West Nile Virus Detected In Escambia Alabama
July 23, 2009
West Nile virus has been detected in Escambia County, Alabama.
The Escambia County Health Department announced that a sentinel chicken from the Riverview area has tested positive for West Nile virus. Ongoing public health surveillance has detected no mosquito-borne virus activity in humans in Escambia County this year.
“With summer in full swing and many people enjoying outdoor activities, it is important that residents make efforts to reduce their exposure to mosquitoes,” said Escambia County Health Department Environmentalist Josh Coleman. “Keep your mosquito repellent with you at all times when you are working or recreating outdoors.”
West Nile virus, EEE and other mosquito-borne viruses are transmitted from bird to mosquito to bird. Occasionally, the same mosquitoes will take blood from mammals, including humans and horses. Humans and horses can sometimes become ill from the infection. The likelihood of transmission to humans and horses can be decreased by personal mosquito avoidance and the use of West Nile and EEE vaccine in horses. There is no vaccine available for humans, health officials said.
Escambia County Health Department established a mosquito control program in 2008 that includes surveillance activities such as mosquito trapping and sentinel chicken surveillance.
These activities are conducted to monitor for mosquito-borne diseases and track mosquito populations. Serum samples are taken each week from the six sentinel chicken flocks and tested for the presence of West Nile, EEE and St. Louis Encephalitis.
Bill Seeks To Return To Prayer To Schools
July 23, 2009
A bill authorizing prayer in public schools has been filed for consideration in next year’s legislative session, despite the ACLU and court rulings in Santa Rosa County.
Rep. Brad Drake, R-Eucheeanna, this week filed HB 31, released from bill drafting on Wednesday, that would allow school boards to permit prayer at a non-mandatory school event, such as an assembly, sporting event or other school-related activity. The bill has been proposed regularly over the past several years, but generally failed to gain any traction. Last year, neither the House or Senate versions even came to a committee vote.
“I don’t think it’s fundamentally right when 700 kids want to pray in school and three are against it, the government sides with those three and prohibits children from having the opportunity to pray to God in our schools,” Drake said.
Drake, who campaigned on the issue, said it will be one of his top priorities for the upcoming legislative session. He said he has not yet spoken with Sen. Ronda Storms, R-Valrico, who sponsored the Senate version last year, but said he would ask her to do so again this year.
The measure would allow district courts to “permit the delivery of an inspirational message, including a prayer or an invocation, at a non-compulsory high school activity, including a student assembly, a sports event, or other school related activity if a majority of the participating students request the delivery of an inspirational message and select a student representative to deliver the message.”
The bill has been typically opposed by the Anti-Defamation League and other civil rights organizations. However, the issue continues to be a hot topic around the country.
Courtenay Strickland, director of public policy and advocacy for the American Civil Liberties Union, said if the bill ever passed, the ACLU would likely challenge it in court. She also said the organization was concerned that schools would be “hung out to dry” if the school authorized a prayer under the law and was then sued by the family of a student.
“People’s ability to practice their religious freedom and their religious beliefs – or lack thereof – is a core American value,” Strickland said.
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, at least 34 states have laws on the books regarding a moment of silence or school prayer. These include neighboring states Georgia and Alabama, which both say teachers must conduct a moment of reflection for no longer than one minute each school day.
Illinois may have had the most stringent law, which said that teachers shall observe a period of silence for silent prayer or reflection on the anticipated activities of the day. However, a federal court ruled the bill unconstitutional earlier this year.
In legislative analysis of last year’s Florida Senate version, analysts wrote that the bill could be subject to a constitutional challenge.
The issue has been the subject of litigation for years in Florida and elsewhere. Duval County’s schools were embroiled in a fight over the issue in the early 2000s and most recently the ACLU and two Pace High School students sued the Santa Rosa County School District in the Panhandle over the alleged promotion of prayer at school events. A federal judge in May found in favor of the students and a consent decree prevented promotion of prayer. Several students later held a prayer protest at their graduation.
Molino Woman Dies From Highway 29 Crash Injuries
July 22, 2009
A Molino woman passed away Wednesday afternoon from injuries she received in a two vehicle accident earlier in the day on Highway 29.
The Florida Highway Patrol says Karen R. Broxson, 23, of Molino was involved in the accident at Highway 29 and 9 1/2 Mile Road at 9:20 Wednesday morning. She was pronounced dead at 4:49 Wednesday afternoon at Sacred Heart Hospital.
The accident happened when a Toyota Rav 4 driven by Katherine L. Hosack, 50, of Cantonment pulled from a stop on 9 1/2 Mile Road into the path of a southbound Chevrolet Blazer driven by Broxson, according to the FHP. Boxson’s Blazer was spun around several times by the force of the impact and overturned in the southbound lanes. The FHP says Broxson was ejected in the crash; she was not wearing a seat belt. Broxson was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital by LifeFlight.
Hosack and her passenger, Khristopher Hosack, 7, were not injured in the crash.
