June Is Move Over, Slow Down, Save A Life Month
June 6, 2014
Move Over. They are two simple words that can mean the difference between life and death to the first responders who work alongside Florida’s busy highways.
In an effort to bring new awareness to Florida’s Move Over law, the Florida Highway Patrol and law enforcement agencies across the state have declared June as “Move Over – Slow Down – Save a Life” month.
During the month-long safety campaign, law enforcement officers will work together to better educate the public about the law and the threat that ignoring it can pose to first responders.
“Our troopers are out there every day working traffic stops and crash scenes along busy highways with cars speeding past them, often just feet away,” said Col. David Brierton, director of the Florida Highway Patrol. “And every day they face the real possibility of never going home to their families because someone fails to obey the Move Over law.”
Under Florida’s Move Over law:
- The law protects law enforcement officers, emergency workers and tow truck drivers stopped along roadways while performing their jobs;
- It requires motorists to move over when a patrol car, emergency vehicle or tow truck/wrecker is stopped on the side of a road with lights flashing. If such movement cannot be safely accomplished, motorists shall slow down to a speed of 20 mph below the posted speed limit.
- Approach the emergency vehicle with caution;
- Violating the Move Over law puts motorists and public safety professionals at risk.
Pictured: First responders work along Highway 97 last month. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Century Seeks Support In Fight Against Pensacola Energy
June 6, 2014
With an offering of smoked pork and baked beans, the Town of Century took their gas franchise dispute to Walnut Hill Thursday evening, making their case and hoping to drum up support against Pensacola Energy.
Pensacola Energy customers in Walnut Hill and Bratt were invited to join the Walnut Hill Ruritan Club for a BBQ thrown by the town and its gas department. During the event, Century Mayor Freddie McCall explained the town’s current dispute with Pensacola over a gas franchise, and he presented several reasons why Century’s gas service would be superior. The ultimate goal was to drum up support among Walnut Hill and Bratt residents with the hopes that they will lobby Escambia County commissioners to pass a new Century gas franchise agreement.
“We can sell it (natural gas) cheaper than Pensacola Energy can,” McCall said. “I can give you better service.”
Pensacola Energy currently provides natural gas service to three schools and one commercial customer in Bratt and Walnut Hill, plus 43 residential customers — all within the Town of Century’s exclusive gas franchise area. Pensacola and Century are disputing Pensacola Energy’s continued right to serve those customers, as Century seeks a franchise extension from the Escambia County Commission for a geographic area that spans from the Escambia River westward to almost the Perdido River and from the Alabama state line southward to near Bogia.
McCall said he expects the town will prevail and get their franchise renewal and work out amicable terms with Pensacola. He and Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward had just spoken for the first time about the dispute on Wednesday.
“There won’t be interruption in service,” he said. “I’m willing to cooperate to get them to move out quickly.” McCall said Pensacola Energy has threatened to destroy their Walnut Hill and Bratt gas lines if they are pushed out, but he did not think that would happened or be allowed by the state.
One resident complained that he recently had a gas bill from Pensacola Energy that included $20 for gas and $35 in fees.
“Y’all are being gouged,” McCall said. “They are just pirates.”
Pictured: Century’s gas department made a presentation at the Walnut Hill Community Center Thursday evening. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Molino Man Charged With Stealing Checks From Mom
June 6, 2014
A Molino man is facing multiple felony charges after allegedly writing checks stolen from his mother.
Dakota John Kimrey of Chalker Road was charged with two counts of grand theft and two counts of uttering a forged instrument.
According to an arrest report, Kimrey, 21, tried to cash one check at the Speedmart on Highway 29, and successfully cashed a $425 check at the Pen Air Federal Credit Union in Century. He was positively identified as passing the checks in a photo lineup, surveillance video and from his identification presented at the credit union, the report states.
Kimrey remained jailed Friday morning with bond set at $12,000.
Florida Educaton Association, Local Teachers To Appeal Teacher Evaluation Case
June 6, 2014
Opponents of a 2011 Florida law that tied teacher evaluations to student performance will appeal a federal judge’s ruling that upheld the constitutionality of the system, according to a document filed Wednesday.
Plaintiffs in the case, which is spearheaded by the Florida Education Association and includes four Escambia County teachers, gave notice that they will appeal to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta.
The lawsuit, filed last year, raised constitutional due-process and equal-protection arguments. It took issue with part of the law that has allowed some teachers to be evaluated based on the test scores of students who were not in their classrooms. Similarly, teachers could be evaluated on student test scores in subject areas they didn’t teach.
But U.S. District Judge Mark Walker, while raising questions about the fairness of the system, issued a ruling last month that sided with the state and school districts named as defendants in the case.
Walker wrote, in part, that “the state defendants could rationally conclude that the evaluation policies further the state’s legitimate interest in increasing student learning growth. The same can be said of the district defendants.”
Local teachers named as plaintiffs in the case at the time of filing were Emily Jefferis, an art teacher at Ransom Middle School, Cathy McConnell, a music teacher who teaches orchestra at Tate High and Ransom Middle schools, Shauna Paedae, a math teacher in the IB program at Pensacola High, and Catherine Boehme, a biology teacher at West Florida High School. The Escambia Education Association is also a plaintiff in the case.
The News Service of Florida contributed to this story.
Florida’s Top Business Regulator Checks Out Molino Diner, Addresses Chamber
June 6, 2014
Florida’s top business regulator personally checked out a Molino restaurant Thursday before discussing the importance of his office at a Century Chamber of Commerce meeting.
Secretary of Business and Professional Regulation Ken Lawson gave rave review to Fran’s Diner and their blackberry cobbler. Fran’s Diner is one of the thousands of Florida restaurants regulated by Lawson’s department. The department also regulates cosmetologists, veterinarians, real estate agents, contractors and a long list of other businesses and professionals.
“I love to get out with the people,” Lawson told chamber members at a meeting in Century. “It’s important to have regulations, but it’s important to make doing business as easy as possible. When the economy is cold in Miami, it’s freezing in Century. So we have to do all we can for business. We are here to be partners with you. If you have rules in place, they better make sense.”
Lawson also expressed the importance of make sure contractors and other professionals have a valid license.
“We want people to trust but verify on our website,” he said. “If a licensee does wrong I can go after them.”
For more information on the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, visit www.myfloridalicense.com.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Fizz, Boom, Read: Summer Reading At The Library (With Molino Photo Gallery)
June 6, 2014
The Fizz, Boom, Read: Summer Reading Program made science and reading exciting for kids of all ages Thursday at both the Century and Molino branch libraries.
Children participated in the Page Turner’s Adventures with a story, magic tricks, and displays of talent.
For a photo gallery from Molino, click here.
Children and teens 6-12 are invited to participate in the West Florida Public Library’s 2014 Fizz, Boom, Read program, which focuses on experimenting with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics).
The interactive program is a fun way for students to keep their minds sharp throughout the summer months. Join the library for the summer reading game and interactive enrichment programs where there will be prizes for reading books, a chance to take part in science experiments and meet new people.
The program will continue through the summer until August 9.
Century Branch
Weekly on Thursday, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.
- June 12
- June 19
- June 26
Molino Branch
Weekly on Thursday, 6 to 7 p.m.
- June 12
- June 19
- June 26
Tryon Branch
Weekly on Tuesday, 11 a.m.
- June 10
- June 17
- June 24
Main Library
Weekly on Wednesday, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
- June 11
- June 18
- June 25
Southwest Branch – program to be at Big Lagoon State Park Amphitheater (12301 Gulf Beach Highway)
Weekly on Wednesday, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
- June 11
- June 18
- June 25
Pictured: The Summer Reading Program Thursday evening at the Molino Branch Library. NorthEscambia.com photos by Bethany Reynolds, click to enlarge.
Florida Files Suit For Access To VA Hospitals
June 6, 2014
The state Agency for Health Care Administration, at the urging of Gov. Rick Scott, has filed a federal lawsuit seeking access for state inspectors to Veterans Administration hospitals and documents.
Scott said Thursday in a prepared statement he is “committed to righting the wrongs experienced by Florida’s veterans at the hands of the federal VA.” The lawsuit was filed against the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in U.S. District Court in Tampa.
The state is seeking access so inspectors can determine if the health-care needs of veterans are being met. A spokeswoman for the VA declined to comment on pending litigation.
In the lawsuit, the state agency claims an inability to investigate “numerous troubling complaints from veterans” about substandard patient care and conditions at VA facilities. The complaint also notes the federal agency has “made abundantly clear” it has no interest in partnering with the state agency on the six VA hospitals and other VA-run facilities in Florida.
According to AHCA, state staff members were denied access to Malcom Randall VA Medical Center in Gainesville on May 19. Also, between April 3 and April 14 they were blocked from access to medical clinics in Gainesville, Lake City, Miami, Tampa, St. Petersburg and West Palm Beach.
Scott has been accused by Democratic gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist of using the VA issue — which is playing out across the nation — as a “political tool.”
by The News Service of Florida
Wahoos Beat Biscuits 13-2
June 6, 2014
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos cruised to an easy 13-2 win over the Montgomery Biscuits Thursday night at Riverwalk Stadium in Montgomery, Ala. It marked the fourth time in six games the Wahoos have scored five or more runs. Juan Duran blasted a pair of homers while Ray Chang matched a career high with four RBI as part of a 3-for-5 game to pace the offense behind starter Daniel Corcino, who allowed just one run over six innings in his sixth win of the year.
Already up by two, the Wahoos blew the game open with a four-run third, one of two four-run innings in the game. Ray Chang doubled home two before Josh Fellhauer singled home two more a batter later. A pair of two-run homers from Travis Mattair and Duran extended the lead to 11-0 in the sixth inning. Duran struck again with his second dinger of the game in the eighth, when he went back-to-back with Juan Silverio to cap the scoring at 13.
Corcino had one of his better starts of the season, allowing just one run over 6.0 innings with just one walk and five strikeouts. Carlos Contreras made his first appearance since going on the disabled list in late April. He allowed just a double over one inning with a couple of strikeouts.
Chang’s four RBI marked just the second time in his career he had done that. The last time was in August of 2009 when he was playing for the Altoona Curve in the Eastern League.
Pensacola looks to carry the offensive momentum into the second game of the five-game set when RHP Robert Stephenson (2-5, 3.39) goes to the mound against Biscuits RHP Victor Mateo (7-4, 3.93). First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. from Riverwalk Stadium.
by Tommy Thrall
Century Receives $400,000 Gas, Water System Grant
June 6, 2014
Rep. Clay Ingram announced Thursday that the Town of Century has received a $400,000 gas and water system grant. Most of the money, according to town officials, will be used to relocated gas and water lines in prepartaion of the paving of Campbell Road. Century Mayor Freddie McCall (left) presented Ingram a key to the city to show appreciation for his assistance in obtaining the grant. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Pedestrian Hit And Killed On Pine Forest Road
June 6, 2014
A pedestrian was killed Thursday on Pine Forest Road, just south of 5 Flags Speedway.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 18-year old William A. Williams of Pensacola was southbound on Pine Forest Road when a male pedestrian stepped directly into his path near the intersection of Cope Lane.
The pedestrian’s identity is being withheld pending notification of next of kin. Williams was not injured.
The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.