NHS Parade To Close Highway 4
October 1, 2009
Friday’s Northview High School Homecoming Parade will close a section of Highway 4 in Bratt.
Highway 4 from Highway 99 to Pine Barren Road — from Bratt Elementary School to Northview — will be closed from 12:30 until 1:30 p.m.
It is possible to detour around the area using North Highway 99 to Oakshade Road to Pine Barren Road. This route would be unable for the brief time after 12:30 that the parade passes through the Bratt Crossroads.
Two Bratt Residents Get Probation For Operating Mobile Home Meth Lab
October 1, 2009
The residents accused of operating a meth lab out of a Bratt mobile home will avoid jail time; both have been sentenced to probation by an Escambia County judge.
Daniel Wayne Sheets, 29, and Mary Elaine Sheets, 28, were arrested May 20 on multiple drug charges after deputies located the meth lab at 3740 Highway 168, near Wiggins Road. Both plead nolo contendere as charged. Daniel Wayne Sheets was found guilty, and an adjudication of guilty was withheld in the case of Mary Elaine Sheets.
Both were sentenced to 18 months probation a drug trafficking charge and 12 months concurrent probation on charges of possession of drug paraphernalia and the possession of chemicals used to manufacture a controlled substance, according to court records.
Daniel Wayne Sheets and Mary Elaine Sheets will face one-time fines and charges of $818, plus $52 per month for the probation supervision, and both will be required to reimburse authorities for the May cleanup of the meth lab at the mobile home on Highway 168, court records state.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Department Narcotics Unit and a special Hazmat team from Tallahassee were called to the home to investigate and remove the meth lab.
Escambia County Deputy David Preston said authorities received a tip that a truck belonging to Atmore bank robbery suspect Chad Jeter might be at the residence. The sheriff’s departments from Escambia counties Florida and Alabama, the Atmore Police Department and the FBI attempted to locate Jeter at the mobile home on May 20, but he was not there.
While authorities searched for the bank robber, they discovered a meth lab being operated at the mobile home.
Century’s Budget Up $1.4 Million
October 1, 2009
The Town of Century begins their new budget year today with a budget that is about $1.4 million higher than last year.
The total budget approved by the town council was $4,587,744 — an increase over last year’s $3,154,355 budget. The increase this year is due to $1.83 million for a water infrastructure project being funded by a grant.
Outside of the grant-funded water project, the town’s biggest source of revenue — $1,707, 600 — is from water, gas and sewer charges, and the biggest expense is $1,246,579 to pay for the costs associated with providing the water, sewer and natural gas service for the town’s residents.
The ad valorem millage rate for the town remained at .823 per $1,000. The ad valorem taxes are estimated to provide Century with $26,000 in revenue during the October 1, 2009, to September 30, 2010, budget year.
The budget passed the town council on a 3-1 vote. The negative vote came from council member Henry Hawkins. Council member Nadine McCaw was unable to attend the final budget meeting.
Click here for a Century budget summary (pdf).
New Law: Kids Under 16 Must Wear Helmet Riding A Horse In Public
October 1, 2009
A new law goes into effect today that requires children 16 and younger riding a horse on a public roadway or public property to wear a helmet.
The legislation, called “Nicole’s Law”, creates safety standards to minimize the number of serious or fatal head injuries to Florida youth sustained during equestrian activities and recreation.
“Nicole’s Law” is named for Nicole Hornstein, a 12-year-old girl from Loxahatchee who died after being thrown from a horse in June 2006. This legislation creates safety measures for children who participate in equestrian activities and recreation. It requires a child under age 16 to wear a helmet that meets the current standards of the American Society of Testing and Materials for protective headgear.
Sponsored by Representative Joseph Abruzzo and Senator Dave Aronberg, “Nicole’s Law” applies to children age 16 and younger who are:
- Riding on a public roadway or right-of-way.
- Riding on a public equestrian trail, public recreation trail, public park, public preserve or public school site.
- Riding on any other publicly owned or controlled property.
“Nicole’s Law” does not apply to children under age 16 who are riding while:
- Practicing for, riding to or from, or competing or performing in, shows or events such as rodeos and parades where helmets are not historically a part of the show or event.
- Riding on privately owned land even if the land is occasionally separated by a public road or right-of-way that must be crossed.
- Engaged in an agricultural practice or pursuit.
Photos: Bald Eagle Spotted In Walnut Hill
October 1, 2009
A bald eagle was spotted in Walnut Hill about noon Wednesday. The eagle was in the top of a tree along Highway 97 in Walnut Hill, within about a mile of Ernest Ward Middle School — home of the EWMS Eagles. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, there were 1,280 pairs of bald eagles in Florida last nesting season. FWC has a mapping project to map eagle’s nests; there are no nests mapped by FWC in north Escambia or Santa Rosa counties. To read more about eagles in Florida, click here and here. Eagles are no longer an endangered or threatened species; however, they are protected by state and federal law.
‘Mayor’ Of Bratt Issues Permit For NHS Homecoming Parade
October 1, 2009
The unofficial mayor of Bratt has issued an equally unofficial parade permit for Friday afternoon’s first ever Northview High School Homecoming Parade.
De Facto Mayor Donnie Bass issued the “Community of Bratt Parade Permit” to the Northview High School DCT Class for the parade at 12:30 p.m. Friday from Bratt Elementary School to Northview. Marion Cooper took time off from his duties at Cooper’s Store in Bratt to sign the permit as a witness.
Bass is among a group that meets everyday at the Bratt store to discuss everything from politics, to sports, to marriage advice, Cooper said. Bass earned the title of unofficial mayor because of his “input” on local issues. Cooper’s Store is a popular hangout for Northview students before and after school. The students often just refer to the store at North Highway 99 and Highway 4 as just “Coops”.
“I always support the school,” said “Mayor” Bass from his office — a seat at the end of the checkout counter, right next to the honey buns and boiled peanuts in a can.
Cooper said the parade permit was a way to let the school know just how much the community supports the Northview Chiefs.
There currently about 35 units entered in the parade.
Everyone is encouraged to support the Chiefs and line the parade route. There is still time to enter the parade, call the school at (850) 327-6681 ext. 254. There is no charge to enter, but all entries must be approved by the sponsoring Northview DCT class. Candy throws are welcome; no beads or necklaces.
The DCT class will be throwing candy during the parade, and they are also selling parade t-shirts for $10. Contact any member of the DCT class to purchase a t-shirt.
Pictured top: Tommy Weaver, Northview’s DCT class sponsor, looks on at De Facto Bratt Mayor Donnie Bass signs the “Community of Bratt Parade Permit” for Friday’s homecoming parade. Pictured below: The parade permit. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Burglary Call Lands Woman In Jail On Outstanding Warrants
October 1, 2009
A reported burglary in progress near Davisville led to the arrest of a Walnut Hill woman on outstanding warrants Thursday afternoon.
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to the reported burglary in progress at 3:34 Thursday afternoon after a neighbor called to report two females were breaking into a nearby house on Green Village Road, just north of Highway 164. Both females were still at the house when deputies arrived.
Deputies determined that it was not a burglary; one of the females was allowed to leave. But deputies David Bayshore and Rudy Brown discovered that Michelle Marie Hockett, 31, of Ashcraft Road, had three outstanding warrants.
One warrant was issued February 28, 2008, after Hockett failed to appear for violating her probation on a conviction on 18 worthless check charges. According to court records, was first arrested in the case in November 2005 for 16 worthless checks totaling just over $500 to Tom Thumb, one check to Diamond Gasoline for $35 and one to Barnes Supermarket for $7.85.
A second warrant was outstanding against Hockett for failure to appear on March 27, 2008, in a drug possession case. She had a third outstanding warrant on another worthless check case for a $95.86 check written in 2007 to Driskell’s Grocery.
