Ensley Murder Victim Indentified
March 20, 2012
A man was shot and killed on a street near Ensley in what authorities are calling an apparent drug-related incident Tuesday night.
The victim was identified Wednesday as Frederick John Ortiz, 26.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded about 7:30 p.m. to Hayworth Avenue to a report of shots fire. When they arrived, Ortiz was found shot to death, lying in the middle of the street.
The shooting remains under investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Further details have not yet been released.
Hayworth Avenue is just off Highway 29 near I-10, behind Hardees.
Pictured above: A man was shot and killed on Hayworth Street of Highway 29 Tuesday night. Photos by Bree Sison WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Woman Charged With Weekend Murder
March 20, 2012
An Escambia County woman has been arrested for a weekend murder.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office believes 18-year old Keia Alexis Clausell stabbed Shernique Kemp during a fight at Oakwood Terrace early Sunday morning.
Investigators said there has been an ongoing dispute between a group of females that culminated when a fight broke out at the apartment complex resulting in Clausell fatally stabbing Kemp in the torso.
Investigators were able to obtain a warrant Clausell after interviewing her and other witnesses.
Clausell is being held without bond. She was arrested about an hour after the Sheriff’s Office publicly named her as a suspect.
Dept. Of Corrections To Pay Century $199K To Settle Water Suit
March 20, 2012
The Town of Century will settle a lawsuit over excessive water usage with the Florida Department of Corrections for just under $200 thousand.
The Department of Corrections will pay Century $199,194.40 to settle the lawsuit that claimed the DOC did not pay for excessive water used at the Century Correctional Institution.
Under the town’s contract to provide water for Century Correctional, there is an added charge for water usage above 6 million gallons per month. In early 2009, Mayor Freddie McCall discovered that the over-usage charge was not paid for the January 2000 to May 2008 time period.
The Town of Century’s lawsuit originally claimed the the Department of Corrections owed $284,444.68, but McCall said two years of billing was not allowable due to the statute of limitations.
In 2008, the Town of Century was successful in recovering $302,488.40 from the prison system for natural gas usage at the Century Correctional Institution.
The dispute stemmed from billing practices that dated back to 2000. Under the town’s agreement with the DOC and Century Correctional Institute, the prison was to pay for natural gas at the rate of 120 percent of the town’s actual cost. The town’s billing system would generate a bill at the normal rate, then town employees would re-rate the bill and send a new bill about 10 days later at the 120 percent rate.
Pictured: Century Correctional Institution. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Scott Signs State Worker Drug Testing Law
March 20, 2012
In a move that likely will draw a constitutional challenge, Gov. Rick Scott on Monday signed a controversial law that would allow random drug testing of state employees.
Scott, who prompted a federal court fight last year when he issued an executive order to begin drug testing, quietly notified the Secretary of State at 5:10 p.m. that he had signed the bill.
The Republican-dominated Legislature overwhelmingly approved the measure (HB 1205) this month, with supporters saying the private sector already uses such programs to improve safety and worker productivity.
“I’ve had a drug-free workplace for more than 20 years,” Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, said before a vote on the final day of the legislative session. “I believe that it has contributed to higher quality employees.”
But legislative opponents and groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida argued repeatedly during the recently completed legislative session that the idea would violate state employees’ constitutional rights.
“We’re talking less personal freedom without probable cause,” Sen. Chris Smith, D-Fort Lauderdale, said during the debate. “This is more government intrusion and more costs.”
The bill would allow, but not require, agencies to conduct random testing every three months. Agencies would use a computer system to choose employees to be tested, with the total not exceeding 10 percent of the agency workforce.
Also, agencies would have to pay for the tests out of their overall budgets, which would help prevent additional costs to the state. The law takes effect July 1.
Scott issued an executive order last year to start employee drug testing, but the order is largely on hold because of a court challenge. The Department of Corrections has continued with drug testing during the challenge.
Supporters dismissed arguments that HB 1205 would violate workers’ constitutional rights. But the legal fight likely will center on whether government agencies have the right to conduct “suspicionless” drug tests of workers.
A House staff analysis said that some of the issues that “may be arguable are whether the suspicionless drug testing of public employees or job applicants contravenes reasonable expectations of privacy and whether the government has a special need for such drug testing that outweighs the privacy interests of such employees and applicants.”
By The News Service of Florida
Century Joins Flomaton With 4th Fireworks Plans
March 20, 2012
The Town of Century has joined Flomaton in plans for a joint Fourth of July fireworks show.
Both towns have now agreed to chip in $1,500 each toward a $5,000 fireworks show to be held at Century’s Showalter Park. The remaining $2,000 will come from chambers of commerce and other sponsors.
Last year, both towns sponsored a fireworks show at Hurricane Park in Flomaton. Century agreed to help pay for the show only if the town’s alternated being the host for the event each year.
Pictured: The 2011 Fourth of July Fireworks Show at Hurricane Park in Flomaton. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
NWE Baseball Camp Canceled
March 20, 2012
A Northwest Escambia baseball camp scheduled for this weekend has been canceled.
Players from NWE were to attend the camp with the Northview High School varsity players on the Northview campus. The even will be rescheduled for a later date.
Man Using Leaf Blower Hit By Car
March 20, 2012
An Escambia County man was critically injured when he was hit by a car while using his leaf blower.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 61-year old William Gorey was operating a leaf blower while standing on the edge of Cedar Lake Drive. Gorey then stepped into the path of a 2011 Toyota Camry driven by 47-year old Chancey Smith of Pensacola. Gorey was transported to an area hospital in critical condition.
No charges were filed in the accident.
First Day Of Spring
March 20, 2012
Pictured: Amaryllis blooming in Walnut Hill as spring began on Tuesday. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Click It Or Ticket: Deputies Begin Seat Belt Crackdown
March 20, 2012
Monday, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office began a two-week “Click It or Ticket” crackdown designed to increase seat belt use and decrease motor vehicle fatalities across the county. The campaign will run day and night.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2010 nationally, 61 percent of the 10,647 passenger vehicle occupants who were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes overnight (6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m.) were not wearing their seat belts at the time of the fatal crash, compared to 42 percent during the daytime hours.
“That’s why Escambia County deputies are joining state and local law enforcement agencies and highway safety groups in supporting an aggressive national Click It or Ticket seat belt enforcement campaign from May 18 through May 31″, according to a Sheriff’s Office news release.
Pictured above and below: Just two days after a seat belt usage crackdown began in Escambia County last year, this motorist was stopped on Highway 97 after an Escambia County deputy observed him not wearing a seat belt. In an ironic twist, the bumper sticker on the truck states “Buckle Up! Or Pay Up!”. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Health Dept. Launches Healthy Choices Restaurant Program
March 20, 2012
The Escambia County Health Department, in partnership with local restaurants, has launched the Healthy Choices Restaurant Program. This program aims to provide Escambia County residents and visitors with more options for making healthy decisions when dining away from home.
Restaurants that offer Healthy Choice Options will be recognized and promoted in the community as a Healthy Choices Restaurant. Nine local restaurants have already stepped up to the plate to participate in the program. Participating restaurants must be locally owned, and must agree to offer and promote at least three of the Healthy Choices Options for adult and child entrees.
The Healthy Choice Options are:
- Take Half Home- box half of a customer’s meal, upon their request before it is served,
- Healthy Substitutions- offer healthy alternatives, such as steamed vegetables or salads, to fries and similar high calorie side items,
- Cook to Order- allow customers to request items to be grilled, steamed, or roasted instead of fried,
- Complimentary Items Require Your Request- bring complimentary items, such as chips or bread, to customers’ tables only when requested, and
- Post Nutritional Information- provide basic nutritional information for customers to review before choosing a menu item.
Currently, six out of ten Escambia County adults and one out of four children are obese or overweight, according to Florida Health Statistics and Community Health Data. In an effort to reduce these high obesity rates, the program encourages families to change their behavior while dining out simply by choosing healthy options.
“With over one-third of family meals consumed away from home, the ability to select healthy options at restaurants can make a big difference in the total number of calories and fat consumed, “says Versilla Turner, registered dietitian and director of the Community Health Education and Nutrition division at the Escambia County Health Department. “We encourage more restaurants to join the program to make healthier dining experiences more widely available.”
A Healthy Choices Restaurant logo is displayed at the entrance of each participating restaurant. The first restaurants to commit to the program include Captain Joey Patti’s Seafood Deli, Dog House Deli, H20, Lillo’s Tuscan Grille, Lost Treasure Grill, Nacho Daddies, Native Café, Portabello Market, and Wildman’s.