Escambia Man Honored During Tournament Of Roses Parade
December 31, 2018
Bryan Herrington, an organ and tissue donor from Escambia County, was honored on the 2019 Donate Life Rose Parade float on New Year’s Day in Pasadena, California. He is being featured among the float’s 44 floragraphs — a portrait made of organic materials such as seeds, spices and crushed flowers — that honor organ, tissue and eye donors from across the country.
“Bryan was all about being a servant and helping people,” said Terri Herrington, Bryan’s wife. “He would never have guessed that one decision could help so many people.”
Bryan was a husband and father of five, one son is currently a freshman at Tate High School. He was the owner of a family roofing business. In July 2004, he slipped while repairing a damaged roof, resulting in a terrible fall. Bryan never regained consciousness from that injury. Many years prior, he had registered as an organ and tissue donor. Because of Bryan’s generous gifts, he has helped save and restore the lives of 16 people through organ and tissue donation.
“Bryan made a life-changing difference for many people with his gifts,” said Rony Thomas, president and CEO of LifeNet Health, which nominated Herrington to be on the float and is sponsoring his family’s attendance at the parade. “We are proud to honor his legacy and hope he inspires others to make the selfless decision to register.”
The Donate Life Rose Parade float serves as a memorial to organ and tissue donors and a platform for donor families, living donors and transplant recipients to inspire the world to save and heal those in need through the gift of life. Today, more than 115,000 men, women and children are waiting for life-saving organ transplant. One organ donor can help save the lives of eight people and restore the health of more than 150 through tissue donation.
Pictured: Family members of Bryan Herrington finished a floragraph in his honor during a local ceremony. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Christmas Night House Fire Victim Passes Away
December 31, 2018
The victim of a Christmas night fire in Escambia County has passed away.
He was identified by family as Ronnie Owens, according to our news partners at WEAR 3.
Owens suffered burn injuries in the fire about 11:30 p.m. December 25 in the 900 block of Rentz Avenue in Warrington.
Escambia County Emergency Communications received a call at 11:34 p.m. reporting the residential structure fire.
Crews arrived on scene at 11:43 p.m. to find light smoke coming from the residence, with a report of an occupant still inside. Firefighters were able to locate the adult male occupant, who was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in trauma alert condition and later transferred to a burn unit in Mobile.
The fire was called under control at 11:59 p.m., with major damage throughout the home.
Smoke alarms were present in the residence, but it is unknown if they alerted the occupant, according to Escambia Fire Rescue.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
ECUA Collections One Day Later Than Normal This Week; Christmas Tree Disposal Too
December 31, 2018
All ECUA sanitation collections in Escambia County (garbage, recycling and yard trash) will be made one day later than normal this week due to the New Year’s holiday.
And if you are looking to get rid of a Christmas tree, ECUA customers in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties may place real wreaths and Christmas trees at the curb with their regular yard waste collection. Customers are asked to remove all tinsel and decorations from their trees before placing them at the curb, and to ensure that trees, or portions thereof, are no more than 6 feet in length. Trees can be placed at the curb with other yard trash and should not be placed in the recycling cans or green garbage containers.
Report Details Growth Of Medical Marijuana In Florida
December 31, 2018
Despite a bumpy rollout that has drawn lawsuits and criticism from legislators, a new report shows the number of Floridians using medical marijuana continues to grow.
In the first nine months of 2018, more than 136,000 patients across the state received certifications from 1,070 physicians to receive medical marijuana.
In all, those patients received 174,254 certifications — some could have received multiple certifications — for a host of medical conditions that qualify them to use marijuana. That included 41,143 certifications, or nearly 24 percent of the overall total, for post-traumatic stress disorder.
The report, issued by the Physician Certification Pattern Review Panel, also shows that physicians in Hillsborough, Pinellas and Palm Beach counties accounted for more than 30 percent of the certifications between January and Sept. 30.
The average medical-marijuana dose ordered was 372 milligrams per day, according to the data. But in Highlands County, where 470 patients were certified to receive the drugs, the average dose was 3,956 milligrams.
And in Nassau County, where two patients were reported as being certified, the average dose ordered was 17 milligrams.
While the report provides insight into how Florida physicians are responding to Florida’s burgeoning medical-marijuana market, panel co-chair Sandra Schwemmer, an osteopathic physician in Tavernier, said the information needs to be further analyzed before drawing conclusions.
Moreover, members of the panel agreed that the report doesn’t provide a full picture of Florida’s market because it doesn’t capture information from dispensaries. They have asked the Legislature to authorize the collection of the data.
Thirty-one states allow patients to use medical marijuana, including nine states that also have approved marijuana for recreational purposes.
Florida lawmakers first authorized the limited use of non-euphoric, low-THC marijuana in 2014, but Gov. Rick Scott’s administration drew criticism and legal challenges for the way it implemented the law. Voters in 2016 overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment that broadly legalized medical marijuana.
The following year, lawmakers passed legislation to implement the 2016 constitutional amendment, though that law also faces legal challenges.
The law required Florida’s two medical boards to form a joint committee that examines and analyzes the ordering patterns for physicians who certify patients. The panel is required to annually submit a report to the governor and legislative leaders. The new report is the first time such a document has been produced and submitted to the Legislature.
The report must include data by individual physician and information in the aggregate by county and statewide.
Data is taken from two sources: the state’s physician licensure database program and the statewide medical-marijuana use registry, which houses a variety of information about issues such as physician certifications, qualifying medical conditions and average maximum daily doses ordered.
Florida patients who suffer from a variety of ailments can receive medical marijuana. Specific diseases such as cancer, Parkinson’s disease, Crohn’s disease and glaucoma qualify patients. Also, patients who require pain management or suffer from similar conditions to the specific ones listed in the law can qualify if certified by physicians.
While medical-marijuana advocates have long touted the benefits of the substance for cancer patients, the data indicate that less than 10 percent of all medical-marijuana certifications, or 17,133, were for cancer patients.
Broward County led the state in the number of certifications for post-traumatic stress disorder, with 4,597. PTSD accounted for 35 percent of all certifications for medical marijuana in the county, according to the data.
Steven Rosenberg, a West Palm Beach physician who chairs the certifications review panel, said the PTSD certifications caught his attention and that he wanted to make sure nothing was afoul.
“If there are people who are taking advantage of the law by using a broad condition, I have some concern about that,” he said.
by Christine Sexton, The News Service of Florida
One Injured In Escambia House Fire; Six People Left Without Home
December 31, 2018
One person was injured in a house fire Sunday night in Escambia County.
One adult female was transported to West Florida Hospital. Four adults and two children were displaced and are being assisted by the Red Cross following the blaze in the 6900 block of Gulley Lane.
Escambia County Emergency Communications received a call at 7:56 p.m. reporting the residential structure fire. Crews arrived on scene at 7:59 p.m. to find light smoke showing from the front door of a single-story residence. Upon investigation, crews found a working fire in the kitchen. The fire was called under control at approximately 8:07 p.m.
The kitchen received moderate fire damage, and there was smoke damage throughout the home. There were no smoke alarms present.
The fire represents the seventh red bulb on the “Keep the Wreath Green” fire safety wreath campaign, an Escambia County collaborative initiative with the city of Pensacola to promote fire safety during the month of December. During the month-long campaign, five-foot wreaths are on display at 18 county fire stations and five city fire stations, with wreaths also placed outside Escambia County’s Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building downtown, the Escambia County Public Safety Building, Pensacola City Hall and Cordova Mall near the food court entrance. Each time firefighters respond to a residential fire with damage, a green light bulb will be replaced with a red one to remind citizens of the dangers posed by fires in residential home.
If your home does not have a working smoke detector, call Escambia County Fire Rescue at (850) 595-HERO (4376) or (850) 436-5200 in the city of Pensacola.
ECSO: Felon Caught With Loaded Shotgun At Century Apartment Complex
December 30, 2018
A Flomaton man was arrested on a felony weapons charge after a deputy spotted him at a Century apartment complex with a loaded shotgun.
Danny Lamar McCrory, 31, was booked into the Escambia County Jail on charges of operating a motor vehicle without a license and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon.
As Escambia County deputy was working an off duty security job at Century Woods Apartment on West Highway 4 when he observed McCrory drive into the complex. The deputy reported he immediately recognized McCrory from a traffic stop a few weeks ago. He remembered that McCrory said recently got out of prison and never had a valid driver’s license.
When the deputy approached McCrory’s vehicle, he observed a loaded camouflage shotgun sitting directly beside him between the driver’s seat and center console, according to an arrest report. Additional shotgun shells were located in the vehicle.
McCrory was convicted of felony drug possession in Alabama in 2015.
Road Construction Remains On Hold Through January 2
December 30, 2018
Lane closures associated with normal construction activities along Interstate 10 and major state roads remain suspended until 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, January 2 due to holiday travel. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Three Percent Tax Discount Ends December 31
December 30, 2018
A three percent discount on payment of real estate and tangible personal property taxes ends Monday, December 31, according to Escambia County Tax Collector Scott Lunsford.
To receive the three percent discount, payments must be:
- made online by midnight, CST, December 31, at EscambiaTaxCollector.com;
- mailed with a December postmark;
- left by midnight, December 31, in a 24-hour drop box available at all locations.
Taxpayers are encouraged to visit EscambiaTaxCollector.com to pay online 24 hours a day. Online services allow customers to pay their taxes, search records, print receipts, renew vehicle and vessel registrations and many other services.
To check the status of your taxes, pay online or print a receipt, visit the payment center at EscambiaTaxCollector.com. Taxpayers are encouraged to contact the tax collector’s office by emailectc@EscambiaTaxCollector.com or by phone with any questions.
Tax collector offices are closed January 1 for the New Year’s holiday.
Century Awards Community Emergency Team Contract To BRACE
December 30, 2018
The Town of Century has contracted with the Be Ready Alliance Coordinating for Emergencies (BRACE) to help them be reading the event of a public emergency.
BRACE will implement a Citizens Corps and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program at a cost of $5,000.
The Citizen Corps mission is to harness the power of every individual through education, training, and volunteer service to make communities safer, stronger, and better prepared to respond to the threats of terrorism, crime, public health issues, and disasters of all kinds.
The Community Emergency Response Team program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations.
BRACE has previously coordinated such efforts in Century. They were the only company or individual to submit a bid proposal.
Ballot Proposal Would Revamp Florida Utility Industry
December 30, 2018
A political committee has spent nearly $400,000 in recent months and submitted 33,863 valid petition signatures as it tries to get a measure on the 2020 ballot that would revamp Florida’s electric utility industry.
The proposal, backed by a committee called Citizens for Energy Choices, calls for wholesale and retail electricity markets to “be fully competitive so that electricity customers are afforded meaningful choices among a wide variety of competing electricity providers.”
It would establish a right for customers to choose electricity providers and would limit the role of investor-owned electric utilities — private companies such as Florida Power & Light, Duke Energy Florida, Tampa Electric Co. and Gulf Power Co. — to constructing, operating and repairing transmission and distribution systems..
Citizens for Energy Choices registered with the state Division of Elections in late September and had spent $396,515 as of Nov 30, according to state records. It had raised $434,000, all of which came from the organization Coalition for Energy Choice, Inc.
Committees will need to submit hundreds of thousands of valid petition signatures to get proposed constitutional amendments on the 2020 ballot. During the 2018 elections, they needed to submit 766,200 valid signatures.
by The News Service of Florida