BOCC Committee Of The Whole Workshop Rescheduled
August 4, 2014
The regularly scheduled August 14 Escambia County Board of County Commissioners’ Committee of the Whole Workshop has been rescheduled to Tuesday, August 12.
The Committee of the Whole Workshop will begin at 9 a.m. and will take place in the Board Chambers, first floor, 221 Palafox Place, Pensacola.
Photos: Summer Volleyball
August 4, 2014
T.R. Miller High School in Brewton hosted their annual volleyball play-date recently at Brewton Middle School.
The event featured varsity and junior varsity games from nine high schools, including T.R. Miller, Northview, Flomaton and Jay.
“Both teams competed well and are showing much progress,” Northview Coach Barbara Luker said, adding that scores and stats were not kept because it was summer play.
For a photo gallery with the Northview varsity and JV teams, click here.
Photos by Kayleen Amerson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Gulf Power Warns Of Continuing Scam Targeting Customers
August 4, 2014
In a recent scam, area businesses and residential customers received calls from a person claiming to represent Gulf Power Company and demanding payment — or their electric service will be cut off, according to the company.
Gulf Power is continuing to work with law enforcement in reporting these incidents, but the company has received an escalated number of calls from customers reporting fraudulent calls in the last week. Customers are being told their electric bill is past due and that their electricity will be cut off if the customer does not provide a credit card payment or other forms of immediate payment.
Gulf Power advises customers that:
- Gulf Power employees will never call a customer at home or their business seeking any personal information, including credit card numbers.
- Gulf Power representatives will never ask a customer for money when they visit a residence.
- All Gulf Power representatives carry badges with picture identification that includes the employee’s name and the company’s name and logo.
Customers should call Gulf Power at (800 225-5797 if they have any questions about the identity of anyone representing Gulf Power.
Gulf Power is working with local law enforcement agencies to identify the perpetrators. If anyone has been victimized by one of these schemes, or has any information about suspects, they are asked to call local law enforcement and to contact Gulf Power at (800) 225-5797.
Judge: Draw New Congressional Districts By August 15
August 4, 2014
Florida lawmakers will start a special session Thursday to redraw congressional districts, House Speaker Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, said Sunday in a memo to House members.
The announcement came two days after Leon County Circuit Judge Terry Lewis ordered lawmakers to redraw the districts and submit a map to him by Aug. 15. Lewis last month ruled that the current congressional map, which lawmakers approved in 2012, violated the Florida Constitution because it did not follow anti-gerrymandering rules approved by voters in 2010.
In his memo Sunday, Weatherford continued to object to the possibility that drawing new districts could affect the upcoming elections. Lewis on Friday also ordered Secretary of State Ken Detzner and local elections supervisors to come up with a new voting schedule for any districts that lawmakers would have to redraw.
“We continue to maintain our strong objection to any attempt to disrupt the current election process,” Weatherford wrote. “Florida’s Supervisors of Elections have raised serious concerns over changing the elections process at this late date.”
The primary elections are Aug. 26, and the general election is Nov. 4. Legislative leaders have pointed, at least in part, to overseas and absentee ballots that have already gone out in advance of the primaries.
“Tens of thousands of our service men and women overseas have received their ballots, and over one million absentee ballots have been mailed to Floridians,” Weatherford wrote in the memo. “Members, we intend to vigorously defend the integrity and validity of Floridians’ votes that have already been and will be cast in the upcoming election.”
But the League of Women Voters of Florida, one of the organizations that filed the challenge to the map, praised Lewis’ ruling Friday.
“This is a champagne moment for Florida voters, who have waited too long for fairly drawn congressional districts,” Deirdre Macnab, the group’s president, said in a statement issued after the ruling. ” … We believe that the restoration of legitimate, representative democracy is well worth one extra trip to the polls.”
Weatherford’s memo said staff will provide detailed information Monday to House members about the special session. For many lawmakers, the special session will mean interrupting re-election campaigns to return to Tallahassee.
The speaker made clear in the memo that the session will be held for the “sole and exclusive” purpose of redrawing congressional districts, which would prevent any unrelated issues from being taken up.
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Smokies Even Series With 4-1 Win Over The Wahoos
August 4, 2014
Addison Russell blasted a two-run home run in the first inning to help lift the Smokies over the Blue Wahoos 4-1 at Smokies Park Sunday afternoon.
Robert Stephenson (L, 5-8) was on cruise control after Russell’s homer. He went on to retire 14 Smokies batters in a row until he hit Albert Almora with a pitch following a groundout to start the sixth inning. Lars Anderson put the game out of reach later in that inning with a two-run double.
Stephenson was being dueled on the other side by Smokies right-hander and Cubs No. 6 prospect Pierce Johnson (W, 4-4). He took a no-hitter into the sixth inning. Stephenson broke it up at the plate with a two-out single. Johnson retired the next batter, Yorman Rodriguez, on a line drive to second base. He picked up the win after working 6.0 shutout innings allowing just two hits and a walk with six strikeouts.
Stephenson was charged with 4 R/ER on just three hits with two walks and seven strikeouts over 6.0 innings in the loss.
Pensacola put together a threat in the ninth inning but had to settle for just one run despite bringing the tying run to the plate.
Brodie Greene had the Wahoos only multi-hit game of the afternoon, going 2-for-4. Ross Perez extended his team-high hitting streak to 12 games with an RBI single in the ninth.
The Blue Wahoos will take another shot at the series win on Monday night. RHP Michael Lorenzen (4-5, 2.57) will start against Smokies RHP Eduardo Figueroa. First pitch is set for 6:15 p.m. CT at Smokies Park.
by Tommy Thralll
Deidra’s Gift: Free School Supplies Distributed In Century
August 3, 2014
Free schools supplies were available Saturday in Century for 300 children in need, thanks to a family honoring the memory of one of their own, in a program called “Deidra’s Gift”.
The book bags full of supplies were distributed in memory of Dedria Robinson, who was killed in 2005 in an automobile accident at age 11.
‘We wanted to help as many children as we could in her memory,” Deidra’s mother Rita Robinson said. “It’s good to see them get the supplies they need.”
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Learn More About New Head Start Program In Molino
August 3, 2014
Parents and guardians are invited to learn more about the new Head Start center in Molino during a program Monday evening. An informational session will be held in room 124 of the Molino Community Center at 6 p.m.
Head Start provides education and family programming for children ages three to five. To be eligible, families must qualify according to federal income guidelines or have a child with a diagnosed disability. Children must be age three or four by September 1, 2014.
Head Start is currently completing renovations at the old Molino Elementary School next to the library. The new center is expected to open at the same time or soon after the 2014-2015 school year begins for Escambia County Schools on August 18. Student drop off will begin at 7:45 a.m. with pick up at 1 p.m., Monday through Friday. Limited transportation is available.
A home-based program, Early Head Start, is also available for pregnant women and children from birth to 36 months.
To register for Head Start or Early Head Start, the following information is needed:
- Child’s birth certificate or proof of pregnancy
- Proof of residence
- Social security card
- Proof of income
- Insurance/Medicaid
Anyone interested in learning more about Head Start and Early Head Start may call (850) 432-2992 ext. 437. In Escambia County, Head Start is a part of the Community Action Program Committee, Inc. (CAPC).
Florida Gov’t Weekly Roundup: Thank Goodness For Friday
August 3, 2014
It looked like one of those lazy, hazy midsummer weeks in Tallahassee, when the news cycle joins the residents of the capital city in being stifled by the heat.
The biggest news was — what? The first of many campaign promises that former Gov. Charlie Crist will make as he tries to reclaim his old job? Incumbent Gov. Rick Scott’s inquiries into the traveling habits of Citizens Property Insurance Corp.’s board members?
Then came Friday.
That’s when Leon County Circuit Judge Terry Lewis ordered the Legislature to draw new congressional districts by Aug. 15, something that will probably require lawmakers to return to the Capitol for a special session. And there are few things lawmakers would like to do less in the middle of campaign season than go to Tallahassee.
Add to that the latest fuel in the always-burning fire between Scott’s office and the Obama Administration and a hearing on how the state should regulate a limited form of medical marijuana, and Friday proved to be a bit of a boost to an otherwise lackluster week.
A CHAMPAGNE SUPERNOVA?
The last 15 years would seem to prove that Florida doesn’t need anything too complicated to produce a bit of election chaos. A close presidential election or unexpected surge of voters is enough to do the trick.
But Lewis looks to be on the edge of turning the state’s electoral checkers into three-dimensional chess, raising the prospect of a special election that would affect some (but not all) of Florida’s congressional districts. The special election could be announced less than week before the date of the Aug. 26 primary elections.
In addition to telling lawmakers Friday to come up with a new congressional map after he earlier declared two of the districts unconstitutional, Lewis ordered Secretary of State Ken Detzner and local elections supervisors to propose a new voting schedule for any districts that lawmakers would have to redraw.
Lewis didn’t actually order a new election for the seats, and might not until after Aug. 20, when he could hear oral arguments if they are needed.
“It is necessary to get a revised map in place and for me to consider additional evidence as to the legal and logistical obstacles to holding delayed elections for affected districts in 2014,” Lewis wrote. “Time is of the essence.”
Legislators running for office could say the same, given that they need all the time they can get to raise money, and soliciting campaign cash during a session is banned. And that doesn’t even get into the logistical gymnastics that local supervisors say would be required to pull off another election.
Still, the League of Women Voters of Florida, part of a group of organizations and voters that challenged the map, praised Lewis’ ruling.
“This is a champagne moment for Florida voters, who have waited too long for fairly drawn congressional districts,” Deirdre Macnab, the group’s president, said in a statement issued after the ruling. ” … We believe that the restoration of legitimate, representative democracy is well worth one extra trip to the polls.”
Some elections officials were more worried about what might happen to absentee ballots that have already been cast and early votes that will be submitted before and even during the arguments before Lewis.
“It would cause massive voter confusion, and that’s not fair to voters,” said Brian Corley, the supervisor of elections in Pasco County.
Lewis’ decision wasn’t the only election-related kerfuffle making headlines Friday. Scott’s office and campaign slammed as “blatantly political” a letter from U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder announcing that the Justice Department is monitoring changes to Florida’s election laws.
Scott’s campaign manager Melissa Sellers, in a statement, said the White House is trying to bolster the efforts of Democratic challenger Charlie Crist.
“Attorney General Eric Holder’s letter is just more politics from President Obama — as the White House desperately tries to prop up the sagging campaign of their candidate, Charlie Crist,” Sellers said in her statement. “It isn’t surprising that the same president who used the IRS to persecute his political opponents is now using his attorney general to try the same tactic.”
FLORIDA GOING GREEN?
Like a gateway drug that leads to harder stuff, it seems that the Legislature’s decision to allow limited forms of medical marijuana is merely a precursor to more widespread pharmacological uses of the green, leafy substance.
But first, the state has to set up rules for a form of marijuana that purportedly doesn’t get users high but can dramatically reduce or eliminate life-threatening seizures for children with a rare form of epilepsy. Lawmakers approved that form this spring, as a proposed constitutional amendment looms on the November ballot that could lead to legalizing more-traditional pot for medical purposes.
The Department of Health held a workshop on a draft rule Friday as it races to meet a Jan. 1 deadline to implement the new law. Prospective pot business owners are griping about being forced to haul their product across the state instead of being able to sell it at multiple storefronts as part of the draft regulations for the new industry.
Also at the top of the list of complaints: health officials’ plan to use a lottery system to pick who will be granted one of five highly sought-after licenses to grow, process and distribute the low-THC cannabis.
Lawyers for Costa Farms, one of the state’s biggest nurseries, implied that the rule might be challenged if the lottery provision is not dropped. Health officials have indicated they want to keep the lottery system intact, in part to avoid drawn-out legal fights.
Department of Health General Counsel Jennifer Tschetter said the draft rule includes a “heightened standard with qualitative analysis, but ultimately a lottery” would remain in the final proposal.
“Our goal is to get this product to patients as soon as possible,” she said. “We want to get a rule in place that can be in effect 20 days after it’s adopted.”
The hearing came just a few days after a new poll found that almost 90 percent of Florida voters want doctors to be able to order marijuana for patients.
Young and old Floridians overwhelmingly support letting sick patients get high for medical reasons, according to the poll, but getting voters to put medical marijuana into the state constitution is still not a guarantee.
The poll by Quinnipiac University, released Monday, found that 88 percent of Florida voters — including 83 percent of voters age 65 and older and 95 percent of those between 18 and 29 — approve of medical marijuana
But even supporters of the proposed constitutional amendment acknowledged that the poll results may overestimate Floridians’ support.
