FHP Reminds Travelers To Buckle Up, Slow Down This Thanksgiving Weekend
November 23, 2017
The Thanksgiving holiday is a peak travel period for families nationwide. The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) wants all motorists to Arrive Alive this holiday weekend and is reminding motorists to buckle up before they hit the road. During the 2016 Thanksgiving holiday period, law enforcement agencies statewide worked more than 10,000 crashes. Although only two percent of people involved in crashes during the Thanksgiving holiday were not wearing their seat belts, over 30 percent of those that died in those crashes were not wearing a seat belt.
Thanksgiving produces a high volume of motor vehicle traffic and the FHP will increase its presence from November 22 through 26. All sworn FHP personnel, including Auxiliary and Reserve troopers, will patrol Florida’s high volume roadways during the five-day period.
“The Florida Highway Patrol remains committed to keeping Florida’s highways safe and ensuring motorists and their families Arrive Alive this holiday season,” said Colonel Gene S. Spaulding, Director of the Florida Highway Patrol. “It’s imperative to buckle all seatbelts, get plenty of rest before a long trip and allow sufficient time to reach your destination.”
DHSMV wishes everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving and reminds motorists to obey all speed limits and adjust speed accordingly as traffic congestion and weather conditions may require driving more slowly. Motorists should always keep their eyes on the road, hands on the wheel and mind on driving.
The public is encouraged to report impaired or aggressive drivers by dialing *FHP (*347). Also, remember to check traffic conditions before leaving for a trip and allow sufficient time to arrive at your destination safely. For real time traffic conditions and additional travel information, visit: www.flhsmv.gov/fhp/traffic.
Deputies Seeking Child Sexual Abuse Suspect
November 23, 2017
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office is searching for Bradley Wayne Stoner on charges of lewd and lascivious behavior on a victim 12-16 years old. He is 21-year old white male, about 5-foot 8-inches tall and 175 pounds. Anyone with information on his whereabouts should call Santa Rosa Crime Stoppers at (850) 437-STOP. Call are anonymous and information that leads to his arrest could earn up to $3,000.
Tips To Avoid Black Friday, Cyber Monday Scams
November 23, 2017
In advance of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam H. Putnam is providing tips to help consumers avoid scams.
Keep the following tips in mind while shopping on Black Friday:
- Some retailers may inflate prices ahead of Black Friday to create the illusion of a drastic price cut. Research the regular retail price of items to check how much will actually be saved.
- Price matching policies may be suspended by some retailers between Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
- Be wary of unexpected emails that claim to contain coupons with significant discounts and ask for personal information. Don’t click on any suspicious links. These may contain malware to compromise your identity.
- Read the fine print at the bottom of sales ads, as sales may be limited to certain time periods, brands or quantities.
Below are precautions to take on Cyber Monday:
- Avoid websites with odd or incorrect spellings of legitimate companies. Domain names that include hyphens are often red flags.
- Beware of bogus websites promising unbelievable deals. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
- Be wary of “delivery failure” or “order confirmation” emails for items you did not order. These may be used to gain a consumer’s personal information.
- Use a credit card for online orders. It is easier to dispute and mediate fraudulent charges with a credit card than a debit card.
- Use strong passwords for credit cards and bank accounts.
Consumers who believe fraud has taken place can contact the department’s consumer protection and information hotline at 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352) or, for Spanish speakers, 1-800-FL-AYUDA (352-9832).
Cop Impersonator Also Charged With Sexual Battery
November 22, 2017
An accused cop impersonator has also been charged with sexual battery.
Martin Goodman was booked into the Escambia County Jail for impersonating a law enforcement officer,. false imprisonment, kidnapping and sexual battery. He remains in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $450,000.
Authorities said on November 21, Goodman flashed a badge and tried to pull a person over on Highway 90 in Santa Rosa County, but the victim kept driving.
The victim said Goodman used a siren and that a light was visible on the dash of Goodman’s SUV. The victim called 9-1-1 and pulled in to the Winn-Dixie parking lot on Creighton Road. The victim assumed Goodman was law enforcement, but called dispatch to confirm.
Goodman then pulled his car in front of the victims and flashed his badge once more and began arguing, then left the parking lot. ECSO deputies arrived and were able to get a description of Goodman and his vehicle. Using that description Pensacola Police officers were able to stop Goodman in his vehicle.
Inside the Goodman’s vehicle, ECSO deputies found a security badge and light on the dash. Goodman was arrested.
During the investigation Escambia Sheriff’s Office investigators determined Goodman was responsible for a sexual battery that occurred on May 18th. In that incident Goodman also pretended to be a law enforcement officer and pulled the victim over in the area of Amber Street and North Davis Highway.
ECSO investigators believe there might be other victims. If you’ve had any encounters with Goodman call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
Search Continues For Suspect In Cantonment Armed Robbery
November 22, 2017
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday released surveillance photos from the Saturday night armed robbery of a Cantonment Dollar General store.
The Sheriff’s Office said the suspect pulled a gun and robbed the clerk at the Dollar General on Highway 29 at Tate School Road about 9:50 p.m.
