Olympics: Women’s Soccer (With NorthEscambia Gallery)
August 10, 2012
Great Britain advanced as far as the quarterfinals in Olympic women’s football (soccer) in London.
A Molino family living in England was there at Wembley Stadium for Great Britain’s 1-0 win over Brazil. For a photo gallery, click here.
Great Britain went on to lose to Canada 0-2.
Pictured top: Great Britain’s women’s football (soccer) team celebrates after a 1-0 win over Brazil in London’s Wembley Stadium. Pictured below: Game action. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Man Arrested For Indecent Exposure
August 10, 2012
A Santa Rosa County man has been arrested for indecent exposure in front of his neighbors and deputies.
David Hair, 51, remains in the Santa Rosa County Jail after being arrested Tuesday and charged with two counts of indecent exposure in public.
Hair’s neighbor’s reported that on July 30th he was sitting just inside his open front door at 4:30 a.m. nude and performing a sexual act. When deputies responded to the home on Windrun Place, they witnessed Hair involved in the activity, according to Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office.
About 5::30 a.m. August 7, deputies responded to Hair’s home again after a neighbor complained that he was nude and involved in the same activity in front of an open window with lights on.
Hair told deputies that he “has a problem” and enjoys the activity while watching outside.
This was not the first time Hair has been involved in suspicious activity. He was trespassed warned from two schools after school children observed him hiding in the wood line near the school. Deputies and school officials were made aware of the activity, but no suspicious or illegal activity was observed after the warnings were issued. Hair has a previous conviction from the 1990’s in Escambia County for exposing himself.
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with information about Hair’s activities contact Special Operations at (850) 983-1100 or Santa Rosa Crime Stoppers at (850) 437-STOP.
Wahoos Walk Off With 3-2 Extra Inning Win Over Lookouts
August 10, 2012
Blue Wahoos second baseman Brodie Greene drove home the winning run with a walk off single to left in the tenth, while left fielder Bryson Smith recorded three hits and shortstop Billy Hamilton stole two more bases to lead Pensacola to a 3-2 extra-inning victory over the Chattanooga Lookouts on Thursday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
With the victory, the Fish improved to 25-22 in the second half to move to within one game of the Jacksonville Suns for first place in the South Division. Chattanooga fell to 26-21 since the league’s midpoint after the defeat. It was the first walkoff victory for Pensacola since June 13 versus Mobile.
Smith reached on an error to begin the bottom of the tenth, took second on 3B David Vidal’s sacrifice bunt and third on an error to set the stage for Greene. With a 1-1 count, the infielder grounded the pitch through the hole between shortstop and third base to cue the celebration. It was the first and only time the Blue Wahoos led all game.
Chattanooga took their first lead in the fifth, when starting pitcher Aaron Miller helped his own cause with a solo homer to left. It was the hurler’s first career roundtripper in his fourth season of his professional career. The Blue Wahoos tied it at 1-1 in the bottom of the frame when Hamilton tripled before coming across on a fielder’s choice.
The Lookouts then grabbed the advantage again at 2-1 in the seventh thanks to their second longball of the evening. LF Brahiam Maldonado began the frame with a solo blast to left, his fifth homer of the season.
Pensacola answered the tally in the bottom of the seventh when Hamilton led off with a bunt single, stole second for the second time on the evening and moved to third on a flyout before coming home on Smith’s run-scoring single to center, which would force extra innings.
Smith (3-5, 1 R, 2 RBI) and Hamilton (2-4, 2 R, 1 3B, 1 BB, 2 SB) each recorded multi-hit efforts in the contest for the Blue Wahoos, while Maldonado collected three hits for the Lookouts. With his two steals tonight, Hamilton has now totaled 133 this year, bringing him to within 12 of tying Vince Coleman’s single-season record of 145, set in 1983.
Blue Wahoos starter Tony Cingrani (6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO) did not factor in the decision despite giving up only a lone earned run on just four hits while fanning six in six innings of work, while RHP Curtis Partch (1.2 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 1 SO) earned the win after firing the final 1.2 frames. Chattanooga reliever Chris Withrow (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 SO) suffered the loss to fall to 3-3 on the year after yielding the final unearned run.
