Century To Officially Light Christmas Tree Thursday Evening
November 30, 2016
Century will hold an official Christmas tree lighting ceremony Thursday at 5 p.m. The short ceremony will take place in the Nadine McCaw Park located on North Century Boulevard at Hecker Street. Children from Byrneville Elementary School will perform Christmas songs during the event. Pictured: Century’s Christmas Tree in Nadine McCaw Park on North Century Boulevard as seen Tuesday night. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Gulf Power Seeks To Keep Group Out Of Rate Increase Case
November 30, 2016
Gulf Power is asking state regulators to block the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy from intervening in a case about the utility’s proposal to raise base rates by $106.8 million next year.
The Tennessee-based Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, which has frequently clashed with Florida utilities, filed a petition seeking to intervene in Gulf Power’s rate case before the Florida Public Service Commission. In the petition, the group pointed to a potential rate restructuring that it argued could discourage energy efficiency and the use of rooftop solar devices.
But in a filing last week, Pensacola-based Gulf Power argued that the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, commonly known as SACE, has not shown that its interests or the interests of its members will be “adversely affected” by the rate case.
“It is clear from SACE’s petition to intervene (including its allegations of general and specific interests and proposed issues) that SACE is attempting to significantly and improperly expand the scope of this base rate proceeding beyond whether Gulf’s proposed rates are just and reasonable. It appears SACE will use this proceeding as a platform upon which SACE can advocate ‘for energy plans, policies and systems that best serve the environment, public health and economic interests of communities in the Southeast,’ ” the utility argued, partially quoting from the group’s petition.
Gulf Power, which provides electricity to about 450,000 customers in Northwest Florida, filed the rate-increase proposal in October with the Public Service Commission. If approved, the increase would take effect July 1, 2017.
by The News Service of Florida
HS Basketball: Tate Boys, Northview Girls Win; Jay And Tate Girls Fall
November 30, 2016
Here’s a look at high school basketball scores from around the area Tuesday night:
BOYS
Tate 55, West Florida 50
The Tate Aggies picked up their first win of the young season at home Tuesday night 55-50 over West Florida. The Aggies were led by Robert Rush with 19. Up next, the Tate Aggies (1-3) will be at Pine Forest on Thursday.
GIRLS
Northview 44, Catholic 20
The Northview Lady Chiefs defeated the visiting Catholic High Lady Crusaders Tuesday night in Bratt, . The Lady Chiefs will be at Chipley at 5:00 Thursday and at Baker at 5:30 on Friday.
West Florida 56, Tate 19
The West Florida Lady Jaguars defeated the Tate Lady Aggies Tuesday 56-19. The Lady Aggies will host Escambia High School at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
Baker 57, Jay 26
The Jay Lady Royals (2-2) lost to Baker 57-26 Tuesday night at Jay. Corrissa Mulford added 10 points to lead the Royals. The Lady Royals will host Catholic High School on Thursday at 4 p.m.
Pictured: Northview’s Lady Chiefs defeated Catholic Tuesday night. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
No Injuries In Deputy Involved Crash In Cantonment
November 29, 2016
There were no injuries in a wreck involving an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputy in Cantonment Monday night.
The accident happened about 7:15 p.m. at the intersection of Highway 297A and west Kingsfield Road. There were no serious injuries; both drivers refused medical treatment at the scene.
Further details have not yet been released by the Florida Highway Patrol as they continue their investigation into the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Tougher Texting While Driving Law Sought
November 29, 2016
A Broward County Democrat wants lawmakers in 2017 to toughen the state’s ban on texting while driving, though similar proposals in the past have repeatedly been rejected.
Rep. Richard Stark, D-Weston, filed a bill (HB 47) on Wednesday that would allow police to pull over motorists for texting while driving. Under current law, motorists can only be cited for texting while driving if they have been pulled over for other reasons — what is known as a “secondary” offense.
Also, Stark’s bill would double fines for texting while driving in designated school zones or school crossings. The bill is filed for the session that will start in March.
Pedestrian Struck And Killed in Escambia County
November 29, 2016
A pedestrian was struck and killed Monday night in Escambia County.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 67-yaer old Deborah Leigh Askegren of Pensacola was northbound on Pace Boulevard south of Godfrey Street. A pedestrian, identified as 61-year old Richard Johnson of Pensacola, was crossing Pace Boulevard when he was struck by Askegren’s GMC Yukon.
Johnson was pronounced deceased on the scene following the 6 p.m. crash.
No charges were filed against Askegren.
In Escambia Case, Appeals Court Backs Notifying Minor’s Parents Before Abortion
November 29, 2016
With one judge pointing to a lack of “sufficient maturity to make this critical decision,” a state appeals court Monday rejected a minor’s attempt to get an abortion without her parents being notified.
A three-judge panel of the 1st District Court of Appeal upheld an Escambia County circuit judge’s decision to refuse to grant a waiver from the state’s parental-notification law. The ruling did not detail the age or the hometown of the minor, identifying her only as “Jane Doe 16-A.”
Florida voters in 2004 approved a constitutional amendment that requires parents to be notified before their minor daughters can have abortions. But that amendment and subsequent laws created a process for minors to go to court to prevent the notification — a process known as a judicial bypass or waiver.
Monday’s ruling said the minor based her request on two legal grounds: that she was sufficiently mature to decide whether to have the abortion and that the notification would not be in the “best interests of the petitioner.”
In a four-page opinion written by Chief Judge Clay Roberts and joined by judges M. Kemmerly Thomas and Scott Makar, the appeals court said it could find “no abuse of discretion” in Escambia County Circuit Judge Coleman Lee Robinson’s decision to reject a waiver from the notification requirement.
“In considering the denial of a petition for judicial waiver, this court looks to whether the circuit court abused its discretion and may not reweigh the evidence presented below in order to reach a different result from the circuit court,” Roberts wrote. “Our review on appeal is highly deferential to the circuit court, due, in large part, to the confidential, non-adversarial nature of the proceeding below. The circuit court sits in a far better position to assess a minor’s demeanor and credibility than this court can upon review of the transcribed hearing.”
Makar wrote a more-detailed concurring opinion, saying that the minor’s testimony “fell short of the clear and convincing standard required to obtain a judicial order that her parents not be notified she is seeking to terminate her pregnancy.”
“Among many evidentiary deficiencies, the minor did not know what the medical procedure involved (and had no plan if post-surgical complications arose), had accepted little or no responsibility for ‘anything at all’ in her life, and planned on her parents paying for the procedure,” Makar wrote. “The limited evidentiary record paints a portrait of an emotionally overwhelmed young woman lacking sufficient maturity to make this critical decision independent of her parents for whom she expressed only a generalized fear about their possible reaction.”
The ruling does not prevent the minor from having an abortion but requires that a physician notify her parents before it can be performed.
The parental-notification law has been controversial, but a footnote in Makar’s concurring opinion suggested that judges rarely turn down requests for waivers. The footnote said 89.5 percent of petitions were granted in 2013, 90.5 percent in 2014 and 94.7 percent in 2015.
Deputies Seek Man On Firearms, Narcotics Charges
November 29, 2016
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help in locating 23-year old Kewauntez Antonio Matthews. Matthews is wanted for firearms and narcotics offenses.
The Sheriff’s Office said he is to be considered armed and dangerous and should not be approached. Anyone with information on his whereabouts should contact the Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or 911.
Escambia School Board Installs Members For Coming Year
November 29, 2016
The Escambia County School Board held an Installation Ceremony Monday night for newly re-elected Superintendent Malcolm Thomas (pictured above) and board members Kevin Adams, District 1 (below); Bill Slayton, District 5 (below middle); and Patty Hightower, District 4 (pictured bottom).
The board recently elected Linda Moultrie as chairman for 2016-2017 and Gerald Boone as vice-chairman. Regular board meetings are held at 5:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month at the J.E. Hall Center, Room 160.
Photos by Kim Stefansson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Firefighters Battle Winners Circle Brush Fire
November 29, 2016
Firefighters were called to battle a brush fire about 10:00 Monday night in the 2000 block of Winners Circle. The fire was contained to a wooded area bounded by Winners Circle, Filly Road and East Kingsfield Road. It took firefighters over an hour to extinguish the fire as they battled against a strong wind that was pushing the flames. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
