Girls Weightlifting: Northview Out Powers Jay (With Photo Gallery)
November 28, 2012
The Northview Chiefs topped the Jay Royals Tuesday afternoon in a girls weightlifting meet held at Northview.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Team Scores
1st Northview 67 points
2nd Jay 22 points
Combined scores for bench press and clean and jerk:
101
1st Jody Paramore- NHS 155
2nd Jadlyn Agerton –NHS 130
110
1st Madison Arrington –NHS 155
2nd Mariah Albritton –NHS 150
3rd Michaela Stewart –JHS 145
.
119
1st Hannah Fiellin –NHS 170
2nd Katelyn Calloway –NHS 150
3rd Kolby Copeland –JHS 115
129
1stAshley Mooney –NHS 185
2nd Angel Lathan –NHS 175
3rd Ashley Geck –JHS 170
139
1st- Hannah Gibson –NHS 205
2nd Shelby Edwards –JHS 175
3rd Ashley Joiner –NHS 160
154
1st Misty Doran –NHS 220
2nd Shelly Mothershed –NHS 190
3rd Katelyn Warrick –JHS 185
169
1st-Liza Eddings –JHS 190
2nd Kristen Gilmore –JHS 185
3rd Olivia Neal –NHS 185
183
1st Sonya Dixon –NHS 200
2nd Sydney Lowery –JHS 185
3rd Haylee Weaver –NHS 180
199
1st Iyanna Davidson –NHS 185
2nd Haley Lambert –NHS 170
3rd Sunny Gilmore –JHS 150
Unlimited
1st Te’Andria Knight –NHS 245
2nd Brianna Hawthorne –JHS 215
3rd Madison McGhee –NHS 195
Pictured: The Northview Chiefs defeated Jay Tuesday afternoon in girls weightlifting. Photos by Bethany Reynolds, NHS Tribal Spirit, for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Citizens Insurance Board Responds To Scandal, Blasts Media Reports
November 28, 2012
Responding to charges of improprieties at Citizens Property Insurance Corp. the state-backed insurer’s CEO lashed back Tuesday, calling media coverage of the unfolding drama inaccurate and misleading.
Speaking to members of the company’s governing board, Citizens President and CEO Barry Gilway acknowledged that a handful of Citizens supervisors in separate incidents behaved inappropriately but others face allegations that have been disproved or remained unsubstantiated, he said.
“The last time I looked around, we were still in the United States of America,” Gilway said. “We have not been annexed to a communist regime. We still have some basic rights. Those rights include innocent until proven guilty.”
Gilway requested the meeting last week following the release of hundreds of pages of documents alleging misappropriations of funds, sexual harassment, lucrative severance packages and other inappropriate behavior by a handful of Citizens supervisors between 2004 and 2010.
In one instance a pair of Citizens supervisors took off their bras and danced at the Coyote Ugly bar in Tampa during a company retreat there in 2009. The employees in question were disciplined, according to do documents released by Citizens last week.
Another supervisor was accused of practicing law in Florida without a license, an allegation Gilway says remains unsubstantiated.
Gilway said he was “disgusted” by the actions of some employees, which happened long before he took over in June. But he blasted media accounts he said took unsubstantiated information on a few to sully the integrity of the entire company.
“It is also critically important that the actions of a very, very few people over the course of four years not tarnish the reputation of 1,300 employees who come in every single day and bust their tails, even though they are getting trashed in the press on a daily basis, ” Gilway said.
The company has also been under scrutiny because an internal auditing office was disbanded as the allegations were being examined.
The allegations prompted Gov. Rick Scott last week to direct his inspector general to investigate whether Citizens Office of Corporate Integrity employees were fired for conducting looking into several allegations. Meanwhile, the inspector general’s office is also looking at Citizens’ business expenses following allegations of stays in upscale hotels.
Sean Shaw, a former Florida insurance consumer advocate who now works for a Tampa-based law firm that represents insurance consumers, said Citizens’ anger was misdirected. Instead of focusing on the media, Citizens’ energy would be better spent shoring up an internal governance structure, he said.
“Instead of spending time talking about fixing abuses of the public trust, the board seems more interested in blaming the media for finding out about it,” Shaw said in a statement. “Citizens says the media is disgusting, but I assure you, policyholders and taxpayers have even more choice words about the management of Citizens.”
Gilway acknowledged that a number of procedural safeguards were not in place between 2004 and earlier this year. The company, for example, had no written policy toward severance agreements while records show that more than $750,000 was spent on severance packages since 2004. Steps are now being taken to address those corporate governance issues. Travel guidelines have already been put in place.
“We will win back the credibility of this company in the eyes on the public,” Citizens Chairman Carlos Lacasa said Tuesday.
By Michael Peltier, The News Service of Florida
Florida Consumer Confidence Dips After Election
November 28, 2012
Florida consumers’ confidence dropped in November after spiking to new highs in the previous two months, likely driven by gloom among those disappointed by the election, according to a University of Florida survey released Tuesday.
The consumer confidence rating of 76 this month was down four points from October, the university’s Bureau of Economic and Business Research said. People’s perceptions of their personal finances dropped year over year, as did expectations for their personal finances and expectations for the economy as a whole in the nation over the next year and the next five years. Respondents’ perceptions on buying bit ticket consumer items were unchanged.
“We expected a decline in consumer confidence for two reasons,” said survey director Chris McCarty. “The main reason for the decline was the outcome of the elections. Florida was the most divided state in the country, with President Obama winning by 73,309 votes. No matter who won, half of the state was not going to be happy with the outcome.”
McCarty said that since the economy was a central issue, half the electorate naturally thinks the election was bad for the economy.
“The other reason for the decline is the sudden burst of media coverage regarding the fiscal cliff,” McCarty said. The bureau said that generally economic indicators in the state remain relatively positive. Unemployment declined in October and housing stock is declining, increasing demand in the housing market. Gas prices are also down.
By The News Service of Florida
Pen Air Credit Union In Century Robbed (With Photo Gallery)
November 27, 2012
A man claiming to have a gun robbed the Pen Air Federal Credit Union in Century Tuesday afternoon.
The robbery was reported about 1:00 p.m. at the credit union on North Century Boulevard. The man walked into Pen Air and said he had a gun, demanding all of the money, according to Sgt. Mike Ward, spokesman for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
The man fled on foot with an undisclosed amount of money. He was described as a thin white male with a gray hoodie and sunglasses.
There were no injuries.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office quickly surrounded the bank with multiple units as they searched for the suspect. K-9 teams were seen searching around the bank, including an area behind the U.S. Post Office next door.
There have been no arrests reported. Further details have not been released by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
For a photo gallery from the scene, click here.
Pictured top: The Pen Air Federal Credit Union in Century was robbed by a man claiming to have a gun Tuesday afternoon. Pictured inset: An Escambia County Sheriff’s Office crime scene technician processes the front door of the credit union for fingerprints. Pictured below: A K-9 searches near the back of the U.S. Post Office located next door to the credit union. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Police: Drinking Mother Passes Out, Drops Infant Into Fire
November 27, 2012
Police say an Atmore mother was drinking and passed out, dropping her 8-month old into a fire.
The Atmore Police Department said 26-year old Amanda Pugh of Atmore was drinking and standing by a fire outside her home in the 600 block of Bream Street just before 1 a.m. Saturday. Witnesses told police Pugh passed out, dropping her daughter into the fire.
The 8-month old suffered burns to both of her legs. She was transported by Atmore Ambulance to Atmore Community Hospital. She was transferred to the burn center at the USA Medical Center in Mobile by LifeFlight.
Pugh was arrested at the scene and charged with first degree assault and endangering the welfare of a child. She was booked into the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton with bond set at $15,000. The case is also under investigation by the Escambia County Department of Human Resources.
Man Charged With Smoking Spice With Teen Outside Dollar Store
November 27, 2012
A local man is facing child abuse charges after allegedly smoking spice with a 15-year old boy on Thanksgiving Day outside the Molino Dollar General.
Joseph Matthew Trump, age 36 of McDavid, was charged with child abuse and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $3,000.
Trump admitted to deputies that he and the 15-year old had smoked Spice in his car in the parking lot of the Dollar General on Highway 29 just north of Molino Road, according to an arrest report.
When deputies searched the vehicle, they reported finding a bag of Spice in the glove compartment that was labeled in large yellow letters “Not for Human Consumption” and red lettering that stated “Not for Consumption. Not FDA Approved”.
“I thought it was OK because you can buy it over the counter,” Trump told deputies, the report states. Deputies also reported finding a rolled cigarette, rolling papers and two open beer cans in the vehicle.
The incident was also reported to the Department of Children and Families.
Escambia Commissioners To Attend State Conference
November 27, 2012
Escambia County Commissioners will attend the Florida Association of Counties (FAC) Legislative Conference Wednesday through Friday at the Hyatt Regency in Sarasota.
An orientation for newly-elected commissioners, including Steven Barry and Lumon May will be held on Wednesday in conjunction with the Legislative Conference. Participants will be exposed to the powers and duties of a commissioner, ethics and Sunshine Laws and other resources and services available through FAC. The program is designed to provide an overview of the responsibilities of a county commissioner.
Dig Pinks Raises Over $1K In Green For Cancer Awareness
November 27, 2012
The final total is in from a Dig Pink volleyball event held last month to raise money for breast cancer awareness. The game between Northview and Flomaton High schools raised $1,150.84 after expenses, according to Northview volleyball coach Barbara Luker.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Deputies Seek To ID Armed Robbery Suspect
November 27, 2012
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is looking to identify a man that robbed a gas station and attempted to rob a Family Dollar.
The man first tried to rob a Family Dollar at 1817 West Fairfield drive on the evening of November 17, according to a Monday news release. The man told the clerk he was armed and demanded money. He ran away from the store after the clerk yelled out to the manager, deputies said.
Later in the evening, the same man entered the Shell gas station on Davis Highway just north of I-10 and told the clerk he had a weapon and demanded money. Investigators said the man gave the suspect an undetermined amount of money and he fled the area in gray Jeep Cherokee, possibly a 1998-2001 model year.
The suspect was described as a white male, possibly in his late 40’s to early 50’s, five-foot-nine to six feet tall, with salt and pepper colored hair. He was wearing a long sleeved shirt, dark blue shorts and white shoes.
Anyone with information on the suspect’s identity is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Scott Challenges Colleges To Offer $10,000 Degrees
November 27, 2012
Gov. Rick Scott “challenged” state colleges to create $10,000 four-year degrees, a continuation of his low-cost strategy for higher education that Democrats slammed as an attempt to turn the schools into “the Walmart of Education.”
Scott issued his challenge in a media blitz and a morning press conference at St. Petersburg College, with another event scheduled for Orlando in the afternoon.
“You should be able to work and go to school and not end up with debt,” Scott told WFLA TV, according to a transcript provided by his office. “If these degrees cost so much money, tuition is so high, that’s not going to happen. I have put out this challenge to our state colleges — we have 28 great state colleges — and say, ‘Can you come up with degrees where individuals can get jobs that the total degree costs $10,000?’”
State colleges are generally what used to be known as community colleges, though many of them now offer four year degrees.
The proposal echoes a similar push by Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Scott’s political idol, for $10,000 degrees in that state. It also comes as Scott has made containing the costs of higher education a top priority after colleges and universities say years of budget cuts have forced tuition hikes.
At the morning press conference, St. Petersburg College President William Law said his school would accept the challenge.
“St. Petersburg College is once again excited about the opportunity to be part of a statewide college pilot program that lowers the cost of a college education for the citizens we serve,” Law said in a press release. “Affordable education always has been at the forefront of the college’s mission.”
Scott did not appear to be offering any new funding to colleges to help cover the cost of the initiative.
Scott has talked about the $10,000 degree program before, and others have proposed a set cost for higher education. A blue ribbon task force set up by Scott to study the State University System — which doesn’t include the colleges — recommended a similar goal for Florida’s 12 universities.
“The state will maintain a full-time, resident, undergraduate tuition option with a targeted rate of approximately … $15,000 for a bachelor’s degree,” the task force’s report said.
But the Florida Democratic Party blasted the idea in an email, saying Scott should instead focus on increasing funding for higher education.
“We’ve heard these empty words from Rick Scott before and Florida’s middle class families are looking for real leadership — not failed gimmicks masquerading as sound bites,” the party said.
By Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida