Republican Congressmen Call For LIP Extension
May 21, 2015
A dozen Republicans in Florida’s congressional delegation — including Jeff Miller — sent a letter this week to President Barack Obama calling for continuation of the Low Income Pool health-funding program. The letter from U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio and 11 U.S. House members took issue with efforts by the federal Department of Health and Human Services to link funding for the LIP program with an expansion of Medicaid in Florida.
The $2.2 billion Low Income Pool program, which is scheduled to expire June 30, sends additional money to hospitals and other providers that care for large numbers of uninsured patients.
Uncertainty about the future of the so-called LIP program has played a key role in a budget impasse in the state Legislature.
In the letter to Obama, the congressional Republicans described linking LIP to Medicaid expansion as an “inappropriate overreach” and listed major hospitals that would be hit hard by a loss of LIP money.
“The well-being of Florida’s low-income families will remain in jeopardy until your administration approves funding for these vital health services,” said the letter from Rubio and congressmen Vern Buchanan, Jeff Miller, John Mica, Dennis Ross, Gus Bilirakis, Ron DeSantis, Ted Yoho, Rich Nugent, Mario Diaz-Balart, Carlos Curbelo and Tom Rooney.
by The News Service of Florida
Jeffrey L. Slade
May 21, 2015
Jeffrey L. Slade, age 53, of Jay, passed away on May 19, 2015, after a lengthy illness. He was a member of Jay United Methodist Church and was very active in church fellowship and activities. He was a loving husband, father, brother, and friend to those he met.
He is preceded in death by his parents, John Rupert and Marlene Slade.
Jeffrey is survived by his wife of 29 years, Marybeth Slade; daughters, Ashley Slade, Trinity Slade, and Linda Slade; brothers, Randy (Michelle) Slade and Gary Slade; father-in-law, Wallace Diamond; brother-in-law, Ed (Margaret) Diamond; sister-in-law, Amanda (Douglas) Ard; niece, Kristen Slade; two nephews, Cory Slade and Will Diamond; and close friends we consider as family, Wanda and Billy Boutwell and Johnny and Beverly Johnson.
A visitation will be held on Sunday, May 24, 2015, from 2 p.m. until 3 p.m. at Jay United Methodist Church.
Funeral services will begin at 3 p.m. with Pastor Ebb Hagen and Pastor Laura Weant officiating.
Burial will follow at Cora Baptist Cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be Cory Slade, Bryan Ellis, Devin Thompson, Will Diamond, Allen McLeod, and JD Diamond.
Jay Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Bond Set For Century Homicide Suspect; Trial Continued
May 20, 2015
A Century man accused in a January 31 shooting death in Century was due to appear in court Tuesday, but his trial has now been continued and a bond amount has been set.
Jaran Britt Myles, 20, remains jailed on charges of negligent manslaughter and aggravated assault for the shooting death 20-year old Jonathan Wilson. Two counts of kidnapping originally filed against Myles have been dropped. His bond is now set at $260,000; he was previously being held without bond.
Myles is due to appear in court again in mid-July.
One witness told deputies that “Run Run”, later identified as Myles, pulled out a gun and asked him if he was scared of it before taking the magazine out of the weapon and pointing it him. Myles then pulled the trigger of the gun, without the magazine, but it “dry fired”, he said.
The witness said Myles then pointed the gun to Wilson’s head after loading the magazine back into the gun. Wilson then adjusted the height of the gun to his head, “correcting the placement of the gun pointed at him,” an arrest report states. The witness said when Wilson let go of the gun, Myles pulled the trigger and shot Wilson in the head.
Witness first told investigators that Myles then stuck the gun in a witness’ ribs then pointed it at a second witness, ordering the witness to drive him home. But that part of the witness’ story did not occur, Assistant State Attorney James Parker said, leading prosecutors to drop the kidnapping charges. The two witnesses did drive Myles away from the shooting scene to his nearby residence on Backwoods Road, but Myles never pointed a gun at them or forced them, Parker said.
The State Attorney’s Office reached its conclusion after further interviews with witnesses, Parker said. At this point, there are no plans to file any charges against the witnesses.
Myles has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Scattered Daily Rain Continues
May 20, 2015
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Wednesday Night
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. West wind around 5 mph.
Thursday
A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Thursday Night
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Friday
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. North wind around 5 mph.
Friday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. North wind around 5 mph.
Saturday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Saturday Night
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. Southeast wind around 5 mph
Sunday
A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 88.
Sunday Night
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70.
Memorial Day
A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 87.
Monday Night
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70.
Tuesday
A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 86.
Ernest Ward Middle Presents Year-End Academic Awards
May 20, 2015
Ernest Ward Middle School recently presented the following academic awards for the 2014-2015 school year:
Language Arts
- 6th Highest Academic Average – Amber Gilman
- 6th Most Improved – Madalin Roberts
- 7th Highest Academic Average – Ashlan Harigel
- 7th Most Improved – Aaliyah Pope
- 8th Highest Academic Average – Madison Kemp
- 8th Most Improved – Aurora McCann
Reading
- 6th Highest Academic Average – Libby Pugh
- 6th Most Improved – Travon Brown
- 7th Highest Academic Average – Emily Boutwell
- 7th Most Improved – Travone Smith
- 8th Highest Academic Average – Tori Herrington
- 8th Most Improved – MaKayla Dunsford
Math
- 6th Highest Academic Average – Hannah Hughes
- 6th Most Improved – Travon Brown
- 7th Highest Academic Average – Ashlan Harigel
- 7th Most Improved – Lydia Davis
- 8th Highest Academic Average – Jarius Moore
- 8th Most Improved – Sean Wilbanks
- Algebra Highest Academic Average – Austin Smith
- Algebra Most Improved – Larry Philyaw
Science
- 6th Highest Academic Average – Libby Pugh
- 6th Most Improved – Joseph Hunter Franklin
- 7th Highest Academic Average – Ashlan Harigel
- 7th Most Improved – Aaliyah Pope
- 8th Highest Academic Average – Austin Smith
- 8th Most Improved – Hayley Black
History
- 6th Highest Academic Average – Amber Gilman
- 6th Most Improved – Andrew Cook
- 7th Highest Academic Average – Ashlan Harigel
- 7th Most Improved – Kelly Johnson
- 8th Highest Academic Average – Kaylin Glenn
- 8th Most Improved – Rebekah Amerson
P.E.
- 6th Outstanding Achievement – Justin Miller
- 8th Outstanding Achievement – Shelby Sloan
Agriculture
- Outstanding Achievement – Katie Buford & Emma Fennell
Culinary(Hall)
- Outstanding Achievement – Morgan Lathan
Manufacturing
- Outstanding Achievement – Keegun Johnson
Business/Graphic Arts
- Outstanding Achievement – Meredith Morgan
Band/Chorus
- Advanced Chorus Outstanding Achievement – Kaylin Glenn & Ashtyn Carnley
- Beginning Chorus Outstanding Achievement – Mary-Paige Nassar (6th grade)
- Band Outstanding Achievement – Justin Cruce
Duke Talent Search Awards (7th Grade)
Keaton Brown
Presidential Awards (8th Grade 3.5 GPA or higher)
- Destiny Braddock
- Christopher Johnson
- Hayley Walker
- Jazmine Norman
- Anthony Day
- Emma Fennell
- Jacob Borelli
- Olivia Seals
- Taryn Janes
- Aubree Love
- Rebekah Amerson
- Tanner Levins
- Morgan Lathan
- Hannah McGahan
- Keegun Johnston
- Alexander McMinn
- Delaney Reynolds
- Aaliyah Tucker
- Austin Adams
- Gabbrielle Peebles
- Meredith Morgan
- Kaylin Glenn
- Seth Killam
- Shelby Sloan
- Zachary Prosser
- Justin Cruce
- Ashtyn Carnley
- Dalton Hamilton
- Austin Smith
- Madison Kemp
- Lydia Smith
- Katie Buford
- Aurora McCann
- Nikoal Creamer
Take Stock in Children –
- Ian Gifford, Ashten Wright & Teriana Redmond
Ruritan Award
- Shelby Bashore
Cox Hero
- Madison Kemp
Principal’s Award 6th Grade – Korben Creel
Principal’s Award 7th Grade – Steven Cotita
Principal’s Award 8th Grade – Hadden Barlow
6th Grade A Honor Roll
- Hannah Hughes
- Savannah Doremus
- Libby Pugh
- Shelby Godwin
- Maille Kilcrease
- Amber Gilman
- Sophia Cotita
- Emily Stabler
7th Grade A Honor Roll
- Kayla McKillion
- Ian Gifford
- Micah Calhoun
- Keaton Brown
- Ashlan Harigel
8th Grade A Honor Roll
- Austin Smith
- Kaylin Glenn
- Seth Killam
- Dalton Hamilton
- Shelby Sloan
A-B Honor Roll Awards
6th Grade A-B Honor Roll
- Kaley Lashley
- Benjamin Ward
- William Wilson
- Conner Byrne
- Taviana Parker
- Summer Waters
- Abigail Nelson
- Tyler Ray
- Kenna Redmond
- Cody Thomas
- Autumn Williams
- Madison Peterson
- Ariel Ward
- Bryce Korinchak
- Heather Knowles
- Logan Bryan
- Mary Nassar
- Hailey Harigel
- Maggie Amerson
- Makayla Garrett
- Nathaniel Mickel
- Abigail Levins
- Ireland Maharrey
- Rebecca Fuller
7th Grade A-B Honor Roll
- Ansleigh Maholovich
Raleigh Woodfin - Kinzie Rackard
- Teriana Redmond
- Savannah Roley
- Trevor Bomba
- Savannah Spence
- Brianna White
- Karlee’ Criswell
- Bailey Van Pelt
- Cloe Smith
- Nicholas Trump
- Emily Boutwell
- Lauren Ahern
- Kelley Bradley
- Josiah Stilwell
- Anna King
- Colby Morris
- Addison Albritton
- Marissa Rothrock
8th Grade A-B Honor Roll
- Austin Adams
- Kristopher Baxter
- Aubree Love
- Gabrrielle Peebles
- Aaliyah Tucker
- Morgan Lathan
- Delaney Reynolds
- Meredith Morgan
- Taryn Janes
- Justin Cruce
- Tanner Levins
- Marissa Bullington
- Larry Philyaw
- Jacob Borelli
- Zachary Prosser
- Alexander McMinn
- Ashtyn Carnley
- Emma Fennell
- Destiny Braddock
Information provided by Ernest Ward Middle School.
Lightning Strike Damages Home, Five Vehicles; Even Flattens Tires
May 20, 2015
A lightning strike left behind an odd trail of damage at a Molino home late Tuesday afternoon – even flattening vehicle tires.
It appeared the lightning first struck a tree at the home in the 700 block of Barrineau Park Road and ran through a pickup truck. The lightning bolt then ran along the ground, leaving behind a trench and damaging three more vehicles. The center caps were blown off the tires of some vehicles, while other tires were flattened and the tag was knocked off one vehicle. The lightning then traveled to a fourth vehicle and ran electrical lines inside the home, blowing out one of the home’s windows.
There were no injuries. The Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to check things out and make sure the was no fire.
Pictured: Lightning first struck this tree and truck (inset), with the bolt then digging a trench (also seen in the top photo along the edge of the concrete and in the below photo). The jolt blew the center caps off some of the vehicles’ tires and flattened tires before running to the house and shattering a window (bottom photo). NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Student Named National Merit Scholarship Winner
May 20, 2015
A Cantonment resident has been named a National Merit $2,500 Scholarship winner.
Olivia Y. Liseth iis one of Florida’s finalists to have the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills, and potential for success in rigorous college studies. The number of winners named in each state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the nation’s graduating high school seniors.
Liseth attends Pensacola High School. She is planning for a career in medicine.
Police Seek Suspects In iPad Thefts
May 20, 2015
The Brewton (AL) Police Department is seeking assistance in identifying the individuals pictured. They are suspected in the theft of several iPads from the Brewton Walmart. Anyone with information on their identities is asked to call Lt. Brock Holt at the Brewton Police Department at (251) 867-3212 or their local law enforcement agency. Photos courtesy Brewton Police Department for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Military Records Exemption Reaches Scott’s Desk
May 20, 2015
A proposal intended to make it tougher for evildoers to track the home addresses of military service members and military families has been sent to Gov. Rick Scott.
However, the leader of an open-government group that has asked Scott to veto the measure (HB 185) argues it will simply create a hardship for county record-keepers and may do little to provide actual security.
