Local Students Winners In ‘Masks!’ Exhibit
January 19, 2012
Several North Escambia students were winners in the fifth annual “Masks!” exhibit at Artel Gallery in Pensacola. The exhibit features masks created by students and teachers from across the school district. About 70 students from 15 schools took part in this year’s exhibit.
Winners were:
- Best of Show: Jennifer Sublett, PATS Center.
- Edgiest: Kiani Okahashi, Northview High School.
- High school: Taylor Dukes and Elizabeth Wright, Northview, first place; Kelli Brock, West Florida, second; Luna Zepp, Washington, third; Ashley McDowell, Escambia, honorable mention.
- Elementary school: Ariel Perry, McArthur, first; Abby Briese, Hellen Caro, second; Emma Parrish, N.B. Cook, third; and Cassidy Stevens, Jim Allen, and Makayla Thompson, Lipscomb, honorable mention.
Judge Changes Affiliation To Republican Party
January 19, 2012
An Escambia County (Ala.) judge has switched his affiliation to the Republican party. Judge David Jordan made the announcement Wednesday.
“I have reached this decision after months of thought and prayerful consideration. I do not take it lightly. I have made what I feel is the best decision at this time,” Jordan said.
“Judge Jordan is an outstanding public servant and we are excited that he has decided to join the GOP. His decision is just another sign that the liberal agenda being pursued by the Democrat Party is out of touch with the conservative values of Escambia County voters,” Jeff Peacock, chairman of the Escambia County (Ala.) Republican Party, said. “2012 will be a great election year for Republicans at every level of government from president to school board and we are happy that Judge Jordan is a valuable member of our team.”
Jordan has served as District Judge for Escambia County (Ala.) since January 2003. He was successfully elected in 2004 and subsequently re-elected to his current six-year term in 2010.
Detzner Named Florida’s New Secretary Of State
January 19, 2012
Gov. Rick Scott named Ken Detzner as the new secretary of state, replacing Kurt Browning, who is stepping down.
Detzner has filled in before as the secretary of state during the agency’s transition from an independent agency under an elected secretary to an agency that answers to the governor. Detzner has also served as chief of staff in the agency when Jim Smith was secretary from 2002-2003. He also worked for six years as director of legislative and policy affairs in the attorney general’s office.
By The News Service of Florida
Tate To Hold Curriculum Fair
January 19, 2012
Tate High School will hold a Curriculum Fair on Tuesday, February 7 at 6 p.m.
Parents and students are invited to learn more about the electives, academies and core curriculum courses that will be offered next year. Various sports and clubs will also be represented at the event.
Parents of current eighth grade students are encourage to attend the Curriculum Fair.
Deputies Seek Teen For Shooting His Father
January 18, 2012
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a 17-year old who allegedly shot his father over the weekend.
Curtis Jerome Atwood III is wanted on outstanding warrants for aggravated battery, discharging a firearm from a vehicle, shooting into a dwelling and criminal mischief.
Investigators believe Atwood III and his father got into an argument early Saturday morning in the 3800 block of Winona Drive. The father left the residence and went to another address on 61st Avenue. The son arrived a short time later and called his father to come outside. As the father walked outside, the son began shooting at his father, striking him twice in the upper thigh and groin area. The father was transported to a local hospital where he was treated for non-life threatening injuries.
Atwood III and fled the area, according to deputies.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Atwood III is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Precautionary Boil Water Notice For Clear Creek Subdivision
January 18, 2012
A Precautionary Boil Water Notice has been issued for Clear Creek Drive. and includes ECUA customers residing on Tecumseh Trail, Tecumseh Place and Tecumseh Court.
Residents are advised to boil water for one minute at a rolling boil or to use sox drops of regular unscented household bleach per gallon of water for water to be used for drinking of cooking purposes. Bacteriological sampling is underway and the advisory will be lifted as soon as possible.
ECUA crews have repaired the main, and are flushing out the lines. Residents are advised that there is a possibility of discolored water and to flush their home’s plumbing by running their taps for a few minutes.
If problems persist, customers are asked to contact ECUA Customer Service at (850) 476-0480 for assistance, or see precautionary boil water notice guidelines on the ECUA website at www.ecua.fl.gov.
No Charges In Grand Jury Probe Of I-10 Tree Removal, Evers’ Emails
January 18, 2012
No charges will be filed by a Tallahassee grand jury that looked into the removal 2,094 state-owned trees along Interstate 10 without paying the usual fees .
The trees were cut down by Bill Salter Outdoor Advertising and conservationists had alleged Sen. Greg Evers, R-Baker, then a member of the House, had influenced the state Department of Transportation to allow the billboard company to remove them.
Part of the investigation included emails to Evers in which the Bill Salter asked for help on the issue. Evers in turn lobbied then-Secretary of Transportation Stephanie Kopelousos on behalf of the company.
Evers has said publicly that he was simply helping a constituent.
Sample Ballots Are In The Mail For Jan. 31 Presidential Primary
January 18, 2012
Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David H. Stafford said Tuesday that sample ballots for the January 31 Presidential Preference Primary are being mailed to Escambia County voters.
The sample ballot includes a ballot image, the voter’s polling location, instructions on marking their ballot, and information on early voting, absentee voting, and voting on Election Day. A sample ballot is also available at EscambiaVotes.com. While only registered Republicans can vote in that party’s primary for President, all voters, regardless of party, can vote on the countywide EDATE referendum.
Voters have three different ways to cast their ballot:
By Mail: Voters may vote by mail using an absentee ballot, which can be requested through the online form at EscambiaVotes.com, or by contacting the Supervisor of Elections by mail, phone (850-595-3900), e-mail (absentee@escambiavotes.com), or fax (850-595-3914). Requests must include the voter’s date of birth and the address, and must be received no later than Wednesday, January 25. Voted ballots must be received in the Elections Office no later than 7:00 p.m. on Election Day and may not be returned to a polling location on Election Day. Absentee voters may track the status of their ballot at EscambiaVotes.com by clicking Track My Ballot.
Early Voting: Early voting will be available Saturday, January 21 and Sunday, January 22 from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.; and from Monday, January 23 through Saturday, January 28 from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Early voters will cast paper ballots through our digital scanners, and may choose any one of the four sites:
- Supervisor of Elections Main Office, 213 Palafox Place, Second Floor
- Supervisor of Elections Annex, 292 Muscogee Road, Cantonment
- Southwest Branch Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Highway
- Tryon Branch Library*, 1200 Langley Avenue *As a result of the renovations of the downtown library, the Tryon Branch will be used instead of the Genealogy Branch.
At Your Precinct: The third option for voters is to cast a paper ballot at their precinct on Election Day, January 31, using our digital scanners. Polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. A touchscreen is also available at each polling place and early voting site for persons with disabilities.
Voters are reminded to bring their photo and signature ID with them to the polls, and are encouraged to contact the Elections Office by phone or e-mail with any questions.
Molino Man Gets Prison Time For Meth Lab
January 18, 2012
A Molino man has been sentenced to state prison on charges related to a meth lab found last year at his Molino Road home.
Sheldon Dewayne Flowers, 29, was sentenced by Judge Jan Shackleford to three years in prison with a minimum mandatory of three years, and court costs were set at over $50,000.
Flowers was originally arrested in February 2011 and charged with trafficking methamphetamine,, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a listed chemical.
The arrest came after Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit discovered a meth laboratory inside a home at 484 Molino Road. According to their report, deputies found methamphetamine, numerous items used in the manufacture of meth and a stolen Rug Doctor cleaning machine.
Deputies also said they discovered a Mason jar containing enough methamphetamine liquid to produce well over 200 grams of meth, along with a large “one pot” meth lab.
Stephanie Flowers of Molino was charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia in connection with the meth lab discovery. Charges against her were later dropped.
Pictured above: A meth lab was located at a home in the 200 block on Molino Road in February 2011. Pictured below: Alleged liquid meth was found in the Mason jar below. Investigators transferred the liquid into the smaller plastic bottle for evidence. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Florida Senate Pushing Ahead With Budget – For Now
January 18, 2012
Senate leaders continued Tuesday to leave open the possibility of delaying the end of the legislative session until they get more definitive word on what the state’s revenue picture will look like in the budget year that begins July 1.
“We are actively working on completing a budget on time,” said Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island. “That is our unquestioned goal.”
But at the same time, Haridopolos and other Senate leaders said they were still wary of some of the volatility in individual revenue streams, even after state economists said last week they were relatively confident in the latest revenue estimates, which still leaves the Legislature facing a nearly $2 billion budget shortfall.
“At the end of the day, we’re here not to race a clock,” said Senate Budget Chairman J.D. Alexander, R-Lake Wales, “but to do a good, quality job of taking the best available information to make the best possible decisions about spending the taxpayers’ dollars in a way that keeps our economy moving and meets our needs as best we possibly can.”
Haridopolos and Alexander made the comments at a joint media availability with Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, one of the leaders of a movement to get senators behind a letter giving Haridopolos what Gaetz described as a “vote of confidence” on working out the budget endgame. Gaetz said every member of the Senate who had seen the letter so far has signed on.
By The News Service of Florida