The Florida Highway Patrol says that charges are pending in the accident.
The accident is still under investigation by the FHP.
Pictured top: Broxson’s SUV. Photo courtesy WEAR TV 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge. Pictured inset: a cellphone photo of the scene submitted by Samantha Rigby for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Billings Donated To Gonzalez Jr; Attorney Won’t Confirm $100,000 In Second Safe
July 22, 2009
The Billings family attorney held a press conference Wednesday afternoon, fielding questions about safe supposedly containing $100,000 in the Billings home at the time of their murders.
Billings family attorney Crystal Spencer would not confirm or deny that there was a second safe in the Beulah home. CNN has reported their sources as saying there was about $100,000 in the safe.
“There was nothing illegal in that home in any location that has been found by any investigative agency,” Spencer said.
“The Billings family wants to put these things to rest so that they can begin to grieve,” she said.
She would not comment about the guilt or innocence of any of the suspects that have been arrested in the murders.
She said daughter Ashley Markham has worked in the family auto businesses for about 12 years and there was no business conducted or loan to Leonard Gonzalez Jr.
Spencer said Byrd Billings contributed a “nominal” amount that she believed to be less than $1,000 to Gonzalez Jr.’s Project Fight Back karate program or some other martial arts project. She said it was not out of character for Billings to donate money to many groups.
“We have not been informed of an imminent or additional arrest,” she said.
Code Enforcement Has Been Good For Century; 160 Cited, Most Comply
July 22, 2009
The return of code enforcement to Century has been a good thing, according to the town’s mayor.
Since Century’s contract with Escambia County Code enforcement began in early March, at total of 160 citations have been issued, according to Mayor Freddie McCall. Of those, all of 15 have been cleared up, not counting about a half dozen citations issued just last week.
“The code people have been well received in our town,” McCall said. “People have really cooperated.”
McCall was one of the first to be ticketed by Escambia County Code Enforcement when they returned to Century on March 4. McCall was cited for violations that included trash and debris, an inoperable vehicle, overgrowth and a dilapidated structure on property he owns on McCall Road. McCall said he spent about $550 to clean up his property to bring it into line with the town’s codes. He said he was glad that the county was being fair about their code enforcement actions.
He said the return of code enforcement to Century has encouraged residents to clean up their property, often leading to piles of debris on the town’s streets. At times, the mayor said, there has been a backlog of debris pickups that have stressed the town’s resources. But workers have removed the debris, and that, the mayor said, is leading to much cleaner Century.
Century’s code enforcement agreement calls for Escambia County to provide code enforcement for both county and town ordinances within the town limits. Sandra Slay, Escambia County’s code enforcement manager, told the town council that the enforcement will be “proactive”, The code officers will not respond to citizen complaints within the Town of Century; rather, the officers will seek out violators.
Under the agreement, the Town of Century is responsible for removing nuisance violations, such as tearing down buildings that owners do not repair.
The county is to provide a monthly report of all enforcement activities in Century to the town The county’s enforcement activities are being funded by a Community Development Block Grant. The county is receiving all fines and fees collected from Century violators.
Previously, Century ended an agreement with Escambia County to provide code enforcement in the town. Under that agreement, the county’s code enforcement officers worked Century and wrote citations that were turned over to the town for abatement. The services were provided by the county at no charge to Century.
That earlier arrangement came under fire, with allegations that the county’s officers provided selective enforcement, citing some people but no others. That prompted the council to sever the relationship with Escambia Code Enforcement.
Pictured top: After the owner of building at 9500 North Century Boulevard was cited by Escambia County Code Enforcement, he had the buildings demolished. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
School District To Insure Student Athletes For Free
July 22, 2009
All Escambia County student athletes will have free accident insurance complements of the school district during the upcoming school year.
The bill for $55,820 blanket insurance policy will be paid out of the Escambia County School Districts $9 million reserve fund. The board voted 3-2 Tuesday night to provide the insurance, with Patty Hightower and Gerald Boone voting against the plan. Boone and Hightower instead supported a plan requiring all student athletes to purchase a policy from the school system at $12 per high school student and $6 for each in middle school.
The new insurance plan will be at no cost to student athletes in any sport regardless of their current insurance status. If a child is already insured, the school district policy will serve as secondary coverage, covering additional expenses like co-pays on the primary policy.
During the last school year, if a student provided proof of at least $25,000 in insurance, they were not required to purchase a district policy. If they opted for the district policy, it last year’s cost was $54 for football players, $20 for soccer players and $9.50 for other sports.
The district current has about 5,500 total student athletes.
CNN: Another Safe In Billings Home With $100,000
July 22, 2009
CNN reported late Tuesday night that there was a second safe in the Billings home that contained about $100,000, but the suspects were unable to get into it.
The news network attributed their information to a “source familiar with the investigation”.
Appearing on CNN, Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan would not confirm the existence of the second safe.
