Talks Begin On Future Of Dozier School For Boys In Marianna
September 30, 2015
Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet began discussions Tuesday on the future of the shuttered Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys, a former state-run reform school in Marianna where children are alleged to have been abused and died.
However, no decisions were made as the state officials agreed to await a final report expected in January from University of South Florida researchers, who excavated the 1,400-acre site about 70 miles west of Tallahassee and continue to try identify remains.
State Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater, who requested the Cabinet discussion, said after the meeting that he doesn’t know what the future holds for the property, which Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam called the “gateway to Marianna.”
“I don’t know any one of us can answer that question by ourselves,” Atwater said. “I think it’s clear … the reality of economics, you also heard the importance of the spiritual, there are people’s whose lives were lost there. How can it be a site for good in the future? What should be seen and known there? I don’t know.”
Atwater added that a funding request may be made to the state Legislature to help cover internment costs when remains are matched through DNA testing with surviving family members.
Putnam, while noting some of the buildings have issues that range from asbestos to simple years of neglect, suggested the state consider recreational or educational uses for the land north of Interstate 10.
“We all are painfully aware of the dark chapter that Dozier represents in our state’s history,” Putnam said. “This is our opportunity to bring that to a close and start a new chapter, a brighter chapter for the resources on that parcel, for the community of Marianna.”
But Charles Fudge, a former resident of Dozier School for Boys, worried that the history of Dozier may be lost if the site is overly redeveloped.
“Until they find the remaining bodies, they should never let any kind of buildings be put on that property,” Fudge said. “Those boys … you know when we were sent there, we didn’t expect to be beaten, and we certainly didn’t expect to die.”
Dale Landry, president of the NAACP’s Tallahassee branch, said Florida needs to pay costs, even if it’s capped at $5,000 per family, to help pay for transportation and services when remains are turned over to relatives after DNA matches.
“Those remains are remains of Florida’s children and a few men,” Landry said. “We did not handle this ceremoniously from the beginning. We need to ceremoniously handle this from now on.”
Erin Kimmerle, a forensic anthropologist at USF, said researchers have completed their field work but left the post-excavation status of Dozier to state officials.
Researchers found the remains of 51 people at the site, of whom six have been identified.
“Of the six identifications we’ve had, four were to direct siblings. So, even though they are quite elderly now, it’s brothers and sisters,” Kimmerle said. “I know they are extremely grateful to all of you (Scott and the Cabinet), as we are for the opportunity to take on this project and bring this history forward.”
The state originally had hoped to sell the Dozier site, a move that was put on hold by the investigation.
Secretary of State Ken Detzner said after the meeting that his agency, which includes the Division of Historical Resources, would be able to handle any historical artifacts and records, but so far hasn’t been given any such directions.
“I don’t have any plan,” Detzner said. “If they ask us to be a part of the process, the governor directs me to do that, we will.”
Pictured top: A trench dug in the search for human remains at the Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys in Marianna. Pictured inset: The remains of George Owen Smith have been positively identified. File photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Pepsi Cola Of Atmore Named One Of Company’s Top Bottling Companies
September 30, 2015
The Pepsi Cola Bottling Company of Atmore is one of the top three Pepsi bottling companies in the United States and Canada.. The Pepsi of Atmore franchise was recently named as finalist for the Donald M. Kendall Bottler of the Year Award.
Company officials were on hand in Kissimmee, FL, Monday night as the award was presented to Allen Beverages from Gulfport, MS.
“We were very honored to be a finalist and the love and support from our family ,friends and community has been amazing,” Pepsi of Atmore said on their Facebook page after learning the winner.
State Pot Panel Faces Turnover
September 30, 2015
State health officials have announced another shake-up in the effort to get Florida’s medical-marijuana industry off the ground. Less than a month after being appointed to a three-member team that will choose five nurseries to grow, process and dispense medical marijuana and derivative products, accountant Ann Filloon is stepping down.
Filloon “has decided to remove herself from the panel to focus on her duties as the fiscal unit director with the Division of Children’s Medical Services,” according to a news release issued by the Department of Health. Filloon is being replaced by Ellyn Hutson, an accountant with a bachelor’s degree in animal science from Clemson University and a master’s degree in accounting from Florida State University, according to the release. Hutson joins Christian Bax, executive director of the department’s Office of Compassionate Use, and Patricia Nelson, a special adviser to Gov. Rick Scott. Nelson was Bax’s predecessor and shepherded creation of the industry’s preliminary guidelines, including the applications from growers.
Under a rule created earlier this year, the selection committee must be comprised of the chief of the Office of Compassionate Use, an accountant and a member of the governor’s Statewide Drug Advisory Policy Council appointed by the state surgeon general, who also serves as the secretary of the Department of Health.
Twenty-four nurseries — which have joined forces with consultants, investors and out-of-state pot growers — are vying to be one of five “dispensing organizations” with licenses to grow cannabis that is low in euphoria-inducing tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, and high in cannabadiol, or CBD. Parents of children with a severe form of epilepsy pushed the Legislature last year to approve the low-THC cannabis, believing it can end or dramatically reduce life-threatening seizures.
Doctors who have undergone special training were supposed to begin ordering the low-THC products for eligible patients — those with cancer or severe muscle spasms — on Jan. 1.
But legal challenges and a judge’s decision last year that tossed out health officials’ first stab at a rule put implementation of the law far behind what lawmakers envisioned. Health officials have not said how long the committee will take to evaluate the 28 applications, which include at least four in each of five regions of the state.
VB: Baker Tops Northview
September 30, 2015
The Baker Gators won their home district volleyball match against Northview Monday by a score of 3-0.
Baker downed the Chiefs 25-7, 25-7, 25-8.
In junior varsity action, Baker defeated Northview 2-0, 25-12, 25-13.
The Chiefs will travel to Laurel Hill on Thursday.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Gary Amerson, click to enlarge.
Deadline Approaching To Enter Northview Homecoming Parade
September 30, 2015
Friday is the deadline to enter the annual Northview High School Homecoming Parade. The parade has been set for Friday, October 9.
The parade will line up at noon and travel from Bratt Elementary School to Northview High. Entries are being accepted now; there is no cost to enter. For a printable entry form, click here. Entries are due by October 2.
Contact Perry Byars at (850) 327-6681 ext. 248 for more information.
The Northview Chief’s homecoming game will kickoff at 7 p.m. on October 9 against Liberty County.
Pictured: A float in the 2014 Northview High Homecoming Parade in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
One Injured In Kingsfield Wreck Near Tate High
September 29, 2015
One person was transported to an area hospital after hitting a brick fence near Tate High School Monday night.
Just before 9 p.m., the drivet of a pickup left East Kingsfield Road just past the entrance to Tate High. He then reportedly drove through a fence, traveled around through a residential yard and then collided with a brick fence post that stopped his pickup truck.
The pickup driver was transported by Escambia County EMS to an area hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Arrested For Soliciting Minor
September 29, 2015
An Escambia County man has been arrested after arranging what he thought was a meeting with a teen for sex.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement, along with agents from the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, and detectives from the Pensacola Police Department arrested Dennis Kevin Marks, 53, on three counts of online solicitation of a child, one count of traveling to meet a minor for sex, and one count of unlawful use of a two-way communications device.
Marks was arrested after traveling to meet an undercover FDLE special agent who he believed was a 14-year-old juvenile for sex. Marks had been communicating with the undercover agent by email and text messages since mid-August.
Marks was booked into the Escambia County Jail on $45,000 bond.
Florida Lawmakers Continue To Get Wealthier
September 29, 2015
Being in the state’s “part-time” Legislature might tax members’ time, but for most it hasn’t caused financial heartaches.
With all 160 annual financial-disclosure reports from House and Senate members now available — the reports were due July 1, the last outstanding report was posted online Friday — the average net worth of sitting senators stands at $3.8 million, while House members on average are worth $1.43 million.
For state lawmakers who are paid roughly $30,000 a year plus expenses, the net-worth averages, according to self-reported numbers, grew by $212,650 in the Senate from 2013 to 2014 and by $56,260 in the House during the same period. The newly filed reports typically reflect the finances of lawmakers as of Dec. 31.
Over the past four years, the averages are up nearly $750,000 in the Senate and just over $366,000 in the House, which has had greater turnover.
Republicans, who comprise the majority in both chambers, are doing better financially on average than their Democratic counterparts.
Senate Republicans are worth $4.5 million on average, compared to $2.6 million for Democratic members. House Republicans average $1.7 million, while House Democrats average $837,454.
Individual net worths range in the Senate from $26.99 million for Sen. Don Gaetz, a Niceville Republican who co-founded VITAS Healthcare Corp, to $14,042 for Sen. Audrey Gibson, D-Jacksonville.
Sen. Geraldine Thompson, D-Orlando, holds the distinction of being at the median for net worth among senators at $828,099.
Sen. Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, has reported the largest individual growth of net worth over the past four years. Simpson, whose business interests include Simpson Environmental Services, Inc., reported a net worth of $12.3 million in 2011. For 2014, Simpson reported his net worth stood at $21.2 million.
In the House, the highs and lows range from the $17.36 million reported by Miami Republican Michael Bileca to a negative $354,165 posted by Rep. Victor Torres, D-Orlando. Torres, a retired New York City Transit Police detective who was $28,017 in the red in 2013 added a $278,440 residential mortgage to his portfolio in 2014.
Bileca a co-founder of the Towncare Dental Partnership firm located throughout Central and South Florida, has also reported one of the largest hikes in net worth over the past four years among House members.
Bileca reported a net worth of $3.855 million in 2011. His current totals include $2.56 million in 2014 income from Atg Development, a Miami limited liability firm — one of the companies for which he has been listed as a registered agent.
The $480,000 net worth reported by freshman Rep. Mike Miller, R-Winter Park, represents the median of the House.
Not everyone has seen their net worths grow in recent years.
Over the past four years, five senators have reported decreases in their net worth — Republicans Tom Lee and Denise Grimsley and Democrats Gibson, Gwen Margolis and Jeremy Ring.
Ring, former executive at Yahoo worth $13.7 million, had the largest drop over the past four years, $1.3 million.
In the House, 20 members — nine Democrats and 11 Republicans — have reported losses of net worth over the past four years.
The largest drop in the House was reported by Ocala Republican Dennis Baxley, who has seen his net worth diminish nearly $2 million, to $3.58 million, over the four year period.
For a number of those who have reported drops in net worth, the primary cause involved taking out loans to buy real estate.
Northview Students Receive Ronald Reagan Student Leader Awards
September 29, 2015
Northview students (L-R) Jessica Amerson, David Weber and Moriah McGahan have been registered as recipients for the Ronald Reagan Student Leader Award by Principal Gayle Weaver, as part of an effort to inspire the next generation of outstanding leaders. These students will share their experiences with other recipients throughout the nation in a national online database. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Molino Park Holds 5th Grade Grandparents Breakfast
September 29, 2015
The Molino Park Elementary School PTA held their 5th Grade Grandparents Breakfast recently.
The school holds a grandparents breakfast during year for each grade level, even taking a photo of each student with the grandparent for the yearbook.
Photos by Amanda Manning for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
