Tearful Service Honors Veterans; EWMS To Sponsor Honor Flight
November 8, 2008
A tearful principal stood before her students Friday at Ernest Ward Middle School and announced that the school is about to undertake a project to honor veterans like never before.
“These tears are tears of joy. They are tears of sadness,” Principal Nancy Gindl-Perry told the students and guests at the school’s annual Veterans Day program. “I am proud to say Ernest Ward will be sponsoring an Honor Flight for one veteran from our community.”
The Emerald Coast Honor Flight program takes a plane load of veterans to Washington on a one day tip to visit the Vietnam Memorial, the World War II Memorial and other significant locations. In order to make the honor flight possible, the school must raise $1,000.
About 100 local veterans were honored during Friday’s veterans program. From all branches of service, the men and women received accolades from the students, including several standing ovations.
Tim Spears from Molino stood solemnly among the veterans as Perry recognized him. Many were visibly moved as Perry explained that he was there in memory of his son, Jonathon Ross “J.R.” Spears, 21, who was killed October 23, 2005 in Ramadi, Iraq.
“We thank you so much for everything you have done,” Perry told the veterans.
Students from Ernest Ward’s newly formed drama club presented a powerful play written by teacher Katie Ward called Iwo Jima. Students stood posed to recreate the famous photograph Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima. One by one, the soldiers in the photo came to life to tell their personal story.
Colonel Val Obregon, retired from the United States Air Force, told the students that “this land is you land; this land is my land”, a line borrowed from the folk song. He said that people should never forget to honor those that serve in the military.
“The day we start to not honor those folks is the day we start to decline as a nation,” he said. “Veterans have stood in the gap, but our future depends on you.”
“Freedom is not free; it is not cheap,” Obregon said. “It takes Americans everywhere willing to pay the price.”
The veterans program, sponsored by the National Junior Honor Society, featured students relating the history of Veterans Day, music from the EWMS chorus and band, and more.
If you would like to assist Ernest Ward in funding a veteran on an Honor Flight, call the school at 327-4283.
For a complete NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the program, click here.
Pictured above: Ernest Ward students Dezarae Turner, Chelsea Ward, Ashlynn Webster, Shalmali Bhadkamkar, Anna Donald and Lily Townson recreate the photography Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima during a Veterans Day program at the school. Pictured below: Mike Hanks was one of about 100 veterans honored during the program. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Bratt Elementary School Honors Local Veterans
November 8, 2008
Bratt Elementary School held its annual Veterans Day Program Friday, honoring local men and women that have served in the military.
Veterans Day is also about respect and understanding the history of the men and women, many who are represented here today, Northview High School NJROTC Instructor Captain Charlie Code (pictured left told the Bratt students. ” Respect them because they gave their time, their youth, their hearts so we, you and I, could do the things we take for granted.
“Think about it. What would you do if you couldn’t go to church, to the movies or to your favorite restaurant? The freedom to do so was earned and continues to be earned by our military veterans,” Code continued.
He asked the Bratt students to raise their hand if they had a family friend or relative in the military. A great majority of hands went up.
“On veterans day, we remember those who have served in previous wars, those who are serving today, and those who did not live to become veterans. Our nation is blessed by these brave defenders, and we owe a debt of gratitude to all those who have worn America’s uniform with pride,” Code said. ” I urge all Americans to take time to thank those who sacrificed so that we can enjoy the blessings of freedom.”
The program include several patriotic songs from the fifth graders, including “The Star Spangled Banner”, “The Medley of Armed Forces Songs”, “God Bless America”, and the “Fifty Nifty United States. Mrs. Carter’s, Mrs. Thorpe’s, Mrs. Calloway’s and Mrs. Kite’s classes all participated in the program.
“As a veteran myself, i am forever thankful for your support and prayers for me and my family and the men and women who served alongside me,” Code said to close his speech. “Thank you, and God bless you and the United States of America.”
One student held a folded flag during the program, the flag presented to his family when his father died from complications from chemical exposure in Vietnam. NorthEscambia.com will introduce you to this young man and bring you his story next Tuesday morning on Veterans Day.
For a complete photo gallery from the program, click here.
Pictured above: A veteran salutes the American Flag Friday morning during the annual Veterans Program at Bratt Elementary School. Pictured below: Some of the fifth grade students that participated in the program. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Sentencing Delayed For Molino Man Guilty Of Killing His Infant Daughter
November 8, 2008
Sentencing was delayed Friday for a Molino man found guilty of manslaughter for killing his infant daughter in 2006.
