Sheriff’s Office Operation Clean Sweep Program Turns Two
September 20, 2012
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and cooperating agencies is recognizing the second anniversary of the Operation Clean Sweep program.
For the past two years, Operation Clean Sweep has worked to clean up neighborhoods while curbing crime in Escambia County neighborhoods.
The focus of “Operation Clean Sweep” is to work with Neighborhood Watch groups, residents, churches and business owners to control and prevent the damaging effects of criminal activity, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Pictured top: Operation Clean Sweep targeted the Cottage Hill community in March 2011. Pictured inset: Volunteers pick up trash during an April 2012 Clean Sweep in Cantonment. Pictured below: An arrest is made during a Clean Sweep in Century in October 2011. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Volleyball: Tate Aggies Beat The Milton Panthers Times Three
September 19, 2012
The Tate Aggies defeated the Milton Panthers in high school volleyball action Tuesday.
The Tate freshmen defeated Milton in two games, and the Tate junior varsity also downed Milton.
In varsity action, Tate defeated the Milton Panthers in four games, 24-26, 25-19, 25-18, 25-19. For the Lady Aggies, Shani Conoly had 11 kills and nine blocks; Brooke White added five aces, eight kills and two blocks, Lexi Windham had 11 digs, three kills and two blocks; and Jordan Barnett contributed 11 digs and two acres.
Photos by Hope Bonucchi for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Towns, Schools Lock In Big Savings With Inmate Labor
September 19, 2012
Inmate work crews from Century Correctional Institution are continuing to provide tens of thousands of dollars worth of labor to towns and schools in the North Escambia area.
“We could not operate without them,” Century Mayor Freddie McCall said. “We are real proud of our working relationship with the prison.”
For a small town like Century — and their small $3.1 million total budget — prisoner labor is critical. Through August 31, inmates from CCI had performed 8,532 hours of labor for the Town of Century this year, a $147,091.68 value.
The value of the inmate labor is calculated at $17.24 per hour — a figure set by the state.
About 200 inmates a day –less than 15 percent of the total inmate population — work on multiple prison works crews from Century Correctional’s Main Unit on Tedder Road and the Berrydale Forestry Camp near Jay. Dedicated crews are assigned to the Town of Century, the Town of Jay, Gulf Breeze and other entities.
Prisoners have completed 7,660 hours of labor in Jay so far this year, saving the town $132,058.40. In Gulf Breeze, prisoners have worked 13,574 hours valued at $234,015.76.
The prisoners also work in what might seem to be an unlikely location — several area schools. But they typically work on Saturdays and school holidays.
“They are never on campus on a school day when children are present,” Bratt Elementary School Principal Jeanene Hall said recently. “In fact, we close the gates when they are here to ensure there are no children that come onto the campus.”
At Bratt Elementary, prisoners completed the construction of bookshelves for the school. The materials were provided by the school while the handiwork was provided by free inmate labor, cutting the total project cost by about 90 percent.
“They did an amazing job,” Hall said, “and saved the school district money in the process.”
Inmates have completed 1,034 hours of service around Bratt Elementary, Byrneville Elementary and Northview High worth $17,826.16 this year.
McCall also said he has been pleased with the quality of labor provided by the inmates, even on tough projects.
He said earlier this year that Century paid a contractor to replace a culvert on Elm Street as his town employees and inmates observed the process. Then, Century’s employees and inmate crews replaced similar culverts on Jeter Lane and Henry Street to Department of Transportation specifications. McCall estimated the total savings to the town of Century at about $100,000 versus paying a contractor.
Pictured top and insets: Prisoners from Century Correctional Institution work earlier this year at the Nadine McCaw Park in Century. Pictured below: Bookshelves constructed by inmate work crews at Bratt Elementary School. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
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Many Florida EBT Cards To Be Deactivated Friday
September 19, 2012
The Florida Department of Children and Families is reminding those who receive food assistance, Temporary Cash Assistance, Refugee Assistance, and Food Assistance Employment and Training payments that their old Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards with the flag design will be deactivated this Friday.
The new card was phased in beginning in January 2012 and has already been distributed to most clients. Changing the cards allows for increased security and durability. Any client who still has the old card needs to call 1-888-356-3281 to receive a new ACCESS card, which has a lighthouse design.
Similar to a commercial credit or debit card, the new ACCESS card has an expiration date and will be replaced automatically every four years with a new design. Authorized retailers statewide have been informed of this change.
Man, Age 72, Gets 30 Years For Child Porn
September 19, 2012
A 72-year old Santa Rosa County man has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for child porn.
Joseph Richard Robson, Sr. received the sentence after he pleaded guilty to production and receipt of child pornography.
According to his plea, special agents from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), with the assistance of members of the Northern Florida Internet Crimes against Children Task Force (ICAC), executed a federal search warrant at Robson’s residence. Agents seized a number of computers, cameras, storage devices, and other items.
Forensic analysis revealed that, during 2010, Robson “used, persuaded, induced, enticed, or coerced an eight-year old child to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct”, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Between 2010 and 2012, Robson received and stored approximately 6,085 files that contained images and/or videos of child pornography, the DOJ said.
As part of his sentence, Senior United States District Judge Roger Vinson also imposed 10 years supervised release, with the conditions that Robson attend sex offender treatment and that he register as a sex offender.
Cross Country: Jay, PCA, Northview, Ernest Ward, Central
September 19, 2012
Pensacola Christian and Jay High were the top winners at a cross country meet held Tuesday afternoon at the Jay City Park.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery, click here.
Results were as follows:
TOP BOYS TEAMS
- Pensacola Christian, 20 points
- Jay, 64 points
- Central, 72 points
- Northview, 89 points
- Ernest Ward Middle, 136 points
TOP GIRLS TEAMS
- Jay, 24 points
- Pensacola Christian, 44 points
- Central, 61 points
- Northview, 86 points
- Ernest Ward Middle, 148 points
TOP BOYS
- Micah Kemp , Jay – 17:43
- Joshua Balentine , PCA – 17:55
- Justin Jexel , PCA – 18:17
- Jeremy Carlson , PCA – 18:20
- Kody Johnson , PCA – 18:58
- Daniel Posey , PCA – 19:31
- Chris Peterson , PCA – 19:32
- Hunter Stewart , PCA – 19:34
- Cody Wolfe , Jay – 20:06
- Isaac McGahan , Northview – 20:25
- Kyle Fuller , Central – 20:28
- Mark Foley , Jay – 21:31
- Josh Strength , Central – 21:46
- Nick Lambert , Northview – 22:35
- Keifer Boyett , Central – 22:41
- Morgan Givens , Central – 23:24
- Nick Pooley , Central – 23:39
- Heath Sheldt , Ernest Ward – 23:40
- Nathan Barnes , Northview – 23:41
- Joey Belanger , Jay – 23:47
- Joshua Borelli , Northview – 23:48
- Noah Goodson , Jay – 24:54:00
- Garrett Price , Central – 25:03
- Lee Henning , Central – 25:50
- Eli Harbison , Northview – 27:19
- Zachary Calloway , Northview – 28:09
- Austin Gonzalez , Jay – 29:44
- Logan Purvis , Ernest Ward – 30:09
- Jimi Brooks , Ernest Ward – 30:13
- Logan Calloway , Ernest Ward – 30:27
- Dawson Brown , Ernest Ward – 30:41
- Aaron Dees , Ernest Ward – 30:44
- Gavin Coon , Northview – 30:55
- Korbin Bryan , Ernest Ward – 40:03
TOP GIRLS
- Lauren Cochran , PCA – 21:01
- Jessica Thornton , Jay – 21:36
- Jorja Agrait , Jay – 22:21
- Sarah Jacobs , PCA – 22:39
- Savannah Brown , Jay – 23:48
- Carsen Arrant , Jay – 23:50
- Georgia Goetter , Northview – 24:00
- Jenna Thornton , Jay – 25:02
- Beth Smith , Central – 25:11
- Megan Henderson , PCA – 25:13
- Beth Hopkins , Central – 26:17
- Erica Waters , Central – 26:26
- Ann Brock , PCA – 26:30:00
- Brandi Bradley , Central – 26:56
- Cameron Dilliard , Central – 27:02
- Monica Smith , PCA – 27:26:00
- Kennedy Fuller , Central – 27:46
- Zacarra Davis , Northview – 27:44
- Jazzlyn Franklin , Northview – 28:05
- Moriah McGahan , Northview – 28:12
- Kendra Weekes , Jay – 28:13:00
- Ashley Joiner , Northview – 28:53.4
- Allaina Morrow , Central – 28:53.7
- Mason Solchenberger , Northview – 29:10.1
- RayAnn Free , Jay – 29:10.4
- Bethany Reynolds , Northview – 29:34
- Lydia Smith , Ernest Ward – 29:49:00
- Victoria Amerson , Ernest Ward – 30:13
- Mikayla Gagnon , PCA – 30:48
- Lexxi Baggett , Ernest Ward – 36:06
- Cailee Wilburn , Ernest Ward – 36:17
- Rebekah Amerson , Ernest Ward – 37:41
- Sarah Perritt , Ernest Ward – 38:54
- Hannah Ellis , Ernest Ward – 41:29
Northview, West Florida Only Area Teams State Ranked
September 19, 2012
Two Escambia County football teams are in the state rankings this week.
The Northview Chiefs (2-1) held on to their No. 4 ranking this week in Class 1A behind Union County (3-0), Trenton (3-0), and Holmes County (3-0),.
The West Florida Jaguars (3-0) debuted in the state rankings this week at No. 10 in Class 5A.
Pictured top: The Northview Chiefs, ranked No. 4 in the state in Class 1A, defeated Chipley last Friday night. Pictured below: The West Florida Jaguars, ranked No. 10 in Class 5A, beat 6A Tate High School last Friday night. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
At The Library: See Dancing Dogs And A Blue Kazoo
September 19, 2012
Children of all ages can see dancing dogs and a blue Kazoo at the Century Branch Library.
Dogs can be trained to sit, stay and roll over….but square dance? The Five Flags Dog Training Club will present a boot-slappin’ good time as they put their pups to the challenge Thursday afternoon at the Century Branch Library at 4 p.m.
On Saturday from 11 a.m. until noon, the Blue Wahoo’s mascot Kazoo will be at the Century Branch Library. September is National Library Card Sign-up month, and to celebrate the West Florida Library has teamed up with the Blue Wahoos. There will be lots of fun and frivolity for children of all ages.
The Century Branch Library is located at 7991 North Century Boulevard. For more information, call (850) 256-6217.
Another Human West Nile Case Confirmed
September 19, 2012
Another human case of the West Nile Virus was confirmed Tuesday in Santa Rosa County, bringing the two-county area total to 12 cases and one death.
Two cases have been reported in Santa Rosa, while 10 cases with one fatality have been reported in Escambia County. A death from West Nile was also reported in Okaloosa County.
“The confirmation of a second case of West Nile virus in our county means that it is extremely important for people to follow the recommended precautions,” Sandra Park-O’Hara, administrator for the Santa Rosa County Health Department.
Residents are advised to attempt to avoid going outside between dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are the most active, to use a mosquito repellent and to wear protective clothing. Residents should also work to remove any standing water around the outside of their homes.
Escambia Man Arrested On Child Porn Charges
September 19, 2012
An Escambia County man was arrested Tuesday morning after an almost month-long investigation determined he was downloading child pornography from the internet.
Ryan Campbell Williams, 33, of 711 Underwood Ave., Apt. 300 C, was charged with possession of child pornography. Additional charges are anticipated, said Pensacola Police Department Detective Jeff Brown.
Williams, who is unemployed, was arrested around 9 a.m. during a search warrant at his apartment. The warrant was served by Pensacola Police and members of the North Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, which includes members of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Department of Homeland Security.
Brown said officers seized two computers, several thumb drives and several CDs from the apartment. Evidence of child pornography has been found on one of the computers; the other items will undergo forensic review, investigators said.
Brown said the investigation began August 23 after Williams was identified as trafficking in child pornography using the internet.
While it is unknown exactly how many photographs and movies Williams has that contain child pornography, Brown said it is believed the collection is extensive and includes
male and female children.
Brown said officers are not aware of Williams having personal contact with children, but that remains under investigation.