Gun Bills Line Up In Legislature
February 14, 2017
A measure that would reduce the penalty for people who briefly display a firearm in public and make it a non-criminal offense has been filed in the House.
The proposal (HB 779), filed Friday by Rep. Neil Combee, R-Polk City, is identical to a bill (SB 646) filed by Senate Judiciary Chairman Greg Steube, R-Sarasota. Steube recently turned an omnibus 
measure (SB 140) into a series of bills.
Combee said his proposal would apply to people with concealed-weapons licenses. The proposal would change what is currently a second-degree misdemeanor charge — carrying a fine up to $500 and 60 days in jail — into a $25 noncriminal violation that can be paid to a county clerk of the court.
The proposal also would allow members of the state Cabinet — the attorney general, chief financial officer and agriculture commissioner — to carry concealed weapons when unaccompanied by full-time Florida Department of Law Enforcement security.
As with the majority of other stand-alone gun-related measures by Steube, the proposal has yet to be scheduled to appear before a House or Senate committee.
On Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, Steube filed nine bills tied to gun ownership rights after telling reporters of his plan to separate the broader bill.
“Just from feeling the tea leaves, it’s probably better to attack it piece by piece,” Steube said at the time.
The Florida Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence has called Steube’s “flurry” of bills “dangerous.”
“The sheer breadth of his call to allow citizens to arm themselves in public, including at schools and airports, would extend legal gun carry opportunities to unprecedented levels in the state of Florida,” the coalition — whose members include the League of Women Voters of Florida, the Florida PTA, Equality Florida and Doctors for America — said in a release.
Florida Carry attorney Eric Friday said Monday that the Second Amendment advocacy group supports Steube’s effort, either as a single bill or as a series of proposals.
“Sen. Steube is fighting to restore the right of people to defend themselves,” Friday said in an email.
Among Steube’s other bills is a proposal (SB 610) that could lead to businesses being held liable if they prevent concealed-carry permit holders from bringing firearms onto their property and the permit holders get injured by other people or animals.
Among the more prominent of Steube’s revised efforts is a bill that would allow people with concealed-weapons licenses to openly carry handguns (SB 644) and to carry firearms on college and university campuses (SB 622).
Both proposals stalled in the Senate Judiciary Committee last year, but the former chairman of the committee, Republican Miguel Diaz de la Portilla of Miami, is no longer in the Legislature.
Other proposals by Steube include a measure (SB 618) that would allow people to carry guns in airport terminals; a measure (SB 620) that would allow people to carry guns at legislative meetings; a measure (SB 626) that would allow people to carry guns at local-government meetings; a measure (SB 640) that would allow people to carry guns at career centers; and a measure that would allow concealed firearms licensees to temporarily surrender firearms at courthouse security.
The airport terminal proposal is identical to a measure (HB 6001) filed in November by Rep. Jake Raburn, R-Lithia.
In December, Rep. Scott Plakon, R-Longwood, introduced a House version of the campus-carry measure (HB 6005).
The campus-carry proposal faces opposition by university and college leaders, campus law- enforcement officials and faculty members. The Florida Sheriffs Association has opposed efforts to allow open-carry in Florida.
Separately, Sen. Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala, on Monday filed his own measure (SB 908) that would allow the 1.7 million concealed weapons permit-holders in Florida to carry at the state’s 15 seaports. The proposal also would delete provisions in state law that bar carrying concealed weapons at police and sheriff’s stations, jails, courthouses, polling places, colleges, professional sporting events and establishments where alcohol is sold for consumption on site. The measure also would delete a provision that prohibits people from carrying firearms in places prohibited by federal law.
Baxley also filed a pair of measures (SB 912 and SJR 910) on Monday that would ask voters in November 2018 or in an earlier special election to amend the state Constitution to exempt law enforcement officers and “qualified” retired officers from having to wait three days to purchase handguns.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Kayla Crocker Laid To Rest; Community Benefit Set For Saturday
February 14, 2017
Funeral services were held Monday for 28-year old Kayla Maylee Crocker, the Beulah mother of two that was shot during a home invasion robbery last week.
Crocker was the final victim of William “Billy” Boyette, who later took his own life when surrounded by law enforcement in Georgia, His accomplice, Mary Rice, is facing a first degreee murder charge for Crocker’s death.
Visitation and funeral services for the 2006 Tate High School graduate were held Monday evening at Beulah Baptist Church. Family members said Crocker was an organ and tissue donor, allowing her to help others. And despite rumors, they said she was not pregnant.
The Beulah community has planned a memorial and fundraising event for her two children Saturday from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Beulah Park at 7820 Mobile Highway. All first responders with identification will be able to eat for free.
A BBQ combo with a sandwich, drink and a bag of chips will be $6. A cake walk will be held during the event for several donated cakes, and there will be entertainment.
