Blue Angel Parkway Crash Claims One Life
February 26, 2013
An Escambia County woman died in a wreck on Blue Angel Parkway at Saufley Field Road early Tuesday morning.
The Florida Highway Patrol said vehicles driven by 60-year old Darlene McNew Renee and 44-year old Peter A. Amador, both of Pensacola, collided in the intersection about 1:20 a.m. The FHP said it was unclear which driver ran the red light at the intersection.
Renne was pronounced deceased following the crash; Amador was taken to Sacred Heart Hospital with minor injuries.
Pensacola Council Backs Gas Tax For ECAT; Barry Talks Vote To Rescind
February 26, 2013
The Pensacola City Council has voted, in spirit, to send the proceeds of a four-cent gas tax increase to the Escambia County Area Transit system.
There had been unofficial word from Mayor Ashton Hayward’s office, announced County Commissioner Gene Valentino at a county meeting, that Pensacola might instead use the additional gas tax funds as incentives for Project Stallion, — ST Aerospace with 500 jobs that is considering a location at the Pensacola International Airport. Pensacola is expected to collected over $700,000 annually from the gas tax.
Monday’s vote by the city council is not binding. Instead, they must vote in an official meeting to approve a written agreement with the county to turn over the four cent tax collected within the city limits to the county. The tax won’t go into effect in the city or the county until 2014.
Speaking at a town hall meeting in Molino Monday night, Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry said he would vote to rescind the gas tax altogether, but after the city council’s vote Monday he considered unlikely that two additional commissioners (for a majority) would vote to rescind the tax.
“We are disproportionately burdened by the tax in District 5,” Barry said, citing the limited number of ECAT routes serving much of the district. The Escambia County Commission approved the tax increase the day before Barry took office.
The Town of Century has also refused to agree to remit their portion of the tax to the county, claiming it would potentially force the three gas stations in Century to close as drivers cross the state line and purchase cheaper gas in Flomaton.
Century asked the Escambia County State Legislative Delegation to support a bill exempting Century from the tax, but that idea failed because Florida law won’t allow the exemption. Century is now considered a push for a constitutional amendment to nix the tax in Century.
Pictured top: Pensacola City Council President P.C. Wu at Monday’s meeting of the council. Pictured inset: Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry addresses the ECAT gas tax during a town hall meeting in Molino Monday night. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
U.S. Supreme Court Sends W.D. Childers Case Back To Appeals Court
February 26, 2013
Nearly a decade after former Florida Senate President W.D. Childers was convicted on a bribery charge, the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday gave him at least a procedural victory in a challenge stemming from arguments that he didn’t receive a fair trial.
The Supreme Court, in a brief order, sent Childers’ case back to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta for further consideration. The challenge has been pending in the Supreme Court since 2011, and Childers, 79, already has been released from prison after serving nearly three years.
Amy Adelson, an attorney for Childers, said the Supreme Court order offers another chance to get the conviction vacated, which she said would be “great vindication.”
The colorful Childers, who represented Pensacola in the Senate for 30 years, was convicted on bribery and unlawful compensation charges that arose during his later stint on the Escambia County Commission. Childers left the Senate in 2000 because of term limits.
Childers was accused of paying another county commissioner, Willie Junior, for a vote to support buying a soccer complex. Junior reached a plea agreement in which he was required to testify against Childers and the owner of the property involved in the deal, Joe Elliott.
Attorneys for Childers contend that Junior changed his testimony to more-directly implicate Childers, after Elliott received an acquittal. They alleged in court documents that Junior changed his testimony because of concerns about losing the plea deal.
Childers, who was accused of giving Junior a cooking pot filled with money, was convicted in April 2003 and was in prison from 2006 to 2009, according to state corrections records.
Monday’s Supreme Court order relates to long-running arguments about whether Childers’ attorneys were able to fully cross-examine Junior and whether Florida courts properly dealt with the former senator’s claims that his federal constitutional rights had been violated. The claims were based on the Sixth Amendment “confrontation clause,” which focuses on the ability of criminal defendants to cross-examine witnesses.
Childers’ attorneys contended that the state 1st District Court of Appeal, in upholding Childers’ conviction, did not address the federal constitutional issue. In 2011, a majority of the full 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected those arguments, prompting the challenge to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court’s order does not detail the reasons for sending Childers’ case back to the federal appeals court, but it cites another Sixth Amendment case from California that was decided last week.
By The News Service of Florida
Youth Tour To Washington Winners Announced
February 26, 2013
Two local students have won the Escambia River Electric Cooperative Youth Tour to Washington contest.
