Groups Can Apply For Escambia Neighborhood Renewal Initiative Grant Program
April 20, 2016
The Escambia County Neighborhood Enterprise Division (NED) has opened the spring cycle for its Neighborhood Renewal Initiative Program, funded through the county’s Community Development Block Grant Program.
Neighborhood organizations located within the boundaries of one of the county’s Community Redevelopment Areas (CRA) are eligible to apply for up to $5,000 for projects that promote community and volunteer-based redevelopment efforts in a targeted neighborhood. Projects up to $500 require no match, while projects exceeding $500 will require a match of cash, in-kind contributions, and/or volunteer labor. Past applicants have completed neighborhood beautification projects, neighborhood signs, and house numbering projects. Applications are due to NED by June 1.
For more information or to request an application, contact Meredith Reeves at (850) 595-0022, ext. 3 or NED@myescambia.com.
Escambia Man Gets 15 Years For DUI Manslaughter
April 20, 2016
Escambia County resident Morgan Kayne Lee Romero was sentenced Tuesday by Circuit Judge Ross Gooman to 15 years in state prison for DUI Manslaughter and operating a motor vehicle carelessly or negligently causing death without having a driver’s license.
The sentence imposed was the maximum that Romero could receive.
The charges arose from March 16, 2015, when Romero, who was 23 at the time, ran off the road and crashed into an oak tree at approximately 1:00 a.m. His passenger, Brian Lynn Brown, 27 years old, also of Pensacola, died on impact.
Romero had to be extricated from the driver’s seat and was airlifted to Sacred Heart Hospital for treatment.
Testimony at trial established that Romero was driving south on Tanglewood Drive in Milton at a speed of at least 55-60 mph when he missed a 90-degree curve in the road. Romero’s vehicle, a 2000 Chevrolet truck, traveled approximately 200 feet off the roadway and crashed into a large oak tree in the backyard of a residence and within feet of the back porch. Tanglewood Drive has a posted speed limit of 25 mph, and a sign warning of the upcoming turn is marked with a speed limit of 15 mph.
A search warrant was completed to examine Romero’s blood and determine its blood-alcohol content. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement was able to determine that at the time of the blood draw—nearly five hours after the crash—Romero still had a blood alcohol level of .113. Further testimony at trial established that Romero’s blood alcohol level at the time of the crash was most likely between .129 and .200. Romero admitted drinking five beers in an hour and a half, one of which he consumed while driving. He claimed that he was not impaired.
Feds Say New Abortion Law Can’t Block Clinic Funding
April 20, 2016
.A key federal health agency on Tuesday notified Florida and other states that they may not ban Medicaid funding for family-planning services at clinics that also offer elective abortions.
That likely blocks a controversial provision of a new Florida abortion law (HB 1411) signed last month by Gov. Rick Scott.
The sweeping legislation — sponsored by Rep. Colleen Burton and Sen. Kelli Stargel, both Lakeland Republicans — sought to bar state agencies, local governmental entities and Medicaid managed-care plans from using public funds to contract with organizations that own, operate or are otherwise affiliated with licensed abortion clinics.
Although Medicaid money cannot be used for elective abortions, the new law sought to also prevent its use for family-planning services at providers that offer elective abortions, such as at Planned Parenthood clinics.
But Vikki Wachino, director of the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, issued a document Tuesday to state Medicaid directors, stating that a ban such as the one approved by Florida’s Republican-dominated Legislature would violate federal law.
“Providing the full range of women’s health services neither disqualifies a provider from participating in the Medicaid program, nor is the provision of such services inconsistent with the best interests of the beneficiary, and shall not be grounds for a state’s action against a provider in the Medicaid program,” Wachino wrote.
She said the Social Security Act’s “free choice of provider” provision guarantees Medicaid beneficiaries the right to see any willing and qualified provider of their choice.
“This provision limits a state’s authority to establish qualification standards, or take certain actions against a provider, unless those standards or actions are related to the fitness of the provider to perform covered medical services — i.e., its capability to perform the required services in a professionally competent, safe, legal, and ethical manner — or the ability of the provider to appropriately bill for those services,” Wachino wrote. “Such reasons may not include a desire to target a provider or set of providers for reasons unrelated to their fitness to perform covered services or the adequacy of their billing practices.”
Wachino’s letter followed a phone call between her agency and the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration before Scott signed HB 1411, according to CMS spokeswoman Marissa Padilla.
Padilla said her agency told AHCA at the time of the state’s duty to ensure that Medicaid beneficiaries continue to have access to services from any provider willing and qualified to deliver the care.
Public funding for Planned Parenthood has sparked bitter debate between Republicans and Democrats in Tallahassee and across the country. The issue also became a focus of the debate about this year’s abortion bill.
However, House sponsor Burton told The News Service of Florida earlier this month that she and Stargel had known when their bill passed that AHCA would have to apply to the federal government for what is known as a Medicaid “waiver” to implement the portion of the bill dealing with the funding ban.
Scott spokeswoman Jackie Schutz would not confirm that the administration was considering such a waiver, noting that the bill doesn’t take effect until July 1.
“We’re working with our agencies on it, and looking at our options,” she said.
by Margie Menzel, The News Service of Florida
Tate’s Sandy Bonucchi Signs Tennis Scholarship With Faulkner State
April 20, 2016
Tate High School senior Sandy Bonucchi signed with Faulker State College Tuesday. She received a full athletic scholarship for tennis. She is pictured above with her parents (seated) David Bonucchi, who is Tate’s head tennis coach, and Hope David Bonucchi, other family members and Tate Principal Rick Shackle. Pictured below: Sandy Bonucchi with her parents and other members of the Tate tennis team. Photo s by Dakotah Hull for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Grad Rachel Wright Named Gulf South Player Of The Week
April 20, 2016
Rachel Wright was named the Gulf South Conference Softball Player of the Week and Freshman of the Week on Tuesday, making her the second UWF player to win both awards in the same week. The freshman from Tate High School in Pensacola joins Delta State’s Morgan Kazerooni as the only player in the conference with multiple Freshman of the Week honors.
Wright went 5-for-9 (.556) at the plate against No. 21 Delta State over the weekend, leading the team in hits, runs scored, home runs, RBIs, total bases, slugging percentage and on-base percentage along the way. Her weekend was highlighted by a remarkable Game 1 of the series on Saturday, in which she went 2-for-2 with two home runs, a walk, three runs scored and five RBIs. Wright is the third UWF player this year to hit two home runs and drive in five or more runs in a single game.
The freshman was just as good on Sunday, as she went 3-for-4 at the dish and scored twice in UWF’s 6-1 win over DSU to complete the series sweep. Wright ranks second on the team this season with 12 doubles, 19 walks and 72 total bases, while her 38 runs and .497 slugging percentage rank third.
Blue Wahoos Lose To Shuckers
April 20, 2016
For the first time this season, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos find themselves trailing in a five-game Southern League series.
Biloxi Shuckers first baseman Nick Ramirez hit a two-out single in the bottom of the seventh inning — one of 10 Biloxi hits in the game — that scored center fielder Brett Phillips for a 4-3 victory over Pensacola at MGM Park.
The Shuckers came back from a, 3-2, deficit to win the game. Biloxi shortstop Javier Betancourt hit a sacrifice fly to center in the bottom of the sixth inning to score Ramirez and knot up the game, 3-3. Ramirez, who hit his first home run the game before, was 2-4 with a run scored and RBI in Tuesday’s game.
With the bases loaded in the top of the fifth inning, Blue Wahoos center fielder Beau Amaral bunted and second baseman Tony Renda scored on the suicide squeeze to tie the score at 2-2. It was Amaral’s team leading ninth RBI of the season. Then right fielder Sebastian Elizalde scored to put Pensacola on top, 3-2, when shortstop Alex Blandino ground out to shortstop.
Pensacola starter Sal Romano allowed three earned runs, giving up nine hits to Biloxi and two walks in 5.2 innings. He struck out five. However, the loss went to reliever Wandy Peralta, who gave up the game-winning run on Ramirez’s single in the seventh.
The Shuckers scored first in the third inning to go ahead, 1-0, when Phillips hit a two-out line drive single that scored second baseman Christopher McFarland, who had hit an infield single to second base.
Pensacola tied it up, 1-1, in the fourth when Blandino doubled to center and scored on a throwing error by Biloxi’s Betancourt trying to complete a double play on Blue Wahoos left fielder Phillip Ervin.
Biloxi retook the lead, 2-1, in the bottom of the fourth when McFarland singled to right field to drive in left fielder Victor Roache, who had singled to center.
Biloxi moved into first place with the victory, improving to 9-3. Pensacola fell back by a half game to 9-4. Both teams met in last year’s Southern League South Division playoffs that Biloxi won.
Proposed Highway To Connect Beulah, I-10, Highway 29 Near Cantonment
April 19, 2016
Plans are underway for a new “Escambia Beltway” — a high speed connector highway from Highway 29 north of Cantonment to a new interchange at I-10 in Escambia County and to West Nine Mile Road in Beulah.
The plan is only at the study and public comment stage today, but officials are hoping for Federal Highway Administration approval by January 2017.
There are seven very similar routes under consideration for the Escambia Beltway with a northern endpoint somewhere along Highway 29 between Barrrineau Park Road and Quintette Road. The beltway will be a four-lane divided highway with controlled or limited access. Each of the proposed routes is about 11.4 miles long.
Escambia County will hold a public kick-off meeting for the project tonight from 5:30 until 7 p.m. at Plainview Baptist Church at 1101 West Nine Mile Road.
The study is being conducted by the county, in coordination with the Florida Department of Transportation, for the proposed Escambia Beltway and a new I-10 interchange.
This meeting is an opportunity for the public to learn about the project, become familiar with the study process and provide initial feedback on issues of concern. The meeting will be an open house to allow the public the opportunity to review maps and other information on display. Representatives from Escambia County and its consultant for the project will be available to explain the proposed improvements, the study process and to answer questions.
Those wishing to submit written comments may do so at the meeting, via email at cheryl.sackman@atkinsglobal.com or by mailing them to Atkins Project Manager Gregory S. Allen, P.E., 2114 Airport Boulevard, Suite 1450, Pensacola, FL 32504. All comments must be postmarked on or before May 6 to become part of the official project record.
Pictured top: This map shows a proposed new Escambia Beltway from Beulah to north of Cantonment on Highway 29. Pictured below: Seven proposed endpoints along Highway 29 for a new Escambia Beltway. Images fro NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Rep. Clay Ingram Draws Democratic Challenger
April 19, 2016
Rep. Clay Ingram, R-Pensacola, has drawn Democratic challenger as he seeks a fourth term in the state House.
Pensacola Democrat Gloria Robertson-Wiggins opened an account to run against Ingram in Escambia County’s House District 1. Ingram, chairman of the House Transportation & Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee, had raised $91,746 as of March 31 and had nearly $54,000 in cash on hand, a finance report shows. Also in the District 1 race is no-party candidate William Fetke of Pensacola.
Police Seek Suspect In Flomaton Dollar General Armed Robbery
April 19, 2016
Flomaton Police are searching for the suspect in the armed robbery of a Dollar General Store.
About 9:47 p.m last Friday night, the suspect held up the Dollar General Store on Sidney Manning Boulevard. The suspect entered the store wearing khaki colored shorts and a white t-shirt. He ws described as a bald, black male, in his late twenties to early thirties with a muscular build.
The suspect fled the Dollar General in different clothing; he was wearing a black sleeveless shirt with a green Mossy Oak emblem on the front. He fled in a dark colored vehicle.
Anyone with information on the armed robbery is asked to contact the Flomaton Police Departmnet at (251) 296-5811
Greg Evers, Matt Gaetz Poised For Congressional Battle
April 19, 2016
In what could be one of the state’s most hotly contested congressional primary battles, state Sen. Greg Evers said Monday he is running for an open Northwest Florida seat being vacated by veteran U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller.
