THE BUZZ

Candidates show me the money

2006-07-31T20:23:00.000-05:00

Every media outlet should pull the financial disclosure forms (Form 6) for candidates and elected officials (who file every July). One race where the money is interesting is in one of the Santa Rosa County Circuit Court Judge races that includes Gary Bergosh and Jeffrey Lewis. Bergosh's numbers: $154,000 annual salary from position as federal attorney, Marine Corps reservist and Escambia County

Childers guilty?

2006-07-31T20:09:00.000-05:00

Childers going to jail reminds me of two comments. One came from Joe Elliott, the developer in the abandoned soccer and car lot deals, in the May 18 issue: "Mr. Childers never bribed. There was no collard green pot with money. The only one there was the one the state took (Willie Junior) out and bought."The other is from my last conversation with Childers at his trial in Crestview in April 2003

$12.5 million for local state parks

2006-07-24T14:07:00.000-05:00

NORTHWEST FLORIDA STATE PARKS RECEIVE $12.5 MILLION TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Florida Park Service received an additional $12.5 million in the 2006-2007 budget to expand and develop five state parks in Northwest Florida. The funds will improve Blackwater River State Park, Camp Helen State Park, Eden Gardens State Park, Henderson Beach State Park and

I-65 hurricane evacuation route

2006-07-24T14:01:00.000-05:00

From the Mobile Register: Florida-Alabama evacuation route near realityMonday, July 24, 2006 By CONNIE BAGGETTStaff Reporter, Mobile RegisterFLOMATON, Ala. -- A 40-year-old deal between Alabama and Florida to four-lane a route between Pensacola and Interstate 65 could be just days -- and $3 million -- away from finally receiving full funding, officials in both states said last week."Escambia

Pres. Bush nails it

2006-07-17T21:22:00.000-05:00

From CNN: An open microphone caught President Bush in an unguarded moment Monday as the escalating crisis in the Middle East prompted him to use an expletive in a conversation with British Prime Minister Tony Blair. ... Apparently not expecting an open mic to pick up his remarks, Bush told Blair: "See the irony is what they need to do is get Syria to get Hezbollah to stop doing this shit

Who has qualified in Escambia County

2006-07-17T17:05:00.000-05:00

Here's the official list of who has completed qualifying for office:THE FOLLOWING LOCAL CANDIDATES OBTAINED BALLOT POSITION EFFECTIVE JULY 17, 2006 4:30 P.M. QUALIFYING BEGINS NOON, JULY 17, 2006 AND ENDS NOON, JULY 21, 2006Candidates filing for statewide or multi-county offices file qualifying papers with the Division of Elections in Tallahassee. Check their website for updates on

Esc. Co District 2 Commission Race

2006-07-17T14:48:00.000-05:00

Edwin Roberts has raised $83,275 total. Last qtr: $11,175.$400 more contributors: Citizens & Taxpayers PAC, EW Bullock Associates, Haynes Savage, HTI Perdido Yacht Club, Ashley Pace, Celebrity Homes, Pamela Trahan, So. Landscape Contractors. SE Survey, Arthur Mi1tenberger, Rawson & Co., Jerry Pate Turf, Perdido Cove, Perdido Hospitality.See his report for your self:Roberts Campaign ReportGene

Strip club king goes to church

2006-07-17T05:50:00.000-05:00

From St. Pete Times:Strip club king goes to church looking for votes Hillsborough commission candidate and nonbeliever Joe Redner takes the pulpit.By KEVIN GRAHAMPublished July 17, 2006TAMPA - It may have been the least likely place for a man who doesn't believe in God to receive a standing ovation, but it happened Sunday morning when Joe Redner went to church.Bishop Randy White, senior pastor

Friends of Waterfront Park campaign fund

2006-07-16T11:56:00.000-05:00

Quint Studer put $75,000 of his own funds into this PAC that supports the Community Maritime Park during the first quarter of this year. From 4/1/06-6/30/06 - he loaned the PAC $75,000, but others chipped in $14,215.Big contributors: O'Sullivan Creel (Mort O'Sullivan) $5000; Vince Whibbs $1000; Bob Hart (atty) $500; Appleyard Agency $500; John Cavanaugh (UWF pres) $300; Mary Hoxeng (CAT Country

SAVE OUR CITY CASH RAISED

2006-07-16T11:43:00.000-05:00

Save Our City raised $26,406.78 cash from April 1, 2006-June 30,2006.By far, the biggest contributor is William Smart - Abbott Exec retiree who lives in Port Royal next to the Trillium site - $5500Others: EW Hopkins - founder of First Mutual (now AmSouth) $1000.Charles Fairchild (founder of SOC) $1470Helene Donovan (wife of councilman Marty Donovan) $500William Cummins $500Total Business (owned

Summary of Major Sunday Papers

2006-07-16T07:40:00.000-05:00

From Slate.com:Blew the LighthouseBy Andrew RicePosted Sunday, July 16, 2006, at 6:01 AM ETEveryone leads with the fourth day of fighting in Lebanon yesterday, as Israel bombed roads, bridges, radar installations, and a lighthouse near the campus of the American University of Beirut. The militant group Hezbollah responded by firing more rockets into northern Israel—"at least 90," according to the

Katherine Harris tried to scare Scarborough out of Senate race

2006-07-15T13:33:00.000-05:00

From Miami Herald:Story of 'Joe's dead intern' began Harris' slide, insiders sayWhen Katherine Harris attacked a TV pundit, insiders say the incident revealed the depth of problems with her campaign -- which was hit again by six staff departures.BY MARC CAPUTOmcaputo@herald.comTALLAHASSEE - Katherine Harris' floundering U.S. Senate campaign lost its high-level staff again this week and is groping

League of Women Voters Opposes Referendum Date

2006-07-15T09:49:00.000-05:00

The League of Women Voters attended the July 13 Pensacola City Council meeting to oppose the date for the referendum for the Community Maritime Park.The City Charter (and state law) says it must be done 60 days after the petition signatures have been approved. Signatures were approved 6/13/06 - which would set the vote for 8/14/06.They believe the delay is illegal and has interfered with the

FREE tickets to An Inconvenient Truth

2006-07-14T14:25:00.000-05:00

The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE) is offering free tickets to 105 people that want to see the Al Gore movie “An Inconvenient Truth” at the Gulf Breeze Cinema. The 105 is symbolic of what could be the average high temperature during a Pensacola summer of we don’t take significant action on Global Warming within the next 10 years. Tickets are available free at the Gulf Breeze Cinema

Home Depot - the pothead version

2006-07-14T13:03:00.000-05:00

From the Tampa Bay, alt-weekly: "The Weekly Planet"Messing With Our Heads A "tobacco accessories" merchant fights a proposed ordinance prohibiting the sale of drug paraphernalia. By Alex Pickett Published 07.12.2006 http://tampa.weeklyplanet.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=73642 It's 8 p.m. on a Wednesday night,

Blogs rule in alt-weekly world

2006-07-14T06:00:00.000-05:00

Our cover story is getting tremendous play. We made the national website for Alternative Newsweeklies (under Web Publishing)Blogs Have Bite: especially Arkansas TimesTraffic on our blogs has soared. Here are a pair of popular blogs from two other alternative weekly papers that you should check out:In Seattle, Wash.The Stranger: SlogIn Jackson, Miss.Jackson Free Press: Noise

Bergosh challenges Waters for Escambia School Board

2006-07-13T17:13:00.000-05:00

This notice came from the Supervisor of Elections Thursday afternoon. Some political observers have been upset that Doug Waters in the Escambia County School Board District 1 race and other candidates may get into office without being elected because they faced no challengers. Qualifying begins Monday and ends noon, Friday, July 21.Jeff Bergosh is the brother of current school board member Gary

Candidate Financial Info

2006-07-13T14:24:00.000-05:00

The Independent News obtained the Form 1 Statement of Financial Interests for ECUA, SRIA and Pensacola City Council members. And, unlike the Form 6 financials that state and other local elected officials must submit to the State Division of Elections, these do not require income or other dollar amounts. Still, many of the public records turned in by the board members are incomplete or

Latest county public record scrape

2006-07-12T09:57:00.000-05:00

It's not surprising a UWF Advanced Newspaper Reporting class couldn't get Escambia County to comply with a simple public records request during a survey of seven agencies recently. The IN endures all kind of road blocks, obstacles and shennanigans. County officials were sending our requests to IN board members. The latest is the county refusing to give up County Commission Chairman Mike

Dioxin Dangers

2006-07-11T13:35:00.000-05:00

Here's a press release from Pensacola's Citizens Against Toxic Exposure. CATE has fought for residents and cleanup of the Agrico and Escambia Wood Treating Superfund sites in central Pensacola, near the intersection of Fairfield and Palafox streets.National Academies New Study Concludes Dioxin is Toxic5th Review of 15 Year-Long Delayed Study Finds Widely Disbursed ChemicalCauses Cancer,

New judges for Santa Rosa County?

2006-07-10T17:17:00.000-05:00

The Judicial Nominating Committee for the 11th Judicial Circuit for Miami-Dade County is challenging in the Florida Supreme Court the elections scheduled this fall for two new 1st Judicial Circuit Court posts in Santa Rosa County. The state Legislature created the two new positions this session, but the Miami-Dade JNC is challenging the constitutionality of the elections. It contends that the

NYT: Bush tax cuts are working

2006-07-09T18:07:00.000-05:00

July 9, 2006 Surprising Jump in Tax Revenues Is Curbing Deficit By EDMUND L. ANDREWS WASHINGTON, July 8 — An unexpectedly steep rise in tax revenues from corporations and the wealthy is driving down the projected budget deficit this year, even though spending has climbed sharply because of the war in Iraq and the cost of hurricane relief. On Tuesday, White House officials are expected

What happens when an alt-weekly publisher runs for Congress

2006-07-09T11:28:00.000-05:00

LEO agrees to give copies of back issues to Northup campaign By Joseph Gerthjgerth@courier-journal.comThe Courier-Journal U.S. Rep. Anne Northup and the weekly newspaper LEO reached an agreement Wednesday to provide her campaign with copies of LEO from the approximately 15 years it was run by her Democratic opponent, John Yarmuth.Northup held a

Blue Angels Beach Safety

2006-07-07T16:19:00.000-05:00

Public Safety officials, who last year warned of dangers about responding to emergencies at Pensacola Beach during the ever popular Blue Angels Airshow, have prepared and planned much better for this year's event. There will only be one road onto the beach this year, with the road between Navarre Beach and Pensacola Beach still closed. But SRIA GM Buck Lee and emergency officials say there will

ANDERSON TO TAKE ON DONOVAN

2006-07-06T11:51:00.000-05:00

Former Pensacola City Councilman Rhette Anderson appears ready to file against current City Councilman Marty Donovan, according to sources close to Anderson.He will file with the Supervisor of Elections on Friday, July 7.IN has been told that Anderson supports the Community Maritime Park, but will not make his campaign a single issue race.

Work Release Program inmate death

2006-07-05T16:24:00.000-05:00

Here is Press Release from Escambia County. July 5, 2006News Release # 06-0705-workreleaseDeath Investigation The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is handling the death investigation of a 42-year-old white female at the county’s work release facility. She was sentenced to the Escambia County Community Corrections Department, Work Release Program for violating her probation. She began her

Happy Fourth, agitators, plotters and reformers!

2006-07-04T12:20:00.000-05:00

A Dissident's HolidayBy E. J. Dionne Jr./Washington PostTuesday, July 4, 2006; A15Have you ever noticed a certain hesitant quality to the expressions of patriotism by progressives or left-wingers?The patriotism of the conservative goes unquestioned. It's assumed that every politician on the right will wear a flag on his lapel and effortlessly hold forth on ours as "the greatest country in the

Santa Rosa County leads State in Farm Subsidies

2006-07-03T13:07:00.000-05:00

Santa Rosa County, Florida Total $6.5 millionTop recipients 2005GRISWOLD FARMS, MILTON, FL $276,182ALESIA GRISWOLD, MILTON, FL $207,212PAUL M GRISWOLD, MILTON, FL $204,587JERRY JONES, JAY, FL $192,662JJ FARMS OF JAY INC, JAY, FL $184,527DOYLE M HUNTER, JAY, FL $160,803B D HENDRICKS, JAY, FL $145,102ROY DEWAYNE WARD, JAY, FL $144,851HENDRICKS AND SON INC, JAY, FL $119,545JOSEPH M

Washington Post Looks a Farm Subsidy

2006-07-03T13:05:00.000-05:00

Farm Program Pays $1.3 Billion to People Who Don't Farm By Dan Morgan, Gilbert M. Gaul and Sarah CohenWashington Post Staff WritersSunday, July 2, 2006; A01 EL CAMPO, Tex. -- Even though Donald R. Matthews put his sprawling new residence in the heart of rice country, he is no farmer. He is a 67-year-old asphalt contractor who wanted to build a dream house for his wife of 40 years. Yet under a

IN Corrects "Buzz" error regarding Morris Court and City of Pensacola

2006-07-03T09:02:00.000-05:00

The Buzz incorrectly characterized the City of Pensacola as a slumlord in its June 29 issue - "CITY IS SLUMLORD."The item described confusion and discontent in the Morris Court housing complex where 35 families are being displaced for a $12 million reconstruction project that will build 75 new units in the area.The error was the City of Pensacola is not the owner of Morris Court. In fact the City

Public Records Gone Wrong in Panama City

2006-07-03T09:00:00.000-05:00

From: Insider Magazine Editor John Caylor ARRESTED, JAILED, TORTURED AND BADGERED OVER PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST...A CHILLING TREND IN AMERICA! "Editors Note: Last week I was arrested doing an investigative report about people dying in Florida under mysterious circumstances with police, Medical Examiners and the Florida State Attorney looking the other way while ruling apparent homicides and

Bomb Placed in Coach Bennie Washington's Mailbox

2006-07-02T17:44:00.000-05:00

Bennie Washington, varisty boys basketball coach at Woodham High, called minutes ago to say a homemade bomb was found in his mailbox. Police are on the scene. No one was harmed.Washington is the vocal and, at times, controversal coach who led the Woodham High Titans to two state championships. The latest was in 2003. He is a demanding coach that prepared his players for life and for college.

IN Followup - West Escambia County gets fire station finally

2006-07-02T08:41:00.000-05:00

The Escambia County Commission has approved a $2.3 million contract with Larry Hall Construction Inc. for the new station on Massachusetts Avenue near Mobile Highway in the western area of the county. The county originally set aside $1 million for construction. It's expected to take nine to 12 months to build.The bids were opened in April, but County Administrator George Touart didn't present the

Boyd: State Attorney and Sheriff should resign

2006-06-30T15:55:00.000-05:00

Movement For Change leader LeRoy Boyd is contacting Gov. Jeb Bush's office and calling for both State Attorney Bill Eddins and Escambia County Sheriff Ronnie McNesby to resign.Eddin's office announced today that there will be no action against Sheriff's Deputy Shedrick Johnson for using a Taser Gun to shoot Harold Fountain in the eye in a June 19, 2004 incident, when Fountain refused to come off

Crist running mate?

2006-06-29T23:29:00.000-05:00

Charlie Crist, a Republican candidate for governor, is considering Alan Bense as Liutenant Governor, aka his running mate. Bense, a Panama City Republican, who twice seriously considered running against Katherine Harris and Democratic incumbent Bill Nelson for the U.S. Senate, seems interested in this statewide race. Crist, by the way, has strongly told supporters he is not gay. His denials come

Escambia Co. Outside Legal Fees

2006-06-28T12:54:00.000-05:00

On 06/27/06, the Independent News requested the outside legal fees paid by Escambia County for the period Jan. 2005 - May 2006. We received these figures today from Deputy County Attorney Alison Perdue Rogers: Landers & Parson, P.A $1,827.27Messer Law Firm $14,952.00Capital Hill Group, LLP

McNesby Math

2006-06-28T10:07:00.000-05:00

Sheriff Ronnie "Mac" McNesby reports he's 42 corrections officers short of full staff at the Escambia County jail, which is more than 300 inmates over capacity. He says nearly 600 of its 1,700 inmates are identified as mentally incompetent, on psychotropic drugs or diagnosed with some form of mental illness. "I can't change those numbers, y'all," he says.A number McNesby can change: $2.36 million

McNesby's faces public

2006-06-27T09:09:00.000-05:00

Escambia County Sheriff Ronnie McNesby had his first meeting face-to-face with the public on mentally ill dying in custody. After starting his speech about taking responsibility for inmates and corrections officers safety, the sheriff's initial PR attempt disintegrated into excuses and blame. He blamed Jerry Preyer, the latest mentally ill inmate to die in custody and the third in 10 months, for

Gulf drilling off Pensacola?

2006-06-26T18:55:00.000-05:00

U.S. House leaders are preparing to vote this week on a plan to allow oil and gas drilling 100 miles off the nation's shores. Some Florida House leaders and Gov. Jeb Bush have expressed support for the bill on grounds that Florida is losing its leverage to stop drilling, and should take the best deal it can get.The St. Pete Times June 26 reports that: "Instead, rising energy costs, strong

Another Escambia Co. Jail Death

2006-06-24T16:45:00.000-05:00

This time involved cocaine - not the emergency restraint chair or Tasers. Suspect died in holding. More later as we gather info.

State Atty Busts Sex Web Site - Part II of Earlier Escort Bust

2006-06-24T16:27:00.000-05:00

Yesterday and today the State Attorney and Esc. Co. Sheriff's offices have been searching homes in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties and have arrested the masterminds behind a series of sex Internet websites run by Ray Guhn Productions. The sites - www.cumonherface.com and www.wecumonherface.com are two attributed to Ray Guhn.Only two arrests have been announced so far but inside sources tell IN

McNesby talking on inmate deaths

2006-06-22T17:21:00.000-05:00

Community MeetingDate: Monday, June 26Time: 5:00 p.m.Place: Hope Center at Zion Hope Primitive Baptist Church, 201 West Leonard StreetEscambia County Sheriff Ron McNesby will meet with local pastors and community leaders regarding the mental health issues at the Escambia County Jail. He will listen to their concerns and share information.The meeting is being held at the request of Commissioner

George Touart & Public Records

2006-06-22T16:17:00.000-05:00

Four weeks ago, IN asked for Escambia County public records regarding the sale of the former Pensacola Soccer Complex. Next thing, we know, Jim Moulton is calling telling us not to bash the county's decision to sell it to him for $2.5 million. Three weeks ago, IN asked for public records on the fire departments. We're still waiting for the records. But again, it looks like Touart is trying to