Scott Seeks Federal Help With Zika Virus

February 5, 2016

With a public-health emergency declared in a fifth Florida county, Gov. Rick Scott on Thursday asked the federal Centers for Disease Control for assistance in addressing the potential spread of the Zika virus.

Scott’s office said Florida currently has the capacity to test only 475 people for the mosquito-borne virus, which was detected last year in Brazil and has spread to other countries. Scott asked the CDC for at least 1,000 Zika “antibody tests,” which his office said would help with testing people who have traveled to affected areas and show signs of the illness.

Also, Scott wants the CDC to conduct a conference call to help train Florida hospital workers about the virus.

Scott on Wednesday declared public health emergencies in four counties where nine cases of the Zika virus had been found. The declaration was for Miami-Dade, Hillsborough, Lee and Santa Rosa counties, with Scott’s office saying the virus was contracted outside Florida.

On Thursday, a public health emergency was declared in Broward County, where a case was found. Also, two additional cases were found in Miami-Dade and Hillsborough counties.

by The News Service of Florida

Gambling Bills Likely To Spark High Stakes Debates

February 5, 2016

House and Senate leaders will roll out gambling bills Friday that would allow the Seminole Tribe to add craps and roulette at its casinos, potentially do away with dog racing and most horse racing and open the door for slot machines in Palm Beach County.

Late Thursday, Senate Regulated Industries Chairman Rob Bradley and his House counterpart, Regulatory Affairs Chairman Jose Felix Diaz, were working on details in the two proposals, slated for votes next week in both committees.

“We’re still working on the language. We’re going to be here all night. This is a gargantuan bill,” Diaz, R-Miami, told reporters.

Both chambers’ plans include legislation that would authorize an agreement inked by Gov. Rick Scott and Seminole tribal chief James Billie last month. That deal, called a “compact,” would allow the Seminoles to add craps and roulette at each of the tribe’s seven Florida casinos, on top of banked card games — such as blackjack — already in play at most of the Seminoles’ facilities.In exchange, the Seminoles have agreed to pay the state $3 billion over seven years — triple a $1 billion, five-year deal that expired last summer — in what is believed to be the largest tribal revenue-sharing agreement in the country.

Separate bills will address pari-mutuel-industry issues that are permitted, but not specifically authorized, by the proposed compact, according to Bradley and Diaz.

To make the bills more palatable to gambling-leery lawmakers, the measures would do away with dormant pari-mutuel permits and eliminate some active permits.

But one of the most controversial items would allow horse tracks to do away with racing all types of horses except thoroughbreds, a process known as “decoupling,” while keeping more lucrative card rooms and, for some, slot machines. A portion of the revenues from the compact would go to supplement purses for thoroughbred horse races, now running at Gulfstream Racetrack and Tampa Bay Downs.

Greyhound tracks would also be allowed to decouple, an idea that has been supported by many lawmakers but has faced opposition from greyhound breeders, owners and kennel operators. Horse breeders, owners and trainers also have strenuously objected to decoupling.

Decoupling horses “would essentially make welfare queens out of horsemen by creating an artificial set-aside market” and “wipes out any semblance of free enterprise,” the United Florida Horsemen, representing owners, breeders and trainers, said in a statement.

Jai alai operators would have to keep their games under both proposals.

The measures would also allow slot machines in Palm Beach County and at a new facility in Miami-Dade County. Permits for the slots would be attained through a procurement process and would require operators to give up active permits to be eligible for the new games.

The Senate proposal — which Bradley called “an aggressive plan to reduce gaming” in Florida — would also allow Scott to “buy back” active permits, using money from the revenue-sharing agreement with the tribe. The House is not expected to include that provision in its initial roll-out, Diaz said.

The House will also offer a third measure, a proposed constitutional amendment that would require voter approval for any expansion of gambling after the compact and accompanying pari-mutuel changes are approved, Diaz said. The Senate is not yet proposing a similar measure.

The pari-mutuel-related bills would also reduce the tax rate on slot machines paid by Miami-Dade and Broward pari-mutuels, known as “racinos.” The proposed compact would allow a 10 percent drop from the current 35 percent tax rate.

Diaz said his proposal will include a 5 percent tax reduction, and up to another 5 percent for pari-mutuels that agree to reduce the number of slot machines at their facilities. The South Florida operators each are allowed to have up to 2,000 slot machines, but all have fewer than that number, and some only have about 1,000, Diaz said.

Blackjack is off the table for the racinos, Diaz said, although the proposed compact would permit the games — limited to 15 tables, and capped at maximum bets of $15 — for the Miami-Dade and Broward facilities.

The Palm Beach Kennel Club, which for years has pushed for slots, would be able to add 750 slot machines and 750 “video racing” terminals, if it wins the bid for the permit.

Who gets slots has also been a point of contention for lawmakers. Voters in six counties — including Palm Beach — have approved slots for their local pari-mutuels, but gambling regulators have refused to sign off on the lucrative games. The Florida Supreme Court is now considering whether Gretna Racing, a small horse track and card room managed by the Poarch Creek Indias in Gadsden County, should be allowed to have slots without the Legislature’s express permission. Voters in six counties — including Gadsden and Palm Beach — have approved slots for their local pari-mutuels.

With the 60-day legislative session nearing its midway point, Scott and the Seminoles have stepped up pressure on lawmakers to approve the compact.

Lawmakers have plenty of time, Diaz said Thursday.

“I think it’s pretty early,” he said, adding that the bill could be more difficult to pass as the end of the 2016 session approaches.

Diaz also said “we have the votes in my committee” to pass the measures.

“Things could change and people could change. But the members understand that this is a work in progress and they’ll have another vote on it” before it reaches the floor, he said.

“Everybody’s ideal scenario won’t come true. There will be tough decisions for us to make as a body. I don’t know if there will be anybody out there that will feel like they got everything they wanted,” Diaz said. “But the bill …will be in a posture that is passable and will continue the conversation for us live to fight another day.”

But Bradley — whose committee includes senators who are opposed to any expansion of gambling as well as those who want slots in Gadsden and Lee counties — wasn’t as confident. Like Diaz, Bradley said he expects committee members to propose amendments to the legislation next week. The fate of the bills could hinge on what gets added to the measures.

“Right now, it’s a jump-ball,” he said.

by Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida

One Injured, One Ticketed In Wreck With ECAT Bus

February 5, 2016

One passenger was injured when an ECAT bus was hit by a vehicle on Chemstrand Road near Nine Mile Thursday afternoon.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 28-year old Jonnathan Banuelos, age 28 of California, pulled out of a bank parking lot into the path of the transit bus driven by 55-year old Jerome Bess of Pensacola. Neither driver was injured.

One of four passengers on the bus at the time of the crash was transported to West Florida Hospital with minor injuries.

Banuelos was cited for careless driving by the FHP.

ECAT Plans To Add Multiple New Bus Stop Shelters

February 5, 2016

Escambia County Area Transit (ECAT) and Escambia County Public Works Division of Transportation and Traffic Operations has planned changes and additions to the facilities at several bus stops, including new shelters in Cantonment.

Changes are planned as follows:

New bus stop shelters,  replacing current signs:

  • Highway 29 at Muscogee Road – in front of the Raceway gas station
  • Highway 29 in Cantonment – in front of the Winn Dixie
  • Brent Lane – in front of the Carmike Theater and Mellow Mushroom
  • Creighton Road – in front of Wal-Mart once the route is changed
  • Old Spanish Trail Road at Olive Road
  • Untreiner Avenue at Lepley Road
  • Palafox Street – just north of Burgess Road
  • Navy Boulevard at Pines at Warrington apartments
  • Bayou Boulevard – in front of Target

Relocation of existing amenities:

  • 9th Avenue at College Boulevard – replace bench with a shelter
  • 9th Avenue at Springhill Drive – replace bench with a shelter
  • 9th Avenue at Creighton Road, in front of CVS – replace bench with a shelter

Recently installed shelters:

  • Wal-Mart on Navy Boulevard – replaced the bench with a shelter
  • E Street, North of Avery Street – replaced the bench with a shelter
  • Nine Mile Road – in front of Baptist Hospital
  • Highway 29 at Boone Street – replaced the bench with a shelter
  • Palafox Street and Jordan Street – in front of the Escambia County Health Department
  • Fairfield Drive in front of Pensacola Village – replaced dilapidated shelter
  • Truman Avenue – west of W Street
  • University Parkway – north of Nine Mile Road on both sides of road

Pictured: A new bus stop shelter is planned for the corner of Muscogee Road and Highway 29 in Cantonment. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge


Northview Chiefs Honor Football Best During Banquet

February 5, 2016

The Northview Chiefs honored the best of their 2015 season Thursday night during their annual football banquet.

