Miller To Remain Chair Of House Veterans’ Affairs Committee
November 29, 2012
House Speaker John Boehner announced Wednesday that Congressman Jeff Miller (R-Chumuckla) will remain the Chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee for the 113th Congress.
“It is certainly a great honor to be able to serve as Chairman of an important committee that is so critical to our country,” said Miller. “I’m eager to continue to work hard in this capacity on behalf of our veterans and retirees.”
The Committee on Veterans’ Affairs is responsible for authorization and oversight of the Department of Veterans Affairs. VA is the second largest department in the federal government with over 300,000 employees and a budget of over $120 billion.
“I continue to be humbled by the opportunity to serve the more than 22 million veterans who have so proudly served this great nation,” Miller said. “I will continue to work to ensure that we meet our veterans’ needs.”
Tara Capps
November 29, 2012
Tara Capps, age 26 of Pensacola, passed away Sunday, November 25, 2012. Tara attended Pace High School and Pensacola State College. She was a full time mom and was preparing to begin training to be a massage therapist.
Survivors include her daughter, Madison Shaye Capps; fiancée, Justin Huggins; mother & stepfather, Sheila and John Chapman; father & stepmother, Terry and Venice Capps; sisters, Vanesa Ann (Scott) Hunter and Candace Grace Howard; maternal grandparents, Patricia Howard and Frank Howard; Justin’s parents, Dennis & Linda Huggins; paternal grandmother, Louise Helen Capps; stepbrothers, Chadwick and Johnathan Kite; stepsisters, Carrie and Carley Chapman; stepbrother, Christopher Chapman.
Funeral service will be 10 a.m. Saturday, December 1, 2012 at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North, 1000 Hwy 29, Cantonment, FL with Rev. Ken Johnson officiating.
Interment will follow in Eastern Gate Memorial Gardens.
The family will receive friends at Faith Chapel North from 5- 8 p.m. on Friday, November 30, 2012.
In honor of Tara, a memorial fund has been established for Madison Capps. Please make contributions for Madison Capps, in care of Dennis Huggins, 480 Sharpsburg Loop, Pensacola, FL 32503.
Ouida Parker Murphy
November 29, 2012
Ouida Parker Murphy, 81 of Atmore, passed away November 27, 2012, in Bay Minette. She was born January 2, 1931 in Castleberry but was raised in Roberts, AL. She was a retired financial aid director with Reid State Technical College.
She is preceded in death by her parents Bode S. and Celia Koon Parker.
She is survived by her husband George M. Murphy of Atmore; two sons, Bob (Meg) Jones of Atmore and Jim Rogers of Prattville; daughter, Ouida Jo (George) Barton of Mobile; sister, Patsy (Gene) Cotton of Fairhope; grandchildren; Alex (Leigh Anne) Jones and Clare Jones both of Atmore, Parker Barton and Ginny Barton both of Mobile, Brett Barton of Fairhope, and Peyton Rogers of Birmingham; and great-granddaughter, Reese Jones of Atmore.
Funeral services will be held Friday, November 30, 2012, at 11 a.m. from the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Jim Reece officiating. Burial will follow in Elim Baptist Church Cemetery at 2 p.m.
Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. until service time at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Elim Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, 5625 Bradley Road, Andalusia, AL 36420.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Florida Appeals Court Sides With Teen In Abortion Case
November 29, 2012
In a case that offers a glimpse of the complexity of Florida’s parental-notification of abortion law, a divided appeals court this week overruled a Polk County judge and said a 17-year-old girl could receive an abortion without her mother being told.
A panel of the 2nd District Court of Appeal ruled 2-1 that the teen, identified only as Jane Doe, should receive what is known as a “waiver” of the parental notification requirement. The ruling Monday reversed a decision by Circuit Judge Harvey Kornstein, who found, at least in part, that the teen was not mature enough to receive a waiver and make the decision on her own.
Appeals-court Judge Stevan Northcutt, who was joined in the majority by Judge Douglas Wallace, wrote that the teen believed her mother would banish her from the family’s home if the planned abortion was revealed. Also, Northcutt wrote that teen recognized that giving birth would substantially interfere with her plans to go to college and ultimately have a career.
“Does’ concerns were not the insubstantial worries of a frivolous schoolgirl,” wrote Northcutt in a concurring opinion. “They related directly to her ability to carry out her important existing responsibilities and to accomplish specific educational and professional objectives that would determine the quality of the rest of her life.”
But dissenting Judge Anthony Black wrote that the circuit judge observed the teen and described her as “cavalier” and found that she did not fully appreciate the magnitude of the abortion decision. Also, Black raised questions about the girl’s maturity because she became pregnant after drinking alcohol.
“Petitioner readily admitted to succumbing to peer pressure to drink alcohol,” he wrote. “She became intoxicated and had sexual intercourse — an act she testified she would not have engaged in had she been sober. In fact, petitioner only ‘vaguely recalls’ the sex that resulted in her pregnancy; she did not indicate that she and the father were in a relationship and she does not anticipate having any future relationship with the father.”
Requiring parents to be notified before minors can have abortions has long been a controversial issue in Florida. Voters in 2004 overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment that cleared the way for a parental-notification requirement, and the Legislature later approved details of the law.
A large part of the legislative debate focused on the circumstances in which minors can receive court approval to avoid disclosure to their parents. While advocates of notification requirements say parents need to be involved in difficult abortion decisions, opponents have long argued that some minors could be put in danger if their parents are told.
The appeals-court ruling does not say where the minor lives, only that she is from the 10th Judicial Circuit, which includes Polk, Hardee and Highlands counties. It describes her as a high-school senior who will turn 18 early next year and says her relationship with her mother is “distant” and that she does not have a significant relationship with her father.
The ruling does not detail when the girl got pregnant. She had talked with a nurse at a clinic but had not gone to a doctor.
Wallace’s majority opinion gave a detailed analysis of factors that are included in state law to determine whether waivers should be granted. Those factors include the minor’s age, intelligence, emotional development and stability, credibility and demeanor, ability to accept responsibility, ability to assess the consequences of the choice and understanding of medical risks.
“Doe’s testimony demonstrated that she had carefully considered the impact of an unplanned pregnancy in light of her educational and career goals and her other responsibilities,” Wallace wrote. “After such consideration, she had reached the decision that terminating the pregnancy is the best choice for her.”
But in the dissent, Black said there was “competent, substantial evidence” to support the circuit judge’s decision to deny the waiver.
“It appears to me that the majority is substituting its conclusions regarding the minor’s maturity for the trial court’s, without the benefit of observing the tenor of the proceedings or petitioner’s body language, tone of voice and demeanor,” Black wrote. “These are assessments necessary to the determination of maturity which are impossible to glean from a cold record.”
By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida
Photos: A Chiefs Breakfast
November 28, 2012
The Northview Chiefs enjoyed a hearty breakfast Wednesday morning as they prepare for Friday night’s state semifinal game against Liberty County.
The breakfast — including cheese grits, biscuits, sausage and juice — was provided by the Northview Quarterback Club, the Town of Century, the Northview “lunchroom ladies”, and Principal Gayle Weaver, while staff member Kathy Bryars provided the decorations.
The varsity football players and coaches, varsity cheerleaders, Tribal Beat Band, dance team, NJROTC color guard, and their sponsors and coaches were invited to the breakfast.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Pair Indicted In Murder Of Davisville Store Owner
November 28, 2012
The Alabama men that allegedly robbed and shot a Davisville lottery store owner earlier this month were indicted Tuesday on murder charges.
Malcolm McGhee Jr., 24, and Brent Lambeth, 20, are accused in the shooting death of 74-year old Thomas “Tommy” Kroll during a robbery on November 6 at the State Line O’ Yes Lotto on Highway 97.
Tuesday, an Escambia County grand jury indicted both men for first degree murder. Both remain in the Escambia County Jail without bond and will appear in court Thursday for an arraignment hearing.
Investigators said McGhee and Lambeth targeted Kroll’s business because they had previous purchased “Spice” there and the duo intended on robbing the store of more of the synthetic marijuana.
Nice Days, Sunny Skies
November 28, 2012
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 65. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Wednesday Night: Clear, with a low around 33. Calm wind.
- Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 66. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph in the morning.
- Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 42. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph.
- Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 70. East wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
- Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 50. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 74. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
- Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 49. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 73.
- Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 50.
- Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 73.
- Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 50.
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 70.
Seats Available On Spirit Bus To Northview Playoff Game
November 28, 2012
Seats are available on a spirit bus for Northview fans looking for a ride to Friday night’s state semifinal game against Liberty County in Bristol.
There are only 50 seats available on the bus, which will depart Northview promptly at 1:30 p.m. Friday. Seats on the charter bus are $20 per person. To reserve a spot, call Vicki Godwin at Northview High School, (850) 327-6681.
Each bus rider will be responsible for their own game admission, which is $9 as set by the FHSAA.
The bus is sponsored by the NHS Quarterback Club. Bristol is approximately 170 miles from Bratt.
Ester Robinson Named Molino Park Teacher Of The Year
November 28, 2012
Ester Robinson has been named Teacher of the Year at Molino Park Elementary School. She teaches the fourth grade. Robinson is in her sixth year teaching at Molino Park. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, writing poetry, bowling, travel and spending time with her family.
Ingram Name Chair Of Appropriations Subcommittee
November 28, 2012
Speaker of the House Will Weatherford has named State Rep. Clay Ingram (R-District 1) as chair of the House Government Operations Appropriations Subcommittee.
“I appreciate Speaker Weatherford’s confidence in giving me this assignment and I look forward to working with my colleagues to reduce wasteful government spending,” Ingram said.
The Appropriations Committee produces the House’s proposed budget, reviews the Governor’s budget recommendations and provides legislative oversight of budgetary implementation. The Government Operations Appropriations Subcommittee oversees funding for the Departments of Revenue, Financial Services, Management Services, the Lottery, Business and Professional Regulation and the Public Service Commission.
“As many hard-working Floridians continue to struggle during these tough economic times, we face difficult decisions in the days ahead,” Ingram continued. “I am extremely honored to serve on the Appropriations Committee where I have the opportunity to help craft a lean and responsible state budget.”
In addition to serving as Appropriations Subcommittee Chair, Rep. Ingram will also serve on the Energy Utilities Subcommittee, the Insurance and Banking Subcommittee and the Local and Federal Affairs Committee.
Ingram’s district includes most of Escambia County excerpt for the City of Pensacola, Pensacola Beach, Perdido Key, Myrtle Grove and West Pensacola.