Scott Signs School Prayer Bill
March 24, 2012
Gov. Rick Scott on Friday signed a controversial law cosponsored by Sen. Greg Evers that would allow student prayer at mandatory school events, prompting several groups opposed to the law to warn school districts against implementing it.
The measure signed by Scott would pave the way for local districts to approve policies allowing students to decide whether to have another student deliver an “inspirational message” at school events. Scott signed the bill without comment.
Supporters say the measure would simply reaffirm the right of Florida students under the First Amendment to proclaim their religious beliefs without fear of being restricted by government.
They said the country was in danger of becoming unmoored from the religious traditions that guide the nation.
“When we took school prayer … out of school, it’s clearly documented that school discipline — disciplinary cases went up, that we had a lot more school vandalism, that we had a lot more disrespect for schools, including the physical plant as well as school personnel, teachers and principals,” Rep. Charles Van Zant, a Keystone Heights Republican and House sponsor of the bill, said during a committee hearing in February.
But opponents of the bill said it would lead to potentially offensive messages and could ensnare school districts in costly lawsuits. While supporters are largely viewed as trying to open up a channel for student prayer, both sides in the debate agree it could also allow messages that include Holocaust denial, racially-charged speeches, uncomfortable beliefs of some fringe religions or endorsements of sex and drugs, among many other topics.
On Friday, the ACLU of Florida, the Anti-Defamation League and Americans United for the Separation of Church and State each separately issued warnings to local school districts that going ahead with an inspirational message policy could subject them to costly legal challenges.
“Legislators are clearly inviting Florida school boards to plunge into a legal swamp,” said the Rev. Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United. “It’s wrong to subject students to coercive prayer and proselytizing. Our public schools should respect diversity, not undermine it.”
By The News Service of Florida
Two Men Arrested For Food Giant Robbery
March 24, 2012
Two men were arrested Friday for a December robbery at the Food Giant grocery store in Century.
Danielle Kapric Burt, age 26 of Century, and Derrick Antonio Cohen, age 23 of Pensacola, were each charged with felony robbery, felony larceny and battery. Both were released Friday from the Escambia County Jail on $21,000 bond.
On the morning of December 23, the manager of the Food Giant was getting into a vehicle with the daily bank deposit when he was struck from behind. The deposit, containing checks and an undisclosed amount of cash was snatched by a then unknown assailant who then ran behind the store, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report.
A manhunt with a Century Correctional Institute K-9 team followed, but no suspects were located.
Multiple witnesses were able to pin the robbery on Burt and place Cohen as the driver of a getaway car, which was parked a short distance away on Henry Street, according to an arrest report.
Pictured top: Deputies check a house on Henry Street in Century for a robbery suspect the morning of December 23. Pictured left insert: A Century Correctional Intitute K-9 team works to track the suspect on Henry Street. Pictured below: The manager of the Food Giant in Century was robbed outside the store in December. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Man Charged With Cutting Copper Wires From Power Poles
March 24, 2012
An Escambia County man was arrested after a copper-cutting crime spree early Friday morning.
A citizen reported watching as Michael Wade McConnell cut ground wires from a power pole. The citizen confronted him, gave chase and called the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office about 4 a.m.
Deputies discovered that copper ground wires from 25 separate power poles had been cut and removed from the Ferry Pass area. They also found McConnell was in possession of cutting tools and copper wiring.
McConnell was arrested and charged with 13 first degree felony counts of theft of copper with interruption of services and 13 counts of criminal mischief. McConnell’s total bond was set at $663,000.
Charges are pending in the remaining dozen incidents.
Poarch Creeks Announce $1.9 Million In Planned Giving
March 24, 2012
The Poarch Band of Creek Indians announced Friday that it is donating more than $1.9 million as part of its Planned Giving Campaign for 2012. The tribe’s donations will be dispersed throughout the year and will fund a wide variety of community services and projects. The almost $2 million in aid comes in addition to the $2 million in funds the Tribe is donating to Montgomery and Elmore County Schools in Alabama.
The tribe’s contributions will offset funding cuts in organizations as diverse as the Children’s First Foundation, Volunteers of America Southeast, the West Escambia County Humane Society, and the YMCA. Additionally, the Tribe will continue to fund services such as the Drug Task Force in Escambia and Elmore Counties and the Wetumpka Fire Department.
The tribe’s donations include:
- $350,000 to the Children’s First Foundation.
- $100,000 to the Alabama Department of Archives and History.
- $150,000 to the YMCA.
- $100,000 to the Escambia County Drug Task Force, and $100,000 to the Elmore County Drug Task Force.
- $100,000 to the Volunteers of America Southeast.
- $150,000 to the West Escambia County Humane Society.
“Part of being a good neighbor is helping out others in need,” said Tribal Chairman Buford L. Rolin. “Our State and its citizens have suffered a great deal during these tough economic times, and it is important to pitch in and make a difference where we can.”
Pictured top: The Atmore YMCA. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click toe enlarge.
Weekend Gardening: March Tips
March 24, 2012
Here are gardening tips for the month of March from the University of Florida IFAS Extension office:
Flowers
- Annual flowers that can be planted in March include: ageratum, alyssum, amaranthus, asters, baby’s breath, begonia, calendula, celosia, cosmos, dahlia, dusty miller, gaillardia, geranium, hollyhock, impatiens, marigold, nicotiana, ornamental pepper, pentas, phlox, rudbeckia, salvia, sweet Williams, torenia, verbena, vinca and zinnia.
- Caladium bulbs are extremely sensitive to cold soil. There is no advantage to planting early. Purchase caladiums while there is a good selection, but wait until late March or April before planting them in shady beds.
Trees and Shrubs
- Finish pruning summer flowering shrubs such as althea, hibiscus, abelia, oakleaf hydrangea and oleander.
- Delay the pruning of azaleas, camellias, spiraeas, gardenias and other spring flowering shrubs until after flowering is complete.
- Prune any cold weather-damaged plants after new growth appears.
- If needed, fertilize shrubs and small trees with a slow release fertilizer. A good general-purpose landscape fertilizer is a 15-0-15.
- Mature palms should receive an application of granular fertilizer. Use a special palm fertilizer that has an 8-2-12 +4Mg (magnesium) with micronutrients formulation. Apply one pound of fertilizer per 100 sqft of canopy area or landscape area.
- Last opportunity to spray shrubs with dormant horticultural oil.
- Pick up all fallen camellia blossoms and remove them from your property. This practice helps to prevent petal blight next season.
- Prune ornamental grasses.
- If you are in the market for specific colors of azaleas, visit the local nurseries and garden centers this month. Though this is not the most ideal planting time you are assured of the right flower color without having to wait until next blooming season.
Fruits and Nuts
- Time to finish planting bare-root fruit trees.
Vegetable Garden
- This is the month for establishing a spring vegetable garden. Early March plantings have about an even chance of avoiding a late frost.
- The warm season vegetables that can be planted this month are: bush beans, pole beans, lima beans, cantaloupes, sweet corn, cucumbers, eggplant, okra, southern peas, peppers, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, summer squash, winter squash, tomatoes and watermelon.
- The cool season vegetables that can be planted this month are: beets, carrots, celery, collards, endive, kohlrabi, leek, lettuce, mustard, bunching onions, parsley, English peas, Irish potatoes, radish and turnips.
- More conservative gardeners might wish to wait until the middle to latter part of the month to risk tender plants such as tomatoes and peppers.
Lawns
- Remove excessive accumulation of leaves from the lawn. This will increase the effectiveness of fertilizers and pesticides applied to the lawn.
- If a preemergence lawn herbicide is needed to control summer weeds, it should be applied in early March. Make certain to choose one that is safe on your kind of grass.
- Keep lawn herbicides away from the root zones of desirable flower, shrubs and other plants.
