Morgan Continues Fight Against Crime In North Escambia, Announces Undercover Drug Buys
April 23, 2009
From bike patrols, to traffic crackdowns, to undercover drug buys, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department has been busy in Century and surrounding areas in North Escambia since a new sheriff took office.
For weeks, undercover officers have videotaped drug buys in Century. Now warrants have been issued and arrests are being made, Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan said Wednesday afternoon.
“We are being more proactive in the north end,” the sheriff said, adding that he expects to put five additional deputies on the streets in North Escambia by August. Overall, Morgan said he would characterize crime in Century to be “mid-level” at worse, not the the level seen in some Pensacola areas where gang activity is rampant.
“While we have been in denial in Escambia County about gangs, we do have them,” Morgan said, adding that his department has identified about 15 different gangs operating in the county. The rival gangs have led to “turf wars”, and several shootings in the past few weeks. The sheriff’s department has identified gang members as young as 1o-years old selling crack cocaine.
“We’ve got some pretty serious issues facing us in law enforcement,” the sheriff said. About 1,200 criminals — guilty of crimes from bad checks to murder — will return to Escambia County’s streets next year after finishing their prison citizens. That, he said, may lead to more crime.
With 300 deputies and a county that stretches from Century to the beaches, Morgan said Century and North Escambia present a unique challenge in law enforcement.
“The response in a city environment is different that in a rural environment,” the first-term sheriff said. “In a small community, they get on their cell phones as soon as you make one arrest, then you are done.”
But that does not deter Morgan.
“I intend to terrorize these guys,” he said. His department has made 512 street level narcotics arrests this year.
“I am coming when I come for them; then I am coming back again,” Morgan said. “You get them off balance and you keep them off balance. They need to know that I’ll be back.”
For economic development to happen in a place like Century, or any other Escambia County community, there must be a safe, low crime environment.
“When you’ve got to pick your street or drive around the crack deals, that’s not going to make a good economy,” he said. There are pockets of crime like that in Century, the sheriff said specifically mentioning about a three block area around Pond Street.
Morgan’s comments were delivered to the Tri-City Rotary Club at the group’s weekly meeting. The sheriff attended the meeting as an invited guest of NorthEscambia.com.
Also at that meeting was Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff Grover Smith.
“I know we’ve got a common state line, and we have to work with your office,” the Escambia, Alabama sheriff told the Escambia, Florida sheriff. “We’re glad to help you in any way. We are very happy with the changes you have made, especially in Century.”
After the Rotary Club meeting in Flomaton, Morgan stopped by the department’s Century Precinct to discuss local crime with the deputies that work Century and surrounding area of North Escambia.
Local residents will have an opportunity to meet Sheriff Morgan, hear him speak and express their concerns about law enforcement in North Escambia at two upcoming meetings. Morgan will hold a town hall meeting at Fran’s Diner in Molino at 6 p.m. on April 30, and a second town hall meeting in Century at the Panhandle Restaurant at 6 p.m on May 7.
Pictured above: Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan (L) looks at a North Escambia crime report with Sgt. David Preston Wednesday afternoon at the department’s Century Precinct. Pictured below (L-R): Morgan discusses crime with Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff Grover Smith and Chief Deputy Mike Lambeth. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Molino Park Students Plant Tree In Memory Of Late Teacher
April 23, 2009
Fifth grade students at Molino Park Elementary planted a tree Wednesday in honor of Earth Day and a beloved teacher that passed away on the last day of school last year.
On the final day of school last year, fourth grade teacher Sharon Smith waved goodbye to her students, turned around and lost her breath. She died a short time later. She spent 36 years of her life educating students at the former Molino Elementary School and at Molino Park.
A year later, Mrs. Smith’s fourth grade students have moved on to fifth grade, but they have not forgotten Mrs. Smith, planting the blooming Japanese cherry tree in her honor Wednesday.
Fifth grade teacher Florence Cutler directed the tree planting after a moment of silence for Mrs. Smith. Several students from Mrs. Smith’s previous fourth grade class shoveled dirt around the tree. Also, bench was donated by the teachers and staff of Molino Park Elementary and placed beside the tree.
For more photos from the tree planting, click here.
To read more about Mrs. Smith, click here for the NorthEscambia.com article about her death from last year.
Mrs. Smith was also honored as one of the NorthEscambia.com Persons of the Year for 2008. To read that story, click here.
Pictured above: Fifth grade students planted a tree in memory of Mrs. Sharon Smith on Wednesday. Pictured below: Mrs. Sharon Smith and her fourth grade class wave goodbye about five minutes before their final walk to the buses on the final day of school last year at Molino Park Elementary School. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
NASCAR Night At Flomaton Speedway; Wallace Places Third
April 23, 2009
Flomaton Speedway had a NASCAR Night Wednesday with NASCAR driver Kenny Wallace racing against local and regional drivers in the IMCA Modified class.
Wallace brought his #36, JEGS-sponsored modified to race with about 17 others in the feature event.
This was the first NASCAR night at the track, and owner Jimmy Goodwin hopes to make it an annual event. A large crowd came out to meet Wallace, get autographs and watch him compete on the 1/4 mile banked dirt track.
Wallace finished third in the main event. After Wednesday night’s race he will be heading to Talladega for more racing this week.
Racing is held every Saturday night with four classes running at Flomaton Speedway. There is no racing this Saturday night, but the action will resume on May 2.
Pictured above: NASCAR driver Kenny Wallace’s #36 at Flomaton Speedway Wednesday night. Pictured inset: Wallace signs autographs. Pictured below: Wallace in a group photo with IMCA Class drivers. Submitted photo by Mike Newton Photography for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
More photos will be available at www.mikenewtonphotography.
Reward Increased For Info In Murder Of North Escambia Woman
April 23, 2009
The reward has been increased for information in the murder of a North Escambia woman found dead in a Pensacola dumpster.
Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers and several businesses have increased the award to $2,600 for information that leads to the arrest of the person or persons responsible for the death of Cheryl Cain.
The body of Cheryl Renee Cain, 29, of Cantonment, was found in a dumpster at an abandoned gas station at the corner of Burgess Road and Highway 29 on March 25.
Crime Stoppers is providing $1,000 of the reward. Bob Tyler Toyota has contributed $1,000, Kim’s Family Pharmacy in Cantonment has contributed $500 and Navy Boulevard Animal Hospital has provided $100 for the reward fund.
All tips to Crime Stoppers can by anonymous. To provide information in this or any other case call 433-STOP (7867).
North Escambia Bus Drivers Meet To Discuss Student Safety
April 23, 2009
The 26 bus operators in Escambia County’s North Sector held an Excellence Forum Wednesday to discuss issues related to student transportation.
The bus operators met at Northview High School with Eric Fritz, the Escambia School District’s director of transportation.
“The meeting was held so that the drivers could make a presentation to Mr. Fritz with ideas and goals for our district transportation department,” said Tina Vickery, route supervisor for North Escambia. “Many ideas and goals were presented with enthusiasm and team spirit as we work together for the safe transportation of our most precious cargo, the school students of the North Sector of Escambia County.”
Northview’s Next Baseball Game Moved Home
April 22, 2009
Northview’s baseball game Thursday has been moved back to Chief territory.
The Chiefs will take on West Florida Tech at home in Bratt at 6:00. It was originally scheduled to be a road game.
Obama Declares 11 Counties Federal Disaster Areas After Floods
April 22, 2009
Eleven Northwest Florida counties, including Santa Rosa, have been declared federal disaster areas following recent floods. Escambia County was not part of the federal declaration.
The Presidential Declaration will provide Public Assistance funds to Bay, Calhoun, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton and Washington counties. The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program has been granted for the entire state.
Escambia County was not part of the federal declaration.
“We are very grateful to the President and FEMA for this declaration,“ said Governor Crist. “These disaster programs are vital to the economic recovery of the communities that have been impacted by the severe weather and flooding.”
Public Assistance funds will provide necessary aid to state and local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations for emergency work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged infrastructure.
New School Hours For Next Year; Informational Meeting Scheduled
April 22, 2009
The Escambia County School District is considering changing school start and dismissal times again, and once again some North Escambia schools will follow a schedule different than the rest of the county. More information about the times will be available Thursday evening when the Escambia County Council of Parent-Teacher Association holds an informational meeting in Pensacola.
Superintendent Malcolm Thomas and district staff from the operations and transportation departments will be at the meeting to explain the changes and take questions from the public. The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. in Room 160 of the J.E. Hall Center at 30 E. Texar Drive in Pensacola.
At the elementary level, Bratt and Molino Park will begin the school day at 7:45 and dismiss at 2:00.
At the middle school level, Ernest Ward will begin the school day at 9:05 and dismiss at 3:45. The earliest students can be dropped off at school will be 8:55. This represents a start and dismissal time 35 minutes later than the current year.
At the high school level, Northview High School will begin at 8:45 and dismiss at 3:20, a big change from this year’s 7:40 start and 2:45 dismissal.
North Escambia school times are different because of the long transport distances in the rural area and a two-tier system where middle and high school students will ride the bus together.
The North Escambia elementary schools will be following the same 7:45 a.m. to 2:00 schedule as the rest of the county’s elementary schools.
Middle schools in the rest of Escambia County will have a 9:20 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. day, a change from their current 9:30 to 4:30 day.
Other high schools in Escambia County will be is session from 8:30 to 3:05, instead of this year’s 8:30 to 3:35 day.
The school times were changed this year, most drastically outside of North Escambia, to save money. By taking over two dozen buses off the road, the school district saved an estimated $1.2 million this year.
The new start and dismissal times recommended by a task force must now be approved by the school board before becoming final.
NorthEscambia.com graphic.
School Board Ready To Sell Old Molino School To County For Library And Community Center
April 22, 2009
A library and community center for Molino made a major move toward becoming a reality Tuesday night when the Escambia County School Board formally agreed to sell the old Molino Elementary School to the county.
The school board will make an offer to sell the property to the Escambia County Commission for $400,000. The funds will be used by the school board in their Local Capital Improvement Fund.
The county has attempted to acquire the old Molino Elementary and Wedgewood Middle properties from the school board for several months.
In July, the county commission offered the school board $2 million for both unused school campuses, but that offer was shot down by the school district. Then-superintendent Jim Paul made a $3.3 million counter offer that the county commission did not accept. The $3.3 million was broken down as $2.9 million for the Wedgewood property and $400,000 for the old Molino School property.
Plans call for the old Molino school to become a community hub, possibly including a 5,000 square foot library, a museum highlighting Molino history, a small health clinic, a business incubator, renovation of the gym and one additional building for community events and private party rental along with other uses.
The library portion of the project is currently ranked number three in Florida for a half million dollars in funding from the state. The grant, if awarded, would require the county to use the facility as a library in Molino for a minimum of 20 years.
The half million dollar grant, if awarded, would be matched by another half million from the county. The county’s portion is already approved, using Local Option Sales Tax funds.
The Molino school closed in 2003 when the new Molino Park Elementary School consolidated Molino Elementary and Barrineau Park Elementary.
The school, which sits on nine acres along County Road 95A, first opened in 1939.
Pictured above: An aerial view of the old Molino Elementary School property on Highway 95A.
Lady Chiefs Advance In District Tourney
April 22, 2009
Northview beat Catholic 5-3 in the District 1-3A Softball Tournament Tuesday.
Miranda Burkett pitched five for the Chiefs, holding Catholic scoreless until the third.
Northview scored one in the first, two in the second and one each in the third and fourth innings.
Sophomores Ashley Digmon and Sarah Killam, junior Aimee Clark and senior Briana Halteman were hitters for the Chiefs.
The Lady Chiefs improve to 11-10 for the year.