Cantonment Area Growth Will Lead To Redraw Of Escambia Districts
March 29, 2011
Following recent release of 2010 Census numbers that show a population shift into the Cantonment area of the county, both the Escambia County Commission and the School District will sit down in May to redraw district boundaries.
Escambia County is divided into five different voting districts, each represented by a county commissioner and school board member.
According to County Administrator Randy Oliver, the districts must be redrawn in such a manner that the population difference between the smallest district and the largest district is no more than five-percent.
“We will sit down with the school board in an effort to make sure everyone is in the same commission and school district,” Oliver said.
Data released last week by the U.S. Census Bureau showed a population shift into the area between Barrineau Park and 9 Mile roads. That area, called the Cantonment Census County Division, saw a population increase of 15.8% (6,901 people) while the other three division in the county saw a population decrease of 1.4 to 3 percent. Overall, the county experienced a very slight 1 percent increase during the decade as the population increased from 294,410 in 2000 to 297,619 in 2010.
Below: This graphic shows the 10-year population change in four Census County Divisions in Escambia County.
Sheriff’s Copter Flies Again
March 29, 2011
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office helicopter returned to the air on a limited basis beginning Tuesday, according to Sheriff David Morgan.
Morgan grounded the Sheriff’s helicopter unit in February, 2009 citing the $800,000 annual price tag as being cost prohibitive, but now the department has received a grant that will allow the helicopter to respond to violent felonies and life threatening situations.
“We were able to obtain limited funding in the form of a grant that will allow us to use the helicopter to assist in our efforts to reduce violent crimes,” said Sheriff’s spokesperson Deputy Chris Welborn. “The helicopter crew will be available for call out, but only for the most serious situations.”
In the past, the helicopter was very effective in locating criminals on the run, lost children and elderly adults and drowning victims, he said.
“The helicopter is an effective tool, and as long as grant funding is available we will continue to use the helicopter on a limited basis,” Morgan said.
Pictured: This file photo shows the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office helicopter in operation prior to being grounded two years ago.
Convicted Sex Offender Busted
March 29, 2011
A convicted Alabama sex offender that was supposed to living in Flomaton has been arrested after deputies found him living at an address in Canoe, Alabama.
Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Department deputies found Marvin Earl Kimmons III, 32, living in the 400 block of Canoe Road – not far from Escambia Academy. Kimmons told authorities in January of this year that he was living at 543 Hollywood Drive in Flomaton, according to the Alabama Department of Public Safety.
Kimmons was also charged with possession of a controlled substance and conspiracy to commit a controlled substance crime.
Under Alabama law, sex offenders such as Kimmons are required to notify the state of their latest address at all times. Kimmons was convicted in 2002 of raping a 12-year old female, according to the Alabama Department of Public Safety.
FHSAA Announces New Districts For Cross Country, Golf, Weightlifting
March 29, 2011
Monday, the Florida High School Athletic Association announced new classifications and district assignments in cross country, golf and girls weightlifting for the 2011-12 and 2012-13 school years.
Schools have until April 18 to appeal their classifications before they become final.
The new classifications are (with the immediate North Escambia area schools in bold):
–CROSS COUNTRY–
Class 3A
Region 1 District 1
Choctawhatchee (Fort Walton Beach)
Crestview
Escambia (Pensacola)
Fort Walton Beach
Gulf Breeze
Milton
Mosley (Lynn Haven)
Navarre
Niceville
Pace
Pensacola
Pine Forest (Pensacola)
Tate (Cantonment)
Washington (Pensacola)
Class 2A
Region 1 District 1
Northview (Bratt)
Pensacola Catholic
West Florida (Pensacola)
Arnold (Panama City Beach)
Bay (Panama City)
Marianna
Rutherford (Springfield)
South Walton (Santa Rosa Beach)
Walton (DeFuniak Springs)
Class 1A
Region 1 District 1
Baker
Central (Milton)
Freeport
Jay
Laurel Hill
Paxton
Pensacola Christian
Rocky Bayou Christian (Niceville)
–GIRLS WEIGHTLIFTING–
Single Class
District 1
Baker
Choctawhatchee (Fort Walton Beach)
Crestview
Escambia (Pensacola)
Fort Walton Beach
Freeport – X
Gulf Breeze
Jay
Milton
Navarre
Niceville
Northview (Bratt)
Pace
Pensacola
Pine Forest (Pensacola)
South Walton (Santa Rosa Beach)
Tate (Gonzalez)
Walton (DeFuniak Springs)
Washington (Pensacola)
West Florida (Pensacola)
– BOYS AND GIRLS GOLF –
Class 2A
Region 1 District 1
Choctawhatchee (Fort Walton Beach)
Crestview
Escambia (Pensacola)
Fort Walton Beach
Gulf Breeze
Milton
Navarre
Niceville
Pace
Pensacola
Pine Forest (Pensacola)
Tate (Cantonment)
Washington (Pensacola)
Class 1A
Region 1 District 1
Central (Milton) [boys only]
Freeport
Northview (Bratt) [boys only]
Pensacola Catholic
Rocky Bayou Christian (Niceville) [boys only]
South Walton (Santa Rosa Beach)
Walton (DeFuniak Springs)
West Florida (Pensacola)
More Federal Charges Against Tax Preparer In 99-Count Indictment
March 29, 2011
A federal grand jury has returned a third indictment against a former Alabama tax preparer, adding 19 more criminal counts against her.
Alice Mobley now faces a 99-count indictment of conspiracy, preparing and filing false tax returns, mortgage fraud, and wire fraud. The new indictment added a dozen additional counts of aggravated identity theft around four additional counts of filing false tax returns.
Mobley’s charges stem from alleged false tax returns filed from 2007 to 2009 through her business Preyear Tax and Check Cashing, LLC, located in Monroeville and its offices in Atmore and Thomasville.
Federal agents raided Mobley’s Preyear’s Tax & Check Cashing, LLC on Ridgely Street in Atmore and other locations in March, 2010. Federal court documents show that FBI and IRS agents seized over $300,000, boxes of tax documents, computers, vehicles and even a stuffed teddy bear when they raided the businesses and Mobley’s Monroeville home.
Mobley’s scheme filed tax returns claiming some $68 million in tax refunds, largely for Earned Income Credit and other tax credits, according to the Department of Justice. Mobley would falsely claim various dependent credits, either charged her clients an extra fee for the using the false dependents or pocketing the extra funds herself.
Mobley also “split” dependents, using the identity of some children on one return to obtain Earned Income Credit, and on other returns to obtain Child Credit and Dependent Care Credit. Mobley’s firm also prepared returns which claimed business tax deductions for business which did not exist and farm tax deductions for clients who did not have farms, the DOJ said.
Mobley was also charged with mortgage fraud and wire fraud in connection with fraud in regard to applications she made for mortgages to CitiBank and Wells Fargo.
Pictured above: A federal agent enters Preyear’s Tax & Check Cashing, LLC in Atmore March 4, 2010. Pictured inset: Agents search a vehicle at the business. Pictured below: A federal agent and Atmore Police officer talk to an employee of the business during the raid. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Docs, Gun Groups Compromise On Evers Gun Bill
March 29, 2011
Doctors would still be able to ask patients questions about whether they have guns in many cases under a measure approved by a Senate committee on Monday, a result of a compromise between gun rights groups and the medical establishment on a bill sponsored by Sen. Greg Evers.
The National Rifle Association and other gun rights groups had pushed for a much stronger bill that would have precluded doctors in many cases from asking patients about whether they own guns. Backers of the measure had said patients were being harassed over gun ownership.
But citing the confidentiality of what is said between doctors and patients, and a broader desire to protect other members of patients’ families, doctors had pushed back hard against the bill (SB 432). The issue had promised a fight between two of the most powerful lobbies at the Florida Capitol.
But an amendment adopted before the committee’s vote on Monday would now generally allow doctors to ask questions about gun ownership, as long as the physician doesn’t “harass” the patient, and doesn’t enter the information into the patient’s record without a good reason. That leaves enough room that doctors now support the measure, as does the NRA.
“We have an agreed-to, good bill here,” said Evers.
While the committee advanced the bill, four members, two Republicans and two Democrats, said they still were uncomfortable with anything that would give doctors pause about asking questions about safety issues, and voted against it.
“I am concerned this degrades and diminishes the doctor-patient relationship,” said Sen. Eleanor Sobel, D-Hollywood. “A doctor should ask about safety in the home whether it’s pool safety, helmet safety or gun safety.”
Sen. Mike Bennett said his opposition was personal – because of his own experience as a child with a father who “chased his wife around” the House with a gun.
“I’ve been there, done that,” said Bennett, R-Bradenton.
“What about the patients’ children? What about the patient’s wife getting a beating every Saturday night?” Bennett asked.
Evers said the new version of the legislation would take care of that concern – allowing doctors to ask questions now, if they feel there’s a valid reason.
“There has to be a justification (however),” said the sponsor of the compromise amendment, Sen. Thad Altman, R-Viera. “The doctor can’t do it arbitrarily.”
The bill also no longer carries any civil or criminal penalties, leaving it up to professional medical boards to police the requirement.
The compromise appeared necessary to get the proposal moving – the bill had been stalled in the Health Regulation Committee for more than two weeks, and even some who voted for it on Monday expressed some skepticism.
The bill still has two more committee stops in the Senate, but Evers gave the panel his commitment that only minor changes would be made in those committees, and that the bill wouldn’t revert to its former form. A similar House bill (HB 155) still has two committee stops there.
By David Royse
The News Service of Florida
Hearing Set In School Prayer Debate
March 29, 2011
A hearing has been scheduled for July in the lawsuit that challenges a consent decree that put an end to student and faculty-led prayer in Santa Rosa County schools.
Monday, U.S. District Judge Casey Rodgers gave the lawyers on both sides of the case 90 days to obtain the depositions from over 50 parties in the case prior to the two week bench trial — a trial before the judge without a jury — in July.
Last week, Rodgers clarified that school district employees are allowed to attend religious services such as baccalaureate, even on a school campus.
“This is the only claim involving allegations of school officials threatening discipline for private conduct outside of school or a school event,” Rodgers wrote. “A private religious service is not a school event, even if it takes place in rented school facilities.”
The court prohibited the Santa Rosa County School Board to “from enforcing any school policy that restrains in any way an employee’s participation in, or speech or conduct during, a private religious service, including baccalaureate” pending a full hearing this summer.
Flash Flood Watch: Rain, Storms Tonight, Wednesday
March 29, 2011
A flash food watch is in effect tonight through Wednesday. Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening…then showers and thunderstorms likely after midnight. Lows in the lower 60s. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation 70 percent.
- Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms. Some thunderstorms may be severe. Locally heavy rainfall possible. Highs in the upper 70s. Southwinds 5 to 10 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation 90 percent.
- Wednesday Night: Cloudy. Showers and thunderstorms likely in the evening…then chance of showers and thunderstorms after midnight. Lows in the mid 50s. Northwest winds around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation 60 percent.
- Thursday: Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms in the morning. Highs in the lower 70s. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mphbecoming 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation 40 percent.
- Thursday Night: Cooler. Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 40s. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph.
- Friday: Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 70s.
- Friday Night: Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 40s.
- Saturday: Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 70s.
- Saturday Night: Mostly clear. Lows 46 to 51.
- Sunday: Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 80s.
- Sunday Night: Partly cloudy. Lows 58 to 63.
- Monday: Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of showers. Highs in the lower 80s. Chance of showers 20 percent.
Senate Approves Ban On Public Funding For Abortions
March 29, 2011
The Senate Judiciary Committee approved on a party-line vote a measure that would amend the Florida Constitution to bar any public funding of abortions except in cases of rape, incest or when the life of the mother is endangered.
The measure (SJR 1538) originally called for public funding only to save the life of the mother, but was amended in committee to add the extra exceptions.
“This does not take away the right of a woman to have an abortion,” said Judiciary Chairwoman Anitere Flores, R-Miami, who sponsored the amendment. “It simply clarifies that public funds will not be used to pay for that abortion.”
Abortion-rights advocates argue that the measure would strip women who work for state or local governments from being able to get coverage for an abortion, potentially putting the procedure financially out of reach for some women.
“Regardless of your views on abortion, health insurance for abortion is needed,” said Helen Strain with Planned Parenthood.
The measure still has two committee stops.
March Students Of The Month Named
March 29, 2011
Escambia County Students of the Month for March have been named by the Escambia Association for Administrators in Education. The awards are presented monthly to two students from participating schools.
The following students were named from participating North Escambia area schools:
- Bratt Elementary: Madelin M. Sheedy, second grade; Brandy L. Wooten, fifth grade
- Molino Park Elementary: Reagan G. Daniels, first grade; Madelyn G. McAnally, first grade
- Jim Allen Elementary: Miranda L. Sanders, fifth grade; Lillian O. Sellers, fifth grade
- McArthur Elementary: Zane N. Sampey, second grade; Dys’iraye D. Booth-Martin, second grade
- Ransom Middle: Michael J. Brennan, sixth grade; Carmen E. McCrackin, sixth grade
- Northview High: Amber D. Francis, 11th grade; Jonathan A. Moretz, 10th grade
- Tate High: Ashley L. Bailey, 11th grade; Dillon C. Godwin, 11th grade
Pictured top: Northview High School Students of the Month for March Jonathan Moretz and Amber Francis. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.