Barrineau Park Historical Society Awards Scholarships
May 6, 2017
The Barrineau Park Historical Society announced four scholarship winners Friday night.
- Savannah Calhoun, West Florida High School, was presented the $1,000 Stephen S. Jogan Memorial Scholarship. She plans to attend the University of West Florida in the fall majoring in social work.
- Mitchell Singleton, Northview High School, was presented the $500 Lynda Minchew Memorial Scholarship. He plans to attend Pensacola State college after he serves one year as vice present of the Florida FFA.
- Jared Aliff, homeschooled, received the Louis Crabtree Senior Scholarship. He plans to attend Asbury College or Faulkner State.
- Deborah Rogers, homeschooled, received a $1,000 Barrineau Park Histoical Society Scholarship. When she graduates from high school later this month, she will also receive an associates degree from Pensacola State College.
Pictured top: Scholarship winners Mitchell Singleton and Savannah Calhoun Friday night in Barrineau Park. Not pictured are Jared Aliff and Deborah Rogers were unable to attend the presentation. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge
Stand Your Ground Law Change Headed To Scott
May 6, 2017
A change to the state’s “stand your ground” self-defense law is heading to Gov. Rick Scott after the Senate agreed late Friday to go along with a House proposal.
The House and Senate both wanted to change the law but had clashed on a legal issue in the bill (SB 128).
But with time running out in the legislative session Friday, the Senate voted 22-14 — with Tallahassee Democrat Bill Montford joining Republicans in support — to accept the House proposal.
The move came in exchange for getting the House to accept the Senate’s more far-reaching language on a separate measure (SB 436) dealing with religious expression in public schools.
“I thought that it was a reasonable resolution to both matters, and they’re both constitutional issues,” said Sen. Rob Bradley, a Fleming Island Republican who sponsored the “stand your ground” bill. “And we wrapped it all up in a bow, and we resolved them both in a satisfactory manner.”
The overall issue stems from a Florida Supreme Court ruling in 2015 that said defendants have the burden of proof to show they should be shielded from prosecution under the “stand your ground” law.
In “stand your ground” cases, pre-trial evidentiary hearings are held to determine whether defendants should be immune from prosecution.
While the House and Senate broadly supported the idea of shifting the burden of proof from defendants to prosecutors in the pre-trial hearings, they differed on a legal standard.
The House proposal said prosecutors in pre-trial “stand your ground” hearings would have to overcome the asserted immunity sought by defendants through “clear and convincing evidence.” The Senate fought for a higher standard of proof, known as “beyond a reasonable doubt.
The two chambers needed to reach agreement by Friday, the final scheduled day of the annual legislative session. Lawmakers will meet again Monday to vote on budget-related issues but will not take up other matters.
In the end, , the Senate agreed to go along with the “clear and convincing evidence” standard.
Proponents of the bill, which had support from groups such as the National Rifle Association, said shifting the burden of proof would better protect the rights of defendants. But critics argued, in part, that the change would lead to cases ending before all the facts are revealed.
Sen. Jose Javier Rodriguez, D-Miami, said Friday the House version didn’t alleviate his concerns about the bill.
“If you talk to prosecutors, they’re already gearing up just in case we pass this bill to expend significant amount of resources, in literally every single case where there is violent activity, where they (defendants) can raise this at the pre-trial stage and force the prosecutors to basically put on a trial at the pre-trial stage,” Rodriguez said.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Tate Aggies Football Team Volunteers In Area Car Rider Lines
May 6, 2017
Several members of the Tate High School football team were up early Friday morning to volunteer in the car rider lines at several elementary schools. The players welcomed the students to school. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Today: Sawmill Day, Rodeo, Mayfest, Band Geeks, Quintette May Day And More
May 6, 2017
Here’s a look at events on this Saturday around the North Escambia area:
The 26th Annual Tate FFA Alumni Foundation Rodeo will be Saturday night at 7:30 at the Escambia County Equestrian Center on Mobile Highway. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children.
The annual Sawmill Day in Century from 8:30 a.m. until. Car show, historical exhibits, arts and crafts, entertainment, Boston Butt sandwich meals and more. Admission is free.
Northview Football team car wash at Advance Auto in Atmore from 9-12. Donations will be accepted. All money will go towards the players Down & Dirty Camp fees over the summer.
Tonight is final performance of the Northview High School spring musical “Band Geeks”. Admission is $7 at the door. Curtain time is 7:00.
Mayfest in atmore today at Tom Byrne Park. Sports events, arts and crafts, a variety of food and entertainment on the Gazebo Stage in this free admission family event.
Today is the Quintette Community Century May Day from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Arts, crafts, food and more. Free admission.
Spring Garden Festival Saturday from 8 a.m. until noon at the Escambia Demonstration Garden, located at 3740 Stefani Road in Cantonment. Educational demonstrations offered during the festival include container gardening, how to test your soil, pruning and air layering, all about citrus trees and much more. The festival will also feature a plant sale, children’s activities, 4-H projects, a plant clinic and more. Free admission.
Gonzalez United Methodist Church (GUMC) will be holding the fourth annual GUMC Youth-Branden Penegar Memorial Car Show. Registration from 8 a.m. until 11 a.m. Live music, food and vendors. Free admission.
Pictured: Scenes from last years Sawmill Day Festival in Century. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Florida Medical Marijuana Deal Goes Up In Smoke
May 6, 2017
Unable to bridge a gap over how many marijuana dispensaries the state should have, Florida lawmakers Friday failed to pass legislation that would have created a framework to carry out a constitutional amendment legalizing medical marijuana for wide variety of patients.
Implementation of the voter-approved amendment now rests in the hands of state health officials, who have been harshly criticized by legislators, patients, vendors — and judges — for their handling of the state’s current medical marijuana regulations.
“The Florida Legislature chose political gamesmanship over the will of 71 percent of voters,” said Ben Pollara, executive director of the group Florida for Care, who also served as campaign manager for the political committee that backed the amendment. “The will of the people was thwarted again today by Tallahassee politicians, but they can’t deny us forever. Florida for Care will continue fighting to implement the Constitution and bring a compassionate medical marijuana law to this state’s patients.”
A potential deal collapsed Friday evening after the House amended its proposal (HB 1397) to impose a cap of 100 retail outlets for each of the state’s medical marijuana operators, over the objections of some Democrats. The Senate had proposed a cap of 10, at least for now.
“I’m nervous that bouncing this back … will kill this bill and we will be stuck with a situation where the Department of Health has to implement Amendment 2, which can be disastrous for patients,” objected Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith, D-Orlando.
House Majority Leader Ray Rodrigues, the bill’s sponsor, pointed out that lawmakers had hours to go before the session was scheduled to end at midnight.
“If the Senate can’t get this bill heard and decided in the next 3.5 hours, that problem’s with them, not with us,” Rodrigues, R-Estero, said.
The Senate ultimately did not take up the final House proposal.
The Senate bill sponsor, Rob Bradley, called the Legislature’s failure to act disappointing, saying he would rather lawmakers had control over the amendment’s rollout instead of the Department of Health.
“That’s a real concern. The Legislature at some point in time needs to have a bill that implements Amendment 2. It’s disappointing that we didn’t get it done this session,” Bradley, a Fleming Island Republican said. “We just couldn’t bridge the gap, and that just happens sometimes.”
Bradley started floating a plan to implement the amendment during committee hearings in January.
Republican leaders in the two chambers set out contrasting approaches, with the House favoring a more-restrictive proposal and the Senate approving a plan that had a more-aggressive schedule for increasing the number of operators responsible for growing, processing and distributing marijuana and derivative products.
In the days leading up to Friday’s end of the legislative session — for issues other than the budget — the two chambers ironed out most of their differences on that issue.
But a critical sticking point that emerged late in the session — caps on the number of dispensaries each medical marijuana operator would be allowed to have — ultimately proved too big a divide to resolve.
The Senate on Thursday modified its proposal (SB 406) to limit each marijuana operator a maximum of 10 retail locations. The number would have increased as the number of eligible patients registered in a statewide database grew.
But, while the House originally wanted fewer licensed marijuana operators in the state, the House’s bill would have allowed the purveyors to have an unlimited number of storefronts.
Critics maintained that an unlimited number of dispensaries would give an unfair advantage to the seven operators currently licensed by the state.
The caps were aimed not at limiting patient access but to ensure that “the golden ticket holders in the state will not be able to continue a monopoly moving forward,” Smith said during floor debate on the House’s proposal late Friday evening.
But Rodrigues maintained that a proliferation of dispensaries would ultimately benefit patients.
“Just because you’re first to the market, doesn’t mean you own the market,” Rodrigues said. “I believe the free market will work, and quality will rise to the top, and the public will respond to that.”
More than 71 percent of voters signed off on the constitutional amendment, largely bankrolled by Orlando trial lawyer John Morgan, in November.
The constitutional amendment allows doctors to order marijuana as a treatment for patients with cancer, epilepsy, glaucoma, HIV, AIDS, post-traumatic stress disorder, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Crohn’s disease, Parkinson’s disease or multiple sclerosis. Doctors also have the power to order marijuana for “other debilitating medical conditions of the same kind or class as or comparable to those enumerated, and for which a physician believes that the medical use of marijuana would likely outweigh the potential health risks for a patient.”
A ban on smoking pot products was one of the most fiercely debated issues for patients and advocates, but House and Senate leaders refused to back down from the prohibition. The House did agree, however, to allow marijuana operators to sell pot in vaporizable or edible forms.
Morgan has threatened to sue the state over the issue. The amendment allows any Florida citizen to sue state officials if they fail to implement the amendment properly.
Lawmakers first created a framework for the state’s marijuana industry more than two years ago, when they legalized non-euphoric, or low-THC, cannabis for patients with epilepsy, severe muscle spasms or cancer.
Under the 2014 law, nurseries that had been in business for at least 30 years and grew at least 400,000 plants were eligible to apply for one of five licenses to grow, process and distribute marijuana and derivative products in different areas of the state.
The operators were supposed to start dispensing the low-THC products by Jan. 1, 2015, but a series of legal and administrative challenges delayed the rollout. As a result of the challenges, health officials were forced to issue two additional licenses.
Anticipating that the amendment would pass in November, lawmakers last year expanded the law to allow full-strength marijuana for terminally ill patients.
“We’re disappointed that we weren’t able to change a lot of the policy to allow access to patients across the state,” said Igniting Florida President Nikki Fried, the lead lobbyist for San Felasco Nurseries, one of state’s seven current medical marijuana vendors. “We’re hoping the Department of Health will faithfully implement the constitutional amendment and the will of the people.”
Early this year, the Florida Department of Health began the rulemaking process to implement the amendment and held five workshops throughout the state to take testimony from the public.
“The department is committed to quickly moving through the rulemaking process to create a regulatory structure for Amendment 2,” Department of Health spokeswoman Mara Gambineri said in a statement.
by Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida
See ‘Band Geeks’ Tonight At Northview (With Photo Gallery)
May 6, 2017
Tonight is final performance of the Northview High School spring musical “Band Geeks”.
Admission is $7 at the door. Curtain time is 7:00.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Band Geeks is a high-stepping tribute to high school marching bands and misfits everywhere. With just nine members and dwindling funds, the Cuyahoga High Marching Beavers are close to extinction. When a troubled athlete is relegated to their ranks, tuba-playing band captain Elliott and his best friend Laura must find a way to unite the band, embrace their inner geek and save the Marching Beavers.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
PSC Gives Final Approval To Gulf Power Rate Increase
May 5, 2017
Thursday, the Florida Public Service Commission approved a Gulf Power Company rate increase. The rates are from the Commission’s previously approved settlement agreement. Customers will be noticed about their final rates, effective July 1, 2017.
The impact of the settlement agreement on a 1,000 kilowatt-hour monthly residential bill is a $6.20 difference, with the bill increasing from $131.43 to $137.63. The bill impact on commercial and industrial customers will vary depending on usage; however, on average, commercial/industrial bills will increase by about three to six percent.
On April 4, 2017, the PSC approved a settlement agreement on the utility’s rate petition. The agreement was signed by Gulf Power; the Office of Public Counsel, who represents all ratepayers; the Florida Industrial Power Users Group; and the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy. No other party to the case objected.
Gulf Power originally requested additional revenues of $106 million and a return on equity of 11 percent. The agreement provides Gulf with recovery of an additional $62 million in revenues and maintains its return on equity at the current 10.25 percent.
Gulf Power filed its petition for a base rate increase with the PSC on October 12, 2016. The PSC held customer service hearings on January 26, 2017 in Pensacola and on January 27, 2017 in Panama City. Gulf Power currently provides electric service to more than 450,000 retail customers in eight Florida counties including most of Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
‘Life Threatening Injuries’ During Inmate Altercation At Century Prison
May 5, 2017
An inmate suffered life -threatening injuries as the result of an apparent inmate-on-inmate altercation at Century Correctional Institution Wednesday night, the Florida Department of Corrections has confirmed. The inmate was reportedly stabbed.
The inmate, whose name has not been released, was transported to a Pensacola hospital for the treatment.
There were no injuries reported to corrections officers or other staff.
The incident is currently under investigation by the Florida Department of Correction’s Office of the Inspector General.
Century Observes National Day Of Prayer (With Photo Gallery)
May 5, 2017
A National Day of Prayer event will held Thursday evening in Century.
Community and spiritual leaders gathered in prayer, asking for God’s favor on their town, surrounding communities and the nation.
“If we want to turn Century right side up, we are going to need to turn go God,” Century Mayor Henry Hawkins said.
If you want to see change, we need to pray,” Pastor Booker Bivins of New Life Christian said. “God is looking for his people to come together.”
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured top Pastor Booker Bivins of New Life Christian. Pictured below: A National Day of Prayer event in Century Thursday evening. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Scott Stops In Escambia County To Stump For Legislative Priorities
May 5, 2017
With the annual legislative session scheduled to end Friday, Gov. Rick Scott made a stop in Pensacola Thursday afternoon to tout his priorities, including money for Enterprise Florida and Visit Florida.
He has clashed for months with House Speaker Richard Corcoran about funding for those agencies. A budget outline negotiated by legislative leaders would not provide money to Enterprise Florida for business incentives and would provide $25 million to Visit Florida for tourism, marketing, about a third of what Scott sought.
“Enterprise Florida is going to be basically shut down, so we will have no more Navy Federal Credit Unions,” Scott said. He has frequently highlighted Enterprise Florida’s role in landing Navy Federal and its thousands of jobs in Escambia County.
Scott urged those in attendance to contact members of the Florida Legislature and push for Enterprise Florida and Visit Florida funding.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
