Senate Prez Backs Statewide Vote On Casinos
December 13, 2013
Senate President Don Gaetz said Thursday voters should probably weigh in on whether the state opens the door to Las Vegas-style casinos, posing another hurdle for out-of-state operators eager to start doing business in South Florida.
“I think you can make an argument that that’s a systemic change that the people of Florida ought to have a say about,” Gaetz, R-Niceville, said during a free-wheeling breakfast meeting with reporters.
Gaetz’s comments make it more likely that voters will play a role in any gaming expansion next year.
House Speaker Will Weatherford last week told The News Service of Florida he is “warming up to” a constitutional amendment that would require statewide voter approval for any future gambling expansion. But Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, was unclear about whether any changes approved by the Legislature next year would also have to get the voters’ blessing.
“Those details have to be worked out in the future,” Weatherford said this week.
But what is clear is that both the House and the Senate are considering a constitutional amendment — or possibly more — as part of the solution to the thorny issue of reshaping the state’s gambling landscape.
Gaetz indicated that destination resorts, one of the myriad components being considered by lawmakers as they explore gambling ideas, would be a sweeping enough change in state policy to require a statewide referendum. That could mean a second question for voters to decide in November.
Gaetz said “localized issues” might not necessarily require a statewide referendum. A destination resort in Miami-Dade County could be considered a local matter, Gaetz said.
But when pressed, he conceded that even a single hotel casino in a lone county could represent a marked shift in the state’s gambling policy.
“I think it could be. We don’t have destination casinos other than on Native American land right now. So if we opened up to two or three or …I don’t know. It’s hard then to say we’re going to do it in Miami but nobody else need apply. So in effect you’ve made a decision to get in the destination casino business. I think you can make an argument that that’s a systemic change that the people of Florida ought to have a say about,” he said. “I tend to sit on the side of asking people what they think.”
Lawmakers drew fire for placing 11 proposed constitutional amendments, many of them politically charged, on the 2012 ballot.
Gaetz said he and Weatherford last year pledged not to “litter up the constitution or the ballot with a bunch of crap, a bunch of issues de jour, a bunch of political stuff.”
But the gambling proposals now under discussion are different, he said.
“This is not like a political issue where you’ve got one side using a constitutional issue to try to posture and get people to the polls or something like that. If we did a major expansion of gambling, that’s a significant change,” Gaetz said.
Some destination resort proponents are hoping that voters have warmed up to the idea of Las Vegas-style casinos in an already gambling-rich state home to eight Indian casinos offering slots, blackjack and other tabled card games; 27 pari-mutuels, including two dozen that also have poker rooms and seven facilities in Broward and Miami-Dade counties that also have slot machines; a state Lottery; and “cruises to nowhere” with unregulated and untaxed casino gambling three miles offshore.
A sweeping gambling bill that included up to three destination resorts went nowhere during the 2012 legislative session, prompting Malaysian-based casino giant Genting Group to back a ballot initiative. Genting later abandoned that route after it became clear lawmakers would again tackle the issue during the 2014 session.
Resorts World Miami, linked with Genting, owns property in downtown Miami it hopes to transform into one of the stand-alone casinos.
Including destination resorts in the gambling framework is a plus, said Resorts World Miami lobbyist Brian Ballard.
“Obviously, the Senate president is going to have a huge amount of sway on the final outcome. At first blush, I’m just glad he’s talking about destination resorts being part of the mix. As far as a referendum goes, we’re open to any and all solutions,” Ballard said. “It’s certainly appealing that the concept of destination resorts seems to be gaining either support or a recognition that it is going to be an important part of this package at the end of the day.”
by The News Service Florida
Your Christmas Photos: Bratt House Decked Out
December 13, 2013
This house in Bratt, located on North Highway 99 just south of Breastworks Road, is decked out for the Christmas Season.
Share your Christmas lights or other Christmas photos. Email the photos to news@northescambia.com.
Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Jessie Lemar Newberry
December 13, 2013
Jessie Lemar Newberry, 100, of Molino, passed away on Thursday, December 12, 2013. Jessie was a member of Highland Baptist Church.
He is preceded in death by his parents, nine brothers and sisters and one son, John Wesley Newberry of Molino.
He is survived by his children, Jesse L. (Judy) Newberry of Daytona Beach, Frances Glass of Warrenton, Missouri, Ellie (Johnny) Thacker Sr. of Jemison, AL, Sue Arseneau (Richard) Chatterton of American Fork, Utah; fifteen grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.
The family would like to express their sincere thanks to his caregivers, WJ and Myrtle Burkette.
Pallbearers will be Dusty Burkette, Brandon Silcox, Shawn Burkette, Eddie Hicks, Clay Seyfried and Don Pearson.
Honorary pallbearers will be Ronald Hicks, Mike Burkette, Johnny Thacker, Jr., Raymond Silcox, Sr., James Maddox, Nick Black, Bill Coon and Robert Joyner.
Visitation will be held from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North on Monday, December 16, 2013.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Tuesday, December 17, 2013, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North with Brother Brian Calhoun officiating.
Interment will follow at Aldersgate Cemetery.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is in charge of arrangements.
Kelli Lynn Henderson
December 13, 2013
Kelli Lynn Henderson, 42, passed away Wednesday, December 11, 2013. She graduated from Pine Forest High School in 1989. After graduation she attended UWF for two years. She worked as a licensed Insurance Agent in the Pensacola area for 18 years.
Kelli is survived by her husband of 15 years, Freddie Henderson; daughter, Emmi Henderson; son, Evan Henderson; stepson, Dylan Henderson; parents, Larry and Pat Crossley; sister, Jennifer Garrett; brother, Patrick (Nicole) Crossley; and nieces and nephews, Braden and Brentley Garrett and Nathan and Alyssa Crossley; mother and father-in-law, Frederick and Leila Henderson of Palm Bay, FL and a multitude of friends.
Visitation will be Monday, December 16, 2013, from 1 p.m. until 2 p.m. at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North.
Funeral services will be conducted from the chapel of Faith Chapel Funeral Home North on Monday, December 16, 2013, at 2 p.m. with Pastor Mark Cooley officiating.
Interment will follow in Pensacola Memorial Gardens.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is in charge of arrangements.
Curtis Edward Ard, Sr.
December 13, 2013
His passion in life was auto paint and body repair with his many friends.
Survivors include his son, Curtis E. Ard Jr. (Shawna); daughter, Jessica Ard (Jason); three sisters, Frances, JoAnn and Donna; and four beautiful grandchildren, Dillan, Rose, Lilly and J.J.
Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, December 18, 2013, at First Baptist Church of Cottage Hill, 230 Williams Ditch Rd., Cantonment.
Trahan Family Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
William (Bill) Gordon Reynolds, III
December 13, 2013
William (Bill) Gordon Reynolds, III was born March 7, 1945, in Enterprise, AL. Bill graduated from Florida State University with a BS in Systems Engineering.
Bill served three years in the US Army Corp of Engineers, stationed at the Engineer School, Ft. Belvoir, Va. earning the rank of Captain. He wrote the first computer programs used by the Corp of Engineers in combat in Vietnam and trained the officers on implementation of the programs.
Bill retired from Saufley Field as Command Information Officer, Director of Systems Engineering & Technology Services, US Navy civilian, 42 years of service. He was employed with Gilmore Services as Business Consultant. Bill served as a deacon at Hillcrest Baptist Church. He loved traveling with the senior adult ministry and serving on multiply committees at HBC. He loved playing chess and deep sea fishing with his children and grandchildren. He cherished his time gardening with his beloved wife. Anyone who knew Bill knew how proud he was of his children and grandchildren as he loved to watch them compete in all their different activities. Bill was a quiet man but a man who made a profound difference in the lives of many people. He was a man who tremendously loved Jesus and lived out his faith daily.
Bill is preceded in death by his father, William Reynolds, Jr.
He is survived by his wife, Barbara Richerson Reynolds, married 45 years; mother, Cavell Reynolds; sons, Rev. Dr. Scott Reynolds (Lori) of Tuscaloosa, AL and Dr. Paul Reynolds (Michele) of Tallahassee; grandchildren, Ariel Reynolds of Auburn, William Dean Reynolds of Tuscaloosa, Taylor Reynolds of Tallahassee and Matthew William Reynolds of Tallahassee; sister, Janice Reynolds Cook (Ray) of Cullman, AL; sister-in-Law, Mezzell Richerson; nieces, Leigh Cook Hall (Bruce) of Crane Hill, AL and Sheri Jo Cook (Patrick) of Brewton.
Pallbearers will be Ronnie Gilmore, Jacob Gilmore, Lucus Gilmore, Bill Cox, David Schisler and Jeff Perkins.
Honorary pallbearers will be Drayton Smith, Ben Austin, Men of Pathways Life Group at Hillcrest Baptist Church and Deacons of Hillcrest Baptist Church.
Visitation will be held Saturday, December 14, 2013, from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Faith Chapel North.
Services will be held Saturday, December 14, 2013, at 1 p.m. at Faith Chapel North with Reverend Jim Locke and Dr. Scott Reynolds officiating.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hillcrest Baptist Church’s Global Mission Offering (www.hillcrestchurch.com) or North River Church in Tuscaloosa Missional Christmas Offering (www.nrcttown.com).
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North in charge of arrangements.
John Godwin
December 13, 2013
Mr. John Godwin, 66, passed away on Tuesday, December 10, 2013, in Bay Minette.
Mr. Godwin was a native and lifelong resident of Atmore. Mr. Godwin was a Merchant Seaman and attended the Southside Baptist Church. He is preceded in death by his parents, Wiley and Bertha Godwin and granddaughter, Kayla Godwin.
Survivors include his four sons, James Godwin of Repton, AL, Tommy Godwin of Lottie, AL, Todd Godwin of Haines City, FL and John Godwin of Molino; one daughter, Jessica White of Andalusia, AL; one brother, Roy Godwin of Bay Minette; four sisters, Norma Waters of Pensacola, Doris Fair of Johnson City, TN, JoAnn Simpson of Pensacola and Peggy Tenney of Monroeville; and 10 grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Friday, December 13, 2013, at 12 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with the Rev. Dr. Larry Patterson officiating.
Burial was at the Oak Hill Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Troy Brown, Tommy Godwin, Todd Godwin, David Kearley, Roy Godwin and Chase Godwin.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes, LLC, is in charge of all arrangements.
Rev. Keith Simmons
December 13, 2013
Rev. Keith Simmons, age 77, of Lewis Mill Road, Vienna, GA, died Monday, December 9, 2013, at Crisp Regional Hospital in Cordele.
Born in Wichita, KS, he was the son of the late Roy Gilbert Simmons and Doris Marie Weatherby Simmons. He earned his Bachelor’s and Master of Theology degrees from the Texas Baptist Institute and Seminary in Henderson, TX. He earned his Doctor of Divinity degree at West Florida Baptist Institute and later earned is Doctorate of Ministerial Endurance at Texas Baptist Institute and Seminary. Rev. Simmons pastored churches in Texas, Florida, Louisiana, Arkansas and Georgia. For the past 10 years, he served as pastor of Northside Missionary Baptist Church.
Rev. Simmons was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia Fullen Simmons.
He is survived by his daughter, Renee Simmons of Vienna; grandchildren, Christopher Thomas (Samantha) of Pensacola, Heather Gornall of Pensacola and Sally Gornall of Auburn and great-grandchildren, Bailey Underwood, Caleb Thomas and Aubree Bettencourt.
Visitation will be Monday, December 16, 2013, at 11 a.m. until 12 p.m. at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North.
The funeral services will be conducted from the chapel of Faith Chapel Funeral Home North, on Monday, December 16, 2013, at 12 p.m., with Rev. James Michael officiating.
Interment will follow at Eastern Gate Cemetery.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is in charge of arrangements.
Molino Park Burglary Suspects Appear In Court
December 12, 2013
The two adult suspects in the burglary and vandalism of Molino Park Elementary School were in court Wednesday. During the August 9 burglary, over $60,000 in property was stolen, and the school sustained another $7,000 in damages. Most of the stolen items — including computers and iPads– were burned by the suspects.
Tatanya Zahna Blackmon, a 19-year old female from the 2400 block of North Highway 29 in Cantonment, and Rodriques Ricardo Young, a 19-year old male from the 1300 block of Barth Road in Molino appeared before Judge Gary Bergosh Wednesday morning for what was due to be a docket hearing prior to jury trials later this month.
Both had their trials delayed until mid-February – Blackmon at the request of the defense and Young at the request of prosecutors. Both have pleaded not guilty.
Blackmon and Young are charged with grand theft, larceny, criminal mischief with property damage, destroying evidence and three counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Both remain in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $90,000.
Three juveniles are also awaiting trial for the incident. Tracy Deshawn Lett, 14, Jacob Lett, 11, and Vashawn Lamond Brown, 13, were charged with grand theft, larceny and criminal mischief. The suspects were identified by Sheriff’s investigators with the assistance and cooperation of the Escambia County School District.
Thousands of dollars worth of electronics were stolen from throughout the school, including Apple computers, iPads, Wii gaming systems, cameras used by the school’s student-operated closed circuit TV station, along with other items. Portions of the school were also vandalized during the break-in. Ceiling tiles were damaged or destroyed throughout the campus, and holes were punched in walls. A vending machine was also toppled and burglarized.
Pictured below: Three Apple computers were stolen from this desk in a computer lab. Pictured below: Surveillance video shows two people running through the school at 9:17 p.m. on August 9. Pictured inset: An overturned and burglarized vending machine in the school. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia High Teacher Arrested On Child Porn Charges
December 12, 2013
An Escambia High School teacher was arrested Wednesday on federal child pornography charges.
Jeffrey Bruce Richards, 63, was charged with the distribution, receipt and possession of child pornography. He made is initial appearance in federal court Wednesday.
According to a criminal complaint sworn to a FBI special agent, Richards used peer-to-peer software between December 2012 and December 2013 to share hundreds of images of child pornography online.
The complaint was a result of a joint investigation by the Federal Bureau of investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, the Pensacola Police Department and other members of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David L. Goldberg.
Information released Wednesday by the U.S. Attorney’s Office does not indicate if Richards allegedly used any school district computers to trade pornography.