West Florida Libraries Bookmobile Is Permanently Out Of Service
March 2, 2018
The West Florida Public Libraries Bookmobile service will resume this summer with a new vehicle.
“We are in the process of realigning the routes, and a replacement vehicle is out for bid,” Jamie Gillispie-Turner, communications specialist for the WFPL said.
WFPL’s former Bookmobile had excessive mechanical damage last week and is no longer in service. The bid for the replacement vehicle closes Friday, March 23. When bidding has ended, the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners will vote for approval. Once approved, it will undergo a transformation to become the new Bookmobile service vehicle.
In the meantime, current Bookmobile patrons will be served by the Books-by-Mail program. For more information contact any library branch.
The Bookmobile previously made regular scheduled stops at locations across Escambia County, including North Escambia area stops in Cantonment, Gonzalez and Davisville.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Scott Pleads For School Safety Plan Amid Divisions
March 2, 2018
Accompanied by the father and brother of a student slain during last month’s mass shooting in Parkland, Gov. Rick Scott made a rare appearance before the House and Senate on Thursday to urge lawmakers to pass a sweeping measure aimed at making schools safer and keeping guns out of the hands of mentally ill people.
The governor’s direct message to the Legislature, with the aid of grieving parent Ryan Petty, came as the House earlier in the day put a school-safety plan on hold. Republican leaders acknowledged the plan — opposed by the powerful National Rifle Association, black lawmakers, some survivors of the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and others — needs more work.
Scott is touting an alternative plan that relies heavily on putting law enforcement officers in schools.
“If this devolves into a gun control debate, we are going to miss our opportunity to get something done. What’s different about the governor’s plan is that we are focusing on securing our schools,” Petty, whose 14-year-old daughter Alaina was among the 17 people killed by gunman Nikolas Cruz on Feb. 14, told reporters after pleading with lawmakers in both chambers to pass a bill.
But with little more than a week until the end of the legislative session on March 9, the school safety proposals — which address a wide range of issues including mental-health screening and services and school hardening — face pushback from politicians on both ends of the gun-control spectrum.
Many House Republicans and the NRA are opposed to proposed regulations that would raise age requirements from 18 to 21 and impose a three-day waiting period for the purchase of rifles and other long guns. Proposals would also allow law enforcement officers to seize weapons from people who pose a danger to themselves or others and ban the sale of what are known as “bump stocks.”
Democrats are frustrated because the proposals, crafted by Republican leaders, fail to include a ban on assault-style weapons such as the semi-automatic rifle used by Cruz in killing 14 students and three faculty members at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High.
But much of the debate has focused on a contentious component of House and Senate proposals known as the “school marshal” program. It would allow specially trained teachers and other school workers, who are deputized by local law enforcement authorities, to carry guns to school, a program Scott, Democrats and many of the Parkland parents and students are shunning.
“I want to make sure that there’s a law enforcement presence at our schools. I don’t believe in arming the teachers. I’ve been clear about that since I put out my proposal last week,” Scott, flanked by Petty and Petty’s son Patrick, told reporters after speaking during House and Senate floor sessions Thursday afternoon.
Scott later summoned a half-dozen Republican and Democratic legislative leaders to his office, seeking input on how to ensure the passage of a school safety measure.
The House and Senate are in negotiations about their bills, which would allow school boards to decide whether they want to implement the marshal program. If school boards opt for the plan, the House proposal would require sheriffs to participate, while the Senate proposal would not.
The House was supposed to begin debate Friday on its measure (HB 7021) but instead will wait until the Senate acts on its version, according to House Rules & Policy Chairman Jose Oliva, R-Miami Lakes.
“The conversation has been about making sure that our bills line up, so that we can take up a bill that we can all agree on, at least in large part, and that we can pass out of the House,” Oliva told the House on Thursday.
House Speaker Richard Corcoran late Thursday denied that his chamber lacks the votes to pass the proposal.
“We’re good. We’ll be fine,” Corcoran, R-Land O’ Lakes, told reporters.
But many Republican members are balking at casting a “yes” vote for a bill the NRA opposes.
Rep. Joe Gruters, the chairman of the Sarasota County Republican Party, said a vote in favor of the proposal could doom the political futures of Republican House members seeking higher office. The Second Amendment is the primary issue for 18 percent of GOP primary voters, he said.
Voting to “diminish the constitutional rights of citizens regarding the Second Amendment” is “alienating a huge portion of your base,” Gruters, who said he’s leaning toward a “yes” vote, told The News Service of Florida.
“But I can tell you, as a party chairman, as a 10-year leader of the Republican Party of Sarasota, I’ve been losing sleep every night over it,” said Gruters, who is leaving the House this year to run for the Senate.
He said he agrees that gun owners shouldn’t be punished for the actions of people who break the law, a talking point espoused by the NRA.
“What you’re asking Republicans to do, if you vote for this, you’re toast. If you want to move up, you’re toast,” he said. “Policy-wise, you may think it’s reasonable and the right thing to do. But if you’re on the right, and you sign onto this bill, you vote for this bill, it’s going to cost you. At home. And it’s going to cost you your next election.”
For the past three days, the governor has held a series of press conferences with sheriffs around the state to highlight his $500 million package, which would require, among other things, school boards to assign a law enforcement officer to each school and at least one resource officer for every 1,000 students.
Scott also wants an $185 million increase to the state’s “safe schools” funding, currently at $64.5 million. The House’s plan would increase the safe schools program, used mainly to pay for school resource officers, by $97.5 million, and the Senate would boost the program by $75 million. The funding is part of ongoing budget negotiations between the two chambers. The House and Senate have also included $67.5 million for the school marshal program.
Schools would need an extra $116 million to cover the cost of a single resource officer in each of the state’s 4,000-plus schools, according to data gathered by the Department of Education from school districts after the Parkland catastrophe.
Scott — whose plan does not include the three-day waiting period on gun purchases — would not say whether he would veto a measure with the school marshals in it.
But Sen. Bill Galvano, a Bradenton Republican who is the Senate’s chief negotiator with the House and Scott, said everyone needs to compromise, as many of the Parkland parents have indicated they are willing to do.
“Eventually we’re going to have to agree between the two chambers and we’re going to send him some legislation,” Galvano, who will take over as Senate president this fall, told the News Service before meeting with Scott. “There’s too much positive for some disagreement on a plan that has not even been elected to go into place for him not to support the bill.”
Rep. Jared Moskowitz, a Coral Springs Democrat who graduated from the Parkland high school, said he is conflicted about the measure.
Many of his constituents, including those who oppose the marshal program, are demanding that the Legislature take action. They support other elements of the proposals, such as early mental health screening and sharing of information between social service agencies, schools and law enforcement.
But Moskowitz, who also met Thursday with Scott, said survivors and grieving family members “have been taken hostage” by the legislative process.
“The only thing we’re talking about is arming teachers. We’re not even talking about the most serious gun control package in the state of Florida in 20 years. Nobody’s even talking about how this will help keep guns out of the hands of people like Nikolas Cruz,” Moskowitz said in an interview. “All we’re talking about is the fact that this is going to put guns in teachers’ hands. I know a hijacking when I see one. … It’s poison.”
by Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida
Northview Track Results
March 2, 2018
Here are results from two recent Northview High track meets:
Recent meet at Jay, where the Northview boys placed first overall over Jay, Baker, PCA and Central
Boys
110 High hurdles-3rd place Jarius Moorer
100m- 1st Brandon Spencer, 2nd Joseph Wright, 3rd Quay Thomas
1600m-3rd Oscar Rodriguez
4×100- 1st Brandon Spencer, Joseph Wright, Tim Bush, and Jarius Moorer
400m-1st Daniel Merit
200m- 1st Brandon Spencer, 2nd Joseph Wright, 3rd Daniel Merit
4×400-1st Brandon Spencer, Joseph Wright, Tim Bush, Daniel Merit
High Jump-2nd Tim Bush
Long Jump-2nd Ray Bush
Triple Jump-2nd Ray Bush
Girls
4×800- 3rd Shelby Bashore, Karly Crisswell, Lexi Broadhead, Marissa Rothrock
100 hurdles-3rd Celeste North
100m-1st Crystal Douglas, 3rd Nene Findley
4×100-1st Crystal Douglas, Nene Findley, Celeste North, Myisha Syria
300 hurdles-2nd Shelby Bashore
200m-1st Crystal Douglas, 2nd Nene Findley, 3rd Celeste North
Discus-3rd Shelby Bashore
High Jump-3rd Aaliyah Tucker
Previous meet at Baker:
Boy’s 4×800 2nd place Colten Dockens, David Lamb, Oscar Rodriguez, Keaton Brown
100m 1st place Joseph Wright, 2nd place Tim Bush
Boy’s 4×100 1st place Joseph Wright, Tim Bush, Quay Thomas, Jarius Moorer
400m Daniel Merit 2nd place
3200m David Lamb 3rd place
200m 1st place Joseph Wright, 2nd place Daniel Merit, 3rd place Quay Thomas
Boy’s 4×400 2nd place Joseph Wright, Tim Bush, Daniel Merit, Joseph Johnson
High Jump 1st place Tim Bush
Boy’s Long Jump 2nd place Ray Bush, 3rd place Quay Thomas
Boy’s Triple Jump 1st place Ray Bush
Shot put 2nd place Ray Bush
Discus 3rd place Ray Bush
Girls 100 High Hurdle 2nd place Celeste North
100m 1st place Crystal Douglas, 2nd place Nene Findley
4×100 1st place Crystal Douglas, Nene Findley, Myisha Syria, Celeste North
300m Hurdles 3rd place Karlee Crisswell
200m 1st place Crystal Douglas, 2nd place Nene Findley
Girls 4×400 2nd place Myisha Syria, Celeste North, Nene Findley, Crystal Douglas
Girls Discus 1st place Shelby Bayshore
Two Escambia Men Indicted For February Murders
March 2, 2018
An Escambia County Grand Jury has indicted two Escambia County men for unrelated murders last month..
Patrick Miles Smith
An Escambia County Grand Jury indicted Patrick Miles Smith for first degree premeditated murder in the death of his girlfriend, Mary Ellen Williams.
On February 9, deputies found Williams lifeless in the front yard of an Ensley residence where Smith had beaten her head into the concrete, according to prosecutors.
Gregory “Dallas” Taylor, II
An Escambia County Grand Jury also indicted Gregory “Dallas” Taylor, II for first degree premeditated murder in the death of Frances Timmons Cooley.
Taylor allegedly transported Cooley, who was suffering from four gunshot wounds to the abdomen, to West Florida Hospital on February 12. Taylor originally told the hospital that they had been robbed. But when separated from Taylor, the Cooley told hospital staff that he had shot her, according to deputies.
Cooley succumbed to her wounds nine days after the shooting.
Northview Beats Central In 10 Innings
March 2, 2018
The Northview Lady Chiefs improved to 4-0 Thursday night with a 10 inning 5-4 win over Central.
Tori Herrington had a two-run walk-off single in the 10th to drive in Heather Knowles and Kendall Enfinger. She also pitched the win on the mound for the Chiefs, striking out 15.
For the Chiefs: Herrington 2-4, R, 3B, 3RBI; Enfinger 1-4, BB, R; Knowles 2-4, 3B, R; Ashley Ragsdale 3-5, 2R, SB; Aubree Love, 1-4, BB, RBI; Lydia Smith 1-4; SB.
Up next for the Northview Chiefs is the T.R. Miller Invitational Tournament Friday and Saturday before traveling to Baker next Tuesday.
Bratt Elementary Names Students Of The Month
March 2, 2018
The following students were named Students of the Month for February at Bratt Elementary School.
Pre-K
Kaisen Robbins
Henry Clark
Kindergarten
Emma Southard
Teagen Black
Makiah Spates
Tripp Gilly
Aiden Keen
1st Grade
Amora Rodriguez
Payton Coon
Joey Fontenot
Alexis Amerson
2nd Grade
Blake Faith
Dayton Burroughs
Jackson Sellers
Brayden Faircloth
3rd Grade
Jamie Roberts
Hayden Gipson
Kylar Davis
4th Grade
Wade Bailey
Carley Moore
Addy Eicher
Cheyenne Keen
5th Grade
Justin Kinley
Laura Laborde
Raylee Wooten
Jonathan Stillwell
Amora Rodriguez and Wade Bailey were chosen to represent Bratt Elementary for Escambia County Students of the Month for February.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Two People Injured In T-Bone Collision With School Bus In Atmore; All Students OK
March 1, 2018
Two people in a passenger car were injured in a crash involving a school bus Thursday afternoon in Atmore.
The accident occurred just after 3 p.m. on South Main Street near McRae Street. It appeared that the Escambia County (AL) Schools bus collided with the passenger side of a Ford Focus in a T-bone type crash. One passenger was extricated by firefighters.
There were no injuries to the driver or any of an unknown number of children on the bus. Two people in the car were reported to be seriously injured, with both transported by ambulance to Atmore Community Hospital. One was then airlifted to another hospital by medical helicopter.
There was no official word on which driver was at fault in the crash as Atmore Police continue their investigation.
Further details were not available.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Ditto Gorme, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Men Arrested For Pistol Whipping Man, Shooting His Girlfriend’s Car
March 1, 2018
Two Cantonment men were charged after allegedly shooting the windows out of car, pistol whipping a man and hitting an nearby home with gunfire.
Preston Adam Ennis, 22, and Tyler James Harris, 23, were both charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, firing a missile into a dwelling or vehicle, misdemeanor criminal mischief property damage, felony criminal mischief property damage and marijuana possession.
A resident of Sandlewood Street told investigators that Ennis and Harris knocked on his door about 1:30 a.m. Monday and hit him at least five times with a pistols they were carrying. They duo then fled the area before reportedly returning about 15 minutes later and shooting into a Ford Mustang belonging to the victim’s girlfriend.
The victim refused medical treatment.
It was later discovered that a bullet fired into the Mustang traveled through a rear passenger window, and the front driver’s window fore striking a neighboring home. The bullet then traveled through a stucco exterior wall of the home and through and interior wall. There were no injuries.
A short time later, Ennis and Harris taken into custody at a local apartment complex with a quantity of marijuana and over $5,000 in cash in their possession.
Pictured: Tyler Harris (left) and Preston Ennis (right).
Appeals Court Upholds DUI Manslaughter Conviction Of Cantonment Man
March 1, 2018
Florida’s First District Court of Appeal on Wednesday upheld the 15 year prison sentence of a Cantonment man or a November 2013 traffic crash that claimed the life of his 54-year old passenger.
In 2014, Melvin Lewis Pryear was sentenced by Circuit Judge Erwin Fleet to 15 years in state prison for DUI manslaughter and to one concurrent year in the county jail for DUI property damage for the death of Albertina McCarty of Pensacola.
Pryear had a blood alcohol level of .196 which is over twice the legal limit. He also tested positive for use of marijuana.
While driving under the influence, Pryear he pulled into the path of a 18-wheeler at Highway 29 and Muscogee Road near International Paper. The Florida Highway Patrol said that according to multiple witnesses, both north and southbound Highway 29 had a green light, but there was no green turn arrow for Pryear.
The front of the 18-wheeler struck Pryear’s vehicle causing it to rotate onto the southbound shoulder at the Raceway gas station. McCarty, Pryear’s passenger, was pronounced deceased at the scene by Escambia County EMS.
Testifying at trial were two sisters who witnessed the accident. The first sister testified that when she saw Pryear’s car start to turn, she said to herself, “Don’t go, don’t go,” because the semi-truck was too close for the oncoming car to safely make the turn. The second sister testified that the semi-truck was moving fast, estimating that the truck appeared to be “doing every bit of [the 40 or 45 miles per hour speed limit] coming through the intersection.”
Other eye witnesses testified that Pryear smelled of alcohol and had beer cans in his car. The traffic homicide investigator testified that, hours later, Appellant’s eyes were still bloodshot and watery and his speech was slurred.
Acting as his own attorney before the appeals court, Pryear made several claims. In the first, Pryear argued that his trial attorney was ineffective for failing to renew an objection to striking an an African-American juror, but the court found that a white juror was also removed. He claimed ineffective counsel, but the court found he could not show any actions by his attorney changed the outcome of the trial.
In Pryear’s second claim, he argued that his attorney should have moved to strike the highway patrol trooper’s improper opinion testimony that he was at fault in the accident and that the trooper had “other circumstances” that led him to believe that Appellant was intoxicated.
The challenged testimony occurred in the context of cross-examination. Defense counsel asked whether Pryear’s bloodshot eyes and the scent of alcohol on his breath provided the basis for the belief that he was intoxicated at the time of the accident. The trooper replied, “He was also at fault for causing a fatality.” The defense counsel then asked, “So you’re saying Pryear was at fault, but the investigation wasn’t completed was it?” The trooper responded, “No, but we had the circumstances.” The trooper also agreed that he did not witness the accident, and had not yet spoken to witnesses at the time he reached the conclusion.
The appeals court determined that there is no reasonable probability that the outcome of the trial would have been different if the trooper’s testimony regarding the intoxication had been disallowed.
In this third claim, Pryear alleged that his attorney should have moved to acquittal on the bases that the state failed to prove the element of intoxication. The claim was denied because when the blood alcohol results of .196 were introduced, the defense counsel indicated that he had no objection.
Pryear also alleged that his attorney was ineffective for failing to object to erroneous jury instructions, and that his attorney was ineffective for failing to object to an improper closing argument. The claim stemmed for the prosecutor’s closing argument:
“So I really must ask you to look at the evidence that’s been presented through trial yesterday and today. Apply the law that I’ve touched upon and you’ll be further instructed on, and use your common sense. What that’s going to tell you is that the defendant was driving the vehicle, that the defendant had a blood alcohol level of .196 or higher, that he had marijuana in his system at the time he was driving, that he pulled out in front of that truck that caused not only damage to the truck and the Sebring he was driving, but it also caused and contributed to the death of Ms. McCarty. If he doesn’t do that, that crash doesn’t happen and she doesn’t die. He caused or contributed to her death.
“That evidence is—won’t be contradicted, and because it won’t be contradicted, there is no reasonable doubt as far as his guilt. He is guilty as charged for DUI, driving under the influence, manslaughter and driving under the influence, damage to property. Thank you.”
The appeals court found that even if the defense lawyer had objected to the closing arguments, it would still not change the facts that Pryear was driving while heavily impaired, when he turned in front of the semi-truck without adequate space, violating the truck’s right-of-way.
In his sixth appears claim, Pryear argued that his attorney was ineffective for failing to call defense witness Amanda Price to testify. Appellant alleged that Price would have testified that the driver of the semi-truck was speeding and driving erratically at the time of the accident, thus contradicting the truck driver’s testimony that he was not speeding, as well as the testimony of the highway patrol trooper and the traffic homicide investigator. But the court found that even if Price had testified, the outcome of the trial would not have been different.
In his seventh claim, Pryear argued that the overall effect of all the errors by his attorney deprived him of a fair trail, but the court found this claim was properly denied.
And in his final argument, Pryear said the trial court committed fundamental error in instructing the jury on the statutory presumption of impairment. The appeals court found the defense counsel did not object to the introduction of the lab report, therefore, the trial court had no basis to disregard the evidence of impairment.
Roadway Safety Improvements Made Just Days After Fatal Molino Wreck
March 1, 2018
Just days after a fatal traffic collision in Molino, safety improvements have been made at the intersection.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 56-year old Franklin Webb was traveling east Sunday afternoon on Barrineau Road when he failed to properly yield his Toyota Tundra at a stop sign at the intersection of Highway 29. His vehicle was hit by a southbound pickup truck. Webb was pronounced deceased at the scene. [Read more...]
On Tuesday, someone repainted rumble strips and other pavement markings on Barrineau Park road approaching Highway 29 from both the east and west. But exactly what agency was responsible for the rumble strips remained unclear.
The Florida Department of Transportation said the painting was not done by FDOT or any of their subcontractors. And Escambia County said they didn’t do the work either.
Anyone that knows exactly who painted the rumble strips is asked to email news@northescambia.com.
Area residents and an Escambia County official said the rumble strips were last painted several years ago, and area residents said they had worn down were no longer effective.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
