Healthy Summer Series: Prepare Now For Hurricanes
June 15, 2013
Whether you’re new to Florida or a long time resident of the sunshine state, preparing for this hurricane season can be made simple with a few important steps.
Number One: Make a Plan, Just Make It!
This important step can save your family crucial time in the event of an emergency. With your family, create a Family Emergency Plan that includes:
- How you will communicate with each other if separated
- Who has specific care needs, like a grandparent or very young children
- What supplies, tools or equipment you and your family will need
- How will you meet your family’s power needs
- Where you will go if you are requested to evacuate
- And a plan for your pets
When it comes to hurricanes and tropical storms, does the area you live in experience storm-related flooding? If you lose power, will you still be able to use necessary medical equipment in your home that requires electricity? Take into consideration the potential challenges of communication, the possibility of an evacuation, and any health condition needs in your plan. Planning ahead will also give your kids a chance to feel included. Talk to them about their needs and concerns.
Number Two: Build an Emergency Supply Kit!
There are critical basic items all Emergency Supply Kits should include, yet make sure your kit meets your family’s particular needs. Having at least three days of drinking water and healthy, non-perishable foods for each person is vital, yet having additional medications, health supplies and documents, or a special toy or book can be very important to your family’s comfort during the days following an emergency. Purchasing a battery-operated, all-hazards weather radio to provide alerts and updates for your immediate area is a great way to stay informed. Monitor only trusted news outlets or official sources for information during any emergency.
Number Three: Know where to go!
If asked to evacuate from your home, you’ll need to know where you can go for safe shelter. Public Emergency Shelters will be announced if opened in your area. If you decide to stay in a hotel, does it allow pets? Research ahead so you will know for sure. Do you have friends or relatives you can stay with until it is safe to return home? If you have mobility or health-related challenges, each of Florida’s counties maintains a registry of persons who may need assistance. You can pre-register for assistance to ensure appropriate help will be on the way. Check with your county’s Emergency Management Office for instructions.
The Florida Department of Health has prepared the Florida Emergency Preparedness Guide, available in multiple languages and formats to all residents and visitors on www.floridashealth.com. The guide provides detailed information and health-related planning tools for individuals and families on preparing for hurricanes, tropical storms and other types of emergencies.
And, if you already have a plan and emergency supply kit, now is the perfect time to re-check and re-stock. Having a Family Emergency Plan, an Emergency Supply Kit and a pre-determined location to evacuate if needed can give you and your family confidence in an emergency situation. Knowing what to do, where to go, and what to have on hand for potential emergencies is an important part of living in Florida.
NorthEscambia.com’s “Healthy Summer Series”, in cooperation with the Florida Department of Health, will take a weekly look at issues aimed at keeping your Florida summer safe and healthy.
Northview Summer Ball Takes On Crestview, Baker
June 15, 2013
The heat took its toll on the Northview Chiefs Friday in summer baseball action. The combined A and B Northview teams lost to Crestview 9-5 and lost to Baker 12-2. The Chiefs will be in action again Saturday in Crestview. Photos by Ramona Preston for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Chief Deputy Aiken To Retire
June 15, 2013
Escambia County Chief Deputy Larry Aiken is retiring. His last day on the job will be June 28.
Aiken has a 35-year background in law enforcement, 31 years of which have been at the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Prior to being named Chief Deputy in early 2010, he served as Commander of Administration under Sheriff David Morgan.
In December 2012, Aiken graduated from the FBI National Academy Program.
Previously he served as captain, assistant officer in charge of the Patrol Division. He has also been officer in charge of the Ensley Precinct, officer in charge of Special Operations and officer in charge of Special Investigations and assistant officer in charge of the Narcotics Unit. He also served as OIC of Internal Affairs and worked in Patrol as a shift lieutenant, K9 officer and patrol officer.
Pictured: Escambia County Chief Deputy Larry Aiken. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
BayBears Beat The Wahoos
June 15, 2013
The Mobile BayBears scored single tallies in three separate innings, which was enough on Friday night as the BayBears knocked off the Pensacola Blue Wahoos 3-1 in front of a capacity crowd of 5,038 at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium, the 13th sellout of the season.
A night after pounding two homers, Nick Evans got the scoring started again with a fourth-inning solo shot off Wahoos’ starter Ryan Dennick. The BayBears added another run in the fifth inning thanks to a two-out double from Ender Inciarte, scoring the pitcher Bo Schultz who reached on a two-out infield single.
That was all Dennick (3-7) would allow in another solid start that ended in a loss. The southpaw tossed seven innings, allowing the two runs on six hits while tying a season-high with eight strikeouts. Despite the setback, Dennick lowered his ERA to 3.13.
Mobile added an insurance run in the eighth inning off reliever Brian Pearl. Justin Greene led off the inning with a triple and came home to score on a single from Raywilly Gomez.
Pensacola’s lone tally came in the sixth inning. Tucker Barnhart extended his hitting streak to a team-high nine games with a one-out double and he was promptly brought home on a single from Devin Lohman.
The Wahoos had numerous opportunities to take early leads off starter Bo Schultz, with runners on second and third and one out in the second and the bases loaded with one out in the third, but Schultz maneuvered through both jams without any damage. Pensacola ended up stranding a total of eight runners on the night.
Former Blue Wahoo Mark Serrano (1-0) picked up the win in his debut with the Diamondbacks organization, pitching a scoreless fifth inning in relief of Schultz who went just four innings. The win kept Mobile a half-game above second-place Mississippi who also won on Friday night.
The two teams continue their five-game set with a 6:30 p.m. contest on Saturday evening. Shaun Ellis (1-1, 4.21) will start for Pensacola against Mobile’s Andrew Chafin (2-4, 2.89).
story by Kevin Burke
Last Day For Pensacola Beach Observation Wheel
June 15, 2013
Saturday was the last day of operation for the observation wheel at Pensacola Beach. It is being moved to to Atlanta’s Centennial Park with plans to open in time for the Fourth of July holiday. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
No Serious Injuries In Loaded Church Van Wreck
June 14, 2013
There were no serious injuries in wreck involving a church van Friday afternoon in Cantonment.
The accident happened about 3:10 p.m on Highway 29 at Morris Avenue when the church van and a Chrysler PT Crusier collided in the southbound lanes. There were reportedly a dozen people, including nine juveniles, in the church van. Three juveniles reported minor injuries.
The wreck blocked the southbound lanes of Highway 29. The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Further details were not immediately available.
The Cantonment Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the crash.
Pictured: A two vehicle crash involving a church van at Morris Avenue and Highway 29 in Cantonment Friday afternoon. Reader submitted photo by Ramona Preston, click to enlarge.
FHP: Cantonment Man Sets Off Chain Reaction Crash That Killed Two
June 14, 2013
A Cantonment man set off a chain reaction accident involving seven vehicles that left two people dead Thursday afternoon near Hurlburt Field’s main gate in Mary Ester, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
David Endresen, age 47 of Cantonment, was driving a 2006 box truck owned by McAleer’s Office Furniture westbound on Highway 98 approaching Cody Avenue about 1:25 p.m. Endresen failed to stop in time before rear-ending a 2008 Honda Element occupied Kurt Graetzer, 66, and Pamela Graetzer, 63, both of Bradenton, FL. Both Graetzers died in the crash.
The Honda Element was pushed into 2003 Ford F150 driven by Stephen Williams Of Gulf Breeze. The Honda Element was propelled into a 1997 Buick Labre, which in turn hit another Ford F150 that struck a 2004 GMC pickup. The five people in the four additional vehicles were transported to Fort Walton Beach Medical Center with minor injuries. A seventh vehicle was struck by a large piece of debris from the original crash; the three occupants were not injured.
Endresen and his passenger, 32-year old Desi Johnson of Pensacola, both received minor injuries in the Okaloosa County crash.
Charges against Endresen are pending the outcome of the Florida Highway Patrol’s investigation.
Pictured: Two people died in this chain reaction seven-vehicle crash Thursday in Mary Ester. Reader submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview’s Food For America Program Wins Florida’s Top Honor
June 14, 2013
Thursday, the Northview High School FFA Chapter was awarded the first place 2013 Fresh from Florida Advocacy Award during the Florida FFA State Convention in Orlando.
Formerly known the Food for America program, the program is designed to encourage FFA members to participate in agricultural literacy and awareness projects on the local level.
The local Food for America Program, conducted by the Northview FFA in March, gave over 1,100 students a chance to learn about agriculture firsthand as they got up close and personal with farm animals, farm equipment and more at the Northview campus. The students even had the opportunity to make their own butter and enjoy it on crackers.
Earlier in the year, members of the Northview High School FFA officer team visited several area elementary schools to read ag-related books to students.
The Northview High School FFA Food for America program has been honored as the number one program in the state multiple times.
Pictured top: Outgoing Northview FFA President Jessica Baldwin and NHS FFA sponsor Perry Byars (third from left) receive the first place 2013 Fresh from Florida Advocacy Award during the Florida FFA State Convention in Orlando Thursday afternoon. Pictured below: Northview and Ernest Ward FFA members pose with the award in Orlando. Pictured inset and below: Scenes from the 2013 Northview High School Food For American program. NorthEsambia.com and courtesy photos, click to enlarge.
Amazon Proposes To Deliver 3,000 Jobs To Florida
June 14, 2013
A month after an announcement that plans had been scrapped for Internet retailing giant Amazon to build at least one warehouse in Florida, Gov. Rick Scott’s office Thursday said a deal is again in the works.
A news release from the governor’s office said the Seattle-based Amazon proposes to create more than 3,000 full-time jobs and pump more than $300 million in investment into Florida by the end of 2016.
“Amazon will continue to work with Enterprise Florida on its ongoing projects which will include a return on any taxpayer investment, and we look forward to the company’s announcements as it chooses locations and creates jobs in Florida,” Scott said in the release.
Also, the release said Amazon would begin collecting Florida sales tax “at such time as it is required under current Florida law” — an issue that has long been controversial with Amazon and other Internet-based retailers.
A spokeswoman for the governor declined to elaborate on what had changed to help lead to a potential deal with Amazon. Also, Amazon officials were not immediately available for comment.
“We thank Governor Scott for his commitment to creating jobs in Florida,” Paul Misener, Amazon vice president of global public policy, said in the release from the governor’s office. “We propose to create more than 3,000 new jobs and over $300 million in investment in Florida, while we work toward enactment of the federal Marketplace Fairness Act, which will protect states’ rights to make their own revenue policy choices.”
The governor’s office said in May that a potential deal had been scuttled, as the two sides were unable to reach an agreement on when Amazon would have to start collecting state sales taxes. The Marketplace Fairness Act is a proposed federal law dealing with taxes on Internet retailers.
Currently, Amazon doesn’t collect Florida sales taxes from state residents who make purchases through the site, but it would likely have to do so if it were to have a physical presence in the state, such as a warehouse.
When the deal was deemed scuttled, Scott spokeswoman Melissa Sellers implied that if the Internet company were to locate in Florida and begin collecting taxes, that would amount to a tax increase on Florida residents who use the popular shopping portal.
In January 2012, officials in the governor’s office said in published reports that they were “aware” of a desire by Amazon to put warehouses in the state, creating as many as 3,000 jobs, in exchange for a two-year exemption from collecting state sales taxes.
The current proposal is still a work in progress, including potential incentives and selection of possible distribution-warehouse locations.
Nancy Blum-Heintz, a spokeswoman for Enterprise Florida, said in an email that additional information regarding the deal remains confidential.
“We look forward to providing additional details as they become public,” Blum-Heintz wrote.
The release from the governor’s office noted the availability of economic development incentives will factor into Amazon’s location decisions.
House Speaker Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, issued as statement that said he looks forward making “sure this proposal becomes a reality.” Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, in a statement called the proposal “good news,” while he waits to study the details as they “become available over the next few weeks.”
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Sheriff Says He’s Giving Jail Back To County Commission
June 14, 2013
Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan has notified that Escambia County Commission that he’s giving them control of the Escambia County Jail as of September 1.
The move came this afternoon as budget negotiations and questions over how to best bring the Escambia County Jail into compliance with a Department of Justice report have continued with no answers. The jail needs funding for new employees to comply with the DOJ findings, and, so far, there’s been no where near a consensus among commissioners as how to fund the improvements.
The commission considered four proposals during a Thursday morning meeting:
- Eliminate the 3-percent cost of living raise for county employees, generating about $2.5 million to hire about 38 detention employees. Reduce the Sheriff’s law enforcement budget to cover the necessary staffing and administrative detention costs. Under the plan, the sheriff would return control of the jail to the county.
- Raise the millage rate. With a .1923 increase, about $2.6 million would fund about 40 additional detention employees and make changes in employee overtime rates. With a .5622 millage rate increase, about $7.6 million would be raised for 40 additional detention employees and allow ECSO employees to be paid for holidays and overtime. Or, with a 1.000 increase on the millage rate, about $13.5 million would be raised. $7.6 million would be used to fund the ECSO needs, and $5.9 million would fund crime prevention and human services needs in the county. The sheriff would retain responsibility for the jail under this proposal.
- Eliminate the 3-percent cost of living raise for county employees, generating about $2.5 million to hire about 38 detention employees, and raise the millage rate .3699 to address holiday and overtime issues at the ECSO. The sheriff would retain responsibility for the jail under this proposal.
- Explore privatizing the jail, which would require paying out about $10 million for accrued leave balances to detention employees. Under the plan, the sheriff would return control of the jail to the county.
The commission voted 4-0, with Commissioner Wilson Robertson absent, not to raise taxes to fund the jail. They also gave direction to Interim County Administrator George Touart to continue his negotiations with Morgan and come up with additional plans.
To read Morgan’s complete letter to the Escambia County Commission, click here.