Fiery Crash: Driver Hits Pumps At Highway 29 Gas Station
June 25, 2015
One person was hospitalized after their pickup slammed into gas pumps at the Raceway station on Highway 29 in Ensley Thursday morning.
About 6:50 a.m., the pickup driver, 32-year old Jessie L. Thomas of Pensacola, suffered a “medical event” according to the Florida Highway Patrol. He crossed from the southbound lanes of Highway 29 into the northbound lanes, striking a Mazda Miata drive by Sidney Hargis, 36. Thomas then continued into the parking lot of the gas station off Highway 29 and lost control before hitting and sheering-off one set of pumps and hit another set, sparking a roaring blaze. Thomas was rescued from the truck by bystanders.
Thomas was transported to Baptist Hospital with minor injuries. Hargis was not injured.
Thomas was cited by the FHP for having no insurance.
Do you have additional photos of this crash? Email them to news@northescambia.com
Reader submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Gives Final Approval For Black Bear Hunting
June 25, 2015
October 24 will start a really bad few days to be a black bear in Florida.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission on Wednesday voted 4-1, over the pleas of angry and frustrated critics, to approve rule changes that will allow an unlimited number of hunters to participate in the first hunt of black bears in the state in more than two decades.
About 300 bears are expected to be killed in four parts of the state where hunting will be allowed over two to seven days, starting on Oct. 24.
Commissioners said the hunt is a step in managing the growing bear population in Florida.
“Our responsibility lies in taking care of what we have here in Florida, to perpetuate for our next generations,” said Commissioner Richard Hanas.
“I don’t think that doing things like concentrating on garbage control and education and outreach, and all those types of efforts, and hunting are mutually exclusive,” added Commissioner Aliesa “Liesa” Priddy, who made a point to note she was not pressured into her decision. “I think we need to do both of those.”
Commissioner Ron Bergeron cast the lone vote against reviving the hunt this year.
Bergeron, noting he is an avid hunter, questioned the size of the proposed hunt as a sustainable figure for the bear population and said he would like staff members to gather more data about the number of bears, which were removed from the state’s threatened list in 2012, in two parts of the state where the hunt will proceed.
“I’m not supportive of hunting the way it’s presented,” Bergeron said. “You have to look at the interest of the bear.”
Chairman Richard Corbett said the commission will make additional changes to the rules if the hunt is found to be “overdone.”
With emotions running high from proponents and opponents, about 70 speakers addressed the commission before the vote at the Hyatt Regency Sarasota. Most of the speakers opposed the measure, including one wearing a bear outfit, with many of the critics resigned that their comments wouldn’t change the outcome for what they view as a “trophy hunt.”
“We do not see this hunt resolving the human-bear conflict issues at this time,” said Maria Bolton-Joubert, programs chair for Sierra Club of Central Florida. “We see this as impacting the bear population further.”
Bolton-Jorbert, as with a number of other speakers, noted that Florida’s increased human population is expanding into wildlife habitat and that the state should further implement non-lethal rules, such as bear-proofing trash containers, prohibiting people from feeding wild bears and cracking down on the illegal harvesting of saw palmetto berries, which is a staple of a bear’s diet.
Katherine McGill, a founding member of the National Urban Wildlife Coalition, said the state should wait a year, when updated bear counts will be available, and see if rules designed to reduce human-bear conflict and nuisance animals can take hold.
“We need to stop killing our wildlife for being wildlife, for getting into trash, for getting into bird feeders, for just being seen walking through the backyard,” McGill said.
In addition to ongoing outreach efforts by the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to reduce human-bear conflicts through non-hunting measures, such as public education and trash control, Florida lawmakers approved a new law this year (HB 7021) that increased penalties for people charged a fourth time with feeding bears and alligators not in captivity. The charge would be a third-degree felony.
Currently, a fourth offense of illegally feeding wildlife within a 10-year period is a first-degree misdemeanor.
Among those supporting the return of the bear hunt include the National Rifle Association, Unified Sportsmen of Florida and a number of regional hunting groups.
Newton Cook, a member of the Future of Hunting in Florida board of directors, called the proposed effort to maintain the bear population “good science.”
“Too many people have lost their relationship to the natural world,” Cook said. “A bear and all wildlife live in very cruel, bloody harsh conditions in the wild. If you’re a hunter you see it. You see the deer that has been pulled down and partially eaten by coyotes, or a panther, or maybe a bear, sometimes still alive, but just the guts eaten out of it. It’s not pretty out there. But we get these Bambi mentalities and you have a problem.”
Robert “Bob” Andrew, president of the Southwest Florida Outdoorsman Association in Punta Gorda, added that the bear population needs to be regulated for the good of the bears.
