Lightning Strike Apparent Cause Of Cantonment Gas Leak
August 13, 2014
A gas leak that shut down Pine Forest Road in a Cantonment neighborhood Tuesday night was believed to be caused by lightning.
The leak was report about 7:15 p..m. near the intersection of Pine Forest Road and Graham Road, just north of the Pine Forest Assembly of God. A nearby homeowner reported seeing and hearing the lightning strike before walking outside to see natural gas blowing into the air.
Work crews had the gas shut off in about an hour in order to make repairs to the pipe. Three families voluntarily evacuated during the incident.
There were no injuries reported.
Pictured: Gas can been seen spewing out of the ground Tuesday evening following a lightning strike on Pine Forest Road. Reader submitted photos by Renee Maneen for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
West Florida Library’s Bookmobile Back In Service
August 13, 2014
A bit of good news today for residents that don’t want to make the trek all the way to their nearest library — the West Florida Library Bookmobile is back in service. The Bookmobile had been out of service since July 21.
The Bookmobile makes regular stops throughout Escambia County. Anyone with a West Florida Library card may visit the library on wheels and check out books, CDs, and DVDs from the selection of thousands on board. Patrons may also reserve materials online to be picked up on the Bookmobile’s next stop. Materials may be returned to the Bookmobile or to any library branch location.
Library card applications are also available from the Bookmobile driver.
The Bookmobile schedule below, provided by the West Florida Library, shows stops for the remainder of the year. Click the schedule to enlarge and print.
Robin Williams’ Death Shines Light On Suicide, Depression
August 13, 2014
As details emerge about the reported suicide of actor and comedian Robin Williams, family members and friends acknowledge he was suffering from a long battle with depression. Many Florida families suffer the same anguish, and suicide is the ninth leading cause of death in the state.
Betsey Westuba, who chairs the Florida Suicide Prevention Coalition, said she hopes Williams’ death serves as a reminder to help people who may be suffering from depression.
“It’s a biological disease,” she said. “Just as we have bodily diseases, we have brain diseases – and, so often, people don’t want to acknowledge that.”
Last year, more than 2,800 Floridians committed suicide, or about eight people a day. It is the second leading cause of death for people ages 25 to 34.
The National Suicide Prevention Hotline has help available 24 hours a day at 1-800-273-8255. Warning signs that someone may be experiencing suicidal thoughts include a sense of hopelessness, apathy and extreme changes in behavior.
Westuba said she has a family history of depression, and a brother who committed suicide in 2007.
“Remember that there are many, many people that go through depression, but they are able to get through it,” she said. “We can help to teach each other skills. We need to educate each other.”
Mental-health experts recommend reaching out to people who may be suffering from depression. She said pets sometimes lift the spirits of those who are depressed, and making future plans may help provide them with a sense of hope.
by Florida News Connection
Redistricting Session Over, Battle Over Map Continues
August 13, 2014
The special redistricting session held by the Legislature lasted just five days, but the two-year battle over the boundaries of the state’s 27 congressional districts seems to be far from over.
Voting-rights groups who sued to get the original map overturned say the new plan, approved Monday on nearly party-line votes in the House and Senate, isn’t enough of an improvement for Leon County Circuit Judge Terry Lewis to sign off on it. And there’s still no clarity on whether an election that is already underway in some counties will be delayed.
Deirdre Macnab, president of the League of Women Voters of Florida, said Tuesday that the map passed by the Legislature this week “looks suspiciously like” the blueprint that Lewis tossed in July. Lewis ruled two congressional districts approved by lawmakers in 2012 violated anti-gerrymandering standards that voters added to the Florida Constitution in 2010.
“We don’t believe the (new) maps comply with the criteria the judge laid out,” Macnab said.
She wouldn’t comment specifically on whether Lewis should redraw the districts, as some critics of the map have suggested. But she also made it clear that the league believes lawmakers have had several chances to draw a map correctly.
“The Legislature’s already had one opportunity to comply with the amendments,” Macnab said. “This was their second chance.”
During the debate over the map Monday, Democrats were less restrained. Rep. Jim Waldman, D-Coconut Creek, said he hoped that Lewis wouldn’t give the Republican-controlled Legislature a third chance to craft districts if he strikes down the new map.
“I hope he decides to do it, or at least have an impartial panel do it,” Waldman said. “Because the fact is that this map has been tainted from the beginning.”
Lewis is supposed to hold another hearing Aug. 20 on the map and a proposed schedule for a possible special election. Even if he decides to uphold the new plan, Lewis could delay voting in the seven congressional districts affected by the changes to the map. Republicans have opposed any plan to change the election dates, saying tens of thousands of Floridians have already cast absentee ballots in the Aug. 26 primaries. Also, early voting has started in some counties.
And if Lewis rules in favor of the Legislature on all counts, the plaintiffs in the redistricting lawsuit could appeal.