Multiple Escambia County deputies, including a K-9 unit, responded to the robbery and searched the area unsuccessfully for the suspect. There were no injuries reported.
Anyone with information on the robbery is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crimestoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Pictured above: Survellience images from the Saturday night armed robbery of a Cantonment Dollar General store. Pictured below: The scene outside the store shortly after the holdup. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Multiple Injuries In Highway 97 Crash In Davisville
November 22, 2017
Multiple people were injured in a two-vehicle crash Tuesday night on Highway 97 in Davisville.
The driver of a passenger car was airlifted by LifeFlight helicopter to Sacred Heart Hospital after apparently rear-ending a SUV about 8:35 p.m. on Highway 97 near the Nokomis Road intersection.
There were four people in the SUV, with an unknown number transported by ambulance to area hospitals.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Further details have not been released.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and Atmore Ambulance also responded to the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos. click to enlarge.
One Killed In Northern Santa Rosa County Crash
November 22, 2017
A Pensacola man died Tuesday in a three vehicle accident in northern Santa Rosa County.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 54-year old Kevin Karlton Morgan was traveling south on Highway 87 near Spring Hill Road when his Ford F150 struck the rear of a southbound Chevrolet Suburban driven by 38-year old Clifford Alvin Miller of Milton. Morgan’s pickup then veered into the northbound lane and collided head-on with a Toyota Prius driven by 76-year old Jewel Lowery Donahue of Milton.
Morgan was pronounced deceased following the crash. Donahue was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in critical condition, while Miller was taken to Santa Rosa Medical Center with minor injuries.
Any charges in the crash are pending the outcome of a FHP traffic homicide investigation.
Thanksgiving Holiday Closures
November 22, 2017
ESCAMBIA COUNTY:
Below is a listing of Escambia County offices and departments closed on Thursday, Nov. 23 and Friday, Nov. 24 in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. Normal operations resume on Monday, Nov. 27 unless otherwise noted.
- Escambia County Board of County Commissioners - All departments, including:
- Escambia County Animal Shelter (Normal hours will resume Saturday, Nov. 25)
- West Florida Public Libraries (All locations – normal hours will resume Saturday, Nov. 25)
- Escambia County Property Appraiser
- Escambia County Tax Collector
- Escambia County Supervisor of Elections office
- Escambia County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller’s office
Escambia County Exceptions:
- ECAT buses will not operate Thursday, Nov. 23. Regular bus service resumes Friday, Nov. 24. UWF trolleys will not operate Thursday, Nov. 23 and Friday, Nov. 24. UWF Trolley service resumes Saturday, Nov. 25. For more information about ECAT schedules, click here.
- Animal Control will be responding to emergency calls only.
- The Perdido Landfill will be closed Thursday, Nov. 23 and will reopen Friday, Nov. 24.
ECUA Escambia County:
All residential sanitation, recycling, and yard trash collections for ECUA customers that would normally be made on Thursday, Nov. 23, or Friday, Nov. 24 will be made one day later, on Friday, Nov. 24 or Saturday, Nov. 25, respectively.
All commercial sanitation collections for ECUA customers that would normally be made on Thursday, Nov. 23, will be made one day earlier, on Wednesday, Nov. 22. There are no changes to the schedule for commercial services scheduled on Friday, Nov. 24, or Saturday, November 25.
ECUA Santa Rosa County, Town of Jay:
There will be no garbage or yard trash collection on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 23. Garbage and yard trash will be collected on the next normally scheduled collection day for that route (Monday). Recycling collection scheduled for Thursday, November 23, will be collected on Saturday, November 25.
There are NO CHANGES for Tuesday and Friday collections, which are unaffected by the holiday schedule change.
Town of Century:
All office will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 23 and Friday, Nov. 24.
Judge Weighs Legality Of Abortion Waiting Period
November 22, 2017
Lawyers for the state asked a Leon County circuit judge Tuesday to order a trial about the constitutionality of a 2015 state law that would require women to wait 24 hours before having abortions.
But lawyers representing a Gainesville abortion clinic asked Judge Terry Lewis to issue a summary judgment finding the waiting-period law is an unconstitutional violation of women’s privacy rights.
The law is on hold after the Florida Supreme Court this year approved a temporary injunction, sending the case, which involves a clinic run by Gainesville Woman Care LLC, back to the lower courts. Earlier, a trial judge had issued a temporary injunction, but the 1st District Court of Appeal overturned that decision in 2016.
Julia Kaye, a lawyer with the American Civil Liberties Union’s Reproductive Freedom Project, asked Lewis to invalidate the law because it would provide no exceptions in cases where women’s health could be in jeopardy and because the state has not shown a “compelling interest” for restricting the constitutional right to privacy.
“The problem here for the state is that they have admitted that no other medical procedure in Florida, including those that impose greater health risks than abortion, is subject to a mandatory delay,” Kaye said.
Kaye said the state’s “paternalistic argument that women in Florida are not capable” of deciding whether they want abortions or not “is invalid and legally insufficient to support this mandate.”
“Patients may already take additional time to consider their decision if they believe they need additional time,” she said.
Citing testimony from medical experts, Blaine Winship, a lawyer representing the state, said abortion procedures are an “outlier in medical practice” because most other procedures are not performed on the same day that an initial consultation between a doctor and patient takes place.
“The Legislature has acted to bring abortions in line with standard medical practice,” Winship said. “Not out of hostility to the procedure but out of a legitimate concern that women must have the same opportunity for informed consent as patients have with respect with every other invasive procedure that the field of medicine offers.”
Lewis asked Winship why an abortion procedure should be treated differently than a doctor recommending a patient immediately have a gallbladder removed because of health reasons.
Winship said there are provisions in the law where an abortion can immediately be performed if a woman’s life “is threatened.” and another provision that says the doctor can act if he or she “reasonably believes” a life is threatened or the patient’s health is in jeopardy.
“You got to have a darn good reason for doing it,” Winship said. “It really ought to be life-threatening. But if you believe it’s so health- threatening that you’re willing to stand up for doing that, to defend yourself, then you can do it.”
Lewis said the language is vague enough that a doctor could risk disciplinary action by the state Board of Medicine by performing an abortion before the waiting period ends.
Kaye said doctors could face criminal charges.
“It’s not only that that doctors will be dragged before the medical board at risk of losing their licenses,” Kaye said. “This is a criminal statute. They would be at risk of being prosecuted.”
Lewis gave the state and the abortion-clinic lawyers until Dec. 1 to submit proposed orders in the case. He will make his ruling some time after reviewing those proposals.
Tips For An Energy Efficient Thanksgiving
November 22, 2017
Homes will be filled with the aromas of roasting turkeys, sweet potatoes and pecan pies as the traditional start of the holiday cooking season begins with Thanksgiving. This is also when kitchen appliances are pushed into overtime preparing meals to be shared with loved ones.
As you prepare for the holiday celebrations, Gulf Power says extra cooking, activities and people in your home can cause your energy bill to go up, especially when the oven and kitchen appliances are working nonstop.
“Today’s new kitchen appliances use nearly 50 percent less energy than those built just a decade ago” said Rick DelaHaya, Gulf Power spokesperson. “Still, when holiday time rolls around, your energy bills can rise considerably, with your stove, oven, and dishwasher running overtime, and the door to your refrigerator standing open frequently as family members search for hidden treats.”
Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to keep holiday energy costs to a minimum. Here are some no-cost ways to save money and energy in the kitchen and be thankful for the savings on your November energy bills:
* If you expect a large group of people for dinner, lower the thermostat a degree or two before the guests arrive. Otherwise, since people generate heat, the space may become wastefully overheated.
* Check the refrigerator and freezer doors to make sure they seal tightly. This will keep the cold air in and the warm air out. To test, close the refrigerator door on a dollar bill. If you can slip the bill out easily, or, worse, if it falls out on its own, the door needs to be adjusted or the gasket needs to be replaced.
* Plan ahead and remove all ingredients at one time. Each time the door of a refrigerator or freezer is opened, its compressor has to run a bit longer to replace the cold air that spills out.
* When preheating your regular oven for baking, time the preheat period carefully. Five to eight minutes should be enough time. There is no need to preheat for broiling or roasting.
* When roasting or baking, avoid making frequent progress checks that involve opening the oven door. Each time the door is opened, a considerable portion of the oven’s heat escapes and lowers the temperature inside by as much as 25 degrees, which increases cooking time and wastes energy.
* Cook as much of your meal as possible in the oven at one time. Foods with different cooking temperatures often can be cooked simultaneously at one temperature – variations of 25 degrees Fahrenheit in either direction still produce good results and save energy.
* Use a “lids-on” approach to cooking. Tightly fitted lids on pots and pans help keep heat in, enabling you to lower the temperature settings and shorten the cooking times.
* When cooking on top of your range, match the size of the pan to the heating element. More heat will get to the pan and less will be lost to the surrounding air. A six-inch pan on an eight-inch burner will waste over 40 percent of the energy.
* When boiling liquids, start by using the highest temperature settings to reach the boiling point. Then lower the heat control setting and allow the food to simmer until fully cooked.
* Once dinner is done and clean up has started, allow hot foods or liquids to cool off before placing them in the refrigerator. The cooling-off period should not hurt the taste of the food and will reduce the load on the refrigerator. Discard any uncooked food that has remained at room temperature for more than two hours
* When all of the cooking is done, don’t use your oven’s self-cleaning cycle unless a major cleaning job is needed. Wipe up minor spills and splatters with a damp cloth. When you do use the oven’s self-cleaning feature, start the cycle right after cooking, while the oven is still hot, or wait until late evening hours when use of energy is lowest.
* Finally, gather everyone in the kitchen for a cost-effective way to save energy by washing the dishes by hand. If that’s not an option and you use the dishwasher, wash full loads only. If you must rinse your dishes before loading them, use only cold water so you’re not running up your energy bill by heating water unnecessarily.
* Don’t forget to use the energy-saving cycles whenever possible. Dishwashers that feature air power or overnight dry settings can save up to 10 percent of your dishwashing energy costs.