Escambia Man Charged With Murdering His Grandfather, 69
June 27, 2011
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a suspect in the Sunday shooting death of a 69-year old Escambia County man.
Thomas Isaiah Bunch, 29, was arrested Monday morning and charged with homicide in the death of hist grandfather, Cleo Kennedy. He is being held in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
At around 1:04 p.m. Sunday, patrol deputies and investigators responded to a possible medical call at a home in the 7700 block of Fiesta Drive.
“We responded for a possible medical problem,” said sheriff’s office spokesman Deputy Chris Welborn. “ When our deputies arrived they found the victim lying in the front yard, deceased.”
Investigators found what appeared to be a gunshot wound to Kennedy’s head.
Fiesta Drive is located near the Highway 29 and I-10 interchange.
Pensacola Joins Escambia In Opposition To Mega Conecuh Landfill
June 27, 2011
Pensacola has joined Escambia County and other area governments in opposing the permitting and construction of the planned 5,100 acre Conecuh Woods landfill near Repton, Alabama.
The resolution approved by the Pensacola City Council cites water quality concerns with the landfill upstream from Escambia and Pensacola bays, both of which are currently listed as “impaired” because they already do not meet Florida’s minimum water quality standards.
The Escambia County (Fla.) Commission voted earlier this month to join a lawsuit aimed at blocking the landfill that was initiated by the Town of Repton, Ala., and Repton Mayor Terri Carter. According to the Escambia County (Fla.) resolution, the county opposes the landfill because it poses a threat to Escambia River, Escambia Bay and Pensacola Bay, as well as the drinking water supply in the county.
In late April, attorneys filed the original suit in Conecuh County Circuit Court on behalf of Repton (pop. 280) and Carter seeking an injunction to block the 5,100 acre Conecuh Woods landfill. The landfill was approved 3-2 by the Conecuh County Commission just a week before the lawsuit was filed contending that the application violated applicable law and the public did not have ample opportunity to comment on the proposal.
Escambia County (Ala.), Atmore, Flomaton, Brewton and Orange Beach have also joined, or plan to join, the lawsuit. The Escambia County (Fla.) Soil and Water Conservation District also passed a resolution against permitting the landfill.
Conecuh Woods’ landfill, will include a 1,600 acre “disposal cell” from Range to Repton to near the Big Escambia Creek. Big Escambia Creek flows southward into Escambia County, Alabama, Flomaton and drains through a North Escambia swamp into the Escambia River and then into Escambia and Pensacola bays.
Pictured: Repton (Ala.) Mayor Terry Carter explains her position against the landfill to the Century Town Council earlier this year. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Jones Swamp 172-Acre Wildfire Is 90% Contained
June 27, 2011
(Updated 5 p.m.) Personnel from the Florida Division of Forestry’s Blackwater Forestry Center continue to fight a 172-acre wildfire in southwest Escambia County but have called the blaze
90 percent contained.
Six dozers dealt with two minor spot over fires – one toward U.S. 98 and one closer to Waycross Road – during the day Monday as humidity levels dropped and winds picked up. Forest Rangers continued to widen and improve fire lines throughout the day and will monitor the fire overnight and return in the morning.
The majority of the fire was contained by 7:30 Sunday night and crews monitored the situation overnight, according to Joe Zwierzchowski, spokesperson for the Florida Division of Forestry. Forestry crews returned to the area with four bulldozers Monday morning.
The fire created smoky conditions all the way into North Escambia on Sunday.
County officials urged residents with asthma and other respiratory problems to stay indoors with their windows closed and air conditioning on. Residents in the Cantonment area told NorthEscambia.com that ash was falling into their yards, and smoke moved into Walnut Hill and McDavid by 4:45 Sunday afternoon.
Seven units from Escambia Fire Rescue along with 13 bulldozers and one helicopter were used to battle the blaze Sunday afternoon. The cause of the fire was not yet known.
Pictured top: Smoke from Jones Swamp fire dominates the skyline as seen from Gulf Breeze about 5:30 Sunday afternoon. Pictured inset: A Division of Forestry helicopter was used to dump water on the fire. Submitted photos by Hunter Kinnard for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Docs Seek Injuction Against Guns At Home Question Law
June 27, 2011
Calling the new law constitutionally vague and overreaching, a group of physicians and medical organizations have asked a federal judge in Miami to suspend, at least temporarily, enforcement of a state law that prohibits health care practitioners from asking certain patients if they own guns.
Attorneys representing at least three physicians and medical associations including the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Florida chapter say the so-called “Docs v. Glocks” law unconstitutionally steps between health care providers and their patients. Scott signed the measure into law in early June.
Backers of the measure, which provides exemptions to the “Don’t Ask” provision, were led by the National Rifle Association, which argued that gun ownership was a constitutionally protected right.
Opponents of the law say health care practitioners should be allowed to ask about gun ownership and whether weapons are properly stored as part of a battery of questions aimed at minimizing accidents in the home, especially among children.
BP Payments To Local Governments Top $31 Million, $9 Million To Escambia
June 27, 2011
Payments to local governments for costs incurred following the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill have totaled more than $31.5 million, according to company figures that list payments made through June 23.
Escambia and Bay Counties have so far collected the most from BP, with each receiving more than $9 million to offset costs of recovery and mitigation. Walton County received more than $5.1 million. Most of the money was spent on emergency response and removal costs.
Unlike private residents and businesses, state and local agencies recover their costs directly from the company instead of the Gulf Coast Claims Facility, which is reimbursing claimants out of a $20 billion BP fund. So far, the GCCF has paid out nearly $5 billion on more than 150,000 claims.
By The News Service of Florida
Tennis Anyone? Court Ready To Play In Century
June 27, 2011
Century has recently rehabilitated the town’s tennis court at Showalter Park.
A few months ago, the court was overgrown with grass, did not have a good net and was in a general state of disrepair. According to Mayor Freddie McCall, the tennis court had not been used in several years.
After a suggestion by a citizen at a town council meeting, the town cleaned up the court and installed a new net.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Read To Rosie: Parrot To Encourage Literacy
June 27, 2011
Rosie the Parrot is coming to the Century Branch Library next month, and he just loves to hear children read to him.
Modeled after the “read to dogs” programs used successfully by some libraries, children will have an opportunity to read a story to Rosie on July 14. He is an African Grey Parrot that belongs to Pat Rigel, Century’s librarian.
“They have found that when kids read to animals they do not have unnecessary anxiety about their reading skills and don’t worry about stumbling over words,” Rigel said “I hope that learning that African Grey’s are as intelligent as a 2-year old child and can have an enormous vocabulary, they will want to try to teach him new words or phrases.”
Safety will be priority for all involved — parents will need to sit with children six and under and a staff member will always be in the room. Rosie will be in an acrylic travel cage for his safety too.
Reservations are being accepted now for 15-minute sessions to be held on July 14. To reserve a time slot, or for more information, call the Century Branch Library at (850) 256-6217.
ECUA Employees Gets 3.5 Percent Pay Raise
June 27, 2011
The Emerald Cost Utilities Authority has approved a 3.5 percent pay raise for employees over the next three months to offset the portion of their salaries that they will be required to contribute to their retirement.
The raise will be effective July 1 until the end of the fiscal year on September 30. Beginning July 1, state legislation mandates that employees contribute three percent to the state pension system.
The temporary pay raise passed 3-1, with District 5 member Larry Walker voting against the increase.
Tri-County Allstars Pick Up Wins
June 27, 2011
The 9-10 and 11-12 year old Tri-County All Stars both picked up wins over the weekend to advance in Florida District 1 Little League tournament play.
Tri-County 9-10
The Tri-County 9-10 year olds won their opening game against Destin Saturday night in Shalimar, 10-1. Winning pitcher Nathan Archer had five strikeouts in 3½ innings pitched. Relief pitcher Seth Killam added three strikeouts and Tanner Levins closed out the win for Tri-County.
The Tri-County offensive attack was led by Trevor Flowers and Jackson Free with two runs each, and Judd Smith with two runs, a double and pinch-run for Garrick Davis. Archer had a run and double, Killam added a run, a single and a double, and Slader Nash and Jajuan Brooks added a run each.
Tri-County advances to play Niceville White Monday evening at 5:30 in Shalimar.
Tri-County 11-12
Tri-County’s 11-12 year old All Stars defeated Shalimar 4-2 Saturday with solo homers by Jackson and Moore. They advance to take on Northwest Escambia Monday at 5:30 in Niceville.
Unique Finds At Mission Archaeological Dig In Molino
June 26, 2011
Work is continuing at the University of West Florida archaeological field school at Mission San Joseph de Escambe near the Escambia River in Molino. The Mission was inhabited by Apalachee Indians and Spanish friars and soldiers from 1741 to 1761.
The Mission San Joseph de Escambe was the northernmost extent of Spanish influence in Pensacola, administered by Apalachee chief Juan Marcos Fant. A Franciscan missionary was stationed at the Molino Mission, along with 16 members of a Spanish cavalry unit that arrived in 1760. The Mission was burned during a Creek raid on April 9, 1761, with the survivors relocating to Pensacola.
For a Friday NorthEscambia.com story with more historical details on the Mission and photographs, click here.
Signs of the buildings such as the 1760 troop barracks within the Mission have been located, but researchers are still hoping to find remains of the Mission church.
Finds include a sherd of Mexican-made majolica, probably Abó Polychrome, with a colorful surface glaze (pictured top) and physical features such as the post hole pictured to the left (indicated by the darker remains extending downward). A necklace bead was located that dated between 1700 and 1800 that was possible made in Amsterdam – a common item on period Spanish colonial sites. Common items such as lead shot and a straight razor have also been uncovered.
Several prehistoric items from thousands of years ago have been located, including pottery.
The Mission site is located in a wooded area on private property not far from the Molino Boat Launch on Fairgrounds Road. The site is not open to the general public.
(Scroll down for additional photos.)
An unusual glass necklace bead found in Molino, believe to possibly be an 18th-century “melon bead” with a translucent cobalt blue color.
A large Native American piece with a foot-ring base, a relatively rare piece to be found on mission site, that was designed to be used on a flat table. The sherd is what archeologists term colono ware — Native-American ceramics that are crafted in European forms.
A master’s thesis by former UWF grad student Jennifer Melcher suggests that vessels such as this were probably made by Indians for the Spanish and sold on the local market.
A prehistoric piece of pottery associated with the Santa Rosa-Swift Creek culture from about 2,000 years ago.
A well preserved large wrought iron nail or spike (pictured left) and ( right) a lead musketball that is about 59 caliber.
NorthEscambia.com and UWF courtesy photos, click to enlarge.