Somber Moments: Century Council Honors Late Member Sharon Scott
March 8, 2011
There were somber moments Monday night for the Century Town Council as they remembered former council member Sharon Scott, who passed away February 24.
The council passed a resolution honoring Scott for her contributions to the Century area, and council member Sandra McMurray Jackson, who now holds Scott’s former seat on the council, placed a black ribbon on the council table in Scott’s memory.
Pictured: Council President Ann Brooks looks at a black ribbon in front of the late Sharon Scott’s former seat the Century Town Council table. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Poarch Creek Indians Donate $45,000 To Bratt Elementary
March 8, 2011
The Poarch Band of Creek Indians have donated $45,000 to Bratt Elementary School from an educational endowment fund. The donation is in addition to a $50,000 donation to Northview High School announced last week.
After donating over $1.5 million to Atmore area schools in early December, the Tribe announced the creation of a $350,000 educational endowment fund for schools in surrounding communities. Schools in those surrounding areas were given the opportunity to seek a portion of the $350,000.
In December the Poarch Creek Indians made the following donations to Atmore area schools:
- Escambia County High School/Escambia County Middle School $687,360
- Rachel Patterson Elementary $78,000
- A.C. Moore School $112,547
- Huxford Elementary $337,000
- Escambia Academy $311,500
- Atmore Christian School $100,000.
“Part of being a good neighbor is helping out others in need. Education is the bedrock of productive successful lives for these youngsters; we are happy and proud to be able to make this contribution to their future today,” said Tribal Chairman Buford L. Rolin after the donations were made.
Debate Continues Over Florida Pill Abuse
March 8, 2011
Speaker Dean Cannon said Monday that the House approach to fighting pain pill abuse won’t include a database to track prescription drugs, but instead will call for a ban on doctors selling drugs from their offices.
Calling for a repeal of a prescription drug tracking database, which was put into law last year but isn’t up and running yet, sets up a fight with the Senate where the president restated Monday his backing of the database.
Cannon said he has come to believe that the problem of prescription drug abuse needs to be thwarted farther up the chain – and that the House bill will instead outlaw the dispensing of prescription drugs in doctors’ offices as a way of fighting what many say is an epidemic of fraudulent script writing. Doing so, Cannon said, would “stop drug dealers who are masquerading as doctors.”
“Banning doctor-dealers is the only way to do it,” said Cannon, R-Winter Park, while speaking with reporters the day before the opening of the legislative session.
Cannon’s counterpart on the other side of the Capitol, Senate President Mike Haridopolos, meanwhile, said he will continue to push for the prescription drug database. The database, aimed at flagging people who get large amounts of prescription drugs by “doctor shopping,” has been tied down in a fight over the contract to run it.
Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, restated his belief that the problem of painkiller abuse is too urgent to abandon the database
“I don’t think we’re going to be moving in the opposite direction (from last year’s bill) in the Senate,” Haridopolos said Monday.
In addition to Cannon and other top members in the House who oppose the database, Haridopolos will also be up against Gov. Rick Scott, who has urged lawmakers to repeal the law requiring it.
The state’s medical establishment, meanwhile, doesn’t want doctors to lose the right to dispense drugs, and supports the database.
“Dispensing physicians play an important role in the health care system,” Florida Medical Association General Counsel Jeff Scott said in a statement. “We look forward to working with the speaker to ensure that this important aspect of patient care continues, and that legitimate patients and physicians are not hurt by those who take advantage of the system.
“We believe the focus should be on the enforcement of the laws that were put on the books in the last two sessions, rather than punishing honest physicians who provide a valuable service for their patients,” Scott said.
The House proposal (PCB HHSC 11-03) would ban the dispensing of most controlled substances by physicians, and ban distributors from selling them to doctors. It would also allow the Department of Health to quarantine drug supplies for doctors until they’re disposed of, and calls for additional spending on law enforcement to enforce the ban.
The repeal of the database is contained in a separate proposed committee bill (PCB HHSC 11-04.)
Cannon said he knew some doctors would oppose his plan.
But, he said, “this plan isn’t about hurting doctors, it is about addressing the situation as a whole, and putting principle over profit to cut off the supply at the distribution point.”
By David Royse
The News Service Florida
Green Eggs And Ham — Camp Fire Kids Celebrate Dr. Seuss
March 8, 2011
Volunteer readers recently helped celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday with the children at the Camp Fire USA Century Youth Learning Center. Joy Simpson and Faye Lee from Century pharmacy read Seuss favorites to the children as part of the Early Learning Coalition’s volunteer reading program. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
No Serious Injuries In 5-Vehicle Crash
March 7, 2011
There were no serious injuries in a five vehicle wreck this morning on Nine Mile Road at Palafox Street involving several North Escambia area residents.
Stanley Steve Lambert, 60, of Gonzalez, was charged with careless driving by the Florida Highway Patrol following the 10:10 a.m. crash. The FHP said he failed to stop, setting off the chain reaction crash.