Taylor Brook from Northview high School and Kayla Flowers from Jay High School will represent EREC on the Washington Youth Tour in June. While in Washington, Brook and Flowers will see the sights, learn about the nation’s capital and rural electrification while making new friends from across the country.
Students from across the EREC service area interviewed with an independent panel of judges. Contestants were judged on their knowledge of EREC and the history of rural electrification. Personal attributes of each candidate such as character, academic ability, personality and leadership abilities were also considered.
Pictured top: Youth Tour to Washington winners Kayla Flowers (left) from Jay High School and Taylor Brook from Northview High School.
Town Hall: Gas Tax Hike, Hwy 29/97 Traffic Light, And Do Roosters Crow?
February 26, 2013
A gas tax hike, chickens, whether or not roosters crow, 100 mph log trucks and, yes, a traffic light at Highway 29 and Highway 97 were among the topics of discussion Monday night as Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry took county government on the road to a town hall meeting in Molino.
Accompanied by numerous department heads, the meeting at the Molino Community Complex was the first for Barry since taking office late last year.
GAS TAX
Numerous citizens questioned Barry about a four cent gas tax hike to fund ECAT mass transit, which was passed the day before he was sworn in. Residents expressed their displeasure, claiming the tax was unfair burden to District 5 residents were there is limited access to ECAT services. “We are being taxed to death,” one resident said, while another claimed the tax would cost her small business $200 per month once it goes into effect in 2014.
Barry responding with a desire, albeit unlikely, that the commission would rescind the tax in light of a Pensacola City Council vote on Monday. [Read more...]
CHICKENS AND ROOSTERS
A few residents addressed the county commission ongoing discussion about regulating chickens. Chickens are currently permitted in agricultural zones, while an ordinance is in the works to allow, but regulate chickens in other zones if the property meets minimum size requirements that are yet to be finalized.
“Changes would actually reduce zoning to allow chickens in additional zones,” Code Enforcement Director Sandra Slay said, adding that reading comments on NorthEscambia.com has shown that the public remains confused on the issue. She said a new ordinance might require chickens outside agricultural areas to be in a coop, property to be of a certain size, and other “less restrictive” conditions.
“How do you get chickens with no rooster?” a citizen asked, referring to a previously proposed ordinance that would have banned roosters outside agricultural areas.
“I like to hear a rooster crow in the morning,” one citizen said, leading a discussion about roosters and what time of day they might crow.
“I’m confused if they crow,” Barry said, admitting that raising chickens was not his area of expertise. “Perhaps they do.”
HIGHWAY 97 TRAFFIC LIGHT
As the Florida Highway Patrol worked a traffic crash on Highway 97 near Highway 29, less than two miles from Monday night’s town hall meeting, a resident questioned if a traffic light could be installed at the intersection to improve safety.
Assistant County Administrator Larry Newsom said it was a “high hazard intersection” and the county had almost “begged” the Florida Department of Transportation for a traffic light to no avail. “We will not stop until DOT does something,” he said.
90-100 MPH LOG TRUCKS
A resident of Highway 95A asked what could be done about log trucks that speed past her home at “90 to 100 mph”. She said she has never seen a DOT officer or Sheriff’s deputy patrolling for the high speed trucks.
Barry said the question would be passed along to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office for possible followup.
DON SUTTON PARK, CRABTREE CHURCH RD.
A resident questioned why Crabtree Church is being widened, and why the Don Sutton Park is often locked.
Public Works Chief Wes Moreno said plans to widen the shoulders on Crabtree Church Road is completely a Florida Department of Transportation project, with all funding from the state. Parks boss Michael Rhodes said county parks are often locked to prevent vehicular access and vandalism, but a walk-thru gate will be installed to allow pedestrian access to the park.
Pictured top: Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry (right) listens as Assistant County Administrator Larry Newsom. Pictured insets and below: A District 5 town hall meeting at the Molino Community Complext Monday night. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Blue Jacket Jamboree Less Than Two Weeks Away
February 26, 2013
The Northview High School FFA Alumni Blue Jacket Jamboree is less than two weeks away.
This year’s lineup includes musical entertainment from local artists, along with an entire day of car shows, crafts, food, games, and more. The proceeds from this event will fund scholarships for graduating Northview seniors and promote agricultural education and FFA in Northwest Florida.
Featured music will include Shane Harrell and The Major Moves Band with a mix of Southern rock, classic rock, blues and country; and Denean Workman and her hope-centered music.
The Blue Jacket Jamboree will be held from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 9 at Northview High School. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for children 10 and under, at the gate.
Arts and crafts vendor booths (except for food) are still available. For more information, contact (850) 256-5831 or (850) 327-6681 ext. 248..
The Blue Jacket Jamboree is sponsored in part by NorthEscambia.com.
Pictured top: Shane Harrell and The Major Moves Band. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia River Flood Warning; Sunny Skies And Cooler
February 26, 2013
A flood warning continues for the Escambia River near Century. It is forecast to rise to near 20.7 feet by Thursday morning, causing considerable flooding of uninhabited lowlands.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 39. West wind around 10 mph.
- Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 67. West wind 5 to 15 mph.
- Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 39. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming northwest after midnight.
- Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 60. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 31. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
- Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 55. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
- Saturday: A 20 percent chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 51. Northwest wind 5 to 15 mph.
- Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 30. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 52.
- Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 31.
- Monday: Sunny, with a high near 59.
- Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 45.
- Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 66.
Alabama Man Seriously Injured In Nine Mile Road Accident
February 26, 2013
An Alabama man was seriously injured in a two vehicle wreck Monday night on Nine Mile Road at I-10.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 50-year old Mark Alan Mothershed of Grand Bay, AL, exited westbound I-10 in a 2004 Buick and tried to cross all lanes of Nine Mile Road to re-enter the interstate. In the process, Mothershed pulled into the path of a 2004 Lincoln Navigator driven by 37-year old Robert Guice Jones of Pensacola. The Buick came to rest against a pole.
Mothershed and Jones receive minor injuries in the crash. A passenger in Mothershed’s vehicle, 20-year old Daniel Dewayne Draughon of Irvington, AL, was seriously injured in the wreck. All three were transported by ambulance to Sacred Heart Hospital.
Mothershed was charged with failing to yield right of way; Jones was charged with driving with a suspended license, according to FHP.
Pictured: Three people were injured in this two vehicle crash Monday night on Nine Mile Road at I-10. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Major Citizens Insurance Bill Could Be Hard To Pass
February 26, 2013
The Legislature appears to be on a path to make it harder for non-homesteaded homes, often owned by people living out-of-state, to be added to or remain under the umbrella of the state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corp.
However, the Florida Insurance Council, one of the leading lobbying groups for the private insurance industry, is not overly optimistic there will be other lasting or meaningful changes in the coming session that could quickly spin Citizens back to being an insurer of last resort.
“The Senate bill is comprehensive, the Senate bill would reduce Citizens to an insurer of last resort, so it’s probably impossible to pass,” said council Executive Vice President Sam Miller. “The House is not even considering anything that comprehensive at this point.”
The Senate bill, still in a draft, comes as Citizens, with about 1.3 million policies, has been working to shed itself of the least risky polices.
For the insurance council, the pace isn’t fast enough.
Also, anything that does get through the Legislature will have to be signed by Gov. Rick Scott, who is up for re-election and has generally opposed rate and fee increases that impact Florida’s families.
Last Thursday, a trio of Senate Democrats — Sens. Chris Smith, D-Fort Lauderdale, Jeremy Ring, D-Margate, and Jeff Clemens, D-Lake Worth — urged Scott to consider expanding the risk to neighboring hurricane-prone states to establish a “regional approach for addressing the issue.”
Meanwhile, the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee under Chairman Sen. David Simmons, R-Altamonte Springs, has been considered a number of sweeping changes to speed those efforts, including raising the 10 percent cap on rate increases and reducing the maximum policy from $2 million to $600,000.
Among the proposals still on the table: making homeowners ineligible for Citizens if coverage is available at a near similar price from a private firm; setting rates for new customers to be more actuarially sound or less competitive with the private market; creating a “clearinghouse” to make the least risky policies available to private companies; requiring the state Office of Insurance Regulation to establish new guidelines for homes valued at more than $300,000 to get into Citizens; and prohibiting out-of-state homeowners and secondary-owned homes from being eligible.
The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee is expected to meet next week, the first week of the regular session, to discuss the proposed bill.
By The News Service of Florida
Two Convicted In Liquor Store Shooting
February 26, 2013
Two men have been convicted in connection with a shooting last summer at an Escambia County liquor store.
Lance Anthony Carter was convicted of attempted second degree murder and George Lewayne Blount was convicted of principal to attempted second degree murder.
On July 9, 2012, there was a fight at the Tom, Ann & Buddy Liquor Store on Cervantes between Blount and some other individuals. During the course of the fight, Blount yelled for Carter to shoot at Herman Hill who was trying to break up the fight.
Carter jumped on top of a table, pulled out a handgun and shot Hill twice in the back. Hill was able to crawl out of the store and a passerby drove him to Baptist Hospital.
Both defendants will be sentenced by Circuit Judge Joel Boles on March 21. Lance Anthony Carter is facing a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years state prison with a maximum of Life. George Lewayne Blount is facing 15 years state prison.