Hurricane Fred Still A Category 2
September 9, 2009
Hurricane Fred has weakened to category two strength.
The center of Hurricane Fred was located near latitude 15.9 north, longitude 34.6 west or about 705 miles west-southwest of the southernmost Cape Verde Islands.
Fred is moving toward the west-northwest near 12 mph and a turn toward the northwest and then north-northwest with a decrease in forward speed is expected over the next couple of days.
Satellite images indicate that the maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 105 mph with higher gusts. Fred is a category two hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Additional weakening is expected during the next few days. Fred is expected to be a tropical storm by Saturday and just a low by Tuesday.
Fred is still forecast to turn nearly due north and head out into the open Atlantic without threatening the United States or any other land mass
Century Council Member Gets Nothing From Records Request Nine Months Ago
September 9, 2009
Nine months after a public records request made by a council member, the Town of Century has not provided him any documents. The documents related to the now defunct Helicopter Technology and other town financial business were never provided, according to the mayor, because he thought the matter was settled.
“The town may be in trouble,” Century Mayor Freddie McCall told his council Tuesday night about the open records request from Councilman Henry Hawkins.
Hawkins made a formal written public records request on December 10, 2008. In his request, Hawkins requested that the documents be made available to him within 14 days. McCall said he was told by the town’s attorney on December 20 that Hawkins no longer wanted the records as requested.
“I thought it was a dead issue,” McCall said Tuesday night. “Then I get a rumor this week that it is not agreeable.”
In his December letter addressed to McCall, 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 also requested certified copies of records related to commercial and personal loan notes and mortgages held by the Town of Century and the lender and complete payment records on each.
“It may cost thousands and thousands of dollars to supply this information,” McCall told the council, because of hourly fees that might be charged by the town’s attorney and accountant.
“I will pay any reasonable fee to cover the cost of providing the requested documentation,” Hawkins wrote in his December letter. “…I will pickup and remit for these copies.”
“He can make a decision if he would like to pay for it,” Council President Ann Brooks said of the potentially expensive public records request.
“We cannot make decisions at this table without all of the facts,” Hawkins said. “If we had been told the truth years ago about Helicopter Technology, we would not be in the mess we’re in right now.”
The Town of Century held the mortgage on the helicopter company’s building in the town’s industrial park. After the company defaulted, the town won a foreclosure suit against the company, and the town just recently purchased the building for $100 at a foreclosure auction.
“The 14 days has been over…months ago,” Hawkins told his fellow council members Tuesday night. “Y’all can do what you want to do, and I am going to do what I have to do.”
The council, with Hawkins abstaining, voted not to provide him a copy of the requested records without first providing him with an estimate of the monetary charges involved.
Click here to read the December 10, 2008, public records request from Henry Hawkins (pdf).
Florida’s public records laws allows, in general, for public records to be viewed free of charge, but the law does allow a fee for copies. Copies are generally 15 cents for one-sided documents or 20 cents for double-sided pages. Certified copies are $1 per copy under the law. Government agencies are also permitted to charge fees as outline in Florida statutes for excessive clerical and other staff time involved in providing public records. There are other fees permitted by Florida law as well. (Read about the fees allowed by clicking here.)
Pictured top: A public records request from Henry Hawkins was presented to the Century Town Council Tuesday night. Pictured (L-R) Nadine McCaw, Ann Brooks, Sharon Scott, Hawkins and Gary Riley. Pictured inset: Hawkins reads his request out load as Gary Riley listens. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Police Chase Ends With Flipped Jeep, Suspect Jailed
September 9, 2009
An early morning sheriff’s department pursuit landed a Century man in jail on multiple charges.
Christopher Angelo Phifer, 38, of Field Road Century, was charged with DUI, fleeing/eluding a law enforcement officer, registration/tag expired more than six months, driving while license suspended/revoked, threatening a public servant, two counts of resisting arrest, possession of weapon by a convicted felon and violation of probation He was booked into the Escambia County Jail on $17,750 bond.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department report, Deputy James Gilman spotted a Jeep Cherokee occupied by Phifer at McMurray Park in Century at 12:20 am Sunday morning. When Gilman ordered Phifer to exit the vehicle, Phifer took off in the Jeep, according to the report.
Deputy Gilman gave chase, using his lights and siren as he pursued Phifer down Pond Street, onto Jefferson Street and onto Salters Lake Road. On Salters Lake Road, Phifer hit a washed out area in the road, according to the report, causing his vehicle to roll over. Phifer fled into a wooded area on foot, with Gilman giving chase, also on foot. Gilman tackled Phifer, the report says, and arrested Phifer with the help of deputies Jason Land and Scott Rivkin.
About 10 minutes after Phifer was placed in the back of Gilman’s patrol car, he told deputies he had pain in his arm. Atmore Ambulance was called to the scene, and Phifer was transported to Baptist Hospital where he was treated and released.
A search of Phifer’s Jeep turned up a .22 long rifle cartridge on the driver’s side floorboard.
At the hospital, Phifer told the deputy “Gilman I’m going to kill your a** and you know I have guns,” according to the ECSO report on the incident, and that he intended to kill or put a hit out on Gilman.
Ernest Ward Beats Excel 28-6 In The Eagle’s Season Opener
September 9, 2009
The Ernest Ward Middle School Eagles won their season opener Tuesday night on the road against Excel, 28-6.
J. Miles rushed for two Eagle touchdowns, and B. Freeman passed to J. Parker for another TD. T. Montgomery passed to B. Freeman for the final Eagle touchdown of the night. Freeman picked up a couple of two point conversions for EWMS.
The Eagles will be back on the road on Thursday, September 17 against Monroe County. They will be off on September 24 and will play their first home game on October 1 against W.S. Neal.
For more submitted photos from the game, click here.
Pictured top: The Ernest Ward Middle School Eagles beat Excel on the road Tuesday night. Pictured inset: Touchdown Eagles! Submitted photos by Sandra Greenwell for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Baker Downs Northview In Tuesday Volleyball Action
September 9, 2009
Tuesday was rough for Northview High School in District 1-2A volleyball, with both varsity and junior varsity Chiefs losing to the Baker Gators.
Baker Defeated Northview – Varsity
17-25 18-25 25-15 12-25
Shawna Montgomery lead the Chiefs with five kills and three aces. The junior also had two digs and a block. Senior Caitlin Hall had five assists, one ace and one block.
Northview is now 2-2 overall, 0-2 in District 1-2A.
Baker Defeated Northview – JV
16 – 25
Junior Trestine Dean had one assist and one ace for the Chiefs. Freshman Morgan Payne had two kills, one ace and one block.
Click here for a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the varsity game.
Pictured: Northview varsity volleyball action from Tuesday. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Learn How Escambia County Works In Citizen Academy
September 9, 2009
A citizen’s academy will give interested Escambia County residents the chance to learn more about how county government works and the services provided to citizens.
The seven-week program beings on Tuesday, October 6 at 9 a.m. Classes will be held for 2½ hours each Tuesday until November 16 in the commission chambers at the Escambia County Governmental Center, 221 Palafox Place in Pensacola.
Registration is required, and participants must be at least 16 years old. For more information or to register, call Linda Turner at (850) 595-4575.
Horse Management Course Planned
September 9, 2009
An upcoming short course will offer horse owners the chance to learn more about caring for their equines.
The University of Florida, IFAS Northwest Florida Livestock Extension agents will be offering a short course on horse management in four sessions. The sessions will be held on Mondays — September 14 and 28, October 12 and 26 from 6:00 pm. to 8:00 p.m. each night. This program is being offered at 14 sites in Florida and three in Alabama. The course will be offered as a live interactive video conference.
The registration fee for the course is $40 per farm (one set of reference books) and $10 each additional person. The registration deadline is Monday, September 7.
The course will cover: Signs of a Healthy Horse, Preventive Health Care, Forage That Works Well In Horse Pastures, Nutritional Requirements, Poisonous Weed Control, Weed I.D. in Pastures and Safety For Horses, Equine Emergencies, First Aid, Fencing and Layout of Barns.
Click here for more info, including other course locations and course descriptions.
Call the Santa Rosa County Extension Office at 850-675-6654 for more details and a registration form.
Flomaton Speedway Results
September 9, 2009
The Flomaton Speedway held its annual Labor Day race Monday night, with plenty of high-speed action with four classes racing for the big money in their feature races.
Steve Fretwell of Milton took the checkered flag in the Bomber feature race, followed by Jamie Young, Tally Warrick, Doc McDaniel, Johnny Baxley, Chad Jordon, Rusty Peacock, Micheal Emmons, Richard Johnson, Sr., Terry Mayhair and Joe Chiles.
In the Street Stock feature race, first place went to Joey Settle of Brewton, followed by Bobby Resmondo, Evan Folmar, Wayne Hawthorne, Adam Ellison, Jarrod Johns, Chandler Burgess, Gary Dunsford, Adam Purvis, Todd Purvis and Dakota Gregory.
In the Crate Late Model race, Steven Brantley took the checkered flag, followed by Josh Huss, Kevin Maher, Steve Turner and Bo Odom, Seth Gransberry, David Odom, Kenny Townson, Gary Maher and Micah Mccall.
In the big car Stinger feature race, first place and the $500 purse went to Aaron Kiaunis, followed by Harry Beatty, Johnny Jackson, Damon Osborn, Dylan Barfield, Billy Walker, Bradley Haveard, James Hardin, Cody Burroughs, Holly Walker, Jeffery Hagen, Ken Osborne, Al Woods, Logan Lindsey, Casey Spears, Jimmy Boyington, Richard Johnson, Hunter Baker and Joe Kittrell.
Click here for more photos. For even more photos from the night, visit www.mikenewtonphotography.
Pictured top: Bomber feature winner Steven Fretwell (#24) has the lead as Doc McDaniel (#27S) tries to pass on the outside. Pictured inset: Steven Brantley won the Crate Late Model feature Labor Day race at the Flomaton Speedway. Submitted photos by Mike Newton Photography for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
In His Own Words: Watch Malcolm Thomas On Obama Speech
September 8, 2009
The Escambia County School District decided not to show the live Obama address to students on Tuesday.
Escambia Superintendent Malcolm Thomas released a video to all teachers and administrators explaining his position:
If you do not see the video above, it is because your employer, school or firewall is blocking external videos.
No More Deputies So Far In Molino Or Century; Molino’s Top Deputy Transferred
September 8, 2009
Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan had hoped that additional deputies would be assigned to his department’s Century and Molino precincts by now, but, so far, that has not happened. And now, the top cop assigned to Molino has been transferred away, upsetting at least one local business person.
At a public forum in Molino back in May, Morgan said that he hoped three additional deputies would be assigned to Molino and two additional would be headed to Century by September.
There has not been an increase in officers in Century or Molino to date, according to Commander Bobby Jackson, because of short staffing across the department.
There were extra deputies assigned to the two North Escambia precincts during the summer, Jackson said, but they were school resource officers working regular patrol. They returned to their school assignments in late August. In addition, at least two Century precinct deputies were out for several weeks on medical leave.
And now the department has transferred Lt. Tony Jordan, the highest ranking officer assigned to Molino, to a patrol position elsewhere in the county. He will replace Lt. Rex Blackburn who was reassigned to a juvenile court security position. Sgt. Kevin Vickrey will oversee the day to day operations of the Molino precinct, complimented by the lieutenant on duty in Cantonment, according to Jackson.
“I’m afraid that losing him (Lt. Jordan) will be bad for us,” Fran Hampton, owner of Fran’s Country Grill in Molino, said. Hampton said she has noticed a big difference since Jordan was assigned to Molino.
“It used to take an act of Congress to get the deputies to swing through here at night, but Tony has made the deputies keep a watch on the businesses like mine at night,” she said. “It think it has deterred crime quite a bit.”
Jackson, who heads the ECSO patrol division, said that neighborhood watches and business checks are routine throughout the department and would continue at the same pace in Molino.
“I’m not down on Mr. Morgan at all,” Hampton said. “I just hope the north end does not get the shaft.”
“We move people around all the time,” Jackson said. “Tony was transferred because I needed him down here. Sgt. Vickrey will be able to do a great job up there.”
Jackson said the department is down one patrol deputy in Molino and is fully staffed in Century.
As for the five additional deputies promised for Molino and Century, the commander said he still expects additional deputies to be assigned to both precincts. Additional deputies will soon graduate from the law enforcement academy. In addition, federal grant money will be available in October to hire 20 new deputies across the county.
“It all depends on retirements and that sort of thing. You lose deputies sometimes, and they have to be replaced. With a large organization, there is always staff moving,” he said.
“I cannot provide what I do not have and we cannot continue to take personnel from investigations, narcotics, etc.,” Morgan wrote to NorthEscambia.com recently. “However, we note the shortage and make arrangements to backfill it with the next class.”
“Now factor into this retirements and medical issues. So we may, in fact, get the Molino Substation up to 15 assigned officers, and in 60-90 days have a retirement, medical issue, etc., and lose an officer. At this point we use the flex shift, Reserves, etc., to keep the numbers balanced until we can permanently (once again) get the numbers stable,” Morgan continued in his letter.