Judge: State Can’t Privatize All Florida Prison Health Care
December 5, 2012
A judge struck down a decision by the Legislative Budget Commission to privatize health care at prisons across most of the state, one of the first times a court has weighed in on the power of the 14-member panel.
The ruling, issued Tuesday, allows the Department of Corrections to privatize health-care services in a region covering roughly the bottom third of the state; that contract was specifically included in the fine print of the budget for the spending year that ends June 30.
But Leon County Circuit Court Judge John Cooper said that the other three regions couldn’t be privatized by the LBC, which voted in September to approve the broader initiative.
“Whether to privatize some or all of this state’s prison operations is a significant policy decision,” Cooper wrote. “Under existing law, the Legislature weighs in on this policy decision through its appropriations power. … Authorizing and funding privatizing health services in Florida’s prisons is the prerogative of the full Legislature and not that of the Legislative Budget Commission.”
Cooper’s opinion marks a victory for two unions — the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and the Florida Nurses Association — that challenged the LBC’s decision and the privatization initiative more broadly.
Though Cooper sided with the state on the authority to hand over health-care services to private companies, his ruling on the LBC action would require new legislative action unless his decision is overturned on appeal.
“We believe that this decision will bring that issue back into the sunshine where it belongs,” said Alma Gonzalez, special counsel for AFSCME Council 79.
But because of the relative lack of case law in the area, a ruling from an appeals court or the Supreme Court could have broad ramifications on just how far the authority of the LBC extends.
“This is a precedent-setting decision,” Gonzalez said.
She said the union was still advising employees to keep their options open in case the services are eventually awarded to Corizon, Inc. The union expects the state to appeal.
By The News Service of Florida
Pictured: The Medical Unit at Century Correctional Institution. NorthEcambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Send Off The Chiefs Today; Purchase Game Tickets At NHS
December 5, 2012
The Northview Chiefs will hit the road for Orlando today, and you’ll have the chance to take part in the sendoff.
The varsity football players and coaches, varsity cheerleaders, Tribal Beat Band, dance team, NJROTC color guard, and their sponsors and coaches will be treated to a Chiefs breakfast at the school (not open to the public).
A send-off will take place at Northview High School at 1:00 p.m. with the band, cheerleaders, dance team and the entire school cheering on their state champ contenders as they load onto charter buses. The send-off on campus is not open to the public, but Chiefs fans area asked to line the highways in several locations to cheer on the Chiefs as they depart.
In Bratt, fans should line Highway 4 from Northview High west to Highway 99 (the “Bratt Crossroads”). Once the Chiefs depart Northview, they will travel to Bratt Elementary and Ernest Ward Middle School where students will cheer them on. (Once again, the on-campus events at Bratt and Ernest Ward are not public.) In Walnut Hill, fans can line Highway 97 between the Ernest Ward “bus loop” entrances south to Highway 99A and Highway 99A to the Ernest Ward gym.
The team buses will then travel back past Northview to Byrneville Elementary School, and then to Century, were businesses and residents are urged to show their support by lining Highway 4 (east and west), and Highway 29 between West Highway 4 and East Highway 4. The buses are estimated to arrive in Century between 1:30 and 1:45 p.m.
Residents and businesses in Jay are also planning to line Highway 4 to support the Chiefs as they pass through Jay.
Tickets: Tickets for Friday night’s Class 1A championship game in Orlando’s Citrus Bowl will be on sale through noon Thursday at Northview High School. All tickets are $12. Per FHSAA policy, there are no discount tickets and no passes available.
NorthEscambia.com will have live score updates during Friday night’s game, and we will provide access to live streaming video of the game.
Deputies Seek Armed Robbery Suspect
December 5, 2012
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is trying to identity a black male who robbed the clerks at a Highway 29 gas station while armed with a rifle.
Tuesday, the Sheriff’s Office said an unidentified black male entered the Kangaroo Gas Station at 7950 Pensacola Boulevard about 3:40 a.m. on November 30. He fled in an unknown direction with an undisclosed amount of money. There were no injuries.
