Poarch Creeks Donate $200K To Alabama Schools
June 7, 2013
The Poarch Band of Creek Indians donated more than $200,000 dollars to schools in Escambia and Monroe counties in Alabama on Thursday. The Tribe made the donation as part of its 2013 Planned Giving Campaign.
“At a time when budget cuts are infiltrating our schools, I am proud that we are able make this investment in the future of our children,” noted Tribal Chairman Buford L. Rolin. “I believe knowledge that is gained through education is essential for children to reach their goals in life, and it will enable them to have limitless opportunities.”
Receiving donations were:
Escambia County (AL)
Brewton Elementary School – $28,431.00
Brewton Middle School – $29,930.00
Pollard-McCall Jr. High School – $30,000.00
T.R. Miller High School – $29,607.74
W.S. Neal Elementary School – $29,970.17
W.S. Neal Middle School – $30,042.57
W.S. Neal High School – $30,001.06
Monroe County
Excel School – $25,842.00
Earlier this year the Tribe donated more than $2 million dollars to support area schools in Baldwin, Escambia, and Monroe counties in Alabama and Escambia County in Florida.
State Won’t Appeal Ruling Against Creek Entertainment’s Gretna Barrel Racing
June 7, 2013
The state won’t appeal an administrative law judge’s ruling against a license that had been issued in 2011 to allow wagering on rodeo-style barrel racing in Gadsden County, Florida.
A spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation said Thursday the agency has decided not to appeal the May 6 ruling by Administrative Law Judge John Van Laningham.
The judge said the department’s Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering violated state law when approving the license in October 2011 for Gretna Racing to run its unique horse racing contests. The state had 30 days to appeal.
The pari-mutuel facility, which includes a card room, is west of Tallahassee. The ruling has no impact on the card room license, according to the state department.
A spokeswoman for Creek Entertainment Gretna, the parent company of Gretna Racing, replied via email Thursday that while Tropical Storm Andrea will push the scheduled June 8 races to June 22, “it’s business as usual” at the facility.
The Florida Quarter Horse Track Association, an industry group tied with Gretna Racing, filed an appeal of the administrative ruling Tuesday. The track association, which intervened in the case and defended the license, argued that state law doesn’t define how quarter-horse races must be run. The track association is not affiliated with the Florida Quarter Horse Racing Association or the Florida Quarter Horse Breeders and Owners Association. The Florida Quarter Horse Racing Association and the Florida Quarter Horse Breeders and Owners Association contested the license.
An attorney for the horse racing and breeders associations questioned the standing of the Florida Quarter Horse Track Association to appeal the ruling. Samantha Stratton, a spokeswoman for the state department, said “that is for the court to decide.”
by The News Service of Florida
Northview Girls Basketball Beginning Summer Workouts
June 7, 2013
Northview High School’s girls basketball team will get off to an early start with summer workouts and conditioning.
The workouts will be held on Mondays, Tuesday and Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. at Northview, beginning on Monday, June 10. For more information, email coach Derek Marshman at dmarshman@escambia.k12.fl.us.
Wahoos Pick Up Doubleheader Sweep Over Biscuits
June 7, 2013
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos picked up their first doubleheader sweep of the season, knocking off the Montgomery Biscuits 2-1 in the first game before winning a wild one, 6-5, in the nightcap. The two wins earned Pensacola its first road series win since taking a series in Jackson from April 20-24.
Pensacola picked up the win in game one thanks to Travis Mattair. Entering the sixth inning down 1-0, Mattair laced a two-run single through the left side with two outs to put Pensacola up 2-1. The hit made a winner of Josh Smith (W, 5-5) who went five innings and allowed just an unearned run.
Lee Hyde and Loek Van Mil pitched the final two frames out of the bullpen to hold down the win. Van Mil picked up his fourth save of the season.
Game two was a much different story as both offenses erupted and battled back and forth throughout the contest.
Pensacola jumped on top in the first inning thanks to an RBI double from Ryan LaMarre, who then came around to score on an error by third baseman Steven Tinoco. The lead didn’t last long though, as the Biscuits battled back with three runs to take a 3-2 lead after one.
In the second, Theo Bowe tied the game with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly, but Pensacola was unable to take the lead, stranding the other two runners.
An inning later, Montgomery retook the lead against Wahoos starter Shaun Ellis with an RBI single from Keith Castillo. Ellis battled through 2.1 innings in his second spot start of the year, yielding four runs on six hits.
Not to be denied, Pensacola jumped back in front in the fifth inning. With runners at first and second with nobody out, Mattair popped into a peculiar 1-5-4 double play on a bunt attempt, but Tucker Barnhart doubled to keep the inning alive. Ray Chang followed with a two-run single in the fifth to push Pensacola back in front 5-4.
The lead was short-lived again, though, as Kyeong Kang launched a solo homer with an out in the fifth off Wahoos reliever Chris Manno to knot the game at five.
The game didn’t remain tied for long as in the top of the sixth, Bowe turned on inside fastball from Erik Hamren (L, 0-1) and sent it over the wall in right for his second blast of the season. Bowe went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI in game two and set the stage for Hyde. Making his second appearance of the day, Hyde worked around a pair of singles in two innings to pick up his second save of the year.
Manno (W, 2-1) picked up the win with an inning of relief, allowing a run on two hits while striking out the side.
The Blue Wahoos, having won consecutive games for the first time since May13-15, now continue their 10-game road trip with the first of five against the Mississippi Braves on Friday at 7:00 p.m. Tim Crabbe (2-5, 3.64) gets the start for Pensacola against Mississippi’s Cody Martin (2-3, 3.07).
story by Kevin Burke
Top Secret Spying On Verizon Customers Authorized By Pensacola Federal Judge
June 6, 2013
The chairwoman of the US Senate Intelligence committee has said that the government has been collecting the telephone records of millions of US Verizon customers since 2006, and the order is a three-month renewal of a continuing practice.
The order was signed by federal Judge Roger Vinson who is based in Pensacola. He signed the order as part of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, a U.S. Federal Court authorized in 1978. Vinson’s term on the court expired on May 18, 2013.
The collection of records was “on an ongoing daily basis,” beginning on April 25, 2013 and ending July 19, 2013, Dianne Feinstein, a Democratic Senator from California confirmed to reporters on Capitol Hill on Thursday. However, the practice may have been habitual for seven years prior to its exposure.
“As far as I know, this is the exact three-month renewal of what has been the case for the past seven years. This renewal is carried out by the [foreign intelligence surveillance] court under the business records section of the Patriot Act. Therefore, it is lawful. It has been briefed to Congress,” she told reporters.
Congress members were fully briefed and aware of the US’s intelligence gathering program, which included the collection of telephone records from Verizon, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder confirmed on Thursday.
The top secret order required Verizon, one of the largest telecom agencies in the US, to provide both the FBI and the NSA information on all telephone calls made through its systems, both domestically and to foreign countries. A copy was obtained by the Guardian and published on Wednesday.
According to a copy of the order, Verizon is required to disclose the numbers of both parties during a call, as well as location, call duration, and other unique data on an “ongoing, daily basis.” Meaning that, regardless of whether an individual is suspected of or linked to any crime, the data of all Verizon customers is currently being delivered in bulk to the intelligence agency.
Verizon did not confirm the existence of the top secret order. In a memo sent to employees on Thursday, they stated that they were forbidden “from revealing the order’s existence.”
The court order expressively forbid Verizon from disclosing the existence of any US government request for the company’s customer records, according to the original Guardian exclusive.
As to the authority claimed by the government via this order, that is specifically cited to fall under the “business records” provision of the PATRIOT Act of 2001, which was granted a four-year extension by President Obama in May of 2011.
Republican Senator Mark Kirk of Illinois, who questioned Holder about the program, aired concern on Thursday that that spy agencies might have retrieved the phone records of Congress and the U.S. Supreme Court.
Pictured: The Verizon Wireless store in Atmore, Ala. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
[rt.com]
12 Local Residents Set For Sentencing On Federal Meth Related Charges
June 6, 2013
A dozen local residents — including six from North Escambia — arrested back in April on methamphetamine and pseudoephedrine related conspiracy charges have have either pleaded guilty or been convicted.
A federal judge convicted 29-year old Jared L. Hester of Pensacola on charges involving a conspiracy to possess and distribute pseudoephedrine, knowing it would be used to manufacture methamphetamine.
Prosecutors said Hester was involved in the conspiracy to possess and distribute large amounts of pseudoephedrine in order to manufacture methamphetamine from January 1, 2011, until his arrest in April 2013.
The jury heard from other members of the conspiracy and was shown pharmacy records displaying dozens of pseudoephedrine purchases by Hester during the conspiracy. Many of these purchases overlapped with his co-defendants’ purchases. In all, the conspirators purchased between 350 and 400 boxes of pseudoephedrine, so that it could be manufactured into methamphetamine. All of Hester’s seven co-defendants pled guilty to the charges.
Guilty pleas have been entered in federal court by additional defendants: Gregory A. Militello, age 42 of Cantonment; Stephanie Ann Gunderson, age 26 of Cantonment; Shawn Michael King, age 34 of Cantonment; Joseph David Peterson age 33 of Cantonment; Hunter Grant Myrick, age 23 from Cantonment; Kirby Brian Smith, age 50 of Molino; Joshua Paul Militello, age 30 of Pensacola ; Nicole Danielle Jones, age 32 of Pensacola; James E. Atiabi, age 35 of Penacola; John Wyatt Casey, age 33 of Pensacola; and Shannon Lee Hurd, age 29 of Pensacola.
Federal prosecutors say suspects were all were involved in a conspiracy to possess and distribute large amounts of pseudoephedrine in order to manufacture methamphetamine from January 1, 2011, until their arrests.
The indictments resulted from an investigation by agents of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, and the State Attorney’s Office.
All are sent for sentencing this summer, with defendants facing up to a maximum of 20 years imprisonment, three years supervised release and up to a $250,000 fine.
Flomaton Woman Arrested On Drug Charges
June 6, 2013
A Flomaton woman is behind bars on drug charges following a traffic stop.
While on routine patrol, an agent with the 21st Judicial Drug Task Force observed a green truck speeding. Lt. Adam Johnson initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle near the intersection of Highway 113 and Foshee Road.
The driver was identified as 23-year old Elizabeth Nichols of Flomaton. After a K-9 alerted on the vehicle, a search was initiated that revealed a control substance, the Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office said.
Nichols was charged with two counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. She remains in the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center in Brewton. Nichols was free on bond at the time of her arrest, authorities said, and that bond will be revoked.
Escambia School Board Looks At How Law Enforcement Questions Students
June 6, 2013
The Escambia County School Board spent nearly three hours Wednesday evening discussing how to better inform students and parents that parents can usually be present if the child is questioned by law enforcement.
Current policy already states that schools will make a reasonable effort to alert parents or guardians if their student has been arrested or questioned by law enforcement. Escambia County Board Chairman Gary Bergosh wanted to expand that policy to get parental permission, most of the time, before a student is questioned.
“I’d hate to get to the point where we handcuff our resource officers where they can’t help us,” Superintendent Malcolm Thomas said during the workshop meeting, after hearing from parents, administrators, deputies and Sheriff David Morgan.
Tate High School Principal Rick Shackle told the school board that there are times administrators need the school resource officers — on-campus Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies — in student questioning regardless of parental permission.
As an example, Shackle said a resource officer may be needed for the protection of an administrator, such as after a fight, because “the guy might be bigger than me”. School Board Attorney Donna Waters said school resource deputies would continue to be allowed in questioning for the protection of school staff — one of the extenuating circumstances in which a parent might not be contacted before a law enforcement officer becomes involved in questioning.
Thomas plans to recommend that the board keep the current policy and add a little extra warning to the district’s Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook.
Language will be added to the handbook, including the parental signature page, alerting students and parents that a student may request a parent’s presence during questioning by law enforcement, in accordance with state law and the Constitution.
If there are extenuating circumstances — such as the student questioning deals with parental abuse or a possible crime committed by the parent — parents may not be contacted by the school and law enforcement questioning will continue.
The wording change and additions in the district’s Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook must first be approved by the school board during a regular meeting.
Pictured top: Escambia School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas at a special board workshop Wednesday evening. Pictured top inset: Board Chairman Jeff Bergosh wanted changes to the district’s policy regarding student questioning by law enforcement. Pictured bottom inset: Tate High Principal Rick Shackle. Pictured below: Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan addresses the Escambia County School Board. Courtesy images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Scott Announces 120 New Jobs At Pensacola Tech Firm
June 6, 2013
Today, Governor Rick Scott announced that Global Business Solutions Inc. (GBSI), an innovator in information technology services and technical training, has announced a five-year plan that includes expanding corporate headquarters in the Pensacola area and hiring as many as 120 full-time employees with a projected annual average salary of $54,000.
“We are pleased that Global Business Solutions Inc. has chosen to expand their headquarters in Pensacola and create 120 new jobs for Florida families. Since December 2010, we have created over 330,000 private-sector jobs here in Florida and although we’ve experienced incredible success, we will not stop until every Floridian who wants a job can find one,” the governor said.
Global Business Solutions was founded in 1995 and currently employs 110 Information Technology professionals in eight states. Corporate headquarters are located on Michigan Avenue in Pensacola, with West Coast operations in the Seattle region. GBSI delivers tested and reliable IT services and cutting edge technical training to a wide array of government and commercial customers.
The announcement continues a growth trend that has seen the Pensacola-based tech firm featured on the Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest growing companies each of the last two years. In addition to strong performance in its government IT services and commercial training divisions, GBSI founder and CEO Randy Ramos credits the growing demand for the company’s Virtual Instructor-led Training (VILT) technology as one catalyst for the growth plan.
“Our VILT technology has emerged from the research and development stage and is now being implemented throughout our own GBSI training facilities, as well as in classrooms we provide for our largest commercial customers, including The Boeing Company,” said Ramos. “VILT classrooms offer a borderless learning environment that connects instructors with students anywhere in the world, and we expect the rapid expansion of this powerful technology to continue.”
Details of the jobs plan include hiring a mix of government contract support, commercial IT, training, and corporate support positions in the Pensacola region.
Florida’s First Quintuplets Graduate From Tate High School
June 6, 2013
Florida’s first surviving quintuplets are now high school graduates — all five receiving their diplomas from Tate High School.
Ian Kirk, Marcus Wade, Elizabeth Jane, Tristan Miller and Evan Whitson Baker were born January 30, 1995, about 10 weeks premature, at Sacred Heart Hospital. And now the 18-year olds look toward plans for their futures.
“No one is going away until at least next year so my nest will still be full,” mom Mona Baker said. “They are good young adults with good heads on most of their shoulders. This is an excellent time to practice good decision making skills for the future while they still have a cushion; I enjoy their company and look forward to the next stage with excitement.”
Ian is looking toward a career in law enforcement or corrections, while Marcus plans to to attend Pensacola State or the University of West Florida before transferring to Florida State University as a music education major.
Tristan plans to attend PSC or UWF and then attend seminary to answer his calling as a pastor. Evan, already an artist working with metal, is looking toward a trade school for welding.
And the one girl in group, Elizabeth, is enrolled in a project search at UWF.
As the graduating quints look toward their futures, mom Mona is just adding to the memories and enjoying her unique family.
“I feel like I remember every day, and then it also goes fast,” she said. “For me days are long, but the years are short.”
Pictured top: The Baker quintuplets — (L-R) Ian Kirk, Marcus Wade, Elizabeth Jane, Tristan Miller and Evan Whitson — with mom Mona Baker at Tate High School’s graduation. Pictured below: The five siblings pose at the Pensacola Bay Center with the five members of the Escambia County School Board and Superintendent Malcolm Thomas. Pictured inset: The quintuplets at a Baccalaureate service at Olive Baptist Church. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
