Senate Weighs ‘Best Interest Of The Child’ In Adoptions
November 21, 2015
Backed by the sometimes-tearful testimony of foster parents, a state Senate panel Thursday approved a bill that would allow judges to place the best interests of children in adoption cases above the wishes of their biological parents.
The Senate Children, Families and Elder Affairs Committee unanimously passed a measure (SB 590) by Sen. Nancy Detert, R-Venice, that she said would resolve a conflict between two laws dealing with children in dependency cases.
Currently, Detert said, a law requiring judges to rule based on “the best interests of the child” is in conflict with a law that allows private adoption agencies to intervene in open adoption cases where parents’ rights have not yet been terminated. In such cases, the adoption agency typically names the person that the biological parent prefers to adopt the child.
“This sounds like a good idea,” Detert said. “But the current law also permits even a parent who has murdered a spouse, committed egregious acts against their children or who wishes to punish a foster parent that has provided a caring home for their child for a lengthy time to choose who their child should be placed with — without requiring the court to consider what is in the best interest of the child, as it would for any other dependency case.”
The bill would create an exception to the part of current law that allows agencies and parents to influence who adopts children. The exception would apply in cases where petitions to terminate parents’ rights have been filed and qualified adoptive parents have been identified.
The measure drew widespread support from foster parents and children’s advocacy groups.
“Virtually all of the judges who are experienced dependency judges have indicated that this has become a serious problem in our courtrooms,” said Judge Daniel Dawson, who handles juvenile cases in the 9th Judicial Circuit, which includes Orange and Osceola counties.
Dawson said that in every such case he has encountered, “there has been spite on behalf of the parent wanting to remove the child from a relative or a foster parent,” or, in some cases, parents arranged for a person to adopt a child “that they knew was going to return the child to their custody.”
The judge also said he has never seen such an intervention early in a dependency proceeding, when the child is typically placed in a foster home. Rather, he said, motions to intervene come when biological parents are about to lose their parental rights — even if a child has been in a stable foster home for years.
Several foster parents who had lost custody of children urged lawmakers to pass the bill.
Amy Wragg, who is from the Palm Beach County community of Tequesta, described the son she’d fostered for a year, from the day she picked him up at a neonatal intensive care unit where he’d been for two months, “going through drug withdrawal because of what his mother had done to him.”
At that point, Wragg said, the biological mother was happy for the baby to be with her family. He’d bonded with Wragg, her husband and their four other children. “He called us Mama and Dadda,” she said.
But the judge made his ruling based on the law allowing the biological mother to intervene. Wragg and her family were given 10 days for the transition, which the baby could not begin to understand.
“He started banging his head on things,” she said. “He stopped laughing. …These are not children without feelings, just because they cannot verbally express what their desires are.”
The current law, she said, allows parents to re-traumatize their children “on a whim.”
Allen Walker, who with his wife Eve has been a South Florida foster parent for eight years, described losing a foster son in the same way. The boy didn’t get to say goodbye to his friends or his extended family when he was forced to leave, Walker said.
“What we’ve been trying to do as foster parents is heal them from the initial trauma of coming into care, because they lose everything,” he said. “No matter what their home life is like, they’re losing their families, their friends, their schools, their pets, their toys. …”
After four years with his family, Walker said, the boy had been healing — and then he was placed with someone who’d shown no interest in the boy before.
Other speakers noted that the current laws allow biological parents with severe mental illness or substance abuse issues to make adoption decisions rather than judges.
“We want to protect parents’ rights,” Detert said. “But the Legislature and the courts and most of the people in the audience, our main focus is the protection of the children in the state of Florida and what’s best for them, because they don’t have anybody other than us.”
The Senate bill faces two more committees. The House companion, HB 673 by Rep. Janet Adkins, R-Fernandina Beach, has not been heard.
by Margie Menzel, The News Service of Florida
County Set To Pave Three Byrneville Area Dirt Roads
November 20, 2015
The Escambia County Commission is moving forward with a project that will pave three dirt roads near Byrneville.
The county has inked a design services agreement with Thompson Engineering for Thompson Road from McNeal Road to Highway 29 (1.12 miles), Crary Road from Highway 29 to Byrneville Road (1.07 miles), and McNeal Road from Thompson to Byrneville Road (0.46 miles). The total design cost is $59,870. A contract for paving the roads will be let at a future dates.
After soliciting bids, Baskerville-Donovan was the top-ranked firm for the project, but the company was dropped after two negotiation attempts. It was determined that a negotiated fee could not be achieved with budget.
Thompson Engineering, as the second ranked firm, was then chosen for the project.
Pictured: McNeal Road at the intersection of Byrneville Road. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Seeks Mass Transit Advisory Committee Members
November 20, 2015
The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners is seeking Escambia County residents interested in volunteering to fill vacancies on the Escambia County Mass Transit Advisory Committee, or MTAC. The Board, in its regular meeting on October 1, 2009, adopted a Resolution establishing the MTAC.
The MTAC meets quarterly, typically on the second Wednesday of the month from 3 to 5 p.m.
The duties of the Committee include the following:
- Establishing a set of benchmarks to periodically evaluate the service and management of existing public mass transit systems operating in Escambia County;
- Setting short range and long range goals for increasing ridership, expanding routes, and instituting new mass transit services;
- Assisting the Board of County of Commissioners, the County Administrator, and ECAT Management in developing partnerships with industry groups and employers to foster economic development; and
- Identifying opportunities for inter-governmental or regional transportation alliances with entities both within Escambia County and outside of Escambia County.
Escambia residents interested in serving on the Escambia County Mass Transit Advisory Committee are asked to submit a resume and letter indicating their desire to serve on the Committee by close of business on Tuesday, December 1, 2015. Resumes should be submitted to Judy Witterstaeter, Program Coordinator, Board of County Commissioners, P.O. Box1591, Pensacola, Florida 32502, or emailed to jhwitter@myescambia.com.
Bill Would Limit Backyard Shooting
November 20, 2015
A Senate committee Thursday unanimously approved a proposal aimed at preventing people from shooting guns at backyard ranges in residential areas.
The vote by the Senate Fiscal Policy Committee readied the bill (SB 130) to go to the Senate floor during the 2016 session, which starts in January.
The bill, sponsored by Sen. Garrett Richter, R-Naples, would make it a first-degree misdemeanor for people to intentionally shoot guns in outdoor areas that are “primarily residential in nature” and include one or more residences per acre.
Ponce Inlet Police Chief Frank Fabrizio, who represented the Florida Police Chiefs Association at the committee meeting, said the bill addresses situations such as people using wooden palettes and dirt to fashion backyard gun ranges.
“This legislation clarifies the law without compromising the Second Amendment rights,” Fabrizio said. Committee Chairwoman Anitere Flores, R-Miami, said the bill also could help address problems with people shooting guns into the air during celebrations of events such as New Year’s Eve.
by The News Service of Florida
Supervisor Of Elections Office Receives International Recognition
November 20, 2015
The office of Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David H. Stafford received Recognition for Outstanding Achievement from the International Centre for Parliamentary Studies for their work with the Gulf Coast Citizen Diplomacy Council and its international visitors.
In 2009 the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Office and the Gulf Coast Citizen Diplomacy Council began a partnership that continues to this day to promote international dialogue on free and fair elections. Since then they have hosted representatives from over 50 countries from across the globe and shared the opportunity to learn about the Democratic systems and practices essential to successful elections.
“It is a tremendous honor for our program to be selected as a finalist for such a prestigious and competitive award. We appreciate the opportunity to work with our friends at the Gulf Coast Diplomacy Council on this initiative,” said Stafford.
The three finalist for the category of the International Institutional Engagement Award were:
- Venice Commission, Council of Europe
- Manuel Carrillo Poblano, National Electoral Institute of Mexico
- Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Office and the Gulf Coast Citizen Diplomacy Council, USA
Pictured top: Jena Melancon, executive director of the Gulf Coast Citizen Diplomacy Council, and Davis Stafford, Escambia County Supervisor of Elections, with the Recognition for Outstanding Achievement from the International Centre for Parliamentary Studies award. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Students Coots, Brown Named To All County Academic Team
November 20, 2015
Tate High Schools students Bryce Coots (left) and Samantha Brown will represent Tate High School and the Escambia County School District on the 2015-2016 All County Academic Team. They are pictured with Tate Principal Rick Shackle. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Honors Top Volleyball Players
November 20, 2015
The Northview High School volleyball program recognized outstanding players at their annual banquet.
- Best Offensive Award — Ellie Amerson, JV, with 14 aces, 20 kills and 33 assists; Brittany Ward, varsity, with 16 aces, 3 kills and 146 assists; Hanna Ging, varsity, with 33 aces, 36 kills and 5 assists.
- Best Defensive Award – Natasha Walker, JV, with 6 blocks; Leah Fischer with 37 blocks and 15 digs; Jamia Newton, varsity, with 14.5 blocks and 10 digs.
- Most Improved – Alysa Whatley and Kayla Galvan, JV; Jamia Newton and Brittanie McLemore, varsity.
- Coaches – Brittany Ward
- Best Attitude – Lyndia Smith, JV; Savanna Roux, varsity.
- Effort Award – Alyana Brown, JV; Hanna Ging and Laurie Purdy, varsity.
Team members were recognized:
Junior Varsity
- Ellie Amerson
- Samantha Roux
- Kayla Galvan
- Alyana Brown
- Alysa Whatley
- Olivia Porter
- Autumn Albritton
- Lydia Smith
- Madison Sherouse
- Natasha Walker
Varsity
- Brittany Ward
- Savanna Roux
- Maddi Weber
- Leah Fischer
- Hanna Ging
- Courtney Griml
- Laurie Purdy
- Brittanie McLemore
- Catie Clayton
- Jamia Newton
Pictured: Northview’s varsity (top) and junior varsity (below) volleyball teams. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Library Holds ‘Thank-You’ Event; Coloring Contest At Molino Library
November 20, 2015
A “Thank You Kids!” program was held Thursday afternoon at the Century Branch Library. The program celebrated youth with stories, crafts and treats.
A Thanksgiving coloring contest is continuing through Saturday at the Molino Branch Library. Children 11 and under can pick up an sheet, color a Thanksgiving turkey and return it to the library by Saturday for a chance to win a prize. Winners will be announced on Monday.
Photo by August Whorff for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Peanut Butter Drive Continues
November 20, 2015
The Escambia County Extension office, along with the University of Florida Institute of Food & Agricultural Sciences and the Florida Peanut Producer Association are collecting peanut butter now through next week to help take a bite out of hunger.
The groups are accepting donations of unopened jars of peanut butter to be donated to local food pantries during Farm-City Week.
Unopened jars of peanut butter of any brand can be dropped off until November 25 at any of the following locations:
Escambia County
- Escambia County Extension Office, 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment
- Escambia County Farm Bureau, 153 Highway 97, Molino
- Escambia County Public Safety, 6575 North W Street
- Escambia County Administration, 221 Palafox Place, 4th Floor
- Gilmore Services, 31 East Fairfield Drive
Peanut butter collected in Escambia County last year was donated to food pantries in Molino, Bratt and Century.
Pictured: The Godwins of Godwin Farms in Santa Rosa County, (L-R) Steven, Laryn, Valarie, Kylei, Rachael. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Inmate Dies In Escambia County Jail
November 19, 2015
An inmate died at the Escambia County Main Jail after being found unresponsive Wednesday from an apparent medical condition. Escambia County Corrections medical personnel discovered 21-year old Samuel Devon Averheart unresponsive in the infirmary unit and called emergency medical services at 3 a.m. with crews arriving on scene at 3:09 a.m. He was pronounced dead at 3:23 a.m.
Averheart was arrested on Tuesday, November 10, charged with felony violation of probation and held without bond. He was moved to the infirmary on Tuesday, November 17 after being evaluated, treated and released on the same day by a physician at a local hospital for a medical condition. Jail records show he was housed alone and checked every hour by medical staff since being released back into custody, according to a statement by Escambia County, which operates the jail.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is investigating.