AG Bondi: FDA Going ‘Overboard’ On Cigar Rules
August 15, 2014
Attorney General Pam Bondi labeled as “overbroad” the federal government’s proposed regulations to link electronic cigarettes, cigars and other tobacco products to the same rules as the cigarette industry.
Bondi wrote in a letter that she wants the Food and Drug Administration to consider the potential impact of the announced rule changes on Ybor City cigar manufacturer J.C. Newman Cigar, urging the federal agency to “more narrowly tailor these overbroad regulations.”
The FDA is looking to discourage the use of electronic cigarettes and tobacco products among minors by expanding rules now in place on the sales and advertising of cigarettes.
J.C. Newman is the lone survivor of a cigar industry that first came to Tampa in the 1890s.
“This 119-year-old premium cigar company with 130 employees is truly unique in this industry and should not be regulated in the same manner as the nation’s largest cigarette companies,” Bondi wrote on Friday, the deadline for submissions on the federal plan.
Bondi’s letter was separate from a letter signed the same day by 29 other attorneys general that implored the FDA to make the proposed regulations even stronger, particularly in regard to electronic cigarettes.
The e-cigarette devices are seen by some as more acceptable than smoking, with the process involving a vaporizer to inhale nicotine that is often enhanced with flavors that range from simple vanilla, grape and banana to more alluring cotton candy, peach schnapps, pina colada and bubblegum.
“The FDA has recognized that flavored tobacco products containing flavors like vanilla, orange, chocolate, cherry and coffee are especially attractive to youth and are widely considered to be starter products, establishing smoking habits that can lead to a lifetime of addiction,” the group of attorneys general said in the letter.
The group of attorneys general includes 21 Democrats, seven Republicans and one without party affiliation. The effort was led by Eric Schneiderman of New York, Martha Coakley of Massachusetts, Lisa Madigan of Illinois and Greg Zoeller of Indiana.
Regulators have agonized over whether e-cigarettes are a step in helping people quit smoking or serve as a gateway to nicotine addiction.
But the attorneys general said, in their letter, e-cigarettes are exposing an increasing number of youths to nicotine.
Bondi, in her letter, generally supports the enforcement of federal regulations on e-cigarettes, which would be similar to a Florida law approved in the 2014 legislative session.
The measure (SB 224) made it a second-degree misdemeanor as of July 1 to sell e-cigarettes and related products to minors.
Jennifer Haliski, a spokeswoman for the FDA, said Wednesday that letters submitted on the proposed rule change will be reviewed as quickly as possible. However, no timetable is set for when a final decision will be made, she said.
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., have requested an exemption to the new rules for companies that don’t mass-produce cigars, such as J. C. Newman. The FDA is already considering an exemption for premium cigars that are handmade. J.C. Newman uses vintage machines.
Gov. Rick Scott and Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera last month sent a similar request about the impact of the proposed regulations on Florida cigar companies.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Greyhound Bus, Two Semi Trucks Wreck On I-10
August 14, 2014
There were multiple injuries in a wreck involving a Greyhound bus and two semi-trucks Thursday afternoon on I-10 east of Pine Forest Road. The accident shut down I-10 eastbound at Pine Forest Road for several hours.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a Greyhound bus with 19 passengers on board was slowing for traffic eastbound on the inside lane of I-10 and had almost come to a complete stop.
A semi truck drive by Michael Scott Ashby of Apoka, Fla., failed to slow for a double-trailer semi Fedex vehicle driven by Cynthia Sue Laird of Glen St. Mary, Fla.. Ashby’s semi struck the double trailer Fedex vehicle, pushing it into the bus driven by Vikki Elaine Miller of Foley.
According to the FHP, there were nine injured passengers on bus. None of those injuries were considered life threatening. According to an county spokesperson, one of the injuries were considered critical.
Charges are pending further investigation, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Pictured top and inset: The first emergency units arrive on scene at a Greyhound bus accident on I-10 this afternoon east of Pine Forest Road. Pictured below: the scene a short time later. Images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Man Gets 10 Years Max Sentence For Series Of Century Business Burglaries
August 14, 2014
A man charged with a series of business burglaries in Century has been sentenced to a decade in prison.
Jason Allen Bodiford, 35, entered a no contest plea to multiple charges, included burglary, larceny, criminal mischief property damage and illegal use of a credit card. Bodiford, who told officials he is homeless, received the maximum 10 year sentence from Judge Ross Goodman.
He admitted to investigators that he burglarized Century Marine, Rhonda’s Hair Salon, the Happy Star Chinese Restaurant and the Century Flower Shop. Business owners reported that Bodiford had visited their places of business prior to the burglaries asking for money.
He also allegedly burglarized a car on Hecker Road in Century and stole a credit card that was later used to purchase food at Burger King in Century.
Bodiford was originally arrested December 30 at a motel in Atmore and booked into the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton on a failure to appear charge on traffic tickets in Alabama. He was extradited to Florida to face the burglary related charges.
A Blessed School Year: Prayer Walk Held At Molino Park Elementary
August 14, 2014
The annual back to school Prayer Walk was held Wednesday evening at Molino Park Elementary School. Students and adults from Highland Baptist Church prayed for the Lord’s blessings on the upcoming school year.
Prior to the prayer walk, volunteers worked to clean up the school grounds.
Pictured: A student prayer walk Wednesday evening at Molino Park Elementary School. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia’s Newest Judge Takes The Bench Friday
August 14, 2014
Escambia County’s newest judge will officially take the bench on Friday.
The investiture of Jennifer J. Frydrychowicz to the Escambia County bench, Group 3, will be held Friday at 3 p.m. at the M.C. Blanchard Judicial Building at 190 Governmental Center, Courtroom 407, in downtown Pensacola.
“J.J. has all the qualities that will make her a great judge. I look forward to her service on the Escambia County Court bench,” Gov. Rick Scott said.
Frydrychowicz is a Pensacola native, receiving both her undergraduate degree and her law degree from the University of Florida. She was an associate at Luther, Collier, Hodges & Cash, LLP, an Assistant State Attorney in the First Judicial Circuit, and served as a staff attorney in the office of the late U.S. Senator Arlen Specter. She fills a vacancy in Escambia County, Group 3 resulting from the retirement and separation of Judge Thomas E. Johnson.
Photo courtesy Luther, Collier, Hodges & Cash, LLP.
ECSO: Man Assaults Girlfriend Upon Learning He’s Going To Be A Daddy
August 14, 2014
A Flomaton man did not take the news that he was going to be a daddy very well, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
The mom-to-be met her live-in boyfriend, 29-year old Jasper Terail Scott of Flomaton, in the area of Highway 4 and North Century Boulevard to deliver the news that she was pregnant with his child. Scott became agitated, began to argue about the pregnancy, grabbed the victim by the arms, slapped her in the face and put his hand around her neck, according to an arrest report.
The victim contacted deputies and filed a report, leading to Scott’s arrest on a felony count of aggravated battery when the offender knew the victim was pregnant. Scott was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $2,000 bond.
Boy Scout Leader, School District Employee Gets 50 Years For Molesting Three Kids
August 14, 2014
A local Boy Scout leader and school district employee has been sentenced to five decades in prison for molesting three girls.
Douglas Alden Parker, 47, pleaded guilty Wednesday to three counts of felony lewd and lascivious molestation on victims under 12 years old, 24 counts of child pornography and one count of video voyeurism.
Circuit Judge Ross Goodman sentenced Parker to 50 years in state prison followed by a lifetime of probation.
Pensacola Police Sgt. Kristin Brown said detectives began investigating Parker on July 14, 2013, the same day one of the females filed a complaint against Parker with the Department of Children and Families. An investigation determined the females were ages three to nine years old when Parker had sexual contact with them.
Brown said detectives found child pornography on Parker’s computer.
As of July 16, 2013, Parker was a Boy Scout leader with local Troops 3 and 608 and was an information technology employee for the Escambia County School District. The school district position had no direct contact with children, according to police.
Coming Soon: Fall Tomato School
August 14, 2014
UF/IFAS Extension Gulf Coast Small Farms & Alternative Enterprises will present “Fall Tomato School” beginning next month. The evening workshops are intended for farmers who are interested in learning about small farm tomato production.
The course will combine lectures with hands-on activities with a course notebook at the West Florida Research & Education Center in Jay. The school will include topics such as transplanting, varieties, nutrition, diseases, staking, insect scouting, harvesting, storage and marketing. Classes will be held 6-7:30 p.m. on September 2 and 23, and October 7 and 28. The cost is $20 per class or $60 for the four-course series, payable at the first session.
To register, or for more information, call the UF/IFAS Extension Santa Rosa Office at (850) 623-3868.
The Night The Lights Went Out For The Wahoos
August 14, 2014
The Southern League rivalry between the Pensacola Blue Wahoos and Mobile BayBears will be remembered Wednesday for the first ever game delay because the ballpark lights went out.
The field and fans sat in complete darkness for about 15 minutes in the top of the ninth inning, right in the middle of a Mobile rally. The BayBears had the bases loaded with one out after scoring two runs to go ahead, 4-3.
That’s when the lights on the first base side went out. When the lights came back on, the lights on the first base side did not return to full power.
As a result, the umpires suspended the game until 5:30 p.m. Thursday. The regularly scheduled game will start 30 minutes after the suspended game ends.
Blue Wahoos officials were still trying to figure out why the malfunction happened late Wednesday night.
Blue Wahoos Manager Delino DeShields said he has “never” experienced a suspended game because of the lights going out in his nearly 30 years of professional baseball.
“I’ve had the lights go out before temporarily but not to suspend a game,” DeShields said.
He said he doubts the blackout will effect the game’s outcome.
“I don’t think it will really matter much,” DeShields said. “The bases are loaded and one out. We’ll see what happens.”
Pensacola had comeback with three runs on five hits in the eighth inning to take the lead, 3-2. First baseman Travis Mattair pushed a single through to right field that scored Ryan Wright and Kyle Waldrop.
The third game of the five-game series with Arizona DiamondBacks Double-A affiliate the Mobile BayBears gets underway at 6:30 p.m. Thursday. RHP Ben Lively (1-6, 3.96) takes the mound for the Wahoos and is scheduled to be opposed by the BayBears RHP A.J. Schugel (5-2, 3.43).
by Tommy Thrall
Man Opens Fire Into Multiple Residences
August 14, 2014
A man who shot into at multiple residences Wednesday night in the area of Toni and Goodrich streets in Pensacola is in custody.
Jeremy French, 27, of 1460 Langley Ave. was charged with one count of attempted murder, three counts of aggravated assault with a firearm, five counts of shooting into a dwelling/conveyance, and one count each of improper display of a firearm, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and discharging a firearm in public.
Police were notified of the shootings when Torya Nobles, 41, of 1311 Toni St., called 911 around 7:15 p.m. Wednesday and said a man was shooting into her home. Two bullets struck Nobles – one in the hand and one in the hip. She was taken to a local hospital for treatment.
Pensacola Police Officer Dennis Salon said French fired approximately 15 rounds into Nobles’ apartment. Salon said Nobles is the property manager for the duplexes. French lives in one of the duplexes and also was the maintenance man for the residences. Police determined he shot into the residences because he had been fired from his job on Wednesday and given three days’ notice to move out of his duplex.
After French shot into Nobles’ residence and her vehicle, he walked to nearby duplexes and fired into at least three more. Motives for the additional shootings remain under investigation.
Salon said the aggravated assault with a firearm charges were filed on French because he pointed the handgun toward at least one man, and Nobles’ two daughters – ages 12 and 13 – were inside her residence at the time. They were not injured.
Police determined French fired at least 20 rounds before he was taken into custody at Langley and Sanders avenues, located approximately two blocks away from the initial shooting.
French was holding a handgun and also had additional ammunition on him when he was taken into custody, said Lt. Stephen Davis.