Residents Discuss Parks, Dirt Roads During Davisville Town Hall Meeting
March 22, 2016
Escambia County Commissioner Steven Barry held a town hall meeting Monday afternoon at the Davisville Community.
A small crowd of local residents expressed their concerns and asked question about the status of numerous county projects. Most were concerned about paving dirt roads and various park improvements.
On the subject of local parks, residents learned that water fountains are being installed in the next week or so at the Travis Nelson Park in Bratt. Construction will begin by June on a paved walking track at the Walnut Hill Community Center, then crews will move south to pave a walking track behind the Molino Community Complex on Highway 95A.
Pictured top: District 5 resident Angus Brewton speaks during a town hall meeting Monday afternoon as his wife, Gayle Brewton, listens. Pictured inset: Commissioner Steven Barry listens to a speaker during the town hall meeting at the Davisville Community Center. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Strike Out Cancer Game Earns $12K; Wins For Tate; Loss For Northview
March 22, 2016
SOFTBALL
Monday night’s Strike Out Cancer game raised an estimated $12,000 as the Tate Aggies defeated West Florida 7-1.
WP – Savannah Rowell (7 IP, 1 R (0 ER), 2 H, 12 K, 2 BB).
LP – Farrah Nicholas (4 IP, 5 R (4 ER), 7 H, 3 K, 3 BB).
Tate hitters – Kristin Quina 2-4 2B, 3 RBIs, R; Ashley Barnett 1-2 3 RBIs; Morgan Bolen 1-2 2B, RBI, 2 BB.
West Florida hitters – Haile Bell 1-3; Keyana Norman 1-2 BB, SB.
BASEBALL
Tate 10, East Ridge 0
The Tate Aggies beat East Ridge of Clermont in round one of the Ocoee Knights Spring Break Invitational, 10-0..
WP – Madison Lockman (5 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 1 K, 2 BB) .
Tate hitters – Branden Fryman 2-4, 2 RBIs, 2 runs; Hunter NeSmith 1-3, RBI; Logan Blackmon 1-2, run; Reid Halfacre 1-3, 2 runs; Mason Land 1-1, 3 runs; Cole Halfacre 2-4, 2 RBIs; Trevor Hoffman 1-1, RBI, run; Hunter McLean 1-2, RBI; Josh Kea 1-4.
Chipley 5, Northview 2
The Northview Chiefs fell to Chipley Monday night in Chipley, 5-2.
Northview hitters – Quentin Sampson 1-4, R; Seth Killiam 1-3, RBI; Jared Aliff 1-3, Josh Neese 1-3; Roman Manning 1-2, R; Jacob Dunsford 1-3
Chipley 3, Northview 2 (JV)
UWF Going Tobacco Free Across Campus
March 22, 2016
The University of West Florida will join the extensive list of U.S. colleges and universities to adopt a Tobacco-Free Campus Policy, effective Aug. 1, 2016.
The Tobacco-Free Campus Policy prohibits the use of any tobacco product or derivative by employees, students and visitors on all university-owned property.
“As an institution, we pride ourselves on being proactive in the reduction of the many risks associate with tobacco use,” said UWF President Judith Bense. “The adoption of this policy will align with our continued mission to create a healthy campus community.”
This decision was made following an extensive process. UWF will join more than 20 Florida campuses that are tobacco-free or smoke-free. By addressing the concerns associated with second hand smoke, this policy allows UWF to continue making strides toward creating a safe, clean and healthy learning and working environment.
The University has developed an accessible smoking cessation program to assist those who choose to break tobacco addictions. Initiatives within Wellness Services, Student Health Services and Counseling and Psychological Services are readily available for students, faculty and staff.
Corrections, Private Company Battling Over Florida Prison Health Contract
March 22, 2016
A prison health-care company is asking a judge to allow it to pursue a challenge to the Florida Department of Corrections’ decision in January to award a contract to another firm to provide health services at the majority of the state’s prisons.
Wexford Health Sources, Inc., filed a document in the state Division of Administrative Hearings arguing that it should be able to continue a formal protest against the department’s award of a $268 million contract to Centurion of Florida, LLC.
The department signed the contract with Centurion in January, after another firm, Corizon Health, decided to end its contract to provide services to about three-fourths of the state’s inmates. Wexford, which serves inmates in other parts of the state, filed a protest against the department’s decision to award the contract to Centurion.
But the department filed a motion March 2 arguing, in part, that the “contract with Centurion was authorized by statute,” and that Administrative Law Judge R. Bruce McKibben should “relinquish jurisdiction” in Wexford’s protest, a move that effectively would end it.
Wexford, however, fired back by arguing that it has grounds to protest the contract award and that the case ultimately should move forward.
“The subject of this proceeding is whether the DOC acted properly and legally when it entered into a no-bid contract for the provision of health services in certain regions of the state prison system for inmates in the custody of the DOC,” the Wexford document said.
Pictured: The medical facility inside the Century Correctional Institution. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Matt Gaetz Running For Congress; Stafford On The Sidelines; Not Yet For Evers
March 22, 2016
State Rep. Matt Gaetz announced his candidacy Monday for an open Panhandle congressional seat with an announcement blasting illegal immigrants, Muslim terrorists and the national debt.
Gaetz, a Fort Walton Beach Republican elected to the state House in 2010, had been in a heated contest for a state Senate seat held by his father, Don, a former Senate president forced out of office this fall due to term limits.
“Washington’s failures have left the American people with trillions in debt, illegal immigrants sucking us dry, and attacks from Muslim terrorists rising. While I planned to continue serving in the Florida Legislature, the fights we must win to save this country are in Washington. Our Constitution is being ignored, our veterans have been abandoned, and our 2nd Amendment rights are under attack,” the younger Gaetz said in a statement Monday announcing his candidacy.
Gaetz’s entrance into the race makes him the first out of the gate in what could be a bare-knuckle Republican primary contest to replace U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller, who recently announced he will not seek re-election to the District 1 seat he has held for 15 years. Other possible contenders included state Sen. Greg Evers, Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David Stafford and Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward.
But Monday, Stafford issued a statement saying he intends to stay on the sidelines, at least for now.
“After considerable thought and prayer, I’ve decided to forgo the race at this time. I have tremendous confidence in the voters in Escambia County and Northwest Florida and have faith they will choose our next member of Congress wisely. As supervisor of elections, I look forward to continuing to do my part to ensure all voters have the opportunity to make their voices heard,” said Stafford, who previously served as chief of staff to Joe Scarborough during the MSNBC talk show host’s stint in Congress.
Evers said he intends to make an announcement regarding the race early next week.
“If I do run, it’s because I believe it’s where I can be the most effective service to my constituents, and not because I’m in a rush to enter the political fray in order to gain some sort of purely political, strategic advantage,” Evers, R-Baker, said in a telephone interview during his first visit to the nation’s capital on Monday.
“I really believe these are serious times, extremely serious times. I intend to conduct myself accordingly. That requires that I do lots of prayer and research. That’s the reason I’m in Washington. And it was very humbling,” he said. “Our country is in a serious state of affairs right now. We have to have a leader that’s going to stand up for the Panhandle. I’ve done that at the state level, but I want to be sure that I’m the right person to do that in Washington.”
The Northwest Florida district — one of the state’s most conservative — abuts the Alabama border and spans Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton counties and includes most of Holmes County.
The winner of the GOP primary is almost certain to go to Washington, and a match-up between Gaetz and Evers could result in the type of political slugfest that the Panhandle is known for.
“There’s a certain grit to the politicians that we produce. That’s almost out of a necessity. Those conservative values of hard work and play hard and leave everything on the field shows up in our politics,” said Steve Southerland, a former congressman from neighboring District 2, who served two terms in office before being ousted by Democrat Gwen Graham in 2014.
During his tenure in the state House, Gaetz, a sharp-tongued lawyer, earned a reputation for his oratory skills and for being willing, if not eager, to take on high-profile, often controversial issues, including medical marijuana and gun rights. He was also renowned for his blistering attacks on ideological — and political — opponents.
“I’ve never won any awards in Tallahassee for political correctness, but I tell the truth,” Gaetz said in a telephone interview Monday. “I have a six-year record. I am who I am. In Tallahassee, people have told me that my style is sharp and that I ought to be more politically correct with my rhetoric. But I only know one way to serve and one way to talk, and that is to tell the truth.”
The 33-year-old’s campaign announcement Monday was accompanied by a video posted from his Twitter account — with more than 7,000 followers, Gaetz is one of Florida’s more popular state legislators on the site — featuring the hashtags #FightWashington and #RestoreAmerica.
Gaetz’s announcement touted his conservative creds, while also referencing Trump, the billionaire real-estate and entertainment-industry magnate who handily won every county in the congressional district in Florida’s presidential primary election last week.
“When Donald Trump is president, Northwest Florida’s voice in Congress must ring loud and clear for bold, conservative reform. Mine will. Whether it was banning Obamacare-funded abortions, blocking attempts to repeal Stand Your Ground, cutting taxes by over $1 Billion, or supporting military families, I’ve been an effective leader in the Florida House. I’m ready to fight and win for Northwest Florida in Congress,” he said in the statement.
But Gaetz’s alignment with Trump cost him the support of at least one Republican — operative and lobbyist J.M. “Mac” Stipanovich, who lives in the district. Stipanovich said that he and his lobbying firm have always backed Gaetz in his previous political endeavors, including the state Senate race. But Gaetz’s endorsement of the presidential frontrunner is a deal breaker for Stipanovich.
“Based on the returns in the Alabama, Georgia and Florida primaries, it’s quite probable that you cannot win a Republican primary without being a Trump supporter. But that doesn’t make you right. That just makes you ambitious,” Stipanovich said. “I recognize the nature of politics. I recognize the nature of political expediency. But there are limits to everything. We’re talking about the fundamental structure of the United States, and expediency does not cross that line. This (Trump) is a bad man. He is a racist. He’s a xenophobe. He’s a misogynist. He’s a nativist. He’s a hyper-nationalist. He’s an authoritarian. He’s a liberal. He’s not a conservative. And it is not OK to be for Donald Trump.”
Gaetz’s exit from the Senate race leaves Bay County Commissioner George Gainer, who dumped $500,000 of his own money into his campaign and could now become a virtual shoe-in for the post. As of Monday, no other candidates had registered for the seat, according to the state Division of Elections website.
“George is one of us. George’s family is one of us. Our family has lived in the district for 200 years, and the Gainer family has been there longer than our family. So when you’re talking about founding families of our area, the Gainer family is one of those,” said Southerland, a lobbyist with Capital Hill Consulting who is backing Gainer in the Senate race. “He’s a good man and he’s honest. He will be a breath of fresh air.”
by Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida
Spears Running For Escambia School Superintendent
March 22, 2016
Former Escambia High School football coach Willie Spears prefiled Monday to run for Escambia County Superintendent of Schools as an independent nonparty affiliation candidate.
Spears is currently the head football coach and athletic director at Vernon High School in Washington County. On a 3-2 vote, he was fired for insubordination by the Escambia County School board about a year and a half ago. His firing was recommended by incumbent Superintendent Malcolm Thomas for playing ineligible players in an Escambia football game after allegations of football recruiting from other schools.
He was later found to not be in violation, and Thomas subsequently provided a letter to Spears indicating that he was not at fault in any capacity, according to a press release from Spears.
“I’m running for this position because I love Pensacola. This is the city where my wife and I desire to lay down roots and as such, we want to make it a better place for our children…for all children,” Spears said.
Officer Involved Shooting Under Investigation; Suspects Identified
March 21, 2016
UPDATE: The suspects in Monday morning’s officer involved shooting have been identified as:
Donald L. May, 34, who has been arrested 21 times locally since 2000 on charges ranging from home invasion to petit fheft. This does not include the charges forthcoming from the crimes that were committed this morning.
Fred A. Jenkins, 54, who has been arrested 6 times locally since 2000 on charges ranging from aggravated assault with a deadly weapon to check fraud. This does not include the charges forthcoming from the crimes that were committed this morning.
An early morning officer involved shooting is under investigation in Escambia County.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Oak Lodge Mobile Home Park in 7500 block of Lillian Highway for a reported home invasion in progress. The victim told dispatchers that two black males were trying to enter their residence and were armed with guns.
The victim gave a detailed description of the pickup truck the suspects were driving. When deputies arrived on scene the suspects were trying to flee the area in the pickup truck that the victim described, according to the ECSO.
The deputies gave verbal commands to the suspects, the truck then accelerated towards the deputies at which time they fired their weapons at the vehicle. The pickup then crash into the side of the nearby Lillian Square Apartments. Two suspects were transported to local hospitals. Their conditions have not been made available. The resident of the apartment was not injured.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has taken over the investigation, which is standard procedure in officer involved shootings.
The Oak Lodge Mobile Home Park is next door to the Myrtle Grove fire station.
Pictured top: The suspects’s truck crashed to the Lillian Square Apartments. Pictured below: FDLE has taken over the shooting investigation at the Oak Lodge Mobile Home Park. Photos by Ricki Vann, WEAR 3, for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Spring Takes A Break: Frost Advisory Tonight
March 21, 2016
Areas of frost are expected to develop late tonight in the North Escambia area. Sensitive vegetation should be covered to prevent damage. Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Areas of frost after 1am. Otherwise, clear, with a low around 32. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Tuesday: Areas of frost before 8am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 68. Light south wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 47. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 74. South wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. South wind around 10 mph.
Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74. South wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Thursday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north after midnight.
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 68. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 48.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 73.
Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57.
Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72.
One Injured In Late Night Molino Wreck
March 21, 2016
One person was injured in a single vehicle crash late Sunday night in Molino.
The accident happened about 11:30 on Highway 29 at Booth Lake Road with one vehicle reported in a ditch. The driver of the vehicle was transported to an area hospital; his condition was not available.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol; further details including the driver’s name have not been released.
The Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the crash.
Camp Fire Century Students Are ‘Absolutely Incredible Kids’
March 21, 2016
The Camp Fire Century Youth Learning Center recently celebrated Absolutely Incredible Kid Day. Each child’s parent wrote a letter to their child letting them know why they are an Absolutely Incredible Kid.
“You are such a funny kid. Never know what you are going to say. You can be the most sweet and loving kid ever. The most incredible this is you’re ours,” one letter said.
“I am a loving, caring, smart young man who loves helping mommy do chores around the house. I am absolutely incredible kid because my beautiful smile always makes mommy smile,” another letter stated.
Pictured: Camp Fire Century Youth Learning Center celebrated Absolutely Incredible Kid Day. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
