Schools Need Correct Student Addresses, Phone Numbers
August 9, 2015
The Escambia County School District is asking parents to ensure that their child’s school has current home addresses and phone numbers on file. If any of the information has changed, even if the child lives in the same school zone, information should be updated now.
Correct information ensures that school bus routes are planned effectively and used to make sure automated School Messengers calls are correctly delivered.
For more information or to update records, parents should contact their child’s school.
Sales Tax Holiday Continues On Clothing, School Supplies, Computers
August 9, 2015
Florida’s 2015 Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday will continue until August 16.
During this period, no Florida sales tax will be collected on sales of clothing, footwear, and certain accessories with a selling price of $100 or less per item, on certain school supplies selling for $15 or less per item, and on the first $750 of the sales price for computers and certain computer-related accessories when purchased for noncommercial home or personal use.
To view a complete list of exempted items for this year’s Tax-Free Holiday, click here.
Bill Would Restrict Trying On ‘Intimate Apparel’
August 9, 2015
A Senate Democrat is renewing an attempt to place restrictions on people who try on underwear and swimsuit bottoms in retail stores. Sen. Geraldine Thompson, D-Orlando, filed a bill (SB 104) this week that would prevent retailers from allowing customers to try on “intimate apparel” unless the items are tried on over clothing or disposable shields are used.
If customers fail to comply, tried-on items would be considered defective and could not be sold by the stores.
The bill, which will be considered during the 2016 legislative session, defines intimate apparel as including “lower undergarments and swimsuit bottoms.”
Thompson proposed a nearly identical bill during the 2015 legislative session but it died in a Senate committee.
County Commission Workshop Rescheduled; Special Meeting Added
August 9, 2015
The Committee of the Whole (COW) Workshop on Thursday, August 13 has been rescheduled from 9 a.m. to 9:02 a.m. In addition, a Special Board of County Commissioners’ (BCC) Meeting has been scheduled for 9:01 a.m. that day.
The purpose of the Special Meeting is to hold a Public Hearing for consideration of adopting an amendment to Chapter 82 of the Escambia County Code of Ordinances amending definitions, regulations, and permitting requirements for Construction and Demolition Debris (C&DD) facilities and Land Clearing Debris (LCD) facilities.
The meetings will be held in the Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, Board Chambers, Room 100, 221 Palafox Place.
Florida Gov’t Weekly Roundup: On The Edge
August 9, 2015
It’s been a tense year in Tallahassee.
Even before the regular legislative session began in March, Gov. Rick Scott’s administration was consumed in one of the most-serious controversies it has faced, when questions were raised about the governor’s attempts to push out some state agency heads.
Then came the botched rollout of the state’s new standardized school test and the health-care fight that blew up the regular session. That was followed by a special session to finalize the state budget. And then along came a 5-2 ruling by the Florida Supreme Court that ordered lawmakers back to Tallahassee — yet again to redraw the state’s congressional districts.
So perhaps it’s not a surprise that everyone seemed a bit on edge this week. Members of Congress were waiting for a new map to emerge from a legislative redistricting staff that was essentially sequestered. Rep. Matt Gaetz was ill from something, though reports could have led one to believe it was anything from allergies to bubonic plague.
But some progress was made on a couple of longstanding issues, including the brouhaha over agency heads. Maybe autumn will calm things down in the capital city.
After a special session on state Senate redistricting, of course.
ON THE EDGE OF THEIR SEATS
Everyone expected the new congressional map — the third one the Legislature will have drawn — to be somewhat controversial after it was released. But the plan was already generating waves before it was crafted, as the very voting-rights organizations that got the current districts struck down were complaining about the process for drawing the new ones.
The League of Women Voters of Florida and Common Cause Florida released a letter to Senate President Andy Gardiner and House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, taking issue with the top lawmakers’ announcement that legislative staff and lawyers would be secluded as they drew a map intended to comply with the Supreme Court’s decision rejecting current districts.
That map will serve as a “base” for lawmakers as they consider amendments and give ultimate approval to a congressional redistricting plan during a special legislative session that starts Monday.
“We believe that the ‘base map’ should be discussed and drawn in public, as that map will play a central role in the legislative process of drawing the congressional redistricting plan,” wrote League of Women Voters President Pamela Goodman and Peter Butzin, chairman of Common Cause Florida. “We hope and expect that the Legislature will provide a mechanism for the public to view the drawing of the ‘base map’ and any associated discussions.”
The legislative leaders, who have been battling the two groups in court for more than three years, did not seem overly concerned.
“As with similar politically motivated letters that have been received regarding the redistricting process, the speaker has no comment,” Crisafulli spokesman Michael Williams wrote in an email.
The anticipated disputes also cropped up when the base map itself was released. The plan would re-jigger lines across the state — particularly in Northeast Florida, the Orlando area and Southeast Florida — and likely tilt the playing field slightly more in the direction of Democrats, allowing them to chip away at the GOP’s 17-10 edge in the U.S. House delegation.
But the biggest and most-charged change came with Democratic Congresswoman Corrine Brown’s district, which has for years run from Jacksonville to Orlando and gives African-Americans a chance to elect candidates of their choice. The new version of the district would still do that, supporters say, as it runs from Jacksonville in the east to Gadsden County in the west.
Brown is not among those who think the district will work out as well for black voters, and she promptly headed to court to try a convoluted legal move to block the new orientation.
“It’s about drawing districts that put communities of interest together. Period,” Brown said during a press conference in Orlando. “Jacksonville, Florida has nothing in common with North Florida.”
(Left unexplained was what Jacksonville has in common with Orlando.)
There could be changes to the base map, but those who want to file amendments will face a daunting list of requirements. House members, for example, will have to disclose everyone who helped them draw maps and give detailed, non-political explanations for why the districts are shaped certain ways.
EDGING AWAY FROM QUARANTINE
Everyone knows that Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, likes to tell tales and that some of them might have a North Dakota-sized dollop of exaggeration in them. But when Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, missed a father-son speaking engagement Wednesday, the elder Gaetz told reporters that Matt had come down with highly contagious whooping cough.
“The bad news is, Matt has whooping cough,” the senator told students from the FSU master’s program in Applied American Politics and Policy. “The good news is, Matt is quarantined.”
Don Gaetz went on to explain that his son was not waylaid — Matt was “doing lots of legal work for his clients, because he can still bill, even though he can’t cough on you.” He also said his son apparently caught the disease from Florida Congressman Carlos Curbelo, who confirmed this week that he had been diagnosed with whooping cough, also known as pertussis or “the 100-day cough.”
But the thing is, Papa Gaetz was getting ahead of the story.
Matt Gaetz tweeted Friday that test results showed he does not have the disease.
“Whooping Cough tests are negative. Special thx 2 Okaloosa Health Dept. Many apologies @RepCurbelo. Quarantine lifted!” the younger Gaetz tweeted.
EDGING TO RESOLUTION
The good news for the taxpayers of Florida: Two lingering legal cases facing the state have been resolved. The bad news: Those settlements will result in $1.3 million being shelled out to lawyers.
One case brought an end to a saga that toppled a House speaker and put just a little bit more of the budget process into the sunlight. But corruption charges against former House Speaker Ray Sansom that started the entire affair in 2009 were eventually dropped, and the state has now agreed to pay most of his legal bills.
Indeed, the state has paid $600,000 to settle a case about whether Sansom was entitled to more than $800,000 in legal fees for his successful defense against charges linked to a budget item approved while he chaired the House budget-writing committee.
“I respect the court’s ruling and am pleased that we could reach a settlement that is significantly less than the judgment and will end all further litigation on this matter,” House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island, said in a statement released Tuesday by his office.
Meanwhile, the state was preparing to shell out $700,000 to settle a public-records dispute brought by Tallahassee attorney Steven Andrews, who has tangled with the governor several times over the years.
In the course of a property battle with Scott and the Cabinet, Andrews made public-records requests. Ultimately, a California judge ordered Internet giant Google in April to turn over correspondence through computer IP addresses from the Gmail accounts of Scott and two former staff members. Andrews argued that Scott used Gmail to sidestep the state’s public-records laws.
The agreement to pay Andrews in the public-records dispute was signed Wednesday, the same day that Scott and Cabinet members approved a settlement that ended the property battle.
The Cabinet on Wednesday also made permanent the appointments of Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Jon Steverson and Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Rick Swearingen to their $150,000-a-year jobs.
Both were initially recommended by Scott in December and appointed a month later. But Steverson and Swearingen had to go through a new Cabinet-level agency head application process as they were among 16 Scott appointees who failed to land Senate confirmation during the 2015 legislative session.
That process itself was an outgrowth of the controversial ouster of former FDLE Commissioner Gerald Bailey, something that dogged Scott for weeks, long ago, when things were perhaps less stressful in the Capitol.
STORY OF THE WEEK: The Legislature released a “base map” that would recast congressional districts across the state and could shake up the future of Florida’s U.S. House delegation.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “I would feel awful if I became Okaloosa County’s Typhoid Mary.”—Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, on staying home while he waited for test results about whether he had whooping cough.
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Wahoos Win Second Straight Over Birmingham Barons
August 9, 2015
Three Pensacola Blue Wahoos smacked home runs and the club won its second straight game over the Birmingham Barons Saturday.
Blue Wahoos center fielder Bryson Smith doubled with two outs in the eighth inning to score Pensacola speedster Beau Amaral from third with the winning run, 8-7, in front of its 20th sellout of the year at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
It was Pensacola’s seventh win in the last nine games and the Blue Wahoos remained a half-game back of Southern League South Division second half leader the Mobile BayBears at 25-17 (49-60). Mobile is 25-16 in the second half.
Pensacola came back to defeat the Barons after trailing, 5-1, in the third inning. Blue Wahoos shortstop Alex Blandino smashed a three-run homer to left field in the bottom of the third inning to bring Pensacola within one run, 5-4. Both catcher Yovan Gonzalez and Bryson Smith scored on Blandino’s second homer for the Blue Wahoos since joining the club Aug. 3.
Pensacola also got a monstrous solo blast from third baseman Seth Mejias-Brean in the second inning, which was his sixth of the year to have a team-leading 42 RBIs. Gonzalez, who now has a four-game hit streak, hit his third homer of the year when he smashed a two-run blast in the fourth inning.
The Blue Wahoos have led the Southern League since July 1 with 117 extra base hits.
Coming back from four runs down is something the Blue Wahoos have rarely done this season, said Pensacola manager Pat Kelly. Kelly credits the addition of right fielder Juan Duran’s bat to the lineup July 1 after he completed injury rehab.
“He really lengthens our lineup,” Kelly said. “Everyone is in a position now where they are very comfortable.”
Kelly said he was most impressed with Blandino’s homer to left. “That was a big blow right there,” he said.
He also complimented Gonzalez, the backup catcher for the Wahoos, who was 1-2 with two walks Saturday and scored two runs.
“He’s swinging a great bat the last four or five games,” Kelly said. “He’s done it in limited play. He’s in a tough role. It’s nice to see that production.”
Gonzalez’s two-run homer in the fourth brought the Blue Wahoos within, 7-6. Buckley then scored on a Ryan Wright sacrifice fly to right to tie the game, 7-7, in the sixth inning.
Birmingham went up 7-4 when third baseman Nicky Delmonico, who had a home run and three RBIs, singled in shortstop Tim Anderson, who hit a leadoff double in the fourth inning. Delmonico then scored on a sacrifice fly to right field by designated hitter Danny Hayes.
Anderson, the Chicago White Sox top prospect, went 2-4 with a double, scored three times and stole three bases for a Southern League-leading 44 steals on the year.
“He is such a threat,” Kelly said. “Plus, he plays great at shortstop.”
Heat Advisory All Weekend
August 8, 2015
There is a heat advisory in effect through Monday night. Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 77. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 98. Heat index values as high as 112. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 75. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 97. Heat index values as high as 110. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 75. South wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 95. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 77. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. West wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 92.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 71.
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 93.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.
Cantonment Man Convicted Of Sexual Assault, Carjacking; Faces Up To Life In Prison
August 8, 2015
A Cantonment carjacking and sexual assault suspect has been found guilty in Escambia County Circuit Court. He now faces up to life in prison when sentenced next month.
Eddie Lee Atkins, age 27 of 622 Muscogee Road, was convicted Friday by an Escambia County Jury of sexual battery with force likely to cause serious bodily injury, attempted sexual battery with force likely to cause serious bodily injury, burglary of a conveyance with assault and battery and carjacking without a weapon for two separate attacks on September 18, 2014. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said DNS evidence linked Atkins to both crimes.
At approximately 8:15 a.m., a carjacking was reported at the Raceway gas station at Highway 29 and Muscogee Road. The 55-year old victim went inside the store to make a purchase and pay for gasoline. After she pumped her gas, she found that Atkins had allegedly entered her unlocked vehicle and concealed himself in the backseat. The victim did not see Atkins and drove away from the store with him in the vehicle.
Atkins ordered the victim to drive to a particular location and when she disobeyed his orders, he jumped in the front seat and began beating her multiple times in the face. Finally, the victim was able to stop the car, at which time Atkins pushed her out and stole the car.
Within 20 minutes, the stolen vehicle was located at the intersection of Pine Street and Booth Avenue. The second female victim was jogging past the area when Atkins attacked her and dragged her into the woods where he sexually battered and beat her.
A little more than 15 minutes later, the attempted sexual battery of a female jogger was reported on Rocky Avenue. The victim reported that as she was jogging when an unknown black male suspect grabbed her from behind and dragged her into awooded area. Once there he struck her in the face and attempted to remove her clothing but the victim fought back and was able to escape.
DNA evidence found inside the vehicle linked Eddie Lee Atkins to the crime. He was subsequently identified by the second victim in a photographic lineup.
Circuit Judge Jennie Kinsey scheduled Eddie Lee Atkins to be sentenced on September 1 at 1:30 p.m. at which time he is facing up to life in prison.
Atkins was released from prison in August 2013 and has a prior criminal history that includes robbery, two aggravated assaults, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Prosecutors will seek to have Atkins sentenced as a prison releasee reoffender.
Local Law Enforcement Supervisors Graduate From Florida Leadership Academy
August 8, 2015
The Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute announces the graduation today of 31 first-line supervisors from the Florida Leadership Academy. The graduates represent criminal justice agencies from across the state and serve in leadership roles within their agencies, including several local agencies.
Graduates learned skills necessary to support the needs of their agencies and the community as they prepared for future challenges during four weeks of training. Among the graduates were Correctional Officer Sergeant Steven Bailey of the Century Correctional Institution and Correctional Officer Sergeant Christie Martin of the Santa Rosa Correctional Institution.
Their accomplishments were highlighted by the Florida Department of Corrections. DOC Secretary Julie Jones said, “The Department is proud to recognize the achievements of Correctional Officer Sergeant Steven Bailey and Correctional Officer Sergeant Christie Martin. These officers have displayed exceptional leadership and the commitment to enhancing their skills and abilities to better lead the staff under their supervision.”
Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan likewise recognized his deputies that graduated Friday. “The purpose of these professional development courses is to train and mentor our future leaders in law enforcement. We congratulate our graduates,” Morgan said. Graduates of the 33rd Class of the Florida Leadership Academy were:
- Steven Bailey — Century Correctional Institution
- Charles Dickin, II — Escambia County Sheriff’s Office
- Phillip Folmar — Escambia County Sheriff’s Office
- Robert Pollock — Escambia County Sheriff’s Office
- Jeffrey Swanson — Escambia County Sheriff’s Office
- Delarian Wiggins — Escambia County Sheriff’s Office
- Christie Martin — Santa Rosa Correctional Institution
- William Dunsford, Jr. — Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office
- Scott Jones — Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office
- Jamey Kahalley — Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office
- James Reese — Pensacola Police Department
- Gary Biggs — Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services
- Scott Lee — Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission
- Sandra Fernland — Ocala Police Department
- Leroy V. Huyghue, III — Okaloosa County Corrections
- Lisa Roper — Okaloosa County Corrections
- Matthew Abbott — Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office
- Donald “DJ” Folley — Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office
- Jeremy Gilbert — Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office
- John Merchant — Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office
- Jared Hanna — Seminole County Sheriff’s Office
- Scott Brockew — Tarpon Springs Police Department
- William Curtis — Walton County Sheriff’s Office
- Joshua Martin — Walton County Sheriff’s Office
- Mark Wendel — Walton County Sheriff’s Office
- Sandra D. Fitzsimons — Florida Department of Financial Services
- David O’Dell — Florida Department of Financial Services
- Jeremiah Bortle — Florida Department of Law Enforcement
- Rachel Bryant — Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation
- Kent Harvey — Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission
- Eddie Elmore — Florida Highway Patrol
Tate Showband Presents Preview Show (With Video)
August 8, 2015
The Tate High School Showband of the South presented a preview show of the 2015 halftime show Friday evening.
Video is below, courtesy of the Tate High School Showband of the South.
(If you do not see the video, it is because your work, school or home firewall is block YouTube videos.)