Escambia Man Convicted On Child Porn Charges
April 16, 2015
A federal trial jury convicted Thomas Victor Sway, 24, of Pensacola, of receipt, attempted receipt, and possession of child pornography.
At trial, the government presented evidence that, between November 2012 and May 2013, Sway received and possessed child pornography, including videos depicting images of minors less than 12 years of age engaged in sex acts. Undercover law enforcement officers discovered and downloaded the pornographic files from a public file sharing network that could be traced to Sway’s computer.
After agents executed a search warrant at Sway’s residence, a forensic analysis of his hard drive revealed at least 140 video files containing images of child pornography. Additionally, the system file history indicated a pattern of Sway using dozens of distinct search terms to locate child pornography on the internet.
Sway faces a minimum of five years in prison and a maximum of 20 years in prison. Sentencing has been scheduled for June 30 before Chief United States Judge Casey Rodgers in Pensacola.
United States Attorney Marsh praised the work of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Pensacola Police Department, and the other agencies that are part of the Northwest Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, whose joint investigation led to the charges in this case. I
Editor’s note; The “Inmate” watermark on the pictured mugshot was placed by the Santa Rosa County Jail where Sway is being held.
Tate Students Get Real World Voting Experience
April 16, 2015
Students at Tate High School got a little real world voting experience Wednesday. They voted for class officers and student council officers during lunch, using real ballots and real voting equipment provided by the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Office.
Students cast 501 ballots, the Elections Office was able register 21 students to vote in real elections.
Absentee ballots will be available Thursday for students that missed voting on Wednesday, and the winners be announced on Friday.
Tate Juniors also cast ballots for their prom court, king and queen.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Overtime Looming For Lawmakers; Won’t Be Able To Wrap Budget By May 1
April 16, 2015
Ending weeks of speculation, Republican legislative leaders Wednesday acknowledged they won’t be able to wrap up budget negotiations before the scheduled May 1 end of the 2015 session.
“I don’t see a way to end the session on the 60th day,” Senate budget chief Tom Lee told The News Service of Florida.
“I would agree,” House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island, told reporters later Wednesday when asked about Lee’s comment.
Uncertainty about the federal government’s funding of the Low Income Pool, or LIP, program is at the heart of the impasse. The program funnels money to hospitals and health providers that provide care for large numbers of uninsured and low-income Floridians.
Gov. Rick Scott’s administration, federal officials and House and Senate leaders have waged a public war over the LIP negotiations, which President Obama’s administration declared Tuesday are tied to an expansion of Medicaid.
The Senate included $2.2 billion for a modified LIP program in its budget plan and set aside another $2.8 billion in federal Medicaid-expansion funding to create a program that would help low-income Floridians buy private health insurance.
The House spending plan does not include money for the LIP program, with key lawmakers saying that including the money would be premature. And House leaders, including Crisafulli, have rejected outright proposals to expand coverage through Medicaid or the proposed Senate program.
Scott sent Obama a letter earlier this year stating he would not use any money from the state’s general-revenue fund to make up any shortfalls, should the federal government reduce or cease its contribution to the LIP program.
The battle over the health-care issues has erupted in a flurry of memoranda and e-mails sent by Crisafulli, Senate President Andy Gardiner, the Scott administration and the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and has cast a pall over the 2015 session in a year when lawmakers expected to have a $1 billion budget surplus.
“I’m trying to keep the conversation civil, keep it focused in the present. But there is a huge policy divide here. And I don’t see how you bridge it in the time that we have available. In fact, you cannot bridge it in the time we have available. So the only question now in my mind is, are we in extended session or are we in special session?” said Lee, a Republican from Brandon who served as Senate president when the LIP program was first established nearly a decade ago.
Crisafulli said it is too early to tell whether lawmakers will extend the current session or pack up and come back some time later to reconcile the budget. Lawmakers must pass a new budget before July 1, when the new fiscal year starts.
Because of the schism over health-care spending, legislative leaders have not yet determined the overall allocations for each area of the budget. Crisafulli said an extended session would be possible in the unlikely event that budget negotiations were already underway by May 1.
“But if we’re not, there’s no reason to kid ourselves. We’ll finish up the business that we have on the policy and then we can come back and do a budget at a later time,” he said.
Other Medicaid-related concerns may also deepen the health care divide.
Lee said he is waiting for more information about the Medicaid program, which now enrolls nearly all beneficiaries in managed-care plans.
“We have mounting actuarial evidence that the Medicaid managed care rates in Florida are actuarially unsound. That’s a quarter-of-a-billion-dollar problem on top of the backfilling that would make LIP whole,” he said.
Florida schools will also have 15,000 more children than originally anticipated, meaning that lawmakers will have to come up with more money to meet Scott’s priority of funding education at record-high levels, Lee said.
“So we’re getting a lot of additional news as the session progresses that’s making it much, much more difficult to resolve our differences,” Lee said. “And that’s kind of what gave rise to doing a budget that’s lean and mean. The challenge with that is sometimes it’s hard to pass a budget that funds nobody’s priorities. What’s the motivation to hit the green button?”
One way to resolve the budget divide would be “if nobody gets what they wanted,” Lee said.
“The (Senate) president doesn’t get a health care solution. The governor doesn’t get his tax cuts. And we put $2 billion in reserves and wait and see what the federal government says. We would have a budget in place. We would just have $2 billion in reserves. And we could come back here and we could deal with tax cuts and health care funding at the appropriate time. That is an option that we could certainly consider collectively,” Lee said.
But Crisafulli made clear he doesn’t want to dip into reserves to cover health-care expenses.
“I’m not interested in using reserves. Reserves are something that are there for that day that comes along that you’re not prepared for, whatever comes along, whether it be hurricane season. It could potentially be an irresponsible move to hit the reserve fund in a magnitude that would affect that,” he said.
by Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida
House To Back Experimental Drug Bill For Terminally Ill
April 16, 2015
The House appears poised to approve a bill that could help clear the way for terminally ill patients to use experimental drugs — but the measure will not include medical marijuana.
House members Wednesday took up the bill (HB 269), filed by Rep. Ray Pilon, R-Sarasota, and could approve it as early as Thursday. Dubbed the “Right to Try Act,” the bill would help make available experimental drugs to people who have terminal illnesses and are expected to die within one year.
The measure spurred debate Wednesday when Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, offered an amendment that effectively would have allowed those patients to also have access to medical marijuana. Gaetz said the proposed amendment would follow the underlying premise of the bill that terminally ill patients should be able to make decisions.
“I want to give them less government,” Gaetz said. “I want to get out of the way and see what happens.” But Gaetz withdrew the amendment after Pilon and other lawmakers expressed concern about adding the medical-marijuana issue to the bill.
–END–
Florida Wildlife Officials Support Black Bear Hunts
April 16, 2015
Black bears are closer to being placed on the state’s wildlife hunting calendar for the first time in more than 20 years.
The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission agreed Wednesday to allow hunting for black bears during one week this fall, due to a growing number of bear and human conflicts across the state. The commission made the decision after hearing more than two hours of comments for and against the proposal.
The hunt, which is planned to begin Oct. 24, will be formally set at the commission’s June meeting. The hunt will last at least two days, with the timeframe shortened as quotas are reached in different regions of the state.
“Of the 41 states that have black bears, 32 of them already allow hunting in some form or fashion,” said commission Vice Chairman Brian Yablonski of Tallahassee during the meeting at Florida A&M University. “And all those states have managed to do it in a way that is sustainable and that works to preserve and keep a healthy, thriving bear population.”
Speakers opposed to reviving bear hunts told commissioners that the proposal won’t reduce conflict between the animals and humans. Instead, opponents contend the state should consider relocating problem bears and that people need to be held more responsible for leaving out unsecured food and trash that attracts bears.
Jennifer Hobgood, a wildlife abuse campaign manager with the Humane Society of the United States, said the goal of reducing the state’s bear population by about 20 percent a year is unsustainable without knowing the actual number of bears in the state.
“The FWC may cite calls to the agency as an index of public tolerance, but such a narrow assumption fails to account for Floridians’ genuine support for bear protection and for non-lethal conflict mitigation programs,” Hobgood said.
Florida has an estimated 2,500 black bears in four regions — the eastern Panhandle, Northeast Florida, east-central Florida and South Florida — where the hunts would be conducted. Each area had more than 200 bears by a 2002 estimate.
The agency is undertaking updated bear counts that should be available for two of the four regions this summer, which will allow the agency to adjust harvest numbers, said Diane Eggeman, director of the commission’s Division of Hunting and Game Management.
People attending the meeting Wednesday were greeted on the Florida A&M University campus by about a dozen protesters, including one in a bear suit.
Leslie Carlile, a retired middle-school teacher and a proud “Florida cracker” from Tallahassee, said the state should consider alternatives, such as sterilization of bears, as the state’s growing human population will continue to encroach into wildlife areas.
Proponents claim the hunt will help conserve the overall black bear population.
Allan Tucker, a hunter from Tallahassee, said the increase in conflicts is a “direct result of the social experiment called halting bear hunting.”
“We have created a generation, or multiple generations, of welfare bears who are no longer scared of humans, but instead look at humans as a place to get food,” Tucker said.
National Rifle Association Southeastern Regional Director Al Hammond said the state needs to employ all options to manage the bear population to both lower interactions with humans and reduce vehicle-bear collisions.
Hammond also suggested the state lower the hunt permit fee from $100 to $50 for Florida residents.
“We truly don’t have a track record of what the harvest will be, and we do want hunter participation,” Hammond said.
The permits are $300 for non-Florida residents.
There would be a one-bear-per-hunter limit, with daytime hunts prohibited within 100 yards of any game-feeding stations. Hunters would be allowed to use bows, crossbows, muzzle loading guns, rifles, pistols, revolvers and shotguns.
Commissioners said the high profile nature of the proposal has only heightened efforts to clamp down on people leaving trash and dog food unsecured in communities encroaching upon wildlife habitat.
Commissioner Liesa Priddy of Immokalee said approval of the hunt will not decrease other efforts to manage human-bear conflicts.
“I’d rather see more bears in the environment and hunting than the amount of bears we’re euthanizing, because we’re bringing them into the neighborhoods,” added Commissioner Ron Bergeron of Fort Lauderdale. “I don’t think any person should have the right to endanger their neighbor.”
The proposal, which would set a “harvest objective” of about 200 black bears, is intended to reduce the risk of dangerous interactions between bears, which were removed from the state’s threatened list in 2012, and the state’s growing population.
The state agency claims the bear population has been steadily and rapidly growing the last 15 to 20 years.
Black bears were placed on the state’s threatened list in 1974, when there were between 300 and 500 across Florida. At the time, hunting black bear was limited to three counties. In 1994, the hunting season was closed statewide.
Meanwhile, the state has recorded a 400 percent increase in bear-related calls over the past decade.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Pictured: Protesters gather outside the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission meeting in Tallahassee Wednesday, sowing their opposition to a proposed black bear hunt in the state. Photo by Tom Urgan, NSF, for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate, Jay Advance In Baseball Districts; Tate Baseball Beats Pace
April 16, 2015
SOFTBALL DISTRICT PLAYOFFS
District 1-7A
Tate 9, Crestview 0
The rain held off long enough for the Tate Lady Aggies advance to the District 1 -7A championship game by defeating the Crestview Bulldogs 9-0 on Wednesday night at Niceville High School.
Tori Perkins led with way with a strong performance on the mound by throwing another no hitter and striking out 13. Lauren Brennan blasted a 2-run homer in the sixth to help solidify the win. Savannah Rowell had 3 RBI and a run; Perkins had three RBI; Hayden Lindsay was 2-3 with two runs and a triple.
The Lady Aggies (21-4) advance to the championship game Friday at Niceville at a time to be determined based upon weather.
District 3-1A
Jay 16, Freeport 6
The Jay Royals advanced to the 3-1A district championship with a 16-6 win over Freeport in the semifinals Wednesday. Jay exploded in the fifth with 12 runs. Avery Jackson 3-3, 2R, 4 RBIs 2B; Kolby Bray 2-4, 2R, 3RBIs; Dana Blackmon 3-5, 2R, RBI; Michaela Stewart 2-5, R, RBI, 2B.
BASEBALL
Tate 6, Pace 3
Tate beat Pace Wednesday, 6-3. Trace Penton 1-4, RBI; Hunter Worley 2-2, 3 RBI; AJ Gordon RBI; Branden Fryman 1-3; Mark Miller 1-3, Sawyer Smith 1-2.
Flash Flood Watch Continues
April 16, 2015
A flash flood watch continues in effect. Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Thursday Night
Showers and thunderstorms. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Low around 65. Southeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Friday
Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Cloudy, with a high near 77. East wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Friday Night
A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind around 5 mph becoming east after midnight.
Saturday
Showers and thunderstorms. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. High near 75. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Saturday Night
Showers and thunderstorms likely. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Sunday
A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night
A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 81.
Monday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 58.
Tuesday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 76.
Tuesday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 58.
Wednesday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 79.
FHP Seeks Information In Highway 97 Hit And Run
April 16, 2015
The Florida Highway Patrol is seeking a hit and run driver after a crash Wednesday afternoon on Highway 97 near Dogwood Park.
According to the FHP, 56-year old Patricia M. Bruner of Bruck, FL, was southbound in a 2012 Land Rover on Highway 97 approaching White Ash Road when she was rear-ended by a purple or maroon 2002-2005 model Dodge Ram traveling at a high rate of a speed. The pickup continued south following the 3:15 p.m. crash.
The force of the impact caused the Land Rover to leave the roadway and come to rest in a field. Burner and her passenger, 83-year old Thelma J. Bullard of Defuniak Springs, were transported by ambulance to Sacred Heart Hospital with minor injuries.
The pickup truck will have front end damage, according to the FHP. Anyone with information on the truck is asked to email joshuatucker@flhsmv.gov or dial *FHP from their cell phone.
Submitted photos for NorthEcambia.com, click to enlarge.
Betty Jean Gardner Lowry
April 16, 2015
On April 15, 2015, we released Betty Jean Gardner Lowry, our mother, granny, sister, aunt and friend into the hands of the Lord. Her mind left us many years ago to the horrible disease Alzheimers, but her sweet, loving, caring and giving spirit never left her. She was always complimentary, even if it was to tell someone that they had pretty eyelashes. Betty was a faithful follower of our Lord Jesus Christ. She especially treasured sharing the love of Jesus with the children through flannel board stories, crafts, music and good ole “get down on the floor play”.
She worked at Monsanto with the love of her life “Bugs” before Henry was born, but chose to be a stay at home mom most of her children’s young lives. She was a substitute teacher at Jay School in all levels, before she became employed with Jay Hospital where she retired. Betty spent most of her time taking care of others. She was a member of Cora Baptist Church and a member of Jay Chapter #208 Order of the Eastern Star.
She was born on October 20, 1934 to the late Genia Augustus King Gardner and Annie Dora Bodie Gardner of Jay, FL.
Preceding her in death was her husband of 53 years, Hubert Henry “Bugs” Lowry, Jr. on June 2, 2013. Also preceding her in death were her brothers, Hollis, Roland, Ruthord (Helen), Russell (Mary Lou), and William D Gardner; sisters Myra (HC) Osburn, Geraldine Bond, and Hayrul Ann Patterson.
She is survived by her three children, Henry (Janet) Lowry of Jay, Dora (Eric) Williams of Newton, AL and LeTonya (Christian) Dietiker of Blue Springs, MO; the beats of her heart grandchildren, Krystal and Jennifer Lowry; Briana Williams; Kamuela, Leigh Ana and Sterling Kealii Dietiker; brothers, Robert Earl (the late Mary) of Mableton, GA and Bennie Ray (Joyce) Gardner of Huntsville, AL; and an abundance of special nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 18, 2015, at 10:30 a.m. at Cora Baptist Church with Brother LaDon Hall officiating.
We will lay her body in its final resting place, awaiting that glorious resurrection at Cora Baptist Church Cemetery after the services. We will then share food and friendship at the fellowship hall as we celebrate the abundant life that Betty lived.
A visitation will also be held the day prior on Friday, April 17, 2015, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Jay Funeral Home chapel.
Active pallbearers will be Eric Williams, Kamuela Dietiker, Sterling Kealii Dietiker, Bryan Bond, David Deese, and Damon Boutwell.
We would like to thank the Century Health and Rehabilitation Center for their faithful care and concern that they showed Betty throughout her time there.
Michael Lee Lavimoniere
April 16, 2015
Mr. Michael Lee Lavimoniere, 46, passed away on Tuesday, April 14, 2015, in Atmore.
Mr. Lavimoniere was a native of Apalachicola, FL and a lifelong resident of Century. Mr. Lavimoniere worked as a Registered Nurse and was a Veteran of the US Army. He was of the Baptist faith. His grandmother, Alva M. Lashley; grandfather, Lee Lashley; and nephew, Joshua Lavimoniere precede him in death.
He is survived by his father, August Pace; mother, Mary Pace; one son, Kyle Lavimoniere of Chester, VA; one daughter, Margaret Lavimoniere of Byrneville; three brothers, Joe Lavimoniere of Texas, Richard Lavimoniere of Jasper, GA and Todd Pace of Nebraska; and one sister, Alva Enfinger of Century.
Funeral services will be Sunday, April 19, 2015, at 2 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Robert Barrow officiating.
Burial will follow at the McCurdy Cemetery.
Visitation will be Saturday, April 18, 2015, from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Charlie Brown, Daniel Fowler, Bud Campbell, Jerry Adams, Paul Soenken and Rick Carpenter.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.