Cooler Today, Thursday
January 27, 2016
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Today: Showers before noon, then a chance of rain after noon. High near 52. North wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Tonight: A 30 percent chance of rain, mainly before midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 38. North wind around 10 mph.
Thursday: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 56. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 37. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 63. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 39. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 66. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 48. South wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 69. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 71.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59.
Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 70.
Florida Prisons Sued Over Treatment Of Disabled Inmates
January 27, 2016
A group representing disabled inmates has filed a federal lawsuit accusing Florida prison officials of discriminating against prisoners who are deaf, blind or confined to wheelchairs, in violation of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act.
The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in Tallahassee by Disability Rights Florida, alleges that the Department of Corrections failed to provide interpreters and auxiliary aids, prosthetic devices and wheelchairs, and assistants and tapping canes to inmates with disabilities.
The lawsuit also accuses corrections officials of discriminating against disabled inmates by refusing to allow them to participate in services and programs available to other prisoners.
The ADA violations cause prisoners “to suffer from the humiliation, indignity, and difficulties that accompany such exclusion” and also violate prisoners’ constitutional guarantees of equal protection and due process, lawyers for the Florida Justice Institute and the Morgan and Morgan law firm wrote in the 123-page complaint.
The lawyers spent two years investigating complaints from inmates before filing the lawsuit on Tuesday, according to a press release. Disability Rights Florida is asking a judge for an emergency injunction forcing the corrections department to comply with the ADA.
Corrections officials knew about the alleged violations laid out in the complaint but failed to correct them, “thereby exhibiting deliberate indifference to the rights of individuals” in their custody, the lawyers argued.
“The laws guaranteeing equal access are there to ensure that the dignity and independence of people with disabilities are respected,” Disability Rights Florida Executive Director Maryellen McDonald said in the release. “When those laws are not followed, not only do they result in a lack of access, but people with disabilities can suffer from the humiliation, indignity, and injuries that accompany it. Our organization is seeking to vindicate those principles for the incarcerated people of Florida.”
A spokesman for the corrections department said agency officials could not comment on pending litigation.
The lawsuit details the complaints of 32 inmates who are deaf, blind or need wheelchairs or prosthetic devices but who were repeatedly denied services or assistance and who were threatened with retaliation for complaining. Some inmates were also excluded from jobs because of their disabilities, according to the complaint.
According to the lawsuit, the inmates’ plights are representative of discrimination experienced by other disabled prisoners.
The lawsuit lays out a plethora of woes encountered by deaf inmates. In some instances, deaf prisoners have waited years for their hearing aids to be repaired or replaced and have been not been provided American Sign Language interpreters for critical events such as medical appointments. Some deaf inmates are forced to serve as interpreters for other prisoners during doctors’ visits, possibly violating federal privacy laws. Special telephones for the hearing-impaired are often broken or unavailable, the lawyers wrote, and deaf prisoners can’t hear announcements, causing them to miss “critical events” such as meals.
For example, inmate David Stanley, who is deaf, had his hearing aid sent out for repair in 2009 and “has been without one for much of the time since then,” the lawyers wrote.
Corrections officials also failed to provide or maintain wheelchairs to other inmates, who are thus “denied the minimal necessities of civilized life,” the lawsuit alleges. Prison officials have also failed to assign other inmates — known as “pushers” — to wheelchair-bound prisoners, who are often unable to navigate the prison grounds on their own because the facilities are not ADA-compliant.
Handicapped showers and toilets were frequently unavailable for the wheelchair-bound inmates named in the complaint, according to the lawsuit.
Inmate David Belle, who is missing both feet and uses two artificial limbs, did not have access to a handicapped shower, the complaint alleges. Belle has to “jump out of his wheelchair and shower on the floor while balancing on his knees,” a process that is “degrading and humiliating,” lawyers for the federally funded Disability Rights Florida wrote.
The “stress of having a disability while incarcerated” caused Belle to lose 55 pounds in 18 months, according to the complaint.
Another inmate went a month without a shower because the shower wasn’t ADA-compliant, the complaint alleges.
Prison officials took away Richard Jackson’s wheelchair when he was put into solitary confinement at Santa Rosa Correctional Institution. The prisoner, who was forced to “drag himself across the dirty and abrasive cell floor,” sued the department and eventually settled for “substantial damages” and lawyers’ fees, according to the complaint.
Prisoner Christopher Villanueva, who went without a prosthetic leg for two years, also reached a settlement with the agency after suing.
Corrections officials have also refused to cooperate with U.S. Department of Justice officials regarding the treatment of disabled inmates, the lawsuit alleges. For two years, officials with the federal agency have been trying to get permission from the Department of Corrections to conduct on-site inspections, to no avail, according to the complaint.
Justice officials in June threatened to sue the corrections agency, but state officials still have not allowed the visits, the complaint alleges.
by Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida
House Proposes Nearly $1 Billion In Florida Tax Cuts
January 27, 2016
The House is proposing a wide-ranging tax cut package that falls just short of Gov. Rick Scott’s request for more than $1 billion in mostly business-friendly relief.
A draft of the proposal, slated for discussion by the House Finance & Tax Committee on Wednesday, is more diverse that what the governor is seeking and doesn’t include a cornerstone of his package — a $770 million annual reduction in state revenue achieved by permanently eliminating the corporate income tax on manufacturers and retailers.
House Finance & Tax Committee Chairman Matt Gaetz expects his chamber’s tax-cut package to top $1 billion as additional proposals now in individual member bills are added.
“The House will write a tax bill, I assume the Senate will have tax bills that curry favor, and we’ll get together and negotiate a tax plan as intended,” said Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach.
In a statement responding to questions about the House proposal, Scott’s spokeswoman Jackie Schutz said that the governor “expects to end the session strong with a $1 billion tax cut.”
The majority of House’s $989.2 million proposal is comprised of $572.1 million in one-time cuts over the next two fiscal years, compared to Scott’s request for $1.18 billion in permanent, or recurring, cuts.
The proposal does support Scott’s bid to reduce the sales tax on commercial leases by 1 percentage point starting July 1, 2017. It also would extend — rather than permanently eliminate, as Scott wants — a tax on manufacturing machinery that is set to return in 2017.
The reduction in the commercial-lease tax — which would drop another percentage point for just 2018 — would be the largest recurring cut, totaling $256.8 million in the next fiscal year.
The House plan would also give Scott a one-year sales-tax exemption on college textbooks and a 10-day sales tax “holiday” on back-to-school items, but does not include the governor’s request for a sales-tax holiday on hurricane supplies.
The House proposal also includes sales-tax holidays for items costing less than $1,000 at certain small businesses the Saturday after Thanksgiving, for hunting and fishing gear on a single day in August, and for personal computers and computer-related accessories for a day in April 2017.
The holiday on fishing and hunting equipment was part of the House’s initial tax cut proposal last year, a package that stood at $690 million when the regular session abruptly ended. Scott eventually signed a tax cut plan worth more than $400 million over two years that featured reductions in taxes on cell-phone bills, cable TV bills, gun club memberships, college textbooks and luxury boat repairs.
For the next fiscal year, the House is also reviving others measures that failed to pass, such as lifting sales tax at school book fairs for one year and reclassifying cider made from pears from wine to a malt beverage, which would lower the tax on pear-cider production from $2.25 a gallon to 89 cents a gallon. Cider made from fermented apples is already taxed at the lower rate.
The House measure would also lift sales taxes on building materials; pest control; rental of tangible personal property used in new construction in rural areas of opportunity; certain equipment, electricity and building materials used by data centers; and food and drink sold by veterans’ organizations to their members.
The proposal would also expand the homestead exemption for surviving spouses of totally and permanently disabled veterans and establish a property-tax discount on certain property used for affordable housing, expected to help groups such as Habitat for Humanity.
The proposal comes out a week after state economic forecasters slashed nearly $400 million from their estimate of how much lawmakers will have to spend in the budget year that begins July 1, raising questions about Scott’s plans to cut taxes and boost economic-development incentives.
The House draft was released a day after Senate Transportation, Tourism and Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, announced he will recommend including in his budget Scott’s request for $250 million in business-recruitment incentives for Enterprise Florida, the state’s public-private economic development agency.
In response to Latvala’s announcement, House Speaker Steve Crisafulli said his chamber will focus on the tax cut portion of Scott’s priorities.
“The House strongly supports a billion-dollar tax cut; that will be the focus of the House’s discretionary spending,” Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island, said in an email Monday night. “We believe cutting taxes is the best way to spur economic growth and help families keep more of their hard-earned money. It’s still early in the process, but I am confident that the House, Senate, and governor will come together with a strong economic plan for Florida.”
Business groups were quick to back the House proposal.
The Florida Chamber of Commerce, which has assembled one of two coalitions pushing to trim the commercial leases tax, issued a release asserting that, if the tax is reduced, “job creators could increase wages, offer better benefits, hire more employees or invest in the business itself.”
Florida TaxWatch, a Tallahassee-based, business-backed think tank, was quick to tag the proposal as a means to “strengthen Florida’s economy and benefit Florida taxpayers.”
The two chambers rolled out their plans days after Scott signed into law a pair of bills to boost educational and job opportunities for people with developmental disabilities — a top priority of Senate President Andy Gardiner — and a statewide water-policy bill that has been a priority for Crisafulli.
“We’re starting with things that are very important to the president and speaker and other members of the House and Senate,” Scott, flanked by the legislative leaders, said after signing the bills last week. “Everybody knows my priorities: $1 billion in tax cuts, we get more jobs; $250 million with Enterprise Florida, dedicated funds, we get more jobs.”
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Truck’s Oil Leak Shuts Down Downtown Atmore
January 27, 2016
An oil leak from an 18-wheeler shut down a portion of downtown Atmore Tuesday afternoon. The truck left behind a trail of oil from North Main Street (Highway 21) east on Highway 31. City workers brought in loads of sand to soak up the mess and reduce the driving hazard. Pictured top: A view of the North Main Street and Highway 31 intersection as crews clean up and oil spill. Photos submitted by Terry Kelly for NorthEscambia.com. Pictured below: Additional photos of the clean up in downtown Atmore. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Reimagine Flomaton Meeting Thursday Night
January 27, 2016
A volunteer meeting for Reimagine Flomaton will be held at 6:30 Thursday evening at the Flomaton Community Center.
Reimagine Flomaton will be held Saturday, February 20, 2016. Reimagine has held similar events in Century, Brownsville, Warrrington, Thomaston, GA, Santa Rosa County and Peru. Events have included clothing giveaways, free haircuts, free food, free health checks and displays from community organizations.
The Flomaton Community Center is located 628 McCurdy Street.
Pictured: Volunteers discuss Reimagine Flomaton last month during a meeting last year at the Flomaton Fire Department. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Century Cracking Down On Bad Check Writers
January 27, 2016
The Town of Century is cracking down on those that write bad checks for town services such as utility payments. The fee for bad checks will be increased to an amount between $25-$40, dependent on the amount of the check. And, under a new policy, the town will no longer accept checks from anyone that has written the town two bad checks in a 12 month period.
Three Indicted In Escambia Murder
January 27, 2016
Three people have been indicted in an Escambia County murder case.
An Escambia County grand jury indicted Bryan Simmons, David Calland, and Jezzamay Atherton for first degree felony murder in the death of Darel Mims.
Mims was found shot to death on January 11, 2016, in his apartment at the Beauclere Apartments located off East Burgess Road.
All three will be in court Friday for an arraignment hearing.
Byrneville Elementary Students Prepare For Groovy Reading Night
January 27, 2016
Byrneville Elementary School will hold a Groovy Reading Night this Thursday from 6-7 p.m. at the school. In anticipation of the event, students created VW buses with the students inside.
The event is for all grades. The students will enjoy a movie, popcorn and face painting, while the parents will attend breakout sessions. Families will also be able to visit the school’s Book Fair.
All Byrneville Elementary School parents and students are urged to attend.
Submitted images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Charles Randell Brantley
January 27, 2016
Mr. Charles Randell Brantley, age 56 of Flomaton, passed away on Tuesday, January 26, 2016.
Mr. Brantley was born in Century, but spent his lifetime in the Flomaton community. During his working years he worked for Marchand Oil Company as a roustabout.
He is survived by his mother, Mrs. Earnestine Brantley of Wedowee, AL; sisters, Jackie (Bobby) Aron of Wedowee, AL and Debbie (Ronald) Ardoin of Washington, LA; special little buddy, Brenden Odom and longtime friend, Nikki Watson.
A visitation will be held on Thursday, January 28, 2016, at Flomaton Funeral Home Chapel from 5-8 p.m.
Amtrak Confirms VIP Train Will Roll As Officials Study Rail Service Return To Gulf Coast
January 26, 2016
Amtrak and the Southern Rail Commission have confirmed in a press release what NorthEscambia.com was first to publish about two weeks ago — a special “inspection train” will ride the rails from New Orleans to Jacksonville next month in advance preparation for the possible return of passenger rail service to cities like Pensacola and Atmore.
The inspection train, hosted by Amtrak President and CEO Joe Boardman, will carry elected officials, industry representatives, community leaders and federal stakeholders. The goal of the invitation-only trip is to examine the existing CSX railroad infrastructure and to better understand rail’s economic, cultural and mobility opportunities. It it designed to provide an unparalleled perspective on reintroducing intercity passenger rail along the Gulf Coast.
The SRC recently released a study by Amtrak detailing the range of feasible service options accompanied by an analysis of ridership levels, projected revenues, and associated costs for passenger trains between New Orleans and Orlando. The models in this new study present the range of service options that will support regional economic resilience and projected population growth.
Better connections and financial performance has been projected in these models – with higher ridership and lower costs – than Amtrak services previously considered or operated in the region.
“We want to work with community leaders and CSX.” said Boardman. “Additional regional economic development can come from shared infrastructure investments on a timeline to better connect the region to the rest of the country and more than 500 other Amtrak destinations.”
Connecting the cities and towns along the Gulf Coast with passenger rail is one of the top priority projects for the Southern Rail Commission.
“The Southern Rail Commission is committed to working with local and federal partners, and Amtrak to make this service a reality in the near future,” said SRC Chairman Greg White. “We are continuing to align the necessary support for the project.”
The train is expected to arrive in Atmore about 2:41 p.m. on February 18. Passengers will board buses to spend the night at the Wind Creek Hotel in Atmore, while the empty train will continue toward Pensacola. On the morning of February 19, the passengers will be bused to Pensacola to re-board the train at 8 a.m. and continue on to stops in Crestview, Chipley, Tallahassee and Jacksonville.
Atmore officials are planning to make a huge impression on the VIP passengers when the arrive in the city for their overnight stay on February 19. The plan to meet the train with huge fanfare — high school bands, color guards, school groups and thousands of local residents.
The city is also asking residents to clean up their homes and businesses prior to February 19, according to Mayor Jim Staff. The city will use plywood to re-deck the aging train platform at the Atmore train station, which also services as Alabama’s Official Rail Welcome Station. The town will install new flower boxes, flag decorations and more in their beautification efforts.
For a previous NorthEscambia.com story, click here.
Pictured top: Jerry Gehman, Atmore’s representative to the Southern Rail Commission, announced two weeks ago that a special VIP inspection train will roll into the Atmore train station with invited passengers to spend the night of February 18 in Atmore. Pictured top inset: Gehman discusses a Southern Rain Commission report during a January 13 press conference at the Atmore City Hall. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.