Escambia Deputy Arrested In Cantonment For Assault, Battery
January 16, 2010
An Escambia County Sheriff’s deputy was arrested early Saturday morning in Cantonment after getting into a fight with his wife.
Edward Henley, 44, is facing false imprisonment, battery and assault domestic violence charges. He is being held in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
Deputies responded to a 911 call on Kingsfield Road in Cantonment at about 12:45 Saturday morning, according to Sgt. Ted Roy, spokesperson for the sheriff’s department. When deputies arrived and found a marked ECSO patrol car in the driveway, they alerted a supervisor.
“Contact was made with the victim who stated that she and her husband, Sgt. Edward Henley, an Escambia County Deputy of 22 years, were out at a party earlier in the evening,” Roy said. “According to the victim, they began arguing on the way home and once at the residence the argument escalated into a physical confrontation. The victim stated she was struck by the suspect several times at the residence.”
Roy said Henley was charged based upon physical evidence gathered at the scene and statements made.
Read The Plan: Government Consolidation Proposal Is Complete
January 16, 2010
The plan for a new consolidated government in Escambia County was submitted to the Northwest Florida legislative delegation on Friday.
The 45-page, 14,426 word document spells out the plan created by the Escambia County Consolidation Study Commission to consolidate the governments of Escambia County, the City of Pensacola and the Town of Century.
The Town of Century has withdrawn all support from the idea of consolidation, and the Escambia County Commission has asked the legislative delegation to delay any referendum vote on consolidation until 2012 at the earliest. The Pensacola City Council considered, but failed to pass, a similar motion requesting a delay in the public’s vote on the issue. Instead, the council will decide January 25 what action to take. The legislative act that created the consolidation study commission does not require the support of any of the three governments to proceed.
The Northwest Florida legislative delegation will have just over a month to review the plan before potentially submitting it to the legislature to set a referendum vote of the public as early as November 2010.
To read the consolidation plan in its entirety, click here (pdf).
Senate Leaders Back Evers
January 16, 2010
The Republican leadership of the Florida Senate has announced their support and endorsement of Rep. Greg Evers’ campaign for Senate District 2. Senate District 2, which includes Holmes and Washington, and parts of Bay, Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton Counties, is being vacated by term-limited Senator Durrell Peaden, Jr. from Crestview.
“Greg Evers is a conservative, lower tax, more personal freedom Republican who stands up for his community and shares the values and principles of the hard-working people in his district,” said Senate President-Designate Mike Haridopolos of Indiatlantic. “Greg and I share a philosophical belief that representative government and conservative government means that public servants have an obligation to keep taxes low and allow Floridians to keep more of their hard-earned dollars. I am proud to support Greg Evers and his campaign for Florida Senate District 2.”
“Greg Evers is a no nonsense leader who will make sure that his constituency is heard and represented,” said Senator Don Gaetz of Niceville. “As a fellow Northwest Florida Republican, I am proud to support Greg Evers and I encourage my fellow Panhandle conservatives to do the same.”
“The Florida Senate needs conservative leaders that believe in keeping government small and growing Florida’s families and communities,” said Senator Andy Gardiner of Winter Garden. “Greg Evers believes in the core conservative values and I believe that he is the best man for the job in the Florida Senate.
Evers currently represents Florida House District 1, which includes parts of Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa Counties. He is a farmer and small businessman who was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2001 and was subsequently re-elected.
According to his campaign: Evers has put his experience in agriculture and business to good use in the Florida Legislature and is proud of his legislative accomplishments on behalf of Florida’s critical agriculture industry, economic development and job creation and Second Amendment issues. Most recently, he sponsored and passed: legislation enabling Florida farmers to transport their farm equipment from field to field without the burden of additional government permits or fees; legislation creating tax incentives that enabled the Jay Oil Field to reopen, restoring numerous Northwest Florida jobs; and legislation protecting the right of law-abiding citizens in Florida to have legal firearms secured in their automobiles in public parking lots.
