NJROTC Annual Inspection Is Wednesday
February 9, 2016
Northview High School’s NJROTC unit will have its annual Area Manager’s Inspection (AMI) on Wednesday, February 10 beginning at 9 a.m. in the school gym.
The inspection includes a uniform inspection of each of the unit’s cadets, drill team performance, cadet recognition, pass in review, unit brief to the inspecting officer and awards. The inspecting officer this year is Captain Mark Truluck, Commanding Officer, Naval Aviation Schools Command, NAS Pensacola.
Family members and the community are invited to attend.
Pictured: Northview High School’s NJROTC Annual Inspection last year at the school. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Open Carry Gun Bill May Not Get Senate Hearing
February 9, 2016
Senate Judiciary Chairman Miguel Diaz de la Portilla may not bring up a controversial open-carry gun measure in his committee during this year’s legislative session.
The move would effectively stop the proposal (SB 300), which is strongly backed by Second Amendment groups, including the National Rifle Association.
Diaz de la Portilla, R-Miami, told reporters on Monday that he has grown uneasy with the proposal. The House passed its version of the bill last week after adding an amendment that would allow state lawmakers to carry sidearms into legislative meetings.
“I am concerned that it may become a vehicle for some very, very bad amendments. I think that’s what we learned last week,” Diaz de la Portilla said. “Because of those concerns, I’m very, very seriously considering not hearing it at all.”
Diaz de la Portilla said he’ll decide later this week if the bill will be heard by his committee. The bill would allow the nearly 1.5 million people in Florida with concealed-weapons licenses to openly carry guns in most public places. The House voted 80-38 to approve its version last week.
by The News Service of Florida
Senate Panel Back Unamimity In Death Sentences
February 9, 2016
After hearing from a former prisoner who spent 17 years on Florida’s Death Row for a crime he didn’t commit, the Senate Criminal Justice Committee unanimously approved a measure that would overhaul the state’s death-penalty sentencing structure.
Monday’s action by the Senate committee puts the upper chamber at odds with the House over how to address a U.S. Supreme Court decision, in a case known as Hurst v. Florida, that overturned the state’s death-penalty sentencing system.
Last month’s 8-1 ruling, which centered on the sentencing phase of death-penalty cases after defendants are found guilty, dealt with what are known as “aggravating” circumstances that must be determined before defendants can be sentenced to death. A 2002 U.S. Supreme Court ruling, in a case known as Ring v. Arizona, requires that determination of such aggravating circumstances be made by juries, not judges.
Under Florida law, juries make recommendations regarding the death penalty, based on a review of aggravating and mitigating circumstances, but judges ultimately decide whether defendants should be put to death or sentenced to life in prison.
The Senate proposal (SB 7068) would require unanimous decisions on at least one aggravating factor and would also require a unanimous jury recommendation for the death penalty to be imposed. Under current law, a majority of jurors has to decide that at least one aggravator exists, but juries are not required to provide information about the votes on each of the aggravators.
A House measure (PCB CRJS 16-07), backed by state prosecutors, would require unanimity for the aggravators, but would only require a 9-3 vote to recommend death. The House bill will get a second vetting Wednesday.
Of the 32 states with the death penalty, Florida is one of only three states — including Delaware and Alabama — that do not require unanimous jury decisions for capital punishment. Like Florida, Delaware recently issued a moratorium on executions while the state Supreme Court considers the impact of the Hurst case.
Sen. Rob Bradley, a former prosecutor, grilled 5th Judicial Circuit State Attorney Brad King about the 9-3 jury recommendation, asking if any other state had a lower bar for the death penalty.
“I support the death penalty…but I also have a duty to craft laws that will survive constitutional scrutiny from our courts,” Bradley, R-Fleming Island, said.
King repeatedly sidestepped the question, saying that Florida’s “system” differs from that of other states.
“And they just found our system to be unconstitutional,” Bradley pointed out. “Our correcting of that would be to have the lowest threshold of any other state.”
