Escambia (AL) Election Results
November 5, 2014
Here are unofficial election results from Escambia County, Alabama:
30 of 31 Precincts Reporting (all ballots but provisional)
Sheriff:
Grover Smith (D): 5304 / 58.2%
Heath Jackson (R): 3807 / 41.8%
Tax Collector
Todd White (D): 4323 / 48.7%
Tim Pettis (R): 4557 / 51.3%
Commission, District 5
David Quarker 882 / 70%
Katrina Wallace 381 30%
State Senate District 22
District-wide totals
Greg Albritton (R): 23099 / 67%
Susan Smith (D): 11,248 / 33%
GOP Grabs Supermajority In Florida House
November 5, 2014
The already-conservative Florida House will lean even more to the right the next two years.
Republicans, as part of a national wave, regained hold of a supermajority Tuesday in the lower chamber.
The party retained two Republican-held seats where it faced serious challenges, while flipping six Democrat-held seats that were heavily contested in the Interstate 4 corridor.
Outgoing House Speaker Rep. Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, called the Tuesday night results a “validation of the policies we’ve been fighting for the last several years.”
“This is a great Republican night across the board,” Weatherford said.
The Democrats getting unseated were Rep. Linda Stewart of Orlando, Rep. Joe Saunders of Orlando, Rep. Mike Clelland of Lake Mary, Rep. Karen Castor Dentel of Maitland, Rep. Carl Zimmermann of Palm Harbor, and Rep. Mark Danish of Tampa.
“While this election did not go as I hoped, the voters have spoken,” Stewart said. “I am proud of the positive campaign we ran and I want to thank everyone who made phone calls, knocked on doors, or talked to their neighbors about a positive vision for Orange County. It is my hope Mr. Miller will continue the fight for the values that make Orange County so special.”
After the wins Tuesday, Republicans held 81 of the 120 House seats. As of 11 p.m., the South Florida District 112 seat held by Rep. Jose Javier Rodriguez, D-Miami, was still undecided. Also, a special election will be held in early 2015 for a Jacksonville seat that has been held by Democrat Reggie Fullwood.
The newly elected GOP lawmakers are former Rep. Scott Plakon of Longwood, Bob Cortes of Altamonte Springs, Mike Miller of Winter Park, Rene “Coach P” Plasencia of Orlando, Shawn Harrison of Tampa, and Chris Sprowls of Tarpon Springs.
Republicans said before Tuesday night’s count that getting back the two-thirds supermajority they enjoyed during the 2010 and 2011 sessions wasn’t as important as retaining its majority and “picking up some competitive seats.”
Tuesday night incoming House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island, said he was “grateful” voters gave the House Republicans a supermajority
“Over the past four years, Governor Scott’s willingness to make tough choices has reversed the losses we saw under Charlie Crist, leading to a recovering economy, job creation and a record number of visitors to our great state,” Crisafulli said in a release. “I look forward to working with the governor to continue making Florida the best state in the nation.”
Incoming House Minority Leader Mark Pafford, D-West Palm Beach, expressed optimism before the polls closed that the minority party had been able to “neutralize what they’ve thrown at our incumbents.”
After the votes were tabulated, he issued a statement saying he looked “forward to working with him (Crisafulli) and the House Republican leadership.”
“We begin with the idea that all of us act in good faith to do what’s best for the people of Florida,” Pafford said in the release. “Democrats will neither hesitate to support good ideas, no matter their origins, nor shy away from opposing bad ideas and offering viable alternatives.”
Democrats retained at least one of the seats that Republicans sought to flip.
Rep. Dwight Dudley, D-St. Petersburg, fended off a challenge from Republican Bill Young to win another term in Pinellas County’s House District 68.
Young — the son of the late Congressman C.W. Bill Young — issued a statement conceding the race.
“We knew it would be an uphill battle to take on an incumbent in a battleground seat like this, and I couldn’t be prouder of the hard work we put in,” Young said. “My first campaign was a great experience and I’m grateful to the residents of District 68 for giving me this opportunity.”
The supermajority for the next two sessions means it will be tougher for Democrats to have a say in legislation that runs through the House.
In the 2011 and 2012 sessions, when the GOP had a supermajority in both chambers, lawmakers put unions under the microscope — many would say under attack — in a way they haven’t been in years. They also were able to pass contentious bills that tightened restrictions on abortions, strengthened gun rights, created a Medicaid managed-care system and made it harder for people to collect on sinkhole and wind-damage claims.
