Jacke Johnston Defeats Incumbent Century Councilman Hawkins
November 10, 2010
Political newcomer Jacke Johnston defeated incumbent Henry Hawkins for Century Town Council Seat 3 in Tuesday’s runoff election.
Complete but unofficial election returns show Johnston received 174 votes (55%) to Hawkins 144 votes (45%).
“I am really exited,” Johnston said Tuesday night. “I can’t wait to get in there in January and work toward getting Century back on track.”
Johnston will be one of two new members on the Century Town Council come January.
Sandra McMurray Jackson was elected to Seat 5 on the council currently held by Sharon Scott, who did not seek re-election, during the October general election. Jackson is the owner of Jackson-McMurray Funeral Services in Century. She defeated retired insurance agent Annie Carter Savage by just eight votes — 164 to 156. The narrow margin, according to Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David Stafford, was not great enough to trigger an automatic recount.
Hawkins and Johnston were forced into a runoff for the council’s Seat 3 after neither received a majority of the votes during the October general election.
Hawkins, a retired Air Force staff sergeant and GED instructor for Pensacola Junior College, received 44.55 percent of the October vote — shy of the 50 percent needed for a win. Johnston, a teacher at Byrneville Elementary School, received 32.71 percent of the vote in October, while Robert Lasher, an Edward D. Jones financial adviser, finished third with 22.74 percent.
Gary Riley, who is retired from Gulf Power, ran unopposed and was re-elected to Seat 4.
Tuesday night, Johnston thanked her volunteers and supporters for her win. “I am really thankful for the help of all those that supported me,” the 10-year Century resident said.
Area Students Take Part In All-County Choral Gala
November 10, 2010
The 2010 All-County Choral Gala was held Tuesday night at Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola with several North Escambia area schools participating.
An audience of about 1,500 was on hand for the 23rd annual event which featured elementary, middle and high school All-County groups.
Students from Bratt, Molino Park and Jim Allen elementary schools and Ernest Ward and Ransom Middle schools were among the dozens of students selected to participate in the program that featured music ranging from classic to contemporary.
North Escambia area students participating included:
Jim Allen Elementary: Demerie Caro, Kayla Guilford, Paige Owen, Emily Rohde, Alexya Taylor. Greg Sexton and John McDonald, educators.
Bratt Elementary: Alayna Brown, Taniya Fletcher, Logan Hall, Haven Shores. Emily Pollard, educator.
Molino Park Elementary: Tapanga Johnson, Trista Lorenzana, Seth Parker, Evan Till. Twinette McDonald, educator.
Ernest Ward Middle School: Penny Banda, Amy Branch, Diamonique Brown, Breanna Campbell, Holly Cofield, Aaliyah Creamer, Sarah Dutton, Desiree Elliard, Nathan Hawthorne, Haley Maddox, Amy Murph, Ashley Rainbolt, Elizabeth Sanders, Brittany Victor, Jasmine Walker, Shania Ward, Joselynn Wiedel, Hadley Woodfin. Charles Tucker, educator.
Ransom Middle School: Matthew Baillie, Shelby Becker, Lindsey Beckham, Tiffany Butler, Hannah Carpenter, Allison Cramer, Tyler Debord, Harlie Diamond, Cherry Eddy, Tayler Garciano, Jamie Hendren, Miranda Holt, Kimberly Howard, Coles Johnson, Tori Kent, Olivia Martin, Shelby Penton, Courtney Sonnier, Jordan Summerlin, Victoria Teague, Alley Vansoyc, Paul Vinson, Landon Williamson, Kayla Winters. Sharon Godwin and Malinda Hawks, educators.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Man Busted On Drug Charges After Shopping For 5 Hours At Dollar General
November 10, 2010
An area man was arrested on drug charges after he spent five hours shopping inside a Dollar General store.
Robby Edward Brown, 26, of Wilson Avenue, was booked into the Baldwin County Jail on charges of possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, public intoxication and third degree theft of property.
Deputies responded to the Dollar General in Perdido in north Baldwin County after Brown had been in the store for five hours. According to the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, Brown thought he had only been in the store for a short time period.
Brown remained in the Baldwin County Jail early Wednesday morning with bond set at $8,041.
Deputy Jeremy Cassady’s Condition Improves Following Shooting
November 10, 2010
There has been some improvement in the condition of Escambia County Deputy Jeremy Cassady who was shot during a hostage situation in Pensacola.
Family members say Cassady is sitting up and talking. He has undergone numerous surgeries, including one to remove a bullet from his side. Cassady had been in a medically induced coma.
Cassady, 36, remains Sacred Heart Hospital in stable condition after being shot by Phillip Monier, 47. Monier remains in the Escambia County Jail on $2 million bond.
