ECUA: 97% Of New Santa Rosa Customers Now Have Their Cans
January 13, 2015
After getting off to a rough start, the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority reported Monday that cans have now been delivered to most of their new customers in northern Santa Rosa County.
Can delivery to new residential sanitation customers in the north end of Santa Rosa County reached the 97% level, following a continued non-stop delivery schedule by ECUA’s contractor, ECUA crews, and the assistance of a second can delivery contractor.
“Today’s deliveries are focused on customers who signed up for service last Thursday, Friday, or Saturday, and as such, curbside collection of bags is now discontinued,” ECUA public information officer, Nathalie Bowers, ECUA public information officer, said. “All customers who signed up before January 9 should have their cans, barring an error in the account set-up or delivery process. If not, we are asking these customers to please call our Customer Service Center at 476-0480 and advise us of their status.”
ECUA took over most residential trash pickup in Santa Rosa county north of the Yellow River on January 1. Residents that have not yet signed up for the service may do so by calling ECUA at (850) 416-0480.
Flu Impacting Blood Donations; Healthy People Urged To Donate Now
January 13, 2015
Officials say the flu is staring to impact the local blood supply.
The blood center is experiencing fewer donors at various organizations that hold blood drives and are told many of the people who usually donate are out sick with the flu.
Blood donors who are battling the influenza virus are not able to donate until they are well. The blood center is urging all blood donors who are healthy to please donate now while they are feeling well.
While all blood types are needed, there is an increased need for O Negative type blood. Anyone with O Negative blood is encouraged to donate as soon as they can. O Negative is the universal blood type which means it can be given to any patient regardless of the recipients’ blood type. Trauma patient, cancer patients and premature babies are primary recipients of O Negative blood.
Generally healthy people age 16 or older who weigh 110 pounds can donate blood. All blood donors will receive a wellness checkup of blood pressure, pulse, temperature, iron count and a cholesterol screening.
Suspect Arrested After Manhunt North Of Atmore
January 12, 2015
A manhunt north of Atmore Monday morning for a burglary suspect ended with the capture of one suspect.
Escambia County (AL) Chief Deputy Mike Lambert said someone broke into the Wayside Grocery, just over a mile north of the G.K. Fountain Correctional Facility. Upon arrival the arrival of deputies, the suspect fled on foot.
A manhunt followed, involving officers from the Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office, the Poarch Creek Tribal Police Department and a K-9 team from Fountain Correctional. The man was taken into custody later Monday morning without any additional incident.
Further details, including the name of the suspect, were not available.
Building People: Tate Senior Millet Earns Eagle Scout Rank
January 12, 2015
Tate High School senior Ethan Millet has obtained the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest rank in the Boy Scouts of America, and was honored with a proclamation recently from the Escambia County Commission.
For his Eagle Scout project, Ethan wanted to do something different while giving back to the community. After considering numerous project ideas, he reached back into his experiences at “Joe’s Place”, the Pensacola United Methodist Community Ministries, at his family’s church, St. Luke United Methodist, and decided to distribute personal hygiene kits to needy person in the community.
“We always think about Eagle Scout projects as building something, stepping out and building some tangible thing,” Escambia County Commissioner Doug Underhill said upon presenting the resolution to Ethan. “Ethan’s project was a little unique in that he chose to build people.”
The care kits included a small bag with essential hygiene items, tissue paper, canned foods and water. He set out to make 100 of the kits, but thanks to generous donations was able to distribute just over 200.
“Seeing the joy on their face was probably my favorite part of it,” he said about the care kit distribution. “I remember one man. He grabbed his bag ‘yes, I got it’….he was just so joyous about it; it really made my day to see that.”
Ethan first joined Pack 415 as a Tiger Cub when he was in first grade back in 2003. He earned 32 individual merit badges on his way to becoming an Eagle Scout.
Pictured: Escambia Commissioner Doug Underhill presents a proclamation to Eagle Scout Ethan Millet. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Six Homeless After Halfway House Destroyed By Fire
January 12, 2015
An Escambia County halfway house was heavily damaged by fire Sunday afternoon.
The fire was reported just after noon in the 7300 block of Pine Forest Road, near Five Flags Speedway. Six adults were displaced by the fire, but there were no injuries reported.
A majority of the fire damage was contained to the garage area of the home; two vehicles were also destroyed by the fire.
The cause of the blaze is under investigation by the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office.
The Ensley, Osceola, Bellview, Brent, Warrington and Beulah stations of the Escambia Fire Rescue battled the blaze, along with the Pensacola Naval Air Station Fire Department.
Photos courtesy Escambia County Professional Firefighters for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Lane Closures Planned For I-10 In Escambia County
January 12, 2015
The right lane of eastbound I-10 near the Scenic Highway overpass at exit 17 in Escambia County will be closed from 7 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, January 13, through Friday, January 16. The nightly closures will allow crews to position large beams for a new Scenic Highway overpass.
In addition, traffic in the left lane of I-10 will be slowed by Florida Highway Patrol escort vehicles between the hours of 12 a.m. and 5 a.m. Drivers should anticipate travel delays during this time.
All planned construction activities are weather dependent and may be re-scheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Four Appointed To Escambia Extension Council
January 12, 2015
Four people have been reappointed to the Escambia County Extension Council.
They are Jean E. Yarter of McDavid, David W. Fitzpatrick of Molino, Tina Lynn Sellers of Pensacola and Genevieve English-Charles of Pensacola. Each will serve through November 30, 2016.
The 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 off the council for one two-year term before becoming eligible to serve again.
Man Charged With Murder Following Sunday Night Shooting
January 12, 2015
A Pensacola man was arrested this morning and charged in connection with a fatal shooting that occurred Sunday night.
Nicholas A. Nehring, 23, of the 3300 block of Adrian Road is being held without bond in the Escambia County Jail on an open count of murder.
The victim has been identified as Joseph E. Ross, 26, of Pensacola.
Pensacola Police Department Lt. Chuck Mallett said Nehring was taken into custody as he was leaving his house. Several firearms, including what is believed to be the murder weapon were recovered. Mallett said the shooting, which remains under investigation, is believed to be drug related.
The shooting was reported to police at 8 p.m. Sunday and occurred behind the Corner Store, 3818 North Ninth Ave. Upon arrival, officers found Ross lying on the ground. Nehring was developed as a suspect during the investigation.
Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call the Pensacola Police Department at (850) 435-1900.
2015 Small Farm Series: Organic Vegetable Production Classes Scheduled
January 12, 2015
UF/IFAS Extension will host a Small Farm Series: Organic Vegetable Production course on multiple dates in January at the UF/IFAS Extension Escambia County, 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment.
The series is for farmers interested in learning about small farm organic vegetable production and will combine lecture and hands-on activities with a course notebook.
All classes will be held on the following dates from 6 to 7:30 p.m.:
Thursday, January 15
- What is organic?
- Nutrient management
- Cover crops
- Organic facts and fiction
- How to become a certified organic grower
Thursday, January 22
- Alternative organic pest control
Thursday, January 29
- Cropping Systems
- Disease Control
The cost is $30 per person for the course or $45 for a couple. One notebook per couple. To register call the UF/IFAS Extension Escambia County office at (850) 475-5230 or email Libbie Johnson at libbiej@ufl.edu.
State Report Says Fraud Down In ‘No Fault’ Claims
January 12, 2015
A 2012 effort to reform the state’s “no-fault” auto insurance system has halted the growth of fraud in the system, according to a new state report. But the numbers are still considered too preliminary to show the full impact of the law.
The report by the Office of Insurance Regulation found that since the law (HB 119) went into place on January 1, 2013, there has been a drop in the number of personal-injury protection claims filed and dollars sought.
Meanwhile, the report indicates that claims under other coverage types, such as bodily injury and uninsured motorists, have gone up.
“Overall, there was limited data available to determine the true impact of HB 119,” a release from the Office of Insurance Regulation said. “However, the data call analysis reveals the law has had a major impact on the personal auto market and changed the trajectory of trends being seen prior to its enactment.”
The 2012 law, considered a last-ditch effort to maintain the no-fault system, set benchmarks for insurers to lower rates on personal-injury protection coverage. It 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.
Gov. Rick Scott and Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater pushed for the law, saying that fraud, primarily in the Tampa and Miami regions, had resulted in the cost of auto-insurance coverage to spike for Floridians.
The report said the average medical cost paid through PIP claims has 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.
by The News Service of Florida