BP Makes Last $10 Million Payment For Area Tourism; BP Profits Soar
October 26, 2011
BP executives on Tuesday sent the third $10 million installment of a $30 million program created earlier this year to bolster tourism marketing in the Florida Panhandle — the same day BP announced profits of $4.8 billion.
The payment, which targets an area hard hit by the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill, will be distributed through the Northwest Florida Tourism Council.
“This demonstrates their commitment to restore Northwest Florida tourism,” said Dawn Moliterno, the executive director of Visit South Walton. “The results have already been demonstrated with the recent significant increases in bed tax collection.”
Bed tax receipts in the seven counties of Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Bay, Gulf and Franklin, indicate the summer season was far ahead of 2010.
Oil giant BP reported higher third quarter profits Tuesday on higher oil prices and its CEO says the company has clearly survived last year’s Gulf of Mexico oil spill. BP announced in the quarter that ended Sept. 30 it had net profit of $4.9 billion, up from $1.8 billion in the same quarter a year earlier.
The company also said it is selling $45 billion in assets to pay for damage from the April 20, 2010, Deepwater Horizon explosion and spill.
In a statement, BP CEO Bob Dudley said the company had “reached a definite turning point,” from the aftermath of the spill. The company still faces more than 600 lawsuits related to the spill.
By The News Service of Florida
District Volleyball: Northview Falls To No. 1 Baker
October 26, 2011
The Northview Lady Chiefs are out of the district volleyball tournament after a loss Tuesday to No. 1 Baker.
Northview lost to Baker in three straight, 11-25, 10-25, 26-28.
Josie Doucette had two kills, one assist and a dig for the Lady Chiefs, as Morgan Payne had two kills, one assist, and a block. Danielle Steadham added three kills, one block and two digs, while Misty Doran contributed one ace, three kills, one block and four digs
The Lady Chiefs finished their season at 5-19 overall, 3-5 in the district.
McDavid Man Gets 3 Years In Prison On Assault, Battery, Weapons Charges
October 25, 2011
A McDavid man was sentenced Monday to three years in state prison on domestic violence and weapons charges stemming from a May incident.
Jason Edward Potter, 31, of Purdue Road, was charged with domestic violence aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, two counts of battery domestic violence, felony possession of weapon by a convicted felon, and criminal mischief.
After pleading guilty to the charges Monday, Judge Terry Terrell sentenced Potter to a minimum mandatory 36 months in prison for possession of a weapon by a convicted felon along with several other concurrent sentences on the additional charges. He was also ordered to pay $1,020 in court costs and other fees.
After an alleged dispute with his sister over $20 in late May 2011, Potter tackled her. He also used his elbow to break the glass out of gun cabinet, take a .22 caliber revolver, load it and threaten to kill himself and say that the police would have to kill him. He was taken into custody by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office without incident.
The sister, age 29, was transported by ambulance to Atmore Community Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Sixth Candidate Prefiles For District 5 Commission Seat
October 25, 2011
A sixth candidate has prefiled to run for District 5 Escambia County Commission in the 2012 general election.
Deanne Patricia Burkett of Copper Ridge Drive Cantonment prefiled Monday as a Republican for the seat held by Kevin White of Molino.
In addition to Burkett and White, Republicans Sam Archer and Jim Taylor have prefiled for the seat. Packy Mitchell and Dennis Wiggins have also announced, running with no party affiliation.
Federal Judge Blocks Florida Welfare Recipient Testing
October 25, 2011
The state’s effort to drug-test welfare recipients hit a roadblock Monday, as a federal judge barred the state from following the plan until there’s a final ruling in the case.
U.S. District Court Judge Mary Scriven rejected the state’s arguments that the drug-testing program did not violate the U.S. Constitution’s ban on unreasonable searches and would instead ensnare thousands of would-be welfare recipients in an impermissible dragnet.
“The constitutional rights of a class of citizens are at stake, and the Constitution dictates that the needs asserted to justify subverting those rights must be special, as the case law defines that term, in order for this exception to the Fourth Amendment to apply,” Scriven wrote. “That showing has not been made on this record.”
Scriven also wrote that the state’s attorneys did not produce “competent evidence that any TANF funds would be saved by instituting a drug testing program.”
Opponents of the drug-testing regimen, which passed during this year’s legislative session and has proven popular in polls, hailed the decision. It came in the case of Luis Lebron, a 35-year-old Orlando resident who applied for benefits in July but refused to take a drug test.
“This should send a message to all lawmakers that the 4th Amendment protects everyone,” said Randall Berg of the Florida Justice Institute, which represented Lebron along with the ACLU of Florida.
Supporters of the measure continued to defend the new law, but said they were trying to decide how to move forward following the judge’s decision.
“Drug testing welfare recipients is just a common-sense way to ensure that welfare dollars are used to help children and get parents back to work,” said Jackie Schutz, deputy press secretary for Gov. Rick Scott. “The governor obviously disagrees with the decision and he will evaluate his options regarding when to appeal.”
“I still believe it’s definitely the right law for Florida and Florida’s children,” said Rep. Jimmie Smith, R-Inverness, who sponsored the drug-testing bill in the House.
The decision also threw a fresh spotlight on the Foundation for Government Accountability, a think tank based in Naples that produced a study and said the testing regime had saved the state $1.8 million in the first quarter and could save hundreds of millions of dollars if applied nationwide.
But Scriven slammed the report, saying it made faulty assumptions and “is not competent expert opinion, nor is it offered as such, nor could it be reasonably construed as such.”
Sen. Arthenia Joyner, D-Tampa, specifically applauded Scriven for tackling the study by the foundation, headed by a Scott ally.
“It’s bad enough they’re actually defending this privacy-gutting law,” she said. “But it’s especially troubling when they’re relying on the self-serving musings of the governor’s friend to justify it.”
The foundation’s president and CEO, Tarren Bragdon, fired back.
“Judge Scriven’s ruling against Florida’s drug-testing requirement for taxpayer-funded welfare cash is disappointing, and removes needed accountability from our welfare system,” Bragdon said. “Our analysis of the law shows that the requirement is saving the state millions in welfare benefits, and helps ensure taxpayer dollars are reserved only for the truly needy.”
By The News Service of Florida
Molino Man Jailed For Sexual Assault On Underage Female
October 25, 2011
A Molino man has been charged with sexually assaulting an underage female.
Lance Dwayne Little, age 23 of Bet Raines Road, was booked in the Escambia County Jail on a felony charge of lewd and lascivious behavior with a victim age 12-16.
Sunday night, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to disturbance. A woman told deputies that Little forced his way into her residence and continued to pursue an encounter with her. As the woman tried to gather her children that were in the house for protection, Little cornered the teen female in her bedroom and touched her inappropriately while soliciting her, according to an arrest report. The girl was able to escape the residence and call for help from two other people who forced Little to leave the residence.
Deputies caught up with Little in a nearby culvert. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $15,000.
Jay Hosts NW League Of Cities Meeting
October 25, 2011
The Northwest Florida League of Cities held a board meeting and dinner late last week in Jay. Attendees began the day with a tour that included a peanut farm, cotton gin and the Jay area. Dozens of cities from Escambia County to east of Tallahassee are members of the NWFLC, including the cities of Pensacola, Jay, Gulf Breeze and Milton.
Pictured top: Jay Mayor Kurvin Qualls, Pensacola City Council Vice President P.C. Wu and Century Mayor Freddie McCall at the Northwest Florida League of Cities meeting in Jay. Pictured below: Participants toured Holland Farms near Jay. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Updated: Complete Results Williams Station Day 5K
October 25, 2011
The Williams Station Day 5K returned Saturday morning after a several year hiatus. Overall male winner was Isaac McGahan of Molino, and overall female winner was Lisa Miller.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery, click here.
Complete results were as follows:
First Female Overall -Lisa Miller 24:07
First Male Overall -Isaac McGahan 18:10
Age 10-14
Female
1st Bethany Reynolds 25:38
2nd Victoria Amerson 32:07
Male
1st Gavin Coon 25:35
2nd Adrian King 26:44
Age 15-19
Female
1st Ashley Joiner 26:39
2nd Charleigh McPherson 32:32
Male
1st Isaac McGahan 18:10
2nd Trey Lambert 31:34
Age 20-24
Male
1st William Lindsey 22:14
2nd Shane Hadley 23:43
Age 25-29
Female
1st Brittany Smith 28:00
Age 30-34
1st Lisa Miller 24:07
2nd Janice Yoder29:37
Male
1st Dean Miller 20:19
2nd Jason Miler 23:08
Age 35-39
1st Lynette Penner 32:09
2nd Judy King 35:41
Male
1st Eric Johnson 22:13
2nd Greg Babiak 25:36
Age 40-44
Female
1st Michelle Peebles 32:20
2nd Kim Chambless 32:21
Male
1st Ricky Hart 25:32
2nd Don Metzler 25:32
Age 45-49
Female
1st Mary McPherson 38:25
Age 50-54
Female
1st Dale Ash 38:01
Male
1st Alan Ash 25:03
Age 55-59
Female
1st Debra Parker
Age 60-64
Male
1st Bert Rice 22:54
Age 70 +
Male
1st Hugh Long
Pictured top: Winners in the Williams Station Day 5K Saturday in Atmore. Pictured inset: Overall male winner Isaac McGahan. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview Wins Round One Of District Volleyball Playoffs
October 25, 2011
The Northview Lady Chiefs defeated Laurel Hill Monday afternoon in the first round of district playoffs.
The Chiefs won in three straight, 25-23, 25-15, 25-22. Northview will advance to play No. 1 Baker Tuesday at 6 p.m.
Lily Townson had one ace, six assists and a dig for the Lady Chiefs, as Morgan Payne added four aces, nine kills and one block. Shelley Mothershed contributed three assists, one block and two digs, and Misty Doran had four aces, six kills and one block
Little Named Interim Superintendent for Escambia (Ala.) Schools
October 25, 2011
An interim superintendent has been named for the Escambia County (Ala.) Schools.
Randall Little, an assistant superintendent, was approved as interim superintendent on a 4-3 vote by the Escambia County School Board. He will take over the superintendent’s job from Billy Hines upon his December 1 retirement until a permanent replacement is named. The board has up to 180 days to name a new superintendent.
Mary Bess Powell, another assistant superintendent, was also considered for the interim post.