Florida Lawmaker: Legalize Medical Marijuana
March 11, 2011
Use of marijuana for medical purposes would be legalized if approved by voters under a proposed constitutional amendment filed by a Democratic lawmaker on Thursday.
“There is no good reason for us to allow people to use synthetic drugs like oxycontin, methodone, percocet, and Prozac, but ban them from using a natural, safer drug,” said Rep. Jeff Clemens, D-Lake Worth, the author of the bill.
The proposal would, if passed by the Legislature, go to the 2012 ballot for voter approval. The amendment would let patients use cannabis only if prescribed by a doctor and wouldn’t be able to smoke it in public places. The measure would also make clear that insurance companies wouldn’t have to cover it, and employers wouldn’t be required to let workers smoke pot on the job. The measure hasn’t been referred to any committees, and so far doesn’t have a Senate companion.
Hundreds Cram Public Hearing To Oppose Conecuh Woods Landfill
March 11, 2011
Hundreds of people turned out at Reid State Technical College in Evergreen Thursday to speak their minds against a proposed 5,100 acre landfill planned for near Repton, Alabama — about 35 miles upstream from North Escambia.1
The crowd was estimated at about 800 at an auditorium with a capacity of only about 430. Hundreds of people were forced to wait in line outside for their turn at the Conecuh County Commission public hearing on the landfill proposal.
Conecuh Woods was given the first 30 minutes of the public forum to make their case, while other residents and other speakers were give up to five minutes each.
“Conecuh Woods will be a 5,000 acre landfill, with 1,600 acres of active disposal area,” said Conecuh Woods developer Jimmy Stone. “The fact is, on any one day, Conecuh Woods will be no different from hundreds of other landfills.”
Stone said the landfill liner planned for Conecuh Woods would not leak — a concern that has been expressed by governments downstream, including the county commissions in Escambia counties in Florida and Alabama and the Town of Century.
“I suppose Conecuh Woods expects us to believe that a stinking garbage dump can transform an area and become the catalyst for economic growth. It is difficult for me to believe that somehow Conecuh Woods has stumbled onto an unprecedented scientific breakthrough and has developed a way to create what might the world’s first odorless and leak-proof garbage dump,” Melvin Cofield said in opposition to the landfill.
“I’m asking you to simply do the right thing and vote no to this landfill,” said Ruth Harrell of Flomaton.
“You may have all heard ‘we don’t want a dump’,” developer Stone said. “No worries, I don’t either. Conecuh Woods will not be a dump.” Stone said facility will be environmentally friendly, and it will provide much needed jobs for the area.
Many governments in South Alabama and Northwest Florida have spoken out in opposition to Conecuh Woods, including Escambia counties in Alabama and Florida, the Town of Century, Atmore and Flomaton.
Conecuh Woods’ landfill, would include a 1,600 acre “disposal cell” from Range to Repton to near the Big Escambia Creek. Big Escambia Creek flows southward into Escambia County, Alabama, through Flomaton and drains through a North Escambia swamp into the Escambia River and then Escambia Bay.
“Nobody knows more than we do that Florida’s rules on water quality are tougher than Alabama’s,” Century Mayor Freddie McCall said. “If it comes into our river, Florida is in trouble immediately.”
The public hearing in Evergreen wrapped up Thursday afternoon without a vote from the commission; they have 90 days to make up their minds. Even if they give their approval, the project may still remain on hold. Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley issued an executive order declaring a moratorium on new landfills in the state.
Senate Approves Teacher Merit Pay, Cuts Tenure
March 11, 2011
The Florida Senate approved a major change to how public school teachers are paid on Thursday, amid questions from the statewide teachers’ union and Democratic legislators as to how the financially beleaguered state could afford to develop the new tests and pay increases the bill promises.
After nearly two hours of debate, the Florida Senate voted to approve Senate Bill 736, a measure that establishes a system in which 50 percent of a teacher’s evaluation is based on student test scores. The long-standing tradition of basing salary on seniority also ends, with new teachers working under one-year contracts.
The 26-12 vote came mostly down party lines. An attempt to amend it to take into account socioeconomic status of students when evaluating teachers was defeated. Sen. Greg Evers, who represents the North Escambia area, voted in favor of the bill.
Republicans in the Legislature tout the bill as a way to provide an incentive to educators to do a better job and allow school districts to more easily fire bad teachers.
Sen. Bill Montford, a Democrat from Tallahassee who was a school superintendent, said many school supervisors approve of the bill. But he said similar attempts at merit pay have failed in the past.
“What concerns me the most is how we are going to fund this initiative,” Montford said. “I’m afraid it will collapse under its own weight because of funding.” School districts statewide are facing cuts in spending. Gov. Rick Scott’s proposed budget spends $16.5 billion on K-12 education, which cuts per-student spending by $703 to $6,196.
One of two Republicans who voted against the proposed merit pay system, Sen. Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland, also said she doesn’t believe the state will end up finding the money.
“My major concern is we have not paid for this program,” Dockery said. “Some people estimate it will cost $2 billion, but we don’t know how much it will cost to implement it.”
The bill sponsor, Sen. Stephen Wise, R-Jacksonville, said some of the cost would come from the federal Race to the Top grant that Florida received.
The other Republican who opposed the measure was Sen. Dennis Jones of Treasure Island.
The measure’s quick passage was widely expected. A similar bill was approved by the Legislature last year and vetoed by then-Gov. Charlie Crist after thousands of teachers called and wrote to object. This year the bill was changed slightly, giving school districts more control over how teachers are evaluated.
Florida Department of Education Commissioner Eric Smith said in a statement he was pleased about the bill’s progress in the Senate. He called it “groundbreaking legislation” that requires a “fair and accurate evaluation of our teachers that links their performance to the academic achievement of their students.”
A similar measure (HB 7019) also progressed quickly Thursday in the Florida House of Representatives.
The House Education Committee approved HB 7019 in a 12-6 vote after nearly four hours of testimony and debate.
Like its Senate companion, the House bill does away with traditional teacher tenure for new employees and ties teachers pay more closely to student performance. “Excellent teachers know they don’t need tenure,” said Rep. Marti Coley, R-Marianna. “Excellent teachers don’t fear this bill.”
Republicans on the panel rejected a series of Democratic amendments to bolster protections for highly effective teachers by requiring their retention or giving a specific reason for their dismissal. Another unsuccessful amendment based a portion of a teacher’s evaluation on a student’s portfolio of work throughout the year.
Rep. Dwight Bullard, D-Miami, said without the amendments, the bill puts teachers in the position of being without a contract at the end of each year, a lack of job security that will make it harder to recruit good teachers to the state and make even effective teachers vulnerable to the whims of their bosses.
“What this bill does now is allows you to be dismissed with no justification at the end of your year, not based on the performance of your students, not based on how effectively you teach, but simply based on the fact that the year is done,” Bullard said.
By Michael Peltier and Lilly Rockwell
The News Service of Florida
Local Unemployment Increases
March 11, 2011
The latest job numbers released Thursday showed 23,638 people out of work in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties during January.
Escambia County’s unemployment increased from 11.3 percent in December to 11.7 percent in January. That represented 455 additional people out of work, for a total Escambia County unemployment of 16,334 people. One year ago, unemployment in Escambia County was 11.9 percent.
Santa Rosa County also recorded an increase in unemployment— from 9.8 percent in December to 10.3 percent in January. Santa Rosa County lost 310 jobs during the period, with a total of 7,304 persons still unemployed. The year-ago unemployment rate in Santa Rosa County was 10.3 percent.
Florida’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in January 2011 is 11.9 percent, down slightly from the December 2010 rate of 12.0 percent. This represents 1,100,000 jobless out of a labor force of 9,276,000.
“While Florida’s unemployment rate is still unacceptably high, we are seeing positive signs that employers are starting to hire,” said Agency for Workforce Innovation Director Cynthia R. Lorenzo. “An increase in online advertisements for full-time jobs coupled with an increase in Florida’s Consumer Confidence Index indicates that our business owners and families are increasingly optimistic about Florida’s economic recovery.”
Byrneville Elementary Students Create Sawmill Pageant Posters
March 11, 2011
Three Byrneville Elementary School students were awarded for taking part in a poster contest to promote the 20th Annual Century Sawmill Pageant sponsored by the Century Lions Club.
Students in grades 3-5 took part in the contest. The school winners were Lea Nall, first place; Kayla Galvan, second place; and Madicyn Bell, third place. Nall was awarded a $25 cash prize for her winning poster.
The 20th Annual Century Sawmill Pageant sponsored by the Century Lions Club will be held Saturday, March 26 at 10 a.m. at the former Carver/Century School. Registration will be held Saturday, March 12 from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. at Southern Treasures Gift Shop at 8341 North Century Boulevard (across from Whataburger). For an entry form and more registration details, click here.
Pictured: 20th Annual Century Sawmill Pageant poster contest winners from Byrneville Elementary School (L-R) Madicyn Bell, third place; Kayla Galvan, second place; Lea Nall, first place; and Don Sales from the Century Lions Club. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Baseball: Wins For Tate, Jay; Softball: Loss For Jay
March 11, 2011
Here’s a look at baseball and softball action from across the area on Thursday:
Jay 6 Northview 4
The Jay Royals picked up a district win Thursday over the Northview Chiefs, 6-4.
Tyler Prescott took this third win of the season on the mound for the Royals, striking out seven in seven inches, allowing two hits, four runs and double.
Tyler Brooks was 2-3 for the Chiefs, with a double and two RBIs.
Kevin Stanton was 2-4 for the Royals with a double; Todd Laney was 1-2 with a double; Trent Sweeney went 1-4 and Payden Roberts was 1-4.
Thursday game was played in Jay, moved from Northview due to concerns over a wet field at Northview. As a result, an April 15 game between Jay and Northview was also moved — the game will now be played at Northview rather than Jay at 6 p.m.
Tate 7 Pine Forest 2
The Tate Aggies defeated Pine Forest Thursday, 7-2. For the Eagles, it was their seventh straight loss of the season.
SOFTBALL
Milton 2 Jay 2
The Milton Panthers defeated the Jay Royals Thursday, 2-1.
Olivia Wright was 1-3 for the Royals, while Tessa Hendricks went 1-4 with an RBI and Sidney Lowery was 1-3.
House Votes To Cut Time Jobless Can Get Benefits
March 11, 2011
Saying it will help businesses cut what they pay into the state unemployment compensation system so they can more quickly put people back to work, the Republican-controlled House on Thursday voted to shorten the number of weeks the jobless can collect unemployment.
Easy passage of the bill (HB 7005) came as state officials announced that the jobless rate remained in January at just under 12 percent, with a tiny tick downward giving only a little new hope of a recovery anytime soon. The bill, which quickly won praise from Gov. Rick Scott, now goes to the Senate, where the proposal’s fate is less certain.
A Senate effort to reduce unemployment costs to businesses has largely focused on trying to make it harder for people who shouldn’t be getting benefits to collect them. A bill under consideration in the Senate keeps the time that Florida residents can collect unemployment at 26 weeks before federal benefits kick in.
The House bill, which passed 81-38 along party lines, cuts the number of weeks of state eligibility to 20 if the unemployment rate stays high. If that rate were to drop, the number of weeks would get shorter under the bill. If the unemployment rate were to ever get below 5 percent again in the state, the maximum number of weeks would be 12.
The current maximum unemployment benefit dollar amount stays the same under the measure, at $275 a week, which opponents pointed out is already near the bottom of states. Federal statistics show the state’s average weekly benefit is just over $230.
Employers, who pay into a state trust fund on the first $7,000 of a worker’s wages, have complained that they’ve been hard hit by increases in the tax, which has gone up as unemployment has increased. Even worse for businesses, the state trust fund has dropped into the red and has had to borrow about $2 billion from the federal government to pay benefits. Interest on that is due, and that payment is being passed on to businesses.
The House bill also tries to make it harder for the undeserving to collect benefits.
The measure is the first major, substantive bill to pass the House this year.
“By linking the number of weeks a person can receive benefits to the state’s unemployment levels, we are creating an environment for Florida’s job creators to get the state back to work,” Scott said in a statement commending the House for its bill.
Rep. Doug Holder, R-Sarasota, sponsor of the bill in the House, said reducing the number of weeks of eligibility was important for the House as it begins to try to match up its measure with the Senate.
Passage came over objection of House Democrats, who argued that the measure favored businesses over people. Rep. Scott Randolph, D-Orlando, asked who would benefit from the money saved by businesses not having to pay more into the unemployment compensation system, and then answered his own question.
“Where does the money go? Much of it will go to shareholder profit and CEO bonuses,” predicted Randolph.
Rep. Ritch Workman, R-Melbourne, took objection to that – saying he would be helped by it because his small business would eventually get to reduce its unemployment tax burden.
“I am not a rich Wall Street fat cat,” Workman said.
Rep. Geraldine Thompson said unfortunate victims of the economy were being scapegoated.
“The unemployed among us are the victims of the recession, not the cause of it,” said Thompson, D-Orlando.
Another Democrat, however, Rep. Luis Garcia, said trying to help out businesses reel in high unemployment costs was noble, and agreed they need help too. But, he said, this is the worst time to do that because it would pile on more difficulty for people already stressed by being out of work.
“What we have here is the right bill at the wrong time,” said Garcia, D-Miami Beach. “You don’t cut benefits at a time when money is short.”
But Holder said Democrats were trying to preserve government help for the unemployed at the expense of helping employers create jobs that would tackle the problem more efficiently.
“They want jobs,” Holder said of Florida’s out of work. “Not unemployment compensation. Just jobs.” The measure could boost the economy and provide them, he said.
In addition to reducing the length of time the unemployed can collect benefits, the measure also requires a skills review for those applying for benefits and requires them to provide proof they’re actively seeking work.
By David Royse
The News Service of Florida
Caught On Tape: Tornado Hits Hardware Store
March 10, 2011
When an EF2 tornado hit Wednesday in the Theodore-Dawes area of Mobile, security cameras at Alexander Hardware and Small Engine on Old Pascagoula Road caught the destruction on tape.
Watch three of the videos on this page; to see more, click here.
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Cantonment Hit And Run Murder Suspect Arrested In St. Johns County
March 10, 2011
A 20-year old wanted for murder in connection with an Escambia County hit and run has been arrested in St. Johns County, Florida.
Phillip Michael Chevalier of Cantonment was taken into custody by U.S. Marshals. He’s facing a felony murder charge for the May 6, 2010, hit and run death of 23-year old Billy G. Beck III on Chemstrand Road in Escambia County.
Beck, 23, was walking on Chemstrand Road when he was struck by at least three vehicles. Chevalier, identified by the Florida Highway Patrol as the driver of the first vehicle to strike Beck, fled the scene. Beck’s family maintained that foul play may have been involved in the crash; however there were few leads or witnesses, according to the FHP.
Rebecca Maryellen Austin, 20, of Pensacola; and Brandon Charles Bell, 17, were also charged last week with Beck’s death. Both were passengers in the vehicle with Chevalier, according to the FHP.
On February 27, Florida Highway Patrol investigators developed additional evidence that led to arrest warrants being issued for Chevalier for felony murder and leaving the scene of accident with death. Felony murder warrants were also issued for Bell and Austin.
Bell was arrested last week during a traffic stop by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. He was also charged with possession of cocaine and is being held in the Escambia County Jail. Austin was already in the Santa Rosa County Jail on an unrelated failure to appear charge.
The drivers of the second and third vehicles to hit Beck were not charged.
Suspected Arrested In 9 Mile Road Bar Stabbing
March 10, 2011
An Arkansas man is in the Escambia County jail today after he allegedly stabbed another man late Wednesday night.
Bobby Borden Jr., 46, from Pound Creek, Arkansas,was arrested shortly after deputies responded to the Ticket Sports Bar, located at 2115 W. Nine Mile Rd., for a reported stabbing.
When deputies arrived at the bar at around 9:43 p.m. they found the victim bleeding from his left side and left leg. The victim was identified as 45-year-old Barry Dan Weaver of Pensacola.
According to witnesses, both Borden and Weaver were in the bar drinking when the two started to argue. The argument led to a physical fight which ended after Weaver was stabbed.
As Borden began to walk away, one of the witnesses was able to grab the knife from him and called 911.
“Deputy John Zabelle and his K-9 partner, Nido, tracked the suspect to the Tall Oaks RV Park where he was arrested without incident,” said Sheriff’s spokesman Deputy Chris Welborn.
Borden was arrested and charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. He was released from the Escambia County Jail on $5,000 bond.
Weaver, who suffered serious cuts to his lower left leg and left side of his abdomen, was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital for treatment.