Sheriff’s Traffic Unit Targets Century Speeders
April 15, 2009
One after another, Escambia deputies pulled speeders over in Century Tuesday.
Several deputies from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department Traffic Unit conducted the operation, stopping car after car for violating the posted 35 mph speed limit on Highway 29 in Century.
“The new sheriff has heard the complaints, and we are going to beef up traffic operations in the north part of the county as much as we can,” said ECSO Traffic Unit Sgt. Ray Griffith in a recent NorthEscambia.com interview. “We are going to answer those complaints.”
The Traffic Unit often spends days in Pensacola working traffic in between escorting funerals. But Sheriff David Morgan has directed the unit to crack down on traffic in North Escambia when time allows, making traffic control a priority.
The Traffic Unit worked a similar operation in Walnut Hill about a month ago, and Griffith promised NorthEscambia.com at that time that a crackdown would be coming in Century.
The tickets being written Tuesday were not cheap. Driving 50 mph in a 35 mph zone is a $266 ticket. Hit 30 mph over the posted speed limit, and the ticket has no fixed cost. The offender is required to see a judge, and the judge sets the fine amount at his or her discretion.
Northview Releases Honor Roll
April 15, 2009
Northview High School has released its honor roll for the third nine weeks period as follows:
High Honors 4.0
9th grade
Holly Nicole Dickson
10th grade
Sarah Malinda Killam
Emily Faith Vickrey
11th grade
Kaitlyn Nicole Caraway
Clinton Eugene Davis
Mark Allen Shipps Jr.
12th grade
Gretchen Denea Boughner
Melissa Nicole Garrett
Jessica Maria Mothershed
Fredrick Lamario Smith
Honors 3.50-3.99
9th grade
Nathan Cole Commander
Josie Britt Doucette
Amber Dianne Francis
Jacob Nathaniel Gibson
Chelsea Grace Parham
Alexander Dewayne Payne
Tyler Lindsay Randolph
Timothy Lucas White
Elizabeth Ashley Wright
10th grade
Mallory Ann Bell
Allyson Michelle Bullard
Sara Lynn Conner
Ashley Elizabeth Digmon
James Tyler Garrett
Laneicia Dinette Gomez
Jocelyn Marlese Gould
David Aaron Lambert Jr.
Dabney Harrison Langhorne
Michael Todd Lowery
Dixie Lynn Picheo
Brianna Renae Roley
Christina Nicole Sepulveda
Hayley Renee Simpson
Colton Darryl Sims
Stephanie Leann Solari
Allison Ayers Vidak
Ladarion Bernard White
Katie Marie Wieborg
11th grade
Jessica Nicole Bloodsworth
Kolbi Shae Cobb
Bradley James Lowery
Amber Nicole McMillan
John Anthony Sellars
Felicia Michelle Settle
Jackson Helton Smith
Dakota Wayne Stuckey
12th grade
Richard Kyle Braun
Kayla Sue Brewer
Clarence Alfred Brown III
Olivia Kaylen Bryan
Coty James Chance
Tiffany Lynne Chance
Amy Nicole Conner
Stephanie Leigh Doucette
Lanie Jeannine Eubanks
Jamison Blayne Garrett
Melissa Nicole Garrett
Briana Renea Halteman
Stormy Brooke Hayes
Amber Renae Holland
Luke Fletcher Killam
Jody Wade Levins
Samantha Parry Merritt
Dustin Ryan Odom
Summer Denise Sanders
Amanda-Ann Morgan Sellars
Aaron Richard Sharpless
James Anthony Sharpless
Chelsea Ellen Sims
Ashley Arlene Snow
Amie Jolynn Sutton
Garbell Sharda Wesley
Kayla Dlaine Wheeler
Dinner Theater “Death Of Doornail” To Benefit Relay For Life
April 15, 2009
A dinner theater event Friday night will benefit the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.
The Byrneville Elementary and Byrneville Friends Relay for Life teams will present “Death of Doornail” in a dinner theater event Friday night at 7:00 at the school.
Tickets are $10.00 in advance and $12.00 at the door Friday. All proceeds go to American Cancer Society. Tickets can be purchased at the school.
Albritton Wins GOP Nomination For Alabama Senate Seat
April 15, 2009
Greg Albritton won Tuesday’s Republican primary for a state senate seat representing eight Alabama counties, including Escambia. He will face Democratic candidate Marc Keahey of Grove Hill for the District 22 seat left vacant early this year by the death of Sen. Pat Lindsey.
Elections officials said that voter turnout was dismal Tuesday, with under 7 percent of registered voters heading to the polls.
Albritton, a former state representative from Range, won each of the eight counties in the district except Mobile. In Mobile County, Citronelle businesswoman Judy Belk came out on top. Overall, the state GOP says Albritton received 57 percent of the vote, beating Belk and Danny Joyner, a Brewton businessman.
