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Florida Gov’t Weekly Roundup: ‘We Will Get Though This Together’

The week started off with the state — and the nation — mesmerized by Hurricane Harvey. But by Friday, Hurricane Irma sent Florida into a frenzy.

As the colossal storm barreled toward the Sunshine State after wreaking havoc in the Caribbean, officials in South Florida ordered massive evacuations.

Gov. Rick Scott shut down schools throughout the state and pleaded for volunteers.

Panicked evacuees and travelers hogged fuel, water and canned goods, prompting Scott to discourage folks from being greedy gas-wise and leading Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam to remind people about old-fashioned tap water and plastic gallon jugs.

The trajectory of a storm packing a wallop bigger than Hurricane Andrew left Floridians glued to the Weather Channel, where meteorologists appeared at times on the brink of panic as Irma churned toward the Florida Keys.

It’s no surprise that Irma and the state’s response overshadowed other news that otherwise might have been the chatter of the capital city.

An appeals court ruled in favor of a tiny North Florida horse track in a case against state regulators, even if the dispute centered on races that involved “tired, reluctant, skittish or disinterested horses moving at a slow pace down the dust-choked path.”

Florida State University decided to review campus statues, markers and names, while the University of Florida relented in its opposition to a speech by white nationalist Richard Spencer.

Controversies in recent weeks about Confederate monuments, racist speeches and the fates of children brought to the country as immigrants have provided evidence of a divided nation.

But the altruism of strangers helping Harvey victims, and the overwhelming numbers of neighbors banding together in advance of Irma, paint a different picture.

The ancient poet Rumi’s advice rings true today, more than ever, especially when hammered by headlines like “Deadly Irma Takes Aim at Florida.”

“Like a sculptor, if necessary, carve a friend out of stone,” he wrote. “Realize that your inner sight is blind, and try to see a treasure in everyone.”

GET OUT NOW

Scott traveled up, down and across Florida, appearing at county emergency operations centers and on national news shows to urge residents and visitors to take Irma seriously.

Public schools, state colleges and universities and state government offices were shut down across Florida on Friday and will remain closed Monday.

Power outages are expected to be widespread from the storm, which is now forecast to run up the state, initially including three of Florida’s most populous counties.

More than 500,000 people have been ordered to evacuate South Florida, and evacuations are being issued for low-lying areas along both coasts.

“This storm is wider than our entire state. It is expected to cause major and life-threatening impacts from coast to coast,” Scott said Friday while at the South Florida Water Management District headquarters in West Palm Beach. “Remember Hurricane Andrew was one of the worst storms in the history of Florida. Irma is more devastating on its current path.”

Scott advised coastal residents to evacuate immediately after being told to do so and to go inland. He also ordered the mandatory evacuation of seven communities — South Bay, Lake Harbor, Pahokee, Moore Haven, Clewiston, Belle Glade and Canal Point — south of Lake Okeechobee.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers anticipates excessive winds will push waters from the lake over the Herbert Hoover Dike. The dike itself isn’t expected to be at risk, Scott said in relaying information from the Army Corps.

With fuel at a premium and gridlock on many major highways, hundreds of thousands of people have already left their homes to go to shelters or to travel to northern Florida or to other states.

“I know many of you are stuck in traffic. I’m sure it’s very frustrating, but please be patient,” Scott said. “Evacuations are not convenient, but they are absolutely meant to keep you safe.”

While Scott’s messages to the public were both urgent and stern, he also encouraged Floridians to show compassion to their neighbors.

“We will get through this together,” he said Friday morning.

MONUMENTAL DEBATE

Florida State University President John Thrasher announced Tuesday the creation of a panel of students, faculty, staff and alumni to review campus names, markers, statues and other official recognitions.

The Tallahassee campus is home to a number of statues and memorials, including a three-figure monument commemorating the admission of the first African-American students in the 1960s.

