Hazel Bolen Celebrates 90th
February 27, 2011
Byrneville resident Hazel Bolen celebrated her 90th birthday last week.
The Women’s Ministry at Byrneville United Methodist Church gathered friends and family for a celebration last Sunday, with a big surprise. She was able to hold her great-great granddaughter Taylor for the first time as great-grandson Josh Mixon was able to attend the party from out of town — make five generations at the event.
Hazel has two sons, Wilbur and Wayne Levins, as well as many grandchildren.
Pictured top: Family and friends gather to celebrate Hazel Bolen’s 90th birthday at Byrneville United Methodist Church. Pictured inset: Hazel is able to hold Taylor Mixon, a fifth generation family member, for the first time. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Two People Seriously Injured In Van Versus Motorcycle Crash
February 26, 2011
Two Century area residents were seriously injured when their motorcycle was hit by a van Saturday night.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a van driven by Emma Evelyn Page, 55, of Century, pulled from Fields Road onto West Highway 4 into the path of a motorcycle driven by William Joseph Walston, 45, of Century. Walston and his passenger, 34-year old Wendy Lambeth of Century, were thrown from the motorcycle onto the highway, after at least one of the hitting the windshield of the van.
Walston and Lambeth were both transported by ambulance in serious condition to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola. Emergency officials called a “trauma alert” on one of them and requested the LifeFlight air ambulance, but there were no helicopters available at the time.
Page was transported by ambulance to Jay Hospital with minor injuries. Page was cited for violation of right of way, according to the FHP.
The Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS, Santa Rosa County EMS, Atmore Ambulance and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the crash.
Pictured top: Two Century area residents were seriously injuries when they were thrown from this motorcycle during a crash Saturday night in Century. Pictured below: This van pulled into the path of the motorcycle, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Firefighters Battle Brush Fires In Molino, Cantonment
February 26, 2011
Firefighters battled two brush fires in Molino and one in Cantonment on Saturday.
A 20-acre brush fire was reported just after 5 p.m. in the area of East Chipper Road and North Chipper Road. The fire was reported along railroad tracks in the area by a CSX engineer. Firefighters reported a small section of railroad cross ties was on fire; CSX was forced to halt rail traffic to make repairs.
The Cantonment and Molino Stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the blaze.
The first Molino brush fire of the day was reported shortly after 11 a.m. at the end of Pilgrim Trail off Highway 97. About five acres were reported to be burning as firefighters arrived, but the fire was continuing to spread. The fire was reported to be contained by 12:20 p.m.
The fire also burned an old boat. There were no structures threatened and no injuries reported.
The Molino and Walnut Hill stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Florida Division of Forestry responded to the blaze.
The second Molino fire of the day was reported just before 4 p.m. in the 4000 block of Molino Road, near Sunshine Hill Road. The fire was reported to be about an acre and a half but moved into a wooded area that firefighters were unable to reach with their brush trucks. The Florida Division of Forestry was called to the scene to access the fire with a bulldozer. They were able to contain the fire by about 4:15 p.m.
Initial reports indicated the fire was started by someone playing with sparkler.
Picture above: An old boat burns during a brush fire Saturday morning on Pilgrim Trail in Molino. Pictured below: The Pilgrim Trail fire consumed several acres. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Two Shot During Party At Town Of Century Building
February 26, 2011
Two people were shot during an early Saturday morning party at a Town of Century Building where multiple shots were still being fired as deputies arrived.
The incident happened about 2 a.m. at the town’s Habitat Building, a community center located on East Pond Street. A 20-year old female was reported to be shot in the knee. She was transported to Jay Hospital by ambulance and later airlifted to Baptist Hospital by LifeFlight. A 19-year old male was shot in the leg and transported to an area hospital by ambulance. Another unknown age male was transported to the hospital after being hit in head by a bottle. The names of the injured have not yet been released.
Preliminary reports indicate shots were still being fired when the first Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the party attended by 75-100 people. A gun was reported to be recovered, but deputies were unsure if it was the weapon used in the shootings.
The shooter or shooters were still at large at last report.
Further information has not yet been released.
The Habitat Building is one of the community centers the Town of Century frequently rents to the public. For several months, the town has discussed the need to require security at parties and other functions at their community centers. But the council has yet to take any formal action on the discussion.
Lady Chiefs Beat Freeport
February 26, 2011
Both the varsity and junior varsity Northview Lady Chiefs picked up a big wins on the road over Freeport Friday.
The varsity Lady Chiefs downed Freeport 10-1, while the JV Lady Chiefs beat the Bulldogs 18-3.
The JV Lady Chiefs will be in action again next Tuesday afternoon at 4:00 and the varsity Lady Chiefs at 6:00 in Pensacola against Washington High School. Their next home game won’t come until March 10 against the Baker Gators, with the JV at 4:00 and the varsity at 6:00.
Exam Finds Bank Robbery Suspect Competent, Lawyer Disagrees
February 26, 2011
A psychiatric examination has found an Atmore bank robbery suspect competent to stand trial, but the attorney for Chad Floyd Jeter, 31, is asking a federal judge for an independent opinion.
Jeter was indicted on charges of bank robbery with a weapon and use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime in violence in connection with the May 19, 2009, armed robbery of the First National Bank & Trust in downtown Atmore.
In May, 2010, a psychiatric evaluation determined Jeter was not competent to stand trial. He was admitted to the Federal Medical Center in Butner, North Carolina for treatment and evaluation, with the examination determining recently that he was once again competent to stand trial.
This week, Chief Judge William H. Steele issued an order allowing Jeter’s lawyers to make arrangements for an independent psychiatric examination within 30 days.
“Defendant’s counsel continues to have a serious concern regarding whether Mr. Jeter has currently a sufficient present ability to consult with his counsel with a reasonable degree of rational understanding, as well as a sufficient present ability to have a rational and factual understanding of the proceedings against him,” Arthur Powell, Jeter’s attorney, wrote in a motion filed in federal court last week.
“Based on the previous psychiatric evaluations there is reasonable cause to believe that the Defendant may presently be suffering from a mental disease or defect that renders him mentally incompetent to the extent that he is unable to understand the nature and consequences of the proceedings or to assist in his own defense,” Powell stated.
Jeter allegedly robbed the Atmore bank using a .22 caliber rifle, taking about $6,289. If Jeter were to be convicted on the federal charges, he could face penalties up to life in prison and fines of a half million dollars.
Authorities in Levy County, Florida, dropped an attempted murder of police officer charge against Jeter after a psychological evaluation there found him to be incompetent to stand trial. Jeter was captured in Levy County after a manhunt that followed his escape from a police officer that he struck with a “ninja throwing star”.
Jeter reportedly drove up to the downtown Atmore bank in a white pickup with a camper shell, entered the bank dressed in a dark colored trench coat and the rifle. He ordered bank employees to fill a U.S. Army backpack with cash, while he stood with the rifle pointed at the floor. He reportedly threatened a teller with the rifle during the crime.
Within a few hours of the robbery, investigators identified Jeter as their suspect. Officials searched his trailer on Highway 31 near Canoe. Inside, they found troubling evidence that Jeter might be planning to attack a military base. He said in letters and notes that he was being watched by helicopters that circle his home. Police found maps with the locations of several military bases circled, including Pensacola NAS, Eglin Air Force Base, Whiting Field and Alabama’s Ft. Rucker. The notes indicated that he planned to kill military personnel and police. Military bases were alerted to the possible threat.
Jeter’s burned out camper shell was found in the woods after the McDavid Station of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to a brush fire on a secluded section of Pine Barren Road near Breastworks Road early on the morning after the robbery.
While on routine patrol at 4:15 Eastern time the Thursday morning following the Tuesday robbery, an Inglis (Fla.) Police Department officer, Tim Swigget, located a blue GMC pickup trucked parked backed into a wooded area near a Yankeetown, Florida, neighborhood. Inside the vehicle that is nearly 400 miles from Atmore, he found Jeter sleeping. After the officer determined that Jeter is wanted for the bank robbery, Jeter attacked the officer with a Ninja star.
A manhunt involving several agencies and the U.S. Coast Guard followed after Jeter fled the scene. Jeter was taken into custody in a swampy area and transported to the Levy County Jail.
Pictured top: Chad Floyd Jeter’s booking photo taken mid-January at the Baldwin County Corrections Center. Pictured middle inset: Jeter’s truck at the First National Bank & Trust in Atmore. Pictured lower inset: Surveillance video of the bank robbery in progress. Pictured bottom: Jeter after being taken into custody last year in Levy County, Florida. NorthEscambia.com files photos, click to enlarge.
Deputy Pleads Not Guilty In Alleged Video Beating
February 26, 2011
An Escambia County deputy has pleaded not guilty to felony battery charges for allegedly throwing a detainee into the jail floor and leaving there bleeding without medical attention.
Attorneys for Zachary McArthur entered the not guilty plea on his behalf Friday. His trial by jury has been set for May 31.
According to State Attorney Bill Eddins, McArthur is alleged to have battered Justin Johnson while he was being detained at the jail. As a result of the incident Johnson received 11 stitches for an injury to his face. The entire incident was captured on video.
To see the video and read more, click here.
Weekend Gardening: Early Flowering Trees Usher In Spring
February 26, 2011
Warmer temperatures have raised the spirits of gardeners in Northwest Florida. Although we know from experience that we still have a good chance of another cold snap or two, nicer weather is always a welcomed foray into spring.
Warmer weather also means that some trees and shrubs burst into bloom producing flowers that brighten otherwise drab winter landscapes. Several members of the rose family are currently in bloom in Northwest Florida and sure to grab your attention.
Flowering Quince
During Colonial times a quince tree was a rarity in the gardens of wealthy Americans, but was found in nearly every middle class garden. The fruit—always cooked—was an important source of pectin for food preservation, and a fragrant addition to jams, juices, pies, and candies. However, by the early twentieth century quince production declined as the value of apples and pears increased. Its popularity has plummeted and it is now a rarity in contemporary landscapes.
Quince has been cultivated in the Middle East for centuries, and may have even been the fruit of temptation in the story of the Garden of Eden. The ancient Biblical name for quince translates as “Golden Apple.” In ancient Mesopotamia, now Iraq, cultivation of quince predates the cultivation of apples.
This small, thorny, deciduous tree is one of the first to bloom in late winter. It is a member of the rose family and explodes with typical rose-type flowers in February each year. The single, white flowers are 1½ to 2 inches across and grow on current season growth.
The fruit is a fragrant, many-seeded pome about three inches in diameter. The fruit’s shape ranges from round to pear-like and the flesh is yellow. Several references refer to it as “hard and rather unpalatable.”
If you would rather not deal with the fruit, non-fruiting cultivars exist. Since most quince cultivars are not well-adapted to Florida because of their high chilling requirement, choose your cultivar carefully.
Apples
Another pome-type fruit that embellishes our landscapes in late winter is the apple tree. Along with the quince, it too is a member of the rose family. It is older in cultivation than the rose and is sometimes referred to as the prince of the rose family.
Relatively few cultivars of apples (Malus domestica L.) can be grown successfully in Florida.
Most apples have a high chilling requirement. Chilling requirement is defined as the number of hours less than or equal to 45 degrees F during the winter. Apple cultivars suitable for North Florida have a chilling requirement of less than 600 hours.
Only a few cultivars meet Florida’s low-chill requirement. Recommended cultivars include ‘Anna’, ‘Dorsett Golden’ and ‘TropicSweet’. ‘Anna’ and ‘Dorsett Golden’ originated in Israel and the Bahamas, respectively. ‘TropicSweet’ is a patented cultivar from the University of Florida. These cultivars each have a chilling requirement of 250 to 300 hours.
For more information on low-chill apples, review the University of Florida/IFAS online publication at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mg368.
Flowering Cherry
While we may not be able to produce beautiful, delicious cherries in Northwest Florida, we can enjoy a few ornamental, flowering cherry trees.
One species that does well in Northwest Florida is Prunus campanulata or the Taiwan cherry. The Taiwan cherry grows to 20 to 25 feet and spreads nearly as wide as it matures. Single, drooping rose-type flowers appear in late winter and will last for about ten days.
For other recommendations on flowering trees to add to your landscape, contact your local Extension Office.
Theresa Friday is the Residential Horticulture Extension Agent for Santa Rosa County.
U.S. Marshals Arrest Seven Fugitives In Area
February 26, 2011
The U.S. Marshals Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force in Pensacola was busy this week rounding up fugitives in the area.
Friday morning, the Task Force assisted the Escambia County Gang Unit and a K-9 officer to apprehend two men wanted by Escambia County in a Pensacola motel. Darius Louis Hunter, 23, is wanted for armed robbery and Deangelo Deon Bender, 21, wanted for violation of probation and failure to appear on cocaine charges.
Thursday, the FRFTF teamed up with the Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force from Mobile to arrest 39 year old Dennis Ray Burkhart in the parking lot of the Bass Pro Shop in Spanish Fort, Ala. Burkhart was wanted in Escambia County, Fla. for failing to register as a sex offender and by the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office for dangerous drugs and a probation violation.
Also arrested by the FRFTF Thursday was Daniel Lamar Sanders, 27, wanted in Okaloosa County for cruelty toward a child/abuse causing great godily garm when he allegedly burned a small child with cigarette and held it to the child’s skin. Sanders was captured by the Task Force after trying to flee out of a window at home on the 7800 block of Red Barrow road in the Blackmon Community in north Okaloosa County.
Wednesday evening in south Okaloosa County the Task Force arrested 25 year old Tristan Richey in an apartment located at 28 8th Street in Shalimar. Task Force Officers had to make a forced entry after Richey slammed the door on them. Richey is wanted by Okaloosa County for a probation violation on a vehicular manslaughter charge from 2005. Also arrested in Okaloosa County was Kenneth Wayne White wanted in Walton County on a burglary and theft warrant. White, 49, was arrested without incident in Ft. Walton Beach at a home on the 100 block of Windham Avenue.
Earlier in the week the Task Force captured Henry Dewayne Watson wanted by the U.S. Marshals in Pensacola on a federal warrant for failure to appear on a convicted felon in possession of a firearm charge. Watson, 32, who also has Santa Rosa County warrants for aggravated stalking was found hiding in a trunk of a car.
The Task Force was assisted by Task Force Officers from Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton and Washington County Sheriff offices, as well as from FDLE, Defuniak Springs and Chipley police departments and the State Attorney’s Office.
Florida Weekly Government Roundup: Scott’s Train Ride
February 26, 2011
When they started talking about high speed rail, proponents said it was a futuristic concept. And it will continue to be an idea for the future, maybe one that will never happen at all.
The train buffs were rebuffed this week by a governor who said the train won’t be leaving the station on his watch, because it will probably be a failure that will end up costing the state money.
Supporters of the idea railed that Gov. Rick Scott was being unreasonable. A bipartisan group of train backers – from U.S. Rep. John Mica and U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in Washington to mayors in central Florida to 25 members of the state Senate – thought this week they might be able to persuade the governor to let them work on building the train. They came up with a proposal that would have the state insulated from any future financial obligation.
It would have sent the $2.4 billion already awarded to the state by the federal government to an independent authority that would work with locals and private vendors to get the train going with only minimal state involvement and no financial obligation for state taxpayers.
But Scott wasn’t convinced, and backers by Thursday were saying they wouldn’t be able to go forward without the governor’s approval. There was some talk of a possible lawsuit against the governor, and while it appeared to be mostly just talk, Space Coast area Sen. Thad Altman called the disconnect between rail-backing lawmakers and the new state chief executive a “constitutional crisis.”
If there was a theme this week at the Capitol, beyond the immediate fight over the high speed train, it was another chapter in a developing storyline that has pervaded Scott’s short term in office thus far.
The title of that chapter would likely be “Power Struggle,” but that sort of cheapens it by making it sound overly political. In many ways it’s a fundamental struggle between the new governor and lawmakers over the basic question of who has the authority to do what in this state government.
Scott may not have read the books that talk about Florida as a state with a “weak governor” design.
In addition to manifesting itself in the fight over the authority to spend federal money on a rail project, the theme flowed through other high profile fights between the Capitol first floor and the fourth floor this week – one over state airplanes, and the other over a planned database meant to track prescription drug abusers.
The plane fight was also largely between the governor and the Senate, with veteran Sen. JD Alexander initiating a week long question and answer session with the governor’s office on whether Scott had the legal authority to sell the state airplanes. The Legislature put the costs for operating the state planes, including an air pool staff to fly and maintain them, in the budget and enacted that budget. The law, Alexander notes, doesn’t allow the governor to simply not spend money that’s appropriated by the Legislature.
The constitution also may be in play – because it says only the Legislature may appropriate money. But Scott essentially determined how some state money would be spent when he took the proceeds of the sale of one of the planes and earmarked it to pay off the lease of the other. That’s essentially appropriating money, Alexander said in a terse letter to Scott.
The governor dismissed Alexander’s first letter, saying basically no worries, he hadn’t broken the law. He may not have counted on Alexander coming back and asking him why not? To which Scott’s lawyer responded this week asking Alexander to remind him again what it is he thinks the governor did wrong.
Alexander has wanted the planes sold for years. But the question of who is allowed by law and the constitution to do what is a question that appears to be taken seriously by lawmakers now facing a governor who has never been one of them, and hasn’t gone out of his way to acknowledge their role in the process.
The prescription drug database was created by legislators last year as part of an effort to fight what some have called an epidemic of easy access to pain pills that has other states complaining Florida is feeding their addicts all manner of dangerous drugs they can’t get in their own states.
But Scott – and many others – thinks a database would invade the privacy of those legitimately taking prescription medication and wants lawmakers to kill it. There’s no constitutional or legal question here. The governor isn’t trying to kill the database unilaterally, in fact in this one he’s merely suggesting that lawmakers should scrap the law calling for the database.
Still, it fits into the theme of the week because it points out another place, like the fight over trains and planes, where the governor is at odds with some legislators from his own Republican Party, and portends, possibly, a session that won’t be totally harmonious between the two branches.
To be fair, this story isn’t completely new. Lawmakers sued Gov. Charlie Crist over his efforts to expand gambling without their consent and Crist was pretty much persona non grata in the Legislature during his last several months in office as he left the GOP and vetoed the top priorities of legislative Republicans.
Even Gov. Jeb Bush – who was a hero to many Republicans in the Legislature also had run-ins with GOP lawmakers. The Senate successfully sued Bush after he vetoed part of a budget item for a longer school year pilot project. The thrust of the lawsuit was entirely over whom has the power to do what, and senators said partial vetoes simply weren’t allowed.
But Scott comes to Tallahassee with no government experience – and seemingly little patience for things that don’t help him achieve his campaign promise of creating jobs quickly.
AN EYE ON MADISON
While the aim here is to round up the week’s events in Florida state government, it would be imprudent not to at least mention what was going on in Wisconsin. The similarities have been noted between that state’s Republican governor named Scott and this one’s, but Rick Scott parted company a bit this week with his northern counterpart Scott Walker.
Early in the week Florida’s Scott said during a radio interview, almost in passing, that “collective bargaining is fine” with him. That’s the opposite from the position taken by Walker and several other new Republican governors in other states who think collective bargaining by public employees is certainly not fine.
Whether Florida’s Scott intended to send a signal that he isn’t interested in attacking state employees’ rights to be in a union or not isn’t clear. But that’s definitely the signal he sent and the story quickly gained national traction because it set him a bit apart from a trend in his party.
CIVIL RIGHTS
Attorney General Pam Bondi also took a bold position this week, saying she intends to propose that Florida reverse its move to make it easier for ex-felons to get their civil rights restored.
Bondi made no effort to slide the idea into policy quietly, but forthrightly announced her intention, even leaving fellow Cabinet members and the public time to weigh in on the idea, which won’t come up for a couple weeks before the Cabinet.
Bondi said she simply didn’t agree with the ease with which former felons now can start the process for getting their civil rights back after serving their time. Crist moved to make it easier four years ago after years of complaints, particularly from the African American community, which Florida made it particularly difficult for former convicts to reintegrate into society after doing their time.
Rather than having that process of restoration of civil rights start automatically when felons have served their sentence, Bondi, a Republican, wants to require inmates to start the application process themselves, and only after a waiting period. The issue will likely be before the Cabinet next month.
STORY OF THE WEEK: Gov. Rick Scott continues to fight with lawmakers over who has the authority to do what. He appeared to be the winner of this week’s battle, killing off a proposed bullet train.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “I believe that he exceeded his executive authority and in a very strong sense we have a constitutional crisis on our hands.” – Sen. Thad Altman, R-Viera, quoted in the St. Petersburg Times on Gov. Rick Scott’s rejection of a high speed rail compromise proposal that ends, at least for now, the effort to build a central Florida high speed train.
By David Royse
The News Service Of Florida