From Dollars To Dinosaurs: Byrne Learns About Atmore Pre-K Program
January 26, 2018
Thursday morning, Rep. Bradley Byrne of Alabama visited with educators and preschoolers at Rachel Patterson Elementary School in Atmore to learn more about how the voluntary Pre-K program is benefiting from a federal Preschool Development Grant.
Byrne heard from educators about the successes of the Pre-K program at Rachel Patterson and talked about the dollars and cents that makes the program work. He also visited two Pre-K classrooms where he joined four and five-year olds on the floor playing with dinosaurs and blocks, and he read the Dr. Seuss classic “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” to students.
Current funding allows about one-fourth of four-year olds in Escambia County to participate in Alabama’s Pre-K program, slightly less than the state average. There are seven Pre-K classrooms at public schools in Escambia County.
“The biggest takeaway from today’s visit is that the rest of the nation has a lot to learn from Alabama’s successful Pre-K programs,” Byrne said. “”I appreciated the opportunity to visit with the students, teachers, administrations, and community leaders who help make the program such a success. As a member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, I will be sure to take my experiences from today back to Washington as we work to improve Pre-K programs around the country.”
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Convicted Of Exploiting Legally Blind Elderly Victim
January 26, 2018
An Escambia County man has been convicted of exploiting a legally blind elderly victim.
John Louis Wages, 45, was found guility of one count of illegal use of criminal identification information, victim over 60 years of age, and exploitation of the elderly, $10,000 or more but less than $50,000, both second degree felonies. The sentencing is set for Feb. 15, 2018, with Wages facing 30 years in state prison. Wages qualifies to be sentenced as a habitual felony offender due to extensive prior criminal history and an active probationary status, according to Attorney General Pam Bondi.
f one count of illegal use of criminal identification information, victim over 60 years of age, and exploitation of the elderly, $10,000 or more but less than $50,000, both second degree felonies. The sentencing is set for Feb. 15, 2018, with Wages facing 30 years in state prison. Wages qualifies to be sentenced as a habitual felony offender due to extensive prior criminal history and an active probationary status.
Florida House Backs Making It Harder To Raise Taxes
January 26, 2018
TALLAHASSEE — In a priority of Gov. Rick Scott and Speaker Richard Corcoran, the Florida House on Thursday overwhelmingly approved a proposed constitutional amendment that would make it harder to raise taxes and fees.
The proposal, which could go on the November ballot, would require two-thirds votes by the House and the Senate in the future to increase taxes and fees, up from the usual majority votes.
“I believe that taking a citizen’s hard-earned money should not be done lightly,” sponsor Tom Leek, R-Ormond Beach, said before the House voted 80-29 to approve the measure (HJR 7001). “You either stand with the people whose money the government takes or you stand with the government that takes it.”
But Democratic critics argued that the current Legislature should not seek to tie the hands of future lawmakers in making decisions about taxes and spending. They said Florida lags other states in funding for such things as public schools and mental-health programs.
“Each and every session, there’s a different tension between taxes and revenue and what we want to spend money on and what we don’t,’’ Rep. Sean Shaw, D-Tampa, said. “I’m no smarter than someone who’s going to come here 10 years from now to vote. And so I don’t think I ought to have more power than that person that sits in this seat 10 years from now to vote. They should be able to vote up or down on tax policy, up and down on revenues, just like I do.”
While the measure easily passed, the House still needs to work out differences with the Senate before the proposed constitutional amendment could go before voters in November.
The Senate Finance and Tax Appropriations Subcommittee is slated Monday to take up a version (SJR 1742) that would require three-fifths votes of the House and Senate before taxes could be increased in the future — a lower threshold than the House plan. The Senate version also would not apply to raising fees.
But while differences remain, Scott and Corcoran have focused heavily on the issue in the early stages of the 2018 session. If a tax-limit proposal reaches the November ballot, it would require approval from 60 percent of voters to go into the state Constitution.
“When I first announced this proposal, Speaker Corcoran joined me to ensure we do all we can to let families and job creators keep more of their hard-earned money,” Scott said in a statement after the House vote. “Today, the Florida House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed this proposal in a bipartisan vote to give Floridians the chance to go to the polls and vote to make it harder for politicians in Tallahassee to raise taxes and fees.”
The proposed constitutional amendment was one of 19 measures approved Thursday by the House, including two health-care bills that have long been backed by Corcoran and other House GOP leaders.
One of those bills (HB 27), sponsored by Rep. Heather Fitzenhagen, R-Fort Myers, would eliminate the controversial “certificate of need” regulatory process for hospitals. Under the process, hospitals must seek approval from the state Agency for Health Care Administration before adding facilities or programs.
Fitzenhagen said eliminating the so-called CON process would increase competition and drive down health-care costs. But critics, such as Rep. Lori Berman, D-Lantana, argued it could lead to new hospitals in affluent areas “cherry picking” insured patients from older hospitals, which would be left serving larger proportions of low-income and uninsured patients.
The House, which voted 72-36 to approve the bill, also has passed CON repeals in the past but has not gotten agreement from the Senate.
Similarly, the House voted 97-10 to approve a bill (HB 37) aimed at encouraging the use of “direct primary care” agreements. Under the agreements, patients or their employers would make regular payments to doctors for primary-care services, at least partly cutting out the role of insurers.
The bill, sponsored by Insurance & Banking Chairman Danny Burgess, R-Zephyrhills, would make clear the agreements are not governed by insurance laws and regulations. Like with the CON repeal, the House in the past has been unable to reach agreement with the Senate on direct primary care.
Rep. Mike Miller, R-Winter Park, said the bill would address health-care costs and give decision-making power to doctors and patients.
“We’re trying to lower the cost of health care and improve the outcomes,” Miller said.
by Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida
Multiple Departments Contain Grass Fire Near Jay
January 25, 2018
A grass fire in the 6200 block of Old Pollard Road in Jay threatened several structures Thursday afternoon. Firefighters from Berrydale, Jay, Century, Flomaton and the Florida Division of Forestry were able to contain the fire and prevent and structural damage. There were no injuries reported. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Molino Brush Fire Threatens Structures, Vehicles
January 25, 2018
A brush fire in Molino threatened several structures and vehicles Thursday afternoon.
The fire was reported about 1:30 p.m. on Cedar Tree Lane. Firefighters from the Molino, Cantonment and Ensley stations of Escambia Fire Rescue worked to bring the fire under control with no structural damage.
There were no injuries reported.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Firefighters Respond To Brush Fire On Shady Lane In Century
January 25, 2018
Firefighters responded to brush fire at residence in the 9500 block of Shady Lane in Century about noon Thursday. The fire reportedly started when a trash fire got out of control. It was quickly brought under control before reaching a wooded area. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Small Chemical Explosion Forces Evacuation At UWF Building
January 25, 2018
A small chemical explosion led to the evacuation of a building at the University of West Florida this afternoon.
The chemistry lab explosion in Building 58 occurred about 12:15 p.m. There were no students in the lab at the time of the explosion. The science building was evacuated as firefighters worked to clear smoke from the building.
There were no injuries.
Building 58 was set to remain closed with all classes and labs in the building canceled until 4:30 p.m. The rest of the UWF campus remained operational as usual.
Photo courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
ECSO Warning Of Man That Tried To Lure Kids Into Car With Cash
January 25, 2018
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is warning parents about a man that allegedly tried to lure children try to lure children into his car from a school bus stop Thursday morning.
Deputies responded to the 8800 block of Sonnyboy Lane in reference to a suspicious person.
Deputies were told a group of children were approached by a black male who offered them money to get in his car. The children say he was driving a white four-door car, described as being dirty with tinted windows. The black male was described to be possibly in his 30’s or 40’s, with short dreads, a little bit of facial hair and was wearing all black.
The children did not accept his offer and did not enter the vehicle.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the ECSO at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Sonnyboy Lane is located just north of Johnson Avenue in Ensley, between Chemstrand Road and Airway Drive.
FHP Seeks Highway 29 Hit And Run Driver
January 25, 2018
The Florida Highway Patrol is looking for a hit and run driver after a traffic crash Wednesday night in Ensley.
The hit and driver was turning from southbound Highway 29 onto Hood Drive near Walmart about 6:10 p.m. when they turned into the path of a car traveling northbound on Highway 29. The 23-year old driver of that car was not seriously injured.
No description of the hit and run vehicle was available, but it will have significant damage to the passenger side.
Anyone with information on the hit and run crash is asked to call the Florida Highway Patrol at *FHP or (850) 484-5000.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Stolen Debit Card Leads To Felony Drug Charges Against Cantonment Man
January 25, 2018
A alleged stolen debit card led to felony drug charges against a Cantonment man.
Jeffrey Ervinton Rivers, 35 was accused of using a debit card stolen from his cousin at a Cantonment Tom Thumb to make a $9.28 purchase and a $400 ATM withdrawal.
When deputies went to an address on Deauville Way in Pensacola to arrest Rivers, they reported finding him asleep on a couch with the stolen debit card in his pocket. Deputies also reported finding three bags of marijuana, 10 Ecstasy pills, snf two pieces of crack cocaine in his pants pockets.
Rivers was charged with three counts of possession of marijuana, possession of crack cocaine, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, fraudulent use of a debit card, petty theft of a debit card and grand theft. He remained in the Escambia County Jail Thursday morning with bond set at $8,000.