Robert Bentley Defeats Ron Sparks For Ala. Gov.
November 3, 2010
Robert Bentley handily defeated Ron Sparks for Alabama governor.
The retired Tuscaloosa physician campaigned on promises of creating jobs with tax breaks and stronger ethics laws in Alabama. The Republican also promised not to accept a salary as governor until the unemployment rate in Alabama returns to normal levels.
Photos: Walnut Hill Tornado?
November 3, 2010
A NorthEscambia.com reader took these interesting photos that appear to show a possible funnel cloud Tuesday afternoon. Steven Godwin snapped the photos with his cell phone as he traveled along Highway 97 near Kansas Road in Walnut Hill.
WEAR TV 3 Meteorologist Allen Strum told NorthEscambia.com that the pictures “certainly look like a funnel cloud”; however, he said that radar did not indicate any severe weather near Walnut Hill Tuesday afternoon.
There were no weather watches or warnings for North Escambia Tuesday afternoon, and there were no damage reports received.
Submitted photos by Steven Godwin for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Deputy Remains in Critical Condition; Shows Some Improvement
November 2, 2010
Deputy Jeremy Cassady remained in critical condition Tuesday morning in the intensive care unit at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola.
The Sheriff’s Office is holding a candlelight prayer vigil for Cassady at 7:30 tonight at Seville Square in Pensacola. [Read more...] Donations to the “Benefit Account for Jeremy Cassady” are being accepted at any Gulf Coast Community Bank location.
Family members say Cassady, who was put into a medially induced coma after the shooting, opened his eyes and turned his head Tuesday. He has underwent numerous surgeries and has received over 240 pints of blood. His kidneys have failed.
Hundreds of people have donated blood on Cassady’s behalf at Northwest Florida Blood Services. The blood centers at 2209 N. 9th Avenue and 1999 East Nine Mile Road are continuing to accept donations for Cassady.
Cassady, a native of Jay, joined the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office in 2006. He turned 36 just one day before being shot twice.
The victim of home invasion, 45-year old Jackie Rosenbloom, was listed in fair condition Tuesday morning at Sacred Heart Hospital.
Shooter Philip Martin Monier of Hornlake, Miss., remains in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $2 million. He is charged with three counts of attempted murder, aggravated assault, false imprisonment and home invasion robbery.
Deputy Chad Brown, who joined the force in September 2009, and Deputy Sam Parker, a deputy since April 2007, were both released Friday from Sacred Heart Hospital.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is continuing their investigation into the shooting.
LIVE Election Coverage Today; Complete LIVE Results Tonight
November 2, 2010
This is an archive of a live election blog from November 2, 2010 on NorthEscambia.com.
7:00 p.m. – Polls are closed. Local election results soon here on NorthEscambia.com.
6:20 p.m. — A steady stream of voters across the area as polls close at 7 p.m. If you are in line by 7, you will be allowed to vote. Don’t forget results from across the area tonight here on NorthEscambia.com.
5:25 p.m. — At the Walnut Hill precinct, over 400 voters had cast their ballot just before 5 p.m., a 28 percent turnout. That would not include anyone in the precinct that voted absentee.
5:00 p.m. – Two hours to get out and vote before the polls close. Don’t forget a photo and signature ID when you go to the polls. With no ID, you will vote a provisional ballot. And don’t forget the ballots in Florida are two-sided. You’ll need to flip it over to vote on the back. If you make a mistake, you can ask for a new ballot and start over.
4:25 p.m. — Slow and steady…that’s the word on the flow of voters and the rainfall across the area at this hour. school. Many of those people are stopping by to vote on their way home, increasing voter turnout. The flow of voters as North Escambia precincts should only increase as the time gets later.
4:00 p.m. — Just three hours until the polls close across the area. Light rain is falling in many areas, but voters are still turning out in large numbers.
3:55 p.m. – For a look at voting across the state, click here for a NorthEscambia.com article.
3:30 p.m. — Steady voter turnout is being reported across the area. The two hottest races in the area are the race for Pensacola’s first strong mayor and the race for sheriff in Escambia County Alabama — so those locations are seeing higher traffic.
3:10 p.m. – Don’t forget NorthEscambia.com is the place to be tonight to get all of the election results from Escambia and Santa Rosa counties in Florida, Escambia County in Alabama, as well as the statewide races in Florida and Alabama. As soon as the results are in after 7 p.m., they will be posted here on NorthEscambia.com. This is the place to be tonight for all the election results.
2:45 p.m. — Scattered showers are morning through North Escambia (Fla.) and western Escambia, Alabama. There will be breaks in the rain, but it remains to be seen if the rain will dampen turnout.
2:15 p.m. — Heather Leonard’s Danceworks classes normally held on Tuesdays at the Byrneville Community Center have been canceled for today because the community center is used as a voting precinct.
1:10 p.m. – We’ve had a few emails asking about Highway 97 road construction and the Walnut Hill precinct. The paving crews are working south of Highway 99, so no road constructions at the Walnut Hill Community Center. But be careful around Highway 97 and Arthur Brown Road (at Ernest Ward Middle). There’s lots of heavy equipment moving in and out of Arthur Brown Road where they are dumping asphalt mix. Rain is putting an end to today’s roadwork shortly.
12:30 p.m. — Have an absentee ballot in your hands? It must be returned to the Supervisor of Elections office by 7 p.m. You can not return it to your local precinct. They won’t accept it, and your vote will not be counted. The elections office is in Escambia County is on the second floor at 213 Palafox Place downtown. Need to call them? (850) 595-3900.
12:25 p.m. – Voter turnout is reported to be steady during the lunch hour.
Noon – It’s the lunch hour. Voting usually picks up during this time. No major problems reported at any of the area precincts.
11:10 a.m. — There is, of course, voting in Century today at the Century Town Hall. But you won’t find the Century Town Council runoff race between incumbent Henry Hawkins and political newcomer Jacke Johnston on the ballot. The runoff election for the Century Town Council seat will be next Tuesday for voters that live in the town limits.
10:25 a.m. — A busy period is winding down at the polls. Traffic will pick up again about 11:30-1:00 as people vote during their lunch hour. Avoid the rush and the rain that is forecast for this afternoon — go vote now.
10:15 a.m. — It’s interesting to see how Facebook has played in this year’s local elections. In Escambia County, Alabama, there’s a hotly contested race between incumbent Sheriff Grover Smith and Heath Jackson, a drug investigator for the Escambia County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office. We could not find Grover Smith on Facebook (if we overlooked it, please email us), but there are supporters encouraging their Facebook friends to vote for Grover Smith. Challenger Heath Jackson does have a Facebook page (click to see) with over 1,800 Facebook friends. Jackson also embraced the net with a website, while we were unable to find one for Smith. Smith has been the sheriff in Escambia County (Ala.) for eight years and has several other years of law enforcement experience that he believes qualifies him for the job. Jackson has been in drug and law enforcement for 11 years, and he says his management experience also qualifies him for the job.
9:50 a.m. – Our phone is still ringing with the automated “robo calls” asking us to vote for candidates. So tired of seeing “Private Number” on the caller id when it’s a political candidate recording on the other end. Every call is a strike against the candidate in our book. Our most interesting call this week: Sarah Palin reminding how important it is for us to get out and vote today in Illinois. Huh?
9:10 a.m. — Moderate turnout is being reported for the hour at precincts across the area. Lots of voters still undecided on governor races in both states. Many voters are expressing sentiments of disgust over the TV ads and telephone calls for candidates and all of the mud slinging.
8:00 a.m. — The old adage about rain on Election Day affecting voter turnout won’t be put into play Tuesday with partly cloudy skies and warm temperatures projected for throughout most of the state. According to weather.com, the major metro areas of Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, Tampa and Tallahassee all have only about a 20 percent chance of precipitation. the Pensacola area, however, is expected to see stormy weather by afternoon.
7:30 a.m. – The polls are open in Alabama and Florida until 7 p.m. tonight. There is a 70 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms by this afternoon. Get out and vote this morning if you want to avoid the rain.
Century Can’t Conduct Business; Considers $1.5 Million Investment
November 2, 2010
The Century Town Council was unable to conduct business Monday night with two council members out ill and another absent for an unknown reason.
The council had few action items on the agenda — approving a “Hospice Month” proclamation, approving previous minutes and considering a $1.5 million investment proposal. But without the quorum of members present, the were unable to vote on any issues.
