Florida Gov’t Weekly Roundup: Green Slime; No Swatting This Problem
August 14, 2016
In Joe Negron’s proverbial backyard, green slime is a big issue.
And as the incoming Florida Senate president, Negron might have the power to do something about it.
Negron, R-Stuart, rolled out an ambitious proposal this week to buy 60,000 acres of land south of Lake Okeechobee to try to help tackle the problem of toxic algae blooms in waterways east and west of the lake. But it also became quickly apparent that the idea of buying land used for sugar farming could spark a political battle.
Meanwhile, a little further south, Miami continued to draw heavy attention because mosquitoes have infected more than two-dozen people with the Zika virus. Gov. Rick Scott’s administration maintained that local transmissions of the disease were only occurring in one area of Miami. But the number of travel-related cases — involving people who were infected elsewhere and brought the virus into Florida — has steadily increased throughout the state.
SWINGING FOR THE FENCES
Negron won’t take over as Senate president until after the November elections, but he has already made clear he has some big ideas. First came a bus tour to drum up support for higher-education changes. And now, the potential land buy.
The senator’s Treasure Coast district has been plagued by algae blooms caused, at least in part, by nutrient-laden water being released from Lake Okeechobee. The general idea of Negron’s plan is to buy land south of the lake that could be used to store and clean water, reducing discharges from the lake into the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee estuaries.
But the plan has a hefty price tag — $2.4 billion, which Negron said would be shared by the state and federal governments. The state would bond $100 million annually from documentary-stamp tax revenue in the Land Acquisition Trust Fund. Voters approved a constitutional amendment in 2014 to set aside money in the trust fund for 20 years to finance the purchase and preservation of state lands.
“For too long, our community has been plagued by tremendous environmental and economic impacts as hundreds of millions of gallons of water are released from Lake Okeechobee each year,” Negron said in a prepared statement. “Permanent storage south of Lake Okeechobee is unquestionably needed as part of the overall plan to solve this catastrophic problem, particularly given the very devastating effects the current toxic algal blooms are causing in both our estuaries and the Everglades.”
Negron outlined two potential parcels within what is known as the Everglades Agricultural Area. The sugar giant Florida Crystals is the largest landowner in the targeted parcels, though U.S. Sugar Corp and Kings Ranch also own land in those areas.
The proposal has the support of groups such as the Everglades Foundation and Audubon, but it quickly drew objections from some people whose communities rely on sugar farms.
Hendry County Commissioner Janet Taylor, a Democrat, said the proposal could hurt the economy in her agricultural community, which has one of the state’s highest unemployment rates.
“Taking 60,000 additional acres would shut down another sugar mill,” Taylor said in a prepared statement. “Not only would it threaten our economy, but it also isn’t supported by science. It’s disappointing that Sen. Negron has allowed the priorities of radical activists to become part of his plans as Senate president.”
Also, the plan drew objections from two lawmakers and a county commissioner in Northwest Florida — hundreds of miles away. State Sen. Greg Evers, R-Baker, state Rep. Mike Hill, R-Pensacola Beach, and Santa Rosa County Commissioner Bob Cole announced plans to build a coalition against what they see as a potential shift of money away from protecting waters in North Florida.
“Water issues are critical to Florida’s future,” Evers said in a prepared statement. “We need plans that address our entire state’s water issue and not just one area. Sen. Negron’s proposal is shortsighted; it will cost billions of dollars, take decades, and still not fix South Florida’s problem. It will, however, put the rest of the state’s conservation dollars at risk.”
Negron acknowledged in releasing his proposal that getting approval for the money won’t be easy.
“There are problems in Biscayne Bay. There are problems in Apalachicola Bay,” Negron said. “There are problems in Tampa. The springs in the central part of our state. And I care about those things too.”
“We are in a competition. Money that is spent to build this reservoir can’t be spent twice,” Negron added. “So the money that it’s going to cost to do this, it’s going to come from the limited funds that we have.”
NO SWATTING AWAY THIS PROBLEM
Each afternoon, the Florida Department of Health posts online updated information about the Zika virus. And day after day, the number of infections continues to grow.
As of Friday afternoon, the state had 28 homegrown cases of Zika, with health officials saying they believe people contracted the virus through mosquito bites in Miami. But the department also reported 413 travel-related infections and 58 infections involving pregnant women.
Travel-related cases have been found literally from one end of the state to the other end — from Monroe County to Escambia County. And they are increasing by double digits: 10 new cases Friday, 21 new cases Thursday, 14 new cases Wednesday.
