Nine Mile Road Construction Delays At Navy Federal
August 18, 2015
Westbound traffic on Nine Mile Road will encounter lane closures west of Interstate 10, near Heritage Oaks Drive and Navy Federal, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Tuesday, August 18, through Friday, August 21, as crews perform construction activities. Drivers are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling through a work zone, by the Florida Department of Transportation.
Construction activities are weather dependent and may be re-scheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Murder Suspect Behind Bars After More Than A Week On The Run
August 18, 2015
A murder suspect that had been on the run for over a week and was once believed to be in the North Escambia area is now behind bars.
Jesse Dontase Square, 28, was booked into the Escambia County Jail just before 11:00 Monday night on charges of homicide and robbery.
About 5:45 a.m. Saturday, August 8 deputies found Eugenio Acosta Lopez inside a home in the 220 block of Lakeview Avenue suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased.
Jeremiah Farrish, 24, and Santorialashay Robinson, 23, were previously arrested for the murder.
Farrish and Square were both the subjects of multi-agency police search at an apartment complex on Patterson Street in Atmore on August 11. That search turned up empty.
Escambia Man Gets 40 Years For Shooting
August 18, 2015
State Attorney Bill Eddins announced Monday that Ahmad Sheaffers was sentenced on August 14 by Circuit Judge Edward P. Nickinson, III to 46 years in state prison with 40 years being served day for day under Florida’s 10-20-Life Statute.
Sheaffers was convicted on June 25, 2015 by an Escambia County jury of two counts of aggravated assault with a firearm, shooting from a vehicle, and shooting at a dwelling.
The charges stem from a drive by shooting that occurred June 21, 2014, in the area of Fisher Street and Gonzalez Court. The defendant, known as “Spook”, was identified by witnesses at the scene as being one of possibly two shooters in the backseat of a vehicle. A home was struck multiple times by gunfire, but no one was injured in the shooting.
Judge Orders Federal Oversight Of Kosher Meals In Florida Prisons
August 18, 2015
Over the objections of Florida corrections officials, a federal judge has given the U.S. Department of Justice the authority to oversee the state’s kosher-meal program for prisoners.
U.S. District Judge Patricia Seitz last week issued a final order and permanent injunction in the drawn-out case, granting federal officials’ request to monitor the kosher meals, called the “Religious Dietary Program,” through visits to prisons.
Seitz’s final order also requires the Florida Department of Corrections to file monthly reports about the use of the program with both the court and the Justice Department, and to file quarterly reports regarding prisoners who were suspended or removed from it.
On Monday, it remained unclear whether the state — which has spent at least $400,000 in legal costs and fees in lawsuits over kosher meals — would appeal the order.
“The department is thoroughly evaluating the ruling in order to determine the appropriate next steps,” corrections spokesman McKinley Lewis said in an email.
Throughout the current lawsuit and a predecessor, the state has maintained that it is not obligated to offer the meals although the religious diet is a requirement of the federal “Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act” law of 2000.
Corrections officials were willing to provide records of the program but objected to onsite monitoring. But in the order Wednesday, Seitz found that external oversight of the state’s Religious Dietary Program, or RDP, is necessary.
“Quite simply, given defendants’ refusal to recognize their legal obligation to provide kosher meals, to rely only on defendants’ self monitoring as the sole form of on-site monitoring of the RDP would be unreasonable,” she wrote.
Seitz banned the department from using a “zero-tolerance” policy that removed inmates from the kosher-meal plan if they were caught eating regular meals or purchasing non-kosher food from the canteen, something corrections officials have already abandoned. And her order also bars prison officials from kicking inmates off the kosher plan if the prisoners miss 10 percent or more of their meals in a month, another policy the department says it has discontinued.
Seitz sided with the department regarding a “sincerity” test used to ferret out prisoners who lack a genuine reason to get the kosher meals, saying the screening does not violate federal law as long as it is not the only factor used to determine if inmates are eligible for the program.
If it stands, Seitz’s oversight order will be the first time Florida’s prison system has been subjected to open-ended, onsite monitoring by the court and the Justice Department in decades.
“It is a big deal,” said Luke Goodrich, deputy general counsel for the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, which sued the state on behalf of Bruce Rich, an Orthodox Jew who was denied a kosher diet. Rich dropped his case in December after Seitz gave the agency until July 1 to offer kosher meals to “all prisoners with a sincere religious basis for keeping kosher.”
Seitz’s order “takes Florida to task for how stubborn it has been throughout all this litigation,” similar to “a school principal talking to a stubborn and deceptive schoolchild,” Goodrich said.
“It’s really unfortunate that it came to this for the state of Florida. It didn’t have to be like this at all. Thirty-five other states have put in place a kosher diet without having to lose in court and be put under monitoring by the federal government,” he said.
The fight over kosher meals in Florida prisons has dragged on for more than a decade.
The department started offering the kosher meals in 2004 to Jewish prisoners at 13 facilities and transferred inmates who were eligible for the meals to those institutions. The agency expanded the program to inmates of all faiths in 2006 but halted it the following year before reinstating it as a pilot project at a single prison in 2010, serving fewer than 20 prisoners.
A year after the Department of Justice filed the lawsuit in 2012, the department again began serving kosher meals and promised to have the meals available to all inmates by last July.
Last summer, the department switched to all-cold meals, consisting largely of peanut butter and sardines, served twice a day, prompting some inmates to complain that the unappetizing diet was aimed at discouraging prisoners from signing up for the plan.
Corrections officials had argued that the cost of the kosher meals, an option not only for Jewish prisoners but for Muslim and Seventh-Day Adventists whose religions also proscribe dietary restrictions, could cost the state up to $12 million a year because the food cost nearly twice as much as the $1.89 a day spent on regular grub. About 11,000 of the state’s 100,000 prisoners are now receiving the kosher meals, according to Lewis.
The battle over the kosher meals is a relatively minor issue for a department that has been under intensive scrutiny for more than a year over inmate deaths, allegations of abuse and accusations of cover-ups.
Florida Justice Institute Executive Director Randall Berg, who represents inmates, said he hopes Seitz’s order is a first step toward broader oversight, especially from Justice Department officials. Berg and the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida have asked the agency’s Civil Rights Division to investigate unsolved deaths and allegations of widespread brutality in Florida prisons.
“There are serious problems in Florida’s prison system, of which newspapers across the state have been writing now for years. Hopefully, the Civil Rights Division will be taking a serious look at many of the other issues in addition to this one,” Berg said.
Pictured: The cafeteria inside the Century Correctional Institution. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Students Head Back To Class (With Photo Gallery)
August 18, 2015
Monday was the first day of school across the area, with tens of thousands of students heading back to class.
We asked NorthEscambia.com readers to submit their back to school photos.
For a photo gallery, click here.
We apologize, but due to a tremendous response, we were unable to publish all photos, and we are unable to add additional photos to the gallery.
Need A Passport? Passport Fair To Be Held Next Week In Century
August 18, 2015
The U.S. Postal Service is hosting a special Passport Fair at Century Post Office next week to accept passport applications and provide passport information.
The event will take place at the Century Post Office are from 9 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. on Monday, August 24. Appointments are not required on this day, so customers are encouraged to show up early, as applicants will be served on a first-come, first-served basis.
“We will continue to leverage the convenience of the Postal Service to help our customers apply for passports. Having this service available where an appointment is not necessary is a plus for our customers”, said Pamela Tramonte, Century Postmaster.
On August 24th, customers can visit Century Post Office to apply for a passport without first having to make an appointment. To help the passport application process go smoothly and efficiently, the Postal Service recommends the following:
• Bring in proper proof of American citizenship. This must be either: a certified birth certificate issued by the city, county or state; a previous U.S. passport; a certificate of citizenship; or a naturalization certificate. (Please note: a hospital-issued birth certificate alone is not acceptable.)
• Bring in proof of identity. This must be either: a previous U.S. passport; a naturalization certificate; a certificate of citizenship; or a current valid driver’s license, government ID or military photo ID. Also bring a photo copy of the driver’s license front and back.
• Passport photograph services will be provided on site for a $15.00 fee.
• To save time, customers can download a passport application at www.usps.com/passport to complete their application beforehand.
• All applicants must appear in person (including minors). Applicants under age 16 must appear with both parents. If one parent is not available, a notarized authorization from the absent parent is required along with a copy of their driver’s license front and back.
Each passport for an adult must be accompanied by a check or money order for $110 made payable to the U.S. State Department and a $25 execution fee made payable to Postmaster. Fees for children under 16 are $80 and $25.
The cost to expedite processing at the Department of State is $60 paid per application in addition to required fees.
The cost to expedite delivery service to the passport processing lockbox is $19.99 per family for Priority Mail Express paid to the United States Postal Service.
The cost to expedite delivery service is $14.85 paid per application directly to the Department of State for the delivery of an issued passport book from the Department of State to the customer. This service is only available to mailing addresses within the United States. Not valid for passport cards.
Passport customers may also check the U.S. State Department’s web site at www.travel.state.gov to obtain additional information. U.S. citizens also may obtain passport information by phone, in English or Spanish, by calling the National Passport Information Center toll free at 1-877-487-2778.
Florida Guard Reopens Recruiting Centers
August 18, 2015
Florida National Guard recruiters returned Monday to “storefront” locations for the first time since being pulled out in the wake of a shooting rampage that left four Marines and a sailor dead last month in Tennessee.
“The guardsmen inside are actively and proudly recruiting new heroes,” National Guard Adjutant Gen. Michael Calhoun said in a release from the governor’s office.
Gov. Rick Scott noted in the release that the recruitment centers have upgraded security, including the arming of guard members.
“I will continue to do everything in my power to protect our military members here in Florida,” Scott said in a release. “I hope President Obama is taking notice of what we are doing in Florida, and that he takes similar actions to ensure every branch of our military is protected across our nation.”
The centers are located in Brandon, Jacksonville, Miami, Orange Park, Orlando and Temple Terrace.
Other new security measures include the assignment of additional armed security officers and unspecified infrastructure enhancements at each of the six locations.
Scott commended Calhoun for quickly enacting the new security measures.
Guard members involved with recruiting were relocated to armories and Calhoun was directed to work with local law-enforcement agencies to arrange for regular security checks of the armories under an executive order signed by Scott on July 18. The order came two days after a gunman opened fire at a military-recruiting center and a Navy Reserve facility in Chattanooga, Tenn.
Scott’s order said it was possible improvements at the centers could include installing bulletproof glass and enhancing video-surveillance equipment.
At the time, Scott also said he wanted to fast-track the process for members of the National Guard to obtain concealed-weapons licenses.
Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, whose agency administers concealed-weapons licenses, announced July 27 that all active-duty members of the military and honorably discharged veterans would be moved to the front of the line when seeking licenses.
Since that time, 2,627 concealed-weapon license applications have been expedited, Putnam spokeswoman Jennifer Meale said in an email Monday.
Currently, there are more than 1.41 million concealed-weapons licenses issued in Florida, according to the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
by The News Service of Florida
Evers To Host Community Preparedness Forum Next Week
August 18, 2015
September is National Preparedness Month and State Senator Greg Ever is inviting local residents to take action and make a plan. Residents and business owners are invited to the join a panel of experts on Tuesday, August 25th at the Jean and Paul Amos Performance Studio Building in the WSRE Studio for a one of a kind community preparedness event.
Panelists include Evers; Tasha Carter from the Division of Consumer Services at Florida’s Department of Financial Services; Escambia County Emergency Manager John Dosh; Escambia County Risk Management Officer Robert Dye; , Jay Neal from the Florida Association for Insurance Reform (FAIR); and Paul Handerhan from the Florida Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (FAPIA). The event will highlight:
• Insurance related legislation.
• Pre-loss documentation and making sure you have the right coverage. A free insurance policy review will be available
• The things you need to know to do after a loss.
• Insurance premium and mitigation issues.
• How to avoid being the victim of scammers and
• A review of all of the valuable local resources available in Escambia County.
Evers said that it is important for Panhandle residents to remain vigilant, particularly during hurricane season which runs through November 30th.
“When individuals and communities are better educated about the tools that are available to them they have a better chance of making a full financial recovery after a loss. Our community is no stranger to catastrophic losses, but it’s been quite some time since we’ve suffered a major hurricane. It’s not a matter of if – it’s a matter of when. It’s imperative that everyone be prepared and this event is a great way to start.”
The experts will make their presentations and be on hand to answer any questions. Participants will receive a free insurance policy review (bring an insurance policy) and valuable take home materials.
Richard “Dick” Thomas Shore
August 18, 2015
Richard “Dick” Thomas Shore, 71 of Pensacola, passed away Friday, August 14, 2015.
He was in the USMC active and reserve from 1964-1970. He received the Presidential Unit Citation, Good Conduct, National Defense, Vietnamese Service and Campaign medals. Transportation was his profession, from airlines and charter service operator to instructor and third party tester for Bishop State.
He was preceded in death by his father, Thomas R. Shore; and his mother, Martha C. Eiben.
Dick is survived by his son, Darrin Shore of Grass Valley, CA; brother, William B. Shore of Pensacola; niece, Tina M. Colasanti of Pensacola; nephew, Bryan J. Shore of Pensacola; and Amand P. Shore of Clarksburg, WV.
Graveside services will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, August 19, 2015, at Barrancas National Cemetery, NAS Pensacola, FL.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is in charge of arrangements.
Estelle Nora Miller
August 18, 2015
Estelle Nora Miller, 87 of Atmore, passed away Monday, August 17, 2015, in Atmore. She was retired from Vanity Fair Mills. She was born in Davisville on September 15, 1927, to the late Lloyd Byars and Katie Howell Miller. She was a member of Pine Barren Baptist Church.
She is preceded in death by sisters, Evelyn Tighe Mulligan and Vivian Everette and brother, Archie Byars.
Survivors include her two sons, Roy E. ”Sonny” (Gail) Miller of Prattville, AL and Terry Allen (Paula) Miller of McDavid; one daughter, Shirley Darby (Ray) Chavers of Atmore; grandchild, Deeya Darby Seamans; great-grandchildren, Darby M. “Mattie” Locke and Dillon D. Seamans; and a number of other grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. She is also survived by special friends and caregivers, Mary Bradley and Glenda Boyd.
Services will be Wednesday, August 19, 2015, at 11 a.m. from the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Arnold Hendrix officiating.
Interment will follow in Pine Barren Baptist Cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be Thomas E. Byrd, Tommy Ray Taylor, Arbo Bradley, Silas Seamans, Leon Chavers, and Gary L. Cook.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the charity of your choice.