The Faces Of Thanksgiving At Waterfront Rescue Mission (With Gallery)
November 23, 2018
Dozens of volunteers spent their Thanksgiving working to feed the less fortunate at the Waterfront Rescue Mission. Turkey, dressing, gravy, vegetables and dessert were served to about 1,000 people in need at locations in Pensacola and Mobile.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Proposal Takes Aim At Cell Phone Use By Drivers
November 23, 2018
A proposal that would allow law-enforcement officers to pull over motorists for using cell phones while driving will be back before lawmakers in 2019.
Sen. Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, has filed a measure called the “Florida Ban on Wireless Communications Devices While Driving Law,” which would prohibit texting, reading data or talking on wireless handheld devices while behind the wheel.
Currently, texting while driving in Florida is prohibited, but it is enforced as a “secondary” office. That means motorists can only be cited if they are stopped for other infractions, such as running a stop sign or speeding.
House during the 2018 legislative session approved a proposal that would have made texting while driving a “primary” offense, allowing police to pull over motorists for tapping away on phones. But the measure failed to advance in the Senate amid concerns about issues such as minority drivers facing increased racial profiling.
Simpson’s new proposal, which is filed for consideration during the 2019 session, would impose a broader ban on use of cell phones by drivers and allow enforcement as a primary offense. It would allow drivers to communicate hands-free on wireless devices. Also, motorists would be allowed to use handheld devices for such purposes as getting safety-related information or for navigation.
by The News Service of Florida
Election Changes Eyed As 2018 Results Finalized
November 23, 2018
After months of mudslinging, weeks of court wrangling and days of ballot counting that again landed Florida in an unwelcome national spotlight, a state panel matter-of-factly finalized the 2018 election results in a five-minute meeting Tuesday.
The certification came on time, but problems with other election-related deadlines in two large, heavily Democratic counties — Palm Beach and Broward — are prompting county supervisors and legislative leaders to ponder possible solutions to the state’s ballot-box woes.
Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Susan Bucher blamed mechanical failures for missing deadlines for recounts ordered in statewide races. Broward County Supervisor Brenda Snipes, meanwhile, experienced myriad problems, including failing — by two minutes — to meet a Thursday deadline for a machine recount in Republican Gov. Rick Scott’s race against Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson.
Scott — who eventually emerged the victor in the Senate race — and other Republicans castigated Snipes and Bucher for their handling of the recount, accusing the elections chiefs of incompetence and outright fraud. Snipes on Sunday submitted her resignation to Scott.
But other county supervisors say this year’s three statewide recounts — the first since Florida law was changed after the 2000 presidential recount — show that the system generally worked well.
“Clearly, being the first test of the system for a statewide recount, there are some things that need to be tweaked,” Okaloosa County Supervisor of Elections Paul Lux, the president of the Florida State Association of Supervisors of Elections, told The News Service of Florida in a telephone interview. “There’s room for improvement, especially as it relates to the deadlines.”
Floridians cast more than 8.2 million ballots through the mail, at early voting sites or on Election Day, according to the state Division of Elections website. In addition to a recount in the U.S. Senate race, recounts were required because of slim margins in the races for governor and agriculture commissioner.
The state Elections Canvassing Commission on Tuesday quickly certified the results of the elections, two days after results of manual recounts were submitted in the U.S. Senate and agriculture-commissioner races. The governor’s race required a machine recount but did not go to a manual, or hand, recount.
In 2000, Florida law did not require statewide recounts, meaning only some counties conducted recounts and, because they had different types of voting machines, the counties used different recount methods. The law was changed in 2001, but the crafters never envisioned the state would undergo three recounts at once, Lux said.
Deadlines for the manual and machine recounts included in state law are built around a mandate that legislators be seated two weeks after the general election — which was Tuesday this year. Also, the deadlines are built around an early December deadline for the Electoral College to vote on the results of presidential elections.
State lawmakers might consider pushing back deadlines to give larger counties more time to tabulate absentee ballots and conduct recounts, Lux and several other elections supervisors suggested during interviews with the News Service this week.
