Remains Of Dozier Victims Could Go To Tallahassee
August 21, 2016
The remains of dozens of boys who were victims of beatings and abuse at the Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys should be reinterred in Tallahassee, the city where lawmakers and governors were responsible for the now-closed reform school, a state task force decided Friday.
The task force also decided to recommend creating memorials to the Dozier victims in both Tallahassee and Jackson County, the Panhandle community where the reform school operated from 1900 to 2011.
After the school closed and boys who were held at the facility began to tell stories of abuse and sexual assault, a team led by University of South Florida researchers found 51 sets of remains in an unmarked graveyard known as the Boot Hill Burial Ground at the 1,400-acre Dozier property. University anthropologists identified some of the remains through DNA and other methods.
The Legislature this year created the task force to decide what to do with unidentified or unclaimed remains and how to commemorate the victims. The law also authorized funeral payments to families who claimed Dozier victims.
The final decisions on reinterring remains, which are now being held at the University of South Florida, and the memorials will be made by Gov. Rick Scott and the state Cabinet, as well as the Legislature.
Friday’s debate during a five-hour hearing, held a few miles from the Dozier site, was sometimes raw and emotional, although the panel eventually reached a consensus on the recommendations.
Dale Landry, a task force member representing the Florida NAACP, said the state capital was the proper place to bury the Dozier boys because it was also the city where officials were responsible for creating the reform school and overseeing it.
Landry originally suggested the reinterment, which may take the form of a mausoleum or a cemetery, should be on the state Capitol grounds, noting there are nearby memorials for the Vietnam and Korean wars.
“It was the people in that building that housed the Legislature and the governor that allowed that foolishness to happen over here in Marianna,” Landry said, adding it would be a good idea for officials to walk by the site asking, “what am I doing today to protect Florida’s children.”
“They are still wards of the state of Florida, and Florida has a responsibility,” he said.
But the panel modified the recommendation to designate Tallahassee as the location, leaving it to lawmakers and other state officials to decide exactly where the remains should be reinterred. A Tallahassee cemetery owner has offered a site on the north side of the city.
Suggestions to reinter the bodies in Jackson County, neighboring Gadsden County and Tampa were rejected by the panel.
Many members of the “White House Boys” group, which was named after a Dozier building where beatings and other abuse occurred, strongly opposed reinterring the victims’ remains back on the grounds of the reform school.
Bob Baxter, a Gainesville resident who was at Dozier from 1950 to 1951, said the remains should never be returned to Dozier, remembering how the bodies of the boys were treated at the Boot Hill burial ground.
“It wasn’t a cemetery. It was a damn dump site,” he said, adding returning the boys’ bodies would be like “killing them again.”
Jerry Cooper, a task-force member who was sent to Dozier as a runaway teen and leads the White House Boys group, said the overwhelming majority of his group wants to see the White House demolished.
“Most of the men feel it would be a sore that would fester and fester over the years” if it remains, Cooper said. “We would like to see the building come down, and we would like to be present.”
But Timothy Parsons, head of the state Division of Historical Resources and chairman of the task force, said it was outside the panel’s jurisdiction to make recommendations about what should happen to buildings at the Dozier site.
The task force also unanimously agreed to create memorials in Tallahassee and Jackson County to remember the boys who lived and died at Dozier, as well as victims, including two staff members, who died in a 1914 dormitory fire at the facility.
The panel left the decisions on the design and location of the memorials to lawmakers and the governor and Cabinet.
The decisions on reinterment and memorials won the support of Marianna and Jackson County officials who were members of the task force. Local officials have been pushing the state for the ability to develop some or all of the former Dozier site to help the community’s economy.
by The News Service of Florida
Northview Beats Blacksher 35-6 (With Gallery)
August 20, 2016
The Northview Chiefs beat the J.U. Blacksher Bulldogs 35-6 Friday night in Uriah, AL.
The Chiefs were first on the board with a 15-yard touchdown run, and the Bulldogs slipped in a TD but missed the extra point…giving Northview a 7-6 advantage heading into the half.
Northiew’s Dereck Marshman, in his first game as head coach, said the first half was slow for his Chiefs.
“They came out and they hit us in the month. They were physical and brought the energy. We were a little low on energy in the first half, Marshman said. “I thought we responded well in the second half.”
For a photo gallery, click here.
Halftime gave the Chiefs a chance to regroup and return to the second half where they scored on each possession.
“We just talked about defensively wrapping up and setting the perimeter, setting the edge,” Marshman said of the halftime pep talk. “Offensively, we talked about getting a little more to the edge and developing a little more of a passing game. We decided to pin their ears back, they were coming downhill. We just tried to develop a little more of a passing game, a little more edge.”
The Chiefs scored in the third quarter on a 25-yard pass from quarterback Luke Ward to Ohijie Elliott. With 3:31 to go in the third, Ward was in for a one-yard touchdown after three runs totaling about 40 yards. The Chiefs were up 21-6.
Ward found receiver Jacob Weaver on a 30-yard pass early in the fourth. With a kick through the middle from Seth Killam, Northview was up 28-6.
But the Chiefs were not done with a 1-yard touchdown run from Killiam and his good point after kick, Northview jumped ahead 35-6.
“It was the first game of the season; there were jitters…it’s going to happen. I thought we adjusted well mid-game,” Marshman said.
Friday night’s game was the first regular season game of the year for J.U. Blacksher, and a preseason matchup for Northview. Regardless. Marshman said it felt good to debut as the Chiefs’ head coach with a win.
“It feels good, don’t get me wrong; but it’s a long process,” he said. “That’s one chapter in this book this season. We’ve got…to get back on the grind and get ready for the competition to step up a level next week.”
Next Friday night, 1A Northview will step up as they travel to 6A Crestview.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Unemployment Rate Slips
August 20, 2016
Governor Rick Scott announced Fridayday that the Escambia County area added 1,400 new private-sector jobs over the year in July. The area’s unemployment rate was 5.1, declining by 0.5 percentage point in the last year.
Governor Scott said, “We are seeing continued economic growth in the Pensacola area as well as across the state and it is great news that the Pensacola area created 1,400 new jobs over the past year. We will continue to work to diversify Florida’s economy and cut taxes to make it easier for businesses to succeed so families can find great jobs.”
The industry with the largest job gains in the Pensacola area over the year was professional and business services with 700 new jobs. In July, the Pensacola area had 4,763 job openings, which included 1,201 openings for high-skill, high-wage, STEM occupations.
The state’s unemployment rate remained at 4.7 percent in July, the lowest rate since November 2007. Florida’s annual job growth rate of 3.3 percent is also exceeding the nation’s rate of 1.9 percent, for the 52nd consecutive month.
West Nile Case Confirmed In Santa Rosa County
August 20, 2016
The Florida Department of Health in Santa Rosa County (DOH-Santa Rosa) today advised residents there has been an increase in mosquito-borne disease activity in areas of Santa Rosa County.
A human case of West Nile virus has been confirmed and there is a heightened concern additional residents will become ill. Santa Rosa County Mosquito Control and DOH-Santa Rosa continue surveillance and prevention efforts.To protect yourself from mosquitoes, the health department recommends that practice of “Drain and Cover”:
Drain standing water.
- Drain water from garbage cans, house gutters, buckets, pool covers, coolers, toys, flower pots or any other containers where sprinkler or rain water has collected.
- Discard old tires, bottles, pots, broken appliances and other items not being used.
- Empty and clean birdbaths and pets’ water bowls at least twice a week.
- Protect boats and vehicles from rain with tarps that do not accumulate water.
- Maintain swimming pools in good condition and chlorinated. Empty plastic swimming pools when not in use.
Cover skin with clothing or repellent and cover doors and windows.
- Wear shoes, socks, long pants and long sleeves when mosquitoes are most prevalent.
- Apply mosquito repellent to bare skin and clothing.
- Always use repellents according to the label. Repellents with DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, and IR3535 are effective.
- Re-apply mosquito repellent as often as needed to prevent mosquito landings and bites.
- Use mosquito netting to protect children younger than 2 months old.
- When using repellent on children, apply to your hands first and then rub on their arms and legs.
- Place screens on windows, doors, porches, and patios. Always repair broken screens.
Cash, Drugs Seized As Deputies Make Heroin Bust
August 20, 2016
Two heroin related arrests were made at a local hotel in Escambia County.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said Alvin Christopher Edwards was selling heroin from the Luxury Suites on Pensacola Boulecard.
Acting on a tip, the ECSO started an investigation and served a search warrant at the hotel. During the search, deputies found over 60 grams of heroin with a street value of $9,500 and over $11,000 in cash.
Edwards girlfriend, Summer Lynn Weaver was also arrested. Weaver was charged with child abuse after investigators witnessed her selling heroin, with a young child watching from less than 5-feet away. She was also charged with conspiracy to traffic heroin. Both Edwards and Weaver were charged with distribution of heroin.
Weaver remained in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $102,000. Edwards was jailed with bond set at $167,000.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Deputies Searching For Bank Robbery Suspect
August 20, 2016
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a bank robber.
About noon Friday, a suspect walked into the Member’s First Credit Union on Fairfeld Drive and robbed the teller. He wore his hat low and wrapped a towel around his face to help hide his identity. He walked away with an undisclosed amount of money.
Anyone with information on the robbery is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Wahoos Take Doubleheader Over Mississippi Braves
August 20, 2016
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos swept a doubleheader Friday against first place Mississippi Braves at Trustmark Park.
The Blue Wahoos won the first game, 1-0, and then took the second game, 2-1, of the doubleheader Saturday against the Braves.
Pensacola improved to 27-26 and is in third place in the Southern League South Division, pulling within 5.5 games of division leader Mississippi, which is in first place at 32-20 in the second half.
In the second game, Pensacola swept the doubleheader Friday in extra innings on a double by Blue Wahoos right fielder Sebastian Elizalde that drove in center fielder Phillip Ervin in the ninth inning, giving Pensacola a 1-0 lead. Pensacola scored a second run in the ninth when Elizalde scored on a passed ball by Mississippi catcher Willians Astudillo to give the Blue Wahoos a 2-0 lead.
The Braves scored one run in the bottom of the ninth inning when pinch hitter Johan Camargo doubled to drive in first baseman Joey Meneses but the game ended, 2-1, in the Blue Wahoos’ favor.
In the first game, Blue Wahoos starting pitcher Barrett Astin pitched six scoreless innings in his ninth spot star for Pensacola. Astin struck out a career-high eight batters in the game. He is now 8-3 with a 2.43 ERA.
Blue Wahoos closer Alejandro Chacin earned his Southern League-leading 24th save in the first game and lowered his earned-run average to 1.67 this season.
In the second game, five Blue Wahoos pitchers combined to pitch nine innings, allowing one earned run on four hits and five walks, while striking out 10 batters. Carlos Gonzalez earned the win and is 5-3 with a 3.76 ERA. Meanwhile, Pensacola starter El’Hajj Muhammad struck out seven hitters in 3.2 innings to start the game.
In the first game, second baseman Brandon Dixon led the Blue Wahoos on offense in a 2-3 night with a double for his 22nd multi-hit game of the season.
In the second game, left fielder Phillip Ervin went 2-3 with a run scored. He has 20 multi-hit games this season.
Tate Beats PHS 17-6
August 20, 2016
The Tate Aggies beat Pensacola High 17-6 in the varsity half of a preseason classic.
Tate jumped out to a 3-0 before Tomacrus Moorer scored on a 16-yard run with 2:01 to go in the third. The Tigers scored with 6:53 to go in the fourth, missing their extra point attempt. And Ladarryl Paige had a 30-yard touchdown run for the Aggies with 5:24 to go in the game.
In the first quarter, the Tate Freshmen beat PHS 7-0, while the Tate and PHS junior varsity played the second quarter to a 0-0 end.
The Aggies hit I-10 next week to travel to Biloxi, MS, for their season opener.
Extension Service To Hold Irrigation And Crop Management Field Day
August 19, 2016
Escambia County Extension Services will host an Irrigation and Crop Management Field Day on Tuesday, Sept. 13 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Sam and Scott Walker’s Farm located at the intersection of Highway 99 and Melvin Road in Oak Grove.
Topics for the Field Day include:
- Interpretation of Soil Moisture Sensor Data
- Showcasing On-Farm Soil Moisture Sensors
- Mobile Irrigation Lab Demonstrations
- Irrigation Best Management Practices
- PeanutFARM Irrigation and Harvest decision support
- Sesame (SesameFARM)
- Electronic Scanning of Peanuts for Maturity Determination
To register for lunch, contact Libbie Johnson at (850) 475-5230, Kimberly Wilkins at (251) 937-7176 or John Atkins at (850) 675-3107
Citizens Pitches Rate Hike As Water Claims Rise
August 19, 2016
State-backed Citizens Property Insurance urged regulators Thursday to back a request for an average 6.8 percent rate hike to cover a surge in water-damage claims.
The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, which held a two-hour hearing on the proposal, is expected to rule in early September.
Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier said after the hearing that regulators will take their time “vetting the issue.”
“There are indications in the filing that the spike in water claims is going to cause, in order to be able to make sure that reserves are sufficient to pay for that, you need to collect more premium dollars,” Altmaier said. “So, that’s what the increased indication would seem to suggest.”
The requested change, if approved, would go into effect Feb. 1.
For customers, changes would vary by policy and location.
For example, rates would go up an average of 6.3 percent for inland homeowners who have multi-peril policies, which include coverage for water damage, according to Citizens. Multi-peril policies for coastal homeowners would see an average increase of 8.6 percent.
Wind-only policies for personal-lines customers also would go up an average of 8.3 percent, under the proposal.
Officials from Monroe County, which includes the Florida Keys, requested that a rate hike on wind-storm policies in their county be delayed for up to three years.
Key West resident Joe Walsh, representing the group Fair Insurance Rates in Monroe County, read regulators a list of Keys residents who said they may have to move out of the county due to rising premiums.
“We have some significant community challenges to having an affordable place to live,” Walsh said. “When on top of that we add multiple years of 7-, 8-, 9 percent wind-storm rate increases, then we create a massive problem trying to retain the backbone of the community, the people that work for a living … the teachers, the cooks in restaurants, firefighters, police officers, the people who coach sports teams. These are the people that are most significantly impacted by the rate increase before you and the rate increases over the past dozen years.”
Altmaier called it “troubling” if anyone has to consider moving because of insurance rates.
Citizens President & CEO Barry Gilway said after the hearing that the regulators were “very, very fair” in their questioning.
The driving factor for the requested hike remains an increase in water-damage claims — initially concentrated in Southeast Florida but now appearing statewide — and a related, politically charged issue known as “assignment of benefits.”
When homeowners need repairs for problems such as water damage, they sometimes sign over benefits to contractors, who ultimately pursue payments from insurance companies.
Citizens and other insurers have lobbied in the Legislature for restrictions on assignment of benefits, contending the practice leads to fraud and litigation. But plaintiffs’ attorneys and contractors argue, in part, the practice helps homeowners hire contractors quickly to repair damage and also can help force insurers to properly pay claims.
The plaintiffs’ lawyers and contractors — none appeared at Thursday’s hearing — also contend assignment of benefits can help prevent consumers from having to fend for themselves in insurance disputes.
Earlier this year, the Office of Insurance Regulation reported the state had seen a 46 percent increase in water-damage claims and a 28 percent increase in costs since 2010.
Unable to get legislation passed, Citizens has made a number of policy changes intended to rein in the water-damage claims.
Since July 1, policyholders need to get company approval for emergency measures that exceed $3,000 or 1 percent of what is known as the “Coverage A” limit, which reflects the cost to rebuild a policyholder’s home.
To receive coverage for permanent repairs, the loss must be inspected by Citizens or the work approved by the company. But if the company does not conduct an inspection or approve the work within 72 hours after a claim is made, the customer would be able to start permanent repairs.
Insurance Consumer Advocate Sha’Ron James said after the hearing on Thursday she awaits responses from Citizens as she continues to review the proposal.
“The questions relate to clarification on some reinsurance issues, clarifications on their water-loss trends,” James said.
The Office of Insurance Regulation will continue to take public comments through Sept. 1.
A year ago, Citizens got rate increases for 2016 after regulators made a few tweaks — dropping a wind-only policy average from 9 percent to 8.3 percent and increasing residential multi-peril accounts from 1.3 percent to 1.8 percent — that spread the additional costs to policyholders in coastal areas.
Citizens, which has reduced its policy count by more than 70 percent since 2012, had 490,862 policies as of July 31.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida