Century Woman Charged With Stealing $3K In Money Orders
October 11, 2023
A Century woman is accused of printing and stealing money orders and taking scratch off lottery tickets from an Escambia County convenience store where she was employed.
Lekicia Ann Manuel, 36, was charged with grand theft. She was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $3,000 bond.
Manuel printed and stole seven Western Union money orders totalling $3,002.98 and also took $630 worth of Florida Lottery scratch off tickets, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. She was working at a Cumberland Farms store on W Street, and her alleged crimes were caught on video during the early morning hours of August 16, according to an arrest report.
Management reported the incident after store reports showed the missing money orders.
Century Council Sets Off On Charter Review, Again. Last Time, They Reviewed The Wrong Version.
October 11, 2023
For the second time, the Century Town Council set off on a deep dive into a charter revision at a workshop meeting Tuesday night.
It was the second review from the beginning, because earlier this year the council accidentally reviewed the wrong version of the document, the town clerk said.
Council members Alicia Johnson and Dynette Lewis were the only members to attend in person. Shelisa Abraham joined the meeting remotely by phone as she was traveling. The town clerk said Henry Cunningham was absent due to a wedding in his immediate family, and she said Santa McMurray-Jackson had a “work emergency”. Interim mayor Luis Gomez, Jr., attended in-person.
The Century town charter is the document that establishes the town, outlines its powers and spells out how it should operate. The charter has not been updated in almost 40 years, and that often creates problems in the operation of the town.
Additional meetings will be scheduled, and any changes must be approved by voters on an upcoming ballot.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
2-Year Old Passes Away Due To Oct. 4 Crash In Escambia County
October 11, 2023
A 2-year old boy has passed away from serious injuries he received in an October 4 traffic crash in Escambia County, the Florida Highway Patrol said Tuesday.
Troopers said the crash happened when the 75-year old driver of a black Buick failed to yield the right of way and turned in front of another vehicle on Highway 98 near Fairfield Drive.
The 2-year old boy and an infant were ejected from the Buick and were not properly restrained, according to FHP.
The FHP is continuing their investigation.
File photo.
Two Men Shot Near Poarch As They Attempted To Rob Two Others, Sheriff Says
October 11, 2023
Two people were shot as they tried to rob two other people north of Atmore, according to Escambia County (AL) Sheriff Heath Jackson.
About 7 p.m. Sunday, the ECSO, Poarch Tribal Police and Atmore Police responded to a shots fired disturbance in the 7400 block of Jack Spring Road near the Poarch Creek Indian Reservation. They arrived to find two males suffering from gunshot wounds after they attempted to rob two other men, Jackson said.
“One of the victims was armed and after being threatened with a weapon, discharged his weapon at both suspects,” the sheriff said.
Both suspects were airlifted to a trauma center. An update on their conditions was not available.
Photos: Farmers Work To Harvest Peanuts Before Rain
October 11, 2023
Local farmers worked Monday and Tuesday to harvest peanuts that were dug and on top of the ground before anticipated rainfall Wednesday.
An area of low pressure will move along a frontal boundary in the northern Gulf of Mexico, bringing perhaps several inches of much needed rainfall through Friday.
Pictured: Peanuts are harvested on Bratt Road. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Approves 290% Property Tax Increase During Saturday Meeting
October 10, 2023
The Century Town Council revoted twice during a Saturday meeting to approve a nearly 300% property tax increase that had previously failed, a council member accused the media of misleading the public, and the council celebrated their success in working together to get the extraordinary tax hike passed.
The town council had previously given unanimous tentative approval to a a property tax increase with a millage rate of .9204, which is 290.66% greater than the rolled-back rate of .2356 mills. The rolled back rate is a computed millage rate that would generate the same amount of ad valorem tax dollars as the prior fiscal year, based on the proposed year’s tax roll, excluding new construction. A millage rate higher than the rolled-back rate is defined by the State of Florida as a tax increase and the law says it must be advertised as such. The .9204 millage rate has been constant for several years but is defined as a tax increase because the town will collect more tax due to increased property values.
Property values in Century have increased from approximately $49.5 million to $54.5 million over the last year, according to the Escambia County Property Appraiser’s Office. Last year, property taxes generated $45,518 for Century; this year is expected to be $50,307.
Because the tax increase is so high, the state required unanimous approval on a final vote, but the millage rate failed on a 4-1 vote September 26 with council president Dynette Lewis dissenting. The council voted to adjourn the September 26 meeting, but the town later published a small notice of continuation in a weekly newspaper setting the Saturday morning meeting that was not attended by any member of the general public.