- Fertilize the lawn only after the danger of frost has passed and when the grass has greened up. Fertilize using a complete fertilizer applied at 0.5 lbs nitrogen per 1000 sqft containing 50% soluble and 50% slow-release nitrogen.
- Service the lawn mower: include a sharpening of the blade and adjusting of the cutting height for your type of grass.
- Anyone considering establishment of centipedegrass from seed should hold off until the soil warms up and stabilizes above 70°F. Add Item Here…
Flomaton Beats Cottage Hill
March 24, 2012
The Flomaton Hurricanes beat the Cottage Hill Warriors 1-0 Friday night in area play.
Zack Watson threw a complete game 7-inning shutout only allowing 5 hits and striking out 11.
Andrew Cash hit in the winning run (Tyler Dove) in the third inning. Watson improved his record 5-1, and Lee Cockrell took the loss for the Warriors. The Flomaton Hurricanes’ record is now 12-3 in the midst of an 11 game winning streak.
The Hurricanes will play Excel on Monday. The JV begins at 4:00, and the varsity plays at 6:30.
Andrew Cash 1-3 1B RBI; James Dean 1-3 1B; Zack Watson1-3 2B; Trey Weeks 1-2 1B; Tyler Dove 1R. Pitching: Zack Watson 7IP 11K 4W 5 hits allowed.
Atmore Company Improves Monster Truck Performance
March 24, 2012
Bigfoot, a legend in the monster truck world, paid a visit to sponsor Alto Products in Atmore on Thursday.
Today, the in second part of our series, we are taking a closer look at the dozen-year relationship between the Atmore company and the monster truck industry. (For part one of this series, click here.)
According to Robbie Ferguson, vice present of the High Performance Division at Alto:
- Bigfoot has been using Alto Red Eagle clutches for 12 years.
- Bigfoot was the first monster truck to start using Alto Red Eagle clutches.
- When the relationship began, Bigfoot was using a competitor’s clutch plates and they could not make it through one weekend of racing without burning up the clutch plates in their transmissions.
- After Alto developed several new products specifically for Bigfoot, their Ford C6 transmissions started lasting six to eight weekends before needing attention.
- After Ford dropped all of their sponsorships at the beginning of 2009, Bigfoot changed to GM 2-speed transmissions and with Alto Red Eagle clutch plates installed their transmissions now last upwards of 6 months.
- Alto now supplies their Red Eagle racing clutches to over a dozen monster truck teams including Gravedigger, Black Stallion and Big Dawg.
- The Bigfoot trucks average about 1,500 horsepower and the “freestyle” portion of their shows are what cause the most damage to their trucks.
- This is the second time that Bigfoot has visited Alto – they did an appearance at a company picnic in Century back in 2002.
Pictured top: Monster truck Bigfoot at Alto Products in Atmore. Pictured below: Alto Products COO Bill Bush is dwarfed by Bigfoot as he points to the Alto logo sponsorship sticker. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Women Charged With Repeatedly Tasing Man
March 23, 2012
A woman and her friend were arrested for allegedly kicking and repeatedly tasing a man in armed disturbance in Walnut Hill.
Windy Hall Hudson, age 28 of Century, and Wanda R. McGhee, age 44 of Atmore, were both charged with felony aggravated battery using a deadly weapon after the incident.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to an armed disturbance on Rigby Road where the victim said he was sitting on the porch with his girlfriend and the homeowner. He told deputies that McGhee, who is his estranged wife, along with Hudson and a man he knew only as “Slick” pulled up in the driveway. He said “Slick” headed toward him in an agitated state and punched him in the face and then grabbed him around the neck in a chokehold, according to an arrest report.
While the victim was down on the ground in the chokehold, a witness told deputies that McGhee began to use a taser to tase the victim repeatedly while Hudson kicked him. The witness said Hudson grabbed the taser and also tased the victim. “Slick” and the two women then left the residence.
Deputies later made contact with the women at the Grey Goose Lounge on Highway 97. Hudson refused to answer questions, while McGhee told deputies that her estranged husband had swung at the unnamed male first, starting the fight.
Both women refused to provide the identity of the man known as “Slick”, according to their arrest reports. But the Sheriff’s Office was able to determine the man’s possible identity and are seeking a warrant for his arrest.
Hall was released from the Escambia County Jail on $10,000 bond, while McGhee was released on a $5,000 bond.
Boy, 13, Charged With Attacking Girl, 12, In Her Apartment
March 23, 2012
A 13-year old Century boy is facing charges after allegedly entering an apartment and assaulting a 12-year old girl.
He was arrested for felony lewd and lascivious behavior by a person less than 18 and misdemeanor battery. He was released into the custody of his mother.
The boy, who is not being identified due to his age, allegedly entered a neighbor’s apartment at Century Woods without knocking. He walked to the kitchen table where the victim was playing a board game with her mother and friend. The suspect allegedly hugged the mom and friend, but the victim did not allow him to hug her.
When the mother left the room to do laundry, the victim said the suspect picked her up, slammed her into the couch and punched her in the chest. He then allegedly followed the victim to her bedroom where he allegedly touched her in an inappropriate manner for about 20 seconds, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Report. The victim them allegedly fled to the living room where the suspect punched her again.
The victim claimed the boy had also been continuously bothering her at school.
The mother told deputies that when she exited the bathroom, she observed the suspect and victim grabbing at each other, and she told them to stop because she thought they were just playing. The mother called deputies after the daughter told her the complete story.
The suspect denied the allegations, claiming that he had not inappropriately touch the girl.
Senate Approves New District Maps, Challenges Ahead
March 23, 2012
The Senate approved its second-chance redistricting map by a wide margin Thursday, leaving lawmakers and would-be candidates waiting to see if the House and the Florida Supreme Court will sign off on the change.
The new draft of the boundaries for the upper chamber (SJR 2-B) sailed through on a 31-6 vote, with five Democrats joining all 26 Republicans present in approving the plan.
The plan creates a new District 1 for Escambia and Santa Rosa counties that also encompasses a portion of northern Okaloosa County — including Baker, the home of Sen. Greg Evers.
Senate leaders rebuked by the court for their first draft, which paired no incumbents, praised the new plan for following the anti-gerrymandering Fair Districts amendments approved by voters in a November 2010 referendum.
“There are Republicans pitted against Republicans, there are Republicans pitted against Democrats, and when this Senate convenes again, there will be more minorities on this floor than ever before in Florida history,” said Senate Reapportionment Chairman Don Gaetz, R-Niceville.
But Democrats still slammed the map, saying it ignored the Supreme Court’s 5-2 opinion striking down the first map and still appeared aimed at securing a GOP majority and shielding incumbents. That was particularly galling, Senate Minority Leader Nan Rich said, given that the court spelled out in the first ruling exactly how lawmakers should interpret the new standards.
“We may have had an excuse the first time, but for this go-around there simply is none,” said Rich, D-Weston. “The plans we are voting on I believe seem to ignore much of what the court opinion told us.”
The overall plan still faces potential hurdles before taking effect. The Supreme Court will eventually review the new map, with opponents gearing up to vigorously challenge it in arguments before the justices.
“It has become abundantly clear that the GOP-controlled Legislature lacks the leadership to draw maps that comply with Fair Districts,” Florida Democratic Party Chairman Rod Smith said. “As expected, we now turn to the courts to enforce the people’s will.”
There are rumblings that, even before that, some House lawmakers could try to amend the plan to add a fourth majority-Hispanic seat in Miami-Dade County.
Even though the House plan was approved by the court, Gaetz made it clear he still expects House Redistricting Chairman Will Weatherford, a Wesley Chapel Republican set to become speaker in November, to follow the deal.
“My understanding with the speaker-designate is not that he will take bad work, but that he will take good work and that he will defer to the Senate,” Gaetz said.
House lawmakers return to Tallahassee next week to consider the plan.
By The News Service of Florida