Blue Angels Team Members Takes Part In Century Storytime
June 27, 2013
A member of the Blue Angels took part in an afternoon storytime Wednesday at the Century Branch Library. PR1 Jeremy Green, a parachute rigger first class for the Blue Angels’ Life Support team, read a story to the packed library crowed and shared stories about his time in the Navy and with the Blue Angels. Green is from Spring Hill, AK, and enlisted in the Navy in February 2002 as an aircrew survival equipmentman.
Special storytimes will continue with a member of the Blue Angels at area libraries as follows:
- Thursday, June 27 at 10:30 A.M.,: Tryon Branch, 1200 Langley Ave.
- Saturday, June 29 at 2:30 P.M.,: Westside Branch, 1580 W. Cervantes St.
- Tuesday, July 2 at 10:30 A.M.,: Southwest Branch, 12248 Gulf Beach Hwy.
Groups of 20 or less are invited to contact their favorite library to inquire if seating is available for attendance at this very special Blue Angels storytime event.
Pictured top and below: Blue Angels team member PR1 Jeremy Green reads to children Wednesday afternoon at the Century Branch Library. Pictured inset: Enjoyig the story. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Supreme Court Asked To Block Florida’s Death Row Fast Track Law
June 27, 2013
Attorneys representing Death Row inmates want the Florida Supreme Court to block the controversial “Timely Justice Act” that is intended to reduce final delays in carrying out the death penalty.In a challenge filed Wednesday, the attorneys contend that sections of the law signed June 14 by Gov. Rick Scott are unconstitutional.
They allege, in part, that the law would violate the separation of powers by imposing obligations on lawyers that conflict with judicially-determined rules. They also say it would alter the court’s authority to govern capital post-conviction litigation and would violate due process and equal protection.
“It is clear that, when the Legislature restricts this court’s authority to reach final ruling on constitutional matters by creating a time-certain limit on capital litigation and rejects procedural vehicles recognized by this court as necessary components to ensuring the constitutionality of capital convictions and death sentences, it violates this court’s authority to be the ultimate interpreter of the Florida Constitution,” said the lawsuit.
Scott’s office has repeatedly contended that the law, which takes effect July 1, doesn’t “fast-track” the death penalty process and will not increase the risk of executing innocent people as some critics have argued. Instead, Scott’s office says the bill makes “technical amendments to current law and provides clarity and transparency to legal proceedings.”
The measure includes several changes in the death-penalty process. As an example, the act 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.
In the conclusion of the new challenge, the attorneys noted that during the House floor debate some legislators discussed that the law would likely result in additional delays “by creating constitutional deficiencies in the system, and that courts would have to issue stays to review the act’s functioning.”
by The News Service of Florida
Escambia Man Pleads To Federal Drug, Weapons Charges
June 27, 2013
An Escambia County man pleaded guilty Wednesday morning to federal drug trafficking and firearms charges.
John Willie Rudolph, 39, entered the guilty plea to charges charges of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Rudolph is scheduled to be sentenced on September 10 before Senior United States District Judge Lacey A. Collier.
According to court records, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office learned on April 26, 2013, that Rudolph, who had active warrants for his arrest, was at the Western Inn in Pensacola with a firearm.
Deputies responded to the area and observed Rudolph with a black leather bag. As deputies approached, Rudolph attempted to flee but was subsequently apprehended. Upon his arrest, deputies found a loaded revolver, cocaine, a digital scale, and $1,000 in cash on Rudolph’s person and a black leather bag nearby containing a large quantity of individually packaged baggies of marijuana.
On the controlled substance offense, Rudolph faces up to thirty years of imprisonment, up to six years of supervised release, and up to a $6 million fine. For possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, he faces a mandatory five years of imprisonment up to life imprisonment consecutive to any other sentence, up to three years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine. On the possession of a firearm by a felon, Rudolph faces a mandatory fifteen years of imprisonment up to life imprisonment, up to three years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine.
This case was brought as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” program – a nationwide, gun-violence reduction strategy led by ATF.
Northview, Jay Students Attend Rural Electric Youth Tour In Washington
June 27, 2013
Two North Escambia area students represented Escambia River Electric Cooperative during the annual Washington Rural Electric Youth Tour.
Taylor Brook of Northview High School and Kayla Flowers of Jay High School joined 1,500 youth leaders representing electric cooperatives from 41 states as they enjoyed a week-long tour of Washington, D.C. Brook and Flowers were the winners of the annual EREC Youth Tour contest held annually for high school juniors in the EREC service area.
Brook and Flowers visited the World War II, Lincoln, Vietnam, Korean and FDR memorials, along with Arlington National Cemetery. They also took an evening boat cruise along the Potomac River and attended a play at the Kennedy Center.
They also met with Congressman Jeff Miller and visited the Capitol where they learned more about how government works. During the Rural Electric Youth Day program, they had the opportunity to gain a better understanding of rural electric cooperatives’ history and their importance in the communities they serve.
Pictured: EREC Youth Tour delegates Kayla Flowers and Taylor Brook in front of the White House. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Citizens Property Insurance Approves Rate Hike
June 27, 2013
Customers of state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corp. will see rates go up next year as the agency continues to aggressively shift policyholders into the private market.
The Citizens board on Wednesday approved an average 7 percent increase for its 1.26 million customers, with the mark around 7.5 percent for those with sinkhole coverage — hikes that Citizens officials said are still not enough to cover projected costs for next year.
Board member John Rollins said the agency “needs to strike a balance” between the impact on customers and meeting actuarially sound rates.
The increase is expected to generate an additional $178 million for Citizens in the next year, while actuarial numbers estimate $505 million is needed in additional premium charges.
For single-family coverage, the average non-sinkhole rate will stand at $2,112 next year, up from $1,981 in the current year.
“We can’t ignore the political consequences of what we do, but such interest must always yield to sound business judgment, fiduciary duty and the requirements of law,” Chairman Carlos Lacasa said.
The rate hike comes with Citizens having a $6.4 billion surplus to brace for an emergency or two, and the board earlier this year approved two deals with private insurers to take out policies, with a cost to Citizens that could reach $115 million.
The rate proposal must still be approved by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation.
The hike comes as state legislators, who imposed new rules on Citizens during the 2013 session, intend to review the decision-making practices of Citizens this fall.
The review stems from the Citizens board’s May approval of St. Petersburg-based Heritage Property & Casualty Insurance Co., receiving up to $52 million to take out 60,000 policies.
The board had earlier approved Weston Insurance to take out up to 30,000 policies in exchange for up to $63 million.
Usually takeouts occur in November and December. But because the Heritage and Weston deals came closer to the June 1 start of hurricane season, the financial packages were included to provide coverage for the private companies that had not been able to build reserves through months of premiums collected on the policies.
During the meeting Wednesday at Miami Dade College, the board accepted parts of a new state law (SB 1770) that goes into effect July 1, including a requirement that all customers, when accepting Citizens policies or renewing coverage, sign an acknowledgement of risk.
The statement declares an understanding that Citizens policyholders face a surcharge of up to 45 percent to cover storm-related costs. Board members have considered the surcharge benchmark in the statement a “worst case” scenario.
The new law also creates an inspector general in Citizens, prohibits coverage for new structures closest to the beach, maintains existing rate caps, and establishes a clearinghouse with the intention of shifting more than 200,000 of the least risky policies into private hands.
Citizens President and CEO Barry Gilway said Wednesday that a realistic goal is to reduce the number of policies to 700,000 to 850,000. Anything below 700,000 would be more “difficult,” he added.
For single-family homeowners, the average premium increase approved Wednesday is 6.2 percent. Condominium owners face an 8 percent average hike, and commercial property is in line for a 9.1 percent average increase.
Increases will vary depending upon the amount of coverage, and the location and appraised value of each property.
The biggest percentage increases are for those with sinkhole coverage, which doesn’t receive the same 10 percent cap that is imposed on other Citizens policies.
The average increase for the sinkhole portion of coverage is 27.3 percent.
Areas around Tampa Bay have the highest sinkhole rates in the state, with coastal properties in Hernando County paying on average $1,723 to insure against sinkhole damage.
The average sinkhole policy in Pasco and Hernando counties will grow 20 percent, about $425 per policy, and 50 percent in Hillsborough County, an average of $185 per policy.
Pasco and Hernando counties had been in line for 25 percent hikes, which would have been about a $450 increase just for the sinkhole coverage.
Sean Shaw, a former state insurance consumer advocate and founder of Policyholders of Florida, criticized the increases.
“We only hear two things from Citizens Property Insurance—– either lack of self-control or rate hikes,” Shaw said in a prepared statement. “Today it’s rate hikes, and once again Tampa Bay is taking most of the punishment.”
Outside the Tampa Bay region the average sinkhole policy was $212 this year.
Even with the higher rates, Lacasa the state is “still playing catch up” on rates in the Tampa area.
Florida’s Insurance Consumer Advocate Robin Westcott said that regardless of the rate, asking consumers to pay $400 on top of existing rates and in combination with other coverage is “pricey for consumers.”
By The News Service of Florida
Braves Drop Wahoos 8-3
June 27, 2013
Barrett Kleinknecht launched a three-run homer in the top of the seventh, capping the Mississippi Braves’ second straight four-run frame in an 8-3 win over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos on Wednesday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
Pensacola entered the sixth inning with a 1-0 lead and starter Ryan Dennick cruising through five frames. He retired the first batter he faced in the sixth, but would not set down another hitter in his outing. After Christian Bethancourt walked, Jose Martinez hit a ground ball to third baseman Travis Mattair who had trouble corralling the ball and overthrew the first baseman Marquez Smtih, allowing Bethancourt to score from first on the error.
Edward Salcedo then drove home Martinez with a double to left and came around to score on Jaime Pedroza single, putting the Braves on top 3-1. Dennick departed after another single by Omar Luna and gave way to Shaun Ellis. The right-hander issued a two-out bases loaded walk to pinch-hitter Kyle Russell to push Mississippi’s lead to 4-1.
An inning later, the Braves strung together three two-out hits as Pedroza collected an RBI single and Kleinknecht put the game out of reach with his three-run blast off Ellis.
Dennick (3-9) ended up taking the loss. The southpaw pitched five scoreless before giving up the four runs in the sixth. Overall, he allowed four runs on eight hits in 5.1 innings.
Pensacola jumped out to a 1-0 lead thanks to a Travis Mattair solo homer in the last of the fourth inning. It was Mattair’s team-leading 10th blast of the year and his second in as many days.
The Wahoos scratched across a pair of runs in the last of the seventh on an RBI triple Ryan LaMarre and an RBI single by Brodie Greene, but they wouldn’t threaten the rest of the night.
Chason Shreve (3-1) picked up the win with a scoreless inning of relief for Mississippi. Starter Ian Thomas allowed a run on three hits in four frames, not going long enough for the win.
The series continues on Thursday as the Wahoos and Braves tangle in the fourth game of the five-game set. Daniel Renken (2-5, 3.93) takes the mound for Pensacola against Mississippi’s Gus Schlosser (5-2, 2.35) with first pitch scheduled for 7 p.m.
story by Kevin Burke
Two Sentenced In String Of Robberies, Including 9 Mile Credit Union
June 27, 2013
Two people have been sentenced for a string of robberies committed in October 2012.
Reginald Augst was sentenced for three robberies to 20 years in state prison, and Heather Menze received nine years in prison for her role in two robberies .
The charges stem from three robberies committed within a four-day period in October 2012. On October 19, 2012, Augst went into the Texaco on Nine Mile Road robbing the clerk with what was later determined to be a BB gun. On October 22, 2012, Augst went into the Cuts by Us on Davis Highway robbed the employee and then forced her in the bathroom until he left. During both of these crimes, Augst was wearing a mask over his face.
Then, on October 23, 2012, Augst went into the Central Credit Union off Nine Mile Road and demanded money from the teller. Augst stated he had a gun and he was able to get away with approximately $3,000. Menze was involved in the planning of these robberies and was the driver of the getaway car, according to prosecutors. Both defendants were caught and arrested on October 26, 2012, at the American Inn and Suites on Highway 29 by Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies.
Supreme Court Strikes Down Defense Of Marriage Act
June 26, 2013
The United States Supreme Court made two landmark decisions early Wednesday with regards to a pair of controversial laws limiting rights for same-sex couples.
In a 5-4-decision issued Wednesday morning, the high court ruled that that the federal Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional, overturning a nation-wide legislation that limited benefits for same-sex couples.
Moments later, the court dismissed an appeal regarding Proposition 8, a decision that will once again legalize same-sex marriage in the state of California.
Both decisions out of Washington on Wednesday are already being hailed as important steps in ensuring equality for same-sex couples across the United States.
With regards to the Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA, the court ruled that the federal government must recognize state-sanctioned same-sex marriages. It will give gay couple access to numerous federal benefits such as tax breaks and survivor assistance aid that have previously only been afforded to heterosexual couples.
Under DOMA, the federal government recognized marriage exclusively as the union of one man and one woman, although same-sex marriage has been legalized in 12 states and the District of Columbia.
President Barack Obama was en route to Senegal when the ruling was announced Wednesday morning in Washington but weighed in from his official Twitter account.
In 2011, the Obama administration abandoned its defense of the law, but continued to enforce it. President Barack Obama subsequently endorsed gay marriage in 2012.
Thirty minutes later, the justices said that defenders of the California law prohibiting gay marriage on a state level could not appeal an earlier ruling from a lower court that struck down the ban.
“We have never before upheld the standing of a private party to defend the constitutionality of a state statute when state officials have chosen not to,” Chief Justice John Roberts wrote on behalf of the majority decision. “We decline to do so for the first time here.”
“We have no authority to decide this case on the merits, and neither did the Ninth Circuit,”
As a result of the 5-4 decision to not weigh in on the matter, same-sex unions in California will likely resume shortly.
[VOA][RT]
Cantonment Woman Facing Drug Charges After Running Red Light
June 26, 2013
A Cantonment woman was jailed on multiple felony drug charges after running a red light.
Tracy Lynn Harris, 50, was charged with five counts of synthetic narcotic manufacturing, 12 counts of possession of drug paraphernalia , one count of drug possession and one count of driving with a license that was suspended or revoked.
A Florida Highway Patrol sergeant reported that he conducted a traffic stop after he watched Harris run a red light at Highway 29 and 9½ Mile Road. Harris refused to allow her 1999 Toyota to be search, so a K-9 was called. After the drug-sniffing dog alerted, the trooper and Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies reported finding methamphetamine in multiple locations and packages in the vehicle. Prescription medication belonging to another person was also found in the vehicle, including Lortab, and oxycodone. Harris also had multiple glass tubes with burn residue, officers said.
On the way to the county jail, Harris told the trooper that she has a bad drug problem and needs help, according to the arrest report.
Harris remained in the Escambia County Jail early Wednesday morning with bond set at $17,450.
Thomas To Serve On School Grading System Task Force
June 26, 2013
Escambia Schools Superintendent Malcolm Thomas will serve on a Florida Department of Education Task Force that will review the state’s system of grading schools ahead of the release of the annual school report cards.
The group was formed amid worries by some educators that a complicated mix of new grading policies could lead to a collapse in scores.
“I look forward to working with superintendents and other task force members as we continue the important job of holding schools accountable and maintaining high expectations for teachers and students,” Florida Education Commissioner Ton Bennett said.
In addition to Bennett, the task force will include five superintendents, several DOE officials and one state lawmaker.
The superintendents include Thomas from Escambia County, Alberto Carvalho of Miami-Dade County, MaryEllen Elia of Hillsborough County, Margaret Smith of Volusia County and Wally Cox of Highlands County.
Dale Chu, the DOE’s chief of staff; Will Krebs, the agency’s deputy chief of staff; Kim McDougal, who handles education policy for Gov. Rick Scott; Jason Rose, director of data and policy for the Jacksonville Public Education Fund; and state Sen. Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee, will also serve on the panel.
The advisory task force’s first meeting has been scheduled for July 1 in Tallahassee. Advisory task force members will review FCAT 2.0 and EOC assessment results, as well as other factors to make sure the accountability system is designed in the best interest of Florida’s students.
The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.