No Serious Injuries In Two Motorcycle Crash
February 26, 2017
There were no serious injuries reported in a two-motorcycle crash Saturday morning west of Century.
The accident was reported about 11:05 a.m. on Highway 168 near Wawbeek Road. One of the motorcycles came to rest on its side in a ditch following the crash.
There was no official information on the cause of the crash from the Florida Highway Patrol.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Florida Gov’t Weekly Roundup: They Will Be Back
February 26, 2017
It’s time for denizens of Tallahassee to get their last week of rest and recreation — or at least sanity — before the whirlwind of activity begins. In the words of a House video from this week: “Session Is Coming.”
And over the last week, the pieces for session continued getting put into place, even if it seemed at times like the House was preparing to knock the entire board off the table. Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’ Lakes, continued a pitched battle with Gov. Rick Scott over the fate of economic development incentives. Meanwhile, one of Corcoran’s lieutenants poured cold water on Senate President Joe Negron’s plan to buy land south of Lake Okeechobee.
Elsewhere, things were a little more settled. The Florida Supreme Court allowed capital punishment cases to proceed, even after the justices’ ruling that the way the state’s death penalty is currently imposed is unconstitutional. Lawmakers were on the track to fixing that.
It all set up one of the more unpredictable legislative sessions in a long time — and sessions have a way of being unpredictable to begin with.
GROUNDHOG DAY
It’s been a while since Punxsutawney Phil reportedly saw his own shadow earlier this month, but it looks like the Capitol is still in for at least six more weeks of fights over Enterprise Florida and Visit Florida.
The latest volley began Monday, when Corcoran — who has led the charge against business incentives — said he was willing to allow Visit Florida to remain alive, as long as it lost two-thirds of its funding and subscribed to a list of conditions
Scott’s response? A spokeswoman called the “massive cut” a threat to Florida families that rely on the tourism industry.
Corcoran’s offer was to amend a contentious bill (HB 7005) that seeks to abolish Enterprise Florida, the state’s business-recruitment agency, and Visit Florida, its tourism-marketing arm.
The amendment would place a series of new requirements on Visit Florida, which would receive $25 million in the budget year that begins July 1 if it agrees to what Corcoran’s office described as “accountability and transparency measures.”
Scott’s budget request is slightly different, in the sense that it asks for $85 million that would go to Enterprise Florida for business-recruitment incentives and $76 million that would go to Visit Florida.
Scott spokeswoman Jackie Schutz said Scott has already been working on changes at Visit Florida, including a change in leadership.
“More than a million Florida families rely on jobs in our tourism industry and are threatened with this massive cut,” Schutz said in a statement. “Unfortunately, some politicians in the Florida House think fighting for jobs is simply hysteria and don’t understand that jobs are not expendable to families who have to put food on the table.”
Nonetheless, the House Appropriations Committee voted 18-12 to approve the measure and send it to the House floor.
“Jobs and capital (are) coming to the state of Florida because we have that good business climate, not because of Enterprise Florida,” Rep. Paul Renner, a Palm Coast Republican sponsoring the measure, said after Tuesday’s Appropriations Committee vote. “You hear the discussion today, it’s almost as if all the jobs are going to go away if the government doesn’t continue to actively intervene in the markets, and that is not who creates wealth.”
That prompted Scott to continue to crank up the rhetoric, calling the House bill a “job killer.”
“I know some politicians who have voted for this job killing bill say they don’t necessarily want to abolish these programs but instead want to advance a ‘conversation,’ ” Scott said in a statement that mirrored lines from an editorial he released on Monday. “This is completely hypocritical and the kind of games I came to Tallahassee to change. Perhaps if these politicians would listen to their constituents, instead of playing politics, they would understand how hurtful this legislation will be to Florida families.”
GETTING HOT IN HERE
Economic incentives aren’t the only flash point that built up over the past week.
A key House Republican made it appear doubtful the House will take up, as written, a $2.4 billion proposal by Negron, R-Stuart, to buy land south of Lake Okeechobee to ease the impacts of polluted water releases into estuaries on the east and west coasts.
House Government Accountability Committee Chairman Matt Caldwell, R-North Fort Myers, said advancing Negron’s proposed 60,000-acre reservoir in the Everglades Agricultural Area — atop what is now farmland — would be “non-starter” if it displaces other projects, such as the $600 million C-43 reservoir along the Caloosahatchee River west of the lake.
Also, the House has little appetite to borrow money through bonding the state’s portion of the costs — the federal government would be asked to cover half — for Negron’s proposed land acquisition and reservoir construction.
“I’m dubious that the bill, as it’s currently structured, could actually be accomplished the way it’s envisioned,” said Caldwell, who brought U.S. Rep. Francis Rooney, R-Fla., to a meeting Wednesday of the state House Natural Resources & Public Lands Subcommittee.
The two chambers are also at odds over gambling legislation. One plan, the Senate’s, would vastly expand the state’s gambling footprint; another, the House’s, would essentially maintain the status quo.
The overwhelming endorsement of the House and Senate plans by key committees sets the stage for critical negotiations between the two chambers, Gov. Rick Scott’s administration and the Seminole Tribe of Florida. The Appropriations Committee voted 14-2 to approve the Senate bill (SB 8), while the House Tourism & Gaming Control Subcommittee voted 10-5 to approve the House measure (PCB TGC 17-01).
One positive sign: Unlike in previous years, the bills are moving early in the process, receiving critical votes before the session begins — something legislative leaders are quick to point out. But the vastly different approaches, and a lack of a sense of urgency on the part of the House, keep the chances of a successful outcome a crapshoot.
“I’m not 100 percent sure where the middle ground’s going to end up, but I can tell you if it comes down to expanding gaming, that’s going to be a non-starter in the House,” House Tourism & Gaming Control Subcommittee Chairman Mike La Rosa, R-St. Cloud, said.
The House plan centers on cementing a new agreement, called a “compact,” with the Seminoles, who last year won a federal court decision regarding a 2010 agreement with the state that gave the tribe “exclusive” rights to operate banked card games, such as blackjack, at most of its casinos.
The Senate’s industry-friendly proposal, meanwhile, includes a variety of factors — including an expansion of slot machines and blackjack at pari-mutuels — that the House, at least for now, maintains are off-limits.
Sen. Bill Galvano, the Senate’s chief gambling negotiator who also was instrumental in crafting the 2010 deal with the tribe, likened the current situation to the three-way stand-off in the finale of the classic Western movie, “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.”
“The House has a product out there. There was a time the tribe was waiting to see where each chamber was. But now we know,” Galvano, a Bradenton Republican slated to take over as Senate president after the 2018 elections, told reporters after Thursday’s meeting of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “It’s time to reel it in.”
DEATH PENALTY BACK ON TRACK
The state law allowing the death penalty might be unconstitutional, but cases where capital punishment is on the table can still go forward, the Supreme Court ruled Monday. The decision was the latest twist in a year-long saga about Florida’s method of imposing executions.
In a pair of October rulings, the state court ruled that a new law — passed in response to a U.S. Supreme Court decision in a case known as Hurst v. Florida — was unconstitutional because it only required 10 jurors to recommend death “as opposed to the constitutionally required unanimous, 12-member jury.”
The October majority opinion in the case of Larry Darnell Perry also found that the new law “cannot be applied to pending prosecutions.”
But in an apparent reversal of that decision Monday, the majority ruled that capital cases can move forward, even before lawmakers fix the statute.
The majority in the 5-2 decision was comprised of Chief Justice Jorge Labarga and justices R. Fred Lewis, Charles Canady and Ricky Polston, along with newly seated Justice Alan Lawson, who joined the court at the end of December.
The majority on Monday decided that the new law can be applied to pending prosecutions — and is constitutional — “if 12 jurors unanimously determine that a defendant should be sentenced to death.”
But in her dissent, Justice Barbara Pariente argued that what could be a “temporary” fix, until lawmakers address the issue, could lead to more litigation.
“Such concerns are precisely why it is for the Legislature, not this (Supreme) Court, to enact legislation curing the act’s fatal 10-2 provisions, assuming the Legislature intends for the death penalty to continue to be imposed in Florida,” Pariente wrote in a dissent joined by Justice Peggy Quince.
The Legislature, in the meantime, is looking to fix the problem. The House Judiciary Committee voted a day after the court’s ruling to require a unanimous jury decision to condemn defendants to death. The measure (HB 527) is part of a fast-moving process aimed at getting a bill to Scott by the end of the first week of the legislative session.
“One thing I found that disturbed families more than anything else is uncertainty,” House Judiciary Chairman Chris Sprowls, a Republican from Palm Harbor who is a former prosecutor, told the committee. “It really truly revictimizes them once again. … We will do our small role for those families in ensuring that we have a death penalty statute that is legal and those cases can move forward.”
