Anti-Gambling Feelings Dominate Escambia County Hearing
November 15, 2013
Members of the Senate Gaming Committee gathered in Pensacola on Thursday and predominately heard opposition from Panhandle residents to the expansion of gambling — with the prevailing opinion that the state shouldn’t make gaming options more convenient or approve massive casinos, even if they’re just in South Florida.
“Keep Biloxi in Biloxi,” said Randolph Smith, a former Lutheran pastor from Pensacola who called himself a compulsive gambler.
The on-the-road hearing was the third for the committee as it gathers input on potential changes to the state’s gambling scene, with the possibilities ranging from non-tribal casino resorts to the addition of slot machines at pari-mutuels outside of Broward and Miami-Dade counties.
Prior hearings were held in Coconut Creek and Lakeland. A fourth hearing will be held Friday in Jacksonville.
With about 40 speakers during the hearing at the WSRE-TV Jean & Paul Amos Performance Studio in Pensacola, the committee has now heard from nearly 180 people at the three stops.
Representatives of Ebro Greyhound Park in Washington County and the Atmore Poarch Creek Indian operated Gretna Racing in Gadsden County spoke about the need for lawmakers to change a state law — backed by Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi — that only recognizes referendums on slot machines in Miami-Dade and Broward counties.
Also, the lawmakers heard a few voices saying Florida should create a statewide regulatory body and receive the gambling revenue that state residents are currently taking elsewhere.
“You cannot dictate, you cannot control people,” said Sylvia Pearson, a retired widow from Pensacola. “Why not take advantage of the job opportunities, and possible income of casino jobs, and not have the 99 percent of us taking our money to Biloxi.”
Senate President Don Gaetz, a Niceville Republican who attended the hearing, said the gaming review is needed because a major component of a legal compact with the Seminole Indians is expiring and the Legislature needs direction before the 2014 session to either continue the deal or move in another direction.
The 2010 compact guarantees the tribe will make minimum annual payments, totaling $1 billion over five years, to the state. But the annual payments will be cut nearly in half when the deal with the Seminoles regarding banked table games sunsets in less than two years unless reauthorized by lawmakers and the governor.
Committee members Thursday offered little insight into where they were heading on the issue, mostly saying they were “listening and learning.”
A couple of speakers during the hearing said an expansion of gambling would result in an increase in fatherless children, foreclosed homes and declining educational standards.
“Why are we here?” said Russell Edgar, an attorney from Pensacola. “The public did not ask this to happen, the gaming industry staged this.”
Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan, speaking on behalf of the Florida Sheriffs Association, predicted that the while there may be a short-term economic boon through real estate and construction after casinos are approved, the revenue “flat lines” around the five-year mark while divorce, domestic violence and even police corruption could be expected to grow.
“Gambling is a perversion of capitalism, in order for me to win someone has to lose and we in the public safety sector are left to clean up,” Morgan said. “Mississippi is still one of the poorest states in our country, (and) has among the lowest rates of graduation. This panacea of an economic boost will not be found in the gambling industry.”
Emulating the positions of Disney World and the Florida Chamber of Commerce, a bigger concern for a number of Panhandle officials and business leaders is the perceived negative image that would be cast on the state from more gaming, regardless of where casinos would be allowed.
Shane Moody, president and CEO of the Destin Area Chamber of Commerce, said an expansion of gambling in Florida would harm the family brand his tourism-dependent coastal community has fostered.
“What this means to Destin and the state is that we lose the family brand we’ve created, we lose our small business economy as the large casinos do all they can to keep visitors and gamblers in their facilities,” Moody said. “Let us continue working together across the state to build our economy with high-tech, research, medical and other jobs.”
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
W.D. Childers Loses Round In Bribery Appeal
November 15, 2013
More than a decade after former Escambia commissioner and state Senate President W.D. Childers was convicted of bribery, a federal appeals court Thursday ruled against him on a lingering question about whether he received a fair trial.
Childers, who represented the Pensacola area in the Senate for three decades, was convicted in 2003 for actions while serving on the Escambia County Commission after leaving the Legislature.
Thursday’s decision stemmed from arguments that Childers was not able to fully cross-examine a key witness in the case — Willie Junior, another county commissioner — and whether Florida courts properly dealt with claims that Childers’ constitutional rights had been violated.
But the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, in a 7-2 ruling, found that a state appeals court had adequately resolved Childers’ arguments about his Sixth Amendment right to confront witnesses.
“It is clear to us that Childers’ Confrontation Clause claim was not ‘inadvertently overlooked’ by the (state 1st) District Court of Appeal,” the ruling said. “The claim was squarely before the court.”
Childers 79, has already served a prison term. The U.S. Supreme Court in February sent the case back to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for more consideration of the constitutional issue.
Childers was convicted of bribery and accepting unlawful compensation for official acts in connection with a Highway 29 soccer complex scandal in 2002 while he served as an Escambia County Commissioner.
The soccer complex scandal eventually resulted in charges against four Escambia Commissioners — Childers, Willie Junior, Terry Smith and Mike Bass. Junior was later found dead under a house, committing suicide the day before he was to be sentenced.
Childers, once known as “The Banty Rooster” for bringing home the bacon for Northwest Florida, was released from state prison on June 17, 2009, having served almost three years of a 42-month sentence on the charges related to the $3.9 million soccer complex purchase. Junior testified that he received a collard green pot full of cash in exchange for his vote to purchase the soccer complex.
Childers was also the first man in Florida jailed for violating the open-meeting portion of the Sunshine Law for a phone call he and Smith made to then Supervisor of Elections Bonnie Jones. Childers served about a month in jail before being released.
Most notably for North Escambia, Childers was the man responsible for securing the funding to four-lane Highway 29 to the Alabama state line.
The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.
Molino Park Elementary School First Nine Weeks Honor Roll
November 15, 2013
The following students were named to the first nine weeks honor roll at Molino Park Elementary School:
A Honor Roll
5th Grade
Tayler Bridges
Nathan Danforth
Jaden Fryman
Leia Grantham
Justin Miller
Clay Smith
Ariel Ward
Caden Woodward
4th Grade
Rylee Cain
Reagan Daniels
Adenzia Fennell
Jaden Lewis
Sarah Sconiers
McKenzie Sims
3rd Grade
Aaron Adams
Ethan Collier
Alyssa Jackson
Cameron Partrick
Brycelyn Woodward
2nd Grade
Kelsey Boykin
Lilly Hatch
Anna McKee
Austin Manning
1st Grade
Austin Batz
Jericha Finlay
Logan Shoffner
Liam Hatcher
Aubree Jordan
Aden Lutterman
Kindergarten – All S
Abrams, Destiny Ja’nae
Baggett, Brenden Lee
Batz, Dallas Karl
Bodiford, Cameron Edward
Boutwell, Jack Bryan
Boyett, Benjamin Lee
Burson, Ryann Izabella
Carter, Lamario Dante
Crabtree, Ayden Brice
Crabtree, Garrett Trey
Crosby, Eva Shay
Davis, Cole Austin
Delouiz, Gabriel Jax
Douglas, Joseph David
Drew, Mateo Robert
Driver, Lily Pearl
Eady, Caden Cole
Fryman, Anna Deserae
Gibbs, Kamryn Ashley
Gibson, Mileigh Elizabeth
Hatch, John Damon
Herrington, Bailey Paige
Hiatt, Kelsey Marie
Hillard, Riana Brilee
Holley, Raegan Noelle
Jackson, Austin Gabriel
Jogan, Devon Reese
Jones, Lyndsey Marie
Kahalley, Nicholas Patrick
Knable, Chet Brendall
Langley, Ali Marie
Leatherberry, Gus Mitchell
Manning, Allen Logan
Mason, Khloe Michelle
Massey, Darla Giselle
McKillion, Caelen Maurice
Miller, Macy McKayla
Minor Jr., Brandon Joel
Munro, Jarrett Earl
Newman, Gavin Carrie
Norris, Trinity Praise
Oliver, Mary Elizabeth
Pawless, Wyatt Jaxson
Picheo, Dominic Ethan
Pitts, Brodie Wayne
Prince, Shiloh Michelle
Quiroz, Kloie Alexandria
Sampey, Ryleigh Alhonna
Santos, Jessica Fallon
Scott, Rashad Amarie
Shelby, Brayden Lee Blake
Silcox, Ayden Jayce
Simmons, Bryan Jay
Smith, Dakota Vincent
Spencer, Destiny Charisse
St.cyr, Sophia Grey
Thompson, Alan James
Thompson, John Henry
Wallace, Kaiden Jacob
Williams, Hunter Lane
Woodward, Layton Tyler
A/B Honor Roll
5th Grade
Kenley Brown
Tanner Davidson
Dylan Daw
Keaton Edmonson
Torrie Edmonson
Trey Franklin
Wesley Hart
Parker Hassebrock
Julie Ann Keith
Bryce Korinchak
Kayley Lashley
Connor McQuaid
Jeremiah Morris
Lainey Pace
Kellie Parsons
Damion Payne
Kyle Simmons
Scott Skidmore
Zachary Stanton
Natalie St. Cyr
Benjamin Ward
Michael Whitmire
4th Grade
Divine Abrams
Kay-Lee Bradley
Zachary Chavers
Kaleb Kelley
Clay Kittrell
Christopher Larson
Kileigh Lundy
Madelyn McAnally
Trevor Wood
Michalaya Kent
Lindsey Kimmons
Kinzey Powell
Kailyn Watson
3rd Grade
Micaela Bolton
Levi Carnley
Noah Edmonson
Jace Fryman
David Kirsh
Kacy Knable
Chase Pugh
Briana Ragan
Ethan Rae
Landry Bellard
Nicklas Fowler
Shelby Lashley
Summer McCullers
Asa Schlobohm
Elijah Suratos
Adian Vaughn
Zacharie Jones
Rustin Pope
Christian Riley
2nd Grade
Niko Champagne
Riley Crites
Moses Delarosa
Mathew Dix
MCKayla Golson
Kylie Grantham
Kaydon Harigel
Amber Irby
Bobby Sue Jarrell
Sylvia Jarrell
Nick Lutterman
Chance McElhannon
Evin Pedicord
Chloe Ragsdale
Dylan Settle
DeQuan Shabaz
Colton Taylor
Domanique Turner
Landry Bellard
Micaela Bolton
Karson Brown
Fred Carnley
Levi Carnley
Riley Crosby
Bailey Danielson
Kameron Enfinger
Ashlin Flowers
Austin Floyd
Nicklas Fowler
Jace Fryman
Caleb Hassebrock
Zachary Jones
David Kersh
O’Nykah Kidd
Kacy Knable
Waylon Langford
Shelby Lashley
Cooper Martinez
Miah Massey
Summer McCullers
Austin McCullers
Chase Pugh
Briana Ragan
Wyat Ramsey
Alex Roloph
Asa Schlobohm
Ty Smith
Elijah Suratos
Adian Vaughn
Gage Wilson
1st Grade
Trae Ardeneaux
Andrew Chavers
Nolen Goetter
Brook Lytton
Nehimiah Marfil
Camden Beaty
Nehimiah Delarosa
John Etheridge
Aiden Harris
Lilly Land’
Savannah McCullough
Caleb Rae
Brooklyn Summerlin
McKayla Woods
Abbie Bertran
Alysia Enfinger
Graden Johnson-Sheffield
Kristopher Kelley
Caleb Larson
Andrew Manning
Douglas Ragsdale
Naoki Rogers
Kylee Thompson
Keeley Wiggins
Escambia Woman Sentenced To 24 Years For DUI Manslaughter Of Two On I-10
November 15, 2013
An Escambia County woman is headed to prison for a DUI manslaughter for a crash on I-10 last October that claimed the lives of an adult and a child.
Kimberly Renee Rodrigues was sentenced by Judge W. Joel Boles to 24.45 years in state prison for of two counts of DUI manslaughter, one count DUI causing great bodily harm and one count DUI causing property damage. She was convicted following a two-day trial.
The Florida Highway Patrol says Rodrigues was traveling west on I-10 near the Pine Forest exit about 4:40 a.m. on October 21, 2012. Prosecutors said she was traveling approximately 86 miles per hour when she slammed into the rear of a delivery truck driven by Melissa Lynn Lyublanovits, 44, of Pensacola.
Moments later, a GMC Yukon driven by Riviera Beach resident Lovett Cummings approached in the outside lane and swerved to avoid Rodrigues pickup. Cummings barely missed Rodrigues’ truck but his Yukon then rolled several times before coming to a rest in the trees on the north shoulder of the Interstate.
His 11-year old son, Lovett Deshun Cummings II, was ejected and died on the scene, while his 71-year old father, Lovett Junior Cummings, was also killed in the crash. Cummings’ mother was seriously injured and was airlifted by Life Flight from the scene. The delivery truck driver was unhurt.
Shortly after the crash, Rodrigues’ blood alcohol content was determined to be 0.166/0.170, over twice the legal limit.
Pictured above: A pickup involved in an October accident on I-10. (Note: The tractor-trailer in the photo was not involved in the crash.)The scene on I-10 in Pensacola where two people were killed in a multi-vehicle accident. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Sentenced On Child Abuse Charges
November 15, 2013
An Escambia County man was convicted of child abuse without great bodily harm Thursday. Circuit Judge Linda Nobles sentenced David Best to 18 months in state prison followed by 24 months probation.
The charges stem from an incident that occurred on February 26, 2013, in Best’s front yard. The defendant told the victim he was going to put his cigarette out in her face and did so by flicking it from a few feet away. The cigarette hit the victim in her right eye.
Their were two witnesses that heard and saw the incident. The victim suffered a burn to her right eye. The case was investigated by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
U.S. Marshals Arrest Wanted Arkansas Kidnapper
November 14, 2013
The U.S. Marshals Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force captured a wanted man who was wanted by law enforcement in Arkansas for kidnapping a teenage girl who is believed to be his niece.
Late Tuesday evening, the U.S. Marshals in El Dorado, Arkansas, contacted the Marshals Task Force in Pensacola requesting their help in locating fugitive Phillip Thomas Nussey who was believed to have abducted his niece and thought to be heading toward Milton where he has ties.
The Marshals in Arkansas advised the Marshals in Pensacola to be on the lookout for a 1998 White Ford Crown Victoria, the car that reportedly had been used to abduct the young girl. The Task Force was provided with some information on some addresses but were unable to find the car in this area. Task Force Officers then eventually figured out Nussey had a former girlfriend living in Milton, but were still unable to locate him.
A Task Force Officer from Escambia County Sheriff’s Office checked the home of the ex-girlfriend on the 6500 Block of Dogwood Drive and found the Crown Victoria parked outside. Around 11:00 pm, Marshals and Task Force Officers from Santa Rosa, Escambia and Walton County along with a K9 unit from Santa Rosa County converged on the home but no one inside would open the door.
Officers then forcibly entered the residence and found Nussey hiding in the bathroom. The 38 year-old Nussey was then arrested without any incident. The missing girl, along with his ex-girlfriend was found inside unharmed.
Nussey faces charges in Arkansas for the abduction, and is allegedly a suspect in sexual molestation cases in both Arkansas and Virginia. Thomas may also face charges in Santa Rosa County for kidnapping, obstruction of justice and resisting arrest. He will remain in the Santa Rosa County Jail until he is extradited back to Arkansas. The car was impounded and may be treated as a crime scene.
Cantonment Man Charged With Home Invasion Robbery
November 14, 2013
A Cantonment man is facing multiple felony charges in connection with a home invasion robbery last month at a Pensacola motel.
Tony Michael Robinson, Jr., was charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, two counts of armed burglary, grand theft, robbery with a firearm and home invasion robbery.
Robinson, 28, allegedly took part a home invasion robbery September 9 at the Super 6 motel on Plantation Road. The victims told deputies that four black males, one of which was later identified as Robinson, pointed guns into their faces and, searched their vehicle and forced them into their hotel room. Several items were reported stolen, including a $200 watch, an Acer laptop, $10 in cash and a foods stamp card with a $360 balance.
Robinson was positively identified in a photo lineup by the victims. He remained in the Escambia County Jail early Thursday morning with bond set at $310,000.
At last report, the three other suspects in the home invasion robbery had not been identified.
Bratt, Byrneville Students Take Virtual Trip To Italy
November 14, 2013
During the past few weeks, hundreds of students from Byrneville and Bratt elementary schools have taken a virtual trip to Italy, thanks to the Global Corner Learning Center.
The students spent time learning about the language, arts, culture, geography and more of a unique land half a world away. Each year, The Global Corner teachers take students from their classroom virtually to another country. Through The Global Corner, local students have “visited” Japan, Spain, Egypt, Brazil, Russian, and now Italy.
The non-profit Global Corner was conceived by its director, Lee Hansen, as part of her vision for the Pensacola area to become a player in the global economy and to have Northwest
Florida become an international business hub and the Center of Excellence for International Learning by 2025.
he Global Corner program is scheduled to be at Molino Park Elementary School November 18-22.
Pictured top: Students at Bratt Elementary School learn to dance the Tarantella with Maestra Bridgette from the Global Corner Learning Center. Pictured below: Byrneville Elementary School students take a virtual visit to Italy through the Global Corner Learning Center. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Suspected Pipe Bomb Destroyed By Bomb Squad (With Photos)
November 14, 2013
An item suspected to be a possible pipe bomb found alongside Highway 29 in Cantonment Wednesday morning turned out to be harmless.
“It looked like pipe with caps at both ends and a wick or something coming out of it,” George Guntner of Guntner Custom Pools in the 800 block of South Highway 29 said. He said he saw the device laying alongside Highway 29 and became suspicious because it looked like a pipe bomb.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Bomb Squad responded just after 10 a.m., and Highway 29 was closed as a precaution from about Chemstrand Road to Muscogee Road.
A member of the bomb squad could been seen carrying the device attached a to a tripod-like stand (pictured left) to an open area of a parking lot. At 11:43 a.m. cries of “Fire in the hole” could be heard from the scene followed by the sound of a controlled explosion by the bomb squad to neutralize the object.
“The possible device was destroyed by the Fire Marshal’s bomb tech,” Sgt Andrew Hobbs, a spokesman for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, said at the scene. “It was determined that it was not an explosive device.”
After the object was neutralized, Highway 29 was reopened after being closed for about two hours.
Multiple units from Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS also responded to the incident.
To watch the sequence of events, scroll down and read the description below each NorthEscambia.com photo.
Pictured above: A member of the Florida State Fire Marshal Bomb Squad, in protective gear, carries the suspected pipe bomb.
Pictured above: The bomb squad member sets up the device for destruction.
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Pictured above: Authorities examine the remnants of the device after it was purposefully exploded.
Pictured above: The bomb squad device used in the destruction of the suspicious item.
Pictured above: The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Mobile Command Unit arrives on scene.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Bill Would Prohibit Smoking On Playgrounds
November 14, 2013
Rep. Katie Edwards, D-Plantation, on Wednesday filed the House version of a measure that would give local governments the ability to prohibit smoking on playgrounds. The proposal would allow municipalities and counties to restrict smoking in local government-owned playground areas as an expansion of the Florida Clean Indoor Air Act.
The act, approved by voters in 2002, prohibits smoking in most enclosed indoor workplaces.
The Senate version (SB 342) was filed last week by Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island. Bradley tried to pass a broader bill (SB 258) during the 2013 legislative session that would have allowed restrictions on smoking on municipal or county properties, but it died in the Community Affairs Committee.
Pictured: The playground at the Molino Community Complex. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.