Freezing Cold Again Tonight
November 27, 2018
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 30. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 56. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 41. Calm wind.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 70. Light east wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. South wind around 5 mph.
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 65. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Saturday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 76. South wind around 10 mph.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 77.
Sunday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 62.
Monday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Partly sunny, with a high near 76. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Monday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62.
Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 69.
Bratt Elementary Collects Supplies For Hurricane Victims
November 27, 2018
Students and staff at Bratt Elementary School collected supplies for Hurricane Michael victims. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Sheriff Morgan Congratulates New Escambia Sheriff Jackson
November 27, 2018
Escambia County (FL) Sheriff David Morgan recently offered his congratulations to Heath Jackson, who was elected as sheriff of Escambia County, AL. Jackson, who is currently a sergeant at the Escambia County (FL) Sheriff’s Office, will take office in Alabama in January. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Supreme Court Gives Go Ahead To Judicial Appointment
November 27, 2018
With one dissenting justice calling the situation a “travesty,” the state Supreme Court on Monday tossed out a challenge to Gov. Rick Scott’s authority to appoint a replacement for a retiring Northeast Florida circuit judge.
The Supreme Court, in a 4-3 decision, said it would not rule on the case — effectively keeping in place a lower-court ruling that backed Scott’s authority. The Supreme Court indicated in August that it would rule in the case and heard oral arguments in October.
But in a one-page order Monday, the majority said it was dismissing the case and that the earlier decision to hear it had been “improvidently granted.” The majority was made up of Chief Justice Charles Canady and justices Ricky Polston, Jorge Labarga and Alan Lawson.
The case centered on whether Scott — or voters — should pick a replacement for 4th Judicial Circuit Judge Robert Foster, who was originally slated to leave office Jan. 7, 2019, which would have been the end of his term because of a mandatory retirement age. But on April 2, Foster sent a letter to Scott making the resignation effective Dec. 31, four business days ahead of schedule.
The Scott administration argued that the governor’s acceptance of a judicial resignation before the start of an election-qualifying period created a vacancy that should be filled by appointment, rather than election. If Foster retired on Jan. 7, the post would be filled by election.
Jacksonville attorney David Trotti, who wanted to run for the seat, filed a lawsuit challenging Scott’s authority to appoint a replacement for Foster. The 1st District Court of Appeal sided with Scott, leading Trotti to take the dispute to the Supreme Court.
The decision Monday to reverse course and not decide the case drew a scathing opinion from Justice R. Fred Lewis, who said Foster and other judges in the past have manipulated the process to ensure the appointment of successors. Lewis started his 10-page dissent by giving a dictionary definition of the word “travesty.”
“This accurately describes the circumstances in this case, which allow judges to make a mockery of our Florida Constitution with impunity. The issue is whether a judge can prospectively resign during an election year to manufacture a vacancy that will be filled by gubernatorial appointment instead of a regularly scheduled election,” Lewis wrote. “Rather than addressing this direct affront to our constitutional system of checks and balances, the (Supreme) Court neglects its duty and turns a blind eye to this sham.”
Lewis wrote that nothing in state law or the Florida Constitution gives trial judges the right to delay their resignations for eight months. He added that if “judges would like to resign early, then they should actually resign and leave office. By allowing these judges to remain on the bench, the (Supreme) Court effectively allows its own qualifying period cutoff to be rendered nugatory — subject to the whims of individual judges in election years.”
Justice Peggy Quince, in a dissent joined by Justice Barbara Pariente, argued that, under the circumstances, Foster’s vacancy should be filled by election. She wrote that the “gamesmanship on display here could serve to undermine the voters’ respect for the courts.”
“Surely when the people determined that they would prefer to elect certain judges, they did not intend for that desire to be circumvented by artificial vacancies,” Quince wrote.
But during oral arguments in October, Daniel Nordby, general counsel for Scott, called it “long-settled law” that a judicial vacancy occurs at the time a resignation letter is submitted to the governor and accepted — not at the time the judge leaves office.
by Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida
Northview, Flomaton Basketball Games Rescheduled
November 27, 2018
Northview versus Flomaton basketball games set for this week have been rescheduled due to Flomaton’s playoff football game Friday night.
The games were scheduled for November 26 and November 29. They will not be played at Flomaton on January 14 and at Northview on January 28.
Flomaton will host Providence Christian Friday night at 7:00 in the state football championship semifinal round.
Dept. Of Corrections Disagrees With Century Mayor’s Claims About Security Cameras, Inmate Labor
November 26, 2018
Century’s mayor says the town must purchase security cameras in order continue using inmate labor, but state prison officials say that’s not the case.
“We are about to lose our inmates if we don’t get security cameras. People have been dropping off stuff over at Showalter Park and even at the maintenance shop for the inmates to pick up. This has happened now for three straight months. And if we don’t put in security cameras, they are going to pull our inmates,” Century Mayor Henry Hawkins told the town council last week.
“Everywhere that we put inmates, we got to have them. But our biggest traffic area for drugs right now is at Showalter and the maintenance shop. We actually need some at the roadside park (Nadine McCaw Park),” he said. Hawkins said the prison is requiring that the cameras be professionally monitored.
Hawkins said the inmates were pulled from the town last week, and the prison was going to give the town “one more stab at it” this week. “If it happens again, we will probably lose them for good,” Hawkins said.
But state officials say that’s not the case.
“The Department has not pulled any inmate work squads from the Town of Century or mandated the use of professionally monitored cameras,” Patrick Manderfield, press secretary for the Florida Departments of Corrections, said in an email response to NorthEscambia.com.
“Due to recent contraband discoveries in the community, work squad inmates were temporarily returned to the institution so staff could investigate the incidents. Century CI notified the mayor the scheduling of work squads might be affected the rest of the week as the institution gathers further intelligence,” Manderfield said last week.
He said the Florida Department of Corrections will continue to provide inmate labor to the Town of Century…. even without the cameras.
“The Department is committed to working with local partners to provide inmate work squads in accordance with best security practices and local contract agreements,” Manderfield’s email stated.
Hawkins presented the town council with two quotes for cameras – one from McCullough and Sons in Bratt and one from a company he did not name. The McCullough and Sons quote was for just over $21,000, and included five years of professional monitoring, he said.
He recommended that the cameras first be installed at Showalter Park and the town maintenance shop on Alger Road for a cost of about $4,800.
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Pictured top: The Century town shop (file photo). Pictured inset: Century Mayor Henry Hawkins listens to discussion about security cameras during a recent town council meeting. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Beulah Middle Cheerleaders Take First, Ransom Second In Cheer Challenge
November 26, 2018
Beulah Middle School placed first and Ransom Middle School was second in the recent Tate High School Charity Cheer Challenge. The first-year cheerleading program at the new Beulah Middle is coached by Taylor Rouchon. Rouchon graduated from Tate High School this year. She has 15 years experience cheerleading, including Ransom, Tate and all-star programs. She also cheers at the the collegiate level at Coastal Alabama Community College. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Gas Prices Average Lowest Of 2018
November 26, 2018
Gas prices are falling to their lowest levels of the year in many areas, and motorists should see additional discounts this week. Just as retailers cut prices on Black Friday, the price of crude also dropped by more than 10 percent – for concerns that strong global oil production will overpower demand.
The average price per gallon in Escambia County was $2.54 on Sunday, down six cents from a week ago and 23 cents from one month ago.
Gas prices in Florida are now averaging the lowest of 2018. The Florida average has declined the past 47 days for a total discount of 39 cents. Sunday’s daily average price of $2.43 per gallon is 7 cents less than a week ago, and the lowest since December 2017.
Sunday’s national average price of $2.56 per gallon is 7 cents less than last week, nearly 30 cents less than last month, and the lowest daily average since March. Sunday’s U.S. average price was 7 cents more than this year’s low, of $2.49 set in January. However, the national average should drop below that point within the next week.
“Last week’s plunge in crude prices adds even more weight to what was already strong downward pressure on prices at the pump,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Florida motorists should see gas prices drop another 5-15 cents as a direct result of the recent crude drop. These falling prices are mostly due to record crude production rates from the U.S., Russia and Saudi Arabia. Unless the oil market quickly recovers, these low gas prices should hang around through the end of the year.”
Register Now For Saturday’s Molino Christmas Parade, Century Parade Dec. 21
November 26, 2018
Molino Christmas Parade
The 16th Annual Molino Christmas Parade is set for next Saturday, December 1 at 11 a.m.
The parade route starts at the west end of Crabtree Church Road and ends and the Molino Ballpark where Santa Will be waiting to visit with all the good little boys and girls.
To participate in the parade, register the day of the parade — $30 for floats; $20 for vehicles, motorcycles, tractors or golf carts; and $10 each for horses. No 4-wheelers or go-carts. There is no pre-registration this year…be in line by 10:15 a.m. and register.
All proceeds go directly back to the community to help children in need.
For more information, call René Jones at (850) 255-3330.
Century Christmas Parade — December 21
The Century Christmas Parade will be Friday, December 21 at 11 a.m. Tentative plans call for floats to line up on Hecker Road at 10 a.m. where they will be judged for the wackiest, prettiest and most creative entries. The parade route, which has not been announced, will begin and end on Hecker Road. Winning entries will received certificates following the parade. For more information, call Emily at (850) 256-3208.
Search Underway For Missing Alabama Woman
November 26, 2018
Authorities are searching for an Alabama woman that has been missing since Friday evening.
Eva McBride was last seen at her home on McBride Circle near Pollard just east of Flomaton, less than a mile north of the Alabama/Florida state line. McBride, 74, may be suffering from a condition that may impair her judgement. Her direction of travel and clothing description were unknown.
The area around her home has been searched with no results.
Anyone with information about here whereabouts should call the Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office at (251) 809-0741.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency has issued a Missing Senior Alert for McBride.
Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.