The suspect was described as wearing a red hoodie, blue jeans and a green bandana over most of his face.
Anyone with information on the robbery is asked to contact the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers (850) 433-STOP.
Chamber Holds Christmas Open House
December 5, 2012
The Century Chamber of Commerce held its annual Christmas Open House Tuesday afternoon. Chamber members, prospective members and area residents had the opportunity to network and learn more about what the Century Chamber offers, all while enjoying light refreshments.
Pictured above: Oakland Ard and Lina Showalter enjoy refreshments during the annual Christmas Open House Tuesday evening at the Century Chamber of Commerce. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Northviews Outlifts Escambia
December 5, 2012
Northview recently took part in a girls weightlifting meet against West Florida and Escambia high schools.
West Florida placed first with 43 points, Northview was second with 37 points and Escambia was third with 30 points.
Combined individual Northview scores for bench press and clean and jerk were as follows:
101
1st –Jody Paramore- 160
2nd –Jadlyn Agerton-130
119
2nd-Hannah Fiellin- 170
129
1st-Angel Lathan- 175
139
2nd – Misty Doran-215
154
2nd-Taylor Roberson–195
3rd-Shelly Mothershed-190
169
3rd –Olivia Neal-185
183
3rd –Sonja Dixon-205
4th- Haylee Weaver-185
199
3rd –McKenzie Nassar-205
4th –Iyanna Davidson-185
Unlimited
2nd –Te’Andria Knight-250
4th- Madison McGhee-215
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Bank Robber Sentenced In Quarter Million Dollar Heist
December 5, 2012
A former teller who pleaded guilty to her role in a quarter million dollar bank holdup has been sentenced to prison.
Pamela Steele pleaded guilty to conspiracy for her part in the robbery of the Bank of Brewton in early 2012. She was sentenced to one year and one day in prison. Once released, she will remain on probation for three years. She was also ordered to pay $124,000 in restitution. Steele had faced a maximum prison sentence of 10 yers.
Her accomplice, 43-year old Robin Ann Godwin (pictured) of Century, has also entered a guilty plea in federal court to bank robbery. She faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine when she is sentenced early next year.
According to federal court documents, Godwin formulated a plan with bank teller Pamela Steele to rob the Bank of Brewton. On February 17, 2012, Godwin entered the Bank of Brewton wearing a blue poncho, a grey fedora, large sunglasses, black face paint, a black Afro wig and body padding. Godwin asked Steele about renting a safe deposit box, and Steele took Godwin into the bank vault.
Once inside the vault, Godwin pulled a large bag out from underneath her poncho and demanded that it be filled with cash. Steele then filled the bag with approximately $255,000 in cash, federal documents state. Steele did not put any bait bills or dye packs in the bag along with the cash. Godwin then fled the bank with the bag full of money.
Godwin was taken into custody April 12 as the FBI raided a small travel trailer located in a campground at 1300 Liahona Trail in Bluff Springs.
“We are executing a search warrant related to a recent bank robbery in Brewton,” James Stewart, a FBI supervisory senior resident agent, told NorthEscambia.com as agents worked to complete their operation.
Nearly a dozen FBI agents from field offices in Mobile and Pensacola spent a couple of hours searching the travel trailer in Bluff Springs Thursday night. Multiple containers of evidence, reportedly including at least part of the $255,000 — were removed by agents and placed into the back of a SUV. Some of the federal agents were wearing shirts identifying them as members of a “FBI Evidence Response Team”. Working undercover, they would not allow their photographs to be taken, by a NorthEscambia.com photographer.
Campground residents were inside neighboring travel trailers as FBI agents finished executing the search warrant. Even a couple of hours after federal agents arrived at the campground, some of the neighbors could be seen periodically peeking out of their doors and windows at the travel trailer in “Lot 2″, with it’s patio crowded with lawn chairs and outdoor decorations. Pink flamingo lawn ornaments and potted plants surrounded the patio — nothing making it look out of place for the quiet area just a few feet from the Escambia River.
Pictured bottom inset and below: FBI agents executed a search warrant related to a Brewton bank robbery at this travel trailer on Bluff Springs Road south of Century in April. FBI agents, who were just off camera, would not allow their photographs to be taken. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Gary Evans
December 5, 2012
Mr. Gary Evans, 55, passed away on Monday, December 3, 2012, in Atmore. Mr. Evans was a native of Flomaton and resident of Atmore for most of his life.
He is survived by his son, Curtis Evans of Mobile and three sisters, Darlene Strength of Flomaton, Tracy Linam of Poarch and Teresa Stokes of Byrneville.
Funeral services will be Thursday, December 6, 2012, at 10 a.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Steve Breceda officiating.
Burial will follow at the Rigby Cemetery.
Visitation will be Wednesday, December 5, 2012, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Petty Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Daniel Conway, Aaron Smedley, Brian Moore, Kipp Moore, James Bagwell and C.J. Linam-Green.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes, LLC in charge of all arrangements.
Century Refuses To Sign Off On Gas Tax Hike; OK With New Library Tax
December 4, 2012
The Town of Century is refusing to go along with a new four-cent gas tax increase for mass transit approved by the Escambia County Commission, but the town is willing to support a new county property tax dedicated to library funding.
The county has asked Century to sign off on an interlocal agreement that would allocate additional gas taxes collected in Century to the county for mass transit. Town officials contend the new tax is unfair to North Escambia residents and may force the three gas stations in Century to close as they force drivers choosing to purchase lower priced gasoline across the state line in Flomaton.
However, the refusal to play along with the county’s new gas tax, to some degree, really does not matter.
Interim Escambia County Administrator Larry Newsom and Amy Lovoy, the county’s budget chief, both told the Century Town Council Monday night that the county will still receive the additional gas tax proceeds collected in Century because Century will automatically be included if the tax is approved by Pensacola, the largest municipality in the county.
“It appears that if Pensacola adopts this (the gas tax), Century is in by default,” Newsom said.
However, Newsom said Escambia County is sympathetic to Century’s gas station situation, and the county is encouraging Century to lobby state lawmakers for legislation that would allow Century, a business Enterprise Zone, to skip collecting the extra tax.
The Century Town Council is, however, willing to support a new property tax as a dedicated funding source for the county’s library system. Countywide, the tax will generate an estimated $3.7 million for library operations.
Lovoy said the average Century residents would see a property tax increase of $1-7 for libraries.
Pictured top: Interim Escambia County Administrator Larry Newsom addresses the Century Town Council Monday night. Pictured below: Two of Century’s three gas stations at the intersection of East Highway 4 and Highway 29. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
NorthEscambia Seeks Sponsors For Northview Football Coverage
December 4, 2012
NorthEscambia.com will follow the Northview Chiefs to Orlando Friday night for the Class 1A state football finals, the first state championship appearance in the history of the school.
There are a limited number of business sponsorship packages available to make NorthEscambia’s coverage of the Chiefs possible. For more information on how your business can help make the coverage possible, email news@northescambia.com or click here for a contact form.
Toyz For Kidz Ride Saturday To Help Those In Need
December 4, 2012
Santa will have some very special helpers on Saturday as the LA Bikers roll across the area to make sure needy kids get a Christmas present.
The 12th Annual Toyz for Kidz Bike Ride will raise funds for the program and distribute toys to families in need.
The event begins at David’s Catfish on South Main Street in Atmore with registration from 9-10 a.m. The ride will begin at 10, and it will end back in Atmore with lunch and a prize drawing.
All proceeds go yo the LA Bikers Toyz for Kidz program. For more information, call (251) 747-7030. or (251) 294-0708.
ictured top: Santa Claus helps unwrap presents last year in Bratt from the LA Bikers Toyz for Kidz program. Pictured inset: Santa helps with a quick test drive on a new bicycle. Pictured below: Santa wheels into Bratt Elementary. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
