Man Shot In Face Last Week Remains In Escambia County Jail
October 9, 2008
A man that was shot in the face last Thursday night before becoming the focus of a manhunt in the Davisville area remains in the Escambia County Jail.
Eric Wayne Hendrix, 38, is being held in the Escambia County Jail without bond on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without the intent to kill and criminal mischief. He also faces battery charges on an outstanding warrant, as well as charges of violation of probation. Hendrix is pictured left in his jail booking photo.
Hendrix was shot at a home on Deer Lake Road about 5:45 p.m. last Thursday, October 2 by a female at the home on the isolated dirt road.
“It was a domestic violence related shooting,” Sgt. Steve Smith with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department told NorthEscambia.com then night of the incident.
Hendrix was reported to have been shot in the face by the female, but he fled the scene before deputies arrived.
Deputies established a perimeter and searched the area but were not immediately able to locate the Hendrix. He was found nearly an hour later by the sheriff’s department helicopter, hiding just off Rockaway Creek Road, about a mile and a third from the original shooting location.
Hendrix was transported by ambulance to an awaiting Lifeflight helicopter at the Walnut Hill Community Center on Highway 97. The helicopter had been on the ground at the community center waiting for about an hour for him to be located and transported. Hendrix was able to walk from the back of the ambulance to a stretcher, speaking cordially to members of the Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department.
Hendrix was transported by Lifeflight to Baptist Hospital in Pensacola with superficial gunshot wounds, Smith said. He was taken to the Escambia County Jail after being released from the hospital
The female involved in the incident was not injured, and she was not charged with any crime. Her name has not been released since she was the alleged victim of domestic violence.
Pictured above: Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies and Atmore Ambulance crew members stage at Young Road and Rockaway Creek Road at sunset last Thursday as a search continued in the area for Eric Wayne Hendrix after he was shot in a domestic dispute. Pictured below: Hendrix is loaded into an ambulance on Rockaway Creek Road, over a mile away from the original shooting location. Pictured bottom. Hendrix was transported by ambulance to the Walnut Hill Community Center and transferred to Lifeflight. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Carver/Century PTA: Pie In The Principal’s Face
October 9, 2008
Pie in the face…that’s what Carver/Century K-8 School Principal Jeff Garthwaite is hoping for.
If the newly formed Carver/Century PTA can get 60 members before the school’s October 17th carnival, Garthwaite has agreed to take a pie in the face. For each additional 10 PTA members, he’ll take another pie in the face.
It’s all part of the PTA’s “Pies Fly”challenge. Students at the school received the flyer and a membership form Thursday. Each PTA membership is just $3.
Click here to download a Carver/Century PTA membership form.
The flyer lists the following facts about common reasons someone might not join the PTA:
…I really don’t have the time.
It’s not the amount of time you can contribute that’s most important, but rather your commitment to help the PTA make a difference in the lives of our children.
…I don’t have any children that attend Carver/Century school.
Anyone who cares about children and our community belongs in the PTA. It is important that we all have a voice in the decision-making process relating to the laws and regulations that affect our children.
…Your PTA doesn’t really do anything.
We cannot speak for what may have happened in the previous years but I know we have great activities planned for this school year. To make these activities a great success we need ideas, time, funds, and good will from people like you to make this PTA work. Join us and help us do more than ever.
…Does the PTA really benefit our children.
Decades of research has shown when parents/guardians are involved children receive higher grades and higher test scores. Also, exhibited in children, when parents are involved, increased motivation, better self-esteem, and fewer instances of violent behavior. The number one benefit of the PTA team is having a better ability to help our children.
…Not right now… Let me think about it.
You may miss out on having your voice heard if you put off joining when it is needed most. Participating in the PTA, anyway you can, determines the course of action we can and need to take. Please make the time to put our children first.
NHS, EWMS School Resource Officer Worked Security For Sarah Palin Visit
October 9, 2008
When vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin visited Pensacola Tuesday, one local sheriff’s deputy was there helping to provide security.
Deputy James Moretz, school resource officer at Northview High School and Ernest Ward Middle School, was part of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department security detail at the Pensacola Civic Center for the Republican candidate’s visit.
