Escambia Woman Busted For Pot On School Campus
August 21, 2013
A Escambia County woman was busted for having pot on campus at a Santa Rosa County School.
Lisa Ann Anderson, 42, drove a friend to register a child at Central High School on Monday. Anderson was apparently unaware that it was the first day of school, and a school resource officer was on patrol.
The SRO walked past Anderson’s car and could see a large bag of marijuana and other drug paraphernalia in plain view. He made contact with Anderson, and she was placed under arrest. She was booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail with bond set at $5,000.
Deputies said the bag of marijuana weighed 96 grams, enough for a third degree felony charge.
Pelican Statue ‘Kidnapped’, Four Charged
August 21, 2013
Four men were arrested for “Pelican-knapping” after a caller reported a large pelican statue hanging out of a suspicious vehicle.
A Santa Rosa County deputy located the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop. Contact was made with the driver, three passengers and the pelican, named “Peli-Whacker”. When asked about the large pelican statue, the driver stated he knew nothing about it.
Santa Rosa County dispatch contacted the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and was told the pelican was just stolen from in front of the Sandshaker Lounge on Pensacola Beach. The owner of the pelican told Escambia deputies that he wanted to pursue charges, and there were witnesses to the theft. The four occupants of the vehicle were arrested for taking the $3,500 pelican, and the pelican was safely returned to its roost at the beach bar.
Daniel Joe Fureigh, 43, Michael Cary Duncan, 40, David Allen Darden 41, and Richard A. Querney, 43, were each charged with grand theft and booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail.
Scott, Cabinet: Privacy At Stake In Federal Health Program
August 21, 2013
Gov. Rick Scott and members of the Florida Cabinet envision that unscrupulous individuals seeking personal information could find jobs helping enroll people in a new federal health program unless proper background checks are in place.
Supporters of the Affordable Care Act counter that concerns raised by the state officials are intended simply to score political points, scare people away from enrolling and further delay implementation of the law.
Scott and the Republican Cabinet members, during a meeting Tuesday at Miami-Dade College, pointed to potential privacy violations and identity theft under part of the law that creates what are known as “navigators.”
Scott said the federal government needs to provide assurances that proper background checks will be in place in hiring the “navigators” and their assistants, who are expected to help people through the paperwork in signing up for health coverage.
“Federal safeguards that should be in place to protect our privacy are behind schedule and inadequate,” Scott said. “It is unclear how the federal government will protect personal information from being stolen or otherwise misused.”
The statewide officials, who have long criticized the health law known as Obamacare, said they want the federal government to ensure that the people hired are properly vetted, as enrollment is expected to begin in six weeks. The navigators will help enroll people through new health-insurance exchanges, a type of online marketplace that is a key part of carrying out the law.
Leah Barber-Heinz, spokeswoman for Florida CHAIN, a patient-advocacy group, called the claims by Scott and the Cabinet members another “outrageous” attack on the federal program.
“They’re trying to scare people away, trying to distract from the important work of implementation in Florida,” Barber-Heinz said.
Joshua Karp, a spokesman for the Florida Democratic Party, asserted that Scott’s “latest attack on Obamacare smacks of desperation.”
“It is deeply disappointing that Rick Scott and other Republicans are trying to score political points, rather than help provide access to health care for hundreds of thousands of Floridians who lack it,” Karp said in an email.
State legislators during the 2013 session approved a health law (SB 1842) that requires navigators hired in Florida to be registered with the state, be U.S. citizens or legal aliens and undergo background checks by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty, in delivering a presentation to the Cabinet, said it remains unknown if the federal government will bar the state from enforcing the law.
Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater said that since the state law designates navigators, it is also unknown if the state could use its law to require other positions — described as assistants and counselors by the federal government — to undergo similar background scrutiny.
And Scott said that even if the state is allowed to enforce its law, that still doesn’t ensure that sensitive personal information won’t end up being shared throughout the federal government.
“They’re going to have access to your tax information, your personal information, your Social Security information,” added Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Bondi is one of 13 Republican state attorneys general who last week requested that U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius address various aspects of the navigator program.
The attorneys general want Sebelius to respond by Aug. 28 to questions about the privacy of individual records and the need for more-stringent background checks on those hired for the navigator program.
Bondi said the attorneys general also need to know who will oversee the navigators and who will be responsible if any individual’s information is stolen.
“All we’re asking from the secretary of HHS is to give us assurances that they will be properly trained,” Bondi said. “I don’t want a convicted felon having our citizens’ personal information. So we need to know how they’re going to be trained.”
The federal government has allocated $67 million to train people nationwide for the navigator program.
Florida CHAIN has received $125,000 to conduct enrollment fairs throughout the state to help the uninsured enroll.
Another $4.2 million grant has been given for the University of South Florida’s Florida Covering Kids & Families program at the Lawton and Rhea Chiles Center to provide in-person assistance with the health-insurance marketplace.
However, with the program set to be in place by Oct. 1, the federal government has cut proposed training of the new employees from 30 hours to 20 hours.
The federal government is running the exchange in Florida. The Republican-dominated state legislature declined to implement a state exchange.
by The News Service of Florida
Fans ‘Meet The Chiefs’ (With Gallery)
August 21, 2013
Fans had chance to “Meet the Chiefs” Tuesday evening at Northview High School. NHS fans turned out to meet the Chiefs varsity and junior varsity teams, cheerleaders, band and dance team.
The defending state champs will take to the field a preseason matchup Friday at 7 p.m. against Bay High School.
For a photo gallery from the event, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Make It Four Straight Win 8-1 Rout Of Huntsville
August 21, 2013
Devin Lohman’s 3-for-4 game led the way as the Blue Wahoos beat the Huntsville Stars 8-1 for their fourth straight win on Tuesday night at Joe Davis Stadium in Huntsville, Ala. With a loss from the Jacksonville Suns, Pensacola picked up a game in the Southern League south division standings. The Wahoos now sit just 4.5 games behind the first place Suns.
Pensacola got the offense going with a four-run third inning. Two batters after Wahoos starting pitcher Tim Crabbe singled home the first run of the game, Devin Lohman unloaded for a three-run homer to left giving the Wahoos a 4-0 win.
The Blue Wahoos plated their fifth run on wild pitch in the fifth inning and put the game out of reach with three more runs in the seventh. Mike Costanzo’s two-run double highlighted the frame before he scored on a sacrifice fly from Tucker Barnhart.
Tim Crabbe (W, 7-8) earned the win for Pensacola after working six innings and allowing just one run on a sacrifice fly in the third. He surrendered five hits, all over the first three innings. The Blue Wahoo starter finished strong, retiring the final 10 batters he faced and 12 of the last 13.
Pensacola knocked the Brewers No. 3 rated prospect, Taylor Jungmann (L, 9-9), out of the game after five innings. He was charged with five of the Wahoos eight runs on seven hits. He walked two and fanned two in the losing effort. It was the first time all year Jungmann has allowed more than four runs in back to back starts.
Pensacola will look for their fourth straight win on Wednesday afternoon in Huntsville. The Blue Wahoos will send RHP Josh Smith (9-9, 3.67) to the mound against Stars RHP Ariel Pena (7-8, 4.09). First pitch is slated for 1:03p.m. from Joe Davis Stadium in Huntsville.
Disabled Naked Man Collapses, Dies As Deputies Attempt To Subdue Him
August 20, 2013
A disabled naked man collapsed and died after trying to break into several homes in Escambia County.
He was identified as 55-year old Norbert A. Chabannes.
Just after 5 p.m. Monday, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 14000 block of Canal Drive after witnesses reported a naked man crawling across a yard and attempting to break into several houses by throwing bricks and other objects at windows. Chabannes, who is disabled and had only one leg, had also attempted to break into an elderly couple’s home and cut his arm in the process.
A deputy arrived to find Chabannes still naked, delirious, and covered in blood and sweat. As the deputy tried to subdue the man, it became clear that he had no pulse, according to a Sheriff’s Office news release. Attempts by deputies and EMS to resuscitate him were unsuccessful.
Further investigation revealed that the incident began when Chabannes arrived home and became confrontational with his housekeeper. The victim stated that during the altercation, Chabannes began gouging her eyes and repeatedly banged her head against a wall. The victim had injuries that were consistent with her statements, deputies said. The victim managed to escape and flee to a neighboring home for help.
The incident is under investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Stand Your Ground Special Session Officially Won’t Happen
August 20, 2013
There will officially not be a special session to deal with the state’s “stand your ground” self-defense law.
Secretary of State Ken Detzner sent a letter Tuesday to Gov. Rick Scott and legislative leaders notifying them that a poll of lawmakers came up well short of the 96 legislators who would need to support a special session to consider changes to the law, which grants immunity to people who use deadly force if they have reason to believe their lives are in danger.
