Tate’s Heather Thomason Awarded Scholarship
May 21, 2013
Heather Thomason Tate High School has received an Academic Excellence Scholarship from Alabama Southern Community College in Monroeville, Ala. She is the daughter of Pat and Kim Thomason.
To date, the college has awarded more than $2.2 million in scholarships to this year’s high school seniors within the ASCC community.
Century Presents Donation To Cancer Society
May 21, 2013
Monday night, Century Mayor Freddie McCall presented the town’s Relay for Life donation to Sally Cary of the American Cancer Society. The town council voted earlier this year to donate $1,000 to the Cancer Society. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Scott Slashes Turkeys, Signs $74.1 Billion Budget
May 21, 2013
Gov. Rick Scott on Monday sliced a rafter of turkeys and plenty of other projects out of the formerly $74.5 billion budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1, bringing an end to speculation about what the governor would do with the heftiest spending plan in state history.
In all, Scott cut just shy of $368 million in funding from the budget (SB 1500), bringing its overall total down to $74.1 billion. That’s still the largest that Florida lawmakers have ever approved, but the governor’s office says it’s one of the smallest since 2000 when population and inflation are factored in.
“We made strategic investments in this budget, while holding the line on spending that does not give Florida taxpayers a positive return on investment,” Scott wrote in a letter accompanying his vetoes. “In order to ensure all taxpayer funds are well spent, I have vetoed special legislative projects totaling $368 million.”
Scott announced by email that he had signed the budget and followed up with a brief press conference outside the Florida Department of Emergency Management’s headquarters in Tallahassee. It marked another striking contrast with Scott’s history — his first budget signing, in The Villages, resembled a political rally, while he spoke about his decisions last year at an elementary school in St. Johns County.
Scott also signed 16 budget-related bills, among them an economic development bill (SB 406) that includes a sales-tax holiday for clothing and school supplies from Aug. 2 through Aug. 4.
The largest item vetoed by Scott was a $50 million trail for bikers and pedestrians cutting across the state from St. Petersburg to Titusville, filling in gaps in existing paths. While pointing out that he and Budget Director Jerry McDaniel like to ride bikes, Scott told reporters that he felt state agencies should handle which projects get funded through normal channels.
“We’re doing projects like that out of the Department of Transportation,” Scott said. “That’s the way we should be doing that, rather than have a project like that.”
The governor also vetoed a 3 percent tuition increase at state colleges and universities, removing $26.4 million in funding for colleges and almost $18.5 million for universities, as well as $1.2 million for workforce education programs.
Scott, who has for months pressed for lower higher education costs, brushed away suggestions that he was meddling in universities for political reasons.
“This is not a political decision; this is the decision for Florida families,” he said. “Tuition cannot continue to go up the way it’s been going up.”
The proposed tuition increases were in budget fine print known as proviso language. While vetoing the proviso language could be legally dubious, Scott said he didn’t expect a court challenge.
“But if there is [one], we’re going to fight it,” he said.
Scott also slashed a $14 million building for science, technology, engineering and math at Gulf Coast State College, a project in the district of Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, that ballooned in size during budget negotiations between the House and Senate. Scott listed that and several other projects among those that weren’t on the list of construction projects requested by the Florida College System.
Gaetz was not alone; some projects in Pasco County, home to House Speaker Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, also got the ax. Scott suggested he wasn’t overly concerned about nixing items that were close to home for legislative leaders.
“I’m responsible for 19.2 million people,” he said. “I’m not responsible for one region by itself. I want to take care of all Floridians.”
Scott’s vetoes in many instances tracked with the list of budget “turkeys” issued last week by Florida TaxWatch. The organization said Monday that more than two-thirds of the items it highlighted were sliced by Scott.
“It is clear from the high number of vetoed projects that the governor carefully scrutinized all of the budget turkeys TaxWatch identified, which is the intent of the Turkey Watch Report,” said Dominic Calabro, president and CEO of TaxWatch.
Reaction to the vetoes broke down largely along party lines. Gaetz, who had blasted TaxWatch’s list of turkeys on Thursday, was far more mild in his reaction to Scott’s decision to actual veto the items.
“While many will disagree with some of Governor Scott’s line item vetoes, that is his constitutional role as chief executive,” Gaetz said.
But Senate Minority Leader Chris Smith, D-Fort Lauderdale, flayed Scott’s vetoes.
“His targets reveal a basic misunderstanding of the critical role local communities, and local community projects play in Florida,” Smith said. “Our economy hinges on many facets, and this funding was intended to infuse the areas that contribute to its struggling rebound.”
Baybears Clinch Series Over Wahoos
May 21, 2013
Mobile outfielder Keon Broxton blasted two two-out, two-run home runs and lead the BayBears past the Pensacola Blue Wahoos 4-2 on Monday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. The win clinched the series for Mobile, who has won seven of the nine meetings between the two teams this season.
Broxton’s first homer came in the second inning against Josh Smith. It scored Brent Clevlen, who had reached on an error with one out. Both runs ended up being unearned as a result.
Two innings later, Raywilly Gomez walked with two outs and Broxton laced another one over the left field fence for his second homer of the contest, and third of the season.
Both round-trippers came off of Smith, who fell to 3-4 on the year. Despite the loss, it was one of the best outings of the year for Smith, who went seven innings, allowing four runs (two earned) on five base hits while striking out five.
Pensacola scored both of its runs in the last of the sixth. With runners at second and third and one out, Joe Mather brought home a run on a ground ball out while Travis Mattair followed with a single up the middle to halve the BayBears lead. The Wahoos had other chances to score in the game, but ground into three double plays, stranded seven runners, and went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position.
Devin Lohman saw his 16-game on-base streak come to an end with a 0-4 performance.
Michael Bolsinger picked up the win for Mobile in his first start since May 4. Bolsinger gave up two runs on eight hits in 5.2 innings.
Tuesday’s series finale wraps up the 10-game homestand for Pensacola.
story by Kevin Burke
Gun Jams As Suspect Tries Twice To Shoot At Deputy
May 20, 2013
An Escambia County deputy is lucky to be alive following an incident this morning where a suspect tried — and failed — to fire a gun at him twice.
While on patrol in the 700 block of Truman Avenue, Deputy Michael Runge made contact with a suspicious person at the Oakwood Terrace Apartments. The suspect, later identified as 25-year old Ryan Lewis Toler, attempted to flee at which time Runge pursued him on foot.
Toler turned around and aimed a 45-caliber semi-automatic pistol at Runge and attempted to fire twice; however, the gun jammed both times. Toler was apprehended a short time later on Michael Street. No shots were fired by deputies.
Toler was charged with first degree attempted homicide, possession of weapon by a convicted felon and resisting an officer with violence. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $1 million.
Update: Stolen Gear Returned, Molino Kart Racer Wins
May 20, 2013
Just days after his stolen gear was returned by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Jarrett Parker of Molino was the big winner in his division at a weekend kart race in Mississippi.
Parker was the Senior Pro Clone Winner at Checkered Flag Speedway in Stateline, MS, pocketing the top prize money of $1,000. His sister, Lakelynn, took third her her class.
Last week, Sheriff’s Investigator David Preston returned about $16,000 worth of stolen kart racing gear back to the Parker family. The items were stolen during a burglary at the family’s workshop on Gibson Road on May 4. A 2012 Elite Triton kart, five motors, cases of MAXXIS tires, tools and other items were taken.
After a story about the thefts appeared on NorthEscambia.com on May 6, the Sheriff’s Office and family began to receive tips that led to the recovery of the racing equipment.
Preston said arrests are forthcoming in the case, but has declined to provide further details about the suspects.
Pictured top: A practice lap at the Checkered Flag Speedway in Stateline, MS, on Saturday. Courtesy photo. Pictured below: Molino teen Jarrett Parker with about $16,000 worth of stolen kart racing gear returned last week by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Molino Man Gets Prison For Shooting Into Home With Kids Inside
May 20, 2013
A man accused of shooting at an occupied mobile home in Molino in August 2012 has been sentenced to state prison.
Sharrieff Amin Shabazz, age 20 of Molino, was convicted of three counts of aggravated assault by threat with firearm, shooting into an occupied dwelling, possession of cocaine, and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription.
He was sentenced as a youthful offender to four years in state prison by Judge J. Scott Duncan. Once released from prison, he will be on probation for four years and won’t be able to live within a half mile of the victims or have any contact with them.
The victim, 21-year old Kristi Gulsby, told deputies she was arguing with Shabazz over $6 he had loaned her for cigarettes about three months prior to the August 22 incident. Gulsby said she had paid him back twice.
Gulsby told deputies that Shabazz began cussing her out and screaming that he wanted his money. She said he then reached into his pants pocket and pulled a gun. As he began walking toward the road, Shabazz opened fire on the mobile home with Gulsby and her two juvenile children, one and four years old, nearby, an arrest report states.
No one was hit by the gunfire.
Shabazz was taken into custody a few hours after the shooting during a traffic stop at the intersection of Fairground Road and Jahaza Street in Molino. As the vehicle pulled over for Escambia County deputies, an ATF special agent working the case witnessed a silver handgun and two pill bottles being thrown out of the backseat, which was occupied by Shabazz. Deputies recovered a .380 caliber handgun outside the vehicle along with pill bottles containing 18 Lortab and cocaine. Inside the vehicle’s trunk, authorities reported finding marijuana in a Mason jar and plastic bags.
Pictured above and below: Gunfire rang out at this mobile home on Ayers Street in Molino on August 22, 2012. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Click It Or Ticket Seat Belt Campaign Begins Today
May 20, 2013
Escambia County deputies being a two-week crackdown today that is designed to increase seat belt use and decrease motor vehicle fatalities across the county. The 2013 national Click It or Ticket seat belt enforcement campaign is designed to help save lives by cracking down on those who don’t buckle up.
Seat belt use saves thousands of lives across America each year. In fatal crashes during 2011, 77 percent of passenger vehicle occupants who were thrown from their vehicles were killed. However, only 1 percent of crash victims who were buckled up were totally ejected from their vehicles, compared to 31 percent of those who were unbelted.
NHTSA statistics show that in 2011 alone, seat belts saved an estimated 11,949 lives nationwide.
Escambia County deputies are joining state and local law enforcement agencies and highway safety groups in supporting an aggressive national Click It or Ticket seat belt enforcement campaign from May 20 to June 2, 2013. Deputies will be ticketing unbelted vehicle occupants around the clock.
Toddler In Good Condition After Being Pulled Unresponsive From Byrneville Pool
May 20, 2013
A toddler was airlifted to a Pensacola hospital Sunday afternoon after being pulled unresponsive from a pool in Byrneville.
The incident happened about 5:35 p.m. Sunday at a home in the 7600 block of Raines Road.
The homeowner told deputies that his 2-year old daughter wandered out of the house to play with other children during a birthday party. Another parent, Brittany Rogers, noticed the child sinking in the pool and pulled her out of the water.
The 2-year old, believed to have been in the water for less than five minutes, was unresponsive. Rogers carried the child into the residence and performed CPR prior to the arrival of first responders. The child was alert and breathing when Escambia County EMS arrived on a scene moments later.
She was transported by ambulance to the Escambia County EMS Post on Industrial Boulevard in Century and airlifted by LifeFlight to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola.
As of Monday afternoon, the girl was listed in good condition.
Pictured: A toddler was airlifted from the Escambia County EMS Post in Century to Sacred Heart Hospital after a near-drowning incident in Byrneville Sunday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Civil War Children’s Program Today At Molino Library
May 20, 2013
The West Florida Public Library will present a Civil War program for children age 7 and older this afternoon in Molino.
The children’s program will include activities ranging from how to write with a quill pen to the questionably tasty experience of hardtack. The free program will begin at 4 p.m. at the Molino Branch Library on Highway 95A.
The program is made possible in partnership with The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History and is supported by a grant from The National Endowment for the Humanities.