With the exception of the state attorneys, other death penalty experts are recommending unanimity for death sentence recommendations, as is required for jury verdicts in other cases. Because nearly all of the other states with the death penalty require unanimity for death sentences, being so outside of the mainstream puts Florida at risk in a future Supreme Court case, the experts warned.
But, echoing arguments he has made at previous hearings on the issue, King said requiring a unanimous recommendation would allow a single juror to “hijack” the process.
Under questioning from Bradley, King said prosecutors suggested the 9-3 jury recommendation but had discussed whether “10-2 might be the number we might land on.”
Asked by Bradley if the state attorneys support the 10-2 jury recommendation, King said, “It was more, honestly, a political evaluation of where everybody stood.”
Lawmakers are under pressure to come up with a fix for the death penalty sentencing before the 2016 session ends March 11.
The Florida Supreme Court last week indefinitely postponed the scheduled Feb. 11 execution of Cary Michael Lambrix, shortly after hearing arguments that concentrated on the impact of the Hurst decision on Death Row inmates. A flurry of appeals from other Death Row inmates is expected.
Before voting on the measure without any debate Monday, the Senate panel heard from Juan Melendez, who said he spent “17 years, eight months and one day on Death Row for a crime I did not commit.” Melendez, who was exonerated in 2002, told the committee that the jury recommendation for death in his case was 9-3.
Melendez said “it makes no sense” that jury recommendations not be unanimous when all other jury votes are.
“You always can release an innocent man from prison. But you can never and I repeat, never release an innocent man from the grave. Your bill would encourage deliberation when you’re considering a death sentence,” he said.
by Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida
Wind Advisory, Cold Today
February 9, 2016
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Today: Sunny, with a high near 49. Wind chill values between 25 and 35 early. Breezy, with a west wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 26. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light west in the evening.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 51. Wind chill values between 20 and 30 early. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
Wednesday Night: Clear, with a low around 32. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 66. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 46. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west after midnight.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 65. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 43. West wind around 5 mph becoming northwest after midnight.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 57. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 30.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 51.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 38.
Washington’s Birthday: A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 58.
Pictured: Wind whips flags in Bratt Monday afternoon. Windy conditions are expected again to day. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Elections Officials: Get Ready For March 15 Primary Election
February 9, 2016
Elections officials from Escambia, Santa Rosa Okaloosa counties held a joint press conference Monday in Pensacola to discuss the upcoming Presidential Preference Primary on Tuesday, March 15,
Slower mail delivery means voters that choose to vote-by-mail will need to make sure their ballots will reach their local election’s office before the 7 p.m. March 15 deadline. First class local mail delivery was previously a day or two, but not that’s three to five days with a chance in standard from the U.S. Postal Service.
Absentee ballots should be requested before March 9. The deadline for voter registration and party changes in February 16.
Nearly 20 percent of Northwest Florida’s voters won’t be able to vote on March 15 because Florida is a closed primary. Republicans and Democrats can vote only in their party’s primary, while no party affiliation registered voters can’t vote in either one.
Pictured: Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David H. Stafford (top) and fellow Supervisors of Elections Tappie Villane, Santa Rosa County and Paul Lux, Okaloosa County, to discuss the upcoming Presidential Preference Primary on Tuesday, March 15 during a Monday press conference in Pensacola. Photos by Brandi Ziglar for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Over A Dozen Railroad Crossings To Close For Repair
February 8, 2016
[UPDATE 9:15 a.m.] Over a dozen railroad crossings will be closed at some time during the couple of of weeks for repairs from McDavid north through Century, including Highway 4 beginning Tuesday.
Highway 4 will be closed at the crossing just east of Highway 29 from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday and from 8 a.m. until completion on Thursday as CSX repairs and replaces railroad ties. While the crossing will be open overnight, it will be marked as “rough” warning drivings of temporary filling material until paving is completed on Thursday.
CSX will close numerous other North Escambia a crossing as part of its network-wide crossing maintenance program beginning next week, with work expected to be completed in one week.