“I’d rather see them harvested than starve to death,” Andrew said.
Some speakers viewed the hunt as a step in expanding hunting to other animals that the state has protected.
Carole Baskin, the founder and CEO of Big Cat Rescue, expressed concern that reopening the bear hunting season will “embolden” the state to allow the Florida panthers to be hunted.
On Tuesday, the commission was presented with a proposal to alter conservation efforts for endangered Florida panthers.
The panther population-control plan, which Priddy said keeps panthers on the endangered species list, is expected to return before the commission in September.
At that time, the state is also expected to have updated numbers on the bear population in Florida so that the harvest numbers will be revised, said Diane Eggeman, director of the commission’s Division of Hunting and Game Management.
Black bears were placed on the state’s threatened list in 1974, when there were between 300 and 500 across Florida. At the time, hunting black bears was limited to three counties. In 1994, the hunting season was closed statewide.
Florida now has an estimated 3,150 black bears in four regions — the eastern Panhandle, Northeast Florida, east-central Florida and South Florida — where the hunts would be conducted. The numbers are based on 2002 estimates for the eastern Panhandle and South Florida, and a 2014 count in the Northeast Florida and east-central Florida regions.
The hunt will be halted in each region — the FWC intends to communicate daily with hunters via text and email — once the quota for the area is reached, Eggeman said.
The timing of the hunt is set for when bears are typically more active, said Eggeman. It also comes at a time when most cubs are more mature and able to survive on their own, she said.
The cost to get a bear hunting permit will be $100 for Floridians and $300 for non-Floridians. Once the permits are made available, they can be acquired up until the day before the hunt begins.
Each hunter would be limited to one bear, and the kill would have to be registered and tagged within 12 hours.
The bears hunted must weigh at least 100 pounds.
Also, hunters would be prohibited from killing bears within 100 yards of active game-feeding stations. Hunters would also be prohibited from using dogs to hunt bear, but can have leashed canines trail shot bears.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Adopt A Pet With Reduced Fees
June 25, 2015
The Escambia County Animal Shelter will host a public animal adoption event, “Clear the Kennels,” on Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at 200 West Fairfield Drive.
The purpose of this event is to alleviate overcrowding and help these great animals find forever homes. Manager’s special pricing will be offered both days.
Manager’s Special Adoption fees:
- Dogs (over three years of age): $35
- Dogs (under three years of age): $55
- Cats (over three years of age): $20
- Cats (under three years of age): $30
The adoption fee includes spay or neuter, vaccinations and microchip.
The shelter is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.
For more information call (850) 595-3075 or email animalshelter@myescambia.com
Escambia Man Gets Life Sentence For Attempted Murder
June 25, 2015
An Escambia County man has been sentenced to life in prison for a 2014 attempted murder and assault.
Hector Adolfo Demontalvo was sentenced by Circuit Judge Linda Nobles to life in state prison with a minimum mandatory sentence of 33 years to be served day for day. Demontalvo pled no contest on March 30, 2015 to the charges of attempted murder with a firearm, aggravated assault with a firearm, and armed burglary with a firearm.
On September 4, 2014, Escambia County deputies responded to 211 Donald Drive. At the scene, they found Zachary Brown inside the residence suffering from multiple wounds. Witnesses stated that Brown was shot, stabbed, kicked and struck by a skateboard causing serious bodily injuries. Witnesses identified Demontalvo as the perpetrator and stated that he had fled the residence. Those witnesses also stated that Demontalvo accused Brown of “wearing a wire” just prior to his attack. The deputies found the knife and gun used in the attack at 211 Donald Drive.
Within minutes of arriving, the deputies were called to 216 Henry Street in Pensacola where they found the Demontalvo. They discovered at Demontalvo had broken into that house and attempted to kidnap a resident while armed with a second gun.
Jay Lindsey Named Tate Head Football Coach
June 25, 2015
Jay Lindsey has been named head football coach at Tate High School.
Lindsey was named interim coach in late March.
Lindsey was offensive coordinator for the Aggies last season and led the team through the spring. He has nine years coaching experience, including his time at Tate and years at Pace High school.
Lindsey’s appointment follows the resignation of Ronnie Douglas, who stepped down to spend more time on his business ventures.
Judge Considers Challenge To Abortion Waiting Period
June 25, 2015
Only days before a new Florida law would start requiring 24-hour waits before women can have abortions, a Leon County circuit judge is considering whether to place a hold on the law while a constitutional challenge goes forward.
The law (HB 633), which passed in April, is slated to go into effect July 1. The day after Gov. Rick Scott signed the law, the American Civil Liberties Union filed a constitutional challenge and sought an emergency injunction.
On Wednesday, Chief Circuit Judge Charles Francis heard arguments from the ACLU and the Attorney General Pam Bondi’s office and then said he’d issue a ruling quickly on whether to grant an injunction.
Both sides are expected to appeal an adverse ruling.
The new law adds to the information that physicians performing abortions must provide to women to obtain their consent. Under the law, the information must be provided in person to women at least 24 hours before the procedures are performed — requiring women to make two trips to abortion clinics.
Supporters of the law contend it will give women more time to reflect on their decisions. Opponents contend it will place obstacles before women seeking abortions, especially women who are victims of violence and women who are low-income and live in rural areas.
In a one-hour hearing Wednesday, ACLU attorney Renee Paradis pointed to Florida’s “explicit” constitutional right to privacy as the basis for challenging HB 633.
“Florida is one of only five states with this kind of strong privacy protection in the Constitution,” she said. “None of those five have a waiting period. The only one that tried to have a waiting period was struck down by the courts in Montana.”
But Blaine Winship, special counsel to the attorney general, said the state has a vested interest in its residents’ well-being.
“The state wields the police power to protect the health and safety of the people,” he said.
Winship also contended that nothing in the new law removes a woman’s right to get an abortion.
“The question of whether there is a 24-hour wait for her to contemplate the full impact and ramifications of her decision is obviously what we’ve been talking about today,” he said. “It’s what the Legislature aimed to try to protect.”
Lawmakers included in the law exceptions to the 24-hour wait for victims of rape, incest, domestic violence and human trafficking. To qualify, however, those victims must produce police reports, restraining orders, medical records or other documentation — and Paradis said most victims do not seek those.
The Republican-led Legislature rejected Democrats’ attempts to allow women to consult with doctors online or to have nurses explain the procedure on the first visit.
“This is all just about informed consent,” Winship said. “The Legislature took great care in building in a number of exemptions.”
But Paradis said the second-trip requirement threatens a woman’s privacy by increasing the risk that other people — from loved ones to employers and co-workers — will learn that she is having an abortion.
The two sides also sparred over the strength of Florida’s constitutional right to privacy. Winship pointed to a 2006 Florida Supreme ruling that upheld the informed-consent provision in a 1997 law, the “Women’s Right to Know” Act, which required doctors to explain the medical risks of abortion and to obtain consent from women seeking them.
Paradis, however, noted that the language in a landmark 1989 case had provided Floridians with stronger privacy protections than most states.
“The state may think it knows better, but that doesn’t matter,” Paradis said. “It matters what the woman decides.”
Francis said he would not rule Wednesday, but soon thereafter.
by Margie Menzel, The News Service of Florida
Seminoles Up The Ante In Gambling Negotiations
June 25, 2015
The Seminole Tribe has given the state 30 days to strike a new accord about exclusive rights to operate banked card games and has put the state on notice that tribal casinos don’t have to shut down the games even in the absence of a revamped deal.
Wednesday’s letter from tribal chief James Billie is the Seminoles’ latest effort to force state leaders into negotiations about the lucrative card games and comes a month before a deal giving the tribe “exclusivity” over the games is set to expire.
Billie sent state leaders a “notice of commencement of compact dispute resolution procedures,” setting in motion a 30-day period for both sides to meet over the banked card games, which include blackjack. The dispute resolution mechanism requested by the tribe is included in a 20-year agreement, inked in 2010, that set out the parameters for the Seminoles’ gambling operations in Florida.
The compact also included a five-year deal, slated to sunset at the end of July, that gave the tribe exclusive rights to operate banked card games at five of its seven casinos. In exchange, the Seminoles agreed to pay the state a minimum of $1 billion over five years. The payments would stop if anyone else in the state offers the “banked” games.
“It’s my opinion that the tribe is utilizing these arguments and the dispute resolution provision to get into a room with state leaders in order to continue a discussion on the balance of the term of the compact and the operation of banked cards,” said Senate Majority Leader Bill Galvano, a Bradenton lawyer who helped craft the original compact. “From a legal strategy standpoint, it’s a good strategy. I disagree with the arguments that they’re making, but it at least gives them a procedural methodology to negotiate with the state.”
Lawmakers failed to approve a new agreement during the regular session that ended in May, and discussions between the tribe and Republican legislative leaders have gone nowhere this year. Gov. Rick Scott handed over the issue to House and Senate leaders after a deal between the governor and the Seminoles blew up in the waning days of the 2014 legislative session.
In Wednesday’s six-page letter hand-delivered to Scott, Senate President Andy Gardiner and House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, the Seminoles contend that they can continue to offer the card games with or without a new deal because of state-authorized gambling activities taking place elsewhere.
The alleged violations of the compact would allow the tribe to stop making direct payments to the state and instead deposit the money into an escrow account, Billie wrote.
“While the tribe could have exercised its right to do so immediately, it has thus far elected to continue making its payments to the state and, as a gesture of good faith, intends to continue making its payments to the state pending the resolution of this dispute,” he wrote.
Billie’s arguments included a claim the tribe has made for years regarding slot machines that look like blackjack and roulette, authorized by state gambling regulators at non-tribal pari-mutuels. The slots operate essentially the same as the banked games, Billie wrote, the only difference being that the cards are electronic instead of paper, “a distinction we assert is without a difference.”
The Seminoles also raised a new issue on Wednesday, however, about whether player-banked card games in which the “bank” is another player instead of “the house” — first authorized by state gambling regulators in 2011and now at play in at least three pari-mutuel facilities — also violate the tribe’s rights to exclusivity. “Banked” card games, such as blackjack, are typically considered those in which players bet against the house instead of each other.
But Billie’s letter asserts that the National Indian Gaming Commission considers player-banked card games to be a form of banked card games.
“That is a very arcane area but, as I read their letter, it’s not something that I find to be ridiculous,” said Steve Geller, a former state senator and attorney who specializes in gaming law. “This may be a way of forcing the state into negotiation. I tend to disagree with most of it, but I don’t find them to be open and shut issues, particularly if the NIGC (National Indian Gaming Commission) has interpreted this player-banked card game to be a banked card game.”
by Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida
Tate, Jay Players Named To All State Softball Teams; Wyatt Coach Of Year
June 25, 2015
The Miracle Sports All-State softball teams were named Wednesday.
Tate High School’s Tori Perkins was named the 7A pitcher of the year, and Tate coach Melinda Wyatt was named the 7A coach of the year.
Perkins and Casey McCrackin were named 7A first team. Rachel Wright, Hayden Lindsay and Lauren Brennan were named to the state second team.
In 1A, Jay’s Destiny Herring, Michaela Stewart and Harley Tagert were named to the first team, while the Royals’ Dana Blackmon, Samantha Steadham, Avery Jackson and Emily Dobson were named to the second team.
Pictured: Tori Perkins (L) shortly after Tate won the Class 7A softball championship, and Coach Melinda Wyatt (right) tosses a ceremonial first pitch for the Blue Wahoos. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Former Lawmaker, ‘Country Doctor’ Peaden Dies
June 24, 2015
Former Sen. Durell Peaden, a soft-spoken Panhandle doctor who helped shepherd state health policy and funding, has died after suffering a heart attack early this month.
Senate Secretary Debbie Brown sent a memo to senators Wednesday morning informing them of the death of Peaden, 69, who served in the Senate from 2000 to 2010 and in the House from 1994 to 2000.
“Last night I lost a friend, cousin and mentor,” Sen. Greg Evers, a Baker Republican and cousin of Peaden, said in an email to lawmakers Wednesday. “It is with a heavy heart that I bring you the news of the passing of Senator Durell Peaden. Please keep his family in your prayers.”
Peaden’s family dates back generations in Northwest Florida, with biographical information in the House clerk’s manual indicating that a Peaden relative, John Wilkinson, served in the Legislature in the 1840s. Other members of the family also served later in the 1800s, in the early 1900s and in the 1970s.
With his soft, slow drawl, Peaden liked to describe himself as a “country doctor.” He was a well-liked figure in the Legislature and would, at times, aggressively advocate for health-care money. He said the Senate Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee, which he chaired during part of his time in the Senate, dealt with “life and death” issues.
While in the House, Peaden — who was widely known as “Doc” in the Capitol — also took a lead role in helping establish a medical school at Florida State University. His pitch, at least in part, was that the school could help train primary-care physicians to work in rural and underserved areas.
Hailing from Crestview in the conservative northwest corner of the state, Peaden also was a leading supporter of gun rights. Perhaps most notably, Peaden in 2005 sponsored the “stand your ground” self-defense law.
Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, announced to the Senate on June 5 that Peaden had suffered a heart attack and was hospitalized in Pennsylvania. Evers last week told senators that Peaden was recovering.
by Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida
Pictured: Durell Peaden.
Cantonment Man Killed In Single Vehicle Crash
June 24, 2015
A Cantonment man was killed in a single vehicle accident in Cantonment Tuesday night.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 21-year old Aaron Lewis Wolfe was traveling southbound on County Road 97 in a 1998 Jeep Cherokee just before 9 p.m. As he entered a curve near Devine Farm Road, he left the roadway, traveled onto the shoulder and over-corrected, causing his vehicle to overturn multiple times. The Jeep came to rest upside down on the shoulder of the road.
Wolfe, who was wearing a seat belt, was pronounced deceased on the scene, according to the FHP.
NorthEscambia.com photo by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
