Maunette Hayes Luker
July 2, 2011
Maunette Hayes Luker went to be with her Lord and Savior on Tuesday, June 28, 2011. She was born on March 17, 1931, in Chumuckla to the late Sidney Martin Hayes and Ruth William Hayes. Although she was born during the Great Depression, she had a very happy and adventurous childhood. She was a true Florida cowgirl going on cattle roundups with her father riding her Mustang horse. Being outside was a blessing to her.
On March 17, 1948, she married Clarence Leonard Luker. She had known him all her life. Leonard was first cousin to Maunette’s best friend, Opal McCall. The couple had been married almost 50 years before Leonard passed away. She was a life time homemaker, avid reader, enjoyed writing poetry and loved working in her yard. Her wonderful storytelling will be greatly missed.
Mrs. Luker was so proud of her heritage. Her ancestors were in Florida before it was a state. She was a member of the Santa Rosa County Creek Indian Tribe, and organizing member of Three Rivers Chapter Daughters American Revolution and an organizing member of Simpson Mounted Rangers United Daughters of Confederacy. She was a member of New Bethel Church. She had known the Lord most of her life having found salvation in Jesus Christ at age 13.
Preceding her in death was her husband, Leonard Luker; infant daughter, Chryll Lynn Luker and sister, Ruth Wynell Hayes Salter.
She is survived by daughters, Gail (Bill) Allred, Debbie Luker, Toni Luker, and Lynn (John) Atkins; her grandchildren, Brandi (Darren) Williamson, Tiffany (Joshua) Odom, David (Lauren) Pennell, Brandon (Jennifer) Spain, Adam Pennell, Brittany Spain, J.D. Atkins, and Sydney Atkins; great-grandchildren, Tristan Pennell, Lilah Odom, Isabelle Pennell, and with four more arriving later in the year; sisters, Betty McMillan and Ollie Jo (Charles) Williams and many nieces, nephews, and cousins that she loved dearly.
Active pallbearers are grandsons, grandsons-in-law, and son-in-laws.
Honorary pallbearers are Rufus Hayes, Ken Ashworth, Dr. Jack Fabian, Tommy Allred, Steve Herrington, Martin Salter, Jackie Salter, Gary Williams, Stan McMillan, Greg McMillan, Bradley Pennell, Jared Salter, Joel Salter, Wesley Salter, Charles Carnley, Bobby Carnley, Gary Daugett, Jason Pocase and Joseph Randolph.
Services will be held at Jay Funeral Home in Jay. The family will receive friends Thursday, June 30, 2011, from 6-8 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Friday, July 1, 2011, at noon. with Mrs. Luker’s nephew, Dr. Michael Williams, officiating services. Burial will follow at Elizabeth Chapel Cemetery.
The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Dr. John Salvaggio and Dr. Paul Tamburro for their kindness in caring for our mother.
Jay Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Lightning Leaves 75 Homes Without Power
July 1, 2011
About 75 homes in the area of Gobbler Road were without power Friday night, apparently due to a lightning strike. Escambia River Electric Cooperative restored power to the area within about an hour.
Lightning Sparks Highway 168 Brush Fire
July 1, 2011
Lightning sparked about a one acre brush fire Friday evening near Bratt.
The fire was reported about 7:15 p.m. about 100 yards into a wooded area off Highway 168 near Wiggins Road. The fire was reported contained about 8:05 p.m.
There were no structures damaged by the blaze.
The McDavid, Century and Walnut Hill stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the blaze. The Florida Division of Forestry was also dispatched to create a line around the fire using a bulldozer.
Man Charged With Robbing Grocery Advantage
July 1, 2011
A Cantonment man was jailed Thursday evening after robbing the Grocery Advantage armed with a knife.
Kenneth Lee Purifoy, 45, of 1240 Lake Drive in Cantonment, was arrested at a nearby apartment complex after deputies say he robbed the Grocery Advantage store at knife point.
Deputies responded to the store at 736 North Highway 29 for an armed disturbance just after 6 p.m. Thursday.
According to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report, Purifoy entered the store with numerous shopping bags that he placed in an empty buggy. An employee observed Purifoy enter a restroom with the items in the buggy, but they were not visible when he came out of the restroom.
Moments later, Purifoy was carrying a pack of ribs when he approached a store employee and employees noticed a pack of steaks in his rear waistband. When he was confronted, deputies said Purifoy rain toward the exit, and another pack of steaks fell from the front of his pants.
An employee told deputies that he tried to stop Purifoy and detain him and a struggle ensued.
During the struggle Purifoy pulled a small folding pocketknife on the employee and reportedly stated “I will stab you”. Purifoy then ran out of the store.
“One of our K-9 units tracked the suspect to a nearby apartment complex, said sheriff’s spokesman Deputy Chris Welborn. “Our deputies were able to locate him on the complex grounds and arrested him without incident.”
Purifoy was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, petit theft, robbery and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was booked in the Escambia County Jail and held on a $20,000 bond.
Escambia County, City Of Pensacola Consider Joint Youth Curfew
July 1, 2011
A Pensacola city councilman wants a countywide curfew for youth, a idea briefly discussed at a joint meeting of the Pensacola City Council and the Escambia County Commission on Thursday.
Councilman John Jerralds is advocating a curfew modeled after one currently in place in Jacksonville. He wants to make a presentation about the ordinance to the county’s attorney or the entire commission in hopes that city and council will both adopt a youth curfew.
The Jacksonville youth curfew ordinance restricts any unmarried person under the age of 18 from being on the streets between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. weekdays or 6 a.m. on the weekend or holidays unless they are with a parent or guardian.
There are several exceptions in the ordinance, including teens on their way to or from work; a church, school or other organization and other events.
To read the entire Jacksonville youth curfew ordinance, click here.
Both the youth curfew violator and their parents can receive civil citations for violating the Jacksonville law.
Complete List: Public Fireworks Shows
July 1, 2011
Here is a list of public fireworks shows and other events this weekend in the North Escambia area.
Saturday, July 2
Flomaton/Century
The towns of Flomaton and Century, along with their chambers of commerce in each town, will present a fireworks shop Saturday night at dark. The show will be at Hurricane Park on Highway 31 in Flomaton — directly across from Flomaton High School. Bring a blanket or chair. There will be no entertainment prior to the event.
Pensacola Beach
The Santa Rosa Island Authority will host fireworks from the Gulf Pier beginning at 10:30 p.m.
Monday, July 4
Jay
Independence Run at 8 a.m. Monday at Bray-Hendricks City Park. 5K entry fee is $20; 1 mile fun run is $10. All entrants get a t-shirt, awards to be presented. Live entertainment begins at 5 p.m. Fireworks show at dark.
East Brewton
Horseshoe tournament, waterslides for the kids begin at 4:00 Monday, and there’s a duck race at 6 p.m. Entertainment begins at 5 p.m. Food and drinks available all day. Fireworks at 9:30. All events at Fort Crawford Park.
Poarch
The Poarch Creek Indians will host a fireworks show Monday night at on the reservation. Entertainment will begin on stage at Arrow Head Park at 7:30 followed by the fireworks show at 9:00.
Sertoma, Downtown Pensacola
For the 22nd year, area Sertoma organizations are once again coordinating and hosting the largest fireworks display on the Gulf Coast over Pensacola Bay on Monday, July 4th at 9:00 pm. There will be activities throughout the day, from 11:00 am until 6:30 p.m, in Seville Square to include a free Children’s Area with inflatables and pony rides, arts and crafts, food vendors and live entertainment on the gazebo stage beginning at 11:00 am, with a Hot Dog Eating Contest at noon. Starting at 4:00, there will be live music on the Bayfront Stage. The festivities will culminate with the fireworks show at 9 p.m. over Pensacola Bay, synchronized with music broadcast on Cat Country 98.7 FM.
Pensacola Beach
Fourth of July Fireworks begin at 9 p.m. on Santa Rosa Sound off Quietwater Beach.
Milton
Milton’s Riverfest includes a bike show from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m., a car show 10 a.m. until noon, a children’s activity area from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. at the North Riverwalk Gazebo, entertainment at North Gazebo beginning at 5:30, karaoke at 7 p.m. at the South Pavilion and fireworks over the Blackwater River at dark.
Bay Minette
Fireworks begin just after dark behind Bay Minette Intermediate School.
Escambia Burn Ban Prohibits Private Fireworks
July 1, 2011
A burn ban remains in effect that prohibits private Fourth of July fireworks in Escambia County.
The entire county — including Century and Pensacola – remains under a burn ban for the July 4 holiday weekend. The ban prohibits open burning, campfires, bonfires, burning of trash and fireworks anywhere in Escambia County.
While fireworks can be purchased, fires resulting from fireworks can result in a $400 fine or a mandatory court appearance, not to mention serious damage and injuries, according to county officials.
The only exemptions to the burn ban are state permitted burns, authorized fireworks displays, fireworks sales authorized by state law and outdoor cooking cooking in barbeque grills, smoker and other outdoor stoves at private residences.
Escambia County is encouraging families to attend public fireworks displays planned across our area.
Fourth Weekend Forecast
July 1, 2011
Our Fourth of July weekend forecast is summertime business as usual with hot days, muggy nights just slight chances of rain.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 96. Calm wind becoming southeast between 5 and 10 mph.
- Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Saturday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 96. Calm wind becoming southeast between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Sunday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 96. Calm wind becoming east between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Sunday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Independence Day: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 95. Calm wind becoming south between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Monday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Tuesday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 93. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Tuesday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Wednesday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 94. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Wednesday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Thursday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 93. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Judge Rules State Worker Pension Contributions To Begin
July 1, 2011
On the eve of government workers being forced to contribute 3 percent of their paychecks to Florida’s pension fund, a Leon County circuit judge late Thursday refused to require the state to set aside the money during a pending legal challenge.
Circuit Judge Jackie Fulford issued the ruling shortly before midnight, just minutes before a controversial pension law kicked in to require hundreds of thousands of public-sector workers to contribute to the fund.
The Florida Education Association, which is spearheading a lawsuit that challenges the constitutionality of the law, sought a temporary injunction to require the money be set aside. It argued that such a move would ensure workers would receive refunds if the law is ultimately ruled unconstitutional.
Fulford acknowledged in an eight-page ruling that it is unclear what funds the state would use to pay back workers if the law is tossed out. But she also wrote that she must “assume that the state of Florida would comply with an order from this court to refund to employees any funds that have been wrongfully deducted from their salary.’’
“The state (during arguments Thursday) … stipulated that should they ultimately be ordered to refund the 3 percent employee contributions, it was not a matter of whether the refunds would be given, it was only a matter of the state of Florida determining from what source it would make the refunds, in the best financial interest of the public,’’ Fulford wrote.
The law, a priority of Gov. Rick Scott and Republican legislative leaders, will lead to state and local government workers contributing about $800 million a year to the pension fund. Such contributions have not been required since the 1970s.
During a hearing earlier Thursday, Fulford repeatedly questioned attorneys about how the state could assure that workers would be able to recoup the money — especially during a time when the state is struggling with budget problems.
But Blaine Winship, special counsel in the Attorney General’s Office, said setting aside the money could threaten the actuarial soundness of the pension fund. Also, he said the pension fund could refund money to workers if the law is found unconstitutional.
“There’s not any reason for these plaintiffs to be insecure,’’ Winship said.
FEA attorney Ron Meyer, however, said workers need a “pathway” to get the money back if the law is rejected. Meyer said he fears that the state Board of Administration, which runs the pension fund, would argue in the future that it can’t be forced to give the money back.
“That’s what we’re going to get, your honor,’’ Meyer said. “I can hear it now.’’
After Fulford’s ruling late Thursday, the FEA issued a statement saying it was disappointed. But it made clear it will continue to press the broader constitutional challenge to the law.
“While we are disappointed that the court didn’t take action to ensure the availability of funds to pay back to employees if we prevail in the lawsuit, this is a minor setback and cannot be viewed as a determination that our claims are not just,” Meyer said in the statement.
The FEA, backed by other labor groups, filed a class-action lawsuit June 20, arguing that the law violates contractual and collective-bargaining rights of employees.
The teachers union did not seek to block the state from collecting the contributions while the lawsuit moves forward. Instead, it sought the temporary injunction to require that the money be set aside and refunded to workers with interest if the lawsuit is successful.
Fulford on Thursday scheduled an Oct. 26 hearing on broader questions about the law’s constitutionality. Whatever she rules on that issue, attorneys say they expect the Florida Supreme Court to ultimately decide the case — a usually lengthy process.
The FEA largely pins the case on a 1974 law that says the rights of retirement system members are “contractual in nature” and “shall not be abridged in any way.’’ Meyer contends that lawmakers can only require future employees, not current workers, to contribute to the pension system.
“Employees were told, ‘If you work, you’re going to be paid X,’ and after tomorrow, they’re going to be paid X minus 3 percent,’’ Meyer said during Thursday’s hearing.
But Winship said the 1974 law does not prevent the Legislature from making changes that will affect current employees. He said it prevents lawmakers from making retroactive changes that would affect workers, such as seeking contributions for past years.
“Our Legislature must have the power going forward to change the deal,’’ Winship said.
By Jim Saunders
The News Service of Florida
Man Gets 32 Years For Kidnapping; Victims Saved By Bathroom Note
July 1, 2011
A Louisiana man has been sentenced to prison for the kidnapping of his ex-fiancé and two children that were eventually saved by a note left in a Flomaton gas station bathroom.
Therral Hatfield, 26, was sentenced Thursday to 32 years in prison by Federal Judge W. Keith Watkins.
On April 21, 2010, a customer found a note scribbled on a paper towel in a women’s bathroom at the Yellowhammer truck stop at I-65 and Highway 113 in Flomaton. The note said that the female and her two children had been kidnapped and were being taken to Atlanta by their abductor. The note also contained a description of the vehicle and its license plate number.
An Alabama state trooper patrolling just inside Butler County near Garland spotted the vehicle, ending the kidnapping attempt.
Yellowhammer Truck Stop clerk Connie Kinman said after the incident that she noticed Hatfield outside the women’s bathroom door the entire time she was inside.
“She had to know he was there,” she said. “She was very brave.”