New Fence Height Law Now In Effect In Century
October 2, 2012
The Century Town Council approved a new ordinance Monday night that cuts back the height of fences allowed in front yards around the town — a new law that is a mix of Century’s current code and regulations that are already in place in the unincorporated areas of Escambia County.
The new law, approved on a 5-0 vote, adopted Escambia County’s current standards that limit the height of a solid fence in front of a single family residence to three feet and a chain link or other transparent fence to a four foot height. The fence height for a corner lot is limited to two feet as to not obstruct the view of traffic. For the purposes of the ordinance, the height of a hedge or shrubbery will be regulated as a solid fence.
Fences in the side, or rear yard of a home may not exceed eight feet, which is no change from Century’s current restrictions.
The new law became effective immediately. To read the new Century fence ordinance, click here.
Mayor Freddie McCall said residents with existing fences that violate the new ordinance, if passed, can ask the town council for a variance.
Pictured top: The Century Town Council met Monday night, approving a new fence ordinance. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Gets 30 Years For Kidnapping, Burglary
October 2, 2012
An Escambia County man has been sentenced to state prison for multiple charges including burglary and kidnapping.
Monday, Lee Milner was sentenced by Judge Michael Allen to 30 years in state prison on kidnapping to inflict bodily harm or terrorize victim and burglary of a dwelling with assault and battery along with other charges. Milner was sentenced as a Habitual Felony Offender.
On January 31, 2012, the victim stated when she returned home from the store, she walked in her house and was hit over the head by Milner. Milner tied her up and told her to give him her cash and her vehicle or she would be raped or killed if she told anyone.
Milner took the victim’s vehicle as well as $1,000 worth of jewelry. On February 2, 2012, law enforcement spotted the victims vehicle and the defendant was apprehended after a high speed chase.
In a separate case, the defendant was arrested for robbery without a weapon. The robbery occurred on January 24, 2012, when the victim arrived at work and the defendant inquired about renting a storage unit. Shortly after a struggle ensued and the defendant grabbed the victims wallet, ripping his pants. The pocket was swabbed for DNA and a hit came back to the defendant. Milner plead to the robbery charge and was sentenced to 15 years as a habitual felony offender with the sentence concurrent with the 30 year prison sentence.
Cantonment’s Gee Willies Closes
October 2, 2012
A popular Cantonment convenience store is now closed. Gee Willies at 710 North Highway 29 shut down Saturday night.
Employees said they were informed of the closure last Wednesday. The store’s owner, the Janmarene Corp. of Cantonment, has not offered a public explanation for the closure, but the sign outside the store was updated Tuesday to state the store is closed for a remodel.
In additional to fuel and a full service convenience store, Gee Willies also operated a restaurant with home cooked meals, pizza, burgers, chicken and more. The store had been open for about four and a half years.
Pictured: Gee Willies convenience store in Cantonment is now closed. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Week Five: Prep Football Standings
October 2, 2012
The first district games in 1A will be played this Friday night, while district games will continue in 5A and 6 A.
In 1A, the Northview Chiefs and the Jay Royals will meet in Bratt, while Freeport will be at at Baker. In a four-team district, wins are important for teams to move forward in the post season.
In 6A, Pace and Pensacola high schools have emerged as early district leaders. West Florida and Gulf Breeze, who will face off this Friday night, are the early leaders in Class 5A.
Here’s a look at last week’s results and this Friday night’s schedule:
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Amendment 3: Fight Over How Tightly To Cap Taxes
October 2, 2012
An amendment before Florida voters on the November ballot would tighten the state’s rarely-used revenue cap, potentially giving it more teeth – something supporters say will restrain reckless spending but opponents say would gut vital services.
Under Amendment 3, the amount of revenue the state would be allowed to collect and spend would no longer be tied to the growth in the economy — a cap that the state has never bumped into. Instead, it would follow a formula combining inflation and population growth.
For supporters, the proposal will help avoid the wild swings that Florida’s budget has taken over the last decade, smoothing out spending and providing a more robust savings account for when the state falls on more difficult economic times.
“Voting yes on Amendment 3 will send a message to our state leaders that the size of Florida’s government shouldn’t grow faster than the taxpayers’ capacity to pay for it,” said Edie Ousley, a spokeswoman for the Florida Chamber of Commerce, in an email.
But opponents say the amendment would force the Legislature to slavishly follow a rigid formula instead of adjusting spending as necessary. And they say it would handcuff lawmakers from addressing the state’s loophole-ridden tax code in a way that might bring in additional money for schools and infrastructure.
“We do not need to reduce our future to a mathematical formula,” said Charles Misted, associate state director for the AARP.
The force behind Amendment 3, approved by the Legislature in 2011, was Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island. At the time, Haridopolos was gearing up to challenge Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, though Haridopolos eventually abandoned his bid.
But as he leaves office because of term limits, Haridopolos said his proposal will help future legislative leaders avoid the headaches he and others had to deal with after years of spending inflated by an economic boom gave way to deep cuts triggered by an economic bust.
“What we’re trying to do with this amendment is just provide common-sense consistency,” he said.
Haridopolos also noted that some of the support for those opposing Amendment 3 comes from out-of-state groups.
Opponents, though, sense an effort to protect special interest tax breaks and constrict funding for public services under the guise of lowering taxes and responsible government.
“I know a wolf when I see one,” thundered Richard Dunn, senior pastor at Faith Community Baptist Church in Miami and a former Miami-Dade commissioner, during a rally Monday on the steps of the old Capitol. “This Amendment 3 is a wolf. And it’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing.”
Critics say government costs often grow faster than inflation, artificially keeping the new limits too low. They’ve taken to citing a study by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities — a left-leaning think tank based in Washington, D.C. – saying the proposal would slash $11 billion from state spending by 2021, including more than $2 billion in the final year.
That contrasts sharply with estimates from legislative staff, which said in a 2011 analysis that the state would stay well below the cap until at least the 2019-20 fiscal year.
Rich Temple of the AFL-CIO, one of the groups fighting the proposal, mocked supporters’ argument that the amendment would provide certainty to businesses.
“It certainly guarantees that Florida will continue to remain at the bottom in all of the key indicators of a healthy society forever,” he said.
Exhibit A for opponents of the proposal is Colorado. Voters there approved a similar measure in 1992, but eventually suspended the measure because of an effect known as “ratcheting,” which limited lawmakers’ ability to use the revenues from an economic recovery to offset earlier reductions.
Jeanette Baust, a Denver sociologist, said Florida would follow the same path if it accepted the “snake oil” that was sold to Colorado voters.
“History will repeat itself if you do the same thing Colorado did and pass this amendment,” she said.
Haridopolos said that’s not true. He said Colorado ran into some of its problems because of spending requirements in Colorado in areas like education. And the Florida amendments provide safeguards, he said, that would allow a two-thirds majority in the Legislature to spend more money than the cap would allow if there’s an urgent need to do.
“We learned from the Colorado success,” he said, “and some of their difficulties.”
By Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
New Fees For Escambia County Animal Services
October 2, 2012
Monday, Escambia County animal service fees changed, including the cost of animal control service fees, redemption of impounded animals, adoption fees and animal license tags.
Escambia County said the changes will help support administrative costs, cover state mandated rabies investigations and sustain the county’s low cost spay and neuter program. Fees for adoption of older and less-adoptable animals will be decreased in an attempt to lower euthanasia rates.
To help increase the number of reunited pets to owners in our community, the Escambia County Animal Shelter is now microchipping. This service will be mandatory for adopted and redeemed animals and optional for low cost spay and neuter clients.
For more information, please contact the Escambia County Animal Shelter at (850) 595-3075.
A listing of the new fee schedule is below:
Adoption Fees (includes micro-chip, administrative fee, other veterinary care and altering, as necessary):
- Fees
- Cats, under three years of age – $40
- Cats, over three years of age – $20
- Dogs, under three years of age – $80
- Dog, over three years of age – $40
- Vaccine & Dewormers (must be done at time of adoption)
- Cat -Vaccine – $5
- Cat- De-wormer – $5
- Dog – Bordatella Vaccine – $5
- Dog – Parvo/Distemper (DA2PP) Vaccine – $5
- Dog – De-wormer – $5
- Adoption Services
- o Heartworm test – $10
- o Feline Leukemia test – $10
- o Cardboard Carrier – $5
Reduced prices or “specials” will be available on select animals at various times during the year. The itemization will be the same depending upon age and type of animal, except that the adoption fee will be reduced by 50%.
- Microchip implantation – $15
- Mandatory for all impoundments, quarantined and dangerous/vicious animals. (Included in adoption fee; optional for those qualifying for low cost spay/neuter services).
- Low Cost Spay/Neuter and Rabies Vaccination Fees (for qualifying individuals)
- Cat spay – $20
- Cat neuter – $10
- Dog spay (under 40lbs) – $25
- Dog spay (over 40lbs) – $30
- Dog neuter – $15
- Rabies vaccine – $15
Animal Tags:
- Altered Animal – $11.00 – Senior Citizen (≥60 years of age) – $7.00
- Unaltered Animal – $30.00 – Senior Citizen – $12.00
- Duplicate – $6.00
- Juvenile animal (<‹6 months of age) – $12.00
- Service animal – $0.00
- Dangerous/Vicious Dog Registration (annual renewal) – $200.00
Redemption of Impounded Animals
- Microchip implantation (mandatory for all redeemed animals) – $15
- Licensed Animals:
- 1st offense – $15
- 2nd offense – $25
- 3rd offense – $35 plus mandatory spay/neuter
- Unlicensed Animals
- 1st offense – $35
- 2nd offense – $60
- 3rd offense – $85 plus mandatory spay/neuter and court appearance
Service fees
- Pick-up of owner’s animal or carcass
- Per call (includes up to three animals per call) – $3
- Each additional animal per call – $10
- Animal brought to shelter for Euthanasia – $25
- Animal brought to shelter for disposal of carcass – $10
- Chemical immobilization (darting or similar by Animal Control) – $50
- Boarding fees – Routine
- Cat – $7
- Dog – $10
- Cat – $10
- Dog – $15
Civil Infraction Penalties
- In addition to each civil penalty, there is a $5 per penalty surcharge imposed, pursuant to Ordinance 91.9
- 1st offense, per infraction – $25
- Maximum per citation – $75
- 2nd offense, per infraction – $75
- Maximum, per citation – $225
- 3rd offense, per infraction – $150
- Maximum, per citation – $400
Failure to Alter Adopted Animal
- 1st offense – $50
- 2nd offense – $100
- 3rd offense – $200
Interference with Animal Control Officer
- 1st offense – $50
- 2nd offense – $100
- 3rd offense – $200
Poisoning of Animal
- 1st offense – $150
- 2nd offense – $300
- 3rd offense – $500
Concealment of Animals, Scientific Experimentation and Related Acts
- 1st offense – $150
- 2nd offense – $300
- 3rd offense – $500
Cruelty/Neglect (per household)
- 1st offense – $150
- 2nd offense – $300
- 3rd offense – Mandatory court appearance for criminal charges and animal impounded by Animal Control
Designated Dangerous/Vicious Animal
- 1st offense – $250
- 2nd offense – Animal impounded by Animal Control
Frequently Incarcerated Century Man Arrested Again
October 2, 2012
A Century man with a lengthy arrest history was taken into custody again on new charges.
Ronald Berlan Newton, 51, was charged with trespassing and released from the Escambia County Jail on a $2,000 bond.
A female victim told the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office that Newton had been following her, showing up at her work and at her house. When Newton arrived at her residence at the Camellia Garden Apartments on Freedom Road in Century, the victim called deputies.
Newton had previously been warned by law enforcement not to trespass on the property, according to an arrest report.
Newton was arrested on September 9 and charged with aggravated assault before being released from jail on a $25,000 bond.
He allegedly threatened his 41-year old brother with a steak knife after the brother asked him to turn down his stereo inside their mother’s home on North Century Boulevard. As the brother was speaking with an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputy, an irate Newton advanced toward the brother with the knife. The Sheriff’s deputy was forced to stand between the two before taking Newton into custody, according to an arrest report.
Newton was released from state prison in April 2012 after completing a 22 month sentence for stalking after being arrested more than a dozen times in a year. Newton was first found incompetent and remanded into the custody of the Florida Department of Children and Families for evaluation, but was later found competent to stand trial.
His arrests since 2007, according to court records, included a long list of charges that were dropped or dismissed included aggravated assault, criminal mischief, battery, lewd and lascivious behavior victim under 18, indecent exposure, disorderly conduct and contempt of court.
Two More Human West Nile Cases Confirmed In Escambia County
October 2, 2012
Two more human cases of the West Nile virus have been confirmed in Escambia County, bringing the total number this year to 12 and one death. The Escambia County Health Department said the risk remains high for additional human infections from mosquito bites.
A mosquito-borne illness alert continues in effect for Escambia County.
“Nationally, the number of new West Nile virus diagnoses is decreasing. With the approach of cooler fall weather, we expect less mosquito activity in our area and anticipate diagnosing fewer new cases of West Nile Virus in Escambia County, ” said Dr. John Lanza, director of the Escambia County Health Department. “However, residents should continue to take precautions against mosquito bites until the alert is lifted for the county.”
Mosquitoes infected with WNV can bite and infect humans; about one in 150 people infected with WNV will develop serious illness. Symptoms of infection can range from mild to severe including development of diseases such as meningitis or encephalitis. People with weakened immune systems and individuals over 50 may be at higher risk of the most severe form of the infection.
Three human cases have now been reported in Santa Rosa, and one person has died from the virus in Okaloosa County.
JV Football: Escambia Academy Cougars Over Northview Chiefs
October 2, 2012
In junior varsity football, the Escambia Academy Cougars defeated the Northview Chiefs Monday night 24-12 in Canoe, Ala.
Northview sophomore Keondre Lette scored a couple of touchdowns for the JV Chiefs. Both two point conversions by Northview’s JV fell short.
The JV Northview Chiefs will host the West Florida Jaguars on Thursday, Octoboer 11 at 6 p.m. in Bratt.
Submitted photo by Wayne Holland for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
‘Toughest In The Nation’ Child Abuse Reporting Law In Effect In Florida
October 2, 2012
A Florida law that some call the toughest in the nation for reporting child abuse went into effect Monday, a result of the horrific scandal that rocked Penn State University and college football last year.
The Protection of Vulnerable Persons law ups the ante on the state’s previous reporting obligation, requiring anyone who suspects that a child has been abused to report those suspicions to the Florida Abuse Hotline; the reporting requirement formerly applied only when the alleged abuser was the parent or caregiver.
The law also increases the penalty from a misdemeanor to a felony for failing to report, with financial penalties increasing as well.
“This law will help ensure all allegations of a child being harmed are immediately investigated by the appropriate agency,” said Department of Children and Families Secretary David Wilkins. “Reporting child abuse is our moral and legal obligation.”
The measure, passed by lawmakers earlier this year, followed the abuse scandal at Penn State involving football coach Jerry Sandusky, convicted earlier this year on multiple charges of child molesting.
Under the new Florida law, DCF will investigate any charges that a child was abused or neglected by a caregiver, while allegations of child abuse by someone other than a caregiver will be accepted at the Hotline and electronically transferred to the appropriate local law enforcement agency.
The law also imposes $1 million fines on colleges and universities whose staffers witness child abuse on campus and fail to notify the authorities, another provision inspired by the Pennsylvania scandal.
The new law also includes better training for teachers on recognizing the signs of abuse, better tracking of abuse reports at public institutions of higher learning, and financial relocation assistance for victims.
Last year DCF’s child protective investigators scrutinized more than 184,000 cases of alleged abuse and neglect involving about 300,000 children.
By The News Service of Florida