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Escambia, Santa Rosa Schools Open

The freezing temperatures closed some Alabama schools, but for most of our area it’s class as usual this morning.

Schools in Escambia County, FL, Escambia County, AL, and Santa Rosa counties are all open today.

Escambia County (FL) School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas said the school district will have maintenance staff readily available to deal with any heating or plumbing issues as they arise due to weather conditions.

Schools in Baldwin County, AL, are closed today for the cold, and Mobile County Schools are opening two hours late this morning.

Molino Branch Library Names New Librarian

The West Florida Library Systems has hired a new professional librarian for the Molino Branch Library.

Wen Mallette Livingston grew up in Cantonment and graduated from the University of West Florida with bachelor of science degree in marketing and earned her master of library science degree from the University of Missouri – Columbia.

Livingston said her favorite parts about working in libraries are planning programs, recommending book titles to readers and providing computer assistance.  She said believes that the library is a truly useful and enjoyable national treasure.

For the past seven years, Livingston worked for the St. Louis County Library System and did practicums with the St. Louis County Community College Library and the Missouri History Museum Library.

The Molino Branch Library, which opened in April 2013, is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. The Molino Branch Library can be reached by calling (850) 435-1760.

Pictured: The Molino Branch Library’s new librarian, Wen Mallette Livingston, at work on Monday. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.

Scott Sued For Failing To Name New Lt. Governor

A lobbyist for the Florida National Organization for Women wants the state’s top court to order Gov. Rick Scott to name a new lieutenant governor — a position unoccupied since March 2013 — within 30 days.

As the 10-month anniversary approaches of Jennifer Carroll’s resignation from the post, Tallahassee lobbyist Barbara DeVane filed a lawsuit on Monday at the Florida Supreme Court that contends Scott is breaking state law by failing to appoint a successor. DeVane also claims Scott’s decision to leave the post unoccupied upsets the order of succession and that the “state would be powerless to respond” if a crisis occurs and Scott is for some reason unavailable.

“If the Governor (who resigned his previous position as chief executive officer of a company that pled guilty to massive amounts of systemic fraud, including 14 felonies, leading to a historic $1.7 billion fine) resigns amid scandal like his lieutenant or dies, there is no lieutenant governor to fulfill the heavy responsibilities of the office,” the suit claims.

If Scott were unable to fulfill his duties before a lieutenant governor is named, Attorney General Pam Bondi would take over as governor.

In an email response to the suit, Scott spokeswoman Melissa Sellers said, “The Governor is going to take the right time to find the right person.”

DeVane doesn’t offer who should be selected, noting she isn’t “seeking to compel the Governor to choose any particular individual.”

Despite a variety of rumored picks, Scott has given few clear indications about when he will fill the post. Carroll stepped down March 12, after law-enforcement officials raided Internet cafes across the state. Carroll previously had done consulting work for Allied Veterans of the World, a key target of the investigation.

by The News Service of Florida

Local Players Named To All-State Football Teams

Several North Escambia area high school football player were named to Florida All-State Football teams Monday, including one first team selection. Northview High School’s Neino Robinson was named to the 1A All-State team’s first team defense.

Northview

• First team defense: DB — Neino Robinson, 5-10 170, Sr.
• Second team offense:  WR — Brannen Freeman, 5-10 170, Sr.; OL — Laquan Thomas, 5-11 230, Sr.
• Honorable Mention: QB Dalton Tullis, 6-1 170, Sr.; LB Jeffrey Taylor, 6-2 210, Sr.

Tate (8A)

• Third Team Offense: RB — Tay Samuel, 5-10 190, Sr.
• Honorable Mention: LB Marquis Cass, 5-11 205, Jr.

West Florida (5A)

• Second Team Offense:  WR — Lawrence Lee, 5-11 175, Sr.
• Second Team Defense: Rocel McWilliams, 6-3 240, Sr.
• Third Team Offense: QB — Joey Baker, 6-3 215, Sr.
• Honorable Mention: DB DaQuan Young, 6-1 175, Sr.

Pictured: Northview’s Neino Robinson. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.

Christians, Atheists Say Keep Capitol A Free Speech Zone

Christians and atheists may have found a little common patch of ground, the rotunda of the Florida Capitol as a space to express themselves.

The threat of a lawsuit is hovering over the state’s rejection of a satanic display, and the rotunda exhibit policy is set to undergo a staff review. But the prevailing view among those who have recently jumped at the chance to use the public floor space to express their beliefs is to simply let everyone have their say.

“They designated a free speech zone for everyone to express their religious and non-religious beliefs,” said Austin Aycock, spokesman for the Tallahassee Atheists. “If they’re going to do it, they can’t have limits.”

The Tallahassee Atheists, The American Atheists Florida Regional Directors and the Madison, Wis.-based Freedom From Religion Foundation all put up seasonal banners this year to counter a Christian nativity scene.

“I hope the state can find a way to make all voices heard and to keep everyone’s freedom of speech alive here in the Capitol rotunda,” said Randall Smith, Knights of Columbus grand knight of the Good Shepherd Church parish in Tallahassee. “All capitols should be like the state of Florida, and I hope they can find a way to make room for everybody.”

Department of Management Services spokesman Ben Wolf said in an email that the department appreciates “the input we receive from all groups across the state” regarding the display policy, but added there is no timetable on the review.

“We will take as much time as needed,” Wolf said.

DMS limits the height of displays based on where they are located in the rotunda and prohibits displays from blocking permanent memorials such as the Civil Rights and Veterans halls of fame. Also, the department will allow displays as long as there is available space, but does have rules against noise and impeding official business.

The Knights of Columbus on Monday put up a decorated wooden cross in the Capitol for the group called Reclaim Christmas for Christ to mark Three Kings Day and the Christian feast of the Epiphany.

The cross display follows diverse exhibits that have dotted the rotunda this holiday season, including a pole made of empty beer cans to mark the sitcom-created ivus holiday and a shredded pile of paper that is supposed to resemble the deity of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

“When you see a nativity scene, and right beside it you see a pole with beer cans on it, we think it makes our point,” Smith said. “We think it further shows the seriousness of the nativity scene” versus other presentations that are not as serious.

The free speech issue exploded this year after the Florida Prayer Network put up the first nativity display in modern history in the Capitol on Dec. 3.

The nativity scene joined a menorah that has been displayed in prior years. But the Christian display went up with a lot of media fanfare.

The policy review will be undertaken as the ACLU of Florida continues to warn the Department of Management Services that a lawsuit remains an option over the department’s rejection of an exhibition proposed by the New York-based Satanic Temple.

“What we hope happens is that the department will realize you can’t pick and choose which messages or organizations get represented if you create an open forum — or that they make the determination after all that’s happened that maybe creating a venue for religious messages isn’t the best use of a government building in the first place,” said ACLU of Florida spokesman Baylor Johnson.

Johnson added that the ACLU is not formally representing the temple.

The Department of Management Services rejected the temple’s proposal on grounds that it was “grossly offensive.”

Department officials have not defined what they have considered offensive about the temple’s proposal that would have bannered the phrase “Happy holidays from the Satanic Temple” atop a diorama of an angel falling into hell. A sign on one side of the display referenced Luke 10:18 including the line, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.”

The temple’s display was the only proposal denied by the state agency.

Pam Olsen, president of the Florida Prayer Network, said that while the Satanists’ proposal was “amateurish,” she didn’t think it should have been rejected.

“I would have been okay with it because I’m not afraid of what they’re saying,” Olsen said.

Olsen added she hoped the Department of Management Services doesn’t use the Satanists’ application as a reason to keep her and others out in the future.

“That was the whole reason they did this, to shut us down,” Olsen said.

Chaz Stevens, a Deerfield Beach resident behind the Festivus pole of beer cans, said when his display went up that the intent of his admittedly “ridiculous” effort was to make a political statement on the need for the separation of church and state.

by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida

51 Arrests Made in Prostitution Sweep (With Mugshots)

The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrested over 50 people during a prostitution sweep.

The four-phase operation targeted street level prostitution and escort prostitution.

During a three day period beginning December 3, street level prostitution was targeted, with 17 female and one male prostitute arrested.  On December 12, escorts advertising on the internet were targeted with eight prostitutes arrested. There were two additional arrests made for narcotics related crimes.

On December 18, the operation targeted persons soliciting prostitutes at the street level.   Six men were arrested on soliciting charges and two additional arrests were made on unrelated charges.  And during the fourth phase of the operation on January 3, males responding to internet based advertisements were targeted with 15 men arrested.

The following was provided by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.

Arrested December 3-6:

Arrested December 12:

Arrested December 18:

Arrested January 3:

Two Armed Robberies Under Investigation; One Clerk Injured (Updated)

More details have been released on two armed robberies Sunday night in the North Escambia area — including one that left a store clerk with minor injuries.

The first robbery was reported about 8:13 p.m. at the Liquor Cabinet at the corner of Highway 29 and Old Chemstand Road in the Gonzalez area. According to the clerk, a black male about 5-foot, 8-inches wearing a bright blue hoodie and camouflage mask entered the store armed with a handgun.  The suspect fled the area on foot. An unsuccessful  manhunt with a K-9 followed in the area around the store.