“I have never seen the civic center that packed,” Moretz said. It was raining and the lines were long when he arrived early for his security post. A few people were upset that they could not take their umbrellas inside the building, he said, but otherwise it was a quiet wait for the Alaska governor to arrive.
But when the lights went out just before she took the stage, things changed.
“It was an excited crowd,” Moretz said. “She came came out and the crowd just went wild.”
Tuesday was not the first time Moretz has worked security for a high profile political figure. During President George Bush’s last visit to Pensacola, he was there too.
“Unlike Bush, she (Palin) stayed behind to sign autographs,” he said. “She even took the time to take photos with the special needs children from Escambia Westgate School.”
Moretz said he was impressed by Palin and her speech.
“She was very articulate,” he said. “She brings a lot of energy to the Republican ticket.”
He was equally impressed by the capacity crowd at the Pensacola Civic Center and their behavior.
“I was surprised that there were no hecklers,” Moretz said. “The Secret Service had told us if there were any hecklers or protesters to leave them alone. They said event staff would deal with them if there was a problem.”
Pictured above: Deputy James Moretz, school resource officer at Northview High School and Ernest Ward Middle School, worked security Tuesday for Sarah Palin’s visit to Pensacola. NorthEscambia.com photo.
Council Approves Proposal Without Knowing Cost, Discusses Support Of Brown-Curry
October 9, 2008
The Century Town Council has approved a proposal to audit the town’s books without knowing how much it will cost. And one council member expressed his displeasure at not seeing the document until it was up for a vote, despite the town having the proposal for weeks.
The council approved the proposal from Hartmann, Blackmon & Kilgore, P.C. to audit Century’s financial records from fiscal year 2006-2007 and 2007-2008, despite the proposal not telling the town how much the firm will charge.
“There’s no dollar amount in the proposal,” council member Henry Hawkins said. “It’s just telling about the firm.”
Council President Ann Brooks, who is also an accountant, told the council that she is very familiar with Hartmann, Blackmon & Kilgore, saying “years ago I worked for them in Fairhope”.
The proposal, which was the only one the town received after advertising for audit proposals, was received “prior to September 19″, according to Town Clerk Dorothy Sims.
“If this came in prior to the 19th of September, why haven’t we seen it?” asked Hawkins. “I got a problem at looking at something and voting on it in five minutes.”
Sims told Hawkins he could have set up a time to review the proposal at the Town Hall.
“If this was the only one (proposal) we got, we should have got copies,” Hawkins said.
The council also discussed supporting political candidates like Claudia Brown-Curry, who is running for superintendent of the Escambia County School District.
Mayor Freddie McCall reported that Brown-Curry supporters had reserved the town’s Ag Building on Highway 4 for a political rally on October 11. Her supporters never paid the fee for a building, so it was rented to a wedding party that did pay the rental fee.
McCall said he attempted to get the wedding party to reschedule or move to another location, but they refused. Brown-Curry’s rally was moved to Roadside Park.
McCall asked the council if building rental should be free for Brown-Curry, for whom many council members have openly expressed their support, or for all candidates.
“We cant waive the fee for every politician,” council member Sharon Scott said.
“Let’s not show any favoritism; just charge everybody to use the building,” council member Gary Riley said.
Pictured above: Century council member Gary Riley review an accountant’s proposal to audit the town’s books. NorthEscambia.com photo.
Student To Attend Leadership Conference
October 9, 2008
A Carver/Century K-8 School student has been chosen to represent the State of Florida at the National Young Leaders State Conference.
Christiful Madison requested financial help to the attend the conference from the Century Town Council. The council approved giving him $250, which is half of the council’s entire $500 yearly budget for such projects.
The National Young Leaders State Conference in Florida is a unique, life-changing experience specifically geared toward eighth and ninth grade students readying for this critical phase in their life. This regional conference welcomes scholars from Florida. The intense four-day curriculum focuses on eight core leadership power tools: communication, conflict resolution, decision making, goal setting, group dynamics, leadership techniques, project management and self awareness.
This unique program challenges each scholar to step forward with conviction and confidence, to grasp the concepts of leadership and to act upon their dreams of making a difference in their communities. With the insight and guidance of highly trained facilitators and the assistance of their peers, scholars work within each activity to hone their plan of personal leadership, leaving the conference well-equipped to begin their journey.
Pictured above: Carver/Century K-8 student Christiful Madison asks the Century Town Council for financial support to attend a leadership conference. NorthEscambia.com photo.
JV Canes Finish Perfect Season With Win Over Excel Panthers
October 8, 2008
The Flomaton JV Canes ended their season last night in Excel with a big win over the Panthers. The Canes 42-6 win ended a perfect season for the JV Canes.
Submitted photos by Mike Newton Photography for NorthEscambia.com.
Sarah Palin Brings Republican Message To Escambia County
October 8, 2008
Vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin brought the Republicans’ campaign to Escambia County Tuesday afternoon.
Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin entered the Pensacola Civic Center Tuesday afternoon to chants of “Sarah! Sarah!” after being introduced by surprise guest Florida Governor Charlie Crist.
“I bring greetings from the next president of the United States, John McCain,” Palin said after thanking the Pensacola crowd for her rock star-like welcome. “The people of Florida are ready to shake things up in Washington.”
“Now I know why Pensacola is the place they say is where thousands live the way that millions wish that they could live,” the Alaska governor said, noting that she had just received a text message from her daughter Willow back in Alaska showing three inches of snow on the ground Tuesday afternoon outside her classroom.
Even with the vast differences between Alaska and Florida, Palin said the two states have a lot in common, both being home to proud Americans. But while Alaska may be easy for the McCain-Palin ticket, she acknowledged that Florida will be battleground against the Democrats.
She drew a huge round of applause and laughter as she joked about Saturday Night Live and impressionist Tina Fey. She quipped that some of her answers at last week’s vice presidential debate “maybe they weren’t real clear”, but “I was just giving Tina Fey some more material. Job security for SNL.”
In hard times, Palin said McCain offers solutions for the future, and he will solve the nation’s financial crisis as president.
Those reforms will include tax breaks for the middle class, help for business owners to create jobs, control food and gas prices, help students pay for college and help families pay for their homes, she said.
She said McCain will impose a spending freeze on all but the most vital government services, reviewing every department and agency.
McCain proposes a $5,000 tax credit for health care, Palin said, “so that you can buy health care, the health care that you choose…It’s changing health care for the better; it’s putting health care on your side.”
“John McCain is the only man in this race with a plan that will actually help working families,” Palin told the audience, including many from North Escambia.
She said McCain talks differently than the Democratic candidate Barack Obama about America’s wars, and “unlike our opponent, he (McCain) isn’t afraid to use the word ‘victory’”.
“For just once, I’d like him (Obama) to say that he wants America to win,” she added before saying that Obama voted to cut funding for troops. She reminded the audience of McCain’s military service, including his years of training in Pensacola, before applauding the military members in the packed civic center.
Her speech was interrupted again by chants of “Sarah! Sarah” about halfway into her 30 minutes speech.
“Barack Obama is going to raise your taxes,” Palin said, saying the Democrats have a left wing agenda.
She said that the election was about “truthfulness and judgment needed in the next president. Good judgment in the next president, and John McCain has it and Barack Obama does not have it.”
“Man, I love you Florida, because you just get it,” Palin said after a rousing round of “USA! USA” chants.
Pictured above and below: Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin at the Pensacola Civic Center Tuesday.
Town’s Forclosure Attempt Against Helicopter Company Continues
October 8, 2008
The Town of Century’s foreclosure against Helicopter Technologies looks like it is headed for court action, the town’s mayor says.
Century Mayor Freddie McCall said that attempts to get the company’s owner, Georges Van Nevel, to sign the building back over to the town have not yet worked.
The Town of Century filed mortgage foreclosure papers against Helicopter Technologies, Inc. in Escambia County Circuit Court on August 26.
McCall said that Matt Dannheisser, the town’s attorney, forwarded papers overseas to Van Nevel with instructions on how to sign the papers at a U.S. embassy.
“Mr. Van Nevel has contacted him (Dannheisser) and agreed to send the deeds back to him,” McCall told the town council two weeks ago. There have been issues, McCall said, with getting Van Nevel to sign the papers at a U.S. embassy due to long lines of people seeking embassy services. As a result, McCall said, Dannheisser has forwarded additional instructions to Van Nevel how to proceed with the paperwork using a notary.
