Greg Evers: “It’ll Be Snowing In Miami” When Pension Bill Passes
March 14, 2014
A law-enforcement union and one of the Republican senators who helped kill an overhaul of the state pension system last year came out Thursday against this year’s version of the revamp, appearing to further dim hopes for a compromise bill to pass.
“When it passes, it’ll be snowing in Miami,” Sen. Greg Evers, R-Baker, said. Evers’ district includes Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
Evers was one of a handful of renegade GOP senators who sank a more-sweeping pension overhaul last year. Supporters had hoped that carving out law-enforcement and emergency workers in this year’s legislation would make it easier for lawmakers like Evers to support.
But so far, the effort appears to have stalled. The Senate proposal (SB 1114) cleared the Community Affairs Committee by one vote last month after Sen. Jack Latvala of Clearwater, another one of the Republicans who voted against last year’s overhaul, opposed it.
Baker spoke at a press event with the Fraternal Order of Police, a law-enforcement union that is opposed to this year’s measure. James Preston, the president of the organization’s Florida State Lodge, said even exempting “special risk” workers didn’t make the proposal any more palatable to the organization.
He said those employees make up a small slice of people paying into the Florida Retirement System.
“If we’re carved out and all those other members are no longer putting into the system, eventually, that system is going to collapse, it’s going to destabilize because no fresh money’s coming in,” Preston said. “And it will eventually affect us. We know if we’re carved out this year, they’re coming back after us a year from now or two years from now.”
The pension-reform bill is one of the top priorities of House Speaker Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, and Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville. Weatherford pushed a bill last year that would have moved all future retirees into a 401(k)-style investment plan, instead of the state’s traditional pension plan.
This year’s Senate proposal would still close the Florida Retirement System’s traditional pension plan to new employees after July 1, 2015, though those employees already in the system would remain. New hires would be required to choose between the investment plan and a “cash balance” plan, which in some ways would act like a 401(k) but would guarantee a minimum benefit.
Sen. Wilton Simpson, a Trilby Republican who has sponsored SB 1114, told a reporter as he left an unrelated committee meeting that he didn’t want to comment about the pension bill. When told that the Fraternal Order of Police had announced its opposition to the measure, Simpson said: “Now, there’s a shocker.”
Evers indicated his support could be won for the bill — if the Legislature agrees to a condition that even he said was incredibly unlikely.
“You give state employees, whether they’re wearing a uniform and carrying a gun or whether they’re sitting behind a desk, you give every employee a 50 percent pay raise, and then I think that we could take and redo the FRS,” he said.
By Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Deputies Looking For Man For Questioning In Nightclub Shooting
March 14, 2014
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a person for questioning in reference to an early Thursday morning shooting at Ray’s Soul City on Baar’s Street.
Deputies responded to the establishment for a shots fired disturbance just before 1 a.m. They found a female victim with a minor graze from a bullet. She was transported to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Deputies said they are looking for 30-year old George Newman Barge for questioning in connection with the shooting.
Anyone having information on this crime or the whereabouts of Barge is urged to contact Crimestoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
Escambia Woman Gets 25 Years For Two Armed Robberies
March 14, 2014
An Escambia County woman was sentenced to prison Thursday for her part in two armed robberies.
Keashtani Renee Sapp was sentenced by Judge Edward P. Nickinson III to 25 years state prison with 10 years as a mandatory minimum sentence under the 10-20-Life law. Sapp pled no contest on March 6, 2014 for her involvement in two separate armed robberies.
On October 2, 2012, Sapp was given a ride home by Danicia Copeland to Oakwood Terrace Apartments. Upon arrival, Sapp struck Copeland in the face numerous times while demanding money from her. Sapp was observed to have had a handgun in her pocket during the robbery and was able to get away with approximately $800.
On January 16, 2013, Sapp was given a ride home from George Stone Technical Center by Timothy Norris. Sapp asked Norris to pick up two unidentified males prior to arriving at 215 Cross Street. Upon arrival, the two unidentified males each stuck a handgun to the back of his head, demanding money. Sapp went through Norris’ pockets and robbed him of $300 cash and other personal items. Sapp was identified by the victim in both of these cases.
Sapp was released from prison on July 5, 2012, after serving 18 months for other charges.
Flags At Half Staff To Honor Askew
March 14, 2014
Gov. Rick Scott ordered that flags be flown at half-staff to honor former Gov. Reubin Askew, who died early Thursday at age 85 in a Tallahassee hospital.
“Governor Askew exemplified the ideals of public service,” Scott said in a memorandum directing the honor. “As a mark of respect for the memory of Governor Askew, I hereby direct the flags of the United States and the State of Florida to be flown immediately at half-staff at all local and state buildings, installations, and grounds throughout the State of Florida, until sunset on the date of internment.”
Askew, a Democrat, served as governor from 1971 to 1979 and was the first Florida governor elected to successive four-year terms.
Tributes to Askew poured in Thursday from political figures in both parties.
“For those of us of a certain age who cut our political teeth in the ’60s and ’70s, Governor Askew was living proof that good guys can finish first,” said Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville. “Integrity was his platform and honor was his policy.”
For a related story, click here.
Pictured: The flag at half staff Thursday at the Century Town Hall in remembrance of former Gov. Reubin Askew. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Northview Beats Holmes County
March 14, 2014
The varsity Northview Chiefs beat Holmes County in Bonifay 7-3 Thursday night. The junior varsity Chiefs downed Holmes County 11-3. The junior varsity Chiefs will play Freeport at 4:00 Friday afternoon, while the varsity will take the field at 6:00 in a district game.
File photo.
Vehicle Registration Fee Rollback Nears Scott Request
March 14, 2014
Lawmakers are closer to giving Gov. Rick Scott one of his priorities for the 2014 session, an election-year rollback of vehicle-registration fees that were raised under the watch of his potential Democratic challenger.
But while lawmakers should get to Scott’s $500 million goal for cutting taxes and fees, they likely will take a different approach on some of the details. Along with rolling back the vehicle-registration fees, lawmakers may look toward an assortment of tax cuts and tax-free shopping periods, rather than approving a Scott request to slash $100 million from taxes on commercial leases.
On Thursday, the Senate Appropriations Committee unanimously amended a proposal (SB 156) by Chairman Joe Negron, R-Stuart, to reduce the vehicle-registration fees. Under the revised proposal, motorists would potentially save between $20 and $25 per vehicle registration, with the total depending on the size of the vehicle.
The reduction would collectively save motorists about $309 million during the upcoming 2014-15 budget year, with the new rates going into effect Sept. 1.
The savings would grow the following year to about $395 million, when they would be in effect for the full 12 months. State fiscal years start in July.
Scott has called for cutting about $400 million in vehicle-registration fees, eliminating increases signed into law in 2009 by potential Democratic gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist, then a Republican occupying the governor’s mansion.
Negron called his initial Senate package, which sought first-year savings of $185 million, or about $12 per vehicle, a starting point. And he added that the “governor’s been very persuasive on his plan.”
The amendment brings the Senate version of the vehicle-fee reduction in line with a House proposal (PCB 14-04), which was unanimously backed Thursday by the House Finance and Tax Subcommittee.
Unlike in the Senate Appropriations Committee meeting, House Democrats offered more critical comments.
Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda, D-Tallahassee, said the proposal has become a “political football in many ways.”
Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Coral Springs, said the reduction is simply being done to aid Scott’s re-election.
“There is a great line in ‘The Wizard of Oz’ that I like, ‘Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.’ I feel like we need to take the curtain down,” Moskowitz said.
“The reason we’re talking about this is so that we can make this an issue during the campaign,” Moskowitz added, “so the current governor running for re-election can attack the former governor on this specific issue.”
Finance and Tax Chairman Ritch Workman, R-Melbourne, called Moskowitz’ comments “misguided” and added that the subcommittee continues to plan a wide range of ideas to reach Scott’s goal of reducing $500 million in taxes and fees.
Scott has requested a $100 million reduction in the commercial-lease tax, which now generates about $1.4 billion a year in revenue for the state. But Workman said his approach will be more broad-based.
“The big ones are off the tables, the (communications services tax), the corporate rent tax, because they won’t fit in a $100 million package,” Workman said. “But we’ve got things like the corporate-income taxes that are still on the table, all the holidays, the back-to-school holiday, hurricane preparedness holiday, things I can use for the non-recurring portion.”
Scott has pitched increasing the corporate income-tax exemption from $50,000 to $75,000, which would reduce general-revenue funds by $21.6 million during the first year and $22.8 million the second year.
Workman added that a proposal by Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam for a sales-tax holiday on energy-efficient appliances is still in the mix.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Pictured: The Molino location for the Escambia County Tax Collector and Property Appraiser. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Students Pitch Plans, Score Cash To Start Local Businesses
March 14, 2014
It was a friendly competition, when 15 area students pitched their business plans to some of the most prominent members of the region’s business community during Greater Pensacola’s inaugural Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) investor panel showdown.
The students, who have been refining their business plans for nearly six months, were featured on stage in a shark-tank-like format and judged based on the appeal and merit of each proposal. More than $6,000 in grants were awarded to the nine businesses that presented, with Gulf Breeze Middle School siblings – Eve Knight, 12, and Liam Knight, 13 – selected to compete in the YEA! Saunders Scholars Regional Competition with their winning business, The Spice Kidz.
“Entrepreneurs are crucial to the success of economic development within our region,” said Greater Pensacola Chamber President Jerry Maygarden. “Programs like YEA! help foster the entrepreneurial mindset in young people and give them the opportunity to pursue their dreams, which may otherwise go unrealized, by harnessing their youthful energy, optimism and creativity.”
The business pitches were judged by a panel of local investors made up of Pen Air’s President & CEO Stu Ramsey, Sandy Sansing Automotive Group’s David Sansing, Studer Community Development Group’s Andrew Rothfeder, Gulf Power Company’s John Hutchinson, Warren Averett’s Cyndi Warren, Central Credit Union’s Maggie Conaghan, Nowak Enterprises’ Peter Nowak, Chick-fil-A’s Robert Barnes, Florida SBDC’s Mike Myhre, THG Investments’ Chad Henderson and Beck Property’s Justin Beck.
“With small businesses playing an instrumental role in our nation’s economy, this program is a true testament to Greater Pensacola’s continued dedication to producing future leaders who could make significant contributions to our community,” said Global Business Solutions Inc. CEO Randy Ramos, who emceed the evening’s events.
YEA! is a national educational program that guides 6th- to 12th-grade students through the process of starting and running real businesses over the course of a full academic year. Students work in close cooperation with local business leaders, educators and community members to develop ideas and objectives that help to create their own fully-formed companies.
“One of the most interesting components of the program is the actual behind-the-scenes knowledge the students are given from local business leaders, who were at one time standing in their shoes,” said Dr. Ed Ranelli, Dean Emeritus for the University of West Florida College of Business. “Participating students are receiving a dynamic introduction to the business world, which in turn, helps to create tomorrow’s leaders.”
Pictured: Eve Knight, 12, and Liam Knight, 13 – selected to compete in the YEA! Saunders Scholars Regional Competition with their winning business, The Spice Kidz. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Killed In Collision With Concrete Truck
March 13, 2014
A Cantonment man was killed this morning in a collision involving a pickup truck and a concrete truck in Cantonment.
The accident happened just before 8 a.m. on Jacks Branch Road at Green Tree Circle, just north of Muscogee Road.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 47-year old Johnson Watson Whitehurst of Cantonment was southbound in a sharp curve on Jacks Branch Road when his 2001 Dodge pickup crossed the center line into the path of a concrete truck driven by 46-year old Jimmy Dwight Weaver, Jr.
After the collision, the concrete truck overturned onto its side, while the pickup came to rest on the shoulder. Whitehurst was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Weaver was transported by ambulance to West Florida Hospital with minor injuries. No charges were filed in the accident.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
NorthEscambia.com photo by Kristi Smith (top) and reader submitted photo by Jamie Thurman, click to enlarge.
Century Man Convicted Of Felony Horse Abuse
March 13, 2014
A Century man has been convicted of felony animal cruelty for abusing and starving two horses in 2012.
Kendrick Jamar Washington, now age 25, was found guilty by Judge Linda Nobles and sentenced to 180 days in jail with no eligibility for work release. He was also ordered to pay $668 in costs and fees, and the court reserved the right to impose restitution to Escambia County Animal control or any others that cared for the horses after they were seized.
Washington placed two horses into a lot on Ramar Street in Century surrounded by a makeshift barbed wire fence. Barbed wire was hanging inside the pen, causing a serious injury to the front leg of one horse.
On January 24, 2012, animal control officers found that one horse was tied to a post away from any water source; the second was found on its side in mud and dirt, unable to get up. Neither horse had access to food or shelter, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report. Both of the animals were obviously underweight.
Both horses were transported to the Northwest Florida Animal Clinic in Pace for treatment.
PER Seeks Donations To Purchase Lift For Rescue Horses
March 13, 2014
A week ago, we first reported on Ebony, a horse seized by Escambia County an now housed at Panhandle Equine Rescue in Cantonment. Ebony is continuing her recovery, now sometimes able to get up to her feet on her own.
Numerous times, PER has been forced to turn to a host of volunteers from the community, Escambia County Animal Control, the Escambia County Sheriff’’s Office and several assistance calls to the Cantonment Station of Escambia Fire Rescue.
Last week, the crew of Cantonment’s Fire Rescue Engine 419 put their training and brainpower to work. The firemen designed a sling and used a ladder, chains, straps and a come-along to lift Ebony to her feet. Once she was upright, a veterinarian was able to administer IV fluids.
Now, Panhandle Equine Rescue is turning to the community to raise money for a proper sling lift to be able to lift Ebony and future rescued horses without undue danger to the horse and volunteers. The lift is priced at $2,145, and as of Wednesday night, PER had raised $1,165 in donations.
They have set up a GoFundMe website to allow the community to securely donate toward the $980 still needed. Once those funds are raised, additional money will be needed to purchase a secure structure to which the lift will be attached.
Ebony was seized about two weeks ago from the 400 block of Crowndale Court. Ebony was severely malnourished when seized, according to PER President Diane Lowery. A second horse seized from the property was put down by a veterinarian due to its state of malnourishment. Criminal charges are expected in the case, Lowery said.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.