Gretna Racing, Poarch Creek Indians Could Be Center Of Florida Slot Machine Battle
December 23, 2015
Rural Gadsden County, Gretna Racing and the Poarch Creek Indians of Atmore might seem an unlikely legal battleground for slot machines.
But as the Florida Supreme Court considers a potentially far-reaching case about slot machines at a pari-mutuel facility in the Gadsden County city of Gretna, local officials hope they can help sway the court in favor of a voter-approved gambling expansion.
The Supreme Court on Friday approved a request from the city of Gretna to file a friend-of-the-court brief on behalf of allowing lucrative slot machines at the pari-mutuel, Gretna Racing operated by the Poarch Creek Indians of Atmore. That was followed Monday by Gadsden County seeking to formally intervene in the case or, at a minimum, be allowed to file a friend-of-the-court brief that would back a 2012 slots referendum in the county.
In a motion filed last week, the city pointed to the economic stakes of allowing slot machines at the pari-mutuel. It said a “master plan” ultimately envisions building one or more convention hotels, along with restaurants and shops.
“The city of Gretna has a vital economic interest in ensuring that the master plan will come to fruition and the success of the plan depends on the issuance of the (slots) permit that is at issue in the case before the court,” said the motion, written by Philip Padovano, a former 1st District Court of Appeal judge representing the city.
The Supreme Court agreed Dec. 1 to decide whether Gretna Racing should be allowed to have slot machines without the express permission of the Legislature. The racetrack took the case to the Supreme Court after a divided 1st District Court of Appeal in October sided with Attorney General Pam Bondi and Gov. Rick Scott’s administration in ruling that legislative approval was needed for slots.
The October ruling undid an earlier ruling from the appeals court that favored Gretna Racing.
The issues in the case focus on disputed interpretations of a 2009 gambling law. But while ground zero in the case is Gadsden County — which is west of Tallahassee and had a population last year of roughly 46,000 people — the outcome could also determine whether slot machines are allowed in Brevard, Hamilton, Lee, Palm Beach and Washington counties.
In each of those counties, voters approved referendums to allow slot machines. In its motion to intervene Monday, Gadsden County argued it had the right to authorize a referendum that would clear the way for slots.
“In the majority opinion, the First DCA (District Court of Appeal) found that Gadsden County did not have the authority to authorize the conduct of a binding gambling referendum without further statutory or constitutional authorization, and that the referendum was a non-binding expression of voter sentiment,” the motion said. “The majority opinion on these points is contrary to established Florida law.”
The Supreme Court has not set a date for oral arguments in the case. Attorneys for Gretna Racing filed a brief Monday outlining their positions on the legal issues, and the state is expected to reply in mid-January.
Already lining up with the state, however, is No Casinos, Inc., which has received approval to file a brief with the court.
“The movant (No Casinos) is concerned that if this expansion of gambling devices is allowed (and by logical extension, allowed for similar facilities in other counties), that will lead to proliferation of such devices, and will generally encourage casino-type gambling, contrary to the public interest and contrary to the law,” the Orlando-based group said in its motion seeking to file a brief.
by Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida
Florida’s Population Tops 20 Million
December 23, 2015
Florida has surpassed the 20 million population mark while growing faster than California.
The Sunshine State, adding more than 1,000 people a day, is nearly up a half-million people on New York, which it surpassed a year ago to become the third most-populous state, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates released Tuesday.
Florida, with an estimated 20,271,272 residents as of July 1, is also growing faster than a year earlier, when 803 people a day were being added to the state’s head count.
“Governor (Rick) Scott is proud that more people continue to move to Florida,” Scott spokeswoman Jackie Schutz said in a prepared statement. “Our hardworking businesses have created more than 1 million jobs in just five years, we have historic funding for education and we are in a 44-year low on our crime rate.”
The new numbers come as lawmakers prepare to deal with a wide range of issues affected by the growing population, including water issues.
Noting that Florida faces a projected 1-billion-gallons-a-day water shortfall by 2030, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam has been pushing for proposed statewide water policy changes (SB 552 and HB 7005), which are expected to be among the first items lawmakers take up when the regular legislative session begins in January.
“Florida’s increasing population will continue to stress our critical water resources,” Putnam spokesman Aaron Keller said in an email Tuesday. “While Florida has made great progress in restoring the health of our water supply and conserving our water resources, we need to act now. We must invest more in water supply planning and alternative supply development to meet the needs of this growing population and continue to support a thriving economy while balancing the needs of our natural environment.”
More people also means eventually Florida will have a larger congressional delegation. In 1910, New York had 43 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives to Florida’s four. Both states now have 27 seats.
Florida’s population was under 1 million in the 1920 census and was nearly 10 million in the 1980 census.
The University of Florida’s Bureau of Economic and Business Research estimated the state’s population at 19,691,538 as of April 1.
Part of the state’s growth is attributed to an exodus from the economically challenged U.S. territory of Puerto Rico, which the Census report said declined in population by 1.7 percent over the past year.
By contrast, Florida’s population grew 1.84 percent in the past year, trailing only North Dakota, Colorado and Nevada as the fastest-growing states..
In overall population, Florida remains behind California, now with 39.14 million residents, and Texas, with 27.5 million people.
Only Texas had more net population growth in the past year than Florida, growing by 490,036 residents to Florida’s 365,703. California added 352,527 people. Georgia was fourth with 117,728 new residents.
The nation’s population increased by 0.79 percent to 321.4 million, slightly ahead of the pace — 0.78 percent — of the prior year.
The Census Bureau bases its estimates on birth, death, administrative records and survey data. More than 1.1 million people were born in Florida and 950,117 Floridians died in the July-to-July timeframe.
by The News Service of Florida
Cook Up A Christmas Gift Idea
December 23, 2015
by Dorothy Lee, Escambia Extension Agent
Christmas is a joyous season. It’s a time to remember friends and neighbors with small tokens of your love and appreciation.
Every holiday season is magical, but can also be a perplexing time. How do you choose gifts for your friends and loved ones that are unique, and sure to be cherished?
Remember Christmas when you were young? How the simplest projects—stringing lights, hanging icicles, baking cookies, gathering pine cones, or making ornaments for the tree—filled the season with fun and excitement. Bring back that special magic with your own holiday projects. These holiday projects are gifts from the heart.
If you have spent many hours in past seasons trying to find the answer to the perplexing question of what to give, perhaps this year you can find the answer in your own kitchen. Flavorful gifts you can create in an evening or two at home might be the just the solution. Most of us like to follow the pleasure of cooking with sharing the scrumptious results. So this holiday season prepare some delicious food gifts for friends and relatives.
A jar of homemade jam or jelly conveys a welcome sign of friendship to neighbors or coworkers. Besides being fun to make and share, oven-baked goods, snacks, and other savory items are attractive and often cost less than those that are store-bought. This is a gift that comes from the heart without breaking the bank. For a holiday touch, add a pretty ribbon or a note from a square of wrapping paper.
Fresh from the oven, a batch of pumpkin muffins or a loaf of whole grain bread will send warm holiday greeting to friends. Decorated with raisins and nuts, gingerbread men will appeal to anyone who fancies the spicy flavors of cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. When invited to festive dinners take along a basket filled with your own gift assortment of cookies packaged in inexpensive containers with recipes and a personalized message included. You will find these gifts easy to transport and the hostess is sure to appreciate the gesture.
Another gourmet goodies idea to consider is sharing a decorative jar or tin packed with flavorful popcorn or a nutritious trail mix. Top a decorative tray with herbed cheese rounds. Herbs offer a delicious alternative to salt. Herb seasoning mixes can be packaged in a decorative glass jar or bottle and tied with festive ribbon. Be sure to attach a label with instructions for serving and a recipe for making more.
When making these gourmet goodies, you might want to prepare an additional batch so you will have a last minute gift on hand. The additional jar of jam or jelly can make a special gift for last minute visitors. These gifts are seen as thoughtful and well-prepared when they are in reality a last minute thought.
For more information, contact Dorothy Lee, UF/IFAS Extension Escambia County at (850) 475-5230 or email dclee@ufl.edu.
Highway 97 Driver Slams Into Bridge Construction Zone Guardrail
December 22, 2015
A pickup truck driver lost control and slammed into a guardrail in a bridge construction zone sometime early Tuesday morning in Walnut Hill.
A passerby discovered the accident about 2:45 a.m., but the driver had already left the scene. It appeared the driver of the Chevrolet Silverado 2500 was southbound on Highway 97 north of Wiggins Lake Road when they lost control, traveled across the roadway and collided with a guardrail bumper.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Atmore Ambulance searched the surrounding area but found no sign of the driver.
The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Molino Man Headed To Prison For Tom Thumb Robbery
December 22, 2015
A Molino man has been sentenced to state prison for robbing a Tom Thumb on Saufley Field Road.
Acoya Kenneth Wright, now 19, previously entered a no contest plea to a charge of robbery with a firearm. Monday, he was sentenced by Judge Micheal Jones to 48 months is state prison to be followed by 24 months supervised probation. He will get credit for 313 days time served.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Wright robbed the Tom Thumb at 5450 Saufley Field Road at 2:36 a.m. on February 5. He was reportedly wearing all-black clothing with his face concealed by a scarf and carrying a long item wrapped in black clothing in a manner that would indicate that it was rifle. He fled the store on foot with less than $40 in cash.
Wright was developed as a suspect in the crime after relatives contacted the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office with their suspicions.
When interviewed deputies, Wright said he was very drunk and had to be carried home the night of the robbery, therefore he was not responsible for the holdup, according to an arrest report.
Friends told investigators that Wright had been looking to trade his .22 rifle for a pistol because he planned on robbing the Tom Thumb because he needed $20,000 — $5,000 of which would be for his little sister to get braces and $12,000 for his little brother, the report states.
A charge of committing a felony with a mask or hood against Wright was dropped.
Escambia Extension Council Members Named
December 22, 2015
The Escambia County Commission has reappointed and appointed several members to the Escambia County Extension Council.
The following individuals were reappointed to a second two-year term:
- Gary Purvis, Century
- Karen Hall, Walnut Hill
- Christine Rodgers, Pensacola
- Jerry Patee, Pensacola
- Mary Patricia Bush, Pensacola
In addition, the commission appointed Jerry Dwain Drinkard of Molino to his first two-year term on the council to replace Charles Woodward of Molino, whose term expires November 30.
he Extension Council is comprised of members of zones across the county that have an interest or concern in agricultural, family and consumer sciences (home economics), and youth programs of extension; in developing the rural and urban sections; and in developing the county and its resources.
Members may serve a maximum of two consecutive two-year terms before rotating off and must be off the council for one two-year term before becoming eligible to serve again.
Escambia Man Sentenced For Shooting Landlord
December 22, 2015
Jeremy Antwon French was sentenced by Circuit Judge Michael Jones to 30 years in state prison to be followed by five years probation. Twenty-five of the 30 years are to be served day for day under Florida’s 10-20-Life statute. French will be required to serve 25 years without any gain time.
French pleaded no contest on September 30 to attempted first degree premeditated murder, four counts of shooting at a building, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and two counts of aggravated assault.
On August 13, 2014, French confronted his property manager at an apartment complex off of Langley Avenue. He fired his .380 pistol multiple times into the victim’s front door, striking her twice. He continued firing into her residence through multiple windows. French proceeded through the apartment complex firing at three other residences before authorities were able to apprehend him on scene.
In all, there were 26 spent shell casings recovered and located in French’s right front pocket were 29 more live rounds.
State Employees Get Christmas Eve Off
December 22, 2015
State employees will have a little extra time this week to do last-minute holiday shopping, as they will receive the day off on Christmas Eve, according to Gov. Rick Scott’s office. Christmas Day is one of a series of paid holidays that state workers have each year, but Christmas Eve isn’t automatically on the list.
Lawmaker Proposes State Gaming Commission
December 22, 2015
With lawmakers poised for a major debate about gambling issues, a Senate Democrat on Monday proposed creating a state gaming commission to oversee regulation of the industry.
The bill filed by Sen. Maria Sachs, D-Delray Beach, would create a five-member commission appointed by the governor. The commission would head a newly created Department of Gaming, which would take over the current duties of the state Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering, which is under the Department of Business and Professional Regulation.
The proposal, which is filed for the legislative session that starts January 12, would require the gaming commission to meet by October 1. Sachs’ bill comes as lawmakers prepare to consider a gambling deal that Gov. Rick Scott has negotiated with the Seminole Tribe of Florida. The deal would affect pari-mutuel facilities, along with tribal casinos.
by The News Service of Florida
Health Department Lifts Escambia Mosquito Borne Illness Alert
December 22, 2015
The Florida Department of Health in Escambia County (FDOH-Escambia) has lifted the mosquito-borne illness alert for Escambia County. Surveillance data indicate that the risk of human infection has decreased.
There were four cases of West Nile Virus confirmed in Escambia County this year. Although mosquito-borne illnesses are less common in the winter months, Escambia County’s Mosquito Control office has indicated continued reports of mosquito activity in the area.
The health department still recommends that Escambia County residents and visitors continue to “drain and protect” against being bitten by mosquitoes.
Drain standing water.
- Drain water from garbage cans, house gutters, buckets, pool covers, coolers, toys, flower pots or any other containers where sprinkler or rain water has collected.
- Discard old tires, bottles, pots, broken appliances and other items not being used.
- Empty and clean birdbaths and pets’ water bowls at least twice a week.
- Protect boats and vehicles from rain with tarps that do not accumulate water.
- Maintain swimming pools in good condition and chlorinated. Empty plastic swimming pools when not in use.
Cover skin with clothing or repellent and cover doors and windows.
- Wear shoes, socks, long pants and long sleeves when mosquitoes are most prevalent.
- Apply mosquito repellent to bare skin and clothing.
- Always use repellents according to the label. Repellents with DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, and IR3535 are effective.
- Re-apply mosquito repellent as often as needed to prevent mosquito landings and bites.
- Use mosquito netting to protect children younger than 2 months old.
- When using repellent on children, apply to your hands first and then rub on their arms and legs.
- Place screens on windows, doors, porches, and patios. Always repair broken screens.