Evers: Repeal Septic Tank Inspections, Ethanol And Real ID
January 8, 2012
As the 2012 Legislative Session gets underway Tuesday in Tallahassee, Sen. Greg Evers has set several priorities.
Top priorities, Evers said, are constitutional obligations of passing a sound, balanced budget, and redrawing the lines of the state’s Congressional, House and Senate districts.
“Once our constitutional obligations are fulfilled, I will focus my efforts on our community’s needs and help to revive Florida’s economy and workforce by reducing over-burdomsome government regulations, fees and taxes,” Evers said.
One of Evers’ bills would eliminate a law passed in 2010 that requires the Florida Department of Health to create and administer a statewide septic tank evaluation program that would see every tank inspected every five years at the owner’s expense.
“I will continue to fight to get this bill passed to lessen the unnecessary and expensive burden on residents who are held financially responsible for the inspections every 5 years,” he said.
Another bill would repeal the “Florida Renewable Fuel Standard Act,” passed in 2008, that mandates ethanol be included in all gasoline for sale.
“I filed this important bill to allow for consumer choice and in response to the many of you who told me you were concerned about costly repairs or replacements of marine and small engines related to damage caused by ethanol gasoline,” the Baker Republican said.
Evers has also set his sights on repealing or changing vehicle and driver’s license laws during the 2012 Legislative Session.
The “”Florida Driver’s License Citizen Protection Act” would repeal the Real ID Law, making for a less tedious process for citizens to renew or modify their driver’s license or ID card. Evers is also calling for a repeal of the law that allows the use of red light cameras to ticket drivers.
And, Evers said he intends to file a bill that will roll back the cost of renewing vehicle registrations to previous levels.
“This should provide additional relief for families who are struggling to make ends meet,” he said.
Pictured: The old and new Florida Capital buildings in Tallahassee. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Pedestrian Struck, Killed By 90 Year Old Driver
January 8, 2012
A pedestrian was struck and killed Friday night in Escambia County.
Police said 90-year old Clyde Eddins was southbound on Ninth Avenue near Creighton Road in a 2011 Jeep Cherokee when a male pedestrian stepped into his path. The pedestrian was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital were he passed away Saturday. His identity has not been released pending notification of next of kin.
No charges have been filed.
Spreading Cheer: IP Gives Back In The Community
January 8, 2012
International Paper, the Cantonment Council on Aging and Heritage Baptist Church joined forces to spread holiday cheer during the Christmas season.
The groups delivered Walmart gift cards, turkeys and hams to area families in need. IP employeees Denise Samuel from the finance team and Andy Martin from pulp safety/training took part in the deliveries.
“My husband and I are in our sixties and are raising the third of the last three grandchildren over the past few years,” said Ken and Judy Mitchell. “ I have a chronic illness and had to quit work in August. My social security starts in January. Your gift given to us by Andy was God’s hand reaching down to help us.”
Each year, the Pensacola Mill provides community neighbors in need with gift cards (this year totaling $750) and delivers turkeys that are either donated by employees or leftover from the annual Lead Team turkey distribution.
“Thank you (International Paper Pensacola Mill employees) for the turkey and gift card. They were a great blessing to me and helped out a lot,” said Jessie Houston.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Work Underway On Kansas Road
January 8, 2012
An Escambia County crew is working to add material to the shoulders of Kansas Road in Walnut Hill. The repairs are being made to eliminate drop-offs on the edge of the highway and to allow proper drainage along the roadway.
McDavid Senior Named All-Star MVP
January 8, 2012
A local football player was named offensive MVP in an all-star football game Saturday night in Louisiana.
Dak Sims, a senior at Pensacola High School that lives in McDavid, was named Offensive Line MVP for the East team in Max Emfinger’s 8th annual All-American Bowl Game Classic at A.W. Mumford Stadium on the campus of Southern University in Baton Rouge. His PHS teammate, Demarius Travis, was named Defensive Line MVP for the East defense.
Sims’ East team lost to the West team, 21-20.
Emfinger, a former scout for the Dallas Cowboys, puts on the game each each to spotlight players to college recruiters.
Photos: A Great Day To Be On The River
January 8, 2012
Dozens of people took advantage of great weather Saturday morning to hit the Escambia River in Molino for a little fun and fishing.
At Fairgrounds Park and the Molino Boat Ramp, the parking lot was nearly full by late morning with vehicles and boat trailers. The county-owned Molino Boat Ramp and Fairgrounds Park is a 1.5 acre boat ramp and park located at 6698 Fairgrounds Road in Molino. The park includes a boat ramp, dock, picnic tables, portable restroom, security lights and a nature boardwalk.
Pictured: Saturday morning a the Molino Boat Ramp. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Molino Man Charged With Child Cruelty Over Spanking
January 7, 2012
A Molino man is facing a felony child abuse charge after allegedly spanking his girlfriend’s child too hard.
Mason Jacob Stanley, 21, is charged with cruelty toward a child without great harm. He was released from the Escambia County Jail on $10,000 bond.
A Department of Children and Families investigator told deputies that workers at the Kids Place Learning Center on Pensacola Boulevard had become alarmed at the amount of black and blue marks and the severity of them on the child’s buttocks.
Stanley, the boyfriend of the child’s mother, babysat the child the day prior to the injuries being reported, according to an arrest report. He allegedly spanked the child when he soiled his underwear.
Stanley told deputies that he did spank the child one time after discovering the soiled underwear. He told deputies that he saw red marks on the child’s buttocks “but thought that it was a rash and not a result of him spanking him,” the arrest report states.
The child was taken to the Gulf Coast Kids House for treatment. Stanley is not the child’s father, according to the arrest report.
‘
Grand Jury Finishes Billboard Tree Cutting, Evers Probe
January 7, 2012
A Tallahassee grand jury looking into how a Panhandle billboard company got permits to cut down 2,094 state-owned trees without paying the usual fees has finished its investigation.
The jury’s findings, however, will remain sealed for now until people involved in the investigation are informed of what the jury found.
The investigation involves how Bill Salter Advertising escaped fees when it got the contract to remove the trees, and was able to avoid other requirements. Part of the investigation included emails to Sen. Greg Evers, R-Baker, then a House member, in which the Bill Salter asked for help on the issue. Evers in turn lobbied then-Secretary of Transportation Stephanie Kopelousos on behalf of the company.
Work Continues On East Pond Street In Century
January 7, 2012
Work will continue next week on East Pond Street in Century, but one lane of traffic will remain open.
The road was scheduled to be closed last week, but a lane of traffic remained open as the town worked on a drainage improvement project between Jefferson Avenue west to Ramar Street near Highway 29.
Century Mayor Freddie McCall said it will be over a week before the equipment is in place to do the work that will completely close East Pond Street.
Ernie Lee Magaha Prefiles For 15th Term
January 7, 2012
Ernie Lee Magaha prefiled Friday to run for a 15th term as Escambia County Clerk of the Court. The 82-year old Magaha, a Republican, was elected to his first term in 1956 and has won ever election since.
Pam Childers, the City of Pensacola’s financial services manager has also prefiled for clerk’s position. The certified public accountant will also run as a Republican.