Paul Gene Louviere
December 17, 2014
Paul Gene Louviere, age 74, passed away December 13, 2014, in the nursing home at Century. He was born March 8, 1940, in Jeanerette, LA. Most of his career was with the oil field, which brought him to Century in 1971. Mr. Louviere was a veteran of the U.S. Army. He was a member of the Methodist Church of Century.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Morris and Rita Louviere of Morgan City, LA; and his granddaughter, Ashley Nicole Murphy of Flomaton.
Mr. Louviere is survived by his wife, Maxine Louviere of Century; two brothers; two sisters; and nieces and nephews all of Louisiana; his daughter, Paula (Larry) Murphy of Flomaton; Jon Louviere of Cleveland, Ohio; Kenny (Tammy) Louviere of Century; Tim Louviere of Milton; Chris Louviere of Pensacola; five grandchildren, Chase (Samantha) Murphy of Atmore; Summer and Dalton Louviere of Milton; Xena Louviere of Century; and one great-grandson, Bentley Murphy of Atmore.
A memorial will be held December 18, 2014, at 6 p.m. at the Methodist Church in Century.
Jeb Bush To ‘Actively Explore’ Presidential Bid
December 16, 2014
After weeks of increasing speculation about his plans, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said Tuesday he will “actively explore” a possible bid for president in 2016.
Bush made the announcement on Twitter and Facebook. He wrote on Facebook about spending time with his wife, Columba, children and grandchildren at Thanksgiving.
“We also talked about the future of our nation,” Bush wrote. “As a result of these conversations and thoughtful consideration of the kind of strong leadership I think America needs, I have decided to actively explore the possibility of running for President of the United States.”
Bush, who was elected governor in 1998 and served two terms, also wrote that he will establish what is known as a “Leadership PAC” in January “that will help me facilitate conversations with citizens across America to discuss the most critical challenges facing our exceptional nation. The PAC’s purpose will be to support leaders, ideas and policies that will expand opportunity and prosperity for all Americans.”
Bush, 61, made the announcement a day after giving a commencement address at the University of South Carolina — a state that plays a major role in Republican primaries. If he ultimately decides to run, Bush would seek to follow his father and brother into the White House.
But Bush also would face fierce opposition from Democrats and likely from some Republicans who disagree with him on issues such as immigration reform and education policy. The Florida Democratic Party website Tuesday, for example, featured a prominent picture of Bush and touted what it said was his “awful week” that included “damning articles” in national media outlets.
Bush’s Facebook post did not say when he will make a final decision about entering the race.
“In the coming months, I hope to visit with many of you and have a conversation about restoring the promise of America,” he wrote.
Century Woman Charged With Selling Stolen 18-Wheeler Rims For Scrap
December 16, 2014
A Century woman is facing multiple felony charges for allegedly selling stolen aluminum commercial 18-wheeler truck rims at a Pensacola recycling facility.
Madeline Hope Johnson, age 32 of Old Flomaton Road, was charged with three felony counts of knowingly providing false ownership to a secondhand metals recycler and three felony counts of dealing in stolen property.
She allegedly sold 10 rims during three different trips to Wise Recycling, each worth $200 to $300, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report. Johnson told deputies that she was requested by Charles Allen Aplin to take him and the rims to the recycling business. Surveillance video shows Johnson unloading the rims and rolling them over to a set of scales to be weighed for scrap.
She told deputies that the Rims belonged to Aplin. According to deputies, Johnson was living adjacent to a trucking company that reported 16 rims stolen, 10 of which were identified as those recycled by Johnson, the report states.
Alpin, 46, was charged last month with grand theft and dealing in stolen property. He remains in the Escambia County Jail without bond due to an outstanding failure to appear warrant. Johnson is being held in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $10,000.
What’s That Smell? DEP Wants Escambia, Santa Rosa Residents To Report Odors
December 16, 2014
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Northwest District is launching an online reporting tool to gather data regarding ongoing odor complaints received from Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. The department has been investigating odor complaints since Wednesday, Dec. 10. Information currently available to the department has been inconclusive in establishing the source of the odor.
The department is requesting that residents in Santa Rosa and Escambia counties experiencing any unusually strong odors report them here.
The information provided through this online reporting tool will assist the department with identifying the source of the odor.
Molino’s Gindl Signs With Toronto Blue Jays
December 16, 2014
Caleb Gindl of Molino has signed a minor-league free agent contract that includes a spring training invite with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Gindl, 26, was a Brewers’ fifth-round Draft pick in 2007 out of Pace High School. Most of last season, he played with the Triple-A Nashville Sounds, appearing in eight games for the Brewers. During 2013, he played 57 games, hitting .242/.340/.439 with five homers and 14 RBIs.
He made history for the Brewers as the first in franchise history to hit a walk-off for his first MLB homer.
Pictured top: Caleb Gindl hits a homer for the Milwaukee Brewers in July 2013. Courtesy MLB. Pictured inset and below: Gindl bats during a baseball clinic at Northview High School. NorthEscambia.com photos.
FHSAA Proposes New Football Classifications For Next Four Years
December 16, 2014
The Florida High School Athletic Association has released tentative high school football classifications that, if finalized, will be in place for the next four years.
In 1-7A, Tate and Niceville will be joined by Navarre, and three Tallahassee schools – Chiles, Leon and Lincoln. Crestview will move to 2-6A.
1-6A will include Escambia, Milton, Pace, Pine Forest and Washington. Pensacola High slips to 1-5A.
1-5A will include Pensacola, West Florida, Arnold, Bay, Gulf Breeze and Rutherford.
And 1-1A will remain unchanged with Northview, Jay, Freeport and Baker. Former 4A powerhouse Madison County will move down to 5-1A where they could play 1-1A teams in the state semifinals or finals.
Tentative 2015-18 Football Districts (With Enrollment)
District 1-7A (Enrollment 1,939-2,331)
- Tate (2,123)
- Niceville (1,976)
- Navarre (2,028)
- Chiles (2,013)
- Leon (2,055)
- Lincoln (2,076)
District 1-6A (Enrollment 1,593-1,938)
- Escambia (1,749)
- Milton (1,761)
- Pace (1,890)
- Pine Forest (1,712)
- Washington (1,738)
District 1-5A (1,115-1,592)
- West Florida (1,288)
- Pensacola (1,437)
- Arnold (1,467)
- Bay (1,366)
- Gulf Breeze (1,576)
- Pensacola (1,437)
- Rutherford (1,188)
District 1-3A (291-680)
- Catholic (593)
- Taylor County (662)
- Florida High (625)
- Maclay (350)
District 1-1A (1-600 rural)
- Northview (503)
- Jay (296)
- Baker (456)
- Freeport (357)
Byrneville K-2 Students Present Christmas Musical (With Gallery)
December 16, 2014
Students in grades K-2 at Byrneville Elementary School presented their annual Christmas musical “Toys: The Night They Come Alive” Monday night at Northview High School. Students in grades 3-5 will present their Christmas program at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Northview theater.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Raja Atallah, click to enlarge.
Man Gets Life For Molesting Three Children Over Several Years
December 16, 2014
A Santa Rosa County man will spend life in prison for molesting three children.
Edward Scott Foster, Jr., entered a plea Monday to two counts of sexual battery upon a child less than 12 years of age and one count of sexual battery upon a child by a person in familial or custodial authority. The 71-year old was sentenced to life in prison on two of the counts and 30 years in prison on the third count by Judge John Simon.
Between 1974 and 1993, Foster committed repeated acts of sexual abuse upon his three victims at his home in Milton. During the time of the abuse, the victims ranged in age from 5 to 17 years of age. Each of the victims was abused over a period of several years, according to prosecutors.
In Hot Pursuit 5K Earns $10K For Sheriff’s Youth Ranch
December 16, 2014
The annual In Hot Pursuit 5K on Pensacola beach last month raised just over $10K for the Florida Sheriff’s Youth Ranch. Sheriff David Morgan presented the group with a check for$10,038.08 on Monday.
The mission of the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches is to prevent delinquency and develop strong, lawful, resilient, and productive citizens who will make a positive contribution to our communities for years to come. This charitable, non-profit agency was founded by the Florida Sheriffs Association and operates four residential campuses and two camping facilities. Additionally, it provides community-based services and family counselling to as many of Florida’s neglected, troubled children as funds will permit. This year, the Youth Ranches will serve more than 5,000 needy boys and girls.
The mission of the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches is to prevent delinquency and develop strong, lawful, resilient, and productive citizens who will make a positive contribution to our communities for years to come. This charitable, non-profit agency was founded by the Florida Sheriffs Association and operates four residential campuses and two camping facilities. Additionally, it provides community-based services and family counselling to as many of Florida’s neglected, troubled children as funds will permit. This year, the Youth Ranches will serve more than 5,000 needy boys and girls.
The In Hot Pursuit 5K was sponsored by NorthEscambia.com, Cox Cable, The Grand Marlin, Gulf Power, Edward Jones, John Peacock CFP, CRPC, Gulf Power, The Fraternal Order of Police, The Andrews Institute, Berney Office Solutions, Navy Federal Credit Union, Boost Mobile, May’s Construction, Gulf Winds Credit Union, Marianna Airmotive, The Sandshaker, Sake Café, The Independent News and News Talk WCOA Radio.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bondi Asks U.S Supreme Court To Keep Gay Marriage On Hold
December 16, 2014
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi on Monday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to keep in place a hold on gay marriage, which is set to begin in early January unless an extension of the state’s ban is approved.
Bondi’s request came less than two weeks after a federal appeals court rejected her effort to at least temporarily extend the gay-marriage prohibition, which U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle ruled in August was unconstitutional. Hinkle placed a stay on his decision to allow time for appeals in three cases then pending before the Supreme Court, but that stay is scheduled to expire at the end of the day Jan. 5.
Bondi asked the Supreme Court to keep the hold in place until Florida’s appeals run out or until the justices rule in similar cases. The Republican attorney general is asking justices to intervene to avoid confusion and to “maintain uniformity,” her spokeswoman Jenn Meale said in a memo accompanying the filing.
“In a continuation of the effort to maintain uniformity and order throughout Florida until final resolution of the numerous challenges to the voter-approved constitutional amendment on marriage, the Attorney General’s Office filed with the United States Supreme Court an application to extend the stay. If the Supreme Court grants the application, the stay will remain in place during the state’s appeal. If the Supreme Court denies the stay, then the preliminary injunction will become effective at the end of the day on Jan. 5, 2015,” Meale wrote.
In the 70-page filing, Bondi’s lawyers wrote that the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ denial of an extension Dec. 3 “has created statewide confusion” and that lifting the stay could lead to county clerks throughout the state issuing marriage licenses to gay couples although only one Florida county — Washington — was a party to the federal lawsuit.
“The constitutional issue is a serious one, and it deserves appellate review before the injunctions (against the gay-marriage ban) should become effective,” Florida Solicitor General Allen Winsor wrote.
A series of federal appeals-court decisions have struck down similar gay-marriage bans in other states, and the U.S. Supreme Court in October declined to take up the issue. But, as she did when she asked the 11th Circuit for an extension of the stay, Bondi pointed to a decision in November by the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that upheld bans in Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee.
The conflicting appellate rulings indicate that the Supreme Court is more likely to take up the issue now, Bondi’s lawyers wrote in Monday’s filing.
But the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, which represents some of the plaintiffs in combined cases involved in Hinkle’s ruling, blasted Bondi for pursuing the emergency stay.
“It is unsurprising, given how hard Governor Scott, his appointees, and Attorney General Bondi have fought to keep loving and committed couples from getting married and having their marriages recognized in Florida, that they would keep up this dead-end fight. But with just weeks until the ruling is scheduled to go into effect, it is disappointing,” ACLU of Florida lawyer Daniel Tilley said in a statement. “Florida families have waited long enough for the end of a ban that a federal court has declared unconstitutional. Since October, the Supreme Court has refused all requests to stay rulings striking down the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage in other states. We are hopeful they will do the same here so that loving couples and their children can get the protections for which they have waited so long.”
by Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida