Wanted Walnut Hill Man Now Behind Bars
January 5, 2011
A wanted Walnut Hill man is now behind bars, about a month after deputies asked for the public’s help in finding him.
In early December, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office asked for the public’s help in locating Floyd Scott Mooney, 39, on multiple outstanding warrants.
Tuesday afternoon, Mooney was booked into the Escambia County Jail on felony charges of aggravated stalking and misdemeanor charges of stalking and three counts of contempt of court for violating a domestic violence injunction. He was being held on $25,000 bond.
Putnam Focusing On Jobs For Rural Florida
January 5, 2011
Adam Putnam is focusing on creating jobs for rural Florida.
Flanked by his four children and wife, Melissa, Putnam became the commissioner of the Florida Department of Agricultural and Consumer Services on Tuesday moments before Gov. Rick Scott took his oath and delivered his inaugural address.
Putman, a fifth-generation Florida farmer who left his Polk County-based seat in the U.S. Congress to run for agricultural commissioner last year, swore his oath on a Bible that has recorded births in his family since 1867, he said during a reception in his new office.
The oath was administered by Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles Canady, who preceded Putnam in representing the 12th Congressional District. Putnam, a cattle rancher who was elected to Congress in 2000 when he was just 26 and to the Florida House at just 22, pledged to use his new post to help Scott fulfill his campaign promise to put the state back to work.
“We’re focused on anything that we can (develop) out of the agricultural industry, using clean energy, renewable energy opportunities to create jobs in rural Florida,” he said. “I think that holds the greatest promise. Agriculture – of our three pillars of the economy – is still the strongest, even after these weather events.”
Last November, Putnam defeated Democrat Scott Maddox 56 percent to 38 percent in a low-profile campaign to replace term-limited former Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Bronson. Putnam said Tuesday that Bronson left a “strong legacy,” during his eight years as agricultural commissioner and promised to continue his Farm-to-Fuel program to increase the use of biofuels, which most experts agree is the most available clean energy type in Florida.
“That’s what we intend to build on,” he said. “Seizing on the new opportunities that are there, for Florida to not only provide the food and fiber for the nation, but also homegrown fuel. We want to make sure we keep the climate, keep the environment that allows agriculture to prosper, but also explore some of these new marketing opportunities that will create processing jobs and logistical jobs for rural Florida.”
Now that he is in charge of a $100 billion industry that touches a third of the state’s landmass, Putnam said his office would play a “critically important role” in the state’s promised economic recovery.
“With tourism and construction still facing hardship, agriculture is really a bedrock industry for job creation and economic development that (does not get) the attention and glory the other industries sometimes do,” he said.
As for his own inauguration, Putnam said “it’s just a thrill.” He was the third-highest Republican in Congress as chairman of U.S. House Republican Conference until the GOP lost the chamber in 2006 and had been rumored as a possible candidate for the U.S. Senate seat won by Marco Rubio in 2010.
“It’s a great day for the state of Florida, an exciting time, a new beginning for not only the new governor, but the new Cabinet, an opportunity to roll up our sleeves and do everything we can to create an environment to bring that unemployment rate down and create new opportunities for Floridians,” Putnam said.
Pictured: Adam Putnam during a campaign stop in Molino. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Story By Keith Laing
The News Service Florida
Northview High NJROTC Cadets Attend Military Ball
January 5, 2011
The Northview High School NJROTC recently held their annual Military Ball at the Naval Aviation Museum aboard Pensacola Naval Air Station.
The ball included the presentation of the staff and seniors from each school and a POW/MIA ceremony. A king and queen, and junior, sophomore and freshman prince and princess selected by the cadets’ peers were named.
For a photo gallery from the event, click here.
The following were named to the Northview Military Ball court:
- King and Queen: Elliot Ross and Shaniqua Jones
- Junior Prince and Princess: Jody Day and Kayla Miles
- Sophomore Prince and Princess: Jonathan Moretz and Jessica Mahon
- Freshman Prince and Princess: Willie Owens and Kasie Braun
“Everyone had a great time. The cadets are already looking forward to next year’s ball,” said Capt. Charlie Code, Northview NJROTC instructor.
Over 120 cadets and their dates attended the joint event with Washington High School.
Pictured top: Sophomore Prince and Princess Jonathan Moretz and Jessica Mahon at the Northview High School Military Ball. Pictured below: Freshman Prince and Princess Willie Owens and Kasie Braun. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
2010 Persons Of The Year: Educator Peter R. (Pete) Gindl, Sr.
January 5, 2011
NorthEscambia.com is naming Persons of the Year for 2010 each day this week. Click here for previous recipients.
Peter R. (Pete) Gindl, Sr. of Barrineau Park has posthumously been named one of our North Escambia Persons of the Year.
Gindl was fresh out of college back in 1957 when friends first convinced the political newcomer to run for the school board. He was a product of the Escambia School District and a graduate of Auburn. But he really did not know much about the office that was about to propel him into a lifelong quest to help children succeed.
“I was just fresh out of college, a single fellow, when a group of friends convinced me to run for the school board. I had a college education, and the other guy did not,” Gindl said in a 2008 NorthEscambia.com interview. “I didn’t know anything about the school board, but I ran. And I won — by 36 votes.”
Election after election, he continued to win, remaining on the school board for twenty years before deciding to “retire” and teach. He then spent 18 years in the classroom before “retiring” from teaching in 1996. While he supported the family as a farmer (he held an agricultural education degree, after all) for nearly 50 years, the second retirement was not forever. Education was just in his blood somewhere.
In 2004, the Escambia County native returned to the school board in District 5, ousting Linda Finkelstein from her seat. Gindl had plans to return to the board for another term in 2008, but District 5 voters had another plan, as they elected Bill Slayton to Gindl’s seat.
In all, the man that fought tirelessly for the children of District 5 and all of Escambia County spent 24 years on the Escambia County School Board — 16 years as chairman. He also served a year and a half as president of the Florida School Board Association.
But he considered his 18 years in the classroom as the most rewarding period of his career.
“I’m going to miss it,” he said in November, 2008, just hours before his school board term officially came to an end. “I’ll miss working with the parents, the educational personnel, everyone that cares about the kids. It has always been about the children…I just love the children.”
Gindl passed away May 16, 2010.
Man Gets 20 Years For Robbery, Stolen Steaks In His Pants
January 5, 2011
An Escambia County man was sentenced to 20 years in prison Tuesday for attempting to steal a pack of steaks he had hidden inside his pants.
State Attorney Bill Eddins said Tuesday that Stephen Trevor Montgomery was sentenced as a habitual felony offender to 20 years in state prison by Judge Ronald Swanson.
On November 23, 2010, Montgomery was found guilty by an Escambia County jury of robbery with a weapon, improper exhibition of a weapon, battery, and trespassing.
On March 30, 2010, Montgomery attempted to leave the Barnes Supermarket with a family pack of steaks he put down the front of his pants. The victim, a loss prevention officer at the store, reached for the steaks when the defendant grabbed him by his wrists and the two began to struggle. The victim followed Montgomery outside where defendant pulled a knife and pointed it at him. The defendant ran from the area and was apprehended a short time later.
Montgomery had been previously convicted of seven felonies and fourteen misdemeanors, according to the State Attorney’s Office.
Help Needed To Count The Homeless In Escambia, Santa Rosa
January 5, 2011
The EscaRosa Coalition on the Homeless needs your help to count the homeless in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties later this month.
The organization needs at least 100 volunteers to help with the annual Escambia/Santa Rosa Point-in-Time Count and Homeless Survey to be conducted January 26 and 27. Volunteers are needed throughout the two counties, including the northern areas like North Escambia.
Some of the volunteers will help persons in homeless shelters complete the annual survey forms, while other volunteers will seek out the homeless in other areas, including the outdoors.
For more information, or to sign up to help, visit www.ecoh.org. The deadline to apply is January 9.
The complete count is used by area officials to obtain government and private foundation money to aid the homeless.
Sen Greg Evers Looks Forward To Working With New Governor
January 4, 2011
Senator Greg Evers today released the following statement on the inauguration of Governor Rick Scott:
“Today marks a new beginning of conservative leadership in our state that will put job growth and economic recovery first. By focusing singularly on getting Floridians back to work, we will bring brighter days to our great state. I congratulate our 45th Governor, Rick Scott and the Cabinet for their leadership and service to Floridians.
“I look forward to working with Governor Scott and his team to put forward policies and initiatives that build on the conservative foundation established in the Florida Legislature.”
Rick Scott, Lt. Gov. Carroll And Cabinet Sworn In
January 4, 2011
Rick Scott was sworn in Tuesday as Florida’s 45th governor and went to work talking about he plans to create 700,000 jobs in seven years.
Scott told those gathered at Florida’s historic Capital that he understand unemployment because his father was often laid off from work, and his mother often turned to ironing to feed is family.
“I have a very clear memory of their fear and uncertainty as they struggled to provide for five kids,” Scott said in prepared remarks. “So, for me, job creation is a mission. My personal memories fortify my commitment to this mission. There are millions of families across Florida whose future depends on the steps we take to create jobs.”
“America was built on the promise that anyone could succeed who was willing to work hard,” he said.
State agencies are prohibited from making new rules without the approval of a new governor’s office on regulations that will also go back over every state contract over $1 million, under an executive order signed by Scott Tuesday shortly after he took office.
Scott had promised to freeze regulations, saying he heard repeatedly on the campaign trail last year that rules, permitting requirements and bureaucracy were the biggest impediment to Florida employers.
In his inaugural speech on Tuesday, Scott again promised to eliminate red tape, calling regulation, along with taxation and litigation, the “axis of unemployment.”
