Highway 97 Driver Slams Into Bridge Construction Zone Guardrail
December 22, 2015
A pickup truck driver lost control and slammed into a guardrail in a bridge construction zone sometime early Tuesday morning in Walnut Hill.
A passerby discovered the accident about 2:45 a.m., but the driver had already left the scene. It appeared the driver of the Chevrolet Silverado 2500 was southbound on Highway 97 north of Wiggins Lake Road when they lost control, traveled across the roadway and collided with a guardrail bumper.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Atmore Ambulance searched the surrounding area but found no sign of the driver.
The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Molino Man Headed To Prison For Tom Thumb Robbery
December 22, 2015
A Molino man has been sentenced to state prison for robbing a Tom Thumb on Saufley Field Road.
Acoya Kenneth Wright, now 19, previously entered a no contest plea to a charge of robbery with a firearm. Monday, he was sentenced by Judge Micheal Jones to 48 months is state prison to be followed by 24 months supervised probation. He will get credit for 313 days time served.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Wright robbed the Tom Thumb at 5450 Saufley Field Road at 2:36 a.m. on February 5. He was reportedly wearing all-black clothing with his face concealed by a scarf and carrying a long item wrapped in black clothing in a manner that would indicate that it was rifle. He fled the store on foot with less than $40 in cash.
Wright was developed as a suspect in the crime after relatives contacted the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office with their suspicions.
When interviewed deputies, Wright said he was very drunk and had to be carried home the night of the robbery, therefore he was not responsible for the holdup, according to an arrest report.
Friends told investigators that Wright had been looking to trade his .22 rifle for a pistol because he planned on robbing the Tom Thumb because he needed $20,000 — $5,000 of which would be for his little sister to get braces and $12,000 for his little brother, the report states.
A charge of committing a felony with a mask or hood against Wright was dropped.
Escambia Extension Council Members Named
December 22, 2015
The Escambia County Commission has reappointed and appointed several members to the Escambia County Extension Council.
The following individuals were reappointed to a second two-year term:
- Gary Purvis, Century
- Karen Hall, Walnut Hill
- Christine Rodgers, Pensacola
- Jerry Patee, Pensacola
- Mary Patricia Bush, Pensacola
In addition, the commission appointed Jerry Dwain Drinkard of Molino to his first two-year term on the council to replace Charles Woodward of Molino, whose term expires November 30.
he Extension Council is comprised of members of zones across the county that have an interest or concern in agricultural, family and consumer sciences (home economics), and youth programs of extension; in developing the rural and urban sections; and in developing the county and its resources.
Members may serve a maximum of two consecutive two-year terms before rotating off and must be off the council for one two-year term before becoming eligible to serve again.
Escambia Man Sentenced For Shooting Landlord
December 22, 2015
Jeremy Antwon French was sentenced by Circuit Judge Michael Jones to 30 years in state prison to be followed by five years probation. Twenty-five of the 30 years are to be served day for day under Florida’s 10-20-Life statute. French will be required to serve 25 years without any gain time.
French pleaded no contest on September 30 to attempted first degree premeditated murder, four counts of shooting at a building, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and two counts of aggravated assault.
On August 13, 2014, French confronted his property manager at an apartment complex off of Langley Avenue. He fired his .380 pistol multiple times into the victim’s front door, striking her twice. He continued firing into her residence through multiple windows. French proceeded through the apartment complex firing at three other residences before authorities were able to apprehend him on scene.
In all, there were 26 spent shell casings recovered and located in French’s right front pocket were 29 more live rounds.
State Employees Get Christmas Eve Off
December 22, 2015
State employees will have a little extra time this week to do last-minute holiday shopping, as they will receive the day off on Christmas Eve, according to Gov. Rick Scott’s office. Christmas Day is one of a series of paid holidays that state workers have each year, but Christmas Eve isn’t automatically on the list.
Lawmaker Proposes State Gaming Commission
December 22, 2015
With lawmakers poised for a major debate about gambling issues, a Senate Democrat on Monday proposed creating a state gaming commission to oversee regulation of the industry.
The bill filed by Sen. Maria Sachs, D-Delray Beach, would create a five-member commission appointed by the governor. The commission would head a newly created Department of Gaming, which would take over the current duties of the state Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering, which is under the Department of Business and Professional Regulation.
The proposal, which is filed for the legislative session that starts January 12, would require the gaming commission to meet by October 1. Sachs’ bill comes as lawmakers prepare to consider a gambling deal that Gov. Rick Scott has negotiated with the Seminole Tribe of Florida. The deal would affect pari-mutuel facilities, along with tribal casinos.
by The News Service of Florida
Health Department Lifts Escambia Mosquito Borne Illness Alert
December 22, 2015
The Florida Department of Health in Escambia County (FDOH-Escambia) has lifted the mosquito-borne illness alert for Escambia County. Surveillance data indicate that the risk of human infection has decreased.
There were four cases of West Nile Virus confirmed in Escambia County this year. Although mosquito-borne illnesses are less common in the winter months, Escambia County’s Mosquito Control office has indicated continued reports of mosquito activity in the area.
The health department still recommends that Escambia County residents and visitors continue to “drain and protect” against being bitten by mosquitoes.
Drain standing water.
