Lt. Gov: Stand Your Ground Task Force Will Be Unbiased
May 2, 2012
Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll, chair of a public safety task force charged with reviewing Florida’s “stand your ground” law, moved quickly at the group’s first meeting Tuesday to dispel criticism that it was stacked with pro-gun members.
Critics have charged that the panel – appointed by Gov. Rick Scott to review the law that has figured prominently in the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin – includes members who helped pass the law in 2005, but no known opponents.
“Before the task force had even convened its first meeting, the press had already speculated what we will and will not do,” Carroll said. “They have already discounted this task force as politically unbalanced.”
She said that aside from four current or former lawmakers who voted for “stand your ground” – Carroll, House sponsor Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala, Sen. David Simmons, R-Maitland and a co-sponsor, and Sen. Gary Siplin, D-Orlando – she had no idea how the other 15 members of the Citizen Safety and Protection Task Force felt about the controversial statute.
“So it’s a mischaracterization to assume that this task force is not balanced,” Carroll said.
She asked members to approach their task “with an unbiased mind.”
Scott formed the panel after the Feb. 26 shooting of Martin by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman, 28, attracted national attention, including sparking marches as far away as New York and California. Zimmerman claimed he shot the unarmed Martin, an African American, in self-defense and cited the “stand your ground” law allowing individuals to use deadly force if they feel threatened.
Most of the panel’s first meeting was devoted to housekeeping – introductions, a review of Florida’s Sunshine Law, the history of the “stand your ground” law and the development of a mission statement and work plan.
The panel will take public testimony at future meetings. The next will be June 12 in Sanford.
Other dates and locations: July 10 in Desoto County; Sept. 12 in Miami, with an effort to meet in Martin’s hometown of Miami Gardens; and Sept. 13 in Palm Beach County. The panel agreed to hold its October meeting in Pensacola and its November meeting in Jacksonville, but did not set specific dates.
Carroll said no changes could be made to a meeting agenda once that meeting had been publicly noticed. She said that was why she had declined Sen. Chris Smith’s April 26 request to speak to the task force at its inaugural meeting.
Smith, who was in the audience, released the recommendations of his own “stand your ground” task force on Monday. It was started, he said, because the governor had waited too long to convene the public safety panel, and its recommendations included revisions to the law but not its outright repeal.
Despite his concerns, Smith, D-Fort Lauderdale, said he had confidence in the “legal minds” on Scott’s panel, particularly Katherine Fernandez Rundle of Miami, the state attorney for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit.
“They have some political appointees on there, and people that may have a political agenda,” he said. “But I hope that they take a legal agenda and really look at the law from a legal standpoint and how it’s being used and misused in the state of Florida.”
Smith will present his panel’s recommendations at the next meeting in Sanford.
On Tuesday, the task force spent most of its time debating its mission, work plan and meeting locations.
Baxley, referring to himself as “the father of the Castle Doctrine” on which the “stand your ground” law is based, argued against a mission statement narrowly focused on revising that statute.
“I understood the task to be much broader,” Baxley said. “We’re not talking about one case. This is about the safety of our citizens.”
Carroll responded that with more than 170 public safety laws in Florida, the panel doesn’t have time to examine them all.
“Other public safety laws may pop up,” she said. “It may be beyond our scope, but it’s our responsibility to bring to the Legislature any recommendations” about other laws to examine.
As the work plan unfolded, it became clear that the task force likely would meet until the 2013 legislative session starts in March – although Smith has been calling for a special session to revise “stand your ground.”
“We’re not going to rush this process,” said Rev. R.B. Holmes, the vice chair. “We laid out a clear road map to get us to March to bring before the governor. With all due respect to my good friend Sen. Smith, this is not a South Florida task force. This is a state of Florida task force that is very, very inclusive.”
Smith said he wanted a special session as soon as possible due to continued misunderstanding of the law.
“I think it’s still urgent,” he said. “Because of the Trayvon Martin case and all the publicity it’s gotten, you’ve got people around the state that still believe that they have the right to have a gun and go out and kill someone, and then you stand your ground, be the aggressor, or patrol your neighborhoods and confront anyone and use this.”
The public is encouraged to email the task force at CitizenSafety@eog.myflorida.com. John Konkus, Carroll’s chief of staff, said 700 emails had already come in. The meetings will be streamed live on the site, and minutes will be posted there as well.
