RESTORE MYIP Public Comment Period Opens June 5
June 1, 2017
The Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act of 2012, or RESTORE Act, and U.S. Department of Treasury’s regulations direct Escambia County to prepare a Multi-Year Implementation Plan that prioritizes eligible activities for Direct Component funds awarded to the county through the Deepwater Horizon Settlement and RESTORE Act, and to obtain broad-based participation from individuals, businesses, Indian tribes and non-profit organizations as part of plan preparation.
The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners established the RESTORE Advisory Committee in 2012 to gain input from Escambia County citizens to develop a Needs Assessment, Selection Criteria and rank project submittals to the Project Portal. The BCC then shortlisted the following ten projects in February 2017 to include in the initial MYIP:
- Carpenter Creek Revitalization Plan
- Eleven Mile Creek Basin
- Eleven Mile Creek Restoration
- Hollice T. Williams Stormwater & Recreational Park
- OLF8 Commerce Park Improvements
- Perdido Key Gulf of Mexico Beach Access
- Perdido Key Multi-Use Path
- Project Universal Access
- SOAR with RESTORE
- South Dogtrack Drainage
In preparation of submitting the final MYIP, Escambia County is accepting public comment for a period of 45 days for those projects included within the plan.
The board authorized staff at the May 25, 2017 regular board meeting to conduct the 45 day public comment period. The public comment period will open June 5, 2017 and close July 19, 2017. On Monday, June 5 RESTORE staff will host a public comment kickoff meeting at 5:30 p.m. at the Central Office Complex (3363 West Park Place), Room 104.
Public comments can be submitted in the following ways:
- In person: MYIP kickoff meeting, Monday, June 5 at 5:30 p.m., Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place, Room 104
- Email RESTORE@myescambia.com
- Mail: Attention – Escambia County Natural Resources Management-RESTORE, 221 Palafox Place, Pensacola, FL 32502
- Phone: 850-595-0820
On July 19 RESTORE staff will review the public comments submitted and incorporate them into the MYIP.
Next, Escambia County will submit the MYIP to the U.S. Treasury who will take 30 to 60 days to review and approve. The BCC anticipates voting to accept the approved MYIP in early September.
Approval of the MYIP allows Escambia County to begin individual grant applications for the projects. It is anticipated that final adoption of grant awards will occur in January 2018 with projects beginning shortly thereafter.
Is Your Name On The List? Here Are The 2017 Hurricane Names
June 1, 2017
Hurricane season begins today. Is your name on the list of storms?
Here’s the list of storm names for 2017:
- Arlene
- Bret
- Cindy
- Don
- Emily
- Franklin
- Gert
- Harvey
- Irma
- Jose
- Katia
- Lee
- Maria
- Nate
- Ophelia
- Philippe
- Rina
- Sean
- Tammy
- Vince
- Whitney
Since 1953, Atlantic tropical storms had been named from lists originated by the National Hurricane Center. They are now maintained and updated through a strict procedure by an international committee of the World Meteorological Organization.
The six lists above are used in rotation and re-cycled every six years — the 2017 list will be used again in 2023. The only time that there is a change in the list is if a storm is so deadly or costly that the future use of its name on a different storm would be inappropriate for reasons of sensitivity.
Jumbo Shrimp Beat The Pensacola Blue Wahoos
June 1, 2017
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos pitching staff gave up a season-high 11 walks Wednesday to the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, not to mention 10 hits.
That allowed Jacksonville to snap its six-game losing streak to Pensacola this season, winning, 9-8, on a homer to lead off the ninth inning by shortstop Alex Yarbrough in front of 4,102 at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
The most walks the Blue Wahoos have given up is 13 in the 2014 season.
“The walks were killers,” Pensacola Manager Pat Kelly said. “Our bullpen has been so good but they were hurt by walks today.”
The Blue Wahoos dropped to 29-23 but remain in first place in the Southern League South Division. This season Pensacola has been out of first place just six days.
The game Thursday also featured the Double-A debut of 23-year-old right-hander Jose Lopez.
The second batter of the game, Jacksonville second baseman KC Serna, welcomed him to the Southern League by clobbering a home run to left field to put the Jumbo Shrimp ahead, 1-0. Lopez also walked one and allowed a single but closed the inning by striking out Jumbo Shrimp catcher Austin Nola. He threw 33 pitches in the first inning, 21 for strikes.
However, Pensacola came right back for Lopez with two runs in the bottom of the first to take the lead, 2-1. Blue Wahoos left fielder Tyler Goeddel scored on right fielder Aristides Aquino’s single up the middle. Then center fielder Gabriel Guerrero crossed the plate on first baseman Eric Jagielo’s ground out to shortstop.
Lopez was called up from High-A Daytona Tortugas on May 30 to replace Pensacola starter Austin Ross, the Southern League ERA leader (1.21), who was promoted to Triple-A Louisville Bats.
Pensacola went ahead, 6-1, in the fourth inning that included a solo homer by Jagielo and two-run homer by catcher Adrian Nieto that rocketed into the Hill Kelly Dodge berm. Goeddel then doubled on a grounder that hugged the third base line to score Nieto.
But Jacksonville came right back in the fifth inning against Lopez, scoring three runs to pull the Jumbo Shrimp within, 6-4, when first baseman Cal Towey launched a high fly ball out of sight over the right field wall.
It was the second homer off Blue Wahoos’ Lopez who then walked the next batter and was relieved by Robert Stock. In his first game, Lopez ended up working 4.2 innings, and giving up four runs on four hits and six walks. He struck out five in his 101-pitch outing.
“He made some good pitches,” Kelly said. “He hurt himself with walks. Overall, I liked his stuff and liked his composure.”
After Jacksonville pulled within, 6-4, Pensacola scored two more runs in the sixth inning to go ahead, 8-4. Goeddel singled in Angelo Gumbs with two outs and then third baseman Josh VanMeter hit a sharp grounder to right field to score Goeddel.
However, Pensacola reliever Ariel Hernandez gave up two hits, two walks and four runs in 0.1 innings to allow Jacksonville to knot the game, 8-8, in the seventh. The big blows came on back-to-back triples by Yarbrough and Jeremias Pineda that each drove in a run for the Jumbo Shrimp. Hernandez entered the game leading the Southern League with seven holds in his 19 appearances.
Police: After Dispute With Wife, Man Sets Trailer On Fire, Tries To Kill Himself
May 31, 2017
An Atmore man has been charged with setting fire to his home after a fight with wife Tuesday afternoon.
The Poarch Fire Department and the Escambia County (AL) heriff’s Office responded to a mobile home engulfed in flames at 7135 Jacks Springs Road about 12:30 p.m. Deputies received information that the fire was started by 31-year old Jason Paul Mitchell after he was involved in a domestic situation with his wife.
He made statements to people in the area about setting fire to the residence and property before entering a wooded area with a gun in an attempt to shoot himself, according to investigators. ECSO deputies and Poarch Police officers were able to disarm Mitchell and take him into custody without incident.
After an investigation by the Alabama Fire Marhal’s Office, Mitchell was booked into the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton on charges of arson second degree, domestic violence and domestic violence third degree.
Flomaton Railroad Crossing Closed Near State Line
May 31, 2017
The Palafox Street railroad crossing at the train yard in Flomaton will be closed through Friday, according to CSX and the Flomaton Police Department.
This will prevent Old Flomaton Road traffic from Century from crossing the state line and entering downtown Flomaton.
The Highway 29 bridge over the railroad tracks will remain open and be the detour for the closure.
Vandals Strike Cantonment Sportsplex Again
May 31, 2017
More vandalism has been reported at the Cantonment Sportsplex. This time, park officials said lights were damaged or destroyed and the vandals once again attacked bathroom fixtures.
Ab Escambia County Sheriff’s Office crime scene unit responded to the park Tuesday night to collect evidence from the scene.
Just over a week ago, we told you the vandalism of bathrooms at the facility. Bathrooms were vandalized –fixtures were broken and paper towels were used to cause overflows.
Anyone with information on either incident is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Partnership Offers Free Breakfast, Lunch For Kids In Cantonment
May 31, 2017
A Cantonment group has gone to work to address childhood hunger this summer.
“The kids I saw were saying that they were hungry all the time,” said Josh Womack of the Cantonment Improvement Club (CIC). “We got to work because we knew there were resources out there.”
The CIC found Feeding the Gulf Coast, formerly the Bay Area Food Bank, to provide breakfast and lunch to Cantonment area children five days per week.
The first meals were served Tuesday and will continue Monday through Friday until school begins in August. Breakfast is served about 10 a.m. and lunch is served about noon at the Carver Park Resource Center at 208 Webb Street in Cantonment. The meals are free for teens and children under age 18.
The CIC is also working to provide tutoring and learning opportunities in the resource center during meal service times.
Pictured: The first meals were served Tuesday under a new partnership between the Cantonment Improvement Club and Feeding the Gulf Coast. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Seniors Get Look At New ‘ExpressVote’ System
May 31, 2017
The Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Office is testing their new ADA-compliant ExpressVote system, recently taking it on the road to demonstrate it to senior citizens in Cantonment and Century.
The ExpressVote uses a touch-screen device to mark a paper ballot for tabulation. Voters can received audio assistance, or even Braille instructions, allowing all voters to cast their ballot, regardless of their abilities or disabilities.
The ExpressVote device was used first in the recent special election in Century earlier this year. Last week, Elections Office staff demonstrated the devices at the Council on Aging meal site in Century last Thursday and Tuesday at the Cantonment Council on Aging meal site.
There were will be one of the ExpressVote devices available at each precinct during the 2018 election.
Pictured above and below: The ExpressVote machine demonstrated at the Cantonment Council on Aging meal site. Pictured below: The ExpressVote on display in Century. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Hurricane Season Arriving After Last Year’s Wakeup Call
May 31, 2017
After ending an 11-year stormless streak in 2016, Florida enters its annual hurricane season on Thursday with forecasters predicting an above-average season.
The 2016 season was the most active since 2012, with 15 named storms in the Atlantic Ocean, including seven hurricanes and four major hurricanes.
Hurricane Hermine, a Category 1 storm, struck Florida south of Tallahassee on Sept. 2, marking the first hurricane to hit the state since 2005.
A little more than a month later, Hurricane Matthew, a more powerful storm, moved along the East Coast. Although it did not make landfall in Florida, it caused extensive damage, particularly in Northeast Florida, with some $1.18 billion in property insurance claims, according to the state Office of Insurance Regulation.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in a forecast released last week, predicted a similarly active season this year, based on warm sea-surface temperatures and a weak El Nino ocean-atmosphere pattern. The federal agency is predicting 11 to 17 named storms, five to nine hurricanes and two to four major storms.
The forecast will be updated in early August, right before the peak of the hurricane season, which runs until Nov. 30.
“Regardless of how many storms develop this year, it only takes one to disrupt our lives,” said Robert Fenton, acting administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Bryan Koon, director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, said Floridians’ experience with Matthew and Hermine last year may heighten their awareness of the new hurricane season.
“Those folks will have that memory fresh in their minds,” Koon said. “Matthew was such a big storm that it threatened much of the state at some point during its existence. I think people will recognize June 1 maybe a little bit more than they have in the past few years.”
Koon and other state officials stressed the need for Floridians to prepare for the possibility of a major hurricane, which would bring high winds, flooding and power outages. During Hurricane Matthew, some 1.2 million customers of Florida Power and Light, the state’s largest electric utility, lost power at some point.
“Hurricanes are always going to be an inconvenience for us, but the more you plan ahead right now, the better chance you’ll have to get back on your feet and get back to normalcy more quickly,” Koon said.
Koon also said residents need to consider evacuation plans, which do not necessarily mean moving to public storm shelters.
“We want them to plan ahead,” Koon said. “They are going to be much more comfortable staying with somebody they know, or in a hotel, than they would in a shelter. Right now is a great time to start thinking about what you would do in that situation.”
Florida Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier said property insurance coverage should be part of residents’ disaster plans.
“The time to evaluate your insurance coverage, fortify your home and prepare for how to protect yourself and your family is now,” he said.
One tip from Altmaier’s office is that residents can review the “declaration page” of their property insurance policies, which summarizes the coverage.
In last year’s season, more than 119,000 Floridians made property-insurance claims after Hurricane Matthew, with more than 101,000 residential claims.
Hurricane Hermine resulted in nearly 20,000 claims, including 14,000 residential claims, representing $139 million in total losses.
Under a new law signed by Gov. Rick Scott, residents starting Friday will have a three-day tax “holiday” when they will not have to pay sales taxes on “disaster preparedness” supplies.
The exemption covers things like flashlights, portable radios, tarpaulins, first-aid kits, batteries and coolers, with all items having a price limit. For instance, Floridians can buy a portable generator tax free, if it costs $750 or less.
There has already been one named storm in the Atlantic, with Tropical Storm Arlene, a rare pre-season storm that formed over the eastern Atlantic in April. It is included in NOAA’s estimate of up to 17 named Atlantic storms this season.
by Lloyd Dunkelberger and Tom Urban, The News Service of Florida
First Cases Of Dog Flu Confirmed In Florida
May 31, 2017
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, in coordination with the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, announced today that the University of Florida has confirmed seven cases of H3N2 canine influenza virus, a.k.a. “dog flu.” Six additional results for the virus are pending. All dogs being treated are in stable condition. There is no evidence that H3N2 canine influenza virus infects people.
While H3N2 has been circulating throughout the country since 2015, this is the first time it has been confirmed in Florida. This is a highly contagious virus. Fortunately, the mortality rate is low. Dog owners can have their veterinarians vaccinate their dogs against canine influenza viruses.
If dog owners suspect a case of dog flu, they should call their veterinarian prior to going to the clinic in order to decrease the chances of spreading the virus to other animals at the clinic. Many dogs have a fever, decreased appetite and lethargy during the first few days of illness. Most dogs recover at home without any complications. Some require hospitalization.