- Drain water from garbage cans, house gutters, buckets, pool covers, coolers, toys, flower pots or any other containers where sprinkler or rain water has collected.
- Discard old tires, bottles, pots, broken appliances and other items not being used.
- Empty and clean birdbaths and pets’ water bowls at least twice a week.
- Protect boats and vehicles from rain with tarps that do not accumulate water.
- Maintain swimming pools in good condition and chlorinated. Empty plastic swimming pools when not in use.
Cover skin with clothing or repellent and cover doors and windows.
- Wear shoes, socks, long pants and long sleeves when mosquitoes are most prevalent.
- Apply mosquito repellent to bare skin and clothing.
- Always use repellents according to the label. Repellents with DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, and IR3535 are effective.
- Re-apply mosquito repellent as often as needed to prevent mosquito landings and bites.
- Use mosquito netting to protect children younger than 2 months old.
- When using repellent on children, apply to your hands first and then rub on their arms and legs.
- Place screens on windows, doors, porches, and patios. Always repair broken screens.
Molino Library Patron Quilts Throws For Enon Nursing Home Residents
December 22, 2015
Molino Branch Library patron June Weaver quilted these throws for the residents of Enon Country Manor near Walnut Hill. They were to be delivered to Enon Country Manor residents along with their new West Florida Public Library cards. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Sheriff’s Office Seeks Shoplifters
December 22, 2015
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the identity of three women wanted for shoplifting at Target on Nine Mile Road. The women entered the store on November 30 and stole merchandise from the store, the ECSO said Monday. Anyone with information on their whereabouts or identities is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Lawmakers, CFO Look At Pulling Plug On PIP Insurance
December 22, 2015
The state’s personal-injury protection auto insurance system, known as “no-fault,” would end in 2019 under proposals ready to go before lawmakers.
Rep. Bill Hager, R-Delray Beach, filed a proposal (HB 997) last week, two months after Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty tossed out the idea of, “Let’s just repeal PIP and do nothing,” as a way to further reduce fraud in the personal-injury protection system.
The repeal idea also appears to have backing from state Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater.
Atwater, who along with Gov. Rick Scott championed 2012 changes intended to fight fraud in the no-fault system, had maintained as recently as October that time was needed to see the impact of the legislative changes.
On Monday, a spokeswoman for Atwater said that the “time has now passed.”
“Ultimately, it’s a policy decision for the Legislature to make, but two years after the passage of the PIP legislation, it’s time for the insurance industry to bring forward evidence that shows whether or not rates are going to come down,” Atwater spokeswoman Ashley Carr said in an email. “If consumers aren’t going to get the relief the legislation intended, then the time to repeal has arrived.”
Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, filed the Senate version (SB 1112) of Hager’s proposal on Dec. 11. The identical measures would require motorists to have a minimum of property-damage and bodily-injury liability coverage.
Under the decades-old no-fault system, intended to make insurance claims less adversarial than lawsuits, motorists are required to carry personal-injury protection coverage that includes $10,000 in medical benefits.
However, questions have grown over the limits of $10,000 in medical coverage, while efforts to remove fraud from the no-fault system have resulted in more coverage restrictions.
With lawmakers estimating that the average Florida motorist was paying $180 a year for the personal-injury protection portion of their auto coverage, a 2012 law set benchmarks for insurers to lower rates on the coverage. The law also required people involved in crashes to seek treatment within 14 days and allowed up to $10,000 in benefits for emergency medical conditions, while putting a $2,500 cap on non-emergency conditions.
State officials maintained the changes were showing signs of working.
In January, the Office of Insurance Regulation estimated the average no-fault annual payment was about $125.
The state agency also reported at that time that the average medical cost paid through PIP claims dropped 14 percent statewide from 2011 to the first three quarters of 2014, with the average payment down 28.7 percent in South Florida in the same time. But the numbers were still considered too preliminary to show the full impact of the law.
The changes also drew legal challenges.
A Leon County circuit judge in 2013 ruled the law illegally prevented injured people from using PIP coverage to pay for treatment by acupuncturists and massage therapists and limited the services from chiropractors. The ruling was eventually overturned. Still, some lawmakers believe the law will eventually fail a court challenge and have suggested the state replace PIP with bodily-injury coverage.
McCarty said at a Florida Chamber of Commerce insurance event in October that most motorists already have bodily-injury coverage. As a result, lawmakers might not have to do anything to replace PIP, which is also commonly known as no-fault.
“I’m not so sure that I’m ready to move to a more litigious auto system, but I think one thing to consider, particularly if we get an adverse decision on PIP, let’s fix it or flush it,” McCarty said. “We have done everything to fix PIP you could have possibly have done. We’ve had seven sessions on PIP. … A $10,000 benefit, really. Is it worth this amount?”
McCarty added that ending no-fault wouldn’t impact many motorists, as “only a handful of people” buy just the minimum coverage, while those engaged in fraud would look for other outlets.
“We talk about the whack-a-mole. Fraud is rampant in this state,” McCarty said. “Fraud looks for its weakest link. And if you eliminate (PIP), even if for just two years, in two years you would cut the pipeline off of PIP. You’d cut the supply of capital going into PIP.”
It remains to be determined how much attention the legislation will get once the 2016 session begins in January.
by The News Service of Florida