James Leonard “Jimmy” Harrison, Jr.
September 25, 2013
James Leonard “Jimmy” Harrison,Jr., 61, of Opelika, Ala., passed away on Sunday, September 22, 2013, in Mobile. He was a truck driver born in Atmore on January 22, 1952, to James Leonard and Lorraine Galloway Harrison, Sr. He is preceded in death by his father, James Leonard Harrison, Sr.
Survivors include his wife, Cindy Davis Harrison of Opelika; mother, Lorraine Harrison of Atmore; three sons, James Leonard (Abigail Whitaker) Harrison III, Glendon Blake (Amber) Harrison and Dustin Farrell (Emily Dean) Harrison, all of Atmore; one daughter, Audra Lynn (Quinton) Peavy of Uriah; two brothers, Wayne (Barbara) Harrison and Dale Harrison both of Atmore; two grandchildren, Madeline Grace Hartley and Carson Ryan Peavy.
Services will be Thursday September 26, 2013, at 11 a.m. from Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home chapel with Rev. Mike Grindle officiating.
Interment will follow in Oak Hill cemetery.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home, Inc., is entrusted with all arrangements.
ECSO: Century Man Caught With Meth In Molino
September 24, 2013
A Century man has been arrested on drug charges after an incident in Molino.
Eric Dean Vickers, age 29 of North Pine Barren Road, was charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and resisting an officer without violence. He remains in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
A resident of the 800 block of Cedar Tree Lane called the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office to report that a white truck had just backed into a nearby driveway and into a wooded lot. Deputies arrived to find the truck, doors open, with Vickers and a female engaged in sexual activity.
Vickers consented to a search of his vehicle, where deputies reporting find a glass smoking pipe and a plastic bottle containing a white substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine. Vickers also had an outstanding arrest warrant for violation of probation on a reckless driving charge.
As a deputy attempted to place Vickers in handcuffs, he resisted, trying to remove his wallet from his person and saying that he was not taking it to jail.
Wet Tuesday Forecast
September 24, 2013
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 86. East wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Tuesday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
- Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. Calm wind.
- Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. Calm wind.
- Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. North wind around 5 mph.
- Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
- Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
- Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 65. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
- Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 87.
- Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 62.
- Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 86.
- Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 62.
- Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 83.
Cantonment Man Charged With Shooting At Neighbor
September 24, 2013
A Cantonment man has been charged with firing a weapon at his neighbor.
During the early morning hours of August 30, 64-year old James Lee Grandison of 206 Sheppard Street called the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office to report that he had just shot someone across the street that was threatening him.
Deputies arrived to find Grandison and an empty shotgun shell in the front yard of his home, and they located the victim inside of a travel trailer across Sheppard Street.
The victim suffered a minor wound to his shin from buckshot. The victim refused medical treatment, and he refused to press charges against Grandison, who was known to him.
A warrant was later issued for Grandison’s arrest on a first degree misdemeanor charge of discharging a firearm in public. He was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $500 bond.
Escambia Farm Bureau Honors Governmental Officials; 4-H Members Ask For Land
September 24, 2013
At their recent annual meeting, Escambia County Farm Bureau presented appreciation awards to local governmental officials, while local 4-H kids took the opportunity to lobby new land.
Sen. Greg Evers, Rep. Clay Ingram and Commissioner Steven Barry were presented plaques honoring them “in appreciation for support given to Escambia County Farm Bureau and Escambia County 4-H Youth” over the past year.
Members of Escambia County 4-H were on hand to present letters from their membership to Evers about their desires to receive comparable land to replace the Langley Bell 4-H Center. After the sale of the center to Navy Federal Credit Union, University of Florida/IFAS Extension Dean Nick Place recommended the 4-H’ers use a combination of the Cottage Hill State Forest, Escambia County Equestrian Center and privately owned land.
Place also recommended that most of the $1.6 million from the Navy Federal sale proceeds that was to have purchased land instead by given to the 4-H Foundation for use only in Escambia County.
Barry, along with Commissioner Wilson Robertson, spoke out against the dean’s proposal, saying that it was not fair and equitable because 4-H sold 240 acres and did not receive something comparable in return. The Escambia Commission voted 3-2 against the plan.
Pictured: Sen Greg Evers (top photo), Rep Clay Ingram (left, bottom photo) and Escambia Commissioner Steven Barry (right, bottom photo) receive plaques from Brett Ward of the Escambia County Farm Bureau. Picture inset: 4-H Escambia County Council Delegate Izzy Kent with Evers. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
New Girl Scout Troop Seeks Members
September 24, 2013
A new Girl Scout troop is forming and is looking for members.
Troop 935 will be at the Byrneville Elementary School Open House on Thursday, September 26 at 6 p.m. The troop’s kick off and parent meeting will be held Tuesday, October 1 at 6 p.m. at the Century Branch Library.
For more information, contact Callie Pemberton at (850) 449-1372 or Kim Harrison at (850) 583-7084.
Florida Appears Ready To Pull Out Of Common Core Standards Tests
September 24, 2013
Florida appears ready to exit a multistate effort to develop new Common Core Standards tests to measure student learning, abandoning the initiative amid conservative activists’ concerns that it represents federal overreach into the state’s education system.
Gov. Rick Scott issued an executive order Monday ordering the state to end its role in helping handle the financial affairs of the Partnership for the Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers. The project, generally known as PARCC, has received a $186 million federal grant to develop tests for the “Common Core Standards” currently being taught in Florida schools.
Abandoning PARCC would not mean the state is ending the use of Common Core, though another action Scott took Monday could open that door. Instead, leaving the tests would mean that Florida officials would have to develop or buy another testing system to measure whether students are learning the new material.
Scott also called for the Florida Department of Education to hold three public hearings around the state on Common Core by Nov. 1. In a letter to State Board of Education Chairman Gary Chartrand, Scott said the hearings and other forms of public input should “identify any opportunities to strengthen or risks for federal intrusion in Florida’s standards.”
State officials say they’re confident that new assessments could be up and running in time for the 2014-15 school year.
Scott’s order represents a partial victory for a group of activists who have worried that despite PARCC’s evolution as a state-led project, it could become a tool for the U.S. Department of Education to direct education policy nationwide. The governor echoed those concerns in a letter to Chartrand explaining his decision.
“To be clear, as Governor, I support Florida’s high academic standards and strongly reject overreach into those standards and other areas of our education system by the federal government, including state assessments, curriculum and instructional materials,” Scott wrote.
Education Commissioner Pam Stewart did not specifically list a concern that Scott had when asked why he was worried about the federal government’s involvement.
“I think that this is the way for us to ensure that there is not federal overreach,” she said.
Republican leaders who had already urged Scott to abandon the tests praised him for the executive order. But they suggested they were still on board with Common Core.
“The fact is that we had a system of evaluation that hadn’t been invented yet that we were being asked to buy into,” said Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville. “I don’t think that was fair for our students, for our teachers or for our families or our employers.”
“But the idea of having high standards — and I think Florida has helped lead the nation in that — is an idea that we’re not backing up one bit from,” he continued.
Stewart said that PARCC could still win a competitive bidding process aimed at coming up with the testing system Florida will used. Given Scott’s language about the tests, though, that seemed unlikely. Still, at least one key lawmaker on education issues held out hope.
“I think PARCC is on a respirator, if you will,” said Sen. Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee. “And so what we have to do is, if it’s going to revive, Florida needs to say, ‘This is what we want, and if you can do it, fine, and if you can’t, fine. We’ll try another route.’ ”
Whatever the decision, the state has to move soon, said Patricia Levesque, executive director of the Foundation for Florida’s Future. That organization, founded by former Gov. Jeb Bush, has strongly supported Common Core.
“I urge the Commissioner of Education and the State Board of Education to move quickly and carefully to make decisions regarding Florida’s assessment. … In order to effectively field test Common Core-aligned assessments next spring, their decisions must be made soon,” Levesque said in a statement issued by the foundation.
The fact that PARCC could return caused some concern for activists who have fought against Common Core generally and the tests specifically. John Hallman, who lobbies for conservative groups like the Florida Campaign for Liberty and Liberty First Network, expressed cautious optimism about Scott’s move.
“On the other hand, I’ll be honest — I’m skeptical,” he said.
Randy Osborne, who has lobbied against Common Core in the Legislature on behalf of the Florida Eagle Forum, said the state should remain opposed to PARCC.
“I think that, as we move through this process, that the state will do the right thing, the legislators will do the right thing and say that PARCC is something we can’t accept,” he said.
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Dream Defenders Return, Call Capitol Access Rule ‘Ridiculous”
September 24, 2013
The Dream Defenders, a group that held a month-long summer encampment outside the governor’s office, returned to Tallahassee on Monday and called a proposal to limit after-hours access to the Capitol a “ridiculous” stifling of the public’s right to free speech.
However, the Hialeah-based group intends to remain focused on the difficult task of changing laws about self-defense and racial profiling rather than contesting the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s proposal, which would try to spur the public to leave the Capitol by 5 p.m. on weekdays or within 30 minutes of the end of public meetings.
Those who don’t leave when requested could face trespassing charges.
FDLE spokeswoman Gretl Plessinger said Monday afternoon the agency continues to await approval or comment from the offices of the governor, the Senate president and the House speaker.
Dream Defenders Legal and Policy Director Ahmad Abuznaid said Monday that the proposed rule is a danger to free speech and the right to assemble.
“We feel like if we were big money and had millions of dollars to come voice our opinion to the legislators this wouldn’t be a problem,” Abuznaid said.
The stated purpose of the rule is to enable the police to better secure the Capitol complex.
The FDLE proposal would also prohibit people from staying overnight or preparing food in publicly accessible parts of the building. There would also be additional restrictions on people who have access cards to the building and how many other people who would be allowed to accompany them.
The Dream Defenders held a 31-day sit-in inside the Capitol from July 16 to Aug. 15, arriving after the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the 2012 shooting death of teen Trayvon Martin in Sanford.
The FDLE has estimated the around-the-clock protest ran up a tab of $505,248 for Capitol police. The total included regular pay plus overtime, which has been put at $172,592.
“It’s a little ridiculous,” said Dream Defenders Political Director Ciara Taylor. “We’re asking for FDLE to look into discrimination, to take a deep look at racial profiling and how law enforcement connects with black and brown people across the state, and it seems like they don’t have time to do that. But they do have time to come up with a rule against taxpaying citizens of this state, basically making the Capitol inaccessible.”
The sit-in drew a steady stream of visitors, including entertainer and civil-rights veteran Harry Belafonte and rapper Talib Kweli. Another visitor was longtime activist Jesse Jackson, who touched off his own media storm by claiming that Florida practiced apartheid and comparing Gov. Rick Scott to segregationist Alabama Gov. George Wallace.
The Dream Defenders spent Monday afternoon training about 40 members in the Old Capitol about how to lobby legislators, who are in Tallahassee this week for the first committee meetings leading up the 2014 session.
The group remains hopeful that lawmakers will advance proposals, beyond a one-day House hearing on the “stand your ground” law that is expected in October.
Several already-filed bills are directed at the law, with a proposal (SB 130) by Sen. David Simmons, R-Altamonte Springs, expected to have the best chance to advance.
Simmons’ proposal would require local law enforcement to issue “reasonable” guidelines for the operation of neighborhood watch programs. Zimmerman was a neighborhood-watch volunteer when he shot Martin during an altercation.
The bill closely matches part of a broader proposal (SB 122) that Senate Minority Leader Chris Smith, D-Fort Lauderdale, filed to address the “stand your ground” law.
Century Approves Budget With $1.6 Million Increase, Sets Tax Rate
September 24, 2013
Monday afternoon, the Century Town Council voted to adopt a budget that was up about 50 percent over last year and set the tax rate for the upcoming 2013-14 fiscal year.
The proposed 2013-2014 budget is$4,384,791, up about $1.6 million over the last fiscal year. The operating budget increase is due to grant income and associated expenditures of $1,595,000 — including a $650,000 housing grant and a $944,000 drainage project grant for North Century Boulevard.
There will be no net increase in ad valorem taxes this year to meet the budget for fiscal year 2013-2014, which begins October 1. The recomputed millage rate of .9006 is equal to and does not exceed the rolled-back rate.
To view a summary of the budget in pdf format, click here or the image below.
Red Snapper Season Opening
September 24, 2013
The recreational harvest of red snapper will open Oct. 1 in state and federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico. In state waters, which are from shore to 9 nautical miles in the Gulf, the season will remain open through Oct. 21, closing on Oct. 22. In federal waters, which are from 9 nautical miles out to 200 nautical miles, the season will remain open through Oct. 14, closing on Oct. 15.
These supplemental recreational red snapper seasons are for 2013 only. The minimum size limit in state and federal waters is 16 inches, and the daily bag limit is two per harvester, per day. There is a zero daily bag and possession limit for captain and crew on for-hire vessels.
Anglers are required to use circle hooks and dehooking devices when fishing for any reef species, including red snapper, in Gulf of Mexico state and federal waters. The requirement to use venting tools in federal waters was removed on Sept. 3. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will consider adopting similar changes at a future meeting. The intent of these rules is to help conserve fishery resources by increasing the chances for a fish to survive after being caught and released.
Learn more about red snapper by visiting MyFWC.com/Fishing and clicking on “Saltwater” and “Recreational Regulations.”