Putnam Draws Fire After Background Checks Report
June 9, 2018
Democrats and gun-control advocates took aim Friday at Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam after the Tampa Bay Times reported that a former employee of Putnam’s agency failed for more than a year to conduct national background checks on applications for concealed weapons licenses.
An Office of Inspector General report from June 2017 — obtained by the Times in a public records request — said that between February 2016 and March 2017, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services didn’t access an FBI crime database called the National Instant Criminal Background Check System because an employee was unable to log into the system.
Putnam’s office told the Times that the employee was “immediately terminated” after another employee discovered the situation and that every application potentially impacted was “thoroughly reviewed.”
In a statement Friday night, Putnam, who is running for governor, said “a criminal background investigation was completed on every single application.”
“Upon discovery of this former employee’s negligence in not conducting the further review required on 365 applications, we immediately completed full background checks on those 365 applications, which resulted in 291 revocations,” Putnam said in the statement. “The former employee was both deceitful and negligent, and we immediately launched an investigation and implemented safeguards to ensure this never happens again.”
As of May 31, there were more than 1.9 million concealed-weapons licenses issued by the state.
The Times noted 245,000 applications were made in 2016 and 275,000 were made in 2017.
The newspaper report touched off a political outcry Friday from Democrats. The governor’s race has included heavy debate about gun issues, particularly after the Feb. 14 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Broward County.
The Pride Fund to End Gun Violence, a national LGBTQ political organization focused on gun violence, expressed concern that while the background checks weren’t made, the state may have issued concealed-weapons licenses “to drug addicts, people with mental illness, and others who should be barred from owning a gun.”
“It’s inconceivable Putnam’s office could be so negligent, especially because the Pulse massacre in Orlando occurred during the same timeframe,” Jason Lindsay, executive director of the Pride Fund, said in a statement.
A gunman killed 49 people at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando on June 12, 2016.
Democratic gubernatorial candidates rushed Friday to condemn Putnam, with Chris King and Jeff Greene, for example, calling for the agriculture commissioner to resign.
Former Congresswoman Gwen Graham urged Putnam to “drop out now” from the contest.
Meanwhile, Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, another Democrat in the governor’s race, labeled the report a sign of “dangerous incompetence” by Putnam. And Philip Levine, a former Miami Beach mayor, called for an investigation and said Putnam has forfeited “any moral right to lead.”
But Marion Hammer, the National Rifle Association’s longtime lobbyist in Florida, pointed to political motivations in the outcry from Democrats.
“Democrats are having political seizures for the media again,” Hammer said in an email to The News Service of Florida.
Patricia Brigham, president of the League of Women Voters of Florida, however, called the lack of background checks an “example of gross neglect” and cited part of the Times story that said the now-fired employee had been promoted from the mailroom to be in charge of database checks.
“Why only one mailroom employee would be left to handle a job that is critical to the safety of all citizens is jaw-dropping,” said Brigham, whose group backs gun-control measures.
— by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida with contribution from senior NSF writer Dara Kam
Free Resume Help Available At The Molino Library
June 9, 2018
Need help polishing your resume to make it stand out from the crowd? The Molino Branch Library is offering free help every Monday from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. Call (850) 435-1760 to schedule a 45 minute appointment.
Varner Pitches Wahoos To Series Opening Win
June 9, 2018
Seth Varner pitched six strong innings for the Blue Wahoos in the 6-1 win over the Mississippi Braves Friday night at Trustmark Park. It is the season-best third straight win for the Blue Wahoos.
Varner (W, 3-0) surrendered a leadoff home run to Connor Lien in the bottom of the first inning and that was his only blemish in the start. He finished with just five hits allowed, one walk and two strikeouts.
The Blue Wahoos pounded out 12 hits with everybody in the lineup reaching base with a hit or a walk. Pensacola got the first five runs against M-Brave starter Kyle Wright (L, 3-7), and the scoring started in the third.
Shed Long doubled home Chris Okey to tie the game at 1-1. A batter later, Nick Longhi drove a deep sacrifice fly to the center fielder Lien which scored the go-ahead run, Varner, from third. Narciso Crook tripled and scored on a fielder’s choice in the fourth inning to stretch the Pensacola lead to 3-1.
The Wahoos had Wright on the ropes when the first five batters of the fifth inning reached. C.J. McElroy led the rally off with a single followed by base hits from Long, Longhi and Brian O’Grady before Luis Gonzalez walked. Longhi’s single scored McElroy, and O’Grady’s brought home Long to make it a 5-1. Gonzalez drove Long in for his second run of the game with a single in the ninth to cap the scoring at 6-1.