With Pensacola leading the series 2-0, the two clubs are scheduled to meet again Friday night, with first pitch scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at the bayfront stadium. RHP Kyle Lotzkar is expected to get the nod for the Fish, while RHP Allen Webster is slated to take the hill for Chattanooga.
By Andrew Green
Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Helicopter Company That Stiffed Century Sells Assets To The Chinese
August 9, 2012
[EXCLUSIVE] The helicopter company that disappeared and stiffed the Town of Century for about three quarters of a million dollars has resurfaced — with its owner cashing in and selling the company to the Chinese.
Century received a $740,999.43 foreclosure judgement against Helicopter Technologies, Inc. in July 2009 after owner Georges Van Nevel apparently left the country.
Recently, Van Nevel’s Helicopter Technologies transferred all industrial properties and patents on the FH1100 helicopter to China in an agreement with the China Helicopter Industry Development Association and US-China Capital, Inc., according to the Chinese website People’s Daily Online. The financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
China expects to produce their first FH1100 within two years, increasing production up to about 300 copters annually.
Van Nevel operated his helicopter company from a building leased from Century in the town’s industrial park off West Highway 4. In September 2007, his regular monthly $3,257.61 payments to the town stopped, forcing the eventual foreclosure proceedings against the company.
Van Nevel then tried unsuccessfully to sell the building for $1.75 million while attempting to negotiate a payment plan with the town.
The building remains empty in the Century Industrial Park.
Troubled Past
The U.S. Office of Transportation raided Van Nevel Helicopters in January 2008, with federal officials seizing records of the business and Van Nevel.
“Van Nevel is suspected of improperly refurbishing helicopters and helicopter parts, selling unapproved aircraft parts, performing improper repairs on helicopters and misleading the aviation community by false advertisements,” according to federal documents from the Office of Transportation at the time of the raid.
In 2008, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida entered a $424,550.72 judgment in favor of El Colona Agropecurario of Costa Rica against Helicopter Technologies for failing to deliver a helicopter to the company.
Numerous lawsuits against Van Nevel and Helicopter Technologies were also filed in Escambia County Circuit Court.
Pictured top: This photo shows Georges Van Nevel (to the right of the American flag) transferring the assets and patents of his company to the Chinese. Picture inset: Van Nevel addresses the Century Town Council as Mayor Freddie McCall listens. Pictured below: Inside Helicopter Technologies in the Century Industrial Park. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Nine Mile Road Resurfacing Project Update
August 9, 2012
Work is continuing on a Nine Mile Road construction project in Escambia County.
Over the next month drivers can expect intermittent lane restrictions from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. between Perdido River Bridge and Pine Cone Drive as Panhandle Grading and Paving paves driveway connections and stripes the roadway.
This work is part of the final items to complete the roadway improvements on the 6.7 mile project which began in January of this year, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.
Yard Work Program Provides Jobs, Helps Low Income, Disabled Avoid Code Violations
August 9, 2012
The Community Action Program Committee has partnered with the International Paper Foundation and FaithWorks InterFaith Ministries this summer to perform yard services for low-income seniors or disabled customers who are in danger of receiving a code violation.
“This is an annual community service that we have offered each summer for the last three years.” said Renae Cotton, director of the community services department for CAPC. “Many of our seniors or disabled customers, because of financial strain, are facing county code enforcement violations due to the overgrown condition of their home’s yards. Our goal is to remove this one barrier from the difficult decisions seniors have to make based on their limited income.”
For the second straight year, CAPC received a $3,500.00 grant from International Paper to help fund the program.
In addition to providing a much needed service to one of the most vulnerable populations in Escambia County, the partnership will also address an unemployment issue as well.
“Along with students employed by our agency for the summer, FaithWorks will be using its regular YardWorks program workers to service an estimated 150 eligible customers in Escambia County,” said Doug Brown, CAPC executive director. “Most of the work crews are made up of formerly unemployed individuals.”
FaithWorks will train and supervise the crews on how to properly manicure a lawn, equipment usage and maintenance, and the value of hard work.
“Bringing an elderly or disabled, eligible person’s yard up to code while training young people from the CAPC Summer Youth Program in job safety, outdoor tool use and work ethics is an exciting addition to our current YardWorks Program.” said Rick Dye, chief volunteer for FaithWorks.
Persons in Escambia County interested in applying for this yard service program should call Community Action Program Committee office at (850) 438-4021.
Pictured top: By the time Abdul Smith (right) and Antwon Lyons are done, over 150 yards in Escambia County will be mowed to avoid code enforcement violation fineds. Pictured bottom: Javier Cobb has learned that an important task of the Weed Easter operator is to look for uncut grass in a customer’s yard that was missed by the mower operator. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
ACLU Targets ‘Unconstitutional’ Religious Behavior At Charter School
August 9, 2012
The ACLU of Northwest Florida is targeting alleged “unconstitutional” religious behavior at an Escambia County charter school.
The letter sent to Superintendent Malcolm Thomas this week by Susan Watson of the ACLU claims that employees at the Jacqueline Harris Preparatory Academy promotes personal religious beliefs.
“They sponsor prayer at various school events and generally proselytize students during classes and other school-sponsored events and activities,” the letter states.
The letter demands that the Escambia County School District issue an immediate order to JHPA employees to cease the alleged behavior.
The ACLU is also demanding that “unconstitutional religious content” be removed the JHPA web page.
The school’s website mentions God in reference to the history behind the school:
“The Jacqueline Harris Preparatory Academy was named after the late Jacqueline Watson Harris who demonstrated clearly her faith and belief in God. She loved children and believed in each child’s innate ability to learn, however, she believed that the school, parents, community, and church must form a linkage and work together to help our children withstand and overcome the ills of society.”
Pictured: A portion of the Jacqueline Harris Preparatory Academy website.
Popular Farmer’s Opry Closing
August 9, 2012
After over a decade, the Farmer’s Opry in Chumuckla is closing this fall.
Sandy Wyatt have opened the Farmer’s Opry House almost every Friday and Saturday night with good homestyle food and country entertainment for the past 11 years. But that ends October 6, with Opry opening only for special events, concerts and fundraisers.
Wyatt said he and his wife need a break; they are both reaching retirement age and still work other full tile jobs in addition to the Farmer’s Opry House.
Thursday morning, the Farmer’s Opry posted the following on their Facebook page:
“We want to officially thank everyone in our community (and across the US) for helping us fulfill our dreams over the past 11 years. We’re thankful to have met folks who we would have never otherwise met. We love our community and our family will always be here to support Chumuckla and the surrounding area. The Sawmill Band will continue to perform special events around our area and even at the Opry on occasion.”
K9 Fighting Drugs At Schools
August 9, 2012
A four legged deputy and her handler have been working to keep drugs out of the Santa Rosa County schools.
The lab named “Idgie” and Deputy Marshall Holbrook teamed up for the first year together as a drug fighting duo.
From August 2011 to June 2012, Idgie performed 451 vehicle checks, 103 room checks, 2,300 locker checks and 1,700 bag and personal article checks. Idgie alerted seven times with drugs found, and altered 18 times were drugs were not found but students confirmed that had been drugs.
Besides her drug dog duties, Idgie also performed 125 demonstrations and public appearances.
Pictured above: Santa Rosa County Sheriff Wendell Hall, Deputy Marshall Holbrook, Idgie, and Santa Rosa County School Superintendent Tim Wyrosdick. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Business Tax Bills Mailed
August 9, 2012
Business tax bills have been mailed.
Escambia County Tax Collector Janet Holley was set to mail 22,000 business tax receipt renewal notice last week. Business owners can renew through September 30 without a delinquent penalty.
Business tax receipts can be renewed online, but other options are available including payment by mail, by phone or in person at any one of four tax collector offices.
Applications and information for business tax receipts are available at www.escambiataxcollector.com. For more information or to make an appointment, visit the tax collector’s website or call (850) 438‑6500, ext. 3252.