Local Bride-To-Be Hoping To Win Dream Wedding On Auburn Campus
January 12, 2012
A young North Escambia area woman has big dreams — a free wedding this spring on Samford Lawn on the campus of Auburn University.
Jennifer Coleman, a Flomaton High School graduate, and her groom-to-be, Wes Sinor, are one of three couples vying to win the May 26 wedding of their dreams including the dress, tuxedos, flowers, photos, cakes, limousine, entertainment, reception — the whole wedding package worth thousands.
“We met playing intramural football in October of 2008 here at Auburn out on the intramural field. We just started hanging out after that,” Wes said.
“We were best friends for about two, two and a half years, so we already knew each other through and through,” Jennifer said. But they did not decide to date until after that two plus years of friendship.
“So from the first moment we decided to date, we knew this was it,” she said.
A month after the first date, Wes popped the question — kind of a spur of the moment caught in love kind of thing — without a ring. She said yes.
About a year after that first impromptu proposal, Wes repeated the proposal. This time he was prepared. He had saved some cash for a ring and made his wedding proposal one night on the intramural field where the couple had met, surrounded by candles. Once again, Jennifer said yes.
The winning War Eagle Wedding couple will be chosen by votes from the public. To vote for Jennifer and Wes, visit www.wareaglewedding.com and vote. Additional votes can be cast on four Facebook pages listed on the War Eagle Wedding website. Voting ends at 4 p.m. on January 18.
Pictured top: Wes Sinor proposes to Jennifer Coleman of Flomaton on an intramural football field at Auburn University. Pictured inset: Pictured inset: The couple, pictured here at the 2011 Auburn-Mississippi State game, are huge Auburn football fans. Pictured below: War Eagle Wedding finalists Wes and Jennifer (photo courtesy Flip Flop Foto). Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Autistic Boy, 13, Charged With Felony For Hitting Teacher
January 12, 2012
A 13-year old autistic boy is facing a felony charge for hitting his speech therapist at an Escambia County School.
Conner Brown is charged with battery on a public or private education employee for allegedly hitting 57-year Kathy Roupe of Pensacola in the head with a set of headphones at Ferry Pass Middle School. She suffered a concussion.
Brown entered a not guilty plea in court Wednesday. He will be evaluated by a court-appointed psychologist prior to his next court appearance on March 6. His mother said Brown was not trying to hit Roupe when he threw the headphones but that she got in the way. He was allegedly throwing the headphones at another student in class that was making loud noises — which triggered his autism.
Brown will return to Ferry Pass on Monday.
Jeter Lane Closed In Century
January 12, 2012
The Town of Century closed Jeter Lane west of North Century Boulevard Thursday morning for drainage construction. The road is scheduled to re-open in about one week. For more information, contact the Town of Century at (850) 256-3208.
Florida Traffic Fatalities Decline In 2011
January 12, 2012
In 2011, 2,373 people died in traffic crashes on Florida’s roadways, according to preliminary data from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. By comparison, 2,444 people died in traffic crashes in 2010. The number of crash fatalities in 2011 is the lowest the state has reported since 1978 even though the Sunshine State’s population has doubled since that time.
Pictured: A 41-year old Cantonment man died in this April 2011 at Highway 95A and Highway 29 in Cantonment. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Could Taking Pictures On A Farm Become Illegal?
January 12, 2012
Advocates for animal welfare and those who might try to expose certain questionable farm practices failed Wednesday to persuade the House Agriculture Committee to slow a move to ban people from secretly taking pictures on farms.
Backers of a bill (HB 1021) that would outlaw the taking of pictures on farm property without permission say it’s simply a matter of private property rights, and that farm owners ought to be able to protect themselves from both potential misunderstandings about what pictures or videos might show and possible industrial espionage.
The measure, which was approved 13-2 by the panel and goes next to the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee, is aimed mainly at undercover operations by animal rights organizations. Investigators for the Humane Society of the United States and other activist groups have gotten jobs at farms and used hidden cameras to document animal treatment, and sometimes lack of sanitary conditions.
Sometimes, wrongdoing is documented by someone who works on the farm already and learns of it, and then tries to expose it after being unsuccessful at changing the practice, then becoming a whistleblower. Other times it can only be exposed by someone who gets a job intending to investigate the practices, said Laura Bevan, eastern region director of the Humane Society of the United States.
And often, law enforcement won’t get involved – until someone provides evidence of wrongdoing, said Bevan. She said she was involved in a 1999 case in which veal calves were being mistreated and drowned.
After someone in the industry told the Humane Society, it took video and gave it to law enforcement. And the publicity in the case led to changes in the law and animal treatment on such farms, she said.
“Something good came out of that, but that would not have happened, it would not have changed, if we had not gone on that property and taken that video,” Bevan told the committee.
The bill sponsor, Rep. Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, pointed out that there are plenty of exemptions in the bill for investigators, though they’re all for government officials, such as Department of Agriculture inspectors.
The measure also has exemptions for insurance adjusters and law enforcement officers. And the bill wouldn’t ban people from taking pictures from non-farm property. If someone stood across the street and used a long lens, for example, that wouldn’t be illegal under the bill. Nor would aerial photography. The only violations would be when someone actually is on the property taking unauthorized photos.
“Private property rights – at the end of the day that is my perspective on offering this bill, and I believe it to be correct,” Albritton said.
Beven pointed out that photos or videos by undercover photographers could also be used to document things having nothing to do with animal welfare, from environmental wrongdoing to migrant workers’ rights, for example.
“Without those kind of exposés, sometimes things have to come to the light of day to be … corrected,” she said.
Rep. Luis Garcia, D-Miami Beach, was one of two no votes, citing cases in Hialeah involving illegal slaughter of horses that were exposed by secret video. Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda, D-Tallahassee, also voted against the measure.
By The News Service of Florida
Pictured: Taking photos on a farm, like these farm photos taken (legally) in Walnut Hill, could become illegal in Florida. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
North Escambia Students Named To Chorus, Band All-State Groups
January 12, 2012
Numerous North Escambia students have been selected to participate in various Florida Music Educators Association All-State groups at the upcoming FMEA Conference in Tampa.
After an extensive audition process, the following students were chosen to represent the Escambia County School District and participate with other students from across the state:
Middle School Treble Chorus
Allison Cramer, Ransom Middle School
Emma Shows, Ransom Middle School
Middle School Mixed Chorus
Shelby Becker, Ransom Middle School
Middle School Honors Band
Elizabeth Shin, Bellview Middle School
Middle School Concert Band
Jonathan Voyles, Ransom Middle School
All-State High School Women’s Chorus
Katelyn Godwin, Tate High School
Joycelyn Woods, Washington High School
All-State High School Mixed Chorus
Eion Blanchard, Tate High School
All-State High School Honors Band
Kevin Fails, Pine Forest High School
Steven French, Escambia High School
Brandon Spencer, Washington High School
All-State High School Concert Band
Graham Gardner, Tate High School
All-State High School Symphonic Band
Chris Snyder, Tate High School
All-State High School Jazz Band
Jacob Dearrington, Tate High School
All-State High School Concert Orchestra
Noah Heintz, Tate High School
Two Escambia Men Indicted In Double Shooting Near Baptist Hospital
January 12, 2012
A grand jury has indicted two Escambia County men in the shootings of two 17-year olds outside Baptist Hospital last December.
James Dortch and Novel Austin were both indicted for first degree murder in the death of Keondrick Abrams and the attempted murder of Tykey Douglas.
On December 17, Abrams was found dead from a gunshot wound to the head in a car parked at the Baptist Hospital Sleep Disorders Clinic. Douglas, who was also shot in the head, survived his injury and helped lead police to arrest Dortch and Austin.
Dortch and Austin are scheduled to be arraigned on January 19.
The investigation was conducted by the Pensacola Police Department.
Escambia Man Faces Life In Prison On Long List Of Burglary Charges
January 12, 2012
An Escambia County man is facing up to life in prison after entering a guilty plea on multiple burglary charges.
State Attorney Bill Eddins said Wednesday that Marco Zarate entered a plea of guilty to 11 counts of burglary of an unoccupied dwelling, two of which were while armed with a dangerous weapon, 11 counts of grand theft, one count of grand theft of a firearm, four counts of criminal mischief, three counts of dealing in stolen property, three counts of pawnbroker transaction fraud, one count of attempted burglary of an occupied dwelling, and one count petit theft.
Between April and June 2011, Zarate was connected to a rash of home burglaries that resulted in the theft of at least $50,000 in jewelry in the Cordova Park and Scenic Heights neighborhoods. On June 20, 2011, Zarate was apprehended coming out of a home on Cervantes Street.
Judge Gary Bergosh scheduled sentencing for March 15, 2012 at which time Zarate faces life in prison and will be sentenced as a habitual felony offender.
The investigation and arrest were conducted by the Pensacola Police Department with the assistance of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Progress Continues On Molino Library, Tax Collector And Appraiser Offices
January 11, 2012
It’s been about two months since a groundbreaking was held at the old Molino school, and progress is evident on the $4 million project.
The project includes the conversion of the old Molino School into a 15,600 square foot library, community center and museum under a $2.95 million construction contract awarded by Escambia County to Birkshire Johnstone, LLC.
In addition to converting the 72-year old school building, a new 7,000 square foot building is being constructed adjacent to the old building for the tax collector and property appraiser. The current Escambia County Tax Collector office in the former Winn Dixie shopping center in Cantonment and the property appraiser office on Highway 97 in Molino will both be closed. The facility will also house a polling station for early voting and elections.
Final completion for both buildings is scheduled for November 2012.
Pictured top: A new 7,000 square foot building that will house the county tax collector and property appraiser offices. Pictured inset: Work on the old Molino School. Pictured below: The new building is located to the right of the 72-year old building. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Larry Walker Seeks Sixth Term On ECUA Board
January 11, 2012
Incumbent Larry Walker prefiled Tuesday for his sixth term as the District 5 representative on the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority.
Walker, a Republican, was first elected to the ECUA board in 1988 and served until he ran unsuccessfully for the Escambia County Commission in 2000. He has was re-elected to the ECUA board in 2004 and 2008.
One other candidate has prefiled to date for the ECUA District 5 seat; Charlou Williams of Cantonment prefiled in December.