Five Months Later, No Hurry From Scott On Lt. Gov Replacement
August 13, 2013
Five months have passed since Florida last had a lieutenant governor, but Gov. Rick Scott appears to be in no hurry to change the situation.
During a visit to West Palm Beach on Monday, the five-month anniversary of former Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll’s resignation, Scott was asked about the lack of a second-in-line and running mate. Scott signaled that he hasn’t even decided what he wants in a No. 2.
“We’re still working on the criteria and I’m working with Adam Hollingsworth, my chief of staff, on that,” Scott said, according to the politics blog of The Palm Beach Post. “My biggest focus every day is to keep jobs going.”
Scott said in early July that he had tapped Hollingsworth to prepare for a search, but there have been few if any public statements since then about the vacancy.
Carroll resigned March 12 amid revelations that a company she co-owned, 3N & JC Corporation, had provided consulting services for Allied Veterans of the World, which was at the center of an investigation into illegal gambling and other crimes in the Internet café industry. Carroll has not been charged in connection with the case and has denied any wrongdoing.
For now, if Scott were unable to fulfill his duties for some reason, Attorney General Pam Bondi would take over as governor.
Democrats have hammered Scott for failing to appoint a lieutenant governor in the months after Carroll’s resignation, most recently slamming the administration after a public records request on the search in June turned up nothing.
But the Florida Constitution and state law do not appear to provide any deadline for Scott’s decision. The Constitution simply says that “[t]here shall be a lieutenant governor,” then says the governor will decide the lieutenant governor’s role. State law only says that “the Governor shall appoint a successor” when the office opens up.
The position has no real responsibilities beyond whatever work the governor asks the lieutenant governor to do, something that has led critics to argue that the office should be done away with.
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Cheyenne Taylor Glenn
August 13, 2013
Cheyenne Glenn, age 17, of Jay was taken away suddenly from results of an ATV accident on August 8, 2013. Cheyenne was a happy girl who always brightened up a room. She was full of love and very affectionate. She loved the outdoors, shopping, being with her family and all of the little ones she helped take care of like her nieces, nephews, and some that weren’t family, but she had spent so much time with them and treated them like they were her family. She was her mother’s glue and rock for their family.
At the age of 17, she still wanted mom to hold her and she did it every day. Cheyenne loved and lived the outdoors and was a country girl at heart taken away too soon.
She was preceded in death by her grandfather, Mike Germany; great-grandmother, Rita Hagesteded and uncle, Robby Ashcraft.
She is survived by her mom, Cynthia Forbes and stepfather, Tim Bauldree; father, Don Glenn Jr.; sisters, Nicole Forbes and Ashley Bauldree; grandparents, Mae Forbes, Ray J. Hammack, and Don and Laura Glenn; aunts, Amanda Kay Ashcraft and Heather Brown; uncle, Timmy Hammack; cousins, Felicia Ashcraft, Misti Ashcraft, Randall Ashcraft, and Blake and Dylan Brown; niece, Kayleigh Forbes; nephews, Jaden and Hunter Simmons and a special little girl Jadynn Dannelley who was in the accident with her.
Cheyenne will truly be missed by all that knew and loved her. The family would like to thank everyone for all their support, love, donations, food, calls, prayers, and everything else that they have shown my family during this difficult time and a special thank you to Crystal Ladner for being her rock during this time.
A visitation will be held on Wednesday, August 14, 2013, from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Cornerstone Christian Center. Funeral services will begin at 1 p.m. Burial will follow at Walling Cemetery. Jay Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Willie Hilary Hicks
August 13, 2013
Willie Hilary Hicks, 79 of Daphne, AL, passed away Thursday August 8, 2013, in Foley. He was a heavy equipment operator with International Paper, born in Huxford, AL, on January 15, 1934, to the late Hilary and Vasnti Lomas Hicks. He attended the Jubilee Baptist Church in Daphne.
He is preceded in death by his first wife, Flossie Hicks, a brother, Hubbard Hicks and a sister Alma Chason.
He is survived by two brothers, Charles (Jane) Hicks of Macon, GA, and Eugene (Arlie) Hicks of California, six stepchildren, and his nieces and nephews.
Services will be Wednesday, August 14, 2013, at 11 a.m. from Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Paul Matthews officiating. Interment will follow in Huxford Baptist Church Cemetery. Active Pallbearers will be Ryan Chason, C.W. Burnette, Curtis Hicks, Kevin Chason, Blake Reed and Troy Reed,Jr.
Family will receive friends, Wednesday, August 14, 2013, at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home in Atmore from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.
It’s Going To Be A Sweet Year – Teachers Return To School
August 12, 2013
Monday was back to school for thousands of Escambia County School District teachers and staff as they prepare for the return of students on August 19. At Molino Park Elementary School, second grade teachers Jennifer Solchenberger (pictured left) and Gena Daniels (right) prepared a bulletin board Monday morning to let students know “It’s Going To Be A Sweet Year” at the school. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Summer Showers Continue This Week
August 12, 2013
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Monday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 92. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
- Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the morning.
- Tuesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the morning.
- Wednesday Night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Thursday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 91. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
- Thursday Night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Friday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
- Friday Night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Saturday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 90. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
- Saturday Night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Sunday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Escambia County School Orientations Scheduled
August 12, 2013
School orientations are scheduled for this week in Escambia County, with school beginning next Monday, August 19.
Orientations will be held as follows:
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
Orientation, Meet And Greets, August 15
- Bratt – August 15 – K-5, 8:30 – 10:30; Pre-K, 9:30-11 am
- Byrneville — August 16, 9-11 am
- Jim Allen – August 15, K-5 9-10:30
- Lipscomb – August 15. 9:30 -11 a.m.
- McArthur – August 15, 8:30-10 a.m.
- Pine Meadow – August 15, 9-11 a.m.
- Molino Park - August 15 – K, 10-11; 1-3, 9-9:30; 4-5 , 9:30-10; Pre-K August 16, 9:30-10
For Escambia County elementary schools not listed, click here.
MIDDLE SCHOOLS
Orientations, August 15
- Bailey - 1:00 – 3:00
- Bellview Middle – 9:00 – 11:00
- Brown-Barge – 1:00 – 2:30
- Ernest Ward – 11-12
- Ferry Pass – 10 – 11:30
- Ransom – 10:00 – 12:00
- Warrington- 9:00 – 11:00
- Workman – 1:00 – 2:30
- Woodham Middle – 2:00 – 3:00
HIGH SCHOOLS
Ninth Grade/New Student Orientation
- Northview — August 15, 8 – 11 a.m. theatre
- Pine Forest — August 15, 9-10:30 a.m.
Schedule (and/or Book) Pickup
- Northview — August 14, 9-noon, attendance window
- Tate — August 13, 1:30-3:30 p.m. – cafeteria
- West Florida – August 15, 10 a.m. grade 11; 1:30 p.m. grade 10; 6 p.m. grade 12 and parents; gym
- Pine Forest — August 15, 9-10:30 a.m., grade 9; 1-3 p.m., grade 10-11; auditorium
For Escambia County high schools not listed, click here for a complete schedule.
Note that some high schools have already held orientation events. See the complete schedule above for details.
Improvements Designed To Eliminate Highway 29 Flooding, Closures
August 12, 2013
The Florida Department of Transportation has made drainage improvements on Highway 29 in Gonzalez designed to eliminate flooding like shut down the roadway in June.
North and south bound Highway 29 just north of East Kingsfield Road were closed June 10 for over eight hours after just a few inches of rain. The incident left state highway officials, engineers and lawmakers scrambling for answers as to how a relatively normal heavy rainfall could paralyze the major north-south hurricane evacuation route from Pensacola.
“If this were a hurricane and four inches of rain had closed the highway, it would be a major cause for concern,” Ian Satter, spokesman for the Florida Department of Transportation said. He said Highway 29 and its associated drainage system are designed to handle heavy rainfall and remain open. State officials responded to the flooding across Highway 29 near Pensacola Salvage before the water receded to study the problem.
“It is essential that Highway 29 remain clear and open. This is especially important during hurricane season because of the fact that Highway 29 is part of the evacuation route from the coast,” State Rep. Clay Ingram said.
Drainage improvements were made between the west side of Highway 29 and parallel railroad tracks in order to alleviate future problems.
Pictured top and inset: Flooding closed this section of Highway 29 for eight hours back in June. Pictured below: Drainage system improvements designed to eliminate the future flooding. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Library Branches To Present ‘Astronomy For Everyone’ Programs
August 12, 2013
How does our little blue marble called Earth fit into the grand scheme of things? Dr. Kevin Manning, award-winning astrophysicist and former NASA consultant, will visit West Florida Library branches to present “Astronomy for Everyone”.
This exciting 90-minute program is designed to teach audiences of all ages about the size and scale of the universe, the stars, and other celestial wonders through hands-on activities and assorted visuals.
Manning’s schedule is as follows:
- Tuesday, August 13 – 1:30 pm – Tryon Branch
- Tuesday , August 13 – 4:30 pm – Westside Branch
- Wednesday, August 14 – 3:30 pm – Century Branch
- Thursday, August 15 – 10:30 am – Southwest Branch
- Thursday, August 15 – 6:00pm – Main Library
The Main Library presentation on August 15 is geared toward adults, while the other programs are for all ages.
Do Not Call, Telemarketers Top List of Florida Consumer Complaints
August 12, 2013
The top three complaints received last month at the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services were regarding the statewide Do Not Call List, telemarketing and real estate brokers/salespersons, according to Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam.
The agency received 5,385 written complaints in July. In addition, there were 26,435 calls and 625 emails requesting consumer assistance and information. The top three calls to the agency’s 1-800-HELP-FLA hotline were related to the Do Not Call list, solicitation of contributions from charities and landlord/tenant issues.
In the past month, the department has responded to many consumer concerns and taken action against several individuals or businesses operating outside of Florida law. During the month of July, the agency:
- Registered 5,176 businesses.
- Initiated 141 investigations.
- Arrested 20 individuals.
- Recovered $281,196 on behalf of Florida consumers.
- Added 15,512 telephone numbers to Florida’s Do Not Call List. Currently, there are more than 512,000 numbers on the list.
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is the state’s clearinghouse for consumer complaints, protection and information. The call center is staffed with trained analysts who can respond to questions about programs and regulations under the department’s purview, provide information on a wide variety of topics or direct callers to the appropriate government agency.
Consumers who believe fraud has taken place can contact the department’s consumer protection and information hotline at 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352) or online at www.FreshFromFlorida.com.
Florida Project Tax Revenues Still On Modest Upswing
August 12, 2013
Economic forecasters Friday gave state lawmakers $435.4 million more to work with in the budget year that begins in July 2014, predicting that a slow but steady economic recovery will continue to increase tax revenues.
The increased projections included an additional $177.8 million for the current fiscal year, which runs until June 30. Because the current year’s budget is already set, that money would carry over until next year. The economists also added $257.6 million of extra revenue to next year’s forecast.
In all, lawmakers would have $29.3 billion in general revenue to spend if they were to start working on crafting a spending plan immediately, about $2 billion more than in the current year.
While general revenue makes up less than half of the state’s budget, lawmakers generally have a much freer hand with how they distribute it than other funding.
But lawmakers aren’t scheduled to take up the budget again until next spring’s legislative session, and other revenue forecasts are expected in the interim, meaning it will likely take awhile before the full budget picture is known. And in any case, a projected surplus or shortfall taking into account high-priority spending on items like education and health care isn’t expected to be released until next month.
The economic conference held Friday was the latest in a string of similar meetings that have predicted improvement in tax collections as the state continues to emerge from the economic recession. But that recovery has also not measured up to the explosive periods of state growth that often preceded the downturn, making the changes in the predictions less dramatic regardless of which way the numbers are going.
“Finally, we’ve entered a period where everything is still gradual compared to past recoveries, but it is clearly on a steady upward path,” said Amy Baker, coordinator for the Legislature’s Office of Economic and Demographic Research. “And so we’re able to see that and predict that much better. The big financial shocks that we’ve been having aren’t there in this most recent data.”
Outside factors are likely to push Friday’s numbers in one direction or another. Automatic cuts to federal spending are expected to continue to add a slight drag to the economy unless President Barack Obama and congressional Republicans reach a deal to replace those cuts.
At the same time, the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as “Obamacare,” could add to the estimate by increasing income from the state’s insurance premium tax — as more people get health insurance, and premiums for some other Floridians potentially rise — and from other medical fees.
In statements issued after the final numbers were agreed to, the budget chiefs for the state House and Senate emphasized how cautious they were in their optimism.
“An increase in the general revenue projection gives us reason to be hopeful we can avoid drastic cuts in the coming budget year; however, as our economy grows, we must avoid adding costs that will quickly consume any modest increase in revenues,” said Senate Appropriations Chairman Joe Negron, R-Stuart.
Meanwhile, House Appropriations Chairman Seth McKeel, R-Lakeland, was already signaling where he would like to see at least some of the money go.
“With the news of these positive estimates, we are hopeful that we will have the opportunity to provide a significant tax break for Florida businesses to continue to improve the job-creation climate in our state and benefit Florida families,” he said.
By Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida