BP Money To Help With Hurricane Michael Recovery
February 26, 2019
Money from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill will help governments in four storm-battered Northwest Florida counties with anticipated property-tax losses caused by Hurricane Michael.
The Triumph Gulf Coast Board agreed Monday to use $15 million for losses believed incurred by local governments in Bay, Franklin, Gulf and Wakulla counties. Triumph Gulf Coast, a non-profit created by the Legislature, will provide the money from the state’s $2 billion BP settlement stemming from the Deepwater Horizon disaster.
The board initially proposed setting aside the money through bridge loans to the local governments. Instead, it agreed to ask the four counties to each submit a list of projected property-tax losses from the storm that will be incurred by the counties, municipalities and school districts.
Commissioner Allan Bense of Panama City called the change a “fair balance” in providing the region with assistance and for members of the Legislature who have questioned the use of Triumph money for the disaster.
“We have a fine line too,” Bense, a former House speaker, said. “I also don’t want for the rest of Florida to think Triumph is going to take care of Michael, because that’s not our mission.”
Triumph Gulf Coast is responsible for distributing to Bay, Escambia, Franklin, Gulf, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla and Walton counties three-quarters of the money the state will get over the next 12 years through the BP settlement.
As part of its charge from the Legislature, Triumph is expected to direct money to regional economic projects that have wide impacts rather than directly to individual businesses.
Triumph Executive Director Susan Skelton said by providing property-tax relief — covering up to 50 percent of any projected losses — the money could be distributed by the end of April.
“These funds are not meant to solve the problems of the world,” Skelton said. “These funds are an emergency relief opportunity to get cash-advance ad valorem money into the local entities that need the money now, to begin doing projects that are reimbursable by FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management Agency) at a later date.”
Triumph Chairman Don Gaetz, a former Senate president from Niceville, said he doesn’t anticipate the funding will reach the 50 percent ceiling in any of the four counties because of the amount of storm damage across the region.
The board anticipates a new state budget, which will be put together during the legislative session that begins March 5, will include a bridge-loan program that exceeds $15 million, Skelton said.
The availability of the Triumph money comes as state lawmakers continue to submit legislation — totaling more than $600 million in the House — that seeks aid for the region, which continues to wait for additional federal assistance after Congress did not pass a disaster-relief package last week.
Florida has spent $1.13 billion responding to Hurricane Michael, a figure that could more than double and already tops Hurricane Irma, which caused damage to a wider area of the state in 2017, according to Senate President Bill Galvano.
Hurricane Michael made landfall Oct. 10 in Mexico Beach as a Category 4 storm and caused massive damage as it moved north into Georgia.
Galvano said Friday the state is awaiting “guidance” from the local communities about rebuilding.
“There may be some new opportunities now for better infrastructure in those areas, but we need guidance because I feel like you have some portion of the population that may not come back there,” the Bradenton Republican said. “In all silos, from education to health care, you have hospital issues, you have schools that literally have holes in them. Hopefully, with the right planning we’ll rebuild and rebuild with an eye towards preparation as well.”
Sen. Bill Montford, a Tallahassee Democrat who represents parts of the eastern Panhandle, has filed a bill (SB 376) that would designate $50 million a year from the state’s Land Acquisition Trust Fund to help with Hurricane Michael recovery.
In the House, Northwest Florida lawmakers from both parties had asked for at least $603 million as of Monday morning to fund more than 100 different storm-related issues, from government operations and school repairs to flood management and shelters.
Rep. Jay Trumbull, R-Panama City, has asked for at least $400 million. His requests include four bills directed at Mexico Beach, for stormwater repairs and beach renourishment, that combine to seek $63.8 million.
Rep. Brad Drake, R-Eucheeanna, has recently filed 15 storm-related bills that, if they all made it through the budget process, would bring $95 million to the region.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Supreme Court Impanels Grand Jury On School Safety
February 26, 2019
Granting a request by Gov. Ron DeSantis, the Florida Supreme Court on Monday impaneled a statewide grand jury to investigate whether school districts are complying with mandatory safety requirements following last February’s mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
On Feb. 13, the eve of the one-year anniversary of the state’s deadliest school shooting, DeSantis asked the court to impanel the grand jury to “make recommendations about what some of the various school districts could do better.”
Seventeen students and staff members were killed in the Parkland shooting, which DeSantis called “one of the worst days that we’ve had in the history of Florida.” Seventeen other people were injured. The massacre sparked at least three statewide investigations, and the Legislature hurriedly passed a sweeping school-safety law aimed at preventing similar tragedies.
In Monday’s order, justices unanimously decided DeSantis “has shown good and sufficient reason exists and that it is in the public interest to empanel a statewide grand jury,” which will have jurisdiction throughout Florida.
Chief Judge Jack Tuter, of the 17th Judicial Circuit in Broward County, will preside over the panel, which will meet for one year and will be comprised of jurors drawn from Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties, according to the order.
The grand jury will “investigate crime, return indictments, make presentments, and otherwise perform all functions of a grand jury” with regard to a host of possible offenses outlined in Monday’s order, which mirrors the request by DeSantis.
In a statement issued Monday, DeSantis said he was “pleased” with the court’s decision.
“This grand jury will work to investigate practices, identify failures and recommend solutions to keep students, teachers and staff safe in our schools,” he said.
The legislation passed last year included creation of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission, which spent months studying the Parkland shooting and school-safety issues. The commission last month released a 458-page report that addressed issues such as a breakdown in communications and security procedures.
At the governor’s behest, the grand-jury probe will include whether “refusal or failure to follow the mandates of school-related safety laws, such as the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Public Safety Act, results in unnecessary and unavoidable risk to students across the state.”
The inquiry will also focus on “whether public entities committed — and continue to commit — fraud and deceit by accepting state funds conditioned on implementation of certain safety measures while knowingly failing to act.”
And the grand jury will explore “whether school officials committed — and continue to commit — fraud and deceit by mismanaging, failing to use, and diverting funds from multimillion-dollar bonds specifically solicited for school safety initiatives.”
The panel will also investigate whether school officials violated state law “by systemically underreporting incidents of criminal activity to the Department of Education.”
Shortly after he took office in January, DeSantis suspended Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel, whose office was fiercely criticized for its handling of the Parkland massacre. Israel, a Democrat, has appealed his suspension to the Florida Senate.
Last month’s report by the state commission also found shortcomings in how Broward County schools dealt with confessed killer Nikolas Cruz, a former Marjory Stoneman Douglas High student. But DeSantis said he lacks the authority to remove the county’s appointed school superintendent, Robert Runcie, and instead asked the Supreme Court to launch the statewide investigation.
A statewide grand jury is “something real,” DeSantis, flanked by victims’ family members, said at a Feb. 13 press conference in Fort Lauderdale.
“This is something that is very serious,” the governor said. “Whatever recommendations they have for us, we’re going to heed that.”
by Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida
Local Elementary Schools Place In Science Olympiad
February 26, 2019
The Escambia County School District Science Olympiad was held Saturday at Washington High School. Results were as follows:
Overall Results
1st place: A.K. Suter
2nd place: Pleasant Grove
3rd place: Hellen Caro
4th place: N.B. Cook
5th place: Lipscomb
Robotics
1st place: Molino Park
2nd place: Pine Meadow
3rd place: Lipscomb
4th place: Jim Allen
5th place: N.B. Cook
Pentathlon
1st place: A.K. Suter
2nd place: Beulah
3rd place: Bratt
4th place: Kingsfield
5th place: Hellen Caro
Straw Egg Drop
1st place: Oakcrest
2nd place: Pleasant Grove
3rd place: Ferry Pass
4th place: Cordova Park
5th place: N.B. Cook
Tower Challenge
1st place: C.A.Weis
2nd place: A.K. Suter
3rd place: Pine Meadow
4th place: Pleasant Grove
5th place: Montclair
Science Bowl
1st place: Lipscomb
2nd place: Pleasant Grove
3rd place: Hellen Caro
4th place: Kingsfield
5th place: N.B. Cook
Mystery Powders
1st place: McArthur
2nd place: Hellen Caro
3rd place: N.B. Cook
4th place: A.K. Suter
5th place: Kingsfield
Picture This (Three way tie)
1st place: A.K. Suter
1st place: Hellen Caro
1st place: Pleasant Grove
4th place: Scenic Heights
5th place: Kingsfield
Tennis Ball Catapult
1st place: A.K. Suter
2nd place: Scenic Heights
3rd place: Pleasant Grove
4th place: N.B. Cook
5th place: Warrington
Pictured top: Molino Park Elementary. Pictured below: Additional North Escambia area schools (each photo is labeled). Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bratt Elementary
Jim Allen Elementary
Kingsfield Elementary
Beulah Elementary
Pine Meadow Elementary
McArthur Elementary
Lipscomb Elementary
Hiring Event In Century For Health Care Aides, Caregivers
February 26, 2019
CareerSource EscaRosa is hold a hiring event in Century on Wednesday for part time health care aides and caregivers.
The jobs are with Golden Arc Homecare Services for clients in Century, Cantonment and Pensacola.
The event will be held at the CareerSource Escarosa Century Office at 8120 North Century Boulevard from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Wednesday.
Click image to enlarge for details.
Rebuilt Historic Century Church Dedicated Three Years After Tornado
February 25, 2019
“The church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord.”
That was the first song from the congregation Sunday afternoon during a dedication service was for a Century church that was damaged beyond repair by a powerful EF-3 tornado in February 2016.
For a photo gallery from the dedication service and a photo tour of the church, click here.
The February 15, 2016, EF-3 tornado that struck Century dealt a blow from which the building of the Century United Methodist Church could not be recovered, literally knocking the building off its foundation.
But the foundation of the church, the members, stood strong after the storm as they worked through the three-year rebuilding process, all while continuing to hold services in a house across the street that served as a church annex.
The Century United Methodist Church was built in 1902, just after Century was established by The Alger-Sullivan Lumber Company. It was constructed of virgin long leaf pine, with interior detail and finish that created a reverent place for worship.
The sanctuary of the new church building occupies the same square footage as the old. It features items salvaged from the historic church, including stained glass windows, pews, light fixtures and large curly pine panels.
The walkway to the front door is constructed of bricks from the original foundation. A verse from Psalm 100:4 is inscribed on a granite stone — “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.”
For a photo gallery from the dedication service and a photo tour of the church, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Woman Charged With Child Abuse
February 25, 2019
UPDATE: CHARGES IN THIS CASE WERE DROPPED AS UNFOUNDED. CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS.
A Cantonment woman has been charged with felony child abuse.
An Escambia County Sheriff’s deputy was in his vehicle outside the Raceway on Highway 29 at Muscogee Road and observed Marshall Gage Gilley, 34, grab the child and pull him out of the gas station, according to arrest report. The incident was captured on the deputy’s in-car camera.
The child said Gilley was taking him to meet his mother. He told deputies that Gilley slammed on brakes several times between his residence and the gas station in an attempt to make him hit his head on dash, and Gilley grabbed him by the shirt and head-butted him in the upper lip, the report states. Deputies noted the child had a swollen upper lip with dried blood.
About a half hour before the Raceway incident, deputies responded to a residence in reference to a disturbance between Gilley and the child over the child not taking his medication. The deputy stated the child did not have the lip injury at the residence.
The Raceway clerk told officers that she witnessed Gilley yelling and pulling the boy, and the clerk told them to leave the store due to causing a disturbance.
Gilley was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $1,000 bond.
Tate High And Ransom Middle Jazz Bands Earn Superiors At District MPA
February 25, 2019
Two Tate High School Jazz Bands and the Ransom Middle School Jazz Band each earned Superior ratings at the District Jazz Music Performance Assessment on Friday. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Sheriff’s Office Seeks Attempted Murder Suspect
February 25, 2019
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is looking for an attempted murder suspect.
Jeremy Alexander Bedgood is wanted for attempted murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault and violation of a domestic violence injunction.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to Lincoln Drive about 2:30 a.m. Sunday for a report of shots fired. Deputies located a female victim with a gunshot wound and one who appeared to have been severely beaten.
Anyone with information on Bedgood’s whereabouts is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Scouts Hold Flag Retirement Ceremony (With Gallery)
February 25, 2019
Scouts held a retirement ceremony for American flags Saturday at the Walnut Hill Community Center, during the annual Ruritan Farm Auction.
The tattered and worn flags were first cut into pieces of cloth by the scouts. The blue star field was left intact to symbolize an unbroken union. The flags were then burned.
The flag retirement ceremony is a way American flags can be retired when they’re too worn to fly, according to the U.S. Flag Code, a set of guidelines on treating the nation’s flag respectfully.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
FDOT: Weekly Traffic Alerts
February 25, 2019
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
- U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement Bridge- Bridge construction will require the following lane closures from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 24 until Sunday, March 3:
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- U.S. 98 east and westbound from North 14th Avenue in Pensacola to just east of the Pensacola Bay Bridge in Gulf Breeze.
- North 17th Avenue in Pensacola between U.S. 98 and the CSX Railroad overpass (Graffiti Bridge).
- U.S. 29 Widening from Interstate 10 (I-10) to U.S. 90A (Nine Mile Road) – The following traffic impacts will occur from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 24 until Saturday, March 2.
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- Temporary Closures: The northbound U.S. 29 on-ramp from Nine Mile Road and 9 ½ Mile Road at U.S. 29 in will be closed from 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 22 to 6 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 23 as crews place drainage pipes across the roadway.
- Nine Mile Road travelers wanting to head north on U.S. 29 will be redirected to northbound Palafox Street, Ten Mile Road, back to U.S. 29.
- Travelers wanting access to 9 ½ Mile Road east of U.S. 29 may use Palafox Street.
- Nine Mile Road at the U.S. 29 Overpass: Alternating traffic shifts will direct all traffic onto the westbound or eastbound lanes as crews continue construction of the new northbound bridge deck. Nine Mile Road lane restrictions are Sunday through Friday.
- U.S. 29 between I-10 and 9 1/2 Mile Road: Drainage and paving operations continue. Drivers can expect alternating lane closures Monday through Saturday.
- Temporary Closures: The northbound U.S. 29 on-ramp from Nine Mile Road and 9 ½ Mile Road at U.S. 29 in will be closed from 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 22 to 6 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 23 as crews place drainage pipes across the roadway.
- State Road (S.R.) 727 (Fairfield Drive) from South of Usher Circle to North of Hestia Place- The northbound lane on Fairfield Drive from South of Usher Circle to North of Hestia Place will be closed from 8:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. until Sunday, Feb. 24 as crews remove the existing asphalt to prepare for roadway widening.
- U.S. 98 (Lillian Highway) Resurfacing from the Perdido Bay Bridge to Dog Track Road– Drivers may encounter lane restrictions from the Perdido Bay Bridge to Dog Track Road as crews complete paving operations. Lane closures will be in effect from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Monday, Feb. 25 until Sunday, March 3.
- U.S. 90 (Mobile Highway) and County Road (C.R.) 99 (Beulah Road) Intersection – Drivers will encounter intermittent lane restrictions near the intersection the week of Sunday, Feb. 24 as paving operations continue. There will be no lane closures allowed from 6 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
- U.S. 98 East Chase Street Resurfacing from North Palafox Street to Bayfront Parkway- Intermittent lane restrictions will take place from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday, Feb. 25 until Thursday, Feb. 28 as crews pave and adjust manholes.
- I-110 Routine Bridge Inspections- Motorists can expect minor delays due to intermittent lane restrictions under I-110 in downtown Pensacola from East Chase Street to East Gonzalez Street as crews perform routine inspections of the I-110 downtown bridges. Lane restrictions will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. until Saturday, Feb. 23.
- S.R. 291 (Davis Highway) from Fairfield Drive to Selina Street- The northbound, outside lane will be closed at various locations between Fairfield Drive and Selina Street as crews perform utility work and raise manhole covers. The lane restrictions will be in effect from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. until Thursday, Feb. 28.
- Theo Baars Bridge Routine Inspection- Motorists may encounter intermittent lane restrictions on the Theo Baars Bridge on S.R. 292 (Gulf Beach Highway) from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 26 until Thursday, Feb. 28 as crews perform a routine bridge inspection.
- Crary Road Bridge Replacement over Pritchett Mill Creek- Crary Road is closed between Tedder Road and Byrneville Road as crews construct a bridge culvert. Motorists will be detoured via C.R. 4 and Byrneville Road. The project is anticipated to be complete spring 2019.
- Bratt Road Bridge Replacement over Canoe Creek - Bratt Road will continue to be closed near Canoe Creek. Drivers on Bratt Road, west of the bridge, will be detoured to Pine Barren Road and C.R. 4. Drivers east of the bridge will be detoured east on Bratt Road. The project is anticipated to be complete summer 2019.
- Hanks Road Bridge Replacement over Breastworks Creek - Construction activities have begun. The roadway will be temporarily closed during construction. Drivers on Hanks Road, west of the bridge, will be detoured to C.R. 99 and C.R. 4. Drivers east of the bridge will utilize Pine Barren Road.
Santa Rosa County:
- I-10 from Blackwater Bay to East of S.R. 87 (Exit 31)-Traffic may encounter alternating and intermittent lane restrictions from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., Sunday through Thursday, until Thursday, March 28 as crews remove and replace pavement markings. Law enforcement will be on site to assist with traffic control.
- S.R. 87 Pavement Markings Replacement- Traffic will encounter minor delays at the following locations Monday through Thursday from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. until Thursday, April 25 as crews remove and replace pavement markings in the roadway. Law enforcement will be on site to direct traffic:
- U.S. 90 to Nicholas Lake Road
- U.S. 98 to Vonnie Tolbert Road
- U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – Bridge construction will require the following lane closures from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 25 until Sunday, March 3:
- U.S. 98 east and westbound from North 14th Avenue in Pensacola to just east of the Pensacola Bay Bridge in Gulf Breeze.
- North 17th Avenue in Pensacola, between U.S. 98 and the CSX Railroad overpass (Graffiti Bridge).
- S.R. 89 (Dogwood Drive) Routine Maintenance from Chestnut Street to Starhill Drive- There will be intermittent lane restrictions between Chestnut Street and Starhill Drive as utility crews trim trees. Lane closures will be in effect from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, February 25 until Saturday, March 2.
- I-10 Widening from Escambia Bay Bridge to Avalon Boulevard (S.R. 281/Exit 22) – The following construction related traffic impacts are planned for I-10 and Avalon Boulevard from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. the week of Sunday, Feb. 24:
- Drivers may encounter alternating lane closures on Avalon Boulevard, near the I-10 interchange, Monday through Thursday as crews perform construction activities.
- Alternating lane closures on I-10, from the Escambia Bay Bridge to east of S.R. 281, Monday, Feb. 25 until Friday, March 1 as crews work to widen the roadway.
- Drivers will encounter new traffic pattern(s) on I-10 east and westbound as crews reconstruct the inside and outside shoulders. This work will continue through spring 2019.
- U.S. 98 Safety Improvements at Constitution Drive and Navarre School Road- There will be intermittent eastbound lane closures near Thresher Drive from 8 p.m. to 5a.m. Sunday through Thursday as crews construct a right turn lane.
- Drainage work is underway at Newport Street and Thresher Drive.
- Construction activities continue from Sunrise Drive to east of Cotton Bay Lane. Lane Closures will be in effect Sunday through Thursday from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. as crews perform concrete operations in the median.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. Drivers are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling througha work zone and to watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway.