FWC To Hold Black Bear Management Plan Webinars
March 17, 2015
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is hosting two webinars to discuss proposed changes to the black bear management program. Proposed amendments to the bear feeding and conservation rules as well as rule changes required to have a bear hunt in the fall of 2015 will be discussed.
The webinars will be held March 23 and March 26, each beginning at 7 p.m. CDT. Those interested in viewing the webinar must register for either session.
“These webinars will give the FWC a chance to reach out to more members of the public than with traditional public meetings,” said David Telesco, bear management coordinator. “The public will have the opportunity to learn more about our bear management program, offer up their comments and ask questions.”
To register for the March 23 webinar, go to: click here. For the March 26 webinar, go to: click here. Participants should register for just one session.
Northview Lifters Qualify For Regionals
March 17, 2015
Six Northview weightlifters qualified for the regional meet Monday during a district meet against Jay, West Florida and Catholic at Jay.
The following Northview lifters place in the top 3 at the district meet to qualify for the April 1 regional meet at Arnold High School in Panama City:
- 119-lb. class: Greg Pressley, 3rd place
- 129-lb. class: Everette Garvey, 1st place; Brandon Wilson, 2nd place
- 169-lb class: Jaylen Parker, 2nd place
- 183-lb class: Justin Kite, 3rd place
- 238-lb class: Ronald Harris, 3rd place
Pictured: Northview’s Everette Garvey. File photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Killed In Milton Wreck After Fleeing Burglary
March 16, 2015
An Escambia County man was killed and another seriously injured in an early morning crash in Milton after they fled a burglary, authorities said.
Passenger Brian Lynn Brown, 27, was pronounced deceased following the 1:11 a.m. crash. He was a passenger in a 2000 Chevrolet C1500 pickup drive by 23-year old Morgan Romero.
Romero was traveling south on Tanglewood Drive when the pickup left the roadway at the intersection of Rolling Greens Drive. The pickup traveled through a vacant lot before hitting a large tree behind a residence in the 5700 block of Tiger Woods Drive. Romero was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in serious condition.
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office had responded to a disturbance on Anderson Lane just before the crash. They found that two suspects had threatened a man after entering his RV. The victim pointed out a pickup that was speeding from the scene with the alleged suspects inside. Deputies lost sight of the pickup, but found it crashed into a tree a short time later with Brown deceased.
Both occupants were wearing their seat belts. Any charges in the crash are pending, the FHP said.
Poarch Creek Tribal Chair: No Plans For Pot In Nokomis, We Really Want Scott To Talk Gaming
March 16, 2015
The Poarch Creek Indians believe they have the right to grow marijuana on their one acre in North Escambia, but that’s not really their plan, according to Stephanie Bryan, tribal chair. What they really want is to sit down with Gov. Rick Scott and negotiate a gaming compact that would allow casino gambling on the on Nokomis Road acre, just a few miles off Highway 97.
Bryan explains, in her own words:
by Poarch Creek Indian Tribal Chair Stephanie Bryan
Home for me has always been Poarch, Ala. — 10 miles from the Florida state line. I know when I pass the highway marker that I am leaving one state and entering another, but it is a separation that means little to those of us who grew up with family spread out on both sides of that boundary.
Certainly, it would be impossible to explain where Alabama ends and Florida begins to my ancestors. They were Poarch Creek Indians with a distinct culture and values. Neither they, nor the place they called home, were ever defined by lines drawn on a map.
Today, our Poarch Creek Tribe is federally recognized with trust lands in our ancestral homelands of Alabama and North Florida. It is our land in Nokomis that has been the focus of our efforts to negotiate a gaming compact with the state of Florida. But, recent roadblocks in those negotiations, a lack of understanding of our status as a federally recognized tribe and sensationalized media headlines indicate a need to reiterate our legal rights pertaining to the property, as well as how we plan to use it.
So, let me be clear. We are a federally recognized Indian tribe and we have been consistent in wanting to build a gaming business in Florida. In exchange for entering into a compact with the state, we have committed to sharing revenue and honoring existing compacts.
During a recent media interview that focused on our rights as a federally recognized tribe, the reporter asked whether we believe we legally could grow marijuana on our land. We have been advised that the answer to that question is “yes” because we are a federally recognized tribe, the same legal status that entitles us to negotiate a gaming compact with Florida.
Let me clarify, though: While it appears that we are legally entitled to do so, we have no plans to grow marijuana on our land.
We do have plans to replicate in Florida what we have done in Alabama — create jobs and economic security, add to the tax base and fiscal strength of our state, and be good and charitable neighbors.
In Alabama, our Tribe and our businesses have created more than 3,500 direct jobs and another 3,000 indirect. Last year, we spent more than $200 million on goods and services, paid more than $51 million in wages, and generated in excess of $100 million in taxes.
If he would meet with us, Gov. Rick Scott would learn that we are a deeply caring and religious people. We have given more than $7 million in charitable donations because we believe that to whom much is given, much is expected.
We are a community of Poarch Creek Indians who care deeply about each other and our neighbors. We are hopeful that the state of Florida will recognize our rights, sit down with us, and negotiate a compact. We stand ready to be good partners and good neighbors for Florida.
Pictured above and below: A “warehouse” under construction on an acre of land owned by the Poarch Creek Indians in the North Escambia community of Nokomis. Pictured bottom inset: The large metal building overshadows a neighboring home. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Story reprinted with permission from FloridaPolitics.com.
Florida Tax Projections Increase Slightly Amid Budget Questions
March 16, 2015
Lawmakers facing the pressures of a potential loss in federal health-care funding on one side and Gov. Rick Scott’s drive to slash taxes and raise education spending on the other got little relief as state economists projected how much money the Legislature has to work with.
