New ECAT Bus Stop Shelters Being Installed
March 2, 2015
Escambia County is installing or relocating bus benches and shelters across the county. Pictured is the new Escambia County Area Transit (ECAT) bus stop shelter at the Billy G. Ward Courthouse in Century. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Lawmakers To Consider Expunging Juvenile Records
March 2, 2015
As Florida’s legislative session gets underway next week, some lawmakers are calling for measures to help teens move on after paying their dues in the juvenile-justice system.
Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, joined children’s advocates on Thursday in Jacksonville, saying he would support efforts to give kids a “second chance.” Sen. Darren Soto, D-Orlando, is sponsoring a bill (SB 1316) that would allow the expunging of records for minors who commit nonviolent misdemeanors and go on to complete diversion programs.
Senate Minority Leader Arthenia Joyner, D-Tampa, and Rep. Mia Jones, D-Jacksonville, are sponsoring a proposal (SB 334, HB 205) that would shorten the length of time juvenile offenses stay on the record for minors who aren’t serious or habitual offenders.
The problem, said Dina Sarver, 22, a medical scribe in Port St. Lucie, is that a juvenile record can lock young people out of jobs, colleges, housing and the military — for the rest of their lives.
“I appreciate the juvenile justice system,” Sarver said. “But after I’ve shown them the system can work, I’m constantly reminded of the crime I committed as a child. … I’m speaking for juveniles who have turned their lives around, proven that the juvenile-justice system is beneficial and want to get on with their lives.”
Her crime was grand-theft auto, committed when Sarver was 15 years old. She said she’d become a delinquent at 12, following her parents’ divorce and her mother’s relocation — along with 10 children — from the suburbs to government-subsidized housing. Sarver started working at age 13.
“I was very angry at the world,” she said. At 15, she was incarcerated. But when she had a baby the following year, Sarver said, she cleaned up her act. “I was like, OK, I need to be a better person for my son.”
Kelly Otte executive director of the PACE Center for Girls in Tallahassee, has heard many such stories.
“You’re 14 years old. You make a stupid decision to do something. You end up being in the juvenile justice system, and six years later it means nothing to you, what you did. You’re not even the same person,” Otte said.
Today, Sarver has a degree in health-care management from Indian River State College and plans to take the LSAT exam, for law school, in June. But she had to switch her major from the nursing program, to which she’d been accepted, when her record came to light. And she was nearly expelled a month before her eventual graduation, when her record became an issue again, over a key internship. Even now, she can’t chaperone the kids at her son’s school.
Currently, in Florida, most juvenile records aren’t expunged until the offender is 24, and for some crimes not until age 26. Since most job and college applications require disclosing an arrest, those with juvenile records often find the doors slammed — no matter what gains they’ve made in their lives.
What’s more, according to the Children’s Campaign and the Dolores Barr Weaver Policy Center, between 70 percent and 90 percent of girls in the juvenile system have experienced sexual violence, abuse and neglect in their homes. To escape the trauma, many girls run away from home — a crime if they’re under 18.
“The first thing that experts tell adult women in abusive situations to do is leave their homes to escape their abusers, yet doing so often puts girls on a fast track to being locked up,” Lawanda Ravoira, president and chief executive officer of the Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center, said in a statement.
Bean and Ravoira joined Children’s Lobby spokesman Roy Miller and Allison DeFoor, chairman of the Project on Accountable Justice, in Jacksonville on Thursday. They called for new laws that allow most juvenile records to remain confidential and to be retained only until the offender reaches 21. They also want to automatically expunge records upon completion of diversion programs or in cases where charges were dismissed or unsubstantiated.
Democrats have filed the bills that would accomplish much of that during the upcoming legislative session. But DeFoor pointed to the involvement of Bean, a Senate Republican, as a sign that the bills can succeed in the GOP-dominated Legislature.
“I don’t think it’s going to end up being a partisan issue,” DeFoor said. “It’s almost closer to a glitch bill than it is to a substantive change in policy.”
by Margie Menzel, The News Service of Florida
Bill Puts Lottery Winnings By Sex Offenders in Escrow
March 2, 2015
Sex offenders who hit it big in the Florida Lottery would have the winnings placed into escrow, giving their victims an opportunity to resolve any claims, under a proposal filed Friday by state Rep. Bob Cortes, R-Altamonte Springs.
The measure, which doesn’t yet have a Senate companion, would place the prize of a person convicted of sexual battery, lewd acts or other sexual misconduct into an escrow account for one year. The proposal would also put a hold on any prize of $600 or more if a winner has an outstanding debt to a state agency or owes child support.
The measure comes after the Orlando Sentinel reported in December that a convicted sex offender from Lake County won a $3 million prize in a scratch-off game. Earlier this month, an Orange County judge denied a request from the Lake County man’ two male victims, aged 6 and 11 when the crime was committed in 1997, to freeze the winnings. After being informed of the winner’s police record, the lottery removed the individual’s photo from its website.
Hundreds Attend Walnut Hill Ruritan Auction
March 1, 2015
Hundreds of people attended the 41st Annual Walnut Hill Ruritan Club Farm Equipment Auction Saturday in Walnut Hill.
Items sold included farm equipment, lawn and garden equipment, household items and more during the event, which is held each year on the last Saturday of February. All proceeds from the auction benefit the Walnut Hill Ruritan Club’s community service projects in the Walnut Hill area.
Pictured: Hundreds attended the annual Walnut Hill Ruritan Club farm equipment auction Saturday in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Undefeated Tate Lady Aggies Win Weekend Tourney; Tate Baseball Wins Again
March 1, 2015
The Tate Lady Aggies took home the Florida USA Championship trophy after going undefeated in a two-day, 28-team tournament Friday and Saturday in Panama City. The Aggies gave up only three runs all weekend, while accumulating 33 of their own runs.
Tori Perkins led the way on the mound and at the plate had a grand slam against Gulliver Prep of Miami on Saturday. Rachel Wright and Hayden Lindsay also added to their home run totals.
The Lady Aggies remain undefeated on the season. Tate will host district foe Niceville on Tuesday at Tate, then travel to Milton on Thursday night.
Tate 4, Escambia 0
Meanwhile, the Tate Aggies remain undefeated at 4-0 on the baseball season with a 4-0 win over Escambia High School on Saturday.
Mark Miller pitched a complete game shutout. Sawyer Smith was 2-3 with two RBIs, Trace Penton went 2-4, Cole Halfacre was 1-3 with two RBIs.
Pictured: The Tate Lady Aggies won the Florida USA Championship in Panama City this weekend. Photo by Mike Brennan for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Santa Rosa Sheriff’s Office Warns Of North End Scam
March 1, 2015
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office is warning citizens about a scam which has been taking place primarily in the north end of the county.
According to deputies, the group poses as a construction type company stating they will pave driveways and walkways. They quote a low price and will occasionally ask for payment in advance. If they show up to do the work, they will then state the quote needs to be changed to a substantially higher amount.
Investigators advise the work is generally completed poorly, and occasionally they do not complete the work even after payment has been received. These groups also tend to seek out older victims.
Tips to avoid this type of scam:
- Check companies with the Better Business Bureau
- Contact local established business
- Seek contractor license information
- Obtain a written contract
According to the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office, as a general rule, if it sounds too good to be true…conduct research before exchanging funds.
Manna, Rotary Clubs Team Up To Create Nearly 80,000 Meals For The Hungry
March 1, 2015
The Combined Rotary Clubs of Pensacola (CROP) were joined with Manna Food Bank Saturday. The Fourth Annual Rotary Against Hunger Project resulted in 79,413 meals being packed for the hungry in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
Over 300 volunteers took part in Saturday’s event, with each of the area’s 12 Rotary Clubs represented.
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The Rotary Against Hunger project has become a critical part of our ability to meet the needs of the hungry throughout the year in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties,” said to MANNA Executive Director DeDe Flounlacker. “This project provides much needed food during the Winter and early Spring when donations are always low, and need is always high. Last year, MANNA provided assistance to 32,686 people, including 11,740 children. These are your neighbors and mine – folks who are the working poor, grandparents raising their grandchildren, moms and dads who do not have enough money to pay their bills and buy food for their family. Thanks to Rotary, thousands of people will be helped this year through this gift of nutritious food.”
“By teaming up with Manna, we can insure that these meals will be distributed in a manner that will serve the needs of many families in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties,: said Ed Carson, Rotary Against Hunger Project chair. “Through this project, Rotary is striving to exemplify Service Above Self, the Rotary motto.”
The Rotary Against Hunger project has become critical to Manna, providing much needed food in the later winter and early spring when donations area usually low, Flounlacker said. Last year, MANNA provided assistance to 32,686 people, including 11,740 children.
“These are your neighbors and mine – folks who are the working poor, grandparents raising their grandchildren, moms and dads who do not have enough money to pay their bills and buy food for their family. Thanks to Rotary, thousands of people will be helped this year through this gift of nutritious food,” she said.
Pictured: Nearly 80,000 meals were packed during the Annual Rotary Against Hunger Project Saturday at Manna Food Bank. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Former Northview Assistant Coach Ty Wise Headed To Tennessee
March 1, 2015
Former Northview High School assistant football coach Ty Wise is leaving Graceville High School and heading to Tennessee.
Wise was on the Northview coaching staff for four years. As offensive coordinator, he led a Chiefs offense that accumulated over 1,000 points during the last two seasons and a Class 1A state championship win before heading to Graceville in 2013.
Wise has been named the new head coach at Signal Mountain High School in Tennessee, which is located just outside Chattanooga.
Pictured top: Northview assistant coach Ty Wise celebrates a state championship win for the Chiefs in Orlando’s Citrus Bowl. Pictured below: Wise plans out plays on the sidelines of a Chiefs game in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Publix, Walmart At Odds Over Florida Grocery, Liquor Bill
March 1, 2015
A wide-ranging alcohol measure that would allow shoppers to pick up fifths of Jack Daniel’s in the same stores where they buy groceries passed its first House test over the objection of Florida’s largest grocer.
Members of the House Business & Professions Subcommittee voted 9-4 to advance the measure (HB 107), which would remove an 80-year-old state law that requires liquor stores to be stand-alone facilities.
The bill has drawn opposition from independent liquor stores, some county sheriffs and Lakeland-based Publix. Meanwhile, support for the measure has come from retailers including Wal-Mart and Target.
Publix lobbyist Teye Reeves said the company’s business model has been to separate its liquor stores from the main grocery operations.
“At the end of the day, Wal-Mart has a very specific business model and Publix does not have the same business model, and we’re concerned that it will put us at a competitive disadvantage,” Reeves said.
But retailers that support the change say their customers are looking for increased convenience.
“A change to Florida’s outdated separation law would remove impediments, expand consumer choice, and level the playing field for all grocery retailers across the state, all while ensuring safeguards and security remain in place,” Wal-Mart spokeswoman Amanda Henneberg said in an email after the meeting.
Target lobbyist Jason Unger told the committee that the company is also looking at its business model, which includes smaller “express” locations in downtowns.
“As far as our expansion model, the separation law in Florida is a detriment,” Unger said.
The proposal, sponsored by Rep. Greg Steube, R-Sarasota, also would make other changes in Florida’s alcohol laws. For example, it would allow beer tasting rooms at craft breweries and end the state’s prohibition on brewers being able to fill 64-ounce “growlers” for off-site consumption as they can with other size containers.
But most of Wednesday’s discussion focused on ending the regulation that requires stand-alone liquor stores.
Opponents claim the measure could put small independent liquor stores out of business and would make alcohol more accessible to minors.
“When a minor walks into a liquor store, they stand out like a sore thumb,” said Charles Bailes, chief executive officer of ABC Fine Wine & Spirits. “The barrier is necessary to keep alcohol out of the hands of teens, not because they purchase it but because they steal it.”
Steube said the measure is an effort to reduce regulations, and he disagreed with the contentions that eliminating the barrier will harm small businesses or make it easier for minors to get their hands on liquor.
“If you look at the facts and the data and the research, guess where kids get their alcohol from? Friends and families,” Steube said.
While voting for the overall bill, Rep. Heather Fitzenhagen, R-Fort Myers, said lawmakers need to balance free-market principles with public safety.
“This is not the Berlin Wall, this wall does not need to come down,” Fitzenhagen said. “It’s much safer for our kids to have a separate entrance when they are contemplating risky behavior. And as the mother of two teenagers, I know they do.”
Steube’s measure must still go through the Government Operations Appropriations Subcommittee and the Regulatory Affairs Committee before it can reach the House floor. The annual legislative session starts March 3.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Photos: Color Run 5K
March 1, 2015
Hundreds of people took part in the Pensacola Color Vibe 5K Saturday at Maritime Park. A portion of the proceeds from the event benefited the American Diabetes Association. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