HS Basketball: Jay, Tate
January 16, 2010
Luke Rowell had an impressive 29 points to lead the Jay Royals to a 62-49 win over Freeport in overtime Friday in Jay.
Jay 62 Freeport 49 OT
Jay — Luke Rowell 29, Dakota Walker 5, Hunter Boutwell 6, Connor Weekes 3, Steven Brabham 8, Tyler Prescott 4, Todd Laney 7.
Jay 2 13 15 19 13-62 Freeport 10 13 12 14 5-49
Milton 58, Tate 45
Tate — Petey Jones 14, Krys Walden 7, Tevin Brown 9, Dylan Anderson 9, Shermonne Jones 6.
Tate 10 5 9 21-45 Milton 6 20 11 21-58
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Freeport 47, Jay 46
Jay — Ginger Jennings 15, Courtney Hammac 2, Tessa Hendricks 9, Danielle Skaggs 2, Candace Mulford 2, Amber Steadham 6, Becca Calloway 10.
Jay 10 11 16 9-46 Freeport 10 15 8 14-47
Milton 48, Tate 34
Tate — Courtney Brown 14, Megan Briske 4, Avery Cobb 4, Chelsea Hall 6, Cecillie Olsen 6.
Tate 9 5 6 14-34 Milton 5 14 8 21-48
Driver Rolls Convertible In Hwy. 99 Crash, Charged With DUI
January 16, 2010
The driver of a convertible is facing DUI charges after he escaped serious injury in a single vehicle rollover accident Friday night in Oak Grove.
The accident happened just after 10 p.m. in the 600 block of North Highway 99, just south of Eubanks Road.
Dakota Rhue Heidbreder, 22, of Muldoon Road, Pensacola, was charged with driving under the influence by the Florida Highway Patrol following the crash. Heidbreder was headed south in a Chrysler Sebring when he lost control in a curve, ran off the road, struck a driveway culvert and overturned. The vehicle landed off the roadway in an upright position. Heidbreder, who said he was wearing his seat belt, refused to be transported to the hospital.
Heidbreder was being held in the Escambia County Jail on $500 bond Saturday morning.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Atmore Ambulance and the Florida Highway Patrol responded to the crash.
The accident is still under investigation by the FHP.
Pictured above: The driver of this convertible was charged with DUI after this accident Friday night in Oak Grove. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Change Of Plans: Consolidated Government Will Pay For City Pensions
January 15, 2010
Language slipped in the consolidated government proposal at the last minute would make every resident of Escambia County responsible for funding the City of Pensacola’s problematic pension plan.
Consolidation supports had preached multiple times that county residents would not be saddled with Pensacola’s unfunded pension debt — currently over $75 million.
But just before the Escambia County Consolidation Study Commission turns their proposal over to the Northwest Florida Legislative Delegation today, the following language was added to the plan:
As consideration for the transfer of the assets of the ESP to the Consolidated Utilities Authority, the Consolidated Utilities Authority shall pay for those pension fund obligations of the City of Pensacola as those obligations existed as of October 1, 2010, until such obligations are retired.
The plan previously proposed that only the residents of the current city would be responsible post-consolidation for the pension debt. But with the new language, if voters in Escambia County and Century should vote for consolidation, they too will be responsible for the millions of unfunded debt in the city pension plan.
The consolidation commission’s final plans go the legislative delegation today. If approved by the delegation and the legislature, voters will decide as early as November if they want the governments of Pensacola, Escambia County and Century combined into one.
The Town of Century has withdrawn all support for the idea of consolidation, and the Escambia County Commission has asked the legislative delegation to delay a public vote on consolidation until November 2012 at the earliest.
Commission Changes Mind On Project Rebid For Cantonment Company
January 15, 2010
The Escambia County Commission has voted to rescind an earlier vote to rebid a drainage project won by a Mobile company. The rebid was first approved the commission after a Cantonment company, Roads, Inc., said it made a mistake in the bidding process and could actually do the job for $100,000 less than than they first bid.
