Killer Of UWF Student Appeals Death Sentence To State Supreme Court
February 6, 2018
With a scheduled execution little more than two weeks away, attorneys for Death Row inmate Eric Scott Branch appealed to the Florida Supreme Court on Monday after an Escambia County circuit judge refused a request for a stay.
Branch, now 46, was sentenced to death in the 1993 sexual assault and murder of University of West Florida student Susan Morris.
Gov. Rick Scott last month scheduled Branch’s execution for February 22.
In seeking the stay in circuit court, Branch’s attorneys argued, in part, that Branch was 21 at the time of the murder and that brain development continues into the mid-20s.
They argued people in their early 20s are “cognitively comparable to juveniles under the age of 18,” Judge Edward P. Nickinson III wrote Thursday in an order denying the motion for a stay.
The argument was based on a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that barred the death penalty for people under age 18 because it would violate an Eighth Amendment ban on cruel and unusual punishment. But Nickinson wrote that the U.S. Supreme Court ruling had established a “bright line” of age 18.
“This Court must construe the prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment in conformity with decisions of the United States Supreme Court,” Nickinson wrote.
Branch’s attorneys last week also asked the Florida Supreme Court for a stay of execution while he appeals another issue to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Florida Supreme Court had not ruled on that request as of late Monday.
Barrineau Park 4-H Club Hosts Pig Palooza
February 6, 2018
The Barrineau Park 4-H Club hosted a Pig Palooza this weekend.
Over 55 youth and adults learned about pigs — including how to show their balloon pigs, breeds, and parts of the pig. They also learned about how to care for the animal and produce the best possible pork.
The event was in preperation for the GCA & NRYO Livestock Show to be held at the 4-H Livestock Property at 5701 South Highway 99 in Molino on March 24.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
GOP Candidates For Attorney General Are Already Battling
February 6, 2018
Expect the animosity to grow in Florida’s four-way Republican primary for attorney general.
Rancor between candidates was on full display Saturday during a forum held by The Federalist Society, one of nation’s most influential organizations involving conservative and libertarian legal minds, at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resort.
Ashley Moody, a former Hillsborough County judge who has been endorsed by term-limited Attorney General Pam Bondi, called out Rep. Jay Fant, R-Jacksonville, for political-committee mailers painting her a “liberal,” which she called “misleading,” “unjustified” and “unworthy of the office.”
Fant — one of four members of the Florida House running for the state Cabinet office — replied to Moody that “issues matter, and just because the issues make you feel uncomfortable doesn’t mean you’re being attacked.”
“These campaigns get difficult, they won’t get easier from here when the grassroots gets out there,” he said, adding she supported Democrat Bill McBride over Republican Jeb Bush in the 2002 gubernatorial election, and her family was involved in a 2009 lawsuit against President Donald Trump.
The Moodys were among 54 plaintiffs who claimed “negligent misrepresentations” by Trump and the Trump Organization about investments in a proposed development along the Hillsborough River that never got built. The case was settled with a confidential agreement.
Fant also said mailers Moody called “attacks” didn’t come from his campaign or political committee. However, Fant’s campaign has repeatedly referred to Moody as being a “Clinton liberal” and even called for her to be prohibited from attending a recent Republican Party of Florida event. She wasn’t excluded from the event.
Meanwhile, Rep. Ross Spano, a Dover Republican, showed Saturday he’s going to make courtroom experience a way to distinguish himself from two of the four Republicans running for the office: Fant and Rep. Frank White, R-Pensacola.
Span, in a question to Fant, noted that he’s litigated “well over 500 cases.”
Fant and White both pointed to their executive leadership positions.
“This is the attorney general position, not the solicitor position,” replied Fant, an attorney who works for his family-owned financial-service companies. Fant added that the statewide office requires executive and policy experience.
White, when asked by Moody if he’s ever served as a lead counsel who’s brought a case to verdict, replied there are “many paths to be an effective attorney general.”
White, an attorney who serves as general counsel and chief financial officer for the chain of Sandy Sansing auto dealerships, pointed out that Scott Pruitt, the administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, previously served as attorney general in Oklahoma.
Pruitt, who was a speaker before The Federalist Society on Friday night, included in his pre-election background the state Legislature and co-ownership of a minor league baseball team.
Pruitt “took that skill set and zealously advocated for the rights of Oklahomans and also set standards and, along with General Bondi, to lead nationally in fighting the Obama administration,” White said.
White, whose political committee United Conservatives has sent a mailer calling Moody a “liberal judge” for having once registered as a Democrat, questioned her stance on Second Amendment rights involving private property, including college campuses.
Moody, who abandoned her Democratic affiliation by 1999 when she was appointed a student representative on the Florida university system Board of Regents, replied that “people have a natural right to defend themselves,” while not directly addressing private property.
The Republicans will battle in an Aug. 28 primary, with the winner moving on to the Nov. 6 general election. Two Democrats — state Rep. Sean Shaw of Tampa and Hillsborough County attorney Ryan Torrens — are running.
The exchanges between White and Moody weren’t as sharp as her banter with Fant.
Such exchanges were able to occur due to the event format.
The Federalist Society initially gave each of the four GOP candidates and Torrens a chance to introduce themselves and explain differences on issues. Shaw did not attend.
Initial topics included the Second Amendment, future U.S. Supreme Court selections, the use of outside counsel in the attorney general’s office and how they’d respond to issues such as tort reform and marijuana enforcement.
Other than Torrens, there were few noticeable differences in individual stances.
Before concluding the event, the panelists were given a pair of rounds in which they each got to directly ask another panelist a question. For each round, no panelist could be the recipient of more than one question.
Fant, blocked in the first round from going after Moody, asked Torrens how he and Moody were similar.
Torrens declined to take the bait.
“I know there is debate and discussion in this Republican primary about who the real conservative is, but I’m here running on the Democratic slate with my own proposals,” Torrens replied.
Torrens had earlier drawn laughs from the crowd when ask who he’d recommend to the U.S. Supreme Court if asked by Trump.
“I know you’re going to love this,” Torres opened, before declaring he’d suggest former President Barack Obama.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Private Investigator Murder Suspect Released On Bond
February 5, 2018
A woman charged with the murder of a private investigator was released on bond from the Escambia County Jail Monday afternoon.
Ashley McArthur is facing a first degree murder charge for the death of 33-year old Taylor Wright, a private investigator and former police officer. Wright’s body was found off Britt Road, just west of County Road 97 near Muscogee Road in Cantonment.
McArthur was released at 3:37 p.m. on a $400,000 bond and is required to wear a GPS tracking device. Under the terms of her bond, she must live with her mother in Gulf Breeze and must stay within Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. She cannot posses a firearm, and she is forbidden from returning to the property on Britt Road in Cantnoment.
On September 14, 2017, Wright’s girlfriend reported that she was missing. The girlfriend gave a sworn statement to Pensacola Police that Wright had not been seen or heard from since September 8. Prior to her disappearance, Wright had told her girlfriend that she had placed a large amount of money in a safe deposit box that belonged to McArthur, her friend. Wright said she had tried to get her money back from McArthur several times with no success. Wright was trying to get the money back from McArthur for court proceedings related to Wright’s pending divorce.
On September 8, Wright and McArthur met so Wright could get her money. Wright and the girlfriend communicated back and forth via text until about 11:20 a.m. When the girlfriend did not hear back from Wright after numerous texts, she called McArthur. McArthur answered and said Wright could not come to the phone because she was riding a horse.
The girlfriend continued to try to communicate with Wright with no success until 7:58 p.m. when she received a text from Wright’s phone stating that she needed time to think and get her life on track.
On September 18, McArthur met with a Pensacola Police detective. She told the detective that she had picked Wright up on the morning of September 8 and they drove to various locations during the day before going to McArthur’s family property in East Milton to ride horses. She said they were there for about an hour before heading back to McArthur’s residence in the Pensacola city limits about 4:45 p.m. McArthur claimed that she went inside her house, and when came back out shortly, Wright was gone.
During the investigation, McArthur’s bank records and cell phone records were obtained. Bank records show that on August 16, McArthur deposited a cashier’s check in Wright’s name for the amount of $34,000 into McArthur’s personal checking account. The money has since been spent.
On September 14, Wright’s girlfriend reported that she was missing. The girlfriend gave a sworn statement to Pensacola Police that Wright had not been seen or heard from since September 8. Prior to her disappearance, Wright had told her girlfriend that she had placed a large amount of money in a safe deposit box that belonged to McArthur, her friend. Wright said she had tried to get her money back from McArthur several times with no success. Wright was trying to get the money back from McArthur for court proceedings related to Wright’s pending divorce.
On September 8, Wright and McArthur met so Wright could get her money. Wright and the girlfriend communicated back and forth via text until about 11:20 a.m. When the girlfriend did not hear back from Wright after numerous texts, she called McArthur. McArthur answered and said Wright could not come to the phone because she was riding a horse.
The girlfriend continued to try to communicate with Wright with no success until 7:58 p.m. when she received a text from Wright’s phone stating that she needed time to think and get her life on track.
On September 18, McArthur met with a Pensacola Police detective. She told the detective that she had picked Wright up on the morning of September 8 and they drove to various locations during the day before going to McArthur’s family property in East Milton to ride horses. She said they were there for about an hour before heading back to McArthur’s residence in the Pensacola city limits about 4:45 p.m. McArthur claimed that she went inside her house, and when came back out shortly, Wright was gone.
During the investigation, McArthur’s bank records and cell phone records were obtained. Bank records show that on August 16, McArthur deposited a cashier’s check in Wright’s name for the amount of $34,000 into McArthur’s personal checking account. They money has since been spent.
McArthur’s phone records never showed her in the area of the family property in East Milton, instead her phone showed her in the area of Beulah on September 8 from 11:52 a.m. until 1:44 p.m. and again from 2:40 p.m. until 3:33 p.m. Police discovered that McArthur’s family has property at 2201 Britt Road, in the same area as her phone indicated.
Pictured top and bottom: Taylor Wright. Pictured mugshot, inset: Ashley McArthur.
County Bans Big Trucks In 9½ Mile Road Area, River Annex Road
February 5, 2018
The Escambia County Commission has voted to prohibit large trucks on several roads in the Cantonment and Ensley areas.
Vehicles over 10,500 pounds gross weight will not be allowed on:
- River Annex Road, from Muscogee Road To Jacks Branch Road
- Nine and One Half Mile Road, from Pine Forest Road to US Highway 29
- Ten Mile Road, from Edendale Lane to Stefani Road
- Edendale Lane, from Ten Mile Road to Nine and One Half Mile Road
- Ashland Avenue, from Ten Mile Road to Nine Mile Road
- Bowman Avenue, from Ten Mile Road to Nine Mile Road
- Cove Avenue, from Ten Mile Road to Nine Mile Road
- Fowler Avenue, from Nine and One Half Mile Road to Nine Mile Road
The truck ban will not include trucks servicing or having business within the area.
The vehicle weight restriction on River Annex Road is under consideration due to layout of intersections, narrow width, roadway condition and potential shoulder hazards.
The restriction on the other roadways is under consideration to curtail truck cut-through traffic, which is undesirable on the designated roadways which are residential in nature and not constructed to support or accommodate volumes of heavy truck traffic, according to county documents.
FDOT: Weekly Traffic Alerts
February 5, 2018
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County:
- U.S. 98 (Garden Street), State Road (S.R.) 196 (Bayfront Parkway), (U.S. 98 (Pensacola Bay Bridge through Gulf Breeze) Double Bridge Run- Drivers will encounter lane closures on the following from 6:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 3 for the Double Bridge Run. Law enforcement will be on site to assist with traffic control.
- U.S. 29 Resurfacing between U.S. 90 and Muscogee Road – Alternating lane closures on U.S. 29 north and southbound, from Muscogee Road to West 9 ½ Mile Road, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 4 through Saturday, Feb. 10 as crews pave.
- State Road (S.R.) 742 (Creighton Road) Construction Improvement Project from east of Davis Highway to Scenic Highway – Intermittent and alternating lane closures between Davis Highway and Scenic Highway from 8:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 4 through Saturday, Feb. 10 continue as crews perform milling, paving, sidewalk and curb replacement.
- Interstate 10 (I-10) / U.S. 29 Interchange Improvements Phase I – The following traffic impacts are planned on I-10 and U.S. 29 near the interchange (Exits 10A and 10B) from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 4 through Thursday, Feb. 8:
- Alternating lane closures on I-10 east and westbound and U.S. 29 north and southbound.
- The U.S. 29 on-ramps to I-10 eastbound will be intermittently closed. Traffic will be detoured on U.S. 29 to access I-10 eastbound.
- The exit ramp from I-10 westbound to U.S. 29 south (Exit 10A) will be intermittently closed. Traffic will be detoured to U.S. 29 north (Exit 10B).
- Alternating lane closures on the I-10 westbound exit ramp to U.S. 29 north (Exit 10B).
- I-10 Widening from Davis Highway to the Escambia Bay Bridge – Intermittent and alternating lane closures on I-10, between Davis Highway (Exit 13) and Scenic Highway (Exit 17), and on Scenic Highway, between Whisper Way and Northpointe Parkway, from 7 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 4 through Thursday, Feb. 8 as crews perform construction activities. The speed limit on I-10 will be reduced to 60 mph during nighttime lane closures.
- U.S. 98 (S.R. 30) Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement- Alternating lane closures on U.S. 98 east and westbound, between 14th Avenue in Pensacola and Bay Bridge Drive in Gulf Breeze, from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 4 through Sunday, Feb. 11 as crews perform construction activities.
- U.S. 29 Widening from I-10 to Nine Mile Road – Drivers traveling U.S. 29 and Nine Mile Road will encounter traffic pattern changes from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 4 through Saturday, Feb. 10 as follows:
- Nine Mile Road at the U.S. 29 overpass: Eastbound traffic will continue to be shifted on to the westbound inside lane as crews prepare the area for construction of the support column for the new center bridge deck. Lane restrictions are Sundays through Fridays.
- U.S. 29 between I-10 and 9 1/2 Mile Road: Drivers may encounter alternating lane closures as crews perform drainage work and prepare for upcoming traffic shifts. Lane restrictions are Mondays through Saturdays
- Upcoming traffic shift: Southbound U.S. 29 traffic between Hannah Street and I-10 will be shifted west onto temporary pavement Sunday, Feb. 11 as crews construct drainage improvements. This traffic shift will remain in place for many months.
Santa Rosa County:
- I-10 Widening from Escambia Bay Bridge to Avalon Boulevard (S.R. 281/Exit 22) – Traffic on Avalon Boulevard near the I-10 interchange has been shifted to the east so crews can reconstruct the southbound lanes of Avalon Boulevard. The shift will be in place through spring 2018. Drivers will also encounter alternating lane closures on I-10, from the Escambia Bay Bridge to east of S.R. 281 (Avalon Boulevard/Exit 22), from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 4 through Friday, Feb. 9 as crews work to widen the roadway. In addition, alternating lane closures on Avalon Boulevard, near the I-10 interchange, will also be encountered as crews reconstruct the overpass.
- U.S. 98 (S.R. 30) Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – Alternating lane closures on U.S. 98 east and westbound, between 14th Avenue in Pensacola and Bay Bridge Drive in Gulf Breeze, from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 4 through Sunday, Feb. 11 as crews perform construction activities.
- Garcon Point Bridge Routine Maintenance Operations- Crews will perform striping operations from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 4 through Wednesday, Feb. 7. This will be a slow-moving operation, drivers are reminded to use caution and to watch for workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway.
- S.R. 87 Multilane from Eglin AFB boundary to Hickory Hammock Road – Traffic on from the north end of the Yellow River Bridge to just south of Hickory Hammock Road, will be shifted to the newly constructed travel lanes Wednesday, Feb. 7. Variable message boards will alert drivers of the new traffic pattern. In addition, traffic between Hickory Hammock Road and the Eglin AFB boundary is restricted to loads less than 11-feet wide. The restriction will be in place until the project is complete.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or re-scheduled in the event of inclement weather. Drivers are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling through a work zone and to watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway.
Tate Aggie Cheerleaders Take Third In State Finals
February 5, 2018
The Tate High School Aggie varsity cheerleaders took third in the state cheerleading finals Sunday at the University of Florida in Gainesville. During their season, the varsity Aggies place first in the region and finished first at every competition leading up to state. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia BOCC Weekly Meeting Schedule
February 5, 2018
Monday, Feb. 5
Escambia County Fire Rescue Firefighter Interviews – 8 a.m., Escambia County Public Safety, 6575 N. “W” St.
Selection Committee, Facilities Management Director Short List of Applicants – 3 p.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place
Tuesday, Feb. 6
Escambia County Fire Rescue Firefighter Interviews – 8 a.m., Escambia County Public Safety, 6575 N. “W” St.
Planning Board – Rezoning – 8:30 a.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place (Agenda)
Planning Board – Regular – 8:35 a.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place (Agenda)
Committee of the Whole – 9 a.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place
Environmental Enforcement Special Magistrate – 1:30 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place (Agenda)
Wednesday, Feb. 7
Contractor Competency Board – 9 a.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place
Development Review Committee – 1 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Thursday, Feb. 8
4-H Foundation and Financial Committee Meeting – 5 p.m., Langley Bell 4-H Center, 3730 Stefani Road
Friday, Feb. 9
Value Adjustment Board Regular Meeting – 9 a.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place
Monday, Feb. 5
Escambia County Fire Rescue Firefighter Interviews – 8 a.m., Escambia County Public Safety, 6575 N. “W” St.
Selection Committee, Facilities Management Director Short List of Applicants – 3 p.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place
Tuesday, Feb. 6
Escambia County Fire Rescue Firefighter Interviews – 8 a.m., Escambia County Public Safety, 6575 N. “W” St.
Planning Board – Rezoning – 8:30 a.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place (Agenda)
Planning Board – Regular – 8:35 a.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place (Agenda)
Committee of the Whole – 9 a.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place
Environmental Enforcement Special Magistrate – 1:30 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place (Agenda)
Wednesday, Feb. 7
Contractor Competency Board – 9 a.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place
Development Review Committee – 1 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Thursday, Feb. 8
4-H Foundation and Financial Committee Meeting – 5 p.m., Langley Bell 4-H Center, 3730 Stefani Road
Friday, Feb. 9
Value Adjustment Board Regular Meeting – 9 a.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Spring Book Fair This Week At Ernest Ward Middle School
February 5, 2018
The Ernest Ward Middle School Spring Book Fair is going on this week.
The book fair will be open from 9 a.m. until 2:52 p.m.
Students may visit the fair during lunches, according to the following schedule, and at their teacher’s discretion:
Monday, 2/05— All PE classes
Tuesday, 2/06– All elective classes
Wednesday, 2/07– All social studies classes
Thursday, 2/08– All science classes
Friday, 2/09– All language arts classes
Students may also shop with their parents during lunches. However, parents and all visitors must first sign-in with the front office and complete the visitor process.
Century Joins West Florida Regional Planning Council
February 5, 2018
The Town of Century is joining the West Florida Regional Planning Council.
The $500 annual membership fee includes a seat on the planning council’s board of directors.
The mission of the West Florida Regional Planning Council is to provide professional planning, coordinating and advisory services to local governments, state and federal agencies and the public to preserve and enhance the quality of life in northwest Florida, according to their website.