Roy Hyatt Environmental Center To Use Impact Grant For Hands-On Learning Expansion
October 21, 2018
Visitors had a chance to check out the Escambia County School District’s Roy Hyatt Environmental Center in Cantonment during an open house on Saturday. The center was recently named as a recipient of an IMPACT 100 grant for $100,300.
The RHEC will use the grant to enhance hands-on science education with three major additions. The grant will fund construction materials to transform an existing space into a “beach” classroom which will submerge students into an undersea world. They will “swim” with creatures found in habitats along the Gulf Coast while learning about amazing animals. The grant will also fund the purchase of an inflatable portable planetarium which will allow 60 students at a time to crawl into the dome launching them into a new world. As they blast off they will learn all about the mystery of outer space. The third part of the grant will fund construction materials to renovate an existing greenhouse into a “butterfly house” allowing students to “fly” with butterflies and immersing them into the butterfly’s fascinating environment. While fluttering alongside butterflies, students will explore and observe the life cycle of the insects.
Annually, over 80 percent of the elementary schools in the district visit RHEC each year, along with home school groups, senior groups, garden clubs and more. Last school year, nearly 7,000 people visited.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured: An open house event Saturday at the Roy Hyatt Environmental Center in Cantonment. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Jail Central Booking Facility To Be Demolished, Four Years After Explosion
October 21, 2018
The Escambia County Commission has awarded a contract for the demolition of the Escambia County Central Booking and Detention Facility, which has sat empty since a April 30, 2014, natural gas explosion at the facility.
Jobe’s Dirt Works of Baker was the low bidder at $476,900. Five other bids were received, with the next lowest at $574,250. The other bids were in excess of $1 million.
Two people killed and over 100 were injured in the explosion. The explosion occurred after gas clothes dryers pulled away from a wall in the basement of the building, filling the basement with natural gas. A spark from an unknown source ignited the natural gas causing an explosion.
NorthEscambia.com photos.
ERC Youth Football Playoffs Round One Scores
October 21, 2018
Scores from the first round of the Escambia River Conference youth football league playoffs:
Seniors
- Neal 21, Flomaton 14
- Baker 25, NWE 19
Juniors
- Brewton 19, Straughn 13
- Poarch 40, Jay 0
Sophomore
- Brewton 15, Straughn 6
- Jay 34, Neal 0
Freshmen
- NWE 20, Flomaton 0
- Baker 14, Poarch 6
Vehicle Left Hanging Over Pine Forest Road After I-10 Bridge Crash
October 21, 2018
A vehicle was left hanging over Pine Forest Road after a crash on an I-10 bridge Saturday night.
There were no injuries reported; all occupants had exited the vehicle before first responders arrived on scene.
The crash is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
Photos by Dalton Young for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Gov’t Weekly Roundup: Political Winds Blowing
October 21, 2018
The fierce winds of Hurricane Michael disrupted life in the Florida Panhandle and could be an equally disruptive force in the 2018 general election.
More than a week after the nearly Category 5 storm hit Mexico Beach, the region was slowly recovering. But it was equally clear that it will take time before many communities return to some semblance of their pre-storm existence.
Take schools, for example. Students in Bay and Calhoun counties won’t return to their classrooms until November, while Jackson County students return on Oct. 29. Gulf County students will be back in school starting Tuesday, but elementary and high school students will have to share facilities because of the storm damage.
As of Friday morning, more than 105,000 Panhandle homes and businesses remained without electricity.
Under those conditions, many residents are likely not focused on the Nov. 6 elections. Nonetheless, the elections are quickly approaching, with mail-in ballots pouring in and early voting beginning in many parts of the state Monday.
The elections carry huge consequences for Florida, with a U.S. Senate seat, a governor’s seat and three Cabinet offices on the ballot, in addition to a host of congressional, legislative and local offices.
In the wake of the hurricane, Gov. Rick Scott, who is challenging Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, said he will remain focused on the storm-recovery efforts, although his campaign continues with its statewide television advertising.
Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, the Democratic nominee for governor, had to suspend his campaign as he dealt with the storm’s impact on his city, which sustained major power outages. But Gillum has resumed campaigning, and he and Republican nominee Ron DeSantis will have their first debate Sunday night on CNN.
POST-STORM ELECTION PLAN
Florida eased restrictions Thursday on vote-by-mail ballots in eight counties ravaged Oct. 10 by Hurricane Michael, while also giving elections supervisors more time to conduct early voting.
Secretary of State Ken Detzner, the state’s top election official, said the changes included in an executive order by Scott were requested by local supervisors and are intended to help displaced voters in Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Jackson, Liberty and Washington counties.
“With the general election less than three weeks away, this unprecedented storm has impacted the normal operations of administering an election in counties that were hit hardest,” Detzner’s office said in a news release.
The changes do not include allowing voters to cast ballots by fax or email.
“In the hardest hit areas, communication via phone, fax and email remains challenging and would be an unreliable method for returning ballots,” the release said. “Additionally, past attempts by other states to allow voters impacted by natural disasters to fax or email ballots have been rife with issues.”
The eight counties, which have been a solid voting bloc for Republicans in state races, included 223,175 registered voters as of the August primaries. Roughly 43 percent of the voters were registered as Republicans, while 40 percent were Democrats and 17 percent were independents or registered with third parties.
As part of Scott’s executive order, voters in the eight counties will be able to request — through telephone calls or in writing — that vote-by-mail ballots be mailed to addresses that don’t match the voters’ addresses in the Florida Voter Registration System.
“This will help displaced voters to cast a ballot,” Detzner’s office said in the news release.
The order also will allow vote-by-mail ballots to be delivered to registered voters or their family members in the counties on election day.
Scott’s order also allows the counties to continue early voting through the Nov. 6 elections, a move intended to help voters whose precinct locations may have been damaged by the storm.
Early voting is mandatory statewide from Oct. 27 to Nov. 3, but county supervisors have the option to start the process Monday and add Nov. 4 to the schedule.
LAWMAKERS READY TO HELP
Roads are out. Some schools are rubble. Housing needs are growing.
The next leaders of the Florida Legislature say they’re ready to assist Scott or state agencies in the recovery from devastating Hurricane Michael. They just need to be asked.
“If the governor identifies an unmet need that requires swift legislative action, we will certainly work with him to address it,” incoming Senate President Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, said.
But Galvano and incoming House Speaker Jose Oliva, R-Miami Lakes, are not expecting such action until more is known about the impacts of the storm, which came ashore with 155 mph sustained winds.
“In the here and now, if the governor or any agency needs resources or assistance for issues created by Hurricane Michael, the Florida House stands ready to help,” Oliva said.
State lawmakers are set to return to Tallahassee shortly after the Nov. 6 election for an organizational session that includes seating new members and formally making Oliva and Galvano the leaders of their respective chambers.
The 2019 legislative session will start in March. But lawmakers can take actions in the interim by holding special sessions or convening the Joint Legislative Budget Commission, which is made up of House and Senate members and can shift money to address needs.
Galvano noted that lawmakers from the hurricane-impacted areas have been working with Scott, Cabinet members and state agencies, while Senate staff members in Tallahassee have been coordinating with district offices to ensure the continuation of constituent services.
Also, Galvano said state budget reserves are available for Scott to direct toward the storm response.
“The governor has broad executive authority to utilize those reserves to allocate state resources needed to further a comprehensive response in the immediate aftermath of the storm,” Galvano said.
JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS
The next governor, and not Scott, has the authority to appoint three new justices to state Supreme Court in January, the court ruled this week.
Scott, who leaves office in January because of term limits, had repeatedly asserted the right to appoint the replacements for justices Barbara Pariente, R. Fred Lewis and Peggy Quince, who are leaving the court in early January because they have reached a mandatory retirement age.
But in a brief, unsigned order, the Florida Supreme Court said Scott “exceeded his authority” in directing the Supreme Court Judicial Nominating Commission to meet and forward a list of potential justices to him by Nov. 10. More than four dozen judges and lawyers had submitted applications to the nominating commission, which scheduled interviews with the applicants in early November.
But the court ruling Monday blocked Scott’s action through a legal procedure, known as a writ of quo warranto, which had been sought by the League of Women Voters of Florida and Common Cause Florida. The groups argued that the appointment power belonged to the new governor who takes office on Jan. 8.
In granting the writ, the Supreme Court said the winner of the Nov. 6 election between DeSantis and Gillum “has the sole authority” to fill the court.
In arguing against the writ, Scott’s lawyers had said he was following the precedent of beginning the appointment process before the vacancies actually occur, noting numerous justices have been appointed using this procedure to avoid prolonged vacancies on the court.
Although the court ruled that Scott exceeded his authority in seeking a list of potential justices by a Nov. 10 deadline, the justices agreed to hear oral arguments on the issue of when the Supreme Court Judicial Nominating Commission can certify a list of candidates to the governor. The court hearing is set for Nov. 8.
The appointments to the seven-member Supreme Court are being watched closely because they have the potential to tilt the judicial direction of the state’s highest court for years to come.
Pariente, Lewis and Quince are part of a generally liberal bloc, which now holds a slim 4-3 majority, that has thwarted Scott and the Republican-dominated Legislature on numerous occasions since the governor took office in 2011.
STORY OF THE WEEK: The Florida Supreme Court ruled that the next governor, not Gov. Rick Scott, will fill the vacancies on the state’s highest court when three justices retire in January.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Voters beware! When amending our Florida Constitution, voters should not be forced to vote ‘yes’ on a proposal they disfavor in order to also vote ‘yes’ on a proposal they support because of how the Constitution Revision Commission (CRC) has unilaterally decided to bundle multiple, independent and unrelated proposals.” — Justice Barbara Pariente, as the Supreme Court upheld the placement of three proposed constitutional amendments on the Nov. 6 ballot, although they each contain multiple topics.
by Lloyd Dunkelberger, The News Service of Florida
Charlene Pugh
October 21, 2018
Charlene Pugh, 49 of Atmore, AL, passed away Friday, October 19, 2018, at her residence. She was employed by Atmore Community Hospital in purchasing. She was born in Escambia County, AL on February 18, 1969, to Jimmy Eugene and Margaret Ann Jones Jay.
She is preceded in death by her mother, Margaret Ann Jones Bryars, and a step-son, Aaron Jake Pugh.
Survivors include her husband, Larry Lynn Pugh, Sr. of Atmore, AL; father, Jimmy Eugene Jay of Atmore, AL; two sons, Matthew K. (Brittany) Luker of Atmore, AL; Larry Lynn (Micaela) Pugh, Jr of Flomaton, AL; five brothers, Randal Eugene (Joyce) Jay of Davisville, FL; Ronald Wayne (Martha) Jay of Bay Minette, AL; James Roger (Amanda) Jay of Atmore, AL; Robin Earle (Stephne) Jay of Pensacola, FL; and Jeffrey (Meg) Diedtrich of Atlanta, GA; two sisters, Linda Johnson (Chris) Phillips of Uriah, AL, and Sharon (Todd) Stearns of Brewton, AL; grandchildren, Cadyn Blake Luker, Kysun Alexzander Luker, Kaliyan Luker, Kyler Pugh and Avery Pugh.
Services will be held Monday, October 22, 2018, at noon at the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Chris Pruitt officiating.
Interment will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery.
Family will receive friends Monday, October 22, 2018, at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home from 10:30 a.m. until service time.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.
Joseph Murla, Jr.
October 21, 2018
Joseph Murla, Jr. of Pensacola, FL passed away October 19, 2018. Joseph was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He served his country as a US Marine. He was a native of New Orleans and a longtime resident of Pensacola. Although he had seen the world, Pensacola was home. To his family he was known as Big Junior. He loved to cook. Family and friends always wanted to know what he was cooking for dinner to drop off for a visit.
