McDavid Man Sentenced For 2013 SWAT Standoff
September 18, 2014
A McDavid man that held the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team at bay for hours last year has been sentenced.
After finding 55-year old Gary Daniel Griffis competent to stand trail, he was sentenced by Judge Ross Goodman to 10 years probation.
Back in August 2013, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to an unknown type disturbance at Griffis’ mobile home at 681 Gunner Road, off Mystic Springs Road and Highway 29 in McDavid.
A shot was reportedly fired from within the mobile home where Griffis had barricaded himself inside. Griffis refused to exit the home, and the SWAT team and negotiator were called to a staging area at the McDavid Volunteer Fire Department on Highway 29. The SWAT team departed the staging area for the mobile home on Gunner Road just after 10 p.m.
The standoff came to an end at 12:40 a.m. after teargas was fired into the mobile home with Griffis. He was taken into custody without incident.
There were no injuries and no shots fired by deputies.
Pictured top: An Escambia County SWAT vehicle at a staging area set up in August 2013 at the McDavid Volunteer Fire Department. Pictured below: The Sheriff’s Office command center on scene with an Escambia County EMS ambulance nearby. Pictured bottom: The SWAT staging area at the McDavid VFD. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Florida Voters Appear Prepared To Pass Conservation Amendment
September 18, 2014
Florida voters appear poised in November to pass a constitutional amendment that would require setting aside billions of dollars for land conservation and other environmental projects.
The proposed “Water and Land Conservation” amendment would earmark 33 percent of the state’s documentary-stamp tax revenues — fees paid when real estate is sold — for 20 years. The money would go to buy conservation lands, protect areas vital to the water supply and restore natural systems that have been degraded, such as the Everglades.
But some Republican and business leaders are raising concerns that Amendment 1 could make it harder to balance the state budget in the future.
“In a perfect world, you wouldn’t want it in the constitution,” said incoming Senate President Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando. “As a legislator, you want as much flexibility as you can, and it doesn’t belong in the constitution.”
Other critics of the measure include House Speaker Will Weatherford, a Wesley Chapel Republican who has argued that “legislating via constitutional amendments” doesn’t work, and Senate President Don Gaetz, a Niceville Republican who has said the amendment would shift too much land to state control.
But supporters of Amendment 1 say it came about after state funding for land preservation dwindled during the last recession.
“The conservation community took the hit like everyone else when the economy turned south,” said Allison DeFoor, chairman of Florida’s Water and Land Legacy campaign, which backs the amendment. “And then things just didn’t get readjusted when the economy began to turn.”
The proposal appears likely to get the required 60 percent support from voters to pass. According to the Florida Chamber of Commerce — which opposes the measure — 78 percent of the state’s voters support the amendment.
“Little is known about it, but it has a powerfully effective ballot title, in synch with Florida’s pro-environment leanings,” said University of South Florida political science professor Susan MacManus, who expects it to pass.
Supporters point to the Florida Forever program, which uses bonds backed with revenue from documentary stamps and authorizes lawmakers to spend up to $300 million a year for land preservation. The last year Florida Forever’s funding approached that mark was 2008.
Supporters of Amendment 1 say it will generate about $10 billion over 20 years, while the state appears to project higher numbers. A state analysis estimates the total would be $648 million during the fiscal year starting in July 2015 and eventually grow to $1.268 billion by the 20th year.
“You would think that we could at least spend 1 percent of our state budget on water and land conservation,” said Will Abberger, campaign manager for Florida’s Water and Land Legacy. “That’s what Amendment 1 represents: having that constitutional dedication so that no matter who’s in public office, we know that there is going to be funding.”
But others are wary. David Hart, executive vice president of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, said Amendment 1 would put state leaders in a bind during an economic crisis.
“It’s hard enough for the Legislature to balance (competing) budgetary needs, but if $20 billion is set aside and untouchable, what else is going to get cut to make up for that?” Hart asked. “Are they going to have to cut education or senior health care? Those are some choices that are very real, should we get another recession.”
DeFoor said the amendment had been carefully crafted to budget for hard times.
“It’s short in duration, it’s only 20 years, it’s reasonable in the amount (and) it puts us kind of back where we were,” he said. “It’s fixed by percentage, so if things get better, we all get better. And if things were, God forbid, to deteriorate, we’d take the hit, too.”
Despite their qualms about Amendment 1, Republican legislative leaders say they respect voters’ support for it.
“If the amendment is passed, then we’re certainly going to scrupulously follow it and put those revenues toward those purposes,” said Senate Appropriations Chairman Joe Negron, R-Stuart.
by Margie Menzel, The News Service of Florida
Work On Brickyard Road Bridge Replacement Continues
September 18, 2014
Work is underway to replace an two-lane bridge on Brickyard Road over an unnamed branch in Molino. Brickyard Road is closed to traffic during the construction process. The $746,853 project is anticipated to be complete in late 2014. The wooden support bridge that is being replaced was constructed in 1960 and was classified as structurally deficient. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia, Santa Rosa Farm Bureaus Complete 1.5 Ton Peanut Butter Donation To Manna
September 18, 2014
The Florida Peanut Producers and the Farm Bureau in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties has completed their donation of one and a half tons of peanut butter to the Manna Food Bank.
After discussing the flood that damaged the Manna warehouse and food supply, the Escambia County Farm Bureau voted to spend $1,000 to buy peanut butter, Manna’s most needed item. The Santa Rosa County Farm Bureau board then voted to donate $1,001 toward the peanut butter donation.
When notified of the purchase of peanut butter, the board of directors of Florida Peanut Producers and Ken Barton, executive director and agreed to match the purchase and donated a pallet of peanut butter.
