Escambia Man Faces Life After Sexual Battery Conviction
September 19, 2011
An Escambia County man was convicted on sexual battery charges and now faces up to life in prison.
Alvin Alexander, 58, was found guilty by an Escambia County jury on three counts of sexual battery with great force, burglary of a dwelling with a battery, and aggravated battery with great bodily harm.
On October 21, 2010, Alexander entered the residence of the 22-year old female victim who was alone at home and asleep in her bed. The victim was awakened by Alexander beating her with a metal pipe. As she tried to escape, Alexander forced her to remain inside. While inside, he continued to beat her with the metal pipe and sexually battered her multiple times, according to State Attorney Bill Eddins.
Alexander faces life in prison when sentenced by Judge Terry Terrel on October 31.
Walnut Hill’s ‘The Tank’ Named 2011 Ag Innovator
September 18, 2011
The Escambia County Extension Service has named “The Tank” in Walnut Hill as the 2011 Ag Innovator for Escambia County.
Vernon Hiebert has been a catfish producer in Escambia County for more than 15 years, but after several years of depressed prices and increasing production costs, he decided that he needed to do something drastically different if he wanted to keep his enterprise afloat.
The prices he was receiving for his live fish at the catfish processing plant were not keeping pace with his costs, but the demand for catfish was increasing. He decided to direct market his product locally to individuals and eventually stores and restaurants by building The Tank — a 32-foot wide indoor pool that can hold up to 20,000 catfish at a time.
The Tank, Hiebert says, offers the freshest tasting catfish anywhere—none of that musky flavor that makes catfish taste “off.”
He seines fish from one of his production ponds each Monday and brings 800–1200 lbs of live fish into the Tank. The water in the tank is recycled; it goes through a three-stage filter system ensures the freshest water. The fish have three days to purge themselves in the clean water, removing impurities that might cause off-flavor.
The round indoor tank uses a system of fences to contain fish to a certain part of the pool, or move them toward an electric “elevator” that lifts them out of the water. Shoppers can take the fish home whole or have them dressed, or cleaned. He has standing orders from one high end grocery store in Pensacola and several seafood restaurants that are happy to offer a local freshwater fish choice on their menus.
Hiebert is a huge supporter of Escambia County Extension. During their 2010 Farm Tour, he hosted 120 visitors to The Tank and offered each person samples of his fish prepared by frying and by grilling. Before the stop, several people said that they were interested in learning more about catfish product but not in eating any of the samples because he or she didn’t like catfish. Most of the naysayers changed their tune once they were coaxed into trying the fish by Hiebert.
His innovative business has been instrumental in helping Escambia Extension with a major part of its clientele — local consumers. Hiebert’s operation is in the heart of Walnut Hill—the center of Escambia County agriculture. His business draws people to North Escambia where people can see local agriculture and purchase locally grown fruits and vegetables.
Local agritourism has great potential in an area like Escambia County that has a large local and tourist population, and The Tank is a great way to get people out of the city and into the areas where farmers can sell directly to the consumers, according to the Extension Service.
Escambia County’s one thriving catfish industry is down to three producers — one of which sells only to processing plants, one who markets to plants and has a fee fishing operation, and Hiebert’s The Tank.
Pictured top: Vernon Hiebert corrals catfish at The Tank in Walnut Hill. Pictured inset: Catfish in the crystal-clear waters of The Tank. Pictured below: The Tank can hold 20,000 catfish. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
ECUA Water Customers Could See Low Pressure, Discolored Water Next Week
September 18, 2011
ECUA water customers in Escambia County could experience lower water pressure or discolored water for brief periods during the next week due to testing.
The ECUA water system will undergo system-wide fire protection capability testing September 19-23. The ISO water system testing will include pressure and flow testing at fire hydrants throughout the ECUA water service area.
According to ECUA, these tests have the potential to temporarily impact small segments of the service area, possibly resulting in isolated and/or short-term cases of lower-than-normal water pressure. The potential also exists for the appearance of discolored water for brief periods in areas where the testing will be conducted.
The ISO testing is part of a national program that serves insurance companies, fire departments, and insurance regulators through the provision of information related to risk. The information is used in pricing homeowner and commercial property insurance.
Dobson Wins Semper Fi 5K Run, Other Local Runners Place
September 18, 2011
Matt Dobson of Jay was the overall winner of the 28th Annual Semper Fi 5K Charity Run in Pensacola Saturday. Dobson’s time was 16:51.
Other North Escambia area runners placing in the race were:
- 58 — Christopher Tuckey, Cantonment, 21:40
- 42 — David Hanes, Cantonment, 20:43
- 156 — James Henderson, Cantonment, 24:28
- 172 — William Henderson, Cantonment, 24:51
- 226 — Richard Murray, Cantonment, 26:03
- 295 — Peter Ferree, Cantonment, 27:43
- 338 — Ashley McCormick, Cantonment, 28:33
- 359 — Hugh Long, Atmore 29:17
- 366 — Jason Beck, Cantonment, 29:27
- 426 — Dale Crabtree, Cantonment, 31:12
- 448 — Rob Bath, Molino 31:48
- 453 — Joshua Tucker, Cantonment, 31:58
- 457 — Paul Jones, Cantonment, 32:12
- 458 — Stephanie Godfrey, Cantonment, 32:13
- 462 — Renee Henderson, Cantonment, 32:22
- 500 — James Clark, Cantonment, 33:20
- 562 — Ann Jones, Cantonment, 38:38
- 623 — Lasonya Purifoy, Cantonment, 48:50
- 629 — Herman Clark, Cantonment, 52:00
Other North Escambia area residents place in the 5K walk were:
- 3 — Sonny Manning, Cantonment, 37:29
- 5 — Wiley Tramble, Cantonment, 39:04
- 14 –Catherine Griffin, Cantonment, 43:01
- 15 — Thomas Demoully, Cantonment, 43:04
- 25 — Michael Clouse, Cantonment, 46:15
- 28 — Ellen Beck, Cantonment, 46:51
- 57 — Carly Haskins, Cantonment, 55:03
- 58 — Chrystal Pedicord, Cantonment, 55:03
- 60 — Cindy Walker, Cantonment, 55:06
- 72 — Susan Vega, Cantonment, 55:44
- 73 — Lakota Maloney, Molino, 59:44
- 74 — Robynn Maloney, Molino ,59:46
Golfer Bubba Watson Donates $100K To Ronald McDonald House
September 18, 2011
Pro golfer Bubba Watson has donated $100,000 to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northwest Florida.
Watson’s relationship with Ronald McDonald House began a few years ago when he began championing fundraising events for the RMHC Chapter in Pensacola, where he donated a playground for families to enjoy at the House.
“It was clear that he valued family and giving back more than any win on the course. It’s through the generosity of people like Bubba who help show families that are cared for by us that they are not alone in their fight for their critically ill child. One hundred thousand dollars will go a long way to ensure the families whose children are getting treated in Pensacola are supported and cared for during the most trying of times,” said Marty Coyne, president and CEO, RMHC.
Gulf Power Academy Celebrates 10 Years At West Florida High
September 18, 2011
Engineers, welders, electric linemen and equipment operators all get their start somewhere. In Escambia County, Gulf Power Academy has been that starting point for almost 200 students over the past 10 years.
This career academy is built into the West Florida High School curriculum and is designed to prepare students for entry-level work in the electric utility industry or for post-secondary education in engineering, electronics, and other technical fields of study.
Ten years ago Gulf Power was looking for opportunities to engage in the educational process to develop a diverse pool of candidates for critical Gulf Power positions.
“At that time we were already seeing a gap in the technical training we were looking for in our applicants and realized we would need to get involved on a much deeper level in recruiting employees,” Jennifer Grove, Workforce Development coordinator, said.
Gulf Power initiated the program in 2001 after learning about the opportunity to partner with West Florida High School. A total of 170 students have graduated from the program and 45 of those graduates have been hired for full-time or temporary positions at Gulf Power.
Students choose to participate in the career academy through grades 9-12 and receive a combination of rigorous academics along with a relevant technical education. In addition to supplying resources for training, Gulf Power helps pay for materials, lab equipment and training for the students.
Prior to their senior year the students can apply for the Advanced Career Experience (ACE) program. Students in the ACE program work at Gulf Power every other day and are rotated through several departments and positions.
Students earn a high school diploma, a technical certification in their area of study and receive college credit.
“I’ve met countless determined students through this program who are willing to work hard at a very young age in order to give themselves a successful future,” Grove said. “To see these kids grow up and succeed in a career is extremely satisfying.”
Calvin Mattin, a Plant Equipment operator for Plant Crist, graduated in 2008 from the program and was hired soon after in July of 2008.
“While I was in the program I got to meet a lot of people and we were able to take trips to the plants to get an idea of what it would be like if we did get hired,” Mattin said. “Working for Gulf Power part-time gave us a good feel of whether we would like that type of work or not.”
“I would definitely recommend the academy for any student. Even if you don’t end up working for Gulf Power, its good experience and a great way to learn about the utility industry,” Mattin said.
This year’s ACE senior class began working at Gulf Power earlier this month.
For more information on Gulf Power Academy, call Jennifer Grove at (850) 444-6821 or visit the West Florida High School website at www.wfhs.net.
Pictured: Gulf Power Academy students tour the Crist Plant in Pensacola. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Forestry Field Day Scheduled
September 18, 2011
The Escambia County Extension Service will host a Forestry Field Day on Tuesday, September 20 at Krul Lake in the Blackwater Forest.
The program begins at 9:00 a.m. and will include identification and use of desirable native plants, overview of right-of-way/forestry herbicide equipment, invasive identification, wetland plant identification, and other topics. The program will conclude with a sponsored lunch.
For more information, contact Escambia County Extension Agent Libbie Johnson at (850) 475-5230, or by email at libbiej@ufl.edu. Continuing education units will be offered for
forestry, right-of-way and natural areas.
Weaver, Caum To Wed
September 18, 2011
Archie and Cheryl Weaver of Molino announce the upcoming marriage of their daughter, Meridith Lynn Weaver, to Marshall Keith Caum, son of Richard and Amy Caum.
Meridith is the granddaughter of W.A. and June Weaver and Charles and Barbara Hendrix. She is a 2007 graduate of Northview High School and is currently attending Auburn University’s Harrison School of Pharmacy Mobile Campus. She is pursuing her Doctorate of Pharmacy.
Marshall is the grandson of Richard and Patricia Caum and O.M. and Frances Hanks. He is a 2006 graduate of Northview High School. He graduated from University of South Alabama in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and currently works for Premier Engineering Group in Pensacola.
The couple will be united in marriage on Saturday, October 1 at 3:30 p.m. at Highland Baptist Church, 6240 Highway 95A North in Molino. A reception will follow at Palafox Wharf, 617 Palafox Street in Pensacola. All friends and relatives are invited and welcome to attend.
Florida Gov’t Weekly Roundup: Hearings, Primaries, Budgets
September 18, 2011
Despite the return of summer temperatures, fall was definitely in the air this week with thoughts turning to upcoming committee hearings, presidential primaries and new budgets as agency heads prepared for yet another tight-fisted session.
Florida’s economy continues to sputter, and it was reported this week that the state’s unemployment rate remained unchanged in August. And the Legislature’s top economist warned of future revenue shortfalls.
Florida Republican leaders this week named members to a committee that will begin meeting next week to decide when to hold Florida’s 2012 presidential primary. Deliberations will likely spark national attention again as the swing state tries to make its case for prominence in the 2012 presidential race.
Also this week, Florida teachers took their fight over merit pay to the courts, while a federal judge in Miami put a cork in a National Rifle Association-backed law preventing physicians and other health care providers from asking their patients if they own guns.
Citizens Property Insurance Corp. customers meanwhile took their battle to Tampa in an effort to prevent sinkhole rate increases that could cost some homeowners thousands of dollars a year.
ECONOMY IDLES, REVENUE PICTURE DARKENS:
Florida’s unemployment rate held steady in August at 10.7 percent. While still 0.9 percentage points lower than a year earlier, the persistence of joblessness seem to underscore repeated warnings from economists that Florida’s recovery would be a prolonged affair.
Amy Baker, coordinator of the Legislature’s Office of Economic & Demographic Research, said Wednesday that earlier projections of general-revenue growth this year and during the 2012-13 fiscal year will drop “fairly significantly.”
That means more difficult budget choices for lawmakers when they start the 2012 legislative session in January — though Baker said things won’t be as bad as during last spring’s session, when lawmakers faced a $3.6 billion shortfall. Analysts, including Baker and representatives of the governor’s office, House and Senate, are scheduled to meet Oct. 11 to revise general-revenue estimates.
“I believe that you will be looking at another tight session,” she concluded.
Tight budgets were also on the minds of agency heads who this week turned in their wish lists for the coming fiscal year. Some are already making their pitch for increasingly scarce funds. Department of Children and Families officials, for example, are asking lawmakers next year to bolster child-protective investigations.
An agency budget proposal submitted this week seeks tens of millions of dollars to add and retain child-protective investigators, improve technology and better coordinate efforts with local law enforcement.
The budget documents outline problems with high turnover among investigators, large caseloads and low pay. The proposal, which would need legislative approval next year, comes seven months after the death of 10-year-old Nubia Barahona showed the need for improvements.
Part of the proposal seeks $15.8 million to improve technology in the child-protection program, such as equipping investigators with mobile technology that would allow them to get case information remotely and also enter notes and details. DCF also wants to shift nearly $25.3 million into the child-protection program, including adding investigators, improving pay and providing money to local law enforcement to better coordinate in child-protection probes.
FLORIDA TEACHERS HEAD TO COURT
The Florida Education Association, meanwhile, went to court in Tallahassee to try to shoot down a merit pay law that ties the salaries of teachers and other school employees to student performance. The union says the new law is unlawful because it violates a right to collectively bargain for wages, contracts and promotions that is guaranteed in the state constitution.
“This sweeping change totally changed the teaching profession in Florida,” said FEA President Andy Ford during a press conference Wednesday.
The lawsuit sets the stage for another legal battle for the powerful teacher’s union with the Republican-controlled Legislature and conservative Gov. Rick Scott, both of whom were big supporters of not only the teacher merit pay law, but championed other laws that were opposed by unions and public employees.
“It is unfortunate that the labor union claiming to represent teachers has resisted every meaningful education reform for more than a decade,” responded Florida Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Mark Wilson.
MEDICAID MANAGED CARE WALTZ CONTINUES
Federal Medicaid officials said this week they want changes to improve patient care and increase requirements on HMOs. One change would require the state to spend millions of dollars to bolster primary-care programs, while 20 hospitals would have to come up with projects to bolster the health of low-income people. The feds are also seeking to ensure that HMOs in the pilot program spend at least 85 percent of the money they receive on patient care.
On another insurance related front, five HMOs reached agreement with the state on an overhaul of the state-employee health insurance program. United Healthcare of Florida, meanwhile, continues to battle the changes in court. The agreements would tinker with a plan by the Florida Department of Management Services to offer only one HMO in each county to state employees. That plan touched off a legal battle, as United and two other HMOs stood to lose thousands of customers. Under the agreements, six counties — including Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach — would be served by two HMOs.
CITIZENS BOARD APPROVES RATE CAPT. WILL OIR FOLLOW?
Responding to pressure from homeowners, lawmakers and some high ranking state officials, Citizens Property Insurance Corp. board members on Monday voted to cap proposed sinkhole rate hikes at 50 percent for the coming year as they try to make the state-backed program financially sound.
What remains to be seen is if state regulators will allow even those capped rates to go forward as they weigh the need for actuarially sound premiums against what the company has proposed.
In the backdrop is the economic distress and political backlash of increasing insurance premiums for people who when opening their bills don’t really think that much about whether the company is solvent and can pay claims.
Anticipating a proverbial angry mob at a public hearing scheduled in Tampa, Citizens’ board of governors voted to phase in premiums approved in July. By capping next year’s increase to 50 percent, board members hoped to cushion the blow to thousand of homeowners in sinkhole prone regions of the state.
The Office of Insurance Regulation has until Monday to approve those sinkhole premium hikes, averaging 428 percent statewide. During public testimony in Tampa, Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty and other OIR officials outlined a long list of concerns over proposed hikes that would eventually raise annual sinkhole premiums in some regions by thousands of dollars a year.
“Without concrete data you are asking residents in some counties to pay $5,000 more,” McCarty said to the applause of several hundred “Sinkhole Alley” residents in attendance.
2012 HERE WE COME:
Gov. Rick Scott and legislative leaders announced the nine members of a committee that will select the state’s presidential primary date, bringing Florida closer to what seems like an inevitable confrontation with the national political parties.
Scott tapped former Gov. Bob Martinez; Jenn Ungru, Scott’s deputy chief of staff who oversees the Department of State; and former state Sen. Al Lawson, D-Tallahassee. Senate President Mike Haridopolos picked Sens. John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine; Rene Garcia, R-Hialeah; and Gary Siplin, D-Orlando. House Speaker Dean Cannon appointed House Majority Leader Carlos Lopez-Cantera, R-Miami, and Reps. Seth McKeel, R-Lakeland and Cynthia Stafford, D-Miami.
STORY OF THE WEEK: Citizen Property Insurance Corp. board approves a cap on sinkhole premium increases, an attempt to offset rate hikes that is some cases would surpass 2,000 percent. Meanwhile, state insurance regulators say they have concerns about the proposed rate hikes. They will weigh in Monday.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “There’s a lot that you haven’t heard. Contemporaneous with being the bad boy, he’s always been a real good guy when it comes to youth athletics.” Attorney Michael Carney comments on former 2 Live Crew rapper and freedom of expression advocate Luther Campbell, who is seeking approval to become a certified Florida teacher despite a gun violation and putting on shows involving minimally-clad women back in the day.
Group Receives $123K Grant To Reduce Juvenile Crime
September 18, 2011
The Escambia County (Ala.) Children’s Policy Council has received a $123,000 grant from the Alabama Department of Youth Services to reduce juvenile crime, provide treatment and to work to increase probation completion.
The grant was awarded to the children’s group in conjunction with the Escambia County (Ala.) Juvenile Probation Office.
Pictured: Judge David Jordan receives a $123,000 grant to the Children’s Police Council from Walter Wood, director of the Alabama Department of Youth Services. (L-R) Allen Peaton, deputy director of DYS, Turner Sims, DYS, Walter Wood, Judge David Jordan, Rep. Alan Baker, Liletta Jenkins, Alabama Department of Children’s Services, John Fountain, Escambia County Juvenile Probation Officer and Misty Kelly, CPC. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.