Scott Signs Bill To Speed Up Death Penalty Cases
June 17, 2013
As expected, Gov. Rick Scott has signed the controversial “Timely Justice Act,” a measure aimed at reducing delays in carrying out the death penalty in Florida.
Opponents have argued that the measure (HB 7083) will heighten the possibility of executing innocent people, but Scott rejected that argument as he signed it.
The Timely Justice Act “improves the orderly administration of capital punishment in our state,” wrote the governor. “The bill does not increase the risk of executions of persons who did not commit murder.”
The measure cuts the time between sentencing and execution by imposing strict time frames for appeals, post-conviction motions and reports on case progress.
In part, it requires the clerk of the Florida Supreme Court to notify the governor when a Death Row inmate’s state and federal court appeals have been completed. The governor would then have 30 days to issue a death warrant if the executive clemency process has finished. The warrant would require that the execution be carried out within 180 days.
Sheila Hopkins of the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops, which opposes capital punishment, said the bill will put pressure on Scott and every governor who follows him into office.
“The bill says he shall sign the death warrant within a certain number of days of the executive clemency process being completed,” Hopkins said. “He is being told that he is to do this.”
But Scott argued that the measure is the object of “misrepresentation” by opponents.
“It does not ‘fast-track’ death-penalty cases through the court system,” he wrote in his transmittal message on the measure. “It does not change the full panoply of judicial review available to death-sentenced inmates.”
But House sponsor Matt Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, posted a message on Twitter that appeared to disagree with the governor’s position about whether the bill will speed up executions.
Gaetz tweeted his thanks to Scott for signing the bill and noted, “Several on death row need to start picking out their last meals.”
Scott’s office helped draft the Timely Justice Act, according to Gaetz, who called it “a modest down payment on the reforms that we need to ensure that victims’ families aren’t waiting decades for justice.”
Howard Simon, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, issued a statement condemning the changes and charging Scott with signing the bill for political gain.
“Shame on the governor for putting the cynical calculation of his chances for re-election over ensuring that Florida will never execute an innocent person,” Simon wrote. “Signing the ‘Rush to Execute’ bill (the grotesquely-named ‘Timely Justice Act’) will make this next year the deadliest and ugliest in the history of Florida’s death row.”
If Scott signed the bill for political gain, however, he went against the tide of calls, letters and emails urging him to veto it. As of Thursday, his office had received 447 phone calls, with 438 opposed to the bill; 14 letters, with 13 opposed; and 14,571 emails, with 14,565 opposed.
Scott also ignored pleas from the Conference of Catholic Bishops. Michael McCarron, the conference director, wrote Scott last month, noting that the state had led the U.S. in death sentences handed down in 2012.
“This fact, coupled with Florida’s other dubious distinction of leading the country in the number of death sentences overturned, compels our state to conduct a careful and deliberate review of the system,” McCarron wrote Scott.
According to the Death Penalty Information Center, since 1973 more Death Row inmates have been exonerated in Florida — 24 — than in any other state. But Scott’s office disputed that any would have been executed if the Timely Justice Act had been in place. It said that none of the 24 would have been certified as eligible for a death warrant under the requirements of HB 7083, because none of them had exhausted their legal remedies.
The Timely Justice Act passed the House 84-34 and the Senate 28-10, mostly on party lines.
Lawmakers also voted down an effort to amend the bill to require the unanimous vote of a jury to impose the death penalty. Florida is the only state where a simple majority of a 12-person jury can sentence a defendant to death. In Alabama, a 10-2 vote is necessary, while the rest of the death-penalty states require the jury’s decision to be unanimous.
By Margie Menzel, The News Service of Florida
Wahoos Shutout BayBears 4-0
June 17, 2013
Shaun Ellis shut down a red-hot Mobile BayBears lineup and the Pensacola Blue Wahoos scored all four of their runs in the fifth inning in a 4-0 shutout on Sunday evening at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. The win snapped a three-game losing skid for the Wahoos and prevented Mobile from winning the first-half South Division title.
Making his fourth professional start, Ellis (2-1) dominated in 6.1 shutout frames. The Wahoos hurler never allowed a runner past second base as the BayBears mustered just three singles and a walk against Ellis. It was the longest appearance of the season for the right-hander, as he struck out two to pick up his first win as a starter this year.
Pensacola would get all the offense it needed in the fifth inning against Mobile’s Archie Bradley (5-2). Bradley entered the fifth with a no-hitter, but three straight Wahoos reached on singles finished off by a Travis Mattair RBI base knock to give Pensacola a 1-0 lead. The hit extended Mattair’s on-base streak to 19 games, the longest active streak in the league.
After a flyout, Brodie Greene reached on a perfect suicide squeeze bunt to score Tucker Barnhart and double Pensacola’s lead. A passed ball moved runners to second and third before a fielder’s choice plated two more runs for the Wahoos. Second baseman Mike Freeman attempted to throw out Mattair at the plate, but the catcher Raywilly Gomez mishandled his throw, allowing both runs to score.
That ended up being the only inning Pensacola would record a hit, but it was plenty as Drew Hayes and Trevor Bell combined to record the final eight outs of the contest to close the door on the Wahoos’ sixth shutout of the season.
Bradley took just his second loss of the season in 14 starts. He went seven innings and struck out seven while allowing four runs, two of which were earned.
The series and first half wrap up on Monday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium at 7 p.m. Josh Smith (5-5, 3.45) takes the ball for Pensacola against Mobile’s David Holmberg (3-3, 2.45).
story by Kevin Burke
Five Injured In Blue Angel Crash
June 16, 2013
Five people were injured in a two vehicle crash Saturday night on Blue Angel Parkway.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 27-year old Elissa Anne Barnes was eastbound on Blue Angle Parkway just west of Mobile Highway about 11:20 p.m. in a 2008 Mitsubishi SUV. She was traveling too fast for the approaching curve and drifted into the oncoming traffic lane where she struck a 2003 Chevrolet SUV driven by 38-year old Karimah Dayo Harris of Pensacola.
Harris’ SUV overturned several times, ejected rear-seat passengers Hannah Peasant, 14, and Varian Peasant, 19. Both received minor injuries. Harris and her passenger, 39-year old Frank W. Peasant of Pensacola, were transported to Sacred Heart Hospital.
Barnes was transported to Sacred Heart in critical condition. Charges against her are pending, according to FHP.
Driver Flips Into Field In Hwy 97 Crash
June 16, 2013
One person was injured in a single vehicle rollover accident Sunday morning in Walnut Hill.
The accident happened about 8:35 a.m. on Highway 97 just south of Arthur Brown Road. The driver of a Chevrolet pickup truck was northbound on Highway when the driver said he fell asleep as he was returning home from a night shift. He ran off the roadway, clipped a sign post, slid across both lanes of Highway 97 and overturned in a field. The truck came to rest upright in the field.
The driver was transported to Atmore Community Hospital by Atmore Ambulance with non-life threatening injuries.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded to the crash.
Pictured above and below: One person was injured in this accident Sunday morning on Highway 97 in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Daily Rain Chance Back In The Forecast
June 16, 2013
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 7pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Monday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 91. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
- Monday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Tuesday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Tuesday Night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Wednesday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. West wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Wednesday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Thursday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 93. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Thursday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Friday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 92. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Friday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Saturday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 92. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 70.
- Sunday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 91.
Happy Father’s Day: Dad’s Best Advice
June 16, 2013
For Father’s Day, NorthEscambia.com invited our Facebook fans to answer the question “What’s the best advice your dad ever gave you?”. Responses are below.
Feel free to add a comment to this story to answer the question or just wish your dad a (belated) Happy Father’s Day.
What’s the best advice your dad ever gave you?
Dad Bubba Griffith — The best advice my Dad has given me would be “You will catch more bee’s with sugar than salt” meaning always be kind to others even in a bad situation, being kind and respectful will get you farther in life than being mean bitter or spiteful. He always has little sayings that he tells me when he thinks I should hear them. They get stuck in my head and I carry those words with me. “Words of Wisdom” I like to call it. He is a great father, person, friend, and neighbor. He volunteered his time for years and years at Cantonment Ball Park when we was growing up. All of the kids loved him and he was a great mentor, and person in the community. We love you Dad, Happy Fathers Day from Jody,Cody and Ashley.
Scott Lunsford — “You can let the bad stuff that happens to you turn you bad or you can use it to make yourself a better person. The choice is yours but no matter what you choose, I will always love you.” - (advice myd Dad gave me the day we buried my son)
Ace Ellis — “Son, if you are going to be dumb, you need to learn to be tough.”
Shawn Moyers – Lester Walker was truly the rock of our family. We lost him 1992. I was his stepdaughter but from the time he married my mother I never felt like anything but his daughter. The best advice he ever gave me was “to never let other people tell you who you are”. I love and miss him today as much as ever.
Casey Pritchett — “To have things others don’t have you have to be willing to do things others won’t do.”
Renee Barfield — “Thank God every morning that you wake up and every night when you go to sleep and for the family and friends that you have because every second you’re still alive is a gift”.
Tina Fowler – Very wise words from a very Godly man – “Put God first in your life and everything else will fall in place.”
Sandy Wiggins – My dad, Earney Lambert, always said do people the way you want to be done. He was a great man.
Brittany Peebles — Throughout the trails and tribulations of my life my father Ronald Peebles has been my shoulder to lean on. When things get tough I always seek his wisdom to help me through. The most memorable advice my father ever gave me came about one day when we were discussing the pains of the past. His advice was this — “Brittany it’s like a fishing trip. It’s as if you hooked a big one and you’re reeling as fast as you can. Then it leads you into a log which puts you into a hang. You can snatch your pole a hundred times trying to get your spinner bait back. You can even back up and try to get it out. It’s stuck though. You’ll never get it back. While you’re worried about your spinner bait and beating yourself up about the big one you just lost, there is surely an even bigger one right down the way that’s just waiting for you. However, if you don’t cut your line (cut your loses), you’ll never know what other big ones (opportunities) are out there’. - I still carry these words today. My daddy is truly my best friend.
Your Blueberry Best: Blueberry Cooking Contest
June 16, 2013
Do you have a blueberry recipe that makes people drool? Are your blueberry muffins or pie the best in town? If you’re a talented chef or just have a favorite blueberry recipe, head for the kitchen and create a dish for the Blueberry Cooking Contest, sponsored by the ARC Santa Rosa and UF/IFAS Santa Rosa County Extension.
Just bring your dish, recipe, registration form, and entry fee to the Extension Office at 6263 Dogwood Drive between noon and 5:30 p.m. on Friday, June 21. Registration is only $3 and forms can be obtained by calling (850) 623-3868 or emailing ginnyh@santarosa.fl.gov. Entries will be judged on appearance, complete recipe, taste and nutritional content. Winners will be announced at the ARC Santa Rosa Blueberry Festival on Saturday, June 22. Both youth and adult winners will receive cash prizes and Simply Florida cookbooks.
High in fiber and vitamin C, blueberries make a tasty low-calorie addition to many recipes. They add color and great taste to salads, pancakes, cakes and muffins. Blueberries have grown wild in North America for thousands of years. They were a staple food for Native Americans, who dried and smoked the berries, pounding them into venison to flavor the meat. Fresh berries can be refrigerated for up to 10 days or frozen for later use. Thawed blueberries should be kept refrigerated and used within three days.
For more information about blueberries or the cooking contest, call the UF/IFAS Santa Rosa County Extension Service at (850) 623-3868. For information about the Blueberry Festival or the blueberry recipe cookbook, call the ARC Santa Rosa at (850) 623-9320.
Vanderhoff Named Senior NCO For 307th Maintenance Squadron
June 16, 2013
Air Force Reserve Senior Master Sgt. Lisa K. Vanderhoff has been named Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Quarter for 307th Maintenance Squadron.
Selection was based on the individual’s exemplary duty performance, job knowledge, leadership qualities, teamwork, significant self-improvement, personal achievements, notable accomplishments, and community service and support.
Vanderhoff is an aircraft structural maintenance supervisor assigned to the 307th Maintenance Squadron at Barksdale Air Force Base, La. The senior master sergeant has served in the military for 23 years.
She is the daughter of Albert and Carol Vanderhoff of Cantonment.
Vanderhoff graduated in 1984 from Tate High School and received a bachelor’s degree in 2011 from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona.
MLB Debut: Molino’s Gindl Thrilled To Get The Callup To The Brewers
June 16, 2013
Outfielder Caleb Gindl of Molino arrived from Triple-A Nashville on Saturday and became the sixth Milwaukee Brewer to make his Major League debut in a season yet to hit its halfway point.
Previous MLB debuts included Khris Davis (April 1), Josh Prince (April 6), Hiram Burgos (April 20), Donovan Hand (May 26) and Scooter Gennett (June 3).
“It’s the best feeling of my life,” Gindl said before the game.
The Brewers promoted Gindl after placing left fielder Ryan Braun on the 15-day disabled list. At 24, Gindl became the youngest of the Brewers’ six players to debut when he struck out against the Reds’ Homer Bailey in the seventh inning.
He is used to that label. Gindl was a Brewers’ fifth-round Draft pick in 2007 out of Pace High School in Florida, and he was 22 when he debuted in Triple-A in 2011. He had been waiting there patiently for a promotion.
“The last two weeks, he has really swung the bat well,” Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said. “He hangs in there, gives you a nice at-bat. Especially right now, because he’s got a lot of at-bats under his belt [from Triple-A], I think he’ll be a good pinch-hitter for us for a while. Now, how long that lasts, that he’s good without me starting him, I don’t know. That’s always hard to predict. But he does all the things well that you want from a bench player.”
Gindl was batting .274 at Nashville with eight home runs and a team-best 38 RBIs. He hit .364 over his last 10 games and got the call over Davis, who was hitting .125 over his last 10 contests.
“We try to go by whoever is doing the job, and [Gindl] is swinging the bat the best down there, and we know he plays pretty good defense,” Roenicke said.
The Brewers won a shutout for the first time this year on Saturday, 6-0 over the Cincinnati Reds.
By Adam McCalvy
Courtesy Milwaukee Brewers, MLB
Jay’s Hope Miller To Perform At Disney On Thankgiving Day
June 16, 2013
Hope Miller from Jay High School is one of more than 500 cheerleaders and dancers from across the country that will perform in the 2013 UCA/UDA Thanksgiving Tour Walt Disney World in Orlando.
Miller will perform with the UCA/UDA All-Americans group in the pre-parade at the Magic Kingdom on Thanksgiving Day.
Pictured: Hope Miller with her All American Thanksgiving Tour packet which was presented to her during the UCA Cheer Camp Awards Ceremony held at Auburn University on Saturday. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.