But Herman Lindsey, who was convicted of murder in 2006 and who spent more than a year on Death Row before being exonerated by the Florida Supreme Court in 2009, told the committee that, while the measure would fix the issue regarding unanimity, the law is still troubled.
“The problem that I have with this bill is that it’s sort of like putting a Band-Aid over something that needs to be stitched up,” he said.
STORY OF THE WEEK: Gov. Rick Scott and House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’ Lakes, continued escalating their feud about how much to spend on business incentives in the budget year that begins July 1.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “You want to know the difference between our country and all those other nations out there; (it) is the fact that we have a judiciary that keeps everybody else in line.”—Sen. David Simmons, R-Altamonte Springs, on legislation that would impose term limits on state appellate court judges.
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Northview Chiefs Football Players Clean Up Century Health And Rehab
February 26, 2017
Members of the Northview High School Chiefs football team volunteered Saturday morning at the Century Health and Rehabilitation Center. The cleaned out both around and in the fishing pond, and cleaned up and cleared out around the center’s courtyard.
“We are now ready for spring and fishing,” Century Health and Rehab Activities Director Mae Hildreth said. “Big thank you to all the guys. They worked hard….They made work fun.”
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Early Morning Fire Destroys Flomaton Home
February 25, 2017
An early morning destroyed a home on in Flomaton.
The home, on Pecan Leaf Lane off Highway 113, was fully involved when the first 911 call was received just after 5:30 a.m.. The home was total loss.
Authorities said the home was currently unoccupied. There were no injuries reported.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
The Flomaton Fire Department, multiple additional Alabama volunteer departments and the Century and McDavid stations of Escambia (FL) Fire Rescue responded to the blaze. Escambia County (FL) EMS, the Flomaton Police Department and the Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office also responded.
Reader submitted and NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
IP Explosion Caused $50 Million In Damage; Repairs Not Complete
February 25, 2017
It will take up to three months and $50 million for International Paper to recover from the January 22 explosion at their Cantonment mill.
The explosion caused significant structural damage to the largest pulp digester and the power house, bringing operations at the mill to a halt for just over a week.
The power house has been restarted, and the Cantonment mill was able to resume partial operations producing fluff pulp using a series of small batch digesters within a couple of weeks of the explosion.
However, IP said in an annual report to investors that they will not be able to resume full operations in Cantonment producing containerboard during the first quarter of 2017.
“It is currently estimated that the total impact will be in excess of $50 million, but that property damage and business interruption insurance will cover a significant portion of these costs,” International Paper said in a federal filing this week. “The timing of these costs and potential insurance recoveries in unknown.”
The company said it has property damage and business interruption insurance to cover some of the losses.
Pictured: The International Paper mill in Cantonment sits idle following a January 22 explosion. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
U.S. Marshals Arrest Molino Man Wanted In Two States
February 25, 2017
A Molino man wanted in two states was captured in Pensacola Friday with the help of U.S. Marshals.
Jeremy Clint Hatfield, 26, was wanted on outstanding warrant in Escambia County, AL, and Escambia County, FL.
U.S. Marshals said earlier in the week authorities in Escambia County, AL, tried to serve a warrant on Hatfield, but he assaulted an officer and escaped.
He was captured by U.S. Marshals, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Pensacola Police at the Quality Inn on Pine Forest Road Friday early Friday afternoon.
Hatfield was booked into the Escambia County Jail in Pensacola on Florida charges of grand theft, burglary and criminal mischief with property damage. He is awaiting extradition back to Alabama to face additional charges.
Sawmill Pageant Registration Underway
February 25, 2017
The Century Lions Club will present the 25th Annual Sawmill Pageant on March 18.
Registration dates will be held March 4 from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Southern Treasures (across from Whataburger) in Century. Ages 0 through high school.
Registration forms are available at Byrneville Elementary and Southern Treasures.
Middle School Teacher Busted For Marijuana Found Under Her Desk
February 25, 2017
An Atmore middle school teacher was arrested Friday morning after marijuana was found under her classroom desk, according to the Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office.
Kimberly McKay Downey, 49, was charged with second-degree possession of marijuana. She was booked into the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton and was later released on a $6,000 bond.
Authorities responded to a call at the Escambia County Middle School after the principal reported that there was a strong odor of what she believed to be marijuana coming from a specific area inside the school. As deputies entered the school, they also detected an odor that they believed to be marijuana in the hallway of the school.
A K-9 began to search the school and alerted on Downey’s classroom. The students were removed from the classroom and a search was done of the room.
The K-9 alerted on a bag that was located under Downey’s desk. When questioned about the ownership of the bag, deputies reported Downey claimed ownership.. Deputies searched the bag and located a plastic bag containing three partially burned-hand rolled cigarettes believed to be marijuana.
Tate Tops West Florida (With Photo Gallery)
February 25, 2017
Tate 8, West Florida 4
The Tate Lady Aggies defeated West Florida 9-4 Friday night.
The Lady Aggies jumped out to an early lead when Belle Wolfenden drove in two when she singled in the first inning. The Aggies scored an additional run each of the next four innings and sealed the win with three-run sixth inning.
West Florida scored on a home run by Jeya Prasad, a stolen base by Ealon Pyle, and a single by Jade Halfacre.
Hannah Brown earned the win for Tate. She went seven innings, allowing four runs, five hits, striking out seven, and walking one. Jeya Prasad took the loss for Wet Florida, pitching four innings. She allowed five runs, 10 hits, five strikeouts and walked one.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Gary Carnley, click to enlarge.
Miss NHS: Meet The Girls Part II (With Photos)
February 25, 2017
Today is part two of our annual multi-part series “the road to the crown” as we follow 11 young ladies at Northview High School in their quest for the crown and the title of “Miss NHS 2017″.
Today we introduce you to the second half of the contestants. Their biographies, as submitted by the girls, are below along with their photos. You can click any photo below to enlarge.
The pageant is Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. and NorthEscambia.com will have the new Miss NHS and all the pageant photos Sunday morning. Tickets will be available for $10 at the door.
For part one of the series, click here.
Ashlan Kaile Harigel
Ashlan is the 15 year old daughter of Dr. Sheldon and Kimberly Harigel. She is being sponsored tonight by Lt. Daniel Hendrix, USCG. In her 8th grade year, Ashlan was crowned Miss EWMS. She also received the highest academic average award, was on the varsity volleyball team, cheer captain, FFA Chaplain, and was a member of the Honor Society and SGA. At Northview, Ashlan is a member of FCA, FFA, math club, and SGA. She is also the JV Cheerleading captain and a straight A honor student. She is certified in Microsoft Word and PowerPoint and is currently ranked #1 in her class.
In her community, Ashlan is a member of Crossfaith Impact Student Ministry, shows steers and pigs, and owns the Itty Bitty Cattle Company.
Her hobbies include showing steer, going to the beach, fishing, playing trivia games, reading, shopping, and spending time with family and friends.
Her future plans are to graduate Valedictorian of her class, receive an academic scholarship, and attend a university to pursue her career in pediatric plastic surgery. Ashlan hopes to one day help her mom fulfill her lifelong dream of opening a home for abandoned and abused children.
Brianna Morgan Smith
Brianna is the 19 year old daughter of David and Sinde Smith and Jessica Jalomo. She is sponsored by the teachers at Byrneville Elementary school. At Northview, Brianna has been a majorette with Tribal Beat band for four years, a member of SGA for four years, the theatre program for three years, and an Atmore Rotary Club All Star for three years. For the past two years, Brianna has received a superior rating at the MPA’s solo and ensemble at both the district and state level. In 2015, she was awarded Miss Tribal Beat.
In her community, Brianna is a member of the Greater Pensacola United States Bowling Congress Junior Gold. She has been an All Star bowler 10 times, a board member for three years, was the 2015 Bowler of the Year, and has been a youth leader for eight years serving as the current president. She is a registered volunteer and assistant coach at Oops Alley, a registered volunteer for the Ronald McDonald House and Miracle League. She has been a volunteer for Bowl for the Cure for five years. Brianna has also competed in numerous scholarship tournaments for bowling, including Pepsi, FSU, and State tournaments.
Her hobbies include twirling, bowling, dancing, choreography, and crafts.
Her future plans are to attend college and major in education with a minor in theatre. She hopes to teach kids to twirl and love it. Brianna wants to open up her own twirling academy.
Miss Autumn Grace Albritton
Autumn is the 18 year old daughter of Randall Albritton and Lisa Morales. She is being sponsored tonight by Deputy Edmonson. At Northview, Autumn has been a member of the varsity basketball and track teams for four years, SGA for four years where she is currently serving as the secretary, Beta Club for three years, FFA, FCA, BPA where she is treasurer, volleyball for one year, and was also an Academic All Star for one year. Autumn has been a cheerleader for two years and this year was selected as All-American and was invited to perform in the London New Year’s Day parade. She has served as class parliamentarian for three years and is this year’s senior class secretary. Autumn was selected by her classmates to represent them on the homecoming court for three years. She was chosen as maid her freshman year and was this year’s 1st runner up to the queen. In 10th grade, Autumn received the Congressman Jeff Miller Merit Award in recognition of outstanding and invaluable service to the community. She also was the recipient of the FCA “Above the Rim” as well as the Hustle Award for basketball. This year, Autumn was selected as “Most Athletic” by the senior class. She is a Microsoft Office specialist, has earned her Florida ready to work gold credential, and placed 1st in administrative support at the BPA competition and qualified for state. Autumn also received the Scholar Athlete award for cheerleading and is an office assistant.
In her community, Autumn attends the Front Porch Youth Group at Brooks Memorial church. She also has gone on mission trips to Myramar, Cambodia, and China for six weeks in the summer of 2014, and a mission trip to Nicaragua for two weeks in the summer of 2015.
Her hobbies include playing basketball, going to the beach, and hanging out with her friends.
Her future plans are to attend PSC for her basics and then pursue her degree in Neonatal Nursing. After she graduates from college, she plans to get married and start a family.
Morgan Alexis Myrick
Morgan is the 17 year old daughter of Michael and Brandy Myrick. She is being sponsored tonight by Alto Products. For the past four years at Northview, Morgan has served her class as class historian. She has also been a member of the track team for one year, SGA for three years serving as vice president her junior year and president this year. Morgan was a junior varsity cheerleader for one year and a varsity cheerleader for three years. In 10th grade, she was the recipient of the Most Dependable award and this year received the Spirit award. She has also represented her class for the past four years on the homecoming court and was voted for sophomore and junior class maid. This year, Morgan was crowned as the 2016 Homecoming Queen.
Her hobbies include binge watching Friends, cooking, and spending time with her family and friends.
Her future plans are to attend the University of Alabama in the fall majoring in pre-Physical Therapy.
Gabrielle Laianne Hawkins
Gabrielle is the 17 year old daughter of Michelle and Gary Hawkins. She is sponsored tonight by her parents. At Northview, Gabrielle is a member of the FBLA, BPA, FFA, and is the treasurer of the math club. She is a Microsoft Office specialist in Word, PowerPoint, and Access. In the FBLA district competition, Gabrielle placed 4th in Cyber Security. She is also a library and office assistant, certified for peer counseling. This year, Gabrielle served as the volleyball manager and was also on the weightlifting team. Workplace violence awareness and Introduction to hazardous materials certifications.
In her community, Gabrielle is a cadet at the Molino Fire Department and is CPR certified with Escambia County.
Her hobbies include fire training, online classes, studying medical terms, and watching Netflix.
Her future plans are to attend Pensacola State College and pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing. After obtaining her degree, Gabrielle plans to work on extra credentials that will benefit her career.
Alyssa Brianna Borelli
Alyssa is the 17 year old daughter of Anthony and Robyn Borelli. She is sponsored tonight by her parents. Alyssa has been a member of the NJROTC for four years and currently holds the title of Executive Officer. For the past three years, Alyssa has been a Beta Club member and an Atmore Rotary Academic All Star. She has been a member of the Art Club and FBLA for 2 years and is the current FBLA vice president and also placed third in business calculations. Alyssa has been a member of SGA, FCA, the Golf team, and the School Advisory Council for one year. At the Mike Tedder math tournament, Alyssa placed in the top 10 and received a full scholarship to Coastal Alabama Community College. This year, Alyssa was runner-up in the Veteran’s Day essay contest, voted “Most Likely to Succeed” by her peers and was selected to be in Northview’s Hall of Fame. She has been accepted into UF, UWF & the Kugelman Honors Program as well as Auburn University. In her community, Alyssa attends Highland Baptist Church.
Her hobbies include drawing, reading, and being with loved ones.
Her future plans are to attend the University of Florida and major in Mathematics with a minor in Education. After obtaining her Bachelor’s Degree, Alyssa intends to pursue a masters in Mathematics. She hopes to teach Algebra at either the high school or college level and spark a love for learning in her students that she has herself.
NorthEscambia.com photos.