Cloudy Timeline For Medical Marijuana Leads To Frustration
October 7, 2015
With the Department of Health unable to say when licenses will be issued in the state’s new medical-marijuana industry, a House Republican on Tuesday blasted delays in carrying out a 2014 law billed as helping children with severe epilepsy.
Rep. Greg Steube, R-Sarasota, said “there’s a lot of frustration” among lawmakers who voted to approve allowing non-euphoric types of medical marijuana. He said the Department of Health received applications about three months ago from nurseries seeking licenses to grow, process and dispense the substances, but a panel is still reviewing the proposals.
“It’s been almost two years since this bill was passed, and we still don’t have any restitution for these children that are trying to get this drug that the Legislature recognized as something that is a need for the state of Florida, and I would just like some guidance from the department on, when are we going to have some movement ahead and some timeline here as to when these people (licensees) are going to be picked, when this product is going to be available to people in the state of Florida?” Steube said.
Steube’s comments came after Nichole Geary, general counsel for the Department of Health, made a presentation to the House Health Quality Subcommittee about efforts to carry out the high-profile law. During the presentation, Geary said she couldn’t give a timeline for awarding the licenses in five regions of the state, a critical step in moving forward with making the drugs available.
“At this time, we are unable to provide a date upon which the licenses will be issued,” Geary said. “The department is very mindful of the need to move forward as quickly as possible in issuing the licenses in the five … regions. The panelists have been instructed to move through the applications as diligently as reasonably possible without sacrificing the quality of the review.”
The discussion in the House subcommittee came as two key players on medical-marijuana issues — Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island, and Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach — plan to hold a news conference Wednesday to talk about cannabis legislation they will bring to the Senate and House. Bradley and Gaetz were lead sponsors of the 2014 law, which became widely known as the “Charlotte’s Web” bill because of a type of medical marijuana that it allowed.
The law allows substances that purportedly do not get users high, with the types of cannabis low in euphoria-inducing tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, and high in cannabadiol, or CBD. Parents of children with severe forms of epilepsy pushed lawmakers to approve the low-THC cannabis, believing it can end or dramatically reduce life-threatening seizures.
Under the law, the Department of Health was required to put together a regulatory structure for the new industry and faced lengthy legal challenges to its rule proposals. An administrative law judge in May approved a department rule, clearing the way for the process to select one licensee in each of the five regions.
In all, the department’s panel is considering 28 applications for the coveted licenses. But Steube and other lawmakers have been frustrated at the slow pace of the work.
House Health Quality Chairman Cary Pigman, R-Avon Park, tried to shield Geary from questions Tuesday about the license-application process, saying it remain ongoing. But Steube said he couldn’t avoid the issue and alluded to some members of the subcommittee who hadn’t even been elected when the 2014 law was passed.
“Most of this committee didn’t even vote on this bill because they weren’t in the Legislature when this bill went through,” he said. “So there’s a lot of frustration on people that supported this legislation.”
by Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida
Willie Lois McGhee Fore
October 7, 2015
Willie Lois McGhee Fore, 72 of Atmore, departed this life on Tuesday October 6, 2015, in Mobile. Mrs. Fore was employed by Community Action Agency as a Family Service worker with Freemanville Headstart. She was a member of United Pentecostal Church of Atmore and was also a song leader for the church. She was a member of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Kinzy and Ethel McGhee; first husband, Kenneth Ray Corey; and brother, Raymond McGhee.
She is survived by her husband, James Stephen Fore of Robinsonville; three sons, Cecil Ray (Jeanne) Corey of Poarch, Harold Glen (Debbie) Corey , Edward “Eddie” Phillip (Cassie) Fore all of Robinsonville; one brother, Joe Frank (Dorothy) McGhee of Atmore; three sisters, Mary Stella Gibbs of Atmore, Carolyn Rackard of Poarch, Betty Ruth (Gene) Sheppard of Dothan; sister-in-law, Mary Jane McGhee of Poarch; grandsons, Caleb Corey and Cody Nall; granddaughters, Megan Corey, Caitlyn Corey, Leandra Corey, Parker Corey, Kaylen Fore, Kenzie Fore; great-grandchildren, Kendall Corey and Aurora Rosabell Lopez; nephews, David Gibbs, Chet McGhee, Ken McGhee, Jason Rackard and Jeremy Rackard; nieces, Rosemary Powell, Gina Simmons, DeeDee Ward, and over 30 foster children; and three special friends, Evelyn Padgett, Vicki Corey and Amanda Lane.
Services will be held Saturday, October 10, 2015, at 10 a.m. from the United Pentecostal Church of Atmore, with Bro Steve Pendelton, Sis. Mary Gibbs and Rev. Derek Gobert officiating.
Interment will follow in New Home Cemetery.
Family will receive friends on Friday, October 9, 2015, at the United Pentecostal Church of Atmore from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.
Grand Opening Held At Ernest Ward
October 6, 2015
A grand opening ceremony was held today at the rebuilt Ernest Ward Middle School in Walnut Hill. We’ll have a complete story and photo gallery coming up Wednesday morning on NorthEscambia.com.
NorthEscambia.com photos.
Atmore Man Killed In Single Vehicle Crash
October 6, 2015
A single vehicle accident north of Atmore claimed the life of an Atmore man Monday night.
According to Alabama State Troopers, 19-year old James Bradley Tolbert was killed when he was thrown from the bed of a pickup truck in which he was a passenger. He was pronounced deceased on the scene of the 8:45 pm. crash on Butler Street, about eight miles north of Atmore.
The driver of the 2003 Dodge Ram, 29-year old James Patrick Godwin of Atmore was not injured.
Further details have not been released as Alabama State Troopers continue their investigation.
Tate High Graduate Appears On ‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire’
October 6, 2015
Tate High School graduate Matthew Bailey appeared during ” on “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire” Monday night. He didn’t bring home the million, but did win $20,000. Bailey is a 2013 honors graduate from Tate High School. Images courtesy @MillionaireTV for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
New Assisted Living Facility May Bring New Jobs To Century
October 6, 2015
A new assisted living facility and the jobs it may bring to Century have Mayor Freddie McCall excited.
The owners of The Terrace At Ivy Acres in Jay, also an assisted living facility, have plans in the works to open a similar facility in in the Century Industrial Park. McCall told the Century Town Council Monday night that he was not sure how many beds the facility would operate, but it would bring 20-30 much needed jobs to the town. “That’s the part (the jobs) I remember and the part I’m happy about,” he said.
The front lots in the industrial park, just off West Highway 4, are already zoned for medical services and already occupied by medical-related facilities such as the Century Health and Rehabilitation Center, Lakeview Center and an Escambia County EMS post.
There is a lot just under 2.5 acres available in the area zoned for medical facilities, McCall said, but the new assisted living facility might not fit on the property. In that event, they are considered a lot further back in the mostly unoccupied industrial park, but it’s not properly zoned, he said.
Changing the zoning and amending the town’s comprehensive plan for the assisted living facility to locate elsewhere in the park would be a 3-6 month process, McCall said. The town took the first step in that potential process Monday night by voting to spend $1,300 for wetlands survey on four lots in the industrial park.
There’s no word on any timetable for opening the assisted living facility in Century, if project developers move forward.
Pictured: The Terrace at Ivy Acres in Jay. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
North Barth Road To Be Closed Wednesday
October 6, 2015
CSX Railroad is scheduled to close North Barth Road at the railroad crossing until Wednesday, October 7, for repairs to the crossing. All maintenance and repair activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Alabama Recycling Facility Shuts Down, ECUA Searching For Solution
October 6, 2015
The Montgomery, AL, recycling facility that processes recycled materials for ECUA has temporarily shut down.
A majority of the recyclables collected by ECUA are trucked to the Advanced Mixed Materials Recovery Facility operated by Infinitus Energy. It’s an arrangement that was profitable for ECUA.
But the plant temporarily ceased operations last week because of falling prices for their recycled products.
“One key element of a successful materials recycling program is the ability to sell recovered material at a price that will support the recycling process,” said Kyle Mowitz, Infinitus CEO. “While our customers have been satisfied with the material we have reclaimed, unfortunately the market price for these materials has dropped dramatically.”
Now, ECUA is looking at other options, and Infinitus is looking to the city of Montgomery for help. The company also processes recyclables for Montgomery.
“The proposed plans will require cooperative efforts on all fronts, to deal with current market pricing issues. However, it is possible to minimize the impact these temporary conditions will have on the City’s long term goals of recycling and diversion, by keeping the facility in operation and working together until the markets improve,” the Infinitus said in a prepared statement.
Pictured: Infinitus Energy in Montgomery, AL. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Partly Cloudy, Mid 60’s Tonight
October 6, 2015
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 63. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 63. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 85. East wind around 5 mph.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 63. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 85. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 85.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 63.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 83.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 60.
Columbus Day: Sunny, with a high near 84.
State Awards Century $50K for New Showalter Park Splash Pad
October 6, 2015
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has officially announced funding for a new splash pad in Century.
The $50,000 Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program grant to install a splash pad at Showalter Park was announced Monday. That amount will fund the installation of the watery playland, but not associated costs such was water and sewer.
At a July council meeting, Mayor Freddie McCall expressed concerns that the splash pad might cost the town too much to operate.
The splash pad that Century can afford won’t recycle water — that feature would cost the town another $50,000 plus, McCall said. The splash pad that Century can purchase with grant money will use hundreds of gallons of water in just minutes. At an August council meeting, McCall said the cost to operate the splash pad could reach an affordable average of $184 per week — calculating water and sewer expenses at the town’s cost since they operate their own water and sewer system. The splash pad will not be operational during the colder months of the year.
In August, council voted to move forward, accepting the splash pad grand and agreeing to pay the water and sewer costs.
McCall said the town will also install a restroom near the splash pad at Showalter Park, next to new playground equipment recently installed with a previous state grant.
More than $5.4 million was announced Monday for 110 recreational development projects in local communities across the state. Century’s splash pad project was the only grant recipient in Escambia County. The competitive grant program provides state funds to develop lands for public outdoor recreational use, such as building or renovating sports facilities or playgrounds.
“The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is committed to funding projects that directly benefit natural resources and local communities,” said DEP Secretary Jon Steverson. “This grant funding will support projects such as athletic fields, picnic facilities, fishing piers and playgrounds – projects that provide taxpayers additional recreational opportunities.”
Pictured: The Town of Century has been awarded a state grant to purchase this model splash pad. Courtesy images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
