Jay Hospital Temporarily Shut Down By Smell Of Smoke
January 10, 2016
Jay Hospital was forced to temporarily turn away patients Saturday afternoon as fire departments from several cities search for the source of the smell of smoke.
The Jay, Berrydale, Allentown and Flomaton fire departments responded to Jay Hospital after the smell of smoke was reported. Workers were cleared from a portion of the building were the smell was the strongest as firefighters searched for the smoke source.
Authorities said no fire was ever found.
FDOT: Weekly Traffic Alerts
January 10, 2016
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
- U.S. 29, Escambia County – Northbound traffic will encounter lane restrictions Monday, Jan. 11 through Friday, Jan. 15 starting at Champion Drive and continuing north as crews begin construction of guardrail pads. Also, motorists can expect intermittent northbound lane closures to occur within the town of Century as workers continue construction activities.
- S.R. 4, Escambia County- Lane closures at the Escambia River Bridge from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 12 as crews perform routine maintenance.
- I-10 Gateway Structure at Florida/Alabama State line, Escambia County- The eastbound outside lane at the Florida/Alabama State line will be closed from 8 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 10 to 5 a.m. Monday, Jan. 11. The westbound, outside lane will be closed from 8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 11 to 5 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 12. The lane closures will allow crews to construct barrier wall along the east and westbound shoulders in preparation for construction of the new gateway structures.
- State Road (S.R.) 289 (9th Avenue), Escambia County- Crews continue paving operations between Bayou Boulevard and Creighton Road. Lane closures will be in effect from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. Between Bayou Boulevard and Cervantes Street, motorists will also encounter intermittent and alternating daytime lane closures as crews adjust manholes and valves.
- I-10 Widening, Escambia County- The eastbound, right lane, near Exit 17 (Scenic Highway), will be closed from 7 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 12 and Wednesday, Jan. 13. In addition, traffic in the left lane of I-10 eastbound will be slowed by the Florida Highway Patrol to escort vehicles during this time. The closures will allow crews to set girders for the new Scenic Highway overpass. Drivers will also encounter alternating lane closures on Scenic Highway near the Scenic Highway overpass during this time. Traffic flaggers will be on site to direct traffic through the work zone. Motorists are reminded the speed limit on I-10, between Davis Highway and Scenic Highway, is reduced to 60 mph.
- I-10 Widening, Santa Rosa County – Alternating lane closures on Avalon Boulevard near the I-10 interchange from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. beginning Monday, Jan. 4 as crews perform bridge work. Closures will continue Sunday through Thursday night until the end of January. Alternating east and westbound lane closures between the Escambia Bay Bridge and S.R. 281 (Avalon Boulevard/ Exit 22). Lane restrictions will be in effect from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday night until the end of January.
- State Roads, Santa Rosa County – Drivers will encounter daytime and nighttime traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Santa Rosa County through Jan. 22 as crews perform striping and pavement marking operations.
- U.S. 90 just east of State Road (S.R.) 281 (Avalon Boulevard) to S.R. 87and west end of Blackwater Bridge to the east end of Blackwater Bridge.
- S.R. 87 (Stewart Street) from U.S. 90 to north end of Clear Creek Bridge.
- S.R. 89 (By-Pass) from U.S. 90 to S.R. 87.
- S.R. 89 from S.R. 87 to County Road 178.
- U.S. 98 from the zoo to the Okaloosa County line. (nighttime operation)
All planned construction activities are weather dependent and may be re-scheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Firefighters Donate Adult Diapers To Council On Aging
January 10, 2016
Local firefighters donated 700 adult diapers to Council on Aging of West Florida, and expect to deliver several hundred more in the coming weeks.
“We wanted to go above and beyond,” said Dusty Merritt, vice president of Pensacola Professional Firefighters Local 707. “We know there’s a need.”
Adult diapers and underwear can cost up to $40 a pack, and can be a cost burden for many seniors. This donation will allow Council on Aging to help the clients in the community who need it most.
“Every day firefighters serve our community selflessly,” said John Clark, president/CEO of Council on Aging. “They already do so much for others, and we are grateful that they chose us to be the recipient of another selfless act.”
Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Volunteers Build New Beds For Animal Shelter
January 10, 2016
The animals at the Escambia County Animal Shelter have new beds, thanks to the efforts of about 200 volunteers who built the beds on Saturday. The beds are designed to provide a place for the animals to sleep off the shelter floor. The volunteers constructed about 150 beds, providing a few extras for the 120 kennels at at the animal shelter. The materials were all donated, and the beds were constructed at Emerald Coast Granite and Tile. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
10 Issues To Watch During 2016 Legislative Session
January 10, 2016
Florida lawmakers will return to the Capitol next week for an election-year legislative session.
Expect the 60-day session to start amicably enough, with the House and Senate poised to quickly pass bills about water policy and boosting opportunities for people with disabilities — priorities of House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island, and Senate President Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando.
But as always, the true sausage-making will happen near the end of the 60-day session, as lawmakers race to pass bills, tack on amendments and negotiate a budget. Here are 10 issues to watch during the session, which starts Jan. 12 and is scheduled to end March 11:
BUDGET: Lawmakers will enter the session with a surplus as they prepare to negotiate a budget for the fiscal year starting July 1. Gov. Rick Scott has proposed a $79.3 billion spending plan as a starting point. Among other things, Scott wants to set a record for per-student funding in public schools, boost economic-development incentives and cut taxes. But a key question could focus on the size of the surplus. State economists have predicted a $635.4 million surplus, while Scott’s administration contends the number could be as high as $1.6 billion. The resolution of that issue could help determine how much money is available for education, health care, economic-development incentives and tax cuts.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: Scott, who has made job creation the hallmark of his administration, clashed last year with the Senate about providing economic incentives to try to attract businesses to Florida. Scott has kept up the pressure, requesting that lawmakers set aside $250 million for incentives and make changes in the incentives process. Senate leaders, however, have questioned the need to plow such a large amount of money into incentives and whether incentives programs have been effective.
EDUCATION: Continuing to face pressure from educators and parents, the Legislature could again grapple with making changes to Florida’s high-stakes testing system. As an example, Senate Education Appropriations Chairman Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, has raised the idea of allowing schools to use tests other than the state’s Florida Standards Assessments. Another closely watched issue could be whether lawmakers decide to continue a controversial program that offers bonuses to teachers based on their ACT or SAT college-admission test scores.
GAMBLING: Lobbyists likely will swarm as the Legislature debates whether to make potentially far-reaching changes in the gambling industry. Much of the debate has been prompted by a proposed $3 billion agreement that Scott reached last month with the Seminole Tribe of Florida. In exchange for payments to the state, the tribe would be able to offer craps and roulette at its casinos. But the deal also opened the door to a series of other issues, ranging from allowing slot machines at a greyhound track in Palm Beach County and at a new facility in Miami-Dade County to allowing dog and horse tracks to stop running live races.
GUNS: In the months leading up to the session, gun bills have drawn perhaps the most public attention. Lawmakers are considering a controversial proposal that would allow people with concealed-weapons licenses to carry guns on college and university campuses. Second Amendment groups are supporting the proposal, while university-system leaders have opposed it. In a separate proposal, lawmakers are debating whether to allow people with concealed-weapons licenses to openly carry firearms.
HEALTH CARE: After the 2015 session was dominated by battles about health-care issues, lawmakers will go into this year’s session still dealing with major budget and policy decisions. Part of the focus again will be on the Low Income Pool, or LIP, program, which helps hospitals care for poor and uninsured patients. Federal officials have said the program will receive $608 million during the upcoming year, down from $1 billion this year. Meanwhile, House leaders are pushing a series of proposals aimed at reducing regulations in the health-care industry. One of the most-contentious would eliminate what is known as the “certificate of need” approval process for new or expanded hospitals.
JUSTICE SYSTEM: With critics arguing that Florida charges too many juvenile offenders as adults, the House and Senate are looking at possibly limiting the ability of prosecutors to make such decisions. Lawmakers are debating how much discretion prosecutors should have in using a practice known as “direct file.” Among other issues involving the courts, some House members are backing the idea of seeking term limits for members of the Florida Supreme Court and appeals courts. Such a proposal, if approved by the Legislature, would need to go before voters.
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES: For Gardiner, this is personal. Gardiner, whose son has Down syndrome, has long made a priority of trying to provide more opportunities for people with developmental disabilities — or as he calls them, “unique abilities.” The Senate and House are poised to approve a package of changes that would seek to spur state agencies to hire people with disabilities, expand educational opportunities and create a financial literacy program. Also, lawmakers likely will create a program to recognize businesses that hire people with disabilities.
