Federal Appeals Court Upholds ‘Docs Vs. Glocks’ Bill
July 26, 2014
A federal appeals court has upheld the state’s controversial “docs vs. glocks” bill, overturning an earlier court ruling that had blocked part of the law from being enforced.
In a 2-1 ruling, a three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the state Legislature had the right to pass the law, which includes provisions restricting doctors and other medical providers from asking questions about gun ownership during medical visits.
“In order to protect patients, physicians have for millennia been subject to codes of conduct that define the practice of good medicine and affirm the responsibility physicians bear,” Judge Gerald Tjoflat wrote. “In keeping with these traditional codes of conduct — which almost universally mandate respect for patient privacy — the Act simply acknowledges that the practice of good medicine does not require interrogation about irrelevant, private matters.”
The majority found that the National Rifle Association-backed law, known as the Firearm Owners’ Privacy Act, “has only an incidental effect on physicians’ speech.”
The appeals court rejected a decision by U.S. District Court Judge Marcia Cooke, who ruled last year that the law was built largely on anecdotal evidence, and that legislators couldn’t prove that gun rights would be jeopardized or that patients who own firearms might face discrimination.
Supporters of the 2011 law say doctors might turn away patients who own guns or who wouldn’t answer questions about whether they did. Critics argue that doctors need to know what’s in a patient’s home so they can offer safety advice.
In a sharp dissent significantly longer than the majority opinion, Circuit Judge Charles Wilson said the law was an unconstitutional “gag order” that infringes on doctors’ rights.
“The holding reached today is unprecedented, as it essentially says that all licensed professionals have no First Amendment rights when they are speaking to their clients or patients in private,” Wilson said. “This in turn says that patients have no First Amendment right to receive information from licensed professionals — a frightening prospect.”
Howard Simon, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, which filed a friend-of-the-court brief opposing the law, said in a statement that his organization was “astounded” by the ruling.
“Today’s decision will keep doctors from asking reasonable questions and providing advice that could very well save lives,” Simon said. “We expect the doctors who filed this case to appeal this decision and that this decision will ultimately be overturned.”
The doctors could seek a full appellate court review or appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Slight Rain Chance Tonight
July 26, 2014
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Saturday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light after midnight.
- Sunday A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Light west wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
- Sunday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 75. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
- Monday Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 94. West wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
- Monday Night A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. West wind around 5 mph.
- Tuesday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. West wind around 5 mph.
- Tuesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 67. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
- Wednesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.
- Wednesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 66.
- Thursday Partly sunny, with a high near 92.
- Thursday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 67.
- Friday A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 91.
Escambia, AL, Animal Shelter Closing
July 26, 2014
The Humane Society of Escambia County (Ala.) has announced that it will no longer be operating an animal shelter or providing field services.
The organization’s directors said they can’t “humanely operate” on the $120,000 per year budget proposed by the Escambia County (Ala.) Commission. Doing so, according to Director Renee Jones, would force the shelter to bring in animals and hold them for the minimum required seven day period before euthanizing them at the shelter in Flomaton.
She said the Humane Society of Escambia County “has never operated that way and to do so would be completely contrary to our mission.”
“Although we completely understand that the commissioners have the task of responsibly allocating taxpayer dollars, we believe that our role in the community is to work toward the long term goal of a more humane community,” she wrote. “As an organization, we are refocusing and believe that we will be able to better support the needs of the animals and the people who love them, as well as staying true to our mission, by working toward a spay/neuter assistance and humane education program.”
The group will work through August to move animals housed in the shelter to guaranteed adoption shelters and rescues.
For more information on how you can adopt an animal, contact the Humane Society of Escambia County in Flomaton, Ala., at (251) 296-2275 or email hsescambia@gmail.com.
Weekend Gardening: Distinctly Southern Hydrangeas
July 26, 2014
by Santa Rosa County Extension
Nothing defines a southern landscape more than hydrangeas.
These beautiful, large flowering shrubs fill gardens with their green, leafy foliage and incredible blooms during the warm months.
In order to ensure consistent and reliable blooms, these shrubs must be cared for correctly. In addition to proper site location, fertilizer and moisture conditions, hydrangeas may require pruning. Proper pruning includes correct timing.
Hydrangea aficionados are constantly debating pruning techniques. There are many different types of hydrangeas and pruning differs according to the type. It is a big genus of plants and so it’s important to know what type of hydrangeas you may have and on what type of wood they bloom on.
Blooms on old wood, prune after flowering
The bigleaf hydrangeas, known scientifically as Hydrangea macrophylla, are what most people think of when you mention hydrangeas. Most gardeners will know these as mopheads (also called hortensias) and lacecaps. Many of these blooms will be blue or pink although other colors now are available.
Many large colonies of bigleaf hydrangeas have existed around old homes for decades, surviving and blooming in spite of neglect. This tells us that it is not necessary to prune bigleaf hydrangeas.
However, if you want to keep these shrubs within a defined boundary, control their height or rejuvenate old shrubs, it will be necessary to prune them.
Bigleaf hydrangeas can be reduced in size immediately after flowering. A general rule of thumb is that you may remove up to a third of the shrub’s height. Be sure to complete your pruning before August. This is critical because next year flower blooms start to form in August. Pruning after August will remove next year’s blooms.
There now is a small group of bigleaf hydrangeas that are everblooming or remontant. Endless Summer® is one well-known brand. According to the developers of these reblooming hydrangeas, remove spent flowers to encourage rebloom. They are quite forgiving and will not suffer if left unpruned or pruned at the wrong time because these cultivars bloom on both old and new growth.
Our native oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) is a large, deciduous shrub that can grow up to six feet tall. It has deeply lobed, oak-like leaves which turn bronze in the fall. This plant does not usually need pruning. If reshaping or size-reduction is necessary, prune after blooms begin to fade.
Article Continues Below Photo
Lacecap hydrangea
Blooms on new wood, prune in early spring
Smooth hydrangea (H. arborescens) is the other U.S. native. The most common cultivar, ‘Annabelle’, produces rounded inflorescences that may reach up to a foot in diameter.
The panicle hydrangea (H. paniculata) is more of an upright type. It is typically a 10 to 15-foot large shrub or low-branched tree.
Panicle and smooth hydrangeas flower on current year’s growth and can be pruned anytime from late summer until early spring. If pruning these two species in the spring, try to prune before leaves appear.
Winter pruning
Established bigleaf, panicle, oakleaf and smooth hydrangea plants can often benefit from rejuvenation pruning. Remove about one-third of the oldest stems each year. The result is a fuller, healthier plant. This type of pruning is easiest to do in winter, since the absence of leaves makes it easier to see and reach inside plants.
Hydrangeas offer a wide variety of plants which can make the timing of pruning difficult to remember. Just keep in mind, if in doubt, either don’t prune at all or prune after flowering.
Big Band Indoor Yard Sale This Morning At Tate High
July 26, 2014
Lots of items are available at a Tate High School Showband of the South yard sale going on this morning from 7 a.m. until noon in the Fryman Gym on the school campus.
Numerous families are taking part to raise money to send the band to perform in the 2014 Dunkin’ Donuts Thanksgiving Day Parade in Philadelphia. Plans call for the Tate Showband to spend time in both Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. when they make the trip later this year.
Back To School: Supply Lists
July 26, 2014
School starts Monday, August 18 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. Here are printable school supply lists from each elementary school and middle school in Escambia County, plus the North Escambia area schools in Santa Rosa County and Escambia County, AL.
(High schools typically do not have a general supply list. Students are advised of their supply needs in each class.)
North Escambia Area Schools:
- Bratt Elementary
- Byrneville Elementary
- Central Elementary School
- Chumuckla Elementary
- Ernest Ward Middle
- Jay Elementary
- Jim Allen Elementary
- Lipscomb Elementary
- McArthur Elementary
- Molino Park Elementary
- Pine Meadow Elementary
- Ransom Middle
Complete Escambia County Lists:
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
- Bellview Elementary
- Beulah Elementary
- Blue Angels Elementary
- Bratt Elementary
- Brentwood Elementary
- Byrneville Elementary
- Cook Elementary
- Cordova Park Elementary
- Ensley Elementary
- Ferry Pass Elementary
- Global Learning Academy
- Hellen Caro Elementary
- Holm Elementary
- Jim Allen Elementary
- Lincoln Park Elementary
- Lipscomb Elementary
- Longleaf Elementary
- McArthur Elementary
- McMillan Pre-K
- Molino Park Elementary
- Montclair Elementary
- Myrtle Grove Elementary
- Navy Point Elementary
- Oakcrest Elementary
- Pine Meadow Elementary
- Pleasant Grove Elementary
- Scenic Heights Elementary
- Semmes Elementary
- Sherwood Elementary
- Suter Elementary
- Warrington Elementary
- Weis Elementary
- West Pensacola Elementary
MIDDLE SCHOOLS
- Bailey Middle
- Bellview Middle
- Brown Barge Middle
- Ernest Ward Middle
- Ferry Pass Middle
- Ransom Middle
- Warrington Middle
- Woodham Middle
- Workman Middle
ESCAMBIA (AL) SCHOOLS
- AC Moore Elementary
- Escambia County Middle School
- Flomaton Elementary School (not provided)
- Huxford Elementary
- Rachel Patterson Elementary
Wahoos Record 100th Sellout With Win Over Mobile’s Baybears
July 26, 2014
On a historic night when the Pensacola Blue Wahoos recorded their 100th sellout in only its third season, Michael Lorenzen became the team’s first pitcher to hit a home run.
It wasn’t just any home run, it was a two-out grand slam that broke a 1-1 tie and vaulted Pensacola to a 7-1 lead over the Mobile BayBears, who have the best record in the Southern League.
Pensacola never looked back and went on to win its fourth straight game – tying its longest streak of the season – with a 9-1 victory in front of 5,038 fans at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
Lorenzen said he wished it was his pitching, not his hitting, that fans gave him a standing ovation for during a curtain call.
“It was one of the best feelings ever,” he said afterward. “It stunk that I had to do it as a batter instead of a pitcher. But everyone loves playing here and we want to make the fans happy.”
Lorenzen came to the plate with the bases loaded and two out in the bottom of the third inning. The BayBears highly touted Archie Bradley, who is the Arizona Diamondbacks No. 1 pitching prospect, intentionally walked Brodie Greene to pitch against Lorenzen. Greene had doubled in Kyle Waldrop to tie the game at 1 in the second inning, which extended his hitting streak to eight games.
Pensacola Manager Delino DeShields knows what Lorenzen can do at the plate from jacking balls out of the ballpark during batting practice. Lorenzen, who played outfield for Cal State Fullerton last year before being drafted by Cincinnati, hit .335 with seven homers and 35 RBI in college. For the Wahoos this season, Lorenzen leads all pitchers with a .227 average and five of his hits now include three doubles and a grand slam.
“I was not expecting a home run but I knew if he got a strike he would do something with it,” DeShields said. “Mike’s a good hitter.”
Lorenzen’s last grand slam came for Cal State Fullerton in 2013 when he knocked one out in the first inning after coming straight from his brother’s wedding.
The Wahoos bullpen also put up another good outing, allowing no hits in five innings. James Walczak who relieved Lorenzen in the fourth inning, pitched three innings, allowed one hit and struck out six, including five in a row. Walczak entered the game having given up four runs in 1.1 innings in his last outing.
Both Lorenzen and Walczak emphasized how much they enjoy playing in front of sellout crowds at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium that’s on the scenic waterfront in downtown Pensacola.
“I love this Pensacola atmosphere,” Lorenzen said. “It’s been fun all year, even though, it has not been a good season for us. We enjoy making everyone go wild.”
Walczak said he feeds off the energy of the Pensacola fans.
“It’s energizing for us,” he said. “We know the fans are there for us whether we win or lose. I love how Pensacola takes care of us.”
DeShields said on Blue Wahoos owner Quint Studer’s 63rd birthday, he was happy to get the 100th sellout and the win. It was the 29th sellout in 55 home games this year and puts the Wahoos on pace to surpass 300,000 fans total for the third year in three seasons.
“A big shoutout needs to go to the staff and Quint Studer for all they do,” DeShields said. “It’s a credit to them. This is an excellent venue for the fans.”
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos start a five-game series with Atlanta Braves Double-A affiliate Mississippi Braves at 6 p.m. Saturday. RHP Ben Lively (0-4, 3.52) takes the mound for the Wahoos and is scheduled to be opposed by the Braves RHP Jason Hursh (8-6, 3.70).
No Injuries In Early Morning Wreck That Blocked Hwy 29 In Molino
July 25, 2014
There were no injuries in a single vehicle rollover accident early this morning that blocked traffic on Highway 29 in Molino.
The driver of a Chevrolet S10 pickup lost control and overturned in the southbound lanes of Highway 29 just south of Molino Road about 3:10 a.m. The driver refused to be transported to the hospital.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. The Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the crash.
Two Cantonment Residents Caught Burglarizing Barn
July 25, 2014
Two Cantonment residents were arrested after being caught stealing metal and equipment from a barn in the Cottage Hill area.
John Henry Shiffner III, age 19, was charged with felony burglary and felony grand theft. He remains in the Escambia County Jail without bond due to probation violation charge. A 16-year old juvenile was also charged in connection with the incident and released into the custody of the Department of Youth Services.
A man at his mother’s home on Williams Ditch Road observed Shiffner and the juvenile walking away from a barn. It was discovered, according to an arrest report, that the duo had moved hundreds of pounds of heavy equipment and metals from the barn to a path that borders one side of the property.
When deputies caught up with Shiffner and the juvenile a short time later, both completed written, sworn confessions, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
According to court records, Shiffner was on probation at the time of his arrest this week after being convicted for of aggravated battery and disorderly public intoxication.
Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a drunken public disturbance in the intersection of Mayo and Front streets in Century in October 2013. Shiffner’s girlfriend, who is two and a half months pregnant with his child, said he had pushed her, causing her to land on her back on the ground. She refused medical treatment.
When deputies tried to question Shiffner in the back of their patrol vehicle during the October incident, he began yelling at his girlfriend. When deputies explained her claim that he had pushed her, “he stated he did not touch her and then began rambling on about how Obama is right,” deputies reported.
“Obama said cops always listen to women,” Shiffner said, according to his arrest report.
Hall, Patee Apoointed To Escambia County Extension Council
July 25, 2014
Two new members were appointed Thursday night to the Escambia County Extension Council by the Escambia County Commission.
Janean “Karen” Hall of Bay Springs, principal at Bratt Elementary School, was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Vernon Hiebert, who resigned. And Jerry Patee of Pensacola, retired Navy captain, was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Stephanie Croan, who also resigned.
Hall was born and raised in rural Escambia County and enjoys gardening and fishing. She holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary and early childhood education and a master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of West Florida. Hall has taught in rural elementary schools for 28 years.
Patee served 31 years on active duty as an aviation physiologist. He holds a bachelor’s degree in secondary education, biology and chemistry and a masters degree from the University of West Florida and the University of Southern California. He has completed over 1,500 volunteer hours as a Master Gardener, a Florida Naturalist, and is involved with numerous gardening and community organizations.
Their appointments are subject to the approval of the Florida Cooperative Extension Service.