NRA Loads Up For Doctor Gun Question Trial
July 6, 2011
With a federal judge ready to hear arguments next week, the National Rifle Association and doctors are feuding about the NRA’s role in a legal challenge to Florida’s new “Docs vs Glocks” law.
The NRA is seeking to formally intervene in the case, contending it was a “foremost supporter” when lawmakers approved the measure to restrict doctors from asking patients about gun ownership.
“The Firearm Owners’ privacy law protects NRA members from intrusive, irrelevant questions by health care practitioners and from discrimination on account of their exercise of Second Amendment rights,’’ the NRA said last week in a motion to intervene.
But physicians, who argue the law is a violation of their First Amendment free-speech rights, are trying to block the NRA from playing a large role in the case. In a document Friday, the doctors said the state can adequately defend the law and that the NRA “offers only inflammatory hyperbole’’.
“The interest at issue here is a doctor’s and patient’s First Amendment right to engage in an open and frank discussion free of government interference,’’ the document says.
The legal sparring follows a major lobbying fight during this year’s legislative session about the law, which Gov. Rick Scott signed June 2.
A group of physicians quickly challenged the constitutionality of the law in federal court in Miami. U.S. District Judge Marcia G. Cooke has scheduled a July 13 hearing on the doctors’ request for an injunction to block the law.
The law, which passed largely along party lines, says doctors and other health-care practitioners “shall respect a patient’s right to privacy and should refrain” from asking about gun ownership or whether people have guns in their homes. It also, however, says health providers may ask about guns if they believe in “good faith” that the information is relevant to a patient’s medical care or safety.
The issue centers, at least in part, on pediatricians who ask questions about household safety issues that could affect children. The law’s supporters point to episodes such as an Ocala couple complaining that a doctor told them to find another physician after they refused to answer questions about guns.
Former NRA President Marion Hammer, an influential Tallahassee lobbyist, played a major role in pushing the bill (HB 155) through the Legislature.
The law took effect immediately when Scott signed it. That helped prompt the plaintiffs, who include six individual doctors and three physician organizations, to seek an injunction.
The state has backed the NRA’s attempt to intervene in the case.
With no ruling on the motion to intervene — and the injunction hearing next week — the NRA filed another motion Tuesday aimed at allowing it to submit a brief and participate in the hearing.
By Jim Saunders
The News Service of Florida
Google Street View Car Spotted Again
July 6, 2011
A Google Street View car has been spotted in the North Escambia area numerous times over the past couple of months. Tuesday, the car with 15 cameras on top was seen around the streets of Atmore.
Google Maps with Street View, as well as Google Earth, allows users to explore places through 360-degree street level imagery. Most of the roadways in the area already appear on Street View, but the lower quality images are being updated with new realistic high definition photos.
For a more detailed look at the Google Street View Car and more information about how it all works, click here for a NorthEscambia.com story and photo gallery about the car in Walnut Hill last May.
There’s no word when the new images from the North Escambia area will be available on Google Street View.
Pictured top: A Google Street View car was spotted Tuesday afternoon on Craig Street in Atmore. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kim McCullough, click to enlarge.
White, Robertson Earn Advanced Commissioner Designation
July 6, 2011
The Florida Association of Counties (FAC) has presented Escambia County commissioners Kevin White and Wilson Robertson with their Advanced County Commissioner (ACC) designation following their completion of a comprehensive study program developed by the association.
“The Advanced County Commissioner designation is something every commissioner throughout the state should strive to achieve,” White said. “It shows a commitment not only to your constituents but to all the citizens of the county that you are attempting to do the best possible job you can.”
The ACC program is organized as a series of three seminars with 27 hours of course work. The course content focuses on leadership with an overarching theme of growth and development in Florida.
White and Robertson received the designation along with 28 other county commissioners during an awards ceremony held at the FAC Annual Conference in Orange County, Florida.
In The Shadows: Children Enjoy Century Library Reading Program
July 6, 2011
Children enjoyed an award winning Red String Wayang shadow puppet show Tuesday afternoon at the Century Branch Library
The event was part of the West Florida Library’s summer reading program. During the next Century Branch Library summer reading program July 12 at noon, children of all ages can enjoy another puppet show. Australian puppeteer Bob Parsons will perform a variety of shows using marionettes.
Other Area Summer Reading Programs
The summer reading program continues Thursday at the Flomaton Public Library. Programs will be held each Thursday through August 4 from 10-11 am.
The Molino Park Elementary School Library will be open Wednesday, July 13, from 9 a.m. until noon for students and their parents. There will be guest readers along with activities related to the stories that are read. Parents and students can check out books, and students can take Accelerated Reader tests. Parents are required to stay with their children during the event.
Unharmed: Authorities Locate Young Woman Missing From Century
July 5, 2011
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A young Century woman reported missing Tuesday morning in North Escambia was located unharmed and returned home to her family.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office located Ashley Grace Nix, 19, about 12:30 p.m. at the Food Giant in Century.
Deputies searched throughout the morning for Nix after she was reported missing by her family. She was seen in the area of Whataburger on North Century Boulevard about 4:50 a.m. Tuesday with purple backpack and pulling a white clothes basket or hamper.
A passerby reported seeing a white female matching Nix’s description alongside Highway 29 at Cox Road at about 8:45 and a K-9 unit was called in to search. Deputies later determined that the female seen on Highway 29 at Cox Road was not Nix.