Thrasher, who spoke out strongly after white supremacists led a violent clash over a Confederate statue in Charlottesville, Va., last month, said he is committed to protecting free speech as well as the safety and well-being of FSU’s students and faculty.

“As we seek to become a more inclusive campus for all, it is essential that we continue to engage in dialogue and inquiry with the entire university community,” Thrasher said about the new panel. “We must continue to examine our history in order to collectively build our future.”

The panel will research the statues, names and other recognitions on campus, seeking comments from various constituencies. The group will also determine the “criteria for appropriate naming policies and, if necessary, recommending an appropriate process for renaming campus recognitions,” according to FSU.

Thrasher’s move came days before the University of Florida set a tentative Oct. 19 date for an appearance by Spencer, president of the National Policy Institute, even while decrying the “alt-right” leader’s opinions.

“As a public institution, UF is required by law to make a good faith effort to provide options for a reasonable date, time and campus venue, no matter how much we detest the points of views expressed. As with any event, we also have a responsibility to assess safety and security risks, and will continue to do so until the event,” the university said in a news release Thursday.

Citing security concerns in the aftermath of the deadly Charlottesville event, university President Kent Fuchs last month rejected a request by Spencer to appear Sept. 12 at a campus forum.

But Gary Edinger, a Gainesville First Amendment lawyer, threatened to sue the university on behalf of Spencer, the National Policy Institute, and Cameron Padgett, a Georgia State University student involved in organizing Spencer’s speech.

“This was no doubt a sensitive and difficult issue for the University of Florida, but all citizens should be pleased that the First Amendment was ultimately respected,” Edinger said Thursday.

THE OLD GRAY MARE AIN’T WHAT SHE USED TO BE

Regulators were wrong to try to punish a tiny North Florida pari-mutuel facility that in 2014 turned to slow-motion, two-horse races as it tried to meet the requirements of its state license, a three-judge panel of the 1st District Court of Appeal ruled Tuesday.

The ruling said the state Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering improperly found Hamilton Downs in violation of its license. The division last year rejected findings of an administrative law judge, who had ruled in favor of the Hamilton County track — but who also described a bizarre scene in which the “races must be seen to be believed.”

“Horses often simply stood at the starting line before slowly plodding down the track,” Administrative Law Judge E. Gary Early wrote last year. “In one instance, a horse actually backed up, until a bystander took it by the lead, thereafter giving the horse a congratulatory slap on the rump when it began to move in a forward direction.”

The legal dispute focused, in part, on the Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering’s arguments that Hamilton Downs had violated its license because of a race in which betting could not occur. In that race, both of the horses were owned by the same owner — what is known as a “coupled entry.”

Months after the race occurred, regulators filed a complaint alleging that Hamilton Downs had failed to operate all of the scheduled races in its operating license. But the appeals court said regulators failed to prove a violation because Hamilton Downs had run a race — not just a race with betting allowed.

The court also said track owner Glenn Richards had offered to take steps to resolve concerns that racing officials might have had about the “flag drop” race. But it said officials assured him nothing was wrong, and the race was declared official. The Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering filed the complaint months later.

Hamilton Downs is one of several pari-mutuels across the state that have sought in recent years to add slot machines after voter referendums. Like a track in Gadsden County, it had planned to run controversial barrel races but had to change plans for the 2014 meet after a state rule allowing barrel racing at pari-mutuel facilities was deemed invalid, the appeals court said.

“Resolving that the show must go on, Richards made alternative arrangements,” the ruling said. “He rounded up college students for riders and an elderly herd of untrained horses as their racing steeds. The 2014 meet went off on schedule. Each race consisted of two horses.”

STORY OF THE WEEK: Hurricane Irma took aim at Florida, expecting to make landfall in the southern part of the state on Saturday and move up the peninsula over the weekend.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “We cannot save you once the storm hits. … Once there is an evacuation order, get out.” — Gov. Rick Scott, urging residents and visitors to obey evacuation orders.

by The News Service of Florida

FHP: Local Residents Should Use Local Roads, Stay Off I-10

Due to heavy hurricane evacuation traffic, the Florida Highway Patrol is asking that local residents use local roadways for travel when possible.  This is in effort to alleviate unnecessary traffic on I-10. Pictured: I-10 westbound just west of I-110 at 5 p.m. Friday. Image for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Thomas: Escambia Schools Closed, Many Sporting Events To Continue

Escambia County School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas has announced that school will be closed on Friday, Sept. 8 and Monday, Sept. 11 to comply with a directive from Governor Rick Scott.

However, all previously scheduled extracurricular activities and sports events will proceed as scheduled this weekend as long as the opposing team’s school district has not cancelled their extracurricular schedule.

“I apologize for the late notice,” said Superintendent Malcolm Thomas. “All Escambia County (FL) public schools and offices will be closed tomorrow, Sept. 8 and Monday, Sept. 11th, per the Governor’s directive. We will continue as many of the scheduled sports and extracurricular activities planned for this weekend as possible. However, we realize some school districts may be canceling weekend events as well as school schedules. ”

The Tate vs Gulf Breeze and the Pine Forest vs Pace football games have been cancelled.

Update: Archbishop Rummel at Escambia was announced cancelled as of Friday morning.

These games will continue Friday night at 7:00 p.m.:
Volleyball: F/JV/V Washington at Escambia
Varsity: West Florida at D’Ibervile
Varsity: Northview at South Walton
Varsity: Pensacola at Booker T. Washington

On Saturday:
Volleyball Varsity Aggie Invitational will be held at Tate
West Florida XC Classic will be held at West Florida High, 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.

NorthEscambia.com file photo.

Century Correctional Officer Assaulted

A correctional officer was recently assaulted at Century Correctional Institution.

Inmate Andrew Williams assaulted the officer by striking him in the face with a closed fist. Staff responded appropriately, and the inmate was subdued, according to the Florida Department of Corrections.

Medical staff examined the officer and noted injuries. Inmate Williams will receive a disciplinary report for the assault.

Williams was serving a 20 year sentence for first degree murder and shooting or throwing a missile into a building or vehicle.

Escambia County Irma Update — Shelter Opening

Mike Hill Looks To Make House Comeback

Former state Rep. Mike Hill, R-Pensacola, has opened a campaign account to try to return to the House in 2018, according to information posted Thursday on the Florida Division of Elections website.

Hill, who was first elected to the House in 2013 but ran unsuccessfully for the Senate last year, plans to run in Escambia County’s House District 1. Rep.

Clay Ingram, R-Pensacola, cannot seek re-election next year in the district because of term limits. During his stint in the House, Hill represented nearby District 2.

Cantonment Republican Rebekah Bydlak and Pensacola Democrat Vikki Garrett also have opened accounts to run for the Ingram seat. Bydlak raised $50,027 for the race in August, according to a finance report posted on the state website.

by The News Service of Florida

Price Gouging Hotline Activated as Hurricane Irma Approaches

Floridians bracing for the pounding winds and rains of powerful Hurricane Irma are complaining at a historic clip about price gouging and shortages of fuel, Attorney General Pam Bondi said Thursday.

“Our phones are blowing up as they have been all night long and continue to do,” Bondi said. “That’s a good thing, because it’s helping us protect you.”

The state’s price-gouging hotline — 1-866-9-NO-SCAM — had received more than 3,000 calls tied to Irma as of Thursday morning, with some 1,100 coming in Wednesday night.

“We’ve never seen our hotline like this in history,” Bondi said. “However, we’ve never seen a storm this bad. This is bigger than Andrew; people have to understand. To people who survived Andrew and people who lost loved ones during Andrew, this is a much bigger storm.”

The majority of the calls have come from Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties. Most are about inflated prices for food, water and ice, but people are also calling to complain about fuel shortages, Bondi said.

“The worst call I got today, and this was the worst of the worst, was a 24 pack of six-ounce bottles of water, for $72 … $72,” said Martin Green, a call center operator. “That was in Jupiter today.”

Mandatory evacuation orders have been issued for barrier islands and low-lying mainland areas of Miami-Dade and Broward counties.

Gov. Rick Scott, who traveled Thursday morning to emergency operations centers in Hialeah and West Palm Beach, activated 3,000 additional members of the Florida National Guard, bringing the number to 4,000. Another 3,000 are to be activated by Friday.

Scott also tweeted a photo of a Florida Highway Patrol car traveling behind a tanker truck on an interstate, noting the FHP is escorting “fuel trucks across FL to ensure supplies are quickly refilled.”

Scott added in a release that he’s been in contact with federal officials, fuel retailers and oil companies to address the demand-created shortages of fuel.

“We have asked fuel companies to identify ships that are in route to our ports so we can arrange military escorts to get them here faster,” Scott said. “To further expedite fuel delivery, I have directed state police to escort fuel trucks to gas stations along evacuation routes.”

Regulations related to truck weights and driver restrictions have been waived for fuel trucks.

To help keep gas stations open longer in evacuation zones, Scott added the state’s offering to arrange police escorts for station employees.

Two Alabama Residents Die In I-10 Crash In Escambia County

Two Fairhope residents were killed in a crash on I-10 in Escambia County.

Timothy A. Ponder, 28, and Kristian L. Richardson, 35, were westbound on I-10 just west of the Highway 90 exit when Ponder ran off the road. The 2017 Kia Forte entered the woodline and struck a large tree. Both Ponder and Richardson died at the scene, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The FHP said the crash occurred sometime  during the night and was not discovered until 8 a.m. Thursday.

The accident remains under investigation by the FHP.

File photo.

Escambia Commission Rejects Jail Bid Protest

Escambia County commissioners voted unanimously  Thursday night to reject a Special Master’s order to revise the bid for the county’s new jail.

Yates Construction lost the bid to Whitesell-Green/Caddell at the beginning of August and filed an informal protest that was rejected. They then filed a formal protest to have a Special Master hear their case.

Special Master John Trawick determined on September 1 that Yates’ protest should be granted. He found that Whitesell-Green/Caddell had material deficiencies in their proposal and it should not have been considered by commissioners.

Yates’ main reason for a protest was over a retention pond. Whitesell-Green/Caddell presented a proposal to county commissioners that showed a retention pond in the area that was designated for future retail space. Yates Construction proposed an expensive underground water storage in that same area. Yates argued that if they would have included a retention pond instead, it would have lowered their bid price by $3.5 million. That would have made them the lowest bidder.

Escambia County Purchasing Manager Paul Nobles upheld the commissioner’s decision to choose Whitesell-Green/Caddell during the informal protest. He said their original proposal submitted back in July complied with the county’s guidelines and that is what he will hold them to, not the changes presented to commissioners.

Commissioner Doug Underhill said they were aware of the deficiencies and it was not a “fatal flaw” when it came time to making a decision. He adds that $3.5 million was not a significant amount given that the project is more than $122 million.

Commissioners Lumon May and Steven Barry agreed that it was disappointing that Whitesell-Green/Caddell changed their proposal during the interview presentation. However, they still believe they had a design that would benefit the county the most.

County Attorney Alison Rogers told commissioners that if they reject the Special Master’s order, Yates Construction has 30 days to appeal in circuit court.

Pictured top: Whitesell-Green/Caddell Joint Venture’s conceptional design for a new Escambia County Jail. Pictured below: W.G. Yates Construction’s design for a new Escambia County Jail. Images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Longtime Century Chamber Employee Edna Earl Barnes ‘Retires’

Friday was the last day “on the job” for longtime Century Chamber of Commerce employee and volunteer Edna Earl Barnes.  Most recently, she has worked as employee for just a few hours per month — handling the mail, banking, public notices and other tasks.  Now that Barnes is officially “retired” from the chamber, she said she will continue to serve the Century Chamber of Commerce as a volunteer. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.

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