Romney Taps Ryan As Vice Presidential Running Mate
August 11, 2012
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has tapped Rep. Paul Ryan to be his running mate for vice president.
Ryan is a long-time representative from the northern state of Wisconsin.
Romney and Ryan appeared together this morning in Norfolk, Virginia, to kick off a four-day bus tour.
The 42-year-old Ryan has the backing of many influential conservatives. He is chairman of the House Budget Committee, and has been a vocal leader in cutting the deficit by slashing the U.S. budget.
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) had been considered a potential running mate. Shortly after Saturday’s announcement, Rubio issued a statement in support of the Romney-Ryan ticket.
“Throughout his life, Mitt Romney has made great decisions, and choosing Paul Ryan as his running mate is a truly inspired choice. I got to know Paul during my Senate campaign when he endorsed me early on when I was still considered a long shot. Paul Ryan is a courageous reformer who understands our nation’s challenges, has proposed bold policy solutions to solve them, and has shown the courage to stand up to President Obama and other Washington politicians trying to tear him down,” Rubio said.
“The Romney-Ryan ticket is going to win in November because it offers the American people visionary leadership to recapture the free enterprise spirit that has empowered countless Americans to build businesses from scratch and live the American dream. I’m excited about the visionary change a Romney-Ryan team will bring to Washington, and I look forward to campaigning with them this fall.”
Ryan is in his seventh term in Congress representing Wisconsin’s First Congressional District. He also serves on the House Ways and Means Committee, where he has focused on simplifying the tax code and making health care more affordable and accessible.
In January 2010, Ryan gained attention nationwide after unveiling his “Roadmap for America’s Future,” a proposal to eliminate the federal deficit, reform the tax code, and preserve entitlements for future generations.
Judge: Escambia Sheriff’s Office Unlawfully Complied With Public Records Request
August 11, 2012
A judge has ruled that the Escambia County Sheriff’ Office owes a local attorney $425 for his repeated attempts to get public records from the Sheriff’s Office.
Attorney Thomas McGuire submitted a public records request on December 17, 2010, in an attempt to obtain paperwork and audio recordings related to the night in December 2010 that District 5 County Commissioner Kevin White was stopped on suspicion of drunk driving. White was free to go and was never charged with any crime.
The Sheriff’s Office incompletely complied with the public records request in February 2011, and McGuire filed suit in April 2011. In January 2012, according to court records, counsel for the Sheriff’s Office discovered additional documents which were inadvertently omitted from the records provided to McGuire in February 2011.
“Even though the delay was caused by an honest mistake, such ten month delay in providing to Petitioner a complete disclosure of the public records requested constitutes an
unjustified delay, and thus…is considered an unlawful refusal to comply with a public records request,” Circuit Judge Scott Duncan found.
Duncan ordered David Morgan, in his official capacity of Sheriff, to pay McGuire $425 in costs incurred to enforce the public records request.
FHP Seeks Witness To Fatal Traffic Crash (With Photo)
August 11, 2012
The Florida Highway Patrol is looking for a man that they say may have witnessed a wreck this week that killed a Milton man.
The accident happened about 4:15 a.m. August 5 near Smith’s Fish Camp Road when Jose Alfredo Montero-Jimenez, 40, lost control of his 2001 Ford F150 and overturned multiple times. He was not wearing his seat belt, according to the Florida Highway Patrol, and was ejected onto the highway.
Alfredo Montero-Jimenez was then ran over by a second vehicle. That vehicle, described as possible a 1999-2002 Saturn, continued without stopping.
The FHP believes a man seen on surveillance video from the Tom Thumb in Pace may have been a witness to the crash, and there may have also been a female in his vehicle.
Anyone that knows the identity of the man in the surveillance photo or knows anything about the fatal traffic crash is asked to contact the Florida Highway Patrol at (850) 484-5000, ext. 306.
No Criminal Charges Against Candidate Sam Archer; Elections Commission Investigating
August 11, 2012
A State Attorney’s Office review into a campaign finance complaint against Escambia County Commission District 5 candidate Sam Archer does not warrant criminal charges.
McDavid resident Brent Cravey brought a complaint alleging that Archer violated Florida elections laws by filing incorrect, false or incomplete campaign finance reports. The allegations were based on six campaign expenditures where Sam Archer’s wife Karen was reimbursed for loans made to the campaign. Campaign documents show that Karen Archer had not contributed to or loaned any funds to her husband’s campaign.
During the campaign, documents filed by Sam Archer show he loaned his campaign about $82,000. The funds were from a joint bank account shared with his wife, according to Chief Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille.
During the campaign, three loan repayments were made to Sam Archer in the total amount of $4,300. Six additional loan repayments were made to Karen Archer in the total amount of $1,597, documents show. The campaign treasurer told the State Attorney’s Office that the refunds were made to Karen Archer for convenience sake and because the funds were from a joint account.
“Any possible violations regarding the loan payments do not rise to the level of a criminal violation and should be handled by the Florida Elections Commission,” Marcille said.
Cravey said Friday that he had filed a complaint with the Florida Elections Commission. The State Attorney’s Office confirmed that the complaint had been filed and is under investigation by the Elections Commission.
Florida Elections Commission investigations, reports and other documents are confidential under Florida Law until after the commission finds probable cause or dismissed the complaint.
‘Family Feud’ Gunman Charged With Attempted Murder
August 11, 2012
An Escambia County man has been arrested in connection with a “family feud” shooting that occurred Tuesday afternoon on West Jackson Street when multiple shots were fired at a house.
Rufus Marcel Abrams, age 33 of Truman Avenue was charged Friday by the Pensacola Police Department with six counts of aggravated assault with a weapon, and one count each of attempted murder and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon.
A motive for the incident remains under investigation, but it is believed to stem from a homicide of Abrams’ relative that occurred December 17, 2011, in the 1200 block of West Moreno Street.
Keondrick Abrams, 17, who was Rufus Abrams’ cousin, was shot to death in the December incident and died at the scene. Tykey Douglas, 17, was also was shot.
James Dortch, 20,and Novel Austin Jr., 20, were arrested in late December. Each was charged with one count of attempted homicide and one count of premeditated homicide.
The Gun Crime Response Team is being utilized in the investigation of this incident, and additional arrests are pending as the investigation continues, said Pensacola Police Department Capt. David Alexander.
Farm Family Of The Year Named During County Farm Tour
August 11, 2012
Over 225 local officials and area citizens took part in the 46th Annual Santa Rosa County Farm Tour.
On the day-long bus tour, they learned first-hand about agriculture and its importance to the local economy. Stops on the tour included Whispering Pines Christmas Tree Farm, Shannon Flinn Farm, a “Visit with Beekeeper’s”, Chumuckla’s Farmers Opry, UF/IFAS WFREC Jay Research Farm and Holland Farms.
The Shannon Flinn family was named the “Outstanding Farm Family of the Year”.
Shannon and his wife Audra, along with daughter Megan and sons Sheldon and Aaron, farm 500 acres of corn, cotton, peanuts and soybeans. Officials said they are leaders in area production of food and fiber and are actively involved in various agricultural organizations. In addition to the Flinn family, tour organizers presented a plaque to retired Extension Agent Dan Mullins honoring him for his many years of dedicated service to the agricultural community.
Pictured top: Santa Rosa Commissioner Don Salter (left) with the Shannon Flinn family, the “Outstanding Farm Family of the Year”. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FHP Releases Report On Fiery I-75 Crash That Killed Tate Grad And Family
August 11, 2012
A 31-page report from the Florida Department Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and Florida Highway Patrol released Friday concluded driver error played significant roles in the deaths of 11 people and the injuries to many more during a series of crashes on a smoke-shrouded stretch of I-75 south of Gainesville in January.
The bodies of Tate graduate Michael Hughes, his daughter Sabryna Dawn Louise Hughes and Sabryna’s stepmother Lori Hughes were found two days after the crash in a badly burned pickup truck. The truck was incinerated when it collided with a semi-truck that had stopped on I-75 due to fog and smoke conditions. The family had traveled from Pensacola to the Gainesville area to attend a funeral.
Friends said Michael Hughes grew up in the Jacks Branch Road area and was a 1990 graduate of Tate High School.
The crash, which took place after 4 a.m., was prompted by smoky conditions from a nearby wildfire that led to poor visibility. But it was drivers’ reactions to those conditions that contributed to the disaster, the FHP report noted.
Some drivers stopped in the middle of travel lanes while other drivers didn’t slow down enough to be able to travel safely through the thick haze. While additional training may help, the report’s authors say the tragedy could happen again despite the best training and protocol.
“Even if each of the recommendations made by the FDLE in its incident review were to have been present or occurred that night, it is probable the same decision would have been reached,” the report concludes. “Also, no amount of planning or policy will take the place of driver reaction to low visibility and unpredictable conditions.”
The state is facing multiple lawsuits from drivers and their survivors following the January 29 crash which to place shortly after that stretch of road was reopened for traffic.
Editor’s note: While the FHP report found that driver behavior contributed to the crashes, the report does not specifically detail what caused the Hughes’ family to become involved in the accidents.
The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.
Highway 29 Snarled For Hours By Log Truck Wreck
August 11, 2012
There were no serious injuries in an accident involving a log truck and four cars Friday afternoon in Cantonment, but there were serious traffic problems that delayed thousands of people.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 56-year old Clarence Ray Vaughn of Summerdale was traveling east on Muscogee Road in a 1999 Mack truck. When he attempted to turn southbound on Highway 29 about 2:45 p.m., his load shifted and the trailer rolled onto its side as multiple vehicles were headed north on Highway 29.
