Free Spay/Neuter Program Now Available To Escambia Residents
March 2, 2013
A free spay/neuter program is now available for Escambia County residents who meet income guidelines.
The free program is available to Escambia County residents with a household income of $35,000 per year or less through a local animal group, Pet Come Home, Inc., and the Escambia County Low-cost Spay/Neuter program.
Pet Come Home, Inc. was awarded a $25,000 grant through the Florida Animal Friends license plate grant program to fund this program, which is expected to fund approximately 1,000 surgeries through August 2013. Pet Come Home has partnered with Emerald Coast Animal Allies, another local animal rescue, to administer the grant.
Those interested in the free spay/neuter program can sign up at one of the Spay Your Pets! Application Stations being held all over the County or at the Escambia County Animal Shelter. Details can be found at www.spayyourpets.org or by calling (850) 780-3223, and choosing option #3.
To participate, applicants need to prove income and residency in Escambia County, FL. Applicants must bring the required proof of residency with them when they apply. All animals are required to have current rabies vaccinations to participate. If the pet does not have the required shots, rabies shots are available for $15 through at the Escambia County Animal Shelter Spay/Neuter Program and can be purchased when the pet in brought in to be spayed or neutered. Every dog and cat in Escambia County must have a rabies vaccination license. Licenses are $11 per pet, or $7 for pet owners that are 60+ years old. The license fees go to support the Spay/Neuter Program.
Applications will be taken at upcoming events:
- March 9, 1:30-4:00 p.m. – Fran’s Country Grill, 5939 Highway 29 N, Molino, FL. No rabies shots will be offered; do not bring your pet.
- March 23, Noon-4:00pm – PetSmart, 6251 Davis Hwy, Pensacola, FL. Rabies shots will not be available at this location
- March 24, 2013 12:30 – 2:00 p.m. – Tractor Supply Company, 3 W Nine Mile Rd.. Rabies shots will be available at this location for $13.
Florida Gov’t Weekly Roundup: Quietly Getting Ready For The Session
March 2, 2013
When Carlos Carbonell, the CEO of the company charged with building the House’s smart-phone app, decided at a press conference to demonstrate the video stream that would soon show live action on the House floor, there ended up being a slight echo in the room.
The app was providing streaming video of the press conference.
It was a lot like that over the last week: plenty of signs that the annual legislative session was about to get started, but little happening that actually demanded attention.
Gov. Rick Scott spent much of the week dashing around the state, whether working at spring training in Lakeland or touting his initiative to get rid of sales taxes on manufacturing equipment. Many lawmakers spent a few last, fleeting days in their home districts. And the courts were still in action, much to the chagrin of Scott and supporters of drug-testing welfare applicants. Artifact thieves had a bad week as well, after 13 people were hit with more than 400 combined felony charges.
Foreshadowing echoes of what will get started on Tuesday: Scott pitching his ideas to lawmakers, hopes that new laws will pass muster with the courts, and some people undoubtedly left unhappy with what’s happened on state property. All of it captured on live, streaming video.
COURTS ON DRUG-TESTING LAW: NEGATIVE
Even as legislators were preparing to get started on the 2013 session, some of their old handiwork looked like it could be headed to the U.S. Supreme Court. The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta struck down a law requiring drug testing of applicants for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, and Scott vowed to take the measure to the highest court in the land.
“The evidence in this record does not suggest that the population of TANF recipients engages in illegal drug use or that they misappropriate government funds for drugs at the expense of their own and their children’s basic subsistence,” the court wrote in a 38-page opinion. “The state has presented no evidence that simply because an applicant for TANF benefits is having financial problems, he is also drug addicted or prone to fraudulent and neglectful behavior.”
Scott, whose administration has undoubtedly gotten used to the mechanics of court appeals over the last two years, promised another.
“Welfare is 100 percent about helping children,” said Scott, who along with the Republican-controlled Legislature, approved the law. “Welfare is taxpayer money to help people looking for jobs who have children. Drug use by anyone with children looking for a job is totally destructive. This is fundamentally about protecting the well-being of Florida families.”
The judges were just the latest in a line to have turned back, at least temporarily, some aspect of policy passed by Scott and the Legislature in the first half of his term. And critics were once again giddy at having done in court what they couldn’t do during the legislative debate.
“The state of Florida can’t treat an entire segment of our community like suspected criminals simply because they are poor and are trying to get temporary assistance from the government to support their families,” said Maria Kayanan, an ACLU of Florida attorney and lead counsel in the case.
In state court, the online travel industry scored another victory
The 1st District Court of Appeal, in a 2-1 ruling, said companies such as Expedia and Orbitz cannot be forced to pay local tourist-development taxes on part of the money they collect from customers. The majority found that the disputed amounts relate to reservation charges — not to the actual amounts paid to rent hotel rooms — and described the companies as “conduits.”
SEQUESTER THIS
Looming over the entire week was something that wasn’t about to happen in Tallahassee, but something that was happening hundreds of miles away, in a city where lawmakers spend even more time arguing than they do at the state Capitol. In Washington, D.C., Republicans and Democrats couldn’t figure out what to do about the sequester.
The sequester is a series of cuts set to hit domestic and military programs in the haphazard fashion, slicing tens of billions of dollars in federal spending in a more or less across-the-board manner. And Florida stood to get hit hard as the deadline for stopping the sequester came and went with no agreement.
A White House report released during the week listed the toll for Florida: 31,000 civilian Defense Department employees furloughed, a $183 million hit; reductions for Air Force and Army operations in the state, along with a possible cancellation of $135 million for aircraft depot maintenance in Jacksonville; and $54.5 million for K-12 education funding.
A dip in consumer confidence in the state would be even worse if the cuts kick in, said Chris McCarty, director of the University of Florida’s Survey Research Center in the Bureau of Economic and Business Research.
President Barack Obama and Congress agreed to the sequester in an effort to force a deal between the two on spending and taxes, but about all the two parties could agree on was that they were disappointed that the sequester was kicking in. And a fair number of them thought it was so bad that members of Congress shouldn’t get paid.
“No one should get paid for inaction,” said U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., announcing his support for legislation cutting congressional pay while federal workers are furloughed. “And Congress clearly hasn’t done the job to avert the sequester.”
Scott agreed, but took things a step further.
“I don’t believe Congress or the President should continue to get paid while they haven’t solved this problem,” he said.
MULLING OBAMACARE
There was no blockbuster decision like Scott’s declaration last month that he would support the optional expansion of Medicaid under the federal health-care law Obama signed in 2010, but there were signs that the Legislature was prepared to go along with another of the law’s provisions.
Faced with the possibility of huge penalties under the Affordable Care Act, a Florida House committee charged with looking at the impact of “Obamacare” appeared likely to support offering health-insurance coverage to about 8,700 temporary state workers.
Members of the committee Thursday unanimously expressed support for the move, which would affect temporary employees in state agencies and the higher education system who work an average of 30 or more hours a week. If Florida doesn’t start offering coverage to those workers, it could face fines of about $320 million.
Officials said the coverage would cost an estimated $35.6 million during the upcoming 2013-14 fiscal year, only a fraction of the potential fines.
“You either play their (the federal government’s) way or you get hit with a significant penalty,” committee member John Wood, R-Winter Haven, said.
Meanwhile, Attorney General Pam Bondi said she was against Scott’s endorsement of Medicaid expansion, becoming the second member of the Cabinet to speak out, after Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam.
“I am opposed to this dramatic expansion of Medicaid, because of the ultimate cost to Florida’s taxpayers and because I don’t think our state should surrender even more control over health care to the federal government,” Bondi said in an email Tuesday.
CFO Jeff Atwater also criticized the expansion Friday.
GUN FIGHT?
Meanwhile, with the final days ticking off the clock for lawmakers to file their bills, a few proposals that could be highly controversial were added to the fray.
Perhaps most prominent was a set of gun proposals, coming from either side of the aisle.
Rep. Neil Combee, R-Polk City, marked the one-year anniversary of the shooting death of Trayvon Martin by filing legislation to clarify that those firing warning shots could be protected from harsher penalties that they could otherwise face under criminal gun laws.
Co-sponsor Rep. Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala, the original sponsor in 2005 of the state’s “stand your ground” bill, and a member of a task force that examined the law in the wake of Martin’s shooting, said Combee’s bill is based upon a task force recommendation to clarify Florida’s 10-20-Life law regarding displaying a firearm.
“There is an edge there with the law if you fire a weapon or display a weapon, you could be charged with a felony,” Baxley said.
The man who shot Martin has said he was acting in self defense and should be covered by the law.
Meanwhile, Rep. Greg Steube, R-Sarasota, filed a measure asking school principals to decide which teachers and staff can carry concealed weapons while at work. Conservatives nationwide and in Florida have called for arming teachers and guards after the December shooting in Newtown, Conn., that killed 20 children and six adults. But some educators are nervous about proposals to allow firearms into schools.
Sen. Arthenia Joyner, D-Tampa, filed a bill that would impose a 4 percent fee on dealers’ sales of guns and ammunition, with the money going to mental health treatment. It wasn’t clear whether the bill would get any traction in the GOP-dominated Legislature.
Bills were also filed to add a consumer advocate to the Citizens Property Insurance Corp. board of directors (Sen. Anitere Flores, R-Miami); ban committees of continuous existence (Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater); and overhaul the state’s pension plan without closing off the traditional pension to new employees (Sen. Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby.)
STORY OF THE WEEK: A federal appeals court strikes down a law allowing the state to drug-test applicants for public assistance.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “If we can make people drive to Georgia and Alabama and South Carolina to buy fireworks that are illegal in the state of Florida, then certainly we can make them drive to get crack pipes and marijuana pipes.”–Rep. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg, on a bill banning drug paraphernalia
By The News Service of Florida
Highway 164 Bridge Closed Due To Structural Deficiencies
March 1, 2013
Highway 164 was closed Friday afternoon from Velor Road to Pine Barren Road. The Highway 164 bridge between those intersections will be closed for about 60 days for repairs.
Officials said the bridge was inspected earlier this week, and a decision to close the bridge due to structural deficiencies was made Friday after the inspection report was completed.
The Highway 164 bridge is located in an area between Walnut Hill and McDavid. The concrete on wood piling bridge was constructed 55 years ago.
Pictured top: The Highway 164 bridge closed Friday afternoon is constructed out of concrete on wood pilings. Pictured below: The bridge was closed Friday afternoon for about 60 days following a failed inspection. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Log Truck Overturns In Atmore
March 1, 2013
A log truck overturned as it turned off South Main Street in Atmore just before noon Friday, spilling its load into the Arby’s parking lot. The accident happened as the truck driver attempted to turn into unnamed road between Arby’s and KFC. There were no injuries. Photos by Annie Wiedel for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FORTUNE Magazine: International Paper One Of America’s ‘Most Admired’
March 1, 2013
International Paper announced Thursday that it has once again been named by FORTUNE magazine as the No. 1 company in the Forest and Paper Products sector according to FORTUNE’s annual report of “America’s Most Admired Companies”.
This is International Paper’s tenth time in the last eleven years to top the Fortune list within this category. Out of the nine key attributes on which companies are judged International Paper took the top spot in seven of those categories within its industry. Those categories included, people management, quality of management, financial soundness, quality of products and services, global competitiveness, use of corporate assets and innovation.
“This is well-deserved recognition and a reflection of International Paper’s 68,000 talented employees around the globe,” said John Faraci, chairman and chief executive officer. “Managing through an uneven global economy while continuing to generate solid results is what good execution is all about. Congratulations to all of our employees.”
Nine Tons Of Free Food Distributed To North Escambia Residents
March 1, 2013
About 18,000 pounds of free food were distributed to hundreds of North Escambia residents Thursday afternoon.
The Florida Department of Children and Families, AmeriCorps and Farm Share hosted the free food distribution for residents of the town of Century and North Escambia area residents at at the old Carver Middle School.
The nine tons of food and dairy products included potatoes, tomatoes, broccoli, pepper, squash, milk, yogurt, cereal and water. An estimated 300 families were served, with over 200 families signed up during the first hour of the event.
The food was distributed with the help of Americorp and volunteers from the Carver Community Center in Century.
Farm Share is a Florida non-profit organization working to alleviate hunger and malnutrition by recovering fresh and nutritious food and distributing it to those who need it most. The group specializes in obtaining donated fresh fruits and vegetables from Florida’s farmers and putting the food into the hands of the of low-income families in need of nutritious food. Every year, Farm Share provides more than 15 million pounds of nutritious food to more than 600,000 low-income households across Florida.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Rigby Named Escambia Teacher Of The Year
March 1, 2013
Susan Rigby, a ninth grade alegbra instructor at Pine Forest High School, was named Escambia County’s Teacher of the Year Thursday night during the 28th Annual Golden Apple Awards Banquet at New World Landing.
Other finalists for the honor were Randall Van Sickle, Blue Angels Elementary; Tina Grady, Hellen Caro Elementary; Debby Dorough, Pine Meadow Elementary; and Stephanie Hurst, West Florida High School.
The finalists were chosen from about 60 Teachers of the Year at individual schools in the county.
Escambia 4-Year Old VPK Registration Begins Monday
March 1, 2013
Registration for the Voluntary Prekindergarten Program for 4-year olds begins Monday at area elementary schools, including Bratt, Molino Park and Jim Allen.
Registration will continue through March 15 selected Title I schools: Bratt, Ensley, Lincoln Park, Molino Park, Monclair, McMillan (Wies), Oakcrest, Semmes, and West Pensacola. Children who live in these Title I attendance zones will given priority for enrollment.
Registration will also take place at the Global Learning Academy, Jim Allen and Warrington; however, only children in the attendance zones of these schools may apply.
For complete information, including required documentation, click here (pdf). For more information, call (850) 595-6915, ext. 224 or 227.
Molino Man Shot After Driving Into Cantonment House Pleads No Contest
March 1, 2013
A Molino man that was shot multiple times after driving his vehicle into a house in Cantonment last summer has pleaded no contest to the charges against him.
John Alex Godwin, age 35 of Molino Road, will be sentenced in late March on charges of burglary, and two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
During the predawn hours of July 13, 2012, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said Godwin crashed his car into the home of 25-year old Heather McKamey of Cantonment. The car literally pushed in the front door, door frame and surrounding bricks.
Godwin was then shot by 25-year old Andrew Lundy of Cantonment. Lundy was not charged.
Godwin reportedly suffered multiple gunshot woulds and was airlifted to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola. Warrants were prepared for his arrest pending his release from the hospital.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, Godwin was McKamey’s ex-boyfriend. She has unsuccessfully tried to get a restraining order against him in Escambia County back in June after a domestic violence incident between the pair in Mississippi.
According to a Gulfport Police Department incident report, Godwin was dating McKamey when he allegedly assaulted her on I-10 in Mississippi at the 33 mile marker by grabbing her hair and throwing her to the ground. She suffered minor lacerations to her hand during the incident, according to the report.
Pictured: John Alex Godwin was shot early the morning of July 13, 2012, after driving his car into this house in the 900 block of Jacks Branch Road in Cantonment. Deputies say the incident was a domestic violence incident. File photos courtesy WEAR for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Varsity Beats Freeport; JV Falls
March 1, 2013
The Northview Chiefs hosted Freeport Thursday.
Freeport 3, Northview 1 (JV)
In junior varsity action, the Northview Chiefs fell to Freeport Thursday, 3-1. Brett Weeks pitched a complete game for NHS.The JV Chiefs will be in action Tuesday, March 5 at 4:00 at Escambia Academy in Canoe, Ala.
Northview 9, Freeport 1
The Northview Chiefs beat Freeport 9-1 in varsity action Thursday night in Bratt. Daulton Tullis pitched a complete game, giving up three hits and two walks while striking out eight Freeport batters. Winston Riley went 2 for 3 with a walk and 4 RBI’s. The Chiefs will make the short road trip to Canoe, Ala., to take on Escambia Academy next Tuesday. The first pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
File photo, click to enlarge.