Elderly Driver Escapes Serious Injury In Early Morning Accident
September 24, 2009
A 78-year old driver escaped serious injury in a single vehicle accident about 3:30 Thursday morning.
The accident happened at the intersection of Breastworks Road and Pine Barren Road near the Christian Home community. The driver missed a curve at the end of Breastworks Road, hit a utility pole and crossed over Pine Barren Road before coming to a stop. The male driver was not seriously injured; he was transported to an area hospital by ambulance.
The McDavid Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Florida Highway Patrol responded to the call.
The accident is still under investigation by the FHP.
Pictured above: The driver of this Crown Victoria escaped serious injury in this single vehicle accident at about 3:30 a.m. Thursday. Pictured below: The remains of the utility pole struck by the 78-year old driver. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Some School Progress Reports Delayed
September 23, 2009
If you were looking for your child’s progress report Wednesday afternoon — you may not have found it.
The first nine-weeks progress reports were scheduled to be sent home with students Wednesday afternoon, but many students did not receive their report due to a software problem with the school district’s grading system.
If you have any questions, contact your child’s school.
Man Charged With Worker’s Comp Fraud In Escambia, Santa Rosa
September 23, 2009
A man has been charged with workers’ compensation fraud after allegedly not correctly reporting the number or workers on job sites across Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
Florida CFO Alex Sink today announced that her Division of Insurance Fraud has arrested an Escambia County man on charges of falsifying employment numbers with the intent of avoiding higher workers’ compensation premium payments.
Mauricio Martinez Soto, 33, of Mauricio Soto Concrete Construction Inc., has been charged with Workers’ Compensation Fraud, a first-degree felony. If convicted, Soto faces up to 30 years behind bars and a $10,000 fine. He remains in the Escambia County Jail on $25,000 bond.
“Injured workers can face devastating medical bills and serious financial hardship if their employers aren’t properly covered,” said CFO Sink. “I commend our Insurance Fraud investigators for exposing this criminal activity, and will continue to enforce compliance to make sure that all Floridians are protected on the job.”
Following site inspections over the past year on job sites in Escambia and Santa Rosa County, it was discovered that 32 individuals worked for Mauricio Soto Construction Inc.; however, audits and state records revealed Mauricio Soto was reporting less. When tipped off to the inconsistent number of employees reported, investigators also discovered that Soto owed nearly $660,000 in premiums for workers’ comp coverage for the over $4 million he was paid in subcontracting fees in the past three years.
As Florida’s CFO, Sink oversees the Department of Financial Services’ Division of Workers’ Compensation, which conducted nearly 30,000 onsite investigations of worksites to determine employer compliance for the 2008-2009 fiscal year.
The division also recently launched a new whistleblower web site, which makes it easier for citizens to submit complaints online about suspected non-compliance and provides real-time feedback to complainants. Examples of non-compliant workers’ compensation coverage include working without workers’ compensation, under-reporting payroll such as paying employees in cash instead of from checks from payroll, and misclassifying employees in order to receive a lower workers’ compensation rate.
For more information about CFO Sink’s Division of Workers Compensation or to submit a complaint, visit MyFloridaCFO.com.
Hundreds Of Students Join In Prayer At See You At The Pole Rallies
September 23, 2009
(Updated) Hundreds of North Escambia students gathered to pray at their schools Wednesday morning as part of the annual See You At The Pole rally.
“I pray that we take cause in God and stand up, even when nobody else does,” Rebekah Miles, an eighth grade student at Ernest Ward Middle School prayed as she stood around the flagpole with her peers.
From Ernest Ward to Northview High School to Molino Park Elementary, hundreds did the same thing Wednesday morning — bowing their heads in prayer for fellow students, their schools, their countries. Students often prayed or encouraged others to take a stand for their Lord in light of recent court rulings restricting prayer in neighboring Santa Rosa County.
“Engage: Go and pray . . ” from 2 Kings 22:13a was the theme verse for the non-denominational See You at the Pole event at thousands of schools across the nation Wednesday.
“It is our job as Christians to engage and get God back in schools,” Northview High School junior Sarah Killam said shortly before leading scores of Northview students in the song “How Great Is Our God”.
A community-wide See You At the Pole Rally was held Wednesday night at the Flomaton High School Auditorium.
For a photo gallery from Northview High, Ernest Ward Middle and Molino Park Elementary click here.
See You at the Pole is a student-initiated, student organized, and student-led event scheduled annually on the fourth Wednesday in September. This is the 20th year for the event that started in a Ft. Worth, Texas, suburb.
Pictured top: Eighth grade student Rebekah Miles leads students in prayer Wednesday morning at Ernest Ward Middle School. Pictured inset: Students pray at Molino Park Elementary. Pictured below: See You At The Pole at Northview. Pictured bottom: See You At the Pole at Ernest Ward. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Molino Park photos courtesy Candy McGahan.
Attorney Explains Why Public Records Request Not Fulfilled Nine Months Ago
September 23, 2009
A Century Town Council member says that he never received public records formally requested nine months ago, but the town’s lawyer says he thought the issue was actually settled a few days after the request.
Attorney Explains Why Public Records Request Not Fulfilled Nine Months Ago
In his December letter addressed to Mayor Freddie McCall, Councilman Henry Hawkins requested a certified copy of all documents related to Georges Van Nevel, Helicopter Technologies, Inc., and Van Nevel Helicopters, including financial journals; all correspondence and documents between the parties, including emails; and copies of all legal pleadings and briefs between the town and its legal counsel. Hawkins asked that the information be provided to him within 14 days.
The 14 days has been over…months ago,” Hawkins told his fellow council members at a September 8 meeting. “Y’all can do what you want to do, and I am going to do what I have to do.”
The town’s attorney, Matt Dannheisser, said the certified mail letter dated December 10, 2008, was not actually received by the town until December 24. Dannheisser said the letter was faxed to his office on December 30.
According to a September 11 letter to the Century council, McCall then called Danneheisser’s office to determine if the town could charge Hawkins for the records due to the “large number of documents” that “would require staff of the Town a significant amount of time to locate and prepare copies”.
“I suggested to Mayor McCall that the simplest and least expensive approach would be to have Mr. Hawkins review my files and identify what portions he desired copies,” said Dannheisser, adding that his records as the town’s attorney contain most, if not all, of the information requested by the council member.
Dannheisser wrote that he contacted Hawkins on December 30 and advised that he could produce the requested records in a matter of minutes for Hawkin’s inspection. He said that the files are “approximately nine to ten inches thick” could be copied in the range of $100 to $150.
“Mr. Hawkins agreed that my proposal would be far more expedient for all concerned and indicated that he would get back in touch with me to arrange a time to review my files,” Dannheisser wrote in his letter to the council. “I was under the impression that Mr. Hawkins was going to discuss this matter with someone else and perhaps bring another person with him to review the files.”
After his December 30 conversation with Hawkins, Dannheisser said he called the mayor and relayed what was said.
“I had understood, perhaps mistakenly, that it was not necessary for Town staff to locate and copy the requested records from Mr. Hawkins, rather he would first inspect my files before deciding whether such efforts would be necessary,” the attorney wrote. “I relayed that understanding to Mayor McCall, which I suspect explains why no further efforts were undertaken by Town staff to fill Mr. Hawkins’ public records request.”
Click here to read the September 11 letter from Town Attorney Matt Dannheisser (pdf).
Ernest Ward Eagles Beat Pollard-McCall – Again
September 23, 2009
The Ernest Ward Middle School Eagles beat Pollard-McCall on the volleyball court in Pollard Tuesday, making it two days in a row the Eagles defeated Pollard.
Tuesday, the EWMS White team won 25-21, 25-18. The EWMS Blue defeated Pollard-McCall 24-26, 25-17, 15-9. EWMS Blue and White were victorious over Pollard-McCall Monday in Walnut Hill.
EWMS White team members are: Raven Weaver, Madison Arrington, Brianna Parker, Lily Townson, Chloe Leonard, Kyndall Hall, Leah Fischer and Tiffani Pritchett.
EWMS Blue team members are: Mallory Wiggins, Mallory Ryan, Rebecca Grim, Shelby Nielson, Danielle Steadham, Saige Garrett, Lorri Harrell, Kaitlyn Abbott and Reagan Bell.
Northview Holds Open House
September 23, 2009
Parents and community members had the opportunity to visit Northview High School during their annual open house Tuesday night.
Participant had the opportunity to learn more about the school and visit classrooms.
It was the last open house for Northview instructor Senior Chief Lee Coleman who has organized the event for several years. Senior Chief Coleman will retire at the end of this school year.
Pictured top: Parents and students at Northview High School’s open house Tuesday evening. Pictured left: Deputy Superintendent Norm Ross (left) visits with Senior Chief Lee Coleman. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Volleyball: Baldwin County Defeats Northview
September 23, 2009
The Northview varsity and junior varsity volleyball teams both fell to Baldwin County High School Tuesday evening.
BCHS def. Northview – Varsity
16-25 11-25 18-25
- Shawna Montgomery 11 M Kills-8, Aces-1
- Caitlin Hall 12 Setter Assists– 9, Aces-1, Block-1, Kills-1
- Angela Rodriguez 12 LS/Middle Kills-4
- Shaniqua Jones 11 Middle Kills – 3, Digs – 1, Blocks -2
Record – Overall – 3 -5; District 1 -2
BCHS def. Northview – JV
25-17 17-25 10-15
- Trestine Dean 11 Setter/Left Aces – 1, Assists – 1
- Morgan Payne 09 Middle/Setter Kills– 1, Aces – 1
- Josie Doucette 10 Middle Kills – 2
- Cheyanne Garnett 09 Setter/LS Assists– 1, Aces – 6
Exclusive: Cell Phone Photos Show Acid Spill Smoking In Parking Lot
September 23, 2009
NorthEscambia.com has obtained cell phone photographs taken shortly after a hazardous materials incident began at an Atmore gas station Saturday night. The photographs appear to show smoke rising from the unknown acid as the first emergency responders arrive.
The photos were taken by one of the persons at the store at the time of the incident. She was decontaminated and treated for inhalation injuries by emergency personnel.
The incident began about 11:00 Saturday night at a BP gas station at I-65 and Highway 21 in Atmore when, according to witnesses, a man poured a liquid substance out of a gallon plastic jug onto the concrete. The substance was described as “smoking” and “eating” concrete just outside the entrance to the store. After pouring out the liquid, the subject fled the area.
A hazardous materials team from the Poarch Creek Fire Department responded to the scene, along with the Atmore Fire Department and the Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire-Rescue. Since officials did not know what material they were dealing with at the time, the suited up in full Hazmat gear in order to clean up the substance.
Click here for the complete story and exclusive NorthEscambia.com photos from the scene.
Pictured above and below: These cell phone photographs appear to show the acid spill and resulting smoke at an Atmore gas station late Saturday night. Submitted photos exclusively for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
New Thrift Store To Benefit People And Animals
September 23, 2009
A group of pet-minded volunteers have found a way to help the animals and people all at the same time.
The Junior Humane Society has opened its own Thrift Store in Cantonment at the corner of Highway 29 North and Neal Road. Proceeds will benefit JHS activities, such as finding homes for homeless cats and dogs, while also providing unbelievable bargains for area residents battling tough economic times.
The store features a variety of clothing for all ages, shoes, office furniture, kitchen supplies, books, toys, pet supplies and other items with new merchandise arriving daily. It will be open four days a week, but days and times could change in the months ahead.
The store is a dream come true for Frankie Van Horn Harris, director of the Junior Humane Society.
“It’s something I didn’t think I would ever see in my lifetime, but it’s something I’ve always wanted to do as a fundraiser,” said Harris. She said a volunteer, Amanda Gifford, heard about the property being available.
A deal was made, and soon, Gifford, along and two other volunteers, Kristi Kirby and Crystal Clanton, were busy preparing the store for customers.
The store also features a wall featuring photos of dogs and cats looking for new homes through JHS.
“We are all excited about the thrift store. We hope to hold pet adoptions, bathing parties, and other events here,” she said.
JHS welcomes donations — just leave items on the front porch if the store is closed.
The JHS Thrift Store is open Wednesday – Friday from noon until 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Grand Opening will be Saturday, October 10 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Pictured top: JHS Volunteers (L-R) Kristi Kirby, Amanda Gifford, Crystal Clanton, Mary Foster, Director Frankie Van Horn Harris, Christa Pettijohn, Elizabeth Irby and Janet Lewis outside the new JHS Thrift Store in Cantonment. Pictured inset: Frankie Van Horn Harris, director of the Junior Humane Society. Pictured below: Map showing the store location.