Council member Nadine McCaw is recovering at home after having a kidney removed, and Councilman Gary Riley was sick according to council President Ann Brooks. Councilman Henry Hawkins was expected at the meeting, according to Brooks, but he did not attend. Brooks and Councilwoman Sharon Scott were unable to vote on any issues without a third member present.
$1.5 Million Investment Proposal
Robert Lasher, a local financial advisor for Edward D. Jones, presented a investment proposal that he said would increase the towns earnings five-fold on $1.5 million currently invested with the state.
The $1.7 million total investment with the state currently earns a half percent interest, while Lasher said the Treasury securities would earn a current rate of 2.83 percent return. The Treasury securities are risk-free, backed by the federal government.
Lasher suggested that the town invest $1.5 million, leaving $200,000 in reserve in the state fund. He recommended that the investments be laddered in $100,000 increments, with each investment maturing in different years over a 15 year period.
“You would have to look and see what the cash needs are,” Robert Hudson, the town’s accountant, said. “To me, 15 years is long time.”
Lasher said the investments could be structured over a shorter period, like seven and a half years.
“We’ve been talking about using some of that money for paving, Brooks said, adding the town might need faster access to those funds. Lasher said the investments could be sold within one business day — with a possible loss — if the town needed the cash.
Without a quorum present, the council took no action on the proposal.
Hospice Month
Covenant Hospice asked the town to approve a resolution proclaiming November as “Hospice Month”. The council was unable to approve the resolution without the quorum present.
Pictured top: Empty seats surround Century Town Council members Ann Brooks (left) and Sharon Scott Monday night as the council did not have a quorum to conduct business. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Photos: No Monkeying Around
November 2, 2010
No monkeying around — the ladies of the Molino Homemaker’s Club took a first place prize for their booth at the Pensacola Interstate Fair.
The booth entitled “No more MONKEYS jumping on the bed” featured a happy family of handmade sock monkeys in a playful setting of an old fashioned bedroom. The booth also includes instructions for making the simple toys.
Members of the club that worked on the booth, stitched quilts and created sock monkeys were Nancy Holland, Elizabeth Barlow, Barbara Jones, Carolyn Peterson, Frances Cheney, Becky Dorch, Terri Brown, Dawn Johnson, April Glass, Lucile Whitegon and Millie Brantley.
The next meeting of the Molino Homemakers Club will be Wednesday, November 3 at 10 a.m. at Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Molino. Annual membership dues are just $5, and anyone is welcome to join.
Submitted photos by Terri Brown for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Meeting: New I-10 Exit Under Consideration For Beulah
November 2, 2010
A new exit on I-10 at Beulah Road is under consideration, and the public will have the opportunity to offer their input next Tuesday.
A public meeting to discuss the proposed interchange in the vicinity of the overpass where I-10 and Beulah Road intersect has been scheduled for Tuesday, November 9, from 5:30 until 7:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall of Beulah Baptist Church, 5805 Beulah Church Road.
The meeting is being held to allow local officials, affected property owners and the public an opportunity to express their views and comments concerning the proposed interchange in an informal environment. The meeting will be hosted by PBS&J, the engineering firm retained by the county for the feasibility study and project design.
For more information, contact Eugene Harris, Escambia County Project Manager, 595-3434, or Greg Allen, PBS&J Project Manager, at 478-9844.
Party Money Is Big; Scott Dumps $73 Million Into Campaign
November 2, 2010
Spurred by a neck-and-neck race that has them smelling the governor’s office, Democrats had their best two-month fundraising period ever, making the electoral money race with the Florida Republican Party mirror the contest between Rick Scott and Alex Sink: pretty much tied.
The Florida Democratic and Republican Parties both raised just under $31.6 million in the two months since the primary election.
It’s hardly a toss-up, however, in terms of what will be spent overall because of Scott’s willingness to dip into his own incredible personal wealth. Scott reported late Friday night that he dumped another $11.6 million into his campaign, bringing the total amount he’s put into the race to an astounding $73 million, boosting the governor’s race to the most expensive ever in the state.
Sink finished the fundraising part of the campaign having raised about $11.2 million in cash and got about $6 million in in-kind contributions, not counting the money spent on her campaign by the party.
As pundits talk of a big year for the GOP and an expected landslide win for Republicans in national congressional race this Tuesday, Democrats in Florida have been encouraged by Sink’s strong showing in polls – she has been ahead slightly in some, trailing slightly in others – while the Florida GOP all year has faced difficulties from a leadership and financial scandal that resulted in the criminal indictment of its former chairman earlier this year.
The Florida Republican Party’s $31.6 million for the general election campaign brings its total contributions for the 2010 election cycle to just about $60 million, according to finance reports filed Friday night. Despite its highly-publicized internal troubles, the RPOF still bested Democrats by more than $10 million during the entire two-year period.
Thanks to the Democrats’ big cash grab during the last two months – besting by $11 million its previous best reporting period, which came during the party’s giddy run-up to the 2008 election of President Barack Obama – the Democrats finish the two year cycle having collected just under $49 million.
Republican Party officials have acknowledged that the bad press over the excessive spending on the watch of indicted former Chairman Jim Greer, and the defection from the party of one of its big fundraising draws, Gov. Charlie Crist, have hurt their money-raising cause this year.
But the party needed less for this gubernatorial election – because of Scott’s $70-plus million from his own pocket. Scott spent more than the Democratic Party on the election.
Still, Republicans had plenty of enthusiastic donors.
Underscoring the importance of which party commands the governor’s office heading into 2012 legislative and congressional redistricting, the Republican Governors’ Association was the single biggest contributor to the state GOP — pumping $6.4 million into Florida between Aug. 20 and midnight Thursday, the state’s fundraising deadline for next week’s election.
The Democratic Governors’ Assocation is also a major contributor to Florida Democrats. The DGA pumped money into Sink’s campaign, and was a major donor to the party through an intermediary, a Tallahassee Democratic PAC called MARK Pac that took in $1 million from the DGA this month and then was one of the largest contributors to the state Democratic Party.
Other big givers to the Republican Party included U.S. Sugar Corp., which gave $1.6 million to the state party, despite Scott’s condemnation of Florida’s $197 million buyout of company land on the edge of the Everglades. U.S. Sugar completed the sale of 27,000 acres to the South Florida Water Management District, which intends to use the land to help restore the Everglades — although Scott has said the purchase was mainly to benefit the company. Scott’s vanquished primary rival, Bill McCollum, supported the deal — which the nominee said made him “bought and paid for” by U.S. Sugar.
Indeed, amid scores of contributions from health-care companies, utilities, Realtors, developers, and pari-mutuel companies, some of the GOP’s biggest donors were those who had fought hard against Scott in the governor’s race primary. Insurer Blue Cross/Blue Shield, gave $475,000 in homestretch cash to the state GOP after siding heavily with McCollum. Automated Healthcare Solutions, a Miramar company headed by a pair of doctors, Paul Zimmerman and Gerald Glass, steered $605,000 to the party after also helping finance some of the primary’s fiercest attacks on McCollum.
The doctors, who played a central role in fighting legislation supported by Sink that would have reduced the cost of prescription drugs in workers’ compensation cases – a measure vetoed by Crist — donated $1 million through companies they lead to political spending committees controlled by incoming legislative leaders Sen. Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, and Rep. Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park. The money was used to air TV ads during the primary against Scott.
Another organization which flipped its support was the Florida Chamber of Commerce, which had backed McCollum but put $115,000 into the state party through its Florida Jobs Political Action Committee. Scott has made peace with the chamber — and today is scheduled to attend a Winter Park airing of the film “Waiting for Superman,” which the state and national chambers have been promoting as part of a push to revamp the public school system and diminish the strength of teachers unions.
Sink is attending a statewide conference today with the union, the Florida Education Association, where she is expected to echo her resistence to ending teacher tenure, which Scott supports.
And as expected, teachers’ unions have been one of the major bases of support for Sink and the Democrats. The aforementioned MARK Pac that has pumped so much money into the state party counts the National Education Association among its major donors, having received a half million dollars from the NEA just this week.
And the Florida Education Association is among the biggest donors directly to the party, giving about $2.8 million just during the last two months.
Other unions are big names on the Democrats’ list. The party’s big donors also include AFSCME, which represents state and local government workers, the Service Employees International Union Healthcare union, which represents nurses and nursing assistants, including the many front line nursing home workers. Teamsters locals and the Police Benevolent Assocation also made several major donations to the Democratic Party during the period.
But Sink and other Democrats will also benefit from some corporate largesse. One of the major contributors to MARK Pac and a contributor directly to the Democratic Party is Florida Power & Light, the state’s largest electric utility.
As it always is, the list of Democratic donors is also heavily made up of trial lawyers, who are expecting a major fight in the coming year over lawsuit rules. Incoming Republican legislative leaders have made it clear they want to again pursue some of the major tort reform fights of the last decade, particularly in health care.
Both of the state parties spent more than $35 million each this fall, mainly paying for the TV ads and staff for Scott and Sink, as well as pitching in for other candidates.
Lawmakers’ 527 committees also ponied up big, particularly for Republicans. Cannon’s Florida Liberty Fund gave $300,00 to the party this fall; Senate President Jeff Atwater, now the Republican nominee for chief financial officer, gave $438,000 to the party this month from his Preserve the American Dream Committee; and another, the Alliance for a Strong Economy, run by a half-dozen senators, including Haridopolos, gave $310,000.
Other big GOP contributors included the Seminole Tribe, which gave $550,000 to the party which controls the Florida Legislature, which last spring ended a three-year standoff by approving a lucrative gambling compact with the tribe. The tribe also gave at least $75,000 to the Democratic Party.
Joe Anderson, the retired president of paving giant Anderson-Columbia Corp., individually gave $505,000 to the Florida GOP, while the company donated another $125,000.
Management of The Villages, the sprawling Central Florida retirement community that has been ground zero for a handful of Republican Party rallies, including those by Scott and former vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin, also has contributed $300,000 to the party this fall, records show.
Some contributions to the state GOP may have been made defensively against the expected tort reform proposals. With Scott already unveiling a proposed legislative package that makes it harder for doctors, car manufacturers and insurers to be sued, the state’s trial lawyer-backed Florida Justice PAC gave $10,000 to Republicans, while major law firms, Tampa-based Wilkes & McHugh, and Orlando-centered Morgan & Morgan each gave $100,000 to the Florida Republican Party.
The Florida Justice PAC, as expected, was also a major donor to the Democratic Party, having given about $150,000 to the party just during the last two months.
The state parties were about even in fundraising during the previous period leading up to the primary as well, with the Republican Party of Florida having raised $7.72 million from April 1 to Aug. 19 and Democrats raising $7.69 million during the same time period.
Candlelight Prayer Vigil Held For Deputy; Benefit Fund Established
November 1, 2010
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office held a Candlelight Prayer Vigil Tuesday for Deputy Jeremy Cassady at Seville Square Park in Pensacola.
Cassady was shot in the line of duty Friday while responding to a home invasion in the 8000 block of Baywind Circle in Pensacola. Cassady is a four-year veteran of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
There has also been a benefit fund established to assist the Cassady Family during this difficult time. The “Benefit Account for Jeremy Cassady” is available through Gulf Coast Community Bank, and individuals interested in donating to the Cassady family can visit any of the Gulf Coast Community Bank locations in the area, including:
Nine Mile Branch — 1554 W. Nine Mile Road
Downtown — 40 N. Palafox Street
Cordova Branch — 1177 College Boulevard
Gulf Breeze Branch — 2871 Gulf Breeze Parkway
Pace Branch — 4885 Highway 90
Man Wanted For Texas Body In A Barrel Found Hanged In Escambia County
November 1, 2010
The convicted killer that federal authorities believed was in Escambia County was found hanged in a Pensacola motel room.
The Harris County (Texas) Sheriff’s Office says Dennis Ray Anderson, 64, was found dead in the motel room on Friday. He was wanted for obstruction of an investigation by tampering with evidence of a human corpse and was a suspect in a woman’s murder in Texas.
The U.S. Marshals Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force and Texas authorities believed Anderson fled the Lake Charles, Louisiana area October 24 on a Greyhound bus and was headed to Pensacola due to arrive around 5:30 a.m. last Tuesday morning. Police and Marshals in Houston began their search for Anderson after a Crime Stoppers tip led authorities to find a woman’s body in a barrel at his Houston-area home last Thursday.
Anderson had been sentenced to life in prison for the 1972 slayings of a woman and her 3-year-old granddaughter during an antique shop robbery. In 1973, he was also convicted in Hardin County, Texas of arson, for which he was sentenced to 20 years in prison and a theft, for which he was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Anderson was paroled in 1989 and ordered to remain on parole supervision for life. In February of 2010 Anderson was charged in Harris County with robbery causing bodily injury after he was accused of choking a woman and threatening to kill her.