23rd Annual Century Sawmill Pageant Winners
April 2, 2014
The 23rd Annual Century Sawmill Pageant was held recently in Century.
The event included pageants for numerous age groups for beauty, casual wear, and most photogenic. Dozens of girls participated in the Century Lions Club fund raiser. All proceeds will benefit needy children in the Tri-County area.
Winners for each age category are detailed under each photograph above and below:
Tiny Baby Miss (0-23 months): Above: (L-R) 1st-Anniston Salter; 2nd-Madelyn Faulk; Queen-Jillian Sanders, and 3rd-Zemma Holt.
Toddler Miss (2-3 yrs): Above: (L-R) 1st-Layla Schoonover; Queen-Jessica Pritchett; 2nd-McKenzie Griffis; and 3rd-Sarah Blackburn.
Little Miss (4-5 yrs): Above (L-R) 1st-Kailee Herndon; 3rd-Jacie Himes; Queen-Jillian Braswell; Photogenic-Emily Maughon and 2nd-Lanie Stephens.
Young Miss (6-7 yrs): Above: (L-R) 3rd-Cadee Carroll; 1st-Olivia Griffs; Queen-Bailey Glover; 2nd-Jordan Sanders.
Junior Miss (8 yrs-5th grade): Above: (L-R) Nevaeh Brown; Queen-Nala Hunter; 2nd-Bentley Glover; and 3rd-Briana Dunsford.
Middle School: Above: (L-R) 2nd-Lydia Bell; Queen-Janna Johnson; 1st-Carly Sanders; and 3rd-Chloe Smith.
High School: Above: (L-R) 2nd-Heather Hilton; Queen-Kassidy Adams; 1st-Ronna Tullis; and 3rd-Valerie Sawyer.
Submitted photos by “Photos By Fisher” for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Houses Passes Juvenile Sentencing Revamp
April 2, 2014
After struggling in the past to resolve the issue, the Florida House on Tuesday unanimously approved a bill that would change juvenile-sentencing laws in cases of murders and other serious felonies.
The bill (HB 7035) stems from a pair of major U.S. Supreme Court decisions that dealt with life sentences for juveniles. The decisions have spawned legal questions in Florida courts, and House bill sponsor James Grant, R-Tampa, said lawmakers need to pass a bill or that the Florida Supreme Court will end up deciding the sentencing issues.
“I believe we have landed in a good spot,” Grant said.
In a 2010 case, known as Graham v. Florida, the U.S. Supreme Court banned life sentences without a “meaningful opportunity” for release for juveniles convicted of non-homicide crimes. And in a 2012 ruling known as Miller v. Alabama, the high court barred mandatory life sentences for juveniles convicted of murder. Juveniles can still face life sentences in such cases, but judges must weigh criteria such as the offenders’ maturity and the nature of the crimes before imposing that sentence.
The House bill calls for judicial hearings and sentencing standards that would vary depending on the nature of the crimes.
As an example, a juvenile convicted of a murder classified as a capital felony could be sentenced to life in prison after a hearing to determine whether such a sentence is appropriate. If a judge finds that a life sentence is not appropriate, the juvenile would be sentenced to at least 40 years. Also, juveniles convicted in such cases would be entitled to reviews after 25 years.
An underpinning of the U.S. Supreme Court rulings was that juveniles are different from adults and function at different stages of brain development. As a result, the court held, juvenile sentencing guidelines must offer young offenders the chance to show that they have been rehabilitated while in prison.
Member of both parties praised the House bill, which came after earlier legislative attempts to address the issue failed. Rep. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg, said he doesn’t believe the bill goes far enough to protect juveniles from harsh sentences, but he said it is an improvement.
Grant said it will ensure that “monsters” who threaten safety will not be let out of prison but that not all juveniles would be treated that way.
The Senate version (SB 384) of the bill is expected to be heard on the Senate floor later this week.
by Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida
Bentley Settles BCS Championship Bet; Scott Enjoys Toomer’s Lemonade, Honors FSU
April 2, 2014
Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley settled a bet with Florida Gov. Rick Scott Tuesday — sending a gallon of Toomer’s Lemonade from Toomer’s Drug Store in Auburn south to Tallahassee. The two governors had made a friendly wager of the BCS Championship game in which Florida State beat the Auburn Tigers 34-31.
The FSU football team was honored by the Legislature before meeting with Scott. Scott was joined by FSU coach Jimbo Fisher and his wife Candi on the lawn of the Governor’s Mansion to enjoy the lemonade.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Scott Signs Series Of Bills Getting Tough On Sexually Violent Predators
April 2, 2014
After a disturbing newspaper investigation and the murder of a Jacksonville girl, Florida legislative leaders vowed to get tough this year on sexually violent predators.
And Tuesday, Gov. Rick Scott moved quickly to sign a package of bills aimed at keeping sexually violent predators locked up so they can’t attack again.
“Florida’s going to be scorched earth for these monsters,” said Sen. Rob Bradley, a Fleming Island Republican who worked on the bills.
Scott signed the package (SB 522, SB 524, SB 526 and SB 528) during a ceremony in the Capitol’s Cabinet meeting room that included sheriffs, prosecutors, lawmakers, sexual-assault victims and victims’ family members. Scott and other speakers said the bills will make Florida’s children safer.
“The safety of Florida’s families, especially our children is of paramount importance and I am proud to sign this legislation that adds protections for vulnerable Floridians during Sexual Assault Awareness Month. As a father of two girls and a grandfather of three boys, I think about how the legislation I am signing today will affect Florida’s families. It will make Florida’s children safer and adds protections for our communities, especially for our children. These measures will make a positive difference for generations to come,” Scott said.
The bills signed by Scott included SB 528 by Sen. Greg Evers, R-Baker, who represents the North Escambia area. The bill requires registered offenders to report vehicle information, Internet identifiers, palm prints, passports, professional licenses, immigration status, volunteer work at higher education institutions and other information.
Supporters hope the bills will prevent a repeat of incidents such as the kidnapping, rape and murder last year of 8-year-old Cherish Perrywinkle in Jacksonville, a case that drew widespread attention. A registered sex offender, Donald Smith, has been arrested in the case.
More broadly, supporters hope the legislation will address problems raised in an investigative report by the South Florida Sun Sentinel. The newspaper reported that the commitment of sexually violent predators under the state’s Jimmy Ryce Act had slowed to a crawl. Also, it found that since 1999, nearly 600 sexual predators had been released only to be convicted of new sex offenses — including more than 460 child molestations, 121 rapes and 14 murders.
House Criminal Justice Chairman Matt Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, said the bills will mean Florida will not be a “catch and release state” for sexual predators.
The bills make numerous changes to the state’s criminal and civil-commitment laws. As an example, SB 526, which was spearheaded by Bradley and Gaetz, would lead to mandatory minimum sentences of 50 years in prison for what are known as dangerous sexual felony offenders.
Taking part in the bill-signing ceremony was Lauren Book, a sexual-abuse survivor who has founded a group called Lauren’s Kids. Also taking part was Diena Thompson, whose 7-year-old daughter Somer disappeared in Clay County in 2009 while walking home from school. The child’s body was later found in a South Georgia landfill.
Bradley, who lives in Clay County, pointed to the Thompson and Perrywinkle cases and said the sexual-predator issue is “personal and raw” to people in Northeast Florida.
Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida, contributed to this report.
Pictured top: Gov. Rick Scott signs a series of bills Tuesday in Tallahassee. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Photo: 10 Mile Water Line Break
April 1, 2014
ECUA had a water line break to deal with Tuesday morning on West 10 Mile Road between Highway 29 and Stefani Road. Reader submitted photo by Robert Grafton for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Burglar Shot In The Act Arrested On The Run In Louisiana
April 1, 2014
A Century man on the run from the law since he failed to show up for a sentencing hearing in February has been arrested in Louisiana.
Ricky DeWayne Taylor, 34, was arrested by the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office in on a misdemeanor charge of possession of stolen things. He is being held without bond in the Lafayette County (LA) Jail awaiting extradition back to the Escambia County Jail in Pensacola.
On January 21, Taylor pleaded no contest to the charges against him, including burglary and grand theft. Judge Michael Allen allowed Taylor to stay free on bond until his February 20 sentencing hearing.
On May 17, 2013, Taylor broke into the victim’s home on Rockaway Creek Road and began removing items. The victim unexpectedly returned and caught Taylor and co-defendant Teresa Sunday in the act. Sunday, who was acquainted with the victim, had called him earlier that day to lure him away from the home to meet her at a local pool hall.
The victim held them at gunpoint with a .38 caliber revolver and contacted the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. As the victim was speaking with dispatchers, Taylor lunged toward him. The homeowner fired a .38 caliber revolver, striking Taylor in the leg and grazing Sunday on the left cheek. Taylor was alert and conscious when he was transferred to LifeFlight to be airlifted to Baptist Hospital in Pensacola. He was charged with burglary, larceny, criminal mischief property damage and battery.
Sunday, age 35 of Century, pleaded guilty to charges of burglary of an unoccupied dwelling and grand theft of a dwelling. In January, she was sentenced by Judge Michael Allen to five years in state prison.
Taylor was also charged with burglary and grand theft on Klondike Road on May 10, 2013. Deputies say he parked his Lincoln Town Car with Alabama plates near a home in the 8000 block of Klondike. He then allegedly took a duffel bag, five extension cords and a five gallon gas can from a barn and placed them outside, according to an arrest report.
The resident walked outside and confronted Taylor near the duffle bag outside of his barn. Taylor ran and the victim gave chase but was unable to keep up. The victim noticed the out of place Lincoln Town Car in the neighborhood and photographed the tag. After the victim returned home, he drove around in an attempt to located the suspect and passed the Lincoln, being driven by the man he chased from his yard.
Deputies were able to trace the Lincoln to Taylor from the tag photo, and the victim positively identified Taylor from a photo lineup.
Pictured: The scene on May1 7, 2013, on Rockaway Creek Road in Walnut Hill after burglary suspect Ricky Taylor was shot. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Tate Team Finishes Second In County Academic Championship
April 1, 2014
Recently, the Pensacola High School Academic Team defeated Tate High School to win its 12th consecutive County Academic Championship.
WSRE Studio on the Pensacola State College campus hosted the event, known as the “Academic Challenge.” All the matches between the competing county high schools were taped by WSRE. The air dates for these matches have yet to be determined; however, it is anticipated that it should begin sometime in early April.
Following are the overall results:
- Pensacola 3-0 970 pts
- Tate 2-1 695 pts
- Washington 1-2 375 pts
- Pine Forest 0-3 240 pts
ECSO: Woman Throws Brick Into Vehicle With Estranged Husband, His Girlfriend
April 1, 2014
A Century woman is facing multiple felony charges after allegedly chasing down her estranged husband and his new girlfriend and tossing a brick though his car windows.
Tasia Valenta McCall was charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without the intent to kill, two deadly missiles weapons offenses and criminal mischief property damage.
The victim told deputies he and his girlfriend were driving along Highway 29 south of Century when McCall began to follow them and attempted to maintain contact. When they arrived at their destination on Hilltop Road, McCall followed them down a long driveway. Before they could exit the vehicle, McCall began cussing and yelling at them before tossing a brick though the rear window of the occupied vehicle, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report. There were no injuries.
McCall was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $5,000 bond.
Jim Allen Elementary Students ‘Sponge’ Teachers For Relay For Life
April 1, 2014
Jim Allen Elementary School recently completed a fundraiser for Relay for Life. Each class collected money, with the top three classes getting to “sponge” the teacher of their choice….like a pie in the face, just with a wet sponge.
Pictured: Kindergarten students “sponge” Jim Allen Elementary School music teacher Greg Sexton. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Last Hopes Of Florida Online Voter Registration Fade
April 1, 2014
Florida voters hoping to register online will have to wait another year after the sponsor of a Senate bill that would have allowed Internet sign-ups essentially dropped the measure Monday.
With two prominent Republicans saying they would vote against the bill, and the possibility that the Senate Ethics and Elections Committee would defeat it, Sen. Jeff Clemens, D-Lake Worth, asked for the proposal to be shelved.
The chances that the measure (SB 784) would become law were already incredibly small. The House has not taken up any major elections legislation this session, leaving a wider Senate bill that included online voter registration (SB 1660) stalled. And a companion bill to Clemens’ measure has gone nowhere in the House.
But passing the proposal through at least one committee would have opened up the possibility for it to be added to another bill as an amendment.
Critics of the measure said the bill was premature, given that the Florida State Association of Supervisors of Elections expects to develop recommendations about online registration for the Legislature and the secretary of state’s office by the end of the year. Clemens’ proposal would not call for online voter registration to begin until July 2015.
“This bill is not going to go very far this session,” said Senate Rules Chairman John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine. “I think we all know that. … I’d be more inclined to hopefully look at it next year.”
Sen. Andy Gardiner, an Orlando Republican set to become Senate president after the November elections, also said he was hesitant to take up the bill this year.
Clemens countered that the state would need time to set up a system to handle online registration; delaying the bill until the 2015 session means it could take even longer until citizens could sign up.
“With 19 other states already doing this, we’re really behind the ball,” Clemens said. “I’d hoped that this wouldn’t become a partisan issue, because I don’t see it as partisan. I think Republicans use the Internet just as much as Democrats do.”
Senate Ethics and Elections Chairman Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, suggested that he could support the bill. Latvala successfully pushed Clemens to include language in the bill that would require voters who registered online to vote in person the first time after registering.
“I concur with you, personally, that this is an idea that’s time has come,” Latvala said. “I think that next year, we should have some serious conversation, serious debate and seriously look at this issue.”
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Pictured: The polling place at the First Baptist Church of Bratt. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.