Century Reschedules Council Meeting Due To MLK Holiday
January 17, 2015
The Town of Century has rescheduled their next regular town council meeting due to the Martin Luther King Day holiday. The meeting has been moved from Monday, January 19 to Monday January 26 at 7 p.m.
The Century Town Hall will also be closed on Monday, January 19.
Sunny Holiday Weekend
January 17, 2015
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Saturday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 42. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming west after midnight.
- Sunday Sunny, with a high near 64. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Sunday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 32. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- M.L.King Day Sunny, with a high near 66. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
- Monday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 43. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
- Tuesday Partly sunny, with a high near 65. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph.
- Tuesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 48. Calm wind.
- Wednesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 65.
- Wednesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 45.
- Thursday A 30 percent chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 59.
- Thursday Night A 50 percent chance of rain. Cloudy, with a low around 44.
- Friday A 30 percent chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 53.
U.S. Supreme Court To Rule On Same Sex Marriage
January 17, 2015
In a move highly anticipated by advocates on both sides of the issue, the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday agreed to rule on four gay marriage cases, paving the way for what is expected to be among the high court’s landmark decisions.
The court agreed to hear four cases involving marriage bans in Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee, the focus of a U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit decision that parted from other appellate courts which struck down state gay marriage prohibitions. The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to consider the question of whether state bans prohibiting same-sex marriages violate 14th Amendment guarantees of due process and equal protection by treating gay couples differently than heterosexual couples.
The court ordered lawyers for the same-sex couples in the four cases must file their briefs by Feb. 27, and lawyers for the states must file their briefs by March 27. Reply briefs are due on April 17. Although the court did not specify when oral arguments would be held, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hold its final session of oral arguments from April 20 through April 29.
The court action will likely put on hold Florida’s appeal of a federal judge’s August decision that the state’s gay marriage ban is unconstitutional. That appeal is now pending before the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Florida Attorney General General Pam Bondi, who has fiercely defended Florida’s voter-approved same-sex marriage ban, praised the Supreme Court on Friday.
“All along, I have maintained that the U.S. Supreme Court should decide the same sex marriage issue in order to provide uniformity in Florida and resolve the legal issue nationwide,” Bondi said in a statement. “I am pleased that the U.S. Supreme Court will hear the same sex marriage issue and provide finality on the matter.”
Hinkle’s hold on his August ruling expired on Jan. 6 after Bondi failed to convince the Supreme Court to extend it. Gay and lesbian couples throughout the state immediately began to have their unions solidified by marriage despite reluctance from some county clerks, especially in North Florida, who stopped performing weddings to avoid having to perform nuptials for same-sex duos.
The Supreme Court’s final decision won’t have an immediate impact on gay marriage in Florida but “could settle once and for all the matter of whether states can shut some people out of the institution of marriage simply for being gay or lesbian,” said ACLU of Florida lawyer Daniel Tilley, one of the attorneys involved in the Florida federal lawsuit.
“…These hurtful bans are unconstitutional, and (we) look forward to a final ruling that means that all loving couples throughout the country can finally have access to the protections and dignity that come with marriage.”
The upcoming court consideration also gave hope to opponents of gay marriage who argue that states should be able to decide on the matter.
“The issue is still very much an open question until the United States Supreme Court weighs in and determines whether states have a right to define marriage. It is very possible a five vote majority exists in favor of state’s rights and a decision of this nature would immediately reinvigorate the authority and enforceability of the Florida marriage amendment passed by just under five million voters,” said Florida Family Policy Council President John Stemberger, who was instrumental in pushing the constitutional gay marriage ban approved by Florida voters in 2008. “People should have the right to vote on defining marriage and we are very hopeful the high court will uphold that right.”
Three dozen states, including Florida, have legalized same-sex marriages.
by Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida
Northview Lady Chiefs Defeat Catholic
January 17, 2015
The Northview Lady Chiefs took the lead and never trailed Friday night as they defeated Catholic High 42-35.
The Lady Chiefs were led by seniors E’Layzha Bates with 16 and Angel Lathan with 14 points. Sophomore Dimonique Davis scored 7, sophomore Autumn Albritton scored 3 and junior Abbie Johnson scored 2.
The Lady Crusaders were led by T. Flemings with 11 points and J. Falco with 7 points.
The two teams meet again Tuesday night at Northview at 7:00 p.m.
Scott Matches Bush For Most Florida Executions In Modern Era
January 17, 2015
Just starting his second term, Gov. Rick Scott has matched former Gov. Jeb Bush for the most executions in the modern era.
Death Row inmate Johnny Shane Kormondy was put to death by lethal injection Thursday night at Florida State Prison near Starke for the 1993 murder of an Escambia County man during a home-invasion robbery. Kormondy is the 90th person executed in Florida during the modern era of capital punishment. There are 395 people on Death Row in the state.
The number is the most for any Florida governor since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976. The most executions under the watch of any governor since 1924 is 35, coming while Spessard Holland, later a U.S. senator, was in office from January 7, 1941 through January 2, 1945.
The execution was the 21st since Scott took office in 2011, equaling the number overseen by Bush during an eight-year span. Scott was re-elected to a second term November 4.
“Capital punishment is a solemn duty of the governor,” Scott told reporters Tuesday. “I review all the cases. They’ve gone through all their appeals and the clemency process. But I review their cases, and it’s a solemn duty.”
by The News Service of Florida
Daisy Helen Gilmore Langford
January 17, 2015
Daisy Helen Gilmore Langford, 93 of McDavid passed away on Friday, January 16, 2015.
Funeral services will be held at 2:15 p.m. on Wednesday, January 21, 2015, at Poplar Dell Baptist Church, 2631 West Highway 4A in Century with Rev. Mitch Herring, officiating.
Family will receive friends from 1:00 p.m. until time of service. Burial will follow in Byrneville Methodist Church Cemetery.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is in charge of services.
Evelyn Elizabeth Huntley
January 17, 2015
Evelyn Elizabeth Huntley, 89 of Pensacola passed away on Friday, January 16, 2015.
Family will receive friends on Tuesday, January 20, 2015, from 5-7 pm. at Faith Chapel Funeral Home South and on Wednesday, January 21, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. until time of service.
Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, January 21, 2015, at Lakeview Baptist Church.
Burial will follow in Barrancas National Cemetery.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Escambia Man Executed For 1993 Murder
January 16, 2015
Following a two hour delay for a failed U.S. Supreme Court appeal, an Escambia County man was executed Thursday night for first-degree murder and sexual battery during a home-invasion robbery in 1993 in Escambia County.
Johnny Shane Kormondy, 42, was pronounced deceased at the Florida State Prison at 7:16 p.m. (CST), shortly after the first lethal injection was given.. As he uttered his final words, Kormondy expressed no remorse and offered no apology for his crime. He thanked his family members and spiritual advisor. His last words were, “I pray to Jesus Christ, son of God, I’m coming home”.
Kormondy was found guilty in 1994 in the death of Gary McAdams, a local banker who was shot in the back of the head during a home-invasion robber in the Thousand Oaks subdivision off Chemstrand Road. McAdams and his wife, who was repeatedly raped during the attack, had returned home from a Woodham High School school reunion when confronted at the front door by Kormondy and his two accomplices.
Kormondy was the leader of the attack, recruiting the accomplices, providing transportation and casing the McAdams’ neighborhood. Kormondy’s accomplices, Curtis Buffkin and James Hazen, received life sentences. Law enforcement was able to close the case when a person to whom Kormondy confessed went to police seeking a $50,000 reward for information. Kormondy also threatened to kill witnesses who testified at his trial, including Mrs. McAdams, if he were ever released.
The robbers reportedly left the house with $20.
The execution was the 21st since Gov. Rick Scott took office in January 2011, equaling the number overseen by former Gov. Jeb Bush, which is the most for any Florida governor since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976.
Read The Full Escambia County IRS Audit
January 16, 2015
Due to an IRS audit, change is coming to the ranks of volunteer firefighters in Escambia County, including a policy that will force some volunteers to resign by the end of January.
NorthEscambia.com has obtained the full IRS audit results, which outline numerous findings used in determining that fire services volunteers should be paid as employees.
Click here to download the IRS audit results (4.3 MB pdf).
For the complete story about the audit and resulting actions. click here.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
IRS Audit Results In Changes For Escambia Volunteer Firefighters; Some Forced To Resign
January 16, 2015
Due to an IRS audit, change is coming to the ranks of volunteer firefighters in Escambia County, including a policy that will force some volunteers to resign by the end of January.
Volunteer firefighters in Escambia County currently receive stipend pay for answering 25 percent of their station’s calls during the month, ranging from $300 for a Firefighter I to $550 for a district chief.
The audit was prompted after the IRS discovered that several Escambia County employees were receiving both a W-2, showing taxes withheld from their “day” job with county, and a 1099, showing no taxes withheld as a volunteer firefighter. The IRS found Escambia County should have been withholding taxes on a stipend pay for all volunteers and the county owes over $78,000.
“We starting treating them more and more like regular employees,” County Administrator Jack Brown said, mentioning various requirements and items such as uniforms provided to volunteers. “We’ve started getting further away from being a volunteer…in the minds of the IRS.”
Click here to download the IRS audit results (4.3 MB pdf).
Under a solution discussed Thursday morning by the Escambia County Commission, volunteer firefighters will still receive a stipend check, but taxes will be withheld. The policy will also require any volunteer to resign if they are employed by the Escambia County BOCC to avoid any potential tax or overtime issues. Volunteer firefighters that work for county entities that do not fall under the Board of County Commissioners, such as the Sheriff’s Office or School Board, will not be required to resign.
Preliminary numbers show about a dozen county employees that will be forced to give up their volunteer firefighter positions.
A provision existed in the stipend program under which a volunteer could man a “duty crew” — spending a period of time at the station awaiting an emergency call — in lieu of making the 25 percent call requirement. Due to potential minimum wage issues, that policy will be eliminated or reworked.
County officials said the stipend and employment changes are due to the IRS and other agencies outside the county; they said the stipend changes are out of the control of Escambia County.
Commissioners also discussed the potential need to staff all county fire stations south of Nine Mile Road with paid career firefighters rather than volunteers, while remaining with a primarily volunteer force in North Escambia where fire stations typically receive fewer calls for service.
“I think you can count on volunteers in the north end of the county,” Commissioner Wilson Robertson said while expressing his support for all paid firefighters south of Nine Mile Road where the volunteers “can’t be found”. Robertson said he was referring to the inability to recruit an adequate number of volunteers in the southern end of the county, not the performance of current volunteers.
Escambia County Public Safety Director Mike Weaver, who began his emergency services career as an Escambia County volunteer firefighter, agreed. He also expressed a need for more fire station locations in the southern part of the county based upon call data.
“I think there’s a northern solution and a southern solution,” Commissioner Doug Underhill said, calling for the “right mix” of volunteer and career firefighters in the county.
While the tax withholding and employment relationships have been enacted by the county clerk’s office, which oversees payroll, any other changes to fire services in Escambia County discussed during Thursday morning’s Committee of the Whole meeting would need formal approval in a regular commission meeting.
Pictured: Escambia County volunteer firefighter battle a fully involved house fire on Highway 97 in Davisville on November 11, 2014. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
