Senate Backs Bill To Shield Personal Hunting, Fishing License Info
February 10, 2016
The Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee on Tuesday backed a measure (SB 1364) that would create a public-records exemption to shield personal information — such as names, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, addresses and telephone numbers — of people getting hunting, fishing and boating licenses and certificates from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Sen. Alan Hays, a Umatilla Republican who sponsored the proposal, said the intent of the proposed exemption is to protect gun owners.
“It’s a good gun-control measure, to tell you the truth, without interfering with Second Amendment rights,” Hays said.
“The current situation is that if any person who wants to know where weapons are located, all they’d have to do is do a public-records request to the Fish and Game Commission to send a list of everybody who has a hunting license,” Hays continued. “And you know good and well most of those homes, where the owner or the occupant has a hunting license, are going to have a weapon.”
When asked about how components of the bill, such as fishing licenses, fit within protecting gun ownership, Hays said such parts can be removed when the bill goes before another committee.
Barbara Petersen, president of the First Amendment Foundation, questioned Hays’ stance in an email Tuesday.
“Have there been any reported incidents of people using hunting licenses to track down hunters to steal their guns? Isn’t that the definition of stupid criminal? And why include fishing licenses? Boating safety records? He’s blowing smoke,” Petersen said in the email. “This is clearly a reaction to the bear hunting license snafu and the fact that a reporter from the Orlando Sentinel got (rock star) Ted Nugent’s telephone number and called him up.”
(Disclosure: The News Service of Florida is a member of the First Amendment Foundation.)
Hays said after the meeting that the controversial bear hunt didn’t factor into his decision to file the bill, which, if approved, would become law July 1.
The commission held a bear hunt in October, the first in the state in more than two decades. The state sold 3,778 permits for the hunt, and among the people buying permits were Nugent, House members Frank Artiles of Miami, Jay Trumbull of Panama City and Tom Goodson of Titusville, and Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Aliese Priddy.
The commission halted the potential seven-day hunt after two days, as the number of bears killed quickly approached the quota of 320. Commission officials acknowledged they “underestimated the hunter success for the first day.”
The commission has not decided if a bear hunt will be conducted this year. Spokeswoman Susan Smith said the agency is “still reviewing information from the 2015 hunt.”
The Senate bill must get approved by the Rules Committee before it could go to the full Senate.
A similar House bill (HB 1153) was unanimously supported by the Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee last month and must clear the State Affairs Committee before it could go to the House floor.
by The News Service of Florida
Authorities Search For Missing Teen
February 9, 2016
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency has issued an emergency missing child alert for a Brewton teen.
Brooke Lee Bridges is a 16-year old white female with blue hair. She was last seen wearing a t-shirt and black sweatpants at her family home in Brewton around 11 p.m. on Sunday. She has brown eyes, is 5′3″ and weighs 100 pounds.
Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to call the Brewton Police Department at (251) 867-3212 or 911.
Gusty Winds Lead To Walnut Hill Power Outage
February 9, 2016
Gusty winds blew a limb into a power line in Walnut Hill Tuesday morning near the Walnut Hill Fire Station on Highway 97. That caused a power outage for a large number of Escambia River Electric Cooperative customers in the Walnut Hill area, including Ernest Ward Middle School. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Three Charged In Shots Fired Disturbance At Century Apartments
February 9, 2016
Three people were arrested after a fight broke out at a Century apartment complex that ended with shots fired from a shotgun.
Taurus Marquis Davis, 19, was charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, battery and firing a weapon on residential property. Sammie Shaunta Moorer, 29, was charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and Isaac Sheldon Moorer, 21, was charged with one count of battery.
The three became involved in a fight with several individuals at the Century Woods Apartments on West Highway 4, according to arrest report. During the fight, Sammie Moorer retrieved a shotgun from his truck and pointed it at two victims, according to arrest report, and a suspect claimed he ran to his vehicle to drive away as Sammie Moorer placed the shotgun back into his truck. Issac Moorer and Davis began to fight over the shotgun. Davis then ran and pointed the shotgun into the window of the vehicle the victim was using to escape the scene, the report states.
The victim said he heard a shotgun blast as he sped away. There were no injuries reported and no damage to the victim’s vehicle.
The three suspects fled the scene and were taken into custody at their residence in the 200 block of Juniper Street in Walnut Hill, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Davis was released on a $6,000 bond. Sammie Moorer was released on a $5,000 bond, and Isaac Moorer was released on a $500 bond.
BMX Bike Show Encourages Northview High Students
February 9, 2016
“Bring Your ‘A Game’ to School” was the message Northview High School students heard Monday afternoon as a BMX performance team brought their high flying and flipping tricks to the school gym.
The positive-message, high energy program encouraged students to pay attention to their “A Game” — with the “A” in “A Game” standing for alliance, attitude, authentic, ability, active, anti-bullying and achieve.
