Renner Tapped As Gop Choice For Future Speaker
July 1, 2017
Rep. Paul Renner emerged Friday as the Republican choice for House speaker following the 2022 elections, giving Northeast Florida a much-desired spot for the first time in two decades.
Renner, R-Palm Coast, was supported by fellow members of his “class” — lawmakers elected to their first full term this past November — with 16 votes, two more than he needed for the win, according to the Florida Times-Union.
He defeated Rep. James Grant, R-Tampa; Rep. Erin Grall, R-Vero Beach; and Rep. Byron Donald, R-Naples. Grant, who like Renner was elected to a partial term in a special election before last year’s general election, was seen as Renner’s main competitor.
If Republicans hold onto control of the House through the 2022 election and Renner maintains his seat, he is almost certain to become speaker. Renner would follow current Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’ Lakes; Rep. Jose Oliva, R-Miami Lakes; and Rep. Chris Sprowls, R-Palm Harbor.
The election was the first one following new rules aimed at getting rid of the front-loaded process in the House, which often involved candidates campaigning for the position before they had officially won their House seats. The new rules, backed by Corcoran, barred lawmakers from trying to round up support until after a class had gone through its first session together.
After the vote, Corcoran tweeted his congratulations to his eventual successor.
“Congratulations to @Paul_Renner. & 2 @JamesGrantFL , @ByronDonalds & @ErinGrall respect for entering the arena. U r all a credit 2 the House,” the speaker wrote.
Renner’s opponents in the race also quickly closed ranks behind their new leader.
“I am confident he will do an outstanding job in the role, and I look forward to working with him. … Now that this election is behind us, let’s look forward to working together to put conservative policies in place that will create jobs and a brighter future for all Floridians,” Donalds said in a statement issued after the vote.
Grant also tweeted his congratulations. “I look forward to working with the class for the people of Florida!” he wrote.
Renner also fulfills a longtime ambition for Northeast Florida, where local leaders have long hoped to have a presiding officer from their area. The last House speaker to come from the Jacksonville area was John Thrasher, who served after the 1998 elections.
The last regional leader of either legislative chamber was the late Jim King, who was Senate president after the 2002 elections.
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Wahoos Burn Biscuits
July 1, 2017
The first half champions Pensacola Blue Wahoos scored more than two runs just once in its first six games and were shutout twice after the All-Star break. But the team broke out with 14 runs against the Montgomery Biscuits Friday at Blue Wahoos Stadium to win its fourth straight game.
Thanks to a game-winning single by catcher Chad Tromp in his Double-A debut in the first game and home run blasts by left fielder Tyler Goeddel and DH Josh VanMeter in the second game, Pensacola swept a doubleheader, 5-4, and, 9-4, from Montgomery in front of 4,897.
In the fifth inning, VanMeter yanked a three-run homerun to right field to give Pensacola a commanding, 7-1, lead. It was VanMeter’s second homer of the year, plus it helped him tie a career-high with four RBIs, which he did one other time in 2014 with the Low-A Fort Wayne TinCaps in the San Diego Padres organization. He now has 33 for the season, which is second on the team behind right fielder Aristides Aquino, who has 35.
VanMeter said his homer was a confidence booster after hitting 14 last year between High-A and Double-A in the Padres farm system.
“I’m coming off a year last year where I had quite a few homeruns,” VanMeter said. “The Southern League has been quite an adjustment. You saw our bats come to life. It’s really the first time this half that our bats have come to life.”
Kelly said VanMeter has played second base, shortstop, third base and the outfield because of his bat.
“He has the Tony Renda role,” said Kelly, referring to last year’s spark plug who played nearly every position for Pensacola and hit .326 before making his debut with the Cincinnati Reds later that season. “From day one, he has been one of our best hitters. I’ll find a position for him in our lineup every day.”
Hitting has been a sore spot for the Blue Wahoos all season, who entered Friday with the 9th best average in the Southern League at .226, ninth in runs scored at 259 and eighth in home runs with 39.
