Mostly Sunny, Warm
September 23, 2016
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming north in the afternoon.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the morning.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 87.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 88.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 86.
Supreme Court Clears Hunter On Muzzleloader Charge
September 23, 2016
Christopher Weeks donned camouflage and an orange vest and went hunting in February 2012 with a muzzleloader rifle that had been a Christmas gift from his wife.
Then the problems started: A state wildlife officer saw Weeks’ pickup truck parked along a road in the Blackwater Wildlife Management Area in Santa Rosa County. And it turned out that Weeks had been convicted of a felony in the past, which led the officer to charge him with violating a law that bars convicted felons from possessing guns.
But more than four years later, the Florida Supreme Court gave Weeks a reprieve Thursday.
In a 5-2 decision, justices cleared Weeks on the gun-possession charge because state law treats antique firearms — and their replicas — different from other guns. The ruling said lawmakers exempted firearms manufactured in or before 1918 and their replicas from the prohibition on felons possessing guns.
The majority opinion, written by Justice Barbara Pariente, delved into the details about what could be considered a replica weapon and, in a key issue, rejected arguments that Weeks’ rifle didn’t qualify because it also included a scope.
“In this case, Weeks wanted to go hunting and, with his wife and his father, researched the law and determined that sections (of state law) allowed him to possess a replica of a 1918 black powder muzzleloader rifle with a percussion cap ignition system. … His rifle was modified only with respect to the attached scope,” said Pariente’s opinion, joined fully by Chief Justice Jorge Labarga and justices Ricky Polston and James E.C. Perry. “When the felon-in-possession statute is construed in the light most favorable to the defendant, Weeks’ rifle’s attached scope did not remove his firearm from the statutory exemption.”
Justice Charles Canady wrote a concurring opinion that was joined by Labarga and Polston.
But Justice R. Fred Lewis, in a dissenting opinion joined by Justice Peggy Quince, wrote that scope disqualified the rifle from being considered a replica.
“Although the firearm may have relied upon an ignition mechanism used by similar firearms before 1918, it also featured a scope that was not found on weapons that were available in 1918,” Lewis wrote. “In my view, such a firearm cannot constitute an antique firearm as defined by Florida law.”
Weeks, whose father is a retired law-enforcement firearms instructor, pleaded no contest to the charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and was sentenced to three years of probation, the majority opinion said. Despite the plea, he appealed based on arguments that the part of the law dealing with replica firearms was unconstitutionally vague.
The 1st District Court of Appeal ruled in Weeks’ favor on the constitutional issue, spurring prosecutors to take the case to the Supreme Court. In her opinion Thursday, Pariente said it was unnecessary to rule on the constitutional issue because the case could be decided by interpreting the definitions and wording in state law.
In a brief filed last year, Weeks’ attorney wrote that the muzzleloader, which was purchased at a Bass Pro Shop, was similar to a gun from the Civil War era.
by Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Fire Departments Train At Future Beulah Middle School Site
September 23, 2016
Thanks to an agreement with the school board, Escambia County firefighters have some extra training this month.
The Escambia County School District purchased the former Coastal Airport on Nine Mile Road in Beulah to construct a new Beulah Middle School. The school board has allowed the Beulah Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, along with firefighters from across the county, to use the buildings on the property for training purposes.
A groundbreaking is planned at the site at 9 a.m. on October 28 for the new Beulah Middle School.
Pictured: Firefighters train on abandoned building at the Coastal Airport Property on Nine Mile Road. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Winning $66K Fantasy Five Ticket Sold In North Escambia
September 23, 2016
Someone is over $66,000 richer this morning after purchasing a winning Florida Lottery Fantasy 5 ticket in Davisville.
The ticket sold at the State Line Gift Shop, 11208 Highway 97, was one of three winning tickets sold for Thursday night’s drawing worth $66,188.82. Other winning tickets matching all five numbers was sold in Crystal River and Poinciana.
The 298 tickets matching four numbers won $107 each. Another 8,958 tickets matching three numbers are worth $10 each, and 87,885 tickets holders won a Quick Pick ticket for picking two numbers.
Thursday’s winning numbers were 05-11-18-28-36.
Volleyball Photo Gallery: Central Tops Northview
September 23, 2016
The Northview Chiefs fell to Central Thursday in high school volleyball action.
For a photo gallery, click here.
The Chiefs travel to Laurel Hill on Tuesday before hosting Jay next Thursday.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Lawsuit Settled Over Florida Inmate Health Care
September 23, 2016
The Florida Department of Corrections and former prison health-care provider Corizon have agreed to pay about $2.1 million to settle a class-action lawsuit alleging that the state agency and the company denied hernia operations to inmates to save money.
Under the settlement, Corizon agreed to pay $1.7 million to current and former inmates. The Department of Corrections agreed to pay $150,000 for legal fees and costs. Corizon would have to pay the rest of the legal fees and costs, which are capped at $385,000.
Florida Justice Institute Executive Director Randall Berg filed the lawsuit last year on behalf of about 2,000 inmates, months before Corizon walked away from a five-year, $1.2 billion contract with the state three years early.
According to a consent order given preliminary approval Thursday by U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle, the state and Corizon “continue to vigorously deny all allegations contained in the complaint,” but agreed to the settlement “to avoid costly and protracted litigation.”
The three inmates who filed the lawsuit — Tracy Copeland, Archie Green and Amado Parra — will each receive payments of $5,000, plus attorneys’ fees and costs. An estimated 311 current or former inmates who sought treatment for hernias at prisons where Corizon handled health care will receive $2,733.12, and another 1,637 will receive $519.24.
The lawsuit detailed numerous inmates’ years-long struggles to get hernia operations.
The lawsuit alleged that inmates were repeatedly denied consultations with surgeons or were not allowed to have surgery once doctors decided it was necessary.
The consent order approved by Hinkle also will require the corrections agency to change its health-care policy regarding hernias to ensure that prisoners are referred to surgeons for consultations and that the surgeons’ recommendations are carried out.
“This settlement is one step toward the overall improvement of medical care for all incarcerated people in Florida,” Berg said in a prepared statement.
by The News Service of Florida
NorthEscambia.com file photos.
Northview Fans: Directions To Vancleave Football Stadium
September 23, 2016
The Northview Chiefs begin three weeks and almost 1,000 miles on the road tonight in Vancleave, MS.
Tonight’s game against Vancleave is about 110 miles from Northview. The most important part of finding the Vancleave stadium is to know that it is not at Vancleave High School. Rather, the stadium is locate at Vancleave Upper Elementary School at 13901 Hwy 57.
To get there, take I-10 westbound to Mississippi Exit 61 (a very empty exit with few or no businesses), turn right on Gautier Vancleave Road, continue 9.3 miles to Mississippi Highway 57. Turn right and continue north through the business district, go past Vancleave Middle and High schools, continue back through a wooded area to Vancleave Upper Elementary School. The stadium is around a curve just past the school.
For a Google Map, click here.
Tonight’s West Florida At Northview JV Football Game Canceled
September 22, 2016
Tonight’s West Florida at Northview High School junior varsity football game has been canceled and will be rescheduled for a later date. Pictured: Last week’s action as Northview’s JV hosted Gulf Breeze. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
No Serious Injuries In Four-Vehicle, One Pedestrian Crash Near Walnut Hill
September 22, 2016
There were no serious injuries in a four-vehicle crash involving a pedestrian early Thursday morning near Walnut Hill.
The accident happened about 5:30 a.m. on Pine Forest Road near Deer Lake Road. Witnesses said hunters in three pickup trucks were parked on the shoulder of the road when the driver of a Ford Expedition left the roadway and rear-ended one truck, pushing the other trucks together. A man standing between the front of one truck and the open tailgate of another truck was struck between the two vehicles, leaving a rounded indention in the tailgate. He refused medical treatment.
The driver of the Expedition was transported to Atmore Community Hospital with minor injuries.
The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Further details have not been released.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Atmore Ambulance also responded to the crash.
Bratt Superhero Boy On A Mission To Thank Law Enforcement
September 22, 2016
Tyler Carach is a Bratt Elementary School student by day, and an after school superhero that’s on a mission to thank law enforcement officers.
Tyler and his mother Sheena, who is a former police officer, created the “I DONUT need a reason to THANK a cop” program after an encounter with Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies at Gilley’s Store in Bratt during the summer. He asked if he could use some of his own money to buy doughnuts for the officers. He purchased four packs of chocolate doughnuts to share with the deputies.
He learned that there are just over 400 sworn officers in the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, and he composed a letter to the Krispy Kreme on 9th Avenue asking for a discounted bulk price. The store manager instead donated 420 doughnuts to the project. Tyler, dressed in a superhero doughnut cape, delivered the doughnuts to Sheriff David Morgan and his department.
“It was really cool and fun I love getting to meet one of the dogs and one of the horses and I also found a lizard outside the Sheriff’s Office,” Tyler said. “The sheriff gave me a really cool coin and said it was very special. It was called a challenge coin. I got to go on the command center and also sit in the SWAT mobile — that’s like the Batmobile but way cooler.”
Thursday, Tyler continued on his mission to thank every cop in America with a visit to the Flomaton Police Department. He provided each officer with doughnuts and a goodie bag. He was able to test out the siren, public address system and computer in a brand new Dodge Charger patrol car, and he even raced a couple of officers on foot. His request to play with an officer’s pepper spray and Taser was cheerfully denied for safety reasons.
“I like cops because they are the best and they are my friends and they like one of my favorite dessert — doughnuts, he said. “They wear blue and green and those are two of my favorite colors. I like drinking coffee and they like coffee too it helps them stay awake when they have to work all night long to keep us safe.”
Tyler hopes to be a law enforcement professional one day.
“I want to be a cop to keep people and my family safe like the cops keep me and my family safe,” he said. “I also want to stop bad guys like bank robbers and stuff. I want to be a SWAT because they have riot shields and I want to be a canine because they have dogs and I love them and they are really cute.”
Mom Sheena said Tyler is remarkably quiet and reserved at a school and home. But put him in a room of police officers, like Thursday’s visit to Flomaton, and he’s extremely into his zone — even trading tips on dealing with bad guys and making arrests.
Through his Facebook page (click here), Tyler is working on finalizing an Adopt-A-Cop program with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office to connect residents with deputies. He will be collecting goodie bags with items like gum, candy, hand sanitizer, pens, notepads and other item. And he is working on plans to visit more departments, spreading his message one doughnut at a time.
“You DONUT need a reason to thank a cop because everything they do is a reason to thank them, so if you see a cop today, take a second to say thank you,” Tyler said.
Pictured top: Bratt resident Tyler Carach servers a doughnut Thursday afternoon at Flomaton Police Chief Bryan Davis. Pictured bottom inset: Tyler with members of the Flomaton Police Department. Pictured first below: Tyler checks out the interior of a 2016 Dodge Charger police vehicle. Pictured second below: Tyler’s doughnut mission started with four Escambia County deputies at Gilley’s Store in Bratt. Pictured bottom: Tyler with Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan. NorthEcambia.com photo and courtesy photos, click to enlarge.