The general election for the seat that pays $52,646 plus expenses will take place June 2.
Northview Baseball Schedule Changes For This Week; Final JV Game Of Season
April 14, 2009
Rainouts and cancellations have led to some schedule changes for the Northview Chief’s varsity baseball team.
Northview will travel to Pensacola Catholic Thursday with the varsity playing at 6:30 p.m. The final JV game of the season will be played against Catholic at 4:00.
Friday night, the Chiefs will host Walton at 6:00 in a varsity game.
Saturday, the Chiefs will travel to Washington for a 3:00 varsity game.
Updated: Where’s The Sign? Speed Limit Lowered On Portion of Highway 29
April 14, 2009
(Updated 11:30 a.m.) The speed limit on Highway 29 has been lowered on the north side of Cantonment, and a NorthEscambia.com story published this morning led traffic engineers to realize that a 65 mph speed zone was gone due to a missing sign.
From Neal Road north to Molino, the speed limit was to be 65 mph north and southbound, but the company contracted to install speed limit signs for the Florida Department of Transportation failed to install the 65 mph sign in the northbound lanes at Neal Road — making the posted speed limit 55 all the way to Molino.
Russ Flowers, a supervisor will Transfield Services says that a miscommunication led to the missing sign. He said it will be installed within the next two days, after appropriate paperwork is approved. That sign will officially return the 65 mph speed limit to Highway 29 northbound from Cantonment to Molino.Transfield was the contractor hired by the state to install the signs.
The southbound signage on Highway 29 is correct, with a 65 mph zone from Molino to Cantonment.
Dozens of NorthEscambia.com readers and local law enforcement members contacted us this morning after our orginal story to alert us of the missing sign. We contacted the Florida Department of Transportation and Transfield Services to alert them to the missing sign.
Below is the original story as published this morning:
“It was decreased and extended further to the north in order to provide a smooth transition between the 45 mph speed limit…and the 65 mph speed limit,” according to Tommie Speights, spokesperson for the Florida Department of Transportation.
The 45 mph speed zone was expanded north to near the intersection of Harvest Hill Drive near Cantonment Building Materials.
The 55 mph speed zone was moved north to near Neal Road.
From near Neal Road north, the speed limit remains at 65 mph to Molino, just as it has since 1996, Speights said.
The speed limit changes encompasses both the northbound and southbound lanes.
Escambia Consolidation Bill Headed For House Vote
April 14, 2009
The Florida House bill that, if approved, would led to the formation of a commission to study the consolidation of the governments of Century, Pensacola and Escambia County has cleared three required house committees and is headed to a House vote.
The Military and Local Affairs Policy Committee cleared the bill on an 11-0 vote Monday afternoon, clearing the way for the entire Florida House to consider the bill.
The Finance and Tax Council and the Economic and Community Affairs Policy Council had previously cleared the bill sponsored by State Rep. Greg Evers.
If the bill is approved by the legislature and signed by the governor, a consolidation study commission will be formed in Escambia County.
Once a consolidation plan is created by the study commission, it is to be submitted to the Escambia County Commission, the City of Pensacola and the Town of Century for action before submission to the Escambia County legislative delegation by January 15, 2010. Once approved by the legislature, the plan would presented to Escambia County voters.
Century, Pensacola and Escambia County will not be required to pay for the commission, under the house bill, but they will be required to provide clerical, technical and legal assistance to the commission.
The commission, to be appointed by July 1 of this year, would include up to 25 members from various groups in the county.
The commission will include:
- Five members appointed by the Escambia County Commission, with one member being appointed from each district
- One member appointed by the Century Town Council, with that member being a resident of Century
- Two members appointed by the Pensacola City Council, both of them being residents of Pensacola
One member will be appointed by each of the following groups:
- NAACP
- Escambia County Taxpayer’s Association
- League of Women Voters of Pensacola Bay Area
- Pensacola Young Professionals
- Pensacola Ministerial Alliance
- Escambia County Farm Bureau
- Home Builders Association of West Florida
The president of the University of West Florida will appoint one member with expertise in local government matters. The sheriff, tax collector, property appraiser, clerk of court and supervisor of elections will each appoint one member.
The chief judge of the First Judicial Circuit will appoint two Florida Bar members with legal expertise in local government matters.
One member will be appointed by the Escambia County School Board, and the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority will appoint a member.
A special advisory committee on public safety will be appointed under the house bill, consisting of the following or their designee:
- Escambia County Sheriff
- Pensacola Police chief
- Escambia County Community Corrections Bureau
- Escambia County Public Safety Bureau Chief
- Pensacola fire chief
- Escambia County Medical Director
- chairperson of the Escambia County Fire Services Advisory Board
- Police Benevolent Association of the City of Pensacola
- Police Benevolent Association of Escambia County
- Chapter of of the International Association of Firefighters of the City of Pensacola
A special advisory committee on economic development will be appointed, including members appointed by the following groups:
- Pensacola Junior College
- Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce
- Perdido Key Chamber of Commerce
- Pensacola Downtown Improvement Board
- Gulf Coast African American Chamber of Commerce
- local chapter of the Florida Black Chamber of Commerce
- Florida’s Great Northwest
- Town of Century Chamber of Commerce
- Walnut Hill Ruritan Club
- Pensacola Beach Chamber of Commerce
An advisory committee on health care will be appointed by:
- Baptist Health Care
- Sacred Heart Health System
- West Florida Hospital
- Escambia County Health Department
- Escambia County Medical Society
Click here to read the entire bill (pdf format).
Teacher Disciplined For Using Racial Slur; SCLC Says N-word Is Problem In Escambia Schools
April 14, 2009
A white teacher in North Escambia County has been disciplined for using racial slurs in an email that referred to a black custodian as “the n” and “Miss Maid”. Meanwhile, the Pensacola Chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference says that the use of the “N”-word is a problem in Escambia schools.
Jennifer Dickens, a seventh grade reading teacher at Ransom Middle School, wrote the email to the school’s assistant principal, saying “I’ve had it with the n who is supposed to be cleaning my room” in reference to problems she had with the quality of work from a black custodian at the school.
The spokesperson for the Pensacola chapter of the SCLC, Art Rocker, sent an email to the media Monday night with the subject line “Use of the word ‘Nigger’ is an epidemic with staff and administrators at Escambia County School District”.
Rocker refers to a preliminary finding by a U.S. district judge in the case of Karen Broughton, a black woman, who is suing the Escambia County School District for discrimination. Broughton’s lawsuit was filed two years ago after she says she was transferred from Warrington Middle School to Pensacola High School after she complained a white co-worker used the “N”-word in front of students. A U.S. district judge refused to dismiss the lawsuit on a motion by the school board.
Later today, the SCLC will release a copy of a letter written to Florida’s education commissioner. In a copy of the letter obtained by NorthEscambia.com, Rocker suggest that Gov. Charlie Crist “do a press conference on the ‘n’ word, where educators use it loosely with our children in the Escambia School District”.
“This term is most inflammatory, degrading and insulting to African-American students and staff,” Rocker’s letter says. “The use of this term is also very unprofessional and unethical.”
Rocker claims that the use of the “N”-word has occurred at Ransom Middle School, Pensacola High School, Escambia High School and Woodham Middle School. Rocker also calls for certification revocation for six people in the school district, including former Superintendent Jim Paul, Deputy Superintendent Norm Ross, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Allan Scott and three others.
“The past leadership of Escambia County must leave, now, under the Jim Paul bigotry team, SCLC is requesting new leadership, new staffing and revocation of all participants licenses,” Rocker wrote in his email to the media. “These people should not be allowed to oversee students, parents or staff.”
The SCLC plans to hold a press conference today to further explain their position and their letter to the state’s education commissioner.
All Aboard: Flomaton Area Railroad Museum
April 14, 2009
The Flomaton Area Railroad Museum houses a look back at the area’s railroad past, and the museum is asking for your help.
The museum is looking for individuals that have knowledge of local history to share that knowledge, and they are looking for historical items for the museum. In addition to railroad items, the museum is in search of other local history items related to local history in and around Flomaton, South Flomaton (present day Century) and the surrounding area.
“Flomaton and the surrounding areas have a rich history,” said the FARRM’s Publicity Director Betty Jones. “The museum is a place everyone should visit.”
The Flomaton Area Railroad Museum, located on Sidney Manning Boulevard (Highway 29) at College Street, is open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and it also serves as the official Flomaton Welcome Center. Admission is free.
The group now has over 70 charter member families, and they are seeking new members. Membership is $20 yearly for a family, $10 for seniors.
The group meets every second Tuesday of the month, including tonight, at the museum. For more information on the Flomaton Welcome Center and the Flomaton Area Railroad Museum, call (251) 296-1100.
Click here for a photo tour of the Flomaton Area Railroad Museum.
Pictured top: One of the displays in the Flomaton Area Railroad Museum includes the backdrop painting from Flomaton’s Centennial Play last year. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Sheriff Schedules North Escambia Town Hall Meeting
April 14, 2009
Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan will conduct a Town Hall Meeting for citizens of Northern Escambia County Thursday, April the 30th at 6 p.m. in Molino.
The purpose of the meeting is to meet with citizens, particularly from Northern Escambia County, and answer any questions that they may have, according to the sheriff’s department.
The meeting will take place at tFran’s Country Grill, 5539 Highway 29 in Molino. The public is encouraged to attend.