Photo Gallery: Byrneville Elementary Ready For Emergencies
August 29, 2009
Byrneville Elementary School held several practice emergency drills Friday morning to prepare for a variety of situations.
Students participated in fire drills, tornado drills, campus evacuations and other drills to get ready for emergencies. Students, teachers and even the principal practiced exiting classroom windows with emergency ladders. Students were even evacuated from the school to the nearby Byrneville Community Center.
Units from Escambia Fire Rescue’s Century Station were at the school to assist in the drills.
“This is a practice and that the activity is being carried out to assure that our students know what to do if a real emergency situation takes place,” Bryneville Principal Dee Wolfe-Sullivan said.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured left: Practicing a classroom evacuation with an emergency ladder. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge. Pictured below: Students evacuated campus to the Byrneville Community Center.
One Person Injured In Century Wreck
August 28, 2009
One person received minor injuries in a single vehicle accident early Friday morning in Century.
The driver of a southbound Chevolet Impala left North Century Boulevard and struck a tree near Salters Lake Road just before 6:00. He was transported by ambulance to Jay Hospital. Authorities said a medical condition may have contributed to the crash.
The Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department, Escambia County EMS and the Florida Highway Patrol responded to the crash.
The accident is under investigation by the FHP.
Pictured above: One person was injured in this accident early Friday morning in Century. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
North Escambia’s Very Own Road Man: Rigby Retires After 25 Years
August 28, 2009
Sometimes a man can move a mountain.
In the case of Ron Rigby, he has probably moved the equivalent of several mountains during his career. Rigby is retiring from the Escambia County Road Department after 25 years –all but just a few months of those years operating a Gradall excavator, moving tons and tons of dirt across North Escambia.
When Rigby climbed into the operator’s seat of a Gradall Thursday at the road department’s Camp Five near Byrneville, he said it was a part of him he was going to miss. Like a surgeon, turned excavator arm around effortlessly. There was a smile on his face –sometimes a man just enjoys his work. And his coworkers.
“I’ve been with these guys so long,” Rigby said of the others that work out of Camp Five, the county road department’s headquarters for all projects in North Escambia’s District 5. “They are all like family. I’ve really enjoyed working with them. I’m going to miss them all.”
Rigby was hired by the county road department 25 years ago. Within six months, he was assigned to work on a Gradall, digging ditches and moving dirt all over North Escambia.
Over the years, he watched many men hired to haul dirt or bush hog road shoulders as they worked their way up through the ranks to various supervisory positions. But Rigby was always at home behind the controls of his excavator. Many of his coworkers described that excavator as an extension on his arms.
He said that he will always remember being part of constructing various roads around North Escambia. “I ride down Rockaway Creek Road,” he said, mentioning it as just one example, “and I remember when we paved it. It makes you feel good.”
He said he’ll never forget the 12 hour days for weeks at a time after hurricanes Erin, Opal, Ivan and Dennis. “They were a lot of work for everybody,” he said.
Thursday, Rigby’s coworkers gathered at Camp Five for a congratulatory luch — fried fish with all the fixin’s and a retirement cake complete with the Road Runner Looney Tunes character.
They laughed, shared stories of being stuck in muddy ditches and remembered Rigby’s quarter century serving the citizens of North Escambia.
“I’m really go to miss them,” he said.
Rigby said he is looking forward to his retirement and spending more time with is wife Suzanne. He’s also looking forward to some good fishing and hunting time, and perhaps even a little travel.
“You know,” he said, “I am really looking forward to enjoying Susie and the time we can together.”
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Listen To Billings 911 Tapes
August 28, 2009
The State Attorney’s Office released two 911 tapes from the Billings murders this afternoon. The first tape below was the first 911 call. The second was made by Ashely Markham, the Billings’ daughter.
Portions of the tape were edited out by the State Attorney’s Office. A transcript of both calls is below.
Dispatcher: Whats going on?
Neighbor: The mom and dad, I live next door and the daughter
came over and said the mother and father been shot
and they’re dead……..
Dispatcher: She, She said they been shot?
Neighbor: Yeah.
Dispatcher: Hold on.
Neighbor: I gotta go get the kids, there’s kids in the house.
Dispatcher: Where’s she at?
Neighbor: They’re in the bedroom, ma’am, they’re dead…..Please come.
Dispatcher: Ma’am, I’m trying to get someone there, you said the mother and father both had been shot?
Neighbor: YES!
Dispatcher: O.K., I’m going to get someone there, I’m trying to get some information…..What is your name?
Neighbor: This is……
Dispatcher: I’m sorry? They’re supposed to be signal seven, both of them she is saying. Ma’am whats your last name?
Ma’am, Ma’am, I’ll get somebody on the way, o.k., they’re already on the way I’m just trying to get some
information. Whats your first name?
Neighbor: I gotta go find the kids, the kids are ……
Dispatcher: How old are the kids?……
Neighbor: Ages from four years……
Dispatcher: How many kids are supposed to be in the house?
Neighbor: Please help! Ma’am, I gotta go be with these children, but I don’t know…
Dispatcher: Ma’am, I don’t want you to be in any danger, o.k.?
Neighbor: Ma’am, Ma’am I’m sorry, I’m sorry, Please come.
Dispatcher: Ma’am, Ma’am, I need you to take a deep breathe for me, o.k. You there? Hello?
She hung up on me. She said she’s gonna go in and find the kids.
Neighbor: Ma’am?
Dispatcher: Ma’am, You there?
Neighbor: Yes.
Dispatcher: I thought you hung up. I didn’t know…… O.k. I’ve got several officers on the way to you.
Neighbor: Hurry.
Dispatcher: I need to know how many kids are supposed to be in the house?
Neighbor: It’s nine children.
Dispatcher: It’s how many children? Ma’am your phone’s cutting out. Ma’am?
911 Call #2
Dispatcher: Sherrif’s 911 this is Jeff.
Billings’ Daughter: Hi, I need someone to got out to my parents house, I was on the phone with my sister and trying to get in touch with them
and she said they were on the bathroom floor and there’s nobody there, um, she said they were dead and I don’t know
what she is talking about.
Dispatcher: What’s the address? And what’s your name ma’am? And your phone number? And whats her name?
Billings’ Daughter: Melanie and Bud Billings.
Dispatcher: And you said Billings?
Billings’ Daughter: Billings, B-i-l-l-i-n-g-s.
Dispatcher: O.k., and you said they’re down in the bathroom?
Billings’ Daughter: Yes, that’s what she said, I kept telling her to take her the phone, and she said I can’t, she’s on the floor and she’s dead.
I didn’t know what she’s talking about and we have a neighbor and I told her to over and get the neighbor….
Dispatcher: Can you hold on a second ma’am?
Billings’ Daughter: O.K.
Dispatcher: Three eighty. I’m on the phone with the other part. Ten-four. It’s gonna be a possible thirty two victim.
We have two callers on the phone. …The caller advised that her sister advised her that there were two subjects down
on the bathroom floor, possibly Melanie and Bud, not twenty six on whats going on but were on the phone with another
complaintant.
Billings’ Daughter: Did somebody else call?
Dispatcher: Can you be enroute to back? Ten-four, car seventy twenty six? Ten- four. O.K. Ma’am.
Billings’ Daughter: Uh, huh.
Dispatcher: O.K.
Billings’ Daughter: Did somebody else call?
Dispatcher: Yes Ma’am, were on the phone with somebody else, hold on one second. Ten-four, Car seventy twenty six.
Can somebody else talk to this 911.
Sheriff Wants $2 Million For Employee Raises
August 28, 2009
Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan is seeking a three percent raise for his employees, and he has taken his case to the Escambia County Commission.
The commission is considering a $74 million budget for the Sheriff’s Office, but Morgan was to see that number increased to $76 million to fund the raise. Even with the three percent employee raises, Morgan said his department would still have a 3.2 percent lower budget than 2008-2009 — about $2.5 million less.
The starting salary for an Escambia deputy is currently $32,895, below comparable counties, according to Morgan, and he said that needs to be increased because “it is evident that our employees are working with some of the highest crime, highest inmate populations, and a higher percentage of violent crimes”.
Read Morgan’s letter to the county commission by clicking her (pdf).
