FHP Looking For Owner Of Lost Items
December 17, 2015
The Florida Highway Patrol found a box on Highway 29 near Becks Lake Road in Cantonment this morning that contained several new items that may have been intended to be Christmas presents.
If you lost the box, call the Florida Highway Patrol at (850) 484-5000 to identify the items and claim.
Same Sex Couples Seek Ruling In Birth Certificate Dispute
December 17, 2015
Nearly a year after same-sex marriages started in Florida, a legal decision could be looming in a dispute about birth certificates for children of same-sex couples.
Two couples and an advocacy group asked a federal judge last week to require the Florida Department of Health to list both spouses on birth certificates of children born into same-sex marriages — as the department typically does when married parents are a man and a woman.
The request for summary judgment, which would short-circuit the need for a trial, contends that the department’s refusal to list both spouses in same-sex marriages on birth certificates violates couples’ constitutional rights.
“Defendants’ (agency officials’) refusal to issue birth certificates listing both parents when a same-sex spouse gives birth to a child in Florida treats married same-sex couples differently than married different-sex couples, denying married same-sex couples one of the most important protections provided to married couples under state law,” said the document filed in federal court in Tallahassee. “Defendants’ conduct exposes plaintiffs and their children to serious harms, while serving no legitimate, much less compelling, state interest.”
But department attorneys argue that the agency does not have the power to make the change on its own. At least one of the issues in the case is a state law that says if a “mother is married at the time of birth, the name of the husband shall be entered on the birth certificate as the father of the child, unless paternity has been determined otherwise by a court of competent jurisdiction.”
“Defendants (agency officials) contend that the department is an executive agency whose powers are limited to the ability to administer and enforce the laws and rules related to the state of Florida’s public health system including the authority to act as the state’s registrar of vital statistics pursuant to (a section of state law),” according to an October court document that outlines the positions of both sides. “Therefore, the department lacks the authority to revise existing legislation or to apply case law in a manner that invalidates existing legislation without clear judicial authority to do so.”
The lawsuit, whose plaintiffs include the Equality Florida Institute advocacy group, was filed in August, about seven months after same-sex marriages began in Florida. The lawsuit also came less than two months after a landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision that established a legal right for same-sex couples to marry.
Two of the plaintiffs in the birth certificate case, Kari Chin and Deborah Chin, were married 2013 in Massachusetts, with Kari Chin giving birth in February 2015 to a son, according to last week’s filing. The Department of Health’s Office of Vital Statistics issued a birth certificate listing Kari Chin as a parent but declined to list both spouses.
The other plaintiffs, Alma Vazquez and Yadira Arenas, were married in 2013 in New York, with Vazquez giving birth in March 2015 to a daughter. The court filing said Vazquez was told she had to be listed as unmarried to get a birth certificate for the child.
U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle has set a Jan. 6 deadline for the Department of Health to respond to the plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment. Hinkle last year ruled that Florida’s ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional, which set the stage for marriages to begin.
by Jim Sanders, The News Service of Florida
Military, Gulf Power Partner On Solar Power Project
December 17, 2015
Beginning a unique new relationship between the Navy, Air Force and Gulf Power, a ground-breaking ceremony was held Wednesday at Naval Air Station Pensacola, marking the start of construction for three large-scale solar electric generating facilities.
Combined, these facilities will have approximately 1.5 million solar panels that could generate or 120 megawatts — enough to power about 18,000 homes on a sunny day. The endeavor will be one of the largest solar energy projects east of the Mississippi River.
Gulf Power and its third party developer Coronal Development Services will construct three facilities — one at NAS Pensacola, one at NAS Whiting Field and one at Eglin Air Force Base. On April 16 the Florida Public Service Commission, approved of all three project plans.
The Navy and the Air Force recently signed land lease agreements with Gulf Power. The energy farms will be constructed at Navy Outlying Landing Field Saufley near NAS Pensacola (50 MW), Navy Outlying Landing Field Holley near NAS Whiting Field (40 MW), and at Eglin Air Force Base near Fort Walton Beach (30 MW).
“Together, we can provide physical security to the assets, increase the regional grid resiliency and upgrade the energy infrastructure where our Sailors and aviators live and work, as well as stimulate economic activity through development. Energy, the economy, the environment and our national security are bound together; you cannot affect one without affecting the others, and these projects have positive benefits in all four dimensions,” said Dennis V. McGinn, assistant secretary of the Navy for energy, installations and environment.
According to Gulf Power President and CEO Stan Connally, these solar projects help Gulf Power to further diversify its energy portfolio and support the mission to provide safe, affordable and reliable energy to its Northwest Florida customers.
