Man Sentenced Under 10-20-Life Law
June 6, 2015
An Escambia County man has been sentenced to prison under Florida’s 10-20-Life law.
Kamarccus Webster was sentenced by Circuit Judge Edward P. Nickinson, III to 25 years state prison for aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and 20 years state prison for each of two counts of aggravated assault. The sentences must be served as a mandatory minimum and must be served consecutively for a total of 65 years in state prison.
Webster previously was convicted by an Escambia County jury on January 30, 2015.
The charges stem from a shooting that occurred on August 27, 2013, in the area of Strong and D Streets. Two victims were shot by Webster when a fight broke out following a basketball game. Both victims were struck in the shoulder by bullets; neither injury was life-threatening. One of the victims was sitting in his vehicle when he was shot; the other was struck while running away. Webster began shooting into a crowd of approximately 20 people.
At the crime scene, law enforcement located 13 9mm shell casings. There were four witnesses that identified Kamarccus Webster as the shooter. Webster remained as a fugitive until he was arrested on March 3, 2014.
Fingerprints On Soda Lead To Arrest, Robbery Conviction
June 6, 2015
Jimmie Barge was convicted by an Escambia County Jury of armed robbery with a knife. The robbery occurred at the Circle K store located at 1201 East Cervantes Street.
Prosecutors said Jimmie Barge entered the store and posed as a regular customer for a short time. As soon as the last remaining customer left the store, he pulled out a large butcher knife and rapidly approached the store clerk who was standing behind the counter. He demanded money and quickly left after receiving $50 from the clerk.
Barge’s identity as the robber was discovered as a result of the investigation performed by the Pensacola Police Department. Barge left fingerprints on a Styrofoam cup he had filled with soda then abandoned before committing the robbery.
Subsequently, the store clerk was able to pick Barge out of a photographic lineup.
Due to previous convictions, Barge faces up to life in prison.
Slight Chance Of Afternoon Showers
June 6, 2015
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Saturday
Saturday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. Calm wind.
Sunday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Sunday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind around 5 mph.
Monday
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Monday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Wednesday
A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 88.
Wednesday Night
A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72.
Thursday
A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 85.
Thursday Night
A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Friday
A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 84.
Two Sex Offenders Sentenced
June 6, 2015
Two Escambia County sex offenders have been sentenced in unrelated cases.
Jeremy Lordall Hubert, 29, was sentenced Friday to three years state prison and designated as a sexual offender during a sentencing proceeding in Escambia County Circuit Court, the Judge Edward Nickinson presiding. Hubert had previously entered a plea of no contest in May to lewd and lascivious act with a disabled person, a second degree felony.
Hubert was convicted for having sexual contact with a disabled woman passenger while he was employed as a bus driver for an agency working with disabled adults in April, 2014.
Josalien Profete, 33, was sentenced by Escambia County Circuit Court Judge Michael Jones to 45 years in state prison followed by 15 years of sexual offender probation. On April 23, 2015, an Escambia County jury convicted Profete of multiple sex offenses, including three counts of sexual battery of a minor while in a position of familial authority, one count of lewd or lascivious molestation, one count of lewd or lascivious exhibition, and one count of exposing a child to obscenity.
Profete was designated a sexual offender and will be required to register as a sexual offender and comply with all statutory requirements.
The case involved a year-long pattern of sexual abuse by Profete on a young family member. Profete had previously served a 10 year state prison term for armed robbery and kidnapping.
Register Now For Football, Cheer At NWE And Cantonment
June 6, 2015
Registration is underway for the 2015 football and cheerleading seasons for Northwest Escambia and the Cantonment Cowboys.
Registration for the 2015 Cantonment Cowboys football and cheer will be held each Saturday until August 1 from 9 a.m. until noon in the board room at the Cantonment football field. Registration is $135 for football or cheer. For more information, contact Heather Lowery at (850) 380-1505 or visit the Cowboys’ Facebook page. Registration also available online anytime at www.cantonmentcowboys.org or Facebook.
NWE Football and Cheer 2015 registration will be held June 6, June 13 and June 20, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Gilley’s Country Store in Bratt. Football age divisions (age as of August 1, 2015) and costs are as follows: freshmen (5/6) $55; sophomore (7/8) $65; juniors (9/10) $75; seniors (11/12) $85. Cheerleading age divisions (age as of August 1, 2015) and costs are $15 plus cost of uniform: freshmen (5/6); sophomore (7/8); juniors (9/10); seniors (11/12). For more information about football registration contact Greg Gibson at (251) 234-4716. For more information about cheerleading registration contact Kim Lambert at (850) 380-4716.
FHIX Fails In House
June 6, 2015
In the likely final act of one of the most divisive legislative debates in years, the Florida House voted decisively Friday to reject a proposal that would have used federal Medicaid expansion money to help lower-income Floridians purchase private health insurance.
On a 72-41 vote nearly along party lines, the House defeated the bill (SB 2A) creating the Florida Health Insurance Affordability Exchange, or FHIX, after a grueling discussion that lasted almost seven hours. Four Republicans crossed party lines to vote with Democrats.
The plan would have used Medicaid expansion funding from the Affordable Care Act — commonly known as “Obamacare” — to help lower-income Floridians purchase private health insurance. Supporters said as many as 800,000 Floridians would meet income limits for health care under the plan, though work requirements likely mean that only 400,000 to 500,000 people would actually be eligible.
Many of the provisions would have to be approved by federal officials.
The bill was a top priority of Senate President Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, and helped derail this spring’s regular legislative session. Lawmakers are now meeting in a special session to resolve health-care issues and a spending plan for the budget year that begins July 1.
“We can say that that issue’s off the table now,” House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island, said after the vote. “And we’re here to go put together a budget that’s a balanced budget for the state of Florida.”
Following the vote, Gardiner issued a statement conceding defeat but saying the end of FHIX meant lawmakers would have to find another way to make up for the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars in funding for health-care providers who treat large numbers of low-income patients.
“While today’s debate is over and votes have been cast, the critical health care challenges facing Florida still remain,” he said. “This weekend, members of the Legislature will begin a budget conference where we will take hundreds of millions in general revenue that could have been dedicated to schools, roads, our environment or countless other priorities and instead use those limited taxpayer dollars to try to patch together a health care budget that we know we cannot make whole.”
In what House officials said was one of the longest debates in recent history, Democrats spent hours pleading with the GOP majority, often emotionally, to approve the measure.
“A vote for FHIX is a vote to say that every single human life has value,” said Rep. Mia Jones, D-Jacksonville. “A vote for FHIX allows us to be in the driver’s seat, to go to the table, to negotiate and to say what we want to have, what we want to see in place.”
Jones was thrust into the unusual role of defending a bill she hadn’t crafted and that she and other Democrats said was flawed. No Republican from the House majority could apparently be found to present the measure.
“We want full expansion,” said Rep. Reggie Fullwood, D-Jacksonville. “But this is the best plan we’ve got.”
Republicans, though, said that any attempt to differentiate FHIX from Medicaid expansion was a ruse. They pointed out that the plan would use expansion dollars and cover the same lower-income people that were meant to be covered by Medicaid expansion.
“I may be just a simple country lawyer, but I know an entitlement when I see one,” said Rep. JohnWood, R-Winter Haven. “FHIX is simply Obamacare Medicaid expansion with a clever name.”
Rep. Blaise Ingoglia of Spring Hill, who doubles as chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, said the plan relied on flawed expectations. Ingoglia said the federal government would not give Florida permission for parts of the program, such as the work requirement, and could reduce its share of the funding in the future.
“I think the FHIX program should be rebranded as the Wishful Thinking program,” Ingoglia said. “Because it is based on a bunch of assumptions that surely will never materialize.”
While Friday’s vote likely means the end of the discussion of FHIX, the health care debate could continue. House Republicans are looking to revamp insurance coverage for state workers and overhaul some longstanding health-industry regulations. Senate leaders had proposed combining those measures with FHIX in a last-ditch effort to strike a compromise.
And the basic outline of the Senate proposal could emerge again in the future. Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Lee, R-Brandon, said Friday afternoon that the chamber could bring the measure back up during the 2016 session.
“I’ve always felt like the problem has to become more troublesome to elected officials than the solution before they ever act,” Lee said. “We’re not there yet, but we’ve got a lot of time in the interim to have conversations.”
House members also approved a tax-cut package (HB 33A), stripped down as lawmakers work to cover health-care costs in the overall budget. The bill offers $273.2 million in savings for the upcoming fiscal year, with an increase to $436 million the following year. The measure passed on a 97-10 vote.
Since the regular session, the House boosted a proposed reduction in a sales tax on commercial real-estate leases. The proposal is now expected to provide an overall $44.2 million in savings. But the largest part of the package — a cut in the communication-services tax on cable-TV and cell-phone services — has taken the biggest hit since the regular session.
Instead of an overall savings once projected at more than $400 million for the next fiscal year, the reduction in the communications-services tax would now reduce state revenue during the 2015-16 year by about $78.4 million, according to state economists. The new rate would provide about $10 a year in savings on a $100 monthly bill.
The package also includes a trio of single-day tax holidays on college textbooks, timed with the start of the upcoming fall, spring and summer semesters.
Gov. Rick Scott had proposed permanently lifting the sales tax on textbooks.
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Florida House, Senate Reach Deal On Budget Allocations
June 6, 2015
House and Senate leaders announced Friday that they had struck agreement on the overall shape of a spending plan for the budget year that begins July 1, but lawmakers still face days of detailed negotiations to hash out the finer points of a deal.
The agreement was the first tangible sign of progress on a budget during a special session that began Monday. The new meetings are necessary because lawmakers failed to reach consensus on a spending plan — their one annual, constitutionally-required duty — during the regular session held this spring.
Legislative leaders were quick to tamp down any talk of an early end to the current session, which is scheduled to last through June 20.
“There’s a reason these special sessions for a budget are 19 days, and I think we’ll use almost all of it,” said Senate Appropriations Chairman Tom Lee, R-Brandon.
It wasn’t immediately clear how much money the Legislature will plow into a plan to replace the loss of more than $1 billion in federal funding for the Low Income Pool, or LIP, program. Federal officials have said the state can expect about $1 billion next year — less than half of this year’s $2.2 billion — for the program, which sends money to hospitals and other medical providers that care for large numbers of low-income patients.
But lawmakers will almost certainly pour hundreds of millions of additional dollars into health-care, drawing down funding from other federal sources to fill the LIP hole. Gov. Rick Scott has voiced opposition to using state tax dollars to do that, instead of local taxes that now fund LIP, but Lee said he wasn’t overly worried about the prospect of a veto.
“You are wise to keep one eye on what might or might not be acceptable at the plaza level,” Lee said, referring to where the governor’s office is located in the Capitol, “but they’re going to watch us work. They know we’re up here doing our job. And if they have any input, they’ve got my number, and I’d love to chat with them any time.”
Lee also downplayed the possibility that an ongoing lawsuit that Scott has filed against the federal government over LIP funding would be resolved before lawmakers have to complete a budget.
In announcing the deal to his members, House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island, said his chamber would work cooperatively with the Senate.
“Our job is to keep our eye on the people of Florida, not on a score sheet on whether or not the House or the Senate wins,” he said.
Meetings of “conference committees,” which fill in the more detailed aspects of the budget, will begin Saturday morning. Lee and House Appropriations Chairman Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’ Lakes, will start working on any unresolved issues after 12 p.m. Tuesday.
In addition to the health-care issues, the bigger ticket items for lawmakers to hammer out are how much to spend on public schools, where Scott has called for record per-student spending; what to do on land and water conservation spending under a constitutional amendment voters passed last year; and putting together “a tax package that we can be proud of,” in the words of Senate President Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando.
On Friday, the House approved a slimmed down tax-cut package (HB 33A) that offers $273.2 million in savings for the upcoming fiscal year, with an increase to $436 million the following year. The full Senate has not yet passed its version of the tax-cut legislation.
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Mobile Tops Blue Wahoos In Extra Innings
June 6, 2015
The bats came to life for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos Friday night as four batters registered multiple hits, but the Mobile BayBears prevailed on a walk-off walk in the 10th inning at Hank Aaron Stadium.
Mobile (28-26) scored three in the ninth to send the game into extra innings and then added another in the 10th to win 5-4 over rival Pensacola (22-31).
Pensacola scored four runs on 13 hits, including left fielder Jesse Winker going 3-5, second baseman Ryan Wright 2-5, right fielder Kyle Waldrop 2-4 with a solo home run, and first baseman Marquez Smith 2-3.
In the eighth, right fielder Kyle Waldrop crushed a solo homer to right center field to extend the Pensacola lead to 4-1. It was his first homer since he had back-to-back home run games May 13 and 14. He now has six homers and 30 RBIs on the year to lead the Wahoos.
However, Mobile had 13 hits, too, while scoring five runs. They scored three runs in the ninth inning to tie the score, 4-4, and send the game into extra innings. The BayBears got a double and two singles to start the ninth, including a single by Gerson Montilla that scored Sean Jamieson to pull Mobile within, 4-2. Tom Belza’s single scored Tarleton, 4-3, and then Montilla tied the game, 4-4, when Brandon Drury reached first on a fielder’s choice.
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos had gone ahead in the third inning, 2-1, when it scored on back-to-back doubles. Wright doubled to left to drive in shortstop Zach Vincej that knotted the game, 1-1. Then Wright scored on a Winker double to center that put Pensacola up, 2-1. Pensacola added a run in the fourth when catcher Lou Marson doubled to left field to score Smith and put the Blue Wahoos ahead, 3-1.
Winker, the Cincinnati Reds No. 2 prospect, had his second straight multi-hit game knocking a double to drive in a run. He’s now hitting .400 over his last five games with four doubles and three RBIs.
Meanwhile Waldrop has hit in four of his last five games at a .294 clip (5-17) with a double and home run.
Pensacola starter Daniel Wright gave the team six strong innings, allowing one run on six hits and two walks, while striking out four.
Wright allowed his only run when Mobile scored in the bottom of the first inning. Shortstop Jack Reinheimer singled to lead off the inning, moved to third on a double by left fielder Tom Belza and scored on a ground out by second baseman Drury.
With a 4-1 lead in the ninth, the Blue Wahoos appeared on its way to its first back-to-back wins since it defeated the Jackson Generals and the Mississippi Braves May 25 and 26.
Andrew Truman “A.T.” Dunsford
June 6, 2015
Mr. Andrew Truman ‘A.T.’ Dunsford, age 84 of Foley, passed away on Thursday, June 4, 2015, at South Baldwin Regional Medical Center in Foley.
Mr. Dunsford was a native of Jay and a resident of Foley for 25 years coming from Century. During his working years he worked as a self-employed mechanic. He was a veteran of the United States Army having served in the Korean Conflict where he earned the Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal and the United Nations Service Medal. He was a Mason and of the Baptist faith.
He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Marie Dunsford of Foley; sons, Eddie (Brenda) Dunsford of Century, Butch (Karen) Nall of Century, Buster (Melinda) Nall of Century, Steven Nall of Foley and James Howard McCurdy of Bluff Springs; daughters, Cheryl (Ken) White of Atmore, June (Billy) Odom of Century, Faye (Billy Joe) Scott of Byrneville, Linda (Houston) Roberson of Flomaton; sister, Lavon LaCosta of Pensacola; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren..
Services will be held Monday, June 8, 2015, at Flomaton Funeral Home Chapel at 2 p.m. with Rev. Harold Brown officiating.
Interment will follow in Flomaton Cemetery with Military Honors.
Pallbearers will be Keith Faulk, Gaylan Shelly, William Odom, Danny Fuller, Buster Nall, James Kornegay.
Please share your memories and condolences with the family at www.flomatonfh.com.
Harold Monroe “Pete” Foster
June 6, 2015
Harold Monroe “Pete” Foster, 67, of Cantonment, took his last breath and woke up in Heaven to forever be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Tuesday, June 2, 2015. He was born in Bay Minette, AL on October 9, 1947, to Rodie and Louise Foster. Pete graduated from JM Tate High School in June of 1966 and was then drafted into the U. S. Army in October of 1966. He served in the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment in Vietnam. Pete received the National Defense Service medal, the Vietnam Service medal with two Bronze Stars, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. Pete married Linda Mauldin on March 31, 1967, and moved to Cantonment where they lived for 47 years. He was employed at NAS Pensacola as a carpenter until he had to medically retire after 25 years of service due to his diagnosis of terminal cancer in 2005.
Pete gave his life to the Lord at the age of 19. He loved the Lord and served him for the remainder of his life. Pete was a member of Victory Assembly of God Church and served as a Deacon for many years. He used his carpentry talent to assist in the construction of the church building. Pete was an avid bass fisherman. He loved to fish, camp, collect antique fishing lures, and travel. He also loved his antique cars which included his ‘59 Chevy pickup truck and his Model A car. Pete was a wonderful husband and father and was dearly cherished and loved by his wife and two daughters.
He was preceded in death by his father, Rodie Alonzo Foster; and his baby brother, Rodie Alonzo Foster, Jr.
He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Linda Elease Mauldin Foster of Cantonment; daughters, Stephanie (Kevin) Chase of Gulf Breeze and Robin Stephens of Milton; five grandchildren, Kristopher Chase, Anthony Bennett, Zakary Bennett, Mary Crutchfield, and Seth Chase; one great-grandson, Kolton Chase; mother, Louise Carnley; brother, David (Linda) Foster; sisters, Barbara Sue (Stanley) Carnley and Jessie Mae (Ronnie) Gilbert; two stepbrothers, Adon (Sharon) Carnley and Wayne Carnley; one stepsister, Faye (Fred) Johnson and several aunts, uncles, and cousins.
The family would like to thank Regency Hospice for their wonderful support and care as well as the many family and friends that have prayed, visited, and brought food.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, June 8, 2015, at Victory Assembly of God with Pastor Jeff McKee, officiating.
Burial will follow in Pensacola Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will be David Baggett, David Cantrell, John Daugherty, Tommy McCrory, Lewis Arnette, Sonny Hicks, Billy Hall, and Jerry Eddins.
Honorary pallbearers will be Adon Carnley, Fred Johnson and Paul Pettis.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is in charge of arrangements.