Group Slams Senate Map In Court Filings
April 11, 2012
Opponents of the Legislature’s second draft of a new map for the state’s 40 Senate districts tore into the plan in legal briefs filed Tuesday, telling justices that the lines passed by the Legislature in last month’s extraordinary session are no better than the plan justices tossed days earlier.
The Florida Democratic Party, the state NAACP and a coalition of voting rights groups all filed separate briefs criticizing the Senate plan and calling for the Supreme Court to draw its own maps. If the new proposals are invalidated, the Constitution requires justices to approve a new map instead.
“In fact, it was the intent of the framers … that, when needed, the Court be the final guardian of the citizens’ rights to a fair redistricting plan, and one that complies with the constitutional standards,” the Democratic Party said in its brief. “In 2012, that time has come.”
In all, the groups challenged 17 of the 40 districts for bizarre shapes, watering down a minority ethnic or racial group’s share of the population or carving out special protections for incumbents.
If proven, any of those allegations could make the map unconstitutional under the anti-gerrymandering Fair Districts amendments approved by voters in a November 2010 referendum.
he NAACP, which did not vigorously contest the first Senate plan, said in its brief that the second draft would harm the ability of black voters to elect the candidates of their choice in a Duval County district and a part of Broward County.
While the Supreme Court praised a similar Duval County district in its 5-2 ruling striking down the first Senate plan, the NAACP said there wasn’t enough evidence to support the notion that either district would give black voters a chance to shape elections there.
“Without such evidence, approving these districts is simply gambling on the future ability of minority voters to participate in the political process,” the NAACP wrote.
Meanwhile, a coalition of voting rights groups that includes the League of Women Voters of Florida, Common Cause of Florida and Hispanic advocacy group National Council of La Raza said the plan went out of its way to make sure that every incumbent who didn’t face term limits would have a seat to run for without moving.
“This Court gave the Legislature a second chance to comply with the will of the voters and the Legislature again failed,” the groups’ brief says. “Unable to help itself, the Legislature persisted in its pursuit of partisan gain and incumbent self-interest.”
The coalition urged the Supreme Court to consider an alternative draft of the map, released by the groups last week, as the model for a future plan.
Democrats submitted a plan Tuesday that would give Republicans a more narrow advantage in the Senate and perhaps put the minority party within striking distance of taking the chamber.
Under the Democrats’ plan, Republican Gov. Rick Scott would have won 23 districts in 2010; former CFO Alex Sink would have won 17.
But Scott would have won four of those districts by less than five points, while Sink would have won three districts by a relatively narrow margin. If Democrats were to sweep the competitive seats, they could narrowly eke out a majority.
The court ruled late Tuesday that the Florida Senate could file a brief of up to 100 pages after lawyers for the chamber said the 50-page limit imposed by the court wasn’t enough for them to make their case.
By The News Service of Florida
Baseball: Jay Downs Northview (With Photo Gallery)
April 11, 2012
The Jay Royals defeated the Northview Chiefs 9-1 Tuesday in Jay.
Northview hitters included Zach Barrow 1-3 and Kevin Vaughan 2-3. Jay hitters included: Tyler Prescott 3-4, 2B, 3 RBI; Sammy James 1-2, 2B; Todd Laney 2-4; Conner Weekes 3-4, 2B, RBI; Hunter Vaughn 1-3; Logan Brown 2-4, RBI; Chandler Burgess 1-4.
The Royals will take on Bonifay at 7:00 Thursday, while the Chiefs will be on the road at Baker. The JV Chiefs play at 4:00 followed by the varsity at 6:30.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured: The Northview Chiefs took on Jay Tuesday in high school baseball. NorthEscambia.com photos by Taylor Rigby, click to enlarge.
Tate Beats Navarre
April 11, 2012
The Tate Aggies swept Navarre Tuesday night with a 11-0 varsity win, a 9-3 junior varsity win and a 7-6 freshmen win on the road.
The varsity Aggies improved to 18-2 overall, 11-1 in the district — clinching the first seed in the district tournament.
Riley Hodge pitched a complete game shutout for Tate, giving up only two hits while striking out four.
JT Granat was 2-3 for Tate with a double and three RBIs, while David Moorhead was 3-3 with three RBIs. Austin Quina was 3-3 with two RBIs. Also for the Aggies, Mac Seibert was 1-4 with a double, and Cody Palmer was 2-3 with one RBI.
The Aggies will host Pensacola High School in district matchup Thursday at 7 p.m.
Blue Wahoos Lose To Mobile
April 11, 2012
The Mobile BayBears snapped the Blue Wahoos three-game win streak with a 3-2 win behind a strong effort on the mound by Trevor Bauer at Hank Aaron Stadium in Mobile on Tuesday night.
The BayBears broke the scoreless deadlock in the bottom of the fourth inning by plating three runs on four hits. A pair of Blue Wahoos errors aided the effort for Mobile and kept the inning alive. Of the three runs, only one earned run was charged to Blue Wahoos starter Pedro Villarreal.
The Wahoos were held at bay until plating a pair of runs in the top of the eighth. Cody Puckett singled home Henry Rodriguez for the first Blue Wahoos run. After a walk to Ryan LaMarre, P.J. Phillips singled home Mike Costanzo to pull the Wahoos within one, but the Wahoos ran into the second out of the inning on the bases after that hit. The two runs would be all they’d get.
Villarreal (0-1, 6 IP, 4 H, 3R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 K) was saddled with the loss after working six innings and allowing four hits. He struck out five and didn’t issue a walk. Bauer (2-0, 5.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 11 K) was solid in the winning effort for the BayBears as he struck out a season-high 11 batters. Evan Marshall (S, 2) earned the save by recording the final four outs for the BayBears.
The series continues from Mobile on Wednesday. The Blue Wahoos will send right-hander Curtis Partch (0-1, 15.00 ERA) against BayBears righty Charles Brewer (0-0, 1.50 ERA). First pitch is set for 7:05 from Hank Aaron Stadium.
By Tommy Thrall
Pictured: Pedro Villarreal on the mound for the Pensacola Blue Tuesday in Mobile . Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Woman, 71, Flown To Hospital After Being Kicked By Horse
April 10, 2012
A 71-year old female was airlifted to a Pensacola hospital after being kicked by a horse this morning in McDavid. The incident happened on Highway 164 just west of Highway 29 about 10:20 a.m.. The woman was reportedly kicked in the chest.
She was flown by LifeFlight to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola as a “trauma alert”.
The woman’s name and further details about her condition have not been released.
Unknown Injuries In Early Morning Highway 97 Crash
April 10, 2012
It was not immediately known if anyone was injured in a single vehicle crash on Highway 97 early Tuesday morning.
A passerby discovered a Ford Expedition on its side next to Highway 97 between Tungoil Road and Hendrix Lane about 4:35 a.m. First responders were unable to locate a patient after a complete search of an adjacent brushy area.
It appeared the driver of the SUV was northbound on Highway 97 when they lost control, ran off the roadway and then over-corrected, crossing both lanes and traveling into a ditch where the vehicle overturned.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Further details have not been released.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Atmore Ambulance also responded to the accident.
Pictured above and below: A single vehicle crash early Tuesday morning on Highway 97 south of Walnut Hill. Pictured inset: Firefighters were able to find a Bible and an umbrella in a nearby wooded area, but no driver. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Robert “Dakoda” Brannon
April 10, 2012
Robert “Dakoda” Brannon, age 18, of Molino passed away Saturday, April 7, 2012. Dakoda was born on December 12, 1993, in Pensacola, Florida. He was an avid LSU fan, outdoors enthusiast who enjoyed fishing, hunting, racing, and time at the beach and river. He had a huge heart for all his family and friends and could always put a smile on everyone’s face. His friendships were important to him and were cherished dearly. His fun-loving personality, smile, and laugh will never be forgotten. His passing has broken many hearts that will last a lifetime, but his life will forever be remembered by all his loved ones.
He was preceded in death by his great grandfather Gerald Brannon.
Survivors include his father, Rubin O’Donovan III; his mother and stepfather Brande Brannon Broxson and Jay Broxson; his brother Rubin O’Donovan IV; grandparents Don and Wendy Russell, Robert E. Brannon, Rubin and Sheila O’Donovan; great grandparents Don and Bernadette Godwin and Betty Brannon; uncles and aunts, Randy and Brooke Brannon Brasch, Wayne and Crystal Manoso; special cousins, Kaley and Megan Leonard, Katelynn Brasch and Mandy Broxson.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, April 12, 2012, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North-Cantonment with Father Raymond Mullins officiating. Interment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery.
Serving, as pallbearers will be Austin Kalfus II, Cody McCarty, Tyler Moore, William Dalton Oglesby, Joe Kittrell and Jesse Crumpler. Family will receive friends after the service at 7910 Chellie Road, Pensacola, Florida 32526.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home one hour to service time.
Family request that in lieu of flowers friends make donations to Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital in Dakoda Brannon’s memory.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North, 1000 Highway 29 South Cantonment is in charge of arrangements.
‘Slick’ Arrested In Connection With Walnut Hill Battery
April 10, 2012
An Atmore man has now been arrested in connection with an incident in which two women allegedly tased a man during an armed disturbance in Walnut Hill.
Slick Kenneth Corey, 43, was charged with felony aggravated battery for his alleged involvement in the altercation last month on Rigby Road. Windy Hall Hudson, age 28 of Century, and Wanda R. McGhee, age 44 of Atmore, were both previously arrested for felony aggravated battery using a deadly weapon after the incident.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to an armed disturbance in which the victim said he was sitting on the porch with his girlfriend and the homeowner. He told deputies that McGhee, who is his estranged wife, along with Hudson and a man he knew only as “Slick” pulled up in the driveway.
The victim said “Slick” headed toward him in an agitated state and punched him in the face and then grabbed him around the neck in a chokehold, according to an arrest report.
While the victim was down on the ground in the chokehold, a witness told deputies that McGhee began to use a taser to tase the victim repeatedly while Hudson kicked him. The witness said Hudson grabbed the taser and also tased the victim. “Slick” and the two women then left the residence.
Deputies later made contact with the women at the Grey Goose Lounge on Highway 97. Hudson refused to answer questions, while McGhee told deputies that her estranged husband had swung at the unnamed male first, starting the fight.
Both women refused to provide the identity of the man known as “Slick”, according to their arrest reports. But the Sheriff’s Office was able to determine that “Slick” was Slick Kenneth Corey and obtained a warrant for his arrest.
Hall and Corey were released from the Escambia County Jail on $10,000 bond, while McGhee was released on a $5,000 bond.
Softball: Northview Beats Washington
April 10, 2012
The Northview Lady Chiefs defeated Washington High School Monday evening in Pensacola, 7-1.
The Lady Chiefs will play their last home games of the regular season on Tuesday, with the JV at 4:00 and the varsity at 6:00. On Thursday, the varsity will travel to Escambia Academy in Canoe, Ala., for their last regular season game at 3:30.
Inmate Beaten To Death By Cellmate
April 10, 2012
An inmate death at the Santa Rosa Correctional Institution is under investigation by the Florida Department of Corrections and the State Attorney’s Office.
Ricky D. Martin, age 24, died Sunday at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola. He was found beaten March 30, the day after he arrived at Santa Rosa CI. Preliminary information indicated Martin was attacked by his cellmate, Shawn Rogers.
The incident will go to a grand jury.
Martin, who was from Collier County, was serving time for 2007 conviction on charges of grand theft, armed burglary, trafficking in stolen property and four counts of grand theft of a firearm.
Rogers is serving a life sentence for robbery with a deadly weapon and a 15-year sentence for aggravated battery with deadly weapon.