Flash Flood Watch For Tonight; Heavy Rain Possible
April 17, 2014
There is a flash flood watch in effect tonight. A developing system in the Gulf will bring widespread rain totals of 2-4 inches through Friday afternoon with isolated areas receiving up to 6 inches. Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Low around 56. East wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
- Friday Showers likely, mainly before 1pm. Cloudy, with a high near 64. Northeast wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Friday Night A 30 percent chance of rain before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. North wind around 5 mph.
- Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 75. North wind 5 to 15 mph.
- Saturday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 50. North wind around 5 mph.
- Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. North wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east in the afternoon.
- Sunday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 54. Calm wind.
- Monday Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. North wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
- Monday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Tuesday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 80.
- Tuesday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 59.
- Wednesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 83.
- Wednesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 61.
- Thursday Sunny, with a high near 83.
Eglin Schedules Another Weapons Test; ‘Booms’ Possible Again
April 17, 2014
Booms that were felt and heard across the North Escambia area on Wednesday were attributed to F-16’s at Eglin Air Force Base, and officials say the booms could happen again Friday morning.
Two F-16’s from the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron will conduct a routine weapons test Friday, April 18, from 8 to 8:30 a.m. Gulf Breeze, Navarre and areas of Escambia County might hear detonations during this time, according to a base news release.
The 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron is responsible for conducting operational test and evaluation, tactics development, and programs for F-15C, F-15E, and F-16CM aircraft. The 85th tests and evaluates current and future weapons, associated electronic warfare subsystems, the newest air-to ground munitions, air-to-air missiles, electronic warfare systems, and associated subcomponents and avionics. It provides operational fighter expertise to U.S. Air Force Headquarters, DoD agencies, and the aerospace industry in the development of future aircraft and employment techniques and concepts.
Arrest Made After Teen Stabbed In Barth
April 17, 2014
A teenager was airlifted to a Pensacola hospital after being stabbed in the Barth community north of Molino Wednesday night, and another teen is charged with the crime.
The 16-year old male was reportedly stabbed twice — including once in the chest area — about 7:15 p.m. during and altercation in the area of Barth Lane and Barth Road. He was transported by ambulance to the Molino Fire Station and transferred to an awaiting LifeFlight helicopter. The teen’s wounds were not believed to be life threatening.
Pictured top and inset: The scene of a stabbing in the Barth community Wednesday night in the area of Barth Lane and Barth Road. Pictured below: The victim was transported by ambulance to the Molino Fire Station and transferred to an awaiting LifeFlight helicopter. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Amazon To Start Collecting Sales Tax In Florida
April 17, 2014
Internet giant Amazon.com will start to collect sales taxes on purchases made by Floridians starting May 1.
For Floridians who are supposed to pay the taxes but haven’t, the announcement of Amazon’s entry into the state’s brick-and-mortar retail landscape could mean about $80 million a year in sales taxes, according to one business lobbying group.
Ty Rogers, a spokesman for the Seattle-based retailer, responded simply in an email on Wednesday that “Amazon will be required to collect sales tax in Florida beginning on May 1.”
The announcement isn’t unexpected as the company is building a pair of massive “fulfillment” centers along the Interstate 4 corridor.
John Fleming, a spokesman for the Florida Retail Federation, said the announcement is probably a sign that Amazon will soon trigger a collection requirement by starting to hire for the year-end holidays, which for retailers begins in September.
“They’re going to have to have employees ready by then,” Fleming said.
The Tampa Bay Times reported Wednesday that Amazon intends to open its new 1.1 million-square-foot warehouse in southeastern Hillsborough County by the end of the year.
The company also is upping its hiring projections for the facility from 1,100 to about 2,500, including seasonal hires, according to the Times.
The Amazon announcement won’t end the drive by some groups to eliminate an exemption that has allowed out-of-state online retailers including Amazon, eBay and Overstock to avoid collecting the taxes.
The Florida Department of Revenue requires online companies to begin collecting sales taxes once a company has a physical presence in the state. That has allowed many out-of-state online retailers, including Amazon, to avoid adding the taxes to online purchases. Floridians are supposed to pay the taxes themselves when they buy from online retailers, but few do.
The Florida Retail Federation, which estimates the state will collect $80 million a year from Amazon sales, has been pushing for years to get Florida to impose what the group calls “e-Fairness” tax laws and Congress to approve what is known as the Marketplace Fairness Act.
Fleming said the current focus leans toward Congress taking action, as the federal act would give states the authority to require online and catalog retailers —- regardless of where they are —- to collect sales taxes at the time of transactions.
Besides, state lawmakers, reluctant to impose new taxes, haven’t shown much interest in e-Fairness efforts despite the lobbying efforts of Florida-based business and retail groups.
Eight bills on the issue died during the 2013 state legislative session, including one that would have offset the additional revenue collected by lowering other taxes.
This year there has been less interest in Tallahassee for e-Fairness.
State economist Amy Baker said an estimated impact of Amazon’s tax collections on Florida’s revenue could be ready this summer. The company was not included in a March forecast by the state Revenue Estimating Committee.
“We discussed it, but felt there was still too much uncertainty — particularly in regard to timing — to make the inclusion at that time,” Baker said in an email.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Trial Postponed For Molino Woman Claiming Self Defense In Husband’s Fatal Shooting
April 17, 2014
Trial been postponed for a Molino woman accused of murdering her husband last year.
Rebecca A. Rogers, 43, appeared before Judge Linda Nobles Wednesday in Escambia County Circuit Court. Nobles, at the request of both her defense attorney and prosecutors, reset Roger’s jury trial. Jury selection is now set to begin in late June.
Rogers allegedly shot her husband, 42-year old Jason Lee Rogers, in the head last August at the couple’s home in the 3400 block of Highway 29 near Mathison Road. He died about two days later.
Rebecca Rogers called 911 to say that her husband choked her and she shot him, according to an arrest report. Deputies arrived to find Rebecca Rogers standing outside the home. They found Jason Rogers lying unconscious in the back bedroom of the home on his stomach with what appeared to be a gunshot to his head. According to the report, he also suffered two other gunshot wounds to the back.
Rogers has claimed the shooting was in self defense. She remains free on a $300,000 bond.
Man Sentenced For Sexual Misconduct At Juvenile Girls Facility
April 17, 2014
Ernest Lerenza Parker was sentenced Wednesday by Santa Rosa Circuit Judge John Simon to 25 years in prison followed by 10 years of sex offender probation. Parker was convicted by a Santa Rosa County Jury on March 7 of three counts of sexual misconduct.
Parker was employed as a medical technician at the Milton Girls Juvenile Residential Facility from March 2012 until December 2012. During the time of his employment, the 53-year old Milton man engaged in various sexual acts with several of the girls who were committed to the facility. These crimes were reported to law enforcement during an investigation of physical abuse that had occurred at the juvenile facility.
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office and Department of Juvenile Justice conducted an extensive investigation which resulted in Parker’s arrest. Parker admitted to investigators that
he had touched several of the juveniles in a sexual manner. During the trial the girls testified that Parker had touched them inappropriately, engaging in sexual acts with some of them.
The Milton juvenile facility was closed on December 24, 2012.
Century To Get Sneak Peek At New Economic Development Plan
April 17, 2014
After months of work and input from residents, businesses and economic professionals, Century will get a sneak peek at their Economic Development Strategic Plan.
The Haas Center, , the research and consulting arm of the University of West Florida, updated on the town council on their work over the past six months during a special workshop meeting at 3 p.m. today.
In addition to research, the Haas Center has solicited input from area businesses, residents and other economic development agencies in the region in developing the plan, funded by a $25,000 a Community Planning Technical Assistance Grant from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity
Under the grant requirements, the Haas Center is developing an economic and demographic profile report, local and regional market area analysis, accepted input from local and regional stakeholders and soliciting input from a steering committee.
The final draft of the strategic plan is due to the town by April 30, with an implementation plan and funding matrix to be submitted by May 30.
Coalition Pushes For Open Government, Ethics Reforms
April 17, 2014
A coalition of groups called Wednesday for lawmakers to approve bills that would overhaul open-records and ethics laws before the legislative session ends in little more than two weeks.
The organizations — including the First Amendment Foundation, Common Cause Florida, Integrity Florida, the Citizens Awareness Foundation and The Tea Party Network —said the House should pass a counterpart (HB 1151) to a measure approved by the Senate (SB 1648) strengthening the state’s open-government rules.
The bill would create laws mirroring several court decisions, including one barring officials from demanding that citizens put requests for records in writing. Also, the bill would require open-government training for government employees.
It comes as the Legislature is on pace to boost the total number of exemptions from open-records laws to almost 1,100, said Barbara Petersen, president of the First Amendment Foundation.
“It’s a concern for us that the Legislature is very willing to create all of these exceptions to the constitutional right of access, but drags its heels on any attempt to improve our open-government laws,” Petersen said Wednesday at a press conference.
The coalition also pressed lawmakers to approve a handful of ethics bills, including one measure (SB 846) that would bar local elected officials from working as legislative lobbyists in the future — though they would be able to represent their agencies at the Capitol. The bill also would require independent special districts to set up lobbyist-registration systems.
by The News Service of Florida
(Disclosure: The News Service of Florida is a member of the First Amendment Foundation.)
Coaches Name Robinson To All-State First Team
April 17, 2014
The Florida Association of Basketball Coaches has named Northview’s Neino Robinson to the 2013-2014 Boys Class 1A All-State first team.
Robinson, a senior, was the only public school player from Escambia County named to any of the associations’ all-state teams in an classification. Players were selected based on in-person evaluations, a review of all-area teams selected by media from around the state, and recognition from the Florida Association of Basketball Coaches.
The Florida Association of Basketball Coaches includes coaches from the high school, junior college and four-year college levels.
Tate, Jay To Play For District Championships After Wednesday Wins
April 17, 2014
The Tate Lady Aggies and the Jay Lady Royals will be in action tonight in their district softball championship games.
The top-seeded Tate Lady Aggies beat Fort Walton Beach Wednesday night 12-1 in five. The win earned the Lady Aggies a chance to play Thursday night for the District 1-7A championship against the third seed Navarre Raiders, 7 p.m. at Tate High School. The Raiders upset number two Niceville Wednesday 2-1.
The Jay Royals beat Baker Wednesday night to advance to the championship game of the District 3-1A softball tournament. Jay will host Chipley at 7:00 Thursday night for the district championship after Chipley beat Holmes County.