Florida Forest Service Firefighters Battling Wildfires In Eight Other States
August 17, 2015
The Florida Forest Service on Friday sent 40 wildland firefighters to assist efforts to suppress a blaze in the Kisatchie National Forest in Louisiana, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam announced. The deployment brings to 129 the number of Florida forest-fire personnel working in other states.
Those states are California, Oregon, Arizona, North Carolina, Washington, Montana, Idaho and Louisiana.
“Every state’s wildfire season differs in timing and severity, so while Florida is not experiencing large, uncontrolled wildfires, the Florida Forest Service is proud to lend a helping hand to protect life, property and natural resources in Louisiana,” Putnam said in a release.
The Florida contingent is joining crews in Louisiana to create a fire break in the forest around the wildfire.
Pictured: Florida Forest Service firefighters head out to battle a wildfire in California in early August. File photo.
Cantonment Improvement Committee Provides Free School Supplies
August 16, 2015
The Cantonment Improvement Committee joined other community partners for a back to school bash Saturday. The groups distributed backpacks and schools supplies, offered free haircuts and provided a hot lunch at Carver Park in Cantonment. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Blessing The New School Year: Prayer Walk Held At Byrneville Elementary
August 16, 2015
A Prayer Walk was held Saturday morning at Byrneville Elementary School. Students and adults from Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church in Bogia prayed for the Lord’s blessings upon the upcoming school year. NorthEscambia.com photos by Ramona Preston, click to enlarge.
Florida Breaks Prescribed Fire Records
August 16, 2015
The Florida Forest Service treated more than 246,000 acres of state forests with prescribed fire over the last 12 months, the highest number ever reported by a state forestry agency in United States history. The Florida Forest Service, a division of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, uses prescribed fire as a safe way to apply a natural process to ensure ecosystem health and reduce wildfire risk.
“I am proud that Florida is home to the most active prescribed fire program in the nation,” said Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam. “Prescribed fire helps keep Florida’s natural habitats healthy and protects Floridians and visitors by reducing the overall risk of wildfire.”
“Last year, we were fortunate to experience many days with conditions favorable for prescribed fire. Conditions can change quickly and drastically in Florida, so the Florida Forest Service has made it a priority to take advantage of these favorable conditions whenever they are present,” said Jim Karels, Florida State Forester.
Prescribed fire is an important land management tool used to reduce the buildup of flammable plant materials that fuel and intensify dangerous wildfires. The reduction of hazardous buildup results in increased safety for surrounding areas. In addition, many of Florida’s plant and animal communities are dependent on the regular occurrence of fire for a healthy existence.Prescribed fires mimic this natural process, returning nutrients to the soil, providing better forage for wildlife and livestock, and helping control certain plant and tree diseases
. Prescribed fires also help preserve rare and endangered plant and animal species including the Yellow Fringeless Orchid found on the Blackwater River State Forest.
In addition to administering Florida’s prescribed fire program, the Florida Forest Service responds to wildfires during Florida’s year-round wildfire season. This year, more than 2,000 wildfires have burned more than 65,000 acres in Florida.
Florida Gov’t Weekly Roundup: Looking For A Peaceful Resolution
August 16, 2015
What happened this week at the Florida Capitol obviously pales in comparison to Friday’s historic hoisting of Old Glory in Cuba.
But U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry’s words, delivered 90 miles away from the Sunshine State Friday morning, were apropos to the Legislature’s challenge about where to draw the lines for Florida’s congressional districts.
Kerry, in Havana to reopen the U.S. embassy in Cuba for the first time in more than half a century, called the occasion an opportunity “for pushing aside old barriers and exploring new possibilities.”
That’s, quite literally, the Sisyphean task at hand for state lawmakers, who, at the order of the Florida Supreme Court, are inching forward with redistricting plans that thus far seem to be garnering more criticism than support, much like the raising of the U.S. flag in Havana.
In Cuba, Kerry — with a Spanish accent quickly mocked on Twitter — offered assurances that “No hay nada que temer (There is nothing to fear).”
