Another Local West Nile Case
September 25, 2012
A third case of the West Nile Virus has been reported in Santa Rosa County, bringing the two-county area total to 13 cases and one death.
Three human cases have now been reported in Santa Rosa, while 10 cases with one fatality have been reported in Escambia County. A death from West Nile was also reported in Okaloosa County.
Health departments in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties have said the chances of more West Nile infections remains high.
Area residents are advised to attempt to avoid going outside between dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are the most active, to use a mosquito repellent and to wear protective clothing. Residents should also work to remove any standing water around the outside of their homes.
Battle Over Early Voting In Florida Appears To Be Over
September 25, 2012
The war over early voting in Florida ahead of November’s presidential election appeared to wind down Monday, with a federal court refusing to block a portion of the state’s controversial 2011 elections law.
In a ruling Monday, U.S. District Judge Timothy Corrigan denied a request from Democratic Congresswoman Corrine Brown and other black voters to issue an injunction to keep the state from reducing the number of early-voting days ahead of the Nov. 6 elections — when Florida could play pivotal roles in deciding which party wins the White House, the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House.
The voters had argued that the changes, which would reduce the number of early-voting days from at least 12 to no more than eight, would disproportionately affect minority voters, who are more likely to take advantage of early voting than white voters.
The state had countered that elections officials were allowed to offer more hours on each of those days, and that the changes applied equally to all voters.
Corrigan relied heavily on evidence that many counties would offer as many as 12 hours a day in early voting and would require some Sunday voting, a potential opening for the “souls to the polls” get-out-the-vote efforts of some black churches.
“Because Florida’s Early Voting Statute allows early voting during non-working hours, as well as voting during the weekend, including one Sunday, voting times which are important to African American voters, as well as to (get out the vote) efforts, the Court cannot find that the 2011 Early Voting Statute denies equal access to the polls,” he wrote.
Brown and others had argued that the Sunday required for early voting, nearly a week-and-a-half before the election, was not as good as the Sunday immediately before Election Day, which some supervisors used for early voting under the old law.
“I had really hoped that the judge would allow counties to restore voting on the Sunday immediately before election day, but at least we will have one Sunday of early voting guaranteed,” Brown said in a statement issued by her office following the ruling.
Brown vowed to hold a pair of voter-registration drives Tuesday and Sunday in an effort to counter what she portrayed as an effort by the GOP to suppress the black vote.
Brown and the voters could still push forward with the remainder of their lawsuit against the changes, but Corrigan’s ruling means he doesn’t believe they have a good chance of winning the case. And the sides aren’t supposed to let him know whether they want to move forward until December — after the elections.
Corrigan’s order comes a few days after state Sen. Arthenia Joyner, D-Tampa, and a pair of voting-rights organizations abandoned an administrative case challenging the implementation of the law in 62 of the state’s 67 counties. That fight centered over whether Secretary of State Ken Detzner could require some counties to follow the new law while five counties that must gain federal approval for any voting changes held elections under the old law.
But federal officials eventually green-lighted the early voting change, making the challenge moot.
By Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Citizens Moving 60,000 Insurance Policies To Other Companies
September 25, 2012
The Office of Insurance Regulation on Monday announced that 60,000 policies from Citizens Property Insurance Corp will be taken by private carriers as the state attempts to whittle away at the 1.4 million policies now held by the state-backed insurer.
Florida Peninsular Insurance Co. will take an additional 10,000 policies, bringing its Citizens takeout total to 45,000. American Integrity Insurance Co. will take 50,000 policies. The takeouts will begin in November.
“It is encouraging to see the commitment of these domestic companies to bring more jobs as well as additional insurance capacity to Florida,” Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty said in a statement.
Citizens’ policyholders will be notified of the take-out request (assumption) on October 1 and have 30 days to accept or decline the offer. If policyholders do not respond, they will be transferred to the private company on November 6. Earlier this month, OIR approved a 150,000-policy takeout.
By The News Service of Florida
Deputies Seize Guns, $264,000 In Drugs And Cash
September 25, 2012
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office seized tens of thousands of dollars in cash and marijuana plants as search warrants were recently executed.
After serving three different search warrants, authorities seized over $35,000 in cash, 83 marijuana plants worth over $166,000, over 15 pounds of “high grade” marijuana with a street value of over $63,000 and a quantity of crack cocaine and prescription medications. Deputies also seized nine firearms including assault rifles and handguns, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Investigators said several people will face charges after the search warrants were served in Crescent Lake, Myrtle Grove and Monte Claire.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Berrydale Wreck Claims Life Of Jay Man
September 25, 2012
One person was killed in wreck Monday night on Highway 4 in northern Santa Rosa County.
The accident happened about about 8:30 p.m. at the intersection of Highway 4 and Gordon Landing Road, about a mile east of the Berrydale Forestry Camp.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Joshua David Holland, age 30 of Jay, was attempted to cross Highway 4 from Gordon Landing Road to Mason West Road when he pulled his 1988 Ford pickup into the path of an 18-wheeler drive by William Mathew Connell, age 47 of Ochlocknee, GA.
Connell swerved in attempt to avoid a collision but was unable to avoid the wreck, according to FHP.
Holland was pronounced deceased at the scene. His passenger, 22-year old Lacey Lefay Harris of Jay, was airlifted by LifeFlight to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola in serious condition. Connell refused medical treatment at the scene.
The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
Century Signs Off On New $2.9 Million Budget
September 25, 2012
The Town of Century approved a $2.9 million budget Monday afternoon for the upcoming fiscal year that is about $2.14 million less than last year.
Century’s 2012-2013 budget was set at $2,889,827. Last year’s $5,032,816 budget was unusually large for Century due to grant income and expenditures of $1,913,000.
There will be no increase in ad valorem taxes this year to meet the budget for fiscal year 2012-2013, which begins October 1.
To view a summary of the budget in pdf format, click here or the image below.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Wrecks Costing Century Much More Than Peanuts
September 24, 2012
The second overturned 18-wheeler on Highway 29 at Jackson street in two years will cost Century much more than peanuts — likely pushing the two-wreck damage total to town property over a quarter of a million dollars.
Last Thursday afternoon, an 18-wheeler fully loaded with peanuts overturned across a town sewage lift station, destroying a generator and control equipment, rupturing a town gas line and sending the town scrambling for a septic tank company to pump out the facility to prevent an overflow. Damage estimates are not yet complete for last week’s accident.
On December 20, 2010, an 18-wheeler loaded with plastic beads overturned at the same location. That accident destroyed the generator, control equipment and the complete pumping equipment for the sewage lift station. The Great Western Casualty Company settled with the town for $190,250.51 for the damages.
When repairs were made following the December 2010 accident, the pumping equipment was moved underground. The pumping equipment was not damaged during last week’s wreck.
Town officials said they want to explore options for moving the generator away from the side of the roadway, but the town’s current utility easements won’t allow it.
Pictured top: An overturned 18-wheeler last week caused tens of thousands of dollars to equipment at a Century sewage lift station at Highway 29 and Jackson Street. Pictured inset: A overturned natural gas generator partial covered in peanuts. Pictured below: An overturned truck caused $190, 250 in damage at the same location in December 2010. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Scott To Appeal FEMA’s Denial Of Local Hurricane Isaac Claims
September 24, 2012
Gov. Rick Scott’s office will appeal the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s decision to deny the state — and Escambia and Santa Rosa counties — a major presidential disaster declaration for Tropical Storm/Hurricane Isaac, which skirted the state in late August,
FEMA notified Florida on Wednesday that it was rejecting the application, meaning no federal funds to cover $11 million in damage in Escambia County and $1.2 million in Santa Rosa County.
In notifying FEMA of the state’s intent to appeal, Scott also said in a letter to FEMA Director Craig Fugate that the state was expanding its request for a major disaster declaration by adding Broward, Franklin and Martin counties, where Scott said damage estimates are more than $9.8 million. The original seven counties in the request are Escambia, Santa Rosa, Bay, Collier, Monroe, Okaloosa and Palm Beach.
Scott said in his letter that the total statewide damage figure for all 10 counties is now $36.7 million.
The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.
County Seeks Volunteers For Extension Council, Library Board
September 24, 2012
The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners is seeking volunteers for the Extension Council and the West Florida Public Library Board of Trustees.
The Escambia County Extension Council was established in accordance with Florida Statutes. The purpose of this Council is to study the needs of the County in developing its natural resources, its families and youth; to provide for the organization of planning committees in various agricultural commodities, in youth and in all phases of home economics important to Escambia County; to provide for close liaison between the committees, County extension agents and the Council; and to coordinate the reports of all committees into a single Escambia County resource development program designed to develop the County’s resources and its people through programs for which the cooperative Extension Service has a responsibility for initiating or coordinating. Council members serve a two-year term of office.
The West Florida Public Library Board of Trustees was established in accordance with Florida Statutes. The West Florida Public Library Board of Trustees governs the operation and programs of the library. Trustees serve a four-year term of office.
If interested in serving on the council or board listed above, please contact Judy Witterstaeter, county administration at (850) 595-4916 to submit your resume. All resumes must be submitted no later than Wednesday, October 3.
This Week: Last Chance To Save On Registration For Chief Challenge 5K
September 24, 2012
This week is the last chance to save on registration for the Third Annual Chief Challenge 5K Run/Walk at Northview High School.
The event will be held Saturday, October 6 at 8:30 a.m. at the school campus in Bratt. “The course is not your typical 5K race. It includes a variety of terrains and challenging hills around the campus,” according to event organizers.
For a registration form and more details, click here. The registration fee and a t-shirt are discounted to only $15 though September 28.
Awards will be presented to the top six male and female runners in the elementary, middle and high school categories, and to the top three male and female runners in two adult categories plus master and grand master.
About 120 runners and walkers took part in last year’s Chief Challenge. The Chief Challenge 5K Run/Walk is sponsored in part by NorthEscambia.com.
Pictured: The 2011 Chief Challenge. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.