Would You Give Your Boss Your Facebook, Social Media Passwords?
October 8, 2015
Most employees and job seekers could refuse to turn over private user names and passwords for social media sites without retribution, under a revived measure approved by a Senate panel.
The Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee voted 5-1 to support the measure (SB 186) by Lake Worth Democrat Jeff Clemens. The measure, which is filed for the 2016 legislative session, would prohibit employers from requesting access to private social media accounts.
“People have the right to privacy, and they have a right to not be put under pressure in a job interview to disclose things that maybe they wouldn’t want to disclose and that really has no relation to their ability to do a job,” Clemens said after the meeting.
Clemens said in the past few years, as social media has become more prevalent, about 30 states have adopted similar legislation.
But Clemens’ proposal, which is before lawmakers for the third consecutive year, continues to face opposition from influential business groups, in part, because it would allow employees and prospective hires to sue.
“Employers should have access to any social media platform that employees access during work hours on hardware that they, the employer, actually own,” said Brewster Bevis, senior vice president of Associated Industries of Florida. “We believe the employer can be held legally responsible for information or leaking that is done over that platform.”
Bevis also argued that the measure could block internal investigations into matters such as sexual harassment and bullying.
Sen. Garrett Richter, R-Naples, supported Bevis’ contention about blocking access to internal investigations and provided the lone vote against the measure.
However, Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, noted that many companies can block access to social media websites on company equipment and that a business can still investigate cases of harassment as the recipient would have copies of any electronic messages.
“This is the same legislature that in the last two or three years we’ve restricted the use of drones, we’ve attempted … to restrict police officers looking at people’s cell phones and who they’ve called,” Latvala said. “We’ve done a whole lot of things to protect people’s privacy and this is a glaring example of something that I think needs to be done.”
Committee Chairwoman Nancy Detert, R-Venice, said the bill may still need to be amended to focus more on prospective hires.
Clemens said he’s willing to discuss ways that the civil liability issue could be altered, but added that going through an individual’s private social media is similar to going through a person’s private mail.
“I don’t think there is any court in the world that would tell you a business was negligent because they didn’t go through their employee’s mail,” Clemens said.
This bill would prohibit an employer from requesting the user name, password, or any other means of accessing the social media account of an employee or prospective employee, if the social media account’s contents are not available to the general public.
However, people might want to rethink “friending” a boss, as there is nothing in the bill that would prohibit an employer from checking out anything the employee or prospective hire posts that is publicly available.
Also, employers wouldn’t be prohibited from requiring access to a social media account used by the employee for the employer’s business purposes.
The proposal includes some exemptions, such as for employers complying with state or federal laws and for law-enforcement agencies when screening prospective employees or investigating employees.
A similar measure introduced this spring by Clemens failed to get backed by any committees. Two years ago, after a provision was added allowing employers to access employees’ social media information for business-related sites, a proposal was able to clear two of its four scheduled stops.
The new proposal still would need approval from the Senate Judiciary and Rules committees.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Town Of Century Tables Action On $20,000 Website, Marketing Plan
October 7, 2015
The Town of Century has tabled action on a $20,000 website and marketing plan to clarify funding sources and any need to bid the contract.
Century’s current website was developed by an area marketing firm in 2012 for $5,950, part of a $11,450 package that also included a five year comprehensive marketing strategy.
In 2013, the town was awarded a $25,000 technical assistance grant from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity to develop an economic development strategic plan. After hearing proposals from four contenders, the town contracted with the Haas Center (the research and consulting arm of the University of West Florida) to develop the plan at no cost to the town.
The Haas Center’s detailed plan and recommendations included a new website for the town, with suggestions from the Haas Center in late 2014 that the website be created by a volunteer or perhaps UWF marketing interns.
Monday night, Dr. Felicia Morgan from the UWF Marketing Department and Johnathan “Jet” Tisdale of the Pace company White Paper Marketing presented a marketing plan with a one year contract at $1,650 per month cost for a website, an email subscription drive, website and a database management and other marketing resources. Any additional costs, such as advertising purchases, would add to the bottom line.
After questions arose about whether the cost would be the sole responsibility of the town, or if any grants or other funding sources existed, the council tabled any action on accepting the proposal. A question was also raised if the the town should accept bids on the marketing plan.
The council plans to readdress the marking plan costs at their next regular meeting on October 19.
Pictured top: Dr. Felicia Morgan from the UWF Marketing Department and Johnathan “Jet” Tisdale of the Pace company White Paper Marketing address the Century Town Council. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Grand Opening Held For New Ernest Ward Middle School
October 7, 2015
An official grand opening and ribbon cutting was held Tuesday for the newly rebuilt Ernest Ward Middle School in Walnut Hill.
The modern $20 million facility, funded by the half-cent sales tax, replaced a a campus that was among the oldest in the district.
“Many Ernest Ward students before you have already established that you should study hard, working to prepare yourself for the next big thing that is going to happen in your life,” School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas told the student body and invited guests. “To help you do that, the school district has presented you with a brand new, state of the art middle school.”
“Everybody deserves the opportunity to go to new once in their life,” District 5 school board member Bill Slayton said. “You are in a great facility.”
Architect Mike Marshall told the nearly 500 Ernest Ward students to make good use of the building. He challenged the students to always do their best, and work to get their photo on NorthEscambia.com for a positive accomplishment.
Tiffany Bates from of the office of Congressman Jeff Miller presented a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol in honor of the school’s grand opening.
Students moved into the Ernest Ward back in January so classes continue while the old school was demolished.
The oldest buildings at Ernest Ward, including the main classroom wing, were constructed in 1945 to replace a campus ravaged by fire in 1943. That old school had been constructed to replace an Ernest Ward School that first opened in a log cabin in 1896.
Ernest Ward graduate Billy Ward, who later served as a longtime probate judge in Escambia County, was a special guest at Tuesday’s ribbon cutting. He is the nephew of the Ernest Ward for which the school was named.
Ward remembers the day in 1943 that smoke billowed toward the sky from what was then the campus of Ernest Ward on Arthur Brown Road, near the site of the modern day grain elevator. “I rode my bicycle as hard as I could to get over there and see what happened,” he said. “It just burnt to the ground.”
Classes for the remainder of 1943 and 1944 were held in the school gym, located across Arthur Brown Road and untouched by the fire.
“They divided the gym up and we finished school there,” Ward explained, “before they open the new school here (on Highway 97) in 1945. It was nice back then.”
“But this is something else now,” Ward said Tuesday of the new facility. “It has everything the students need.”
Pictured top and upper inset: The grand opening ribbon cutting at Ernest Ward Middle School in Walnut Hill on Tuesday. Pictured bottom inset: Ernest Ward graduate and former probate judge Billy Ward. Pictured below: Ernest Ward students, many wearing pink fore breast cancer awareness, listen to the grand opening ceremony. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
GOP Presidential Candidate Ben Carson Coming To Escambia County
October 7, 2015
Republican Presidential candidate Ben Carson and his wife Candy are coming to Escambia County.
On Sunday, November 1, Carson will appear at Books-A-Million on Davis Highway to sign copies of his newly released book “A More Perfect Union: What We the People Can Do To Reclaim Our Constitutional Liberties”.
The book discusses the basic principles of the Constitution and “how they relate to our everyday lives”. The event begins at 3:30 p.m. is free and open to the public.
Attendees can purchase copies of Carson’s books, which he will sign until his scheduled departure time, and get a free “thank you” photo with Carson that can be downloaded after the event. Those attendig area asked to arrive early to secure a good place in line.
Traffic: Lane Closures On County Road 97
October 7, 2015
North and southbound lanes of County Road 97, between Highway 297A and Sundance Lane in Escambia County, will experience temporary lane closures due to an Escambia County Commission road project.
The temporary lane closures will begin Wednesday, October 7, and will continue until Friday, October 23, at 9 p.m.
ECUA Responds To Shut Down Of Recycling Plant
October 7, 2015
ECUA is responding after the temporary shut down of a Montgomery facility that processes the company’s recyclables.
ECUA received an email notice this past weekend from the CEO of IREP indicating the temporary closure of the IREP recycling plant, due to a contractual disagreement between IREP and the City of Montgomery, its anchor customer.
“At this time, we have found a home for approximately 30% of recyclables collected, and we continue to seek other processing facilities for the balance of our recyclables,” ECUA Executive Director Steve Sorrell said. “Additionally, we are exploring the possible use of temporary equipment to perform basic sorting and processing of materials ourselves. As a last resort, recyclables that cannot be processed are being hauled to the Perdido Landfill.”