CSX engineering crews will be laying new rail ties, resurfacing crossings and repaving them with asphalt. CSX has worked closely with local officials to coordinate the crossing closures to minimize disruption to the community and is communicating directly with residents where there are dead-end roads or no-outlet situations.
Traffic will experience temporary closures to the following road crossings during the operations period:
- Cottage Street
- McCurdy Road
- Hecker Road
- Front Street
- East Pond Street
- Jefferson Avenue
- Salters Lake Road
- Bluff Springs Road
- Courtney Road
- Mystic Springs Road
- East Bogia Road
- Cotton Lake Road
The roads listed above will be temporarily closed at different times on the maintenance schedule, according to CSX. NorthEscambia.com is working with the contractor to provide an updated schedule for crossing closures as soon as possible.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. Motorists are reminded to travel with care through the work zone and to watch for construction equipment and workers entering and exiting the roadway.
Pictured top: Repairs were make to the Hecker Road crossing in Century late last month. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Wind Advisory And Cool Temps
February 8, 2016
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming clear, with a low around 29. Wind chill values between 20 and 25. Blustery, with a west wind 15 to 20 mph decreasing to 10 to 15 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 49. Wind chill values between 20 and 30 early. Breezy, with a northwest wind 10 to 15 mph increasing to 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 30. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 50. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph.
Wednesday Night: Clear, with a low around 30. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light and variable after midnight.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 57. Light south wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 44. South wind around 5 mph.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 65. West wind 5 to 15 mph.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 45.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 59.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 35.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 55.
Jimmie William Kite
February 8, 2016
Jimmie William Kite went to be with his Lord and Savior on February 4, 2016, unexpectedly. He was born June 4, 1939, in Pensacola. He began his love of farming as an employee of Foster’s Dairy at age 15. He married the love of his life of 56 years Barbara Ann Driver Kite in 1959. He was a welder/pipefitter by trade for more than 20 years. Because retirement wasn’t in his vocabulary, farming became his passion. His love for farming was a source of pride and livelihood he passed down to his children and his grandchildren.
The most memorable years of his life were spending time with his boys and his grandchildren. He enjoyed coon hunting, fishing, and watching his boys ride racehorses. As his grandchildren came along they provided many memories that were a source of pride and joy for him daily. There was no lack of personality for this Daddy and Pawpaw. For all that knew him, his animated spirit will never be forgotten.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Helen Garrett Kite Glidden and Rufus Kite; four siblings; and his first grandson, Bryant Carlton Kite.
He is survived by his wife, Barbara Ann Driver Kite, three sons; Dale (Sharon) Kite, Joey (Brenda) Kite, and Darrell (Sherri) Kite; and one brother, Howard Kite; grandchildren, Kristina Bovia (expecting Jimmie’s first great grandchild, Roxanne), Heather Winfree, Justin Kite, Hunter Kite, and Cody Kite.
Pallbearers will be Dale Kite, Joey Kite, Darrell Kite, Justin Kite, Cody Kite, and Hunter Kite.
Honorary pallbearers will be Pat Kelly, Mike Kelly, JR Miller, Trey Bovia, Bryan Winfree, Charles Jones, Bruce Lee, Randy Weaver and Shane Gibson.
Visitation will be held at Victory Assembly of God on Tuesday February 9, 2016, from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. with funeral services to immediately follow.
Interment will be held at Highland Baptist Church.
Eastern Gate Memorial Gardens will be in charge of arrangements.
Fire Destroys Church Van In Century
February 8, 2016
A church van went up in flames Sunday afternoon in Century. The Greater Union Missionary Church van burst into flames as the driver was pulling off North Century Boulevard at the New Life Christian Center. There were no passengers in the van at the time of the fire. Reader submitted photo (top) and NorthEscambia.com photos (below), click to enlarge.
Pensacola Opera’s ‘Jack And The Beanstalk’ Free In Century, Molino
February 8, 2016
The Pensacola Opera will present free performances of the endearing tale “Jack and the Beanstalk” at two local library branches this week.
The first performance will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Century Branch Library. The second performance will be at 10:30 Wednesday morning at the Molino Branch Library.
Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.