Public Meeting Scheduled For I-110 Master Plan
April 4, 2016
The Florida Department of Transportation will host a public kick-off meeting concerning the I-110 Master Plan from U.S. 98 (East Chase Street) to I-10 in Escambia County. The meeting will be held Tuesday, April 5, from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza Pensacola Grand at 200 East Gregory Street.
The purpose of this meeting is to present project information, outline the master planning process and present the project schedule. Maps, drawings, and other information will be on display. There will be no formal presentation; however, FDOT representatives will be available to discuss proposed improvements, answer questions, and receive comments.
Scott Signs Gas Pump Skimmer Bill, Cough Medicine Age Limit
April 4, 2016
A proposal to crack down on people using electronic “skimmers” to steal credit-card or debit-card information at gas pumps was among 14 bills signed into law Friday by Gov. Rick Scott.
Another bill will prohibit the sale of a number of over-the-counter cough medicines to youths under age 18.
The skimmer measure (SB 912), backed by Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam and the Florida Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association, will increase penalties for people holding counterfeit credit-card information starting Oct. 1.
“Increasing the penalties against individuals involved in the theft of fuel and requiring gasoline pumps to install advance security measures will assist in deterring this criminal activity that raises costs for all consumers,” Sen. Anitere Flores, R-Miami, said in a prepared statement.
Ned Bowman, executive director of the Florida Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association, said the new law will protect “all of us from being victims of gas pump skimmer fraud.”
The proposal, sponsored in the House by Majority Leader Dana Young, R-Tampa, requires gas-station owners to use additional security measures on self-service pumps. The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services may also prohibit the use of fuel pumps until such security measures are installed.
Putnam’s office has noted that more than 190 skimmers have been found statewide since the beginning of 2015.
“Approximately 100 consumers are victimized by each skimmer, resulting in $1,000 stolen from each victim on average,” Putnam’s office said after the House approved the bill March 8. “Each skimmer represents an estimated $100,000 threat to consumers.”
Another new law Scott signed Friday puts an age restriction on products that include dextromethorphan, a cough suppressant sold without a prescription under brand names such as Robitussin, Coricidin, and Vicks.
The proposal (SB 938), sponsored by Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto, R-Fort Myers, and Rep. Doug Broxson, R-Gulf Breeze, was proposed after reports of teenagers using cough medicine to get cheap highs. Side effects of such intoxication, according to a Senate staff analysis, include loss of coordination, slurred speech, sweating, hypertension and involuntary spasmodic movement of the eyeballs.
The American Association of Poison Control Centers reported six deaths in 2014 related to dextromethorphan use.
The law, which will go into effect July 1, 2017, won’t require stores to alter placement of the products but will prevent local governments from imposing their own restrictions.
Also signed into law Friday was a measure (SB 666), sponsored by Sen. John Legg, R-Trinity, that will allow people to use Florida concealed-weapon licenses or Veteran Health Identification Cards issued by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as valid identification when registering to vote or when voting at polling places.
Another measure signed by Scott (SB 1044) will place additional restrictions on the seizure of property in criminal cases. The bill was sponsored by Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg.
“The notion that police officers can take cash or other property from people never charged with any criminal wrongdoing and keeping any profits from the sale of seized property doesn’t sit well with the public,” said Bill Piper, senior director of national affairs for the Drug Policy Alliance, which backed the bill. “Voters want action on civil asset forfeiture, and it was smart politics for Gov. Scott to sign off on this.”
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Scott Signs Off On Raises For Elections Supervisors
April 4, 2016
County supervisors of elections will see their salaries rise, under a bill signed into law Wednesday by Gov. Rick Scott.
Without comment, Scott’s office announced that he had signed the legislation (SB 514), which supporters say is aimed at bringing supervisors’ pay into line with other county constitutional officers — a group of elected officials that includes tax collectors, property appraisers and clerks of circuit court.
Supporters argue the lower pay rate was a legacy of an earlier era, when women held the overwhelming majority of supervisors’ offices. Most supervisors are still women.
Scott’s approval of the bill was not a surprise. After a Cabinet meeting Tuesday, Scott indicated to reporters he would sign the legislation.
“I think they’ve done a good job,” the governor said in response to a question on the bill. “I think it’s the right thing to do.”
According to legislative analyses, the bill is expected to increase pay to supervisors by a total of $1.2 million, or an average of $18,540 per county. The average pay raise would be 18.7 percent.
The bill passed the Senate in a 36-4 vote early this month. But it ran into trouble in the House, where fiscal conservatives clashed with members of both parties who supported increasing the pay rate to bring equity to the system and to acknowledge the difficulty of the supervisors’ jobs.
The debate in the House split both parties before lawmakers voted 58-54 to approve the legislation. Most of the members of the House’s GOP majority — 46 — opposed the bill, as did eight Democrats.
“We need to make sure that this office is respected, just as we respect the office of sheriff, tax collector, property appraiser,” said Rep. Gayle Harrell, a Stuart Republican and supporter of the legislation.
But opponents said the bill would give some officials special treatment at a time when salary increases for state workers have been scant — though the money for the supervisors’ pay would come from county budgets.
There was no across-the-board pay increase for state workers in a new budget approved this month and signed into law by Scott, though some workers in select categories will receive a boost.
“This (the supervisors of elections bill) is nothing more than politicians feeding politicians by giving pay raises to other elected officials,” said Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach. “And frankly, if we’re going to do pay raises, I say we do them across the board for all state workers and not pick out a select group of people.”
The bill takes effect Oct. 1.
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Century Tornado Assistance Waiting List Now Open
April 4, 2016
An Escambia County and Century waiting list is now open for Town of Century residents requesting housing repair or reconstruction assistance as a result of the February 15 tornado.
Only residents in the incorporated town of Century whose housing units were damaged by the tornado are eligible to apply. Owner occupants of manufactured homes are also eligible to apply if they own the property on which the home is located.
Century residents may call (850) 595-0872 to be placed on the waiting list. Residents must provide the following information when calling:
- Name
- Street address of impacted residence
- Contact phone number
Services will be made available to income-eligible owner occupants on a first qualified, first served basis as funding permits. Staff will follow up with applicants within five business days to determine program eligibility and to make appointments to begin the application process.
The following chart shows the maximum gross family household income requirements in Escambia County (effective March 28, 2016) for the housing repair and reconstruction activities through the State Housing Initiatives Partnership program, or SHIP. Household income includes income received from all persons residing in the household and from all sources providing income to the household.
Applications are still being accepted for owner occupants needing housing repair or reconstruction assistance from the February 15 and 23 tornadoes. Owner occupants in unincorporated Escambia County can call the Neighborhood Enterprise Division at (850) 595-0022, and those inside the city of Pensacola limits can call the City of Pensacola Housing Office at (850) 858-0306 to apply.
Tate Beats Pace
April 3, 2016
The Tate Aggies regained their district lead with a 4-2 win over Pace Saturday.
Cole Halfacre went a perfect 4-4 at the plate for the Tate Aggies with singles in the first, third, fifth and sixth innings. Michael Sherrill took the win on the mound, allowing just two runs for seven innings, walking one, giving up nine and striking out four.
Tate hitters – Cole Halfacre 4-4 RBI; Trace Penton 1-4 2B, RBI, BB; AJ Gordon 1-1 2B, RBI, 2 BB, SB.
WP – Michael Sherrill (7 IP, 2 ER, 9 H, 4 K, BB)
Power Restored After Substation Fire In Jay
April 3, 2016
UPDATE 5:45 p.m. — All power has been restored in the Jay area following the installation of a mobile power substation. The entire area lost power Sunday morning due to a substation fire.
UPDATE 3:00 p.m. – A mobile power substation has arrived in Jay. The mobile unit will be used to restore power to Jay and surrounding areas following a power substation fire this morning. The process, according to EREC, will take several hours.
Previous story below photo:
A fire at an Escambia River Electric Cooperative substation in Jay Sunday morning has left the area without power.
The fire was quickly contained, and crews are working to restore power as soon as possible to about 2,500 customers. The entire substation is without power.
A regulator and circuit breakers failed causing an arc which spread to other equipment causing the fire and power outage, according to EREC spokesperson Sabrina Owens.
A mobile substation is being brought in to restore power. It is anticipated that power will be restored by early evening.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Below: Another photo of the mobile substation:
Teen Driver Flips Vehicle On Bridge Across Perdido River
April 3, 2016
A teenage girl escaped serious injuries when she flipped her her SUV across part of two states Saturday morning.
The driver lost control while eastbound in Baldwin County, Alabama, and overturned onto the Barrineau Park Bridge across the Perdido River on Barrineau Park Road. The vehicle came to rest upside down on the bridge railing in Florida.
The driver was transported to a Pensacola hospital with minor injuries.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Escambia County EMS and the Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
AT&T Employee Killed In Traffic Crash
April 3, 2016
The Florida Highway Patrol has released the identity of an AT&T employee that died as the result of a traffic crash Thursday at intersection of Davis Highway and Olive Road.
The FHP said late Saturday that 45-year old Willie Ray Bonds was pronounced deceased at Sacred Heart Hospital about six hours after the crash.
About 3:27 p.m., 73-year old Henry Simpson of Pensacola was traveling north on Davis Highway when he ran the red light at the intersection in his 2005 GMC Envoy, trooper said. Simpson’s vehicle struck Bonds’ van on the driver’s side.
Bonds was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital where he was pronounced deceased at 9:12 p.m. Simpson was transported to Baptist Hospital with serious injuries.
Alcohol was not a factor in the crash, and both men were wearing their seat belts. Any charges in the crash are pending the outcome of a traffic homicide investigation, according to FHP.
Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Play Ball! Opening Day For Northwest Escambia (With Gallery)
April 3, 2016
Saturday was Opening Day for Northwest Escambia at Bradberry Park in Walnut Hill
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
FDOT: Weekly Traffic Alerts
April 3, 2016
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County:
· Interstate 10 (I-10) Widening, Escambia County – Intermittent and alternating lane closures, between State Road (S.R.) 291 (Davis Highway/Exit 13) and U.S. 90 (Scenic Highway/Exit 17), from 7 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. the week of Monday, April 4 as crews perform construction activities.
· I-10/U.S. 29 Interchange Improvements, Escambia County – The outside lane of I-10 eastbound near U.S. 29 (Exits 10A and 10B) will be closed Sunday, April 3 and Monday, April 4 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. as crews install barrier wall.
Santa Rosa County:
· U.S. 98, Santa Rosa County - Alternating lane closures, between Central Parkway and the Gulf Breeze Zoo, from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Sunday, April 3 through Thursday, April 7 as crews perform work list items.
· I-10 Widening, Santa Rosa County – Alternating lane closures on I-10, between the Escambia Bay Bridge and S.R. 281 (Avalon Boulevard/Exit 22), from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, April 3 through Thursday, April 7 as crews place barrier wall. In addition, alternating lane closures on Avalon Boulevard near the I-10 interchange during this time as crews perform bridge work.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. Drivers are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling in a work zone and to watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway.
Pictured: Work on widening I-10 near Scenic Highway in Escambia County. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.