Two Escambia Men Indicted In Double Shooting Near Baptist Hospital
January 12, 2012
A grand jury has indicted two Escambia County men in the shootings of two 17-year olds outside Baptist Hospital last December.
James Dortch and Novel Austin were both indicted for first degree murder in the death of Keondrick Abrams and the attempted murder of Tykey Douglas.
On December 17, Abrams was found dead from a gunshot wound to the head in a car parked at the Baptist Hospital Sleep Disorders Clinic. Douglas, who was also shot in the head, survived his injury and helped lead police to arrest Dortch and Austin.
Dortch and Austin are scheduled to be arraigned on January 19.
The investigation was conducted by the Pensacola Police Department.
Escambia Man Faces Life In Prison On Long List Of Burglary Charges
January 12, 2012
An Escambia County man is facing up to life in prison after entering a guilty plea on multiple burglary charges.
State Attorney Bill Eddins said Wednesday that Marco Zarate entered a plea of guilty to 11 counts of burglary of an unoccupied dwelling, two of which were while armed with a dangerous weapon, 11 counts of grand theft, one count of grand theft of a firearm, four counts of criminal mischief, three counts of dealing in stolen property, three counts of pawnbroker transaction fraud, one count of attempted burglary of an occupied dwelling, and one count petit theft.
Between April and June 2011, Zarate was connected to a rash of home burglaries that resulted in the theft of at least $50,000 in jewelry in the Cordova Park and Scenic Heights neighborhoods. On June 20, 2011, Zarate was apprehended coming out of a home on Cervantes Street.
Judge Gary Bergosh scheduled sentencing for March 15, 2012 at which time Zarate faces life in prison and will be sentenced as a habitual felony offender.
The investigation and arrest were conducted by the Pensacola Police Department with the assistance of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Progress Continues On Molino Library, Tax Collector And Appraiser Offices
January 11, 2012
It’s been about two months since a groundbreaking was held at the old Molino school, and progress is evident on the $4 million project.
The project includes the conversion of the old Molino School into a 15,600 square foot library, community center and museum under a $2.95 million construction contract awarded by Escambia County to Birkshire Johnstone, LLC.
In addition to converting the 72-year old school building, a new 7,000 square foot building is being constructed adjacent to the old building for the tax collector and property appraiser. The current Escambia County Tax Collector office in the former Winn Dixie shopping center in Cantonment and the property appraiser office on Highway 97 in Molino will both be closed. The facility will also house a polling station for early voting and elections.
Final completion for both buildings is scheduled for November 2012.
Pictured top: A new 7,000 square foot building that will house the county tax collector and property appraiser offices. Pictured inset: Work on the old Molino School. Pictured below: The new building is located to the right of the 72-year old building. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Larry Walker Seeks Sixth Term On ECUA Board
January 11, 2012
Incumbent Larry Walker prefiled Tuesday for his sixth term as the District 5 representative on the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority.
Walker, a Republican, was first elected to the ECUA board in 1988 and served until he ran unsuccessfully for the Escambia County Commission in 2000. He has was re-elected to the ECUA board in 2004 and 2008.
One other candidate has prefiled to date for the ECUA District 5 seat; Charlou Williams of Cantonment prefiled in December.
Legislative Session Begins: Wait And See On Escambia Wish List
January 11, 2012
The wait and see game began Tuesday for Escambia County as the 2012 Florida Legislative Session got underway. The county has submitted a 20 items wish list to the local legislative delegation – a wish list that includes a half million dollars from the state for the new Molino Library and a policy stance on mandatory septic tank inspections.
Topping Escambia County’s Top 20 requests is support for a Congressional bill to funnel oil spill recovery funds to Escambia and other impacted counties for economic development, environmental damages and lost tourism revenues.
Number two on Escambia’s wish list is a half million dollar state grant for books and furnishings for the new Molino Branch Library (conceptual drawing above). Escambia County has applied for the grant for several years and has been ranked in to top three for the cash before, but for the last several years the Florida Legislature has not appropriated any funding for the state library construction grants. [Related: Work Continues On Library.]
“It is subject to funding by the Legislature. The resubmission was encouraged by State Division of Libraries who believes the legislature may provide some funding this year,” Escambia County Administrator Randy Oliver said recently. “This is a great opportunity to make a valuable resource better.”
The Legislative Requests list also includes opposition to regular mandatory septic tank inspections. A requirement that septic tanks be inspected every five years at the owner’s expense technically became state law in July after being approved in the last legislative session. But language was inserted into a budget bill that prohibits the Department of Health from spending a dime on the inspections without the approval of the Legislative Budget Commission — essentially putting the program on hold.
Escambia County’s complete 2012 Legislative Requests list, subject to approval by the county commission, is as follows:
1. Congressional SB 1400 – Support – Oil Spill impacted counties receiving funds to mitigate for Economic Development, Environmental Damages, and Tourism Lost Revenues.
2. Support – Library request for $500,000 allocation for Molino Library.
3. Support – DEP Administrative Hearing Process for Cease-and-desist Orders.
4. Support – Senator Gaetz’s bill, from last year, that allocated $30 Million ($10 per year) to area Economic Development.
5. Support – Amending the law for the Northwest Florida Corridor Authority to include all funding strategies.
6. FS 1013.30 – Oppose – Repealing existing State Statute requiring Universities to fund any and all off-campus infrastructure concurrency improvements (sidewalks, turning lanes, traffic signal, etc.).
7. SB; HB – Oppose – Legislation limiting the discretion of the first appearance judge, requiring written reports and certification of defendants for release and eliminating the presumption of release on on-monetary conditions.
8. Oppose – Any proposal to reallocate Transportation Trust Fund dollars; doing so will reduce Local Roadway and Transit Projects within the FDOT Five (5) Year Work Plan.
9. Support – 2012 Local Projects submittals for the
Transportation Reauthorization Bill (SAFETEA-LU):
• Project: I-10 Beulah Interchange/Beltway PD&E Study
• Project: Construction Funds – Nine Mile Road (US 90 Alt) 2-Lane to 4-Lane Project
• Project: Construction Funds – Creighton/Burgess Road Extension (SR 742) Four Lane Project
10. FS 343.80 – 343-89 – Support – Amending existing State Statute to include clear language to support the Regional Transportation Finance Authority (RTFA) concept providing optional funding strategies beside primarily toll facilities. This approach will reduce the gap between Transportation Funding needs and the existing Funding Revenues. Positive Impact is increasing the number annual roadway capacity projects, stimulating local economies with labor and professional jobs.
11. HB; SB – Support any Legislation offering roadway project priority incentives to any local agency offering a financial partnership with FDOT to improve capacity on state facilities. Positive Impact will encourage local agencies to adopt local tax or other measure to get more roadways funded.
12. HB; SB – Oppose any attempt that requires regular, mandatory inspections of septic tanks and/or the septic tank evaluation program.
13. HB; SB – Support efforts that allow governmental entities to use their public website for legally required advertisements and public notices in lieu of newspaper advertisements.
15. HB; SB – Support legislation which reduces medical expenditures to county detention facilities to 110 percent of the Medicare rate for all inmate medical care.
16. HB; SB – Oppose legislation that would weaken or dismantle Pre-Trial Service Programs resulting in significant jail population increases.
17. Support – Legislation to implement local funding incentives for partnerships on State Roadway Capacity Projects.
18. Support – Requesting that the Dedicated Affordable Housing Funds remain in the State Housing Trust Fund to assure continued funding for the State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) Affordable Housing Programs.
19. SB;HB – Oppose non-homestead associated cap.
20. SB.HB – Oppose Legislative or constitutional restriction on County authority to determine local tax burdens or financial commitments.
Escambia, Santa Rosa Receiving Nearly $1 Million To Help Homeless
January 11, 2012
Escambia and Santa Rosa counties are receiving nearly a million dollars to help the homeless.
The $948,202 grant from the Department of Children and Families will help keep the doors open at local homeless shelters, find housing for those living on the streets and provide programs to help those who are homeless.
The grants, funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, will renew funding for 331 local homeless housing projects across Florida for this year.
“These grants play an important role in providing job training, health care, substance abuse treatment and child care,” said Department Secretary David Wilkins. “This funding is critical to helping people find housing and is a crucial part of our state’s plan to be a national leader in battling homelessness.”
