Florida Senate Panels Approve Child Seats Until Age 7; Left Lane Bill
February 7, 2011
Monday, Florida Senate panels approved a bill that would restrict driving in the left lane of a mult-lane highway to passing only, and approved a bill that would require children up to age seven to be in an approved ca set
Left Lane Bill
With the type of speed its backers would like to see drivers in the far left lanes of Florida highways move, the Senate Transportation Committee approved a so-called “road rage” bill Monday on a 5-0 vote.
The bill (SB 244), sponsored by Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, would limit the left lane to a passing lane, making it a moving violation to fail to move to the right if traffic is behind you. Bennett and House Sponsor Rep. Jeff Clemens, D-Lake Worth, have argued that the measure would reduce road rage and traffic congestion.
Similar bills have been adopted in Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine and Massachusetts. The Florida legislation has still has a long road to go, however, with hearings scheduled next in the Senate Health Regulation and Budget committees.
Car Seat Bill
A measure requiring a child car restraint for children up to age seven or until they’re four-feet nine-inches, cleared a Senate committee on Monday. Currently, child seats are only required through age three, and after that a seat belt may be used.
The bill (SB 238), sponsored by Sen. Thad Altman, R-Viera, was approved with a 4-1 vote Monday in the Senate Transportation Committee. It still needs approval from the Senate Criminal Justice and the full Budget Committee. A House version of the measure (HB 11) has four committee stops and is yet to get a hearing.
By The News Service Florida
New Target For Copper Thieves? Farm Irrigation Systems
February 7, 2011
Copper thieves have apparently found a new target in North Escambia — farm irrigation systems.
A local farmer reported last week that 600 feet of electrical control cable was stolen from his Reinke irrigation system at Highway 97 and Meadows Road in Davisville. According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the suspect stopped two sections of irrigation pipe short of stealing the entire cable because one end was very close to Meadows Road. The total damage to the irrigation system was estimated at $5,000.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, another irrigation system in the area of Greenland and Dortch Roads was found to be missing an 800 foot section of electrical cable. Several other irrigation systems in the area were not tampered with.
According to the farmer, two other irrigation systems he owns in Alabama had also been the target of vandals and thieves.
The suspect in the case will face felony grand theft and felony criminal mischief charges once arrested.
Anyone with information on the crime can contact the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Pictured above and below: An operating irrigation system in Walnut Hill creates a rainbow in this NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Lady Chiefs Announce Softball Schedule
February 7, 2011
The 2011 Northview Lady Chiefs softball schedule has been announced for both the junior varsity and varsity programs. The Lady Chiefs will open the season on the road against Pine Forest on February 15. The first home game will be February 18 against Pensacola Catholic.
Northview’s varsity team is the defending district champions, with pitcher Misty Doran returning to the mound as a sophomore. She led the area in strikeouts last year with 141 batters sent back to the box.
Capt. Charlie Code Named NHS Teacher Of The Year
February 7, 2011
Captain Charlie C. Code, Jr. has been named the 2010-2011 Teacher of the Year at Northview Hgh School. The Senior Naval Science Instructor will be honored along with Escambia County’s other Teachers of the Year during the Golden Apple Awards in Pensacola on February 24.
Code retired after 29 years of service in the Navy and immediately went to work with Northview’s NJROTC program.
He was born in Macon, GA and attended Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, FL graduating in June, 1977. He completed Aviation Officer Candidate School at Naval Aviation Schools Command at Naval Air Station in Pensacola, and was commissioned in August 1978. He was designated an Aviation Maintenance Duty Officer (AMDO) in July 1979.
Code’s operational assignments while on active duty included Fighter Squadron 142, NAS Oceana and deployed on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69), Norfolk, VA; HS-12, Atsugi, Japan and deployed on USS Midway (CV-41); USS Belleau Wood (LHA-3) Sasebo, Japan; and the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71), Norfolk, VA.
His shore assignments included Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department (AIMD), NAS Key West FL.; AIMD, NAS Lemoore, CA; AMDO assignment officer (detailer), NAF Millington TN; Aviation Training System Assistant Program Manager, Washington, DC; Program Manager, PMA-225, Patuxent River, MD, and his final tour was Executive Director and Commanding Officer, Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Center at NAS Pensacola.
His personal awards include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal (with two gold stars), and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (with two gold stars).
He is married to the former Miriam A. Richardson of Baltimore, Md., and they have one daughter, Arnita.
Forum To Address Stronger, Healthier Communities
February 7, 2011
The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) and Volunteer Florida is hosting a community forum in Jay Tuesday night to get answers from residents and businesses to the following questions:
- What are the most important factors in creating strong, healthy communities in Santa Rosa County?
- What are the most pressing needs in Santa Rosa County that have to be addressed in order to strengthen families and communities?
- How can residents, businesses, public agencies and non-profit organizations address these needs with focused action and resources?
The results from the forum will be used by ACES (AmeriCorps Escambia-Santa Rosa), a collaborative of service organizations, to prepare a grant that will be submitted in April to request funding for AmeriCorps volunteers who can provide services to residents in both counties. The results will also be shared with Santa Rosa County, Jay, Milton and Gulf Breeze government officials so they can work with applicable staff to also address community needs identified in the forum.
Everyone in Santa Rosa County is encouraged to participate so they can make a positive impact towards stronger, healthier communities. The forum will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Jay Community Center, 5929 Booker Street. Space is limited; RSVP to Taye Warfield at tayewarfield@bellsouth.net.
Driver Flips In Hwy 97 Crash
February 6, 2011
The driver of a SUV was not seriously injured when he lost control and overturned Sunday morning on Highway 97 in Walnut Hill.
While northbound at Highway 164, he failed to negotiate a curve, lost control and overturned his Chevrolet Tahoe about 6:30 a.m.. The SUV came to rest on its side.
The Tahoe’s driver was transported by Atmore Ambulance to Atmore Community Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded to the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Crime And Punishment: One On One With Escambia’s Top Prosecutors
February 6, 2011
Daily, it seems the headlines in Escambia County are about crime. After the crime is committed and after law enforcement finishes their investigation, the State Attorney’s Office stands between the defendant and his freedom.
There are 20 judicial districts in Florida, each with its own individually elected State Attorney. State Attorney Bill Eddins and Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille represent Florida’s First Judicial Circuit for Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton counties.
NorthEscambia.com sat down with Eddins and Marcille recently to discuss crime and punishment in Escambia County.
Violent Crime, Drugs And Gangs
“It is a misconception that overall violent crime is increasing,” Eddins said. “Violent crime is decreasing. It’s the very visible violent crime that is increasing — the drive by shootings, armed robberies and the crimes that make the news.”
“There are a number of factors to blame,” Eddins said about crime in the area. “Drugs, the availability of drugs, the availability of guns and economic issues.”
“The groups that do consider themselves gangs that do constitute legal gangs are increasing,” Marcille said, “with much of their violent behavior between drug dealers or robberies.” He said that, under the law, a loose-knit organization that commits crimes together can meet the legal definition of a gang.
But the law is fighting back on the increasing gang problem in Escambia County, Eddins said, with both the State Attorney’s Office and the Sheriff’s Office allocating resources to focus on the gang problem.
Tougher Prosecution,
Once a suspect is arrested, Eddins said his office is taking a harder stance on criminals.
“We are taking a stronger position and plea bargaining less,” Eddins said. “We are rearranging how our office operates, designating more special prosecutors with more time to prosecute these violent crimes. The reorganization has helped us be more effective.”
The State Attorney believes his office is the most aggressive in Florida as far as the number of cases tried overall.
Reorganization to meet the case load that passes his desk are nothing new for Eddins. The most recent major reorganization came with the murders of Byrd and Melanie Billings and multiple suspects.
As the Billings trials come to a close in the coming months, Eddins said prosecutors will become available to handle defendants headed to trial in 2011 from some of Escambia County’s 30 plus murders last year.
Fear Is A Problem
Drug-related crimes are increasing in the public eye, and drug cases are among the hardest to prosecute, according to Marcille.
“Fear is common among witnesses,” Marcille said. “People fear that testifying may be a threat to them, and they are reluctant to become involved.”
Animal Cruelty
A growing focus for Eddins’ office is animal cruelty, with many of those cases from the North Escambia area.
“We are focusing more on animal cruelty cases,” he said. That focus includes a training session later this week for prosecutors and law enforcement alike to learn more about groups like Panhandle Equine Rescue in Cantonment. The State Attorney’s Office is working to receive animal cruelty cases directly from PER for prosecution.
Pictured top: Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille and State Attorney Bill Eddins. NorthEscambia.com photo/graphic, click to enlarge.
Alabama Police Chase Ends In Florida
February 6, 2011
An Alabama police chase ended in Century Saturday night.
About 8:45 p.m., the Brewton Police Department reportedly pursued a vehicle into Florida on Fannie Road. The pursuit continued into Century to East Highway 4 and then eastbound toward Jay. Alabama authorities called off the chase on West Highway 4 in Century.
The driver was reportedly wanted for reckless driving. Further details were not available.
The Escambia County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office did not become involved in the chase.
Man Accused Of Starving Horses Free On Bond; Several Horses Remain On Property
February 6, 2011
The Walnut Hill man accused of starving 10 horses is free on bond as he awaits trial on multiple animal cruelty charges.
James Benjamin Bethea, 61, has been released from the Escambia County Jail on $9,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear before Judge Michael Allen on February 24 for an arraignment hearing on two felony and eight misdemeanor animal cruelty charges.
One of the horses allegedly starved by Bethea was euthanized by a veterinarian Wednesday afternoon in a pasture 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.
About 10 other horses remained in Bethea’s pasture as of Saturday afternoon. Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies have checked on the horses several times since Wednesday to ensure they were receiving food and water.
For an earlier report about the horses and more photos, click here.
Pictured top: One of nine horses being seized Wednesday in the Enon community. Pictured inset: This horse was in critical condition, unable to stand even with assistance. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Locals Run The Double Bridges (With Complete Results)
February 6, 2011
Over 3,100 runners took part in Saturday’s 14th annual Pensacola Double Bridge Run.
In the 15K, top overall North Escambia area finisher was Matt Dobson of Jay at seventh overall with a time of 52:19. Rusty Branch of Cantonment finished 11th with a time of 55:35, and Matthew Nixon of Molino finished 22nd overall with a time of 58:17. Dobson was first in Male Masters division.
For complete results from the Pensacola Double Bridge Run 15K, click here.
In the 5K Run, the top overall North Escambia area finishers were: Jason Scott of Jay at 52nd with a time of 24:16; Richard Tavenner of Cantonment at 57th with a time of 24:24; and Brandon Rogers of Cantonment with a time of 24:50 at 66th.
For complete results from the Pensacola Double Bridge Run 5K, click here.
In the 5K Walk, the top overall North Escambia area finishers were Merrie Fox, 19th, with a time of 39:24; Frank Templeton of Cantonment at 26th with a time of 40:31; and Sandra Russell of Cantonment at 47th with a time of 42:47.
For complete results from the Pensacola Double Bridge Run 5K Walk, click here.