With the two counties cooperation and the match from the Florida Peanut Producers, 2,880 jars of peanut butter were donated. The first pallet was donated back in August, and the second pallet of Peanut Proud peanut butter was donated last week.
File photos.
Judge Takes Aim At Florida Prison Phone Contract
September 18, 2014
An administrative law judge said that the Florida Department of Corrections should toss out proposals by three companies to provide phone services to prison inmates.
The department gave notice this year it planned to award a contract to Global Tel Link, a move that drew protests from competitors CenturyLink Public Communications, Inc., and Securus Technologies, Inc.
The case focused, at least in part, on commissions that the department could receive and how those potential payments were factored into proposals submitted by the companies. In a 53-page decision, Judge John D.C. Newton concluded that Global Tel Link and Securus did not properly include commissions in their pricing proposals.
“Commissions are also critical factors both to the price paid by inmates and their designees and the department, should it collect the revenue,” Newton wrote. “They are also an important variable considered by vendors when they construct their proposals. Basing a decision on prices that do not include commissions when the RFP (the department’s request for proposals) required including them, is contrary to competition, clearly erroneous, arbitrary, and capricious.”
Newton called for the rejection of all three proposals, a recommendation that will go back to the department.
by The News Service of Florida
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Pedestrian Killed On Mobile Highway
September 17, 2014
A pedestrian was struck and killed on Mobile Highway in front of Walmart this morning.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 46-year old Leonard Roy Deloach of Mobile was crossing Mobile Highway about 5:50 a.m. when he walked into the patch of a 2003 Ford F-150 driver by 44-year old Daniel Scott of Summerdale.
Deloach was pronounced deceased at the scene. Alcohol was not a factor in the crash, according to the FHP.
Northview Chiefs Name Players Of The Week
September 17, 2014
The Northview Chiefs have named Players of the Week from last Friday night’s 24-6 win over Chipley. They are:
OFFENSE
Keondrae Lett –
16 rushes, 221 yards, 3 TD, 13.8 YPA, 1 catch, 3 yards
DEFENSE
Tydre Bradley — 6 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks, 1 FR
SPECIAL TEAMS
Zach Payne– Onside kick recovery, solo tackle on KO
DOMINATOR
Cameron Newsome — block on 4th touchdown
One Of Two Defendants Enters Plea In Molino Murder
September 17, 2014
One of two people charged with a Molino murder has entered a plea and is set for sentencing.
Debra Burge, 24, has pleaded no contest to a lesser charge of second degree murder charge in the death of Harvey Ray Smith. She was originally charged with first degree murder. She will be sentenced in December.
Her co-defendant, 24-year old Zachary Greer, is still awaiting trial on first degree murder charge. He is due back in court in November.
The body of Smith, age 43 of Pace, was found stuffed into a trunk behind a Motel 6 on Davis Highway the morning on May4. Smith had been reported missing in Santa Rosa County. Family members located his vehicle at the motel and then discovered the body.
Reports state Burge and Greer conspired to rob Smith. Burge allegedly lured Smith, her acquaintance, to her home in the 3900 block of Highway 97 in Molino. She told deputies she went inside while Smith and Greer remained outside. When she later exited the home, she found Smith on the ground of the Molino home bleeding. She told Sheriff’s investigators that Greer told her he stabbed Smith and put his body in the trunk of the car that was later driven to the Motel 6 on Davis Highway in Pensacola.
Florida DOE Drops Young Elementary Reading Test
September 17, 2014
A test given to young elementary school students will not be used this year, according to the Florida Department of Education. The agency said the Florida Assessments for Instruction in Reading, or FAIR, assessment will not be administered to students in kindergarten through second grade because of a technical issue.
“With the implementation of new technology this year related to FAIR in grades K-2, some districts have experienced challenges. … Because of this technological glitch and based on the input of superintendents, Commissioner Stewart took action on this matter,” Joe Follick, a spokesman for the department, said in a statement.
The department also emphasized that the “diagnostic” test is used by teachers to help decide how to teach students; it doesn’t determine, for example, whether a student passes or fails.
by The News Service of Florida
Nine Mile Road To Be Four-Laned From Highway 29 To Beulah Road
September 17, 2014
A long awaited project has been funded that will widen Nine Mile Road to four lanes from Beulah Road all the way back to Highway 29.
The Florida Department of Transportation’s Five-Year Work Plan includes $42 million for the project that, coupled with funds from Escambia County, will complete the entire project, including a a previously unfunded section of the roadway between Pine Forest Road and Highway 29.
The inclusion of the new phase for the widening project is the result of a partnership between Escambia County and the FDOT, with the county funding $1.2 million for project development and environmental studies, as well as a design update using Local Option Sales Tax Funds.
Over the next year, the FDOT plans to spend $1.2 million to acquire rights of way to widen the road and to complete environmental work.
Last summer, the FDOT held a public meeting to discuss the widening of Nine Mile Road from two to four lanes along the section of road between at U.S. 90/Mobile Highway and Pine Forest Road – a length of about 5.8 miles – including access management, changes or the design and construction of medians and median openings and storm water treatment ponds. The continuation of the project to Highway 29 will effectively ease congestion and improve traffic flow along the crowded commercial corridor.
Increasing traffic counts and congestion as the area continues to develop caused the reclassification of the road from “rural” to “suburban” and necessitated the redesign of a project originally slated for construction almost a decade ago.
Construction could begin as early as 2015 and, once complete, will support the continued growth of Navy Federal Credit Union, proposed development at the site currently known as Outlying Landing Field 8 and ease access for Nature’s Trail and other residential neighborhoods.