In his initial ruling last month, Lewis said lawmakers put too many African-American voters in Congressional District 5, currently represented by Democratic Congresswoman Corrine Brown, in an apparent effort to channel those Democratic-leaning voters away from surrounding districts.
The judge also found fault with an appendage of white voters added onto Congressional District 10, now represented by Republican Congressman Dan Webster. Lewis said the voters were placed in Webster’s district to try to help the incumbent hold onto his seat.
Because all congressional districts must have roughly equal populations, lawmakers Monday evened out the numbers by shifting the boundaries of five other seats.
For now, GOP lawmakers say they’re waiting for Lewis’ final ruling. Speaking to reporters after the session ended Monday night, Senate President Don Gaetz didn’t rule out appealing if Lewis rules against the Legislature, but said he didn’t think it would be necessary.
“We place our trust and confidence in his judgment,” said Gaetz, R-Niceville. “I don’t believe that there’s going to be any need or reason to appeal. It is (neither) Speaker Weatherford’s nor my desire to spend more time, more money and more energy on litigation. ”
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service Florida
Mobile Homers Win Over The Blue Wahoos
August 13, 2014
Mobile BayBears hitters showed two-time U.S. Master’s champion Bubba Watson – one of the longest drivers off the tee on the PGA Tour – how to drive a baseball.
While Watson took a few big cuts in the batting cage before the game, it was Mobile that relied on the long ball to defeat Southern League rival Pensacola, 6-1, in the opener of the five-game series at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
The BayBears knocked two homers over the wall in left field and into the bay in the sixth inning for three runs to take a commanding, 5-1, lead.
Corcino entered the game with a 9-2 record at home with a 2.52 earned-run average. But Mobile knocked him out of the game in the sixth with a lead off home run by third baseman Brandon Drury just inside the foul pole. After right fielder Dustin Martin followed with a single, second baseman Gerson Montilla hit a two-run shot.
Mobile starting pitcher Braden Shipley earned his first professional hit when he smacked a solo home run over the left field wall in the third inning off Corcino to put the BayBears ahead, 2-0. Corcino gave up five runs and six hits in five-plus innings, however, he struck out seven, including five in a row. Shipley allowed just one run on three hits in four innings and struck out five.
The BayBears, winners of the first half of the Southern League South Division, have the best record in the second half, too. They are 30-19 and 72-46 overall. In the final series with Pensacola (20-31, 51-70), Mobile leads nine games to seven.
After Mobile added a run in the seventh, Drew Hayes took the mound and stopped Mobile from scoring any more. He faced the minimum eight batters in the final 2.2 innings. He fanned three batters.
The Wahoos were only able to push across one run Tuesday and missed having catcher Ross Perez in the middle of the lineup, Manager Delino DeShields said. Perez, who was hitting a team-leading .333 on the season, got called up Tuesday to the Triple-A Louisville Bats.
“He earned the promotion,” DeShields said. “I know he was happy. Personally, I hated to see him go, especially for our offense. But at the end of the day, it’s all about the guys moving on and one day reaching the big leagues.”
The second game of the five-game series with Arizona DiamondBacks Double-A affiliate the Mobile BayBears gets underway at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. RHP Jon Moscot (7-10, 3.14) takes the mound for the Wahoos and is scheduled to be opposed by the BayBears RHP Aaron Blair (3-1, 3.09).
by Tommy Thrall
Escambia County Woman Dies In Crash North Of Tampa
August 12, 2014
An Escambia County woman killed in a single vehicle accident north of Tampa has been identified.
Lisa Jane Newcomer, 35, was pronounced deceased at the scene of the accident on Highway 41 in Spring, Hill, Fla. According to the FHP, Newcomer was alone in her 2001 Honda Accord when she lost control, ran off the road, struck a utility pole, crossed a culvert and became airborne before hitting a tree. The accident occurred early Monday morning.
The Florida Highway Patrol is still investigating the cause of the crash.
Cantonment Man Gets Two Life Sentences For Deadly Home Invasion
August 12, 2014
An Escambia County man will spend the rest his life in prison for a deadly drug-related home invasion in Cantonment.
Robert Dale Purifoy, age 34 of Batson Lane in Cantonment, was found guilty in the murder of Amber Tricona Johnson. Johnson 22, was shot and killed during an exchange of gunfire during a home invasion on Stefani Circle in November 2012. Johnson’s boyfriend Justin Stanley was also shot and wounded.
An undisclosed amount of money and a “significant” quantity of marijuana was found at the scene, leading investigators to believe that robbery was a motive.
An Escambia County jury returned the verdict against Purifoy just before 10:00 Monday night. He was immediately sentenced to two life sentences plus five years to be served concurrently with no possibility of parole.
Work On Century Gas Leak Repair Project Delayed A Week
August 12, 2014
Construction was set to begin Monday on a project to repair a leaking section of natural gas pipe under Highway 29 in Century, but it’s going to be another week before work begins.
R.A.W. Construction, LLC of Tallahassee was set to go to work Monday to install new natural gas lines along the right-of-way of Highway 29 (North Century Boulevard) from about McCurdy Lane to West Highway 4 near the courthouse. But town officials said the company had necessary equipment still tied up on a previous project and moved the start date for Century work to Monday, August 18.
About 6,515 feet of 4-inch steel natural gas line was buried beneath the southbound lanes of Highway 29 when the road was widened to four lanes. Now, nearly 50 years since the almost 1.25 mile long pipe was first put into the ground, the town believes the steel is corroding and leaking somewhere between West Highway 4 and McCurdy Street.
The repair project is due to be complete by November 25.
Molino Day Of Hope To Offer Free School Supplies, Groceries And More Saturday
August 12, 2014
A free “Day of Hope” will offer back to school supplies and more this Saturday in Molino.
The Day of Hope will be held from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Victory Assembly of God at 1895 Victory Road, just south of Barrineau Park Road on Highway 29. The event will offer free groceries, haircuts, backpacks, school supplies, a kids zone and a hot lunch. Items are available while supplies last, rain or shine. No identification is required.
Florida Legislature Passes New Congressional Districts
August 12, 2014
Lawmakers passed new congressional districts on nearly party-line votes in the House and the Senate on Monday, sending the map back to the courts as early voting opened in some counties.
As they did the first time they approved a congressional map in 2012, Republicans applauded themselves Monday for following the anti-gerrymandering Fair Districts amendments approved by voters in 2010. But Democrats said the GOP did little to actually change borders that they said were still unfairly tilted toward Republican candidates.
The House voted 71-38 to approve the map (SB 2A), which was needed after Leon County Circuit Judge Terry Lewis struck down two congressional districts he said were drawn to buoy the GOP’s chances at the ballot box. Reps. Mia Jones and Reggie Fullwood, both of Jacksonville, were the lone Democrats to support the map in the House.
Two Senate Democrats, Sens. Audrey Gibson of Jacksonville and Bill Montford of Tallahassee, voted with the GOP as the plan cleared that chamber on a 25-12 vote. Earlier, the Senate voted by the same margin to reject a proposal by Sen. Darren Soto, D-Orlando, that would have made substantial changes.
“I certainly hope that litigation time is over and that fair voting time has started,” said Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville.
Lewis ruled the original map unconstitutional last month after voting-rights organizations and some individual voters filed a lawsuit saying the plan didn’t follow the Fair Districts amendments. In his decision, Lewis said lawmakers put too many African-American voters in Congressional District 5, currently represented by Democratic Congresswoman Corrine Brown, in an apparent effort to channel those Democratic-leaning voters away from surrounding districts.
The judge also found fault with an appendage of white voters added onto Congressional District 10, now represented by Republican Congressman Dan Webster; Lewis said the voters were placed in Webster’s district to try to help the incumbent hold onto his seat.
Democrats argued that the process this time was no better than it was two years ago — a process Lewis said was corrupted by the influence of political consultants despite the efforts of some legislative leaders to follow the amendments.
“Such behind-the-scenes collusions violated the constitution as well as the public’s trust. … Nothing really changed in this process this time around which would restore the integrity called into question the first time around,” said Rep. Karen Castor Dentel, D-Maitland.
Democrats also bristled at when the new districts are scheduled to take effect. Senate Reapportionment Chairman Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, said the bill would apply to any elections after the November general election. As an example, the redrawn districts would be in effect if Lewis requires a special election later in the year.
Republicans maintain that it’s too late to change the date of the primary and general elections for Congress, given that tens of thousands of absentee voters, including soldiers serving overseas, have already returned their ballots. Primary elections are scheduled for Aug. 26, with early voting starting Monday in some counties and later elsewhere.
But Senate Minority Leader Chris Smith, D-Fort Lauderdale, said voters should not cast ballots in this fall’s elections in districts that Lewis has already said violate the anti-gerrymandering Fair Districts standards.
“This isn’t about convenience,” Smith said. “This is about democracy.”
While the changes were focused on District 5 and District 10, they would affect seven congressional districts. Soto’s proposal would have only affected three districts, but critics questioned, in part, whether it would diminish the ability of black voters to elect a candidate of their choice in District 5.
Sen. David Simmons, R-Altamonte Springs, said Soto’s proposal “significantly backslides” on the minority-voting issue.
“We are bound not to diminish the ability of minorities in Congressional District 5 to elect the candidates of their choice,” Simmons said.
Lewis is expected to hold a hearing next week on whether to approve the changes and, if so, whether to hold a special election in districts that would be affected by the plan.
Gaetz left open the possibility that the Legislature could appeal if Lewis delays the regularly scheduled elections, and he predicted that the map’s critics would continue fighting.
“I would expect that the plaintiffs won’t be happy until they can win in the courts what they always lose on Election Day,” he said.
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida