Florida Approves Lower Workers Comp Rates
November 15, 2014
Florida businesses will save some money next year, after the state Office of Insurance Regulation on Thursday announced an overall 5.2 percent decrease in workers-compensation insurance rates.
The announcement came after Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty last week rejected the National Council on Compensation Insurance’s proposed overall 3.3 percent rate decrease. Instead, McCarty gave NCCI, which files rate proposals each year, until Tuesday to re-file with a bigger cut. McCarty deemed the initial filing as “excessive and unsupported” due to an increase in an underwriting-profit and contingency provision. NCCI represents about 250 insurers.
The new rates are scheduled to go into effect in January and follow a series of increases in recent years. Last year, the overall rate grew 0.7 percent. That came after increases of 6.1 percent, 8.9 percent and 7.8 percent in the three previous years.
by The News Service of Florida
Video: Atmore Pharmacy Burglary Under Investigation
November 14, 2014
An early morning burglary at an Atmore pharmacy is under investigation.
About 3:40 a.m. Friday, the Atmore Police Department received an alarm from the Buy Rite Drugs on Medical Park Drive. They arrived to find the front door damaged. After searching the building for suspects, a perimeter was established and K-9 team was called in from the Alabama Department of Corrections.
After a brief search of the area, it was determined the suspects fled in an unknown vehicle that was parked near the business.
Investigators said a trash can was used to make entry into the drug store. After entering, one suspect went straight to the cash registers and the other went to the back of the pharmacy and store prescription drugs.
The total value of case and prescription medication taken during the burglary exceeded $500, police said.
The store was also burglarized in early October after the suspects used a brick to break through an exterior door. The two black males from that burglary remain at large. It’s not known if they are the same suspects responsible for the second burglary.
Anyone with information on the burglary should call the Atmore Police Department at (251) 368-9141.
Surveillance video is below. (If you do not see the video, it is because your home, work or school firewall is blocking YouTube videos.)
FDOT Details Highway 29, Highway 97 Traffic Signal Plans, Crash Stats
November 14, 2014
The Florida Department of Transportation has detailed their timetable for installing a traffic signal at the intersection of Highway 29 and Highway 97 in Molino. The intersection has seen numerous crashes over the past several years – including two major wrecks within the past week, one of which claimed the life of a Northview High student.
The installation is set to begin in December at a cost of $264,400 which was paid by Escambia County on October 29. Construction is expected to be complete by February 2015.
A FDOT “Signal Warrant Study” found the following information that supported the urgent need for a traffic signal at the intersection:
- There have been 37 documented crashes reported by the Crash Analysis Reporting System from 2008 to 2013.
- 10 of the reported collisions resulted in injury where one or more people required transportation to a medical facility.
- 22 of the reported crashes were of the type of collisions susceptible to correction by the installation of a traffic signal.
- In 2011 there were five left-turn crashes.
- In 2012 there were eight left-turn crashes.
- In the last three years, the number of reported crashes at this intersection was significantly greater than the statistical average of similar roadway facilities in FDOT’s District 3, which is made up of the 16 westernmost Counties in the panhandle.
Led by District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry, the Escambia County Commission agreed to fund the signal installation. A second upcoming project will redesign the intersection of Crabtree Church Road and Highway 97, which is currently just feet away from Highway 29.
Darion Riley, 16, passed away Tuesday following a Friday, November 7 crash at the intersection [read more]. That crash injured two other people. Saturday night, the intersection was the scene of another accident, this one involving an Escambia County deputy and a passenger vehicle [read more]. There were no injuries in that crash.
Pictured top: A 16-year old passed away a few days after this November 7 wreck at the intersection of Highway 29 and Highway 97 in Molino. Pictured below: The occupants in this car were uninjured in a collision with an Escambia County deputy in the same intersection on November 8. NorthEcambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Fire Destroys Cantonment Home
November 14, 2014
Two people were left without a home after a late night fire in Cantonment.
The fire was reported about 11:35 p.m. Thursday in the 1400 block Kathleen Avenue near Adobe Trail. Both occupants were able to escape the 3,100 square foot home without injuries.
The home was fully involved in fire when the first firefighters arrived on scene. The fire was under control by 12:37 a.m.
The fire reportedly started with a chimney, but the exact cause of the blaze is under investigation by the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
Florida Man Executed For Killing Stepdaughter, Her Mother
November 14, 2014
Death Row inmate Chadwick D. Banks was put to death by lethal injection Thursday night at Florida State Prison near Starke for killing his 10-year-old stepdaughter after also murdering her mother. He was pronounced dead at 7:27 p.m., according to the Department of Corrections.
The planned start of the execution was delayed nearly one hour before a final appeal for Banks, 43, was turned down by the U.S. Supreme Court.
The execution of Banks was the 20th since Gov. Rick Scott took office and the eighth this year, the most for Florida in a single year since 1984. Speaking to reporters after a Cabinet meeting Wednesday, Scott repeated his assertion that he takes capital punishment seriously.
“I think about the victims, I think about their families,” Scott said. “It’s what I think about and I’m going to continue to do the job that I’m committed to do.”
Scott in September signed a death warrant for Banks, who was convicted in the 1992 slayings in Gadsden County. Banks was accused of shooting his wife while she slept and then going to his stepdaughter’s bedroom, where he sexually battered her before shooting her in the top of the head as she knelt at her bedside.
He was sentenced to death for the child’s murder and also received two life sentences.
by The News Service of Florida
Troopers ‘Stuff The Charger’ For Manna Food Pantries
November 14, 2014
The local Florida Highway Patrol troop based in Pensacola “Stuffed the Charger” during their inaugural food drive. The food was delivered to the Manna Food Pantries. Statewide, the FHP collected over three tons of food during the event. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Lifetime Florida Sportsman’s Licenses On Sale
November 14, 2014
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is offering Lifetime Sportsman’s Licenses for Florida children and young adults at a greatly reduced cost. The license now costs up to $1,000 but from November 24 through December 31, 2014, the price will be reduced to $500 for Florida residents who are 21-years-old and younger.
The lifetime license covers saltwater and freshwater recreational fishing, hunting and most associated permits.
“Our state’s natural treasures give families wonderful opportunities for both fishing and hunting from the Panhandle to the Keys. This Lifetime Sportsman’s License will provide Florida’s youth with the opportunity to spend time outdoors with their families. Fishing and hunting are time-honored traditions in our state, and I encourage all Floridians to spend some time enjoying the great outdoors,” Gov, Rick Scott said after signing the executive order that lowered the cost.
A Lifetime Sportsman’s License allows fishing and hunting in Florida for the rest of the license holder’s life, even if that person is no longer a resident of the state.
The license may be purchased at all Florida county tax collectors’ offices, online at License.MyFWC.com and by calling toll-free 888-FISH-FLORIDA (888-347-4356). Residency must be verified. For more information about a Lifetime Sportsman’s License and this limited time offer, visit http://myfwc.com/license/recreational/lifetime-licenses/.
In addition to all Escambia County Tax Collector Offices including Molino, licenses are also available at the Clerk of the Court office in the Billy G. Ward Courthouse in Century.
Photos: Truck Burns On Highway 4
November 14, 2014
Fire destroyed a truck alongside Highway 4 near Sandy Hollow Road near Davisville about 4:15 Thursday afternoon. The driver of the vehicle was not around when firefighters arrived on scene.
There were no injuries reported. The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the blaze.
Pictured top and bottom: Firefighters extinguish a truck fire Thursday afternoon. Pictured below: A firefighter uses a saw to cut the truck’s hood open. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Fields of Faith: Student Led Worship Event Planned
November 14, 2014
The Northview High School Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) is sponsoring a student led worship event next week in Tommy Weaver Memorial Stadium in Bratt.
Northview students, area churches and community members will come together to worship, share student testimonies and hear a message from guest speaker Pastor Nathan Brown of Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church.
The public is invited to attend the event from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, November 19. Donations will be accepted for Bryant Cooper, a local 17-year old recently diagnosed with cancer, and the family of Darion Riley, a Northview student that passed away as the result of a Molino traffic accident last week.
Freezing Cold — Pets, Plants, Pipes And Other Tips
November 14, 2014
When temperatures fall into the 20’s, it is time to take necessary precautions to protect pipes, pets and plants, and check on elderly friends and neighbors.
For tonight’s latest forecast, click here.
Here are ways to stay safe during this year’s first round of cold temperatures, courtesy of the American Red Cross:
- Wear layers of lightweight clothing to stay warm. Gloves and a hat will help prevent losing body heat.
- Know the signs of hypothermia – confusion, dizziness, exhaustion and severe shivering. If someone has these symptoms, they should get immediate medical attention.
- Watch for symptoms of frostbite including numbness, flushed gray, white, blue or yellow skin discoloration, numbness or waxy feeling skin.
- Bring the pets indoors. If that’s not possible, make sure they have enough shelter to keep them warm and that they can get to unfrozen water.
- Avoid frozen pipes – run water, even at a trickle, to help prevent them from freezing. Keep the thermostat at the same temperature day and night to help avoid freezing pipes.
- Do not use a stove or oven to heat the home.
- Space heaters should sit on a level, hard surface and anything flammable should be kept at least three feet away.
- If using a fireplace, use a glass or metal fire screen large enough to catch sparks and rolling logs.
- Turn off space heaters and make sure fireplace embers are out before leaving the room or going to bed.
And here are a few extra details and tips from ECUA on protecting pipes against the freeze:
- Insulate pipes or faucets in unheated areas: Pipes located in unheated areas of your house, such as a garage or crawl space under the house or in the attic, are subject to freezing. If you have time to do this before freezing temperatures arrive, wrap these pipes with insulation materials made especially for this purpose. These materials can be found in most hardware stores or home improvement centers.
- Disconnect and drain outdoor hoses: Detach all hoses from faucets and allow them to drain. This action guards against the water in the hose or pipe from freezing and bursting the faucet or pipe to which it is connected.
- Run a trickle of water: When forecasts call for sustained and / or severe freezing temperatures, run a thin trickle of water from the faucet furthest from the water line coming to your house. Usually this is in a room at the back of the house or outside, in the yard. Allowing the water to circulate through your home’s plumbing helps to keep it from freezing. Some consider this a waste of water but the cost of the water used is extremely slight compared to repairing broken pipes and the resulting water damage.
- Remember the backflow preventer: Residents and business owners who have backflow preventers on their properties for water lines, fire lines, irrigation systems, and swimming pools need to protect their backflow preventers from freeze as well. Extended freezes can burst the body of the backflow assembly, rendering it useless. Wrap these pipes with insulation materials, made especially for this purpose. These materials can be found in most hardware stores or home improvement centers. If the device and the water line are not in use at this time (i.e., irrigation system or swimming pool lines), shut off the water supply line and drain the backflow device.