Clarence William Weaver
March 8, 2015
Clarence William Weaver, 84 of Atmore, went Home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and his beloved wife “Liz” on Thursday, March 5, 2015. He was born in McCullough on April 18, 1930, to the late Stiner and Grace Phillips Weaver. He started his working career at Atmore Trucker’s, then later Kaiser Agriculture followed by Escambia County Alabama Road department. He was a member of Judson Baptist Church. He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army and Army National Guard.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Sarah Elizabeth “Liz” Weaver; twin brother, Claude Weaver; brother, Cecil Weaver; sister, Louise Wilson; infant brother and infant sister Vella Ray Weaver.
Survivors include two sons, Earl (Anita) Weaver of Atmore and Bob (Delores) Livingston of Jacksonville; two daughters, Faye (Colvin) Murph of Bay Minette and Gloria Presley of Cantonment; siblings, Donald Ray (Peggy) Weaver of Atmore, Earline (James) Burkett of Atmore and Alice (Dick) Walsh of Pensacola; 11grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews.
Services were held Sunday, March 8, 2015, at 2 p.m. from the Judson Baptist Church with Rev. Henry Wilson, Rev. Brett Chancery and Rev. C.L. Langford officiating.
Interment will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.
Walter Leon Langley
March 8, 2015
Mr. Walter Leon Langley, 80, passed away Friday, March 6, 2015, in Atmore.
Mr. Langley was a native of Perdido and a lifetime resident of Atmore. Mr. Langley was a United States Army Veteran. His father, Jessie James Langley; mother, Effie Mae Langley; grandson, Jacob “Cob” Lisenby; two sisters, Flossie Hadley and Ruby Hall; and Brother, William “Bill” Langley, precede him in death.
Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Rosemarie Langley; son, Raymond (Linda) Langley; daughter, Angela (Marlin) Gunn; brother, Tommy (Claudette) Langley; two grandchildren, Jeremy (Monica) Lisenby and Karl Langley; two great-grandchildren, Lane and Jakelyn Lisenby and seven step-grandchildren.
Funeral Services will be held Monday, March 9, 2015, at 2 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Don Davis officiating.
Burial will follow at the Oak Hill Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Michael Jones, Ryan Malone, Tab Jerningan, Kalab Jernigan, Christopher Roland and Chase Reid.
Honorary pallbearers will be Mike Helton, Ronnie English, Tony Wheeler, Gene Wheeler, Todd Booker and Dale Turk.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Car, SUV Slam Into Century Home
March 7, 2015
A Century resident escaped injury Saturday morning when her own SUV came crashing into her house after been slammed by a sleepy driver.
The accident happened just about 6 a.m. in the 8800 block of North Century Boulevard. The driver of a southbound Chevrolet Impala told authorities she left the roadway after falling asleep at the wheel.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 49-year old Madonnna Schaniel of Atmore then struck a Chevrolet Blazer parked next to the house, sending the SUV through a living room wall. The car then struck the front of the house.
The homeowner was asleep in an adjacent bedroom and not injured. The driver refused medical treatment at the scene.
The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
NorthEscambia.Com photos.
Destiny Cleckler Named Miss EWMS (With Photo Gallery)
March 7, 2015
Destiny Cleckler, 13, was named Miss Ernest Ward Middle School Friday night in “Night in Holleywood” pageant at the school
Third runner-up was Morgan Lathan, second-runner up was Ashtyn Carnley, and first runner-up in the annual pageant was Ashlan Harigel.
Other awards presented were: Miss Congeniality Gabrielle Kline, Miss Personality Ashlan Harigel, Physical Fitness award Gabrielle Kline, Poise and Appearance award Ashlan Harigel, and People’s Choice award Emily Stabler.
For a photo gallery from the pageant, click here. Editor’s note: Photo reprints are available. Email news@northescambia.com for details.
Pictured top: First Runner-up Ashlan Harigel, Second Runner-up Ashtyn Carnley, Miss EWMS Destiny Cleckler, and Third Runner-up Morgan Lathan. Pictured inset; Miss EWMS Destiny Cleckler is crowned by last year’s winner Jerni Crabtree. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Clear And Cool Tonight; Sunny Sunday
March 7, 2015
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Saturday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 35. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
- Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 70. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
- Sunday Night A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50. South wind around 5 mph becoming northeast after midnight.
- Monday A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 67. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Monday Night Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a low around 60. East wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
- Tuesday Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a high near 72. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
- Tuesday Night A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 61. East wind around 5 mph.
- Wednesday A 50 percent chance of rain. Cloudy, with a high near 67.
- Wednesday Night A 40 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53.
- Thursday A 30 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 68.
- Thursday Night A 40 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53.
- Friday A 40 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 67.
FWC Law Enforcement Report
March 7, 2015
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the weekly period ending March 5 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officer Johnson responded to a night hunting complaint north of Milton. The caller advised that he heard two shots from a field near his home. He observed a truck leave the area and return a short time later. Officer Johnson arrived as the suspects were leaving the area. When he stopped the truck, he was greeted by five juveniles in possession of four loaded rifles. Two of the juveniles admitted to shooting at deer in the field, but apparently, they did not hit any of them. Officer Miller arrived on scene to assist. The officers obtained written statements from each of the juveniles detailing their involvement in the incident. After discussing the incident with the State Attorney’s Office, two warrant affidavits were filed charging each of the two shooters with attempting to take deer at night with a gun and light.
Officer Hoomes concluded a trespass investigation which led to the arrest of a suspect. The suspect was charged with one count of armed trespass and one count of trespass on property. A landowner contacted him regarding a subject captured on a game camera as he trespassed on his private property. The man had apparently cut part of a link out of a chain on a gate and drove a golf cart onto the property. He placed a tree stand on the property and had been doing so for some time based on the number of trees that had been climbed on the property. Officer Hoomes was able to identify the suspect and determined that he lived a short distance from the property. He went to interview the suspect and observed the golf cart used during the incident in his yard. The man denied trespassing, but his distinct features captured in the photo clearly told otherwise. The subject was arrested after Officer Hoomes obtained a warrant.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Investigator Wilkenson received a referral from the Sheriff’s Office regarding a wetland complaint. The complainant stated that a property owner was dredging and filling in wetlands. Upon receipt of this environmental complaint, Investigator Wilkenson coordinated the investigation with the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). A DEP specialist completed a wetland impact assessment on the property. Investigator Wilkenson followed up by conducting a site inspection on the property and observed fill dirt placed on wetlands. Further, Investigator Wilkenson interviewed the contractor hired by the property owner. The contractor stated he was hired to place fill dirt on the property to create a driveway access. It was determined the activity required an authorization from DEP. The property owner was issued a citation for dredging and filling wetlands without a valid permit from DEP, which is a first degree misdemeanor. This same property owner was cited in October 2013 and adjudicated guilty for the same violation on the same property by Investigator Wilkenson.
This report represents some events the FWC handled over the past week;however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement. Information provided by FWC.
Lawmakers Consider Sending Kids Back To School Earlier This Fall
March 7, 2015
Florida lawmakers are considering proposals that would allow most school districts to start classes earlier in August. Under current law, most districts can start school as many as 14 days before the Labor Day holiday, though districts classified as “academically high performing” can start earlier. For the upcoming 2015-16 academic year, the 14-day restriction would mean most districts could not start before August 24.
The House Education Committee on Monday is scheduled to take up a wide-ranging bill that includes allowing districts to start as early as August 10.
“The bill provides district flexibility to implement school calendars and assessment schedules based on the district’s needs by deleting the link between the school start date and Labor Day and allowing districts to start school as early as August 10,” said an analysis of the measure.
Also, the Senate Education Pre-K-12 Committee this week approved a bill filed by Sen. Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee, that would allow schools to start 21 days before Labor Day. That would be an August 17 start date for the 2015-16 academic year.
by The News Service of Florida
Time Change: Spring Forward (And Don’t Forget The Smoke Alarm Batteries)
March 7, 2015
Don’t forget to “spring forward” and set your clocks ahead one hour before heading off to bed Saturday night. Daylight Savings Time begins Sunday, making use of longer summer days, allowing people to rise early and spend more of the day working or playing.
The peak time for home fire fatalities is between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. when most families are sleeping, according to Escambia Fire Rescue.
It is also recommended that residents test smoke alarms by pushing the test button, planning “two ways out” and practicing escape routes with the entire family. Families should also prepare a fire safety kit that includes working flashlights and fresh batteries.
Communities nationwide witness tragic home fire deaths each year. An average of three children per day die in home fires and 80 percent of those occur in homes without working smoke alarms. Non-working smoke alarms rob residents of the protective benefits home fire safety devices were designed to provide. The most commonly cited cause of non-working smoke alarms: worn or missing batteries.
Tragically, fire can kill selectively. Those most at risk include:
- Children — Approximately 1,000 children under the age of 20 die each year in home fires. Children under age five are at twice the risk of dying in a home fire. Eighty percent of fatal home fire victims who were children were killed in homes without working smoke alarms.
- Seniors — Adults over age 75 are three times more likely to die in home fires than the rest of the population; those over 85 are 4.5 times more likely to die in a home fire. Many seniors are unable to escape quickly.
- Low-Income Households — Many low-income families are unable to afford batteries for their smoke alarms. These same households often rely on poorly installed, maintained or misused portable or area heating equipment — a main cause of fatal home fires.
Changing smoke alarm batteries at least once a year is one of the simplest, most effective ways to reduce these tragic deaths and injuries. In fact, working smoke alarms nearly cut in half the risk of dying in a home fire. Additionally, the International Association of Fire Chiefs recommends replacing your smoke alarms every ten years.
For more information about fire safety, call Escambia County Fire Rescue at 850-475-5530 or visit the web site at www.myescambia.com.
For information about obtaining a free home smoke alarm call 850-595-HERO (4376).
Don’t Miss The Blue Jacket Jamboree Today
March 7, 2015
The annual Northview High School FFA Alumni Blue Jacket Jamboree is going on today from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. in the school’s football stadium — and this year’s admission is free.
The day’s entertainment includes Shane Harrell and the Major Moves Band, who recently opened for The Band Perry and Cole Swindell, and other local groups. The day’s events at the Blue Jacket Jamboree includes dozens of arts and crafts vendors, a car show, an activities and games area for the kids and plenty of great food.
For the first time ever, admission and parking are both free, so bring the entire family.
All proceeds from the event benefit the Northview High School FFA and FFA Scholarship Fund. The Blue Jacket Jamboree is sponsored in part by NorthEscambia.com.
Florida Gov’t Weekly Roundup: A Dream Of A State Of The State
March 7, 2015
Gov. Rick Scott is downright dreamy.
About Florida, that is.
Scott shared his vision for the Sunshine State with lawmakers Tuesday during his fifth State of the State speech, repeatedly extolling Florida’s “exceptionalism” and dreaminess.
Apart from the opening-day theatrics, there’s another sure sign that the 2015 legislative session is in full swing. Simply ride an uncomfortably crowded elevator to the fifth floor of the Capitol to witness lobbyists sporting Louboutons or hand-tailored suits scrounging for free snacks.
Although the fun has just begun, forgive those whose thoughts have already turned to May, goaded perhaps by the remarks of the governor, whose focus on dreams brought to mind these ethereal lines penned by Shakespeare.
“Our revels now are ended. These our actors, as I foretold you, were all spirits, and are melted into air, into thin air,” Prospero advises. “And, like this insubstantial pageant faded, leave not a rack behind. We are such stuff as dreams are made on; and our little life is rounded with a sleep.”
FLORIDA EXCEPTIONALISM
Widely known as one of the least camera-ready chiefs of state in Florida’s recent history, Scott opened his 21-minute speech with some self-deprecating humor.
The annual address gave “a chance for me to show off my world-renowned oratorical skills,” Scott said before launching into a litany of Florida’s virtues, including an emphasis on the good things achieved during his first term.
Scott also used the opportunity to coax lawmakers to adopt his proposals to slash taxes, hold down the cost of higher education and boost public education spending to the highest per-student level in state history.
“Now that our economy is thriving, it’s time to make major investments in education,” Scott said. “Let’s not squander our budget surpluses on special interests. Our budget should absolutely reflect the principles we campaigned on. Or in other words, we should do exactly what we told voters we would do.”
Scott did not unveil new proposals in the speech which, after the introductions, was interrupted almost 40 times for applause. But as he has done in the past, the governor introduced an overarching theme to tie together his agenda. He used “dream” or some form of the word 19 times in the address.
“Florida’s long been a place where dreams come true. But this is not just our past, it’s our future. … We want more people to chase their dreams in the great state of Florida,” he said.
Floridians can expect to hear more about Scott’s dream theme over the next four years.
Two days after his State of the State address, Scott’s political committee released a statewide television ad echoing his Tuesday remarks.
“One place in America is adding jobs faster than ever — Florida, where dreams come true,” Scott says in the 30-second ad.
The governor plans to use the “Let’s Get to Work” committee to “market his vision for the state to Floridians during his second term in office,” Republican political consultant Brecht Heuchan, who’s been hired as a senior adviser to the committee, said.
WATER FLOWS THROUGH THE HOUSE
Indicating how important the issue is to House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, a wide-ranging water policy measure was the first piece of legislation approved by his chamber during the 2015 session.
The House on Thursday passed a plan that would make changes to the management of the state’s natural springs and address drinking-water issues across Central Florida as well as the flow of pollution in and out of Lake Okeechobee.
The proposal (HB 7003), backed by the state’s agriculture industry and influential business groups, must still get through the Senate, whose members have their own ideas about changing the state’s water policies to meet the demands of a newly approved constitutional amendment about land and water conservation.
Environmentalists and a number of Democrats are pinning their hopes on the Senate damming up many of the House’s proposals.
“This is a foundational place for us to begin on this bill,” Crisafulli, a Merritt Island Republican whose family owns agricultural land, told reporters after the 109-6 vote. “We’re going to continue to communicate with our Senate partners on it. But at the end of the day, we’re very comfortable where we are starting.”
The House plan would impose what are known as “best management practices” for natural springs, the Everglades and Lake Okeechobee. Also, water-management districts would be directed to implement a water-management plan across Central Florida.
Environmentalists contend that “best management practices” are simply guidelines that fail to mandate needed improvements.
The Senate version, which closely mirrors a proposal senators considered last year, is heavily focused on protecting the state’s natural springs. It also would establish a method to prioritize various water projects and create a non-motorized trail network, which is backed by Senate President Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando.
In contrast to the Senate proposal, the House measure does not include springs-protection zones, which would regulate the impact of septic tanks and the flow of storm water and agricultural runoff into springs.
Speaking against the House bill, House Minority Leader Mark Pafford said he’d prefer legislation that directs money from the constitutional amendment, known as Amendment 1, to conserve land and water and questioned the speed in which the bill was rushed to the floor.
“There is very little conservation in (HB) 7003, there’s very little land discussion,” Pafford, D-West Palm Beach, said. “We’re talking comprehensive water fixes. Couldn’t they have taken more time?”
REDISTRICTING BATTLE ROLLS ON
Across the street from the Capitol on Wednesday, the Florida Supreme Court was the setting for the latest chapter in a long-running battle between voting-rights organizations and lawmakers about whether a congressional map violates the anti-gerrymandering Fair Districts amendments, approved by voters in 2010.
Several GOP legislative leaders — including future House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’ Lakes; potential future Senate President Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton; and Senate Rules Chairman David Simmons, R-Altamonte Springs — took time out from the session to attend the oral arguments, a rarity that highlighted the significance of the pending decision.
Attorneys for groups that have challenged the map asked the Supreme Court to order a third draft of the state’s congressional districts to fully eliminate illegal gerrymandering.
But lawyers for the Legislature said Leon County Circuit Judge Terry Lewis acted appropriately last year when he upheld lawmakers’ second version of the map, drawn after Lewis found that political consultants managed to “taint the redistricting process and the resulting map with improper partisan intent” the first time around.
Wednesday’s hearing dealt only with the new congressional map. A related case concerning a challenge to a Senate map — drawn in 2012 after the Supreme Court struck down the first draft of that plan — is ongoing.
Plaintiffs, including the League of Women Voters of Florida, initially hailed Lewis’ decision to strike down the first draft of the congressional map based on two districts he thought were problematic. But the groups later appealed when the Tallahassee judge accepted a redrawn plan that made only as many changes as necessary to correct those districts.
“The entire map should be declared unlawful because the entire process was unlawful,” attorney John Devaney told the justices Wednesday.
But at least one member of the Supreme Court’s more-conservative minority was skeptical that Lewis’ ruling supported that claim.
“Where is there a general finding that this whole map was the result of a partisan intent?” asked Justice Charles Canady.
Lewis struck down the first version of Congressional District 5, which winds from Jacksonville to Orlando and is represented by Democratic Congresswoman Corrine Brown, and Congressional District 10, which is in the Orlando area and is represented by Republican Congressman Dan Webster.
Those challenging the maps said the Legislature should have redrawn Brown’s district to run from east to west, instead of continuing to run north to south. The NAACP, however, filed a brief backing the current configuration because the civil-rights group fears an east-west map could hurt the ability of African-Americans to elect a candidate of their choice in that district.
The plaintiffs also highlighted the configuration of two Tampa Bay districts, saying they closely tracked a map drawn by consultants that was submitted to the Legislature’s public input system under the name of former Florida State University student Alex Posada, who later testified that he didn’t draw the map.
But Raoul Cantero, a lawyer for the state, pointed out that other groups, including the NAACP, submitted maps with a similar configuration.
“If you infer that we’re conspiring with Posada, then you also have to infer that we’re conspiring with the NAACP,” he said.
STORY OF THE WEEK: The 2015 legislative session began Tuesday with Gov. Rick Scott’s State of the State address in which he called Florida a place where “dreams come true.”
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “We chose not to appeal this case. The governor is continuing to protect Florida children any way he can and create an environment where families can get jobs so they are able to pursue their dreams in safe communities.” — Jackie Schutz, a spokeswoman for Gov. Rick Scott, on the governor’s decision to let stand an appellate ruling striking down Florida’s law requiring welfare applicants to undergo drug testing. Scott spent more than $300,000 on legal fees defending the law before abandoning appeals this week.
by Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida