Florida Gov’t Weekly Roundup: In With The New
December 4, 2016
The calendar turned this week to the last month of the year, but many in Florida seemed to be getting a jump on new beginnings.
The state’s main business-recruiting agency finally hired a new president. The Florida Supreme Court ordered a new sentencing for a convicted murderer. Gov. Rick Scott could officially consider appointing a new justice to the Supreme Court. And a newly elected senator moved toward restarting one of the more divisive Republican battles of Scott’s tenure.
There was one notable ending this week: Hurricane season officially drew to a close, after two hurricanes caused damage in a state that had avoided the big storms for a decade. The only start anyone in Florida wanted to see on that count was perhaps the start to a new stretch of quiet skies.
NEW BOSS OF JOBS
Chris Hart is taking a job advertised as paying around $175,000 to $200,000 a year. He might want to look into the possibility of combat pay.
Hart, a former state lawmaker, was unanimously chosen by the Enterprise Florida Board of Directors to take over as president and CEO of the job-hunting organization. Along with the titles and the office comes a place in an ongoing fight between Scott and some conservative lawmakers who have taken aim at spending on business incentives. Hart is expected to start work with the public-private Enterprise Florida on Jan. 3.
Hart’s knowledge of the Legislature, through the CareerSource Florida leadership position he’s held since 2007 and as a former two-term House member from Tampa, was considered a valuable selling point by members of an Enterprise Florida executive committee that recommended him for the new job.
Enterprise Florida Vice Chairman Alan Becker, also a member of the executive committee, said Hart’s legislative knowledge “might come in handy this year.”
That’s because while Scott and allies are looking for $85 million for business incentives in 2017, new House Speaker Richard Corcoran is not a fan of “corporate welfare.”
“When you’re taking money out of the masses’ pockets and then giving it literally — to the Democrats’ argument — to the top 1 percent, to the detriment of everybody else, that is de facto socialism,” Corcoran, R-Land O’ Lakes, said in October during a panel discussion hosted by the Texas Public Policy Foundation, a non-profit conservative think tank.
Hart said his job is to establish “trust” between the House speaker and Enterprise Florida, something he said may be a little easier as he believes they have common goals.
“What he’s doing, which I think — appropriately so — in his role, is he’s asking a lot of questions and interjecting a lot of his opinions, but we all do that,” Hart said of Corcoran. “He’s looking at having a prosperous Florida. We’re looking at a prosperous Florida. He wants to ensure that it’s for all Floridians.”
BACK TO THE BATTLEFIELD
The fight over incentives was a notable intraparty battle for Republicans in recent years. Another was a 2014 scuffle over in-state tuition for some undocumented immigrant students, an issue that pitted Scott and a different House speaker against the Senate.
Now, a new senator wants to repeal the outcome of that confrontation, which led to the Legislature approving a law authorizing the lower, in-state rates for immigrants who have attended secondary school in Florida for three years before graduating from high school.
Sen. Greg Steube, a Sarasota Republican who voted against the 2014 bill during his time in the House, said that in seeking a repeal during the 2017 session, he is following through on a campaign promise after hearing concerns from constituents.
“It was quite frankly a big issue with a lot of people during my election, especially during the primary,” said Steube, who was appointed this week to chair the Senate Judiciary Committee.
But Steube’s legislation drew a sharp rejoinder from Rep. Jeanette Nunez, the No. 2 Republican in the House and the sponsor of the bill that extended in-state tuition to undocumented immigrants.
“Clearly, it seems to me that Senator Steube is still in campaign mode and has not transitioned to governing mode,” said Nunez, R-Miami.
The dynamics around the issue are complicated: Corcoran and new Senate President Joe Negron, R-Stuart, both opposed the 2014 measure. But the House and Senate presiding officers have also stocked their leadership teams with lawmakers from Miami-Dade County, where the tuition measure tends to be more popular.
“In some ways, this is going to be a test of their leadership,” said Elbert Garcia, state director of Florida’s Voice, an immigrant advocacy organization.
A SIGNAL ON THE DEATH PENALTY?
As lawmakers and judges struggle to come to terms with the new realities of Florida’s death penalty, they are looking at capital-punishment cases before the state Supreme Court to try to decipher what the future holds. This week, justices threw out a death sentence and ordered a new penalty proceeding for a convicted triple-murderer, which some took as an indication of where things are headed.
The 4-1 decision in the Polk County case of Paul Beasley Johnson — who already has twice avoided execution — is the latest in a series of death penalty rulings since the state high court struck down a new Florida law as unconstitutional because it did not require unanimous jury recommendations for the sentence to be imposed.
Public defenders maintain that the Johnson decision and another recent ruling mean that scores of condemned inmates will likely be given a chance to avoid the possibility of execution through new sentencing hearings. But prosecutors, and even some defense lawyers, cautioned against overstating the significance of the decisions, saying they expect the Supreme Court to handle similar direct appeals on a case-by-case basis.
Thursday’s majority opinion in the Johnson case offered insight into the Florida court’s application of a January U.S. Supreme Court ruling, in a case known as Hurst v. Florida, that struck down the state’s death-penalty sentencing system as unconstitutional because it gave too much power to judges, instead of juries.
The Florida Supreme Court ruled in October that part of a new state law passed in response to the Hurst decision was unconstitutional. That part of the law did not require unanimous jury recommendations before inmates could be sentenced to death, an issue not addressed in the U.S. Supreme Court’s Hurst decision.
Thursday’s ruling in the Johnson case focused on the issues of aggravators and mitigating circumstances, which was a key issue in the Hurst decision. Justices vacated Johnson’s death sentence and ordered a lower court to hold a new penalty proceeding because a jury did not weigh the aggravators and mitigating circumstances in his case.
The majority included Chief Justice Jorge Labarga and justices Barbara Pariente, R. Fred Lewis and James E.C. Perry, who dissented in part. Justices Charles Canady and Peggy Quince were recused, and Justice Ricky Polston dissented.
Perry will soon be replaced by a justice appointed by Scott. On Monday, the Supreme Court Judicial Nominating Commission sent three potential picks to Scott, including a lawyer who once worked to keep David Duke off the presidential ballot in Florida and two appellate judges who pledged to use judicial restraint.
The three names — Fifth District Court of Appeal Chief Judge C. Alan Lawson, appellate Judge Wendy Berger and Orlando lawyer Dan Gerber — weren’t a surprise to anyone who’s followed the legal gossip about the open position. All three have links to the Federalist Society, a prominent conservative legal group that formed in the 1980s.
HURRICANES, HURRICANES, GO AWAY
There was some unquestioned good news for Florida residents hit by two hurricanes this year: There’s no more watching the skies for one of the storms, at least until the season comes back around. The 2016 warning period ended Wednesday.
When Hurricane Hermine came on shore near St. Marks, a coastal community south of Tallahassee, in the early morning hours of Sept. 2, it ended a record string of 3,966 days, or 10.87 years, without a hurricane making landfall in the state most prone to being hit by tropical storms, according to a new analysis by Colorado State University.
Prior to Hermine, a Category 1 storm, Florida was last hit by Hurricane Wilma, a 120-mph, Category 3 storm, which struck Southwest Florida on Oct. 24, 2005.
Florida also came close this year to a direct hit by a major hurricane, as Hurricane Matthew, which was the first Category 5 storm in the Atlantic basin since 2007, came within 50 miles of Florida’s East Coast, raking the state Oct. 6 and Oct. 7 before making landfall Oct. 8 in South Carolina as a 75 mph Category 1 hurricane. Matthew did damage along Florida’s coast despite technically missing.
With data reflected through October, the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation said Hermine resulted in $95 million in property-damage claims. Hurricane Matthew has resulted in more than 100,000 property-damage claims, representing $606 million in value.
Citizens Property Insurance, the state-backed insurer, said it has paid out $10.7 million in claims related to Hermine and Matthew, with 84 percent of the 4,000 claims closed. The impact was relatively light for the insurer, which has more than 472,000 policies representing $128 billion in exposure. But Barry Gilway, the Citizens president and CEO, said the 2016 storm season tested the insurer’s ability to handle hurricane claims.
“We clearly showed that Citizens is ready as we received excellent feedback for our claims handling from our customers,” Gilway said. “That said, we will continue to look for ways to improve.”
STORY OF THE WEEK: Enterprise Florida has a new leader, setting the stage for a clash in the 2017 legislative session about spending on business incentives.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Politically, the challenge in this really kind of crude environment is to go beyond being against what’s not working and being for things that will work, that will lift people up. And I tried that and totally failed, miserably. I mean, like, belly flop — bam.”—Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, on his presidential bid.
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Despite Recent Rain, Drought Conditions Get Worse
December 3, 2016
The showers and thunderstorms across the area earlier this week made little difference in our local drought conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Escambia County in Florida and the western third of Escambia County in Alabama are in a severe drought, while most of Santa Rosa County and the remainder of Escambia County in Alabama are in an extreme drought.
A total burn ban remains in effect in Alabama as a result of the drought, while the Florida Forest Service has strongly discouraged any outdoor burning.
While not likely to totally alleviate the drought, there is hope for some relief in the form of showers and thunderstorms in the forecast for Sunday night through Monday night. But overall, the drought is expected to continue into winter when below normal rainfall is i the local forecast.
Click graphics to enlarge.
Rain Returns This Weekend
December 3, 2016
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Saturday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers, mainly after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53. East wind around 10 mph.
Sunday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 71. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Sunday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a low around 62. Southeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Monday: Showers and thunderstorms. High near 73. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Monday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. South wind around 10 mph becoming west after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 70. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 49. West wind around 5 mph becoming northeast after midnight.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 69.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 43.
Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 57.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 29.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 49.
Cantonment Driver Cited In Mobile Highway Crash
December 3, 2016
The Florida Highway Patrol says a Cantonment driver was at fault in a Mobile Highway crash.
According to the FHP, 19-year old Tinea Davis of Cantonment turned her 2013 Ford Fiesta into the direct path of a 2015 Honda driven by 27-year old John Joyner of Pensacola. Joyner was ejected in the crash, which occurred at Mobile Highway and Washbash Street.
Joyner was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital with serious injuries. Davis was not injured.
Davis was cited with failure to yield by the FHP.
Local Resident Escapes Gatlinburg Fires
December 3, 2016
A beautiful mountain-view Gatlinburg vacation turned into a horrifying drive for local residentJennifer Ness.
An operator at Gulf Power’s Distribution Operations Center, Ness had to evacuate from the wildfires around Gatlinburg which burned more than 700 buildings and killed at least 11 people earlier this week.
Ness evacuated safely to a nearby hotel and returned home on Tuesday. But she lost all the possessions she had taken except her purse.
“It was definitely a horrific experience,” she said Thursday from her home. “I feel so heartbroken for the community and the people there. It’s just like going through a hurricane and losing everything they have.”
Ness left Sunday to spend a week’s vacation at Westgate Resort, located between Pidgeon Forge and Gatlinburg, where her parents had a timeshare condo. Her best friend, Kathy, was supposed to go, but had to back out so Ness went on her own.
She had never been to the area before and when she arrived late Sunday afternoon, she was amazed at the view.
“The place was amazingly beautiful,” she said. “The condo was incredible and all around the area, they had decorated for the holidays. I was looking forward to sight-seeing and shopping for Christmas.”
But Monday morning, when she went out on the balcony for a cup of coffee, she noticed the smoke. The view was gone and it was hard to breathe.
Ness texted her timeshare host, who told her there was a fire on Chimney Top, a nearby mountain. She instructed Ness to stay indoors until later that Monday afternoon.
Around 2 p.m., she noticed the view had cleared a little, so she went into town, returned to the condo around 6 p.m. and put on her pajamas to settle down for the evening.
Just an hour later, her host called and told her she needed to evacuate.
“She told me to drive as far away as you can,” Ness said. “She reiterated that I need you to leave now. I didn’t realize the extent of how serious it was.”
She put on her clothes, grabbed her purse and got in her vehicle. All four lanes of traffic had been routed to leave town.
The scene on the road was horrific. Embers from the mountain fire had blown down and ignited trees on both sides of the highway. Traffic was bumper-to-bumper and took Ness 45 minutes to get out of the area.
“You could see the flames on the mountain,” she said. “It was an unbelievable site. It seemed like an eternity to get out.”
While she was driving, she called Kathy, who booked her a hotel room in nearby Sevierville. She checked in and then called her family members to let them know she was OK.
Later in the hotel, she saw news video of the resort burning. All that was left standing was an elevator shaft. All her possessions she had brought were gone, including her clothes, a Nikon camera with a zoom lens and her jewelry, including a Pandora bracelet with 24 charms given to her by her children.
The blazes scorched thousands of acres in the resort-heavy area, burning more than 700 buildings in Sevier County, including about 300 in Gatlinburg alone, and injuring at least 74 people, officials said. Ness was one of more than 14,000 tourists and residents that had to be evacuated.
“All the beauty I drove into and then seeing the fires was unbelievable,” she said. “It wasn’t about grabbing my personal belongings. I was thinking about my children, my grandchildren and my mother and to get out safely. It makes you think about the things that are important to you in your life.”
Ness decided to check out of the hotel Tuesday and return so the hotel room would be available for a displaced family. She will return to work next week.
“With our job at the DCC, we’re always the first ones to respond,” she said. “To be on the opposite side as an evacuee was a place I would never want to be again. When I arrived there, I was so excited to be there and experience what my parents love so much. Now, I’m glad to be home.”
Northview Presents Christmas Concert (With Gallery, Videos)
December 3, 2016
The annual Northview High School Christmas Concert was held Friday night at the school. The event featured the Northview concert band, beginner guitar class, monologues from the theater class, vocal soloists and the Ernest Ward Middle School band.
Two video highlights are below: the Northview band with “The Polar Express” (top) and Catie Clayton with “The Christmas Song” (bottom).
NorthEscambia.com photos and video, click to enlarge.
Winning $55K Fantasy Five Ticket Sold In North Escambia
December 3, 2016
Someone is over $55,000 richer this morning after purchasing a winning Florida Lottery Fantasy 5 ticket in Davisville.
The ticket sold at the State Line Gift Shop, 11208 Highway 97, was one of four winning tickets sold for Friday night’s drawing worth $55,345.54. Other winning tickets matching all five numbers were sold in Palm Bay, Beverly Hills and Delray Beach.
The ticket was the third winning Fantasy Five ticket sold this year at the State Line Gift Shop.
The 307 tickets matching four numbers won $115 each. Another 8,873 tickets matching three numbers are worth $11 each, and 88,646 ticket holders won a Quick Pick ticket for picking two numbers.
Friday’s winning numbers were 16-20-23-28-33.
Dear Santa: Jim Allen Students Present Christmas Play
December 3, 2016
Students at Jim Allen Elementary School presented their Christmas program “Dear Santa” Friday morning.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Photos by Savanna Calhoun for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Enjoy An Evening In Bethlehem Tonight
December 3, 2016
The Seventh Annual Evening in Bethlehem will continue Saturday night at Gonzalez United Methodist Church.
From the organizers:
The Evening in Bethlehem to go back in time to the night Jesus was born. Immerse yourself in the people, places and experiences that surrounded the birth of Jesus Christ. Live animals, and actors playing their parts will round out the setting of what it was like in Bethlehem on that night. Stroll through the village with your loved ones, and go back in time to share in the joy of the birth of the son of God. This event is family friendly, and is a great way to kick off the Christmas season.
Tours will run continuously from 6 until 8 p.m. The event will take place on the grounds of the church at 2026 Pauline Street, Cantonment. The event is free to attend, and refreshments will be provided.
Pictured: Angel Choir Friday night at the Seventh Annual Evening in Bethlehem at Gonzalez United Methodist Church. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
James Foster Anderson
December 3, 2016
James Foster Anderson, 67, passed away on November 29, 2016.
He was born at Mobile Infirmary on June 7, 1947, to the late L.D. and Mirtis B. Anderson. He graduated from The University of Alabama in 1972 with a Bachelor’s degree from the Business school. While at Alabama he was a member of the Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity. He joined the Air force ROTC in 1967 and was a reservist until 1972.
He spent 30 years with the conservation department in Alabama serving in many roles in several state parks. He worked at Gulf state park, Cheaha, Roland Cooper, and Lakepoint. After retiring from the state, he worked with the Sheriff’s department in Escambia County, Alabama for 5 years. He subsequently went to work with the Poarch Creek Indians as a Tribal Police Officer for another five years. Spending 40 years as a police officer, he had a strong sense of duty, honor, and fairness for life. He enjoyed turkey hunting, fishing and carpentry.
He is survived by his wife, Dy-Ana Anderson; son, James Foster Anderson, II; his brother, Daulton Anderson; and his nephews, Jeff Anderson, David Anderson; and niece, Kristen Kaiser.
Funeral services were held Saturday, December 3, 2016, from The First Baptist Church of Atmore with Rev. Arnold Hendrix officiating.
Burial was in Oak Hill Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Gary Elmore, Hugh Elmore, Butch Black, David Anderson, Brandon Smith and Julian Johnson.
Honorary pallbearers were James Norris and Bobby Davis.
In lieu of flowers please give donations to Shriner’s Hospital, St. Jude Hospital or Atmore Community Hospital.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.