Citizens Insurance Revamp Passes House
February 24, 2012
A measure that will change the way Citizens Property Insurance Corp pays for claims in the event of a major storm passed the House Thursday on a 89-25 vote.
The bill would reduce the assessment on coastal Citizens policyholders from 6 percent to 2 percent and eliminates it for other residential and commercial accounts. The bill would make up the loss of revenue by shifting the repayment of losses by levying emergency assessments on a wider pool of policyholders and lengthening the repayment period.
Citizens now has about $12.8 billion available to pay claims until it would be require to seek assessments to pay claims. Meanwhile, the cost of a one in 100 year storm would be $23.2 billion..
By The News Service of Florida
Friday Night’s Northview At Freeport Baseball Canceled
February 24, 2012
Tonight’s Northview baseball games at Freeport have been canceled.
Both the varsity and junior varsity Chiefs were scheduled to travel to Freeport this afternoon, but Freeport canceled the game late Thursday afternoon due to a scheduling conflict.
Northview’s varsity and junior varsity baseball teams will be on the road Monday at Washington. The JV begins at 4:00 with the varsity to follow at 6:30 p.m.
Ethel Louise Mitchell
February 24, 2012
Ethel Louise Mitchell, 70, of Century died Friday, February 17, 2012.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Greater Glory New Testament Church of Deliverance in Flomaton. Jackson-McMurray Funeral Services in Century is directing.
Gilbert “Leo” Kimmons
February 24, 2012
Gilbert “Leo” Kimmons, age 92, passed away February 22, 2012.
Visitation will be held from 10 until 11 a.m. on Tuesday, February 28, 2012, at Highland Baptist Church in Molino.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, February 28, at Highland Baptist Church. Internment will follow in the Highland Baptist Cemetery.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North in Cantonment is in charge of arrangement.
Northview Track Meet, JV Baseball Canceled Today, JV And Varsity Canceled For Friday
February 23, 2012
A track meet scheduled for this afternoon at Northview High School has been canceled due to wet track conditions. A JV baseball game set for 4 p.m. has also been canceled, along with varsity and JV games scheduled for Friday.
The next scheduled track meet is March 6 at 4 p.m. at Northview. Central, Jay, J.U. Blacksher and Escambia Academy are scheduled to participate.
Both the JV and varsity baseball teams were scheduled travel to Freeport on Friday, but were canceled Thursday afternoon due to a Freeport scheduling problem.
Cancer Scam: Chris Luker Charges To Be Dropped; Wife Sonja Faces Trial
February 23, 2012
Charges will be dropped in the next few days against the husband in the Molino couple accused of faking the wife’s cancer diagnosis for financial gain, according to prosecutors.
Gerald “Chris” Luker entered into a plea agreement with prosecutors under which he made restitution to each identifiable victim, and, in turn, charges against him were to be dismissed.
“The evidence indicated that he believed that his wife had cancer,” Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille said Wednesday, “and that he was not criminally involved.”
Sonja Luker is still facing trial next month and has no plea agreement available to her from prosecutors, Marcille said. Sonja Luker is charged with felony fraud; a previous grand theft charge against her was dropped in May 2011.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, numerous fundraisers were held between May 2004 and October 2010 that raised over $19,000. Sheriff’s investigators found that about $14,000 was used in 2009 to avoid foreclosure on their home in the 4700 block of Pine Circle Drive and about $4,000 in cash was used by Chris Luker to purchase a 1997 Harley motorcycle, according to an arrest report.
Chris Luker provided the funds to make restitution to those that donated to the “Sonja Luker Kickin Cancer Fund” and checks were mailed to victims over the past week. Victims that made donations by check received the full amount of the original donation.
By tracing bank deposits, prosecutors found $8,506.81 in donations that were made in cash by unknown donors to Sonja Luker. Chris Luker agreed to make an equal donation of $8,506.81 to the American Cancer Society “with the intent of the original donors to support the cure for cancer,” according to a letter that known victims received from the State Attorney’s Office.
Under the plea agreement, Chris Luker will be unable to claim a tax deduction for his donation to the American Cancer Society.
Pictured top: Sonja and Chris Luker (in black shirts) are seen in a 2009 NorthEscambia.com photo from a motorcycle ride fundraiser that benefited her alleged fight against cancer. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Republican Women’s Club To Host District 5 Commission Candidate Forum
February 23, 2012
The Escambia Federated Republican’s Women’s Club will host an Escambia County Commission District 5 candidate forum next week.
The forum will feature four of the five Republican candidates seeking the seat of incumbent Kevin White, who dropped out of the race last week.
Sam Archer, Glenn Austin, Steven Barry and Jim Taylor are scheduled to take part in the forum Monday at 11:30 a.m. at New World Landing in Pensacola. The cost, including lunch, is $15 for club members and $18 for non-members. Payment will be accepted by cash or check at the door.
For more information or to RSVP, email efrwcrsvp@gmail.com or call Leslie Ingram at (850) 723-3820.
School Prayer Bill Passes Final House Committee Stop
February 23, 2012
A bill allowing inspirational messages in public schools appeared to be on the cusp of becoming law Wednesday, as the last House committee to consider the bill approved the measure.
The House Judiciary Committee’s move sends the bill (SB 98) to the House floor; if it passes there without being amended, the measure would head to Gov. Rick Scott for his signature.
Supporters of the measure say that it simply restores the constitutional rights of students by allowing them to decide — without input from school officials — whether an inspirational message should be delivered at school events. Local school boards could decide whether to enact rules allowing the inspirational messages.
“The bill is sorely needed to protect students from the war against religious liberty and free speech,” said John Stemberger, president of the Florida Family Policy Council, which had voiced concerns about an earlier version of the measure. “The Florida ACLU, the Anti-Defamation League and other left leaning group’s opposition to this bill even after amended is intellectually dishonest, inconsistent with classical liberalism and really exposes their hostility toward religion as expressed by private citizens in the public square.”
But opponents say the measure is little more than a stalking horse for religious messages.
“The reality is, it’s nothing more than a euphemism for prayer,” said Rep. Richard Steinberg, D-Miami Beach. “It’s because we can’t say ‘prayer’ in a bill, because we know that the courts will strike it immediately.”
And that, they say, will land the state in court to defend the measure even as revenues for defending such challenges dwindles.
“Religious issues and government generate lots of litigation,” said Pamela Burch Fort with the ACLU of Florida. “And if this measure is enacted, it will invite litigation.”
David Barkey, religious freedom counsel for the Anti-Defamation League, labeled the measure “un-American” in a statement issued after the vote.
“Our public schools are about uniting children as Americans and not dividing along religious lines,” Barkley said.
Supporters pushed back on those notions. Rep. Charles Van Zant, the Keystone Heights Republican who’s handling the measure in the House, emphasized that nothing in the bill requires prayer.
“This bill doesn’t mention it — and I didn’t, either,” Van Zant said.
And KrisAnne Hall, a former prosecutor fired for speaking at tea-party gatherings two years ago, blasted the reasoning that the state should reject the measure to avoid litigation.
“Do not shy away from standing for constitutional rights simply because there may be a threat of challenge,” Hall told the committee.
By The News Service of Florida
Northview High Observes Black History Month (Photos)
February 23, 2012
Northview High School marked Black History Month Wednesday with a program “Black Light: Embracing Diversity & Celebrating Contributions.”
Guest speaker Eugene Franklin, founder and CEO of the Florida Black Chamber of Commerce, stressed the importance of education to the students, along with cultural understanding.
For a photo gallery from the event, click here.
Born into segregation, Franklin (pictured left) said he had no hope of becoming anything in life that would make a difference, despite his dream to do something important like the great men of modern history.
But the draft and the U.S. Navy changed Franklin’s outlook on life and he learned to appreciate diverse cultures. “It was the greatest thing that ever happened to me,” he said. “I gained a new vision of how the world works.”
“I knew then that one day America would live up to its creed that all people are created equal.”
“We need to learn to appreciate our differences and base our judgments on culture,” he said, “and not look at race.”
“History is being made today by each and every one of you,” Franklin told the Northview students. “Do everything you can to make a difference in someone else’s life.”
Also during the program, Cultural Diversity essay award winners were announced:
- 9th grade: Samantha Sharpless, first place;Tony Puente, honorable mention
- 10th grade: Talana Heathcock, first place; Katelynne Calloway, honorable mention
- 12th grade: Jamila Codrington, first place
For a photo gallery from the event, click here.
Pictured top: Briana Harris performs during a Black History Month program Wednesday at Northview High School. Pictured inset: Guest speaker Eugene Franklin. Pictured below: Students perform during the event. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward Celebrates FFA Week With Breakfast (Photos)
February 23, 2012
FFA students at Ernest Ward Middle School did their part to celebrate National FFA Week with a Wednesday morning breakfast for faculty and staff.
Students cooked a breakfast of eggs, grits, biscuits, bacon, sausage and more for the EWMS faculty and staff.
Pictured: FFA students at Ernest Ward Middle School provide breakfast for the school’s faculty and staff Wednesday morning. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
