FDOT: Weekly Traffic Alerts
December 6, 2015
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties this week as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Nine Mile Road from west of I-10 to Heritage Oaks Drive, Escambia County – Eastbound lane closures from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. through Wednesday, Dec.9 as crews place the structural course on the eastbound shoulder and lanes of Nine Mile Road.
State Road 289 (9th Avenue), Escambia County- Crews will pave between Bayou Boulevard and Creighton Road. Lane closures will be in effect from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. for approximately two to three weeks. Motorists traveling between Bayou Boulevard and Cervantes Street will also encounter intermittent and alternating daytime lane closures as crews adjust manholes and valves.
I-110 Bridge Painting, Escambia County – Drivers may encounter intermittent daytime restrictions on city streets under I-110 between Maxwell and Garden Streets as crews clean the bridges. The $2.6 million rehabilitation project is anticipated to be complete summer 2016.
I-10 Escambia Bay Bridge- Intermittent westbound lane closures on the Escambia Bay Bridge from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, Dec. 7 through Thursday, Dec. 10 as crews perform a routine bridge inspection.
I-110 at Texar Drive Overpass- Southbound lane restrictions at the Texar Drive Overpass Tuesday, Dec. 8 and Wednesday, Dec. 9 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. as crews repair finger joints on the bridge.
Pensacola Bay Bridge, Escambia/Santa Rosa- Intermittent lane closures on the east and westbound outside lanes from 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 10 to 5 a.m. Friday, Dec. 11 as crews repair highway lighting on the bridge.
U.S. 98 Resurfacing, Santa Rosa County – U.S. 98 between Live Oaks Village shopping center and the Gulf Breeze Zoo in Santa Rosa County. Alternating lane closures from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. will continue through the end of the 2015 as crews complete paving operations and work list items.
I-10 Six Lane, Santa Rosa County – Alternating lane closures will continue through the end of 2015 on Avalon Boulevard near the I-10 Interchange in Santa Rosa County. Lane restrictions will be in effect Sunday through Thursday nights from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. as crews begin bridge work.
I-10 Six Lane, Santa Rosa County – Alternating lane closures also continue along the section of I-10 for east and westbound traffic between the Escambia Bay Bridge and S.R. 281 (Avalon Boulevard/ Exit 22). Lane restrictions will be in effect from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday nights until the end of 2015.
I-10 between Santa Rosa County line to east of County Road 189 (Holt Exit/45), Santa Rosa County- East and westbound inside, outside and shoulder lane closures Sunday, Dec. 6 through Thursday, Dec. 10, 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Motorists are reminded the speed limit within an active lane closure is reduced to 60 MPH and speeding fines double in work zones.
Drivers are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling through a work zone. All planned construction activities are weather dependent and may be re-scheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Florida Gov’t Weekly Roundup: It’s Closing Time In Tally
December 6, 2015
With the legislative committee weeks coming to a close, and the end of the year in sight, there were plenty of finales showing up in Tallahassee this week.
One phase of a nearly four-year-long legal battle over the state’s congressional districts reached its conclusion. A race for the Senate presidency that at times threatened to tear the chamber apart was finally, definitively set aside. And the head of Gov. Rick Scott’s economic development agency bowed out.
Meanwhile, Scott’s proposed budget for the coming fiscal year got a rough reception from the Legislature — which is never eager to just rubber stamp any governor’s spending plan. It might be too early to say it’s over for Scott’s blueprint, but the end could be in sight for that as well.
‘A REALLY POWERFUL PRECEDENT’
Even lawmakers say that, in retrospect, they’re not surprised that the Florida Supreme Court decided to go with a set of congressional districts proposed by voting-rights organizations. In the long line of court fights that have followed the 2012 redistricting process, the House and Senate have lost far more often than they’ve won.
“It’s not a mystery as to where the Supreme Court has been throughout this litigation,” said Senate Reapportionment Chairman Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton.
The justices, who approved the map on a 5-2 vote, were upholding an earlier ruling by Leon County Circuit Court Judge Terry Lewis. The voting-rights organizations, which included the League of Women Voters of Florida and Common Cause Florida, were thrilled.
“The court has set a really powerful precedent which is sure to forever change the practice of drawing congressional district lines that favor incumbents and whichever political party happens to be in the majority,” said Peter Butzin, chairman of Common Cause Florida, one of the groups that challenged a congressional redistricting plan approved in 2012 and tweaked in 2014.
Redistricting in Florida has no doubt been changed since voters added the anti-gerrymandering “Fair Districts” standards to the state Constitution in 2010. But federal law hasn’t changed, and that’s where some opponents of the map approved by the court were already looking.
Democratic Congresswoman Corrine Brown promised to keep up her court challenge. Brown has expressed outrage that her district, which once ran from Jacksonville to Orlando, now has an east-west orientation and goes from Jacksonville to the Tallahassee area.
Under the new plan, African-American voters could not elect a candidate of their choice, Brown says, even though President Barack Obama carried the revamped district by more than 28 points in 2012.
“Today’s ruling by the Supreme Court of the state of Florida is just what I expected because the entire process has been tainted from the very beginning,” said Brown, who is black. “Beyond a doubt, today’s ruling and the proposed congressional map is a direct attack on minority voters and a clear example of voter retrogression and disenfranchisement.”
Already, Brown was facing the possibility of a primary challenge from Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, whose camp sent a coy statement to reporters Friday.
“People are reaching out to Mayor Gillum because Washington desperately needs the type of energy and focus he brings every day as Mayor, creating new jobs and opportunities to get ahead,” said Kevin Cate, an adviser. “He’s listening and will make his decision on how he can best continue creating new jobs and opportunities, while also being a great husband and father.”
TROUBLE FOR SCOTT’S BUDGET?
Governors’ budgets are often regarded by the Legislature as little more than a suggestion, carrying some ideas that lawmakers could use and some that they would just as soon discard. And that appears to be no different this year.
Senate Appropriations Chairman Tom Lee, R-Brandon, was among those already casting doubt on two of Scott’s key spending initiatives: $1 billion in tax cuts and a $250 million “Florida Enterprise Fund” to give the state another tool to draw economic development projects.
Lee raised questions about the need for those initiatives for the same reason that Scott now says they are affordable: an economic recovery that has boosted state revenues and pushed the unemployment rate down to 5.1 percent.
“There are going to be diminishing returns to some of the tax cuts and some of the incentive programs that we implement,” Lee said. “And, moreover, it might make some sense as we work through this as a legislature to perhaps get more selective and more targeted in terms of what we’re trying to attract to our state.”
Scott’s allies were already rallying the troops, but Lee was hardly alone. Democrats hammered the plan for tax cuts that were friendly to businesses — a reduction to the corporate-income tax would cost $770 million — alongside increased property tax bills for owners who saw the value of their property rise.
The growth in property tax revenue, which would come even though the rate of the tax remains the same, forms the backbone of Scott’s increased education funding.
“How do I go back to my district if the governor’s budget is passed the way it is and rationalize those extra dollars from that local base…offsetting the budget and providing an ability to provide corporate welfare, in my opinion, to these large corporations?” asked House Minority Leader Mark Pafford, D-West Palm Beach.
The governor himself got into the act of selling his ideas, making a rare appearance before the House Finance and Tax Committee to pitch his plan.
“We want to diversify our economy so we can survive the next recession,” Scott said.
Committee Chairman Matt Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, prompted Scott on Tuesday by asking if another round of tax cuts could improve the economy of what is now the nation’s third most-populated state. Scott responded, “Absolutely.”
“We’ve got to figure out how to continue to have productive citizens move to the state, which is happening,” Scott said.
As the governor pushed his plans for keeping the state’s economy going, it turned out his jobs chief was already heading for the exit. Jesse Panuccio announced Friday that he was stepping down. He was expected to face intense scrutiny during upcoming Senate confirmation hearings.
The governor’s office said Panuccio is seeking “new opportunities” and that his replacement will be named in the coming weeks.
Panuccio, who has been with Scott since shortly after the governor took office in 2011, said in a resignation letter that his last day as executive director of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity will be Jan. 8.
“This is a bittersweet decision for me, as it has been a joy and honor to serve the people of Florida,” Panuccio wrote in the letter to Scott. “Nonetheless, it is time for me to begin a new chapter in my career and life.”
NO MORE FIGHTING
It was all love in the Senate chamber Wednesday, as Stuart Republican Joe Negron was designated the chamber’s next president after one of the more contentious and expensive leadership battles in recent memory.
There were no signs of the bitter back-and-forth between Negron and Sen. Jack Latvala, a Clearwater Republican who recently threw his support behind Negron in exchange for being named chairman of the powerful, budget-writing Senate Appropriations Committee.