But just because the Republican dominated both chambers, not everything went smooth, as House and Senate GOP leaders fought throughout both sessions.
by Jim Turner, The News Services of Florida
Florida Statewide Election Results
November 5, 2014
Complete election results from across Florida show the following winners:
Governor — Rick Scott
Florida Attorney General — Pam Bondi
Florida Chief Financial Officer — Jeff Atwater
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture — Adam Putnam
Florida U.S. Rep. District 1 – Jeff Miller
Florida State Rep. District 1 — Clay Ingram
Florida State Rep. District 2 — Mike Hill
Amendment 1 (Water and Land Conservation) — PASSED
Amendment 2 (Medical Marijuana) — FAILED
Amendment 3 (Judicial Vacancies) — FAILED
High School Marine Programs Working To Protect Local Environment
November 5, 2014
Instructors and students from four Escambia Marine Science Education programs teamed up recently to fry hundreds of pounds of mullet and to educate the community about the four high school programs and their ongoing research projects.
One of the projects, Bringing Back the Bayous, involves students from Washington, West Florida, Escambia and Pensacola high schools collecting water samples. The samples are taken from Bayou Texar, Bayou Chico, Bayou Grande and Perdido Bay. The samples are transported to Washington High where biology and chemistry students measure the levels of chlorophyll and other nutrients such as phosphates and nitrogen in the local water.
“When these levels get too high, the water ways experience algal blooms that kill fish and damage local ecosystems,” explained Allie Fuller, Washington High senior and president of Washington’s Marine Science Academy. As a senior, she has had a variety of research opportunities in her four years in the program. She and classmates have collected water samples, planted sea grass, replenished the shorelines, and collected sea life in seine nets. They have learned how to properly test the water’s quality and how to report numbers of local species in diversity studies.
Fuller was a pioneer in Washington High’s program and she believes Pensacola needs more scientists so they can educate the public about the causes of local water pollution and how to avoid making things worse. “We have learned how to help by cleaning out the baffle boxes to keep big trash from washing into the bay. We also have added oyster shells and plant life to help reduce run-off and prevent erosion.”
Kevin Turner, a marine science instructor at Washington High School, says his wish is to teach his students how they can help clean up our local waterways. “We work with three other schools so water samples can be collected at more locations. All of the schools send their samples to us for testing. The reagents we need for the testing process are expensive. That’s why we decided to hold this fish fry, to raise money.”
Around $4000 was raised to help the Bayou project.
For Madison Meyer, a junior from Escambia High School, the recent event was a chance to tell more people about the Turtle T.H.I.S. (Teens Helping In the Seashore) project and to ask everyone to remember the negative effect bright lights can have along the coast for sea turtles. “People who live by the water need to shade their lights so the light can go where they need it, but not go where it’s not needed, because it affects turtles. If you need to use a flashlight, you should always use a red light.”
Meyer’s involvement in this project has also introduced her to a possible future employer, the National Parks. “I want to go into marine biology, and I plan to work for the park service, because you can go anywhere.”
“The people of Pensacola have become complacent,” said Jennifer Sublett, a junior at West Florida High School, when she was asked why it was important for her to be there talking to the public. Last spring, WFHS students collected tar patties from local beaches as part of Project G.O.O. (Gulf Oil Observers). The students learned the proper protocol for collecting the tar samples and then sent 40 patties to the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute to have them analyzed.
“Twenty six of our samples had the same composition as the tar from the BP Deep Water Horizon oil spill. This is important to know, because it tells us we still have a lot of oil out there from the spill,” Sublett said. This year, WFHS students will continue this work as part of Project G.O.O. II.
While Meyer and Fuller now know this experience is just a beginning in their interest in working in a scientific field (Meyer in the park system and Fuller in the nature cinemagraphic field), Sublett isn’t so sure just yet. But, she said that isn’t important, because she has already learned from her WFHS instructor, Shawn Walker, that anyone can be a citizen scientist.
“If you learn the right way to help, you can collect samples and help someone (a scientist) with their research,” explained Sublett.
Pictured top: Pictured inset: Jennifer Sublett, a junior marine science student at West Florida High School, explains the process and protocols used to collect sample tar balls from local beaches by students working with Project GOO (Gulf Oil Observers). Madison Meyer, Escambia High junior, explains what she has learned about turtles to Rayeko McCartan. Pictured below: Allie Fuller, Washington’s Marine Science Academy president and senior, and Kevin Turner, a Marine Science instructor at Washington High, presented information about the marine science program. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Vallie Andrews
November 5, 2014
Mrs. Vallie Andrews, 89, passed away on Monday, November 3, 2014, in Ft. Walton Beach.
Mrs. Andrews was a native of Mexia, Alabama and a resident of Atmore for 60 years. Mrs. Andrews retired from the City of Atmore Utility Department and organized singings once a month at the Atmore Senior Site. She was member of the Brooks Memorial Baptist Church.
She is preceded in death by her husband of 40 years, Melree Andrews, Sr.
Survivors include her two sons, Melree (Pandora) Andrews, Jr. of Atmore and Joe (Jackie) Andrews of Crestview; one daughter, Donna Kay (Benny) Thompson of Ft. Walton Beach; six grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, November 5, 2014, at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Mr. Dave Taylor officiating.
Burial was at the Serenity Gardens Cemetery.
Pallbearers were deacons from Brooks Memorial Baptist Church.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes in charge of all arrangements.
Jimmy Vickery
November 5, 2014
Jimmy Vickery of Montgomery, passed away November 4, 2014, in Montgomery. He was born on May 17, 1943, to the late Orval “Doc” Vickery and Alma Hicks Vickery Chason in Atmore. He was a U.S. Army Veteran and served during Vietnam. He had worked for Fountain Correctional Facility in Atmore and theYellow Cab Company in Montgomery. He was a member of the Fountain of Grace Church in Prattville.
He is survived by his three brothers Glennon (Nancy) Vickery of Daphne; Tom Chason of California and Paul Chason of Bratt; two sisters, Janice (Walter) Myers of Olive Branch, MS, and Darlene Levins of Bratt; and numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.
Funeral services will be held Friday, November 7, 2014, at 1 p.m.from the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Tony Butler officiating. Burial will follow in Huxford Baptist Church Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Thursday, November 6, 2014, from 6-8 p.m. at the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home in Atmore
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Tonight: Jim Allen Elementary Book Fair Family Night
November 4, 2014
Jim Allen Elementary School will hold a Scholastic Book Fair Family Night from 2:30 until 6:00 tonight. Family members and the community are invited to shop the book fair with their children. Jim Allen Elementary is located at 1051 Highway 95A North in Cantonment. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Smoke In Classroom Leads To Flomaton Elementary Evacuation
November 4, 2014
Flomaton Elementary School in Flomaton, AL, was evacuated this morning due to a fire alarm and smoke in a classroom.
First responders found an activated fire alarm and a very light smoke showing inside one of the classrooms, but no visible flames. Firefighters used a thermal imaging camera to narrow down the source of the smoke to dust on heat strips that were turned for the first time this season.
There were no injuries and no damage reported.
“Those kindergarten kids did a great job getting out of the building,” Flomaton Fire Chief Steve Stanton said. “This right is the reason we have those fire drills. They knew exactly what to do in a real emergency.”
The Flomaton, Friendship and Lambeth fire departments from Alabama and the Century Station of Escambia Rescue from Florida responded to the scene, along with the Flomaton Police department.
Pictured top: Fire departments on scene at Flomaton Elementary School. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
It’s Election Day: Polls Closed
November 4, 2014
FOR ELECTION RESULTS CLICK HERE and visit the front page of NorthEscambia.com.
It’s Election Day in the North Escambia area.
We will post LIVE updates and the latest information on NorthEscambia.com, Facebook (click here) and Twitter (click here) all day. And join us here tonight on NorthEscambia.com for live results from Escambia County, FL, plus Escambia County, AL, Santa Rosa County and state results.
Here are LIVE updates from around the area (scroll down below photos to read everything):
7:00 — Polls are closed. We will begin to post results as soon as they are available.
6:40 p.m. — Polls close in 20 minutes. As long as you are in line by 7:00, you get to vote.
5:55 p.m — An observance from earlier today. The precincts we visited earlier today were oddly devoid of political signs. No Rick Scott, no Charlie Crist…no signs at all, other than the precinct markers. Very strange. Polls close in just over an hour.
5:30 p.m. — Steady turnout, short lines reported at local precincts. In Walnut Hill, where our reporter just voted, 300 of 1,190 had cast ballots today. No waiting to sign in and get the ballot, a short line for a “booth” and a pen.
4:30 p.m. — Unofficial Escambia County Election Day turnout update: 40,109. Overall turnout (including absentee and early voting) 42.36%.
4:20 p.m. – Rick Scott at his Pensacola campaign headquarters this afternoon in a last minute get out the vote push. (Courtesy WEAR).
3:30 p.m – Republican Rick Scott to wrap up a full day of campaigning late this afternoon in Pensacola. He is scheduled to make a quick appearance at his “Pensacola Victory Center” on North Ninth Avenue a couple of hours before the polls close. There are no announced plans from Charlie Crist to visit Pensacola today.
