No Charges Filed After Jay High Player Attacked At Football Camp
August 3, 2011
No charges were filed after a Jay High School football player was attacked last week at a Fellowship of Christian Athletes football camp near Marianna.
The 16-year was taken to the Jackson County Emergency Room in Marianna to be evaluated for a possible concussion, according to Major Donnie Branch, chief deputy of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office. The football player did not suffer a concussion, and was treated and released, the Sheriff’s office report states.
According to Branch, deputies were notified of the incident about 5 a.m. on July 28 by the Jackson Hospital Emergency Room in Marianna. The 16-year old Jay player had been transported to the ER to be evaluated for a possible concussion. He was treated and released to his parents, Branch said.
The incident occurred earlier that morning at a football camp for boys age 13-18 being held at the Blue Springs Baptist Conference Center just outside Marianna. The Jay player was allegedly attacked in his room by players attending the camp from Taylor County High School.
Branch said Tuesday that the juvenile’s parents had declined to press charges in the incident.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Alabama Man Charged With Murdering 2-Year Old
August 3, 2011
An Escambia County, Alabama, remains behind bars, charged murdering a toddler after a young girl died from severe blunt force trauma.
Homer Herbert II of the Boykin community was indicted Monday by an Escambia County (Ala.) Grand Jury on one charge of capital murder. According to the Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Office, Herbert is accused of being involved in the death of a 2-year old child.
Intrina Heaven Johnson died in an ambulance on the way to D.W. McMillan Hospital in Brewton last Thursday morning. Authorities said Hebert was watching Johnson for a neighbor overnight before calling 911 for help.
Herbert is being held in the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton without bond.
Qualifying Ends This Week For Century Council, Mayor Election
August 3, 2011
Qualifying is underway this week for the office of mayor and two town council seats in Century that will be on the town’s ballot in the fall.
Council Seat 1, currently held by Ann Brooks, and Seat 2, held by Nadine McCaw until her recent death, and Mayor Freddie McCall’s post will be on the October 11 ballot. A runoff election, if needed, will be held November 8.
Qualifying for the election will be held until noon on Friday. To qualify for any of the offices, a candidate must be a registered voter in Century. In addition, any candidate for mayor must have been a resident of Century for six months prior to their qualification date. The qualifying fee for mayor is $185.50 and $48 for a council seat.
Staff from the Supervisor of Elections Office will accept qualifying papers at the Century Town Hall on Wednesday from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m., and Friday from 8 a.m. until noon. Qualifying papers will also be accepted at the Supervisor of Elections Office on the second floor at 213 Palafox Place in Pensacola from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday and 8 a.m. until noon on Friday.
Saturday morning, NorthEscambia.com will publish the final list of candidates qualified to seek office in Century this year.
For the October election, voter registration books will close on September 12, and for the November run-off, voter registration books will closed on October 10.
Area Football Star Commits To Auburn
August 3, 2011
The national champion Auburn Tigers landed a star local player Tuesday.
The Tigers received a verbal commitment from defensive lineman Tyler Nero of Escambia County High School in Atmore. The 6-foot-1, 285 pound Nero had been recruited by Alabama, Arkansas, Arkansas State, Florida, Florida State, Kentucky and South Alabama before deciding to head to the Plains.
Nero told the Mobile-Press Register that he felt like “he fit in better at Auburn”.
Another Escambia County High Blue Devil also made a college commitment recently — senior defensive lineman Dalvin Craft is headed to Southern Miss.
Gulf Power Helping Veterans Connect To Jobs
August 3, 2011
Gulf Power Company has partnered with other utilities to develop “Troops to Energy Jobs,” an effort to link military veterans to job openings in the energy industry.
The program was initiated by Washington-based Center for Energy Workforce Development, which has predicted that almost 40 percent of utility employees nationwide will retire or leave their jobs through attrition during the next five years, leading to almost 200,000 job openings. Southern Company, Gulf Power’s parent firm, helped develop CEWD in 2006 to address the approaching workforce shortage.
“There is a huge correlation between the skill sets that military men and women have and the skill sets that we need,” Jennifer Grove, Gulf Power’s Workforce Development coordinator said. “This program is an example of how our industry has worked on a national level to make sure we have the talent we need, while continuing to support our military community.”
Last year, Southern Company was named one of G.I. Jobs Top 10 Military Friendly Employers for 2010. Gulf Power has actively recruited military servicemen and women over the years by working directly with local military bases.
Darryl Johnson, Work and Family Life consultant for Naval Air Station Whiting Field in Milton said the local military has had a strong relationship with Gulf Power and Southern Company for 25 years.
“They have been enormously helpful in providing us with job openings and information to help us best place our men and women in a good job,” said Johnson. “I like to call it a “win-win-win” situation. Gulf Power fills a position with someone who has the experience they need, the military serviceman or woman finds a great job, and I get to connect the two.”
