FWC Explains Decision To Euthanize Cantonment Bear
May 26, 2012
After following the saga of a black bear seen around a Cantonment apartment complex for a week, many area residents were saddened — or even outraged — that the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission made the decision to euthanize the bear on Friday. [Read more...]
After reading the comments from local residents on a NorthEscambia.com article, Karen Parker, FWC public information coordinator, submitted the following detailed explanation defending the agency’s actions:
Many people do not understand why we have to do this. The answer is that it wasn’t an option for us to release the bear into the wild. He was so conditioned to human-provided food, and showed such a lack of fear of people, that he would simply repeat this behavior elsewhere and someone may be hurt. Unfortunately there are no areas left in Florida where we would feel assured he would not come into contact with people.
Placing the bear in captivity seems a reasonable solution to many people. Unfortunately, placing wild, adult bears in captivity, as many people have asked us to do, has been proven to be harmful to wild bears because they do not adapt well to captivity. Adult female bears normally range over a 15 square mile area, and to place such a wide-ranging animal into a space a fraction of that size is similar to putting a person into solitary confinement. Wild bears taken into captivity risk injuring themselves and their human caretakers as they attempt to escape. These animals also often show signs of stress and depression by remaining in their night dens for weeks or months at a time, destroying items in their exhibits, pacing and swaying repetitively, as well as mutilating themselves.
That leaves us with only one viable option and that is to euthanize the bear. We do not enjoy putting animals down, but there are times when it is necessary, even when human behavior is the one at fault. This and other similar situations involving people, pets and bears, are caused by humans and can be resolved by humans. By preventing bears from getting human-provided food, we can prevent these types of needless situations.
It is heartbreaking to have to euthanize healthy bears, and we completely understand and empathize with those who object to the FWC taking this action. Many communities in Florida are near or in ideal bear habitat, and bears naturally wander into these neighborhoods in search of food. But generally, they stay only if they find a consistent source of food that is easy to obtain – food such as unsecured garbage, birdseed, and pet food. Unfortunately, once bears become used to humans and the food they provide, bears can lose their natural fear of people. When they do, this can be the unfortunate result.
The best way for people to help is to insist that communities in or adjacent to bear country take actions to prevent situations like this from occurring. Some of the most effective tools are rules, ordinances and policies that require the use of proven bear resistant garbage cans and dumpsters by residents, businesses, governments, schools, etc., and not allowing pet foods, bird seed or other food items to be left out of overnight. These tools provide a long term solution to significantly reduce conflicts between humans and bears, instead of having to rely on short term fixes like euthanizing individual offending bears. If what attracts the bears is not corrected and eliminated, more bears may be euthanized.
To successfully implement and enforce such requirements requires both a financial commitment and behavioral change by the people and communities affected because the actions must be consistent and long term. In addition, bear-proof containers are typically more expensive than regular trash receptacles. However, the result is a safer community and fewer bears having to be euthanized.
We can live in bear country without having bear conflicts. Please visit MyFWC.com/bear for more information about Florida’s bears and how you can have a local impact on reducing human-bear conflicts.
Submitted by Karen Parker
Public Information Coordinator
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Jim Allen, Other Schools Collect 74,000 Plastic Bags For Homeless Sleeping Mats
May 26, 2012
Jim Allen Elementary joined a half dozen other elementary schools in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties in collecting 74,000 plastic grocery type bags that will eventually provide a sleeping surface for homeless people.
Jim Allen, Bellview, A.K. Suter, Oakcrest, Lipscomb, St John the Evangelist and Bagdad elementary collected the bags in partnership with the Florida Department of Environmental Management Northwest District and the Waterfront Rescue Mission. The classes at each school that collected the most bags were awarded a reusable shopping bag and a one-day pass to any Florida state park.
The bags will be used by a volunteer group that will crochet them into sleeping mats to be donated to the homeless. Each mat requires about 500 bags, meaning the students’ efforts will lead to 148 mats.
The finished mats are 3×6 feet, are lightweight and easy to carry with shoulder strap. They provide the homeless with protection from moisture and hard surfaces when they sleep.
Escambia Man Gets Two Life Terms For Sexual Battery Of Teen
May 26, 2012
An Escambia County man has been sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison for the sexual battery of a teen.
Michael Dochterman was sentenced by Judge Terry Terrell to two consecutive life sentences for two counts of sexual battery with a knife. Dochterman was also sentenced to an additional 20 years for a third sexual battery and failing to register as a sex offender. Judge Terrell sentenced Docterman as a dangerous sexual felony offender and designated him as a sexual predator.
Last July, Dochterman forced his girlfriend’s 15-year old daughter to have sex with him while repeatedly stabbing her with a knife. The victim was stabbed nine times and suffered a collapsed lung.
At his sentencing, Dochterman stated “I don’t deserve to be in society”.
Dochterman had previously been convicted of sexual battery.
Escambia Man Receives 151 Months In Prison For Armed Robbery
May 26, 2012
Friday, Aaron Kendel Richardson was sentenced by Judge Paul Rasmussen to 151.5 months in state prison for four counts of robbery with a firearm. The first 10 years will be served as a mandatory minimum under the 10-20-Life law.
The charges stem from multiple robberies in October 2011. In one of the robberies, Richardson, who was 17 years of age at the time, pulled a handgun on three Navy sailors and demanded their money. After taking their money, Richardson fled in a vehicle and was arrested later that night after being spotted by law enforcement.
Richardson was also sentenced Friday for being the driver of the same vehicle involving another robbery that occurred the same night.
Wahoos Fall 6-5 Friday Night
May 26, 2012
Mississippi plated a ninth inning run with back-to-back doubles from first baseman Ian Gac and pinch hitter Barrett Kleinknecht after Pensacola came back from an early 5-0 deficit, as the Braves defeated the Blue Wahoos 6-5 in front of another sellout crowd of 5,038 on Friday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
It was the 16th sellout of the year in 21 home dates for the Blue Wahoos, who continue to lead the Southern League in attendance in their inaugural season. The defeat drops the Fish to a 23-25 mark in 2012, while the Braves improved their record to 21-26. Two-time NFL champion, Milton High School graduate and New York Giants kicker Lawrence Tynes was in attendance, and threw out a ceremonial first pitch prior to the game.
After allowing the Blue Wahoos to comeback after they were down five, Gac doubled down the left field, while Kleinknecht followed with a double of his own on the next pitch to bring home Gac on what turned out to be the game-winning hit.
The Braves jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the top of the 1stt thanks to a two-run homer from SS Andrelton Simmons. It was the second roundtripper of the year and of the series for the Braves’ fourth-best prospect. Mississippi then increased the margin to five in the fourth thanks to RBI singles from CF Keenan Wiley and 2B Phil Gosselin, while Gac had a sacrifice fly.
The Blue Wahoos however, answered back with a five-run sixth inning to tie it at 5-5. CF Ryan LaMarre reached on a fielder’s choice and took second on an error before he was plated by SS Didi Gregorius for the club’s first tally of the contest. Gregorius moved to third on 2B Brodie Greene’s double, before both were sent home on 1B Joel Guzman’s two-run single to right. Guzman would score along with 3B David Vidal, who was hit by a pitch, on LF P.J. Phillips’ clutch two-run double to center to draw the contest even.
Guzman (2-4, 1 R, 2 RBI) was the lone Pensacola batter to record two hits in the contest, while Gosselin (2-5, 1 2B, 1 RBI) and LF Alden Carrithers (2-4, 1 R, 1 BB) each collected multi-hit efforts for the Braves.
Mississippi reliever Ryan Buchter (1.0 IP, 2 SO) earned his second victory of the year after fanning two batters in his scoreless inning of relief, while closer Mark Lamm (1.0 IP, 1 H) tossed a scoreless ninth to notch his sixth save of the season. Pensacola closer Donnie Joseph (1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 SO) suffered his first loss of 2012, yielding a run on two hits in one inning. It was just the second run Joseph has given up all year in 22 appearances.
The Blue Wahoos and Braves are scheduled to meet again Saturday evening, with first pitch set for 6:30 pm. RHP Daniel Corcino is expected to get the start for Pensacola, while Mississippi is slated to send LHP Sean Gilmartin to the hill.
Fans will want to arrive early and stay late for Saturday night’s contest, as NFL champ and Green Bay Packers offensive lineman Josh Sitton will be at the game and throw out a ceremonial first pitch. All fans are asked to wear green or gold in honor of Sitton. The Blue Wahoos will also be wearing special camouflage jerseys sponsored by Andrews Institute, with the jerseys being auctioned off throughout the game in a silent auction. Proceeds will benefit the Eagle Fund – Wounded Military.
By Andrew Green
Pictured: OF Yordanys Perez up to bat for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Halee’s Story: Tate Junior Battling Rare Cancer
May 25, 2012
About a month ago, Tate High School junior Halee Boyd was on top of the world….recently named next year’s Beta Club president, involved with the Interact Club and looking forward to graduation just a year away.
But now, she likely won’t be at graduation with her friends at Tate next year, as she battles Alevola Rhabdomyosarcoma , ARMS for short, a rare cancer of the muscles that are attached to the bones. There are only a few hundred new cases per year in the U.S.
Today, as Tate’s seniors celebrate with their annual senior breakfast and preparations for graduation, Halee is facing a blood transfusion at Shands Children’s Hospital at the University of Florida in Gainesville.
“A month ago we were in my living room watching ‘How I Met Your Mother’ on Netflix and tonight we are waiting for a blood transfusion,” Halee’s mother Mardi Boyd said Thursday night. “No matter how I try, I just can’t seem to wrap my mind around that.”
In April, Halee started having severe headaches, followed by blurry and double vision. Within 10 days her right eye was swollen, and the Boyds headed to a hospital emergency room. On April 29, they learned she had a tumor.
“It is still hard to hear myself say that she has cancer, the words catch in my throat and tears well up in my eyes and my heart stops. It’s not that it’s affected my life so much; it’s that from April 29, 2012, her life changed so drastically in a hallway in an emergency department,” Mardi said.
Besides facing and battling the cancer, the big change for Halee, 17, has been not being in school at Tate.
“I miss being in my classes and my teachers and being surrounded by my Tate family, being social and going to events,” Halee said from Shands Children’s Hospital. “I love my school and wouldn’t trade it for anything.
“I miss my friends, being able to see them every day and talking to them. I miss going out with them, but most of all I miss them being normal because now that I have cancer everything feels different.”
The rare cancer calls for extensive treatments. She will have eight solid weeks of combined radiation and chemo at Shands in Gainesville. After her initial treatments at Shands, she will head home to Pensacola for a couple of weeks for “smaller” treatments before heading back to Gainesville for more aggressive treatments.
“I think it is just surreal,” Mardi said, three and half weeks into the treatment regime. “It all seems like a bad dream, I just get up each day and get through it and lean on my faith in God. I have been through some things in life that were bad, but those all made me strong enough to face this. Halee is incredibly strong and we are able to feed off of that.”
Faith has also played a role in the family’s strength.
“The only one who saw this coming was God. While I know He has all the answers, waiting for those to be given to us is another challenge in itself,” Mardi said.
Halee is ready to be back with her Tate family.
“I miss my friends, being able to see them every day and talking to them. I miss going out with them, but most of all I miss them being normal because now that I have cancer everything feels different,” Halee said. “I look forward to going back to school and being able to do normal things that I’m not allowed to do like going to the movies and to the mall, but mostly just going back to school. I’m in my element at school, that’s my joy, I was getting straight A’s and it’s the thing I enjoy the most.”
Halee does not currently have health insurance. Donations are also being accepted for Halee through the family’s church, Heritage Baptist Church, 3065 Highway 297A, Cantonment, (850) 478-3316.
Pictured: Tate High School junior Halee Boyd. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Bear Is Euthanized
May 25, 2012
The black bear seen multiple times this week near Jim Allen Elementary School in Cantonment has been euthanized.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission captured the bear after shooting it with a drugged dart late Thurday near the Wild Oak Farm Apartments. On Friday, a decision was made to euthanize the young male bear, Karen Parker, a spokesperson for the FWC, said Friday afternoon.
“It’s death warrant was signed by the people that kept feeding it,” she said. “It is too accustom to people now and would always be a nuisance if relocated. It looks like we will have to put it down.”
The biggest mistake people can make around a bear is feeding it, Flowers said. “I know they are cute and it’s tempting, but we have to leave bears alone and keep bears wild.”
For more information why FWC decided to euthanize the bear, click here.
The young male black bear was spotted in a couple of locations Thursday, including an afternoon snack from the garbage at the Wild Oak Farms Apartments. He made his first public appearance back on Sunday at the apartments, just north of the Grocery Advantage on Highway 29 and directly adjacent to Jim Allen Elementary School.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission set a trap Thursday for the bear — baited with trash, honey buns, chicken bones and cat food. But the trap did not work.
Most apartment complex residents have described the bear as a friendly young fellow as he moves around — often posing for pictures as he rummages through trash looking for food.
“Problems arise when bears have access to people-related food sources such as pet foods, garbage, barbecue grills, birdseed or livestock feed,” Dave Telesco, FWC bear management program coordinator, said. “Bears learn very quickly to associate people with food, and this puts the animals at increased risk of illegal kills or crossing highways and getting hit by vehicles.”
Black bears normally are too shy to risk contact with humans, but their strong food drive can overwhelm these instincts. Residents can help these bears “move on,” so they don’t cause a conflict.
“If people remove the attractants, the bears will stay where we want them to stay – in wooded areas – and not enter urban and suburban neighborhoods,” Telesco said.
Pictured: A black bear returned to the Wild Oak Farms Apartments in Cantonment Thursday. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
No Injuries In Molino Train Derailment (With Gallery)
May 25, 2012
At least four cars on CSX freight train derailed in Molino Thursday night, posing no danger to the public but evoked back memories of previous serious derailments in the area.
The loaded freight cars hauling flour and refrigerated orange juice came off a side track near the dead end of McKinnonville Road about 11 p.m. The cars appeared to have left the tracks at low speed as they past a switch as the train headed south toward Cantonment. Multiple cross ties were broken, with the tracks separating and many of train wheels coming to rest between the two pieces of track.
None of the cars overturned or left the railbed, and nothing was spilled from any of the freight cars. There’s no word so far on the exact cause of the derailment.
For a photo gallery from the scene, click here.
While the incident initially blocked crossings on Daffin and Fairground roads, those were re-opened within about an hour. Officials said that CSX expects to have the derailed cars back on the secondary track within 24 hours. No roadway crossings remain closed due to the derailment.
A northbound CSX train, stopped on the main track as the southbound train passed on the sidetrack, was not involved in the derailment.
Robert Harris, who lives near the railroad tracks on Daffin Road, said he first learned of the derailment from a breaking news story on NorthEscambia.com and walked to the scene to see for himself what had happened.
“It could have been a lot worse, something could have spilled out of one of the chemical cars and gas could have got around,” Harris said. “Somebody could have got hurt.”
Harris said that along the rails in Molino, he’s noticed that the tracks seems to move up and down from the railbed more than in some locations. “You can see them; they hop,” he said. “The trains, they bounce when they are going down the tracks.”
“Maybe CSX need to do some safety procedures about how they operate their transportation,” Harris added. “It seems like the tracks need to be checked out a little bit more.”
Harris said he was glad the accident wast not worse. “It wouldn’t be the first time it happened; there have been a lot of train derailments out here in the past.”
For a photo gallery from the scene, click here.
In 1995, a 29 car derailment in Molino involved multiple tankers with hazardous chemicals, forcing the evacuation of about 150 people.
In November 1979, officials actually used thermite grenades to ignite propane in six derailed tanker cars.All total, 22 cars derailed, 19 of which contained hazardous materials. The total cost of the derailment cleanup and damage to the environment was estimated at $5.1 million. Up to 200 people were evacuated.
In 1976, nearly 30 people received medical treatment after inhaling ammonia after a derailment just north of Molino. In all, at least a half dozen trains have reportedly derailed in the Molino area in the past 30 years.
Pictured: Four cars on from a southbound CSX freight train derailed in Molino Thursday night. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
NOAA Predicts Near Normal Hurricane Season
May 25, 2012
The 2012 Atlantic hurricane season looks to be near normal, according to predictions released Thursday by NOAA.
For the entire six-month season, which begins June 1, NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center says there’s a 70 percent chance of 9 to 15 named storms, of which four to eight will strengthen to a hurricane. NOAA predicts that 1-3 of those will strengthen into a major hurricanes of Category 3 or higher.
The seasonal outlook does not predict how many storms will hit land.
Based on the period 1981-2010, an average season produces 12 named storms with six hurricanes, including three major hurricanes.
“NOAA’s outlook predicts a less active season compared to recent years,” said NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D. “But regardless of the outlook, it’s vital for anyone living or vacationing in hurricane-prone locations to be prepared. We have a stark reminder this year with the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Andrew.” Andrew, the Category 5 hurricane that devastated South Florida on August 24, 1992, was the first storm in a late-starting season that produced only six named storms.
Pictured: August 24, 2012 will be the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Andrew’s devastating landfall in South Florida. Images courtesy NOAA for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview’s McCall Named MVP; East Beats West In All-Star Softball, Baseball
May 25, 2012
Northview High School senior Lauren McCall was named the West MVP Thursday night as East defeated the West 11-2 in the Pensacola Sports Association’s 2012 Subway High School All-Star Softball Game.
McCall had the West’s first hit during the game that features the top seniors from Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties. After the shortstop’s infield single, McCall’s catch ended the fifth inning of play at the University of West Florida.
From Jay, Becca Callaway walked before an RBI double from Milton’s Katie Worley, and Tessa Hendricks also added an RBI double.
In the boys softball All-Star game Thursday, the East also defeated the west, 8-0
All-Star Players, All-Star Coaches
Head coaches for this year’s event included Brian Watson from Jay High School for the East softball team and Mike Haveard from Pine Forest for the west softball team. In the baseball game, Cory Hamrick from Niceville High headed up the east team while Tate High’s Greg Blackmon coached the West boys.
Announced rosters for the 2012 Subway High School All-Star baseball and softball games were as follows:
West Softball: Victoria East, Ashley Peters, Brittany Morris, and Aubrey Yeagle from Escambia, Brianna Coleman, Brittany Manning-Davis, Rebeka Touary, and Sara Grace Gunter from Pine Forest, Kristen Hughes from East Hill, Lauren McCall from Northview, Amber Wells from Catholic, Samantha Hurley from Pensacola, Kayla Rosario, Kaitlyn Kenfield, Gabby Leifur, and Kalina Kenfield from West Florida Tech, Heather Schaff, Kim Baker, Barette Barnes, Marina Cobbs, Holly Brown, and Kat Tucker from Tate, and Rachel Medley from Washington.
East Softball: Kasey Harrison from Laurel Hill, Megan McDonald and Amanda Curington from Gulf Breeze, Hannah Day from Crestview, Lauren Osburn, Sarah Beth Marquis, and Meghan Redalieu from Navarre, Hannah Jones from Pace, Stephanie Hartness, Jamie Ujvari, Jessica Ujvari, and Courtney Adams from Niceville, Brittany Tiller from Rocky Bayou, Katie Worley, Kassandra Gilley, and Desiree Velasguez from Milton, Becca Calloway and Tessa Hendricks from Jay, Tory Kilcrease from Baker, Jaime Phillips and Jennifer Phillips from Fort Walton, and Rikki Rummel from Choctaw.
West Baseball: Scott Robertson, Matt Mckibben, and Avery Van Brussel from Washington, Skyler Beckerman, Tyler Murphy, Chase Anderson, and Tucker Massey from West Florida Tech, Tyler Curtis, Hunter Black, Austin Quina, Mac Seibert, and Cody Palmer from Tate, Preston Szuch, Tyler Henry, and Chase Keifer from Catholic, Tanner Brooks and Zach Barrow from Northview, Trenton Potter and Kody Bryant from Pensacola Christian, Brandon Nagem, Jon Cagle-Lister, and Zach Hathaway from Pine Forest, Joey Scapecchi and Kaleb Lewis from Escambia, and Brandon Haragul and Jimmy Threat from Pensacola.
East Baseball: Kameron Miller, Dylan Lee, and Derek Lovelace from Crestview, Kyle Mcgee from Gulf Breeze, Tanner Black, Miguel Paulino, and Luke Clark from Choctaw, Bucky Locke from Baker, Cory Eller and Mike Haynes from Niceville, Sammy James from Jay, Patrick Maddox, Patrick Ervin, Daniel Hampton, Steven Jernigan, and Clay Benefield from Pace, Paul Young and Jordan Martin from Milton, Dylan Peacock from Central, Steven Wills from Rocky Bayou, Kyle Slingerland from Laurel Hill, Jacob Terry and Dusty Jones from Navarre, Ian Hok and Trey Marshall from Fort Walton.