Christopher Paterson, 28, was found guilty of the death of his one year old daughter Ali Jean Paterson in late September. A jury deliberated for only about two hours before returning the guilty verdict.
Paterson could be sentenced to from nine to 15 years in state prison the death of Ali Jean Paterson. Assistant Public Defender Fred Carmody told the court on Friday that he needed more time to discuss the sentence with his client.
Ali Jean Paterson died on November 26, 2006, from burns she received two weeks earlier when she was left unattended in a hot bath, according to authorities. Paterson told deputies he placed the child in shower that just felt warm and went to another room to get a towel. He said that when he returned, Ali was screaming, and there was steam rising from the shower. He then called 911 after noticing red sores on the child.Ali survived at Children’s Hospital in Birmingham for two weeks before she died.
This was not Paterson’s first involvement with authorities over Ali. The Department of Children and Families investigated a broken leg she suffered in May 2006. Paterson and Brittany Knapp, Ali’s mother, took Ali to the hospital with a broken leg. They said her leg was broken when it became trapped in a slot in her crib. DCF did not find that the incident was abuse at that time.
Paterson was indicted by a grand jury on second degree manslaughter charges in February of 2007. He was arrested on May 1, 2007, near Gainesville. He has remained in jail since his arrest.
Jay Royals Beat Franklin County, 33-20
November 8, 2008
The Jay Royals beat Franklin County Friday night, 33-20.
The Royals scored twice in the first quarter. Dakota Boughton scored on a 15 yard run. The Todd Laney kick failed. Then Hunter Boutwell scored on a 18 yard pass from Steven Brabham. The kick was good, and the Royals were up 13-0.
Jay three times in the second quarter. Boutwell scored on a pass from Brabham. Laney’s kick was good, 20-0, Jay.
Dale Barlow scored on a 29 yard pass from Brabham. A good kick, and Jay was up 27-0.
Late in the second half, Steven James found the endzone on a six yard run, The kick was not good, and the Royals were up 33-0 at the half.
The second half was scoreless for both Jay and Franklin County, leaving the final at 33-0.
West Fraser McDavid Lumbermill Cutting 75 Jobs
November 7, 2008
(UPDATED 11:50 a.m.) Employees at West Frasher’s McDavid Lumbermill were told this morning that about 75 of the plant’s approximately 100 jobs are being cut in a partial shutdown.
A company press release says that the approximately 75 jobs will be “implemented in stages over the next several weeks”. The company called the move a “market-related curtailment”.
NorthEscambia.com was told that some employees were notified about the job losses when they reported to work at 4:00 Friday morning.
“This was a very difficult decision for the company to make, but unfortunately it has become necessary due to high log costs and unprecedented market conditions resulting from continued poor housing starts in the U.S.,” said Adrian Block, general manager for wood products for West Fraser in Germantown, Tenn. “We understand that this decidsion is also difficult for affected employees, their families and the community.”
“It’s tough, especially right here at Christmas and Thanksgiving,” one of the affected employees told NorthEscambia.com on the condition on anonymity. “We all knew that this was coming sooner or later, but we were hoping it would be after Christmas. This is tough. I don’t know what I am going to do.”
That employee tells us that most of the layoffs were hourly employees and that most salaries employees will be left to run the mill’s production on a very limited basis.
The McDavid mill produces Southern Yellow Pine lumber and has an annual production capacity of about 200 million board feet. The mill has been running just one shift, producing about 75 million board feet.
West Fraser reported a lost of $2 million, or about a nickel a share, on sales of $848 million in the third quarter of 2008. The company reported losses for the first nine months of of 2008 $68 million, or $1.58 per share.
Pictured above: West Fraser’s McDavid Mill as seen from Highway 29. Company officials would not allow photographs on the company’s property Friday morning. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Judge Issues Corruption Recommendation Against Former Century Mayor
November 7, 2008
Former Century Mayor Evelyn Hammond used her position to retaliate against Century Little League when that organization failed to hire her son as chief umpire, according to an administrative law judge.
Judge Harry L. Hooper made the recommendation to the Florida Commission on Ethics on Thursday. Hooper also found that Hammond did not use her position to benefit her son, Eddie Hammond, in regard to his utility account. The ethics commission has 15 days to issue a final judgment against Hammond.
The ethics complaints were filed by Ann Brooks, Nolan Wilson and Annie Savage.
The Little League
Century Little League was controlled by a board of directors during the time in question in the complaint against Hammond. Dabney Longhorne served as president of that board from 2001 to 2006. During that five year period, Century Little League operated the concession stand at the town-owned Showalter Park.
Longhorne met with Mayor Hammond in January 2004 and again in January 2005 to discuss generally the relationship between the town and the little league operation. To the extent the concession stand was discussed during these meetings, it was expected that the little league operation would run it and use the profits generated from it.
For a number of years prior to the 2006 season, Mayor Hammond’s son Eddie Hammond moonlighted as chief umpire of the Century Little League. He was paid $35.00 to $45.00 for each game and was paid from $2.00 to $4.50 as a booking fee for each umpire he arranged for the little league games. One of the umpires Eddie Hammond employed was his father, Ray Hammond.
In January 2006 while planning for the upcoming season, Mr. Langhorne and Eddie Hammond had a discussion. During that discussion Eddie Hammond suggested he could make more money umpiring elsewhere. He advised he could make more money umpiring in Brewton, Alabama, for example.
At the Century Little League Board meeting on Saturday, January 21, 2006, Eddie Hammond’s comments were relayed to the board. The board thereafter voted to hire someone else as chief umpire. When Eddie Hammond learned of this he became angry, according to the judge’s order.
These events were discussed in the Hammond household. On Tuesday, January 24, 2006, Eddie Hammond called Langhorne on his cellphone and expressed his anger and, moreover, suggested that retaliation was in the offing. Later that day, Ray Hammond, Eddie Hammond’s father, called Langhorne and left a message asking that his call be returned.
On February 6, 2006, Mayor Hammond, during the Century Town Council meeting, recommended that the town take over the concession stand at Showalter Park. She stated that she had already found someone to operate it and that the profits from it would help pay for the light bill at the park. She also made this recommendation because she was angry at Dabney Langhorne. She did not, however, reveal this to the Century Town Council.
No one from Century Little League had been informed that this action would be considered by the council, so no one spoke out against the recommendation. On a motion by councilmember Marie McMurray, the council unanimously approved Mayor Hammond’s recommendatin.
“It is concluded that her actions were motivated solely by a desire to avenge the failure of Century Little League to re-employ her son,” Hooper wrote in the court order.
The Utility Bills
As mayor, Hammond exercised authority over the town’s utility services, including gas, water and sewer services. Her son, Eddie Hammond, served as superintendent of the utility department during her term as mayor, a position he had held for about 20 years. Dorothy Sims, the mayor’s first cousin, served as Town Clerk and as immediate supervisor for Eddie Hammond.
Century’s utility bills are due on the tenth of each month, with a $5 late charge added on the fifteenth of the month and service can be disconnected on the twentieth ofthe month. But Sims would routinely mark some unpaid accounts to not be disconnected.
The judge’s order says Eddie Hammond and Robert Tims did not pay their utility bills for years, yet their accounts were marked with a “hold.” Eddie Hammond amassed a bill of $1,802.49 by October 2005 and Robert Tims grew his to $4,859.46 by October 2005, yet neither had their utility services terminated. “Nevertheless, Eddie Hammond did not hesitate to pull the plug on citizens in a less fortunate posture,” the order states.
Eddie Hammond and Robert Tims were long-time employees of Century. During the period 1969 to 2001, Ray Lawson was Town Clerk, and during his incumbency he permitted some town employees to pay their utilities through payroll deductions. Eddie Hammond and Robert Tims were beneficiaries of this plan.
Rather than have their utility bills deducted from their pay in an amount that reflected their actual bills, Town Clerk Lawson deducted a set amount each week. In the case of
Eddie Hammond, $20.00 was deducted each week. Eddie Hammond was never presented with a utility bill during this period. Robert Tims had $35.00 deducted each week.
The sum deducted was often insufficient to cover the cost of Eddie Hammond’s utility bill and by the time Town Clerk Lawson departed the position, Eddie Hammond owed several hundred dollars.
The mayor of Century from 2000-2004 was Bennie Barnes. In 2001, Town Clerk Lawson was replaced by Town Clerk Sims. Although it was easy to determine how much money Eddie Hammond and Robert Tims owed on their utility bills, Ms. Sims was unable to determine how much money had been withheld from their pay.
When Town Clerk Sims became the incumbent, she found the financial records of the town to be a “big mess,” and they remained that way for several years. The “mess” was created when Town Clerk Lawson left because he had bad feelings toward Mayor Barnes and the City Council and manifested these feelings by locking his computer and scrambling the town’s financial records.
Town Clerk Sims could not determine how much, if any, payroll had been applied to the utility bills of the two, and Hammond and Tims did not know either. They were the only two employees of Century in this position. Eddie Hammond was aware that some of the money deducted was paid as child support. The last payment made to his utility bill was July 9, 2001. By October 4, 2001, deductions from his paycheck had been discontinued. Mr. Tims’ deduction continued.
By 2004, following Mayor Hammond’s inauguration as mayor, Town Clerk Sims continued to have over-all responsibility as supervisor of utility services and continued carrying Tims and Eddie Hammond in the “hold” category.
The office procedure with regard to utility payments was that each month a printed list of delinquents was prepared by Assistant Clerk Kristina Wood. She gave the list directly to Town Clerk Sims who determined if a delinquent was to be awarded a “hold.” Mayor Hammond did not get involved in the decision to terminate or not terminate anyone’s utility services.
Mayor Hammond paid some of Eddie Hammond’s bills, other than his utility bills, because Mayor Hammond and Eddie Hammond did not want his former wives to get involved in his financial affairs. Mayor Hammond never saw Eddie Hammond’s utility bill and assumed that, because he worked for the city, he paid it at his job. She was aware that he had money taken from his paycheck because she had seen some of his pay stubs.
Eventually Mayor Hammond learned that Tims and Eddie Hammond were on the cut-off list and made inquiry to Town Clerk Sims. Mayor Hammond was informed about the payroll deductions yy Town Clerk Sims, who told her that the money to pay the charges was present, but that she could not determine how much money was available. As events unfolded, records were discovered indicating the amounts withheld from Tims and Eddie Hammond, but this occurred after Mayor Hammond paid Eddie Hammond’s bill.
In early 2006, some citizens took notice of the unseemly situation where Eddie Hammond, the person who routinely cut off peoples’ natural gas for failure to timely pay their utility bills, was himself avoiding his utility payment. His failure to pay was about to provide grist for the local journalist’s mill. Mayor Hammond soon learned that the local
media was about to publicize the situation.
That moment was when Mayor Hammond concluded that paying her son’s utility bill was “. . . the right thing to do.” Accordingly, she wrote a personal check for the amount of the bill, including late charges. This amount was $1,984.30. On March 21, 2006, she took the check to the clerk’s office and met with Assistant Clerk Christina Wood. Eddie Hammond was present.
Wood had a discussion with Mayor Hammond regarding the late charges. She had removed the late charges when Tims paid off his utility bill some time before March 2006 and she informed Mayor Hammond of this. Mayor Hammond told Assistant Clerk Wood to take the late charges off Eddie Hammond’s bill since they were removed from Tims’ bill. She believed her son should get the same consideration. Assistant Clerk Wood did as directed by pulling up Eddie Hammond’s account on the computer and deducting $245.00.
Mayor Hammond further asserted that the town continued to owe Eddie Hammond money from the deductions taken from his pay. She wrote a new check for $1,739.30 and gave it to Assistant Clerk Wood, and thereafter the account displayed a zero balance.
The greater weight of the evidence demonstrates, the judge’s order says, that Mayor Hammond believed that the town owed Eddie Hammond some amount of money, and at the time the transaction took place it is clear that Century’s accounts were in disarray to the extent it was difficult to determine what, if anything, the town owed Eddie Hammond. Her determination that her son should not pay late fees because a similarly situated employee did not pay late fees was not unreasonable.
The “policy” of allowing Eddie Hammond to avoid paying his utility bills was in place prior to Mayor Hammond’s election and continued without her intervention until the Spring of 2006. She did not intervene in the case of Robert Tims or others who were not keeping up with their utility bills either. Even though she had 28 years of utility billing experience, she was remarkably incurious with regard to the situation in the Town of Century. This is not, however, the same as wrong-doing, the judge’s order says.
Fights, Gun Rumors At Atmore School Prompt Lockdown At Bratt Elementary School
November 7, 2008
Fights and rumors of a gun at Escambia County High School in Atmore led to the brief lockdown of Bratt Elementary School Thursday afternoon.
Ronnie Arnold, school district spokesman, says the school was placed under lockdown due to rumors about a gun at an Atmore area school.
Officials in Atmore tell us that dozens of parents checked their children out of Escambia County High School Thursday after rumors began to spread that someone had brought a gun to the Atmore school. Those rumors on Thursday were proceeded by a day of fights and altercations at ECHS on Wednesday. Authorities say no gun was found at ECHS.
