AG Bondi: Public Should Be Allowed To Speak At Public Meetings
March 15, 2011
Attorney General Pam Bondi said Tuesday she supports legislation (SB 310, HB 285) that would require the public to be allowed to testify at public meetings.
The bills, sponsored by Sen. Joe Negron, R-Stuart in the Senate and Rep. Eric Eisnaugle, R-Orlando, in the House, say public meetings must provide an “opportunity for members of the public to be heard.”
It does permit a board or commission to limit a speaker’s time and require that a spokesperson be appointed to speak for large groups. There are occasions when people travel hundreds of miles to speak at a committee or Cabinet meetings only to have time run out before their chance to speak.
The measure was spurred, however, primarily by local governments, which on a few occasions have refused to let people speak, saying that they were disruptive. Bondi said at a First Amendment Foundation luncheon Tuesday that she supports the idea of everyone having a chance to speak at public meetings.
The bill has yet to be heard in any House or Senate committees.
Flags Fly At Half Staff
March 15, 2011
Flags in North Escambia and across the nation were at half-staff Tuesday as a as a mark of respect for the memory of Army Corporal Frank Woodruff Buckles, the last surviving American Veteran of World War I. When he passed away in late February, President Obama ordered that flags at all federal institutions be flown at half-staff on the day of his interment, March 15.
Gov. Rick Scott also asked that all state and local governments join in the honor or Corporal Buckles and all American veterans of World War I by flying the flag at half-staff across the state.
Pictured above: The flag flies at half-staff Tuesday afternoon at Bratt Elementary School. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Rep. Jeff Miller To Meet With Constituents In Century On Friday
March 15, 2011
U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller will host a “Coffee with the Congressman” in Century on Friday.
Miller said the event will take place at 10:00 a.m. at the Agricultural Building on West Highway 4 in Century. All constituents are invited to come by with questions and comments about pending legislation, federal issues, or just to meet their Congressman.
Evers’ Open Carry Bill Passes Justice Committee
March 15, 2011
Amid protests by law enforcement groups, the Senate Civil Justice Committee voted Monday to pass Greg Evers’ SB 234, which allows concealed gun permit holders to carry their weapons openly.
The vote was 3-2, with two Democratic senators voting against it. The bill was amended last week to exclude concealed weapons holders from carrying guns on college or private school campuses following emotional testimony by the father of an accidental shooting victim. The fate of the bill is uncertain.
Sen. Charlie Dean, R-Inverness, a former sheriff, voted for the measure but said he would vote against it if it reaches the Senate floor. Dean said he was concerned about how the bill impacts law enforcement officers attempting to police people with guns.
“It is hard for that responding officer to make a split-second decision about good guys and bad guys,” Dean said. Groups such as the National Rifle Association are in favor of the bill, arguing that it prevents someone from being charged with a crime when a concealed weapon is accidentally shown.
SB 234 still must be heard by the Judiciary and Rules committees.
Area Job Fair This Evening
March 15, 2011
The Poarch Creek Education Department will host a combination Career and College Fair this evening.
The event, which is open to the public, will take place from 5-8 p.m. in the Poarch Creek Tribal Courtroom in Building 300.
Recruiters from businesses, colleges and universities will be on hand, including Austal ADIT, Allied Vocational Rehab School, Auburn University, Creek Indian Development Authority, David’s Paint and Body, Columbia University, Faulkner State University, Huntington College, Maritime Welding ADIT Program, Liberty National Insurance Company, PCI Gaming HR, University of South Alabama, Reid State Technical College, and Lynda Davis of the Reid State Ready to Work Program.
For more information, call (251) 368-9136.
AT&T, Verizon Offer Free Calling, Texting To Japan
March 15, 2011
AT&T and Verizon announced Monday that post-paid customers can call and message Japan for free. In addition, AT&T residential landline customers will received 60 minutes of free calls to Japan during the next two weeks.
VERIZON WIRELESS
All Verizon Wireless post-paid customers will receive free calling to Japan from March 11 through April 10. Post-paid customers are those who receive a monthly bill from the company (no those that use prepay cards). In addition, Verizon Wireless post-paid customers in the U.S. will receive free text and multimedia messaging to Japan for the same time period.
Verizon customers can also make a $10 donation by simply sending a text message and may choose from nine organizations aiding those in need in Japan, including the American Red Cross. Donating $10 is easy – simply text the specific word to the organization’s designated short code:
- ADRA Relief: text SUPPORT to 85944
- American Red Cross Relief: text REDCROSS to 90999
- Convoy of Hope: text TSUNAMI or SUNAMI to 50555
- GlobalGiving: text JAPAN to 50555
- International Medical Corps: text MED to 80888
- Mercy Corps: text MERCY to 25383
- Salvation Army: text JAPAN to 80888
- Save the Children Federation, Inc.: text JAPAN or TSUNAMI to 20222
- World Relief Corp. of National Association of Evangelicals: text WAVE to 50555
- World Vision, Inc.: text 4JAPAN or 4TSUNAMI to 20222
Text messages are free for customers donating to any of these organizations. Verizon Wireless always waives text-messaging fees for disaster relief, and 100 percent of each $10 donation goes to the relief organization. For Verizon Wireless customers who pay monthly bills, the $10 donations will appear in customers’ next regular monthly bill. For customers using the company’s prepaid services, the $10 donations will be taken from customers’ prepaid balance.
AT&T WIRELESS AND RESIDENTIAL LANDLINE
AT&T announced it has implemented international calling and texting support efforts for U.S. residential wireless and wireline consumers trying to connect with loved ones in Japan, following last week’s tragic earthquake and tsunami.
