Scott: Families Can’t Afford Tuition Hikes
June 9, 2012
Gov. Rick Scott on Friday reiterated his stance against tuition hikes, as a number of state universities are planning.
Scott has called on universities to do more to prepare the workforce, but to do it with less.
“They have got to do the exact same thing … Florida households have had to do,” Scott said Friday morning on 97.3 The Sky radio in Gainesville. “We cannot continue to raise tuition constantly on the backs of our families,” Scott continued. “They cannot afford it…. I’m against raising tuition.”
The University of Florida Board of Trustees on Thursday moved to increase tuition by the full 15 percent allowed by law, though some trustees expressed some concern about the rising cost of a college education in the state.
By The News Service of Florida
Arrest In Murder of Domino’s Pizza Driver
June 9, 2012
A suspect is in custody in the murder of a 19-year old pizza delivery driver outside an Escambia County Domino’s Pizza.
Gary Demeatric Harrison, age 44 of Pensacola, is accused of attacking Tyler John Hinkle, a 2010 West Florida High School graduate, outside the Domino’s Pizza at 27 North Navy Boulevard on September 24, 2011. Hinkle was able to walk into the restaurant to seek help from co-workers before he collapsed and died a short time later at Baptist Hospital.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office attempted to serve an arrest warrant on Harrison at his home Friday morning. While investigators were attempting to cuff Harrison, he was able to push away from them and flee on foot.
The manhunt lasted about an hour before Harrison was apprehended by K-9 Argo in a wooded area near 519 Paula Avenue. Harrison was transported to a local hospital where he was treated for minor injuries.
Harrison is being held without bond in the Escambia County Jail on the homicide warrant and an additional charge of resiting arrest.
Lawsuit Challenges Florida’s Voter Purge
June 9, 2012
Two naturalized citizens and a Hispanic advocacy group filed suit in federal court Friday to block elections officials from purging the state voting rolls of individuals suspected of being non-citizens.
Backed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida and the Lawyer’s Committee on Civil Rights Under Law, voters Murat Limage and Pamela Gomez and the Mi Familia Vota Education Fund said the purge violates the federal Voting Rights Act.
The state didn’t get the green light for the project from the U.S. Justice Department, which must preclear changes to voting laws and rules in five counties under the VRA because of a history of racial or language-based discrimination.
State officials have argued that approval is unnecessary; the Justice Department has already begun looking into the initiative.
“This is precisely why Congress has re-enacted, and why we continue to need, the Voting Rights Act — to prevent state officials from interfering with the constitutional rights of minorities,” ACLU Executive Director Howard Simon said in a statement announcing the suit. “We now look to the courts to stop the Scott administration from assaulting democracy by denying American citizens the right to vote.”
Gov. Rick Scott and Secretary of State Ken Detzner have defended the purge, which relies on a state database of driver’s license information to find likely non-citizens. Those names are then sent to the supervisors of elections, some of whom have contended the scrub is illegal, or at least faulty, and some of them have refused to carry it out.
Detzner’s office said it would review the lawsuit.
Supervisors of both parties have said some of those named on the list are actually U.S. citizens. State officials have countered that supervisors haven’t remove those people, so the check is working as intended.
“We are not aware of any eligible voters who have been removed from the voter rolls as a result of our efforts to ensure the integrity of Florida elections,” state Division of Elections spokesman Chris Cate said in an email.
But in continuing to push for the purge, the plaintiffs say, the state is making it more likely someone will be wrongly removed.
“Defendant is proceeding to implement the new voter purge procedures notwithstanding: 1) widely-reported information showing that the targeting procedure is highly inaccurate; 2) strong opposition from numerous Florida county Supervisors of Elections; and 3) formal notice by the United States Department of Justice that Defendant’s implementation of the procedures appear to violate Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act,” the lawsuit says.
While Gomez hasn’t actually received a letter notifying her that she could be removed from the rolls, she says she is concerned that the purge could target her because she got a driver’s license before becoming a citizen. Limage did receive a letter.
“When I received the letter saying that they had information that I may not be a citizen, I was concerned that someone was taking away my citizenship,” he said in the ACLU news release. “I’m an American which means I can vote and that’s all I want to do.”
By The News Service of Florida
Elizabeth Ann “Lizzy” Boutwell
June 9, 2012
Elizabeth Ann “Lizzy” Boutwell, age 58 of Atmore passed away Thursday June 7, 2012, in Atmore.
She was retired from Vanity Fair Mills as a seamstress, born in Atmore on September 10, 1953, to William Jefferson and Ester Ardis Salter, Jr.
She is preceded in death by two sisters, Lottie Caraway and Dorothy Caraway.
Survivors are her husband, Joseph Floyd Boutwell, Jr of Atmore two sons, John Salter and wife, Amanda of Atmore, Joseph Boutwell III and wife, Autumn of Bay Minette; one daughter, Emily Boutwell and Jeffery Richardson of Atmore; three brothers, Charles Salter, William J. Salter, Jr. and wife Angie, Dwayne Salter and wife, Linda all of Atmore; three sisters, Dottie Harrelson and husband, James, Mary Janie Caraway and husband Pete, Shirley White and husband Larry all of Atmore; three grandchildren, Kara Tuberville, KeOnna Richardson and Joseph Boutwell III.
Services will be Tuesday June 12, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. from the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Sister Helen Fretwell officiating.
Family will receive friends Monday evening June 11, 2012, at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home in Atmore from 6-8 p.m.. Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.
Eulene Cooper Carroll
June 9, 2012
Eulene Cooper Carroll, age 74, of Milton, went home to be with her Lord, on Monday, June 4, 2012. She was from Flomaton and resided in the Pensacola and Milton area for many years.
She was preceded in death by her Mother Bertha Cooper; her husband of 43 years Emanuel Carroll; father and mother in law Lonnie M. and Carmon Carroll; brother in law Clyde Carroll and brother and sister in law Lloyd and Betty Carroll.
She is survived by her daughter Carmon Cooley; son Mandel Carroll; grandchild Chana Sweeney; great grandchildren Damon Taylor and Cameron McDuffie; sister in law Yvonne Carroll; brother and sister in law Grady and Kathy Carroll; brother and sister in law Robert and Peggy Carroll; sister in law Linda Connor; sister and brother in law Barbara and Danny Glass, all of Milton. sister in law Eunice Melvin of Las Vegas, NV; brother and sister in law Lonnie and Bonnie Carroll of Jay; brother and sister in law Preston and Toni Carroll of Port Alle, LA, and sister and brother in law Sharon and Frank Cope of Houston TX, and a host of nieces, nephews and friends. Eulene touched many lives and will be truly missed by all who had a special place in their heart for her.
A special thank you to Bob Daniels, Karl Hazelwood, Dawn Downs, Chuck Mathews, Richard Pittman, Preston and Toni, Carroll, Robert Carroll, Sharon Cope, Linda Connor, Barbara Glass, Grady and Kathy Carroll and Jack and Cheryl Graham, for their support during this difficult time.
Funeral services for Mrs. Carroll will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday June 8, 2012, from the Gazebo of Memory Park Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Thursday June 7, 2012 at Lewis Funeral Home in Milton.
Active pallbearers will be: Karl Hazelwood, Chuck Mathews, Harold McClean, Tommy Downs, Jack and Jacob Graham.
Honorary pallbearers will be Bob Daniels, Grady Carroll, Lonnie Carroll, Robert Carroll and Preston Carroll.
Video: Watch BP Burglary
June 8, 2012
Surveillance video from burglary at Davisville BP about 9:20 p.m. on June 7, 2012.
Caught On Video: Davisville BP Burglarized
June 8, 2012
A burglary Thursday night at a Davisville convenience store is under investigation.
When the clerk at the Korner Kwik Stop (BP) on Highway 97 in Davisville reported for work about 4:30 Friday morning, she found that someone had broken out a window of the store. The store’s surveillance video shows a white male busting out the window about 9:20 p.m. Thursday, just after the store closed at 9 p.m.
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For a photo gallery showing the burglary and the investigation, click here.
The man arrives in a white extended cab pickup truck with an emblem or phrase over the front windshield. He parks in front of the store and spends several minutes in the truck. He exits and takes hammer to break out the window. He also tried unsuccessfully to break out the door glass. He then jumps through the broken window, rummages around behind the counter and tosses cigarettes and rolls of coins outside. He also tries unsuccessfully to push buttons in order to open the cash register.
While inside the store, he is seen using what appears to be towel in his hand in attempt not to leave fingerprints, but he can be seen on the video touching several items without the towel.
He was wearing a light colored t-shirt, long shorts that may have been swim shorts, flip-flops and has a striped towel over his head. At one point, the towel slips off his head showing most of this face on the video.
He appeared to flee the scene in the white pickup southbound on Highway 97.
The burglary is under investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. A crime scene technician processing the scene was observed taking blood samples from the broken glass and apparently removing multiple fingerprints from the scene Friday morning.
Anyone with information about the burglary is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP (7867) or the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
NorthEscambia.com will post the surveillance video later today showing the burglar in action.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
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Lottery Winner Claims Prize; $81K Ticket Sold In North Escambia
June 8, 2012
The man that won over $80,000 with the correct numbers on a Fantasy 5 ticket sold in Davisville has claimed his prize.
According to lottery officials, Freddie Smitherman of Clanton, Ala., claimed his share of the June 1 prize Thursday at the Florida Lottery Pensacola District Office.
Smitherman received the winnings in a one-time, lump-sum payment of $81,429.14. His top prize-winning ticket was sold at State Line Gift Shop, on Highway 97 at the Florida/Alabama state line.
Pictured: Freddie Smitherman of Clanton, Ala., poses with his wife Thursday after claiming his winnings at the Florida Lottery District Office in Pensacola. He purchases his winning ticket in the June 1 drawing in North Escambia. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Three Teens Arrested In Escambia Vehicle Burglary Spree
June 8, 2012
Three teens have been arrested in connection with a string of about 40 car burglaries this week in the area of Johnson Avenue and Burgess Road.
All three suspects were recently arrested on unrelated charges and were subsequently identified through fingerprints and interviews conducted by investigators, according to Sgt. Ted Roy, spokesperson for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
The suspects, 16-year old Broderick D. Williams 16, 17-year old Kenneth C. Mason, and 15-year old Marquis D. Bryant, all of Pensacola, are facing multiple vehicle burglary charges and vehicle theft charges stemming from the burglary spree.
The investigation is ongoing and leads are being developed on other suspects, Roy said.
Cantonment Man Charged With Twice Threatening To Kill Deputies
June 8, 2012
A Cantonment man has been charged with twice threatening to kill an Escambia County Sheriff’s deputy.
Roney Gailyard, age 53 of Cedar Tree Lane, was charged with two counts of felony counts of corruption by threat against a public servant and a misdemeanor count of trespassing.
According to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report, Gailyard was “trespass warned” Wednesday morning and told to stay away from the Regions Bank on Nine Mile Road near Highway 29. After deputies checked his identification, his ID card was returned to him, and he was told to leave the property and stay away.
About two minutes later, Gailyard proceeded back onto the property and attempted to enter the bank, telling deputies that he forgot his identification. He was placed under arrest for trespassing.
On the way to the jail, Gailyard became very irate in the back of the patrol car and began screaming racial slurs and obscenities, according to the report. Gailyard then made an obscenity-laced threat to kill the deputies if they were to ever try to arrest him again. He then repeated the threat to the two deputies in the patrol car at least two more more times, the arrest report states.