Cassady was shot by Monier at the Bayview Circle home of his ex-girlfriend Jackie Rosenbloom on October 29. Cassady was struck in the side. Deputy Sam Parker was hit in the chest, and Deputy Chad Brown was hit in the arm. Parker and Brown were treated and released.
Rosenbloom, who was shot in the legs and pelvis, has been released from Sacred Heart Hospital.
Court documents show the incident begain when Monier forced his way into the home and demanded that a ring be returned.
Northview Lady Chiefs Take 2nd In Tip Off Classic
November 10, 2010
The varsity Northview Lady Chiefs basketball team finished second in a two-day Tip Off Classic at Central High School.
Northview defeated Gulf Breeze 40-28 Monday night to advance to Tuesday night’s championship game against Central. Central was coming off a Monday night win over Pensacola Christian Academy, 37-18.
In Tuesday’s championship game, the Northview Lady Chiefs fell to Central High, 32-29.
Northview’s girls will open their regular season next Monday night at Central. The junior varsity will tip off at 5:30, and the varsity hits the court at 6:30.
Submitted photo by Wayne Holland for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Care Center Veterans Honored For Service
November 10, 2010
Veterans at Century Care Center were honored this week for their services and sacrifices. During the program, sponsored by Covenant Hospice, each veteran was presented with a pin and certificate.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Two Injured In School Bus Crash; 34 On Bus, Bus Driver Charged
November 10, 2010
An Escambia County School bus with 33 students was involved in a crash this afternoon in Bratt that sent two people to the hospital.
Escambia School District bus 28-06 rear-ended a pickup truck on North Highway 99 at Hall Road, according to the Florida Highway Patrol about 4:10 p.m. Bus driver Stephanie Morgan, 36, of Century was northbound on North Highway 99 when she collided with the pickup driven by Terri Muller, 50, of Pensacola. Muller had stopped for traffic turning in front of her, according to the FHP.
The bus was occupied by 33 Ernest Ward Middle and Northview High school students. Northview student Shila Reid, 15, was transported by ambulance to Atmore Community Hospital with minor injuries. Muller, the pickup truck driver, was transported to the hospital by ambulance with minor injuries.
Several other students were evaluated by EMS but not transported. Morgan was not injured.
Morgan, the bus driver, was charged with careless driving by the Florida Highway Patrol.
Multiple EMS units from Atmore Ambulance and Escambia County EMS responded to the call, along with the Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue.
For more photos from the scene, click here.
Pictured above: A Northview High School student was transported to an area hospital following the crash, one of two people sent to the hospital. Pictured below: A school bus rear-ended a pickup truck Tuesday afternoon in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Caregiver Charged With Neglect Of Disabled Man, Forgery
November 10, 2010
Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced the arrest of an Escambia County personal care attendant formerly employed by Community Outreach in Escambia County.
Amanda Capers, 22, was arrested for neglecting a disabled adult under her care and forging official documents. Capers was arrested by the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit with assistance from the Santa Rosa County Probation Office.
Based on information from the Florida Department of Children and Families Adult Protective Services Division, investigators discovered that Capers violated facility policy. While on duty, Capers took a resident with her to a friend’s house and permitted the disabled adult to ride on the back of a moped which collided with another moped. Due to the collision, the disabled man suffered a broken leg which required surgery.
Following the accident, Capers falsified the initial incident report, according to the Attorney General’s Office. Upon closer examination, investigators determined that Capers also falsified her driving record she had submitted when applying for the position at Community Outreach. Capers’ driver license has been suspended since 2007.
Capers was charged with one count of neglect of a disabled adult causing great bodily harm, a second-degree felony, as well as one count of forgery and one count of uttering forged documents, both third-degree felonies. If convicted on all counts, Capers faces a maximum of 25 years in prison and $20,000 in fines. The case will be prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Office under the authority of the State Attorney’s Office for the First Judicial Circuit.
Meet The New Boss — Rick Scott Comes To The Capitol
November 10, 2010
Governor-elect Rick Scott made his first post-election trip Tuesday to the Florida Capitol, taking part in a pair of brief, closed-door meetings with outgoing Gov. Charlie Crist and incoming House Speaker Dean Cannon.
Scott then met the media.
A pair of availabilities, first with Crist – and then with the incoming chief executive flanked by Cannon – each spanned just over three minutes.
“Our goal is to have a smooth transition, and I’m looking forward to getting to work,” Scott said, with Crist looking on.
Scott offered little about his plans for governing, staffing or the Legislature’s upcoming special session to override several vetoes imposed by Crist. Instead, he seemed to stray little from the campaign themes which carried him to a 1.16 percent, wafer-thin margin-of-victory over Democrat Alex Sink last Tuesday.
“The reason I won the election is over one issue: And that’s getting us back to work,” Scott said. “My whole goal and the things I’m going to focus on when I take office is how we’re going to get this state back to work.”
The Legislature next week plans to follow its one-day organizational session with a brief special session where ruling Republicans intend to override Crist’s vetoes of nine bills and a budget item which took $9.7 million from Shands Teaching Hospital in Gainesville. The money was intended to serve an additional 18,000 uninsured Floridians and make the state eligible for another $12 million in federal Medicaid matching money.
Scott during his campaign had called for the Legislature to approve a tough new immigration law, similar to that approved in Arizona which required police and sheriff’s deputies to enforce federal laws. The governor-elect, however, said he wasn’t asking lawmakers to push a similar measure this month.
“I’m not suggesting they have anything on this special session,” Scott said.
Crist is clearly the target of the Legislature’s override session – which, if successful, would mark only the third time in 24 years that a Florida governor was unable to sustain a veto. But Scott could sustain some collateral damage.
Lawmakers are looking to revive a measure (HB 5611) that would take oversight of the state’s troubled Department of Management Services away from the new chief executive – placing it under the governor and the state’s three Cabinet members.
Scott shrugged-off the move.
“I don’t think anybody’s trying to go after my power,” Scott said of legislative leaders. “They’re following through on things they believe in.”
Lawmakers also are ready to use the special session to restore some spending provisions that may clash with Scott’s campaign push to shrink government and reduce state spending.
Along with the Shands funding, lawmakers are looking to resolve the state’s outstanding commitments to homeowners and businesses taking part in a pair of energy rebate programs.
Legislative leaders are calling for accepting $31.3 million of federal stimulus cash to cover rebates owed thousands of Floridians who installed qualified air-conditioning systems or made solar energy improvements.
Scott campaigned against the Obama administration and the federal stimulus – calling it wasteful spending that contributed to the nation’s mounting debt. He seemed to draw a distinction with the Legislature’s reaching for more Washington money.
“What I’m concerned about stimulus money is that it’s money that creates a long-term obligation and it’s just interim money….I don’t want stimulus dollars that cause us long-term to spend money that we don’t have,” Scott said.
Following his meeting with Scott, Cannon said “his vision and mine are very similar.”
The incoming governor said he would also drawn good advice from his predecessor, Crist.
“I asked him ‘what’s your best advice, and he said, `follow your heart,’” Scott said. “And that makes all the sense in the world to me.”
Scott also indicated he would stay out of another legislative drama which appears ready to unfold during next week’s session. Cannon, R-Winter Park, and incoming Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, have embraced a call by Sink to revive the vetoed SB 5603, a measure backed heavily by the state’s leading business groups, which would have reduced the cost of prescription drugs in workers’ compensation cases.
Crist’s veto was prompted, he said, by concerns the legislation would have made it “more awkward to get the medicine they need.” Urging a Crist veto were the Florida Orthopedic Society, Florida Medical Association and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME).
Also playing a key role in pushing the vetoes were a pair of South Florida doctors, Paul Zimmerman and Gerald Glass, who steered $1 million to political committees led by Haridopolos and Cannon – money that was used to finance TV ads against Scott during the Republican primary, when the two lawmakers supported Bill McCollum’s losing candidacy.
Automated Healthcare Solutions, a Miramar company headed by the doctors, also steered $605,000 to the Florida Republican Party in the weeks following the primary — this time, apparently to help Scott’s election. Similarly, Cannon seemed ready to make an easy transition back to the side of the state’s business lobby.
“That bill passed overwhelmingly in both chambers,” Cannon said. “We think it was good policy then, so we think it’s good policy now. It doesn’t really matter to me who supported it or opposed it.”
By John Kennedy
The News Service Florida
Flomaton Opens New, Expanded Library
November 10, 2010
A ribbon cutting ceremony was held Tuesday for the new Flomaton Public Library.
“It will allow us to offer many more services because it has so much more room,” said Librarian Faye Knowles. “It is a great facility.”
The town’s old library was only 2,400 square feet, while the new library is nearly four times that size. The extra space will allow the library the room to increase its book collection, provide space for meetings and programs, and offer room for library patrons to sit and read or use the wireless Internet access.
Residents outside of Flomaton are also able to enjoy the library, Knowles said, with library cards available to residents of both Alabama and Florida at no charge. Proper identification and a complete library card application are required.
The new Flomaton Public Library is located at the corner of Church and Houston streets, one block east of Sidney Manning Boulevard (Highway 29) in the downtown area. The library is open from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8 a.m. until noon on Saturday. For more information, call (850) 296-3552.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