Arnold said that rumor got passed around until it began to involve Bratt Elementary. A Bratt teacher received an email from a school employee in Atmore saying that “the high school” was in lockdown because of a possible gun. “The high school” referred to Atmore’s high school, but was possibly interpreted as being Northview High School, which is located near Bratt.
Bratt was briefly placed in lockdown as a result, and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department responded to the school. Deputies determined that the school was safe, and it was quickly reopened. Shortly after the lockdown began, everything was back to normal at Bratt, and school dismissed as usual at the normal time.
“Somehow it was just spillover from the rumor in Atmore,” Arnold said. “There were no problems at all at the school.”
School officials in Atmore said that the students involved in Wednesday’s fights at ECHS were suspended and will be sent to an alternative school when their suspensions are complete.
Bratt Principal Sheryl Pomeroy did not return our phone calls.
Pictured above: Escambia County deputies responded to Bratt Elementary School Thursday afternoon after rumors of a gun at an Atmore School. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Molino Park P.E. Program Using Video Games To Get Kids Moving
November 7, 2008
One North Escambia school is using video games to get students up and moving.
Molino Park Elementary School demonstrated its “exergaming” program Thursday morning for the media and physical education teachers across the area.
“It is just awesome,” fifth grader Jalyn Bodiford said while following along in “Dance, Dance Revolution”. “I like the way it keeps you feet moving, and how it has different levels.”
Molino Park’s physical fitness program has implemented four gaming systems into the program, allowing students to enjoy not only the dance program, but other sports like golf, boxing, bowling and tennis.
“This is not meant to replace regular physical activity,” Molino Park physical education teacher Rod Voss said. “It is meant to teach them how to play a sport and how to be active. It can’t replace getting outside and doing something. But love this stuff.”
And love it they do.
“It’s awesome. It’s such a cool learning experience to be able to play these games,” Kristopher Reber, a fifth grader, said.
“It’s a lot of fun, and it really gets you up and moving,” Haley Brown said of Dance Dance Revolution. “This is the coolest thing.”
“Everything is like the real sport,” Molino Park physical education teacher Chad Hetherington said. For example, playing the tennis game requires the correct combination of backhand and forehand swings; just randomly swinging the club toward the video ball will not work.
“It add a whole new excitement to our program,” he said. “It’s really a great thing.”
The equipment was purchased with funds the school received from school picture sales. The school has about $3,000 invested in the program.
For more photos from Molino Park’s exergaming demonstration, click here.
Pictured above: Molino Park Elementary students demostrate “Dance Dance Revolution” Thursday morning. Pictured below: A game of Wii tennis at Molino Park. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Commission Forgives Code Lien In Sympathetic Move
November 7, 2008
In an unusual and sympathetic move, the Escambia County Commission voted Thursday night to forgive a code enforcement lien against a North Escambia man for code violations at his home on Highway 168.
“Because he is…illiterate, disabled and financially unable to pay the full amount of the lien, his sister has asked on his behalf that his lien be waived,” County Attorny Alison Rogers told commissioners.
Jeffery K. Godwin was issued a notice of violation in June 2004 for problems on his property at 3750 Highway 168 and given 14 days to cleanup the property. He did abate (fix) the problems on the last day of that 14 day period.
He was assessed a $675 administrative hearing fee, but was never charge any additional fines since the problem was rectified. Godwin’s piece of property has a value of $8,781, according to county records.
Godwin’s sister, Cathy Scott, asked the commission on Godwin’s behalf to forgive the $675 lien against the property.
“It’s asking for your sympathies with regards to his physical and mental condition,” Rogers told commissioners.
“The issue is that he abated it,” Commissioner Grover Robinson said. “Because of his other issues, I’m willing to look at it due to the fact that he did abate it on his own.”
“it is unusual for us to do this, and by no means do I believe that this is precedent setting,” Robinson added
The IRS May Owe You Money
November 7, 2008
The IRS is looking for 377 Escambia residents because their stimulus or refund checks were returned by the post office as “undeliverable”. Of those, 10 are North Escambia residents.
The IRS has refund or stimulus checks for:
- Madden, Steven L. & Samantha K. – Century
- Muse, Willie J. - Century
- Wiggins, Gregory L. – Century
- Holt, Donald C. – McDavid
- Santander, Claudio – McDavid
- Robinson, Michael E. – Molino
- Halford, Bonita C. & Edd – Cantonment
- Lee, William H. - Cantonment
- Moize, Dirck H. – Cantonment
- Theodosis, Nick – Cantonment
For more information, contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040.