Lawmakers On The Verge Of Rejecting ‘Stand Your Ground’ Session
August 9, 2018
Republicans are on the verge of scuttling an effort by Democrats to hold a special legislative session on the state’s “stand your ground” self-defense law.
After three days of polling by the Department of State, 44 House members have voted against the proposed special session, while 25 have voted in favor. Democrat Katie Edwards-Walpole of Plantation has joined House Republicans in opposition, according to results posted by the state agency.To force a special session, the proposal would require three-fifths support in each of the GOP-dominated legislative chambers.
That would equate to 70 members of the House and 24 members of the Senate voting in favor. The vote in the Senate at the end of Wednesday stood at 12 in favor and 11 opposed. The results were along party lines. Legislators have until noon Friday to respond to the polling.
The request to revisit the self-defense law came in response to the shooting death last month of Markeis McGlockton in the parking lot of a Clearwater convenience store. No charges have been filed against the shooter.
DeSantis, Putnam Clash During Debate
August 9, 2018
In their second and final debate for the Republican nomination for governor, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam and U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis clashed Wednesday over President Donald Trump, Florida’s water crisis and campaign contributions.
Putnam, a two-term Cabinet member and former member of Congress, accused DeSantis, a three-term member of Congress, of running a campaign light on Florida issues.
Putnam mocked DeSantis — who has appeared frequently on Fox News — for relying heavily on his endorsement from Trump, likening the congressman’s campaign to the Seinfeld comedy show.
“The campaign is being run out of studio. They have a smattering of celebrity guest appearances. And at the end of the day, it’s all about nothing. But unlike Seinfeld, it’s not funny,” Putnam said. “Floridians deserved better than a candidate who makes it all about himself and not about the future of Florida.”
But DeSantis struck back at Putnam, noting he has spent his entire adulthood in a political office and had accused Trump of being “vile” and “obscene” for sexual comments that were reported during the 2016 presidential campaign. He also noted Putnam did not campaign for Trump.
“No one knew where he was during the campaign. Now he acts like he is this big supporter?” DeSantis said. “This is inauthentic. This is a career politician trying to tell you what you want to see, not coming from the heart. He’s already proven he will say and do anything in terms of millions of dollars in fake ads to get elected. It’s not working. But that’s what he’s willing to do.”
Putnam shot back that DeSantis has run for three offices — an abandoned U.S. Senate bid, a congressional election and governor — since 2015.
“He’s run for three offices in three years. That’s a career politician with ADD,” Putnam said.
Some of the toughest exchanges were related to the water crisis that has resulted in the release of toxic algae impacting coastal communities in southwest and southeastern Florida. Many residents blame the bloom on the release of polluted water from Lake Okeechobee.
Putnam defended his response to the crisis, saying he is committed to protecting the state’s water resources, calling it the “golden goose.”
He questioned DeSantis’ knowledge of the problem.
“I think that you can put everything my opponent knows about water on your sticky note and still have room left over for your grocery list,” Putnam said.
And Putnam said Florida has taken the lead on trying to restore the vast South Florida water system, which includes Lake Okeechobee and the Everglades, while support from Washington has lagged.
But DeSantis charged that Putnam’s response was shaped by his support from U.S. Sugar, which DeSantis said had pumped millions of dollars of campaign contributions into Putnam’s bid, using some of the money to finance advertising that DeSantis said distorted his congressional record.
“Adam is basically the errand boy for U.S. Sugar,” DeSantis said. “He will not do anything to offend U.S. Sugar, which is his main supporter.”
Putnam said more than 90 percent of his contributions have come from “real Floridians,” while DeSantis’ campaign has drawn support from casino owners and “pornographers on the West Coast.” The latter reference is to a $213,000 donation from Ahmad Khawaja, whose company helps collect payments for various groups, including porn websites.
DeSantis and Putnam also clashed over the congressman’s support for a “fair tax,” which would replace all federal taxes with a national sales tax.
DeSantis accused Putnam of “lying,” since his campaign is running ads accusing the Republican congressman of supporting a major tax increase on Floridians. DeSantis said the fair-tax proposal has strong support from conservatives since it would replace all other federal taxes, including the income tax. He noted the state Senate passed a memorial in support of the proposal in 2014.
Putnam defended his criticism, noting the fair-tax plan would impose a 23 percent sales tax on purchases such as prescription drugs and housing. He said the plan “may sound good in a Harvard economics classroom,” a reference to DeSantis’ law degree, but it would hurt Florida families.
DeSantis said “lefties at Harvard would hate” the fair tax since it would eliminate the federal tax code.
The two Republican candidates, in contrast to their Democratic rivals, were in agreement in opposing the expansion of Medicaid in Florida under the federal Affordable Care Act. They were also in agreement on recent state laws that have expanded the use of charter schools and other school “choice” programs.
