Association of Court Clerks & Comptrollers on Monday to outline additional steps that will be implemented in the inmate release process.
“It is embarrassing, but my concentration at this point, and as I think it is for everyone else here, is making sure that we come up with a process and procedure that prohibits this from happening in the future,” Crews said.
Crews said letters were sent Friday to chief justices and judges in each circuit that when an inmate’s sentence is modified, the FDLE will require the judge whose name is on the document to attest in a follow-up check to verify the change in the sentencing.
“We will now require before the release of any inmate, where we receive a modified order that deviates down a reduction in sentence from the original sentence, and certainly those that rise to the level of emergency releases, that is going to require an attestation from the judge that they in fact issued that order,” Crews said.
Crews said there are “a few thousand” modified orders annually, and previously corrections officials simply complied with the paperwork they received.
Bailey said the FDLE does know of at least two other occasions fake documents were submitted to win releases for inmates, but those attempts failed.
Bailey said additional arrests are expected and he estimated that $8,000 was spent to acquire the “official looking” documents.
“They had to have had help, and a lot of help, to get to where they were last night,” Bailey said.
Jenkins, 34, serving a life sentence on a first-degree murder conviction from Orange County, used fake documents to win his release from the Franklin Correctional Institution on Sept. 27.
Walker, serving a life sentence on a second-degree murder conviction also from Orange County, used the same means to get out of the Franklin prison Oct. 8.
Bailey said law enforcement received a tip from an associate of the inmates about their location.
Jenkins and Walker had been in Panama City for about 48 hours before being apprehended.
Both could face charges of escape, but Crews said that since Jenkins and Walker are already serving life sentences “there isn’t much more we can do” to them.
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
A Look Back: Northview’s Homecoming In 350 Photos
October 21, 2013
For a look back at Northview High School’s 2013 Homecoming with about 350 photos, click a link below:
- Homecoming Parade (144 photos)
- Homecoming Queen and Court (51 photos)
- Football Action Photos (62 photos)
- Cheerleaders, Band, Floats, Balloon Spirit Line (92 photos)
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Kitchen Fire Damages Cantonment Home
October 21, 2013
A small kitchen fire damaged a Cantonment home Sunday afternoon.
The fire was reported about 3:50 p.m. in the 1900 block of Winners Circle. The fire reportedly started with a stove.
There were no injuries reported.
ECAT Union Postpones Strike
October 21, 2013
The union that represents Escambia County Area Transit employees has postponed a strike set to being today.
The Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1395 Negotiating team has agreed to postpone the set strike date of October. The union has agreed to meet with First Transit management on Tuesday and Wednesday.
First Transit manages the ECAT bus system on behalf of the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners.
The negotiating session will be held at the ECAT main conference room.
“We will reevaluate our position on the strike after we bargain with First Transit, while our bus riders are priority we postpone the strike date because of them, but it has been a year and half with First Transit and it’s time the Transit workers have a contract to focus entirely on the job of providing transportation to our bus riders,” said Michael Lowery, president/business agent for ATU Local 1395.
“We’ve gone over 3 years with an expired labor contract under former Management team Veolia Transportation and now First Transit and almost 6 years without a raise and our retirement benefit is completely unfair compared to employees under the Board of County Commissioners,” Lowery said.
Resident Shoots At Home Invasion Suspects
October 20, 2013
Authorities in Alabama and Florida are on the lookup for two home invasion suspects that fled after the resident opened fire at them Sunday afternoon.
The incident happened about 2 p.m. on North Pineview Drive off Foshee Road and Highway 113 north of Flomaton.
The victim was home alone when a white male and white female, apparently thinking no one was home, forced their way into a home in the 300 block of North Pineview.
“The homeowner greeted them with a firearm,” said Escambia County (Ala.) Chief Deputy Mike Lambert. “He fired multiple rounds at the suspects and their vehicle. It is not known at this time if he hit the suspects.”
The suspects fled at high rate of speed in a white, possible Chevrolet, pickup truck with oa freezer on the back. Lambert said several other residents of the area reported seeing the couple in the area Saturday claiming that they were selling meat.
The homeowner was not injured in the incident.
Anyone with any information on possible suspects is asked to call the Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Office or 911.
WKRG Remains Off Dish Network, FCC Complaint Filed
October 20, 2013
WKRG channel 5 has been missing from the Dish Network lineup for about two weeks due to a contract disagreement between its parent company Media General and the satellite provider.
Friday, Dish Network filed a complaint against Media General requested that the Federal Communications Commission immediately require Media General to negotiate in good faith to resolve the blackout.
“Media General’s conduct violates the Commission’s rules requiring good faith negotiation for retransmission consent rights, because, among other things, Media General failed to respond for 11 days to DISH’s last pre-blackout offer,” the complaint states.
Media General blocked programming from DISH customers in 17 markets after a retransmission contract expired. The disagreement is over the amount of the retransmission fee Dish must pay Media General to carry the company’s stations on their satellite network.
“DISH customers and Media General viewers were without their shows and events for 11 days before Media General would even contact us,” said Dave Shull, Dish executive vice president. “We reacted with a counter offer within hours and Media General has yet to respond. DISH is asking the FCC to act expeditiously to address Media General’s bad faith, push them back to the negotiating table and submit to mediation to get programming back to consumers.”
In a prepared statement released after the blackout, WKRG said Media General is doing everything it can to reach a fair resolution with DISH and have programming restored to the DISH satellite system.
On its website, WKRG says Dish customers can still watch the station for free over the air or by switching pay TV providers. According to the station, local news and other content is available on the station’s website.
Escaped Murderers Captured
October 20, 2013
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement, along with the U.S. Marshall’s Service arrested escaped inmates Charles Walker and Joseph Jenkins, both 34. The fugitives were found at Coconut Grove Motor Inn, 9725 Front Beach Road, Panama City around 5:40 p.m. Saturday and apprehended without incident.
Walker and Jenkins were released separately within the last month from the Franklin Correctional Institution based on forged court documents. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement was notified of the incident on Tuesday.
Walker was serving life without the possibility of parole on a second degree murder conviction from Orange County. He escaped from Franklin Correctional Institution on October 8, 2013, after the Department of Corrections received fraudulent release documents from the Clerk of Court.
Jenkins was serving a life without the possibility of parole on a first degree murder conviction from Orange County. He escaped from Franklin Correctional Institution on September 27, 2013, after the Department of Corrections received fraudulent release documents from the Clerk of Court.
Fall Gardening: Time To Tackle The Chaos And Prepare For Winter
October 20, 2013
Towards the end of the growing season, many landscapes are overgrown and untidy. Allowing plants to tower over others can mean the demise of the smaller plant. It’s time to tackle the chaos and prepare for winter.
First and foremost, take a good look at your landscape. If a plant has outgrown its allotted space, perhaps it was the wrong plant in the wrong place. Avoid these types of problems by becoming familiar with a plant before you plant it. While you can try to control the size of the plant to fit its space, it will never be a happy, stress-free plant.
Information on the mature size of a plant and their site requirements can be found in several Extension publications. The Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ (FFL) “Guide to Plant Selection and Landscape Design” is intended for homeowners who want to take the next step and design their own Florida-Friendly landscapes. Included in this book is information on landscape design strategies, a landscape planning worksheet, and the FFL plant list containing many of the UF/IFAS recommended Florida-Friendly plants for each region of the state. It’s available online by clicking here.
Even in a well-planned landscape, though, the gardener’s controlling influence is important. The most useful methods for dealing with especially enthusiastic plants are removing, pruning, supporting or creating barriers to prevent unwanted spreading.
Removing and replacing
Autumn is an excellent time to establish shrubs and trees. Consider removing oversized plants and replacing them with carefully chosen ones that will happily fit within your defined boundaries. Plants that are installed late in the year will develop strong roots systems before hot weather arrives next spring.
Pruning
When it comes to pruning, it’s good to remember that it’s better to prune lightly occasionally as needed, than to allow a plant to get way overgrown and then cut it back severely. A few prudent snips here and there will help keep more vigorous plants from overwhelming their less vigorous neighbors.
Emphasis must be placed on the word “light.” It’s important to remember that late summer pruning may stimulate an additional flush of shoot growth on species which flush several times each year. These shoots could be damaged by an early frost.
Supporting
Another technique to improve the look of an overgrown landscape is staking. Staking or otherwise supporting plants keeps them from leaning or falling over onto others. It helps the tall plant look better, and obviously benefits the plants that would otherwise be covered. The stake should be tall enough to do the job but not be too obvious.
Stakes may simply be placed in such a way that the plant is supported by leaning up against it. On the other hand, it may be necessary to tie the plant to the stake. Typically, twine or plastic ties are used for this purpose. Make sure you tie the lower and upper parts of the plant to the stake to provide proper support.
Other techniques for support include tying twine in a loop all the way around a plant, using a wire cage – this is best done early in the growing season to allow the plant to grow into it – tying a plant to a sturdier, nearby plant or using one of the commercially available support systems.
Barriers
Many perennials and tropical plants spread by underground structures called rhizomes. If growth shows up outside the area you’ve allotted for that plant, promptly dig out the unwanted growth and replant it somewhere else.
Barriers extending at least one foot down into the ground around aggressive spreaders can sometimes help keep them under control. Digging, dividing and replanting clumps of aggressive spreaders annually is another good way to make sure they stay put.
Overgrown shrubs can cause a house to lose its curb appeal. Proper, regular control measures should be employed to keep a landscape looking its best.
Theresa Friday is the Residential Horticulture Extension Agent for Santa Rosa County.
Families Enjoy Free Outdoor Movie
October 20, 2013
Dozens of families turned out Saturday night to enjoy a free outdoor showing of the movie “Despicable Me” on a giant inflatable screen at Walnut Hill’s Bradberry Park. The movie was sponsored by Northwest Escambia Baseball and NorthEscambia.com.
