Century Denies Variance To Allow Liquor Store
February 23, 2016
The Century Town Council voted 4-0 Monday night to deny a variance requested by Al Ramani of Pensacola to open what Mayor Freddie McCall described as a “whiskey store”.
Ramani said he would invest up to $1.5 million to open the business in a former thrift store location next to a Dollar General on North Century Boulevard. He first told the council that the business would be a convenience store offering beer, but later said it would be a liquor store with a selection including beer, wine and hard liquor. The business, he said, would employ 20 people within a year.
Ramani was forced to seek the variance because his store would be about 300 feet from the nearest church; the town’s ordinances requires liquor stores to be 600 feet or more from the nearest church.
Pictured: Al Ramani requested that the Century Town Council approve a variance that would have allowed him to open a liquor store in the 9000 block of North Century Boulevard. NorthEsambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Ruling Could Mean $100 Million To Counties, Including Escambia, In Juvenile Dispute
February 23, 2016
An appeals court ruling could mean the state owes more than $100 million to counties — including Escambia — in a long-running dispute about who pays to detain juvenile offenders.
The ruling last week by the 1st District Court of Appeal came as senators consider a bill aimed at resolving the dispute, which centers on what are known as “predisposition” costs before underage offenders are sentenced. Counties contend that the state has forced them to pay too large a share of the costs.
A panel of the appeals court upheld an earlier ruling against the state Department of Juvenile Justice. The effect is that the department would have to give counties credit toward overpayments in juvenile-detention bills from the state.
Last week’s ruling is worth more than $100 million to the dozens of counties involved, said Florida Association of Counties spokeswoman Cragin Mosteller.
“Based on DJJ’s own stipulation (of figures involved in the dispute), the counties have been overcharged between $100 (million) and $200 million dollars,” Mosteller said.
The ruling came as Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, seeks to pass a bill (SB 1322) aimed at creating a new cost-sharing formula while putting past quarrels to rest.
The measure would mandate a 50-50 split between the Department of Juvenile Justice and the participating counties — along with an agreement by the counties to drop any claims to back payments.
With three weeks left in the annual legislative session, however, it remains unclear whether Latvala’s bill could pass. The bill still faces two Senate committees, while the House version (HB 1279), filed by Rep. Chris Latvala, R-Clearwater, has not been heard in committees. Chris Latvala is the son of Jack Latvala.
The dispute centers on DJJ’s handling of a 2004 law that requires counties to help pay for predisposition costs. It affects 38 counties, many of which have taken cases to the state Division of Administrative Hearings.
In 2013, the 1st District Court of Appeal upheld an administrative law judge’s ruling that the Department of Juvenile Justice had shifted more responsibility for the costs to counties than the law required. The 2014 Legislature then tried to come up with another formula. But a bill proposing a 50-50 split died when the counties sought hundreds of millions of dollars in back payments. As a result, Gov. Rick Scott and the department settled on the current 57-43 percent formula, which the counties have argued is too high.
The billing process also has sparked a series of disagreements between the state and counties — some of which were addressed in last week’s appeals-court ruling. Currently, the counties pay annual estimated costs in advance. They contend this frequently results in being owed millions in overpayments or getting hit with unexpected bills at the last minute.
Under Latvala’s bill, counties would pay their actual costs for the previous year. The measure would require the counties to pay a total of $42.5 million for detention costs during the upcoming 2016-17 fiscal year, while the state would pay the rest. After that, the state and counties would split the costs evenly.
The Senate Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations Subcommittee unanimously passed the measure Feb. 11. But Chairman Joe Negron, R-Stuart, warned then that the deal would be off unless all the counties — many of which have active cases pending against the department — signed letters waiving their claims.
Negron said Friday he stands by that condition in the wake of the ruling.
“The counties are still in a precarious legal position because you never know how the (Florida) Supreme Court will rule,” he said. “And the decision — while favorable on its face to the counties — also involves a remand to trial courts to make final determination as to a specific amount. The bottom line for me is: Now is the right time to settle our differences and move forward as respectful partners together.”
Okaloosa County Commissioner Nathan Boyles, whose county has played a key role in the dispute, said he was “very optimistic that we’ll see a legislative resolution to this issue this year.”
Boyles said his understanding of the ruling was that it gives counties the right to withhold money to settle bills with the department. The Legislature and the department have argued the counties can only be reimbursed through the legislative process.
However, Boyles said the counties would be wise not to “flaunt” the ruling.
“I think what you’ll find with most folks who represent county government, the preferred method to settle this issue is not through a forced withholding from the DJJ by virtue of a court ruling, but rather through legislative action that is a result of compromise and negotiation between the Legislature and the counties,” he said.
Negron agreed.
“It’s in the best interests of everyone to resolve this matter now with a 50-50 split,” he said. “And I’m optimistic that we have the votes in the Senate to do that. I hope the House of Representatives will consider bringing all the litigation to a close and moving forward on a 50-50 basis.”
Asked about the ruling Thursday, House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island, was noncommittal as lawmakers move toward hold budget conference negotiations. He said moving to a 50-50 split instead of the current 57-43 formula could cost the state about $12 million a year, which would not include addressing the past overpayment issue.
“There’s still a conversation that can take place on the dollars and cents, maybe not so much the policy, but we understand that to be about a $12 million recurring price tag,” Crisafulli said. “It’s a discussion that will take place, most likely, with our Senate partners as we move through the conferencing process.”
Bigfoot Monster Truck Visits Local Company That Keeps It Running
February 23, 2016
The “Bigfoot 14″ monster truck made a stop by sponsor Alto Products in Atmore Monday afternoon. The truck achieves its superior power from Atmore-made Alto Red Eagle clutches. Alto has provided the transmission clutch plates for the Bigfoot vehicles for the past 16 years.
Bigfoot 14 set a world monster truck jump record of 202 feet, clearing a 727 jet liner, back in 1999. Alto now supplies their Red Eagle racing clutches to several of the world’s top monster truck teams.
Pictured: Bigfoot 14 monster truck Monday at Alto Products in Atmore, where the vehicle’s transmission clutch plates are manufactured. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Death Penalty Inmate Seeks Life In Prison For Nine Mile Popeye’s Murder
February 23, 2016
A death row inmate from Escambia County whose case led to the U.S. Supreme Court rejecting Florida’s death-penalty sentencing system is arguing that he should be sentenced to life in prison.
An attorney for Timothy Lee Hurst filed a motion in the Florida Supreme Court asking that it send the case to a lower court for imposition of a life sentence. A challenge by Hurst led the U.S. Supreme Court last month to issue an 8-1 ruling that found Florida’s death-penalty sentencing system unconstitutional. The ruling said juries — not judges— should be responsible for imposing the death penalty and that Florida’s system of giving power to judges violated Hurst’s Sixth Amendment right to a trial by jury.
State lawmakers are rushing to approve changes in the death-penalty system to comply with the U.S. Supreme Court decision, which also has spurred a debate about how the ruling should apply to inmates who were sentenced under the law that was struck down.
Hurst was sentenced to death for the 1998 killing of fast-food worker Cynthia Harrison in Pensacola. Harrison, an assistant manager at a Nine Mile Road Popeye’s Fried Chicken restaurant where Hurst worked, was bound, gagged and stabbed more than 60 times. Her body was found in a freezer.
The motion filed Friday does not take issue with Hurst’s guilt but says he should be sentenced to life in prison because he has “fundamentally been denied his Sixth Amendment right to a jury trial” in sentencing.
by The News Service of Florida
Tate Aggies Release 2016 Football Schedule
February 23, 2016
The 2016 Tate High School football schedule has been released:
NorthEscambia.com file photo by Jennifer Repine, click to enlarge.
Men Charged With Running Illegal Bingo Operation
February 23, 2016
Two area men have been charged with money laundering and illegal gambling in their bingo operation.
Larry L. Masino, 65, of Santa Rosa County, and Dixie L. Masino, 63, of Escambia County, were arraigned Monday in the U.S. District Court in Pensacola after a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging them with wire fraud conspiracy, operating an illegal gambling business, money laundering conspiracy, and money laundering.
vThe indictment alleges that, between 2006 and 2015, Larry and Dixie Masino conspired to defraud local charities out of millions of dollars. The Masinos operated Racetrack Bingo Inc. in Fort Walton Beach on behalf of a number of charitable organizations.
According to the indictment, Racetrack Bingo Inc. was an illegal gambling business in violation of Florida law because the Masinos compensated themselves and their employees, instead of using bona fide charity members, to run bingo games. The indictment further alleges that the Masinos charged the charities grossly inflated lease fees. By law, those proceeds should have gone to the charities. The indictment also alleges that Larry and Dixie Masino conspired to launder more than $5.8 million in proceeds of their illegal bingo operation through the deposit of profit distribution checks from Racetrack Bingo Inc.
The trial is scheduled for April 18, 2016.
Softball: Northview Tops Central
February 23, 2016
Northview beat Central 11-6 Monday at Central. Hannah Ging was 4-5 at the plate; Kendall Enfinger was 4-5; and Aubree Love was 4-5 with a home run. Tori Herrington pitched the win with nine strikeouts. The Northview varsity will be at Catholic Thursday at 5:00. The JV and varsity will host Freeport Friday in Bratt.
Scott Declares State Of Emergency; State Funds To Be Released
February 22, 2016
Gov. Rick Scott has issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency in Escambia County due to last weeks EF-3 tornado.
The executive order gives the county the ability to request state disaster recovery funding from the Florida Housing Finance Corporation. The executive order is the also the next step in possibly securing federal assistance.
This disaster recovery funding can be utilized for activities as outlined in the county’s Local Housing Assistance Plan, which is used to administer the local State Housing Initiatives Partnership Program, including disaster/mitigation assistance, housing repairs and replacement housing. The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners will submit a request for disaster recovery funding to Florida Housing Finance Corporation this week. Once funding is released from the state, residents will be able to apply for housing repair and replacement costs. More information will be released as funding is available.
NorthEscambia.com will continue to follow this story and publish additional details as they become available.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Increasing Threat Of Severe Weather For Tuesday
February 22, 2016
There is an elevated threat of severe weather for Tuesday afternoon and Tuesday night for the North Escambia area, while a small portion of the area is in the significant threat area (see graphic). Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
This Afternoon: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 71. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Tonight: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before midnight, then a chance of showers. Patchy fog after 3am. Low around 55. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Tuesday: A chance of rain, then showers and thunderstorms likely after 9am. Some of the storms could be severe. Cloudy, with a high near 73. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Tuesday Night: Showers and thunderstorms before 3am, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 3am. Some of the storms could be severe. Low around 56. Breezy, with a south wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 59. Breezy, with a southwest wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 37. West wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 58. West wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 36. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 57. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 35.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 62.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 42.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 68.
Tornado Flattens Century’s Job Hopes
February 22, 2016
When an EF-3 tornado slammed into Century last Monday, it not only damaged or destroyed dozens of homes, it also blew away a large part of Century’s economic development hopes for new jobs.
The former Alger-Sullivan Lumber property just off Front Street was heavily damaged, including a collapse of the rear portion of the largest building.
The property was one of two available large industrial facilities available for sale in the town, and local officials had hoped to one day land a new manufacturing plant and jobs for the economically-depressed town.
“It was one of our big hopes. We had somebody in here two weeks ago that was looking favorably at putting in something,” Century Mayor Freddie McCall said. “It hurts us when we see that it’s down.”
Before the tornado, the former Alger-Sullivan property included 330,200 square feet in eight buildings on 38 acres, all zoned commercial and located near the railroad with a CSX spur available. Local real estate listings show a $1.5 million asking price on the property, which is owned by a group of investors based in Destin, before the tornado.
But, sometimes the eternal optimist, the mayor quipped that perhaps someone can get a good deal on the damaged property.
“The people that own it might take less money for it and hopefully a good builder would come in here then and take advantage of that and build up some of the buildings and get something going, McCall said.
Century’s other available large industrial location is the former Helicopter Technology building on Industrial Boulevard. It is move-in ready 40,000 square feet was not damaged by the tornado.
Pictured top: A ground level view of the back of the main building at the former Alger Sullivan Lumber Company in Century. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