In fact, 108 lawmakers voted against calling a session, while 47 voted for it. Another four legislators did not cast a vote.
The vote for the session fell largely along party lines, with seven House Democrats joining Republicans to quash it: Reps. Mike Clelland of Lake Mary; Mark Danish of Tampa; Dwight Dudley of St. Petersburg; Katie Edwards of Plantation; Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda of Tallahassee; Linda Stewart of Orlando; and Carl Zimmermann of Palm Harbor.
The poll stemmed from a sit-in protest at the Capitol by a group called the Dream Defenders. The group protested against the “stand your ground” law after the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, though Zimmerman’s attorneys did not use the law as a trial defense. The protesters left the Capitol last week.
Meanwhile, Rep. Alan Williams, D-Tallahassee, filed legislation Monday to repeal the law, but that bill remains unlikely to pass during the 2014 regular session.
story by The News Service of Florida
Pictured: Secretary of State Ken Detzner (right) listens to Gov. Rick Scott speak. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Lake Serenity Resort Campground Planned For Molino
August 20, 2013
A Cantonment resident is looking to build an RV campground resort in Molino.
The “Lake Serenity Resort” would be located at 5424 Schaag Road, about a half mile south of Omega Drive. The resort would include an RV campground, tent campground and cabins, along with amenities such as a pool, bathhouse, playground and a pavilion, all near an existing lake on the 40 acre property.
The land is owned by a family trust, with Judi Aliff of Cantonment making a pre-application to the Escambia County Development Review Committee for the project. The plans must pass numerous other hurdles in the application process before the project could begin with final approval from the county.
Pictured top: The hand drawn preliminary plans for the Serenity Lake Resort on Sascha Road in Molino as submitted to the Escambia County Development Review Committee. Pictured below: An aerial view of the lake property. Courtesy images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Pensacola, Century Officials Spending Two Days In The Sunshine
August 20, 2013
Officials from Pensacola and Century will spend their Tuesday and Wednesday in the Sunshine.
Barbara Peterson, president of the Florida First Amendment Foundation, will conduct sunshine and public records law training for Pensacola city employees, board members and council members all day today at Pensacola’s Saenger Theatre.
Wednesday, Peterson will meet with the staff and board members of the Greater Pensacola Chamber for training. The chamber’s Sunshine Task Force asked for the second day because there are some unique issues for the organization since it’s not a government body.
While all of the meeting are open to the public, a third session geared toward the public will be held Tuesday from 5:30 until 7:30 p.m. at the Saenger called “Sunshine in the City”.
Since the free training meetings are open to the public, the Town of Century is going to take advantage of the training too. Century Mayor Freddie McCall, council member Gary Riley, Assistant Deputy Clerk Angela Suggs and Citizen Services Clerk Kim Godwin will attend Tuesday’s training session. On Wednesday, Century council member Sandra McMurray Jackson, Town Clerk Leslie Gonzalez and Citizens Service Clerk Erin Weekes will attend the free session with the Pensacola Chamber.
Both training days are the result of recent reports by the State Attorney’s Office. On July 2, State Attorney Bill Eddins issued a report that Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward’s city administrator and his press secretary/public information officer had violated the state’s public record laws. He also had numerous complaints on how Pensacola dealt with public record requests–some were taking months to fulfill.
Later in the month, the state attorney issued an opinion that the Pensacola chamber does fall under the state’s Sunshine Laws because of its managing economic development and tourism for the county and city.
Charges Upgraded: Molino Woman Charged With Murder After Husband Dies
August 20, 2013
A man shot three times by his wife Saturday night in Molino died Monday afternoon, and charges against her have been upgraded to murder.
Rebecca A. Rogers, 43, remains in the Escambia County Jail without bond, now charged with second degree murder.
She allegedly shot her husband, 42-year old Jason Lee Rogers, in the head about 10:45 p.m. Saturday at the couple’s home in the 3400 block of Highway 29 near Mathison Road. He was transported by Escambia County EMS to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola. He was pronounced dead just after 1 p.m. Monday.
The shooting was domestic violence related, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Rebecca Rogers called 911 to say that her husband choked her and she shot him, according to an arrest report. Deputies arrived to find Rebecca Rogers standing outside the home. They found Jason Rogers lying unconscious in the back bedroom of the home on his stomach with what appeared to be a gunshot to his head. According to the report, he also suffered two other gunshot wounds to the back.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.