Morgan said at a press conference last week that the safe contained personal paperwork such as adoption papers, passports, prescription medication and heirloom jewelry. The medication was prescribed to family members, he said. That is the same contents list provided by Crystal Spencer, the Billings family attorney.
The safe was buried in the backyard of a home owned by Pamela Long Wiggins, according to Morgan, and was covered by bricks.
Suspects: Gonzalez Jr. Was The Only Shooter; More Evidence Recovered
July 22, 2009
Leonard Patrick Gonzalez Jr was the lone shooter in the murder of Byrd and Melanie Billings, according to search warrants that became public Tuesday.
Two of the seven men charged with open counts of murder in the case, Wayne Coldiron and Fredrick Thorton Jr, told investigators they witnessed the murders, and Gonzalez, Jr. (pictured left) was the only shooter, using a 9mm handgun.
A search warrant for a residence of Pamela Long Wiggins offers some insight into the murders. The warrant says Coldiron admitted to his involvement in the home invasion and murders. Coldiron told investigators that he went to a home on Ramblewood Drive in Gulf Breeze, a home he later positively identified from photographs as the home of Wiggins. He said the weapons used in the home invasion were in the residence.
A search of the residence revealed a number of firearms, including a 9mm handgun. Coldiron reported a female at the residence known to him by the first name “Pam”.
Wiggins denied involvement in the murders or home invasion, but indicated that Patrick Gonzalez Jr. was her friend and he “had a key to the residence and permission to come and go as he pleased”.
The search warrant also reveals that Thorton (pictured left) told investigators that after the crime was over, he along with the others rode in an older red van to an unknown location just up the road from the Billings residence. That’s where a safe was transferred into a smaller red minivan. Thorton said he then got into a SUV belonging to Gary Sumner and met again with the others involved at an antique store in Gulf Breeze. Wiggins reportedly owns or operates an antique store in Gulf Breeze.
At the antique store, Thorton said he met a white female who was in the same minivan he had seen the safe transferred to on the side of the road. He said she was in the company of “Pat”, a man whose description matched that of Gonzelez Jr. as the lone shooter in the Beulah incident.
Ten guns total were recovered from Wiggins’ home, including a a 9mm handgun, a .32 caliber handgun, rifles and ammunition and additional handguns. Investigators also seized black gloves, a black cap, more black clothing in an outdoor trashcan, business cards and documents from an office and a black briefcase.
Evidence recovered from Gonzalez, Jr.’s home included possible blood samples from a laundry room wall and door, a piece of carpet from a closet in the master bedroom, black jacket, black gloves, black pants, a computer, a red bungee cord, cell phone, watches and a silver necklace.
Some of the other items recovered so far under the search warrants include:
- blue jeans with suspected blood stain
- water bottles
- a large atlas
- open envelope with four checks payable to “Magnolia Antiques” and $60
- sealed envelope labeled “Deposit Thursday 7/10/09 $140.00″
- brown gloves
- brown loafers and brown boots
- a laptop computer
- $1115 and a cell phone from a purse
- additional cell phones
- “miscellaneous paperwork”
- pill bottle with 39 unknown pills
Molino Road To Be Resurfaced
July 22, 2009
Molino Road west of Highway 29 is set to be repaved.
The project is set to be awarded by the Escambia County Commission Thursday night. At a cost of $858,713.05, the low bidder on the project was Roads, Inc. of Northwest Florida.
The project includes the resurfacing of portions of Molino Road from County Road 99 to Highway 99. The project also includes other work such as stormwater pollution control, mulch, shoulder work and pavement striping.
Roads, Inc. will be allowed to close just one lane at a time during the project only during working hours. They are required to maintain traffic flow at all times.
The Molino Road project will be funding by Local Option Sales Tax funds.
Other bidders on the project were Panhandle Grading and Paving, Inc. for $906,933.12, APAC Southeast, Inc. for $1,287,682.35, and Gulf Atlantic Constructors, Inc. for $1,427,555.12.
Two Benefit Softball Tournaments Planned
July 22, 2009
Two different benefit softball tournaments are planned in North Escambia during August — one to help with a local resident’s medical expenses and one to benefit the Northview High School Quarterback Club.
Benefit Tournament for Marty Green
A coed softball tournament to benefit Marty Green will be held beginning at 8 a.m. on August 1 at Bradberry Park in Walnut Hill. The coed softball team must consist of seven men and three women, double elimination. There is a $200 entry fee. For more information, contact Bodie Tullis at (850) 327-6788 or (850) 327-6722, Theresa Hanks at (850) 327-6722 or Pam Brown at (850) 327-6155.
The tournament is sponsored by Northwest Escambia Little League and Northwest Escambia Football, with all proceeds going toward Marty Green’s medical expenses.
Benefit Tournament For NHS Quarterback Club
The Northview High School Quarterback Club will host a coed softball tournament on Saturday, August 22 at Showalter Park In Century beginning at 8 a.m. The entry fee is $200 per team.
The proceeds will benefit the football program at Northview High School. For complete details and contact information, click here (pdf).