Miller First, Northview Second In Cross Country Meet
September 19, 2013
T.R. Miller took first place at a Tuesday cross county meeting in Brewton, while the Northview Chiefs placed second and the Flomaton Hurricanes were third in both the boys and girls divisions.
The fastest Northview girl was Moriah McGahan and the fastest Northview boy was Brandon Korinchak.
Pictured: Northview High School Cross Country team members (L-R, front) Jessica Barrows, Dakota Craft, Zacara Davis, Jessica Brown, (middle) Mason Solchenberger, Moriah McGahan, Bethany Reynolds, (back) Josh Poston, Zach Calloway, Brandon Korinchak, Noah Coker, Isaac McGahan and Joshua Borrelli. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Under Fire, Feds Add Health Care Law Privacy Protections
September 19, 2013
In the wake of criticism from Republicans including Florida Gov. Rick Scott, the Obama administration is beefing up security measures for data submitted to “navigators” by people seeking insurance under the federal health overhaul.
Attorney General Eric Holder, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Federal Trade Commission chairwoman Edith Ramirez met with senior White House officials and several state officials on Wednesday before announcing the new plans aimed at protecting private information in advance of the Oct. 1 roll-out of online health insurance marketplaces.
“Today, we are sending a clear message that we will not tolerate anyone seeking to defraud consumers in the Health Insurance Marketplace,” Sebelius said in a statement Wednesday.
Consumers will be able to report fraud through a toll-free hotline and on the website healthcare.gov. The administration plans to route complaints through a central database and set up a “rapid response” mechanism for data breaches. State and federal agencies will be able to access the hub to investigate fraud, and state and federal fraud experts will meet regularly to monitor potential fraud associated with the marketplace.
“Navigators” and “assisters” help people apply for insurance on the online marketplaces, or “exchanges,” which are a crucial part of carrying out the federal Affordable Care Act.
Sebelius said the federal agencies are using the same protections already in use as safeguards for Medicaid, Medicare and the Children’s Health Insurance Program.
Scott, a Republican who launched his political career fighting against the health care law, quickly issued a statement taking credit for the Obama administration’s attention to the security issues, which Scott raised in a letter to congressional leaders on Monday. Scott noted that Florida “has become ‘ground zero’ for the frenzy of activity” to sign people up through the online exchanges. Sebelius has made Florida a frequent stopping place to promote the health care law.
“Whenever the federal government forces a brand new program this big to move this fast, mistakes are made — just as we saw last week in Minnesota,” Scott said in statement Wednesday. An employee of the state health exchange in Minnesota mistakenly sent an e-mail containing about 2,400 insurance agents’ personal data, including Social Security numbers to a man applying to become a navigator.
The federal officials’ security measures leave many questions unanswered, Scott said.
White House officials insisted the security measures announced Wednesday were part of the plan all along.
“This was part of our whole roll-out. We wanted to send signals before people started enrolling about the type of information they should and should not share,” a senior administration official told reporters on a conference call Wednesday afternoon.
The official, who spoke on background, said that some but not all navigators are required to undergo background checks and noted that many of the groups that have contracts to act as navigators have done similar work in their communities in the past.
“It’s a question of how many resources do you want to dedicate to a problem that has yet to be identified as a meaningful threat,” he said.
Maryland Attorney General Douglas Gansler, who was at the White House meeting Wednesday, said in a statement that he and his colleagues, who will have access to the federal hub, have “extensive experience” working with federal officials to combat consumer fraud.
But Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, who first raised the issue of the navigators at a Cabinet meeting last month and has made the privacy concerns a talking point on national television, said she was unaware that attorneys general were working with the administration.
“It’s nice to know that the administration now takes consumer protection against health care fraud as seriously as we do, and the people deserve,” Bondi said in an email.
By Dara Kim, The News Service of Florida
County, Sheriff’s Office To Meet On Jail Transfer Agreement
September 19, 2013
Plans are coming together for Escambia County to assume control of the county jail on October 1.
Escambia County and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office will tentatively meet to discuss the memorandum of understanding regarding the Escambia County Jail transfer beginning at 10 a.m. Friday.
The workshop will be held at 221 Palafox Place in the fourth floor training room within the Escambia County Administration office. The meeting is open to the public, but space is limited.
UWF To Play Football At Maritime Park
September 19, 2013
The University of West Florida has reached an agreement to play football home games at the Community Maritime Park beginning in 2016. Home of the Blue Wahoos, the Maritime Park Stadium seats 5,100.
“This further strengthens the community’s ties to UWF by bringing these exciting games downtown to the Maritime Park Stadium,” said CMPA Chairman Collier Merrill. “The CMPA promised and delivered an award winning facility that can host multiple types of events. Our hope is that UWF football at the Maritime Park Stadium continues the excitement we see downtown during the baseball season into the late summer and fall.”
Earlier this month, UWF President Judy Bense announced that UWF football will host its inaugural season in the fall of 2016. The addition of a football program is one part of the University’s larger goal to enhance student life, attract more students from across the state and region and increase student retention, provide a more vibrant campus experience for students and alumni, increase school spirit, and expand sponsorship and other fundraising opportunities.
“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to play college football in such a beautiful setting as the Maritime Park Stadium,” said UWF President Judy Bense. “We sincerely appreciate the partnership with Quint and Rishy Studer, The Blue Wahoos, the CMPA and the City of Pensacola. Together we are adding vibrancy to the university and community, and building affinities that will last a lifetime.”
UWF will hire a head football coach in Spring 2014, who will start recruiting the first football student-athletes that fall. The inaugural recruiting class will be enrolled in Fall 2015 and begin practices and scrimmages in preparation for the inaugural season in Fall 2016.
UWF’s long-term plan is for the team to play in a stadium built on campus, as described in the athletics facilities master plan. The athletics facilities master plan also calls for additional on campus practice facilities for the football team.
Pictured: A conceptual rendering of UWF football at the Maritime Park Stadium.
ACLU Sues State Over Suspended Driver’s Licenses For Not Pay Court Costs
September 19, 2013
The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida has filed a lawsuit challenging a state practice of suspending driver’s licenses of people who fail to pay court costs and fees after criminal convictions.
The ACLU, on behalf of named plaintiff Reginald B. Foster, filed the suit against the state Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
It argues that Foster’s constitutional due-process and equal-protection rights have been violated and that the state discriminates against low-income people who can’t afford to pay the costs.
Foster, of Fort Lauderdale, lost his driver’s license after failing to pay $5,450 in five felony cases, the lawsuit says.
“Because the DMV’s suspension and continued suspension of Foster’s driver’s license discriminates against Foster on the basis of economic status, the DMV’s suspension and continued suspension of Foster’s driver’s license violates his equal protection rights secured the by Florida Constitution,” one part of the lawsuit says.
By The News Service of Florida
Appeals Court: Sick Cat No Excuse For Drunk Driving
September 19, 2013
After a Hillsborough County sheriff’s deputy clocked him going 84 mph and veering across three lanes of traffic toward a highway exit ramp, Christopher Brooks was arrested for drunken driving.
But Brooks argued he had a legitimate reason: His friend’s cat was sick, and he was the only person available to take the pet to an all-night veterinary clinic.
A state appeals court Wednesday, however, swatted down Brooks’ attempt to use what is called a “defense of necessity.” The court said such a defense could be used, in certain circumstances, for people charged with driving under the influence — though those circumstances would involve people, not cats, being in danger of serious injuries.
“Although Mr. Brooks’ wish to obtain treatment for the ailing feline is understandable, the elements of the defense and the plain language of the jury instruction compel us to the conclusion that a claim of necessity is not available as a defense to a DUI charge in Florida when the asserted emergency involves the threat of harm to an animal instead of a person,” a three-judge panel of the 2nd District Court of Appeal ruled.
The ruling stemmed from the early morning arrest Oct. 30, 2010, of Brooks, who was charged with third DUI within a 10-year period, according to the ruling. At trial, Brooks did not deny that he was driving under the influence, but offered the sick-cat defense.
“Although Mr. Brooks’ defense is unusual, he presented some evidence to support it,” said the appeals court opinion, written by Judge Douglas Wallace and joined by judges Morris Silberman and Craig Vilanti. “He was transporting a cat, and the cat was very ill. There is a veterinary clinic near the highway exit where the deputy stopped Mr. Brooks. The cat’s owner and two of his acquaintances were passengers in Mr. Brooks’ car. One of these persons was apparently giving Mr. Brooks directions to the clinic when the deputy stopped Mr. Brooks’ vehicle.”