The historic event was also a day for poetry.
Quoting Jose Marti, the Cuban intellectual and poet considered by many a national hero, Kerry said that “everything that divides men is a sin against humanity.”
Before Kerry took to the podium, Richard Blanco, a poet who grew up in Miami and who read one of his works at President Barack Obama’s 2013 inauguration, offered a piece written especially for Friday’s occasion.
Blanco, whose mother was pregnant with him when she fled Cuba in the late 1960s, dedicated the poem, “Matters of the Sea (Cosas del Mar),” to “the people of both our countries who believed that not even the sea can keep us from one another.”
“No matter what anthem we sing, we’ve all walked barefoot and bare-soled among the soar and dive of seagulls’ cries. We’ve offered our sorrows and hopes up to the sea, our lips anointed by the same spray of salt-laden wind. We’ve fingered memories and regrets like stones in our hands that we just can’t toss,” Blanco read. “Today, the sea is still telling us the end to all our doubts and fears is to gaze into the lucid blues of our shared horizon. To grieve, together. To heal, together.”
REDISTRICTING REDUX
Marti’s view of division as a sin aside, the House and Senate appear to be taking different approaches to a new congressional map, at least so far.
A House committee on Thursday gave preliminary approval to a staff-drawn map even as senators considered a redo of the same proposal, and as an African-American congresswoman railed that the map would hurt black voters.
The House Select Committee on Redistricting voted 9-4 to back a “base map” crafted by legislative staff to comply with an opinion from the Florida Supreme Court, which ruled last month that the existing congressional map violates the anti-gerrymandering “Fair Districts” requirements approved by voters in 2010.
The revamped districts are facing pushback. U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown, a Jacksonville Democrat, filed a federal lawsuit to block any effort to dismantle her current district. Brown contends that changing the orientation of District 5, which currently runs from Jacksonville in the north to Orlando in the South, to an east-west district could disenfranchise African-American voters while splitting Leon County.
Congressman Daniel Webster, a Republican who also appeared at a committee meeting in the Capitol this week, said the changes to his Orlando-area district would violate the Constitution because they would hobble his re-election chances.
They’re not the only ones complaining.
Some lawmakers were upset that the plan appears to undo a Tampa Bay-area district that could prove welcoming to minority candidates and that it would divide Hillsborough County among four districts.
The House committee on Thursday rejected an amendment by Rep. Dave Kerner, D-Lake Worth, that would have kept much of coastal Palm Beach County in a district currently represented by Democratic Congressman Ted Deutch. The panel ignored an amendment proposed by Rep. Mike Hill, R-Pensacola Beach, to reintroduce the current map that was developed in 2012.
Brown’s district is one of several that senators will consider changing at a Monday meeting of the Senate Reapportionment Committee. The panel met twice Thursday but decided to give the public and members more time to weigh a series of amendments.
One plan would tweak Brown’s district by extending an arm that would pick up part of Gainesville. Another proposed amendment would unite Sarasota County in a single district, represented by Republican Congressman Vern Buchanan; and a third proposal would make several changes across the Interstate 4 corridor aimed at consolidating eastern Hillsborough County into a single district.
Sen. Tom Lee, a Brandon Republican pushing the Hillsborough County changes, told the committee it should consider combining as many Senate ideas into a single amendment that could then be approved. But he conceded that amending the current proposal would be difficult because some politicians and citizens have already begun bracing for the effects of the base map.
“My concern here, as I watch the reaction to all of these amendments, is that because we’re operating against the backdrop of a base map, and because it’s much harder to amend something than it is to retain the base map, that we may end up with as a practical matter, the inability to amend any of these,” Lee, a former Senate president, told reporters.
But Senate Reapportionment Chairman Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, said he didn’t believe the crafting of a suggested plan made it more difficult to approve amendments. Galvano said lawmakers would otherwise be working with the existing districts.
“You always have a base map,” he said. “It just so happens that, in this instance, because the Supreme Court has issued an order with instruction and identified certain districts, we are able, instead of just to show up with the enacted plan, to have made progress on a base map in terms of what the court wanted.”
COURT FIGHT OVER ‘MY TWO MOMMIES’
After winning the fight to get legally married, gay couples in Florida are now back in court, this time over being legally recognized as their children’s parents.
Three married lesbian couples and the Equality Florida Institute are suing over Florida officials’ refusal to identify both same-sex parents on newborns’ birth certificates. The children were born after gay marriage became legal in Florida in January.
Instead of responding to the lawsuit filed over the birth certificates this week, Florida Surgeon General John Armstrong went back to U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle, asking for “clarification” in the gay marriage lawsuit. Hinkle overturned Florida’s prohibition against same-sex marriage last year, and his decision was reinforced by a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in what is known as the “Obergefell” case in June.
In documents filed in federal court Thursday, the state argued that “gender specific language of the birth statute appears to preclude married same-sex couples from being listed as parents on birth certificates.”
But, in light of the Obergefell case, Hinkle’s order striking down Florida’s ban against same-sex marriage “may be read to require issuance of birth certificates to married same-sex couples,” notwithstanding the statute, Department of Health chief legal counsel John Henderson wrote.
The state has a birth certificate created in 2010 for children adopted by same-sex couples, and the department “will initiate rulemaking” to use the same form for children of same-sex couples if Judge Hinkle orders it, Henderson wrote.
But lawyers for the gay couples, who filed the suit against Armstrong and State Registrar Kenneth Jones and have been trying for months to get the issue resolved, responded that the health officials don’t need more time.
The state admits that the Supreme Court decision requires both parents to be identified on birth certificates, Orlando lawyer Mary Meeks wrote.
“In light of that concession, it is unclear why the department claims to be confused about its obligations,” she wrote.
The state doesn’t need to create a new rule, Meeks argued.
“The department has been under an order from this court to cease enforcement of Florida’s marriage ban since the stay was lifted in January, and the Supreme Court’s decision has been in effect for seven weeks. The department must comply with those orders now, not at some undefined future point in time,” she wrote.
STORY OF THE WEEK: A House committee approved a “base map” for Florida’s 27 congressional districts.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “I’m somewhat troubled by the extent to which I feel like my First Amendment rights as a sitting member of this Senate have been impacted by the court’s decision.” — Sen. Tom Lee, on a set of instructions from the Florida Supreme Court about how to conduct the redistricting process, which has prompted Senate leaders to order the recording of meetings between members and some legislative staffers.
by Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida
Winker Homers In Fifth Straight, Wahoos Win
August 16, 2015
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos (28-21, 53-64) defeated the Biloxi Shuckers (23-25, 66-50) in front of a packed house at MGM Park.
Jesse Winker homered in his fifth consecutive game to give the Wahoos the lead for good, as he hit a two-run blast in the eighth inning to break a scoreless tie. He finished 2-4 on the night and brought his home run total to 13 on the year. The homer was also his 10th of the second half.
Wahoos starter Cody Reed (3-1) pitched 7.0 scoreless innings while striking out ten batters in the victory. He was matched by Biloxi starter Tyler Wagner, who also pitched a 7.0 inning shutout. The loss went to Shuckers reliever Yhonathan Barrios (1-1), who allowed Winker’s two-run bomb. Zack Weiss earned the save for the Wahoos, his 20th of the season.
The Wahoos threatened in the top of the fourth as Ryan Wright led off with a double. However, he was eliminated at third on a throw from center fielder Brett Phillips after a Winker single. Marquez Smith would then single to put two on, but Wagner would retire the next two after that.
They came close to breaking the tie again in the seventh as Sean Buckley doubled with a man on base. Seth Mejias-Brean was then eliminated at home after a pair of great throws from Phillips and Orlando Arcia.
Winker broke the tie in the top of the eighth with a two-run blast to right-center. The homer was his fifth in as many games, matching Kyle Skipworth’s previous season high.
The Shuckers made things interesting in the bottom of the ninth as a sacrifice fly by Nick Shaw made it 2-1. However, Weiss was able to get his 20th save of the season with the potential tying run on third.
FWC Law Enforcement Report
August 15, 2015
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the weekly period ending August 13 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officer Cushing was on enhanced patrol in the Perdido Wildlife Management Area when he noticed a vehicle parked near a closed gate. He observed a plastic bow case laying across the front seat. Officer Cushing concealed his vehicle and waited for someone to return. Approximately an hour later, two male subjects returned to the vehicle from the management area. Both were wearing camouflage, one was carrying a compound bow and the other had a crossbow. Officer Cushing made contact with the subjects. They stated that they were hog hunting and scouting for the upcoming archery season. Officer Cushing explained to them that they could not hunt hog at this time. It was also discovered that they had placed a tree stand and other hunting equipment in the management area. Neither men had a quota permit or management area permit. Officer Cushing escorted the men back to the stand and had it removed. Both subjects were cited for hunting during a closed season and were issued several other warnings.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officer Hutchinson was patrolling along the Escambia River when he checked a fisherman returning to the dock. Upon checking him, he discovered five undersized bass. He charged the man with possession of undersized black bass.
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.
Gulf Coast Baptist Celebrates Move Into New Auditorium
August 15, 2015
The Gulf Coast Baptist Church will celebrate their new auditorium with an open house on Sunday.
Through financial gifts, missionary from Continental Baptist Missions in Michigan, local construction companies and a grant from the Lasko Foundation, the church will move into the new auditorium debt-free.
Everyone is welcome to attend a special service and the open house at 11 a.m. Sunday at the Gulf Coast Baptist Church at 1499 Chemstrand Road.
Economists Add $462 MIllion To State’s Bottom Line
August 15, 2015
State economists gave Gov. Rick Scott a little more money to work with when he crafts a proposed budget for next year, as Florida continues to recover from the devastating recession that started in 2007.
A state panel that forecasts how much tax revenue the state will take in from its major income sources tacked on a relatively modest $462.3 million between now and June 30, 2017. The new numbers mean that, overall, lawmakers and Scott will be able to divvy up about $2.2 billion more in the 2016-17 budget year that starts July 1 than they did in the current year.
But at least some of the extra money is likely to be eaten up by increasing enrollment in the state’s public schools, changes to health-care spending and the like. Amy Baker, the Legislature’s chief economist, said there will be some money for lawmakers to use after taking care of those needs.
A more official estimate of the surplus the state can expect after taking care of its “critical needs” will be released next month.
House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island, welcomed the new estimate in a statement released by his office.
“I’m pleased to see the revised forecast project an increase in revenue because it means Florida’s economy is growing,” Crisafulli said. “The projected increase in state revenue shows the House’s commitment to fiscal responsibility, lower taxes, and creating a stronger climate for job creation is working.”
Baker said the new numbers reflected an economy that is continuing to recover after the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. Currently, economists expect the state’s economy to return to normal by the end of the 2016-17 budget year.
At the same time, forecasters are keeping an eye on models that want to continue the current growth rates, which could be deceptive because Floridians are simply getting back to the habits they had before the crisis began.
“You have to constrain it by knowing that as things return to normal, you won’t have those big hikes in the growth rates,” Baker said. “It’s going to stabilize around where it used to be in a normal time. … We wouldn’t expect to see those very, very extra strong growth rates we saw coming out of the recession.”
One sector that continues to lag, Baker said, is construction, which was hammered by the downturn and the foreclosure crisis that followed.
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Updated: Alabama Police Find Missing Teen
August 15, 2015
UPDATE: Flomaton Police said Saturday morning that this missing teen has been found and is safe.
The Flomaton Police Department is attempting to locate a missing teen.
Toby Matthew Jernigan, 16, was last seen between 11 p.m. Monday, August 10 and 6 a.m. Tuesday, August 11. He is described as being 6 feet tall and weighing 130 pounds.
Police said he may be with a male named “Scott” who is about 48-year old, and Scott may be driving a white Nissan or Toyota car.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Toby Matthew Jernigan is asked contact the Flomaton Police Department at (251) 296-5811 or their local law enforcement agency.