Scott Asks Washington To Cover Local Isaac Damage
September 13, 2012
Florida counties affected by Hurricane Isaac would be eligible for federal grants under a request made this week by Gov. Rick Scott, including Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
Escambia County leaders say Hurricane Issac left behind $13 million in damage to Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key. Of that, about $10 million is eligible for reimbursement from FEMA.
A preliminary damage assessment found Pensacola Beach lost 250,000 cubic yards of sand, which will cost about $8 million to fix. Perdido Key lost 180,000 cubic yards and had up to $6.3 million in damage.
Santa Rosa County estimates $704,000 in damages in the unincorporated areas — $4,000 to parks and $700,00 for Navarre Beach erosion.
The money requested by the governor reimburse local governments for debris removal costs and other costs related to damage to public facilities from the storm.
Register Now For 3rd Annual Chief Challenge 5K Run/Walk
September 13, 2012
The Third Annual Chief Challenge 5K Run/Walk is coming to Northview High School.
The event will be held Saturday, October 6 at 8:30 a.m. at the school campus in Bratt. “The course is not your typical 5K race. It includes a variety of terrains and challenging hills around the campus,” according to event organizers.
Awards will be presented to the top six male and female runners in the elementary, middle and high school categories, and to the top three male and female runners in two adult categories plus master and grand master.
For a registration form and more details, click here. The registration fee and a t-shirt are discounted to only $15 though September 28.
“The event is to promote wellness through running and walking in the area. Now with Bratt Park more and more people are taking advantage of the walking track and getting into shape,” said Natalie Nall, cross country coach at Northview.
About 120 runners and walkers took part in last year’s Chief Challenge.
The Chief Challenge 5K Run/Walk is sponsored in part by NorthEscambia.com.
Pictured: The 2011 Chief Challenge. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
State Voter Purge List Shrinks, Agreement Reached
September 13, 2012
A controversial list of 2,600 allegedly illegal voters has been whittled to 207, Florida election officials said Wednesday after running the names through a federal immigration database.
Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner said the names, about 8 percent of the initial list, will be forwarded to local election officials as early as next week.
The revised list was released the same day as an agreement was announced between the state and voting rights groups over efforts to remove non-citizens and other ineligible voters from the ranks.
“We want every Florida voter to be confident that their vote is protected and not hurt in any way by the illegal activity of others,” Detzner said in a statement. “We know that every vote counts, especially here in Florida where only 537 votes decided the presidential election in 2000.”
Wednesday’s announcement marks the latest development in a months-long battle between voting rights advocates, state and federal elections officials over Republican-led efforts to cull the ranks of voters and eliminate those not eligible to cast ballots.
Voting groups, which filed suit in federal court to stop the purge, said the new agreement would help prevent the targeting of minorities, who disproportionately turned up on earlier lists of questionable voters.
“The citizens of Florida have taken another step toward realizing the right to vote, without any undue barriers imposed by the state,” said Penda Hair, co-director of Advancement Project, a plaintiff in the case.
At Gov. Rick Scott’s urging, state election officials last year began looking at whether ineligible voters were showing up in the rolls.
To find out, the state began comparing voting rolls with drivers-license data, coming up with an initial list of 2,600 names it sent to local officials earlier this year. Election supervisors suspended the purge after it became clear that eligible voters were incorrectly included in the non-voter list.
At the center of the controversy was a request by Florida officials to access a federal Department of Homeland Security database that tracks the status of non-citizens. State election officials filed suit to use the system to more accurately determine the status of registered voters.
Under the agreement penned Wednesday, state officials will advise local election supervisors to return to the rolls voters who were removed earlier but can’t be confirmed as non-citizens. Voters who were incorrectly removed from the rolls will receive letters telling them they are indeed eligible to vote.
Also, voters whose names turned up on earlier lists would not be required to vote by provisional ballot.
“Any number of people who are registered to vote and who are not eligible is a serious problem, whether that number is two or 207,” said Howard Simon, executive director of ACLU of Florida, in a statement. “But given the less-than-competent record of state officials in voter purging over the years, Floridians would be right to be skeptical of anything coming from this current purge.”
By The News Service of Florida
Baby Shower Saturday For Wife Of Late Paramedic
September 13, 2012
A baby shower will be held this Saturday at the Century Fire Station for the wife of a paramedic and fire department member killed recently in a traffic crash.
Lt. Nathan Berry was a member of the Century Fire Department and the Friendship Fire Department, and he was a paramedic supervisor with Lifeguard EMS in Santa Rosa County and a former paramedic with Atmore Ambulance. Berry, 22, was killed in an off-duty traffic accident south of Jay in June.
The baby shower for Tiffany (Hanks) Berry will be held from 2-4 p.m. at the Century Fire Station, 10 Tedder Road, just off Highway 29, for the Berry’s unborn son Mason.
Mason will need any and all baby items, including clothing for 0-12 months, according to event organizers. Gifts are also welcome for Mason’s big sister, Anna Claire. Her clothing size is 18-24 months and her shoe size is 5.
Gifts from those unable to attend can be dropped off at the Lifeguard EMS office at 4340 Avalon Boulevard in Milton from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. through Friday or the Century Fire Station from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m. through Friday, or the Flomaton City Hall at 2125 Ringold Street from 7:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. through Friday.
Those attending are asked to call (850) 619-0729 or email shaunmoye@att.net in advance so that an accurate count can be obtained for food.
Sheriff Releases More Info On Fatal Deputy-Involved Pedestrian Accident
September 13, 2012
New information was released Wednesday about a deadly accident Monday in which an Escambia County deputy struck two pedestrians, killing a 16-year old girl.
Deputy Ty Brewton, 41, was westbound on Mobile Highway at the New Warrington Road overpass at 4:10 a.m. when he hit 16-year old Aaliyah S. Howard and 16-year old Louise Johnson. Howard was pronounced dead at the scene; Johnson was treated and released at Sacred Heart Hospital for minor injuries.
A report released Monday by the Florida Highway Patrol said the girls were walking side-by-side in the inside westbound lane with their backs facing traffic. But in interviews with local television stations, Johnson and family members claimed the girls were walking in the median when Brewton hit them.
Sheriff David Morgan said Wednesday that an investigation by his department also determined the teens were walking in the roadway when they were hit.
“This fact was determined through the evidence at the scene to include the in-car camera in Deputy Brewton’s patrol vehicle,” Morgan said, adding that the FHP determined that Brewton’s vehicle was in proper working condition, including headlights that were on at the time of the crash.
Deputy Brewton remains on paid administrative leave pending a final outcome of the investigation.
It’s Going To Look A Lot Like Christmas In Century
September 13, 2012
The Town of Century is making plans for Christmas, ordering new decorations for utility poles along North Century Boulevard.
The town has ordered 42, 50-inch Christmas wreaths with energy saving LED bulbs and 24-inch nylon bows. The wreaths were ordered from Dixie Decorations in Montavello, Ala., for $15,047 — an amount reflecting a 17 percent discount received for placing an order prior to Monday.
The wreaths were chosen by council President Ann Brooks, who was appointed by the council as a one-person committee to choose the decorations. They will replace aging decorations donated to the town about five years ago when the City of Pensacola upgraded their Christmas decor.
The town is still waiting to hear back from Gulf Power on the cost to wire the poles as needed for the new decorations, according to Town Clerk Leslie Gonzalez. Twenty-six utility poles in the town are already wired, but 16 will need wiring installed.
Pictured top: Century Town Council President Ann Brooks (left) shows a municipal Christmas decoration catalog to council members Sandra McMurray Jackson (center) and Jacke Johnston during a meeting earlier this year. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Legislative Committe Approves Prison Health Privatization Amendment
September 13, 2012
A budget amendment that would allow the Department of Corrections to move forward with a plan to private health-care services for its inmates passed the Legislative Budget Commission on a party-line vote Wednesday.
The action almost guarantees a lawsuit, with unions representing affected workers vowing that they will move to block the privatization drive. Earlier efforts to privatize prison functions have also gotten tied up in court.
The 6-4 vote by the panel technically just shifts money around in the department’s budget to provide the funding for pushing ahead with the initiative. But Democratic lawmakers said the move was a de facto change in policy that was far beyond the authority of the commission, which was created to handle midyear adjustments to the state spending plan.
Department officials say they have the authority to carry out the privatization, something expected to save $56 million, under a provision of law that says the agency “may contract for the provision of services by counties, municipalities, nonprofit corporations, and other entities capable of providing needed services” if it will save money.
“We’re not enacting a policy,” Senate Budget Chairman JD Alexander, R-Lake Wales, told reporters after the meeting. “The executive branch is operating within its established legal authority.”
But Rep. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg, said the department’s reading of the law was a stretch.
“Why then would you ever need to come to the Legislature for any appropriation or permission or authorization if you have the unbridled authority under ‘other entities’ to contract anywhere?” he asked.
Critics also worried about the impact of the potential move on state workers who would possibly lose their job if a private company took over health care.
“They may be offered a job with the private firm, but most likely at a lower salary with much lower benefits,” said Chris Snow of the Florida Nurses Association. The group represents 850 workers in state prisons, Snow said.
Democrats and opponents also questioned whether private companies would provide an acceptable level of care to inmates in an effort to cut costs.
Supporters largely brushed off many of the concerns.
“There are going to be problems, either way you go,” Alexander said. “The question is, can we improve the quality and save money? And the Department of Corrections and the governor’s office have put forward a plan that they believe will do that.”
Efforts to privatize prison functions have led to lengthy court battles in recent months. A Leon County circuit judge declined to rule on a previous effort in 2011 to privatize prison health-care services through the fine print of the budget because the language expired June 30, 2012, before he could rule on it.
A separate judge blocked efforts to privatize all prisons in the southern third of the state; the 1st District Court of Appeal rejected an appeal by Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, saying she didn’t have standing to appeal the decision because she wasn’t a party to the case.
Doug Martin of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees made it clear Wednesday that his group intended to quickly challenge the newest privatization push in court.
“It could be as soon as tomorrow,” Martin said.
By The News Service of Florida
Man Charged With Attempted Steak Knife Attack On Brother
September 12, 2012
A Century man with a lengthy arrest history has been charged with coming after his brother with a steak knife.
Ronald Berlan Newton, 51, was charged with aggravated assault and released from jail on a $25,000 bond.
Newton allegedly threatened his 41-year old brother with a steak knife after the brother asked him to turn down his stereo inside their mother’s home on North Century Boulevard. As the brother was speaking with an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputy, an irate Newton advanced toward the brother with the knife. The Sheriff’s deputy was forced to stand between the two before taking Newton into custody, according to an arrest report.
Newton was released from state prison in April 2012 after completing a 22 month sentence for stalking after being arrested more than a dozen times in a year. Newton was first found incompetent and remanded into the custody of the Florida Department of Children and Families for evaluation, but was later found competent to stand trial.
His arrests since 2007, according to court records, included a long list of charges that were dropped or dismissed included aggravated assault, criminal mischief, battery, lewd and lascivious behavior victim under 18, indecent exposure, disorderly conduct and contempt of court.
Gulf Power Delivers For Manna Food Pantry
September 12, 2012
The sign on the wall asked Gulf Power employees to bring a few cans of tomatoes and some jars of peanut butter to help Manna Food Pantry.
On Tuesday afternoon, they brought a truckload.
More than 325 cans of tomatoes and jars of peanut butter were delivered to Manna Food Pantries today after Gulf Power employees completed a food drive at Plant Crist. Manna Food Pantries in Pensacola feeds an average of more than 130 people a day and had seen a supply shortfall in recent weeks. The pantry put out a notice for canned tomatoes and for jars of peanut butter.
Employees at Plant Crist saw the signs on the office walls and soon the supplies poured in.
“We know that Manna does terrific work in our community and has a great need for food right now — and our employees did this on their own,” said Natalie Smith Gulf Power spokeswoman. “The pantry is able to make the most with what they get and we hope this will help people in our community.”
The delivery today came about a week after Gulf Power made another large donation to Manna Food Pantries and Loaves and Fishes following Hurricane Isaac.
Gulf Power had hosted close to 500 out-of-town line crews and contractors in anticipation of Hurricane Isaac. But when the storm struck Louisiana and Mississippi, the crews shifted west. That meant that the catered food contractor had nowhere to go with food prepared for 500 hungry linemen.
“It was an easy decision to make, knowing how much great work they do for the community,” Smith said. “We work with our partners at United Way and other agencies to help strengthen our communities, but it starts with our employees, who do this out of the goodness of their hearts.”
Motorcyclist Dies In Escambia Crash
September 12, 2012
An Escambia County motorcyclist is dead following a crash Tuesday afternoon.
Matthew Walter Vaughn, age 27 of Pensacola, died from injuries he received when he was struck on Mobile Highway near Wabash Avenue about 3:30 p.m.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 54-year old Mary Ellem Smith of Pensacola was traveling south in the southbound turn lane on Mobile Highway near Walmart when she turned her 1992 Chevrolet S10 pickup into the path of Vaughn’s northbound motorcycle.
Vaughn tried to avoid the collision but slid into the side of the pickup and was ejected.
Charges are pending a traffic homicide investigation, according to the FHP.
Smith and her five-year old passenger were not injured.