Tate Beats Northview
February 2, 2013
The Tate Aggies defeated the Northview Chiefs 78-51 to wrap up the regular season Friday night in Cantonment.
The Chiefs were led by Neino Robinson with 23 and Cameron Newsome with 12. Leading scorers for Tate were Marquis Cass with 25, Daniel Cafalrella with 21, and Travis Walton with 16.
Game Day Food Safety Tips
February 2, 2013
Super Bowl Sunday is the second biggest day of the year for food consumption. Super Bowl parties feature food, fun, food, and more food—lots of finger foods , dips, beverages, casseroles, and other snacks.
Food-borne illnesses, better known as food poisoning, affect one in six Americans each year. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 128,000 Americans are hospitalized, and 3,000 deaths occur each year from food-borne illnesses, so this year, kick off your Game Day party the food-safe way.
When planning those finger foods, dips, and casseroles, score some extra points by practicing the Four Basic Food Preparation Safety Rules:
CLEAN — The first rule is to keep everything that comes in contact with the food clean. Wash hands with warm water and soap before handling food and disinfect all food contact surfaces, such as dishes, cutting boards, countertops, and utensils with hot soapy water after preparing each food item.
SEPARATE — The second rule is to not provide bacteria with an ideal environment to spread. Cross-contamination is the spread of bacteria from one food item to another. Keep raw foods separated from cooked food items. Store uncooked meats on the lower shelves of the refrigerator to prevent dripping and cross-contamination.
COOK — Cook foods to proper temperature to be certain the food reaches an internal temperature high enough to destroy bacteria. Use a food thermometer to make sure meat,
poultry and fish are cooked to the correct temperature for that food.
CHILL — When transporting foods, the rule is to keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold. Never defrost foods on the counter at room temperature. Always allow sufficient time to thaw foods in the refrigerator. Perishable foods should never be left at room temperature for more than two hours. Rotate foods in and out of the refrigerator, or use ice to avoid any dish being left out too long. Refrigerate leftovers immediately after the game.
All foods are perishable and can cause food-borne illness when not handled properly. Game Day is a great opportunity for family and friends to get together for parties and enjoy seasonal foods.
Play smart on Super Bowl Sunday…don’t let bacteria crash your party.
Man Finds $12,000 In Bank Bag, Returns It
February 1, 2013
An Escambia County man that found over $12,000 in cash turned it into authorities.
George Cooper was cleaning the Pensacola Bay shoreline area behind his home in the 8700 block of Scenic Highway when he saw a plastic bag that turned out to contain $12,303 in cash and some paperwork. Cooper took the bag to Coastal bank and Savings on East Nine Mile Road where it was turned over to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies later learned the money was not stolen but had been lost by Loomis Armored Car Services.
Century’s Hope For ECAT Gas Tax Exemption Hits Major Roadblock
February 1, 2013
Century’s hope for an exemption from a planned four cent gasoline tax hike approved by Escambia County hit a major roadblock Thursday.
The Century Town Council wanted the Florida Legislature to consider the exemption, but the proposal never made it to a Thursday afternoon meeting of the Escambia County State Legislative Delegation. That’s because, according to Rep. Clay Ingram, Florida law won’t allow the Legislature to consider such an exemption.
“The Century mayor’s office concluded that, under Florida’s constitution, a local bill is not the appropriate procedure by which to achieve an exemption, but they are currently looking at other options,” Ingram said.
Mayor Freddie McCall said Thursday afternoon that he was disappointed the Legislature won’t be able to exempt Century from the gas tax hike, but the town will continue to explore options.
“We might be able to do it through a (constitutional) amendment,” he said.
The four cent gas tax approved last year by the Escambia County Commission is scheduled to be implemented in 2014. Century officials contend the new tax is unfair to North Escambia residents and may force the three gas stations in Century to close as they force drivers choosing to purchase lower priced gasoline across the state line in Flomaton.
Pictured: Two of Century’s three gas stations at the intersection of East Highway 4 and Highway 29. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Tate Mock Trial Team Wins Regional Championship
February 1, 2013
The Tate High School Mock Trial team defeated Gulf Breeze Thursday evening to become regional champions.
With the the win, the Tate High School Mock Trial team will represent the area in the state Mock Trial Competition. Last year, the Tate team won the state championship.
Jay Sex Offender Charged With Registration Violation
February 1, 2013
A convicted sex offender from Jay has been been arrested for failing to comply with Florida’s sexual offender registration laws.
Henry Lee Thompson, 63, was booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail without bond for failing to report his proper address to authorities. Thompson was convicted of sexual battery of an adult female in June 2010 and ordered to register as a sexual offender.
Gaetz: Six-Lane Widening For Portion Of Highway 29; New Bay Bridge
February 1, 2013
A six lane upgrade to a portion of Highway 29 and a new no-toll Three Mile Bridge were among nearly $1 billion in transportation funding announced Thursday by Senate President Don Gaetz (R-Niceville) and representatives from the Florida Department of Transportation.
Gaetz said he was told the initiative constitutes the largest single investment in our area’s transportation infrastructure in state history.
Escambia County will see widening of Highway 29 from four to six lanes from Nine Mile Road to I-10. The interchange at Nine Mile Road will be replaced with a “tight urban diamond” and existing ramps will be converted to service roads. Construction is planned for 2016 at a cost of $50.8 million.
The largest single project is the replacement of the Three Mile Bridge on Highway 98 connecting Pensacola and Gulf Breeze. The bridge will cost $595.6 million to build. Construction will begin in two years following acquisition of right of way and environmental permits.
The Senate President emphasized that the new bridge will not be a toll bridge but will be paid for entirely by state transportation funds.
Northwest Florida’s three ports – Pensacola, Panama City and Port St. Joe – will all receive improvements totaling $14.5 million. Gaetz praised Montford (D-Tallahassee) for his persistence and success in championing port funding as a way to help manufacturing and agriculture. Montford is chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee.
Gaetz said the impact of the historic investments will be to help the private sector create more and better jobs.
“Hundreds of jobs will be created during the engineering and construction of these projects,” Gaetz explained. “But the real economic value is in building the arteries that get products to and from market. A burst of construction getting that infrastructure in place will help our communities attract and keep growing businesses that need skilled workers for decades to come.”
Santa Rosa County will receive $23.9 million in state funds to add two lanes to the existing two lane State Road 87 from Eglin AFB’s boundary to two miles south of the Yellow River.
Millions of dollars of projects were also announced in Okaloosa, Washington, Holmes and Bay counties.
Pictured top: The Three Mile Bridge linking Pensacola and Gulf Breeze is set for replacement. Pictured inset: Highway 29 from Nine Mile Road to I-10 will become six lanes. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Chiefs Honor Top Female Weightlifters
February 1, 2013
The Northview High School Girls Weightlifting Team recently ended a successful season and recognized several members for their achievements.
Pictured: (L-R) Most Improved Ashley Joiner; Most Valuable Jody Paramore; and Coach’s Award winners Te’Andreia Knight, Ashley Mooney and Hannah Fiellin. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Scott Budget Delves Into Obamacare
February 1, 2013
Gov. Rick Scott proposed a health-care budget Thursday that would trim payments to hospitals and carry out some parts of the federal Affordable Care Act — but he did not take a position on whether the state should go along with a major expansion of the Medicaid program.
Scott said he needs to better understand how the Medicaid expansion would affect health-care quality, access and costs. The Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare, calls for such an expansion, but each state has final say.
“Today is not the day for that decision,” Scott said during a news conference to announce an overall $74.2 billion budget proposal that now goes to the Legislature.
Senate Minority Leader Chris Smith, D-Fort Lauderdale, quickly issued a statement blasting Scott, saying the governor — a longtime critic of the Affordable Care Act — is “continuing his war against the president’s health care reform.”
“There is still no money in his budget for expanding Medicaid, ignoring the overwhelming support by a majority of Floridians to broaden the program, and assuring Florida’s role as a national leader in the number of uninsured citizens,” Smith said.
Scott’s budget calls for spending about $30.9 billion on health- and human-services programs next year. It includes money for such things as providing more residency slots for medical students and offering services to about 750 developmentally disabled people who are on a waiting list.
The Florida Medical Association praised Scott’s move to add about 700 residency positions, which the governor’s office says will ultimately increase the likelihood that new doctors will stay in the state.
“The governor clearly understands the importance of having a substantial supply of physicians to meet the increasing health-care needs of Florida’s families,” FMA Executive Vice President Timothy Stapleton said. “His commitment to GME (graduate medical education) funding will pay dividends to the state of Florida for years to come.”
Some other parts of the health-care budget, however, would face cuts. For example, most hospitals would see a 2 percent cut in Medicaid rates for inpatient care, county health departments would see their reimbursed rates reduced and funding for chiropractic and podiatric services would be eliminated, according to the governor’s office.
Health and human services providers have repeatedly tried to fend off funding cuts in recent years as the state has grappled with budget shortfalls and growing Medicaid costs. But Scott’s budget proposal does not appear to include the broad range of potential cuts that have worried providers in the past.
One of the most closely watched issues during the upcoming session, however, will be how Scott and the Republican-controlled Legislature deal with the Affordable Care Act, which President Obama and congressional Democrats approved in 2010.
The state is required to comply with certain parts of the law, but others are optional. Also, some parts of the law carry budget consequences, while others don’t.
Scott’s proposed budget would carry out parts of the law that are mandatory or, in effect, leave little choice for the state.
For example, the proposal includes $703.5 million for a mandatory increase in Medicaid payment rates for primary-care physicians. The increase, which brings Medicaid rates to higher Medicare levels, is totally funded by the federal government, though it shows up in the state budget.
The budget also includes $116.3 million in state and federal money to cover an expected influx into Medicaid of people who are currently eligible for the program but have not enrolled. With the Affordable Care Act fully taking effect in 2014, it is widely expected that some already-eligible people will start moving into the Medicaid system — an issue that is separate from the Medicaid eligibility expansion in the federal law.
As another example, the budget calls for opening up eligibility in the state-employee health insurance program to what are known as “other personnel services,” or OPS, workers. Those people are considered temporary employees and are not currently eligible for enrollment in the state health-insurance program.
But the Affordable Care Act requires employers such as the state to provide coverage to all employees who work more than 30 hours a week. As a result, the state has to offer coverage to such OPS employees or face paying hefty penalties.
By The News Service of Florida
Reduced Price Spay, Neutering Offered For Escambia Pet Owners
February 1, 2013
In celebration of the 19th annual “World Spay Day,” qualifying Escambia County residents can receive assistance for low cost spay and neuter services during the month of February. In collaboration with Concerned Citizens for Animal Welfare, Escambia County Animal Services will spay or neuter pets for half price for the first 100 eligible citizens.
While they will have the entire month of February to take advantage of the program, pet owners are encouraged to apply early. There will also be a drawing for those participating to win pet gift baskets with treats and toys for either dogs or cats valued at $75.
Concerned Citizens for Animal Welfare, led by President Dorothy Kaser, has sponsored “World Spay Day” for the past 19 years at the shelter, as well as providing educational materials.
“We are excited to be working with such committed partners who encourage responsible pet ownership,” said Shelter Manager Delfi Messinger. “World Spay Day is a great way to engage the community in reducing the overpopulation of unwanted pets.”
To schedule the surgery, residents must verify that their household income qualifies them and bring in the pet for a brief exam. Rabies vaccinations and county licenses are also available to residents who qualify for the low cost program. The shelter is open Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 6 p.m. for visits, questions and to check eligibility for the program.
For additional information, visit the shelter at 200 West Fairfield Drive, call the shelter at (850) 595-3075, or visit www.myescambia.com.