The driver of the vehicle rear-ended by Lambert, 78-year old William Lee White, was not injured. A passenger in his vehicle, 85-year old Margaret McCluskey White, was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital with minor injuries.
None of the drivers of the other three vehicles in the crash were injured. They were McNeal Beasley, 23, of Beatrice, Alabama; Marissa Ruth Register, 21, of Pensacola; and Michael Jay Kirsch, 62 of Pensacola.
Names Released: 1 Dead, 2 Critically Injured After Atmore Police Pursuit
March 7, 2011
One person was killed and two others were critically injured in a single vehicle rollover crash in Atmore Sunday night during an Atmore Police pursuit.
According to a written statement from the Atmore Police Department, an officer was on patrol traveling southbound on South Presley street about 9:37 p.m. as he observed the vehicle traveling north at a high rate of speed. The vehicle ran a stop sign at East Horner Street as the officer turned his vehicle around and activated his emergency lights. The vehicle continued to speed up, running another stop sign at South Presley and Church streets and then running a red light at East Nashville Avenue (Highway 31).
The driver of the older model Ford Crown Victoria with “Pixie Dust” lettered on the side crossed over East Nashville Avenue headed north on Presley Street, losing control as they crossed over CSX railroad tracks at a high rate of speed.
The vehicle overturned, coming to rest upright in a ditch about 250 feet north of the railroad tracks. All three of occupants in the vehicle were ejected.
Adam D. Patterson, 34, of Atmore was pronounced dead at the scene. William Lee Patrick, 23, of Mobile was transported by LifeFlight helicopter to the USA Medical Center in Mobile, and Carlton T. Hunt, 49, of New York was airlifted in a second LifeFlight helicopter to Baptist Hospital in Pensacola.
A written press release from the Atmore Police Department did not specify how close their officer was pursuing the vehicle. Atmore Police also did not identify which man was driving the vehicle.
The incident remains under investigation.
Pictured above and below: One person was killed and two others were critically injured in this single vehicle accident Sunday night in Atmore. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
No Arrest In Century Double Shooting
March 7, 2011
Just over a week after two people were shot during a private party at a Century community center, the gunman remains at large.
As of late Monday, there have been no arrests in the double shooting at the town’s Habitat Building, a community center located on East Pond Street. The building was rented at the time of the shooting to a Century woman for the purpose of a “Teen Party” for $100, plus an additional $100 deposit.
The rental agreement did not require the woman to have any sort of security present for the party. For several months, the town has discussed the need to require security at parties and other functions at their community centers following other reports of violence and potential alcohol use. The council considered a stricter policy — with security required — at their Monday night meeting. Read more…
During the February 26 incident, two people were shot when gunfire erupted at an early morning party attended by about 100 people. Ieshia Mitchell, 20, of Century, was hit in the left knee and later airlifted to a Pensacola hospital, and 19-year old Register Yelder of Atmore was shot in the leg. A third person, Stacy O’Neal Johnson, 18, of Atmore, was injured when he was hit in the head with a bottle during the incident.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said a suspect had been identified in the shooting, but there have been no arrests. The suspect, once arrested, will face a felony charge for firing a weapon into a crowd.
For more about the rental contract and the shooting, click here for an earlier story.
Pictured top: The Century Habitat Building on East Pond Street. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
More Info, Surveillance Photo: Woman Injured In Walmart Parking Lot Mugging
March 7, 2011
More information has been released a weekend purse snatching an Escambia County Walmart.
Investigators with the Sheriff’s Office major crimes unit are asking for the public’s help in locating a vehicle used in the robbery Saturday afternoon.
On Saturday, at around 4:04 p.m., the victim was approached by a white female who tried to take her purse. The female suspect was described as being five-foot-four or five-foot-five with curly reddish blonde hair. She was said to be wearing a dark jacket or coat.
The victim held onto her purse and struggled with the female suspect as the suspect got into a red Dodge Neon (pictured) driven by a white male.
The victim continued to hold on to her purse as the male suspect drove away, dragging her several feet through the parking lot. She suffered injuries to her head and face and was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital by ambulance.
Anyone with information about the robbery is encouraged to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Evers Bill Would Prevent Local Governments From Regulating Guns
March 7, 2011
Florida Sen. Greg Evers has introduced a bill that would restrict any local government control over guns.
Evers, who represents the North Escambia area, had introduced a bill this session that would allow people over 21 with a concealed weapons permit to openly carry guns on college campus. Evers recently told a group of students at the University of West Florida that the open carry law would make colleges safer, with gun owners able to use their weapons to protect themselves and others. Another bill would prevent doctors from asking a patient if he or she owns a gun.
Evers’ latest bill would allow only the state and federal government to regulate guns, superseding any local gun control laws.
Ernest Ward Middle School Names Students Of The Month
March 7, 2011
Ernest Ward Middle School Students of the Month for February have been named. They are Abigail Gudell, Annie Bobo and Thomas Moore.
Pictured: EWMS Students of the Month for February are Abigail Gudell, (left) Annie Bobo and Thomas Moore. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.