Domingo Tapia, who started the second game Friday, made his fourth start this season for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos and earned loud cheers as he left after throwing 5.1 innings, allowing one run, scattering seven hits and striking out four.
The 25-year-old started 87 games at the start of his professional career before moving to the bullpen after the 2014 season. Tapia earned his first win as a starter with the Blue Wahoos, improving to 1-2, with a 4.24 ERA.
Kelly has had to rely on relievers to make spot starts as it plays without a proven fifth starter in its rotation.
“Tapia has done a nice job as a starter but I think he likes the bullpen better,” Kelly said. “We had to use him out of necessity. We’ve really, really pushed our bullpen.”
Pensacola took a, 4-1, lead in the third inning when it batted around, getting five hits. The big hit came when Goeddel blasted a two-run homer to left field — the leadoff hitter’s third of the season.
Blue Wahoos second baseman Shed Long almost hit a third homer for the Blue Wahoos. Instead, he was the final out of the fifth inning when Montgomery right fielder Justin Williams leaped and scooped the ball off the top of the fence, robbing Long of his first Double-A home run that would have added three more Pensacola runs.
Montgomery had scored first when left fielder Joe McCarthy hit a double on a short blooper to left field that Pensacola shortstop Blake Trahan sprinted to catch and at the last minute reached out with his bare hand but couldn’t haul it in. The Biscuits’ Williams then lined a single to center to score McCarthy, giving the visitors a 1-0 lead.
Pensacola scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning Friday to come from behind to down Montgomery, 5-4. The seven-inning game was the first game of Friday’s doubleheader. It resumed after being suspended Thursday in the sixth inning after a 77-minute rain delay
The game-winning hit came from catcher Chad Tromp in his Double-A debut. Called up Wednesday from High-A Daytona Tortugas where he was hitting .311, Tromp stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning and smacked a line drive single that got past a diving left fielder and scored both pinch-hitter Nick Senzel and right fielder Aristides Aquino for a 5-4 lead.
“I’m excited,” Kelly said about the hitting of Tromp, Long, Gavin LaValley and Senzel, who all were promoted from High A to start the second half. “I like the at-bats I’m seeing. Tromp hit real well with Daytona, which is one of the reasons he is here.”
Blue Wahoos reliever Robert Stock earned the victory and improved to 3-1 in nine appearances and boasts a 4.15 ERA.
Stock came in after Geoff Broussard blew a 2-0 Pensacola lead by giving up four runs on six hits over the fifth and sixth innings to give Montgomery a 4-2 lead.
Meanwhile, Pensacola righty Alex Powers made his first start in 174 professional and college appearances. The 25-year-old Powers tossed a career-high four innings, tied a career-high with six strikeouts and didn’t give up any runs to the Biscuits on two hits.
UPDATE: Missing Century Teen Has Been Located
June 30, 2017
UPDATE 6/30/2017: Missing teen Laurel McCann has been located, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in finding a missing habitual runaway from Century.
Laurel Aurora McCann, 16, was last seen on June 24th, fleeing from her house, located in Century, into the woods after having an argument with a family member. Laurel, 16, was last seen wearing blue skinny jeans, a blue T-shirt with a black tank top underneath, and white and blue water shoes.
If you have any information on Laurel’s whereabouts contact the ECSO at (850) 436-9620.
Convicted Sex Offender Enters Plea In Naomi Jones Murder
June 30, 2017
The convicted sex offender charged with killing a 12-year old girl has entered a not guilty plea, despite an earlier admission to investigators.
The written plea and waiver of appearance were filed in court by the public defender for 38-year old Robert Letroy Howard. With the entry, Howard will not appear in court Friday for a scheduled arraignment hearing.
Prosecutors say Howard kidnapped, murdered and dumped the body of 12-year old Naomi Jones. He remains in the Escambia County Jail without bond charged with first degree premeditated murder. He is also charged with failure to register as a sex offender in the State of Florida.
Authorities say Howard was living with his girlfriend in the same apartment complex in which Jones lived in the 1400 block of East Johnson Avenue. He lived in a nearly adjacent apartment to Jones. She was last seen May 31 in that apartment complex.
Jones likely died within 24 to 36 hours after her May 31 disappearance, Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan said. Her body was then later dumped into Eight Mile Creek, some 4-5 miles away, where it was found days later by two men looking for a fishing location.
According to court documents, Howard admitted to being at the apartment complex the day Jones went missing and having contact with her at his apartment. He became extremely angry and committed “a violent act” against Jones causing her death. He then placed her body in the backseat of his Nissan Altima and traveled to multiple locations, including Brewton, AL, before returning to Pensacola and throwing Jones’ body into the creek.
Interstate Accident Claims Life Of Gulf Breeze Man
June 30, 2017
A Gulf Breeze man was killed in a single vehicle accident Thursday afternoon on I-10.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 26-year old Michael Portillo was traveling east on the entrance ramp to I-10 attempting to merge into traffic from Pine Forest Road. His 2004 Toyota Tacoma began to rotate, traveling into the wood line and striking a tree about 1:40 p.m.
Portillo, who was wearing a seat belt, was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Board Votes To Close, Consolidate A.C. Moore Elementary In Atmore
June 30, 2017
The Escambia County (AL) Board of Education voted 5-1 Thursday to move forward with the closure and consolidation of A.C. Moore Elementary School in Atmore.
A.C. Moore served about 20 Pre-K students, plus about 265 third and fourth graders from the Atmore area.
The Pre-K and third grade students from A.C. Moore will be transferred to Rachel Patterson Elementary in Atmore, while fourth graders will be moved to Escambia County Middle School in Atmore.
The district will also work to consolidate personnel, school programs and services such as transportation.
The consolidation will be complete by the start of the upcoming school year.
There’s no plan in place for the future of the A.C. Moore campus.
School board member David Nolin voted against the closure and consolidation, instead asking that the board study the situation. He said he feels smaller schools are better, and he express concerns over moving fourth grade students to middle school.
Pictured: A.C. Moore Elementary School in Atmore as seen Thursday afternoon. The campus will remain empty this fall after the board of education voted to close and consolidate the school. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
ECUA Sanitation Pickup Schedule Change For July 4
June 30, 2017
If you have ECUA residential sanitation service in the North Escambia area with a Tuesday pickup, you need to plan to place your trash and recycling cans out Sunday night due to the July 4 holiday.
ECUA Escambia County residential sanitation customers will experience a schedule change to their collection during the Independence Day holiday. The collection scheduled for Tuesday, July 4, 2017, will be made on Monday, July 3, 2017. There are no changes to scheduled ECUA collections in Santa Rosa County.
Commercial (dumpster service) collections during the Independence Day holiday, which are scheduled on Tuesday, July 4, 2017, will be made on Wednesday, July 5, 2017.
Saturday Is Deadline To Apply For $100K In IP Grants
June 30, 2017
International Paper Pensacola Mill will award $100,000 in IP Foundation Grants in 2017. The deadline for all 2017 grant applications is July 1, 2017.
Grants are awarded through the International Paper Foundation. International Paper’s Foundation supports sustainable investments to address critical needs in the communities where IP team members live and work.
Signature causes are:
• Education – Priority given to literacy programs from birth through third grade.
• Hunger – Community programs that provide access to food for those in need or provide solutions to alleviate hunger.
• Health & Wellness – Programs that promote basic health and human needs.
• Disaster Relief – Programs that reduce suffering or saves lives as a result of a natural disaster.
For more information about the Foundation and/or to apply online, interested applicants should visit www.ipgiving.com.
Florida’s Hard-Fought Budget Finally Takes Effect
June 30, 2017
It took an extension to the regular session and a special session on top of that to finally get a state spending plan for the new fiscal year, but the budget that tied up lawmakers for months finally takes effect Saturday.
All told, the state will spend between $83 billion and $84 billion, scattered around several bills that have been signed by Gov. Rick Scott. The money can be found in the actual budget (SB 2500) and in other bills, such as a controversial public education proposal (HB 7069) linked to the budget, along with legislation passed during the special session (HB 1A and 3A) that amended the state spending plan.
The legislation that passed during the regular session, which ended May 8, did so after lawmakers were forced to extend the session because negotiations took too long. The special session in June used funding from Scott’s line-item vetoes to pour additional money into public education, tourism marketing and infrastructure projects aimed at drawing businesses to the state.
Lawmakers also used the session to restore about $60 million in higher-education projects that Scott had vetoed.
Here are some of the highlights of the spending plan as it stands after the maneuvering and multiple sessions:
PUBLIC EDUCATION
The main funding formula for K-12 schools in Florida, known as the Florida Education Finance Program, ended up with $20.6 billion overall, including nearly $11.7 billion from the state. Local property taxes that are sent to the state to help fund education will be held flat again, at the insistence of the House. On a per-student basis, funding will rise by $100, or about 1.4 percent.
At the same time, another $419 million is included in HB 7069, a sweeping measure that touches everything from teacher bonuses and charter schools to standardized testing and mandatory recess. Much of the money will be used on provisions meant to encourage charter schools to move in close to academically struggling traditional public schools, to provides services to help children at those traditional schools, and to provide bonuses for teachers.
HIGHER EDUCATION
Some parents and students will likely appreciate the nearly $152 million provided to help cover fees and books for the 45,000 top-performing students, known as academic scholars. The book allowance will amount to $300 per semester. Other sources of student aid will also see increases.
However, Scott vetoed a bill that would have made the new scholarship funding permanent, meaning lawmakers could have to revisit the issue in next year’s session, which begins in January.
HEALTH CARE
Despite an effort by the Senate to soften the blow during the special session, hospitals will face a $521 million cut in Medicaid payments. Sen. Anitere Flores, a Miami Republican who chairs the chamber’s health-care budget committee, proposed legislation (SB 4A) in the special session that would have provided $100 million in state money, which when matched with federal money would have knocked out about half the cut. But the House didn’t even introduce a hospital funding bill, and the issue died.
SELLING THE STATE
It looked for a long time like Scott wouldn’t get the money he wanted for job promotion and tourism marketing in the state. He feuded for months with House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’ Lakes — but, in the end, the governor got at least some of what he wanted.
The Florida Job Growth Grant Fund will provide $85 million for things like infrastructure projects to help land economic-development deals — but won’t include the kind of direct incentives to businesses that Scott prefers. Another $76 million will be devoted to Visit Florida, an agency that markets Florida tourism.
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
FHP, Police Team Up On Pensacola Traffic Crackdown
June 30, 2017
The Pensacola Police Department and Florida Highway Patrol are joining forces to crack down on reckless drivers and traffic crashes within te city limits.
During July, officers from both agencies will work overtime to enforce traffic laws to supplement officers on patrol in an effort to reduce the number of traffic crashes.
“Our goal is to reduce traffic crashes by changing driving behaviors,” said PPD Chief Tommi Lyter. “Our partnership with the FHP will allow us to more than double our traffic enforcement efforts through increased manpower and assistance. We’re very grateful to the FHP for their participation.”
FHP Major Warren K. Fast, commander of Troop A, noted that traffic crashes have a major impact on the lives of many in the Pensacola area. “It is our responsibility to do all we can to help reduce injury crashes and fatalities. This is an excellent initiative toward this end, and we are pleased to be a part of it,” Fast said.
Among the areas to be targeted during the crackdown are main corridors such as Ninth Avenue between Langley Avenue and Bayou Boulevard, Bayfront Parkway from 17th Avenue to Spring Street, and Cervantes, Garden and Main streets.