Deputies described Nix as suffering from mental handicap, prompting their full-fledged search due to concerns for her safety.
Pictured top: A missing Century woman was located unharmed early Tuesday afternoon at the Food Giant on North Century Boulevard. Pictured below: Based upon a tip, deputies searched for Nix along Highway 29 near Cox Road in McDavid. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Drought At Historic Levels; Rivers Near Record Lows
July 5, 2011
The drought in the North Escambia area has reached historic levels, and area rivers are reaching near all-time lows.
The latest U.S. Drought Monitor map shows all the area in an exceptional drought — the worst category possible. Portions of the area are 15-20 inches below normal rainfall. Coupled with hot temperatures and above-normal evaporation, the rainfall deficit has been helped little by scattered afternoon showers.
“This is a drought that has a historical frequency of once every 50 to 100 years,” according to the National Weather Service in Mobile.
The U.S. Drought Monitor is published by the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln using a variety of climatic data.
Rivers in the area are also approaching historic lows. At Century, the Escambia River was at 2.90 feet at 9:00 Monday night; the all-time record low level was 1.30 feet in 1954. The Perdido River at Barrineau Park was at 1.30 feet Sunday night. Low water records for the Perdido River are not available.
Pictured above: The Escambia River as seen from Fischer Landing in Century. During periods of flooding, the river will almost reach the bottom of the bridge. Pictured below: The Escambia River is approaching record low levels, with a pier to nowhere and a boat ramp that does not reach the water as seen at the Molino Boat Ramp on Fairgrounds Road.
Charge Dropped In Sexual Battery Case
July 5, 2011
Felony charges have been dropped against a Cantonment man arrested on sexual battery charges by a U.S. Marshals Task Force.
One June 22, the U.S. Marshals Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested 25-year old Daniel Brooks, wanted by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office for sexual battery by physical force. He was taken into custody at Chili’s restaurant on Nine Mile Road.
On June 4, Brooks allegedly became enraged when his wife denied his sexual advances and used force to sexually assault her, according to a U.S. Marshal’s press release. According to Escambia County Clerk of the Court records, charges were dropped on June 30 because the victim declined to prosecute.
Thousands Attend Area Fireworks Shows (With Photos From Jay, Flomaton, Pensacola)
July 5, 2011
Thousands of people attended fireworks shows across the area over the long Fourth of July weekend.
Over 100,000 people were estimated to have watched fireworks shows in Jay (pictured), to Poarch, East Brewton, Pensacola, Pensacola Beach and Milton Monday night — with the largest crowds at the 22nd annual Sertoma’s 4th of July show in downtown Pensacola.
A fireworks show was held Saturday night in Flomaton, a joint project of the towns of Flomaton and Century, along with the chambers of commerce in both towns. It marked the first organized public fireworks show in either town in several years. Plans call for another show to be held next year somewhere in Century.
- For a photo gallery form the Jay show Monday night, click here.
- For a photo gallery from the Sertoma’s 4th of July show in downtown Pensacola, click here.
- For a photo gallery from the Flomaton/Century show Saturday night, click here
Pictured top: Fireworks explode over Jay Monday night (by Mandi Kinley). Pictured inset: Sertoma’s 4th of July fireworks show in downtown Pensacola (by Raja Atallah). NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Considers Extension For Expired Development Orders
July 5, 2011
Developers in Escambia County could get some extra time to obtain financing and complete their projects in Escambia County.
The Escambia County Commission will hold a public hearing on July 7 to consider reviving and extending development orders through July 7, 2014.
Development orders that did not receive an extension and had an expiration date of July 7, 2008 through July 7, 2011, will be considered for revival until 2014. Many of those development orders expired before construction activity began.
County officials said the extensions will spur local economic development and job creation by allowing developers additional time to revive their projects and obtain adequate financing.
Christmas In July Angel Tree Project To Benefit Equine Group
July 5, 2011
Angel Trees in several area businesses will benefit a Cantonment equine rescue group and their foster horses.
Panhandle Equine Rescue has set up Angel Trees in various stores that will remain there through the month of July. There are 20 stars on each tree with a photo that represents each of the group’s foster horses with their needs listed on the back of the star. The star also includes a contact number to call and donate the requested items.
The Angel Trees are located at:
- Pine Forest Saddlery at 7801 Pine Forest Rd. in Pensacola
- Farm N’ Nursery Mart at 7460 Pine Forest Rd. in Pensacola
- Southern Mill and Supply at 1280 Hwy. 97 in Molino
- Tractor Supply at 3 West Nine Mile Rd. in Pensacola
- T & C Feed Store on Hwy. 29 North in Cantonment
- Cat Clinic at 2322 West Nile Mile Rd. in Pensacola
- Cain’s Dog House Grooming at 1738 Creighton Rd. in Pensacola
- Airport Animal Hospital at 6209 N. 9th Ave. in Pensacola
- Airport Animal Hospital Grooming at 6211 N. 9th Ave. in Pensacola
- Pine Forest Animal Clinic at 6860 Pine Forest Rd. in Pensacola
- Puppy Paradise Professional Grooming at 7103 Mobile Hwy. in Pensacola
- Lee Veterinary Clinic at 484 Bachelor Rd., in Atmore, AL.
- Scenic Hill Veterinary Hospital at 1301 E. Nine Mile Rd. in Pensacola
Pictured: The Panhandle Equine Rescue Angel Tree at Southern Mill and Supply on Highway 97 in Molino. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.