Also Tuesday, Scott signed another executive order making good on a campaign promise, requiring
state agencies when making new hires to use the E-Verify system, a federal Internet based portal for checking work authorization and Homeland Security information.
That order also requires agencies to include in all state contracts a requirement that contractors and subcontractors also use E-Verify to check anyone employed during the contract term to work on state-related work. Scott also ran on a promise to try to tackle what he said is a lack of enforcement of federal immigration laws, and argued that state government can help by promising not to employ undocumented immigrants.
Scott’s creation of the state Office of Fiscal Accountability and Regulatory Reform was his first official act as governor. He named former Charlie Crist budget staffer Jerry McDaniel to head up the office. In addition to reviewing any regulations before an agency can implement them, the office will also review all existing big contracts.
“I believe Floridians have a right to know where their money is being spent,” Scott said after signing the order.
Scott also signed an executive order re-establishing the Office of Open Government, which was created by Crist, and putting in a place the executive branch’s ethics code, which Scott said would be stronger than the current rules. Scott also ordered a “Special Counsel and Chief Ethics Officer” to review a recent grand jury report on corruption in politics and government to recommend how some of the grand jury’s recommendations might be put in place.
Finally, Scott signed a fourth executive order reaffirming the state’s prohibition on discrimination in hiring and contracting.
But the freeze on regulation was the boldest move, aimed at helping Scott encourage businesses to hire new workers – part of a promise to put 100,000 people a year back to work.
“While there are some regulations that are essential for health and safety, and others that are essential to the protection of our priceless environment, it’s past time to demand that every regulation be re-evaluated,” Scott had said in his inaugural speech shortly before signing the order. “We will conduct a top to bottom review of all state regulations and weed out unnecessary ones that hinder job creation.”
To Read Scott’s full prepared remarks, click here.
Also this morning, Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll was sworn in, as were Attorney General Pam Bondi, CFO Jeff Atwater, and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam.
Group Wants To Open Century Elementary; Council Questions Plan (With Video)
January 4, 2011
A group wants to return an elementary school to Century — an idea that town leaders are questioning until a formal plan is presented. The town has been without a school since Carver/Century K-8 closed two school years ago.
Leola Robinson (pictured) told the Century Town Council Monday night that her group needs a building for the planned “Century Elementary School”, but she provided little insight into the specifics of the plan.
For video from the meeting, click here.
When asked by Council President Ann Brooks exactly what organization was making plan for the school, Robinson first responded, “The peoples of Century. You want me to bring you all the people that say it was alright?”
Later in her presentation to the town council, Robinson said organization behind the request is the CFIA — the Century-Flomaton Improvement Association.
“We have everything in place; we ready to go,” she said. “The only thing we need now is a building and that’s about all.”
As for funding the “Century Elementary School”, Robinson said it would be funded “through a grant”.
“Have you already applied for the grant?” Brooks (pictured) asked.
“Well, I can say we, we, we are able to take care of the school. All we need is a building,” Robinson replied after a lengthy pause.
She pressed the council for a fast answer, because the CFIA plans to open to the school in August with 20 parents and “more than 20″ students ready for the school.
The school, Robinson said, would likely be private but not charge any tuition, but “we might have to; we don’t know”.
“We want to make sure if the town is participating, whatever we do, that we are doing something that is legal and appropriate,” Brooks said, prompting Robinson to complain that the mayor and council had not done anything about the closure of Carver/Century K-8.
“We are not going to give our children away to be carried way out there for now own forever,” Robinson said, presumably referring to Bratt Elementary School where elementary aged public school children from Century are bused daily. “We are not playing. We never have given up. But we didn’t see the mayor none or council member doing anything about our children.”
“We did try to save our school,” Mayor Freddie McCall (pictured) said. He said that if the group forms a legitimate charter school, the Escambia County School Board would probably allow the group to use the former Carver/Century K-8 building.
“I’d like to go on record to say that we will do everything that we can, legally, on our behalf to do it to help. But there again, it will take a plan that someone can look at and evaluate,” McCall said.
“I think the first thing we would need is a plan,” Brooks said,”…as to what you are proposing and what the funding will be.”
“We are going to have a school in Century,” Robinson said. “We are financially able to do that.”
The council took no action on Robinson’s request Monday night..
For video from the meeting, click here.
Pictured top: Leola Robinson addresses the Century Town Council Monday night. Pictured below: Century residents listen to Robinson. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Lap Dance Lands Probation Officer In Trouble
January 4, 2011
Former probation officer Barry Lett of Pensacola entered a guilty plea Monday to one count of unlawful compensation or reward for official behavior and one count of battery.
The charges arose from an incident where the defendant compelled the victim to perform a private lap dance in her home in Escambia County, according to the State Attorney’s Office. At the time of the incident, the victim was on probation and being supervised by Lett.
Judge Michael Allen scheduled sentencing for January 28, 2011. Lett faces up to 21 months in state prison.