Budget Outline Slashes Scott Priorities
February 27, 2016
House and Senate leaders agreed Friday to a budget outline that severely curtailed both of Gov. Rick Scott’s priorities for the coming year, slashing Scott’s tax cut plan and wiping out a business-incentives package.
The deal on “allocations” — legislative shorthand for how much money will be directed to each area of the budget — clears the way for lawmakers to begin negotiations on the details of a spending plan for the fiscal year that begins July 1. Those discussions have to wrap up by March 8 for the Legislature to finish the annual session on time.
The talks on allocations had largely centered on Scott’s call for a $1 billion tax-cut package and a “Florida Enterprise Fund” of $250 million in business incentives. The House had spread out $1 billion in tax cuts over a longer timeframe while zeroing out the incentive package. Senate leaders had countered with $250 million for the incentives and a potential $250 million in tax cuts.
In the end, lawmakers agreed to $400 million in tax cuts in the current year and no money for the Florida Enterprise Fund.
Scott’s office blasted lawmakers late Friday for the decision on the incentives package.
“With the Legislature’s action today, there will no longer be incentive funding for major projects to come to Florida … and we are beginning the process of notifying cities across the state that there would be no funding available to help them recruit businesses if the Legislature does not take immediate action to reverse course,” Scott spokeswoman Jackie Schutz said.
Zeroing out the Florida Enterprise Fund came as a surprise after the Senate’s initial willingness to go along with the full request. In a statement issued Friday night, even House Speaker Steve Crisafulli said the House had expected to compromise.
“The Senate’s decision to meet the House on economic development funding was unexpected, but will undoubtedly be welcomed by the majority of members of the Legislature,” Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island, said. “While I firmly believe that all members of the Legislature want to see our economy grow and increase jobs in Florida, there is great bipartisan disagreement over whether our current economic incentives are the best way to achieve those goals.”
Speaking to reporters Friday, Senate Appropriations Chairman Tom Lee, R-Brandon, said the decision was the product of the need to reach an agreement on the budget.
“We’re working against a clock,” Lee said. “We’ve been up here a long time over the last 12 months, and the House and the Senate both have priorities. We have a timeframe we’re working within. We have a long-range financial outlook we’re trying to adhere to.”
Sen. Jack Latvala, a Clearwater Republican who spearheaded the push for the governor’s incentives package, would not answer questions from reporters who ran into him at the Capitol. He walked away from the reporters and said he was looking for someone from his local newspaper.
The tax-cut number also means that Scott will fall short of his promise during his 2014 re-election campaign to secure $1 billion in tax cuts over the first two years of his new term. Lawmakers agreed to cut $372.4 million in the current financial year, which ends June 30.
Lawmakers pointed out that, after Scott proposed his spending and tax-cut plan, state economists slashed nearly $400 million from estimates of how much revenue the Legislature would have to work with.
“The fact that we got as close as we did to his campaign promise, given the reality of the shortfall, is amazing, I think,” House Appropriations Chairman Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’ Lakes, said.
Lee also underscored the changing estimates.
“Those promises were made a long time ago,” Lee said. “The facts on the ground have changed. Leaders have to be willing to shift as the facts on the ground change.”
The defeats for Scott raise the possibility that the governor, who has used his line-item veto pen to slash hundreds of millions of dollars in lawmakers’ projects in the past, could retaliate after the spending plan is approved. But Corcoran shrugged off the possibility.
“He’s used the veto pen strongly in the past,” Corcoran said. “He could in all likelihood use it again.”
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
One Injured In Fiery Crash
February 27, 2016
One person was injured in a fiery single vehicle crash on I-10 Friday night near the Pine Forest Road exit. The driver of a pickup truck lost control, left the roadway and struck a tree before the pickup truck burst into flames. The driver was transported to an area hospital in unknown condition.
The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Further details have not been released. The Bellview and Beulah stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS also responded to the crash.
Pictured inset: Reader submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com. Above and below: NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
Four Escambia Men Facing Federal Firearms Charges
February 27, 2016
Four Escambia County residents are among seven people facing federal firearms charges.
Terrence Toboris Kelly, 37, Leroy Romaro Murphy, 51, and Tristan M. Richey, 30, were each chaged with possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Luther C. Smith was charged with selling a firearm to a convicted felow.
They were each arraigned in federal court this week after a federal grand jury returned indictments.
Further details have not been released by federal authorities.
The cases resulted from investigations by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the Panama City Beach Police Department, the Pensacola Police Department, and the ATF Gun Crime Response Team.
Friday Wins For Tate, Northview, Jay
February 27, 2016
Here’s a look at Friday baseball and softball action from the North Escambia area:
BASEBALL
Tate 6, Milton 2
The Tate High School Aggies beat Milton 6-2 in seven innings Friday night in Cantonment.
Madison Lockman earned the win on the mound for the Aggies, allowing two runs over 4 1/3 innings. He struck out one, walked three and gave up just two hits.
Milton took an early lead 1-0 in the top of the third inning. The Aggies took the lead in the fourth inning, with Tate scoring six runs on a two run double from Reid Halfacre, an error and an RBI single from Logan Blackmon.
Tate hitters – Branden Fryman 1-2, run; Logan Blackmon 2-3, run, RBI; Reid Halfacre 1-3, 2 RBIs, run.
The West Florida Jaguars are up next for Tate (5-0) in an away game at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
Northview 3, Freeport 1
The Northview Chiefs defeated the Freeport Bulldogs Friday night by a score of 3-1. The Chiefs scored one run in the second inning and two runs in the fifth inning. The Bulldogs scored their one run in the third inning.
Leading hitters for the Chiefs were Quentin Sampson (1-3), Jared Aliff (1-3, 1 run), Zach Payne (1-3), Josh Neese (1-3). Roquan Wiggins and Seth Killam scored one run each.
Daniel Mascaro pitched 4 1/3 innings, giving up one run on two hits, struck out five batters and walked three. Josh Neese pitched 2 2/3, giving up no runs on one hit, striking out two hitters and walking none to pick up the win and move his record to (2-0).
The Chiefs improve to 3-1 (2-1) and host Pensacola Christian next Friday.
Northview 5, Freeport 1 (JV)
The junior varsity Chiefs defeated Freeport 5-1. Northview scored two runs in the first, one run in the second and two runs in the fourth inning. Freeport scored their one run in the first inning.
Leading hitters for the Chiefs were Cade Allen (2-3, 2B, 1 RBI, 1 run), MJ Jones (1-2, 1 SB, 1 run), John Chivington (1-2, 1 SB), Jackson Moore (1-3), Trevor Singleton (1-2), Wesley Hardin (1-2, 1 RBI), and Alex McMinn (1-3, 1 run). Heath Sheldt scored one run.
Jason Fischer picked up the win, throwing five innings, giving up only one run while striking out eight batters.
The JV Chiefs improve to 4-1 on the season.
SOFTBALL
Northview 3, Freeport 0
The Northview varsity softball team shutout the Freeport bulldogs 3-0 Friday night at Northview.
Kendall Enfinger was 2-4 with an RBI, Daphne Young was 1-3 with a two RBI singles, Jamia Newton went 1-3 with an extra base double and a run, Brittany McLemore was 1-3 with a run, Hannah Ging was 1-4, Laurie Purdy was 1-4 and Lydia Smith also scored a run.
Tori Herrington pitched the win in seven innings with seven strikeouts, no0 walks, no runs and gave up only two hits. She also had two assists defensively.
Defensively Young had nine putouts, Enfinger had five assists, McLemore had three assists and a putout and Newton added two putouts.
The Chiefs’ Chiefs next game will be Monday on the road at South Walton at 6:00.
Jay 14, Baker 4
Jay powered past Baker in girls softball action Friday at Jay. The Lady Royals took a strong 6-0 lead in the first inning, and added one in the third, three in fourth and another four in the fifth inning.
Destiny Herring earned the win for the Royals. She was one the mound for five with two errors, allowing six hits walking two and striking out three.
Leading hitters for Jay — Kolby Bray 3-3 2 R, 4 RBIs, 2B; Destiny Herring 2-4 2 R, 3 RBIs, HR; Harley Taggart 3-4 3 R, 2B; Samantha Steadham 2-3 3R; Avery Jackson 3-4 3 R, 2 RBIs.
Up next for the Jay Royals (4-1, 2-0) is a trip to South Walton Tuesday at 6 p.m.
Pictured: Freeport at Northview. NorthEscambia.com photos by Ramona Preston, click to enlarge.
Man Arrested Outside Prison Fence With Drugs, 27 Phones
February 27, 2016
A Mobile man was arrested early Friday outside the Fountain Correctional Facility in Atmore after corrections officers observed a suspicious person near the facility’s perimeter fence.
The Department of Corrections arrested Jeramie Solomon, 18, of Mobile and charged him with drug trafficking and prohibited activity on state prison property. Solomon was taken to the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center in Brewton following his arrest.
