Panhandle

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'Mount Dioxin' cover wearing out after 10 years in Pensacola
PENSACOLA — Health officials, local government leaders and community activists are worried that strong winds could blow away contaminated soil because plastic sheeting covering "Mount Dioxin" is wearing out. 11/26/02

Escambia and Putnam Counties in top 100 in EPA's Toxic Release List
Environmental Protection Agency's Toxics Release Inventory program ranked Escambia County, with a total of 41.4 million pounds, No. 18, up from No. 22 in 1998. Hillsborough (No. 62, down from 59) and Putnam (No. 93) County is the only other Florida county in the top 100. Mobile County, Ala., just West of Escambia ranked 39th, down from 32nd in '98.

Panhandle News Clips

Panhandle mosquito swarms blamed on Isidore-- PENSACOLA -- Swarms of mosquitoes in the Florida Panhandle are being blamed on Tropical Storm Isidore, which had suspended spraying and left standing water that is ideal for breeding the bloodsucking insects. 10/9/02

Childers gets plea deal in Escambia 'sunshine' case
PENSACOLA — Former Florida Senate President and suspended Escambia County Commissioner W.D. Childers agreed Monday to a plea deal that resulted in a second open-government 'sunshine' conviction. Childers pleaded no contest to discussing public business in private with two other suspended commissioners while still denying guilt so the case can be appealed.10/8/02

Escambia commissioner avoids jail for 'sunshine' violations
PENSACOLA — A suspended Escambia County commissioner Wednesday avoided jail time for violating the state's open-government "sunshine" law by discussing public business privately with another board member, former Florida Senate President W.D. Childers. Instead of jail or probation, Terry Smith was ordered to pay fines and costs totaling $4,987.64 and perform 250 hours of community service 9/19/02

Panhandle lawmaker gets heat for rapping Cubans, Haitians
FORT WALTON BEACH — Gov. Jeb Bush and fellow lawmakers are criticizing derogatory comments state Rep. Jerry Melvin made about Cubans and Haitians in an e-mail to the governor. The Fort Walton Beach Republican, being forced from the House by term limits, sent the e-mail after losing a Sept. 10 primary challenge of state Sen. Charlie Clary, R-Destin, but the message had nothing to do with his own race. 9/19/02

Florida Panhandle tribe revives Muscogee heritage, seeks federal status
BRUCE — Allen Thomas gave up a good-paying job and comfortable South Florida lifestyle for virtual poverty when he came to the rural Panhandle five years ago in search of his Native American roots. Thomas now serves on the tribal council of the Muscogee Nation of Florida, which is continuing a 22-year battle for federal recognition while reviving and preserving the religion, language and culture it had nearly lost. That effort includes a recent name change from Florida Tribe of Eastern Creek Indians. Creek is the English name given Muscogees long ago due to the many creeks on tribal lands across the South. 8/4/02

Greyhound groups mark Alabama shooting deaths in Pensacola
PENSACOLA — Two greyhound protection groups held memorial gatherings across the nation Saturday to draw attention to the shooting deaths of up to 3,000 of the racing dogs whose remains were found in nearby Lillian, Ala. Robert Rhodes, 68, a former security guard at Pensacola Greyhound Park, was charged with animal cruelty in Alabama after the remains were uncovered on his property in May. "It's tragic that these beautiful animals were killed simply because they were no longer profitable at the racetrack," said Susan Netboy, founder of the Greyhound Protection League, based in San Francisco. 7/28/02

Jury: Second Escambia official guilty of breaking open-government law
PENSACOLA — A jury Saturday found a second suspended Escambia County commissioner guilty of violating Florida's open-government "sunshine" law by discussing public business in private on two occasions. Terry Smith, who stood and shook his head slightly as the verdict was read, was accused of breaking the law through two conversations with another suspended commissioner, former Florida Senate President W.D. Childers, last year. 7/21/02

Pensacola activist files campaign complaint against homebuilders
TALLAHASSEE — A Pensacola activist has filed campaign law violation complaints against the Florida Home Builders Association, 16 of its local associations and the Republican Party of Florida. Tom Garner accused both the state association and the state GOP on Friday of a "campaign contribution laundering scheme" that circumvented the state's $500 contribution limit. 7/21/02

'Thirst for power' tarnishes Childers' legacy
It may be the most spectacular crash of a political career in West Florida's history. For years, W.D. Childers was the most powerful man in the state Senate and the iron-fisted monarch of Florida's westernmost county. Today, already convicted of a misdemeanor, he is staring down the barrel of a bribery indictment, fingered by a fellow Escambia County commissioner who has already pleaded guilty. 7/14/02

Childers facing possible jail time, more trials in Panhandle
PENSACOLA — W.D. Childers, once one of the most powerful political figures in Florida, is facing possible jail time for violating the state's open-government "sunshine" law and as many as two more trials. A jury late Friday convicted the former Florida Senate President on one count of illegally discussing public business in private with another now-suspended Escambia County commissioner, Terry Smith, last year.6/30/02

Long arm of sunshine
Had the Sunshine Law not been on the books, all of W.D. Childers' shenigans might never have come to public light. 6/30/02

State rests case in Childers' Pensacola 'sunshine' trial
PENSACOLA — The state rested its case Thursday against former Florida Senate President W.D. Childers on charges he illegally discussed public business in private with other now-suspended Escambia County commissioners. Defense lawyer Fred Levin said Childers would take the witness stand later Thursday or Friday to dispute allegations he violated Florida's open-government "sunshine" law 6/28/02

Witness waffles in case against ex-Senate chief -- PENSACOLA -- A key witness against suspended Escambia County Commissioner W.D. Childers testified Wednesday at Childers' trial on charges of violating Florida's open-government law.-- 
Willie Junior, responding to a question from the lawyer for the former Florida Senate president, admitted having a memory problem.6/27/02

Childers' dark sunshine -W. D. Childers' position on the Sunshine Law is ludicrous. Monologues count.-- 
Legendary state lawmaker W.D. Childers always has walked a fine ethical line, artfully manipulating the little understood vagaries of the political system to his own perceived benefit 6/27/02

Pensacola charter school dean accused of armed robbery
PENSACOLA — A charter school dean, whose duties include disciplining students, has been charged with the armed robbery of a convenience store. Anthony B. Woods, 37, a former assistant coach for the Pensacola Barracudas, a minor league arena football team, was arrested Tuesday, a day after the robbery. He remained at the Escambia County Jail under a $100,000 bond Wednesday. 6/27/02

Childers' lawyer offers monologue defense in 'sunshine' trial
PENSACOLA — W.D. Childers didn't violate Florida's open-government "sunshine" law because his talks with other Escambia County commissioners were monologues, not discussions, his lawyer told a jury Tuesday. The former Florida Senate president made statements to other commissioners that expressed his views, but he neither sought nor received responses, defense lawyer Fred Levin said in his opening statement at Childers' trial. 6/26/02

Pensacola News Journal on Escambia trials 6/26/02

Escambia investigation includes road builder Anderson Columbia-- PENSACOLA — A grand jury investigation that led to indictments against four suspended Escambia County commissioners has been expanded to include Anderson Columbia Co., one of the state's largest road builders.-- 
Auto salesman and political fund-raiser Mike Murphy told prosecutors he was paid $150,000 and lent $60,000 by Anderson Columbia partly to help it get back on Escambia's bid list. The county had dropped the Lake City-based company for doing poor work.6/15/02

Money connection growing stronger -- Auto salesman Mike Murphy testifies he gave commissioners cash, favors--- A prominent Pensacola car salesman has admitted doing numerous favors for suspended Escambia County commissioners, ranging from giving an $8,000 cash payment to Willie Junior to covering a $1,895 bill for Terry Smith.
Mike Murphy, who also is a key fund-raiser for local politicians and claims friendships with numerous judges and law enforcement officers, made the admissions during an interview with State Attorney Curtis Golden about possible corruption involving county government. 6/14/02

No more dredging
Gov. Jeb Bush joined the other members of the Florida Cabinet this week in approving a resolution that calls on Congress to halt dredging operations in Florida's Apalachicola River.6/15

Oyster: On this Florida bay, the world threatens their oyster's enemy
APALACHICOLA — The anchor is made from the crankshaft of a junked car, the hull is stained with bottom muck, but the big Johnson outboard motor is brand new. Chugging softly, it pushes the narrow oyster boat over Apalachicola Bay, gently intruding on the white egrets that slip like paper airplanes just overhead, and the jumping mullet that belly-flop with a sharp clap into steel-gray water.6/15

Oyster: Oysters fit for the finest restaurants, and a discriminating dog
APALACHICOLA — Food critics and restaurant owners from Miami and New Orleans say Apalachicola Bay oysters are among the finest in the world, if not the finest. Chefs at fancy restaurants in Charleston, S.C., where mediocre seafood will be sent back, prize them above oysters from their native coast. Even some Easterners prefer their taste to oysters from the waters of Chesapeake Bay and Long Island Sound.6/15/02

Escambia judge cites Supreme Court ruling in clearing builder
PENSACOLA — A judge cited a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that ended federal regulation of isolated wetlands in reversing the conviction of a prominent builder accused of bulldozing a construction site in violation of local codes. Escambia County Judge David Ackerman on Tuesday overturned a jury's guilty verdict against Rick Faciane, 52, former president of Building Industry of West Florida, who had faced up 60 days in jail and a $500 fine on each of two counts.6/13

Escambia commissioner to get separate trials
PENSACOLA — A judge has ruled suspended Escambia County Commissioner Mike Bass should be tried separately on misdemeanor open-government "sunshine" law charges and more serious corruption counts including bribery and racketeering. Circuit Judge G. Robert Barron on Tuesday rejected a motion by Bass to try the misdemeanor and felony charges together, finding they were unrelated.6/13

Escambia again climbs on national pollution list
Escambia County has jumped from 18th to 14th nationally in toxic pollution releases after a 5.9 percent increase in 2000, new federal figures show. The Florida Panhandle county led the state with 55.2 million pounds, or almost 1 out of every 2 pounds of toxins legally emitted in the state, according to figures from the Environmental Protection Agency released Thursday.

Investigation: Escambia scandal produces strange political bedfellows
PENSACOLA — The adage about politics making strange bedfellows rings true in Escambia County's political corruption scandal. Former U.S. Rep. Joe Scarborough, R-Pensacola, is publisher emeritus of a weekly newspaper, The Independent Florida Sun, that was an early and persistent critic of the county commissioners. Scarborough, who still writes a column for the newspaper, also is a member of a law firm headed by Childers' lawyer, Fred Levin.

Investigation: Lack of debate stirred suspicion of Escambia commissioners
PENSACOLA — Community activist Gail Fournier gave up speaking on issues before Escambia County commissioners in November convinced they already knew how they were going to vote, often by the same 3-2 split. "They were so pat," Fournier said. "It was ding, ding, ding — no questions asked." What Fournier suspected, other citizens serving as jurors may confirm.

State-federal dispute could delay toxic cleanup in Pensacola
PENSACOLA — Differences between state and federal environmental officials could further delay the cleanup of a toxic waste site that forced the relocation of about 360 families. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection wants a higher level of cleanup for dioxin and other toxic chemicals than the federal Environmental Protection Agency has been willing to pay for through its Superfund program.

Search ends for jets' seven crew members
The U.S. Coast Guard called off its search Thursday for seven crew members aboard two Navy jets that crashed into the Gulf of Mexico south of Pensacola.

Escambia corruption scandal revives charter movement
PENSACOLA — A corruption scandal that resulted in the arrests of four of Escambia County's five commissioners has revived a movement for charter government. A charter is a home-rule constitution that lets a county create its own governmental structure rather than follow the format established by the state, which includes boards with only five commissioners.5/9

Two Navy training jets crash in Gulf of Mexico off Pensacola
PENSACOLA — Two Navy jets with seven people aboard crashed into the Gulf of Mexico about 40 miles south of Pensacola during a training mission Wednesday, Coast Guard and Navy officials said. There were no immediate reports of deaths or injuries or indications whether the jets collided, said Cathy Whitney, a spokeswoman at Pensacola Naval Air Station where the planes were based.

Arvida docks plan for marina
The St. Joe Co. still wants a marina in eastern Franklin County but isn't going to push the issue - for now. Arvida, the company's development arm, has withdrawn the growth proposals that it wanted Franklin County to adopt to allow the controversial marina as part of its SummerCamp development.

Lawmaker eyeing UWF presidency
PENSACOLA - University of West Florida professors are worried that a state legislator interested in becoming the school's new president may hold an unfair edge because of his political connections. State Rep. Jerry Maygarden is the majority leader in the Florida House, which will, among other things, make decisions on spending for Florida's universities.

Eglin could play major role for Navy- Eglin Air Force Base may not be the only site to replace Vieques, Puerto Rico, for weapons training and military exercises, but the sprawling Northwest Florida base might handle more of the crucial exercises.

Do we really need new I-10 rest stops?  -- Santa Rosa County commissioners are absolutely right to ask state officials to redirect $13 million - designated to replace existing Interstate 10 rest stops - to projects that might actually do something to relieve county traffic woes.--  Who comes up with these things? It's the kind of nonsensical decision that gives government a bad name. It also raises questions about how well state transportation officials have carried out Gov. Jeb Bush's $668 million "economic stimulus" package of road projects.

Mystery storm rips town in Panhandle-- NAVARRE, Fla.· National Weather Service investigators Monday were trying to determine whether a microburst or a tornado was the cause of an estimated $1 million in property damage in this Panhandle community over the weekend

Concerns arise over toxic cleanup - Sammie Lee Jones, aided by a metal cane, walked slowly up to the microphone and explained why cleaning up the Escambia Treating Co.'s Superfund hazardous waste site is so important. "It wiped out a whole community," said Jones, 76, who claims dozens of friends have died because of exposure to a toxic mixture from the old wood-treating plant.

Going for a swim? Better be careful - Lest residents of Santa Rosa and Escambia counties mistake all the talk and planning in recent months for actual progress against stormwater pollution, the closure of numerous area waterways this week should be an unpleasant reminder that the actual work is still to come.

Navy may train at Eglin  

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