“The discussion has to be, did we see actual problems, or did we see problems that were perceived as problems based on a particular candidate or a particular campaign seeing something that was not going their way, or that was perceived as not going their way,” Lux said. “There’s a huge difference.”
The state also may want to revisit deadlines for mail-in ballots, Lux said. Under current law, mail-in ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day. But overseas ballots postmarked by Election Day can be counted up to 10 days following the election. The mail-in ballot deadline was the subject of one of several lawsuits filed by Democrats in the days following the Nov. 6 election. Other states allow up to 10 days after the election for mail-in ballots to be counted.
Florida could consider allowing mail-in ballots to be counted if they are postmarked before Election Day and received by elections offices within two days after the election, Orange County Supervisor of Elections Bill Cowles said. That’s the same amount of time allowed for voters who cast provisional ballots to provide documentation to elections offices, Cowles said.
“Our U.S. postal service is not what it used to be,” Cowles said. “I can’t tell you the number of ballots that people put in the mail on Tuesday, thinking they’re still going to count.”
And lawmakers may want to authorize the use of vote centers, Lux proposed. The “mega-precincts” could help eliminate the need for provisional ballots, which are given to voters whose identities or other information cannot be confirmed on Election Day. Critics say minority voters, as well as young or old voters, are more likely to have their provisional ballots tossed.
“Imagine a world where everyone is using some version of a vote center instead of precinct-based voting on Election Day, and you could go to any one of them. You would never find yourself in the wrong precinct. Bam. You’ve just eliminated all of the provisional ballots that are voted by people for being in the wrong precinct,” Lux said.
Elections chiefs also cautioned against basing changes to state laws on hiccups in this year’s election.
“I’m concerned that the Legislature is going to jump on this and overreact. I think that, for the most part, the process worked the way it was supposed to. We’re not supposed to have instant results. When you have a close race, we need to methodically review every ballot,” Polk County Supervisor of Elections Lori Edwards, a former state representative, said.
Many of the county supervisors lamented that the state’s 67 elections chiefs are being viewed with the same contempt as the isolated areas that experienced high-profile problems.
“Clearly there were issues in the counties that were reported, but I think we need to remember, in totality, we got it right,” said Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley, adding that the supervisors and their staff “work tirelessly” in the months leading up to the August primary.
The hectic pace continues until after recounts are completed following the general election.
“It’s not fair to the clear majority of supervisor of election offices that went above and beyond,” Corley said. “To be dragged down with a perception of the whole state having issues, it’s not accurate. It’s not fair.”
Edwards also said she wished politicians and the public would tone down the rhetoric in the days following an election.
“I think the folks that were claiming fraud knew darn well, and had plenty of lawyers to explain to them the process, that an election takes a couple of days,” Edwards said. “I think they knew it. And I think it was a political strategy to try to condemn the process for their own political gains.”
Given the razor-thin margins that have become the norm in Florida elections, the state should be prepared to be the focus of scrutiny, even in years like 2018 that don’t involve presidential contests.
“When you’re the largest battleground state in the nation and all the eyes are going to be on Florida forever, there’s no such thing as a low-key midterm,” Corley said.
by Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida
Volunteer Sought For Pensacola-Escambia Development Commission
November 23, 2018
The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners is seeking Escambia County residents interested in volunteering to be considered for an appointment to the Pensacola-Escambia Development Commission, or PEDC.
Escambia County residents interested in serving on the PEDC are asked to submit a resume and letter indicating their desire to serve by the close of business on Tuesday, Dec. 4. Resumes should be submitted to Judy Witterstaeter, Agenda Program Coordinator, Board of County Commissioners, P.O. Box 1591, Pensacola, FL 32502 or emailed to jhwitter@myescambia.com.
The duties of the PEDC are to actively seek new industry for the area and to promote expansion of existing industries. It is responsible for promoting and developing industrial parks and promoting tourism and convention activities for the Escambia County area.
Cantonment Rotary Provides Thanksgiving Meals For Nearly 1,000 People
November 22, 2018
Nearly 1,000 people can enjoy a complete Thanksgiving meal thanks to the Cantonment Rotary Club.
Wednesday the club distributed everything for a turkey meal to 168 families — about 950 people in the North Escambia area, including Quintette and Carver Park. The recipients were chosen with the help of local school guidance counselors who helped identify families that might need a little help this time of year.
“We would never have been able to impact the number of families and especially the number of young people without the enthusiastic support of the administrations and guidance counselors of our seven partner schools – Lipscomb Elementary, McArthur Elementary, Pine Meadow Elementary, Jim Allen Elementary, Kingsfield Elementary, Ransom Middle, and Tate High. We truly appreciate how their partnership allows us to make our community a better place to live,” said Kevin Howell, Cantonment Rotary Thanksgiving project chair.
The Cantonment Rotary Club Thanksgiving project continues to grow. Last year, the club delivered meals to 545 people.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Miracle League Holds Annual Turkey Fry
November 22, 2018
The Miracle League of Pensacola held their annual turkey fry fundraiser Wednesday at their park on East Nine Mile Road.
Volunteers with the Miracle League spent their day frying turkeys for a minimum donation, with all of the proceeds going to benefit the Miracle League.
The Miracle League provides physically and mentally challenged children a safe and spirited program in which they can hit, run, and catch on a baseball field – just like other kids. MLP offers a unique and memorable opportunity these children would not otherwise have. It is a place where every player plays, every player hits, every player gets on base, every player scores, and every player wins – every inning.
Photos courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Molino Branch Library Holds Thanksgiving Coloring Contest
November 22, 2018
The Molino Branch Library held a Thanksgiving coloring contest, with winners receiving art supplies. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview, Ernest Ward Cheerleaders March In Disney Thanksgiving Parade
November 22, 2018
Cheerleaders from Northview High School and Ernest Ward Middle School marched in the Disney World Thanksgiving Parade in Orlando.
Each was named All-American and earned the opportunity during UCA cheerleader camp held during the summer.
They are Sarah Bailey, Chloe Criswell, Carsyn Dortch, Emma Gilmore, Jamison Gilman, Leah Hetrick, Sarah Hetrick, Taylor McMinn, , Madison Peterson and Leila Sanders. Zakayla Smith was also named an All-American cheerleader but unable to attend.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Busiest Travel Weekend In 13 Years Predicted
November 22, 2018
AAA projects 54.3 million Americans will journey 50 miles or more away from home this Thanksgiving, a 4.8 percent increase over last year.
The 2018 holiday weekend will see the highest Thanksgiving travel volume in more than a dozen years (since 2005), with 2.5 million more people taking to the nation’s roads, skies, rails and waterways compared with last year. For the 48.5 million Americans planning a Thanksgiving road trip, INRIX, a global mobility analytics company, predicts travel times in the most congested cities in the U.S. could be as much as four times longer than a normal trip.
The vast majority of travelers – 48.5 million – will hit the road this Thanksgiving, nearly 5 percent more than last year.
The average price of a gallon of gas Wednesday night in Escambia County was $2.57, higher than $2.38 on year ago but down about 20 cents from one month ago.
The Thanksgiving holiday period is defined as Wednesday, November 21 to Sunday, November 25.
Four Northview Cheerleaders In Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
November 21, 2018
Four Northview High School cheerleaders will march in Thursday’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.
They are Shelby Bashore, Ashlan Harigel, Kherstin Johnson and Cloe Smith. Each auditioned for the opportunity back in July with Spirit of America.
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has been a New York City tradition since 1924, attracting more than 3.5 million people to the streets of Manhattan every year. Record breaking freezing temperatures are expected for this year’s parade, the first below freezing temperatures at parade time since 1907.
The parade will air locally on NBC 15 from 9 a.m. until noon. It will also be streamed live on Verizon’s YouTube channel and at nbc.com/live (with a TV provider login).
Pictured top: Northview cheerleaders Cloe Smith, Ashlan Harigel, Kherstin Johnson and Shelby Bashore in New York. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.