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Century Chamber To Consider Bylaw Revision At Workshop Meeting

The Century Chamber of Commerce is working to revise its bylaws. The board of directors of the Century Chamber of Commerce will hold a workshop on Wednesday, August 13 and 2 p.m. at the Century Welcome Center to discuss draft revision of its  bylaws. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Escambia County Woman Dies In Crash North Of Tampa

An Escambia County woman killed in a single vehicle accident north of Tampa has been identified.

Lisa Jane Newcomer, 35, was pronounced deceased at the scene of the accident on Highway 41 in Spring, Hill, Fla. According to the FHP, Newcomer was alone in her 2001 Honda Accord when she lost control, ran off the road, struck a utility pole, crossed a culvert and became airborne before hitting a tree. The accident occurred early Monday morning.

The Florida Highway Patrol is still investigating the cause of the crash.

Cantonment Man Gets Two Life Sentences For Deadly Home Invasion

An Escambia County man will spend the rest his life in prison for a deadly drug-related home invasion in Cantonment.

Robert Dale Purifoy, age 34 of Batson Lane in Cantonment, was found guilty in the murder of Amber Tricona Johnson. Johnson 22, was shot and killed during an exchange of gunfire during a home invasion on Stefani Circle in November 2012. Johnson’s boyfriend Justin Stanley was also shot and wounded.

An undisclosed amount of money and a “significant” quantity of marijuana was found at the scene, leading investigators to believe that robbery was a motive.

An Escambia County jury returned the verdict against Purifoy just before 10:00 Monday night. He was immediately sentenced to two life sentences plus five years to be served concurrently with no possibility of parole.

Work On Century Gas Leak Repair Project Delayed A Week

Construction was set to begin Monday on a project to repair a leaking section of natural gas pipe under Highway 29 in Century, but it’s going to be another week before work begins.

R.A.W. Construction, LLC of Tallahassee was set to go to work Monday to install new natural gas lines along the right-of-way of Highway 29 (North Century Boulevard) from about McCurdy Lane to West Highway 4 near the courthouse.  But town officials said the company had necessary equipment still tied up on a previous project and moved the start date for Century work to Monday, August 18.

About 6,515 feet of 4-inch steel natural gas line was buried beneath the southbound lanes of Highway 29 when the road was widened to four lanes. Now, nearly 50 years since the almost 1.25 mile long pipe was first put into the ground, the town believes the steel is corroding and leaking somewhere between West Highway 4 and McCurdy Street.

The repair project is due to be complete by November 25.

Molino Day Of Hope To Offer Free School Supplies, Groceries And More Saturday

A free “Day of Hope” will offer  back to school supplies and more this Saturday in Molino.

The Day of Hope will be held from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Victory Assembly of God at 1895 Victory Road,  just south of Barrineau Park Road on Highway 29.  The event will offer free groceries, haircuts, backpacks, school supplies, a kids zone and a hot lunch. Items are available while supplies last, rain or shine. No identification is required.

Florida Legislature Passes New Congressional Districts

Lawmakers passed new congressional districts on nearly party-line votes in the House and the Senate on Monday, sending the map back to the courts as early voting opened in some counties.

As they did the first time they approved a congressional map in 2012, Republicans applauded themselves Monday for following the anti-gerrymandering Fair Districts amendments approved by voters in 2010. But Democrats said the GOP did little to actually change borders that they said were still unfairly tilted toward Republican candidates.

The House voted 71-38 to approve the map (SB 2A), which was needed after Leon County Circuit Judge Terry Lewis struck down two congressional districts he said were drawn to buoy the GOP’s chances at the ballot box. Reps. Mia Jones and Reggie Fullwood, both of Jacksonville, were the lone Democrats to support the map in the House.

Two Senate Democrats, Sens. Audrey Gibson of Jacksonville and Bill Montford of Tallahassee, voted with the GOP as the plan cleared that chamber on a 25-12 vote. Earlier, the Senate voted by the same margin to reject a proposal by Sen. Darren Soto, D-Orlando, that would have made substantial changes.

“I certainly hope that litigation time is over and that fair voting time has started,” said Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville.

Lewis ruled the original map unconstitutional last month after voting-rights organizations and some individual voters filed a lawsuit saying the plan didn’t follow the Fair Districts amendments. In his decision, Lewis said lawmakers put too many African-American voters in Congressional District 5, currently represented by Democratic Congresswoman Corrine Brown, in an apparent effort to channel those Democratic-leaning voters away from surrounding districts.

The judge also found fault with an appendage of white voters added onto Congressional District 10, now represented by Republican Congressman Dan Webster; Lewis said the voters were placed in Webster’s district to try to help the incumbent hold onto his seat.

Democrats argued that the process this time was no better than it was two years ago — a process Lewis said was corrupted by the influence of political consultants despite the efforts of some legislative leaders to follow the amendments.

“Such behind-the-scenes collusions violated the constitution as well as the public’s trust. … Nothing really changed in this process this time around which would restore the integrity called into question the first time around,” said Rep. Karen Castor Dentel, D-Maitland.

Democrats also bristled at when the new districts are scheduled to take effect. Senate Reapportionment Chairman Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, said the bill would apply to any elections after the November general election. As an example, the redrawn districts would be in effect if Lewis requires a special election later in the year.

Republicans maintain that it’s too late to change the date of the primary and general elections for Congress, given that tens of thousands of absentee voters, including soldiers serving overseas, have already returned their ballots. Primary elections are scheduled for Aug. 26, with early voting starting Monday in some counties and later elsewhere.

But Senate Minority Leader Chris Smith, D-Fort Lauderdale, said voters should not cast ballots in this fall’s elections in districts that Lewis has already said violate the anti-gerrymandering Fair Districts standards.

“This isn’t about convenience,” Smith said. “This is about democracy.”

While the changes were focused on District 5 and District 10, they would affect seven congressional districts. Soto’s proposal would have only affected three districts, but critics questioned, in part, whether it would diminish the ability of black voters to elect a candidate of their choice in District 5.

Sen. David Simmons, R-Altamonte Springs, said Soto’s proposal “significantly backslides” on the minority-voting issue.

“We are bound not to diminish the ability of minorities in Congressional District 5 to elect the candidates of their choice,” Simmons said.

Lewis is expected to hold a hearing next week on whether to approve the changes and, if so, whether to hold a special election in districts that would be affected by the plan.

Gaetz left open the possibility that the Legislature could appeal if Lewis delays the regularly scheduled elections, and he predicted that the map’s critics would continue fighting.

“I would expect that the plaintiffs won’t be happy until they can win in the courts what they always lose on Election Day,” he said.

by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida

Expert: School Can Be A Real Headache For Some Kids

Going back to school after summer break can be a literal headache for some Florida children.

Dr. Nick DeBlasio with the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center Pediatric Primary Care Clinic says about 10 percent of school-aged children and more than 15 percent of teens experience periodic headaches. He says dehydration is one of the most common causes of those headaches, especially as the weather is still hot, kids are active, and it isn’t as handy to get a drink of water at school as it is at home. He notes, however, another cause of headaches is a lack of sleep.

“During the summer, everything’s a little bit more carefree and bedtimes tend to be a little later,” says DeBlasio. “Then, boom. All of the sudden you’re getting up early to go to school. So a lot of kids have really decreased sleep, especially the first few weeks of the school year.”

Skipping meals can also be a trigger. DeBlasio suggests relieving a child’s headache pain with water or an electrolyte drink and over-the-counter ibuprofen. He says maintaining a regular eating and sleeping schedule and keeping children well-hydrated can prevent headaches.

DeBlasio adds the stress of new classes, teachers and schedules can cause headaches as well. For some children, it may also be the sign of a vision problem.

“Typically that tends to be the kid who will say, ‘The board is a little bit blurry’ or ‘I’m straining to see the board,’” says DeBlasio. “That comes to light more in the beginning of the school year, when the kids are suddenly more in a structured environment.”

The pediatrician says most headaches in children are not a cause for alarm, but there are a few instances that signal the need for additional investigation.

“If you notice weird symptoms like waking up in the middle of the night with headaches, vomiting due to the headaches, headaches that get better immediately after vomiting, or an increase in frequency of headaches,” DeBlasio cautions, “that’s definitely something to talk to your pediatrician about.”

DeBlasio adds it’s important to note ibuprofen should not be taken more than three times a week. Greater frequency may cause rebound headaches.

by Stephanie Carson, Florida News Connection

Students: Enter The 2014 Escambia County Youth Farm Bureau Speech Contest

Teams Needed For Saturday Softball Tournament

Players are still needed for a double elimination coed softball tournament this Saturday, August 16 from 8 a.m. until at Showalter Park in Century. All proceeds will benefit the Northview Chiefs football program.

For more information or to sign up a team, call Amy at (850) 516-8400 or Tony at (850) 516-5736.

Escambia Students: Kindergarten, New Students Register Now

Kindergarten and new student registration is going on this week for Escambia County students.  New students enrolling in the Escambia County School District  may register at the school which serves their residential area during the regular school year.

To find your child’s school, visit the Escambia County School District’s website and click on the “Find Your School” link.

Students who will be five -years old on or before September 1, 2014, are eligible to register for kindergarten for the 2014-2015 school year.

At the time of registration, parents/guardians need to bring the following documents:

• Child’s birth certificate
• Child’s social security card
• Proof of residence, such as an electric bill or rent receipt (please note that telephone and cable bills are not acceptable)
• Immunization Record (also known as the Florida Blue Card, which is provided by the Health Department or family physician)
• Physical form completed by family physician (must be presented to the school by the first day)

School begins Monday, August 18 in Escambia County.

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