Logs from the trailer rolled into a 1995 Chevrolet pickup driven by 73-year old L.C. Brown of Cantonment, and into a 2004 Dodge Stratus driven by 59-year old Anite Duff of Cantonment. The logs pushed Duff’s vehicle into a 2001 Buick driven by 58-year old Willie McQueen of Molino. And a screw from the log trailer struck and broke the windshield of a 2006 Chevrolet driven by 24-year old Trent Altman of McDavid.
Duff suffered minor injuries and was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola with minor injuries. No others involved in the accident were injured, according to the FHP.
Vaughn, the truck driver, was cited for careless driving.
The accident shut down all four lanes of Highway 29 for a short time and continued to cause traffic backups for hours. At times, northbound traffic was backed up about two miles — all the way back to Archer Road.
Pictured: A log truck accident Friday afternoon on Highway 29 just south of the Muscogee Road intersection. Reader submitted photos by Angel Lathan (inset), Nicole Snyder (below) and others, click to enlarge.
Lookouts Beat Pensacola 4-2
August 11, 2012
Chattanooga third baseman C.J. Retherford blasted two solo home runs and reliever Wes Roemer fired four solid innings of relief, while Pensacola shortstop Billy Hamilton swiped two more bases, as the Lookouts topped the Blue Wahoos 4-2 in front of a capacity crowd of 5,038 on Friday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
The loss, coupled with Jacksonville’s victory over Mobile, dropped the Blue Wahoos to 25-23 in the second half and two games behind the Suns for first place in the Southern League South Division. Chattanooga with the win now owns a 59-57 mark since the midway point of the season. The capacity crowd was the 35th the Blue Wahoos have hosted at the bayfront stadium in their inaugural season.
Retherford collected his solo shots in the second and seventh frames, with his second roundtripper turning out to be the game-winning hit. The Florida native has now totaled three roundtrippers at the Double-A level after blasting 20 with High-A Rancho Cucamonga prior to his promotion. The 26-year-old also collected two multi-homer efforts with the Quakes earlier this season.
The Lookouts struck first in the opening frame, with 2B Rafael Ynoa starting off the contest with a walk and stealing second prior to being sent in on an RBI triple from CF Nick Buss. Pensacola would then answer in the bottom of the frame with two scores to grab a 2-1 advantage.
Hamilton drew a free pass and then stole second and third, while CF Ryan LaMarre was hit by a pitch to load the bases. 1B Donald Lutz then drew a bases-loaded walk to plate Hamilton before LaMarre scored later on a fielder’s choice. Chattanooga however, would draw the contest even at 2-2 courtesy of Retherford’s first homer of the evening.
With Hamilton’s two steals, the speedster is now just ten away from tying Vince Coleman’s single-season Minor League record of 145, which he set in 1983. Including tonight, the 21-year-old has already stolen 18 bases in just ten games in the month of August.
The Lookouts would add an additional insurance run in the eighth for their final tally. 1B Luis Nunez walked and then moved to third on a two-base error, before coming home when RF Blake Smith reached on the second Blue Wahoos fielding miscue of the inning.
Chattanooga reliever Wes Roemer (4.0 IP, 4 H, 5 SO) earned the victory after yielding just four hits while striking out five in four shutout innings, while LHP Steven Rodriguez (1.0 IP, 1 H, 2 SO) shut the door in the ninth for his first save of the year. Pensacola starter Kyle Lotzkar (6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 SO) did not factor in the decision despite allowing just two earned runs on four hits in his six innings of work, while RHP Josh Ravin (1.2 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO) suffered the loss for the Blue Wahoos.
With the Fish leading the series 2-1, the two teams are scheduled to square off again Saturday night, with first pitch set for 6:30 p.m. at the bayfront stadium. Pensacola is slated to give the nod to RHP Daniel Corcino, while Chattanooga is expected to counter with RHP Zach Lee.
By Andrew Green
Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Dump Your Kids At Dump Camp
August 11, 2012
If you are looking for something for your kids to do next week, you can send them to camp at the county’s landfill.
The Escambia County Department of Solid Waste invites kids to participate in “Dump your Kids at the Perdido Landfill for a Day!” camp on Wednesday, August 15 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. This one-day excursion to the Perdido Landfill allows kids, ages 6-12, to participate in fun-filled activities designed to teach the importance of the reduction of generated waste through source reduction, recycling, reuse or composting.
Activities include a tour of the Perdido Landfill, recycling education, household chemical waste education, hands-on recycling projects, arts and crafts with recycled materials, games that focus on recycling and reuse as well as an eco-walk on the Perdido Riverwalk Nature Trail.
The cost of the camp is the donation of one pair of new or gently used shoes to be donated to Soles4Souls. Campers will need to bring clothes that are appropriate to play in and be worn outside, a brown bag lunch, snacks, a reusable water bottle and drinks. (A zero waste lunch packed in reusable containers is encouraged by organizers.) One snack will be provided at the beginning of the day.
For more information or to preregister contact Recycling Operations at (850) 937-2160. Space is limited. The camp is sponsored by Escambia County Department of Solid Waste Management Waste Services.