Northview Lady Chiefs Take Two From Jay
March 25, 2011
The Northview Lady Chiefs took two from Jay Thursday afternoon.
In varsity action, Northview beat the Jay Lady Royals 6-4.
Shawna Montgomery was 2-3 with double for the Chiefs, Ashley Digmon was 3-4, Sarah Killam was 2-4, and Emily Vickery went 1-3 with a double. Misty Doran pitched seven for the Chiefs, striking out six.
Camille Driver was 1-2 for the Lady Royals, and Ashley Stokes went 1-3.
In JV action, Northview downed Jay 4-3.
The Lady Chiefs will be in action again Friday with a road trip to Ponce de Leon for a 5 p.m. varsity matchup.
Escambia Man Gets 13 Years For DUI Manslaughter
March 25, 2011
State Attorney Bill Eddins announced Thursday that Robert Koroly was sentenced by Judge Michael Allen to 13.25 years in state prison followed by 6.75 years probation.
On January 25, 2011, Koroly pled to one count of DUI manslaughter and one count of DUI causing serious bodily injury before Judge Michael Allen.
On May 1, 2010, Koroly was driving the wrong way on I-110 just south of Fairfield Drive when he crashed into Johnny Robinson’s car, killing Robinson. Clarence Jordan was also injured in the crash. Koroly’s blood alcohol level was .16.
Scott Signs Teacher Merit Pay In Law
March 25, 2011
Gov. Rick Scott signed the teacher merit pay bill on Thursday in Jacksonville, his first signed legislation since becoming Governor, tying teacher salaries to test scores and ending multi-year contracts.
“We must recruit and retain the best people to make sure every classroom in Florida has a highly effective teacher,” Scott said.
Under the measure, current teachers are also exempted from the new salary requirements and elimination of tenure. New teachers hired after July 2011 are put under one-year contracts and after July 2014, new teachers will be paid under the new merit pay system.
For new teachers, school districts would be required to set up an evaluation system that uses test scores for 50 percent of a teacher’s ranking and a “value-added” formula for the rest.
“This bill reduces a school district’s flexibility and authority over teacher evaluations, pay schedules and working conditions,” said Andy Ford, president of the Florida Education Association. “It’s not good for students, it’s not good for teachers and it’s not grounded in sound research.”
This is the second year the Legislature has attempted to pass a merit pay bill, with former Gov. Charlie Crist vetoing the bill last year after teacher protests. This year, the response from teachers was muted and Scott indicated early on his support for tying teacher pay to test scores.
Cottage Hill Residents Clean Up Community
March 25, 2011
Cottage Hill had become a community where neighbors did not know one another and where fear sometimes gripped residents that would not venture outside at night.
“There were elderly people in the neighborhood that if they left something in their car, they would not walk outside their home at night to get it because of fear. They would just wait until the next morning,” said Marsha Ryland.
“That’s not the way we wanted our neighborhood,” Ryland said. So she went to work on the evils that lurked in Cottage Hill, starting with meth after her neighbor’s house burned to the ground from a meth lab gone bad. They organized for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office to present a community program on meth. That eventually led Ryland, her daughter Amanda and Carlyn Vickery to work with their neighbors to form the Cottage Hill Neighborhood Watch.
The group was part of about 100 volunteers, law enforcement officers and county employees that teamed up Thursday morning to clean up a for Operation Clean Sweep to rid the neighborhood of crime, criminals and trash.
During the operation, 38 tons of trash was collected — some by volunteers from the Marines, 36 tickets were issued for traffic violations, five people were arrested on outstanding warrants and Escambia County Code Enforcement opened 26 cases on violations.
“From Jim Allen Elementary to McKenzie Road, we are taking back out streets,” Ryland said. “This was jut the beginning today. It’s our job to make sure it stays cleaned up.”
“This is the first time I can remember since the late 1950’s that the whole community has pulled together and gotten involved,” Vickery said.
“People have really started to know their neighbors and look out for one another,” Ryland said. “It’s made a huge difference.”
For a photo gallery from the Operation Clean Up Thursday in Cottage Hill, click here.
Residents in the area had been encouraged to pile trash and debris from the homes and yards alongside the road for pickup. And they did. Pile and pile of trash — furniture, couches, tires, boats (about a half dozen boats) and more lined the streets waiting for collection. The Marines walked the area, accompanied by deputies on horseback, picking up smaller litter.
Escambia deputies stood next to Highway 95A with radar guns, directing those over the speed limit off the highway for a ticket. The Sheriff’s Office tactical (TAC) unit moved about the neighborhood with parole and probation officers with outstanding arrest warrants in hand.
Pictured above and below: Scenes from Operation Clean Sweep Thursday morning in Cottage Hill. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Crabtree Church Road Bridge Closed
March 25, 2011
The bridge over Alligator Creek on Crabtree Church Road in Molino has been closed for emergency repairs.
Advance decay was found in a support piling during a routine inspection Thursday, according to Sonya Daniel, Escambia County public information manager. The bridge was closed late Thursday afternoon and is expected to remain closed through Friday, April 8.
The bridge on Crabtree Church Road is about halfway between Sunshine Hill Road and Highway 99. The recommended east/west detour is Molino Road between Highway 99 and Sunshine Hill Road.
No Injuries In 10 Mile Rd School Bus Wreck
March 24, 2011
There were no injuries in a Thursday morning crash involving a school bus.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a school bus with no passengers on board and a Toyota van were stopped at a red light at the intersection of East 10 Mile Road and Chemstrand Road about 7:42 a.m. The driver of the bus, Kristie King, 40, of Cantonment, began to travel forward and rear-ended the van, driven by Tony Tran, 53, of Pensacola.
There were no injuries. King, the bus driver, was cited with careless driving by the FHP.
Fire Under Century Home Causes Little Damage
March 24, 2011
A fire under a Century home caused little damage Thursday morning.The fire was reported about 10:15 Thursday morning in the 500 block of West Highway 4. Smoke could be seen coming from under the home as firefighters searched for the source.
The fire was extinguished a short time later. The cause of the fire was not immediately known.
The Century, McDavid, Molino and Walnut Hill stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Flomaton Fire Department responded to the call.
Pictured top: Smoke can been seen coming from the end of a home Thursday morning in Century as firefighters search for the source under the home. Pictured below: Firefighters look for the source of the fire. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Judge: No Animals Near Walnut Hill Man Accused Of Starving 10 Horses
March 24, 2011
A Walnut Hill man accused of starving 10 horses will no longer be able to have custody of, or live around, any animal as he awaits trial on multiple animal cruelty charges.
Late last week, Judge Ronald Swanson modified bond conditions for James Benjamin Bethea, stipulating that he shall not maintain custody of any animal, and that no animal may reside on any property in which Bethea lives, owns, cares for or maintains. In addition, Bethea must allow Panhandle Equine Rescue to conduct random inspections to ensure the bond conditions are being met. The conditions apply as he awaits trial.
Bethea, 61, has pleaded not guilty to two felony and eight misdemeanor animal cruelty charges. One of the horses allegedly starved by Bethea was euthanized by a veterinarian in a pasture February 2 in the 5000 block of Highway 97A in Enon. Nine others were seized by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and transported to an animal clinic for medical care.
Bethea’s trial is currently set for mid-May.
Pictured top: One of nine horses seized in February in the Enon community. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Century To Set Election For Mayor, Two Council Seats
March 24, 2011
The office of mayor and two Century town council seats will be on the ballot this fall in Century.
Council Seat 1, currently held by Ann Brooks, and Seat 2, currently held by Nadine McCaw, and Mayor Freddie McCall’s post will be on the October 11 ballot. A run-off election, if needed, will be held November 8.
Qualifying for the election will be held from noon, Monday, August 1 until noon, Friday August 5. To qualify for any of the offices, a candidate must be a registered voter in Century. In addition, any candidate for mayor must have been a resident of Century for six months prior to their qualification date. The qualifying fee for mayor is $185.50 and $48 for a council seat.
The Century Town Council is set to approve an ordinance at their April 4 meeting setting the official guidelines for the election. Click here to read the ordinance.
Atmore Woman Gets Nearly A Year In Jail On Drug Charges
March 24, 2011
An Atmore woman has been sentenced to just under a year in the Escambia County (Fla.) Jail on drug charges.
Janice Turner Wall, 53, of Highway 31 Atmore, was sentenced last week to 11 months and 30 days in jail on a felony cocaine possession and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia charges. She was also ordered by Judge Ronald Swanson to pay $518 in fines, and her driver’s license was suspended for 24 months.
Wall was initially arrested by the Escambia County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office on September 25, 2010.