State Honors School Victims On ‘Solemn Day’
February 15, 2019
Outside the Florida Capitol, a bell tolled 17 times Thursday morning in somber recognition of the one-year anniversary of the state’s deadliest school shooting.
Gov. Ron DeSantis and his wife, Casey, led a moment of silence for the victims of last year’s massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School before traveling to the Parkland school to commemorate what the governor called “one of the worst days that we’ve had in the history of Florida.”
DeSantis and the First Lady were joined in the Capitol courtyard by Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, Attorney General Ashley Moody, state Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, House Speaker José Oliva, Senate President Bill Galvano and numerous legislators.
A short time later inside the Capitol, lawmakers held a moment of silence at 10:17 a.m. That also was when more than 1,000 schools across the state held a moment of silence, though the shooting happened about 2 p.m. on Feb. 14, 2018.
Later in the day, DeSantis attended a wreath-laying ceremony at the Broward County high school and an evening prayer vigil in Parkland, one of numerous vigils being held throughout the state.
“On this solemn day, our state mourns the lives of the 17 souls lost at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School one year ago. Since that tragic day, the Parkland community has demonstrated tremendous courage and resiliency, reminding us just how strong and united Floridians can be in the face of such devastating loss,” DeSantis said in a statement. “We will never forget the heroes who risked and sacrificed their lives to protect others, nor the actions taken that day by first responders. Casey and I continue to keep the families and loved ones of the innocents who were lost in our prayers as we honor their memory today in a moment of silence.”
Andrew Pollack, whose daughter, Meadow, was among the 14 students who were slain, joined DeSantis at the Capitol bell-ringing ceremony. Also killed were three faculty members.
For the grieving father, Thursday wasn’t different from any other day since the unthinkable happened.
“This is everyday life, for every parent who loses a kid like I did. We live it every single day. For today to be any different, it’s not. Every day is the same pain, from when you wake up until when you go to sleep,” Pollack told reporters.
Pollack, a close political ally of DeSantis, has been a fierce critic of suspended Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel and Broward County school officials, including Superintendent Robert Runcie, over their handling of the shooting incident and school safety.
“I fight for most Americans, who just want their kids safe in school. I am going to keep fighting until we get it,” he said.
Throughout the day, Florida political leaders and elected officials issued statements of condolence or memorial in recognition of the Parkland victims.
Introducing a resolution to honor their memory, U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, who was Florida’s governor at the time of the shooting, began his remarks by reading aloud the names of the 17 people who were killed.
“One year ago today, these 17 souls were taken from us in a brutal act of violence. They were sons and daughters, brothers and sisters. They were students and athletes and musicians and teachers. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about that day and the amazing people that were snuffed out by the deranged actions of a mad man. Over the course of the last year, I’ve spent countless hours with the families of the victims. Unfortunately, I wish we never had to meet like this,” Scott said.
The mass shooting sparked a national movement, led by students at the high school who quickly become international celebrities with appearances at the White House and state capitals and on television newscasts. The student-organized “March for Our Lives” movement drew thousands of supporters as the teens channeled their anger, fear and frustration into voter-registration drives and demands for stricter gun laws.
The attack on the school in an affluent Broward County suburb also angered parents, after investigations revealed failures by local, state and federal officials to intervene with confessed killer Nikolas Cruz before he opened fire on his former school. Cruz had a long and troubled history of interactions with educators, law enforcement and social services.
In response to the shooting, the Republican-controlled Legislature hurriedly passed a sweeping law addressing mental health, gun sales and school-safety measures. A statewide commission, created in the law, recently released a 458-page report detailing the events surrounding the attack and recommended a series of enhancements to the law and other changes aimed at making schools safer.
Since taking office last month, DeSantis has responded with a series of high-profile actions, including suspending Israel, accusing the sheriff of “incompetence” and “neglect of duty.” Israel is appealing the suspension.
On the eve of the one-year anniversary, the governor requested a statewide grand jury to probe whether school districts are complying with mandated safety measures. He also ordered the Department of Education to conduct an audit of school districts’ alternative discipline programs. And DeSantis gave sheriffs more time to request money for the school “guardian” program, which allows certain school personnel to be armed.
by Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida
Man Murdered Thursday In Escambia County
February 14, 2019
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a murder Thursday in Escambia County.
Deputies were called to the 2100 block of Spink Lane, off North 9th Avenue, at 11:11 a.m. where they made contact with a male victim who appeared to have been severely beaten. The victim told deputies what had taken place inside his residence, but that information has not been disclosed.
The victim was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
Investigators believe the pictured vehicle may be connected to the crime.
The man’s name has not been released as the investigation continues.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Fatal Nine Mile Road Hit And Run Victim Identified
February 14, 2019
The Florida Highway Patrol has identified a man killed in a hit and run crash early Wednesday morning on Nine Mile Road.
The FHP said 37-year old Charles Q. Davis of Pensacola was crossing Nine Mile Road near Plainfield Avenue when he struck by a 2002 Chevrolet Silverado driven by 42-year old James Alan Champitto. Davis was pronounced deceased at the scene.
“Champitto left the scene without leaving any information as required by law. Investigators received information regarding the location of the vehicle and owner who then identified the driver to investigators,” according to FHP Lt. Eddie Elmore. The information led to Champitto’s arrest later in the morning.
Champitto was charged with leaving the scene of a traffic crash with a fatality and two counts of driving with a suspended license with a fatality. He is being held in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
Pictured: Hit and run suspect James Alan Champitto.
Two Injured In Highway 29 Head-on Collision
February 14, 2019
Two people were injured in a head-on collision in Cantonment late Thursday morning.
The crash occurred at Highway 29 and Muscogee Road. Two were transported to area hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Following the crash, the traffic light at the intersection was operating in flash mode. A crosswalk signal was destroyed.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating. Escambia County EMS and the Cantonment Station of Escambia County Fire Rescue also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
CSX Proposes Solution To Keep Trains From Blocking Cottage Hill Neighborhood
February 14, 2019
CSX has proposed a plan to keep their stopped trains from completely blocking the Cottage Hill area east of Highway 95A.
The plan, according to Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry, will benefit residents in the area from McKenzie Road to Eden Lane.
For trains under 10,000 feet, CSX trains that stop to service a Cantonment customer will be pulled far enough south that they will not block the neighborhood. That’s because the McKenzie Road crossing will remain open, Barry said. A stopped train over 10,000 feet will initially block the neighborhood, but CSX will break the train at Eden Lane as soon as possible.
“From McKenzie Road to Eden, when they are all blocked, there is no way out,” he said. “That’s also something that didn’t used to exist. Trains didn’t used to be two miles long; now they can be. So it’s something new.”
Barry said CSX and the county are still working on a solution for Greenberry Drive, Countri Lane and surrounding area. “We are still trying to find solutions for folks that are locked by those crossings.”
In late January, Barry and Florida Sen. Doug Broxson met with CSX and International Paper to discuss trains blocking local roads for extended periods of time.
The first step included real time communication between Escambia County and the railroad. There are documented incidents where fire trucks and EMS units were unable to respond to medical emergencies in blocked neighborhoods due to stopped trains.
As previously announced, CSX and railroad officials are also working decrease the amount of time Highway 29 is blocked by trains at International Paper.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Congressman Matt Gaetz To Hold ‘Open Gaetz Day’ Events In Century And Jay
February 14, 2019
Congressman Matt Gaetz will hold an “Open Gaetz Day” in Jay and Century on Thursday, February 21.
The day will conclude with a 6 p.m. public town hall at the Linda Carden Community Center at 5259 Booker Lane in Jay.
Earlier in the day, he will visit Jay High School, a legislative luncheon in Jay with invited local officials, the Terrace at Ivy Acres Assisted Living Community in Jay, Century Town Hall for a round table with city and chamber officials, Escambia River Electric Cooperative and the Jay Oil Field. Those events are listed by Gaetz as open only to involved parties and the media; however, the Town of Century has issued a public notice for their meeting.
Pictured: Congressman Matt Gaetz during an “Open Gaetz Day” event last year at the Walnut Hill Ruritan Building. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
FDOT Adds $20 Million To ST Engineering Project
February 14, 2019
The Florida Department of Transportation will contribute $20 million to the expansion of ST Engineering in Pensacola, completing the dollars needed for the project.
“I am proud to announce City of Pensacola has secured the remaining funding for Project Titan, which will expand the Aviation Maintenance Overhaul Repair (MRO) campus at the Pensacola International Airport,” said Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson.
FDOT stated in a letter to Robinson that the agency is amending funding for other unspecified projects to fulfill the $20 million.
Earlier this month, Escambia County contributed another $5 million, for a total of $15 million, to the project. The money is mostly from local option sales tax funds. The Pensacola City Council also voted to contribute another $5 million to their previous $10 million commitment.
The city asked Friday morning for another $12.5 million from Triumph Gulf Coast in addition to their previously committed $56 million. The Triumph board committed to additional $10 million, $2.5 million short of the ask, for a commitment of 1,325 jobs for at least seven years.
The project includes the construction of hangers and is expected to create over 1,300 jobs.
“I am extremely thankful for Governor Ron DeSantis, DOT Secretary Kevin Thibault, DOT District Secretary Phillip Gainer and all else involved. I am excited for this transformational project to move forward,” Robinson said.
Group Wants To Split Atmore Schools Away From County System
February 14, 2019
A local group wants the Atmore schools split away from the county system.
Atmore Citizens for Change wants a separate Atmore City School System, and they’ve notified Atmore Mayor Jim Staff and Escambia County (AL) School District Superintendent John Knott.
“In light of recently published school scores and the news of Escambia County High School being deemed ‘failing’ — for the third year in a row — with no change and no apparent intervention efforts by the Escambia County Board of Education, several local civic groups joined together to form the Atmore Citizens for Change coalition,” the group said in a media release. “The group feels it is time for citizens to explore a separate school option and plans to present its supporting facts, data, and plans to the Atmore City Council.”
Atmore Citizens for Change will hold a public meeting on the issue at 6 p.m. Friday at Deliverance Ministry at 103 2nd Avenue in Atmore.
The group is led by Loumeek White, president; Michael Arnold, vice president; Vasaroy Johnson, secretary; and Sandra Gray, assistant secretary.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Moment Of Silence In Escambia Schools Marks Parkland Shooting Anniversary
February 14, 2019
A moment of silence in Escambia County schools Thursday marked one year since the the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL, that left 17 dead.
“On February 14, 2019, at 10:17 a.m., our school district joins Broward County Public Schools in observing a moment of silence to honor those whose lives were lost and recognize those injured during the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School tragedy,” said Escambia County School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas.
Escambia Man Sentenced To Federal Prison On Child Porn Charges
February 14, 2019
A convicted sex offender from Escambia County has been sentenced to federal prison on child porn charges.
Christopher M. Arguelles, 34, of Pensacola, was sentenced to 12.5 years in prison today and a lifetime of supervised release as a federal sex offender. On November 15, 2018, Arguelles pleaded guilty to possession and access with intent to view child pornography. The sentence was announced by Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
In February 2018, while a telecommunications provider was assisting Arguelles with his slow running cellular telephone, the provider observed a large amount of pornography on the phone, including a folder titled “underage.” Several days later, Arguelles, a sex offender, was arrested for failure to register a change in his residence, and his cellular telephone was seized. A forensic review of the device revealed images and videos of child pornography both on the phone and on the memory card.
Some of the child pornography involved females under age 12. Arguelles also maintained a cloud storage account with similar illicit materials.
“I am proud that prosecutors, law enforcement professionals, and North Floridians are all working together to bring child predators to justice and protect the most innocent members of our communities from exploitation,” Keefe said.
“This case highlights the value of vigilance by members of the community, who come forward and work with law enforcement when they see something wrong,” said Charles P. Spencer, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jacksonville Division. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners are dedicated to working together to protect and serve, but we are far more effective when the community also works with us. We appreciate the efforts of everyone involved in the case, and their unwavering commitment to protect our children.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the State Attorney’s Office – First Judicial Circuit, and the North Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David L. Goldberg.