Take Our Quick Four Question Fourth Of July Survey
June 30, 2019
THIS SURVEY IS CLOSED.
How do you spend the Fourth of July? Who has the best local fireworks show?
Those are two of the four questions in the NorthEscambia.com Fourth of July Survey. Click here to take the survey, and look for the results in an upcoming story on NorthEscambia.com.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
New Texting, Vaping And Firefighter Cancer Laws Go Into Effect July 1
June 30, 2019
Several new laws will go into effect Monday, July 1 in Florida.
Texting and Driving
The one will impact the most people is a new law that makes texting and driving a primary offense, meaning an office can pull you over if they see you texting on your phone while your vehicle is in motion. There are also increase penalties forr texting and driving in school zones and construction zones.
Vaping Ban
A new vaping law goes into effect, banning vaping and e-cigarettes in indoor workplaces. The vaping ban is an extension of the Florida Clean Indoor Air Act, which was passed to protect people from secondhand smoke.
Firefighter Cancer Benefits
Firefighters that are diagnosed with certain types of cancer will benefit from the new law. While treatment for cancer is often covered already existing health plans, the new law requires the firefighter’s employer to cover out-of-pocket expenses such as copays and deductibles.
Navy Accepting Input On Advanced Helicopter Training Plan
June 30, 2019
The Navy has completed and released to the public a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the replacement of the TH-57 Sea Ranger training helicopter system with the Advanced Helicopter Training System at Naval Air Station (NAS) Whiting Field.
The Navy proposes to modernize its rotary-wing and tilt-rotor pilot training program at Training Air Wing Five located at NAS Whiting Field and its respective helicopter training Navy Outlying Landing Fields.
The AHTS would involve the replacement of TH-57 Sea Ranger training helicopters, replacement of existing simulators, an increase in operational training tempo, changes in operational tactics based on a new curriculum, construction of temporary and permanent supporting facilities, and an increase in personnel.
The purpose of the Proposed Action is to address the capability and capacity gaps of the current aging TH-57 helicopter training system operated by Training Air Wing (TW) 5 at NAS Whiting Field. The AHTS would provide a newer, more capable, more reliable helicopter and training system to TW-5. The proposed AHTS would meet the advanced helicopter and intermediate tilt-rotor training requirements through 2050.
Interested parties may view a copy of the Draft EA at the website www.nepa.navy.mil/ahts and at the following libraries:
CENTURY: Century Branch Library, 7991 N. Century Boulevard.
MOLINO: Molino Branch Library, 6450-A Highway 95A.
PENSACOLA: Pensacola Library, 239 N. Spring Street; Tryon Branch Library, 1200 Langley Avenue; Genealogy Branch Library, 5740 North Ninth Avenue; Southwest Branch Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Highway; Westside Branch Library, 1301 West Gregory Street.
PACE: Pace Library, 4750 Pace Patriot Boulevard.
MILTON: Milton Library, 5541 Alabama Street.
Public comments on the Draft EA must be postmarked or received online no later than July 19, 2019. Written comments may be submitted online at www.nepa.navy.mil/ahts or mailed to:
AHTS EA Project Manager
Naval Facilities Engineering Command Atlantic
Attn: Code EV22TW
6506 Hampton Blvd.
Norfolk, VA 23508
Public comments on the Draft EA will be considered in the Final Environmental Assessment.
Pictured: TH-57 Sea Ranger helicopters from Training Air Wing 5 sit on the flightline at Naval Air Station Whiting Field. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Mechanic Testing Pickup Truck Flips It Into Cantonment Creek
June 29, 2019
A mechanic looking to test out a pickup truck flipped it into a Cantonment creek Saturday afternoon.
The Florida Highway Patrol said mechanic Craig Kittrell of Cantonment, 61, was driving the 1999 Chevrolet 1500 east on West Roberts Road near Stallion Road where he “allegedly accelerated to test the suspension and transmission. The action of the driver caused the rear tires of the vehicle to lose traction. The vehicle left the roadway, overturning into a creek.”
Kittrell and passenger Suzane Adams, age 38 of Cantonment, were both transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in serious condition by Escambia County EMS.
Any charges in the crash are pending, according to FHP.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
One Injured In Nine Mile, Pine Forest Crash
June 29, 2019
One person was injured in a two vehicle crash Saturday morning at the intersection Nine Mile and Pine Forest roads.
The male was transported by Escambia County EMS to an area hospital. Traffic was slowed in the area as the Florida Highway Patrol investigated the wreck.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Responds To Letters From Medical Director’s Attorney
June 29, 2019
Escambia County has responded to letters from lawyers representing Medical Director Dr. Rayme Edler.
The Health Law Firm sent letters to the county attorney’s office and human resources department demanding that Edler not be contacted directly, instead asking that all communications be through her lawyer.
The county attorney’s office said that county staff and personnel in the day to day operation of the county are not obligated to follow the demands.
Edler’s supervisors and the interim human resources director “have the right and duty to communicate directly with Dr. Edler without your intervention or interference,” Deputy County Attorney Charles Peppler wrote in a letter to The Health Law Firm.
“…Your letter of representation would not prohibit day-to-day communication between Dr. Edler, her supervisors and employees of the Public Safety and Corrections Departments, including other department directors, such as Ms. Stallworth, on matters necessary for the efficient operation of County government,” Peppler continued. “Please advise your client that her duties and responsibilities as an employee of Escambia County require her to communicate with her supervisors, department directors, and employees within the Departments of Public Safety and Corrections on all matters arising from the course and scope of her employment with Escambia County without your having to be present and without the communication having to be made through you or any other attorney in your law firm.”
Edler oversees the medical operations in Escambia County’s Public Safety and Corrections departments.
Pictured: Escambia County Medical Directory Dr. Rayme Edler addresses the Escambia County Commission at a May meeting.
Doughnut Strike: First Responders Collect Food For Manna
June 29, 2019
First responders spent the last three days at area stores working to collect food for those in need in our communities.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Escambia Fire Rescue, Pensacola Police Department and Pensacola Fire Department were on strike against their beloved doughnuts in an effort to collect 20,000 pounds of food.
Pictured: Escambia Fire Rescue collected food for Manna Friday afternoon at Grocery Advantage on Highway 29 in Cantonment. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
New Live Pensacola Beach Traffic Cameras; Cash For Tolls May Not Be Accepted This Weekend
June 29, 2019
New cameras provide a live look at Pensacola Beach traffic.
The cameras provide views of the traffic coming off the Bob Sikes Bridge and passing through the toll plaza in real time.
Live views of the cameras can be viewed on the county’s website.
Drivers traveling onto Pensacola Beach this weekend during peak traffic times may be instructed by staff to use the Toll-by-Plate system in the cash lanes in order to reduce traffic congestion, according to Escambia County.
If you are instructed to use Toll-by-Plate, you will simply drive through the toll plaza without stopping and receive your $1 bill in the mail through the Toll-by-Plate system. The toll will still be $1 each time you pass through the toll plaza, plus a $2.50 administrative fee that is charged each billing cycle. No matter the number of trips you take to the beach, you will only be charged the administration fee once per billing cycle.
You can also use your SunPass in all four lanes of the toll plaza, including the cash lanes, without stopping. With SunPass, the $1 toll will automatically be deducted from your prepaid account.
If you use Toll-by-Plate, remember you can use that method for the rest of the billing cycle with no additional administrative fee, just the one time $2.50 charge for the billing cycle.
Using Toll-by-Plate helps ease traffic congestion and allows drivers to pass through the toll plaza onto the beach much faster, which means less wait time for drivers.
Last weekend, during a test of the Toll-by-Plate system, the average wait time from Gulf Breeze proper to Pensacola Beach was approximately 10-15 minutes, compared to previous wait times of one hour.
Panhandle Equine Rescue Seeks Volunteers
June 29, 2019
Panhandle Equine Rescue in Cantonment is looking for volunteers.
The horse rescue needs help with daily barn chores like cleaning stalls, paddocks and pastures, and watering horses at the facility. Grooming is encouraged, and those at an intermediate or advance level may ride at times.
Children under 8 will not be permitted in the horse area. Children 8-13 will require the presence of an adult for barn duties.
For more information, email rlowery@panhandle.rr.com.
Florida Forest Service Accepting Applications For Longleaf Pine Private Incentive Program
June 29, 2019
The Florida Forest Service announced that applications are now being accepted for the Longleaf Pine Private Landowner Incentive Program. Applications will be accepted through Friday, Aug. 2.
The primary objective of the Longleaf Pine Private Landowner Incentive Program is to increase the acreage of healthy longleaf pine forests in Florida by assisting eligible, non-industrial private forest landowners with the long-term investment necessary to establish and maintain the valuable longleaf pine ecosystem.
“We are excited to expand the program this year to include all counties within the historical range of longleaf pine, providing assistance to more landowners across the state,” said Jim Karels, State Forester and Director of the Florida Forest Service.
Longleaf pine forests are native to the southeastern United States and are among the most diverse ecosystems in North America. Longleaf pines provide high-quality wood products and are valued for their resistance to damage by insects, disease, wildfire and storms. Due to urbanization and conversion to other land uses, longleaf pine forests have been dramatically reduced and now cover less than four percent of their historical range. Florida is home to more than 2 million acres of longleaf pine ecosystems, which represents more than half of all current longleaf pine forests.
The Longleaf Pine Incentive Program offers incentive payments for the completion of timber stand improvement, invasive species control, prescribed burning, planting longleaf pine, establishing native plant understory and mechanical underbrush treatments. Private lands in the 58 Florida counties north of Lake Okeechobee are eligible. To learn more and access an application, visit FloridaForestService.com or contact your local Florida Forest Service county forester. In Escambia County, call Cathy Hardin at (850) 587-5237 or email.