Effective beginning last week, March 11, and continuing through March 31, AT&T wireless postpaid customers will not be charged for:
- International long distance usage from the United States and Puerto Rico to Japan
- Text messages to Japan, originated from a U.S. wireless number
In addition, and also effective March 11 through March 31, residential wireline customers can seek credits for up to 60 minutes of direct dial calling to Japan:
- Upon receiving their wireline bill, customers may call AT&T to receive adjusted calling for up to 60 minutes. In other words, no charges for up to 60 minutes of call time from the United States to Japan between March 11 and March 31.
For any of the above activity, customers will either see no charges reflected on their monthly statement, or they will see a full credit applied to their statement for activity between March 11 and March 31.
“We want to help our customers connect with loved ones in Japan in anyway we can,” said Mark Collins, senior vice president, Voice and Data Products, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. “Connecting with family and friends is most important at times like this— we want to make it as easy and worry free as possible for our customers.”
Still available, AT&T wireless customers can text “redcross” to 90999 to give a $10 donation to help the Red Cross with disaster support efforts in the area. No text message fees apply.
Escambia Deputies Begin Seat Belt Crackdown
March 15, 2011
Tuesday, Escambia County deputies started a two-week crackdown designed to increase seat belt use and decrease motor vehicle fatalities across the county.
During the mobilization, officers will be cracking down on motorists who fail to wear their seat belts – both day and night. Seatbelt non-usage is a primary violation and motorists should remember that they may be stopped for not buckling up, according to Sena Maddison, spokesperson for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
The targeted effort will run through March 31st.
Pictured inset and below: An Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Unit motorcycle deputy writes a ticket on Highway 97 in Walnut Hill last year. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Chiefs Win Two Against Ackerman, MS Indians
March 15, 2011
The Northview Chiefs won two against the Indians of Ackerman, Mississippi, Monday with both the varsity and junior varsity winning in Bratt.
The Chiefs JV team won the first game by a score of 7-6. The JV Chiefs were led by Destin Pizzolato, who was 2-4 and a run scored, Daulton Daniel 2-3 and a run scored, Tristan Montgomery 1-2 with a run scored, Justin Halteman with a run scored, Branden Freeman with a run scored, Jordan Coon with a run scored, and Chad Smith with one run scored.
Tristan Mongomery and Daulton Tullis both pitched for the JV Chiefs with Tullis picking up the win.
In the varsity game, the Chiefs won 3-0 with behind the pitching strength of Colton Sims, who pitched three innings giving up no hits, no runs, and striking out four. Hunter Rigby pitched two and two-thirds innings, giving up one hit, no runs, and striking out one. Harold Harrison closed the game with one and a third innings on the mound, giving up no hits, no runs, and striking out four.
The Chiefs were led at the plate by Brandon Sheets going 2-3 with two runs scored and 2 stolen bases, Austin Arrington at 2-3 with one RBI, and Dabney Langhorne scoring one run.
The Chiefs will be back in action Thursday against Escambia Academy in Canoe.The JV plays at 4 p.m. and varsity plays at 6 p.m. Friday the 18th, the Chiefs will be at Freeport for a district game with the Bulldogs.
Results: Northview Track Meet
March 15, 2011
The following results are in from a recent track meet held at Northview High School between Escambia High, Pensacola Christian Academy, W.S. Neal High and Northview.
Overall:
- Girls: 1st – PCA 146, 2nd Northview-75, 3rd-Escambia-7, 4th-WS Neal
- Boys: 1st – PCA 110, 2nd WS Neal -47, 3rd-Escambia-45, 4th-Northview
The following Northview High students placed at the meet:
Discus
- Girls-Te’Andreia Knight, third; ShelbyNielson, fourth
- Boys-Jody Day, fifth
Shot
- Girls-Te’Andreia Knight, first;, Naomi Cooler, second; Shelby Nielson, fourth
- Boys-Cole Eicher, third
High Jump
- Girls-Laneicia Gomez, second; Mason Solchenberger, fourth
- Boys-Jeremiah Cooler, fourth
Triple
- Girls-Laneicia Gomez, second; Hannah Fiellin, fourth
Long
- Girls-Hannah Fiellin, fourth; Mason Solchenberger, fifth
Hurdles 300
- Girls-Ashley Mooney, third
- Boys-Aaron Floyd, fourth
Hurdles High
- Girls-Laneicia Gomez, first
200
- Girls-Melissa Moretz, second
- Boys-La’Mikal Banks, fourth
400
- Girls-Melissa Moretz, first
- Boys-Jordan Bodiford, fifth
800
- Girls-Georgia Geotter, first
3200
- Girls-Charleigh McPherson, fourth
1600
- Girls-Georgia Geotter, second
All Florida Prisions To Ban Tobacco Use In Six Months
March 15, 2011
All Florida Department of Corrections facilities will be tobacco-free in six months — including a ban on inmate smoking.
“Inmate smoking and second-hand smoking is costing millions in healthcare costs each year,” said Florida Department of Corrections Secretary Edwin Buss. “Eliminating smoking is a win for taxpayers, but it’s also a win for employees and inmates, making our facilities healthier places to work and live in, and making them a little safer too.”
Smoking bans have long been in place in all of Florida’s public buildings and offices, over half of the state prisons in the US already have similar bans, and since 2004, all of the prisons in the Federal Prison system have banned smoking on prison grounds.
In the past year, inmates hospitalized for tobacco - related illnesses have cost Florida taxpayers nearly 9 million dollars, Buss said, and snuffing out cigarettes will also result in cleaner prisons and by removing lighters, reduce the chance of arson.
The Department is giving 180 days notice to inmates and will offer smoking cessation assistance to inmates requesting help. Designated smoking areas will be set up for employees outside the prison fence.
Pictured: A guard tower at Century Correctional Institution. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.