TAX CUTS: Florida businesses will watch closely during the legislative session to see how much of Scott’s proposed $1 billion tax-cut package will get approved by lawmakers. The package, in part, would permanently eliminate a tax on manufacturing equipment, reduce a tax on commercial leases and make smaller cuts, such as holding a back-to-school sales tax “holiday” and extending a temporary elimination of sales taxes on college textbooks. Scott also wants to eliminate income taxes on manufacturers and retailers. But it remains unclear how far lawmakers will go with tax cuts, with a particular concern about the long-term financial impact of permanent or “recurring” tax cuts.
WATER: Crisafulli and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam have made a top priority of passing a wide-ranging bill to set new water policies for the state. And with the House and Senate going into the session with identical proposals, it appears Crisafulli and Putnam will quickly get their wish. The proposal, which has drawn criticism from many environmental groups, includes establishing water-flow levels for springs and setting guidelines for the Central Florida Water Initiative. Also, it includes steps such as further establishing management plans for farming around Lake Okeechobee and waterways in surrounding areas.
by Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida
GED Classes Begin Monday At The Molino Community Center
January 9, 2016
GED classes will begin Monday at the Molino Community Center.
Classes will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Mondays and Thursdays in Room 124. Tuition is $30; register by visiting www.georgestonecenter.com or get help at the Molino Community Center on January 11 from 5-8 p.m.
The program offers teachers and tutors, not just sitting behind a computer self-teaching.
For more information, call the George Stone Technical Center at (850) 941-6200.
Two Charged, One Wanted In Christmas Shooting
January 9, 2016
Two men have been arrested on outstanding warrants and charged with attempted murder for a shooting that occurred December 25.
Meanwhile, police are continuing their search for Calvin Dudley Thomas Jr., 21, aka “Boomie” of Pensacola, wanted on an outstanding warrant for attempted murder in connection with the incident.
Thursday night police arrested Reaquion Markease Smith, 19, of the 4600 block of Bellview Avenue, Pensacola, and charged him with attempted murder. In addition, Franklin D. Bates II, 22, of the 2600 block of North L Street, Pensacola, was arrested Thursday morning in Panama City and charged with attempted murder.
“This is a high priority case, and we are continuing efforts to find Thomas,” said Detective Amy Parsons.
The incident occurred around 8 p.m. December 25 near the intersection of F and DeSoto streets.
Officers who responded to the area found a 20-year-old male who had been shot multiple times. The man remains hospitalized and has undergone multiple surgeries.
Officers with the Panama City Police Department and the U.S. Marshal’s Office assisted with Bates’ arrest.
Also, Martavion Rashun Jones, 21, of 2900 block of Melody Lane, Pensacola, was arrested at the same time as Smith and charged on an outstanding warrant from Escambia County for aggravated assault.
Anyone having information on the incident or Thomas’ location is asked to contact Detective Amy Parsons at (850) 435-1977, Detective Chris Grantham at (850) 435-1986, the Pensacola Police Department at (850) 435-1900, or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP. If a tip to Crime Stoppers results in Thomas’ arrest, the tipster can receive up to a $1,000 reward.
CareerSource Escarosa Names New Executive Director
January 9, 2016
CareerSource Escarosa announced Friday that Cliff Krut has been named the agency’s new executive director.
Krut will begin his new position February 1, following the retirement of current Executive Director Susan Nelms.
Nelms has served as Escarosa’s Executive Director since 1996 and has more than 30 years of experience administering federal employment and training programs in our area. April 29 will be her last official day serving as CareerSource Escarosa’s executive director.
Since 1995, Krut served as an economic development representative for Gulf Power Company working closely with state, regional and local economic development agencies and business leaders to attract and retain businesses throughout the region. Prior to his role at Gulf Power, he served as the director of Workforce and Economic Development for Pensacola State College. He also worked with the Pensacola Area Chamber of Commerce where he was responsible for military base retention and economic development work.
Krut also serves as the Northwest Florida regional director for the Florida Economic Development Council and is an active alumnus of Leadership Santa Rosa where he serves as a class facilitator. Krut served in U.S. Navy, retiring as a Senior Chief Petty Officer.
“We are sad that Susan is retiring and thank her for her tremendous contributions and years of service. However, we are thrilled to be bringing Cliff on-board. He brings valuable knowledge of our local area and northwest Florida’s workforce needs through his past experience in economic development initiatives. We feel he will be a great asset to our organization and working with our businesses to assist in their future employment needs”, said Scott Ginnetti, chair of CareerSource Escarosa Board of Directors.
CareerSource Escarosa’s services are available in Century, Pensacola and Molino.
Counties Hope Bill Resolves Fight Over Detention Costs
January 9, 2016
After years of court battles, Florida counties — including Escambia and Santa Rosa — hope the Legislature will pass a proposed compromise about how juvenile-detention costs are shared with the state.
The proposal (SB 1322) by Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, would divide the cost of detaining young offenders equally between the state Department of Juvenile Justice and county governments — a 50-50 split that would replace a formula that currently requires counties to pay 57 percent and the state to pay 43 percent.
The measure also would do away with a billing process in which counties pay annual estimated costs in advance. Counties contend the system has resulted in them being owed millions in overpayments — or getting hit with unexpected bills at the last minute.
“Pinellas (County) just got billed $1 million because (DJJ) billed ‘em wrong in the projection at the beginning of the year,” Latvala said. “So they get a lump-sum billing now, after the year is over, of a million dollars. And of course, there’s no credit for what the state still owes them for the years that they overbilled. It’s just a screwed-up process that needs to be fixed.”
Under his bill, which was filed Tuesday, the counties would pay their actual costs for the previous year. That would start with the state fiscal year beginning July 1.
“The department will be monitoring the legislation and remains committed to working with the Legislature and the counties to find a resolution that best serves Florida’s youth and their families,” Department of Juvenile Justice Secretary Christina Daly wrote in an email.
The dispute centers on the department’s handling of a 2004 law that requires counties to help pay for “predisposition,” or the costs of detaining underage offenders before they are sentenced. Between 2009 and 2013, the department calculated the counties’ share at 75 percent. Then in June 2013, the 1st District Court of Appeal upheld an administrative law judge’s ruling that the department had shifted more responsibility for the costs to counties than the law required.
“Your overwhelming evidence of systemic failed billing practices has convinced me for the need to rewrite the statute,” Latvala wrote to the Florida Association of Counties on Friday. “What should have been a simple and obvious fix has turned into a political quagmire.”
Following the ruling, the Legislature in 2014 tried to come up with another formula. But a bill proposing a 50-50 split failed when the counties sought hundreds of millions of dollars in back payments. As a result, Gov. Rick Scott and the Department of Juvenile Justice settled on the current 57-43 percent formula, which the counties have argued is too high.
“It’s another of those unfunded mandates that could be the ruination of a county,” Volusia County Council Chairman Jason Davis said.
The dispute affects 38 counties. The 29 poorest counties are considered “fiscally constrained” and aren’t part of the cost-sharing formula.
Davis called Latvala’s proposal “a good start.” But he plans to seek the $10 million to $15 million in back payments he estimates Volusia is owed. He said constituents want projects that can’t get underway because the county lacks the funds.
To Okaloosa County Commissioner Nathan Boyles, however, the question of back payments shouldn’t keep the counties from accepting the 50-50 compromise this year.
“That’s where it really seemed to founder on the rocks in Tallahassee (in 2014),” he said. “But that’s an issue that can be resolved separately.”
Boyles said the current budgeting process creates too much uncertainty for counties, and Latvala’s bill would fix that.
“Tallahassee currently has the privilege of sending us a bill at the end of their fiscal year and saying, ‘All right, now, pay up, you were short,’ ” he said. “We need the ability at the outset of our budget year to understand what the implication of this substantial cost-driver is going to be for us. …. While we may not like the bill amount, at least we can adequately budget and account for it.”
Sen. Rob Bradley, a Fleming Island Republican who sponsored the 2014 measure, said Latvala’s bill is essentially the 50-50 split he proposed two years ago “with the idea that we would do this in exchange for (the counties) forgoing back payments. … I don’t see anything that has changed from that position, but I’m one of 40 senators.”
Bradley is reserving judgment on the proposal, but he said the counties’ lawsuits have also cost taxpayers money.
“They need to quit suing,” he said.
Latvala, meanwhile, said he was open to the possibility of crediting the counties based on past overpayments. He wrote to the Florida Association of Counties that the House companion will be sponsored by his son, Rep. Chris Latvala, R-Clearwater.
Three Tate Aggies Named To All-State Football Team
January 9, 2016
Three Tate High School Aggies were named to the All-State Football Team. Dallas Ditto was named first team, Jake Henry was named second team and Sawyer Smith was name third team. Pictured are (L-R) Tate Principal Rick Shackle, Jake Henry and Dallas Ditto. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.