FWC Law Enforcement Report
January 25, 2018
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the period ending January 18 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officers Clark and Long discovered a large amount of trash dumped along a road way in Escambia County. They dug through the trash and found the name and address of an individual they suspected dumped the trash. They located the subject and interviewed him and he admitted the trash belonged to him and that he dumped it along the roadside. The subject was issued a notice to appear for dumping.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Lieutenant Lambert arrived at Boiling Creek Boat Ramp in Eglin WMA a little after sunset. There were two trucks with boat trailers parked at the ramp. A brief time later, he heard several wood ducks fly over and heard multiple gun shots from two locations, one north of the boat ramp and one south of the boat ramp. The shooting continued until approximately 35 minutes after sunset. During waterfowl season, ducks can legally be hunted until sunset. The vessels arrived back at the ramp, one vessel from the north location and one from the south location. Lieutenant Lambert interviewed the subjects, they both possessed duck hunting equipment along with wood ducks. The subjects were cited and warned for several violations to include hunting ducks after hours, unplugged shotgun and various boating safety violations.
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.
Tate Lady Aggies 2018 Softball Teams Named
January 25, 2018
The Tate Lady Aggies softball teams for 2018 were named Wednesday.
Varsity
Kyndal Bray
Hannah Brown
Kayleigh Cawthon
Taylor Hedgepeth
Ashley Lundquist
Madisen Nelson
Deazia Nickerson
Katie Snyder
Sydni Solliday
Belle Wolfenden
Emma Baransy
Amber Decoux
Gabby Locke
Shelby Mclean
Shelby Ullrich
Avery Beauchaine
Ryleigh Cawby
Junior Varsity
Hannah Fowler
Lilly Locke
Bailyn Murdy
Taylor Noack
Madison Workman
Courtney Adams
Abbie Burks
Brianna Folmar
Taylor Greene
Hannah Halfacre
Madison Holland
Alyssa Rowell
Madison Solliday
Cam Wolfenden
FHP: Man Killed When He Crashed Stolen Motorcycle
January 25, 2018
An Escambia County man was killed Wednesday afternoon when he crashed a stolen motorcycle.
Markiese Thornhill, 25, was traveling east about 2:25 p.m. on East Oakfield Road on a stolen 2016 Kawasaki motorcycle when he crossed a set of railroad tracks and failed to properly negotiate a curve, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The motorcycle struck a tree stump, ejecting Thornhill against a tree, according to troopers. He was not wearing a helmet.
The Florida Highway Patrol is continuing their investigation.
Lawmakers, Scott Differ On Tourism Marketing Money
January 25, 2018
Lawmakers appear ready to match Gov. Rick Scott’s request for $85 million to replenish a new economic-development fund but might not meet his proposal for tourism-marketing money.
An initial House budget proposal calls for spending $76 million on tourism-marketer Visit Florida during the upcoming year, which is $24 million less than what Scott wants. Meanwhile, an initial Senate plan would provide $50 million.
Still, the proposals released Wednesday indicate that while negotiations and lobbying efforts will continue over Visit Florida, the debate won’t match a 2017 fight over the agency. That fight ultimately led to Visit Florida receiving $76 million for the current year.
House Transportation & Tourism Appropriations Chairman Clay Ingram, R-Pensacola, credited a change in leadership last year at Visit Florida for helping clear up most spending issues at the public-private agency. Ken Lawson, a former secretary of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, took over as Visit Florida’s president.
“Ken Lawson being sort of the reformer that he is, and the emphasis on transparency and doing things the right way and hard work, I think that helps a lot,” Ingram said. “I’m happy that they’re well-funded at the current level. If the decision is made to increase it, that’s a decision for the future.”
Ingram said confidence in the agency was boosted by a Jan. 10 study from the Legislature’s Office of Economic and Demographic Research that found Visit Florida has a $2.20 return on investment for every $1 spent.
The return was down from $3.20 in 2015 due in part to increased spending by the agency, which Ingram said was “part of the thought process” in keeping the funding at $76 million.
The governor’s office credited increased tourism spending for the state attracting a record 112.3 million visitors in 2016. In 2011, the state spent $35 million on marketing and drew 87.3 million visitors.
The proposals released Wednesday are an early step in a process that will lead to the House and Senate approving overall spending plans and then negotiating a final budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1.
During last year’s session, House Republican leaders clashed with Scott about the future of Visit Florida and the business-recruitment agency Enterprise Florida.
House leaders objected to Enterprise Florida receiving money to provide incentives directly to individual businesses. Also, they questioned several years of spending by Visit Florida on such things as cooking shows, a contract with Miami-based rapper Pitbull and sponsorships of a race-car team and a London-based football club.
After a special legislative session, lawmakers agreed to provide $76 million for Visit Florida and $85 million for the “Job Growth Grant Fund,” which was created as a compromise in the dispute about economic-development incentives.
The proposals released Wednesday would provide another $85 million to the job-growth fund.
“I believe that the governor has done a great job spending these dollars,” said Senate Transportation, Tourism and Economic Development Appropriations Chairman Wilton Simpson, a Trilby Republican who also is Senate majority leader. “Today, most of that money has been appropriated or at least put towards projects that are going to be appropriated over the next few years.”
The fund has attracted more than 200 proposals, with requests totaling more than $750 million.
Scott dipped into the fund for the first time on Jan. 9, awarding $201,500 to Manatee Technical College for workforce training programs in manufacturing. According to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity website, that remained the only grant award as of Wednesday morning.
Sen. Audrey Gibson, D- Jacksonville, expressed concerns Wednesday over the pace of awards.
“I believe that if those dollars had been used for senators to make those decisions for their districts, it would have already been spent,” Gibson said. “And that just goes to the fact we know our districts better than the governor’s office. We’re there every day.”
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Gulf Power Storm Team At Work In Puerto Rico
January 25, 2018
A 10-man storm team from Gulf Power is on the job in Puerto Rico, helping to restore power to the island. The crew arrived Saturday and, after their trucks had arrived by barge, started working with other Southern Company workers to restore power. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Mary Alice McArthur Wilson
January 25, 2018
Mary Alice McArthur Wilson, 97, passed peacefully, surrounded by her loving family, to her heavenly home on January 23, 2018. She was born June 23, 1920, on a small farm in Botts (now Berrydale) Florida to Laura Annie (Lollie) Calhoun McArthur and John Oscar McArthur. In 1942 while working as a cashier at the B&G Grocery in Pensacola she met and married Clyde C. (Bill) Wilson (Lt. Commander US Navy) and they spent 30 years serving our country. She was a true Navy wife and hero to all that knew and loved her.
She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, three brothers (Doyle, J.W. and James) and three sisters (Kathryn, Lynn and Ruth).
She is survived by her son, Ron Wilson (Pat Ousley) of Blountville, TN; her daughter, Cathy Wilson Dean of Pensacola; three beloved grandchildren, Marcy Wilson Dhruv (Rohit), Wade Wison and Jared Wilson; and two special great-grandchildren, Elaina Rose Wilson and Reeva Kashmira Dhruv. Mary Alice leaves behind many nieces, nephews and friends that she loved dearly and that loved her dearly.
She was a lifelong active member of the Community of Christ (formerly RLDS) Church. For 97 years she was the rock of our family. A strong, independent and loving human being who spent her whole life caring for her family and friends. Always present for all of us, the matriarch and heart of our family. She especially wanted to thank her dear friends Bernice and Jim Warner, Dee Ingram, and Dr. Megumi Maguchi and Gracie. The family would also like to thank the aides
and nurses of Regency Hospice for their kindness.
Friends are invited to a visitation with the family on Saturday, January 27, 1010 from 1 p.m. until 2 p.m. at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North immediately followed by the service.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests a donation to a charity of your choice.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is entrusted with the arrangements.
Ollie Jean Strength
January 25, 2018
Ollie Jean Strength, 75 of Atmore, AL, passed away January 24, 2018, in Atmore. She was born on December 10, 1942, in Escambia County, AL, to the late Ollie James and Allie Belle King Strength. She was a graduate of Escambia County High School Class of 1960 and attended Massey Draughon Business College graduating on June 16, 1961. She was a payroll clerk for Vanity Fair until it closed in 2001 and then she retired.
She is survived by her aunt, Joyce (Russell) Braswell of Atmore, AL, and uncle Shelby King of Flomaton, AL. She is also survived by her loving family and friends.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 27, 2018, at 11 a.m. from the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Robert Heard officiating.
Burial will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be Raymond Kimmons, Allen Sharpless, Aubrey Till, Hugh Long, Jed Dukes and Russell Braswell.
Visitation will be held Friday, January 26, 2018 from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. from the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Senators Back Two Tax Holiday Periods For Hurricane Supplies
January 24, 2018
Floridians would be able to buy hurricane supplies without paying sales taxes during two weeks in June and July, under a bill approved by a key Senate committee.
The Finance and Tax Appropriations Subcommittee unanimously backed the proposal (SB 620), which would create tax “holidays” from June 1 through June 7 and from July 6 through July 12.
The bill includes numerous items that would be exempt from sales taxes during the periods, such as portable radios costing $75 or less; tarps costing $50 or less; gas or diesel fuel tanks costing $25 or less; cell-phone chargers costing $40 or less; carbon-monoxide detectors costing $75 or less; and portable generators costing $1,000 or less.
The annual six-month hurricane season starts June 1.
Finance and Tax Chairwoman Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland, said the two tax-free periods would cover the start of hurricane season and a later period when people start becoming more aware of hurricane threats.
“We all wait until we get the notice that the hurricane is upon us, and we all go and line up at Home Depot and there’s nothing left,” bill sponsor Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, said. “So I think, having this in the back of our mind, we’re saving money, people will go ahead and buy the items ahead of time.”
The proposal is now slated to go to the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Fire Inspections Skipped, Fire Extinguishers Removed From Town Of Century Buildings
January 24, 2018
Century Mayor Henry Hawkins said he has discovered buildings operated by the town of Century have not had required fire safety inspections since 2012 and community centers have been operated with the fire extinguishers removed. And fire extinguishers that remain are out of date and have not had required inspections in over five years.
The community center, know as the “Ag Building” on West Highway 4 and the Century Business Center on Pond Street last had legally required annual fire inspections in 2012. Both buildings are rented to the public by the town as event spaces, including birthday parties, family reunions, weddings and the like, and both buildings contain kitchens. Additional buildings at the Century Business Center include office space, a portion of which is rented by the town to an attorney.
Fire extinguishers that were in the buildings were outdated and removed, Hawkins said.
“Somebody in their infinite wisdom took out all the fire extinguishers out of all the buildings, so I’ve told them to put them back in,” he said.
Hawkins also said the fire extinguishers inside the Century Town Hall have not been checked since 2012. Florida fire code specifies internal checks that must be done on fire extinguishers, plus an annual inspection.
“If we use the Ag Building and it catches fire, and the suppression system don’t work, we are up the creek. We are going to get major lawsuits,” Hawkins said.
The mayor said now that problem has been discovered, the town will make every effort to rectify the situation.
“But hold on to your purse strings,” Hawkins told council members.
Pictured: A crowd attends Martin Luther King Day event inside the Ag Building in Center on Monday, January 15. According to the mayor, the building has not had a required fire safety inspection since 2012 and fire extinguishers were removed from the facility. Pictured below: The Century Business Center. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Hunter Killed In Accidental Shooting Identified As Alabama Man
January 24, 2018
A hunter died in an apparent accident in Escambia County (AL) Tuesday morning.
Darren Smith, age 45 of Daphne. was discovered deceased at a hunting club from an obvious gunshot wound in the Huxford community, near Prestwood Bridge Road, according to Escambia County (AL) Chief Deputy Mike Lambert.
Lambert said authorities believe Smith was accidentally shot by another hunter. Foul play is not suspected.
An investigation is underway by the Escambia County Alabama Sheriff’s Office and Alabama Game & Fish.