There will also be a raffle for prizes that includes: a year’s worth of cleaning services by Melissa’s Custom Clean ($1,000 value), Spray Tan sessions, home décor, jewelry and gift cards/certificates donated by several local restaurants and retail shops with many more items being donated daily.
All money collected will be place into an account in the childrens’ names at Navy Federal Credit Union.
Rolling Hills Land Clearing Debris Disposal Area Fire
February 14, 2017
Escambia County Waste Services, Environmental Code Enforcement, Public Safety, Fire Rescue and the Florida Forest Service are responding to a fire at the Rolling Hills Landfill located at 6990 Rolling Hills Road. Emergency communications received a called at 5:28 p.m. reporting a fire in the general location of the closed landfill. After investigating, the source of the fire is estimated to have impacted five acres in a large mound of land clearing debris located in the southeast area of the property designated for land clearing debris disposal. The fire is not in the C&D area of the landfill currently being remediated by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
The fire appears to be contained. It currently poses no risk to surrounding homes beyond the nuisance smoke. Because the fire is not in the C&D area of the landfill, the hydrogen sulfide gas levels, or H2S, in the Wedgewood Community should not be impacted by the fire. Residents can view values of the gas online at http://myescambia.com/community/air-quality-monitoring.
Since revoking Rolling Hills Landfill’s permit in 2014, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection was able to get court approval to close the landfill. Working with state contractors, surveyors and landfill closure experts, they developed a comprehensive closure design based on current site conditions and the contractor began work in the fall of 2016. A vast majority of the onsite work has been completed. However, weather has caused some delays and the project is expected to be completed at the end of this month.
Northview School Advisory Council Meeting Rescheduled
February 14, 2017
A Northview High School Advisory Council meeting that was scheduled for February 9 has been rescheduled for Thursday, February 16 at 3:45 p.m. in the school’s media center. Parents, school s supporters and the public are invited to attend.
Atmore Native Sworn In As Alabama’s Attorney General
February 14, 2017
An Atmore native was sworn in Monday as Alabama’s next attorney general.
Governor Robert J. Bentley appointed Marshall County District Attorney, Steve Marshall, to serve as the 50th Attorney General of Alabama. Former Attorney General Luther Strange was appointed to the United States Senate following Senator Jeff Sessions’ appointment and confirmation as Attorney General of the United States.
Following his appointment, Mr. Marshall said, “It is a great honor to be named Attorney General and I am thankful to Governor Bentley for the opportunity to serve the people of Alabama. The time spent working alongside law enforcement for the last 20 years has been a remarkable privilege. As Attorney General, I will continue to support their efforts to keep Alabamians safe and free from violent crime.”
Marshall was born October 26, 1964, in Atmore, Alabama, the only child of the late Conrad and Mary Jo Marshall. Conrad Marshall was a representative for a sporting goods manufacturer and Mary Jo Marshall was a secretary.
father’s job caused the family to move quite a bit during Steve’s childhood. When he was 3-years-old, Steve moved with his family to Mobile, where they stayed until the end of his first grade year. From there, they lived in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. Despite leaving Alabama in first grade and living in several Southern states, Steve knew Alabama was his home and returned to attend the University of Alabama School of Law.
FWC Law Enforcement Report
February 14, 2017
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the weekly period ending February 9 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officer Allgood checked a fisherman as he returned to Sherman’s Cove and discovered the man was in possession of red snapper fillets. Red snapper season is currently closed and it is a violation to clean the fish before it is landed. The individual was issued a notice to appear citation for the violations.
Lieutenant Allen and Officer Guy received a call from a local landowner stating that he had witnessed two suspects illegally hunting on his property. While the officers were en route, the landowner called back stating the suspects had gone and he provided their vehicle description. The officers canvased the area and located the vehicle pulling into a residence. One of the suspects was in the vehicle and initially denied that he had been hunting that morning. After further questioning, the suspect admitted to hunting and dropping the second suspect off at his residence. Officers Burkhead and Little responded to assist with the investigation and went to the second suspect’s residence, where they saw a whitetail doe carcass in the yard. A records check showed that this suspect was a convicted felon. This suspect admitted to being on the landowner’s property but denied having a gun. Upon further investigation and interviews, the suspect admitted that he did have a gun and also admitted to hiding three guns in a wooded area behind his residence prior to the officers arriving. Armed trespass charges were direct filed against both suspects. One of the suspects was also charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of an antlerless deer during the closed season.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officer Hutchinson received information about a hunter who used a high-powered rifle to shoot a deer while hunting the Escambia River WMA during muzzle loading season. While driving towards the boat ramp where the subject’s vehicle was parked, he saw the subject’s vehicle travelling towards him. As the vehicle passed by, he observed a whitetail deer lying in the boat that was being towed by the subject’s vehicle. During a subsequent traffic stop, the subject claimed he shot the deer with a muzzle loader rifle. Officer Hutchinson discovered that he was in possession of only a muzzle loader, but after further questioning and inspection of the deer, the subject admitted to shooting the deer with a high-powered rifle. The subject called a friend to bring him a muzzle loader after he shot the deer. Once the friend arrived at his location, they swapped guns and the subject took possession of the muzzle loader and gave his friend the high-powered rifle to take back with him. Officer Hutchinson issued the subject a notice to appear citation for the violation of illegal method of taking game. The firearm and the deer were seized as evidence.
Officers Hutchinson and Arnette were informed by Lieutenant Golloher and Officer Tolbert about a vehicle that was travelling along several back roads while shining a spotlight into the fields and into tree lines. The officers drove to the area where the subject was seen and Officer Hutchinson saw the vehicle parked at a field while shining a spotlight into the field in a manner capable of disclosing the presence of deer. He conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle and discovered a loaded a 12‑gauge shotgun in the front seat. While conducting a search of the vehicle, he also discovered an open container of alcoholic beverage in the front console. The subject was issued a notice to appear citation for possession of a firearm while shining a light in a manner capable of disclosing the presence of deer. He was also issued a citation for possession of an open container of alcohol in the vehicle. The firearm was seized as evidence.
While working a night-hunting detail, officers observed a truck driving in a suspicious manner. The driver was shining a light in specific areas where deer are often seen. Officer Hutchinson approached the truck and watched him shining a light into a field. He stopped the vehicle and discovered a loaded, 12‑gauge shotgun in the front seat as well as an open beer in the front console. The man was issued a notice to appear for night hunting and a traffic citation for possession of an open container of alcohol in the vehicle.
FWC officers teamed up with staff from the Division of Hunting and Game Management to assist with the Blackwater Hutton Unit Mobility Impaired Hunts. Working with several volunteers including family and friends of FWC staff, as well as retired officers, they provided lunch each day for the hunters and their guests. Several local businesses donated everything from food and drinks to hunting equipment for prizes to be given away. The hunters had an enjoyable time in the field and were very appreciative of the time and effort put into the events.
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.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
New Three Story, 50 Unit Apartment Complex Under Construction In Century
February 13, 2017
Land clearing is underway for a new 50-unit apartment complex is planned for Century.
“Century Park Apartments” is being constructed on Second Street, which is the entrance to the parking lot of of the Billy G. Ward Courthouse.
Plans call for two, three-story buildings and 125 parking spaces. Sixteen of the apartments will be 984 square feet with two bedrooms and one bath, while 22 will be 1,119 square feet with three bedrooms and two baths. There will also be 12 apartments with 1,291 square feet with four bedrooms and two baths.
Some of the apartments will be reserved for low income residents
NorthEscambia.com graphics and photos, click to enlarge.
Tate Takes Top High School Honors In CyberThon 2017
February 13, 2017
More than 140 local students from dozens of schools across Northwest Florida participated in CyberThon 2017 recently, with Tate High School taking home the top honors in the high school division.
New for CyberThon 2017 was a “capture the flag” style gameplay carried out on the FacebookCTF platform customized specifically for this event. Teams worked to win points on the game board while completing challenges on a computer network that included a simulated online financial system. Dubbed “First Federation Credit Union,” the fully functional banking environment was designed by Premier Sponsor Navy Federal Credit Union. Teams used software tools including Security Onion and Splunk to monitor suspicious network activity and complete gameplay challenges.
Control of the CyberThon leaderboard changed hands multiple times during the two-day competition, with teams from Pensacola State College, Pine Forest High School, Tate High School, and UWF all taking turns in the top spot. In the end, however, teams from UWF and Tate High School emerged as winners in the college and high school divisions.
A Tate High School team led by Kevin Schmidt took the top spot among high schools while scoring more points overall before penalties than any team in the event. Tate High swept both top spots among high schools, with a team led by Michelle Ward claiming second place.
In support of the Department of Homeland Security’s mission statement that “Homeland Security Begins with Hometown Security,” the three-day event also included keynote addresses on cybersecurity trends from leading experts in the cyber industry.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Motorcyclist Critical After Escambia Crash
February 13, 2017
An Escambia County man critically injured in a motorcycle crash Sunday evening.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 46-year old Dallas Rawlings was traveling east on Sorrento and ran off the roadway while attempting to pass several other vehicles. Rawlings was ejected from the motorcyle. He was airlifted to Baptist Hospital in critical condition.
Molino’s Troop 430 Celebrates Scout Sunday
February 13, 2017
Sunday was “Scout Sunday” at Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Molino. During the morning worship service, the scouts and leaders of Troop 430 Molino were honored with God and Family Awards and a slideshow of activities was presented. Scouts also received thee 2017 Scout Sunday Patch.
Troop 430 meets each week at Aldersgate UMC.
Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.