“We don’t have the paperwork back from him,” McCall said of the current status of the case. “He didn’t say he changed his mind.”
Court records indicate that the town filed for a ruling by default at the end of last month.
The Helicopter Technologies building in the Century Industrial Park was financed by the Town of Century in 1991 for $420,000 according to filed documents. The company currently owes the town about $450,000, Mayor Freddie McCall told the told council at the July meeting at which the council voted to begin emergency foreclosure proceedings.
Dannheisser located Helicopter Technologies owner Georges Van Nevel (pictured left, file photo) in Hong Kong and contacted him by email, McCall said.
“He answered some, but he did not respond to others,” McCall told NorthEscambia.com. In those emails, Dannheisser forwarded legal papers to Van Nevel to sign the building back over to the town, the mayor said, but Van Nevel never signed and returned the papers. The town was prepared to forgive Van Nevel’s entire debt if he signed the building back over to the town.
At the council’s July 7 meeting, the mayor told the council that Van Nevel told him that the building would be sold to a Pensacola buyer by July 11. NorthEscambia.com learned on July 10 that the sale was off and the buyer was backing out.
McCall said that a clause in Helicopter Technologies’ contract with the town gave the town the option to “take back” three lots around the building, and he said the town would take possession of those lots.
New Tag Design For Alabama Residents Coming Soon
October 8, 2008
A new Alabama car tag will be on the roads soon.
Tuesday, Alabama Governor Bob Riley unveiled the design for the new license plate that will go into circulation in January. The new car tag features a colorful beach scene and the phrase “Sweet Home Alabama” and will replace the “Stars Fell on Alabama” plates that have been in use since January 2002.
The new design carries the Alabama tourism department’s “Sweet Home Alabama” theme that was unveiled a year ago and appears in print ads and television commercials promoting the state as a vacation destination.
Governor Riley assigned the tourism department to design the new license plate and chose a beach scene to reflect the Gulf Coast’s importance to Alabama’s tourism industry. Together, Baldwin and Mobile counties generate more than 30 percent of the state’s $9.8 billion tourism revenue.
“A lot of people outside of Alabama don’t even know that we have beaches. When we put more than three million tags showing sea oats and a beautiful sunset over water into circulation, that will change,” Governor Riley said.
Alabama tourism director Lee Sentell said the design is a major boost to the hospitality industry. “Having the ‘sweet home’ phrase included is a real plus,” he said. “Sweet Home Alabama is the third most played song identifying a destination, behind ‘New York, New York’ and ‘I Left My Heart in San Francisco.’”
Alabama Department of Revenue Motor Vehicle Division director Brenda Coone said car owners still have the option to select the “God Bless America” license plate with the patriotic flag design that does not identify the county where the plate was purchased.
“County licensing officials will begin issuing the new license plates January 2,” Coone said. The plates can be personalized with a maximum of seven characters, she said.
The new tag will be issued for the next five years.
Pictured above: Alabama’s new car tag that will hit the roads in January, personalized for NorthEscambia.com.
Northview Varsity Volleyball
October 8, 2008
Northview beat Straughn in Tuesday varsity volleyball action, and the Chiefs lost one to the Flomaton Hurricanes.
Northview took two of three from Straughn, 25-19, 21-25, 15-9.
Stats from Northview versus Straughn:
Candice Greenwell: Kills – 4, Aces-2
Brittney Thompson: Kills-8, Aces-4, Digs-4, Blocks-3
Amber McMillan: Digs-5
Caitlin Hall: Assists-14, Digs-2, Kills-3
Shawna Montgomery: Kills – 5, Aces-2, Digs-4
Flomaton downed Northview, 15-25, 13-25.
Stats from Northview versus Flomaton:
Angela Rodriguez: Kills – 3, Aces – 2
Brittney Thompson: Kills-2, Digs-3, Blocks-2
Amber McMillan: Digs-7
Caitlin Hall: Assists-7, Digs-1, Blocks-1
Shawna Montgomery: Kills – 3, Aces-2
Northview is now 9-9 on the season, 1-3 in district play.