Florida AG Bondi Takes Aim At Obama During GOP Convention
August 30, 2012
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, sharing the stage with Georgia Attorney General Sam Olens at the Republican National Convention in 2012, lambasted President Barack Obama for the health-care overhaul he signed into law in 2010.
Bondi, who was at the forefront of the legal challenge to Obamacare after her predecessor filed the first lawsuit against the measure in federal court in Pensacola, scolded Obama for a provision requiring that almost every American purchase health insurance. Most of the law, including the mandate, was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court.
“This is what happens when a president has such total disregard for our individual liberty that he knowingly and purposely imposes unwarranted restrictions against the will of the people,” Bondi said. “This is not why our Founding Fathers risked their lives and their fortunes when they created a nation.”
Bondi has emerged as a key female surrogate for GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney, pushing back on the Democrats’ line that Republicans are waging a “war on women,” though her remarks Wednesday did not address that issue.
By The News Service of Florida
Pictured top: Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi shares the stage with Georgia Attorney General Sam Olens at the Republican National Convention Wednesday in Tampa. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Gulf Power Crews Heading West To Help Restore Power
August 30, 2012
Gulf Power Company crews are loading up their trucks and going west today to help Mississippi Power restore electric service in the wake of Hurricane Isaac.
“The threat of widespread outages in Northwest Florida has passed so we will send a storm team of 68 employees to help our neighboring utilities,” said Jeff Rogers, Gulf Power spokesman.
The team will travel in 24 Gulf Power bucket trucks to help assess the damage and work to restore power. The crews are prepared to work for up to two weeks and will assist wherever they are needed.
Gulf Power workers traveled to Sarasota earlier this year to help Florida Power & Light Company restore power after Tropical Storm Debby. “Our crews are often requested in the hardest-hit areas. And we’re more than happy to help after our customers are taken care of,” said Rogers.
Earlier this week, Gulf Power crews restored power to more than 20,000 customers across Northwest Florida in the wake of Hurricane Isaac. As of Wednesday morning, only a few scattered outages remained in the region.
“Our crews did what they are trained to do and restored power quickly, and more importantly, safely, to our customers throughout the storm,” said Rogers. “We thank our customers for their patience and their support.”
Escambia Man Gets 78 Years For Burglary, Criminal Mischief
August 30, 2012
An Escambia County man, 42-year old Russell Smith, has been sentenced to prison after being convicted of burglary with assault or battery and criminal mischief, according to State Attorney Bill Eddins.
On January 16, 2012, Smith knocked on the victim’s door several times before kicking it in, presumably to steal from the victim expecting no one to be home. The victim and his two sons chased Smith from their home and detained him until the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrived. At the time of this offense, Smith was on probation for multiple counts of burglary and was also found guilty of violating his probation.
Judge Linda Nobles sentenced Smith to 78 years in state prison to cover all charges against him.
Police Release More Details About Body Parts Found In Storage Unit
August 30, 2012
A multi-agency investigation continues into the discovery of human body parts found inside a Pensacola storage unit on August 24 in an effort to determine what, if any, laws may have been broken.
The remains were stored in plastic containers, specimen cups and trash bags inside Unit B12 at Uncle Bob’s Storage at 195 East Fairfield Drive. The unit was rented by Dr. Michael Berkland, a former associate medical examiner who is no longer licensed in Florida, according to the Pensacola Police Department.
Lungs, hearts, tissue samples, and 10 brains were among the body parts from more than 100 people found in the air conditioned unit. The body parts were stored in formaldehyde in plastic containers, plastic bags, and even a 32-ounce Styrofoam cup from a convenience store.
Some of the containers had cracked and leaked, police said.
The discovery was reported to police on Friday. Storage shed Manager George Klages told police contents of the unit had been sold for $900 during an auction on August 22. As the purchaser began cleaning out the unit, cardboard boxes of plastic containers holding the remains were found.
Klages told police Berkland rented the unit from April 8, 2009, until it was auctioned August 22. He said Berkland was late on rental payments several times during the lease, but usually paid right before the unit contents were to be auctioned. The storage unit also contained office furniture and other property.
It is believed the remains are from autopsies Berkland did between 1997 and 2007 at funeral homes in Pensacola, Tallahassee, Fort Walton Beach, and Panama City.
There were labels on some of the containers of a person’s name and autopsy date but other containers did not have identification indicators.
The remains have been given to the Medical Examiner’s Office. The Pensacola Police Department is not releasing the inventory because some of the decedent families may not be aware of the investigation.
Berkland worked for the Medical Examiner’s Office between 1997 and May 2003 when he was fired for failing to complete autopsy reports in a timely manner.
The discovery is being investigated by the State Attorney’s Office, the Medical Examiner’s Office and the Pensacola Police Department.
NHS Volleyball In Action Today
August 30, 2012
The Northview Lady Chiefs will play their first home volleyball games of the regular season today as scheduled.
The Lady Chiefs will host Catholic High School at 4:30 for the junior varsity and 6:00 for the varsity.
Next week, Northview will be on the road at Laurel Hill on Tuesday, September 4 and will host Central on Thursday, September 6 at 4:30/5:30.
Pictured top: The Northview Lady Chiefs in action against the Escambia Lady Gators last week during a preseason game. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Flomaton Lions Present $2,500 To School System To Help Needy Students
August 30, 2012
The newly re-formed Flomaton Lions Club recently made a $2,500 donation to Flomaton schools to provide financial assistance to eligible students. The money included $1,500 earned at a pancake supper plus a$1,000 donation that will be used to assist needy students with required school uniform purchases.
Flomaton High School has formed a Flomaton Lions sponsored LEO Club, sponsored by JJ Hagen to help students develop leadership skills and become conscious of helping others. The Flomaton Lions also presented $150 to the LEO Club.
The Flomaton Lions Club meetings on the first and third Tuesday night of each month at 6:00 at the Flomaton Community Center. New members are welcome.
Pictured above: Ruth Harrell of the Flomaton Lions Club presents a $2,500 donation to Flomaton High School Principal Scott Hammond to provide financial assistance to eligible students. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Isaac Pounds Gulf Coast, Tests New Orleans Seven Years After Katrina
August 30, 2012
[New Orleans] – Isaac was downgraded from a hurricane to a tropical storm on Wednesday. But the slow-moving storm is hovering over New Orleans generating tremendous rain and high winds. Isaac is testing the city’s improved levees that were breached exactly seven years ago by Hurricane Katrina.
Tropical Storm Isaac is a much weaker weather event than Hurricane Katrina, which left 1,800 people dead in Louisiana and Mississippi in 2005. Still the threat of dangerous storm surges and flooding is increasing as Isaac slowly moves across Louisiana.
Storm surges are testing the New Orleans levee system that failed during Katrina and has since been bolstered by $14 billion in federal repairs and improvements. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says that so far the stronger levees are withstanding the assault.
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal says officials might need to cut a hole in a levee in a flooded area to relieve pressure on the structure and prevent a major breach. He says that as many as 40 people in the area need to be rescued.
“Bottom line – this storm is a very slow moving storm. It will be moving through our state. We’ll be dealing with this storm through early Friday morning. So this is a storm that we will be dealing with not only today and tomorrow, but we’re going to continue to see the weather effects especially as it moves to the northern part of our state,” Jindal said.
Earlier on Wednesday, Isaac packed 80 mph winds, driving a wall of water nearly 11 feet high inland and soaking a stretch of land that extends into the Gulf of Mexico. The storm stalled for several hours before resuming its slow trek inland. Isaac’s slow movement over land means it could dump up to 20 inches of rain in some areas. In New Orleans, one district on the west bank of the Mississippi River has ordered a mandatory evacuation because of concerns of a sustained storm surge. New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu has issued a curfew for the city.