The second armed robbery was reported about 15 minutes later. at the Family Dollar store on Highway 97 in Davisville,  just south of the Alabama state line. Two black males armed with a handgun and baseball bat entered the store demanding money. One of the suspects struck a store clerk in the legs with the baseball bat. The clerk was evaluated on scene and refused medical treatment for minor injuries. Both suspects fled the store in an unknown direction.

There is no indication that the robberies were related; the two businesses are located about 33 miles apart.

Anyone with information about the burglaries is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.

Pictured top and inset: The scene of an armed robbery Sunday night at the Family Dollar on Highway 97 in Davisville. Pictured below: Photos from the robbery scenes at the Family Dollar in Davisville and the Liquor Cabinet on Highway 29 in Gonzalez. Pictured bottom. EMS  arrives on scene to evaluate the clerk at the Family Dollar. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

Dangerous Artic Blast: Low Of 13 Tonight

There is hard freeze warning and wind chill advisory in effect. Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:

Helpful Hints To Prevent Frozen Pipes

The following recommendations, from ECUA, are a few simple measures residents can take to ready their home’s plumbing for our potentially record breaking freezing cold.

External, exposed pipes are naturally the most vulnerable to freezing. Homeowners may:

Insulate Pipes or Faucets in Unheated Areas: Pipes located in unheated areas of your house, such as a garage or crawl space under the house or in the attic, are subject to freezing. If you have time to do this before freezing temperatures arrive, wrap these pipes with insulation materials made especially for this purpose. These materials can be found in most hardware stores or home improvement centers.

Disconnect And Drain Outdoor Hoses: Detach all hoses from faucets and allow them to drain. This will prevent the water in the hose or pipe from freezing and bursting the faucet or pipe to which it is connected.

Run a Trickle of Water: When forecasts call for sustained and / or severe freezing temperatures, run thin trickles of water from the faucet furthest from the water line coming to your house. Usually this is in a room at the back of the house or outside, in the yard. Allowing the water to circulate through your home’s plumbing helps to keep it from freezing. Some consider this a waste of water, but the cost of the water used is extremely slight compared to that of repairing broken pipes and the resulting water damage.

Remember the Backflow Preventer: Residents and business owners who have backflow preventers on their properties for water lines, fire lines, irrigation systems, and swimming pools need to protect their backflow preventers from freeze as well. Extended freezes can burst the body of the backflow assembly, rendering it useless. Wrap these pipes with insulation materials, made especially for this purpose. These materials can be found in most hardware stores or home improvement centers. If the device and the water lines are not in use at this time (i.e., irrigation system or swimming pool lines), shut off the water supply line and drain the backflow device.

Cold Weather Safety Tips

With our historic winter weather foercast, Escambia County urges residents to take safety precautions while trying to stay warm, specifically when using space heaters. Heating equipment is a leading cause of home fires during the winter months.

Actions should be taken to prepare for this and future cold weather events. Remember the “5 Ps” of cold weather preparedness:

• Protect People
• Protect Plants
• Protect Pets
• Protect Exposed Pipes
• Practice Fire Safety

Heating Equipment Safety Tips:

• Properly inspect all heating equipment for frayed cords or exposed elements before use.
• Space heaters need space. Keep heaters at least three feet away from all furniture, drapes, clothing and other combustibles.
• Use only heaters designed for use in the home. Never use cooking appliances, such as ovens, or any heaters designed for outdoor usage indoors.
• Only use heaters with safety features such as cut-off switches that turn them off if they accidentally tip over and those units with heater element guards that prevent combustible materials from contacting the heating element.
• Never leave space heaters unattended. Turn them off when you leave the room or go to bed.
• Keep children and pets away from space heaters.
• Keep heaters and their cords along with extension cords away from high traffic areas.
• When buying a new space heater, make sure it carries the mark of an independent testing laboratory.
• Install a smoke alarm on every level of your home and outside every bedroom. Test the batteries every month and change them at least once a year.
• If you have gas appliances, install a carbon monoxide alarm in a central location outside each sleeping area.

Alternative Heating Fire Safety Life-Saving Tips

• Allow your heater to cool before refueling and only refuel outdoors.
• Fill your heater with only crystal clear, K-1 kerosene, not gasoline or camp stove fuel as both explode easily.
• Keep the fire in the fireplace with a screen large enough to catch flying sparks and rolling logs.
• Carefully follow manufacturers’ installation and maintenance instructions.
• Remember it’s always safer to add more blankets on your bed than to use a space heater while sleeping.
• Electric blankets can be a serious fire hazard if defected or used improperly. Check your electric blanket for any damage from fraying, creasing or general wear and tear. Electric blankets that are more than 10 years old should be replaced, and never use a wet blanket.
• In case of a fire, stay low to the ground, beneath the smoke, and crawl to an exit using your escape plan.

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