Instead, members of the Republican caucus praised Negron’s “matter-of-fact style” and watched a video message about leadership from former Atlanta Braves star Dale Murphy. The vote for Negron was unanimous.
“Today brings unity to the Senate Republican caucus,” said Senate Majority Leader Bill Galvano, a Bradenton Republican who has shared a home in Tallahassee with Negron since the pair served together in the House.
The wonky Negron, a 54-year-old attorney who has become a champion for South Florida water issues, said he intends to make priorities of state university affordability and juvenile-justice reform.
“My vision is for our universities in Florida, which are good, to go to the next level, to become national elite destination universities like the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the University of Virginia, the University of Michigan, the University of Texas at Austin,” Negron said. “Just as students in Florida apply to these universities and many times attend them, imagine a time when students from around the country will apply to Florida universities to come to Florida to get a great education at a national destination.”
STORY OF THE WEEK: Hoping to bring closure to a yearslong legal battle, the Florida Supreme Court affirmed a plan for the state’s 27 congressional districts. But federal challenges to the new plan loomed.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “The efforts to paint this process as partisan or invoke the antebellum period are an unjustified attack on the integrity of our judicial system…Originally, the right to vote was limited to white male landowners. Others had to fight and die for the privilege to be extended to them. It is an insult to their struggle for politicians to now use that sacrifice for personal benefit.”—Florida Supreme Court Justice James E.C. Perry, one of two African Americans on the court, in a thinly-veiled shot at Democratic Congresswoman Corrine Brown. Brown had compared changes to her district, order by the Supreme Court, to slavery during a press conference last month.
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Early Morning Officer Involved Shooting In Escambia County
December 5, 2015
An early morning traffic stop in Escambia County ended with a suspect being shot by an Escambia County deputy.
The names of the suspect and the deputy are not being released as this time. The suspect’s injuries are not considered life threatening.
About 1:07 Saturday morning, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies made a traffic stop near the Oakwood Terrace Apartment complex. There were multiple people inside the vehicle, one of which fled the traffic stop on foot. A deputy gave chase, also on foot.
Deputies said the suspect was armed with a gun. A struggle between the deputy and the suspect followed, during which the suspect was shot. When a second deputy responded to the shots fired,the handcuffed the driver and other passengers fled the scene. The injured suspect was transported to an area hospital for treatment. He will face numerous charges, including possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
A firearm of unspecified type was recovered at the scene, according to deputies.
The shooting is under investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, which is protocol in any officer involved shooting.
Anyone with information about the scene or the suspects is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9630 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Pictured: The scene of an early Saturday morning officer involved shooting in Escambia County. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Armwood Ends Tate’s State Dreams (With Gallery)
December 5, 2015
During the 2011 and 2012 seasons, the Tate High School Aggies amassed a dismal 1-19 record. During the past three seasons, the Aggies have lost just three games per season, one of which was a final four appearance Friday night against No. 1 ranked Armwood High School. And throughout it all, the Aggie Nation has been there to support their team.
Friday night was no different as countless Aggie fans made the 470 miles trip and packed the stands in Seffner, near Tampa, hoping this would be the year for a state title. But in the end, Armwood topped Tate 53-19 in the state 6A semi-finals.
Just a minute and a half and three plays into the game, Tate’s Monty Brown intercepted a Hawk pass and ran it in 24 yards to give the Aggies an early 7-0 lead.
But it was just downhill from there for the Aggies. Armwood evened it up at 7-7 on their next drive, and the Hawks added another four touchdowns in the second quarter for a 36-7 half time lead.
In the second half, senior Dee Thompson was in for a short touchdown for the Aggies with 6:00 on the clock in the third, and Sawyer Smith found Reginald Payne for a 55-yard touchdown with about a minute in the game. In the end, Armwood topped Tate 53-19.
The Armwood Hawks advance to the state 6A championship game next Saturday afternoon in Orlando against Miami central.
NorthEscambia.com will be publishing additional photo galleries from the game by Monday.
Pictured top: An Armwood player consoles Tate’s Dee Thompson on the field following Armwood’s victory Friday Night. Picture inset and below: Armwood defeated Tate in the state semi-finals Friday night near Tampa. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
Escambia Corrections Department Chief Terminated
December 5, 2015
Escambia County Director of Corrections Michael Tidwell was terminated Friday by Escambia County Administrator Jack Brown, with employees under his leadership now reporting to Assistant County Administrator Chip Simmons. Tidwell held the position for 11 months.
There have been six inmate deaths in the Escambia County Jail in the past year.
Escambia County released the following:
On Friday, Dec. 4, County Administrator Jack Brown made the decision to end Michael Tidwell’s duties as Escambia County Director of Corrections. Starting Dec. 4 jail command, community corrections and road prison staff will report directly to Assistant County Administrator Chip Simmons until the search for a new corrections director is complete.
Immediately, Simmons will work to fill an open health services administrator position and the medical unit will be placed back under the control of the jail commander who will now be empowered to make decisions regarding transporting inmates to an outside medical facility with or without medical staff recommendation. Additionally, a list of critically ill patients will be given to the command staff daily, with each shift providing an end of shift report to include updates on every infirmary patient to the jail commander.
At the 9 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 10 Commission Agenda Review Meeting, County Administrator Jack Brown will present a report on the health care system at the jail completed by Alliance Medical Management. In May, Escambia County hired the consultant to conduct an analysis of the current system. Two medical system improvement options were recommended by the group to enhance services and improve operations – to privatize medical and mental health services or continue medical services under an in-house, full-time medical director. Brown is planning to make a recommendation to the board to approve the internal medical director option. This new position would be responsible for clinical policy direction and overall management of the health care program. Other recommendations include establishing an independent monitor position, better determining the financial needs for a successful detained health care program, and rebidding or restructuring the pharmaceutical contract to ensure best pricing. Click here to read the full report which establishes a framework for moving forward with improving jail medical services.
Per county policy, Tidwell was relieved of all duties and given 90 days’ notice. Tidwell started as director on Jan. 26 and was responsible for community corrections, county jail and the road prison. His annual salary was $118,543. He replaced former director Gordon Pike, who retired in November 2014.
Tidwell was selected by a screening committee comprised of Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Eric Haines, Trial Court Administrator Robin Wright and Taylor County Chief Deputy Richard Johnson, who is also a member of the Florida Model Jail Inspections group, Escambia County Administrator Jack Brown and Chip Simmons who at that time was the Pensacola Chief of Police. Tidwell came to the county with more than 30 years’ experience, a Master’s Degree in Human Services from Lincoln University, and jail management and corrections executive certification.
Escambia County Officials Warn Of Door To Door Scam
December 5, 2015
Escambia County officials are warning residents of a door-to-door scam.
The Escambia County Emergency Communications Center has received multiple reports of a man wearing an Escambia County Fire Rescue t-shirt going door-to-door trying to solicit contributions. The complaints that have come from areas near East Nine Mile Road and Guidy Lane.
All funding comes from the Escambia County Board of County Commissioner’s Municipal Services Benefit Unit, and the county does not solicit public funds. Under no circumstances does Escambia County Fire Rescue administer any door-to-door soliciting, according to county officials.
Molino Convicted Sex Offender Arrested
December 5, 2015
A convicted Molino sex offender was arrested for failing to register as required.
Wayne Bolton, 68, was s charged with the felony for failing to report a residence change and sex offender violation for failure to report vacating a permanent residence and booked into the Escambia County Jail.
Bolton was convicted of a lewd lascivious act on a child under 16 in Escambia County and a second count of a lewd lascivious act on a child under 16 in Santa Rosa County in 2000, according to Florida Department of Law Enforcement records.
FAA Certifies New Aviation Maintenance Program At George Stone
December 5, 2015
The Federal Aviation Administration has certified a new aviation maintenance program at the George Stone Technical Center. The deadline for students to register for the two-year program is January 13. The certification was awarded Friday afternoon during a ceremony at George Stone. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Photos: Northview Christmas Variety Show
December 5, 2015
The Northview High School Christmas Variety Show was held Friday night in the school’s theater.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Gary Amerson, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Arrested On Multiple Child Pornography Charges
December 5, 2015
State authorities arrested an Escambia County man Friday on child pornography charges.
Agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement charged 46-year old Daryll Roger Gooding on 13 counts of possession of child pornography and two counts of promoting child pornography.
Friday, agents served a search warrant at Gooding’s residence on Grainger Avenue and located a computer that was actively downloading child pornography. An initial computer forensic review revealed numerous video files of child pornography on that computer, according to FDLE.
Gooding was booked into the Escambia County Jail on $100,000 bond. The investigation will be prosecuted by the Office of the State Attorney, 1st Judicial Circuit.
This case was investigated by members of the North Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force including the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Pensacola Police Department, and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.