The debate was hosted by the Jacksonville University Public Policy Institute and WJXT Channel 4.
Republican voters will decide between DeSantis and Putnam in the Aug. 28 primary. The winner will face the Democratic nominee in the Nov. 6 general election. Gov. Rick Scott, who is running for a U.S. Senate seat, is leaving office because of term limits.
by Lloyd Dunkelberger, The News Service of Florida
Wahoos Open Series Over The Mobile Baybears
August 9, 2018
Gavin LaValley powered the offense with four RBI lead and Alex Powers picked up his 14th save of the season as the Wahoos took the series opener against the Mobile BayBears 7-6 Wednesday night at Hank Aaron Stadium.
Wednesday’s contest against the BayBears was a back-and-forth battle that saw three separate lead changes. It was the BayBears who struck first against Seth Varner (W, 7-2) in large part to some defensive miscues by the Wahoos.
Jahmai Jones opened the scoring by reaching on an error, stealing second base, and then coming home on a wild pitch by Varner to make it 1-0. Later in the inning, Jack Kruger reached on a fly ball that Aristides Aquino lost in the sun. He later scored on Zach Gibbons’ double to center, and Roberto Baldoquin drove him home with a single to make it 3-0 after one.
The Wahoos responded quickly, scoring twice against Joe Gatto in the second inning. After Shed Long walked, Mitch Nay laced a double to put runners at second and third with nobody out. Narciso Crook’s sac fly to center brought home one run, and Gavin LaValley’s RBI-single cut the score down to 3-2.
Pensacola’s big inning came in the sixth when the Wahoos cashed in on some poor pitching by the BayBears. TJ Friedl led off the inning with his first home run of the season, and after Mobile walked the bases loaded, LaValley delivered again a bases-clearing double off Adrian Almeida, which gave the Wahoos a 6-3 lead.
The BayBears answered with three runs of their own to tie the game at 6-6. After a single to Jose Rojas and a two-out walk to Baldoquin, Riley Unroe belted a three-run shot off Varner. Varner struck out Brandon Sandoval to finish his night with six innings of work in the books and six runs (three earned) allowed.
The Wahoos scored the winning run in the seventh. After Friedl, and Taylor Featherston singled, a wild pitch set up the Wahoos with second and third and only one out. Aristides Aquino brought home Friedl with a sac fly to left off Dario Beltre (1-1) to put the Wahoos up by one.
After Zack Weiss pitched two scoreless innings in relief, Alex Powers (S, 14) was called upon in the ninth inning to close out the game. Despite allowing a single to Unroe, Powers struck out two and induced Mitch Spires into a flyout to right to seal the win and give Powers his 14th save of the season.
The Battle of the Bay series continues tomorrow night as the Wahoos try to make it back-to-back wins. RHP Vladimir Gutierrez (8-9, 4.25) will try to return to his winning ways on Thursday, and he will be opposed by RHP Jeremy Beasley (2-3, 3.29).
Wahoos Beat The BayBears
August 9, 2018
In the bottom of the 10th inning with Wahoos trailing 4-3, Narciso Crook delivered a two-run single with the bases loaded to clinch a series win against the BayBears Tuesday night at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
With the win, has surpassed Mobile by a half game in the wildcard standings since Biloxi leads the second-half standings. Pensacola only trails the Shuckers by a half game in the second-half standings, with five games to play.
The Wahoos offense got off to a slow start against BayBear starter, Patrick Sandoval. The southpaw pitched only four innings and carved through the Wahoos, striking out eight across four shutout innings. In the fifth, he was lifted for Jason Alexander, and with the Wahoos trailing 1-0, Pensacola tied the game in Alexander’s first frame. Taylor Featherston walked and took third on Luis Gonzalez’s single with nobody out. Chris Okey grounded into a double play, but Featherston scored from third to tie the game.
The BayBears struck for a pair in the sixth against Wyatt Strahan. With two outs, Strahan issued back-to-back walks and then paid the price after Alexis Olmeda doubled home Mitch Ghelfi to give Mobile a 2-1 lead. Connor Justus followed with an RBI single, which was nearly two had Aristides Aquino not thrown out Olmeda at the plate.
Pensacola tied the game in the eighth with an improbable two-out rally. After back-to-back strikeouts from Alexander, TJ Friedl walked before a single from Mitch Nay. With two strikes, Aquino laced a two-run double into the left-field corner, which tied the game at three. The Wahoos had a chance to win it in the ninth after loading the bases with no outs; however, Alexander managed to navigate through the danger without conceding a run.
After the BayBears scored a run in the top of the 10th against Robinson Leyer (W, 5-3), Pensacola used a hit-by-pitch and an infield single to set the stage for Crook’s winner. Pensacola finishes the regular season with a 37-33 record, and for the third consecutive year, the Wahoos finish with a home record above .500.
The Wahoos will hit the road on Wednesday for Kodak, Tenn. in preparation of the regular season finale against the Smokies. LHP Seth Varner (8-3, 3.49) will make his final regular-season start and will be opposed by RHP Matt Swarmer (4-5, 3.53).
Missing Man Found
August 9, 2018
Update: This missing individual has been located. Further details were not available. [8/9/18 3 p.m.]
Authorities two states are searching for a man whose truck was found abandoned early last Saturday morning.
Tristan Capps was last seen in the Flomaton area last Friday. His truck was discovered about 2:30 a.m. Saturday on Sprow Road, a dirt road off Fannie Road on the Alabama-Florida state line near Flomaton and Century.
Escambia County (AL) Chief Deputy Mike Lambert said Capp’s wallet, cellphone and keys were still in the truck. Lambert said his agency and the Escambia County (FL) Sheriff’s Office are jointly involved.
Anyone with information about Capps’ whereabouts is asked to call the Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office at (251) 809-2154 or the Escambia County (FL) Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
Mayor Blames Century’s Problems On Race, Council Spending; Audit Shows Deficit Of Millions
August 8, 2018
As the State Attorney’s Office conducts a review of financial matters and possible Sunshine Law violations in Century, Mayor Henry Hawkins is blaming problems on the fact that he is black and poor spending by the town council.
“Bottom line now is, you can put on record or off the record I don’t care, bottom line now is that’s a black man taking care of business. A lot of folks don’t like it,” Hawkins told our news partner WEAR 3. Three of the five Century Town Council members are African-American.
“There’s never been a financial situation from time I took office. We are $150,000 to the good,” he said.
At the end of the previous fiscal year on September 30, 2017, there were deficits of $3 million in the town’s general fund, a net deficit of $6 thousand in the sanitation fund and a $1.4 million deficit in the natural gas fund, according to a draft audit released Tuesday.
Hawkins took office in January 2017. Notably, some of the overall deficits included balances carried forward from previous administrations; however, the audit reflects an overall deficit of $580,125 during fiscal year 2017 — an increase of $20,753 in the general fund, a loss of $326,675 in the natural gas fund and a loss of $274,203 in the water and sewer fund.
“The town’s overall financial condition demonstrates signs of deterioration which, if not corrected, could result in a future financial emergency,” the auditor’s report states. The town’s general fund borrowed $306 thousand from its special revenue fund in 2017 to cover general operations.
In addition, the town’s general fund owes the special revenue fund about $2.7 million that must be repaid. In June 2018, the town approved a repayment plan of $300 per month. Simple math indicates that at $300 per month, it will take 750 years to repay $2.7 million.
As NorthEscambia.com first reported on Tuesday [click here], Hawkins presented a signed “Mayor’s Report” indicating fund balances to the town council.
The report showed $1,054,367 in reserve funds on July 7, 2018, and the exact same figure, $1,054,367, in unreserved fund accounts on the same day. He confirmed that the two separate funds had the exact same balance on the same day as presented in his report. He said $172,000 was transferred in May 2017 from a water department reserve fund for sewage lift stations.
“If you don’t spend the money, it’s still going to be there. We took some out of reserve to go here to do something that we needed to get done,” he said Tuesday to explain the identical fund balances..
The second page of his report shows an actual balance of $616,240 in unreserved funds on July 31.
The mayor blamed the overall financial condition of town on poor spending decisions by the town council, and the “good old boy system”.
“The good ole boy system, you never get anywhere. Where the good old boy system where those that got, get , those that don’t have, won’t have. That’s the mold we got to break,” he said.
NorthEscambia.com will continue to review the Town of Century’s preliminary audit and present additional reports.
Pictured: A Century Town Council audit review meeting Tuesday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Planning Board Rejects New Subdivision On Highway 97 In Molino
August 8, 2018
The Escambia County Planning Board voted Tuesday to recommend the denial of a plan for 210 acres in Molino to allow the construction of a new subdivision.
Blue Water Creek Estates, Inc, applied to change the future land use of the acreage in the 900 block of Highway 97 just northeast of Sunshine Hill Road. The request would have ultimately allowed a zoning change from agricultural allowing one housing unit per 20 acres to rural residential to allow a density of one housing until per four acres.
The company wants to divide the 210 acres into 38 lots ranging from four to 12 acres to accommodate a single-family residential subdivision, according to county documents.
The planning board found the land use request was not consistent with the Escambia County Land Development Code (LDC) and does not fit the character of development on Highway 97 where parcels are larger is size, creating a less dense development pattern. The LDC says all new or expanded land uses should avoid the loss of prime farmland. The parcel’s current primary use, according to the county, is timber production, and forestland is defined as prime farmland.
The development is compatible with existing uses, but a change would create spot zoning different from all adjacent land.
The planning board’s denial recommendation will go to the Escambia County Commission for a final decision.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Deidra’s Gift: School Supplies Donated To Area Elementary
August 8, 2018
The group Dedria’s Gift donated school supplies Tuesday to Flomaton Elementary School. The supplies were distributed in memory of Dedria Robinson, who was killed in 2005 in an automobile accident at age 11. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Police Arrest Downtown Rape, Kidnapping Suspect
August 8, 2018
Police have arrested a man searching for a man that kidnapped a woman in downtown Pensacola and raped her.
Corey Hill, 32, has been charged with kidnapping and rape. According to Pensacola Police, the unidentified victim was downtown at a bar with a male friend and she passed out around 2 a.m. on Monday morning.
Hill was arrested about 1:30 a.m., just hours after police released surveillance images.
The victim and a male friend were out drinking when she began to pass out. The friend told police he left for two minutes to get his vehicle, but when he turned the woman was gone, police.
“The suspect picked up the female and carried her to his car. She woke up the next morning and knew she was sexually assaulted,” said Pensacola Police Department spokesman Mike Wood.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Pensacola Police Department at (850) 435-1901 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Chewing Gum Heir Sinks Money Into Medical Marijuana
August 8, 2018
The Wrigley fortune was built on its domination of the chewing gum market, but an heir to the confectionery dynasty is investing millions in an industry that not so long ago had a far less wholesome reputation.
In a transaction some construe as the normalization of the medical cannabis industry, William “Beau” Wrigley Jr. led a $65 million round of funding in Surterra Wellness, one of Florida’s 14 licensed medical marijuana operators.
“I haven’t been this excited about a business in a very long time. We have an incredible and incredibly professional team that is approaching this industry with a great deal of discipline,” Wrigley, who also became chairman of Surterra’s board, said in a statement.
The Wrigley funding, which took place last month, is the latest in a number of recent transactions in the state’s budding medical-marijuana industry.
In an agreement announced last month, the Canadian firm Scythian Biosciences Inc. said it intends to spend $93 million to purchase a majority of 3 Boys Farms — a Florida medical-marijuana operator that has yet to begin selling products to patients — and an unnamed “health care organization.” In June, California-based MedMen announced it was paying $53 million to acquire Eustis-based Treadwell Nursery, another of the state-licensed “medical marijuana treatment centers.”
Surterra also has a license to sell medical marijuana in Texas and has an application pending in Virginia, CEO Jake Bergmann said in a telephone interview Tuesday.
The Wrigley stamp of approval could signify a shift in what is quickly becoming one of the state’s hottest commodities, following the passage of a 2016 constitutional amendment broadly legalizing medical marijuana in Florida.
“This is something that is really validation for what the team at Surterra has been building. We set ourselves apart by having the highest quality and consistency with organically produced products. And having someone who is a well-known American CEO who’s built and sold brands, to not just invest in us but join us as chairman is really a testament to what the whole team has built here,” Bergmann said.
The Wrigley company, established in 1891, was sold to Mars, Inc., a decade ago. But prior to that, with Beau Wrigley at the helm, Wrigley acquired Altoids and LifeSavers.
The Wrigley-led investment in Surterra is “good for the entire industry,” Bergmann said.
“It lets patients, investors, essentially everyone know that the business has evolved and is maturing to be a professional staple of American industry,” he said.
The latest equity round brings the funds pumped into Surterra by investors to $100 million, according to Bergmann.
The money will be used to expand Surterra’s Florida operations, double the number of employees to 750 by the end of the year, and invest in clinical trials, according to Bergmann.
Since lawmakers in Florida first legalized non-euphoric medical marijuana in 2014, the state’s cannabis industry has been plagued by legal and administrative challenges, delays in implementing the constitutional amendment and drawn-out rulemaking processes that have created frustration for legislators, patients, operators and investors.
A Tallahassee judge last week ruled that a state law capping the number of medical marijuana operators “directly contradicts” the 2016 constitutional amendment, which was approved by more than 71 percent of voters. But it’s unclear what, if any, impact Leon County Circuit Judge Charles Dodson’s decision will have since he did not stop health officials from continuing their current processes.
Still, marrying Wrigley — whose namesake brands have been found in checkout lanes around the world for more than a century — with one of the state’s leading marijuana purveyors can be seen as another step toward putting cannabis, which requires a doctor’s approval, in a category with other household-name products.
“This is about helping people. It can give people a normal life, let them go to school and be a normal member of society. It is incredible to craft that opportunity in an industry that is starting from scratch,” Wrigley said in the statement.
The candy heir pointed out that three-dozen states have some sort of authorization for cannabis.
“Once people can get over the perception curve, they see the many benefits of this,” Wrigley said.
by Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida