Branden Penegar Memorial Car Show Held In Gonzalez
March 2, 2014
The Branden Penegar Memorial Car Show was held Saturday at the Gonzalez United Methodist Church on Pauline Street in Cantonment. Penegar, the “Gentle Giant” was a 2011 graduate of Tate High School, an assistant coach for the freshman Aggies’ football program and varsity tennis team, and a member of the Tate High School Student Hall of Fame. He passed away in March 2013 at the age of 20.
Penegar was a active member of the Gonzalez United Methodist Church and youth program.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Gary Clevon “Pops” James, Sr.
March 2, 2014
Gary Clevon James Sr., of McDavid passed away on Thursday, February 27, 2014.
Gary was born in Pensacola and was a lifelong resident of Escambia County. He was a member of Flomaton Pentecostal Holiness Church and was retired from Armstrong World Industries.
Preceding Gary in death are his parents, Eugene and Edna Lou James; grandson, Timothy Clyston James; three brothers and one sister.
Survivors include his wife of 48 years, Barbara Jane James; three sons, Gary, Larry (Sherry), and Wade; two daughters, Barbara (Scotty) and Cassie; five sisters; 15 grandchildren, Trey, Christy, Janey, Brianna, Boo (Sarah), Yogi, B-B (Logan), Tiger, Casey (Brandon), Noah, Spud, Brooke, Logan, and Luke; and six great-grandchildren, Jackson, Bryson, Atticus, Levi, Lizzie, and Maddie.
Visitation will be Tuesday, March 4, 2014, from 1 p.m. until service time at 2 p.m. at Pensacola Memorial Gardens Funeral Home.
The family wishes to express their heart felt appreciation to Covenant Hospice for their excellent care of Gary.
Locals Compete In Horse Show
March 2, 2014
Several local girls took part in a Coastal Jumper Horse Show at the Escambia County Equestrian Center, with Trinity Farms bringing home more than 120 ribbons including grand champions.
Among the local competitors and winners were: Morgan Mickel, Lexy Small, Tessa Walsingham, Molly Arnold, Trinity Smith, Rebecca Fulton, Aubrey DePury, Lindsey Walden, Sarah Birdsong, Ruth Gatewood, and Brystal Rhodes.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
B. Vonette “Bonnie” Boutwell Crawley
March 2, 2014
Mrs. B. Vonette “Bonnie” Boutwell Crawley, age 85 of East Brewton passed away on Thursday, February 27, 2014, at her home.
Mrs. Crawley was a native of Flomaton and a member of the Brewton community for the past thirteen years coming from Century. She was a homemaker, a member of the First Baptist Church of East Brewton and a former member of Little Escambia Baptist Church of Flomaton. She is preceded in death by her husband, J.B. Crawley; son, Donald Crawley; two brothers, Robert Boutwell and her twin, Dewitt Boutwell; sisters, Lula Dole, Teenie Johnson, Jean Ross, Agaline Hendrix, Essie Calloway, Dessie Mauldin, and Doris Tarpley.
Mrs. Crawley is survived by her daughter, Mary Jean (Mike) Goolsby of East Brewton; sisters-in-laws, Marilyn Boutwell of VA, Betty (Oria) Stuckey of Byrneville, adn Hazel (Bill) Crawley of Century; grandchildren, Missi (Harrison) Smith of Central, SC and Brad Crawley and Carolyn Antoniono of Simpsonville, SC, Scott (Amber) Goolsby and Ashley (Danny) McInnish, both of Auburn; great-grandchildren, Courtney and Allison Smith, Collin and Mary Carlton McInnish and Gracey Lynn Goolsby; numerous nieces, nephews and other family members.
Funeral services were held on Sunday, March 2, 2014, at Flomaton Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Larry Watts officiating.
Interment was in Flomaton Cemetery in Flomaton.
Pallbearers were Michael Goolsby, Brad Crawley, Scott Goolsby, Harrison Smith, Danny McInnish and Collin McInnish.
Honorary pallbearers were Mrs. Crawley’s nephews.
Flomaton Funeral Home directing.
Vivian Genene Baggett
March 2, 2014
Vivian Genene Bailey Baggett, 74 of Canoe passed away Thursday, February 27, 2014, in Atmore. She was a License Practical Nurse, born in Frisco City on October 13, 1939, to the late James Robert and Mazie Jewell Harrison Bailey.
She is preceded in death by two brothers, Det Hanks and Kent Hanks and one sister, Mary Griffis.
Survivors include two sons, Robin (Dianne) Baggett of Huxford and Jimmy (Lyn) Baggett of Atmore; three sisters, Glenda (Arnold) Averett of Citronelle, Elizabeth Johnson of Atmore and Sara (James Earl) Waters of Century; and seven grandchildren, Heather,Maranda, Brittany, Brandon, Noah, Emma and Ava.
Services will be Monday, March 3, 2014, at 11 a.m. from Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Kip Barbars officiating.
Interment will follow in Godwin Cemetery.
Family will receive friends Monday, March 3, 2014, at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home from 10 a.m. until service time.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home, Inc is in charge of all arrangements.
Ethan David Warden
March 2, 2014
Mr. Ethan David Warden, 21, passed away on Friday, February 28, 2014, in Atmore.
Mr. Warden was a native of Nokomis, Ala., and a resident of Atmore for most of his life. Mr. Warden is preceded in death by his father, Kenneth D. Warden of Atmore; his grandfathers, Harold Warden of McHenry, MS, Clarence Lee Rolin and Melvin J. Sells both of Atmore; great-grandfather, Milton Sells of Atmore; great-grandparents, Woodrow and Estell Rolin of Atmore; step-brother, Lee Rabon of Petterman, AL; and step-grandmother, Gloyce Rabon.
He is survived by his mother, Janet Welch (Tommy Ashcraft) of Atmore; wife, Shea Warden of Atmore; daughter, Halyn Grace Warden of Atmore; step-brother, Wesley Rabon of Petterman, AL; sister, Whitney Warden of Atmore; nieces, Kylin Marshall and Lillie Byrd; nephew, Kaiden Marshall; grandmothers, Hattie (Glenn) Knowles of Poarch, Lucille Sells of Atmore, Janet (Harold) Allen of Atmore, and LaVelle Franklin of Bay Minette; and grandfather, Harry Bryant of Lottie.
Funeral services will be Tuesday, March 4, 2014, at 3 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Sister Helen Stewart officiating.
Burial will follow at the Sullivan Cemetery.
Visitation will be Monday, March 3, 2014, from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Coty Rolin, Chase Godwin, T.J. Smith, Thunder McGhee, Dillon Rolin and Brad Shwartz.
Honorary pallbearers will be Wesley Rabon and Jacob Sells.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Florida Gov’t Weekly Roundup: Avalanche Of Bills Filed Before Session Begins
March 2, 2014
Lawmakers might have largely taken off the last week before the beginning of the 2014 legislative session, but workers responsible for shuffling papers at the Capitol were not so lucky.
With the session looming — and, with it, the opening-day deadline to file bills for consideration this year — legislative offices were busily cranking out proposal after proposal. By 5:30 p.m. Friday, at least 101 bills had been filed — on that day alone.
Not much else was happening in or around the Capitol. A few last-minute press conferences were held, and the denizens of official Tallahassee quietly prepared for what they all know is coming: two months of controlled chaos.
SENATE SHOWS ITS HAND
After months of playing it close to the vest, the Florida Senate laid its cards on the table this week, releasing a 453-page gambling measure that, without changes, has a slightly better chance of passing the Legislature than a casino customer has of hitting a jackpot.
The bill (SPB 7052) would authorize two Las Vegas-style casinos in South Florida, create a gambling commission and allow voters to decide if they want to control future gambling expansions. The Gaming Control Board would oversee the Department of Gaming Control — with five members appointed by the governor and requiring Senate confirmation. That agency would replace the state’s Division of Pari-mutuel Wagering.
As for the giant casinos in Broward and Miami-Dade counties? Bidders would have to pony up $125 million just to play — though, unlike the casinos themselves, the state would refund the money to any losers — and then pay annual $5 million license fees while seeing their games taxed at 35 percent.
Despite the Senate’s apparent desire to consider gambling legislation, House Speaker Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, insists his chamber will not pass any measures unless Gov. Rick Scott renegotiates a deal with the Seminole Tribe of Florida. Weatherford also wants any changes approved this year to be subject to a statewide referendum and require 60 percent approval for passage.
“I will defer to our committees on the substance of the Senate gaming bill,” Weatherford said in a statement Monday. “However, as I have said all along, the House will approach gaming in a comprehensive manner which means any change must include a constitutional amendment on the future of gaming expansion in Florida and a renegotiated Seminole compact.”
Scott has given no indication whether he intends to wrap up talks with the Seminoles in time for lawmakers to approve a new deal before the legislative session ends May 2. Scott also said he opposes the gambling commission included in the Senate plan and which Weatherford also supports.
GRADING ON A CURVE?
One of the biggest policy battlegrounds over the past few years has been public education. And while some of the more sweeping measures dealing with K-12 schools had already been filed before the week began — witness the voucher expansion bill the House has put forward — there were still plenty of ideas ready to pop.
Some of the biggest remaining changes are to the state’s system for grading schools. Almost everyone agrees that the accountability system needs to be put on hold in some form and for some period of time. The prescriptions for how long and exactly how to do that are what causes debate.
The leading contender is likely a bill that would follow Education Commissioner Pam Stewart’s proposal for dealing with new state education standards and the new tests on those standards that will be introduced in the 2014-15 school year. Under that bill (SPB 7060), schools would not face penalties for the grades they receive in 2014-15, but the grades would still be tallied, and the system for handing out those marks would be simplified.
While school districts and teachers have called for the grading system to be suspended and allow for a “transition period,” Stewart has insisted that the grading should go forward, helping to establish a starting point for future cycles.
Sen. Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee, filed legislation (SB 1638) that would more radically change the system. The grading system would be paused for three years. Over the same time frame, a state test could not be the “sole determiner” of whether a student graduates or gets promoted to the next grade level.
“Florida’s accountability system is no longer credible in the eyes of the public — from the adoption of new standards, the selection of a new assessment, to the awarding of school grades,” said Montford, who doubles as the chief executive officer of the Florida Association of District School Superintendents.
Montford’s bill would also alter the state’s performance-pay law, approved by the Legislature in 2011, by lowering the portion of a teacher’s evaluation that has to be based on test results from 50 percent to 30 percent. Another 20 percent would be based on other measures of a teacher’s performance.
And it would delay for three years — from July 1 of this year to July 1, 2017 — the date when new employees are required to enter the state’s performance-pay system. A companion bill (HB 1197) was later filed in the House by Rep. Mike Clelland, D-Lake Mary.
PRESCRIPTION FOR CHANGE
Health care could also spark some conflicts in 2014, though no one expects the GOP-dominated Legislature to seriously consider a potential expansion of Medicaid paid for almost entirely by the federal government.
Sen. Denise Grimsley, R-Sebring, jumped into the fight over trauma care with a bill (SB 1276) that would overhaul the way Florida approves trauma centers and ensure that three disputed facilities remain open. The bill could also short-circuit a debate about how the Florida Department of Health determines where new trauma centers should be allowed to open.
It would allow trauma centers in operation on July 1 to remain open — a proposal that likely would ensure the continued operation of trauma facilities at Blake Medical Center in Manatee County, Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point in Pasco County and Ocala Regional Medical Center in Marion County.
A major lobbying battle is expected, with the HCA health-care chain backing the proposal while big hospitals in the Tampa Bay, Jacksonville and Gainesville areas lining up to oppose it.
HCA has argued, in part, that allowing more trauma centers would better meet the needs of injured patients in various parts of the state.
“I think it (the bill) presents a clear path to moving forward,” said Stephen Ecenia, an attorney for the company.
Other hospitals see things differently. Mark Delegal, general counsel for the Safety Net Hospital Alliance of Florida, which represents public and teaching hospitals that have long operated trauma centers, said his group thinks current laws offer a proper balance for determining whether needs exist for new trauma centers.
Delegal described the part of the bill that would ensure the continued operation of the disputed HCA trauma facilities as the “big enchilada.” Also, he said a “proliferation” of trauma centers would reduce the volume of patients going to the highly specialized facilities, which could ultimately affect quality of care.
Grimsley also proposed a measure that would allow advanced registered nurse practitioners to prescribe controlled substances — but stops far short of a House plan to expand nurse-practitioner powers.
Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, said he opposed a bill approved by the House Select Committee on Health Care Workforce Innovation that would allow nurse practitioners to provide care without physician supervision.
Grimsley’s bill would keep physician-supervision requirements, though it would make some other changes such expanding the drug-prescribing powers of nurse practitioners.
STORY OF THE WEEK: Lawmakers pushed forward dozens of bills in the final week before the 2014 legislative session begins.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Certain legislators will file legislation they know will not pass because they will be able to demagogue during their campaigns and say, ‘I filed it but couldn’t get it passed.’ This happens in every state in the union and on the federal level. People use bills to accentuate their beliefs on certain issues. And those who want to be able to stand up and say, ‘I support the Second Amendment, I support the rights of law-abiding gun owners,’ are going to want to be able to vote on some pro-gun legislation and sometimes against anti-gun legislation.” — National Rifle Association lobbyist Marion Hammer, as the Legislature considers a series of gun-related bills.
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Molino Welcomes Soldier Home From Afghanistan
March 1, 2014
A local soldier received a hero’s welcome home to Molino late Friday afternoon.
U.S. Army Capt. Lea Wiggins had spent the last year stationed at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan with the 101st Airborne Division working as a military liaison. With an escort provided by the Molino Volunteer Fire Department, Wiggins rolled into a parking lot in Molino filled with family, friends and even complete strangers on hand to welcome her home with flags, balloons, American flags and an over abundance of smiles.
“You don’t know us,” one lady told Wiggins. “But we heard about this, and we wanted to be here and thank you for your service.”
“I was blown away. It was more than I every could have asked for or imagined. It’s very humbling and very surprising,” Wiggins said of the event. “It means the world,” she said, “it’s a big motivator for not just myself, but for soldiers that are still over there still fighting.”
For Wiggins it was an exciting event — especially the chance to see her sister Heather Kinnard who is expecting her first baby, a boy, in June. “I was hoping he would kick for me,’ Wiggins said.
“I missed family and friends,” she said. “It’s not just enough to be able to talk to them now and then, I wanted to just sit down with them just catch up on everything.”
Now that Wiggins back on American soil, she plans to finish her captain’s career course, hopefully taking a command by the end of the year. And she’ll probably work a little bit on a new hobby she picked up in Afghanistan – Muay Thai kickboxing.
Friday’s celebration was compliments of Fran Hampton at Fran’s Country Diner, who said she just wanted to do something to support our military.
Pictured above and below: U.S. Army Capt. Lea Wiggins was welcomed back to Molino during an event Friday evening at Fran’s Diner. Pictured bottom inset: Wiggins with her pregnant sister Heather Kinnard, hoping to feel the unborn boy kick. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century To Get Update On Economic Development Strategic Plan
March 1, 2014
A new Economic Development Strategic Plan is under development for the Town of Century, and Monday night council members will here a status report on the project.
Matt Schwalb and Brice Harris from the Haas Center are scheduled to present the update during the 7 p.m. Monday meeting of the Century Town Council.
When Century updated its Comprehensive Plan in March 2012, the need for an economic development strategy was identified as one of the critical issues facing the Town.
Last July, Century was awarded a $25,000 a Community Planning Technical Assistance Grant from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. The grant provided the Town the opportunity to contract with the University of West Florida’s Haas Center to develop the plan.
Pictured top: Rod Lewes of the Haas Center (the research and consulting arm of the University of West Florida) makes a presentation last September to the Century Town Council. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
In developing the plan, the Haas Center has solicited input from area businesses, residents and other economic development agencies in the region.
Studers Announce Institute For ‘Measuring And Improving’ Communities
March 1, 2014
Local entrepreneurs Quint and Rishy Studer announced Friday they are funding a nonprofit institute to sponsor research into the development of strategies and tools to help cities evaluate and address the health of their economy, government and quality of life.
“We’re going to work to identify benchmarks, create assessment tools, and highlight best practices from across the nation to help cities address the challenges they face,” said Quint Studer. “Our goal is to work with communities to significantly improve life for people.”
The Studer Institute will be led by former Pensacola News Journal Executive Editor Randy Hammer. During his tenure at the PNJ, the newspaper won the National Headliner Award and was a two-time finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. Hammer, who was twice named Gannett Company’s editor of the year, left the newspaper in 2006 to become a vice president at the Louisville Courier-Journal in Kentucky. For the past six years he had been the president and publisher of the Asheville Citizen-Times in North Carolina.
Hammer will serve as president and CEO of the institute. Joining him on the staff:
- Mollye Barrows, longtime WEAR-TV reporter and anchor. Barrows, who also goes by Mollye Vigodsky, joined the station in 1995 as an intern and worked her way up to become an investigative reporter and eventually an anchor.
In 2005, Barrows won second place in the Florida Associated Press Broadcasters competition for an investigative segment called “Secrets in the Schoolhouse.” In 2004, Barrows also wrote a book called “Perversion of Justice,” which chronicled the case of two juvenile boys, the King brothers, who were convicted of killing their father.
- Brian Hooper, who for the past five years has been an attorney at Emmanuel Sheppard & Condon. Last spring the Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce honored Hooper with its Emerging Leader of the Year award.
A native Californian, Hooper is a graduate of Washington and Lee University, the Chinese University of Hong Kong and Harvard Law School. Before moving to Pensacola, he was a clerk for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and an associate director of the federal Office of Weapons of Mass Destruction Terrorism.
- Reggie Dogan, teacher and former PNJ columnist. For the past year Dogan has been a teacher at the Escambia Charter School, an alternative school for at-risk youth. He also taught at the Dixon School of the Arts.
Before becoming a teacher, Dogan spent 15 years at the PNJ as an assistant city editor, assistant editorial page editor and columnist.
“Our immediate focus is the Pensacola metro and the West Florida area,” said Hammer. “We are partnering with the Haas Center at the University of West Florida to develop an index of social and economic metrics that we hope people will be able to use to move their communities forward.”
“I’m very excited about the staff Randy is building at the Studer Institute,” said Quint Studer. “As Rishy and I have always said, there is so much talent right here in Pensacola, and we’re proud to have such a passionate group of professionals who care so deeply about making Pensacola a significantly better place to live.”
Quint Studer, a former president of Baptist Hospital and now co-owner of the Pensacola Blue Wahoos with his wife, Rishy, founded the Studer Group in 2000 with four full-time employees. Today it is a healthcare and education consulting firm that employs 205 people across the country.
“Cities are good at building streets, parks, and brick-and-mortar buildings,” he said, explaining his thinking behind the institute. “But Rishy and I have learned over the years that it’s much more difficult to build a community, to improve a community, and to make life better for people. That’s the hard part, and that’s going to be our driving passion behind the Institute.”
In addition to partnering with the Hass Center, the institute plans to collaborate with other local institutions and media outlets to develop the regional index and report on its findings.