“This is huge in terms of redactions that are going to have to be made,” said Barbara Petersen, president of the First Amendment Foundation. “I understood what they were trying to do. I just don’t think they thought it through.”
The House sent 20 bills to Scott on Monday, including the proposal that would allow all current and past members of the U.S. armed forces, reserves or National Guard who have served since Sept. 11, 2001, along with their spouses and dependents, to request that home and personal information be exempt from state public records.
Scott has until June 2 to sign, veto or let the bill become law. A spokeswoman for Scott said in an email Tuesday that he is reviewing the legislation.
The measure sailed through the Legislature without opposition in the House or Senate.
“Those who are protecting the First Amendment feel very good about this,” Rep. Jimmie Smith, an Inverness Republican and veteran of Desert Storm, told House members during an April 16 floor debate on the bill.
“As strongly as we feel about the public-records laws, we need to protect the people who are protecting us,” agreed Rep. Joe Geller, D-Aventura.
The military-exemption proposal was filed in January to provide coverage for special-forces members. The measure was expanded after the names, photos and personal information of 100 U.S. military personnel, including at least three in Florida, were identified in March by a group claiming allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, better known as ISIS.
“There are a number of military spouses who work in the business I work in back in my district, and there is a high level of concern and a high level of knowledge regarding this potential threat,” bill sponsor Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, told members of the House Local & Federal Affairs Committee last month.
The group posting the threat claimed it had hacked several military servers and email. However, the information was more likely found by matching information posted on social media with military records that are available online, Petersen said.
The Tallahassee-based First Amendment Foundation has asked Scott to veto the proposal, pointing to unnecessary burdens for clerks, property appraisers and others in areas such as Jacksonville, Tampa and Northwest Florida where there are large numbers of active and retired military personnel.
Petersen said she didn’t oppose the bill as initially filed, but now questions how much the proposal will actually protect people.
“ISIS did not make a public records request,” Petersen said. “But right after that list came out, the U.S. military said we put all that information up.”
Florida is home to more than 61,000 active-duty military personnel, 12,000 members of the Florida National Guard, and 1.5 million veterans, of whom more than 231,000 served in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, according to state records.
And as Florida actively pursues more veterans to relocate to the Sunshine State, Petersen said the measure is too broadly defined.
“If you served after 9/11, regardless of what you did, you could have been a warrant officer in Kansas and retired to Florida and your home address is going to be exempt,” Petersen said.
Petersen said the bill also creates an additional public record, as government officials will have to make copies of any military identification used by people to prove they are active or former members of the military.
“That now becomes public record subject to disclosure,” Petersen said. “A tax collector can’t just take it as verification and give it back. They have to make a record of it. Case law says even if they look at it, they have received it for the purpose of a public records law.”
The bill is the fourth of four public-records exemptions that the First Amendment Foundation has asked Scott to veto. (Disclosure: The News Service of Florida is a member of the foundation.)
Scott has already signed two of the bills. One (SB 200) exempts taxpayers’ email addresses obtained by tax collectors in the process of sending tax notices. The other bill (SB 7040) applies to email addresses that the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles collects related to driver’s licenses and motor-vehicle records.
Scott has until Friday to sign or veto another measure (SB 248) that would create a public-records exemption for certain videos made by police body cameras. The exemption would apply to videos made on private property without the approval of a property owner or individual.
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
End Of An Era: Daniel Smillie Retires From Escambia Road Department
May 20, 2015
Daniel Smillie, Jr. was recently honored by the Escambia County Commission as he retired with 30 years of service as a field supervisor with the Escambia County Public Works Department, Roads Division.
“The impact that his persona, and he, have had on that department are really immeasurable,” said Public Works Director Wes Moreno. “He has been a mainstay of that department…I guess it is the end of an era…He’s always gotten the job done. If you wanted the job done, all you had to do was call Danny Smillie and you didn’t have to worry about it any more.”
Smillie was presented with the usual county proclamation, a golden shovel and a new fishing rod. “I’ll surely use that,” he said quipped about the new fishing rod.
“I love helping the citizens of Escambia County,” he said. “I will miss that because I met a lot of good people.”
Smillie, a former resident of Cantonment, now resides in Beulah.
Danny Smillie, Jr., is pictured in the blue-checkered shirt. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.