Firefighters Battle Large Brush Fire Near Century
December 15, 2010
At least seven fire departments from across the battled a large brush fire near Century Wednesday afternoon.
The fire at Highway 4A and Backwoods Road was reported to be about 25 acres in size and was burning a combination of grass, brush and wooded area, according to Escambia Fire Rescue. Flames were reported to be up to 50 feet in the air in a wooded area as firefighters arrived on scene shortly after noon. The fire was reported to be out at 2:30 p.m.
The fire was contained to a mostly wooded area. Firefighters worked to keep the fire away from several structures, including houses on Chavers Lane. There is no word on what caused the blaze.
Fire units from Century, Flomaton, McDavid, Atmore, Walnut Hill, Molino and Friendship worked to contain the fire. The Florida Division of Forestry used two bulldozers to plow a containment line around the fire.
Picture above and inset: Firefighters work to put out a hot spot in a brush fire on Backwoods Road Wednesday afternoon. Pictures below: Firefighters work to refill the water supply on two brush trucks before returning to the wooded area to fight the blaze. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Woman Busted By U.S. Marshals On Charges From Nebraska
December 15, 2010
A Century woman was arrested by U.S. Marshals Tuesday on outstanding warrants from Nebraska.
The U.S. Marshals Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force in Pensacola and Escambia Warrant Squad Investigators arrested Rena Marie Camerlinck, 40, of 3200 Highway 4A without incident at her place of employment, the Motel 6 on Pensacola Boulevard. Earlier Tuesday morning, U.S. Marshals and deputies attempted unsuccessfully to locate her at her residence on Highway 4A.
Camerlinck was wanted on outstanding forgery warrants from Cass County, just outside Omaha, Nebraska. According to investigators with the Cass County Sheriff’s Department, Camerlinck is facing multiple charges of second degree forgery from 2004. She was named one of the most wanted fugitives from Cass County.
Details about what led to the charges were not immediately available Tuesday afternoon.
Camerlinck is being held in the Escambia County Jail without bond pending extradition to Nebraska.
Suspect Named In Escambia’s Latest Murder
December 15, 2010
A suspect has been named in Escambia County’s most recent homicide.
An arrest warrant for Cameron Tyler Cherry (pictured), 18, of Pensacola, has been issued in connection with the death of Robert Witherspoon, 24, of Pensacola.
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a shots fired call at the intersection of Mary Lane and Paula Avenue around 4:42 pm Wednesday, after area residents called 911 and reported hearing gunfire. When deputies arrived they found Witherspoon, who had suffered a gunshot wound, sitting in a 2005 Chevrolet Aveo. Medics pronounced the man dead at the scene.
“Investigators were able name Cherry a suspect after speaking with very cooperative witnesses. In past cases it has been difficult to obtain such cooperation. This is what it’s going to take, the community and the Sheriff’s Office working together, to rid our streets of this unnecessary violence,” said Deputy Chris Welborn, spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Office.
Although investigators have a warrant for Cherry, the investigation into Witherspoon’s death is ongoing, Welborn said. The Sheriff’s Office is not releasing any other information concerning the case.
Football All Star Game To Feature Area Seniors
December 15, 2010
The Pensacola Sports Association has announced the rosters for the 2010 Subway High School All-Star Football Game Presented by the Andrews Institute. The 7th Annual All-star Game is scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m. at the Woodham Middle School Stadium.
This year’s game features some of the best seniors from Okaloosa and Santa Rosa Counties (East) playing against the seniors from Escambia County (West). Choctaw Head Coach Greg Thomas is the head coach of the East team while Greg Seibert from Catholic will lead the West team.
Several North Escambia area players will be taking part. Participating on the West All-Star Team from Northview will be: Austin Arrington, SS; Taylor Martin, LB; Lonnie Gardner, DT. Team members from Tate will be DJ Johnson, DB; Bruce Hemphill, LB/SS; and Tyler Tymbes, OL.
On the East All-Star Team, Trent Sweeney of Jay (WB) will take part.
Tickets for the game will be $7, or $6 with a canned good to support Manna Food Bank.
Deputies Warn Checks Are Being Stolen From Mailboxes
December 15, 2010
Several Escambia County businesses have had checks stolen from mailboxes and counterfeited, and deputies are warning residents and businesses alike to be careful.
Names have been changed on the stolen checks in an attempt to cash them at area banks, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Both businesses and individual citizens should take care to ensure that checks are not stolen by hand delivering them to the post office or giving them directly to a postal worker, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Anyone with information on the stolen check fraud cases should call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Photos: Ernest Ward Holds Womanless Beauty Pageant
December 15, 2010
Aaron “Amanda” McDonald was named Junior Mr. Miss Ernest Ward Middle School in a womanless beauty pageant Tuesday night. First runner up was Austin “Autina” Cunningham; second runner-up was Tristan “Trista” Portwood; and third runner-up was Jacob “Joselyn” Weaver. Tristan “Trista” Portwood was named Miss Congeniality, while Austin “Autina” Cunningham received the Physical Fitness Award. The Poise and Appearance Award was presented to Aaron “Amanda” McDonald, and the People’s Choice Award went to Tristan “Trista” Portwood. The womanless pageant was the school’s first ever, with proceeds benefiting the school’s cheerleaders. For a photo gallery with all of the contestants, click here. Pictured top: Contestants in a womanless beauty pageant Tuesday night at Ernest Ward Middle School. Picture inset: Junior Mr. Miss Ernest Ward Middle School Aaron “Amanda” McDonald. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Former Deputy Gets 30 Years For Child Sex Abuse
December 15, 2010
A former Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s deputy was sentenced to 30 years in prison on child sex abuse charges.