The worthless checks were not Hockett’s first in Escambia County. Court records show she was convicted in 2006 of writing 61 worthless checks totaling about $4,000 to Driskell’s Grocery, Piggly Wiggly, Tobacco Annies and Diamond Gasoline.
Hockett remains in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
Pictured top: Escambia Sheriff’s deputy David Bayshore takes Michelle Marie Hockett into custody Thursday afternoon on Green Village Road. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Northview Names Homecoming Court
September 30, 2009
The Northview High School Chiefs have named their 2009 Homecoming Court. The homecoming queen and her court will be named prior to Friday night’s football game.
Pictured: The Northview High School 2009 Homecoming Court. Front row (L-R): Sophomores Lauren McCall, Raylin Spence, Charleigh McPherson; freshmen Ariel Holland, Sandy Rainwater, Taylor Roberson; Back row: juniors Brooke Tullis, Hayley Simpson, Miranda Burkett; seniors Amber McMillan, Erica Rendell, Kinsey Hendrix, Kassandra Lett, Carley Hetrick, Heather Ward. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Man Arrested After Firing Shots Near Deputy
September 30, 2009
A 25-year old was arrested early this morning after firing multiple shots from a moving vehicle on Kingsfield Road, including four shots that were fired near an Escambia County Deputy who had just started his patrol shift.
Deputy Rudy Brown had just started his shift at about 6 a.m. Wednesday and was headed toward the Century Precinct in his marked patrol car when he heard gunfire in the area of Kingsfield Road and Bob White Lane. From the sound of the numerous shots, Brown wrote in the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office incident report that he could tell the shots were moving toward him.
“A maroon Chevrolet vehicle came into my view and passed in front of my patrol car. At the same time, I heard at least four more shots in rapid succession coming from the maroon Chevy,” Brown wrote.
Deputy Brown pursued the vehicle to the Tom Thumb at Kingsfield and Chemstrand roads where he made contact with the driver, Joshua Lee Brown, 25. of Kingsfield Road. Joshua Brown (pictured left) told Deputy Brown, no relationship, that he heard the gunshots as well.
When Deputy Brown questioned a female passenger in the vehicle, she said “I told him not to shoot that gun,” according to the report. A search of the vehicle recovered a 380 handgun that was found to be stolen according to a report filed with the Pensacola Police Department.
Joshua Brown was booked into the Escambia County Jail on charges of discharging a firearm from a moving vehicle and theft of a firearm. He is being held on $22,500 bond.
Survey: Escambia Bad Place To Have Kids; Voters Unsure About Government Consolidation
September 30, 2009
A majority of Escambia County voters say that the county is a negative place to raise children, and county voters are about evenly split on the idea of consolidating the governments of Escambia County, the City of Pensacola and the Town of Century.
The survey, conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research Inc, was commissioned by The Better Pensacola Forum. The survey included 800 registered voters from across Escambia County.
A total of 59 percent of county voters gave Escambia County negative marks as being a place for a family raising children, compared to 48 percent one year ago. Respondents were concerned about schools, crime, traffic and public transportation.
An overwhelming 85 percent gave Escambia’s economy a negative rating. Concerns included economic conditions, poor job opportunities and a lack of vision and leadership in economic development efforts. Just under half of those survey felt that both Escambia County and Pensacola are on the wrong track.
Governmental consolidation — the idea of combining Escambia County, Pensacola and Century governments into one — was split with 42 percent in favor, 40 percent opposed and 18 percent undecided. Along racial lines, 56 percent of African Americans support consolidation compared to 40 percent of Caucasians.
Consolidation support and opposition numbers were essentially the same regardless of whether the voter lives in the city limits of Pensacola, in the suburbs or on the county. Registered Democrats were more likely to be in favor of consolidation than Republicans or Independents.
When respondents were asked to reconsider consolidation if it meant more cost efficient services and a greater chance of economic development, growth and a better quality of life, 64 percent said they would be more likely to support consolidation.
Click here to read the entire survey from The Better Pensacola Forum.
The margin of error for the survey of randomly chosen voters had a marging of error of plus or minus 3.5 percent.