FWC Law Enforcement Report: Archery Season Opening Day Violations; Little Bass
November 2, 2014
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the weekly period ending October 30.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
On the opening day of archery season, Officer Manning located a hunter sitting in a ladder stand. When Officer Manning identified himself as an FWC officer, the hunter jumped out of the stand and took off running. After backup arrived, the officers looked around the stand and located a loaded .22 caliber rifle and some clothing. The officers, with help from local K-9 units, tracked the individual to a blacktop road. The track was lost at the road. The officers located the hunter’s cell phone during the track. The officers also located the hunter’s vehicle and were able to identify him from all the items they had found. The officers towed the vehicle. Warrants were issued for the suspect for numerous criminal charges.
Officer Hutchinson was patrolling the area of Escambia River and Williams Lake Boat Ramp. Upon arrival at the boat ramp, Officer Hutchinson observed two male subjects loading a boat onto the trailer. He made contact with both subjects and asked if they had caught anything. The owner of the boat said, “Yes, we caught a few small ones.” After the subjects pulled the boat out of the water and loaded it, the owner asked Officer Hutchinson if he wanted to look in the boat. While Officer Hutchinson was attempting to inspect the fish in the live well, the passenger of the boat pulled an undersized black bass out of the live well and turned toward the water with it. Officer Hutchinson told him to hold on and let him see it. At that time, the subject threw the bass into the water and the fish swam away. Officer Hutchinson asked the subject how long the bass was and he said, “It was 11 inches.” Officer Hutchinson asked him why he threw the bass into the water after being told to wait. He said, “I knew the bass was not legal to keep because it wasn’t 12 inches long.” The subject was issued a notice to appear citation for interference or obstruction of an FWC officer.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officers Hoomes and Manning were working the opening of archery season in Blackwater WMA. They observed a vehicle parked near a location where the officers earlier found an area baited with corn. The officers went to this baited area and located a hunter wearing camouflage. The hunter was sitting in a tree stand overlooking the baited area. He was also in possession of archery equipment. The subject admitted to placing the corn in the area and also admitted he knew it was illegal to hunt over bait in the WMA. The subject was issued a citation for hunting over bait in a WMA.
This report represents some events the FWC handled over the past week;however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement. Information provided by FWC.
Early Voting Ends With Over 18K Ballots Cast In Escambia County
November 2, 2014
Early voting has ended in Escambia County for Tuesday’s General Election with 18,420 voters, an 8.4 percent increase over 2010.
In the North Escambia area, there were 3,010 ballots cast in Cantonment and 1,127 cast in Molino. The most popular early voting location was the Genealogy Branch Library on North Ninth Avenue with 5,449 voters.
The unofficial voter turnout based upon early voting and absentee ballots was 22 percent. Of those, 55 percent were Republican, 33 percent were Democrat, and 12 percent were other.
On Election Day, Tuesday, November 4, the polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. Voters must present a valid photo and signature ID and must vote at their home precinct on Election Day. Voters are encouraged to be sure to know where to vote on Election Day by checking their voter information vard, sample ballot, the precinct finder at EscambiaVotes.com, or by contacting the Supervisor of Elections Office by phone or email prior to Election Day. Any voters who need to change their address should contact the elections office prior to Election Day.
Absentee ballots must be received in the elections office by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day.
For further information on absentee ballots, early voting, or precincts and polling locations, call (850) 595-3900, email soe@escambiavotes.com or visit EscambiaVotes.com.
ERC Youth Football Champions: Excel, Flomaton And Jay
November 2, 2014
It was Championship Saturday for the Escambia River Conference youth football league at Northview High School with Flomaton, a couple of Excel teams and Jay handing losses to NWE, Neal and two Poarch teams.
The Escambia River Conference includes teams from Flomaton, Poarch, Uriah, Excel and East Brewton in Alabama; and Walnut Hill, Jay and Baker in Flomaton.
Results are posted under each photograph below:
Flomaton finished a perfect season with a 34-20 win over NWE for the senior championship.
Excel won the junior championship over Poarch 13-0.
The Excel sophomores ended a perfect season with a 37-27 championship win over Neal.
The Jay Royals defeated the Poarch Warriors 33-28 for the freshmen championship.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Gov’t Weekly Roundup: Cheer Up, The Election Is Almost Over
November 2, 2014
A chill descended upon Florida this weekend that is not tied to the campaign season.
But rather than dwell on the weather or Halloween mischief, the time is finally approaching for many in the Sunshine State to celebrate a long-deserved, early Thanksgiving.
There are justday go in the 2014 general election — barring any statewide recount — and we will know which of the unpopular gubernatorial candidates, Republican Gov. Rick Scott or former Gov. Charlie Crist, the Democratic convert, will lead Florida for the next four years.
Questions will also be answered this week about how big of a majority the Republicans maintain in the Legislature and in the state’s congressional delegation.
There is less suspense about the outcome of three Cabinet races.
The good news is that for the next few months email inboxes and Twitter chatter won’t be as stuffed on a daily basis with shrill missives from countless campaign spokespeople and candidates. Also, TV and online commercials will return to more honest pitches for criminal defense lawyers, automobile dealers and pharmaceuticals.
More important, state workers and lobbyists will be able to turn their attention to preparing bills that could wind up stuck in committees during the 2015 legislative session.
But first, the week in review:
THE ELECTION HOME STRETCH
As the election approaches, campaigning has dominated the news cycle. This week, more so.
OK, there was the excitement of a World Series Game 7 and the Louisville-Florida State University football game, which included halves that could be enjoyed by both Seminole haters and Seminole fans.
But those were interludes.
Former President Bill Clinton and singer Jimmy Buffett both made stops in Tallahassee for Democratic congressional hopeful Gwen Graham. Clinton is due to return Monday for Crist in Orlando.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie continued to fit time into his unofficial presidential aspirations to appear alongside Scott on a campaign swing. Christie is planning another South Florida trip Saturday, this time to Naples, with Scott.
Meanwhile, an ad in the bitter congressional contest between Democratic freshman U.S. Rep. Joe Garcia and Republican Carlos Curbelo, a Miami-Dade County School Board member, increased what was already a muddy contest.
Garcia ran a Spanish-language spot that featured a prominent Cuban dissident. The ad broke a supposed unwritten rule of South Florida politics against using opponents of the Castro regime for political gain, according to the Miami Herald.
And possibly setting the stage for runs at higher offices, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam and Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater, both with plenty of money to burn and little opposition, got tastes of the state in separate campaign bus tours .
Putnam noted on Twitter that his tour stopped this week for coffee at Palmano’s in Winter Park, lunch at 4 Rivers Smokehouse in Winter Gardens, and that his “guava pastry tour” detoured to Melao Bakery in Kissimmee.
Atwater’s tweets have noted a stop at the Swamp Restaurant in Gainesville, a pizza party in Marion County, coffee and donuts in Pinellas County, ice cream with Attorney General Pam Bondi in Naples, and dropping off “my infamous Atwater cookies” for campaign workers in Sarasota County.
All three Cabinet members have also been putting in face time at Scott’s campaign stops.
HOW MANY WAYS CAN YOU SAY TOO CLOSE TO CALL?
Both Crist and Scott spent the week rushing across the state trying to drum up their bases to boost turnout.
And they need to.
The most-expensive contest in state history — and also one of the most negative — remains too close to call.
On Thursday, the latest polling showed that despite numerous attack ads and Scott’s debate-fan moment, nothing has really changed in the projections since this summer when the contest moved to a dead heat.
Crist has the support of 43 percent of likely voters, while Scott has 40 percent and Libertarian candidate Adrian Wyllie is at 8 percent, according to the latest Quinnipiac University poll.
Crist was up 14 points over Scott among women. Scott had a 10-point lead among men. In a potential outlier, or sign of the impact of the recent debates, independent voters now favor Crist by a margin of 47 percent to 29 percent over Scott, the Quinnipiac poll said. Wyllie was getting 16 percent. A week earlier, Crist was ahead of Scott among independents 41 percent to 38 percent.
Meanwhile, a University of Florida poll conducted for the Tampa Bay Times, Bay News 9 and News 13 of Orlando found the contest knotted at 36 percent for both Crist and Scott, while Wyllie was drawing 6 percent.
Since June, the average margin in polling has been less than 1 percentage point, with Crist up, when the major party candidates have been matched head-to-head in polls conducted by the Florida Chamber of Commerce, Survey USA, Gravis Marketing, Quinnipiac, Rasmussen Reports, and the New York Times/CBS News, according to Ballotpedia.
With Wyllie added to the mix, polls during the same period are equally knotted, the average tipping by less than 1 percentage point to favor Scott, with Wyllie on a course for just under 7 percent of the vote.
STORY OF THE WEEK: The end is in sight for the governor’s race.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “A lot fewer people say that they’re interested in voting, because they feel like they can’t find out who’s telling the truth, there’s no one really talking about what would make these casual voters’ lives better. …” — University of South Florida political-science professor Susan MacManus.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Pensacola Chamber: Support Half-Cent Sales Tax
November 2, 2014
Re: Support for the Half-Cent Sales Tax
On behalf of the Greater Pensacola Chamber, I would like to share our support for the half-cent sales tax extension related to the proposed construction of three new public schools in Escambia County, Fla.
The growth of our business community is directly linked to the success of our local school system. Since 1997, the half-cent sales tax has served as a main source of funding for the Escambia County School District and has contributed to more than 350 school improvement projects totaling $300 million. Raising nearly $20 million annually, the sales tax has led to several facility renovations, safety improvements and school additions, including the construction of the new Blue Angel Elementary School, A.K. Suter Elementary School and Ernest Ward Middle School.
Navy Federal’s growth corridor near Nine Mile Road has resulted in climbing school enrollment, and the County’s Westside schools continue to deal with overcrowding issues, as well as dependence on portable classrooms. It is our belief that none of these problems are likely to be alleviated without another 10 years of local option sales tax funding.
Education plays a major role in helping to develop and grow economic prosperity, and we must ensure that our community has the resources it needs to succeed. The Chamber urges local residents to reinvest in our school system by voting for the extension of the half-cent sales tax. Not only will this tax renewal support the needs of our community for the next 10 to 15 years, but will also pave the way for future generations to come.
Respectfully,
Carol Carlan
Chair, Greater Pensacola Chamber Board of Directors
Thousands Attend Fall Festivals, Trunk Or Treats, Other Events
November 1, 2014
Thousands of North Escambia area residents braved the spooky Molino Museum, hit the streets trick or treating, took part in a trunk or treat, or visited a fall festival Friday night.
“We had an awesome time at the Pine Forest Assembly Fall Festival,” the church’s High Voltage Kids director Heather Murphy said. “Thanks to Escambia Fire and Rescue for the spending the evening with us.”
Pictured: The Fall Festival Friday night at Pine Forest Assembly of God in Cantonment. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Baker Beats Northview For 1-1A Championship (With Gallery)
November 1, 2014
The Baker Gators beat the Northview Chiefs 35-27 for the District 1-1A championship Friday night in Baker. As district runner-ups, the Chiefs will still advance to the state playoffs.
It was a disappointment for the Chiefs as they looked to avenge a loss to Baker last year, and a game that left Head Coach Sid Wheatley disappointed.
For a photo gallery, click here.
“We didn’t play well enough to win a football game tonight. We have a good football team, but we didn’t play like we had a good football team tonight. We didn’t play well enough on offense, we didn’t play well enough on defense, special teams we turned the ball over a couple of times, and they capitalized on it,” Wheatley said. “That’s basically the story.”
The loss means the Chiefs (6-2) will be on the road in the first round of the playoffs against the Vernon Yellowjackets (8-1) on November 14, while Baker will host Graceville.
“We are going to have to be tough and win a game on the road and try to advance that way as opposed to getting a runner-up and home, now we’ve got to go play a district champ on the road,” Wheatley said.
Baker took an early lead in the first quarter, with the Chiefs tying it up 7-7 with a Tydre Bradley touchdown with 2:19 to go in the first. The Chiefs next score came from Austin Whitehead from one yard out
Before the playoffs begin, the Chiefs still have one regular season game, their Senior Night, at home next Friday night against Blountstown.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Scott, Crist Push Turnout
November 1, 2014
Gov. Rick Scott and former Gov. Charlie Crist spent Friday scrambling to persuade voters besieged by negative ads to head to the polls as the final full week of campaigning came to a close.
Scott, the Republican incumbent, and Crist, a former GOP governor now running as a Democrat, spent the day in strongholds that could determine whether they win the Governor’s Mansion. Scott made two campaign stops Friday morning in Northeast Florida and was expected to make an appearance in the evening at an event hosted by Fox News personalities Sean Hannity and Brian Kilmeade.
Scott has spent the last two weeks on the trail urging supporters to cast their ballots, either in person Tuesday or through early and absentee voting.
“I know what happened in 2012,” Scott said after an event at Sleiman Enterprises in Jacksonville. “Mitt Romney lost because people didn’t get out to vote. And so I’m going to make sure people know the importance of getting out to vote. … As long as people continue to get out and vote, we’re going to have a big win on Tuesday.”
Romney won Republican-leaning Duval County by about 15,000 votes in the 2012 presidential race — roughly the same margin that Scott won by in 2010. But there were 150,000 more votes in the county in the race between Romney and Democratic President Barack Obama than in Scott’s initial campaign.
The governor’s margin of victory in the county in 2010 accounted for about a quarter of his statewide edge over former state Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink — and Scott had a higher share of the two-party vote (52.9 percent) than Romney (51.8 percent) or John McCain, the GOP’s 2008 presidential nominee, who carried the county with a shade under 51 percent of the vote.
As he has before on the trail, Scott seemed relaxed Friday, joking with reporters and Attorney General Pam Bondi, who arrived late to the event after a problem getting to the venue.
“Your bus driver ditched our bus driver,” Bondi said. “We were right behind you.”
Scott was expected to continue to tour the state with high-profile Republicans over the weekend and through Monday, with events planned in Southwest Florida, Miami-Dade County, The Villages retirement community and Orlando.
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie — both considered potential 2016 presidential candidates — will campaign with Scott on Saturday in Southwest Florida. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush is slated to help Scott on Sunday in Hialeah. And the Orlando event Monday is expected to include Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and Texas Gov. Rick Perry, both also considered possible presidential contenders.
Crist, meanwhile, started Friday morning at Munch’s Restaurant in south St. Petersburg. More than half of the diners who shook hands and posed for selfies with the former governor said they had already cast their ballots — for him.
“The message is pretty clear. Get out and vote,” Crist told reporters after chatting with the kitchen staff.
Owner Larry Munch said he, too, had already cast his ballot for Crist. In the former governor’s hometown, which Crist affectionately calls “The ‘Burg,” Munch said his customers — who regularly discuss politics over their morning cups of Joe — are fed up with the seemingly relentless attack ads.
“They’re tired of the mud-slinging,” Munch, cooking ribs on a grill outside his restaurant, told The News Service of Florida. “All you hear is the ads instead of talking about what the topics are. That’s what the talk is over the coffee mugs.”
Crist then met up with Pasco County Tax Collector and former longtime state lawmaker Mike Fasano, who is a close friend of Crist and is a political star in the county.
“This is where elections are decided in Florida,” Crist told reporters before knocking on doors with Fasano in Heritage Lakes, a community where Fasano once lived.
Pasco County, where Republicans have a slight lead over Democrats in voter registration, is considered a bellwether. In 2012, Pasco voters gave Romney a six-point edge over Obama. Four years ago, Scott received 52 percent of the vote in the county, compared to Democratic challenger Alex Sink’s 43 percent.
But Democratic state Rep. Amanda Murphy won a hard-fought special election last fall, giving Democrats hope that Crist — with the help of the wildly popular Fasano — can flip the GOP-leaning county. Murphy said recent polling in her Pasco County district showed Crist with a six-point lead over Scott.
“Our district is definitely changing. Mike Fasano standing out trying to make it more about the person will hopefully change things. I’d like to see more people for the person and not worry about what the letter is behind the name,” said Murphy, accompanying Crist and Fasano.
On his way to knock on doors, Crist was called over by a driver who said he was a Republican and who stopped traffic to get a handshake from the Democratic nominee.
Crist received kudos from Republican and Democratic seniors for abandoning the GOP four years ago. Until 2010, Crist was a lifelong Republican, but he became an independent to avoid a GOP primary against Rubio in the race for U.S. Senate. Rubio went on to defeat Crist and Democrat Kendrick Meek. Two years ago, Crist registered as a Democrat.
Mae Stallone, 93, told Crist she admired him for having the courage to switch parties, something the Democrat later said she herself had done four decades ago.
“I admire a person who will go with his gut feeling and change when he wants to,” Stallone told Crist.
“You’ve got to use your brain. And your heart,” Crist said, handing Stallone a daily newspaper that had been sitting outside her home.
Dick Boyle, 86, said he is an independent but is casting his ballot for Crist.
“Put some sense back in the governor’s office. It’s been a long four years,” he told Crist.
A relaxed Crist, wearing a plaid, short-sleeved, button-down shirt and a canvas belt decorated with palm trees, appeared cautiously optimistic about his chances for a victory.
“I feel good about it. I’ll tell you that,” he said. “But it’s going to be close.”
by Brandon Larrabee and Dara Kam
Navy’s Fleet Fly-In Concludes
November 1, 2014
When pilots and aircrew from about 20 different helicopters boarded their aircraft and departed NAS Whiting Field Friday morning, it marked the completion of another successful Fleet Fly-In for Training Air Wing FIVE.
The annual event is one of the most anticipated events on the calendar for the installation and 2014 marked another memorable occasion. For about three days, the skies above NAS Whiting Field were peppered with gray and black aircraft amidst the orange and black training aircraft that continually fly above the base and its 13 outlying fields. With flights to outlying fields in Brewton and Evergreen, the different helicopters were sometimes spotted from the North Escambia area.
Helicopter Training Squadron EIGHT coordinated the function, and HT-8 Commanding Officer Cmdr. Rob Sinram was pleased with how the Fly-In turned out.
“This year’s Fleet Fly-In was a big success,” he said. “We got the fleet turnout we were hoping for and students got a lot of flight time and interaction with the fleet crews.”
While the Naval Helicopter Association Fleet Fly-In encompasses a variety of panel discussions on large scale aviation issues, detailer presentations on future assignments, and industry displays showcasing helicopter technologies; the thrilling part is for the TRAWING-5 flight students having an opportunity to touch, ride in, and potentially fly Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard fleet helicopters. More than 300 future aviators received such flights during the open flight periods Wednesday and Thursday.
Picture top: Student Naval aviators and pilots of a Navy MH-60R Seahawk brief before a demonstration flight at the Fleet Fly-In. Pictured below: Multiple MH-60R and MH-60S parked on the ramp at South Field shortly after sunrise. Photos by Jay Cope for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Aggies Earn 1-7A Runner Up Spot And Playoff Berth
November 1, 2014
The Tate Aggies were off Friday night, but earned the 1-7A runner up spot and a playoff berth as Niceville beat Crestview 34-10.
If Crestview had won, it would have forced a three-way tie in the district and the two playoff spots would have come down to a shootout between the three times.
Earlier in the season Niceville beat Tate 35-7, and Tate defeated Crestview 42-28.
Before the playoffs, the Tate Aggies still have one home remaining as they host the Escambia High Gators next Friday night at 7:30. It will also been senior night for the Aggies.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.