Two In A Row: Tate Claims Aggie Classic Championship
March 17, 2017
For the second consecutive year, the Tate High School Aggies claimed the Aggie Classic championship Thursday night with a 13-1 win over Niceville.
Logan Blackmon and Trey LaFleur had two-run homers for the Aggies. Mason Land and Reid Halfacre added doubles for Tate.
Gabe Castro took the win for Tate, pitching five innings while allowing two hits and just on error.
For Tate – Tate – Tate – Logan Blackmon 2-3 2 HR, 5 RBI, 2 BB; Trey Lafleur 2-3 HR, 2 RBI, BB; Mason Land 2-4 2 2B, BB; Reid Halfacre 1-5, 2 RBI; Logan McGuffey 1-5, R; Jeff Gibbs R; Hunter Nesmith 1-4, R; Kyler Hultgren 1-1, RBI; Ryan Greene 1-3; Jesse Sherill 1-1, R, RBI.
Here are final scores from Thursday’s bracket play in the Aggie Classic:
- Edmond North 8, Houston, TN 6
- Tate 13, Niceville 1
- Jenks, OK 5, Magnolia Heights, MS 0
- Union, OK 9, Gulf Breeze 5
- Choctaw, OK 6, Second Baptist, TX 4
- Mustang, OK 5, Milton 5 – 1
- Leon, FL 7, Coweta, OK 0
- Pace 11, Southmoore, OK 10
- Presbyterian Christian, MS 12, TBA 0
- Berryhill, OK 3, Knoxville Catholic, TN 2
- Durant,OK 8, Bartlett, TN 7
- Pryor, OK 6, West Florida 3
- Booker T. Washington, OK 4, Fort Gibson, OK 3
- Washington 6, vs Piedmont 3
‘Stand Your Ground Shift’ Gets Senate Approval
March 17, 2017
A move to shift a key burden of proof in “stand your ground” self-defense cases was approved by the Senate, as other key bills backed by Second Amendment advocates remain jammed in the Legislature’s upper chamber.
With Democrats labeling the self-defense proposal “a shoot to kill” and “how to get away with murder” bill, the National Rifle Association-backed measure (SB 128) was approved in a 23-15 vote, with Sen. Anitere Flores, R-Miami, joining Democrats in opposition.
Flores, a top lieutenant to Senate President Joe Negron, has become a roadblock to other high-profile bills backed by gun-rights groups, including a measure that would allow people with concealed weapons to openly carry firearms (SB 644) and to carry on university and college campuses (SB 622). Those bills have not made it through the Senate Judiciary Committee, which includes Flores.
Flores said her vote on the “stand your ground” bill was swayed after talking to state attorneys from her South Florida district, which covers Monroe County and parts of Miami-Dade County.
“There’s going to be a cost to the state attorneys, and now I have two state attorneys who are calling and concerned, and you just have to take those things into account,” Flores said.
Flores had voted for the proposal Feb. 9 when it was before the Rules Committee and Jan. 24 in the Judiciary Committee.
Sen. Rob Bradley, a Fleming Island Republican who is sponsoring the measure, said the potential for increased costs shouldn’t be what drives lawmakers on the issue.
“We should be focused on what is the right thing for our criminal justice system, not dollars and cents when it comes to fundamental principles,” Bradley said.
A House version of the bill (HB 245) needs to clear the House Judiciary Committee before it could go to the House floor. A similar proposal failed to advance last year in the House after getting Senate approval.
The proposal, backed by the Florida Public Defender Association, stems from a Florida Supreme Court ruling in 2015 that said defendants have the burden of proof to show they should be shielded from prosecution under the “stand your ground” law.
In “stand your ground” cases, pre-trial evidentiary hearings are held to determine whether defendants should be immune from prosecution. The bill would shift the burden from defendants to prosecutors in the pre-trial hearings.
Bradley, who believes the bill has support this year in the House, said he wouldn’t have moved forward with the proposal if he believed the change in law would allow guilty people to go free.
“If I thought for one second that this bill would encourage people to engage in criminal behavior, because the bill created some sort of loophole in the law that allowed someone to engage in criminal behavior without consequences, I would have no part of this bill,” Bradley said.
Sen. Dennis Baxley, an Ocala Republican who in 2005 sponsored the “stand-your-ground” law while serving in the House, called the proposal one of the most important of the legislative session that started March 7.
“I don’t think anybody in our state should be beaten, raped, murdered, simply because they were afraid to act, and stand against a violent act,” Baxley said. “Interestingly, there is not a firearm in this bill. I don’t care if you use a chair leg; you have the right and even the responsibility under our brand of freedom to stop a violent act if you can.”
In its 2015 ruling, the Supreme Court majority opinion — written by Justice Barbara Pariente — said immunity in the “stand your ground” law “is not a blanket immunity, but rather, requires the establishment that the use of force was legally justified.”
“We conclude that placing the burden of proof on the defendant to establish entitlement to Stand Your Ground immunity by a preponderance of the evidence at the pretrial evidentiary hearing, rather than on the state to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant’s use of force was not justified, is consistent with this court’s precedent and gives effect to the legislative intent,” said the majority opinion.
But a dissenting opinion, written by Justice Charles Canady and joined by Justice Ricky Polston, countered that the majority ruling “substantially curtails the benefit of the immunity from trial conferred by the Legislature under the Stand Your Ground law.”
“The factual question raised by the assertion of Stand Your Ground immunity in a pretrial evidentiary hearing is the same as the factual question raised by a Stand Your Ground defense presented at trial: whether the evidence establishes beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant’s conduct was not justified under the governing statutory standard,” Canady wrote.
Sen. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg, said Bradley’s bill puts the dissenting views of the two conservative justices into law.
“I welcome the day when the dissent in the Senate chamber can run the Senate chamber,” Rouson said. “What we’re doing elevates the dissent to where it would rule the land in the state of Florida. And I don’t think that’s right.”
The “stand your ground” law has long been controversial. It says people can use deadly force and do not have a duty to retreat if they think it is necessary to prevent death or great bodily harm.
Critics of Bradley’s bill, including the Florida Prosecuting Attorneys Association and the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence, have argued it would put an end to cases before all the facts are revealed. They also contend the “stand your ground” law has disproportionate effects on minorities, as it is used more successfully as a defense when white shooters kill African-Americans.
Sen. Gary Farmer, D-Fort Lauderdale, said shifting the burden of proof in “stand your ground” cases would incentivize people involved in shooting incidents to leave no witnesses.
“Dead men tell no tales,” Farmer said. “That’s a phrase that goes back to pirate days, and that’s why pirates were so ruthless, and that’s why pirates made sure that everyone died, so they could tell no tales.”
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Headed The Beach? There’s Now A Cheaper Toll Option
March 17, 2017
At the Thursday, March 16 commission meeting, the Escambia Board of County Commissioners approved a reduction in the Pensacola Beach General Public Annual Pass, reducing the annual fee from $50 to $20. The fee reduction will become effective Monday, May 1.
The board’s action does not impact the ability to choose to pay the cash toll of $1 for single trips or the other Pensacola Beach Annual Pass rates. The homestead pass will remain at $5 and the commercial pass, $70. No refunds will be given for any general public annual passes purchased prior to the new fee rate.
The new Pensacola Beach Annual Pass integrated with SunPass® provides a true 365-day pass to Pensacola Beach by providing unlimited passage through the Bob Sikes Toll Booth for one full year from the date of purchase. To get your Pensacola Beach Annual Pass:
- Step one – Purchase a SunPass transponder online at www.SunPass.com or in person at retail outlets including Publix, CVS Pharmacy and Walgreens. For a full list, visit https://www.sunpass.com/sunPassRetailers.
- Step two – Enroll in the Pensacola Beach Annual Pass program online or in person at the Bob Sikes Bridge Toll Plaza Customer Service Office located in the Santa Rosa Island Authority office, 1 Via De Luna Drive, Pensacola Beach.
Running A Stop Sign Gets Century Man Busted For Meth
March 16, 2017
Running a stop sign landed a Century man in jail on meth charges.
James Edward Lewis, 49, left the Century Woods Apartment on West Highway 4 at a high rate of speed without stopping at a posted stop sign, according to an arrest report. A deputy who witnessed the incident conducted a traffic stop.
The deputy noted Lewis was very nervous and the vehicle had an odor of marijuana, and Lewis was detained. A small plastic bag with a white substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine was located in Lewis’ wallet. A bag with a “brown leafy substance” was found in Lewis’ pocket.
Lewis was charged with felony possession of methamphetamine. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail and later released on a $10,000 bond.
He may face additional charges pending the outcome of laboratory testing on the brown leafy substance, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. He was given a verbal warning for running the stop sign.
Search Warrant Turns Up Drugs, One Arrested
March 16, 2017
An Atmore man was arrested after narcotics agents executed a search warrant in Atmore Tuesday.
Officers searched a home at 157 Harris Street in Atmore where they say they found Derek James Staples in possession of large amount of marijuana and a handgun. Staples was charged with drug trafficking, being in possession of a firearm and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Staples was booked into the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton.
The search warrant was served by officers from the Atmore Police Department, Poarch Creek Police Department, and the Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office.
Escambia Man Busted Afer Traveling To Meet Minor For Sex
March 16, 2017
An Escambia County man who expected to meet a 13-year old for sex when he traveled to Okaloosa County this week was met by Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office investigators instead.
William Charles Huff is charged with obscene communication – traveling to meet after use of a computer to lure a child, and use of a two way communication device to facilitate a felony.
OCSO Investigators say Huff, 31, traveled from Pensacola to a predetermined location in Okaloosa County for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity with a person he believed was 13-years old.
Huff made the trip after a period of communication throughout February and March with an undercover officer who was posing as the youngster. They arranged to meet for a sexual liaison and Huff was taken into custody after he showed up in the parking lot for the encounter.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate High FFA Provides Meals Of Hope To The Needy
March 16, 2017
The Tate High School FFA is lending a hand to local families in need along with Feeding the Gulf Coast and Meals of Hope.
The group raised $5,000 to purchase bulk commodities to be packaged in single family portions and redistributed to help feed families in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
Wednesday, the FFA students packaged thousands of macaroni and cheese meals — carefully measuring, pouring, weighing labeling and counting each bag. Each family receiving one of the mac and cheese meals will know from the label that it was packed by the Tate High School FFA.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Photos by Kim Stefansson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Aggie Classic: Complete Day Three Results, Championship Schedule
March 16, 2017
Host team Tate and Niceville will battle it out tonight for the Aggie Classic championship.
Here are scores from Wednesday and the Aggie Classic Championship Day schedule:
Wednesday Scores:
- Presbyterian Christian, MS 6, Southmoore 2
- Pryor, OK 7, Knoxville Catholic, TN 6
- Edmond North, OK 17, Leon, FL 7
- Second Baptist, TX 10, Fort Gibson, OK 8
- Houston, TN 12, Piedmont, OK 2
- Magnolia Heights, MS 7, Mustang, OK 4
- Bartlett, TN 4, Choctaw, OK 3
- Milton FL 5, Coweta, OK 1
- Pace FL 13, Union, OK 2
- Booker T Washington 3, Durant, OK 2
- West Florida 3, Booker T Washington, OK 2
- Tate 9, Knoxville Catholic, TN 2
- Gulf Breeze 1, Berryhill, OK 0
- Niceville 9, Jenks, OK 0
Aggie Classic Championship Day Schedule:
- At Tate High – 3rd place: Houston vs. Edmond North, 4 p.m.; Championship game: Niceville vs. Tate, 7 p.m.
- At Gulf Breeze- 4 p.m. Magnolia Heights vs. Jenks; Gulf Breeze vs. Union, 7 p.m.
- At Milton- Second Baptist vs. Choctaw, Okla, 4 p.m.; Mustang vs. Milton, 7 p.m.
- At Pace- Leon vs. Coweta, 4 p.m.; Pace vs. Southmoore, 7 p.m.
- At Escambia- Presbyterian Christian vs. TBA, 4 p.m.; Berryhill vs. Knoxville, 7 p.m.
- At West Florida- Bartlett vs. Durant, 4 p.m.; Pryor vs. West Florida, 7 p.m.
- At Washington- Fort Gibson vs. Booker T. Washington, Okla., 4 p.m.; Booker T. Washington vs. Piedmont, 7 p.m.
House Ponders Potential Budget Cuts
March 16, 2017
Ahead of a Friday meeting to determine how much lawmakers will have to spend in the fiscal year that begins July 1, the House budget-writing committee heard recommendations Wednesday for potential cuts across state government.
The Legislature is not expected to face a shortfall in the 2017-2018 budget, which lawmakers will negotiate before the annual legislative session wraps up in early May.
But by the following year, lawmakers could be $1.3 billion short of how much they will need to cover expected spending, with a $1.9 billion hole projected the year after that.
House budget subcommittees came up with a pair of scenarios based on how quickly the state should move to reduce the future shortfalls, but the prescriptions were largely the same in big-ticket areas: cuts in payments to hospitals, reductions in spending on universities and scaling back early-learning and other public-education programs.
House Appropriations Chairman Carlos Trujillo, R-Miami, said how closely lawmakers follow the recommendations will depend on how state finances shape up in the future. But he said a reduction in expected spending of about $1.4 billion is a “realistic goal” for the coming budget year.
“I think it’s a roadmap — whether we decide to go down Road A or Road B — but I think it’s a roadmap of how we’re going to craft our budget,” he said. “I don’t think anything’s set on stone as far as specific amounts.”
Lawmakers likely will get updated revenue estimates after a panel of economists meets Friday. The panel, known as the Revenue Estimating Conference, will analyze the state’s general revenue, which plays a critical role in paying for schools, health care and prisons.
Some of the House’s potential budget reductions would essentially be cuts in name only. Shortfall projections take into account likely future increases in spending, so the Legislature could balance out some of the problem simply by declining to add money to areas of the budget.
But many of the ideas floated Wednesday suggested that such maneuvers wouldn’t be enough.
For example, House Health Care Appropriations Chairman Jason Brodeur, R-Sanford, proposed the Legislature not increase some funding to reimburse health-care providers. But he also suggested $220.6 million in cuts to inpatient and outpatient hospital reimbursements.
One potential hang-up with the Senate could come if the House follows through on ideas that would scale back spending on universities. A plan outlined by Higher Education Appropriations Chairman Larry Ahern, R-Seminole, would reduce increases by more than half of the level projected by state economists — under a slower-moving scenario.
Under the faster-moving scenario, universities would be hit with a cut of $80 million, though Ahern played down the significance of the reduction.
“While $80 million sounds like a large number, remember that the estimated expenditures for universities in the current year is $10.3 billion,” Ahern said.
The House is also considering asking universities to use some of their reserves to cover a one-time hit of $38 million in both scenarios. However, when lawmakers tried a similar move to save $300 million five years ago, many universities covered at least part of the reduction with cuts to programs.
Senate President Joe Negron, R-Stuart, has made boosting the reputations of the state’s universities one of his top priorities for the coming session — though he now speaks more about increasing financial aid for students than a large boost in university spending.
Trujillo suggested Wednesday that the House could go along with that idea.
“Whether we should just give a bunch of money to the university system is one debate,” he said. “Whether we should increase access to education …. I think we’re much more receptive of that message than we are of just giving wholesale amount of money to the university system.”
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
FWC Law Enforcement Report
March 16, 2017
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the weekly period ending March 9 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officer Clark received information that an individual posted a picture of himself on a social media website holding an alligator snapping turtle at his residence. After speaking to the individual, he found that two other individuals had also been in possession of the turtle. One of the individuals caught the turtle and then brought it home to take pictures. The turtle was reportedly taken back to the spot where it was first located and released. The individual was cited for possessing and transporting a species of special concern. The other two individuals were given warnings and educated on the laws concerning that species.
Officer Pettey received an internet complaint that showed an individual in possession of what appeared to be an oversized redfish. The individual was located and found to be in possession of a 38‑inch redfish. A citation was issued for the violation.
Officers Pettey and Allgood responded to a trespass complaint that occurred on a hunting club in the Walnut Hill area. Earlier in the week, several trail camera photographs of an individual walking through the club holding a gun were provided. The officers located the subject walking in the area near the club, interviewed him and when he was shown some of the photographs, he admitted to trespass while hunting on the property. A criminal history check revealed the subject is a convicted felon and is not allowed to possess firearms. A warrant was obtained the next day for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Officer Allgood received information that some fishermen were harvesting over the bag limit of sheepshead at the Fort Pickens fishing pier. When he arrived on the scene, there were three men with several buckets and a cooler filled with sheepshead. The fishermen were in possession of 59 sheepshead and given notice to appear citations for over the bag limit.
While off duty, Lieutenant Clark saw a vehicle pulling a trailer full of waste tires on Highway 98 in Gulf Breeze. He contacted Officer Allgood and advised him that there was no placard or permit displayed on the side of the vehicle as required. Officer Allgood saw the vehicle approaching his location and confirmed the vehicle was not displaying a placard and conducted a traffic stop. The driver confirmed he did not have a permit to haul waste tires and was issued a notice to appear for transporting waste tires without a permit.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officer Hutchinson was patrolling the Blackwater State Forest when he saw a vehicle driving carelessly, almost striking his patrol vehicle. After stopping the vehicle, he discovered that the passenger had a warrant for his arrest from Santa Rosa County. The subject was placed under arrest and transported to the Santa Rosa County Jail. The driver of the vehicle was issued a written warning for careless operation.
Officer Lewis was on forest patrol in Blackwater River State Forest when he detected the odor of cannabis emanating from a tent. He heard people inside the tent and asked them to come outside and speak with him. One of the men admitted to smoking a cannabis cigarette and consented to a search of the tent. Drug paraphernalia and a baggie that appeared to contain methamphetamine were located. A field test of the substance in the baggie was positive for methamphetamine. The man was arrested for possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, possession of cannabis not more than 20 grams and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was transported to the Santa Rosa County Jail and the drugs and paraphernalia were seized as evidence.
Officer Lewis saw a vehicle swerving all over the roadway and stopped the vehicle. He detected a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from the vehicle and on the driver’s breath. During field sobriety tasks, the driver showed obvious signs of impairment. The driver was arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) and transported to the Santa Rosa County Jail where he blew a .163, more than twice the legal limit. The subject was charged with operating a motor vehicle with a breath-alcohol level of 0.08 or above.
Officer Lewis was on patrol at the Webb Landing campsite in the Escambia River Wildlife Management Area (WMA) when he saw a man and woman camping. As the man was taking items out of his vehicle, a box commonly used to store drug paraphernalia was in plain sight. He asked the man about the box and the man admitted that there were pipes he used to smoke weed in the box. The man consented to a search of the vehicle and three pipes with cannabis residue were found in the box. He also found another box that contained a glass pipe and a small baggie of methamphetamine. Officer Jernigan arrived to assist. The officers located a large water bong used for smoking cannabis. The subject was arrested for possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, possession of drug paraphernalia and for an outstanding warrant out of Pinellas County.
This report represents some events the FWC handled over the past week; however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement. Information provided by FWC.
NorthEscambia.com photo.