Economic forecasters added $145.4 million in tax revenue for the budget year that begins July 1, a change that represents just 0.5 percent of general revenue. General revenue, in turn, pays for less than half of the spending plan that lawmakers will put together.
The forecasters also revised this year’s revenues up by a tiny $500,000 — money that could be carried over to next year.
Amy Baker, the Legislature’s chief economist, said the changes aren’t significant enough to alter lawmakers’ plans.
“I would say $145 million is not going to change what their thinking was going into this morning about the development of their budget,” Baker said. “It’s a very marginal change. … In terms of what they were looking at this morning, they’re probably looking at the same thing this afternoon, and it’s not going to change any decision that they’re facing.”
In fact, shortly after the meeting of economists broke up, Senate President Andy Gardiner issued a statement contrasting the increased revenue with “the stark reality” of a budget that will begin to take shape next week.
“Our appropriations chairs and their committee staff work on the budget all year long, but this is the week where we have to put pen to paper,” said Gardiner, R-Orlando. “When faced with that reality, any increase in general revenue, no matter how modest, is positive news.”
But Gardiner also highlighted ongoing negotiations between state and federal officials about a health-care funding program set to expire June 30. If no agreement is reached, it could blow a $2 billion hole in the state spending plan.
“With seven weeks to go (in the legislative session), I am hopeful Tallahassee and Washington can reach a solution that will allow our state to utilize increases in general revenue to advance important policy goals in areas like education, tax relief and water and natural resources, rather than to make up for lost federal funding; however, I will not ask senators to vote on a budget that includes promises of substantial funding we may not be able to keep,” Gardiner said.
Tuesday’s meeting capped off a series of gatherings on state finance that produced a few minor changes. For example, insurance premium tax revenue will not rise as quickly as initially expected under the Affordable Care Act, the health-care law commonly referred to as Obamacare. And while projections still call for costs going down in Medicaid in the coming budget year, the newest forecast predicts smaller savings than were anticipated.
Lawmakers still appear to have a surplus of about $1 billion to work with. But between the health-care showdown, Scott’s call for record per-student spending in education and conservative hopes for tax cuts of $500 million or more, that funding could dry up quickly.
As for the economy itself, Baker said the fact that growth is on an even keel is an encouraging sign.
“It’s very stable growth, which is a positive,” she said. “After 10 years of wild roller-coaster changes up and down, this is really good to see.”
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Ernest Ward Names Students Of The Month
March 16, 2015
Ernest Ward Middle School has named their Students of the Month for February. They are (L-R) Arianna Rudd, Austin Smith and Sarah Brooks. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate High Chaparrals Winter Guard Wins Regional Championship
March 16, 2015
The Tate High School Chaparrals won first place in the 2015 WGI Scholastic Regional A Championship this weekend. They will move on to the circuit championships on March 28.
The Chaparrals are the oldest competitive scholastic winter guard in the nation and former world champions. They begin competing this season in late January.
Pictured are (front, L-R) Katie Dupre, Katy Luebke, Madison Philley, Breanna Langley, Michaela Overbey, (middle, L-R) Selina Dyess, Kelsey Stregth, Savannah Vonstein, Jo Jo O’Steen, (back, L-R) instructor Bill Blocker, Brenn Repine, Megan Leonard, Virginia Vaughan and instructor Stanley Fin. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Couple Wanted For Child Sexual Abuse Now Jailed In Florida
March 15, 2015
A couple is now behind bars in Florida after about two weeks on the run in a child sexual abuse case that led to the arrest of two deputies.
Douglas Albert Manning, 47, and Leah Giannotti Manning, 40, were booked into the Escambia County Jail late Saturday night after being extradited back to Florida from Colorado. They were taken into custody Thursday in the Indian Springs Campground in Florence, Colorado, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Both are charged with sexual battery on a juvenile and child neglect. The Mannings are being held in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
From June to October of last year, both deputies had sexual relations with juveniles under the age of 18, according to arrest reports. The Mannings were “swingers’, according to authorities, with multiple partners. Investigators are still combing through over 100,000 images and videos found on the Mannings’ computer.
Two Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies were previously arrested in connection with the case.
Senior Deputy Mark Gene Smith was arrested and charged with felony sexual assault and misdemeanor battery. Deputy Walter Michael Thomas, Jr., was arrested and charged with felony sexual assault. Thomas was released from the Escambia County jail on a $150,000 bond, while Smith remains behind bars with bond set at $170,000. Both have been placed on administrative leave without pay by the Sheriff’s Office.
Pictured: Arrest in Colorado Thursday, Douglas and Leah Manning are now behind bars in Escambia County. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Branden Penegar Memorial Car Show Held (With Gallery)
March 15, 2015
The second annual Branden Penegar Memorial Car Show was held Saturday at the Gonzalez United Methodist Church on Pauline Street in Cantonment. Penegar, the “Gentle Giant” was a 2011 graduate of Tate High School, an assistant coach for the freshman Aggies’ football program and varsity tennis team, and a member of the Tate High School Student Hall of Fame. He passed away in March 2013 at the age of 20.
Penegar was a active member of the Gonzalez United Methodist Church and youth program.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Search Underway For Escaped Inmate
March 15, 2015
Authorities are searching for an inmate that escaped from his assigned work detail Saturday.
Mobile Work Release Center inmate Robert Michael Bailey, 24, left from his assigned job location in Bay Minette, AL, about 5:30 p.m. Saturday. He was last seen wearing blue jeans and red or burgundy colored shirt.
Bailey was serving a 10 year sentence on a third degree burglary charge. If you see him, you are asked to contact the Alabama Department of Corrections at (800) 831-8825 or your local law enforcement agency.