Surviving is his wife, Wilma Murla; three daughters, Pamela Rudzikewycz, Saundra Pope and Mitzi Revels; son, Mark Murla; two sisters, Veronica Nepomuceno and Pat Frechette; brother, Eugenio Galino; five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be Rusty Pope, Jerry Pope, Gregory Pope, Kevin Revels, BJ Revels, Michael Rudzikewycz and Bo Revels.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, October 23, 2018, at Faith Chapel South, 100 Beverly Parkway, Pensacola, FL.
Friends are invited to meet with the family from 9:30 a.m. until service time.
Interment will be in Barrancas National Cemetery with Military Honors.
John Wesley Johnson
October 21, 2018
John Wesley Johnson was born January 9, 1946, in Escambia County, Florida. He peacefully passed away surrounded by family Thursday, October 18, 2018, after a lengthy battle with cancer.
He is survived by his wife, Sharon Scull Johnson; daughter, Crystal L. Johnson Lampert (Travis); brother, Charlie Johnson (Wanda), brother, Danny Johnson (Joanne) and many extended family members.
He is predeceased by his mother Laura “Leatha”; father, Charles; and brother, Ted.
John graduated from Pensacola High School in Pensacola, FL. He served in the Army National Guard as a Paratrooper and assisted with hurricane relief efforts. After his honorable discharge he entered the carpentry field, building many hotels for Disney and eventually owning his own business. For the last 18 years of his career he served as the lead kitchen designer for Home Depot where he made some wonderful friendships. He took great pride in his work and his last kitchen design was a remodel for his wife.
John enjoyed classic cars, westerns, classic country music, spending quality time with his wife and daughter, and he loved his three little puppies – Bailey, Kobi and Petey.
In the last few months one of John’s favorite things to do was to go to Publix on Cervantes with his wife. He loved driving the cart around and visiting with all of the employees. He always commented on how nice the staff was to him, especially the girls in the pharmacy.
A special thank you to Dr. Owera and the staff of the Woodlands for their wonderful care over. Also a special thank you to nephew Douglas Johnson for all of the help with projects over the years.
The family will host a celebration of life Sunday, October 28, 2018, at 2 p.m. at the family home, 2808 E. Gonzalez St., Pensacola, FL 32503.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Friends of the Escambia County Animal Shelter or Amazing Grace Bully Rescue.
Deputy Involved Shooting In North Santa Rosa County
October 20, 2018
A deputy involved shooting Saturday morning in North Santa Rosa County is under investigation.
The shooting occurred just after 6 a.m. in the 7700 block of Highway 4 near Berrydale. According to the Santa Rosa County Office, deputies responded to a disturbance.
“Upon arrival, deputies discovered the suspect was armed inside the home,” Sgt. Rich Aloy said. “The incident escalated into an officer involved shooting.”
Glenn D. Phillips, 26, reportedly pointed a crossbow at a deputy, and the deputy shot the man in the shoulder
The man was transported to a hospital. His condition was not available. No deputies were injured in the incident.
The investigation is continuing.
Winning Lottery Ticket Sold In North Escambia; Mega Millions Rolls Over to $1.6 Billion
October 20, 2018
A winning lottery ticket was sold in North Escambia, but it was not a Mega Millions ticket. No one won Friday night’s Mega Millions drawing, with the new jackpot estimated at $1.6 billion.
But someone is over $38,000 richer this morning after purchasing a winning Florida Lottery Fantasy 5 ticket in Davisville.
The ticket sold at the Korner Kwik Stop, 10481 Highway 97, was one of six winning tickets sold for Friday night’s drawing and is worth $38,558.
The 350 tickets matching four numbers won $106.50 each. Another 10,266 tickets matching three numbers are worth $10 each, and 100,599 ticket holders won a Quick Pick ticket for picking two numbers.
Thursday’s Fantasy 5 winning numbers were 3-4-10-24-34.
The winning Mega Millions numbers on Friday were: 15, 23, 53, 65, 70, and Mega Ball 7. The next drawing will be on Tuesday.