Active military personnel who are interested in the “Troops to Energy Jobs” program can go to www.cewd.org and look for the “Troops to Energy Jobs” section. Some of the positions expected to be available include engineers, technicians, line workers, plant operators and pipefitters. To apply for a job at Gulf Power, go to www.southerncompany.com and click on “Careers.”
Pace Man Drives Off Escambia County Cliff
August 2, 2011
A Pace resident was injured early this morning when his car left the road and went over a cliff off Scenic Highway.
James Weatherwax, 25, of Old Guerney Road, was southbound on Scenic Highway around 1 a.m. when his car left the road around Bluff Drive, said Pensacola Police Officer Maria Landy.
Weatherwax told police he swerved to avoid hitting a deer before the 2001 Nissan he was driving went approximately 100 feet over the cliff and then another 150 feet before it stopped against a tree.
After the crash, Weatherwax is believed to have walked about a mile north to steps across from Bayview Cemetery, climbed the steps and then flagged down a passing motorist for help. Pensacola Police received a 911 call to respond to the area around 5:48 a.m.
Landy said Weatherwax was wearing a seatbelt; there were no indications of alcohol. He received extensive facial injuries and was taken to a local hospital for treatment.
No charges have been filed.
Century More Than Doubles Business Tax Rates
August 2, 2011
The Century Town Council voted to more than double the town’s business taxes effective the fiscal year that begins October 1.
The average business tax receipt — the permit required to conduct business in the town — will jump from the current $25 to $55. Others will increase more substantially, such as pharmacies to $100, entertainment establishments to $121 and factories to $132. The business tax receipt rates are being copied from the small town of Fellsmere, Florida.
Century failed to update their business license regulations and fees as required by the state by 2008, forcing the town to backtrack and fix the error.
In 1971, the responsibility of issuing building licenses in Florida shifted from the state to local governments. Century adopted a business license schedule in 1981. But following the 2005 to 2006 Florida hurricanes, Florida mandated that the business licenses should no longer be called a “license”, but rather a “tax”.
State law gave Century three choices: adopt the 1971 state rates and business classes, adopt the rates set by Escambia County (currently $26.25 for all businesses), or find a schedule of rates adopted properly by another Florida municipality such as Fellsmere.
At last report in May, there were 56 companies and individuals that held a businesses license in Century, generating only about $1,400 per year in revenue.
““We were trying to pick out something that will benefit us a little bit but not be overzealous,” Mayor Freddie McCall said Monday night of the choice to use the Fellsmere rate schedule. “We are not making money.”
While the new business tax receipt rates were adopted Monday night by the Century Town Council, the council must still vote at a future meeting to approve an ordinance implementing the rates.
Pictured: The Town of Century must revamp its current business license regulations and fees paid by businesses like Food Giant (seen in the aerial photo at top) and Whataburger. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Annie Carter Savage Sworn In As Century Council Member (With Video)
August 2, 2011
Annie Cater Savage was sworn in as the newest member of the Century Town Council Monday night to the seat formerly held by the late Nadine McCaw.
The council unanimously voted last month to appoint Savage to fill the vacant Seat 2 until the end of McCaw’s term in early January of 2012.
According to town council President Ann Brooks, Savage was the only person that expressed an interest in filling the seat. The Seat 2 position will appear on Century’s October ballot during Century’s general election. As of Monday, Savage was the only candidate that had prefiled to seek the seat.
A video of the swearing in appears at the bottom of the page.
Pictured above: Century Town Clerk Leslie Gonzalez reads the oath of office to Annie Carter Savage (middle) as Mayor Freddie McCall looks on Monday night. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
MacArthur Prefiles For Century Council Seat
August 2, 2011
Pamela MacArthur prefiled Monday for Seat 1 on the Century Town Council held by incumbent Ann Brooks. MacArthur, a retired certified nursing assistant, is a political newcomer that has lived in Century for about 20 years.
“I want to be a help to the community,” she said Monday. “We can make Century a better place and have unity.”
On July 11, Brooks, who currently serves as council president, prefiled for Century’s October 2011 election.
Escambia, Santa Rosa Declared Federal Disaster Areas Due To Drought
August 2, 2011
Escambia and Santa Rosa counties have been declared federal disaster areas due to combined effects of the recent excessive drought and heat.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture made the designation, which will provide farmers and ranchers in affected areas access to low-interest, emergency loans and other federal assistance through the Farm Service Agency.
“Florida producers can count on USDA to provide emergency assistance during these difficult times,” U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a statement. “President Obama and I are committed to reducing the impact of this disaster for Florida producers and we will commit all available resources to help in recovery.”
Escambia and Santa Rosa County are among 27 Florida counties announced Monday by federal officials on Monday that would be eligible for financial assistance following months of drought.
Farmers and ranchers in Escambia County, Alabama, are also eligible to apply for national disaster assistance because their county borders the disaster area.
Pictured top: A field of corn is irrigated in May at Highway 4 and Dortch Road in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.