Florida Creates Firefighters Memorial
July 1, 2013
During a Florida Cabinet meeting, Governor Rick Scott, along with Cabinet members, passed a resolution to create a Florida Firefighters Memorial at the Florida State Capitol Building. The memorial will be a place for all visitors to the state capitol to visit and honor firefighters who have given their lives to help protect the Floridians they serve.
“Florida firefighters put their lives on the line every day to protect Florida families and their property. I am happy today to join the Florida Cabinet in designating a place for all Floridians to recognize and remember the sacrifice that Florida’s fallen fighter fighters have given. As we honor those gave the ultimate sacrifice today, we also look forward with new legislation that aims to give the fire fighting community the tools they need to keep Floridians safe,” Scott said.
After the Cabinet meeting, Governor Scott signed SB 1410, which will give the Florida Chief Fire Marshal more authority to protect lives and property. This legislation updates continuing education requirements for fire safety inspectors, gives firefighters and volunteer firefighters more options for retaining certifications and updates old statute regarding the State Fire Marshal.
Health Dept: Drain And Cover Defense Against Mosquitoes
July 1, 2013
The Florida Department of Health in Escambia County is advising the public to “Drain and Cover” to protect against mosquitoes. Drain standing water in and around your home to prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs, and cover your body to protect against bites. Mosquitoes are known carriers of West Nile Virus, and other disease-causing viruses.
“Given the recent rains we have experienced, mosquitoes may be more prevalent in the upcoming weeks,” says DOH-Escambia Director Dr. John J. Lanza. “Individuals should do all they can to avoid mosquito bites, in order to prevent the spread of infections carried by the insect.”
Adult mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing or slow-moving water. Even one teaspoon of water is adequate for breeding. Mosquitoes are most active during evenings, nighttime and the dawn hours. Being outdoors at these times increases people’s chances of being bitten unless they cover their skin with clothes and/or an effective mosquito repellant.
Drain standing water.
- Drain water from garbage cans, house gutters, buckets, pool covers, coolers, toys, flower pots or any other containers where sprinkler or rain water has collected. Water held in open containers in your house is also a potential breeding location for mosquitoes.
- Discard old tires, bottles, pots, broken appliances and other items that aren’t being used.
- Empty and clean birdbaths and pets’ water bowls at least twice a week.
- When protecting boats and vehicles from rain, ensure that tarps don’t accumulate water.
- Maintain swimming pools in good condition and keep them adequately chlorinated. Empty plastic swimming pools when not in use.
Cover skin with clothing or repellent and cover doors and windows.
- Clothing – Wear shoes, socks, long pants and long sleeves when mosquitoes are most prevalent.
- Use repellents with DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR3535.
- Always use repellents according to the label. Using too much repellent doesn’t make it work better or last longer.
- Re-apply mosquito repellent as often as needed to prevent mosquito landings and bites.
- When using repellent on children, apply to your hands first and then rub on their arms and legs.
- Instead of repellent, use mosquito netting to protect children younger than 2 months old.
- Place screens on windows, doors, porches, and patios. Always repair broken screens.
For more information contact the Florida Department of Health in Escambia County at (850) -595-6700 or visit www.EscambiaHealth.com.
Milwaukee Brewers Send Gindl Back To Triple A Nashville
July 1, 2013
After a 10-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates Friday night, the Milwaukee Brewers optioned outfielder Caleb Gindl of Molino back to Triple-A Nashville and recalled right-hander Tyler Thornburg.
Gindl was called up on June 15 after Ryan Braun was placed on the disabled list with an injured thumb. He had five hits in 19 at-bats, appearing in nine games. The Brewers promoted him after placing left fielder Ryan Braun on the 15-day disabled list.
Back in Nashville Sunday, Gindl snapped tie between the Sounds and the Oklahoma City RedHawks by hitting his ninth home run of the season. The solo shot to right field put the Nashville Sounds up 4-3 on their way to a 5-3 victory.
Gindl, 24, was a Brewers’ fifth-round Draft pick in 2007 out of Pace High School, and he was 22 when he debuted in Triple-A in 2011. He had been waiting there patiently for a promotion. Gindl was batting .274 at Nashville with eight home runs and a team-best 38 RBIs. He hit .364 over his last 10 games.
Jacksonville Suns Outshine Pensacola Blue Wahoos 5-4
July 1, 2013
The Jacksonville Suns saw an early three-run lead evaporate, but ended up walking off winners in 11 innings, 5-4, over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos on Sunday evening at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.
Danny Black started the 11th inning rally for the Suns with a leadoff single against Loek Van Mil. Zack Cox then walked to put runners at first and second before Mark Canha sacrificed both runners over. Pinch-hitter Michael Main was intentionally walked to load the bases, setting the stage for Taylor Krick. Van Mil’s 2-2 offering ran up and in on Krick and glanced off his left wrist for a hit by pitch to force in the game-winning run.
Jacksonville appeared to have gone ahead for good in the eighth after entering the frame tied at three. With two away in the inning, J.T. Realmuto drew a five-pitch walk against Chris Manno, which seemed harmless at the time. However, Realmuto stole second base and on the very next pitch, Jake Marisnick smoked a single to right field, scoring Realmuto to put the Suns on top 4-3.
Pensacola responded in the top of the ninth, though, against Suns closer Michael Brady. Corey Wimberly led off the frame with a first-pitch single before stealing second base and advancing to third on a throwing error by the catcher Realmuto. Wimberly was then driven home on a sacrifice fly by Marquez Smith to knot the game at four.
The Suns jumped out to a 3-0 lead early on in the contest against Pensacola starter Tim Crabbe. The first four batters reached in the first inning against Crabbe, with a run coming across on a fielding error by first baseman Marquez Smith and another scoring on a Mark Canha RBI single to give Jacksonville a 2-0 lead.
In the third inning, Danny Pertusati put the Suns up by three with a sacrifice fly to score Krick. Crabbe battled through four innings before being lifted, after allowing three runs on eight hits with two strikeouts and a walk.
The Wahoos slowly chipped away, scoring single tallies in three separate innings to eventually tie the game at three. In the fourth, Tucker Barnhart slapped a two-out single up the middle, scoring Donald Lutz to cut the lead to 3-1. Barnhart tried to score on Ryan LaMarre’s single later in the inning, but Jake Marisnick threw him out from center field for the final out.
In the fifth, Yorman Rodriguez continued his torrid pace with an RBI double scoring pinch-hitter Theo Bowe from second. Pensacola eventually loaded the bases with one out in the frame, but Smith struck out and pinch-hitter Matt Kennelly flew out.
Pensacola loaded the bases again in the seventh inning, this time with nobody out. Lutz was plunked with an 0-2 pitch from Edgar Olmos to push across the tying run. However, the Wahoos couldn’t convert on the golden opportunity to take the lead as Smith struck out and Kennelly grounded into a 6-4-3 double play.
Van Mil took the loss for Pensacola, falling to 0-5 by allowing the game-winning run on two hits and three walks in 1.1 innings.
Grant Dayton (2-3) picked up the win for Jacksonville by firing two shutout innings with five strikeouts. Dayton was the sixth pitcher used by Jacksonville as starter Sam Dyson went five innings and gave up two runs on eight hits with two strikeouts and a walk.
The two teams square off again in a Monday matinee at 11:05 a.m. CT. Ryan Dennick (3-9, 3.44) gets the call for Pensacola against fellow southpaw Adam Conley (7-2, 3.97).
by Kevin Burke
No More WIC Services In Century
July 1, 2013
Century area residents must travel Molino or another location in order to receive WIC services.
WIC — the Federal Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children — provides vouchers for free nutritional food to use at local grocery stores as well as nutrition and breastfeeding counseling for women, infants and children under 5 years old.
The Century WIC site at 511 Church Street closed at the end of June. Beginning today, the Molino site will be the nearest Escambia County location where former Century clients can receive WIC services. The Molino site is open all day on Mondays and Thursdays, and on Friday mornings. Persons needing WIC services should call (850) 595-6670.
WIC services will be available to Century area clients at any WIC location in Escambia County (FL) or Santa Rosa County, including Jay.
For more information, including all WIC locations in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, click here for a letter that was provided to Century WIC clients.
Local Lawmakers, Except Evers, Receive High Marks From Education Group
June 30, 2013
The Foundation for Florida’s Future has released it’s annual evaluation grading Florida’s lawmakers on their efforts to improve the quality of education in the Sunshine State.
A not-for-profit organization aimed at keeping K-12 education in Florida a model for the nation, the Foundation chaired by former Gov. Jeb Bush works to advance reforms that allow each child to achieve his or her God-given potential and prepare all students to succeed in the 21st century. The Foundation’s 2013 reform agenda focused on empowering parents, preparing students for success, supporting teachers, transforming education with technology, establishing equality and equity in school choice and funding student achievement.
Among local lawmakers, Rep. Clay Ingram, Rep. Doug Broxson and Sen Don Gaetz received A grades of 100. Sen Greg Evers received a C grade with a score of 78.
The Foundation measures reforms based on seven core principles: rigorous academic standards, standardized measurement, data-driven accountability, effective teachers and leaders, outcome-based funding, school choice and digital Learning. Report Card grades were assigned based on scores of 0 – 100, established through each lawmaker’s voting record along with demonstrated leadership.
Pictured: Rep. Clay Ingram.
Almost 200 New Laws Take Effect Monday
June 30, 2013
The state’s $74.1 billion budget, which will fund 114,481 positions, 3,955 more than in the current fiscal year, kicks in on Monday. At the same time, nearly 200 new laws approved by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Rick Scott hit the books.
The bills range from a limit on the law enforcement use of drones, to a bill spelling out how money is raised to build nuclear power plants to new rules for Citizens Property Insurance Corp. There also will be, come Monday, a crackdown on “cyberbullying,” conversion of low speed vehicles into golf carts and a prohibition on the sale of bongs.
A new law against texting while driving (SB 52) doesn’t take effect until October 1, while changes to campaign fundraising (HB 7013) go into place next year.
Here are highlights of some of the laws taking effect July 1:
Education
HB 21: Requires the Department of Education to conduct background screening for non-instructional contractors that will be on school grounds, and creates a statewide identification badge for the contractors.
HB 209: Changes the name of Lake Sumer Community College to Lake Sumter State College.
SB 284: Allows private schools to be notified by first responders about emergencies and makes sure public schools spell out which agencies are supposed to contact them.
HB 609: Cracks down on “cyberbullying” in public schools by expanding what school districts are allowed to punish at school and when children are not at school — if the non-school bullying affects education.
HB 801: Changes guidance counselors to certified school counselors.
SB 1664: Requires that at least 50 percent of a classroom teacher’s or school administrator’s performance evaluation be based on the growth or achievement of the students under their charge. The other half would be based on district-determined plans. Teachers with less than three years experience would only be judged on 40 percent of their students’ performance.
Employment
HB 655: Aimed at Orange County where a 2014 referendum was planned, the law locks local governments from requiring employers to offer paid sick leave to workers. The law also creates an Employer-Sponsored Benefits Study Task Force, which is directed to analyze employment benefits.
Transportation
HB 55: Could help head off lawsuits alleging that auto dealers have engaged in deceptive and unfair practices by requiring customers to provide a demand letter before they can sue auto dealers. If dealers pay the claims and related surcharges within 30 days, they could not be sued.
SB 62: Allows street-legal, “low-speed vehicles” to be reclassified as golf carts, a move to reduce registration and insurance costs.
HB 93: Let’s people voluntarily contribute to the homeless when renewing a driver’s license.
SB 606: Creates the Northeast Florida Regional Transportation Commission for Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau, Putnam, and St. Johns Counties.
HB 4001: Abolishes the state law requiring most gasoline to include nearly 10 percent ethanol by repealing the 2008 Renewable Fuel Standard Act. Because of federal ethanol mandates the state action is mostly symbolic.
HB 7125: An omnibus transportation package that: prevents ticketing motorists as long as vehicles come to a stop, even after crossing the stop line, before making legal right turns on red; creates specialty license plates for the American Legion, Big Brothers Big Sisters and Lauren’s Kids, which is a program aimed at preventing sexual abuse of children; and bars left-lane drivers from going more than 10 mph below the speed limit if they know they are being overtaken from behind by faster-moving vehicles.
Insurance and banking
HB 157: Allows insurers to electronically transmit insurance policy to the insured.
HB 223: Lets property and casualty insurance policies and endorsements be made available on an insurer’s Internet website rather than being mailed, if agreed to by the customer.
SB 468: Exempts medical malpractice insurance from the state rate filing and approval process for some facilities and practitioners and continues the exemption of med mal insurance from the CAT Fund assessment program.
SB 1770: The Citizens Property Insurance Corp. overhaul, less imposing than initially proposed, still prevents coverage for new homes in high-risk, environmentally sensitive coastal areas, creates an internal inspector general position, and a clearinghouse intended to shift at least 200,000 policies into the private market.
Environmental and agriculture
SB 336: Allows tourist development tax dollars to be used for the benefit of certain not-for-profit run museums or aquariums.
SB 444: Requires six utilities in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties to end the practice of dumping treated wastewater into the ocean by Dec. 31, 2025.
SB 674: Requires animal shelters and animal control agencies keep more records on euthanasia and make them available to the public.
SB 948: Expands the role of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services with local utilities in water supply planning.
Law enforcement
HB 49: The “bong ban” prohibits the sale of metal, wooden, acrylic, glass, stone, plastic, or ceramic smoking pipes, chillums or bongs.
SB 92: Restricts the use of unmanned aerial drones by law enforcement unless a judge issues a warrant, there is a “high risk of terrorist attack” or officials fear someone is in imminent danger.
HB 95: Declares that money given to charities by Ponzi schemers wouldn’t have to be later returned to victimized investors if it was accepted in good faith.
SB 390: Prohibits organizations from holding themselves out as veterans service organizations if they’re not.
SB 454: Allows police departments at state colleges to enter into mutual aid agreements with local law enforcement.
HB 489: Requires railroads to cover cost of continuing education for railroad police officers and adds penalties for assaulting the officers.
Medical
SB 56: Replaces the concept of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) with Sudden Unexplained Infant Death, while altering requirements for training first responders and protocols for medical examiners.
SB 160: Requires the Department of Health waive certain licensure fees for veterans.
HB 239: Allows optometrists to prescribe certain types of drugs.
HB 365: Allows pharmacists to offer certain types of complex drugs known as “biologics” for illnesses such as cancer.
SB 662: Allows doctors to charge 112.5 percent of drugs’ average wholesale prices — a measuring stick in the pharmaceutical industry — and $8 dispensing fees. Those amounts are higher than what pharmacies can charge for providing medications to workers-compensation patients.
HB 1129: Intends to protect infants born alive after attempted abortions by requiring health-care professionals to “humanely exercise the same degree of professional skill, care and diligence to preserve the life and health of the infant” as would be the case in a natural birth. It also requires that infants born alive after attempted abortions be immediately taken to hospitals.
SB 1844: Is intended to bolster the Florida Health Choices program, a long-planned online health marketplace, by increasing funding and eligibility standards.
Housing
HB 77: The “Florida Residential Landlord and Tenant Act” allows a landlord to accept partial rent without waiving the right to evict, clarifies that weekends and holidays do not stay a sheriff’s 24-hour eviction notice, and prohibits landlords from retaliating against a tenant who lawfully pays a landlord’s association dues or complains of a fair housing violation.
HB 179: Allows certain interest on deposits collected in eminent domain proceedings to go to property owners rather than the government.
HB 217: Requires check-cashing companies to report checks worth $1,000 or more to a new state online database. The check cashing database, intended to prevent workers’ compensation fraud, is not expected to be funded until 2014.
SB 342: Allows someone with a homestead exemption to rent their property out for 30 days without losing their homestead exemption.
Courts
SB 186: Clarifies that foreign judgments issued by United States territories are entitled to full faith and credit in this state under the Florida Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Act.
SB 286: Allows a design professional, such as an architect, geologist or engineer, to be immune from tort liability for damages occurring within the course and scope of the performance of a professional services contract under certain circumstances.
SB 1792: The medical-malpractice bill requires that expert witnesses have the same specialties as the physicians who are defendants in medical-negligence cases.
HB 7015: Imposes the more-restrictive “Daubert” standards for admitting expert witness testimony in lawsuits, taking into account whether the expert testimony is “based upon sufficient facts or data;” whether it is the “product of reliable principles and methods;” and whether a witness has “applied the principles and methods reliably to the facts of the case.” The change will lead to Florida using the same standards as are used in federal courts.HB 7083: The “Timely Justice Act” that is intended to reduce final delays in carrying out the death penalty. The measure includes several changes in the death-penalty process. As an example, the act requires the clerk of the Florida Supreme Court to notify the governor when a Death Row inmate’s state and federal court appeals have been completed. The governor would then have 30 days to issue a death warrant if the executive clemency process has finished. The warrant would require that the execution be carried out within 180 days. Scott’s office has repeatedly contended that the law doesn’t “fast-track” the death penalty process.
Utilities
HB 1083: Establishes a permitting process for natural gas to be injected underground and stored until it is needed.
SB 1472: Establishes new benchmarks for electric utilities that want to collect controversial fees while planning nuclear-power plants. The measure alters a 2006 law intended to encourage more nuclear power. Florida Power & Light and the former Progress Energy Florida – now Duke Energy – have used the law to collect hundreds of millions of dollars in pre-construction nuclear fees.
Entertainment
HB 347: Allows about 20 small craft distillers in Florida that annually produce less than 75,000 gallons of spirits to offer on-site sales. The bill imposes a two-bottle-per-customer annual cap for the purchases.
HB 623: Allows the sale of wine in 5.16 gallon canisters, which can be tapped like kegs, allowing easier sales of wine by the glass in restaurants and bars.
Government
SB 142: The term “mental retardation” will be replaced by “intellectual disability”
SB 230: The Governor will be required to adopt flag display protocol on displaying the state flag and for the lowering of the state flag to half-staff.
With more than 50 bills still awaiting action by Scott, there are other potential new laws that would go into effect Monday if Scott signs them.
Education
SB 1388: Allows school districts to create their own instructional material adoption process.
HB 7009: An omnibus education package that adds both new accountability measures and new flexibility for charter schools. High-performing charters would be allowed to boost their enrollment annually, and the Department of Education is charged with proposing a standard contract for charter schools. Allows school boards the ability to set up a public “Innovation School of Technology” that could get much of the same flexibility as charter schools get if they use new technology in instruction. And bars students from being taught by low-performing teachers in the same subject two years in a row, though parents could allow districts to ignore that rule in the case of extracurricular courses.HB 7165: Moves the state’s voluntary pre-kindergarten and school readiness programs to the Department of Education and tighten accountability.
Environment and agriculture
HB 203: Prohibits local governments from regulating or charging fees on certain farm land under certain circumstances.
SB 244: Allows water-management districts to enter into cooperative agreements.
Law enforcement
HB 875: Makes it a crime to impersonate a security officer and allows authorized security officers to detain trespassers in some cases.
HB 1355: Blocks gun sales to some people who voluntarily admit themselves for mental-health treatment.
Entertainment
HB 1285: Abolishes the Tallahassee-Leon County Civic Center Authority and transfer its assets and liabilities to Florida State University, with a provision that directs a division of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation to issue a special alcoholic-beverage license for the civic center.
HB 1421: Allows some hotels and motels in Madison County to get a special alcoholic beverage license.
By The News Service of Florida
Dump Your Kids At The Perdido Landfill For A Day Camp
June 30, 2013
The Escambia County Department of Solid Waste invites kids to participate in “Dump your Kids at the Perdido Landfill for a Day!” camp this summer.
This one-day excursion to the Perdido Landfill allows kids, ages 5-11, to participate in fun-filled activities designed to teach the importance of the reduction of generated waste through source reduction, recycling, reuse or composting. Activities include a tour of the Perdido Landfill, recycling education, household chemical waste education, hands-on recycling projects, arts and crafts with recycled materials, games that focus on recycling and reuse as well as an eco-walk on the Perdido Riverwalk Nature Trail.
The cost of the camp is the donation of one pair of new or gently used shoes to be donated to Soles4Souls. Campers will need to bring clothes that are appropriate to play in and be worn outside, a brown bag lunch, snacks, a reusable water bottle and drinks. (Campers should try to pack a zero waste lunch which means reusable containers.) One snack will be provided at the beginning of the day.
Remaining camp dates are Thursday, July 11, Tuesday, July 16, Thursday, July 18, Tuesday, July 23, Thursday, July 25, Thursday, August 1, Tuesday, August 6 and Thursday, August 8 — each camp from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.
For more information or to pre-register please contact Recycling Operations at 937-2160. Space is limited. The camp is sponsored by Escambia County Department of Solid Waste Management Waste Services.
Century Sets Council Agenda
June 30, 2013
The Town of Century has set their agenda for Monday night’s meeting, and it’s a business-as-usual plan.
The town will conduct ordinary business — approve previous meeting minutes, approve bills and hear from the mayor and council — and hear a request from the Northview High School Yearbook.
The Century Town Council meets the first and third Monday of each month at 7 p.m. All meetings are open to the public.
County Association Presents Robinson With Presidential Advocacy Award
June 30, 2013
The Florida Association of Counties (FAC) presented Escambia County Commissioner Grover Robinson with the Presidential Advocacy Award during the 2013 FAC Annual Conference & Exposition in Hillsborough County last week.
“I am proud to be part of an organization like FAC that has the Florida citizen’s best interest in mind,” said Robinson, IV. “It is a great honor to be recognized for making a positive impact in Escambia County and I look forward to collaborating with other county commissioners to do the best work for the people.”
Commissioner Robinson was an invaluable asset to FAC during the Legislative Session and showed exceptional commitment to advancing public policy. Robinson took time to educate legislators on FAC’s priority issues, specifically the State-County Cost Share of Medicaid.
“It is public servants like Commissioner Robinson that ensure our local communities have the authority to respond to the demands of their citizens,” said FAC Executive Director Chris Holley, “Commissioner Robinson’s support in our efforts to create an equitable and fair solution to Medicaid cost share was essential in getting rid of the cumbersome and erroneous billing system that has been in place for years.”
The Presidential Advocacy Award is given annually to those county commissioners from around the state who have shown exceptional leadership in partnering with FAC to advance the counties’ legislative agenda.