FDOT Begins Work At Beulah Road, Mobile Highway
April 13, 2018
The Florida Department of Transportation is set to begin work to improve Mobile Highway at Beulah Road in Escambia County.
Plans include widening Mobile Highway east and westbound right turn lanes, drainage improvements, widening Beulah Road to accommodate north and southbound left-turn lanes, and installing a traffic signal.Much of the work will take place behind a low profile concrete barrier wall to minimize traffic impacts. No lane closures will be allowed from Monday-Friday from 6:30 to 8:30 a.m. or from 1 to 3 p.m. In additio, no lane closures will be scheduled during special school events.
The project will cost about $1.5 million.
Cities, Counties Take Aim At Florida Gun Law
April 13, 2018
Less than two months after a 19-year-old gunman shot dead 14 students and three faculty members at a Broward County high school, city and county officials in parts of Florida are pushing back against a state firearm law they say has created a chilling effect on their ability to respond to constituents’ demands.
Challenges to the 2011 “preemption” law, which bans local governments from imposing gun restrictions tougher than those in state laws, are just one of the ways local officials are fighting for stricter regulations in the wake of the Feb. 14 massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.
And Second Amendment proponents are firing back.
Leon County commissioners on Tuesday approved an ordinance, aimed at closing what is known as the gun-show “loophole,” that imposes a three-day waiting period and background checks for the private sales of weapons.
While the 2011 law bans local gun ordinances that go beyond state statutes, a 1998 constitutional amendment allows counties — but not cities — to impose up to five-day waiting periods and background checks on gun sales.
Seven counties — Broward, Hillsborough, Miami-Dade, Palm Beach, Pinellas, Sarasota and Volusia — already have ordinances requiring background checks and waiting periods for private gun sales. But the Second Amendment group Florida Carry has pledged to sue Leon County for including provisions that it says go beyond what the Constitution allows.
Meanwhile, three cities and a number of elected officials in Broward County this week filed a lawsuit challenging the 2011 law, arguing it hamstrings politicians in communities surrounding Parkland from being able to pass bans on detachable high-capacity magazines.
Coral Springs, Pembroke Pines, Coconut Creek and two officials from the cities allege in the lawsuit that provisions in the 2011 law violate the federal and state constitutions.
The plaintiffs believe a local ban on large-capacity magazines, used in a number of mass shootings across the country, would not violate the preemption law because the detachable devices are “optional firearm accessories.”
Lawyers for the cities argued the gun restrictions “will make their local communities safer — and might prevent or mitigate a future school shooting — without infringing on the right to keep and bear arms or violating the Firearms Preemption Law.”
But the local officials are worried that enacting such a prohibition could make them vulnerable to hefty penalties under the preemption law. Cities face the risk of lawsuits and potential damages of up to $100,000 and unlimited attorneys’ fees in each lawsuit. Public officials face removal from office and $5,000 fines.
The cities are asking a judge to declare the provisions “unconstitutional, unlawful and invalid” and are seeking an injunction preventing enforcement of the penalties.
“By threatening to punish local officials and their cities for quintessentially legislative acts like voting in favor of an ordinance, the state of Florida has improperly interfered with local democracy, establishing a system in which local officials’ legislative decisions are necessarily restrained by concerns about individual and municipal legal and financial liability instead of the safety and well-being of their constituents and communities,” lawyers for the plaintiffs argued in the 31-page complaint filed in Broward County circuit court.
Coral Springs Commissioner Dan Daley, a Marjory Stoneman Douglas High alum who wants to ban large-capacity magazines in his city and is a plaintiff in the lawsuit, called the “heavy handed” 2011 law one of “the most egregious” in the country.
“The current law has had a chilling effect on local leaders across this state who, because of the penalties, are hard-pressed to recommend even the most reasonable of gun reform measures in their own communities. The city of Coral Springs, and municipalities across this great state, have had enough and are standing up against this draconian law,” Daley said in a statement.
The lawsuit mirrors a broader challenge to the statute filed by 10 cities earlier this month in Leon County circuit court. Two cities, including Tallahassee, have since joined the suit, and Leon County also is considering joining the case.
The lawsuit contends the 2011 law, in part, violates constitutional limits on gubernatorial authority with respect to municipal officers, conflicts with the right of elected officials to legislative immunity and is “overbroad, in violation of local officials’ free speech rights.”
The legal challenges, and Leon County’s ordinance, are part of a nationwide response to the horrific Valentine’s Day shooting, which spawned demands for stricter gun measures, such as a ban on assault-style weapons.
“We expect cities and local officials in Florida and other states will continue to push back against limits on their ability to pass common-sense gun safety laws and protect their communities,” Eric Tirschwell, director of litigation at Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund, told The News Service of Florida. Tirschwell is one of the lawyers representing the plaintiffs in the Broward County lawsuit.
But gun-rights groups maintain that the preemption law keeps Florida from having a patchwork of regulations that could put gun owners at risk as they travel in the state.
Marion Hammer, the National Rifle Association’s Florida lobbyist and a former president of the national organization, pointed the finger at a series of missteps by government officials who repeatedly ignored warning signs that 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz posed a threat to the community before Cruz used a semi-automatic rifle to shoot the students and faculty members in Parkland.
“Parkland had nothing to do with preemption. Parkland had to do with government officials failing to do their job, failing to deal effectively with a person with serious mental illness who clearly was a danger to himself or others,” she said in a recent telephone interview. “Allowing local governments to willy-nilly adopt gun control to pretend they’re doing something to cover their own deficiencies is ludicrous.”
The NRA, meanwhile, is challenging a new school-safety law passed last month in response to the Parkland massacre. The law, among other things, raised the minimum age from 18 to 21 and imposed a three-day waiting period for the sale of rifles and other long guns, such as the weapon Cruz legally purchased and used at his former school.
The age and waiting-period requirements already apply to buying handguns, but the NRA contends that raising the age to 21 for purchasing long guns is unconstitutional.
Sen. Bill Galvano, a Bradenton Republican who was instrumental in crafting the new law and who is slated to take over as Senate president after the November elections, told the News Service he doesn’t anticipate any changes to the 2011 preemption law coming from the Legislature.
“I have no indication that we’re going to go back and revisit simply because the lawsuits have been filed,” Galvano, a lawyer, said.
Florida’s Constitution “is more specific regarding the ability to regulate or curtail the Second Amendment rights that flow from the federal Constitution,” he said.
When asked what he would say to local officials who complain that the preemption law prohibits them from doing what their constituents want, Galvano pointed to the state law passed in March.
“That’s why we responded in such a comprehensive manner. Great time and diligence was taken in determining where we can make reasonable changes to gun-safety regulation without opening us up for a lawsuit,” he said. “It’s a balance, too. You still have the NRA suing on the other side.”
by Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida
Anderson Grand Slams For Tate; Love Homers For Northview; Lady Aggies Win
April 13, 2018
Tate 10, Pace 5
Blake Anderson hit a grand slam for the Tate Aggies Thursday night in a 10-5 win over the Pace Patriots.
The Tate High School Aggies took a fifth inning lead into a win Thursday night against the Pace Patriots. Tied at two in the bottom of the fifth, the Aggies went ahead on an Pace error.
Cole Fryman earned the win with five runs on five hits and striking out three in six innings on the mound.
Tate’s Reid Halfacre, Trent Jeffcoat and Darrien McDowell doubled.
SOFTBALL
Northview 11, Catholic 1
Aubree Love homered as the Northview Lady Chiefs topped Catholic’s Lady Crusaders 11-1 Thursday night in Pensacola.
Tori Herrington pitched a complete game, striking out seven.
For Tate: Herffington 2-5; Love 1-2, Heather Knoles 2-5, Anna Sullivan 2-5, Kendall Enfinger 3-5, 2RBI.
The Lady Chiefs will host W.S. Neal Friday at 6 p.m. in Bratt.
Tate 2, Gulf Breeze 0
Sydni Solliday tripled and Belle Wolfenden doubled as the Tate Lady Aggies beat Gulf Breeze 2-0 Thursday night.
Tate’s Hanna Brown allowed just one hit while striking out eight in seven innings.
For Tate: Deazia Nickerson 1-4, Wolfenden 1-2, Shelby Ullrich 1-2, R; Brown 1-2, RBI; Madisen Nelson 1-3, RBI; Solliday 1-3. Kayliegh Cawthorn 1-2.
Escambia Sheriff’s Office Names ‘Dirty Dozen’ Most Wanted Fugitives
April 13, 2018
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has named their “Dirty Dozen” most wanted fugitives list.
If you have information on the whereabouts of any of “The Dirty Dozen,” contact the ECSO at (850) 436-9620 or call Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP. You can also go online to http://www.p3tips.com/ or download the P3Tips App for IOS or Android to text a tip. If your tip leads to an arrest, you may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $3,000.
Hannis Davison
April 13, 2018
Hannis “Byron” Davison was born September 24, 1950, and passed away April 11, 2018. He was born in Fairhope, AL.
He worked for BellSouth telephone Company from 1969 until retirement in 2001 from AT&T.
He is pre-deceased by his parents Walter and Inez Davison.
He is survived by his two daughters, Dana (Larry) Hood of Lillian, AL and Sandi Davison of Pensacola, FL; and his, grand-daughter Blakeli Hood, Lillian.
Missing Cantonment Woman Located Safe
April 12, 2018
UPDATE: A Cantonment woman reported missing has been located and is safe.
Previous Story:
Authorities are searching for a missing Cantonment woman.
Summer McCabe was last seen leaving her home in the area of Twilight Drive in Cantonment on Tuesday in a two-door, dark green 2000 Honda Accord with Florida tag EJPM47. She was reported missing on Wednesday.
She has dark hair, blue eyes, is 5′7″ and weighs 120 pounds. She has visible tattoos of two black hearts with one small red heart on her left shoulder and a feather on her right foot. McCabe’s daughter is safe with a family member.
Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Molino Man Charged With Arson, Burglary Of Occupied Home
April 12, 2018
Wednesday , a Molino man was arrested for arson and burglary after allegedly building a fire inside an enclosed porch.
A resident of Fairgrounds Road near the Molino Boat Ramp told deputies that on Tuesday night her family had a recreational fire in a fire pit by the river. Later that night, she said she saw Ivy Dwayne Little, 55, by the fire pit and called the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies arrived, but were unable to locate Little.
Wednesday morning, the resident smelled smoke in her home and found a small fire smoldering on a concrete floor inside her enclosed porch. The fire was still smoldering when deputies arrived on scene.
The fire caused burn marks on the floor and possible smoke damage. The resident reported a a pair of shoes, a tent and two umbrellas missing.
Deputies located Little walking on Highway 29 near their Molino Precinct and placed him under arrest on a first degree felony charge of arson of an occupied dwelling, along with burglary of an occupied dwelling, criminal mischief and petit theft. He remains in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $53,500.
The incident was investigated by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office.
Century Woman Passes Away Days After Hitting, Killing Highway 29 Worker
April 12, 2018
The Century woman that struck and killed a highway worker last Friday has passed away.
Sharon Odom, 60, was pronounced deceased Tuesday evening while at her residence with family present.
The Florida Highway Patrol said Odom was southbound on Highway 29 when her 2006 Ford Mustang traveled off the roadway onto the west shoulder, colliding with worker Maceo A. Perkins, 41, of Pensacola and an unoccupied Dodge Ram truck that was off the roadway.
Odom was trapped in her vehicle and was extricated by firefighters before being airlifted by LifeFlight helicopter to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola with serious injuries. Perkins was pronounced deceased at the scene.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Sun Will Give Way To Storms By Saturday
April 12, 2018
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 79. Light and variable wind becoming south 10 to 15 mph in the morning.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 56. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. Breezy, with an east wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southeast 15 to 20 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. Southeast wind around 15 mph.
Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78. Breezy, with a south wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Saturday Night: Showers and thunderstorms. Low around 55. Breezy, with a south wind 15 to 20 mph becoming west 10 to 15 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 64. West wind 10 to 15 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 41. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 67.
Monday Night: Clear, with a low around 44.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 74.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 54.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 77.
Convicted Sex Offender Accused Of Sexually Abusing Teen In Century
April 12, 2018
A local wrestler previously convicted of child sex abuse has been charged with sexually abusing a teen girl in Century. The arrest followed a tip from the girl’s father.
Peter Mika Lotoa, 32, was charged with six felony counts of sexual battery on a victim 16 or 17 years old. He remained in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $600,000.
The father told investigators that he was friends with Lotoa, and he learned that Lotoa was having a sexual relationship with his 16-year old daughter. The father stated that he had received information from Lotoa’s girlfriend saying that she suspected sexual interaction between the minor and Lotoa.
The dad provided law enforcement with a screen shot of an apology he said he received in a Facebook message from Lotoa in which he stated that he and the teen started out as just friends and he did not mean for it to happen. The Facebook message also says that he cares for the teen and would die for her, and he “knows what the future holds for him,” the arrest report states.
The teen stated that she had unprotected sexual intercourse with Lotoa on six occasion and those dates, from January 8, 2018, to March 14, 2018, were noted in her phone, according to the arrest report. Lotoa was 31 years old during that time period.
Lotoa was arrested Tuesday at an address in the 1100 block of Williams Ditch Road.
He was previously convicted of lewd and lascivious battery with a victim age 12-15 in March 2005 and sentenced to three years in state prison.