Sheriff’s Office: Do You Know This Man?
November 10, 2015
Do you recognize this man?
Escambia County Sheriff’s investigators are working to identify him. They said he was seen exiting a stolen vehicle on Friday and possibly has connections to other stolen vehicles.
If you have any information about the man in the photos, contact the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9630 or Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Photos courtesy Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Scott Budget Boss: State Can Afford Tax Cuts, Incentives
November 10, 2015
The state has more than enough money to cover Gov. Rick Scott’s push for business incentives and tax cuts while funding agency requests, his budget chief said in a memo Monday.
As Scott embarked on a statewide tour to push for his proposed $1 billion in mostly business-friendly tax cuts, Office of Policy & Budget Director Cynthia Kelly wrote that rather than the $635.4 million surplus state economists have predicted for the next fiscal year, “a more appropriate ’surplus’ ” is $1.6 billion.
Kelly’s projection, first reported by the Tampa Bay Times, 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.
“Bottom line, there is more than sufficient revenue to fund all of the state’s mandatory increases, as well as the governor’s priorities for your agencies, the Florida Enterprise Fund and the proposed $1 billion in tax cuts,” Kelly wrote in a memo to Scott’s agency heads.
Kelly also noted that an increase in revenue the past couple of years has come as the state has made about $900 million in tax cuts.
The intent of Kelly’s memo was to reduce fears by agencies leaders that they’ll have to make cuts to accommodate Scott’s requests.
Kelly’s letter was spurred by comments from lawmakers and the media that Scott’s request for tax cuts and $250 million in incentives for the state’s public-private corporate recruitment agency Enterprise Florida would quickly exceed the surplus projected in a long-range financial outlook presented in September by the Legislature’s chief economist.
Economists have noted that about two-thirds of the projected 2016-2017 budget year surplus 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.
After Scott announced his proposed tax-cut package Thursday, Senate President Andy Gardiner told reporters that while many of the governor’s proposals are already moving in bills by members of his chamber, lawmakers will need to see the rest of Scott’s budget proposals before making any commitments.
“At the top of our list is going to be the tax cuts, certainly, but we’ve just got to figure the balance,” Gardiner said Thursday.
Gardiner has said $250 million would be a starting point in discussions on tax cuts when lawmakers return to Tallahassee in January for an earlier-than-usual regular session. That session will include crafting the 2016-17 budget, which will take effect July 1.
The bulk of Scott’s proposed cuts, which would be amassed over a two-year period, involve permanently eliminating the income tax on manufacturing and retail businesses, a cut the governor’s office estimates at $770 million.
Scott’s proposals also would make permanent the elimination of a tax on manufacturing equipment, reduce a commercial lease tax and extend a temporary elimination of sales taxes on college textbooks.
For most Floridians, the cuts will be seen through a pair of sales-tax “holidays,” which total just over $70 million. A 10-day back-to-school “holiday” would lift sales taxes on certain school supplies, clothes and some electronics. A separate nine-day period would be set aside to remove sales taxes on hurricane supplies.
House Minority Leader Mark Pafford, D-West Palm Beach, predicted last week that fulfilling Scott’s requests would require spending cuts to areas such as the environment and education.
Scott’s tax-cut tour started Monday with stops in Melbourne, Clearwater and Miami. Additional stops this week will be made in West Palm Beach, Fort Myers, Jacksonville and Panama City. He will be in Jupiter with the state Cabinet on Tuesday.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Escambia (FL) EMS To Continue Service To Flomaton
November 10, 2015
Escambia County (FL) has renewed an agreement with an Alabama agency to provide ambulance service for the Flomaton area.
Since 1981, Escambia County (FL) EMS has provided ambulance service to the Flomaton area through an interlocal agreement with the Escambia County (AL) Healthcare Authority. A three year agreement approved in 2010 expired in 2013 and was renewable to two additional one year periods.
Escambia County (AL) Healthcare Authority pays Escambia County EMS for the ambulance service, while Escambia County (FL) EMS then bills patients for services rendered.
A similar agreement is in place between Escambia County (FL) and the privately owned Atmore Ambulance service. Atmore Ambulance provides emergency medical services in the Walnut Hill and Bratt areas. Escambia County (FL) pays Atmore Ambulance a monthly fee, and Atmore Ambulance also directly bills patients for services rendered at an amount not greater than that billed by Escambia County EMS, which provides ambulance service for the rest of the county.The agreement has been in place since 1978.