3 p.m. – As of about an hour ago. the unofficial Election Day turnout in Escambia County was 28,689. Overall turnout, including absentee and early voting is 36.67% with hours to go.
2:50 p.m. – When the polls opened this morning at the Bayview Senior Center in Escambia County, there were some problems getting the electronics to work property. For about 20 minutes, the center had to use paper precinct registers until the problem was fixed. Apparently that’s been mentioned in the national media as some big problem, when officials say it really was not a big deal.
2 p.m. — Slow and steady is the word from precincts we check in the North Escambia area. Remember, polls are open until 7 p.m. There’s usually a late rush in the rural areas like North Escambia as people vote after returning home from work. Pictured above: A quiet moment for a poll worker at the Walnut Hill precinct.
Noon – Things were rather quiet at Precinct 33 at the First Baptist Church when we stopped by this morning, with the latest “news” being discussed by community members outside the precinct. Voters turnout generally increases during the lunch hour and after about 4:30 until the polls close at 7:00.
11:45 a.m. — On this election day, we actually found a politician that sweeps around his own door — literally! We caught Atmore Mayor Jim Staff sweeping outside the entrance to the Atmore City Hall this morning. He said his momma taught him how to use a broom — true pride in Atmore. (He’s not on the ballot today, by the way). There are two big races on the ballot in Escambia County, AL, today — county sheriff and a state senate race.
10:30 a.m. – An absolutely beautiful day to get out and vote with nice temperatures and a beautiful blue sky. Pictured: Work continues on the brand new Ernest Ward Middle School Tuesday morning, a project funded by the half cent sales tax that is on today’s ballot in Escambia County, FL.
8:00 a.m. — Polls have been open for an hour. Here are some Election Day tips from Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David Stafford:
- Confirm the location of your polling place – check your sample ballot, voter information card, EscambiaVotes.com, or call (850) 595-3900.
- If you are unsure of your registration status, check EscambiaVotes.com, e-mail soe@escambiavotes.com, or call 595-3900.
- Photo and signature ID is required for all voters – if you do not present an approved form of ID, you may vote a provisional ballot.
- Be sure to vote both sides of your ballot – there are contests on the front and back.
- Remember to make only one selection per contest on your ballot.
- Be sure to review your sample ballot prior in order to familiarize yourself with all of the contests. A sample ballot was mailed to voters, and you can view yours ample ballot online at EscambiaVotes.com.
- Voters are encouraged to study and mark their sample ballot and bring it with them to the polls to expedite the voting process.
- Registration books closed on October 6 – new registrations for this election may not be made at the polls.
- You may not return your voted absentee ballot to your precinct on Election Day – it must be received in the Elections Office by 7 p.m. Election Day.
- If you requested an absentee ballot but chose not to return it and wish to vote at your polling place instead, please bring your ballot with you so it can be cancelled.
- Early voting ended Saturday – if you have not yet voted or did not request an absentee ballot by October 29, you must go to your designated precinct on Election Day.
- Busiest times at the polls tend to be 7:00 a.m. until 9:00 a.m., during lunch hours, and from 4:30 p.m. until the polls close at 7:00 p.m.
For further information, contact the Supervisor of Elections Office at (850) 595-3900, e-mail soe@escambiavotes.com or visit www.EscambiaVotes.com.
Santa Rosa Man Extradited From Texas, Held On $1.5 Million Bond For Pastor Murder
November 4, 2014
The Santa Rosa County man accused of murdering his father-in-law, an Alabama pastor, is now behind bars in the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center in Brewton.
Brett Richard Yeiter, age 46 of Little Paul Lane, Jay, was extradited from the Carson County Jail near Amarillo, TX, on an open count of murder. He is being held with bond set at $1.5 million after a court appearance Monday in Brewton.
The shooting occurred Monday, October 27 at the Book of Acts Holiness Church on Jimmy Sellers Road, just north of the Florida line about 15 miles northwest of Munson, FL. Responding deputies found 69-year old Paul Phillips suffering from a gunshot wound from a shotgun. He passed away a short time later. Phillips was the pastor of the small church.
Yeiter was arrested Thursday afternoon on I-40 near Amarillo by a Texas state trooper after authorities received a tip he was in the area. At the time of his arrest, he was still driving the same truck with no tag that authorities said he used to flee the murder scene. Texas authorities said Yeter also used his credit card in western Oklahoma.
The only known motive for the murder, according to Alabama authorities, was an ongoing domestic dispute.