Superheroes, Firefighters Hold Annual Toy Drive
November 11, 2018
The heroes of the Atmore Fire Department has a little superhero help Saturday for the their Annual Firefighters Christmas Toy Drive at Walmart.
The firefighters, along with the likes Superman, Supergirl, Captain America and Wonder Woman collected toys for needy children this Christmas.
The toys will be distributed in Atmore and to children impacted by Hurricane Michael. Because of the great need created by Michael, the firefighters will collect toys again on December 8.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Election Recount Is ‘Deja Vu’ With Added Fuel
November 11, 2018
Democrats are holding rallies, demanding that every vote be counted. Republicans are raising the specter of fraud, accusing Democrats of attempting to “steal” elections. Lawsuits are grabbing headlines, and fundraising requests are flooding inboxes.
And folks on both sides of the aisle, including candidates, are recruiting attorneys and support staff to monitor activities in Florida’s 67 counties as officials recount votes from Tuesday’s elections.
The stakes aren’t as high as the first time the Sunshine State found itself the focus of an unwelcome elections spotlight nearly two decades ago, when the presidency hung in the balance.
But for many who participated in Florida’s protracted recount between George W. Bush and Al Gore, the partisan posturing now is a flashback to an equally divisive period in the nation’s history.
“It’s 2000 all over again, with the gasoline of digital and social media, which we didn’t have then, added to the fire,” Screven Watson, who served as the Florida Democratic Party’s executive director during Bush v. Gore, told The News Service of Florida in a telephone interview Saturday.
Hanging chads are no longer an issue in Florida, but delays in vote totals in Democrat-rich Broward and Palm Beach counties have drawn the ire of Republicans such as Gov. Rick Scott, who saw his 56,000-vote advantage over U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson on election night shrink to fewer than 13,000 votes by noon Saturday.
Scott said Thursday he asked the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to probe election wrongdoing in Broward and Palm Beach. A spokeswoman for the agency said Friday that, although FDLE is working with Secretary of State Ken Detzner’s office, there were no active investigations. Scott upped the ante by alerting county sheriffs to “be on the alert for any violations and take appropriate action.”
Nelson’s recount lawyer, Marc Elias, derided Scott’s FDLE request as indicative of a “Third World dictatorship.”
The rhetoric continued to build as the numbers narrowed, with Detzner on Saturday ultimately ordering recounts in the U.S. Senate race, the gubernatorial matchup between Republican Ron DeSantis and Democratic Andrew Gillum and the agriculture-commissioner race between Republican Matt Caldwell and Democrat Nikki Fried.
Coinciding with a noon Saturday deadline for county elections offices to submit their preliminary results to the state, Scott’s campaign held a conference call with reporters and U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican who, like Scott, is closely aligned with President Donald Trump.
Graham said Republicans consider Scott the winner of the heated contest and launched into an indictment of Broward County Supervisor of Elections Brenda Snipes.
“People of Florida and throughout the nation are tired of all of these shenanigans coming out of Broward County,” Graham said. “I cannot tell you how upsetting it is to have two counties in your state of Florida constantly be a problem at every level. I know the people of Florida deserve better and quite frankly the people of the United States deserve better.”
Graham’s call came less than 24 hours after Nelson blasted an email to supporters seeking contributions to build up his legal fund in anticipation of an expensive recount.
“I need a miracle,” the subject line in Nelson’s fundraising alert read.
The results of a machine recount are due to Detzner’s office by 3 p.m. Thursday, and the matchup between Nelson and Scott appears headed to a manual recount after that. Machine recounts are required when the margins between candidates are 0.5 percent or less, while subsequent manual recounts are triggered when margins are 0.25 percent of less. As of Saturday, Nelson and Scott were 0.15 percent apart.
Former Leon County Supervisor of Elections Ion Sancho, who was in the job during the 2000 recount, said Republicans and Democrats need to stay on the sidelines while the final votes are being tallied.
“These individuals should keep their mouths shut” and “let the ballots be counted,” Sancho told the News Service on Saturday.
Scott and his supporters have repeatedly used the words “fraud” and “shenanigans” to disparage Nelson, Snipes and Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Susan Bucher — all Democrats.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s true or not, because if it’s not true, they (Republicans) still tar the Democrats as cheaters, and they still get an issue they can use in future elections. So in this case, the truth doesn’t matter,” Sancho said.
Echoing a refrain used by critics of Hillary Clinton during the 2016 presidential election, chants of “Lock her up!” could be heard outside the Lauderhill election headquarters of Snipes on Saturday.
The increasingly nasty vibe sparked a reminder of the 2000 events for Watson.
“What I’m reading and listening and hearing from people, it is total déjà vu here. There were fraud allegations. There were people picketing. There were people chanting,” he said. “This is very, very similar in terms of the things that were alleged. They were alleging fraud, and abuse and incompetence on all sides.”
Watson said people from around the world contacted him in 2000. Some of their advice was questionable, he recalled.
“I had psychics and fortune tellers in Germany faxing me maps in Florida with ‘x’ marks where they had seen missing ballots,” Watson said. “And they would call me and make sure I got it.”
Eighteen years later, social media has made contact between the public and campaigns instantaneous, Watson said.
“But it was very similar. … The presidency’s not at stake. The Senate’s not at stake. What’s at stake is this divided country, and digital and social media are going to implode,” he said.
Republican political operative J.M. “Mac” Stipanovich was a close adviser to former Gov. Jeb Bush and played a critical role in the 2000 recount.
While he, too, sees many similarities in the two elections, Stipanovich called Republicans’ efforts to erode the public’s confidence in Florida elections unprecedented.
“What you’re doing is you’re delegitimizing the electoral process. Both parties are. And that’s ultimately fraught with risk,” Stipanovich said.
Two decades “makes all the difference in the world in American politics,” Stipanovich said.
“Everything is, on both sides, so much coarser, so more angry. It’s different,” he said.
Throughout Saturday, demands from the candidates’ supporters and third-party groups continued to escalate.
“Trying to STEAL two big elections in Florida! We are watching closely!” Trump tweeted Saturday afternoon.
The SAVE political committee, a group supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender causes, sent out an email alert seeking volunteers — including lawyers — to staff recounts in each of the 67 counties. Republican and Democratic groups issued similar requests.
Saturday afternoon, the League of Women Voters of Florida and Common Cause asked Scott to “immediately relinquish authority and remove yourself from any control of any person or agency responsible for the processing and counting of ballots.”
Accompanied by his attorney Barry Richard during a news conference Saturday afternoon, Gillum said he will “accept whatever the outcome is of the elections, so long as every single vote in this process is counted.”
“I am replacing my word of concession with an uncompromised and apologetic call that we count every single vote” said Gillum, who conceded the governor’s race to DeSantis on Tuesday night and trailed by more than 33,000 votes Saturday.
— News Service of Florida staff writer Jim Turner contributed to this report.
Eggart Named Lipscomb Elementary Teacher Of The Year
November 11, 2018
Betsy Eggart has been name the R.C. Lipscomb Elementary School Teacher of the Year. She teaches first grade. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Names Employee Of The Month
November 11, 2018
Mike Dixon has been named the November Escambia County Employee of the Month. He is an equipment operator in the operations division of the Escambia County Waste Services Department. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Officer Involved Shooting Under Investigation; Deputy Injured
November 10, 2018
An investigation is underway after an officer involved shooting Saturday afternoon in Escambia County.
At about 1 p.m., the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office attempted a felony warrant service in the 4600 block of Erress Boulevard. During the warrant service the suspect attempted to flee in a vehicle, striking the deputy.
The deputy fired at the vehicle, striking the suspect. The suspect was transported to a local hospital for a non-life threatening injuries. The deputy was transported to a local hospital and treated for multiple non-life threatening injuries.
The shooting is under under investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Further details have no been released.
Photos by Jason Robbins/WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
One Injured In Cantonment Wreck
November 10, 2018
At least one person was injured in an accident early Saturday afternoon on Highway 29 at Morris Avenue in Cantonment. The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. The Cantonment Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS als responded. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Florida Vote Recount Ordered In Races For Senate, Governor, Ag Commissioner
November 10, 2018
After the drama of election night and fierce battles about counting votes, Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner on Saturday ordered recounts in high-stakes races for U.S. Senate, governor and agriculture commissioner.
The orders, along with recounts slated in three legislative districts, were no surprise: State law requires “machine” recounts when the margins between candidates are 0.5 percent or less. As local officials continued to count ballots after Tuesday’s election, it became clear that all six of the races would fall under that requirement.
The machine recounts will play out over five days, with county canvassing boards required to report results by 3 p.m. Thursday. At that point, races with margins of .25 percent or less will go to manual, or “hand,” recounts.
The Escambia County Canvassing Board will meet at noon Sunday to conduct the recount. If more time is needed, the canvassing board will meet daily Monday through Thursday at 9 a.m. until the recount is complete. All meetings are open to the public. The Escambia County Canvassing Board meets at the Supervisor of Elections office located on the second floor at 213 Palafox Place.
Counties were required by noon Saturday to report unofficial results to the state. The races set for recounts are:
— The U.S. Senate race between Democratic incumbent Bill Nelson and Republican Gov. Rick Scott. In the unofficial results, Scott had 4,098,107 votes, or 50.07 percent, while Nelson had 4,085,545 votes, or 49.92 percent.
— The governor’s race between Republican Ron DeSantis and Democrat Andrew Gillum. In the unofficial results, DeSantis had 4,075,879 votes, or 49.59 percent, while Gillum had 4,042,195 votes, or 49.18 percent.
— The race for agriculture commissioner between Democrat Nikki Fried and Republican Matt Caldwell. In the unofficial results, Fried had 4,030,337 votes, or 50.03 percent, while Caldwell had 4,025,011 votes, or 49.97 percent.
In addition, recounts in Senate and House races will be conducted in Hillsborough, Volusia and Palm Beach counties.
In a machine recount, all ballots are fed through voting machines. Ballots with “undervotes” or “overvotes” — in which voters may have skipped races or made extra marks in races, causing their ballots to be rejected by the machines — are set aside, or “outstacked.”
In races that go to manual recounts after the Thursday deadline, county canvassing boards will examine the “outstacked” ballots.
The results from the manual recounts must be provided to the state no later than noon on Nov. 18. Two days later, the state Elections Canvassing Commission, comprised of Scott and two members of the Florida Cabinet, will meet in Tallahassee to certify the official election results.
by The News Service of Florida with local contribution from NorthEscambia.com
Wards Named Escambia County Farm Family Of The Year
November 10, 2018
The Heath Ward Family was named the Escambia County Farm Bureau Farm Farm Family of the Year.
Heath Ward is a fourth generation farmer who was born and raised in Walnut Hill. On the day he was born, Heath’s father Brett was shelling corn on the on land owned by Heath’s great-grandfather.
He is one of those men who always knew what he wanted from life. At an early age, he realized that he would one day take over the family farm. The FFA and agricultural classes were his favorites in school. Growing up, Heath competed in steer shows and helped his father and grandfather on their farms in both Walnut Hill and Lowndes County, AL.
After attending Auburn University, he moved home to fulfill his calling of, in his words, “feeding America”. His row crops include cotton, corn, and peanuts. In 2006, Heath was named Florida’s Outstanding Young Peanut Farmer of the Year.
In 2011, Heath met Elisabeth Hendrix from Atmore. They were married in 2012, and welcomed their first child, Hendrix, in 2014. Mary-Grace, a true “farmer’s daughter,”‘was welcomed in 2017.
Heath, Elisabeth, Hendrix, and Mary-Grace enjoy Sunday afternoon rides to check cows or look at crops. They say this time together is relaxing and brings them together as a family. While Heath and Elisabeth want their children to spread their wings and chase their personal dreams, they would love nothing more for them to settle down back home in Walnut Hill, hopefully following in their father’s footsteps in the agricultural business.
Pictured top: Elisabeth Ward holding Hendrix Ward, Farm Bureau board member Jack Livingston, and Heath Ward holding Mary-Grace Ward. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Data Breach Could Affect Escambia, Santa Rosa Health Department Clients
November 10, 2018
A data breach may have compromised the personal information of some health department clients in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
An investigation found that an unauthorized user comprised an employee’s Microsoft Outlook 365 account between October 8-16 of this year. The department immediately reset the employee’s login credentials to terminate any inappropriate account access and promptly reported the event.
It is possible that individuals served by the District 1 Child Protection Team may have had their names, psychological, and medical conditions accessed as a result of this incident, according to a news release.
Currently the department has no reason to believe that client information has been misused. Nor was there any evidence of access to social security numbers, bank accounts, credit cards or other personal or financial information.
As a precautionary measure, clients are encouraged to review their credit history for any fraudulent or suspicious activities they have not authorized. A free report can be obtained at www.annualcreditreport.com. Anyone suspecting fraudulent activity should contact the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9630.
The department said it:
- Took immediate steps to remediate the breach and began an ongoing review of potentially impacted information;
- Conducted a full review of department IT data to determine the circumstances of the breach;
- Initiated a new security awareness training and exercises to ensure proper security protocol and monthly testing of employees;
- Is exploring additional security options to protect against further security breaches.
For more information, call Children’s Medical Services at (850) 245-4201 and select option 3.
One Injured In Three-Vehicle Tate School Road Wreck
November 10, 2018
One person was injured in a three-vehicle crash on Tate School Road Friday afternoon. The crash is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