By The News Service of Florida
Lane Restrictions Today On 9 Mile In Beulah
May 2, 2012
Today, motorists can expect lane restrictions on Nine Mile Road at the I-10 overpass from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. as crews from Transfield Services replace lights on the bridge.
Drivers are reminded to pay attention to the speed limit when traveling through the construction area, and to use caution, especially at night when driving in work zones, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.
Daniel Franklin Ziglar
May 2, 2012
Daniel Franklin Ziglar, age 61 of Cantonment, passed away on Monday, April 30, 2012.
He was born April 7, 1951, in Troy, AL. A graduate of the J.M. Tate High School Class of 1969, he served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War and worked most of his life as an electrical technician which took him all over the world. In retirement, as an avid fishermen, Danny enjoyed spending time on the river with his family, especially fishing with his grandchildren, and many friends.
He was preceded in death by brother, Oscar Ziglar, and nephew, Kevin Ziglar.
He is survived by parents Silas and Claudine Ziglar, children Matthew and Brandi Ziglar, Danielle Ziglar and EJ Jarman, Brad and Joli Butler and Ashley Hardy, grandchildren Hunter Martin, Grant Hofberger IV, Brayden and Brooke Butler and Delaney Hardy, sibling Sharon Ziglar and many nieces and nephews, extended family and friends.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, May 4, 2012, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North-Cantonment with Rev. Mark Torres officiating.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Thursday, May 3, 2012, from 5-7 p.m.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North, 1000 Highway 29 South Cantonment is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers please make a donation to a charity of your choice.
Annette Simmons
May 2, 2012
Mrs. Annette Simmons, 69, passed away on Monday, April 30, 2012, in Flomaton.
Mrs. Simmons was a native of Perdido and a resident of Flomaton for most of her life.
She was preceded in death by her husband Clifford Simmons, son Tony Simmons, mother Perry Lee Strength and brother Edward Turner.
Survivors include husband, Charles Nichols of Flomaton; son, Tommy Simmons (Amber) of Flomaton; two daughters, Pauline Chancery (Gene) of Pineview and Karen Nall (Butch) of Century; sister Judy Towery of Milton; eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be Wednesday, May 2, 2012, at 10 a.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel with Bro. Waylon Stuckey and Rev. Chuck Day officiating. Burial will follow at Flomaton Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Dakota Chancery, Brad Futral, Jason Dall, Kenny Higdon, Michael Hagen and Ryan Hawkins.
Elizabeth Juanita “Nita” Sheffield
May 2, 2012
Mrs. Elizabeth Juanita “Nita” Sheffield, 84, passed away on April 24, 2012, in Century.
Mrs. Sheffield was a native and life long resident of Flomaton. When she was young she loved movies, music and friends; she was an avid, award-winning roller skater. She was member of Bethel Baptist Church.
Mrs. Sheffield was preceded in death by her parents, Robert E. and Daisy Ellis Sr.; brothers, Robert E. Ellis Jr. and Charles V. Ellis; and husband James Grady Curenton Sr.
She is survived by son, James Grady (Chery) Curenton of Montrose, AL; daughter, Sharon (Donny) Marshall of Flomaton; two grandchildren, Samantha Tullis Hanks of Flomaton and Jessica M. Curenton of Daphne; and three great-grandchildren, Logan Hanks, Dalton Hanks and Destiny Hanks.
Funeral services were held Friday, April 27, 2012, at the Petty- Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Jerry Keese officiating.
Burial will followed at Green Acres Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Steve Stanton, Matt Hanks, Larry Zangas, Mitchel Norman, William Reaves and Larry White.
Traffic Delays: Work Begins On Highway 97 To Highway 29 Turn Lane
May 1, 2012
A construction project is now underway to add new turn lane at the intersection of Highway 97 and Highway 29 in Molino.
Anderson Columbia will construct a right turn lane from southbound Highway 97 to southbound Highway 29. For the next three months, drivers can expect delays, intermittent lane shifts and closures, according to the Florida Department of Transportation. However, no lane closures will be permitted between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m.
“Drivers are reminded to pay attention to the speed limit when traveling through the construction area, and to use caution, especially at night when driving in work zones,” according to Tanya Sanders Branton, public information specialist for FDOT.
Pictured top: A right turn lane will be constructed here from Highway 97 to southbound Highway 29 in Molino. Pictured below: A contractor unloads drainage pipe for the project Monday morning. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Employee Fired For Mishandling Cash
May 1, 2012
A Town of Century employee was fired Monday after allegedly mishandling cash.
Angel Mitchell, who had worked for the town about six years as an office assistant, was terminated during a special meeting of the Century Town Council. Mitchell was not accused of stealing any funds whatsoever. Rather, she was accused of not properly crediting and depositing customer payments, instead keeping hundreds of dollars that could not immediately be accounted for in her cash drawer.
“Even though there is not any money missing or stolen,” council member Gary Riley said, “it was not where it was suppose to be over a period of time.”
Town officials discovered Mitchell had retained over $900 in cash and checks in her cash drawer that was not deposited over a period of several days or even weeks. The funds included water deposits and customer payments to the town’s gas and water departments. According to Mayor Freddie McCall, Mitchell should have deposited the funds on a daily basis.
On April 13, 2012, town officials discovered undeposited items that included a check dated November 25, 2011; a handwritten receipt for $41.77 dated October 27, 2011, but cash from the transaction was not deposited until December 7, 2011; a March 5, 2012, meter deposit of $50 cash; and several other items that, according to town procedures, should have deposited on a daily basis.
“We had lots of irritated people coming in here after us cutting them off when they had paid their bill,” McCall said. “This is a critical business. We are suppose to be good stewards of money.”
McCall said Mitchell had been advised of town procedures for handling money, including in a written July, 2011 memo following a similar incident.
A few town residents spoke out at Monday’s special council meeting against firing Mitchell, including resident Alfonzie Cottrell. “Why does this punishment have to be so hard?” he asked.
“Can we find 60 more days?”, resident Leola Robinson asked. “I believe we can work with her and bring her around..I personally will work with her.”
“Regardless of how we feel about a person personally, this is a business thing,” Riley said.
McCall said the town had recently offered Mitchell a $1 an hour raise to move to a vacant position in the back office which would require only limited customer contact. He said Mitchell did not accept the position, instead advising that she was looking to leave the town’s employ.
Despite the termination, McCall said he would provide a positive employment reference for Mitchell, if asked.
Mitchell did not attend Monday’s special council meeting on her termination.
Pictured top: Century Mayor Freddie McCall (left) explains why he recommended the termination of employee Angel Mitchell as council member Gary Riley and Ann Brooks listen. Pictured inset: A memorandum from Town Clerk Leslie Gonzalez to Mayor Freddie McCall spells out the allegations against Mitchell. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Portion Of Jakes Road Closed
May 1, 2012
A portion of Jakes Road in Nokomis was set to be closed Tuesday morning.
Jakes Road will be closed between Jones Road and Reynolds Road for the replacement of a crossover pipe. The road is expected to be reopened on Friday.
The section of Jakes Road to be closed is a low-traffic dirt road just south of, and parallel, to the Alabama/Florida state line. There are no residences on the section of roadway.
Pedestrian Dies After Being Hit By Semi, SUV
May 1, 2012
A 51-year old Escambia County man died after being hit by two vehicles early Monday morning on Fairfield Drive.
Bobby Joe Nobles died as a result of the injuries he received in the 5:40 a.m. accident at Fairfield Drive and “L” Street. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Nobles was running north across Fairfield Drive when he ran into the path of a 2013 Peterbuilt 18-wheeler driven by Michael R. Shamblin, 46, of Palm Court. The trailer of the semi struck Nobles and threw him into the path of a 2005 Chevrolet Silverado driven by James E. Pittan, 50, of Milton. Pittman’s vehicle then ran over Nobles.
The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. There’s no word yet on any charges in the crash.
No Injuries When SUV Slams Into Mobile Home
May 1, 2012
There were no injuries when a SUV plowed into a mobile home in Cantonment Monday evening.
The Florida highway Patrol is investigating exactly what caused the driver of a Chevrolet Blazer to strike the mobile home on Madrid Road near Well Line Road about 6 p.m.
Further details have not yet been released.
Pictured: A Chevrolet Blazer struck a mobile home on Madrid Road Monday. NorthEscambia.com photo by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.