At stake was the public trust and $1.9 million federal grant to fund a drainage project in the Maplewood area. The federal grant stipulates the project must be completed by late November, and commissioners were warned by staff that if they were to rebid, they might face legal action from the winner of the original bid, Gulf Equipment of Mobile. Any legal action might have meant a delay that would cost the county the grant.
Despite the advice of county staff that the rebid would be a bad idea and possibly illegal, the commission voted 4-1 to rebid the project, with Commissioner Marie Young voting against. Their plan was to give Roads, Inc. an opportunity to correct their bid mistake.
But commissioners changed their minds Thursday morning and decided not to rebid the project after outcry in the Pensacola media.
“I’m human, I make mistakes,” Commissioner Kevin White said. “I am not infallible, even though I know the public sometimes thinks we should be. Hindsight is always 20/20.”
Commissioner Wilson Robertson agreed with White, “I’m man enough to admit as we said earlier that we erred and we are human.”
“I apologize to the public for not understanding the rebid process,” Commissioner Grover Robinson said.
Gulf Equipment Corp. will retain the project at their low bid of $1,768,621. The Roads, Inc. bid was only slightly more, at $1,791,603
Census Hiring In North Escambia, Make Up To $15 An Hour
January 15, 2010
The U.S. Census Bureau will hold testing events in North Escambia for persons interested in census jobs that pay up to $15 per hour.
The Census Bureau is currently hiring temporary employees to assist with this year’s census. Jobs will include census takers, crew leaders, crew leader assistant and census clerks.
Pay generally begins at $12.50 an hour, and can range up to $15 an hour, for up to a 40 hour week.
A valid driver’s license is required for most positions. Additionally, the potential Census Bureau employee must 18 or older, pass a background check, be a U.S. citizen, pass a written test of basic skills and have a valid social security number.
Census Bureau hires locally because local residents are knowledgeable about their neighborhood and familiar with the community, its residents, and its local customs, according to their web site.
Persons taking one of the North Escambia census tests must have their valid driver’s license and social security card. Census tests will be given in North Escambia as follows:
- Tuesday, January 19, 10 a.m.: Abundant Life Assembly Of God (Century
- Tuesday, January 19, 1 p.m.: Jay Public Library
- Thursday, January 21, 5 p.m.: Walnut Hill Community Center
- Saturday, January 23, 10 a.m.: Walnut Hill Community Center
- Monday, January 25, 7 p.m.: Aldersgate United Methodist Church (Molino)
- Monday, February 8, 7 p.m.: Aldersgate United Methodist Church
For more information on census jobs, click here or call Tebyl Presley at (251) 253-0622. Churches or other organization that would like to host a census job testing site should call the same number.
Atmore Bank Robbery Suspect Back In Alabama To Face Charges
January 15, 2010
An Atmore man has been transferred back to Alabama to face federal charges in connection with the May 19, 2009, armed robbery of the First National Bank & Trust in Atmore.
Chad Floyd Jeter, now 31, was booked into the Baldwin County Jail late Thursday afternoon. He was transferred from the Levy County Jail in Broson, Florida, where he had been held since his arrest last year. According to court documents, Jeter will remain in federal custody to face federal charges before being returned to Levy County to face charges of attempted murder of a police officer.
Jeter is scheduled to be arraigned in U.S. District Court in Mobile next week.
In July, 2009, Jeter was indicted on charges of bank robbery with a weapon and use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime in violence. If convicted, he could face penalties up to life in prison and fines of a half million dollars.
The federal indictment says Jeter took about $6,289 in the May 19 armed robbery of the Atmore bank using a Marlin Model 22 LR, a .22 caliber rifle.
Jeter reportedly drove up to the downtown Atmore bank in a white pickup with a camper shell, entered the bank dressed in a dark colored trench coat and the rifle. He ordered bank employees to fill a U.S. Army backpack with cash, while he stood with the rifle pointed at the floor. He reportedly threatened a teller with the rifle during the crime.
Within a few hours of the robbery, investigators identified Jeter as their suspect. Officials searched his trailer on Highway 31 near Canoe. Inside, they found troubling evidence that Jeter may be planning to attack a military base. He said in letters and notes that he is being watched by helicopters that circle his home. Police find maps with the locations of several military bases circled, including Pensacola NAS, Eglin Air Force Base, Whiting Field and Alabama’s Ft. Rucker. The notes indicate that he plans to kill military personnel and police. Military bases are alerted to the possible threat.
Jeter’s burned out camper shell was found in the woods after the McDavid Station of Escambia Fire Rescue responds to a brush fire on a secluded section of Pine Barren Road near Breastworks Road early the morning after the robbery.
While on routine patrol at 4:15 Eastern time the Thursday morning following the Tuesday robbery, an Inglis (Fla.) Police Department officer, Tim Swigget, located a blue GMC pickup trucked parked backed into a wooded area near a Yankeetown, Florida, neighborhood. Inside the vehicle that is nearly 400 miles from Atmore, he found Jeter sleeping. After the officer determines that Jeter is wanted for the bank robbery, Jeter attacked the officer with a Ninja star.
A manhunt involving several agencies and the U.S. Coast Guard followed after Jeter fled the scene. Jeter was taken into custody in a swampy area and transported to the Levy County Jail, charged with attempted murder of the police officer and to await the federal bank robbery charges.
For a complete timeline and more details on the robbery and subsequent arrest, click here for a NorthEscambia.com story from May 22, 2009.
Pictured top: Chad Floyd Jeter’s booking photo taken late Thursday afternoon at the Baldwin County Jail. Pictured middle inset: Jeter’s truck at the First National Bank & Trust in Atmore. Pictured lower inset: Surveillance video of the bank robbery in progress. Pictured bottom: Jeter after being taken into custody last year in Levy County, Florida. NorthEscambia.com files photos, click to enlarge.
Blog: Bridge Woes Continue
January 15, 2010
North Escambia’s wooden bridges that date back to the 1940’s and 50’s are not the only problem bridges in the county.
A new reported recently released by the Florida Department of Transportation now ranks the Phillip D. Beall Sr. Bridge as structural deficient. You know the bridge by its more common name — the Three-Mile Bridge.
The almost-three mile long bridge over Pensacola Bay connects Pensacola to Gulf Breeze. On an average day, 48,428 vehicles make the trip across the bridge. The bridge, built in 1960, is now structural deficient according DOT — not unsafe, just not completely structurally sound.
Just yesterday, a NorthEscambia.com article (read here) reported that 50 bridges in North Escambia were among 103 bridges Escambia County that need replacing because they too are structural deficient. Many have wooden supports that are 50 to 70 years old.
Escambia County is seeking $96.6 million in federal dollars to replace the bridges. As a “Plan B”, the county is also seeking $6 million from the state legislature to replace the six or seven worst wooden substructure bridges.
Since the Three-Mile Bridge carries U.S. 98, likely funding sources for a new mega-million dollar bridge across the bay would be the state and federal government. Escambia County is seeking federal and state money to replace the 103 bridges that are county owned.
It’s one pot of money, and a lot of bridges. Plus that pot is divided among all of Florida’s counties.
We would strongly support safety being the top priority in allocating dollars for bridges. A plan certainly needs to be developed for replacing the Three-Mile if it is in such bad shape. No arguing that the safety of those in 48,428 vehicles per day is important, as is the economic value of having the connector between Gulf Breeze and Pensacola.
We just don’t want the bridges in North Escambia to fall off the funding radar, and hope our local leaders will remember that both the Three-Mile bridge and our rural bridges are both important.
We are in plenty of federal debt these days, so the feds might as well step up and fund Escambia’s $96 million in new bridges and the Three-Mile Bridge. That would be smart stimulus.