FHSAA Seeks To Sack Lawsuit Over Football Game Prayer
October 21, 2016
The Florida High School Athletic Association is asking a federal judge to toss out a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of a decision that prevented two Christian schools from using a loudspeaker for a prayer before a football championship game.
The association said it did not violate the rights of Tampa’s Cambridge Christian School, which filed the lawsuit last month. In a motion to dismiss the case, the association argued that Cambridge Christian and University Christian School of Jacksonville were free to pray before a December 2015 championship game — just not over the public-address system.
“Indeed, as the amended complaint (the Cambridge Christian lawsuit) makes clear, FHSAA has not denied the school’s athletic program the ability to express itself through prayer among themselves prior, during, or following the game, either in the locker room or outside on the athletic field,” said the motion, filed Tuesday in federal court in Tampa. “FHSAA also has not banned the school’s athletes and supporters from saying anything they wish to anyone they speak with, or from displaying any signage they wish to bring with them. But the law does not require — and for good and valid reason does not permit — the FHSAA to promote sectarian prayer through state-run public address systems.”
Cambridge Christian alleges that the association, the longtime governing body for high-school sports in Florida, violated the U.S. Constitution and the state Constitution in denying a request to use the public-address system at Orlando’s Camping World Stadium for a pre-game prayer. The lawsuit also seeks a preliminary injunction against the association continuing the policy for upcoming athletic events.
“By rejecting Cambridge Christian’s request for pre-game prayer over the loudspeaker on the basis of its religious character and viewpoint, the FHSAA unlawfully prohibited Cambridge Christian’s private religious speech and unreasonably burdened its right to freedom of speech and free exercise of religion,” the lawsuit said.
The case stems from the Division 2A football championship game on Dec. 4 between Cambridge Christian and University Christian. Three days before the game, the schools asked the association to be allowed to use the loudspeaker to lead a prayer, but the request was denied.
The teams prayed together at mid-field before the game, according to court documents filed by Cambridge Christian and the association.
In the motion to dismiss filed this week, the association said it uses a public-address “protocol” that includes policies about what announcers can say during games. As examples, that includes announcements about lineups, substitutions and timeouts and includes a script for promotional announcements, the motion said. The association said it does not allow “open access” to the public-address system.
The association’s legal arguments are based, at least in part, on what is known as the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment.
“FHSAA was also upholding its obligations under the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause in not allowing what would amount to a state-sponsored prayer at a state-sponsored championship football game,” the motion said. “Cambridge Christian was not denied the opportunity for prayer — in fact, Cambridge Christian acknowledges that it was allowed to offer a pre-game prayer, which it did so, publicly, from mid-field. FHSAA did not infringe on Cambridge Christian’s right to exercise its religious freedom and free speech rights.”
But the school’s lawsuit pointed to other forms of speech allowed at the game, including messages from corporate sponsors on the stadium’s video screen and advertisements delivered by the public-address announcer. It also said Cambridge Christian’s cheerleading coach was allowed to play music over the loudspeaker while the school’s cheerleaders performed at halftime.
“The policy is not neutral; and, the policy is not generally applicable because it prohibits religious speech, and only religious speech, from being broadcast over the loudspeaker,” the lawsuit said. “The FHSAA’s denial of Cambridge Christian’s request for prayer over the loudspeaker, while allowing for secular messages to be delivered over the loudspeaker and other stadium communications media, constitutes content-based and viewpoint-based discrimination in contravention of the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.”
by Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida
Forest Service Issues Warning Not To Burn Outdoors
October 21, 2016
Officials with the Florida Forest Service’s Blackwater Forestry Center are urging residents of Escambia and Santa Rosa counties to refrain from any outdoor burning for the next several days.
The area is in the midst of an extended dry spell and a predicted cold front will bring higher winds and lower humidities. There is little no rain in the extended forecast. This combination has prompted an increase in the fire danger level for the district as well as an increase in the response level of Forest Service fire crews.
With these conditions, even well-intended backyard fires can be dangerous.
“The weather will be cooler and people will probably want to get some yard work done,” said David Smith, operations administrator for Blackwater. “Cleaning up is fine but we would recommend that folks not burn their yard debris until we see some relief.”
In addition to the warning to residents, Smith said authorizations for large piles and acreage burns will not be issued at this time.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
JV Football – West Florida Beats Northview
October 21, 2016
The West Florida Jaguars defeated the Northview Chiefs 50-8 Thursday night in junior varsity football action.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Photo Gallery: Molino Park Students Celebrate 50th Day Of School
October 21, 2016
Molino Park Elementary School celebrated the 50th day of the school year Thursday with a 50’s Day.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Another Corrections Officer Assaulted At Holman Prison
October 20, 2016
The Alabama Department of Corrections is investigating an assault on a corrections lieutenant that was reported Thursday at the William C. Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore.
The assault occurred inside the prison at about 1 p.m. when the lieutenant was attempting to control the inmate who was making threatening remarks to other corrections officers. The inmate assaulted the lieutenant with a makeshift weapon. Prison officials said that lieutenant was not stabbed, but received a minor cut about the eyelid during the assault.
The lieutenant was transported to a local hospital where he was listed in stable condition. No other inmates or officers were involved in the incident.
Inmate Robert Washington, 27, is being charged with the assault. Washington is serving a 20-year sentence on a 2010 first-degree robbery conviction out of Montgomery County.
This is the second assault on a corrections official at the prison since September. Corrections Officer Kenneth Bettis was stabbed on Sept. 1. and later died of his injuries.
A Corrections Emergency Response Team (CERT) will remain at the facility to augment the prison’s security staff. The prison is locked down while ADOC investigates the incident.
Corrections officials are not releasing the lieutenant’s name at this time.
Story updated at 4 pm to indicate from additional information from ADOC that the corrections officer was not stabbed, but cut.
Pictured top: Holman Prison in Atmore. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Toyz For Kidz Auction Tonight In Atmore
October 20, 2016
The LA Bikers will host a Toyz for Kidz Auction tonight at 6:00 in Atmore.
Items up for auction will include local handmade wooden items such as shelves, chairs, swings, gazebos, grill tables, hutches and more. BBQ sandwiches and hot dogs will be served.
The auction will take place at the PWC building at 106 East Avenue in Atmore. For more information, call (251) 747-7030.
All proceeds go to Toyz for Kidz, which provides Christmas gifts for needy children in Atmore, Flomaton and Walnut Hill/Bratt each Christmas.
Pictured: Toyz for Kidz delivered Christmas to families in need last December. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Schools Locked Down Due To Law Enforcement Chase; Suspect In Custody
October 20, 2016
Multiple North Escambia schools were placed on lockdown for a brief period late Thursday morning as the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office chased a wanted Century man’s vehicle north through the county.
The suspect, Roosevelt Lamont Dixon, is in custody in Baldwin County. Outstanding charges against Dixon include grand theft, kidnapping, carjacking and grand theft auto. He will also be charged with fleeing and eluding for Thursday’s chase. He may face additional charges in Baldwin County, where he is awaiting extradition back to Escambia County.
According to Amber Southard, public information officer for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, deputies began following a white Dodge Charger in the Pensacola area after a deputy recognized Dixon as someone wanted by the agency on multiple violent felony warrants.
Dixon crossed into Baldwin County on Barrineau Park Road. We are told law enforcement in Baldwin County later stopped the vehicle near the Foley Beach Express and I-10.
Schools ordered into lockdown included Northview High, Ernest Ward Middle, Bratt Elementary, Molino Park Elementary and Jim Allen Elementary, according to Norm Ross, associate superintendent. The precautionary lockdown period was very brief, lasting just a few minutes.
More details will be posted as they become available.
Pictured top: This Dodge Charger was stopped in Baldwin County. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Man Charged With Dealing In Stolen Property
October 20, 2016
A Century man is facing a felony charge for dealing in stolen property.
James David Boles, allegedly sold and possessed items that were taken during burglaries in Flomaton and Santa Rosa County.
Boles sold a stolen Stihl chain saw for $200, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report. The saw was later recovered and return to its owner.
Deputies also reported finding stolen items that included a Craftsman air compressor, a 6,600 watt generator, a two-ton shop hoist and a Schwinn Sting Ray bicycle. The items were recovered from Boles’ home in the 7000 block of Archie Street in Century.
He was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $5,000 bond.
Century Mayor To Receive Annual ‘God In Government’ Award
October 20, 2016
Century Mayor Freddie McCall will receive the 2017 God in Government Award early next year at the 41st Annual Governmental Prayer Breakfast. McCall was notified of the upcoming honor this week.
Recent honorees include Escambia School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas, Federal Judge Roger Vinson, Judge Terry Terrell, Sheriff David Morgan and Supervisor of Elections David Stafford.
“I owe it all to my Lord and my Savior,” McCall said.
The purpose of prayer breakfast, which transcends denominational and political affiliation, is to encourage moral and spiritual values in government. The breakfast was started by a group of ministers from the Greater Cantonment-Ensley Ministerial Alliance is today led by a diverse committee that believes in preserving the original mission of encouraging moral and spiritual values in government.
The prayer breakfast will be held on Saturday, 28, 2017, at New World Landing.
McCall is currently seeking his third term as Century’s mayor.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Sample Ballots In The Mail
October 20, 2016
Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David H. Stafford announced today that sample ballots for the November 8 General Election are being mailed to Escambia County voters this week. The sample ballot includes a ballot image, the voter’s polling location and information on the three ways to vote: early, vote-by-mail, and on Election Day. A sample ballot is also available at EscambiaVotes.com.
Voters have three different ways to cast their ballot:
By Mail: Voters may vote by mail using a vote-by-mail ballot, which can be requested through the online form at EscambiaVotes.com, or by contacting the Supervisor of Elections by mail, phone (850) 595-3900, e-mail (votebymail@escambiavotes.com), or fax (850) 595-3914. Requests must include the voter’s date of birth and the address, and must be received no later than Wednesday, November 2. Voted ballots must be received in the Elections Office no later than 7:00 p.m. on Election Day and may not be returned to a polling location. Vote-by-mail voters may track the status of their ballot at EscambiaVotes.com by clicking Track My Ballot.
Early Voting: Early voting will be available 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily beginning Monday, October 24 through Saturday, November 5 at seven different locations. Early voters will cast paper ballots through our digital scanners.
Early voting will be held at the following locations and times:
o Supervisor of Elections Office, 213 Palafox Place, Second Floor
o Main Library, 239 Spring Street
o Molino Community Center, 6450-A Highway 95A, Molino
o Genealogy Branch Library, 5740 B, 9th Avenue
o Southwest Branch Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Highway
o Bellview/Saufley Early Vote Site, 916 W. Michigan Avenue
o Escambia County Extension, 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment
At Your Precinct: The third option for voters is to cast a paper ballot at their precinct on Election Day, November 8. Polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. An AutoMARK ballot marking device is also available at each polling place and early voting site for persons with disabilities.