Century Resident Concerned That ‘White Citizens’ Skip Council Meetings
March 6, 2012
A Century resident, who is black, is concerned that white residents of Century are not attending town council meetings and are not involved in town government.
“What happened to all of the white citizens? Nobody comes to the council meetings,” Helen Mincy said as she addressed the Century Town Council Monday night during the public form portion of their meeting.
Mincy asked the council why white citizens of Century do not attend council meetings.
“I am hoping that people elected us to do a good job, and we are doing a good job,” Mayor Freddie McCall said. “I hope they are trusting us.”
Only a small number of people attended Monday night’s council meeting. All were black, with the exception of two reporters.
Pictured: The Century Town Council meets Monday night. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Walnut Hill Man Arrested On Weapons Charge For Gun; Sword Was Legal
March 6, 2012
A Walnut Hill man was arrested over the weekend following a traffic stop on a felony weapons charge.
Robert Charles Allen, age 50 of South Highway 99, was charged with carrying a concealed weapon and was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $2,500 bond.
According to an arrest report, an Escambia County Sheriff’s deputy spotted Allen driving erratically on Highway 29 near 9½ Mile Road. During a traffic stop, the deputy reported finding a .22 caliber Derringer in Allen’s pocket.
Allen did not have a firearms or concealed weapons permit, according to the report.
He passed a field sobriety test, but was cited for an open container violation for an open bottle of beer sitting on the floorboard of the vehicle.
There was also a 12 gauge shotgun and a full size regimental sword on the passenger floorboard of the truck, but those weapons were being carried legally, deputies said.
Teen Enters Plea In Sexual Assault Of Young Boy
March 6, 2012
The Century teen accused of sexually abusing a 6-year old boy has pleaded no contest to the charge against him and will be sentenced as a youthful offender.
Michael Alexander Dubose of West Highway 4, was charged with two felony counts of sexual battery on a victim under 12 and fondling a child under 12. The sexual battery charges were dropped late last week as Dubose pleaded no contest to the fondling charge. He is set to appear in court before Judge Gary Bergosh in early May for sentencing as a youthful offender.
As a youthful offender, Dubose faces a maximum of 364 days in jail and up to six years probation. He remains in the Escambia County Jail without bond as he awaits sentencing.
Now 18, Dubose was 17-years old when he was arrested after a male victim told investigators at the Gulf Coast Kids House that Dubose had sexual relations with him over a one year period at two different units at Century Woods Apartments. He was later transferred from the Department of Juvenile Justice to adult court.
After his arrest, Dubose himself became the victim of alleged physical abuse by his mother and the mother of the victim. Juliette Dubose was accused of “whipping” Michael Alexander Dubose with an extension cord after learning that he allegedly had sexual relations with her son. After the beating, Juliette Dubose instructed the mother of Michael Dubose, Kassedra Dubose, to also beat him with the extension cord, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report.
Both women pleaded to no contest to charges of cruelty toward a child. They entered into a pretrial diversion program under which charges will be dropped if they successfully complete the one year program.
VPK Registration Underway At Bratt, Jim Allen, Molino Park
March 6, 2012
Voluntary Pre Kindergarten registration is underway at three North Escambia schools for children that will be four on or before September 1, 2012.
The VPK program is offered in North Escambia at Bratt, Jim Allen and Molino Park elementary schools. Parents and guardians may register their children at the schools between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Parents must bring the following documents in order to register their child: child’s birth certificate, proof of residency (utility bill or rent receipt, within the last ninety days), photo identification of the parent registering the child, current immunization record, and a physical within one year of August 20, 2012. Parents will complete the State VPK application as part of the enrollment process.
Registration will continue through March 30. Children whose parents reside in the selected school attendance areas will receive priority for enrollment.
For more information, contact the Title I Office at (850) 595-6915, Bratt Elementary at (850) 327-6137, Jim Allen Elementary at (850) 937-2260 or Molino Park Elementary at (850) 587-5265.
Abortion Bill Stalls In Senate
March 6, 2012
A measure requiring women to wait 24 hours before receiving an abortion stalled in the Florida Senate on Monday, virtually ending the possibility of its passage before lawmakers adjourn later this week.
Without debate, a procedural vote to bring the always emotionally charged issue to the floor by pulling the bill out of the Senate Criminal Justice Committee failed on a 23-16 vote, less than the two-thirds needed in the 40-member chamber. The failure makes the issue unavailable for further debate.
Minutes after the vote, the Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, said the issue was settled and would not return.
“Given the mood — the Senate chamber — they felt like with all the pressing issues …that this might take a little bit too much time, though it’s something that I would happen to support, as I showed by my vote today. There are some folks who are in the pro-choice caucus within my Republican caucus who didn’t want to vote for this,” Haridopolos told reporters.
“I think that (procedural) vote expressed where people are at,” Haridopolos added.
“I think it was a pretty definitive vote,” said Senate Rules Committee Chairman John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine.
Last week, the Florida House passed its version of the bill (HB 277), which would make women wait 24 hours after seeing a physician before an abortion could be performed. Patients also would have to be informed that a fetus feels pain at 20 weeks, an assertion that has been prompted debate in the scientific community.
Further, the bill would require doctors who perform the procedure to take yearly ethics course as part of their continuing education.
Over the past few years, Florida lawmakers have passed a series of bills seeking to make it more difficult to get an abortion, though many of their efforts have been challenged in court.
Following lengthy, at times emotional debate, the House last week voted 78-33, largely along party lines, to approve the bill, which also would require new abortion clinics to be owned by doctors and prohibit an abortion if the physician has determined the fetus has reached “viability.”
By The News Service of Florida
Escambia Names New Building Official
March 6, 2012
County Administrator Charles R. “Randy” Oliver has appointed Amru Meah as the new Escambia County Building Official.
Meah was selected after a review of 36 candidates that applied for the position.
“Mr. Meah brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to Escambia County and will certainly be an asset and welcome addition to our professionals in the Building Inspections Division,” said Development Services Director Lloyd Kerr.
Meah is currently the President and CEO of Meah Associates LLC in Beverly Hills, Michigan, and was the director of the Building and Safety Engineering Department for the City of Detroit until from January 2002 to August 2009. He worked for the City of Detroit from 1977 to 2009 starting in the Department of Water and Sewage. He is also a member of 10 different professional building and fire protection associations.
Meah’s first day on the job in Escambia County will be March 27.
College Students Spend Their Spring Break Helping Others
March 6, 2012
A group of college students from Philadelphia are spending their spring break doing volunteer work for the Escambia County (Ala.) Habitat for Humanity. The 18 students from Holy Family University are spending their nights at the Brewton YMCA and their days repainting the homes of two elderly widows in Atmore.
The students are working at the Smith home on Peacock Lane in Robinsville and and O’Farrell home on Old Bratt Road.
The students will be working hard but will also get a taste of” Southern hospitality”. Tuesday, they will have a short day of work and then enjoy a picnic , hayride and “History of Atmore” tour hosted by the Atmore Area Chamber of Commerce. Thursday evening, they will be treated to a beach theme meal and painting party at the Hourglass in Brewton. Friday, the students plan to enjoy a day at the beach before beginning their trip back home.
The students are participating in Habitat’s national alternative break program, Collegiate Challenge. This is the fifth year Escambia County Habitat has hosted college volunteers through the Collegiate Challenge program.
Escambia Academy Beats Monroe
March 6, 2012
Escambia Academy beat Monroe Academy on Monday 1-0.
Michael Thompson led the charge against Monroe, striking out 12, and allowing just two hits in seven inning. Cole Boatwright was 3-3, with a double in the fourth and a single in second and sixth.
Other hitters from EA’s Cougars were Chance Jackson, Reid Bell, Jarrett Hadley, Austin McGhee, Braxton Chastang and Boatwright.
The Cougars only run came with an RBI single by Bell in the seventh.
ECAT Bus Hits Horse
March 5, 2012
No one was injured when an ECAT bus hit a horse near McDavid Monday afternoon.
The accident happened just before 1 p.m. when the driver of a southbound ECAT bus struck the horse as it darted across the southbound lanes of Highway 29 at Roach Road. The driver and three passengers on the bus were not injured.
The horse did not survive the incident.
The ECAT bus was running its regular route from Century to Molino, Cantonment and Pensacola at the time of the crash. The passengers continued on a replacement bus.
The accident was investigated by the Florida Highway Patrol. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, McDavid Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS also responded to the crash.
Pictured above and below: Four people on this ECAT bus were not injured when the bus struck a horse on Highway 29 in McDavid Monday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
No Serious Injuries In Train Versus Vehicle Crash On Quintette Road
March 5, 2012
There were no serious injuries in a train versus vehicle accident Sunday night near Cantonment.
A CSX train and the front end of a Ford F150 collided at the railroad crossing on Quintette Road just before 11 p.m. Reports indicated the impact rotated the truck around and damaged a guardrail. The CSX train continued without stopping; the train engineer was unaware of the collision.
The driver was out of the vehicle and walking around as first responders arrived on scene.
The railroad crossing signal on Quintette Road was reported to be malfunctioning for hours before the crash, according to the Florida Highway Patrol website.
The incident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol; further details have not yet been released.
The Cantonment, Molino and Ensley stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded.