Students Learn About Ag During Fresh From Florida Event (With Gallery)
March 11, 2017
Formerly known as the “Food For America program”, the event gave students a chance to learn about agriculture first hand, up close and personal with farm animals, farm equipment and more to learn how food gets from the farm to their tables. Students were even able to make and enjoy eating their own fresh butter.
The Northview High School FFA “Fresh From Florida” program has been honored as the No. 1 program in the state multiple times and the chapter was recently name one of the best in the United State by the National FFA Organization.
The Ernest Ward Middle School FFA also participated in the event.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Convicted On Federal Unregistered Machine Gun Charges
March 11, 2017
An Escambia County man has been convicted on federal charges of unlawfully selling unregistered machine guns.
After a three-day trial, Gregory Williams, 29, was convicted of 19 counts of firearm-related offenses, including possession of a machinegun, possession of an unregistered machine gun, and false statement to a firearm dealer.
At trial, the government presented evidence that Williams knowingly sold dozens of auto sear parts to undercover law enforcement officers. Auto sears are conversion parts designed to
modify semiautomatic firearms into fully automatic firearms. Auto sears are defined under federal law as machine guns. Williams never registered them in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, as required by law.
On nine occasions in 2016, Williams communicated with the undercover officers via text message and then shipped the firearms or met the officers in person. When law enforcement officers searched Williams’s residence, they seized an additional auto sear.
Williams faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison on each count. He is currently being detained at the Santa Rosa County Jail. The sentencing hearing will take place at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola on a date to be determined by the court.
Lawmakers Quickly Pass Death Penalty Fix
March 11, 2017
Florida juries would have to unanimously decide that defendants convicted of capital crimes should be put to death for the sentence to be imposed, under a measure that lawmakers rushed to pass during the first week of the annual legislative session.
The proposal, given final approval Friday by the House, is the Legislature’s second attempt to comply with a series of court rulings that for more than a year have blocked executions and prevented death-penalty cases from moving forward. It also would remove Florida from an “outlier” status as one of just two states that do not require unanimity for death sentences to be imposed.
The 112-3 vote in the House puts the proposal in the hands of Gov. Rick Scott, whose record of signing more death warrants than any other Florida governor was suspended after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling early last year in an Escambia County case known as Hurst v. Florida.
The 8-1 Hurst decision, premised on a 2002 ruling in a case known as Ring v. Arizona, found that Florida’s system of allowing judges, instead of juries, to find the facts necessary to impose the death penalty was an unconstitutional violation of the Sixth Amendment right to trial by jury.
The Legislature hurriedly passed a law during the 2016 session to address the Hurst ruling and required, among other things, that at least 10 of 12 jurors recommend death for the sentence to be imposed.
But a majority of the Florida Supreme Court struck down the new law in October, deciding that it, too, was unconstitutional because it did not require unanimous jury recommendations for death sentences. The issue deals only with the sentencing phase of capital cases, not the guilt phase, which requires unanimous jury verdicts.
The rulings in Hurst and a handful of other cases have caused consternation for defense lawyers, prosecutors and judges, who have been split on whether or not they could move forward with capital trials before the Legislature fixed the statute.
More than half of the state’s nearly 400 Death Row inmates may be eligible for new sentencing hearings as a result of a pair of Florida Supreme Court orders related to the original Hurst decision.
Adding to the confusion, the state court recently reversed a previous decision and ruled that capital trials could proceed, even without a legislative fix.
But that opinion did not slow down lawmakers — who last year ignored warnings from public defenders and others that 10-2 recommendations for death would not survive the scrutiny of the court — from rushing the statutory change through the process.
“Your positive vote today allows cases to move forward and for victims and their families to continue to have access to justice,” House Judiciary Chairman Chris Sprowls, a Palm Harbor Republican and former prosecutor, said prior to Friday’s vote.
The Senate unanimously approved the measure (SB 280) a day earlier.
If Scott signs the measure as expected, he could start signing death warrants again; the Florida Supreme Court indefinitely put on hold two executions ordered by Scott early last year.
“This will fix the immediate problems raised by Hurst, and it will put Florida in line with most of the other states that have the death penalty,” said Florida International University law professor Stephen Harper, who runs the school’s Death Penalty Clinic.
Harper predicted that Scott would resume signing death warrants once — and if — he signs the law, “but there’s still litigation to go in those cases.”
But challenges to the state’s death penalty law, related to the Hurst decisions, as well as a new lethal-injection process and litigation spurred by new death warrants make it unlikely that executions will resume immediately.
Some death-penalty experts maintain that, even with the unanimous jury recommendations, Florida’s law remains problematic.
Requiring unanimous jury recommendations is “only one step in a long journey,” said 10th Judicial Circuit Assistant Public Defender Pete Mills.
“Florida’s death penalty still has problems of constitutional magnitude, including but not limited to the failure to limit the scope of its application, racial disparities, geographic disparities, and execution of the mentally ill,” Mills, chairman of the Florida Public Defenders Association Death Penalty Steering Committee, told The News Service of Florida on Friday.
Florida also leads the country in the number of Death Row inmates who have been exonerated, Mills said.
Critics also argue that state law is not narrow enough to capture “the worst of the worst” for whom the death penalty should be reserved.
Hurst was sentenced to death for the 1998 killing of fast-food worker Cynthia Harrison in Pensacola. Harrison, an assistant manager at a Popeye’s Fried Chicken restaurant on Nine Mile Road where Hurst worked, was bound, gagged and stabbed more than 60 times. Her body was found in a freezer.
by Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida
Three Men Arrested In Online Child Exploitation Conspiracy
March 11, 2017
Three men have been arrested in an online child exploitation conspiracy using a social messaging app popular among teenagers.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office was notified in January about the sexual abuse of a child under 12-years old. Charles Hoyte McConnell III, age 22, was arrested for sexual assault, incest, cruelty towards a child/direct sexual performance by a child, and 18-counts of possession of child pornography.
During the investigation, deputies found out McConnell was using the “Kik” app to share a pornographic video of the sexual abuse.
Escambia investigators partnered with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and were able to arrest an Escambia County resident and a suspect from Santa Rosa County.
Jonah Authement, 22, was arrested in Escambia County after it was discovered he received the illegal pornographic video. He was charged with cruelty towards a child/promote sexual performance by a child and obscene communication/computer solicitation.
ICE and HSI arrested Santa Rosa County resident and Pace firefighter Danny Murphy on March 10th. A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging him with conspiracy, receipt, and possession of child pornography.
The indictment alleges that, between November 2016 and January 2017, Murphy knowingly conspired with others to participate in Kik instant messaging communications that distributed child pornography images and videos. The indictment further alleges that he received and possessed child pornography involving a minor under age 12. The defendant is currently being detained at the Santa Rosa County Jail.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said no further arrests are expected in the case.
Tungoil Bridge Remains Closed
March 11, 2017
Tungoil Road at McDavid Creek in Walnut Hill is scheduled to be closed to through traffic through Friday, March 17. The bridge has been closed for rehabilitation since March 2. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Herrington Throws Shutout As Chiefs Beat Escambia Academy (With Gallery)
March 11, 2017
Tori Herrington threw a shutout as the Northview Chiefs beat Escambia Academy (Atmore, AL) 10-0 Friday night in Bratt.
Herrington allowed just three hits, no runs, had no errors and recorded 11 strikeouts. At the plate, Herrington was 1-3, with one run and one RBI.
For Northview: Jamia Newton 2-4, 2R; Kendall Enfinger 2-3, 3R; Aubrey Love 2-3, 3 RBI; Peighton Dortch 1-2; Alana Brown 1-3, R; Valen Shelly 3-3, 2R, RBI; Lydia Smith 2-3; RBI; Tieranna Redmond 2-4, 2RBI.
The Lady Chiefs will travel to Jay on Tuesday — varsity at 6:00, JV at 4:00.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate Remains Undefeated With 4-3 Win Over Milton
March 11, 2017
Tate 4, Milton 3
Belle Wolfenden had three RBI’s as the Tate Aggies beat Milton at home Friday night 4-3.
In a complete game on the mound, Hannah Brown allowed just four runs, had two errors, walked to and had five strikeouts for the Aggies.
Hitting for Tate: Hayden Lindsey 2-3, 2R, RBI, 2B; Belle Wolfenden 2-3, 3 RBI; Kayleigh Cawthorn 1-3, R. Hannah Brown 1-2; Sydni Solliday 1-3.
The Aggies remain undefeated — 8-3 overall, 4-0 in district. Tate will host Pace on Tuesday.
Tate 5, Milton 0 (JV)
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Pine Forest Beats Tate; Northview Tops Freeport
March 11, 2017
Pine Forest 7, Tate 2
The Pine Forest Eagles defeated the Tate Aggies Friday night 7-2.
Tate was unable to recover as Pine Forest took a 2-0 lead in the second inning and added another unanswered runs in the third. Mason Land drove in two runs for the Aggies in the fifth.
For Tate: Mason Land 1-4, 2RBI, 2B; Hunter NeSmit 2-3; Ryan Green, 2-3, R; Jesse Sherrill 1-3, R.
Tate 12, Pine Forest 1 (JV)
Tate 4, Gulf Breeze 3 (9th)
Northview 10, Freeport 8
The Northview Chiefs took the lead with four runs in the seventh to defeat Freeport 10-8 on the road Friday night.
For Northview: Quinton Sampson 2-3, 2R, RBI; Josh Neese 1-4, R; Josh Chivington 2-4, 2B, R; Zach Payne 2R; Seth Killam 2-2, R; 2RBI; Blake Reid R; Daniel Macaro R; Devin Stabler R; Josh Smith RBI.
Up next: Northview travels to W.S. Neal on Monday.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Navy Federal Named To Fortune’s 100 Best Companies To Work For List
March 10, 2017
For the seventh year, Navy Federal Credit Union has been selected as a Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For.
“Navy Federal is an outstanding place for a career,” said Cutler Dawson, president/CEO of Navy Federal. “We believe that employees should come first in any organization. Creating a work environment where people can learn, prosper and grow while being part of a team they believe in is what a great place to work is all about.”
As part of Navy Federal’s recognition, Fortune noted that 95 percent of Navy Federal employees say they feel good about the ways Navy Federal contributes to the community, and 92 percent of team members feel a sense of pride in their accomplishments.
“Our goal is exceptional member service and experience. This is possible with motivated employees. It is all about our team members. They deserve a great place to work,” Dawson added.
Florida Taxwatch Issues Report On ‘The Bluffs’ 15,000 Job Plan For Cantonment
March 10, 2017
A new report by Florida TaxWatch finds that the growth of high-tech manufacturing is beneficial to Florida and that investing in the industry now can put the state ahead of competitor states in enticing companies to the state.
Florida TaxWatch analyzed the potential impact of The Bluffs, a project being developed in Cantonment that aims to be the nation’s premier industrial campus. TaxWatch data found that the new direct employment associated with The Bluffs would be an estimated 6,000 jobs, with an additional 9,000 jobs created indirectly, and that the full development of the project could result in $1.1 billion in additional Gross State Product for Florida’s economy.
The 6,000 acre master-planned development area includes about 1,700 acres of land that can be developed in an area east of Highway 29 bordered by the Escambia River to the east, Becks Lake Road near International Paper to the north, and the University of West Florida to the south. Although located along the Escambia River, most of the property to be developed is at a high elevation, about 100 feet above sea level, and not in a flood plain.
“Today’s global economy is becoming increasingly high-tech and in order for Florida to continue to be competitive, it must invest in high-tech manufacturing hubs,” said Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro. “Projects like The Bluffs provide Floridians with high-wage jobs and will significantly benefit the state’s economy. Continuous investments by businesses and the state will go a long way in securing long-term growth of the high-tech manufacturing sector and make Florida the destination for those in the industry.”
Minimally, the project is expected to recruit approximately 10 companies that would occupy more than 3.9 million square feet of building space on 295 acres of land which will be significant to Escambia County and the regional economy.
“High-tech manufacturing is a major job creator in the Panhandle and developments like The Bluffs will continue to drive Florida into the 21st century global economy,” said Senator Doug Broxson. “Growing The Bluffs into a premier industrial campus is crucial in increasing our competitiveness and diversifying our economy.”
“The Bluffs will become a significant job creator for the Pensacola area and further diversify the area’s growing high-tech manufacturing sector. I’m pleased that Florida TaxWatch’s latest report analyzes the positive economic impact of this project and I look forward to The Bluffs development into one of the nation’s premier industrial campus,” said Representative Clay Ingram.
“High-wage, competitive jobs are critical in today’s global economy and Florida needs to position itself as a top destination for high-tech manufacturing,” said Representative Frank White. “The Bluffs is just one of many developments that will allow the private sector to create jobs, grow our economy and move Florida forward.”
The report recommends that the state invests public funds into infrastructure in order to facilitate the growth of high-tech manufacturing hubs; while continuing to work with private entities to ensure that long-term growth potential is met and ensure the state beats out other states vying for these high-tech manufacturing companies.
The project site plan for The Bluffs includes four primary development areas. The area known as “Live Oak Bluff” is likely to see the first development, he said. It is about 415 acres with 13 lots in an area that is currently accessible from Becks Lake Road. A Muscogee Road freight corridor is already in the works, expanding access from Becks Lake Road and Highway 29 to an upcoming I-10 exit in Beulah.
The plans also include making the campus an “environmental showcase” ensuring that the natural beauty of The Bluffs is preserved by building natural trails and encouraging green features for new tenants.
The effort includes partners already located in the corridor – Ascend, ECUA, Gulf Power and the University of West Florida – along with the PEDC,the Florida West Economic Alliance and the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity.
Florida TaxWatch is the state’s independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit taxpayer research institute and government watchdog.
Pictured top and below: Aerial concept maps show The Bluffs, click to enlarge to read map labels. Pictured bottom inset: The Bluffs will be designed to be an environmental showcase. Pictured bottom: Conceptual drawing of Live Oak Bluff, the likely first area to be developed off Becks Lake Road. Images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