The construction of ECUA’S new recycling facility, scheduled for May 2016 to coincide with the termination of its contract with the IREP facility, is being expedited. The equipment for this facility has already been purchased and will be transported to Pensacola from Oregon by 67 semi trucks. ECUA hopes have that facility in operation by the first quarter of 2016.
“This is a short-term concern we will resolve as quickly as possible, and we urge our customers to continue recycling. ECUA is as committed as ever to the continued viability of our recycling program, and consider this a temporary setback in operations,” ECUA said in a prepared statement.
Click here for an earlier story.
Northview Names Homecoming Court; Plans Parade, Lunch, Pep Rally
October 7, 2015
It’s homecoming week at Northview High School, culminating Friday with a parade, the naming of class maids and homecoming queen, and football against Liberty County.
The parade will line up on the campus of Bratt Elementary School beginning at noon Friday. The parade will begin at Bratt Elementary at 12:45 p.m. and end with a pep rally in the Tommy Weaver Memorial Stadium at Northview High. (The general public should not enter the Bratt Elementary campus.)
A homecoming meal will available Friday from 10 a.m. until from the football concession stand to support the Tommy Weaver Scholarship Fund. The $7 meal will include a BBQ pulled pork sandwich, chips, cookies and drink. To reserve lunch, call (850) 327-6681 ext. 248 or tickets are available in the Northview front office. Checks should be made payable to the NHS FFA Alumni.
Friday night homecoming festivities will begin at 6:00 Friday with presentation of the class maids and queen, with game kickoff set for 7 p.m. The class floats will be presented at halftime, and homecoming week winners will be announced.
Pictured: The 2015 Northview High School Homecoming Court – Morgan Myrick, junior; Brittanie McClemore, junior; Autumn Albritton, junor; Amber Freeman, senior; Celeste North, sophomore; Savanna Roux, senior; Anna Nelson, sophomore; Jadlyn Agerton, senior; Jerni Crabtree, sophomore; Danielle Robinson, senior; Gabrielle Kline, freshman; Madison Sherouse, freshman; and Ashtyn Carnley, freshman. Not pictured: Jessica Amerson, senior. Pictured below: Seniors Amber Freeman, Savannah Roux, Jadlyn Agerton and Danielle Robinson. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Flomaton Man Facing Felony Charge For Playground Vandalism
October 7, 2015
A Flomaton man has been charged with the vandalism of a town playground.
Christopher Edward Bingham, 21, was arrested Tuesday for criminal mischief in the first degree, a felony. Bingham was identified by Flomaton Police as the person responsible for the vandalism of the playground equipment at Hurricane Park sometime between July 16 and July 17.
The damage to the playground, which has been closed since the vandalism, was $6,360.
“The Flomaton Police Department will continue to investigate to determine if others were involved in the vandalism,” Police Chief Bryan Davis said.
Photos courtesy Flomaton Police Department for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Infant Kyndall Renea McGhee
October 7, 2015
Infant Kyndall Renea McGhee was born on September 21, 2015, and passed away on October 2, 2015, in Pensacola. She was preceded in death by her great-grandparents, Jim Blackmon, Mal McGhee and Fay Jackson.
Survivors include her father and mother, Nick McGhee and Kathy Pendleton of Atmore; grandparents, Mal and Tami McGhee of Atmore and John and Tonyia Pendleton of Pensacola; great-grandparents, Martha Jane Jackson of Atmore, Barbara and Ronnie Hughes of Stockton, AL, Willis and Beatrice Perry of New York, Charlene and Jimmy Leonard of Cleveland, AL, Bill and Vicki Pfeiffer of Milton and Ginny Parker of Pensacola; two uncles, Josh (Brittany) Martin of McCullough and John Pendleton II of Pensacola; and two aunts, Malori McGhee of McCullough and Crystal (Mathew) Mason of Pensacola.
Funeral services were held Monday, October 5, 2015, at the Poarch Community Church with Rev. Wesley Alvarez officiating.
Burial was at the Judson Creek Indian Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Josh Martin and John Pendleton.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Sheriff’s Office Seeks Attempted Homicide, Home Invasion Robbery Suspect
October 7, 2015
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is looking for 25-year old Jaquest Derric Norris for attempted homicide and home invasion robbery following an incident that occurred in the 1000 block of South Fairfield Drive on Monday. If you have information on his whereabouts, you are asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.