No Injuries In Pine Cone, 297A Crash
December 22, 2016
There were no injuries in a two vehicle crash Wednesday evening at Pine Cone Drive and Highway 297A. The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. No further details have been released. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Peanut Butter Bounty Distributed To Local Food Banks
December 22, 2016
Over 4,000 jars of peanut butter collected during the UF/IFAS Escambia County Extension’s “Take a Bite out of Hunger” Peanut Butter Drive were delivered to 22 local food pantries this week.
The food drive asked residents to meet the challenge of donating 1,000 pounds of unopened jars of peanut butter at five drop-off locations in the county during the months of September and November. The goal was exceeded thanks to citizens and local peanut producers Rodney and Mike Helton, with 4,871 jars totaling 4,000 pounds collected — a 43 percent increase over the 2,800 jars collected in 2015.
The peanut butter was distributed to the following food pantries:
- Manna Food Pantries
- Mount Canaan Baptist Church
- EscaRosa Coalition for the Homeless
- St. James Missionary Baptist Church
- Myrtle Grove United Methodist Church
- Highland Baptist Church
- Salvation Army
- Carver Park Resource Center
- Abundant Life Assembly of God (Century Church)
- Perdido Bay United Methodist Church
- Alfred-Washburn Center
- Brentwood Assembly of God
- Allen Memorial United Methodist Church
- Aldersgate United Methodist Church Molino
- Gonzalez United Methodist Church
- Liberty Church North Campus
- First Baptist Church of Bratt
- Waterfront Rescue on Herman Street
- St. Monica’s Espical Church
- First Baptist Church of Flomaton
- Cathedral of Faith Church
- Marcus Pointe Baptist Church
This is the fourth year UF/IFAS Escambia County Extension has teamed up with the Florida Peanut Producers Association to participate in the peanut butter drive, with donations to food pantries being made in the month of December. As many families in our community experience food insecurities, they rely upon food pantries to supplement their family’s meals and reduce worries about running out of food. The donated peanut butter can help meet the need of providing healthy options for local residents in need.
Gun Proposals Could Have Better Shot in Senate
December 22, 2016
A measure that would expand how and where Florida’s more than 1.67 million concealed-weapons license holders can carry handguns may have an easier path through the Senate in 2017 than in the past.
Senate President Joe Negron, R-Stuart, this week sent the bill (SB 140) to three committees, two of which are led by prominent gun-rights supporters. The bill would need to make it through the committees before it could be considered by the full Senate during the 2017 legislative session, which starts in March.
“I’ve always been a strong proponent of the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens,” Negron said Tuesday before he assigned the bill to committees.
The bill, sponsored by Senate Judiciary Chairman Greg Steube, R-Sarasota, would allow people with concealed-weapons licenses to openly carry handguns in public and also would allow them to be armed on college and university campuses. They also could carry guns at airport passenger terminals; in elementary and secondary schools; and at legislative and local government meetings.
Negron assigned the measure to the Steube-led Judiciary Committee and to the Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee, which is chaired by Ocala Republican Dennis Baxley, who in 2005 sponsored the House version of the state’s “stand-your-ground” self-defense law.
The Senate president Tuesday also assigned the bill to the Rules Committee, which is led by Fort Myers Republican Lizbeth Benacquisto. While not as prominent as Steube and Baxley on gun-related issues, Benacquisto in 2016 voted during a Higher Education Committee meeting in favor of allowing concealed-weapons license holders to carry guns on college and university campuses.
Influential National Rifle Association lobbyist Marion Hammer praised Negron when asked about the committee assignments for the bill. But she wouldn’t make any prediction on the bill’s future.
“It is my hope that Senate members will have an opportunity to vote on this bill,” Hammer said Wednesday in an email.
During the 2016 session, open-carry and campus-carry measures failed to advance through the Senate Judiciary Committee, which was chaired by former Sen. Miguel Diaz de la Portilla, R-Miami. Diaz de la Portilla lost a re-election bid in November.
The campus-carry proposal has been opposed by university and college leaders, campus law- enforcement officials and faculty members.
Florida State University President John Thrasher, a former House speaker and senator, this month reiterated his strong opposition to allowing guns on university and college campuses.
As a member of the Senate, Thrasher helped kill a bill in 2011 that would have allowed gun owners with concealed-weapons licenses to bring their firearms on campuses.
“I opposed it. I killed it. I have worked against it since then,” Thrasher told the FSU faculty during his annual “state of the university” address on Dec. 7. “And you have my promise that I will work against it this year also.”
The proposals during the 2016 session first went through the Senate Criminal Justice Committee, where they drew narrow support. Negron has named Sen. Randolph Bracy, D-Orlando, to chair that committee in 2017, but it appears the panel will not hear the Steube bill.
Parts of Steube’s proposal appear in separate measures that have been filed in the House for the 2017 session.
Rep. Scott Plakon, R-Longwood, introduced a House version of the campus-carry measure (HB 6005). Also, Rep. Jake Raburn, R-Lithia, has proposed a bill (HB 6001) that would allow people with concealed-weapons licenses to bring guns into the passenger terminals of airports.
The House overwhelmingly approved campus-carry and open-carry bills during the 2016 session. Steube and Baxley, who were elected to the Senate last month after serving in the House, voted for both bills.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Atmore Man Charged With Attempted Murder
December 22, 2016
An Atmore man has been arrested for a late November shooting that left another man in critical condition.
Douglas Jermaine Oliver, 26, was charged with the attempted murder of Anthony Jerome Riley of Sunset Drive in Atmore. He was booked into the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton.
About 2:15 a.m. on November 25, Atmore Police responded to a disturbance an found Riley shot multiple times in the rear parking lot of “Special Occasions” at 129 South Main Street Riley was transported to Atmore Community Hospital and later transferred to a Mobile hospital.
The shooter, later identified as Oliver, fled the area in a black Dodge Charger.
The Atmore Police Department said the business is licensed to hold banquets, wedding receptions and retirement parties. “The business is not allowed to have alcohol on the premises, but evidence at the scene showed alcohol was present at the time of the shooting,” police said. The city later revoked the company’s business license.
Tate Wrestling Wins Gator Duals Invitational Tourney
December 22, 2016
The Tate High School wrestling team recently went 4-0 to take home first place in the Gator Duals Invitational at Satsuma, AL. Alex Young (pictured bottom left) received the Best Upper Weight Match Award and Jacob Cochran (pictured bottom right) received the Outstanding Wrestler award in the Lightweight Class.
The Aggie wrestling team will host their only home varsity match of the year on December 30. Both events will be held in the Fryman Gymnasium at Tate High School. Wrestling will begin at 10 a.m.
Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Arrested Century Man Charged With Taking Cocaine Into County Jail
December 21, 2016
A Century man busted for a traffic offense was arrested on additional charges for taking cocaine into the county jail.
An Escambia County deputy familiar with 48-year old Aubrey Sebastian Phifer recognized him driving without a license on North Century Boulevard and West Highway 4. The deputy caught up with him and conducted a traffic stop on Jefferson Avenue.
Phifer was arrested on a felony charge for driving while license suspended as a habitual traffic offender. The arresting deputy transported him to the Tom Thumb in Molino where another deputy took custody of Phifer and transported him to the county jail. When questioned, Phifer told the deputy that he did not have anything illegal on his person, according to an arrest report.
Detention deputies inside the jail reported finding a clear plastic bag containing cocaine inside Phifer’s sock. He was charged with possession of a controlled substance and introduction of contraband into a dentition facility.
Two Charged With Craigslist Deal Robbery
December 21, 2016
Two 18-year olds have been arrested for robbing a woman during a Craigslist deal.
The victim told the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office that she was contacted by De’Shaun O’Neil Allen and Thomas Lee Wright about a necklace she had listed for sale on Craigslist. The suspects went to the victims home to view the necklace then Wright snatched it without paying, according to deputies.
The fled in a 2003 red Dodge neon which they later wrecked before fleeing into a wooded area. They were caught hiding in the woods by a deputy and his K-9.
Both were arrested and charged with felony robbery by sudden snatching without a firearm or weapon and booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $5,000.
Escambia Legislative Delegation To Hold Public Hearing
December 21, 2016
State Representative Clay Ingram, chairman of the Escambia County State Legislative Delegation, has announced that a public hearing will be held on Wednesday, January 4, 2017, from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the Jean & Paul Amos Performance Studio, located at 1000 College Boulevard in Pensacola.
Delegation members will consider local bills, hear presentations from government entities and take public testimony on proposals for the 2017 Legislative Session. Any member of the public is welcomed to attend and participate, but those who wish to make a presentation or provide testimony should complete a Meeting Participation Form and email it to Ingram’s office at Jessi.McDonald@myfloridahouse.gov no later than 5:00 p.m. on Monday, January 2.
Local bill submissions, including (1) a brief summary of the proposal, (2) a draft of the proposed bill, and (3) an Economic Impact Statement Form, must be received by Ingram’s district office via email no later than 5:00 p.m. on Monday, January 2.
The Escambia County State Legislative Delegation includes Senator Doug Broxson, Representative Clay Ingram, and Representative Frank White.
FWC Law Enforcement Report
December 21, 2016
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the weekly period ending December 9 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officer McHenry has been monitoring a baited area in the Perdido River Wildlife Management Area (WMA) for the last couple of weeks. He issued a notice to appear to a subject he found deer hunting over the bait this week.
Officer McHenry and Captain Rondeau worked an area in the Perdido River WMA that has been damaged by people using their vehicles mudding and intentionally damaging the parking areas and roadways. After being in the area a short while, they observed a vehicle enter the area and the driver perform several donuts in one of the main parking areas. They stopped the driver and issued him a notice to appear citation for destruction of state lands. He was also cited for possession of alcohol in a closed area.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officer Hutchinson was patrolling the Blackwater River when he saw a vessel traveling at a high rate of speed in a no wake zone. The vessel pulled up to a dock behind a residence and a female subject disembarked carrying a dip net containing nine speckled trout. After making contact with both subjects and asking about the size of the fish, the female subject made the comment that one of them may be close to the minimum size. After further inspection of the fish, three of the fish were undersized. After questioning both subjects, the female subject admitting to catching and keeping the three undersized fish. She was issued a notice to appear for possession of undersized spotted sea trout. She was issued a written warning for a fishing license violation and the male subject was issued a written warning for the violation of the restricted zone.
FWC officers assisted FWC’s Hunting and Game Management staff in putting together another successful Blackwater Family Hunt. Forty-nine quota permits were used and approximately 64 young people participated in the hunt. Donated prizes from the community were presented to several lucky kids, including tree stands, blinds, and even two youth model shotguns. Great weather provided some exciting hunting opportunities for the families participating. Fifteen deer were taken during the hunt and some of the youth were able to take their first deer.
This report represents some events the FWC handled over the past week; however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement. Information provided by FWC.
State Debt Drops After Bonds Refinanced
December 21, 2016
State debt declined by $1.6 billion during the past year, although the head of the state Division of Bond Finance warned that rising interest rates could present more financial challenges in the coming year.
In a preliminary report, reviewed by aides to Gov. Rick Scott and state Cabinet members, Ben Watkins said Florida’s overall debt declined to $24.1 billion in the fiscal year that ended June 30. That was a drop from the prior year’s debt level of $25.7 billion and reflected a six-year decline of $4.1 billion.
State debt has declined since reaching a peak of $28.2 billion in 2010 due to several factors. Since taking office in 2011, Scott has remained largely opposed to borrowing money or issuing bonds.
The debt has also declined because state officials, taking advantage of low interest rates, have aggressively refinanced older bonds, replacing higher rates with more-favorable rates.
In the last year alone, the Division of Bond Finance oversaw 13 refinancings totaling about $3 billion in debt that resulted in $619 million in savings. Over the last six-and-a-half years, 82 refinancings have been executed, resulting in nearly $2.5 billion in debt savings, the new report shows.
But Watkins, who presented his report to Scott and the Cabinet, said the municipal bond market is undergoing fairly dramatic changes, calling a recent upward tick in interest rates “a bigger move than has happened any time in the last three years.”
Watkins said money is flowing out of the municipal bond market into other areas, including a rising stock market. He said that trend “creates dynamics that are unfavorable for selling (municipal) bonds and puts upward pressure on rates.”
Higher rates could curb Florida’s ability to refinance older debt and increase the state’s reluctance to borrow new money during the next year.
In August, state officials reversed a five-year trend and agreed to borrow $285 million over the next few years to build and maintain facilities for state universities, colleges and public schools. The initial borrowing was in the range of $52 million for what are known as Public Education Capital Outlay bonds.
Heading into a 2017 legislative session, where a minimal budget surplus has been projected, lawmakers could again look to borrowing for education construction projects.
Also, Senate President Joe Negron, R-Stuart, has advanced a proposal to issue bonds to pay for the state’s share of acquiring 60,000 acres south of Lake Okeechobee. The proposal, which also would rely on federal money, is part of an effort to store and clean water and reduce releases from Lake Okeechobee into the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie estuaries.
Scott and Cabinet members are keeping an eye on rising debt for the state university system, with a report from the Division of Bond Finance in October showing university debt had risen by $1.1 billion over the last five years, while the state’s overall debt had declined.
Most of the university debt is tied to borrowing by “direct support organizations,” university-based entities that have borrowed money for health-care facilities, student housing, parking garages, fitness-wellness centers and athletic facilities.
The university system’s Board of Governors and the boards of trustees at the 12 universities have approved new procedures to make sure borrowing proposals face rigorous scrutiny.
Florida made $2.1 billion in debt payments in the last year, the new report shows. The debt payments are expected to rise in 2017 and 2018 due to financing related to the “I-4 Ultimate Project,” a public-private partnership that is adding lanes to a 21-mile section of the interstate highway in Orange and Seminoles counties.
Florida’s debt payments, as a percentage of state revenues, were at 5.46 percent in the last year, under a benchmark of 6 percent, the report shows. Florida’s debt, on a per-capita basis, ranked seventh among the 11 largest states at $1,085 of tax-supported debt per resident, compared to $4,141 in New Jersey, the highest, and $298 in Texas, the lowest.
by Lloyd Dunkelberger, The News Service of Florida