The money will support programs that provide transitional and permanent housing dedicated to helping those who are homeless.
Work Continues On East Pond Street In Century
January 11, 2012
Work will continue this week on East Pond Street in Century, but one lane of traffic will remain open.
The road was scheduled to be closed last week, but a lane of traffic remained open as the town worked on a drainage improvement project between Jefferson Avenue west to Ramar Street near Highway 29.
Century Mayor Freddie McCall said it will be over a week before the equipment is in place to do the work that will completely close East Pond Street.
Photos: Northview NJROTC Holds Military Ball
January 11, 2012
Northview High School recently held their annual Military Ball at the Naval Aviation Museum aboard Pensacola Naval Air Station, a joint event with Washington High School.
About 170 cadets attended the ball, which included an opening ceremony, presentation of colors, the national anthem, a POW ceremony, presentation of the king and queen from each school and an evening of dancing.
Northview recognized:
- King – Cadet Jody Day
- Queen – Cadet Kiani Okahashi
- Jr Prince – Cadet Jonathan Moretz
- Jr Princess – Cadet Ashley Simpkins
- Soph. Prince – Cadet Willie Owens
- Soph. Princess – Cadet Victoria Wright
- Freshman Prince – Cadet Sean Allister
- Freshman Princess – Cadet Lakelynn Parker
A Navy tradition was also celebrated with the cutting of a cake with the first slice being presented to the oldest and youngest in attendance – Northview Cadet Lane Carnley, and Washington’s LCOL Peter Peters, SNSI.
Pictured top: (L-R) King – Cadet Jody Day, Queen – Cadet Kiani Okahashi, Junior Prince – Cadet Jonathan Moretz, and Junior Princess – Cadet Ashley Simpkins. Pictured below: (L-R) Sophomore Prince – Cadet Willie Owens, Sophomore Princess – Cadet Victoria Wright, Freshman Princess – Cadet Lakelynn Parker, and Freshman Prince – Cadet Sean Allister. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Buys 7 New John Deeres For Tate, NHS, WFHS For Just $18K
January 11, 2012
The Escambia County School District will purchase seven brand new John Deere tractors and loaders for area schools for just $18,388.13 out of pocket.
The district will purchase two John Deere tractors and one loader for the agricultural program at Northview High, two tractors and one loader for Tate High, two tractors and one loader for West Florida High.
The total purchase price will be $126,188.13 minus a trade-in credit of $107,800 for a net purchase price of $18,388.13. The district will trade in five tractors and one loader currently in use at Northview, Tate and West Florida.
Gov Rick Scott: Florida’s On The Way Back
January 11, 2012
The state of the state is improving, Gov. Rick Scott argued Tuesday in his second annual address to lawmakers, a blend of optimism that Florida is already coming back and a plea for support to continue to make it a sunnier place for business.
There were no surprises in Scott’s roughly half hour speech, with the governor sticking to his year-long theme of getting the state back to work, and spelling out, as he has in the past, that he wants lawmakers to help him increase education spending and to reduce the cost of auto insurance.
Scott, a year into his first term, and obviously more familiar with the terrain, was a little less brash -last year he warned lawmakers not to blink because he was going to take bold actions and warned them he wouldn’t stand for the status quo. This year, Scott was more cooperative in his tone, asking lawmakers to look carefully at his agenda rather than promising to blow past them, and he thanked them profusely for helping him so far in trying to create jobs.
Scott noted on his way in for the late morning speech that he’s more comfortable with lawmakers now, and less adversarial than when he won an election as an outsider, in part by bashing legislative business as usual in Tallahassee.
Entering the House chamber from the rear and having to make his way to the podium for the speech through the traditional hand-shaking gauntlet, Scott noted before he started in on his prepared remarks: “It took me longer to walk in this year because I think I know a lot more people.”
Scott’s most forceful line to the Legislature, which is controlled overwhelmingly by his own Republican Party, was on education spending. Scott has proposed spending an extra $1 billion on education, a year after lawmakers cut a bit more than that from the schools budget.
“On this point, I just can’t budge,” Scott said.
Senate Budget Chairman JD Alexander, R-Lake Wales, said the Senate, at least, was likely to go along with Scott’s insistence on the $1 billion figure.
“We’ll make it work,” Alexander said. “We’ll figure it out.”
Democrats, however, downplayed Scott’s new interest in spending on education, noting that it would be offset – $444 million would replace one-time state funding and the loss of local tax income, and another $190 million would pay for enrollment growth. The per-student increase would be about $142, or 2.3 percent. And they noted that it would come largely from cuts to hospital rates under Medicaid, under Scott’s budget proposal.
“The state of the state will improve, but on the backs of whom?” asked Senate Minority Leader Nan Rich, D-Weston.
House Democratic Leader Ron Saunders said his party supports better funding for public schools. But, he said, “we don’t support the Republican strategy of pitting the needs of Florida’s students and school teachers against the needs of pregnant women and sick kids.”
To avoid such a tradeoff, “we need additional revenues,” argued Sen. Arthenia Joyner, D-Tampa.
Scott said the opposite, arguing that taxes are what prevent businesses from creating jobs. To highlight the plight of the local business owner, Scott invited the owner of a Tampa doughnut shop that he visited last year to sit in the gallery with his family.
Scott called taxes and regulations “the great destroyers of capital and time” to small businesses, which he argues are the backbone of the economy and the key to returning the state to prosperity.
He returned to another familiar theme – his early career peddling doughnuts himself.
“Almost every dollar I earned as a shop owner went toward growing our little doughnut shop. So, every dollar taken in taxes slowed that growth,” Scott said, adding that dealing with regulations also slowed his ability to make more doughnuts, and thus more money.
“When growth slows in small businesses, what happens? New jobs are the first casualties,” Scott said.
But in addition to creating new jobs – which was almost exclusively his focus in his first State of the State speech last year – Scott also hit the education agenda hard. In the audience for his speech was a teacher he met in Immokalee – Scott pointed her out to showcase his new focus on K-12 policy.
But he didn’t come to that focus in a vacuum. Scott tied that to economic development and job creation as well.
“Floridians truly believe that support for education is the most significant thing we can do to ensure both short-term job growth and long-term economic prosperity for our state,” he said. “And you know what? They are absolutely right.”
That’s the case in higher education, too, Scott said, noting his longer term interest in making changes to the state’s colleges and university system.
“Somewhere out there today, there are government officials meeting in Brazil, or India, or China, and they’re not debating about whether they should provide students with the pragmatic knowledge to seize a larger piece of the global economy,” Scott said. “No, the only debate they are having is about how quickly they can become the dominant global players. I look forward to working with you to closely look at our higher education system; to understand how we can ensure that in the future, job creators from around the world will have to look to Florida to find the talented and educated workforce they will need to compete in the 21st century.”
Scott’s third priority, he said, would be in lowering the cost of personal injury protection auto insurance. It’s an odd item for a big picture speech about a year-long agenda, but Scott said fraud in the system is costing almost a billion dollars a year and it’s the top thing lawmakers can do, he said, to keep the cost of living low for Florida residents.
Throughout the speech, though, Scott exuded optimism about a turn-around no longer around the corner, but already underway in his estimation. That allows Scott to claim some first year success.
“In the past year, Floridians, not government, created almost 135,000 new private sector jobs,” Scott said. “We netted more than 120,000 total jobs in the first 11 months of 2011; the third most of any state in the nation….
“When I said ‘Let’s get to work’ It wasn’t just a slogan,” Scott continued. “Florida got to work, and each Floridian deserves the credit.”
And Scott assured Floridians, ” the state of our state is improving,”
“I’m here today to tell you that promise and opportunity will return,” Scott said. “In fact they are returning even as we meet here today. While we have many miles to go, and some of them clearly will be painful, our higher journey is already under way. This year and today we see the rebirth of an even greater Florida.”
Pictured top: Gov. Rick Scott gives his State of the State address Tuesday as Speaker Pro Tempore John Legg (left) and House Speaker Dean Cannon listen during the opening day of the 2012 Legislative Session at the Capitol in Tallahassee. Photo by Colin Hackley for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
By The News Service of Florida