The virus is particularly dangerous for pregnant women because it can cause severe birth defects. Scott has authorized state health departments across Florida to provide assessments and testing for pregnant women who request it. Also, the state has set aside $5 million for testing pregnant women.
But a large part of the state’s effort to combat the disease has focused on trying to prevent mosquito bites that can spread it.
With school starting this week in many districts, Scott and Education Commissioner Pam Stewart on Thursday briefed school superintendents on the state’s efforts. Stewart said as part of a “spill the water campaign,” classroom materials were being distributed to teachers and administrators across the state so that they can encourage students “to take simple steps in order to help prevent Zika,” including removing standing water, using insect repellent and wearing protective clothing.
Stewart also said public schools, state colleges and universities in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Martin and Monroe counties were informed that the state would provide each campus with mosquito repellent. She said the South Florida region was targeted because it remains at “the greatest risk” for the local transmission of the mosquito-borne disease.
Meanwhile, Republican and Democratic politicians expressed continued frustration that Congress has not passed a broad funding package to help address Zika in Florida and other states.
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell on Thursday said she has authorized shifting some $81 million in her agency to keep research moving forward on a Zika vaccine. Of that total, $34 million will go to the National Institutes of Health, while another $47 million will go to the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, which works with private companies on vaccine development.
“The failure to pass a Zika emergency supplemental (appropriation) has forced the administration to choose between delaying critical vaccine development work and raiding other worthy government programs to avoid these delays,” Burwell said in a letter to Congress.
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., said in a statement that the Zika funding impasse “never should have gotten to this point.”
“As soon as Congress reconvenes, we should resolve this issue once and for all,” Rubio said. “This public health crisis is no place for politics.”
STORY OF THE WEEK: Zika cases continue to steadily increase in Florida.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “At this stage of the campaign, Republican U.S. Senate candidates may be running against their own presidential nominee, Donald Trump, as much as they are against their Democratic opponents.” — Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac Poll, as a new survey showed a tight Senate race in Florida.
by Brandon Larrabee, The New Service of Florida
Escambia County Man Killed In I-65 Crash In Alabama
August 14, 2016
A single vehicle wreck in Alabama claimed the life of an Escambia County man, according to Alabama State Troopers.
According to Alabama State Troopers, 25-year old Brian Keith Cantwell of Pensacola was killed when the 2006 Ford F-250 he was driving left the roadway and struck a tree. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The crash happened about 3:05 p.m. Friday on I-65 at the 115 mile marker, about one mile north of Georgiana.
The accident remains under investigation by Alabama State Troopers.
Extension Expert Has Five Tips To Reduce Mosquitoes Around Your Home
August 14, 2016
During Florida’s wet summers, your backyard or patio area can easily become a breeding area for container mosquitoes, said Jim DeValerio, a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension horticulture agent. Residents should still take measures to prevent mosquitoes from living and breeding in their home landscapes, he said.
Here are DeValerio’s five tips homeowners can use to reduce mosquitoes on their properties.
- Use airy, open landscaping. “Mosquitoes thrive in dense, humid environments,” said DeValerio, so landscapes with plants with heavy foliage growing close together are very attractive. “Thin out bushes and trees so that things don’t get overgrown and become a jungle,” he said.
- Flush, drain or cover things that may catch and hold water. While most people know that mosquitoes, such as those that can carry Zika, thrive in standing water, it’s not always easy to identify places where water can collect. For example, plants such as bromeliads can catch water in their leaves and become breeding areas, DeValerio noted. He recommends flushing out plants such as bromeliads every two to three days. Other commonly overlooked containers include holes in trees, dishes under potted plants, bird baths and sagging boat covers.
- Be on the lookout for all mosquitoes, not just the species capable of transmitting Zika. “Although Aedes aegypti – the Yellow Fever mosquito – and Aedes albopictus – the Asian tiger mosquito, are a concern, there are other mosquitoes that can be found in containers and can spread diseases, such as West Nile fever and encephalitis, dog heartworms and equine encephalitis” DeValerio said. ““It is never a good idea to let a mosquito bite you, no matter what kind it is.”
- Prevent rain barrels or cisterns from becoming containers for mosquitoes. “You can put a fiberglass window screen over the opening of a rain barrel or cistern that will prevent adult mosquitoes from laying eggs in the barrel,” DeValerio said. “You can also add mosquito dunks to the water; these are products that contain special bacteria that kill mosquito larvae,” he said. “However, with any product that controls insects, always read and follow the label. It’s the law.”
- Make sure that your landscape is well drained. Check that puddles aren’t forming on your landscape, and that drains and gutters aren’t clogged, DeValerio said. It’s also important to keep landscapes generally free of debris, he said, because a fallen leaf can become a container for water.
DeValerio added that it’s a myth that mosquitoes can be 100 percent controlled. “It’s all about management and taking precautions,” he said. “You need to be aware of where mosquitoes can populate and what they can transmit.”
Pictured below: Plants such as bromeliads can catch water in their leaves and become breeding areas for mosquitoes. DeValerio recommends flushing these plants out every two to three days. Photo by Phil Lounibos UF/IFAS for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
CPO Selectees Spruce Up Cantonment Horse Rescue
August 14, 2016
A group of Pensacola area Class 123 chief petty officer selectees spent their Saturday sprucing up around Panhandle Equine Rescue in Cantonment.
The CPO selectees completed many needed tasks around the facility, including painting, carpentry, mowing, trimming and much more in just a few hours.
“We appreciate our military men and women who always focus on their mission until the job is complete, never murmuring or complaining,” Panhandle Equine Rescue President Diane Lowery said.
The only horse rescue in Escambia County, PER was founded by a small group of concerned citizens with a mission to rescue, rehabilitate and provide adoption services for abused, neglected and abandoned equines. PER is authorized by the court system to investigate equine cruelty in Escambia County.
Pensacola To Host 2017 Southern League All-Star Game
August 14, 2016
While at the Olympic Games in Rio, team co-owner Bubba Watson announced that the Pensacola Blue Wahoos will host the Southern League All-Star Game in 2017.
“As co-owner of the Blue Wahoos, I am pleased to announce the Southern League has picked Pensacola to host the All-Star game next year,” said co-owner Bubba Watson to the entire Blue Wahoos Stadium. “(We) cannot wait to have all the fans from around the league show up and see our great fan experience and enjoy Pensacola hospitality.”
The announcement of this special event took place during Saturday’s game. Believed to be the first time in history an Olympian from the Olympic Games took time to announce the site of an all-star game, Watson made the announcement between rounds from Rio.
Voted the best Double-A ballpark by Ballpark Digest, Blue Wahoos Stadium will host the Southern League’s premier event of the year. Top prospects and players will descend upon Pensacola along with team executives, scouts and media from around the nation. Specific events surrounding the festivity will be announced at a later date.
“The Southern League is proud to announce its All-Star Game’s first appearance in Pensacola in 2017,” said Southern League President Lori Webb. “The Blue Wahoos ownership and staff will showcase our All-Stars in an exciting game, plus offer many other fun events that will delight all our great fans.”
The Southern League All-Star game is the highlight to the league’s three-day all-star break. All-Star game festivities will be on Monday, June 19 and Tuesday, June 20.
Notable former Southern League All-Stars include Carl Crawford (2001), Matt Holliday (2002), Jake Peavy (2002), Adam Wainwright (2003), Prince Fielder (2004), Joey Votto (2006), Todd Frazier (2009), Joc Pederson (2013), Kris Bryant (2014) and Dansby Swanson (2016).
Notable Blue Wahoos All-Stars include Didi Gregorius (2012), Ryan LaMarre (2012), Michael Lorenzen (2014), Robert Stephenson (2014-2015), Ray Chang (2015), Tim Adleman (2015), Phillip Ervin (2016 and Alejandro Chacin (2016).
This marks the first professional all-star game in the city of Pensacola in 55 years. The last professional all-star game in Pensacola was the summer of 1962 when the Pensacola Senators, an affiliation of the Washington Senators, hosted the Alabama-Florida League All-Star Game at Admiral Mason Ballpark.
Wahoos Snap Losing Streak With 4-2 Win Over Tennessee
August 14, 2016
Pensacola Blue Wahoos catcher Chad Wallach and left fielder Phillip Ervin each crushed home runs Saturday.
However, the loudest cheers from the sellout crowd of 5,038 were for Olympic golfer and club co-owner Bubba Watson telling them on the scoreboard from the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro that Pensacola would host the Southern League All-Star game next year.
Wallach smashed the first pitch he saw in the second inning over the left field wall for a two-out, three-run home run for a 3-1 Blue Wahoos lead. Ervin followed in the fourth inning with a rocket to left to put Pensacola up 4-1 and they hung on for a 4-2 victory.
Pensacola now has 81 home runs this season, which is behind only the Mobile BayBears (87) and Montgomery Biscuits (86).
Pensacola got only three hits Saturday with the only other one a double by third baseman Taylor Sparks.
Blue Wahoos manager Pat Kelly normally wouldn’t be happy with his lineup going 3-27, which is a .111 batting average.
“We definitely made the most of our hits,” Kelly said. “We’ve hit a bunch of homers and we’ve hit them in bunches.”
Wallach said after Tennessee starter Michael Wagner walked first baseman Eric Jagielo on four straight pitches, he went to the plate with an aggressive attitude.
“I just wanted to be aggressive, especially with runners in scoring position,” said Wallach, who hit .231 in the first half and is hitting .294 in the second half. “It’s nice when you can get two home runs and win the ball game.”
The win snapped a three series losing streak by the Blue Wahoos and improved their series record at home to 10-2. The victory also returned Pensacola to .500 in the second half at 24-24 in the Southern League South Division.
Tennessee had scored the first run of the game in the first inning when second baseman Ian Happ doubled and scored on third baseman Jason Vosler’s double to go up, 1-0.
The Smokies got its second run when Happ hit a high fly ball to right field to score shortstop Carlos Penalver, who started the inning with a single.
The 22-year-old Romano, the No. 17 ranked prospect in the Cincinnati Reds organization, worked 6.1 innings, allowing two runs on six hits and three walks, while striking out three. He now has 119 strikeouts in the season, which is second best in the Southern League.
Romano has turned things around by relaxing more before his outings and trying not to think about pitching. He was 1-7 with a 4.84 ERA and 1.54 WHIP in the first half, but is 3-4 with a 2.65 ERA and 1.08 WHIP in the second half.
He earned the victory Saturday putting him at 5-11 with a 3.87 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP on the season.
Wallach, who caught Romano before moving to first base, said Romano’s new approach before pitching is making adifference.
“He’s really relaxed and has let the numbers go and just focused on pitching well,” Wallach said. “He’s doing really well.”
Kelly said he’s noticed Romano’s confidence on the mound improving, pointing out that he worked out of a jam in the first inning with runners on second and third base with one out and set down the next two batters on a fly out and K.
“It’s that age old question what comes first, success or confidence?” Kelly said. “That’s what we’re seeing with Sal. He’s pitching with confidence and he’s having success.”
Pensacola reliever Abel De Los Santos came into the game in the eighth inning and has allowed one earned run and three hits in 11.1 innings. Closer Alejandro Chacin earned his 23rd save which is his career high, surpassing the 20 he had in 2014 with the Class A Dayton Dragons.
Man Gets Life Without Parole For Cantonment Double Murder
August 13, 2016
A Cantonment man was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole Friday for a 2015 double murder on Jacks Branch Road.
Chad Mark Fontenot, 45, was indicted on two counts of first degree murder in the death of Kim Boswell and Wendell Nichols. They were found shot to death at Boswell’s home on Jack’s Branch Road on December 13.
Prosecutors had announced that they would seek the death penalty for Fontenot, but he pleaded guilty under an agreement not to receive death.
“I offer my deepest, heartfelt apologies for my horrific actions,” he said through tears following the sentencing. “I am very sorry.”
After receiving a 911 call on December 13, 2015 , about 8:15 p.m. from Fontenot reporting the shooting, deputies arrived at the home in the 900 block of Jacks Branch Road to find Fontenot standing the garage where he was taken into custody without incident.
Inside the home, deputies discovered the bodies of Nichols, age 50 of Cantonment, on the living room couch and Boswell, age 46 of Cantonment, in a bedroom. Both were pronounced deceased at the scene.
Fontenot was transported to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office to be interviewed after telling he deputies that he knew what he did and was willing to cooperate, according to an arrest report. He requested a lawyer once at the Sheriff’s Office, ending the interview.
Nichols’ girlfriend told deputies that she had been dating him for about two weeks and he was living with Boswell while he recuperating from a recent injury. The witness said Boswell and Fontenot were in a relationship, but they were constantly arguing and that Fontenot was very controlling and aggressive with Boswell. Nichols’ girlfriend said she received a text from him about 4 p.m. saying that he was sick of hearing Boswell and Fontenot argue and that he wished he had never moved in.
Nichols’ girlfriend called him at 8 p.m. and spoke for him for just under eight minutes. She told investigators that she heard a loud bang, a woman screaming and then the phone disconnected. She attempted to call Nichols and Boswell several times without success.
When investigators searched the home, they found a revolver sitting on top of freezer in the garage. The revolver contained four spent casings and five unspent casings, according to an arrest report.
For additional photos from the scene, click here.
Pictured top inset: Chad Fontenot reacts during his sentencing Friday afternoon. Courtesy Ryan Beard, WEAR TV. Pictured top and bottom: The murder scene December 2015 on Jacks Branch Road. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Sample Ballots In The Mail
August 13, 2016
Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David H. Stafford has announced that sample ballots for the August 30 Primary Election were mailed to Escambia County voters this week. The sample ballot includes a ballot image, the voter’s polling location and information on the three ways to vote: early, vote-by-mail, and on Election Day. A sample ballot is also available at EscambiaVotes.com.
Voters have three different ways to cast their ballot:
· By Mail: Voters may vote by mail using a vote-by-mail ballot, which can be requested through the online form at EscambiaVotes.com, or by contacting the Supervisor of Elections by mail, phone (850) 595-3900, e-mail (votebymail@escambiavotes.com), or fax (850) 595-3914. Requests must include the voter’s date of birth and the address, and must be received no later than Wednesday, August 24. Voted ballots must be received in the Elections Office no later than 7:00 p.m. on Election Day and may not be returned to a polling location. Vote-by-mail voters may track the status of their ballot at EscambiaVotes.com by clicking Track My Ballot.
· Early Voting: Early voting will be available Saturday, August 20 through Saturday, August 27 at seven different locations. Early voters will cast paper ballots through our digital scanners.
Early voting will be held at the following locations and times:
o Supervisor of Elections Office, 213 Palafox Place, Second Floor, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
o Main Library, 239 Spring Street, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
o Molino Community Center, 6450-A Highway 95A, Molino, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
o Genealogy Branch Library, 5740 B, 9th Avenue, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
o Southwest Branch Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Highway, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
o Bellview/Saufley Early Vote Site, 916 W. Michigan Avenue, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
o Escambia County Extension, 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
· At Your Precinct: The third option for voters is to cast a paper ballot at their precinct on Election Day, August 30. Polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. An AutoMARK ballot marking device is also available at each polling place and early voting site for persons with disabilities.
Florida is a closed primary state. In a primary election, voters may only vote for candidates in their party of registration unless there is a universal primary contest, a nonpartisan contest, or other issue on the ballot.
Jay Man Gets 41 Years For Fatal DUI Crash
August 13, 2016
A Jay man was sentenced Friday to 41 years in prison for a 2014 fatal DUI crash just hours after he was released from jail.
Melvin D. Hawthorne was convicted by a Santa Rosa County Jury of DUI manslaughter, vehicular homicide, driving while license cancelled suspended, or revoked with careless or negligent operation of a vehicle resulting in death, DUI with serious bodily injury, and DUI with property damage.
Hawthorne was sentenced as a habitual felony offender and as a prison releasee reoffender.
Hawthorne was released on bond from the Santa Rosa County Department of Corrections at approximately 9:00 a.m. on August 17, 2014.
About 12 hours later, Hawthorne was speeding in his stepfather’s black 1998 Nissan Frontier pickup truck east of Berrydale on Highway 4 when he attempted to pass a Ford F150 towing a boat that was traveling at 55 mph. Hawthorne side-swiped the Ford and continued down Highway 4. Hawthorne then ran the stop sign at the intersection of Highway 4 and Highway 87 and continued to speed. He failed to turn and crashed into a railing. Hawthorne then backed up and again sped down Highway 4. He rear-ended a Dodge Neon carrying five people.
A passenger sitting in the rear of the Neon, 13-year old Shawn McLaughlin of Baker, was entrapped in the Neon and died at the scene of the crash. Another passenger sitting in the rear seat of the Neon, Raistlin Bunch, age 14 of Baker, was also entrapped in the vehicle and suffered a severe leg fracture.
A blood sample was taken from Hawthorne and tested positive for high levels of methamphetamine. Hawthorne was identified as the driver of the Nissan truck through forensic evidence as well as witness statements.
Florida Sending Crews To Fight Wildfires In Colorado
August 13, 2016
Florida is sending 40 firefighters to help battle a series of blazes in mountainous areas of Colorado, the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services announced. The Florida Forest Service crews, working in five-member units, will receive their assignments Friday as they join firefighters from Alabama, Georgia and Puerto Rico in battling the fires. “This type of work can be exhausting and hazardous due to the extreme terrain and intense flames found in Colorado,” Florida State Forester Jim Karels said in a prepared statement. “By assisting other states, our wildland firefighters build their expertise and enhance their capability to protect Florida from approximately 4,000 wildfires every year.” The deployment brings to 70 the number of Forest Service workers helping with wildfire suppression and management operations in eight states.
by The News Service of Florida