Cantonment Man Leads Deputies On Foot Chase; Charged With Robbery, Assault, Drugs
January 7, 2016
A Cantonment man as been charged in connection with an alleged robbery of a person off Nine Mile Road.
Anthony Antonio Purifoy, age 21 of Robinson Street, was charged with robbery with a firearm, and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Purifoy allegedly went to an address on Jasma Lane off West Nine Mile Road last October and called the victim and told him to step outside his residence. The victim said that when he went outside he encountered a subject later identified as Purifoy who pulled out a handgun in attempt to rob the victim. The victim reported that he tussled with Puriifoy and was able to run away, hearing a gunshot as he ran.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office later received a call from a relative of Purifoy stating that he was responsible for the incident on Jasma Lane, and that the victim had threatened to “shoot up the area” in Cantonment and kill Purifoy, according to an arrest report. A warrant was issued for his arrest.
Purifoy was taken into custody this week after a foot chase with deputies in the are of Robinson Street and Taylor Road in Cantonment. At the time of his arrest, he allegedly had both powder and crack cocaine, and marijuana in his possession, and he first provided deputies with a false name.
For the Cantonment incident, Purify was also charged with possession of cocaine, resisting without violence, providing a false name to a law enforcement officer and possession of marijuana. He was also charged with violating probation in an outstanding grand theft auto case and failure to appear in a misdemeanor driver’s license case.
Purifoy remained in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $515,000.
Lawmakers Weigh Incentives, Tax Cuts
January 7, 2016
Gov. Rick Scott wants $250 million to attract companies to Florida and hopes to convince lawmakers to support a series of business-friendly tax cuts that would permanently remove more than $1 billion from state revenue.
With the 60-day legislative session ready to start next week, the tax cuts may be reached — but not exactly how Scott would like.
Meanwhile, Scott continues to line up support from local leaders, economic-development groups and lawmakers — mostly House Republicans — to bolster his case that money for economic incentives should be dramatically increased. But not everyone in the Republican-dominated Legislature agrees, which is why Scott is also dangling several ways to reform the incentives process.
Among the critics of the incentives request is the conservative-advocacy group Americans for Prosperity-Florida, which calls it “corporate welfare handouts.” Democrats contend the state should consider other uses for the money, such as increasing funding for education and health care.
Senate leaders also clashed last year with Scott about economic incentives. Senate President Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, said Scott has “done a good job of starting the debate” about revamping the incentives process, but the dollar request needs more review.
Incentives and tax cuts will be two heavily scrutinized issues during the legislative session that starts Jan. 12 and is scheduled to end March 11. Lawmakers enter the session with a budget surplus, but incentives and tax cuts will be part of the debate about how to carve up state money.
House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island, said lawmakers might be able to meet the $1 billion tax-cut request, but the governor shouldn’t expect it to be fully in line with his proposal.
Also, while Scott’s office contends Florida can afford the tax cuts, state economists haven’t been as optimistic about the potential impact of such cuts on future revenue.
The concern is how much would come from permanent or “recurring” cuts that would impact future budgets.
Crisafulli said a desire to increase funding for public schools and universities will require long-term commitments that could be affected by reducing tax revenues.
“The recurring focus is something that we’re looking at, but we also recognize we also have other obligations that we have to fund, and those take recurring dollars as well,” Crisafulli said.
State economists have projected that about two-thirds of an estimated $635.4 million surplus for the upcoming 2016-2017 budget year will come from one-time, non-recurring money. They have also predicted that the surplus will drop to $583.7 million the following year and $222.2 million the year after that, due in part to the continuing cost of recent tax cuts supported by Scott and Republican lawmakers.
Scott has asked lawmakers to permanently eliminate income taxes on manufacturing and retail businesses, cut off a tax on manufacturing machinery that is set to return in 2017 and reduce a tax on commercial rent. Combined, that would eliminate $1.18 billion in future recurring revenue.
Scott has also proposed extending a sales-tax exemption on college textbooks and holding separate sales tax “holidays” on hurricane and back-to-school items, which combined would provide a one-time $118.8 million hit.
Critics point, in part, to the bulk of the tax cuts going to businesses. House Minority Leader Mark Pafford said any money considered surplus should first be used for the needs of Floridians, such as people on waiting lists for services.
“It’s an easy argument to make that the governor is basically handing cash away to his big corporate buddies and he’s literally stomping people into the ground who need it the most,” Pafford, D-West Palm Beach, said. “If you’re in the tea party and concerned about responsibility, the governor is not offering that.”
Supporters argue that past tax cuts have helped the state’s economy grow.
“We’re in a real economic sweet spot: We keep cutting taxes, and the economy keeps growing,” House Finance & Tax Chairman Matt Gaetz said after Scott appeared before Gaetz’s committee last month. “If we can continue to do that, we’ll have the resources to care for the vulnerable, to keep cutting taxes and to be the best state in the country to raise a family, to have a job and achieve the highest level of one’s opportunity.”
Scott has said his proposal is “100 percent tied to jobs.”
Cynthia Kelly, director of Scott’s Office of Policy & Budget, has said money is available for the cuts, writing in support of the governor’s request that “a more appropriate ’surplus’ ” is $1.6 billion. Kelly’s projection is based on the state being on track to bring in a record $29.8 billion in general revenue next year, including $1.3 billion in “new” revenue.
The incentives package might be a heavier lift than cutting taxes, which is why Scott’s funding request was accompanied by a series of changes to how incentives are approved and how the money is handled.
Scott wants the House speaker and Senate president to be able to sign off on economic-development deals that top $1 million, instead of waiting for the Joint Legislative Budget Commission’s approval, as is now required. Scott also has asked lawmakers to create a trust fund that would keep designated incentive money in the state treasury until companies reach job-creation goals.
Currently, money the state promises to businesses relocating to Florida or expanding in the state is placed into low-yield commercial escrow accounts. Payouts are made when promised new jobs and economic-development performance measures are met.
About $141 million is being held in escrow accounts, which has drawn questions from senators.
Gardiner has advised the governor’s office that he’s in support of changing the way the money for incentives is handled and said the economic-development agency Enterprise Florida needs to expand the industries targeted for relocation. But Gardiner said the overall funding request — a year ago Scott asked for $85 million and got $43 million — “remains to be seen.”
“I believe the argument that is going be put forth is that … when you create the jobs you lower the taxes, you expand the growth pattern of the state of Florida, and you have more revenue coming in,” Gardiner said. “We believe in that too, but we want to see how that all works. And we just want to make sure that when we leave here, we’re comfortable in the direction we’re going.”
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Special Needs Swing Installed At Showalter Park
January 7, 2016
The Town of Century Parks Department has installed a new swing for targeted for children with special needs at Showalter Park. The swing can also be used for young children. Pictured: Olivia Bush of Century enjoys the new special needs swing at Showalter Park. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Trump Campaigns Next Week In Pensacola
January 7, 2016
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump will stop in Pensacola next week, little more than two months before Florida’s presidential primaries.
Trump is slated to hold a campaign rally at 7 p.m. January 13 at the Pensacola Bay Center, according to a schedule released Wednesday. Florida’s primaries will be held March 15.
Free tickets are limited to two per person and are available here. Doors will open at 5 p.m. Pensacola Bay Center offers parking adjacent to the facility. Lots at the Pensacola Bay Center are $10 cash only on the day of the event. Special needs parking and entry is available via the Alcaniz Street entrance.
Important information from the Pensacola Bay Center is listed below:
Prohibited Items
Guests are asked to arrive early and travel light, as you may be subject to search, which includes metal detecting hand wands upon entry. For safety reasons, prohibited items include but are not limited to:
- Alcohol, drugs, illegal substances or any paraphernalia associated with drug use
- Audio/Video recorders, professional cameras, tripods
- Cans, bottles, coolers or other similar containers
- Fireworks
- Flags/Signs with poles
- Umbrellas
- Laser pens/pointers of any type
- Noisemakers such as air horns
- Outside food or drinks
- Oversized bags, backpacks, duffel bags or diaper bags
- Pepper spray/Mace
- Weapons of any type, including chains, knives, firearms and spiked jewelry Any other item deemed unacceptable by event/building management.
Parking
Pensacola Bay Center offers convenient parking adjacent to the facility. Lots at the Pensacola Bay Center are $10.00 CASH ONLY day of event. Special needs parking and entry is available via the Alcaniz Street entrance.
Pictured top: Donald Trump campaigns in Biloxi on January 3. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Talks Time And Goals; Special CRA Exploration Meeting Upcoming
January 7, 2016
The Century Town Council held a goal setting and time management workshop Wednesday, and next week they will hold a workshop to explore the benefits of a Community Redevelopment Agency.
Upon declaration of an area as blighted, the CRA works to improve conditions. As property tax values rise, any increase is funneled back into the redevelopment area for further improvements. Additional ax incentive and redevelopment funds are available within a CRA.
There are currently eight other redevelopment districts in Escambia County — Barrancas, Brownsville, Cantonment, Englewood, Ensley, Oakfield, Palafox and Warrington — and three within the City of Pensacola.
The Century Town Council will hold a special workshop at 5:30 p.m. January 14 to learn more about possibly forming a CRA at the Century Town Hall. The workshop is open to the public.
Wednesday afternoon, the council held a goal setting and time management workshop at the Century Business Center with Johnathan “Jet” Tisdale of the White Paper Marketing company. Three council members — Annie Savage, Ben Boutwell and Gary Riley — attended, along with Mayor Freddie McCall and several town staff members.
[Story updated 7am to reflect CRA meeting is January 14, not today.]
Pictured: The Century Town Council held a goal setting and time management workshop Wednesday afternoon at the Century Business Center on Pond Street. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Graduation Rate Up Significantly
January 6, 2016
The graduation rate in Escambia County is up significantly, according to numbers released Tuesday by the Florida Department of Education.
The Escambia County School District’s graduation rate for the 2014-15 school year was 72.7 percent, up 6.6 percent from the year and a huge 15 percent from a 57.7 percentage rate in 2010-11.
“This was the single largest increase in the graduation rate in any year in the past 10 years,” Superintendent Malcolm Thomas said.
During the 2009-2010 school year, Escambia’s schools became very focused on data, Thomas said, and students began to become more focused on a careers and academics, thanks in part to career academies that now number 63 spread throughout every middle and high school in the district.
“Students have come to realize that that high school diploma is that ticket to the next phase in life,” he said.
Every high school in the Escambia School District showed a higher graduation rate from 2013-14 to 2014-15, except a slight decrease at West Florida High School.
Following West Florida at 92.5 percent, the highest graduation rates in the county last year were Washington at 83.9 percent, Tate at 80.2 percent, and Northview at 78.9 percent — all three of which have improved graduation rates by 10 percent or more since 2009-2010.
“I think our better days are still ahead of us,” Thomas said. The district had hired graduation coaches that work with students to develop a plan to make sure they are able to graduate within four years.
Florida’s statewide graduation rate climbed to 77.8 percent, an increase of 7.2% since the 2010-2011 school year, and 1.7 percentage points over last year.
Pictured: Class of 2015 Tate High School Valedictorian Hannah Phillips. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Night Work On Nine Mile Road
January 6, 2016
The eastbound, right turn lane on Nine Mile Road to Holsberry Lane in Escambia County will be closed from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 6 and Thursday, Jan. 7 as crews mill and resurface access at Zaxby’s. Drivers are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling through a work zone.
Construction activities are weather dependent and may be re-scheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Bill Would Shield Personal Hunting, Fishing License Info
January 6, 2016
Raising concerns about identity theft, Sen. Alan Hays, R-Umatilla, is seeking a public-records exemption for information that people submit to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission when applying for such things as hunting and fishing licenses. Hays’ proposal (SB 1364), filed Tuesday, will be considered during the legislative session that starts next week.
It would shield from disclosure information such as names, dates of birth, addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses, driver’s license numbers and Social Security numbers.
The exemption would apply to information submitted for such things as hunting licenses, fishing licenses, hunter-safety certifications and boating-safety certifications.
“Under current law, personal information that applicants must provide to the commission in order to apply for such licenses, permits, or certifications is a public record available for any purpose,” the bill says. “Such information can be obtained and used to perpetrate identity theft and other invasive contacts.
The public availability of this personal information needlessly increases the risk of identity theft and invasive contacts with those applying to the commission for such licenses, permits, or certifications.”
by The News Service of Florida
Armed Suspects Flee High School
January 6, 2016
Pensacola Police are searching for two males who walked onto a high school campus and then fled the area on foot, but not before one of the males threw two handguns into a car.
The incident occurred just after 3 p.m. at Washington High School, 6000 College Parkway, as students were boarding buses to leave for the day. Pensacola Police Lt. Kevin Christman said a bus driver alerted a school employee after seeing the males at the school.
Christman said Officer Garland McKenzie, who had been alerted to the suspects being on campus, saw one of the males leave the school. That male fled the area and stopped at a vehicle in a nearby restaurant parking lot where he threw the handguns into a car. He then continued running from the area. The second suspect also fled the area.
Workman Middle and Holm Elementary schools went on lockdowns during the search by police, and the buses loaded with students at Washington High School left the area.
One of the suspects was a black male approximately six feet tall, thin build with medium dark complexion. He was wearing a cammo hoodie jacket and may have had dreads. A description of the second suspect is not available at this time.
Anyone having information on the incident is asked to contact the Pensacola Police Department at (850) 435–1900.
Major Landline Phone Change Coming To Walnut Hill, Bratt, Molino
January 6, 2016
Frontier Communications landline users in Walnut Hill, Bratt and Molino will soon be required to use a new dialing method.
The new dialing procedure will require Molino and Walnut Hill callers to dial all local calls using 10 digits ( the area code plus the regular telephone number). Currently, these numbers are dialed using seven digits.
For example, when calling Northview High School, customers in the 327 and 587 phone exchanges now dial 327-6681, but with the change on February 1 will dial (850) 327-6681.
Beginning February 1 customers in Molino and Walnut Hill can start using the new 10-digit dialing procedure whenever they place a call from the 850 area code. However, during a two-month transitional phase, dialing just seven digits will continue to successfully complete customers’ calls.
As of April 1, the new 10-digit dialing procedure will be required. After this date, any calls placed without using the new 10-digit dialing procedure will not be completed, and a recording will instruct customers to hang up and dial again.
Frontier reminds customers to reprogram all services and automatic dialing equipment that are set to dial a seven-digit number to include the area code after February 1. Examples include life-safety systems or medical devices, PBXs, fax machines, Internet dial-up numbers, alarm and security systems/gates, speed dialers, mobile phone contact lists, call-forwarding settings and voicemail services.
Customers should also check their websites, business stationery, advertising materials, personal and business checks, contact information and personal/pet identification tags to ensure that the area code is included.
The change is due to the addition of a new telephone exchange number in McCullough, AL, and Pensacola that is owned by Cingular Wireless.