Cantonment Woman Acquitted On Elder Abuse Charges
October 23, 2010
A Cantonment woman has been found not guilty on charges that she abused two elderly patients under her care.
Crystal Dawn Watts, now 29, was acquitted after a six-member Escambia County jury deliberated about an hour. She was accused of using a pillow to cover the face of an 86-year old patient in her care for approximately 30 seconds, which left the patient gasping for breath. On the same day, Watts pushed an 87-year old patient in her care at the Homestead Village Retirement Center multiple times, causing the patient to bruise, according to the Florida Attorney General’s Office said. She was fired from the facility shortly thereafter.
But Watts contended that the stories were false, created by a coworker jealous over a job promotion at Homestead Village.
If convicted on both counts, Watts would have faced up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Day Of Caring Works On North Escambia Projects
October 23, 2010
Friday, over 100 volunteer teams took part in the annual United Way Day of Caring in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, including projects at Northview High School, Jim Allen Elementary and the Cantonment Senior Center.
At Northview High School, volunteers from Exxon Mobil joined the school’s horticulture class in a campus cleanup and planted flowers.
At Jim Allen Elementary, volunteers from Publix sanded and repainted several pieces of playground equipment.
At the Cantonment Senior Center, volunteers from Gulf Power Company washed the outside of the building, painted the front porch and cleaned up the facility’s yard.
Volunteer projects across the two counties included yard work at homes of elderly or disabled residents, repair of playground equipment at children’s centers and schools, planting gardens and grounds beautification at schools and nonprofit outreach centers, and help building a Habitat for Humanity home.
Friday marked the 18th year of the United Way Day of Caring in Escambia County. There will be more than 90 projects completed in Escambia County and more than 30 projects in Santa Rosa County, with over 1,100 volunteers taking part.
Pictured top: Volunteers work to beautify the campus at Northview High School in Bratt. Pictured below: Day of Caring volunteers at Jim Allen Elementary School. Pictured inset: Volunteers at the Cantonment Senior Center. Submitted and NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Photo Gallery: Flomaton Hurricane Homecoming Parade
October 23, 2010
The Flomaton High School Homecoming Parade rolled through Flomaton Friday afternoon.
For a complete NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the parade, click here.
Pictured above: The Flomaton Hurricane band marches in Friday afternoon’s homecoming parade. Pictured below: The FHS class of 2000 shows their Hurricane spirit. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Fire Destroys Two Storage Sheds (With Photo Gallery)
October 22, 2010
Fire destroyed two storage sheds in Century early Friday afternoon.
The resident on the 400 block of Tedder Road, across from the Century Correctional Institution, told firefighters that she had been burning trash in a 55-gallon barrel that was located just a few feet away from one of the two adjacent sheds.
For a photo gallery, including photos taken before the fire department arrived, click here.
A wood frame shed had already burned to the ground by the time the fire was reported. A metal shed was heavily damaged as well.
Personnel from the prison across the road responded to the blaze when it was noticed; they reported finding the female resident of the home trying to extinguish the fire with a garden hose that had already burned into two pieces. Escambia County EMS was called to the scene to evaluate the female for smoke inhalation, but she refused transport to the hospital.
The Century, McDavid, and Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, the Flomaton Fire Department and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the blaze.
For a photo gallery, including photos taken before the fire department arrived, click here.
Pictured above: A wood frame shed that was located in foreground had burned to the ground by the time firefighters were called Friday afternoon. Pictured inset and below: Smoke boils from inside one of the sheds after firefighters force the door open. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Ribbon Is Cut For New Company That Could Bring Hundreds Of Jobs
October 22, 2010
A ribbon cutting was held for Friday afternoon a group of new industries planned for Century that could mean up to 500 jobs, breathing life back into the old Alger-Sullivan Lumber complex that has sat idle for a number of years.
Century Lumber and Land, LLC plans is already working to renovate a portion of the old lumber mill site for new industries and new jobs.
“It’s exciting, and maybe that’s an understatement,” said Jim Craft, CEO of Century Lumber and Land.
“If this all comes out like it is planned to be, it’s going to be a shot in the arm for Century,” Mayor Freddie McCall told the crowd gathered for the ribbon cutting. “It’s just unimaginable what it is going to do.”
“Escambia County is proud to have you here; we know that jobs are the most critical thing in our economy right now,” Escambia County Commissioner Wilson Robertson said as he pledged Escambia County’s help in any manner possible to make the Century venture a success.
As dignitaries from across the area gathered for the ribbon cutting, a steady stream of people ventured onto the complex hoping to apply for a job (pictured). But according to Craft, applications will not be accepted at the Front Street location.
Applications are currently being accepted at Workforce Escarosa at 8120 North Century Boulevard.
The ribbon cutting was first tentatively set for September 18, then was delayed until October 16. Then, company officials delayed the ribbon cutting a third time until Friday while they worked to finalize financing for their ventures.
Century Lumber and Land, LLC plans to join Railmark Holdings and Milton Timber to announce a total of five ventures slated for Century.
The companies will, over a course of time, be in the business of:
- treating railroad crossties
- dry kiln treating domestic lumber for the building industry
- building and selling lumber kilns
- repairing freight railcars, railroad track and maintenance
- processing and marketing Paulownia trees as biomass fuel and wood products
In addition, officials have announced that a methane generation plant operated by Integrated Energy Partners of Orlando may locate at the Century complex. IEP had previously announced plans to locate in Jay, but the company was unable to persuade the Santa Rosa County Commission to back an industrial bond issue. IEP has asked the Century Town Council for a memorandum backing a bond issue, but that council has referred the request to their attorney for review.
Century Lumber and Land unofficially announced the ventures at a September 2 meeting of the Century Chamber of Commerce. Century Lumber and Land Manager Jim Craft said at that meeting that the operations would eventually employee 300 to 500 people within a 36 to 42 month period.
Pictured top: The ribbon is cut Friday afternoon for Century Lumber & Land’s new venture in Century. Pictured inset: A group hoping to apply for a job gathered during the ribbon cutting. Pictured below: Century Mayor Freddie McCall (left) addresses the crowd gathered for the ribbon cutting. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Late Night Mobile Home Fire Claims One Life
October 22, 2010
A mobile home fire claimed the life of a Flomaton man late Thursday night.
Firefighters said the body of Wayne Johnson, 59, was discovered in his mobile home after the blaze on Wayne Lane, near the intersection of Highway 113 and Wolf Log Road.
For more photos from the scene, click here.
A passing motorist reported the blaze about 11 p.m. According to Flomaton Fire Chief Steve Stanton, the older single-wide mobile home was fully engulfed when his department arrived on scene minutes later.
Stanton said family members told first responders that Johnson, who lived alone, was in the mobile home. His body was discovered in a bathroom directly adjacent to his bedroom. The bedroom was totally destroyed by the fire.
The cause of the blaze is still under investigation by the Alabama Fire Marshal’s Office.
The Flomaton, Friendship, Lambeth, and Pineview fire departments responded to the fire, along with Escambia County (Fla.) EMS, the Flomaton Police Department and the Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Office.
Stanton said Thursday night’s fire was not the first involving Johnson. He said that a few years ago, another mobile home at the location was destroyed by fire and Johnson was airlifted to the hospital with burns. That fire was ruled accidental.
The fire was the second fatal fire in the Flomaton area in less than a year. In January, Verda Mae Gandy Abrams, 91, died in the blaze at 65 Tulip Street on the Alabama/Florida line. [Read more...]
For more photos from the scene, click here.
Pictured: A 59-year old Flomaton man died in this mobile home fire Thursday night. Pictured inset: Firefighters work to extinguish hot spots following the blaze. Pictured below: Two firefighters stand in the remnants of victim’s bedroom, which was totally gutted by the fire. The victim’s body was found in the bathroom, which in the left of the photo. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Nation’s Only Middle School Electrical Academy Opens At Ernest Ward
October 22, 2010
A grand opening was held Thursday night for the new IBEW Electrical Academy at Ernest Ward Middle School. The academy, which began in August, is the first such program in the nation at the middle school level.
According to Lesa Morgan, director of Workforce Education for the Escambia County School District, the academy will teach not only traditional electrical systems, but also alternative energy such as solar power.
“We have Florida’s future energy talent right here,” Morgan said of the EWMS students.
For a photo gallery from the event, click here.
“What they are learning now can one day be used in the workforce,” Escambia Superintendent Malcolm Thomas said. He called the program “a model that you can take anywhere in the country.”
The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers worked with the school district to create the Electrical Academy. Middle school career academies are small, personalized learning communities within a school in which select students and teachers participate during a two or three-year span. A career academy involves teachers from different subjects working together as an interdisciplinary team.
“I think it is going to give them a lot of opportunities; it’s going to get him interested in the electrical field, which is a very good field to get into when he gets out of high school,” Alex Amerson said of the education his nephew is receiving in the academy.
In the EWMS Electrical Academy, the students are being introduced to electrical systems, learning the theories of electricity constructing projects. Students in the program said they are captivated by the projects that give them real, hand-on experience in the program.
“It’s real fun; we get to do a lot of projects,” said Christopher Brown. “We’ve been able to wire lab boards, and later on in the year we will be able to wire a house,” added student Abbie Johnson.
During the grand opening program Thursday night, students demonstrated their lab boards — wired 120-volt circuits with operating outlets, three-way switches and light bulbs.
“One youngster told me that he was now ready to go rewire his house. I told him to wait a little while longer,” Thomas quipped.
There are about 90 students in the Ernest Ward Middle School Electrical Academy. By 2012, the current Construction Academy at Northview High School is expected to be expanded to include an electrical academy.
For a photo gallery from the event, click here.
Pictured top: Escambia County School Board member Gerald Boone uses his cell phone to photograph sparks from a Telsa coil on display during the grand opening of the Ernest Ward Middle School Electrical Academy Thursday night in Walnut Hill. Pictured inset: There are about 90 students in the academy. Pictured below: EWMS Electrical Academy students demonstrate “lab boards” with functioning 120-volt electrical wiring. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
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Escambia School District Pushes For ‘Yes’ On Amendment 8
October 22, 2010
With less than two weeks to go before the November 2 general election, the Escambia County School District is trying to convince voters to support Amendment 8 that would give school district with flexibility in managing class sizes.
“The strict requirements of the class size amendments will create obstacles for parents, teachers, principals and leaders in Escambia County Schools every year unless Floridians vote for Amendment 8,” said Escambia County Superintendent Malcolm Thomas at a Thursday morning press conference at Pensacola High School. “By supporting Amendment 8, voters can provide our schools with flexibility while still maintaining small class sizes.”
Enrollment in Escambia County schools has decreased by 3,200 students since 2003, but district official said the county has added 489 teachers during the period in an effort to meet the class size requirements that would be relaxed under Amendment 8. The district has used co-teachers, canceled certain classes, and placed elective subject area teachers in core classes.
Joining Escambia County Schools Superintendent Malcolm Thomas at Thursday’s press conference was Susan Story, CEO of Gulf Power and a member of the Florida Board of Education.
“Amendment 8 keeps classroom sizes small and gives schools more flexibility to make sure students are not turned away from courses because a class is full,” Story said. “Just like businesses need more flexibility in today’s global markets, our schools must have more flexibility to prepare students for the workforce. The bottom line is Amendment 8 is good for students.”
In 2002, voters passed a constitutional amendment that capped individual classrooms at 18 students in kindergarten through third grade, 22 in fourth through eighth grade, and 25 in high school. The limits have been phased in since the amendment was passed, with the hard numerical caps going into effect this year.
Amendment 8 on the November 2 ballot would repeal those hard class size caps, allowing class size caps to be calculated at a school-wide average, rather than on a per-classroom basis.
Flomaton Celebrates Fall, Hurricanes
October 22, 2010
Characters of all sorts roamed the streets of downtown Flomaton Thursday night during the town’s annual Fall Festival. The event also included a big homecoming pep rally for the Flomaton Hurricanes.
The Fall Festival began a weekend of activities as part of the 2010 Flomaton Great Homecoming. Events continue with a homecoming parade and homecoming football game on Friday and a full day of activities on Friday. Click here for more information.
Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cleaning Up: Take Pride In Jay Day
October 22, 2010
Residents of Jay will volunteer Saturday morning to clean up the town.
“Take Pride in Jay” day will begin at 7:30 a.m. at the Bray-Hendricks Park Pavilion. Residents are asked to dress comfortably and come prepared to work.
Projects will include weeding the “old section” of the town’s cemetery, sprucing up several spots around town, pickup trash and litter, planting shade trees at the park playground, cleaning up vacant lots and more.
For more information,contact Jane Hayes at (850) 675-0406 or email hayesjane@bellsouth.net.