Coalition Pushes For Open Government, Ethics Reforms
April 17, 2014
A coalition of groups called Wednesday for lawmakers to approve bills that would overhaul open-records and ethics laws before the legislative session ends in little more than two weeks.
The organizations — including the First Amendment Foundation, Common Cause Florida, Integrity Florida, the Citizens Awareness Foundation and The Tea Party Network —said the House should pass a counterpart (HB 1151) to a measure approved by the Senate (SB 1648) strengthening the state’s open-government rules.
The bill would create laws mirroring several court decisions, including one barring officials from demanding that citizens put requests for records in writing. Also, the bill would require open-government training for government employees.
It comes as the Legislature is on pace to boost the total number of exemptions from open-records laws to almost 1,100, said Barbara Petersen, president of the First Amendment Foundation.
“It’s a concern for us that the Legislature is very willing to create all of these exceptions to the constitutional right of access, but drags its heels on any attempt to improve our open-government laws,” Petersen said Wednesday at a press conference.
The coalition also pressed lawmakers to approve a handful of ethics bills, including one measure (SB 846) that would bar local elected officials from working as legislative lobbyists in the future — though they would be able to represent their agencies at the Capitol. The bill also would require independent special districts to set up lobbyist-registration systems.
by The News Service of Florida
(Disclosure: The News Service of Florida is a member of the First Amendment Foundation.)
Coaches Name Robinson To All-State First Team
April 17, 2014
The Florida Association of Basketball Coaches has named Northview’s Neino Robinson to the 2013-2014 Boys Class 1A All-State first team.
Robinson, a senior, was the only public school player from Escambia County named to any of the associations’ all-state teams in an classification. Players were selected based on in-person evaluations, a review of all-area teams selected by media from around the state, and recognition from the Florida Association of Basketball Coaches.
The Florida Association of Basketball Coaches includes coaches from the high school, junior college and four-year college levels.
Tate, Jay To Play For District Championships After Wednesday Wins
April 17, 2014
The Tate Lady Aggies and the Jay Lady Royals will be in action tonight in their district softball championship games.
The top-seeded Tate Lady Aggies beat Fort Walton Beach Wednesday night 12-1 in five. The win earned the Lady Aggies a chance to play Thursday night for the District 1-7A championship against the third seed Navarre Raiders, 7 p.m. at Tate High School. The Raiders upset number two Niceville Wednesday 2-1.
The Jay Royals beat Baker Wednesday night to advance to the championship game of the District 3-1A softball tournament. Jay will host Chipley at 7:00 Thursday night for the district championship after Chipley beat Holmes County.
Wahoos Fall 5-0 To Montgomery
April 17, 2014
On a crisp night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos (7-6) dropped game three of the five-game series with the Montgomery Biscuits, 5-0. The Biscuits (7-6) were powered by a 5th inning grand slam from left fielder Jeff Malm, which appeared to put the game out of reach.
RHP Robert Stephenson (1-1) struggled in his second start of the season. He logged 4.1 innings and gave up 5 R/ER. Stephenson walked seven Biscuit batters and gave up a grand slam to Malm in the fifth, which ended up being his final batter of the evening. Reliever Daniel Renken had his longest outing of the season in relief of Stephenson. Renken pitched 2.2 innings and gave up no runs, three walks and struck out two. Wahoos pitchers combined to match a team record with 11 walks in the game.
Right fielder Juan Duran extended his hitting streak to eight games with a 1-for-4 performance at the plate. Left fielder Donald Lutz remained hot going 1-for-4 with a double. Shortstop Devin Lohman had his second multi-hit game of the season; Lohman went 2-for-4 with two singles for the Wahoos.
RHP Jared Mortensen (2-0) gave up no runs in his third start of the season; Mortensen pitched 5.0 innings and gave up just four hits while striking out five Wahoo batters. RHP Jake Thompson pitched three scoreless innings in relief for the Biscuits. Thompson gave up just one hit and struck out four in his longest outing of the season.
Thursday marks the fourth game of the series and first pitch is scheduled for 6:30. RHP Jon Moscot (0-0, 0.90) is set to start for the Wahoos and he will be opposed by Michael Colla (0-1, 6.52).
by Tommy Thrall
Pictured: The Pensacola Blue Wahoos lose 5-0 to the Montgomery Biscuits Wednesday night in Pensacola. Photos by Michael Spooneybarger/ Pensacola Blue Wahoos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FWC Sets Recreational Red Snapper Season To Begin May 24
April 17, 2014
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) set the Gulf recreational red snapper season in state waters Wednesday. The season will be a total of 52 days in 2014 and will start the Saturday before Memorial Day (May 24 this year) and remain open through July 14, closing July 15.
Starting the season the Saturday before Memorial Day will provide recreational red snapper fishing through an important holiday weekend, helping attract more visitors and bringing economic benefits to our coastal communities, FWC said.
The federal season is currently projected to be 11 days long, starting June 1 and remaining open through June 11. This season is subject to change depending on projections by NOAA Fisheries for when the recreational red snapper quota may be caught.
Florida state waters in the Gulf are from shore to 9 nautical miles. Federal waters extend from where state waters end, out to about 200 nautical miles.
The daily bag limit will remain two per person in state and federal waters.
Escambia Woman Dies In Highway 98 Crash
April 16, 2014
An Escambia County woman died in a two vehicle traffic crash Wednesday morning.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 89-year old Christene Wyatt Gileland was westbound on Highway 98 at South 61st Avenue in a 1996 Ford Escort, as a 2000 Mitsubishi Galant driven by 54-year old Anna Mare Rue was southbound on 61st Avenue and approaching Highway 98 in the left turn lane. The vehicles collided, with both coming to rest in the intersection.
Gileland was pronounced deceased following the crash, while Rue received minor injuries.
Charges are pending the completion of a traffic homicide investigation, according to FHP.
Century Man Gets Five Years For Indecent Exposure To Nursing Home Residents
April 16, 2014
A Century man was sentenced to five years in state prison Tuesday for exposing himself in front of nursing home residents in Century.
Daryl Lamar Brown, 46, was found guilty by an Escambia County jury of two counts of lewd and lascivious exposure in the presence of an elderly or disabled person and two additional misdemeanor counts of indecent exposure. He was sentenced by Circuit Court Judge Ross Goodman.
The charges were filed after the defendant was observed by several residents of the Century Care Center committing lewd and indecent acts in the early morning hours outside the center.
Jury Recommends Death For Joshua Douglas
April 16, 2014
An Escambia County jury voted unanimously Tuesday to recommend the death sentence for 32-year old Joshua Wayne Douglas.
Douglas was convicted last week of the brutal rape and murder of a woman whose body was found in wooded area off Nine Mile Road. The body of 25-year old Jamie Broxson was found near a Gulf Power substation not far from Broxson’s home in November 2010. Douglas was tied to the murder by DNA evidence.
One additional hearing will be held May 23 for the purpose of presenting any further evidence for the court to consider before imposing sentence.
Walmart To Hire 100 For Atmore Summer Opening
April 16, 2014
Walmart is looking to hire about 100 people for their new store slated to open this summer in Atmore.
A temporary hiring center is now open from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday at 101 North Main Street. Interested applicants may also apply online at http://careers.walmart.com.
Through Walmart’s Veterans Welcome Home Commitment, the company will offer a job to any qualified veteran who has been honorably discharged within the past 12 months.Interested veterans may find out more at http://walmartcareerswithamission.com.
According to store manager Joe Ferguson, the store will be hiring both full- and part-time associates. “We’re excited to bring the new store to Atmore along with new jobs that oftentimes lead to great career opportunities,” said Ferguson.
Walmart provides a benefits program to eligible full- and part-time associates. For example, it provides a variety of affordable health and well-being benefits including health-care coverage with no lifetime maximum. Walmart also offers eligible associates matching 401(k) contributions of up to six percent of pay, discounts on general merchandise, an Associate Stock Purchase Program and company-paid life insurance. Additionally, eligible associates receive a quarterly incentive based on store performance.
The majority of new associates will begin work in June to help prepare the store for its grand opening.
Pictured: The new Atmore Walmart under construction. NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Tate Band Students Named To State Nine Star Honor Band
April 16, 2014
Five Tate High School band students have been named to the Nine Star Honor Band for the state of Florida.
The Nine Star Honor Band is sponsored by the Florida Bandmaster’s Association for the second year. It is for rising 10th grade students who have shown great musical aptitude and ability, and come from the highest quality band programs in Florida.
The Tate students selected were: Mallory Parker, Madison Philley, Madison Rondeau, Katlin Sainata and Danae Smith.
They will travel to Alamonte Springs on July 9 and 10 to perform with other sophomores from around the state. Their clinician will be Dan Wooten, director of bands at Niceville High School and former member and assistant director of the Tate High School Showband of the South.
Pictured: Nine Star Honor Band members from Tate High School are (L-R) Mallory Parker, Madison Philley, Madison Rondeau, Danae Smith and Kaitlin Sainata. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.