A Wet Weekend Outlook
June 3, 2017
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 7pm. Cloudy, with a low around 68. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 87. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Sunday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Monday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 1pm. Cloudy, with a high near 85. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Monday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. South wind around 5 mph becoming west after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a high near 85. North wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Tuesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. North wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 85. North wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 63.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 86.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 65.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 87.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 66.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 87.
School, Economic Development Get Special Session As Scott Signs Budget
June 3, 2017
After reaching an agreement with legislative leaders to boost money for public schools and to back plans for economic-development and tourism funding, Gov. Rick Scott on Friday signed an $82 billion state budget and called lawmakers back for a three-day special session to complete the deal.
“I think this is going to be good for job creation and I think it’s going to be good for education,” Scott said, following a press conference at Miami International Airport with Senate President Joe Negron, R-Stuart, and House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’Lakes.
Each leader will get something from the deal, which will be completed in a special session that begins Wednesday.
Lawmakers have agreed to create an $85 million “Florida Job Growth Grant Fund,” which will provide money for infrastructure and job-training efforts. Scott had requested $85 million for business incentives that would go through the economic-development agency Enterprise Florida, but the House refused to go along with spending money on incentives.
Another concession to Scott will be $76 million in funding for the tourism-marketing agency Visit Florida. Lawmakers had cut the funding to $25 million in the budget passed last month.
Funding for public schools in the deal will go up by $215 million, enough to provide about a $100-per-student increase in the 2017-18 fiscal year, which begins July 1. The budget approved last month had only a $24.49 per-student increase.
Also as part of the agreement, Scott is expected to sign two education bills, passed in the 2017 session, that are important to Corcoran and Negron.
One (SB 374) contains most of the higher-education policy initiatives supported by Negron, including block tuition for state universities, a new oversight board for state colleges and a cap on enrollment in state college baccalaureate programs.
The other bill (HB 7069), which is backed by Corcoran, would expand the use of charter schools in Florida and provide bonuses to high-performing teachers and principals.
Scott, however, deflected questions on the House bill.
“We’re still reviewing (HB) 7069 but I believe that we’re on a pathway to have a very good special session,” Scott said. “I am going to work to make sure that everything we do is good for all students.”
To set up the special session, Scott signed the new budget (SB 2500), while vetoing $410 million in spending and projects. He said the vetoed funding was “more than sufficient” to pay for the school funding, tourism and economic development increases.
In a more extraordinary move, Scott vetoed the entire $20 billion K-12 funding program in the budget, which will require lawmakers to pass a new bill next week with the $100-per-student increase. It was a move supported by teachers, school boards and superintendents, who called the original funding increase inadequate.
It’s the first time in 34 years that a governor has rejected the Florida Education Financing Program, commonly known as FEFP, since Bob Graham’s veto in 1983.
Scott declined to veto another portion of the budget related to state college funding, meaning those schools may have to live with a $30 million cut in remedial education. Scott promised to seek a funding increase for the state colleges during the 2018 regular session, which begins in January.
The agreement ended a bitter feud between Scott and Corcoran, the House leader, over economic-development and tourism funding. While Corcoran criticized a $1 million promotional contract with rapper Pitbull and likened economic incentives to “corporate welfare,” Scott toured the state labeling Corcoran and other House members as “job killers.”
Scott downplayed those differences on Friday.
“I appreciate the fact that people fight for what they believe in,” Scott said. “I think often what happens at the end of that discussion … you end up with a good product.”
Negron and other Senate leaders emphasized that they had supported Scott’s call for increased school funding and economic-development and tourism funding from the beginning of the 2017 session.
“It’s a shame the House wouldn’t negotiate during the regular session,” Senate Appropriations Chairman Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, tweeted. “Now we have to spend $60-70k a day on a special session.”
Corcoran said Friday’s agreement showed “you can have leaders with competing opinions and still compromise to meet common goals.”
Corcoran won concessions that the Visit Florida would be held to higher accountability standards and that the new $85 million Florida Job Growth Grant Fund would not be specifically targeted at individual companies.
“It’s truly a model for the rest of the nation wrestling with ending corporate welfare,” Corcoran said.
Controversy will continue over the charter school legislation, which is not part of the special session but drew fresh condemnation on Friday from Democrats and some public-school advocates.
“To pretend this newest backroom deal will help public education in our state is laughable,” said House Minority Leader Janet Cruz, D-Tampa.
She said the charter school legislation creates “a $140 million slush fund for private charter school operators in exchange for an $85 million slush fund for corporate welfare.”
Legislative leaders said they may add medical-marijuana legislation to the special session agenda, if they can resolve differences over the number of dispensaries that would be allowed to distribute the drugs. Voters approved a medical-marijuana constitutional amendment in November.
“We still want to try to get something resolved next week,” said Sen. Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton. “If we cannot, I don’t know that waiting a month or two is going to make a difference.”
by Lloyd Dunkelberger and Dara Kam
Powerball Jackpot Soars To $337 Million
June 3, 2017
The jackpot for Saturday’s Powerball drawing has grown to an estimated $337 million. The winner can choose to be paid the full amount over 30 annual installments or receive a $209.1 million one-time, lump-sum payment. Pictured: A billboard on North Century Boulevard in Century teases drivers with big prize money late Friday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Scott Signs BP Settlement Bill
June 3, 2017
Gov. Rick Scott signed measures Friday that will release BP oil-spill settlement money to eight Northwest Florida counties most impacted by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster.
“Our beautiful beaches were devastated by the impacts of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill,” Scott said in a statement. “While the surrounding communities have worked hard to recover, this funding will allow them to make critical local investments and continue our efforts to market the state.”
State Rep. Jay Trumbull, a Panama City Republican who oversaw the issue in the House, said the money “will help our businesses continue to grow and attract visitors from around the world to our beautiful coast.”
The measures allocate $300 million of $400 million received by the state last year to Bay, Escambia, Franklin, Gulf, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla and Walton counties through the non-profit organization Triumph Gulf Coast.
Kim Wilmes, president and CEO of the regional economic-development organization Florida’s Great Northwest, said the money will allow the region “to begin building that bright new economic future.”
The bill sets minimums for how much each county will receive and expands the Triumph board from five to seven, to provide more representation from less-populated counties. The eight counties are also slated to get three-fourths of the remainder of the $2 billion the state is expected to receive for damages associated with the BP disaster, which dumped millions of gallons of oil less than 100 miles off the Florida coast.
FWC Law Enforcement Report
June 3, 2017
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the weekly period ending May 25 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officer McHenry was working in Perdido River Wildlife Management Area (WMA) when he observed three individuals enter the area after hours. He approached the individuals in his patrol vehicle and turned his blue lights on. All three individuals fled the area on foot, but Officer McHenry caught up to one of the individuals. A notice to appear citation was issued for resisting arrest without violence, under age possession of alcohol and illegal entry into the WMA. The two other individuals were identified and warrants will be filed for their arrest.
Officers Cushing and Land were on water patrol in Pensacola Bay and conducted a marine fisheries inspection on a small fishing vessel near a navigational buoy. Upon contacting the two persons on board, they said that they had a few lane snapper. An inspection revealed they were in possession of 17 juvenile red snapper, all of them measuring between six and thirteen inches. The appropriate action was taken for the violation of possession of red snapper during closed season.
Officers Allgood and Manning patrolled federal waters south of Pensacola and found five different vessel operators in possession of red snapper during closed season. Federal citations were issued for the violations.
Officer Long checked vessels as they returned to Navy Point Boat Ramp and found one individual in possession of 15 undersized red snapper and another individual in possession of an amberjack during closed season. Officer Long issued notice to appear citations for the violations.
Officer Manning received information that someone was selling seafood at a local flea market without a license. When he arrived, he found an individual selling blue crabs, shrimp and blue runners. The individual did not have a saltwater retail license or any records on where the fish were purchased. Notice to appear citations were issued for the violations.
Officer Cushing spoke to a group of approximately 20 members of the Pensacola Recreational Fisherman’s Association. Officer Cushing gave an overview of the agency’s core mission and answered many questions in regards to current saltwater regulations and boating safety.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
While on patrol, Officer Mullins observed two individuals fishing the Garcon Point area. He conducted a fisheries/license inspection and one subject was unable to produce a fishing license or identification. The subject provided several different names and dates of birth. Despite the false information, Officer Mullins and FWC Dispatch discovered the subject’s identity. It was revealed that the subject had an active warrant for probation violation. The subject was placed under arrest, booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail and issued citations for interference with an FWC officer and no fishing license.
Investigator Molnar followed up on a complaint about a subject possibly killing over the bag limit of turkey during the 2017 spring season. After multiple interviews with several people, Investigator Molnar interviewed the subject. After the interview, the subject confessed to killing five turkeys in northwest Florida during the 2017 spring turkey season. Three sets of turkey spurs and beards were seized as evidence. Charges will be filed on a later date.
Officers Jernigan and Lewis participated in a Career Field Day at Chumuckla Elementary School. The FWC officers, Santa Rosa Sheriff’s K-9 deputies, and local EMT’s, paramedics, and volunteers from the local fire departments spent time with different classes to tell about their careers and what they do each day in the field. Officers Jernigan and Lewis spoke to more than 150 children about boating and gun safety. Each child boarded a patrol vessel, received coloring books, stickers and fun facts about Florida’s bears and alligators.
Officers Lewis, Jernigan, Hutchinson and Clark coordinated with the Blackwater Pirates and the United States Coast Guard (USCG) Auxiliary to perform voluntary vessel safety inspections on multiple vessels at Carpenter’s Park and Russell Harbor boat ramps in Milton during the weekend. Everyone involved educated the public on boating safety; distributed boating safety literature, and answered various questions from the public
This report represents some events the FWC handled over the past week; however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement. Information provided by FWC.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Escambia Man Sentenced On State, Federal Charges
June 3, 2017
An Escambia County man has been convicted on federal and state charges.
Robert Lamar Gerald was convicted by an Escambia County jury of possession of cocaine, possession of marijuana less than 20 grams, possession of drug paraphernalia, resisting an officer without violence and driving while license suspended,
On June 9, 2015, an Escambia County Sheriff’s Deputy on patrol stopped the vehicle Gerald was driving. After the stop, Gerald fled on foot and was apprehended after a brief chase. The search of his vehicle revealed marijuana, cocaine, drug paraphernalia and a loaded 9 MM pistol.
Gerald was a multi-convicted felon from Hillsborough County who had been released from the Department of Corrections custody on April 7, 2014.
In a joint effort with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, Gerald was prosecuted for the possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in federal court. He was sentenced to 210 months in federal prison as and armed career criminal.
The Office of the State Attorney continued to prosecute Gerald for the remaining charges.
Judge Gary Bergosh sentenced Gerald to 69 months in state prison and ordered this sentence to run consecutive to the federal sentence.
The investigation was a joint effort by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Gun Crime Response Team.
Barrineau Park Historical Society Presents Scholarships
June 3, 2017
The Barrineau Park Historical Society presented two scholarships Friday night. Jared Aliff received a $500 Louis Crabtree Senior Scholarship, and Deborah Rogers received a $1,000 Barrineau Park Historical Society Scholarship. Both are home schooled. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Jumbo Shrimp Tie Up Series With The Wahoos
June 3, 2017
The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp have gotten some revenge for getting swept by the Pensacola Blue Wahoos in the teams’ first meeting this season and going 4-15 in Blue Wahoos Stadium the last two years.
Jacksonville received home runs from catcher Austin Nola and third baseman Brian Anderson to beat Pensacola, 7-2, Friday in front of 4,778 Pensacola fans. Jacksonville evened the series, 2-2, heading into Saturday’s final game between the teams.
Pensacola manager Pat Kelly watched helplessly as his team, which scored 19 runs in the first three games, was blanked for the first six innings by Jacksonville starter Mike Kickham and managed just two runs Friday.
“It’s one of those days,” Kelly said. “We hit into three double plays and fell behind. It was very tough to make up the deficit.”
Pensacola Blue Wahoos right-hander Deck McGuire entered the game having won four straight starts. But the Jacksonville Shrimp knocked him around, earning five runs on six hits to jump out to a, 5-0, lead after the first five innings. McGuire also allowed two walks and struck out seven in his five innings of work Friday.
McGuire, a former first-round draft pick, got off to a stellar start striking out the first three Jumbo Shrimp batters he faced in the first inning. The loss dropped his record to 5-3 on the season and increase his ERA to 3.25.
“He was just a little off,” Kelly said. “I thought they truly hit some good pitches.”
Jacksonville right fielder John Norwood, who doubled to start the inning, scored on a sacrifice fly to center field by first baseman Taylor Ard to put the Jumbo Shrimp up, 1-0. With two outs, Jacksonville center fielder Yefri Perez smacked a triple into the right center gap to score left fielder Cal Towey for a 2-0 lead.
In the fourth inning, Nola clobbered a solo home run, his second of the season, to left field, putting the Jumbo Shrimp up, 3-0.
Anderson also clubbed a two-run home run in the seventh inning off of Pensacola reliever Brennan Bernardino to left field for a 7-0 Jacksonville lead. Anderson, who MLB Pipeline.com ranks as the Miami Marlins third best prospect, was 3-5 and added a triple and single for four RBIs in Friday’s game.
Pensacola second baseman Angelo Gumbs reached base seven straight at-bats over the last two games, before grounding out into a double play in the ninth inning. He was 2-4 with a triple but reached on a fielder’s choice and scored one of the Blue Wahoos’ two runs.
Pensacola is 30-24 but remain in first place in the Southern League South Division where they’ve been in all but six days this season.
Hurricane Supplies Are Tax Free This Weekend In Florida
June 2, 2017
A three-day sales tax holiday on storm supplies is underway in Florida.
Through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Florida will not charge sales tax on certain emergency preparedness supplies. Items ranging from reusable ice packs to portable generators up to $750 are covered by the “2017 disaster preparedness sales tax holiday.”
“I was proud to sign a tax cut package that includes a disaster preparedness sales tax holiday so families and businesses have additional opportunities to get the supplies they need to be prepared. With the 2017 hurricane season beginning today, I encourage all Floridians to take advantage of this weekend’s disaster preparedness sales tax holiday and ensure your family is safe, “Gov. Rick Scott said.
Items tax exempt during the sales tax holiday in Florida are outlined in the poster below, click to enlarge.
Valedictorian Reflects On High School And Value Of Community
June 2, 2017
Alyssa Borelli of Molino started last Saturday morning anxious for graduation, but a little sad that four years filled with lots of hard work and many laughs was coming to an end.
“I’m excited,” Alyssa quickly stated when asked the first thing that comes to mind when told she is Northview High School’s 2017 Valedictorian. “My parents deserve a huge thank you for being my biggest supporters throughout high school. My teachers and friends definitely deserve to be thanked as well.”
As the Executive Officer, or XO, of Northview’s NJROTC, the vice president of the Future Business Leaders of America, and actively involved in Beta Club, the Student Government Association, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the school advisory council, and several other organizations, Alyssa worked hard not only in her studies, but to be an active student too.
Alyssa plans to attend the University of West Florida where she will major in mathematics. She wants to minor in education and teach high school math after graduating college.
When reflecting on the community, Alyssa realizes just how valuable it can be.
“This community is really important to me. I’ve been able to make a lot of close friends and even people I’ve just met are really nice and easy to talk to.”
Alyssa even touched on why she chose the University of West Florida when discussing the importance of the community to her.
“When picking between UWF and UF,” she stated, “I chose UWF to stay close to my family and friends.”