Evers, a Baker Republican, enters an already-crowded GOP field, which includes state Rep. Matt Gaetz and James Zumwalt, an Iraq war veteran who also served as an aide to Miller.
After toying with the possibility of running for weeks, Evers on Saturday filed a statement of candidacy for Congressional District 1 with the Federal Elections Commission, setting up what could be a grudge match with fellow state legislator Gaetz, who announced his candidacy for the seat almost a month ago.
“After prayerful consideration, I’m humbled and honored to announce my candidacy for CD 1. Many of the residents of the Panhandle have asked me to run because we need someone that will uphold the Panhandle values in D.C. As a lifelong resident of the Panhandle, I’m ready to carry our message to D.C., just as Jeff Miller did,” Evers said.
Evers, a 60-year-old farmer, said he intends to formally announce his entrance into the race at a press conference Tuesday morning in Milton.
Evers in 2001 won a special election for the state House, where he served until his election to the Senate in 2010.
The Northwest Florida district — one of the state’s most conservative — abuts the Alabama border and spans Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton counties and includes most of Holmes County.
The winner of the Aug. 30 GOP primary is almost certain to go to Washington, and a match-up between Gaetz and Evers could result in the type of political slugfest that the Panhandle is known for. Gaetz has already raised more than $350,000, including putting more than $100,000 of his own money into the race.
But Evers, known among reporters for a droll wit delivered in a thick Southern drawl, didn’t flinch when asked about Gaetz’s campaign war chest.
“The last time I checked, it’s the voters that elect, not dollars,” he said.
The district includes five military installations, which could give Zumwalt a leg up in a region heavily populated by retired and active-duty military voters. According to his website, Zumwalt served two tours in Iraq and was awarded a Bronze Star and later served as an analyst at the Pentagon before becoming an adviser to Miller
Evers stressed his commitment to veterans on Monday.
“I want to go to Washington and I want to fight for the veterans. So many have given so much, and some gave all. It’s something that I’m extremely proud of, the veterans that I have represented over the years. I want to be their voice in Washington, as I was on the state level,” he said.
Evers also said he wants to “fight for every citizen of the Panhandle,” especially small business owners like himself.
“These are serious times and serious problems that we have, and it’s not a time for political gamesmanship. It’s a time for statesmanship, and a statesman to stand up and carry the light to Washington D.C,” he said.
After representing the district for 15 years, Miller took the Florida political world by surprise in March when he announced he would not seek re-election in the fall. His retirement also set off a scramble for legislative seats, as Gaetz and Evers shifted from running state Senate campaigns to looking at runs for Congress. Matt Gaetz had planned to run for a Senate seat that his father, former Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, will leave this fall because of term limits.
Two Republican state representatives — Mike Hill of Pensacola Beach and Doug Broxson of Gulf Breeze — are poised to run for Evers’s Senate District 1 seat, where, again, the August primary will almost certainly determine the general election winner.
Broxson said he intends to file his campaign paperwork for the Senate seat shortly after Evers makes a formal announcement Tuesday morning.
“We think we have a great chance of telling our story of why we should be (in the Senate) and we’re looking forward to the process,” Broxson, elected to the House in 2010, told the News Service in a telephone interview Monday.
Hill, the victor of a special election in 2013, said he intends to announce his candidacy for Senate “very soon.”
Unlike what could be a brutal primary battle for the congressional seat, both men said they anticipate the race to replace Evers will be tamer.
“I think we’re going to see very civil race. It’s going to be highly contested. But Rep. Broxson and I are friends,” Hill said in a telephone interview.
Hill, meanwhile, said that Zumwalt and other candidates’ military experience could give them an advantage over the state legislators in the congressional match-up.
Gaetz could have a different edge, according to Broxson.
“The Gaetzes have a reputation of being able to raise massive amounts of dollars and I’m curious to see how Sen. Evers is going to match up the money campaign. I think he has pretty good polling information that says he should run. I’m going to be a spectator and see what they do and how they’re going to handle their campaigns,” he said. “Hopefully everyone would hope that it would be positive and they’ll concentrate on their legislative successes, but my guess is it could be a pretty bloody battle.”
by Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida