No Charges In Case Of Century Man Shot By Off-Duty Cop At Bar
April 10, 2009
No charges will be filed against the off-duty Foley police officer that shot a Century man late last year outside a Pensacola bar.
Assistant State Attorney David Rimmer said in a report released Thursday that Foley Officer Maurice Wiley acted in self-defense when he shot Johnny Cloud of Century in the abdomen on December 27 outside Boomerzz Lounge on New Warrington Road. On January 18, Cloud died at Baptist Hospital from complications related to the gunshot wound.
“It’s my opinion that Mr. Wiley was justified in shooting Mr. Cloud,” Rimmer wrote in his report.
Wiley, who is black, entered the lounge about 2:30 a.m., and three white men began making racial slurs, according to a news release from the Foley Police Department. Wiley decided to leave bar after one of the three men said he was going to get a pistol, but he was confronted by the three men in the parking lot, according to the Foley release.
Cloud allegedly tried to sneak up behind Wiley with a knife. That’s when Wiley identified himself as a police officer, and ordered Cloud to drop the knife. When Cloud continued toward Wiley, Wiley fired a single shot that hit Cloud in the abdomen, according to authorities.
Escambia authorities say several witnesses confirmed Wiley’s story. Wiley was placed on paid administrative leave by the Foley Police Department. He was later cleared by the Foley Police Department of any wrongdoing.
Cloud had a long arrest record, according to Rimmer’s report, with over 40 arrests for burglary, aggravated assault, aggravated stalking, felony battery, kidnapping and harassing phone calls.
Easter Bunny, Egg Hunt At Century Library
April 10, 2009
The Easter Bunny made an early stop the Century Branch Library Thursday afternoon. Dozens of kids and kids at heart had the chance to meet Peter Cottontail himself, hear an Easter story, compete in a spoon race and take part in a big Easter Egg Hunt. For a complete photo gallery from the event, click here. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Trail Ride Benefits Murder Victim’s Family
April 10, 2009
A benefit trail ride in memory of Cheryl Cain was held Saturday.
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. There have been no arrests in the murder, but Escambia County deputies said they have possible suspects the case.
The trail ride will beganSaturday morning at the Circle Feed and Tack Store on Highway 90 in Holt and ended about 15 miles away in Baker at this past weekend’s Baker Rodeo.
“It’s about a five hour ride with a long lunch,” said Jimmy Kennedy, one of the ride’s organizers and longtime Cain family friend.
Kennedy said he was helping to organize the ride because Cain was such a great person.
“I’ve known her and her family for many, many years. She was a good friend, and they are all really good people,” he said.
Funds from the trail ride will go to the family to use as reward money as the search continues for Cain’s killer. There was a requested $5 donation to ride, but larger donations were accepted.
Riders met at the Circle Feed and Tack Store on Highway 90 in Holt.
To donate to the fund, contact Jimmy at (850) 516-6850 or Darryl at at (850) 516-6652.
Century Care Center Beauty Takes Part In Pageant
April 10, 2009
Ms. Katherine Rutherford competed in the annual Ms. Northwest Florida Senior Pageant Thursday morning.
Ms. Rutherford represented Century Care Center in the pageant.
“She didn’t win the pageant, but she sure scared them all,” said Mae Hildreth, Century Care Center’s activities director. ” She was, in my opinion, the most beautiful one there. She did great.”
The Ms. Northwest Florida Senior Pageant is sponsored by the District XII Florida Health Care Association, and they invite each Nursing Home and Assisted Living Facility (ALF) in the area to send a contestant.
Sue Straughn, news anchor for WEAR, was the mistress of ceremonies for the event at Sacred Heart Health System in Pensacola.
Click here for more pictures from the pageant.
Pictured above: Sue Straughn interviews Ms. Katherine Rutherford during the Ms. Northwest Florida Senior Pageant Thursday morning. Pictured left: Ms. Rutherford with Century Care Center Director Don Ripley. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Looks To Bring Ice Hockey Back
April 10, 2009
Escambia County could once again be home to a hockey team after a vote Thursday morning by the Escambia County Commission.
The commission voted 3-0 to explore lease options with the Southern Professional Hockey League to bring hockey back to the Pensacola Civic Center, which was known as the “Hanger” for 12 years while it hosted the Pensacola Ice Pilots. Commissioners Kevin White and Grover Robinson were out of town for Thursday’s meeting of the commission’s Committee of the Whole.
The return of ice hockey to the Pensacola Civic Center is not without a price tag; it will cost at least $247,244 to upgrade Civic Center equipment for ice hockey.
The majority owner of the team would be former winger for the Philadelphia Flyers Tim Kerr. Kerr owned the Ice Pilots for two years before it was sold in 2005. Kerr says he will write a $1 million check to get the team started.
Kerr wants a lease on the Civic Center at $2,000 per game, considerably less than the $3,500 paid by the Ice Pilots per game. He also wants 15 percent of the concession receipts; the Ice Pilots got nothing off concessions.
The new team would pay 30 games instead of the 38 played by the Ice Pilots, and an extra $1 would be added to each ticket for the team.
Under the commission’s direction, County Administrator Bob McLaughlin is to negotiate a lease with the SPHL for board approval by May 1.
Flood Warning For Escambia River Finally Over
April 10, 2009
Nearly two weeks after flooding rains hit North Escambia, the flood warning for the Escambia River has been canceled.
The Escambia River near Century fell to 17 feet Thursday night and is expected to continue falling. Flood stage for the river is 17 feet. Some minor flooding of lowlands will continue until the river falls below 13 feet.
Molino Responds To Brush Fire
April 9, 2009
The Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue was dispatched a brush fire near Jacks Branch Road and South Highway 99 about 7:00 Thursday evening.
When they arrived, they discovered a small fire on the Alabama side of the Perdido River. The fire was quickly extinguished.
The Gateswood Volunteer Fire Department from Baldwin County, Ala., was also dispatched to the fire.
Century May Take State To Court Over Prison Water Bills
April 9, 2009
The Town of Century may be taking the Florida Department of Corrections to court to collect for utility service the town says is owed for Century Correctional Institute.
The town is looking to collect almost $300,000 from the Florida Department of Corrections for water bills the town says the state owes. The town has asked the prison system to pay up, but so far it looks like the billing will end up in court, according to Mayor Freddie McCall.
“It looks like we are going to have to enter a court proceeding,” McCall said.
Under the town’s contract to provide water for the Century Correctional Institute, there is an added charge for water usage above 6 million gallons per month.
McCall said ongoing high water consumption by the prison was somehow overlooked, and now the town wants the prison system to pay up a grand total of $298,751.54 in overusage charges dating back to January 2000.
The state did pay over usage charges on recent bills, McCall said, but they failed to pay the town’s bill for charges from January 2000 to May 2008.
“They’ve done admitted guilt because they sent me those checks,” McCall said of the four payments received from the state.
Gas Problems Settled
The Town of Century was successful in recovering over $300,000 for prison system natural gas usage. The town received a $302,488.40 check in late October to cover back gas billings for the Century Correctional Institute.
The dispute stemmed from billing practices that dated back to 2000. Under the town’s agreement with the DOC and Century Correctional Institute, the prison was to pay for natural gas at the rate of 120 percent of the town’s actual cost. The town’s billing system would generate a bill at the normal rate, then town employees would re-rate the bill and send a new bill about 10 days later at the 120 percent rate. That adjustment was originally done twice a year based upon the rate from nine months earlier.
But in 2000, there was spike in natural gas prices, Matt Dannheisser, the town’s attorney said recently, and the town went back to the DOC that agreed to pay 100 percent of the town’s cost on a monthly basis. But they did not agree to pay the 20 percent profit margin until a new agreement was reached.
Town Accountant Robert Hudson had reported to the council several months ago that the DOC owed about $569,000 in back payments for natural gas. But that amount included $127,000 in interest that Dannheisser said the DOC was not willing to pay, and the DOC disputed some of the billing amounts.
The check received in October was deposited into the town’s gas fund, McCall said, with the town council to make the eventual decision what to do with the funds.
Popular Atmore Teacher Continues To Recover After North Escambia Accident
April 9, 2009
A popular Atmore teacher continues to recover following a Monday night accident near McDavid.
Escambia County (Ala.) Middle School teacher Robert Smith was seriously injured in the single vehicle rollover accident on Highway 29 north of South Pine Barren Road about 8:15 Monday night.
Smith was released from the hospital Tuesday is is recovering at home.
Witnesses told authorities that Smith swerved while passing another vehicle and lost control of his vehicle. Smith’s pickup then left the roadway, struck a concrete culvert and overturned. The truck landed on the driver’s side, trapping Smith inside.
Firefighters were forced to break out the pickup’s windshield in order to free Smith. Once out of the truck, he was able to stand on his own power as firefighters prepared him for transport by LifeFlight to Baptist Hospital in Pensacola.
The McDavid and Molino stations of Escambia Fire-Rescue and Escambia County EMS responded to the crash. The accident is still under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
After NorthEscambia.com first reported this story Tuesday morning, several dozen Escambia County Middle School students, faculty and friends turned the comments section of the story into a get well sounding board with messages to Smith and his family.
Pictured above: A popular Atmore teacher was seriously injured in this single vehicle accident near McDavid Monday night. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photo, click to enlarge.
Pensacola, North Escambia In Recesssion According To Report
April 9, 2009
The Pensacola metro area, including North Escambia, is in a recession according to data published on MSNBC.com.
MSNBC and Moody’s Economy.com publish a monthly Adversity Index that measures the economic health of every state and 381 metro areas in the United States. Areas are ranked as being in recession, at risk of recession, recovering from a recession or as being in growth period.
The Moody’s data shows North Escambia and the Pensacola metro area to have entered a period of recession in August of last year. The area had been ranked as being in a period of growth as recently as August 2008.
In January, the numbers for the metro area show employment down 2.53%, industrial production down 10.27% and single family housing starts down to 1,048. The housing start numbers are down from 2,356 in January 2007 and 3,898 in January 2006.