Gov. Gets Unemployment Comp Change Bill
June 14, 2011
Lawmakers on Monday sent Gov. Rick Scott an unemployment compensation bill (HB 7005) that reduces the length of benefits and ties the length of payments to the health of the market place.
The bill would reduce the maximum duration of state benefits from 26 weeks to 23 weeks if the unemployment rate remains above 10.5 percent. If the jobless rate drops below that, the duration of benefits declines gradually to a minimum of 12 weeks if unemployment gets as low as 5 percent. The unemployment rate in Florida in April was 10.8 percent.
Scott has 15 days to sign the bill, which has come under fire from unions while being applauded by businesses pressed to pay higher unemployment compensation rates following a protracted economic downturn. More importantly, business groups say the bill provides more protections for employers who fire workers for unsatisfactory performance.
Gov Declares State Of Emergency Due To Wildfires, Drought
June 14, 2011
Florida Gov. Rick Scott has declared a state of emergency in Florida due to wildfires and the extreme drought.
The declaration allows state, regional and local governments to take necessary actions to protect the lives and property of people in threatened communities. The Division of Emergency Management was given the authority to direct the overall firefighting effort as requested by the Division of Forestry.
As of Monday, there were about 310 active wildfires in Florida, with about 155,583 acres burning.
Burn Ban Ends Flag Day Ceremony
June 14, 2011
Dry weather and a burn ban has forced the postponement of a flag burning ceremony scheduled for Tuesday.
The Flag Day ceremony was to be held at VFW Post 7016 in Atmore. But with a burn ban in effect in Alabama and Atmore, the event was called off. The ceremony to properly dispose of American flags will be held at a future date to be announced.
Pictured top: A flag waves along the railroad tracks in downtown Atmore on Tuesday morning. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Bank Robbery Suspect Arrested After Taking Taxi
June 13, 2011
Sheriff’s deputies arrested a man this morning that took a taxi as his getaway care after he robbed an Escambia County bank.
At around 9:20 am this morning the suspect walked into the Bank of America at 206 N. New Warrington Road armed with a stun gun and demainding money. Deputies identified the suspect as 22-year-old Dureco Keonne Brown.
“Brown displayed a stun gun and demanded money from one of the tellers,” said sheriff’s department spokesman Deputy Chris Welborn. “He then jumped over the counter, grabbed the teller’s purse and ran out of the bank.”
A K-9 unit arrived shortly after the call was dispatched and tracked Brown to the intersection of Elm and New Warrington Roads.
“Patrol deputies on a perimeter observed the suspect leave a business and get into a taxi,” said Welborn. “They were able to stop the taxi and arrest Brown without incident.”
Brown was booked into the Escambia County Jail on charges of Theft, Robbery and Resisting Arrest. He was being held on a $17,000 bond.
Investigation Continues After Woman, 31 And Her Boyfriend, 16, Shot
June 13, 2011
The investigation is continuing today into a shooting Saturday night in Century that injured a 31-year old woman and her 16-year old boyfriend.
About 8:30 Saturday night, deputies responded to the 7500 block of Jefferson Avenue for a reported shooting. Deputies were told by a 31-year-old female victim that she and her 16-year-old boyfriend were shot as they were sitting in a vehicle in front of a residence.
The victims said that another vehicle, possibly a dark colored Hyundai, pulled in behind them and blocked them in. One of the occupants then exited the suspect vehicle and began shooting, injuring both the female and male victims.
The suspect was described as described as a black male of medium height with a thin build and wearing a red ball cap.
“There are a number of things we are looking at in this investigation,” said sheriff’s department spokesman Deputy Chris Welborn. “The relationship between the victims is also being looked at.”
The victims left the area and drove to the 9500 block of Ivey Street to call 911. The male victim was transported by private vehicle to Jay Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The female victim was transported by ambulance after being questioned by deputies. Her injuries were also non-life threatening.
The incident remains under investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and further details have not been released.
Cantonment Man Recovering After Cottage Hill Wreck
June 13, 2011
A Cantonment man is recovering after being trapped in a wreck about 40 minutes Sunday afternoon on on Highway 95A.
Joseph Tyler, 19, was traveling north on Highway 95A near Williams Ditch Road in Cottage Hill about 3:05 p.m. when he crossed the center line, lost control and slammed into a utility pole, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Tyler was extricated from the vehicle about 3:45 p.m. and transported in serious condition to Sacred Heart Hospital by Escambia County EMS.
The left portions of Cantonment and Cottage Hill without power and cable television. Gulf Power cut power to a wider area about 3:30 p.m. for the safety of emergency workers and to make repairs.
The Cantonment and Molino Stations of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded to the crash.
Pictured above and below: A Cantonment man, Joseph Tyler, was trapped in this vehicle for about 40 minutes following a single vehicle crash on Highway 95 in Cottage Hill Sunday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Shot After Botched Robbery Attempt
June 13, 2011
An Escambia County man was shot late Sunday night after a botched robbery attempt.
Around 9:52 p.m., deputies responded to a report of gunfire at the Sunrise Apartments, located at 4350 Fairfield Dr.
While enroute to that call, deputies were told that that a 20-year-old man with a gunshot wound to his upper leg needed assistance in a trailer park behind the Mayfair Motel.
Further investigation revealed that the man, identified as Adrian Delmarcus Hunter, attempted to rob another man in the parking lot of the Sunrise Apartment complex. During the robbery attempt Hunter shot at the victim and the victim returned fire.
Hunter was shot in the leg and fled the scene on foot. The victim, who was not identified, fled the scene in a vehicle and called deputies from the intersection of Pace Boulevard and Cervantes Street.
Hunter was transported to Baptist Hospital for treatment.
Robbery investigators are charging Hunter with robbery of an individual.
Six Injured In Five-Vehicle Pileup
June 13, 2011
Six people were injured in a five-vehicle pileup Sunday afternoon at the intersection of 9 Mile Road and Scenic Highway.
The Florida Highway Patrol said Jeremy Cochran, 29, of Pensacola, failed to stop and collided with another vehicle, setting of the chain reaction accident about 1:49 p.m. All of the drivers and a passenger involved in the crash received only minor injuries despite heavy damage to several vehicles. Those also involved in the crash were identified as Frederick Podsaid, 43, of Milton; Amanda Posaid, 40, of Milton; Jeffrey Brasher, 52, of Pace; Angeline Hill, 51, of Crestview; and Joseph Stevenson, 19, of Richmond, VA.
Cochran was charged with careless driving by the Florida Highway Patrol.
Double Murder Trial Of Cantonment Man Postponed
June 13, 2011
Trial has been postponed for the man accused of the stabbing death of a pregnant Cantonment woman and her baby.
Phillip Arnold, 65, of Cantonment, is facing two first degree premeditated murder charges for the stabbing deaths of Angela Castella Brown and her newborn child on July 5 in Cantonment.
Arnold appeared before Escambia County Circuit Court Judge Jan Shackelford Friday, at which time his trial was rescheduled. July selection in the accused murderer’s case is now set to begin July 5 — exactly one year to the day after the murder of Angela Brown.
Brown, who was six months pregnant, underwent an emergency C-section after she was stabbed. The newborn, later named Angela Chambers, died just over seven hours after being delivered.
Arnold, 65, of 349 South Chipper Road, fatally stabbed Brown in the chest, according to the State Attorney’s Office. Arnold and Brown were neighbors, and that was their only known connection, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies were dispatched to the stabbing at a mobile home at 349 South Chipper Road about 8:35 p.m on July 5. When they arrived, witnesses told deputies that Arnold fled into a nearby wooded area. As deputies were arriving in the area, EMS personnel advised they had seen a black male running down the railroad tracks on South Chipper Road.
Witnesses at the scene reported observing a black male known to them as Arnold running from the scene moments before they discovered the victim, according to the Sheriff’s Office. K-9 officers attempting to track Arnold discovered a knife that was believed to be the murder weapon. As deputies were surrounding the area to search for Arnold, he called sheriff’s dispatchers about 9:10 p.m. Arnold said he was at a home at 2473 Stacey Road and that he wanted to turn himself in. He was taken into custody without incident.
Brown was the mother of seven other children.
Arnold remains in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
Century Names Architectural Review Board
June 13, 2011
Century has appointed an architectural review board to oversee building changes in the town’s historic district.
Consultant Debbie Nickles said the board was needed in advance of any possible Community Development Block Grant awards that would lead to housing rehab in the historic district.
Three residents of the historic district, Edna Earle Barnes, Lina Showalter and Rose Wilson were appointed to the board, along with council member Gary Riley and contractor Russell Peacock.
The board, which has not held a meeting in many years, will schedule future meetings as required, Nickles said.
Century was recently awarded a $650,000 CDBG grant to rehabilitate substandard housing in Century, estimated to be enough funding for nine houses. At least one of the applicants resides within the historic district.