ACLU Battles Dept Of Corrections Over Santa Rosa Correctional Records
August 15, 2013
The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida has gone to court to try to get records related to a Panhandle prison, after being rebuffed by a state agency that admits to working with “antiquated” technology.
The ACLU filed a lawsuit this month against the Florida Department of Corrections, claiming the agency rejected public records requests in November and May that involved computerized information about housing assignments and cell or bunk assignments for inmates at Santa Rosa Correctional Institution.
Sara Latshaw, ACLU Northwest Florida regional director, said in an email that it’s “ludicrous” for a government agency to skirt Florida’s public-records laws by pretending employees don’t know how databases work.
“Today, more and more public information is stored in databases instead of reams of paper,” Latshaw said. “Yet the Department of Corrections denies any duty to extract this information because it has not done so before. The truth is that it is 2013 and records like this should be easier to retrieve than ever.”
Latshaw declined to say why the records have been requested.
Misty Cash, the Department of Corrections deputy director of communications, said Tuesday that the state agency doesn’t comment about ongoing litigation. However, she noted the agency is limited by its own technology.
“We have a fabulous IT team and they do everything and anything possible to supply records and things that they can,” Cash said. “However, we have a very antiquated system and often times it’s not easy to use that system and find what is there.”
The ACLU requested two years worth of demographic and housing records from Santa Rosa Correctional on Nov. 29, 2012, only to be told on April 17 that the state agency “disagrees with your position that a query of the department’s database is the same as providing existing public records.”
“A query of the department’s database for specific information that you are seeking appears to be a request for the department to provide information or perform research,” the DOC wrote to the ACLU on April 17.
The ACLU’s housing information request was narrowed on May 23 to data from a single day — the Santa Rosa Correctional demographics from Nov. 30, 2012 — along with an instruction manual and the software name for the database.
The state refused the request on June 21, in part claiming the department doesn’t have to answer questions, perform research, give out public records or create new records “when a requestor seeks information not already contained in an existing record.”
The DOC also noted in a letter on June 21 that the database manual for the department’s Bed Space Management System is confidential and exempted from public disclosure.
According to the ACLU, inmate housing assignments along with cell or bunk assignments are public records, regardless of how they are stored.
“That the past housing assignments and cell or bunk assignments are stored in a database, as opposed to being printed on reams of paper, does not alter the department’s duty,” the lawsuit said.
Barbara Petersen, president of the First Amendment Foundation, supported the ACLU, calling the state’s stance “kind of convoluted.”
“The DOC has a constitutional and statutory duty to provide access to its public records,” Petersen said. “The fact that they have stored these records in a manner that makes them irretrievable is their problem.”
by Jim Turner and Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida
Most Pensacola Food Worlds Sold; Belle Foods Stores To Be Auctioned Off
August 15, 2013
Bankrupt Belle Foods will sell seven stores — including several Pensacola Food Worlds — for over $1.3 million, while the company’s 44 other stories are set to be on the auction block next month.
Belle already has buyers for three of four Food World stores in Pensacola. Autry Greer & Sons, which operates Greer’s Market and Cash Saver stores in three states, has offered $100,000 for the Barrancas Avenue Food World in Pensacola. Malloy Grocery has offered $150,000 for North Davis Highway Food World in Pensacola, while there is a $150,000 offer for the Lillian Highway Food World from Fisher Douglas LLC. There has been no reported offer for the Food World on Pine Forest Road in Pensacola.
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Alabama has approved a new debtor-in-possession agreement between Belle Foods and its primary lendor, C&S Wholesale Grocers. Belle owes C&S $38.3 million, including $5 million to increase shelf stock and clean up 44 stores to be sold at a court- approved auction on September 24. C&S hopes to recover its money with auction proceeds.
The auction includes all remaining Belle Foods stores, including Atmore and Brewton.
Pictured: Belle Foods in Atmore. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Northview Mini, Junior Dance Team Clinics Planned
August 15, 2013
The Northview High School Dance Team will hold dance team clinics for elementary and middle school girls.
The Mini Dance Team clinic is for elementary school students, grades K-5. And the Junior Dance Team Clinic is for middle schoolers in grades 6-8.
The clinics will be held Saturday, August 24 from 9 a.m. until noon in the school gym. A practice may also be held on Wednesday, August 28 from 4-5 p.m. on the track in the Northview stadium. The performance will be at the Northview Chiefs home football game on Friday, August 30.
Registration forms will be sent home from area schools and select private dance classes. Or, click here to download and print a registration form.
The clinic price is $30, including a t-shirt and snack.
Century Correctional And Partners Donate School Supplies, Bicycles
August 15, 2013
Century Correctional Institution partnered with Quantum Resources, S&S Construction and the Ensley Walmart to provide school supplies and bicycles for area children. CCI delivered $3,000 in school supplies and 64 bicycles for Bratt Elementary, Byrneville Elementary, Jay Elementary, Ernest Ward Middle, Northview High and the Camp Fire USA program in Century. The bicycles are typically used by the schools as education prizes or incentives.
Pictured: Century Correctional Institution and partners delivered bicycles and school supplies Wednesday to (top) Byrneville Elementary, (inset) Bratt Elementary, and (below) Camp Fire USA in Century and Jay Elementary. Pictured bottom: School supplies loaded up in a CCI van ready for delivery. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Jay Royals All Sports Season Passes On Sale Now
August 15, 2013
All sports season passes are one sale now at Jay High School through August 23.
Passes are $175 for a family (anyone living in the same household), or $100 for an individual pass.
To purchase a pass, see Lynn Atkins in the Jay High School main office. These all sports passes are good for admission to all sporting events at Jay High School, except tournaments.
James D. Forte
August 15, 2013
Mr. James D. Forte, 87 of Atmore, passed away August, 14, 2013, in Atmore. He was born December 2, 1925, in Atmore.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 17, 2013, at 10 a.m. from the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home with Rev. Otis Thames and Rev. Arnold Hendrix officiating.
Interment will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Friday, August 16, 2013, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. from the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, Mr. Forte requested donations be made to the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital. Donations can be mailed to Shriners Hospital for Children Attn: Brenda Rubio 815 Market Street Galveston, TX. 77550 or by phone at (800) 241-4438 Memorial for James D. Forte in support for Children’s Hospital in TX.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Atmore, Al.
Jesse Carle Amerson
August 15, 2013
Mr. Jesse Carl Amerson, 73, passed away on Wednesday, August 14, 2013, in Pensacola.
Mr. Amerson was a native of Century, and resided in Flomaton for most of his life. He was a wonderful person, he gave so much and never wanted anything in return. Mr. Amerson is preceded in death by his parents, Jessie and Gena Amerson and a grandson, Junior Walker.
Survivors include his wife, Jewel Amerson of Flomaton; three sons, Keith Amerson and Jody Amerson of Katie, TX and Darrell Walker; one brother, Rex Amerson of Brewton; two sisters, Linda Ryder of Milton and Ann Roberts of Texas; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be Friday, August 16, 2013, at 12 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with the Rev. Jimmie Ray Colley officiating.
Burial will follow at the Flomaton Cemetery.
Visitation will be Friday, August 16, 2013, from 11 a.m. until 12 p.m. at the Petty- Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Scott Walden, Keith Amerson, Kyle Amerson, Jody Amerson, Christian Thrope, Justin Walden.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes, LLC, is in charge of all arrangements.
Charles E. Stewart
August 15, 2013
Mr. Charles E. Stewart, 85, passed away on Wednesday, August 14, 2013, at his home in Stockton where he resided for the past 60 years.
Mr. Stewart is survived by his wife of 61 years, Inez Stewart of Stockton; two sons, Charles R. Stewart ( Linnie) of Stockton and Frank Stewart ( Tammy) of Perdido; one daughter, JoAnn Stewart of Stockton; 13 grandchildren and 18 great- grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at the Dean Holiness Church on Saturday, August 17, 2013, at 2 p.m. with Sister. Helen Stewart officiating.
Burial will follow at the Dean Cemetery.
Visitation will be Friday, August 16, 2013, from 6:00 p.m. until service time.
Pallbearers will be Omi Adcock, Michael Mayo, Aaron Galloway, J R. Joiner, Greg Day, Bart Mayo.
Petty- Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes, LLC, is in charge of all arrangements.
Victim Identified In ‘Suspicious Death’ At Car Dealership
August 14, 2013
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a “suspicious death” Wednesday morning at a Pensacola car dealership.
Adnan Mohamed Dali Glelati, age 53 of Pensacola, was found deceased about 10 a.m. from unknown injuries at 7 Stars Auto at 5401 North W Street, next door to the Fast Eddies Fun Center on Michigan Avenue. The Sheriff’s Office said the investigation is ongoing, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Escambia County EMS received an unconfirmed report of a shooting in the area at the time.
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Pictured: A man was found dead at 7 Starts Auto on W Street in Pensacola Wednesday morning. Photos by Amber Southard, WEAR 3, for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
UPS Cargo Plane Crashes In Birmingham, Two Dead
August 14, 2013
A UPS cargo plane crashed near the Birmingham, AL, airport Wednesday morning, reportedly killing the pilot and co-pilot.
The plane crashed in grassy field outside the airport fence and about a half mile from the runway just before 5 a.m., missing homes located not far the site. There were no injuries on the ground. The plane, an A300, was enroute from Louisville, KY, to Birmingham.
“As we work through this difficult situation, we ask for your patience, and that you keep those involved in your thoughts and prayers,” UPS said in a prepared statement.
Photos courtesy the Tarrant (AL) Police Department.