Longhi and Long both paced the Wahoos hot bats. Longhi finished the game 3-for-4 with two RBI, while Long finished 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI.
Robinson Leyer did a fine job in relief of Varner with two scoreless innings before Jesus Reyes finished the game with a scoreless ninth.
The Blue Wahoos look for their fourth straight win on Saturday night in Mississippi. Pensacola will start RHP Daniel Wright (2-3, 4.50) against Braves RHP Touki Toussaint (2-6, 3.52). First pitch is set for 6:00 c.t. from Trustmark Park.
Blood Drives Today At The Molino And Century Libraries
June 9, 2018
OneBlood is hosting hold blood drives today from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Molino Branch Library and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Century Branch Library. NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Slight Chance Of Showers
June 8, 2018
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. Calm wind.
Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind.
Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. Calm wind.
Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind.
Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. Calm wind.
Monday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind.
Monday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. Calm wind.
Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 90.
Tuesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72.
Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 90.
Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72.
Thursday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 90.
Two Century Correctional Officers Assaulted
June 8, 2018
Two correctional officers were recently assaulted at Century Correctional Institution.
Inmate Andres Hernandez assaulted the officers by striking them in the face, according to the Florida Department of Corrections. Officials said staff responded appropriately, and the inmate was subdued.
Medical staff examined the officers and noted injuries. Inmate Hernandez will receive a disciplinary report for this assault.
Hernandez is serving an eight year sentence for multiple convictions, including kidnapping, aggravated battery and aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, aggravated fleeing and resisting an officer with violence. He was incarcerated February 22.
Suicide Rates Increase In Florida, Nationwide
June 8, 2018
Florida’s suicide rate increased 10.6 percent from 1999 to 2016, though most states saw larger increases, according to a new report from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The report showed an overall 25.4 percent increase nationally during the period, with only one state — Nevada — seeing a decrease in its rate.
With nearly 45,000 suicides across the country in 2016, the report described suicide as a “growing public health problem” and said a variety of factors may contribute to the increase.
“Comprehensive statewide suicide prevention activities are needed to address the full range of factors contributing to suicide,” the report said. “Prevention strategies include strengthening economic supports (e.g., housing stabilization policies, household financial support); teaching coping and problem-solving skills to manage everyday stressors and prevent future relationship problems, especially early in life; promoting social connectedness to increase a sense of belonging and access to informational, tangible, emotional, and social support; and identifying and better supporting persons at risk (e.g., military veterans, persons with physical/mental health conditions).”
In all, 25 states saw increases in their suicide rates topping 30 percent.
Need help? Contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline for help: 1-800-273-TALK (8255). https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org.
by The News Service of Florida
Tire Comes Off Vehicle On Highway 97, Slams Into Parked Vehicle
June 8, 2018
A vehicle in the parking lot of the Davisville Piggly Wiggly was damaged Thursday when a tire came off a vehicle several feet away on Highway 97.
The tire damaged the rear passenger door, breaking the glass out of it.
No one was in the vehicle at the time, and no injuries were reported.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Panel Looks For Ways To Increase School Security
June 8, 2018
The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission met Thursday as it continued reviewing events surrounding the Feb. 14 mass shooting in Parkland that killed 17 students and faculty members.
The commission, created in March as part of a school safety law (SB 7026) passed in the aftermath of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas massacre, discussed security risk assessments, school discipline programs and new mental-health assistance programs during the meeting at the BB&T Center in Sunrise.
But the meeting began with Andrew Pollock, whose daughter Meadow was killed at the school, announcing his resignation from the commission. Pollack did not attend the meeting but said in a letter he was resigning to help elect candidates to the Broward County School Board to “ensure that our schools are safe.”
On May 15, Ryan Petty and Lori Alhadeff, both of whom lost daughters in the shooting, held a joint press conference announcing their candidacies for the county school board.
Pollack also said that he will spend time on an independent investigation that will, “get to the bottom of who was responsible for the atrocities that occurred” and hold legally accountable agencies and individuals responsible for the shooting.
“I’m sad. I mean, Andy was a valuable member of this team. We liked his perspective, and it saddens me that he’s not here,” said Max Schachter, father of victim Alex Schachter and a commission member. “Hopefully, the governor will pick another very well-qualified candidate that can add experience and value to this commission so we can accomplish a lot of good things.”
The law passed after the shooting included a series of steps designed to improve school safety. The commission, which will meet again Friday, discussed some of those issues as it looks for ways to prevent other mass shootings.
Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, who is chairman of the commission, said the new law requires every school in the state to have an on-site security risk assessment known as the Florida Safe Schools Assessment Tool by Aug.1. This assessment involves looking at facility vulnerabilities and site-hardening needs.
Also, the appointment of a school safety officer and school safety specialist in all districts is required by July 1. New mental-health assistance must be implemented for the start of the 2018-2019 academic year.
“The Department of Education must establish an evidence-based youth mental health awareness and assistance curriculum for students,” Gualtieri said. “By the start of the school year, students must disclose prior mental health bills.”
By having records of mental-health referrals, school districts can refer students to mental health services. Additionally, each school district is required to have a student crime-watch program. The program allows anonymous reporting to public-safety and school officials.
Gualtieri said he has 800 pages of records on Parkland shooter Nikolas Cruz’s mental health.
“I can tell you with absolute, objective certainty that through 2017 to 2018, Henderson Behavioral Health (a mental-health provider) had no contact with (Nikolas) Cruz whatsoever,” said Gualtieri. “The last contact was in December 2016, while Cruz was evaluated under the Baker Act in October 2016.”
State Vice Chancellor of Public Schools Jacob Oliva presented the board with changes to the Zero Tolerance Policy for Crime and Victimization. Changes include school districts adopting policies that require threat-assessment teams to consult with law enforcement when students exhibit patterns of behavior based on previous acts or severity of acts that would pose a threat to school safety.
Zero-tolerance policies would not be applied to petty acts. Incidents required to be reported to law enforcement are battery, homicide, kidnapping, sexual battery and weapons possession. Incidents that may not involve consultation with law enforcement include bullying, fighting, sexual harassment, harassment and tobacco.
Petty, a commission member and the father of victim Alaina Petty, asked Oliva if it was the Florida Department of Education’s role to track compliance with incident reporting or who would be responsible for that.
“Good question,” said Oliva. “The department requires districts to submit that data and adhere to timelines because we have to report some of those elements that federally determine those incidents and, I guess, analyzing the data at a local level. We get what the districts send us.”
Also during the meeting, Bob Kolasky, deputy assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, explained best practices for schools for active assailant prevention and response. Kolasky said his department is studying ways to enhance school safety to prevent events similar to the Broward shooting.
“A lot of what we talk about is things that happen when someone with a gun gets there, but train and be ready for someone with a gun to get there,” Kolasky said. “School security needs to be designed with a learning environment in mind. Making sure that school is a place where kids learn is important.”
Kolasky mentioned the “If You See Something, Say Something” program, which can alert law enforcement or school officials to problems. He said he discussed it with his daughter and that “we must break the culture of not telling on others” to help prevent tragedies.
Florida Sen. Lauren Book, D-Plantation, asked Kolasky about the “Stop the Bleed” program, which trains people to perform triage before first responders arrive on scene. Kolasky said the program would increase the likelihood of survival.
Schachter said that the Stop the Bleed Program has started in Broward County.
“Westglades (a middle school next to Douglas) already has the kits and already trained the teachers and we’re in the process of doing it at Douglas,” Schachter said.
After raising a question about where the Department of Homeland Security stands on national school-safety standards, Schachter tearfully asked Kolasky to bring a message back to Washington: Please visit the site of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
“What’s so important in all of this is the funding, and we would certainly love the federal government’s help in increasing school safety,” Schachter he said. “Even though we’re appreciative of the Stop School Violence Act, $75 million for the entire United States is absolutely ridiculous. We need a lot of help. We need a lot of money. Just for one ballistic hardwood door and glass is $3,900 for one door.”
by Nathalie Sczublewski, The News Service of Florida
Update: New 4-H Livestock Facility In Molino
June 8, 2018
Update: The funds to construct a new 4-H Multipurpose Livestock Facility in Molino are from the Escambia County 4-H Foundation. The funds were distributed from 4-H to the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners in order to use the county bid process. The Escambia County Commission agenda stated the fund were from a county Local Option Sales Tax Fund, but did not reflect the original disbursement by the 4-H Foundation.
Escambia County has updated their practices to be more specific on funding sources.
Original Story:
Escambia County will build a new 4-H Multipurpose Livestock Facility in Molino.
The contract was awarded to low bidder J. Miller Construction for a $103, 398 for the facility to be constructed at the 4-H property on South Highway 99 in Molino.
“The multipurpose livestock facility will serve multiple uses for animal science teaching and animal husbandry. It will provide housing to 4H youth livestock projects and provide a safe environment for youth to learn and grow with their animals. The facility will also be used for day camps, workshops and seminars for other agricultural programs within Escambia County Extension,” according to bid documentation.
The next lowest bid was $125,000 from Diversified General Contractors. Three additional bids were received, with the highest at $171,000.