“This is an important collaboration between Gulf Power, the Navy and Air Force,” said Connally. “Through careful planning, we¹ve been able to work alongside our military partners to help support solutions for them to meet federal renewable energy and energy conservation mandates, while Gulf Power pursues cost-effective forms of renewable energy at the same time.”
The parties anticipate these solar facilities to be operational by December 2016 and serve all Gulf Power customers. The 50 megawatt facility at Saufley Fied will power about 7,400 Escambia County homes.
Pictured top: ilitary, government and industry officials break gournd for Florida’s largest solar energy project Wednesday aboard NAS Pensacola. U.S. Navy photo by Ens. Anthony Junco. Pictured inset: Solar panels. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Concealed Weapons Licenses Now Available In Escambia County
December 17, 2015
Concealed weapons licenses can now be processed in Escambia County.
Beginning today, concealed weapons license applications will be processed by appointment only at the Escambia County Tax Collector’s Warrington location at 4051 Barrancas Ave, Ste. A. The office is open 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Monday- Friday.
To make an appointment, click here.
Sheriff’s Office Rejoins Partnerships With US Marshals, FBI
December 17, 2015
After a meeting between the new Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, Christoper Carnova, and Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan. the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office will be rejoining the Regional Fugitive Task Force with the U.S. Marshal’s Office as well as the Joint Terrorism Task Force with the FBI. The sheriff and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives had continued to work together under a memo of agreement on a local “Gun Crime Task Force”.
In the meeting, Carnova assured the sheriff that joint coordination and communication would be paramount in future relationships. The previous U.S. Attorney ignored repeated contacts made by the Sheriff’s Office to address issues that were occurring between agencies, according to an ECSO press release.
Joining the JTTF requires a deputy to be detached to work with the FBI. In the past, security clearances prevented management at the ECSO to be briefed as to what cases the deputy was working. Carnova has offered to have a member of the Sheriff’s command staff receive the same clearances so the ECSO can be assured that the cases being worked are beneficial to the local taxpayers, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Molino Park Elementary Students Build Birdhouses
December 17, 2015
Students at Molino Park Elementary School built birdhouses this week with the help of parents and volunteers from Lowest on Nine Mile Road, a MPES Partner in Education. Organizers said the students and parents enjoyed working together toward a common end goal.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Grad Neiko Robinson Signs With South Alabama Jaguars
December 17, 2015
Northview High School graduate Neiko Robinson signed Wednesday with the South Alabama Jaguars.
All total, six junior-college transfers — all but one on the defensive side of the ball — signed National Letters-of-Intent with the University of South Alabama football program on Wednesday and will enroll in school in January.
Cornerback Robinson played the last two seasons at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, where he helped the Bulldogs finish in the top-10 of the final NJCAA poll each year while winning eight contests.
As a sophomore, Robinson posted a total of 44 tackles and broke up six passes, with the latter figure the second-best on the team, while recording 42 stops and five passes defended his first year with the program. In 2014 he was credited with a career-best eight stops in a Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges semifinal contest against No. 2 East Mississippi Community College with a season-high seven tackles in the Bulldogs’ win at Southwest Mississippi Community Colege.
Robinson — who is 6-foot, 175 pounds and from Century — was a first-team all-state selection each of his final two seasons at the high school level. Robinson was a member of the Northview Chief’s first-ever state championship team in 2012.
The South Alabama Jaguars finished 5-7 last season while facing a schedule that included seven opponents that would go on to earn an invitation to a postseason bowl, including a 34-27 overtime victory at eventual Mountain West Conference champion San Diego State.
Pictured top: Neiko Robinson (14) played the last two seasons with Mississippi Gulf Coast Community. Courtesy photo. PiIctured below; Robinson celebrates after the Northview Chiefs won the 2012 Class 1A station championship in Orlando. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
First Baptist Century Youth Share Sounds Of Christmas Joy
December 17, 2015
Youth from the Century First Baptist Church went Christmas caroling Wednesday night for the sixth consecutive year. The group visited nine homes in Century and residents the Century Health and Rehabilitation Center, spreading the joyous news of the season. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Deadline Is Friday For FY2016 USDA NRCS Conservation Assistance Programs
December 17, 2015
Friday is the deadline to signup for fiscal year 2016 USDA NRCS conservation assistance programs.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) offers free help to Florida agricultural producers to prevent soil erosion, improve water quality, restore wetlands and provide habitat for wildlife. Working with our staff, you can develop a conservation plan, receive technical assistance and explore what conservation practices may be eligible for cost share funding. All NRCS programs are strictly voluntary.
The following programs are available:
Conservation Technical Assistance Program (CTA) is available to any group or individual interested in conserving their natural resources and sustaining agricultural production. Included in this program is a mutually agreed to conservation plan for your land.
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) provides financial and technical assistance to help plan and implement conservation practices to improve soil, water, plant, animal, air and related resources on agricultural land and non-industrial private forestland.
Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) provides financial and technical assistance to help conserve agricultural lands and wetlands. This includes two components:
* Agricultural Land Easements help farmers and ranchers keep their land in agriculture. Eligible partners are Indian tribes, state and local governments and non-governmental organizations that have farmland or grassland protection programs.
* Wetland Reserve Easements offer technical and financial assistance directly to private landowners and Indian tribes to restore, protect and enhance wetlands through the purchase of a wetland easement.
Although applications are accepted on a continuous basis for all programs, Florida NRCS has established an application cut-off date of December 18, 2015, for the 2016 program year. Other programs may have different cut-off dates.
For more information, call (850) 587-5404 or stop by the USDA/NRCS office in Molino at 151 Highway 197.
Woman Convicted Of Elaborate Plan To Torture, Kill Ex, Burn House Down
December 17, 2015
State Attorney Bill Eddins announced that Nadine Sapp Harris, age 60, was convicted by an Escambia County jury for charges of attempted first degree murder, attempted false imprisonment, attempted arson, aggravated assault with a firearm, and battery. The charges stem from an elaborate plan to ambush, capture, torture and kill her ex-husband and to burn down the marital home.
Over a course of weeks Harris distributed hundreds of pounds of shredded or crumpled paper bundled into plastic grocery bags throughout the entirety of the three-story Escambia County home she had shared with her ex-husband. She placed paper in every dresser and cabinet drawer in the house, in cardboard boxes in every room, and inside the heating and cooling closets, return air vents and attic of the home. Some of the grocery bags were stacked in pyramid configurations placed into corners to maximize the intended fire’s intensity.
Harris planted over 115 drinking bottles that had been filled approximately one-third full with gasoline with the cap on. She also purchased thirteen bottles of charcoal lighter fluid from nearby Home Depot and Walmart stores on three separate trips, along with wooden dowels. She cut the wooden dowels down to 6-inch lengths and presoaked them in the lighter fluid to act as kindling for the fire. She also soaked the paper and all the mattresses in the home with lighter
fluid.
Then, on June 27th, 2014, Harris lured her ex-husband to the home. She parked her car three miles away and then sent him a text message that she was vacating the house – a condition of their divorce. Then she laid in wait. When the victim
came inside, she was waiting for him with a gun. She confronted him in the living room near the front door, and told him that she “was going to end it right here.” The evidence suggests she intended suicide as well as murder.
One fact saved the victim’s life. He had brought witnesses. The witnesses were outside at the time of the confrontation, but were within earshot. When Nadine Harris moved to close the open door, the victim desperately lunged for the gun. As they fought for control of the gun, Nadine Harris discharged one shot. The bullet missed the victim and buried itself in a wall.
After the discharge, the victim successfully disarmed the defendant and tossed the gun outside. He broke his hand in the process. After being disarmed of the handgun, Nadine Harris then produced a stun gun and attempted to shock the victim with it. He knocked the stun gun out of her hand. Then she pulled out a can of pepper spray and sprayed the victim. Nevertheless, after being sprayed with pepper spray, he wrestled the defendant to the ground and held her down until law enforcement arrived. While being held down, she also bit his forearm causing a significant wound.
The subsequent investigation conducted by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the State Fire Marshal’s Office revealed the extent of the defendant, Nadine Harris’s plan. They discovered the arson preparations. They discovered that within arm’s reach of where Nadine Harris had confronted her ex-husband, she had planted zip ties fashioned to serve as handcuffs, a strip of duct tape precut and ready to grab, a rope tied with a noose, and a small black duffel bag. Inside the duffel bag, Nadine Harris had placed the accelerant-soaked dowel rods, a lighter, a box of safety matches, more zip-tie handcuffs, a roll of duct tape, a pair of socks potentially to be used as a gag, a screwdriver, a folding camping saw, a drywall saw, and two clear easy-access containers full of muriatic acid.
Nadine Harris will be sentenced by Circuit Judge Scott Duncan on January 12, 2016. She is facing a minimum mandatory sentence of 20 years and a maximum sentence of up to life in state prison. The minimum mandatory sentence of 20 years is to be served day for day without the possibility of parole or gain time.