Florida Gov’t Weekly Roundup: Drawing Lines And Writing Books In Tally
July 14, 2013
When most residents of the country thought about Florida this week, the first thing that came to their minds was likely not a Supreme Court case. Or the net worths of state officials. Or the pending book by former Gov. Charlie Crist.
Instead, their eyes were on state prosecutors’ case against George Zimmerman, who is charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, a black teenager, during a confrontation between the two in Sanford. Zimmerman says he was acting in self-defense.
With fears that racial tension could boil over if Zimmerman is acquitted by the jury, which began deliberations Friday, state officials were sure to stress that they were prepared for unrest.
“We’ve got great sheriffs, police chiefs, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, I’ve been in contact with them, they’re ready for whatever happens,” Scott said during a Thursday morning appearance on WPEC TV in West Palm Beach. “But hopefully the right thing happens here, and we’ll have a verdict that everybody understands.”
But elsewhere in the state, there were less intense but still weighty issues.
HOW BINDING IS ‘BINDING?’
It didn’t have the drama of the Zimmerman case, but there was still plenty of finger-pointing and a helping of angry words at the Florida Supreme Court in a case over redistricting. But this was over an arcane if significant legal principle — whether state legislative districts can be challenged in lower courts once the Supreme Court has signed off on them.
According to a 5-2 majority — the kind of majority that court-watchers have grown used to — the answer is yes, as long as those claims are based on the kind of evidence that justices don’t consider when they do constitutionally mandated reviews of the maps as part of the once-a-decade redistricting process.
The Florida Constitution says decisions from those Supreme Court reviews “shall be binding upon all the citizens of the state.” But writing for the majority, Justice Barbara Pariente said Thursday that didn’t apply to more fact-intensive lawsuits than the automatic reviews, especially now that the constitution also includes the anti-gerrymandering “Fair Districts” amendments.
“Simply put, the framers and voters clearly desired more judicial scrutiny of the legislative apportionment plan, not less,” Pariente wrote.
But in a pointed dissent, Justice Charles Canady wrote that the opinion would deaden the intent of the “binding” provision, known as section 16(d).
“With this decision, we confront the prospect of unending litigation concerning legislative redistricting — a prospect that section 16(d), by its plain terms, undeniably was designed to preclude,” he wrote.
A coalition of voting-rights organizations that are challenging the Senate map cheered the decision. Republican lawmakers were less enthusiastic — or “understandably disappointed,” in the words of a spokeswoman for Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville.
“The president stands by the maps as well as the Legislature’s redistricting process,” spokeswoman Katie Betta said in an email. “The 2012 redistricting process was the most open and transparent in Florida’s history and produced maps which are compliant with Florida’s constitution, facts which the president believes will ultimately be affirmed.”
THE PEN IS MIGHTIER THAN THE TV AD?
Republicans are also likely to be “understandably disappointed,” or perhaps downright livid, when they get a chance to read the pending memoir from former Gov. Charlie Crist. Crist and Dutton, a publisher, said the Republican-turned-independent-turned-Democrat would pen a book called “THE PARTY’S OVER: How the Extreme Right Hijacked the GOP and I Became a Democrat.”
The publicity for the book suggests it’s part revenge for Crist being pushed out of the Republican Party in 2010 and part manifesto as he gears up for a bid for his former job, this time as a Democrat.
“I’ll share my very strong feelings about what’s happened to the Republicans, how the party I grew up in has been hijacked by extremists, losing its compassion and common sense,” Crist said in a press release issued by Dutton. “I’ll describe exactly what I saw and what it made me realize.”
It will no doubt be required reading for observers of state politics, but Republican Party of Florida Chairman Lenny Curry was already laughing off the idea of a bestseller from the man his party used to promote.
“We didn’t know that Charlie Crist was launching a new career as a fiction writer,” Curry said in a statement. “But we do want to thank him for the hundreds of pages of rhetorical ammunition he will be giving to us and his primary opponents.”
HOW MUCH DO YOU MAKE? HOW MUCH DID YOU RAISE?
With disclosures of state officials’ public wealth now being posted online, and the fund-raising statements of candidates also being published this week, there was plenty of gossip to be had about money. One takeaway: Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam is doing rather well in both departments.
Putnam, whose wealth is tied to the family-owned Putnam Groves, led the three Cabinet officers with a net worth of $7.2 million, an increase from $6.49 million in 2011. His net worth had dipped from $6.8 million in 2010, when he was elected commissioner.
One thing he might not have to spend much of that money on is his re-election campaign. The Republican commissioner, often mentioned as a future candidate for governor, raked in $591,011 in contributions between April 1 and June 30, far more than other statewide candidates — and almost 60 percent of the $966,788 raised by the Florida Democratic Party over the same time frame.
“Big thanks to everyone who helped kick off my reelection (with) such momentum!” Putnam said in a message on Twitter. “Nearly 2000 donors have invested in our vision for Florida!”
Also doing well: Rep. Matt Gaetz, a Fort Walton Beach Republican gearing up to run for his father’s Senate seat, reported raising $252,360 for that 2016 contest.
Speaking of the elder Gaetz: The co-founder of VITAS Healthcare Corp. and former Okaloosa County schools superintendent is worth $26.2 million — tops among more than a third of senators who have publicly declared themselves to be millionaires. And with some forms not yet ready for public release, the group of millionaires could grow.
REMAKING THE GRADE
Current county school superintendents — who might not be worth as much as Gaetz — were more concerned with what Education Commissioner Tony Bennett will recommend to the State Board of Education next week in an effort to counter what the superintendents say could be an alarming drop in school grades on the state report card.
In a letter to the state board, Bennett recommended continuing a year-old policy that prevents schools from dropping by more than one letter grade on those report cards, though he preemptively pushed back on any suggestion that such a policy watered down the state’s accountability system.
“To be clear, my recommendations, outlined below, are made not to soften the blow of higher standards or to reduce the number of failing schools, but rather to advance the best policy for Florida’s students and position our state for a successful transition to full implementation of the CCSS (Common Core State Standards) in the 2014-2015 school year and beyond,” he wrote.
Bennett also recommended tweaking how students at so-called “ESE centers,” which teach students with disabilities, are accounted for.
Sen. Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee, said he saw the changes recommended by Bennett as a “good, reasonable response.” Montford, who also serves as the CEO of the Florida Association of District School Superintendents, took part in discussions between Bennett and the superintendents about the grades.
“Clearly, I think this is a fair approach to it,” Montford said.
STORY OF THE WEEK: The Florida Supreme Court ruled that a case challenging the Senate’s redistricting plan can go forward despite an earlier ruling by the court that there was nothing on the surface that indicated the map violated the anti-gerrymandering “Fair Districts” standards.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “It is reminiscent of divorce court, where the louder each one screams, the more interesting it becomes to the audience.”–Susan MacManus, a political science professor at the University of South Florida, on the war of words between Crist and the state GOP.
By The News Service of Florida
Molino’s Kelly Named To World Wood Bat Tournament Team
July 14, 2013
Jacob Kelly of Molino was recently named to the 2013 World Wood Bat Association 18U National Championship All-Tournament Team as a pitcher. The tournament, held in Atlanta, featured over 180 teams with over 3,000 players.
Kelly, 17, pitched 11 innings striking out 13 and allowing only one earned run. Kelly played with the Patriot Travel Team made up of area high school athletes. Another team member, Chandler Burgess, was also named to the All-Tournament team as a hitter. Burgess batted .438 during the tournament that featured teams from as far away as Hawaii and New Jersey.
Saturday Storms Bring Heavy Rain, Hail, High Winds
July 14, 2013
Strong storms pushed through portions of the North Escambia area Saturday afternoon, bringing heavy rain, hail and high winds.
NorthEscambia.com readers reported hail in a swath from near Molino, through Walnut Hill to Davisville. Most of the hail was reported to be pea-sized or smaller. The storms also caused a few power outages. On West Kingsfield Road, a tree and power lines were downed during the storm.
Some areas, including Walnut Hill, received over four inches of rain Saturday afternoon, much of it in a two-hour period.
Pictured below: A tree and power lines were downed on West Kingsfield Road. Reader photo by Brian Vincent. Pictured above: Pea-sized and larger hail fell in Davisville Saturday afternoon. Reader photo by Brooke Harris. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Set Team Record With 12-4 Win Over Montgomery
July 14, 2013
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos scored a franchise record 12 runs in a 12-4 win over the Montgomery Biscuits in the conclusion of Friday’s suspended game, but were shut out on just one hit by Victor Mateo and lost 6-0 in game two.
In game one, both teams traded single runs in the second and third innings before Pensacola finally took the lead for good with three runs in the top of the fifth. Ray Chang tied the game with a sacrifice fly to centerfield driving home Ryan LaMarre to even the score at 3-3. Donald Lutz followed a couple batters later, and grounded in a fielder’s choice at second base, but on an attempt to turn a double play the throw to first got away allowing two runs to score and Blue Wahoos went ahead 5-3.
Pensacola was holding onto a 7-4 lead when they blew the game open with a five-run eighth inning. After two runs had already scored in the inning, Tucker Barnhart doubled down the right field line with the bases loaded which plated two more runs. The final run scored on a groundout by Travis Mattair to cap the scoring.
It was the third straight game where five batters finished with multi-hit efforts. Corey Wimberly (3-for-5) led the attack with his third-straight multi-hit game. Lutz (2-for-4), Barnhart (2-for-5), LaMarre (2-for-4) and Brodie Greene (2-for-4) all chipped in with two-hit affairs. LaMarre and Greene both belted solo home runs in the contest. It was LaMarre’s third game in a row with a round-tripper.
Daniel Renken (W, 3-6) started the resumption and earned the win after allowing just two earned runs, four total, over 4.2 innings. The Wahoos plated four of their 12 runs against Marquis Fleming (L, 2-4) who took the loss for the Biscuits. Fleming was charged with three earned runs over 3.1 innings for Montgomery.
Game two was a much different story. Victor Mateo (W, 4-8) faced just one over the minimum for the Biscuits in a complete game shutout of the Blue Wahoos. Mattair had the Wahoos only hit with his second inning single. That was the only baserunner the Blue Wahoos would get in their fourth time facing the Biscuits starter.
The Biscuits scored, what proved to be all they needed, in the third inning when Robby Price singled home Mayo Acosta. Montgomery opened up their 1-0 lead with four runs in the fifth. With two runs already home, Kyeong Kang belted a two-run home run to right field which signaled the end of the game for Blue Wahoos starter Josh Smith (L, 7-8). Smith was charged with five runs, all earned, on nine hits over 4.2 innings in the loss. The win for Mateo was his second straight.
With the game one win, the Blue Wahoos have already assured themselves a series victory. Now, Pensacola looks to make it four out of five with a win in the series finale on Sunday. Pensacola will look to LHP Ryan Dennick and RHP Shaun Ellis to carry to load against Biscuits RHP Jake Floethe. First pitch is set for 6:05 from Riverwalk Stadium.
story by Kevin Burke
Gulf Power Seeks Rate Increase For Largest-Ever Construction Program
July 13, 2013
Gulf Power Company is asking the Florida Public Service Commission to approve a two-step price increase to help pay for the largest power grid construction program in the history of the company.
Over the next three years, the company is building and replacing power lines and infrastructure — some more than 70 years old — to keep electricity flowing to its 430,000 customers. In addition, new lines and equipment are needed to comply with new mandatory federal environmental regulations.
The first increase would not take effect until April 2014, and it would increase the total bill for a residential customer buying 1,000-kilowatt hours by $8.94 per month or 7.5 percent — from the current price of $118.88 to $127.82.
The second step of the increase — related to the new environmental requirements — would not occur until 2015 and would raise the monthly bill an additional $1.99.
“This is a challenging time for utilities as we continue to provide reliable service to our customers and keep costs down,” said Stan Connally, Gulf Power President & CEO. “There are no easy answers, but we’ve worked hard to control costs and our residential rates are currently lower than they were in 2009.”
Connally cited aged, obsolete equipment and facilities that are at or beyond life cycle that must be upgraded and replaced.
“For example, one section of our transmission lines — 70 miles of it — is more than 70 years old,” Connally said. “We have transformers and other equipment operating well beyond their operational expectancy. We must rebuild parts of our system so we can continue to provide reliable service.”
Part of the new transmission line construction is to help the company comply with new federal environmental regulations that will change the way the company operates its plants and will require plants to be shut down at regular intervals. The new lines and equipment will be used to ensure voltage stability and reliable power flow while the plants are offline.
“Our obligation is to have the electricity available when and where our customers demand it,” Connally said. “This investment is necessary to meet our customers’ expectations, as well as the new federal environmental regulations.”
Gulf Power infrastructure improvements include:
Examples of Gulf Power Infrastructure Investment:
- Substations are being added and improved to continue to provide reliable service to our customers. In Pensacola, a substation on Devilliers Street has been rebuilt. On Allison Avenue in Panama City, a new substation has been built.
- Seventy miles of a 70-year-old transmission line is being rebuilt from Panama City to Holmes County.
- An existing transmission line between Highland City and Holmes Creek substations in the Panama City area is being upgraded to maintain reliability for our customers.
- A new 38-mile transmission line is being added that begins in the Pensacola area and goes through North Escambia o the Florida-Alabama state line. This project is necessary for mandatory federal environmental compliance. The new transmission line is being built alongside an additional line and will require no additional right of way.
Pictured top: Gulf Power crews making upgrades to a substation on Devilliers Street in Pensacola. Pictured inset: Gulf Power crews making upgrades to a distribution line. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Prison Inmate From Escambia County Killed In Corrections Van Crash
July 13, 2013
A state prison inmate from Escambia County was killed when the Department of Corrections van he was riding in flipped into a ditch in Okaloosa County on the way to a scheduled work detail.
Lawrence Houze, 50, of Escambia County was killed in the crash. Houze was a minimum security inmate at the Okaloosa Work Camp in Crestview. He was scheduled for release in August 2014.
The driver of the van was a Department of Corrections officer and six inmates were on board. The officer and five remaining inmates were transported to North Okaloosa Medical Center were they were treated and released. All were wearing their seat belts.
The crash occurred when the van was turning from P.J. Adams Road from Highway 85 and another unknown vehicle pulled in front of the van, causing the van to lose control and flip over into a ditch. The extent of the vehicle damage is unknown.
Longtime Santa Rosa Deputy Theda Bray Passes Away
July 13, 2013
Santa Rosa County is mourning the passing of former deputy Theda “Cheryl” Bray of Allentown. She was 54.
Bray began her career with the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office in February 1982. She was a member of the first K-9 unit established in the county and also served as a detective in the Criminal Investigative Unit.
After she was promoted to lieutenant, show took command the Jay and Navarre districts. Bray retired from the Sheriff’s Office in June 2012 and received the honor rank of captain. She remained in the Sheriff’s Office Reserve Program for some time.
“She was an asset to the Sheriff’s Office, as well as to the community. Her loyalty and dedication to the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office will not be forgotten,” the department said in a news release.
She was also instrumental in the creation of ‘Christmas in Allentown’ where each year the public is invited to view over 300,000 Christmas lights.
Bray was the daughter of the late J.D. Bray, who served as mayor of Jay for 44 years. She is survived by her extended family.
Visitation for friends will be held at Lewis Funeral Home in Milton on Sunday, July 14 from 5-8 p.m.with a second visitation at Jay First Baptist Church on Monday, July 15 from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. The funeral service will begin at 11am followed by a procession and service at Jay Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be: Capt. Jim Spencer, (Ret.) Lt. Steve Barnes, (Ret.) Lt. Chuck Sloan, Lt. Joe McCurdy, (Ret.) Sgt. Ed Johnson, and Sgt. John Thompson
Honorary Pallbearers will be past and present deputies, correction officers and staff of the Santa Rose Sheriff’s Office.
For the complete obituary, click here.
Pensacola Beach Air Show Goes On Without The Blue Angels (Photos)
July 13, 2013
For the first time in over 20 years, the Blue Angels were missing from the Pensacola Beach Air Show on Friday.
The crowds were light for the practice show, a warm up for the big Saturday show with two dozen civilian aircraft. But about the only way the dress rehearsal could have gone better would have been to have the iconic Blue Angels in the air.
Here is a scheduled for Saturday’s show:
- Pre-show: Hotelier Julian MacQueen, Widgeon.
- 1 p.m. show opener: Team Aerodynamix flying the missing man formation to the National Anthem.
- Dual and solo aerobatics, Gary Ward and Skip Stewart.
- Two-plane demonstration, Lima Lima.
- Dog fight, Red Star & The Dragon jets.
- Solo aerobatics, Kevin Coleman.
- Solo, Otto the Helicopter piloted by Roger Buis.
- 2:12 p.m. 20-minute water break for crowd.
- 2:42 p.m. 11-plane formation, Team Aerodynamix.
- Solo aerobatics, Skip Stewart.
- Solo aerobatics, Gary Ward.
- Six-plane formation, Lima Lima.
“We will miss the Blue Angels, but come and show your support of the Blues in a move of solidarity,” Santa Rosa Island Authority Director Buck Lee said. “It should be fun for the entire family.”
Pictured above and below: Friday’s Pensacola Beach Air Show dress rehearsal. Photos by: Perry Doggrell for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
July Gardening Tips
July 13, 2013
The heat, humidity and frequent rains of July are great for tropical plants. Gardeners, however, take a bit of a beating. Remember to keep the sunscreen, insect repellant and iced tea handy as you venture out into your garden to perform some needed summer maintenance.
A midsummer application of fertilizer is usually required, especially on annual flowers, lawns, shrub beds and vegetable gardens. This is a supplemental application, so don’t overdo it. A 15-0-15 slow-release fertilizer is a good general purpose landscape fertilizer for most plants.
Major pruning jobs should have been done earlier, but there is still some maintenance pruning that should be done. Deadhead, or clip old flowers, from summer flowering shrubs as soon as they fade to help insure an extended season of bloom. Crape myrtles, hibiscus, hydrangeas and althea are examples of shrubs that will bloom repeatedly if light, selective pruning is done.
Flowering annuals also respond well to deadheading. Snip off old flowers and flower spikes before they have an opportunity to form seed. Allowing annual flowers to set seed can shorten their blooming season considerably.
Inspect your lawn and shrub plantings frequently in order to identify pest problems as early as possible. The most severe damage from pest insects normally begins in July. Be on the lookout for chinch bugs in St. Augustine grass; spittlebugs in centipede grass; sod webworm in all lawns-especially new ones; lacebug and caterpillars on azaleas; whiteflies on gardenia and spider mites on lots of different types of shrubs.
Sod webworms often attack lawns in the summer. They eat the grass blades producing areas that look as if they have been mowed too short. Close inspection will reveal that the blades have not been cleanly cut as with a mower blade but have been chewed along their edges and tips. These caterpillars feed at night and rest during the day down among the runners and in the thatch.
Once an insect pest is found, evaluate the damage and determine if control is necessary. If it is, choose the least toxic option. If only a few caterpillars are found, hand picking might be the choice. Aphids and spider mites can often be controlled by spraying with an insecticidal soap solution. Chemical insecticides are sometimes required. Before choosing one be sure that the insect pest has been properly identified and that the insecticide is labeled for that purpose For vegetable gardeners that have problems with nematodes, soil borne diseases and extensive weed problems, July is a great time to try soil solarization.
Prepare the soil as you normally would for a vegetable garden including adding organic matter. Moisten the area and cover with clear plastic, not black plastic. Clear plastic will produce the highest temperatures. Be sure to weigh down the edges of the plastic so that it doesn’t blow up. Allow the soil to bake in the sun for four to six weeks. The sun will raise the soil temperature high enough to kill many soil borne problems.
Tip of the Week: The nice thing about tomatoes is that you have the option of harvesting when the fruit is green if needed. Tomatoes will ripen indoors at room temperature. To ensure even ripening, place the tomato with the stem up. The ideal time to harvest tomatoes is when they are fully colored but still firm.
In general, it is best to harvest vegetables early in the mornings while the moisture content is higher. The overall quality will quickly diminish as vegetables are exposed to hotter temperatures later in the day.
Authorities Believe Murder Victim May Be From Panhandle
July 13, 2013
Escambia County investigators are asking for any information related to a Sumter County murder victim that may have been a Florida panhandle native or resided in the area for an extended period of time.
The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the murder of an unidentified female whose body was discovered April 22, 2013, in a wooded area near Interstate 75 and State Road 44 in Wildwood. An autopsy determined she may have been the victim of a violent homicide on or about April 3.
The victim is a white female; 50 to 70 years of age, 5’2” to 5’9” tall, heavy build, with red or auburn colored hair that was tied with a red scrunchy. There is a tattoo of “Jane” on the left shoulder blade, and the victim was wearing a light colored floral design shirt, size 3XL, grey colored sweatpants, size 36-38, and white Danskins tennis shoes, size 10W. The victim had no teeth, and wore pink and grey colored glasses.
Dr. George Kamenov from the University of Florida conducted geological testing on portions of the remains and determined the woman could have lived in the Florida panhandle within the past 15 to 20 years.
If anyone has information related to this case or knows the victim’s identity, please contact the Sumter County Sheriff’s ffice, Criminal Investigations Division at (352) 569-1680, or callers may call Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS.