Also, the ruling said: “While Mr. Brooks explained the unusual circumstances of his errand to the deputy, the cat’s owner pleaded, ‘My cat is fixing to die!’ In fact, the cat did die, during or shortly after the vehicle stop that resulted in Mr. Brooks’ arrest.”
A jury found Brooks guilty of felony DUI, which led to the appeal. Among the issues raised by Brooks was that Hillsborough County Circuit Judge Daniel H. Sleet denied his request for a jury instruction on the “defense of necessity.”
But the appeals court upheld Sleet’s decision, ruling that a person can use such a defense in circumstances to “avoid an imminent threat of danger or serious bodily injury to himself or others. We do not interpret the phrase ‘or others’ as applying to animals.”
By Jim Saunder, The News Service of Florida
Change Of Address: Bratt House Moved
September 19, 2013
There was a big change of address Wednesday for a home that was located on North Highway 99, just north of Highway 4. The home was moved about 10 miles to its new location by Williams House Movers of Atmore. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
June Helen McMullen
September 19, 2013
June Helen McMullen, 76 of Jay and Petoskey, Michigan, passed away on Sunday September 15, 2013, at West Florida Hospital in Pensacola. June was born April 6, 1937, in Petoskey, Michigan. She was the daughter of Dewitt and Gretchen (Webb) Bearup. She was retired from Northern Michigan Hospital. She moved backed to Jay to enjoy her retirement. She enjoyed watching Nascar Racing, going to the casino and spending time with her dog Baby Bear.
She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Sherri and Mark Schaffer; sister, Bonnie Maddary; brother and sister-in-law, Ivan and Sharon Bearup; daughter-in-law, Diana McMullen; five grandsons, Austin Stead, James, Andrew, Quincy and Dwight McMullen and one granddaughter, Joanna McMullen.
June was preceded in death by her husband, James in 1985 and two sons, Timothy in 2011 and Patrick in 2010.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday September 21, 2013, at 1 p.m. at the Jay Civic Center.
Jay Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Two Burglary Suspects Arrested After Brief Bratt Manhunt
September 18, 2013
Two burglary suspects were arrested after a brief manhunt in Bratt Wednesday morning.
About 9:45, a resident in the 4700 block of Highway 168 called deputies to report that a shed behind their home was being burglarized. The elderly resident and her caregiver said they heard noise from a chain on the shed and observed an individual pushing a 4-wheeler out of the shed. When the caregiver went outside and yelled, a black and white male ran in opposite directions from the shed.
As deputies responded, they observed an individual fitting the description of on of the suspects. They took 25-year old Michael Vernon Carnley of Century into custody just east of the residence. After a K-9 team from Century Correctional Institution responded to the scene, the second suspect, identified as 46-year old Johnnie Jones, Jr., of Stockton, Ala., walked out of a wooded area west of the residence and surrendered.
Carnley was charged with burglary, attempted theft and trespassing after warning. Jones was charged with trespassing and attempted burglary.
Pictured: Deputies search for a burglary suspect along Highway 168 in Bratt Wednesday morning. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Suspect Arrested After Gun Theft Puts Flomaton Schools On Lockdown
September 18, 2013
Flomaton schools were place on lockdown Wednesday morning after a man reportedly allegedly stole a rifle out of a vehicle at a nearby business location.
Kedarius Dailey, 18, reportedly stole the gun from an unlocked vehicle parked in front of Buckshot’s ATV and Tires. Dailey fled on foot, prompting a massive manhunt involving multiple law enforcement agencies that included the Flomaton Police Department, Atmore Police Department, Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Office, Poarch Police Department, Alabama State Troopers, Alabama Probation and Parole, Century Correctional K-9 team and the Escambia County (Fla.) Road Prison K-9 team.
Dailey was taken into custody several blocks from the school on Palafox Street, but the school remained on lockdown for a short time period as a precaution as law enforcement worked to recover to the weapon.
The weapon was eventually recovered on Titi Street, about a block from Flomaton High School, after search by a K-9 unit from the Century Correctional Institution and other agencies, and school lockdown was lifted about 11 a.m.. There were no injuries reported, and there was no indication that the suspect ever entered a school campus.
Dailey was booked into the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton on charges of theft of property first degree, breaking and entering of a vehicle and attempting to elude.
Pictured top: Law enforcement searches for a suspect Wednesday morning in Flomaton. Reader submitted photo by Ashely Griffith. Pictured below: Authorities search for the stolen rifle. Photo by Chris Johnson, WEAR 3, for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