Pictured: Two ambulances assigned to Escambia County EMS Post 50 in Century. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Set To Pick New Jail Location Thursday
November 10, 2015
The Escambia County Commission will hold a special meeting at 5 p.m. Thursday to approve one of three proposed sites for the construction of a new Escambia County Jail.
One year ago, the county was looking at 1o possible sites for the new jail, including locations in Molino and Cantonment. Now, the three sites under consideration are the Palafox and Airport Boulevard site, the Brent Lane site, and the Mid-town Commerce site. Facts, along with pros and cons, for each site, are as follows, according to a county consultant:
Pictured: The Central Booking and Detention Center was damaged beyond repair during a natural gas explosion following flooding on April 30. 2014. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Safety, Pedestrian Improvements Begin Along 15-Miles Of Highway 29
November 9, 2015
Construction activities on a multiple safety improvements will begin this week on a 15-mile stretch of Highway 29 in North Escambia.
The $893,000 project consists of guardrail upgrades, sidewalk replacement, pedestrian railing, ditch pavement, and signalized pedestrian crossings at various locations from north of Champion Drive to the Alabama state line in Century.
Most of the pedestrian improvements will be in the town limits of Century.
“Pedestrian feature improvements from the Alabama/Florida state line through Century would include new sidewalk construction in areas where there is currently no sidewalk, removal and replacement of damaged sidewalk, installation of handrails, curb ramps for ADA, detectable warning ramps and replacement of pedestrian signal crossings,” said Tanya Branton of the Florida Department of Transportation.
Work is expected to be completed within 100 working days. All planned construction activities are weather dependent and may be re-scheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Low bidder on the project was Gulf Beach Construction Company at $893,144.74. Other bidders were Hale Contracting, Inc. at $991,819.86 and Bun Construction Company at $1,054,456.36.
Pictured: The intersection of Highway 29 and Highway 4 in Century. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
FWC Law Enforcement Report
November 9, 2015
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the weekly period ending November 5 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
K-9 Officer Pineda and Officer Clark were patrolling the Yellow River WMA looking for hunters hunting over illegally baited areas. They came to an area where a vehicle had been parked recently and deployed K-9 Kane to ascertain where the occupants of the vehicle may have gone. K-9 Kane tracked from where the vehicle was parked to two freshly baited areas. One of the spots had a ground blind and the other had a climbing tree stand on it. The officers checked the area several times and two days later observed a vehicle parked in the area. They split up and located two subjects, as well as, a third baited site. The subjects stated that they distributed the bait (corn) out onto the WMA a few days before. They also stated that they had been knowingly hunting over bait at these three spots several times since the opening of archery. Both subjects were charged with hunting/ distributing bait on a WMA.
While on patrol, Officer Miller heard the Florida Highway Patrol was in pursuit of a truck pulling a stolen trailer nearby. Officer Miller noticed on CAD that the suspect vehicle was headed towards the Yellow River WMA and went to assist in the event the suspects fled into the woods. The suspect driver wrecked and then stole a truck and traveled southbound on Highway 87 hitting patrol vehicles on the way. The Santa Rosa Sheriff’s Office pursued the suspect south into Navarre and Officer Miller followed behind in case the suspect went into Eglin Air Force Base. Shortly after the Sheriff’s Office ended the pursuit, the suspect rolled the stolen truck and Officer Miller then responded to assist with securing the suspect until he could be removed from the truck. Once the suspect was secured, Officer Miller met Officer Barnard to assist Santa Rosa Crime Unit with locating weapons that were thrown from the suspect vehicle during pursuit. Officers recovered three handguns and a magazine to a fourth weapon. The following morning, Officer Miller and K-9 Officer Pineda returned to the scene to assist again in the search for the fourth weapon. The officers and K-9 located another handgun magazine and other items dropped by the fleeing suspect.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
No information submitted this week for Escambia County.
This report represents some events the FWC handled over the past week; however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement. Information provided by FWC.
New Tate High Winter Guard Named
November 9, 2015
New members of the Tate High School Winter Guard have been named.
They are:
Chaparrals
Rifles: Caroline Bruns, Michaela Overby, Brenn Repine, Celina Dyess, Savannah Vonstein
Sabres: Megan Leonard, Katy Luebke, Kelsey Strength, Breanna Langley, Madison Philley
Flag line: Carly Lawrence, Jojo Osteen, Katy Dupre, Kendall Lombardo, Elizabeth Durazo, Makayla Tainter
Cadets
Weapons: Kenzi Ricardy, Virginia Vaughan, Raegan Tainter, Cordia Shaw, Olivia Starnes
Flag line: Jazmyn Quarls Julia Jimenez Sarah Stephens Julie Stanton Kirsten Carter
The Chaparrals are the oldest competitive scholastic winter guard in the nation and former world champions. They begin competing in late January.
Pictured top: The Tate High School Chaparrals. Pictured below: Cadets. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Driver Slides Into Muscogee Road Ditch
November 9, 2015
There were no serious injuries when the driver of a Ford pickup lost control, ran off the roadway and crashed into a ditch on Muscogee Road in Cantonment Sunday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photo by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
House Members Back Policies For Using Body Cameras
November 9, 2015
Amid a national focus on shootings by police officers, a House panel recently unanimously approved a bill that could lead to law-enforcement agencies setting policies for the use of body cameras.
The House Criminal Justice Subcommittee approved the measure (HB 93), filed by Rep. Shevrin Jones, D-West Park, and Rep. Alan Williams, D-Tallahassee. A Senate version (SB 418) is sponsored by Sen. Chris Smith, D-Ft. Lauderdale.
The proposal would only apply to police agencies that decide to use body cameras. Under it, those agencies would be required to establish policies and procedures addressing the proper use, maintenance and storage of body cameras and recorded data. State law currently doesn’t require such policies.
“There is a lot of pointing fingers that is taking place, whether it’s from the citizen’s standpoint or from the police aspect,” Jones said. “What this (bill) does is bring it into perspective, knowing who is to blame, who do we hold accountable?”
Much of the finger-pointing extends back to August 2014, when Michael Brown was fatally shot by Ferguson, Mo., police Officer Darren Wilson, touching off riots. That has been followed by a series of other highly publicized deaths nationwide involving black men in police custody.
In Florida, a controversy erupted last month about the death of Corey Jones, a Boynton Beach man who was fatally shot by a Palm Beach Gardens police officer. Jones was a musician whose car broke down on his way home from a gig late at night. The plainclothes officer who approached him wasn’t wearing a body camera.
The death prompted members of Florida’s legislative black caucus to call for an independent review, along with legislation that would include body cameras for law-enforcement officers, dashboard cameras for police vehicles and automatic reviews of all police-related shootings.
The measure that passed will be considered during the 2016 legislative session, which starts in January. A version of the bill was unanimously approved by the House during the 2015 session, but it died without Senate passage at the abrupt end of the session.
HB 93 is supported by the Florida Sheriffs Association, the Florida Police Chiefs Association and the Florida Police Benevolent Association, along with a number of individual agencies.
“When this bill was first introduced, many people were against it, the law enforcement association and many other entities,” Rep. Clovis Watson, D-Alachua, said. “And they worked together.”
One major issue with the use of body cameras has been privacy. For instance, police recordings often occur in private homes or mental-health facilities. Concerns about that issue were eased during the 2015 session with the passage of a bill that makes certain recordings by police body cameras confidential.
“Our Constitution provides us that right to personal privacy,” Rep. Gayle Harrell, R-Stuart, said. “This (HB 93) is a very good bill that allows for that, but also for the appropriate use of body cams, which I think are a good law enforcement tool.”
About one-third of law enforcement agencies currently use body cameras, both nationally and statewide.
“Body cameras are not just for the citizens, but also for the police,” Jones said. “If you look at a lot of the sheriffs, they are in favor of it because it’ll help them come down with citizen complaints, and it’ll help the citizens hold everyone accountable.”
A University of South Florida study released last month found that fewer violent incidents and fewer complaints occur when police wear the cameras. According to the study, roughly one in four officers said wearing a camera affected his or her behavior in the field. More than one-third said wearing cameras had deescalated confrontations with citizens.
“Two out of every three officers who wore a BWC (body-worn camera) reported that they would want to continue wearing one upon study completion,” the study noted.
by Margie Menzel, The News Service of Florida
4-H Teen Leadership Club Begins This Week
November 9, 2015
Escambia County 4-H will hold a teen leadership event beginning Tuesday night.
Teens interested in learning more about leadership, or parents that wish to learn more, are invited to the Teen Leadership Club November 10 at 6 p.m. at the Langley Bell 4-H Center.
This is a 4-H special interest club that focuses on developing leadership skills and provides a venue to develop skills using the learn by doing 4-H approach. There will be a field trip, community service project and learn from guest speakers what it means to be a leader. Participants will also practice public speaking and provide information about 4-H Leadership activities throughout the year.
To find out more, please attend the first meeting at the Langley Bell 4-H Center or contact Pam Allen at pha@ufl.edu or 850-475-5230. Parents are welcome to attend with their teen. This club is for current and new 4-Hers.