Beulah Clean Sweep: 38 Tons Of Debris, Two Arrests
July 20, 2012
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office along with the Windy Hill Neighborhood watch, partner agencies and volunteers worked to clean up in Beulah Thursday.
The Operation Clean Sweep removed 38 tons of debris. Two outstanding arrest warrants were served, and 23 citations were issued at traffic checkpoints. In addition, the ECSO Sex Crimes Unit made seven address verifications.
NJROTC Cadets Complete Basic Leadership Training
July 20, 2012
Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps cadets from across Escambia and Santa Rosa counties took part in a Basic Leadership Training camp last week that culminated with graduation exercise about Pensacola NAS.
Eight cadets from Northview High School took part in the Basic Leadership training camp — Lane Carnley, Sean Allister, Joshua Borelli, Elijah Harbinson, Jeniya Odom, Talia Syria, Andrea Miles and Deidre Steele.
For a photo gallery, click here.
The week-long camp included academics, drill, physical training and tours of Pensacola Naval Air Station facilities. Highlights of the week were running the Marine Corps obstacle course, observing Navy Fire Fighting training, aircrew survival swimming training and a tour of the Naval Air Technical Training Center.
Two two other Northview cadets, Jonathan Moretz (executive officer for the BLT company) and Zacarra Davis were graduate assistants during the week, helping the NJROTC instructors run the camp. Their responsibilities included assignment as platoon leaders, watchstanders, barracks staff and administrative duties. Their duties were essential to the success of the camp and ensured the cadets were properly trained during the camp and moved from one location to another throughout the week.
There were a total of 73 NJROTC cadets that participated and graduated from the camp from Northview, Pine Forest, Escambia, Washington, Milton, Pace and Navarre high schools. An additional 23 cadets were assigned as graduate assistants from the seven schools.
Pictured top: There were 73 NJROTC cadets from seven schools that graduated from a week of Basic Leadership Training at Pensacola NAS. Pictured inset: Northview’s Jonathan Moretz, standing by to receive the Cadet Achievement Award. Pictured below: Northview cadets (L-R) Talia Syria, Deidre Steele, Andrea Miles Elijah Harbinson, Lane Carnley, Jeniya Odom, Sean Allister, Zacarra Davis (graduate assistant) and Joshua Borelli. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bratt Basketball Camp Next Week With Former NBA Coach
July 20, 2012
The First Baptist Church of Bratt will host a basketball camp next week
The camp for children ages 8-14 will be held July 23-27 from 9 a.m. until noon at the church. Coach Roger Dutremble of Global Sports Outreach will teach kids the fundamentals of basketball and Biblical awareness.
Dutremble is a a retired coach and member of the International Basketball Hall of Fame. He career includes coaching at every level from high school to the NBA, and into international arenas, with a lifetime coaching record of 687-117 and seven national championships. He was selected “Coach of the Year” six times, and served as national team head coach to Belgium, Scotland, and Jordan. He was an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers, serving under Paul Westhead and Pat Riley, from 1979-83 and helping the team to three NBA championships with players like Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
The cost $35 per student with scholarships available. For more information, contact Tim Hawsey at (850) 327-6529.
Escaped Alabama Prisoner Recaptured
July 20, 2012
A state prisoner with ties to South Alabama was recaptured Friday afternoon in north Alabama.
The Alabama Department of Corrections said inmate Rhonda Hopkins escaped from a job site near Midfield, Alabama, on Thursday afternoon.She was captured walking down a street in Midfield.
She was serving a five year sentence at the Birmingham Community Based Facility after being sentenced in Mobile County for theft and possession of controlled substance.
Sentence Handed Down In Escambia Murder, Body Burning
July 20, 2012
An Escambia County woman was sentenced to 25 years in prison Thursday for her part in the murder of a teen.
Heather Trinee Lee, 30, was one of three people charged with second degree murder for her role in brutally beating and burning 19-year old Audreanna Zimmerman in an Ensley field. Zimmerman lived for 16 days after the attack.
One of her co-defendants, Tina Lasonya Brown, 41, was convicted of first degree murder last month. The jury recommended the death penalty, but the judge could choose to sentence her to life in prison.
Brown’s 19-year old daughter, Britnee Miller, has also pleaded guilty to first degree murder. Her sentencing is set for September. Miller was a minor at the time of the murdercannot be sentenced to life in prison under a recent ruling from the Supreme Court.
Health Care Panel Hears Of Risings Costs In Florida
July 20, 2012
As Florida moves into the “Obamacare” era, a state insurance panel Thursday heard from stakeholders who offered some predictions but largely said it’s too early to tell how the sweeping law will affect residents and businesses across the state.
There was one notable exception: They said the price of health insurance is going to go up.
During more than two hours of testimony, the Florida Health Insurance Advisory Board heard from representatives of the managed-care industry, state health officials and a conservative analyst. They mapped out scenarios should the federal health overhaul continue or be repealed by Congress before fully taking effect in 2014.
Michael Garner, president and CEO of the Florida Association of Health Plans, said the federal law will require insurers to pay about $8 billion in fees after the program begins in 2014, a figure that is expected to increase to $14 billion by 2018. Those costs will likely be passed on to consumers in the form of higher rates for policies in place after 2014.
“These premium increases will be seen soon in rate filings,” Garner said.
One possible consequence, warned conservative analyst Ed Haislmaier, is that as the price of health care rises, more small employers may choose to go off the grid and not carry any coverage at all. Even without the federal law, health-insurance prices have steadily climbed in recent years.
“One way or another, if this stays or goes, there is a significant interest in employers of getting out of providing benefits,” said Haislmaier, a senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation. “A lot of employers are going to find ways to get around this.”
If Congress repeals all or part of the program, Haislmaier said other less-sweeping attempts to expand health care will likely follow. He used as an example of health care revisions that took place after the Clinton-backed health care efforts imploded in the early 1990s.
“Does that mean reform is dead, dead for decade? I would say no,” Haislmaier told the panel.
The federal plan requires employers with more than 50 workers to offer insurance or pay fines. Individuals who choose not to obtain insurance will be taxed. Residents not receiving health care through their employers would be steered to exchanges set up to link people with insurers.
Florida is among a handful of states including South Carolina, Texas, Alaska and Maine that have already stated they would not create insurance exchanges and would rely on the federal government to run the program.
By The News Service of Florida
Pensacola Beats Mobile 8-6
July 20, 2012
Blue Wahoos right fielder Josh Fellhauer recorded three hits and drove in four runs, including three on a fifth inning homer to right, while second baseman Brodie Greene also totaled three base knocks to lead Pensacola to an 8-6 victory over the Mobile BayBears on Thursday night at Hank Aaron Stadium in Mobile, Alabama.
The win propelled the Fish to a 16-11 record in the second to maintain their tie for first in the Southern League’s South Division. The defeat dropped Mobile to a 12-15 mark since the league’s All-Star Break.ankHank
Pensacola got the scoring started in the opening frame to take an early 1-0 lead. CF Ryan LaMarre doubled to left, before he was sent home on 1B Beau Mills’ RBI double to deep center to put the Fish ahead. Mobile would then tie it at 1-1 an inning later thanks to CF Alfredo Marte’s leadoff solo homer to left.
The BayBears then took their first and only advantage of the contest in the fourth. Marte began the inning with a free pass, moved to second on a walk and third on a wild pitch, prior to being plate on a sacrifice fly to center by C Rossmel Perez.
A four-run fifth frame then pushed the Blue Wahoos ahead 5-2. After Greene singled, stole second and moved to third on an error, starting pitcher Kyle Lotzkar bounced a grounder up the middle to bring home Greene. Following LaMarre’s free pass, Fellhauer brought in Lotzkar and LaMarre with his three-run blast.
Mobile however, would even the game with a pair of tallies in each of the fifth and sixth innings. RF Marc Kruass reached on a base-on-balls, while 3B Matt Davidson was hit by a pitch before Marte plated Krauss with a single to center. Davidson subsequently scored on an RBI single by LF Bobby Borchering.
Following Greene’s RBI double in the top of the sixth, the BayBears drew the count even at 6-6 thanks to a two-run homer off the bat of Krauss. It was the 15th longball of the season for the left-handed slugger.
Single scores from the Blue Wahoos would then put away Mobile for good. Fellhauer drove in his fourth run of the contest in the seveht after SS Billy Hamilton reached on a base hit and got to second on a balk, while it was Hamilton’s run-scoring single in the following frame that gave Pensacola an additional insurance run.
Along with Fellhauer (3-5, 1 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI) and Greene (3-4, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI), Hamilton (2-4, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB) also recorded a multi-hit effort in the victory for Pensacola, while Marte (3-4, 2 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 BB) and C Rossmel Perez (2-4, 1 RBI) each tallied two or more base hits for Mobile. Mills reached base in the contest to extend his team-high on-base streak to 24 straight contests.
Pensacola reliever Josh Ravin (1.2 IP, 1 H, 3 SO) earned the win in his Blue Wahoos debut, striking out three in his 1.2 shutout frames, while Justin Freeman (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 SO) notched his ninth save of the year. Mobile RHP Yonata Ortega (1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO) suffered the loss to fall to 2-2 on the year after allowing two earned runs on two hits in his inning of relief.
The Blue Wahoos and BayBears will meet again Friday night in the second game of the series, with RHP Daniel Corcino slated to get the nod for Pensacola, while Mobile is expected to send RHP Chase Anderson to the hill. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. in Mobile.
Florida Doctors Tops In Dispensing Drugs To Patients
July 20, 2012
Doctors in Florida dispense medications to workers-compensation patients at one of the highest rates in the country, according to a study released Thursday by a Massachusetts-based group.
The study, by the Workers Compensation Research Institute, found that 62 percent of drug payments in Florida were for physician-dispensed medications, second-highest in the country behind Illinois. Also, it found that 45 percent of the drugs in the Florida workers-compensation system were dispensed by physicians, the second-highest rate behind California.
The report looked at injury claims that occurred between Oct. 1, 2009, and Sept. 30, 2010, and prescriptions through March 31, 2011.
Physician dispensing of what are known as “repackaged” drugs has become a controversial issue in Florida, with business groups arguing that the practice drives up workers-compensation insurance costs.
Backers of the practice, however, say patients are more likely to receive and take medications if they get them from physicians instead of filling prescriptions at pharmacies.
The Workers Compensation Research Institute is a non-profit group that says it does not take positions on the issues it studies. Its board of directors is mostly made up of officials from insurance companies and large employers, according to the group’s website
By The News Service of Florida
Gov. Rick Scott Goes To Work As Park Ranger
July 20, 2012
Gov. Rick Scott spent his 11th “Let’s Get to Work” day working as a park ranger at Hillsborough River State Park Thursday.
His workday started about 7:30 a.m. on landscape maintenance and an archeological dig. Park staff routinely conducts archeological digs when new signs or structures are needed to ensure no cultural resources are damaged in the process.
Scott continued his workday by opening the ranger station and greeting visitors. Later, he checked on campers, ensuring guest safety by monitoring the pool area and working with a concessionaire to serve food and rent equipment to park visitors.
In the afternoon, Governor Scott conducted a tour for park guests of the Fort Foster Historic Site with park rangers. Fort Foster is the only standing replica of a Second Seminole War Fort in the United States. Then, acting as the Chief of Piece, Governor Scott participated in a cannon firing demonstration, giving the command to fire the cannon and assisted with guest safety measures.
“Florida State Parks offer residents and visitors opportunities to enjoy our beautiful surroundings, and our dedicated park employees keep our guests returning year after year,” said Governor Scott. “A healthy environment makes for a healthy economy, and I thank the Florida Park Service for their diligent work to protect and preserve our natural environment while providing excellent opportunities for people to get out and enjoy it.”
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Five Year Plan Includes Millions In North Escambia Road, Bridge Projects
July 19, 2012
A five-year transportation improvement plan includes several new bridge and shoulder widening projects in the North Escambia area.
A recently released Florida-Alabama Transportation Planning Organization report identifies the projects to be completed, project phasing, estimated costs and funding sources. Inclusion in the report does not guarantee that a project will be funded.
North Escambia area projects included in the five-year plan include:
BRIDGES
- County Road 97A, replace bridge over Boggy Creek, 2014/15, $5.2 million.
- Brickyard Road, replace bridge over unnamed branch, 2013/14, $1.98 million.
- Fannie Road, replace bridge, 2013/14, $3 million.
- County Road 97A, replace bridge over west fork of Boggy Creek, 2012/13, $2.3 million.
- South Pineville Road, replace bridge over Brushy Breek, 2013/14, $2.5 million.
- Highway 97, replace bridge over Little Pine Barren Creek, 2014/15, $3.5 million
- Beck’s Lake Road, replace bridge over unnamed branch, 2014/15, $2.1 million
- County Road 99, replace bridge over Pine Barren Creek, 2016/17, $6 million
- Dortch Road, replace bridge over Beaver Dam Creek, 2016/17, $2 million
- County Road 99A, replace bridge over Boggy Creek, 2016/17, $3.3 million
- Sandy Hollow Road, replace bridge over Sandy Hollow Creek, 2016/17, $3 million
ROADWAYS
- Highway 29, right of way for future capacity from I-10 to 9 Mile, 2016/17, $66.4 million
- Crabbtree Church Road, pave shoulders, 2014/15, $1.4 million
- South County Road 99, safety study from Barrineau Park Rd to Hwy 97, 2014/15, $302,500
- South County Road 99, pave shoulders from Barrineau Park Rd to Hwy 97, 2014/15, $5 million
- Jacks Branch Road, pave shoulders from Muscogee to Barrineau Park, 2013/14, $2.6 million
The Florida-Alabama TPO also has a local government “wish list” of project requests during the five year period that includes paved shoulders on County Road 4 from Highway 97 to the Century town limits, a multi-use trail along six miles of Highway 29 in Molino, and paved shoulders on portions of the following: North Highway 99, Arthur Brown Road, Highway 4A, Molino Road, Highway 164, Quintette Road, Barrineau Park Road, Highway 4A, Highway 97A, Pine Barren Road and Cox Road.
The Florida-Alabama Transportation Planning Organization was created by the governors in Alabama and Florida to oversee the transportation planning process in the Florida-Alabama TPO Planning Area.
Pictured top: The Little Pine Barren Creek Bridge on Highway 97 is tentatively set for replacement in fiscal year 2014-2015. Pictured inset: The bridge was constructed in 1941. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
