Molino PTA Golf Tournament, Chance To Win A Car
May 12, 2010
There is still time to register for the First Annual Molino Park Elementary School PTA Golf Tournament that will be held next weekend.
Golfers will have the chance to win a new vehicle from World Ford in the tournament on May 22.
Registration will be at noon and tee off will be at 1 p.m. at the Cypress Lakes Golf Course (formerly Solutia) in Cantonment.
The cost is $55 per person on a team of four; the cost includes 18 holes of golf and a golf cart. There will be goody bags and door prizes. Special events will include a putting challenge, longest drive and closest to the pin contest. Proceeds benefit the Molino Park PTA.
To register, contact Tina Pendleton at (850) 982-1615 or (850) 587-5002. Business sponsors are also needed.
Golf attire is required. No steel spikes are allowed on the course. All participants must be at least seven years old with an adult participating.
U.S. Marshals Locate Fugitive Child Sex Offender Living With His Mother
May 11, 2010
Monday morning, a convicted child sex offender that had been living with his mother in Century for the past three months was busted after he was located by U.S. Marshals.
Billy Ray Square, 54, of Century, was booked into the Escambia County Jail a a felony charge of sex offender violation/failing to register as required. He was released from jail on $5,000 bond.
Square was convicted in 1993 of indecent liberty with a minor in Wilson County, North Carolina, according to court records. He was later incarcerated in Florida and released in October, 2009, at which time he moved to New York. Early this year, he moved back to Century to live with his mother, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report.
On February 5 of this year, his New York state benefits card was used at T.C. Foods on West Cervantes Street in Pensacola. It was used again on March 1.
Monday morning, the U.S. Marshal’s Service Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force made contact with Square at 506 North B Street in Pensacola. While he was being interrogated by federal agents, Square admitted that had been living with his mother at 8815 Blackmon Street in Century for the past three months, according to the ECSO report.
Records checks revealed that Square had not registered the address with the State of Florida, as sex offenders are required to do upon moving to the state.
Square is due to appear in Escambia County Circuit Court on June 3.
About 250 Hired For Oil Spill Jobs, Over 4,000 Apply
May 11, 2010
More than 4,000 people applied for oil cleanup jobs through Workforce Escarosa during the past week, including about 300 that applied in Century.
Some of those people will go to work as early as today or tomorrow. Many of the first 250 new hires were individuals with OHSA Hazwoper certification. If the need for employees expands, those with expired OHSA certifications, TWIC (Transportation Worker Identification Creditial) cards or previous oil spill cleanup experience will likely be the next hired.
Most of those being offered jobs received phone calls on Monday.
Advanced Employment Solutions (AES), a Texas based workforce development and talent acquisition company, partnered with Workforce Escarosa to fill positions such as general laborers, crew leaders, site supervisors, site safety representatives and lead safety representatives.
AES General Manager James Fries said the duration of the jobs will depend upon the amount of damage and the cleanup time, however he predicts the process will take between 3-18 months. Positions will range from $10 to $18 an hour and may involve extensive travel depending on the landfall of the spill.
Pictured: Area residents apply for oil cleanup jobs last Wednesday morning in Century. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
New Map Shows Updated Hurricane Evacuation Zones
May 11, 2010
A new interactive map shows new hurricane evacuation zones in Escambia County that reach inland all the way to the North Escambia area.
The Escambia County Division of Emergency Management has worked with the County’s Development Services Bureau planning staff, Geographical Information Services Division, Office of Transportation and Traffic Operations and the West Florida Regional Planning Council to derive new, more refined evacuation zones for Escambia County based upon news storm surge data estimates from the state.
“Zoning changes may affect flood insurance requirements for homeowners in these areas. Please check with your insurance agent now if you are in an evacuation zone,” said John Dosh, Escambia’s emergency management chief.
To view the new evacuation zones, visit click here.
The old evacuation zones stretched as far north as just north of Nine Mile Road along the Perdido and Escambia Rivers only for category 3 or greater storms. The new evacuation zones stretch as far north as North Barth Road along the Escambia River and Vantage Road on the Perdido River — locations that are prone to flooding.
“The new map reduces the overall size of evacuation zones, while more accurately depicting low-lying areas,” Dosh said.
The new plans will eliminate evacuation zone references based up the category of the storm. Rather than the category evacuation zones, the county will instead identify evacuation zones with an A, B, C, D, and E reference.
While the new evacuation zones stretch further inland into North Escambia based upon storm surge date, the overall number of people that would be ordered to evacuate will be reduced.
“In turn, this may reduce the financial burden and hardship that evacuations bring to local businesses and citizens that will no longer need to evacuate,” Escambia County Fire Chief Frank Edwards wrote in a memo to the Escambia County Commission.
Residents that are in the new evacuation zones have received, or will soon receive, a postcard in the mail during the month of May.
Valentino Trial Moved To Okaloosa
May 11, 2010
An Okaloosa County judge will hear the criminal case of an Escambia County commissioner facing campaign related charges, according to an order issued Monday by Escambia Chief Judge Terry Terrell.
Escambia County Commissioner Gene Valentino pleaded not guilty last week in Escambia County Circuit Court. He is charged with the solicitation of a political contribution in a building owned by a governmental agency.
Valentino is accused of accepting a campaign donation at his county office from Pensacola developer Dan Gilmore on November 5, 2009.
The charge is a first degree misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in the county jail and a $1,000 fine. Valentino is due back in court for a jury trial in late June.
Pictured: Commissioner Gene Valentino’s Escambia County Jail booking photo, click to enlarge.
10 Alleged Gang Members Busted In Drug Sweep
May 11, 2010
About half of the members of a local gang are now behind bars after a Monday roundup by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
The Sheriff’s Office Gang Unit and agents from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement filed charges against eight known gang members and two gang associates. They were all, according to authorities, members of a criminal street gang known as the “Garnet Circle Boys”, a group that operates primarily out of Brownsville.
Arrested were:
- George Davis, 22, two counts sale of cocaine, bond $200,000.
- Myron Dale, 18, two counts sale of cocaine, bond, $100,000.
- Kareem Black, 21, counts sale of cocaine, bond, $150,000.
- Joseph F. Booker, 20, one count sale of cocaine, bond, $50,000.
- Aaron Booker, 18, three counts sale of cocaine, bond, $150,000.
- Cordeal Hawthorne, 23, two counts sale of cocaine, bond, $100,000.
- Lawon Dale, 16, two counts sale of cocaine. Juvenile so no bond.
- Alvin Brock, 19, three counts sale of cocaine, bond $150,000.
- Darrius Gaston, 15, three counts sale of cocaine, two counts shoplifting, bond, $150,000. (associate member)
- Dequian Watson, 16, two counts sale of cocaine. Juvenile so no bond. (associate member)
The Gang Unit and FDLE Agents said they believe that there are over 20 documented gang members or associates with this gang and that well over half are now in jail or have active warrants for their arrest.
During the round-up of the suspects, which began about 1:00 Monday afternoon, over $1,200 in cash along with a quantity of cocaine, marijuana and a vehicle were seized. The operation continued through afternoon and evening, with the last suspect being booked into the Escambia County Jail just after 11 p.m.
“This is further proof of the commitment to clean up not only Brownsville but other communities within our county with the continued work by not only our agency but FDLE to eradicate gang activity,” Sheriff David Morgan said.
This investigation still remains open and more arrests are expected as the investigation continues, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Log-A-Load Bass Tourney Benefits Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital
May 11, 2010
The 14th Annual Log-A-Load for Kids Bass Fishing Tournament was held this past weekend to benefit Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital.
Ken Sessions and Greg Sessions won the tournament with a total catch of four fish at 13.32 pounds and a second lunker of 5.09 pounds. For the win, they received $5,352. Second place went to Larry Bullock and Roger Caldwell with 8.9 pounds with a lunker at 5.09 pounds. Third place went to Joey Mann and Jack Jenkins with 8 pounds.
More than $12,000 in cash and prizes were awarded at the tournament.
There were 88 boats in the benefit bass tournament at the Swamp House Marina and Landing in Pensacola. All proceeds will benefit children in need at Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital.
Pictured: 14th Annual Log-A-Load for Kids Bass Fishing Tournament winners Ken Sessions and Greg Sessions. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Last Chance: Register For Scalpball Tournament
May 11, 2010
There is still time to get in on some great volleyball action next weekend.
The Spring Scalpball Tournament benefiting the Northview High School volleyball program will be held Saturday, May 22. There is still time to register your team for this 4 vs. 4 volleyball tournament. For more information click here, or click here for a registration form.
Monday Night Blaze Destroys Shed; Firemen Save Adjacent Structures
May 11, 2010
Fire destroyed a small shed Monday night in Bratt, but firefighters were able to save adjoining structures.
The fire in the 4700 block of Highway 168 was reported about 9 p.m. The first firefighters on scene reported the shed to be fully involved behind a home. The fire was contained to the shed; firefighters prevented it from spreading to an adjacent carport and another shed.
The cause of the fire was not immediately known. There were no injuries reported.
The Walnut Hill, McDavid, Century and Molino stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Atmore Fire Department responded to the fire.
Pictured above and below: Firefighters sift through the remains of a shed after a fire Monday night in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Oil Spill’s Impact On The Seafood Market; Lawsuits Filed
May 10, 2010
The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill first sparked a seafood buying frenzy along the Gulf Coast, with popular local markets like Joe Patti’s Seafood jammed packed last weekend.
On Saturday, May 1, the iconic seafood market was packed wall to wall with customers stocking up on shrimp and their favorite fish — many out of the fear that it would not be available for some time in the future.
But those in the local seafood industry and others that rely on the Gulf of Mexico for their bottom line fear bad times are ahead. Joe Patti Seafood, wholesaler Southern Seafood of Pace; Premier Island Management Group; Bay Breeze Aquatics & Dive Center; other shrimpers, oystermen and charter boat owners and several additional plaintiffs filed suit in federal district court in Pensacola.
Defendants in the suit, filed by Levin Papantonio law firm, include BP and Transocean, Ltd. The plaintiffs contend that the oil spill will cause them to lose business.
Fast forward to Saturday, May 8. A federal fishing ban was in effect 25 miles off the Pensacola coast — leaving most fishing waters open. The displays at Joe Patti’s were packed high with fresh, safe local seafood not impacted by the oil spill. A couple of hours after opening time, employees stood lined up behind the counter waiting to help customers. No line, no waiting — no “take a number” announcements.
Fishermen, local fishermen and government officials all say local Gulf seafood is safe for now, and there’s no need to worry about quality. The federal and state governments have strong systems in place to test and monitor seafood safety and to prohibit harvesting from affected areas and keeping oiled products out of the marketplace.
Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson said that seafood currently being harvested in Florida is safe and has not been impacted by the oil spill in the gulf. He is concerned that misinformation about the conditions in the gulf waters may unnecessarily impact the state’s seafood industry.
“Our shrimp, shellfish and other seafood being harvested right now are fine, and I don’t want people watching reports of the oil spill to think differently,” Bronson said. “If and when Florida waters are impacted by the spill, we will take immediate action to close the waters to commercial and recreational harvesting.”
As of early Monday morning, weather conditions remained favorable for the local area. Winds and currents were continuing to keep the plume away from the Florida coast for at least another 72 hours, according to Escambia County officials.
Pictured top: Customers purchase seafood Saturday morning at Joe Patti’s Seafood Company in Pensacola. Pictured top inset: Workers prepare fresh fish for customers. Pictured bottom inset: Boats back from the morning catch outside Joe Patti’s Seafood. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.