Mobile Home Heavily Damaged By Fire
May 22, 2016
Fire heavily damaged a mobile home early Sunday morning in Ensley. The fire was reported just after 1 a.m. in the Lost Oaks Mobile Home Park in the 8900 block of Chemstrand Road, south of Nine Mile Road. The first 911 callers reported flames coming from the mobile home. Firefighters were able to quickly bring the fire under control. There were no injuries reported. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward Middle School Names Students Of The Month
May 22, 2016
Ernest Ward Middle School has named Students of the Month. The March Students of the Month, pictured above, are Jaden Lewis, sixth grade; Jayden Jackson, seventh grade; Cloe Smith, eighth grade. The April Students of the Month, pictured below, are Sarius Davis, sixth grade; Andrianna Cooper, seventh grade; Raleigh Woodfin, eighth grade. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com click to enlarge.
Top Achievers Honored During Annual Northview FFA Banquet
May 22, 2016
The Northview High School FFA held their annual banquet Friday night.
The event includes a somber retirement ceremony for six of the chapter’s graduating senior officers as they slowly removed their signature FFA blue jackets for the last time.
The night also included many awards for Northview FFA members and supporters. The Northview High School FFA has been continuously honored as a top chapter in Florida and the nation.
Awards and honors presented included:
General Awards
- Extemporaneous Public Speaking Career Development Event – Haylee Weaver
- Prepared Public Speaking Career Development Event – Mitchell Singleton
- Parliamentary Procedure – Courtney Weekley, Haylee Weaver, Bethany Reynolds, Moriah McGahan, Mitchell Singleton, Kaitlyn Kleinatland and Brandon Korinchak.
- Safe Tractor Operations – Cody Kite, Courtney Weekley
- Livestock Evaluation and Selection Career Development Event – Courtney Weekley, Haylee Weaver, Donnie Dixon, Mitchell Singleton, Cole Hassebrock, and Emma Fennell.
- Horse Evaluation – Bethany Reynolds, Tamara Barrows, Kaitlyn Kleinatland, Zack Steele, and Destiny Braddock
- GCA/NRYO Beef production and showmanship – Haylee Weaver
- GCA/NRYO Hog show – Wesley Hardin
- Forestry Team – Kaitlyn Kleinatland, Cole Hassebrock, Tamara Barrows, Grady Rigby, Katie Buford.
- Florida State FFA Convention and Expo attendees – Haylee Weaver, Courtney Weekley, Mitchell Singleton, Bethany Reynolds, Kaitlyn Kleinatland, Brandon Korinchak, Donnie Dixon, Emma Fennell, and Tamara Barrows.
Chapter Leadership Awards – Haylee Weaver, Mitchell Singleton, Bethany Reynolds, Courtney Weekley, Tamara Barrows, Kaitlyn Kleinatland, Tabitha Chavers, Brandon Korinchak, Donnie Dixon, Cody Kite , Breanna Campbell, Emma Fennell.
Blue and Gold Awards – Cole Hassebrock, Troy Stuckey
Outstanding Freshman and Star Greenhand – Density Braddock
Outstanding Sophomore – Donnie Dixon
Outstanding Junior – Mitchell Singleton
Outstanding Senior/Dekalb Agriculture Accomplishment Award – Haylee Weaver
High Point Award- Haylee Weaver- Plaque, Rotating Plaque and $100
Tommy Weaver Memorial Scholarship – Haylee Weaver
Glynn Key Ruritan Scholarship – Haylee Weaver
Jamie Hall Memorial Scholarship – Haylee Weaver
Northview FFA Alumni Scholarship — Kaitlyn Kleinatland, Courtney Weekley, Haylee Weaver
Agriscience FFA Honor Cords – Bethany Reynolds, Courtney Weekley, Haylee Weaver
Agricultural Education Services and Technology (AEST) Certification – Trevor Levins, Hunter Kite, Joel Gunter, Donnie Dixon, Levi Soloman, Julian Satterwhite, Cole Hassebrock.
Retiring Officers
Photographer – Breanna Campbell
Treasurer – Tamara Barrows
Secretary – Courtney Weekley
Reporter – Kaitlyn Kleinatland
2nd Vice President – Bethany Reynolds
President – Haylee Weaver
Honorary Members
Cathy Hardin
Barrineau Park Historical Society
Jacky and Sharon Cunningham
Jimmy Cunningham
Lydia Weaver
Pictured top: FFA honors graduates Lydia Weaver, Courtney Weekley and Bethany Reynolds. Pictured below: New FFA honorary members Jacky and Sharon Cunningham, Jimmy Cunningham, Lydia Weaver and Cathy Hardin. Pictured bottom: President and senior Haylee Weaver with her retirement address as teacher advisor Perry Byars listens. Pictured inset: Second Vice President and senior Bethany Reynolds. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
ECSO Donates $5,000 To Tate Showband’s Pearl Harbor Trip
May 22, 2016
Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan presented a $5,000 donation to the Tate High School Showband of the South at their annual spring concert late last week. The money donated from the Sheriff’s Office comes from State Law Enforcement Trust Fund, which is money seized during drug arrests.The Tate Showband is raising funds to perform in Hawaii in a mass band to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 2016. Pictured are Showband Director Mike Philley accepting the donation from Sheriff David Morgan. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Lose To Jacksonville; Still In First
May 22, 2016
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos were 0-9 with runners in scoring position and fell, 4-0, Saturday to the Jacksonville Suns at The Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.
Although Pensacola lost Saturday and is 5-5 in its last 10 games, they remain tied for first with Biloxi. The Shuckers took over first after beating the Blue Wahoos April 19. The Blue Wahoos are 25-18 on the season in the Southern League South Division, while the Shuckers are 24-17. Biloxi lost to the Tennessee Smokies, 10-9, Saturday when the Smokies scored nine runs in the seventh and eighth to come from behind to win.
Jacksonville got on the scoreboard first. Suns catcher Francisco Arcia singled to right field to drive in first baseman Brady Shoemaker with one out to go up, 1-0.
Suns third baseman James Roberts drew a bases loaded walk with two out in the sixth inning that scored left fielder Austin Dean, giving Jacksonville a 2-0 lead.
The Suns then put the game away in the eighth inning. Cam Maron pinch hit for Jacksonville and singled in Arcia, 3-0, with one out in eighth inning. Jacksonville center fielder Yefri Perez then hit a deep sacrifice fly to center to score James Roberts from third to give Jacksonville, 4-0, lead in eighth.
Jacksonville pitcher Austin Brice 5.2 scoreless innings, allowing five hits and one walk and struck out six. He improved his record to 3-2 and lowered his ERA to 1.99.
Pensacola pitcher Barrett Astin got the spot start and ended up getting his first loss of the season, falling to 3-1. He pitched three innings gave up one hit, one run, walked four and struck out four.
Blue Wahoos third baseman Eric Jagielo led Pensacola at the plate going 2-4. Pensacola left fielder Tony Renda got a hit in his third straight game against Jacksonville and is now 3-12 in the series.
Florida Gov’t Weekly Roundup: Issues Of Authority
May 22, 2016
The issues in Florida were driven by questions of authority this week.
Did Florida utility regulators act within their authority by allowing Florida Power & Light to invest ratepayers’ money in a controversial Oklahoma natural-gas project? Did the Obama administration overreach with “guidance” dealing with how public schools should treat transgender students? Can an inmate essentially shut down a Death Row appeal being pursued by his attorney?
Some of the questions were answered — the Supreme Court shot down FPL’s plans — and some were left hanging. When it came to the treatment of transgender students, no one at the highest levels of state government seemed particularly eager to respond at all.
POWER OUTAGE
The decision about the Florida Public Service Commission’s authority to approve the Oklahoma natural-gas project came on a 6-1 ruling by the state Supreme Court, an unusual margin for a court that often decides cases unanimously or on an ideologically divided 5-2 basis.
But Justice Ricky Polston, who generally votes with fellow conservative Justice Charles Canady, wrote the decision saying that the utility-regulatory commission overstepped its bounds by giving FPL the go-ahead to invest in drilling and production of natural gas in what is known as the Woodford Gas Reserves Project.
“This may be a good idea, but whether advance cost recovery of speculative capital investments in gas exploration and production by an electric utility is in the public interest is a policy determination that must be made by the Legislature,” Polston wrote. “For example, in contrast to natural gas exploration and production, the Legislature has authorized the PSC to approve cost recovery for capital investments in nuclear power plants and energy efficient and renewable energy power sources.”
FPL had argued that by passing along the costs for production, the project would help shield the utility’s customers from future price swings for natural gas.
Joining Polston were Chief Justice Jorge Labarga and justices Barbara Pariente, R. Fred Lewis, Peggy Quince and James E.C. Perry. Canady dissented, arguing that the Public Service Commission acted within its legal authority.
“The purpose of the Woodford project is to acquire natural gas, which is used to produce approximately 65 percent of the electricity FPL generates,” Canady wrote. “Acquiring natural gas is therefore necessary for and integrally related to FPL’s primary function of generating electricity.”
FPL was “disappointed” in the decision that could potentially have “long-term negative impact on customers’ bills,” spokeswoman Sarah Gatewood said in an email.
“We continue to believe the Woodford project is a smart long-term investment on behalf of FPL’s customers that will help us provide reliable electricity at low and stable prices by investing directly at the source to provide rate stability and reduce risk for our customers,” Gatewood wrote. “We also believe the PSC was on solid ground in approving a utility’s natural gas investment used in the provision of electric service, and appreciate its careful consideration of this innovative approach.”
FPL has collected about $78.4 million for the Woodford project, which is already providing natural gas for the company. The total comes to less than $1 a month on a typical customer’s bill. It remains unknown if any money will have to be refunded.
BATHROOM BRAWL
With the May 13 release of new guidance by federal officials that school districts should allow transgender students to use restrooms and other facilities of their choice, the fallout in Florida began spreading this week.
The most prominent upshot was social conservatives trying to push Gov. Rick Scott and Attorney General Pam Bondi to defy the administration of Democratic President Barack Obama. But neither Scott nor Bondi seemed eager to wade into the fight.
State Rep. Janet Adkins publicly announced that she had asked Bondi to address whether the Obama administration’s guidance is tantamount to a federal rule, or if it violates the 10th Amendment’s guarantee of state sovereignty for Florida.
“To craft a special class of rights for certain individuals and to allow people to make decisions based on how they identify their gender creates a chaotic environment for the school administrators,” said Adkins, R-Fernandina Beach, in a statement released by her office. “This is illogical and harms the greater need for an orderly learning environment that promotes the safety and well-being of all students.”
Adkins, who chairs the state House K-12 Subcommittee, is running for schools superintendent in Nassau County.
But Bondi’s office demurred. In a letter responding to Adkins, Florida Deputy Attorney General Kent Perez thanked the lawmaker for her curiosity but declined to address the question directly.
“We do not issue legal opinions on federal law,” Perez wrote.
Scott’s office continued to say it was reviewing the issue, even as Republican congressional candidates and one of the state’s highest-profile conservative groups pushed him to get involved.
The Florida Family Policy Council issued a letter by President John Stemberger calling on supporters to sign an online petition asking Scott to defy the Obama administration.
“For starters, the governors in at least six states have told the Obama administration they will NOT comply with his unlawful and dangerous edict,” Stemberger wrote. “But Florida is not yet one of them. We need your help to make that happen. States MUST push back!”
In contrast, the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida issued a letter Thursday calling on Scott and Bondi to stand down.
ACLU of Florida Executive Director Howard Simon said allowing public school students to use facilities corresponding to their stated gender identity — rather than their sex at birth — “is not only required by law, but it is also the right thing to do.”
“When transgender students are required to use separate facilities, it does not go unnoticed by other students,” Simon wrote. “Being separated from other students in this way would be damaging to anyone, but it is especially harmful for transgender children.”
One reason politicians might not be eager to get involved was represented by another development in Florida government. Health officials said they have started listing both spouses on birth certificates of children born into same-sex marriages and hope to have new birth certificates adding the option of “parent” — in addition to “mother” and “father” — by mid-July, according to court documents filed this week.
In a court filing, the state said U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle’s March 31 final order in a lawsuit that overturned the state’s gay-marriage ban made it possible for the forms to be changed. Hinkle’s order came more than a year after same-sex marriages became legal in Florida and long after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down state bans on gay marriage last June.
Five or 10 years ago, such a ruling would have seemed unlikely. But legal standards and public opinion on LGBT issues have been evolving rapidly, and ambitious politicians might not want to go any further on those debates than they have to.
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Meanwhile, the state’s ongoing battle over the death penalty was roiled again this week, when a Death Row inmate whose execution is on hold asked the Florida Supreme Court to abandon, in his case, consideration of a U.S. Supreme Court decision that struck down the state’s death-penalty sentencing process.
The Florida Supreme Court earlier this year indefinitely postponed the execution of Mark James Asay, a convicted double murderer who was scheduled to be put to death on March 17. The ruling was prompted by a U.S. Supreme Court decision that found Florida’s death penalty sentencing system gave too much power to judges, and not juries.
The state’s high court has focused on the fallout of the decision, which came in a case known as Hurst v. Florida, in more than a dozen Florida death penalty cases since the opinion was issued in January.
During the legislative session that ended in March, Florida lawmakers hurriedly crafted a “fix” to the state law — which defense lawyers contend is flawed — in response to the Jan. 12 ruling,
Under Florida’s new law, juries will have to unanimously determine “the existence of at least one aggravating factor” before defendants can be eligible for death sentences. The law also requires at least 10 jurors to recommend the death penalty in order for the sentence to be imposed, and it did away with a feature of the old law that allowed judges to override juries’ recommendations of life in prison instead of death.
A jury in Asay’s case recommended death on both first-degree murder counts with a vote of 9-3.
Since the Hurst ruling, lawyer Marty McClain — who was appointed after Scott signed a death warrant for Asay — has argued that the new law should apply to Asay and that the prisoner should receive a life sentence, based on a 1972 Florida law that required death sentences to be reduced to life imprisonment without parole if the death penalty is overturned.
“While Mr. McLain (sic) is indeed an honorable and excellent attorney in the rush and exigency of proceeding under a death warrant counsel has moved this court to review and to address claims relating to sentencing issues that petitioner simply is not interested in seeking relief from and now wishes to waive,” Asay wrote in a handwritten, two-page document filed with the Supreme Court.
Documents filed by Asay on Monday and Thursday appear to indicate that he is interested in pursuing appeals based on new or rejected evidence related to his case.
The court could ignore Asay’s request, ask the state to weigh in, ask McClain to respond, or send the case back to the trial court, according to legal experts.
STORY OF THE WEEK: The Florida Supreme Court rejected a decision by utility regulators to allow Florida Power & Light to charge customers for an investment in an Oklahoma natural-gas project.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “A right guaranteed by the Florida and United States Constitutions cannot be bargained away by a legislative compromise. To allow a non-unanimous verdict only in cases where the ultimate penalty is to be decided stands the Eighth Amendment ‘death is different’ principle on its head.”—10th Judicial Circuit Public Defender Rex Dimmig, in a friend-of-the-court brief dealing with whether a jury must unanimously agree to impose the death penalty.
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Eunice Hardy Goodwin
May 22, 2016
Eunice passed away in the early morning of May 20, 2016. Eunice was born to Samuel and Lennie Hardy in Bell Fountain, AL. She was raised in Muscogee. Eunice was the only girl out of five children, all of whom preceded her in death. She attended Tate High School until the tenth grade when she left to take employment at Woolworth Five & Dime in Pensacola. Eunice married her childhood sweetheart, A.J. (Dude) Goodwin. They went on to raise seven children. Five sons, Ronnie (Collie) Goodwin, Donnie Goodwin, Bobby Goodwin, Larry (Doris) Goodwin and Eddie Goodwin; two daughters, Faye (Mike) Dees and Brenda (Terry) Bagwell. She is also survived by 14 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren and 12 great-great-grandchildren.
Eunice was a devoted wife and loving mother. She was sure to always serve her family hot, home cooked meals every day and kept a spotless home. Eunice and Dude’s son, Bobby, was injured in an automobile accident in 1972 at age of 21, leaving him a quadriplegic. Eunice lovingly devoted her life to caring for Bobby until his death in 2012, at the age of 61. Bobby’s life expectancy exceeded the 20 years predicted to 40 years due to her excellent care. Eunice is also survived by many cousins, nephews and nieces and special friends. She will be dearly missed by family and all the friends in her life.
Eunice is preceded in death by her husband, “Dude” and two sons, Donnie and Bobby.
The family would like to thank the staff of Emerald Coast Hospice for their wonderful care and support during this trying time. Due to their help, mother was allowed to be cared for and remain at her home she so loved until her death. Also, a special thanks to Emil Arnold and Walker Arnold.
Visitation will be held Tuesday, May 24, 2016, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North beginning at 12:30 p.m. with funeral services to follow at 2:00 p.m. with Reverend Freddie Stallworth officiating.
Interment will follow at Farmhill Methodist Cemetery.
Pallbearers will Donald Goodwin, Ethan Bagwell, Matthew Goodwin, Dillon Godwin, Dalton Krebs and Tyler Jackson.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is in charge of arrangements.
No Injuries Reported In Cottage Hill Rollover Crash
May 21, 2016
There were no injuries in a single vehicle rollover accident early Saturday morning in Cottage Hill.
The driver of a Dodge Grand Caravan lost control and flipped into a wooded area about 5:15 a.m. on Highway 95A and McKenzie Road. The driver refused medical transport; there were no passengers in the vehicle.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Additional details on the crash have not been released.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Mostly Sunny Weekend
May 21, 2016
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 85. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph in the morning.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 63. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 86. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 57. North wind around 5 mph.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 84. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 64. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 86.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 69.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 69.
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 87.
State Fire Marshal Investigating Suspicious Fire At Abandoned Century Home
May 21, 2016
The Florida State Fire Marhal’s Office is investigating the cause of a suspicious fire Friday night that damaged an abandoned home in Century.
The fire was reported by a passerby about 9:40 p.m. at 120 East Pond Street, a wood frame home that neighbors said had been unoccupied for a period of time. The home had no power, no water and no gas connections.
The fire was contained mostly to a couple of rooms inside the home.
There were no injuries reported.
The Century, McDavid, Walnut Hill, Flomaton and Jay fire departments were dispatched to the fire, along with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and Escambia County EMS.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
