Florida To Provide Limited Voter Information To Panel
July 7, 2017
With Democrats and some Republicans increasing calls this week to fully reject a federal commission’s request for voter information, Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner announced Thursday that the state will only provide publicly available data.
“Driver’s license information and Social Security numbers are not, and cannot be provided,” Detzner wrote to Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, who is vice chairman of the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity. “We will also not release any information that is exempt or confidential under Florida law, including certain information regarding law enforcement officers, judges, prosecutors, and victims of stalking and domestic violence.”
Information such as voters’ names, addresses, dates of birth, party affiliations and voting histories is already available under Florida’s public-records law and will be provided to the commission.
Detzner added that a state voter database doesn’t include information about people’s felony convictions, another part of the request.
Florida joined at least 44 other states and the District of Columbia in refusing to provide certain information to the commission, which was created to look into election fraud.
State Senate Minority Leader Oscar Braynon, D-Miami Gardens, said he wasn’t surprised by Detzner’s decision, as “the law kind of stopped them.” But Braynon said he remains wary about the overall motive of the commission, which he believes may be directed toward future “voter suppression.”
“What are they really trying to do here? What is the end game?” Braynon asked.
The request has become highly controversial in Florida and throughout the country.
Most other states had quickly responded to the federal commission’s June 28 request, while officials in Florida, where Gov. Rick Scott has close ties with President Donald Trump, gave little indication about how they would respond.
Given an opening, Democrats pounced through letters and comments on social media.
The Florida Democratic Party, Democratic lawmakers and the three Democratic candidates for governor — Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, former Congresswoman Gwen Graham and Winter Park businessman Chris King — all voiced opposition to the commission and its perceived intent.
The initial backlash from other state governments, including governments run by Republicans and Democrats, drew a Twitter rebuke from Trump.
“Numerous states are refusing to give information to the very distinguished VOTER FRAUD PANEL. What are they trying to hide?” Trump tweeted on Saturday.
Detzner and county elections supervisors have had to respond to media questions for months about Trump’s claims of voter fraud in the 2016 general election.
In his letter to Kobach, Detzner noted the importance of preserving the democratic process and the state’s responsibility in ensuring an accurate and fair election.
“In fact, in 2016, we are proud that Florida had record turnout and a smooth, secure election which reflected the will of the people of Florida,” Detzner said.
Dortch Road Bridge To Close Tuesday For Replacement
July 7, 2017
Construction activities are scheduled to begin Tuesday, July 11 on Dortch Road near Bratt as crews replace the current bridge over Beaver Dam Creek.
The existing wooden-support bridge, built in 1965, will be replaced by a new concrete structure with 10-foot travel lanes, two-foot shoulders and a solid concrete barrier railing. During construction Dortch Road will be closed at the bridge and traffic detoured on County Road 4. The project is estimated to take six months to complete, weather and schedule permitting.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Top Biloxi
July 7, 2017
Pensacola Blue Wahoos pitcher Jose Lopez threw his best game of the season, tossing eight scoreless innings, allowing three hits, walking one and striking out seven.
Behind Lopez’s career-high eight innings, Pensacola defeated the Biloxi Shuckers , 2-0, at MGM Park. It was the ninth shutout win of the season for the Blue Wahoos, which have a Southern League-leading 3.01 ERA.
Drafted in the sixth round of the 2014 draft by the Cincinnati Reds, Lopez was promoted to Pensacola May 30 from High-A Daytona Tortugas. He has made five starts and two relief appearances since then in his first year in Double-A.
Lopez had five strikeouts in the first four innings and retired the last eight batters he faced.
The 22-year-old right-hander rebounded from giving up six runs on six hits and five walks in four innings in his last start against the Montgomery Biscuits. He is now 3-1 with a 3.86 ERA.
Pensacola reliever Zack Weiss threw one inning of relief and struck out two batters and now has two saves since rejoining the Blue Wahoos on June 30.
The Blue Wahoos scored its two runs on right fielder Gabriel Guerrero’s solo shot on a line drive to left field in the second inning. It was the 23-year-old Guerrero’s first homer of the season. However, the 6-foot-3 Guerrero, who leads the team with a .276 batting average, has displayed power, winning the Southern League All-Star Homerun Derby with 29 homers total.
In the fourth inning, Pensacola scored on back-to-back doubles by third baseman Nick Senzel and first baseman Gavin LaValley to go ahead, 2-0.
LaValley now has two homers 11 RBIs, five doubles and .280 batting average in 14 games with Pensacola. Senzel, the Cincinnati Reds top prospect, has knocked one homer, nine RBIs, two doubles and is batting .313. Both were called up on June 28 from Daytona and have batted third and fourth in Pensacola’s lineup since then.
Construction Underway On Gas Pipeline From Century To Nine Mile Road
July 6, 2017
An underground natural gas pipeline is now under construction through North Escambia from Century to Nine Mile Road.
The Florida Public Utilities pipeline will interconnect to an existing pipeline and begin on Fannie Road just northeast of Century on the Alabama/Florida state line. The pipeline will follow Fannie Road to Old Flomaton Road to State Road 4 to North Century Boulevard.
The 12-inch gas pipeline will continue south along the right-of-way of Highway 29 from Century to Old Chemstrand Road. From there, an eight-inch line will follow Old Chemstrand road to Ascend, while another eight-inch line will continue south on Highway 29 to Highway 95A in Cantonment to West Roberts Road to Pine Forest Road to West Nine Mile Road where the project will connect to an existing gas system.
The pipeline will be constructed on existing right of way, mostly in ditches, along Highway 29 and other roadways. Work is expected to be complete in early 2018.
Pictured: Work underway on a Florida Public Utilities natural gas pipeline on East Highway 4 in Century. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Man Charged After Chasing Daughter With A Knife
July 6, 2017
A Cantonment man was jailed July 4 after an argument with his wife ended with him allegedly chasing his daughter with a knife.
The daughter began to gather her belongings to leave the residence on Pettway Circle in the Quintette area when she said an argument between her parents escalated. She said Larry Lamar Brown, 57, grabbed a kitchen knife and chased her around the property, according to arrest report. The daughter’s age was not provided.
Deputies believed alcohol may have contributed to the incident. There were no injuries.
Brown was charged with aggravated assault withe a deadly weapon. He was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $2,500 bond.
Northview Cheerleaders Earn Awards, Honors At Auburn Camp
July 6, 2017
The Northview High School cheerleaders recently attended camp at Auburn University.
The cheerleaders competed into two areas on their final day of camp and won first place in the medium division for their “extreme routine” and received a “Superior Squad” award.
Throughout the week Northview received the spirit stick each night (four times) and blue and gold ribbons for each evaluation. Other personal awards included two “pin it forward” awards to Cloe Smith and Dalton Hamilton for outstanding attitudes, enthusiasm and work ethic. Two of the Northview cheerleaders — Gabrielle Kline and Bailey Spann — were named All-American.
Hamilton, as mascot “Big Weave”, also won first place in the mascot dance off, a leadership award and second place camp mascot.
The Northview High School cheerleaders are: Bailee Hinote, Anna Nelson, Celeste North, Bailey Spann, Shelby Bashore, Hannah Ellis, Gabrielle Kline, Jessie McCall, Olivia Seals, Madison Sherouse, Madicyn Bell, Karlee Criswell, Ashlan Harigel, Cloe Smith and Bailey Van Pelt, in addition to mascot Dalton Hamilton.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Scott, Seminoles Strike Deal On Card Games
July 6, 2017
Gov. Rick Scott and the Seminole Tribe have reached an agreement about the tribe’s “exclusive” rights to offer banked card games such as blackjack, in a move that took the Legislature by surprise.
The settlement agreement, submitted to a federal judge on Wednesday, focuses on a portion of a 20-year gambling deal, called a “compact,” that expired in 2015. That portion of the deal involves banked card games.
Under the deal, approved in 2010, the tribe guaranteed $1 billion in payments to the state for the exclusive rights to offer the banked card games for five years.
The tribe sued the state when the agreement expired, accusing state gambling officials of breaching the compact by allowing what are known as “designated player” card games at horse and dog tracks and jai alai frontons.
A federal judge last fall sided with the Seminoles, saying the designated player games violated state law that prohibits pari-mutuels from conducting banked card games.
But the Seminoles continued to make payments to the state, and continued to conduct banked card games, even after state lawmakers failed to strike a new deal with the tribe during this year’s legislative session that ended in May.
In the agreement released Wednesday, the state agreed to drop its appeal of the federal court decision and to take “aggressive enforcement action” against pari-mutuels operating banked card games that violate state law.
The deal also frees up at least $200 million in payments to the state, something state leaders — including Scott — are eager to tap into as Florida’s economic outlook worsens.
Even so, Scott’s settlement with the Seminoles took legislative leaders by surprise, especially after they played key roles in negotiations with the tribe over the past two years.
“At first blush, I’m not sure that the stipulated settlement agreement does anything more than make it more difficult for us going forward to negotiate gaming with the Seminole Tribe,” said Sen. Bill Galvano, a Bradenton Republican who’s been in charge of gambling negotiations and who is slated to take over as president of the Senate after next year’s elections. “It’s almost as if we’re guaranteeing for the tribe that the status quo will continue for the balance of the compact.”
Miami Republican Jose Felix Diaz, who shepherded negotiations on behalf of the state House before leaving the chamber to run in a special election for the Senate, was also unaware of the settlement agreement struck by Scott when contacted Wednesday evening by The News Service of Florida.
“At all times during the past three years, the House and Senate have worked in concert with the governor’s office to come up with a plan that made sense for the state,” Diaz said. “To the best of my knowledge, no legislators were consulted on this specific agreement. I am still reviewing the details of the settlement.”
Despite its seemingly harsh language, the settlement agreement likely won’t have any impact on the games currently being conducted by many of the state’s pari-mutuel facilities, according to lawyer John Lockwood, who represents numerous gambling facilities.
“We are in compliance with state law,” Lockwood said in a telephone interview Wednesday.
The Seminoles hailed the latest deal in a statement issued by spokesman Gary Bitner.
“The settlement agreement ensures a stable future for the members and employees of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, and the Tribe appreciates the hard work of Gov. Scott and DBPR (the Department of Business and Professional Regulation) to get it done,” Bitner said.
Temporary Repairs Made To Carnley Road Following Flood Damage
July 6, 2017
Escambia County (FL) has made temporary repairs on Carnley Road just south of the Florida/Alabama state line (pictured above). Most of the roadway was washed away during heavy rainfall in late June (below). Carnley Road is a short roadway just northeast of Century, between Fannie Road in Florida and Old Fannie Road in Alabama. NorthEscambia.com photo (top) and reader submitted photo by Cody Fowler (below), click to enlarge.
Northview Chiefs To Hold Youth Football Camp
July 6, 2017
Northview Football Youth Camp will be held July 18 and 20 from 5-7 each evening.
The camp is for players entering kindergarten through the eighth grade. Players will receive instruction from Northview High School Chief players and coaches. Participants will be coached in offensive and defensive position groups. There will also be daily drills and competitions.
Camp fee is $25; all participants will receive a camp t-shirt.
Click here for a registration form (pdf).
For more information, contact Coach Marshman at (850) 377-204.
Century Joins Florida Gas Utilities
July 6, 2017
The Century Town Council has voted to join Florida Gas Utilities.
FGU is a joint action agency serving municipal systems. It has provided natural gas services for over 25 years.
Essentially, town’s gas system will able to purchase natural gas from a variety of companies from different pipelines, including the new pipeline presently being constructed through the town. That, town officials said, could amount to thousands of dollars per year in additional profit for the utility.
Other membership services include:
- Regulatory representation
- Rate studies
- Sales & marketing
- Public awareness
- Capital project management
- Feasibility studies
- Operational assistance
The town’s first year membership will be $6,000 with an increase based upon usage to an estimated $20,000 per year.
In the nearby area, the Town of Jay is also a member of FGU.