Florida Supreme Court Sides With Dog Tracks On Card Rooms
November 30, 2014
Overturning a lower-court decision, the Florida Supreme Court this week ruled that at least two greyhound tracks can operate satellite card rooms without live racing.
Siding with the Palm Beach Kennel Club, the 5-1 opinion upheld the constitutionality of a law allowing jai alai permit holders to convert dormant, or unused, permits into greyhound permits if they meet certain conditions.
The law also allows greyhound permit holders to open card rooms at satellite facilities without live racing, again if certain conditions are met. That combination would allow the Palm Beach dog track and the Daytona Beach Kennel Club to open satellite card rooms.
Wednesday’s decision reversed a 1st District Court of Appeal ruling that found the state law was so narrowly written that it applied to only the two facilities and was, therefore, an unconstitutional “special” act.
Under the law, a jai alai permit could be converted in a county in which the state “has issued only two pari-mutuel permits” and only if the jai alai permit had not previously been converted from another class of permit and jai alai games had not been performed there for at least 10 years.
But, in a 30-page opinion written by Chief Justice Jorge Labarga, the majority agreed with attorney Barry Richard, who represented the Palm Beach greyhound track during oral arguments last year, that the lower court wrongly construed the words “only” and “has issued” when interpreting the statute.
The different definitions would mean that “there is a reasonable possibility that (the law) could apply to 10 of the 11 jai alai permits in the state,” Labarga wrote.
The statute, which went into effect in 2010 and was part of a sweeping gambling bill passed by the Legislature in 2009 that authorized a deal with the Seminole Tribe, gives Florida regulators discretion in considering applications for permits “with the aim of maximizing revenue generation and limiting competition within certain geographical areas,” Labarga wrote.
Justice R. Fred Lewis dissented without a written opinion, and Justice Peggy Quince recused herself.
A challenge to the law was filed by DeBary Real Estate Holdings Inc., which owns a quarter-horse permit in Volusia County but has never opened a facility.
The Daytona Beach Kennel Club planned to open a poker room in West Volusia with its converted permit.
by The News Service of Florida
Quiet Hurricane Season Ends
November 30, 2014
The 2014 Atlantic hurricane season ended Sunday, and it will be remembered as a relatively quiet season as was predicted.
“Fortunately, much of the U.S. coastline was spared this year with only one landfalling hurricane along the East Coast. Nevertheless, we know that’s not always going to be the case,” said Louis Uccellini, Ph.D., director of NOAA’s National Weather Service.
There were multiple factors that led to the quieter season.
“A combination of atmospheric conditions acted to suppress the Atlantic hurricane season, including very strong vertical wind shear, combined with increased atmospheric stability, stronger sinking motion and drier air across the tropical Atlantic,” said Gerry Bell, Ph.D., lead hurricane forecaster at NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center. “
Also, the West African monsoon was near- to below average, making it more difficult for African easterly waves to develop.”
Thanksgiving Weekend Gas Prices Lowest In Five Years
November 30, 2014
That Thanksgiving road trip to grandma’s house this weekend was cheaper, with the lowest Thanksgiving gas prices in five years. Locally gas prices were down about 65 cents when compared to last year.
The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gas in the Pensacola metro was $2.67 this Thanksgiving weekend, down from from $3.34 last year. The national average price of gas is $2.85 per gallon, which is 43 cents lower than the average price for Thanksgiving a year ago ($3.28 per gallon).
Pictured: A gallon of regular unleaded gas was $2.69 this Thanksgiving weekend in Century. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Saint Monica’s Episcopal Church Calls New Priest
November 30, 2014
Saint Monica’s Episcopal Church of Cantonment has call Rev. Anthony MacWhinnie II, as its new priest in charge.
MacWhinnie, former vicar of St. Thomas by the Sea in Laguna Beach and former rector of St. Augustine of Canterbury in Navarre, is returning to lead the church and people who elected to send him to seminary.
St. Monica’s, which ministers to the community with a free beans and rice ministry, The Market at St. Monica’s, health screenings and various other outreach projects, has been without a resident priest since 2012.
In an announcement to the congregation recently, Senior Warden Chuck Barnett said, “We believe this is the best thing that has happened to St. Monica’s in years. Anthony has come home to where he belongs.”
Pictured: Rev. Anthony MacWhinnie II and his wife Elizabeth. Photo by Sarah McCarren for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Grad Nunley Graduates From Basic Military Training
November 30, 2014
U.S. Air National Guard Airman 1st Class Luke A. Nunley has graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.
The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.
Airmen who complete basic training earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.
Nunley is the son of Lori A. Nunley and step-son of Tim C. Brown of Cantonment, brother of Ben C. Nunley of Starkville, MS and Nick H. Nunley of Pensacola, and grandson of Loranne Bass of Prentiss, MS.
He is a 2014 graduate of J.M Tate High School, Cantonment.
Fire Burns Out Vehicle, Sparks Four Acre Brush Fire
November 29, 2014
An early morning fire is under investigation near Walnut Hill that left a vehicle completely burned out and blackened several acres along a dirt road.
The fire was reported about 3:55 a.m. Saturday in a very remote area on North Pineville Road between Arthur Brown Road and Nokomis Road. The vehicle, which appeared to a late model GMC Arcadia SUV, was completed burned to the shell and the fire out by the time firefighters were notified. The fire also sparked a four acre brush fire that firefighters fought through the early morning hours.
The Florida Division of Forestry was called to plow a line around and contain the brush fire. The vehicle fire is under investigation by the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the blaze. There were no injuries reported.
Cantonment Man, 95, Drives Onto Car, Backs Into Grocery Store
November 29, 2014
A 95-year old man drove his pickup onto a car before backing uncontrollably into the Grocery Advantage building in Cantonment Friday afternoon.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a 2001 Ford F150 pickup and a 2004 Nissan Altima were parked in the parking lot facing each other in the store lot. William Gilley of Cantonment pulled his pickup forward and ran up onto the hood of the Altima. He then put the vehicle in reverse in an attempt to free it from the top of the hood of the car. Once the vehicles separated, the pickup traveled backwards into the outside of the Grocery Advantage store .
There were no injuries reported in the crash. Gilley was cited for careless driving by the FHP.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
Delta Flight Diverted After Atmore Man Suffers Heart Attack, Dies
November 29, 2014
A cross-country commercial flight was diverted Wednesday for an emergency landing after an Atmore man suffered a heart attack and died in mid-air.
The Delta flight was enroute from Atlanta to Seattle when 70-year old Charles Blackwell suffered a heart attack and the plane was diverted to Billings, MT.
Mike Glancy with airport operations in Billings said a doctor on the plane was unable to resuscitate Blackwell, according to The Billings Gazette.
Passengers remained onboard the flight during a 2.5 hour delay in Billings.
Tate Showband Members Place Wreath At Tomb Of The Unknown
November 29, 2014
The Tate High School Showband of the South placed a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Friday at Arlington National Cemetery.
Band members toured Arlington, several war memorials and the Lincoln Memorial Friday. They are in Washington following their performance in the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday. [Read more, see photos, video...]
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Legislative Delegration To Hold Public Hearing
November 29, 2014
The Escambia County State Legislative Delegation will hold a public hearing on Monday, December 15 from 5-7 p.m. at the Jean & Paul Amos Performance Studio, 1000 College Boulevard.
Delegation members will consider local bills, hear presentations from government entities and take public testimony on proposals for the 2015 Legislative Session. Any member of the public is welcomed to attend and participate, but those who wish to make a presentation or provide testimony should complete a Meeting Participation Form and return it to Rep. Clay Ingram’s office no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, December 12th.
Local bill submissions, including a brief summary of the proposal, a draft of the proposed bill, and a 2015 Economic Impact Statement Form, must be received by Representative Ingram’s office no later than 5:00 p.m. on Monday, December 8th. (Click here for paperwork.)
The Escambia County State Legislative Delegation includes Senator Greg Evers, Representative Clay Ingram and Representative Mike Hill.