“The poll is just another demonstration that support for this is broad,” said Ben Pollara, executive director of United We Care, the group responsible for getting the proposal on the November ballot and working to get it passed.
But critics of the proposal, who’ve pumped at least $3 million into efforts to kill it and are prepared to spend more, blasted the semantics of the poll, as well as its findings. The proposal that will appear before voters in November, bankrolled by Orlando trial lawyer John Morgan, would allow doctors to decide whether patients who have debilitating medical conditions could receive medical marijuana. Doctors could not “prescribe” the substance, which would be distributed by state-licensed operators.
“This poll has been, and continues to be, a complete outlier in support of medical marijuana because it asks a question that won’t be on the ballot. Amendment 2 doesn’t require a doctor’s prescription,” said Sarah Bascom, spokeswoman for the “Vote No on 2″ campaign.
WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU’RE GOING?
In one of Scott’s few activities this week not connected to his campaign — at least not on the surface — the governor’s office indicated it wants the head of state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corp. to explain why Scott’s requested ban on foreign travel hasn’t been followed.
Karl Rasmussen, Scott’s director of Cabinet affairs, sent a sharply worded letter Thursday to Citizens President Barry Gilway advising him to attend the Aug. 19 Cabinet meeting to discuss why Citizens board members continue to take international business trips.
“Gov. Scott previously called on Citizens board members to change their travel policy so it prohibited international travel and permitted only essential employees to attend board meetings,” Rasmussen wrote. “Recent media stories report that not only have these requests been rebuffed, but Citizens board members have continued international travel, sometimes at excessive costs to state taxpayers.”
The Palm Beach Post reported Sunday that Citizens Chairman Chris Gardner was given approval to spend two nights in a $425-per night resort in Bermuda in April.
Gardner was working on a multimillion-dollar reinsurance issue for Citizens. The hotel rate exceeded Citizens’ $373-per night cap on Bermuda travel.
Gardner repaid the difference in May after the Post asked for the travel records.
Gilway, who said this week only that he would attend the Cabinet meeting, has previously defended some of the travel, noting that international travel sometimes comes with high costs that are hard to avoid.
STORY OF THE WEEK: A Leon County judge orders the Legislature to redraw congressional districts by Aug. 15, a requirement that will likely lead to a special session.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “It sounds a little cozy to be staying at your daughter’s apartment.”—George Collins, an Orlando Republican and tea party member challenging Rep. Tom Goodson, R-Titusville, on questions about the incumbent’s residency.
McDavid ‘Sew N So’ Club Honored With State Association Award
August 3, 2014
The McDavid “Sew N So” Club has won the Florida Health Care Activity Coordinators Association 2014 Community Involvement Award. The club provides residents at the Century Health and Rehabilitation Center with handmade wheelchair caddies, pillows, lap robes and activity pillows. They also assist with special occasions. The award was presented recently in Daytona Beach to club member Hilda Malone. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Shriners Hospital To Provide Free Medical Screenings
August 3, 2014
On August 5, medical staff from Shriners Hospitals for Children – Galveston will host a free screening clinic for children up to age 18 in Mobile.
The pediatric burn care center is internationally recognized for acute burn care and reconstructive surgery, but the hospital also provides expert care conditions that include pressure ulcers, infected wounds, amputations, microtia deformities, craniofacial deformities, hemangiomas, port wine stains, hairy nevus, soft tissue infections, toxic epidermal necrolysis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, epidermolysis bullosa and necrotizing fasciitis.
All care and services at Shriners Hospitals for Children – Galveston are provided regardless of the families’ ability to pay. Additionally, local chapters of Shriners International in Mobile, Biloxi, and Pensacola provide transportation to and from the hospital and assist in offsetting transportation costs.
“We are excited to have the opportunity to visit with families from various communities across Alabama, Mississippi and Florida,” said Mary Jaco, hospital administrator. “Our goal is to identify children with specialty needs and ensure that they receive the care they need regardless of their families’ financial situation,” Jaco continued.
The free screening clinic will be hosted on Tuesday, August 5 from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Mobile chapter of Shriners International at 7701 Hitt Road in Mobile