Three People, Two From Molino, Injured In Hit And Run Crash In Cantonment
August 23, 2009
The accident was reported about 7:10 pm at Highway 29 and Woodbury Circle. Three vehicles were involved, but one left the scene, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The FHP says the vehicle that fled, described as a silver or gray color older model truck, should have left front of side damage with possible red paint marks from another vehicle. The vehicle is possibly from the Cantonment of Molino areas, the highway patrol said
The FHP says the pickup that left the scene was northbound on Highway 29 in the right lane. A 1989 Chevrolet was northbound in the left lane when the truck changed lanes and struck the right side of the Chevrolet. The driver of the Chevy lost control, entered the grass median and began to spin, crossing into the southbound lanes.
In the southbound lanes, the Chevrolet was struck by 2009 Chevrolet SUV. Both vehicles came to rest on the southbound shoulder of Highway 29.
The driver of the older Chevrolet has been identified as James E. Sapp, 49, of Molino. His passenger was Bakari K. Taylor, 27, of Molino. They were both transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola where they were critical condition early Sunday morning,
The northbound lanes of Highway 29 were closed for about two hours due to the accident, reopening about 9 p.m.
The accident is still under investigation by the FHP. Anyone with information on the vehicle that left the scene or its driver is asked to call Corporal Johnny Freeman at the Florida Highway Patrol at 484-5000 ext. 316.
Helicopter Technology Building To Be Sold Monday At Courthouse
August 23, 2009
The Town of Century is prepared to bid on the former Helicopter Technology building in the town’s industrial park when it is sold at a foreclosure auction tomorrow — up to about $785,000.
The town council voted to bid up to $745,000 for the building, and then increase their bid up to $785,000. The building will be sold at public auction at 11 a.m. Monday in the second floor lobby of the Escambia County Courthouse.
The final judgment against Helicopter Technologies in favor of the Town of Century was for $740,999.43 — $420,000 as principal, $307,345.08 as interest through July 30, $200 for a title search, $1,125.35 as costs, and $17,342 in attorney’s fees. With interest accruing daily, the total amount of the foreclosure is now about $745,000.
Town Attorney Matt Dannheisser told the council on August 6 by conference call that the town could essentially bid any amount up to the $745,000 and not write a check. By including a second additional judgment in the amount of about $40,000, the town could bid up to $785,000 and essentially not be out of any money since the building proceeds go to the town. If they bid the full $785,000, Dannheisser said the town would have to write a $41,242.71 check to the court, but that money would be returned to the town in about two weeks.
The building was appraised by real estate agent Dee Dee Richie for $800,000 to $900,000. Property appraiser Chris Jones said that the 2009 appraisal on the building would be about $814,000.
“In all likelihood, there’s not going to be any other bids offered,” Dannheisser said. He said there had been no inquiries on the building since it went into foreclosure.
“We just want to get a business there that is viable and working, and get some jobs,” Mayor Freddie McCall said of the town’s desire to keep the building from being sold at auction at a low price.
“If they want to be in Century that bad, I’d love to have them,” Council President Ann Brooks said at that meeting of anyone willing to outbid the town’s $785,000 proposed bid.
If the town makes the winning bid for the building on August 24, the town will be required to pay back taxes from 2008 of $16,824 plus additional property taxes that have accrued since January 1.
Click here to read the court’s judgment ruling (pdf)
Pictured top: File photo showing the inside the Helicopter Technology building in February 2008. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
NWE Midgets Beat Ensley, Gulf Breeze
August 23, 2009
The 2009 season for Northwest Escambia Football got underway Saturday at the Gulf Breeze Jamboree.
The NWE Midgets beat Ensley Gold 6-0 and dominated Gulf Breeze Blue 13-0. NWE rushed for 200 yards combined in two 25 minute quarters.
The NWE Mini-Mites beat Gulf Breeze White 6-0.
Northwest Escambia’s regular season gets underway next Saturday at the Ernest Ward football field against Pace Blue. The Mini-Mites take the field at 9:00; the Mites play at 10:30 and the Midgets are in action at noon.
NWE is off on September 5 and travels to Myrtle Grove on September 12.
Everyone is invited to support Northwest Escambia Football — the future Ernest Ward Eagles and Northview Chiefs.
Special Section: Back To School Info You Need To Know
August 23, 2009
School starts Monday in Escambia County, and we have the last minute information you need to know, including start times, school supply lists, lunch prices, and information on free and reduced price lunches.
Click a link to visit that story.
- School Start Times
- School Lunch Prices
- Free And Reduced Lunch Guidelines
- School Lunch Menus
- School Supply Lists
Lay, Freeman Defense Fund Surpasses $32,000 In ACLU Prayer Case
August 23, 2009
The criminal defense fund for Frank Lay and Robert Freemen continues to grow.
Lay, the Pace High School principal, and Freeman, Pace athletic director, face federal criminal charges for praying before a meal at a field house dedication despite an order against prayer in Santa Rosa County Schools issued in response to an ACLU lawsuit.
Started on Monday, August 3, the fund was at $5,220 by Thursday, August 6. By this past Friday, the fund balance was at $32,246.81. The funds will be used to pay the legal expenses for Lay and Freeman, and fund organizers say that if there are any funds leftover after all legal fees are paid, they will be donated to the Liberty Counsel. The non-profit Liberty Counsel provides legal services and actively fights the ACLU.
The Liberty Counsel was actively involved in the defense of Michelle Winkler, cleared by a federal judge on Friday on charges she violated the no-prayer order. (Read more here.)
A web site set up for the two men, layfreemandefense.com, asks supporters to make donations to the Lay and Freeman Defense Fund at any First National Bank of Florida. The site is also selling t-shirts for $10 and plans a fund raising supper and concert September 10 at the Farmer’s Opry in Chumuckla.
The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit in federal court almost a year ago against the Santa Rosa School District, Pace High School Principal Frank Lay and then-Santa Rosa Superintendent John Rogers. The suit alleged that Santa Rosa County Schools “persistently and persuasively promote their personal religious beliefs in the public schools and at school events”.
A federal court order earlier this year prohibited, among other things, any prayer in schools, “reading from a sacred text”, “calling upon a deity to offer guidance, assistance or a blessing” and religious services such as baccalaureate services. There are circumstances were student-led prayers are permissible, but school employees are prohibited to participate in the prayer, even prohibited from “a posture or manner that is likely to be perceived as an endorsement of prayer, e.g. bowing their heads, kneeling or folding their hands”.
Teen Dies In West Roberts Road Accident
August 22, 2009
A Friday afternoon crash on West Roberts Road left one teen dead and two other people injured.
The Florida Highway Patrol says Kayla D. Baker, 17, of Pensacola was westbound on West Roberst Road when she ran off the road and over corrected. Her 1998 Dodge truck overturned, ejected her and Amanda Clifton, 18, of Pensacola. Both Baker and Clifton were ejected.
Baker was pronounced dead. Clifton was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in serious condition. A third passenger, Kevin Quinn, 20, received on minor injuries in the crash. None of the three were wearing seatbelts, according to the FHP.
There were no other vehicle involved in the crash.
Confirmed: Poarch Creek Indians To Purchase Greyhound Parks In Mobile And Pensacola
August 22, 2009
Saturday afternoon, the Poarch Creek Indians confirmed what NorthEscambia.com first reported early Saturday morning: The tribe is purchasing a majority interest in the Mobile Greyhound Park and the Pensacola Greyhound Park.
Court records in Escambia County show that the Poarch Band of Creek Indians PCI Gaming Authority has held the $3,450,000 mortgage on the Pensacola Greyhound Park since May 15 of this year.
The Poarch Creek Indians opened the Wind Creek Casino in Atmore back in January. The casino’s only games are video bingo machines that resemble slot machines. The casino does not offer card or table games.
In February, the Escambia County Commission reversed a December vote, allowing the Pensacola Greyhound Park to offer table poker games. The park has not offered the poker games to date.
Following Saturday morning’s NorthEscambia.com report, the Poarch Creek Indians issued the following statement:
PCI Gaming Authority, a wholly owned entity of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, today announced that it will make a substantial investment in two pari-mutuel greyhound tracks. PCI will invest in Mobile Greyhound Park located in Theodore, AL and Pensacola Greyhound Track located in Pensacola, FL. The transaction is pending final approval by the respective regulatory bodies governing the two race tracks.
Both Mobile Greyhound Park and Pensacola Greyhound Track have been owned and operated for many years by a partnership comprised of several local families. These families will retain interest in the respective tracks and will partner with PCI in the ownership of these facilities. The new owning partnerships will be Mobile Greyhound Racing, LLP and Pensacola Greyhound Racing, LLP.
Jay Dorris, President of PCI Gaming, noted, “This new venture will keep jobs in the Gulf Coast region and will preserve an entertainment tradition that is important to our area. The families who have owned the race tracks for more than thirty years have deep and important ties to their community. We are pleased to be their partners and excited about what PCI Gaming can add to these great businesses.”
The employment base at these greyhound race tracks is approximately 300 people. Dorris says he expects to retain those current positions. Additionally, with the substantial capital investments PCI Gaming plans to make to both venues, Dorris says he fully expects the employment base to grow.
The purchase of the race tracks by PCI Gaming is the first foray in to non-Indian gaming by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. The race tracks will remain truly commercial interest that are taxed and regulated by the respective state and local governing bodies. Dorris said, “It is vitally important, especially during these tough economic times, that counties and states continue to build a tax base. Both of these businesses will be valuable sources of tax revenue, and they will continue to provide crucial employment opportunities.”
Currently, PCI Gaming employs 1,600 people working at 3 different sites in Alabama; The Wind Creek Hotel and Casino, The Riverside Casino in Wetumpka, and the Tallapoosa Casino in Montgomery. Tribal businesses paid more than $10.3 million in payroll inventory and other taxes last year.
Speaking on behalf of the legacy families owning both pari-mutuel tracks, Joe Morrison, President of Pensacola Greyhound Track said, “We are pleased and excited to partner with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians to invest in the growth, stability, and continuity of these businesses. The Poarch Band of Creek Indians is comprised of many families who live, work, and recreate in our area. The Pensacola Mobile corridor is fortunate to have the Poarch Band of Creek Indians as a part of our community, and our companies are fortunate to have reached an agreement with them to invest in our partnership. Our plan is to have a long and fruitful relationship with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. And we believe it will be one that benefits all of our families and both of these great communities.”
Judge: School Clerk Did Not Violate Order Against Prayer In ACLU Case
August 22, 2009
A federal judge has cleared Santa Rosa School District clerk Michelle Winkler of violating federal court against prayer in school.
Winkler asked her husband to offer a prayer at a district employee recognition program. That prayer alledgedly violated an agreement between the ACLU and the Santa Rosa County School district that banned employees from promoting religion or praying at school functions.
Emails from the district to Winkler had instructed her not to pray at the February school function. Instead, she was told to offer a thought for the day and a moment of silence.
U.S. District Court Judge Casey Rodgers ruled early Friday evening that Winkler was not one of the parties in the original lawsuit agains the school district, Pace High School Principal Frank Lay and then-Santa Rosa Superintendent John Rogers. Judge Rodgers also ruled that Winkler did not know that the event where she asked her husband to pray was covered by the settlement in the federal lawsuit.
The Liberty Council argued on Winkler’s behalf that the annual Employee of the Year banquet was not a school sponsored event, but rather an event sponsored by the non-profit Santa Rosa Educational Foundation.
Lay and Pace High School Athletic Director Robert Freeman also face federal contempt charges and are due in court on September 17.
Lay asked Freeman to bless a meal where sports boosters had gathered to celebrate the completion of a new field house on January 28
In February, Winkler was instructed by District Administrator Jud Crane to offer a two to three minute “thought for the day” that was to not include a prayer. In an email exchange, Crane assumed that Winkler would withdraw from speaking if she could not offer prayer.
“I’m still on, and be unfearful of the current events, with your ‘off the record’ permission, I would like to use the prayer that I had prayed about and received from God and will suffer whatever consequences for,” Winkler wrote in an email. “I cannot be silent as God is my very life and Christ is who I am.”
“I simply cannot compromise my LORD. Like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah,” she wrote in another email, “I simply won’t bow down to another god.”
Here are the words that Michelle Winkler’s husband spoke at a school employee awards ceremony that had the ACLU seeking the federal contempt order:
“I love the way You have created each of with a purpose which includes the need to serve one another in ways that bring encouragement and inspire each of us to help one another to excel.
Tonight we celebrate some of those who are an inspiration to us and in whose deeds we have been blessed.
There is a Tree (Christ), on which grows the fruits of life: love joy and peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control.
May we each eat freely from that tree and thereby extend that same grace and mercy to one another as You have faithfully committed Yourself of lavish on us.
Thank You, Father God- in Jesus’ holy and precious name – Amen.
Pictured top: Michelle Winkler and her attorney Horetio Minhet outside the federal courthouse in Pensacola Friday. Photos courtesy WEAR TV for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Big Change In The Weather: Cold Front Brings North Winds, Lows Around 60
August 22, 2009
Expect a big change in the weather for your weekend — daytime sun with lower humidity and overnight lows in the low 60’s.
Here’s the official North Escambia weather forecast from the National Weather Service:
- Today: Sunny, with a high near 90. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 62. North wind around 5 mph.
- Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. North wind around 5 mph.
- Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 60. North wind around 5 mph.
- Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. North wind around 5 mph becoming southeast.
- Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 63. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Wednesday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 89. East wind around 5 mph becoming south. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
- Wednesday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Thursday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 90. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Give The Gift Of Life: Blood Drive Sunday In Molino
August 22, 2009
Northwest Florida Blood Services will host a blood drive Sunday in Molino.
The Bloodmobile will be at Aldersgate United Methodist Church from 8 am to 11 am Sunday, and at Highland Baptist Church from noon until 2 pm. All donors will receive a free t-shirt and be entered to win a 2009 Kia Soul.
When you donate to Northwest Florida Blood Services, you can save the life of a hospital patient in northwest Florida. Northwest Florida Blood Services is the exclusive provider of blood products to more than 24 area hospitals who need 175 blood donations a day. Each donation can save up to three lives.
Requirements for giving blood are below.
- Donors must be in generally good health
- At least 17 years of age, without permission. 16-year olds are now allowed to donate with permission granted by parents or legal guardians.
- Must bring picture ID
- Weigh at least 110 lbs
- Free of infection, fever or flu symptoms, for 3 days
- No cancer within the last 5 years
- No antibiotics within the last 48 hours
- No tattoos within the past 12 months
- No chest pain, heart disease, heart surgery (Requires written physician release with diagnosis)
- No history of viral hepatitis
- Cannot have lived in France for 5 years or more between 1980 and the present
- Cannot have lived or visited in the UK for a total of 3 months or more from 1980 to 1996
- Cannot have received a blood transfusion in the UK between 1980 and the present
- Military personnel (current and former), and their dependents, who spent time in military bases in northern Europe during 1980-1990, or southern Europe during 1980-1996, for 6 months or more
- All military personnel (active & reserve) that are returning from Iraq, are deferred for a period of 1 year after the last date on location in that country.