At approximately 3 a.m. Friday, a corrections officer manning the prison’s tower observed the Soloman near the fence and wearing black clothing. When questioned by the officer, Soloman attempted to flee but was detained by the prison’s K-9 unit.
Soloman was carrying a white bag containing several packages wrapped in black tape. In the packages corrections officers found 27 cell phones, battery chargers, synthetic marijuana and other contraband.
New Teacher Of The Year Gets ‘Crowned’ During Surprise Visit
February 26, 2016
Kristy Imhof, the new Escambia County Teacher of the Year, received a surprise visit in her seventh grade language arts classroom at Ransom Middle School Friday morning.
She was officially named Teacher of Year during Thursday night’s Golden Apple Awards ceremony (read story), and received the official “crown” Friday morning, along with flowers from Superintendent Malcolm Thomas.
Pictured top: Ransom Middle School teacher Kristy Imhof was crowned Escambia County Teacher of the Year Friday morning. Pictured inset: She received a surprise visit and flowers from Superintendent Malcolm Thomas. Pictured below: Imhof with one of her language arts classes. Photos by Kim Stefansson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Ransom Middle’s Kristy Imhof Named Teacher Of The Year
February 26, 2016
Ransom Middle School’s Kristy Imhof was named the Escambia County Teacher of the Year during Thursday night’s Golden Apple Awards Banquet. She is a seventh grade language arts teacher.
Other finalists for the award were:
Tim Deloge, Escambia High School, engineering
Caroline Gray, Tate High School, economics
Melissa Harold, Beulah Elementary School, fourth grade
Allison Hartzog, Montclair Elementary School, kindergarten
As Northview High School’s Anna Barry, the previous teacher of the year, presented Imhof with the Golden Apple pin that is passed each year from winner to winner, she quipped, “Don’t lose it.”
Imhof was ‘crowned’ during a special visit to her classroom Friday morning, click here for that story and photos.
Pictured top: Teacher of the Year Kristy Imhof listens while Malcolm Thomas reads a proclamation announcing her selection. Pictured inset: Thomas presents a Golden Apple to Imhof as a finalist, just before being named Teacher of the Year. Pictured below: Previous Teacher of the Year Anna Barry of Northview High School presents Imhof with a Teacher of the Year pin that is passed each year from winner to winner. Photos by Kim Stefansson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
UWF Police Investigating Aggravated Assault At Campus Dorm Building
February 26, 2016
Authorities are searching for two suspects involved in an aggravated assault on the University of West Florida campus.
Witnesses told UWF Police that two black men armed with a revolver and wearing ski masks walked into Martin Hall at UWF Wednesday night. One suspect is reportedly 6′0 and the other is 5′11″. One suspect had on dark colored shorts and the other had on light colored shorts.
Anyone with information is asked to call the UWF Police Department at (850) 474-2415.
Security at the dorm was increased after the incident.
Seven Injuries In Pine Forest Road Crash
February 26, 2016
Seven people were injured, and a family pet did not survive a Thursday evening crash on Pine Forest Road north of 9 and 1/2 Mile Road.
At least one of the two injured adults were transported to an area hospital as a “trauma alert”. Five of the injured were juveniles, all in stable condition.
One family pet reportedly died in the crash, while a dog survived.
The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol; further details have not yet been released.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
‘Golden Cow Dung Award’ Presented To Laura Chavers
February 26, 2016
Ernest Ward Middle School teacher Laura Chavers received the seventh annual “Golden Cow Dung Award” from members of the Ernest Ward FFA. The award presented Thursday afternoon featured a large piece of cow dung, painted a golden color and mounted on a board painted in school colors.
(Cow dung, in case you did not know, is what you are probably thinking it is. It’s that natural byproduct that cows drop in the field. The award is 100 percent real dung spray painted a golden color. The golden piece presented Friday is actually the first award piece created seven years ago.)
Chavers received the award from the school’s FFA members as a “thank you” for supporting FFA. The same Golden Cow Dung Award was presented last year to staff member Barbara Ryals. Previous awards were presented to Betty Coon, history teacher Kenneth Hicks, teacher’s assistant Lindsey Kelley, Family & Consumer Science teacher Kathy Ellis and Principal Nancy Perry.
More than half a million members around the nation participated in National FFA Week activities at the local and state levels this week.
Pictured: Ernest Ward Middle School FFA Golden Cow Dung Award presentation to Laura Chavers Thursday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