John Mitchell Tomlinson, 46, was sentenced to 30 years state prison on each of three counts of sexual battery by a person in familial or custodial authority. All three sentences were to run concurrent. He also was designated a sexual predator for life.
Charges stem from allegations of abuse from his adopted daughter who lived with the defendant for several years, according to State Attorney Bill Eddins.
Tomlinson was a 23-year veteran with the Santa Rosa County Sheriffs Office; he was assigned to the Santa Rosa County Courthouse at the time of his arrest. The defendant still faces additional charges of capital sexual battery in another case stemming from allegations made by a child who was a neighbor to the defendant in the late 1990’s.
Pen Air Branches Donates To Toys For Tots
December 15, 2010
Pen Air Federal Credit Union presented a truckload of toys and $500 to the Toys for Tots Foundation. The toys were collected at Pen Air offices across the area, including Century.
“We thank you from the bottom of our hearts,” Toys for Tots Coordinator for Marine Aviation Training Support Group-24 MGySgt. Roberto Rivera said. “We couldn’t do it without your support.”
“Pen Air FCU has supported Toys for Tots for several years now,” Pen Air FCU President and Chief Executive Officer Ron Fields said. “I am extremely proud of the continued outpouring of generosity from all of our employees and member-owners to help underprivileged children.”
The Marine Corps spent countless hours setting up drop box locations, conducting fundraisers, and spreading the word about the Toys for Tots Foundation and how the foundation benefits underprivileged children in the community.
Pictured: Pen Air Federal Credit Union Vice President of Marketing Patty Veal (left) and Military Liaison Officer John Ochs (second from right) presented Marine Aviation Training Support Group-24 Toys for Tots coordinator MGySgt. Roberto Rivera (center) a $500 check and an estimated $2,000 in toys for local underprivileged children Tuesday aboard Naval Air Station Pensacola. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Retailers Ask For BP To Pay For Local Sales Tax Holidays
December 15, 2010
Florida retailers on Tuesday said they are asking BP to spend $25 million to reimburse the state for a series of sales tax holidays beginning in February to help lure shoppers to the local Northwest Florida area that took a $454 million hit following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Citing a Florida TaxWatch study on lost retail revenue, Florida Retail Federation president and CEO Rick McAllister said the group is negotiating with BP to pay for three-day sales tax holidays beginning in February to help the lure tourists back to the five-county region after many canceled travel plans last summer because of the spill.
“This is not about claims for losses,” McAllister said. “This is about how we move forward. How do we return Northwest Florida to where it needs to be?”
McAllister said he expects to announce a deal within the next few weeks. The tentative proposal calls for a state sales tax holiday to run once a month between February and August. The proposal would limit the tax-free status to items under $200. BP would pay the sales tax that would have been levied. Marketing campaigns and incentives would piggyback on promotional programs coordinated through the lodging and tourism efforts. The holidays would run Friday through Sunday in Bay, Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton counties.
McAllister said Tuesday the holidays could be put in place without having to ask the Legislature for approval as long as the taxes were paid on time to the Department of Revenue. Agency spokesman Rene Watters said Tuesday that the details of the proposal were still being reviewed.
A study by Florida TaxWatch estimated retailers in a five county region — including Escambia and Santa Rosa — saw sales fall $454 million between May and September, including $239 million in taxable sales. The downturn translates into $14.3 million in lost state sales tax revenue and another $1.1 million in local tax collections.
Prior to the spill, the region was experiencing year-to-year revenue gains that outpaced the statewide average, a trend that reversed itself following the April 20 explosion and fire aboard the Deepwater Horizon rig. Tourism related taxable sales over the critical summer period fell 7.1 percent n the region compared to a 2.8 percent gain statewide.
“June 2010 broke a streak of 17 consecutive months where Northwest Florida was doing better than the state as a whole,” said Kurt Wenner, TaxWatch vice president for tax research. “Then all of a sudden, it fell off the table. ”
Laurie Olshefsky, who with her husband owns four Panhandle businesses, said the summer sales were off by 30 percent, a considerable drop after seeing double digit growth leading up to the spill. Like other retailers in the region, she relies on the summer tourism season for a large portion of her annual sales.
“When the oil spill hit, people stopped coming and they went other places where they were guaranteed to have a good time with their families.”Olshefsky said. “We were blessed that we were not hit by the oil spill, but we were damaged financially. ”
Retailers are worried tourists who cancelled plans to visit the Panhandle last summer and went elsewhere, will not return this summer. Other summer destinations benefited by the bad publicity that cast a shroud over the entire gulf region and prompted financially pinched tourists to look elsewhere for summer fun.
“What keeps me awake at night in regard to Northwest Florida is all those people who went to Myrtle Beach last year instead of going to Destin or Panama City Beach or Pensacola. Did they find something there that they enjoyed so they are going to try it one more year?” McAllister said.
By Michael Peltier, The News Service Florida
Pictured top: Kurt Wenner, president of tax research for Florida TaxWatch, briefs reporters on the freefall of retail sales in the Florida Panhandle. Florida Retail Federal President Rick McAllister (left) said the organization has asked BP to pay for series of sales tax holidays to boost sales in the region. Photo by Michael Peltier for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
School Board Meeting Canceled
December 14, 2010
The regular meeting of the Escambia County School Board scheduled for Tuesday night was canceled due to “unforeseen circumstances”, according to a school district release.
The new meeting date and time will be Tuesday, January 4 at 5:30 p.m. in Room 160 of the J. E. Hall Education Center.