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The Blues Are Back! (With Friday Photo Gallery)

The Blue Angels were back in the skies over Pensacola Beach Friday in a full dress rehearsal in front of tens of thousands of people  for the annual Pensacola Beach Air Show on Saturday.

Pictured: The Blue Angels dress rehearsal  Friday afternoon over Pensacola Beach. Photos by Raja Atallah for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Florida Gov’t Weekly Roundup: Looking For Answers

Everyone in Tallahassee seemed to be looking for solutions this week.

After Leon County Circuit Judge Terry Lewis threw out two of the state’s congressional districts, lawyers and politicos were left trying to find out what the ruling meant and how to repair the damage.

Meanwhile, the state’s prison system was looking for a fix to a spate of bad stories about suspicious deaths of prisoners in the agency’s custody. By the end of the week, the head of one prison had been suspended and the secretary of the Department of Corrections was promising to do more if necessary.

Even the question of how to grow marijuana was getting stuck in the regulatory thicket, as the Department of Health and the nascent pot industry argued over the regulations that will guide the farming of a version of the plant meant to help with some health problems.

BATTLE LINES REDRAWN?

Candidates are already out on the trail and making their cases for re-election. But at least some of them might face a new group of voters — if not this November, then in two years. In a highly anticipated ruling, or at least a ruling closely watched in Tallahassee and Washington, D.C., a Leon County judge struck down a map of the state’s congressional districts drawn by the Legislature in 2012.

The decision marked the first time a judge had considered whether the state’s congressional map was valid under the anti-gerrymandering Fair Districts constitutional amendments, approved by voters in 2010. The answer, according to Lewis, was that a district held by Democratic Congresswoman Corrine Brown and one represented by Republican Congressman Daniel Webster fell short.

According to Lewis, lawmakers and the staff members charged with the once-a-decade redistricting process tried to shield the map drawers from political influence, even as Republican political consultants tried to find a way to manipulate the process.

“That being said, the circumstantial evidence introduced at trial convinces me that the political operatives managed to find other avenues, other ways to infiltrate and influence the Legislature, to obtain the necessary cooperation and collaboration to ensure that their plan was realized, at least in part,” Lewis wrote. “They managed to taint the redistricting process and the resulting map with improper partisan intent. There is just too much circumstantial evidence of it, too many coincidences, for me to conclude otherwise.”

Those most directly affected by the ruling were grappling with the fallout. Twice, Brown lashed out at Lewis, saying that her district needed to retain its largely African-American population base.

“Overturning the current District 5 map ignores the essential redistricting principle of maintaining communities of interest or minority access districts,” she said. “Certainly, minority communities do not live in compact, cookie-cutter like neighborhoods, and excessive adherence to district ‘compactness,’ while ignoring the maintenance of minority access districts, fragments minority communities across the state.”

While he declared unconstitutional the map that was approved by the Legislature, Lewis did not specifically say what would need to be done to fix it. He could redraw the lines himself or order lawmakers to do it.

Brown is considered relatively safe no matter what happens to the lines. But Webster and GOP Congressman John Mica could see Democratic-leaning voters shifted into their Central Florida districts — giving Democrats some of the gains they wanted when they pushed the Fair Districts amendments four years ago.

“It’s not like a four- or five-seat change in the process,” said Steve Schale, a Democratic political strategist. “But you take two seats that were out of play, and you put them in play, that’s going to have an impact.”

CORRECTIONS UNDER FIRE

While Lewis was ruling on the future of the state’s political system, the past of one state agency could soon be headed to the court system as well. And the issues there were matters of life and death.

The Florida Department of Corrections continued to take fire this week over the deaths of prisoners, with the agency’s secretary placing Dade Correctional Institution Warden Jerry Cummings on administrative leave.

Secretary Mike Crews took the action during a visit to the Florida City prison, where an inmate died in 2012 under questionable circumstances. Miami-Dade police are already investigating the death of Darren Rainey, an inmate who died after guards allegedly forced him to shower in scalding hot water as punishment.

“I am troubled by the allegations surrounding Dade Correctional Institution and feel a change at the facility is necessary for restoring accountability across the department,” Crews said in a release Thursday. “This morning I also met with correctional officers in the facility and underscored that the integrity of the department will not be compromised by any bad actions.”

DOC has been under fire for weeks following media reports, largely those in The Miami Herald, about the suspicious deaths of inmates.

Crews’ trip came after four investigators for the department filed a lawsuit against the agency, saying they were essentially punished for calling attention to an inaccurate report about an inmate’s death.

The suit, filed this week, also names as defendants Gov. Rick Scott’s Office of the Inspector General, Chief Inspector General Melinda Miguel and an assistant, and two high-ranking officials at the Department of Corrections.

It alleges that the four employees bringing the claim — Aubrey Land, David Clark, Doug Glisson and John Ulm — have faced retaliation for raising questions about the investigation into the death of an inmate. The punishment includes two of the four facing their own internal-affairs investigation.

“The plaintiffs have alleged that as a result of the exercise of their rights under the First Amendment, they have been subject to ongoing retaliation in the form of false and unwarranted internal affairs complaints which, in all likelihood, will continue unless injunctive relief is granted by this court,” the suit says.

BUZZ KILLS

Of all the groups that seem least likely to get upset over the actions of state government, those involved with the marijuana industry would seem to top the list. After all, the leafy green substance is supposed to help people relax, right?

Instead, regulators heard an earful early this week from growers, lawyers and lobbyists seeking to rake in some green from Florida’s new pot industry during a standing-room-only, rule-making workshop.

At the top of the complaint list: concerns about a proposed lottery system to award five organizations the chance to grow, manufacture and dispense a type of medical marijuana approved by Florida’s Republican-dominated Legislature this spring.

But complaints touched on other issues such as the number of dispensaries. Department of Health General Counsel Jennifer Tschetter said the agency’s preliminary plan was to limit the number of dispensaries to five as outlined in the law and to bar dispensaries from shipping or transporting the final product.

The state needs “way more than five” dispensaries, and the nursery locations are “very inconvenient for the patient populations,” said Kerry Herndon, owner of Apopka-based Kerry’s Nursery.

Florida’s new law makes legal in Florida certain strains of marijuana that are low in euphoria-inducing tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, and high in cannabadiol, or CBD. The law specifically limits the composition of the seeds, plants and final product, usually an oil or paste, to no more than .8 percent THC and at least 10 percent CBD.

The combination is purported to eliminate or dramatically reduce life-threatening seizures in children with severe epilepsy. The law also allows patients who suffer from severe muscle spasms or cancer to be put on a “compassionate use registry” for the low-THC product as long as their doctors approve.

DOH planned to use a lottery to select single dispensing organizations in regions where more than one application was submitted, but lobbyists and growers complained that the state would be putting epileptic children and other patients at risk by failing to ensure that the most capable organizations would be responsible for crafting the substance they ingest.

“This process … seems to reward the promise to perform better than the ability to perform,” said lobbyist Louis Rotundo, who represents the Florida Medical Cannabis Association.

Department spokesman Nathan Dunn told reporters after the meeting that the agency would consider revising the rule to do away with the lottery and that the agency has fast-tracked regulations regarding the law, signed by Scott last month.

STORY OF THE WEEK: Leon County Circuit Judge Terry Lewis strikes down the state’s new congressional districts as unconstitutional, potentially throwing the state’s political future into turmoil.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Very quietly.”— Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, when asked how marijuana plants will get into the state to help establish a type of medical marijuana approved by the Legislature this spring.

by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida

Hot, Humid, Showers

Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:

• Saturday Night Isolated showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
• Sunday Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
• Sunday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
• Monday Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Light south wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
• Monday Night Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
• Tuesday Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
• Tuesday Night Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. West wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
• Wednesday Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
• Wednesday Night Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
• Thursday Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
• Thursday Night Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
• Friday Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Pictured: Friday afternoon’s post-storm sunset in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.

Pensacola Blue Wahoos Earn Second Straight Win Over Montgomery

Pensacolians had plenty to cheer about Friday. The Blue Angels returned to the skies over Pensacola Beach and the Blue Wahoos won their second straight game in thrilling fashion.

Pitching and defense helped the Wahoos hold on to a 3-1 win against the Montgomery Biscuits Friday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.

Starter Jon Moscot threw six strong innings, giving up just one run while striking out six and then four pitchers from the Wahoos bullpen shutout the Biscuits over the final three innings. They did it by getting inning-ending double plays in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings.

Coming into the game Wahoos’ relievers had a 2-2 record and 1.93 ERA in July. That despite the loss of Carlos Conteras to the Cincinnati Reds, and Fabio Castillo and Fabian Williamson were promoted Friday to Triple-A Louisville, following Elvin Ramirez who joined the Bats June 30.

Moscot said everyone is grateful for the relievers stepping up. Shane Dyer earned his second straight save for a team-leading ninth this season.

“I’m happy with them, (Manager) Delino (DeShields) is happy with them, I think the whole team is,” said Moscot, who now has struck out 87 batters on the year. “We got some arms here, so it should be exciting.”

DeShields said part of ensuring the bullpen closes out close games, is the new way they’re being handled. However, he pointed out Wahoos pitchers combined for seven walks against Montgomery.

“I would have to say they are on a shorter leash,” he said. “Early in the season, we left them in there to see if they could finish the inning. Now, we just go to the next guy.”

The Wahoos improved to 24-10 when they score first and 11-1 when they do it at home. They are now 9-13 in the second half of the season and 40-52 overall.

The Wahoos jumped out front in the first inning when leadoff hitter Josh Fellhauer singled and then stole second base. He was knocked in by Ross Perez who ripped a line drive to right field.

In the second inning, the Wahoos got all the runs they would need when first baseman Travis Mattair, on an 0-2 count, hit a deep fly ball over the left field fence for his eighth home run of the season, which extended his on-base streak to 10 games.

The third game of the five-game series with Tampa Bay Rays Double-A affiliate the Montgomery Biscuits gets underway at 6:30 p.m. Saturday. RHP Tim Adleman (2-3, 3.26) takes the mound for the Wahoos and is scheduled to be opposed by the Biscuits LHP Albert Grayson Garvin (0-4, 4.32).

by Tommy Thrall

Pictured: Pensacola Blue Wahoos beat the Montgomery Biscuits 3-1 at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium Friday. Photos by Michael Spooneybarger/ Pensacola Blue Wahoos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Photos: Watermelons For Sale

It’s watermelon season, with roadside vendors in Walnut Hill selling fresh melons by the dozens on Friday. Local farmer James Earl Hall’s melons are for sale on Highway 97 at Pine Forest Road (just south of Highway 4) for $6 each. Friday, they were being sold with the help of  Maddox Hall, Dawson Brown and Alex Davis (pictured).  NorthEscambia.com photos by BethanyReynolds, click to enlarge.

Police: Over 2,800 Child Porn Files On Escambia Man’s Computer

Child pornography charges were filed on an Escambia County man Thursday after an investigation determined he downloaded child pornography from the internet.

Ronald G. Pickering Jr., 25, of 9885 North Loop Road, was charged with 10 counts each of possession of obscene material and obscene communication. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail on a $50,000 bond.

Pensacola Police Detective Chris Wilkinson began the investigation June 17 after identifying Pickering’s computer as being used to download sexually explicit pictures and movies of children from the internet.

Agents with the North Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, which includes agents with the Pensacola Police Department, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Crestview Police Department, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and Department of Homeland Security initiated a search warrant at Pickering’s this morning.

Wilkinson determined at least 2,809 child pornography files were downloaded onto Pickering’s computer. Additional forensic examination will continue on Pickering’s computer, according to police.

Man Faces Up To 10 Years For Series Of Century Business Burglaries

A man charged with series of business burglaries in Century has entered a plea to the charges against him and now faces up to a decade in prison.

Jason Allen Bodiford, 35, entered a no contest plea to multiple charges, included burglary, larceny, criminal mischief property damage and illegal use of a credit card.  Bodiford, who told officials he is homeless, remains in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $43,750 as he awaits sentencing next month before Judge Ross Goodman. Bodiford faces a maximum of 10 years in state prison.

He reportedly admitted to investigators that he burglarized Century Marine, Rhonda’s Hair Salon, the Happy Star Chinese Restaurant and the Century Flower Shop. Business owners reported that Bodiford had visited their places of business prior to the burglaries asking for money.

He also allegedly burglarized a car on Hecker Road in Century and stole a credit card that was later used to purchase food at Burger King in Century.

Bodiford was originally arrested December 30 at a motel in Atmore and booked into the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton on a failure to appear charge on traffic tickets in Alabama. He was extradited to Florida to  face the burglary related charges.

It’s Blue Angels Airshow Weekend At Pensacola Beach

It’s the big Red, White and Blues Week on Pensacola Beach, with the Blue Angels’ annual air show taking place this weekend.

On Saturday, the Pensacola Beach Air Show begins at noon with the civilian acts and the Blue Angels are scheduled to fly at 2 p.m.

Civilian acts includes Gary Ward, Team Aerodynamix and Skip Stewart. Crowd favorite Fat Albert won’t be in this year’s show; the plane is down for maintenance.

Are you heading to the show? Send us your pictures! Email news@northescambia.com

Pictured top: Lt. John Hiltz, Blue Angel right wingman, flies an F/A-18 Hornet in the, “dirty configuration” during a practice flight demonstration over Pensacola Beach. Photo by by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Andrew Johnson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Chance Of Storms Today

Here is your official North Escambia are forecast:

• Friday A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph in the morning.
• Friday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. Calm wind.
• Saturday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the morning.
• Saturday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. South wind around 5 mph becoming east after midnight.
• Sunday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 95. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
• Sunday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light after midnight.
• Monday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 95. Light southwest wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
• Monday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
• Tuesday A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 95.
• Tuesday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72.
• Wednesday A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 93.

Pictured: A shelf cloud moves over Pensacola Beach Thursday afternoon. Reader submitted photo by Tiffany White for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Samuel Lamar Henderson

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