Pictured top: The Chief Award was presented to Jared Aliff and Dustin Bethea.

(Scroll down for additional awards listed below photos.)

Offensive Awards were presented to Hunter Cofield, Luke Ward and Tony Harris.

Defensive Awards were presented to Zachary Hollad, Jacob Weaver and MJ Jones.

Pictured: Seniors were also honored. (L-R) Tyler Berry, Zach Steele, LaDarius Thames, I’siah Dunn, Jacob Dunsford and Zachary Holland. Photos by Melissa Ward for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Alimony Overhaul On The Move In Florida House

February 5, 2016

A House panel signed off Thursday on a proposal that would overhaul the state’s alimony laws by doing away with permanent alimony and creating a formula based on the length of marriage and the incomes of both spouses to determine payments.

Years in the making, the measure has the blessing of alimony reform advocates and the Family Law Section of The Florida Bar.

A nearly identical measure fell apart during the final days of last spring’s shortened legislative session after the two sides — once at odds over alimony reform — had reached a compromise.

The effort got enmeshed last year in an acrimonious battle between two powerful Republican lawmakers — Senate budget chief Tom Lee and House Rules Chairman Ritch Workman — over whether the proposal should also address time-sharing of children between divorcing parents, something Lee wanted. Workman said the time-sharing issue killed the deal, but Lee disputed that was the reason for the bill’s demise.

On Thursday, the House Judiciary Committee approved its version of this year’s measure (HB 455) — which doesn’t include the time-sharing element — in a 14-3 vote after hearing emotional testimony from divorced spouses on both sides of the issue.

Rep. Colleen Burton, the bill’s sponsor, said the changes are needed to provide certainty when couples are divorcing.

“This is a bill that, across our state, provides a framework that provides wherever you live in the state, you walk in and can ensure you’ll receive equal treatment no matter where you are,” Burton, R-Lakeland, said.

Burton’s proposal would eliminate certain types of alimony, known as bridge-the-gap, rehabilitative, durational and permanent alimony. It would also change what are now considered short-term, mid-term and long-term marriages. Under the new plan, the category of mid-term marriages would be eliminated and long-term marriages, now defined as 17 years or longer, would apply to unions of 20 years or more.

The formula for the duration of alimony payments would be based on the number of years of marriage, while the amount of the payments would rely on a couple’s gross income — the higher earner’s salary minus the earnings of the spouse seeking alimony — and would set the length of time for alimony payments.

Divorcing spouses who have been married for less than two years would not be eligible for alimony, unless a judge gives written findings for an exception.

The bill does not include a retroactivity provision that prompted Gov. Rick Scott to veto an alimony-reform measure three years ago.

Representing the Family Law Section of The Florida Bar, Tampa lawyer Joe Hunt said judges throughout the state, or even within the same county, make different alimony decisions even when given the same sets of facts.

The proposal “provides guidelines that are well overdue,” Hunt said.

But critics object that the changes would hurt older women, who stayed at home to raise children and then have a hard time finding jobs.

Shelly Moxon Lehman told the panel she was a domestic-abuse victim who was married for 18 years before getting divorced. Other women might stay in abusive relationships if they aren’t able to get financial support from ex-husbands, Lehman warned.

Lehman, 56, said she’s out of work, although she has a college degree.

“I was stuck raising our children by myself. … And now I am destitute. I’m on food stamps,” she said.

Family Law Reform founder Alan Frisher, who’s been fighting for eight years to get the law changed, said he was hopeful that lawmakers would pass this year’s proposed overhaul.

“Luckily, everybody’s playing nicely in the sandbox,” Frisher said after the meeting.

And the Bar’s family law section lobbyist, Nelson Diaz, said he believes the proposal will also get Scott’s blessing.

Three out of five Democrats on the committee supported the measure, Diaz noted.

“I haven’t gotten assurances from the governor, but I think he can be persuaded to sign it,” Diaz said.

The Senate Judiciary Committee is slated to give that chamber’s proposal (SB 668), which includes a modified version of the time-sharing component, an initial vetting on Tuesday.

by Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida

Tate High’s Jones Signs With Alabama Southern Softball

February 5, 2016

Tate High School senior Meagan Jones has signed to play softball with Alabama Southern Community College in Monroeville, AL. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Tate High’s Payne Signs With Morehouse College

February 5, 2016

Tate High School senior Reginald Payne signed Thursday with Morehouse College in Atlanta, an affiliate of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC). Photo courtesy Tate Football for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Pattie Marvine Odom Stone

February 5, 2016

Pattie Marvine Odom Stone 88, of Walnut Hill, passed away Thursday, February 4, 2016. She was born June 5, 1927, in in Perry, FL to the late Marvin and Bennie Ethel Cash Odom. She was a graduate of Taylor County High School in Perry, FL, Class of 1945. Florida State University conferred on her a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1948 and a Master of Science Degree in 1968. She did other course work at Stetson, Pensacola Junior College and the University of West Florida and during these high school and college years she worked at various jobs. On August 27, 1948, Pattie Odom married George G. Stone in the First Presbyterian Church in Tallahassee.

Mrs. Stone taught in the Escambia County, FL schools for 37 years and was active in various teachers’ organizations and fraternities during this time. She was Teacher of the Year in Escambia County (FL) in 1975 and was the recipient of Freedoms Foundation a Valley Forge Medal for being an outstanding teacher of Americanism and the American economic system in 1978, one of only 33 medals given nationwide. She was also very active in political and civic endeavors in Northwest Florida serving on variety of boards and committees involving education, health, lobbying for Escambia Education Association and government. Mrs. Stone joined First Presbyterian Church in Atmore on December 12, 1954, and was ordained an elder on February 24, 1969, for the class of 1971. Later Mrs. Stone served as an elder from 1972-1974, 1976-1980, and 1980-1981. During her years in this church, she active in the Women of the Church, VBS, and youth group, Sunday School and served as Clerk of the Session, a Commissioner to Presbytery, Synod, and General Assembly. In her later years, she was an active member of the First United Methodist Church of Atmore. One of her favorite activities was traveling the world.

Her parents; husband, George G. Stone; and brother, Dean Odom, precede her in death.

She is survived by her children, Ruth Stone of Tallahassee, Laura (Jerry) Ferrell of Uriah, AL, Jean (Glen) Wiggins of Walnut Hill, Bruce (Anita) Stone of Miami, and Bob (Cathy) Stone of Springfield, VA; brother, Bo (Brenda) Odom of Rome, GA; three sisters, Jo Ellen (Charles) Brantley of Foley, Linda (Cliff) Kirk of Belize, and Marilyn (David) Culpepper of Perry, FL. She had 19 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Sunday, February 7, 2016, at 3 p.m. from the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Debora Bishop officiating. Burial will follow in Walnut Hill Baptist Church Cemetery.

Active pallbearers will be her grandsons.

Visitation will be held Sunday, February 7, 2016, from 1:30 p.m. until service time from the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the United Methodist Church Children’s Home, 3140 Zelda Court, Montgomery, AL, 36177-9257.

Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Burnice Hammac

February 5, 2016

Mrs. Burnice Hammac, age 83, passed away Friday, February 5, 2016, in a Century health care facility.

Mrs. Hammac was a native and long time resident of Escambia County, Alabama. She was a homemaker and was of the Holiness faith.

She is survived by four sons, John Ray Gulsby of Pensacola, Lamar Gulsby, Larry Gulsby, and James Gulsby all of Molino; two sisters, Eleta Drawbaugh of Brewton and Brenda Lee Williams of Molino; one brother, C.E. “Junior” Hammac, Jr.; 16 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held on Sunday, February 7, 2016, at 2 p.m. from the chapel of Craver’s Funeral Home with Rev. Junior Hammac and Rev. Eddie Hammac officiating.

Interment will follow at Hanberry Cemetery with Craver’s Funeral Home directing.

Visitation will be held at Craver’s Funeral Home on Saturday, February 6, 2016, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.

Pallbearers will be Jerald Williams, Houston Gray, Tyler Driver, Tyler Coleman, Matthew Fillingim, and Chris Bucci.

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