Ernest Ward Middle To Hold Career Night
January 25, 2012
Ernest Ward Middle School will host a Career Night next week for students, parents and community members.
Representatives from many career fields will be present, along with school representatives from Ernest Ward Middle, Northview High and West Florida High who will speak individually to those who would like information concerning career academies, middle and high school academic programs and extracurricular activities.
Refreshments will be served and adults may register for door prizes. Adults are also welcomed to bring copies of their resumes to leave with potential employers.
Businesses interested in taking part in the Career Night should contact Gayle Hanks, guidance counselor, at (850) 327-4283 ext. 227.
The event will take place in the school gym from 6-7:30 p.m. on on Thursday, February 2.
NHS Plants Live Oak For Arbor Day
January 25, 2012
A live oak tree was recently planted at Northview High School’s FFA as part of an Arbor Day celebration.
Escambia County, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Science (UF/IFAS) Extension, and Florida Forestry Service also took part in the event.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Chris Jones Seeks Fifth Term As Property Appraiser
January 25, 2012
Incumbent Chris Jones prefiled Friday for his fifth term as Escambia County Property Appraiser. Jones, a Democrat, was first elected to the position in 1996.
No other candidate has prefiled to date for the position.
Abortion Battle Re-emerges As Florida House Bill Advances
January 25, 2012
Florida’s perennial abortion battle re-emerged Tuesday, as a House panel approved bills that would block abortions after 20 weeks, require 24-hour waiting periods and target abortions that might be motivated by the race or gender of the fetus.
The Republican-dominated House Health & Human Services Access Subcommittee approved three bills in party-line votes, after testimony and debate that reflected the country’s deep divide about the abortion issue.
“I don’t think that killing these children should be convenient,” Rep. Mike Horner, a Kissimmee Republican said at one point during debate about a wide-ranging bill (HB 277) that includes a 24-hour waiting period and places new regulations on abortion clinics and doctors.
Critics repeatedly hammered the bills as infringing on the ability of women and doctors to make medical decisions, with Rep. Gwyn Clarke-Reed, D-Deerfield Beach, describing a bill targeting the race or gender of fetuses (HB 1327) as “insulting.”
“I think it’s a very dangerous process to legislate morality,” Rep. Steve Perman, D-Boca Raton, said at another point in the meeting.
The meeting renewed a years-long legislative fight about whether Florida should place more restrictions on abortions. People on both sides of the issue filled a meeting room in the Capitol’s Knott Building, with speakers ranging from representatives of Planned Parenthood and the American Civil Liberties Union to a series of abortion opponents who testified about their decisions to give birth instead of terminating pregnancies.
The subcommittee voted 9-5 to approve a bill (HB 839) that would prevent abortions after 20 weeks unless a “medical emergency” exists that could lead to a woman’s death or permanent physical damage. Sponsor Daniel Davis, R-Jacksonville, said some researchers say fetuses are able to feel pain at 20 weeks of development.
“I think this bill seeks to protect arguably the frailest members of our society from pain,” Davis said.
But Rep. Lori Berman, D-Delray Beach, questioned Davis’ use of 20 weeks, describing it as an “arbitrary, unscientific number.” The scientific community is undecided on the issue, with researchers citing anywhere from 19 to 29 weeks. Berman also said she thinks the bill violates the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion.
In 2010, 79,908 abortions were performed in Florida, with 73,883 performed at 12 weeks or earlier and 6,025 performed between 13 and 24 weeks, according to a House staff analysis
The most debate Tuesday centered on HB 277, which was approved 10-5. Critics said the proposal, which would require a 24-hour waiting period, could pose logistical problems for women who would have to travel to abortion clinics twice.
Also, the bill would require new clinics to be wholly owned and operated by doctors who have received residency training in abortion-related procedures. Planned Parenthood lobbyist Emily Caponetti said such requirements would make it hard to open and operate clinics and would limit access to abortions.
But bill sponsor Rachel Burgin, R-Riverview, said the 24-hour waiting period, for example, is aimed at making sure women are fully informed before deciding to go ahead with abortions.
Meanwhile, the panel voted 9-5 to approve a bill that would require doctors to sign affidavits confirming that abortions are not being done because of the fetus’ race or gender. According to a House staff analysis, the U.S. has condemned such practices in China and India. Four states Arizona, Oklahoma, Illinois and Pennsylvania now prohibit abortions based on gender. Of those, Arizona also prohibits abortions based on race.
Sponsor Scott Plakon, R-Longwood, said abortions based on those factors are a “barbaric practice” and that the bill is aimed at preventing discrimination.
“Race or gender should not be a factor in the decision to have an abortion,” he said.
But opponents said the bill, dubbed the “Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass Prenatal Nondiscrimination and Equal Opportunity for Life Act” is designed to stigmatize abortion.
“This is perhaps one of the most-disingenuous pieces of legislation I have ever seen,” said Rep. Mark Pafford, D-West Palm Beach.
By The News Service of Florida
Man Injured After Explosion Inside Garbage Truck
January 25, 2012
A man was injured after an explosion Tuesday afternoon inside a garbage truck in the 4500 block of Chumuckla Highway.
When Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s deputies arrived, they found that a Waste Pro employee was on the ground after having been thrown about 10 feet by the explosion. The employee was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola with minor injuries.
The Pace Fire Department, State Fire Marshal, ATF and the State Fire Marshal’s Office Bomb Squad responded to evaluate the situation, shutting down Chumuckla Highway for about two and half hours. The truck was then escorted to the county’s landfill in Bagdad where the contents were dumped in a controlled environment.
Investigators determined that an initial explosion was caused by a discarded home health care oxygen cylinder. When the trash was compacted in the truck, the cylinder had exploded and ignited the surrounding trash. A secondary explosion was caused from an aerosol can.
The State Fire Marshal’s Office is working to trace the serial numbers on the oxygen container to determine ownership, according to the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office.
“All agencies involved want to stress the severe danger that it causes when people improperly and illegally dispose of hazardous or flammable materials in a trash bin. These items need to be disposed of properly by returning them to a hazardous materials collection site or a medical facility that will accept the empty cylinders,” according to a statement released by the Sheriff’s Office.
Man Gets 25 Years For Sexual Battery Of 60 Year Old Woman
January 25, 2012
An Escambia County man was sentenced to 25 year in prison for the sexual battery of a 60-year old woman.
Ezekiel Temane received the sentence from Judge Michael Allen. On January 18, 2012, Temane pled no contest to two counts of sexual battery, one count attempt burglary of an occupied dwelling, and one count of harassing a witness involving a first degree felony. According to State Attorney Bill Eddins, Temane committed sexual battery of a 60-year old woman on February 22, 2011.
The investigation and arrest were conducted by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Santa Rosa Deputy Injured In Traffic Crash
January 24, 2012
A Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s deputy is recovering after being involved in a traffic crash Monday night.
According to the Florida High Patrol, Deputy Patric Gibson, 46, was responding to an emergency call with lights and sirens when a Ford SUV driven by 45-year old William Burgin of Milton turned in front of him on Willard Norris Road at Pine Blossom Road.
Both men had to be extricated from their vehicles. They were transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola with series injuries. They were both upgraded to good condition by Tuesday night.
Charges against Burgin are pending.
North Escambia Residents Charged In $1 Million Prisoner Tax Refund Scam
January 24, 2012
Two Cantonment residents are among five people facing federal charges for their involvement in a prisoner income tax refund scheme that defrauded the government of nearly $1 million.
Mary Hobbs Blair, age 62 of Cantonment, Nikki Kight, age 44 of Cantonment, Thomas Rabeau, age 62 of Brandon, Carter Hassman, a 49-year old inmate in Santa Rosa County, and Michael “Elton” Blair, age 43 of Gulf Breeze, were indicted in connection with the scheme, Pamela C. Marsh, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, said Monday.
All five defendants are facing one count each of conspiracy to defraud the government with respect to claim. Mary Blair is also facing 17 counts of false claims against the government, 17 counts of theft from the government, and two count of aggravated identity theft.
The federal indictment alleges that beginning around January 2007, the five individuals and others filed fraudulent tax returns using the names and social security numbers of inmates housed in the Florida Department of Corrections, along with those of other individuals who were not incarcerated.
As part of the scheme, Mary Blair, Rabeau, Kight and Elton Blair’s home addresses were listed on the tax returns, so IRS refund checks would be mailed to them. According to federal investigators.
As part of the scheme, false and nonexistent businesses were listed as the purported employers, listing fraudulent wages and withholding amounts for time periods in which the inmates were incarcerated. It is alleged that during the course of the scheme the defendants and others filed and filed 223 false and fraudulent federal income tax returns, which falsely claimed approximately $954,795 in fraudulent tax refunds. The refunds were then deposited into Mary Blair’s bank accounts.
The defendants are scheduled for trial on March 5. If convicted, each faces a maximum of 10 years in prison for conspiracy to defraud the government. Mary Blair faces up to 10 years in prison on each of 17 counts of false claims against the government, and two years imprisonment on each of 17 counts of theft from the government.
Trial Postponed In Molino Couple Cancer Scam Case
January 24, 2012
Trial was set to begin Monday for one member of the Molino couple accused of faking her cancer diagnosis to scam people out of thousands of dollars.
Jury selection had been scheduled for Monday in the case of Gerald “Chris” Luker, but a request for a continuance by his attorney was granted.
Both Chris and Sonja Luker are now set for trial in mid-March.
Felony grand theft charges were dropped against the couple back in May, but they both still face felony fraud charges in the alleged scheme.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, numerous fundraisers were held between May 2004 and October 2010 that raised over $19,000. Evidence shows that about $14,000 was used in 2009 to avoid foreclosure on their home in the 4700 block of Pine Circle Drive and about $4,000 in cash was used by Chris Luker to purchase a 1997 Harley motorcycle.
The Sheriff’s Office investigation found that Chris and Sonja Luker personally received money from friends, family, church members and co-workers under a “scheme” that Sonja Luker was being treated for cancer. Investigators believe both Chris and Sonja Luker are guilty of fraud in the scheme; witnesses said the couple was observed together at fundraisers talking about her cancer treatments.
They have each pleaded not guilty to the charge against them.
Pictured above: Sonja and Chris Luker (in black shirts) are seen in a 2009 NorthEscambia.com photo from a motorcycle ride fundraiser that benefited her alleged fight against cancer. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Road To The Crown: Miss Northview High 2012 Contestants
January 24, 2012
Join NorthEscambia.com this week for our annual multi-part series “the road to the crown”.
We will follow 24 young ladies at Northview High School in their quest for the crown and the title of “Miss Northview High School” for 2012. We’ll introduce you to each girl and go behind the scenes with exclusive photos for a look at the annual Northview High School pageant.
A new installment of “the road to the crown” will be posted each morning this week. Then on Sunday morning, we’ll introduce you to the new Miss Northview High School.
The annual Miss Northview High School Pageant will be held on Saturday, January 28 at 7:00 in the school auditorium. The pageant is sponsored by the Northview High Varsity Cheerleaders.
Today, we begin with a group photo of all the young ladies participating. Their names are listed below.
Pictured top: Participants in this year’s Miss Northview High School 2012 are: (front, L-R) Charleigh McPherson, Danielle Scott, Courtney Weaver, Lauren McCall, Katelynne Calloway, Logan Wainwright, Melissa Moretz, (middle row) Cheyanne Garnett, Morgan Digmon, Ashley Mooney, Ariel Holland, Ashley Cunningham, Erica Wiggins, Brittany Thompson, Tiffani Pritchett, (back row) Misty Doran, Ali Martin, Hannah Gibson, Rebekah Sepulveda, Anna Fischer, Abby Odom, Kendal Cobb, Ashlynn McCall, Morgan Ward. Front: Miss NHS 2011 Haley Simpson. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.