Town Clerk Leslie Howington told the council that the Florida Department of Revenue told her to continue the meeting, despite the fact that it was adjourned. We made a public records request and received email correspondence between Howington and the Florida Department of Revenue. An FDOR employee references the “the final hearing that was recessed on 9/26″ and instructed the notice of continuation based upon arecessed meeting. The fact that the meeting ending with an adjournment was never mentioned in the emails we received.
Howington told the council that the town attorney said Florida law did not prevent the council from revoting on the failed tax increase. She also distributed a document to the council she said was a resolution from 1984 that allows for revotes. She said the document was found “in the book”, but it was not signed, nor was there any concrete evidence that the resolution was ever approved. We received nothing in response to our public records request for the resolution.
Saturday morning, Lewis again voted against the tax increase, causing it to fail.
The town clerk and accountant then spent several minutes explaining how the town could lose about $40,000 in revenue without a change of heart from by Lewis.
“I understand what we stand to gain, and I understand what we stand to lose as well,” Lewis said. “I still do not agree with the increase where our citizens of the town of Century have to absorb the cost. I don’t agree with that year after year. I don’t agree with that, but at the same time I don’t want to hold our budget.”
“I promise you it’s like a tank of gas for me,” council member Shelisa Abraham said.
“With all due respect, that tank of gas for you is not that tank of gas for everybody,” Lewis replied.
During the discussion, council member Alicia Johnson began to blame NorthEscambia for reporting that the 290% increase was a tax increase. According to the State of Florida it is a tax increase; any increase over the rolled back rate is defined by a section of Florida laws in existence since the 1980’s called Truth in Millage, or TRIM. The town also published a required quarter page newspaper ad headed “Notice of Proposed Tax Increase” detailing the tax increase.
“It is fairly misleading to the public, and William has a lot to do with this because you perpetuate…you try to make the public think it is a 300% tax increase,” she told publisher William Reynolds. “You make it appear that the tax would be tripled.”
Reynolds pointed out that according to state law, it is a tax increase and was advertised by the town as a tax increase (pictured left).
On a second vote Saturday, the third total attempt, the council approved the tax rate on a 5-0 vote.
The council then went on to approve an $8 million budget, up more than $2 million (39%) over last year’s $5.8 million, mostly due to grant funds. The budget includes a 3% cost of living raise for all employees, raises need to bring employees up to the new Florida minimum wage, an increased cost of about $100 per basic employee for insurance and a 150% rate increase for general liability and property insurance. The town pays 99% of employee health insurance and 50% of family costs.
The budget also included an extra $15,000 for the mayor to use as “merit” raises as desired and $1,900 for Christmas hams and turkeys for employees.
All compliant capital outlay expenses will be funded from American Rescue Plan (ARPA) funds.
At the time of Saturday’s meeting, NorthEscambia.com public records requests for a detailed copy of the budget were unanswered, and the tentative budget was not posted on the town’s website before the meeting as required by state law.
“I’m actually encouraged, and I’m very pleased with the spirited debate from this council to let us know we have five educated people that’s paying attention to what needs to be done in Century,” interim Mayor Lewis Gomez said near the conclusion of Saturday’s meeting. “I thank y’all for your spirited debate, and I also thank y’all for understanding that we are here as servants. And thank y’all for such a great job this morning.”
“This is a council of five, each one of us was representing our own vote, just as he said,” Lewis replied to the mayor. “We will not always agree. I appreciate the fact that even though we don’t agree sometimes, I appreciate the respect…I appreciate each person being respected in their vote.”
“I’m so grateful that we can agree to disagree and still walk out and represent the town,” council member Sandra McMurray Jackson said. “And not have animosity at all with our neighbor.”
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Circuit Court Officials Provide Update On Security Breach
October 10, 2023
The investigation is continuing into an “information technology security event” that impacted court in the First Judicial Circuit.
“We responded quickly, shut down our systems to mitigate risk to sensitive information, and began a thorough investigation of the attack, including coordinating with law enforcement agencies and external cybersecurity experts,” Trial Court Administrator Kasey Watson said Monday. “As a result of the incident, certain applications used by the courts have been affected.”
She said the extent of the breach remains under investigation.
In the meantime, court hearings are continuing as scheduled through the cooperation of the Clerks of Court, the Office of the State Attorney, the Office of the Public Defender, and the Office of Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel, along with other partner agencies.
Office court records and data were not impacted because they are maintained by the clerks of the court in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, and Walton counties.
It is unknown at this time whether any personal information contained in court records has been exposed.
Chief Judge John L. Miller stated, “The security of personal data is our priority. We will continue to provide the citizens of our Circuit with the timely resolution of the matters brought before our courts.”
Dog Rescued After Being Trapped In Old Cellar Under Molino Home
October 10, 2023
A 65 pound dog stuck beneath a 100-year old house in Molino was recently rescued by Escambia County Animal Welfare.
A Molino resident could hear a dog in distress under the home and called for help.
Animal Welfare responded and found Chopper trapped about six-feet deep in what was a cellar under the house.
He was rescued unharmed within minutes and reunited with his family. Animal Welfare learned that he had been missing for three days without food or water.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
National School Lunch Week: Have Your Say In Choosing Menus For Next Semester
October 10, 2023
It’s National School Lunch Week, and the Escambia County School District is asking for input into menus for next semester.
Surveys are available the links below, divided by grade level.
Pre-K: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/8ST7WML
Elementary School: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XTWMJW8
Middle School: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/8SG8ZKX
High School: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/8SHZWVF
Pictured: A school lunch served last week at Tate High School with oven fried chicken and biscuit with sides of turnip greens, mashed potatoes and fresh fruit. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Teachers Of The Year Announced
October 10, 2023
The nominees for Escambia County Teacher of the Year were announced Monday.
NorthEscambia.com will feature many of the North Escambia nominees in individual stories in the coming weeks.
One of them will named the Escambia County overall Teacher of the year in late January from a list of five finalists.
They nominees representing their respective schools are:
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
- Jim Allen Elementary — Mary Holley-Lewis
- Bellview Elementary — Angelyn (Angie) Baggett
- Beulah Elementary — Miranda Freauff
- Blue Angels Elementary — Courtney Acosta
- Bratt Elementary — Genia Bashore
- Brentwood Elementary — Hollie Frazee
- Hellen Caro Elementary — Tara Papillion
- N. B. Cook Elementary — Tammy Creel
- Cordova Park Elementary — Rebecca Calloway
- Ensley Elementary — Yohana Lopez
- Ferry Pass Elementary — Mary Goolsby
- Global Learning Academy — Ariana Helvie
- Holm Elementary — Charisse Tarter
- Kingsfield Elementary School — Jennifer Smith
- Lincoln Park Elementary — Loretta Richardson
- Lipscomb Elementary — Rionna Wages
- Longleaf Elementary — Terri Herrington
- McArthur Elementary — Lisa Thomas
- Molino Park Elementary — Candice Blackburn
- Montclair Elementary — Yaneickia Hayes
- Myrtle Grove Elementary — Christine Kozik
- Navy Point Elementary — Emerald Barton
- Oakcrest Elementary — Sara Rabb
- Pine Meadow Elementary — Cassi Mcgee
- Pleasant Grove Elementary — Dyana Blackmon
- Scenic Heights Elementary — Dana Milton
- O.J. Semmes Elementary — Spencer Mullet
- Sherwood Elementary — Vanessa Carrasco
- A. K. Suter Elementary — Alicia Hassell
- Warrington Elementary — Scott Wright
- C. A. Weis Elementary — Priteyja Olige Brannon
- West Pensacola Elementary — Lisa Mcvey
MIDDLE SCHOOLS
- Bailey Middle School — Roberta Wetzel
- Bellview Middle — Naomi Stewart
- Beulah Middle — Gearlene Mccorvey Johnson
- Brown Barge Middle — Jessica Lenhart
- Ernest Ward Middle — Glenda Bell
- Ferry Pass Middle — Stephen Daniel Hall
- Ransom Middle — Angela Rose
- Workman Middle — Bruce Wenger
HIGH SCHOOLS
- Escambia High School — Timothy Deloge
- Northview High School — Megan Carroll
- Pensacola High School — Amelia Murphy
- Pine Forest High School — Whitney Meadows
- Tate High School — Christine (Christy) Mills
- Washington High School — Juanita Bordelon
- West Florida High School — Lisa Torres
OTHER SCHOOLS/CENTERS
- Alternative Education — Steve Mclaughlin
- Beulah Academy of Science — Allison Eubanks
- Capstone Academy — Michelle Roberts
- Achieve Academy — Harrietta Hall
- Success Academy — Karyn Blacker
- Escambia Virtual — Chet Truett
- Escambia Westgate — Rosanna Newman
- ESE — Barbara Cole
- Hope Horizon — Tammyjo Dublin
- George Stone Technical College — Bobbie Latzer