The program featured BMX riders with daring leaps and stunts and a message about the hard work and courage it takes to be successful in life.
Five students were chosen from the audience to demonstrate their courage as they were asked to lay side-by-side on the gym floor as a BMX biker jumped over them. They were offered a free t-shirt if the biker’s attempt failed.
The most cr0wd-pleasing stunt came with the assistance and courage of Northview Principal Gayle Weaver who was asked to sit in a chair, arms outstretched, as one of the riders jumped his bike and back-flipped over her. In a “test” run with only the chair, the biker crashed into the chair. Students were asked, thumbs up or thumbs down, if Weaver should go ahead with the stut. She received an overwhelming thumbs up.
Weaver was told to sit in the chair, keep her eyes open, and, of course, not stand up.
Students cheered wildly as the wheel of the bicycle came with a few feet of Weaver’s face. She was uninjured and seemingly not bothered by the stunt.
The event was sponsored as a recruiting tool by the National Guard.
Pictured top and inset: A BMX biker jumps over Northview Principal Gayle Weaver Monday afternoon. Pictured below: Jumping over five students plus two others. Pictured below: BMX stunt show at Northview High School. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
NJROTC Annual Inspection Is Wednesday
February 9, 2016
Northview High School’s NJROTC unit will have its annual Area Manager’s Inspection (AMI) on Wednesday, February 10 beginning at 9 a.m. in the school gym.
The inspection includes a uniform inspection of each of the unit’s cadets, drill team performance, cadet recognition, pass in review, unit brief to the inspecting officer and awards. The inspecting officer this year is Captain Mark Truluck, Commanding Officer, Naval Aviation Schools Command, NAS Pensacola.
Family members and the community are invited to attend.
Pictured: Northview High School’s NJROTC Annual Inspection last year at the school. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Open Carry Gun Bill May Not Get Senate Hearing
February 9, 2016
Senate Judiciary Chairman Miguel Diaz de la Portilla may not bring up a controversial open-carry gun measure in his committee during this year’s legislative session.
The move would effectively stop the proposal (SB 300), which is strongly backed by Second Amendment groups, including the National Rifle Association.
Diaz de la Portilla, R-Miami, told reporters on Monday that he has grown uneasy with the proposal. The House passed its version of the bill last week after adding an amendment that would allow state lawmakers to carry sidearms into legislative meetings.
“I am concerned that it may become a vehicle for some very, very bad amendments. I think that’s what we learned last week,” Diaz de la Portilla said. “Because of those concerns, I’m very, very seriously considering not hearing it at all.”
Diaz de la Portilla said he’ll decide later this week if the bill will be heard by his committee. The bill would allow the nearly 1.5 million people in Florida with concealed-weapons licenses to openly carry guns in most public places. The House voted 80-38 to approve its version last week.
by The News Service of Florida
Senate Panel Back Unamimity In Death Sentences
February 9, 2016
After hearing from a former prisoner who spent 17 years on Florida’s Death Row for a crime he didn’t commit, the Senate Criminal Justice Committee unanimously approved a measure that would overhaul the state’s death-penalty sentencing structure.
Monday’s action by the Senate committee puts the upper chamber at odds with the House over how to address a U.S. Supreme Court decision, in a case known as Hurst v. Florida, that overturned the state’s death-penalty sentencing system.
Last month’s 8-1 ruling, which centered on the sentencing phase of death-penalty cases after defendants are found guilty, dealt with what are known as “aggravating” circumstances that must be determined before defendants can be sentenced to death. A 2002 U.S. Supreme Court ruling, in a case known as Ring v. Arizona, requires that determination of such aggravating circumstances be made by juries, not judges.
Under Florida law, juries make recommendations regarding the death penalty, based on a review of aggravating and mitigating circumstances, but judges ultimately decide whether defendants should be put to death or sentenced to life in prison.
The Senate proposal (SB 7068) would require unanimous decisions on at least one aggravating factor and would also require a unanimous jury recommendation for the death penalty to be imposed. Under current law, a majority of jurors has to decide that at least one aggravator exists, but juries are not required to provide information about the votes on each of the aggravators.
A House measure (PCB CRJS 16-07), backed by state prosecutors, would require unanimity for the aggravators, but would only require a 9-3 vote to recommend death. The House bill will get a second vetting Wednesday.
Of the 32 states with the death penalty, Florida is one of only three states — including Delaware and Alabama — that do not require unanimous jury decisions for capital punishment. Like Florida, Delaware recently issued a moratorium on executions while the state Supreme Court considers the impact of the Hurst case.
Sen. Rob Bradley, a former prosecutor, grilled 5th Judicial Circuit State Attorney Brad King about the 9-3 jury recommendation, asking if any other state had a lower bar for the death penalty.
“I support the death penalty…but I also have a duty to craft laws that will survive constitutional scrutiny from our courts,” Bradley, R-Fleming Island, said.
King repeatedly sidestepped the question, saying that Florida’s “system” differs from that of other states.
“And they just found our system to be unconstitutional,” Bradley pointed out. “Our correcting of that would be to have the lowest threshold of any other state.”
With the exception of the state attorneys, other death penalty experts are recommending unanimity for death sentence recommendations, as is required for jury verdicts in other cases. Because nearly all of the other states with the death penalty require unanimity for death sentences, being so outside of the mainstream puts Florida at risk in a future Supreme Court case, the experts warned.
But, echoing arguments he has made at previous hearings on the issue, King said requiring a unanimous recommendation would allow a single juror to “hijack” the process.
Under questioning from Bradley, King said prosecutors suggested the 9-3 jury recommendation but had discussed whether “10-2 might be the number we might land on.”
Asked by Bradley if the state attorneys support the 10-2 jury recommendation, King said, “It was more, honestly, a political evaluation of where everybody stood.”
Lawmakers are under pressure to come up with a fix for the death penalty sentencing before the 2016 session ends March 11.
The Florida Supreme Court last week indefinitely postponed the scheduled Feb. 11 execution of Cary Michael Lambrix, shortly after hearing arguments that concentrated on the impact of the Hurst decision on Death Row inmates. A flurry of appeals from other Death Row inmates is expected.
Before voting on the measure without any debate Monday, the Senate panel heard from Juan Melendez, who said he spent “17 years, eight months and one day on Death Row for a crime I did not commit.” Melendez, who was exonerated in 2002, told the committee that the jury recommendation for death in his case was 9-3.
Melendez said “it makes no sense” that jury recommendations not be unanimous when all other jury votes are.
“You always can release an innocent man from prison. But you can never and I repeat, never release an innocent man from the grave. Your bill would encourage deliberation when you’re considering a death sentence,” he said.
by Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida
Elections Officials: Get Ready For March 15 Primary Election
February 9, 2016
Elections officials from Escambia, Santa Rosa Okaloosa counties held a joint press conference Monday in Pensacola to discuss the upcoming Presidential Preference Primary on Tuesday, March 15,
Slower mail delivery means voters that choose to vote-by-mail will need to make sure their ballots will reach their local election’s office before the 7 p.m. March 15 deadline. First class local mail delivery was previously a day or two, but not that’s three to five days with a chance in standard from the U.S. Postal Service.
Absentee ballots should be requested before March 9. The deadline for voter registration and party changes in February 16.
Nearly 20 percent of Northwest Florida’s voters won’t be able to vote on March 15 because Florida is a closed primary. Republicans and Democrats can vote only in their party’s primary, while no party affiliation registered voters can’t vote in either one.
Pictured: Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David H. Stafford (top) and fellow Supervisors of Elections Tappie Villane, Santa Rosa County and Paul Lux, Okaloosa County, to discuss the upcoming Presidential Preference Primary on Tuesday, March 15 during a Monday press conference in Pensacola. Photos by Brandi Ziglar for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Over A Dozen Railroad Crossings To Close For Repair
February 8, 2016
[UPDATE 9:15 a.m.] Over a dozen railroad crossings will be closed at some time during the couple of of weeks for repairs from McDavid north through Century, including Highway 4 beginning Tuesday.
Highway 4 will be closed at the crossing just east of Highway 29 from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday and from 8 a.m. until completion on Thursday as CSX repairs and replaces railroad ties. While the crossing will be open overnight, it will be marked as “rough” warning drivings of temporary filling material until paving is completed on Thursday.
CSX will close numerous other North Escambia a crossing as part of its network-wide crossing maintenance program beginning next week, with work expected to be completed in one week.
CSX engineering crews will be laying new rail ties, resurfacing crossings and repaving them with asphalt. CSX has worked closely with local officials to coordinate the crossing closures to minimize disruption to the community and is communicating directly with residents where there are dead-end roads or no-outlet situations.
Traffic will experience temporary closures to the following road crossings during the operations period:
- Cottage Street
- McCurdy Road
- Hecker Road
- Front Street
- East Pond Street
- Jefferson Avenue
- Salters Lake Road
- Bluff Springs Road
- Courtney Road
- Mystic Springs Road
- East Bogia Road
- Cotton Lake Road
The roads listed above will be temporarily closed at different times on the maintenance schedule, according to CSX. NorthEscambia.com is working with the contractor to provide an updated schedule for crossing closures as soon as possible.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. Motorists are reminded to travel with care through the work zone and to watch for construction equipment and workers entering and exiting the roadway.
Pictured top: Repairs were make to the Hecker Road crossing in Century late last month. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.