Some residents who evacuated, like Gaynell James, say damage from Isaac has been minimal and that they already are thinking of returning home.
“Well they say some areas are a little flooded. But where I live at, they say no water. I talked to, with my neighbor and she says the water is like to the, right to the gutter, [but] not, it hasn’t come up yet. And so the reason we left now [is that] we don’t have any lights now,” James said.
In areas of southeastern Louisiana, people in boats and trucks have rescued residents stranded by floodwaters. Authorities fear that many others could need help following fierce winds and rain that knocked out power to more than 600,000 households and businesses on Tuesday night.
Pictured top: A satellite image of Hurricane Isaac. Pictured inset: Damage from Hurricane Katrina seven years ago in New Orleans. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Pensacola Police Officer Arrested For Insurance Fraud
August 30, 2012
A Pensacola Police officer was arrested early Wednesday morning and charged with insurance fraud.
Officer Jamon Johnson, 35, was arrested by the Florida Department of Financial Services, Division of Insurance Fraud.
Johnson presently is on a 5-day suspension stemming from a previous disciplinary action.
After the conclusion of the suspension, he will be on administrative leave pending a pre-termination hearing scheduled for September 5, said Chief Chip W. Simmons.
Johnson has been employed by the department since March 13, 2000. He presently is assigned to the Uniform Patrol Division.
Ryan Calls For ‘Turnaround’ In America With Romney In Charge
August 30, 2012
Paul Ryan of Wisconsin officially accepted the Republican vice presidential nomination during the party’s convention Thursday night in Tampa.
“I accept the duty to help lead our nation out of a jobs crisis and back to prosperity – and I know we can do this. I accept the calling of my generation to give our children the America that was given to us, with opportunity for the young and security for the old – and I know that we are ready,” Ryan said at the Republican National Convention.
“Our nominee is sure ready. His whole life has prepared him for this moment – to meet serious challenges in a serious way, without excuses and idle words. After four years of getting the run-around, America needs a turnaround, and the man for the job is Governor Mitt Romney,” Ryan said.
Ryan called for a “turnaround” in the country, accusing the Democrats of creating a division in the country.
“They’ve run out of ideas. Their moment came and went. Fear and division are all they’ve got left,” he said.
For the full text of Ryan’s speech, click here.
Mitt Romney will give his nomination acceptance speech Thursday night, following an introduction by Senator Marco Rubio of Florida. Rubio was tight-lipped Wednesday about the speech, saying that he planned to outline the differences between Romney and Democratic incumbent President Barack Obama. But Rubio did say he wanted the moment to mean something to his parents, including his late father.
“I hope on a personal level, for my mom, watching from home, and my dad, wherever he’s watching from, it will be affirmation that their lives mattered, that all the sacrifices and hard work they went through was worth something,” Rubio told reporters.
For the full text of Ryan’s speech Wednesday night to the Republican National Convention, click here.
Northview’s Neiko Robinson Suspended For Six Games
August 29, 2012
Northview High School Chiefs senior Neiko Robinson has been suspended for six games by the Florida High School Athletic Association after being ejected from a kickoff classic game last Friday night.
Robinson, a transfer from the Flomaton Hurricanes and a verbal commitment to Penn State, was ejected in the fourth quarter after Neino Robinson, Neiko’s younger brother, was flagged for pass interference on a play. A brief scuffle followed, and Neiko Robinson allegedly threw a punch.
A new FHSAA sportsmanship policy went into effect a year ago calling for an automatic six-game suspension for a player ejected for being involved in a fight. Northview will be eligible to appeal the FHSAA decision.
The Chief will open their regular season at home Friday night against John Paul Catholic at 7 p.m.
Pictured top: Senior Neiko Robinson picks up yardage for the Northview Chiefs last Friday night against Panama City Bay. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.