Marrahnell Wright Culp
May 7, 2013
Marrahnell Wright Culp, 78, of Cantonment, passed away April 29, 2013, after a chronic illness. She was born in Laurel Hill, Florida on July 28, 1934. She was preceded in death by parents George W. Wright and Percie L. Wright and infant brother. After working for years at the telephone company, she was a homemaker who enjoyed cooking, flowers and gardening. After her husband retired, they enjoyed traveling with their camper and meeting new friends while fishing and camping around the country. “Nell”, as everyone knew her, was devoted to her husband, children and grandchildren. She was a devout member of Cantonment First Baptist Church.
She is survived by her loving husband of 43 years, John E. Culp; two sons, Gregory (Sue) Henderson and Dale (Angela) Henderson; daughter, Starlyn (Jessie) James; five granddaughters, Candace (Bill) Hendricks, Jessica (Todd) Barlow, Whitney and Courtney Henderson, Kristie Henderson; three great-grandchildren, Nathan and Matthew Hendricks and Addistynn Barlow; two brothers, George C. Wright and Preston Wright and many nieces and nephews.
She will be remembered as a generous, strong and loving wife, mother and grandmother. Saying she will be missed is an understatement.
Funeral services were held Friday, May 3, 2013, at Faith Chapel North. Burial was in Barrancas National Cemetery.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home Northis in charge of arrangements.
Medicaid Managed Care Plan To Begin In August
May 7, 2013
Two years after getting approved by lawmakers, Florida’s shift to a statewide Medicaid managed-care system will start Aug. 1 for seniors who need long-term care in the Orlando area.
The state Agency for Health Care Administration held a contract-signing ceremony Monday with seven health plans that eventually will provide long-term care services to about 85,000 people across the state. That is the first part of a long-debated Medicaid transformation that also will later include the broader Medicaid population.
Such a contract-signing ceremony is unusual in state government but was an indication of the emphasis that Gov. Rick Scott’s administration has placed on revamping Medicaid.
“This is a major milestone along the way to the statewide Medicaid managed-care program,” said Justin Senior, an AHCA deputy secretary who directs Medicaid.
Federal officials in February approved the long-term care portion of the Medicaid changes, though AHCA had already gone through a lengthy process in which health plans bid for contracts in 11 regions of the state. The seven companies that received contracts in all or some of the regions were American Eldercare, Amerigroup Florida, Coventry Health Care of Florida, Humana, Molina Healthcare of Florida, Sunshine Health and United HealthCare of Florida.
Also, another plan, Little Havana Activities and Nutrition Centers of Dade County, has filed a bid protest in the state Division of Administrative Hearings. If is successful, it could receive a contract in a region that includes Miami-Dade and Monroe counties.
The basic concept behind the long-term care portion of the Medicaid changes is that managed-care plans will be able to better coordinate services, which could help seniors and people with disabilities stay in their homes instead of having to move into nursing facilities. Ultimately, that could help hold down state costs in the Medicaid program, as nursing-home care is typically more expensive than home- and community-based services.
AHCA will start the changes Aug. 1 in a central Florida region that includes Orange, Brevard, Osceola and Seminole counties. The long-term care changes will gradually expand to other areas and are expected to be in place statewide by March 2014.
Florida has long operated what is known as a “nursing home diversion” program, which is a smaller-scale version of the statewide long-term care system.
American Eldercare, for example, already provides services in the diversion program and has received contracts in all 11 regions of the new managed-care system. Robert Schemel, president of the company, said the biggest difference with the new system will be the volume of people served.
Lawmakers and Scott in 2011 approved a plan to transform Medicaid into a statewide managed-care system, despite opposition from some groups that argued HMOs could shortchange the care people receive.
The state submitted applications to the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in August 2011. While it has received approval to move forward with the long-term care portion of the plan, it is still waiting for a final sign-off on the broader Medicaid population — though federal officials sent a letter earlier this year indicating that such approval was near.
by The News Service of Florida
FHSAA: High School Athletes ‘Spared’ Negative Legislation
May 7, 2013
Florida High School Athletic Association Executive Director Roger Dearing called it “gratifying” that the legislative session ended without passage of a bill that would have given state lawmakers more control over the organization that has overseen high school sports for nearly a century.
“We understand that many of the legislators who supported the proposal were doing what they thought was best for high school athletics, but it would have opened the door for a few adults and athletes to build powerhouses while those who respected the rules of fair play were left behind,” Dearing said in a statement following Friday’s session ending.
The measure by Lakeland-area lawmakers to assert more state control over FHSAA failed to be heard on the Senate floor after winning approval from the House. Sen. Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland, the sponsor of the Senate version of the bill, has said the proposal will return next year unless the FHSAA shows a willingness to abide by the desires of legislators.
The bill would have expanded the ability of students to transfer schools during the school year, given charter and home school students more opportunities to play for public school teams, altered the makeup of the association’s board of directors, given school districts more say over athletic regulations in each county, and set a 2017 date to sunset the 93-year-old organization.
by the News Service of Florida
Weekend Burglary Puts Brakes On Molino Teen’s Championship Kart Racing
May 6, 2013
A weekend burglary has put the brakes on a Molino teen’s championship kart racing team.
Jarrett Parker, 18, is a star of sorts in the world of kart racing, winning state titles and racing his way to the top in several national events. But now his future in the hobby he loves so much is in doubt after someone stole about $12,000 worth of racing gear from his home.
The theft occurred from a workshop at the family’s home on Gibson Road in Molino sometime between about 10:30 Friday night at 6:30 Saturday morning — while the family was sleeping nearby.
“They did this with my wife and kids sleeping in the house, yards from the shop,” Jarrett’s father Scott said. “That just makes me angry that they were here with my family.”
A 2012 Elite Triton kart, five motors, cases of MAXXIS tires, tools and other items were taken from the workshop, while other items not related to kart racing like lawn equipment were left behind.
“We believe it is going to be someone connected to kart racing in some way,” Scott said. “They knew what to take….they passed over cheaper items and knew what brand names were more valuable.”
“This is heartbreaking. We sacrifice so much to do this with our kids and for someone to do this to kids is shameful,” mom Tammy Parker said.
Some of the stolen items, including three motors, belonged to Jarrett’s 10-year old teammate Chambers McGilberry of Selma, Ala. Jarrett Parker has been serving as a mentor for McGilberry for several months.
The burglary is under investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Anyone with information on the crime is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Jarrett Parker Racing is offering a $1,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons involved in the burglary.
Pictured top: Molino’s Jarrett Parker (#46) leads the pack during a recent kart race. Pictured inset: Jarrett Parker (left) and teammate Chambers McGilberry. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FHP Seeks To Identify Pedestrian Hit By Vehicle On Nine Mile Road
May 6, 2013
The Florida Highway Patrol is seeking the public’s help in identifying a pedestrian that was hit by a vehicle and critically injured early Sunday morning on Nine Mile Road.
The accident happened about 5 a.m. on Nine Mile at North Palafox Street. The FHP said 19-year old Richard D. Mumma of Pensacola was traveling east on Nine Mile Road when the unidentified pedestrian failed to cross in a marked crosswalk or yield to traffic when crossing the road. The pedestrian was pushing a shopping cart full of aluminum cans when he stepped into the path of Mumma’s 2006 Honda.
The pedestrian was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in critical condition. Mumma and his passenger, 18-year old Lyndon E. Parmer of Pensacola, were not injured.
Anyone with information on a possible name for the pedestrian is asked to call Trooper Villalonga with the Florida Highway Patrol at (850) 484-5000 ext. 313. The pedestrian was described as a black male, about 60-years old.
Cox Names Students As Inspirational Heros
May 6, 2013
Almost 50 outstanding Escambia County students were honored recently at the 19th Annual Cox Inspirational Hero Celebration. The event honors students that have faced significant challenges, including the loss of their parents, physical illness, handicaps and language barriers.
Honorees (with North Escambia students listed in bold) were:
Elementary Students
Gillian Buckley, Bellview; Dylan Vorrasi, Beulah; Lauchlan McKay, Blue Angels; Brandon Berry, Bratt; Charles Bryant, Brentwood; Katelyn Hassebrock, Byrneville; Skylar Ford, C.A. Weis; Jolan Cunningham, Cordova Park; Ron’Drickka Edwards, Ensley; Nicholas Crowley, Ferry Pass; Joey Yarber, Global Learning Academy; Maximilian High, Hellen Caro; Julianna Schwartz, Holm; Dawn Huddle, Jim Allen; Leilani Pooley, Lincoln Park; Trinity Morris,Longleaf; Kaila Kelly,McArthur; Larry Allie, Molino; Anthony Goodwin, Myrtle Grove; Lorna McLendon, N.B. Cook; Phillip Straughn, O.J. Semmes; Malyana Jackson, Oakcrest; Julie Wakefield, Pleasant Grove; Joshua Parr, R.C. Lipscomb; Antoinette Heno, Scenic Heights; Ja’Daisha Young, Warrington; and Dilon Fountain, West Pensacola.
Middle School Students
Victoria Sechrist, Bailey; Jezabelle LeClair, Bellview; Gerald Sill,Brown Barge; Daysha Kite, Ernest Ward; Janaizia Worley, Ferry Pass; Jolyeah Williams, Warrington; Ti’Kerrian Boggs, Woodham; and Valeria Salazar, Workman.
High School Students
Andrea Overton, Escambia; Isaiah Williams, Northview; Michael Riggs,Pensacola; Kylie Valin, Pine Forest; Logan Thirtyacre, Tate; Victor Nall,Washington; Joshua Inghram, West Florida; and Eduar Williams Jr., Escambia Charter School.
May Century Community Pride Award Presented To Consultant
May 6, 2013
The Century Area Chamber of Commerce has presented their May 2013 Community Pride Award to town consultant Debbie Nickles. Nickles has played a key role in Century obtaining several grants, including grants that allowed for housing in the town to be rehabilitated or rebuilt. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Atmore Murder Suspect Arrested
May 6, 2013
An Atmore man is behind bars, charged with an April 28 murder.
Kendrell “Dick” McCants, age 28 of Atmore, surrendered at the Atmore Police Department Saturday afternoon. He was charged with the April 28 murder of 50-year old Marvin D. Norman of Atmore. He is being held without bond in the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton.
About 6:17 a.m. on Sunday morning, April 28, Atmore Police responded to a reported unconscious person in the 80 block of Brooks Lane. As officers arrived, they observed a man later identified as Norman on the ground in a yard. Police said he had injuries consistent with an assault.
Norman was transported by Atmore Ambulance to Atmore Community Hospital. He was later airlifted by LifeFlight to Baptist Hospital in Pensacola where he passed away a short time later.
List: Bills That Passed And Failed During 2013 Legislative Session
May 6, 2013
Here’s a look at significant bills that passed and failed during the 2013 Legislative session:
BILLS THAT PASSED
HEALTH CARE/MEDICINE
-HB 1159: Creating an expedited process for new nursing beds for certain communities, including The Villages retirement community in central Florida.
-HB 1159: Allowing Miami Children’s Hospital to offer 10 obstetrics beds.
-HB 1159: Creating a prescription drug monitoring database
-HB 1159: Requiring insurers who offer IV cancer drug coverage to also cover oral cancer medications
-HB 1129, requiring medical care for newborns who survive botched abortions and penalizing abortion providers who don’t provide medical care for infants born alive after a failed abortion.
-SB 1520, gradually revamping the state’s system of billing counties for Medicaid care.
-SB 1844, revising enrollment period for the Florida Health Choices Program, a marketplace program linking up Florida residents with health plans. It includes $900,000 for the program.
- HB 239, relating to practice of optometry. The bill will allow optometrists to start prescribing oral medications and reflected a compromise between optometrists and ophthalmologists. It allows optometrists to go beyond prescribing “topical” medications, such as drops and creams. – SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
ETHICS AND ELECTIONS
- SB 2, relating to ethics. The bill makes changes to state ethics law, such as barring elected officials from taking advantage of their positions to get taxpayer-funded jobs. Also, it includes blocking lawmakers from lobbying state agencies for two years after they leave office.
-HB 569, relating to Florida Election Code. The bill makes changes to the campaign-finance system, such as eliminating a type of political funding vehicle known as “committees of continuous existence,” or CCEs. It also ups limits on individual contributions to candidates.
-HB 7013, the elections bill that allows county supervisors to increase early voting days, among other things.
EDUCATION
-SB 1108, giving parents of exceptional students more say in their education
-SB 1076, the CAPE bill, attempting to tie educational goals to the job market
SMALL BUSINESS
-HB 623, relating to wine. The bill would allow the sale of wine in 5.16 gallon canisters which can be tapped like a keg, allowing easier sale of wine by the glass in restaurants and bars. Florida is one of only a couple of states that still requires wine to be sold in gallon or smaller wine bottles.
-SB 160, requiring the Department of Health to waive license fees for veterans
-HB 423, creating a sales tax break on dyed diesel fuel used by commercial fishermen, shrimpers, oystermen and clammers.
-HB 347, allowing craft distillers to sell small amounts directly to consumers.
LAWSUITS/TORTS
- HB 7015, relating to expert testimony. The business-backed bill that would tighten standards for expert witnesses in lawsuits. It would lead to Florida adopting the same standards that federal courts use in deciding whether expert testimony will be admitted.
-SB 1792, making changes to the medical malpractice lawsuit rules, including tightening requirements for expert witnesses.
- HB 55, relating to deceptive and unfair trade practices. The bill would require that customers give demand letters to auto dealers at least 30 days before filing lawsuits. Dealers could avoid litigation if, within that 30-day period, they pay the amounts sought in demand letters, along with surcharges of $500 or 10 percent of the amounts of damages claimed.
CRIMINAL LAW
-HB 7083, speeding up the death penalty appeals process
- SB 92, relating to searches and seizures. The bill will restrict the use of unmanned aerial drones by law enforcement. It bars law enforcement from using the automated surveillance aircraft unless a judge issues a warrant, there is a “high risk of terrorist attack” or officials fear someone is in imminent danger. SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
-HB 1355, closing a loophole in an effort to prevent people who are mentally ill but have committed themselves for treatment and then left from purchasing guns.
-SB 964, preventing a convicted rapist from suing for parental rights if a child is conceived as a result of the rape.
-SB 390, prohibiting businesses from claiming to be veterans service organizations when they’re not
- HB 95, relating to charitable contributions. The bill says that if a Ponzi schemer gives money to a charity, later that charity won’t have to surrender the money after a criminal prosecution, if it took it in good faith.
-HB 217 requiring check cashing companies to report checks over $1,000 to the state to try to prevent workers compensation-check cashing scams.
-HB 15, preventing protests at funerals
HOUSING
-SB 1852, setting out spending from the National Mortgage Foreclosure settlement
-HB 87, a bill aimed at speeding up the foreclosure process.
GAMING
- HB 155, relating to electronic gambling devices. The bill outlaws the types of electronic games used in Internet cafes, effectively shutting down the controversial industry. Lawmakers rushed to pass the bill after raids on Internet cafes across the state, charges of racketeering and illegal gambling and the resignation of Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll because of her past ties to the industry.
SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
TAXES
-HB 7007, contained an elimination for three years of the sales tax on manufacturing equipment, a key issue for Gov. Rick Scott.
-SB 406, the three day sales tax holiday on some items in August. Passed as part of a broader economic incentives bill.
-SB 342, which allows someone with a homestead exemption to rent their property out for 30 days without losing their homestead exemption
FAMILY LAW
-SB 1036: extending foster care to age 21, rather than 18 as is currently the case. It also has some independent living training language, and provides training and support for foster parents. The bill was named the Sen. Nancy C. Detert Common Sense and Compassion Independent Living Act.
-SB 718, overhauling the state’s alimony laws, including eliminating the concept of permanent alimony. It also would have created new legal standards based on the lengths of marriages and would set limits on the percentages of monthly income that could be awarded in alimony based on the lengths of marriages. VETOED BY GOVERNOR
INSURANCE
-SB 1770, setting up a clearinghouse to push Citizens Property Insurance policies into private companies, restricting Citizens coverage in some cases, giving the company an inspector general and changing how its leaders are appointed.
- SB 1842, relating to health insurance. The bill would make insurance-regulation changes as part of carrying out the federal Affordable Care Act. In part, it would temporarily rely on the federal government to do rate reviews for many insurers.
ENERGY
-SB 1472, putting in review benchmarks for power companies that want to collect money from customers in advances of building new nuclear generating plants.
- HB 4001, relating to Florida Renewable Fuel Standard Act. The bill would lift the 2008 state law requiring gasoline sold by a terminal suppliers or wholesalers to be blended with ethanol. The Florida Renewable Fuel Standard Act was created to attract the ethanol industry to Florida, but repeal supporters argued the requirement damages engines and drives up fuel and food costs.
TRANSPORTATION/HIGHWAY SAFETY/MOTOR VEHICLES
-SB 52, banning texting while driving except when stopped.
-HB 7125, keeping local governments from using red light cameras to ticket people for not stopping before turning right on red.
- HB 7059, which repealed a 2012 law that required foreigners to have a special international permit to drive in Florida. The 2012 law caused confusion among tourists, such as Canadian snowbirds. SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
-SB 606, creating the Northeast Florida Regional Transportation Commission, passed unanimously.
GOVERNMENT
-SB 50 guaranteeing people the right to speak before local government boards and commissions.
LABOR/EMPLOYMENT
-HB 655, to keep local governments from setting their own policies on forms of compensation like earned sick leave.
ENVIRONMENT/NAT RESOURCES
-HB 7065, setting up a process for Everglades cleanup
-HB 999, a wide-ranging permitting bill
MISC.
-SB 674, requiring many animal shelters and animal control agencies to keep records about how many animals they euthanize and make the records available to the public.
-SB 142, removing the word “retardation” from statutes in favor of “intellectual disability.”
———————-
BILLS THAT FAILED
HEALTH CARE
Several bills aimed at expanding health care coverage under the federal Affordable Care Act
Several bills aimed at increasing oversight over assisted living facilities
EDUCATION
-HB 867, the so-called “parent trigger” bill that would have given parents the ability to petition school district about a turnaround plan for failing schools.
-HB 1279, a bill overhauling the Florida High School Athletic Association
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT/INCENTIVES
-SB 306, giving the Miami Dolphins the ability to get a local hotel tax increase and use it to renovate a stadium. Setting out a process for other facilities to get state money for rehabs.
TAXES/FEES
-SB 1832: Rolling back motor vehicle registration fee increases, lowering the cost by $12. In turn, the bill would eliminate a premium tax credit that out-of-state insurers pay based on payroll in Florida.
PENSIONS/RETIREMENT/LABOR ISSUES
-SB 1932: Changing the default retirement plan for state employees who don’t select a type of retirement plan to the defined contribution system and shortening the vesting period for those workers who choose the defined contribution plan, rather than the defined benefit pension plan.
-SB 1216, pre-empting wage theft regulations to the state.
AGRICULTURE
-HB 761, SB 752, making certain agricultural operations that use alternative energy technology eligible for capital investment tax credits
TOURISM
-SB 140, exempting short term rentals of cars used for 6 hours or less as part of a car sharing service from the rental car surcharge.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
-SB 1350, changing sentencing guidelines for juvenile offenders to deal with Supreme Court rulings preventing life sentences for certain juveniles.
-HB 797 preventing police from searching cell phones of arrestees without a warrant. (A Supreme Court ruling during the session essentially did the same thing, however.)
-HB 159: Increasing the amount of oxycodone and hydrocodone one may be in possession of before being charged with trafficking and reducing prison terms in some cases, therefore, for possession of prescription painkillers.
-SB 874, prohibiting open parties where minors are in possession or are consuming alcohol.
BUSINESS REGULATIONS
-HB 715: Allowing 64-ounce growlers to be filled up at brewpubs.
MISCELLANEOUS
-HB 589: Officially creating in statute the position of State Poet Laureate and providing for how the poet shall be chosen
-SB 634, re-enacting a ban on loud car stereos
-HB 58, a bill barring foreign legal systems from being honored in American family courts
FHSAA Overhaul To Wait Until At Least Next Year
May 6, 2013
The push by Lakeland-area lawmakers to assert more state control over the organization that oversees high school athletics in Florida failed to advance through the Legislature this year.
The measure which would have put new restrictions on investigations by the Florida High School Athletic Association, according to sponsor Sen. Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland.
“I’d prefer not to have to work on this again. I’d prefer the FHSAA do what we’ve asked them to do, which is restructure their bylaws (in a way) that is fair to students,” she said.
The bill also would have expanded the ability for students to transfer schools during the school year, give charter and home school students more opportunities to play for public school teams, alter the makeup of the board of directors, give school districts more say over athletic regulations in each county, and set a 2017 date to sunset the 93-year-old organization.
The FHSAA lobbied against the bill. The House had approved the measure 89-26 on April 24.
By The News Service of Florida
Pictured top: The coin toss before the FHSAA District 1A Football Championship game last December in Orlando between Northview and Trenton. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.