“The Videos Of The Children Ripped My Heart”: Billings Murder Videos Released
August 28, 2009
Surveillance video from inside home of Byrd and Melanie Billings provides a second by second record of what happened the night the couple was murdered in their Beulah home. The State Attorney’s Office released detailed written information about what was recorded on each of 16 cameras around the home on July 9.
Those surveillance tapes were shown to the media on Thursday, and they will be available for the public to view beginning today. The videos show the red van entering the driveway, masked men forcing their way into the home and Byrd Billings being shot in the leg. The actual murders were not recorded; there were no cameras in the master bedroom.
The videos show at least two of the children and their fear and confusion. One camera shows one child sitting on a coffee table watching Byrd Billings as he is shot in the legs. Another camera shows the fear young girl upstairs. She hears the gunshots and runs back and forth from her room door to her bed, hiding under her covers. She was still hiding under her covers when deputies arrive.
“The videos the children ripped my heart,” Rick Outzen, publisher of the Pensacola Independent News, wrote on his blog after viewing the videos Thursday.
Read Outzen’s “What I Saw…” by clicking here. Outzen also describes the 2,076 crime scene photos here.
Circuit Court Judge Nicholas Geeker ruled that the two thousand crime scene photos and the surveillance video from the Billings home would be made public, but no copies of the video or photographs could be made. He issued his order after a motion to block the visual evidence was filed by Billings family members.
According to the information from the State Attorney’s Office, here is what happened the night of July 9:
- 7:05:42 –Red van is visible entering driveway
- 7:05:58 — Offenders exit van
- 7:06:13 — Two offenders exit wooded area on north side of residence and approach house
- 7:06:16 — Byrd Billings looks toward front door and raises his hands
- 7:06:22 — Byrd Billings is shot in leg, escorted to bedroom; Melanie Billings remains in living room with child and offender
- 7:07:34 — Byrd Billings visible back in living room
- 7:07:42 — Both victims exit living room toward master bedroom area
- 7:07:55 — Offender carrying a bag visible going from back of van toward house
- 7:09:52 — Offenders return to van
- 7:10:16 — Van departs yard
- 7:10:27 — Last view leaving driveway
- 7:26:36 — First deputies arrive on scene
For a detailed account of what was recorded by each camera at the Billings home, click here (pdf).
Valentino Fined For Public Records Law Violation
August 28, 2009
Escambia County Commissioner Gene Valentino has been fined $500 for a public records law violation for failing turn over emails in a timely manner.
Valentino entered a plea of no contest to the non-criminal charges on Thursday. Valentino’s attorney entered the plea on his behalf; Valentino was not present in court.
The office of State Attorney Bill Eddins reviewed complaints that Valentino did not comply with Florida’s public records laws.
“This review has determined that sufficient facts exist to believe that Commissioner Valentino did fail to timely or completely respond to a public records request and as a result has been charged with one count of violation of the Public Records Law,” according to a press release from Eddins.
Eddins’ office also looked into a meeting between Valentino and Pensacola City Councilman Sam Hall. Eddins’ office released the following statement on that meeting:
This office has completed its review regarding allegations that County Commissioner Gene
Valentino and City Council Member Sam Hall may have violated the Florida Sunshine Law by
participating in a private meeting. This review included numerous interviews including Gene
Valentino, Sam Hall, Charles Wood, and Mort O’Sullivan. We also examined applicable
documents and records as well as the law as it relates to Sunshine issues. Based upon our
review, we have determined that there is insufficient evidence to establish that any violation
occurred. We do find however, that this meeting gave the appearance of impropriety and violated
the spirit of the Sunshine Law.
These allegations arose as a result of a meeting between Gene Valentino and Sam Hall on April
28, 2009 which took place in a private office located in the City Hall building. Both Valentino
and Hall are voting members of the Pensacola-Escambia Promotion and Development
Commission (PEDC). The PEDC is a quasi-governmental entity that was established by a
special act of the State Legislature in 1967. The stated purpose of the PEDC is to promote
economic development in Escambia County. Staff support for PEDC is provided by the
Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce and funding is provided by the City of Pensacola
and Escambia County. Meetings of the PEDC are subject to the Sunshine Law.
The April 28, 2009, meeting took place at the request of Gene Valentino. Valentino was in the
process of preparing an economic development plan for Escambia County. The terms of this
plan had not been made public at that time. The apparent purpose of the meeting was to request
Hall’s support for this plan. Both Hall and Valentino have stated that the terms of the plan were
never discussed at that meeting and neither believed it was a matter that was likely to come
before the PEDC.
Additionally, Valentino and Hall discussed the need of scheduling a PEDC meeting as soon as
possible as well as several agenda items that each wanted discussed at the next meeting.
Valentino wanted to discuss financial issues regarding PEDC and Hall wanted to discuss surplus
city property located in the downtown area. There is no indication that these items were
discussed in detail but only the need to place them on the agenda for the next meeting.
During this meeting, Hall made a telephone call to Charles Wood. Wood is a Senior Vice President
for Economic Development for the Chamber of Commerce and as a part of his duties
provides staff support to the PEDC. Hall was using a speaker phone when he called and never
indicated that Valentino was present. During that conversation, Hall expressed the need for a
PEDC meeting as soon as possible and also discussed whether Valentino’s economic plan was
compatible with a plan being proposed by the Chamber.
At the May 28,2009, PEDC meeting, Valentino stated that the meeting was scheduled at the
request of Sam Hall and himself and that they had met to discuss setting the agenda. He further
stated that his attorney had advised that he is allowed to meet with other PEDC board members discuss procedural matters.
On June 16, 2009, the issues regarding economic development were discussed at the committee
of the whole workshop of the Board of County Commissioners. At that meeting, it was
recommended that the Board of County Commissioners refer the two economic development
plans to the next PEDC meeting to “hammer out” a hybrid plan for eventual approval by
Escambia County and the City of Pensacola.
The next meeting of the PEDC was held on July 1, 2009. At the beginning of that meeting, Sam
Hall made a statement that he had not intentionally violated the Sunshine Law and that he had
discussions with both Mort O’Sullivan and Valentino. Hall later clarified his remarks to state
that he did not believe he violated the Sunshine Law. O’Sullivan has stated that he did have
minimal discussions with Hall regarding the Chamber’s economic development plan but did not
believe it was a violation of the Sunshine. He based this on his belief that the PEDC had no
decision making authority over economic development, such authority belonging to the City and
County. He further stated that he did not anticipate that the issue of economic development
would come before the PEDC until the committee of the whole meeting on June 16, 2009.
As this meeting continued, there was considerable discussion of the competing economic
development plans. The PEDC eventually voted to recommend the Chamber plan to the City and
County. In approving this motion, the PEDC clarified its position that the PEDC had no
authority over which direction economic development would go but was simply indicating a
preference for the Chamber’s plan.
Florida’s Government in the Sunshine Law applies to any gathering of two or more members of
the same board to discuss some matter which will foreseeably come before that board for action.
At the time of the meeting between Valentino and Hall, neither believed that the economic
development plan being developed by Valentino was likely to come before the PEDC for any sort
of action. They did not believe that the PEDC had the authority to make a decision on which
economic development plan would be adopted by the City or County. In addition, there was no
discussion of the elements of Valentino’s plan but simply a request for support by Valentino to
Hall. Under the specific facts of this case, this discussion does not rise to the level ofa Sunshine
violation.
This same conclusion would be reached regarding any discussions between Hall and Mort
O’Sullivan. Neither believed at the time of the discussion that this was a matter that was likely
to come before the PEDC or that the PEDC had any authority over this issue.
As previously stated, this issue did come before the PEDC at their July 1, 2009 meeting. At this
meeting, there was a full and complete discussion in the Sunshine of the issues relating to
economic development prior to any action being taken. A Sunshine violation, if one had
occurred, may be cured by a full, open and independent public hearing regarding the disputed
issue. This would apply in this case.
Finally, Valentino and Hall discussed the need to schedule a PEDC meeting as well as setting
several items on the agenda. While these issues should be handled through staff and not directly
between commission members, this discussion does not rise to the level of a Sunshine violation.
While our review has determined that there was not a Sunshine Law violation, we are concerned
about the appearance of impropriety that the meeting between Gene Valentino and Sam Hall
raises. All members of commissions or boards that are subject to the Sunshine should be acutely
aware of the public perception of their actions. This is especially true for elected officials. The
spirit as well as the letter of the law should be followed at all times.
Northview Splits Preseason Volleyball Classic With Escambia, Walton
August 28, 2009
The Northview Lady Chiefs took to the volleyball court Thursday afternoon in Bratt, beating Escambia of Pensacola and falling to Walton, in a couple of preseason classic games.
Northview vs Walton
Northview beat Walton 25-17, 24-26, 15-11.
- Shawn Montgomery (junior) M Kills-6, Assists-2, Aces-3, Digs-18,Blocks-7
- Ashley Digmon (junior) Setter/DS Kills-1, Aces-4, Assists-5
- Caitlin Hall (senior) Setter Assists-15, Digs-1, Aces-4
- Angela Rodriguez (senior) Left/Middle Kills-3, Aces-2, Digs-2, Blocks-1
Northview vs Escambia
Northview fell to Escambia 25-23, 19-25, 15-17
Shawn Montgomery (junior) M Kills-4, Assists-1, Aces-1, Digs-5,Blocks-4
Raylin Spence (sophomore) Left Side Kills-2, Digs -6, Assists-2
Caitlin Hall (senior) Setter Assists-17, Blocks-2, Aces-4, Kills-1
Angela Rodriguez (senior) Left/Middle Kills-1, Aces-4, Digs-8
The Northview Lady Chiefs kick off their regular volleyball season on the road in Freeport on September 1. The junior varsity will play at 5:00, the varsity hits the court at 6:00.
For a Northview Volleyball schedule, click here (pdf).
Tests Negative For Whooping Cough And Swine Flu At Escambia Jail
August 27, 2009
The Escambia County Jail has been given the all clear by health officials; tests are negative for both H1N1 swine flu and whooping cough.
Officials announced yesterday that all visitations at the jail had been canceled due to a potential outbreak of H1N1 or pertussis, also known as whooping cough. The Centers for Disease Control and the Escambia County Health Department were called in to manage a potential outbreak in both the main jail and Central Booking and Detention.
Sgt. Ted Roy, public information officer for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, announced Thursday morning that the tests were negative both both diseases. He said visitations will resume as normal on Friday.
“The jail will still continue to monitor the situation,” Roy said.
FDLE Investigation Into Atmore Police Shooting Continues; Report To Head To State Attorney
August 27, 2009
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is continuing their investigation into the the death of an Atmore man shot by Atmore Police near Walnut Hill three months ago.
Danny Ray Williams, 33, died May 25 from wounds he received when he was shot by Atmore Police early Sunday morning, May 24 in Walnut Hill. Atmore Police said Williams was seen leaving the scene of a shots fired call in Atmore when they gave chase. That chase came to an end on Highway 97 just south of Kansas Road when officers fired on Williams’ car after they say he attempted to run over them.
“It is still an active and ongoing investigation” Heather Smith, spokesperson for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, told NorthEscambia.com Wednesday afternoon.
The investigation is still in the hands of the FDLE, with the final report set to be turned over to the State Attorney’s Office for review, Smith said. She said it could be a few more weeks before the investigation is completed.
Williams was shot by Atmore police officers following a high speed chase that started in Atmore and ended in Walnut Hill just south of Kansas Road about 1:45 a.m. on May 24.
Atmore Public Safety Directory Glen Carlee said the chase began after a reported shots fired incident near Ashley Street and Jones Street, a location about three miles driving distance from the Florida line. Officers say they spotted the Nissan Altima driven by Williams leaving the area of the shots fired call. That’s when the chase began that eventually crossed the state line into Florida. Carlee said Williams apparently tried to hit an Atmore Police Department cruiser head-on.
Once he stopped and officers approached the car with weapons drawn, Carlee says Williams accelerated toward an officer in an attempt to hit him. That prompted at least two officers to fire at Williams. Florida authorities told NorthEscambia.com at the scene that Williams had been shot at least once in the head.
For a complete gallery of exclusive photos from the scene and inside the car that you will see only on NorthEscambia.com, click here.
For a statement on the shooting released May 25 by the Atmore Police Department, click here.
For NorthEscambia.com’s original story on the shooting, click here.
Pictured above and below: The scene of a shooting involving an Atmore Police Department officer early May 24 in Walnut Hill. Pictured middle: Crime scene investigators from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement work to recover evidence inside the car. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.